Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my best wishes to Dr. William F. Owen as he concludes his tenure at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. It is my distinct pleasure to thank Dr. Owen for all he has done for the students, staff and the Greater Newark community for the past four years in his capacity as President and CEO of UMDNJ. I am proud to add my congratulations to that of his family, friends and colleagues as they celebrate in honor of a man who has been an integral part of the changing landscape of Newark. For all the leadership he has shown and the contributions he has made, Dr. Owen is a worthy recipient of the accolades he received on February 22, 2012 during a reception held in his honor.

Fortunately, my office has always been able to collaborate with Dr. Owen and his staff to bring informative programs to residents of the 10th Congressional District at various events including the bi-annual Health and Wellness Expo hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Dr. Owen's involvement was instrumental in making the 2011 Expo a success. Dr. Owen also guided UMDNJ through a tumultuous period of instability. His leadership was key in bringing the institution back to a prominent position within the Newark Collegiate and Healthcare Community.

Although Dr. Owen was very successful during his tenure at UMDNJ, there was one partner who was an invaluable assistant, his wife Alice Owen. Through their combined efforts, they were able to work with the UMDNJ Hospital Auxiliary to help raise funds for several new rooms. These additions helped patients and families have a more pleasant and comfortable experience during their time at the hospital. The greater Newark community as well as the UMDNJ family will truly miss this wonderful team.

Mr. Speaker, I know my fellow members of the House of Representatives agree that Dr. William F. Owen has been an integral part of UMDNJ. He has had a stellar career here in Newark and we wish him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my deepest sympathy to the family, friends and fans of Ms. Whitney Elizabeth Houston whose sudden death on February 11, 2012 has left us all saddened. Her passing leaves a void in the lives of those of us who knew and loved her. It also marks the silencing of a voice that was one of the greatest in the history of the recording industry and one that will be missed throughout the world.

Ms. Houston, known lovingly to her legions of fans as Whitney and to her family and friends as ``Nippy'' was born and raised within the borders of the 10th Congressional District in the cities of Newark and East Orange. Whitney made her singing debut at the family's longtime church home, New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. The fact that Whitney would love to sing came as no surprise to anyone who knew her family's history. The Drinkard Sisters, on her mother side were legendary in the Greater Newark area and beyond. Her mother, Cissy Houston and cousin, Dionne Warwick are both well known talents. What we would discover over the course of Whitney's career would be her incredible international appeal driven by her angelic voice and God given talent. Not only was Whitney a gifted singer but she was an actress, a model, film producer, record producer and songwriter.

Whitney Houston was a Super Star and in 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time. These awards include two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards and 22 American Music Awards. She was a trend setter and influenced many of the artists performing today. Her incomparable style will live on forever with every mention of incredible voices.

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues here in the House of Representatives agree that our nation has lost one of its greatest talents in Whitney Houston. Fortunately for her family especially Bobbi Kristina, her legacy will live on. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Madam Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1173. While my Republican colleagues see H.R. 1173 as a solution to the Department of Health and Human Services' letter to Congress about the CLASS Act, I strongly contend that repeal is not the answer. According to the Department's announcement, there is no viable way forward to implement the CLASS Act at this time but families impacted by accidents and illnesses are also without a viable way forward to meet long-term care needs. The cost of long-term care can be extremely taxing. In 2010, the private-pay rate for a semiprivate room in a nursing home averaged $205 per day, or about $75,000 per year. In comparison, the median total household income for elderly Social Security beneficiaries in 2008 was $20,000 per year. The CLASS Act was established as part of the Affordable Care Act in response to the growing number of citizens with long-term health care needs and the repeal of this act would only impose enormous financial, emotional and physical burdens on these citizens. This is an issue that affects every American family. No one regardless of class, race or creed is exempt from a potential accident or illness requiring long-term care. It is estimated that 15 million Americans will need some kind of long-term care by 2020, but fewer than three percent have a long-term care policy. We should not abandon this effort, rather Congress should come together to find a sustainable solution to address this challenge.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition of H.R. 3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act. This bill is yet another example of Republicans bringing a partisan bill to the floor which has no chance of becoming law.

At this critical time in our economy, Republicans are continuing to pursue their own ideological agenda. Time and again, Republicans continue to choose brinksmanship over constructive engagement with Democrats. Allowing these extensions to expire would have a devastating impact on our economic growth and job creation.

Republicans must put aside partisan differences and work with Democrats so that we can assist millions of Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Putting money in the pockets of American families should be one of our top priorities. It just seems like common sense.

Although H.R. 3630 extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program until January 2013, it also lowers the amount of time benefits are provided from 99 weeks currently to 59 weeks. Furthermore, the bill also would allow States to require a high school diploma or being enrolled in classes for a GED to be eligible for benefits. The bill also offsets the cost by freezing Federal employee pay for another year through 2013.

Although recent data has shown that the national unemployment rate has dropped to 8.6 percent, the African American unemployment rate rose at the same time from 15.1 percent to 15.5 percent. High African American unemployment rates are a direct result of the high job loss in the public sector. During the past year, while the private sector has added 1.6 million jobs, State and local governments have shed at least 142,000 positions.

Because traditionally there has been racial discrimination in employment, blacks have relied on government jobs in large numbers since the Reconstruction era. As a matter of fact, one of the

first job openings for freed enslaved people was the United States Postal Service, which opened their doors and hired qualified ex-slaves during that period.

We will be passing legislation that helps the private sector, but we also need to be concerned about the public sector instead of freezing or limiting their pay. As a matter of fact, the private sector has been very derelict.

During World War II, even though the United States was way behind in our development of a war machine--ships, tanks, and boats--President Roosevelt had to send an Executive order to companies insisting that they hire African Americans because we were losing the effort, but they refused to break down racial discrimination even as we were being outmanned by our enemies. And so we find there is still the difficulty for African Americans to get into the private sector; and we find that, therefore, many are losing their jobs in the public sector.

H.R. 3630 also makes large cuts in health care programs. It cuts over $21 billion from the Affordable Care Act programs, which will increase the uninsured by 170,000 Americans.

Additionally, H.R. 3630 rolls back the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program substantially, making drastic cuts to Medicare, and contains controversial riders that should not be included in this bill.

We should not risk tax increases on middle class families, dropping unemployment benefits for those out of work, or preventing seniors from accessing their doctors through Medicare by including unrelated and controversial provisions.

The bill is fiscally careless, and it increases the deficit by $25.3 billion over the next 10 years, according to CBO.

Due to the more than $21.5 billion in provider cuts, the American Hospital Association is urging Congress to oppose this bill that will harm health care in communities across America.

Important funding for preventive care that was included in the Affordable Care Act is also subject to billions of dollars in cuts. Changes in the bill will result in 170,000 more uninsured Americans.

So, therefore, I urge defeat of this unfair plan, which also throws in the pipeline, which makes no sense.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the decision by the Architect of the Capitol to publicly display two important paintings in the Capitol Visitors Center. ``The Discovery of the Hudson River'' and ``Entrance into Monterey,'' both by Albert Bierstadt, will welcome so many to the Capitol complex as they learn about the history and processes of our country. These works are part of the Hudson River School of Painters, and celebrate the beauty and diversity of the United States.

Coincidentally, two painters in the School have ties to my district in New Jersey. Asher Brown Durand was born, and later died, on a farm in my district. Although he began his career in engraving, Durand's legacy is in landscape painting, as one of the first artists of the Hudson River School of Painters. Durand's influence can be seen in another painter in the School, George Inness. Inness lived in Newark, a town I call home. Inness' distinct style combines the Hudson River School traditions with techniques he learned during travels in Western Europe.

Inness and Durand, like many of their fellow painters, traveled extensively abroad. Upon Durand's return to the United States, he took regular trips to paint the scenery of the Hudson River, the Adirondacks, and the White Mountains.

Durand's style was highly detailed, a hallmark of the School. One of Durand's most famous pieces, ``Kindred Spirits,'' is often cited as one of the epitome of the School's values. This work cemented Durand's place at the forefront of the movement caused by the School.

Durand, as part of the first generation in the Hudson River School, is important because of his influence on later painters in the school, and on art in general. Durand helped form what is today known as the National Academy Museum and School, and served as president of the Academy for several years.

As the School's reputation increased, many of the School's painters traveled extensively to study, thus introducing these men to the culture of the grand capitals of Europe. This motivated many of the artists and other business leaders to found the Metropolitan Museum of

Art in New York City in 1870. Some of these Hudson River School painters later served as trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and were members of the executive committee.

On this very floor many years ago, Congress was moved to create several national parks, like Yellowstone and Yosemite, after viewing the School's magnificent landscape paintings. Eventually, these same paintings were used to encourage Congress to form the National Park Service in 1916.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues, and the American people, can agree with me when I acknowledge and appreciate the achievements of Asher Durand, George Inness, and the Hudson River School of Painters.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to pay tribute to Judge John H. Watson, Jr. as he retires from his position as Municipal Court Judge for the City of East Orange. It is my distinct pleasure to add my congratulations to that of his family, friends and associates as they celebrate in honor of a man who has been involved in every aspect of law for over 30 years. For all the leadership he has shown and the contributions he has made over the years, Judge Watson is a worthy recipient of the accolades he will receive on November 18, 2011.

I consider it a privilege to have been involved with Judge Watson's early foray into public service. In addition to serving on the bench, Judge Watson has maintained a successful private practice where he has used his legal expertise to guide numerous clients through a variety of legal matters. He has been a mentor to new attorneys and has provided internship opportunities to youngsters interested in pursuing law degrees. Fortunately, for the community at large, Judge Watson has always been a fair and thoughtful individual. He is a Vietnam War veteran who obviously has a strong sense of loyalty to his country.

A graduate of Rutgers University Law School, Judge Watson held a number of positions before branching out on his own. He is a member of several Bar Associations and has been an active participant in the Rutgers-Newark Law School Alumni Association. A doting husband and father, Judge Watson is also a loving grandfather, a loyal friend and a trusted confidant.

Mr. Speaker, I know my fellow members of the House of Representatives agree that Judge Watson has been an integral part of the East Orange Court system. His retirement is the culmination of a stellar career and we wish him well in this new and exciting phase of his life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my Republican colleagues to move fast and join forces to extend the unemployment insurance and payroll tax cuts.

Now more than ever, most Republicans are content with cutting off the unemployment insurance and raising taxes on millions of middle class Americans while refusing to raise taxes on the richest 1 percent. The unemployment rates for the month of October in my congressional district of Union, Essex, and Hudson Counties in New Jersey are between nine and 10 percent, which is above the national average. If Congress does not act by the end of this year, 2.2 million unemployed workers, including my constituents, will lose their unemployment insurance benefits by February 2012.

When times could not get any tougher, Republicans also refuse to extend the payroll tax cut holiday enacted earlier this year that gave virtually all working Americans a much needed tax cut. Failing to extend the payroll tax cut will strip over $120 billion from the pockets of consumers. We must act now and extend the unemployment insurance and payroll tax cuts.

Mr. Chairman, H.R. 3094, the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act, really, as you know, should be called the Election Prevention Act.

I'm gravely concerned about today's legislative proposal. Current law recognizes that workers should be able to associate with other units into any appropriate bargaining unit. This bill creates a presumption that all workers should be in a bargaining unit unless it is proven otherwise. That's just the reverse of the way law should be.

It allows employers to stuff the ballot boxes with workers who are not engaged in the organizing drive in the first place, therefore likely to vote ``no.''

It also increases the chances that workers' petition for an election will be rejected, which would cancel elections because they do not obtain the 30 percent signatures from this vast bargaining unit, all ways to try to thwart the election.

The NLRB has proposed rules which would eliminate loopholes in current law that allow unscrupulous employers to delay elections, frustrating workers' efforts to organize. This bill would essentially impose arbitrary delays and block those pending NLRB rules to eliminate avoidable delays.

The fact of the matter is that that bill encourages frivolous litigation. The original bill provided employers with an unqualified right to consistently raise a new issue at any point during the pre- election hearing in order to drag out the hearing. This would include any issue that may reasonably be expected to impact the election's outcome.

This bill does not limit these problems, but states that these issues, even when immaterial to an election, are considered relevant. Based on this fact, a hearing could therefore go on indefinitely, and that's what the purpose of this is.

Furthermore, parties could bring up issues such as economic conditions, or unfair labor practices, or other items not normally considered in pre-election hearings. Additionally, this bill seems to require that the board must finish a request for review before an election can be directed. This will encourage employers to file requests for review, even frivolous ones, to create a backlog at the board and further delay elections.

The current election process needs to be fixed. Employers easily delay and prolong elections giving themselves a unfair advantage to our American workers.

The fact that we are even discussing the ``Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act'' is a mockery. There are millions of unemployed workers across the nation and yet we are here to limit the rights of those who are employed. We should be here passing the American Jobs Act to help the unemployed.

A recent survey, conducted by the National Employment Law Project, NELP, of four of the top job search websites--CareerBuilder.com, Indeed.com, Monster.com, and CraigsList.com--found over 150 job advertisements that specified applicants must be currently employed. That is simply unacceptable.

However, the provisions in the American Jobs Act will prevent qualified Americans, who are unemployed through no fault of their own, from being unfairly screened from employment opportunities.

For over 300 days in the House majority, the GOP has refused to put forward a clear jobs plan. Now is the time to help our workers and not harm them.

Again, I would like to reiterate my strong opposition to H.R. 3094 and I request my Congressional colleagues to do as well.

International Association of

Machinists and Aerospace Workers,

Upper Marlboro, MD, November 28, 2011.

Re. H.R. 3094 Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act.

Dear Representative, On behalf of the International

Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, I strongly

urge you to vote ``NO'' to the ``Workforce Democracy and

Fairness Act'' H.R. 3094. This anti-worker legislation should

be called the ``Election Prevention Act'' because it would

give unscrupulous employers more opportunities to thwart

workers' efforts to organize and also add more delays to an

already broken National Labor Relations Board (``NLRB'')

election process.

This bill was introduced in direct response to the NLRB's

proposed rule to minimize undue delay in union elections.

Instead of minimizing delay, H.R. 3094 mandates it. For

example, no election may occur sooner than 35 days after

filing of an election petition. However, there is no limit on

how long an election may be delayed as a result of employer

claims, challenges and litigation. Delay gives employers more

time to use any means, legal or illegal, to pressure

employees into abandoning their organizing efforts.

H.R. 3094 imposes restrictions on workers' opportunities to

receive information from unions, but does nothing to curb the

power of employers to force workers to listen to their

antiunion propaganda, under the threat of discharge if they

try to object.

H.R. 3094 also manipulates the procedure for deciding who

is in the bargaining unit. The bill encourages the

``gerrymandering'' of bargaining units by codifying a test

that destroys 75 years of Board decision-making.

In sum, H.R. 3094 would delay and ultimately prevent union

representation elections, encourages frivolous litigation,

and manipulates the procedure for deciding who is a

bargaining unit. For the above reasons, I ask that you oppose

this latest attack on workers' rights by voting ``NO'' to the

``Election Prevention Act.''

If you have any questions, please contact Matthew McKinnon,

Legislative Director.

Sincerely,

R. Thomas Buffenbarger,

International President.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Benjamin Hickman Wright, Senior who passed away on April 12, 2011. His beloved family is holding a memorial service on November 23, 2011. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Wright exemplified the highest traits of fidelity to his country and family in a manner truly deserving of this great honor. Mr. Wright was an individual who came from a lineage that strove for excellence in all facets of their work. Over a lifetime of achievement and service to others, Mr. Wright embodied the ideals of hard work and dedication to his community, which is the bedrock of American values.

Mr. Wright was an individual who realized significant achievements throughout his life. This can be traced back to his family who attained advanced degrees in the early twentieth century. In fact Mr. Wright's grandfather and great uncle were the first African American physicians in Ohio. Mr. Wright's father was a top ranking life insurance salesman who also gave back to his community by teaching sharecroppers how to read, write and calculate the price of their produce and goods. After receiving a stellar education, Mr. Wright served in the armed forces during World War II in the European Theater as a First Class Petty Officer of the United States Navy. He was recently honored for his service with an Armed Forces Citation signed by President Obama.

From one generation to the next, it is evident that the Wright family has attained significant accomplishments and remained committed to excellence in their work. Mr. Wright maintained and advanced this work through his many accomplishments including his service in the military followed by his service as an Economic Advisor in Monrovia, Liberia. Mr. Wright would go on to become a business owner and an employee in several fortune 500 companies. By the 1980's he founded a nationwide coalition of civic and fraternal associations that served to empower and up lift others.

His commitment to serving his community and country and his accomplishments benefited and enhanced the lives of many citizens over several decades. His memory and work will be remembered by a grateful nation and I am pleased to add my voice as his family celebrates his legacy.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Mr. Thomas R. Ashley, Esq. who is a recipient of the Daniel L. Golden Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Ashley is one of New Jersey's and the nation's leading trial lawyers. It is with great pleasure and honor that I recognize the legacy of this accomplished attorney.

Mr. Thomas R. Ashley, Esq. is a native of Camden, New Jersey. As a star basketball player at Camden High School, Mr. Ashley received a scholarship to attend Rutgers University. He went on to accept an academic scholarship to Rutgers Law School, later becoming a recipient of Rutgers Law School's Civil Rights Award. With many opportunities and offers at major law firms, it was his law school professor, Mr. Arthur Kinoy, who urged Mr. Ashley to join the national legal staff of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

In 1968, Mr. Ashley prepared his first case with the NAACP lead team for the dismissal of an African-American man charged with the arson of a building in Enid, Oklahoma. Within four years, he teamed up with the well-known criminal and civil rights attorney, Mr. Raymond A. Brown, and started building a Newark based law practice that continues to this day.

Mr. Ashley's other accomplishments and affiliations include membership in the New Jersey State Bar Association, Essex County Bar Association and the National Directory of Criminal Lawyers as one of the top 500 criminal trial lawyers in the United States. He was also named the ``Ten Leaders of Criminal Defense Law for Northern New Jersey'' by Digital Press International in April 2004.

Mr. Thomas R. Ashley, Esq. is an extraordinary attorney, who continues to advocate for civil rights and justice in the Newark community and throughout the United States. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate a noble and well-deserved recipient of The Daniel L. Golden Lifetime Achievement Award.

Forty-three weeks, Mr. Speaker. For 43 weeks, my Republican colleagues have led the House, and they have failed to pass a single bill to create jobs. Our national unemployment rate has returned to 9.1 percent after declining earlier this year and late last year as a result of the Recovery Act.

Yet my colleagues who ran on the platform of upholding a pledge to America to create jobs and strengthen the economy have failed to do so. Instead of delivering on their promise to the 14 million Americans without jobs, the Republican Congress has decided to take off of work for themselves.

This Republican-led Congress has only been at work for 111 days, leaving 105 days off for recess. With so many of our constituents out of work, Congress should be at work on their behalf, doing its job and creating jobs for Americans and improving America's economy.

That is what my Democratic colleagues and I have tried to do. We have proposed commonsense legislation that would strengthen our economy and create jobs now. And we say that this is what we were sent to Washington to do. We must create jobs now.

Mr. Speaker, nearly 25 million Americans are currently unemployed or underemployed; yet despite this disparaging rate, efforts to strengthen the workforce are being derailed by special interest attacks on the middle class and workers. In Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker has taken away nearly all collective bargaining rights from the majority of the State's public employees.

An Ohio referendum on State Senate Bill 5 aims to strip public workers of collective bargaining rights. For the 4 years prior to the enactment of Ohio's collective bargaining law, the State led the Nation in safety forces work stoppages. When the city and its safety forces had a dispute concerning wages, working conditions, and adequate staffing, there was no way to resolve the dispute. That is why the collective bargaining law was passed. And the law has worked. There have been no safety forces work stoppages in Ohio since the law was passed.

Only through collective bargaining do American workers still have a voice. Still, this right is being attacked.

The New Jersey Statehouse passed a bill destroying the right of public sector unions to collectively bargain over health care and pension issues. These efforts to turn back the clock on public safety and on those who protect and serve are unacceptable.

Today I rise in support of the workers of Wisconsin; I rise in support of the workers of Ohio; I rise in support of the workers of my home State of New Jersey. I rise today in support of the millions of Americans who stand as proud union members seeking fair labor treatment and a fair shot at the American Dream.

I have been protected by unions. I worked as a truck driver; I worked as a teacher; I worked on the docks of Newark; I worked as a waiter; I worked in the breweries of Newark--all of them protected by strong unions. And that's what helped me get through college and helped me get to the United States Congress.

Today, I stand with 99 of my House colleagues to speak on H. Res. 452,

which I introduced yesterday and which will recognize the importance labor unions play by ensuring a strong middle class by advocating for more equitable wages, humane working conditions, improved benefits and increased civic engagement of everyday citizens--the 99 percent. Ninety-nine Members cosponsored this resolution, and I'm proud to introduce it.

Unions have pioneered benefits such as paid health care and pensions and have helped strengthen access to the American dream by helping to establish government policies and efforts such as family leave, minimum wage, and Social Security. Unions have also been effective in supporting immigrant rights, trade policy, health care and living wage legislation.

Unions have been the voice for everyday Americans--from consumer protections to health, safety, and civil rights. The labor movement has fought to allow workers to negotiate on more equal footing with their employers, providing for a healthy, balanced workplace.

Unions benefit everyone, members and nonmembers. According to the Economic Policy Institute, if more of the 66 million American workers who want to join a union could join one tomorrow, their paychecks and benefits would increase, but so would millions of others. The union premium, as it's called, succeeds in lifting wages of nonunion employees in the same industries while not being a deterring factor of the State's economic or its growth record.

Unfortunately, there has been a decline in union membership, due largely to unfair labor practices and scare tactics by union-busting employers. Between 1999 and 2007, more than 86,000 workers filed unfair labor practice claims with the NLRB for being illegally fired by their employer for union activity.

As a result of such efforts to weaken unions, among other things, our economy continues to suffer and the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen, undermining the foundation of the American middle class. Contrary to the belief of union bashers, unions do not increase unemployment or reduce job opportunities. Rather, there are a great deal of facts that correlate the strength of the economy and the middle class to the growth or decline of union membership.

Further, a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office also infers the impact that union membership decline has had on our economy and wealth distribution. The report found that from 1979 to 2007, average inflation-adjusted after tax income grew by 275 percent for the 1 percent of the population with the highest income. For those in the top 20 percent of the population, average real income grew only by 65 percent. However, the bottom fifth rose only by 18 percent. Three- fifths of the people are in the middle, and they grew by 40 percent. So that is not an equal distribution of growth wealth.

The Wall Street Journal has stated ``the main reason U.S. companies are reluctant to step up hiring is scant demand.'' Demand is scarce because wages are stagnant while profits are up. The chief investment officer at JPMorgan Chase states: ``U.S. labor compensation is now at a 50-year low relative to both company sales and U.S. GDP.'' While wages are down, profit margins are up.

Let me ask you to support this legislation. We will continue to stand on the steps of Ohio, march in the streets of New Jersey, in our neighborhoods. I, in addition to the 99 Members of the House who support this bill, we urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, our national unemployment rate is 9.1 percent. Yet for 42 weeks, the Republican leadership has ignored the need for a strong jobs agenda and has instead pushed an agenda to reduce workplace protections, and they have gone to weaken our economy. Unfortunately, the only jobs that will result from the Republican agenda are those vacated by victims of workplace injuries and possible deaths due to watered-down regulations. This is not responsible and only hampers our economic growth.

Democrats acknowledge that small businesses are responsible for nearly 70 percent of job creation. As a result, we have proposed the American Jobs Act and the Make it in America Act to support small businesses, create jobs, and strengthen our economy.

The American Jobs Act proposal would create nearly 300,000 education jobs, keep thousands of police and firemen on the job, cut the payroll tax in half, and put more money in the pockets of Americans immediately without adding a dime to the deficit.

The Make It In America proposal would close tax loopholes that encourage outsourcing of U.S. jobs overseas and establish incentives for creating American clean energy jobs.

I ask my colleagues to abandon their misguided agenda and support those measures that will strengthen our country for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Mediterranean Quarterly, a journal of global issues published by Duke University Press in the late in 1980s. Mediterranean Quarterly is edited by Dr. Nikolaos A. Stavrou (Professor Emeritus of International Affairs, Howard University), a true believer in intellectual honesty, professional integrity, and fair play. The Journal is unique in many ways, and has made its mark in the policymaking world and global academy.

Dr. Stavrou ensured that thinkers from all littoral states as well as academic experts in the U.S. have an open and uncensored forum to present and debate ideas. Mediterranean Quarterly has no agenda to promote other than the search for truth without fear or favor. But more importantly, it has made a point to open its pages to prominent African leaders to address issues in true Mediterranean spirit of respect for human dignity.

Over the years, I had the privilege of joining a stellar list of contributors, among them former President Jimmy Carter, former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghalli, the Presidents of Turkey and Croatia, President Salva Kiir of South Sudan, and a long list of academics, foreign ministers, prime ministers and prominent diplomats.

I consider it my distinct honor to have published on a wide range of issues, including Africa, the Cyprus crisis and other issues. The Mediterranean Quarterly is a forum for thinkers and not a place for waging an ideological campaign.

Mr. Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances I was absent on September 21, 2011 for the vote on H.R. 2608, The Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012. However, had I been present I would have voted no for H.R. 2608.