[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 15] [House] [Page 20803] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]JERSEY CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT (Mr. SIRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.) Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Jersey City Fire Department. On September 19, the department received a 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, right here in Washington, D.C., for supporting our Guard and Reserve. For deployments of 12 months, the fire department continues all benefits for servicemembers and their families, as well as full pay for deployments of up to 6 months. They have also shown a tremendous personal generosity by collecting $6,000 in phone cards to send to their coworkers and units serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also collect gifts during the holidays for the children of servicemembers and help families that are falling on tough times during the deployment. I am so proud of the Jersey City Fire Department's dedication to their coworkers, our community, our Guard and Reserve, and our country. They are very deserving of this high honor. ____________________