Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Michael Messina.

Dr. Messina is retiring this week following a distinguished career in academia. Most recently, Dr. Messina has served as the head of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Pennsylvania State University. He earned his bachelor's degree in forest science from Penn State in 1979 and a doctorate in forestry from North Carolina State University in 1983.

In 2009, Dr. Messina was named director of Penn State's School of Forest

Resources after serving as a professor and associate department head at Texas A&M University. He has been a great resource when it comes to forest science and is a leader in that area.

In July 2012, he led the Penn State School of Forest Resources in the creation of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management. He has used his years of expertise and knowledge to focus on improving the responsible management of soil and water, healthy forests, and a diversity of fish and wildlife species. His work has always been aimed at preserving the beauty of the world around us for all to enjoy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Messina for his years of service. I wish him and his wife, Suzy, all the best in retirement.

100th Anniversary of Pennsylvania Ratifying the 19th Amendment

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the passage of the 19th Amendment providing women the right to vote.

After Congress passed the 19th Amendment in 1919, three-fourths of the 48 State legislatures were needed to ratify the new amendment. This past Monday, June 24, marks the 100th anniversary of Pennsylvania becoming the seventh State to ratify the 19th Amendment.

Women first organized and fought for suffrage on the national level in July of 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention in New York. But Pennsylvania was a center of women's rights even before the Seneca Falls Convention occurred.

Famous suffragist Lucretia Mott joined with a diverse group of Pennsylvania women to organize the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society in 1833.

In 1840, the society sent Mott as a delegate to the World Anti- Slavery Convention in London to protest the exclusion of women at the convention.

Organizations like this were formed all across the Commonwealth to focus their attention on raising awareness of the women's suffrage cause.

The decades of effort on the local and national level by women's suffragists resulted in Congress finally passing the 19th Amendment.

Today women play a pivotal role in our government. The 2018 elections brought a record number of Pennsylvania women to the ballot box, and a record number were welcomed to political office across the United States.

Mr. Speaker, Pennsylvania can be proud of our important role in the women's suffrage movement and securing the right to vote 100 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the School Food Modernization Act which would help America's school cafeterias modernize its equipment and infrastructure.

Earlier this week, I was proud to introduce this act with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier. We know nutrition plays a critical role in a child's development and for far too many children, sometimes the only meal of the day is the one that they receive at school. That is why it is essential to help schools access funding to purchase modern kitchen equipment and infrastructure.

Some schools may be using the same equipment so long that it not only serves a student, but, quite frankly, served that student's parent as well.

Food service staff needs modern facilities to serve high-quality, nutritious meals that meet the school nutritional standards. Our bill allows schools to participate in a loan assistance program from USDA to help them acquire new kitchen equipment.

Schools would be eligible for Federal guarantees, up to 80 percent of the loan. It also strengthens training for food service personnel who want more education on how to prepare healthier meals.

I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation to help students form a lifetime of healthier eating habits.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the participants of the 2019 PITTchFEST, which was held in conjunction with this year's Showcase for Commerce in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

The event is designed to support the next generation of great ideas in Cambria County and the Allegheny region. The Shark Tank-style competition was created as a way for local entrepreneurs to present their innovative ideas and creations to potential investors. Programs like these are essential to attracting new businesses and a skilled workforce to our region.

One of the competition's categories is specifically for students at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. These students are a part of the summer accelerated program with PITTchFEST, which is used as a launchpad for their work.

This year's top student entrepreneurship teams included Smarchitecture, led by Alex Schork. This team project provides architects, designers, and artists the ability to render digital imagery that can be instantly shared and edited with clients in real time.

Skill Spirit was led by Ben Wargo. This team developed an incremental learning app that provides incentives and rewards for learning new languages.

Supernal Siesta was led by Laura Johnson. Laura's team focused on helping women manage hot flashes and the effects of menopause by creating a fashionably created mattress with the technology to cool and provide for a full night's sleep.

For the third year, PITTchFEST also included the social entrepreneurship category, which highlights incredible efforts and ideas for building vibrant communities. The top teams in this category included the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy team, which is developing plans to expand the Path of the Flood Trail, which would be the first safe and easily followed bicycle route from downtown Johnstown to the historic Little Conemaugh River gorge.

The Central Park Square/Gallery on Gazebo team aims to promote the arts in downtown Johnstown.

The Friends of the Inclined Plane Trails team is planning the Inclined Plane Riverside Park, which will include zip lines and a downhill mountain-biking course.

The three finalists in each category received a cash award that supports their innovations. The judges for PITTchFEST represented various aspects of the community, including social agencies, private industries, advocacy groups, and higher education.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the sponsors of PITTchFEST who made the event possible, including Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Cambria Regional Chamber, Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, Croyle-Nielsen Therapeutic Associates, Enterprise Venture Capital Corporation of PA, Entrepreneurial Alchemy, JARI, JWF Industries, and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

PITTchFEST was a tremendous success, as it showcased the community spirit and the innovative minds of the greater Johnstown region.

As their motto proclaims, they are: ``Growing Great Ideas Right in Our Backyard.''

Mr. Speaker, Religious Freedom Week began on Saturday and runs through June 29.

Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right and is protected by our Constitution. The First Amendment protects freedom of religion, along with freedom of speech and freedom of the press. This affords us the opportunity to have open and thoughtful debates on the floor of the House each and every day.

The United States is a place where people of all faiths can peaceably practice their religion without fear of persecution, which is something we have recognized since our founding. The very foundation of our Nation, a place of freedom and liberty for all, was conceived by individuals in search of religious freedom.

Mr. Speaker, the United States of America will always be a beacon of light in the world, and we will always protect our fundamental, unified commitment to religious freedom. It is a central part of what makes America exceptional. It affords our citizens the right to live in a free society, because no person should live in fear for their beliefs.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I urge the Speaker and Majority Leader to immediately schedule a vote to protect born-alive infants of failed abortions.

Mr. Speaker, today, I welcome Cindy Lam to the Capitol. Cindy is the winner of Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District Congressional Art Competition.

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

Cindy just finished up her sophomore year at DuBois Area Senior High School earlier this month. Her artwork entitled ``Self'' is a prism- colored pencil drawing.

Cindy's artwork was selected, by an independent panel of judges, from 68 entries, which is one of the largest groups of students to participate in the 15th District's Congressional Art 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 of the Capitol every day.

Today, Cindy is participating in a reception where she and fellow winners from across the country will be honored for their talented work.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Cindy and all the students who participated in the competition.

Madam Speaker, June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month.

Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and it has reached crisis proportions. There is no effective treatment and no means of prevention and no method for slowing the progression of this disease. Sadly, one in three seniors will die of the disease of Alzheimer's.

Today, on the longest day of the year, the Alzheimer's Association is raising awareness to outshine the darkness of Alzheimer's disease.

Approximately 50 million people, worldwide, are living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. This not only has a devastating impact on those who are diagnosed with the disease, but also their caregivers and their loved ones.

More than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care to families and friends living with Alzheimer's and other dementias. Compared with caregivers for people without dementia, twice as many caregivers for people with dementia indicate substantial emotional, financial, and physical stress.

Madam 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, Tuesday morning, I had the honor of being in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at the State capitol to speak about my bill, Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee at the State legislature hosted a panel to discuss my legislation that would increase milk options in school lunchrooms across the country.

Later that morning, we gathered in the capitol rotunda with State lawmakers and representatives of the dairy industry, dairy farm families from throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to rally in support of putting whole milk back in our schools.

Madam Speaker, dairy products like milk contain 9 essential nutrients that can help reduce your risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and certain cancers. It is helpful with weight management. And whether it is protein to help build and repair muscle tissue of active bodies or Vitamin A to help maintain healthy skin, dairy products are a natural nutrient powerhouse.

I was especially glad to participate in these events, because June is National Dairy Month.

Proudly, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is one of the largest milk- producing States in the Nation, and this annual tradition celebrates the contributions the dairy industry and dairy farm families have made to the world. It is my hope that, through this legislation, we will be able to allow students to select the type of milk that they love best, including flavored and whole milk.

This legislation is in response to changes made in 2010 to the School Lunch Program. That year, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act amended the nutrition standards and mandated that flavored milk must be fat-free.

This law, along with the lowest participation in the program, led to an alarming decline in milk consumption in schools since 2010. Declining milk consumption in schools not only impacts students where they don't get the nutrition that they need, but also the dairy farm families in rural communities across the Nation.

In addition to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, I recently introduced another bill with Congressman Joe Courtney to expand milk options for students and reverse the decline of milk consumption in schools. The School Milk Nutrition Act of 2019 reaffirms and codifies a recent regulation from the USDA by providing schools with the option to serve lowfat milk with flavor, and it requires that milk offered is consistent with the most recent dietary guidelines for Americans.

In November of 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced regulatory changes for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, including a provision that provides schools with the option to serve lowfat 1 percent flavored milk.

I urge my colleagues to sign on to these bills during National Dairy Month and allow our students the option of consuming the type of milk that they love with the nutrition that they need.

I thank the Pennsylvania lawmakers and members of the dairy industry who stood together in Harrisburg on Tuesday in support of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.

Milk is the official beverage of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and I hope we will soon allow students everywhere the option to drink whole milk with their lunches, should they choose to enjoy it.

Madam Speaker, during the month of June, we raise awareness for those suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.

After trauma or a life-threatening event, it is common to have reactions such as upsetting memories, increased jumpiness, or trouble sleeping.

PTSD was not always properly understood by the medical professional and society, but today there are great organizations and resources that can help both individuals and professionals discover ways to identify and manage PTSD symptoms and explore effective treatments.

PTSD is especially prevalent for those who have served in the military, affecting nearly 30 percent of Vietnam veterans and up to 20 percent of veterans who served during the global war on terror. A nonservicemember may be exposed to a single traumatic event that can also cause PTSD.

Madam Speaker, as a former rehabilitation therapist, I have seen the incredible strides that people with injuries can make with access to appropriate rehabilitation. I applaud all the organizations that raise awareness about this important issue during the month of June. There is help and support for those who have PTSD.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and reaffirm the friendship between the United States and Germany.

I am proud to co-chair the German-American Caucus with Congressman Bill Keating, and today we introduced a resolution to reaffirm the history of the United States and Germany under the Wunderbar Together initiative.

Our countries are linked by heritage, common values, and shared interests.

More than 50 million Americans of German origin live in the United States, many of whom still have strong ties to their heritage.

Madam Speaker, our resolution highlights the alliance between our nations and our shared commitment to free and democratic societies.

The Wunderbar Together initiative brings together more than 250 partners across all 50 States, with more than 1,500 events and projects in local communities covering every aspect of German-American relations, including science, the arts, culture, language, business, sports, and more.

Germany is an important trading partner of the United States, with the European Union and German companies creating more than 690,000 American jobs.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and reaffirm our deep and historical friendship with Germany.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Pollinators Week.

It is a time when we encourage protection of pollinator species--such as honeybees, native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies--as essential partners of farmers and ranchers in producing food.

These pollinators are vital to keeping items like fruits, nuts, and vegetables in our diet, and healthy pollinator populations are crucial to the continued economic well-being of rural America and the U.S. economy.

Worldwide, approximately 1,000 plants grown for food, beverage, fiber, spices, and medicines need to be pollinated by animals to produce the goods we depend upon.

The number of honeybee hives has declined from 6 million in the 1940s to about 2.5 million today, and we need to increase these habitats.

American farmers have no better friend than the honeybee, and more than one third of the U.S. crops require pollination, including blueberries, chocolate, coffee, melons, peaches, pumpkins, vanilla, and almonds.

Mr. Speaker, as one who has had a beehive in my backyard, I fully support efforts to raise awareness and keep our pollinators buzzing for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about a bill to eradicate hazing on college campuses.

This morning, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge will introduce the END ALL Hazing Act. I am proud to lead this bill with her to increase campuswide transparency and accountability for all student organizations.

For too long, hazing has threatened the health and the safety of students and undermined the educational mission of higher education institutions.

No student on any campus should have their well-being put in jeopardy because of a dangerous and life-threatening situation as part of a sports team or a club ritual.

Parents who have lost children to incidents of hazing have been working with fraternities and sororities to engage in aggressive student education, outreach, and advocacy efforts to end tragic hazing incidents. Their work has included successfully pursuing legislation with transparency requirements in several States, including my home State of Pennsylvania.

A Federal solution will more quickly address the problem and ensure students across the country can enjoy a safe collegiate experience with involvement in extracurricular activities and student organizations without fear of being hazed.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate America's hardworking, dedicated, and passionate teachers.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure every Member of this House can think of a teacher who had a positive influence not only on their education, but on their life.

Teachers push students to achieve their best, and they show students how to realize their full potential. Sometimes, it is the interest of just one teacher that can transform the life of a young person.

Teachers are often the most underrated, yet powerful, professionals in the entire world. They truly do shape young minds.

That is why, last week, I was proud to introduce H.R. 3108, the Teachers Are Leaders Act. This bipartisan legislation, led by Congressman Brad Schneider, seeks to expand professional development and leadership growth opportunities for teachers.

Under the current law, the Federal Teacher Quality Partnership grant connects local schools with nearby colleges and universities to create professional development programs for new teachers. However, there are not enough opportunities for established teachers to develop leadership and peer mentoring skills that can help retain teachers and boost student achievement.

The Teachers Are Leaders Act would expand the Teacher Quality Partnership grants by making teacher leader programs focused on professional development for established teachers eligible for funding. These programs would focus on peer coaching, family and community engagement, curriculum development, and other ways to make full use of their experience as educators and leaders within their communities.

If schools want to recruit and retain high-quality teachers, then they must treat them like the professionals that they are. That means we must allow them to grow both inside and outside the classroom.

Mr. Speaker, professional development is essential in all positions, especially for those who are educating the next generation. Now I am pleased that this bipartisan legislation devotes the resources necessary to give teachers the tools to become even stronger leaders for our youth.

Teachers lend a caring hand and extend a loving heart. They make differences in the lives of our students academically, emotionally, and physically. This legislation strengthens the teaching profession and lets them take their experience to the next level. I encourage my colleagues to support the Teachers Are Leaders Act today.

Mr. Speaker, this Friday is Flag Day and the U.S. Army's 244th birthday.

Each year, on June 14, we celebrate the Stars and Stripes, which the Second Continental Congress designated as the symbol of our Nation on June 14, 1777.

Since our founding, our flag has flown across the country and the world. It has flown during both our most tragic moments and our greatest triumphs. It has also been a glorious symbol of hope for our brave servicemen and -women who salute it, defend it, serve it, and, in some cases, die for it to protect our freedom and liberty.

Later today, the Secretary of the Army, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and the Sergeant Major of the Army will be on Capitol Hill to celebrate the rich history of our Army.

Without the Army 244 years ago, we would not be the great Nation that we are today. On Friday, our Nation will celebrate our Army and our flag, which both symbolize America being the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my good friend from California for being such a tremendous champion for this important program and a great partner to work with.

Mr. Chairman, the Statewide Family Engagement Center Program provides much-needed technical assistance and partnership development to States and school districts to foster meaningful engagement with families to further their children's academic and developmental progress.

Research has shown that family engagement in a child's education increases student achievement, improves attendance, reduces the dropout rate, and advances the emotional and physical well-being of children.

Unfortunately, due to our Department of Education grant reviewer error, a $1 million shortfall for fiscal year 2019 has been created in this program. If this shortfall, this error, is not filled, corrected, a 9 percent cut in the grants of 11 centers serving 11 States will take effect. This means that 11 centers will have to cut staff or reduce services, including those who work closely with parents.

While I was extremely pleased to see an increase in funding in this program in fiscal year 2020, we must ensure these centers receive the funding they deserve.

Our amendment would resolve this shortfall by designating $1 million of the $5 million increase under this bill to ensure the current grantees are made whole and can continue to provide the needed services and supports to families in their States.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my fellow colleagues to vote in support of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.