{"database": "openregs", "table": "congressional_record", "rows": [["CREC-1996-10-21-pt1-PgE1932-2", "1996-10-21", 104, 2, null, null, "TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH COCCIA, JR.", "HOUSE", "EXTENSIONS", "TRIBUTETO", "E1932", "E1932", "[{\"name\": \"William J. Martini\", \"role\": \"speaking\"}]", null, "142 Cong. Rec. E1932", "Congressional Record, Volume 142 Issue 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)\n\n[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)]\n[Extensions of Remarks]\n[Page E1932]\nFrom the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]\n\n                     TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH COCCIA, JR.\n\n                                 ______\n\n                               speech of\n\n                        HON. WILLIAM J. MARTINI\n\n                             of new jersey\n\n                    in the house of representatives\n\n                        Friday, October 4, 1996\n\n  Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Joseph\nCoccia, Jr., the recipient of the 1996 Italian Tribune News Columbus\nDay Community Service Award. Mr. Coccia will receive the award from the\nexecutive director of the annual celebration.\n  As we all know, Mr. Speaker, Christopher Columbus crossed the\nAtlantic Ocean in search of a New World. Columbus' exploration\nrepresented a service to the world far greater than he ever knew. He\ndiscovered a New World which would eventually evolve into the world's\ngreatest democracy.\n  Each year, the Italian Tribune News rewards a deserving individual\nwith the Columbus Day Community Service Award, in recognition of\nColumbus's service to humanity.\n  This year, Joseph Coccia, Jr., will be honored with this award. Mr.\nCoccia was born in Newark, NJ, to Italian immigrant parents, in the\nmidst of the Great Depression. He was educated in the public school\nsystem until he entered the Army in 1951 and served his country in the\nKorean war.\n  After returning from Korea with an honorable discharge in 1953, he\nmarried his childhood sweetheart, Elda Soriano. Together, the Coccias\nhave five wonderful children.\n  In 1961, Mr. Coccia opened his own real estate agency and developed\nit into a successful and prosperous enterprise. Mr. Coccia was so\ngrateful for this success, he felt compelled to share his prosperity\nwith the community by donating both time and money to various local\ncharities and organizations.\n  For example, Mr. Coccia is an energetic supporter of local law\nenforcement. He was the nucleus of a successful fundraiser to purchase\n144 bulletproof vests for the Kearny Police Department. In 1979, in\nrecognition of his generosity, he was awarded a Silver Honorary\nMembership in PBA Local 21. He was the first civilian in 70 years to\nreceive this award.\n  Mr. Coccia is also a charter member and past president of the Kearny,\nNJ, Chapter of UNICO National, as well as past national president of\nUNICO. As the national president, he pioneered programs designed to\nassist the mentally disabled and was the recipient of the Dr. Anthony\nVastola Medal--the highest honor awarded by UNICO. Mr. Coccia was also\nhonored by the former Consul General of Italy for his invaluable\nassistance following catastrophic earthquakes in Italy during the late\n1970's.\n  Today, Mr. Coccia serves as secretary for the New Jersey Cavaliere\nAssociation, trustee for the Catholic Youth Ministries, a member of the\nBoard of Governors at West Hudson Hospital, president of the West\nHudson/South Bergen Chamber of Commerce and member of the Marconi\nFraternal Association.\n  Joseph Coccia is truly deserving of this distinguished award, Mr.\nSpeaker. I ask my colleagues to rise in recognition of the vast array\nof contributions that Mr. Coccia provides to our community, in the\nEighth Congressional District of New Jersey.\n\n                          ____________________"]], "columns": ["granule_id", "date", "congress", "session", "volume", "issue", "title", "chamber", "granule_class", "sub_granule_class", "page_start", "page_end", "speakers", "bills", "citation", "full_text"], "primary_keys": ["granule_id"], "primary_key_values": ["CREC-1996-10-21-pt1-PgE1932-2"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0963219683617353, "source": "Federal Register API & Regulations.gov API", "source_url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/developers/api/v1", "license": "Public Domain (U.S. Government data)", "license_url": "https://www.regulations.gov/faq"}