Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate people in my district coming together to take a stand against bigotry, racism, and acts of hate. On March 7, 2017, members of the Muslim Public Affairs Council met with members of the Jewish community at the Jewish Community Center in Getzville, NY. Both groups sat down together to take a stand against recent threats towards the Jewish community in Western New York.

This act of solidarity is an example of a community coming together despite their different backgrounds and beliefs. This type of collaboration in the face of hate is a model for the rest of the country.

During my recent meeting with the Muslim Public Affairs Council, we discussed the importance of uniting behind our shared American values, such as inclusivity and tolerance. The recent demonstration of unity by members of the Jewish community and the Muslim community demonstrates that despite any differences, we are all Americans and must join together in condemning hateful acts in our community.

For their demonstrated leadership, I commemorate the groups and individuals working to bring unity to Western New York.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from votes January 4 and January 5, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted: NAY on Roll Call No. 7; YEA on Roll Call No. 8; YEA on Roll Call No. 9; YEA on Roll Call No. 10; YEA on Roll Call No. 11; YEA on Roll Call No. 12; NAY on Roll Call No. 13; NAY on Roll Call No. 14.

NAY on Roll Call No. 15; NAY on Roll Call No. 16; NAY on Roll Call No. 17; NAY on Roll Call No. 18; NAY on Roll Call No. 19; NAY on Roll Call No. 20; YEA on Roll Call No. 21; NAY on Roll Call No. 22; YEA on Roll Call No. 23.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor Warren Payne Sr., a World War II veteran whose service to our country and love for his family embody the values of the Greatest Generation.

Mr. Payne was born in Niagara Falls in 1921 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in August of 1942. He served in the European Theater of Operations with the 452nd Bomb Group, participating in the air campaign to fight for our nation's freedom. In July 1944, his bomber crashed while on a mission over Germany, and he and his crew became prisoners of war. Following a long, forced march in the snow, he and his fellow servicemen were finally freed in April 1945.

After he returned home from the war, Mr. Payne decided to join the family business, Payne's Hardware and Floor Covering. He ran this business in Niagara Falls for 50 years until his retirement in 1997. He is remembered by his family and friends for his kindness and generosity and was an active volunteer at St. Mary of the Cataract Church in Niagara Falls.

Warren passed away on July 7, 2007, survived by Grace, his wife of 61 years, 11 children--Warren Jr., William, John, James, Michael, Suzanne, Michele, Tricia, Christine, Laurie, and Caroline--31 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

I am proud to honor a veteran, small businessman, and hero from New York's 27th district.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize four individuals from the Finger Lake Region on the eve of the one year anniversary of their heroic actions.

On February 11, 2014, an employee at American Rock Salt, located in New York's 27th district, collapsed after suffering severe chest pain. Through the swift actions of four men; Colin Keller, Gary Morrison, Michael Smith, and John Ayer, that individual is still alive and well. The group utilized an artificial external defibrillator and CPR skills learned through the Red Cross's Safety training to successfully resuscitate their colleague.

For their life-saving actions, Colin, Gary and Michael will be presented with Certificates of Merit signed by President Obama and John will receive a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action.

The Certificate of Merit is the highest award given by the American Red Cross to an individual or team of individuals who saves or sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Health and Safety Services course.

The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action is awarded to individuals who save or sustain a life by action that exemplifies the mission of Preparedness and Health and Safety Services.

I want to thank Colin, Gary, Michael, and John for their life saving efforts and congratulate them on earning these prestigious honors.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Mr. Jeremy M. Jacobs, an outstanding businessman and philanthropist from East Aurora, New York. Mr. Jacobs will step aside as CEO of Delaware North, a global food service and hospitality company headquartered in Buffalo, New York, where he has worked since 1968.

Mr. Jacobs took over what was then called Sportservice, at the age of 28, after the death of his father who helped start the company in 1915. During his time as CEO, Mr. Jacobs transformed the company from selling popcorn at local movie theaters into a business with over $3 billion in annual revenue. Delaware North currently ranks number 169th on the Forbes list of largest privately held companies in the United States.

Mr. Jacobs is also recognized by Forbes for his philanthropic endeavors working with the United Way, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and is an active member of the Jeremiah Milbank Society. In 2008, he generously donated $10 million to the University at Buffalo associated with the Gates Vascular Institute to support research on the causes, treatment, and prevention of heart and vascular diseases.

Mr. Jacobs' contributions to Western New York have had an everlasting impact on the region and I look forward to seeing what endeavors Mr. Jacobs undertakes next.

Mr. Speaker, as the Chairman of the Congressional Scouting Caucus, I rise today to honor Bernard Queneau, the oldest Eagle Scout in America, who passed away earlier this week.

Born in Liege, Belgium in 1912, Bernard moved with his family to America and joined Boy Scout Troop 3B in New Rochelle, New York. He received his Eagle Scout award on March 5, 1928 and was subsequently selected as one of four scouts selected to travel the Lincoln Highway from New York to San Francisco on a 34-day Lincoln Highway Safety Tour. During this journey, Bernard and his fellow scouts gave scouting skills demonstrations and set the stage for 3,400 concrete Lincoln Highway markers to be erected by scouts from coast to coast, cementing the memory of President Lincoln onto this national roadway.

At 102 years old, Bernard was the last living member of the 1928 Boy Scout Lincoln Highway Safety Tour. Bernard recently received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, the National Eagle Scout Association's highest honor. He was the 2098th recipient of the 45 year old award, which honors Eagle Scouts with at least 25 years of service and exceptional career achievement or recognition.

Bernard was a lifelong scout and true believer in the values of preparedness and doing your best. He lived his life by the scout oath and law and I am honored to recognize such an exemplary man today. I know Bernard's memory will live on through this family and friends, as well as the myriad of scouts of all ages his life touched.

I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, expanding the scope of ``waters of the United States'' is a dangerous expansion of authority strongly opposed by the farmers in my western New York district.

In May, I led a bipartisan letter with Mr. Schrader of Oregon, supported by a majority of this House, asking the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw this overreaching rule.

EPA officials have testified that they realize this rule, as drafted, is confusing and needs modification, but they have refused to withdraw the rule and start over.

I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5078, the bipartisan legislation that will address this problem.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Francis Bellamy, one of the most influential individuals from Mount Morris, New York. Unknown by most Americans, Francis Bellamy is the author of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Today marks the 122nd anniversary of the Pledge of Allegiance, which was first published in a magazine called The Youth Companion on September 8, 1892. The Pledge was initially written as part of a campaign to put American flags in every school in the country.

In its original form it read:

I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which

it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice

for all.

In 1923, the words, ``the flag of the United States of America'' were added. In 1954, Congress added the words ``under God,'' creating the 31-word pledge that we say today.

Bellamy's words are recited millions of times every day and are ingrained in our society as an expression of national pride and patriotism.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for the opportunity to speak in support of the STEM Education Act, legislation that I have cosponsored to help create a new generation of innovators.

As a graduate in mechanical engineering, I quickly learned years ago of the important role a STEM background plays in U.S. manufacturing. Later, as I started my own business ventures, I have continued to learn how hard it can be to find new graduates with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, or math.

These are jobs that drive our economy, and we need to act now to encourage students to realize the benefits in choosing one of these fields.

Among these STEM fields is commuter science, which is the primary driver for job growth among the four STEM fields of study. By 2020, there will be an estimated 4.2 million computing and information technology jobs; yet, at the current rate of students graduating from American universities and colleges, these jobs will be vastly underfilled.

We cannot let that happen. That is why we need this no-cost legislation to direct Federal agencies to include computer science as one of the definitions of STEM. This will allow the Federal Government to expand on this focus and help address the future gap in computer science.

Further, this bill will help teachers find ways to spur student interest in STEM. With more than 40 years separating us from the last Moon landing, we need to find a spark that spurs interest in STEM among young students. Whether it is a robotics competition or a simple after- school science experiment, these are the ways we will help create the next generation of great American innovators and inventors.

I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 5031.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Roybal-Allard, for her leadership on this important issue.

I come to the House floor tonight to speak in support of H.R. 1281, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act, which I am proud to cosponsor.

For the last 50 years, newborn screening services have played an important role for families across the country. Screening for developmental disabilities or diseases at birth can identify treatable diseases early and give a child the opportunity to live a healthy life.

I also want to take a moment to thank a leading advocate for newborn screening, Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame Quarterback Jim Kelly, who is from New York's 27th District.

In 1997, Jim and his wife, Jill, founded Hunter's Hope Foundation shortly after their son Hunter was diagnosed with Krabbe disease. Krabbe disease is fatal when left untreated and, tragically, cut Hunter's life short.

With universal newborn screening, the story of Hunter Kelly and countless others with developmental diseases could have been different.

I urge the House to reauthorize this vital program today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3472, a bill to rename the U.S. post office in Alden, New York, as the Sergeant Brett E. Gornewicz Memorial Post Office.

It is an honor to sponsor legislation naming a post office in my district after a hometown hero who gave his life serving our country.

I also want to take a moment and thank Senator Gillibrand and her staff for their work introducing S. 2056, corresponding Senate legislation to rename the post office.

Naming a postal facility honoring Sergeant Gornewicz is just a small token of our country's appreciation for a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom.

In 2006, after being deeply affected by the attacks of 9/11, Sergeant Gornewicz enlisted in the Army Reserves following graduation from Alden High School. From 2007 to 2008, he deployed to Iraq on his first tour and courageously served our country.

Upon his return home to the United States, Sergeant Gornewicz enrolled at Buffalo State College and obtained his degree in mechanical engineering. He was working as a computer-aided designer and mechanical designer for a Tonawanda, New York, company when he again answered the call of duty, returning to Afghanistan for his second tour.

Sergeant Gornewicz is described by many friends and family as a humble leader who always put the needs of others before his own. During his deployment, he displayed this selflessness when he risked his own life to save a fellow soldier during a firefight. He was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor for his actions.

Tragically, during Sergeant Gornewicz's second tour in 2012, his unit was hit by an IED in Afghanistan. The lives of Specialist Ryan Jayne of Corning, New York; Staff Sergeant Dain T. Venne of Port Henry, New York; and Sergeant Gornewicz were lost. At the time of the attack, Sergeant Gornewicz was assigned to the 444th Engineer Company. The company's primary mission was to clear roads of improvised explosive devices.

Sergeant Gornewicz was proud of the small town he came from: Alden, New York. It is my hope that this post office will allow the people of Alden, and those throughout the 27th District, to continue to honor the memory of Sergeant Gornewicz and ensure that his legacy of service and sacrifice lives on.

Renaming a post office is but a small step in recognizing this soldier's bravery and ultimate sacrifice for our Nation. Passage of this bill will exemplify

our admiration for our country's Armed Forces, and will honor one of the many heroes who have sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3472.

I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his leadership on this important issue.

Madam Speaker, I come to the House floor tonight to speak in support of the Demanding Accountability for Veterans Act, which I am proud to cosponsor.

You would think Congress wouldn't have to act to demand accountability from the VA on behalf of our veterans, but, sadly, as everyone knows, that is not the case with the current VA. The VA is supposed to provide service and benefits that all of our veterans have earned by protecting our freedom. Instead, what we have in too many cases is a bunch of bureaucrats in both Washington and in the local facilities who seem content to collect a paycheck and not serve the public.

Enough is enough.

The least we should expect is, when the inspector general issues a corrective action report about a public health or a patient safety problem, the VA employees would be held accountable for fixing it.

At the VA hospital in Buffalo, New York, which is right outside my district, the improper use of insulin pens resulted in some 700 veterans being potentially exposed to HIV and hepatitis. In this case, the IG issued a corrective action report. The public has every right to expect the VA to be held accountable for implementing a fix to make sure something like that never happens again. Without this legislation, we can't make that promise, and that is an insult to our veterans and to all Federal taxpayers.

This legislation also makes it easier to get rid of the bad apples at the VA so that issues with problem employees don't fester and overshadow the care being delivered by hardworking VA nurses and doctors.

Again, I want to thank Congressman Benishek for his work on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to pass the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to speak about an outstanding organization headquartered in Buffalo, New York: Bunkers in Baghdad.

The organization was started by Joe Hanna in 2008 after learning that golf had become a favorite form of stress relief for soldiers serving in combat zones overseas. The purpose of Bunkers in Baghdad is simple-- they collect new and used golf balls and golf clubs and then ship them overseas to soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The program also includes injured veterans who are currently recovering in Wounded Warriors programs and other military installations and VA hospitals across the United States.

The first official shipment of golf balls went out in November 2008 to reach Iraq in time for the holidays. The inaugural shipment was made even more special by the fact that it was coordinated and packaged by students from the Williamsville Central School District. In addition to raising money to ship each box directly through the United States Postal Service, the students packed each box with balls, holiday cards, and letters they wrote to the soldiers.

I would like to recognize and congratulate the organization on their accomplishments. In just 5 short years, Bunkers in Baghdad has collected and shipped 5 million golf balls and 150,000 golf clubs to our military service men and women and wounded warriors in all 50 states and 30 countries around the world. This initiative, focused on those who have given so much, is an example to us all as we continue to honor those who serve.

Madam Speaker, I come to the House floor today to express my support for the Save American Workers Act. This legislation will repeal ObamaCare's definition of full-time employment as 30 hours a week.

Every American knows that full time is 40 hours a week, so it is time to reverse this ill-advised provision of ObamaCare. Redefining full time as 40 hours a week will have a big impact. Constituents like Colden Repka of Attica, New York, and Richard Markel of Clarence, New York, have shared with me their stories of lost wages and lost hours due to this provision of ObamaCare. Testimony at the Small Business hearing I chaired on this matter was clear--the 30-hour definition of full time must be revised.

ObamaCare is turning our Nation into a part-time economy. It discourages economic growth and results in the erosion of our Nation's middle class. The Save American Workers Act will do just what the title says. It will put hardworking Americans back where they want to be-- working and supporting their families.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, on February 12, 2014, we honor the fifth anniversary of the crash of Flight 3407 in Clarence Center, New York, and remember the 50 men and women and the one unborn child who died that tragic night.

As Erie County executive, I was on the scene following the crash, and witnessing the grief of the victims' families will remain with me forever. Flight 3407 families had their loved ones ripped away in such a horrible and preventable accident, but with grace and courage, these families turned their loss into a crusade to make the skies safer for all of our families. Against very steep obstacles, Flight 3407 families prevailed and forced Congress to pass legislation requiring airlines to put well-trained pilots in every cockpit.

On the fifth anniversary, we remember those who died that night and extend our gratitude to their families for fighting to make sure their loved ones did not die in vain.