Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contribution made by Delta Children's Products and it's President, Mr. Joseph Shamie, in assisting the most vulnerable victims of Superstorm Sandy.

Staten Island and Brooklyn were ravaged by the unprecedented force of this natural disaster, leaving thousands of residents without homes or even the bare necessities of life.

While the damage of Superstorm Sandy uprooted the lives of so many it also left the most vulnerable victims of this tragic event, infants and young children, without the essentials they needed to provide for their well being.

As a resident of Brooklyn, Mr. Shamie saw firsthand the devestation left in Sandy's wake, and understood that there would be a desperate need for child care products. Moving swiftly he ensured that Delta Children's Products filled this much needed gap in supplies by donating cribs, changing tables and infant supplies to those affected.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Mr. Shamie and Delta Children's Products for their overwhelming support in helping to protect and care for the most vulnerable victims of Superstorm Sandy, and I ask you to join me in recognizing their commitment to the ongoing recovery effort.

Mr. Speaker, last month marked 25 years since the people of the Nagorno Karabakh region took a brave and bold first step in asserting their right to political freedom and national independence. Since the early 20th century the Nagorno Karabakh region and its people have been subject to the territorial squabbling and political gamesmanship of a number of foreign powers. In spite of this fact, the proud people of the Nagorno Karabakh have steadfastly asserted their desire for political autonomy, overwhelmingly approving a popular referendum declaring independence from Azerbaijan in 1991 and thereby affirming a distinct national identity driven by deep ethnic, cultural, and religious bonds. The Nagorno Karabakh Republic's steady advances in the industries of banking, agriculture, and telecommunications, provide further testament to their promise as a viable independent partner in the international community. Coupling this with the United States' longstanding and unambiguous role as a defender of free people's right to self-determination across the globe, I hope that my colleagues will join me in commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh liberation movement as part of the promotion of peace, stability, and prosperity in the South Caucusus.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the important issue of school safety. The tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut shocked and saddened us all. We must learn from this deplorable incident so our children and educators know their school is the one place they should feel the safest.

As we grapple with Newtown and other school tragedies, we have to discuss how these incidents could have been prevented and what steps should be taken to prevent something like Sandy Hook from happening again. As a former federal law enforcement agent, I recognize that our schools must be safe and secure, and I welcome this important discussion. I strongly believe that we must examine ways we can protect our schools through responsible security protocols, barriers, and training.

However, I must share my objection to the idea of allowing educators to carry weapons in schools. As a supporter of the Second Amendment, my objection has nothing to do with gun rights. I object to this proposal because our schools are--and must remain--a safe haven for teaching and learning. School administrators, teachers, counselors, nurses and the many other support professionals all have unique roles and responsibilities for ensuring a productive learning environment for children in their schools. We should not diminish the importance of allowing teachers to teach, principals to lead, and counselors and nurses to care by also asking that they serve as armed security.

Mr. Speaker, many Americans rely on six day mail delivery for essential services. Adjusting this system by even one day could prove to be a problematic change, especially for small businesses looking to advertise or engage in commerce through first-class mail.

While I realize the United States Postal Service is facing tremendous financial burdens, taking away a staple of our Nation's most affordable delivery system is a bad business choice. I have been an advocate for preserving six day delivery, cosponsoring H. Res. 30 which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the USPS should take all appropriate measures to ensure continuation of 6-day mail delivery service.

Further, this course of action will result in the loss of jobs for the tremendously hard workers of the postal service. I have had the unique experience of working side by side with a Letter Carrier and have seen firsthand just how demanding their job can be. Given the economic situation and significant job losses our country is already facing, 5-day delivery is a step in the wrong direction.

I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure we preserve 6-day delivery and strengthen the Postal Service.

Thank you very much, Chairman. I appreciate you yielding.

Madam Chair, let me first start by saying thank you to the many, many colleagues on both sides of the aisle that have been working tirelessly, and a special thank you to their staff, not only the Rules Committee, but Appropriations and all those from New York and New Jersey. Many, many staffers have stayed up more than 24 hours to make this happen. I am indebted to them, and I know that the people of Staten Island are very, very grateful.

This is a time that is unique in our history. We just started tearing down the homes in Staten Island. New York is tearing down 200, and they started in Staten Island.

When I was there this past weekend, a mother came up to me. I asked her how she was doing. She said, Well, I'm doing okay, but I'm worried about my children. I said why. She said, Because they start crying hysterically when it rains. They cry when it rains because they think there's going to be another flood, and they're scared.

So at the end of the day when we debate the various amendments in the bill and its merits, all I ask is that everyone in this blessed Chamber remember that there are real people--human beings--that are behind all of this; and at the end of the day, if it were our families, I know that they would want them to be safe and healthy with the support of the entire country behind them.

So, with that, I thank, again, my colleagues that have worked tirelessly, I thank the staff members, and I thank you for this opportunity to speak.

I would also like to give a special thanks to Mr. Frelinghuysen, who has been just an incredible stalwart and shown leadership, but I also want to echo the sentiments of my good friend from New Jersey. I would ask everyone that's going to take this vote to consider what we are doing. What are we really doing in this Chamber? We're not voting as Republicans or Democrats; we're not voting as individuals. We're voting as Americans. And the last time I checked the Constitution, that Constitution was to protect all of us, the welfare of this great United States. Please remember that when you cast your vote today. These are Americans in need that are counting on us to stand up and do the right thing. Regardless of whether you're from a State that has had disasters or not, when America is calling and your neighbor needs a hand, America lends that hand. That's who we are. Make me proud today and support this amendment.

Madam Chair, I'd like to just take 15 seconds to tell Chairman Garrett how much I appreciate his bringing this bill to the floor today. He and his wife came to my district. He came to Midland Beach and was in one of the homes, several of the homes, that were completely devastated, pulling out moldy sheetrock and bringing a little hope to people in complete despair. For that, I will eternally be grateful. And I really do thank my chairman for that compassion in letting the people, even outside of his own district, know that he's there and he cares about them.

I would also like to share with you: I called someone this morning from Staten Island that lives in New Dorp Beach. They have a teenaged son named Dylan. And they haven't been back in their home since the storm. And I asked, ``How are your two sons doing?'' And they said, ``They are doing great, but Dylan, he hasn't gone back to the house to help with the construction because he gets choked up.'' And it's that that I want to emphasize here. These are human beings--human beings, children--that have been completely displaced. And it's up to us to get them back on their feet.

So today is one of those steps that I'm proud to be a part of and tell Dylan that he's going to be okay, we're getting him back in his house. And I would ask that as we go forward with the other parts of Sandy relief that my colleagues will stand with me and tell Dylan that he's going to be okay and we're going to get him back in his house.

With that, again, I want to thank all of my colleagues across the aisle. It's been a pleasure to work with you, and we have a lot of work to do. And I want to thank Chairman Garrett one more time. Thank you, Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, it's very difficult to stand here and have to speak to my constituents knowing that we're going to break, we're going to end this Congress, and I'm going to go and walk the streets in Midland Beach, in South Beach, in New Dorp Beach and Tottenville, and I'm going to meet with homeowners that I've been meeting with for 9 weeks now and I can't

tell them that everything is going to be okay because, as of right now, everything is not okay. In fact, it's far from okay.

I don't often agree with my colleague that just spoke, Mr. Nadler, on a lot of substantive issues, but I have to agree with him today, and that is not an easy thing for me to do because there was a betrayal. There was an error in judgment that is going to cost, I think, the trust of the American people, not from me individually, not necessarily even for the Members here today, but for this body as a whole as we move forward.

I couldn't be more proud to be an American. You know, I used to tease people that I bleed red, white, and blue. Since I was young, I knew I would serve in the military, and I did. And I would have given my life for this country time and time again. And even later on, I put myself in harm's way serving with one of the greatest organizations this country has to offer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a huge honor. And I really, really felt, when I took my oath as a Member of Congress, that it would be a level of service that would even outweigh my prior service because I was going to be in a position to help my fellow Americans every way that I could and to actually go out and touch my friends, neighbors, even those that didn't support me or had different political ideologies, I was going to be able to use the work ethic that I inherited from my father to make their life a little better. That's why I took this job, to make people's lives a little better, to make life in the United States a little better. And I'm not able to do that today, and I don't understand why.

And I think it's inexcusable that we did not have this vote and bring those that are suffering, those men and women that are looking at their children right now, and they're not sure what to tell them because they've lost their small business, their only source of income.

And why is that important? Well, because the SBA and FEMA and all the government officials that hit the ground when Superstorm Sandy hit explained that if you didn't get money into the hands of these small businesses almost immediately, then most likely they would go under. If you don't start rebuilding right away, people start to become depressed and they lose hope. Let's not even discuss the economic impact.

So to delay this vote, even for another day, is something that will resonate, not only with the people that have been affected and are suffering and have lost everything, but I think it will resonate with the American people for a long time; and I think it will make them wonder what we are here for and what is the role of the Federal Government, what is the role of the Congress, and maybe most importantly, can they trust us.

So it is with a heartfelt apology that I apologize to my constituents, to my fellow New Yorkers in need, those in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. I did all that I could. I will not stop. I will not relent, and I will continue to push for this vote to come as quickly as possible. But there is no rhyme nor reason, and it is inexcusable that it has not come already.

You are in my thoughts and my prayers, and I will be there on the ground as soon as I get back to New York to help as much as I can, knowing that I'm not helping nearly enough because we don't have the funding to do so.

I want to thank my colleagues across the aisle that have been exemplary. It has been an honor to work so closely with you on these efforts. It has been not only bipartisan but bicameral. Governors, mayors all across the aisles have weighed in, and that is something that I will treasure and will continue to do as we move forward, knowing that we should not have to be here today.

It is with an extremely heavy heart that I stand here almost in disbelief and somewhat ashamed that I need to take to this floor.

What I'm thinking about are friends and neighbors that lost more than their homes, more than their worldly possessions, more than the businesses they've worked for their entire lives. They've lost family members. Now I have to go home and tell them their New Year's gift is that they're going to wait even longer for something they should have had over a month ago. It's inexcusable, and I am here tonight saying to myself for the first time that I'm not proud of the decision my team has made. It was the wrong decision.

I am going to be respectful and ask that the speaker reconsider his decision because it's not about politics. It's about human lives and human dignity, and I pray that he understands that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Time Warner's NY1 News and honor their commitment to serving the people of New York City as the only city-wide 24-hour local news channel.

NY1 has become a New York institution, part of the fabric of daily life for millions across the five boroughs of New York City. Since its debut on September 8, 1992, New Yorkers have come to depend on NY1's credible, accurate and thorough reporting on the stories and issues we care about.

Born out of Time Warner Cable's commitment to providing New Yorkers with comprehensive information about the city in which we live, NY1 continues to live up to the mandate to cover the stories big and small, the major events and breaking news as well as the neighborhood and community stories that make the city tick.

New Yorkers have come to depend on NY1 to stay informed with segments including the NY1 Minute, In the Papers, Weather on the 1s, Rail and Road, and From the Floor. NY1 also offers exclusive quality programming such as Inside City Hall, NY1's required nightly viewing for everyone in the political world, or On Stage, which provides a unique perspective on the latest shows on Broadway. In 2003 Time Warner added NY1 Noticias. Modeled after NY1 News it provides a strong emphasis on New York City news, politics and culture from a Hispanic perspective.

Mr. Speaker, this past September 8th, NY1 celebrated its 20th anniversary. Please join me in honoring Time Warner and NY1 News for its commitment to providing quality local news programming to New Yorkers whenever they want it. We should celebrate the benefits NY1's service provides as an indispensable community asset in New York City.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on H.R. 6156, Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal Act of 2012. And I'm very, very proud to join my friend and colleague, Congressman Greg Meeks, and stand with him in strong support of this legislation. I look forward to serving with him as the cochair of the Congressional Russia Caucus in the 113th Congress.

Madam Speaker, Russia, as we've heard, is one of the largest economies in the world, and passing permanent normal trade relations with Russia is a move that would greatly benefit the United States.

The World Bank has estimated that more than half of Russia's 140 million-plus people are middle class consumers. This legislation creates great opportunities for Americans and New York companies. It creates jobs for small businesses in Staten Island and Brooklyn. It increases maritime jobs at the Port of New York and creates more jobs in the manufacturing and services sector in New York City.

New York and Russia have a special relationship. Last year, New York exported $497 million worth of goods to Russia, which directly supported an estimated 1,400 jobs. Additionally, New York City is home to one of the largest Russian communities in the United States and that, I'm very proud to say, I represent.

So I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of American jobs and vote ``aye'' on H.R. 6156.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for all of his work on this as well.

It is a great opportunity to speak on this bill, H.R. 2606, the New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act, which would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the construction and operation of a natural gas pipeline facility in the New York portion of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

I appreciate Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member Markey's support for the bill when it was first considered here in the House, and now as it is considered with the Senate modifications.

Further, I wish to extend my sincerest appreciation to a good friend and my colleague from New York, Mr. Gregory Meeks. From start to finish, this bill has been a bipartisan effort and is an example of what exactly we can accomplish when we work together toward a common goal.

This project will be the first bulk natural gas transmission project in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens in more than 40 years. The 5.2 million people living in these three boroughs are demanding more and more natural gas. Natural gas, as we all know, is reliable. It's clean, it's domestic, and it's economical.

On September 15 of last year, New York City Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway testified before the National Parks Subcommittee in support of the Grimm-Meeks bill. I appreciate all of the courtesies shown to him on that day. In this testimony, the deputy mayor stated ``energy demand in New York City is increasing and will continue to grow.'' Therefore, getting the Gateway project done is a major effort that includes the private sector, the city, State, and Federal governments.

The Gateway pipeline project will generate approximately $265 million in construction activity, create almost 300 local jobs, and bring in about $8 million in annual local revenue for the city of New York, providing much-needed short- and long-term boosts to our economy.

Following House passage, my colleague Congressman Crowley praised the bill for reducing the use of two so-called dirtier fuels: No. 4 and No. 6 oil. The Senate modification of H.R. 2606 resolves concerns raised by the National Park Service about the House bill and now has full National Park support, as well as that of the Partnership for New York City, the Regional Plan Association, organized labor, and Mayor Bloomberg.

When I came to Congress, I promised my constituents in Staten Island and in Brooklyn that I would find fiscally conservative ways to create jobs and get our country moving again. Mr. Speaker, this bill does just that. Not only will it create a unique public-private partnership to revitalize Floyd Bennett Field, but it also creates well-paying jobs and it increases the supply of inexpensive natural gas, and does it all at absolutely no cost to the taxpayer, even bringing revenue to the Treasury.

So, Mr. Speaker, I thank you again for the opportunity to speak in support of this bill. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of my bill, H.R. 2606, the New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act which would authorize the Secretary of Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the New York portion of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

I appreciate Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member Markey's support for the bill by when it was first considered by the House and now as we consider the Senate modification.

Further, I wish to extend my sincerest appreciation to my friend and colleague from New York, Mr. Meeks. From start to finish this bill has been a bipartisan effort and an example of what we can accomplish when we work together towards a common goal.

This project will be the first bulk natural gas transmission project in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens in more than 40 years. The 5.2 million people living in these three boroughs are demanding more and more natural gas. Natural gas, as we all know, is reliable, clean, domestic and economical.

On September 15 of last year, New York City Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway testified before the National Parks Subcommittee in support of the Grimm-Meeks bill and I appreciate all the courtesy shown him on that day.

In his testimony Deputy Mayor Holloway stated the ``energy demand in New York City is increasing and will continue to grow'' and getting the Gateway project done ``is a major effort that includes the private sector, and the City, State, and Federal governments.''

The Gateway pipeline project will generate approximately $265 million in construction activity, almost 300 local construction jobs, about $8 million in annual local property taxes for New York City, providing a much-needed short-term and long-term boost to our economy.

Following House passage, my colleague Congressman Crowley praised the bill for reducing the use of ``two dirtier fuels: number four and number six oil.''

The Senate modification of H.R. 2606 resolves concerns raised by NPS about the House bill and has full NPS support as well as that of the Partnership for New York City, the Regional Plan Association, organized labor, and Mayor Bloomberg.

When I came to Congress I promised my constituents on Staten Island and Brooklyn that I would find fiscally conservative ways to create jobs and get our country moving again. Mr. Speaker, this bill does just that. Not only will it create a unique public-private partnership to revitalize Floyd Bennett Field, but it also creates good paying jobs, increases our supply of inexpensive natural gas, and does it all at no cost to the taxpayer and even brings revenue into the Treasury.

Mr. Speaker, thank you again for the opportunity to speak in support of the New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and ask that my written statement be included in the Record.

Thank you for yielding me time.

Today, I rise in strong support of this legislation, H.R. 6118, the Taking Essential Steps for Testing Act. I would like to thank Chairman Upton for his leadership, Ranking Member Waxman, as well as the Health Subcommittee and their entire staff for their support and dedication to this important bill.

The TEST Act is a bipartisan and bicameral solution to an issue that threatens Americans' access to health care. Under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, CLIA, any lab that conducts human specimen testing must have a CLIA certificate and comply with the law's proficient testing, or PT, requirements. CLIA requires labs to treat PT samples as it would a patient sample. However, the law explicitly prohibits a lab from referring a PT sample to another laboratory, although this may be normal for patient procedures. The purpose of this prohibition is to ensure labs submit their own results for PT samples. I believe that this does clearly promote continued patient safety, accurate results, and that a lab is not getting reimbursed for tests it does not or cannot perform.

The concern is that labs which have accidentally referred a PT sample to another lab and self-reported this mistake are being told by CMS that CLIA does not provide any flexibility and therefore their certificates must be revoked. As a result, labs that make a mistake and proactively try to correct it are treated identically to labs that knowingly and in bad faith violate the law.

Without a CLIA certificate, as we have heard, labs are unable to conduct any human specimen testing. For hospitals, this could mean choosing between shutting down essentially all services such as the ER and the operating room or paying millions of dollars to bring in an outside lab for 2 years. Both of these options result in reduced access to health care and other related services for patients.

The TEST Act gives CMS discretion to not revoke a CLIA certificate for a PT referral if it is determined that the lab was acting in good faith. And for labs which are bad actors, the TEST Act does nothing to alter CMS's ability to punish those labs and revoke their certificate. H.R. 6118 also gives CMS the discretion to not apply the revocation to an entire hospital network or other owner-operators based on the facts of a particular case.

In determining whether or not to revoke a CLIA certificate, I urge CMS to consider factors such as the nature of the violation, the lab's history of compliance and past PT experience, whether or not the lab voluntarily reported the referral, any remedial actions taken by the lab, and any recommendations made by the State or applicable accrediting organization.

I would like to end by saying thank you to all of my colleagues that helped support this legislation and urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 6118. It's commonsense legislation that ultimately puts patients first.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas.

Just to clarify the record, this bill, which I stand in strong support of--but actually before that, let me just say that I want to thank my colleague and friend, Greg Meeks, for all of his work on this. It was a true bipartisan effort. But this bill, all it does is clarify what is already allowed by law. So to say that it is overly broad, it's almost ridiculous because again, all this does is clarify what is already allowed by law. States and cities already have. There were challenges in court that have failed, and the purpose of this legislation is to make sure that those frivolous challenges do not continue to go forward.

The Residential and Commuter Toll Fairness Act, I feel it is vital to toll discount programs, specifically for my constituents, but for all of New York and throughout this country.

I would like to also thank Chairman Mica, who traveled to my district, to Staten Island, for moving this bill forward and for seeing firsthand in Staten Island the devastating effects and the impacts that tolls can have.

Again, this bill, all it does is continue to clarify and allow the States and municipal governments to offer the discounted toll rates to residents for trips taken on roads, bridges, rail, bus, ferry, and other transportation systems.

I introduced the legislation for one purpose: it was in response to a 2009 case in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit questioned the constitutionality of discounts for residents of towns bordering the New York Thruway. In New York, we simply can't afford to lose our discounts.

The majority of my district in New York City is an island; it's Staten Island. And the only way to drive on or off the island is to cross a bridge and pay a toll, something many of my constituents do often as part of their daily commute. Without a discount, it costs $13 to cross the Verrazano Bridge. Yes, I said $13 without the Staten Island residential EZ-Pass discount. On the other side of Staten Island, going to New Jersey, the cash tolls on three bridges have just gone up to $12, and that amount is slated to go up in 2015 to $15. That's without the residential discount.

On Staten Island, we have fought long and hard to reach an agreement on residential toll discounts, which is why this legislation is crucial to making sure we protect those new rates.

The Residential Commuter Toll Fairness Act provides clarification only of the existing authority of local governments to issue or grant transportation toll, user fee or fare discount programs based on residential status. It also provides congressional authorization for discount programs. Passage of H.R. 897 is nothing more than clarification of what can already be done, and I ask for the strong support of my colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, Mike Silverstein was a legendary figure in the shoe industry and co-founded NINA Footwear in 1953. Operating from a loft on Prince Street in New York City, the brothers, Stanley and Mike built Nina Footwear into one of the most widely respected independent companies in the shoe industry. Mike combined a flair for showmanship with true business acumen and was instrumental in developing the shoe industry's presence in New York City.

Mr. Silverstein was also renowned in other circles. To so many who knew Mike Silverstein, as well as to the disabled children that Aleh Foundation helps, Moshe `` Mike'' Silverstein is unforgettable, and has left his family and friends with warm and happy memories. His charismatic personality was joyously remembered by the Chairpersons, Honorees and the Raine & Stanley Silverstein Family Foundation during the Aleh 28th annual Awards Dinner to ``Fulfill a Child's Dream.''

Friends in the industry in which he played a central role for decades will remember him fondly as he left behind a beautiful family; to include his children, Scott, Baron, Nanci, and Neil.

At the Dinner in the ballroom of the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park NYC, Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie, an Aleh Foundation Rabbinical Board member and a strong supporter of the great work done by the Aleh Foundation, recited an emotional and special prayer dedicated to the deceased. Afterwards Rabbi Abadie then presented a Congressional certificate to Mr. Silverstein's niece, Nina Miner and her daughter Leslie and husband Michael--the sponsors of the 2012 Aleh dinner. These wonderful individuals were also the sponsors of a residential wing to house children in the Aleh village, which is known as the ``Aleh Negev'' in loving memory of Stanley Silverstein's great granddaughter, the late Chana Emunah Kule ob'm.

Truly, the City and people of New York will miss the kindness and compassion of Mike Silverstein. His good deeds and charitable spirit will live forever within our hearts.

Mr. Speaker, when I was elected to Congress, I made a promise to the people of Staten Island and to Brooklyn to repeal ObamaCare. Tomorrow, I will vote again to uphold that promise.

We must repeal this overwhelmingly burdensome and costly law, which is hurting our economy and impeding job growth for small businesses. It will reduce the American workforce by as much as 800,000 and impose $813 billion in 21 new taxes. Twelve of those taxes impact families making less than $250,000 a year.

One of the most devastating provisions in ObamaCare cuts over a half a trillion dollars from Medicare, primarily from Medicare Advantage. I have 107,000 seniors in my district, 38,000 of whom are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. This is simply reprehensible, and we must repeal this law to protect our seniors and our economy.