Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this legislation.

But before I begin, I would like to say a very special thank you to Chairman Jeb Hensarling for his outstanding leadership on this bill, as well as Chairman Neugebauer and Ranking Member Waters.

I am proud to have worked so long and so hard in what I would say was truly a bipartisan manner, so let me also thank and acknowledge my senior Senator from New York, Chuck Schumer, for his tireless efforts and for making TRIA reauthorization one of his top priorities.

I also want to thank my good friend and colleague from New York, Peter King, for being such a champion on this issue.

As someone who witnessed the tragedy of 9/11 firsthand, and as a Member

whose district saw the greatest loss of life during the September 11 attacks, I know all too well the destruction and the suffering that is caused by terrorism. However, as a proud New Yorker, I have also seen the tremendous recovery, a recovery that has taken place since that fateful day. But in order to ensure that such a recovery would be possible in the face of, God forbid, a future attack on our country, as well as to ensure the further economic development across the United States, we must ensure the continuation of TRIA and the vitally important insurance coverage that it provides to projects and facilities that create so many American jobs, like the pending Hudson Yards project in Manhattan, or the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, as well as our hospitals and universities, such as the Staten Island University Hospital and the College of Staten Island.

I would also like to add my strong support for the inclusion of my legislation, the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act, which passed, I believe, this House with 411 votes right here in this Chamber and does anything but undermine Dodd-Frank. In fact, what it does, it will actually ensure that commercial end users of derivatives contracts will not be subject to costly and unnecessary margin requirements that needlessly tie up capital and impede job creation.

With that, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this critical, commonsense legislation.

I thank the gentlewoman from New York. And I echo the sentiments of my colleagues with the need to reauthorize the Zadroga bill in a timely fashion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise alongside my colleagues in the New York delegation also to honor and commemorate the nearly 3,000 innocent Americans whose lives were cut short in the unspeakable attacks on our Nation 13 years ago. Like so many of my constituents in Staten Island and in Brooklyn, I have images of the most horrific sight that I have ever seen burned into my memory forever.

I will never forget what it was like searching for the survivors in the rubble after both towers of the World Trade Center disintegrated into ash. I will never forget the look in the eyes of the firemen, the police, the construction workers as we worked side-by-side. It was a look of overwhelming despair.

And though our hearts broke at the loss of those taken from us, I am very proud of the fact that Americans soon rallied together. We united around an unshakable truth that the servants of hatred and terror did not strike the greatest Nation on Earth at random but because we embodied the very freedom and liberty that they so despise.

As Senator McCain said on the floor of the Senate the day after the attacks, ``Those who unleashed these attacks and those who support them are not our enemies alone. They are the enemies of freedom and independence, of justice and peace. And they wage war on the United States because we are and will remain the principal guarantors of freedom.''

Mr. Speaker, in the Arrochar neighborhood of Staten Island lies a beautiful memorial dedicated to some of the 274 Staten Islanders murdered on 9/11, many of whom were first responders and fallen heroes of our beloved FDNY and NYPD, all of whom went above and beyond the call of duty to bring their fellow New Yorkers to safety.

Amidst the pictures and devotions to the fallen lies an inscription: ``On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center was attacked by terrorists. From that hatred, a little piece of heaven evolved here called Angel's Circle.''

It reminds us, Mr. Speaker, that from the horror and despair our Nation endured on 9/11 and endures in all of our hearts until this day comes the constant reminder of strength, our pride, and the unwavering heroism at the heart of the American spirit.

May God eternally bless the victims of 9/11. May he bring peace to their loved ones. And may we never, ever forget the sacrifice they bore for our freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and recognize the 40th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus on July 20th, 1974. As a proud representative of countless Greek and Cypriot American families in Brooklyn and Staten Island who have contributed immeasurably to New York's vibrant culture and economy, I have come to know the lasting impact that this heartbreaking saga of military occupation, forced eviction, seized property, and desecration of sacred religious sites has had on this wonderful community. As such, I am honored to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as a member of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Affairs, and to lend my unwavering support to Cyprus in its struggle for justice and restitution for these ongoing offenses.

It is with a heavy heart that I have listened to my constituents retell the tragic account of how family, friends, and sometimes they themselves were driven from their homeland and still yearn for peace and resolution after almost half a century of unjustified occupation. The Cypriot people's desire is for the same inalienable right to national sovereignty that the United States has championed at home and abroad. Recognizing this inescapable truth, I have been proud to cosponsor legislation urging Turkey to return confiscated churches and property, affirming our nation's commitment to the reunification of Cyprus, and strengthening our bilateral relationship with Greece. I call on all of my colleagues to support these efforts on behalf of our trusted ally as they work to overcome the political, cultural, and economic challenges wrought by four decades of illegal occupation.

Furthermore, the assault on Greek Orthodox culture and religious heritage is unfortunately not limited to Cyprus' struggle, as recent efforts by Islamist forces to convert the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul--one of the most sacred Greek Orthodox basilicas--into a mosque, make all too clear. Mr. Speaker, any efforts to stifle and diminish Orthodox Christian heritage in the region is the type of tyranny and intolerance that must be denounced by all free people across the globe.

I conclude Mr. Speaker, that if the United States is to truly honor its reputation as the world's brightest beacon of freedom and democracy, then our support for Cyprus must be clear and unwavering. I hope that on this somber occasion, we may unite in solidarity with our Cypriot allies, reassure them of our nation's ardent support, and look forward to replacing an annual observation of continued occupation with a joyous celebration of a re-unified Cyprus.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Siller Family who lost their youngest brother, Stephen, of the FDNY's Squad One on 9/ 11. On the morning of 9/11 Stephen was off-duty when he heard the news. He quickly radioed in and told Squad One he would join them back at the Towers. When he got to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel it was closed, so he strapped on sixty pounds of gear and ran through traffic towards and up and into the Towers to rejoin his FDNY brothers and help save others. Stephen was never seen or heard from again. His courage and sacrifice are a true reflection of all those who died on that day, and of our troops, who are willing to give that last full measure for us all. And out of all this heartache, his family has created a magnificent foundation to raise money to build homes for our Wounded Warriors and get families back on their feet after Hurricane Sandy; triumph out of tragedy. Stephen left behind a wonderful wife and five beautiful children, our prayers go out to them and all of those families who gave all on 9/11. I submit this poem penned in their honor by Albert Carey Caswell.

Tunnel to Towers

As into that tunnel your heart so led!

Running through traffic up into those towers you sped!

While Stephen,

Getting closer to Heaven with every step!

All out there on that edge . . .

Between life and death . . .

As your fine heart began to crest!

For our world to bless!

But for The Greater Good!

Stephen you,

And Squad One in all you could!

``Go Together . . . Stay Together'',

to catch up to them as you would!

To do what must so be done!

While, so willing to give up all of your future sun's!

Just like all of our brave men and women,

Of The Armed Forces these ones!

To shine bright like America's son!

So brilliant like this one!

While, all in that moment of truth . . .

What your fine heart so begun!

Showing us all so the proof!

Of how angels are begun!

As thy kingdom come,

On Earth as it is in Heaven will be done!

And from that tunnel to towers . . .

While, all in those darkest of all hours!

Stephen,

As upon us your light would so shower!

Because,

On this day you weren't coming home my son!

As such selflessness so shown in all these ones!

Just like our men and women who live now without arms and

legs,

Who from war come home this day!

Showing us all,

That through darkest of all hours!

It's Faith, Hope, and Courage which above all else so towers!

And holds the greatest of all powers!

As Stephen,

Step by step your climbed those towers!

Alongside all of your Brothers,

As the Angels on high cried in those

hours . . .

You go . . . I go . . .

As was your most heroic creed and its power!

To save precious lives!

As why here I stand with tear in eye!

And up to heaven as a new Angel you'd rise!

And from out of all of this heartache and pain!

Of a broken hearted family love so came . . .

Out of the ashes which would remain!

Your family's great love,

Something which would so honor your name!

To give back to all of our Brothers and Sisters In Arms!

And to all of those American families who must go off to war,

And come back in such heartache and harm the same!

A chance,

To rebuild all of their most precious lives to reclaim!

For you have died Stephen,

But you are not gone!

Now all in your name and memory,

This Foundation lives on . . .

Yes Stephen,

In your honor look what was born!

Which, but put's its arms around all of our wounded warriors

so warm!

Because moments are all we so have!

To live and die for something worthwhile!

And make all of the Angels up in Heaven so smile!

To climb to the mountain top!

To move onward when others stop!

As why on bended knee Stephen all in your name,

And your brothers who died with you the same . . .

We honor our troops who like you were so ready to die in

faith's name!

For all of those heroes,

Who come back home to rebuild their shattered lives!

To give them all a future,

A warm home,

And some hope so all inside!

Telling them hero your not alone!

As they run to recovery proving a home!

As we discover how like yours Stephen,

How much strength a heart can so own!

When Johnny comes marching home!

Tunnel to Towers,

Will be there for your America's heroes throughout all of the

hours!

Just like 9/11,

We Will Never Forget what all your hearts so own!

So our Brothers and Sisters,

Our wounded warriors . . . you will never be alone!

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart but also with a swelling of pride that I rise before this House today to honor the memory and the heroic sacrifice of one of the FDNY's bravest-- Lieutenant Gordon ``Matt'' Ambelas.

Lieutenant Ambelas, a veteran Staten Island fireman with 14 years of distinguished service, tragically gave his life this past Fourth of July weekend. He was attempting to rescue victims trapped in a horrific blaze in Brooklyn.

Lieutenant Ambelas leaves behind a devoted wife and two beautiful girls. He is New York's first firefighter to fall in the line of duty since 2012. While a family and a community mourn the excruciating loss of one of their finest native sons--one of their most dedicated protectors--Lieutenant Ambelas is a testament to the uncommon courage and sacrifice at the very core of the entire FDNY family and to the harrowing dangers they face in keeping America's greatest city safe every day.

Lieutenant Ambelas died after searching the 19th floor of a burning Brooklyn housing complex, determined to leave no innocent victim behind, as the flames spread rapidly from floor to floor. Undaunted by the danger that would have melted the courage of most any man, Matt faced it, undeterred, head on.

So I join all of my constituents in Brooklyn, on Staten Island, and all New Yorkers in acknowledging the immense debt of gratitude we all owe to Matt and his brothers in the FDNY, who put our safety above their own day in and day out.

While standing among those honoring Lieutenant Ambelas at his funeral on Staten Island last week, I was humbled by the incredible valor of Matt's actions. We watched as Matt's brothers in uniform, especially the Beach Boys of Ladder 81 on Staten Island and the Hooper Street Gang of Ladder 119 in Brooklyn, paid their final respects to the fallen hero. Seeing firsthand the mixture of strength and despair on their faces, I saw Matt's wife, Nanette, and their beautiful daughters, Giovanna and Gabriella. This was a very stark reminder that not only do we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to fallen heroes like Matt but also to the loving families that bear the immeasurable sacrifice right along with them.

When our Nation was viciously attacked on 9/11, 343 FDNY firefighters gave their lives. Since then, 18 more, including Matt, have fallen in the line of duty. Each loss, while a weight on our hearts, adds yet another angel to that storied brotherhood of heroes. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in the remembrance and commemoration of a true American hero in every sense of the word.

May God bless Lieutenant Ambelas. May He bring comfort to his young family. May He protect all of our brave FDNY firefighters, and may the noble sacrifice enshrined in Matt's memory never be forgotten.

To you, Nanette, please know that you, Gia, and Gabby are in my thoughts, in my prayers, and my heart is broken for your enormous loss.

Madam Speaker, I rise, unfortunately, today to call attention to a growing epidemic that is plaguing families across our country, and particularly in my district in Staten Island and Brooklyn.

This week the New York Post and the Staten Island Advance mentioned a story of an 11-year-old student, Cyon Williams. Cyon's struggle is with unaddressed bullying, which drove him to contemplate violence and suicide. Think about that, an 11-year-old boy contemplating violence and suicide.

Just a few weeks ago, I met with this bright and very impressive young man along with his mother at their home. I have to tell you it was an absolutely heartbreaking story to see this very mild-mannered, very nice, polite, respectful young man tell me a heartbreaking story of how he is terrified to go to school every day, but yet he is yearning to read and to learn.

Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, Cyon is far from alone. There is an example of a tragic suicide of a 15-year-old Tottenville student back in 2012, and that suicide proves all too well that this epidemic is continuing.

In her memory and the memory of countless innocent children victimized by bullying, it is time that we all say enough is enough. We must demand accountability from those charged with addressing bullying in our schools, especially in New York City, where one in five public school students are victimized by abusive peers.

I am calling on all of my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring H.R. 1199, the Safe Schools Improvement Act. This would require all public schools to establish policies to combat bullying.

We owe it to all of our young adults to demand safe learning environments, where they can grow and develop in a peaceful environment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend a recent display of distinguished heroism by the brave men of the fire department of New York.

On the morning of June 5, 2014, a massive five-alarm fire erupted in the Rosebank section of Staten Island. The firefighters from Engine 161/Ladder 81 quickly arrived on the scene and set to work battling the blaze. With choking smoke and rising flames, firefighters Ed Morri, Billy Calderon, and Thomas Verderosa ascended to the second-floor bedroom of the Rivera Family's burning home and carried the couple to safety just in the nick of time. A mere two more gasps of smoke would have proven fatal for Mrs. Rivera, who was unconscious when fireman Billy Calderon saved her life.

Engine 161's daring rescue is yet another testament to the enormous dangers faced by our firefighters. It also

demonstrates the importance of ensuring that the FDNY continues to receive the proper resources and training and that crucial engine companies like 161 are spared from the budget chopping block.

On behalf of all of the residents of Staten Island, I am proud to recognize and commend Engine 161/Ladder 81--and all of the firefighters who assisted--for a job well done.

Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chair, first, let me start by thanking my colleagues, Mr. Reichert and Mr. Pascrell, for their continued leadership on this issue and specifically in joining me on this COPS amendment.

I would also like to recognize Chairman Wolf for all of his outstanding service and specifically his work and with the subcommittee for their efforts to fund the critically important programs within this bill while facing a very tight fiscal environment. I recognize this is absolutely no easy task.

While I agree Congress must rein in our spending, doing so at the expense of men and women in uniform who risk their lives every single day to protect our communities is simply unacceptable. That is why I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan amendment to replace the drastic cuts to the Community Oriented Policing Services hiring program.

While some will argue that the COPS program is a bailout to our local governments, the truth is that this funding can only be used to supplement--not replace--State, local, and other funds used to hire and rehire additional police officers.

Further, unless an agency can demonstrate severe fiscal distress, COPS funding has specific limits based on sworn force strength and service population.

Let me give you an example. An agency can only request funding to hire or rehire no more than 5 percent of their sworn force strength and agencies with a service population of a million or more are capped at 25 officers. These limits ensure that the COPS program promotes community safety in an efficient and fiscally responsible manner.

The reality is that our local and State budgets are also being reduced, and this 60-plus percent reduction to Federal COPS funding would exacerbate the many dangers police officers face on a daily basis because of low staffing levels.

I also support the COPS hiring program's incentive to promote veteran hiring by giving additional consideration to agencies that commit to hiring or rehiring at least one military veteran.

As of 2013, 336 veterans have been hired with this funding. So considering the good that the COPS program has done and that it will continue to do in creating good-paying, career-oriented jobs and enhancing safety in our communities across the Nation, I want to urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

In closing, I want to emphasize we spoke about human trafficking and the horrors entailed there, and we need every effort we can to combat that, but I also want to highlight the prescription drug epidemic which plagues my district and many districts throughout this country.

If we are going to be able to fight to keep our children safe and keep people from overdosing on prescription drugs, we are going to need more and more police officers to combat this.

I seriously urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to stress the time sensitive need for FEMA to quickly act on the provision reauthorizing home buyers to assume the existing premium rate of sellers. Section 3(b) expressly states: ``Such rates shall continue with respect to the property until the implementation of subsection (a).'' Our explicit intent in including this provision is to allow a home buyer to assume the policy and rate of the current home owner upon enactment of this act. We expect FEMA to issue appropriate direction to the Write-Your-Own companies in short order to allow this process to move ahead smoothly. The purpose of this provision is to shield home buyers from excessive rates by letting them assume current rates during the period while FEMA is finalizing the guidance and rate tables to implement the other provisions of this act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the founding of St. Peter's Parish, the mother parish of Staten Island. The social vitality and spirit of community that the St. Peter's Parish brings to my district cannot possibly be overstated and, as the oldest Roman Catholic parish on Staten Island, this historic occasion is of great significance to our entire community. With the Catholic population of Staten Island consisting of only around 100 people at the founding of the parish in 1839, Father Ildefonso Madrano, the first minister of St. Peter's, was also tasked with serving the Catholic communities of Perth Amboy, New Brunswick, and Princeton, New Jersey. While the congregation met in an abandoned factory for five years, construction on a dedicated church moved slowly yet steadily, made possible by a generous donation of land by the New Brighton Association.

Quickly turning into a staple of life on Staten Island, the pastors of St. Peter's directed the construction of a grammar school as well as additional parishes on the island as the local population continued to grow. At the same time, church ministers showed their dedication to the local community by tending to Staten Islanders' various spiritual and material needs. One of St. Peter's early pastors, Father Patrick Murphy, gave his life in the service of those in need, contracting cholera while tending to the thousands of Irish immigrants quarantined in a hospital in the nearby Tompkinsville neighborhood of the Island.

It is in the same spirit that the parish of St. Peter's has exemplified the communal spirit of caring and service over the past 175 years. Thanks to the resilience of community members and parishioners, St. Peter's has survived

and even expanded its educational role with the establishment what is now the St. Peter's Boys High School under Monsignor Joseph Farrell in the early 20th Century. The contributions of the St. Peter's community continue up to this day, with the parish under the faithful guidance of co-vicar Monsignor James J. Dorney since 1986.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply humbled to represent this dedicated congregation in Congress, and I would ask my esteemed colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating the virtues that the St. Peter's parish has displayed over its long history. I cannot imagine what the Staten Island community would be like today without the contributions of the St. Peter's congregation, and I sincerely wish this incredible institution a happy 175th birthday, with hopefully just as many more to come.

Thank you, Chairwoman.

Mr. Speaker, it is almost surreal standing here right now. I almost don't believe that I am about to vote on something that I promised my constituents. It is surreal because I am standing here about to do something that was the reason I ran for Congress--to be able to lead on an issue and solve a problem and come home and tell people we actually got something done that is going to change your life for the better.

I have to say a special thank you to Maxine Waters, the ranking member, whom I worked with from the beginning; my dear friend, Gregory Meeks; Cedric Richmond; and Congressman Cassidy, who helped me write this bill. Without him, I could not have gotten this done. Frank LoBiondo has been tremendous, as well as Congressman Palazzo. Eric Cantor has been an absolute champion on this issue.

I just have to say this is truly a collaborative effort.

You cannot have a more bipartisan bill. At a time when there has been gridlock and gamesmanship, we have come together to deal with a very, very important issue because it goes to the heart of what we are here to do: make people's lives a little bit better.

So I just want to say thank you to so many that worked so hard, and I will leave the rest of the time for those of my colleagues to explain some particulars of the bill. Again, thank you so much.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the opportunity to speak today, and for his hard work on this important issue.

I rise today to discuss this urgent need for Congress to act as quickly as possible to delay these skyrocketing flood insurance premiums that right now are absolutely crippling homeowners in my district of Staten Island and Brooklyn, as well as across this entire great Nation.

In 2012 we all know that Congress passed the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, and that was an attempt to stabilize the National Flood Insurance Program. That program does have problems. It finds itself in about $30 billion of debt.

While well-intentioned, this law has had absolutely devastating effects on homeowners across the country. They are seeing their premiums increased not just by hundreds, but in many cases, by thousands of percent each year, with more increases to come into the future.

In my district alone, I met with hundreds of concerned citizens, homeowners. I have a senior who came to me with her bill for the new flood insurance and her old bill. The premium was $2,200 a year, and the new bill was $28,000. She is on a fixed income. She is not in a position to pay $28,000 a year.

Unfortunately for her, she can't sell the property because the property's value doesn't warrant such an extravagant flood insurance premium, so no one will buy it, so she is trapped.

I had a working-class family come to me and show me a bill for $37,000. This is a working-class family. That was their flood insurance premium.

Again, what does that mean?

It means they are trapped because they can't sell the house. No one's going to buy a modest home for 2 or $300,000 with flood insurance of $37,000 a year.

So this situation cannot be allowed to continue, and it cannot be unaddressed.

Last year, my district and the entire Northeast was devastated by Superstorm Sandy. Tens of thousands of my constituents found themselves actually homeless for the first time in their lives. Their lives were completely turned upside down. They were wondering whether they would rebuild at all, how they were going to move forward.

Many of them literally lost everything they have ever known. Every worldly possession was gone. They knew then, as we do now, it would be years before their lives would return to any form of normalcy.

Many of these people, unfortunately, still have not moved back into their homes. Many of them are struggling to rebuild, as we speak right now.

So to ask these victims of a natural disaster, who find themselves in a absolutely horrible position, through no fault of their own, to pay upwards of $15,000 a year or more in flood insurance premiums so soon after a natural disaster took everything from them, amounts to nothing more than them being victimized again.

If these premiums continue to go into effect, many of my constituents will find themselves unable to pay both their mortgage and their flood insurance. Their property will, in best case scenario, lose considerable value, but in the worst case scenario, become completely worthless.

This is unacceptable. To many Americans, their home is the largest asset they can ever own in their lifetime. To essentially destroy the value of those assets through flood insurance premium increases amounts to one of the largest takings of private property in U.S. history.

Thankfully, there is a solution. There is a solution that has been proposed in both Houses of Congress, and which I am very proud to say, I am one of the lead sponsors of, H.R. 3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which would halt these draconian rate increases.

As of today, I can report that this commonsense legislation has over 170 bipartisan cosponsors, and that support is growing every single day.

This legislation simply would delay these rate increases for up to 4 years, giving FEMA time to both complete the affordability study mandated under Biggert-Waters and to propose a framework to Congress to maintain the long-term affordability of flood insurance. That will give Congress the time to consider their proposals.

If long-term affordability of flood insurance is not taken into account when setting future premiums, many Americans are simply going to stop paying for this important coverage. They are just not going to be able to do it.

This will only serve to damage the fiscal soundness of the National Flood Insurance Program over the long term. An expansion in the number of uninsured homes will only increase the direct cost to the Federal Government for future natural disasters.

It is common sense. It is mathematics. If people don't pay in to the program, the cost to the Federal Government will go up the next time there is a natural disaster. It is that simple.

So, in closing, I would like to urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this vital legislation. The sooner that we act to delay these flood insurance rate increases, the sooner we can bring stability, not only to the real estate market, but to our fragile economy, and we will be bringing much-needed relief to extremely nervous homeowners across this entire great Nation.

I thank my friend from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following.

Staten Island Strong ``Go Together, Stay Together'' in honor of Rescue 5 and the 78 fallen firefighters of 9/11 and their families.

F/F Faustino Apostle, Jr., Battallion 2, F/F Louis Arena,

Ladder 5, A/C Gerald Barbera, C.W.C, F/F Arthur Barry, Ladder

15, F/F John P. Bergan, Rescue 5, F/F Paul Beyer, Engine 6,

F/F Brian Bilcher, Squad 1, F/F Carl Bini, Rescue 5, F/F Greg

Buck, Engine 201, F/F Salvatore Calabro, Ladder 101, F/F

Michael Cammarata, Ladder 11, F/F Brian Cannizzaro, Ladder

101, F/F Peter Carroll, Squad 1, F/F John Chipura, Engine

219, F/F Michael Clarke, Ladder 2.

F/F Reuben Correa, Engine 74, F/F Robert Curatolo, Ladder

16, Lt. Edward Darti, Squad 1, F/F Michael D'Auria, Engine

40, F/F Scott Davidson, Ladder 118, F/F Edward Day, Ladder

11, F/F George Dipasquale, Ladder 2, Capt. Martin Egan, Jr.,

Division 1, F/F Francis Esposito, Engine 235, Lt. Michael

Esposito, Squad 1, Capt. Joseph Farley, Division 1, F/F

Michael Fiori, Rescue 5, F/F Andre Fletcher, Rescue 5, Lt.

Michael Fodor, Ladder 21, F/F Gary Geidel, Rescue 5.

F/F James Giberson, Ladder 35, F/F Jeffrey Giordano, Ladder

3, F/F James Gray, Ladder 20, B/C Joseph Grzelak, Battalion

48, Lt. Joseph Gullickson, Ladder 101, F/F Sean Hanley,

Ladder 20, F/F Thomas Hannifin, Ladder 5, Lt. Harvey Harrell,

Rescue 5, F/F Jonathan Hohmann, HazMat, BC Charles Kasper,

Special OPS CD., F/F David LaForge, Ladder 20, F/F Robert

Lane, Engine 55, F/F Neal Leavy, Engine 217, F/F Daniel

Libretti, Rescue 2, F/F Joseph Maffeo, Ladder 101.

Lt. Charles Margiotta, Rescue 5, Lt. Peter Martin, Rescue

2, F/F Joseph Mascalli, Rescue 5, F/F John McAvoy, Ladder 3,

F/F Timothy McSweeney, Ladder 3, F/F Douglas Miller, Rescue

5, F/F Henry Miller, Jr., Ladder 105, Capt. Louis Modiferri,

Rescue 5, F/F Christopher Mozzillo, Engine 55, F/F Joseph

Ogren, Ladder 3, F/F Patrick O'Keefe, Rescue 1, F/F Jeffrey

Olsen, Engine 10, F/F Eric Olsen, Ladder 15, F/F Jeffrey

Palazzo, Rescue 5, F/F Paul Pisani, Engine 10.

Lt. Glenn Perry, Battalion 12, Lt. Philip Petti, Battalion

7, Lt. Michael Quilty, Ladder 11, F/F Louis Ragaglia, Engine

54, F/F Nicholas Rossomando, Rescue 5, F/F Thomas Sabella,

Ladder 13, F/F John Santore, Ladder 5, F/F John Schardt,

Engine 201, F/F Stephen Siller, Squad 1, F/F Jeffrey Stark,

Engine 230,

Staten Island Strong

(By Albert Carey Caswell)

All in these,

Our darkest of all hours!

Will we so find the strength,

to somehow overcome,

the power?

To go so courageously forth,

to shine and not to cower!

While, all there but in the face death!

While, putting our own lives all at risk to others bless!

To so show the world of faith's true power!

And become Angels,

all because of these our last and most finest of all hours!

And how will our loved ones so find the strength?

To so accept God's Will,

knowing what their loss has meant?

As all around them such heartache towers!

As their tears roll down their chins,

all throughout the coming years and hours!

And how will they so find the grace,

to wipe all those tears from their face?

And start again with hearts of courage full so breaking then!

With the kind of pain that only heaven heals, so ends!

As upon bended knee,

as all across this Nation we now so pray for them!

As we so ask our Lord to help them find the strength!

Because strength cannot so be measured in girth and power!

Or muscle mass acquired,

while working out in a gym for hours!

But from rather what so comes from heart within!

For the greatest of all strength so comes. . .

With the kind strength,

that lets one run up those steps into the face of hell!

And let's their love ones hearts so mend,

as each new day in such heartache they so dwell!

All in the shadow of America's Liberty. . .

All in this Empire State for all to see. . .

But lies such a magnificent community. . .

An island to its self which greaves,

as to all hearts now so speaks!

So speaks of faith and courage and dignity!

Of an Island made of Staten Steel which breathes!

Of blue collar workers,

just trying to live That Great American Dream!

Of such strength and courage,

a monument to all the world to be!

Of such heroic hearts which beat!

Who against all odds would succeed!

And would not wave,

as why up to heaven they so rose Godspeed!

All because of the greatest of all gifts they gave!

Who with such Strength In Honor so behaved!

Who on 9/11 so taught you and me!

Just how truly great a heart can be!

Because, all in the moments of our lives. . .

When, who lives and who so dies...

When, it all so depends upon you, relies!

Will we so with our hearts of courage full,

rush in to shine bright like a jewel?

To over evil to so rule!

To make a difference with it all!

To save life,

while Standing Strong!

While, Standing Tall!

Leaving the Angels in such awe!

Would we be so willing to pay such a price?

With these,

our own most precious of all lives?

All with such selfless sacrifice!

Bringing tears to our Lord's eyes!

People, who in one another so believed!

You go! I go!

As all into that face of death together, WE!

``GO TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER'',

was but their most heroic creed!

And all of those most heroic families!

Who so lived with all of that worry. . .

As each new morning off to work they'd leave!

Who so faced death, To So Rescue Me!

Such fine Men and Women of humanity!

Who Stood Staten Island Strong,

to be all that they could be!

Who all in that moment of truth,

so showed us how Angels are so conceived!

When, their fine hearts. . .

just like a song would speak!

Living by such a most selfless creed!

All but To Rescue Me!

Armed with such brave hearts which no longer beat!

Who all out upon war wagons came rushing these,

jumping up upon them to death to cheat!

As it was one for all,

and all for one!

You go. . . I go!

A band of brothers so willing to die and bleed!

Who upon each other so relied,

the need!

For they were some of America's greatest ones!

Whose families are our Nation's quiet heroes and heroines!

As no new day is so promised to anyone!

And on 9/11 as their day begun,

just like all those others, had each one. . .

For on this day of days they all stood Staten Island Strong!

As each and everyone could so be counted on!

Armed but with such Gotham Hearts,

to which belonged!

As why now up in Heaven they are Angels all among!

To watch over us from dust to dawn!

Rescue 5 and these Fire Fighters,

up on a pedestal so belong!

``GO TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER''

Just like a Psalm!

As you rushed up while others rushed down!

As you rushed in while others rushed out!

While, the face of death you stared down!

With each new most heroic step,

closer to Heaven your soul was swept!

As you gave all,

That Last Full Measure,

would accept!

So many heroes from that Island died that day!

Standing Staten Island Strong in every way,

as all of their fine lives they gave!

Heroes come all in such shapes and sizes!

But it's what's within their hearts which so comprises!

Who they are!

That which so lives on bright like a star!

And for all of those families,

Husbands and Wives who now so weep!

And for all of those children without Mom's and Dad's,

whose pain now mounts so ever deep!

And all of those Brothers and Sisters,

who in your arms your best friends can't keep!

Could we just as your loved ones such courage speak?

To a place where only hearts of courage beat!

And be Stand Staten Island Strong,

as once had all of these!

And as you lay your heads down to rest, to sleep!

In Staten Island there comes a gentle rain,

so very deep. . .

As it's your loved ones tears,

from up in Heaven to so ease. . .

To so ease your pain as you weep. . .

Until one fine day up Heaven you'll all so meet. . .

And you won't have to cry no more!

So hush little baby don't you cry,

one day up in Heaven you will look into your parent's eyes!

And you will hear them on the wind,

and when you wake feel them again and again. . .

And remember my child,

on the day you were born,

their greatest wish so formed. . .

Was for you to have a happy life,

to live on...

So make your parents dreams come true,

and somehow carry on. . .

Goodness!

Evil!

Darkness!

Light!

Those brave hearts who evil must fight!

Who bring their light!

Were but all of those who fought that fight!

Who Stood Staten Island Strong with all their might!

And in the shadow of America's Liberty. . .

All in this The Empire State for all to see. . .

But lies such a magnificent community. . .

An island who out to all hearts now so speaks!

That which stands even stronger this day indeed!

All because of them, these!

Who so showed us all how to so live and die,

and how to grieve!

As they Stood Staten Island Strong,

for their families and what they believed!

For We Will Never Forget,

Never.., all of these!

And The Greatest Strength,

all within a heart so beats!

All in this most heroic community,

which sits in the shadow of Liberty!

Amen!

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 363 I was unable to vote due to a recent medical procedure. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''