Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, last week the 2020 Summer Olympics kicked off in Tokyo. For the next 2 weeks, we will see the best of the best compete in a variety of events.

This year the United States sent a 613-member team to compete in the Olympic Games. The journey to these games and to be on the 2020 Olympic team is unlike any other. For the first time in Olympic history, the games were postponed from last summer due to COVID-19.

Madam Speaker, Pennsylvania sent 21 athletes to Tokyo. But there is one member of the team I would like to honor today: Michael Shuey.

Michael is an Elk County, Pennsylvania, native and a 2016 graduate of Pennsylvania State University. Michael is a two-time NCAA Big Ten champion in javelin and a two-time NCAA Big Ten first team member. While in Tokyo he will be competing in the javelin throw.

Congratulations to Michael and to all the athletes on this incredible achievement. We are cheering for their success.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding, and I thank the gentlewoman for her sponsorship of this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4300, the Veterans in Parks Act.

Across the country, our national parks provide endless opportunities for Americans to learn about our Nation's history and culture. Additionally, national parks generate significant recreational opportunities, which encourage visitors to spend time in the outdoors and enjoy nature.

From Gettysburg to Independence Park, and the Allegheny Portage Railroad to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania is home to 19 national parks and 7 heritage areas providing these benefits to Pennsylvanians throughout the Commonwealth and visitors alike. As the representative of Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District, it continues to be an honor to serve our veterans, Active-Duty servicemen and -women, and proud military families.

This legislation would simply give veterans and Gold Star families free access for life to public lands and also provide free annual passes to Active-Duty servicemembers. Studies show outdoor recreation is an effective way to decrease symptoms of PTSD and help veterans reintegrate with civilian life. This legislation is a step in the right direction when it comes to assisting our veterans and Active-Duty servicemembers' health.

H.R. 4300 is one way that we can say thank you to our brave men and women in uniform who have selflessly served and have already given so much to protect our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, as the father of a combat-wounded soldier and as the ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture, which also received referral on this legislation, I support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote in its favor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

As someone who spent their career before Congress as a healthcare rehabilitation professional, I experienced

firsthand how with the right tools and accessibility, disabled Americans can live a life of independence, economic self-sufficiency, and pride.

The Americans with Disabilities Act is a monumental piece of legislation, opening the doors of opportunity to the millions of Americans who have a disability, whether it be physical, learning, cognitive, or any other.

Whether it is protection from discrimination in the workplace, additional support in school, or added accommodations in our public venues, the ADA provides the support to better empower those individuals living with disabilities.

Madam Speaker, while we saw this landmark legislation signed into law 31 years ago today, we must continue to advocate for the rights of Americans who are living with disabilities. The ADA is an incredible milestone for Americans living with disabilities, but there is still more work to be done. We can all continue to do more for those living with disabilities, from defying prejudice to empowering those with disabilities in everyday lives.

Madam Speaker, I was not present for the vote on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 2668 during the second vote series on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. If I were present, I would have voted YES on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 2668, the Consumer Protection and Recovery Act.

Madam Speaker, throughout this Congress, the House Agriculture Committee has had countless discussions on ways that we can empower our farm families and build a robust rural economy.

Earlier this month, we made good on our word. I am proud to be able to work with all members of our committee and support the Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act, which provides significant investments into the deployment and development of broadband to rural America.

This legislation reflects many of our shared priorities and shared work. And in many ways, it is similar to the bipartisan legislation I introduced earlier this year.

I thank all of the members of the Agriculture Committee for their work and enthusiasm to meet the needs of rural Americans. I know this issue is so personal for each of us and the constituents we represent.

The House Agriculture Committee is often considered the most bipartisan committee in the House. This markup bill is proof that we can still reach an agreement under extraordinary times, and I hope we can keep this bipartisan spirit as infrastructure talks continue.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize July 20 as National Pennsylvania Day. Pennsylvania's nickname, the Keystone State, represents the central role we played in shaping our Nation. Our great Commonwealth was the second State to join the Union and continued to lead the way in making history.

As the first capitol of our Nation, many great decisions were made in Philadelphia. It was there our Founding Fathers authored the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution forming this great Nation. Pennsylvania served in an important role in key military operations. Valley Forge tells a story of sacrifice, leadership, grit, and determination when our rag-tag military was attempting to defy history and defeat a global superpower.

The Battle of Gettysburg marked a turning point of the Civil War, providing the Union with the momentum to bring our great Nation back together. Our State continues to carry the legacy of many firsts, from the first American flag sewn by Betsy Ross to the first commercial oil well.

Our inventor spirit continues to weave through history, from Benjamin Franklin, Robert Fulton, and Jonas Salk. We continue to bring new and exciting ideas forward. Our legacy of American craftsmanship and work ethic runs deep, from our steel mills and coal mines to our farmlands and forests.

Madam Speaker, as a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania, I am encouraged each and every day by the industrious spirit of our residents as we continue to build a bright path forward for our commonwealth and our country.

Happy Pennsylvania Day! I am proud to be from our great Keystone State.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career of Dr. Brian Toth. Brian has spent a total of 38 years in education. He is a passionate and dedicated education professional. Dr. Toth started his career in 1983 as a math and computer teacher in the Altoona Johnstown Diocese system. Over the years, Brian taught in five different school districts, eventually reaching the ranks of superintendent.

He is a proud graduate of Penn State University, St. Francis University, California University of Pennsylvania, and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

His dedication to his students and the communities in which he worked is admirable. Aside from serving for 18 years as a superintendent, Dr. Toth is the former president of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators and a former PASA governing board member where he represented IU8 and IU9.

He also served as a former vice president of PA Local Government Investment Trust, a former PA representative on the American Association of School Administrators governing board, the former president of the Pennsylvania School Study Council, and the vice chair of the Community Education Council.

I thank Brian for his continued service in education and for his dedication to his students. May he enjoy his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the storied career of Mr. Don Parrish as he celebrates his retirement as Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Don is a champion and friend of the U.S. agriculture industry through and through.

Don's legacy spans a variety of topics, but namely, he is renowned for his incredible work on the Clean Water Act and the waters of the

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District 2021 Congressional Art Contest winner, Isabella Kern.

The annual art competition, organized by the Congressional Institute, showcases the artwork of high school students from across every congressional district in the country.

Isabella just graduated from Richland High School earlier this month. Her artwork titled ``America's Working Woman'' is an oil painting on canvas.

Isabella's work was selected by an independent panel of judges from 70 entries, which is the largest group of students to participate in the 15th District's congressional artwork competition.

All the winning pieces will be displayed for the year in the Cannon tunnel, where they will be viewed by Members of Congress, staff, and many visitors to the Capitol every day.

Congratulations, Isabella, and congratulations to all those in Pennsylvania's 15th District and throughout the Nation who participated in this competition and expressed their creative skills.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Ruth Cox Mizell, a staple figure in the religious life of this Capitol for decades.

Ruth served as campaign chair for George H.W. Bush, adviser to the U.S. Peace Corps under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, liaison for the Capitol Hill Prayer Partners, and was the spouse of Congressman Wilmer Mizell.

She used her positions in and around the Capitol to passionately advocate for the power of Scripture and prayer on a personal and national level.

Many bible studies and prayer groups take place on Capitol Hill and are attended by a great number of my colleagues in Congress. And these groups honor Ruth's legacy and serve as a reminder that faith is still alive in our Nation and certainly our Nation's Capitol.

I will end with Ruth's favorite scripture quote from Lamentations, chapter 3, verses 22 and 23: ``The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.''

Ruth Mizell was a strong woman of faith and rests in the loving arms and comfort of her Savior.

Mr. Speaker, a quick web search on the meaning of Independence Day will give you the dictionary definition: A day celebrating the anniversary of national independence.

For a nation built upon the foundations of freedom, such as the United States of America, there is much more to the meaning of Independence Day than can be described in a dictionary.

For Americans, Independence Day is about the people who have lived and died in the defense of freedom. Crispus Attucks, who was killed by British troops in the Boston Massacre, has long been honored as an American hero and the first casualty of the Revolutionary War. Mr. Attucks has proved to be the first in a long legacy of American heroes.

Each and every generation of Americans has had their share of men and women willing to pursue a more perfect realization of that most basic of human rights, freedom.

Freedom against tyranny was the primary motive during the Revolutionary War for our first President, George Washington, alongside the Founding Fathers, who designed the government for our new Nation and the troops who fought for its right to exist.

The great efforts of President Abraham Lincoln during the most trying time in our Nation's history, the Civil War, led armies of brave soldiers who fought not only for the reunification of the country but also the freedom of people held in slavery.

This noble fight was taken up not only by soldiers but by civilians who worked in support of those in combat, such as Clara Barton, Army nurse and founder of the American National Red Cross.

Hundreds of thousands of young men lost their lives during the Second World War fighting fascism in Europe and around the world. Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry Truman, alongside generals including Eisenhower, Patton, and MacArthur, provided the leadership and strategy necessary to allow our soldiers to gain victory and preserve freedom.

As a nation, we have believed in and fought for freedom for so long that it can easily be taken for granted. This is a trap that we must be extra vigilant not to fall into. As President Reagan aptly stated, freedom ``is not passed to our children in the bloodstream.''

Pursuing freedom for over 200 years has been the result of a conscious choice, in each era, by every generation. We must continue to make that choice in this era and in this generation.

Mr. Speaker, you may have noticed that in my examples from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and Second World War, I named politicians who served our soldiers and citizens. Make no mistake, it is the soldiers and the citizens of our Nation who do the work to preserve freedom. Therefore, it is the solemn duty of those of us who work in government to lead and represent the people so that they can continue to live in freedom.

I urge each and every government official, and especially my fellow Members of Congress, to make the choice to pursue freedom, as so many generations have before us. In this way, we honor the lives of past heroes such as Crispus Attucks and ensure freedom will be defended by future generations.

Mr. Speaker, that is the meaning of Independence Day that could never fit in a dictionary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize this past Sunday, June 27, as National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day; and June as National PTSD Awareness Month.

We must do more to defy the stigmas surrounding mental health. National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month is intended to raise public awareness about issues related to PTSD, reduce the stigma associated, and to help ensure those suffering receive proper treatment.

Currently, about eight million people in the United States are struggling with PTSD. PTSD treatment is a crucial tool that helps many individuals, particularly our Nation's veterans, process, cope, and treat emotional and mental trauma.

While PTSD can develop among any individual who faces a traumatic experience, it is often common in our servicemen and -women. Many of our servicemembers return home with injuries and scars, but in some cases it is the invisible scars that hurt the most.

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a variety of resources to help those suffering with PTSD. There are a wide variety of options, group meetings, individual meetings, meetings via telemedicine. This ensures our veterans can receive timely assistance wherever they may live.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our Nation's veterans for their service, and I encourage those struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder to pursue treatment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the importance of H.R. 18, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.

For more than 40 years, in a bipartisan fashion, Congress has passed the Hyde amendment, a provision ensuring Americans are not forced to pay for abortion on demand with their tax dollars.

This year, the Hyde amendment is under attack. I believe in the sanctity of life, which is why I am a proud original cosponsor of H.R. 18.

H.R. 18 would make the Hyde amendment permanent and governmentwide, providing additional protection to the unborn.

It was written in our Declaration of Independence that we all have a right to life. As a Member of Congress, I intend to uphold this.

Madam Speaker, in that spirit, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize June as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month.

With more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer's and nearly 50 million people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias worldwide, it is important to raise awareness. The more we know about Alzheimer's, the more action we can inspire.

Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and it is the only one of the top ten causes of death without any methods for preventing, curing, or slowing it down. Alzheimer's related deaths increased by 16 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The diagnosis of Alzheimer's is not only devastating to those who are diagnosed, but also to their caregivers and loved ones. My own mom lived with Alzheimer's for 10 years. It stole her memories and finally stole her life.

In 2021, Alzheimer's care will cost our Nation $355 billion, and by 2050, costs are expected to rise to more than $1.1 trillion.

Currently, over 11 million Americans provide unpaid care to family and friends living with Alzheimer's and other dementias.

Mr. Speaker, the time to act is now. Let's join the fight. Let's take the pledge to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease and to never stop searching for a cure.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the incredible life of Louise Dunlap.

A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Louise was a dedicated advocate for coal communities, our environment, and especially the reclamation of our historic abandoned mine lands.

Louise's career began with the grassroots, advocating for more support for the environment and Pennsylvania's mine lands. In 1972, Louise cofounded the Environmental Policy Institute and the Environmental Policy Center. There, she spent years working to pass legislation to support mine reclamation in Pennsylvania and was an important advocate for the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

This law created the first Federal standards on the reclamation of new and subsequent surface mining. Importantly, it also established the Abandoned Mine Land Trust, which was created to provide consistent funding for the reclamation of coal mines that were abandoned prior to the law's enactment in 1977.

For over 40 years, this trust has been the central funding source for the reclamation of abandoned mine lands in 20 States, generating over $11.6 billion since its creation by Congress.

Beginning in 2004, she joined the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, where she continued her life's work. In 2006, she again played a key advocacy role when Congress authorized the AML for an additional 15 years.

This September, the Abandoned Mine Land Fund is set to expire. The trust must be reauthorized in order to continue opportunities in funding to clean up these un-reclaimed lands, not only in Pennsylvania but around the country. Congress has the opportunity to do right by our coal communities by reauthorizing this fund and also expediting the release of the existing balance.

Reauthorizing the AML was a project close to Louise's heart. She fought for coal communities up until her final days. She spent the last few weeks continuing to secure support for the reauthorization of the Abandoned Mine Land Fund.

In Pennsylvania, there are over 5,500 miles of streams polluted due to legacy mining, and over 280,000 acres remain toxic. Nationwide, the unfunded liabilities exceed $12 billion, with $5 billion in Pennsylvania alone. Louise made it her mission to work toward restoring these areas.

My district alone has the most abandoned mine land in the country. I understand the urgency in reauthorizing the AML fund, which is why I am an original cosponsor of the RECLAIM Act and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments of 2021 with fellow Pennsylvanian, Representative Matt Cartwright. We both worked closely with Louise on this act.

Louise Dunlap was an inspiring force as she spent her life advocating to reclaim and revitalize former mining communities. She was a friend and marshaled key legislation victories over the span of a 50-year career.

In honor of her legacy, it is important that we continue her life's work and continue to support our historic coal communities.

My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Louise Dunlap. She was so fiercely passionate, and she will be greatly missed.