Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the volunteers for Keep Prince William Beautiful (KPWB).

KPWB's objective is to protect the environment. Through the implementation of six programs, the organization focuses on three areas of environmental stewardship: litter removal, recycling education, and water quality initiatives. The six programs include: Volunteer Storm Drain Initiative, Adopt-A-Spot Program, Volunteer Speakers Bureau, Fall and Spring Cleanup, Litter Survey, and Community Cleanup.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the volunteers for Keep Prince William Beautiful:

Kelly Adam, Tim Adam, Matt Anderson, Arnold Appanah, Allyson Avery, Nyjah Bell, Jasmin Blocker, Ebony Blount, Tamea Boone, Gwen Bourke, Taylor Branch, Jeanine Britt, Susan Brooks, David Brown, Gillette Brown, Deborah Campbell, David Carr, Ralph Cataneo, Liviu Catuneanu Cica, David Centeno, Chrissy Christiansen, Mark Clark, Barbara Conrad, Austin Cooper, Ed Cronin, Raiven Crosby, Sharon Delap, Francis Diaz, Kevin Dupree, Kelly Easterly, Morgan Easterly, Tyler Easterly, Scott Ebol, Marc Engelking, Marge Fatula, Steve Glasser, Linda Gosnell, Jorn Hansen, Ron Haynes, Jeannie Hefin, Michael Hicks, Sara Hodja, Jeanne Howard, Ed Howell, Patsy Humphrey, Pauline Hunter, Pierre Jackson, Aliyah Jameer, Jay Leach, Tonie Jones, Peter Lineberry, Becky Logan Fay, Nina Lomax, Damaris Lopez, Kyle Love, Joanne Luce, Zara Mahmood, Allen Matthys, Helen Matwiejuk, Mitchell Arnold, Alexis Morgan, Seth Morgan, Steve Morgan, Bill Moser, Connie Moser, Delain Moyers, John Nagel, Barbara Nuckols, Victoria Okocha, Amanda Pataluna, Yariel Perez, Joseph Pettiford, Jeffrey Poisson, Rebecca Purdy, Gerri Ratchye, Sofia Riaz, Cindy Riggle, Rebecca Rinke, Sara Rinke, Soo Rinke, Hilary Rokwa, Imani Sandres, Josue Santoya, Kim Sawicki, Albert Sedeno, Same Shanker, Tom Smith, William Smith, Dana Taylor, Rachel Teufert, Steffen Thomas, Kenvin Thorne, Connor Trexel, Dan Trexel, Jasmine Turner, Alexandra Wakely, Colin Walthall, Pat White, Bennett Whitlock, Larry Wilbanks, Sharon Witt, Kimberly Wood, Eric VanNortwick, Marie Vayer, Megan Vidas, Zoe Vitter.

Additionally, it is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the following organizations and civic associations that have collaborated with Keep Prince William Beautiful:

KPWB Adopt-a-Spot, KPWB Volunteer Groups, Affordable Lawn Care, ASK DR. RUTH CONSULTANTS, Belmont Bay Community, Bethel United Methodist Church, Blooms Mill HOA, Cardinal Glen HOA, Christ Chapel Academy, Cokesbury United Methodist Church, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Crossroads Presbyterian Church, Cub Scout Pack 1196, Cub Scout Pack 1355, Cub Scout Pack 1364, Cub Scout Pack 1369, Cub Scout Pack 1831, Cub Scout Pack 30-Tyler Elementary School, Dale City Civic Association, Dale City-PWC Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. & Top Teens of America, First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City, Didlake, Inc., Dunbar Neighborhood Watch, Ghana Wesley Church, Glendale Community Group, Jackson's Ridge Community, Gods Ladies of Significant Service (G.L.O.S.S.), Good Shepard United Methodist Church, Huffman Family, Jack & Jill Foundation, Jackson's Ridge Community, Jr. Girl Scout Troop 4980, Lakewood Manor HOA, Lindendale Community Group, Little Baptist Church, Marine Recruiter Substation Woodbridge, New Balance Potomac Mills Mall, Nottingdale Neighbors, PNC Bank

at Potomac Town Center, PWC Youth Ambassadors, Prince William Resolves Chapter, Quantico Marine Base, Daughters of the American Revolution, Princedale/Ridgedale Community Pride, PurdyRandom Sisters, Rippon Landing Master Association, River Oaks Community Association, Ron Haynes, Keller Williams Realty, Saint Paul United Methodist Church, Second Heritage MEWS Community Association, Steve Glasser, Thies Family, Top Ladies of Distinction (TLOD), Troop 1297, Twin Oaks Farm, Venture Crew 35, Victory Christian Preschool and Academy, Whitlock Wealth Management, Winston Family, Woodbridge Potomac Communities Civic Association, Woodbridge Women's Club, Zuniga Family.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the volunteers of Keep Prince William Beautiful and in thanking them for their dedication to environmental stewardship and community beautification.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the volunteers for Project Mend-A-House.

A joint effort between private citizens and the Prince William County government, Project Mend-A-House was created in 1984. At the time, Lily Blackwell was a volunteer delivering meals to seniors who were confined to their homes due to disabilities. Her call to action began with the observation that a number of seniors along her delivery route could no longer perform necessary home repairs. Basic home repair and some structural improvements were needed to ensure that these disabled seniors remained safe and independent. Ms. Blackwell partnered with Toni Clemons-Porter and Lin Wagener of the Prince William Area Agency on Aging to create the foundation of an organization that has now provided humanitarian assistance for a quarter of a century.

Project Mend-A-House completes home repairs and safety modifications to facilitate independent living for seniors, the disabled and low- income residents. Over the years, projects have ranged from fixing termite damage in an older home to making entire houses more accessible with wheelchair ramps, hand rails, shower seats and transfer benches. The work is truly a community effort. Local corporate partners provide monetary support, volunteers and building materials. Civic associations and faith based groups contribute hundreds of volunteer hours to Project Mend-A-House each year. Project Mend-A-House puts everyone to work regardless of skill level to improve the quality of life for our disabled, elderly and low income neighbors.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the volunteers for Project Mend-A-House:

Lee Bertand, Edie Clark, Don McCubbin, Steven Donovan, Rich Feickert, Kristen Hull, Tajr Hull, Dave Kaiser, Bob Leiker, Terry Lopez, Chris Maddocks, Sally Okuly, Marty Raines, Barbara Reese, David Seigrist, Dave Rogers, Matt Schaffer, Gail Straker, Guy Straker, Therese Swetnam, Terry Swirchak, Sarah Tamai.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the volunteers of Project Mend-A-House for their service and in thanking them for their dedication to our community.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, residents from across the country participated in the One Million Bones demonstration on the National Mall to raise awareness about the acts of genocide and mass atrocities in Africa and the Middle East. Many of the participants visited with their respective Congressional offices, and I am pleased to enter into the Congressional Record a statement on behalf of the Virginia constituents who met with staff from my office.

We the House of Representatives resolve that:

In support of the One Million Bones efforts to raise awareness of on-going genocides and mass atrocities in the world today;

Consistent with the UN's having defined genocide as ``Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within a group; [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group;''

In remembrance of the lives lost in past acts of genocide including the genocides in Nazi Germany, Rwanda, and Sudan in which:

The Holocaust was an act of genocide by Nazi Germany to eradicate Non-Aryan population during World War II in which 11 million people were killed;

The civil war in Rwanda from April 6, 1994, to July 16, 1994, in which acts of genocide were committed by extremist Hutus through the militia, the Interhamawe, and the government army against Tutsis, moderate Hutus, and the Twa in which over 1 million people were killed;

The events in Sudan from 2003 to present have involved acts of genocide by the Muslim Arab Sudanese against the Muslim black Sudanese through the Janjaweed militia and the Sudanese army in which 6 million people were killed before 2003 and since then an additional 400,000 have died.

Resolved that we--

1. view all human beings as equals no matter their nationality, ethnicity, race, or religion;

2. recognize these events as genocide and condemn them as such

3. urge all Members of Congress to condemn those responsible for the acts of genocide from occurring;

4. will continue to work with the One Million Bones project to educate all people on the horrors of genocide and to prevent any future acts of genocide from occurring

5. will take action through available means to prevent future acts of genocide from occurring.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the volunteers for the BEACON for Adult Literacy Program.

BEACON for Adult Literacy is an award-winning non-profit which has proudly served the adult literacy needs of the Northern Virginia community for 20 years. In its first year, BEACON served 30 learners; today BEACON serves over 400 adults a year who are seeking to improve their self-sufficiency and financial security through proficiency in English. Over 4,000 low-income non-native Americans have gained English-language literacy skills over the past two decades.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the volunteers for the BEACON for Adult Literacy Program:

Joan Appleton-Costanza, Brenda Baldwin, Cathy Banks, Brian Bell, Misha Benjamin, Jada Booth, Jenna Booth, Robert Brown, Martisa Brown, Skip Brown, Cari Carter, Bonnie Cipriano, Bill Cratty, Corinne DeGrazia, Brion Elliott, Jeanne Endrikat, Andy Getachew, Angie Gilbert, Walter Godlewski, Sally Harrison, Henry Hastings, Pat Hodgdon, Sonya Jacobs, Sue Kang-Blosjo, Richard MacIntyre, Gary McCoy, Sheridan McGlothin, Gary McGuire, Donna McNeally, Patrick McNeally, Bob Mechler, Martha Muirhead, Nancy Nelson, Cheryl Parrish, Ed Prendergast, Molly Rickard, Lianetta Ruettgers, Pat Russell, Rosanne Schubring, Talisha Shine, An Slaubaugh, Armena Springs, Robert Stinson, Gene Strausbaugh, Kelley Studholme, Ruth Thomas, Stephanie Timm, Cornelia Touzinsky, Bill Tyler, Rhonda Vanover, Venkat Viswanathan, Martha Walsh, Anne Walsh, Caroline Wilson.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the volunteers of the BEACON for Adult Literacy Program and in thanking them for their dedication to literacy in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the individuals who volunteer in the member offices of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors is composed of eight elected members responsible for the effective and efficient administration of county government. Four of the eight supervisors, Pete Candland, John D. Jenkins, Frank J. Principi, and Chairman Corey A. Stewart have enlisted the help of local citizens to support the activities of their member offices. The volunteers who are being recognized today assist the Supervisors in their service to the citizens of Prince William County. These volunteers play active roles on local boards and commissions, provide administrative support and help plan civic events.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the volunteers for the Prince William Board of County Supervisors:

Scott Abell, Al Alborn, Debi Alexander, Janelle Anderson, Debbie Andrew, Fran Arnold, Jeff Bergman, John Brenkus, Dominick Brognano, Chris Browning, Janice Carr, Ashley Cavossa, Dave Christiansen, Barry Cline, Fay Cochran, Jim Cornwell, James Cumming, Steve Dawson, Betty Duley, Wayne Ernst, Sheila Falsetti, Jake Frank, William Gerald, Caye Glaze, John S. Gray, Mac Haddow, Scott Helberg, Jennifer Hicks, Mike High, Jenn Hoskins, Sandy Iasiello, Heidi Keller, Allison Kipp, Shawn Landry, Bill Latham, Vito Losardo, Jr., Anthony Lukeman, Frank Maresca, Duane Martin, Andrew Maurer, Nick Mazzarella, George McClaugherty, Steve Merkli, Don Metzger, Jason Miller, Ron Montagna, Charmain Moorhead, Wayne Murphy, Ward Nickisch, Melvin Padgett, Dianne Raulston, Charlie Rigby III, Mary Jo Rigby, Susan Rudolph, Sandi Sale, Marti Sanregret, Dick Schneider, Chester Smith, John Sweeney, Judy Tan, Ron Turner, Laird Walker, Jennifer Wall, Bill Walsh, Jimmy Walters, Scott Weible, Ken Weinzapfel, James Carter Wiley, Kisha Wilson-Sogunro, Jane Wyman, Eric Young.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending and thanking these volunteers for their efforts in aiding and supporting our local Supervisors. The work done by these volunteers serves as a bridge between our elected officials and local citizens that ought to be recognized appreciated and maintained.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the volunteers with the City of Manassas Community Emergency Response Team.

When disaster strikes and individuals are at risk to imminent threats, Prince William County first responders who provide fire and medical services may be unable to meet the demand for their services. People could be forced to rely on one another to meet the immediate needs for lifesaving and life sustaining measures. The City of Manassas Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) volunteers take a positive and realistic approach to such circumstances. When the number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages prevent individuals from accessing emergency services, C.E.R.T. volunteers will be there to fulfill a vital need. Through training, C.E.R.T. volunteers can manage utilities, put out fires, control bleeding, treat for shock, search for and rescue victims safely, and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective in a time of crisis.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the volunteers with the City of Manassas C.E.R.T.:

Donna Bellow, Antonisha Bennett, David Bruce, Debby Bruce, Steve Bryant, Justin Burns, Laura Campbell, Brian Chase, Catherine Colon, David Core, Melinda Core, Shirley Cox, Amanda Cruise, Mary Dellinger, Lisa Evans, Arleen Green, Adrienne Helms, Robert Keller, Boniat Long- Maddox, Marcus Lower, Brian Maceyak, Gerald Manley, Donna McDonald, Thomas McDonald, Megan McHugh, Irma Mejia-Lewis, Mike Nealey, Chad Ostergren, Zach Ostergren, Wayne Phillips, Robert Punihaole, Tracy Reed, Nicole Robinson, Sean Ryan, Manoj Sapre, Satinder Sodhi, Denise Villamar, Lawrence Warkentien, Barbara Warren

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the volunteers of the City of Manassas C.E.R.T. for managing a citizen- based disaster response and providing the community with a vital lifeline in emergency situations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Prince William County Department of Social Services and its volunteers who help provide a social safety net for those individuals and families who find themselves in a time of need or uncertainty.

The Prince William County Department of Social Services works to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families with programs that help them cope in moments of personal crisis and develop skills for self-sufficiency. The Department strengthens the social and economic well-being of county citizens by administering programs such as Child and Adult Protective Services, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, and temporary assistance to families in need. The Department of Social Services employs a committed professional staff with credentials in social work, employment counseling and career planning, criminal justice, and information technology. Volunteers supplement the work done by the staff with outreach and administrative support.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the volunteers for the Prince William County Department of Social Services: Sharon Clerkin, Cynthia Fiattor, Yolanda Miles, and Saul Svarz.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending these individuals for their service and in thanking them for their dedication to our community. The Department of Social Services fulfills our commitment to individuals and families in a time of need. It is a vital community resource and helping hand whose reach is extended by volunteer support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Volunteer Prince William Disaster & Citizen Corps.

In the event of an emergency, the Volunteer Prince William Disaster & Citizen Corps respond to disasters by supporting administrative activities, caring for household pets and shoveling snow. The program volunteers are always at the ready. They give selflessly of their time and energy whenever they are called. The volunteers are the unsung heroes, quietly working behind the scenes while vital services are provided to those in a severe moment of need.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names for the Volunteer Prince William Disaster & Citizen Corps:

Yolanda Adam, Asya Allen, Victoria Berry, Judson Bireley, Nancy Bireley, Lynsay Campbell, Yasmin Griffin, Domonique Guimond, Natalie Hockaday, Chloe Johnson, Robert Keller, Calayna Lane, David Lane, Cayla LesPierre, Da'Neisha Ligon, Karen Lyle, Connie Moser, Raquel Murray, Nancy Neeper, Ralph Neeper, Ta'Nique Pete, Trish Redmond, Shekinah Sledge, Takiyah Stovall, Tabitha Turman

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the Volunteer Prince William Disaster & Citizen Corps for their service and in thanking them for their dedication to disaster response in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the volunteers for the Greater Prince William Medical Reserve Corps.

The Greater Prince William Medical Reserve Corps (GPWMRC) is a cadre of volunteer health care professionals and community members trained to respond to emergencies and assist with public health events in Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. This unit is one of approximately 800 units that are part of the national Medical Reserve Corps program under the direction of the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General and 1 of 31 such units in the Commonwealth of Virginia. GPWMRC volunteers frequently provide important health services at events such as health fairs, vaccination clinics and large public gatherings. Volunteers also spend time attending trainings and exercises to remain prepared to help the community during an emergency.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the volunteers for the Greater Prince William Medical Reserve Corps:

Lisa Adcock, Maria Gracia Agra, Bethany Alexander, Diane Ameen, Vickie Andrews, Jennifer Andricosky, Doreen Anguay, Mary Anim-Twum, Evelyn Ansah-Agyei, Pilar Arroyo, Patrick Ashley, Andrea Asimeng, Patricia Ayala-Tipmongkol, Rochelle Baker, Heather Baldwin, Valerie Bampoe, Hassan Bangura, Acasia Barrett, Debra Beasley, Harry Beaver, Charlotte Bediako, Stephanie Beeman, Gina Bellamy, Antonisha Bennett, Mary Black, Anke Blaine, Diondra Blyden, Sarah Boughman, Erica Bouling.

Celeste Bowen, Kathy Bowman, Linda Bradish, Eve Brandon, Tetyana Breus-Smith, Susan Brewer, Freda Briggman, Eileen Brown, Josh Brown, Pamela Brown, Alisa Bruce, David Bruce, Deborah Bruce, Robert Bruce, Sam Bruce, Stephen Brunelle, Erika Buccellato, Brian Buccellato, Sheila Buhl, Lacey Burnside, Gail Bush, Tina Bush, Sharon Campagna, Joyce Campbell, Donald Campbell, Kathryn Cantoni, Shuiping Carpenter, Antonetta Carter, Rachel Carter, Tanya Carter, Stephen Chan, Racquel Charles-Hinds, Gabriella Chimenz, Carolyn Claybrooks, Barbara Claybrooks, Jeffrey Cobb.

Kathy Cobb, Susanne Coffineau, Leigh Colbert, Larry Colby, Mary Cole, Nancy Collins, Debbie Constable, Judy Corcoran, Sonia Coughlin, Marguerite Crozier, Franklin Crozier, Lisa Cullom, Ruth Cunningham, Jack Cunningham, Hannah Cutts, Valerie Cyrus, Cynthia Daffan, Theresa Dailey, Estelle Daniels, Tele Dasilveira, Molly Davis, Annette Davis, Jessie Davis, Monique Davis, Brian Davis, Faduma Deghill, Tyanne Delaney, Patricia Demain, Mary Dessimoz, Joseph Dibisceglie, Kalima Drga Abreu, Douglas Dulaney, Diane Eldridge, Blossom Ellicott, Connie Embrey, Gloria Ephraim, Amy Escherich, Bernadette Espy, Erica Etienne, Blanche Evans-Stewart, Daniel Ferrell, Cheryl Flesch, Carla Flores, Karen Flowers, Adrienne Foose, Sandra Francis.

Tera Frazier, Rannveig Fredheim, Victoria Gammon, Bianca Garcia, Rhonda Garrett, Barbara Gass, Fil Beth Gatmaitan, Rachel Gibson, Aurea Goodwin, Asher Grady, Miguel Granillo, Suzanne Graves, Donna Grey, Masako Griffith, Brenda Grimes, Valentina Grozdanic, Mary Gueriera, Shirley Haas, Margaret Hall, Irene Hamblen, Jeff Hamilton, Karen Hamilton, Alisha Hand, Barbara Happ, Erika Harris, Pam Hart, Tammy Hartzler, Margaret Hayes, Carol Heddleston, Ashley Herndon, Monica Hesham, Shenna Hess.

Melissa Hinson, Jenny Ho, Kathryn Hoepker, Elizabeth Hoitt, Christina Holcomb, Amanda Holdaway, D'ivonne Holman, Jennifer Hoskins, Joan Howard, Gary Huntzinger, Miwa Hwang, Dawn Isherwood, Mark Jackman, Dorothy Jacobs, Kadija Jalloh, Rosa Lee Jarvis, Jenaya Johnson, Kimberly Johnson, Annie Johnson, Jennifer Jones, Lucinda Jones, Fatmata Kamara, Melanie Kaminski, Hye Kang, Shantharama Karanth, Jane Keady, Katherine Ketchum, Stephanie Keyes, SueKim, Melinda Kinnear, Jonathan Kiser.

Elizabeth Koren, Gifty Kotey, Sheila Kronenberg, Esther Krukar, Hawa Kun, Cecilia Kusi, Denise Kuszewski, Janiece Lacy, Hope Laingen, Iris Lamptey, Grace Langebeck, Susan Leferson, Blake Leggett, Brunette Lewis, Eileen Loving, Tasha Lowery, Nghi Lu-Tran, Joyce Lund, Theresa Malizia, Beatrice Manana, Linda Manley, Gerald Manley, Diana Mann, Michael Mantyla, Rachel Marconett, Traci Marin, Mark Mason, Marsha Mason, Iris Matos, Kelly Matthews, Danielle Matwijec, Jessica Maybar, Catherine Mcandrew-Baxter, Kamil Mcclain, Cari Mcclurkin, Marianne Mccool, Cyndi Mccool, Pamela Mcgrath.

Megan Mchugh, Cary Mcmahon, Cathleen Mcneal, John Meehan, Cynthia Mendel, Rebecca Merkli, Judy Merring, Ryan Metz, Debbie Midkiff, Evan Midkiff, Timothy Miner, Celia Miner, Mary Minter, Heather Miranda, Karen Mitchell, Emerita Mogrovejo, Esther Moniba, Marshaune Montes, Virginia Morales, Troy Morton, Chrystal Morton, Cynthia Mosier, Alexis Munguia, Jennifer Murphy, Lisa Murray, Margaret Nee, Ralph Neeper, Nancy Neeper, Rodney Nelson, Julie Nicoletti, Nancy Norris, Philip Nuar, Lawrence Ofosuhene, Juanita Oliver, Janet Ours, Sarah Paciulli, Nina Palmateer, Felecia Parker, Dipti Patel, Paul Patterson, Maria Patterson, Marie E. Pollard, Jose Quinones, Anthony Rademacher, Loretta Rademacher.

Brenda Randall, Isaac Randall, Renee Ray, Rhoda Restauro, Dianne Rice, Teresa Rice, Thomas Richards, James Richey, Mark Rivera, Melissa Rivera, Sandy Rivers, Kristi Robinson, Donna Robinson, Kimberly Rorig, Sheila Rosinski, Joan Roxbury, Sherry Russell, Julie Russell, Kelly Russell, Ron Russell, Bruce Sabol, Joann Saenz, Mary Saimon, Jo Sylvia Salmon, Yvette Sandoval, Donald Sauer, Michelle Schuller, Catherine Schumacher, Susan Scott, Karin Seidel-Hernandez, Shashi Sharma, Shekhar Sharma, Anne Shaw, Kathleen Shay, Buffie Simmons, Tiffany Sisk, Carrie Slavens, Zondra Smith, Kathleen Smith Peters, Bette Sneed, Tonya Springer, Carrie Stempler, Bobbi Steneck, Jane Stottlemyer, Anne Stross.

Kamar Sumrall, Sacha Taylor, Kara Tennant, Esther Thompson, Shelley Tibbs, Cecile Towler, Olivia Twyman, Raquel Upshur, Eileen Vassallo, Edgar Vega, Susana Vega, Maria Vermejo, Kristina Vi, Aida Vicencio, Karen Villar, Amy Vincent, Danielle Vinyard,

Esther Walden, Wanda Walter, Valecia Washington, Valerie Watkins, Margaret Watkins, Cynthia Watson, Barbara Weddel, Shalanda Weems, Eduardo Wenger, Gail West, Mary Weybright, Leotha Wilkins, Siewadaye Williams, Collis Williams, Rhondra Willis, Kathryn Willis, Laura Wisch, Gladys Wise, Samantha Withers, Todd Wolfe, Reeza Woode, Natalie Woods, Andrea Young, Ellen Zamaria.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the volunteers of the Greater Prince William Medical Reserve Corps for their service and in thanking them for their dedication to public health and disaster response in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the winners of the 2013 Green Community Awards in Prince William County.

Green Guiding Committee of Prince William County annually awards people and organizations for promoting green community projects and environmentally sustainable practices. Each of this year's winners has tackled an environmental issue in their area that presents a larger environmental problem. The Green Community Awards are the highest honor for environmental service in Prince William County, and this year's winners exemplify the dedication required to keep our community green.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the winners of the 2013 Green Community Awards:

PNC Bank, Potomac Town Center for its dedication to reducing its corporate impact on the environment through recycling and waste reduction practices, customer service for green banking opportunities, green construction of their facilities and infrastructure, and generous donations to raise environmental awareness in Prince William County.

Jess Hruska and Rich Smith for sponsoring the Stonewall Jackson High School ecology club for eight years.

Leesylvania State Park staff and volunteers for their concerted effort to implement, expand, and improve community projects at Leesylvania State Park.

Don Peschka for volunteering over 1,458 hours to environmental education and leadership and responding to 3840 requests for help from community members as a Prince William Master Gardner.

Girl Scout Troop 5285 for helping with several special events and conservations projects as Youth Ambassadors for the Environment.

Linda Gosnell for her ongoing efforts with projects and programs to create, restore, clean and preserve access to natural areas in the Neabsco District in Prince William County.

David Sarr for his diligent efforts in assisting the Youth Ambassadors with a tree planting project along Bull Run Creek at Ben Lomond Park in April of 2012 and 2013 and assisting in the coordination and recruiting of additional volunteers.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the winners of the 2013 Green Community Awards and in thanking them for their dedication to environmentally sustainable practices and projects in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the volunteers for Habitat for Humanity of Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park.

Habitat for Humanity seeks to eliminate poverty housing and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people from all walks of life and faiths to work together in partnership to build and repair houses with families in need through their Neighborhood Revitalization Initiatives: New Construction, Home Rehabs, Home Repairs and the Habitat Restore. Home repairs consist of A Brush with Kindness, Weatherization, Critical Home Repairs and Critical Home Repairs for Veterans. None of their work is possible without the funding and time that their donors and volunteers give so generously. 496 volunteers donated more than 8,976 hours in 2012 and twelve of those volunteers individually donated more than 100 hours each.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the volunteers for Habitat for Humanity of Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park:

Theresa Accoo, Ryan Adkins, Einass Akari, Peter Arseneault, Lynn Ashe, Barbara Atwell, Megan Beverage, Zakry Bowers, Sean Bradshaw, George Braun, Shawn Brown, Jason Byrd, Charla Chaudhry, Kent Clingman, Dianna Collins, Daniel Coo, Austin Cooper, David Cover, Jackson Crocker, Cara Davis, Dhruv Desai, Kristen DiGennaro, Anita Duecaster, Lynn Eklund, LaKeshia Evans, James H. Floyd, Scott Foster, Zachary Fox, Christina Frank, Robert Gainer, William Garcia, Jamar Gavin, Noelle Gharzai, Jeremiah Goodman, Timothy Grembowski, Phyllis Hall, Al Harris, Richard Harrison, Charles Haynes, Michael Hensley, Lauren Hughes, Mohammad Islam, Susan Jacobs, Frank Jacquette, Abdallah Jaffe, Tramel Jenkins, Teresa Johnson, Peggy Jones, Amin Khatib, Mosammat Khatoon, Mike Kitchen, Kurt Koehler, Sang Lee, Yingshan Li, Mark Luiggi, Maggy Machado, Gino Manzo, Michael Marshall, Marie Martinet, John McBride, Donald McCubbin, Alec McDonald, William McGill, Jeffrey Montag, Kimberly Morris, Christine Moten, Clancy Olson, Jay Patidar, Peter Pomajevich, Joel Reaser, Betty Reichert, Michael Renfro, Ginger Reyes, Glenn Rhodes, Laura Riedl, Alexander Smith, Brian Smith, Kisha Sogunro- Wilson, Michael Stark, Brian Swanson, Marci Swanson, Chris Teague, Dilaun Terry, Kenneth Thomas, Nick Visger, Matthew Watkins, Brandon Welch, Paul V. Whalen, Jeremy Whitehurst, Justin Williams, Thomas Wilson, Renee Woolfolk, Gary Wright, Larry Young, Sarah Zaheer, Luz Zambrano.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the volunteers of Habitat for Humanity of Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park for their service and in thanking them for their dedication to the issue of housing in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the volunteers for Prince William County Historic Preservation.

The dedicated Historic Preservation Volunteers are an essential part of the Historic Preservation Division. They are part of an endless effort to preserve and enhance the historical and natural resources of Prince William County. They bring these resources alive for citizens with special programs events and daily efforts to maintain and beautify our historic sites. They graciously sacrifice their personal time to volunteer as docents, garden volunteers, education volunteers, research and collection volunteers, restoration volunteers, and special event volunteers.

It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the volunteers for Prince William County Historic Preservation:

Todd Berkoff, Dave Bowman, Daniel Breeden, Morgan Breeden, Brenda Caricofe, Nerine Clemenzi, Elaine Davis, John DePue, George Erhart, Dennis Feldt, Andy Fredette, Jay Greevy, Curt Hoagland, Becky Hornyak, Kelly Hunsaker, James Ivancic, Jeff Joyce, Tim Kelly, Belinda Lewis, Bryan Lewis, Tom McGinlay, Georgia Meadows, Tony Meadows, Mike Miller, Janice Overman, John Peason, Cecily Petway, Austin Petway, Katie Petway,

Lionel Raymond, Jacque Rowberry, Virginia Sanderson, Rosemary Schatz, Andy Schatz, Jack Sigel, Adrian Tighe, Lin Weeks, Amanda Wells, Fred Wolfe.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the volunteers for Prince William County Historic Preservation for their service and dedication to protecting our community's historical treasures.

Madam Chair, as we finish debate on the House farm bill, I can't help but remember when as a young fifteen-year-old I was riveted as America debated these very same issues but with oh such a different outcome. I remember the Senate field hearings in 1967 where our elected leaders highlighted the need for government to protect our most vulnerable. There were those in Congress then who would have had us believe there was nothing we could do. But fortunately Robert Kennedy's trip to the Mississippi Delta changed America forever.

As a country, Kennedy helped us to see poverty firsthand. Innocent children with distended stomachs, who hadn't eaten in days. Their mothers unsure where their next meal would come from. It raised our awareness of and concern for our fellow citizens.

Yet here we are more than 40 years later, and once again we are being presented with those same false choices. The House majority would have you believe we have no choice but to make draconian cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP), a program that we know has worked in reducing significantly malnutrition in America.

SNAP has been a critical safety net for millions of families who need help putting food on the table. Nearly half of the 46 million low- income participants are children, and a significant portion of adult participants are employed but simply do not earn enough to support their family.

SNAP provides more than $1.2 billion in benefits a month to more than 786,000 Virginians. In my district, more than 6,000 households receive SNAP benefits. Sixty percent of those families have children under the age of 18. One-third of these families live below the poverty line despite the fact that 45% have one family member working and 42% have at least two family members working.

Simply put, SNAP prevents hunger in the wealthiest nation on earth. Sadly, the House majority's bill will cut SNAP by $21 billion, forcing more than 2 million people off this program and causing more than 210,000 children to lose eligibility for free or reduced school meals.

Beyond the human face of hunger, a tragic irony is lost within this policy debate. The very people who routinely call on this body to limit government and rein in spending are today asking for government handouts in the form of crop subsidies and insurance payments.

They want the American taxpayer to cover their risks while telling those at risk of hunger that they are on their own. A bold faced Darwinian philosophy except, of course, when it involves them.

To allay this apparent conflict of ideology, if not seemingly obvious conflict of interest, I had a simple amendment that would have prohibited Members of Congress or their spouses from benefiting from the provisions of this bill. As if only to confirm my already strong reservations with this legislation, House Republicans wouldn't even allow for debate of this common-sense proposal to restore program integrity and public confidence.

The American people would be forgiven for smelling the stench of hypocrisy in the halls of Congress.

So I now ask, who are the takers? Poor babies and their mothers trying to put food on the table? Or those who pocket tens of thousands of dollars in crop subsidies and insurance payments and tax credits and accelerated equipment depreciation and federally funded soil and crop R and D then have the gall to vote to cut nutrition benefits with a straight face? For all these reasons, I cannot support this reckless philosophy of legislating that endangers the very people we should be looking after.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and commend Jorge Arias, the famous mosquito hunter of Fairfax County, on the occasion of his retirement after a decorated career in the field of medical entomology, which culminated in his 10-year tenure as the Supervisor of the Fairfax County Health Department's Disease Carrying Insects Program.

When most people hear the familiar buzz of a fly or mosquito, their natural instinct is to swat them away or reach for the repellent. Not Jorge. He welcomes the pests of summer with open, exposed arms, inviting them to creep, crawl, and chomp on him. It is that passion which made him an easy selection when Fairfax County was looking to start its insects program in 2003.

Clearly the feeling was mutual. In a 2006 profile in The Washington Post, Jorge said at the time, ``I thought, 'Oh my lord, this is heaven.' I get to play with mosquitoes!'' It is that zeal for entomology that has made Jorge a respected expert in international circles. Along the way he has suffered multiple infections, mentored countless students in the field of biology, and even had several bugs named in his honor.

Jorge is a native Virginian, born in Charlottesville. He was the son of a doctor and survived polio as a young child growing up in Panama. He went to college thinking he would follow in his father's footsteps, but that changed once he sat down for his first entomology class. Some people claim to have been ``bitten by the bug'' when describing their career choice. For Jorge, it was quite literal. He was known for offer himself up in ``live bait'' experiments, sitting out in the rain forests for hours unprotected. He became so close to his subjects that he could identify the species of fly or mosquito feasting on him even in the dark. He has dedicated not only his career, but his very health, to the study of insects. Through the years, he has survived bouts with multiple diseases, including malaria and, remarkably, hepatitis.

He received a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees in biology from Whittier College in California, and he went on to receive his doctorate of philosophy in medical entomology from the University of California Riverside. From there, he and his wife, Kathy, joined the Peace Corps. They were posted in Brazil, where Jorge helped found graduate degree programs in entomology. He later pursued research activities in Brazil, Panama,

and Venezuela, and then continued that work as a consultant with the Pan American Health Organization.

In Fairfax, Jorge led the creation of an insect identification and surveillance program, targeting mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects. He has helped raise public awareness about the public health risks of West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease and offered helpful tips for precaution, particularly among the County's diverse immigrant community and in our school classrooms. He also has helped train a new generation of ``mosquito hunters'' to carry on this important work.

The American Mosquito Control Association recognized Jorge in 2011 with its Volunteer of the Year Award, ``for his outstanding contributions to the furtherance of mosquito control education and outreach programs in Fairfax County Virginia and to communities around the world.'' Last year, the Mid-Atlantic Mosquito Control Association recognized him with its 2012 R. E. Dorer award for his ``exceptional contributions to mosquito control in the Mid-Atlantic Mosquito Control region.''

Mr. Speaker, when I was a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, we often joked that we should not allow such talented and dedicated community servants to retire. We certainly wish that was the case here. I wish Jorge, his wife, Kathy, his children, and grandchildren, all the best in this well-deserved retirement, and I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in expressing our appreciation to Jorge for his commitment to public health service and for keeping the bugs at bay for the rest of us..

Madam Chair, I am pleased to offer this simple bipartisan amendment with Reps. Wolf and Schneider to expand an existing report required by Section 1242 of the bill. The amendment clarifies that the report ought to include information on how the Egyptian military is supporting the rights of individuals involved in civil society and democratic promotion efforts through non-governmental organizations or NG0s.

This a timely issue, given the guilty verdict rendered by an Egyptian court June 4th against 43 NGO workers--including 17 Americans--because of their involvement with pro-democracy groups. The guilty verdict renews concerns about Egypt's commitment to democratic principles. In fact, I am circulating a bipartisan letter with my Virginia colleague, Rep. Wolf, urging Egyptian President Morsi to immediately reconsider this action and permit the NGOs to continue their important.work. So far, more than 50 Members of Congress have signed our bipartisan letter, including Rep. Schneider, who also cosponsored this amendment.

The United States supports the aspirations of the Egyptian people to become a free and fair society, in which all NG0s--regardless of their nation of origin--are allowed to operate freely. I hope that Egyptian officials will come to this same realization and return property confiscated from the NGOs 18 months ago, remove their staff from the no-fly list, and permit them to continue their work supporting a fair and open election process and helping to improve the lives of all Egyptians.

If the U.S. government and the American people are to have any confidence that the Egyptian government is undertaking a genuine transition to a democratic state, under civilian control, where the freedoms of assembly, association, religion, and expression are guaranteed and the rule of law is upheld, then we must see a swift and satisfactory resolution to this case.

As my colleagues will recall, this ordeal began a year and a half ago, when Egyptian forces raided both American and non-American NGO offices. During the raids, Egyptian forces seized records, computers, other electronic equipment, and hard currency. At every turn Egyptian authorities assured the NGOs and U.S. authorities that the situation would be appropriately resolved, only to renege on their word. For example, three days after the raids, U.S. NGOs were waiting for the return of their confiscated property as promised by Field Marshal Tantawi while simultaneously, another Egyptian official--Fayza Abou Naga, the government minister in charge of coordinating foreign aid-- was holding a press conference saying the property would not be returned. Abou Naga also accused the NGOs of illicitly funneling money to the April 6th Youth Movement.

When I traveled to Egypt in March of last year, my colleagues and I raised the issue of the NGOs with General Tantawi. During that trip, we also met with the Egyptian staffers who were facing charges. They were in a precarious position, and their situation has only worsened with the June 4th verdict.

We cannot in good conscience ignore the results of the recent trial, which comes on the heels of a draft law that further restricts NGOs, fails to meet Egypt's international commitments with respect to freedom of association, and lends credence to the opinion that there is an ongoing war against civil society in Egypt.

U.S. law with regard to this issue is clear in the restrictions placed on the $1.3 billion in military aid for Egypt:

Prior to the obligation of funds appropriated by this Act

under the heading `Foreign Military Financing Program,' the

Secretary of State shall certify to the Committees on

Appropriations that the Government of Egypt is supporting the

transition to civilian government including holding free and

fair elections; implementing policies to protect freedom of

expression, association, and religion, and due process of

law.

With the current state of affairs in Egypt, any such certification that Egypt is, in fact, implementing policies to guarantee the pillars of a free society would be met with skepticism. That is why news reports of Sec. Kerry's recent action to waive the restrictions on that military aid are of particular concern. It is not too late to include these important NGO issues in a larger discussion about releasing (or withholding) other tranches of money to Egypt.

Our amendment would further support the transition to democracy by requiring the Pentagon report on how Egyptian military activities contribute to an atmosphere where pro-democracy NGOs can operate freely. I encourage my colleagues to support the Connolly/Wolf/ Schneider amendment and to sign the related letter to President Morsi of Egypt.