Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of an extraordinary serviceman from my district, my hometown, Jack ``Pop- Eye'' Bodner, who passed away at the age of 102 years old.

Mr. Speaker, Jack was a well-accomplished member of the United States Navy, having earned the European Theater Medal with four stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Three years ago, our office had the honor to present Jack with his Combat Action Ribbon for his courageous service during World War II.

Jack enlisted with the U.S. Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served our Nation across the globe. He was involved in several military operations, such as the Battle of Gela, the landing in Salerno, Italy, and the landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day in a U.S. amphibious landing craft.

Mr. Speaker, his service abroad garnered him the status of knight within the Legion of Honour, the highest decoration given by the Honorary Consul of France, in recognition of his contribution to the liberation of France.

May Jack Bodner's memory inspire all of us to strive toward courage and remind us of the heroes living amongst us. May God bless him and his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of credit unions in thc financial services marketplace. In Pennsylvania alone, there are 315 active credit unions, representing over 4.9 million members.

America's two national-level credit union trade associations, the Credit Union National Association and the National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions, recently merged into a new organization called ``America's Credit Unions.''

As a long-time credit union member and supporter, I appreciate the difference between credit unions and banks. Credit unions are not-for- profit financial cooperatives that are democratically controlled. Every member, regardless of how much they have in savings or loans at a credit union, has an equal voice and vote in the governance of their credit union. Credit unions also have no outside shareholders, allowing these institutions to act purely in the interest of members and provide outstanding member services.

For these reasons, credit unions consistently rank as the most popular form of depository institution in America. I congratulate the formation of America's Credit Unions, now the largest credit union trade association in the United States, and I expect great things to come from this new organization.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the retirement of a remarkable constituent from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Pasquale T. Deon, Sr., who retired from the board of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority on January 25, 2024.

Pat is the longest tenured chairman and board member in SEPTA history, serving the residents of greater Philadelphia since 1995. During his tenure at SEPTA, Chairman Deon was committed to securing budgetary stability for the transportation authority through the use of innovative financial mechanisms.

Chairman Deon revitalized the transit authority and contributed to 22 years of balanced budgets and the growth of SEPTA into the fifth- largest public transportation system in the Nation.

Moreover, Chairman Deon boasts an impressive record of bipartisan success for SEPTA, having worked with six Governors, five Philadelphia mayors, numerous county commissioners and councilmembers to secure the resources integral to SEPTA's continued operation and success.

Under his leadership, Chairman Deon advocated for the development and implementation of new technologies that put SEPTA on the cutting edge of efficient public transportation, including the introduction of the SEPTA Key, the integration of the SEPTA control center, a centralized command station, and the implementation of the Positive Train Control, a system designed to advance and improve rail safety technologies.

Moreover, Chairman Deon oversaw numerous technological advancements dedicated to making SEPTA a more sustainable system, including the introduction of hybrid buses into the fleet.

SEPTA is now a committed partner of the MACH2 hydrogen hub proposal, a project aimed to use existing technologies to generate clean hydrogen energy with the goal of transitioning the SEPTA fleet to zero-emission by 2040.

Madam Speaker, we congratulate Chairman Deon on his retirement and wish him the best in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Helen Buyce, a remarkable constituent from my district celebrating her 104th birthday. Helen was born February 2, 1920, in Wells, New York, but now resides in Newtown, Pennsylvania to be closer to family.

Helen Dampier graduated from Wells Central School in 1938. She first started working as a housekeeper and then moved on to a job at General Electric during World War II working alongside Rosie the Riveter. During this time, she began to date Roy Buyce, who joined the United States Army while Helen waited patiently for her true love to return. On February 26, 1946, they finally were married and made their home in Wells, New York, where she lived until moving to Bucks County. While living in Wells, Helen worked for the United States Postal Service.

Helen and Roy spent many of their winters in Florida. She and Roy had their own vegetable garden, and she was well known for the pickles she made. Helen lost Roy in 1998 but stayed in Wells until she was 99. She kept active in the Wells community and enjoyed baking and cooking, especially for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She spent her time relaxing by reading her favorite novels. Helen's nightly ritual included watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, reading the newspaper, and doing crossword puzzles.

Since Helen first arrived at Buckingham Valley Rehabilitation Center, she has never missed a BINGO game. She loves getting her hair done weekly and never misses an appointment. She comes to all entertainment and makes sure to sit upfront. Helen relishes conversation with staff and always leaves you smiling.

Helen could not be prouder of her growing family in Bucks County, PA. Joan, her only child and her son-in-law, Jim, live in Yardley, PA. Her two granddaughters, Jenny, and Katie, having families of their own, live only short distances away. Helen is well known to be a wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt. She is affectionately known as ``Granny'' to 5 great-grandchildren.

To Helen, family is everything. Her daughter Joan calls her every evening and comes to see her regularly. On special occasions, Joan will help her FaceTime other members of the family so she can enjoy and participate in life celebrations.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my esteemed colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to please join me in extending our heartfelt congratulations, sincere well-wishes, and all of God's Blessings to Helen Buyce on the celebration of her 104th Birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dorothy Yelenchic, an amazing constituent from my district about to celebrate her 101st birthday. Dorothy was born in Broughton, Pennsylvania on February 7, 1923. Dorothy had three brothers and one sister.

Dorothy attended school in Pennsylvania and worked at a drugstore afterwards. Following this, Dorothy worked in a bakery, which she loved, and still enjoys a sweet treat every now and then.

Dorothy met and married her husband, Stephen, in 1947 after the pair met at a dance. Together, they moved to Levittown, Pennsylvania for Stephen's job at United States Steel Corporation and were among Levittown's original homeowners.

They raised three children, Gary, David, and Carole in the Blue Ridge Section. Dorothy was a homemaker and enjoyed spending time with her family at Penn Warner Club, as well as shopping in Levittown Shopping Center with

her daughter and son. Dorothy was an excellent homemaker and an especially good cook, known for her soup.

Dorothy now has one grandchild, Candice, and three great- grandchildren, Valerie, Hannah and Dylan. Dorothy loves music, having engaging conversations, and is always happy with a good cup of coffee. To this day, Dorothy still loves polka music.

As we celebrate her 101 years of life, we are incredibly grateful for the positive impact she has made on all who know her.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marian MacFarland, a remarkable constituent from my district who is about to celebrate her 100th birthday. Marian was born on February 13, 1924, in Eldred, Pennsylvania, moved to Feasterville, and now resides in Newtown, Bucks County.

Marian Edgar graduated from Eldred High School, in Eldred, PA. She moved to Philadelphia, PA working at a Munitions Plant where she met John Russell MacFarland. Russ worked at the Naval Yard as the Chief Petty Officer in charge of repairs and re-outfitting the Naval ships. Marian and Russ were married on January 17, 1948, after he came home from World War II.

Marian and Russ moved to the suburbs in 1952, building their dream home together in Feasterville, PA. Marian worked for Strawbridge's department store in Philadelphia before starting a family. She and Russ are blessed with two sons, John and David, and one daughter, Jean Marie. She also has six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. She is immensely proud of the many family ``get togethers'' at her home where the main course was always chips and dip served with tuna hoagies.

Marian made her move to Buckingham Valley Rehabilitation Center with ease, making new friends as she shared her joys of life. She still enjoys gardening, working in the yard, trimming her plants, and attending to her flowers daily. Marian loves dancing, and she insists that it is what kept her in such great shape all these years. She loves her pet therapy visits and a nighttime snack with her roommate. Everyone who knows Marian would agree that her sweet tooth is her top priority.

Marian has an enthusiastic sense of humor and imagination. She loves to reminisce with her daughter Jean and son-in law, Bill about life's great memories, while her son David always comes for nightly visits. Marian has created lasting memories that affect every person she has encountered thus far in her life, and it is my fervent hope that she continues her positive impact on our community, district, and country.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my esteemed colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to please join me in extending our heartfelt congratulations, sincere well-wishes, and all of God's Blessings to Marian MacFarland on the celebration of her 100th Birthday.

Mr. Speaker, Americans across the Nation will benefit from this progrowth, pro-America, bipartisan tax bill.

The research and development provision will boost innovation here at home, making our Nation much more competitive against China. Enhanced small business expensing will allow our community businesses to thrive and prosper. Finally, more than 500,000 children in my home State of Pennsylvania will benefit from the expanded child tax credit.

Mr. Chairman, I commend Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Neal for working together to advance policies for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the achievements of a remarkable constituent from my district, Dr. John Germiller. Dr. Germiller is an attending surgeon and Director of Clinical Research in the Division of Otolaryngology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and an Associate Professor at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In a first in the nation breakthrough, Dr. Germiller's team was able to restore the hearing of an 11-year old boy named Aissam who was born deaf through a revolutionary gene therapy surgery.

The type of deafness experienced by Aissam affects over 200,000 people worldwide, a genetic disability which was previously deemed untreatable. Through a procedure at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Dr. Germiller was able to carefully inject a harmless virus carrying the corrected genes into Aissam's ear, which strengthened the tiny hairs within the inner ear that are required for full hearing ability. Dr. Germiller's study does not only provide a beacon of hope to adults and children affected by this type of genetic deafness, but also serves as the first step in utilizing gene therapy to help people experiencing other disabilities and diseases.

Dr. Germiller's career serves as a beacon of ingenuity and innovation, and his achievements inspire myself and others. I am sure that his contributions will have a lasting impact on the field of medicine. I thank Dr. Germiller for his tireless service to our community, our Nation, and the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary constituent from my district, United States Marine Corps First Lieutenant Cecilia Ann Eado. 1stLt Eado is graduating from Advanced Jet Training at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas on February 2, 2024, earning the coveted ``Wings of Gold''.

Cecilia was born to Chris and Mariann Davies in Doylestown, PA and graduated from Central Bucks High School West. Since her childhood, Cecilia had been driven towards the goal of becoming a pilot, following in the footsteps of her brother, father, and grandfather. Her family has a distinguished legacy of service as aviators with her Grandfather Joe and older brother Christopher both serving in the United States Navy. Her father Chris was also a huge inspiration as a highly successful Boeing 777 pilot for United Airlines.

1stLt Eado attended college at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where she participated as an NCAA Division 1 Collegiate Athlete in Cross-Country and Track. It was during college that Cecilia was selected into the United States Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course, completing Officer Candidate School during her summers. She earned a spot in the Marine Corps Aviation and was commissioned as a 2ndLt upon graduation at a ceremony held at the Liberty Bell Pavilion in Philadelphia on January 2, 2020.

After completing Marine Corps Officer Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, Cecilia reported to her primary flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. She completed Aviation Preflight Indoctrination and went on to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas to finish her primary flight training on the T-6B Texan II. Her performance was exemplary, and she was selected to Advanced Jet Training on the T-45AC Goshawk. Upon her graduation, 1stLt Eado will be assigned to a fleet replacement squadron for either the F-35 Lightning II or the F-18 Super Hornet.

Cecilia met her husband, 1stLt Urgy Eado, while serving in the Marine Corps.

I am beyond proud of and exceptionally grateful for 1stLt Eado's service to our great Nation. Her dedication to this country as a Marine Corps Fighter Pilot demonstrates the highest commitment to the values that make America the beacon of liberty to the world. I am truly impressed by her determination to achieve greatness and employ all her mental and physical capacities to become the Woman, Officer, Marine, and Pilot that she is today. I wish her nothing but the best in her continued service to the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleague, Representative Dwight Evans, in recognition of the retirement of a remarkable constituent from my district and dear friend, Pasquale T. Deon, Sr. who will be retiring from the board of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, SEPTA on January 25, 2024. Pat is the longest tenured chairman and Board Member of SEPTA, serving the residents of the greater Philadelphia region since 1995.

During his tenure at SEPTA, Chairman Deon was committed to the securing of budgetary stability for the transportation authority through the use of innovative financial mechanisms. Chairman Deon revitalized the transit authority and contributed to 22 years of balanced budgets and the growth of SEPTA into the fifth largest public transportation system in the nation. Furthermore, Chairman Deon boasts an impressive record of bipartisan success for SEPTA, having worked with 6 governors, 5 Philadelphia mayors, and numerous Commissioners and Councilmembers to secure the resources integral to SEPTA's continued operations throughout the region. Additionally, Chairman Deon was an active member of his community and advocate of various important causes throughout Philadelphia, including co-chairing SEPTA'S Hub of Hope initiative to construct a homeless engagement center that provides resources for Philadelphia's homeless population.

Under his leadership, Chairman Deon advocated for the development and implementation of new technologies that put SEPTA at the cutting edge of efficient public transportation, including the introduction of the SEPTA Key, the integration of the SEPTA Control Center centralized command station, and the implementation of Positive Train Control, a system designed to advance and improve rail safety technologies. Additionally, Chairman Deon oversaw numerous technological advancements dedicated to making SEPTA a more sustainable system, including the introduction of hybrid buses into the fleet. SEPTA is now a committed partner of the MACH 2 hydrogen hub proposal, a project aiming to use existing technologies to generate clean hydrogen energy with the goal of transitioning the SEPTA fleet to zero-emission by 2040.

Chairman Deon's career will continue to service as a beacon of innovation and ingenuity worth emulating. By his example, we are convinced that his colleagues will continue his work towards modernizing SEPTA into an efficient, cutting-edge transit authority dedicated to quality service for the residents of the Commonwealth and all those who visit our Philly region. Thank Pat for his tireless service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Laura ``Babe'' E. Raudenbush Sidman, a remarkable constituent from my district about to celebrate her 102nd birthday.

Laura was born on January 29, 1922, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

When she had completed schooling, Laura found a job working at the Quartermaster Depot in South Philadelphia. She took the Frankford EL Line to work every day. It was on one of those daily trips that she met Joe Sidman, the man who was to become her husband. Laura and Joe were married in October 1942.

As Joe was in the Army, they spent the first few months of married life in Florida. Once Joe was out of the service, they settled in an apartment in Mayfair for a few years. Joe and Laura then moved in with Martha and Harry Raudenbush who lived in Somerton for a short period of time while looking for a home. In 1950, Babe and Joe moved to their home on Elmwood Avenue in Trevose.

Babe and Joe raised 3 wonderful children, Lorraine, Barbara, and Jay while in their Trevose home. Once the kids were in school, Laura went back to work part time at Mortimer's Clothing store. Eventually she settled into a job at the Trevose Hardware Store joining her good friend, George Wehlau. Laura would continue in this position for over 20 years, becoming a staple of the community. She enjoyed baking cookies for her loyal customers who came back time and again for her caring nature and incredible baked goods.

Laura's love of sports has been a lifelong interest, She is an avid sports fan, especially of the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies. Win or lose Laura can be seen in front of the TV rooting for her favorite teams. When the Phillies won the pennant in 1950 Laura sat in front of her TV trying to take pictures of the action. Although those pictures didn't develop well, Laura did manage to get a picture roster of the 1950's winning Phillies. It hung in her home for many years.

In the community, Laura supported the Neshaminy ``N'' club with all kinds of baked cakes whenever asked and her son wrestled and played football for Neshaminy. She has been a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Langhorne for over six decades. During this time, Babe sang in the choir and was an esteemed member of the Altar Guild. In the course of her service on the Alter Guild, Laura trained generations of congregational members in the proper altar set up and the care, handling, and cleaning of the communion vessels. After Laura's retirement from the Altar Guild, she was presented with a Lifetime Achievement certificate.

Laura could not be prouder of her growing family. She has 3 doting children, 3 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren in addition to numerous nieces and nephews and their children. I am very grateful for her incredible life of service to her family, community, and country. As Laura ``Babe'' Sidman celebrates the first century of her life and 102nd birthday, I wish her nothing but the best in the coming years and a heartfelt Happy Birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of an extraordinary constituent from my district, Rita Lentz (nee Porfirio) of Bristol Borough, Pennsylvania, who passed away at the age of 86 on January 12, 2024. Rita was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 17, 1937 but grew up and was a lifelong resident in Bristol Borough, Pennsylvania where she would spend the next 80 plus years growing up and raising her family becoming a beacon of joy in our community.

Rita graduated from Bristol High School in 1955 and went on to marry the love of her life, United States Navy World War II Veteran Philip Lentz on October 3, 1970. A proud Italian American, Rita was bilingual and became a dual citizen of Italy in November of 2010. This was a culmination of frequent trips she and Philip made to Italy to enjoy her culture and an excellent glass of vino in the village of Roccacvivara.

Rita was a dedicated member of St. Ann Church and her faith inspired a life of service to our community. In addition to volunteering at church events, she and her husband were active members of the local Moose Lodge and VFW. She worked tirelessly throughout her beloved borough assisting countless people with care and transportation.

Rita also gave her time to serve as the judge of elections in the East Ward of Bristol Borough for many years. Some of Rita's most meaningful interactions were as a secretary at Warren Snyder School. She was fondly referred to as ``Miss Rita'' and worked to instill the same love and respect in the students that she gave to everyone around her.

Our community mourns Rita's passing but celebrates the legacy of her life. She will be missed by us all, especially her son Joseph, daughters Maria and Darlene, her sons-in-law Philip and Carl, and her grandchildren Philip and Daniel.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a remarkable constituent from my district, Colonel Daniel Lawrence ``Larry'' Rubini, who passed away on December 31, 2023.

Colonel Rubini served with distinction in the United States Army Reserves for over three decades as a Judge Advocate General and Civil Affairs Officer. He graduated from the Virginia Technical Institute in 1968 and commissioned through the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. Colonel Rubini began his tenure in the Army as an Armor Officer at Fort Knox in the early 1970s. Colonel Rubini then moved to Philadelphia and became an Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) as well as a civilian attorney. Colonel Rubini occupied various roles in the JAG Corps, including Staff Judge Advocate and Trial Counsel in the Army Reserves.

Having transferred to a Civil Affairs unit for what was expected to be a 3-year tour, Colonel Rubini remained in Army Civil Affairs for the rest of his career. Within the first 6 months of his tenure with Civil Affairs, Colonel Rubini was activated to participate in Operation Desert Storm, acting as an advisor to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Justice. He also served in Haiti as a U.S. Administrative Law Judge and then as Senior Advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Justice during the Iraq War. Colonel Rubini was instrumental in the creation of an anti-corruption task force in Iraq which still operates today.

At the conclusion of his military career, Larry continued practicing law, and became a U.S. Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration. Judge Rubini conducted over 3,500 depositions between 2010 through 2019. Additionally, Larry was instrumental in the provisions of safe haven for many foreign nationals whose lives were threatened for serving the U.S. military as translators. One of his lasting impacts in our community was his advocacy for the establishment of Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Bucks County.

Our Nation and community mourn Larry's passing but celebrate the legacy of service and dedication that he forged in life. He will be missed by us all, especially his wife of 53 years, Joan, his sons DJ and Jeffrey, his daughters-in-law Lea and Juliet, and his grandchildren Gwen, Jane, and John.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Virginia Midouhas, a remarkable constituent from my district, and to pay tribute today on the celebration of her 100th Birthday.

Virginia was born on January 9, 1924, in Geneva, Pennsylvania, as the only child of Mildred Wyatt. She attended Point Marion High School where she was in the chorus, Girls Trio and was a Drum Majorette. From Point Marion she moved to Bristol until 1963. Virginia has lived in the same house in Yardley, Pennsylvania since 1963.

Virginia and her husband Steve met at a factory that made airplane parts for WWII. She was the secretary to the company vice president and the project manager. Virginia and Steve have 3 wonderful children Amy, Stephen, and Elizabeth. She has 8 grandchildren and 2 great- grandchildren. Virginia has spent her summers on Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

Virginia has a deep love for music and is a classically trained singer. She enjoys listening to opera, Beverly Sills, and Renee Fleming. You can often find Virginia enjoying music and singing along to her favorites. We are incredibly grateful for the positive impact Virginia has had throughout her life, and we wish Virginia countless blessings.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize important efforts on behalf of animals worldwide and the humane treatment of animals through a new Humane Tourism certification program created by Global Humane, the international brand of American Humane, the first and most experienced national humane organization which was created in 1877 to ensure the safety, welfare, and well-being of animals.

Global Humane has extended its conservation impact with this new Humane Tourism program. At the same time as millions of people worldwide seek opportunities to connect with Earth's majestic wildlife, Global Humane has identified an opportunity to apply its expertise in animal welfare and create a unique certification program to help ensure animals are treated humanely in the travel and hospitality industry. The first audits were conducted in August 2023, which established that the properties met the certification requirements. The sites that are certified include Nyosi Wildlife Reserve and Mantis Founders Lodge in South Africa, Ichingo Chobe River Lodge in Namibia, and Zambezi Queen on the border of Namibia and Botswana.

Humane Tourism is a unique animal welfare certification program that assesses and certifies wildlife reserves, lodging facilities, and tour operators for their humane responsibility toward the animal life that these operations may encounter and have the potential to impact.

Mr. Speaker, I ask today that we recognize the importance and impact the Global Humane Tourism certification can have on keeping animals safe in the tourism industry worldwide.