Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a faith leader in our community who has made a tremendous impact on individuals in our home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Rabbi Joel Simon of the Shir Ami Synagogue in Newtown, has been a transformative force in providing spiritual guidance to his congregants. During his tenure, Mr. Speaker, at the Reform congregation, Joel has made great strides to enhance the educational environment for the over 700 families who attend Shir Ami. A strong proponent of strengthening Jewish identity, Rabbi Simon oversees community building exercises such as yoga, youth groups, and theater trips.

Rabbi Simon will be departing Shir Ami on Saturday to return to his home in Florida. While he will be dearly missed by our community, we are sure that he will flourish in his next chapter. We wish him; his wife, Jacent; and their entire family all the best going forward.

Bucks County Heroes

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize several individuals from our community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who administered first aid that would ultimately save the life of a beloved school bus driver.

In January, Janet Lapsley suffered a life-threatening medical emergency. Discovered unconscious by fellow bus driver Bob Fay, Janet was found to be lacking a pulse. With the help of Bob and drivers Brent Briggs, Danny Shimp, and Jeff Randolph, Janet received CPR and oxygen. With the assistance of school nurse Dawn Fulton and athletic trainer Katie Holmes, Janet received the additional treatment she needed to survive while first responders were on the way.

I would like to commend the first responders, who worked collectively and professionally to save Janet's life. They are Ottsville Fire Company Chief William Shick, Deputy Chief James Keogh, Firefighter and EMT Jeff Lauble, and Junior Firefighter Evelyn Keogh.

The weekend following this health scare, Janet's brain activity hovered between 3 percent and 5 percent. However, with the help of a team of doctors and many prayers, Janet slowly recovered and is now working as a monitor on bus 97, continuing to assist the children she cares so deeply about.

I would like to thank Bob, Brent, Danny, Jeff, Dawn, Katie, William, James, Jeff, and Evelyn for their courageous actions. Their knowledge and quick thinking truly saved the life of a dedicated community servant. I encourage all of my constituents to follow their lead and, as an EMT, educate themselves on the power of first-aid techniques to save lives every single day.

Honoring the Work of Teachers Marc Cutillo and Joan Savion

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a teacher in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who is working to break down barriers both in and out of the classroom.

Marc Cutillo, a biology teacher and special education teacher at William Tennent High School in Warminster, was recently a recipient of the Teacher as Hero award from the National Liberty Museum and State Farm Insurance. He was honored for his work teaching a science class for students which doubles as an English language class. Additionally, Marc has teamed up with fellow William Tennent teacher Joan Savion to establish Aqui Para Ti, a community group that seeks to strengthen relationships with the Latino community in the Centennial School District.

I applaud Marc and Joan for their work in bridging the language and learning gap for students in our community. By giving them the tools to succeed, Marc and Joan are paving a brighter future for the next generation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a member of our community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who was recently honored as a Red Cross hero.

Last New Year's Eve, Vincent Gonzalez of Levittown sprang into action following a serious accident in which an impaired driver crashed his vehicle into the home of his neighbors Jim and Mary Albright.

Vincent provided immediate assistance to Jim, who was seriously injured and was bleeding heavily from a sustained head wound.

For the rest of that night, Vincent comforted Mary, who had to face the devastating reality of an injured husband, a damaged home, and the death of the family's beloved yellow lab because of this horrific incident.

Today, Jim, who is fully recovered, refers to Vincent as his and Mary's ``guardian angel.'' I would like to honor Vincent for his quick thinking and selfless actions. I encourage all of my constituents to follow his lead and to look out for each other in times of crisis.

Recognizing Logan Killeen

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize a heroic young man who is already teaching our community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the values of respect and compassion.

Logan Killeen of Fairless Hills was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare disorder which affects facial bones and structure. Recently, Logan has undergone several surgeries to alleviate his condition, and he often wears a headband to assist with his hearing.

In the fall, Logan will be starting kindergarten at Oxford Valley Elementary School. That school recently held an assembly in his honor to teach fellow students that, even though Logan may look different than they do, he is just like them.

I commend Logan for his bravery, and I also commend Oxford Valley Elementary School as well. I want to commend both for their willingness to spread kindness to their peers and to our community.

I would also like to recognize Logan's parents, Matt and Nicole Killeen, for raising such a fine young man and for all that they do for individuals facing this challenge.

Mr. Speaker, the opioid epidemic is devastating communities within my district and across the country. In the last year alone, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, has lost 232 individuals in drug- related deaths; a staggering 26 percent increase from 2016.

As vice-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, I am proud to rise today in strong support of H.R. 5812, the CONNECTIONS Act.

While my district is just one area in the Nation that is struggling to cope with the opioid crisis, I believe the CONNECTIONS Act will provide officials on the ground the necessary training techniques and resources they need to turn the tide on this epidemic.

As a longtime proponent of States fully utilizing prescription drug monitoring programs to track controlled substance purchases, I am proud of the PDMP enhancements in this bipartisan bill.

Our Nation's drug epidemic is a complicated issue, Mr. Speaker, and our response must be multifaceted. This means a reduction in the unnecessary dispensing of prescriptions, which could be accomplished by tracking and reporting information that allows physicians, pharmacists, and other health professionals to make informed clinical decisions and to identify troubling trends.

I would like to thank my colleague from Virginia, Mr. Griffith, for his leadership on this important piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the passage of the CONNECTIONS Act.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Washington Crossing National Cemetery as the first national veterans' cemetery to accept from the Hershel `Woody' Williams Medal of Honor Foundation the gift of a beautiful Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, which will be dedicated on Saturday June 9, 2018. Approximately 35 similar monuments have been dedicated across the country, but this one is the very first in a national veterans' cemetery.

The Hershel `Woody' Williams Foundation is a nonprofit organization that seeks to erect monuments for Gold Star families throughout the United States, and provides scholarships to children of fallen heroes.

At the request of John C. Heenan, Project Chairman, I would like to honor the important and enthusiastic help provided by the Director of Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Gregory J. Whitney, and his team along with the official support group, The Guardians of the Washington Crossing National Cemetery, to bring this most noble project to fruition.

Since opening in January 2010, more than 11,000 of our nation's veterans have made this cemetery their final resting place. The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument is a tribute to Gold Star Families--to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and their loved ones who continue to honor their memory.

We must never forget our fallen service members, who paid the ultimate sacrifice to uphold our liberties and cherished way of life. For the families of those departed, may this monument serve as a small token of our humble gratitude for the heroism of their loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize today a teacher in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who was recently honored for her service in the nonprofit sector in addition to the classroom.

Mary Pellegrino, a special education teacher at Tohickon Middle School and a resident of Warrington, recently received the Pennsylvania State Education Association's Human and Civil Rights Award for her service to our community.

With her husband, Greg, she is the cofounder of the BennettStrong Foundation, which was named after her son, Bennett, who was born weighing a mere 1 pound 2 ounces in 2013. He was later diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a form of liver cancer.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the work of the BennettStrong Foundation, whose mission is to provide support to families of children born prematurely and facing complex medical issues.

I would like to congratulate Mary Pellegrino on this well-deserved award, and I am proud to report Bennett's cancer is in remission. Our entire team wish him all the best on the road to recovery.

Lastly, I would like to thank Dolores McCracken, the president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association for all of her work in recognizing our community's heroes.

Honoring Sergeant Thelma Williams

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a Doylestown resident and Army veteran, Sergeant Thelma Williams. This past Memorial Day, Thelma made her 25th and final appearance in the Doylestown Memorial Day Parade.

Thelma answered the call to serve during World War II when she was 24 years old. Initially, she wanted to enlist in the Navy. Later, Thelma joined the Women's Army Corps and finished her tenure in Japan, where she served under General Douglas MacArthur.

It should come as no surprise that Thelma's spirit remains as lively as ever, even as she approaches her 100th birthday this year. She hopes that children observing the parade will be inspired to serve our community as well.

Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Thelma Williams has made immense contributions not just to Bucks County, but to our entire Nation. I commend Thelma for her heroism, and I encourage our constituents to aspire to her standards of excellence.

Food Insecurity

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the issue of food insecurity in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

As public officials, it is incumbent upon all of us to increase access to food resources for all of our constituents. In our community, I applaud the United Way of Bucks County for their work in combating hunger.

Later this month, nearly 600 volunteers will gather at Delaware Valley University for the sixth annual Bucks

Knocks Out Hunger event. This year, volunteers plan on packing over 100,000 nonperishable meals for seniors and food pantries throughout Bucks County.

I would also like to recognize other worthy organizations that are vital partners of Bucks Knocks Out Hunger, including Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, the Bucks County Opportunity Council, and the newest addition, Fresh Connect Bucks County, which will play a vital role in providing fresh fruits and vegetables to local families.

Mr. Speaker, by working together, we can make sure that all of our children and our families in our communities can have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize those in Bucks and Montgomery Counties who serve in emergency medical services. Just recently, we celebrated National EMS Week, a time to honor the contributions and service of emergency medical technicians.

All too often, the service of EMTs goes unnoticed, despite the risks of their profession and the lifesaving actions they perform. Late last month, the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad hosted an event with local officials to celebrate National EMS Week and to discuss the current issues faced in our community.

As an EMT myself, I can say, without a doubt, that this profession truly embodies public service, and I thank all EMTs in Bucks and Montgomery Counties for their dedicated service to saving lives. I would especially like to extend my gratitude to Dr. Gerald Wydro, the medical director of Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad, and to the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad Chief, Andrew Foley, for their leadership.

Ninth Annual Ride for the Heroes

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Central Bucks Rotary Club, who will host its Ninth Annual Ride for the Heroes, where motorcyclists from across Bucks County ride from Lower Makefield to Bedminster Township to raise money for local veterans' organizations.

Organized by Rotary member Mark Glidden, this event has grown from 200 bikers in its initial year to anywhere from 500 to 700 participants, yearly. Originally intended to provide financial assistance to nonprofits in the community, Ride for the Heroes became focused on helping military families at the inspiration of the Travis Manion Foundation in Doylestown.

Founded by retired Lieutenant Colonel Tom Manion and his late wife, Janet, in honor of their son, the Travis Manion Foundation's mission is to ``empower veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations.''

In doing this, the Travis Manion Foundation seeks engagement between veterans and families of fallen soldiers with the local community. The foundation brings young people together with veterans so that they can learn our Nation's values from heroes who have put those values into action in the United States military.

I applaud the vision of the Travis Manion Foundation and appreciate the work of the Central Bucks Rotary Club and those who will ride for those who served.

Recognizing Students of the Souderton Area School District

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a group of students in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, who recently collected 2,150 pounds of food, paper products, and personal care items for those in need.

The Souderton Area School District, comprised of nearly 6,500 students, recently held its annual food drive and quarter collection. This event collects items for the Keystone Opportunity Center, also in Souderton, which operates a homeless shelter and offers literary education classes in Montgomery and Bucks Counties.

To diversify the goods donated, each school was assigned a certain item to donate, from peanut butter and jelly at Indian Crest Middle School to detergent and soap at Oak Ridge Elementary School. Additionally, Salford Hills and Vernfield Elementary Schools thoughtfully donated crops from their community gardens to the Keystone food pantry.

I would like to commend these students, along with their teachers and parents, for teaching them the virtues of charity and generosity. I would also like to thank the staff and volunteers at Keystone Opportunity Center for their service, especially President Arlene Daily for her outstanding leadership.

Mr. Speaker, the 6th Airlift Squadron is part of the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. It operates the C-17 Globemaster III supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission worldwide. The 6th Airlift Squadron is the oldest airlift squadron in the Air Force, having served with distinction since 1 October 1933--85 years ago. It must be understood that any aviation squadron which boasts a proud 85 year history can only be considered extraordinary. The squadron was initially assigned to the 2nd Transport Group, at Shreveport, Louisiana, and later reorganized in August 1937 with Reserve personnel at Columbus, Ohio. The squadron was activated on 14 October 1939 into the Army Air Forces at Olmsted Field, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The squadron made airlift history during World War II when, in October 1942, it was transferred to Port Moresby, New Guinea. Then flying C- 47s, the 6th became the first personnel transport squadron to fly in the Pacific. It was during this assignment that the squadron earned the nickname Bully Beef Express, as it carried tons of boiled beef to allied combat troops in Australia and New Guinea. The French called it ``boujili boef'', and the Americanization of the term has continued to this day to be the squadron's emblem. The 6th performed aerial transportation in the Pacific Theater and Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II and in the Far East during the Korean War and after until 1968, when it was temporarily deactivated but then reactivated in April 1970 during the Viet Nam War as more C-141 Starlifters were coming into service. It has performed worldwide airlift operations since then. The 6th conducted resupply missions in support of scientific stations in the Antarctic during Operation Deep Freeze from, 1971 to 1974. It re-supplied Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. It evacuated Vietnamese refugees during the fall of Saigon, April through June 1975. It has also supported U.S. forces in Grenada, October through December 1983, during the invasion of Panama, December 1989 through January 1990, and during the liberation of Kuwait, August 1990 through March 1991, and continues to support military operations throughout the Middle East. In June of 1979 current and past members of the squadron organized the first of what would be 40 consecutive annual reunions spanning 4 decades--the longest continuous running reunion in the Air Force. On June 6, 2018, those past and present members of this distinguished military unit will celebrate a milestone with the 40th Annual Bully Beef Reunion. Today, we recognize the fine, dedicated men and women of the 6th who have served selflessly and honorably over 85 years, and congratulate them on their 40th Reunion.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 2846, a bill originally introduced by Representative Farenthold of Texas, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. Speaker, we recently concluded Teacher Appreciation Week, and I am proud to stand with the teachers throughout our community in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. It is of utmost importance that we recognize their service and sacrifice for all of our young people.

Recently, this has culminated in our district having several schools that ranked in the top 100 in the State of Pennsylvania for both standardized test scores and graduation rates.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the following schools now on the floor of the House: The New Hope-Solebury High School, Council Rock High School North, Central Bucks High School East, Abington Senior High School, Council Rock High School South, Central Bucks High School South, and the Quakertown Community High School.

I am proud to represent a community that produces such high-achieving young adults, and I would like to thank our educators for the work they do in molding our future generation.

Recognizing Military Appreciation Month

Mr. Speaker, May is Military Appreciation Month, and I am proud to stand here today to recognize the brave men and women in uniform who have served our Nation valiantly.

As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I am in awe of the sacrifices made and risks taken by our Armed Forces every single day to keep our country safe.

And I speak for all of my constituents in Bucks and Montgomery Counties when we truly say that we value the troops' service and sacrifice, and we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the 75 graduating high school seniors who were honored this month at Spring Mill Manor in Northampton by Our Community Salutes to recognize their enlistment in our Armed Forces.

These exemplary young men and women received a certificate from Montgomery County State Representative Tom Murt, a veteran of the Iraq war, and received their first military coin.

Mr. Speaker, as elected officials, we must continue to enact policies that ensure the well-being of all of our men and women in the military. There is no more important responsibility than serving those who have so bravely stepped up in times of crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to stand up for our military this month and every month. And to all those who serve, we say: Thank you.

New Hope Hosts a Pride Parade

Mr. Speaker, last weekend in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was the 15th Annual New Hope Pride Parade.

This parade served as the culmination of a week-long celebration of LGBT culture and achievements, and I am proud to recognize this event and our LGBT community in Bucks County and throughout our district.

Currently, the New Hope Pride Parade stands as the only recognized event of its kind that crosses State lines between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

I would like to recognize board member Jennifer Wohl, under whose guidance the attendance at this event grew from 1,000 in 2003 to 15,000 last year.

I would also like thank the president of New Hope Celebrates, Matthew Hanson, for his work in advancing equality in Pennsylvania and across our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, as Members of Congress, it is critical that we advocate for measures that will support equality for all American citizens. I will continue to do so as a Member of this House, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same with every single action we bring to this floor. We value them, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize approximately 60 firefighters in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who recently graduated from the national certification program. These brave men and women satisfactorily completed the Firefighter One training program offered by the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center.

I would like to commend these firefighters for the work they do to protect and serve our community, selflessly putting their lives on the line on a regular basis.

Recently, Firefighter Tim Pristatskiy of the Trevose Fire Company ran into a burning house in Lower Southampton to look for victims. With the compromised structure of the house, the second floor collapsed and Tim fell through. Despite the odds, Tim suffered no injuries, thankfully, and he is back serving on the force.

Mr. Speaker, it is crucial that we honor our firefighters, like Tim, for the brave work they do in protecting the lives of our loved ones and our own. We truly owe them a debt of gratitude.

Recognizing Bob Duaime

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a resident of

Bucks County, Pennsylvania, whose dedication to service has been a centerpiece of his life and his career.

Bob Duaime of Middletown Township will receive the Give Life Hero Award from the American Red Cross later this month.

Since 1972, Bob has donated blood 360 times and, over the past decade, has frequently donated the maximum amount of times permitted by law annually.

A retired Council Rock High School teacher, Bob truly understands the value of community and the importance of leading by example. He is the cofounder and treasurer of Camp Discovery, a camp for child victims of abuse, and he volunteers for the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter, the Churchville Nature Center, and Langhorne Open Space, Inc.

Mr. Speaker, it is impossible to summarize all of Bob's contributions to our community in this speech here today. I applaud Bob for his good works and encourage my constituents to follow his lead.

Recognizing the Muslim Community in Bucks and Montgomery Counties

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Muslim community in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, who are currently observing Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic faith. I wish them peace and renewal as they take on the virtues of charity and sacrifice.

In this spirit, I would like to honor an organization in our community that seeks to provide cultural understanding between women in the Islamic and Jewish faiths.

The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, a national organization, recently established a chapter in Bucks County. Founded by Aliya Murad of Yardley, this chapter seeks to bridge the gap between young women of separate creeds who are both devoted to their community and to their faith.

Despite still being in high school, Aliya has already made a lasting difference in our community, and I call on all of my constituents to follow her lead. I thank her for her advocacy of compassion and understanding.

Mr. Speaker, today is long overdue; long, long overdue. I want to thank Leader McCarthy, Chairman Walden, Dr. Burgess, Mr. Griffith, my friend and colleague, Andy Biggs, Senator Ron Johnson, and all of the advocates who have had a relentless fight to see right to try debated, passed, and signed into law once and for all.

And I want to thank the overwhelming bipartisan majority of my colleagues here in the House who we had to work on, many of them, back in March, who supported the Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act and proved emphatically that right to try is about more than politics. It is about hope.

For those patients caught in between traditional drug delay approvals, a clinical trial process for which they do not qualify, and limited time, the Right to Try Act.

Simply establishes the freedom for patients and their doctors to try therapies where the benefits far outweigh the risks. It gives them the option of saving their life.

Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the Wendler, Bellina, Mongiello, McLinn families, all who are here with us in this Chamber today to see history be made.

Although the FDA has a program that allows terminal patients to apply for early access to promising treatments, the Right to Try Act is needed because the FDA's compassionate use process does not help enough people.

While 99 percent of expanded access applications are approved, the application process is complicated, it is time consuming, and it is expensive.

Moreover, only about 1,200 people a year can make it through the application process. By contrast, Mr. Speaker, in 2014, more than 12,000 people in France were using investigational treatments through that government's equivalent program.

How is it, pray tell, that a country one-fifth the size of the United States can help 900 percent more people? The FDA program clearly is not working.

Mr. Speaker, the Right to Try Act gives people hope. And let me be clear: This bill requires robust informed consent between the patient, the doctor, and the manufacturer, while requiring notification be given to the FDA after an unapproved drug becomes available to an eligible patient, and requiring doctors and the manufacturers to report adverse events.

Mr. Speaker, when life hangs in the balance, the Federal Government must not stand in the way of this process. We have to get this done once and for all.

Mr. Speaker, today, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, appeal to the better angels of your nature. All the groups that they say are opposed to this bill, I will tell you who is in favor of this bill: Over 80 percent of the American people, and they are the ones who have the power in this country, and they are the ones we have to listen to.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize an educator in my district who is making a lasting difference in the lives of Bucks County students.

Rebecca Obert-Thorn, of Pennwood Middle School in Lower Makefield, was recently named the winner of the Axalta All-Pro Teacher of the Year Award. For this distinction, Rebecca has secured $7,000 for Pennwood to be used on materials that promote STEM education and opportunities for students.

This program, which is in collaboration with the Philadelphia Eagles, honored Rebecca due to her dedication in the classroom, along with her work on the board of directors at Silver Lake Nature Center in Bristol and through STEM work at the Bucks County Community College. It also featured an event at Pennwood Middle School with Eagles wide receiver Bryce Treggs.

I applaud Rebecca for her work in promoting STEM education and her commitment to building our next generation of leaders in Bucks County.

Recognizing Council Rock High School South

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the House about our team's work on behalf of women in my district and across the Nation.

Last month, data from Yale University gynecologists demonstrated that between 2 percent and 10 percent of American women undergoing gynecological operations end up having missed cancers. It is shocking to think that these cancers are found only after women undergo these surgeries. These missed cancers are at high risk of being spread by the very surgeries these women are undergoing to help them.

My physician constituents, like the Reed family, tell me that this represents an unacceptable and seismic epidemic of undiagnosed gynecological cancers that are prone to spread and upstaging with catastrophic results.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I have asked the CDC to immediately consider guiding gynecologists towards the use of more precise preoperative tissue biopsy methods in order to identify the women at risk. I am now awaiting a response from CDC leadership with a plan of action aimed at containing what is likely to be a shocking epidemic of undiagnosed gynecological cancers in American women.

Mr. Speaker, we must stay focused on this situation in order to protect all women from this grave health risk.

National Police Week

Mr. Speaker, this week is National Police Week, and I am proud to recognize a member of the law enforcement community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, whose quick thinking delivered justice to a survivor of abuse.

Officer Michael Marks of the Middletown Township Police Department promptly and professionally investigated an allegation of abuse of a nonverbal patient who had suffered blunt force trauma. His diligence led to a grand jury inquiry, which ultimately brought charges against a caretaker, who was later found guilty. Because of the work of Officer Marks, this individual will no longer be able to prey on the defenseless members of our community.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to personally thank Officer Marks for his work in defending our community and send a message to all of my neighbors in Middletown Township that they are undoubtedly safer for having him on our police force.

Recognizing Makefield Women's Association

Mr. Speaker, over the past year, women all over our country collectively raised their voices and are continuing to change our culture for the better.

Today, I would like to recognize a group of women in our district actively working to make Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a better place. The Makefield Women's Association in Yardley last month donated over $27,000 to local charities, including: A Woman's Place, the Family Service Association Emergency Homeless Shelter, the Penndel Community Food Pantry, Wrapping Presence, and the Yardley-Makefield Volunteer Fire Company.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the work of the Makefield Women's Association, which greatly improves the quality of life for our community. I would especially like to thank the organization's president, Jennifer Ketler, for her leadership and for her service.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize a woman who has worked tirelessly to make our communities back home a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Her decades of experience as a jurist, nonprofit executive, and an author mark a remarkable career of public service.

Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes, just last month, was the 2018 recipient of the Pearl S. Buck International Woman of Influence Award in Perkasie, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. During her tenure, Judge Cardwell Hughes has shown a sustained commitment to justice, presiding over some of Philadelphia's most noteworthy homicide cases. She was also a fierce advocate for fairness in our legal system, founding Philadelphia's mental health court.

Judge Cardwell Hughes most recently served as CEO of the American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania, which serves over 6 million Pennsylvanians.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my gratitude to Judge Cardwell Hughes for her service and congratulate her on this well-deserved award.

Mr. Speaker, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the need for increased mental health awareness and resources in our communities. I would like to recognize an organization in my district, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that does just that.

The Bucks County Crisis Intervention Team, founded in 2008, brings together law enforcement, mental health professionals, and local officials to reinforce the treatment of mental illness as a disorder and not as a crime.

I am appreciative of the law enforcement officers who, last month, became certified as members of the Bucks County Crisis Intervention Team, the 18th class to do so.

I would also like to thank mental health advocate Sharon Curran, whose involvement with this program and work with the Lenape Valley Foundation makes Bucks County a safer and a more accommodating community.

Mr. Speaker, working together with this group, we look forward to expanded access to quality mental healthcare for anyone in our community who is in need.