Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 247, the Federal CIO Authorization Act of 2019, introduced by my colleague, Congressman Will Hurd. I am happy to co-sponsor this bill, which the House of Representatives passed last year under suspension of the rules.

This bill rebrands the Office of Electronic Government at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and helps bring it into the 21st century by renaming it the Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer. This new name more appropriately characterizes the important role the Office plays across the federal government in coordinating federal information technology (IT) policy and providing guidance to agencies. Currently, the Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government is informally called the Federal Chief Information Officer (CIO), so it is long overdue for Congress to make this change in statute, as this bill will do. H.R. 247 will also rename the E-Government Fund, the ``Federal IT Fund'' which better describes the purpose of the account.

More importantly, this bill establishes the Federal Chief Information Security Office (CISO) within the office of the Federal CIO. The Federal CISO (pronounced SISSO) will be appointed by the president and be responsible for carrying out the cybersecurity duties of the OMB Director, including the responsibilities under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). This position was created by President Obama to address the increasing risk of cyberattacks and the need to better protect our government's data and information across the federal government. However, it was not until a year and half into the Trump Administration that the President named Grant Schneider the permanent Federal CISO. My hope is that this position will foster effective coordination of cybersecurity policy across the federal government, providing agencies with guidance to secure their IT systems and better defend against cyber-attacks.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I thank my dear friend from Maryland for his leadership. I certainly support this bill to keep our employees whole.

But I must say, when I hear the discussion and when I heard the words of our friend and colleague from Montana, I thought: ``Are we rewriting history?''

This isn't about who likes President Trump or who does not. Where is the outrage in this body? When do we finally say, ``Enough''?

We had a bill, a bipartisan bill that passed the Senate. It was ready to pass here. The White House had said they would sign it. And because four or five rightwing talking heads scared the President of the United States, he pulled the plug. Democrats didn't do that. Republicans didn't do it. He did it.

Now you are defending him, enabling him, even when he says, ``I never said Mexico would pay for the wall,'' even though we have 212 explicit references in the last 3 years in which he said precisely that. And meanwhile, because of that focus, which came out of right field, 800,000 Federal employees and all American citizens are held hostage.

When do we come together and say, ``Enough''? When do we stand up for those Federal employees who are civil servants who serve our constituents? And when do we say this shutdown threatens the security of the United States?

It is wrong, and we have had enough. So it is good that we are going to keep our Federal employees whole when the shutdown ends, but let's come together and make sure this shutdown ends, even at the risk of taking on the President of the United States politically. In the last analysis, can we not come together and do the right thing for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Illinois.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit because I think it is important we remember President Trump has always wanted a shutdown. He boasted a year and a half ago that what the government needs is a good government shutdown. There is no such thing, as we now know.

On December 11--not ancient history--he sat in the Oval Office, getting red in the face, shouting: ``I will be the one to shut it down.''

He then followed through on that promise by torpedoing a government funding agreement that passed the Senate with unanimous support.

Once again, Federal employees and Federal contracts were being held hostage by this President, all because of a broken campaign promise. He said Mexico was going to pay for his wall. Now he needs a bailout from the American taxpayer. Fortunately, the new Democratic majority in this House is going to stand up to this President and has offered a sensible plan to fund the government.

The bill that passed in the Senate is part of a four-bill package and, by a vote of 92-6, provides a 1.9 percent badly needed pay increase for all Federal employees and guarantees backpay to the Federal employees furloughed during this unnecessary Trump shutdown.

I support the underlying bill because we can and should end this Trump shutdown now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank Jackie Hurda for more than forty years of outstanding service to the United States House of Representatives in several administrative and support roles. She lives in Virginia's 11th District, and I am proud to represent her in Congress.

Jackie is retiring after working for the House of Representatives for more than four decades. Her career with the House began when she moved from Pennsylvania to the Washington, D.C. area in March 1978 to work for the Honorable Richard Taylor `` Dick'' Schulze of Pennsylvania. Jackie served as the systems administrator until Congressman Schulze's retirement in 1993. She worked in the same capacity for the Honorable Jim Kolbe of Arizona from 1993 until 2000.

In 2000, Jackie transferred to the Office of Financial Counseling under the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), where she remained until her retirement. She started as a data entry specialist, but her work ethic and eye for detail resulted in a promotion to Financial Counselor within one year. She provided financial guidance and services to House offices to help ensure their expenditures adhered to applicable rules and accounting standards. Jackie's knowledge, experience, and attentiveness made her an invaluable asset to the House of Representatives over the years. She is well respected by her coworkers and colleagues.

Jackie and her husband Gary have four children; Abby, Randy, Maggie, and Gretchen; she has two grandchildren, Jake and Emma. Her parents, Fred and Rachel Graeff recently moved from Pennsylvania to live with her in Springfield, Virginia. Jackie is also active in her church and teaches Sunday school to three-year-olds.

I congratulate Jackie, and I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking her for her distinguished service to the House and the nation it serves. I wish her and her family all the best as she begins this new chapter in her life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 2018 installation of officers for the Dale City Volunteer Fire Department. DCVFD is located in Prince William County Virginia, 25 miles from our Nation's Capital. The DCVFD goes on an average of 20,000 calls per year, aiding the 75,000 constituents in Dale City, Virginia.

Incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1967, the DCVFD serves as an organization of committed community members ensuring the safety of the families in Dale City. Funded strictly by the residents in Dale City, the Department has been able to significantly grow, opening up five stations in 50 years and having approximately 250 dedicated volunteers. From their bravery in action, to their presence with the youth in the community, DCVFD is readily available for the families of Dale City.

It is with great honor to include in the Record the names of the following Dale City Fire Department Officers:

Chief--Christopher Hool

Deputy Chief of Operations--Edgar Van Horn

Deputy Chief of Administration--James Delaverson

Deputy Chief of EMS--Barbara Brown

Assistant Chief of Training--Darrell Hudson

Assistant Chiefs--Stephen Chappell, Joseph Kerns, Michael

Spencer

Captains--Eddy Dumire, Joshua Jensen, The Honorable Jeremy

McPike, Marc Sherman, Sandra Sokol, Linda Wortham, Kimberly

Batson

Lieutenants--Thomas Borsari, Michael Cajayon, Simon

Courtman, Thomas Mazzo, Daniel Moran, Patrick Palacios,

Donovan Stewart, John Van Horn

Sergeants--Philip Anthony, Robert Best II, Andrew Kelly,

Robert Willis, Jabin Young, Stephanie DeFreitas, Bradley

Gray, Matthew Werner

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) and to congratulate the recipients of the 21st Annual Law Enforcement Awards of Excellence for Impaired Driving Prevention.

Founded in 1982, WRAP is an award-winning, public-private coalition formed to fight drunk driving, drugged driving, and underage drinking in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region. Through educational and innovative public outreach programs, WRAP is credited with keeping local alcohol-related death rates consistently below the national average. Its programs educate students and the general public on the dangers of alcohol and drugs, particularly driving while under the influence. Through the WRAP Holiday SoberRide program, individuals who are impaired can request a free cab ride home. Since SoberRide was launched in 1991, 73,123 free cab rides have been provided in the Washington Metropolitan area, preventing potential accidents and deaths.

In 1982, the year that WRAP was founded, 26,173 people in the United States lost their

lives in alcohol-related car accidents, and 60 percent of all traffic fatalities involved drunk driving. Due to the tireless efforts of WRAP, other organizations such as MADD and SADD, local and state police, and enforcement of more stringent anti-drunk driving laws, considerable progress has been made in decreasing the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities, especially here in the Washington Metropolitan Region. According to the Council of Governments, the number of alcohol- impaired fatalities, injuries, and crashes have all decreased since 2014. However, more work still remains as 28.04 percent of all traffic fatalities in the region in 2016 were alcohol or drug related.

Since 1997, WRAP has sponsored an annual Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony to honor local law enforcement professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in the fight against drunk driving. It is my honor to include in the Record the names of the 2018 Law Enforcement Awards of Excellence for Impaired Driving Prevention recipients:

Officer Joseph Winkeler, City of Alexandria Police Department; Officer Michael Mitchell, Arlington County Police Department; Officer Bryce Cooper, City of Falls Church Police Department; Patrol Officer First Class Rashid S. Roberts, Fairfax County Police Department; Officer Jonathan Heavner, Town of Herndon Police Department; Deputy Gerald Presson, Loudoun County Sheriff's Office; Trooper First Class Anthony Wallace, Maryland State Police; Officer Zachary Speck, Metropolitan Police Department; Police Officer III John P. Romack, Montgomery County Department of Police; Police Officer First Class Thomas H. Kosakowski, Prince George's County Police Department; Officer Matthew Sciabica, Prince William County Police Department; Officer Seth A. Carll, United States Capitol Police; Traffic Safety Unit, United States Park Police; and Trooper Lucie Vajglova, Virginia State Police.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the recipients of the Law Enforcement Awards of Excellence and in recognizing WRAP for its 36 years of public service. I commend the staff of WRAP under the leadership of President and CEO Kurt Erickson and Board Chairman Gary Cohen for their tireless dedication to eradicating underage drinking and drunk or drugged driving. Their efforts combined with the support of partner organizations and law enforcement agencies have saved lives and are deserving of our highest praise and gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce for its ongoing dedication to local businesses and our community and to congratulate the 2018 ``Stars Over Dulles'' Award recipients.

This year, at the 23rd Annual Stars Over Dulles Awards Luncheon, the Chamber will honor those extraordinary businesses, non-profit organizations, and citizens who have dedicated their talents and activities to enhancing our economy and our community.

As the former Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and now as a Member of Congress representing this community, I have been proud to partner with the Chamber on promoting the region's pro- business climate and celebrating the service that so many individuals and businesses provide to our community.

It is my honor to include in the Record the following recipients of the 2018 Stars Over Dulles Awards:

Arts Community Leader: Evan Hoffmann, NextStop Theatre Company; Distinguished Veteran: Ono Brewing Company; Financial Leader: Northwest Federal Credit Union; First Responder: Chief Maggie DeBoard, Herndon Police Department; Health & Wellness Leader: Meg Donnelly, Meg Donnelly, LMT; Hospitality & Tourism Leader: Westin Washington Dulles; Minority Business Leader: Mike Williams, The Growth Coach; Non-Profit Leader: Chuck Birdie, Loudoun Free Clinic; Real Estate & Development Leader: Tammy Meyer, Stonebridge Title, LLC; Small Business Leader: David Hillelsohn, DHill Financial; Technology Leader: Madhu Garlanka, Allwyn Corporation; Transportation Leader: Doug Pickford, Dulles Area Transportation Association; Workforce & Education Leader: Dr. Anthony Copeland, Westfield High School; Young Professional: Young Kim, McLean Insurance Agency, Inc.; and Eileen D Curtis Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 2018 Stars Over Dulles Award recipients and in thanking these businesses and individuals for their many contributions to our region's economic success and quality of life. Their efforts are among the many reasons why Northern Virginia remains one of the best places in the country in which to live, work, raise a family, and start a business. I congratulate the honorees on receiving these awards and wish them continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 2018 recipients of the Northern Virginia Leadership Awards presented by Leadership Fairfax, Inc. (LFI)

LFI is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to finding, training, and growing leaders in Northern Virginia whose mission is to educate, prepare, inspire, and connect leaders to serve and strengthen our community. Graduates from its programs become part of a fast-growing network of civic leaders. I've always said, ``When you walk into a crowded room, it's easy to spot the graduates of Leadership Fairfax-- they just stand out!''

Each year, LFI recognizes individuals or organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and that have made extraordinary contributions to our community. It is my honor to include in the Record the following names of the 2018 Northern Virginia Leadership Awards recipients:

The Regional Leadership Award is presented to Maggie Parker, VP, Comstock Companies, Inc. for her dedicated volunteer service and commitment to improve the quality of life of the area. She has served as Chair of Public Art Reston and has also brought her skills to other organizations in the region including Greater Reston Arts Center, ARTSFAIRFAX, Women's Center, Children's National Medical Center, and Cornerstones.

The Trustee Leadership Award is presented to Major Tyler Corey, Fairfax County Sheriffs Office. As the Division Commander for the Administrative Services Division, Major Corey not only mentors and trains new staff and collaborates with community partners on Sheriff's Office initiatives, but also finds time to commit to multiple volunteer projects, including Volunteer Fairfax and Meals on Wheels.

The Individual Leadership Award is presented to Kerrie Wilson, CEO, Cornerstones. Cornerstones serves tens of thousands of individuals, including over 4,000 families and over 6,000 children in Fairfax County. Kerrie has also served on the board of directors for the Meyer Foundation, Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Housing Alliance, and Virginia Nonprofit Leadership Council. She is co-chair of the Fairfax County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and served on the executive committee overseeing the design of the 10-Year Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness by 2018.

The Nonprofit Leadership Award is presented to HomeAid Northern Virginia (HANV) for its efforts to combat homelessness among vulnerable populations. HANV, in collaboration with its partners, has transformed an 8,900 sq. ft. house in Fairfax County into a beautifully renovated home that will provide housing for 10 formerly homeless female veterans and their children and also built a new 5,000 sq. ft. home on Youth for Tomorrow's campus to house girls between the ages of 11-17 who are experiencing homelessness, separated from their families, or survivors of sex trafficking.

The Corporate Leadership Award is presented to Custom Ink. Each year, Custom Ink hosts in-office bowling to support Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS), raising over $2,000 in just four bowling sessions. Custom Ink has also partnered with Make-A-Wish Foundation to help support chapters in the local community by participating in Wish Reveals, donating thousands of shirts for Walk-for-Wishes events and volunteering at events. The Custom Ink Fairfax Team has volunteered over 1,700 hours in 30 events and fundraisers in 2018.

The Educational Leadership Award is presented to Dr. Mary Ann Panarelli who has worked to implement police referrals to Restorative Justice Intervention in an effort to reduce student arrests and court involvement. She has also coordinated with school and county staff to plan and host various community information and training sessions that have included mental health and wellness summits and community sessions on drug and alcohol prevention and intervention.

Mr. Speaker, the contributions of these individuals and organizations are one of the reasons why Fairfax is such a sought after community in which to live and work, and this year's honorees highlight the legacy of Leadership Fairfax, Inc. in preparing our community's future leaders to address the challenges we face. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating these honorees and thanking them for their service to Northern Virginia.

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about a troubling development, which is called voter suppression, and its use as a tool in political combat today. President Trump wrote the playbook on sham claims of voter fraud, and now, sadly, my friends on the other side of the aisle are putting that playbook to use.

During the 2016 Presidential election, then candidate Trump warned that the election would be rigged. Once in office, the President then made unsubstantiated assertions that there were more than 3 million illegal votes cast in the United States, just coincidentally the margin of popular advantage his opponent, Hillary Clinton, had over him.

The President then established a so-called election integrity commission that alleged substantial evidence of voter fraud, found none, and had to be disbanded. That purportedly independent commission was headed, by the way, by Kansas Secretary of State at the time Kris Kobach, a known proponent of voter fraud conspiracy theories that then justified voter suppression on a large scale.

The President used his bully pulpit to claim that midterm ballots were massively infected and called for a halt to vote counts in legally mandated recounts in Georgia and Florida.

Here is what is really going on. When an election is too close to call, rather than encourage the democratic process to play out by counting every vote, Republicans are flipping through Trump's voter fraud playbook to sow distrust in democratic processes.

In Florida, for example, Republican Governor Rick Scott, now Senator- elect, undermined confidence in the State's own recount process by making his own unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud and filed lawsuits against and called for investigations into certain Democratic-leaning counties.

In Georgia, Secretary of State Brian Kemp refused to step down from his role overseeing his own election to be Governor of the State. Under his management, more than a half a million people were purged from voting rolls in July of 2017. That election was decided by just tens of thousands of votes. It makes a difference.

In North Carolina's Ninth Congressional District today, the State Elections Board is investigating whether a local GOP operative illegally collected absentee ballots and altered votes or never submitted them. It may yet lead to, frankly, the decertification of that election and a new special election to be called.

In Wisconsin and Michigan, the GOP-controlled, lame duck State legislatures have pushed through a series of measures that would strip the incoming Democratic Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State of key authorities and restrict access to early voting.

We have seen this before. It is part of a pattern, unfortunately, of voter suppression: purging voter rolls; difficult voter I.D. restrictions; eliminating early voting; outdated and insufficient voting machines; and long lines, especially in minority precincts.

In 2016, North Carolina closed early voting stations and, just coincidentally, reduced African American voting by 8.5 percent, clearly a dispositive difference.

Republican governors like Governor Scott of Florida have exercised their discretion to restore felon voting rights in as restrictive a manner as possible. His predecessor, Governor Charlie Crist, now our colleague, restored voting rights to 155,000 individuals in Florida in 4 years. Governor Scott averaged just 400 per year.

In Wisconsin, a strict voter I.D. law has been credited with suppressing the vote of more than 200,000 Wisconsin voters who were otherwise eligible to cast a ballot in 2016.

Could that have made a difference in the electoral vote of the State of Wisconsin?

These tactics undermine democracy. They are not worthy of the party of Lincoln, and they further erode America's trust in government.

I implore my friends on the other side of the aisle: Let's win fair or square. Let's make sure every American's vote is counted and is treated as sacred. America will be the stronger for it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize ARTSFAIRFAX (formerly the Arts Council of Fairfax County) and the recipients of its 2018 Arts Awards. These awards recognize the extraordinary contributions of those who support the arts in our community including artists and arts organizations, as well as individuals and businesses in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church. The economic benefit of that support cannot be overstated.

Each year, ARTSFAIRFAX honors a select group of individuals, companies, or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the local arts community. It is my honor to include in the Record the names of the 2018 recipients:

The 2018 Jinx Hazel Arts Award is being presented to the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation. Founded in 1987 by Dr. Claude Moore, the Foundation works to enhance educational opportunities for young people. Having given more than $62 million to organizations and programs throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Foundation is one of Virginia's largest philanthropic organizations. Its support in Fairfax County has been broad, consistent, and generative, with donations of more than $8 million to organizations and programs including: Claude Moore Colonial Farm, George Mason University's Fall for the Book festival, George Washington Teachers Institute at Mount Vernon, Lorton Arts Foundation, Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax Library Foundation, Artist-in-Education Bluemont Concert Series, the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Chamber Orchestra, Fairfax County Parks Authority, ARTSFAIRFAX, and many more.

The 2018 Arts Education Award is being presented to the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras (AYPO). Since 1964, AYPO has provided rigorous, conservatory-quality orchestra training and performance experience for thousands of gifted, young musicians from Northern Virginia. Nearly 90 percent of AYPO members live in Fairfax County and more than two-thirds are minorities. All students take part in competitive auditions and all are selected solely on their musical achievements. These ensembles are open to all youth in the region, not just AYPO members. This has allowed AYPO to serve a broader base of students within Fairfax County Public Schools. For 54 years, AYPO has helped young people develop their musical skills and an appreciation for orchestral music to provide opportunities that are rarely available in the schools.

The 2018 Arts Impact Award is being presented to the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Each year, nearly 400,000 people enjoy performances at the Filene Center, The Barns at Wolf Trap, and Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods. Wolf Trap is a cornerstone of Fairfax County's cultural fabric. Education also has long been core to Wolf Trap's mission. Though national in scope, the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts has roots in Virginia and has been partnering with Fairfax County Public Schools for more than 30 years. During the 2016-2017 school year, the Institute served more than 17,000 children, educators, and parents/caregivers across 18 counties in the Commonwealth, including Fairfax.

The 2018 Arts Philanthropy Award is being presented to Virginia McGehee Friend. Ms. Friend is an avid supporter of Washington West Film Festival, Greater Reston Arts Center, Arena Stage, Washington National Opera's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, Smithsonian Craft Show, Just Neighbors, Loudoun Hunger Relief, Mobile Hope, Canine Companions for Independence, and the National Humane Education Society. Throughout her life, Friend's tireless dedication and immense generosity to the arts in Fairfax County and across the region have served as a model for philanthropy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the recipients of the 2018 Arts Awards and in recognizing and thanking the visionaries, leaders, and supporters who help to make our Northern Virginia communities rich with cultural opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Centreville Immigration Forum on the occasion of its 4th Annual Dinner. The theme of this year's gala is ``Celebrating Our Global Community'' and will recognize the rich diversity of cultures in Northern Virginia.

Northern Virginia is blessed by its diversity. In Fairfax County, nearly 1 in 4 residents is foreign born. More than 100 languages are spoken in our schools, and we are home to more minority-owned technology firms than anywhere else in the nation. Our variety of cultures and heritages do not divide us; they make us stronger.

Three exceptional individuals will be honored during this gala who have gone above and beyond in ensuring that everyone, regardless of their country of origin, has full access to the benefits and opportunities this community and our nation provide. I am pleased to include in the Record names of the following 2018 Annual Dinner honorees:

Mr. Rodrigo Velasquez

Rodrigo is a proud product of Fairfax County Public Schools where he attended elementary, middle, and high school. Rodrigo graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 2012 and later graduated from George Mason University in 2016 with a Bachelors in Communication with a focus in Public Relations. A formerly undocumented immigrant from Bolivia, he was the President of Mason DREAMers, where he helped build the organization's ability to advocate for undocumented immigrants to have better access to higher education. He was also the first Student Support Coordinator at George Mason University, the first position of its kind in Virginia. In this position, he helped undocumented, low income, homeless, and first-generation college students find financial and social support.

Ms. Afeefa Syeed

Ms. Syeed is a cultural anthropologist who most recently served as Senior Advisor at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where she worked to develop policy, define best practices, highlight success stories, and build internal capacity and tools to

frame country strategies that reflect greater expertise in engaging in dynamic cultural contexts. She has advised the White House, National Security Council, State Department, UN Democracy Fund, World Bank and various in-country government and non-governmental institutions. Afeefa also founded and is the current Head of School for Al Fatih Academy, a Reston, VA independent school whose core curriculum is peace education and civic engagement.

Mr. Ilryong Moon

Born in Seoul, Korea in 1957, Mr. Moon immigrated to the United States in 1974. He quickly became involved in his local community, primarily through his service on the Fairfax County School Board, to which he was elected in 1995. He has served in a variety. of capacities on the School Board, as an At-Large Member, Braddock District Representative, Vice-Chairman and Chairman. In addition to his service on the School Board, he has also served on the Urban Policy Task Force, Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, the Police Chiefs Diversity Task Force and the Virginia State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.

Mr. Speaker, the efforts of these individuals are noteworthy not only because they are rooted in an appreciation for our region's cultural and ethnic diversity, but also because they help to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation in our community. I congratulate them on their awards and ask my colleagues to join me in commending them for their service to the Northern Virginia region

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 39th anniversary of Catholics for Housing, Incorporated and to congratulate the 2018 Father Gerard Creedon Housing Award recipients.

Founded in response to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Letter entitled, ``The Right to a Decent Home,'' Catholics for Housing, Incorporated was established in 1979 under the tireless leadership of Father Gerard Creedon and sustained by a dedicated group of community members who work to expand affordable housing options and prevent homelessness.

Now in its 39th year, Catholics for Housing has grown substantially in both clientele and

breadth of mission. Since its inception, the organization has expanded to provide assistance in 21 counties within the vicinity of the Arlington Catholic Diocese. It has adapted over the years with new goals and a renewed vision, while remaining true to its core mission of collaborating with others to support the development, construction, and rehabilitation of affordable housing. Catholics for Housing projects include affordable housing initiatives, affordable rental housing, senior citizen rental assistance, security deposit assistance, and collaborative education and advocacy efforts.

Catholics for Housing is sustained through the dedication and generosity of its board, staff, volunteers, and many community partners.

It is my honor to include in the Record the following Catholics for Housing partners for sustaining the vision established by Father Creedon and our dedicated community members. The 2018 Father Gerard Creedon Housing Award honorees are:

Mr. Robert Gibson is one of the co-founders of Catholics for Housing and is being recognized for his steadfast support of affordable housing and homelessness prevention.

Mr. Jonathan N. Francis, Esquire is being recognized for the assistance he provided to the residents of East End Mobile Home Park when they all faced eviction when the property was declared a health hazard due to ongoing sewer leaks.

The City of Manassas is being recognized for approving the sale of East End Mobil Home Park and working with Catholics for Housing as it rehabbed the water and sewer problems.

The leadership and actions taken by these honorees resulted in the preservation of affordable housing for approximately 300 residents.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 2018 Father Gerard Creedon Housing Award recipients and in commending the efforts of Catholics for Housing, who continues to work with its partners to provide needed support and assistance to many of our most vulnerable neighbors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an individual who has made an indelible mark on the Fairfax County community and the Northern Virginia region as a whole. Dr. Gerald L. Gordon, President and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, is retiring from that role after 35 years of extraordinary service. During his tenure, he has guided Fairfax County through incredible transformative changes.

When Dr. Gordon joined the EDA in 1983, Fairfax County had a population of approximately 661,000. Our commercial sector was small compared to those of our regional neighbors, with 32 million square feet of office space supporting 243,000 jobs. Fairfax County was largely a bedroom community for federal workers who commuted to Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area. Fast forward 35 years and today, the population of Fairfax County has nearly doubled to more than 1.1 million.

Fairfax County is home to a thriving commercial sector anchored in Tysons with over 117 million square feet of commercial real estate supporting over 600,000 jobs across the county. Ten Fortune 500 companies make their headquarters in Fairfax County, more than 30 states. Fairfax County has evolved from a bedroom community to the economic engine of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Dulles corridor, which stretches from Tysons to the Loudoun County line supports more tech jobs than any other region of our country outside of California. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Fairfax County at the end of September, 2018 was 2.5 percent lower than the Commonwealth of Virginia rate of 2.9 percent and more than a full percentage point lower than the national unemployment rate of 3.7 percent.

Successfully managing this explosive growth and economic expansion requires visionary leadership from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to make the necessary investments to ensure that the groundwork could be laid for the transformation that is well underway. Visionary leadership is not enough by itself however. It is also critical that the County government had a willing and able partner in Dr. Gordon and the Economic Development Authority. The benefits of the partnership that we were able to forge are still being recognized and will be for decades to come.

Dr. Gordon leaves an extensive legacy of accomplishments. These include the creation of the Emerging Business Forum to support small minority and woman-owned businesses and the successful campaign for Fairfax County to host the 1998 World Congress on Information Technology. He has also received a litany of awards, including the Virginia Business Person of the Year Award from Virginia Business Magazine in 2010, the Leadership Fairfax Northern Virginia Leadership Award in 2011 and the Jeffrey A. Finkle Organizational Leadership Award from the International Economic Development Council in 2015. Virginia Business has listed him annually as one of its 50 Most Influential Virginians since 2013. He is also a widely respected author who has written 13 books on economic development and strategic planning.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Gordon for his many decades of service to our community and congratulate him on his vast array of accomplishments. While he will be dearly missed and leaves behind sizeable shoes to fill at EDA, he will be leaving Fairfax County better positioned to face tomorrow's challenges. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him continued success and all the best in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Fairfax County History Commission on the occasion of the 14th Annual Fairfax County History Conference.

Since 1969, the Fairfax County History Commission has worked to identify, document, record and preserve the historic past of our region. Few areas in the country are as rich in history as ours. Indeed, the history of this region is the history of our country. The History Conference provides an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and to recognize our neighbors who have made significant contributions to preserving and promoting our local history. Through the dedicated efforts of the History Commission and its many volunteers, we are assured that our history will not be lost and will be available for future generations.

This year, several of these dedicated individuals are being honored for their commitment to the preservation and education of history. I am proud to include in the Record their names:

Ms. Carolyn Cornwell Miller, for her efforts in collecting, preserving, researching and maintaining the history of the rural schools of Great Falls, Virginia.

Mr. Chuck Mauro, for his extensive body of work documenting the history of Fairfax County, including numerous books, plays, lectures and an award-winning movie, ``The Battle of Chantilly (Ox Hill).''

Mr. Gregory P. Wilson, for his efforts serving our country and Fairfax County by preserving, researching and maintaining the history of this area--specifically regarding the contributions of his Quaker ancestors and the Civil War leaders they encountered.

Ms. Eloise Lorenze, for her efforts in preserving, researching and maintaining the history of the Greenway area of McLean, Virginia through commentaries, photographs and oral histories.

Dr. Patricia Farrell Donahue, for her exemplary work in preserving, researching, documenting, analyzing and presenting a complete and thorough review of the history of the Pimmit Hills area of Fairfax County.

I commend the Fairfax County History Commission for helping to ensure that the abundance of history that is available to our community will be preserved far into the future. I congratulate all of the honorees and ask my colleagues to join me in thanking each of them for the important work they do for the Northern Virginia Community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an organization that has made an incredible mark on our Northern Virginia community. Since 1988, Leadership Fairfax has dedicated itself to shaping the future leaders of tomorrow. The dedication of Leadership Fairfax to this endeavor is one that I know well; a number of my staff from my time as Providence District Supervisor and later as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors are Leadership Fairfax alumni.

Through both the Leadership Fairfax Institute and the Emerging Leaders Institute, Leadership Fairfax identifies the leaders of tomorrow and works to equip them with the knowledge, experience and skills to not only become more productive employees within their organizations, but also to become more productive members of society and their communities as well. As part of their training programs, enrollees in both LFI and ELI are given a contemporary issue facing Fairfax County to solve. These collaborations have led to invaluable insight for both the public and private sectors and have at times illuminated possible avenues for partnerships where none seemed to exist previously. Recent ELI and LFI programs have focused on increasing ethics and transparency in government, something which is called for now perhaps more than at any previous point in our history. I commend Leadership Fairfax for its continued dedication to enhancing civic life in Northern Virginia.

One of the benefits of Leadership Fairfax that I have valued the most is the ability to foster consensus on difficult issues. In Fairfax County, we can pride ourselves on having a model of civil discourse and debate when it comes to dealing with the problems of government. Even though we might have strong disagreements on an issue, we have been able to engage in these discussions without having the forum devolve into personal attacks. As the national political environment grows ever more toxic, it is even more vital that we have programs like Leadership Fairfax which remind us that the main objective of government is to solve problems, not to score political points for one party or another.

Mr. Speaker, we in Northern Virginia are blessed with an abundance of civic engagement and a belief in giving back to one's community. That abundance is something which is unique to our region, cultivated over time by the efforts of organizations like Leadership Fairfax. I want to especially thank Tim Sargeant, Karen Cleveland and all the members of the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers that have worked to continue that cultivation over the last three decades. I also extend my congratulations to all of the graduates of Leadership Fairfax, past and present, for the work you do every day in our community to make it a better place. All your efforts are truly selfless and are worthy of our highest praise. Congratulations on this momentous anniversary. I look forward to celebrating your continued contributions for many years to come.