Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the McClure Bean Soup Festival. Over the weekend, I attended the 132nd McClure Bean Soup Festival in Snyder County, Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District.

This annual celebration started when Captain Michael Smith and several other surviving Civil War veterans wanted to host a reunion with other veterans, and it has now grown into a weeklong fair.

Supposedly, Captain Smith and his comrades basically had beans and some ham and, therefore, decided to provide bean soup for all their comrades who were attending that reunion. Today, this fair has vendors, rides, and games, but the biggest attraction is the bean soup.

Last year, volunteers made more than 30 kettles, and, yes, the recipe has stayed the same for more than 130 years.

Mr. Speaker, this weeklong festival is a staple in the Snyder County community. It is a unique way to remember the veterans of the Civil War while building memories within the community.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to next year's McClure Bean Soup Festival as well.

Mr. Speaker, before I was elected to serve in the House of Representatives, I spent nearly 30 years in the nonprofit healthcare field assisting those facing life-changing diseases and disabilities with therapists, rehabilitation service managers, and a licensed nursing home administrator.

I am acutely aware of the challenges many face when it comes to obtaining reasonably priced healthcare. It is especially critical for rural America, like much of the 15th Congressional District of Pennsylvania that I am honored to serve.

As the Member of Congress representing nearly one-third of the land mass of Pennsylvania, one of the most rural districts east of the Mississippi, I am keenly aware of the problems that my constituents face when accessing medical services.

We are facing a healthcare crisis in our Nation's rural areas. These often disadvantaged populations are still struggling to access affordable, quality care. Many remain uninsured. Most are underinsured. However, access to quality care remains the largest challenge.

Even when people gain access to health insurance, it doesn't mean equal access to care. Rural hospitals across the country are closing, leaving patients without access to emergency rooms and long-term care facilities.

In addition to hospital closures, a workforce shortage plagues rural America. The patient-to-primary care

physician ratio in rural areas is only 39.8 physicians per 100,000 people compared to 53.3 physicians per 100,000 in urban areas. Recruitment and retention of experienced professionals, including primary care physicians, is an ongoing challenge.

Furthermore, the opioid epidemic that is sweeping the Nation has ravaged our rural communities, leaving even more of the population in need of crucial health services.

Adolescents and young adults living in rural areas are more vulnerable to opioid abuse than their urban counterparts. The prevalence of fatal drug overdoses has skyrocketed in rural areas. High unemployment and a greater rate of types of injuries that result in prescriptions for opioid medications have contributed to this.

On March 5, 2010, Congress passed sweeping legislation--the Affordable Care Act--which fundamentally realigned our Nation's healthcare system. Since passage of this bill, my worst nightmares have become a reality, as the law's interpretation continues to drive up costs, saddle small businesses with burdensome regulations, and impose unfunded mandates on people throughout the Commonwealth by shifting costs from the Federal Government to the States.

Unfortunately, what we have also seen since the passage of this law is the consolidation of providers in the healthcare industry. Small and independent providers were unable to bear the burden of the ACA's various mandates, and many of them were forced to merge with larger health systems that have dramatically consolidated care over the last decade.

Luckily, Congress has been able to repeal key components of this bill since it was first enacted, including the individual mandate. Additionally, as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic that uniquely strained rural healthcare systems in Pennsylvania and across the country, we must always look for ways to stabilize and recover from what has been a turbulent few years. Moving forward, we must provide commonsense reforms that improve our Nation's healthcare system and access across the country, including those in rural America.

One of the best ways to do this is by promoting access to telehealth. As part of the National Telehealth Awareness Week, this week I plan to reintroduce the HEALTH Act, which allows community health centers and rural health clinics to continue to provide telehealth services and receive fair reimbursement for doing so. It is these types of policies that promote access to care for all Americans, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to fix our flawed healthcare system.

Currently, healthcare costs have gone up, premiums have increased by double digits, but choices have decreased. That is not right. It is not fair, and it is not feasible. There must be a better way, and I know that together we will work to find a stable transition to a 21st century healthcare system that works for everyone in America, particularly those who live in rural regions where the need is great and services are scarce.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Karen L. Krisch of Centre County for being named the 2023 National Distinguished Principal of the Year.

An educator for 29 years, Principal Krisch has served in her current role as principal at Marion-Walker Elementary School in the Bellefonte Area School District since 2017. Previously, she was principal at Bellefonte Area Elementary School, principal and vice principal at the Bellefonte Area Middle School, and an assistant administrator for the Bald Eagle Area School District. She also taught vocational education at the secondary level for 6 years, specifically to high-poverty students.

Principal Krisch encourages the staff and teachers at her school to expand opportunities for students resulting in excellent representation at the annual reading competition, participation in Bellefonte READS, and raising nearly $10,000 per year for the Four Diamond Fund through the school's minithon.

Outside of the classroom, Karen participates in a polar plunge each year to raise funds for the YMCA antihunger program and she is a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist volunteering frequently for conservation and State park programs.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Principal Krisch on this tremendous achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Allegheny National Forest centennial. For the last 100 years, the only national forest in Pennsylvania has been a shining example of what a multiple-use forest can do and be for a region.

This great forest wasn't always this vibrant. Prior to President Calvin Coolidge signing a proclamation establishing the Allegheny National Forest, or what we refer to as ANF, in 1923, there was considerable deforestation throughout Pennsylvania's northern tier.

This was a result of unsustainable and poor forestry practices during the 19th century and early 20th century. A century later, forests throughout the region have largely been restored and forest health has returned across the landscape by applying science and active forest management.

Located in the northern portion of my district, this incredible forest spans more than half a million acres across Forest, Elk, McKean, and Warren Counties.

Whether it is timber harvesting, energy production, wildlife habitat, or an abundance of outdoor activities, the Allegheny National Forest has it all.

The ANF is the economic engine of the region, supporting local jobs and industries, as well as recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

The ANF is an important partner to the forest products industry, which is incredibly important for this region for both economic needs and encouraging forest health. The local logging and forest products industry play important roles in supporting the Forest Service's mandate to actively manage national forests and ensure a reliable source of domestic timber.

The Allegheny National Forest is also located in the same area as Pennsylvania's historic oil region, which began in 1859 when Colonel Edwin Drake drilled the world's first commercially successful well in Titusville, Pennsylvania.

The oil and gas industry has been a staple industry in northwestern Pennsylvania, established long before the ANF was even created. Today, energy production in the ANF continues to be a critical, economic driver in the region while the Forest Service remains an important partner with local producers and mineral rights owners.

Mr. Speaker, this centennial is a grand celebration as it highlights the importance of maintaining our multiple-use forest. To celebrate, the community is hosting a variety of activities leading up to the celebration on Sunday, September 24. Events include a Jakes Rocks Mountain Bike Trail Fest, a forest-themed art show, a forest-themed film festival, and ending with a birthday party on Sunday, the 24th, taking place at the Twin Lakes Recreation Area.

The ANF is a nature lover's dream and continues to be a prime vacation destination for Pennsylvania, as well as Americans and even international travelers.

While there are numerous hiking, biking, and even snowmobile trails, the ANF also provides key resources to sustain our country. From world- renowned hardwoods to biomass fuels for energy production, the ANF truly provides something for everyone. For generations, the forest has brought economic prosperity to our region, and it is essential that we are able to contribute to the longevity and sustainability of the Allegheny National Forest.

I am dedicated to putting forth policies that promote natural solutions to keep our forests healthy and resilient for generations to come. These policies include working closely with the Forest Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to manage our forests, foster healthy lands, and allow this economic engine to thrive.

By supporting the Forest Service and encouraging active management, we can support healthy forests and rural communities for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the only national forest in Pennsylvania. I will continue to support policies here in Washington that allow for the ANF to flourish for the next 100 years and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, September is Suicide Prevention Month, and nearly every 12 minutes, an American dies by suicide.

It is now the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide claims the lives of more than 2,000 Pennsylvanians each year-- an average of 5 lives each day.

Mr. Speaker, suicide is preventable.

Increasing access to crisis resources saves lives. Mental and behavioral health research saves lives. Ending the stigma surrounding suicide saves lives.

There is no single cause of suicide, and suicide risk increases when several health factors and life stressors converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair.

Together we can reverse this course.

By making mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and suicide prevention a national priority, we can reverse the tide on these deaths of despair.

In fact, in 2020, the U.S. designated 988 as the national suicide and crisis hotline, making it easier for all Americans to reach help, if needed.

Mr. Speaker, let's keep the conversation going year-round. We can all play an important role in prevention.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, September 15, is POW/MIA Recognition Day.

This important day is a time to remember the brave men and women who have yet to return home. Currently, there are more than 80,000 American servicemembers who are still missing and remain unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, the Cold War, and the Gulf wars.

Our servicemembers are the bravest among us. They answer the call to protect and defend our country in times of war and in times of peace.

While many return home, some do not. We must uphold our promise to our POW/MIA and never stop searching until they are returned to their loved ones.

This is why today, Representative Connolly and I reintroduced the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Trade Agreement Resolution.

This resolution urges our mutually beneficial trade agreements to include a commitment from trading partners to continue search and recovery efforts of our Nation's missing servicemembers. It is imperative we continue our efforts to bring home members of our armed services.

This amendment will assist the United States in upholding the eternal promise to our Armed Forces to always bring our men and women home.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, yesterday marked the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks. I rise today to remember the innocent lives that were lost.

At 8:46 a.m., American Flight 11 flew into Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. Not long after that, Flight 175 roared over lower Manhattan into Tower 2.

While Americans around the country were grappling with the events that just transpired, a third plane, Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon, the center of our Armed Forces and national defense.

In southwest Pennsylvania, the fourth flight, United 93, originally headed to San Francisco, was hijacked and made an abrupt turn toward Washington, D.C. But because of the brave passengers and crew members who attempted to take back the plane, it crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

In the days, weeks, months, and now two decades that followed September 11, our country joined together to face the very evil which attempted to take us down.

We will forever be indebted to our servicemen and servicewomen who join the fight to protect our freedoms, and we must remember the sacrifices made by our servicemembers and their families every day since.

While today's world has grown no less dangerous, we as Americans are resilient. We will continue to fight the evil and terror that exists today, and we will continue to be a beacon of the freedom to the world.

Let us reflect on the gift of life so tragically lost at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Let us honor the memory of every American who perished on that fateful day. Their legacies will be forever intertwined with the strength and courage that defined our great country. We will never forget, not 22 years later, not ever.

Madam Speaker, this message of ``never forget'' was evident on Friday when I attended the Penn State University's 9/11 memorial service. This service is held the Friday before September 11, usually before a home football game, to unite the community ahead of Patriot Day. For the entire weekend, families, students, and guests in State College saw the flags and remember the innocent lives taken from us that day.

Students from college Republicans, college Democrats, the student body government, and members of the Penn State community joined together to remember the innocent lives lost.

In front of Old Main, the community placed 2,977 flags, each one representing a soul, a person, a family member that was taken from us. We also read the names of the 10 Penn State alumni who died in the attacks.

At the beginning of the memorial, Hunter, a sophomore at the university, said that while he was born 2 years after the attacks, he recognizes the importance of taking the time to remember that fateful day.

This is what we mean when we say, ``never forget.'' Those who lived through the day will always have the date burned into our minds. It is the actions of those who were not yet born that show Americans will truly never forget.

We will also remember that we are and always will be the land of the free, only because of the home of the brave.

May God continue to watch over our first responders, our men and women in uniform, and all those who keep us safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Earleyville Farm located near Kersey, Pennsylvania, in Elk County as a Century Farm.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture recognizes Pennsylvania families who have been farming the same land for 100 years through the Century Farm programs.

In order to qualify, the same family must have owned the farm for at least 100 consecutive years, a family member must live on the farm on a permanent basis, and the farm must consist of at least 10 acres of the original holding or gross more than $1,000 annually from the sale of farm products.

The Earleyville Farm, owned by the Mattiuz family, has been operating since June of 1923 when Giovanni Mattiuz, an immigrant from Italy, purchased the 10.2 acres. He raised his family there, and the farm has been passed down for four generations.

Today, Ernest, Jr. continues to work on the farm along with his nephew, Mike Bona. Mike actually would be the great-grandson of Giovanni.

Thank you to the Mattiuz family for your work to feed American families.

Congratulations to the Mattiuz family for this remarkable milestone.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague and fellow chair for his leadership on the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1450.

The Good Neighbor Authority has been a vital tool to get forest management and restoration projects off the ground. This program helps the Forest Service address the wildfire and forest health crises and serves as a model for highly effective partnerships.

While the 2018 farm bill expanded the Good Neighbor Authority program eligibility to counties and Tribes, the law did not authorize counties and Tribes to retain timber revenues from the Good Neighbor Authority agreement, as States do.

In extending this authority to counties and Tribes, this bill will expand this important forest management tool to help reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health at a meaningful scale.

I am proud to report that H.R. 1450 passed unanimously out of the Committee on Agriculture and followed suit with the unanimous vote in the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. Speaker, it is clear this legislation represents a commonsense fix to a valuable forest management program. I urge my colleagues to support the Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act and vote ``yes'' on passage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Kathleen Bailey who passed away surrounded by her loved ones earlier this month.

Born and raised in Northwest Pennsylvania, Kathy was known throughout Oil City for her love and dedication to the region. She was a true advocate for Oil City, working hand-in-hand with local businesses for the betterment of the community. Those who knew Kathy could attest that her enthusiasm was infectious.

Aside from her work in the community, Kathy was passionate about the arts. In her free time, she sang in the Barrow-Civic Theater and the Erie Philharmonic Choir. She also played the organ for St. Stephen Church and St. Joseph Church.

Mr. Speaker, scripture in Thessalonians 4: 13-18 instructs us with these words:

``Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.''

Kathy lived to bring hope and optimism to so many in her community. Let us also count our blessings that we were fortunate enough to know Kathy Bailey. I send my sincere condolences to her husband, Scott, and their family during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart on Marc Fogel's 62nd birthday. Marc, a native of Butler County, Pennsylvania, isn't celebrating with his family today because he's wrongfully detained in Russia.

On August 14, 2021, Marc was returning to Russia for the start of the school year at the Anglo-American School in Moscow, where he teaches. But instead, he was arrested at the airport.

Since his arrest, Marc was sentenced and is currently serving an exorbitant 14-year hard labor sentence. His situation qualifies for a ``wrongly detained'' status from the U.S. Department of State, yet this determination has not been made despite repeated requests from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including me.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly support a resolution calling for Marc's immediate release and I urge my colleagues to do the same, today, on his birthday.

I also encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4388, the Marc Fogel Act, to ensure transparency and accountability at the State Department when wrongful determinations are considered.

Mr. Speaker, we have not forgotten Marc. It is time to bring him home and I implore the President and Secretary of State to do everything they can so he may rejoin his family--his wife, Jane, and sons Sam and Ethan--as soon as possible.

Madam Speaker, yes, this is an area that I have worked on for some time, northern long-eared bats. I have actually spent a lot of time in caves with a Pennsylvania bat biologist who works for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, where we did bat counts.

We looked at white-nose syndrome, which really has nothing to do with humans. This is a fungus. I think it has been around now for at least 20 years. In 2013, we had this same debate. In October 2013, there was an effort to try to list these northern long-eared bats as endangered. It was an extended debate.

Quite frankly, under the Obama administration, just a few years later, we were successful in keeping them from being listed as endangered. They were listed as threatened because what we needed more than anything else was research. We have provided that research now for 10 years, and there are good findings. We know that the temperature within those dwellings where they hibernate, the colder the temperature, the more that we can reduce how often they wake up. Quite frankly, it is when they wake up, when their hibernation is interrupted that weakens the bat, and they have more difficulties reproducing because they just don't have the energy for it, I guess.

This is like, here we go again. The distinguished ranking member mentioned Groundhog Day. I thank him for doing that. That is my district, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Groundhog Day. Here we are again, trying to relitigate through the Biden administration something that doesn't line up with the science. The science has already been established in the past.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this joint resolution to nullify the final rule classifying the northern long- eared bat as an endangered species as inappropriate. We need to continue to do the research. We need to allow the professionals to continue the work that they are doing and making the advancements that they are doing on how we can help with the environment to mitigate that.

The U.S. bat population plays an extremely important role in Pennsylvania's ecosystem and, quite frankly, America's number one industry, which is agriculture. The existing classification of the northern long-eared bats as a threatened species does not help the bats. It does not help the bats. We need to strike a balance between species conservation and economic activity.

Uplisting this species is shortsighted, and this top-down approach to species conservation is inflexible and outdated. There is no question this bat population has been in decline, but it is important to understand why. Study after study, including by Penn State University, which is in my district, has shown the decline is attributed to white- nose syndrome. This is a disease, a fungus that has no cure and is not caused by human activity.

With this decision, the Biden administration is punishing small businesses, farmers, foresters, energy producers, those who transmit electricity because this would impact the ability to clear fallen timber off of power lines. I mean, the impact is just extensive, to cover the cost of something they have no control over.

This uplisting will delay everything from broadband expansion to critical infrastructure repairs. Restrictions accompanying this decision will have significant and detrimental economic impacts in my district and others across the region. There is zero evidence that listing this bat as endangered will stop the spread of this disease.

It is vital a decision of this magnitude be based on actual data and real science, not political science, and include input from impacted communities and landowners.

As we search for a cure, States should be able to take the lead on local, voluntary conservation efforts that help affected populations.

I support this joint resolution which protects landowners from unnecessary government regulation, and I urge all of my colleagues to do so, as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize National Intern Day. Today is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the future leaders of the world: interns.

National Intern Day has served as an opportunity for thousands of employers to commemorate and thank their hardworking interns.

At this time I recognize and thank the interns who joined me this summer, both in my personal office and on the Agriculture Committee.

Justin and Tessa served in my personal office and have been instrumental in helping serve the people of Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District. Bailee, Callie, and Kylie help support myself and the Agriculture Committee staff through dozens of hearings, roundtables, and other committee events as we work toward crafting a farm bill.

From conducting research to drafting speeches and statements to guiding tours and responding to constituents, these interns were fantastic additions to my team this summer.

Mr. Speaker, our interns today are truly the leaders of tomorrow, and they deserve recognition for their outstanding work. I thank them again for joining us this summer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic Clinton County Fair.

For half a century, Clinton County has brought local artisans, talented agricultural professionals, and an eager community together, and I want to acknowledge and celebrate the fair's success.

With humble beginnings as a horse-and-pony roundup run on donated time in a horse ring near Pine Creek, Pennsylvania, the organizers of the small event had big aspirations. Turning the simple livestock show into a full-fledged agriculture extravaganza would be no small feat, accomplished through the hard work and gracious efforts of volunteers.

In the years to come, the determined fair committee and their community fought through the red tape and battled funding ordeals. After many years of hard work, they emerged with a fully-fledged fairground and all the resources to put on an impressive display of local agriculture.

Today's annual Clinton County Fair is a testament to the hard work, determination, and strong values that are essential to both rural communities and our Nation. By funneling resources into local agricultural economies, farmers and families alike reap the benefits of collective effort.

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I inadvertently missed the second vote in the first vote series on July 18, 2023 due to a constituent meeting. Had I been present, l would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 332.