Floor Statements

I rise today in continued opposition to the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, H.R. 2553. I will continue to oppose the FAA reauthorization until the FAA rethinks their ill-advised redesign for the airspace around New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

I have opposed this airspace redesign from day one, along with some of my Republican colleagues in New Jersey as well, and have thwarted its implementation every step of the way.

Time and time again, the FAA has pursued the airspace redesign while ignoring the concerns of my constituents in Rockland County, New York. The FAA created their proposal with zero input from the very people whose lives would be most harmed by the proposal. In fact, even when we brought this up to the FAA, they had to be dragged kicking and screaming into holding a public forum in Rockland County. This plan, which will only save minutes on flight time, will disrupt the lives of thousands of residents in my district in Rockland County in New York and in northern New Jersey who live under the new flight plans.

As my constituents have noted to me, the noise and air pollution in the area will increase. It is unknown how this increase in air pollution will affect the disproportionate rate of childhood asthma in my district. The modernization of our aviation system is necessary to bring it into the 21st century, to keep pace with the increased number of flights, and to also maintain our technological advancements by implementing new equipment to keep our system the safest in the world.

However, there are several alternatives to this plan, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in opposition to this reauthorization. Not only are we going to have planes going into Newark Airport fly directly over my constituents, but now there are other paths of planes coming in from JFK airport as well.

This is government at its worst running roughshod over the people that it's supposed to serve, not taking any kind of input. In fact, they come up with a redesign plan. And then when it's challenged, the person who decides the challenge was the very author of the redesign plan to begin with. Sounds like a kangaroo court to me.

So I am going to continue to oppose these things. I think at a time when we're all talking about government spending less and being more sensitive, this is a good place to start. And I will continue to oppose the FAA reauthorization until the FAA halts and revises their deeply flawed airspace redesign plan for New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

I thank the gentleman.

I've listened to this debate for a while now. The American people want us to compromise. The American people are in the middle. That's where most of the American people are. And they don't want extremes from either side.

So what would we do logically to find a solution in the middle to close our budget deficit? We would, first of all, cut spending. Secondly, we would close tax loopholes to big corporations. And, thirdly, we would let those who can afford to pay more, pay more.

The President has proposed something like this, a $4 trillion reduction in the deficit, and the Republicans have refused to do it. They refuse to even plug loopholes from Big Oil and Gas.

So this is where we are now. It takes two to tango. If they're going to vote ``no'' on anything that closes tax loopholes, then we have to just raise the debt ceiling.

Now, we voted seven times under President Bush to have a clean debt ceiling raised, 28 times under President Reagan to have a clean debt ceiling raised, and yet the Republicans won't do it and they bring us to the brink of disaster.

The truth of the matter is we don't need extremes. And, as was pointed out here before, this will end Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security as we know it because it will make it easier to cut those programs than it is to cut subsidies to Big Oil. That is shameful, and this should be rejected.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 606 I in advertently missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, it is my sad duty to report the passing of a former officer of this House, doorkeeper James T. Molloy.

Jim, as he was known to so many, served as doorkeeper for 20 years, when I first came to Congress from 1974 to 1994. He was known throughout the world for his distinctive introduction of the President and heads of State to Congress. He is the one who would always yell: Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States.

Jim, a native of Buffalo, New York, was a graduate of Canisius College and worked as a fireman and schoolteacher before coming to Washington at the invitation of Congressman John Rooney of New York. He leaves his beloved wife, Roseann, and his daughter, Amy.

We will all miss him. We all remember him, and we all loved him.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, on May 24, President Obama issued a memorandum on Federal fleet performance, which requires all new light- duty vehicles in the Federal fleet to be alternate few vehicles, such as hybrid, electric, natural gas or biofuel, by December 31, 2015.

My amendment simply echos the Presidential memorandum by prohibiting funds in the Energy and Water appropriations bill from being used to lease or purchase new light-duty vehicles except in accord with the President's memorandum. I have introduced similar amendments to the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and the Agriculture appropriations bills. All three were accepted by the majority and passed by voice vote.

Our transportation sector is by far the biggest reason we send $600 billion per year to hostile nations to pay for oil at ever-increasing costs, but America doesn't need to be dependent on foreign sources of oil for transportation fuel. Alternative technologies exist today that when implemented broadly will allow any alternative fuel to be used in America's automotive fleet.

The Federal Government operates the largest fleet of light-duty vehicles in America. According to GSA, there are over 660,000 vehicles in the Federal fleet, with just over 15,000 being used by the Department of Energy. By supporting a diverse array of vehicle technologies in our Federal fleet, we will encourage the development of domestic energy resources, including biomass, natural gas, coal, agricultural waste, hydrogen, and renewable electricity. Expanding the role these energy sources play in or transportation economy will help break the leverage over Americans held by foreign government-controlled oil companies; it will increase our Nation's domestic security, and protect consumers from price spikes and shortages in the world's oil markets.

I just want to say very briefly on a similar note, I have worked with my colleagues John Shimkus, Roscoe Bartlett and Steve Israel to introduce the bipartisan Open Fuel Standard Act, which is H.R. 1687. Our bill would require 50 percent of all new automobiles in 2014, 80 percent in 2016, and 95 percent in 2017 to be warranted to operate on non-petroleum fuels in addition to, or instead of, petroleum-based fuels. Compliance possibilities include the full array of existing technologies, including flex fuel, natural gas, hydrogen, biodiesel, plug-in electric drive, and fuel cell, as well as a catchall of new technologies.

So I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

I thank the gentleman.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Engel

Amendment No. 87: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, on May 24, President Obama issued a Memorandum on Federal Fleet Performance, which requires all new light- duty vehicles in the Federal fleet to be alternate fuel vehicles, such as hybrid, electric, natural gas, or biofuel, by December 31, 2015. My amendment echoes the Presidential memorandum by prohibiting funds in the Defense Appropriations bill from being used to lease or purchase new light-duty vehicles except in accord with the President's memorandum. I have introduced similar amendments to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill and the Agriculture Appropriations bill and intend to do it with other appropriations bills. Both were accepted by the majority and passed by voice vote.

Our transportation sector is by far the biggest reason we send $600 billion per year to hostile nations to pay for oil at ever-increasing costs, but America doesn't need to be dependent on foreign sources of oil for transportation fuel. Alternative technologies exist today that, when implemented broadly, will allow any alternative fuel to be used in America's automotive fleet.

The Federal Government operates the largest fleet of light-duty vehicles in America. According to GSA, there are over 660,000 vehicles in the Federal fleet, with almost 197,000 being used by the Department of Defense. By supporting a diverse array of vehicle technologies in our Federal fleet, we will encourage development of domestic energy resources--including biomass, natural gas, coal, agricultural waste, hydrogen and renewable electricity. Expanding the role these energy sources play in our transportation economy will help break the leverage over Americans held by foreign government-controlled oil companies and will increase our Nation's domestic security and protect consumers from price spikes and shortages in the world oil markets.

I ask my colleagues to support this amendment as both sides of the aisle have done in previous bills; and I want to mention on a similar note, I have worked in a bipartisan fashion with my colleagues, John Shimkus, Roscoe Bartlett and Steve Israel, to open the bipartisan Open Fuel Standard Act, H.R. 1687.

Our bill would require 50 percent of new automobiles in 2014, 80 percent in 2016, and 95 percent in 2017 to be warranted to operate on nonpetroleum fuels in addition to or instead of petroleum-based fuels. Compliance possibilities include the full array of existing technologies, including flex fuel, natural gas, hydrogen, biodiesel, plug-in electric drive and fuel cell, and a catch-all for new technologies. I mention it because it's similar to this, and I really believe that our energy policies obviously can only be done on a bipartisan basis.

I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment, again as we've done on all the other bills where I have introduced it, and the Open Fuel Standard as we work toward breaking our dependence on foreign oil.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Engel

Amendment No. 113: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

I rise in strong support of the resolution.

I come from the premise that if you want to work out a disagreement, you sit face to face at the negotiating table and negotiate. That's what happened in Ireland, and it should happen in the Middle East.

But the Palestinians are playing their cute little games. They want to establish a lot of preconditions, they want to make excuses not to sit and talk with Israel, and they think they can impose this at the U.N. and impose statehood without face-to-face negotiations.

So I say ``no'' to excuses, ``no'' to 1967 lines, ``no'' to all kinds of preconditions before Palestinians will even sit down and talk.

The only way, if the Palestinians are truly wanting peace, they have a willing partner in Israel. As Prime Minister Netanyahu said, There is no Palestinian state not because we don't support one; it's because the Palestinians won't recognize the Jewish State.

So I believe in two states side by side: a Jewish State of Israel and an Arab-Palestinian state. And, again, that can only happen with face- to-face negotiations. No preconditions. Let the parties sit down and talk.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

On May 24, President Obama issued a memorandum on Federal fleet performance, which requires that all new light-duty vehicles in the Federal fleet to be alternate fuel vehicles, such as hybrid, electric, natural gas, or biofuel, by December 31, 2015.

My amendment simply echoes the Presidential memorandum by prohibiting funds in the Agriculture appropriations bill from being used to lease or purchase new light-duty vehicles except in accord with the President's memorandum.

Two weeks ago, I introduced a similar amendment to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill that was accepted by both parties and passed by voice vote unanimously.

Our transportation sector is by far the biggest reason we send $600 billion per year to hostile nations to pay for oil at ever-increasing costs, but America doesn't need to be dependent on foreign sources of oil for transportation fuel. Alternative technologies exist today that, when implemented broadly, will allow any alternative fuel to be used in America's automotive fleet.

The Federal Government operates the largest fleet of light-duty vehicles in America. According to GSA, there are over 660,000 vehicles in the Federal fleet, with almost 38,000 belonging to the Department of Agriculture. Supporting a diverse array of vehicle technologies in our Federal fleet will encourage development of domestic energy resources, including biomass, natural gas, coal, agricultural waste, hydrogen, and renewable electricity.

Expanding the role these energy sources play in our transportation economy will help break the leverage over Americans held by foreign government-controlled oil companies and will increase our Nation's domestic security and protect consumers from price spikes and shortages in the world's oil markets. I ask that we all support my amendment.

The chairman, the gentleman from Georgia, and I cochair the Oil and National Security Caucus, and we do it because we believe that America cannot be totally free unless we're energy independent and while we still have to rely on hostile foreign nations to get our fuel and to get our fuel supplies.

On a similar note, I have worked with my colleagues, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Israel, and for many years with Mr. Kingston to introduce the bipartisan open fuel standard, H.R. 1687. It's similar to what I'm doing now.

I just wanted to briefly mention that our bill, not this amendment but our bill, would require 50 percent of new automobiles in 2014, 80 percent in 2016, and 95 percent in 2017 to be warranted to operate on non-petroleum fuels, in addition to or instead of petroleum-based fuels. It would cost $100 or less per car to manufacture cars that would be flex fuel cars.

Compliance possibilities include the full array of existing technologies, including flex fuel, natural gas, hydrogen, biodiesel, plug-in electric drive, fuel cell, and a catch-all for new technologies.

I encourage my colleagues to support the Engel amendment and the open fuel standard as we work toward breaking our dependence on foreign oil. I thank Chairman Kingston for his courtesies, and I urge bipartisan support of my amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Engel

Amendment No. 34: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Mr. Speaker, Hebrew School teacher and long-time community volunteer Lila Stern of Rockland County, is being honored by Congregation Shaaray Israel at their annual Journal Dinner Dance on June 12, 2011. For her numerous contributions to her community, Lila will receive the congregation's prestigious ``Woman of Valor'' award.

Lila has served as a leader of the Rockland Jewish community since 1953. As her husband Jules rose to the head of their congregation in the 1970s, Lila sought to encourage women's involvement in the Jewish issues as Chairwoman of Rockland County Israel Bonds Women's Division, President of Sisterhood at the Jewish Community Center, and a lifelong member of Hadassah.

In addition to her work in the Jewish community, Lila pursued a career as a ``Professional Volunteer.''

While raising three children, she took the time to work as a Pink Lady at Good Samaritan Hospital and as a literacy volunteer.

Lila now works as an adult teacher at Shaaray Israel where she teaches a class on Jewish appreciation. Every Wednesday she leads a discussion on Jewish issues ranging from religious issues to Israeli politics.

As a grandmother of 11, Lila has instilled in her family a respect for Jewish tradition as well as a sense of gratitude and support for the state of Israel, which she and her husband travel to frequently. Her visits to Israel began in 1950, when she first went with her parents lugging suitcases of clothing as well as money for the needy of the fledgling new country.

Through her charity and tireless dedication to her community, Lila has certainly earned her title as a ``Woman of Valor,'' and I congratulate her on this honor.

Mr. Speaker, Congregation Shaaray Israel of Monroe, NY, will honor Stacie and Ken Podos at their Journal Dinner Dance on June 12, 2011 for their long-time dedication to the congregation. Stacie and Ken are deeply involved in the synagogue and have held various leadership positions within the congregation.

Ken, a sales representative for J.K.J. Sales, Inc., currently serves as Chairman of Shaaray Israel's Board, and until recently was President of the congregation. Before his term as President, Ken began as financial secretary at Shaaray Israel, eventually moving on to serve as third, second and first Vice President. In addition to his work at the congregation, Ken is active on the Jewish Federation of Rockland's Board of Trustees.

Stacie, like her husband, is a leader in the congregation. She currently serves as chairperson of Shaaray Israel's Dedication Committee and is the incoming Vice-President of the Sisterhood. In addition to her work within the congregation, Stacie was heavily involved in the construction and design of the synagogue's new building. Trained at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Stacie is an interior designer by trade and helped decide on the materials and look of the synagogue.

Ken's and Stacie's commitment to the Jewish community extends beyond their congregation. They are actively involved in the Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island, and serve on various national Jewish organizations. Ken and Stacie have been honored with the Tree of Life Award from Israel Bonds and serve as Solidarity Founders and Keepers of the Gate for Hadassah. Stacie, who has been a member of Hadassah for 24 years, also holds a position on the organization's national board.

Ken and Stacie are proud parents of Jordan, Kimberly, and Jared and are expecting their first grandchild this September. They have made outstanding contributions to their community through their involvement and dedication to Jewish issues, and I congratulate them on this honor they so richly deserve.

Mr. Speaker, the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, the Bayit, is a cornerstone of the Riverdale community. Today it is honoring Daniel Perla and his wife Valerie Altmann for their involvement In the HIR since they moved to the community in 2000.

Danny was elected President of Hebrew Institute of Riverdale in June 2004, shortly after he completed the prestigious Wexner Heritage leadership training program. Under his leadership, the HIR embarked on a major capital campaign and has completed a building expansion and renovation. The campaign has already raised over $5 million, half way to its goal with the rebuilt Bayit now accommodating nine separate Shabbat groups, and six different Shabbat tefillot.

The Bayit also houses Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, the preeminent Open Orthodox rabbinical school where Danny is currently studying full-time. Before beginning his Rabbinic studies, Danny worked as an analyst and portfolio manager for a variety of firms, most recently working as a Managing Director of Indian Asset Management, a major institutional money management firm. In addition to his involvement at HIR, Danny serves as a board member of SAR Academy, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Yeshivat Hadar.

Valerie is a full-time faculty member at Long Island Jewish Medical Center where she oversees residents and practices Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is also an assistant professor at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Valerie is a frequent lecturer on medical issues related to health and halakha and recently played an important role in the kallah conference co-sponsored by YCT, JOFA and Yeshivat Maharat. Canadian-born, she is a graduate of McGill University and McGill Medical School.

Danny and Valerie are the proud parents of four children: Benjamin, 14, Rebecca, 12, Yoni, 9, and Gabriel 6. They all attend the SAR Academy in Riverdale. I happily join with the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale in congratulating my good friend of many years Danny and his wife for their contributions to the HIR and to the community at large.

Mr. Speaker, Steven and Chani Laufer came to Riverdale in 2005 and joined the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale the following year after attending a warm and moving Yom Kippur service there. They have been enthusiastic supporters ever since. They love the sincerity of the community, the caring and devotion of the rabbinic team, and the inspirational and progressive vision for the larger community that Rabbi Avi Weiss champions.

Chani grew up in Pittsburgh, and has worked in television, politics, and as a reporter for the Bergen Record and The Philadelphia Enquirer. After earning her law degree, Chani represented children as a law guardian in the Bronx and New York City family courts. She is currently taking care of her family and also serves on the board of Yeshivat Maharat.

Steven grew up in Stony Brook, N.Y., and is pursuing a doctorate in economics at New York University, after teaching high school science for several years. He is a former Tot Shabbat leader and organizes the HIR Purim Texas Hold 'Em Tournament.

Steven and Chani have three children; Shoshana, 5, Ari, 3, and Erez, 4 months. Like their parents, the children are enthused with the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. They love celebrating holidays at HIR so much that Ari wakes up each morning for weeks afterwards asking ``Is it Simchat Torah today? Is it Purim today?''

HIR is honoring this wonderful couple with the Young Leadership Award. I want to join with the HIR in congratulating and thanking this young couple for their good work in the community.

Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Tomer and Efrat Grossman moved to Riverdale from Israel three years ago as Jewish Agency Shlichim of Bnei Akiva. Rabbi Grossman worked as the main Shaliach of Bnei Akiva in North America, and helped run Bnei Akiva activities at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale.

In response to the warmth of the HIR community and its strong connection and commitment to Medinat Israel, Rabbi Grossman organized an Israeli Seder, an Israeli Minyan for Simchat Torah and two fundraisers--one after the Carmel Fire and another for poor families in Israel.

During his stay in Riverdale, Rabbi Tomer was appointed by the Jewish Agency as the Head of Formal Educational Shlichim in North America and as the main organizer of the National Bible Contest. He is currently the rabbi at Brandeis School in Long Island.

Tomer was born in Petach-Tikva and learned at Yeshivat Hagolan in Hispin. He served in the army as a tank commander and as a Division Rabbi in the Reserved Forces, in addition to working as a programming manager at Motorola.

Efrat, as a designer, immediately fell in love with the HIR community's creativity and open mindedness and participated in last year's Shavuot programs and gave a lecture in Hebrew.

Efrat works as a Hebrew literacy teacher at Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls as well as a pottery artist. Efrat was born in Jerusalem, and continues a dynasty of more than 10 generations in Israel. In Israel, she was head of the Visual Arts Department of Ariel University after serving as the Head of the Jewish Education Faculty at Emunah High School in Tiberias.

They have two daughters: Ayala, 8, and Hallel, 8 months old.

This marvelous couple is being honored by the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale with the Community Service Award, and I join HIR in congratulating them and thanking them for all their good work in our community.