Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today because I know climate change is real, and its impacts are already here. In New Jersey, we know those impacts all too well.

Superstorm Sandy sent an unprecedented storm surge up the Hudson and the Hackensack Rivers that destroyed homes, businesses, police departments, and critical infrastructure that our neighbors are still digging out of this day.

These once-in-a-generation storms have a human toll. In 2017, the destruction and failed response to Hurricane Maria by the Trump Administration led to over 3,000 Americans dying--3,000.

The time for waiting is over. We need to act right now. Climate scientists are in universal agreement. Our planet is warming, and it will continue to inflict catastrophic devastation.

Military and intelligence experts have warned it is a national security threat. You are no longer going to educate Americans to hide their head in the sand.

We need to work together, one nation, as an international community.

The goals some have set above have been called overly ambitious. You bet they are ambitious. These are big problems, and Americans tackle big problems with big solutions.

Supporting H.R. 9 would do just that. It shows the world the United States is committed to the Paris Agreement, that we are serious about setting targets for carbon emissions reductions.

This agreement is the bare minimum we can do to prevent against the impacts of climate change.

We need to be serious about getting this right, that we are serious about preserving the world for our people, for our children, like my grandchildren and their grandchildren, Mr. Chairman, because that is who this is about.

Mr. Speaker, if nominated, I will not run.

This is an interesting subject, not only for the elderly like myself, but for young people who need to know about Social Security.

Many times, younger folks, like myself when I was younger, I didn't talk about Social Security too much. I didn't concern myself with what was going to happen when I was 65 years of age--or now 66, as the chairman pointed out.

But this is going to happen. I hate to tell you: You are going to get older. Mr. Speaker, you are going to get older. You are going to be 66, and then you are going to be 67, et cetera. Then you are going to have to address whether or not there is enough money in this insurance plan for you.

The chairman needs all the credit in the world because we are living in a time when people do not want to address the problems that every American is going to face. It doesn't matter whether you are this party or that party. You are going to be affected by it.

Many people treat Social Security like they treat their health: I am not sick. I am 25 years of age. I am

healthy. Why in God's name do I need to be covered by insurance?

Does that sound familiar? We have a big debate going on as to whether we should mandate the Affordable Care Act. All boats have to rise, or they will all fall.

Secondly, let's put this into a timeframe, as Chairman Larson alluded to. Let's put it in a timeframe.

I compare it to, if I may, an analogy of apples and oranges. Allow me that, please. Give me license to do that.

I compare this to climate change. We started to talk about climate change on this floor--I wasn't here--25 years ago. We have been talking each issue to death, like we do a lot of problems, and we don't do anything.

Two new books just came out in the last week about climate change, more scientific evidence to prove, to support the idea that we are running out of time.

Our shorelines are moving. They are moving inland, not moving out, and this can lead to tremendous devastation.

We know many of these things happen in nature. I have heard that before. But many things are pushed by human behavior, and matters become worse.

And the same thing with Social Security. Presidents in the past, regardless of which party they belonged to, were always willing to make adjustments so that people had those benefits in this insurance program--not an entitlement, not an entitlement--so that there was always adjustments to take care of things.

We have approached that time. We are into that time, and we have got about 12 to 14 years to make up our mind what direction we are going to go in. And I suggest that this piece of legislation, which Mr. Larson has sponsored and I am proudly part of it, this legislation is actuarially acceptable. We know what is going to happen 30 years, 40 years from now.

If we do this legislation, we reduce the anxiety that is involved. And even though you are younger, Social Security affects you because you are paying into it. You don't even know sometimes that you are paying into it, but you are paying into it. You are paying into a social insurance program.

So what is going to happen if we do not address environmental issues is we will be choked to death, literally. That is not hyperbole; that is science. Sorry about that.

We will cut off food supplies. Some areas of the world are already being affected by that. And again, we will move our shorelines.

So, seniors, we need to educate younger people. They need to understand that Social Security takes care of the disabled for young and old. Younger Americans should be concerned and involved with this shrinking reserve in our insurance plan which we have paid into.

So, for too long, I think, in my estimation, the Congress has been silent in the face of this crisis. We are paralyzed on many of the issues. We don't want to act to make things better. We would rather they get worse, and maybe the heavens will open and they won't get worse anymore. I wouldn't count on that. Today we stand up to say the time for action is now. Seniors, families, future generations depend on it.

I talk with people in my district, the Ninth District of New Jersey, every day, even when I am down here, families that are dependent upon their Social Security check as their only means of income, and we are thinking in our heads that maybe we should cut benefits in order to make it better? That will make it worse. That will make it worse. Serious stuff.

So many people depend on Social Security. Think about it. You are 25 years old. Are you thinking about what is going to happen to you when you are 67 years of age and you are living--because you haven't saved enough, or you couldn't save enough, because most people don't have too much to spend day in, day out. We have seen those numbers over the past 3 months. Are you thinking about what is going to happen to you if you have to live on a Social Security check for which the benefits have been cut?

And we raised the age of being eligible for Social Security so we could fit and stretch the reserve a little longer. Raising the age is not solving the problem of when someone is eligible. People retire earlier in this day and age.

We must have courage to act in the face of challenges. Social Security is this insurance program which we want to protect and expand and help senior citizens and younger people and the disabled.

Those who pay into that reserve deserve to know they will be taken care of in their older years, that hard work, paying your dues still means something in the United States of America. Congress must take up this Social Security 2100 Act; they must take that up right now, without delay.

I think, in the Social Security Subcommittee, there are folks on the other side of the aisle who want to see a positive change, but they must have the courage to cross the line and make a decision.

The commitment that I made when I first ran for office in 1996, my first commitment when I ran against an incumbent in my district was this: Social Security will be one of my first priorities, my top three priorities in Congress, that I will try everything in my power to bolster Social Security, and I will never support diminishing the benefits of the insurance policy that I pay into and you pay into and everyone pays into. I think that that is critical.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman. I think that his courage in speaking out--and I am not blowing smoke. I mean this. The courage to speak out on these issues is going to have long-standing effects down the line, because when you are 25, you are not thinking about this. Let's be honest. I didn't. If you talked to me about Social Security when I was 25, I would have rather watched paint dry on a wall. How stupid that was.

You are going to get older, God willing, and you want something back from what you paid into. I mean, is that radical? I don't think that is a radical idea.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman's resolve in this matter--because the chairman has gone all over the country to talk about this legislation. He is serious about it. This is not a photo op. This is not a speech. This is something that needs to be digested, and then you act upon it.

You ask your Congressman: ``What are you doing about Social Security?'' Call him up and ask him: ``What are you doing about Social Security?''

Oh, the Congressman may answer: ``Well, you are not one of those who is going to lose sight of the fact that these are all things that are going to get solved sooner or later.''

``Yeah, but isn't the time shrinking?''

``Yes, the time is shrinking, but I am learning more about it.''

``What are you doing?''

Silence is golden. Silence makes no mistakes.

We need to do something about this now, Mr. Speaker. I commit to the gentleman: You can count on me. This is a sound program.

And, by the way, the COLA doesn't include some of the expenses that seniors go through, which makes it incredible.

Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the many outstanding achievements of Mayor John Coiro. With this Congressional Record, I recognize the many contributions he has made to the people of the Ninth Congressional District.

John Coiro is a native of Totowa, New Jersey. He was born to Ralph and Rose Coiro, who settled in the borough following their emigration from Italy. John presently resides in Totowa with his wife, Marygrace, and their children, Alyssa and Matthew.

In his youth, John attended Passaic Valley High School, where he excelled in his studies. Following high school, John chose to continue his education at Seton Hall University. His hard work earned him a Bachelor's of Science in Accounting and the Magna Cum Laude status upon his graduation in 1981. Nine years later, he received his Master's Degree in Taxation from Seton Hall. John continues to work with Seton Hall as an advisor for their Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

In 1985, John was first elected to the Totowa Board of Education. This was a pivotal moment for John as this would start his dedication to public service. Two short years later, John was elected to the Borough Council at just 28 years old. This position afforded him the opportunity to put his degrees to use and concentrate on the finances of the municipality. John was elected as Mayor of Totowa in 1999. He is currently serving his sixth term, the second longest tenure in the town's history. Throughout his 20 years as Mayor, John has set big milestones in his community, most notably by swearing in the borough's first female police officer.

In 2012, he was inducted into the League of Municipalities Mayors Hall of Fame and serves as a member of the Legislative Committee for the League of Municipalities.

John continues to serve New Jersey as a certified public accountant. He is currently employed as an executive tax director with the international accounting firm Ernst & Young located in Iselin, NJ, where he has worked for 38 years. John has served as president of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSPA), an organization with 15,000 members. In 2013, John was honored by the NJSCPA and placed on their 50 over 50 list of CPA's for his ongoing contributions to the CPA profession and the community.

The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to working with and recognizing the efforts of dedicated individuals like Mr. John Coiro.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Mayor Coiro's family and friends, and the residents of the State of New Jersey in recognizing his outstanding character and service to his community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the outstanding contributions of Gerardo Olivero to the people of the State of New Jersey. His numerous achievements through hard work and dedication inspire generations, old and young. To this day, he motivates his community to achieve their own American Dream.

Of humble beginnings, Gerardo Olivero was born in Avellino, Italy, the youngest of 11 children. The Olivero family moved to Tripoli, Libya in 1939 and worked tirelessly on the land given to them, however, this peaceful life did not last. In 1943, the Olivero family was forced to evacuate Italian Libya due to World War II. They left their new home behind, sought shelter in a refugee camp in Sicily, Italy, and returned back to their hometown of Avellino.

In 1952, Gerardo's father, Constantino, immigrated to the United States and three years later, the rest of the family made the same journey. The seven-day voyage from Naples to Manhattan not only reunited Gerardo with his father, but also opened a world of new opportunities. Making a home in Paterson, New Jersey, Gerardo attended Central High School, where he diligently studied English.

Gerardo worked many jobs to help support himself and his family. His first and most pivotal job was in a coat factory; at the beginning of his career he learned the fundamentals of persistence and gratitude that would make him a role model for his community. While visiting Italy in 1967 for the first time since leaving, Gerardo met and later married Dina Della Salla on October 22 of that year. The two returned to the United States and settled down in Paterson. In 1973 Gerardo became a businessman in his own right, opening a coat factory, which stayed in business for 28 years until his retirement in 2001. This was one of Gerardo's greatest achievements, second to that of raising his family with his loving wife.

In 1955, Gerardo began an active membership in the Roma Club, formed numerous lifelong friendships, became Vice President in 1972, and went on to serve as President from 1982 to 2014. With the Roma Club being a second family to him, Gerardo still frequents the club and keeps his Italian heritage alive as a participating member, whilst residing in his Pompton Plains home of 43 years and enjoying being a proud father and grandfather.

The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to working with and recognizing the efforts of dedicated individuals like Mr. Gerardo Olivero.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Gerardo Olivero's family and friends, and the residents of the State of New Jersey in recognizing his outstanding character and service to his community.

Mr. Chairman, the legislation on the floor today contains within it the Presidential Tax Transparency Act, a bill that I lead with our prime sponsor, Representative Anna Eshoo from California. This legislation requires sitting Presidents as well as future Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates to release 10 years of their tax returns.

The manager's amendment is right to add disclosure of returns of any business in which the candidate is a prime owner.

These commonsense transparency measures will codify into law the precedence of Presidential candidates releasing their tax returns, a precedent that goes back to Richard Nixon.

President Trump broke with more than 40 years of this precedent when he declined to release his tax returns, despite promising to release them. He has yet to do so, and recent polls show 64 percent of Americans support their release.

Thanks to the Oversight Committee, we now have on-the-record testimony in evidence that this President may have committed crimes as President. Michael Cohen received reimbursement for illegal campaign contributions from Trump directly. If President Trump wrote these payments off as a business expense, that would constitute fraud, and his returns will show that.

In addition, The Trump Organization allegedly inflated their revenue in financial documents to obtain loans. The business' tax returns would show whether their profits were accurate or if they filed fraudulent documents.

The President's conflicts of interest and finances must be investigated.

With H.R. 1, we are setting down a marker that we expect standards of ethics and transparency for all Presidents going forward. With norms and precedents being shattered daily, Congress must codify certain norms into law. The law is on our side, 6103.

Mr. Chair, I support H.R. 1 for taking needed steps to get dark money and foreign money out of our politics; restore voting rights that are under assault in States around the country; improve our election security, as you heard the last gentleman say, Bennie Thompson; and restore integrity to our democratic process.

In too many States, the clock is turning back on voting rights and election integrity. Voter suppression has become a scourge in our democracy. For anybody to deny it on this floor, they haven't been in the country.

Mr. Chair, these reforms are long overdue. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, to Virginia Foxx and to David Price, I would expect you two to be here. I really would.

To the gentleman and the gentlewoman and to the staff, I sat quietly in the back, but I know what you felt about Walter Jones. I say thank you to you for serving him as he served you and all of us.

In a moment when our Nation cries out for principled leadership, the loss of Walter Jones is especially difficult. The challenges we face right now really demand the wisdom of men and women like Walter Jones. The absence of his voice in our Chamber is devastating.

Walter Jones was a real patriot. He was gentle but persistent. He was fervent but not self-indulged. He was a real winner.

Our tenures in this place overlapped almost completely, so I had the pleasure of working closely with Walter many, many times.

There is no Member I have served with, man or woman, Democrat or Republican, old or young, who was more forthright or was more courteous or kind. He was revered for his generosity because that is exactly who he was.

Walter was my friend, and I was his friend. We had been leading an effort, both of us, to get Congress to reassert its prerogatives and apply oversight of the executive branch of government. Walter stood up by himself for this.

If operating in the minority was a lonely crusade for us, imagine how it was for Walter to cast those votes all by himself. He understood the song we sing many times on Sunday, ``Be Not Afraid.'' He was not afraid, but for Walter Jones, it was just another day at the office.

Walter made a career standing up by himself, guided solely by what he thought was the right thing, and he was often punished for it. He was stripped of political clout and prestige for his independence.

He was a person of faith who respected all faiths. We were all equal in Walter's eyes and in Walter's heart. What a lesson. So it is important to understand what that really entails.

There may be nothing more difficult than standing alone. We see every day here how challenging it is for men and women to stand up when everyone else is lined up against them. So even when you know a position, a vote, an act is right, to do it alone takes immense confidence, courage, and unswaying principle.

Walter Jones embodied those qualities as much as anyone who has served in the people's House. There was only one Walter Jones, and we have lost him. We could use a lot more like Walter. He was not a photo op. He was the real thing.

Thank you. Thank you for your gracious friends who came tonight to speak about you, and it was from everyone's heart. I hope that Congress learns something.

Thank you, Walter.

Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the outstanding contributions of Yu Gwan-sun to her country and to the ``March 1st Movement.'' Her courage united the people of South Korea to fight for their freedom and inspired many to persevere through hardships. Yu passed away upholding her beliefs and resistance against the colonial rule.

Nine years after the Japanese military rule of the Korean Peninsula, the push for Korean independence against Japan began in Seoul on March 1, 1919. Back then, 16-year-old Yu Gwan-sun gathered her classmates and began protesting on the streets. Yu's efforts garnered support from many community members and she became involved in peaceful student demonstrations. The protest, however, led to the closure of all schools in South Korea. Yu was briefly detained, and ultimately forced to return to her hometown, Cheonan.

Yu was not deterred by these obstacles, instead she spread a copy of the United States Declaration of Independence from town to town, rallying for support. Her efforts encouraged 3,000 citizens to protest on April 1st. Unfortunately, during the protest, nineteen people were shot and killed by the colonial police, including Yu's parents. This sparked a nationwide uprising with over two million people participating in independence marches. Of the two million, 700,000 were killed and 46,000 were imprisoned.

Yu was captured, jailed, convicted of sedition, and sent to Seodaemun Prison in Seoul. Even in prison, Yu was extremely rebellious. She demanded the release of other prisoners and continued to display her support for Korean Independence. In addition, Yu helped organize a large-scale protest with other inmates until she was transferred to an underground facility where they tortured and killed her.

Yu Gwan-sun's courage of conviction, even after countless setbacks, made her the symbol of Korea's Independence movement. She inspired countless amounts of people to take a stand for their freedom and sense of self. Although the ``March 1st Movement'' did not immediately result in Korea's Independence, Yu's presence throughout the protests united many individuals.

Over 100 years ago, United States President Woodrow Wilson's ideas of self-determination to resist the occupation of Japanese military rule inspired the Korean people. It is estimated that approximately two million Koreans participated in more than 1,500 demonstrations for independence. These acts became the catalyst for the Korean Independence movement that would help unify the Korean people in their quest for independence in 1945.

Our alliance with the Republic of Korea has always been firm. South Korea has remained one of the United States' closest and most steadfast allies and partners. Our shared belief in self-determination is pivotal to our joint success and I am proud to rise today to honor that history. I hope my colleagues will recognize the importance of the Korean March 1st Movement as a reflection of our own values of freedom.

The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to working with and recognizing the efforts of dedicated individuals like Ms. Yu Gwan-sun.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, family, friends and the residents of the Ninth Congressional District in recognizing, Ms. Yu Gwan-sun and her outstanding character and service to her country and community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the people of South Korea in their fight for independence. This push for Korean independence from Japan would begin in Seoul on March 1, 1919 and spread throughout the country.

Over 100 years ago, the Korean people were inspired by former Governor of New Jersey and United States President Woodrow Wilson's ideas of self-determination to resist the occupation of Japanese military rule. This revolutionary spirt was aided by release of a Korean Declaration of Independence that was written by 33 core activists in the Samil Movement. The declaration was read by the leaders in the Seoul and in townships throughout Korea by supporters of the movement.

Attempts by the Japanese military to suppress the Samil Movement's peaceful gatherings gave their followers a stronger will to keep demonstrating. It is estimated that approximately two million Koreans participated in more than 1,500 demonstrations for independence. Several thousand were massacred, wounded and arrested by the Japanese police force and army in what is known as the Bloody History of the Korean Independence Movement. These acts became the catalyst for the Korean Independence Movement that would help unify the Korean people in their quest for independence in 1945.

Our alliance with the Republic of Korea has always been firm. Korea has remained one of the United States' closest and most steadfast allies and partners. Our shared belief in self-determination is pivotal to our joint success. I am proud to rise today to honor that history.

I look forward to joining my constituents on February 26, 2019 for a ceremony recognizing the Centennial of the March 1st Movement. I hope my colleagues will recognize the importance of the Korean March 1st Movement as a reflection of our own values of freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom to self-govern.

Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the many outstanding achievements of Mr. Albert Burstein. I recognize the many contributions he has made to the people of the Ninth Congressional District and the State of New Jersey.

Expressing the influence of Mr. Albert Burstein to our community and country is an honor. A Columbia graduate, lawyer, political reformer, state legislator and World War II veteran, Mr. Burstein stands as an example to us all. As a member of our Greatest Generation, Albert was present for many of our country's greatest challenges. It gives me great pleasure to add my personal appreciation and commendation for all that he has done.

Born on November 22, 1922, to Julius and Hannah Burstein, Albert's story begins with his family in Jersey City, New Jersey. Julius and Hannah were immigrants from Poland and Albert spoke highly of their willingness and bravery to start a new life here in the United States. I know Albert was a source of great pride flourishing in the new country they called home. Let his experience be another success story to others in pursuit of the American Dream.

On December 7, 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor would change the lives of many Americans, Albert Burstein included. A student in his junior year at Columbia University, Albert was cognizant of the looming threat in Europe. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor would postpone his studies at Columbia University and on May 8, 1943 Albert would be dispatched to Wheeler, Georgia for basic training.

While a recruit, Albert was enrolled in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). Assigned to study German history and language, Mr. Burstein was temporarily transferred to the University of Nebraska to complete his training. This endeavor would be short lived since the growing demand in Europe would abruptly end many of the U.S. Army's training programs. Moved between Louisiana and Mississippi for advanced infantry training, in the period of a month Albert was in Cherbourg, France.

Enduring the rigors of war, Albert served our country for thirty- three months in active duty. For Albert's valiant efforts in WWII, he was honored with the Bronze Star and named to the French Legion of Honor for his service in France. Albert Burstein answered the call and came home safely. WWII is one of the greatest challenges our nation has ever faced, and Albert Burstein stands as a great American who answered the call to duty.

Returning to civilian life, Albert reenrolled in Columbia University where he would meet his wife Ruth and complete his education with a law degree. Albert and Ruth would marry in December of 1950 and have three beautiful children together, Jeffrey, Diane and Laura. Living in Jersey City, Mr. Burstein established Wolf Baumann and Burstein, a place where he would work for thirty years. While living in Jersey City, Albert would get his first taste for politics starting an independent committee aimed at addressing the needs of the city and its people. Nevertheless, Albert and Ruth would move to Tenafly, New Jersey after determining they wanted to move to a quiet town.

Living in Bergen County, Albert would establish himself as a political authority. Holding office in the New Jersey State Legislature for ten years, Mr. Burstein would represent the 37th legislative district. As an Assemblyman, Mr. Burstein would serve as the Assembly Majority leader and advance many important causes during his time as a public servant. Presiding on the New Jersey Election Law Revision Committee and the Law Revision Commission, Assemblyman Burstein championed efforts to reform New Jersey's election and public financing laws.

The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to working with and recognizing the efforts of dedicated individuals like Mr. Albert Burstein.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, family, friends and the residents of the Ninth Congressional District in recognizing, Mr. Albert Burstein and his outstanding character and service to his country and community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the outstanding and selfless achievements of Rabbi Ephraim Simon.

Rabbi Simon is the director of Chabad of Teaneck, New Jersey. As a rabbi, he has focused his studies on the three intellectual divisions of wisdom, comprehension, and knowledge but also a great focus on responsibility and love. For some, these may just seem like religious principles, but to Rabbi Simon they are more than that: they are guiding outlines for how to live one's life that he emphasizes every day in service to his community.

Rabbi Simon's commitment to community and charity was evident in 2009 when the rabbi selflessly donated one of his kidneys to a total stranger. This noble act saved the life of a father of 10. Because of Rabbi Simon's generosity, he inspired others in the Teaneck community to follow in his footsteps and register as organ donors.

Rabbi Simon could have stopped there, but he did not. Nearly a decade later he saved yet another stranger's life. Enduring a difficult surgery, on December 20, 2018 Rabbi Simon donated a third of his liver to Adam Levitz, a father of three suffering from critical liver failure. This act of goodness has given Mr. Levitz a new chance at life.

To give a kidney or a liver is an act very few can say they have done, to have given both to complete strangers is an act of generosity unknown to nearly all of us. The rarity of these procedures is not only due to a requirement of great courage and selflessness, but also due to the great physical risks they carry for the health of the donor. Donating part of one's liver, when one also only has one kidney, has such risks of complications that Rabbi Simon and Mr. Levitz could only find one clinic in the country who would perform the procedure.

Rabbi Simon's inspiring acts are done not for publicity, but out of a desire to inspire others to have a positive impact on those around them. In the words of Rabbi Simon, ``a rabbi's greatest lesson is how he lives his life.''

Madam Speaker, Rabbi Simon's selfless acts serve as an inspiration not just to his wife and nine children, but also to the community in Northern New Jersey and across our country. Rabbi Simon deserves great respect for his deeds.

To honor Rabbi Simon and his acts, I wish to recognize his commitments to saving lives and improving the world around him.

Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today did not go through committee like a bill this large should. We could have offered amendments to address some of the most pressing issues with this tax bill.

I would have started with how this bill cherry-picks winners and losers, with many of the losers being in States like the State I live in, the State of New Jersey.

This is, again, let me repeat, ``Weekend at Bernie's.'' They prop up the dead tax bill, make it look alive, and then they bring in something that makes it look even more dead.

That didn't work; this will not work. You didn't run on it; you will not run on this.

Our State got slammed by the new cap on the State and local tax deduction, better known as SALT, State and local taxes, the oldest deduction in the books. The GOP tax scam took money from homeowners and communities in my State and others to fund their massive giveaway to big corporations. The data is there. It is clear. It is succinct. It is definitive.

Republicans even bragged about using their tax scam to hurt New Jersey and the region. Imagine that. Imagine bragging about deliberately hurting millions of people. My amendment would have restored this critical deduction, but it was blocked.

This bill before us today provides targeted relief to victims of disasters, but only a select few. There have been 13 disasters since we last held a committee meeting on a tax bill, and I

don't see them listed here, not to mention the tax relief that victims of Hurricane Sandy never received in the first place.

There is a bill that would provide disaster tax relief to all federally declared disaster areas automatically, which it should be, so we don't have to play these partisan games of picking and choosing. If we want to help people, let's vote on it.

There are provisions in this bill that I would have supported, but our chairman made no such attempt to reach us. In fact, we didn't have any witnesses. In fact, we didn't have any hearings. How about that for democracy?

Instead, this is nearly $100 billion.

It is unpaid for; you are very good at that. It is undebated; you think you know all of the answers. And it is very, very partisan. So much for reaching out. And most important, it utterly ignores the needs of workers in this country.

Mr. Speaker, did you hear that General Motors just announced 14,700 workers are losing their jobs? Does this bill do anything to address that? No. In fact, the underlying tax bill they are trying to fix today--remember Bernie?--did nothing to help those workers either.

General Motors moves American jobs to China and Mexico. They will be paying a lower tax rate for the pleasure, from 21 percent to a minimum of just 10.5 percent. How do you justify that?

And we continue to let them deduct the cost--get this. We allow them to deduct the cost of moving their operations overseas.

How un-American do you get? We need to stop that.

There is a bill, by the way, to do that, if you noticed.

If you can believe it, General Motors saved more than $150 million so far this year thanks to the GOP tax scam, and they appear to have benefited by as much as $6.5 billion by the tax holiday for offshore cash hidden in this GOP bill.

The data is clear, Mr. Speaker. Read it. Yet here they are shipping jobs overseas just in time for the holidays.

You might think after they were repudiated at the ballot box that Republicans would show some humility and extend a hand to work with us, reach out. No. All they could do is smile and say: Bernie, it is your year. Don't worry about it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6615, the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2018.

I join the traumatic brain injury community in expressing my gratitude to both Chairman Walden and our incoming Chairman Frank Pallone for their work to swiftly move this important legislation forward. Millions of Americans living with a traumatic brain injury can be assured that better treatments and potential cures are in the not too distant future.

While the House passed legislation unanimously just last week, the Senate made some minor changes that are both welcome and nonsubstantive before they passed the bill yesterday.

There is one semantic change that does not have any impact on definitions or programs, as well as a regrouping of funding in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TBI budget.

While the bill includes the same amount of funding that was included before, it will give the CDC more flexibility to use and sustain their funding to implement the National Concussion Surveillance System. As the lead sponsor of this bill, I fought hard to ensure it contain the increase in funding that we secured in the fiscal year 2018 omnibus, as well as enough funding for CDC to finally be able to implement the Nation's first surveillance program.

I might add to the Speaker and to Mr. Walden, back in 1999 and 2000, when we put the task force together with Jim Greenwood from Pennsylvania, this was our first objective. After 20 years--we are slow learners--we finally got it done. This is going to be a big help to researchers and doctors throughout the United States of America.

The CDC has wanted to implement this for years. This funding will finally allow them to capture the full picture of brain injury so that we can better understand the breadth and depth of

the problem and use that to work towards solutions.

Helping people who have suffered these catastrophic injuries is not a political subject. There is no Democratic or Republican way to treat a traumatic brain injury. I am pleased that we have strong sponsors and support from both parties on both sides of the aisle.

When I co-founded the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force in 2001, Members, including me, were unaware of the extent and impact of TBI--I will be very frank with you. Today, we fulfill decades-long work from tireless advocates to bolster our Federal agencies, States, and local providers. They deserve Federal resources to provide the support and breakthrough research necessary to put an end to this condition.

The TBI Act reauthorization will help servicemembers on and off the battlefield, athletes on the ball field, and children and families across the country who are living with brain injuries. We have a long way to go, but the journey forward is clearer today with the passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Senator Hatch and Senator Casey for quickly advancing this important legislation in the Senate. I will continue working with them and my co-chair, Tom Rooney, to ensure this legislation is soon signed by the President.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 6615, the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2018, and I also would like to thank Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone for their work to move this important legislation forward. I am grateful to House leadership for bringing this for a vote. I want to associate myself with the words of Mr. Burgess and Mr. Green.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Congressman Green and Congressman Burgess for their steadfast work to improve our Nation's health landscape over the past several decades, and especially during Mr. Green's tenure on the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. How time flies.

I would also like to give a special thanks to my colleague, Tom Rooney, who sponsored this legislation with me. Congressman Rooney has been a great partner as my co-chair of the Congressional Traumatic Brain Injury Task Force. Over 20 years ago, Mr. Speaker, we put together the task force on a bipartisan basis, and it is still going, and it is still very, very active.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for all he has done for Americans living with brain injuries during his time in Congress.

I am glad to see this body come together in a bipartisan manner to support the work being done in our Federal agencies and across the country to expand research and prevention in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury knows no bounds. It affects people of all backgrounds and every ZIP Code. We are only at the precipice of understanding how prevalent that is. The passage of this legislation will fulfill a very critical obligation to Americans living with brain injuries, including our servicemembers, our athletes, and our children.

This reauthorization is especially important because it includes for the first time funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention so that they can determine how many Americans have sustained a brain injury. This will give us critical insight into the problem.

Dubbed the signature injury of servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, TBI has continued to occur on the battlefield. TBI happens on the sports field as well, and we are working diligently to address this.

We have come a long way to improve safety screening and rehab since we first talked about TBI two decades ago, but much more must be done. This legislation makes the right investments in our Federal and State TBI initiatives; provides those living with brain injuries the supports that they need, and when we are supporting the brain injured, we are also supporting their families. It includes critical increases in funding and modernizes how the government oversees TBI.

Our legislation is endorsed by the Brain Injury Association of America, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, and the American Academy of Neurology.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with Congressman Rooney, the membership of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, as well as Senator Casey and Senator Hatch to send this legislation swiftly to the President's desk.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 140, the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018. Congressman LoBiondo has served his constituents in New Jersey's 2nd congressional district well, including the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in Cape May, New Jersey. From his position on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, a panel on which we served together for a decade, he successfully fought on behalf of our state and the brave men and women in uniform who guard our nation. Congressman LoBiondo has focused on strengthening our nation's maritime industry, which is a critical source of jobs and economic output in New Jersey. During his time in Congress, Congressman LoBiondo fought to improve the lives of our service men and women and their families. Given his service to bettering the Coast Guard, it is fitting that this year's authorization legislation is named after Congressman Frank LoBiondo. I look forward to this bill's passage and strongly urge all my colleagues to support

Mr. Speaker, due to a matter at home requiring my attention, I missed one recorded vote on Friday, November 16. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 420.