Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a group of individuals who have made a tremendous contribution to our community. Founded thirty years ago this year, FACETS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those in our community who are suffering from the effects of poverty. This help takes many forms.

My first exposure to FACETS's work was delivering hot meals with founder Linda Wimpey, when I was the Providence District Representative to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. It was a profound experience I will never forget. Those hot meals were for individuals who were homeless. As we approached the delivery site, I remember seeing men and women emerging from the woods in business suits, ready to collect a hot meal before heading off to work. They may have been suffering from homelessness, however they still maintained their dignity. The work we were doing helped them with that.

For someone in this situation, knowing you are part of a community that cares and will give you the assistance necessary to get back on your feet, can help ease the burden of your plight. In a county as economically prosperous as Fairfax County, it can be easy to forget there are still citizens who go without the most basic necessities. Organizations like FACETS are helping to make sure the number of those citizens declines and eventually disappears.

During my tenure as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, we developed a ten-year plan to prevent and end homelessness. The efforts of FACETS and many others are why the percentage of homeless individuals in Fairfax County has declined by 47 percent since 2008.

There are very few places in the National Capital Region, and even the country, that can attest to the same kind of success.

While working to prevent and end homelessness is one of FACETS primary missions, they also contribute to the community in other critical ways. Chief among these is providing educational resources for those living with low incomes to ensure they are given the tools necessary to break the cycle of poverty. Programs for youth include academic tutoring, substance abuse prevention, self-esteem, and college or career planning. Approximately 65 percent of the youth who participated in academic tutoring made the honor roll, and in 2015, all graduating high-school seniors went on to higher forms of education. Programs for adults include computer and financial literacy, career development, and ESL. Programs like these ensure our community is working not only to address the symptoms of poverty, but also to eliminate the root causes.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my congratulations to Bob Grimmett, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Joe Fay, the Executive Director, as well as all the members of the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers who have contributed their time, energy, and resources to FACETS over the last thirty years. Your support is part of why Fairfax County remains one of the best places in the country in which to live, work, and raise a family, and I commend you all for your service to our community. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating FACETS on this tremendous anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department on its 70th anniversary, and to thank its volunteers for filling an essential role in keeping our community safe.

The Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department was founded in January 1948, and for seven decades it has provided lifesaving fire suppression and prevention, as well as emergency medical and rescue services to the residents of Burke and the surrounding communities. It also provides, houses, and maintains firefighting and emergency medical equipment, and provides opportunities for professional growth and development for the membership, as well as maintains and fosters a strong viable organization.

As one of the county's most active volunteer fire and rescue departments, the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department works in cooperation with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department to serve the community. During FY17, units from the BVFRD were dispatched 5,485 times responding to 3,722 incidents.

I am honored to recognize the entire BVFRD on this momentous anniversary, as well as the dedicated men and women who have volunteered for extra duty as officers or as members of the board of directors. It is my honor to include in the Record the names of the following individuals.

Board of Directors

Vice-President--Tonya McCreary

Secretary--Amy Gold

Treasurer--Earl Roberts

Directors--Larry Bocknek, Matthew Bryant, Kenneth Senn

Officers

Deputy Chief: Tina Godfrey, John Hudak

Captain II: Melissa Ashby, Larry Bocknek, Keith O'Connor

Lieutenant: Emily Fisher, Kevin Grottle, Shaun Kurry

Sergeant: Jennifer Babic, Peter Hamilton

Team Leader/ Asst. EMS Officer: Megan Bush

Team Leader: Paul Stracke

Asst. Staffing Officer: Caitlin Curran

Chaplain: Harry Chelpon

In addition to the men and women who have generously assumed the responsibilities of serving as an Officer or a member of the Board of Directors, the Burke Volunteer Fire Department is also presenting awards to the following individuals in recognition of their exemplary service during the last year:

Awards

Rookie of the Year: Thales Dus

Firefighter of the Year: FF Caitlin Curran

EMS Provider of the Year: EMT Blaine Ries

Officer of the Year: Captain II Melissa Ashby

Administrative Member of the Year: Charlene Murphy

Career Member of the Year: FCFRD Captain II Mike Istvan

Team Award: FCFRD Station 14 A, B, and C Shifts

Partnership Award: Kevin Grottle

Chief's and President's Award: Amy Gold

Founders Award: Tina Godfrey

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the department for an incredible seventy years of service, and in thanking all of the brave volunteers who do not hesitate to drop everything when the community calls in need of help. To all of these men and women who put themselves in harm's way to protect our residents I say: ``Stay safe.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate educators of 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 and 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 2017 National Board Certified Teachers for receiving their respective certifications and renewals: Erin Ball, Christy Beirnes, Elizabeth Bjork, Nancy Breckenridge, Dawn Breski, Angela Callaghan, Kimberly Carter, Jennifer Casey, Dina DaSilva, Cheryl Ellsmore, Diane Fernandez, Carl Hood, James Hunniford, Neta Lowe, Perpetua Magalhaes, Penny Mangus, Elizabeth McKeown, Minara Mollah, Melissa Morse, Christina Orr, Paul Johnson, Leanne Thomas.

Mr. 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.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the Second Annual Finer Womanhood Brunch hosted by the Psi Omicron Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated of Manassas, Virginia.

This year's Finer Womanhood Brunch theme is ``Blazing New Paths in Scholarship and Global Service'', intended to inspire and encourage students and teachers to strive for success in every venture, and pride in every accomplishment.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on the campus of Howard University on January 16, 1920. Its sorority members and auxiliary groups provide volunteer service and professional talent to educate the public, assist youth, fund scholarships, support organized charities, and promote legislation for civic and social change that enrich our communities.

Chartered on November 6, 2010, the Psi Omicron Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated assists the Greater Prince William area through sisterhood, scholarship, and service.

Each year, the members of the Psi Omicron Zeta Chapter, invite area residents to gather at the Hylton Performing Arts Center to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of two deserving high school seniors planning to attend institutions of higher learning. Each student will receive a scholarship for her perseverance and commitments to academic excellence. In addition, one noteworthy teacher will be bestowed the honor of ``Teacher of the Year'' for her work in and out of the classroom to shape the hearts and minds of future leaders.

I congratulate the following individuals as the 2018 Finer Womanhood Brunch honorees:

High School Scholarship Winners:

Miss Samreen Azam, Gar-Field High School

Miss Eva Kemal, Woodbridge High School

Teacher of the Year:

Mrs. Perpetua Magalhaes, Stonewall Jackson Senior High School

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the Psi Omicron Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated and in congratulating the two scholarship recipients and 2018 Teacher of the Year honoree.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Asian-American Chamber of Commerce and the recipients of the 2018 Excellence Awards.

The Asian-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) is dedicated to improving economic development opportunities for Asian Pacific American-owned businesses in the Washington, D.C. region. Northern Virginia has a robust international business community, and is home to the largest concentration of minority-owned technology firms in the nation.

The AACC and its members contribute greatly to our regional culture, as well as our economic strength and stability. In fact, Asian-American businesses generate more than 52 percent of total revenues generated by all minority owned businesses in this region. In Fairfax County, approximately 25,000 businesses are Asian-owned and generate approximately $9 billion in annual revenue, creating 54,000 jobs.

Each year, the AACC recognizes individuals, businesses, and non- profit organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the Metropolitan Washington community and economy. I am pleased to include in the Record the names of the 2018 Excellence award recipients.

Community Leader of the Year--Marianne Brackney

Public Servant of the Year--Mark Keam

Mentors of the Year--Dr. Jamie Younghee Sheen, Steven Chen

Partners of the Year--Simon Malls, 2941 Restaurant

Nonprofit of the Year--Chinese Culture and Community Service Center, Inc.; Asian-American Homeownership Counseling, Inc.

New Business of the Year--Office Evolution-Tysons Corner

Restaurant of the Year--Peking Gourmet Inn

Young Entrepreneur of the Year--Ting Shih, Timothy Hwang

Small Business of the Year--Language on Demand, Inc.; Mobomo

Company of the Year--Wedding Wire, Inc.; Subsystem Technologies, Inc.

Women-Owned Business of the Year--Cognosante, SmartGurlz

International Business of the Year--Hyundai Motor of America, Washington D.C.

Business Leader of the Year--Syngman Rhee

Chairman's Award--Stephanie Shei

President's Award--Wonhee Kang

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the recipients of the 2018 Excellence Awards and in commending the AACC for its work to support all Asian-American owned businesses throughout our region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Fairfax County NAACP and the Tinner Hill Foundation on this momentous occasion. This year we are celebrating 100 years of involvement of the NAACP in Fairfax County and the 20th Anniversary of the founding of the Tinner Hill Foundation.

In 1915, threatened by the imposition of a new ordinance that would impose segregation in Falls Church, a group of African American men led by Joseph Tinner and Edwin Bancroft Henderson organized in opposition to this threat to their community. Even though serious threats of harm or death had been made by Ku Klux Klan members against Mr. Henderson, he and the other founding members of what was then known as the Colored Citizens Protection League and what would evolve into the Fairfax Chapter of the NAACP would not be intimidated. They chose to stand to fight for their rights and those of their neighbors. Since that time, the NAACP has worked for not only the civil rights of African-Americans in Fairfax County, but for the dignity and worth of every member of our community.

I have been proud to stand with the Fairfax NAACP on these issues and have counted them as a partner throughout my career in public service. One project I am especially proud of is our work to create a Civil Rights archive to enshrine the history of our own community's efforts and struggles during that time. While the campaigns led by Dr. King in the Deep South were pivotal in the fight for equal rights, the injustices of racism and Jim Crow were not confined to those areas. African-American citizens of Fairfax County also faced discrimination and endured harsh treatment and abuse. This was at the hands of an entrenched white majority which had no plans on relinquishing the power they wanted desperately to maintain.

Yet, as Dr. King would later do, the early founders of the Fairfax NAACP carried on and prevailed in the face of what must have seemed like overwhelming odds. Our community is better now because of that victory and the ones that would follow, and it is right this history be recounted and remembered for and by future generations. More recently, the Fairfax County NAACP has focused its efforts on combating voter suppression and criminal justice reform, two issues which show despite the successes of the Civil Rights movement, much more work still remains to build a truly equal and just society. In Fairfax County, one of the

wealthiest counties in the entire United States, it can be easy to think such issues do not concern us or that our community does not have those kinds of problems. We must not allow our economic success and prosperity to blind us to the very real fact that the benefits of a truly just and equal society are not fully enjoyed by all members of our community. The work to build a fair society goes on and I will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the NAACP in that work.

As we commemorate and celebrate Black History Month, let us remain vigilant in our efforts and uncompromising in our belief that as Dr. King once said, ``An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in continuing this march towards equality and justice. I congratulate the Fairfax County NAACP and the Tinner Hill Foundation on the occasion of their anniversaries and extend my deepest respect and appreciation for their efforts on behalf of all in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my friend John Niemiec, and to congratulate him on his retirement from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. A 32-year veteran of the Department, John retired in February 2018, having earned the rank of Captain II.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, John is an avid fan of all Pittsburgh professional sports teams, but perhaps none more so than his beloved Steelers. In fact, John's entire recreation room in his home is a shrine-like tribute to the Black and Gold. He often travels back to Pittsburgh so that he can watch his favorite team play, perhaps with an icy Iron City in one hand and a Terrible Towel in the other.

John relocated to Northern Virginia and joined the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in 1986 after working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C. In addition to his service with the Department, John was also a dedicated member of the Fairfax County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics, Local 2068. He served for 17 years on the local Executive Board, including 4 years as Vice-President and over 10 years as President. John also served his fellow firefighters as a Pension Trustee for 12 years. During this time, he was also a member of the Executive Board of the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems.

I was proud to partner with John to ensure that our public safety personnel and first responders received the highest level of support possible from our county government during my time as a Member and Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. One of the projects of which I am proudest is the creation of the Public Safety Occupational Health Center, which we dedicated at the Fairfax County Public Safety Headquarters last month. John was instrumental in this project and was pivotal in its successful completion.

However, out of all the positions he has held, including Captain, President, and Trustee, the title that gives him the most joy is ``Dad.'' As a single parent, John raised two wonderful daughters, and has taught them by example how to embrace the values of honesty, integrity, respect, and dedication to serving others. John truly represents these values, many of which are shared by his professional colleagues and make our Fairfax County first responders the standard against which all others are judged.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking my friend John Niemiec for his dedication and service to our community and in congratulating him on his retirement. While he may be retiring from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, he will continue to advocate on behalf of firefighters and paramedics in his new role of State Policy and Legislative Representative for the International Association of Firefighters. I am sure that he will bring the same passion and determination to this new position that he has brought to all of his previous endeavors. It has been my distinct honor and privilege to work with him throughout our shared career in public service, and I wish him all the best and continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize ManTech International Corporation on its 50th anniversary. This incredible milestone is a testament to the spirit of the leadership and employees of this great company. In 1968, what was then called Management Technologies received a contract from the U.S. Navy to develop sophisticated wargaming simulations to assist in developing plans for containing and defeating the Soviet fleet should the Cold War turn hot. Thankfully, these simulations never became reality. However, this contract was the beginning of a journey of growth that would lead this company from its humble beginnings of one office and sixteen employees to dozens of offices across the United States and 7,600 employees around the world.

ManTech's motto continues to be ``Securing the Future'', and over the years they have developed numerous ways to accomplish this goal. Since that original wargaming simulation contract 50 years ago, ManTech has expanded its digital portfolio to become a leading provider of Cybersecurity, Enterprise IT, Data Collection and Analytics, and Systems and Software Engineering. Today, ManTech provides services to almost every sector of the federal government, including the Departments of Defense, State, Energy, Justice, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, as well as the Intelligence Community, and all branches of the Armed Forces and the space community, to name a few.

However, ManTech's client base is not limited solely to the federal government. Through its emerging Commercial Services business unit, ManTech looks to leverage the same connections and expertise which have allowed it to deliver so much success to its federal clients to deliver the same success to the private and commercial sectors as well.

ManTech's efforts have borne significant results and accolades. In FY2017, ManTech posted an annual revenue of $1.72 billion, and received contract awards in excess of $4.2 billion, almost half consisting of new business. Thompson-Reuters named ManTech one of the Top 100 Global Technology Companies. Perhaps most impressively Monster.com rated ManTech as the ``Number 1 Company for Veterans''. This should perhaps come as no surprise since 47 percent of ManTech employees are veterans.

In Northern Virginia, we have a strong ethos of giving back to our community and in making the investments in our population necessary to provide a great quality of life. ManTech fits in well with this tradition by their own commitment to workforce development. From creating college-accredited certification programs to partnering with universities to provide additional paths for career advancement, Man- Tech recognizes, as we do in Northern Virginia, that its greatest resource is its employees. I am proud to represent ManTech and its employees in Congress and I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating them on this momentous anniversary.

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 2017 ``Stars Over Dulles'' Award recipients.

This year, at the 22nd 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 so many individuals and businesses provide to our community.

It is my honor to include in the Record the following recipients of the 2017 Stars Over Dulles Awards.

Transportation Leader: Paul J. Wiedefeld, WMATA General Manager and

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2019, which would require the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy to define and track Procurement Administrative Lead Time (PALT).

PALT is the amount of time between when a solicitation or task order is issued and when a contract or task order is awarded.

A similar requirement for the Department of Defense was enacted as part of the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act.

I commend the Department for acting quickly to establish a definition of PALT and a way to track it in the Federal Procurement Data System with minimal additional effort from contract officers.

This requirement should be expanded government-wide with relative ease.

Such tracking will help federal agencies ensure they are soliciting and acquiring goods and services in an efficient manner and help Congressional overseers identify agencies that are underperforming in this area.

I thank Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for working with me on this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 5515, which would require a report related to human rights in North Korea.

The report would describe ongoing or planned efforts regarding the repatriation of members of the United States Armed Forces; the reunification of Korean Americans with relatives in North Korea; and an assessment of security risks posted by travel to North Korea for U.S. citizens.

The division of North and South Korea along the 38th Parallel offers one of the world's most striking dichotomies, yet on both sides of the Demilitarized Zone resides a shared pain.

The pain is that of the families ripped apart by the Korean War and an enduring division of one people into two countries.

Reunions are a welcome respite from the separation, but, in the end, provide yet another reminder that family reunification on the Korean Peninsula is fleeting.

Many of these Americans, more than 100,000 according to the last estimate, have been waiting to reunite with their family members in North Korea.

Too many have already passed away without realizing that hope.

This amendment would require an update on efforts to conduct family reunifications for these Korean Americans.

It would also help heal old wounds by addressing the repatriation of members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have been missing since the Korean War.

It is vital that our North Korea policy be informed with an understanding that there are human victims of the ongoing conflict on the Peninsula.

I thank the Chairman, the Ranking Member, and Rep. Ros-Lehtinen for working with me on this amendment and ask that my colleagues support it.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to the FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act offered with Representative Stephanie Murphy, which would provide not less than $12 million for the assessment, monitoring, and evaluation of our defense security cooperation programs as part of the more than $700 million this bill authorizes for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Each year, the United States spends as much as $10 billion on our security cooperation programs.

This includes the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund, the Counter-ISIL Fund, the cooperative threat reduction program, and other security programs that help build the capacity of foreign security forces.

The United States trains, educates, advises, and equips our foreign partners all around the world.

However, we have done next to nothing to understand the effectiveness of these programs at accomplishing their goals and advancing U.S. interests.

I commend the Department of Defense for its work to establish an office tasked with creating a monitoring and evaluation framework for security cooperation programs and conducting evaluations.

I am glad the first evaluation will be conducted this year on military logistics in the Baltics.

This amendment will ensure that this good work continues and expands in a manner commensurate with the amount of money we are currently spending on security cooperation programs.

I thank Chairman Thornberry, Ranking Member Smith, Representative Murphy for working with me on this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the ranking member, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

I rise today in support of the Childhood Cancer STAR Act.

Thanks to research funded by the National Institutes of Health, the private sector, and philanthropic funds, we have made progress in the study and treatment of childhood cancers. However, every year, 16,000 children and their families receive that terrible, nightmarish news that their child has been diagnosed with cancer.

My constituent Allison Easter-Lara was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma when she was about 2 years old. Throughout her fight, she endured some of the harshest cancer treatments there are, with chemotherapy and stem cell transplants.

Allison's dad, Keith, visited my office earlier this year, and he shared a remarkable update. Allison is beating the odds. She is currently in remission and in a phase two drug trial.

We must pass the STAR Act because we need more good outcomes like Allison's. This bill will expand childhood cancer research opportunities at the NIH, improve our understanding of cancer as a disease, and work to enhance the quality of life for all survivors.

It may be a moonshot, but I believe we can find new treatments and eventually a cure for childhood cancer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my constituent, Mrs. Clarene Helen Vickery and to congratulate her on an incredible milestone. On May 22, Mrs. Vickery will celebrate her 100th birthday. It is my honor to include this extraordinary woman and citizen of Fairfax County into the Record.

Born Clarene Helen Dickens in Collins, Mississippi, Mrs. Vickery began her service to her community at an early age, working for the National Youth Administration during the Great Depression. That service continued when she relocated to Virginia, where she founded the Parkwood School and has served as its Director from 1956 to the present time. Since its founding, more than 10,000 students have attended Parkwood School. Mrs. Vickery has been recognized with a lifetime achievement award from the Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education and a Certificate of Recognition from the Fairfax County Health Department for her more than six-decade support of the health and well-being of children.

Mrs. Vickery has also been a successful business woman and active member of the Vienna, Virginia business community, receiving the Business Person of the Year award from the Greater Vienna Chamber of Commerce, serving as the Grand Marshall of the Vienna Halloween Parade for the Vienna Regional Chamber of Commerce, and in other capacities.

Her contributions to our community have also extended into her role as a person of faith. Mrs. Vickery was a founding member of the Providence Baptist Church in McLean, Virginia, and served the Vienna Baptist Church as a member for the past 60 years in the position of Sunday School Director.

One would think that these innumerable commitments to serving her community would be the overriding force in Mrs. Vickery's life and replace all other considerations. But one would be mistaken. Mrs. Vickery is a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She and her husband ``Vick'' raised four sons; and have seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, Fairfax County is one of the best places in the entire country in which to live, work, raise a family and start a business. Our high quality of life is only made possible through the efforts of citizens such as Clarene Helen Vickery. I congratulate her again on joining the Century Club and ask my colleagues to join me in offering their congratulations and in thanking her for her many years of service to our community. I know that she will continue to remain involved in the causes that are dear to her for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the graduates of the 142nd Recruit Class. As they prepare to join the ranks of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, I encourage the 33 graduates to reflect on the history of the department and the contributions and dedication of the brave men and women who have served before them to protect our community.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department's Recruit School consists of an extensive and demanding 24-week program. In addition to two weeks of orientation, recruits completed seven weeks of EMT training and fifteen weeks of fire suppression training. Upon graduation, these recruits will be certified at the level of Firefighter I/II by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs.

These recruits have the distinct honor of joining one of the best Fire and Rescue Departments in the United States. The efforts of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department have been recognized across this country. Members from the Department serve on the elite VA Task Force 1, which is among the first units called to disaster zones to provide search and rescue support. Members of that Task Force were recognized by the International Association of Fire Chiefs with the Benjamin Franklin Award for Valor as a result of their efforts in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck Nepal in 2015. Recently, they have seen extensive work in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as part of disaster relief efforts in the aftermaths of Hurricanes Harvey and Maria. Fairfax County is fortunate to have such excellent ambassadors for our community, and I commend them for all that they have done. As the newest members of the Fire and Rescue Department, the 142nd Recruit Class graduates join the department as integral parts of our community's emergency response and public safety team. I am confident that this graduating class will serve the residents of Fairfax County with honor and distinction.

It is my great honor to include in the Record the names of the 142nd Recruit Class.

Evan B. Bache, Trina Y. Beall, David C. Breslin, James M. Brittenham, David A. Brown, Julian N. Butler, Manuel J. Castellon, Jesus E. Castro, Stephen M. Ching, Andrew M. Cruikshank, Nathan J. Decker, Muhammad I. Dizicheh, Joshua J. Dyer, Justin L. Dyer, Rosanna S. Forsyth, Brandon V. Harris, Kenneth G. Howard.

John J. Jones, Kyle R. Knox, Won K. Noh, Alexander M. Omar, Alan Pai, Christopher R. Payne, Mario J. Pineda, Andrew Rozewicz, Nicholas M. Schaff, Dreanna W. Salang, Nicholas J. Stricklen, Timothy J. Sweeney, Bryan P. Thomas, Tavia L. Turner, Patrick D. Von Bank, Donovan T. Withrow.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the newest members of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. I thank them for their service to their community and to all members of the Fire and Rescue Department, past and present, I say: ``Stay safe.'