Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna on the occasion of their 20th anniversary. I also wish to thank them for their many contributions to the Northern Virginia community. Organized in 1997, the Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCOV) is a non-profit that provides services to help older adults continue living independently, and it offers programs that supply opportunities for enrichment, learning, and socialization.

Every year, approximately 200 volunteers provide invaluable services in support of older residents who want to age in place in their homes and stay engaged in social activities. Services are available free of charge to anyone age 50 or older who resides in the local community.

Last year, volunteers provided 9,922 hours of service to the Northern Virginia community. Volunteer drivers provided more than 900 round-trip rides for medical reasons and other errands. Volunteers also made regular contact with individuals who may have limited interaction and may feel isolated in their homes. ``Handy Helpers'' made minor home repairs to help older adults keep their homes safe and livable.

The Health Team provided individual health counseling, referral to community resources, and blood pressure readings. Volunteers also run programs such as Lunch n' Life, Adventures in Learning, trips and outings, special events, and caregivers' support groups. In 2014, SCOV was recognized for these efforts as an Outstanding Volunteer Caregiving Program by the National Volunteer Caregiving Network.

The services and programs offered by this extraordinary organization help to ensure that our seniors stay connected to the community through the promotion of active lifestyles, ongoing social integration, and availability of resources for older residents to use and share their experience, training, and skills.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna on its 20th anniversary and for its work to enable older adults in our community to age in place and enjoy their golden years with dignity and independence. I thank the many volunteers who generously dedicate their time and efforts to the welfare of our neighbors. The value of their contributions cannot be overstated and are truly deserving of our highest praise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the recipients of the annual Best of Braddock Awards. These awards are the result of collaboration between the Braddock District Council and Braddock District Supervisor and are presented to individuals and organizations whose extraordinary efforts make our community a better place.

I have been proud to represent this community since my days as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The level of civic engagement celebrated by these awards is a testament to the community spirit of the Braddock District. I have often said that civic engagement is a key indicator of a healthy community and tonight's event proves that Braddock District continues to be one of the healthiest communities in all of Northern Virginia. That is due in no small part to the actions of those honored here this evening. I extend my congratulations to all of tonight's honorees and commend them for their efforts on behalf of others and in making our community one of the best places in the country in which to live, work and raise a family.

It is my honor to include in the Record the following recipients of the 2018 Best of Braddock Awards:

Marilynn Sitts--Olde Forge/Surrey Square Civic Association, Hospitality Chairperson

Donna Fricas--Olde Forge/Surrey Square Civic Association, Little Free Library Project Coordinator

Sarah Lennon--Kings Park West Civic Association, Parks and Lake Chairperson, Leader of the Road Raiders Cleanup Team

Cathy DeLoach and Mary Hovland--Long and Foster Mary and Cathy Team, Kings Park West Tour of Homes Coordinators

Judy Nitsche--Friends of Kings Park Library, Book Sale Chair

Evan Braff and Paul Woods--Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services, Neighborhood College Coordinators

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 2018 Best of Braddock honorees for their tremendous contributions to Fairfax County and Northern Virginia. I thank them for their service to our community and wish them great success in all their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Jeffrey C. ``Jeff'' Greenfield and to congratulate him on his recent retirement following 29 years of dedicated public service, including 24 years as an elected representative on the Fairfax City Council.

Jeff grew up in Fairfax City. He graduated from Fairfax High School, and earned both his Bachelor of Arts in political science and Master of Public Administration degrees at our very own George Mason University. He began his career in public service in 1989 when he was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Five years later, Jeff was elected to the City Council, a position that he was re-elected to twelve times. By his own estimates, he has attended more than 850 City Council meetings and countless committee, neighborhood, and regional meetings.

My own start in public service came as President of my local citizens association followed by 14 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the last 5 as Chair. My term taught me many things, but one of the enduring lessons I learned is that local government is truly where the rubber meets the road. It is the local governments that are often tasked with rolling up their sleeves and getting the problem solved. Partisan identification is irrelevant. One of the uniquely rewarding aspects of local government is the ability to leave a physical legacy in your community. Whether it be a crosswalk that you had installed, a traffic calming measure or perhaps even a new building, you can truly say that you made a difference in your community.

In addition to serving on the Fairfax City Council, Jeff has also served as a member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments as well as its Policy and Human Service and Public Safety Committees. In each of these roles, he has worked to improve the lives of the residents of Fairfax City and Northern Virginia.

Mr. Speaker, this region is blessed to have a tremendous well of civic engagement and community spirit present. That spirit is reflected in the service of citizens and elected representatives like Jeff Greenfield. Although he may be retired from the City Council, I am confident that he will continue to be involved in those issues that are important to him and his family. I thank him for his service to our community and thank his wife Lisa and daughter Alexandra for the sacrifices they have made. I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Jeff and his family and in wishing them continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recipients of the 2018 Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William Inc. awards. Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William Inc. (LVA-PW) is a local non-profit organization that has served Prince William County for more than 25 years. Its mission is to improve lives through adult literacy. It trains local volunteers to become tutors then pairs them with adults seeking to improve their literacy or English language skills. LVA-PW offers a range of literacy services including GED classes, computer literacy, citizenship preparedness, English as a second language classes, and more.

Every year LVA-PW hosts an annual meeting and award presentation to honor and share in the achievements of its adult learners and volunteers. I am proud to include in the Record the names of the following LVA-PW award recipients:

Student of the Year: Bismark Osei. Bismark came to the U.S. from Ghana two years ago. He is a devoted and hardworking family man who came to LVA-PW seeking to better his life and further his education through earning a GED certificate. He joined LVA-PW's GED program one year ago and started taking three classes a week while also working full-time as a security guard. By August 7, 2018, through hard work and perseverance, he earned his GED certificate after only 10 months in the program. He plans to continue furthering his education and career goals by enrolling in college.

Tutor of the Year: Eduardo Lopez. Eduardo has been a volunteer with LVA-PW for more than two years. He serves as both a GED math tutor and basic computer literacy tutor. Since beginning at LVA-PW, he has provided over 350 volunteer hours while also working full-time. His passion, patience and encouragement inspires his students. This year alone, he has helped two students prepare for and pass the GED test. Eduardo is a living example of the impact that a single individual can have on a community.

Patti J. Beattie Volunteer of the Year: Martha Kobliska. Martha has been a volunteer with LVA-PW for more than 11 years. She serves as a tutor, fundraiser, and tutor trainer. As part of the tutor training team, she provides professional level training and certifications to all new tutors. This year alone, she has volunteered in excess of 325 hours to LVA-PW. Martha demonstrates her compassion and commitment to helping others through her positive spirit and willingness to serve whenever called upon.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating each of the LVA-PW award recipients and to thank them for their contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Lance and Karla Morrell on the occasion of their Golden Anniversary. I have had the great pleasure of personally knowing Lance and Karla for many years and consider them not only neighbors but wonderful friends. I can personally attest to their dedication to their family and community.

Lance Morrell and Karla Jane Brownmiller met as students at the University of Richmond. While attending the University of Richmond, Karla was Phi Beta Kappa and Lance was the senior class president. They married in Arlington, VA in 1968 and began their life journey together.

Lance served honorably in the United States Army and Army Reserves for more than 20 years, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. After his discharge he worked for 22 years with the World Bank where he managed projects to reduce poverty, provide clean water, and strengthen democratic governance in Southeast Asia and Africa. Lance spent years toiling in some of the poorest parts of Africa to help those most in need of assistance and Karla often travelled with him. He then founded FEI Consulting which allowed him to continue his efforts to improve living standards in the developing world.

Karla focused her attention on the family, especially their three sons. She and Lance have always been very involved in their children's education and activities. She was an active member of countless PTA's and volunteered at the snack bar at school sporting events for more than 15 years. Now, as a grandmother of five, most of her days are spent watching at least one of her grandchildren--a job that Karla adores.

Lance and Karla moved to Mantua in 1977 and immediately plunged themselves into local community activities. In fact, Karla and I served together on the Mantua Citizens Association for a number of years.

She was an irreplaceable ally during the period following a massive underground oil spill from a nearby tank farm into the neighborhood. Karla and I, along with many of our neighbors, coordinated efforts between the community, local, state, and federal agencies, and the tank farm owners. Our efforts ensured that the clean-up was done effectively, that the tank farm owners made necessary safety improvements and that they were held responsible for the damage done.

I had the great pleasure of working with Lance and Karla, along with other Northern Virginia neighbors, in the founding of the Cradle of Love Foundation. This Foundation, which operated from 2004 to 2008, was established to help provide financial support for an orphanage in the Philippines.

I often encourage people to ``bloom where you are planted.'' This phrase, attributed to the Bishop of Geneva, Saint Francis de Sales, can mean different things to different people. To me it means that you should get involved in your community and take advantage of the opportunities to contribute that surround you. Whether it is volunteering, entering public service, coaching a youth sports team, or planting a tree, each of us has the ability and the responsibility to get involved. Lance and Karla Morrell are living examples of this philosophy in action.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Lance and Karla Morrell on their 50th wedding anniversary and in thanking them for their many efforts to improve our community and the lives of others. I wish

Lance, Karla, and their entire family continued success, health and happiness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Robert ``Bob'' Sisson on his retirement. Since 1991, Bob Sisson has served as the City Manager for the City of Fairfax. This has given him the distinction of being one of the longest-serving local government administrators in the D.C. region.

Bob began his career in local government in 1974 as an administrative assistant to the city manager of Overland Park, Oklahoma. He would go on to be assistant city manager in two additional communities in Oklahoma, Norman and Stillwater, before becoming the city manager of Grandview, Missouri, a suburban community of 28,000 located in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Bob served as Grandview city manager for four years before being selected in a nationwide search to take the helm of the City of Fairfax.

Under Bob's leadership, the City of Fairfax has received numerous accolades, including being consistently ranked among the Top 10 places in the country in which to live, reaching as high as No. 3 in Forbes Magazine in 2009. Most recently, U.S. News and World Report rated the City of Fairfax the sixth-healthiest community in the nation. Criteria for this rating included such categories as residents' income, education, life span, access to critical services and proximity to parks.

I was proud to work with Bob on many major projects in the region, including the construction of the City of Fairfax Regional Library and the relocation of the Lamb Center for homeless individuals. As someone who also began their public service career in local government, I have always held a special appreciation for those who choose to dedicate their life to public service at the local level. I have often said that local government is where the rubber meets the road: accountability is absolute and everyone knows where you live and has your phone number. At the local level, the citizens we serve aren't concerned with political ideologies or scoring points for your respective party. They expect you to deliver concrete results and will hold you to account should you fail to do so. The pothole was either fixed or it wasn't-- and if it wasn't, the community will know who didn't get the job done.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Bob Sisson on his retirement and in thanking him for his many decades of service to his communities, both in Northern Virginia and throughout the United States. Though he may be officially retiring from public service, I have no doubt that he will continue to stay involved on the issues that are important to him. I wish him all of the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 50th anniversary of Tysons Corner Center and to celebrate the opening of a new art exhibit which will showcase the journey this location has experienced over the last half-century. Truly, no area in the 11th Congressional District or in the Commonwealth of Virginia has had a more transformative impact on the regional or statewide economy than Tysons.

In the 1950's, Tysons Corner consisted of a single intersection and was surrounded by a few small stores and a fruit stand operated by William Tyson, for whom the area is named. It was a rural area; in fact, Fairfax County was considered the dairy capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. However, this bucolic life was soon to be transformed when in 1962, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the construction of a new shopping center originally called Tysons Corner Shopping Center. At the time of its opening, Tysons Corner Center was the largest enclosed mall in the world, and to this day, remains the largest shopping mall in Virginia and in the Baltimore-Washington area. Today, Tysons Corner Center is one of the 10 largest malls in the United States and consists of more than 2.1 million square feet, 16 movie screens, and more than 300 retail stores, eateries, and restaurants. Even the most optimistic among us could not have foreseen what that decision would bring to Tysons, to Fairfax County and to Northern Virginia as a whole. It was the beginning of Tysons' transformation into the thriving urban center that it is today. Tysons has grown to become the economic engine of Fairfax County and by extension, of the entire state.

This transformation continues through to today and will continue for decades into the future. Following the success of Tysons Corner Center, the area surrounding the mall began attracting large businesses and employers. Sadly, the infrastructure and overall planning to manage this unprecedented growth lagged far behind. In 2011, there were 105,000 jobs in Tysons, but only 17,000 residents.

Recognizing the tremendous growth that was underway and the challenges it created, I convened a task force as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to develop a plan to harness that transformative energy and direct it towards the creation of a new, transit-oriented development and thriving urban community. The Comprehensive Plan that we developed calls for 200,000 jobs and 100,000 permanent residents and a key element of this plan was the creation of the Silver Line, which would finally deliver a permanent rail link between our area's major international airport and downtown Washington, D.C. Phase 1 of this project was completed in 2014 and the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the new Metro station for Tysons Corner Center.

Another focus of the Tysons plan, in addition to encouraging transit-oriented development, was a renewed focus on public art in this urban space. I am therefore very pleased that Tysons Corner Center has elected to install an art exhibit featuring local artists to celebrate this golden anniversary. The work begun by Tysons Corner Center fifty years ago continues to this day and I trust that this location will remain a fixture of Fairfax County and of Northern Virginia for another half-century.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in once again congratulating Tysons Corner Center on its 50th anniversary and in extending my thanks to those visionaries, developers, planners, and their partners in the public and private sectors who have worked so diligently to make the success of the last fifty years possible. I also wish to thank the Macerich Corporation and the Lerner Group, who have been steadfast and invaluable partners throughout the development process. I thank them for their immense contributions to our community and wish them continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Burke Centre Conservancy Board of Trustees on the occasion of their 500th meeting. Incorporated in June 1976, the Burke Centre Conservancy manages this planned community of 5,862 residences divided into five neighborhoods of 65 clusters. All told, Burke Centre sits on approximately 1,700 acres and includes more than 30 miles of paths, 6 ponds and one lake, 6 community centers, 5 pools, tennis courts, and a baseball field. There is truly something for everyone at Burke Centre. I always look forward to attending the premier Burke Centre event--the annual Burke Centre Festival--which is hosted by the Conservancy and celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.

The history of Burke Centre can be traced back to the 1700's. It has fallen to the leadership of the Board of Trustees to balance this rich history with the development of a thriving community, always taking into consideration environmental preservation and enhanced amenities for Burke Centre residents. As someone who got his start in public service as president of a local civic association, I can attest to the importance of getting involved and also to the responsibility that is borne by the association's leadership to guide the community and ensure that all decisions are in the best interest of those affected and the community as a whole. I commend the Burke Centre Conservancy Board of Trustees for carrying out their mission with integrity and transparency.

I am honored to include in the Record the names of the Executive Director of the Burke Centre Conservancy and the members of the Board of Trustees who will preside over this historic meeting:

Conservancy Executive Director: Patrick Gloyd; President: Marc Flaster (Commons Trustee); Vice-President: Brian Engler (At-Large Trustee); Secretary: Lee Schmidt (Ponds Trustee); Treasurer: Brenda Trask (Woods Trustee); John Mills-Hearne (Landings Trustee); Karen Anthony (Oaks Trustee); Phil Pool (At-Large Trustee).

In Fairfax County and in Northern Virginia as a whole, we are fortunate to have a strong tradition of civic engagement. The membership of the Burke Centre Conservancy Board of Trustees is a shining example of that tradition. They are also proof that this tradition is especially strong in Burke Centre.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Burke Centre Conservancy Board of Trustees for their ongoing dedication to the betterment of their community. This milestone being celebrated is a direct result of that dedication and I have no doubt that this commitment will continue. I thank them for their service to their community and wish them and Burke Centre continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Westminster at Lake Ridge on its 25th anniversary and to commend the staff, residents, and volunteers for their commitment to the community and their dedication to the well-being of all who call Westminster home.

Although we are celebrating Westminster at Lake Ridge's Silver Anniversary, the origins of this exceptional community date back more than 40 years to 1977, when the late Myles Golbranson began his efforts to establish a Presbyterian-sponsored life-care retirement community in Northern Virginia. For the next 8 years, he led an Ad Hoc Committee to assist with exploring options. In 1985, it appeared that the unwavering efforts to establish a retirement community were within reach when Mr. S. Parker Oliphant offered to donate a 37-acre parcel of land located in Centreville, VA. Project design and site-analysis began, as did fundraising efforts for pre-construction expenses. In 1988, the project was suddenly derailed due to water management and zoning complications. Later that year, an alternate 62-acre site was identified in Lake Ridge, VA. In 1993, Westminster at Lake Ridge opened its doors, finally fulfilling Myles Golbranson's dream.

In the last 25 years, Westminster at Lake Ridge has grown significantly and is now home to approximately 400 residents. Amenities and services are available to suit the interests of the residents-- whether it is joining a book club, participating in fitness classes, fishing in one of the two ponds, or strolling through the wooded trails to the Occoquan River. Residents are also actively engaged in the community--volunteering with local schools, hospitals, and at civic and cultural events. The Flying Fingers, a group of residents who knit and crochet items, has created countless articles of clothing and blankets for many charities including Ellie's Hats, which provides the handmade caps to children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy treatments.

The activities, amenities and health services provided by Westminster at Lake Ridge are guided by its mission: to provide a continuum of care to older adults that fosters independence, dignity, and self-determination. These core values have been central to every expansion of activities and health care services including the Memory Support Neighborhoods for those who suffer from Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. To ensure the safety of those suffering from debilitating memory issues, Westminster at Lake Ridge has partnered with the Prince William County Sheriff's Office on Project Lifesaver--a GPS program that can instantly locate a participating resident who may have wandered into an unsafe environment.

In 2015, in recognition of its exceptional care and opportunities for older adults, Westminster at Lake Ridge was fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities--Continuing Care Accrediting Commission (CARF-CCAC.) In the United States, fewer than 10 percent of all continuing care retirement communities have received this accreditation, which is granted only after successfully completing an in-depth, multi-day audit by CARF-CCAC. In addition, Westminster at Lake Ridge has received the highest rating possible, a 5-star overall rating from Medicare.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to represent this extraordinary facility. Westminster at Lake Ridge provides an exceptional quality of life for active retirees, as well as more intensive compassionate care when needed. I thank the staff and volunteers for their dedication to their mission and commend them as well as the hundreds of residents for their service. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Westminster at Lake Ridge on its 25th anniversary and in wishing all who live and work in this vibrant community continued success.

Mr. Speaker, l rise to recognize the recipients of the 3rd Annual Distinguished Service Awards and to commend the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce for continuing to sponsor these awards. Celebrating the achievements of our veterans is important because our veterans in Northern Virginia and throughout our country have sacrificed so much for our community and our nation. It is our duty to support those who have served in uniform and to honor and uphold the

sacred agreement between our society and our veterans. I am honored to include in the Record the following names of the 2018 Distinguished Service award recipients:

Veteran Business Mentorship Award: Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture: Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture demonstrates the importance of creating more equitable and sustainable local food systems for our community. Since 2010, Arcadia has provided underserved communities with access to healthy, affordable food regardless of where they live or how much they earn. In particular I would like to commend the Veteran's Farmer Program which gives our nation's heroes the opportunity to seek meaningful careers after they complete their service. With their Veteran Farmer Reserve Program, the Fellowship Program, and Veteran Farmer Land Access, Arcadia not only supports our nation's veterans but also reinvigorates the farm sector with skilled new growers, eager to begin their next phase in life.

Meritorious Veteran Owned Business (Emerging): Honor Brewing Company: Honor Brewing Company commits itself to honoring our nation's heroes accompanied with the simple enjoyment of fine craft beer. Along with their wonderful selection such as Honor Warrior IPA, Cherry Wheat, and the Maple Porter, Honor Brewing Company is committed to giving back to our veterans, those who have been wounded, and their families not only financially but with their personal time as well. Their belief of listening and honoring the stories of our nation's heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice stands as evidence of their commitment to America's finest.

Meritorious Veteran Owned Business (Established): ThunderCat Technology: ThunderCat Technology provides federal and commercial customers with strategies for data storage, networking and security applications. With their vision of being a premier trusted provider of Information Technology products, along with their special approach of evaluating consumers specific and unique needs, ThunderCat Technology is a confirmation that veteran owned businesses are trusted sources of quality service. ThunderCat Technology's steadfast involvement in philanthropic organizations that support both wounded warriors and other veteran owned small businesses speaks volumes of their commitment to our community's veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking these incredible organizations and in congratulating them on being honored as a 2018 Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award recipient. Civic engagement is the foundation of a healthy community, and Fairfax County residents enjoy an exceptional quality of life due in part to the efforts of these individuals. The contributions and leadership of these honorees have been a great benefit to our community and truly merit our highest praise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize those members of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department who are being honored for their tremendous dedication to public safety. Every year, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department selects an officer, a firefighter and a civilian from their ranks who have gone above and beyond the call in the performance of their duties. In Fairfax County, our first responders are among the best in the country. Our Urban Search and Rescue Team is deployed constantly across the country and the world when disaster strikes, most recently to Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico in support of relief efforts after Hurricanes Harvey and Maria.

To be selected to receive special recognition, these individuals truly represent the best of the best in their respective divisions. It is my honor to include in the Record the recipients of the 2018 Firefighter of the Year Awards:

Career Officer of the Year: Deputy Chief Jason R. Jenkins

Jason R. Jenkins holds the rank of Deputy Fire Chief with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FRD), Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division. Jenkins has 25 years of paid and volunteer experience in Fire and EMS and served as the Executive Officer to the Fire Chief from 2011 through 2016. He also served in a variety of state, local and regional capacities, including plans manager for USA-1/VATF-1 Urban Search and Rescue Team, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and Federal Emergency Management Agency; appointee to Governor Ralph Northam's EMS Advisory Board; and past chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Fire Chief's EMS subcommittee.

Career Firefighter of the Year: Master Technician Joel J. Kobersteen

Joel Kobersteen has served as Fill the Boot Campaign coordinator since 2003, a role that l have been proud to collaborate with him on every year. The Fill the Boot Campaign is a partnership between the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the Greater Washington Muscular Dystrophy Association. Due in no small part to Joel's leadership, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department has held the distinction of being the number one organization in the United States and Canada for funds raised for the last three years, including the campaign just completed over Labor Day weekend 2018, where an incredible $603,676.05 was collected for research towards a cure for muscular dystrophy.

Civilian of the Year: Ms. Reena M. Thomson, Financial Specialist IV

Ms. Thomson has been assigned to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Urban Search and Rescue Team since 2011. In her role she not only manages the program office, but also manages the program's budget as well. Ms. Thomson played a critical role in the planning and execution of multiple taskings of the Urban Search and Rescue Team including: Annual Team Full Scale Exercise, Los Angeles (2017), Hurricane Harvey Texas Deployment (2017), Hurricane Irma Florida Deployment (2017), Hurricane Irma Puerto Rico Deployment (2017) and Annual Full-Scale Exercise, Fairfax (2018). The team also conducted an Administrative Review Evaluation in 2017 which resulted in VA-TF l receiving numerous Best Practices recognitions.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating this year's awardees and in thanking them for their continued service to our community. Their dedication to the safety and wellbeing of others is truly worthy of our highest praise. I wish them and all the men and women of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department great success in all their future endeavors. Stay safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Woodbridge Potomac Communities Civic Association (WPCCA).

In October 2008, civic-minded volunteers in the Woodbridge area of Prince William County, Virginia founded the WPCCA in order to develop and implement a plan to improve their community. For a decade, the civic association, its leadership, and its members have worked tirelessly on the issues of redevelopment, transportation, beautification, and land use in order to improve the quality of life of the 66,000 residents of the Woodbridge Magisterial District.

The members of the WPCCA get their hands dirty with the hard work of civic engagement. Volunteers organize clean-up efforts and maintain flower beds along Route I, host an annual Dumpster Day for area residents to dispose of unwanted belongings, and clear local creeks of trash and debris. The organization was instrumental in developing the North Woodbridge Small Area Plan with Supervisor Frank Principi, advocated for and secured underground utilities along a Route I widening project, and it is represented on the Executive Committee of the Prince William County Police Department's Citizen Advisory Board. WPCCA volunteers are engaged in every aspect of civic life in their community.

The WPCCA also hosts several annual events to celebrate and inform the citizens of Prince William County. The Woodbridge District is a majority-minority community, and the WPCCA celebrates this diversity with an annual cultural festival that includes ethnic food, music, and dance. The area is bordered by two major waterways--the Potomac and Occoquan Rivers--and the WPCCA uses its annual river boat cruise to highlight the environmental issues impacting area creeks and rivers. The annual legislative town hall hosted by WPCCA provides citizens with updates from elected officials on the most recent developments from the United States Congress, Virginia General Assembly, and the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

It is my honor to include in the Record the names of the members of the Board of Directors for the WPCCA on the occasion of its 10th anniversary:

Myma Lim Youngberg--Chair; Lynda Silverstrand--Vice Chair; Reuben Johnson--Treasurer; Maureen Parlette--Programs and Events Chair; Nader Abed--Website and Membership Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the Woodbridge Potomac Communities Civic Association and its members for the good work they do in Prince William County. Their efforts make Woodbridge a better place to live, work, and raise a family. We are all fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend from New York for her leadership. I also thank Mr. Frelinghuysen for his leadership, and I wish him well in the next chapter of his career.

While this combination of a CR and a minibus is a half-measure by definition, I certainly urge its adoption in

order to avert what would be the third government shutdown just this year. As a representative of northern Virginia, I do not share the President's idea that there is ever such a thing as a good government shutdown.

I look forward to working with the committee to complete the rest of the appropriations bills for fiscal year 2019 in order to address pressing issues, especially providing our hardworking Federal employees with a raise.

Again, I thank Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Visclosky for including in the defense appropriations bill an authorization for the Secretary of Defense in the event of a government shutdown to make military death gratuity payments to families of fallen servicemembers. I have made this a cause of mine for a number of Congresses now. I am so glad this is finally going to be enshrined in law, and I thank the Appropriations Subcommittee and full committee for their cooperation in including this provision.

I commend the committee for including this overdue provision, and I know the families of the fallen appreciate it. It was shameful that Congress would ever allow the government to shut down and allow grieving military families who made the ultimate sacrifice to go without this small, but very important, measure of the country's gratitude and recognition of their loved one's ultimate sacrifice.

Again, I thank the leadership of the committee, the subcommittee, and their staffs for providing this bipartisan bill. I certainly urge its passage and look forward to supporting it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Massachusetts for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I just say to my friend from Alabama, he wraps himself in the uniform of our brave men and women who serve this country overseas and here at home as if there is a zero-sum game here. He either chooses them or he chooses to address the threat from Russia, but he can't do both. And I say to my friend: You go to those men and women and explain to them how our President of the United States could sit next to an adversary--a thug, a killer, someone who interfered in our election--and explain to them, out fighting for their country, the Commander in Chief wouldn't do it. You explain to them how that same Commander in Chief actually opined that maybe Crimea should be given up.

What are we fighting for? What are our values?

This is relevant. We need to defeat the previous question so that we can consider a debate about the role of Russia in interfering with the most sacred thing Americans do: vote.

Our bill would sanction any foreign individual or entity found to have unlawfully meddled with a Federal election and would bar entry to this country and freeze U.S.-based assets of anyone involved in such interference.

President Trump's performance at the Helsinki Summit with Vladimir Putin underscores the need for this legislation, the very opposite of what my friend from Alabama is asserting.

Time and again, the President refuses to acknowledge the unanimous conclusion of all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies that that happened; that Russia was a threat and directly interfered with our 2016 elections.

Mr. Trump's own Director of National Intelligence, Dan Coats, recently said: ``The warning lights are blinking red again. Today, the digital infrastructure that serves this country is literally under attack.''

That is not some liberal Democrat. That is a former Republican Senator and the Republican appointee of a Republican President warning us this is a clear and imminent threat. So this is directly relevant.

Defeating the previous question will allow us to have that discussion on the floor, because we love our country and we want to have a good answer to the men and women in uniform, my friend from Alabama keeps on invoking; that America hasn't given up. We are not going to roll over and play dead to our adversaries.

We are going to candidly, on a bipartisan basis, acknowledge the threat to this country. And we are going to resist it, because we recognize their service and their willingness to put themselves on the line. Are we, is the question.

I urge the defeat of the previous question and support for the bill Mr. Engel and I have introduced to try to address this very grave subject.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, it is in the spirit of bipartisan, commonsense, and modest safeguards that I sought to offer this amendment that would protect the 2015 Federal coal ash rule.

Sadly, late last night, Acting EPA Administrator Wheeler helped cement the toxic legacy of former Administrator Pruitt's reign over the EPA by rolling back Federal coal ash standards, making this amendment moot.

I remind my colleagues that the Obama-era Federal coal ash rule was not rushed nor was it onerous. In fact, some think it didn't go far enough. After years of debate, input from community and industry stakeholders, and nearly half a million public comments, the Obama administration finalized stringent but pragmatic Federal coal ash regulations to deal with post-closure requirements, groundwater monitoring, and public reporting.

The Pruitt proposal, which was announced only 5 months ago, included very few hearings, very little outreach to the public, and last night was finalized. That is warp speed, even for the Trump administration's swamp-driven EPA antiregulation movement. So, no, the 2015 rule was not rushed; the Pruitt rule most certainly was.

I also remind my colleagues of the catastrophic 2008 Kingston, Tennessee, coal ash spill and why the Federal Government got in this business to begin with. The Kingston spill was a devastating event. The breach released 5 million cubic yards of coal ash, covering 300 acres in toxic sludge, damaging and destroying homes and property, resulting in $1.2 billion in cleanup costs, mostly borne by the public.

The lasting health consequences of that spill, some of which are still unknown, are even worse. Residents still suffer from respiratory illnesses and other side effects. Arsenic levels where the coal ash runoff was disposed of were measured at 100 times, Mr. Chairman, higher than the amount allowed under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA has already said such exposure significantly increases risk of cancers.

Earlier this year, lawyers filed suit in Federal court alleging that more than 180 members of this Superfund cleanup now face severe health effects, and 30 individuals have died from the cleanup of this toxic waste.

These coal ash spills continue to occur across the country, Mr. Chairman, including in my home State of Virginia, where a neighboring State, North Carolina, had a coal ash pond that spilled more than 39,000 tons of toxic ash and 24 million gallons of wastewater into the Dan River.

Though much of the public and media attention to this spill was focused on North Carolina's regulatory shortcomings, Virginia was exposed to the dangers of the coal ash spill. As a result, Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality secured a $2.5 million settlement against Duke Energy Carolinas, a fraction of the cost of the cleanup.

What has happened in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee can happen in any one of our communities that have or are near coal ash impoundment ponds, which is why we must protect the 2015 Federal coal ash rule. Unfortunately, that is not what happened last night.

What happened last night will weaken groundwater monitoring and cleanup requirements without considering the widespread evidence of significant groundwater contamination recently revealed by industry's own data. Already, under the 2015 rule's reporting requirements, coal ash waste sites across the country displayed evidence of contaminating groundwater. Under Pruitt's proposal, that data may not even see the light of day. We may not know. We are not going to monitor.

Surely, if there is anything we here in Congress can agree on, it is the right of all people to have access to safe drinking water. As a result of the 2015 Federal rules, States are working to close legacy coal ash impoundments and protect water. Under the new finalized agreement that modified that rule last night, that is now in jeopardy. Because of that action, we are going to have to address coal ash in a different way, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, because of that action, I will be forced to withdraw this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I withdraw my amendment.

Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time we have remaining.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment which would limit the Postal Service's ability to offer products and services on a pilot basis that could help the Postal Service find its way to financial stability.

At a time when the Postal Service is bleeding red ink, this bill takes away existing revenue and potential revenue. In fiscal year 2017, the Postal Service reported a loss of $2.7 billion, marking the 11th straight year in the red.

And just coincidentally, it got in the red because Congress, in 2006, restricted what the Postal Service could do. Well, it really worked well: 11 years of red ink, putting the Postal Service in insolvency, technically. To address the Postal Service's financial situation, the Postal Service needs financial relief, not further restrictions.

H.R. 6076, the Postal Reform Act of 2018, which I introduced with the gentleman from North Carolina, Congressman Mark Meadows, on a bipartisan basis, passed the authorizing committee unanimously, and we are hoping to take it to the floor, and that is where it belongs, in an authorization bill, not as a rider on the appropriations bill.

This bill even addresses issues raised by the gentleman from North Carolina's amendment. Under the Postal Reform Act, the Postal Service would have to limit any new nonpostal products and services to only those provided to State, local, and Tribal governments and Federal agencies. The bill would preserve existing nonpostal products and services.

However, this amendment is much more restrictive than that. This amendment includes a blanket prohibition that would prevent the Postal Service from implementing any other recommendations from a May 2015 Postal Service Inspector General Report, including improving its existing range of financial services, such as money orders.

Mr. Chairman, as the designee of Ranking Member Lowey, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chair, this amendment, as I said, includes blanket prohibitions that would prevent the Postal Service from implementing the reports and recommendations of the 2015 Postal Service Inspector General Report, including improving its existing range of financial services, such as money orders.

I might add, the assertions that have been made that there has been no congressional oversight, that is not true. My committee, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has had numerous hearings on the Postal Service, numerous briefings with the Postmaster General and her predecessor and his predecessor.

We have marked up numerous bills. We finally got one we could agree on, and it is pending. That is how this should be done--not piecemeal, not in a way that further constrains and circumscribes the Postal Service that can only lead to more red ink.

We are trying to save the Postal Service, which is mandated in the Constitution. It has a requirement for universal service that private sector firms do not. And we have allowed some pilot programs to see if they can work. They are not a threat to financial institutions.

So we are fixing a problem here that does not really exist, and we are going to do real harm to a Postal Service we have already harmed with the 2006 legislation Congress passed in a lame-duck session in the name of reform, and it backfired. It blew up, and it has done incalculable damage which we are now trying to repair to the Postal Service.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this unwarranted intrusion into the prerogatives of the authorizing committee that is doing its job and has a bipartisan bill that passed our committee unanimously, which is a remarkable statement for the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

We ought not to be legislating on an appropriations bill in this way with respect to the Postal Service. It deserves better, our consumers deserve better, Postal Service customers deserve better, and we can do better.

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