Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department and to thank its dedicated members for their commitment to their community and the residents of eastern Connecticut.

The Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department was founded in September 1943 by 53 Lebanon residents without any equipment or station of their own. The first chief of the company, Clark W. Standish, obtained permission from the State Forestry Department to use their truck and equipment until Lebanon could procure their own. Since the department's inception, its volunteers have consistently served the Town of Lebanon demonstrating courage and compassion in times of crisis and distress for their friends, families, and neighbors. For decades Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department has also provided the same exceptional and brave service to surrounding towns and communities under mutual aid agreements. The department has grown and adapted to the changing needs of the Town while remaining an all-volunteer force, providing fire, EMS, and hazmat services for the protection of life, property, and the environment.

This growth and innovation by Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department has intensified in the wake of the post-9/11 world. As my colleagues know, the new Department of Homeland Security, which was created in the wake of the tragedy, established the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program which has provided recurring grants to local departments all across the country. The grant process is an annual one and requires knowledge and expertise for departments big and small to access these funds for needed equipment and training. In Connecticut's Second District, the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department has graciously hosted annual AFG seminars for communities all across the region. Given that this program is competitive, Lebanon's willingness to share updates on ways to successfully navigate the grant process speaks highly of their commitment to public safety for all.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring these dedicated public servants both living and deceased, whose dedication and heroism have made this auspicious occasion possible. All firefighters and EMTs make sacrifices of time and take significant personal risks for the protection of the communities they serve. We in eastern Connecticut are ever so fortunate and grateful to be protected by the courageous men and women of Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of George Smith of Lebanon, CT, who is celebrating his 50th anniversary as a member of the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department.

George, a native of Rocky Grove, PA, started his vocation as a public servant after graduating from high school in 1954. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean Conflict, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam Conflict over his 21 years of active military service, reaching the rank of E8 Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman.

George and his family moved to Lebanon, CT in 1966. Following in his first-responder parents' footsteps, he decided to become a firefighter and joined the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department in May 1968. In 1978, he joined the Lebanon Constabulary and served as a constable for a decade. He also provided emergency medical services and performed firefighting tasks. Over the course of his public service to the town he has also served as Fire Lieutenant, Fire Police Lieutenant, elected department secretary, and currently as Fire Police Captain.

For 50 years, George has been committed to serving Lebanon residents by protecting them, their families, pets, and livestock, as well as lands and properties throughout the town. He holds life member status at the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing George Smith's milestone anniversary as well as his remarkable record of service to the town of Lebanon. Volunteering one's life for the protection of others is no small sacrifice, and in this way, Mr. Smith has been exceptionally selfless. Let us all express our gratitude for this fine gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018.

This bill provides critical policy guidance to the Coast Guard as it protects our Nation's shores and maritime interests. The bill increases authorized funding levels, requires a review of our Arctic strategy and the Coast Guard's ability to achieve it, and provides authority to procure three new National Security Cutters.

The bill also includes a provision to ensure that public safety answering points that respond to 911 calls from vehicles in distress are trained to relay that information to the Coast Guard or tow companies.

Sector Long Island Sound has been working with municipality dispatch centers in Connecticut and New York to implement a training program to route these calls. I want to thank Mystic towboat Captain Jeff Dziedzic for bringing this issue to my attention and Congresswoman Esty for working with my office last year to include this language in the bill.

Mr. Speaker, eastern Connecticut is the proud home of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Coast Guard Station New London. Therefore, I am particularly excited that this bill includes a provision that will help boost construction of the future National Coast Guard Museum to be built along the Thames River in New London. In particular, it authorizes engineering and design work to be performed by the Coast Guard in this project.

The Coast Guard is the only military service without its own museum. Under the leadership of Jim Coleman, Richard Grahn, Admiral Papp, Captain Wes Pulver, and many others, this project is well on its way to becoming a world-class destination to showcase the rich heritage of the Coast Guard, which dates back to 1790 when Alexander Hamilton created America's ``first fleet,'' which, by the way, was organized before the U.S. Navy.

I would like to thank the chairman, Mr. Shuster, and Mr. LoBiondo, as they depart. Again, they are great role models of bipartisan leadership and about getting results. I want to also

thank the ranking member, Mr. DeFazio, and also the subcommittee ranking member, John Garamendi, for their hard work. I also thank Dave Jansen and John Rayfield for helping guide this bill to a successful conclusion.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this rule which will pave the way for a vote on a bill that will summarily delist the gray wolf from protections under the Endangered Species Act by congressional fiat, in direct contradiction to our Nation's animal protection policies that have done so much to preserve the diversity of animal existence over the last 45 years.

In addition, in keeping with the sad track record of this Republican- controlled Congress, this is yet another closed rule, number 102 over the last 2 years, to be exact, that will prohibit consideration of any amendments.

Most egregious of all, however, this rule includes a totally non- germane provision that will deny debate of a separate resolution that will end U.S. participation in the Saudi-led coalition's intervention in Yemen's civil war.

This separate resolution, the Khanna resolution, which I am an original cosponsor of, will be effectively blocked from congressional consideration and debate by passage of this rule, despite the humanitarian crisis and indiscriminate coalition air strikes, which American forces have enabled with refueling, and with logistical and technical support over the last 3 years.

This bipartisan resolution deserves debate and as a coequal branch of government, Congress should not be shirking its duty once again by allowing U.S. military force to be used at the whim of the executive branch.

Sadly, this rule is another example of the complete abdication by the 115th Congress of its duty to act as a check on a coequal branch of government. This rule is another surrender by a weak-kneed majority on its way out the door to the executive branch.

To quote ``The Hollow Men'' by T.S. Eliot, this Republican 115th Congress is ending ``. . . not with a bang but a whimper.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Jane Louise Glover who passed away far too soon. She was only 71 years old.

Jane, a Nebraska native, made a name for herself in New London, CT. After graduating from Peru State College, she obtained her master's degree in library science from the University of Rhode Island before beginning her career in service of the city of New London. Jane got her start as a librarian and media specialist in New London public schools and libraries. Jane eventually went on to become president/government relations coordinator for the Connecticut Education Association.

Jane, who served five terms on the city council and three on the school board, including one as president, was elected New London's mayor three times by her fellow councilors.

In 2007, after a sixteen-year stint in elected public service, Jane attempted to retire and pass the torch of leadership off to the next generation. However, that retirement turned out to be a mere hiatus. In 2011, when New London elected Daryl Justin Finizio as its first permanent mayor in 90 years, Jane was brought back to the helm, this time as the new mayor's chief administration officer. Mayor Finizio needed someone to show him the ropes, and who better than the woman who had already done the job three times? Jane's expertise and historical knowledge of city politics was unrivaled.

Always proud of New London's diversity, Jane was also a great advocate of the arts and culture. She served on the board of the Garde Arts Center and was a co-founder of the Kente Cultural Center where she served as executive director. The center worked to fill a gap in the lack of cultural activities for people of color--specifically children in the geographical area. Jane was also president of the missionary department at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, assisting those in need of food and shelter.

I had the honor of getting to know Jane when she and I served as delegates to the 1988 Democratic National Convention, and we've remained friends ever since. Having seen, up close, Jane's passionate belief in public service and helping others, she had a unique ability to take a pragmatic approach when advocating for people and the community. She truly understood that the goal of public service was to get results.

Jane was a remarkable woman who wore many hats during her time on this Earth. New London would not be the inclusive community it is today without her energy, dedication, acumen, and passion. Colleagues, please join me in extending our condolences to Jane's friends and family as well as the whole New London community, who have lost a beloved trailblazer and public servant.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Steven Chipman of Ellington, CT. Steven died this past March and we in Eastern Connecticut are at a loss. He was a patriot, protector, and family man.

Steven Allen Chipman was born and raised in Rockville, CT. A graduate of Rockville High School and Manchester Community College, Steven joined the Connecticut National Guard in 1986 and served until 1992. He also enjoyed a 23-year career with the Vernon Police Department, before opening his own firm, Innovative Investigators, LLC.

Although Steven wore many hats in his short life, I think ``protector'' would be the most fitting descriptor for this man who gave so much. He was a defender of his hometown and country and a loving father. He also had a gentle way with all people. His childhood friends describe him as the sort of person who looks out for the little guy. Steven was also incredibly patient--a quality he instilled in his children, Hunter and Jake, who very much consider their father a superhero.

Steven was a beloved member of his community, and he will be missed greatly by all of those who benefited from his loyalty and service, especially the residents of our hometown of Vernon. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring Steven Chipman and expressing our deepest sympathies for his family and friends, and the eastern Connecticut region who lost a valued public servant.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate ten years of Wild and Scenic designation for eastern Connecticut's Eightmile River Watershed.

The Eightmile River Watershed is situated among the towns of Lyme, Salem, and East Haddam, Connecticut. Despite its name, the watershed is comprised of over 150 miles of pristine rivers and streams and 62 square miles of relatively undeveloped rural land. It boasts unfragmented habitats, rare and diverse wildlife, scenic vistas, high water quality, unimpeded stream flow, and significant cultural features. Most notably, the overall Eightmile River Watershed ecosystem is healthy and intact throughout virtually all of its range.

In 2008, under the Consolidated Natural Resources Act, the Eightmile River Watershed became an official part of the nation's Wild and Scenic River System. This designation established a non-regulatory management plan to be implemented jointly by the National Park Service and the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Coordinating Committee. It ensures the watershed is funded and protected well into the future. This achievement and its ten-year milestone is especially important to me, as H.R. 986, the Eightmile Wild and Scenic River

Act, was the first piece of legislation I introduced as a newly-elected member of Congress, just two months into my first term as Representative from Connecticut's Second District.

However special this legislation may be to me, I would be remiss not to thank the group of stakeholders--in particular Anthony Irving and Dr. David Bingham--who, along with many others, really got this project off the ground. The care and concern of these residents, town boards, area land trusts, and river-fronting landowners led to the development of the Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Study Committee. Once a study was completed, citizens from all three towns voted to support the Eightmile River Watershed Management Plan and Wild and Scenic designation. Each town's land use commission, the Boards of Selectmen, and the study committee followed suit, making this vision a reality.

The Wild and Scenic designation is truly a high honor--one that is applied to less than one quarter of one percent of the nation's rivers. We in eastern Connecticut are grateful to have such a small piece of Eden in our backyard and even more grateful for those who have pledged to protect it for the past ten years. I'm confident it will be in good hands for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and congratulate an outstanding Naval Officer, Vice Admiral David C. Johnson, for the successful completion of 36 years of distinguished Naval service, culminating with his position as the Principal Military Deputy for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Research, Development and Acquisition. I commend Vice Admiral Johnson on his achievements and recognize his devotion to our great nation.

A 1982 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Admiral Johnson earned his Engineering Duty Officer Dolphins in 1986 and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1989 with a Naval Engineer degree and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He has devoted most of his career to the design, construction, repair, maintenance, modernization and sustainment of the nation's submarine force. During his career, he served as the Program Executive Officer for Submarines, the Commander for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, the Deputy Commander for Undersea Technology, the Major Program Manager for Virginia Class Submarines, an Assistant Program Manager for Seawolf Class Submarines, the Program Manager's Representative at the new construction shipyard, a Project Officer, a Ship Superintendent and as Planning and Docking Officer.

During Admiral Johnson's tour as Program Executive Officer for Submarines, he managed over $50 billion in funding across the Future Years Defense Plan for the research, design, acquisition and in-service support of the Navy's undersea force. In addition to accepting delivery of five Virginia Class submarines ahead of schedule and under cost, he led the Defense Department's highest priority acquisition program, the Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine, through critical development

milestones. He grew the U.S. Navy's stature and involvement in assisting key foreign partners in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Spain. A significant highlight of this tour was the award of the largest shipbuilding contract in our nation's history--the $17.6 billion Virginia Class Submarine Block Four contract. This multi-year contract reflected cost savings and risk reduction initiatives that set the basis for long-term industrial base stability while affordably providing the submarine force with critical assets around the world.

In his final assignment, Admiral Johnson led an acquisition workforce of 60,000 military and civilian personnel in maintaining the Navy's future technological edge through daily oversight of critical investments. He executed three progressively intensive budget cycles ensuring the execution of 202 acquisition programs with applied resources in excess of $60 billion per year. His innovative approach led to an established framework for multiple accelerated acquisition programs ensuring that our sailors and marines were equipped with the most state-of-the-art technology. A tremendous steward of the taxpayers, he has put affordability into action--saving billions of dollars. He worked with the Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations and Commandant of the Marine Corps to effectively and efficiently implement the Navy's warfighting requirements and resourced programs.

As ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces and as Representative for eastern Connecticut, the Submarine Capital of the World, I have witnessed firsthand over many years Admiral Johnson's steady leadership and stewardship of our nation's submarine construction programs. Since my first days as a new member of the committee in 2007, Admiral Johnson has been a tremendous resource to me personally, and to my staff-- providing keen insight and a wealth of shipbuilding knowledge that has helped guide good policy making and smart budgetary decisions in Congress.

Admiral Johnson's 36 years of honorable service to this nation and professional success would not have been possible without the steadfast support of his wife, Carol and daughters, Ellen, Elizabeth, and Anne. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring Admiral Johnson and his family for their service to our nation and wish Admiral Johnson fair winds and following seas in the next exciting chapter of his life.

Mr. Speaker, in June 1944, 2 weeks after the D-day landings in Normandy, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, more commonly known as the GI Bill. That landmark measure created both college tuition grants and a living stipend for returning servicemembers who, according to FDR, had ``been compelled to make greater economic sacrifice and every other kind of sacrifice than the rest of us.''

Even though World War II would rage on for another year, leaders in Washington at the time recognized that millions of drafted young soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen would soon be returning to civilian life, and, for their sake and for the sake of the postwar economy, creating an educational pathway to the middle class made tremendous sense.

It has been 74 years since the GI Bill was signed into law, and it is now recognized as one of the most successful pieces of domestic legislation ever enacted. The postwar economic boom of the 1950s and 1960s, and the blossoming of the American middle class, both have been attributed, in part, to the GI Bill.

Many renowned Americans, including Bob Dole, Johnny Carson, Harry Belafonte, Justice William Rehnquist, and even Clint Eastwood, to name just a few, were beneficiaries of the GI Bill.

Economic studies have concluded that for every dollar the U.S. Government spent on the GI Bill, our economy saw nearly $7 in return in the form of additional economic output and tax revenues from income growth.

Despite its stellar performance, the relative strength of the GI Bill deteriorated over time. By 2008, it was clear that the tuition assistance and living stipends had not kept pace with the rising costs of college education.

As a freshman Congressman on the House Armed Services Committee, I heard from Iraq and Afghan veterans that, because of the GI Bill erosion, they were forced to choose between dropping out of school and shouldering the burden of student loans.

To fix this inequity, the Post-9/11 GI Bill was passed by a Democratic Congress on a bipartisan basis and signed into law by a Republican President, George W. Bush. And I want to actually take a moment to publicly acknowledge that the late Senator John McCain was deeply involved in the final negotiations that made that passage and enactment successful.

The updated law increased benefits to match the cost of 4-year public university tuition in a servicemember's home State and increased the living stipend to keep faith with the law. Critically, it also allowed GI benefits to be transferred on a one-time basis to a spouse or dependent child, a groundbreaking change that transformed the value of military service.

After the bill signing, I flew to Iraq on a congressional visit and vividly recall being in Baghdad surrounded by hundreds of soldiers bursting with questions about when and how this feature would be implemented.

Over the last 10 years, it has been clear that the transferability of the GI Bill benefit has been an enormous morale booster and a valuable incentive to enlist and remain in service.

Despite the 10 years of success of the new law, however, the Trump Department of Defense announced a new policy this past July 12 that would bar servicemembers with more than 16 years of service from transferring their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to eligible family members.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to say, as someone who represents a military district, in the August break when I was home visiting the submarine base in New London and talking to Guard and Reserve members, they were absolutely blindsided, stunned, and angry at this arbitrary change that many of them had built their career decisions about staying in the military to basically qualify for this educational benefit.

The Iraq and Afghan Veterans of America have started a national petition drive to reverse this policy change. Really, it is our duty, as Members of Congress, to make sure that that is successful.

Arbitrarily revoking transferability breaks our commitment to our most dedicated and highly trained servicemembers. Such a policy change sends exactly the wrong message to those who have chosen the military as their long-term career, and sets a damaging and dangerous precedent for the removal of other critical benefits to our all-volunteer force.

Two weeks after the Pentagon announced this policy, 83 of my colleagues joined me in a letter that we sent to Secretary of Defense James Mattis, objecting to this change and calling for its immediate reversal. So far, they have not given a single public explanation for this policy change, and

they are promising that that is coming.

But I will just say this: As someone who was involved when this bill was first passed, we will make sure there will be a legislative response if the Department of Defense does not keep faith with those who wear the uniform of this country and who have volunteered based on reliance of the fact that there would be a GI Bill benefit for them and their spouse and children.

To use FDR's words, protecting transferability ``gives emphatic notice to the men and women in our Armed Forces that the American people do not intend to let them down.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Torres for her leadership and Ms. Cheney for her hard work on the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, in 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Higher Education Act, he said that it meant ``that a high school senior anywhere in this great land of ours can apply to any college or any university in any of the 50 States and not be turned away because their family is poor.''

Unfortunately, 53 years later, the promise of an affordable education is out of reach for millions of students. In May of this year, America's outstanding student loan debt surpassed $1.5 trillion.

With the cost of college education and the debt needed to afford it growing each year, Americans are demanding action to lower the crushing costs of higher education; and thus it is imperative that we pass a comprehensive update to the Higher Education Act which deals with the full menu of Federal policy that will keep higher education affordable.

Unfortunately, the majority has failed to bring HEA to the floor in that long overdue rewrite, and today we are only left with the Financial Counseling bill that we are going to vote on, which is just a sliver of what we need to do to build America's future workforce.

In 2008, the last HEA was negotiated under then-Chairman George Miller and passed the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. Fast-forward to last December, the majority introduced the misnamed PROSPER Act, a misguided attempt to update HEA that guts $15 billion from Federal student aid and diverts taxpayer money to low- quality, predatory programs.

Unlike 2008, this bill squeaked out of the Education and Workforce Committee on a party-line vote. Fortunately, that bill has not seen the light of day ever since.

In the absence of any movement on a long overdue update of HEA, I am pleased to report that committee Democrats stepped into this vacuum and introduced the Aim Higher Act, a comprehensive approach to higher education. Under the Aim Higher Act, every student will have the opportunity to earn a quality, debt-free degree or credential that leads to a rewarding career.

This bill makes a number of changes to higher education to make degrees more affordable and easier to pay off. It provides 2 years of tuition-free community college to every high school graduate through Federal-State partnerships, incentivizes States to reinvest in their 4- year public colleges and universities, and makes Federal financial aid more generous to keep pace with increased tuition costs.

Additionally, knowing that 4-year college isn't for everyone and that our workforce needs are changing, our bill allows students to use their Pell grants for quality, short-term certificate programs that provide an accelerated path to the workforce.

As I mentioned before, our student loan debt is at the highest level it has ever been, $1.5 trillion. That is the highest amount of consumer debt outside of mortgages. This debt burden is a drag not on just the student graduate or a family, it is a drag on our entire economy that impacts when or if a buyer can buy a home, start a family, get a small business off the ground, or change careers.

Today, many interest rates for student loans are often far higher than other consumer borrowing, yet, like other forms of debt, student loans cannot be refinanced as interest rates drop, saddling 25 million borrowers with thousands of dollars in extra debt. Our bill fixes that and will allow students to refinance their loans to more affordable rates.

Looking at the nationwide shortage of teachers and primary care doctors, our bill preserves the effective Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which the PROSPER Act abolished, to encourage talented individuals to pursue careers in high-need fields.

It also expands the program to address challenges in our farming communities, where the average farmer age is now 58 years old and new farmers entering the field have drooped by 20 percent.

The Aim Higher Act isn't just focused on cutting the cost of higher education; it is also focused on improving the quality of higher education. It cracks down on predatory institutions that waste student and taxpayer money by peddling expensive, low-quality programs.

Our veterans who have earned their GI Bill benefits through service and sacrifice are frequent targets and victims of fraudulent schools, as Mrs. Holly Petraeus, the wife of General David Petraeus, crisscrossed America a couple years ago as a representative of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau to warn veterans of these rip-offs.

And finally, the Aim Higher Act gives students the tools they need to

graduate on time. We invest in campus childcare for student parents, subsidized housing for homeless and foster youth, faculty training for students with disabilities, and community centers to help student veterans transition to civilian life.

Policy is defined by priorities. Instead of spending limited resources on a tax cut for those who don't need it, we believe that we should invest in our children and in the future of our economy. That is what the Aim Higher Act does.

Mr. Speaker, I hope you will join us in pushing for a higher education system that puts the promise of quality, debt-free degrees and a rewarding career within the reach of all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the life of the legendary Robert ``Red'' McKeon, Chief of Occum Volunteer Fire Department in Norwich, CT. Red passed away in March, and the village has felt his loss deeply. His life's work was improving fire and emergency services anywhere he could. He was an institution in his own right and I'd like to take a moment to reflect on his life of service at the local, state, and national level.

Red McKeon was born in Putnam, CT and was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Korean War. He joined the Occum Volunteer Fire Department in 1944, and in 1960, he became chief--a position he held for 34 years. During his tenure, Red was an innovator and he established an ambulance service at his station which was one of the first volunteer operations in Connecticut to have one. He also pushed for the creation of a pension system for Norwich volunteer firefighters. This benefit has been imitated by many volunteer departments as an effective tool to recruit and retain volunteers. After his retirement he made himself available to offer advice to the next generation of community leaders. He even channeled his energy and newfound spare time into the development of a neighborhood park that was ultimately named in his honor.

Red's activism went beyond his hometown. He became one of the first certified EMTs in the state and he lobbied for stronger EMT training criteria across Connecticut. He was also a member of the Connecticut State Fireman's Association, serving briefly as president and maintaining a position as treasurer for 20 years. In 2009, he became a member of the first class of honorees inducted into the association's hall of fame.

Red's leadership extended just as far on the national stage as it did at home. He and his team worked with the Center for Disease Control to certify the development of training for EMT and MRT personnel which was then implemented nationally. He joined forces with the CDC once more to develop OSHA training and guidelines pertaining to AIDS. He also helped create the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program as well as the National Volunteer Fire Council on which he served as chairman from 1991 to 1995. He was awarded the council's E. James Monihan Director Award for achievements that exemplify outstanding performance and have gone above normal expectations.

On a personal note, when I was first elected to Congress in 2006, Red was a frequent visitor to my district office and was an invaluable source of advice and help on Department of Homeland Security Programs such as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant that has benefitted small departments all across eastern Connecticut. He was always quick with a smile and corny jokes for me and my staff and we welcomed his visits over the years.

Red, from the little village of Occum, led a remarkable life, representing the United States at World Federation of Firefighters conferences all over the world. He even had audiences with multiple high-level dignitaries including President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle, then First Lady Hillary Clinton, and even Pope Pius XII and Pope John Paul.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring the memory of Red McKeon. He was a shining example of what it means to be a citizen-servant and Occum will not be the same without him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 2019 John McCain Defense Authorization bill.

First, I would like to extend my congratulations to Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for their steady, bipartisan leadership as this bill was crafted--the 58th consecutive year in a row that Congress has produced an NDAA, a testament to their superb legislating and the constructive dialogue that results from following regular order.

I also want to salute the hard work of my colleague Rob Wittman, at the helm of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and our professional staff--Phil MacNaughton, Dave Sienicki, and Bruce Johnson--for their talent, expertise, and follow-through for all our members.

Our subcommittee mark accelerates the timeline toward achieving a Navy fleet of 355 ships, the size needed to meet global requirements according to the Navy's 2016 force structure assessment.

Our work authorizes funding for 13 battle force ships, three more than President Trump's request. In particular, at a time when rising adversaries are recapitalizing or expanding their undersea fleets, this year's NDAA provides $7.6 billion for the Virginia-class program and nearly $4 billion for the Columbia-class development and advance procurement.

The bill authorizes two Virginia-class attack submarines in 2019 and requires the next Block V Virginia contract currently under negotiation to include priced options for additional third submarines in years 2022 and `23. This provision will maintain the option for the next Congress to take advantage of industrial-base capacity that the Navy last February told us is available to increase submarine construction in the future.

Tragically, 2017 was a very difficult year for the U.S. Navy. Our country lost 17 sailors in the fatal collisions involving the USS Fitzgerald and the USS John McCain.

This bill directs the Navy to assess the checks and balances in its chain of command so operational demands are appropriately balanced with ship training, certification, and maintenance. It limits to 10 years the period in which ships may be forward deployed and requires that ship readiness inspections be conducted on a no-notice basis, with results made available for the public to see.

These changes are critical. We owe it to our sailors, and we can't afford to have our naval assets out of commission with so much at stake as competitors seek to counter time-honored norms, such as the right to transit international waters freely.

Mr. Speaker, the important provisions of this bill showcase what we in Congress can accomplish when we collectively choose to work with our colleagues across the aisle and trust the committee process to produce a fair and balanced result.

Even more impressive is the fact that passage of this NDAA is the earliest it has come in 20 years. This defies the constant narrative of a dysfunctional Congress. Again, I commend the skillful leadership of Mr. Thornberry and Mr. Smith, as well as Senators McCain and Reed across the Capitol, in helping shepherd this legislation to the point where it is today.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all Members to vote for passage of this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of one of our Nation's brave servicemembers, Air Force Staff Sergeant James Grotjan, who lost his life in an accident while in the line of duty in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month. His untimely passing while supporting our Nation's mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria is a reminder of the risks our brave servicemen and -women place themselves in each and every day to protect our country.

Staff Sergeant Grotjan, who went by Tyler, followed his father's footsteps into military service. After graduating from Bacon Academy in Colchester, Connecticut, Tyler joined the Air Force and eventually joined the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron at Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.

His father recently said that Tyler's military service made him ``the proudest father on the planet.'' It takes a special kind of person to join the military. These are the kind people who write a blank check for their life to protect the country, and he was that guy. He absolutely loved the military.

This Saturday his family and friends in southeastern Connecticut will pause for a few hours to lay Staff Sergeant Grotjan to rest and reflect on his life of giving. In front of his mother's house in Waterford there is a sign that reads: ``Fly free with the angels.''

Mr. Speaker, I know that I join with all of Connecticut and the whole House in offering our thoughts and prayers to Staff Sergeant Grotjan's wife, Taylor; his mother, Laura; his father, Randy; his seven brothers and sisters; family; and friends, and pray that he will ``fly free with the angels.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee in strong support of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act.

This bill will reauthorize the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act for the first time since 2006.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member Scott, Congressman Thompson, and Congressman Krishnamoorthi for their hard work getting this measure through both chambers for the first time in 12 years.

This bill is about preparing secondary and post-secondary students with the academic, technical, and employability skills required to be successful in the workforce at a critical time for our economy.

For example, according to the National Association of Manufacturers, there will be more than 3.5 million open manufacturing jobs through 2025, and unless we can better prepare that future workforce, 2 million of these jobs will go unfilled.

This reauthorization will incentivize technical schools to boost performance by providing schools with more flexibility that will allow schools to use Federal grant money to align casework and training with the workforce needs in their region.

In eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island, as we ramp up submarine production that will require 14,000 new workers over the next 8 years, an updated Perkins law will be an asset to the Electric Boat shipyard and submarine suppliers for years to come.

My district is home to four technical high schools: Norwich, Windham, Grasso, and Ellis Technical High School. In May, I had the opportunity to visit Ellis Tech in Danielson and saw firsthand the impressive programs offered to their 600-plus students from 20 towns in the region.

In addition to the programming at the school, Ellis partners with local community colleges to offer juniors and seniors the opportunity to receive college credits and reduce the cost of higher education.

This bill will take programs like Ellis to a higher and better place just in the nick of time for our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support final passage of this important measure to build a stronger American workforce.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a man I have been fortunate enough to call neighbor and friend. Chester ``Chet'' Morgan, of Vernon, Connecticut, left this earth on Saturday after a lifetime of service to his community, his state and his nation. I'd like to take a few moments to reflect on his generosity and service.

Born in Manchester, CT, Chet Morgan's selfless life was inspired by President John F. Kennedy's 1961 inaugural call to action in which he asked not what our country could do for us, but what we could do for our country. For not only his country, but also his state, town and family, Chet did a great many good works.

In addition to his career with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, Chet served as a sergeant major in the 169th Infantry Battalion of the Connecticut National Guard for 30 years. He spent several of those years as his unit's First Sergeant at Connecticut's National Guard headquarters in Hartford and retired at the rank of sergeant major. It seems this line of work was Chet's true vocation and in 2017 he was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame for his years of service in and outside of the Guard.

Chet felt loyalty not only to his country, but to his state. In 1976 he was elected to the

Connecticut State Legislature as the representative from the 56th district, his hometown of Vernon. He served until 1983 and the highlights of his tenure include supporting important legislation that provided a greater quality of life for Connecticut's citizenry through improvements like smoke-free restaurants and free tuition for Connecticut National Guardsman attending state colleges and universities.

Chet was also a staunch advocate for working families during his time in the legislature. In the 1960s he was a member of the International Association of Machinists while employed at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. He was a courageous leader in a difficult strike in that era, and he and his closest friend, Chuck Harlow, manned the picket lines at the height of the struggles. He enjoyed telling those stories in the later years, particularly after Chuck passed away suddenly in the 1980s.

In 1986 when I launched my first campaign for the legislative seat Chet had held earlier, he generously helped me win that race, which I will never forget. Later as a candidate for the Second Congressional District, Chet volunteered to drive me to political events and offered valuable counsel during the long hours we spent together on the road.

Chet was also very involved in local government and community organizations. He served four terms on the Vernon Town Council and was chairman of the Vernon Planning and Zoning Committee in 2011 and 2012. He was actively involved in the Connecticut State Employees Association Local 2001, the Rockville American Legion Post 14, and the Rockville Lodge of Elks No. 1359, where he was recognized as Veteran Volunteer of the Year by the Elks National Veterans Service Commission.

And while I'm sure this comes as a surprise to no one, Chet was a model family man. He and his wife Sylvia celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year. Together they raised three children, Kevin, Daniel and Laura Beth who collectively gifted them with 16 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It's clear Chet impressed the importance of service upon his children and grandchildren, as several of them have followed in his footsteps of service to this country.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring Chet Morgan, a man to whom we can all look as a model of leadership and service. Chet's loss will be felt for years to come but his legacy will endure for much longer.