Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the week of September 17th through the 23rd as Constitution Week and acknowledge the Daughters of the American Revolution for their dedication to upholding the importance of the Constitution. This year marks the 231st anniversary of the framing of the Constitution of the United States of America and the 62nd observance of Constitution Week.

Constitution Week began after the Daughters of the American Revolution petitioned President Eisenhower in 1955. They petitioned the President to annually set aside the week of September 17th through the 23rd as a week of observance of the Constitution. After being signed into law on August 2nd, 1956, Constitution Week has served as a time of emphasis on citizen's responsibilities to protect the Constitution, inform the public on the importance of the Constitution, and encourage the study the history that led to the framing of the Constitution in 1787.

In Central New York, the members of the Owasco Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution have championed the ideals of the Constitution since their founding on April 28, 1897 in Auburn, New York. Since then, they have been exemplary in their commitment to education, community service, equality, and patriotism throughout the region.

The Constitution is the foundation of our country and grants us all the freedoms that we enjoy today. As we celebrate this year's Constitution Week, I want to honor the Daughters of the American Revolution for playing such a pivotal role in creating this tradition and recognize the importance the Constitution as a defining part of our country's history.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Clarence Jordan, who passed away on September 8, 2018 at the age of 88. Clarence dedicated his life to aiding the underprivileged throughout the Central New York community. Over the last five decades, Clarence raised more than $100 million to support those who needed it the most in the region.

Clarence Jordan was born in Fall River, Massachusetts and grew up during the Great Depression. His childhood was not an easy one. His father was an alcoholic who abused him and, by the time he was 11 years old, both his parents passed away due to tuberculosis. Clarence spent his adolescent years without a stable home, living in California and Massachusetts. He became close to Jesus Christ during this time and the church community became his new family.

Clarence studied at Barrington College and intended to work as a missionary in China, but those plans were cancelled after communists established their control in the country. He instead served as Associate Director at Goodwill Industries in Bridgeport, Connecticut and was the Associate Pastor of Calvary Evangelical Church. In 1959, Clarence moved to Syracuse to serve as Director of Men's Social Services at the Rescue Mission. This move marked the beginning of Clarence's philanthropy in Central New York.

After serving in his new position for just a year, Clarence was promoted to Executive Director at the Rescue Mission. The Rescue Mission rapidly became one of the most extensive social service groups in Central New York with Clarence at the head of the organization. During his tenure from 1960 to 2000, Clarence grew the Rescue Mission to 333 employees and a budget of $10 million, as well

as established multiple programs addressing poverty, hunger and addiction. Additionally, Rescue Mission received the Eleanor Roosevelt Community Services Award in 1985, New York State's high award for a voluntary agency. Clarence left Rescue Mission in 2000 and continued to fundraise for several community projects, including the creation of the Clarence L. Jordan Vision Center in 2012.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me to honor the remarkable life of Clarence Jordan. He was truly a model citizen for the Central New York community and dedicated his life to the well- being of others. His many contributions impacted hundreds of lives and will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Macedonian Orthodox Church's consecration in Syracuse, New York. The Macedonian Orthodox Church has long been a staple in the Syracuse community and currently serves 200 families in the area.

Known locally as St. George, the congregation traces its roots back to 1964 when twenty Macedonian immigrant families established the church in upstate New York. Once established, the church registered under the jurisdiction of the Mother church, the Macedonian

Orthodox Church and the Holy Synod of Bishops in Skopje, Macedonia. Shortly thereafter, in 1965, the first Divine Liturgy was delivered to St. George's church by Archbishop Dositej Stojokic in Macedonian. The visit by Archbishop Dositej was a success, resulting in the consecration of a permanent church on July 1, 1968.

St. George's rapidly expanded in the 1970's and by the end of the decade there was a need for a new church to accommodate more members. A new church hall was constructed and occupied by St. George's in 1981. On September 15, 1985, the new church was consecrated by the Metropolitan Kiril. After further successes and a growing parish, St. George's underwent its final renovation to date in the 1990's. This renovation included an expansion of the church hall and the installment of a beautiful stain glass window collection. These efforts were led by Father Branko Postolovski, who continues to lead St. George's today.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the members of the House to join me in honoring the history and contributions of St. George's Macedonian Orthodox Church. It is my hope that St. George's continues to thrive and serve the Syracuse area for many more years to come.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the career of Donald Morgan, an essential member of the Central New York community and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local Union No. 43.

Mr. Morgan has been a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for 44 years, and 25 years as an officer. As an officer, Mr. Morgan has held various positions including Business Manager since 2010. Additionally, he served as President from 1997 to 2010, Vice President, Executive Board Member, Trustee of Pension, Annuity and Health Plans and Trustee of Central New York Joint Apprenticeship and Training Fund, making him an essential part of the local union and the electrical workers community.

In addition to his commitment to IBEW, Mr. Morgan has been an involved and active member of his community, serving as a board member of the American Heart Association, United Way and the Onondaga County College Foundation. He is also a board member of the City of Syracuse Electrical Licenses and the Oswego County Workforce. Additionally, Mr. Morgan is a member of the New York State Association of Electrical Workers and a representative for the Central and Northern New York Building and Construction Trades Council. Lastly, Mr. Morgan is the executive board member of the American Labor Federation Council.

I commend and am proud to honor Donald Morgan for his dedication to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and for his dedication and active involvement throughout the New York's 24th Congressional District, and wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the career of Patrick Costello, an essential member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union No. 43.

Mr. Costello has been a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for 42 years, and has spent several years as an Officer. Throughout his career, Mr. Costello has held the positions of Executive Board member, Vice President, President, Assistant Business Manager and Business Manager. Mr. Costello has been a staunch supporter and voice for the hardworking men and women of IBEW during his career.

As an involved and active member of his community, Mr. Costello currently serves as President of the AFL-CIO Central New York Labor Council, and is a board member of the American Heart Association, the United Way and the Onondaga County College Foundation. Mr. Costello also sits on the Central & Northern New York Building Trades Council, the Workforce Investment Board, the Oneida County BOCES Advisory Committee, the Central New York Labor Studies Advisory Committee, the Oneida County School and Business Alliance, the Youth Construction Initiative Program at the Utica Schools, and many other committees.

I commend Patrick Costello for his dedication to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and for his active involvement throughout New York's 24th Congressional District, and wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5869) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a maritime border threat analysis, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5869, the Maritime Border Security Review Act, sponsored by the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon), my friend and colleague.

With increasing focus on the threats at the southwest border, we must be mindful that our adversaries can and will adapt as they seek to gain entry into our homeland. As illicit pathways are squeezed on the southwest border, the Nation's maritime border is a likely alternative route for our adversaries to utilize.

The brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard are responsible for patrolling our Nation's maritime border, conducting counter-drug and migrant interdiction operations, as well as search and rescue missions to ensure the safety and legitimacy of travel and trade in the maritime environment.

The Coast Guard also interdicts and often rescues migrants who are attempting to reach the United States not only from the Caribbean and Latin American region but, as recent cases have indicated, from countries outside the Western Hemisphere, including China, India, Pakistan, and Jordan.

Cocaine is one of the most highly trafficked drugs throughout the maritime border, especially in the transit zone, a 7-million-square- mile area that includes the sea corridors of the western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the eastern Pacific Ocean. I know that firsthand from the time I spent for 2 years in the mid-nineties prosecuting international drug organizations in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Coast Guard interdicts thousands of pounds of cocaine every year; though, according to the DHS Office of Inspector General, only about 8.2 percent of the total cocaine flow through the transit zone was interdicted in fiscal year 2017.

Unfortunately, we currently do not have the resources to turn back or interdict all the threats in the maritime environment. To make matters worse, the devastating effects of the 2017 hurricane season diminished local law enforcement operational capabilities and resources available to combat maritime-based threats in the U.S. territories, putting further strain on our Federal law enforcement agents and officers.

Many of the hurricane-affected areas are still not back to pre- hurricane conditions. Under this environment, by the time a threat reaches our coastal waters, it is too easy to slip into the country and often too late, from a law enforcement standpoint, to intercept that threat.

H.R. 5869 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a threat analysis of the greater U.S. maritime border, to include the territorial waters of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands as well as the transit zone. The bill requires the examination of terrorist and criminal threats posed by individuals and groups seeking to enter the U.S. through the maritime border.

The bill also requires the Secretary to identify vulnerabilities in law, policy, and cooperation between State, territorial, and local law enforcement, and it asks the Secretary to review the impact of the geographic challenges of the maritime border and of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate on general border security activities related to the maritime border.

The Maritime Border Security Review Act is a necessary and timely piece of legislation, and I want to thank the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico for introducing it.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 5869, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of

Representatives,

Washington, DC, September 4, 2018.

Hon. Michael T. McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman McCaul: I write concerning H.R. 5869, the

Maritime Border Security Review Act. This legislation

includes matters that I believe fall within the Rule X

jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure.

In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 5869, the

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo

action on this bill, including seeking a sequential referral.

However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that

forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice the

Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to

any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters

contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within

the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. Finally, should a

conference on the bill be necessary, I ask that you support

my request to have the Committee represented on the

conference committee.

Please place a copy of this letter and your response

acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the

Congressional Record during House Floor consideration of the

bill. I look forward to working with the Committee on

Homeland Security as the bill moves through the legislative

process.

Sincerely,

Bill Shuster,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon).

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

Mr. Speaker, I will be prepared to close in a moment, but I do want to follow up on a couple of remarks from my colleague from Puerto Rico.

I served there as a Federal organized crime prosecutor in the mid- 1990s in San Juan, and during that time I saw firsthand how much of a vulnerability the maritime areas have of the United States in general, but Puerto Rico in particular.

The HIDTA report, which refers to the high intensity drug trafficking report, talks about severely diminished capabilities for law enforcement post-hurricane. But that doesn't begin to describe what really goes on down there.

When I first walked into the U.S. Attorney's Office in 1996 in Puerto Rico, there were about five or six major fast boats lined up in a parking lot that had been seized. They were seized because of large shipments of cocaine coming across the water directly from Colombia, which is only about 500 nautical miles away. These boats could go anywhere within Puerto Rico. It doesn't have to come to a port. It can pull up to shore anywhere and offload whatever contraband they are trafficking.

Certainly any one of those boats carried millions upon millions of dollars of poison that were going into drug users in this country, but they could easily be carrying terrorists. Once they get into Puerto Rico, you are in the United States. That is what people have to understand. Once you are in the United States, there is more customs scrutiny.

So getting it into Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, or the Virgin Islands, or other territories of the United States, and not knowing what those vulnerabilities are is a serious gap in our security in this Nation.

We did a similar threat assessment of the northern border, and it was very illuminating to see how much the northern border is wide open and how much of a threat it actually is. I would venture to guess that what we will see from this report when it is issued is much more eye- opening. It is a vulnerability in the world where people don't want us to survive as a democracy and, instead, want to impose terroristic views on our society. It is incumbent we pass this bill to get the full scope of the extent of the threat.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5869, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6374) to require the Department of Homeland Security to streamline Federal contractor fitness determinations, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6374, the Fitness Information Transparency Act of 2018, otherwise known as the FIT Act. This legislation seeks to improve how the Department of Homeland Security vets the character and conduct of contractor employees, known as a fitness determination.

Homeland Security relies on thousands of contractor employees every day to achieve its missions. From IT work to construction and janitorial services, Homeland Security and contractor employees work hand in hand to secure our Nation. With the department's unique mission of protecting the homeland, it is vital that everyone working for Homeland Security, be it a Federal employee or a contractor employee, is appropriately vetted to ensure that he or she will uphold the integrity of the department. However, Homeland Security's fitness determination process is bureaucratic in the worst ways: inefficient, inconsistent, and lacking transparency.

Currently, the Office of Personnel Management sets minimum fitness standards for all Federal contractors. However, each Homeland Security component can apply the criteria differently, creating disparate standards across the department. For example, a contractor employee who has been deemed fit to work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, may not automatically be deemed fit to work for Customs and Border Protection.

Many contract personnel support a variety of Homeland Security components and may be required to receive separate fitness determinations from each component, creating duplicity and inefficiency. Such inefficiency not only delays the time a contractor employee can start providing necessary services to Homeland Security, but because the contracting company builds the lag time into the bid price, this process also increases the cost to Homeland Security and, ultimately, to the United States taxpayers.

This legislation will require Homeland Security to consolidate its varying fitness standards by creating uniform fitness requirements for each position risk level. By doing so, Homeland Security will achieve department-wide uniformity and reciprocity of fitness standards, therefore eliminating the need for one contractor to undergo multiple fitness investigations.

The FIT Act also reduces bureaucratic redundancies by allowing, when appropriate, the Secretary of Homeland Security to deem someone who possesses a security clearance to also be considered fit to work for Homeland Security.

Moreover, this legislation increases transparency into the fitness determination process by requiring Homeland Security to publish the uniform fitness standards, provide monthly status updates to contractor representatives, and report certain information to Congress.

It is important that Homeland Security vet each and every contractor employee prior to working for the department. The FIT Act provides Homeland Security the flexibility it needs to vet contract workers for its diverse missions, while also making the process to do so more efficient and more transparent.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6374, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I echo the sentiments of my good friend and colleague from New Jersey. I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6374, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6447) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the position of Chief Data Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6447, the Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act, sponsored by my colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).

In today's data-driven world, organizations like the Department of Homeland Security generate, collect, and maintain enormous quantities of data in carrying out their day-to-day operations. Unfortunately, data continues to be underutilized as an asset by organizations, especially in the Federal Government, largely as a result of poor internal data management and governance practices.

To address these shortcomings, the private sector and Federal, State, and local entities have increasingly begun appointing the position of chief data officer to their management teams. Such a position would work to improve data management and governance at an organization in order to format data for better analysis and use.

The work conducted by chief data officers can help organizations achieve operational efficiencies, improve policy insight and decisionmaking, achieve data interoperability across legacy IT systems, and increase transparency.

To date, several entities within Homeland Security, including Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, have designated chief data officers. Recognizing this growing trend, H.R. 6447 authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with Homeland Security's chief information officer, to designate a Homeland Security- wide chief data officer.

The chief data officer is tasked with overseeing policies to manage, organize, and format Homeland Security data in order to better carry out data analysis for use in departmental operations.

Additionally, H.R. 6447 requires the heads of all Homeland Security operational components, in consultation with the chief data officer and component chief information officers, to appoint component-level chief data officers.

Homeland Security is charged with the responsibility of keeping our homeland and its citizens safe. As such, it is imperative that Homeland Security possess the capability and capacity and tools to make informed decisions in today's rapidly evolving threat environment. The appointment of chief data officers at the department and its components is integral to providing Homeland Security with the tools to make data- driven decisions in the 21st century.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).

Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. If the gentlewoman from New Jersey has no other speakers, I am prepared to close once she does.

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague and friend from New Jersey. It is always a pleasure to work on bills with her because there is always very good bipartisan spirit. I think that is something that is lost often in this Chamber.

I am happy to support this bill. It is commonsense legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6265) to ensure that only travelers who are members of a trusted traveler program use Transportation Security Administration security screening lanes designated for trusted travelers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6265, the PreCheck is PreCheck Act of 2018. The name of this bipartisan legislation demonstrates my belief that the Transportation Security Administration should use its PreCheck screening lanes at airport checkpoints as they were originally intended.

This bipartisan bill codifies a solution to a longstanding frustration that I and others have reiterated to TSA on many occasions: PreCheck lanes should not be used as tools to manage congestion for passengers in an airport. Instead of employing a one-size-fits-all approach to passenger security screening, the concept underlying TSA's PreCheck program is one of risk-based security.

This should, when applied as intended, save taxpayer dollars and result in an enhanced security checkpoint experience for all travelers. However, the stated benefits of the PreCheck program have been consistently undermined by TSA's practice of moving unvetted passengers into PreCheck lanes for the sake of expediency.

I have said it before and I will say it again: Security cannot be sacrificed for expediency.

This legislation will require TSA to ensure that only travelers who are members of trusted traveler programs are permitted to use PreCheck security screening lanes at TSA checkpoints throughout the country.

To address the issue of passenger throughput, H.R. 6265 also provides a framework for TSA to expedite screening for passengers who have been determined to pose a lower risk to aviation security.

The effects of this legislation will be far-reaching. By restoring the PreCheck program to its original purpose, passengers who have elected to participate will experience a shorter checkpoint process they were promised when they first enrolled in the program. Additionally, passengers will be more incentivized to enroll in a trusted traveler program when it is working as it should.

To achieve TSA's stated goal of enrolling 25 million passengers by the end of 2019, restricting PreCheck expedited screening lanes to vetted, enrolled passengers is a necessity.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the subcommittee, my friend, the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman), for cosponsoring this bill and for her leadership on this issue. I also thank my good friend Congressman Keating for his bipartisan support of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to echo the sentiments of my colleague from New Jersey, the gentlewoman, Mrs. Watson Coleman. She is exactly right. This program is not being used like it is supposed to be used.

The idea of PreCheck was to have a known, trusted traveler program, a traveler program where someone walks through and gets a different level of scrutiny because you know enough about them in advance. When you put people through that same lane and they get a different level of scrutiny that they shouldn't have because you don't know about them, it entirely defeats the purpose of the bill. With terrorism what it is today and the zest to try to attack our aviation industry, it is not a time we should be cutting corners to manage traffic.

Mrs. Watson Coleman is exactly right. We need to have more people staffing these lanes, and we need to have a better running of the PreCheck program itself. If they did those two things, then we would be okay; but we cannot cut corners when it comes to security, especially in the aviation sector.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6265, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6461) to amend title 49, United States Code, to establish in the Transportation Security Administration a National Deployment Office, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6461, the TSA National Deployment Force Act, sponsored by my good friend and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security, Mrs. Watson Coleman.

TSA security operations happen 365 days per year at nearly 440 federalized airports. Our Nation depends on the professionals at TSA who are on the front lines every single day to keep our transportation systems moving and secure.

In testimony before the committee, Administrator Pekoske has stated that TSA's greatest assets are its people, and I could not agree more. Transportation security officers are tasked with a zero-fail mission, and their dedication to duty is what helps keep traveling Americans secure when they fly within our civil aviation system.

With a strengthening economy, passenger volume has surged over the past few years and is expected to go much higher in the years to come, and TSA has often struggled to accommodate massive traveler volume increases at checkpoints. However, one of the most practical, useful, and helpful tools in TSA's toolbox, the National Deployment Force, helps TSA alleviate long lines at airport checkpoints, providing both a national security value by minimizing public area security risk and providing efficiency by reducing passenger wait times.

This legislation authorizes the National Deployment Force, or NDF, within TSA to provide rapid and efficient response capabilities.

The NDF is comprised of transportation security officers who may be deployed across the country to supplement existing TSA staffing during periods of high seasonal demand, natural disasters, national special security events, or other scenarios requiring additional security screening support.

Recently, the NDF has provided critical screening support for large- scale events requiring additional security, such as the Super Bowl and in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Given the anticipated increases in passenger growth, this bipartisan legislation will help ensure that TSA has the resources

it needs to quickly respond to influxes in passenger volume at specific airports.

I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation with my good friend and colleague from New Jersey to authorize a National Deployment Force and help make TSA the agile agency the American people expect and deserve.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6461.

I agree with the comments of my colleague from New Jersey, and I think that this commonsense legislation will give TSA more flexibility and more elasticity in facing the ongoing challenges with staffing issues at airports, especially during peak travel times.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the 20th anniversary of the Keepsake Village at Greenpoint, a retirement community in my district dedicated to caring for those struggling with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Since opening to the community in 1998, the staff at Keepsake Village has worked to provide the level of assistance necessary to improve the quality of life for its memory care residents. For individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, the importance of a secure environment with caring staff cannot be understated. Keepsake Village at Greenpoint provides services that can be tailored to meet the physical and emotional challenges of its cognitively impaired residents.

This memory care community is based on a ``Live More'' philosophy, aiming to stimulate the eight dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, nutritional, social and vocational. Through this philosophy, residents of this special community are able to live happy and healthy lives, despite struggling with memory loss illness.

Alzheimer's is a disease that touches nearly every family in our country. There are more than 5.7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's and over 16.1 million unpaid caregivers who dedicate much of their lives to caring for their loved one struggling with this illness. The toll this disease takes on the millions afflicted, the millions of caregivers and our overall economy cannot be understated, which is why we must continue working to address this epidemic and more importantly, strengthen our efforts to find a cure.

Today, I am so proud to honor the Keepsake Village at Greenpoint for their dedication in providing the highest quality of life for each of their residents and their loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 10th anniversary of the Gregory J. Harris Military Courtesy Room (MCR) at Syracuse Hancock International Airport.

Founded in 2008 by two TSA agents who grew tired of seeing soldiers sleeping on the floor of Syracuse's Hancock Airport, the MCR was developed to provide a place of refuge for soldiers awaiting flights. Since its inception, the MCR has aimed to provide traveling soldiers with a bit of home comfort. Fitted with amenities including a kitchen and lounge chairs for relaxation, the MCR has serviced hundreds of soldiers and has hosted everything from nervous recruits anticipating basic training to marriage proposals.

As our servicemen and women, including the many brave men and women serving our nation at Fort Drum and at the 174th Attack Wing at Hancock Field, travel through Syracuse I believe that they deserve nothing but our utmost respect and gratitude. For this reason, I applaud the MCR organizers and volunteers as they work tirelessly to ensure that the MCR is a home away from home for soldiers in transit.

While serving in Congress, I will continue to do everything in my power to show my appreciation for the men and women serving our country by working to ensure that they receive the treatment and benefits they deserve.

Today, I am proud to honor the Gregory J. Harris Military Courtesy Room for celebrating its 10th anniversary and hope that we will continue to support those who have made significant sacrifices while serving this country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Special Agent Nole Remagen.

Special Agent Remagen suffered a stroke while supporting the recent Presidential trip to Scotland, and, sadly, passed away a few days later, surrounded by his family.

Special Agent Remagen was a true patriot who dedicated his life to serving his country. He began his service as a member of the United States Marine Corps, where he served honorably for 5 years.

After leaving the Marine Corps, he yet again heeded the call to serve his Nation, joining the Secret Service as an officer in the Uniformed Division.

Special Agent Remagen served in the Uniformed Division for 10 years and rose to the rank of sergeant just like his father, also a retired sergeant in the Secret Service Uniformed Division.

He became a special agent in 2009 and served faithfully many assignments, including the Dignitary Protection Division and the Presidential Protective Division.

Special Agent Remagen represented the best of the United States Secret Service, and his dedication to the agency's mission is both admirable and inspiring.

Special Agent Remagen is survived by his wife and two young children. I ask that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Addressing Alzheimer's Disease

Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about a disease that touches nearly every family in our country.

There are more than 5.7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's and more than 16.1 million unpaid caregivers who dedicate much of their lives to caring for their loved ones struggling with this terrible illness.

I became familiar with Alzheimer's long before I came to Congress. You see, my father, Andy Katko, or Pop-Pop, as he became known to us, his 7 children, his 18 grandchildren, and his 6 great-grandchildren, as well as everyone else, began, in 2008, to show signs that his memory was deteriorating. He was eventually diagnosed with dementia that same year.

His condition progressed significantly each and every year after his initial diagnosis, and he was ultimately diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. My mother, his wife, Mary Lou, took on the challenging role millions of loved ones do and became his primary caretaker.

Mary Lou remained by Andy's side, helping him with everything from cooking, bathing, dressing, and taking his medications, to offering him love and reassurance when he would wake up in the middle of the night confused and sometimes scared of his surroundings.

About 1\1/2\ years ago, with Andy's condition progressing dramatically, and my mother, Mary Lou, suffering from her own health issues, our family had to make the terrible decision that many other families have to make and admit my father, Andy, into a nursing home, where he could receive the 24-hour care and attention that he desperately needed.

Although Andy and Mary Lou lived apart since then, their strong bond of love for each other was still evident, perhaps in the hand-holding, perhaps in the kiss on the cheek, or perhaps just giving a reassuring look.

Andy's eyes would light up at any mention of Mary Lou, especially when she came to visit him. In March of this year, when we had to tell him that Mary Lou had died, his beloved wife of 64 years, it barely registered. In fact, we can't tell whether he understands that his wife, the love of his life, is gone.

Today, Andy still resides at our local nursing home. His condition has worsened, and he can no longer recognize his children or grandchildren, nor can he form coherent sentences. It is extremely difficult for our family to see him in this condition, as he is no longer the same talkative, strong-willed father and grandfather he once was.

Although Alzheimer's has diminished my father, Andy's quality of life, the disease has not diminished his spirit. Yes, Andy's sincere appreciation for his family is still evident, and he has maintained his distinct sense of humor and happy-go-lucky disposition, which allows our family some temporary relief and lightness amongst such a heavy situation.

This struggle my father and our entire family is going through is not unique. I have heard nearly identical stories told by countless families throughout my district--really, from throughout this country.

The toll this disease takes on the millions afflicted, the millions of caregivers, and our overall economy cannot be understated.

I am proud of the actions we have taken as a Congress to begin to address this epidemic, including the passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, which will strengthen efforts to find a cure. And the recent passage of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, which is now one of the first laws to address the needs of our Nation's family caregivers. However, we must do more.

I will continue to support the doctors, the scientists, and the medical professionals, who are on the front lines caring for those suffering from Alzheimer's, working tirelessly day and night to find a cure, looking for promising treatments.

I implore all of my colleagues to join me in supporting funding for research to put an end to this epidemic, honoring the millions of Americans, like my father, who have lost so much of their lives to this disease. This is for you Pop Pop.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the careers of West Genesee lacrosse coaches Mike Messere and Bob Deegan.

In a career lasting over forty years, Coach Messere was responsible for leading the West Genesee Men's Lacrosse program to 846 wins and 15 New York State Class A Championships. Since the late 70s, Coach Messere brought unparalleled success to the program by instilling a mentality of hard-nose fundamental play into his players. Coaching alongside him for much of his career, Coach Deegan played an integral role in sustaining the program's long-term success by developing and implementing some of the most accomplished defensive schemes.

Thanks to the contributions made by Coach Messere and Coach Deegan, lacrosse is thriving in Central New York and has now become the fastest growing sport in the country. Over the course of their careers, hundreds of players who have gone through this distinguished program have later won national championships at the collegiate level and even become coaches of their own teams. Now as the careers of these coaches comes to a close, the two can rest assured that their legacy in the sport of lacrosse will live on in Central New York and beyond.

I am proud to honor the legendary careers of Coach Messere and Coach Deegan and want to thank them for spurring excitement and participation in the sport of lacrosse.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor retired Deputy Fire Chief Stu Cavuto, Jason Wheeler, and Melanie Mascato, for their actions to help save the life of a young father on Father's Day.

While running an errand this Father's Day, Deputy Fire Chief Cavuto and Mr. Wheeler were alerted to an emergency situation when their vehicle was flagged down by Ms. Mascato. After pulling over to the side of the road, the two learned that a young father was without a pulse after overdosing on heroin inside a nearby car. Acting immediately, the trio called for an ambulance and began to prepare the man for CPR by extracting him from his car and bringing him to the adjacent lawn. However, before they were able to begin administering CPR the man's pulse and breathing suddenly returned. Shortly thereafter, paramedics arrived on the scene and transported the man to a local hospital.

Hearing of the actions taken by these three individuals reaffirms my belief in the inherent kindness of strangers and further motivates me to work with my colleagues in Congress to pass legislation that combats the opioid epidemic.

Today, I am proud to honor Stu Cavuto, Jason Wheeler, and Melanie Mascato for taking actions to save the life of a young father. In the future, I hope that we can look toward these good Samaritans as inspiration and rally around all efforts to help those struggling with opioid addictions.