Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, once again, I come to the floor to recognize the great success of strong local schools working with dedicated parents and teachers. I rise today to congratulate and honor a number of outstanding high school artists from the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey. Each of these talented young men and women participated in the 2017 Congressional Arts Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' Their works of art are exceptional.

Fifty-five participated. That is a wonderful response, and I would very much like to build on that participation for future competitions.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the winners of our art competition. First place was awarded to Barbara Benda from Nutley High School for her digital tablet painting entitled, ``Don't Look.'' Second place was awarded to Emma Jang from West Morris Mendham High School for her acrylic entitled, ``Wide Awake.'' Third place was awarded to Emily Wang from Wayne Valley High School for her pen and ink entitled, ``Black Rain.''

Honorable Mentions were awarded to: Michelle Tolochko from Boonton High School for her acrylic entitled, ``Self Portrait,'' Ashley O'Brien from Montville Township High School for her watercolor entitled, ``Aphrodite,'' Jaclyn Larsen from Hanover Park High School for her digital photo entitled, ``Messi,'' and Christopher Cortez from the Passaic County Technical Institute for his acrylic entitled, ``Shades of Beauty.''

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize each artist for their participation by indicating their

high school, their name and the title of their contest entries for the official Record.

boonton high school

Kristen Dalrymple, ``Ghost of you''

Amanda Roberts, ``Bitter Cold''

Michelle Tolochko, ``Self Portrait''

Giancarlo Venturini, ``My Friend Liz''

Delbarton School

Tim Adami, ``Victory''

Sean Taylor, ``The Alpine Adventurer''

Eastern Christian High School

Steve Blanco, ``Epitaph''

Juliana Struyk, ``Perception Of Fruit''

Hanover Park High School

Valentina Mattfeld, ``Dallas''

Megan Canzonieri, ``Ophelia''

Jac1yn Larsen, ``Messi''

Sarah Court, ``Dash''

Livingston High School

Rachel Kogut, ``Imagination''

MeWe Art

Julia Hou, ``Fire and Water''

Montville Township High School

Madeleine Morris, ``Wildflowers''

Ashley O'Brien, ``Aphrodite''

Darrel Tsinadze, ``Red Pearls''

Alexander Tullo, ``Samantha's Columns''

Morristown High School

Deanna C. Swanson, ``Vanitas''

Morris Knolls High School

Alyssa DeFilippis, ``Melodic Vibes''

Megan Ramos, ``Angel''

Divya Patel, ``Lola''

Claire Weber, ``Livid''

Morris Catholic High School

Tina Yi, ``Sadness''

Yang Jason Yang, ``Geometrics''

Morris County School of Technology

Caroline Yorke, ``Crime Scene''

Brenna Corsi, ``Grow''

Alexa Metro, ``True Colors''

Mountain Lakes High School

Joy Xie, ``We Grew Up Here''

Nutley High School

Barbara Benda, ``Don't Look''

Raven Cardone-Imor, ``Tragic''

Devin Lemongello, ``Self Portrait''

Joanne Salise, ``Green Abstract''

Parsippany Christian School

Nohemy Zabala, ``The Beautiful District of Columbia''

Daniel Jordan McMillen, ``The Other Side''

Camille Dieppa, ``The Lincoln Memorial''

Parsippany Hills High School

Rachel Jacovsky, ``American Pride''

Passaic County Technical Institute

Christopher Cortez, ``Shades of Beauty''

Jamie Loverdi, ``Retro Dine & Drive''

Passaic Valley High School

Maya Adham, ``Game-Boy''

Danielle Burden, ``OZ''

Erika Duarte, ``Red in Snow''

Angelika Dulak, ``Roze''

Pequannock Township High School

Julia Blahut, ``Carbon Footprints''

Thomas Carruthers, ``Quiet Summer''

Wayne Valley High School

Madeline Corb, ``Focus''

Brooke Demore, ``Look''

Liz Rozenblat, ``Great dangers await''

Emily Wang, ``Black Rain''

West Morris Mendham High School

Matthew Fabrizio, ``Jack in a Hat''

Emma Jang, ``I Donut Understand Puns''

Maximilian Scheidl, ``Life Goes On''

Kayla O'Neill, ``Where I'm Supposed to Be''

Whippany Park High School

Eric Kahn, ``Waves of Rock''

Alex Maietta, ``What Once Was''

Each year the winner of the competition has their artwork displayed with other winners from across the country in a special corridor here at the U.S. Capitol. Thousands of our fellow Americans walk through the exhibition and are reminded of the vast talents of our young men and women. Indeed, all of these young artists are winners, and we should be proud of their achievements so early in life.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating these talented young people from New Jersey's 11th Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 305, I

call up the bill (H.R. 244) to encourage effective, voluntary investments to recruit, employ, and retain men and women who have served in the United States military with annual Federal awards to employers recognizing such efforts, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendments thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

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 materials on further consideration of H.R. 244 and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 6 minutes.

I rise today to present the House amendment to H.R. 244, a bill that will provide funding for the Federal Government for the rest of the year 2017.

This bill reflects shared values, which will help make our Nation stronger, safer, and more prosperous. It fulfills our constitutional duty to fund important services the American people rely on every day, and it does this in a responsible way, making the best use of every single taxpayer dollar, ensuring more reliability and predictability than a government operating under a continuing resolution. In short, it moves our Nation forward in the right direction.

The bill includes full-year funding for the remaining 11 annual appropriations bills for defense, infrastructure, health, and safety programs through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, as well as critical emergency and defense and border security funding requested by the President.

In total, it provides $1.63 trillion in base and overseas contingency operations funding. These levels meet the caps provided by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.

This bill makes the smart decisions investing funding where it is needed most: rebuilding our military, securing our borders, and bolstering economic growth, getting people back to work.

First and foremost and most importantly, this bill prioritizes funding for national defense, restoring the strength and capacity of our Armed Forces. Overall defense funding is increased by $25 billion above fiscal year 2016 levels.

This funding will help ensure our military has proper training, the best weapons and equipment needed to defeat ISIS, battle radical extremism around the world, and support our allies in the critical regions around the world against threats from Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and other sources. To rebuild our end strength, this bill includes $1.6 billion for an additional 36,000 troops above the previous administration's request.

Most importantly, this bill supports our men and women in uniform-- all volunteers--and provides them with a 2.1 percent pay raise, the largest in 6 years, and it takes care of their families.

To help secure our borders and protect our homeland, the bill provides Customs and Border Protection with a total of $12.2 billion, nearly a billion increase over fiscal year 2016. In fact, this is the largest increase to border security technologies and infrastructure in a decade, a downpayment on stronger, more effective systems and barriers.

Funding is also prioritized to tackle gang and drug crime, combat terrorism, and support law enforcement. Vital agencies like the FBI, the U.S. Marshals, the DEA, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement all receive funding boosts.

Other domestic funding is directed to proven, effective programs that improve the health and safety of all Americans. This includes increases for the National Institutes of Health and the CDC.

Significantly, we have increased funding to battle the opioid abuse epidemic by $781 million from last year. This funding will provide treatment, education and enforcement, and help the unacceptably high numbers of communities that have been devastated by this crisis.

Lastly, this legislation funds important national priorities like critical infrastructure and essential disaster relief, and supports our local communities, including renewing the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program and giving choice in the District to parents.

This bill should also be noted for what it doesn't do. Our legislation cuts, freezes, and eliminates funding for dozens of programs that have been wasteful, ineffective, or just plain unnecessary. For example, we cut funding at the EPA by $81 million and reined in its regulatory program to prevent overreach.

We froze IRS's funding at current levels and directed funds to improve services to taxpayers. And to ensure that each and every tax dollar is well spent, the bill implements strong oversight and accountability at every level of government.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bill, as it reflects the needs of the American people and our common values. We are investing in the security and success of our Nation, and, for that, this bill deserves solid bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, there are many people to thank for their help in bringing this bill to the floor today. First and foremost, I want to thank my colleagues in the House. Each and every Member contributed to this effort, and, as a result, it is a better bill.

I especially want to thank my committee chairmen. They are stewards of these bills, and I appreciate all the hard work they have done to get us here today with their committee members.

I would also like to thank my counterpart, ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, Mrs. Lowey, for her dedication to bringing this bill to the floor today, as well as our colleagues in the Senate for their partnership.

Lastly, I must thank the hardworking staff of the House Appropriations Committee. They have put in months of nonstop work to bring this bill before the House today. We wouldn't be here without the leadership of the full committee staff, led by Nancy Fox and Jim Kulikowski on the majority side, and Shalanda Young and Chris Bigelow on the minority side.

In the front office, we have, also working hard, Stephen Sepp, Shannon O'Keefe, Carol Murphy, Jennifer Hing, Marta Hernandez, Tammy Hughes, Rachel Kahler, David Roth, and Brad Allen. I thank all of you.

I also want to thank our hardworking clerks and their Democratic counterparts. All deserve our gratitude. The clerks: Tom O'Brien, John Martens, Jennifer Miller, Donna Shahbaz, Dena Baron, Valerie Baldwin, Dave LesStrang, Susan Ross, Liz Dawson, Maureen Holohan, Craig Higgins, and Doug Disrud.

Lastly, I want to thank Katie Hazlett, my chief of staff, and my personal staff.

I yield myself an additional 1 minute.

Our subcommittees, as well as the minority staff, have worked night and day to get these fiscal year 2017 bills behind us and to get ahead and move ahead to the 2018 process. I appreciate all of them and their hard work.

Before I close, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge one special member of the committee staff, Dale Oak, who retires this week. Dale has dedicated over 20 years to the committee and even more to the government. He tacked one extra week on to that total, sticking around to help us complete this bill. This commitment is true to form for him, and we are immensely grateful for it.

Dale, we thank you for your years of service, and we wish you the best of luck in the future.

Mr. Speaker, it is now 7 months into the 2017 fiscal year. We must complete our work today. It is time to look ahead and begin work on the 2018 priorities. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), my predecessor.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), who is the distinguished chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan), the Speaker of the House.

(Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), chairman of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

I yield the gentleman an additional 15 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson), the chair of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 10 seconds to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), chairman of the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Yoder), chairman of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I thank the gentlewoman and my ranking counterpart, Mrs. Lowey, for that kindness, and may I associate with her our remarks, pay tribute to her leadership, the wonderful work of the staff that she has behind her and that I have behind me. I think the debate and the comments have been positive today.

The men and women of the greatest military in the world, the United States Armed Forces, are waiting for our support today with the passage of this package, this appropriations bill. Please don't let them down. Please support this bill, which provides for our national and economic security and takes us out from a very damaging and restrictive continuing resolution.

Today is a vote to keep the government open and get back to our appropriations process, which is our responsibility under the Constitution, the power of the purse. Let's take it and use it wisely.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 289, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 99) making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2017, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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.J. Res. 99.

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

I rise today to present H.J. Res. 99, a short-term continuing resolution that will keep our government open for an additional week while work is completed on a full-year funding package.

First, I would like to thank Ranking Member Lowey for her efforts on this bill and, more broadly, on her valuable participation in the appropriations process over many years.

Our current continuing resolution expires today at midnight. Working together with the Senate, our leadership, and the White House, we are on track to have a full-year, fiscal year 2017 appropriations legislation completed soon, but we need a little more time to process it and prepare it for the floor.

This resolution will ensure that the government stays open for another week, until May 5, 2017, to give Congress additional time. It extends current funding levels for essential government operations that the American people rely on, including, most importantly, our national defense.

It continues all policy and funding provisions in the currently enacted continuing resolution. In addition, it includes an extension of the December CR provision for healthcare benefits for retired coal miners and their dependents for the length of the continuing resolution.

Congress must pass this legislation today to keep the government open and operating as we wrap up our full-year fiscal year 2017 work. It is our constitutional duty and responsibility.

A continuing resolution is never anyone's first choice for funding the government; however, this is our best path forward. This CR is very short term, very limited in scope, and will help us complete our important work of funding the government for the rest of fiscal year 2017.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Alice Elizabeth Grant Hogans on the occasion of her retirement, having served for 16 years on the House Appropriations Committee. In total, she has provided more than 25 years of distinguished, quiet service to our country. Her dedication to public service and integrity stands as a model for us all.

Alice, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. She also earned a Master of Philosophy Degree in International Finance from the Centre for Development Studies at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.

Alice began her career in Washington, D.C. in 1989 as a staff assistant at the Congressional Budget Office. From there, she rose to the position of budget analyst in the Scorekeeping Unit in 1990 before leaving for graduate school in Scotland in 1993. In 1995, she accepted a position with the Senate Committee on the Budget under the leadership of Chairman Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) and staff director Bill Hoagland. She was the Analyst for International Affairs until beginning her dedicated service to the House Appropriations Committee in 2001. Alice began on the Foreign Operations Subcommittee as professional staff in 2001, and spent time as professional staff on the Treasury- Transportation, HUD Subcommittee, and the Financial Services Subcommittee before ending up back on State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee in 2011, where she was responsible for overseeing spending for global health programs, including HIV/AIDS, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and trade promotion agencies such as the U.S. Export-Import Bank, and several related agencies.

Alice's contributions extend beyond her role on the Appropriations Committee. For years, she was the Treasurer of the Board for the non- profit Combined Federal Agencies Child Development Center, and a volunteer at her church and children's elementary school.

As we all know, congressional staff work countless hours and through countless holiday seasons in order to keep this esteemed institution running. This inevitably takes a toll on personal commitments, and nothing means more to Alice than her supportive and loving family, her husband Dan, her children, James and Catherine, and of course, her mother and sister.

Mr. Speaker, while Alice is leaving this institution, she will not be forgotten. Her good humor, faithful service, and commitment to excellence has left a lasting imprint on all of us and on the departments and agencies for which she was responsible. I wish Alice and her family well as she enters this new chapter of her life and ask my colleagues to join me in expressing my appreciation for her contributions to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the historic Town of Boonton, located in Morris County, New Jersey, on the occasion of its 150th Anniversary. From humble beginnings, this town's birth from a house and barn has grown to be a thriving community of over 8,300 residents today.

Boonton's history began in 1740 with a simple house and barn--the first house recorded in Boonton. It was originally part of a 231 acre plot that was purchased for 85. Over the years, three families have owned this historic landmark. Each family maintained and built onto the house until it was listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places; Boonton's population steadily grew thanks to an iron forge, which attracted local workers to establish their lives and provide for their families. This forge served as a central source of supplies for the military during the American Revolutionary War.

The town was named ``Boone-Towne'' after the late Colonial Governor Thomas Boone in the year 1761. In March of 1867, Boonton incorporated as a town by the New Jersey State Legislature. The first of what would be many tests of Boonton's fortitude came in 1876 when the town faced an economic crisis, due to iron deposits found in the Great Lakes. The iron company shut down and workers left the town. The leaders of Boonton were strong and resilient and the town recovered by opening a silk, brass, knife, and many other factories. A diversified economic landscape prevented a depression from happening again.

The Town of Boonton has also shown its resilience in not only handling economic hardship, but also during natural disasters. The blizzard of 1888 hit the town of Boonton hard for 36 brutal hours, covering the town with 15 feet of snow. This was a significant moment in defining the strong character of Boonton.

Over the years, Boonton has grown and thrived into a tightly knit community. It has developed a booming Main Street that portrays its local community through a variety of schools, businesses, houses of worship, and other services meeting the needs of its diverse population. Boonton still attracts more and more people every year and has continuously seen a growing population.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in congratulating the Town of Boonton on the occasion of its Sesquicentennial Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 174, I call up the bill (H.R. 1301) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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. 1301, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present H.R. 1301, the Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2017.

In total, this bill provides $577.9 billion in funding for the Department of Defense: $516.1 billion in discretionary funding and $61.8 billion in overseas contingency operations and global war on terrorism funding.

When combined with the funding provided in the continuing resolution supplemental enacted in December, total defense funding for fiscal year 2017 equals $584 billion, consistent with the top line provided in the National Defense Authorization Act, and $10.9 billion more than fiscal year 2016 levels.

Mr. Speaker, strengthening our national security and rebuilding our military starts today, with this agreement,

the first step after years of cutbacks. Our Armed Forces and intelligence community are currently operating under a continuing resolution, which denies them stability and predictability, both of which they have not had for many years.

H.R. 1301 provides that stability, removing defense funding from under continuing resolution autopilot, preventing further damage to our national defense and providing additional support for our men and women in uniform and their families.

Our troops serve with honor in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, South Korea, Japan, across the Baltics, the Sinai, and Africa on the ground, in the air, and aboard ships across the globe doing the work of freedom.

Mr. Speaker, this agreement rejects the troop reductions proposed by the previous administration, providing for increased end-strength levels authorized by the NDAA: 1.3 million Active Duty troops and 813,000 National Guard and Reserve troops, all of whom work as one team.

Our bill also fully funds the authorized 2.1 percent pay raise and provides increased funding for Defense Health Programs to ensure full care for all of our warfighters, their families, and military retirees.

This agreement also ensures that our Armed Forces have the training and equipment they need to conduct successful missions. Funding is increased for key readiness programs that prepare and train our troops and that modernize essential military installations. It reverses the previous administration's cuts to procurement, providing for additional production of state-of-the-art aircraft and ships.

In addition, we enhance cyber and ISR programs, or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs, capabilities our combatant commanders badly need.

This reflects congressional priorities. We took into account the views of each and every Member who worked with us throughout the process. This is a bipartisan, bicameral agreement that deserves the support of the House.

I thank Chairwoman Kay Granger for her efforts in bringing this bill to the floor today and for taking over the leadership of the Defense Subcommittee in January.

I also thank the subcommittee's ranking member, Mr. Visclosky, for his contributions to this bill and the earlier bill. He has been an excellent partner throughout this process, and I am grateful for our continued strong working relationship.

In addition, I commend Nita Lowey, the ranking member of the full committee, for her partnership and commitment to completing all of our appropriations work.

Lastly, I thank the staff of the subcommittee that is behind me, both minority and majority, as well as our personal offices and the full Appropriations Committee for their tireless work putting this bill together.

In particular, I would like to acknowledge Will Smith and David Pomerantz, the outgoing staff directors for the Appropriations Committee, both majority and minority, in this remarkable committee. Both have made immeasurable contributions to the Appropriations Committee in this institution, and we are indebted for their service. We thank both of them and wish them both the best.

Mr. Speaker, today our Nation faces a dangerous and unpredictable world. At the same time, our Armed Forces are struggling to have our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines fully trained and ready to meet every conceivable threat. That important work to address that critical situation starts with this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the agreement, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), chairwoman of the Defense Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry), the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), my predecessor. He is a member of the Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on Appropriations and a chairman in his own right.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), and thank him for his service on the Defense Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack), and I thank him for his great contributions to the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Mrs. Roby), a new member of the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Jenkins). He is a great member of the full committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Palazzo), a great member of the full committee.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 75th Anniversary of the Packanack Lake Fire Company No. 5, located in Wayne, New Jersey.

Beginning in 1942, during the midst of World War II, the Packanack Lake community of 500 homes at the time was very concerned about the threat of attacks from the Axis powers. Six residents found the need for a local fire department in order to provide protection to the community. The residents applied for use of Civil Defense equipment. With great effort, they were organized as a civil defense unit and equipment was allocated. Funds were later loaned in order to purchase a truck from a nearby fire company in Mountain View, New Jersey. Over the years two more trucks were added; increasing the capabilities of the fire company. In 1946, the state of New Jersey passed legislation that officially recognized the Packanack Lake Fire and Emergency Squad as a fire company, and allowed Wayne Township to allocate extra funds to the emergency squad. After several expansions of the emergency squad, the need for a fire house emerged. Property was donated by Packanack Homes and a two story fire house was built by the volunteer firefighters themselves. Materials were gathered from nearby demolished buildings and construction was complete by 1948. While construction was nearing completion the spouses of the volunteers formed the Packanack Lake Ladies Auxiliary who dedicated their time raising funds and supporting the fire company. And, the Auxiliary remains very active today!

Today, the fire company is a prominent entity in Packanack Lake. Membership has never been higher and they are now equipped with four trucks and one heavy rescue truck. With over 700 calls a year the fire company is always utilizing these resources to the best of their abilities. From six residents who saw the necessity to protect their community, grew a fine fire company who still supports and protects their community.

Like all fire companies, the Packanack Lake Company is more than fighting fires. From serving as a safe haven during natural disasters, floods in particular, the first to respond to home emergencies, and to functioning as a social hub for the community to connect with one another, I commend Company #5 for its distinguished 75 years and its support of the four other Wayne companies and their mutual aid to neighboring towns.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in congratulating Packanack Lake Fire and Emergency Squad No. 5 on the occasion of its 75th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Cedar Grove resident and recent New Jersey Hall of Fame inductee, Tommy James. Mr. James is a pop-rock musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and is one of the fifteen new inductees to the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

America in the 1960s was a time of significant cultural and musical development. From Tommy James to the Beatles, Bob Dylan,

Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, and a young New Jerseyan named Bruce Springsteen receiving his first guitar from his mother in 1964, the artists from the 1960s shaped the music landscape forever.

In the 1960s, a young, outspoken and politically active generation often told their stories through music and art. As a young person during this era, I can attest to the importance of the messages conveyed by musicians about contemporary society and their unwavering belief in building a better America for future generations.

The State of New Jersey can bestow no higher honor on one of our citizens than induction into our Hall of Fame and I congratulate Tommy James, who helped to influence generations of musicians.

Mr. Speaker, with an award-winning music career spanning over three decades and countless contributions to our State and its citizens, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Tommy James to his induction to the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my Colleagues to join me in honoring the Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Committee of Morristown, New Jersey in my Congressional District, which this year is celebrating its 47th Anniversary.

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

Our community owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Felicia Jameson, who has officially retired as chairwoman after 30 years of dedicated support of this event. We welcome her successor, the Reverend Dr. David A. Hollowell, and his continuing willingness to contribute.

The observance for 2017 marks the 32nd 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 Jr. Observance Committee invites the Morris Clergy Council to join with the committee in sponsoring services on Monday, January 16, 2017.

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

The core planning committee is continuing to carry on the tradition of excellence for this great program and has grown to include many dedicated volunteers.

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the Martin Luther King Observance Committee will continue, in the years ahead, to promote the cause of equality and opportunities for all people to pursue productive, fulfilling lives.

I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Observance Committee as they celebrate decades of valuable service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Morris County Historical Society, located in Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey, as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.

The Morris County Historical Society, also known as the MCHS, seeks to preserve, exhibit, and actively enhance its collections of historical items relating to Morris County, predominantly during the Victorian period of American history. The MCHS believes in providing Morris County with a place in which its residents may learn about the County's interesting history. Through various exhibits, ranging from Victorian Architecture & Design Display to the Women's Suffrage Movement in NJ Display, the MCHS offers interactive programs that are both engaging and insightful.

The MCHS is housed in Acorn Hall, named after the two-centuries-old red oak formerly located on the property. Built in 1853, Acorn Hall continues to retain its original interior design characteristics and furnishings. In the Hall, the carpeting, wall covering, and decorative paint techniques mirror the original decorative selections implemented by the Hall's longest tenured owners, Augustus and Mary Crane. These aesthetical aspects of the Hall help visitors understand what exactly life was like during the mid-19th century.

Among the multiple programs and activities that the MCHS offers, its internship and volunteer program offers those individuals interested in maintaining some of Morris County's most prized artifacts is rewarding for a diverse group of people. Ranging from college students to senior citizens, the MCHS welcomes all individuals who care about Morris County's historical significance. The internship opportunity is especially valuable for college students as it often offers college credit to interns for semester-long projects. The MCHS values these volunteers and interns by offering them free admittance to the Acorn Hall and invitations to members-only events.

For members of the public, the MCHS offers guided tours of Acorn Hall. During these tours, MCHS tour guides help depict life during the Victorian era, and offer insightful explanations about the various artifacts housed in Acorn Hall. Though these tours generally last an hour, the experience leaves a long lasting impression. Also, after touring Acorn Hall, viewers can swing by the Oakleaf Gift Shop and browse through various historical books describing the role Morris County played in the Revolutionary War or the development of the Morristown Green.

I commend the members of the MCHS, its officers, and its Board of Directors, especially Director Amy Curry, for their dedication to promoting Morris County's rich history. Our society has consistently demonstrated a dedication and commitment to preserving priceless artifacts for Morris County residents to enjoy for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Morris County Historical Society, as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Plaid House, Inc. located in Morristown, New Jersey as it celebrates its 40th Anniversary.

Over the last forty years, Plaid House has stayed true to its mission of providing residential and counseling services to adolescents in northern New Jersey. Since its foundation, the members of Plaid House, Inc. have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of so many young adults, as evidenced by the impact its programs have had on the community.

In December of 1970, Katherine Merck was asked by the Morris County Probation Office if she would be willing to take a seventeen year old girl into her home for the holidays. The local residential treatment center would be closed due to the holidays, and the judge had decreed that the girl, despite lacking a criminal history, would be placed in Clinton State Prison for Women if an alternative could not be found. Upon taking the young woman into her home, Kate learned from the young woman about the numerous girls from the community that were often left without a place to live. So, she decided to start a group home for girls in Morris County, and within a few years, the Plaid House group home opened its doors.

The goal of the Plaid House group home is to provide a complete living experience and therapeutic environment for troubled adolescent girls. The residents of the Plaid House group home are placed there by the Department of Children and Families. The girls can range in age from fourteen to eighteen years old and are accepted from anywhere in New Jersey. Girls are enrolled in local school and encouraged to involve themselves in the community through afterschool programs, working, and volunteering. The group home staff provides a varied schedule throughout the week including recreational and educational activities. All girls regularly participate in individual and group counseling, provided both on site by the Program Manager and off site by therapists in community agencies.

When it opened its doors in 1975, Plaid House group home began with a capacity for five girls and was staffed by two houseparents. Since then, the number of girls at the home has expanded to ten, with supervision increasing to a team of full-time staff working twenty-four hours a day to serve these girls. The group home even underwent an expansion construction project in 2003 to provide much needed additional space and improve the quality of living for its residents.

Plaid House, Inc. also offers Thenen House, which opened in 1989, to provide a supervised transitional living program to young women who have outgrown group homes, but have been assessed as being unable to return home. The residents are young women of ages from sixteen to twenty, who are under the supervision of Child Protection and Permanency and need assistance in preparing for independence. Here the residents are required to participate in a full-time educational and employment program, helping them to develop practical skills, establish emotional independence, and learn budgeting techniques; the budgeting program demands that the women save fifty percent of their wages, which will be returned to them when they leave the program.

Plaid House's Aftercare Program provides counseling to adolescent males and females who have been discharged by Child Protection and Permanency from residential placements or foster care. The goal of the program is to help these young adults transition successfully from out of home placement into the community, whether they are returning to their homes or moving out to live on their own. In addition, Their Aging Out Program serves male and female clients of ages fifteen to twenty who are under the supervision of Child Protection and Permanency and currently in out of home placement. The young adults participate in life skills training, presented in weekly workshops, which follow a curriculum including employment skills, money management, career planning, further education, communication, and problem solving. Each participant completes a skills assessment at the beginning and end of the program to measure the progress made from training.

Since the opening of their group home forty years ago, Plaid House has moved hundreds of young adults through their programs. Though the organization has undergone various changes and improvements since its inception, their commitment to providing these adolescents with opportunities for success has remained constant.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Plaid House, Inc, its dedicated staff and Board of Directors as it celebrates its 40th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Rotary Club of Jefferson Township, New Jersey, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The Rotary Club of Jefferson Township dedicates itself to bettering the township through the completion of communal projects. This organization seeks to improve the local community with the goal of ensuring that the Jefferson Township region is a wonderful place in which to live, work and raise a family. The greater Jefferson Township area benefits immensely from this organization's dedication to its neighbors and friends.

Since 1965, the Rotary Club of Jefferson Township has devoted its time and energy to facilitating projects for the benefit of the community. From distributing dictionaries to third graders to financing the construction of four vocational schools in Romania, this organization's members continuously find ways to help those people in need of assistance. Whenever an opportunity arises to help others, like participating in End Polio Now, Rotary Club members always seem to be the first volunteers to respond.

Recently, this organization began several new projects in order to support members of the Jefferson Township community. On December 6th and 7th, the Rotary Club participated in the Sparta Christmas Bazaar by selling desserts and candies to help fund its operations. The Rotary Club also sold Gertrude Hawk chocolate bars to fund its third grader dictionary distribution project. This organization is also participating in ``Walkfest 2015,'' a Sunday morning event where participants walk in Waterloo Village, located in Byram, New Jersey. During this fundraising event, participants may donate money to various organizations, including the Rotary Club, and have the opportunity to receive prizes.

The Rotary Club of Jefferson also believes in a rich cultural experience for students. To ensure that students from Jefferson Township expand their education outside of the classroom, the Rotary Club funds a Japanese Summer Exchange Program. In this program, American students spend three weeks on the island of Shikoku, while Japanese students spend three weeks in Northern New Jersey. Those students in Shikoku live with Japanese families and encounter Japanese culture, cuisine and customs. Those students visiting New Jersey live with families affiliated with the Rotary Club, and attend excursions to New York City. This program is yet another instance of the Rotary Club's commitment to students' educational experience.

To celebrate 50 successful years of offering assistance to those in need, the Rotary Club of Jefferson Township is holding an anniversary dinner on Tuesday, February 24th at the Casa Bianca Restaurant in Oak Ridge, New Jersey. At this celebration, the Rotary Club will host buffet-style culinary offerings, as well as a cash bar. In honor of its dedication to 50 years of service, the Rotary Club will present its 2015 Citizen Year Award to Alice and Bela Szigethy.

I commend the members of the Rotary Club of Jefferson Township, especially Alice and Bela Szigethy, for their dedication to improving the Jefferson Township area. The club has consistently demonstrated a dedication and commitment to improving the community and successfully completing numerous communal projects.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Rotary Club of Jefferson, its members and Board of Directors as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.