Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which is commemorated on the third Friday of September every year. This past weekend I joined the Vietnam Veterans of America in my district to bring attention to the more than 80,000 American servicemembers who were prisoners of war and those still missing in action.

My community of Staten Island, New York, recently learned from the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Second Lieutenant Francis E. Callahan of New Brighton were identified after 80 years. Lieutenant Callahan and 10 other servicemembers were killed in action during World War II when their plane was shot down by an enemy combatant during a bombing mission to Brunswick, Germany.

At the time, the crash site could not be located by Allied forces or Army investigators. However, in 2015, an independent research group, Missing Allied Air Crew Research Team, contacted the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency historians with new information related to a possible crash site near Wistedt, Germany.

The agency's investigators were able to find the location and recovered various pieces of wreckage between 2021 and 2023.

Following extensive laboratory analysis, anthropological and dental analysis, along with the available circumstantial evidence, an association between the remains and Callahan was established. Now Second Lieutenant Callahan will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery to rest with his brothers.

Sadly, 3 of the 10 members of Callahan's crew still remain unaccounted for. They are among the tens of thousands of other servicemembers who remain missing. As a nation grateful to those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, we must continue to raise awareness of this issue and work toward the repatriation of all our POW/MIA and bring closure to their families and communities.

The identification and repatriation of Lieutenant Callahan, along with Private First Class Raymond Smith of Brooklyn, whose remains returned to New York City in 2021, 71 years after he went missing in action during the Korean war, give us renewed hope that our Nation will fulfill its promise and commitment to return every single American who served our Nation on foreign land.

As the POW/MIA flag states, these heroes are not forgotten, and we will do everything we can to honor their memory and bring them home.

Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 51st anniversary of the Battle of the Sexes, the female versus male tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, played on September 20, 1973.

Mr. Speaker, 90 million people in the world tuned in to watch as King made history and defeated Riggs at the Houston Astrodome in three straight sets: 6-4, 6-3, and 6-3.

It was a first, it was groundbreaking, and it forever changed the sport of tennis and brought the issue of women's equality to the forefront of our Nation.

Billie Jean King has inspired generations of American women. She lived the dream for her generation and the women who came before her, who lived during a time when they were restricted from reaching their full potential.

She has empowered young women with the road she paved and the ceiling that she broke. My generation was the first to really benefit from the positive changes made because of her.

I can say that she certainly inspired me to challenge and defeat a man for this seat in the House of Representatives.

To really put in perspective just how courageous and trailblazing Billie Jean King's actions were, one needs to know what women endured at the time.

In 1973: Women could not get their own credit card or open a bank account without their husband or a male cosigner.

They could not attend a U.S. military service academy.

In some States, they couldn't even serve on a jury.

There were no protections against sexual harassment in the workplace. They could get fired just for being pregnant, and there was no access to birth control.

Women were paid 50 percent less than men, and the sport of tennis was no different. In fact, it was worse. In 1970, Billie Jean and eight other female players created their own tennis circuit to protest men receiving 12 to 1 prize money at an upcoming tournament.

In 1972, when Billie Jean won the U.S. Open singles title and received $10,000 in prize money while the male winner was awarded $25,000, she used her platform to further champion the issue of equal prize money and threatened to boycott the U.S. Open unless the disparity was addressed.

She founded the Women's Tennis Association, and she put her reputation, her tennis career, and her title on the line for gender equality, and she never wavered.

Her courage, resolve, and determination pushed the U.S. Tennis Association to make the 1973 U.S. Open the first sporting event to offer equal prize money to female and male competitors.

Billie Jean is also no stranger to the Halls of Congress. She came to Washington to advocate for and testify in support of Title IX, signed by President Nixon in 1972, that prohibited sex discrimination in all federally funded school activities.

Her achievements, both on and off the court, earned Billie Jean King accolades and honors. She became the first female athlete to be named a Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated.

In 1975, Seventeen Magazine readers named Billie Jean the most admired woman in the world. In 1976, she was Time Magazine's Woman of the Year. In 1990, Life magazine named her one of the 100 Most Important Americans of the 20th century.

She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2006, the U.S. Tennis Association Tennis Center in my city, New York City, home of the U.S. Open, was renamed in her honor.

In 2009, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She even has her own song by Elton John in tribute to her 1974 tennis team, Philadelphia Freedoms.

As a Representative of Staten Island, New York, where the sport of tennis was first brought and played by Mary Ewing Outerbridge 150 years ago and where the first national tennis tournament was played in 1880, it gives me

great pride to stand before you and to join Representative Fitzpatrick and my colleagues in honoring the woman who advanced the sport and achieved equal prize money for herself and all the women who followed.

Mr. Speaker, while Congress has awarded a Congressional Gold Medal to prolific male athletes in the past, this body has never awarded a female athlete the highest civilian honor.

Today, we seek to change that and award it to the one woman who advocated, fought, and blazed the trail for equality in sports and won 129 singles titles and 39 Grand Slam titles along the way, Billie Jean King.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for advocating for this bill, working to bring it to the floor, and making sure that we do not have foreign election interference.

Mr. Speaker, my legislation, H.R. 8314, the No Foreign Election Interference Act, closes a loophole in our tax code that foreign citizens and potentially foreign adversaries have used to influence and derail the will of the United States people.

Under current law, foreign nationals are prohibited from donating to political committees, as my colleague on the other side pointed out.

However, what my colleague on the other side of the aisle failed to mention is that there are no restrictions on foreign nationals flowing money through tax-exempt organizations and then moving that money into super-PAC issue advocacy organizations that get involved in American elections with the intention to influence our elections. This is a major loophole.

Public reporting suggests that foreign nationals who are barred from directly contributing to candidate campaigns by the FEC are exploiting tax-exempt organizations as a pass-through, something that as current law stands is permissible.

For example, a Swiss billionaire has used a network of nonprofits to steer tens of millions of dollars to influence our elections and undermine our democracy.

According to The New York Times, the same individual between 2016 and 2020 donated significant sums of money to the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which subsequently sent over $60 million to super-PACs that supported exclusively Democrats. Perhaps that is why we all of a sudden see this opposition to this legislation after it passed committee almost unanimously.

We should all be uncomfortable with any noncitizen having so much sway over our electoral decisions and public discourse. Our elections are our elections. They do not belong to individuals who cannot even cast a ballot in the United States.

This bill would prohibit any tax-exempt organization that receives foreign national contributions from subsequently making contributions to political committees, such as super-PACs, for 8 years. Failure to comply would result in significant fines and eventually revocation of tax-exempt status.

Let me be abundantly clear: To address the concern brought up by my colleague on the other side of the aisle, this legislation does not include any dues-paying trade organizations or labor unions. The sole intent of this bill is to keep foreign mega-donor money out of our elections.

Again, I thank Chairman Jason Smith of Ways and Means for working with me on this legislation, and I hope that my colleagues will support this legislation today and that it will pass with bipartisan support as it did out of the committee.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman D'Esposito for bringing us together tonight to honor the 2,977 victims of September 11 but also the many more who have died since. I thank him for his service in the NYPD to the city of New York.

Madam Speaker, 23 years ago, those of us in New York City experienced the 9/11 attacks in a way we will never forget. I was a recent graduate commuting to my first job near Union Square in Manhattan when the first plane hit the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. We watched in horror as the city descended into chaos and first responders rushed in to save lives. Too many never returned.

The attacks shattered our sense of security. ``Never forget'' became the rallying cry for our troops entering Afghanistan in pursuit of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida. We came together to support the recovery of our city and heal our country. New York emerged stronger with enhanced security, a fortified NYPD, and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

Twenty-three years later, we approach a somber reality that more FDNY members have passed away from 9/11-related illnesses and cancers than from the attack on September 11, 2001.

I have attended memorials and street namings for heroes who made it home on 9/11 only to succumb to it years after.

I will forever honor our pledge to never forget by working with Representatives D'Esposito, Garbarino, and others for our first responders and survivors fighting these illnesses by ensuring that Zadroga is fully funded and that they receive the healthcare that they deserve.

During my first term, I successfully fought for 3,000 widows and children to be fairly compensated by the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, something they fought for for over two decades. This year, I am proud to work with Congressman Mike Lawler on the fund the fund act and ensure that the USVSST leaves no more victims out of rightfully owed victims compensation.

As we mark the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, it is essential to remain vigilant. Today, we are a divided Nation with new challenges. Afghanistan is again under Taliban control, and thousands of ISIS-K and al-Qaida terrorists were released from Bagram Air Base during the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Our borders are wide open, and law enforcement is stretched dangerously thin. On 9/11, the NYPD had 41,000 officers. Today, it has only 33,000. According to the latest reports, over 350 suspected terrorists have been apprehended at the southern border. ISIS-K-related groups have smuggled 400 individuals with terrorist ties into the United States.

We cannot stand by and allow ourselves to be vulnerable. We must honor those we have lost and prevent even the possibility of another attack. We must secure our border. We must make our homeland safe. We must prioritize our country's security, strengthen and support our law enforcement, and ensure that ``Never Forget'' remains a guiding principle, not just a slogan.

Lastly, this administration has a solemn duty to deliver justice to all Americans. That means no plea deal for the 9/11 masterminds. Set a trial date, and let's pursue the death penalty.

Mr. Speaker, if anyone is wondering why we need a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote, look no further than my home, New York City, where in 2021, the city council under Mayor Bill de Blasio passed legislation allowing noncitizens who have resided in our city for just 30 days to vote in municipal elections.

Not only this, but in November, after our office obtained copies of migrant shelter contracts by Freedom of Information Act requests, we discovered that New York City included a provision requiring contractors to distribute voter registration forms, assist in voter registration, and promote campaign material within the shelter themselves, all while prohibiting city agencies from asking about citizenship status in the same contract.

As a daughter of immigrants who came to this Nation legally and earned their right to vote, I have joined city and State leaders as a plaintiff in a lawsuit to stop New York City's misguided voting law. We have won not once, but twice; however, we continue to fight because the city continues to waste taxpayer dollars to appeal the ruling. This is why we need this bill today.

Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago, a 13-year-old girl was raped in New York City by an illegal immigrant from Ecuador released into our country by Border Patrol thanks to Joe Biden's open-border policies.

In Texas, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was raped and murdered by two illegal immigrants from Venezuela, again, released into our country at the direction of the Biden administration.

Laken Riley's killer, a Venezuelan gang member, was granted parole by the Biden administration, then repeatedly arrested and released by sanctuary city New York, the only reason Laken is not alive today.

Rachel Morin's killer, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, crossed Biden's open border, successfully evading CBP custody.

Kayla Hamilton's killer from El Salvador was allowed to enter by the Biden administration, despite associations with the violent MS-13 gang.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask how many more American women and girls will suffer the same fate before President Biden reverses his policies? I also ask: Where are our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that claim to be champions of women?

Mr. Speaker, I rise to include in the Record the following Proclamation honoring Ms. Curlene Jennings Bennett:

Whereas Staten Island Sea View Hospital opened in 1913 specifically to treat patients with Tuberculosis and, at its peak, Sea View Hospital saw nearly 2,000 patients and was one of only four municipal hospitals in New York City that did not discriminate against Black nurses;

Whereas Curlene Jennings Bennett arrived to work at Staten Island Sea View Hospital in 1957 as a registered nurse and worked in the adult pavilions of the hospital;

Whereas Curlene Jennings Bennett received her training at Bellevue School of Nursing;

Whereas the Black Angels were courageous, dedicated, and bold in answering the call to come to Sea View and risk their lives caring for the grievously sick and ``indigent consumptives'' of New York City, who had been banished to this woefully understaffed sanatorium;

Whereas The Black Angels' years of expertise played a significant role in the first ever human trials of isoniazid, the first drug to cure tuberculosis. Since its discovery in 1952, tens of millions of lives have been saved;

Whereas the Black Angels were activists and active members of the NAACP, neighborhood churches, and community groups, and became founding members of the Lincoln Hospital Alumni Association, the Urban League Guild, and the Women's Civic and Political Union. They were fierce advocates for the integration of Black nurses into the U.S. military and American Nurses Association, and in New York City they worked toward desegregating the hospital system;

Whereas following her tenure at Sea View Hospital, Curlene Jennings Bennett went to Africa where she lived for four years and helped to establish well-baby clinics and teach nutrition. Upon her return to the United States, she continued to serve her community as a public health and school nurse; and

Whereas the people of Staten Island are grateful for the years of service by Curlene Jennings Bennett and all the Black Angels who selflessly served on the front lines at Sea View Hospital to treat tuberculosis patients.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to include in the Record the following Proclamation honoring the Black Angels of Staten Island:

Whereas Staten Island Sea View Hospital opened in 1913 specifically to treat patients with Tuberculosis and, at its peak, Sea View Hospital saw nearly 2,000 patients and was one of only four municipal hospitals in New York City that did not discriminate against Black nurses;

Whereas the Black Angels, as they are known, were courageous, dedicated, and bold in answering the call to come to Sea View and risk their lives caring for the grievously sick and ``indigent consumptives'' of New York City, who had been banished to this woefully understaffed sanatorium;

Whereas the Black Angels' caring demeanor, and years of expertise played a significant role in the first ever human trials of Isoniazid, the first drug to cure tuberculosis. Since its discovery in 1952, tens of millions of lives have been saved;

Whereas the Black Angels were activists and active members of the NAACP, neighborhood churches, and community groups, and became founding members of the Lincoln Hospital Alumni Association, the Urban League Guild, and the Women's Civic and Political Union. They were fierce advocates for the integration of Black nurses into the U.S. military and American Nurses Association, and in New York City they worked toward desegregating the hospital system; and

Whereas the people of Staten Island are grateful for the years of service by all the Black Angels who selflessly served on the front lines at Sea View Hospital to treat tuberculosis patients.

Mr. Speaker, this week, eight suspected terrorists with ISIS ties were arrested in New York City, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia after crossing our southern border from Tajikistan where they supposedly were vetted and then released into our interior.

Since President Biden took office, 340 individuals on the terrorist watch list were caught crossing, and that is just who were caught. Who else is among the 10 million individuals that this administration has allowed to enter after making its 60 different policy changes to undo the border security measures of President Trump?

What we know is that he has allowed in drug traffickers, murderers, robbers, those who have assaulted police officers, and even an individual who shot two police officers in New York City a week ago. How many more before President Biden takes action and undoes his disastrous policies, and how many more until cities like mine undo their dangerous sanctuary policies that not only protect these individuals but force the taxpayers of New York and America to house them and provide all sorts of free services to their benefit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to include in the Record the following Proclamation honoring the retirement of Detective Paul DiGiacomo:

Whereas: Detective Paul DiGiacomo, President of the Detectives' Endowment Association, Inc. (DEA), is to be recognized on June 26, 2024, on the occasion of his retirement from the New York Police Department. The people of New York City thank him for his four decades of service and his commitment to representing the interests of approximately 18,000 active and retired New York Police Department Detectives, the largest detectives' union globally.

Whereas: A Brooklyn native and the son of a transit police officer, Detective DiGiacomo commenced his service in law enforcement with the Housing Police in 1983 before transitioning to the New York Police Department in 1985.

Whereas: Throughout his distinguished career spanning nearly four decades, Detective DiGiacomo has served in various capacities, from patrolling the 70th Precinct in Brooklyn to working in plainclothes with the Borough's Anti-Crime Unit, demonstrating his dedication to protecting and serving the community.

Whereas: Detective DiGiacomo's ascent within the NYPD ranks was marked by his diligent work in the Brooklyn South Narcotics unit, where he rose to prominence in the Major Case Unit while concurrently advocating for his fellow officers as a delegate for the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (PBA).

Whereas: Recognized for his exceptional investigative skills, Detective DiGiacomo earned his Detective's gold shield in 1993 and continued to excel in assignments within the Organized Crime Investigation Division (OCID), including roles in various gun units and narcotics task forces.

Whereas: In 1999, Detective DiGiacomo assumed the role of Sergeant- at-Arms for the DEA, a position he held with distinction until his promotion to Detective, second grade, by the NYPD in December 2001, in recognition of his exemplary service in an extensive undercover operation related to the homicide of a Queens Police Officer.

Whereas: Detective DiGiacomo's leadership within the DEA continued to evolve as he was elected to successive positions on the Executive Board, culminating in his appointment as President in January 2020, where he now leads the union in navigating challenges ranging from collective bargaining to legislative advocacy amidst a complex socio- political landscape. DiGiacomo spearheads all union activity, including collective bargaining, political activities, overseeing the health and welfare funds, the Annuity Fund, and the union's not-for-profit charity, the DEA Widows' and Children's Fund. The union also engages in a wide variety of internal and external public relations ventures and fraternal functions.

Whereas: Under Detective DiGiacomo's stewardship, the DEA remains steadfast in its mission to protect the rights and welfare of its members, advocating against detrimental policies such as ``bail reform'' and spearheading initiatives like the legislation named after Detective Brian Simonsen aimed at combating cellphone theft.

Whereas: Despite facing unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and civil unrest, Detective DiGiacomo remains resolute in his commitment to advancing the interests of NYPD Detectives with unwavering solidarity and dedication.

It is with great admiration and gratitude that we recognize Detective Paul DiGiacomo for his exceptional leadership and tireless advocacy on behalf of the dedicated men and women of the New York Police Department.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly join the Greek-Orthodox community of Staten Island to honor the service of Father Nicholas Petropoulakos and celebrate his retirement this month after 50 years of service to the Greek Orthodox Church of America. Therefore, I include in the Record the following Proclamation:

Whereas Father Nicholas Petropoulakos was born in Lowell,

Massachusetts, and entered Hellenic College Holy Cross School

of Theology in 1967 to fulfill his calling of becoming an

Orthodox priest;

Whereas Father Nicholas was ordained to the Holy Diaconate

in 1973 at Holy Cross Chapel on the campus of our seminary by

His Eminence, Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, and was named

assistant to the Pastor of Annunciation Church in Woburn,

Massachusetts;

Whereas on June 1, 1974, he was ordained to the Holy

Priesthood at his home Parish, Holy Trinity in Lowell,

Massachusetts, again by His Eminence, Metropolitan Iakovos.

In 1987, Father Nick received a M.A. in Biblical Theology

from the University of Notre Dame;

Whereas since accepting the pastorate of Holy Trinity--St.

Nicholas in August of 1996, Father Nick has been heavily

involved in education ministries, leading Bible study

sessions, and teaching in youth ministries. He helped develop

the parish website further to bring the community together

and introduced the Junior Hellenic Dancers as well as a dance

ministry for 3- to 6-year-olds;

Whereas Father Nicholas established the ELEOS Ministry for

illness support, organized monthly healing services, and

initiated THARROS for divorced Orthodox Christians. He

oversaw the completion of the Community Center building

program and led the renovation of the church, which was

adorned with iconography for its consecration on June 3,

2013, conducted by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of

America.

On behalf of the Greek-Orthodox community of Staten Island, I want to thank Father Nicholas for his years of devotion, dedication, commitment, and spiritual guidance.

Mr. Speaker, this morning, I woke up to a press conference being held by my mayor, the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, and our police commissioner. They were saying that while we were sleeping, two NYPD officers were shot.

They were shot by somebody who is in this country illegally, somebody who entered via Eagle Pass, somebody who is a national of Venezuela, and somebody who was allowed to be here because of President Biden's 60 policy changes that have opened up our border, allowing dangerous individuals to enter.

This was someone who was in New York City being housed, being fed, and having legal services, laundry services, free metro cards, and healthcare on the taxpayers, the hardworking taxpayers whom I represent in New York.

The policies of the left are destroying this country. They are destroying our city. They are destroying the rule of law.

This was totally preventable. It is something that should not have occurred.

Thankfully, those police officers are okay, but it sheds light that the failed policies of the Democrats on the Federal, State, and local levels have come to a head, and this is the result: Our law enforcement, those tasked to protect us, are being hurt.

Chuck Schumer, on the other side of the building, represents New York. He still will not take up any of the pieces of legislation that we passed in this House, some with bipartisan support, to deport individuals who are here committing crimes and to take action to undo the policies of President Biden.

Just last week, there was another individual who committed murder. This was another illegal immigrant who was here and who committed murder in Harlem.

Yet, these two incidents, one in Queens and one in Harlem, both happened in districts represented by colleagues here in this House on the other side of the aisle. Where are they? I don't see them putting pressure on Senator Schumer to pass meaningful legislation to undo what President Biden did by executive order.

The President has the ability to undo it, and he continues to lie to the American public, telling them that he doesn't have the authority to do anything at the border. He had the authority to break the border. He himself passed those 60 policy changes. He himself can fix it.

I speak today because the American people need to see what is going on. They need to know that this is a direct result of this President's policies and of my mayor's policy that we are going to continue housing individuals in converted hotels in New York that should be going to tourists. Instead, they are going to these illegal immigrants who are wreaking havoc.

The person who shot these officers was stopped, by the way, because he was a suspect in a ring of robberies. He and others used motorized scooters to terrorize the community. They committed robberies, pickpocketed, and snatched purses.

Why is my mayor forcing we the people, the taxpayers, to house individuals who are committing crimes?

The New York City Council, also run by radical leftists, prohibits NYPD from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport individuals once they are arrested.

We have had thousands of arrests of people in this country illegally. They go back to their luxury hotel rooms that we the people are paying for because the New York City Council doesn't think we should be cooperating to have them removed from this country. We leave them there to be able to commit crimes over and over again, 8, 9, 10 times.

Mr. Speaker, read the New York Post, which does a good job of exposing it. People with multiple arrests are being released back on the streets to prey on New Yorkers. This is completely unacceptable.

Chuck Schumer has to stop hiding behind a bill that nobody likes and wouldn't do the job. He needs to actually hold this President accountable.

Let's undo those 60 executive orders, which the President won't do on his own. We have a responsibility to protect the people of New York, to protect the people of this country, to protect the taxpayers of the United States, and to secure our borders.

Enough is enough. Let's get it done, Senator Schumer. Do something meaningful over there in the Senate. Pass some of the bills that we passed here with bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas: Constantine `Dino' Iordanou, Chairman of Vantage

Group, will be honored by The Hellenic Bankers Association

(HABA) on June 5, 2024, at the 40th Annual Executive of the

Year Award Dinner for his 42 years in the insurance business,

and his contributions to the Hellenic community.

Whereas: Mr. Iordanou previously served as Chairman and CEO

of Arch Capital Group Inc., holding leadership roles at

Zurich Financial Services, Berkshire Hathaway Group, Columbia

Insurance Company, and American International Group.

Whereas: Mr. Iordanou currently serves as a director of

Verisk Analytics and The Bank of Cyprus and is the Chairman

of the board of Vantage Risk Holdings.

Whereas: Mr. Iordanou is a founding member of the

Pancyprian Association of America, an organization founded in

1975 following the invasion and illegal occupation of Cyprus

by Turkish troops, to advocate for freedom and justice for

Cyprus and its people.

Whereas: Mr. Iordanou also founded FAITH, a charitable

organization dedicated to the advancement of Greek-Americans

through its scholarship education programs, promoting

Hellenism and the Greek Orthodox faith, and to supporting the

next generation of young leaders.

Whereas: Mr. Iordanou has received numerous awards,

including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (1999), Reactions

Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award (2017), Institutional

Investor's Best Insurance industry Mid-Corp CEO (2017), St.

John's University School of Risk Management's Insurance

Leader of the Year, and was named one of Fortune Magazine's

Top 50 Businesspersons of the Year (2016).

The Hellenic Community is privileged to celebrate the

achievements of this year's Executive of the Year recipient,

Mr. Iordanou, for his more than four decades of service to

the insurance industry, the Hellenic community, and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of Lee Covino, a friend, a U.S. Army veteran, and a Staten Islander who dedicated his life to making our country and community a better place for those who served.

Lee served our country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war. After his service, he attended the College of Staten Island on scholarship from the GI Bill. It was here that his passion for veterans' affairs flourished. He became a peer counselor for local veterans and, almost a decade later, began working as an intervention counselor for the VA's Vietnam Veterans Outreach Center, assisting nearly 1,000 Vietnam-era and combat veterans across Staten Island and Brooklyn.

In July 1990, Lee was appointed to the cabinet of Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari, where he served as the veteran affairs adviser and director of contracts and procurement. His service to our borough continued for another two decades, extending his tenure at Staten Island Borough Hall through the administrations of James Molinaro and James Oddo until his retirement in March 2014.

In 2002, Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed him to the city's Veterans Advisory Board, where he served until April 2015, retiring as the board's vice chairman.

During his time at the borough and city halls, Lee played a major role in bringing the vet center and the Veterans Affairs clinic to Staten Island and obtaining a Staten Island bus link to Brooklyn's VA Medical Center.

This week, New York City also will celebrate its 36th annual Fleet Week, a show of appreciation for our Nation's Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard teams. Lee was instrumental in helping coordinate local activities and events for this grand recognition of our Armed Forces. He also worked tirelessly to expand veteran services to minority-based areas and assist veterans with resume development and learning computer skills so that they could find employment and readjust to civilian life.

Lee's dedication to New York City veterans did not end with his official duties. After his retirement, he continued to serve as an invaluable resource for many elected officials, including myself, where he helped our office organize our veterans' roundtables and became reliable counsel for veteran-focused legislation and ideas.

Because of the profound impact he has had on our community, Lee was installed into the College of Staten Island Alumni Hall of Fame in 1989 and was set to be inducted into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame later this year.

He was a member of the VFW, The American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, Catholic War Veterans, AMVETS, New York City Veterans Alliance, the 369th Veterans Association, and he served as treasurer of the United Staten Island Veterans Organization, which sponsored our borough's annual Memorial Day parade.

Here we are at the Staten Island Memorial Day parade in 2021, which Mayor de Blasio had originally canceled, citing COVID, until Lee's advocacy and leadership made the mayor reverse his decision, and we marched together honoring our fallen.

On Monday, Memorial Day, we, the community, will march again, and Lee's absence will be noticed and his presence immensely missed.

Lee was a true American patriot who dedicated his entire life to the service of others, and I know I speak for our entire community and city when I say his commitment to fighting for our veterans is extremely appreciated.

My office sends its deepest condolences to his daughter, Mariel, and three grandchildren, Melina, Michael, and Samantha, as they grieve this tremendous loss. They should rest assured that, today, they are in the history books of the United States Congress and that his legacy of service and dedication will inspire us all as we continue to advocate for the rights and well-being of our veterans.

Madam Speaker, I rise to point out that New York State has never seen a tax that it does not like. Sadly, in New York, we are once again looking at a $15 cash grab to enter Manhattan city center, affecting constituents of mine in Staten Island and Brooklyn, shifting traffic to the outer boroughs of New York City, and of course, hurting our economy when we are trying to get back on our feet post