Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H. Res. 1366, recognizing and honoring the United States freight rail industry. Before I do, I must note, once again, as other of my colleagues have, that every single transportation bill on today's suspension calendar is a Democratic bill. The majority has not been living up to the common practice of a 70/30 split on those suspension calendars. Currently, it's running at about 95-5 percent, although I am pleased to say that they've added three Republican suspension bills to the calendar later this week. So I hope the majority will continue to try to honor that common practice we've had in the House for a number of years.

We are honoring the freight rails today because our freight rail network is the undisputed envy of the world. Every year freight trains move 40 tons of material for every man, woman and child in this country. Railroads provide a remarkable public benefit, reducing traffic on the highways, lowering pollution, and providing a less expensive mode of transit for freight. And this public benefit is provided at no expense to taxpayers.

Perhaps the greatest thing about the railroad industry is that it utilizes private money rather than public funds to build and maintain its infrastructure. Investors risk billions of capital annually to support the Nation's railroads because these private companies

produce a reliable, although modest return to investors. We must not jeopardize this critical industry by over-regulating or re-regulating and creating an environment where railroads cannot access the capital to maintain and expand their operations.

Without this access to investment capital, the industry will decline, as it has in the past. And we don't want to be here 10 or 15 years from now discussing taxpayer subsidies for the freight rail industry.

Over the course of the 20th century, Congress enacted policies that nearly ruined the railroads in the name of reducing shipping rates. These policies discouraged investors, and led to decay in the railroad industry. ``Standing derailments'' became common in this dark era, a term that was used for an idle freight car that simply collapses on its side because of rotten tracks. Over one-fifth of the Nation's railroads were owned by bankrupt firms by the end of the 1970s.

But the Staggers Reform Act in 1980 created an environment that has led to the revitalized freight network we all benefit from today. Railroads are prosperous again, productivity has soared, and rail continues to gain market share thanks to improvements in service and competitive pricing. This reconnaissance culminated earlier this year when Warren Buffett made his $34 billion investment in the BNSF railroad.

Despite the fact that shipping rates are much lower today than they were in the 1980s, and freight rates in the U.S. are half of what they are in Europe and Japan, the same forces are at play that nearly destroyed the railroads in the 20th century. Already the urge to regulate has led to a policy that will force the railroads to spend more than $12 billion on positive train control, a price tag that continues to grow at an alarming rate. Positive train control has a cost-benefit ratio of 20 to 1, and will prevent less than 3 percent of rail accidents. It is my belief that railroads themselves are the best judge of where to invest capital dollars for safety improvements, not Congress.

We should work together with the railroads to identify areas of safety improvement that can be accomplished at a reasonable cost. And I believe we should reexamine the scope of the positive train control mandate.

I note that this is the first time that Congress has considered a resolution recognizing and honoring the freight railroads alone. I think it's very appropriate, because the National Train Day resolution we passed earlier this year was changed from previous years' versions to focus solely on Amtrak and passenger rail. Amtrak operates primarily on private freight tracks. Without the continued economic vitality of the freight railroads and their constant investment in maintaining 140,000 miles of track in the U.S., Amtrak would not have a national passenger rail system.

In closing, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1366, and believe that Congress should honor the freight rail industry by working to create an environment that will allow it to have continued success.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Will the gentleman yield?

I would say thank you. I did make note we are getting three more bills, and we appreciate the effort.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 448, I was not present due to my flight being delayed. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 449 I was not present due to my flight being delayed. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H. Res. 1463, which designates Railroad Retirement Day on August 29, 2010. Railroad Retirement Day is established in this resolution to celebrate the success and importance of the Railroad Retirement System, which has benefited generations of hardworking railroad workers and their families.

I am proud to support the railroad retirement system, which predates Social Security and provides comprehensive retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. More than 600,000 beneficiaries receive approximately $10 billion in benefits each year from the railroad retirement system.

For the last 7 years, a portion of retiree assets has been managed in the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust. The NRRIT invests in U.S. and global equity markets, fixed income, and real estate and commodities, much like many private-sector retirement funds. This innovative fund has already returned $7.9 billion to retirees, and has grown 16 percent in the last 7 years, despite payouts and the volatility in the markets and the global economy.

I believe we should take a close look at the success of this system as one of the potential solutions to the looming crisis in Social Security. So I congratulate and applaud the majority for bringing this up today, as I have heard so many of my other colleagues talk about Social Security and how those on my side want to privatize Social Security. That just is not true. Nobody on our side of the aisle wants to privatize Social Security. But we have to look at innovative ways to be able to keep Social Security viable.

Just today there was a poll in USA Today that says that the overwhelming majority of Americans under 34 years old do not believe they will get anything from Social Security. So once again, looking at the railroad retirement system is a potential solution to Social Security. And again, it's not privatizing. It's taking a small portion of it and investing it in different ways. And as I said, the success of this over the last 7 years, even in these volatile times, has proven to be successful.

It has grown 16 percent over the last 7 years.

I would urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to stop the rhetoric, stop the scare tactics in talking about the way we want to privatize Social Security. This is a viable solution that we need to consider. This is something that we need to take a look at as we move forward in this country.

So, again, I applaud the majority for bringing this up today when, as I've said, I've heard so much talk about privatizing Social Security. And we all need to look at Social Security and figure out how to reform it, because I have two children--22 years old and soon-to-be 19--and Social Security will not be there for them. And we're not talking about the folks who are retired today. We need to make sure we are going to keep that ironclad guarantee with today's retirees and those that are soon to retire, that we are not going to affect their Social Security.

But as we move forward, as I said, let's look at the railroad retirement system as a model for how we can improve Social Security for those in America that are just moving into the job market who won't be retiring for 20

and 30 and 40 years. The freight rail industry strongly supports the railroad retirement system because these good benefits attract and retain highly skilled workers. This is a system that has worked well for generations. And I would encourage the railroads and the unions to protect the system by ensuring that benefits are distributed fairly and to remain vigilant for fraud and abuse in this system.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Again, I want to make sure we set the record straight here. There is a lot of rhetoric, a lot of talk going on on the floor today about Social Security, and I just want to make sure that the record stands clear that in 1935, the Social Security Act, on April 19, 1935, was passed with 79 percent of the Republicans in the House voting for it in the House. There weren't many Republicans in 1935, I might add. Seventy-seven Republicans voted for it, and there were 18 that voted against; 288 Democrats voted for it and 13 voted against.

So let the record show that Republicans have supported Social Security, and we continue to support Social Security. Nobody that I know of on my side has talked about privatizing Social Security. We look to something like the railroad retirement system, how they've taken a portion of it, 7 years ago--under the Bush administration, I might add--under a Republican Congress, moved a portion of that to be able to be invested into different investment vehicles that has given a much greater return. As I've said, 17 percent growth in the last 7 years, even in these tough economic times. So it can be done.

And as I mentioned earlier, there was a poll out today that 18- to 34-year-olds in today's USA Today poll, 75 percent of them do not believe they will receive Social Security benefits. So standing up talking about railroad retirees, I'm here. I applaud the system. I want to applaud the railroad retirees and the freight system in this country, the railroads in this country.

But we've got to talk about all retirees, future retirees. That's who we owe it to, to the future generations to look at ways that we can strengthen and reform Social Security. And as I will go back to, as I've continued to state, I want to make sure that we hear this loud and clear, this is a system that we can look at as potentially a model. We have to consider this to make sure that we save Social Security for future generations.

With that, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

In response to the chairman of the committee and his comments--and it is always dangerous challenging the chairman on his historical notes and happenings in the House, but as I recall in 1995, although I was not here, don't recall the debate, I do recall that it was a commission set up by President Clinton that made some of these recommendations.

So, to continue, for the majority to point to Republicans as not voting for it, as trying to rip it out by the roots, as trying to privatize, just simply is not accurate, and that's some of the rhetoric we hear from the other side.

Today, as we move this resolution forward, as I have said before, this is something we should be looking at as a model, as something we should try to understand how this works, the railroad retirement works, how it has grown 16 percent in the last 7 years despite these very volatile times in our economy. We did not privatize railroads' retirement. We took a portion of it, and we know that the retirees are receiving greater benefits because of what we've done here.

So I urge my colleagues on the other side as we debate this, as we talk about--a lot of folks talk about Social Security, as the chairman and the chairman of the subcommittee has mentioned Social Security, I'm not so sure, and I guess I have to ask the question: Do you support the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust which does something very similar to many on both sides of the aisle, the commission that was set up by President Clinton and others on my side of the aisle talked about, as one of the ways to reform the Social Security system?

So we can stand up here today and talk about in glowing terms about the Railroad Retirement Investment Trust, when it's doing something that is very positive and it's a potential to help reform, to help make sure that those 18 to 34 years old in this country, that 75 percent of them do not believe they are going to get any money out of Social Security when they retire.

It just seems to me that the majority is using a lot of rhetoric, trying to hype up retirees in this country which we have to make sure that we keep that ironclad guarantee that those who are retired, those that are soon to retire are going to get the Social Security benefits that they've earned, that they have been promised by the Government of the United States.

But we have to look to the future generation, those that are going to retire in 20 and 30 years. Social Security, as the chairman pointed out, has not bounced a check. The check comes every month; but if we don't figure out

a way, a bipartisan way, how to reform Social Security, there's going to come a day when there's not going to be any money there, or we are just going to continue what we've been doing over the past 18 months, spending money, borrowing money that we don't have, which is going to be inflationary; and then that tax on our retirees, on our Social Security beneficiaries, is going to be an even more brutal tax when you lose value because of inflation. When inflation soars to four and five and seven, and those that have been on this Earth for more than 35, 40 years, remember the days of double-digit inflation and how brutal that was to the economy and how brutal that is to our retirees.

So this is an opportunity for us to look at a system that both sides of the aisle here talking, standing up today, as I said talking about in glowing terms the Railroad Retirement Fund, and we should look at this as a potential to help reform and strengthen Social Security for future generations.

I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota.

I appreciate the gentleman's comments but, again, we can use this as an experiment, it's working.

I understand the scale is different, but the principles can be the same. Business principles, running an efficient operation, making sure of a return on investment. All those things that we use in a small business that I operated, they use those same fundamentals when they are operating large companies in this country.

My suggestion, my urging is that the majority, as we move down the road, look at this as something to consider on how we can reform Social Security and strengthen it for those future generations. As I want to continue to stress, for the folks that are retired today and those that are going to retire soon, we have got to keep that guarantee that it is going to be there. But if we don't do something, don't consider some other way to strengthen Social Security, those who are 18 to 35 that have stated in that poll, 75 percent of them do not believe there is going to be anything available for them in Social Security when they retire.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I yield myself the balance of my time.

I will close by making the final note, again, the urging, the plea to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, to stop using the rhetoric that those of us on our side want to privatize.

We do not want to privatize Social Security. We want to find reforms to make sense. We want to find reforms that are going to strengthen Social Security and not just for those today, but, most importantly, those that are going to retire in 20, 30 years from now.

Because if we in this Congress do nothing, then we are going to continue to see Social Security going in the wrong direction and nobody in this country wants to see the Social Security system continue to go down, having less money, moving towards insolvency. So we have got to do something.

I say, let's look at the railroad retirement fund that has returned $7.9 billion to its retirees and has grown 16 percent in the last 7 years, despite payouts, volatility in the markets, in the global economy. This is a system that, again, 7 years ago, we have taken a small portion of it and invested it in U.S. and global equity markets, fixed income, real estate, commodities, not the entire amount, but a portion of it. Our railroad retirees are benefiting greatly by that.

I stand here today in support of this resolution. I hope it passes overwhelmingly, and I hope that we look to future generations to try to solve our problems, solve the reform of Social Security by looking at railroad retirement, which has been a tremendous success.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I agree with my colleague from Massachusetts that we need to get this economy back on track, but you don't get it back on track by creating the great uncertainty that your side has created in the economy, raising health care costs, raising energy costs--potentially raising energy costs--raising taxes. Businesses aren't going to invest when there's this much uncertainty out there. And I hear it every single day from my colleagues from around the country, from businesses that I speak to.

But what we can do is start to find out ways to cut wasteful spending. And I support Mr. Schock from Illinois's proposal today to cut the wasteful spending on these signs that are across this country. $20 million. They're not creating a single job. They're not improving safety in this country. In fact, as my colleague said, I find it silly that this administration is spending $20 million on signs.

In my State of Pennsylvania, which has more structurally deficient bridges than any other State in the Nation, we could take these $20 million and apply it to some of these bridges in Pennsylvania and across this country. And I'll just point out three of them in Pennsylvania, while I'm sure there are hundreds if not thousands across this country:

$1.1 million to replace the Bolden Ridge Bridge in Fayette County, a project that would create 33 jobs and improve safety for the traveling public;

$3 million to replace the Fair Grounds Bridge in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, a project that would create 92 jobs and, again, improve safety for our citizens;

And, finally, $5.5 million to repair a sinkhole that's occurring in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, that is going to pose a serious risk to the traveling public in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, and those people that cross that road. $5.5 million will create 167 jobs, and it will make our roadways safer.

These projects will create jobs. They will improve our infrastructure. And most importantly, they'll improve safety.

So I ask my colleagues on the other side to stand up with us today and say, let's stop this silliness. Let's stop spending $20 million on these signs that aren't creating jobs and are nothing more than propaganda. So I ask them to support my colleague's, Mr. Schock, H.R. 5679.

Will the gentleman yield?

When we did the stimulus bill, we spent money on all different kinds of programs, many of which don't create jobs. Only 8 percent went to infrastructure in this country, 8 percent, which is a very small amount.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tina Walter, who has been selected as the Bedford Rotary Club's 2010 Citizen of the Year.

Tina Walter is an exemplary citizen of New Enterprise, Pennsylvania, where she has worked as an Emergency Medical Technician for 26 years. Mrs. Walter is a founding member and manager of the Southern Cove Ambulance Service where she presently serves as an EMT, CPR, and First Responder Instructor. She is also a highly regarded firefighter who serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Southern Cove Fire Company. Mrs. Walter has helped secure over $200,000 in state and federal grant funds by serving as the grant writer for the Southern Cove Ambulance and Fire Company.

Mrs. Walter has been married for 29 years to the Chief of the Southern Cove Fire Company, Brian Walter. She has two children, one of whom has a severe handicap and requires twenty-four hour care. Because of her schedule as an EMT and Fire Fighter, Mrs. Walter relies on friends and family to help care for her son.

In her spare time, Tina Walter volunteers in nursing homes, schools, service clubs and churches. She also helped form and is the current director of the Southern Cove Fireman's Choir, which is scheduled to sing the National Anthem during a Pittsburgh Pirates game in August. Furthermore, Mrs. Walter is currently spearheading a Rotary committee to bring the first annual ``Bluegrass Festival'' to New Enterprise in July of this year to benefit the Fire Company.

Tina's efforts and accomplishments serve to exemplify great service of self, service to family, and service to community. I commend those who have seen fit to honor Tina Walter as this year's Bedford Rotary Club's 2010 Citizen of the Year, and I too recognize and congratulate Tina Walter for all she has done.

Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the gentleman from Vermont's remarks and urge my colleagues not to be swayed by the lobbyists from the credit card companies that are trying to eliminate the Durbin amendment from this important legislation.

Let me make this point clear. The compromise reached in the conference committee does not eliminate the interchange fee or allow the Federal Government to set the interchange fee. The amendment simply creates a level playing field for banks and small businesses to negotiate interchange fees like any other business contract.

The Sheetz Corporation, which has 363 stores in 6 States, is headquartered in my district, and last year, the Sheetz Corporation paid twice as much in interchange fees as they took in in net income after tax. Their second largest expense after payroll is the interchange fee. That means that for Sheetz, the interchange fee eclipsed the company's cost in rent for their 363 stores, and they are paying 1\1/2\ times the cost of providing health care to their nearly 13,000 employees.

The compromise reached by the conference committee benefits merchants, retains flexibility of small community banks and credit unions, and ultimately benefits the American consumer.

I urge the conference committee and my colleagues to support the Durbin amendment.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, June 10, I was not present in order to attend my son's high school graduation ceremony. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall 353, final passage of the FHA Reform Act of 2010, and ``yes'' on rollcall 354, passage of amendments to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to authorize advances from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

I thank the gentleman from California for yielding.

I rise in support of the en bloc amendments, but I rise in opposition to the Murphy amendment, which will repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, which is the current law for the U.S. military.

Our Nation is at war, and after making the continuous sacrifice of fighting two wars over the course of 8 years, the men and women of our military deserve

to be heard. This December, the Pentagon's Don't Ask, Don't Tell Working Group will return a survey of over 300,000 of our members of our military concerning that policy. We should listen to the men and women in uniform first before we act in the Congress.

This decision should not be based on a campaign promise made to a particular constituent base, but on thoughtful consideration of readiness, morale, and cohesion. We owe that to the men and women who serve us in harm's way.

In the committee, we have heard from all four of our service chiefs expressing their concerns on this amendment, and it is unanimous. The Chiefs and Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen recently sent a letter to the chairman of the committee, Chairman Skelton, saying that they believe in the strongest possible terms that the Department must, prior to any legislative action, be allowed the opportunity to conduct a thorough, objective, and systematic assessment of the impact of such a policy change, develop an attentive comprehensive implementation plan, and provide the President and the Congress with the results of this effort in order to ensure that this step is taken in the most informed and effective manner. That is Admiral Mullen and Secretary Gates.

Further, Admiral Roughead has sent a letter. It says he shares the views of Secretary Gates that the best approach would be to complete the Department of Defense review before there is any legislative change made.

Further, General Schwartz has said that as a matter of keeping faith with those currently serving in the Armed Forces, that the Secretary of Defense commissioned review be completed before any legislative act is done to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

General Casey has the same type of response. He goes further saying, ``Repealing the law before the completion of the review will be seen by the men and women of the Army as a reversal of our commitment to hear their views before moving forward.''

And, finally, General Conway stated that he believes the current policy works, and at this point his best military advice to the House committee and to the Secretary and to the President would be to keep the law as it stands today.

In addition, Congress is giving up its powers, surrendering, abdicating its constitutional authority to the executive branch in order to appease a political agenda.

This amendment, as drafted, puts a conditional future on an important defense policy and law, which would then only be decided by the administration.

I believe Congress should maintain its authority to review and debate this policy implication of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell before a final decision is made. We owe that to the men and women of the Armed Forces.

To my colleagues, I urge them: Don't shoot before we aim. I urge a ``no'' vote on the Murphy amendment.

The Secretary of Defense,

Washington, DC, April 30, 2010.

Hon. Ike Skelton,

Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing in response to your letter

of April 28 requesting my views on the advisability of

legislative action to repeal the so-called ``Don't Ask Don't

Tell'' statute prior to the completion of the Department of

Defense review of this matter.

I believe in the strongest possible terms that the

Department must, prior to any legislative action, be allowed

the opportunity to conduct a thorough, objective, and

systematic assessment of the impact of such a policy change;

develop an attentive comprehensive implementation plan, and

provide the President and the Congress with the results of

this effort in order to ensure that this step is taken in the

most informed and effective manner. A critical element of

this effort is the need to systematically engage our forces,

their families, and the broader military community throughout

this process. Our military must be afforded the opportunity

to inform us of their concerns, insights, and suggestions if

we are to carry out this change successfully.

Therefore, I strongly oppose any legislation that seeks to

change this policy prior to the completion of this vital

assessment process. Further, I hope Congress will not do so,

as it would send a very damaging message to our men and women

in uniform that in essence their views, concerns, and

perspectives do not matter on an issue with such a direct

impact and consequence for them and their families.

Adm. Michael G. Mullen,

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Robert M. Gates,

Secretary of Defense.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Republic of Azerbaijan in celebration of the 92nd anniversary of Republic Day on May 28.

Located in a geopolitically dynamic region between Europe and Asia and sandwiched between Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan is a secular county with a predominantly Muslim population that has also been home for more than a millennia for vibrant Christian and Jewish communities.

Azerbaijan first gained independence in 1918, which led to an explosion of the arts, education, and economic growth. That independence was suspended in 1920 by Soviet invasion, not to be restored until 1991 with the fall of the Soviet Union.

Azerbaijan has opened Caspian energy resources to development by U.S. companies and has emerged as a key player for global energy security. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project, supported by both the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, is the most successful project contributing to the development of the South Caucasus region and has become the main artery delivering Caspian Sea hydrocarbons to the United States and our partners in Europe. Notably, in 2009 Azerbaijan provided nearly one-quarter of all crude oil supplies to Israel and is considered a leading potential natural gas provider for the U.S. supported Nabucco pipeline.

On the security front, immediately after 9/11 Azerbaijan was among the first to offer strong support and assistance to the United States. Azerbaijan participated in operations in Kosovo and Iraq and is actively engaged in Afghanistan, having recently doubled its military presence there. Azerbaijan has extended important over-flight clearances for U.S. and NATO flights to support ISAF and has regularly provided landing and refueling operations at its airports for U.S. and NATO forces. Also, Azerbaijan plays an important role in the Northern Distribution Network, a supply route to Afghanistan by making available its ground and Caspian naval transportation facilities.

Additionally, Azerbaijan provides specialized training for Afghan police, border guard officers and de-miners, education and training of Afghan civilian and military medical doctors, and medical treatment of Afghan citizens at Azeri hospitals. Azerbaijan has provided medical equipment and supplies to Afghanistan as well as assisting in the construction of schools and hospitals there.

Azerbaijan remains a reliable partner of NATO and the EU in the South Caucasus through its consistent and effective contribution to common goals and objectives. Azerbaijan is also an active partner of the United States in efforts regarding the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction through its participation in programs such as Caspian Guard and Cooperative Threat Reduction.

Against this backdrop, Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act of 1992, which prohibits direct U.S. government assistance to Azerbaijan, remains a serious obstacle to expanding the strategic partnership between our two countries and is contrary to U.S. national interest in the region. Furthermore, the absence of a U.S. Ambassador to Baku since July 2009 creates unnecessary uncertainties. Finally, as one of the cochairs of the OSCE Minsk Group charged with resolving the Armenia- Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the United States must engage more actively in mediation efforts, as is the case with Moscow and Paris.

Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, I applaud the European Parliament for adopting a resolution on May 20, 2010 urging the EU to pursue a strategy in the South Caucasus to promote stability, prosperity, and conflict resolution and demanding ``the withdrawal of Armenian forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan, accompanied by deployment of international forces to be organized with respect of the UN Charter in order to provide the necessary security guarantees in a period of transition, which will ensure the security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh and allow the displaced persons to return to their homes and further conflicts caused by homelessness to be prevented.''

Again, as the Cochairman of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, it is my distinct pleasure to honor the Republic of Azerbaijan in celebration of the 92th anniversary of Republic Day and to recognize the valuable bilateral relationship between the United States and Azerbaijan. I also encourage my colleagues who are interested in supporting Azerbaijan to join me as a member of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Republic of Azerbaijan in celebration of the 92nd anniversary of Republic Day on May 28.

Located in a geopolitically dynamic region between Europe and Asia and sandwiched between Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan is a secular county with a predominantly Muslim population that has also been home for more than a millennia for vibrant Christian and Jewish communities.

Azerbaijan first gained independence in 1918, which led to an explosion of the arts, education, and economic growth. That independence was suspended in 1920 by Soviet invasion, not to be restored until 1991 with the fall of the Soviet Union.

Azerbaijan has opened Caspian energy resources to development by U.S. companies and has emerged as a key player for global energy security. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project, supported by both the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, is the most successful project contributing to the development of the South Caucasus region and has become the main artery delivering Caspian Sea hydrocarbons to the United States and our partners in Europe. Notably, in 2009 Azerbaijan provided nearly one-quarter of all crude oil supplies to Israel and is considered a leading potential natural gas provider for the U.S. supported Nabucco pipeline.

On the security front, immediately after 9/11 Azerbaijan was among the first to offer strong support and assistance to the United States. Azerbaijan participated in operations in Kosovo and Iraq and is actively engaged in Afghanistan, having recently doubled its military presence there. Azerbaijan has extended important over-flight clearances for U.S. and NATO flights to support ISAF and has regularly provided landing and refueling operations at its airports for U.S. and NATO forces. Also, Azerbaijan plays an important role in the Northern Distribution Network, a supply route to Afghanistan by making available its ground and Caspian naval transportation facilities.

Additionally, Azerbaijan provides specialized training for Afghan police, border guard officers and de-miners, education and training of Afghan civilian and military medical doctors, and medical treatment of Afghan citizens at Azeri hospitals. Azerbaijan has provided medical equipment and supplies to Afghanistan as well as assisting in the construction of schools and hospitals there.

Azerbaijan remains a reliable partner of NATO and the EU in the South Caucasus through its consistent and effective contribution to common goals and objectives. Azerbaijan is also an active partner of the United States in efforts regarding the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction through its participation in programs such as Caspian Guard and Cooperative Threat Reduction.

Against this backdrop, Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act of 1992, which prohibits direct U.S. government assistance to Azerbaijan, remains a serious obstacle to expanding the strategic partnership between our two countries and is contrary to U.S. national interest in the region. Furthermore, the absence of a U.S. Ambassador to Baku since July 2009 creates unnecessary uncertainties. Finally, as one of the cochairs of the OSCE Minsk Group charged with resolving the Armenia- Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the United States must engage more actively in mediation efforts, as is the case with Moscow and Paris.

Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, I applaud the European Parliament for adopting a resolution on May 20, 2010 urging the EU to pursue a strategy in the South Caucasus to promote stability, prosperity, and conflict resolution and demanding ``the withdrawal of Armenian forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan, accompanied by deployment of international forces to be organized with respect of the UN Charter in order to provide the necessary security guarantees in a period of transition, which will ensure the security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh and allow the displaced persons to return to their homes and further conflicts caused by homelessness to be prevented.''

Again, as the Cochairman of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, it is my distinct pleasure to honor the Republic of Azerbaijan in celebration of the 92th anniversary of Republic Day and to recognize the valuable bilateral relationship between the United States and Azerbaijan. I also encourage my colleagues who are interested in supporting Azerbaijan to join me as a member of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Timothy P. Sissler, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Bank in Altoona. Mr. Sissler deserves recognition for his career and accomplishments, which have truly been an asset to his industry and community.

The story of Mr. Sissler's career is characterized by hard work and business acumen. He began as a management trainee with Mid-State Bank and Trust Company and then rose through its ranks. When he became the Director of Commercial Banking, Mr. Sissler assumed responsibility for a $750 million portfolio and over 100 officers and employees. He filled this position with such skill that the Central Bank of Hollidaysburg named Mr. Sissler as its President. Once again, Mr. Sissler's abilities proved up to his task, and while he was president, the bank produced double-digit deposit and loan growth. Since 2000, Mr. Sissler has served as president and Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Bank. As impressive as these career achievements are, Mr. Sissler also excels in other areas of the banking industry. He received an A.P. Giannini Public Speaking Award from the American Institute of Banking and coauthored an article for the Journal of Commercial Bank Lending. Furthermore, Mr. Sissler serves on the boards of several organizations, such as Mount Aloysius College and Pennsylvania Free Enterprise, and has been named a Fellow of Leadership, Blair County.

Timothy Sissler reminds us of the benefits hard work, diligence and integrity provide. With these characteristics, he has risen to the top of his field and provides responsible, positive leadership in the banking industry. I commend Mr. Sissler on his honorable achievements, and I look forward to many more.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the induction of 42 seventh grade students of Chestnut Ridge Middle School of Fishertown into the National Junior Honor Society. The Chestnut Ridge chapter will holds its induction ceremony on Monday, May 3, 2010.

Induction into the National Junior Honor Society is reserved for students with impressive academic achievement and a high potential for personal and intellectual growth. The incoming students of the Chestnut Ridge Chapter have distinguished themselves in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship, and character. As NJHS members, these young men and women will build on their commendable dedication to academic and personal excellence. They have taken an important step of growing into the leaders of the next generation.

The following Chestnut Ridge Middle School students have been inducted: Rachel Dikum, Cassandra Brown, Hannah Miller, Jennifer Carthew, Nativa O'Brien, Emily Sprigg, Matthew Claar, Katie Weaver, Abby Barnes, Derrick Claar, Casey Fleegle, Lucas Berkey, Megan Anderson, Kimberly Bischof, Shane Davis, Christian Collins, Holly Davis, Toshia Rush, Harold Wentz, Natalie Dumin, Cassandra Wright, Kenzie Bowser, Nicholas Hyde, Austin Taylor, Brittany Finnegan, Caitlyn Ferguson, Brandon Mowry, Paul Sims, Trent Crouse, Dakota Kauffman, Kylee Snyder, Jarret Dunn, Luke Stultz, Jonathon Heming, Alesha Rightenour, Lakyn Code, Bradley Frankenberry, Makayla Weaverling, Mylee Dull, Derek Gardner, Andrew Loar, and Colby Hillegass.

These inductees have already displayed remarkable talent and depth of character. I congratulate the new members of the Chestnut Ridge Middle School National Junior Honor Society on the honor they are receiving, and I look forward to many more great achievements.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize American Legion Milton L. Bishop Post No. 301 of Connellsville for signing the Armed Forces Community Covenant.

In his Second Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln urged the country to ``care for him who shall have borne the battle.'' By signing the Armed Forces Community Covenant, the members of Post No. 301 have assumed this high moral obligation. They are committed to improving the quality of life of service members and their families. With this solemn pledge, the members of Post No. 301 recognize the importance of caring for those who put their lives on the line for our country's safety and freedom. It is a great act of patriotism and human decency.

The Connellsville Legion's commitment to service members and their families is truly admirable. I commend Post No. 301 for volunteering its time and efforts to this worthy cause, and I thank the Post for its devoted citizenship.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the enthusiasm of the chairwoman of the subcommittee, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The ceremonial golden spike hammered at Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869, marked the completion of the transcontinental railroad, one of the greatest engineering masterpieces and, I might add, was spearheaded by the Republican President, Abraham Lincoln. It also marked the birth of what would become the greatest rail network in the world. One hundred forty-one years later, we are still reaping the benefits of our ancestors' visions.

The United States now has over 140,000 miles of railroads making up the transportation backbone of the Nation. Our railroads are environmentally friendly, producing significantly less pollution than other modes of transportation. A train can haul one ton of freight 436 miles on one gallon of diesel fuel, and it is three times cleaner than a truck. Trains also help to alleviate the congestion of our crowded highways across America. One train can actually take 280 trucks off the road.

Railroads have also enjoyed a remarkable resurgence since the bankruptcies, disinvestment, and decay of the 1970s. The rail deregulation law of 1980, the Staggers Act, has been an unparalleled success. We must take great care to protect the regulatory environment that has allowed railroads to thrive and resist any effort that would undo all the progress this industry has made.

Two years ago, President Bush signed into a law an Amtrak reauthorization that will take this country into the next generation of passenger rail service. The law makes important reforms to Amtrak and also creates a role for the private sector in the passenger rail industry.

The Amtrak reauthorization law, the first in more than a decade, created the framework for public-private partnerships for the construction and operation of high-speed rail corridors all over this Nation. High-speed rail promises safe, fast, convenient service, all while helping to alleviate aviation and highway congestion.

The railroad industry is vitally important to this country and this economy, and I urge the passage of H. Res. 1301 to celebrate National Train Day on May 8, 2010.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.