Daniel M. Donovan, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Theodore Strange for his actions during the New York City Marathon.

On November 4, 2018, Dr. Strange was running his 25th New York City Marathon. Crossing the 14-mile mark, he stopped to eat some orange slices given to him by a friend on the sidelines. Resuming the race shortly after, he crossed the Queensboro Bridge and passed the 16-mile marker. It was just then when Dr. Strange heard cries for help. Kristin Elfering, an engineer from North Oaks, Minnesota, had bent over to tie her shoelaces and couldn't get up from the ground.

With his medical instincts kicking in, Theodore noticed that Ms. Elfering was unwell. Blue in the face, foaming at the mouth, and without a pulse, Dr. Strange immediately started performing CPR and then called for a police officer to bring him a defibrillator. Unresponsive after the first shock, he tried three more times until Kristin luckily responded with a pulse. She eventually was taken to the hospital with a blood clot in her artery. Not to be outdone, after saving Ms. Elfering's life, Theodore actually finished the marathon in five hours and 16 minutes. For his selfless actions, Dr. Strange was honored by the New York Knicks as a community hero.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Dr. Theodore Strange for his noble actions in saving another life without a moment's hesitation. I am proud to not only have Dr. Strange as my personal physician, but my constituent, as well. He is a true and selfless hero.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Energy and Commerce be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 7213) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record an exchange of letters between the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security on the bill, H.R. 7213.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the exchange of letters.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Homeland Security,

Washington, DC, December 10, 2018.

Hon. Greg Walden,

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: On December 3, 2018, the H.R. 7213--

Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018 was

introduced. This bill was additionally referred to the

Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Since similar language passed the House of Representatives

by voice vote earlier this year, I ask that you allow the

Committee on Energy and Commerce to be discharged from

further consideration of the bill so that it may be scheduled

by the Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects your

jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will

not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition,

should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support

your request to have the Committee on Energy and Commerce

represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be

pleased to include this letter and your response in the

Congressional Record.

Thank you for consideration of my request, and I look

forward to further opportunities to work with you the

remainder of this Congress.

Sincerely,

Michael T. McCaul,

Chairman.