Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Dale O. Knee, PhD, upon his retirement as CEO of Covenant Hospice for his dedicated service not only to the Northwest Florida community, but also to this great Nation. For over forty-five years, Dale served his country and local community in various capacities that share at least one common thread--his passion for helping his fellow man. A retired Navy Commander, business and community leader, and loving husband and father to three, Dale has much to be proud of, and I am privileged to honor his lifetime of achievements.

Dale Knee began his career in service to this great Nation when he answered the call during the Vietnam War and served with honor and distinction. His service in the United States Navy spanned twenty years, and included service as a helicopter search and rescue corpsman during the Vietnam War, a Naval Intelligence Officer/NIS Special Agent, and a Medical Service Corps Officer. Before retiring as a Navy Commander, Dale served as Director of Health Affairs for the Secretary of the Navy, Medical Counter-Intelligence Advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Defense Intelligence Agency, and Administrator of the White House Medical Services under the Reagan Administration.

A leader in the health care community and former hospital executive and owner of a health care consulting and development company, Consulta Network LLC, Dale has served as President and CEO of Covenant Hospice since 1993. Under his leadership, Covenant has grown to be one of the premier hospice facilities in the country, and I know firsthand how Dale's leadership at Covenant has touched the lives of countless patients and helped their families during the most difficult times. In addition to his leadership at Covenant, Dale is the chief executive for Alzheimer's Family Services, Inc., CEO of the Covenant Foundation, and co-founder of the Studer Covenant Alliance, LLC. Dale also serves as the National Director for the Board of Directors of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), is a member of the Board for Florida Hospices and Palliative Care Association, the Alabama Hospice Organization, the National Hospice Work Group, and the national post-acute care think tank, Innovations Group. He also serves on the Board for Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida and is an Optimist and Rotarian.

Dale completed his graduate studies at The George Washington University and has earned a doctoral degree in Health Care Administration. Dale has taught at the university

level for twenty-five years, including twenty years as an Associate Professor of Healthcare Administration at the University of West Florida and as a visiting lecturer at The George Washington University and the University Of Texas College Of Health Sciences.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Dale Knee for his decades of service to our Nation and the Northwest Florida community. There are some in the world the Lord blesses with an ability to serve and a gift of leadership, and there is no question that Dale Knee is one of those people. My wife Vicki and I wish Dale; his wife Teri; and their three sons, Jeff, Matt, and Ryan, all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 893) to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2013, in the rates of compensation for veterans with service- connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on S. 893.

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

As chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I rise today in support of S. 893, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013.

Mr. Speaker, it is entirely appropriate that we consider this legislation today after we honored America's veterans yesterday.

This is critically important legislation that authorizes a cost-of- living increase for disabled veterans in receipt of disability compensation payments from VA, veterans' clothing allowance payments, and other compensation for survivors of veterans who die as a result of their service to this country. The amount of the increase is determined by the consumer price index, which also controls the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries. That increase is scheduled to be 1\1/2\ percent.

I want to thank Congressman Runyan of New Jersey, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, for introducing H.R. 569, which was the companion bill to this piece of legislation.

I urge all my colleagues to support S. 893, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health.

Mr. Speaker, I too ask all of my colleagues to support S. 893.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Daughters of the Nile on its 100th anniversary and congratulate its members, in particular the more than 400 members of the Shimron Temple No. 133, Pensacola, Florida, on their years of service to Northwest Florida and communities throughout North America.

Founded in 1913 by Mabel Krows in Seattle, Washington, the Daughters of the Nile is an international fraternal organization for adult women related by birth or marriage to a Shriner, Master Mason, a Daughter of the Nile or a member in good standing of a Masonic organization for girls. On February 20, 1913, Mabel Krows invited wives of the Nile Temple to discuss creating a club modeled after the Zuhrah's Ladies in Minneapolis, of which Mrs. Krows' mother belonged, following the disbanding of the Daughters of Isis in Tacoma, Washington. The Ladies of the Nile expanded to include the wives, daughters, mothers, widows and sisters of Nobles of any Masonic Temple, and the officers for the first Daughters of the Nile were elected on October 16, 1913. Over one hundred years after its founding, the Daughters of the Nile membership has grown to over 26,000 women in 139 cities throughout the United States and Canada.

As proud supporters of Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Daughters of the Nile donates over $1.7 million annually to Shriners, amounting to more than $50 million since 1924. Its contributions to the medical care and rehabilitation of children at twenty-two hospital locations, however, spread well beyond its financial support. The members of Daughters of the Nile are also generous with their time and talent, volunteering over 150,000 hours each year. Their efforts include sewing clothing and quilts, providing toys, books, and other educational and recreational items, as well as helping to organize functions and outreach events for the hospital.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am pleased to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Daughters of the Nile and congratulate its members on this important milestone. My wife Vicki joins me in wishing its membership many more years of continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2189) to establish a commission or task force to evaluate the backlog of disability claims of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous material they may have on H.R. 2189.

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

Mr. Speaker, one of the most challenging issues facing the Department of Veterans Affairs and the veterans it serves is the huge disability backlog. According to last week's backlog report, there were 717,000 claims for disability compensation waiting for a decision, and almost 412,000, or 57 percent, of those claims were above the Secretary's stated processing goal of 125 days. In short, 57 percent of VA's claims work is currently backlogged. Although I am glad we have seen some progress of late, a 57 percent backlog is not acceptable. If we are going to reach the Secretary's goal of ending the backlog by 2015, we will all need a focused effort, and the provisions of this bill will help achieve that goal.

H.R. 2189, as amended, reflects the committee's bipartisan efforts to bring additional transparency to this very troubling and decades-old problem. I know that other Members are here to provide a brief description of the bill that they have sponsored, or those who have worked closely on the legislation, but I want to highlight some of the key provisions.

Title I would establish a commission or a task force to evaluate the backlog of disability claims and the appeals process related to those claims. Time is of the essence, so the commission would be required to submit a series of interim reports to Congress and a final report to the President and to the Congress 180 days after the commission's first meeting. The purpose of the task force is very simple: we need the best and the brightest minds to put forward workable solutions that can be implemented immediately. Even though VA has made recent progress, it is still well short of its own goals. We must not take our foot off the gas when it comes to ending the backlog once and for all, and ideas coming from this focused task force will assist in that effort.

Title I of the bill would also direct VA to provide a supplemental report to its strategic plan to eliminate the compensation claims backlog within 60 days of enactment and every 120 days thereafter until May 25, 2015. The purpose of this provision is to hold VA accountable for the full execution of its own strategic plan. Too often, VA has made lofty promises, and its efforts have fallen short. This provision, authored by our majority whip, will verify progress every single step of the way.

Title II of the bill would extend and expand VA's authority to use contract examinations during its disability examination process. VA's use of contract providers serves two purposes. First, because quality and timely exams are an essential component of the claims process, having additional providers to assist in the effort is critical. Second, use of non-VA examiners frees up the time that VA medical professionals can spend treating veterans at clinics and hospitals.

Finally, title III would require the Secretary of Defense to catalog all Vietnam-era ships as serving in either ``blue'' or ``brown'' water for purposes of awarding service-connection on a presumptive basis to veterans potentially exposed to agent orange. Currently, only veterans serving in the inland waterways, or ``brown'' waters, of Vietnam are eligible for compensation on a presumptive basis. The problem is that some vessels which served offshore in the ``blue'' waters of Vietnam sent smaller vessels ashore. Without an accurate cataloging of these visits, compensation may unfairly be denied to deserving veterans. This provision will assist VA in making accurate decisions in this sensitive area.

Enactment of H.R. 2189 will not completely solve the claims backlog, but I do think it is a good step in the right direction. I thank the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Runyan, and his ranking member, Ms. Titus, for their hard work in moving the bill through the subcommittee as well. Everybody on the committee worked together to bring this piece of legislation to the floor tonight.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan), who chairs the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rooney).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kinderhook, New York (Mr. Gibson).

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the 12th District of Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the majority whip, who has been a strong supporter of veterans issues in this legislative body.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2189 is a strong step forward in helping to resolve the severe backlog of disability claims that exist today at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

I thank all the members of our committee for their bipartisan work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join us in passing H.R. 2189, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2481) to amend title 38, United States Code, to codify and improve the election requirements for the receipt of educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous material they may have on H.R. 2481, as amended.

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

H.R. 2481 represents the collective work of our Economic Opportunity Subcommittee. Provisions of this bill streamline eligibility for veterans' GI Bill benefits that would ensure that surviving loved ones of servicemembers who die as a result of service have all the educational assistance benefits that they are entitled to and makes improvements to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

I know other Members are here today to speak on provisions of this bill that they have authored, so at this time, I will focus on just a few areas.

Sections 4 and 5 of the bill would establish, within existing resources, a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration at the Department of Veterans Affairs as an Under Secretary to head the effort. The purpose of creating a parallel administration is to serve alongside VA's Veterans Benefits Administration, the Veterans Health Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration; it is to raise in importance the issues affecting veterans' readjustment to civilian life.

Too often these issues, such as education, job training, and vocational counseling, do not receive the focus that they deserve because they are subsumed within an administration that also has responsibility for disability claims processing. Highlighting and emphasizing the importance of jobs and careers for veterans was an important reason why the Committee on Veterans' Affairs created for itself a separate Economic Opportunity Subcommittee several years ago. These provisions would advance the same model within the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is my hope that the new Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity would be a powerful advocate serving veterans' readjustment interests, whether at school, during TAP transition classes for departing servicemembers, or as a liaison with the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service.

The second provision I would like to touch on was authored by the late C.W. Bill Young. It would permit the children of certain severely disabled servicemembers, who die shortly after their military service and who have received a Purple Heart, to be eligible for the Fry Educational Scholarship. The Fry Scholarship provides certain post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for the children of servicemembers, but only those who die on Active Duty.

Chairman Young rightly believed that the kids of those who may have been mortally wounded in service but who died shortly thereafter ought to be eligible for this benefit as well. I am honored to say that section 7 of the bill carries forward Bill's provision and that his memory lives on in our work today in this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Flores), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Dayton, Ohio (Mr. Turner), home of the United States Air Force Museum.

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all the members of our committee for their bipartisan efforts in bringing this piece of legislation to the floor.

I would ask all Members here to support this as we go forward with a vote to pass H.R. 2481, as amended.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1405) to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include an appeals form in any notice of decision issued for the denial of a benefit sought, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous material they may have on H.R. 1405, as amended.

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

I want to commend the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) for identifying another step in cleaning up the claims process. Her bill also includes provisions authored by the former sergeant major of the Minnesota National Guard, Mr. Walz, to provide honorary veteran status to members of the National Guard and Reserves.

H.R. 1405 would also improve access to veterans' claims information by certain State and local government officials. And finally, the bill would revise the process by which fiduciary agents are assigned and limit the amount of bonuses that can be paid under chapters 45 and 53 of title V.

Again, I know that there are other Members who wish to speak in more detail on the provisions of this bill, so at this time, I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan), the subcommittee chairman for Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson), a former member of the VA Committee and a 26-plus year veteran of the United States Air Force.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1405, as amended, is yet another bipartisan bill that has been advanced out of our committee. I, again, thank all the members for their collaborative work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join us in passing H.R. 1405, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2011) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a two-year extension of the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material they may have on H.R. 2011.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, having the right skills is one of the keys to finding a good job, and America's taxpayers are now providing the most valuable GI Bill benefit to veterans and dependents since World War II.

To assist VA and the Congress in making sure that veterans' educational assistance benefits are meeting the needs of our veterans, title 38 has established a committee to advise the Secretary on the needs of veteran students. The committee's statutory term will expire on December 31 of this year. H.R. 2011 would extend that term for 2 years. I thank Mr. Delaney for bringing his bill forward to our committee.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the 16th District of Ohio (Mr. Renacci).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. So if my good friend Mr. Michaud is ready to close, so am I.

I, too, Mr. Speaker, ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2011, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, C.W. Bill Young was a truly great American who served the people of the State of Florida with the utmost degree of professionalism, excellence, and dedication for more than 50 years in both the Florida State Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

It was truly an honor and a privilege for me to serve with Bill, and it would be impossible to list all the things that I have learned from Bill in the few short minutes that I have today. Anyone who was fortunate enough to get to know Bill can tell you that there was perhaps no greater advocate for our Nation's veterans and no greater friend to our military than Bill Young.

Last week, I was here on this floor to offer legislation to rename the Bay Pines VA Medical Center after Bill. The enormous outpouring of support, with 378 original cosponsors, was a testament to Bill's tireless work on behalf of veterans and the boundless respect that his colleagues had for him. But, what many may not know is that the current medical center in Bay Pines may not have existed at all if not for Bill's work back in 1976. As President Ford travelled through Florida, Bill joined him aboard Air Force One. Despite opposition from high ranking senior officials in the Administration, Bill convinced President Ford that the veterans of Central Florida needed a new facility to make sure that our Nation upheld our solemn promise ``to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.'' Thanks to Bill that facility was built.

Madam Speaker, Bill's distinguished service to our Nation, as a veteran and a lawmaker, stands as a shining example for every public servant, and indeed every American, of what can be achieved through hard-work, patriotism, and an abiding faith in God. My wife Vicki and I extend our deepest condolences to Bill's wife, Beverly, children, Rob, Billy and Patrick and the entire Young family. We will all miss Bill dearly, but we know that his legacy will never be forgotten and that our Nation is that much stronger thanks to his service.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3302) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Bay Pines, Florida, as the ``C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material they may have on H.R. 3302.

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

Today is bittersweet as we mark both the passing of a congressional stalwart,

Chairman C.W. Bill Young, and pay a fitting tribute by naming the Bay Pines Veterans Medical Center in his honor.

Mr. Speaker, while the raw numbers themselves may speak volumes for his dedication to America, it is his personal qualities that I admire the most. When I came to Congress in 2001, Bill Young was one of the first Members that welcomed me here. It was on this floor, in this Chamber, that Bill Young introduced me to the Members of this House the night I was sworn in. Since then, I came to regard him not only as a mentor or a colleague but, more importantly, a personal friend.

Chairman Young served the 13th District of Florida and the people of the United States for over 42 years. He was the senior member of the Florida congressional delegation and was the senior Republican in both the House and in the Senate. Counting his years in the Florida Legislature, Bill Young served over 50 years in public service and worked with eight Presidents.

Bill will be most remembered for his devotion to America's defense and especially to the men and the women in the Armed Forces. Having served in uniform for 15 years as a member of the National Guard and Reserves, Bill was the go-to guy on defense issues here in the House. He dedicated his legislative and personal energies to improve the quality of life for the men and the women who serve; and, as a result, those who wear the uniform and face our foes have improved base housing, better medical care, increased pay, and the best equipment.

Members know Bill best for his work as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee from 1999 to 2005, and he continued to serve as chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense until the time of his passing. But Bill Young was much more than a defense expert. He had also been a leading advocate for increased medical research.

Bill worked to double Federal medical research funding and funding to increase immunization rates for preschoolers, to improve public health programs, and to find cures for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Just one example, the C.W. Bill Young Marrow Donor Recruitment and Research program registry lists more than 9 million volunteer donors for patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases. That simple list has provided the gift of life to more than 50,000 individuals.

To completely describe the contributions of a man who served in this body for over 42 years would take hours. So with that, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire Florida delegation and all those who knew and served with him in this House and in the other body, I offer our most sincere condolences to his wife, Beverly, and his sons Rob, Billy, and Patrick. He was your husband and father. To us, Bill was a friend we will miss dearly.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the dean of our delegation.

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia alluded to over 200 cosponsors. I would announce to the House tonight that we had 379 original cosponsors of this piece of legislation.

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the vice chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, whose district abutted Mr. Young.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time and am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, tonight I want to thank all the Members on both sides of the aisle for their kind words they have said of our friend from Florida, Bill Young. I sincerely hope that the words give Beverly, Rob, Billy, and Patrick some measure of consolation.

While we will no longer have Bill's personal and wise counsel to go to, that beautiful veterans medical center will bear his name. It will give witness--witness to his many years of service to America and her defenders.

I want to thank my good friend from Florida (Ms. Brown) for her help in bringing this bill to the floor and the over 375 cosponsors that we have brought on this piece of legislation.

I respectfully ask all Members to join us in supporting this piece of legislation, H.R. 3302, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the 75th anniversary of Beulah First Baptist Church and its service to the Northwest Florida community.

Beulah First Baptist Church is the second oldest church in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Originally known as the First Community Church and then later as the Colored Community Baptist Church, Beulah First Baptist's founding began when its first members were inspired by the desire to learn and heed the Lord's Word. Beginning in 1938, its service to its congregation grew from Bible Study and adult veterans classes held in member homes to an expanded Bible Study and Sunday Church School under the leadership of Reverend O.R. Robinson in 1943. Both the Bible Study and the Sunday Church School are still active today.

Throughout its 75 years, Beulah First Baptist Church has been blessed with the leadership of nine pastors, including: Reverends W. Garrett (1938); H. McNeil (1938); O.R. Robinson (1943); E.W. Thomson (1945); Fitzchew (1952); A.D. Bell, Sr. (1953); David Savage (1969); Matthew Payne, Jr. (1970); and Scottie L. Thigpen (1981 to present).

A true testament to God's work through His people, the Church has experienced much growth over the years, particularly in 1988. This year not only marked the Church's Golden Anniversary, but also a year of many firsts: the Church formed the Women's Fellowship Luncheon, the Church Banquet, and the Intermediate Women's Prayer Breakfast. Additionally, the Church began contributing ten percent of its tithes and offering to local and foreign missions. In recent years, the Church established a singles ministry in 1993 and a Children's Church in 1994. In 1998, Beulah Christian Academy opened its doors as did the Mission Outreach Ministry and the McGriff Office Facility in 2005.

Since its founding, members of Beulah First Baptist Church have helped build God's Kingdom here on earth through their outreach to the citizens of Fort Walton Beach and the surrounding area, and I would like to thank them for their service to Northwest Florida.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me great pleasure to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Beulah First Baptist Church. My wife Vicki joins me in wishing the Church all the best for continued success. May the Spirit of the Lord continue to bless this Church and its congregation.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the 80th anniversary of the First Pentecostal Church of Pensacola and its service to Florida's Gulf Coast.

The First Pentecostal Church of Pensacola traces its roots back to the Great Depression and its founder, Pastor David Lamar ``D.L.'' Welch, who preached and established churches across the Nation from California to Florida. His travels eventually brought him to Pensacola in 1933, where he erected a tent revival on ``O'' Street between Strong and DeSoto Streets and baptized 75 members of the Northwest Florida community.

Pastor Welch served the church for two years before embarking again on the evangelistic trail. Reverend Oliver Fauss took over as Pastor until Pastor Welch's return in 1939. In addition to serving the church, Brother Welch played an active role in the community as a District Superintendent and a member of the Florida District Board, as well as, the Chaplain of the Florida Senate under Florida Governor Fuller Warren.

Brother Welch and his wife of seventy years, the former Lottie Mae Holloway, brought up their children in the Pentecostal faith. Their son Paul eventually became Pastor in 1975. Brother Paul, with the help of his wife, Sister Shirley, oversaw the construction of the church and helped expand it into what it has become today.

In 1999, Brian Kinsey was elected Pastor of the First Pentecostal Church and in 2007, Senior Pastor of the church. Today, he and his wife, Lanette, continue to inspire those around them and are committed to bettering the local community.

Throughout its eighty year history, the First Pentecostal Church of Pensacola has held on to the strong, moral framework and religious convictions of its original founders. The church continues to share the word of God with His people. I would like to thank its members and pastoral leadership for their service to Northwest Florida.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me great pleasure to commemorate the 80th anniversary of First Pentecostal Church of Pensacola. My wife Vicki joins me in wishing the members of the church all the best for continued success. May the Spirit of the Lord continue to bless them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of Northwest Florida State College located in Niceville, Florida. Throughout the past 50 years, its faculty and students have exhibited an assiduous dedication to excellence that has led to the college's growth from its beginnings as a junior college with a makeshift campus to now a state college with seven campuses and centers and six bachelor's degree programs. I am proud to congratulate them on this great achievement.

Access to education is one of the most vital components for a successful society, and in the spring of 1963, the Florida Legislature, recognizing the opportunity to better serve the educational needs of the citizens in Northwest Florida, authorized the establishment of a junior college to be located in Okaloosa County. Originally named the Okaloosa-Walton Junior College, its doors opened for the first time to 767 students in a temporary location in the City of Valparaiso, Florida on August 24, 1964. In honor of the heroism of the Doolittle Raiders, the students chose ``Raiders'' as their college's official mascot.

Just a few years and an Act of Congress later, the permanent home for the college in Niceville was established. In 2004, the college name was officially changed to Okaloosa-Walton College in reflection of the new accreditation to award bachelor's degrees, and in 2008, it was changed to Northwest Florida State College, upon the creation of the Florida College System.

While its name and structure has evolved throughout its 50-year history, students have never stopped pouring through its doors. Students of all ages made the college their alma-mater, whether high school students taking dual enrollment courses or adults simply interested in expanding their knowledge in a variety of areas. Fifty years; seven locations; numerous state, regional, and national athletic titles; and more than 350,000 students later, Northwest Florida State College is recognized for its cultural enrichment and stellar educational opportunities provided to the Northwest Florida community.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of Northwest Florida State College. My wife Vicki and I join the citizens of Northwest Florida in congratulating the faculty, students, and alumni of the

college on its golden anniversary. We wish them many more years of continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Northwest Florida's Marty White for having spent forty years on the radio, over thirty of which have been spent waking up the people of the greater Pensacola area. I am pleased to acknowledge his success and great achievement.

Mr. White grew up in Northwest Florida and attended J.M. Tate High School in Cantonment. After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force where he served our Nation before he ever thought about a career on morning radio. Following his military service, Mr. White used his connections to secure an interview at a local radio station in 1973. He landed the job and has been on the radio ever since, entertaining the people of the Gulf Coast.

The radio industry has changed drastically over the years that Mr. White has been on the air. Many radio personalities have come and gone in the wake of advancing technology and station buyouts. Mr. White, however, has adapted to these changes and remained a local radio mainstay due to his massive popularity.

Over twenty of his years on the radio have been spent on 102.7 WXBM. What once started as a small station in Chumuckla has moved to Pensacola under the umbrella of the second largest radio station operator in the country, Cumulus Media. Whereas this change could have resulted in the hiring of a new staff altogether, Mr. White has remained as the voice that the people of Northwest Florida enjoy waking up to in the morning or listening to during their drive to work.

On behalf of the United States Congress, I congratulate Marty White for reaching forty years on the radio. My wife Vicki joins me in offering our best wishes to Mr. White, his wife Donna, and their son Cody. We look forward to many more mornings listening to Marty on ``Your Hometown Morning Show'' in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Pridgen family for being selected as the 2013 Walton County, Florida, Farm Family of the Year.

Steve Pridgen, a born-and-bred third generation farmer, takes to heart the value of hard work, stewardship of land, and the love and support of his family. If you ask Steve how he feels about farming, he will tell you it has been a dream come true, and it has grown to become his life's passion. Ever since he was a young boy, Steve dreamed of farming just like his father and grandfather. In 1983, while only a high school junior, he took over operations for his father's 430-plus acre farm, which is located in the Liberty Community.

The Pridgen family farm boasts 65 head of beef cattle, 120 acres of pasture land, as well as 300-plus acres of pine trees. In addition to Steve, his wife, Ronda, and their children, Stephanie, Chase, and Madison, along with Steve's mother, Martha, all contribute to the overall success of the farm. The Pridgen children are especially willing to help out on the family farm; Chase can often be found driving around a tractor, while Stephanie gladly gives up her free time when home from school to assist her father and brother.

The recognition bestowed upon the Pridgen family is not the only accolade they have been given with regards to their efforts in agriculture. In 2007, the Pridgen family was named Florida's Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year by the Florida Forestry Association.

Steve Pridgen is extremely grateful for the opportunity he and his family have been given to devote their lives to cultivating God's earth. His gratitude goes out to the Walton County farming community, of which he is thankful to be a part, as well as, the Walton County Extension Service.

Mr. Speaker, our great Nation was built by farmers and their families. The Walton County Farm Family of the Year Award is a reflection of the Pridgen's tireless work and their dedication to family, faith, and farming. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Pridgen family for being outstanding in their field. My wife Vicki and I extend our best wishes for their continued success.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the centennial anniversary of the Imogene Theater in Milton, Florida.

Built by banker Stephen Harvey for $25,000, the Imogene is a Renaissance Revival style hall that was slated primarily to serve as a community center for the performing arts. Originally called the Milton Auditorium, the facility also hosted movies beginning with the silent film, ``The Passion Play.'' During this time, the Imogene remained a central part of the Milton community and served as a meeting place for Milton residents, even hosting speeches by presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan in 1916 and again in 1924 when he made campaign stops in Santa Rosa County.

In 1921 the Milton Auditorium was sold to Clyde Gooch. To honor his daughter, he renamed the facility the Imogene Theater after her. In the 1930's and 40's, the theater was a first-rate movie house, running the era's most popular films. In 1946, however, a new theater opened in town, and Imogene's prominent presence in the community began to fade.

Other businesses occupied the theater until 1980, but in 1985, the Imogene was purchased for $30,000 by the Santa Rosa Historical Society, which dedicated great effort and time restoring the theater to her old glory. The facility reopened and began a new tenure as a hub for local arts and community events.

Tragedy struck the historic landmark the evening of January 6, 2009 when a fire broke out on the same block as the theater. The beloved facility was severely damaged by fires, smoke, and water. With the aid of determined community support, the Imogene was once again restored and continues to be an integral part of the Milton community today.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the Imogene Theater. May she have many more years serving Northwest Florida.