Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, April 16, I was unable to be present in the Capitol and missed rollcall votes Nos. 192 through 195. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner:

On rollcall votes Nos. 192 and 193, procedural votes on H.R. 2634, the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall votes Nos. 194 and 195, procedural votes on H.R. 5715, Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

I thank the chairman for the time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5719, the Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008.

Let me tell my colleagues that this bill simply closes a lot of loopholes that were created when my Republican friends controlled this Congress in the majority years ago and it also addresses some of the disastrous Bush administration policies that were adopted by my friends the Republicans when they were in the majority. But they're no longer in the majority this year.

Let me tell you what this is all about. My Republican friends and the Bush administration love to privatize. They wanted to privatize Social Security. Remember that? They wanted to privatize prescription drugs, and they got away with it, and that's why it's so expensive and convoluted. They wanted to privatize health care at Walter Reed Hospital, and you know the disasters that happened there. Trying to privatize the delivery of the United States mail; privatize security in Iraq by letting private contractors handle these things for the U.S. Army. Blackwater and Halliburton, sound familiar?

Well, one of the things that this bill that we're passing today in the House will do will be to eliminate one of the disastrous Bush and Republican policies that they inserted in a 2004 bill. That policy was where they slashed the number of IRS tax collectors, and then they said, oh, my gosh, we can't collect enough taxes; so you know what we'll do? We'll privatize the collection of taxes. This was after they removed the number of IRS tax collectors. They said we'll hire private folks to collect taxes, but we'll pay them eight times more than it would cost a Federal Government employee.

I thank the gentleman.

So can you imagine, Madam Speaker, they slashed IRS collectors from people who owed taxes, slashed the tax collectors, and wanted to privatize it and pay eight times more to their friends in private industry to do it. Eight times more. It only took now when the Democrats are in control of the House that we are able now to pass this bill today to end that program.

And when my friend from New York on the other side of the aisle says, well, you know, it's only a one-House bill because the Senate won't approve this, ask yourself why that is. Because there are only 51 Democrat Senators in the Senate, and you need 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster. We

only have 51 Democrats in the Senate. We can't get 9 Republicans to get rid of this ridiculously wasteful program of privatizing tax collection. So it's like that terrible story of the kid who kills his parents and pleads for mercy from the Court because he's an orphan. They slashed the tax collectors. Then they gave it to their cronies. Now they say they can't get Republicans to help us fix this problem that they created. Fortunately, the House has a majority that will.

So do you get, my colleagues, the hypocrisy? They slashed the tax collectors, paid eight times more to this private contractor cronies, and then when we get a Democratic majority in the House to pass this to eliminate this wasteful program, they say it won't pass the Senate. Because the Republicans in the Senate won't do it, and we need them to add up to the 60 votes to avoid the Republican filibuster, which they expect to do, to filibuster getting rid of this privatization of tax collection.

I urge the passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I would like to state for the Record my position on the following votes I missed on April 8 and 9, 2008.

On Tuesday, April 8, and Wednesday, April 9, 2008, I was unable to be present in the Capitol due to a family illness and thus missed rollcall vote Nos. 161 through 172. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner:

On rollcall vote No. 161, on H.J. Res. 70, a resolution congratulating the Army Reserve on its centennial, which will be formally celebrated on April 23, 2008, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote No. 162, on H.R. 2464, the Wakefield Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote No. 163, on S. 793, the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote Nos. 164 and 165, which were procedural votes that provided for consideration of the bill H.R. 2016, to establish the National Landscape Conservation System, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote No. 166, on H. Res. 1077, which called on the Government of the Peoples Republic of China to end its crackdown in

Tibet and to enter into a substantive dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to find a negotiated solution that respects the distinctive language, culture, religious identity, and fundamental freedom of all Tibetans, I would have proudly voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote No. 167, on the Grijalva Amendment to H.R. 2016, The National Landscape Conservation System Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote No. 168, on the Bishop (UT) (#3) Amendment number 3 to H.R. 2016, The National Landscape Conservation System Act, I would have voted ``nay.''

On rollcall vote No. 169, on the Bishop (UT) (#4) Amendment to H.R. 2016. The National Landscape Conservation System Act. I would have voted ``nay.''

On rollcall vote No. 170, on the Bishop (UT) (#5) Amendment to H.R. 2016, The National Landscape Conservation System Act, I would have voted ``nay.''

On rollcall vote No. 171, on the Altmire/Carney Amendment to H.R. 2016, The National Landscape Conservation System Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote No. 172, on the Pearce Amendment to H.R. 2016, The National Landscape Conservation System Act, I would have voted ``nay.''

Madam Speaker, I would like to state for the record my position on the following votes I missed on March 31st and April 1st, 2008.

On Monday, March 30, 2008 and Tuesday, April 1, 2008, I was unable to be present in the Capitol due to a family emergency and thus missed rollcall votes Nos. 147 through 152. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner:

On rollcall vote No. 147, on H.R. 3352, the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote No. 148, on H.R. 2675, the HALE Scouts Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote No. 149, on H. Con. Res. 302, a resolution supporting the observance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote No. 150, on H. Con. Res. 310, a resolution expressing support for a national day of remembrance for Harriet Ross Tubman, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote No. 151, on H. Res. 1005, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote No. 152, on H. Res. 1021, a resolution supporting the goals, ideals, and history of National Women's History Month, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 960, legislation to congratulate the New York Giants for winning Super Bowl XLII and completing one of the greatest upsets in professional sports history. I introduced this resolution because I am so proud that this incredible team plays at Giants stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey in my district. I am honored that we have a Super Bowl champion back in the New York New Jersey region again.

On Sunday, February 3rd, in Glendale, Arizona, the New York Giants achieved the highly improbable by beating the previously undefeated New England Patriots by a score of 17 to 14 in Super Bowl XLII to win the National Football League (NFL) championship. The game was the most watched Super Bowl ever, with nearly 100 million viewers tuning in-- making it the second most viewed American broadcast in television history.

Since its inception in 1925, the New York Giants organization has been a model of professionalism, teamwork, and community service in the New York New Jersey metropolitan area. From the beginning, the Giants franchise--and indeed the entire National Football League--has flourished under the leadership and guidance of the Mara family. Back in the 1960s professional football was struggling to survive. It was the foresight of Wellington and Jack Mara, co-owners of the most profitable team in the NFL, which allowed professional football to prosper. They put the league ahead of their team by agreeing to share lucrative television revenue equally among all NFL teams, thus providing the other teams in the league with much needed capital to promote the sport across America. The current success of the NFL is a tribute to the character and selflessness of the Mara brothers. They proved to the National Football League and the Nation that honorable business practices and teamwork can indeed generate great success.

The New York Giants franchise has been one of the most successful in National Football League history. The Giants have had 15 players inducted into the Profesional Football Hall of Fame. The team has been to the postseason 26 times and won more than 600 games, including 16 divisional championships and 7 NFL championships--three of which were Super Bowls (XXI, XXV, and XLII).

Since 1976, the Giants have played at Giants stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey--which is located in my congressional district. I have always been proud to have such a wonderful organization located in our district. In particular, I would like to recognize the ``Giants Foundation,'' which was founded by Wellington Mara. It is an organization that provides important social and financial support to underprivileged youth and their families throughout the entire metropolitan area.

The Giants began the 2007 season with a tough loss to the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium. What they didn't know as they walked off the field in Irving, Texas, was that this would be the last time they would lose a road game all season. After that loss to the Cowboys the Giants won 11 straight road games--an unprecedented achievement and a record in the National Football League.

Their impressive road streak began just a few miles away from here in Landover, Maryland at FedEx field. The Giants turned their season around with a fourth quarter comeback against the Washington Redskins, capped by an impressive stop on fourth and goal as time expired.

After the regular season ended the Giants took their road winning streak into the postseason where they won 3 straight road playoff games--a National Football Conference record.

The Giants' victorious journey this season epitomizes the American values of hard work, determination, and resiliency. Along each step of the journey, few believed they would triumph, but the Giants continued to defy conventional wisdom and prove to the so called experts that a team of individuals fully devoted to a goal is indeed greater than the sum of its parts. Their defense, which allowed 80 points in the first 2 games, turned their season around to become the best defense in the league--capable of holding the most vaunted offense in recent memory to 2 touchdowns on the biggest stage in sports. Their offense, captained by quarterback Eli Manning, was sporadic at best during the regular season, but seemed to mature right before our eyes in the

playoffs as the Giants protected the football and put together clutch drives when it mattered most.

But perhaps the greatest momentum shift of the season was Coach Tom Coughlin's decision to have his team play to win against the then undefeated New England Patriots in the final game of the regular season. In a game that didn't matter for the Giants, as they had already clinched a playoff birth, the ``Boys in Blue'' played their hearts out and went toe-to-toe against what many were calling the best team in NFL history. Even though they lost on that day--the Giants gained a great deal of confidence from the contest, which they carried with them all the way to their victory against those same New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

I am offering this resolution to honor the entire Giants organization on their incredible season, and on their outstanding win in Super Bowl XLII. Specifically, I would like to congratulate Giants owner and Chief Executive Officer John Mara, Executive Vice President Steve Tisch, Head Coach Tom Coughlin, Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride, and all of the Giants players and support staff on a job well done. Their triumph shows that no matter the odds, a group of determined underdogs can take on a dynasty and emerge victorious.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 960, and congratulate the Giants for their exciting season and remarkable win in Super Bowl XLII.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 960, legislation to congratulate the New York Giants for winning Super Bowl XLII and completing one of the greatest upsets in professional sports history.

I introduced this resolution because I am so proud of this team that plays at Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. My constituents and I are so honored that we have a Super Bowl champion back in our region.

On Sunday, February 3, in Glendale, Arizona, the New York football Giants achieved the highly improbable by beating the previously undefeated New England Patriots. The score was 17-14, and they went on to win Super Bowl XLII.

The game was the most watched Super Bowl ever with nearly 100 million viewers tuning in to make it the second-most viewed American television broadcast in history.

I offer this resolution to honor the entire Giants organization on their incredible season and on their win. Specifically, I would like to congratulate Giants owner and chief executive officer John Mara; executive vice president Steve Tisch; head coach Tom Coughlin; defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo; offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, and all of the Giants players and support staff on a job very well done.

The entire Giants franchise has been a model of professionalism, teamwork, and community service in representing the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area.

Their Super Bowl triumph shows that no matter what the odds, a group of determined underdogs can take on a dynasty and emerge victorious. This time, the team that slew Goliath were Giants themselves.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 960 and in congratulating the New York football Giants for their outstanding season and remarkable win in Super Bowl XLII.

Madam Speaker, our Nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who selflessly rushed to Ground Zero to help their fellow citizens during and immediately following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. These courageous American men and women thought of others first and themselves second. Truthfully, if it were not for the firefighters, rescue workers, emergency medical providers, and volunteers who helped in the days following 9/11, then the death toll may have been even higher. The healing process would have been even slower. And the cleanup would have taken even longer.

Today, however, many of these rescue workers and volunteers suffer severe respiratory illnesses and diseases as a result of their exposure to toxic debris and materials at Ground Zero. To add insult to injury, the Bush administration has failed to provide them with adequate health care and, in some cases, actually challenged the cause of their illnesses, which doctor after doctor has diagnosed as stemming from the poisonous air at Ground Zero.

Our Nation can and must do far better by our heroes. That is why I strongly support and have cosponsored the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. This legislation would establish a World Trade Center Health program to provide medical monitoring, treatment, and compensation to emergency responders, recovery and cleanup workers, and other Ground Zero workers suffering serious diseases as a result of their efforts. It would also expand the number of individuals who are to be covered by such arrangements and creates a nationwide network of health care providers for treating victims residing outside the New York City area.

The American people understand that we have a duty to support our heroes--from those who saved lives in the aftermath of 9/11 to all of our service men and women returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's sad that we need legislation to force the Bush administration to do right by our heroes--but such is the situation we face. Thus, I will continue to fight for passage of the James Zadroga Act, will continue to seek increased funding to treat veterans and troops with post-traumatic stress disorder, severe brain injury, and other needs, and will work hard to elect a new President of the United States who will do more than pay lip service to the needs of our heroes.

Finally, I wish to applaud the good people at the Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes organization. While they never asked for anybody's praise, they have earned it--not only through their actions on 9/11, but also through their tireless advocacy on behalf of all those struggling with serious health problems caused by 9/11 and through their assistance to sick and injured 9/11 responders.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 842, a resolution that I introduced. This legislation expresses sympathy to and pledges the support of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States to help the victims of Cyclone Sidr in Southern Bangladesh.

Cyclone Sidr struck southern Bangladesh with 155-mile-an-hour winds on November 15th. Since then, its impact has been felt by more than 8.7 million Bangladeshis--more than 3,000 of whom were killed by this storm, 1.5 million who have lost their homes and livelihoods, and thousands of children who have lost one or more parents, their schools and their access to food and water.

The damage caused by Cyclone Sidr was widespread. In fact, the southern districts of Bangladesh were so devastated by the cyclone that one relief worker commented that Bagerhat--one of the districts most damaged--looked like a ``valley of death'' in the days after the storm. Even Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh that is located more than 130 miles away from the southern coastline, was impacted by the storm-- losing access to power and water for days.

In addition to the human loss of life and livelihood caused by this storm, another great loss was felt by the flora and fauna of Bangladesh. During the cyclone, a massive tidal wave hit the Sunderbans, the world's biggest mangrove forest and the home of the endangered Royal Bengal tiger. While researchers have yet to verify how many of these endangered tigers were killed in the storm, the damage that resulted from the cyclone has led experts to declare the forest an ``ecological disaster.''

However, in the midst of this death and destruction, the U.S. government has been doing invaluable work to help the people of Bangladesh. That is why this resolution also expresses support for the U.S. government's efforts to provide emergency assistance to the people of Bangladesh. In fact, I want to single out the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which has thus far provided the people of Bangladesh with more than $19.5 million in emergency food aid and other humanitarian assistance. USAID has also-- in collaboration with the government of Bangladesh--quickly reached over 8 million of the most vulnerable people in the wake of this disaster to provide assistance and help relieve human suffering.

Mr. Speaker, while Cyclone Sidr took away thousands of lives in Bangladesh, it has brought out the best in both American and Bangladeshi aid workers--enabling them to work together to help millions of people hurt by this storm and provide them with humanitarian assistance. I commend them for their efforts and call on my colleagues to join with me in supporting this legislation so that we may express the House's strong sympathy and support for the people of Bangladesh in their time of crisis.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, November 8, 2007, I was unable to be present in the Capitol due to the death of a family member and thus missed rollcall votes Nos. 1060 through 1067. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner:

On rollcall vote No. 1060, on H.R. 3688, the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, I would have voted ``nay.'' I believe the Peru Free Trade Agreement, FTA, is another fundamentally flawed trade agreement. I oppose this FTA because it includes many of the same provisions from the original NAFTA that left workers terribly unprotected, led to the outsourcing of millions of U.S. jobs, and allowed companies to ignore environmental protections here and abroad that are vital to people's health and safety. It's going to hurt workers here and in Peru. I regret that I was unable to be here, due to the devastating loss of a beloved family member, to cast a vote against it.

On rollcall votes Nos. 1061, 1062, 1063, and 1064, the procedural votes on the Rule for Consideration of the Conference Report on H.R. 3222, the Fiscal Year 2008 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, as well as the Conference Report itself, I would have voted ``aye.'' As a member of the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Defense and therefore, a Conferee on this bill, I voted for it in Conference and strongly support this critical bill that enhances America's security by providing our service men and women with the tools they need to protect our Nation today and giving them the resources and weapons systems they need to fight the threats of tomorrow. This measure also invests in our military personnel by affording them comprehensive health care and ensuring that our wounded warriors are treated with the dignity that they deserve. Had I been present during the consideration of this bill, I would have voted ``aye'' on both of these measures with great pleasure and pride.

On rollcall votes Nos. 1065 and 1066, which were procedural votes on the Rule for H.R. 3355, the Homeowners' Defense Act of 2007, I would have voted ``aye.'' This bill will improve New Jersey citizens' ability to secure homeowners' insurance, as well as recover from flood or hurricane damage.

On rollcall vote No. 1067, the Motion to instruct Conferees for the Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2008, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I would like to state for the record my position on the following votes I missed on October 22nd and 23rd.

On Monday, October 22, and Tuesday, October 23, 2007, I was unable to be present in the Capitol due to prior commitments and thus missed rollcall votes Nos. 983, 984, 985, 986, and 987. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on all votes.

In particular, I want to note my strong support for H.R. 189, the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Act of 2007, which was introduced by my colleague from New Jersey, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., and which was considered as rollcall No. 983. This legislation establishes the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System, thereby enshrining a truly unique national historic district in New Jersey. Had I been present during the consideration of this bill, I would have voted ``aye'' with great pleasure and pride.

I thank the gentleman from North Dakota for all his wonderful work on this. I want to thank Mr. Van Hollen. I want to thank my chairman on the appropriations subcommittee, Mr. Serrano, and so many people who were so outraged at this private collection of taxpayer money that is owed to the IRS.

Mr. Speaker, here's the problem. About $300 billion is owed to the American taxpayers by those income earners who refuse to pay their taxes. They admit they owe the money, but they refuse to pay. That is about $300 billion. That is the problem.

Now, what is the solution to the problem? Well, the Republicans here say, let's privatize this, give it to private people, private companies who will make a profit on collecting these tax moneys, and they will collect about $4 for every $1 we spend on them. They will collect $4. The other solution is to hire more IRS agents, and for every $1 we invest in them, we will get $20. Not the $4 that goes to the private debt collectors that they produce, but $20. We will collect five times more.

So why would we give away the taxpayers' money by letting private debt collectors collect our debts, just so we can collect five times less? They say, ``Well, we don't want to support big government.'' Well, do they want to waste all those tens or hundreds of billions of dollars by giving it to private debt collectors to collect at five times less effectiveness? It makes no sense. But this is nothing new.

Mr. Speaker, they wanted to privatize Social Security. They privatized the prescription drug program for seniors. They wanted to privatize the collection of our mail. They wanted to privatize, and they did, security contracting in Iraq, There is Halliburton, Blackwater. And they did so at Walter Reed Army Hospital.

So this ideology of the Republican Party and this President that we need to privatize everything doesn't make sense, it wastes taxpayer dollars, and in fact is an opportunity for a very select few in our society to profit at the expense of everybody else. Not only is it un- American, it is wasteful, it is wrong.

Mr. Speaker, we can do better with this solution. That is why I have been fighting for this for years, and I am so proud to support H.R. 3056. If they say the choice is do nothing or something, do it the right way and pass H.R. 3056.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Bergen County Academies, whose outstanding work has been rewarded with the Intel Schools of Distinction Award which commends their superior math and science programs.

The Intel Schools of Distinction Award recognizes kindergarten through twelfth grade schools that promote 21st Century learning skills in math and science. One elementary, one middle, and one high school in each of two categories--math and science--will receive a $10,000 cash grant and $150,000 in products and services from the award's sponsors. In order to be considered as an Intel School of Distinction, schools must develop an environment and curricula that meet or exceed benchmarks, including national mathematics and science content standards. Bergen County Academies was one of only six schools selected to receive this honorable distinction nationwide.

The classes at Bergen County Academies--from the pre-kindergarten class to the twelfth grade--have demonstrated excellence in implementing innovative programs that support positive student achievement in math and science, effectively use technology, and leverage the benefits of teamwork in the development of superior classroom teachers. Winning schools serve as models for educators across the country.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me today in commending Principal Daniel Jaye, the staff, and students of Bergen County Academies for their outstanding commitment to excellence in math and science. They are a great credit to our community and entire country.

Mr. Speaker, first let me thank my distinguished friend and colleague, Mr. Holt from New Jersey, for his leadership on this issue and his support from the very beginning. It was critical. I am most grateful, as are all the students who will now be able to participate.

I also would like to thank my friend and colleague from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) for his kind remarks and his support of this resolution, which will bring fairness and restore a sense of equal justice under the law to a program we are hopeful has the potential to provide valuable lessons to all our students.

Mr. Speaker, in 2005 there was a National High School Mock Trial Championship competition all over America, just like there has been for many years. There were literally hundreds of schools in New Jersey, as there are hundreds of schools in other States, participating in this competition, and, by the way, hundreds of schools, public schools, private schools.

That year, in 2005, the Torah Academy, an Orthodox Yeshiva located in Teaneck, New Jersey, won the New Jersey State championship. And they won the right to represent our beloved Garden State in the National High School Mock Trial Championship.

How awful it was for them to learn that if they had proceeded in the competition to the semifinals and finals, they wouldn't be able to participate because the semifinals and finals had been scheduled on a Saturday, on their Sabbath.

When we went to the National High School Mock Trial Championship, they were at first very reluctant to accommodate these students, although every conceivable reason that they might have, they had to get more buses, move people from one place to another, would have been accommodated and provided for them. In the end, they did the right thing, and they allowed these students to participate. All they did was move the championships then to Sunday instead of Saturday, without objection from anyone.

As my colleague from Minnesota has said, the results of the inclusion of these students not only demonstrated fairness, tolerance and problem-solving, but was a demonstration to all those involved, particularly the young people, that accommodations for religious practice, when reasonable, should be put into place.

But the decision of the board of this National High School Mock Trial Championship to never again permit such an accommodation, whether it be an Orthodox Jewish school or a Muslim school or a Seventh Day Adventist school, was wrong, and we couldn't talk them out of it. The question was how to impress upon them that this was un-American and that the Congress of the United States wouldn't stand for it. That is why we drafted this resolution.

Remember, these are students who played by the rules, were eligible to participate, competed, and won in their State championships, all according to the rules. The organization in fact demonstrated that they could accommodate these students without any problems whatsoever, and, in fact, with a very positive result.

That is why I urge all the Members of the House to join me and my distinguished colleagues in supporting House Resolution 25, to express our body's strong disapproval of the decision made by the board of the National Mock Trial Championship not to make any attempt in the future to accommodate students of all faiths in future events.

You know, the most important purpose of this mock trial championship was to teach about the rule of law; and part of our rule of law here in America is equal justice under the law, no matter where you come from, what your religion is, as well as equal access to the law. As we pride ourselves on these values, it is important for the United States House of Representatives to pass this resolution to convey in the strongest terms its hope that the National High School Mock Trial Championship Board will revisit its decision to deny accommodations for students who observe the Sabbath on Friday and Saturday, and instead schedule future competitions in such a way that enable all eligible students to participate, regardless of their religion.

Mr. Speaker, I did want to point out that good people have not stood silently during all of this. Both the New Jersey State Bar Association and the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers have withdrawn from the National High School Mock Trial Championships and have established their own mock trial competition, which ensures that all students, regardless of affiliation, religious affiliation, can participate in every aspect of the annual contest.

I commend these organizations. That may be the direction to go, to ask people of all good will to remove themselves from the National High School Mock Trial Championships if they will not accommodate students of all religions who are otherwise eligible to participate. I hope it doesn't come to that, but so far the board of the National High School Mock Trial Championship has not been willing to accommodate all these students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon, Incorporated, their partners, Unilever and DHL, and in particular Mr. Alan Krutchkoff, the president and founder of the Adopt- A-Soldier Platoon and fellow resident of Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

Alan Krutchkoff started the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon with one simple act of charity in April of 2003, when he discovered that the son of one of his wife's colleagues was being sent to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Alan took the initiative to pair this young man with his friend and cofounder of the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon, Mr. Holmes Brady, who had been a reservist with Special Forces. Alan and Holmes went shopping for supplies and sent a care package to the young man stationed in Iraq.

News of this act of kindness spread, and it wasn't long before Alan discovered that many of his coworkers at Unilever had relatives or friends serving overseas. And, thus, the idea of the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon was born.

The people of the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon have made many outstanding donations to our brave troops serving overseas. Their contributions include numerous care packages consisting of snack foods, soft drinks, books, movies and clothes, a custom-built giant video screen for a Super Bowl party, personal care items for female soldiers and 25,000 blank DVDs and camcorders which enable tens of thousands of our troops to make personal videos to send to their families during the holidays.

In their efforts to support our troops, the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon has also gone well beyond simply sending care packages. In 2006, they worked with the chief information officer of the 10th Combat Support Hospital, which is the largest American military hospital in Iraq, to provide wireless Internet access for all of our soldiers. This provided the servicemen and women at the 10th CHS a closer connection to friends and family members and helped keep their morale high. The adoptee units of this exceptional volunteer group also includes the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion in Iraq, the 28th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad, Logistics Support Area Anaconda where 25,000 Americans troops live, the 324th Integrated Theater Signal Battalion, and the 449th and 209th Aviation Support Battalions.

In addition to these activities, the extraordinary people of the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon are supporting our soldiers in their mission to rebuild Iraq. They have partnered with Charlie Company, 412 Civil Affairs Battalion, in the al Anbar province to implement what is called Operation Hearts and Minds. This operation is aimed at helping Iraqi residents build schools and work on local infrastructure.

Supporters of the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon at Unilever have also raised money to send soccer balls to local Iraqi children and to provide additional security equipment to strengthen military checkpoints.

I also want to draw particular attention to this group for their compassion. On June 6 this year, the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon received a call from their contact at Charlie Company asking if they could help a sick Iraqi child get an operation in Jordan. Mariam, who was 1 year old, had a hole in her mouth and could not eat without getting sick. In one day, the people at the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon raised $1,800 for Mariam's family to offset the costly medical and travel expenses she required.

Acts like this demonstrate the inherent kindness and generosity of Americans and, hopefully, generate much needed goodwill in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, today it is my great honor to recognize the exceptional work of the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon in supporting our troops; Unilever for their generous donations of products, money, and time; DHL for generously shipping care packages to Iraq; and, especially my friend and constituent, my fellow Fair Lawn resident, Alan Krutchkoff, for his tireless efforts and inspiring dedication to provide our men and women serving in the Middle East with a connection to their homes and families.

The organizations and individuals involved in this effort have greatly lifted the morale of tens of thousands of our troops who are putting their lives in harm's way tens of thousands of miles away from home, away from their families and friends.

This group of people, Mr. Speaker, is well deserved of every bit of recognition and praise we can impart upon them. I commend each and every person involved in this honorable effort, and hope that every Member of Congress will join me in recognizing the outstanding work of the Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the members of the Fairview, New Jersey community who perished at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Roko Camaj, Danny A. Correa, Christian DeSimone, Jeremy Glick, James Ladley, and Diane Lipari will always have a special place in the hearts and prayers of Fairview Borough residents. These individuals will be missed, along with the other sons and daughters of New Jersey who died on that fateful day.

However, September 11th is not only a day for mourning. It is also a day on which we remember the heroism of so many Americans who responded to the call for help. Fifty-five of Fairview's police, fire, and emergency response personnel assisted at Ground Zero in the rescue and recovery efforts and in the treatment and triage of the injured. These individuals were an important part of the effort to save as many lives as possible after the terrorist attacks. Our entire Nation acknowledges and honors their selflessness.

This evening's 9/11 Memorial Service at the American Legion, Post 365 located at 110 Anderson Avenue in Fairview rightfully commemorates Fairview's loved ones who were lost and commends our first responders for their heroism.

Our Nation must always remember those who were killed on September 11th, those who survived the attacks, those who saved others' lives, and those who gave their lives for others. In keeping their memory alive, we remind ourselves of the terrible price we pay if we fail to remain vigilant against those who wish us harm.