Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-Paterson, represents the 8th Congressional District. ### Read more »

It is fair to say that there is no greater task now facing our government than to protect and defend our cities and towns from those who would seek to do us harm. If you have watched C-Span at all over the last two years, you will have noted a regular procession of Democrats and Republicans on both the House and Senate floors touting the urgency to further secure our nation. After all, keeping ou... Read more »

Our troops had of course heard all about what was happening back home. They had heard the news accounts coming over “Stars and Stripes” radio broadcasts, and naturally had questions for this group of Congressmen coming to visit them. This was the scene at every military base. As they were continuing to bravely conduct the war on terrorism in Central Asia, and as they prepared in the Middle East fo... Read more »

At kitchen tables from Clifton, New Jersey to Clifton Colorado, some harsh economic realities are carrying the day. Concerns range from job loss and rising debt to exploding health care costs and tax bills that keeps getting bigger. Despite this, many in the nation's capitol, chief among them our President, seem totally oblivious. The President seems to believe that if he just continues to talk a... Read more »

Millions of Medicare beneficiaries woke up this morning with no prescription drug coverage. Millions more are at imminent risk of losing the coverage they have. These are not just statistics. They are people just like you and I, parents and grandparents, friends and neighbors that daily must choose between paying for medications they need and other necessities of life, such as food and shelter. T... Read more »

In announcing that the month of June would be the first ever National Homeownership Month, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez said, "A healthy economy depends on a vigorous, growing housing sector, and ...housing continues to fuel the nation's economy," In making this statement Martinez highlighted a new study by the Homeownership Alliance, which concluded that even at the st... Read more »

I was dismayed to read your views (Give Bush trade powers, 5/21/02) regarding the President's request for fast track trade negotiating authority, particularly the notion that Congress should "get out of the way." Read more »

In the wake of the terror perpetrated against our nation on September 11, we have seen the very best of America on display. We have witnessed people young and old selflessly giving of themselves to assist those who are suffering, public safety and emergency personnel working literally around the clock, and elected leaders in Washington putting aside differences to support the President and addres... Read more »

In January of 2001, the first month of the George W. Bush presidency, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office announced that the federal government would have a budget surplus of $5.6 trillion over the next ten years. One year later, in January of 2002, that surplus number had shrunk an astounding $4 trillion, to $1.6 trillion. Four separate congressional reviews were undertaken to determine... Read more »

If this were just the soap opera it often resembles, those of us watching could all rest easy. Tomorrow brings a new episode, we'd tell ourselves, a chance for those who have lost so much to come out on top in the end. Unfortunately, what happened at Enron Corporation is very real. Just ask Charles Prestwood, who worked 33 years in the natural gas business and lost almost $1.3 million in savings. ... Read more »