Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, this resolution authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run to be held on June 4. The torch will be carried throughout the Capitol Grounds as part of the journey to the D.C. Special Olympics summer games.

The Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with special disabilities through athletics and competition.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1981 when the chief of police of Wichita, Kansas, saw an urgent need to raise funds and increase awareness of the Special Olympics. The Torch Run was then quickly adopted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Today, the Torch Run is the largest grassroots effort that raises awareness for the Special Olympics program. The event in D.C. is one of many law enforcement torch runs throughout the country and across 35 nations leading up to the summer Special Olympics.

I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank and congratulate my colleague, Mr. Kennedy from Rhode Island, for his leadership in Special Olympics throughout the years and his service in Congress. I know he will continue that work after he leaves Congress. I also want to thank the Shriver/Kennedy family for the great support and the effort they've put forth over the years in supporting such a worthwhile program as Special Olympics. So, thank you, Mr. Kennedy.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, as the gentlelady stated, this resolution authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 69th Annual Washington Soap Box Derby in June. This event occurs annually on the Capitol Grounds, and I know that the majority leader, Mr. Hoyer, has been a tremendous supporter of this event every year.

The Soap Box Derby allows children to really showcase their efforts, their dedication, their work, and their creativity as they compete for these trophies. The winners of each division are qualified to compete in the National Soap Box Derby, which occurs in Akron, Ohio.

I support passage of this resolution and urge my colleagues to support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the majority leader for his leadership on this, and set the record straight. I said you have supported this every year; I meant every year you have been in Congress. You haven't been around for 69 years.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in support of House Resolution 1278, a resolution expressing support of the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month.

I introduced this resolution to encourage people to call 811, the nationwide Call Before You Dig number, before conducting any digging or excavating activities and to help draw attention to the problem of excavators and homeowners unintentionally damaging underground utilities.

Throughout the month of April, U.S. Department of Transportation, State utility regulators, and damage prevention stakeholders such as the Common Ground Alliance took part in public awareness campaigns to alert people of the dangers of not having underground utilities located before digging.

Each year more than 256,000 utility lines are unintentionally damaged during excavation activities resulting in fatalities, injuries, loss of utility service, and environmental damage. Many of these unintentional strikes could have been easily avoided if somebody had dialed 811 and had all of the underground utility lines in the area marked.

When a homeowner or contractor calls 811, he is connected to a call center that works with all of the local utility companies to have any underground utilities in the vicinity of the project located and marked. Many utilities, such as cable and telephone lines, are buried only a few inches underground, so even a project that involves only a shallow digging can result in damage to a utility line.

Every weekend, hundreds of homeowners lose cable or telephone service because they unintentionally cut a line while putting in a new mailbox or planting a new tree. While loss of cable or telephone service can be inconvenient, unintentionally striking an underground pipeline or electrical line can be deadly. There are more than 2 million miles of pipelines and more than 1 million of underground electric lines in the United States. These utilities are usually buried deeper than telecommunication lines, but they can be easily struck during road construction and home improvement projects.

Spring marks the beginning of the construction season and the time of year when most homeowners are taking on home improvement and landscaping projects. As contractors and homeowners move forward with their projects, it is important that they remember to call 811 and have underground utilities located before they begin any activity that involves digging or excavating.

Since I will be home this weekend planting trees in my yard, I have called my family, and I hope they have made the call to 811. So if my son, Garrett, is listening to me, make sure you dial 811 before I get home so when we plant the trees this weekend, we are doing all of the right things. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of the Honors Government class of Marion Center High School, which took first place at the ``We the People'' Pennsylvania State competition at Valley Forge.

The ``We the People'' competition measures students' knowledge and understanding of the Constitution, and Marion Center's Honors Government class proved well-acquainted with our principles of government. The following students: Emilie Borst, Tori Buzzelli, Toni Corosu, Alycia Frampton, Jed Gallo, Cody Miller, Brandon Snickles, Nick Stanisha, Jozzie Stuchell and Sarah Wolfe have all demonstrated their thorough understanding of the supreme law of our land. These young men and women, as well as their teacher Chris Peters, should be commended on this impressive accomplishment.

Preserving our Nation's unique character requires an understanding of our Constitution that these students have so ably displayed. Their dedication to this important responsibility of citizenship is outstanding. I congratulate Marion Center High School's Honors Government class on its feat of civic knowledge and academic excellence, and I trust that these promising young citizens will continue to excel in their endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Dennis Tice for his recognition as Bedford County's Historian of the Year for 2010. Mr. Tice will receive his award at the Bedford County Historical Society Annual Banquet on April 24, 2010.

Mr. Tice earned this award for his commitment to chronicle Bedford County's World War II veterans. Recognizing the importance of the Greatest Generation's legacy, Mr. Tice began working on a project that would bring its story to life. The result of his efforts was a feature- length film entitled ``Bedford County Veterans WWII,'' which premiered at the Pitt Theatre in Bedford in December of 2009, with 2,100 tickets sold to the public and many subsequent DVD sales. Such a reception by the people of Bedford County is a testament to the accuracy, accessibility, and authenticity of Mr. Tice's work.

Our World War II veterans have many inspiring stories to tell, and Dennis Tice's dedication to ensuring these stories are told is truly admirable. I commend Mr. Tice for his contribution to the understanding of our past, which shall guide and encourage us in our future. May his work continue to enrich Bedford County now and for years into the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the mission and accomplishments of the Chambersburg Area Development Corporation. CADC will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its annual meeting on May 7, 2010.

Since 1960, the Chambersburg Area Development Corporation has worked to advance the general interest of the Chambersburg area, specially the economic health and quality of life. Recognizing Chambersburg's valuable resources and location, a group of local leaders, coupled with businessmen and women decided to raise funds for a not-for-profit industrial development corporation. From these beginnings, CADC has been successful in promoting economic vitality in the area. Together with businesses, CADC works to bring and retain major employers in the area. Working with other community organizations, CADC has participated in the revitalization of downtown Chambersburg. Among the beneficiaries of CADC's resources are the Chambersburg Memorial YMCA, the Grove Family Library, and the historic Capitol Theatre, as well as several community celebrations. All together, CADC is linked to nearly 2,900 jobs and about $3 million in wage and property tax revenues annually, as well as invaluable contributions to the Chambersburg area's quality of life.

Over its 50-year history, the Chambersburg Area Development Corporation has been an essential player in advancing the commercial, industrial, civic and general interests of the Chambersburg area. The whole region benefits from its commitment to a business-friendly climate and an improving quality of life. I commend the Chambersburg Area Development Corporation on its work over the past 50 years and anticipate many more accomplishments in its future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health bill.

Mr. Speaker, tonight, the House will vote on legislation that will reshape our nation. The Federal Government will take control over one sixth of our private economy in order to extend government approved health care across America. Never before in our history has such an important issue been brought to the floor on a party line vote. In fact, the only bipartisan agreement on this bill has been the opposition against it.

No one disputes the need for health care reform in America that lowers costs and protects those with pre-existing conditions, but this bill is not the answer. The reality is that we cannot even afford the government we have today and we cannot afford the disastrous fiscal and economic consequences this bill will place on future generations.

The Democrats' bill will create a $2.4 trillion entitlement when fully implemented. Our deficit, already dangerously in the red, will grow by $662 billion in 10 years. The bill raids Medicare and Social Security to pay for these new entitlements and will require $529 billion in new taxes while national unemployment hovers around 10 percent. This health care bill is nothing short of a road map to fiscal insolvency.

One of the cornerstone principles of this nation is that we have a government by the consent of the governed. For over a year, the President and Congressional Democrats have pushed this health care plan over the vocal objections of the American people, my own constituents and House Republicans who have offered solutions only to be denied at every turn.

It didn't have to be this way. Health care reform could have been achieved through bipartisan cooperation and a sharing of ideas between the political parties. The American people deserve better than this.

The next few days will tell the American people whether Congress represents their interests and

their will. The American people do not want this health care bill to become law. In my district, they strongly and vocally oppose this plan, and I hear this every day in phone calls and emails, people coming into my office. But I also hear it when I go to the grocery store or to a restaurant in my district. People come up and tell me, Bill, oppose this bill. Stop this bill. And I fully intend on voting against it.

I have also talked to the small businesses and large businesses across this country. They oppose it also because it's creating great uncertainty for them, and this great uncertainty is causing harm to our economy. They're not hiring new employees because of the uncertainty of the cost this bill will have on them. They're not investing in their businesses because of the uncertainty these mandates will have, will push down onto their businesses. This is exactly the kind of uncertainty that's keeping our unemployment rate at 10 percent, and job creation is stagnant. The Democrats' health care plan is reckless, and I believe it will put America on a path to financial ruin.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Grand Opening celebration of the Guild of American Papercutters National Museum which will take place on March 20, 2010 in Somerset, Pennsylvania.

The twenty-two year old guild has partnered with Laurel Arts at the home of the Philip Dressler Center for the Arts, and will bring to the area the ancient art form of papercutting, which dates back to Fifth Century China. The Guild of American Papercutters (GAP) museum will feature a number of exhibits and artwork created by past and present guild members as well as the international community. Such exhibits will feature artwork from Polish, Dutch, German, Swiss, Mexican, and Israeli artists.

The Guild currently retains over four hundred members, in which every state in the United States is represented. Before the new two hundred sixteen square foot gallery was completed, the GAP held traveling exhibits in a number of locations throughout the country, beginning with its 1989 debut at the Hershey Museum of American Life in Hershey, Pennsylvania. In their new gallery, the GAP plans to hold regularly scheduled hands-on workshops and guest presentations to further introduce this artistic technique to the ninth district of Pennsylvania.

I ask my fellow colleagues in the House to join me in celebrating this achievement of the Guild of American Papercutters, and wish them the best of luck and continued success in their new National Museum. May it be a creative outlet for generations of artists to come.

Madam Speaker, a little over a week ago, I spent a very memorable and moving afternoon watching Penn State students taking part in THON, the annual Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. THON at Penn State is no small event. It remains the largest student-run philanthropy in the world which since 1977 has raised over $68 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children's Hospital to fight childhood cancer.

THON involves over 15,000 student volunteers from Penn State's University Park campus and its 19 commonwealth campuses. Over 700 dancers take part in THON's marquee event: a 46 hour dance marathon at the Bryce Jordan Center. Thousands of other students join in as moralers, family and public relations, entertainment, donor relations, finance, communication, hospitality, logistics, technology, rules and regulations, and `OPP'erations team members. These students' year-long efforts culminate in THON weekend--truly an amazing and uplifting sight to see.

All of the student dancers, volunteers and sponsors who participated in this year's THON deserve recognition from Congress and the thanks of Americans everywhere for their work to help end the scourge of childhood cancer. Their hard work resulted in raising $7.83 million this year, breaking last year's record of $7.5 million.

I am proud to say that my own daughter was among the hundreds of students who took part in THON 2010. Ali served on the Morale Committee ``Jule Runnings'' and helped lift the spirits of exhausted dancers, massage tired feet, and lead the hourly line-dance to keep everyone moving to stay motivated for their cause.

Penn State students are joined by hundreds of Four Diamonds Families from Penn State Children's Hospital who look forward to THON all year round. Four Diamond Families often develop lifetime friendships with the Fraternities, Sororities, and organizations that ``adopt'' them and spend time with them throughout the year. At THON weekend you will find the kids running throughout the event, participating in talent shows, playing games with the dancers, getting piggyback rides and even starting water-pistol fights with unsuspecting volunteers. The culmination of the weekend is Family Hour--when families share the struggle in the fight against childhood cancer with everyone in attendance. This was a deeply emotionally moving hour that brought the struggle of childhood cancer into a personal light. Some of the stories had happy endings, some did not. But each story was an inspiration to keep fighting for the cure for childhood cancers. These children and families are why Penn State dances.

THON is a life changing event for anyone who attends or takes part in the event. And while Penn State students are hoping to change the lives of children affected by childhood cancer, more often than not it's the students whose lives are changed by participating in THON. Love truly does ``Belong Here.'' We Are Penn State--For the Kids.

Madam Speaker, one of our greatest strengths as elected officials is the

opportunity to bring to light truths that are little known and command recognition.

Today, as the cochairman of the House Azerbaijan Caucus, I would like to bring to the attention of this body the tragedy that took place in Khojaly, Azerbaijan, a town and townspeople that were destroyed on February 26, 1992.

At the time, the Khojaly tragedy was widely covered by the international media, including the Boston Globe, Washington Post, New York Times, Financial Times, and many other European and Russian news agencies.

Fifteen years later, there is little attention or interest paid to the plight of Khojaly outside of Azerbaijan.

Sadly, Khojaly, a town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, now under the control of Armenian forces, was the site of the largest killing of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians. With a population of approximately 7,000, Khojaly was one of the largest urban settlements of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

According to Human Rights Watch and other international observers the massacre was committed by the ethnic Armenian armed forces, reportedly with the help of the Russian 366th Motor Rifle Regiment. Human Rights Watch described the Khojaly Massacre as ``the largest massacre to date in the conflict'' over Nagorno-Karabakh. In a 1993 report, the watchdog group stated ``there are no exact figures for the number of Azeri civilians killed because Karabakh Armenian forces gained control of the area after the massacre'' and ``while it is widely accepted that 200 Azeris were murdered, as many as 500-1,000 may have died.''

At the time, Newsweek Magazine reported: ``Azerbaijan was a charnel house again last week: a place of mourning refugees and dozens of mangled corpses dragged to a makeshift morgue behind the mosque. They were ordinary Azerbaijani men, women and children of Khojaly, a small village in war-torn Nagorno-Karabakh overrun by Armenian forces on 25- 26 February. Many were killed at close range while trying to flee; some had their faces mutilated, others were scalped.''

Time Magazine stated ``While the details are argued, this much is plain: something grim and unconscionable happened in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly two weeks ago. So far, some 200 dead Azerbaijanis, many of them mutilated, have been transported out of the town tucked inside the Armenian-dominated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh for burial in neighboring Azerbaijan. The total number of deaths--the Azerbaijanis claim 1,324 civilians have been slaughtered, most of them women and children--is unknown.''

Azerbaijan has been a strong strategic partner and friend of the United States. The tragedy of Khojaly was a crime against humanity and I urge my colleagues to join me in standing with Azerbaijanis as they commemorate this tragedy.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank Representative Kanjorski for organizing this afternoon's special order to honor the memory of our friend and colleague Jack Murtha.

Over the course of the hour many members of our delegation and the House will add their own personalized sentiments to memorialize Jack Murtha and I appreciate the opportunity to add my own remarks today.

Jack Murtha will always be remembered for his extraordinary service to his country, both in and out of uniform. He always put the interests of his country, his state, and his constituents first and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Outside of Pennsylvania, Jack Murtha will be remembered--and rightly so--for his skills in navigating the ins and outs of House rules and procedures. He will be remembered as someone who could get things done in Washington.

As a former colonel in the Marine Corps, Jack never forgot Congress' primary responsibility to provide for our common defense. His unceasing commitment to our national security will go down as legend in Washington, as will the work he did on behalf of our men and women in the military through his chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations.

For those of us from Pennsylvania, especially the western part of the state, Jack will always be remembered and greatly missed for the dogged determination he showed over his career to make sure the needs of the people he represented were met.

There is little doubt that Jack left an indelible mark on this House and his impact will still be felt long after he is gone.

Personally, I will always remember Jack as a friend to both my father and me over the 36 years he served the people of the 12th district of Pennsylvania.

Jack was an extraordinary person--a tireless advocate for his constituents, and a champion for our national security. We have lost a true patriot. I send my condolences to Jack's wife Joyce and their children. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with them and the people of the 12th District.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. John R. Gray, Deputy Commander of Letterkenny Army Depot, on his commendable career upon his retirement after thirty-two years of distinguished service.

Dr. Gray joined Letterkenny Army Depot in 1985 and founded a branch for the U.S. Army Materiel Command Management Engineering Activity. Since 1988, he has held a number of positions at the depot working his way up to Deputy Commander. After two years of service as the Supervisory Budget Analyst with the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Army Depot appointed Dr. Gray as Deputy Commander at Letterkenny. As the senior civilian at the depot, Dr. Gray managed a $500 million operation and an 18,000 acre installation, that employs many of my constituents in Franklin County.

Deputy Commander Gray began his federal career in 1978 in Rock Island, Illinois, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. During his time there, he was an instructor with the Army Management Engineering College providing training to students on financial management and productivity measurement. In addition, Dr. Gray performed cost analyses on hydropower, flood control, and water supply projects.

Dr. Gray graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975 and Master of Business Administration in 1978. Twenty years later, he earned his Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California where he later received his Doctorate in Public Administration. In 1990, Dr. Gray became a graduate of the Secretary of Defense Executive Leadership Development program.

Dr. John Gray's service is a brilliant example of how dedication to personal and professional development in life can lead to success. He has been a leader throughout his entire career and a valuable resource to all whom have had the pleasure of knowing him. He is a man of outstanding character and we will remain grateful for his unwavering dedication and service to our community and our nation. I wish Dr. Gray and his family continued success and my best wishes upon his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the principles of the Oath and Law of the Boy Scouts of America. This year marks the Centennial Celebration of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. On February 8th, 2010 the Penn's Woods Council will be promoting ``The Rededication to the Principles of the Scout Oath and Law Ceremony'' at the County Courthouses in Pennsylvania's Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Somerset, and Indiana Counties.

The Oath and Law of the Boy Scouts bind the 55 million alumni of the organization at all levels of participation. Among these alumni: lawyers, doctors, industrialists, educators, labor leaders, military leaders, astronauts, and Presidents of the United States. The principles of the Oath and Law propelled them to the tops of their professions, and in some cases to the stars. The Oath expects Scouts to be patriotic, obedient, generous, and upstanding. Indeed, the law requires them to be: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. These principles make good scouts, and they make good citizens.

And that is the greatest legacy of 100 years of the Scout Law and Oath. As Scouts learn the Law and Oath, repeat them, adopt the principles within them, and live them, they learn at the same time how to be good Americans. The accomplishments of many of our citizens drew on the timeless virtues they developed as Scouts. Such a record of good work deserves another 100 years. I applaud the Boy Scouts of America for their excellent virtues and their success in living them. I commend the Penn's Woods Council for its work in central Pennsylvania. I hope they continue to contribute to our country for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, I attended the funeral service of a constituent, Staff Sergeant Matthew Ingham, United States Marine Corps, who was killed in action in southern Afghanistan on January 11, 2010. I rise today to recognize his life and his extraordinary service and sacrifice for our country.

Matt's parents, Gary and Tammi Ingham of Altoona, Pennsylvania, and

his wife, Yasmin Ingham, mourn the loss of a remarkable young man and a brave Marine. They are in my thoughts and prayers, and I pass on my sincere condolences.

Sergeant Ingham was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for the heroic actions that ultimately led to his death. He was responsible for saving the lives of nine Marines by crawling to a radio to call in air support after his unit was ambushed. Although apparently wounded, Sergeant Ingham exposed himself to more enemy fire, and put the lives of his fellow Marines above his own.

Sergeant Ingham was a 2002 Altoona High School graduate. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 2002, and was promoted to staff sergeant in April. He served two tours in Iraq and went to Afghanistan in the fall as part of a reconnaissance outfit assigned to the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan.

The Ninth District of Pennsylvania and our entire Nation owes a great debt of gratitude to Sergeant Matthew N. Ingham, his family, and all those who have sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of freedom.