Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, July 20 represented the 40th anniversary of Turkey's invasion and subsequent illegal occupation of Cyprus. As the situation in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East is becoming more unstable, it is time to resolve the decades-long forcible division of Cyprus.

As a result of Turkey's occupation of northern Cyprus, thousands of Greek Cypriots are still being denied their fundamental right to return to their homes; Greek Cypriot properties are constantly being illegally confiscated or sold without their owners' consent; Turkish troops continue to be stationed on the island; thousands of colonists from mainland Turkey have been transplanted to the occupied area; freedom of worship continues to be severely restricted, access to religious sites blocked, religious sites destroyed and a large number of religious and archaeological objects stolen.

I have been to the island and seen Turkey's destruction and aggression on the northern part of Cyprus first-hand. It was particularly heartbreaking to see the devastation done to the centuries-old churches, and the ghost-town that the once thriving resort town of Famagusta has become.

Unfortunately, over the past 40 years Turkey has continued to obstruct the negotiating process of reunifying Cyprus. Specifically, Turkey has prohibited the exhumation of remains from mass graves, even under supervision from the United Nations (UN), and rejected proposals to carry out a simple technical survey to determine what needs to be done to rebuild Famagusta in the future.

A solid foundation was laid for result-oriented talks on February 11, 2014, with the release of a joint statement from the two community leaders regarding the intention of cooperation between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. The Cyprus Government remains fully committed to the UN sponsored process to reach a sustainable and enduring settlement that would reunify Cyprus based on a bi-zonal, bi- communal federation in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolution.

Now, particularly in the wake of the discovery of offshore gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean, it is more important than ever that Congress stand with our Cypriot allies in finding a fair and functional solution of the Cyprus problem--not only for the best interest of the people of Cyprus but also for the United States' interest of stability in the region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Parks and Recreation Month. This month plays an important role in engaging in educating Americans on the many advantages of parks and recreation facilities and how they play a vital role in the health, safety, and economies of our Nation's communities.

This nationally celebrated month aims to connect Americans with their natural outdoor environment through exercise, recreation, relaxation, and congregation. It is also an opportunity to recognize those tasked with the design, management, and conservation of our parks and recreational spaces, such as landscape architects, city planners, nonprofit organizations, and parks and recreation professionals.

Unfortunately, too many Americans, including children, live in communities with deteriorating parks and outdoor facilities, which hinders their ability to enjoy outside activities. According to the National Recreation and Parks Association, nearly three out of every 10 adults in our country do not spend time outside on a daily basis.

I believe that all cities, neighborhoods, and communities should have access to parks, which is why I introduced H.R. 2424, the Community Parks Revitalization Act. This legislation would help rehabilitate existing and develop new community parks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the tragic loss of Melvin Santiago, a young police officer from Jersey City, New Jersey.

Melvin Santiago, at just 23 years old, made the ultimate sacrifice and gave his life to protect his community. Officer Santiago served as a role model for both his family and his community, working hard to set a positive example for his brothers and cousins.

He knew from an early age he wanted to become a police officer, to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, a retired detective of the Jersey City Police Department.

His death is a deep loss, not only to his mom, Cathy; dad, Melvin, Sr.; stepfather, Alex McBride; his brothers, Jordan and Alex, Jr.; but to the entire city of Jersey City.

We depend on our police officers such as Melvin and the men and women of the Jersey City Police Department to protect us and give us trust that there is order in the world. It is a sacrifice too often taken for granted.

I would like to express my condolences and gratitude to the family of Melvin Santiago and thank all the public safety personnel, police officers, fire, and EMS on the daily sacrifices that they make to protect us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of smart and sustainable management of our country's oceans and fishery systems. America's ocean resources are an important part of our economy and environment and we must work to protect and maintain them.

The seafood industry plays a crucial role in communities across our nation. For example, the Mid-Atlantic region's seafood industry has generated over 137,000 jobs, $18 billion in sales, and $4 billion in income. More sales impacts were generated by importers in New Jersey than any other sector in any other state in the region at $5.5 billion. Employment impacts in New Jersey were the highest in the region with over 13,000 full- and part-time jobs generated by recreational fishing activities in the state.

As researchers, fisheries, and various ocean experts visit Capitol Hill in honor of Capitol Hill

Ocean Week we are reminded of the great benefit strong ocean management laws play in our environment and economy. These policies are necessary to protect our oceans from being overfished and putting various species in danger. With a future full of new and daunting challenges for our fishermen and coastal communities, now is the time we must act to maintain effective ocean management policies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the United States Postal Service 6-day mail delivery.

The most recent proposal offered by the Republican leadership to pay for the highway trust fund by reducing mail service is unprecedented and irresponsible. The elimination of 6-day mail delivery would have a negative effect on the Postal Service and could result in the loss of up to 80,000 jobs.

For decades, the Postal Service has sustained and created American jobs in every corner of the country. Eliminating 6-day delivery service would not only slow the delivery of mail and harm small businesses across America, but it will impose a hardship on the elderly and rural citizens who rely most on mail delivery for medical prescriptions and critical correspondence.

The Republican leadership's proposal to eliminate 6-day mail service will take 10 years to generate enough money to fund the highway spending for just 1 year.

Proposals like these are illogical, short-term fixes for serious problems facing our Nation's transportation infrastructure. Come on, guys. Put on your thinking caps, and come up with a better proposal for America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the Capitol Visitor Center employees for their hard work during this popular tourist season at the United States Capitol. I recognize the great effort, organization, and knowledge it takes not only to lead tours of the United States Capitol, but to help visitors navigate this sometimes confusing building.

In addition, CVC staff is instrumental in assisting congressional offices, such as mine, with coordinating staff-led tours through the Capitol. My constituents enjoy visiting this historic building not only to learn about United States history, but to see where their legislators work each and every day. The staff of the United States Capitol Visitor Center make their visits more enjoyable, informative, and help to ensure history comes alive here at the Capitol.

The Capitol Visitor Center has welcomed approximately 2.2 million visitors since the Visitor Center opened its doors in December of 2008. In March of this year, the Capitol Visitor Center assisted over 155,000 visitors on Capitol tours. In April, despite construction of the rotunda on the second floor of the Capitol Building, the Visitor Center assisted over 209,000 visitors.

Today, I recognize their hard work and thank each and every one of them for what they do for my constituents in the Eighth District and throughout this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month. I commend advocates like the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and the National Tourette Syndrome Association for their untiring pursuit to improve the life of those individuals impacted by Tourette syndrome.

Tourette syndrome is an often misunderstood and stigmatized disorder that affects as many as 1 in 100 Americans.

While symptoms can be suppressed over time, too many individuals, particularly children, face the everyday challenge of trying to manage tics, whether at school or in various social settings. Once diagnosed, many families are at a loss for how to manage this disorder.

Organizations like the New Jersey Center and the National Association provide answers through referrals to an array of services and training for families and peers. Through extended research, we can learn more about the cause and treatment of the disorder.

I have introduced the CARE for Tourette Syndrome Act to assist individuals living with Tourette syndrome by expanding and coordinating efforts towards research for the disorder.

By collecting more data and increasing research efforts, we can better understand the cause of Tourette syndrome. It is my hope that, through a better understanding of Tourette syndrome, we can lift the veil of this disorder and enhance the lives of so many.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the very distinguished Hajji Saleem Aakhir Muhammad for his service in our armed forces.

Mr. Muhammad of Elizabeth, New Jersey, departed this life on January 6, 2012, at the age of 83. He served in the United States Army Air Force and was a decorated World War II veteran. Mr. Muhammad was also an original member of the 332nd Fighters Group Squadron, an all Black unit known as the Tuskegee Airmen, for which he received Congress' highest and most distinguished civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. Following his service, Mr. Muhammad was a small business owner and entrepreneur in New Jersey.

Last week the City of Elizabeth saluted a legend and honored the life of Mr. Muhammad

and his dedication to our country. Mr. Muhammad and his contributions are outstanding examples of service in our military and service to our communities.

Mr. Speaker, this month marks the 3 year anniversary of the conflict in Syria. This conflict is destabilizing the region and has created the largest humanitarian crises we have ever seen. Over 100,000 people have already been killed and 9 million people are currently in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. 3 million people are in hard to reach areas and over 250,000 people have been cut off from assistance for over a year. The UN has characterized the situation as ``dramatic beyond description.'' There have already been multiple failed attempts at peace-talks and cease-fires. The international community and Syrian forces must come together to find a long over-due peaceful agreement and end these inhumane and debilitating acts of violence.

As we celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th, 2014, there is no better time to recognize the role of women in these protracted conflicts. They are not just the victims of violence; they are the resilient leaders working tirelessly to keep their families safe. Women leaders, who are pushing for peace can help further peace negotiations, understand a country's needs for an inclusive transition process and put Syrians on a path to reconciliation.

While we continue to search for solutions, the United States joined by the rest of the world must do all it can to have an inclusive peace process that alleviates the tremendous amount of suffering being inflicted on Syria's civilian population.

Mr. Speaker, raising the minimum wage is a critical step in closing the opportunity gap and building an economy that works for everyone. Yesterday, I joined my Democratic colleagues in filing a discharge petition for an immediate vote on H.R. 1010 to raise the minimum wage to $10.10, generating economic activity, creating jobs, and growing the middle class.

By raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, we can restore fairness for working men and women across the country. Specifically it would raise wages for nearly 25 million people; increase pay and compensation by $35 billion for hardworking American families; and lift between 1 and 4.5 million Americans out of poverty.

Americans deserve an economy where a hard days' work earns a decent day's pay. No hard working American should be forced to raise their family in poverty, but the low minimum wage currently allows for just that. An increase in the minimum wage is not only the moral thing to do, but it would also provide a much-needed boost to our economy. Simply put, when one earns more, one tends to spend more. More and more private businesses are voluntarily raising the minimum wage of their workers because they see the long-term economic benefits.

It is my hope that Congress takes immediate and swift action in raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the issue of joblessness in America.

A simple way to enhance opportunities for all Americans is continued investments in career technical education or vocational schools. Not every

child's career path takes them through a 4-year college. It is necessary to provide opportunities for them to learn skills to apply for a job either right after graduation or through further certification.

Career technical education teaches general employment skills and teaches skills required in specific occupations or careers. It can provide young people with confidence to focus on a career path.

Many occupations taught at vocational schools are in high demand, such as nursing, business administration, culinary arts, automotive maintenance, software programming, and engineering technology.

Our labor market is evolving and placing greater emphasis on high- tech skills. To ensure vocational training keeps pace with these changes, we should encourage private industries to partner with vocational schools to identify emerging job markets and have students trained to fill these jobs.

By investing in career technical education we can ensure that more Americans have secure career opportunities after graduation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my serious concern about the expiration of the federal unemployment insurance program for more than 1.3 million Americans, including more than 90,000 hard working people in New Jersey. At a time when so many Americans are still struggling to recover from one of the greatest periods of economic downturn in our nation's history, it is unconscionable to me that Congress would fail to stand behind those who need our support the most right now.

The emergency federal unemployment insurance program was signed by President

George W. Bush and took effect in 2008. Despite clear economic progress since then, more than four million Americans have been out of work for six months or longer. These are hard working Americans who are now struggling to pay their bills and feed their families.

Yesterday, our colleagues in the Senate took an important first step toward extending the unemployment insurance program for an additional three months. I urge our leadership in the House to allow a similar vote so that the federal government can again provide vital relief for people who worked hard, played by the rules, but at no fault of their own have lost their jobs.

I understand the need to bring our budget under control, but let us not do it on the backs of hardworking Americans. Let us not create even more uncertainty in their lives. Ending this lifeline for America's working families will not grow the economy and it will not balance our budget. Mr. Speaker, I call on you to bring an extension up for a vote today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the importance of investing in safe infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists. I recently read a report presented by the Sierra Club and League of American Bicyclists, entitled The New Majority: Pedaling towards Equity, and as someone who rides a bicycle regularly, I think there's a lot to be excited about in their findings.

Across the nation, bike ridership is up--and the numbers are impressive. From 2001 to 2009 there has been a 22% increase in bike trips among white Americans, 50% for Hispanics, 80% for Asian Americans, 100% among African Americans, and there's plenty of room for those numbers to grow.

Unfortunately, concerns about access to safe infrastructure remains a barrier for many would-be riders. I believe we must do more in Congress to address that. It's a simple fact that when we invest in complete streets with safe pedestrian and bicycle pathways, we create communities where businesses want to invest and families want to live. That is why I plan to introduce a bill in the coming weeks that will create innovative new ways of financing non-motorized infrastructure projects. I am hopeful that this legislation will attract bipartisan support here in Congress, so that Americans of all age and background can enjoy equitable access to safe roads.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Stephen Adubato, Sr., the founder of the North Ward Center and an inspiring figure of the Newark, New Jersey, community. To recognize Mr. Adubato's achievements and contributions, a statue of him reading to two young children will be placed on the main campus of the North Ward Center.

Mr. Adubato began his career in education and as a teacher in Newark, and went on to develop the North Ward Center in 1970, a group of five institutions designed to provide educational, cultural, and meaningful social services to low- and moderate-income families in the area.

From its humble beginnings as a small preschool, the center now includes an adult medical daycare, business training center, as well as the Robert Treat Academy, a charter school that has received national recognition and the honor of being named a Blue Ribbon School.

Since the founding of the center, Stephen Adubato, Sr., has continually worked to improve the quality of life for everyone in the community, from young to senior citizens. Mr. Adubato has been honored by numerous organizations and institutions, such as Kean University and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, for his contributions and dedication to education.

Today, I recognize the accomplishments of Stephen Adubato, Sr., and thank him for his continued dedication to the residents of Newark, particularly the North Ward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in memory of Master Sergeant Nicholas Oresko, the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient and Bayonne, New Jersey, native, who passed away on October 4, 2013, at the age of 96.

In the final stages of World War II, on January 23, 1945, Master Sergeant

Oresko's unit was pinned down by deadly enemy gunfire as the Battle of the Bulge drew to a close.

As platoon leader with Company C, he made a final, solitary attempt to eliminate the German position in nearby bunkers. Master Sergeant Oresko charged the hill, weathering enemy fire, to throw a grenade into the German bunkers.

Refusing to withdraw from the battle, despite being wounded and weak with blood loss, he continued the assault until he was assured the mission was successfully accomplished. His lone assault wiped out two machine gun positions and enabled his unit to take the hill with minimal casualties.

The true impact of his unselfish actions can never be measured as it extends beyond the lives of the men he saved.

Master Sergeant Oresko was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry Truman on October 30, 1945, for his quick thinking, courage, and unswerving devotion to his country and fellow soldiers.

I rise today in memory of Master Sergeant Nicholas Oresko, to honor his courage and to ensure that those who will sacrifice their own safety for the benefit of the Nation are never forgotten.