Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY 2009 Omnibus.

Division A: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug

Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009

Account: Special Research Grants

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, The Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension 9

Address of Requesting Entity: 125A Lake Oswego Road, Chatsworth, New Jersey 0801

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $451,000, requested by multiple members of Congress, to support vital ongoing research on natural products with beneficial health properties. New Jersey is the nation's second largest producer of highbush blueberries and the nation's third largest producer of cranberries. In 2007, New Jersey- grown blueberries and cranberries brought in over $110 million in farm sales with significant benefit to the state's economy. This funding will support ongoing work at a University Research Center that addresses farm and environmental interests, at the state and national levels, by providing the advanced technology for the future sustainability of both crop industries, ensuring the competitiveness of growers in New Jersey and nationally. The project meets the agency's mission of providing sustainable nutritious food crops and enhancing farm sustainability.

Division B: Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies

Appropriations Act, 2009

The 11th Congressional District was directly impacted by the events of 9/11 and it is critical to continue to make direct investments to improve first responder communications and for other necessary technology and equipment upgrades.

Account: Community Oriented Policing Services

Legal Name of Entity: Morris County Office of Emergency Management

Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 900, Morristown, New Jersey 07963-0900

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $1,000,000 for police communication equipment upgrades and interoperability technology enhancements.

Account: Community Oriented Policing Services

Legal Name of Entity: Somerset County Office of Emergency Management

Address of Requesting Entity: 20 Grove Street, P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $1,000,000 for police communication equipment upgrades and interoperability technology enhancements.

Account: Community Oriented Policing Services

Legal Name of Entity: Sussex County Office of Emergency Management

Address of Requesting Entity: 39 High Street, Newton, New Jersey 07860

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $950,000 for police communication equipment upgrades and interoperability technology enhancements.

Account: Community Oriented Policing Services

Legal Name of Entity: Essex County Office of Emergency Management

Address of Requesting Entity: 50 Nelson Place-2nd Floor, New Courts Building, Newark, New Jersey 07102.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $900,000 for police communication equipment upgrades and interoperability technology enhancements.

Account: Community Oriented Policing Services

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Township of Bridgewater

Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 6300, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $150,000 for traffic safety improvements.

Account: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cross-Agency Support Programs

Legal Name of Entity: County College of Morris

Address of Requesting Entity: Route 10 and Center Grove Road, Randolph, New Jersey 07869

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $200,000 to refurbish the planetarium and upgrade necessary equipment.

Account: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cross-Agency Support Programs

Legal Name of Entity: Drew University

Address of Requesting Entity: 36 Madison Avenue in Madison, New Jersey 07940

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $1,100,000 toward Drew University's Environmental Sciences Initiative which is a $4.6 million, multi-year effort that will yield significant educational benefits both within and outside the Drew University community by upgrading science research facilities, bolstering faculty expertise on critical areas of interest such as climate change, and extending educational opportunities both for students at Drew University as well as local, state and regional K-12 schools.

Account: Department of Justice, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Programs

Legal Name of Entity: Fairleigh Dickinson University

Address of Requesting Entity: 285 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $300,000 for Fairleigh Dickinson University's Law Enforcement Distance Education Project to develop online educational courses for delivery to state, county and local law enforcement.

Account: Department of Justice, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Programs

Legal Name of Entity: New Jersey Crime Victims' Law

Address of Requesting Entity: 33 Woodport Road in Sparta, New Jersey.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $150,000 for pro bono legal assistance to crime victims.

Division C: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies

Account: Office of Science, Department of Energy

Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: College of St. Elizabeth located at 2 Convent Station, Morristown, New Jersey 07960

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $475,750 for the Science, Math, and Technology Education Initiative at the College of St. Elizabeth. The funding would be used by the College of Saint Elizabeth to undertake initial planning, design, and construction associated with the renovation of Henderson Hall. This construction will provide significantly improved educational opportunities for women to aid them in the fields of science, math, and technology.

Account: Corps of Engineers, Construction

Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive the funding for this project is the Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, located at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2109, New York, NY 10278-0090.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $1,000,000 for the Passaic River Basin Flood Management project. This project is authorized by Congress. The actual design and construction will be executed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The funding would be used for the continued acquisition of homes and removal from the State defined Floodway that have been plagued by frequent flood damage along the Passaic River. The flooding has long been a problem in the Passaic River Basin resulting in significant losses, notably the loss of lives.

Account: Corps of Engineers, Construction

Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive the funding for this project is the Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, located at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2109, New York, NY 10278-0090.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $10,000,000 for the Raritan River Basin,

Green Brook Sub-basin project. This project is authorized by Congress and funding was requested by the Administration. The actual design and construction will be executed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The funding would be used finish the levee system in Bound Brook, New Jersey. Specifically, these dollars will be used for completion of the R2 Levee which will help protect the Township of Bound Brook. The Green Brook Sub-basin is continually subject to severe and sometimes devastating flood damage which has resulted in the loss of lives.

Account: Corps of Engineers, Continuing Authorities Program Section 205

Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive the funding for this project is the Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, located at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2109, New York, NY 10278-0090.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 lists Jackson Brook under the Section 205 CAP Program. This project is authorized by Congress. The actual design and construction will be executed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the County of Morris, New Jersey. The funding would be for completion of design, execution of a Production Cooperation Agreement and initiation of construction. Flood damages have occurred to the homes and property located on the lower part of the Jackson Brook Watershed and the public park facilities. Flooding has caused siltation in Hedden Pond.

Account: Corps of Engineers, Construction

Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive the funding for this project is the Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, located at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2109, New York, NY 10278-0090.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $11,700,000 for the Barnegat Inlet to Little Egg Harbor project. This project is authorized by Congress and funding was requested by the Administration. The actual design and construction will be executed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The funding would be used for the continuation of beachfill and dune construction for the purpose of coastal storm damage reduction. This storm protection project will cover 18 miles of coastline and protect human life and property for residents, communities and tens of thousands of visitors to one of the most populated destinations along the Atlantic coastline.

Account: Corps of Engineers, Continuing Authorities Program Section 205

Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive the funding for this project is the Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, located at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2109, New York, NY 10278-0090.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 lists the Upper Passaic River and Tributaries, Long Hill project. This project is authorized by Congress. The actual design and construction will be executed by the Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the Township of Long Hill. The funding would be for completion of design, execution of a Production Cooperation Agreement and initiation of construction. Flooding has caused extensive damage to businesses, residences, and infrastructure in and around Valley Road, the major thoroughfare in Long Hill Township.

Account: Corps of Engineers, Investigations

Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive the funding for this project is the Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, located at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2109, and New York, NY 10278-0090.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $717,000 for the Hudson-- Raritan, Lower Passaic River study. This project is authorized by Congress and funding was requested by the Administration. Today the Passaic River is one of the most toxic waterways in America. The actual design and construction will be executed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The funding would be use for evaluating what potential Interim Remedial Measures could be implemented prior to the anticipated date of completion of the full feasibility study.

Account: Corps of Engineers, Construction

Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive the funding for this project is the Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, located at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2109, and New York, NY 10278-0090.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $86,127,000 for the New York and New Jersey Harbor project. This project is authorized by Congress and funding was requested by the Administration. The increased and continued growth of the international maritime trade at the Port of New York and New Jersey represents a tremendous opportunity for the region--to create new jobs, generate higher incomes, reduce the cost of doing business and to raise the standard of living in the region. The actual design and construction will be executed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The funding would continue the 50-foot deepening project of the New York and New Jersey Harbor, including dredging of the Anchorage channel, the Kill Van Kull channel and the Ambrose Channel. Current channels within the Harbor range in depths from 30 to 45 feet, which are inadequate to provide access to the new, larger cargo ships that are being increasingly utilized for shipping, which require water drafts of 48 feet and more.

Account: Corps of Engineers, Construction

Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive the funding for this project is the Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, located at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2109, and New York, NY 10278-0090.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $4,806,000 for Passaic River Preservation of Natural Storage Areas. This project is authorized by Congress. The actual design and construction will be executed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The funding would be used for the continuation of natural flood storage property acquisitions along the Passaic River. Flooding has long been a problem in the Passaic River Basin resulting in significant losses, notably the loss of lives.

Division E: Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies:

Account: STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Borough of Hopatcong located at 111 Styx Road, Hopatcong, New Jersey 07843.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $500,000 for the Borough of Hopatcong's Elba Point Water Restoration Project. The funding will be used to reactivate an existing community supply well to provide safe drinking water to the residents of the Borough. The water quality from the existing supply is poor due to a direct influence of the surface water into the well. In order to reactivate the well, the installation of a surface water treatment plant is required.

Account: Land Acquisition (LWCF)

Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge located at 241 Pleasant Plains Road, Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920.

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $750,000 for the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, a component of Fish and Wildlife Service. The Great Swamp Refuge is located in Morris County, New Jersey, about 26 miles west of Manhattan's Times Square. The refuge was established by an act of Congress on November 3, 1960. The protection of this gem of wilderness in the heart of dense suburban development is one of the success stories of our National Wilderness Preservation System. The funding would be used to acquire an 18.31 acre parcel of land, known as the Great Brook Property, adjacent to the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which provides critical habitat for numerous rare species.

Division F: Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and

Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009

These projects are consistent with national health and education policies, including unique doctoral education programs, reducing cardiac disease, enhancing health information technology and increasing patient care to underserved areas of the community.

Account: Higher Education

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Caldwell College

Address of Requesting Entity: 9 Ryerson Avenue, Caldwell, New Jersey 07006

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $238,000 to establish a Ph.D. program in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) geared to preparing individuals for leadership roles in developmental services, special education and mental health. Caldwell College is the only college in New Jersey with a Master's Program in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and the only Special Education Master's with a concentration in autism and ABA. Caldwell College has been increasingly sought out by schools and school districts that are seeking to hire teachers and administrators trained at the highest levels of ABA.

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Section

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Atlantic Health System

Address of Requesting Entity: 475 South Street, Morristown, New Jersey 07960

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $476,000 to implement a multi-year comprehensive cardiac initiative expanding and upgrading services to reflect capacity strain, the growing demand for cardiac care and the technological changes in the industry. These services will aid patients with necessary care for the finest diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Atlantic Health System is currently finishing construction of a dedicated

heart hospital on the Morristown Memorial campus. This 223,000 square foot facility will include all inpatient and outpatient services.

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Section

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Somerset Medical Center

Address of Requesting Entity: 110 Rehill Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $476,000 to help improve patient safety through its information technology initiatives. Somerset Medical Center is a pioneer among hospitals nationwide in the implementation of electronic medical records. Over the past seven years, the medical center has spent more than $36 million to implement an electronic health record system in order to become more efficient, reduce the cost of patient care, enhance patient safety and improve the overall health of the community it serves.

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Section

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Zufall Health Center

Address of Requesting Entity: 17 N. Warren Street, Dover, New Jersey 07801

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $209,000 to help to purchase medical equipment for their new larger facility. Purchasing equipment for exam and dental rooms will allow Zufall Health Center to increase the number of patients they are able to provide care for. Moreover, the planned project will allow the Health Center to provide comprehensive prenatal services to more than 300 women on-site.

Division I: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009

Account: Department of Housing and Development, Economic Development Initiatives

Legal Name of Entity: Family Services of Morris County

Address of Requesting Entity: 4 Division Avenue, Madison, New Jersey 07940

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $190,000 to renovate, repair and rehabilitate 40-year-old facilities used for adult care Senior citizens eighty years of age and older represent the fastest growing population in Morris County and the facility is in need of significant renovation and expansion to continue to accommodate the seniors' needs. This funding will be provided directly to Family Service of Morris County.

Account: Department of Transportation, Surface Transportation Initiatives

Legal Name of Entity: Somerset County

Address of Requesting Entity: 20 Grove Street, Somerville, NJ 08876

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $570,000 for an authorized project under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users that would be used to relieve current and projected traffic congestion, improve vehicular and pedestrian safety and integrate access to mass transit in one of the fastest growing regions in New Jersey. This area is currently the site of extremely dangerous accident ``hot spots,'' and this funding will greatly improve in roadway and pedestrian safety. Further, it has been estimated by the county that drivers are subjected to over 100 hours of transit delays per year in Somerset County.

Account: Department of Transportation, Bus and Bus Facilities

Legal Name of Entity: New Jersey Transit Corporation

Address of Requesting Entity: One Penn Plaza, Newark, New Jersey 07105

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $950,000 for intermodal improvements along the Morristown and Montclair-Boonton commuter rail lines in Northern New Jersey. Ridership on public transportation is at all time highs and it is critical to ensure that our public transportation system operates smoothly and can handle this increased demand.

Account: Department of Transportation, Capital Investment Grants

Legal Name of Entity: New Jersey Transit Corporation

Address of Requesting Entity: One Penn Plaza, Newark, New Jersey 07105

Description of Request: H.R. 1105 includes $48,000,000 for an authorized project under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users that would be used to construct a new two-track commuter rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River from New Jersey to midtown Manhattan, including a new station at 34th Street, six new platforms, rail storage facilities, and direct access to the New York City Subway system and the Penn Station complex. Ridership on public transportation is at all time highs and it is critical to ensure that our public transportation system operates smoothly and can handle this increased demand. This tunnel is a high- priority, long-term project for the State of New Jersey, designed to significantly increase rail access and overall trans-Hudson capacity between New Jersey and New York--and safeguard the overall mobility and economic vitality of the region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this omnibus appropriations bill for many reasons, not the least of which is that this bill adds even more spending on top of the stimulus package that we just passed. As ranking member of the subcommittee on energy and water, I note that this bill contains just under $34 billion for similar accounts over and above those in the $800 billion stimulus.

However, I do commend our chairman, Mr. Visclosky, for the open and participatory manner in which he develops all of our bills.

Overall, I am pleased about the energy and water portion of this package. The spending levels are fairly normal for energy and water development, and I know that the chairman has worked hard not to make any major policy decisions during the change in administrations. I am supportive of his approach with one exception: This has to do with the future of our nuclear power program.

Mr. Speaker, our national security demands that we develop a more balanced energy portfolio that reduces our dangerous addiction to oil. In years to come, we must have nuclear energy. No other technology provides such a clean source of baseload power. Over 20 percent of our Nation's energy supply comes from a nuclear source. The funding in this omnibus puts the future of American nuclear power in jeopardy. While some, including the current House and Senate leadership, may applaud this policy decision, I think it is a serious mistake.

This bill significantly cuts funding to Yucca Mountain, our future national depository for nuclear waste. It doesn't cut it all out because that would eliminate jobs and local funding support for the project that brings help to the State of Nevada. No. The omnibus keeps the project on basic life support, but this bill cuts enough so that the future of this project is in serious doubt, and it does so without proposing any other solutions for nuclear disposal.

Mr. Speaker, this seems the height of irresponsibility. I recognize the process that has led us to the floor of this House this afternoon will not allow us to have a real debate on the issue. For this and other reasons, I oppose this omnibus.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for the time and ask consent to revise and extend my remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this omnibus appropriations bill for many reasons, not the least of which is that this measure adds even more spending atop a stimulus package we just passed.

I also want America to know what this bill will soon do to the children of Washington, DC.

In 2003, I worked with the current Minority Leader to establish a school voucher pilot program for the District of Columbia schools. Since that time, I have been proud to watch that program thrive. District school parents like the program because ``they believe their children are in safe schools, they appreciate the small class sizes, rich curricula and positive change in their sons and daughters.''

These are not my words. These are the words of the Washington Post in an editorial endorsing the DC school voucher program on January 26, 2008.

However, tucked deep inside this massive omnibus appropriations bill is a provision that terminates this common-sense program.

My colleagues, every child can learn if given the proper opportunity. This program gave children that opportunity. But no more! Parents will soon lose educational options for their families and children will once again be trapped in underperforming and failing public schools.

Mr. Speaker, this Congress and this President are about to fail the children of the District of Columbia.

America needs to know that and we should not be tucking this notion into the fine print of a massive $400 billion bill.

I also rise as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water to note that this bill contains just under $34 billion for similar accounts above and beyond the $800 billion ``stimulus.''

However, I do commend our Chairman--Mr. Visclosky--for the open and participatory manner in which he develops our bills.

Overall, I'm supportive of the Energy and Water portion of this package.

This bill contains another $9.8 billion for the Department's stewardship of our nuclear weapon stockpile. This responsibility is often overlooked with all the attention on energy issues, but this is really a core mandate of the Department.

There's roughly $6.5 billion appropriated for the Department's cleanup responsibilities. Another $6.5 billion is for the water projects of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Of the $33,795,000,000, over $10.7 billion is provided for the Department of Energy's science and energy R&D efforts.

The spending levels are fairly normal for energy and water development.

And I know that the Chairman worked hard not to make any major policy changes during the change in Administrations, and I'm supportive of his approach with one exception. This has to do with the future of our nuclear power program.

Mr. Speaker, our national security demands that we must develop a more balanced energy portfolio that reduces our dangerous addiction to imported petroleum.

In the years to come, we must tap the promise of nuclear energy. No other technology provides such a clean source of baseload power. Over 20% of our energy comes from nuclear power.

The funding in this Omnibus puts the future of American nuclear power in jeopardy. While some--including the current House and Senate leadership--may applaud this omission, I think it's a serious mistake.

This bill significantly cuts funding to Yucca Mountain--our future national depository for nuclear waste. It doesn't cut it all out, because that would eliminate the jobs and local funding support that the project brings to Nevada. No--the Omnibus keeps the project on ``life support.''

But this bill cuts enough so that the project is in serious doubt, and it does so without proposing any other solution for nuclear disposal.

Mr. Speaker, this seems the height of irresponsibility.

I recognize that the process that has led us to the floor of this House this afternoon will not allow us to have a real debate on this very real issue.

But we must have this debate because it is so critical to our economic and national security.

It's the type of issue that we were elected to solve.

I urge defeat of the bill.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this agreement. People back home want us to work together to do something to save their jobs, make up their lost savings, and restore the value of their homes.

Quite correctly, Americans are asking for help, and we had--I repeat, Mr. Speaker, had--the opportunity to respond by passing a bill that actually created jobs. Unfortunately, the House-Senate agreement, to the extent that we've been allowed to see its contents, does little to help their cause.

Most of this massive domestic spending will be sucked up by an enlarged government bureaucracy, hiring more Federal and State public workers, not helping small businesses and families survive.

The majority ``markets'' this measure as a transportation infrastructure package. But a mere 17 percent of the funding is directed towards the road, highway, and Army Corps of Engineers programs that would immediately create real jobs.

In fact, H.R. 1 creates over 33 entirely new government programs, at a cost to the taxpayers of over $97 billion, and adds 600,000 new government jobs. And when will Americans see the effects of this spending? Probably not any time soon.

According to the CBO, less than half of the spending in this nonstimulus package will be paid out in the next 2 years. At that rate, an economic recovery will probably outrun most of the spending in this expensive legislation.

And while the agreement does contain some tax relief, it's not targeted to small businesses, which employ half of all of us. And if that weren't enough, the package before us weakens the work requirements of successful welfare programs we enacted years ago. And it may lay the groundwork for a government takeover of American's health care system by creating a Federal bureaucracy that will decide how to ration health care.

Mr. Speaker, Congress had the opportunity to ``jump-start'' our economy, and failed in that responsibility.

Madam Speaker, I strongly support an economic stimulus bill that will produce jobs that actually put people to work, especially in the private sector. H.R. 1 does not do that.

The notion that we need to expand State and Federal public employee rolls with a massive dollar increase in existing and entirely new domestic programs is not what my constituents back home want. My constituents are losing their jobs on Main Street and on Wall Street. The value of their homes has been reduced. Some teeter on the brink of forfeiture. Families' savings and investment accounts have been savaged.

And in this context, the House leadership proposes a bill that guarantees a burst of state and Federal hiring: bureaucracies that will undoubtedly handcuff small businesses with more rules and more regulation.

What's wrong with this picture?

As an illustration of what's wrong with the bill, let's look at the energy and water portfolio. Frankly, more funding has been proposed in H.R. 1 than could be possibly spent intelligently and effectively.

Under the bill, the budget for Department of Energy grants and loans explodes to $30 billion. This sum alone is greater than the entire budget for the whole Department of Energy last year. Instead of being our premier R&D agency, DOE will become a grants-manager for tens of billions of borrowed money, much of it spent in expanding the Federal workforce. And what's left will expand State governments. Little will filter down to people who actually work with their hands, actually make things more efficiently, and advance technology.

This is all a recipe for more dysfunction for government acquisition systems that can barely handle their own workloads today. Are the State governments prepared? Their manpower is down, and those who might provide oversight and accountability are walking the unemployment lines as we speak.

My colleagues, remember Katrina: Poor planning, shoddy execution, noncompetitive contract awards, abuse of

contractor flexibility, inadequate oversight, a climate for waste, an open invitation to fraud and corruption.

Madam Speaker, there are many reasons to oppose H.R. 1. Those who do not remember the lessons of Katrina are bound to repeat those mistakes. In the meantime, we're missing a precious opportunity to create real private sector jobs and prevent layoffs.

I've heard from my constituents in New Jersey. They want a stimulus package, but they don't want this one.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, there is no greater challenge facing our families and businesses today with our Nation's struggling economy. The past few months have been absolutely traumatic for many. There is genuine anxiety and fear about job security, loss of savings, a serious drop in home values and the decline of the value of personal investments.

As a result, consumer confidence is at historic lows. Quite correctly, Americans are asking for help. We must respond by passing an economic package as quickly as possible. However, we must make sure that that response is effective, efficient and timely.

Unfortunately, the bill the majority has placed before us today does not meet those common-sense standards. Clearly, many Americans find themselves in real trouble and in need of relief. Provisions of this bill, such as the extended unemployment benefits, nutrition assistance and job training are critically important to help many Americans struggle through hard times. However, they have little to do with creating 3 to 4 million jobs.

However, there is a significant role for government to play in the targeted infrastructure, investment, roads, tunnels, bridges, sewers, flood control.

As Mr. Lewis said earlier, many of the majority have described this legislation as a transportation and infrastructure investment package. However, only $30 billion of that, or 3 percent of the funding, is directed towards shovel-ready road and highway spending that would immediately create jobs. And there's a $61 billion backlog in Army Corps projects that could be addressed immediately.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, less than half the spending in this stimulus package will be paid out in the next 2 years. At that rate, an economic recovery will probably outrun most of that spending.

This should worry all Americans. This isn't just a stimulus package; it is legislation jam packed with a lot of domestic spending, even if there's no evidence that that spending will create jobs or prevent layoffs.

I note that the majority proposes a $79 billion State stabilization fund. Apparently, this program is designed to bail out some--I repeat-- some States that did little to control their own spending and bonded indebtedness in recent years.

Take my own State of New Jersey as an example. In the last 6 years, New Jersey State spending has increased by

$11 billion, and our State's debt has more than doubled to $36 billion. Clearly, this is not a picture of restraint. Add to that picture some of the highest taxes in income taxes in the Nation.

In other words, while the Federal budget deficit has exploded, Federal taxpayers are now supposed to pull some State governments out of a fiscal hole that was partially of their own making.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 150th Anniversary Celebration marking the building of the Waterloo United Methodist Church in the Borough of Stanhope, County of Sussex, New Jersey, a vibrant community I am proud to represent.

Waterloo United Methodist Church was started in 1855 by a few families crowded into a general store. Devoted congregants constructed a church in 1859. The congregation continued to thrive until the Great Depression when church membership was reduced to all but five congregants. Through the dedication of Mrs. Melissa Dolan, an organist and Sunday school teacher for the church for 50 years, the church was saved from abandonment. Not until 1971 was the church's survival once again threatened, this time by the construction of a dam. Through the help of New Jersey State Senator Wayne Dumont the church was allowed to remain in use and the congregants unanimously voted to not sell the property to the State. In 1980, when membership dwindled to eight families, a conscious effort was made by the congregation to keep their beloved church alive and to this day the church continues to be successful.

The United Methodist Church remains the only operating building in the restored 19th century canal town of Waterloo Village. Today's inter-generational congregation is lead by three pastors, the only congregation in the State of New Jersey to be led by a pastoral team, and welcomes parishioners from all walks of life. Although few in numbers this progressive church takes great pride in accepting people from diverse backgrounds, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ whom embraced those that society did not.

Madam Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Waterloo United Methodist Church on the celebration of 150 years of serving its parishioners and all of Sussex County.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary of the Mount Fern United Methodist Church, in Randolph, New Jersey.

The first service at Mount Fern Church was held on November 11, 1883. Mount Fern Church was an offshoot of the Millbrook Methodist Church established 50 years earlier in 1833. Mount Fern was built to serve the growing surrounding community and the workers at Mine Hill who did not have transportation to Millbrook.

John R. Spargo is the person most responsible for the church at Mount Fern. He donated the land, provided the financing, helped

build the church, and he gave the church a new name, Mount Fern Church.

By 1880 Mount Fern was a hilltop community of about 25 homes, a dozen or so farms, and the mining families. The successes of the local mines attracted still more miners to Randolph. After moving to an old stone farmhouse, John Spargo held Methodist class meetings in his home. The old stone house served as both an early church and Sunday school. Its two small rooms were soon filled to capacity. Eventually the community decided it was time to build a new church.

The Rev. Robert Jenkins served as the first pastor of Mount Fern Church from 1883-1884 and returned for a second year in 1894. Many of the Mount Fern early pastors were laymen, people who lived in the community, often with a farm of their own, and volunteered to lead the church for a year or two.

Mount Fern was well attended in its earliest years. However, membership declined when the local mines closed. By 1914 the church listed only 30 members.

The first Mount Fern Church Fair was held on July 4, 1914. Booths surrounding the church sold food, gifts, and souvenirs. A baked goods booth featured fresh-baked cookies and Anne Spargo's apple pies. Chicken suppers were served from a tent erected on the grounds. Fireworks at the first fair, by accident or mischievous design, ignited prematurely. Mount Fern never attempted fireworks again, but the church fair became a popular annual event for over 50 years.

By 1948 there were about 100 houses in the community. New families moved into the area and the church began to grow. In 1952 construction of a new fellowship hall began.

Growth continued and membership swelled to 350 after the arrival of Rev. Diane Gilbert in 1996.

Although over the years the building has changed, the church has not. Mount Fern Church remains a congregation of people united in their faith.

Madam Speaker, I ask that the House recognize this remarkable church and parishioners who have contributed so much toward the preservation and appreciation of American history through their place of worship at Mount Fern United Methodist Church in Randolph, New Jersey.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

Our Nation is facing unprecedented challenges and Congress needs to act, with bipartisanship, to restore confidence in our financial markets and get our economy back on the right track. People are depending on the Government to help restore stability.

This legislation before us today, passed by the Senate Wednesday, is substantially improved from the version this House rejected on Monday.

Some of my concerns from the earlier bill have been addressed, but not all. But I am in Washington to look for the best deal for the taxpayers.

The most significant change is that this rescue package now includes Alternative Minimum Tax relief for my constituents in New Jersey, not just relief for Wall Street.

The previous bill presented the taxpayer with a huge bill. This measure contains real relief for the hard-working New Jersey families and I commend the Senate for including what House Democrats have resisted.

My colleagues, no one likes the concept of an unprecedented and expensive Federal Government intervention in our financial markets. But the cold, hard reality is that this rescue package, however oversized, is designed to shield millions of Americans from economic shock waves from problems they did not create.

Our economy is built on credit and we need to get credit back into the markets.

There can be no doubt that our financial markets are in crisis, suffering from a number of problems:

(1) Banks and other financial institutions have billions of dollars of bad housing-related debt on their books, to the extent that many are technically insolvent.

(2) But we also have a problem stemming from a serious crisis of confidence that has frozen the credit system. Financial institutions are, in essence, ``hoarding'' capital. Most are not lending money.

As a result, we see credit markets which are limiting the ability of people and businesses to borrow. It's a crisis that is affecting a wide range of Americans: Employees working for businesses dependent on available credit to cover payroll or buy inventory; retirees who count on their stocks and other investments to pay their bills and for future expenses; workers who have built pension funds and 401(k)s for their future security; families who have seen their home values drop precipitously, and their nest eggs are directly related to that value; families trying to buy homes or cars or secure student loans for college; men and women who work every day to keep their small businesses afloat. Without reliable credit, they cannot stay in business, let alone create jobs.

With that said, I recognize that many people may not like the expensive rescue plan. But we have no alternative but to approve this legislation and do it quickly.

Madam Speaker, the package that this House rejected, on a bipartisan basis, on Monday was much stronger than the original proposal offered by the Treasury Secretary 2 weeks ago. That bill cut the Treasury's upfront spending authority in half, included several important taxpayer protections, limitations on executive bonuses, improved bipartisan oversight and deleted ``slush fund'' financing for such partisan groups as ACORN, and trial lawyer giveaways.

I am pleased that the package before us today is vastly improved over Monday's bill. That legislation, in effect, handed the American people nothing but a huge bill to pay. This measure protects middle income Americans from tax increases and gives businesses the financial support they need to create and maintain jobs.

Specifically, we are shielding tens of thousands of New Jersey taxpayers from the unfair Alternative Minimum Tax increase.

New Jersey has the highest per capita rate of citizens subject to the AMT in the country. Without this fix approximately 1.6 million residents of New Jersey, including over 141,000 families in my district, would be subject to the AMT this year. The provisions included in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act will prevent approximately an additional 100,000 residents of my district from paying this unfair tax.

It is never a ``good time'' to raise taxes, but I cannot imagine a worse idea in times of economic slowdown.

The bill also expands Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation protection for bank accounts to $250,000 per account from $100,000. This provision is designed to send a strong signal to depositors, individuals and small businesses alike, that their money is backed by the United States Government.

The bill also includes:

Tax relief for middle-class families and American businesses--the engine of job creation. These include credits and deductions for college tuition, children, and research and development.

The extension of renewable energy tax incentives designed to build momentum toward reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.

Landmark mental health ``parity'' legislation which will increase health care coverage for Americans suffering with mental illness.

I am also encouraged that the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has issued accounting guidelines that allow banks to move away from ``mark-to-market'' accounting rules that artificially undervalue good mortgage assets and have helped aggravate this economic crisis.

My colleagues, I am confident that, given additional time, we could make even more improvements to this legislation after we listen further to our constituents. However, it has become very apparent to me that we do not have additional time.

We are in ``panic mode'' brought about by the unwise use of leverage, poor accounting rules, program trading, an explosion in the use of financial instruments, and lax regulation of our markets.

Credit markets have frozen. Americans everywhere are feeling the pain through their

businesses, through their jobs, through their inability to get a mortgage, or a loan to buy a car, complete a home renovation, or finance a college education.

As I stated initially, our economy faces historic and unprecedented challenges. Congress must take swift, decisive and bipartisan action to restore immediate confidence to the markets and set our economy back on the right track.

This is a rescue package designed to shield millions of Americans from catastrophic shock waves of problems they did not create.

We need to vote yes, and we need to vote now.

But even after this vote, our work is not done. We need aggressive oversight over the actions of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve and more transparency in our financial markets.

I urge passage of H.R. 1424.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 250th anniversary celebration of the Friends Meeting House and Cemetery Association of the Township of Randolph, County of Morris, NJ.

On October 11, 2008, the Friends Meeting House and Cemetery Association of the Township of Randolph will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Friends Meeting House. The Meeting House is the oldest church in continuous use in Morris County and the oldest Quaker Meeting House in northern New Jersey.

In 1758, The Mendham Friends Meeting House and Cemetery was established by the Quakers, who migrated to the Mendham area of Morris County. The name was later changed to the Randolph Friends Meeting House, and the building was used for regular worship until 1865, when it was ``laid down.'' From 1865-1898, the Meeting House was used only for memorial services and the occasional wedding or funeral, while the grounds and cemetery were kept by descendants of the original Quaker families.

In 1898, the Friends Meeting House and Cemetery Association of Randolph Township was formed to oversee the preservation of the Meeting House site. Membership was open to anyone whose ancestors had worshipped in the meeting house or was buried in the cemetery as well as to members of the Friends faith who had an interest in preservation of this important place.

In 1998, the Meeting House celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the association in its current form. In 2007, Friends Meeting House and Cemetery Association was awarded a grant from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund. This grant will enable the association to fully renovate and preserve the Meeting House building, which has changed little since the 18th century.

Madam Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Friends Meeting House and Cemetery Association of the Township of Randolph on the celebration of this special anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of my friend and fellow member of the New Jersey delegation, Representative Jim Saxton. Mr. Saxton came to Congress nearly 24 years ago and since that time has served as a tireless advocate for the people of New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District.

He has served as a role model to members of the delegation, including me, throughout his distinguished service. On the House Armed Services Committee, Mr. Saxton worked to improve the quality of life for those who serve in the military and their families on the home front, and especially those who work with the Special Forces Command.

Mr. Saxton has been a strong supporter of military bases across the country, especially Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. He will be remembered for his passionate and steadfast advocacy on behalf of his constituents and our state.

Mr. Saxton has a tremendous record of environmental protection of New Jersey's beaches and coastline over many years. And we have worked closely together in passing the Highlands Conservation Act, which protects open space and water supplies vital to the entire Northeast.

His thoughtful and deliberative style serves as an example to other lawmakers and is a true testament to good government. Mr. Saxton has always been known to do the ``right thing,'' which has made him an example to his colleagues and endeared him to his constituents.

On a more personal level, Jim Saxton has been a good friend and mentor, as he was to my predecessor, the late Dean A. Gallo. Like Dean Gallo, I have benefited from his knowledge and wisdom, his good humor and compassion, and I will surely miss him as a colleague.

The retirement of Congressman Jim Saxton is a loss to the people of New Jersey and the U.S. Congress. His leadership and knowledge will be missed. I thank him for his service and wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, specifically the Morris, Essex, Somerset, Sussex, and Passaic County Chapters, of which I am proud to represent. On November 8, 2008, members of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners will celebrate this influential organization's 30th Anniversary.

New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners [NJAWBO] was established in 1978 by Adele Kaplan and Bette Benedict. The women started the New Jersey Association Women Business Owners, while planning the organization's first Business Expo in 1978. The organization began as a small group of ten women who held monthly breakfast meetings. Through hard work, networking, the organization has grown exponentially. In the past 30 years (1978-2008), the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners has expanded to represent 1,000 women, making it the largest Women Owned Business organization in New Jersey.

The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners supports and encourages business ownership by women, through networking, education and political advocacy. NJAWBO has provided women business owners with the tools necessary for success. It is well respected and regarded as one of New Jersey's most influential organizations.

Madam Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, on the celebration of 30 years serving Morris, Essex, Somerset, Sussex, and Passaic Counties, as well as the rest of New Jersey.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 110th anniversary of the Old Print Shop, an American and New York landmark located at 150 Lexington Avenue in New York City.

The Old Print Shop celebrates 110 years under four generations of Newman family.

Its headquarters for almost 75 of those years has been on Lexington Avenue in an unpretentious brownstone with old wooden floors and antique display cases. The shop has been described as having Old World charm. At the helm are second and third generation Newman's who enjoy what has been the hallmark of the shop, buying and selling fine prints, maps, and books.

The Old Print Shop has supplied prints and paintings to many public and private art collections including the Library of Congress, the State Department, and the National Portrait Gallery. It strives to present a friendly and helpful atmosphere to both experts and beginning collectors. The comfortable interior encourages browsing through the thousands of prints, which are organized by subject, artist, and size. The shop has grown considerably since its humble beginnings as a portrait gallery and now carries a broad selection of American graphic arts from the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries and a wide selection of antique maps. The Old Print Shop has also expanded by taking over the ground floor of the adjoining building at 152 Lexington Avenue, where the focus is on art reference, illustrated, fine art, and color plate books.

Following in the footsteps of his father, the late Harry Shaw Newman, his son, Kenneth M. Newman, helped to build many collections of American primitive art and to concentrate the attention of the public on American printmakers, especially Currier & Ives and other publishers from the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.

Robert K. Newman, Kenneth's elder son, and his younger son, Harry Shaw Newman, share in their father's knowledge and love of prints, paintings, and art history. In recent years, Robert K. Newman's son, Brian has joined the shop as fourth generation in the business.

Madam Speaker, I ask that the House recognize this remarkable family who have contributed so much toward the preservation and appreciation of American history through their business acumen at the Old Print Shop in New York City and their associated gallery, the Old Print Gallery in Washington, DC.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 75th Anniversary of the Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association of Parsippany, NJ.

Lake Parsippany sits in the center of the Township of Parsippany Troy-Hills, Morris County, NJ. The lake and grounds cover 168 acres and offer well kept swimming beaches as well as many different recreational areas to enjoy the summer. Boating, fishing, volleyball, and horseshoes, are just a few of the many sporting activities enjoyed at Lake Parsippany.

Lake Parsippany began in the early 1930's when the New York Daily Mirror, part of the Mirror Holding Corporation, purchased a large expanse of pasture and farmland in The Township of Parsippany. They dug out 159 acres and constructed a dam that formed Lake Parsippany, which became the headwaters for Eastman's Brook.

The Mirror Holding Corporation made the 7,916 lots surrounding the lake available to anyone agreeing to subscribe to the Daily Mirror for at least six months. Lots measured 20

by 100 feet and were offered for $98.50 each. A minimum of two lots had to be purchased to build a cabin.

On October 29, 1933 the Mirror Holding Corporation held a meeting at Lake Parsippany. The meeting was attended by approximately 1,500 people. The meeting formed an incorporated organization of lot owners. The Mirror Holding Corporation then turned over the property to the new organization, The Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association.

Today, the Lake Parsippany Property Association is supported by member volunteers. The membership seeks to preserve the natural beauty of the lake through its fees, and through active volunteer participation in the community.

Madam Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the dedicated people of the Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association on their 75th anniversary.

Madam Speaker, in compliance with new ``earmark'' disclosure procedures adopted by the House Republican Conference, I hereby provide the following information regarding requests for funding I made of the House Appropriations Committee for inclusion in the Department of Defense (DoD) Act for Fiscal Year 2009.

Specifically, the projects will be included in Title IV, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation.

The FY 2009 Defense Appropriations Act includes:

$5 million for Remotely Operated Weapons Systems, Weapons and Munitions Technology. The entity to receive the funding for this project is the United States Army, specifically the Armament Research Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) located at Picatinny Arsenal, Picatinny, New Jersey, 07806-5000.

The funding will be used to accelerate the development and fielding of critical Remotely Operated Weapon Systems technologies on DoD platforms, increasing soldier survivability while enabling them to perform hazardous missions effectively. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$5 million for Advanced Technologies, Energy and Manufacturing Science, Weapons and Munitions Technology. The entity to receive the funding for this project is the United States Army, specifically the Armament Research Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) located at Picatinny Arsenal, Picatinny, New Jersey, 07806-5000.

Then funding will be used by the Army to meet the urgent need to develop and provide a breadth of innovative technology solutions to the joint warfighter with a focus on the lethality and survivability demands for munitions and armaments. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$4 million for Developmental Mission Integration, Weapons and Munitions Technology. The entity to receive the funding for this project is the United States Army, specifically the Armament Research Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) located at Picatinny Arsenal, Picatinny, New Jersey, 07806-5000.

The funding will be used to meet the critical need for the ARDEC to have the capability and flexibility to ``bridge the gap'' between its armaments research activities and Current Force requirements through a dedicated effort to mature, update, prototype and ``spin out'' armament and munitions technologies needed by the warfighter in the near term (6 to 12 months). The program will develop, demonstrate and transition critical armaments, munitions and logistics technologies needed by Army Brigade Combat Teams and Special Forces prior to (i.e. reset periods) and during deployment. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$3.2 million for Rapid Prototyping for Special Projects, Weapons and Munitions Technology. The entity to receive the funding for this project is the United States Army, specifically the Armament Research Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) located at Picatinny Arsenal, Picatinny, New Jersey, 07806-5000.

The funding will be used to capitalize on ARDEC's unique scientific and engineering capabilities to develop lethal and non-lethal solutions for the joint warfighter in periods of less than 6 months. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$2.4 million for Mitigation of Energetic Single Point Failures, Weapons and Munitions Technology. The entity to receive the funding for this project is the United States Army, specifically the Armament Research Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) located at Picatinny Arsenal, Picatinny, New Jersey, 07806-5000.

Funding will be used to reduce single point failures which may lead to increased costs and jeopardize production of critical munitions required by the joint Warfighter. This effort will help increase the overall quality of ammunition items for the soldier and reduce the potential for disruption of armament production within

the industrial base and the joint armed services. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near- term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$1.6 million for JM&L Joint Munitions and Lethality Mission Integration, Munitions Standardization and Effectiveness. The entity to receive the funding for this project is the United States Army, specifically the Joint Munitions & Lethality Life Cycle Management Command (JM&L LCMC) located at Picatinny Arsenal, Picatinny, New Jersey, 07806-5000.

The funding will be used to build a network of strategic partnerships, all coordinated with the organizations associated with the JM&L LCMC. This program will provide an efficient process and will demonstrate how early RDE capabilities and solutions can and should be utilized to ``spiral in'' emerging technologies to expedite new system development or enhance current systems' performance across all services. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$2.4 million for JM&L Warfighter Technology Insertion, Munitions Standardization and Effectiveness. The entity to receive the funding for this project is the United States Army, specifically the Joint Munitions & Lethality Life Cycle Management Command (JM&L LCMC) located at Picatinny Arsenal, Picatinny, New Jersey, 07806-5000.

The funds will be used to develop innovative partnerships with non- traditional finance or technology companies to expedite rapid solutions for the soldier. This new network of innovative suppliers will be focused on DoD applications, broadening U.S. suppliers' involvement to support the military. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$2.4 million for Rapid Insertion of Developmental Technology, Weapons and Munitions Advanced Technology. The entity to receive funding for this project is the Stevens Institute of Technology at Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken, NJ 07030, working in partnership with ARDEC at Picatinny Arsenal.

The funding will be used to enhance the Army's ability to accelerate the fielding of new systems and technology that are crucial to the success of ongoing military operations. Such systems increase the protection and survivability of the warfighter as well as enhancing his or her effectiveness in the field. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$2.4 million GreenArmaments/Rangesafe, Weapons and Munitions Technology. The entity to receive funding for this project is the Steven's Institute of Technology at Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken, NJ 07030, working in partnership with ARDEC at Picatinny Arsenal.

The funding will support the Army's Environmental Requirements and Technology Assessment (AERTA) to allow the Army to maintain its training and test and production facilities at the top operational level enabling their continued use to ensure war-fighting readiness. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter-- Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$3.2 million for Armament Systems Engineering--ASEI2, Weapons and Munitions Technology. The entity to receive funding for this project is the Steven's Institute of Technology at Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken, NJ 07030.

This funding will continue a program to provide the Army with the tools and methods to support systems architectures, adaptability and supportability to allow warfighters to change rapidly with changing battlefield conditions. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$3.2 million for Advanced Cluster Energetics, Munitions Standardization and Effectiveness. The entity to receive funding for this project is the New Jersey Institute of Technology at University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102-1982, working in partnership with ARDEC at Picatinny Arsenal.

The funding supports a successful program that touches all aspects of manufacturing and performance of munitions: 50% manufacturing cost reduction; insensitive munitions through encapsulated uniform compositions munitions products of superior packing density in the same volume leading to greater performance and a reduced logistics tail. ACE manufacturing technologies are applicable to conventional explosives, insensitive RDX, HMX and PBX-type munitions, nitramine-based propellants, and AP-based rocket propellants and bomb fills. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$1.6 million for Enhanced Jam Resistant Technology for INS/GPS Precision, Weapons and Munitions Advanced Technology. The entity to receive funding for this project is L3 Communications, 450 Clark Drive, Budd Lake, New Jersey 07828.

The funding will be used to develop technology for missile and rocket systems to counter electronic jamming attempts resulting from the proliferation of relatively low-cost, sophisticated and powerful GPS jammers. This program is important to increase effectiveness of the joint warfighter and reduce potential ``collateral damage'' in any zone of conflict. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$2.4 million for Lightweight Trauma Module, Medical Materiel/Medical Biological Defense. The entity to receive funding for this project is Impact Instrumentation at 27 Fairfield Place, West Caldwell, NJ 07006.

This funding will allow the Army to incorporate newer medical device technologies to result in a 60% decrease in mass and cube through the integration of five separate, bulky and uncoordinated patient movement (PM) devices. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$1.6 million for Ink-based Desktop Electronic Material Technology, University and Industry Research Centers. Funding for this project will flow through Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey to Honeywell Corporation, headquartered at 101 Columbia Road, Morristown, New Jersey 07962.

The funding will allow the Army to develop specialized inks that are wholly capable of fabricating electronics that would be printed on desktop printers and then incorporated into electronics. Army funding for innovative ink-based technology would lower costs and provide the Army with significant weight improvements resulting in improved mobility and point-of-use printing capability. This innovation would replace expensive traditional electronics that are primarily manufactured in semi-conductor facilities overseas. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near- term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$800,000 for Large Area, APVT Materials for Hi-Powered Devices, Materials. The entity to receive funding for this project is II-VI Corporation, 20 Chapin Road, Suite 1005, Pine Brook, NJ 07058.

The funding will allow the Air Force to develop Silicon Carbide technologies with several key advantages over current technologies, including higher power density, better heat dissipation and increased bandwidth, thus making it an enabling technology for critical national defense applications. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Air Force, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$800,000 for Lightweight Multifunctional Material Technology, Weapons and Munitions--SDD. The entity to receive funding for this project is Frontier Polymers, 20 Robert Street, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054, working with ARDEC at Picatinny Arsenal.

The funding will allow the Army to improve its ammunition packaging and handling systems and enhance the protection of medium

and large caliber ammunition used throughout the military. The concepts in this program (fire/ballistic resistance, reduced weight) can be applied to packaging for a wide range of munitions. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near- term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Army, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable

$1.6 million M-PACT Pure Air Generator, Small Diameter Bomb. The entity to receive funding for this project is Marotta Scientific Controls, 78 Boonton Avenue, Montville, New Jersey 07045.

The funding will be used to allow the Air Force to complete development of an enhanced high pressure pure air generator (HPPAG) system designed to meet the specific operational requirements of the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) program. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Air Force, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

$800,000 for IM Formulation of Anthrax Therapeutic, Chemical and Biological Defense Program. The entity to receive funding for this project is Elusys Therapeutics, 25 Riverside Drive, Pine Brook, NJ 07058.

This funding will allow the Department of Defense to develop a more viable treatment for unvaccinated defense personnel worldwide who have suffered from anthrax exposure. The use of U.S. taxpayer funding is justified because this program will provide near-term and long-range benefits to the joint warfighter--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

As this funding will be provided to the United States Department of Defense, the requirement of matching funds is not applicable.

Madam Speaker, even after the remarkably emotional ceremonies on the House steps and at the Pentagon this morning, it is still hard to believe that 7 years have passed since tragedy struck in lower Manhattan and in the fields of Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. It seems like only yesterday. In that time, we have mourned the loss of so many innocent people, learned many lessons, and have become stronger as a Nation.

The events of that day demonstrated the truest form of evil our Nation has encountered, but in the face of that evil, good arose. Firefighters, police and EMS personnel rushed to the scene in lower Manhattan and at the other sites. They saw a danger in front of them, but were determined to help those inside the Towers. Strangers helped each other out of the buildings knowing the risks they faced; neighbors and friends consoled one another; and we saw Americans from all walks of life stand united side by side, waiving the stars and stripes and lighting candles to honor those loved ones missing or lost.

Others gave in other ways, giving blood, donating to charity, or volunteering across our country. The best America has to offer was brought out by those terrible events of that fateful day. And we made a promise that morning that we would never forget, and we won't.

We are here this afternoon honoring those lost and remembering the sacrifices of those who serve us. We have not forgotten, and we never will. Seven years later, we remember and we gather. We remember those lost on September 11, 2001; 3,000 Americans, 700 from my home State, and people from more than 80 other countries around the world.

That morning too many of our friends and neighbors left for work, never to return home again. There is no doubt about it: The character and resolve of America is still strong. Let us take this time to honor and remember those whom we lost that day.

God bless you, those we lost, and God bless the United States of America.