My office is here to help ensure that you are
treated fairly by every federal agency including the Internal
Revenue Service, Social Security, Medicare, Bureau of Citizenship
and Immigration Service, and the Veterans Administration. My
office is prepared to assist you with any questions or
inquiries
you have
concerning
federal
agencies. If you live in the Tenth Congressional District of
New Jersey and need assistance, please write to me at one
of
my offices. Letters should include your name, address and
pertinent information about your situation. In order to act,
we request, whenever possible, a signed letter from you.
Congressional Award Program
The Congressional
Award program was signed into law by President Jimmy
Carter on November 16, 1979 to recognize young people for
their community service, personal development, physical
fitness, and efforts to learn about and interact with cultures
outside of their communities.
The criteria for granting the award are based on individual
effort and ability. Young people set and achieve goals in
volunteer public service, personal development, physical
fitness, and expeditions. They are rewarded for their effort
correspondingly at three levels: gold, silver, and bronze. All
young people, regardless of physical, mental disabilities, and
social circumstances are eligible for the award, and to date,
more than 5,000 young people have completed the program. Over
1,200 of those young people completed the program in New
Jersey. As a former teacher and former National President of
the YMCA, I know the importance of programs like the
Congressional Award, which enable young people to impact upon
their communities while learning important skills like goal
setting. I believe that participation in the Congressional
Award program fosters personal growth and high
achievement.
As a member of the Congressional Award National Board I am
encouraging schools in the 10th Congressional District to
establish Congressional Award programs. Additional information
can be obtained by contacting my Essex County office at (973)
645-3213 or my Union County office at (908) 629-0222.
Flags Flown Over The Capitol
Upon request, my office will help to purchase U.S. flags
that have been flown over the Capitol Building. You may
request that your flag be flown on any date, and on behalf of
any person or to commemorate an occasion. All flags come with
a certificate of authenticity stating the date the flag was
flown and signed by the Architect of the Capitol. To purchase
a flag or to receive more information, please do not hesitate
to contact my office.
Passport Services
My office will assist constituents in expediting U.S.
passport applications. If you need a passport and can verify
that you are traveling within ten days, we can usually arrange
for you to expedite the processing of your passport. Passport
agencies in the United States will charge a $35.00 fee when
the passport must be expedited to meet the traveler's imminent
departure date plus over night delivery costs. Please contact
any office with any questions or concerns you have relating to
passport issuance or visit the Passport
Services website.
10th Congressional District Art Competition
For the past 12 years I have had the opportunity to host an
exciting art competition for high school students who reside
in the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey. This
competition, entitled "An Artistic Discovery", takes place
during the month of April and is part of a nationwide program
to encourage young people to utilize visual arts as a medium
for self expression. All high school students in the 10th
Congressional District are invited to participate.
The 10th Congressional District Art Competition allows
beginners and advanced art students to create a "personal
masterpiece" and have it displayed in a professional museum
for others to enjoy. For the past several years, the
competition has received tremendous support from the Newark
Museum, which has provided a prestigious venue for the art
competition display, and a reception for parents, students and
teachers. All students who participate receive certificates
and prizes. The grand prize winner has his or her artwork
displayed in the United States Capitol Building for an entire
year. Later, he or she will travel to Washington, D.C. to
participate in a national ceremony with other winners from
around the country. Should you have any questions about the
10th Congressional District Art Competition, or, to find out
how students and schools can participate, please feel free to
contact my Union County Office at (908) 629-0222.
United States Service Academies
Each year I make nominations to the United States Air
Force, Military
and Naval
Academies. These post-secondary institutions are among our
nation's most challenging in higher education. In addition,
all academy graduates go on to become commissioned officers in
our nation's armed forces. Interested students are encouraged
to seek admission.
Receiving a Congressional nomination is quite an
accomplishment, however, it does not guarantee acceptance to
the academies. It is important that students who are
interested in seeking admission to one of the service
academies, set academic and physical fitness goals now.
Nominations are made during the month of December of a
prospective cadet's senior year in high school. It is never
too early or too late to begin preparing for college, so I
encourage all students to plan conscientiously.
Any high school student interested in attending one of the
academies, or, anyone who would like to obtain additional
information about the academy nomination process should
contact my Union County Office at (908) 629-0222. My office
can also arrange for representatives of the academies to visit
schools.
Washington, DC Vistor's Center
Provided by the House of
Representatives
Our Nation's Capital offers attractions sure to please
everyone. If you are planning a trip to Washington, D.C.,
please contact my office to request tours of the White
House or the Capitol
building, including the House
and Senate
galleries, or the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
Congressional offices receive a very limited amount of
tickets for these tours, therefore, advance notice is
required. Once you submit your request for tours, my office
will send you brochures, maps of the city and a "Welcome to
Washington" guide to the Capital City's parks, monuments,
museums, theaters and special attractions that will assist you
in planning your visit. Be sure to stop by my office and let
us know how we can make your stay more enjoyable.
