Albio Sires

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my serious concern about the proposed cuts to funding for food stamps in the 2013 Farm Bill. Food stamps are critical to the health and wellbeing of our Nation's most vulnerable populations. In my home State of New Jersey, nearly 870,000 households rely on this benefit to feed their families. Of that number, 45 percent are children and nearly 25 percent are either elderly or disabled adults. As it stands, food stamp benefits average less than $1.50 per person for each meal, and that number is already set to drop to about $1.40 this fall when a temporary boost from the Recovery Act ends. Every one of us knows how difficult it would be to feed their children or aging parents a nutritious meal for that amount of money. And yet, the farm bill would slash federal spending for food stamps by more than $21 billion over the next decade, eliminating food assistance to nearly 2 million people. I understand the need to bring our budget under control, but I encourage my colleagues to find a smarter path forward. Let us not balance the budget on the backs of those among us who are the most vulnerable.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of our teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week. Across the country, we trust teachers with our most valuable resource: our children. Our teachers serve as role models and mentors to our kids, helping them to reach their potential; and in New Jersey, we have among the most talented teachers in the country. It was because of the mentorship of my teachers in high school that I applied for college and eventually became a teacher myself, and it is because of my experience in the classroom that I understand the challenges of our educators today. While we ask our teachers to prepare our children to meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must also give them the tools to rise to these challenges. Competitive salaries and financial resources must be provided so that they can recruit the very best teachers in science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts. While we honor our teachers this week, let's not forget the services they do for our children every day. Let us join together in recognizing teachers across this country.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the contributions of the biopharmaceutical and medical technology companies in New Jersey to Hurricane Sandy relief activities. New Jersey companies in the biopharmaceutical field have donated an estimated $11.1 million towards Sandy relief efforts. The New Jersey biopharmaceutical and medical technology companies made contributions to a large number of organizations, including the American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Direct Relief International, Feeding America, the Salvation Army, Save the Children, United Way, and the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. The community also coordinated with the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure an uninterrupted supply chain of critical life-saving drugs as well as having teamed up with local pharmacies to provide free or discounted prescriptions to affected patients. In addition, individual companies performed a variety of services in the immediate aftermath of Sandy, including the distribution of hygiene kits; providing generators to local municipalities; deploying emergency decontamination units; preparing food for first responders; and working to supply hospitals, pharmacies, and retailers with supplies that their patients and customers needed. While our community as a whole came together to provide relief to the victims of Sandy, we thank the biopharmaceutical industry of New Jersey.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the upcoming 65th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel and the bond of friendship between the United States and Israel. Like the United States, the State of Israel has stood as a beacon of democracy and hope for Jewish immigrants from all over the world. As an immigrant myself, I understand the importance of the democratic freedoms and values that our nation holds dear. The United States and Israel share and embrace those values as the cornerstones of a vibrant democratic society. I have been fortunate enough to visit Israel and witness the importance of the friendship the U.S. and Israel share. We share the common goals of peace, freedom, security and prosperity for our citizens and for the region. I am pleased to help honor the State of Israel on its 65th birthday I hope all my colleagues and fellow Americans will join me in taking pride in the unique contributions that our Israeli community has made to our nation. Again, congratulations to Israel and its people all across the world on their 65th independence day.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, unless Congress acts this week, a series of drastic spending cuts known as the sequester will take effect. Sequestration threatens the jobs of hundreds of thousands of middle class Americans, as well as vital services for children, seniors, and our troops. Congress must not wait any longer to come to an agreement. Should sequestration take effect, my State of New Jersey would lose almost $12 million in funding for primary and secondary education, putting around 160 teachers and their aides at risk. New Jersey would also lose $17 million in funding, or about 210 teachers who help children with disabilities. In addition, Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for an estimated 1,300 children in New Jersey. Furthermore, New Jersey would lose funding cuts for public safety grants provided to local law enforcement officials designed to improve the safety of our communities, as well as reduction in funding to provide meals for New Jersey seniors. Mr. Speaker, these are just a small portion of the impact sequestration will have on New Jersey and America as a whole. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 699, a balanced bill to replace the sequester with spending cuts and revenues.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, if we face yet another fiscal cliff in 2 weeks, it is imperative that this Chamber produces a real solution to ward off a financial disaster that could deeply impact the American people. The idea behind sequestration was to create a worst-case scenario that was so severe that it would force both sides to work together and find a balanced approach to passing a realistic budget reducing our deficits. Instead of setting the stage for yet another battle to be resolved in the 11th hour, we should be focused on creating jobs and growing our economy. If sequestration goes forward, programs and services that millions of Americans rely on, like Head Start, supplemental nutrition programs like the WIC program, and even FEMA, would be decimated by drastic cuts in our funding. Additionally, sequestration would slash critical support to police who keep our streets safe, our air traffic controllers who manage our skies, and food inspectors who ensure the food that we eat is safe. Instead of jeopardizing critical services to our citizens, we need to begin to work on an approach that will avoid sequestration while sensibly reducing our deficit.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Chair, let me first congratulate my colleague and all of my colleagues from New Jersey for their hard work. This unprecedented storm has hurt New Jersey to the tune of 41,000 people; 41,000 families are currently impacted. Over 300 municipalities have been impacted in New Jersey. The PATH stations in Hoboken are destroyed. Thousands of families who lived in houses in the area--they also lived in the basements--have no place to go. And here we are 3 months later, and we're still battling over this money. This is for people who are hurting. This is for States like New Jersey and New York and Connecticut who are donor States that are constantly sending money to the Federal Government. You know, I sat in this Chamber when we had these wars and all this money for these wars. We destroyed the infrastructure in Iraq, and then we put billions of dollars to fix the infrastructure in Iraq. We put billions of dollars in Afghanistan. This is for the Americans in this country who have been hurt by this storm that is unprecedented. My friends, we have to work together to get this money to these people so they can start their lives over again.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, as I sat here, I was thinking that maybe there is a bias against the northeastern States of this country. This devastation can happen to any State, and no one State has the money to make sure that the people who were injured in this storm can move forward. I would remind all those Members who are not here supporting this bill that this could happen to your State. As I sat here and supported Alabama, as I supported Mississippi, as I supported Texas, I was hoping that, by now, with regard to the northeastern part of the country, this Congress would have acted. It has been 77 days. These people are hurting. People in my district still can't get back to their homes, and here we are. In the last Congress, we just didn't do anything about it. Now we are moving forward, and hopefully, on January 15, we can get the rest of this money so that the people who are suffering in all of these States that were hit by this storm can get their lives back together again.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the John Stevens Family on all of their great accomplishments as entrepreneurs and philanthropists, and to share the history of the family that founded the Stevens Institute of Technology. Stevens Institute of Technology was founded in 1870 and is named for a distinguished family of engineers and inventors who have made tremendous contributions to our nations' maritime and railroad systems. Stevens' 55-acre tree-shaded campus occupies part of the family's original estate, near the edge of the Hudson River at Castle Point in Hoboken, New Jersey overlooking Manhattan. Stevens, also known as ``The Innovation University,'' has a student population of more than 6,000 students and over 37,000 alumni. Alumni have leadership positions in many industries including construction, power generation, telecommunications, green energy, biotechnology, transportation, green energy and the financial community. Today there are more than 400 descendants of the Stevens family throughout the United States and abroad. On October 6, 2012, they came to Stevens Institute of Technology for their first family reunion in more than 30 years to reconnect, to learn about their family history, and to gain an understanding of the many ways the university founded by their ancestors 142 years ago has contributed to our society. The most notable member of the family was Colonel John Stevens III. During the Revolutionary War, he was appointed to be a captain in Washington's Army at age twenty-seven. Later he was promoted to Colonel, and collected taxes for the American cause as Treasurer of New Jersey. After the war in 1784, he purchased land that is now Hoboken, and includes the current campus for Stevens Institute of Technology. In 1798, Colonel Stevens was the first inventor to build and sail a steamboat on the Hudson River. The Colonel's boiler design, his twin screw propellers, and the steam ferry he ran between Hoboken and New York were among his many outstanding ``firsts.'' His steam ship, the Phoenix, captained by his son Robert was also the first steamship to sail the ocean, in 1809. On land, Colonel Stevens purchased the first American locomotive, the ``John Bull.'' The John Bull is now on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. The Colonel's sons also developed an aptitude for innovative engineering. His son Robert invented the T-rail for railroads, which is still in use today on railroads throughout the world. Robert also invented the ferry slip, a supporting iron rod for projecting guard beams on steamboats, and made several other improvements to ferries and steamboats. A second son, Edwin A. Stevens, founded the university as a part of his estate. Edwin built and operated New Jersey's first railroad. His experiments also resulted in the iron-clad warship. A third son, John Cox Stevens, was a sailor and joined the syndicate that built the schooner ``America'' and became the first winner of the famed America's Cup racing series. He also founded the New York Yacht Club and this year was inducted into the Yachting Hall of Fame, on October 13, 2012 at a ceremony held in New Orleans, Louisiana. Other notable Stevens family descendants throughout the years include former Member of Congress, Millicent Fenwick (R-NJ), who was also appointed by President Reagan as the first U.S. Ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, a U.S. Ambassador to Spain, a casualty and a survivor from the Lusitania, a member of the first class of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, the current CEO of Habitat for Humanity International and more. I applaud the John Stevens Family for all of their contributions and ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing their great accomplishments. I wish them all continued success and thank them for their dedication to making New Jersey and our country greater for future generations.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Republic of Cyprus as their first rotating European Union (EU) Presidency comes to a close. The past six months have been lauded as a very productive presidency and I would like to honor the importance of this accomplishment for a small--yet still occupied and divided--country like Cyprus. Some of the most notable accomplishments show a continued commitment to human rights and democratic governments. During Cyprus's presidency they oversaw the implementation of Iran sanctions--the toughest EU measure to date. The EU was also awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its longtime commitment to promoting peace, as well as reconciliation, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Furthermore, the EU focused on steps needed to eradicate human trafficking during the sixth EU Anti-Trafficking Day conference entitled, ``Working Together Towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings: The Way Forward.'' Mr. Speaker, as a friend and ally of the United States, I would like to congratulate Cyprus on a productive EU presidency. This is an important moment in the history of Cyprus and as a stable democracy dedicated to human rights and religious freedom; I wish to honor this significant event.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, it has been nearly 8 weeks since Superstorm Sandy struck our shores and devastated an entire region. It has been 8 weeks, and Congress has yet to send a disaster assistance package to the affected States. It is precedent for this body to stand together in the aftermath of a natural disaster and to immediately provide the necessary assistance in order to help communities recover and rebuild. Two weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast, Congress approved more than $62 billion in Federal aid. One month after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav hit Texas, Congress approved more than $20 billion in aid. Why can't this Congress come together and approve the $60 billion requested by the President to help the victims of Sandy? The damage done by Sandy is far beyond the resources and capacity that any single State possesses to recover on its own. It is my hope that this Chamber can set aside its differences and swiftly approve the supplemental funding. Such assistance will aid those who have lost everything in the storm, and it will help to rebuild our communities stronger than ever. New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut have always stood by other regions of this Nation that have been faced with difficult circumstances. I trust that my colleagues in Congress will now come to our aid.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, today we mourn as a nation with Newtown, Connecticut, and the Sandy Hook Elementary community. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this horrendous tragedy and their families. On Friday, 27 people, including children, had their futures stolen from them as a result of another senseless act of violence. My heart breaks for their loved ones and the community of Newtown. Unfortunately, this is the fourth mass shooting that our Nation has endured in as many years. This tragedy in particular hits home for the millions of parents across America because the victims were elementary school kids--children who expected to be in a safe and secure environment. We must begin to have a meaningful discussion not only on gun control, but about the security of our schools, as well as the access to mental health care services. While one bill won't end all evil actions, Congress must begin to work together to improve the safety of our citizens. I'd like to conclude with honoring our Nation's teachers, those individuals who day in and day out provide for and nurture our children, and in this circumstance, gave their lives.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3783, as amended by the Senate, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume. And I want to thank the Congresswoman for all her hard work on this issue. The underlying bill, H.R. 3783, has already been passed by the House, and for that reason, I will only briefly summarize the bill and then move to explain the Senate amendment. This legislation authorizes $1 million for the State Department to generate an assessment of the threat posed to our country by Iran's growing presence and hostile activity in the Western Hemisphere, as well as a strategy to address that threat. As many of our colleagues reminded us during House consideration of the bill, the issue could not be more pressing. Tehran's pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability, its continued support for international terrorism, and its abuse of basic human rights require the United States to maintain extreme vigilance in countering these threats. Thanks to the leadership of this Congress and the Obama administration, more pressure has been placed on the Iranian regime than ever before. But now is not the time to let down our guard. In a show of defiance to the U.S., Ahmadinejad has made six trips to our hemisphere. Although it is unclear that he has put anything of real value on the table, it is important that the U.S. Government continue to closely monitor the nature and effectiveness of these Iranian efforts, including attempts to gain support for circumventing international sanctions. None of this occurs in a vacuum. Iran was complicit in the horrific bombings of the Israeli Embassy and the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the first half of the 1990s. And we have evidence of Iran's increasing willingness to conduct an attack on U.S. soil, such as the discovery this year of a twisted Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador here in Washington. It is clear that Iran's behavior poses a clear and obvious danger to its own people and its neighbors, and its growing presence closer to our shores also deserves closer attention. H.R. 3783 makes clear that we must continue to monitor this situation closely and provide resources necessary to ensure that the efforts of various U.S. Government agencies are coordinated and clearly focused. The amendment adopted by the Senate provides that the strategy generated by the administration ``may be submitted in classified form, but shall include an unclassified summary of policy recommendations.'' This modifies the original formulation, which provided that this strategy be unclassified, but with a classified addition. I urge my colleagues to support this amended legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SIRES. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Sandy was an unprecedented storm that left a devastating impact on our communities in New Jersey-- damaging homes, businesses, and leaving millions without power. Hudson, Essex, Middlesex, and Union counties, were hit particularly hard by Sandy. We have been fortunate to have a large team of federal, state, and local responders to assist in recovery efforts. Beyond, the recovery and assistance efforts led by federal, state, and local responders, fellow American citizens from all over the country donated their time and money to aid Sandy victims. In addition, international aid also poured into our communities. Worthy of particular mention is the assistance provided by the government of The Republic of China (Taiwan). On November 16, Taiwan announced that it had decided to donate $1.3 million in relief and reconstruction aid to the United States. One million dollars will be given to United Way International and Habitat for Humanity International, charities based in Washington, D.C. These two organizations are addressing near term and long term recovery needs of communities most affected by Sandy. The rest of the funds will be distributed to the states of New Jersey and New York. A special ceremony marking the transfer of the funds to those organizations will be held in Washington, D.C. on December 6. We are grateful to the people of Taiwan and the ROC government for extending a helping hand during this difficult time. The people of Taiwan and their government have always been charitable and generous during our times of need. Taiwan gave generously in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and it was a major international donor to the Twin Towers Fund, as well as the Pentagon Memorial Fund. Taiwan was also a heavy contributor to humanitarian aid in Iraq and Afghanistan. On behalf of my constituents and fellow Americans, I say ``thank you'' to our friends in Taiwan.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Sandy was an unprecedented storm that left a devastating impact on the New Jersey and New York region-- damaging homes, businesses and leaving millions without power. My district was hit particularly hard. Numerous substations in our area were submerged under water, leaving many residents without electricity for nearly 2 weeks. As a result, thousands of linemen have worked around the clock to assist those in need and to help restore power. Not only have those in the New Jersey and New York region joined together to help those impacted by Sandy, but hundreds of individuals from across the country have come to lend a hand to the people of New Jersey. Just the other day, as I was touring the damaged areas of my district, I saw license plates that ranged from Wisconsin to Louisiana. Whether they have come from around the block or from hundreds of miles away in order to assist our region in its recovery, I want to thank all the workers and volunteers. While the road ahead to a full recovery will be long, there is no doubt that the progress we have made over the past 2 weeks could not have been possible without the assistance of all of those people who came from around the country. I thank all of those people who came to assist the people of New Jersey.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to send my best wishes to President Ma Ying-jeou and the people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on their National Day this October 10th. In the last four and a half years President Ma, along with other national leaders, has helped Taiwan's economy thrive. President Ma took a number of helpful steps to take Taiwan out of an economic slump, including guaranteeing bank deposits, lowering interest rates, distributing shopping vouchers and investing in domestic infrastructure. As a result, Taiwan's economy has been rapidly improving, alleviating the problems of unemployment and poverty. President Ma has also excelled on promoting foreign policy. Apart from the signing of the mutually beneficial Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with mainland China in 2010, President Ma's government is currently negotiating economic cooperation agreements with the governments of Singapore and New Zealand and paving the way for Taiwan to become a member of the multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership. President Ma has also significantly reduced tensions in the Taiwan Strait by pursuing a policy of diplomatic truce with the mainland and has ended the dangerous cycle of diplomatic warfare between the two sides. Taiwan is currently enjoying a robust relationship with the United States. U.S.-Taiwan ties have been the most amicable in 30 years. Communication between our two countries is smooth and friendly. Much of this is due to the capable stewardship of Taiwan's top diplomat in the United States: Representative Jason Yuan. Yuan is a seasoned diplomat and has been working very hard to promote an open discussion between Taiwan and Congress on Capitol Hill. Again, congratulations to the Republic of China on its National Day.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, last month I joined 78 bipartisan Members of Congress in asking Secretary of State Clinton to ensure that Iraq meets its obligations and protects the 3,400 Iranian dissidents living in Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty. Residents of Camp Liberty are members of the MEK. In recent days, another 680 Ashraf residents have been relocated to Camp Liberty under a resettlement plan backed by the United States. It is important that we support these residents as they seek to liquidate tens of millions of dollars of their assets left behind at Camp Ashraf. A major problem of the relocation plan is that as long as the MEK remains on the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations, its members at Liberty will not be able to find countries which accept them. The Department of State is currently under court order to make its decision on the MEK case by October 1, 2012. It is my hope that the Department of State removes the MEK from the foreign terrorist organization list immediately, as it is the legal, moral, and humane thing to do.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of Jerry Costello. In this vast body, Jerry is well known and admired by Members on both sides of the aisle. Republicans and Democrats alike have praised his tenure since Jerry announced retirement last October. He has served since 1988 and I have had the pleasure of sitting with him on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for nearly five years. Serving four years as Chairman of the House Aviation Committee, and now as the Ranking Member, Jerry has been able to drive sound policy to make sure that America's skies are safe. Jerry wrote and played an instrumental role in passing legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he helped write national highway bills and secure $150 million for the Mississippi River Bridge in his district. Jerry gets the job done and I have been enriched by sitting on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with him. Jerry has been a true and effective advocate for Illinois's 12th Congressional district. His list of accomplishments is long and he truly cares about protecting the interests of his constituents. For example, he was not only able to keep Scott Air Force Base open during several rounds of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, but Jerry added 800 jobs. The base is Illinois's largest employer south of Springfield. While the halls of Congress and particularly the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will be less bright, I know that Jerry will find joy in his next journey back home in Illinois. I wish him and his family all the best.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of Congressman Hoyer's motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 4348, the surface transportation bill. This motion to instruct conferees would ask the conference committee to end their differences and support the Senate-passed measure. Senate 1813, or MAP-21, was passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority with a final vote of 74-22. Tomorrow marks 100 days since the Senate passed their bipartisan bill. We have just over 1 week before the extension expires. We cannot afford to pass yet another short-term extension. We need to create jobs here in America. National unemployment is 8.2 percent, and construction unemployment is nearly double, at 14.2 percent. Summer has officially started, and the construction season is short. We have 1.2 million unemployed construction workers who are waiting for work. MAP-21 is estimated to save 1.9 million jobs and create another 1 million jobs. We have the legislative solution to create jobs. It is the Senate bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to put their differences aside and pass a comprehensive reauthorization. MAP-21 was passed on a bipartisan majority in the Senate. Let us do the same here in the House and put America back to work.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, access to affordable higher education is one of the reasons that our country is so great. As someone who lives in the gateway to America, I have seen firsthand the transformational power of education. However, access to higher education is now being threatened. In less than 2 weeks, the interest rate for student loans is scheduled to double from 3.4 to 6.8 percent. This will make it extremely burdensome for students and families with limited financial resources to attend college. Just in the past 10 years, college tuition has increased by 28 percent. Middle class families are struggling to send their sons and daughters to school. For many Americans, a college education is essential to future success. Over a lifetime, it is estimated that a college graduate makes an average of $2.27 million. In contrast, those with only a high school diploma are estimated to make $1.3 million. The clock is ticking and we must act now. Congress should not block access to affordable education. Let us work together to keep student loan interest rates low.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, in less than 1 month, the interest rate for student loans is scheduled to double from 3.4 to 6.8 percent. This increased rate, combined with the skyrocketing costs for college, will make it extremely difficult for Americans to afford to go to college. The cost for a higher education at a public 4-year school has almost tripled in the last 17 years. Americans now owe more money in tuition than they do in credit cards. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, educational loan debt in our country has reached $1 trillion. Education is one of the biggest determining factors for earning potential. Those who have bachelor's degrees earn double the salary of those with high school diplomas. Those with associate degrees earn 50 percent more than those with high school diplomas. I am also a strong supporter of fully funding Pell Grants, which provide Federal grant aid for students to make college more affordable. Access to higher education is an investment in the future economic stability of our Nation. We must put aside partisan differences and work together to preserve Pell Grants and to prevent the student loan rate from doubling on July 1.