Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor the life of Marine Sergeant Michael Wayne Heede, Jr. who died honorably serving his country in Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sergeant Heede enlisted in the Marine Corps in September of 2005, shortly after his high school graduation. A veteran of the Iraq war and on his third tour of duty, he served as a Combat Engineer. Sergeant Heede was assigned under the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

In July of 2009 at the age of 22, Sergeant Heede was killed in action while supporting combat operations in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan. During his military career, Sergeant Heede was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among others.

I commend Sergeant Heede for the dedication and devotion to preserving the freedom of our nation. His commitment and bravery gives his mother, Mrs. Gloria Crothers of Edgewood, Maryland and his widow, Mrs. Brittney Heede of Southport, North Carolina great pride.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor the life of Marine Sergeant Michael Wayne Heede, Jr. The distinguished service Sergeant Heede has shown to our country will forever reverberate in our memories. It gives me great pride to honor one of our nation's fallen heroes.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Dr. Gaynell Simpson, recipient of the 2009 Hartford Faculty Scholar in Geriatric Social Work. Dr. Simpson, Assistant Professor and Gerontology Coordinator at Morgan State University, is one of nine distinguished scholars selected to receive funding to pursue a research project focused on evaluating and improving the field of geriatric social work. Specifically, Dr. Simpson's research project will concentrate on the influence of social resources on health outcomes among African American grandmothers with multiple caregiving roles.

Dr. Simpson earned her Bachelor's of Social Work and Master's of Social Work from the

University of Missouri-Columbia in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Her research interest in gerontological research evolved from her dissertation, Availability of Social Support Resources among African American Grandmother Caregivers. This novel exposition revealed that most grandmothers provide supplementary care for a dependent elder and/ or disabled adult child. Since the completion of her dissertation in 2002, Dr. Simpson has diligently continued to contribute to the body of gerontological literature through publications including, but not limited to, the Journal of Gerontological Social Work; African American Research Perspectives, and American Journal of Public Health.

Not only has Dr. Simpson made significant scholarly achievements, she has also made a profound impact through community-based, participatory activities with the Baltimore City Commission on Aging and Retirement Education on Senior Health Education Forum. Dr. Simpson is an avid leader as she serves as the Gerontology Coordinator and Chair of both the Multidisciplinary Urban Gerontology Advisory Board and the Bi- Annual Gerontology Conference at Morgan State University. Her active participation in three competitive training institutes further attests to her commitment in the geriatric social work field.

The Gerontological Society of America administers the Hartford Faculty Scholars Program. The Society is a national organization of professionals in the field of aging and is dedicated to the promotion of scientific study. Dr. Simpson's work is an exemplary display of her dedication to scientific study in geriatrics.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Dr. Gaynell Simpson on this memorable occasion. Her demonstrated leadership, accomplishments, and continued efforts to enhance her research, has made a positive difference in field of geriatric social work.

I rise in support of H.R. 2410 and thank you for yielding, Mr. Chairman.

As chairman of the Technical Tactical Subcommittee of the House Intelligence Committee, I support a provision relative to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

ITAR is a set of regulations that control the import and export of defense-related technology and services on the U.S. Munitions List. In 1998, all commercial satellite components were added to the list of restricted munitions exports with tougher licensing conditions. Our Intelligence TNT Subcommittee has investigated ITAR's effect on our satellite program, and it has clearly affected it in a negative way.

Before the 1998 restrictions went into effect, 73 percent of the world market for commercial satellites went to U.S. companies. By the year 2000, that figure had dropped to 27 percent. There are technologies on this ITAR list that don't need to be, and foreign companies are actually marketing their products as ``ITAR-free.'' Our companies get weaker as theirs get stronger.

I approached Chairman Berman, who was also working on this issue with his committee. Section 826 of this bill grants the President the flexibility to remove simple, old, and widely available technology from the new Munitions List. Our most militarily-sensitive technology will remain.

I want to thank Chairman Berman and his staff for including this language. Please vote for H.R. 2410.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor the JHPIEGO Group for its continuing efforts in preventing the deaths of women and children around the globe, on its 35th Anniversary.

For two and a half decades, the JHPIEGO Group has brought medical innovations into common practice for the worlds most vulnerable populations in order to bring high-quality medical services to these areas. While they began as a group of technical experts in reproductive, maternal, and children's health, they have expanded their purpose by embracing new challenges, including education of HIV/AIDS prevention, malaria, and cervical cancer.

In its continuing mission to save lives around the world, the JHPIEGO Group has become an innovator of healthcare treatments, a leader in sustainable healthcare systems, and a voice around the world advocating for the advancement of policies and programs designed to improve healthcare the world over. They have become a model for similar institutions worldwide by providing data, research and training.

The JHPIEGO Group provides front-line healthcare workers with effective, low cost, and hands on solutions designed to enhance the delivery of health care services in difficult environments. By partnering with organizations from the local to national level, the JHPIEGO Group has been successful in building sustainable local capacity healthcare reforms through advocacy, policy development, and quality improvement approaches. Over the course of this journey, the JHPIEGO Group has worked in 150 countries and is currently running 60 programs in 40 countries.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor the JHPIEGO Group on this memorable occasion. Their dedication to improving the quality of life of people around the world has provided life saving health care and opportunities for medical advancement that have made a positive difference in the global community.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Mr. Scott Holupka, recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award from The Optimist Club of Dundalk, Inc. Scott has dedicated his time and talents to the constant improvement and revitalization of the Dundalk community.

Scott is a life-long resident of Dundalk, Maryland, and a native to the Three Garden Village in southeastern Baltimore County. He went on to attend nearby Dundalk High School. In 1983, he graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Ph.D. in sociology. Soon after graduating, he returned to Dundalk, where he immediately began working on a project called the ``Greening of Dundalk.'' The recycling effort included in this program was the first of its kind in Baltimore County.

Since then, Scott has held positions in many community organizations including president of the Board of the Family Crisis Center, co- creator of the Southeast Neighborhood Development Coalition, member of the Baltimore Citizens Planning and Housing Association, president of the Greater Dundalk Community Council, and cofounder of the Dundalk Renaissance Corporation. These organizations are just a glimpse into the busy, community-oriented lives Scott and his wife, Amy, have led.

The Citizen of the Year award is given annually to an individual in the Dundalk community who demonstrates leadership, civic responsibility, and accomplishment. Scott not only possesses all of these qualities, but he goes above and beyond in every community activity in which he is involved. He was recently inducted into the Dundalk High School Alumni Hall of Fame, and will soon receive an award from the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Mr. Scott Holupka on this memorable occasion. Scott is admired by others in the community, and deserving of the prestigious Citizen of the Year Award. His dedication to Dundalk is apparent in every aspect of his life, and the community is truly a better place because of him.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Mrs. Carolyn Mroz, recipient of the Humanitarian Award from The Optimist Club of Dundalk, Inc. Carolyn has been selected to receive this award because of her dedication to the Dundalk community over the last several decades.

Born in Dundalk, Maryland, Carolyn graduated from Sparrows Point High School but has not lived in the Dundalk Community for 34 years. Moving to Howard County in the 1970s so her husband could be closer to his job, Carolyn has remained active in her home community despite her physical distance from it.

Today, Carolyn is the President of Bay-Vanguard Federal Savings Bank, a company her father started in 1959. Her father began his work at the bank working with families from the steel yards and factories, leading him to establish conservative banking principles that Bay-Vanguard still operates by today. Sticking to her father's policies, Carolyn has kept the bank healthy in the current economic crisis, posting a zero percent foreclosure rate on home loans.

The Humanitarian of the Year award is presented to individuals who benefit the communities of Dundalk and Edgemere even though they do not reside in the area. In addition to Carolyn's efforts in the banking sector, she has been the president of the North Point Peninsula Community Coordinating Council,

where she now serves as secretary. Additionally, she has served as president of the Todd's Inheritance Historic Site, helping to raise over $500,000 for the renovation of the Todd House on North Point Road in Edgemere.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Mrs. Carolyn Mroz on this memorable occasion. Her dedication to the community of Dundalk is apparent in every aspect of her life despite her not residing there, and the community is truly a better place because of her.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Mrs. Kim Schmidt, recipient of the Harford County Public Schools Teacher of the Year award. Kim is dedicated to motivating her students and ensuring they receive an excellent education.

Kim has been an educator for 18 years, 16 of which have been in the Harford County Public School System. While Kim wanted to be a teacher from the time she was a little girl, her dream of teaching temporarily faded while she became interested in physical therapy. However, in college, Kim discovered her love for history and her desire to teach others.

Graduating from the University of Delaware in 1991, Kim began her teaching career as a middle school Social Studies teacher at Old Court Middle School in Baltimore. In 1993, she began teaching at Havre de Grace High School and in 1996 she became the History Department Chairperson at Fallston Middle School. From 1997 to 2005, Kim held a variety of positions in the Harford County Public School System before moving back to the classroom at Havre de Grace High School to teach United States History.

Throughout her career in Harford County, Kim has served on the School Based Instructional Decision Making Teams, School Improvement Teams, the Maryland Geographic Alliance, and the Maryland State Department of Education reading in the content area task force. In addition to receiving this award, Kim will compete for the title of Maryland Teacher of the Year to represent Maryland's teachers as an education spokesperson.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Mrs. Kim Schmidt on this memorable occasion. Her dedication to the students of Harford County is showcased by her continuing drive to motivate her students to

success, and ensure that they receive the highest quality of education.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor the Maryland Masonic Home on the celebration of its 75th Anniversary as a retirement community for Master Masons and their families.

The Maryland Masonic Home has provided exceptional service to its residents since 1934. After purchasing the property called Bonnie Blink, the Masons converted the farm and mansion into the Maryland Masonic Home. It was created as a housing facility for Masons and their families who were either elderly, or of declining health.

The Masonic Home has grown over the years from a simple dormitory, to an active community with a wide range of services. From dining rooms and recreational facilities, to health care practices and scheduled activities, that Masonic Home presents opportunities for its residents to maintain a vibrant lifestyle. For the past week, the Maryland Masonic Home has been celebrating this truly remarkable milestone with various events and activities for its residents.

Over the last 75 years, they hay lived up to their mission, ``To provide excellent care in a safe, affordable, dignified, quality environment for eligible Masons and their families, in keeping with Masonic Principles, providing for expansion, while maintaining financial viability.''

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor the Maryland Masonic Home on the celebration of its 75th Anniversary. As a fellow Mason, it is with great pride that I congratulate the entire organization on this incredible accomplishment.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Daniel C. Gilliam upon his retirement from the position of Deputy Senior Acquisition Executive at the National Security Agency (NSA). In this position Mr. Gilliam has been responsible for all of NSA's acquisitions and management of the Acquisition Directorate's senior leadership. Mr. Gilliam oversees all procurements, liaisons with key industry partners, and directs resources to optimize the organization's effectiveness. Working closely with Acquisition's customers, Mr. Gilliam maintains strategic partnerships with NSA's mission elements to ensure their needs and requirements are met.

After earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland, and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the George Washington University in 1979, Mr. Gilliam graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1993. He also attended the Federal Executive Institutes Leadership for a Democratic Society Program in 1996.

In 1976, Daniel began his career at NSA as a management support intern. Since then, he has worked on a variety of acquisition and contracting positions to include contracting specialist, contracting officer, and cost/price analyst as well as managing those same disciplines. While participating in NSA's executive development program, Mr. Gilliam worked in

the NSA Corporate Policy Office, the NSA Operations Directorate, and served as the Defense Intelligence Agency's Director for Procurement in 1995/1996. From 1997 to 2005, Mr. Gilliam served as the Chief of the Contracting Group, responsible for managing and directing all effort associated with contracting for materials, equipment, and services required to support the missions of the NSA.

Certified level III in contracting in accordance with the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act. Mr. Gilliam graduated from NSA's Senior Cryptologic Executive Development Program in 1996. He received the Defense Intelligence Director's Award in 1996, and he received the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award in 2002.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Daniel C. Gilliam in his retirement from the position of Deputy Senior Acquisition Executive at the National Security Agency. His legacy as a brilliant and competent specialist will be forever remembered in his service to defending the security of our nation. It is with great pride that I congratulate Dan Gilliam on his exemplary defense career and his outstanding service at the National Security Agency.

Madam Speaker, on April 29, 2009 I missed rollcall vote 223, the final passage of H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. If I were present for the vote I would have voted ``aye.'' I missed the vote because I was in an Intelligence Committee hearing.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Mrs. Mary Barcikowski, recently awarded the 2008 Congressional Volunteer Recognition Award by the 2nd Congressional District of Maryland's Veterans Advisory Council. Mary has been selected to receive this award because of her volunteer service at the VA, based on her outstanding dedication to serving the needs of veterans within her community.

Veterans of the United States Armed Forces have dedicated themselves to protecting the lives of every American. Their service to our Nation deserves the highest level of gratitude. It is of the utmost importance that we take the time to recognize the individuals who give of their time and talents to support veterans and ensure their comfort, care, and well-being.

Mrs. Barcikowski is the Business Manager of Public and Community Relations at the Baltimore VA Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center (BRECC). Throughout her years of service as an employee of the VA, she has served as the Coordinator of Voluntary Services at the BRECC, and has been employed at Perry Point VA Medical Center. Despite obligations to her family and her ailing father, Mary has given time and money to support veterans on several occasions.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Mrs. Mary Barcikowski. Her compassion and dedication to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces has become an inspiration to us all, and is deserving of the utmost gratitude. It is with great pride that I congratulate Mary on her exemplary service as an advocate and a volunteer.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Mrs. Susan Kern, recently awarded the 2008 Congressional Volunteer Recognition Award by the 2nd Congressional District of Maryland's Veterans Advisory Council. Susan has been selected to receive this award because of her volunteer service at the VA, based on her outstanding dedication to serving the needs of veterans within her community.

Veterans of the United States Armed Forces have dedicated themselves to protecting the lives of every American. Their service to our Nation deserves the highest level of gratitude. It is of the utmost importance that we take the time to recognize the individuals who give of their time and talents to support veterans and ensure their comfort, care, and well-being.

Mrs. Kern is the Program Manager for Voluntary Services at the Baltimore VA Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center. Throughout her years of service as an employee of the VA, she has consistently gone out of her way to become an advocate for veterans. She has traveled to various events to speak on behalf of veterans, and has arranged extra times for volunteers to get identification badges. Volunteers must go through a certification process including an exam in order to give of their time. Susan has gone out of her way to make sure every volunteer has the opportunity to take the exam at a convenient time. Because of her commitment, more people are able to become volunteers at the VA.

Despite having a family and many personal obligations, Mrs. Kern does most of these activities outside of work, on her own time.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Mrs. Susan Kern. Her compassion and dedication to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces has become an inspiration to us all, and is deserving of the utmost gratitude. It is with great pride that I congratulate Mrs. Kern on her exemplary service as an advocate and a volunteer.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Mr. Charles W. Betz, recently awarded the 2008 Congressional Volunteer Recognition Award by the 2nd Congressional District of Maryland's Veterans Advisory Council. Charles has been selected to receive this award because of his volunteer service and based on his outstanding dedication to serving the needs of veterans within his community.

Veterans of the United States Armed Forces have dedicated themselves to protecting the lives of every American. Their service to our Nation deserves the highest level of gratitude. It is of the utmost importance that we take the time to recognize the individuals who give of their time and talents to support veterans and ensure their comfort, care, and well-being.

Mr. Betz has been a strong advocate for veterans of the Armed Forces through his office as Post Surgeon and Hospital Chairman of the VFW. Not only does he give of his time to prepare and execute visits to the Baltimore VA Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center, but he and his wife also coordinate activities for the residents. Their group sing-a- longs and Bingo games are always received with much appreciation.

Despite personal health problems, with both knee and shoulder surgeries, Mr. Betz has continued to volunteer at least 30 hours a month.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Mr. Charles W. Betz. His compassion and dedication to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces has become an inspiration to us all, and is deserving of the utmost gratitude. It is with great pride that I congratulate Mr. Betz on his exemplary service as an advocate and a volunteer.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Mrs. Vanessa Scott, recently awarded the 2008 Congressional Volunteer Recognition Award by the 2nd Congressional District of Maryland's Veterans Advisory Council. Vanessa has been selected to receive this award because of her volunteer service at the VA, based on her outstanding dedication to serving the needs of veterans within her community.

Veterans of the United States Armed Forces have dedicated themselves to protecting the lives of every American. Their service to our Nation deserves the highest level of gratitude. It is important that we take the time to recognize the individuals who give of their time and talents to support veterans and ensure their comfort, care, and well- being.

Mrs. Scott has been an advocate for veterans for the past 15 years. She has worked at both Fort Howard and the Baltimore VA Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center. While raising a family, Vanessa has given of her time to the sick and lonesome men and women in those VA facilities, such as spending her evenings playing Bingo with patients. Her unwavering dedication has inspired those who serve with her to provide exceptional service and care.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Mrs. Vanessa Scott. Her compassion and commitment to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces has become an inspiration to us all, and is deserving of the utmost gratitude. It is with great pride that I congratulate Mrs. Scott on her exemplary service as an advocate and a volunteer.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Mrs. Barbara Swann, recently awarded the 2008 Congressional Volunteer Recognition Award by the 2nd Congressional District of Maryland's Veterans Advisory Council. Barbara has been selected to receive this award because of her volunteer service at the VA, based on her outstanding dedication to serving the needs of veterans within her community.

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces have dedicated themselves to protecting the lives of every American. Their service to our Nation deserves the highest level of gratitude. It is of the utmost importance that we take the time to recognize the individuals who give of their time and talents to support veterans and ensure their comfort, care, and well-being.

Mrs. Swann currently serves as the Coordinator of Volunteer Services for the Baltimore Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center. She has been instrumental in an effort to collect non-perishables and other items to send to Marines in Afghanistan. While raising a family, Barbara has worked early mornings and late evenings, giving of her personal time to veterans. She has recruited volunteers and made it a point to ensure their proper training, medical examinations, and understanding of HIPPA leave.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Mrs. Barbara Swann. Her compassion and dedication to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces has become an inspiration to us all, and is deserving of the utmost gratitude. It is with great pride that I congratulate Mrs. Swann on her exemplary service as an advocate and a volunteer.