Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 540) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 770 Ayrault Road in Fairport, New York, as the ``Louise and Bob Slaughter Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 540, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 770 Ayrault Road in Fairport, New York, as the ``Louise and Bob Slaughter Post Office''.

Representative Louise Slaughter was a groundbreaking Member of this House. She served here for 32 years. She was the first female chairwoman of the Rules Committee, and she coauthored the landmark Violence Against Women Act. She was also a dear friend.

Born in Harlan County, Kentucky, in 1929, Louise Slaughter was the daughter of a blacksmith. After graduating from high school, she went on to earn a bachelor's degree in microbiology and a master's degree in public health, both from the University of Kentucky.

After moving to upstate New York and marrying her beloved husband, Bob, Louise became active in local community groups and, eventually, in politics. She served a number of years in local elected offices and in the New York State Assembly.

Louise was first elected to Congress in 1986, where she eventually rose to become the top Democrat on the powerful Rules Committee. Tragically and very sadly, Louise died in March of last year, and she is sorely missed by all of us.

Naming a post office in her honor in her hometown of Fairport, New York, is maybe the least we could and should do to honor the distinguished career in public service of this remarkable woman.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on a personal note, Louise Slaughter was an extraordinary Member of this body. She had a marvelous sense of humor. She was an encyclopedia about the procedures of the Rules Committee, which often mystified many of us. Her heart was in the cause every day.

The last few years she was here were tough. She lost her beloved Bob very suddenly, and she struggled with a lot of health issues in the last year of her life. None of it left her daunted.

She faced every day with an indomitable spirit and will, a commitment to her values and to fighting for her constituents and for those values.

This is the least we can do to honor Louise Slaughter and her husband, Bob. I hope we can do more as we progress, but it is an honor to have served with Louise, and it is a privilege to manage this bill today.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 829) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1450 Montauk Highway in Mastic, New York, as the ``Army Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 829 to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1450 Montauk Highway in Mastic, New York, as the Army Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth Post Office Building.

Army Specialist Wilwerth's life was defined by a call to service. While still a junior in high school, Thomas felt the call to serve his country in the years after 9/11, and he made the decision to join the Army to defend his country.

After finishing his senior year, during which he also served in the Army Reserves, Thomas was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division based out of Fort Carson, Colorado.

In December 2005, Thomas was deployed to Iraq, and he served selflessly with his division as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While on deployment, he was tragically taken from us on February 22, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

At just 21 years of age, Thomas' tragic death serves to remind us all of the human cost of war. He demonstrated in his short life, Mr. Speaker, the kind of commitment and service to this great country that is an example to all of us.

Naming a post office in his honor in his hometown of Mastic, New York, is the least we can do as a country to honor and remember a young man who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to all of us.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Zeldin indicated, there is nothing we can do, not this action, that can really make up for the loss of a loved one, even in the time of war. But we can, as a grateful Nation, explain our appreciation and gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice that was made, and that is what we are doing today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 725) to change the address of the postal facility designated in honor of Captain Humayun Khan.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues today in consideration of S. 725, a bill to change the address of the postal facility designated in honor of Captain Humayun Khan. Captain Khan was an extraordinary military officer and an American hero who lived in this country since he was 2 years old.

Mr. Khan represented the best of what it means to be an American. Growing up, he was captivated with the writings of Thomas Jefferson and his writings on freedom. It was at the school Jefferson founded, the University of Virginia, that Mr. Khan learned to put those ideas into practice. There, he joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

After graduation, Mr. Khan put his dreams of becoming a lawyer on hold to serve the American people on Active Duty in Iraq.

On June 8, 2004, while serving with the 201st Battalion of the 1st Infantry Division, tragically, Captain Khan was killed. While visiting the Guard personnel on his day off, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Khan was killed by an improvised bomb outside Forward Operating Base Warhorse.

It is to honor the life and memory of Captain Khan that we today dedicate this post office in Charlottesville, the home of his alma mater and the beginning of his distinguished military service, in his name.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from West Virginia. I

think this is an important honor, and it is an important technical correction.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank my dear friend from New York (Mr. Engel), the distinguished chairman of our committee, for his support. I thank my dear friend from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger), the Republican manager today, for his support. And I salute my friend from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) who has steadfastly cosponsored this resolution in previous Congresses to make a powerful bipartisan statement.

I rise today, Madam Speaker, in support of H.R. 596, the Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act, which we introduced together, as I said, with Mr. Chabot of Ohio.

This bill states unequivocally that it is the policy of the United States not to recognize the Russian Federation's claim of sovereignty over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters. Furthermore, the bill prohibits the United States Government from taking any action that could possibly apply recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea.

Putin's forcible and illegal annexation of Crimea, the first forcible seizure of territory in Europe since World War II, undermines Ukrainian sovereignty and threatens the stability of Europe. Acquiescence on the part of the United States would threaten the security of all sovereign nations. Who is next? Moldova, Georgia, the Baltic States?

It is the longstanding policy of our country not to recognize territorial changes elected by force, as dictated by the Stimson Doctrine established in 1932 by then-Secretary of State Henry Stimson, a Republican under a Republican President, Herbert Hoover.

We upheld that doctrine with the issuance of the Welles Declaration in 1940, which stated emphatically that the United States would not recognize the illegal annexation at that time of the Baltic States by the Soviet Union.

That policy remained in effect for 50 long years. Some thought it quixotic. For more than those 50 years, we stood by those Baltic republics of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, sometimes in the face of ridicule. Today, they are independent nations and members of the NATO alliance.

The collective wisdom of the previous and current administrations, Congress, our European allies, and the American public is that similar principles must be adopted with respect to Crimea.

Crimea was Putin's original violation in Ukraine, and we have limited credibility objecting to Russia's subsequent invasion of the Luhansk and Donetsk areas of that country. If we do not take a stand with respect to Crimea, then we are just quibbling over the price.

What has happened in Ukraine--Russia's forcible and illegal annexation of Crimea, invasion of the eastern part of the country, and continued occupation--has precipitated an international crisis, and the resulting conflict has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

Russia has subjected Crimeans who refuse Russian citizenship to discrimination in accessing education, healthcare, and employment, and Russian authorities have attacked travel rights and the free press. The matter of rejecting the forcible and illegal attack on sovereign territory is so important that we should be satisfied with nothing less than absolute clarity about our position, which is that we support Ukraine's sovereignty over Crimea.

The Obama administration established a nonrecognition policy toward Russian sovereignty over Crimea and levied sanctions against individuals and entities enabling Russia's illegal occupation. Our allies in Europe have stood with us, shoulder to shoulder, in emphasizing and enforcing those sanctions.

Congress codified the Obama Crimea sanctions and has repeatedly used the power of the purse to prohibit the use of government funds for any action that could possibly recognize de jure or de facto illegal annexation of Crimea.

The fiscal year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act included similar language to that contained in our bill today, in order to prohibit the use of defense funds in a manner that could be construed as recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea. That language has remained in the NDAA ever since.

In the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, Congress reiterated its support for the Stimson Doctrine and its application to the illegal invasions by Russia and occupations of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia, Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, and the Transnistria region in Moldova.

The United States must lead the way in refusing to recognize or legitimize Russia's illegal acts and its forcible annexation of Crimea. That is why I am so proud to offer this bill, along with Mr. Chabot, that expresses the will of Congress as loud and as clear as we can, and I urge my colleagues unanimously to support it.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the educators serving in the Prince William County Public Schools Division on obtaining certification or recertification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Founded in 1987, the National Board was established by teachers for teachers as the premier vehicle for defining and recognizing accomplished educators. Today, this independent nonprofit organization remains dedicated to supporting excellence in education and is governed by classroom teachers, school administrators, school board leaders, governors, state legislators, higher education officials, teacher union leaders, and business and community leaders.

A National Board Certification denotes the most respected professional certification available in the education field. Obtaining certification and completing the renewal process is a personal and public statement of one's commitment to the evolution of effective instruction methods. In order to obtain the distinction, teachers must display a mastering of the standards established by the National Board by successfully completing a rigorous multicomponent assessment that demonstrates that he or she has acquired the knowledge, skills, and practices required of an accomplished educator. Certified educators support a vision of teaching based on the following five core propositions:

1. Teachers are committed to students and their learning;

2. Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students;

3. Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning;

4. Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience; and

5. Teachers are members of learning communities.

I extend my personal congratulations and appreciation to the following 2018 National Board Certified Teachers for receiving their respective certifications and renewals:

Amber Tiernan, Patriot High School

Amanda Proch, Gifted Education

Amy Ivory, Colgan High School

Christina Sherman, Marumsco Hills Elementary School

Julie Faith, Stonewall Jackson High School

Carolyn Ciminelli, Old Bridge Elementary School

Leah Krucelyak, Beville Middle School

Ashley Marland, Covington-Harper Elementary School

Andrea Wilkey, Featherstone Elementary School

Allan Weberg, Potomac High School

Todd Hayes, Hylton High School

Chris Proch, Woodbridge High School

Melonie Yielding, Ellis Elementary School

Timothy L. Wilson, Mary F. Williams Elementary School

Shannon Speights, Dumfries Elementary School

Amy Wise, Rippon Middle School

Jennifer Roberts, Piney Branch Elementary School

Susan Bowden, West Gate Elementary School

Melissa Callaghan, Cedar Point Elementary School

Krista Oldenburg, Benton Middle School

Connie Schumacher, Stonewall Middle School

Kathleen Hugh, Woodbridge High School

Stephanie Ryan, Coles Elementary School

Donna C. Morgan, Professional Development

Ashley Abraham, Brentsville District High School

Kristen Augsburger, Battlefield High School

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending these teachers for their commitment to education, professional development, and the students of Prince William County Public Schools. The world- class education provided to our students is due to the tireless efforts of teachers who make excellence the standard and I thank them for their invaluable contributions.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the incoming 2019 officers of the Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department. OWLVFD is located in Prince William County, Virginia, 25 miles from our Nation's Capital. The OWLVFD goes on an average of 20,000 runs per year, aiding 80,000 residents in a 27 square mile area.

Incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1938, the OWLVFD is comprised of committed community members who volunteer their time, energy, and financial resources to ensure the safety of the families and property in and around Woodbridge. During its 80 year history, the Department has continued to expand and there are now three stations staffed by approximately 250 volunteers who serve and protect an ever- growing local population. From their bravery in action to their presence with the youth in the community, OWLVFD is readily available for the families of Woodbridge.

It is with great honor I include in the Record the names of the following Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department Officers:

Department President--Dave Williams.

Department Chief--James McAllister.

Executive Vice President--George Smith.

Membership Secretary--Scott Shaw.

Board of Directors--Michelle Bauer, Kevin Lewis, Melissa Payne, Rebecca Barnes, Zach Wessolleck, Jonathan Baldwin, Michael Clark, Anna Smith.

Election Officer--Sabrina Brandon Ricks.

Treasurer--Debbie Haight.

Sergeant-At-Arms--Rick Moore.

Assistant Chiefs--Kurt Bolland, Ernest DeSantis, Steve Godin, Wayne Haight, Rick Michaels.

Rescue Chief--Ed Craig.

Fire Captains--Ben New, Justin Witt.

Rescue Captain--Stephanie Powers.

While a new executive board has been elected and new officers sworn in, the mission of OWLVFD remains the same. The volunteers of the OWLVFD continue to put themselves in harm's way for the benefit of the residents of the area and have educated and mentored the youth in Woodbridge, not only teaching fire safety education, but also strengthening community relations.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the men and women of the Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department for their service to our country and steadfast commitment to their community and in congratulating the newly-elected officers and board members. I thank them for their dedication and to all I say: ``Stay safe.''

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce and to congratulate the incoming 2019 board members.

Tysons has drastically transformed during the past 56 years from a sleepy, rural area to one of the most vibrant regions in the country. This change began when the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved plans for the Tysons Corner Shopping Center in 1962. When the mall opened in 1968, it was hailed as the largest enclosed mall in the world.

Since then, there has been a dramatic influx of technology companies, government contracting firms, and other corporations. Tysons

has become the premier business district of the Washington Metropolitan Area and is one of the largest employment centers in the United States. With the opening of Metro's Silver Line and ongoing redevelopment, the region is expected to continue adding not only businesses but also high-density residential housing. 45 million square feet of transit- oriented development is already present in Tysons and more is on the way.

The mission of the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce is to be the unified voice of the business community while ensuring that its ties and commitment to the community are strengthened.

The Chamber actively promotes local non-profits and community organizations as well as youth educational programs, and it sponsors multiple events each year in support of these activities. The growth of the Chamber has been the result of the diversity of its members and the leadership of its Board. I am pleased to include in the Record the names of the incoming 2019 board members:

Chairman of the Board: Tucker Gladhill

At-Large Members: Alex Levy, Andrew Clark, Anthony Anikeeff, Audrey Lustre, Chris Tomseth, David MacGillivray, Diana Villareal, Dr. Michelle Walker, Frederick Keown, Gina Gagliardi, James Lawson, Jeffrey Krashin, Jonathan LaCroix, Kara Shelton, Kara Mayle, Kathleen Kelley, Kathy McNeill, Kevin Corey, Maureen Loftus, Maureen Caufield, Miriam Tadross, Rod Loges, Rodney Lusk, Samim Ardeishar, Sanjay Srikantiah, Suzan Zimmerman, Timothy Klinkner, Uppasna Chand, Virginia Case, Walter Kim.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the incoming board members and in commending the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce for its commitment to promoting the business community while encouraging social responsibility and civic engagement. I wish the Chamber the very best for its continued growth and success.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Vienna Business Association (VBA) and to congratulate the incoming members of the 2019 Board of Directors.

Vienna is known for its local charm and strong small business community. Money Magazine and CNN have both rated Vienna as one of the best places to live in the United States. The vibrant community spirit exhibited by its residents and local businesses has fostered an exceptional quality of life that is cherished by so many.

The Vienna Business Association is the voice of the greater Vienna business community. It promotes business opportunities and development through networking and increased interaction between the commercial and residential communities within the town. Its members help maintain Vienna's small town feel by hosting and supporting many annual community events.

The VBA has thrived thanks to the diversity of its members and the leadership of its Board.

I am pleased to include in the Record the following names of the incoming members of the 2019 Board of Directors:

Incoming Chairman: Mark Sweeney.

Incoming Board Members: Ann Cole, Kari Cannistraro, Michael Amouri, Karen Thayer, Bettina Lawton, Preeti Swaminathan, Jeff Bollettino, Greg Kunstbeck, Tim Fricker, Holly Siebold.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the incoming board members and in commending the Vienna Business Association for their commitment to promoting the business community while encouraging social responsibility. I wish them continued success in all their future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the nominees for the 2018-2019 Prince William County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award. Teachers who meet the criteria for the award are those who instill in students a desire to learn and achieve, understand the individual needs of students, demonstrate a thorough knowledge of subject matter, and have the ability to share it effectively. The selected winner will be named the Prince William County Teacher of the Year.

As the second largest school division in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Prince William County Public Schools educates 90,000 students in ninety-eight schools. The impact of these teachers is apparent as PWCS is ranked the highest in the entire state with their on-time graduation rate.

Each Teacher of the Year Award nominee exhibits excellence in teaching by serving as an effective leader in and out of the classroom, fostering strong rapport with parents and peers and providing a safe and inclusive environment for all students to learn and develop.

I extend my personal congratulations to the following nominees for the 2018-2019 Prince William County Teacher of the Year Award:

Simon Bhagwandeen, Potomac High School; Leslie Browngold, Gravely Elementary School; Marianne Burns, Patriot High School; Garrett Carlson, Colgan High School; Pamela Clute, Potomac High School; Jennifer Diehl, Buckland Mills Elementary School; Gail Drake, Battlefield High School; Gail Drake, Battlefield High School.

Julie Faith, Stonewall Jackson High School; Lauren Fenner, Swans Creek Elementary School; Amanda Grant, Ashland Elementary School; Amy Hardt, Buckland Mills Elementary School; Elizabeth Hoffmann, The Nokesville School; Carl Hood, Alvey Elementary School; Kristen Keskel, Ashland Elementary School; Jennifer Kimble, Graham Park Middle School; Kathy Lamont, Antietam Elementary School; Pamela Lansberry, King Elementary School; Christy Lazer, Bull Run Middle School; Elizabeth McKeown, Pennington Traditional School; Ashley Meyer, T. Clay Wood Elementary School.

Melissa Morgan, Chris Yung Elementary School; Jeanie Noel, Freedom High School; Norman Pattarozzi, Osbourn Park High School; Emily Ramirez, Brentsville District High School; Rebecca Schelling, Antietam Elementary School; Brian Shepard, Battlefield High School; David Shuler, Battlefield High School; John Spaulding, Independence Nontraditional School; Jennifer Tallman, Lake

Ridge Middle School; Crystal Watt, Ashland Elementary School.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the nominees for the Prince William County Public Schools 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Award and in thanking them for their dedication to our children. Their continued service will ensure that Prince William County Public Schools students continue to receive a world-class education in a vibrant learning environment.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Chairman/CEO Roger Krone and the 32,000 employees of Leidos on the occasion of the company's 50th anniversary.

Founded in 1969 by Dr. J. Robert Beyster as Science Applications Incorporated (SAl), the company that would become Leidos was a result of Dr. Beyster's lifelong commitment to innovation. Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1924 and raised in the midst of the Great Depression, Dr. Beyster watched as his family struggled through incredible hardships to provide for themselves. He joined the Navy after graduating from high school and served on a destroyer during World War II. With the help of the GI Bill, he attended the University of Michigan after his naval career and earned several degrees, including his Ph.D. in nuclear physics in 1950.

After earning his doctorate, Dr. Beyster spent five years working at the Los Alamos National Laboratory before spending a dozen years with General Atomics in San Diego. His time there came to an end shortly after Gulf Oil acquired General Atomics. Dr. Beyster felt that senior management had little interest in the research his department was performing. He resolved to create a company where that would never be the case and which nurtured a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. That vision led to the creation of SAI, which changed its name to SAIC in 1984.

I served as Director of Community Relations for SAIC from 2002 to 2008 and will always remember fondly my time with the company. I was pleased to be present in Congress in 2009 when SAIC made the decision to relocate its headquarters from San Diego to my district in Tysons. I'm not sure anyone, including Dr. Beyster, could have foreseen the growth that this company would experience. What began as a $50,000 loan with Dr. Beyster's house as collateral has evolved into a $7 billion Fortune 500 powerhouse. In 2013, SAIC bifurcated its company into two entities; Leidos, the solutions-focused parent company and a services business spin-off which carried on the SAIC name. I am confident that both of these companies will continue the fine legacy that has been left by Dr. Beyster, Roger Krone and so many others over the last 50 years.

The impact of Leidos and SAIC is not solely confined to a profit margin or a balance sheet. Both companies have received numerous accolades for their work in their communities, including being named one of the Best Places to Work by the Human Rights Campaign in 2017, receiving an Annual Corporate Equality Index Score of 100 percent and being named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute just last year. When I served as Director of Community Relations, I saw firsthand the engagement in and care for the community that SAIC/Leidos exhibited. The community was not merely where their facilities were located; it was their home and they treated it accordingly. We could all stand to learn from their example.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Leidos on this momentous occasion and in wishing them great success in all their future endeavors. I have no doubt that they will continue their myriad contributions to our economy, our government and our community for many more decades to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the recent graduates of the Prince William County Public Safety Academy. These men and women will soon join the ranks of those who have served and continue to serve in the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue.

Since its inception in 1966, the Department of Fire and Rescue has led the way. In 1967, Prince William County became the first jurisdiction on the East Coast to implement the 911 System. That same year, Prince William became the first county in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the National Capital Region to implement a physical ability exam for career firefighters. In 1994, Mary Beth Michos was hired as Chief and became the first female fire and rescue chief of a metro-sized department. The Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue continues to maintain one of the most forward-thinking combination fire departments in the country, and its legacy of ``firsts'' continues. It is one of only three jurisdictions in the Commonwealth of Virginia with delegated training authority, granted by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs.

Class 18-2 spanned 3 seasons: Summer, Fall, and Winter. They encountered everything from sun and humidity with unseasonably high temperatures, to frigid cold and wind. Dealing with some rain events and even snow and ice at times. This rigorous training process exceeded 1,300 hours. Upon successful completion of this program, each recruit is eligible to graduate and become a Fire and Rescue Technician with the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue.

The training and certification required to achieve the status of a Fire and Rescue Technician cannot be accomplished without significant dedication and hard work. Today's graduates have completed more than 600 hours of the required coursework for certification in Emergency Medical Technician, Infection Control, CPR, Firefighter I & II, Advanced Fire Behavior, Hazardous Materials Operations, LPG Emergencies, Rural Water Supply, Stress First Aid, MAYDAY Firefighter Down, Rapid Intervention Team Operations, Technical Rescue Modules 1 & 2, Vehicle Rescue Level I, and Emergency Vehicle Operator I, II, & III.

It is my honor to include in the Record the following names of the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue recruit class graduates: Nicholas A. Beede, Ashford P. Bembry, Mollie L. Bodmer, Dominic J. Clarke, William B. Cornwell, Brent A. Corrinne, Pierre L. D'Elia, Sean K. Denise, Andrew R. Denner, Kevin W. Fagga, Ian E. Franklin, Matthew K. Harris, Talia B. Hedley, Aaron M. Kearns, Joshua J. Labuhn, Michael D. Lamb Jr., Zachery E. Lloyd, Tobi A. Olafisoye, Alexander J. Otto, Jeffery R. Payne, Rachel K. Payne, Kimberly C. Peele, Logan J. Penry, Lawrence J. Price, Brandon S. Rice, Lindsay E. Savat, Matthew G. Truslow, Juliana C. Veloso, Jacob W. Vetter, Randy L. Williams, Brian T. Zimmerman.

As the newest members of the Department of Fire and Rescue, these graduates join the department as integral parts of the emergency response and community safety team.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the newest members of the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue. I am confident that recruit class 2018-02 will serve the residents of Prince William County with honor and distinction. In the tradition of their new firefighting family, I say: ``Stay safe.''

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Paul Recklau on the occasion of his retirement from the General Services Administration following a 40-year career in the federal government. I thank him for his life-long dedication to public service and to our country.

Paul Recklau was born and raised in Feasterville, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1978 with a degree in Accounting. He began his career in civil service in January of 1979 in a 16-month training program at the Savannah Army Depot in Illinois. Paul trained to be a QUASAS, a Quality Assurance Specialist, Ammunition Surveillance, which is the oldest career program in the Department of Army. Paul then got his

first duty assignment at the Pueblo Army Depot in Colorado continuing to gain experience as an ammunition inspector and an explosives safety expert. After serving a couple of years there, he received his second assignment at the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant in Texas. He was then transferred to Longhorn Ammunition Plant in Karnack, Texas to act as a GS-11 level QUASAS.

Paul then spent 6 years at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in Kansas, south of De Soto. In 1988, only 9 years into his career, he was promoted to a GS-12 and acted as Chief of Quality Assurance at the plant. In 1990, he moved into a new role as an Industrial Specialist for the Defense Logistics Agency in Columbus, Ohio. For 9 months, Paul commuted to Dayton, Ohio and performed his duties at the Defense Electronic Supply Center. Upon returning to Columbus he became a Contract Specialist. In 1999, he was promoted to a GS-13 as an Acquisition Specialist for the Military Traffic Management Command in Northern Virginia. Then, Paul started at the General Services Administration in 2002 working for the Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM) as an IT Specialist. Approximately 2 years later he was promoted to a GS-14 Senior Project Manager. After 10 years at FEDSIM, Paul moved to the Office of Strategy Management within GSA and finally in 2014, ended up in the Office of General Supplies and Services as a Program Analyst where he ended his career on March 1, 2019. Throughout his career, Paul successfully worked with other federal employees as well as outside contractors to complete projects and keep day to day processes running smoothly. Civil servants like Paul are vital to the continuous operation of the government and I am grateful to Paul for spending the entirety of his career in service to our country.

Paul resides in Woodbridge, Virginia with his wife, Maureen, who has been a reading tutor at a local Prince William County public elementary school for 15 years. Their daughter, Jean Recklau, is a junior at the University of Virginia studying Public Policy. In retirement, Paul plans to travel and complete home improvement projects around the house. In addition, he will continue to serve on his local homeowner's association board of which he has been a member for 18 years, including 4 years as president.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating my constituent, Paul Recklau on his retirement and in wishing him all the best in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize my dear friend, Supervisor John D. Jenkins, who passed away on February 6, 2019. John was the longest serving incumbent supervisor in Prince William County, proudly serving as the Neabsco Supervisor for 36 years. In 2009, I entered a tribute to John Jenkins into the United States Congressional Record in recognition of his dedication to the community and his work with the Boy Scouts of America. I am sad to do it again under these circumstances, but honored to do so for a great man and the legacy he is leaving behind.

John Jenkins dedicated his life to public service. John served honorably and with distinction in the United States Army for more than 25 years, including two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was highly decorated, earning a National Defense Service Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Clusters. He retired from the Army in December, 1980, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1973, John moved to Dale City with his beloved wife, Ernestine. Although he was still serving in the U.S. Army, he immediately became involved in the community by joining the Dale City Civic Association. John and Ernestine also mentored area youth. They were involved in the Dale City Little League, Dale City Sports Club, Boy Scouts of America, and Gar-Field Senior High School Athletic Boosters Club. John also devoted countless hours to assisting veterans through his leadership in several veteran service organizations.

In 1982, two years after his retirement from the U.S. Army, John was appointed to the Board of County Supervisors to fill the Neabsco District seat which was vacated by James McCoart. While serving the constituents of the Neabsco District was always John's primary objective, he was also able to effect change and shape progress for all of Prince William County. He advocated successfully for the construction of the Dale City Recreation Center, the McCoart Administration Center, Pfitzner Stadium, the county's Boys' and Girls' Home, the Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center, Chinn Park Regional Library, and many more major civic investments including numerous schools, public safety facilities, and senior centers. John worked tirelessly to improve our local schools and the quality of public education. He was a champion of economic and infrastructure development in the county.

But what everyone loved most about John was his care for all people. Regardless of sex, race, or creed, John supported all rights. As a life-long civil and human rights supporter, John asked the board to initiate a local investigation of a Dale City restaurant for refusal of service based on race. Then just last year in 2018, John supported a vote on the board to make June ``LGBTQ and More Pride Month.'' Throughout his tenure, John worked for the people of Prince William County, making sure their next day was better than the last. Through the past four decades John was both elected and appointed to several distinguished committee seats. John served two terms as Vice Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors as well as two terms as Chairman of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, State President of the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions, State President of the Virginia Association of Counties, Chairman of the Virginia Railway Express Operations Board, and Chairman of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission.

John served as a member of the Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board and was appointed by two governors, Governor Mark Warner and Governor Tim Kaine, to serve as a member of the Virginia Geographical Information Network (VGIN) Advisory Board. In addition, John served on numerous boards and steering committees, including the Virginia Municipal League, the Virginia Association of Counties, and the National Association of Counties, and represented the Board of County Supervisors on the Quantico Marine Corps and Fort Belvoir Base Realignment and Closing (BRAC) advisory committees.

John received numerous awards in recognition of his life-long commitment to service including the Robert W. Baker Award and the Blue Victory Award. In addition, in 2015 the Virginia Railway Express honored him for his key role in establishing a commuter rail service by having his name placed on the front of a VRE locomotive. Gar-Field High School also honored John for his support of athletic and academic programs as a booster club president, parent, and county supervisor.

John is survived by his wife Ernestine who is also a dedicated community activist as well as a former public school employee, who worked in Prince William County Public Schools for 30 years as a teacher's assistant and staff member. Ernestine has been John's rock for more than six decades. She was just as involved in John's public service as anyone. John is also survived by his three sons, Warren, Mark, and Gordon and numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, Prince William County and the entire northern Virginia region has lost a great leader, mentor, public servant, and icon. John Jenkins' life was one spent in service to his country and his community. He could and would move heaven and earth for his constituents. John knew your name, he knew your kids' names, he probably even knew your grandkids' names. He cared about people and made sure they knew it. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the memory and honorable service of Supervisor John D. Jenkins. He was my dear friend, mentor, a colleague, and his absence will create a void in Northern Virginia that will be impossible to fill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 136th anniversary of Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Ebenezer Baptist Church was founded by Reverend Lewis Henry Bailey. After being separated from his family in Alexandria, Virginia, Lewis Henry Bailey was sold into slavery and was enslaved in Texas throughout his youth and early adulthood. Once Bailey was freed, he walked from Texas to Virginia to rejoin his family. He found employment with a railroad company and later graduated from Wayland College. In 1882, he was ordained as an itinerant minister at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Alexandria. With aspirations of sharing the Gospel with residents of the Town of Occoquan, Reverend Bailey walked to and from the town to hold religious services for the black members of the community. In appreciation of his tireless efforts, white members of

the community provided land for a church and a place for Reverend Bailey to live. The Clerk of the Court for Prince William County approved the deed on March 8, 1883, and Ebenezer Baptist Church celebrates its anniversary on the first Sunday of March in recognition of this momentous occasion.

Bailey started the New School in Occoquan, serving as a precursor to the establishment of the New School Baptist Church, which later became Ebenezer Baptist Church. The cornerstone of the church was laid on the first Sunday in May 1883 and the building was dedicated in 1885. Reverend Bailey, who had long been the inspiration and driving force for the establishment of this church, led the congregation from 1885- 1891.

The church has endured setbacks and faced community challenges during its 136 year history. After the original church structure burned to the ground in 1923, Ebenezer Baptist Church was rebuilt in 1924 where it remains today in the same historical site. The church was also instrumental in the integration of the county's public schools in the 1960s, as well as several other Civil Rights accomplishments. I was honored to include the oral histories of three members of Ebenezer Baptist Church in my Northern Virginia Civil Rights Archive project.

Throughout its history, Ebenezer Baptist Church has been led by pastors who have served the church and the congregation faithfully. Their most recent pastor, Reverend Charles A. Lundy, was called to the pulpit to lead the church and has done so righteously since June 23, 1990. Under Reverend Lundy's leadership, Ebenezer Baptist Church has flourished and its membership has expanded from 120 members to more than 800 today. To accommodate this growing church family, weekly worship at Ebenezer Baptist Church has been relocated to Telegraph Road. Ebenezer Baptist Church has been and remains a monumental, historical, and spiritual structure in our community.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the 136th anniversary of Ebenezer Baptist Church and in thanking the church and congregation for their contributions to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of George William ``Billy'' Ellis, .former Chief of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Ellis recently passed away at the age of 81 following a brief illness, surrounded by his friends and loved ones.

My congressional district includes the town of Vienna, Virginia, a vibrant and active community of 16,000 residents. In 2013, Money Magazine ranked it the third best place to live in the nation. If you were to ask the residents of Vienna, they would unanimously say that it should have taken first place.

There are many reasons why residents of Vienna take such pride in their town-the annual town festivals and concerts, the incredible Vienna Youth sports program, the outstanding schools and services, and even a local restaurant that serves the best chili dogs. Perhaps the most important reasons are the community spirit that is so prevalent, and the willingness of the residents to work together for the betterment of all. This of course includes the men and women who protect the town as members of law enforcement and the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.

Chief Ellis joined the Vienna Volunteer Department at the age of 18. For more than 50 years, he epitomized the spirit of volunteerism, devoting his time and energy to serving his community. In 1980, he became the chief of the department, a position he held until 2001 when he and his wife, Joan, decided to move to Culpepper County where he lived up until his passing. But even a move to a quieter community couldn't keep Chief Ellis away from a fire station. Following the move, he quickly joined the Salem Volunteer Fire Department and spent many more years driving apparatus to emergencies. Serving others was in his