Floor Statements

Mr. 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 35th Anniversary.

The Committee, a local public service group, has solicited the involvement of the total Morris County community, and especially its young people, in its annual services commemorating the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. since 1970. This celebration of faith, endurance, and commitment is a tribute to the rich legacy of the life and works of Dr. King.

The Observance for 2005 marks the Twentieth 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 cooperate with the Committee in jointly sponsoring the commemorative services on Monday, January 17, 2005.

The Martin Luther King Observance Committee will use for a theme ``The Dream of Peace Is Dedicated Wholly to Truth.'' Each of us still makes a difference. Each of us needs to trust, to hope, to care, and to have the courage to make our democracy work for all if us. Yes, today we face great uncertainty and trepidation. Nevertheless, we will pull together as a community and nation during time of crisis. We are Americans indeed.

From those individuals who spearheaded the initial celebration, the late Rachel Viola Jones and Dr. Felicia B. Jamison, the planning efforts has broadened to include members of the Morris Area Clergy Council, with representatives from all major faith traditions. 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 Rev. Charles Marks.

The core planning committee is continuing to carry on a tradition of excellence for this great program and has grown to include dedicated volunteers. Some of those individuals include Charles Jamison, Jr., James Mack, Janet Bonar, Patricia Johnson, Esq., Barbara Klingsporn, Mae Williams, Ronnie Rogers, Elie Sims, Nadine Alston, Rabbi Donald Rossoff, James Vance, Horace Melton, Marian Sykes Johnson, Gerald Martin, Dorothy C. Parker, Agnes Boyd, Rev. Paul Ratzlaff, and Rev. Jerry M. Carter, Jr., Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church.

Mr. 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 educate our community in helping to promote 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 as they celebrate 35 dedicated years of serving our community, and especially Chairwoman Dr. Felicia Jamison.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Nevada and all members of the House Committee on Resources for their support and guidance on this bill, particularly the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo) who has been with me every step of the way over the last couple of years, and this has been a work in progress for over 4 years.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, for his support of this legislation, as well as the staffs of both committees and the many cosponsors from the four mentioned States for their hard work and, particularly, the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands, as well.

A special kudos to my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) who is a member of the Committee on Resources, for his particular guidance and support and his ability to articulate with his committee colleagues the case for this bill.

The leadership of all of these individuals has been extremely invaluable.

The Highlands Conservation Act represents a major Federal commitment to preserve more open space and protect water supplies in the northeastern part of these United States. While remaining mindful of property rights, this bill compliments ongoing State, local and private partnerships to preserve open space.

Federal support and the passage of this Act this afternoon presents a unique substantive and symbolic opportunity for our government once again to express its commitment to preserving our natural resources.

Mr. Speaker, the Highlands, as was said earlier, is one of last open space treasures in the most densely populated area of the United States. In New Jersey alone, my home State, it includes more than a million acres of forest, farms, streams, wetlands, lakes, reservoirs and historic sites.

Mr. Speaker, the Highlands Conservation Act is a national priority, as has been mentioned, and a major imperative. Passage of this Act will give the people of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania more of the tools they need to preserve and protect these remarkable resources and assets.

I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the chairman, and the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) for their support and the work of their committee and staff and urge adoption of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues the recent retirement of an accomplished administrator, skilled scientist, and true patriot. Michael P. Devine of Sparta, New Jersey ended 36 years of dedicated service to our Nation on November 4 as he retired as Director of the United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command ARDEC, headquartered at Picatinny Arsenal.

Situated on a 6,500-acre military installation, located in Rockaway Township, New Jersey, Picatinny Arsenal plays a unique role in the United States' ability to wage war. There is no other comprehensive armaments facility like it in the country. The base is a one-of-a-kind facility that provides virtually all of the lethal mechanisms used in Army weapon systems and those of the other military services. This unique facility requires special leadership.

Mike Devine became ARDEC Director in June 2004. As director, he exercised complete responsibility for all the activities at ARDEC. From September 2000 to June 2004, he was Technical Director of ARDEC, responsible for all technical matters. He managed an annual budget in excess of $600 million dollars and supervised a technical staff of approximately 1,700 scientists and engineers and 900 support personnel.

As ARDEC Technical Director, and later as Director of ARDEC, Mike Devine provided critically important leadership--leadership that provided our joint warfighters with the tools they need to prosecute the international war on terrorism, to fight and win the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and protect and secure our homeland. During his tenure alone, 103 separate new armament products were released to soldiers and other services members. So far in 2004, 17 urgent fieldings of military equipment for use by forces in Iraq and Afghanistan were approved by Devine.

These fieldings have broad scope and include weapon systems, fire control and munitions for artillery, mortars, tanks and infantry, as well as alternatives to anti-personnel land mines, non lethal munitions and environmental research and development.

Mr. Devine worked as a research physicist prior to assuming significant management responsibility. Over the course of his career, his experience in the Army and Office of the Secretary of Defense spanned virtually all Army

weapons systems and associated ammunition. He has been the recipient of numerous awards including two Army Research and Development Achievement Awards, the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award, Association of the United States Army Citation for Exceptional Service in Support of National Defense, the American Defense Preparedness Association Firepower Award for Management. He has also been inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. He holds two patents and has authored numerous open literature technical publications.

While he built a long and valuable career in service to our warfighters, Mike Devine still found time to give back to his home community. In 1992, he was elected to a four year term on the Sparta, New Jersey, Township Council and was reelected in 1996. He also served as Mayor in 1994 and 2000.

Mr. Speaker, I have just outlined a public service career of exceptional quality. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mike Devine for his many contributions to our national security. We wish Mike and his family ``Godspeed'' in the months and years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 822, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 4850) making appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the conference report to accompany the bill, H.R. 4850, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I bring before you today the fiscal year 2005 District of Columbia appropriations bill. First, Mr. Speaker, let me extend my particular thanks to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) for all his help and wise counsel and hard work and dedication to this city and to moving this bill forward in such an expeditious manner. He has been a pleasure to work with. May I also thank the other members of my committee on both sides of the aisle for their keen interest in this bill. I thank Chairman Young for his guidance and support, and especially the staff. No bill moves without the dedication of a truly dedicated staff: Joel Kaplan, our subcommittee clerk on the majority side; Clelia Alvarado who works with him; Kathy Rowan who works with Joel Kaplan; Nancy Fox, my chief of staff. And on the minority side Martha Foley, the minority clerk, and working with her, Michelle Anderson-Lee who is dedicated as chief of staff to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah).

Mr. Speaker, this bill totals $8.3 billion in local funds, $7.2 billion of which are in operating funds and $1.1 billion in capital outlay funds, and $560 million for Federal payments to various District programs and projects. There is much to be proud of in this bill. I believe it reflects Congress's continuing commitment to helping our Nation's Capital. This is where we all work and many of us live.

Of the $560 million provided for Federal payments to various programs and projects in the District, $409 million is allocated for the District of Columbia courts, public defender services, and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency. These are District functions that the Federal Government assumed responsibility for in the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997.

The remaining $151 million are for programs and projects that directly benefit the District. They include many city priorities sought by Mayor Williams, the city council, city residents and supported by Members of Congress and our committee.

They include $25.6 million for the very popular tuition assistance program for District college-bound students, $15 million to reimburse the District for added emergency planning and security costs related to the presence of the Federal Government in this city, $40 million for the three-prong school choice program. This is a program which helps more school children and gives more parents in this city choices about their child's education. $6 million to complete the construction of the new unified communications center, badly needed and sought by the city.

More money for the Anacostia waterfront initiative; and more dollars for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, which in fact improves the cleanliness of the Anacostia River. $6 million for a new public school library initiative. Many school libraries are lacking books and computers that work. $5 million to improve foster care in the District. More money for transportation assistance and for family literacy. And $8 million for a new bioterrorism and forensics laboratory, a long-sought facility which will expedite a lot of critical work.

These are all initiatives we can be proud to support. In particular, I want to take a minute just to highlight the continuing efforts at helping the children of the District. To help the children of the District, the bill includes $5 million for the recently established foster care improvement program; $1 million, as I said earlier, for the family literacy program; $6 million for a new library learning center initiative to be matched by the District; and $40 million for the school improvement program.

Mr. Speaker, in summary, the fiscal year 2005 District of Columbia appropriations bill is fiscally responsible, balanced and deserves bipartisan support. I am proud of our work together this year to expedite this bill so that the city can spend its own resources and better use ours.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) for his support.

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH06OC04.001

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH06OC04.002

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Let me return the compliment to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) for his dedication and knowledge of the District's needs and priorities. He has been a great coworker with me on behalf of all the members of the committee, a keen interest in bettering the lives of the citizens of this city. And both of us are so proud of the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton). We appreciate her pats on the back to us.

This is a great city. We are trying to make it better. I thank her for her strong advocacy as we go about our work trying to get this bill out and the money to the city, their money as well as Federal money, because we know it will be well spent.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 4850) making appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the New Jersey Conservation Foundation's official dedication of the Franklin Parker Preserve--the largest, private land acquisition in our state on Friday, September 24, 2004.

The 9,400-acre Franklin Parker Preserve includes 1,500 acres of reservoirs and thousands of acres of wetland and upland forests, including 600 acres of Atlantic white cedar swamp, and serves as a critical link in connecting state-owned forests.

The Preserve has exceptional habitat for native and endangered species including bald eagle and the Pine Barrens tree frog.

The site will be named in honor of Franklin E. Parker III, the first Chair of the Pinelands Commission from 1979 to 1988, who has been a long-time supporter of environmental causes throughout the country, our state and my Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Franklin Parker, and so many individuals and groups that have made the Parker Preserve a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the West Morris Area YMCA, in Randolph Township, Morris County, New Jersey, a vibrant community I am proud to represent! On September 17, 2004, the good citizens of Randolph and neighboring municipalities are celebrating the West Morris Area YMCA's One-Hundred-Fifteenth Anniversary.

One hundred and fifteen years ago, the West Morris Area YMCA was founded in the town of Dover. The year 1889 was the beginning of a YMCA that established itself today as one of the area's distinguished community organizations.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church in Dover was home of the first YMCA. Known then as the YMCA of Dover, The ``Y'' soon attracted nearly 200 of the area's youth per day.

In 1908, the YMCA expanded beyond Dover to include Succasunna, Wharton, Whippany, Rockaway, Chester, and German Valley, now Long Valley. For the next four decades the Y maintained its popularity, occupying various locations on or near Blackwell Street in Dover.

As membership continued to grow, after World War II, there was a need for a more permanent facility. In 1951 the YMCA headquarters on Route 46 at the corner of North Bergen Street was dedicated.

By the late 1970's the need for a building, which offered a gymnasium and a pool, was becoming evident. Expansion of the Dover building was possible but parking was a problem as the Y began to attract more and more participants from the growing residential areas outside of Dover, including Randolph Township.

In 1976, the name West Morris Area YMCA was established to reflect this expanding service area and ground was broken for a new facility on Dover Chester Road in Randolph in 1977. The brand new YMCA, offering a pool, gymnasium, fitness equipment, racquetball courts and program space was officially opened in 1979.

The YMCA is dedicated to helping all people, regardless of age, race, religion, sex, or economic status to reach their fullest potential. It is with great pride we all look upon the volunteers and staff of the past and present that are the true strength of this remarkable organization.

Mr. Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating West Morris Area YMCA on the celebration of its one- hundred-fifteen years serving the western part of the Morris County!

Mr. Speaker, three and a half months after the D- Day invasion of June 6, 1944 and nearly 1,000 miles away from the beaches of Normandy, France, the United States 2nd Armored Division--an outfit known as ``Hell on Wheels'' for its nucleus of tank units, the leadership of Major General George Patton, and its elite corps of servicemen--found its way to the Netherlands city of Sittard on September 19, 1944. Here, in the southernmost province of The Netherlands, close to the Belgian and German border, the ``Hell on Wheels'' battalion waged war against the Nazi's that for four years had forced their fascist values upon the people of that city.

When the battle was over, America lost at least sixty-two of the bravest men ever to wear our uniform. One account of the battle's outcome went like this: ``Here they (the ``Hell on Wheels'') received an overwhelming welcome by crowds of Dutch, euphoric citizens liberated free again after four long years of German fascist occupation, saving them from the hardships like the citizens of Amsterdam had still to endure because of shortages of food and fuel during the entire coming, unusual severe winter.''

Accounts of what exactly occurred and how many servicemen died in Sittard are not entirely known. The National Personnel Records Center, which houses personal files for veterans of World War II was unable to provide more information about soldiers potentially lost during the battle in Sittard due to a fire at their St. Louis Records Center in 1973.

Still, we know that the men who died that day did not yearn to be heroes or to have a memorial dedicated in their honor. They came from all walks of life and all regions of America, including from my home state of New Jersey, to serve in the Armed Forces and defend freedom. They yearned for reaching Berlin, winning the war and enjoying their homecomings. And they dreamed of seeing their parents, wives and newborn babies.

This weekend, American families, friends and descendants of the sixty-two ``Hell on Wheels'' servicemen who lost their lives, as well as residents of Sittard (now known as Sittard-Geleen), past and present, will come together in Sittard-Geleen to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the city's freedom due in large part to the bravery of these sixty-two American souls who will never be forgotten.

Together, they are unveiling a fitting memorial in this Dutch city to honor the service, bravery and sacrifice of these servicemen. One account about the new memorial said: ``It will be made famous, hard stone excavated in the very heart of the Ardennes, a notorious battlefield, where such great courage and perseverance were shown that we shall never forget.''

This memorial service has been a long time coming. In a joint effort, that spanned nearly a year, the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, Clifford Sobel, Arno Bemelmans, a local Dutchman and the Foundation Chairman for the new memorial, two Army Genealogists--Charles Gailey and Arvan Staats--we discovered in a recent Washington Post article, and myself put forth an all out effort to track down and notify as many family members related to the ``Hell on Wheels'' soldiers as possible about the memorial dedication. Through our efforts, we successfully reached family members for 25 of the 62 deceased servicemen.

For all, including myself, dedicating this memorial means an opportunity to pay respects to those who gave everything to defend freedom. For some, it also means the chance to possibly recognize the name of another soldier's relative they once may have heard about in a letter or telegraph home or in a journal entry recovered years later, or to remember a face, voice or even a memory from a lifetime ago.

Today, let us honor each of sixty-two servicemen from the ``Hell on Wheels'' battalion who lost their lives in Sittard by pledging this: Only through preserving our past can we guarantee a future where the lessons and legacy of these servicemen will be rightfully remembered.

For this to be true, I'm reminded of what the patriot Thomas Paine observed more than 220 years ago as our forefathers fought to gain their own freedom for the first time.

Paine said: ``Those who expect to reap the blessing of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.''

As we honor our hero soldiers this weekend in the Netherlands, we must not forget that ``freedom is not free.'' It is worth fighting for, and those who fought must be remembered and honored forever.

In the end, the remaining servicemen from ``Hell on Wheels'' battalion did cross the German border to meet the enemy on their own soil. They played a crucial role in the Battle of the Bulge and finally crossed the Rhine River in 1945 to free thousands of prisoners of war and slave laborers.

History books may never report what the ``Hell on Wheels'' battalion accomplished in Sittard. Future generations may never know what happened in this city or at dozens, maybe even hundreds, of other battlefields like it across Europe. But for this moment, this weekend, let us all remember with a heavy heart the ``Hell on Wheels 62.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Hungarian Presbyterian Church, in the Borough of Wharton, Morris County, NJ, a vibrant community I am proud to represent. On October 3, 2004, the good citizens of Wharton are celebrating the Hungarian Presbyterian Church's 100th anniversary.

The first idea of a Hungarian church in Wharton was initiated in 1904 by a small group of Hungarians who had recently come from Hungary and were anxious to hear the Word of God in their native language. Before they had their own sanctuary, two local churches allowed them to worship there.

The church was completed 2 years later, and a thanksgiving service was held on September 16, 1906.

For the next 20 years, the congregation was served mainly by theologians from Bloomfield Seminary, but on March 1, 1926, Reverand John Dezso accepted the call and served the church with dedication and distinction for almost 30 years. In addition to preaching, he was responsible for maintaining the Hungarian culture. Some of the present congregants still remember the little poems, songs, and verses they had learned as children from Reverand Dezso.

Until the 1950s services were only conducted in Hungarian, but the children of the immigrants as well as some of the spouses requested English services as well, and the church has been bi-lingual ever since.

Perhaps the most devastating time for the church community happened on January 2, 1982, when some young people broke into the church and set it on fire. Fortunately, the Wharton and Mine Hill Fire Departments responded quickly, and because the fire was contained, the building was saved. However, the interior of the church was destroyed. Thanks to a lot of hard work and the inspirational leadership of Reverand Ernest M. Kosa,

the church was rebuilt in 10 months. The church community celebrated with a service of Thanksgiving.

The Church Community is very thankful for their present pastor, Charles Olah, CLP, Certified Lay Pastor, who conducts services every Sunday in both English and Hungarian. Without him and their wonderful congregation, they would not be able to do the great job that they do.

Mr. Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Hungarian Presbyterian Church on the celebration of its 100 years serving the western part of Morris County.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 450, I was present, but the voting machine did not record me. I should have been recorded as a ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I thank the chairman for introducing this resolution. I stand in strong support of it.

On Friday, September 6, 2002, we had a special session of Congress in Federal Hall in New York City, and the poet laureate of the United States, Billy Collins, read this moving poem, entitled ``The Names.''

Yesterday, I lay awake in the palm of the night. A soft rain stole in, unhelped by any breeze, and when I saw the silver glaze on the windows, I started with A, with Ackerman, as it happened, Then Baxter and Calabro, Davis and Eberling, names falling into place as droplets fell through the dark. Names printed on the ceiling of the night. Names slipping around a watery bend. Twenty-six willows on the banks of a stream. In the morning, I walked out barefoot among thousands of flowers heavy with dew like the eyes of tears, and each had a name, Fiori inscribed on a yellow petal, then Gonzalez and Han, Ishikawa and Jenkins. Names written in the air and stitched into the cloth of the day. A name under a photograph taped to a mailbox. Monogram on a torn shirt, I see you spelled out on storefront windows and on the bright unfurled awnings of this city. I say the syllables as I turn a corner, Kelly and Lee, Medina, Nardella, and O'Connor. When I peer into the woods, I see a thick tangle where letters are hidden as in a puzzle concocted for children. Parker and Quigley in the twigs of an ash, Rizzo, Schubert, Torres, and Upton, secrets in the boughs of an ancient maple. Names written in the pale sky. Names rising in the updraft amid buildings. Names silent in stone or cried out behind a door. Names blown over the earth and out to sea. In the evening, weakening light, the last swallows. A boy on a lake lifts his oars. A woman by a window puts a match to a candle, and the names are outlined on the rose clouds, Vanacore and Wallace, let X stand, if it can, for the ones unfound. Then Young and Ziminsky, the final jolt of Z. Names etched on the head of a pin. One name spanning a bridge, another undergoing a tunnel. A blue name needled into the skin. Names of citizens, workers, mothers and fathers, the bright-eyed daughter, the quick son. Alphabet of names in a green field. Names in the small tracks of birds. Names lifted from a hat or balanced on the tip of the tongue. Names wheeled into the dim warehouse of memory. So many names, there is barely room on the walls of the heart.

Mr. Speaker, on this day, 3 years ago, our Nation utterly changed as tragedy struck in the streets of Lower Manhattan, the fields of Pennsylvania, and here in our Nation's capital.

On this day, we also saw good rise in the face of evil and heroes rise in the face of danger.

In Lower Manhattan, many of our brave first responders knew the risks they were taking, but were determined to do their job. Police officers and EMS officials calmly escorted workers out of burning buildings as firefighters raced up stairwells of these same buildings to rescue those trapped high above.

When the day was over, and as we learned more about the tragic attacks, and loss of nearly 3,000 Americans, including 700 New Jerseyans, we witnessed neighbors and friends consoling one another and watched as Americans from all walks of life stood united--side-by-side, waving the stars and stripes, and lighting candles to honor those missing or lost.

As America rebounded and recovered, our Nation--displaying the resiliency of its people--responded to these acts of terrorism with the might of our military.

The war we continue to fight today began September 11, 2001. It began without provocation and without warning. It was not a war of our choosing but rather was made our priority. And we are fighting this war in Afaghanistan and Iraq today so that what happened on September 11 does not happen in America again.

So many of our heroes currently fighting terrorism across the globe put their lives on hold after 9/11 to join the National Guard, serve our country, and defend our freedom.

We see the character and resolve of America in these brave young men and women. And especially in this post 9/11 era, we are grateful for their service and sacrifice.

May God Bless those who continue to fight for and defend our freedom, and may God continue to bless America.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this military construction appropriations bill and would like to commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) for their good work on this legislation.

I would also like to voice my specific support for those provisions of this bill which continue the critical ongoing renovation of military housing. In my district in northern New Jersey, the Army through its Residential Communities Initiative has selected a developer to privatize and revitalize military housing at Picatinny Arsenal. Looking at the larger RCI program, Picatinny's participation is relatively small. We have approximately 113 affected families, but the refurbishment of their houses and homes will have a deep impact on their quality of life. For them this debate and the chairman's leadership has indeed a very human face. These military families care about leaky roofs, substandard plumbing, and ancient electrical wiring.

Mr. Chairman, we in Congress can do several things to support our young fighting men and women who serve our country with such dedication, because literally we are a Nation at war. We can make sure they have adequate pay and benefits. In this regard, we have made significant progress in recent years. We can also ensure that their retirement benefits meet their needs when their service is over. Again, we continue to work to improve veterans programs, but we can and must work to improve the day-to-day quality of life that they have. In this regard, there are few things more important to military personnel than where they live and the quality of the roof over their heads.

This legislation contains important provisions which will allow the continued revitalization of military housing. I would urge the Committee on the Budget to allow this program to continue and to support the bill as it was drafted.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Dover Fire Department, of the Town of Dover, in Morris County, New Jersey, a vibrant community I am proud to represent! On July 17, 2004, the good citizens of Dover are celebrating the Fire Department's One-Hundred- Thirtieth Anniversary with a parade.

For 130 years, the Dover Fire Department has been protecting and serving the residents of their community. The fire department is made up of eighty-five volunteers, including Fire Chief Kevin Kasko. Mr. Kasko's father was also a fire department volunteer, serving for forty years. Other dedicated members of the fire department include First Assistant Chief Walter Michalski, Second Assistant Chief William Gilbert, and Third Assistant Chief Edward Ridner. The fire department has three grand marshals with over fifty years of dedicated service to the community they are Fred Sharp, William Gardner, and Herbert Swartz.

The Dover Fire Department has a deep history that is evident in their striking collection of antique fire equipment. To commemorate the Dover Fire Department's 130 year anniversary, thirty-five fire departments from nearby communities will join in a parade that follows a route through a historic area of Dover.

From its charter members to its current roster, the membership of the Dover Fire Department, over the last one hundred thirty years, has dedicated itself to the safety and welfare of Dover's good citizens. Dover's firefighters, dedicated public servants, past and present, are to be commended for a job well done!

Mr. Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the members of the Dover Fire Department on the celebration of its one-hundred thirty years protecting one of New Jersey's finest municipalities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4850, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the fiscal year 2005 District of Columbia appropriations bill. This bill passed out of full committee on July 14.

The bill before us totals $560 million in Federal funds and $8.2 billion in local funds. Within this total, the District expects to receive approximately $1.9 billion in Federal grant funds.

The bill is the product of hard work by every member of the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia. I personally want to thank each of them for their input into the bill. I especially want to thank my ranking member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), for his advice, counsel, and support in the development of this bill. I enjoyed working with him on behalf of the city of Washington.

The subcommittee held hearings and visited many local sites, including the District of Columbia public schools and charter schools, and police and fire department facilities, to name just a few. We developed this bill with the input from members of the subcommittee, other House Members, the Mayor and city council, and interested citizens.

I believe that this bill continues Congress's commitment to our Nation's Capital. As with every piece of legislation, there are many deserving projects that could not be accommodated within our funding allocation, but this is a balanced and equitable bill, a bill that everyone can and should support.

I am pleased to note that the District of Columbia continues to make significant progress in improving both its financial and program management. This is the seventh balanced budget the District has submitted to Congress for review; and, once again, the District received a clean audit from the city's independent auditors. The city also had a recent upgrading in its bond rating by Moody's Investors Service to an A rating, and this is the first time the city has received an A rating from all three of the major rating agencies. It should be remembered that it was not long ago that the city's credit rating was the lowest of the low. Mayor Williams and the city council should be commended for their actions.

After detailed review of the budget, the bill continues the Federal commitment began in 1997 for funding the District of Columbia courts as well as the Defender Services and the Court Services and the Defender Supervision Agency and the Public Defender Service. The bill also provides $118.9 million for other high-priority District and congressional programs projects.

Among these: $25.6 million for the recently authorized and very successful resident tuition support program; $15 million for emergency planning and security costs; $10 million for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority to continue the combined sewer overflow project; $3 million for continued work on the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative; as well as $7 million for the capital development in the District to complete construction of a multiagency unified communications center, which benefits police, fire, EMS, and other city agencies; $6 million for a new public library learning center initiative; and $5 million for foster care improvement.

At the city's request, the bill also changes the city's reserve requirement from 7 to 6 percent. This change frees up additional resources, provides the city with more flexibility in balancing its budget, and does so without impacting the city's favorable bond rating.

As I noted earlier, the District has accomplished much, but still more needs to be done. We are particularly troubled by some of the more intractable problems facing the District that seem to revolve around its children. If this bill has a theme, it is to continue to make sure to help the children of the District of Columbia. To help address this issue, this bill also includes $5 million for the recently established foster care improvement program, additional money for family literacy, and $6 million for the new library/learning center initiative subject to a 1-to-1 match by the District.

Over the past year, we visited many of the city's schools, and I can tell my colleagues from personal observation

there is a real need to improve student and teacher performance. In these visits, I was struck by the very poor physical condition of some of the District's schools and by the lack of resources available to students, especially in their school libraries. This is a new initiative, and it is designed to enhance and restore District of Columbia elementary school libraries as fully functioning learning centers and, in doing so, bring together local, Federal, and potentially private resources. This initiative, when implemented, will enhance our ability to provide critical educational resources the city's children deserve in order to receive a quality education.

This bill also fully funds the school improvement program authorized last year. This bill maintains the three-pronged commitment made last year to both the District schools, the District of Columbia charter schools, and $14 million for opportunity scholarships for students in underachieving schools. This three-pronged approach is designed to improve academic performance, while promoting school choice and more potential parent involvement.

Mr. Chairman, this bill also retains the general provisions from last year's bill, which are the same as the President's request.

Mr. Chairman, I believe it is important to move this bill through the appropriations process as quickly as possible so as to allow the District to spend its own funds to operate the programs and projects in the bill at the beginning of the fiscal year in October.

Let me personally thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for her comments earlier in the day during the debate on the D.C. rule. She is an incredible leader of this city, and it has been a pleasure to work with her. I do appreciate her cooperation by not offering an amendment, because I know in her heart she continues to be a principal advocate on behalf of the city, and I am grateful for her support and her action in that regard.

To summarize, Mr. Chairman, the bill we have before us is a fiscally responsible, balanced bill that deserves bipartisan support. It was not done alone. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) and I count on some key people. I would like to thank them for helping to put this bill together. The subcommittee led by our clerk, Joel Kaplan, Martha Foley, and Clelia Alvarado for their professional work on the bill. I also want to thank Nancy Fox from my staff and Michelle Anderson-Lee from the gentleman from Pennsylvania's (Mr. Fattah) staff for their hard work.

At this point I will include for the Record a table detailing the various accounts included in the bill.

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20JY04.001

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20JY04.002

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20JY04.003

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Government Reform.

(Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham), a distinguished member of the committee, who is vice chairman of the committee and has served on the committee for 10 years.

Mr. Chairman, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Yes, it is. I wanted to thank my distinguished colleague for bringing this issue to my attention. Let me say from the onset that I am very sympathetic to the gentleman's position on the issue. It is my understanding that the Committee on Government Reform has a 30-day review period in which to approve or disapprove all legislative provisions enacted by the city council.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Let me say, Mr. Chairman, I have watched the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) stand on an appropriations bill, and I know his heart is in the right place; and, reluctantly, I do rise in opposition to his amendment.

The entire Federal portion of the bill is only $560 million. Within this total, the committee had to make some hard funding choices. It reduced a number of things that are key priorities to the Members of Congress and to the city's leadership. An additional 1 percent reduction in this bill would, I think, seriously hinder the District's ability to effectively manage its program at a time when the District government is sincerely making major improvements to its financial and program management.

I will not go through any examples, but I do rise in opposition. I understand where his heart is.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.