Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to share some very good news. Navy Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in the world, has decided to significantly expand its activities in the 10th Congressional District. After a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, January 24th, the corporation will begin erecting a new office building and parking garage that will allow for the addition of 1,400 new employees, nearly doubling the size of its operations center in Frederick County which is in the western part of my District.

On behalf of my constituents in the Shenandoah Valley, I wish to express gratitude to the leadership of the corporation for the confidence it has placed in the hard-working people of the Shenandoah Valley and the county government whose policies have created an environment that is conducive to business growth.

Navy Federal Credit Union, whose corporate headquarters is in Vienna, Virginia, has been recognized as one of Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work for in 2016. The company was founded in 1933 based on a ``culture of service'' and the 15,000 current employees take great pride in serving our nation's heroes, the current and retired men and women of our military and their families. In visiting the Winchester/ Frederick County Operations Center, I was pleased to see the beautiful photos of our men and women in uniform and their families that adorn its hallways. I was also impressed by the many ways that the company provides for its employees, including a recreation center and shower facilities, a medical clinic staffed by a full-time Physician's Assistant and Nurse, and visiting professors from Lord Fairfax Community College who help further the employees' educational goals.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating and thanking Navy Federal Credit Union for excellent service to our national heroes and for hiring an increasing number of fellow Americans to provide this important service.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take this opportunity to recognize the Asian Community Service Center on the 10th anniversary of the Chinese New Year Festival that is taking place at the Luther Jackson Middle School in Falls Church, Virginia on Saturday, January 14, 2017.

This family friendly festival will once again feature lion dances and the exciting Dragon Parade, along with a variety of other dance and musical performances from Chinese and other Asian cultures.

I want to commend the Asian Community Service Center for enthusiastically inviting all Americans to attend this festival. Their warm hospitality provides an opportunity for everyone to learn about the unique beauty of the Chinese culture.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent a significant number of Chinese Americans who live and work in my Congressional District. At the beginning of the Year of the Rooster, I would like to wish you and our colleagues a very happy and prosperous new year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge Christopher U. Browne who will be

departing from his position as Vice President and Airport Manager of Washington Dulles International Airport this month after a 29-year career. Mr. Browne has made tremendous contributions for the traveling public and the economic vitality of the National Capital Region and maintains the unique distinction of having served as Airport Manager for both Reagan National and Dulles International airports.

Mr. Browne's passion for aviation began long before his work at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). Shortly after graduating from Dartmouth College in 1980, he attended the Navy's ``Top Gun'' fighter weapon school. As a Naval Flight Officer, he logged more than 1,400 hours and had 300 carrier landings in the F-14 Tomcat and also received the Navy's Commendation Medal for excellent performance.

After his time in the Navy, Mr. Browne started his professional career with the MWAA as a Manager of Operations at Reagan National Airport. During his tenure at Reagan, he had an integral role in the construction of Terminals B and C in 1997, in handling and planning for Y2K, and in implementing new security procedures after September 11, 2001--which allowed the airport to reopen just three weeks after the devastating attack.

After 7 years at Reagan National, Mr. Browne became the Airport Manager and Vice President of Washington Dulles International where he oversaw a staff of over 500 employees and was responsible for an aviation revenue stream exceeding $400 million.

In his next endeavor, Mr. Browne will take on new responsibilities as Deputy Director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum. He will remain connected to aviation through the Air and Space Museum, which includes the Udvar-Hazy facility on the Dulles campus.

At this moment, Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in extending our sincerest thanks to Mr. Browne for his service to our nation and all the work he has done for the MWAA and the airports in the National Capital Region.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize a local businessman in Virginia's 10th District, John Rotz, who will be retiring and passing along his business to his son Jason. Rotz Pharmacy is a landmark in Winchester and is the only independent pharmacy left in the area. John Rotz has quite the entrepreneurial history and a pharmaceutical background.

Mr. Rotz was the son of a pharmacist and from a young age was passionate about helping others. At the age of 23, while still studying at the Medical College of Virginia, he opened up his first pharmacy in 1976, Barry's Drug Store. Despite his age and lack of resources, Mr. Rotz always maintained a strong work ethic and customer-first attitude and was able to expand to a larger location after only 2 years of operation. This location, which changed to Medical Circle Pharmacy, was open for 26 years before the pharmacy moved to Amherst Street and became Rotz Pharmacy in 2004. Over the years, Mr. Rotz never lost sight of the core values of a family-owned small business, and the store is widely recognized for its traditional feel.

In today's society, family owned small businesses are crucial to the future of our nation. It is families like the Rotz family who help foster strong, local economies by establishing successful business practices that can be carried out for generations.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding John Rotz for his dedication to serving our community for so many years. I wish Mr. Rotz the best in retirement and wish Jason all the best in managing the pharmacy.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 321) to inspire women to enter the aerospace field, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, through mentorship and outreach.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 321, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise to offer H.R. 321, the INSPIRE Act. I am pleased to lead this effort along with the chairman and ranking member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Lamar Smith and Eddie Bernice Johnson, as well as Congresswoman Esty.

We did pass this bill last year and now we are revisiting it since it didn't get through the Senate.

Recently, the movie, ``Hidden Figures,'' was released detailing a few of the unsung heroes of NASA. This movie highlights the moving story of a group of African American women who worked at NASA at a historic time in the 1960s as mathematicians during the space race.

Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson were featured in the movie for their work that launched America into space.

In a recent interview with the LA Times, Ms. Johnson, who is still living, was asked: ``At the time, did you know that John Glenn asked for `the girl' (which would be you) to check the numbers before he took his landmark flight into space? Did it heighten the stakes for you?''

Ms. Johnson's response: ``I knew they asked me to check the numbers. That was what I did. They knew my record for accuracy. I knew and had confidence in my math, so I did it. I always did my best.''

Mr. Speaker, I didn't know the story of these women growing up, even though they were doing these things at a time when we were all watching these things happen. But now today's young women well know that story. It is an inspiring story. It is one of those movies Ms. Esty and I were speaking about yesterday that were on our list of must-sees.

These women were critical to the success of our astronauts and our space program that would eventually put a man on the Moon. Now is the time to pass this legislation that will afford opportunities to a future generation of women leaders who will have a similar impact on our Nation's history, and maybe, one day, put a woman on Mars.

The INSPIRE Act authorizes the NASA administrator to encourage young women to study mathematics, known as the STEM fields, and to pursue careers that will further advance America's space science and exploration efforts through support of NASA initiatives such as NASA GIRLS, Aspire 2 Inspire, and the Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research--SISTER.

The goal of NASA GIRLS is to create a virtual mentoring project that offers a one-of-a-kind experience to middle school students using online capabilities.

NASA's vision for Aspire 2 Inspire was to reach out to young girls and present some of the STEM career opportunities through the real lives and jobs of early career women at NASA.

The SISTER program is designed to increase awareness of and provide an opportunity for female middle school students to be exposed to and explore nontraditional career fields with Goddard Space Flight Center women engineers, mathematicians, scientists, technicians, and researchers. According to NASA, 58 women have traveled in space. Forty- nine of those have flown with NASA.

Of course, there are so many other careers available for women in NASA, and we want to make sure all of those are available for them. We know the stories of women like Sally Ride and Mae Jemison, but, ironically, we didn't know these hidden figures that are behind the scene. So now, as we move forward under this program, we hope everyone will know about the many women and the many careers open to both men and women in this NASA program.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello).

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we have had over 65 cosponsors this year on the bill, as was mentioned by my colleague. It had strong bipartisan support last year and it has also been introduced now in the Senate, so we certainly hope it will move through quickly.

Eileen Collins, who became the first female to command and pilot a spacecraft, was asked to give advice to future astronauts. She stated:

My advice to young people is to go into the field you are

most interested in. If you love your job, you will do well in

your job.

I think what we have all discussed here today is, when you can see that job and when you can see people who look like you--see women and people from all walks of life in those positions--and the Internet allows us to do that now, then you can really have that kind of exposure, which is quite exciting.

I appreciate the opportunity to, once again, present this bill, and I ask my colleagues to join me in support.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 255) to authorize the National Science Foundation to support entrepreneurial programs for women.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 255, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I offer another bipartisan bill that Ms. Esty and I have introduced, H.R. 255, her bill called Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act. We are joined again on this measure by the chairman and the ranking member, who are original cosponsors of this bill.

Our bill, H.R. 255, amends the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act to authorize the National Science Foundation to use its entrepreneurial programs to recruit women and to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and into the commercial world. The bill also includes a number of findings regarding women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, also known as the STEM fields.

One finding in this bill notes that women make up almost 50 percent of the workforce but less than 25 percent of the workforce in STEM professions. We want to make sure we can do everything to improve these statistics, and we believe this bill, along with our earlier bill that we voted on, is a step in the right direction.

Again, I have been happy to collaborate with my colleague, Congresswoman Esty, on this important legislation for our young women so that they may look to the stars and realize their dreams in this important field that will really be important in the 21st century. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Esty and Congressman Johnson and appreciate their passion on both of these bills and their leadership and, once again, being able to join with them on inspiring the next generation of women leaders in the STEM fields.

As was noted by my colleagues, there is such a shortage of people to fill these jobs in general. Now this will equip more women to be able to be prepared in these important fields that will allow us to be leaders in the 21st century economy.

I would like to thank our staff--particularly we have our female staff here who have been very active on our bill, as well as a male. We are fortunate to have female leadership on our staff, also, and we thank them.

I know, in working on a program that I have had over the past 4 years, a young woman's leadership program, NASA, space, and astronauts have been some of the most popular people that our women in junior high and high school have liked to meet, hear from, and really be able to see themselves in those roles and to talk to women who have actually been leaders in those fields.

So I appreciate the opportunity to join with my colleagues now in giving that opportunity to the next generation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Captain Joseph Baggett, JAGC, USN (ret), who is retiring after 46 years of combined active duty and civilian service to our nation with the United States Navy.

Captain Baggett was born into a military family. The son of a career enlisted Marine, Captain Baggett grew up in the presence of the United States Navy in such diverse locations as Naval Air Station Pensacola, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and the United Kingdom. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Tulane University in May 1971. He later earned a J.D. from Tulane University School of Law, and an LL. M. in Ocean and Coastal Law from the University of Miami School of Law. A longtime resident of Herndon, Virginia is his home.

In 1971, Captain Baggett began his dedicated service to our nation as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. During the next 30 years, Captain Baggett served on active duty in a wide variety of roles, traveling throughout the United States and overseas. His assignments included two tours as a Supply Corps

officer, including service onboard USS Rich (DD 820); Naval Legal Service Office, Jacksonville, Florida; Commander, Middle East Force; Commander, Iceland Defense Force; Commander, Sixth Fleet; Navy Office of Legislative Affairs; and the Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate. Later in his career he served as Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General for International Law; as Counsel for National Security to the Deputy Attorney General of the United States; as Staff Judge Advocate for the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; as Commanding Officer, Naval Legal Service Office, Norfolk, Virginia; and as Director of the Legislation Division in the Office of Legislative Affairs.

Following his retirement from active duty in December 2000, Captain Baggett continued his superlative service to the Navy as a civilian, serving for another sixteen years as Deputy Director of the International and Operational Law Division in the Office of the Judge Advocate General in the Pentagon. In that role, he has been a constant champion of our national interests in the areas of law of the sea and freedom of navigation.

His support to our national security cannot be overstated. Captain Baggett's expertise and understanding of the complexities of the law of the sea and the law of armed conflict are without equal in the U.S. government. As the Armed Forces confronted myriad diverse challenges, he delivered sage counsel to the Department of the Navy, facilitating our ability to conduct naval operations. His profound knowledge and experience directly improved the ability to the sea services to fulfil their missions throughout the world.

For his outstanding service to our nation, Captain Baggett earned numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, Navy Superior Civilian Service Award, and Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join in commending Captain Baggett for his commitment to our country and the sacrifices he made on its behalf. On the occasion of his retirement from the federal service, I thank him and his family for his honorable service to our nation and wish him fair winds and following seas as he concludes a distinguished career.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues for this opportunity to recognize this month as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and I thank my colleagues Congresswomen Ann Wagner and Kristi Noem for organizing this effort.

I really appreciate how we are working together to raise awareness about this terrible crime that is happening in my district in northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, throughout Virginia, and throughout--unfortunately--our country. This growing criminal enterprise we know knows no boundaries.

Mr. Speaker, the Fairfax County Police Department in my district has established the northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force to crack down on this scourge. In the past 12 months alone, just to give you an idea of this crime that is in the local area, the task force has had 156 leads, 109 victim recoveries, 267 victims identified, and 73 suspects.

Mr. Speaker, while we have done great work to combat this terrible crime in Virginia, we clearly have more work to do on every level: the local level, State level, and national level.

Four years ago, Virginia, for example, was at the bottom of the Polaris Project anti-human trafficking State rankings. Now, we are at the top because we passed many of the kind of bills that we are going to be able to pass here tomorrow and additional bills that are going to be here tomorrow.

I am very honored to be able to join all of my colleagues and with our faith-based organizations and our law enforcement officials and to be able to continue this work now on a national level and to be able to vote for these important bills that we will be addressing tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table (S. Con. Res. 2) authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a ceremony to present the Congressional Gold Medal to the First Special Service Force, in recognition of its superior service during World War II, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a privileged concurrent resolution and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3, the Keystone XL pipeline. This bill is about good-paying jobs and energy security.

Republicans and many Democrats agree on this, as well as the unique coalition of unions like the Teamsters, LIUNA, the Tea Party, as well as the Chamber of Commerce.

Listen to what the president of LIUNA said:

To the tens and thousands of men and women in the

construction industry, this isn't just a pipeline; it is

their mortgages, college tuitions, car payments, and food on

the table. And for our country, this isn't just a pipeline;

it's a lifeline to family security, energy security, and

national security.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote for the passage of this critical, bipartisan bill.