Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I had the pleasure of attending the opening ceremony of Broadway Scoops in Pennsville, South Jersey. At the opening, I met Gary and Sabrina Green who opened Broadway Scoops' doors after finding inspiration through their love for ice cream. The entire shop was constructed by local small businesses and the supplies were sourced from local small businesses as well. Gary and Sabrina wanted to create a place where their local community could come in with their families and have a space to try ice cream and relax outdoors. There are picnic tables, checkers, corn hole, and various other games that patrons can come and enjoy free of charge. Gary and Sabrina told me how the support from their local community has been overwhelming and friends and family have traveled across the country to support their business. It is amazing to see South Jersey small business prosper, and I wish Gary and Sabrina the best of luck in their new venture. God Bless Gary and Sabrina and God Bless America.

Madam Speaker, I am here today to speak about a historical and scenic road in South Jersey, the Bayshore Heritage Byway. Earlier this year in February, the Federal Highway Administration selected the Bayshore Heritage Byway as a National Scenic Byway. This is a wonderful accomplishment and I congratulate all of those who have worked towards achieving this goal. The Bayshore Heritage Byway was nominated on two intrinsic qualities: its natural beauty and historical components. It will now be featured in a commemorative 2021 National Scenic Byways Program Designations Booklet and will also be listed on the America's Byways website. The Bayshore Heritage Byway is full of beauty and history and I am proud that a South Jersey landmark has been given this distinct recognition.

Madam Speaker, I want to recognize Barry's Buns, and its owners Joel and Jen Singer. Barry's Buns just opened a new location in Wildwood Crest in South Jersey, and I was able to meet with Joel and Jen and attend the grand opening. The inspiration for the name ``Barry's Buns'' comes from Joel, who's middle name is Barry. He also says that he was born to be a baker. Joel has always wanted to have his own bakery, and when he was just 14 years old, he started his own cheesecake business. He graduated with a degree in Pastry Arts and was the Assistant Pastry Chef at the Rittenhouse Hotel. Joel drew inspiration to open up his own business from his father, who before his passing had his own farmers style market. Joel developed a passion for customer service from watching his dad, and when a location opened up in Pennsylvania, he knew it was time to start his own bakery. Jen handles the business side of Barry's Buns and its day-to-day operations. Now, Joel and Jen own two locations, and I know that South Jersey will continue to provide overwhelming support for Barry's Buns. God Bless Joel and Jen and God Bless America.

Madam Speaker, over the weekend, I had the honor to meet Anthony and Michael Zeg from Franklinville, New Jersey. Both Anthony and Michael were awarded their Eagle Scout rank this year, and I had the privilege of attending their Eagle Scout Court of Honor. In order to meet the rank of Eagle Scout, they must participate in community service for their Eagle Scout project. Anthony and Michael both completed their project at the American Legion Post in Atco, NJ where each of them spent over 100 hours repairing and painting the building. Anthony is a senior in high school and is attending Gloucester County Institute of Technology studying HVAC and also interns for two different HVAC companies. Michael plans on attending college to study engineering and will be interning for an engineering company this summer. Both of these boys have a bright future ahead of them and I wish them nothing but success. God Bless Anthony and Michael and God Bless America.

Madam Speaker, I want to recognize a group of innovative children in South Jersey who thought of and started the Absecon Dog Show. In 2018, Grace Marzick came up with the idea to create a dog show for mixed breeds. Grace then told her friend Zoey about her idea, so Zoey decided to form a committee with a group of their friends. On May 23rd, they held their 3rd annual dog show. Grace, Zoey, and their friends went around town and received sponsorships from local businesses to help fund the event. They even made posters and hung them up all over Absecon in South Jersey to advertise the event. This year's event had the largest turnout with 51 dogs making an appearance in the show. All of the proceeds raised from the Absecon Dog Show are donated to the Humane Society of Atlantic County. For their first event in 2018 they raised $600, in 2019 they raised $2,100 and so far this year they have raised $2,500. These students are remarkable, running this event solely by themselves. This group of extraordinary students have a bright future ahead of them and I commend them on their dedication and community service. God Bless Grace, Zoey, and their friends, and God Bless America.

Madam Speaker, I am here today to recognize Greg DeStafano, a resilient fighter who left an impact on all of those he ever met. Greg DeStefano was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at the age of 10 and he defied the odds, living more than 30 years past the doctor's initial prognosis. Greg's family was by his side every step of the way, and they emphasize the fact that he left an impact on all of those he met with his huge smile and kind heart. Despite the multiple brain surgeries that Greg underwent, he graduated from high school and went on to attend a vocational high school for communications. After graduating, he traveled to Mexico to help children in need. Greg longed to help others, despite his own struggles. Greg passed away at the age of 42 this year, with his family by his side, like they always had been. On the day of Greg's memorial, $13,000 had been donated in his honor to the Make a Wish New Jersey Foundation. One week following his passing, the total raised was over $17,000. The impact Greg left not only on his family, but his community, is remarkable. God Bless Greg and his family and God Bless America.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill.

In the midst of an unprecedented and ongoing border crisis, as CBP struggles to keep up, Democrats focus on a bill that will not only be expensive but will continue to hamper and slow down our hardworking women and men with the CBP.

Almost a billion taxpayer dollars--almost a billion taxpayer dollars--provided for by the hardworking men and women in America, both legal immigrants and others, literally, to provide access to legal representation to noncitizens. I guess they would call it noncitizen human infrastructure. But really it is just another payday for lawyers.

America is struggling. Our borders are struggling. Our neighbors are struggling. We all want to help. But let's help America. Let's love America. Let's take care of our American people. Oppose this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am here today to recognize an outstanding 10-year-old girl from Sea Isle City in south Jersey.

Regan Capone is already an engaged member of her community and frequently fundraises for local charities. Last year, Regan raised over $6,000 for the Love of Linda Cancer Benefit Horse Show. Regan is now raising money for her Uncle Mike's Seafood Polar Bear Run/Walk For Autism.

Aside from fundraising, Regan is a competitive equestrian and competes in the English Circuit of South Jersey. She even made it to the regionals this year. Regan is a dedicated individual who impacts the South Jersey community every day with her selflessness and her desire to raise awareness for the causes that are so close to her heart.

Thank you, Regan. You are truly an American hero for all that you do. God bless you and God bless America.

Madam Speaker, I would like to express my strong support for H.R. 1276, the VA VACCINE Act of 2021.

Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on rollcall No. 74.

Madam Speaker, I am not so sure about that, but I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1.

We were warned for years about the rise of socialism. Well, here it is, served on a platter, using your money to pay for politicians campaigns.

Do you like those robocalls during campaign season?

How about the negative TV ads and the mailers?

Or how about all of the political stuff that just comes out?

Well, your tax dollars are paying for them. And, yes, this is taxpayer dollars, no matter how they tell you otherwise.

Madam Speaker, this bill puts Washington, D.C., in charge of our States' elections and how those elections are run. It would keep the status quo, like we saw this past November, with voter rolls that are not up to date and live ballots being mailed to voters who have died, moved, or even multiple ballots to the same voter.

Madam Speaker, elections do have consequences. And when leaders said the goal was to change America, they were telling the truth; and here we are.

Madam Speaker, I am here to speak about a wonderful cause, Dream Like Drew, that promotes awareness of a rare genetic disorder, cri du chat.

Dream Like Drew is a weeklong event starting on May 3 where students can show their support by wearing unique socks, one high and one low.

Cri du chat is caused by the deletion of genetic material on the fifth chromosome that can cause delays in motor functions. Dream Like Drew was started by Kasey Eykyn, a teacher in south Jersey, in honor of her son, Drew Eykyn. Drew is an 8-year-old little boy who was diagnosed with cri du chat shortly after he was born.

He lives life with a positive outlook and mindset that will allow him to achieve his dreams always. Drew is an inspiration to all, and Dream Like Drew is an amazing cause that encourages a discussion on how important acceptance and inclusion is for those with disabilities.

God bless him forever.

Madam Speaker, we have been here before. We have done this before. This has failed before. We fractured our Nation using the same process before. Congress must be the glue that starts unifying everyone.

By the time this process would conclude, the man they want out of office will no longer even be the President. If we want unity, this is not the way.

America was and is the leading light in the world. This proceeding has continued to cloak our Nation in darkness.

Nearly half the country supports our current President. This takes their voice away. We must be bigger and better than the most base of instincts that have been driving our political discourse. It is destroying us. Let's link arms with one another and begin to heal. Let's stop this impeachment.

Madam Speaker, before I start, something I didn't plan on saying. This is a debate. It is a discussion. Everybody has a right to an opinion. That is American. Because someone doesn't agree with your view or your ideas does not mean that they are liars. It means they have a different view, a different opinion.

And I think, for God's sake, as people watch this or see it or hear it, they expect more from us than that. We can disagree at a certain level. There is nothing worse than moral pomposity.

You know, today was an amazing and terrible day. But one thing that we do know is that our law enforcement protected lives, and they protected and preserved our democracy. I watched firsthand, as I always have, just as I do back home in south Jersey, these brave men and women put their lives on the line to defend all of us.

May God bless the woman who lost her life today, and may God bless what will always be the greatest Nation in the history of the world: the United States of America.

At the core of our country's greatness is our democratic system of government. Without faith in the integrity of our elections, Americans will not have faith in our democracy.

The United States of America is the international embodiment of freedom and opportunity, the shining city on a hill. Free and fair elections have always been a hallmark of America's greatness.

After this past Presidential election, approximately 60 million Americans have serious doubts about the outcome. That is a number that we cannot ignore.

Mr. Speaker, 18 years ago, Isabelle Mosca's son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. At the time, she was struck by how little information and support was available for families affected by ASD, so Isabelle began a support group for a few parents to meet over coffee and talk.

Eventually, Isabelle's meeting grew into a nonprofit organization called FACES 4 Autism, which helps over 750 families with five active and expanding support groups throughout South Jersey.

In addition to these support groups, Isabelle created a program called Massi's Mission, which focuses on water safety and survival for those with ASD.

Now that her son is close to 21 years old, Isabelle is exploring employment opportunities for him and all of the FACES' participants. They are aging out of their schools.

She never stops thinking, planning, and creating opportunities to make our community of South Jersey be the best that it can be.

Mr. Speaker, Isabelle's community thanks her every day for everything she does. South Jersey thanks her every day for all that she does. She is the best.