[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 21847]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  WELCOMING THE HONORABLE ALBIO SIRES TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure and honor this 
evening to introduce the newest member of our New Jersey delegation, 
Albio Sires. Albio won a special election last week to fill the 
remaining term of Senator Menendez, who won reelection to the Senate 
last week. He was also elected to a full term and will be back with us 
in January as well.
  Albio comes to this House after serving as the mayor of West New York 
and serving four terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, including 
two terms as the assembly speaker. During his tenure in the assembly, 
Albio championed legislation that increased the minimum wage in New 
Jersey by $2. Albio also led the fight to help New Jersey families 
better afford college for their children by creating the STARS program, 
which offers full paid county and State college tuition scholarships to 
thousands of New Jersey students.
  As this Congress prepares to tackle both the minimum wage and college 
affordability in January, Albio will be a strong voice on behalf of 
working-class families. Albio was born in pre-Communist Cuba, but fled 
with his family at age 12 to the United States. He was a star 
basketball player in both high school and college, and I am sure he 
would have no problem suiting up again as a member of the congressional 
basketball team.
  He also joins both me and Bill Delahunt as the only current Members 
of Congress who earned a degree from Middlebury College in Vermont. He 
is joined here today by his wife, Adrienne, his stepdaughter, Tara 
Kole, and supporters from his new congressional district. Please join 
me in welcoming Albio Sires to the House of Representatives.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House.
  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank you and to thank Mr. 
Pallone for those kind words. I would like to express my deep gratitude 
to my wife, Adrienne, my stepdaughter, Tara, my friends and especially 
my neighbors in the 13th Congressional District of New Jersey, who have 
honored me by allowing me to represent them in Washington.
  Mr. Speaker, when I left Cuba with my family 45 years ago, I could 
never have envisioned that I would be standing on the floor of the 
House of Representatives to give this speech. This day for me truly 
embodies the promise of this Nation, the promise of its founders, the 
promise of its many immigrant communities, the promise which means that 
anyone, no matter the circumstances of birth or class, can rise to 
become a Member of the greatest democratic body in history.
  Mr. Speaker, it was the community of West New York that welcomed me 
and my family so many years ago. I have tried, tried every day to give 
back to my neighbors for their generosity, first as a teacher and a 
coach, then as a mayor and as a State assemblyman. The people of the 
13th District have provided me with the greatest privilege of all, to 
represent them in the House of Representatives.
  Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the honor and the privilege of serving in 
the House of Representatives and the faith that my constituents have 
placed in me by sending me here on their behalf. It is the trust of the 
people of New Jersey that has enabled me to be here today, and I intend 
to honor that trust every day that I serve as their representative.
  Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.

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