Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor People Incorporated, a leading nonprofit and human service agency in western New York.

This year, People Incorporated is celebrating its 50th year of service to western New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as families and older adults.

The agency was founded in 1970 by a small group of parents and professionals to better meet the needs of people with disabilities and their loved ones.

Since then, People Incorporated has grown and expanded its services. They currently serve over 10,000 individuals and families every single year.

People Incorporated provides access to housing and healthcare in a safe and welcoming environment. Their innovative services have helped thousands of people across western New York to live independently.

I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking People Incorporated for 50 years of compassionate community care.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of Buffalo Medical Group, one of the oldest and largest physician-driven group practices in New York State. This year it will be celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Buffalo Medical Group was founded in 1946, the year after World War II ended. Inspired by the new model of group physician practice they had experienced during the war, practices in that model were resumed by the organization's visionary founders, Drs. Ramsdell Gurney, Murray S. Howland, Jr., George F. Koepf, and Frank Meyers.

The organization has flourished and now records more than 850,000 outpatient visits annually throughout its locations. Built from a 75- year-old desire to provide the best possible health care, Buffalo Medical Group continues to provide innovative patient care today.

Buffalo Medical Group employs not only more than 200 primary care, specialist, subspecialist physicians and advanced practitioners but also over 800 other health care professionals. The organization serves the people of Western New York from a number of locations, including four main locations and seven office satellites.

Buffalo Medical Group operates in a number of medical spheres, including but not limited to family medicine, cancer care, and vascular surgery. The organization also provides a number of support services for the people of Western New York, such as physical therapy, radiation services, and pharmacy services. The organization ensures that the people of Western New York have access to a plethora of medical resources.

Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to honor Buffalo Medical Group, an organization that has operated in and for Western New York for 75 years. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this milestone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Dick Griffin, a towering figure in Buffalo's legal community and one of our leading citizens.

Dick worked to make Buffalo a more just place as a champion of the civil rights movement in the courtroom and as a trusted adviser to national and local civil rights leaders.

An attorney for 64 years, he was admired and respected widely for his talent, capability, and legal mind, so much so that later in his career, he was called upon to arbitrate some of the toughest regional legal issues, including that of compensation for the victims of the tragedy of Flight 3407.

He cared deeply about his community and played an active role in civic and philanthropic efforts to improve parks, public spaces, and whole neighborhoods.

We mourn the loss of Dick Griffin today and extend our condolences to his wife and my friend, Dr. Jane Griffin, and their children Mary, Anne, Thomas, and Richard.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Kevin Hays.

Kevin was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the age of 28. He fought a 7-year battle against it that was courageous and inspiring. He made it his mission to raise awareness about the second leading cause of cancer deaths in America.

Kevin founded the Colon Corps, led the Blue Hope Hard Hat Initiative, and got involved with the American Cancer Society and the National Colorectal Cancer Alliance to promote early detection and screening.

Kevin was a gifted, nationally recognized messenger, charismatic and kind, with a mischievous smile and a great sense of humor.

To his beloved wife, Hilary, and his beautiful family and loved ones, cherish your memories of Kevin and know that there will always be light to guide you from the love he gave you.

I stand here today to recognize the many lives saved thanks to the advocacy of Kevin Hays and to carry his message of love and encouraging colon cancer screening forward.

Madam Speaker, the Buffalo-Niagara region faces a serious and tragic rise in gun violence, as does the entire country. It has devastated neighborhoods and torn families apart.

Crime data released this week confirms that this is a local problem and a national problem as well.

In 2020, the number of murders in our country spiked by 30 percent, a record increase.

This year, the Department of Justice created the Violence Prevention and Elimination Response Task Force, called VIPER. Its aim is getting illegal guns off our streets and stopping violent criminals.

VIPER has been remarkably successful at stemming gun violence and saving lives.

Buffalo has seen a 50 percent decrease in homicides since the program started.

Each person lost to gun violence is another human denied a lifetime of opportunity and a family left behind.

VIPER is continuing through October, but the Department of Justice needs to make this a permanent program to stop gun violence in Buffalo and throughout the Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark National Emergency Nurses Week and to honor the contributions of Anita Dorr.

Anita was an emergency room nurse at the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, New York. She observed that emergency rooms could do better in the many types of crises coming through emergency room doors.

She developed the crash cart, which has drawers that contain defibrillators, life-supporting drugs, and other essential items for crisis care. The crash cart is now universally used in medical settings around the world and has saved countless lives.

Anita also cofounded the Emergency Nurses Association to advocate for nurses and support their training across America.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring emergency nurses as well as Anita Dorr's lasting contributions to the medical field and to my community.

Madam Speaker, the Republican Party is, in fact, the party of debt and deficit. Ronald Reagan, a Republican, grew the deficit to $152 billion. Bush 1, a Republican, grew that deficit to $290 billion. President Clinton, a Democrat, wiped out the entirety of the deficit and gave $128 billion surplus to Bush 2, a Republican, who turned that $128 billion surplus into a $1.4 trillion deficit. Obama, a Democrat, cut the Bush deficit of $1.4 trillion to $600 billion, from which Trump, a Republican, grew that deficit to $1 trillion.

Over the past 60 years, Democrats have created 21 million more jobs than Republicans. Annual economic growth is almost double. The Democratic Party continues the clean up the mess that the Republicans have made. And the Republicans are running away from the mess that they are responsible for.

Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility and disparities of the American healthcare system, particularly in underserved communities.

Through the American Rescue Plan, Congress is seeking to close these disparities to make healthcare more accessible, with greater quality, through Federally Qualified Health Centers.

The American Rescue Plan funding released this week builds on this model, supporting improvements to facilities across the Nation, including $2.2 million in new funding for western New York.

Health centers serve as trusted messengers and providers to connect with hard-to-reach patients. Investing in these health clinics' infrastructure will deliver healthcare savings, better health outcomes, and overall healthier communities throughout America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act authorizing funding for the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program.

The competitive matching grant program, intended to enhance public awareness, education, and appreciation for United States maritime history, has not issued grants for the last serve years due to lack of funding.

The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park in my community is home to several decommissioned Naval vessels that serve as floating museums, allowing visitors to be immersed in the incredible stories of historic military battles and brave U.S. soldiers.

Without resources, ships like these across the country are deteriorating and, in some cases, are literally sinking.

I ask my colleagues to support our amendment authorizing $10 million for the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program and join me in protecting irreplaceable maritime history from being lost forever.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of provisions of the Build Back Better Act that will help substantially our seniors in western New York.

The bill moving through the House recognizes the importance of human infrastructure, of care infrastructure, and this includes making big investments in our seniors.

The bill provides Medicare coverage for hearing, dental, and vision benefits.

It provides a Medicaid funding increase so seniors can live safely at home.

It recognizes the importance of caregivers by providing a tax cut to support families who struggle to care for their loved ones.

It addresses critical shortages in our health workforce so seniors, when they are in a nursing home or hospital, have access to the best professionals available.

And it will cut prescription costs by using the leverage of the Federal Government to get a better deal for Medicare beneficiaries.

These are all important investments in our seniors and those who love them, and they need our support.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the provisions as Congress moves toward passage.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of Niagara County Legislator Dennis Virtuoso. Dennis is a dedicated public servant who is retiring after 30 years of service and 15 terms in the Niagara County Legislature.

Dennis is one of just two members to serve three decades in the Niagara County Legislature. As a longtime Democratic Caucus leader, he spent much of his time in office serving in

both majority and minority leadership. During the early 2000s. Dennis spent four years as Majority Leader and the last 16 years as Minority Leader.

Throughout his tenure, Dennis vowed to keep the Niagara County Legislature transparent and honest. When he first ran for office, he promised that he would never vote for a property tax increase. Thirty years later. Dennis has kept this promise.

Dennis sponsored several resolutions during his time on the Niagara County Legislature. Most notable was a resolution, that passed, allowing Niagara Country residents to speak before the Legislature; previous policy did not allow residents to have a voice. He also sponsored a resolution that put in place an Animal Abuse Registry that requires registration for anyone convicted of animal cruelty. The registry now serves as a model for the rest of New York State. Additionally, Dennis sponsored resolutions to reserve parking spaces for Purple Heart recipients.

Of his many accomplishments, Dennis is most proud of his speech before Congress in the late 1970s. At the time, he was the president of United States Steel Workers of America Local 12256. Dennis's testimony led to immediate action by President Jimmy Carter ordering NIOSH and OSHA to help the 500 employees at the Hyde Park/Bloody Run Landfill in Niagara Falls who were suffering from cancer and blood-related diseases due to chemical exposure. The workers were able to obtain necessary medical testing and landfill was subsequently closed.

While serving as County Legislator, Dennis also worked full-time as a Niagara Falls building inspector, eventually becoming the city's director of inspections. His true passion though, is working for the people of Niagara County.

Dennis is the son of Carmella and the late Armand Virtuoso, a two- time Purple Heart recipient and World War II veteran. He and his wife, Gina Virtuoso, have two sons and a daughter. Dennis is a Navy Seal, Vincent works at the Niagara Falls Water Plant, and Gina is a nurse.

Dennis is passionate work over the past 30 years gave the people of Niagara County a voice in government. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to recognize Legislator Dennis Virtuoso's well-deserved retirement from the Niagara County Legislature. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Dennis for his leadership and service.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor of my own alma mater, Buffalo State College, to recognize 150 years of education and service to the Western New York Community.

Buffalo State College, a member of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, opened in 1871 as the Buffalo Normal School to train teachers for the area's growing public school system. Now the largest comprehensive four-year college in the SUNY system, Buffalo State educates over 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year. In addition to their renown Special Education program, the school offers 79 undergraduate majors, 11 post baccalaureate teacher certification programs, and 64 graduate programs.

Education is perhaps one of life's greatest gifts and for the past 150 years, Buffalo State College has committed to providing access to quality public higher education, giving a countless number of students the opportunity for engaged and applied learning. As an alumnus myself, I have seen first-hand just how great of an institution Buffalo State really is. Its ability to improve and evolve each year with ever changing educational practices deserves the highest honor.

Buffalo State is known for its strong community connections and commitment to life-long learning. Graduates become scholars, leaders, and global citizens. The educational community encompasses a diverse range of students and faculty. It is this commitment to diversity and inclusivity that has made Buffalo State into the institution it is today. This diversity creates a learning environment where all people are welcome and helps to foster the growth of a knowledgeable, understanding community.

It is attributes like this that have enabled Buffalo State to become a pristine institution within the Western New York Community for many years. I sincerely congratulate the faculty, staff, students, and alumni of Buffalo State College on being a part of the school's storied history, and I look forward to seeing how Buffalo State continues to grow and develop throughout the future. Go Bengals.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Quinn Caroline Flaherty of Cheektowaga, and her tremendous achievement of becoming an Eagle Scout.

In 2019, Scouts BSA officially started accepting young women into its ranks. Becoming an Eagle Scout is a difficult and involved process and necessitates being a Life Scout for at least six months, earning at least 21 merit badges, demonstrating Scout Spirit and troop leadership, and creating an Eagle Project. The first young women to become Eagle Scouts were accepted in 2020.

Quinn is a hard worker, dedicated to Scouting. She earned more than 40 merit badges, and was chosen by her peers to hold the position of Senior Patrol Leader. She splits her time between three different units, including a BSA Troop, Sea Scout Ship, and a Venture Crew.

Quinn's Eagle Project was largely centered around the COVID-19 Pandemic. While taking a COVID test, she remarked to her family that the hardworking staff looked like they needed a good meal. In a combination of looking to support frontline workers and the suffering restaurant industry, Quinn raised more than $10,000 to support local restaurants, providing more than 1,000 meals to essential workers and first responders. For her dedication to Scouting and her efforts to support the community, Quinn was nominated for Eagle Scout

of the Year by the Allegheny Highlands Council.

Quinn's education never suffered despite her dedication to the Scouts BSA program. She remains a straight-A student, a class officer at Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, and earned the service award for her class with more than 100 hours of volunteer work over the past year.

I am proud to know Quinn personally and can speak to her sterling character. Quinn has loving and supportive parents, Michael Flaherty and Summer Przybylak, and a doting stepfather, Tom Przybylak, who himself earned his Eagle Scout in 1994. I am confident that their proud guidance and support helped Quinn earn this remarkable achievement.

In her Eagle Scout Letter of Ambition, after noting her family history in Scouting, Quinn stated, ``I joined Scouting because I wanted to do something different, and a girl joining a century-old all-boy program was about as different as you could get.'' Quinn closed her letter by saying, ``I am a girl with dreams, a girl with plans. I am a girl with hope for the future. Now I get to add Eagle Scout to that list.''

Madam Speaker, Quinn certainly does get to add that to the list. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Quinn Caroline Flaherty of Cheektowaga on her achievement of becoming an Eagle Scout, and thanking her for her service to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lewis Webber, the President of Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter 4-6, for a lifetime of fighting for the working class.

Lewis Webber was born days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 so he was always ready for a good fight. Advocating for the workers at Bethlehem Steel was in his blood, as many of his relatives, including his father, were employed there. Growing up in a union household, he and his brother heard all the stories from their father about the strikes at Bethlehem Steel, including the famous 53- day 1952 Steelworkers strike, ending with a victory for the hard- working Steelworkers.

It was not a surprise that both Lewis and his brother would also go on to work many years of their lives at Bethlehem Steel. Lewis started working at Bethlehem Steel in October of 1964. He was a member in three separate unions: United Steelworkers, Truckdrivers Local Union, and the United Autoworkers. As a member of the United Steelworkers, he recalls fighting to make sure that the proper withholding was taken out of the employees checks. Later, in 1985, Mr. Webber officially won a grievance against Bethlehem Steel, providing 22 workers an additional $238 a week for two years, and a pension for the rest of their lives.

When Bethlehem Steel shut its doors, the Western New York community was devastated; however, that didn't stop Lewis Webber from continuing to fight for those who had worked there. He joined the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR), Chapter 4-6 and put the skills he learned from earlier battles to work as he rose in the ranks of leadership becoming Trustee in 1997, Vice President in 2007, and President of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees, Chapter 4-6 in 2008. There are 430 members of SOAR, Chapter 4-6 who rely on his leadership today.

Lewis Webber always says that you can never fight these battles alone. His number one supporter was his wife, Beverly who unfortunately passed away in 2011. She was also Secretary of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees, Chapter 4-6. His children Rosemary, LuAnn, and Kathleen, grand-children, and great-grandchildren are always by his side, fighting the good fight.

Mr. Webber joined our fight over a decade ago to help former Bethlehem Steel employees receive compensation under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP) and he continues to work with my office to ensure eligible retirees receive the benefits they deserve. Over $300 million has been paid out to workers and their families after they were exposed to radiation while working at Bethlehem Steel.

Lewis Webber offered many words of advice, including ``I am not doing this to make people millionaires; I am doing this to get them what they need to get by in this world. I am not doing this to help just the Steelworkers; I am doing this to help all Americans,'' and, ``Always fight using your brains, not your fists. At the end of the day your knowledge of the contract will be more likely to help you win the battle.'' His words demonstrate his commitment to his fellow workers and his lifetime of experience advocating for the interests of Steelworkers.

Many Bethlehem Steel retirees and their families who live in Western New York are better off because Lewis Webber has never stopped and will never stop fighting for them. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the lifelong commitment that Lewis Webber has shown to the former employees of Bethlehem Steel, the greater Western New York community, and the United States as a whole.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4502, a funding package that prioritizes workers, families, and communities.

This bill delivers in a major way for Buffalo and western New York. It will fight cancer in underserved neighborhoods by helping Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center establish a lung cancer screening registry.

It preserves local history at the Buffalo Naval Park and the Albright-Knox

Art Gallery. It trains our future workforce by investing in training programs at the West Side Bazaar, the Buffalo Sewer Authority, and Buffalo State's Small Business Development Center.

It will better connect our community to nature, something the pandemic has shown to be a critical life-quality asset, at the Shoreline Trail and The Riverline projects.

Budgetary documents are a statement of our values. This package says our children, veterans, families, and communities are our most important investments.