Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, last week, I had the opportunity to gather in Upper Senate Park with thousands of individuals from across the country to demand that Congress ``Fix Not Fight'' and work together to build a better, safer, and stronger nation.

The No Labels Problem Solvers Conference brought together thousands of citizens from across all 50 States to kick-start a year of action in creating a more united path forward for our country.

Proudly, I have been part of this movement from the beginning. As a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, I hope we can all come to the table, find common ground, and focus on finding solutions.

Of course, there are some areas where we are never going to agree, and that is okay. Our differences should not divide us. Instead, we must exhibit good governance, good leadership, and serve our constituents in a manner that is worthy of the office we hold. After all, the only way that we will build a better America today and for all generations that follow us is if we come together now. Let's get to work.

Support Student Loan Debt Relief for Farmers

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the cornerstones of our rural communities: our American farmers.

These men and women are stewards of all of our land and provide the country with a safe and affordable food supply, but we need to do more to cultivate the next generation of farmers. They face tough odds by the very nature of the business, and there is a critical shortfall of skilled young and beginning farmers and ranchers.

That is why, together with Congressman Joe Courtney of Connecticut and Congressman John Faso of New York, we introduced the Young Farmer Success Act. This legislation will provide incentives for those who would like to pursue a future in the agriculture industry by adding farmers to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which currently offers loan payback assistance for professions such as government service, teaching, and nursing.

Under the program, eligible public service professionals who make 10 years of income-driven student loan payments can have the balance of their loans forgiven.

Farming is an expensive business to enter, in part because of skyrocketing land prices, and beginning farmers often see small profits or even losses in their first years of business.

In 2011, the National Young Farmers Coalition conducted a survey of 1,000 young farmers and found that 78 percent of respondents struggled with a lack of capital.

A 2014 followup survey of 700 young farmers with student loan debt found that the average burden of student loans was $35,000, and that 53 percent of respondents are currently farming, but have a hard time making their student loan payments; while another 30 percent are interested in farming, but haven't pursued it as a career because their salary as a farmer wouldn't be enough to cover their student loan payments.

Mr. Speaker, food security is national security and it aids the long-

term sustainability of our country. Our rural communities are in crisis and declining. We should do everything in our power to recruit a new generation of farmers.

Did you know that the number of new farmers entering the field of agriculture has dropped by 20 percent and the average farmer age has now risen above 58 years old? We must encourage new farmers to enter this critical industry.

I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan Young Farmer Success Act. The skyrocketing cost of higher education and the growing burden of student loan debt are presenting major obstacles for young ranchers. The burden of student loan debt can thwart their ability to purchase the farming operations they need to get started and drive them away from a career in agriculture altogether.

Let's pass this bill and help the men and women who put food on the table for American families throughout America. Our farmers feed, and we should give them every incentive to continue to do so. The American people deserve a safe, reliable, and sustainable food source. Our farmers provide that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate one of Penn State's finest events, THON, a 46-hour dance marathon. THON began in 1977. It is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, and it raises money to fight pediatric cancer. THON ran from February 17 to 19 as dancers stood for 46 hours without sleep at Bryce Jordan Center.

THON is a year-round fundraising and awareness campaign for the fight against childhood cancer, with proceeds going directly to Four Diamonds, which benefits the Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Four Diamonds ensures that families who are battling pediatric cancer are not faced with any costs, allowing them to fully focus on the needs of their child. THON 2017 raised more than $10 million, and since its inception, THON has raised more than $146 million.

This truly is an event like none other. It shows the power of what Penn State students can do and have been doing to cover the treatment costs for pediatric cancer patients as well as support cancer research. Thank you to all the Penn State students who take part in this spectacular event.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a true treasure in central Pennsylvania, actually in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, the Nittany Theatre at the Barn. This one-of-a-kind theater has a storied history which started in the late 1800s as the service barn on a working farm.

The Boal family settled the region for which the town Boalsburg is named. This town was on the main road for travelers from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. The Boal Mansion estate, which dates to 1789, is a national registered landmark.

The fourth generation of the Boal family, Colonel Theodore Davis Boal, married a descendant of Christopher Columbus and brought the Columbus Chapel to the Boal Mansion from Spain in 1909. This included an admiral's desk said to belong to Columbus himself. By the 1930s, the estate's aging barn was retired from farm use, but it would eventually take on a whole new life.

Pierre Boal retired from the diplomatic service for the country following World War II. He wanted to make the family's estate into a regional museum to display the family's vast collection of treasures and artifacts. Mr. Boal hired Lillian Dickson-Major, an English stage and film actress and lover of history, to be the first curator of the new Boal Mansion Museum. She arrived in 1953 and immediately began preparing the estate for museum service. Lillian looked at the emptied barn and saw its potential as the site for a ``most unusual theatre.''

At the same time, theater professionals throughout the country and at nearby Penn State University wondered how theater would continue to survive in a world that was captivated by television and Technicolor motion pictures. Pierre and Lillian invited several Penn State professors and theater specialists to make their plans. To close the deal, Pierre Boal leased the old barn to the newly formed Centre County Theatre Association for the generous sum of zero dollars as a means to invite and encourage culture and theater in Centre County. Entrusted to oversee the construction of a state-of-the-art arena theater, the Centre County Theatre Association brought life to Lillian's vision of the barn as a ``most unusual theatre.''

After several years of preparations and construction, the theater opened at the barn in the summer of 1959 and was a tremendous success. Many audiences enjoyed the summer performances in the old barn for decades. After a long run, the community theater company let the old barn go dark, but it was only for a brief time before Nittany Theatre at the Barn took up the cause to breathe new life once again into the historic community treasure. State-of-the-art advancements were made at the barn, merging the latest technologies with good, old-fashioned summer stock theater.

The house is stocked with 99 seats, retaining all the charm and intimacy that made the barn legendary. In addition, to enhance audiences' experiences, brand-new, state-of-the-art LED lighting and Broadway quality sound systems were installed. Nittany Theatre also partners with Penn State's School of Theatre to allow Penn State's young actors to share the stage with local seasoned actors.

Mr. Speaker, this theater is full of history and full of life. For nearly 60 years, audiences in Happy Valley have enthusiastically embraced summer theater in Pennsylvania's oldest arena barn theater. I congratulate all those who have kept this community gem open for business throughout the years. As they say in the business, ``break a leg'' this summer.

Mr. Speaker, today commemorates the 15th anniversary of March for Meals. This month-long grassroots campaign seeks to raise awareness about senior hunger and isolation. It also celebrates the proven private-public partnership of government, local community organizations, businesses, and compassionate individuals coming together to ensure that America's seniors are not forgotten.

As chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, I know how important this program is to seniors across America. One in six seniors might not know where their next meal is coming from.

But on March 22, 1972, President Nixon signed into law a measure that establishes a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older.

For nearly 45 years, these critical programs--commonly referred to as Meals on Wheels--have delivered more than just nutritious meals to homebound seniors in virtually every community across the country.

Meals on Wheels programs have come together each March, since 2002, to celebrate this proven collaboration of local community organizations, businesses, all levels of government, and compassionate individuals to ensure their seniors are not forgotten.

Thank you to everyone who works to help our seniors live healthy lives.

Mr. Speaker, this week marks Rare Disease Week on the Hill. Many Members of this House will meet with patients, caregivers, physicians, family members, and advocates from across the country about how their lives are impacted by disease.

The National Institutes of Health considers a disease rare if it affects fewer than 200,000 people across the United States. Many times the disease is accompanied by uncommon or mismatched symptoms that make diagnosing the illness difficult, and many times such illnesses are without a cure.

Mr. Speaker, before I came to Congress, I was a healthcare professional, and I have seen firsthand how devastating a disease or injury can be to an individual and to families.

I welcome the rare disease community to Washington this week, and I look forward to meeting with Representatives from the Fifth District of Pennsylvania, including Tom Weiser, James and Jean Rickard from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

Education can help shape healthcare policy, Mr. Speaker, to better meet the needs of the rare disease community, and I am pleased to be a part of that conversation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to identify an important rung on the economic ladder.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, can help pave the way for recipients to climb the economic ladder through work training.

The truth is simple: where poverty exists, skills gaps can prevent access to jobs with family-sustaining wages.

Underemployment and unemployed are leading causes of poverty, and promoting pathways to employment is the best way to help individuals climb the economic ladder out of poverty and into self-sufficiency. Combined with other welfare programs, SNAP recipients may face a welfare cliff when they are just above the income eligibility level, which can create disincentives to finding work or increasing earnings.

Better enforcement of work requirements is needed in some States, and enforcement needs to be coupled with more effective SNAP employment and training programs.

As the House Agriculture Nutrition Subcommittee chair and House Career and Technical Education Caucus co-chair, I am committed to reforming the nutrition needs of today and greater opportunities for tomorrow for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the important role the Manufacturing Extension Partnership plays in strengthening U.S. manufacturing. This public-private partnership consists of a nationwide system of centers located throughout the United States.

Manufacturers can receive several services by visiting a designated MEP center, including workforce development, supply chain development, commercialization, exporting, and many other helpful strategies.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with the Innovative Manufacturers' Center in my home district. The IMC works to increase the innovation, productivity, and growth for manufacturers in central Pennsylvania. Over the past 25 years, IMC has helped more than 600 manufacturing companies in its 12-county region of the Keystone State.

Mr. Speaker, American manufacturing is a critical part of our economy. I am pleased to see that public-private partnership is working to help support small and midsized manufacturers.

These are the businesses that employ our neighbors and produce quality made in America products. I look forward to seeing their continued growth, and I salute the centers nationwide that help them do just that.

Mr. Speaker, the House Agriculture Committee has been focused on the issue of food insecurity and the programs that serve those in need beyond personal resources, family support, and community programs.

Many are surprised to learn that 22,000 Active Duty military families receive supplemental nutritional assistance, or SNAP. Food insecurity for the families of these American heroes can be triggered by low pay among lower-ranking enlistees, high military spouse unemployment, larger household sizes, and unexpected financial emergencies.

We lifted one barrier to SNAP assistance for military families by disbanding the Department of Defense-administered Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance, or FSSA. It was determined that the FSSA benefit was duplicative, underutilized, hard to qualify for, and less valuable than SNAP, with as few as 100 military families utilizing

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 107th birthday of an organization near and dear to my heart: the Boy Scouts of America.

On May 17, 1977, I became an Eagle Scout myself as a member of Boy Scout Troop 52, Walker Township, Pennsylvania. Over the years, I have proudly held various leadership roles with Boy Scout troops in Pennsylvania, including two separate stints as scoutmaster of Troop 353 in Howard.

One of my greatest honors was to witness 29 young men achieve the rank of Eagle Scout during my time as scoutmaster. The Boy Scouts of America is the largest Scouting organization in the United States, one of the largest youth organizations in the world. It boasts more than 2.4 million youth participants and more than 1 million adult volunteers.

Mr. Speaker, at its core, Scouting encourages that we leave this world a little bit better than how we found it. This value-based youth development organization provides programs for young people that build character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness, personal self-reliance.

The Boy Scouts of America has helped build future leaders by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes--and, through over a century of experience, knows--that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.

Scouting focuses on moral character development, citizenship training, and development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness. Scouting promotes serving others every day in ways big and small. These values are something all of us can respect and admire. Family involvement is an essential part of the program, and parents are encouraged to play an active role in making the most of the short time they have to impact the lives of their children.

Scouting is designed to be experienced outdoors. Hiking, camping, mountain biking, skateboarding, BMX, mountain climbing, kayaking, white-water rafting--these are just some of a Scout's outdoor experiences.

The Scouting program is delivered through local civic, faith-based, and educational institutions called charter organizations, which operate Scouting units to deliver the programs to their youth members as well as the community at large. These organizations are dedicated to helping youth learn and grow, and I have enthusiastically been involved in Scouting for decades.

Boy Scouts offer more than 130 merit badges, from archery and art to welding and wilderness survival. Scouting is the ultimate form of learning by doing. Boy Scouts explore their interests and improve their skills while working towards Scouting's highest rank: Eagle. By first imaging, planning, then doing their own service projects, Boy Scouts learn the value of hard work and experience the thrill of seeing it pay off. Add in outdoor adventures, hiking, and camping, and Scouting gives boys all the experiences they need to become fine men.

The Venturing program, which is a co-ed division of the Boy Scouts, is geared towards men and women, ages 14 to 20. Venturing's motto ``Lead the Adventure'' is truly geared towards the pursuit of adventure: exploring new places with friends and accomplishing challenges together. There are currently 158,000 Venturers and 58,000 adult volunteers with the Venturing program in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot be more proud of this organization and the way it helps shape young lives. Happy birthday, Boy Scouts of America. Thank you for the wisdom that you have imparted in millions of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today, there will be a lot of focus on hearts, and I would like to talk about heart health.

February marks American Heart Month, which is an annual awareness

campaign for the number one killer in the United States--heart disease.

The first American Heart Month was declared in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. While the death rate from heart disease has dropped considerably since the 1960s, we still have much work to do.

More than 17 million deaths a year are attributed to heart disease and stroke. But studies show that 80 percent of cardiac events and strokes are preventable.

What is truly important for Americans to know is that heart disease is within their control if they have a family history where a loved one has suffered, or even died, from heart disease.

The good news is that the risk of heart disease can be lowered through a healthy lifestyle and regular checkups.

It is my hope that all Americans will take their heart health seriously and educate themselves on how to lead a healthy life in the spirit of American Heart Month.

Mr. Speaker, February is Career and Technical Education Month.

As co-chairman of the Career and Technical Education Caucus, and as a senior member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I have long been aware of the importance of CTE programs that provide learners of all ages with career-ready skills.

From agriculture to the arts, from marketing to manufacturing, CTE programs work to develop America's most valuable resource--its people.

CTE is taught in a range of settings, from high schools and area technical centers, to technical and 2-year community colleges. In total, 12.5 million

high school and college students are enrolled in CTE programs across the Nation.

Last Congress, I was proud to introduce the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. This bill, which passed the House by a vote of 405-5, aimed to close the skills gap by modernizing the Federal investment in CTE programs and connecting educators with industry stakeholders.

I look forward to reintroducing similar legislation this Congress and I remain committed to working with the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), my CTE Caucus co-chair and good friend, to improve our Nation's career and technical education system.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about some significant changes for our education system that will help reestablish local control for our States, for our educators, and, above all else, for our students.

The Every Student Succeeds Act, or the ESSA, was passed in December of 2015, with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House and the Senate. This bill took unilateral power over the public school system away from the Secretary of Education in Washington and gave it back to the States and the local education agencies. This change allowed States to develop their own accountability systems with which to measure the success of their schools and educators.

However, the final guidance on this law issued by the Obama administration, in November of 2016, contained a number of provisions that significantly expanded the law's requirements and violated the statute's prohibition against overreach by the Secretary. Essentially, this action ignored congressional intent by attempting to constrain State decisionmaking.

Mr. Speaker, the very intent of ESSA is to encourage flexibility and innovation in education, not stifle it. This landmark legislation is meant to prepare students for the 21st century economy, empower parents to get out of the bleachers and back into the classrooms, and to allow our dedicated educators to teach and inspire future generations.

ESSA moved the Federal Government out of the way and gave our educators flexibility to forget about the ``teach to the test'' environment that had become commonplace in our public schools. Teachers were, again, allowed to truly teach and not merely focus on meeting the demands of the Federal Government. Education should serve the needs of our youth, our children, not the needs of government.

This happened by taking unprecedented steps to rein in the unilateral power of the United States Secretary of Education and give it back to the States and local education agencies. It prohibited the Secretary from adding new requirements to State education plans, being involved in the peer-review process, and exceeding his or her statutory authority. It also allows school districts to gradually disentangle themselves from Common Core without penalty.

Mr. Speaker, what we know is that one-size-fits-all options do not work. ESSA was passed with the promise that the Education Department's role would be limited, and that States would be back in control of education decisions. It is critically important that Congress keep this promise, and that over-regulation will not continue to negatively impact our Nation's teachers and our students.

That is why I support the Congressional Review Act resolution in the House today that disapproves of the Obama administration's requirements that significantly expanded the Department of Education's purview regarding accountability and State plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

This Congress must ensure ESSA is enacted as it was intended and be stripped of any provisions that expand the reach of the Secretary of Education.

Now, I am looking forward to going back to the original intent of this bipartisan bill that was approved in both Chambers, and I want all of our children to love learning from passionate teachers who don't teach to a test, but they teach to the students. Our kids deserve no less.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of the veterans that have made incredible sacrifices for our country. Our Nation must ensure that they have access to resources that they need to be successful in civilian life. This certainly includes access to nutritious food.

Out of the 22 million veterans in the United States, about 1.7 million are in households that currently participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Approximately 46 percent of our veterans are senior citizens, including those who served in World War II, Korea, or Vietnam.

Veterans of all ages may also have widely varying levels of disabilities or limitations. Veteran advocacy groups are focused on obtaining a veteran's earned benefits. Often veterans are not connected to SNAP right away and they should be.

As the Agriculture Committee prepares to reauthorize SNAP, we must remain vigilant in our dedication to serve those who have given so much in defense of our Nation. SNAP cannot solve all of the challenges a veteran faces, but it can be a vital component of serving eligible veterans once they return home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the start of National School Counseling Week to recognize the tremendous impact that school counselors have on our students.

School counselors are committed to helping students realize their full potential. They encourage students to explore their ability, strengths, interests, and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development.

National School Counseling Week is sponsored by the American School Counselor Association and is always observed during the first full week of

February. This week's theme is ``School Counseling: Helping Students Realize Their Potential.''

Mr. Speaker, what we know is that school counselors are integral to student success. Counselors not only help students reach their academic and career goals, but they focus on assisting with social and personal development, too. Many parents also benefit from the assistance of school counselors as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today's world.

Our counselors play a vital role in the total education of children. I salute these professionals in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and throughout the United States for their dedication to preparing our students to achieve success and become productive members of society in this ever-changing world.

Thank you to our school counselors for all you do to help educate students nationwide. Happy National School Counseling Week.

Mr. Speaker, today marks the conclusion of the annual Catholic Schools

Week in America, and I rise today to celebrate these quality educational institutions.

This year, the theme celebrated was ``Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.'' Schools across the country observe the week with masses, open houses, and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and contributions to their church, communities, and to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, Catholic schools provide an excellent education to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. These schools offer academic excellence and faith-filled education for students nationwide. National test scores, high school graduation rates, college attendance, and other data show Catholic schools frequently outperform schools in both the public and private sectors.

While there have been challenges to enrollment in some areas, the good news is that there is a strong demand and enthusiasm for the rigorous and quality education Catholic schools provide. Nearly 30 percent of the schools have waiting lists for admission, and new schools are opening across the country.

Congratulations to all involved in Catholic Schools Week and your efforts to educate the next generation.