Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a man who touched so many lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Mike Mabin, a lifelong resident of lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was a man who took immense pride in his community and selflessly gave back to it every chance he could. A successful businessman, Mike was the president and CEO of PennFab, Inc., in Bucks County. And as a member of the St. Mary Hospital Advisory Board and the vice chairman of the Bucks County Industrial Development Authority, Mike cared deeply about and worked tirelessly for all of his neighbors in our community.

A proud veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, Mike was proud to be an American and deeply valued service to country. His advocacy was instrumental in making sure that Congress passed the Fairness to Veterans Act, as he wanted to make sure that all those who courageously served our Nation were given opportunities here back home.

I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in sending our deepest condolences to Mike's wife, Marion, along with his children: Heather, Michael, and Jillian. May they take comfort in knowing that Mike made a positive and significant difference in so many lives, and he will be remembered for his patriotism, his loyalty, and his friendship.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Walden; Mr. Burgess; Mr. Griffith; my friend, Andy Biggs; and Senator Ron Johnson for their resolute commitment to see the Right to Try Act brought to a vot today.

Mr. Speaker, each year, thousands of Americans receive the devastating diagnosis of a terminal illness. And even with the amazing work done in American medical research and development, for too many families, access to these potentially lifesaving treatments will come too late or not at all. As their Representatives, we should each endeavor to support these individuals in their time of need as well as support new pathways to potentially lifesaving treatment.

That is what the right to try is all about. As the chairman indicated, 38 States have passed this bill with near unanimous, bipartisan support. A version of this bill unanimously passed the United States Senate.

However, we know Congress cannot legislate miracles. That is why, when talking about the right to try, we are careful not to represent it as a cure itself. The reality is that, while passing this measure is a step, the families and advocates we have worked closely with for years know that the right to try isn't a guarantee. It is about protecting hope and protecting opportunity--hope and opportunity for those like my constituent, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Bellina, a retired naval aviator and father of three, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2014.

Following the onset of his symptoms, Matt was grounded from flying. He eventually moved back home to Bucks County with his wife, Caitlin, and his three children to be surrounded by family and friends.

Although this disease stopped Matt's military service, he quickly picked up the fight with his new battle, involving himself in the ALS community and becoming a strong advocate for right-to-try legislation. Together with Jim Worthington and the Have a Heart Foundation, Matt advocated for the right to try across the Nation.

While the FDA has a program that allows terminally ill patients to apply for early access to promising treatment, the right to try is needed because the FDA's compassionate use process doesn't help enough people. Only about 1,200 people a year can make it through the current time-consuming and expensive application process. Comparatively, Mr. Speaker, in 2014, more than 12,000 people in France were using investigational treatments through that government's equivalent program.

If a country with one-fifth of the population of the United States can help 900 percent more people, the FDA program clearly is not working. This bill

does not gut the FDA or fundamentally change the relationship between doctor and patient. What it does is give Americans facing a terminal diagnosis a new pathway for treatments undergoing clinical trials.

I want to read something in closing, Mr. Speaker, that I received from Matt Bellina, who is with us today. ``Please let them know that I have had ALS too long to meet the exclusion criteria for any promising trials. No drug company will offer me treatments under the current EAP guidelines. Two reputable companies have already indicated that they would try to treat me under the rules of this bill. A vote against this is essentially a vote to kill me. It is a vote to make my wife a widow and leave my boys fatherless. I can't stop anyone from voting that way, but please ask them to have the respect to look my family in the eye when they cast'' that vote.

Mr. Speaker, when a life hangs in the balance, the Federal Government should not stand in the way of access to potentially lifesaving treatment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize February as National Marfan Awareness Month with the hope that increased awareness of Marfan syndrome and related heritable connective tissue disorders will save lives.

Marfan syndrome is a rare genetic condition. About 1 in 5,000 Americans carries a mutation in a gene called fibrillin-l which results in an overproduction of a protein called transforming growth factor beta, or TGFB. The increased TGFB impacts connective tissue and, since connective tissue is found throughout the body, Marfan syndrome features can manifest almost anywhere. Patients often have disproportionately long limbs, a protruding or indented chest bone, curved spine, and loose joints. However, it is not the outward signs that concern Marfan syndrome patients, but the effects the condition has on the body's internal systems. Most notably, the aorta, which is the large artery that carries blood away from the heart, is weakened and prone to enlargement and potentially fatal rupture.

An early and accurate diagnosis, regular monitoring, and medical interventions are necessary to prevent cardiac events. This is why I believe it is important to develop a program to support, assist, and encourage states to incorporate Marfan syndrome testing into their sports screening criteria for at-risk young athletes. Few states include Marfan syndrome testing in their sports screening for high school athletes which leads to Marfan syndrome-related thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection, claiming the lives of young athletes across the country each year.

I am proud to know the nation's foremost organization working to support the Marfan community, the Marfan Foundation, through their strong advocacy work on Capitol Hill. The Foundation was founded in 1981 and has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of individuals affected by Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue disorders by advancing research, raising awareness, and providing support.

I urge my colleagues to stand with me and reflect on the work that needs to be done to ensure that patients with rare conditions can expect to see sustained and meaningful improvements in their health and care over the next 30 years. I urge my colleagues to stand with me and recognize National Marfan Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the generosity and commitment to community service of Penn Community Bank in my district in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Over the course of the last year, 325 bank employees, executives, and directors raised nearly $78,000 for a variety of programs and activities in our community, which they generously donated to the United Way of Bucks County. Todd Hurley, Penn Community Bank's executive vice president and chief relationship officer, explained it best. He said: ``Each of our team members is proud of Penn Community Bank's continued support of United Way of Bucks County. We're dedicated to improving our local communities and helping United Way alleviate poverty, support education, and increase self-sufficiency across Bucks County.''

Mr. Speaker, this gift will ensure that the United Way of Bucks County can continue their important mission, better serve the needs of the community, and reach even more of our neighbors in need. I applaud Penn Community Bank and encourage everyone throughout our community to follow their lead in helping those in need.

Congratulating Pennsbury High School Students For Their Fundraising

Efforts

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Pennsbury High School students on raising more than $50,000 to fight childhood cancer during their fourth annual Mini-THON.

Students raised the $50,000, which benefits the Four Diamonds fund at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center by hosting a football game fundraiser, through smoothie sales, and Mini-THON Thursdays. These efforts culminated in an 8-hour dance marathon on a Saturday. Mini-THON, which raised $18,000 in its inaugural year, has grown, according to the students involved, because of the group's ability to try different ideas each year. This keeps students engaged in fundraising and allows them to figure out ways and different methods that work best.

The program is run by students, with the help of two faculty advisers. This year's student co-chairs who helped make Mini-THON a success were Charlie Bluestein and Kate Goldinger. As a Penn Stater myself and a member of our community, I could not be more proud of what these students have done, and I encourage everyone in our community to follow their lead to serve others in need.

Mr. Speaker, recently, I was fortunate to meet an impressive young man, Kevin Lezynski, and celebrate with him as he earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Kevin, of Harleysville, Pennsylvania, is a senior at Souderton Area High School. He is involved in the community as a member of the Unified Special Olympics and the regular Special Olympics, where he competes in soccer, swimming, bocce, baseball, and track and field. He is the manager of the school lacrosse team; he is involved in this year's musical; and he was voted homecoming king.

As an Eagle Scout in Troop 91, Kevin earned 36 merit badges and led a group of 38 others in building a gazebo on the high school grounds in just 2 days. Students and teachers now use the space to learn and socialize.

Kevin is a shining example of commitment to community service and what you can accomplish when you put your mind toward a goal.

Congratulations, Kevin, on earning this well-deserved rank of Eagle Scout.

Recognizing Christine Gunsiorowski, Alli Curro, and Kim McCleary for

founding the Type One Parent Project Foundation

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Christine Gunsiorowski, Alli Curro, and Kim McCleary for their work in the community combating type 1 diabetes.

After all three women had a child diagnosed with diabetes in 2014, they began raising money to find a cure. In 2016, they took their efforts even further, starting the Type One Parent Project Foundation focused on providing support and guidance for families in my district in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, as well as raising general awareness about type 1 diabetes.

This year, this organization will continue to expand its efforts, increasing the number and range of speakers at their meetings, creating a mentoring program where older kids can mentor younger children about the effects of type 1 diabetes. They will, in the coming months, award several scholarships to local families so that kids can attend the American Diabetes Association's Camp Freedom, a week-long overnight camp for kids with diabetes.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Christine, Alli, and Kim for all the work they are doing to keep kids safe and help kids in our community and educate our community about children facing this challenge.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a constituent of mine from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Her name is Madigan McGrath, an honor student who works two jobs, volunteers with the Big Brothers Big Sisters, takes three dance classes per week, has an active social life, and happens to have type 1 diabetes.

When Madigan was 13 years old, she was diagnosed with type I diabetes. Madigan took it in stride, much quicker than expected. Before she even left the hospital, she asked if there was a brochure that she could give her friends to explain type 1 diabetes. Learning that one did not exist, Madigan made one herself.

Madigan takes every opportunity to educate others about this disease and has spread awareness of it. Through her fundraising, Madigan made a video about her illness and lifestyle. One of the quotes she used was: ``Diabetes doesn't define me; I define diabetes.''

She now wants to pursue a career in the medical field, specifically in pediatric endocrinology, so that she can help other kids with type 1 diabetes.

Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues in thanking Madigan for her commitment to helping others with this disease and educating the community and the country about type 1 diabetes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Audrey Tucker of Upper Makefield in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. A committed public servant, Audrey, the CEO of the Family Service Association of Bucks County, passed away at 73 last week.

Joining Family Service as a social worker in 1978 and rising to become the organization's CEO in 1987, Audrey served as the face of Family Service for four decades. Audrey was a visionary leader credited with growing the organization into an entity that offered mental health services, helped the homeless, offered drug and alcohol treatment, and helped local families.

Her friends and colleagues of Family Service said it best: ``Family Service has suffered a huge loss. Audrey was the heart and face of Family Service for four decades. But she built a strong team that will continue to carry out her vision of a community where anyone can achieve his or her full potential.''

Our community will feel Audrey's loss tremendously, but it is clear to all that we are a better community for having had her in our community, and her important work will continue.

Recognizing Bucks County GirlSTEM Conference

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bucks County GirlSTEM Conference.

The 2017 conference was attended by over 800 girls in grades 6 through 10 and focused on inspiring young women in our region to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

The 2018 conference, scheduled for this May, is expected to be even larger. Attendees learn from professional women working in STEM fields, including agriculture, banking, physics, nursing, marine biology, real estate, engineering, app design, and more.

And the impact of this program is already clear in our community. As a result of attending GirlSTEM 2017, 95 percent of girls said they felt more motivated to do well in school; 96 percent felt more engaged in their own learning; and 93 percent said GirlSTEM helped them plan ahead, make career choices, and feel optimistic about their future.

As our economy continues to evolve, I commend projects like Bucks County GirlSTEM Conference for the important work they play in educating and exciting the next generation of female leaders. These young women are the future leaders of our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Pennsbury School District in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, for their focus on the mental health of their students and our community at large and their determination to end the drug epidemic. Pennsbury School District recently launched an onsite mental health counseling program for their high school students and their families in partnership with the district's new Addiction and Mental Health Task Force.

The clinical counseling, in partnership with St. Mary Medical Center and Family Service Association of Bucks County, began last month at the Pennsbury High School. The district hopes to continue its partnership and expand the program to students and families in the elementary and middle school communities.

As the co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, we have worked tirelessly, both in Congress and in our communities, to find solutions to this devastating epidemic. We are so encouraged by the steps that these members of our community are taking to address the issues of mental health and addiction.

We encourage every school district in Bucks County to follow the lead of Pennsbury School District in both educating and protecting our children, and we also thank the St. Mary Medical Center and Family Service Association of Bucks County for partnering with the Pennsbury School District in this critical program.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County, which has served tens of thousands of kids in our community since its founding in 1963.

The Bucks County chapter is unique. Since 2015, they have piloted an expansion of their mentorship program, which pairs elementary schools with high school mentors to include children with autism spectrum disorder. This tailored program caters to the students' unique needs, providing these children with two specially trained high school mentors rather than one to ensure a greater level of stability.

The program has been so successful that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County is now looking to expand it. Their community mentorship program matches at-risk youth ages 6 to 16 with volunteer mentors. This program provides caring adult role models who consistently spend time with their ``littles'' to help them make good choices so that they may become productive, responsible, and engaged young adults.

I want to highlight the story of John Wilson, the board president and an individual who himself benefited from Big Brothers Big Sisters. John's father passed away when he was 5. He was matched with a big brother when he was 12 at a point when, in his own words, he was at a significant risk of heading in the wrong direction. He credits his mentor with having a profound impact on his life, without whom his life could have turned out very differently, in John's words.

John graduated from college, enjoyed a successful career, and now gives back as president of the board. John is still in contact with his big brother and working hard to pay back the investment made in him years ago. To all those involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters, including John, we thank you for your work in helping our youth in Bucks County.

Save Stone Meadows Farm

Mr. Speaker, growing up in Middletown Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and as a current Middletown Township resident now representing my hometown in Congress, I have seen my community change throughout the years. The one constant, however, has always been the presence of Stone Meadows Farm, one of the last remaining active agricultural lands in our township. The 168-acre farm has a rich history that connects the present to the past; and, as development continues throughout our region, Stone Meadows Farm reminds residents why we chose to live in beautiful Middletown Township, Pennsylvania. I firmly believe that this is something worth preserving.

In Bucks County, we are fortunate that our local and county leaders continue to make concerted efforts to preserve our open spaces, and here in Congress I am working to support preservation and land conservation efforts nationwide. I stand ready to work with any government official and our citizens, like members of the Save Stone Meadow Farm movement, who share this goal to preserve our quality of life and the character of our community.

Whether in our hometown or across our great Nation, we must stand ready to preserve and protect our open spaces from overdevelopment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bucks County Opportunity Council for their commitment to serving members of our community. The Opportunity Council will be offering free income tax preparation assistance to low-income residents of Bucks County through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

Trained and certified volunteers will be available in Levittown, Warminster, Quakertown, and Newtown between February 1 and April 15 to serve as many members of the community as possible. Individuals and families with a combined income of $54,000 or less are eligible for assistance through the program. Volunteer tax preparers receive training and need to pass an exam to be certified. Others can assist in support roles such as greeting visitors and scheduling.

The program is sponsored by the IRS and supported locally by the Bucks County Foundation, KeyBank Foundation, and First National Bank & Trust of Newtown.

Mr. Speaker, we offer our thanks to the Bucks County Opportunity Council for all they do for our community.

Mr. Speaker, today, I lift up the legacy of Mr. Santo Anthony Serge of Richland Township and join his friends and family in celebrating his life.

Mr. Serge was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania and graduated Carbondale High School in 1940. Shortly after, he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox minor league baseball system, but was discouraged from carrying out his dream due to his mother's wishes that he ``get a real job.''

With the outbreak of World War II, Mr. Serge joined General Patton's Third Army, the 86th Black Hawk Division. He went on to serve as a Sergeant under Generals Patton, MacArthur and Bradley in both the European and Pacific theaters, and completed his service in 1946. Upon his return home, Mr. Serge enlisted as a Pennsylvania State Trooper and was stationed at the Butler, Quakertown, and Bethlehem Barracks. He finished his career as a detective in 1980 after more than three decades of service to his community.

His family notes that he had a natural athleticism, participating in softball and bowling leagues throughout his adult life. He enjoyed watching his children participate in sports and music during their school years, and many hours were spent in his vegetable garden surrounded by beautiful roses that he looked forward to cultivating each summer. Most of all, he shared a love of music with his wife and children.

My thoughts and prayers are with his wife of 67 years, Althea, their children, Larry (Leslie, wife) Serge of Quakertown, Dennis Serge of Philadelphia, Diane Felicetti (Paul, husband) of Boyertown, and Anita Serge of Pennsburg, Pa; their two grandchildren, Tony Serge of Quakertown and Nikki Mayette (Andrew, husband) of Sellersville; and step-grandchildren, Paul J. Felicetti of Bensalem and Nicole Felicetti of Philadelphia, Pa.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize some real- life super heroes from my district in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Students from Brookwood, Keystone, and Mill Creek Elementary Schools in the Bristol Township School District collected thousands of pounds of canned soup, dressed as ``soup-er heroes,'' and delivered it to the Emergency Relief Association Food Pantry in Levittown. Mill Creek Elementary School collected 1,581 pounds of soup, Brookwood Elementary School collected 1,365 pounds, and Keystone Elementary School collected 1,016 pounds of cans to help those in need.

Mr. Speaker, I am so inspired by these outstanding young members of our community, who at a young age are already working hard to help people around them in need and make their community a stronger and a better place. I know we can all learn something from those boys and girls.

I encourage every school in Bucks and Montgomery County to follow the lead of Brookwood, Keystone, and Mill Creek Elementary Schools and find new and fun ways to help those in need.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 67.

Mr. Speaker, February is African American History Month, and I rise today to recognize the African American Museum of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in my district, for the work that they do in our community.

With the mission of promoting an understanding and appreciation for the African-American experience by focusing on history, education, inspiration, and building up the community, they are already having a huge impact.

I had the opportunity to meet with many of the women and men who are responsible for the museum when they came down to Washington, D.C., in December, and I would like to recognize them now:

President Linda Salley; Vice President Bill Reed; Secretary Nancy Bell; Correspondence Secretary Robyn Johnson; Treasurer Nicole Brown; Assistant Treasurer Alonzo Salley; and the founders: Harvey Spencer, Sr.; Millard Mitchel; Natalie Kaye; Merian Frieberg; Carole Johnson; Mechelle Connors; and Deal Wright.

Mr. Speaker, the mission of the African American Museum of Bucks County is an extremely important one. I commend all those involved, and I wish them continued success and continued growth.

I encourage everyone in our community to get involved and to support this outstanding organization.