Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Harcum College of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on receiving the Nonprofit Business of the Year Award from the Main Line Chamber of Commerce.

Harcum College is an outstanding, independent, two-year, co- educational college that seeks to prepare students for meaningful careers by offering majors in over twenty disciplines. Enrollment has risen over 70% in the past six years, reaching new levels every semester since 2009, and is currently at a record high of 1,615 students. Harcum employs 140 full-time faculty and works with many organizations on the Main Line, including the Main Line Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross, Main Line First Fridays, Montgomery County Dental Association, and the Shriners.

Harcum has been the recipient of over $1.3 million in federal funding over the past five years which has been used to update and improve classrooms, technology, student programs, and training for secondary school teachers. And Harcum College has been a Main Line Chamber member for almost 60 years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in congratulating Harcum College of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on receiving the Nonprofit Business of the Year Award from the Main Line Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Devereux on its upcoming 100-year anniversary.

An outstanding non-profit behavioral health organization, Devereux's year-long centennial celebration will culminate in a 100th Anniversary Gala Celebration on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on November 10, 2012. The organization was founded by Helena Trafford Devereux, a schoolteacher in the great city of Philadelphia in the dawn of the Twentieth Century. At that time, children with special needs were held back, ostracized by their peers, written off as hopeless or sent to mental institutions.

Miss Devereux had other ideas for these children. She passionately believed that each individual has his or her own innate abilities, distinctive potential and unique needs that, through individualized care grounded in positive supports, could be a contributing and valued member of their community.

With innovative teaching methods, individualized instruction and materials designed by Miss Devereux, her students began to thrive. School administration took notice of her success and began to officially refer students with special needs to her room. In 1912, Miss Devereux was offered by the Philadelphia Board of Education the position of the district's first Director of Special Education.

She turned down the offer, believing in the importance of educating the whole child through a then non-traditional curriculum that included life-skills, recreation and vocational activities. Instead she struck out on her own to establish a private school in her own home. With all of her savings and borrowed funds, which totaled $100, she rented a home in Devon to house her growing school, which then numbered 12 students. Through perseverance and persuasion, she stewarded the growth of Devereux for decades, creating one of the Nation's largest and most well-respected nonprofit providers of behavioral healthcare.

This year, 6,000 staff has provided services to tens of thousands of children, adolescents and adults in eleven states, all abiding by Miss Devereux's legacy of the ``Philosophy of Care'': individualized services, positive approaches and effective and accountable service delivery. In addition, Devereux's work in building the social and emotional health of schoolchildren through public education and prevention programs has impacted millions of children and their families in every state in the union.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in congratulating Devereux on 100 years of service to countless children, adolescents and adults and their families, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Uwchlan Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania on its 300th anniversary.

Founded by Welsh Quakers in the late 17th century, the first European inhabitants called the area ``Uwchlan,'' meaning ``upland'' in Welsh. In 1712, Uwchlan was established as a township, having grown up around ancient Native American trails that today are part of South Village Avenue and Dowlin Forge Road.

Uwchlan existed principally as a rural, farming community well into the 20th century. The end of World War II brought about new changes as suburban developments gradually began replacing farms. A census taken in 1973 counted 6,616 residents, up from about only 500 in 1920. Three hundred years after its establishment as a township, the most recent census presents a robust population of 18,088.

While Uwchlan Township has changed a great deal since its establishment 300 years ago, it still retains much of the charm from its historic past. Now pre-Revolutionary farmhouses stand in close proximity to modern business parks. Today, Uwchlan Township and its citizens continue to make valuable contributions to the quality of the economic and social life of Chester County while preserving the rich and storied heritage of their past.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in congratulating Uwchlan Township and its remarkable history on the occasion of its 300th anniversary and to extend best wishes for the Township's continued prosperity and longevity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Richard J. Brady, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on his retirement after his outstanding service and career in law enforcement, most recently as Chief of Police of Montgomery Township. Chief Brady has served with the Montgomery Township Police Department since 1970. He rose through the ranks from patrol officer to Detective (1976), Detective Sergeant (1980), Deputy Chief of Police, and finally was promoted to Chief of Police in 1982. As Chief, Richard Brady presided over the Department's growth from 11 officers in 1982 to its current compliment of 36 officers. Chief Brady established the Department's Special Operations Unit and helped to usher in a new era of technological crime-fighting devices including: computers in patrol cars, live scan fingerprinting, photo imaging, video arraignment, and in-car video systems. Under Chief Brady's leadership, the Montgomery Township Police Department became just the 22nd police department in the state to be awarded P.L.E.A.C. Accreditation status by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.

Chief Brady is a member in good standing of many law-enforcement commissions and organizations including: Pennsylvania Municipal Officers Education and Training Commission, Advisory Committee on Wrongful Convictions, Montgomery County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, Montgomery County Child Death Review Team, Montgomery County Community College Municipal Police Academy Advisory Committee, and the U.S. Congress' National Children's Study. Chief Brady also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Montgomery County Local Emergency Preparedness Council and on the Board of Directors of the Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale.

Mr. Speaker, in light of his years of exemplary service to his community and litany of sterling accomplishments too long to record, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing Chief Richard J. Brady for his invaluable contributions to the quality of life of the citizens of Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bally Borough, Berks County, Pennsylvania on its 100th anniversary.

While the Borough of Bally was incorporated in 1912, it has a rich history that stretches back to before the American Revolution when present-day Bally was known as Goshenhoppen in Philadelphia County. The original settlers enjoyed generally peaceable relations with the Indians and worked hard to ensure the survival of their frontier settlement.

After 1855, the town was re-named Churchville, Washington Township, due to the prominence of the Catholic and Mennonite churches that had been in the area since the 18th century. After the death of Father Bally, the Catholic priest in the village, a post office was established in Churchville in 1883 and named for the revered priest. The name of the village was eventually changed to correspond with that of the post office and, in 1912, was incorporated as the Borough of Bally.

Over the years, Bally has grown from a few families in a small frontier town to a vibrant borough of over 1,090 people and 430 households. In times of war, the citizens of Bally have always heeded their country's call, and are commemorated by the war memorial dedicated to their service. The Borough of Bally has been home to many industrial concerns including the Great American Knitting Mill, Bally Case and Cooler, Bally Pants Factory, Bally Ribbon Mills, and Bally Block Company. Throughout its rich history, Bally Borough and its citizens have made great contributions to the quality of the economic and social life of Berks County and the region.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in congratulating Bally Borough and its storied history on the occasion of its 100th anniversary and to extend best wishes for the Borough's continued longevity.

I thank the chairman for his leadership and recognition.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation and urge my colleagues to vote to stop now a $30 billion tax increase on medical innovation. This pending tax means higher costs for doctors and hospitals, less investment in finding new ways to improve treatments for patients, and fewer jobs for American workers.

What's at stake in Pennsylvania are an estimated 20,000 high-tech manufacturing jobs. Approximately 600 medical device manufacturers have helped our Commonwealth's workforce transition from a rust-belt economy to a high-tech leader in life sciences, biotechnology, and medical device manufacturing. However, this looming tax on innovation threatens to bring a little bit of that rust back to our manufacturing base.

Some of the medical device manufacturers in Pennsylvania have said that forcing them to write larger checks to the Internal Revenue Service would mean facing decisions about cutting back on research and development or raising prices. Cutting research and development would mean patients wait longer for groundbreaking treatments and products.

Raising prices would put American workers at a disadvantage compared to their European competitors who are often propped up by huge government subsidies.

Now, I realize the President's in full campaign mode. He's traveling around the country talking about the importance of working together to create jobs. So I would respectfully submit then that passing this legislation to

protect American jobs we already have would be at the top of the to-do list that we keep hearing about from the White House.

Mr. Speaker, we should be providing incentives that spur innovation rather than the Federal Government's taking more out of the private sector, which will threaten to drive these manufacturers out of business or overseas.

I ask that all Members support this legislation today so that we can stop a $30 billion tax hike in 2013 and prevent putting up new barriers that will cost American workers their jobs.

Mr. Speaker, on May 16, 2012, I was on official business at the White House and unfortunately missed two recorded votes on the House floor. Had I been present,

I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 255 and ``aye'' on rollcall 256.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, on April 24, 2012, I missed one recorded vote on the House floor. I ask that the Record reflect that had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on Rollcall 178.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Tamara C. Cansler on the occasion of being honored with the Sixth Annual Rebecca Lukens Award by The Greystone Society. As an outstanding candidate for this recognition, Tamara was chosen for this honor as she has demonstrated the same love of community as the award's namesake, Rebecca Lukens.

Tammy began her career as a high school and elementary school teacher in South Carolina, but moved with husband, Dale, to Pennsylvania where she took positions with Lukens Steel and Merck Pharmaceuticals. Employed by Merck from the mid 1970s to 1985, Tammy served as the first female production supervisor in the company's history. She then started her own development company, Cansler Investment Group, and focused on creating clean and safe living environments for underprivileged adults in the City of Coatesville.

Over the years, Tammy's efforts have resulted in the creation of successful complexes such as Coatesville's North Second Avenue Redevelopment Project, Penn's Crossing Townhomes, and the Brandywine Health Center. Such projects are examples of entire communities established for the benefit of economically-challenged adults, helping to give these folks more secure, more attractive places to live. Philabundance and others donate food to these complexes, and quality used clothing from Freedom Village Senior Living Community is sold to the residents for a very nominal fee.

Mr. Speaker, in light of her years of contributions to the community and litany of outstanding accomplishments, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing Tamara C. Cansler on the occasion of her being honored with The Greystone Society's Rebecca Lukens Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate The ARC of Chester County, Pennsylvania on its 60th anniversary of improving the quality of life for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

The history of The ARC of Chester County is a long and storied one, extending back to 1952 when local Chester County parents founded the organization as an affiliate of The ARC U.S., which was founded in Philadelphia and counted this group among its first local

chapters. When The ARC was founded, there were few programs and services for the special needs population it served, and in fact many were institutionalized at the state institutions of Pennhurst and Embreeville. The founders of The ARC defied the conventional wisdom of the time by advocating and working for public education and community inclusion for their children.

The only group in Chester County whose services are completely community-based, The ARC of Chester County has celebrated many significant firsts in its illustrious 60 year history. It is responsible for the first sheltered workshop in Chester County, the first community-based classrooms for children with developmental or intellectual disabilities, the first and only recreation program of its kind in Chester County for folks with such disabilities, the first organization in Pennsylvania to advocate for public education for children with special disabilities, the first group home in Pennsylvania, and the first community-based job coaching and employment program.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in congratulating The ARC of Chester County on the occasion of its 60th anniversary and to extend best wishes for the agency's continuing work to meet the needs of the community through the 21st century and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mary Jane (Polly) Teti of Chester County, Pennsylvania on her retirement after 30 years of law enforcement service with the Tredyffrin Township Police Department.

Detective Teti began her law enforcement career in 1980 with the City of Coatesville Police Department. In 1982, she was hired by the Tredyffrin Police Department and in 1986 was named Officer of the Year. In 2000, Teti was promoted to Detective and specialized in sex crimes and child abuse cases. She has received numerous unit citations and merit awards for the investigations and arrests she has handled.

Detective Teti served as Defensive Tactics Instructor for the Tredyffrin Police Department in the PR24 Baton, ASP Baton and OC Spray. A trained Crisis Negotiator, she was instrumental in creating a team of negotiators to quell volatile situations through communications. Detective Teti became Team Leader for the Crisis Negotiators North Team for Chester County and served as Vice-President of the Delaware Valley Negotiators Association.

Mr. Speaker, in light of her years of exemplary service to his community and litany of sterling accomplishments, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing Detective Mary Jane (Polly) Teti for her invaluable contributions to the quality of life of the citizens of Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Francis Ruscio of Chester County, Pennsylvania on his retirement after 23 years of law enforcement service with the Tredyffrin Township Police Department.

Corporal Ruscio began his law enforcement career in 1979 when, at 20 years old, he was hired as a police officer by the City of Coatesville Police Department. He participated in 3 major drug investigations and raids with county, state and federal agencies in 1981, 1987 and 1988. Corporal Ruscio also served as Acting Detective Sergeant of Coatesville PD from May thru September 1988.

Corporal Ruscio was hired by the Tredyffrin Township Police Department in September 1988 and served in the Department until his retirement in December 2011. He served as Tredyffrin's DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instructor from 1997 2003, presenting programs to middle school students in Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, Valley Forge Middle School, Woodlynde School and The Crossroads School.

Promoted to the rank of Corporal in 2003, Ruscio lives with his wife Sandy in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, in light of his years of exemplary service to his community and litany of sterling accomplishments, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing Corporal Francis Ruscio for his invaluable contributions to the quality of life of the citizens of Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate John R. Bailey of Chester County, Pennsylvania on his retirement after 34 years of law enforcement service with the Tredyffrin Township Police Department.

Detective Sergeant Bailey began his law enforcement career with Tredyffrin Township on December 5, 1977. In 1986, he joined the Detective Division and became Detective Supervisor in 1994, eventually being promoted to Detective Sergeant in 2002.

In June 2002, Detective Sergeant Bailey founded the Tri-County Regional Investigators group, a network of law enforcement agencies who work together by sharing information about criminal activity resulting in the successful resolution of crimes that would otherwise remain unsolved. A graduate of the FBI National Academy Session #223, he has served as an Adjunct Professor at Wilmington University, Delaware County Community College and Immaculata University.

Recently elected to the position of Magisterial District Judge after being certified by the Pennsylvania Minor Judiciary Board, Detective Sergeant Bailey holds a Masters Degree in Administrative Science from Farleigh Dickinson University.

Mr. Speaker, in light of his years of exemplary service to his community and litany of sterling accomplishments too long to record, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing Detective Sergeant John R. Bailey for his invaluable contributions to the quality of life of the citizens of Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania and our entire nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Andrew W. Chambers of Chester County, Pennsylvania on his retirement after 30 years of law enforcement service with the Tredyffrin Township Police Department.

Chief Chambers began his law enforcement career with Tredyffrin Township in 1982 as a police officer assigned to patrol. After 9 years, Chambers worked his way up the ranks as a sergeant, lieutenant and captain before being appointed Superintendent of Police in 2008.

Chief Chambers has also served as commander of a Regional Special Operations (SWAT) team, known as the Northeast Chester County Emergency Response Team, which

serves nine municipalities in Chester County for police high risk incident response. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Chester County Chiefs of Police Association and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.

Additionally, Chief Chambers has been a volunteer firefighter and EMT for over 30 years and is a certified Public Safety Diver. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Chester County Emergency Medical Services Council and serves as Vice President and co-founder of the Chester County Police and Fire Hero Fund, which was created to raise funds for police officers and emergency workers killed or disabled in the line of duty.

Mr. Speaker, in light of his years of exemplary service to his community and litany of sterling accomplishments too long to record, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing Chief Andrew W. Chambers for his invaluable contributions to the quality of life of the citizens of Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania and our entire nation.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, I missed one recorded vote on the House floor. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 49.