Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman, the dean of the New Jersey congressional delegation, for yielding to me.

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday morning I joined the New Jersey family at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark as we honored the life of former Congressman Bob Franks and comforted his wife, Fran, and their three young daughters.

As others did last Saturday, I rise in tribute to my longtime friend and our colleague, Bob Franks. New Jersey is a better place to live, work and raise a family, because for nearly his entire adult life, Bob Franks selflessly served our beloved State. It was a pleasure to serve with him for many years in the New Jersey State Assembly in Trenton and then in this very Chamber in the House of Representatives.

From those shared experiences, and there were many, I know the people in New Jersey have lost an energetic and intelligent advocate, and I have lost a dear and trusted friend. It's a tragic fact of life that many of us in New Jersey have spent a great deal of time of late talking about Bob Franks these past few days. I am struck that in those conversations certain common themes recur.

Bob Franks was authentic. He was patriotic. He was keen. Bob Franks was always optimistic. He was astute in every way. He was humorous. He was honorable, a true son of New Jersey.

Bob Franks always built others up, mentored to young people, always encouraging them to enter public service.

Bob Franks was trusted and never would break his word. He was always warm and sincere. He absolutely loved politics. And even in this rough and tumble world he always had a good word for men and women in the political arena, whether they were Republicans or Democrats or none of the above.

Bob Franks was tireless with unbridled enthusiasm. You were lucky to be on his team or on his side, that broad trademark smile, a good and decent man, irrepressible, full of life and love for his family, first and foremost. That's why we all were shocked 12 days ago when the news came that God had called him home at such a young age.

Mr. Speaker, Bob Franks loved public service. He loved the New Jersey Assembly and his service in Congress. He loved his family, our Nation, New Jersey and his constituents in that order, and he loved all these things with a passion that exceeded the most energetic enthusiasts.

I will never forget his work ethic, his valuable service, and his enduring friendship. We have lost a great man who stood for principles and who lived a life in which we could all learn.

May the tributes and prayers of so many of our colleagues here today be a source of strength with wife Fran and their daughters, Kelly, Sara and Abigail. Our hearts break, along with theirs, but our memories will always remain bright.

And when we recall that trademark smile, we will all remember this favorite son of New Jersey, Bobby Franks.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station, Morris Township, New Jersey, which is celebrating its 150th Anniversary this year.

The Sisters of Charity were founded under the authority of the first American, Catholic bishop, John Carroll, Bishop of Baltimore by Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, in the spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac, in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1809. In 1859, Mother Mary Xavier Mehegan founded the New Jersey community known as the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth.

For fifty-six years, from 1859 until her death June 24, 1915, Mother Xavier headed the Sisters of Charity. Parish schools, academies, hospitals, a day nursery, orphanages, a home for the incurably ill, and a residence for working women were established. In 1899, a time when New Jersey had no baccalaureate-degree-granting college for women, Mother Xavier founded the College of Saint Elizabeth, New Jersey's oldest four-year college for women and one of the first colleges for women in the United States.

Since 1859, the Morristown location, now known as Convent Station, has become a center of learning, of spirituality, and of service to others and to the community as a whole. Convent Station is home to the Academy of St. Elizabeth, the Convent of St. Elizabeth, the College of Saint Elizabeth, Saint Anne Villa, and the Xavier Center.

Today the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth are engaged in over 100 education, health care, pastoral and social service ministries in 15 states, and in the U.S. Virgin Islands, El Salvador, Central America, Juarez, Mexico and Haiti. These ministries include: Education, Diocesan and Parish Ministry, Hospitals, Homes for the Aged, Health Care, Community Centers and Social Services.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth as they celebrate 150 dedicated years of service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Community Soup kitchen and Outreach Center in Morristown, New Jersey, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Twenty-five years ago, a small group of people opened the doors of their church armed with chicken noodle soup and a determination to feed the hungry in Morristown. Since then, much has changed in our community, but the primary mission of the Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center of Morristown has remained the same: They are committed to providing nutritious meals in a warm, safe, and caring environment.

The Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown was established in 1984 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church to serve the community by serving meals and providing support to the homeless, working poor, and elderly of Morristown and the surrounding towns. Over the past 25 years, the Community Soup Kitchen has developed from an establishment serving people only on Saturday's to one that is open 365 days a year, serving approximately 250 guests per day in a welcoming and safe environment.

Last year alone, the Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown served 53,278 meals. The kitchen has continued to expand, and now has the ability of serving 300 people per day. Recently, the kitchen has incorporated the Healthy Choices . . . Healthy Lives! program, which teaches individuals the importance of eating healthy food and maintaining a well balanced diet. The newly created outreach program provides assistance to guests by encouraging and assisting people to access community resources, services, and educational programs. By providing people with this support, the kitchen is creating countless opportunities for people to succeed and live a better life.

The Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center of Morristown has continuously provided valuable support to those in our community, and has achieved the selfless goal of improving our society by providing individuals with much needed food and opportunity.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown and Outreach Center as they celebrate 25 dedicated years of service.

Mr. Speaker, at the outset, let me be very clear: I support health care reform. I just do not support Speaker Nancy Pelosi's version of health care reform.

With respect to controlling costs for New Jersey's families, changing insurance company practices and making coverage more available to more Americans, the status quo is simply unacceptable. We can, and we must, do better, but not at the expense of millions of American families who are worried about a government takeover of their health care decisions!

With that said, the health care package before the House today is wrong on both process and policy.

On process, the American people know instinctively that a change as historic as this will only be successful with full engagement of the American people and bipartisan support in Congress. However, from the beginning, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid adopted a `go-it-alone' strategy and refused to consider Republican ideas in any significant way. Indeed, the Majority today is even refusing to listen to the very valid concerns of the American people.

In addition, this legislation, and all the versions that preceded it, were drafted behind closed doors at the White House or in Capitol backrooms, with no transparency whatsoever as to which organizations were participating and benefitting! In fact, the Majority had to be `shamed' into releasing the contents of the bill 72 hours before a vote to allow Republicans and the American people to review its contents.

To add insult to injury, the President and Speaker Pelosi decided to use the budget 'reconciliation' process solely to deny the Senate Minority the ability to use its traditional practice of the filibuster to block passage of harmful legislation such as this.

Madame Speaker, the process the Majority has used is shameful, but the policy they seek to impose is downright harmful.

Once again, I state without hesitation that I support health reform. However, I cannot support this proposal.

First, this package contains over $523 billion in job-killing, higher taxes. I cannot think of a worse time to tax families and small businessmen and women than in the middle of a serious recession.

The American people need to understand the destructive nature of this bill: $17 billion in new taxes on Americans who do not obey the bill's requirement that individuals must buy health insurance whether they want to or not, and $52 billion in new taxes on employers that do not provide health coverage deemed ``acceptable'' or ``affordable'' by Washington-based government bureaucrats. This provision alone may force the IRS to hire another 16,000 agents and auditors to enforce compliance with the new law.

In addition, the bill contains new taxes on capital gains, dividends and interest that will further stifle economic growth and job creation. The Medicare tax on capital gains, dividends, and other investment income gets bigger, magnifying the destructive power of the tax. The bill increases the tax from 2.9 percent to 3.8 percent and for the first time, this tax will be extended beyond wages to include interest, dividends, capital gains, annuities, royalties, home sales and rents. This new tax will be particularly damaging to New Jersey's seniors, many of whom depend on such income to survive.

Second, this package contains over $569 billion in total cuts to Medicare.

These reductions include $202.3 billion from seniors' Medicare health plans, including massive cuts targeting the extra benefits and reduced cost-sharing seniors receive through Medicare Advantage. 148,000 seniors in New Jersey, including over 35,000 in my Congressional District enjoy the benefits of this innovative program. The Congressional Budget Office predicts that three million seniors nationwide currently receiving health benefits through these Medicare plans will be dropped.

But the Medicare cuts go deeper. The bill slashes $156 billion from hospitals, including long-term care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, hospice, ambulances, dialysis facilities, labs and durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers.

The package also contains $40 billion in cuts to home health reimbursements and $22 billion in additional cuts to hospitals by slashing reimbursements designed to assist hospitals that serve low- income patients. In addition, $65.7 billion in money will be taken from seniors in the form of higher premiums.

My colleagues, I am also shocked that the Majority has not protected our men and women in uniform, military retirees and veterans who could be affected by the new law. The Senate-passed health care bill omitted protections for military health plans that were included in the House bill.

Specifically, the Senate language does not appear to give the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) health care system specific protection from interference by other government agencies administering the various authorities contained in the massive bill, as it pertains to ``minimum essential coverage.''

Further, the final bills would leave it up to bureaucrats at the Department of the Treasury to determine whether TRICARE meets the minimum standards under the bill's individual health insurance mandate. If that bureaucrat decides against TRICARE, service members and their families would have to buy some other health coverage or pay a penalty.

Our men and women in uniform, and our veterans, have earned the best health care available. They need to know that they will continue to receive this same level of care. It is truly regrettable that, in a bill stuffed with `backroom' deals and special `arrangements', this group of American heroes is denied the consideration they earn on the battlefield each and every day.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is also notable for what it does not contain. There is no medical lawsuit reform. It fails to promote portability of coverage. It does not allow insurance companies to sell their policies across state lines. It fails to recognize the value of Association Health Plans, which permit small businesses to pool their risk in order to secure lower insurance rates. The bill does not expand Health Savings Accounts which millions of families use to provide protection against catastrophic illness or injury. The package also does very little to enhance medical training for doctors, nurses and technicians. If we are going to expand coverage for tens of millions of Americans, we need to increase graduation rates in these critical medical professions.

I would also add that this bill completely ignores the ongoing crisis in Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors. My colleagues, the question is not whether you can choose your doctor under the Pelosi health care proposal, but whether your doctor will choose you! Many doctors in New Jersey are already questioning their participation in the Medicare program, putting in greater jeopardy our seniors' access to care. Does the Majority actually believe that the pending 22-percent reimbursement reduction will not cause more doctors to `opt out' of Medicare?

Mr. Speaker, I end this statement where I started: I support health care reform. The status quo is unacceptable and I would welcome the opportunity to work with anyone who will work with me to draft and pass single, individual bills that promote portability of coverage, allow individuals to buy health care across state lines, cover people with preexisting conditions, improve access to Health Savings Accounts, and enact `junk lawsuit' reform, among other actions to bring down the cost of coverage for New Jersey families and businesses.

We can do better than this process and this package. America's future economic and security freedoms depend on it.

Madam Speaker, this time the process is substance. As the Democratic majority prepares to jam President Obama's health care through Congress despite his lack of support from the American people, our constituents need to know what is going on about the process.

Yesterday in Ohio, President Obama demanded that members of his own party show courage and vote for his vision of health care, yet this morning, the front page headline in The Washington Post reads ``Pelosi may try to pass health bill without vote.''

In the body of this story, the Speaker refers to a procedural scheme to allow the President to sign the Senate-passed health bill without the House actually voting on it or even debating it. She said, ``It's more insider and process-oriented than most people want to know. But I like it because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill.'' Imagine that. Affecting 17 percent of the entire U.S. economy without a public vote in the House.

My colleagues, I ask you, is that courage?

I rise in opposition to the resolution.

My colleagues, this is clearly the wrong resolution offered at precisely the wrong time. Can you imagine being a soldier in Afghanistan hearing of this resolution? Instead of debating a withdrawal from Afghanistan, we should be adopting a resolution praising the all-volunteer men and women of our Armed Forces and their families for their courage, dedicated service, and their continuing sacrifice in the name of protecting Americans everywhere.

Our Nation's Commander in Chief, our President, made the decision to act in Afghanistan, a difficult decision that was supported overwhelmingly by Congress. By the skill and bravery of our soldiers and marines, sailors and airmen, we've eliminated al Qaeda's operations in Afghanistan. But it is clear that we must ensure that our efforts to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven once again do not falter, do not weaken, and do not waver.

I concurred with the administration's decision to support General Stanley McChrystal's counterinsurgency strategy. That was an important step towards stabilizing Afghanistan. The President's reinforcement of our marines and soldiers, the so-called surge, helps achieve that objective and does provide additional security. The reinforcements have worked. There is success in Afghanistan. Our troops deserve support, and this resolution deserves to be soundly defeated.

Mr. Speaker, I echo the sentiments of my colleagues here today and want to add my voice in tribute to Jack Murtha--our colleague, my chairman, and my friend.

For nearly his entire adult life, Jack Murtha selflessly served his beloved Nation--first in uniform as a decorated combat marine and later as an elected representative from my neighboring State of Pennsylvania.

We all know by now that he was the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to Congress. And while many of us followed him to Congress, he rose to become chairman of the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Defense. I've had the honor of serving with him on the subcommittee for over 10 years.

In our dealings over the years, Jack and I did not always agree on policy decisions. But I always respected his undeniable dedication and his refreshing candor.

And there is no doubt that he cared most deeply about the men and women of America's military and their families. He understood their challenges and their anxieties. And what he did not understand, he actively sought to learn in trips to Defense Department facilities, forward operating bases, and military medical centers across the world.

He served our men and women in uniform diligently and daily in countless

ways. He worked each week to improve their quality of life.

Mr. Speaker, Jack Murtha loved Congress. He loved Pennsylvania, he loved his constituents, he loved the military, and he loved all of these things with a passion that exceeded the most ardent enthusiast.

But fundamentally, Jack Martha was a Marine--with all of the distinguishing attributes and characteristics that brings. As a former member of the United States Army, I recall the statement of one Army general, ``There are only two kinds of people who understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a secondhand opinion.''

My secondhand opinion is that I am honored to have served with Jack Murtha. I will never forget his enduring friendship. May the tributes and prayers of so many of our colleagues this afternoon here today be a source of strength to his wife, Joyce, and to his family.

Semper Fi, Jack Murtha.

Mr. Speaker, with employment close to 10 percent nationwide, it's time to promote stable private sector jobs.

The people of my home State of New Jersey have long depended on international trade to drive economic growth and put people to work. The United States is the world's largest exporter with $1.29 trillion in revenue last year, a symbol of America's global leadership. As the world becomes more integrated, our economy and employment are increasingly driven by trade.

Unfortunately, the House majority leadership has chosen to indefinitely postpone consideration of all major trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea, and Panama. American businesses, large and small, are deprived of more and more economic opportunities each and every day Congress delays their implementation. Countries in Europe and Asia have already completed or are poised to complete trade agreements with these nations. This will put our American exporters at a distinct disadvantage.

Mr. Speaker, we need these trade agreements. Our international competitors are eating our economic lunch.

Madam Speaker, every year, more high school seniors from the 11th Congressional District trade in varsity jackets for Navy pea coats, Air Force flight suits, and Army brass buckles than most other districts in the country. But this is nothing new--our area has repeatedly sent an above average portion of its sons and daughters to the nation's military academies for decades.

This fact should not come as a surprise. The educational excellence of area schools is well known and has long been a magnet for families looking for the best environment in which to raise their children. Our graduates are skilled not only in mathematics, science, and social studies, but also have solid backgrounds in sports, debate teams, and other extracurricular activities. This diverse upbringing makes military academy recruiters sit up and take note--indeed, many recruiters know our towns and schools by name.

Since the 1830s, Members of Congress have enjoyed meeting, talking with, and nominating these superb young people to our military academies. But how did this process evolve? In 1843, when West Point was the sole academy, Congress ratified the nominating process and became directly involved in the makeup of our military's leadership. This was not an act of an imperial Congress bent on controlling every aspect of Government. Rather, the procedure still used today was, and is, a further check and balance in our democracy. It was originally designed to weaken and divide political coloration in the officer corps, provide geographical balance to our armed services, and to make the officer corps more resilient to unfettered nepotism and handicapped European armies.

In 1854, Representative Gerritt Smith of New York added a new component to the academy nomination process--the academy review board. This was the first time a Member of Congress appointed prominent citizens from his district to screen applicants and assist with the serious duty of nominating candidates for academy admission. Today, I am honored to continue this wise tradition in my service to the 11th Congressional District.

My Academy Review Board is composed of six local citizens (several of whom are Academy graduates and veterans) who have shown exemplary service to New Jersey, to their communities, and to the continued excellence of education in our area. Though from diverse backgrounds and professions, they all share a common dedication that the best qualified and motivated graduates attend our academies. And, as true for most volunteer groups, their service goes largely unnoticed.

I would like to take a moment to recognize these men and women and thank them publicly for participating in this important panel. Being on the Board requires hard work and an objective mind. Members have the responsibility of interviewing upwards of 60 outstanding high school seniors every year in the academy review process.

The nomination process follows a general timetable. High school seniors mail personal information directly to the Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy once they become interested in attending. Information includes academic achievement, college entry test scores, and other activities. At this time, they also inform my office of their desire to be nominated.

The academies then assess the applicants, rank them based on the data supplied, and return the files to my office with their notations. In late November, our Academy Review Board interviews all of the applicants over the course of two days. They assess a student's qualifications and analyze character, desire to serve, and other talents that may be hidden on paper.

This year our board interviewed 38 applicants. Nominations included 10 to the Naval Academy, 9 to the Military Academy, 7 to the Merchant Marine Academy, and 9 to the Air Force Academy--the Coast Guard Academy does not use the Congressional nomination process. The recommendations are then forwarded to the academies by January 31, where admissions staff reviewed files and notified applicants and my office of their final decision on admittance.

As these highly motivated and talented young men and women go through the academy nominating process, never let us forget the sacrifice they are preparing to make: to defend our country and protect our citizens. This holds especially true at a time when our nation is fighting the war against terrorism. Whether it is in Afghanistan, Iraq, or other hot spots around the world, no doubt we are constantly reminded that wars are fought by the young. And, while our military missions are both important and sometimes dangerous, it is reassuring to know that we continue to put America's best and brightest in command.

Academy Nominees for 2010

11th Congressional District New Jersey

Air Force Academy

Michael J. Crampton, Kinnelon, Kinnelon H.S.

Ian R. Enriquez, Long Valley, West Morris Central H.S.

Menachem M. Feltzenberg, West Point, Homeschooled

Sergio R. Jimenez, Lake Hopatcong, Jefferson H.S.

Andrew Lim, Randolph, Randolph H.S.

Rebecca M. Lobrovich, Montville, Montville H.S.

Michael M. Longhi, Succasunna, Seton Hall Prep

Jacob H. Podolnick, Flanders, Mt. Olive H.S.

Jaemin Seo, Whippany, Whippany Park H.S.

Merchant Marine Academy

Vincent M. Falcone, Short Hills, Millburn H.S.

Robert A. Femia, Jr., Kinnelon, Georgetown Prep

Dalton R. Harbula, Parsippany, Parsippany Hills H.S.

Brandon Hatzel, Montville, Montville H.S.

Andrew J. Kratsch, Caldwell, James Caldwell H.S.

Daniel P. Pierce, Caldwell, James Caldwell H.S.

John C. Ramirez, Morris Plains, Seton Hall Prep

Military Academy

Kimberly M. An, Oak Ridge, Jefferson H.S.

Austen Boroff, Chatham, Chatham H.S.

Lindsey G. Danilack, Montville, Montville H.S.

Timothy A. Dore, Madison, Madison H.S.

Kung Min Han, Short Hills, Millburn H.S.

Tyler M. Lahey, Chester, West Morris Mendham H.S.

Danielle E. Martinez, East Hanover, Academy of St.

Elizabeth's

Natalie R. Miller, Chester, West Morris Mendham H.S.

Stasia M. Rogacki, North Caldwell, Mt. St. Dominic's

Academy

Naval Academy

Brayden R. Abbey, Sparta, Pope John XXIII H.S.

Charles D. Boles, Chatham, Chatham H.S.

David A. Guerin, Millington, Koinonia Academy

Matthew Infante, Chester, Delbarton School

Marykate B. Moore, Chatham, Villa Walsh Academy

John E. Muti, Mountain Lakes, Mountain Lakes H.S.

Gregory Oh, Madison, Madison H.S.

Christopher M. Rec, Long Valley, West Morris Central H.S.

Mark J. Santamaria, Randolph, Randolph H.S.

Kevin C. Sullivan, Mountain Lakes, Mountain Lakes H.S.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor The Morristown Club of Morris County, New Jersey, which is celebrating its 125th Anniversary Year.

The Morristown Club was organized in December 1884, in response to an invitation sent to a list of residents who lived in the area and were deserving of a social meeting place.

From 1889 to 1929, The Morristown Club was located at 126 South Street. Members of the Club were prominent in the community and many members served in World Wars I and II. In 1928, the Club members purchased a new building at 27 Elm Street where the club still resides today.

In September 1983, the Club admitted women to membership and elected as its first women members, Congresswoman Millicent Fenwick and State Assemblywoman Josephine Margetts.

The club continues to provide luncheons and regular dinners with speakers and various programs. The Club has also made considerable investments in interior and exterior restorations in keeping with the historic character of the building and neighborhood.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the members of The Morristown Club as they celebrate 125 years in our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Martin Luther King Observance Committee of Morristown, New Jersey in my congressional district, which this year is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Since 1970, the Committee, has been dedicated to promoting the rich legacy of the life and works of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the involvement of the Morris County community in its annual commemorative services.

The observance for 2010 marks the 25th year that Dr. King's birthday will be commemorated as a national holiday. As an expression of local unity and in recognition of this important event, the Martin Luther King Observance Committee is inviting the Morris Clergy Council to join with the committee in sponsoring services on Monday, January 18, 2010.

This year's theme ``King's Dream: America, Fight Hate with Love,'' is the true embodiment of Dr. King's philosophy and teachings. From those individuals who spearheaded the initial celebration, the late Rachel Viola Jones and Dr. Felicia B. Jamison, the planning efforts have broadened to include members of the Morris Area Clergy Council, with representatives from all major faiths. In addition to the two founders, other volunteers who assisted in the early years included Emma L. Martin, George Dorsey, William ``Jack'' Harris, Reginald and Emanueline Smith, Flora Webb, Norman Jean Matthews, Woody Huff, Elizabeth Lubar, Cecelia Dowdy, Rabbi Z. David Levy, and the Rev. Charles Marks.

The core planning committee is continuing to carry on the tradition of excellence for this great program and has grown to include many dedicated volunteers. Some of those individuals include Nadine Alston, Dr. Judy L. Banks, Pastor Alfonso Sherald, Reverend Leon Sims, Minister Dr. David Hollowell, Reverend Robert C. Rogers, Deacon Henry Lee, George Loveless, Leonard Posey, James Mack, Janet Bonar, Patricia Johnson, Esq., Mae Williams, Elie Sims, Rabbi Donald Rossoff, James Vance, Minister Marian Sykes Johnson, and the Reverend Dr. Jerry M. Carter, Jr.

Madam Speaker, I am quite certain that the Martin Luther King Observance Committee will

continue in the years ahead to promote the cause of equality and opportunities for our young people to pursue productive, fulfilling lives. I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Martin Luther King Observance Committee of Morristown, especially the chairwoman, Dr. Felicia Jamison, as they celebrate 40 dedicated years of serving our community.

Madam Speaker, the Department of Labor has recently announced that unemployment across the country remained at double-digits and many states have followed with their own bleak statements of jobs being eliminated and families struggling.

These continued job losses demonstrate the need to approve and implement three free trade agreements--Colombia, South Korea and Panama--that can and will ``save and create'' high value private sector jobs for Americans.

Since 2005, 64 trade pacts have taken effect across the globe. The U.S. is a party to only five--with Australia, Bahrain, Morocco, Oman and Peru. During the same time frame, Japan has signed nine and the European Union (EU), which already has liberalized trade practices among its 27 member states, has signed eight.

And yet, pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea that will tear down barriers to our products languish in the United States Congress. Unfortunately, there has not been a debate in Congress on the ratification of these agreements.

When visiting South Korea in November, the President indicated that the U.S. would move forward on the pending U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement (KORUS FTA). This is a pact, signed over two years ago, which will virtually eliminate remaining tariffs between our two economies. It also takes aim at non-tariff barriers such a Seoul's burdensome safety standards that many U.S. businesses have been unable to meet and, thus, gain access to the growing Korean market.

As the U.S. stalls, the EU is moving to fill the void. It is actively negotiating with South Korea, using many of the same principles and goals that our trade officials used years ago. In fact, there are credible estimates that the U.S. will lose 345,000 jobs if it fails to implement the KORUS FTA!

Likewise, it has been nearly 1,100 days since President Bush sent a final U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement to Congress for implementation. In the meantime, the Canadians have completed their own deal with Colombia which will ultimately disadvantage our manufacturers and our farmers.

So, as Congress places us firmly on the sidelines, Canada, the EU, China and other commercial competitors are taking the field and our business.

This is not some dry, theoretical debate for my home state of New Jersey. Our businesses, large and small, and their workers, have a great deal riding on these agreements and others yet to be reached. They will create jobs here in America, in general, and in New Jersey, specifically.

For example, the Port of New Jersey and New York is a major international gateway for our region. Today, $80 billion in commerce flows through the Port each year. Total exports from New Jersey have increased by $8.1 billion over the past five years.

In fact, the latest data has shown that 130,500 jobs in New Jersey depend on trade. Of these, 50,500 are manufacturing jobs. Indeed, approximately one of every six manufacturing jobs in New Jersey is directly connected to trade. In addition, small businesses, America's job creators, would be among the major beneficiaries of U.S. initiatives to reduce foreign barriers to our exports.

Understandably, there is a high level of job-related anxiety in America today. This apprehension is fueling the rise of protectionism. The President and the Congressional leadership apparently now believe that defeating or delaying these trade agreements will somehow shield American jobs. To the contrary, discarding these pending trade agreements will deny American businesses the opportunity to create or grow high quality private sector jobs here at home and cede these markets to our allies and adversaries!

Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that Beijing, Ottawa, Tokyo and our EU friends understand the importance of trade. Our economy and, most importantly, our workers, are paying an incredibly high price for enacting these trade agreements. I urge the adoption of this resolution and the immediate ratification of the Colombia, Panama and South Korean free trade agreements.

Madam Speaker, I want to echo the comments of my Ranking Members, Mr. Young and Mr. Lewis. This is a good bill, thanks to the hard work of our Chairman Jack Murtha, his Ranking Member Bill Young and their capable staffs.

Clearly, had I written the bill, I would have written it differently in certain areas. (I certainly would not have tacked on a record increase in the debt limit!)

My major regret is that we should have done more.

This bill started out $3.5 billion short of the President's request-- despite the fact that we are engaged in two, hard-fought wars.

And now, we have a larger mission in Afghanistan involving more soldiers and Marines and a more complex and expensive operations to support and resupply them.

At a time when this Congress has found the `will and the wallet' to throw billions of borrowed dollars at every domestic program under the sun, our leaders are finding ways to cut defense--sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant.

I tell my Colleagues who have pledged to support a strong national defense, that this bill is the high water mark. It's all downhill from here.

With that said, Madam Speaker, there is much to like in the base bill.

I support reform of our military acquisition processes.

I support Secretary Gates' program to re- examine our national security priorities in light of the new irregular challenges and threats that are proliferating well beyond Iraq and Afghanistan.

I support funding in the bill for: a 3.4 percent pay raise for our troops (all volunteers); over $29 billion to provide first class medical care through our Defense Health program; $15 billion to allow the Navy to build seven ships; funding for more F/A-18 aircraft. We also set the stage for a future multi-year procurement of the F-18 aircraft to begin to close the Navy's ``fighter gap;'' $6.3 billion for 6,600 more lightweight MRAPs for Afghanistan. These vehicles are badly needed as IED's have proliferated;

However, I wish we could find a way to restore the cuts to missile defense and ensure that the F-22 assembly line keeps rolling.

In this context, Madam Speaker, I worry that this Administration is not making the investments today to ensure that we will be prepared to defend our interests against all threats in the years to come.

I must also add that I am very concerned about the Majority's insistence on using this bill, and our troops, to pass unrelated, and sometimes controversial provisions. For example, this bill should not be the vehicle to legislate Medicare doctor's payments, COBRA, Satellite television, nutrition assistance reauthorization, the PATRIOT Act and other provisions.

In closing, I thank Chairman Murtha and Ranking Member Young for their leadership.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, there is no question that the American people are hurting. Since the start of this recession in 2007, 6.9 million people have lost their jobs. A third of those without jobs have been unemployed for more than 6 months. That's a post-World War II high.

Clearly Congress needs to find a way to spur private sector job creation, a bipartisan way, not one rammed through without public hearings. Madam Speaker, a famous son of New Jersey once said, and that's Yogi Berra, ``It's deja vu all over again.''

Congress and the President enacted in February a trillion-dollar stimulus package with the promise that its shovel-ready spending would keep unemployment from exceeding 8 percent. While the Nation's official unemployment is 10 percent, the real unemployment and underemployment now exceed 17 percent.

Yet the majority is suggesting that we double down on spending borrowed dollars in many of the same areas touched by the first stimulus. For example, only 7 percent of the $2 billion in the stimulus bill for the Army Corps of Engineers civil construction has been spent. Yet this bill adds another $750 million.

Only 8 percent of the $1 billion in the stimulus for Bureau of Reclamation water projects has been spent. This legislation includes another $100 million.

The stimulus contained $4 billion for Energy Innovation Loans. Just 10 percent has been spent since February. So let's make sure to approve another $1 billion.

Of the $36 billion the Department of Energy has been given, about $955 million has been spent and only $17.5 billion has been obligated.

If this isn't bad enough, where is the funding coming from? It's coming from the TARP program, Troubled Asset Relief Program. That money, when it is paid back, is supposed to go to reduce the deficit. Here we are spending.

I rise to oppose this bill. This bill needs to be opposed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer legislation to address the needs of Americans across the country who have been unnecessarily burdened by taxes, entitled ``The Common Sense Tax Relief Act of 2009.''

As you all are well aware, Americans are extremely concerned with the current state of the economy and they are looking to their government to foster an economic environment that promotes growth.

At a time when Congress is considering health care and energy bills that will significantly raise taxes on all Americans, we must be cognizant of the fact that overall tax bills keep rising.

Over the past year, unprecedented spending on government programs through the so- called ``stimulus bill'' and the bloated Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 has produced, at best, modest signs of recovery.

Americans have felt a great deal of uncertainty as their jobs remain in jeopardy and they are unsure as to what additional financial burden will be levied upon them by the federal government.

I represent a state that currently has the highest tax burden in the nation, and to add insult to injury, New Jersey receives the least amount of federal dollars back from Washington per taxpayer.

Every weekend that I am back in my district, I hear from constituents who have had enough with being taxed by a government that has made no effort to follow these constituents lead in getting their financial houses in order.

For this reason, I have offered the Common Sense Tax Relief Act of 2009. This legislation seeks to make permanent several widely supported tax credits that will directly benefit families and small businesses seeking relief, clarity and certainly in their financial planning.

To assist families, this bill will make permanent the child tax credit and the marriage penalty relief tax credit. To assist in the advancement of education, this bill will make permanent the teacher tax deduction, and the tuition deduction. And to assist small business and families seeking to plan their financial futures, the bill makes permanent the current capital gains and dividends tax rates and eliminates the ``death tax.''

Madam Speaker, I urge the immediate consideration of this important legislation that will help propel our economy forward and provide significant relief to all of our constituents.