Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlemen from California, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Garamendi, for their great work. There were a couple of rough patches, but in the House, we were able to figure it out. In the Senate, I especially thank Senator Rockefeller for working through this. I know Senator Rockefeller is retiring, so it is fitting that, as he leaves, this bill and his work is complete, and so we congratulate and thank him for his work.

This bill that Chairman Hunter and Mr. Garamendi put together is truly bipartisan and bicameral. There are a lot of great reforms in it. The men and women of the Coast Guard that help to keep this country safe and enforce our laws, this is a tribute to them for what they do.

They risk their lives to save people and to save property, and so my hat goes off to them and to thank them again for the great work that they do protecting the American people on the waterways and on the high seas and the marine natural resources that they also help to protect. They have a huge job.

I am very, very proud that the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act is going to pass today. As I said, a lot of bipartisan reforms are in the bill that will help to streamline and ensure that our Coast Guard can do their job more efficiently and with less red tape, giving them the resources that they need.

Again, a special thanks to Howard Coble, who the bill is named for. This

is his final bill. We wish him well in his future journey. Being the only Member of Congress that is a coastie, we thank him for all of his years of service back to 1985.

I think I am one of the few Members who has known Howard Coble since 1985--not that I was a Member then, but my father served with Howard on the committee. I was with my father last night, and I told him that we are doing the bill today, and he sends his best to you, Howard, and congratulates you on your retirement.

You have been a tireless worker for the interests of the Coast Guard and for the security of America, and we can't thank you enough for that.

In addition, the ranking member, Mr. Rahall, I believe this will be the final bill that he moves through the committee. I want to thank him for his friendship and for working with me the past 2 years. It has been a great partnership.

I have got a lot of great stories. As we went through the WRDA bill, a lot of great successes. A couple of them I can't tell, or I can't tell them on the House floor, but they are all clean. They are all good. But, again, we really worked well together on that, and I wish you the best in your future endeavors. You will be missed here in Washington. And again, a family friend for almost 40 years, serving with my father and with me; and again, we can't thank you enough for the great work that you have done in your 38 years here.

I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.

I was more than happy to let Mr. Coble come up. He didn't have to thank me. His hard work is thanks enough. But, again, a fine member of the committee and a Member of Congress. We are going to miss him greatly.

So, again, as I want to sum up, Chairman Hunter, Ranking Member Garamendi, great work on this bill. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for this, and hopefully we will get a vote in the Senate next week, and we can get this to the President's desk and he can sign it for Christmas. So, again, thanks to all.

I want to thank the staff for their great work, not only on the subcommittee but on the full committee. As we worked through the past 2 years, the staff has had a lot of good action together, and I want to thank the staff and wish them a Merry Christmas, a happy holiday, and a happy new year. If we don't see you, then we will see you around the first of the year.

I am particularly pleased that the bill includes a provision which equalizes the regulatory treatment among similar vessels which operate out of the British and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Current law puts certain vessels operating out of the U.S. Virgin Islands at a competitive disadvantage with similar vessels operating out of the British Virgin Islands. H.R. 5769 establishes an equal playing field for these vessels.

It allows vessels operating out of the U.S. Virgin Islands which meet safety requirements identical to those in effect for similar vessels operating out of the British Virgin Islands to carry an equal number of passengers.

It is clear the provision comes into effect on the date of enactment. The Coast Guard may write standards to implement the provision, but, again, the provision is clear, any such standards must be identical to those imposed on BVI vessels; and during any period prior to the implementation of such standards, vessels operating out of the U.S. Virgin Islands which meet the standards referenced in section 319, uninspected passenger vessels in the United States Virgin Islands, of H.R. 5769 shall be allowed to carry an equal number of passengers as those operating out of the British Virgin Islands.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my constituent and lifelong Bedford, Pennsylvania resident Mabel Koontz. Mabel, who is 92 years young, represents a symbol of how special our right to vote is in the United States and how important it is that every American citizen's voice is heard on Election Day.

Since 1943, when Mabel turned 21, she has never missed a vote. Over these years Mabel has casted her vote during some of America's most historic moments. She has been there as the 26th Amendment, which gave 18 year olds the right to vote, was enacted. She has also been at the polls as the American people have chosen leaders such as Ronald Reagan to move our nation forward. While our country has faced its challenges over the years, Mabel has never missed an opportunity to select elected officials at all levels of office to help our nation become stronger every time we faced adversity.

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, ``Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.'' These comments hold true to today and Mabel Koontz is a signature example of how special her dedication and belief in democracy has been for all of these years. Her perfect record should be a lesson and reminder to all who cast their vote every year.

I again am honored to recognize Mabel Koontz of Bedford for this remarkable achievement. Mabel's voice has been heard many times and because of people like her this nation remains today--the greatest the world has ever known.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 5682.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 748, I call up the bill (H.R. 5682) to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 5682, to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Pipelines are the energy lifelines that power nearly all of our daily activities. Pipelines are a very safe and cost-effective means to transport the products that fuel our economy. In fact, pipelines today supply more than two-thirds of the energy used in the United States. The Keystone XL project will be a critical addition to this extensive network, increasing our Nation's supply of oil and, thus, helping to reduce the cost of oil.

H.R. 5682 closely follows H.R. 3 that this House passed last year. Since the passage of H.R. 3, the State Department completed its Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on January 31 of 2014. However, there has still been no action by the administration on the pipeline. There have been excuses, the most recent of which is pending litigation in the State of Nebraska. However, H.R. 5682 takes that into account and allows for the rerouting in that State. There is simply no further reason to delay this important project, especially given the numerous benefits it will provide our Nation.

This pipeline will be a boon to economic development. Of particular interest to taxpayers, this pipeline doesn't require one Federal dollar to build. Further, the very nature of infrastructure creates jobs, and the Keystone XL is no exception. The U.S. State Department reconfirmed all of this last January. The State estimated that the Keystone XL will produce 42,000 jobs and $2 billion in employee earnings. This project will have a significant positive economic impact, including an estimated $3.1 billion in construction contracts, materials, and support services. Furthermore, the State confirmed that the estimated total property taxes for the project will be over $55 million spread across 27 counties. The State Department called this impact ``substantial for many counties.''

The Keystone XL pipeline is the most extensively studied and vetted pipeline

project in the history of this country. The project will include 95 special mitigation measures, including 59 recommended by PHMSA, to prevent spills and to make this the safest pipeline ever built. In fact, I would argue that we are facing a manufactured stalemate, one that could be described as ``paralysis by analysis.''

The majority of Americans knows this is the right thing to do, so the Congress, through this bill, will lead where the President has refused. This project will create jobs, improve the Nation's economy, strengthen our transportation system, and help improve the Nation's economic security.

I urge my colleagues to support this vital piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Mullin).

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from western Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. McAllister).

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to reiterate the numerous benefits this project will bring to our country, including jobs, energy security, safety, efficiency, and I would argue that more supplies of oil generally drive prices down, not up.

First, this pipeline safety, it is officially moved through this country safely. It is the safest way to move these products. There have been numerous additional mitigation measures. The State Department said it will reduce the risk of release.

Second, the State Department has explained this project will create over 40,000 jobs, over $3 billion in construction contracts.

Finally, as I said, from sourcing more crude oil from our friendly neighbor in the north, it will reduce our reliance and most likely reduce the cost of energy to the American people.

For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of our Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 60th Anniversary of Tyrone Hospital in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. It is a milestone in this outstanding facility's history of providing essential healthcare services to the residents of its community.

In the early 1900s, Harvey Gray, a prominent Tyrone businessman had a vision to build a hospital to care for the people of Tyrone and surrounding areas. Mr. Gray and his wife Adda ultimately donated $150,000 after their deaths toward the establishment of Tyrone Hospital. The Tyrone Borough Water department provided the location, donating nearly 17 acres of wooded land west of the Laurel Ridge. The people of Tyrone realized the Gray's vision of a community hospital over a period of years. Numerous community residents, businesses, and social and civic organizations donated time and funds to support the construction of the hospital. A contribution was also made by Tyrone's famous son, Fred Waring who gave a concert in Tyrone to benefit Tyrone Hospital.

On September 20, 1954, Tyrone Hospital opened its doors and accepted its first patient. Over the years, the hospital has grown to bring personalized health care not only to the residents of northern Blair County but also to communities in neighboring counties. That growth has included state of the art medical equipment, an expanded range of services, and a diverse medical staff.

The hospital's 60th year has been marked by the recent introduction of its new name--Tyrone Regional Health Network--reflecting its developing system of new providers and services throughout Central Pennsylvania. The 60th year also coincided with the announcement of plans for a 38,000 square foot expansion that will provide a new hospital facility.

A lot has changed since Tyrone Hospital first opened its doors in 1954. However, its presence as a community hospital and its mission to provide needed healthcare services to local residents has remained the same.

I wish to thank Tyrone Hospital's dedicated staff, Board of Directors and CEO Stephen Gildea for their commitment to quality healthcare. I congratulate them and the people of Tyrone and surrounding communities on this important anniversary for their local hospital. I'm proud to have such a wonderful facility in the 9th District, and wish Tyrone Hospital continued success in the next sixty years and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Bedford's Fall Foliage Festival. This wonderful event celebrates not only the changing of the seasons, but all that the town of Bedford has to offer.

Every year, the coming of fall brings about a beautiful transformation across Central Pennsylvania. From the changing color of the leaves, to the return of autumn favorites like Sunday football and pumpkin pie, there truly is no better place to experience all that the season has to offer than in the heart of our state. That is why I am honored to stand here today to celebrate 50 years of the Bedford Fall Foliage Festival.

In 1964, the Bedford County Motor Club and the Antique Auto Club joined together to create the Historical and Fall Tour, an event which then came to be known as the Fall Foliage Festival in 1966 and has grown ever since. Today, the event draws an estimated 70,000 visitors to Bedford over the course of two weekends, and features the work of over 400 artists and craftsmen. In addition, parades, antique cars, the crowning of the fall foliage queen, and a wide range of musical entertainment offer excitement for people of all ages. The event is one of the largest fall foliage festivals in the Northeast, and its 50th anniversary this year promises to be the best one yet.

I would like to thank all of the dedicated volunteers who have put so much effort into making the Bedford Fall Foliage Festival such a lasting success. Their hard work has ensured that the festival continues to be a highlight every autumn, and I know that it will only get better in the years to come. I'm proud to have such a wonderful event in the 9th District, and hope that everyone has a chance to visit and experience fall in Bedford County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th anniversary of Indiana Regional Medical Center in Indiana, Pennsylvania. It is a milestone in this wonderful community hospital's long history of providing exceptional healthcare services to the people of Indiana County and surrounding areas.

Resting in the heart of western Pennsylvania, Indiana offers the perfect blend of history, progress, industry, scenery, culture, and charm. When Indiana Regional Medical Center first welcomed the public in November of 1914, it was a 40-bed facility with 13 private rooms. From the time of its opening, the hospital's mission has been to serve the community with quality, progressive, compassionate patient care.

Over the years, this nonprofit institution has grown to become the county's sole full-service health care provider. Throughout its many renovations, expansions in services and continued advancements in knowledge and technology, Indiana Regional Medical Center has remained unchanged in its commitment to the community. It truly lives by its mission to serve the health care needs of every life it touches with compassion, respect and dignity. The hospital and its people certainly have made a difference in making Indiana County a better place to live, and they continue to have a positive impact on the region.

I wish to thank Indiana Regional Medical Center's dedicated staff, Board of Directors and CEO Stephen Wolfe for their commitment to quality healthcare. I congratulate them and the residents of Indiana County and surrounding communities on this important anniversary for their local hospital. I'm proud of having such an outstanding facility in the 9th District, and wish Indiana Regional Medical Center continued success in the next one hundred years and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the McKeon amendment to train and equip vetted Syrian

opposition groups and to confront the threat posed to our Nation by

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 5078.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the Congressman from Florida (Mr. Southerland), who is the original sponsor of H.R. 5078, the

Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act.

I think it is a thoughtful piece of legislation.

Mr. Chairman, it is now my honor to yield 1-1/2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Gibbs), the chairman of the Water Resources Subcommittee.

Mr. Chairman, it is now my honor to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller), the chair of the House Administration Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I urge the gentleman from Oregon to go back and read the second part of the bill--the last half of the bill. He may find a little different perspective on it.

With that, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito).

Mr. Chairman, can I inquire as to how much time is remaining on each side?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta).

(Mr. BARLETTA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Mullin).

Mr. Chairman, it is now my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the Republican leader.

Mr. Chairman, it is now my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).

It is now my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Jolly).

Mr. Chairman, it is now my pleasure to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), the chairman of the Agriculture Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), former chairman of the Judiciary Committee and now a member of the Science and Technology Committee.

Mr. Chairman, it is now my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Collins).

Mr. Chairman, it is now my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Hurt).

Mr. Chairman, I will conclude and yield myself the balance of my time, first, by thanking Mr. Rahall for working with us to come forward with a commonsense approach to stopping another grab by the executive branch.

I also want to thank Congressman Steve Southerland from Florida, who introduced H.R. 5078. Mr. Southerland has been a leader on the water issue since he arrived in Congress.

As we have been talking about here, and as Mr. Rahall agrees, this proposed rule would significantly increase the geographic scope of the Federal Government's authority under the act and is outside the bounds of what can legitimately be done by the rulemaking.

It also is going to create great uncertainty within the many industries in this country. The rulemaking proposed by the administration is yet another example of the disturbing pattern as this Presidency seeks to use brute force to expand executive action while ignoring Congress and the Supreme Court.

I would urge all the Members, all 435 Members of this body, to look seriously at this piece of legislation and what this administration is trying to do. The President tries to grab Congress' legitimate constitutional authority. And if you have any doubts on that, the Supreme Court, twice, rejected a rulemaking by the EPA.

I think all 435 of us ought to be looking closely, whether it is a Republican or a Democrat administration, at these power grabs by the executive branch. It has gone on for far too long, and Congress needs to stand up and maintain its constitutional authority.

This is a massive Federal jurisdiction grab. In the 110th and the 111th Congresses, there were attempts through various committees and through various amendments which were rejected on a bipartisan basis to stop this.

H.R. 5078, introduced by our colleague, Mr. Southerland, simply prevents the EPA and the Corps from finalizing the ill-conceived proposed rule, and directs the agencies to consult with the States and local officials. That is the way forward, going back to our States and our local governments.

They care as much or more about the waters in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and California and Oregon than the EPA does. This notion in Washington that Washington has the greater concern, that Washington has the better idea, the one-size-fits-all, just doesn't work, and it has been proven time and time again.

So again, this stops the administration proceeding. It has a path forward. I would urge my colleagues to read all nine pages of this bill. If you get to the end, you will see there is a way forward, and that is to consult with the States and the locals to come up with a consensus rule that can result in reasonable regulatory process that protects our waters.

So, with that, Mr. Chairman, I support this legislation. I urge all Members to vote in favor of H.R. 5078, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I must strongly oppose this motion to recommit because it basically aims to gut the underlying bill. The purpose of H.R. 5078 is to uphold the Federal-State partnership in regulating the Nation's waters by maintaining a balance between the States and the Federal Government in carrying out the Clean Water Act.

H.R. 5078 restricts the administration's current administrative efforts to expand Federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, and requires the agencies to engage in a federalism consultation with the State and local government partners in implementing the Clean Water Act. However, this motion is designed to undermine the legislation by giving the EPA unfettered discretion in making State water quality

determinations in order to allow the administration to continue implementing its flawed rule. In effect, the amendment says that the underlying bill will not apply virtually anywhere the EPA decides that the bill should not apply. This amendment would further erode the Federal and State partnership that H.R. 5078 seeks to preserve.

I would urge all 435 Members of this body to take notice. This is another attempt by the executive branch to take Congress' constitutional authority away from us. We should all take this as a serious challenge to us. For too long, this body has allowed the executive branch to take our authority granted to us by the Constitution. I say whether it is a Republican or a Democrat administration, we have to stop that. This bill, H.R. 5078, is a step in the right direction.

H.R. 5078 is a good bill that maintains the balance of our Nation's water. We must preserve the State and Federal partnership that has existed under the Clean Water Act until this administration chose to impose an overbearing EPA on our States.

I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure be authorized to file a supplemental report on the bill, H.R. 5078.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 696, I call up the bill (H.R. 5021) to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto.

Madam Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on this motion.

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

We have an immediate, critical need to address the solvency of the trust fund and extend the current surface transportation law. If Congress fails to act, thousands of transportation projects and hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country will be at risk.

Two weeks ago, the House acted and passed H.R. 5021, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014. This important legislation extends Federal surface transportation programs and ensures the solvency of the highway trust fund through May of 2015. It provides certainty.

The House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 5021 with a bipartisan vote of 367-55. Then we waited for the Senate to act. We continue to wait and wait. Then on Tuesday, the Senate finally acted. The Senate amended our bill to reduce funding for the highway trust fund and only extend surface transportation programs through December 19, 2014.

The Senate approach is deeply flawed. First, the Senate proposal is not fully offset. It underfunds the highway trust fund by more than $2 billion. Second, the Senate's shorter extension would guarantee a manufactured crisis in a lameduck session, when some might be inclined to play politics with these issues or use them as vehicles for unrelated policies that should be subject to the full and open debate they deserve.

Today, the House is considering a motion to disagree with the Senate amendment to H.R. 5021 and send our original bill back to the Senate. I strongly support this motion. This course of action in no way precludes Congress from continuing to work on addressing a long-term funding solution and a long-term reauthorization bill, which remains a top priority for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate on our shared goal of enacting a long-term surface transportation reauthorization bill. However, this approach is the responsible solution at this time. It ensures that we don't play politics with these programs and enables us to continue

making improvements to our surface transportation system.

I strongly urge all Members to support this motion. A vote against this motion is a vote to shut down these projects and programs and would put more than 6,000 projects and more than 700,000 jobs at risk.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am now pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).

Madam Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Mullin).

Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp), chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I will conclude and yield myself the balance of my time.

In closing, I would like to reiterate my strong support of this motion. It strips the Senate amendments to H.R. 5021 and sends our original bill back to the Senate, which we passed 367-55.

Our bill is the responsible solution that ensures that we don't play politics with these programs and enables us to continue making improvement to our surface transportation system.

This course of action in no way precludes Congress from continuing to work on addressing a long-term funding solution and a long-term reauthorization bill, which remains a top priority for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

I strongly urge all Members to support this motion. Let me be perfectly clear: a vote against this motion is a vote to shut down surface transportation projects and programs. The American people deserve better than that, and we can do better than that.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in support of this motion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the rich heritage of Monessen, Pennsylvania, and to remember two important events which took place 150 years ago and ultimately helped shape the town's history.

This year marks the sesquicentennial of the birth of one of the key figures in Monessen's founding, William Henry Donner. Donner was instrumental in the development of the town, using a cash bonus of $10,000 to turn twenty acres of land on the banks of the Monongahela River into Monessen's first factory, the National Tin Plate Company. In doing so he created the town's initial industry, one that went on to grow and thrive. He was a member of Monessen's first school board and spearheaded efforts to build the Monessen Water Company, as well as Monessen's first school building. His work was crucial to the emergence of Monongahela as a vibrant community, and he played a major part in spurring its growth.

I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize another great figure in the history of Southwestern Pennsylvania who also was a founder of Monessen, James M. Schoonmaker. Schoonmaker was born in Peebles Township in 1842, and was a student at Western University of Pennsylvania when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the army and was assigned to the 1st Maryland Calvary, where he quickly established himself as a competent leader. In 1862, Schoonmaker was given the authority by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to raise the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, of which he was made colonel. His actions in leading soldiers during the Third Battle of Winchester in 1864 were crucial in helping the Union achieve victory, and for his heroic efforts he was awarded the Medal of Honor. This September marks the 150th anniversary of that famous cavalry charge.

On August 16th, The Greater Monessen Historical Society in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania will celebrate the City of Monessen's annual Founders Day at Monessen City Park, commemorating these two events. I wish to thank the Society and its President Dan Zyglowicz for keeping alive the memory of these important leaders, and preserving our region's history for the next generation. We must never forget the lessons of the past, and their work is a crucial way to make sure these Pennsylvania leaders continue to be a part of our heritage for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my constituent John ``Sherm'' Sherman Lehman, a lifelong resident of Buffalo Mills, Pennsylvania. He is currently 100 years old.

Sherm Lehman was born on September 6, 1913, one of 14 brothers and sisters. He attended Hyndman High School until the age of 15, when he began working at the Celanese Corporation in Cumberland, Maryland to help support his family. He worked there for the next 45 years, seven months, and 17 days.

Sherm Lehman has always been deeply involved with his family, his church, and his local community. He married Geraldine Miller on January 25, 1936, and they have been together for 62 years, with three sons and two daughters who continue to reside in the Bedford, Pennsylvania region. His faith was particularly important to him, and he continues to worship at Christ Lutheran Church. Sherm even celebrated his 100th birthday in 2013 there, joined by many friends and family members. In addition, Sherm served on the Hyndman-Londonderry School Board in the 1950s, served as church treasurer, and remains an active member in the local Lions Club.

Sherm was drafted into the U.S. Navy in February 1945, and was honorably discharged when World War II ended six months later. As he describes it, ``When the Germans found out Lehman was coming they decided to surrender right then and there.'' Sherm continued to express joy and success in athletics, winning over 100 medals in track and field events in the Bedford County Senior Olympics. He also went on to compete in the 100 meter dash in the National Senior Olympics held in St. Louis, Missouri in 1987, when he was 74 years old.

John Sherman Lehman stands as an outstanding example of American honor and citizenship, and to this day he takes the time to vote in every election. He worked hard throughout his life, providing for his family and ensuring that future generations understand the ideals of genuine humility and love-for-country that you find so frequently in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me to honor Mr. John Sherman Lehman on the floor of the House of Representatives today. I congratulate him on a life well-lived.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4156) to amend title 49, United States Code, to allow advertisements and solicitations for passenger air transportation to state the base airfare of the transportation, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 4156.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 4156. Let me begin by thanking my colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle for their helpful support on this bill: Congressmen DeFazio, Rahall, and Rick Larsen of Washington. And on the Republican side, I would like to thank Congressmen Frank LoBiondo and Tom Graves of Georgia for their help and bipartisanship in crafting this bill.

A special thanks to Congressman Tom Graves who, in the 112th Congress, introduced similar legislation. He reached out to us early in the process and has been a true leader, helping us craft and move this legislation forward to provide absolute transparency to the flying public through H.R. 4156.

Before I explain the bill, I will enter into the Record letters of support for H.R. 4156, which represent a broad spectrum of support from business and labor.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4156, the Transparent Airfares Act of 2014, is a commonsense, fair, bipartisan bill that provides airfare transparency to the flying public.

In January of 2012, a Department of Transportation rule went into effect that requires the airlines and travel agents to bury government- imposed taxes and fees in the advertised price of a ticket. This rule effectively masks and, I would argue, hides the current government- imposed taxes and fees on consumers.

H.R. 4156 clarifies that it is not an unfair or deceptive practice to display, in an advertisement or solicitation, the base fare for the air transportation as long as the taxes, fees, and total costs are clearly and separately disclosed--again, let me repeat that: clearly and separately disclosed--in the advertisement or solicitation.

This bill will allow the airlines and travel agents to display the actual cost of air travel in a clear and transparent way, enabling travelers to see the base airfare and government-imposed taxes and fees. For instance, right now, the DOT requires airlines and travel agents to advertise a $237 plane ticket as costing $300, hiding the $63 of government taxes and fees from consumers. It is only fair that consumers know what they are paying for. So I urge all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, with 50 cosponsors.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oregon for enlightening us to some of those facts that I was not aware of. Complaints going up 300 percent in the new law is quite shocking, but I do agree with the gentleman completely on his argument that there needs to be transparency.

It is not fair and it is not right that the government can hide those fees when there are other industries and other modes of transportation that have to put them out there in full, plain view of the traveling public.

The gentleman is correct that the traveling public and the consumers understand. They can look, they can read, and they can add and subtract. So, again, I think this is a fair and prudent piece of legislation that is going to make sure it is transparent for the traveling public.

Once again, I want to thank the gentleman from Oregon for being a big supporter on this, as well as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Mr. Larsen; as well as the full committee ranking member, Mr. Rahall; and, of course, Mr. LoBiondo, the chairman of the subcommittee.

Again, a special thanks to Tom Graves, who has been so effective in working this issue and working with us to put forth this bill that is bipartisan today.

Does the gentleman have any other speakers?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for working with me, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4838) to redesignate the railroad station located at 2955 Market Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, commonly known as ``30th Street Station'', as the ``William H. Gray III 30th Street Station''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 4838.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4838, and I am honored to rise in support of H.R. 4838, which renames Amtrak's 30th Street Station for William H. Gray III.

I am proud to be a Pennsylvanian and proud to have known Mr. Gray. Mr. Gray led a life of service in his church and to the Second District of Pennsylvania, to the education community, and to America.

Representative Gray served the Second District for six terms and was the first African American House Budget Committee chairman and first African American House majority whip.

He also helped provide Federal resources for the renovation of Amtrak's 30th Street Station, so it is only appropriate today that we have a bill on the floor that would rename the 30th Street Station for him. As I understand it, this will have no cost to the taxpayers, but, again, I probably have used the 30th Street Station more than any other station, whether traveling from Union Station to Philadelphia or traveling from the Harrisburg terminal to Philadelphia.

Again, it is a beautiful building, and, again, with the renaming of it, I think it is very appropriate that we name it for William Gray.

With that, I urge the support of H.R. 4838, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, our side has no more speakers, so I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I appreciate the gentlelady yielding back the balance of her time so I get the final word. Sometimes I don't always get the final word with the gentlelady from Florida. I didn't know if you knew he was a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. So he was educated at a great school in central Pennsylvania, so we would like to take some credit.

I yield to the gentleman.

I appreciate the gentleman pointing that out. I am a graduate of Dickinson College, which used to be in the MAC, Middle Atlantic Conference, which F&M was in, so I share that heritage of the MAC conference with Mr. Gray.

The other thing I wanted to point out, his family moved to Philadelphia in 1949. His father took over the church of his grandfather, and then Bill Gray led that church, and so he was a third- generation pastor at the Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia. After pointing that out, some folks around here know my heritage.

I spoke to my father this weekend and asked him what he remembered about Bill Gray. My father said he was smart, he was hardworking and tough, and he was a true gentleman. So he sent his best down here for this debate also.

Finally, I just want to thank Amtrak for working with us to be able to move this forward. The president of Amtrak, Joe Boardman, and his staff worked very hard to ensure this became a reality. Being able to name the station for a Pennsylvanian, someone with a tremendous background and experience, it has been an honor for me to take part in this.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.