Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I submit the following:

Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9)

Bill Number: H.R. 2647--The National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2010

FY 2010 National Defense Authorization Act Projects

Project Name: Engine Installation & Removal Vehicle (EIRV)

Account: APN, Line 58

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: JLG Industries

Address of Requesting Entity: 1 JLG Drive, McConnellsburg, PA 17233

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $3,400,000 for Engine Installation & Removal Vehicle (EIRV)

It is my understanding that funding will be used by the United States Navy to procure additional EIRVs to meet current operational requirements.

The purpose of the Engine Installation & Removal Vehicle (EIRV) program is to satisfy the operational need of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps by providing a commercial off the shelf (COTS), mobile, Engine/ Propeller Installation and Removal System, with the capability of safely installing and removing the T56 engine and/or T56 propeller on and from P-3, C-2, E-2 and C-130 aircraft.

Installation and removal of the T56 engine and propeller onto the respective aircraft requires relatively fine lateral and horizontal adjustments in order to be executed properly. To accomplish this, the Navy is requiring a commercially available, mobile, Engine/Propeller Installation and Removal System for procurement.

The Navy is currently removing and replacing aircraft engines with an unsafe combination of manual tri-pod hoists, scaffolding, and industrial forklifts. The EIRV was chosen to reduce damage to equipment, injuries to workers and increase efficiencies.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because procurement of the system will decrease damage to the engine/prop and the airframe, thereby decreasing downtime and increasing operational readiness.

Project Name: Millennia Military Vehicle/Extendable Boom Fork Lift (MMV/EBFL)

Account: PMC, Line 50

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: JLG Industries

Address of Requesting Entity: 1 JLG Drive, McConnellsburg, PA 17233

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $30,000,000 for Millennia Military Vehicle/Extendable Boom Fork Lift (MMV/EBFL)

It is my understanding that funding will be used by the United States Marine Corps to procure additional MMV units to meet current operational requirements.

The Marine Corps has a requirement for an additional Millennia Military Vehicles/Expandable Boom Fork Lift (MMV/EBFL). The Marine Corps does not plan to update its current telehandler fleet until 2011, thus producing an unfunded requirement for the Marine Corps. The MMV program is a four year procurement effort by the U.S. Marine Corps to procure reconfigured MMV's to fulfill their advanced lifting requirements in handling material containers in rapid deployment construction and reconstruction. The MMV is an 11,000 pound rough terrain, self-deployable in rough terrain, manually operated forklift capable of operating efficiently in nuclear, biological and chemical environments. The MMV is capable of unloading containers located on the ground as well as on trailers. It is fully air transportable in C-130, C-17 and C-5A aircraft, fordable, and operable in all weather and night conditions.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the Marine Corps requires funding to procure additional MMV units to meet current operational requirements.

Project Name: Hardmetal Epidemiology Investigation

Account: RDA, PE # 0602105A, Line 5

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Biostatistics

Address of Requesting Entity: A410 Crabtree Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15650

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $7,000,000 for Hardmetal Epidemiology Investigation

It is my understanding that funding for this project will provide for an epidemiological study to determine the potential health impacts from workplace exposures to hardmetal powders. ``Hardmetal'' refers to metal composites, notably tungsten carbide with a cobalt binder, known for their durability and wear resistance. In 2003-2004, three governmental and scientific bodies designated hardmetal (i.e. tungsten carbide/ cobalt) as a possible carcinogen

to humans. A critical review by an independent toxicological consultant identified significant weaknesses in the study (i.e. small study size, lack of reliable exposure information and the inability to control for potential confounding by cigarette smoking, etc.). The study also involved no input by industry or its consultants. Tungsten touches almost every product that is produced in modern manufacturing, as it is a common component in manufacturing equipment and materials--including munitions, military vehicles and other equipment. Hardmetal is used extensively in tooling to manufacture and maintain ordnance, missiles, automotive and aviation equipment, and to produce rifle bullets, vehicle armor, kinetic energy penetrators, missile warheads, and many other critical battlefield systems.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because a more accurate and reliable study is necessary before classified carcinogens, like hardmetal, will be ``deselected and phased out'' of manufacturing, slowing the manufacturing process and making it harder, if not impossible, to deliver needed products to the battlefields for U.S. soldiers.

Project Name: Defense Support for Civil Authorities (DSCA) for Key Resource Protection--South Central, PA

Account: RDA, PE # 0602624A, Line 17

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: L. Robert Kimball & Associates

Address of Requesting Entity: 615 West Highland Avenue, Ebensburg, PA 15931

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $3,000,000 for Defense Support for Civil Authorities (DSCA) for Key Resource Protection--South Central, PA

It is my understanding that the Defense Support for Civil Authorities (DSCA) for Key Resource Protection--South Central, PA project is part of efforts led by U.S. Army ARDEC at Picatinny, New Jersey combing and harmonizing a number of Homeland Defense and Homeland Security programs under the umbrella of Project National Shield (PNS). The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) mandates a coordinated approach to Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR) protection roles and responsibilities for federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector security partners. The ability to sense, detect and respond to threats to CIKR will require regional communication and information sharing capabilities. The fundamental geospatial data needed to manage CIKR risk and establish the framework for assessing consequences, vulnerability, and threat information is available in jurisdictions across the country. Not available, however, are Enterprise Geographic Information Systems (EGIS) that span political jurisdictions, regions or states and can produce the comprehensive, systematic, and rational assessment of national or sector risk. South Central Pennsylvania houses a major freight transportation hub (CSX railway) and Army depot (Letterkenny) within miles of each other. This proposal will establish EGIS in South Central PA to advance NIPP objectives. Response-specific intelligence will provide emergency responders and homeland defense personnel with essential situational awareness information required to protect critical infrastructure.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it meets a critical Army need to improve Homeland Defense and Civil Support missions while also providing enhanced capabilities to local constituencies in the communications and networking side of emergency response. Specifically, the program represents the actual full deployment of a critical network that will allow local Emergency Management personnel and first responders to communicate as well as provide for a tie in to the Army's Emergency Operations Center at Picatinny Arsenal.

Project Name: Cadmium Emissions Reduction--Letterkenny Army Depot

Account: RDA, PE # 0603779A, Line 64

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Mountain Research, LLC

Address of Requesting Entity: 825 25th Street, Altoona, PA 16601

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$1,000,000 for Cadmium Emissions Reduction--Letterkenny Army Depot

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this work will help Letterkenny Army Depot conduct environmental management activities in an environmentally and fiscally sound, sustainable manner.

Letterkenny's unique mission, which includes manufacturing, depot level maintenance, and demilitarization, presents significant challenges to maintaining operations while achieving aggressive sustainability targets and goals. Specifically, this project will assist in addressing federal and state regulatory issues associated with the reduction of cadmium levels in waste water affluent outflows. This technology implementation will also serve as a demonstration site to facilitate horizontal technology transfer to surrounding Pennsylvania military installations, other Army depots, and installations across the Department of Defense.

Project Name: AFATDS Voice Recognition and Cross Platform Speech Interface System

Account: RDA, PE #0203726A, Line 147

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Szanca Solutions, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 100 East Pitt Street, Bedford, PA 15522

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$2,500,000 for AFATDS Voice Recognition and Cross Platform Speech Interface System

It is my understanding that funding for this project would provide voice activation to legacy command and control systems to improve the ease of use, accuracy, and timeliness of the systems. The project will continue the work done to bring speech controlled operations and in addition provide a cross-platform solution that can be integrated to a wide variety of military systems. Doing so will dramatically increase the functionality and useful life of legacy systems while decreasing training costs and increasing operational speed.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because many of the Army's current command and control systems require a series of complicated keyboard entries to operate, making the systems slower to operate and prone to errors in stressful environments. This can result in delays providing commanders with critical information and in executing mission critical fire missions. This program will focus on solutions to those issues, allow quicker access to tactical information, and increase the speed in which targets can be fired.

Project Name: ALC Logistics Integration Environment

Account: RDAF, PE #0708611F, Line 233

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: IS2 Technologies, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 3018 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona, PA 16602

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$2,000,000 for ALC Logistics Integration Environment

It is my understanding that this project will develop a Logistics Integration Environment using COTS software that facilitates pulling together teams of people to optimize battlefield readiness and improve the availability of aircraft and associated subsystems.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the Air Force Logistics Centers lack an integrated data environment for service, repair, and overall logistics. Development and deployment of the Logistics Information Environment would:

Develop and implement a collaborative logistics management solution that would provide a single source of data for the maintainers, supply and battlefield environments;

Provide optimized predictive logistics modeling for critical supportability factors such as spare parts, maintenance schedules, and survivability under fire;

Capture aircraft performance information that may be used to drive further improvements in survivability;

Allow for real-time collaboration across the R&D, acquisition, logistics, and warfighter communities; and

Reduce costs by reducing the time required to research and collect the engineering and logistics data necessary to support unplanned/ unscheduled depot-level maintenance requirements.

Benefits to our warfighting capability would be:

Mission readiness: Improve the readiness of rapidly deployed aircraft;

Cost Avoidance: Minimize the cost and complexity of the aircraft logistics footprint; and

Innovation: Allow for accelerated innovation to aircraft and subsystems, continuously improving their operational performance and survivability.

Additional benefits would include composite data that can be used to formalize and distribute Interactive Electric Technical Manuals (IETM) and dynamic work cards for maintenance planning and instructions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Shippensburg University Women's Rugby Club Team on winning the 2009 USA Rugby National Guard Collegiate Championships. As national champions, the members of the rugby club team have shown the discipline and teamwork required to achieve greatness.

The championship is the second in a row for the club, who built on their success last year to come back better and stronger and take the title again. The championship match at Stanford's Steuber Rugby Stadium was truly a wonderful accomplishment. The Division II rugby club beat Stonehill College in the final match 29-5. Through dedication and persistence the club was able to achieve this praiseworthy title.

The women of the Shippensburg rugby club team have shown great leadership, and each of these individuals has represented their school with distinction and honor. The club has brought great pride to not only Shippensburg University but to the greater

community as well. I commend them on their teamwork and outstanding talents.

This is truly a distinguished achievement for the Shippensburg University Women's Rugby Club Team. I congratulate all of the players and coaches: Jenna Boggi, Danielle Dincher, Lauren Herbert, Lisa Hrunka, Melissa Hutchinson, Michelle Jeffcoat, Melissa Kahler, Stephanie Kern, Kathryn Krulac, Lauren Lamon, Shannon Lane, Lindsay Libengood, Meghan McCloud, Meaghan Meeker, Natalie Monroig, Sarah Mousetis, Brittany Myers, Jenna Romanowski, Kimberly Simmons, Melody Stouder, Stacie Stuart, Wendy Tanner, Angela Tyrrell, Ashley Tyrrell, Katelyn Waegener, and Jessica Walker. I believe that this championship will be one of many successes in the lives of these talented players and coaches, and I congratulate them for all their efforts.

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I am placing this statement in the Congressional Record.

Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9)

Bill Number: H.R. 2487--the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY 2010

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Projects

Project Name: Cambria 9th Public Service Providers, Patton, PA / Law Enforcement Technology and Equipment

Account: DOJ/COPS Tech

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Cambria 9th Public Service Providers Association

Address of Requesting Entity: 496 Railroad Avenue, P.O. Box 203, Patton, PA 16668

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $300,000 for Law Enforcement Technology and Equipment

It is my understanding that funding will be used to upgrade and purchase equipment for first responders in northern Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The Cambria 9th Public Service Providers Association is a coalition of police, fire, and EMS providers.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will assist local police, fire, and emergency medical service agencies enhance safety. Specifically, funding will enable first responders to integrate with recently upgraded communications infrastructure.

Project Name: Franklin County Emergency Services Alliance, Chambersburg, PA / Law Enforcement Technology and Equipment

Account: DOJ/COPS Tech

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Franklin County Emergency Services Alliance

Address of Requesting Entity: 14 North Main Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $300,000 for Law Enforcement Technology and Equipment

The Franklin County Emergency Services Alliance is a coalition of police, fire, and EMS providers focused on interoperability solutions for local public safety units. It is my understanding that funding for this project would be used to purchase and upgrade equipment for first responders in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it addresses communications problems between public safety entities by upgrading technology and equipment. Franklin County is home to a major freight transportation hub (CSX railway) and Army weapons depot (Letterkenny) within miles of each other. Franklin County first responders also play a ``back-fill'' role to the nearby major metropolitan areas of Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, and Harrisburg, PA.

Project Name: Operation Our Town, Altoona, PA / Drug Treatment and Prevention

Account: DOJ / OJP-Byrne

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Operation Our Town

Address of Requesting Entity: 5506 6th Avenue Rear, Altoona, PA 16602

Description of Request / Justification of Federal Funding: $300,000 for Drug Treatment and Prevention

Operation Our Town is a non-profit group focused on coordinating resources in Blair County, Pennsylvania to reduce the threats faced by drugs and related crimes. This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the City of Altoona has experienced a substantial increase in drug related incidents in recent years. It is my understanding that funding for the project would be used by Operation Our Town to facilitate partnerships between community and business leaders to fight drug use and crime through proven law enforcement, treatment, and prevention strategies.

It is also my understanding that approximately 50 percent of funding would be used for law enforcement activities, approximately 45 percent of funding would be used for prevention and treatment activities, and approximately 5 percent of funding would be used for other costs.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of the Shippensburg University Distance Medley Relay Squad, who won the Division II Track and Field National Championship and who were the top Division II team at the Penn State National Invitational--finishing second with only one Division I team finishing ahead of them in their event.

The team of four posted an awe-inspiring time of 11 minutes and 30 seconds at the Penn State Invitational, crushing the former conference and school records. Junior Mary Dell, junior Shannon Hare, sophomore Abby Huber, and freshman Neely Spence went on to the national championship meet where they also took home the title. They also succeeded in setting a new championship record of 11 minutes and 24 seconds, besting the previous record of 11 minutes 29 seconds. This exceptional win marks the second indoor track and field championship won by a women's team in Shippensburg University history.

The team has a history of record breaking. Last year the S.U. squad captured the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference record, earning Dell, Huber, Hare and sophomore Jamie McCollum All-American status for their performance at the Division II National Championships. Through strength, perseverance, and devotion the team has proven to be leaders of not only the track and field team, but throughout the University. They have brought much pride to Shippensburg University, the surrounding community, family and friends.

I congratulate the Shippensburg University Distance Medley Relay Squad on their great accomplishments. I am sure that they will all continue to lead and inspire others through their dedication and hard work.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of the Bishop Guilfoyle High School girls basketball team of Altoona, PA. As the 2009 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class A girls basketball champions, the Lady Marauders have shown the discipline and teamwork required to achieve greatness.

The Lady Marauders have a rich history of achievement. Having won two PIAA Class A championships in three seasons, and five overall, the Lady Marauders are no strangers to success. Their season's record of 30-1 is tied for the second most in a single season in Lady Marauder program history.

This year's season came to a close on March 21st at University Park, PA, and resulted in a 49-27 defeat of Nativity BMV by Bishop Guilfoyle's Lady Marauders. The hard work and talent of the nineteen players, as well as their five coaches, most certainly led to this rewarding experience.

These young women are exemplary athletes and their pride in their performance is an inspiration to all of Blair County. I believe that this championship will be one of many successes in the lives of these talented players and coaches, and I congratulate them for all their efforts.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Ms. Annette Godissart, the recipient of the Bedford County Rotary Club's 2009 Citizen of the Year Award. As this year's award winner, Annette has shown exemplary service as a citizen of Bedford County.

In addition to her duties as a Laboratory and Cardio-Pulmonary Manager at UPMCBedford Hospital, Annette has remained steadfast in her service to the community as a volunteer, with an emphasis on the youth of Bedford County. Whether serving the Bedford County School System as a member of the Athletic or Technology Committee, or acting as umpire for youth softball games, her efforts to aid in the positive development of Bedford County youths have been constant.

Annette has been integral to the success of the Bedford County ``Reality Tour'' at the Bedford County Jail. Here, on a monthly basis, she has spent the last five years working to convey the importance of remaining drug-free to hundreds of local teenagers by showing them the stark realities of drug abuse. This type of selfless volunteerism is another way in which Annette seeks to mold the future leaders of Bedford County.

The artistic and civic-minded aspects of Annette's community service are shown in her involvement in community theatre as well as the Boy Scouts of America. In the theatre Annette entertains Bedford County residents through her stage talents, appearing in several shows each year with the Bedford County Players, a local non-profit theater group that promotes the involvement of youth in on stage productions. With respect to scouting, after years of service to her two sons, and the Boy Scouts, as a scout leader, Annette remains active as a merit badge counselor, where she helps scouts to earn their Theatre Merit Badges.

Through her dedication to community service, and her enduring commitment to the young men and women of Bedford County, Annette Godissart is an exemplary citizen who embraces the Rotary Motto of ``Service above Self.'' She is deserving of this year's Citizen of the Year Award, and I congratulate her for all her efforts.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Mr. Martin J. Marasco. As this year's recipient of the Penn's Woods Council Boy Scouts of America's Distinguished Citizen Award, Marty has shown exemplary performance as a businessman, a community leader, a philanthropist, and a role model.

Through his 39 years affiliation with the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation, Marty has worked at developing and delivering purposeful and creative programs and services involving all aspects of the economic development process to his community. He is responsible for much of the industrial and commercial economic expansion that has been crucial to Blaire County's growth and development.

Marty's experiences in all facets of economic development have enabled him to be successful in his dealings with local, state, and federal agencies as well as commercial and industrial clients. His ability to capitalize on both public and private financing vehicles has led to the creation and preservation of 17,580 jobs, and serves to demonstrate how good business sense and strong work ethic can benefit the individual as well as the community.

The diverse background and numerous accomplishments Marty has spent a lifetime working toward have allowed him to be extremely active in his community. He is Past Chair and Member of the Pastoral Council at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, as well as a Member and Vice Chairman of the Executive Roundtable of Blair County. Always supportive of community sports activities, Marty coached instructional level through elementary basketball for 25 years. He also served, for 8 years, as the treasurer and coach for the Altoona Little League baseball program.

As a family man, Marty has been a husband to his wife Carol for nearly 42 years; he is a father to eight children, and a grandfather to thirteen grandchildren. Marty's efforts and accomplishments serve to exemplify great service to self, family, and community. For these reasons I commend those who have seen fit to honor Marty with this year's Distinguished Citizen Award, and I too recognize and congratulate Marty Marasco for all he has done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and celebrate the life of Bruno DeGol of Gallitzin, Pennsylvania who passed away on May 14th surrounded by his family and friends at the age of 86.

It is not an easy task to summarize a life so rich in accomplishment as the one lived by Bruno DeGol. For many of my constituents in Pennsylvania Bruno DeGol was best known as an amazingly successful entrepreneur, a noted philanthropist and as someone who never forgot his roots in the community where he grew up and prospered. I agree with that sentiment and I can say without question Bruno will be missed by all who knew him and knew of him.

You don't get to be as successful in life as Bruno DeGol by backing down to a challenge and Bruno never did. In World War II he took part in the D-Day Invasion as a soldier with the Army's 102nd Infantry Division. Bruno left the Army at the end of the war with an honorable service record that included the Bronze Star and numerous medals and commendations for his service.

Like so many other returning veterans looking for a start in post-war America, Bruno took a chance and opened his first of many business ventures in 1950. By 1972, his business, a construction materials company, had grown and expanded to four locations in Blair and Cambria Counties in Pennsylvania. Today, through careful expansion by his sons, DeGol Brothers Lumber now serves consumers in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Florida.

Bruno was a consummate entrepreneur with razor sharp business acumen. However, he will be even more fondly remembered for the way he gave back to the people and the community he loved so much. Bruno's philanthropy is most evident in the good work that continues to be done by the Bruno & Lena DeGol Family Foundation as well as his long- standing support of St. Francis University.

Bruno built his version of the American Dream through hard work, determination and the support of his loving family. In fact, even though he was successful in so many things, building his family with his wife Lena was Bruno's most significant achievement. His five children; Don, Dave, Gloria, Bruno Jr., and Dennis and his 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren have been left a tremendous legacy to build upon.

Bruno DeGol will be remembered as a visionary and a humanitarian in business and community service. He will be missed by his family, his friends and by the countless people he touched throughout his long and wonderful life. I send my thoughts and my prayers to the DeGol family in their time of loss and ask the House to join me in honoring Bruno DeGol and celebrating his life.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The ceremonial golden spike hammered at Promontory Summit, Utah, May 10, 1869, marked the completion of the transcontinental railroad, one of the Nation's greatest engineering masterpieces. It also marked the birth of what would become the greatest rail network in the world and 140 years later, we are still reaping the benefits of our ancestors' vision.

The United States now has over 140,000 miles of railroads, making up the transportation backbone of this 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 other modes. Trains also help to alleviate the congestion on our crowded highways. One train can actually take 280 trucks off the road.

The 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 the railroads to thrive and resist any effort that would undo all of the progress that this industry has made in efficiency and safety.

On the passenger rail side, last year President Bush signed into 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, the first in a decade, created a framework for a public-private partnership for the construction of true high-speed rail corridors all over this Nation. High-speed rail promises safe, fast, and convenient service--all the while helping to alleviate aviation and highway congestion we face in this country.

The continued success of the railroad industry is vital to this country's economy. I would therefore urge passage of H. Res. 367, which would create National Train Day on May 9.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I acknowledge the efforts of the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society as they approach their 50th anniversary.

The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society's mission of promoting interest and active participation in the preservation and restoration of the remaining historical covered bridges in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania serves to ensure that important aspects of our community's rich history remain intact. In doing so

future generations will be afforded the opportunity to see first hand the beauty and efficiency that is associated with early Pennsylvania architecture.

Named after Theodore Burr, the early American engineer, the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society's efforts honor the life and works of Mr. Burr, while simultaneously bettering our community as a whole. For this I congratulate them on their 50th anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Boy Scout Troop 127 as it celebrates its 90th anniversary on April 18, 2009. Troop 127 has played a crucial role in developing the character of over 1,000 boys, and continues to do so today with thirty-six Scouts.

Troop 127 was founded in 1919 (originally as Troop 7) with the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring as its sponsoring organization. The Reverend William L. Mudge was the first Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 7, which began with 19 Scouts and grew to 46 by 1925. Troop 127 has a long history of more than 60 years of continued summer camping and service support to Keystone Area Council's Hidden Valley Scout Reservation in Loysville, Pennsylvania. Their outdoor hiking tradition includes extended trips across the country, including, Mt. Katandin, Mt. Washington, and Pisgah National Forest. These outdoor adventures, which span the Eastern United States but also include excursions as far away as Alaska and Florida, serve to educate and develop character amongst participants.

Boy Scout Troop 127 is currently led by The Reverend Wayne Lowe, Jr., Charles Q. Smith, and Scoutmaster Donn Schoonover. The leadership of these gentlemen and those that led the Troop in the past has inspired more than 125 youth to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

Troop 127's contribution to the community and to Pennsylvania as a whole is without question. Troop 127's proud tradition of 90 years of Scouting service to the Greater Chambersburg and Franklin County Communities embodies the spirit of Scouting and serves to encourage Pennsylvania's boys to work hard and give back to their community. I congratulate Troop 127 in their celebration of the 90th anniversary of such a wonderful organization, as it has brought a greater appreciation to our area and has surely been an asset to the community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the efforts of Mr. Charles Q. ``C.Q.'' Smith. Mr. Smith has devoted a lifetime to the development and nurturing of young citizens and future leaders, as the scoutmaster of Scout Troop 127.

CQ Smith entered the world of Cub Scouting in 1948 at the age of 9, joining Cub Scout Pack 127. At the age of 11, he crossed over to Boy Scouting with Troop 127, and by age 13 he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with one Eagle Palm. His commitment to attaining this rank in such a short period of time is a tribute to his determined passion to achieve and succeed in life.

Following his graduation from Lafayette College in 1961 with the highest honors and a

long list of academic and social accomplishments, Mr. Smith completed a graduate degree from the University of Chicago in 1963. This was followed immediately by active military service in Germany where he formed Boy Scout Troop 444, which soon became the largest and most active Scout Troop in the Transatlantic Council.

For 55 years of his adult life, Charles, has been an inspiration to hundreds of young men who have come to know and revere him as a caring and motivating mentor. He has instilled in each of them traits of character, citizenship, fitness of mind and body, and a full appreciation for the outdoors.

Serving with distinction as Scoutmaster for Troop 127 for 25 of its 90 years, Mr. Smith has led his Troop to all of the high adventure destinations that Scouting has to offer, as well as participating in National and World Jamborees. He has also provided his scouts with experiences in some of the finest natural environments in this region and across the World.

Through all of his endeavors, Mr. Smith's accomplishments, be they educational, spiritual, or professional, stand as models for all Scouts and Scouters to admire. For these reasons I congratulate Charles Q ``C.Q.'' Smith for all that he has done to better our community and nation as a whole.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Joyce Herncane of Schellsburg for her efforts in preserving the history and heritage of Bedford County and its people.

Mrs. Herncane led efforts, on behalf of the Schellsburg Bicentennial Committee, to celebrate the town's 2008 bicentennial. This included the opening of a museum that documented much of Schellsburg's past, and was made free to the public throughout the summer. This exhibit, brimming with memorabilia of the town's beginnings as well as items from throughout Schellsburg's history, contained displays ranging from school and sports history, to a saddlebag belonging to Peter Schell that was carried in the 1908 Centennial Parade. Exhibits paid tribute to author Dean Koontz and songwriter Maribeth Derry as well. The town's bicentennial activities culminated with a Christmas Home Tour of new and historic Schellsburg homes. All these events served to fund the continued restoration and preservation of the Old Log Church and Cemetery in Schellsburg.

I congratulate Mrs. Herncane for all her hard work. Her efforts, to preserve and make known the history of her community, will afford future generations the opportunity to benefit from Schellsburg's rich past.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute the service of Former Pennsylvania State Representative Bob Bastian of Friedens, Somerset County, whose meritorious service to the Boy Scouts of America has inspired multiple generations to benefit from all that Scouting has to offer.

The Bastian family has a long tradition of service to the community through scouting. Bob's father, Fred, his two sons, Scott and Tim and four of his grandchildren are all members of the Boy Scouts.

As an enthusiastic contributor to his community, Representative Bastian is active in the Penn Woods Council committee as well as a member of the district committee for the Scouts' Forbes Trail District; and while many of his efforts to better his community have been realized as a product of his tenure as State Representative from 1999 to 2009, his lifetime commitment to excellence through scouting has and will continue to inspire boys throughout Somerset.

Currently, Bastian is working to recognize the institution of scouting by chairing the Penn's Woods Council's Centennial Celebration Committee. In looking back nearly one hundred years to the inception of the Boy Scouts of America, I am confident that Mr. Bastian's sixty years of exemplary performance in scouting and in life are proof of what all boys can achieve through scouting.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and report the passing of an American patriot and a neighbor, Colonel Nicholas George ``Nick'' Psaki, Jr., of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Colonel Psaki passed away on the afternoon of March 14th at the age of 89.

The passing of Colonel Psaki is yet another reminder for all of us that we are losing a generation of great Americans who served their country in the wars that shaped the world we live in today. The lives and the stories of these Americans, the members of the Greatest Generation, must never be forgotten.

Colonel Psaki was truly a part of that Greatest Generation. He fought with distinction in three wars, seeing combat in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Colonel Psaki made his mark on the golden age of Army aviation and retired from the Army a veteran pilot with over 5,000 hours in flight time spent in fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

Throughout his distinguished military career, Colonel Psaki received numerous medals and commendations for his service to his nation. Among those decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantry Badge Second Award, the Master Army Aviator Wings, as well as numerous campaign ribbons and service merit badges.

In addition to his combat service, Colonel Psaki was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as well as the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, and the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Preceding these military degrees, Colonel Psaki attended Kings College in New York and received a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Southern California. He is survived by his wife Cindy, his son Nicholas, daughters Diane, Denise, Regina, and Alexandra, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Colonel Nick Psaki was a patriot, a family man and an active civic member. For all who came in contact with him, Nicholas Psaki will be remembered as a gentleman who exemplified quiet dignity, thoughtfulness and generosity. Colonel Psaki was a class act in and out of uniform and his absence will be noticeably felt by a grateful nation and by all who knew him.

My thoughts and prayers and those of my constituents are with the members of the

Psaki family as they grieve over their loss. Colonel Psaki was a great American. He will be missed and he will be remembered.