Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 665) to modernize and enhance airport perimeter and access control security by requiring updated risk assessments and the development of security strategies, 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 materials 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. 665, the Airport Perimeter and Access Control Security Act, sponsored by my good friend and colleague, Congressman Keating.

Over the course of the last year, we have seen a disturbing number of attacks against airports and aircrafts overseas and around the world. And in every instance, the integrity of the airport security infrastructure and the insider threat have been of serious concern.

It is critical that we scrutinize the security effectiveness of our Nation's airports and ensure that the public can have confidence that their travels will be safe and secure during the high-threat environment.

This important piece of legislation requires that the TSA's comprehensive risk assessment of perimeter and access control security is more regularly updated and that TSA conducts a sector-wide assessment of airport access control vulnerabilities and mitigation efforts, something TSA has not done across the board since 2012, despite multiple security breaches at airports across the country.

We cannot solely focus on the effectiveness of our passenger screening checkpoints, while allowing lapses in security around the airport perimeter and within the sterile area of airport. A dead bolt on a front door does no good if the back door is left wide open.

As partners on the Transportation and Protective Security Subcommittee, Congressman Keating and I have seen firsthand disturbing vulnerabilities at airports across the United States. I commend his efforts to help enhance security for the American people.

While there may be gridlock and partisan bickering at times in other places here in Washington, on the Homeland Security Committee, we all share an unshakable commitment to ensuring the security of the traveling public because we know that the consequence of failure is too great.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Keating for introducing this important legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, I commend my colleague for his unwavering dedication to this issue. His passion has shown through in the committee hearings and throughout my time with him in Congress and I commend him for it. I look forward to working on this and other issues with him moving forward.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 665.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank both gentlemen for their kind words about this truly unique historical fort in my district.

Fort Ontario stood on the shores of Lake Ontario for over 260 years and now stands as a testament to the great history of central New York and the important role the region has played in our Nation's history. The Fort has been involved in nearly every major American war, from the French and Indian Wars to World War II.

From 1944 to 1946, Fort Ontario served as our Nation's only emergency refugee camp, providing shelter to over 980 refugees during World War II. In recognition of the Fort's use as a refugee shelter, primarily for Jewish people fleeing Hitler's Europe, the site also hosts the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum. It is a truly unique fort in our country.

Following World War II, the fort was transferred to the State of New York to house war veterans and their families until 1953. This unparalleled history would make Fort Ontario a unique asset to our National Park System.

I am honored to have introduced this legislation, which takes the first steps toward ensuring Fort Ontario receives the national recognition it richly deserves. The Fort Ontario Study Act would commission a special resource study of Fort Ontario to evaluate the site's national significance and determine the suitability of its designation as a part of the National Park System.

Fort Ontario, now a national historic site in New York and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, draws residents of New York, visitors across the Nation, and, indeed, across the globe to experience the rich history of the fort and the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum. Designating the fort as a national park will not only preserve the unique history of the site, but also have the potential to grow tourism and strengthen our economy.

I am proud to be a champion of this effort, and I credit this success to the countless individuals and organizations in Oswego, New York, and throughout the 24th District who have spent years working to preserve the history of Fort Ontario. These groups and individuals include the Friends of Fort Ontario, Paul Lear with New York State Parks, the Board of the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum, and the many volunteers that give so much of their time to this cause.

Reflecting the importance of the fort to the entire region, I introduced this bill with Congresswoman Tenney and Congresswoman Slaughter. I would like to thank them both for their support, as well as Chairman Bishop for working toward moving this legislation forward.

I ask all of my colleagues to support H.R. 46, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take quick action on this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Senior Master Sergeant Ronald Carl Houghtalen. A native of Binghamton, New York and currently a resident of Clay, New York, who subsequently has more than 34 years of military service with the United States Air Force and New York Air National Guard. Sergeant Houghtalen has been decorated with numerous medals, awards, and service distinctions and will retire from military service on 1 December 2014. It is my honor to recognize such a distinguished citizen and airman.

Sergeant Houghtalen began his military career in the United States Air Force, in September of 1981. On completion of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in October 1981, Sergeant Houghtalen began technical school training as an Electronic Warfare Systems Specialist at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Mississippi. In September 1982, he was assigned to the 416th Bombardment Wing, Strategic Air Command as an Electronic Warfare Systems Specialist, at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York. He began on-the-job training for his five-skill level on the B-52G ``Buff'' aircraft and remained in that position until November 1984.

In November 1984, Sergeant Houghtalen was reassigned to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, Tactical Air Command, Flight-line Branch, Royal Air Force Bentwaters-Woodbridge, England, in support of United States Air Forces in Europe operations. While assigned with the 81st Component Repair Squadron, he performed duties as Electronic Warfare Systems Technician and Phase Dock Supervisor on the A-10A ``Warthog'' aircraft, which provided Offensive-Defensive Electronic Counter-measures and Close Air Support of ground forces and battlefield air interdiction in support of NATO ground forces.

After completion of his tour in November 1986, Sergeant Houghtalen was reassigned to the 379th Bombardment Wing, Strategic Air Command, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan. He was assigned as an Electronic Warfare Systems Technician Supervisor performing integrated jamming systems maintenance and supervision of B- 52H advanced Electronic Warfare systems troubleshooting and repair. He was also selected to assist with the research and development of a new automated Electronic Warfare system and automatic and Semi-Automatic Support Equipment that would enhance Electronic Warfare maintenance and aircraft protection systems for the B-52H aircraft. Upon completion of his second active duty tour in March of 1990, Sergeant Houghtalen transferred to the 174th Tactical Fighter Wing, Aircraft Maintenance Branch, Avionics Maintenance Squadron, New York Air National Guard, Hancock Field in Syracuse, New York, and was assigned as an Electronic Warfare Technician and Integrated Avionics Maintenance Technician on the F-16A/B ``Falcon'' aircraft.

On 17 August 2006, as the Logistics Readiness Flight Superintendent, Sergeant Houghtalen volunteered for an Air Expeditionary Force deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism and was tasked to assemble, organize and deploy the first Redeployment Action Team to Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. Assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, he coordinated the arrival and off-load of cargo from three Air National Guard Wings transported by Sealift Command to Ali Al Salem AB and the on-load of cargo to C-130 aircraft for intra-theater airlift, in support of combat operations throughout Iraq and Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 19 February 2007, Sergeant Houghtalen returned to active duty to redeploy with his Team to Ali Al Salem AB for his ninth overseas tour where he successfully redeployed all cargo used down range, in support of combat operations, and returned it to the respective Air National Guard Wings throughout the United States.

Sergeant Houghtalen was employed as a 174th Fighter Wing Air National Guard Technician from May 1990 to January 2010. He held positions in the 174th Maintenance Squadron as an Integrated Avionics Maintenance Technician, 174th Maintenance Group as the Maintenance Operations Center Superintendent, 174th Fighter Wing as the Wing Plans Superintendent and the 174th Logistics Readiness Squadron as the Logistics Readiness Flight Superintendent for F-16 and MQ-9 aircraft. On 2 January 2010 he transferred from his full-time technician position to the Department of Defense, Defense Contract Management Agency and remained a member of the 174th Fighter Wing as a Traditional Guardsman. In March 2011, Sergeant Houghtalen transferred assignment to Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ), Latham, New York.

His last military assignment was with Joint Forces Headquarters-New York as the Domestic Operations Services Superintendent, Joint Task Force-5/FEMA Region II. While assigned, he performed duties with the Joint Exercise Control Group to plan, conduct, educate and train Joint Task Force-5 and supporting state, county and local emergency agency managers. He functioned as part of the Services Command and Control Headquarters Staff that responds to Homeland Defense and Civil Support within and outside the Continental United States contingency operations. Between 13 and 20 May 2012, Sergeant Houghtalen led New York Air National Guard Services members to provide lodging and feeding support for over 400 support personnel during a Homeland Response Force Exercise conducted in Oriskany, New York. He was ordered to State Active Duty between 29 October and 14 November by the Governor, in response to Hurricane Sandy at Joint Forces Headquarters, New York, and assigned to Joint Operations Center J1 Staff responsible for Manpower status and reporting in support of relief operations.

In January 2013, Sergeant Houghtalen deployed to Washington DC where he provided mission support for the 57th Presidential Inauguration as a key member of the Joint Task Force-J4, playing a pivotal role in the logistics operation, providing critical transportation and sustainment contingency planning for the movement of over 6000 personnel and several tons of cargo. From 22 April to 3 May 2014, Sergeant Houghtalen provided direct support

during the Headquarters Reserve Forces Exercise conducted in Oriskany, NY. Where he planned, organized, and executed operations, providing leadership and logistical coordination for twelve Services Support personnel from five New York Air National Guard Wings, successfully demonstrating contingency support capabilities in a Domestic Operations environment utilizing the Disaster Response Mobile Kitchen Trailer and their ability to respond to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear event for Federal Emergency Management Agency Region II HRF, Joint Task-5, Joint Forces Headquarters, New York. He completed his military career and retired on 1 December 2014 after more than 34 years combined service, with nearly 10 years of Federal Active Duty and the remainder with the New York Air National Guard.

Sergeant Houghtalen holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management, Cum Laude, Columbia College, Associate of Arts Degree in Management, Columbia College, Associate Degree in Business Administration and Logistics Management, Community College of the Air Force, Associates Degree in Applied Science, Avionics Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Senior Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School where he received the Commandant's Award.

Sergeant Houghtalen's military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Commendation Medal, with one oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Achievement Medal; and the Army Achievement Medal. His military unit and achievement awards include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, one oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat ``V'' device and six oak leaf clusters; the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, with two oak leaf clusters; and the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, with seven oak leaf clusters. His military campaign and service awards include the National Defense Service Medal, with one bronze service star; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal; the Southwest Asia Service Medal, with three bronze campaign stars; the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Air Force Overseas Long Service-Long Tour Ribbon, the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon, with seven oak leaf clusters; the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass device, mobilization ``M'' device, and numeral ``9''; the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters; the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one service star device; and the Air Force Training Ribbon. Sergeant Houghtalen's Foreign Service awards include the Kuwait Liberation Medal from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with Palm device and the Kuwait Liberation Medal from the Government of Kuwait.

Sergeant Houghtalen also holds the following New York State awards and decorations: the New York State Long and Faithful Service Award, with one gold shield device; the New York State Desert Storm Service Medal; New York State Operation Iraqi Freedom Ribbon; New York State Operation Enduring Freedom Ribbon; the New York State Defense of Liberty Medal; New York State Conspicuous Service Cross; the Medal for Humane Service to New York State. He also holds service awards from other states that include the Mississippi Emergency Service Medal for Operation Vigilant Guard Relief, Hurricane Katrina; the District of Columbia National Guard Community Service Ribbon in support of the 57th Presidential Inauguration.

His effective dates of promotion are: Airman--17 October 1981; Airman First Class--30 August 1982; Senior Airman--1 September 1984; Sergeant--1 September 1985; Staff Sergeant--1 January 1987; Technical Sergeant--1 June 1995; Master Sergeant--1 January 2000; Senior Master Sergeant--27 February 2002.

He is also the recipient of the following recognition awards: the Onondaga Community College Veteran of the Month 1994; the Red Flag Superior Performer in 1999; the Presidential Support Secret Service Augmentee award in 1999; the American Red Cross Veterans Award in 2000; the Air Combat Command Inspector General Superior Performance Award in 2000 and 2003; the Phase II Operational Readiness Inspection Superior Performer in 2000; 174th Fighter Wing Base Honor Guard Team Superior Performer Award in 2003, Air Combat Command Inspector General Deployment Support Organization Superior Performance Award in 2003; and the 174th Fighter Wing Phase 1 Operational Readiness Exercise Superior Performer award in 2004.

Sergeant Houghtalen is a past member of the Air National Guard Noncommissioned Officer Academy Graduate Association, the Association of the Old Crows, and the Air Force Association; he is still an active member of the 174th Attack Wing Base Honor Guard.

Senior Master Sergeant Ronald Houghtalen resides in the Town of Clay with his wife Sharon Houghtalen. He has one daughter and one son, Staff Sergeant Briana Houghtalen, 174 Attack Wing and Senior Airman Ryan Houghtalen, 152 Air Operations Group. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Thelma Houghtalen of Binghamton, New York (Deceased).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Michael Yarema and Sergeant Peter Heise of the Syracuse New York Police Department. On January 4, 2015, Sergeant Yarema and Sergeant Heise responded to the scene of a shooting, performed textbook emergency medical treatment on the victim, all while working on an unsecure and volatile crime scene. Doctors at Upstate University Hospital Emergency Room confirm that the immediate, life-saving measures performed by both sergeants saved the life of the victim.

Sergeant Yarema served the Syracuse Police Department as an officer in the Patrol Division, Syracuse Anti-firearm Enforcement Unit, and Syracuse Police Traffic Division before being promoted to Sergeant in May of 2009. He has served as a firearms instructor and member of the SWAT team in Syracuse. Sergeant Yarema has received the Syracuse Police Life Saving Award and Syracuse Police Department's Officer of the Month Award.

Sergeant Yarema was raised in Auburn, New York and holds a Bachelor of Arts and

Sciences degree in Criminal Justice. He is supported by his girlfriend, Melissa Bottorff and daughter, Lauryn Bacon.

Sergeant Heise served the Syracuse Police Department as a Detective in the Criminal Investigations Division and as a defensive tactics instructor in the Training Division before being promoted to Sergeant in May of 2006. He then acted as Patrol Sergeant and a Sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division. Sergeant Heise holds the following awards: Chief's Achievement Award, Police Benevolent Association Award, and the Mayor's Achievement Award.

Sergeant Heise was raised in Dexter, New York and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. He is supported by his wife, Melanie Heise and two daughters, Mackenzie and Morgan.

Sergeant Yarema and Sergeant Heise have each bravely served the Syracuse New York Police Department for 20 years. I am proud to share in the recognition of Sergeant Michael Yarema and Sergeant Peter Heise as first-rate officers, performing tremendous service to the people of Syracuse, New York.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Colonel Theodore Harold Limpert. A native of Central New York and currently a resident of Syracuse, New York, Colonel Limpert subsequently has more than 30 years of military service with the United States Air Force and New York Air National Guard. Colonel Limpert has been decorated with numerous medals, awards, and service distinctions and retired from military service on 29 June 2012. It is my honor to recognize such a distinguished citizen and airman.

Colonel Limpert began his military career in the New York Air National Guard on 24 November 1981, attending the Air National Guard's Academy of Military Science, receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant on 24 June 1982. From September 1982 to September 1983, he attended undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. From November 1983 to January 1984, Colonel Limpert attended Lead Fighter Training at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and subsequently completed the A-10 Replacement Training Unit at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana in May 1984.

As a traditional guardsman and currently a Syracuse City Court Judge, Colonel Limpert became an operational member of the 174th Fighter Wing in May 1984 and was assigned the 138th Fighter Squadron. During his tenure with the 174th Fighter Wing, as a pilot in the T-38, T-37, A-10, and the F-16, Colonel Limpert has accumulated more than 3,100 flight hours, with 750 flight hours in the A-10 aircraft, 2200 flying hours in the F-16 aircraft, and has 392 combat flight hours, and holds the rating of Command Pilot.

In 1991, Colonel Limpert deployed to Southwest Asia seven times supporting combat operations in Southwest Asia, beginning with Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1991 at Al Kharj Air Base Saudi Arabia, with subsequent deployments in support of Operation Provide Comfort in 1995 at Incirlik Air Base Turkey; Operation Southern Watch in 2000 at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia; Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar; and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006 and 2008 at Balad Air Base, Iraq. During the 2006 deployment to Balad Air Base, Iraq in 2006, Colonel Limpert held dual assignments as the 174th Fighter Wing Detachment Commander and 332nd Expeditionary Squadron Commander. In addition to his deployments supporting combat operations in Southwest Asia, Colonel Limpert also flew Combat Air Patrol sorties over New York City in support of Operation Noble Eagle after the September 11th terrorist attack on the United States.

Colonel Limpert has held numerous duty assignments throughout his military career with the New York Air National Guard. They include: Assistant Flight Commander and Flight Commander, 138th Fighter Squadron, from May 1989 to July 1996; Combat Air Planner, 152nd Air Operations Group, from July 1996 to September 1998; Command Post Officer, 174th Fighter Wing from September 1998 to September 1999; F-16 Pilot, Operations Officer and later Operations Support Flight Commander, 174th Operations Support Flight; Commander, 138th Fighter Squadron from May 2003 to September 2007; and Deputy Operations Group Commander, 174th Fighter Wing from September 2007 to October 2008.

In his final assignment, Colonel Limpert was assigned to the New York Air National Guard Joint Force Headquarters as Director of Plans and Programs and, Director of the Joint Exercise Control Group. As Director of Plans and Programs, he oversaw the five New York State Air Wings respective plans offices. The Joint Exercise Control Group ensures readiness of state military forces for state contingency operations and defense support to civil authorities. Colonel Limpert's joint staff team of Air and Army National Guard personnel, planned, coordinated and observed table top and large scale civilian and military exercises conducted by each of the state's six joint task forces. He also volunteered and took on duties as Senior Air Reserve Component Advisor to the Commander, United States Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

During these times and throughout his career, Colonel Limpert has displayed honorable character and service to the United States Air Force, the New York Air National Guard, and our country. His military decorations and unit awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor ``V'' device; the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters; the Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Commendation Medal; the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Joint Meritorious Service Award; the Meritorious Unit Award; and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor ``V'' device and seven oak leaf clusters.

Colonel Limpert's military campaign, service awards include the Combat Readiness Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Southwest Asia Service medal with three campaign stars; the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star; the Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star;

the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold boarder and two oak leaf clusters; the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold hourglass device, mobilization ``M'' device, and numeral ``6''; and the Air Force Training Ribbon. His foreign service awards include the Kuwait Liberation Medal with gold palm device from Saudi Arabia and the Kuwait Liberation Medal from Kuwait.

Colonel Limpert also holds the following New York State awards and decorations: the New York State Long and Faithful Service Award with one gold shield device and one silver shield device; the New York State Desert Storm Service Medal; the New York State Operation Enduring Freedom Ribbon; the New York State Operation Iraqi Freedom Ribbon; the New York State Defense of Liberty Medal; the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross with one cross device; the Medal for Human Service to New York State; the New York State Exercise Support Ribbon; and the New York State Physical Fitness Ribbon.

Colonel Limpert's effective dates of promotion are: Second Lieutenant--24 June 1982; First Lieutenant--25 February 1985; Captain-- 5 March 1985; Major--1 October 1993; Lieutenant Colonel--February 2000; and his current rank of Colonel--4 October 2008.

Colonel Limpert received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania in 1981 and Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, New York. He also completed the Squadron Officer School, (Correspondence) course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in 1993; the Air Command and Staff College, (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in 2000; the Air War College, (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in 2007; and the Advanced Joint Professional Military Education Course, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia in 2009.

In his civilian capacity, Colonel Limpert is a Syracuse City Court Judge. He was appointed to the Bench in November, 2009 and elected to a ten year term in November, 2010. As a City Court Judge, Colonel Limpert handles both criminal and civil cases. Prior to becoming a Judge, he was in private practice for over 20 years.

Without question Mr. Speaker, Colonel Limpert is a very special person. He willingly served his nation, exuding loyalty and pride. For his unrelenting service, Colonel Limpert can retire knowing he has earned such a status. I would like to wish him well in his retirement years, as he will now be able to spend more free time with his wife Susan, his daughter Elizabeth, and his sons Harold, Nikolas and Tyler. Colonel Limpert, thank you for all your years of hard work, dedication and service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Colonel Joseph Edward Lamendola. Originally from Massena, New York and currently a resident of Camillus, New York, Colonel Lamendola received his direct commission on 19 February 1984 and subsequently has 30 years of military service with United States Air Force and the New York Air National Guard. Colonel Lamendola has been decorated with numerous medals, awards, and service distinctions. It is my honor to recognize such a distinguished citizen and airman.

Colonel Lamendola began his military career in the Air Force on 19 February 1984 under the Air Force's direct commissioning program and served four years on Federal Active Duty as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate and Area Defense Counsel at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. In October 1988, Colonel Lamendola transferred to the New York Air National Guard and was assigned to the 174th Fighter Wing, Hancock Field, Syracuse, New York. During his tenure as Staff Judge Advocate with the 174th Fighter Wing, Colonel Lamendola served as the 9th Air Force Air National Guard Judge Advocate Liaison. From October 1995 through December 2000, Colonel Lamendola provided guidance and support to 9th Air Force Air National

Guard-gained units, including conducting Staff Assistance Visits to all 18 units.

In March 1995, he deployed with the 174th Fighter Wing in support of a Joint NATO Exercise conducted at Andoya Air Base, Norway. In 1991, Colonel Lamendola was called to Federal Active Duty in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He served for 180 days at home station performing duties in a dual role as Staff Judge Advocate and Public Affairs Officer.

Colonel Lamendola has served as Legal Advisor, Recorder, and Respondent's Counsel on numerous occasions by Air National Guard units from the states of Alaska, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Montana, New York and Vermont. Colonel Lamendola has assisted in the research and revision of the 1996 Commander's Legal Desk Book, and participated as a member of a Process Action Team, which drafted the Air National Guard Instruction dealing with Legal Assistance. He has also served as an instructor for the November 2003 Contemporary Base Issues course hosted by the New York Air National Guard.

Colonel Lamendola currently serves as the senior uniformed Air National Guard Judge Advocate in the New York Air National Guard and is responsible for providing legal advice, opinions, and assistance on a variety of subjects to the Commander of the New York Air National Guard, the Air Staff, other Judge Advocates assigned to New York Air National Guard's five flying wings the Eastern Air Defense Sector, and commanders throughout the New York Air National Guard.

During these times and throughout his career, Colonel Lamendola has displayed honorable character and service to the United States Air Force, the New York Air National Guard, and our country. His military decorations and unit awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster; and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters. His military campaign and service awards include the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass device and mobilization ``M'' device; and Air Force Training Ribbon.

Colonel Lamendola also holds the following New York State awards and decorations: the New York State Long and Faithful Service Award with one gold shield device; the New York State Defense of Liberty Medal; the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross; and the New York State Exercise Support Ribbon.

Colonel Lamendola's effective dates of promotion are: First Lieutenant--23 September 1982; Captain--28 September 1984; Major--2 December 1989; Lieutenant Colonel--27 January 1994; and his current rank of Colonel--1 June 2009.

In his civilian capacity, Colonel Lamendola maintains a law practice in Syracuse, New York and serves a client base in Northern and Central New York. His practice concentrates in the areas of business litigation, personal injury, education and school law, family law, military law and estate planning. Colonel Lamendola serves as a committee member on the Fourth Department Attorney Grievance Committee, and he is also a delegate for the Fifth Judicial District nominating committee.

Colonel Lamendola holds degrees from Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1983 (LL.M, Admiralty Law) University of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom, 1982 (LL.B, Cum Laude) State University of New York, Plattsburg, NY, 1977 (B.A., Political Science) Air War College, May 2005.

Colonel Lamendola also holds Bar Admissions in the U.S. Supreme Court, 1987; the U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1996; the U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1983; the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 1983; the U.S. District Court Northern District of New York, 1991; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 1984; the State of New York, 1990; and the State of Louisiana, 1983.

Without question Mr. Speaker, Colonel Lamendola is a very special person. He willingly served his nation, exuding loyalty and pride. For his unrelenting service, Colonel Lamendola can retire knowing he has earned such a status. I would like to wish him well in his retirement years, as he will now be able to spend more free time with his wife Heather and his daughter Amelia Jude. Colonel Lamendola, thank you for all of your years of hard work, dedication, and service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 719) to require the Transportation Security Administration to conform to existing Federal law and regulations regarding criminal investigator positions, 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.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 719, the TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2015. I introduced this bipartisan bill to target millions of dollars of potential waste within the TSA's Office of Inspection, as identified by the Homeland Security inspector general.

TSA's Office of Inspection is charged with investigating misconduct of TSA employees and conducting internal inspections and covert testing of TSA operations to ensure our transportation systems are well protected.

However, according to a critical DHS inspector general report issued in 2013, TSA does not sufficiently track whether each of its 100 criminal investigators in the Office of Inspection, in fact, spend a majority of time performing actual criminal investigations, as required by law.

Instead, these TSA investigators primarily monitor the results of criminal investigations conducted by other agencies, investigate administrative cases of employee misconduct, and carry out inspections, covert tests, and internal reviews. Therefore, these TSA investigators may be unduly receiving premium law enforcement pay, specialized training, vehicles, firearms, and other benefits even though they do not meet the minimum legal requirements for receiving such pay and benefits.

H.R. 719 aims to correct this problem by requiring the inspector general to certify that TSA criminal investigators meet the legal threshold for receiving premium pay and benefits, which could save as much as $17 million in taxpayer dollars over 5 years.

Mr. Speaker, like any entity, the vast majority of TSA employees do an exemplary job. It is a critical component of this continuing ability to have these people perform at a high level to have internal oversight.

The importance of investigating misconduct among TSA employees cannot be overstated. Just last week, we learned of an investigation conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, otherwise known as ICE, that led to the indictment of a TSA employee on child pornography charges.

In this recent and unfortunate example, it was ICE that performed the investigation, not TSA. We must ensure that TSA's internal cadre of investigators are spending the majority of time on criminal investigations or we risk wasting significant taxpayer resources, resources that could be used toward improving the integrity of TSA's workforce.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the original cosponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Sanford), for his leadership on this important commonsense issue.

This bill passed the House last Congress, but the Senate did not take action on it. Let's send this bill back to the Senate and on to the President for his signature.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 719, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Homeland Security Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson for their support of this bill, as well as the ranking member of the Subcommittee

on Transportation Security, the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice).

Mr. Speaker, the American people have entrusted us with conducting oversight of the agencies like TSA to root out instances of waste. H.R. 719 will hold TSA accountable and save precious tax dollars by ensuring that the inspector general's findings are addressed.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 720) to improve intergovernmental planning for and communication during security incidents at domestic airports, 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 in support of H.R. 720, the Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015.

H.R. 720 is a bipartisan measure I introduced to enhance preparedness at our Nation's airports for responding to active shooters and other security incidents.

The legislation was championed last Congress by my predecessor, the former chairman of the Transportation Security Subcommittee, Mr. Hudson, in response to the tragic shooting at Los Angeles International Airport in November of 2013.

The shooting at LAX took the life of Transportation Security Officer Hernandez and wounded two other TSA officers and one passenger. The event highlighted vulnerabilities in airport preparedness, including in the areas of incident command, communication with travelers, communication between TSA and law enforcement, and evacuation measures. H.R. 720 would apply lessons learned and help close gaps in preparedness at other U.S. airports around the country.

Mr. Speaker, the time to act is now. Everyone within the airport community--from law enforcement and emergency medical personnel, to airport and airline personnel, to TSA officials and the traveling public--must know how to respond to an active shooter or other threat inside the airport.

If not, we risk repeating the communication and coordination challenges among responding agencies that were well documented in the aftermath of the LAX shooting. There is no excuse for such inaction.

Many airports have taken their own steps following the shooting to strengthen preparedness and response plans, and they should be applauded for that.

H.R. 720 would require TSA to verify that airports maintain plans for evacuating travelers, conducting joint exercises within the airport community, establishing unified command posts during security incidents, and testing radio equipment.

The bill would also make TSA a clearinghouse for security incident response and communications best practices--a key recommendation from the airport community--as well as require the agency to certify to Congress that all screening personnel have participated in active shooter training.

H.R. 720 explicitly does not authorize any new spending to implement these commonsense measures. TSA continues to achieve millions of dollars in cost savings with risk-based programs such as TSA Precheck, and I believe the agency must continually prioritize its resources to address real threats to the traveling public.

This bipartisan bill was developed with public and private sector input following multiple subcommittee hearings, site visits, meetings, and afteraction reviews conducted by both the TSA and Los Angeles World Airports.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Thompson, Ranking Member Rice, Congressman Hudson, and other bipartisan cosponsors of the bill for joining me in introducing this legislation and for their strong support in getting this legislation to the floor today.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time and look forward to the comments from the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).

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

Mr. Speaker, the tragic event that unfolded at LAX in November of 2013 was a stark reminder that much remains to be done in securing America's transit hubs, particularly the nonsterile or nonsecure side of airports that are in many ways just like open shopping malls.

Given this reality, we must ensure that airport communities are prepared to respond swiftly to any major security incidents that threaten the safety of the traveling public. In remembrance of Transportation Security Officer Hernandez, I urge my colleagues to pass this important legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

I want to thank the gentlewoman from Arizona for her wonderful career serving our country. You are serving your country in a much different capacity now, but I want to honor you for what you have done for your country in the past. I also want to thank you for taking a leadership role tonight and having this session so we can discuss the border security bill in more detail.

I also want to thank Chairman McCaul for his great leadership and his ability and desire to empower the young Congressmen and Congresswomen, such as you and I, to take leadership roles with respect to the Homeland Security Committee.

I talk about the border security bill from a law enforcement perspective. For the last 20 years, before I came to Congress, I was a Federal prosecutor for the United States of America in the Department of Justice.

I started my career in 1994 and, soon thereafter, was sent to the southwest border in El Paso, Texas, as part of the Southwest Border Initiative. Back then, it was just simply to try and stem the incredible tide of drugs coming across the border. When I got there, I was stunned to see how wide open the border was. To my understanding, it remains so to this day.

When I was down there, I was prosecuting cartel-level drug trafficking cases. We could get on the roof of the U.S. attorney's office and look across the border and see a cartel member's house on a bluff overlooking the United States. It was wide open, and it remains so.

It was dangerous for Border Patrol. It was dangerous for people living along the border. In some respects, it has become even more dangerous for ranchers and law-abiding citizens.

After a few years there and getting great experience and great perspective, I was sent to Puerto Rico to do similar drug trafficking prosecutions and organized crime cases, and I saw a different perspective, that of being 500 nautical miles from Colombia.

My first day in Puerto Rico, the Federal building's parking lot was lined with boats that were seized that were smuggling hundreds of kilos of cocaine at a time across the 500-mile strait from Colombia.

The last 16 years have been in Syracuse, New York, in the northern district of New York, where we have 300 miles of border with our brothers and sisters to the north in Canada.

While it is definitely a different dynamic than being on the southwest border, the fact remains that less than 4 percent of the Canadian border with the United States is secure. It is wide open. It varies from the northern plains in the Central United States to the Northeast, where there are several major cities along the border with the United States, and that brings a different problem.

In the northern district, over the last 16 years, we have dedicated several individual prosecutors to deal with nothing but alien smuggling, illegal entry cases, and major league drug cases on the northern border. We have well-worn smuggling routes in our district, well-worn alien smuggling routes.

In addition to alien smuggling, we have major drug trafficking from the north coming down south, that being hydroponic marijuana. It is a multibillion-dollar a year industry in Canada. That comes south.

It has developed now that cocaine is going north. The Canadian drug traffickers have hooked up with the Mexican cartels, and cocaine is coming north through our district. Guns are going north. Contraband cigarettes are going north. Like I said, many ethnically based alien smuggling rings are in our district.

I say all that to point to the fact that there is a problem on the northern border as well. Everything that is being prescribed in this bill for the southwest border and the southern border is being prescribed for the northern border.

The prescription for the northern border is based on discussions with Border Patrol and the different sectors throughout the northern United States, just like they did in the southwest border in the pieces of legislation regarding that.

It is the first time in 20 years of being a prosecutor that I saw a bill that actually looks like it is addressing the problem altogether, at once, and that is critically important.

While I was running for this office, I made it clear that my opinion is that we need full immigration reform, but any immigration reform has to start with securing our borders. It is foolhardy to do anything other than that.

This is the first step towards immigration reform, and I wholly applaud it. I do not think this bill is unduly burdensome to travelers coming to and from the United States on the northern border. We have many. To the extent there are burdens, we will address those.

I do say that, moving forward, this is the right bill, it is at the right time, and I applaud everyone who is supporting it, and I hope that we can get this passed.

A related bill to that, which I have submitted to Congress and will be considered as early as next week, is a northern border threat assessment.

It has become clear to me that the northern border has not had a threat assessment done in a detailed fashion like it needs to be done, so this bill simply orders a threat assessment to be done and a report back to us to see if there is any additional legislation or funding needed to address concerns along the northern border.

In short, we don't know the extent of the threat in the northern border, and this bill will help us. With those two bills combined-- particularly the border security bill--I am confident that we can get a handle on the problems on both sides of the border, north and south.

I applaud you for your efforts. I applaud everyone else who is supporting the bill. I echo the sentiments of my colleagues before me, and I urge the good citizens of the United States to contact their leaders and ask that this bill get passed.

Mr. Speaker, on roll call No. 19 on Monday, January 12th, 2015, my son underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis. For that reason, I was unable to travel to Washington, DC, in time for floor votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 17 on Monday, January 12th, 2015, my son underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis. For that reason, I was unable to travel to Washington, DC, in time for floor votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yea.''

Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 18 on Monday, January 12th, 2015, my son underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis. For that reason, I was unable to travel to Washington, DC, in time for floor votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yea.''