Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize March as Women's History Month.

Throughout history, countless women have contributed to the character and success of the United States of America. During Women's History Month, we celebrate the scores of women who have worked to improve our society and who have fought inequality and discrimination in every form.

These women have created a legacy that lives on and continues to inspire generations of Americans, from Harriet Tubman to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony to Helen Keller. Women's History Month is a time to honor the lives and legacy of all women, living and dead. Through sharing their stories, we are able to acknowledge how their contributions have enriched our lives.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, legendary journalist Ida Tarbell was born at the onset of the oil boom. She is best known for her 1904 book, ``The History of the Standard Oil Company.'' Ida Tarbell was known for her ability to take complex subjects and break them down into articles that could be easily consumed by the general public.

She had a successful career as an investigative journalist, and the Oil Region Alliance in northwestern Pennsylvania recently completed a full restoration of Ms. Tarbell's childhood home in Titusville so that it would be preserved for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, by honoring women and their achievements, we can honor the past, inform the present, and inspire the future.

Many women have served as part of our Armed Forces throughout history and proudly continue to today, women like Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley, who fought in battles during the Revolutionary War and was among the first women to receive a military pension, and modern-day women like Lisa Jaster, a major in the United States Army Reserve who completed Army Ranger School, which is one of the toughest courses in the military.

Major Jaster was in the first Ranger class that allowed women, and she is the first female Army Reserve officer to become a Ranger School graduate.

Mr. Speaker, many women have left their imprint on the pages of history, and there are numerous leaders who will continue to guide this Nation into the future. May we celebrate and honor them, not only during Women's History Month, but all year long, and thank them for their incredible contributions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize March as National Nutrition Month.

In 1973, the American Dietetic Association, now called the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, started National Nutrition Week as a way to deliver nutrition education messages to the public.

Fast-forward 7 years, and the week became a month-long celebration thanks to the growing public interest in nutrition.

Madam Speaker, during the last Congress, I had the honor of being chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition. From women and children who use the WIC program to adults and families who utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or what we refer to as SNAP, formerly called food stamps, I know that good nutrition is important at every stage of life.

National Nutrition Month focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

Next Wednesday is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, and this occasion increases awareness of registered dietitian nutritionists as the indispensable providers of food and nutrition services, while recognizing their commitment to helping people enjoy healthy lives.

Happy National Nutrition Month.

Mr. Speaker, over the past couple of weeks I had the honor of visiting three high schools in my district, the Richland High School, near Johnstown, Cambria Heights High School, in Patton, and Purchase Line High School in Commodore, Pennsylvania.

As a senior member of the House Education and Labor Committee, I love speaking with students about their learning experiences, and hearing from faculty and staff as well.

Last week, the Richland School District invited me to join them for their Teacher-in-Service event with award-winning educator and principal, Salome Thomas-El. It was a pleasure to be with educators from the Cambria County area to hear the ways that we can work together to improve education in America.

I enjoyed hearing Mr. Thomas-El discuss the change in attitudes and strategies of school staff, parents, and members of the community to help the students in most need of guidance. He is currently the head of the Thomas Edison Charter School in Wilmington, and before that, began his career as a teacher and chess coach at Vaux Middle School.

Since then, he has published several books, received prestigious awards, appeared on television, and Disney recently optioned the movie rights to his best-selling book titled ``I Chose to Stay.'' He has committed more than 20 years of his life to answering the question of how to ensure that every child achieves their greatest potential.

The question is one that all educators seek to answer and even policymakers in Congress; and that is why I will continue to support legislation and initiatives that meet the needs and grow the potential of every student.

We must also address family poverty, child nutrition, community violence, and other barriers that affect student success.

As Mr. Thomas-El says, All children can and will learn as long as they have adults who care enough. And he is right. In order for our country's students to truly succeed, they need the support from adults at home, in the classroom, and throughout their communities.

I left the in-service event with Richland School District encouraged and

confident that our educators are providing essential support to their students.

That feeling stayed with me the next day as I visited Cambria Heights High School. There, I met with students representing music, athletics, student council, and vocational programs at the school. Students showed me the ongoing renovations to the high school building as part of a major renovation of the classrooms and the cafeteria.

They also shared with me their many accomplishments that included earning top scores in the county on the State's Keystone Exams for literature and biology.

Earlier this week I participated in an assembly at the Purchase Line High School in Indiana County. The students asked great questions about civic engagement, and we had an open dialogue about the challenges and the opportunities that are facing our Nation.

Meeting with all these students gives me great hope for the future, and I know these students will become our next generation of leaders, regardless of what fields they enter after graduation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Richland School District, Cambria Heights High School, and the Purchase Line High School for inviting me into their schools and sharing with me the ways they are transforming education to help students not only graduate, but go on to earn a higher degree or a certification or, quite frankly, go successfully into the workforce.

A good education opens so many doors in life. I am tremendously proud of the students, faculty, and staff of each of these outstanding institutions.

Madam Speaker, Saturday kicked off Read Across America Day and officially began National Reading Month.

The National Education Association celebrates readers, authors, and stories annually during March. For the past 20 years, NEA's Read Across America Day is a nationwide reading celebration that takes place annually on March 2, which is Dr. Seuss' birthday.

Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books to celebrate reading with young people. The message is clear: Through the magic and wonder of books, you can be anything and go anywhere. This month helps make students excited and engaged in reading.

Children across the country have celebrated Read Across America Day, and I hope they keep it going for 365 more days because, as the beloved Dr. Seuss said: ``The more that you read, the more things that you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.''

Madam Speaker, as we close out the month of February, I want to recognize this month as National African American History Month. It is a way for our country to remember and honor African American citizens and events that shaped our Nation's history.

It is also a chance to reflect on the countless contributions made by African Americans while many were faced with racial prejudice, segregation, and slavery. These individuals serve as examples of patriotism and determination. They have given people of all backgrounds courage in themselves, faith in their dreams, and hope in others.

The American story is filled with African Americans who forever changed their communities and our country. We take this month to celebrate the cultural, scientific, political, and economic contributions they have made for the betterment of our Nation.

We learn from the past so together we can build a better future for all citizens. As we proclaim February as National African American History Month, let us celebrate their lives, understand their adversity, and lead by their examples.

Madam Speaker, in 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the New Source Performance Standards for the oil and natural gas industry to further regulate methane emissions. Thankfully, the EPA is revisiting this regulation in an effort to provide flexibility and relief moving forward.

For many small oil and gas producers, these requirements contained in the original regulation are simply unworkable and overly burdensome.

For example, the regulation would even apply to wells that produce less than 15 barrels of oil and less than 90,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day. Because these wells produce at low volumes, the profit margin remains tight for the operators.

However, under the original rule, these low-volume producers would be subject to expensive upgrades, additional reporting requirements and administrative costs in order to comply with the regulation.

Madam Speaker, today I introduced H.R. 1391, the Methane Relief Act of 2019, which would exempt these low-volume wells from the rule's requirements. Doing so will allow for commonsense regulatory relief and certainty for these smaller operators which account for an important part of our domestic energy industry.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the issue that is facing Americans across the Nation: the opioids crisis.

The 2018 National Drug Threat Assessment, a comprehensive guide published by the Drug Enforcement Administration, indicates that illegal drug use continues to rise. It cites Mexican transnational criminal organizations as America's greatest enemy in the war against drugs. While these criminal organizations are bringing a wide variety of illegal drugs across our southern border, I am particularly worried about their role in spreading the opioid crisis.

Thousands of pounds of opioids are smuggled across our southern border every year. Just last year, the DEA seized more than 17,000 pounds of heroin in the United States. About 39 percent of this was seized at the southern border.

Another opioid that has devastated communities across America is fentanyl. As we started to understand the scope of the opioid crisis facing our Nation, the CDC says doctors started prescribing less and less pharmaceutical fentanyl. But fentanyl overdoses remained steady as prescription rates dropped, meaning that illicitly manufactured fentanyl is one of the main drivers of the opioid crisis.

Illicit fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is produced in China and Mexico. It is either smuggled into the United States through the mail from China or across our southern border from Mexico. In 2017, Customs and Border Patrol agents seized nearly 1,500 pounds of fentanyl at the border. Considering fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, last year's seizures accounted for millions of potential overdoses and deaths.

But it is easy to discuss the amount of illegal drugs that have been seized at the border. It is easy to discuss the need for change. The hardest part is discussing the human toll that this crisis has taken.

Madam Speaker, last year more Americans died of a drug overdose than in any other recorded year. In 2017, overdoses killed more than 70,000 Americans, and more than 28,000 of these deaths were related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

Our country is facing a crisis, and action is necessary. That is why I was proud to stand with President Trump and support H.J. Res. 31. This appropriations bill included provisions that are vital to my congressional district and that will bring the fight against opioids to the front lines: the southern border.

Although I was disappointed that my Democratic colleagues didn't include more to combat this crisis, I was pleased that it included funding for 55 miles of wall on the southern border. Walls work, and we need to continue the construction of this wall. This is why President Trump's national emergency declaration is necessary.

But, Madam Speaker, tomorrow House Democrats will bring up a measure to block President Trump's emergency declaration, H.J. Res. 46. They say the wall is immoral. They say it is cruel. I say we need decisive action to fight the opioid crisis, and this is the first step in the right direction.

Since President Carter, there have been 31 national emergencies declared. President Clinton declared 6, and President Obama declared 10 that are still in place. All 31 national emergencies recognized a dire threat to the American people and took action. By declaring this national emergency, President Trump is taking action against a threat that killed 70,000 Americans in 2017 alone.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.J. Res. 46. Support our President and save American lives.

Madam Speaker, this month I met with representatives from two Federal correctional institutions located in the 15th District of Pennsylvania: FCI McKean and FCI Loretto.

I thank the representatives for visiting my Washington, D.C., office and taking the time to discuss their priorities for the year ahead. They shared the need to increase staffing levels at Federal prisons because low personnel numbers can result in a more dangerous working environment.

Today I commend corrections officers at FCI McKean and Loretto and all across our country who help protect our communities and uphold the values of our justice system. Officers face dangerous situations in the workplace every day, but that does not deter them.

Just like our first responders, corrections officers are regularly risking their lives to keep their community members safe. They enforce the rule of law, and they carry out their duties without complaint. Their dedication and sacrifice often goes unnoticed by the public, but we owe them our gratitude.

Madam Speaker, let us always thank them for the important work that they do to keep us safe.

Mr. Speaker, on February 15, thousands of students from my alma mater, Penn State University, participated in a 46-hour dance marathon called THON.

THON is the accumulation of a yearlong fundraising effort to raise money for the fight against childhood cancer. Since the first THON took place in the mid-1970s, students have raised more than $157 million.

All of the proceeds go to the Four Diamonds at Penn State University Children's Hospital. 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.

During the THON event, participants stand and dance 46 hours straight, without sleep. THON gives students the chance to stand in solidarity with those affected by this terrible disease.

Mr. Speaker, every year, THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world; and every year, I am in awe of the passion and thoughtfulness that

our Penn State students have for this great cause.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 276. I thank my colleagues across the aisle, the gentlewoman from Nevada, and also all those who are original cosponsors in support of this bill.

It is not uncommon for a school employee to make a lasting impression on a student or even on entire generations of students. Front office attendants, school custodians, school safety personnel, food service workers, and others all interface directly with countless students every day. Many of these school employees make lifelong impacts on the students who they serve.

Ask any student and they will probably tell you about a particular school employee who may not have been their teacher, but, nevertheless, imparted crucial life lessons upon them or inspired joy and confidence in students who struggled to find either. Schools are made better by these leaders, and students benefit from their kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, and respect that they show to others around them.

Mr. Speaker, these employees truly go above and beyond the call of duty to serve American students, and their steadfast devotion deserves our appreciation and recognition.

H.R. 276, the Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act, will direct the Secretary of Education to establish the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees Award, otherwise known as the RISE Award. The RISE Award will be presented each year to a classified school employee in a nonteaching position in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the lives of students at the schools that they serve.

The award will be nonmonetary and will go to employees who demonstrate excellent work performance, school and community involvement, leadership, and commitment, and who exemplify the very best of what it means to be a classified school employee.

H.R. 276 is just one small way to honor the men and women in our communities who demonstrate to students what it means to be outstanding citizens and civic leaders. Their tireless efforts deserve our recognition and thanks. I urge my colleagues in the House to support this commonsense legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the story that was shared about the woman working in that school district. I think we all probably have those stories as we think fondly back on our school experiences, whether it was elementary or high school, about individuals who weren't necessarily teachers but were still very influential in making an impression and setting a great example to be followed in so many different ways. That is why I am so pleased to be able to support this piece of legislation.

I have had the privilege and honor to be in our schools that are recognized as the Blue Ribbon Schools and Schools to Watch, and those are wonderful. They are wonderful not just because of what has been accomplished for those kids, but they do become an inspiration to other schools to strive for and to achieve.

What this piece of legislation does, Mr. Speaker, is to take that down to the staff level, because we know that the most valuable resource and asset that we have in our schools are people--not necessarily the classroom or anything that is physical like that, but it is the teachers, the faculty, and the staff. Being able to recognize the staff who work so hard each and every day there who are not necessarily teachers is a great opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I certainly am very excited about supporting this piece of legislation, H.R. 276. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this week I had the honor of meeting with the Pennsylvania National Guard Association, which is solely dedicated to more than 19,000 Guard members and more than 67,000 Guard veterans and their families.

The National Guard is an essential element of the United States military. Founded in 1636 as a citizen force organized to protect families and towns from hostile attacks, today's National Guard soldiers hold civilian jobs or attend college while maintaining their military training, always ready to defend the American way of life in the event of an emergency.

The mission of the Pennsylvania National Guard Association is to ensure the Pennsylvania National Guard is fully funded, manned, equipped, and trained to perform their Federal and State missions. That also includes ensuring that members and veterans have the benefits that they have earned.

Mr. Speaker, the Pennsylvania National Guard mostly hails from the Commonwealth, and they are prepared to serve the Nation at a moment's notice. In fact, Pennsylvania Guard personnel provided extraordinary support to areas affected by the disastrous 2018 hurricane season. They offered aviation support, restored lines of communication, and lent a helping hand to their fellow Americans in their time of need.

More than 1,000 Guard members assisted in domestic operations, including snowstorms and floods. In 2018, Guard members were deployed throughout the world in support of mobile operations. They also participated in training events at home and abroad to enhance readiness.

As part of its Federal mission, approximately 1,000 Pennsylvania National Guard personnel deployed throughout the world in 2018 in support of mobile operations, including Operation Spartan Shield, Operation Freedom Sentinel, and missions in support of U.S. Air Force's Central Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, and NATO.

Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to visit members of the Guard's 28th Infantry Division over the Thanksgiving holiday. I led a codel last November to Kuwait, where we met with members of the 28th Infantry Division who were deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

The servicemembers that we visited, while serving honorably overseas, were also serving in one of the Army's most historic units. The 28th Infantry Division is the oldest continuous serving division in the United States Army. In 1918, it earned its nickname ``Iron Division,'' fighting during World War I, and 100 years later, the same division continues to defend freedom and liberty around the world.

Since the attacks of 9/11, more than 35,000 Pennsylvania National Guard members have deployed overseas. In fact, Pennsylvania's Fort Indiantown Gap is the busiest Army National Guard training center in the Nation.

The Pennsylvania National Guard is also home to the 56th Brigade Combat Team, which is one of the Army's nine Stryker Brigade Combat Teams. This is a team that my son Logan belonged to when he was in the National Guard before he went to Active Duty. It was the only National Guard Stryker brigade in the United States Army.

Mr. Speaker, the Pennsylvania National Guard continues to serve the Commonwealth and the Nation with pride and distinction. I look forward to its continued success. I thank all of our citizen soldiers, past and present, for their service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. I recently introduced this legislation with chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Collin Peterson and Ranking Member Mike Conaway.

This bill would allow for whole milk, both flavored and non-flavored, to be offered in our school cafeterias.

Mr. Speaker, milk was once a staple in the diet of our students, but consumption in schools has dramatically decreased since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was implemented and basically demonized milk fat that we know today, based on science, is where all the nutrition, let alone the flavor, is.

Milk is the number one source of nine essential nutrients in the diet of many young Americans. We can provide the foundation for a solid, healthy lunch in our schools that also tastes great and that children will want to drink and is good for them. When students don't consume milk, they are not getting nutrients, such as calcium, potassium, and vitamin D. This bill offers more varieties to give kids the option of consuming the milk they love.

I encourage my colleagues to support the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act and put flavor back into school lunches.

Mr. Speaker, February is Career and Technical Education Month. As co-chair of the bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus, and a senior member of the Education and Labor Committee, I have long been aware of the importance of CTE programs that provides 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.

Together with my friend and colleague, Congressman Jim Langevin, co-chairman of the Career and Technical Education Caucus, we introduced a resolution officially designating February as CTE month. I encourage all of my colleagues to sign on as cosponsors because CTE truly benefits all Americans.

CTE is taught in a range of settings: from high school and area technical centers, to technical and 2-year community colleges. Millions of high school and college students are enrolled in CTE programs across the Nation, bringing CTE to every community in the country.

Fortunately, in July 2018, President Trump signed into law the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. I authored this bill with Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi and it aims to close the skills gap by modernizing Federal investment in CTE programs, and connecting educators with industry stakeholders.

It marks the first major overhaul to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act since 2006. The Perkins Act is important for educational institutions as well as local businesses. Small business owners rely upon Perkins programs to increase the number of skilled candidates in emerging sectors. Future workers in fields such as manufacturing, information technology, healthcare, and agriculture also rely on career and technical education programs to obtain the skills necessary for high-skill, high-wage, family-sustaining jobs and careers.

Essentially, Mr. Speaker, we are providing the education and tools to equip a 21st century workforce for this Nation. For students who pursue a career in technical education, it isn't some kind of plan B option. CTE has established itself as a path that many high-achieving students choose in pursuit of industry certification and hands-on skills that they can use right away out of high school in skills-based education programs or in college.

By modernizing the Federal investment in CTE programs, we can connect more educators with industry stakeholders and close the skills gap in this country. There are good jobs out there, but people need to be qualified to get them. A career in technical education is a pathway forward for each and every one of these people.

CTE gives people from all walks of life an opportunity to succeed. During CTE month, we celebrate the achievements of students and spread awareness that there is no one-size-fits-all plan for success in life. I thank Congressman Langevin for his dedication to this issue, and urge all of my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of the flight 3407 crash that went down outside of Buffalo, New York, resulting in the untimely deaths of 49 people. I rise today with a heavy heart as we commemorate this tragedy.

A decade has gone by, but for families who lost loved ones, the pain will live with them forever. These individuals have suffered an unspeakable loss, yet so many of them have traveled to Washington numerous times over the past 10 years to advocate for improved airline safety.

They advocate for regional flights to operate under the same standards as major airlines and to ensure that the tragedy of flight 3407 is never repeated. They advocate in memory of their loved ones whose lives were cut short.

Nothing can bring back their loved ones, but the standards implemented, thanks to their advocacy, have saved lives, and for that we are grateful.

Mr. Speaker, for the eighth consecutive year, the Juniata Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America, achieved the Gold Journey to Excellence Award.

It was an honor to celebrate this outstanding achievement yesterday with the council as well as volunteers at the unit, district, and council levels, as well as the Scouts and parents in Centre, Huntingdon, Juniata, and Mifflin Counties in central Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, the Journey to Excellence Award measures a council's performance in a range of areas; including fiscal management, membership growth and retention, and program excellence; including camping, advancement, and community service, among other areas.

These key performance areas are directly related to producing successful, growing, and sustainable Scouting programs. I am incredibly proud of the Juniata Valley Boy Scout Council, which I have been a member of for four decades. The annual recognition dinner is a time to celebrate achievements, and I was pleased to see Jonathan Long of my hometown recognized as the Howard Cub Pack Leader of the Year.

Scouting makes a difference in the lives of so many youth. I congratulate the Juniata Council on this outstanding achievement.