Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Delanie Pritchard as the 2013 Washington County, Florida Teacher of the Year.

Benjamin Franklin once said, ``Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.'' It is with great honor that I recognize Delanie Pritchard for her ability to not only teach, but to involve and engage those around her. The best teachers are those who not only educate, but those who strive every day to actively engage their pupils. Mrs. Pritchard embodies this spirit. She is an educator, a mentor, and a role model to those she serves.

Her greatness extends well beyond her title as Teacher of the Year-- it lies in the hearts and minds of the students who have been deeply affected. Through her passion and dedication, Mrs. Pritchard has proven herself to be among Northwest Florida's finest teachers. The Washington County School District is honored to have her as one of its own.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Pritchard has taught in various capacities. Whether she was teaching in the classroom at Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and Vernon Place juvenile facilities; teaching on the field as Physical Education Instructor at Hutchinson Beach Elementary, Surfside Middle School, and Roulhac Middle School; or teaching from behind a desk as Guidance Counselor at Roulhac Middle School, Mrs. Pritchard's impact in molding the minds of her students has been felt, not only by the educational system, but also by the entire community. Since 2004, Mrs. Pritchard has counseled and advised the students of Roulhac Middle School, and it is in this role that the Washington County School Board recognizes her for her outstanding contributions.

Mrs. Pritchard is also a proud wife and mother. She has been happily married for almost 25 years to Ross Pritchard, and they have two daughters, Meredith and Michelle. Her dedication to Northwest Florida and her family is commendable.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to recognize Delanie Pritchard on her achievement and her exemplary service in the Washington County School District. My wife Vicki joins me in congratulating Mrs. Pritchard, and we wish her and her family all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Christy Pippin as the 2012 Washington County School District Related Employee of the Year. Christy Pippin is a Teacher's Aide for Kate M. Smith Elementary School in Washington County, where she has proudly served since 2000.

Mrs. Pippin's childhood dream was to teach, and at the early age of fifteen her passion was further ignited when she began work at a daycare. She continued inspiring and educating others throughout high school and college. In 2000, her dream to become a full time paraprofessional came to fruition as she began her work at Kate M. Smith Elementary School.

Christy Pippin's passion for and dedication to the students has impacted the lives of many. My wife Vicki joins me in congratulating Mrs. Pippin, and we wish her, her husband Chris, and their two children, Sarah-Grace and Riley, all of the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Joseph P. Richards, Commander, Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21, upon his retirement after more than 31 years of faithful and dedicated service to the United States Marine Corps.

Colonel Richards' long and distinguished career has been marked by his selfless dedication to duty and his unwavering love of country. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1980 and trained as an aircraft mechanic. Colonel Richards attended Westfield State College as a Criminal Justice major, graduating in 1985 before embarking on his career as a commissioned officer and Naval Aviator.

During his remarkable career, Colonel Richards served in a number of flying squadrons, deploying overseas with the 13th, 15th, 31st, and 24th Marine Expeditionary Units. On one such deployment, he participated in Operations Allied Force and Noble Anvil, supporting the air campaign over Yugoslavia in 1999. In addition to his operational experience, he has also served in a number of training billets, instructing new pilots and teaching officers at senior level schools. His record of accomplishment is well-documented and earned him command opportunities at every level from detachment to group.

Colonel Richards has served as Commander of Marine Aviation Training Support Group at Naval Air Station Pensacola since May 2009. His leadership and professionalism during his tenure have been nothing short of superb.

Colonel Richards' professional achievements have been rewarded on numerous occasions during his career. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various campaign and service medals.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the career and accomplishments of Colonel Joseph P. Richards. His service to country and Corps has been exceptional. My wife Vicki and I wish him, his wife Susan, and three children--Matthew, Michael, and Meghan--all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Fort Walton Beach General Federation of Women's Club on their 90th Anniversary. For nearly a century, the Fort Walton Beach General Federation of Women's Club has served the Northwest Florida community with continuous benevolence.

The Fort Walton Beach General Federation of Women's Club's history dates back to the

early 1900s, when a group of women pioneers and settlers assembled to address community needs. They provided local law enforcement when no other authority existed, medicinal services when a doctor was not available, and food and clothing for children and families in need. The group also founded both a medical clinic and a public library, and to this day, the Fort Walton Public Library provides vital services to the community.

The Fort Walton Beach General Federation of Women's Club is well known for their many invaluable contributions to the arts, environment, education, domestic violence prevention, home life, and our nation's veterans. The Club's commitment to providing resources to our veterans and their families is invaluable to the Northwest Florida community and serves as a shining example for others. As Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I understand the vital importance of serving those who have worn the uniform, and I am extremely grateful for the patriotic and dedicated service that the Club offers to Northwest Florida's veterans.

On behalf of the United States Congress, I congratulate and offer thanks to the Fort Walton Beach General Federation of Women's Club on 90 years of exemplary service. My wife Vicki joins me in offering our best wishes to the Women's Club for their success as they continue to carry out their laudable mission and for their dedication to bettering the lives of those around them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Republic of China's many successes and to express my congratulations on their Centennial.

In 1911 the Wuchang uprising gave birth to the Republic of China, becoming the first nation in the ethnic Chinese world where democracy would take root. After the revolution, Dr. Sun Yat-sen vowed to the people that they would build a strong and prosperous nation under a democratic government. Although that dream was not achieved before his death, his ideas continued to live on. Today, Taiwan celebrates freedom and democracy and enjoys a prosperous economy. As a loyal friend of the United States, we affirm our continued commitment to Taiwan's security and look forward to only strengthening our relationship.

On behalf of the United States Congress, I congratulate the Republic of China on its many accomplishments over the past 100 years and invite my colleagues to join me in celebration. My wife Vicki joins me in offering our best wishes to the people of Taiwan for their continued prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize John Sullivan on his retirement after 40 years in public service, including 38 with the Social Security Administration.

John Sullivan began his career in public service in 1972 when he joined NASA as a Budget Specialist. Two years later, Mr. Sullivan transferred to the Social Security Administration, where he would spend the next 38 years. Mr. Sullivan started in the Social Security Administration as Mail Clerk, quickly rising through the ranks to positions including Claims Representative, Quality Review Specialist, Supervisory Resident Representative, Branch Manager, Project Manager, and District Manager.

Mr. Sullivan is an assiduous worker, and his professionalism, dedication, outstanding initiative and resourcefulness have been recognized on multiple occasions. He has been awarded more than 30 performance awards, including the Social Security Administration Regional Commissioners Citation, the Social Security Commissioner's Team Award and Biltmore's Who's Who of American Empowering Executives and Professionals.

In addition to his tireless work with the Social Security Administration, Mr. Sullivan is actively involved in his Church and local community. He has served on the St. Anne's Catholic Church Parish Council, as well as its Finance Council. Mr. Sullivan has also volunteered for more than 25 years with the Boy Scouts of America, where he is currently the Vice President of Programs Gulf Coast Council, and numerous scouts in his troop, including three of his sons, have gone on to become Eagle Scouts.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress it is my honor to recognize Mr. John Sullivan for his dedicated career as a public servant and thank him for his service to Northwest Florida. My wife Vicki and I wish Mr. Sullivan, his wife Jennie, and his sons--Richard, John, Matthew, Michael and Taylor--all the best.

Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 908, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Waxman

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. David L. Goetsch upon his retirement as Vice President of Northwest Florida State College.

Throughout his career in Northwest Florida, Dr. Goetsch has epitomized professionalism and excellence in education. A Distinguished Alumnus of the University of West Florida, Dr. Goetsch was named as one of the school's top 40 alumni during its first 40 years. He has published more than 70 books on topics ranging from management, leadership and professional development to economic development and political science, and several of his bestsellers have been published in foreign languages.

In addition to his extraordinary academic portfolio, Dr. Goetsch has been recognized by many organizations for his excellence in the classroom. In 1984, Dr. Goetsch was named ``America's Outstanding Technical Educator of the Year,'' and in 1986, he was named Florida's ``Outstanding Technical Educator of the Year.'' He has also received numerous awards as ``Instructor of the Year'' from the University of West Florida, as well as Okaloosa Walton Junior College.

As an expert in Management and Leadership, Dr. Goetsch has applied his extensive knowledge to help businesses in Northwest Florida thrive and expand. Dr. Goetsch is the co-founder, and current Chairman of the Board, of the Economic Development Council serving Okaloosa County and its Technology Coast Manufacturing and Engineering Network (TeCMEN). He is a founding board member of the Walton Economic Development Alliance and has served as president of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, president of the Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Crestview Chamber of Commerce, and board member of the Walton Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Goetsch also calls on his patriotism and service as a United States Marine to support local military installations, missions and defense contractors. He currently serves on the three-county Defense Support Initiative in an ex officio position, and this year he was appointed by State Senator Mike Haridopolos to utilize his expertise as a member of Governor Rick Scott's Florida Defense Support Task Force.

Dr. Goetsch also spends valuable time serving throughout the community and has been recognized at both the local, state and national level. In 2005, Dr. Goetsch was awarded the ``James Campbell Community Service Award'' from the Niceville-Valparaiso-Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, and he also received the ``Spirit of Freedom Award'' from the Northwest Florida Daily News. In 2009, the Carnegie Foundation recognized Dr. Goetsch for ``Outstanding Community Engagement.''

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the career and accomplishments of Dr. David L. Goetsch. His service to the academic and business communities in Northwest Florida is laudable. His expertise has helped small businesses, large corporations, cities, counties and non-profits thrive, and his books have helped provide students worldwide with the tools to succeed. My wife Vicki and I wish him, his wife Deborah and daughter Savannah all the best.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I attended the funeral of a fallen soldier from my district and missed the following rollcall Votes: Nos. 860, 861, and 862 on November 29, 2011.

If present, I would have voted:

Rollcall Vote No. 860--H.R. 3012, Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, ``nay;''

Rollcall Vote No. 861--H.R. 2192, National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act, ``aye;'' and

Rollcall Vote No. 862--H.R. 1801, Risk-Based Security Screening for Members of the Armed Forces Act, ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is with great respect and honor that I rise today to recognize the life and selfless sacrifice of Northwest Florida's beloved Private First Class Matthew Christopher Colin of Navarre, Florida.

Private First Class Colin was killed in action by an improvised explosive device on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 while on patrol in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. At the time, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. His military decorations and honors include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge.

A resident of Navarre, Florida, Matthew was born in St. Augustine, Florida on January 20, 1989, to Ken and Kathy Colin. Active in the Navarre Youth Sports Association, Matthew played football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He was recognized as a top competitor in track and field at the age of seven. He graduated from Navarre High School in 2007. Following in the footsteps of his father, also an Army veteran, he answered the call to arms in February 2010. Upon successful completion of basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he reported to Fort Wainwright, Alaska in September 2010.

Matthew's selflessness and sense of community were apparent even before he joined the Army. His former high school teachers describe him as an honorable young man with a strong sense of values and morals. He previously worked as a fitness instructor at the

YMCA in Navarre, where he was well-liked by staff and patrons.

Matthew was a beloved member of his community. He is survived by his loving family, mother, Kathleen; father, Kenneth; brother, Michael; grandparents, Bob and Margaret Dawson; five aunts; four uncles; and many cousins. He is also survived by his four dogs, Spartacus, Patton, Captain, and Goldie.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to honor the life of Private First Class Matthew Christopher Colin for his selfless service and sacrifice in defense of our Nation. My wife Vicki and I offer our prayers for his entire family. He will be truly missed by all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Judge Nickolas Geeker upon his retirement from Florida's First Judicial Circuit Court in Escambia County. Judge Geeker spent his career serving the Northwest Florida community, including more than 25 years presiding as a judge in the First Judicial Circuit, and I am proud to recognize his dedication and service.

Judge Geeker and his family are deeply rooted in Northwest Florida. The Geeker family settled in Escambia County in the early 1900's and has been a fixture in the Northwest Florida community for more than 100 years.

Following his graduation from Louisiana Tech University, Judge Geeker attended law school at Florida State University where he was part of the College of Law's charter class of graduates. After serving as a law clerk in the office of U.S. District Judge D. L. Middlebrooks, Judge Geeker returned to Escambia County. He served as an Assistant State Attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorney and as a U.S. Attorney for the Northern District. In 1984, Judge Geeker was elected to Florida's First Judicial Circuit Court, where he has remained since being invested as Circuit Judge in January 1985.

Throughout his 40-year career, Judge Geeker has served with honor and distinction, and his unwavering commitment to upholding the law in an unbiased manner is a prime example of our legal system working at its best.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am honored to recognize Judge Nickolas Geeker for his service to Northwest Florida and to the United States of America. My wife Vicki and I wish him and his wife Jan all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Robert Bruce Christmas for receiving the 2011 Washington County Extension Service Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. Bruce and his family have dedicated their lives to the field of agriculture, and I am proud to recognize their achievements before the United States Congress.

Bruce was born to a farm family in 1933, becoming the fifth generation of Christmas farmers in the Florida Panhandle that stretches back to 1848. He graduated from Cottondale in 1951, received his associate's degree from Chipola College in 1953, and his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 1955. He maintained a thirst for learning by earning a Masters of Animal Nutrition in

1959 and a PhD in Poultry Nutrition and Management in 1972, both as a Florida Gator. Bruce also served his country as a member of the United States Army, both active duty and reserve, where he achieved the rank of Sergeant.

Of the 32 years of Bruce's professional service, 21 were spent conducting Research and Field Demonstration Trials. He began as the Assistant and Associate Extension Agent in Orange County, Florida and became one of the first assistants in Florida to be promoted to associate. Bruce then served as the Supervisor of the Florida Poultry Evaluation, continuing to work part-time even after his retirement.

Over the course of his career, Bruce authored roughly 150 scientific and informational publications on poultry, swine, and beef research studies. He has been a member of the Farm Bureau since 1960 and served on the Washington County Farm Bureau Board for nearly 20 years, 16 of which he served as president. Bruce has also served on the Florida Agriculture and Regional Agriculture Councils, as well as the Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Alumni Board since its initiation. Bruce received the National Volunteer Service Award from the National Agriculture Alumni Association and has been inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to honor Bruce Christmas on his success. My wife Vicki and I are proud to congratulate Bruce, his wife of 53 years, Addie Ann; his children, Stuart, Robert, Jonathan, and Scott; and his entire extended family on this truly special occasion.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me to rise today to recognize the Jerry Morris family for being selected as the 2011 Washington County, Florida Outstanding Farm Family of the Year.

Jerry, son of Arvel and Ethel Morris and one of nine children, is a fourth generation farmer. He found his passion for love and farming in the middle of cotton country of Cherokee County in northeast Alabama along the Coosa River. In 1981, Jerry moved to Florida and bought a farm south of Chipley. It was here, where he found his second and most important love, Lynell Kellum, a local farm girl from Jackson County who he married in 1989.

Just north of Chipley, Lynell grew up and learned to drive a tractor pulling watermelon wagons through the field and fed the family's livestock. After working at the Bank of Jackson County for 39 years, she now enjoys farming with Jerry full time, along with cooking and canning, making jelly and sewing.

Jerry and Lynell both work hard to embrace new technologies, new varieties and better production practices. After becoming interested in no-till planting, they bought a rip-strip planter. It proved to be successful for planting corn and soybeans. This method prevented erosion and left ground cover to hold moisture. They started planting twin-row peanuts 10 years ago and made better production. They found this to be successful and implemented planting his soybeans in twin- rows.

Just this year, they planted 239 acres of peanuts, 128 acres of corn, and 234 acres of soybeans. Jerry has become known as one of the top corn producers in Washington County.

Aside from the farm and their love for the outdoors, Jerry and Lynell are members of the Washington and Florida Cattlemen's Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, and enjoy spending time singing in the choir at Piney Grove Freewill Baptist Church and spending time with their family. Jerry and Lynell have four gown children and five grandchildren: Alan Kellum and wife Diane, who have two sons live in Nicholasville, Kentucky; Amy Hatcher, husband, Clint, and son, Logan, of Wicksburg, Alabama; Ladonna Kellum of Graceville, Florida; and Saranda Headland and husband, Austin, who have two daughters and live in Dothan, Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, our great nation was built by farmers and their families. The Washington County Outstanding Farm Family of the Year award is a reflection of the Morris family's tireless work and love of farming. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Morris family for this great accomplishment. My wife Vicki and I wish them the best for continued success.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

As chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I do stand today in the strongest possible support of the Senate amendment to H.R. 674, which includes the provision of the bipartisan and bicameral VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.

This bill contains many provisions of H.R. 2433, the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act, or the VOW Act, which was introduced in July and passed the House by an overwhelming majority just last month.

The VOW Act honors the 1 percent of Americans who, as veterans, have signed a blank check in the amount of up to and including their lives and payable to the other 99 percent of Americans. In return for that investment, too many of them, veterans of every working age generation, are finding themselves unemployed or seriously underemployed due to the current economic downturn. Unfortunately, today's economy has eliminated millions of jobs, many of which will unfortunately never return.

Regardless of the reason, nearly one million veterans need help in acquiring the skills needed for today's job market. That is what the VOW to Hire Heroes Act will do in a very comprehensive and cost- effective manner.

There are millions of jobs going unfilled right now because employers can't find workers with the right skills. I'm proud that a major provision of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act will give nearly 100,000 veterans a chance to gain the new skills that are in demand for today's jobs. And these jobs are not just in high-tech fields. Many are in the trades. Many are in fields that cannot be moved overseas, like transportation. And this bill helps provide the training needed to complete and compete for these types of jobs without adding new programs.

In fact, the two major provisions of this bill essentially recycle two existing well-regarded education and training programs, the Montgomery GI Bill and the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. That will make use of existing staff and current regulations.

As I said, this Act takes a comprehensive approach. For those just leaving the service, this bill would vastly improve the Transition Assistance Program, or TAP, as it's known, by adding personal skills assessment and improved skills crosswalks into civilian occupations.

The bill would also begin the process of working with the States to help standardize occupational licensing and credentialing, a major bottleneck that often wastes millions of dollars spent on our military training.

For the disabled veterans who have completed VA's Voc Rehab and Employment Program and who have exhausted their unemployment benefits, the bill would offer up to an additional year of vocational rehabilitation.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Senator Patty Murray, for her insight in including the vocational rehabilitation benefits as part of the compromise bill. I have two final points. The first is, this bill is paid for both mandatory and discretionary. We have worked with the veteran services organizations in order to find the pay-for provisions, and they understand the urgency to help veterans become employed, and I thank them for their support of this legislation.

Secondly, Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Camp. I know his plate is full right now, and I thank him most sincerely for helping bring this to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Centennial of Naval Aviation and its service to the United States of America.

Throughout the last century, the men and women of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard who have heeded freedom's call have become America's front line of defense. Generation after generation of children from the Emerald Coast have watched our country's finest aviators overhead and dreamt of following in their footsteps. I am proud to say that the First Congressional District of Florida holds a special place in its heart for the Blue Angels and all who fly in our nation's defense.

Naval Air Station Pensacola, NAS Pensacola, welcomed its first aviation unit on January 20, 1914, less than three years after the Navy purchased its first planes. On December 7, 1917, Pensacola was designated as the first permanent U.S. Naval Air Station. It was America's sole Naval Air Station until World War I. In the ensuing years, tens of thousands of America's finest Naval Aviators have trained at NAS Pensacola, including Neil Armstrong and Ted Williams. Today, all U.S. Naval Aviators begin their training at the Cradle of Naval Aviation.

From the first Naval Aviator, Lieutenant Theodore Ellyson, to the current class of flight students at NAS Pensacola, thousands of Naval Aviators have protected America's interests around the world and in outer space. Just like their predecessors from previous generations, today's students at NAS Pensacola go through rigorous training to serve on shore and at sea, at home and abroad, to protect the United States and support freedom wherever and whenever they are called. From combat patrols over Iraq and Afghanistan to relief missions in Haiti and around the world, Naval Aviation is a touchstone of America's naval might.

Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to recognize Naval Aviation for its contributions during its first 100 years and to honor it as it takes flight in the next 100 years.