Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Micki Elliott Tucker on her retirement. She is the nursing home administrator at Sweden Valley Manor in Coudersport, Pennsylvania.

Micki has been a dedicated leader, and she is well loved by the residents and staff alike. She has been instrumental in the development of the Charles Cole Transitions of Care Committee in Potter, McKean, and Cameron Counties. Micki was the liaison between the transitional care team and the implementation of the PenTec LPN Clinical Program at Sweden Valley Manor.

The nursing home also received numerous awards over the years with Micki at the helm. In 2014, the American Health Association awarded Sweden Valley with a National Bronze Commitment of Quality award. In 2008, Sweden Valley Manor was named Coudersport Business of the Year. In 1994, it received the Outstanding Employer award from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor.

Mr. Speaker, these are just some of the highlights of a long-spent career caring for others. To say she will be missed is an understatement.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly wish Micki Elliott Tucker the best in her well-deserved retirement.

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

After a trauma or a life-threatening event, it is common to have reactions, such as upsetting memories, increased jumpiness, or trouble sleeping. If these reactions do not go away or if they get worse, you might suffer from PTSD.

There are organizations and resources that can help both individuals and professionals discover ways to identify and to 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 trauma--for example, a car accident--that can also cause PTSD.

Mr. Speaker, before I came to Congress, I worked as a rehabilitation therapist, and I have seen incredible strides that people with injuries can make with access to appropriate rehabilitation.

I applaud all of the organizations that raise awareness about this important issue during June. There is help and support for those who have PTSD.

Mr. Speaker, June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

There is no effective treatment, no means of prevention, and no method for slowing the progression of the disease. Sadly, one in three seniors will die with the disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. By 2050 this number is projected to rise to nearly 14 million Americans.

Mr. Speaker, every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops this disease. This is unacceptable. Alzheimer's not only has a devastating impact on those who are diagnosed with the disease, but also their caregivers and loved ones.

More than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care to those living with Alzheimer's and other dementias. In 2017 these caregivers provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of care.

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.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the efforts the House is undertaking this week to combat our Nation's opioid crisis. We will consider dozens of bills this week that are aimed at fighting the crisis next door that affects our families, our friends, and our loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, there is a nationwide epidemic of heroin and prescription drug abuse that is resulting in drastic increases in addiction rates, overdose deaths, and incarceration. No zip code in this country is immune from this crisis.

Heroin and pain pill addiction does not discriminate on age, race, gender or socioeconomic class. Your neighbor could be using heroin, or so could their high-honors high school student. It is the public health crisis of this generation.

As a senior member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, I want to highlight some of the work that we have done to help combat this pandemic. The committee has collaboratively worked in a bipartisa manner to introduce and support the following bills:

H.R. 5889, which requires Health and Human Services to provide resources to early childhood care and education providers, as well as professionals working with young children, on ways to properly recognize and respond to children impacted by trauma related to substance abuse.

H.R. 5890, which calls on the HHS to re-evaluate plans under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to ensure the safe care of infants affected by prenatal substance abuse.

H.R. 5891 establishes interagency task forces to effectively and efficiently assist families who have been impacted by substance abuse disorders.

H.R. 5892 establishes an Advisory Committee on Opioids and the Workplace to advise the Secretary of Labor on actions the department can take to address the impact of opioid abuse on the workplace.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of all these bills, and I urge my colleagues to support them as well.

Mr. Speaker, the House is working to not only address this crisis, but combat it and overcome it. We will do so through treatment and recovery, through prevention, by protecting our communities, and by fighting fentanyl and other ever-changing synthetic or foreign illicit drugs.

No person can beat addiction alone, and overcoming this epidemic will not only take a community-wide effort, but a nationwide effort, and that is what we are prepared to do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Flag Day and celebrate the U.S. Army's 243rd birthday.

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

Yesterday, I was proud to join Secretary of the Army Mark Esper, Army Chief of Staff General Milley, and the Sergeant Major of the Army to celebrate the rich history of our Army.

Without the Army 243 years ago, we would not be the great Nation that we are today. And today, we celebrate two great symbols of freedom, our Army and our flag, which both symbolize America being the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Titusville Area Hospital on earning an achievement award from the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania for its outstanding efforts to improve healthcare in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The hospital's entry was titled: ``Enhancing Emergency Care: Because Seconds Count in an Emergency,'' and it was chosen as an Excellence in Care Award winner. Twelve award recipients were selected from 91 total submissions. It is a tremendous achievement for CEO Lee Clinton and everyone on the staff at the Titusville Area Hospital.

The goal was to lower the overall wait time for patients seeking emergency care. The hospital began collecting data in November 2016. At that point the door-to-doctor wait time was 46 minutes, and today the current average wait time is approximately 21 minutes. This is below the State and national averages.

The progress that has been made during this time is remarkable. It translates to not only better patient experience, but better care.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly congratulate CEO Lee Clinton and everyone at the Titusville Area Hospital on this outstanding achievement. The community is most proud of their efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on the occasion of former President George H.W. Bush's 94th birthday. He is the first U.S. President to turn 94 years old, and he has lived a lot of life in those years.

President Bush is marking the occasion at his home in Kennebunkport, Maine. He won't celebrate by skydiving, as he has in past years, but, rather, with a low-key affair surrounded by family.

President Bush has remained active in public life, and he has emphasized the importance of volunteerism. In a column in today's USA Today, his son, Neil Bush, encouraged Americans to follow his dad's example of volunteer service to make our Nation stronger, kinder, and more united.

Neil said: ``It's an important lesson Dad instilled in me, the idea that we have the freedom to serve and that the choice to serve can define the type of life you live. In my father's words, `Any definition of a successful life must include serving others.' ''

Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more, and I wish our 41st President a very happy birthday.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, too many Americans find themselves in dangerous and life-threatening situations as a result of domestic violence.

Victims need access to emergency shelter, crisis counseling, and advocacy services.

That is why I was proud to introduce H.R. 6014, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act of 2018, with my colleagues, Representatives Gwen Moore, Elise Stefanik, and Lisa Blunt Rochester.

Since it was enacted in 1984, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act has addressed domestic violence through community-driven solutions and a network of programs and services dedicated to responding to domestic violence across the country.

One example is the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is available in 170 languages. It provides crisis intervention, counseling,

and safety planning, and can directly connect calls to a seamless referral system of more than 4,500 community programs across the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. Domestic violence has no place in our society, and we must stand up for victims and work to eradicate domestic violence for good.

Mr. Speaker, Monday marked the last day of school for students at the DuBois Area Middle School. It was a last day like probably none other.

In addition to celebrating the long-awaited start of summer vacation, the sixth grade students finished off their school year with a special visit from Silicon Valley.

Representatives from Google traveled to Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, to deliver a CS First Roadshow, a computer science education presentation. Google specifically developed this event for fourth through eighth graders.

Two Google employees delivered the hour-long presentation which focused on teaching students both problem-solving and technical coding skills through a series of interactive activities.

They encouraged kids to develop an interest in computer science education by giving real-life examples of how coding and STEM education can lead to educational opportunities and exciting careers.

Mr. Speaker, the presentation was incredible, and it was clear that the students truly enjoyed it. These are the kinds of skills that students everywhere need to be exposed to at a young age to get them interested in the STEM fields.

I was excited to kick off this event at DuBois Area Middle School. I told the students that technology is constantly changing, and America needs the next generation of computer scientists ready for any opportunities that might come our way.

We need more people in this world who can help build the future or invent

the next big thing. That is why it is extremely important for our students to learn about computer science at an early age. The CS Roadshow helped kids build their own fun stories using Scratch, which is an introductory coding tool.

Our students today are exposed to technology at such an early age, but don't necessarily get to learn about why computer science should be an important part of their lives, both now and in the future. The CS First Roadshow teaches students about the importance of STEM education and uses interactive activities to teach them coding basics.

Hopefully, this experience instilled a newfound passion for computer science in these students, and I think it did just that. I could tell from the joy on their faces and the fun that they were having with their partners that they truly were beginning a journey with computer science.

Mr. Speaker, currently there are more than 500,000 open computing jobs in the United States. In Pennsylvania alone there are more than 17,800 open computing jobs--that is 3.4 times the State average demand rate--and only 2,969 computer science graduates.

By the year 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts there will be 1 million more computer science jobs than graduating students who qualify for the jobs. And only 10 percent of K-12 schools in the United States offer computer science classes, which is a statistic that we must improve.

I look forward to checking back in with the DuBois Area Middle School at the start of the next school year to see how it can expand upon and grow more of an interest in computer science programs for our young learners. After all, they are our future.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the President signed into law the VA MISSION Act, which takes a number of steps toward giving our veterans the care they deserve. My bill, the VETS Act, was included in this larger package. It will allow VA-employed doctors to practice telemedicine across State lines.

The VA already has an extremely successful telemedicine program, boasting an 88 percent satisfaction rating, but outdated regulations restricted this program from growing to achieve its full potential.

The VETS Act will now allow VA doctors to utilize telemedicine to see patients in any State and any location, including in the comfort of their own home. This is especially helpful for veterans who are battling post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury who have had a hard time traveling to a VA facility or live in rural areas.

Mr. Speaker, our veterans deserve the best care available to them, and the VETS Act is one of the provisions of the VA MISSION Act that will advance this care.

I commend the President for signing this bill into law. Telemedicine is better access, better care, and true healthcare reform.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the 74th anniversary of the Allied D-Day invasion of France to honor the bravery of our Armed Forces who served in that operation.

73,000 Americans took part in Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944. This operation secured a beachhead on the European continent that began the liberation of France and then the rest of Western Europe.

Sadly, the United States suffered more than 6,000 casualties in this operation. Ultimately, thousands more U.S. servicemembers would fall in the coming weeks and months liberating the rest of Western Europe from German control.

The courage, bravery, and sacrifice displayed by our military on this day continues to serve as an example for the cost of freedoms that we enjoy in the United States today.

Mr. Speaker, I recently had the honor and the privilege of attending a wreath-laying ceremony on Omaha Beach in Normandy at the Normandy American Cemetery in France.

This memorial serves as a constant reminder to the world that the United States will fight and die to protect the freedoms of not just American citizens, but for citizens around the globe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize six high school honors students from Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District chosen to represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as delegates at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders.

The following students were selected to attend the event, which will take

place June 25 to June 27 in Lowell, Massachusetts: Tessa Anderson of Clarendon, Taylor Grove of Mount Union, Daniel Headrick of Corry, Serena Clarke of Warren, Selena Foster of Sheffield, and Monica Scotto of DuBois.

These outstanding students were required to achieve a 3.5 GPA to be nominated for this prestigious honors-only program by their teachers or the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists.

The event aims to encourage and guide the top students in our country who hope to become physicians or medical scientists. Chosen delegates at the congress represent all 50 States and Puerto Rico.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate these students on this tremendous accomplishment, and I wish them the best of luck as they continue their path to leading our Nation's medical profession.

Mr. Speaker, this weekend our Nation marks one of the most solemn occasions, Memorial Day. It is a time when we honor the sacrifices made by our fallen military members.

Tomorrow marks the American Legion National Poppy Day. Each year members of the American Legion distribute poppy flowers with the request that those receiving a flower making a donation to support our veterans, active servicemembers, and military families.

At the end of the First World War, the poppy flourished throughout Europe because of the lime in the rubble left over from the war. The red poppy is a nationally recognized symbol of sacrifice that has been worn by Americans since World War I to honor those who served and died for our country in all wars. It reminds Americans of the sacrifices made by our veterans while protecting our freedoms.

Mr. Speaker, I will proudly wear a poppy tomorrow to honor our fallen servicemembers, and it is my hope that all Americans will do the same.

Mr. Speaker, May is Foster Care Month and a time to recognize the almost 800,000 foster youth in America. During this month, we renew our commitment to ensuring that every child has a safe, loving family. I am a member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, and also had a foster brother growing up. He is still my brother today.

I know firsthand how a loving, supportive home can make all the difference in a young person's life. Every child deserves to grow up healthy and safe. We know that when children grow up in stable households, they are much more likely to succeed as adults.

This month, we both recommit ourselves to ensuring that every child has access to the promise of the American Dream while honoring the countless professionals and individuals who make selfless sacrifices to make this promise a reality.

Mr. Speaker, today is Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day. More than 100 foster youth from across the country will be here in Congress spending the day with Members of Congress. Shadow Day allows foster youth to share their experiences in foster care directly with Congress to help inform and improve child welfare policy. The child welfare system directly impacts their lives, so it is important foster youth voices are heard here in Congress.

Today, I am proud to have Lawrence White with me as a part of Shadow Day. Lawrence is a 22-year-old from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was in the foster care system from the time he was 10 years old until the time he turned 20. That is when he aged out of the system.

During those 10 years, Lawrence shuffled between 19 different homes and placements. Despite moving so often, Lawrence was able to stay in programs that he enjoyed, such as theater and church activities. He said such activities kept him grounded, or, as he puts it, ``I was fortunate enough to remain humble and beat the odds.''

Mr. Speaker, the experiences of youth who transition out of the foster care system without a permanent home place them at a higher risk of unemployment, poor educational outcomes, health issues, early parenthood, long-term dependency on public assistance, increased rates of incarceration, and homelessness. But, as Lawrence said: He beat the odds.

Lawrence graduated from high school and earned a scholarship to attend Point Park University in Pittsburgh. He now works as a youth support partner with young people in the foster care system.

He currently attends Daytona State College, where his future goal is to become a business owner and an author. I have no doubt that the future is bright for Lawrence.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful that I can spend time today with Lawrence and hear about how we can improve the foster care system, because every child deserves a safe, supportive, and permanent family.

Thanking the USO for Its Commitment to American ServiceMembers

Mr. Speaker, the USO was on Capitol Hill yesterday for a service project where volunteers can assemble snack packs for servicemembers who are currently deployed. More than 2,000 snack packs were assembled as a part of the Force Behind the Forces campaign.

The USO strengthens America's military servicemembers by keeping them connected to family, home, and country throughout their service to the Nation. USO has more than 200 locations around the globe. It serves 4.9 million Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve members and their families.

For more than 75 years, the USO has been by the side of America's military servicemembers. From the moment they join, through their assignments and deployments, and as they transition back to their communities, the USO has been there.

There are USO centers at or near military installations across the United States and throughout the world, including in combat zones, and even un-staffed USO service sites in places too dangerous for anyone but combat troops to occupy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the USO for its dedication to our servicemembers and their families.