Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the parish of Saint John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church, located in Little Falls, New Jersey as it celebrates its 100th Anniversary.

The parish of Saint John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church has been an active part of the Little Falls community since its founding in 1915. Through its weekly masses, education center, and cultural celebrations, the church greatly reflects and celebrates its culture which has been rooted in the church by its founders, while still taking on new members in the present day.

Saint John's was the product of two migrations: one from Europe prior to 1915 and one from Pennsylvania about a decade later. The original church was built in 1915 as a place for the Orthodox faithful to embrace their history, culture, and religion. In 1917, the church established a Russian School Program for the youth. Over the years, the Orthodox population in the area grew, as did the church itself. In 1952, the architectural firm S.E. Greydanus & Son was hired to construct the new building. The project began on June 24, 1952. During the construction period, services were held at the Signac Public School and the Signac Fire House. Less than one year later, the project was completed and the first service was held in the new building on April 2, 1953. From 1957 through 1970, the church continued to purchase new land and build additions. Its final project, an education-recreation center, was completed on April 17, 1970.

The Parish of Saint John's has been helping the Orthodox community celebrate and practice their religion and beliefs. The church has also done much more; with the construction of its education center it has been able to offer programs such as a youth recreation center Sunday school, and much more to help educate the youth of the Orthodox community. The Sunday school teaches the youth about their religion and what it means to be an Orthodox Christian. Additionally, Saint John the Baptist Church invites all of those who wish to practice and understand their Orthodox beliefs to join them.

For Saint John the Baptist's Centennial Celebration, I commend all of the pastors and committees of the Parish. Since its founding, Saint John's has been supported by the people of Little Falls; this is one of the main reasons why the parish is still a big part of the community. After 100 years of outstanding service to the Township of Little Falls, I commend and congratulate Saint John the Baptist Church for all of its hard work and dedication.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Parish of Saint John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church, as it celebrates its 100th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Urban League of Morris County, located in Morristown, New Jersey, and to remember the life of its founder, William D. Primus, and his many achievements.

The Urban League of Morris County is one of 110 affiliates of the National Urban League, and one of the most active branches in the country. Having served over 4000 families each year, the multi-racial League's self-expressed mission is to ``enable African Americans and other minorities to secure economic self-reliance, parity and power, and civil rights; and to provide assistance to any resident desirous of improving their quality of life.''

In 1910, Morristown native Ruth Standish Baldwin and Dr. George Edmund Haynes founded the Committee on Urban Conditions among Negroes, which would grow exponentially to become what is known today as the National Urban League. As early as 1919, various organizations in Morris County embraced the National Urban League's mission of social justice for African Americans, and by 1944 a multi-racial group of concerned citizens formed a local affiliate, the Urban League of Morris County.

As the first organization of its kind in Morris County, the Urban League set the standard for serving minorities in the community. It was the first organization in the Morris County community to act as a liaison between African Americans and industry, securing employment opportunities with major corporations for minorities. The League's efforts paved the way for the hiring of qualified minorities into management positions at these corporations. It was also first to coordinate with local high school guidance departments, encouraging African American students to pursue higher education. Moreover, the League was the first to advocate the need for low-income housing in Morristown, resulting in a project for affordable family housing now known as Manahan Village.

Today, the Urban League of Morris County continues to serve citizens of the community in multiple areas, with programs ranging from corporate internships to housing advocacy, from computer training to English as a Second Language classes.

This past week, this incredible organization suffered a great loss, as William Primus, former chairman and CEO of the Urban League of Morris County, passed away. Over the course of his life, Bill Primus, a longtime friend of mine, was instrumental in various accomplishments for the advancement of social services to minorities in the region.

In 1970, Mr. Primus became the first African American member of the Madison Volunteer Fire Department and in 1980, he was the first African American elected to the Madison Borough Council. During his term, Mr. Primus served as vice chairman of the Board of Health and chaired Madison's Housing Authority. As chair, Mr. Primus implemented policies that would lead to the construction of the Rex Tucker Senior Housing Complex in Madison and the town's first affordable public housing.

Over his 14 years of working with the Urban League, Mr. Primus was instrumental in transforming the Urban League into one of Morris County's most active and influential organizations. When Mr. Primus first began working with the organization, it had a budget of $95,000 and only one full time employee. By the time he retired, it had a budget over $1 million and 14 full time employees.

Mr. Primus constantly focused on providing affordable housing for the Morris County community. In 2001, he took control of the Morris County Fair Housing Council and transformed it into the Urban League's Fair Housing and Assistance Program. Through this program, the Urban League was able to improve the county's efforts by addressing discrimination and promoting fair practices for housing.

Additionally, Mr. Primus established the Urban League's youth program, offering both educational and employment services. He created the Summer Work and Youth School Outreach Programs and facilitated the awarding of over 90 academic scholarships during his tenure with the League. Furthermore, Mr. Primus helped me establish the Urban League's Washington intern program that has given so many young men and women from Morris County an opportunity to learn firsthand how Congress works. The Urban League of Morris County handpicks these students and sends them to the Capitol in the summer to serve as interns in my Capitol Hill office.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Urban League of Morris County and celebrating the life of William D. Primus.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sons of Italy in America Padre Pio Lodge #2350, located in West Orange, New Jersey as it celebrates its 40th Anniversary.

The Sons of Italy in America, a Fraternal Organization created on June 22, 1905 by six Italian immigrants living in Little Italy, began as an organization seeking to establish homes and shelters for the elderly, lifer insurance and mortuary funds, and scholarship funds. The founding members of the Sons of Italy in America sought to form a support system for Italian immigrants, offering these people assistance in becoming American citizens and provide educational opportunities in assimilation into America culture. The organization continues this rich tradition through its various lodges across the country, including the Padre Pio Lodge #2350, located in West Orange.

Since 1975, the Sons of Italy in America Padre Pio Lodge #2350, has promoted Italian traditions and heritage in Essex County. The Padre Pio Lodge functions as an important aspect of society, especially through its partnership with multiple charities. The Padre Pio

Lodge avidly supports the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund, Cooley's Anemia Foundation, Alzheimer Association, Alicia Rose Teen Age Cancer Foundation, Doug Flutie Foundation for Autism, and Arthritis Foundation. The Lodge also assists two local food banks, donates toys and school supplies to schools and churches during the Christmas season, and supports our troops through Operation Shoebox.

The Padre Pio Lodge continues the Sons of Italy in America tradition of awarding students with scholarship opportunities. The Lodge holds education to be of utmost importance, and seeks to offer a helping hand to students in the area. In 2014 alone, Padre Pio Lodge gave scholarships to eleven qualified high school seniors.

This year, the Lodge announced that it would honor Sam Fumosa, a Charter member and Past State President of the Sons of Italy in America, with the Paul Ippolito Memorial Award. Sam participated in the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum on Staten Island and the Commission for Social Justice of OSIA. The Padre Pio Lodge will also honor Rosalind Aquino with the Angela DeNuzio Award for service to the Lodge and Anthony Benevento with the Michael D'Aries Award for dedication to the Lodge. Both Rosalind and Anthony worked tirelessly to ensure that the Lodge remained open during times of low membership. Because of their efforts, the Lodge now includes 125 members, with more joining every day.

To celebrate 40 successful years of promoting Italian heritage and supporting the local community, the Lodge will host a Carnevale celebration on Saturday, February 7th, 2015 at Hanover Manor, located at 16 Eagle Rock Avenue, East Hanover, New Jersey. Carnevale, a traditional Italian celebration dating back to the year 1268 A.D., includes music, food, and dance. The Lodge's Carnevale on February 7th will surely be a celebration not worth missing.

I commend the members of the Sons of Italy in America Padre Pio Lodge, especially committee chair, Dawn Giambattista, for their dedication to promoting the rich legacy of Italian heritage in America. The Lodge has consistently demonstrated a dedication and commitment to advancing the community of West Orange.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Sons of Italy in America, Padre Pio Lodge #2350 as it celebrates its 40th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Children on the Green located in Morristown, New Jersey as it celebrates its 20th Anniversary.

In 1994, twenty years ago, a special organization opened its doors with the goal of serving others. Not just serving others, but serving others who were not as fortunate as themselves, specifically children. Since its opening, Children on the Green of Morristown has met the childcare needs of nearly 400 families from area shelters. This was possible through the organizations longstanding partnerships with Homeless Solutions, the Jersey Battered Women's Services and Family Promise of Morris County.

Children on the Green, located behind the United Methodist Church, works to provide safe and nurturing care to children whose parents are struggling to provide for them because they are in need of housing, education, and/or employment. While the parents work to better their families' situation, Children on the Green is a safe place for the children to go where they're taken care of by people who truly care. Their mission is to support the developmental needs of each child and create an interdependent partnership between home, work, community, and the center.

Early childhood education has a value that cannot be measured. Research has shown significant gaps in early development between children of the lowest socioeconomic status and those in the highest, which have been shown to start as early as nine months of age. The main contribution to this problem is access to good quality early childhood education.

Children on the Green has a philosophy that states, ``Every child deserves access to a quality early education program like Children on the Green, irrespective of their means.'' This organization strives every day to lower the achievement gap by providing quality early childhood education to those children in need.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing 20 years of outstanding service by Children on the Green, their directors, board of trustees and staff. Organizations like this are bettering the lives of the children not just in Morristown, New Jersey, but across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Morris Habitat for Humanity, located in Randolph, New Jersey as it celebrates 30 years of building homes and changing lives.

Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit housing organization founded in 1976, implements Christian principles in the pursuit of building homes, communities, and hope. This organization wholeheartedly believes that every man, woman, and child should have a home that is safe and dignified. The members of Habitat for Humanity strive to achieve this goal every day, and are important members of every community.

For 30 years, members of the Morris Habitat for Humanity have selflessly worked toward ensuring that those people in need of housing assistance receive help. Officially created in October 1985, Habitat for Humanity's Morris County branch operated in the center of Morristown with a single computer and a phone. Its several founding members began to investigate the housing situation of Morristown, and learned the processes of selecting families for assistance. Since then, Morris Habitat for Humanity has successfully completed building over 60 houses in New Jersey and more than 140 houses in other countries. The members of this group voluntarily offer their time and efforts to ensure that any person seeking help, regardless of religious affiliation, may realize the American dream of homeownership.

This organization's most current project, in collaboration with the Morris County Affordable Housing Corporation, aims to construct a five- plex containing two 3-bedroom and three 2-bedroom townhomes on Carlton Street in Morris Township, New Jersey. These townhomes will be sold to low- and moderate-incomes households, and will feature the latest ENERGY STAR technology. In order to select families for this housing project, the Morris Habitat for Humanity uses a lottery system. Currently, the project is set for completion in December, 2015.

To celebrate 30 successful years of improving the housing situation for many members of the local community, the Morris Habitat for Humanity will host its 10th Annual Hearts & Hammers Gala on Saturday, February 28th, 2015 at the Meadow Wood Manor in Randolph, New Jersey. The Gala will feature dinner, a silent auction, wine pull, awards, and live music. All proceeds will be used to further the Morris Habitat for Humanity's mission of building affordable housing for those families in need.

At this year's Gala, the Morris Habitat for Humanity will honor Richard A. Sleece, President of Richard A. Sleece Associates, with the Founders Award, Ruth Ryan, Vice President of Chubb Insurance, with the Beth Everett Award, and Rick Ostberg, former ReStore Director, with the ReStore Pioneer Award.

I commend the members of the Morris Habitat for Humanity, especially Executive Director Blair Schleicher Bravo, for their dedication to improving the lives of many Morris County

residents. Habitat for Humanity has consistently demonstrated a dedication and commitment to advancing our community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Morris Habitat for Humanity as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Martin Luther King Observance Committee, located in Morristown, New Jersey as it celebrates its 45th Anniversary.

Since 1970, the Committee, under the leadership of Dr. Felicia B. Jamison, has engaged the involvement of the whole Morris County community in programs and services that commemorate the extraordinary life and accomplishments of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each year, the Committee encourages the community to join together in celebrating the birth of Dr. King by promoting and preserving his legacy.

January 19, 2015 marks the 30th year that Dr. King's birthday will be commemorated as a National Holiday. Dr. King would have turned 86 this year, calling all Americans to remember his incredible life, and the impact his legacy has had on the course of American history. Fifty-two years ago, Dr. King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, here in our nation's capital, to deliver his famous ``I Have a Dream'' speech to those participating in the March on Washington. In his speech, which proved to be a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King charged Americans, ``As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.'' In celebrating the life of Dr. King as a holiday each year, we renew our pledge to continue in his legacy and promote the complete equality of all people in this nation.

Though it has only been a National Holiday for 30 years, the Martin Luther King Observance Committee has celebrated the birth of Dr. King for 45 years under the direction of Dr. Felicia B. Jamison. This year, to celebrate their anniversary in conjunction with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Committee will hold two events on January 19th. First, their 30th Annual Interfaith Breakfast will begin the day by gathering all members of the community in celebration, as well as reflection on the legacy left by Dr. King. Following the breakfast, the committee will hold their 45th Annual Service of Celebration, properly honoring the life accomplishments of Dr. King and his influence in the Civil Rights Movement.

The Morris County community of all ages or economic status, of all religious persuasions, and of all political affiliations have recognized and acknowledged the invaluable contributions Dr. King has made to each and every American. That is why the theme of the Committee's celebration this year is appropriately titled ``The Dream is Freedom; The Outcome is A Community of Persons.'' Regardless of the various differences that define us, all Americans can recognize and celebrate the influential legacy of a great American, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Just last year, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, which you, Mr. Speaker, called possibly ``the most consequential piece of legislation'' in history. At the ceremony, Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King posthumously received a Congressional Gold Medal for their accomplishments. The

Martin Luther King Observance Committee has expressed renewed encouragement in celebrating their 45th Anniversary, due to these awards recently presented to the Kings.

I commend the members of the Martin Luther King Observance Committee, especially committee chair Dr. Felicia B. Jamison, for their dedication to promoting the rich legacy of the life and works of the Dr. King. Through the annual celebration of Dr. King's birth, the Committee has consistently demonstrated a dedication and commitment to advancing his philosophy and teachings.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Martin Luther King Observance Committee as it celebrates its 45th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Bellevue Avenue Library, located in the Township of Montclair, New Jersey as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.

The Bellevue Avenue Library, part of the Montclair Public Library, officially opened its doors on December 7, 1914. Prior to its official opening, the library had been using a small rented space in the real estate office of John Mancini. In 1913, the Montclair Public Library received a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of $40,000 to construct a new building for the Montclair Public Library system on Bellevue Ave. In 1914, the new building was created and opened as the Bellevue Avenue Library.

The Bellevue Avenue Library was designed by architect F.A. Nelson, who also designed other prominent buildings in Montclair, such as the Post Office and the Upper Montclair Women's Club. The library is now on the National Register of Historic Places, with the register noting ``its temple-like austerity and diminutive size,'' along with its classical embellishment. Although the library underwent a major renovation in the 1985, it still holds the same architectural design.

Since the building of the Bellevue Avenue Library, the library has had two floors consisting of an extensive literature collection, audio, and visual files. The lower floor focuses on children's services, including the well-known `children's place' which holds weekly story time readings and is staffed by community volunteers. The second floor is primarily focused on adult services and literature. Although in a separate location, the Bellevue Avenue Library offers the same range of services as the main library.

As the Bellevue Avenue Library and its staff celebrate their centennial anniversary, they look forward to growing with the community they serve. They look forward to new advancements, new literature, and whatever excitement the future holds.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Bellevue Avenue Library and to salute the work of the trustees, staff and volunteers of the Montclair Public Library System.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. I thank him for his leadership, and I thank Ranking Member Lowey as well. They both deserve credit for moving this bill.

As we begin consideration of this important legislation this afternoon, I want to pay tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces, all volunteers. They deserve our heartfelt thanks for their dedicated service and sacrifice. That is also extended to the professionals in our intelligence community. These men and women-- whether in uniform or not--deserve greater certainty, stability, and predictability in their lives, something that they have often lacked as a result of a flawed congressional budget process over the last several years, which we seek to reestablish today as regular order. And, frankly, so do the American people. They deserve better.

The centerpiece of this comprehensive package, the engine that drives this bill is our House defense bill, which passed in June with overwhelmingly bipartisan support. Like that

bill, this measure assures a strong national defense posture against terrorist groups like ISIL and al Qaeda, and challenges from nation- states like Russia, China, and Iran, and it addresses the Ebola epidemic.

This bill provides $554 billion in new spending authority for the Department of Defense and our intelligence community, and it includes $64 billion for overseas contingency operations. The base funding in this measure is $500 million below the President's fiscal year 2015 budget and is just $3.3 billion above the fiscal year 2014-enacted level.

Overall, the defense title of the omnibus appropriations package assures our commitment to the U.S. military's dominance over air, land, and sea; our commitment to our allies and partners; our commitment to our servicemembers and their families. At the same time, our committee clearly recognizes our Nation's debt crisis, and we have found areas and programs where reductions were possible without adversely impacting our Armed Forces or our defense industrial base, which is so vital to maintaining our military edge.

We make every dollar count in our portion of this bill without harming readiness or increasing risk for our warfighters.

National security is the priority job of the Federal Government. Our Constitution grants Congress the full range of authorities for defense of our Nation.

With our Armed Forces facing formidable enemies around the world and standing watch everywhere to protect our freedom, this bill cannot wait, and I urge its passage today.

In closing, I would like to thank the gentleman from Indiana, Ranking Member Pete Visclosky. He has been a valuable partner and friend. And thanks to the incredible Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, members of the committee, and our professional staff, led by Tim Prince. They have done an incredible job. We should be enormously proud of them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce, located in Morristown, New Jersey as it celebrates its 25th Anniversary.

The Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce is a not-for- profit organization, whose purpose is to serve the growing market needs of the U.S. Hispanic-American businesses and residential communities, specific to Morris County and adjacent areas.

In the summer of 1989, Esperanza Porras-Field, John Sanchez, and Neyla Porras Moreno founded the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce. The three founding members began an organization with the mission to ``advocate, promote, and advance the interests of business owners, professionals, organizations and corporations within Morris County and the adjacent areas that target and serve the U.S. Hispanic- American market.'' Since then, the Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce has helped to foster the prosperity not only of the Hispanic community, but of Morris County as a whole. Both Esperanza Porras-Field and John Sanchez remain active members of the chamber, while Neyla Porras de Moreno remains an active member of another Hispanic Chamber.

Esperanza Porras-Field, a founding member, current president and CEO of the Chamber, is stepping down after years of distinguished service. She has shown her dedication to promoting the welfare of the community in founding several more Chambers of Commerce and facilitating their development. Her involvement extends beyond Morris County to an international scale, where she is on the Advisory Board for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Toronto. Over the years her experience and guidance have been a major factor in the success of the Chamber, and her leadership will be missed.

Throughout the past 25 years, the chamber has continuously been recognized as one of the Best Chambers in the Northeast, within Region V, by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In 2007, the chamber was declared the Best National Medium Hispanic Chamber, and received the award again

in 2014. At the 2014 United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Convention, the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to provide mutual membership in each other's respective chamber and host cross-border events with their Canadian friends in order to promote international trade.

With over 350 members, the chamber offers over 20 annual events purposed to further growth and success. These events include networking and social events, fundraising, business incubation, business card exchanges, procurement opportunities, training, and seminars.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Lincoln School in Rockaway Borough, Morris County, New Jersey, as it celebrates its Centennial Anniversary.

For fully a century, this outstanding school has provided the countless number of students who have passed through its doors with a superior education that has prepared them for the rest of their educational pursuits and for the rest of their lives.

When the Lincoln School welcomed its first students back in 1914, there were still people

in Rockaway Borough, and throughout New Jersey and the nation, who could remember the days when Abraham Lincoln served as President of the United States.

The decision to name this school in Lincoln's honor reflected the great esteem in which people held the memory of our 16th President. But it also is a tribute to the example a young Abraham Lincoln provided to students about the value of education. Who among us does not recall the stories of Lincoln stretched out in front of a fire, using the light of that fire to read his school books?

Fortunately for today's students at the Lincoln School, they don't have to rely on firelight to illuminate their lessons. They have the advantages provided by our modem amenities. But, what's more important, they have the benefit of being taught by talented and dedicated teachers and staff who give so much to meet the needs of their students. And they have the support of parents and of a community that value education and are willing to invest in the future by investing in their children's education.

As the Lincoln School begins its second century it is preparing its students to succeed and thrive in America's third century. As the future president said in his very first political announcement, when, at the youthful age of 23, he ran for the Illinois state legislature, ``Upon the subject of education . . . I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.''

That is certainly a sentiment the people of Rockaway Borough shared 100 years ago when they built the Lincoln School, just as it remains their view today.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in saluting the Lincoln School on its centennial and in paying tribute to all of the administrators, teachers, and staff who have made it a citadel of learning, and also join me in honoring all of the students, parents, and community members, past and present, who have nurtured the growth and contributed to the success of the Lincoln School over the past 100 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Parsippany- Troy Hills Public Library, located in Morris County, New Jersey, as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary.

The Parsippany Public Library aims to promote a lifelong interest in library use and learning in a diverse community. The library utilizes various forms of media and technology to create an active role in learning for people of all ages. Boasting user-friendly technologies that are accessible and convenient for the community, the library serves as a central meeting place for residents. In coordinated efforts with the local school system and township departments, the Parsippany Library serves a key role in the education of the community throughout all ages.

The Parsippany Friends of the Library, established in 1984, is a volunteer, non-profit organization that is committed to enhancing and supporting the library. Through various fundraising events, the Friends of the Library are able to provide the local libraries with supplemental funds to support their programs. The Friends of the Library also advocate for the library, helping to grow the library and the community. The funds they raise are put towards technological advancements, book and media purchases, and programs for people of all ages.

The library system consists of three separate libraries, the main library and two branches in Lake Hiawatha and in Mount Tabor. The main library moved to its newest headquarters in 2006, only a short walk away from the local elementary, middle, and high schools. The state-of- the-art facility encompasses 38,000 square feet and includes a vast collection of books, meeting rooms, and study areas. The main library is home to a large children's book collection and program room, several tutorial and study areas, and a meeting space for 200 people. The headquarters serves as the central location for the library system.

The Lake Hiawatha location was established in 1937, but has remained in the same location since 1968. In 1994, the interior of the building was expanded to better serve the needs of the community. Similar to the main library, the Lake Hiawatha branch sits a centrally located area that is within walking distance for many residents. The Lake Hiawatha branch offers many after-school programs for children and story time for younger residents. They also organize a film discussion series given by a college professor for the community.

The Mount Tabor library, the oldest of the three, has occupied the same building since 1889. Like the other locations, the Mount Tabor locale offers several programs for children and adults. Due to its small size, many of the programs are offered across the street in a park. The Mount Tabor location also sits within walking distance for the residents of the area.

Through the funding and support of the Friends of the Library, the Parsippany-Troy Hills library looks to continue to offer a wide range of programs and support for its community at each of its locations. They hope that, along with the community, they can continue to promote lifelong learning.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Parsippany-Troy Hills Library as they celebrate their 30th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, twenty years ago a dedicated group of volunteers began an annual tradition that has made the first Sunday in October a special day in the Borough of Madison, Morris County, New Jersey. They organized a 5K Walk to raise money for the T.J. Martell Foundation--a non-profit group that raises funds to advance the fight against leukemia, cancer and AIDS.

The T.J. Martell Foundation was established as a result of a promise made by a father to his son. A son who was battling leukemia. A son who asked his father to raise $1 million to support cancer research so that ``no one else will have to experience what I am going through.'' And a father, Tony Martell, a longtime resident of Madison, who kept that promise and far surpassed it.

Over the years, the T.J. Martell Foundation has provided more than $260 million to support cutting-edge research to advance the war against leukemia, cancer, and AIDS. The people of Madison, have been there for their friend and neighbor every year. The passage of time has not diminished their commitment to honor T.J. Martell by helping his father fulfill his promise.

This event has grown from its modest beginnings to become an all-day affair, kicking off with a 5K walk and extending through the day with music, activities, and food. Today it is both an effective fundraiser and a fun-filled day enjoyed by hundreds of families every year. It is a celebration of life and of the promise of victory over these dreaded diseases.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in paying tribute to all those who support the work of the T.J. Martell Foundation across our nation, but especially in Madison, New Jersey. This annual event is a testament both to the life of T.J. Martell and to the deep sense of community that makes Madison a wonderful place in which to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Kinnelon Public Library, located in Kinnelon, Morris County, New Jersey, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The Kinnelon Public Library was founded in 1963, a movement led by a local citizens-group and town leaders. Prior to the library's founding, the community was serviced by the Morris County Bookmobile Service once a month. However, citizens felt their literary needs were not being met and hoped to create a space where the community could come together.

In 1963, a group of citizens enlisted the Town Council and Mayor to help them begin the process of funding a free public library, a space the community unanimously agreed they needed. The long and demanding process began as the town tried to find space for the library. Several locations were proposed before the town was able to agree on a site at the Municipal Building Complex on Kinnelon Road. While they worked to determine a location, a temporary library was set up in an old medical building in 1964.

A single-story building was built and opened to the public in 1966, with a small collection of 900 books. Since then, the library has continued to expand to meet the needs of the growing community. After three expansions, the library is now a two-story building that occupies about 19,000 square feet. Along with space for book collections, the library houses four meeting rooms that serve the local community. The library is now home to more than 84,000 volumes of books, periodicals, DVDs, CDs, and numerous other electronic resources.

The library continues to follow its mission to encourage learning and support discovery for Kinnelon residents of all ages. With 15 computers to serve the public, the circulation of electronic book readers, and a continuation of exhibits and programs, the library serves the public through more than just literary resources. Its adult educational organization,

The Center for Lifelong Learning, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and has provided over 10,000 students with a learning experience since it began in 1993.

The Friends of the Kinnelon Library fundraise annually to support improvements for the library and technological advancements to help grow their resources for children, teens, and adults. In its 50 years, the library has continued to grow as a central gathering point for the community. They hope to continue to service the community and evolve with its needs in their next 50 years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Kinnelon Public Library as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor El Primer Paso Ltd., located in the Town of Dover, County of Morris, New Jersey as it celebrates its 45th Anniversary.

El Primer Paso's mission is to provide and serve the community with culturally responsive resources for families and children. High-quality and inclusive early childhood programs are provided to children in order to foster literacy and dual language learning. Education programs for parents and other community members are also provided to increase literacy and dual language proficiency.

A group of volunteers founded El Primer Paso in the year of 1969 with the objective of preparing local Hispanic children for American public school systems through preschool programs that were both bilingual and multicultural in nature. In 1976, El Primer Paso received a CETA Grant which allowed the program to become formalized with salaried workers and sessions. Since the formalization of El Primer Paso, an ``English- as-a-Second-Language'' program, a program for three-year-olds and a Family Childcare Program have been introduced in addition to the curriculums and sessions that the program also supports. El Primer Paso's efforts were awarded in 2009 as the program became one of the first in the nation to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

El Primer Paso's preschool program offers families a very affordable and beneficial preschool education for their children. Classes are taught in a bilingual format to children between the ages of three and five and are meant to foster language skills and build upon vocabulary for children in both English and Spanish. El Primer Paso follows the NJ Department of Education early childhood curriculum model, Creative Curriculum, which is a program that fosters positive social-emotional relationships, constructive play to support learning, and teacher- family partnerships inside and outside of the classrooms. The preschool program is offered on a full day and half day basis for children.

El Primer Paso also offers an ``English-as-a-Second-Language'' program which focuses on educating adults of all levels of English proficiency on appropriate English dialogue in the workplace and in social situations. This program enhances the individual's proficiency in English and builds upon their active English vocabulary. This program also examines cultural issues and empowers minorities to pursue their versions of the American dream. The Family Child Care program offered by El Primer Paso provides families connections to child care providers for low to mid-level income families.

El Primer Paso's core values of integrity, respect, early literacy and family involvement in education, acceptance of differences and community partnerships are truly admirable in today's increasingly globalized and cosmopolitan world. Such programs allow children from low income minority families to thrive in American public school systems and allow minority

adults to transition smoother into adult life in the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating El Primer Paso Ltd., its trustees, administrators and supporters as it celebrates its 45th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Randolph YMCA, located in Randolph, Morris County, New Jersey, as it celebrates its 125th Anniversary.

The Randolph YMCA was founded in 1889 in Dover. The First Methodist Episcopal Church in Dover served as the first home of the YMCA, reaching beyond the Dover area and attracting nearly 200 people per day. In 1908, the YMCA expanded its territory to include Chester, Long Valley, Rockaway, Succasunna, Wharton, and Whippany.

From 1908-1950 the YMCA occupied various locations around Blackwell Street in Dover. In 1951, the need for a more permanent facility was recognized. And, as membership had drastically increased since the end of World War II, so did the need for a headquarters facility. The YMCA then opened a new facility on the corner of Route 46 and North Bergen Street.

In 1976 the name West Morris Area YMCA was established. The name was chosen to reflect the expanding service area, including Randolph Township. Due to the vast increase in membership, the Dover building would require an addition, but there was not enough property for both an expansion and parking. In 1977, the Y decided to build a new facility in Randolph Township.

The new facility on Dover Chester Road, Randolph, was officially opened in 1979. The building included a gymnasium, racquetball courts, a pool, fitness equipment, and program space. A childcare center was added in March 1999, which now serves as a shared space with the Randolph School District. In 2009 the late Mr. Clyde Utz donated a second pool, along with 7,500 sq. ft. of additional program space. In 2011, the YMCA received the ``Best of Aquatics Award'' from Aquatics International.

Now known as the Randolph YMCA, the organization offers a variety of health and wellness programs for all ages. The Randolph YMCA also offers numerous Youth Programs, including: Summer Day Camp, Progressive Swim Lessons, After School Child Care, and Youth Fitness and Conditioning.

The Randolph YMCA continues as a charitable non-profit organization that provides social, physical, and education programs to the community in order to help develop the mind, body, and spirit of all ages. The employees and volunteers at the Randolph YMCA remain focused on growing and improving the foundation to meet the needs of the community, today, and in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Randolph YMCA, its members, trustees, and many supporters, as it celebrates its 125th Anniversary.