Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 192nd anniversary of Greece's independence, which we celebrated on Monday, March 25. This event commemorates the day in 1821 when the people of Greece reclaimed their heritage as democratic citizens and restored democracy to their nation.

The ancient Greeks established the world's first democratic government, and contributed to our own understanding of the world in diverse fields such as mathematics, philosophy and medicine. The democratic principles set forth by the ancient Greeks were the archetype for Americans to establish a democracy in 1776 and have guided our nation ever since. These classical ideals inspired our own founding fathers and shaped the United States Constitution which we are sworn to uphold as Members of Congress.

America's relationship with the people of Greece runs deep. Since the birth of our nations, the ties of democracy between Greece and America have been unwavering. The strong partnership between our two countries

has served as vital tool in peacekeeping efforts around the world. Our long, shared history of democracy and peace is an ideal that should be cherished and honored.

Just as my grandparents ventured to the United States from Italy, the first Greek Americans came here to find a better life for themselves and their families. Their descendants have risen to the highest levels of American culture, government and society. Greek Independence Day is a day to honor the contributions, traditions, and successes of our fellow Greek Americans and our Greek friends abroad.

The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, and I am truly proud to recognize and commemorate Greek Independence Day alongside the vibrant Greek community in Northern New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Greek Americans, and all of our Greek friends around the world, in recognizing the 192nd Greek Independence Day.

Mr. Speaker, today, March 18th, I missed three rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: Rollcall vote 76-- ``yea''--Journal Vote; rollcall vote 77--``yea''--H. Con. Res. 18-- Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officer' Memorial Service; rollcall vote 78--``yea''--H. Con. Res. 19-- Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

Mr. Speaker, today, March 6th, I missed a rollcall vote. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall vote 62-``nay''- Final Passage of H.R. 922--Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013

Madam Speaker, while I'm glad that we will have the opportunity to vote on Senate passed version of the Violence Against Women Act today, I can't believe that we have to stand here playing partisan political games with legislation meant to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Since the Violence Against Women Act first passed in 1994, it has had strong bipartisan support. Instead of passing the bipartisan Senate bill, a bill that received 77 bipartisan votes, including the vote of every woman Senator, the majority has decided instead to turn women's safety and security into another partisan political fight by offering their substitute. The statistics tell the chilling story. According to the CDC 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, on average 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. In New Jersey alone, there were 70,311 domestic violence offenses reported by the police in 2011.

The Violence Against Women Act has made great strides when it comes criminal justice and community-based responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in the United States. It shouldn't matter if a woman is an immigrant, or a member of the LGBT community, or a Native American. All women deserve the protections provided by VAWA.

Instead of strengthening the Senate language, the Majority's substitute waters down or completely erases provisions that would make sure that victims are not denied services because they are gay or transgender. It also fails to fully protect the confidentiality of immigrant women.

I reject that partisan approach. I urge my colleagues to vote no on the Republican substitute, and yes on the Senate bill.

Let's show the American people that despite our differences, bipartisanship is possible, and Congress can in fact get some common sense things done. We need legislation that lives up to its name, and lives up to the promises we have made to all women in this nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 65 and I strongly condemn the most recent North Korea nuclear weapons test.

It is unacceptable that the North Korean regime continues to ignore repeated calls from the United Nations Security Council and the international community to halt its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Despite repeated overtures from the international community, the North Korean regime continues to blatantly ignore all attempts to create a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

By conducting this nuclear weapons test, the North Korean regime has decided to brazenly disregard the Agreed Framework of 1994, the Joint Statement of September 19, 2005, the Agreement of February 13, 2007, and four United Nations Security Council resolutions. On February 12, 2013 the United Nations Security Council met again and unanimously condemned the North Korean regimes most recent nuclear weapons test.

This most recent test threatens to destabilize the entirety of Northeast Asia and is a direct threat to U.S. national security. That is why I encourage President Obama and the international community to take swift action against this irresponsible and dangerous behavior. I support new and stronger sanctions against North Korea to show that we mean business. We cannot simply continue to expand previously passed sanctions--they are not working.

My heart goes out to the people of North Korea. On a daily basis, the North Korean people are subject to countless violations of their human rights including forced labor, starvation and wrongful imprisonment. Ignoring the plight of their own people, the North Korean regime would rather continue to isolate themselves, instead of reengage the international community to find meaningful and commonsense solutions. It is my hope that for the sake of their starving people, that the North Korean regime will halt any additional nuclear weapons tests.

Mr. Speaker, as the proud Representative of one of the largest Korean American populations in the country, many of whom fear for the safety of their friends and family abroad, I urge my colleagues to support this vital resolution. We must not stand idly by as North Korea continues to threaten U.S. national security and our friends and allies in the region.

Mr. Speaker, we need a balanced approach to reducing our deficit which makes responsible cuts while also raising revenue. This bill is not the way to do it.

I have great respect for the gentleman's intellect, but this is one of the dumbest bills I've ever seen come to this floor.

Let's take a look at it, Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong opposition to this rule and the underlying bill.

As part of the fiscal cliff deal, we promised Federal employees that they would see their first pay raise in over 2 years on March 27. This is a modest pay adjustment, half a percent. When you say $10 billion, you're talking about $1 billion a year.

Now, a little more than a month before the increase takes effect, the bill before us today would break that promise. Do you think, America, that this is going to solve the fiscal problems that the Congress and President created?

My home State of New Jersey suffered devastating damage from Sandy this past fall, as did a few other States. Employees from FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, HUD, and many other agencies were on the ground immediately.

How dare you ask this pejorative question about, well, what if we took the dollar from the clerk and then provided it to our Armed Forces?

What kind of negotiation is that?

What kind of bartering are we doing?

And we're doing the same thing with our own staffs, the very people that are sitting alongside us and behind us, which is not germane to this legislation, but we're doing the same thing. They haven't had a raise in 2 years.

Oh, wonderful, we're saving the country because we're doing that. These are human beings too. They're not chattel. They're not numbers.

They're not stick figures. They walk the streets, navigating through flooding, debris, downed power lines, these Army Corps, these FEMA folks, in order to assess damages and reach out to the victims. They're not nameless. They're not faceless bureaucrats. These are heroes who continue to contribute each and every day to our ongoing rebuilding.

And darn it, we allowed this to happen 5 or 6 years ago when we laid off thousands and thousands of police officers and firefighters and teachers and we called it saving the country.

Federal workers are also law enforcement officers and firefighters who put their lives on the line for us every day. They work for the Defense Department. They protect us in our times of need, and we need to be there for them.

They've done and continue to do their part. I am tired of us using Federal, State, local, county employees as the scapegoats for our ineptness. Maybe it's the politically correct thing to do to capitulate and join the forces and cut everybody. That's what we should do? I don't think so.

I will debate you anytime on the Federal workers.

Will the gentleman yield?

I wouldn't use the two words that you used. I would use the word ``demeaning.'' We have demeaned our staff, which is not included in this, I understand that. But you want to know something? Those unemployment figures for the last 6 years would be so different if we hadn't laid off those very same Federal employees whom you are now deciding to take a half a percent away from them at this particular time. And for some crazy idea that you'll give the money to the agency to do with it what it wishes, I don't think you meant that, really. I don't think you meant that at all.

Mr. Speaker, the 14th Amendment of the Constitution states, if I may paraphrase, the public debt of the United States shall not be questioned. In other words, we don't even have the power, really, in section 4 of that amendment. Take a look at it and read it, what our objectives are, rather than bring to debate year after year whether we should raise the debt limit. We have to do our jobs.

It would be foolish if people around the world began to wonder, once again, whether or not the Congress will give the President the ability to pay the debts that we racked up. Both sides voted for much of this. The fact is that the United States, as the President said, is not a deadbeat Nation. We will pay our obligations, both to our bondholders and to seniors and veterans and the middle class.

So while I'm glad my colleagues on the other side have edged slightly away from the precipice of default, they are still leaving themselves room to backtrack if they don't get what they want. And just the fact that the conference chairperson has said if we have to shut down the government to make sure that President Obama understands that we're serious, that's almost treason, according to the 14th Amendment.

Mr. Chairman, we either act now, or we wait for the consequences of the terrible silence of the decent. And many folks from both sides of the aisle have worked together. It can be done, not only on this issue, but many other issues.

This was a tragedy. When you visit each town, be it in Long Island or Staten Island, or Hoboken, or Moonachie, Fort Lee, Mantoloking, what's the sign you look for whenever you go in neighborhoods? Water line. That's the sign.

What is the water line of our conscience, of our goodwill, and having double standards for different storms?

We've never done that before as a Nation, and we shouldn't now do it through ideologues and true believers who think one way or the highway.

This must be passed today. I commend Mr. Frelinghuysen, Mr. Rogers, Nita Lowey. Thank you for putting your task forward in a priority. And we're going to pass this today. Congratulations, Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Mr. Speaker, I heard the words a few moments ago about a grab bag. I can assure you that the Governors who introduced itemized lists went into them very deeply with the consultation of local officials. It's no grab bag. That's an insult to the northeastern States that were hit by this tremendous storm. And it's ironic, of those who oppose this legislation, that many of them--and I have the list here, Mr. Speaker, if you want to see it--supported not only disaster aid for their own areas, but some of them got disaster aid personally. The gentleman from South Carolina, he personally took a small business loan, Federal loan, as part of a disaster relief program, yet he comes here and to the Rules Committee to question what we're submitting?

I want to say to the chair and the ranking person in the Rules Committee, you did a good job yesterday. Going through 92 amendments, I don't know how you did it. Of course you dismissed some of them pretty quickly, which was very good. I also want to say, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Cole and Louise Slaughter have been particularly outstanding, along with Rodney Frelinghuysen's amendment, which I will definitely support.

There are two towns wiped out in my district: Little Ferry and Moonachie. Water came over the banks because of the surge. Thank God we didn't have that much rain or else we would have had a far worse disaster.

We stood on this floor after Katrina and voice voted billions of dollars--voice voted. We didn't even take an individual vote.

I think that the record is very clear on what is needed. We have taken out the extraneous and we've taken out what we call earmarks, and I think that those who put this legislation together deserve a tremendous amount of credit.

You would think, Madam Chair, that we're having a Sadie Hawkins dance here today and we're patting each other on the back. The real sponsor of this legislation are the people who have been hurt. And let's be honest about it. It took only 10 days after Katrina until President Bush signed $60 billion in Katrina aid passed by the Congress of the United States.

How dare you come to this floor and make people think everything is okay. In fact, one of the gentlemen from New Jersey said that we've not waited at all. Well, the insurance runs out in 1 week. What were we going to do, wait for 1 week and then act? We wouldn't even be here. Who the heck are you kidding?

So we all come together very nicely this morning for breakfast and eggs. And we know what has happened over the last 10 days. This is a total, total disaster in helping those people that we are pompously saying today and pontificating about we're helping them. Isn't that wonderful? What are our jobs? We're not doing anybody favors. That's why we were sent here. Try it once in a while. Democracy--you may like it.

Madam Speaker, it's now been 68 days since Hurricane Sandy landed. By the time the rest of the $60 billion in aid requested by Govs. Christie and Cuomo comes up for a vote, as the Speaker has promised, on Jan. 15th, it will be nearly 80. Who knows how much longer after that until the new Senate gives their approval?

$60 billion in Katrina aid was passed by Congress and signed by President Bush just 10 days after that storm.

Why is there a double standard? People in New Jersey, in my district, are suffering and they cannot afford to wait a day longer for the aid that they are entitled to as taxpayers of this nation? If we had just voted on Wednesday, it could already be on the way.

I'm pleased that today we are approving more funding for the National Flood Insurance Program, which is going to run dry within a week, but we need to approve the rest of this aid as soon as possible. To not do so would be cruel and unconscionable.

But this is only the beginning of rebuilding the most important economic region of our country.

Two weeks after Katrina, this House passed a serious tax relief measure dedicated to helping those that our disaster aid programs cannot reach, on a voice vote. I and many bipartisan cosponsors, introduced similar measure in the last Congress.

I call upon the Speaker to bring this legislation up for a vote as soon as possible. There are thousands of individuals, small businesses, municipalities and utilities that need our help to rebuild, and it's our responsibility to deliver.

Mr. Speaker, I want to wish you the best. I'm glad there's one more Democrat, but I'm not glad that you're leaving. You're a gentleman.

Look, I don't think that this is time for a pedantic debate. As we say in Jersey, it is time calmly, cooly to take the gloves off. This is the time. There is precedent here. I would suggest to the Governors that they should bring us to court. It's fitting.

Not only did we pass the money for Katrina in a very short period of time--part of it was by a voice vote. Can you imagine? Part of it was by a voice vote within a few days after that disaster. Mr. Cantor voted for Katrina aid; Mr. Boehner did; Mr. Ryan did; Mr. McCarthy did, as did nearly every Member of the Congress from the New Jersey and New York regions. In fact, New Jersey and the other States that were hit by Sandy are some of the biggest donor States, that is, we send a lot of taxes to the Federal Government. Now we need our colleagues to step up to the plate.

As everyone knows, Sandy caused significant damage. In Bergen County, north Jersey--my district--first responders had to evacuate entire towns when the Hackensack River rose over a berm. The Moonachie Police Department will soon be housing trailers and be reimbursed. So let them come to north Jersey. Let them come to Connecticut at the shore of Jersey. Let them come to Long Island and Staten Island and Pennsylvania and Maryland. Let them come. Let them see. The mayor of Little Ferry is just one of the many people in that community whose house was decimated by the high water.

Look, we are, unfortunately, dealing with a schizophrenic leadership on the other side. Let's call it for what it is. Let's not mince words. State and local finances, which are already stretched too thin, allow for the limited or no ability of an area to rebuild alone. Because of the storm, the result will be one of depressed tax collections. We've been working with the Members of the House Ways and Means Committee to draft legislation modeled on tax relief.

Mr. Speaker, as I said, good luck to you. God bless your family.

God bless all of you for coming here this morning. We thought we'd have a shortened week, but our work is still ahead of us. This is the time to stop debating and take the gloves off--Jersey style.

The American people are the real winners here tonight, not anyone who navigates these halls. Let's make that clear.

We don't have a perfect bill in front of us--in fact, we've never had a perfect bill in front of us--but this is a bill which will provide much needed certainty to millions of middle class American families that their income taxes will not increase.

Since the recession in 2008, there has been a 25 percent increase in the number of families below the poverty line in my home State of New Jersey. I'm sure we'll see more as a result of the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. Lest we forget before tomorrow that we need to respond to that storm as all of us responded to the other catastrophes over the past 10 to 15 years. We should not have exceptions, particularly from those States who are donor States. If you want to get into nickels and dimes, then let's get into nickels and dimes. We've done our share and will continue to do it. We want everybody to step up to the plate.

We've been able to help families in need by extending the earned income tax credit to 563,000 New Jersey taxpayers, who will earn an average of $2,169 more because of the program. We have also helped 460,000 New Jersey families take advantage of the child tax credit. Many of you, regardless of which State you come from, your constituents have taken advantage of that great program. Almost 400,000 have been able to use the education tax credits.

Lest we forget what we've done on the alternative minimum tax, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee will tell you how many times alternative minimum tax comes up, and yet we did nothing about it, pushing it patch to patch, year to year. In just one county in my district, 87 percent of the families have been affected.

I ask to have a ``yea'' vote on this legislation so we can all be proud and be happy for a change when we wake up in the morning.

Mr. Camp, Mr. Levin, great job in putting this together. I didn't drink the Kool-Aid when I came to Ways and Means on trade, I can tell you that; but I think that this is a major effort on both sides of reconciliation and putting together a good trade deal, so I want to congratulate both of you sincerely.

I want to congratulate Mr. Michaud for seeking the inclusion of tough enforcement provisions. You can have all the trade deals in the world; but if you do not have tough enforcement, then they mean very, very, very little.

I'm very concerned about the imbalance in trade with Russia, which is trying to be our partner here. I mean, imports in 2011 were $34.5 billion, and exports were only $8.3 billion. I hope we reverse that, or we can change that dramatically, with so many items being reduced in terms of what the rates will be.

In New Jersey, it's very important for us. We export auto parts and medical equipment to Russia, for example; and by them joining the WTO, Russian

tariffs will be lowered for our exports, and that helps our workers get to work.

This has always been the major issue in any trade deal: Does it hurt our jobs or does it help our jobs? And I'm convinced that this legislation will be of great help to get our trade imbalance down to where we want it to be.

But, Mr. Chairman and Sandy, I'm very concerned about using trade as leverage. The Russians have stuck their finger in our eye on the subject of Syria, and I'd like to use trade as leverage.

I want to make sure that Russia does toe the line. This is very serious business. So if we can't get them to move on Syria, the situation only gets worse. Maybe it's hopeful that we have a coalition which was formed just a few days ago. So I hope that we will use trade as leverage not only in Russia.

Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us today is an exercise in hypocrisy.

Mr. Speaker, just a few days ago, before coming down to D.C., we had a commemoration for Monsignor Vincent Puma, who started rehab for drug addicts and for those folks addicted to alcohol. One of his famous statements--he only passed 6 months ago--was: Treat each person with dignity.

With all of this talk and all that you've done, you not only make a political farce out of this--because I've heard a lot of political partisanship, which is not allowed on this floor apparently, supposedly--but you know what you do? You make people, the great majority of people who legitimately--legitimately--are on welfare and have sought a job--and have sought a job--you make them feel less than human.

But Monsignor said treat everybody, every person with dignity, and that's what this is all about.

And for you to put this sham up here in front of us only adds to the disgrace. But only if States show they will use that flexibility to increase workforce. It says it right in the law, quote and unquote.

Never mind that this is a policy that you folks on the other side of the aisle--including Mitt Romney, when he was back in Massachusetts, and our colleague, Congressman Ryan--have asked for.

I will quote the letter written by the Republican Governors Association in 2005, 8 years, at least, after the welfare reform was signed. Here's Governor Romney.

We're going to start with me?

This is what Governor Romney signed in 2005, Mr. Speaker:

Increased waiver authority, allowable work activities,

availability of partial work credit, and the ability to

coordinate State programs are all important aspects of moving

recipients from welfare to work.

I didn't say it; you didn't say it; he didn't say it. Governor Romney signed the letter.

The administration's policy has nothing to do with waiving the work requirement. If anything, you're increasing the work requirement, if you read the rules and not conjecture.

This resolution would block Governors across the country from putting more people back to work. How do you like those fish?

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Trust for Public anniversary of Campus Fire Safety Month.

In September 2005, eleven sitting Governors issued the first proclamation recognizing the month of September as Campus Fire Safety Month. Ever since, public officials across the country have continued to champion the cause of campus fire safety.

Since 2005, over 200 proclamations in honor of Campus Fire Safety Month have been issued by Governors, Legislators, and public officials. I am proud to add my voice in recognition of September as Campus Fire Safety Month.

I first became involved in the issue of campus fire safety following a tragic fire at Seton Hall University in my district, in which three students were killed. Since that time, we have made many strides, including the passage of the Campus Fire Safety Right to Know Act, which will ensure that prospective students and their families are provided with the fire safety records, information and statistics of colleges and universities.

However, there is still much work that must be done. Since 2000, 155 students have tragically died in campus-related fires. While the annual number of fire-related deaths has significantly dropped since 2005, nine students still died in possibly preventable fire-related deaths in 2011.

That is why now, more than ever, we must do all that we can to promote fire safety instruction amongst our nation's college campuses.

It is my sincere hope, that college campuses in New Jersey and across the nation will participate in Campus Fire Safety Month activities throughout September. We must do all that we can to keep our nation's students safe and informed. This is also why I introduced the Campus Fire Safety Education Act, to provide universities with grants they can use to develop or implement campus fire safety education strategies. We must do everything in our power to ensure the safety and security of our children when they leave for college.

The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating

vital observances like Campus Fire Safety Month.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, students, firefighters and educators, in recognizing September as Campus Fire Safety Month.