Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true gem in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, the Rowland Theatre, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Rowland Theatre opened its doors on June 4, 1917. Its visionary was Congressman Charles Rowland, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1915 and represented the 21st Congressional District, which included Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, and McKean Counties.

The Rowland Theatre was actually one small part of Congressman Rowland's life, but it would be the project that would become his legacy. The theater not only showed the latest silent movies during its first few decades, it was also the location for the top traveling shows in the country.

Now the Rowland Theatre shows feature films and also hosts plays, as well as choir and orchestra performances. The 1,000-seat theater remains an anchor of downtown Philipsburg, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Rowland Theatre is open 364 days a year, closing only on Christmas Eve.

Mr. Speaker, the Rowland Theatre is a real treasure. Here is to another 100 years.

Congratulations.

Mr. Chairman, I thank you so much for this opportunity. It is great to have a distinguished brother Eagle Scout like yourself.

Mr. Speaker, Scouting has been a part of my family--or I have been part of the Scouting family, actually, since I was 11 years old. When I was 11 years old, my mom and dad did an amazing thing; they did what today I would call a good turn. It was really an amazing turn. They actually opened their home up--and this was appropriate since we are talking about a lot of foster youth this week, kids that grew up in foster families. They opened our family up to a boy that was just 2 years older than I, Bob. Bob came as a foster brother, and he is still my brother today.

Bob has some special needs. Bob had been bouncing around foster care homes his whole life, but when he came to our house, he didn't bounce anymore. He stuck. Like I said, he became my brother and is my brother today.

My mom and dad made a promise to him. One of the positive things that happened to Bob in the home he had been living in prior to coming to our home was that he got involved in a Boy Scout Troop. That Boy Scout Troop experience did amazing things for Bob. It really did. It was life changing for him because it allowed Bob to have success experiences, to enjoy the outdoors, and to flourish with things that he really developed a passion for.

As an 11-year-old younger brother, I lucked out. When mom and dad took Bob back over a couple of valleys to the Scout Troop where he was associated with--there was no Scout Troop in my hometown at the time--I got to tag along. I was 11 years old, and I never looked back.

I have been involved in Scouting since I have been 11 years old. I went on to achieve and earn my Eagle Scout Award. I have served as a Chapter Chief and a Juniata Lodge Chief in the Monocan Lodge in the Juniata Valley Council with the Order of the Arrow. I went on to be a Scout Master for 30 years.

One of the hardest parts about coming to Congress was the fact that I wasn't going to be home to be able to work with those youth leaders who were leading the troop for Scout meetings, campouts, and events on the weekend. That was the hardest part about taking this job because I had been a Scout Master for almost 30 years. I had trained Scout Masters, I was a course director, and I had served my council as a council president.

I am still involved with Scouting. I was back at my old stomping ground at the Seven Mountains Scout Camp in Spring Mills, Pennsylvania, on Sunday for an Eagle Scout court of honor. Here is the cool part of that: at that site over 70 years ago, my father-in-law received his Eagle Scout Award. Now, I am not saying it should be a prerequisite for picking out a wife that her dad is an Eagle Scout, but it worked out okay for me. It wasn't a bad thing.

So Scouting has been a big part of our family. My wife, Penny, has been a Cub Scout leader and a committee member, and, yes, a Scouting widow when our three sons and I, at different times, would pack up and go off to camp and High Adventure. Sometimes she would come along, actually. A lot of times she was left at home. Unfortunately, she was there to accept all the dirty laundry at the end of the weekend or the week, but she is just as much a Scouting leader. When I think about a great Scouting leader, my wife, Penny, comes to mind with what she has done.

I enjoy the opportunities to go out to Eagle Scout courts of honor. It really is a great opportunity to reconnect and to be a part of Scouting. I enjoy going to Girl Scout Gold Awards as well. So when I go there, normally I will look at the new Eagle Scout. I will talk about how we are there to celebrate all the merit badges they have earned, the citizenship that has been reflected in their actions, the character that we have seen, and the service that they have provided that now entitles them to be able to have that red, white, and blue piece of ribbon with a piece of metal in the shape of an eagle hang from their chest.

I also tell them they are ready for one last test question. I will look them in the eye and say: It has been over 100 years since Scouting came to these shores from England, where Scouting was first originated. So the question I give them is: Over 100 years, how many Eagle Scout Awards have been given away?

These kids are really smart. Somehow they are trying to do the math in their head. I stop them, and I say: Whoa. Stop. This is a trick question. The answer is zero. They have all been earned. None of them has ever been given away.

I talk about how now, as new Eagle Scouts, they have this tool chest that they carry with them. They don't carry it physically in their hands; they carry it in here. And it really is the principles of Scouting, because we stop and we start our meetings, we start our meetings, we end our meetings, we do our campouts and our Scouts' own worship services. We are always using and repeating the 12 points of the Scout law and three parts of the Scout promise. We do that because we want these boys who start out as young boys and become men to have muscle memory.

Muscle memory is not just on the good days where it is easy things, where things are going well and we are all celebrating and high-fiving each other and life is good, but on the bad days. Bad days do come. Life will be hard at times. We want them, especially in those times, to be able to rely on that muscle memory of those principles of Scouting.

I talk about how in this Chamber we are here voting. The chairman knows this. There are 435 of us. It is kind of interesting if you watch how people make up their mind to vote. It is pretty diverse sometimes. But for people like myself--I will take the liberty. I know this man well. This gentleman right here, Mr. Sessions, is an Eagle Scout. I fall back on the principles of Scouting.

I ask myself four questions when it comes time to vote. The first question is: In the decision I am about to make, what is my duty to God? Is the decision righteous according to God's Word and my faith?

Now, I said there are four questions. But if the answer is ``no'' on the first one, I don't go on to two, three, and four. I stop right there. If the answer is ``yes,'' then the next question is: In the

decision I am about to make, what is my duty to country? What does the Constitution have to say about this decision that is before us?

The third question I ask is: In the decision I am about to make, what is my duty to others?

Now, that one is a little harder because that is like: How does this impact more than 730,000 citizens that I have the privilege and honor to represent--16 counties, 24 percent of the landmass of Pennsylvania?

Finally, the last question is: What is my duty to self?

Now, for those who maybe it has been awhile since you have been involved in the Scouting family or maybe you just never had that opportunity, there is still time for everybody to get involved and support Scouting. There are a lot of volunteer jobs out there that can be filled. What we mean when we say duty to self, it is not self- serving. We define that by in every action we take and every decision we make, we are prepared to do our best. That is a reflection of the Scout motto and the Scout slogans. So those are principles as Eagle Scouts I really do believe that, by that point, it becomes muscle memory.

Any youth, for whatever period of time they have the opportunity to serve in Scouting, we know based on the research division of the Boy Scouts of America that it makes a difference in their lives.

I will finish up with this. I have said that, as a Scout Master for 30 years, I have seen this work its way out countless times, but let me take a personal privilege and just mention three particular Eagle Scouts: Parker, Logan, and Kale Thompson, my three sons. They are all three Eagle Scouts. They are all adults now. They are scattered--if anything, maybe one flaw is we made them too independent. They are now flourishing, one in Elgin, Illinois; one in San Antonio, Texas; and one in Trenton, New Jersey. Independent--I guess Scouting will do that. You learn to fly as an Eagle Scout.

I will tell you what I have seen. Parker today is a great dad. What he does with his two little guys, I see the lessons he learned in Scouting that just come through in how he nourishes.

Logan, my second son, is a soldier. Although I worried about him, I didn't worry as much when he was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan because I knew that, as an Eagle Scout, he could handle whatever came to him.

My youngest, Kale, is a music teacher today who nourishes and just serves youth, kids in middle school, and makes such a difference in their lives.

In the lives of my three sons, I see how being a Boy Scout and an Eagle Scout has made them better men and made them better in all the roles that they serve.

Madam Speaker, May is ALS Awareness Month. It is a time many lend their voices to the fight against ALS and help raise awareness about this devastating disease.

ALS is often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, after the baseball great was diagnosed with the progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Recently, I had the honor of meeting with people from Pennsylvania to talk about ALS, including Michael Bond, who has ALS, and his wife and caretaker, Karen Bond, both of Edinboro, Pennsylvania; and Jayne Cawthorne of Centre County, Pennsylvania, who is a long-time advocate for the ALS Association. Jayne and her daughter have been visiting with me since I was first elected to Congress, and their advocacy continues to build hope while their association aggressively searches for new treatments and cures.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1361, which would ensure access to complex rehabilitation technology such as power wheelchairs and their components and accessories. When you have lost the ability to walk, move your hands, or hold your head up, these technologies are critical.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, I had the privilege of visiting the DC Central Kitchen, which is a nonprofit that fights hunger and poverty here in the Nation's Capital. But it fights hunger differently. Yes, DC Central Kitchen feeds people who are hungry. It also offers the training, empowerment, and career opportunities that allow people to finally be free from hunger and poverty.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Nutrition of the Committee on Agriculture, this visit was especially important to me, and I am grateful that I could volunteer and tour the site with my colleague and subcommittee ranking member, Congressman Jim McGovern.

DC Central Kitchen is located in the basement of one of the Nation's largest homeless shelters. It focuses its services on addressing the deeper issues that have plagued generations: hunger, homelessness, incarceration, and, ultimately, poverty.

CEO Michael Curtin made it very clear that DC Central Kitchen isn't merely offering handouts to those in need. He said, ``You can't feed your way out of poverty,'' and I wholeheartedly agree with him. DC Central Kitchen puts as much emphasis on training those who come through its doors to prepare them to earn living wages as it does to provide meals to Washington's marginalized citizens.

People who receive services there truly do have a chance to escape poverty. They find employment right at DC Central Kitchen or in Washington's hospitality industry. DC Central Kitchen is helping people find jobs that pay living wages and obtain lasting careers.

In 1989, a nightclub manager named Robert Egger founded DC Central Kitchen. He was frustrated with his volunteer experiences at traditional charitable responses to help end hunger and homelessness. His idea was to create a ``central kitchen'' where wasted food could be turned into balanced meals for shelters and nonprofits and jobless adults could be trained in the culinary arts.

Of course, the critics said it couldn't be done. It was unwise. It was unsustainable. The concept was just not possible, they said. Well, they were wrong. And Robert was ahead of the curve and ahead of his time.

DC Central Kitchen's successes have been celebrated nationally. Its story has been featured in outlets ranging from National Geographic to The Washington Post to The Chronicle of Philanthropy and many more places. It works every day to transform food that would otherwise be wasted into nutritious meals for homeless shelters and nonprofits. It serves farm-to-school menus to low-income schoolchildren, all while creating job opportunities for unemployed adults who have completed its culinary job training program.

The numbers are clear. Last year, 91 individuals graduated from the program; 88 percent of them found good-paying jobs. Fifty percent of last year's graduates received a wage increase within 12 months of being on that job.

DC Central Kitchen has also expanded access to healthy foods by making them available at corner stores in D.C.'s food deserts. Last year alone, it supported store owners in selling more than 207,000 units of affordable, healthy snacks and produce.

Mr. Speaker, DC Central Kitchen is a shining example of what can be done to truly help the underserved in our communities all across this Nation. By giving individuals career training and job skills, it allows them to break the back of intergenerational poverty that has hindered the lives of so many.

No one in America should go hungry. Everyone deserves a shot at living a full, healthy, and productive life. DC Central Kitchen shows us this is possible.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my congratulations to the staff, to the volunteers, to the students, and to all those who had this vision with DC Central Kitchen.

Mr. Speaker, May is National Foster Care Month and a time to recognize the more than 400,000 foster youth in America. During this month, we renew our commitment to ensuring that every child has a safe, loving family.

I am a member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and continue to this day to have a foster brother that I grew up with. I know firsthand how a loving, supportive home can make all the difference in a young person's life.

Mr. Speaker, if we were able to bring together all these children into one city, this city would be the 43rd or the 44th largest city in the country. More than 200,000 children enter the foster care system every year, which translates to a child entering care every 2 minutes. Approximately 254,000 will leave foster care this year; nearly 128,000 will be reunified with their families; another 52,000 will find new loving families through adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I thank every foster parent, volunteer, and mentor who works to make sure the needs of our children are not only being met, but they have the opportunity to thrive in a loving home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Mental Health Awareness Month to talk about a growing group of individuals who need our help: our veterans.

More than 16 percent of veterans have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder. Up to 43 percent struggle with symptoms of mental health issues, such as drinking excessively, smoking, or sleeplessness. These struggles have resulted in an unacceptably high suicide rate for our veterans. Every day, 20 veterans take their own lives, which is almost double the rate of nonveterans.

Mr. Speaker, this is heartbreaking. It is unacceptable, and we must act. That is why I was proud today to join with

Congressman Tim Ryan in introducing the Veterans Wellness Act of 2017.

This bill brings mental healthcare to our veterans by establishing a 2-year grant program to provide wellness care and additional therapies at veteran service organizations like the American Legion, the VFW, and AMVETS. Many offer skilled assistance with VA enrollment that could help our veterans get the care that they so desperately need.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to ensure our veterans receive the best care possible.

Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from across the country arrived in Washington for National Police Week.

Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. National Police Week is a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring America's law enforcement community.

The National Peace Officers' Memorial Service took place on Monday as the Nation paused to remember officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. A candlelight vigil hosted Saturday evening recognized nearly 400 fallen officers. This week honors the men and women in blue who gave everything to protect their country and their communities.

Earlier this year, Pennsylvania mourned the loss of 23-year-old State Trooper Landon Weaver, who was killed in the line of duty on December 30, 2016.

Our officers put on their uniforms each day knowing that they can be in harm's way at any moment. On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you to all of our officers who serve.

Mr. Speaker, last Congress I introduced bipartisan legislation to give schools the flexibility to provide low- fat flavored milk as a part of the National School Lunch Program.

I am happy to announce that the omnibus bill we passed yesterday contains language from my legislation and allows the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture to grant exemptions to schools that wish to provide students with flavored, nutritional, low-fat fluid milk at breakfast and lunch.

Mr. Speaker, milk is the number one source of nine essential nutrients in young Americans' diets and provides multiple health benefits, including better bone health, lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes.

Consumption of milk in schools has been on the decline for several years, despite the fact that public school enrollment continues to grow. Not only is the declining consumption detrimental to the health of young people, but it is adversely affecting our Nation's dairy farmers.

The bottom line is, if children won't consume milk, there is no way it can be nutritious. I am glad to see flavored milk back in our school cafeterias.

Mr. Speaker, on this National Day of Prayer, there will be today, with the bills being considered, many words and powerful words being spoken here today, but none more powerful spoken on this day, the National Day of Prayer, in our Capitol, than three words: Let us pray.

Mr. Speaker, I recently attended the 24th Honors Banquet for the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Nine new Members were inducted into the Hall's membership, including Paul Packer, a 1973 Bald Eagle Area High School graduate.

Paul was the last 95-pound State champion in 1972. He had an undefeated season that year of 23-0. He started wrestling in elementary school for Hall of Fame coach Joe Humphreys, who continued to coach Paul into junior high. At the varsity level, Paul wrestled for Hall of Famer Dick Rhoades. He was Coach Rhoades' first State champion.

After his competitive wrestling career was over, Paul became a referee. Paul was a highly respected and outstanding wrestling official. During his 37 years as a referee, Paul spent more than a dozen years officiating district and regional championships, as well as five State championships.

Paul is retired and resides in Milesburg, Pennsylvania. He is active in his community and was a coach for the Bald Eagle Wrestling Club for several years.

Mr. Speaker, from one Hall of Famer to another, congratulations, Paul, on this well-deserved honor.

Pennsylvania's Fifth District Congressional Art Competition Winners

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the winners of the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District Congressional Art Competition.

On Saturday, an independent panel of judges viewed 37 submissions of artwork at the Winkler Gallery of Fine Art in DuBois, Pennsylvania. Entries were at an all-time high this year, and I am so proud of all of our students who showcased their talent in this competition.

First place goes to Cassy Lester of Reynoldsville for her acrylic painting titled ``Chocolate Lab.'' Cassy is a student at Jeff Tech, a career and technology education center, and her teacher is Ms. Angela Dragich.

Congratulations, Cassy. We look forward to hosting you here in Washington, D.C., with the rest of the winners from throughout the Nation.

Proudly, Cassy's artwork will hang in the tunnel to the Capitol for 1 year.

The other runners up are Madelyn Ostermann of Fort LeBoeuf High School for her entry titled ``Eyes,'' and Alexander Spangler of Bellefonte Area High School for his entry titled ``Tracks of Ingenuity.''

We also had several honorable mentions, including ``Self Portrait'' by Megan DiNicola of Fort LeBoeuf High School, ``True Colors'' by Maggie Prutznal of Punxsutawney Area High School, ``Jungle Scene'' by Allison Copella of DuBois Area High School, ``Emmaleigh'' by Kailynn Morrison of Oil City High School, ``Wondrous Wonders'' by Willow Felver of Fort LeBoeuf High School, ``Wonderwall'' by Kassidy Hall of Fort LeBoeuf High School, and ``Thomas L. Kelly'' by Margaret Morgenstern of Fort LeBoeuf High School.

Mr. Speaker, each spring the Congressional Art Competition takes place, hosted by the Congressional Institute. The nationwide high school visual art competition recognizes and encourages artistic talent in the Nation and in each congressional district.

Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. The vision, talent, and creativity of our high school students always makes me so proud.

Thank you to all the students from Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District who shared their masterpieces this weekend, and I hope to see you again next year if you are eligible to showcase your work.

Mr. Speaker, I offer congratulations to our first-place winner, Cassy.

Mr. Speaker, Sunday marks the start of Teacher Appreciation Week nationwide. The National Education Association and the National PTA have teamed up to celebrate America's hardworking, dedicated, and passionate teachers.

Tuesday, May 9, is the official Teacher Day.

Mr. Speaker, I think every Member of this House can think of a teacher who had a positive influence on not only their education, but their life. Our teachers push students to achieve their best and they show students how to realize their full potential.

Teachers are often the most underrated, yet powerful professionals in the entire world. They truly do shape young minds. Teachers lend a caring hand and extend a loving heart. They make differences in the lives of our students academically, emotionally, and physically.

So to every teacher in America, I say to you: Thank you for the job that you do, for the hours that you work, for the patience you show, and for the impact you have on so many lives. Happy National Teachers Week. This Nation would be lost without you.

Mr. Speaker, roughly 2 million children experience maltreatment each year in the United States. Children who experience maltreatment face the possibility of a lifetime struggle with mental, emotional, behavioral, and physical health difficulties.

Thankfully, the National Institutes of Health recognizes the need for critical research on the topic and solicited a competitive process to fund an academic institution to study this for the first time ever.

Proudly, it chose Penn State University. Penn State was selected based on scientific merit to establish the Center for Healthy Children. It will receive a grant of $7.7 million over 5 years, and Penn State has committed $3.4 million in funding, bringing the total to more than $11 million.

Mr. Speaker, this is the first national center for child maltreatment studies. The award announcement came in April during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The research generated will impact lives nationwide and throughout the world.

Penn State president, Eric Barron, noted that they recruited the best and the brightest researchers to work on this issue. The faculty will conduct cutting-edge research focused on the detection, treatment, and prevention of child abuse, and for training the next generation of scientists and child advocates.

Leading the research project is Jennie Noll, professor of human development and family studies at Penn State College of Health and Human Development and director of the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network. A team of distinguished researchers will work with Noll on the project.

Noll said:

``It is an incredible honor to be selected by the NIH as an organization that has the capacity to make a tangible impact on the lives of children. I'm inspired to be working with this incredibly talented group of world-renowned researchers as we forge this vital path ahead.''

Mr. Speaker, more than 1,500 U.S. children die annually from child abuse. That number is similar to the mortality rate from all forms of pediatric cancer combined. Roughly 40 percent of child maltreatment deaths result from abusive head trauma. That is heartbreaking, and it is wrong.

So I congratulate Penn State University for leading the effort nationally to fully research this critical issue. Together, we can help all children see a better future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Small Business Week to acknowledge the important role small businesses play in our communities nationwide. I am proud to be the product of a small- business family.

Small businesses are responsible for creating 63 percent of new jobs, and they employ more than 47 percent of the employees in the private sector.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is also marking the week with events hosted by the Small Business Development Center. From workshops to webinars, there is information for those looking to start a small business and those looking to grow their businesses. Even long-time small-business owners can get advice on how to continue to thrive or find a renewed sense of direction.

Pennsylvania Small Business Week recognizes the significant contributions of our small businesses and highlights the resources available to support their growth in the Keystone State.

The Nation has celebrated Small Business Week each year since 1963. I would like to congratulate all the small-business owners for the role they play in employing our neighbors, serving our communities, and creating two out of every three new jobs in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on May 1 to recognize Silver Star Service Banner Day. Today is a day when we honor the service and sacrifice of our Active-Duty men and women from all branches of the service from all wars. Silver Star Service Banner Day started in 2007 and is sponsored by the Silver Star Families of America, which is dedicated to supporting and assisting wounded, ill, injured, and dying Active-Duty veterans and their families.

May is also National Military Appreciation Month. All month long, we have the opportunity to honor, remember, recognize, and appreciate those who serve and have served. Our military men and women continue to play a major role in the development of our country documented through a history of uncompromising honor, dedication to duty, and genuine love of country.

Personally, I am a proud military dad, as my son Logan continues to serve in the United States Army and my daughter-in-law, Carley, is now a veteran. Mr. Speaker, we are the home of the free because of the brave, and I want to thank all who serve this great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, only two individuals have ever offered to willingly die for you. One was Jesus Christ and the other was the American soldier. One died for your soul, the other died for your freedom.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the good work of the State College Area Food Bank in Centre County, Pennsylvania. In 1982, the food bank opened in the basement of the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church as a temporary solution to a temporary need. As the need continued, so did the food bank. Today, it has a permanent home in a large facility on South Atherton Street.

The need is great, and the statistics are alarming. Nearly 15 percent of Centre County's population lived in food-insecure homes in 2015--the highest in the Commonwealth. It means that more than 22,000 individuals lack regular access to adequate food. Thankfully, the food bank is filling a void in the community. In 2016, it distributed more than 400,000 pounds of food and fed nearly 1,700 individuals.

I rise today as the chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition but also as a proud citizen of Centre County. The food bank hopes that one day no one will go hungry in Centre County. Thankfully, it is working every day to realize that goal.