Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the King amendment and urge its defeat

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner and Ranking Member John Conyers for their hard work on the Voting Rights Act and for the opportunity to speak on the importance of passing this landmark piece of legislation.

I stand in opposition to the King amendment to strike sections 7 and 8 of the bill which ensure that all American citizens, regardless of language ability, are able to vote on a fair and equal basis.

Recent discriminatory actions in the States of Georgia, Texas, the Dakotas and even in my home State of New Jersey underscore the importance of including provisions such as language assistance for potential voters and the pre-clearance of electoral changes for covered jurisdictions.

In fact, in New Jersey there are approximately 1 million Spanish- speaking voters, which quite clearly exemplifies the need to extend provisions such as section 203. In 1999, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division found that Passaic County, New Jersey, was discriminating against Latino voters by denying equal access to the electoral process. The Civil Rights Division entered into a consent decree with the County of Passaic, and now the elections are monitored by the Federal observers. A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court of New Jersey appointed an independent elections monitor to ensure that the county complies with the court orders. The monitor assisted the county in its efforts to comply with the court's orders.

Today, the House of Representatives stands at a fork in the road. On one side, we can journey down the path where we ignore past and recent history that has shown discrimination and disenfranchisement still prevents U.S. citizens from exercising their inherent right to vote. I am one of the Members of this Chamber who marched for civil rights back in the 1950s and 1960s.

From my first-hand experiences, I can attest that our gains have been hard-fought and a long time coming. Fortunately, we still have the opportunity to choose the right path of action.

The reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act is a reaffirmation of the values upon which America was founded. The American principles of justice and fairness compel this Congress to pass this piece of legislation without weakening amendments. Martin Luther King Jr., whose life and death symbolized the struggle for equality and justice along with his wife Coretta Scott-King, said that, ``Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'' If we pass the Voting Rights Act with these odious and retrogressive amendments, we are not only turning our back on the sacrifices of those who were harmed and killed for our right to vote but also turning our back on our diverse constituencies who have entrusted us to stand up for justice and equality for all.

I applaud the bipartisan efforts that have cleared the way for this bill to be voted on and I urge all Members of the House of Representatives to complete this journey with the swift and clean passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to acknowledge Project GRAD Newark as it hosts its sixth annual scholars celebration on Monday, June 19, 2006. Project GRAD has every right to be proud of its accomplishments and a celebration is indeed in order.

Project GRAD Newark was established in 1998 to provide support and an educationally enriched opportunity for Malcolm X Shabazz High School and eight schools that feed students to it. The objectives of Project GRAD Newark are to raise the level of academic performance in mathematics and literacy; to have students believe in their ability to achieve; to have all students aspire to graduate from high school and pursue a college education and to have students strive to receive the $6,000 Project GRAD scholarship. Fortunately for the students of Newark, Project GRAD Newark expanded to include Central High School and its six feeder schools in 2000.

In both instances, the leadership of the Newark Public Schools assessed key indicators of progress and determined these two feeder groups were lowest in the district. These schools needed the GRAD reform initiative to support them with research-based programs, services and resources.

Project GRAD Newark is the first expansion site for the model that was developed in Houston, TX, in 1993. With initial support from Lucent Technologies Foundation and the Ford Foundation, the Newark Public Schools entered into partnership and launched Project GRAD Newark.

Today, 16 schools serving over 8,500 students, 485 teachers and 50 administrators constitute the Project GRAD Newark family. All can share in the joy of the improvements in each of the schools. On-time graduation rates at Central High School have doubled since it became a GRAD school. At Malcolm X Shabazz, the on-time graduation rate has improved by 20 percent compared to the years before it became a GRAD high school.

This year 109 students, 60 from Malcolm X Shabazz and 49 from Central, will graduate with the $6,000 Project GRAD Newark Scholarship as they go off to college this fall. At a time when the City of Newark is struggling to reduce crime in the streets and help young people have hope and focus for a bright future, these students are taking full advantage of the opportunities Project GRAD Newark provides. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in congratulating these students on their achievements and all those associated with the Project GRAD Newark program in helping to facilitate this significant program.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Jacqueline A. Young, PhD, as the Dr. Jacqueline A. Young Education Center is dedicated on June 15, 2006, in Fairfield, New Jersey. It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows Dr. Young, who received her Doctorate of Education from Rutgers University, Graduate School of Education, that such an honor would be bestowed upon her for her many years of dedicated service to the Essex County Educational Services Commission.

An educator since 1974, Dr. Young has been involved with many aspects of this noble profession. She has been a teacher, a Basic Skills Consultant, a Coordinator, a Supervisor, a Director and has held her current post as Superintendent of the Essex County Educational Services Commission since July, 1992. Prior to being named Superintendent, Dr. Young served the commission as Director beginning in 1986. During this period, Dr. Young has been responsible for many new programs and initiatives which have resulted in sustainable growth and institutional stability. Under her guidance, both staff and students have been exposed to professionalism at its finest as Dr. Young is the epitome of excellence in leadership.

With facilities such as the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center under her control, Dr. Young is certainly challenged on a daily basis to provide educational opportunities to students that are coping with a variety of other distracting issues. In order for students to retain a semblance of their high school experience and to allow them to embark on their new life journey with a clean slate, Youth House graduates earn diplomas from their respective high schools. In part, this results in some students retaining their interest in education. Dr. Young manages to get their attention and to remain a woman of ``grace under pressure.''

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Young does an admirable job in serving her community well and the

Essex County Educational Services Commission is thriving under her leadership. I know my fellow House Members join me in wishing Dr. Young continued success in her career with the Essex County Educational Services Commission. To have a building named after her is a well deserved honor and a fitting tribute to Dr. Jacqueline A. Young, Educator Extraordinaire.

Mr. Speaker, the Taiwan Chapter of the Democratic Pacific Union will sponsor a symposium this summer (August 12-14) in Taipei, Taiwan. The symposium will include topics such as legislative and democracy, legislature and the electoral process, legislative procedures and rules, legislature and campaign finance. All these topics are very timely and relevant to the legislative process.

Taiwan's efforts in promoting democracy throughout the Pacific regions are laudatory. In addition to the upcoming symposium, the Taiwan Chapter of the Democratic Pacific Union has sponsored other worthy programs such as a training program on hazard mitigation with emphasis on typhoon-related disasters and fellowships for students from Democratic Pacific Union member states to study in

Taiwan as well as invitations to distinguished women throughout the Pacific regions to come to Taiwan to discuss women's issues.

Best wishes to the Taiwan chapter of the Democratic Pacific Union on their upcoming conference.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues a very innovative educational program which is helping to address the need for doctors and other trained medical professionals. As a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, I am supportive of expanding educational opportunities for students interested in medical training.

Last year I had the opportunity to visit the American University of Antigua and to meet with students from my home State of New Jersey who are enrolled there. This school was founded only a few years ago and has already had an immense impact on the surrounding community, as well as the lives and careers of medical students around the world. Its founder, Neal S. Simon should be commended for establishing a quality medical education program that accommodates the need for diversity in medical education.

As part of a new and exciting partnership, the American University of Antigua is now cooperating with Tuskegee University, a Historically Black College, to explore developing a veterinary school at its campus in Antigua. Officials from Tuskegee University were happy to offer ideas and advice. This would be an important educational development for American University of Antigua and the community, due to the severe need for trained veterinarians in the Caribbean.

The students at American University of Antigua, while primarily American citizens, hail from all over the world. They are committed to a high standard of learning and achievement. The faculty of the AUA is comprised of distinguished scholars who have mostly worked in American and European medical schools. The school has also enhanced the surrounding community by providing doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. The American students attend the university and receive training at an academic standard equal to what they would receive in the U.S. and are then able to obtain medical license in the United States where they contribute to easing the physician shortage that the United States is experiencing. Medical and nursing schools are running at full capacity in the United States, and AUA helps the American medical system fill its need for trained professionals.

The willingness of this university to work with other schools, such as Tuskegee, to improve its programs is commendable. The ability of this university to provide a world class education to a diverse group of students while adding much needed resources to the American and Caribbean community should be applauded. The ability to attract a qualified diverse student population is something that many United States schools can learn from. I hope that we will see more partnerships of this type in the future, and again, I commend the school for its leadership and innovative ideas.

Madam Speaker, as we approach Memorial Day many of my constituents face the same dilemma as other Americans around the country. With gas prices out of control, many can hardly afford to drive to work, let alone drive on a vacation in their cars.

For 5 years now, House Republicans have refused to offer a real solution to the rising gas prices, choosing instead to rubberstamp Cheney's energy task force meetings that boosted the profits of big oil while hurting working Americans.

The only plan that Republicans are offering consumers this Memorial Day is to allow drilling in the National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, a temporary solution which would damage a natural treasure while providing no long term supply of oil. This makes no sense from a practical or environmental standpoint.

Democrats have a better plan. We have an innovative agenda that would help our Nation achieve energy independence within 10 years through clean, sustainable energy alternatives. We will provide tax incentives to encourage increased production of homegrown fuels.

Madam Speaker, let's protect the American consumers so they can once again afford to drive to work and take vacations with their families.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of pleasure that I ask my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me as I rise to congratulate my Chief of Staff, Ms. Maxine James, on her induction into the Essex County Hall of Fame. This is a well-deserved honor for Ms. James, as she has been a positive force for the betterment of Essex County for many years.

Fortunately for me and the residents of Essex County, Ms. James has always been strongly committed to meeting the needs of her community. It was through her vision and insight that some of the finest public servants in Essex County have been drawn into government service. She has also been responsible for helping to establish long-term, beneficial programs in the County, including the Newark Emergency Services for Families (NESF). NESF provides a life-line for residents of Newark and Essex County who are facing challenging situations including homelessness, a lack of heat, or the need for food to feed their families. She has contributed her time and talent to numerous community-based organizations over the years.

Throughout my years as an elected official, Ms. James has been a staunch supporter, friend and confidante. She is a true professional with a creative genius that has garnered many friends from all walks of life. Before my election to Congress, I had the privilege of working with Ms. James at Prudential Insurance Company in Newark, where she impressed me with her enormous energy, intelligence and tenacity. During my tenure on the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Maxine generously volunteered her services on several committees doing work to benefit the local community.

When I was elected to the office of Newark Municipal Council in the early 1980's, Maxine joined my team and did an excellent job running my office and providing assistance to the residents of the South Ward over the course of 7 years. In 1988, upon my election to Congress, I selected Ms. James to be my Chief of Staff, and she continues in that role today. Her loyalty is admirable and her dedication is unparalleled. She is indeed ``one of a kind'' and it is my good fortune to have benefited from that distinction.

Ms. James is the mother of two children, Chris and Brian, and the proud grandmother of two, Olivia and Malcolm.

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in extending best wishes to Ms. Maxine James as she is inducted into the Essex County Hall of Fame. I am pleased to congratulate her on this very special award and wish her all the best as she continues her public service.

Mr. Speaker, when I return to my home district, where the price of regular gas has topped $3 a gallon at many service stations, I hear constituents tell me loud and clear that they believe that the Republican majority in Congress has led this country in a drastically wrong direction.

Unfortunately, from the very beginning, the Bush administration has excluded the concerns of ordinary Americans from their energy policy debates. In fact, the secretive energy task force, headed by Vice President Cheney, deliberated behind closed doors, and, as a result, billions of dollars in subsidies were provided to big oil interests.

Last fall, the Republican House rubber stamped an energy bill that even President Bush's own Energy Department predicted would raise gas prices. Almost 1 year later, the price of gas at the pump has skyrocketed. In fact, Americans are now paying an incredible 100 percent more for gas than they were when President Bush took office. Meanwhile, the incomes of middle income families have fallen every year.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that we turn out those who have given us this flawed policy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me as I recognize the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir's first annual special event, the ``Arya Swaranjali'', which will take place on Sunday June 4, 2006 in Jersey City, New Jersey, my Congressional District. The ``Arya Swaranjali'' will be a time when the New Jersey Arya/Hindu community will gather together to showcase the works of talented artists in order to raise awareness and resources for less fortunate children in the South American country of Guyana.

Arya Samaj, which means a Society of Noble People, is a global community of organizations whose mission, based on the ten Vedic principles, is to improve the physical, spiritual and social well-being of mankind. The New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, incorporated in 1987, is an organization that provides cultural, educational, religious, charitable and social links between the Arya/Hindu immigrant community and the United States.

However, the New Jersey Arya Samaj community understands that ``. . . to whom much is given, much is required . . .'' Under the leadership of Pandit Suresh N. Sugrim, the ``Arya Swaranjali'' will help Guyanese children who are unfortunately without parents. Due to their beneficence, many orphans will be afforded an improved quality of life which includes better food and clothing, comprehensive education and full medical care.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc. for their support of the Arya/Hindu community. SpecifIcally, I would like to commend them on the ``Arya Swaranjali'' and the good works they will achieve through this event. I am proud to have them in my Congressional district and wish their organization never-ending success in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to recognize a valued institution within my Congressional district. For the past 8 years, the Elizabeth River/Arthur Kill (ER/AK) Watershed Association has been dedicated to the education and empowerment of its diverse, multilingual residents by proactively addressing clean water issues. Through services such as water-quality testing, research and advocacy, the ER/ AK Watershed Association, which is certified through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, stands apart from many environmental organizations because of its emphasis on educating underserved communities about the environmental issues that affect their daily lives.

Responding to resident requests for community-generated graphics and maps of the watershed, the ER/AK Watershed Association worked closely with New Jersey's Rutgers University Center of Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis and the prestigious international Green Map organization to create a dynamic Green Map that will document the natural and cultural resources of our Watershed community. It is important to share with you that two other watershed universities, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Kean University, have generously provided formative and foundational resources to the ongoing development of the ER/AK Watershed Association.

I salute the ER/AK Watershed Association and its partners as they utilize their Green Map to enhance the quality of life in and around the watershed for its natural and human residents. I am proud to have this organization in my district and I wish them continued success in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to recognize Africa Malaria Day, declared on April 25, 2000 by 43 African heads of state. That declaration marked the end of a 3-day summit called to renew and re- invigorate Africa's commitment to defeating malaria, a disease that takes a terrible toll on the African continent. It renewed a commitment to exploit all means possible to finally tame the disease that kills more African children than any other single disease. It recognized the massive impact of malaria and the potential for reducing that impact. It affirmed African leaders' intent to remove roadblocks to malaria control and called for more active participation by the international community.

UNICEF and the World Health Organization estimate that malaria kills from 1 million to 2 million people every year, most of them young children and pregnant women in Africa. Along with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, malaria remains one of the three biggest infectious disease killers in the world today.

Effective weapons in this fight include prompt access to effective treatment, increased use of locally appropriate means of mosquito control such as insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying, early detection of and response to epidemics, and improved prevention and treatment of malaria in pregnant women. To make a sustained impact against malaria we need a vaccine.

There has never been a licensed malaria vaccine, but great progress toward that end is now being made, as evidenced by last year's results of a malaria vaccine clinical trial in Mozambique. However, people who need the vaccine the most are infants and children in developing countries. This means that market forces by themselves cannot drive malaria vaccine development. Ensuring the successful development of a vaccine for a disease that primarily affects the poorest people in the world requires public funding for research and development as well as funding for vaccine purchase once malaria vaccines are licensed. As a nation, we must take the challenge offered by African heads of state in 2000 and Bill Gates last fall to greatly increase funding for the development of new tools to defeat malaria, including a vaccine.

Global and national efforts to control malaria are making a difference. Lives are being saved and the movement to finally control malaria in Africa is picking up momentum. Evidence of this includes the increasing level of support for malaria control by the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, by USAID and the President's Malaria Initiative. But more and broader support is needed to achieve the goal of ending deaths from malaria in the shortest time possible. For each year we delay, another one to two million lives are lost.

Today, Africa Malaria Day, the equivalent of seven large planeloads of children died from malaria. Most of these children were under the age of 5. This is a tragedy of immense proportions. While it is deeply saddening, we cannot let its sheer magnitude paralyze us into complacency. Knowing about these deaths impassions me to do everything I can. We must ensure adequate support for existing and new malaria control tools to prevent more deaths, today, tomorrow, and into the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in absolute strong support of H.R. 3127, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. I thank Mr. Lantos, our ranking member of the International Relations Committee, for his continued leadership on issues of importance to the committee, a person who can speak of genocide, being the only Member in Congress who is a Holocaust survivor. So this is very personal, as it is with all of us.

I would like to thank Chairman Hyde for the work that he and his staff did for being open to negotiations with me and my staff and other Members as well as those of other members of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, chaired by Representative Smith, my friend from New Jersey, who has done an outstanding job chairing the subcommittee.

I would also like to thank Congressman Wolf for his continued work, who for many, many years has been involved in Sudan; and Congressman Tancredo, who went to Southern Sudan on his first CODEL a number of years ago with Senator Brownback and myself; and to Melvin Watt of the Congressional Black Caucus and Barbara Lee and others who have stood shoulder to shoulder opposing this horrendous genocide.

It was nearly 2 years ago on June 24 in 2004 where I stood with the Congressional Black Caucus, Leader Pelosi, and Tom Tancredo and introduced H. Con. Res. 467, declaring that genocide was occurring in Darfur, Sudan and that the government of Sudan was responsible. This is the government which harbored Osama bin Laden for 5 years in his country and aided and abetted him and assisted him.

Tragically and to our own shame, the genocide continues today, almost 2 years later, unabated. Many people were surprised when the Congress approved the genocide resolution. And then the next night Senator Frist, with unanimous consent in the Senate, had the genocide resolution passed in the Senate and the President indicated at the United Nations that genocide was going on after Colin Powell declared it for the State Department.

Mr. Speaker, I have walked through the camps of the Darfur people who were violently forced by government troops and the Janjaweed mercenaries to run for their lives. I have seen the faces in the pictures that Leader Pelosi showed and to hear the horror stories.

Try to imagine what it is like to run away from everything you have known in an instance at gunpoint, to look back at your home, at your village, to see them engulfed in flames. Imagine the cries of scores of men and women, young and old, being brutally killed, terrorized, raped, beaten.

What continues to go on in Darfur today is the ultimate form of terrorism. An estimated 400,000 have already died from murder, starvation, diarrhea, and preventable diseases. Nearly 3 million were forced from their homes into other parts of the region or into Chad. Now the security nightmare has spilled over because the Janjaweed has gone into Chad. And this is the same government that for 20 years had a North-South war where 4 million people were displaced and 2 million people died. So this is a government responsible for 6 million displaced people, 2\1/2\ million people dead. This government does not deserve to even be called a government.

Truthfully, it is difficult to imagine. We are half a world away, safe. That is why we bear even a greater responsibility.

What can we do? We must call on President Bush to immediately push the National Congress Party to disarm the Janjaweed, to give the command to the government troops to stop killing innocent people, stop raping, to send those responsible for atrocities in Darfur to appropriate international authorities as called for in Security Council Resolution 1593, and to comply with Security Council Resolutions 1564, 1591, and 1556.

Whether they are government officials such as Security and Intelligence Chief Salah Gosh or Vice President Taha, who leads the Janjaweed, as alleged, we must make sure that this ends.

I would like to just conclude by saying even in my district on Sunday, April 9, the End the Genocide-Save Darfur will be having a rally with the American Jewish Congress, the American Jewish World Service, the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest, Help Darfur Now. So everyone is coming together.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my dismay at the passage of the unwise and unsound provisions contained in S. 2271, the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorizing Amendments Act of 2006. Unfortunately, I was unavoidably detained during the vote and could not cast my strong opposition to the reauthorization of this act.

I am deeply concerned about this flawed piece of legislation that purports to protect our country against future terrorist acts while still preserving our civil liberties. I do not agree that both objectives are mutually exclusive. However, as was evident during its rash passage in 2001, this bill forsakes one aim in favor another. While this version of the Patriot Act, with Senator John Sununu's amendments, adds some civil liberty protections, these changes are only cosmetic and are still an infringement upon many of our constitutional rights including the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments. A reauthorization process should be a time in which legislators analyze how a law has impacted society and works towards its improvement. I even saw a slight glimmer of hope when many Senators from both sides of the aisle exemplified patriotism and questioned how this law is contradictory to what this nation stands for and upon which it prides itself. I applaud their courage and their effort. Unfortunately, the debate surrounding this bill was met with stern opposition from the White House and many Members of Congress.

It is never wise to pass knee-jerk legislation. In the wake of 9/11, the US Congress quickly passed the Patriot Act without fully understanding its implications and how its infringements upon the Constitution could lead to abuses. It essentially gave the Executive Branch carte-blanche to pursue whatever actions it thought appropriate in the fight against terrorism. As evidenced by the Bush administration's warrantless domestic surveillance program, it is quite evident that civil liberties must be safeguarded not stripped. The government will still have the ability to employ National Security Letters and Section 215 court orders to

go on fishing expeditions and obtain private and confidential records on the basis that there is ``reasonable grounds to believe'' that these records are ``relevant'' to an investigation. Furthermore, the government will still be able to delay notifying individuals that their private property has been searched. While there is an initial leeway of 30-days, the government can seek an indefinite amount of 90-day extensions. Where will the encroachments end?

Through the passage of this legislation, we have done our country a great disservice. At this juncture, we could have sought true and meaningful reform that not only protected this great nation from terrorists but also from the improper intrusions that are inherent in this bill.

Madam Speaker, I would like to again voice my opposition to the passage of S. 2271.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 1096, the Act Commemorating the Lifetime Innovations of Thomas Edison. The Thomas Edison Historic Site in West Orange, New Jersey is a national historic treasure, and I am privileged to have it located in my congressional district and have had the pleasure of visiting the site on a number of occasions.

The laboratory complex consists of buildings that date back to 1887. These labs house the technology and the technological innovations and artifacts that changed the course of not only America but the entire world. We have visitors from throughout the world that come to the site, many from Asian countries where technology has become a very important part of their development and in many instances even bow to the statue and pictures of Thomas Edison because they revere the importance of technology that has really lighted the world through his inventions. The labs house the technology and innovations. And from the light bulb to the motion picture camera, Edison's unparalleled innovations are being preserved for current and future generations. The first movie was made there, the Black Maria it is called, and the movie studio is as it was over 100 years ago. The light bulb, the phonograph and records that were cast there at this site all need to be preserved.

Over the years, I have witnessed a positive impact of this unit of the National Park Service. The Edison laboratory complex has opened its doors and resources to assisting in the education of the community, particularly our young people who have had an opportunity to study and to have innovative lessons there. As a former teacher, I am well aware of the value of having a piece of history accessible to augment the learning process by providing lesson plans for teachers, hosting on- site and virtual tours, and facilitating programs and activities for students. The Edison site has provided an invaluable learning experience for these young people.

Thomas Edison devoted his life to technological innovations. His work ethic and commitment to improving the quality of life for others is a lesson that is extremely applicable today. Edison's improvement on the telephone and telegraph machines put him on the cutting edge of communications technology. As we in Congress consider the reauthorization of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, Edison's legacy reminds us of how far we have come.

This June we will celebrate the reopening of the Edison complex. For 2 years the National Park Service and the Thomas Edison Preservation Foundation have worked together to restore and revitalize this historic site.

Over 400,000 artifacts and 5 million pages of documents that trace Edison's process of inventions have been deteriorating due to poor environmental

conditions and age-related decay. Many years ago, I made a request to allocate an appropriations to address these issues, and we were able to get $5 million about 10 years ago. The result is what we see today.

I am very appreciative that my colleagues approve this appeal. The repairs and enhancements of this century-old building will improve the preservation of the priceless artifacts, ensuring that this treasure will remain an educational and cultural destination for generations to come. Passage of this bill will ensure the long-term success of the Edison Historical Site and demonstrate the congressional commitment to our history. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to acknowledge the Church of the Epiphany which will launch a year-long celebration of events and activities celebrating 100 years as a parish in Orange, New Jersey on Sunday, November 20, 2005.

The Church of the Epiphany represents the faith and fortitude of New Jersey's African-American Episcopalians living in the Oranges. It began as a Sunday school for ``colored'' children in November 1905. Miss Ruth Marsh of Grace Church, located on Main Street in Orange, founded the Sunday school program and taught its 7 students. Through the efforts of Grace church's sexton, Mr. Thomas Johnson, the Sunday school developed into the Epiphany Mission with a small congregation led by the rectors of Grace Church. By 1908, Lay Reader George Marshall Plaskett, an African American student in the General Theological Seminary held the services under the direction of the Grace Church Rector. Father Plaskett went on to lead Epiphany as its rector for 50 years after his ordination and entrance into the priesthood. Under his leadership, Epiphany thrived as an active and integral part of the community providing spiritual education and guidance, and community service.

In 1909 Epiphany's congregation purchased a lot on the corner of South Center and Pierson Streets in Orange and the first service in the new building was held on January 29, 1911. In 1916 the Epiphany Mission sought financial independence from Grace Episcopal Church and in 1930 Epiphany was admitted to the Diocese after an ecclesiastical separation from Grace Church. While located on Pierson Street, the church served as the congregation's spiritual home under the leadership of five rectors; The Rev. John H. Edwards, The Rev. Leonard Harris, The Rev. James E. Williams, The Rev. A. Warren Bridgeman. Since 1987, the Reverend Canon Gervais A.M. Clarke, Ph.D. has served as Epiphany's sixth Rector at its present location on Main Street, Orange.

On December 14, 1986, following the dissolution of Grace Church by the Diocese of Newark, Epiphany moved to the old Grace Church building at 105 Main Street. In an effort to honor and retain Epiphany's history and create a new home that would provide a place for worship, fellowship, education and outreach, the congregation incorporated a marble altar, pipe organ, and other furnishings from Epiphany's original properties into the renovated church. With pride, Epiphany celebrated its first service on Main Street in January 1987.

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues agree that the Church of the Epiphany has every right to be proud of the lasting contributions that it has made to the residents of Orange. Overcoming obstacles caused by segregation and demographic change, and addressing the needs of its neighbors are the legacy of Epiphany's forefathers and mothers. I rise today to honor Epiphanites, who for 100 years have steadfastly and faithfully created a community of worship and service in Orange.