Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Molly Miller on her election to the presidency of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association.

Molly is an experienced technology educator at Penn Manor High School who is dedicated to the ideal of technological literacy among students. In an ever-changing world, teachers like Molly prepare students for careers and life beyond the walls of school that will be defined by the rapidly developing technological revolution.

Molly's recent election to the presidency of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, where she will serve during the 2025-2026 term, comes after years of working with the Association's Pennsylvania board.

In her new role, Molly will oversee 1,500 members worldwide, ensuring that the next generation's innovative skillset will accommodate the needs of the 21st century.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Molly for her dedication to her students and preparing them to enter the technological workforce. I wish her all the best in her new position, in addition to her work at Penn Manor High School.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the importance of February as Black History Month, a time to remember and celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans in the United States.

In that spirit, I want to recognize the Honorable Judge Herbert E. Millen of Strasburg, PA. Judge Millen was a man of great integrity, high-esteem, and persistent courage.

Judge Millen was born in 1888 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Millen name is well-known in Lancaster County for being actively involved in their community and promoting equality following the Civil War.

In the fall of 1906, Judge Millen enrolled at Lincoln University of Oxford, PA, to study Sociology and Economics. There, he established himself as a powerful orator by participating in competitions.

In 1917, he was accepted into the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Upon graduating, he began working for George Mitchell, a lawyer who advocated for racial justice. Mitchell's approach espoused faith in our justice system, a conviction shared by a young Judge Millen.

In his fight for equality, Judge Millen fought against segregation in Philadelphia public schools by offering legal advice to groups filing complaints.

Judge Millen was continually active in his community, often visiting schools, congregations, and fundraising for Mercy and Frederick Douglas Hospitals.

Despite his widespread public support, he was continually passed over to serve as a judge in the Pennsylvania Courts due to his race. Yet, he never ceased fighting for a seat to bring representation of African Americans in the Pennsylvania justice system.

This changed in 1947, when he was appointed to a vacancy in Philadelphia's Municipal Court.

We are proud of the work of Judge Millen in the 11th District. Strasburg Heritage Society Magazine recently published an article celebrating Judge Millen's legacy. Remarks from his funeral by Reverend E. Luther Cunningham expressed, ``He brought a sincerity of dedication, an integrity of mind, and a grasp of principle which commanded the respect of all associated with him.''

Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Judge Millen embodies the spirit of what we celebrate during Black History Month. Today, we remember and honor his legacy and continue to advocate for a more just world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate McCaskey High School senior Vanessa Grant for her recognition as ``Most Outstanding Attorney'' at the Empire Mock Trial tournament in Chicago, Illinois.

For the past four years, Vanessa has participated on the McCaskey High School Mock Trial team, beginning her time virtually during the pandemic. Despite the added challenges, she overcame the obstacles and became the team's leader a few years later.

This year, Vanessa led her team of twelve to the invitational competition against teams from across the world before sitting judges. The judges awarded Vanessa a perfect score in the defense of her case, an esteemed honor coming from legal professionals.

Vanessa's dedication to her team is admirable. She spends hours every week reviewing numerous cases her team will argue at future competitions, or even for fun.

The coaches and attorney advisors of the team praise Vanessa's growth and confidence as a leader and future international criminal lawyer, high praise reflected in her long list of accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Vanessa on her success at the Empire Mock Trial tournament and wish her and the rest of the McCaskey Mock Trial team all the best as they finish out the rest of their season and going forward. I wish Vanessa continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mrs. Debra Martin Berkoski and her husband, Steven Berkoski, for their combined successes at the 108th Pennsylvania Farm Show.

The week contains a multitude of meanings for her, including her birthday. Debra began attending the Farm Show at 10 years old, showing sheep. This year, as she turned 57 years old, she and Steven won a combined 89 ribbons out of the 100 competitions they entered, 22 of them being first place prizes.

Most notably, Debra took home first prize in Pennsylvania's Greatest Whoopie Pie contest with her pumpkin whoopie pie. Anyone from our Commonwealth knows that whoopies pies are essential desserts at any Pennsylvanian event.

Throughout the week, the Berkoskis commuted over 500 miles between the Harrisburg Expo Center and their home. In order to

produce all of their entries, they used a total of 360 eggs, 60 pounds of sugar, 55 pounds of flour, and 25 pounds of butter.

Mr. Speaker, it is the dedication of people like the Berkoskis that honor Pennsylvania's rich agricultural traditions. In addition to being active participants in the Farm Show, the Berkoskis operate a 200-year- old family farm in Conestoga.

I want to congratulate the Berkoskis on their success at this year's Farm Show and thank them for their tireless dedication to honoring our community's rich agricultural heritage and sharing their skills and passion with the thousands of individuals who attend the Farm Show each year.

Mr. Speaker, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act worked. It grew the economy. It increased revenue and it helped every American family to achieve a better life. It also, for those in opposition to this bill, for the first time, required a Social Security number for the child in order for a family to receive the child tax credit.

Many who are in opposition to this bill today voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Are you telling me you regret that vote? This continues the provision to require children to have a Social Security number for the family to benefit from the child tax credit.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, bicameral, and ``udderly'' fantastic bill.

I proudly represent Pennsylvania's 11th District, which is one of the largest dairy producers in the Northeast. In 2022, 1,300 Lancaster County farms produced 2.1 billion pounds of milk.

I have visited many of those farms, and I have had many discussions with local school administrators about the importance of child nutrition. We all agree that milk is a key vehicle for delivering protein, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins A and D, especially for children.

Let's not skim over the facts here. Whole milk is truly the cream of the crop in delivering these key vitamins and nutrients to growing children.

Sadly, our Nation's kids are not consuming enough dairy. We have seen a decline in receiving those essential vitamins and nutrients since we banned whole milk in our schools. We can only begin to ``cow-culate'' the impact that has on their long-term health.

Let's not curdle away the opportunity to expand dairy consumption in our Nation's schools and ensure our children are getting the nutrients necessary to grow strong bones and teeth.

Mr. Chairman, all milk puns aside, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Expanding the universe of options for children to consume vital nutrients and vitamins is important for their long-term health. It also helps these kids be prepared for school, develop into adulthood, and cultivate a 21st century workforce.

Mr. Chairman, healthy kids and supporting our dairy farmers are ``moo-tually'' important.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give thanks for the many years of service of

Donald J. Herrington to the New Holland community, as he retires from public service as a member of the New Holland Borough Council.

Mr. Herrington's selfless service to the New Holland Community exceeds thirty years across two millennia. He entered service to the borough as a member of the Planning Commission, serving seven years followed by a term as Mayor of the borough for four years ending in 1989.

Mr. Herrington was recalled to the service of the borough in June of 2000, as a Borough Council Member, a position which he held through the end of this year.

In addition to his dedication to the borough, he also served his community as a coach for several local Garden Spot sports teams, and with the local Jaycees, eventually serving as the 37th President of the Pennsylvania Jaycees.

Mr. Speaker, our communities across the nation are enriched through the selfless service of dedicated and talented individuals like Mr. Donald J. Herrington. We offer him our thanks and gratitude for his work to strengthen his community and we wish him well in all his future endeavors.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to ask for my colleagues' support for this amendment No. 142 which would protect students' access to programs that prepare them for the workforce, for a great career.

Specifically, this amendment would prohibit the Department of Education from implementing, administering, or enforcing one narrow provision of the newly finalized rule on financial responsibility regulations which unfairly limits Federal financial aid from being accessed by clock-hour programs.

What are clock-hour programs? Career-oriented programs in some community colleges use clock hours to measure a student's progress rather than the credit-based system that traditional colleges use.

Each State establishes their own licensure requirements and minimum number of clock hours for programs like cosmetology, massage therapy, barbering, nursing and allied health, trucking, and others before students can apply for their State licenses.

Many programs at facilities and schools that offer these programs go beyond the State's minimum number of clock hours. There are a number of good reasons for that. They may allow students more time to practice the trade to increase their speed and income when they get to the job or it may be necessary to have more hours of instruction time because of new techniques and practices in instruction to ensure that students are prepared to pass the licensure exams.

The Department of Education has traditionally allowed career-oriented programs and some community college programs to go above 150 percent of a State's minimum number of clock hours and still be eligible for Federal financial aid. That changes in their new rule.

They would now eliminate from Federal financial aid any program that goes above 150 percent of the minimum hours. That means that schools will need to redesign and recertify their programs, which is a very time-consuming process, or students will now have to pay cash or private loans for the entire program rather than receiving the financial aid.

It is estimated today that more than 3 million skilled trades jobs remain open. At a time when our Nation is struggling to fill these roles, and employers can't find skilled workers, this is not the time for the Department to make it harder for a student to access programs that prepare them for the workforce.

This amendment would ensure that the Department cannot fund the provision regarding program length in its final rule and would allow students to continue to use the Federal financial aid they are eligible for to fund their studies.

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

Mr. Chairman, I have schools in my district that are providing great instruction. These schools are working well, and the students are taking advantage of them. They have great careers as a result of the instruction.

As I mentioned, there are good reasons that these programs, in some cases, need to go beyond the minimum hours. They may help a student to qualify to do well on the exam.

Again, there is no mistaking that our workforce is in a dire state. There are 9.6 million open jobs across the country right now and only 5.4 million individuals looking for jobs. There are not enough people to fill all of these open positions.

Employers in my area are keenly aware of this. This is a message I hear over and over again in my district.

This is a huge disservice to students. This will mean fewer students will be able to use that pathway for a great career because they may not have the resources to pay for it.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce on their 100th anniversary.

In 1923, the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce was founded to represent and promote the interests of local businesses. As Hanover has grown, the Chamber of Commerce has grown with it and now offers a variety of services and opportunities to its members, as well as continuing to advocate for its members' interests.

Out of roughly 7,000 Chambers of Commerce in the United States, less than 2 hundred are accredited by the United States Chamber of Commerce. Even fewer possess a 5-star Accreditation, and the Hanover Chamber of Commerce is one of them. This Chamber offers a diverse list of resources and events to its members and is always looking for ways to promote local businesses. Its dedication to its members and the businesses it serves truly earned those 5 stars.

Communities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have benefitted from strong economies due to the hard work of chambers of commerce, and that is especially true of the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce in Hanover, Pennsylvania.

As they celebrate their 100th anniversary this year, I want to congratulate and thank the staff and the Board of Directors of the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce for strengthening the economy of Pennsylvania's 11th district. Their commitment to their community is truly inspiring, and I wish them all the best in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and offer my thanks to Carlos Graupera, of Lancaster, for his 50 years of service and leadership. Mr. Graupera retired this year as the Chief Executive Officer of the Spanish American Civic Association (SACA), an organization he founded in 1973 to serve Lancaster's growing Latino community.

In 1961, Mr. Graupera emigrated to the United States with his family from Cuba. He would attend Saint Joseph's College and work in community development, before founding SACA and beginning his tenure as the organization's first CEO.

In 50 years, SACA has grown substantially to support and improve the lives of Lancaster County residents. SACA operates a senior center, behavior and health services, a community radio station called Radio Centro, supports economic development through SACA Development, and operates a network of workforce development training programs called Tec Centro. I've been fortunate to see the good work that they do first-hand.

Mr. Graupera is now assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Tec Centro Workforce Network, which operates workforce development programs in Lancaster, York, Lebanon, and Reading.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Graupera's 50 years of service as CEO of SACA have made a deep and lasting impact on the community and in countless lives of those who have benefited from good works of SACA.

As he steps into a new role, we wish him continued success and thank him for his life of leadership and service to our community.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

I respect the intent of the author of this amendment, Mr. McClintock, who I respect very much. I agree with his desire to cut wasteful government programs, but we have a fundamental disagreement on the value of this program.

Speaking for my community, and I do represent Lancaster Airport, this service allows my constituents to connect with Pittsburgh and other major airports where they can link with routes to take them across the country.

Every dollar invested into the program yields a great return. Lancaster Airport is the third busiest airport in Pennsylvania, behind Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. This is an important link to keep it a strong commercial hub and to service our community.

EAS also serves 172 airports across the country. If this amendment gets adopted, many of those communities would lose their airports. Losing EAS eligibility would not only disconnect communities in rural areas from the national air service, but it would also have a ripple economic effect.

Again, I commend the author of this, and I commend the chairman for the changes that have been made to this program. It is important that we keep it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Delta Cardiff Volunteer Fire Company (DCVFC) on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Mason Dixon Fair.

In 1998, following the Delta Cardiff Volunteer Fire Company Carnival, thanks to the leadership of Delta Cardiff Volunteer Fire Company President Doug Farrington, the community came together to transform their annual carnival into a Pennsylvania-sanctioned State Fair. Land was purchased and building infrastructure was created to host the inaugural Mason Dixon Fair on July 12-17, 1999.

The fair's first year was held in acclaim by residents of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and this success has continued over the years. The leadership of the fair changed following the passing of Chief Doug Farrington in 2010, and for the next twelve years Fire Company Chief Jeff Griffith continued to build upon the fair's success. Now, Vice President Derek Macomber and his wife Becky lead the fair with assistance from numerous dedicated community volunteers.

Communities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have been built stronger thanks to the volunteer contributions of those who donate their time and talents to put on State Fairs, and that is true of the Mason Dixon Fair in Delta, Pennsylvania.

As they celebrate their 25th anniversary this year, I want to congratulate and thank all the fair volunteers, community members, and organizations including the brave and selfless members of the Delta Cardiff Volunteer Fire Company who have worked to make the Mason Dixon Fair a fun and successful community event. I wish them all continued success in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Manheim Township Unified Track Team on their PIAA championship win. Manheim Township school district is in Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District.

The Manheim Township team was only assembled in March of this year and quickly grew into a team of 28 athletes. Coach Shannon Sloss and Assistant Coach Shawna Givens led this team to success with no prior track experience. Members of the team came from a variety of backgrounds in sports. Some played field hockey, others played football, and some had no prior experience at all. Yet, athletes found themselves in search of a spring activity. For others, this was their first opportunity to join a team.

Unified Track teams present a unique opportunity for athletes with intellectual disabilities to work with their classmates and compete as a team. The Manheim Township

School District's Unified Track Team was sponsored by Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, who currently work with 358 schools throughout the Commonwealth.

On May 27th and 28th, the team competed at Seth Grove Stadium at Shippensburg University, where they ultimately won their title and captured the gold, against stiff competition from a total of nine teams from across the Commonwealth. I am proud to represent a district with such accomplished athletes. Again, congratulations to the Manheim Unified Track team for all that they have accomplished and best of luck to them in the coming season.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Northern Central Railway of York, in New Freedom, PA and congratulate them on their 10th anniversary.

The Northern Central Railway seeks to educate the public on the historic nature of Pennsylvania's railways. The organization was originally titled ``Steam Into History'' but changed after the program decided to add diesel equipment to their exhibits. Friends Bill Simpson and Reed Anderson created the program as a way to bring their community together and share their love of trains. Through the help of generous local support, they were able to bring their dream to life.

Over the last 10 years, the Northern Central Railway has hosted more than 144,000 visitors from forty-eight states and fifteen countries. Exhibits include a Civil War-era steam locomotive, themed train rides, and ``visits'' from historical figures. I am proud to represent a district which includes non-profit organizations such as Northern Central Railway, who work hard to educate our community on Pennsylvania's rich history. While Bill and Reed have sadly passed away, their legacy lives on through the continued success of Northern Central Railway. I wish the Railway nothing but continued success.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3799.

The comments by Mr. Doggett and others would make you think it is an entirely different bill. There is nothing in this bill that would change coverage for preexisting conditions. I don't know what he is talking about with icky because more people will have healthcare available to them as a result of this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I serve on two committees that have crafted pieces of this legislation, the Ways and Means Committee and the Education and the Workforce Committee. I think that all of us--and I think this is probably shared on both sides of the aisle--want all Americans to have access to the healthcare and to the insurance that they choose for themselves. As I said, I think we share that.

Certainly, as a small business owner myself, I can relate to businessowners who want to ensure that their employees, their team members have access to the healthcare. They want them to be healthy; they want them to go home from work healthy; and they are very interested in ensuring that their employees have affordable coverage.

This committee focused on expanding the CHOICE arrangements, which is a system that will provide numerous benefits for employees and small businesses because it lets job creators offer their workers cash to purchase individual health plans, which will help by ensuring that if workers move from one job to another, they can take their health plan with them. They are more portable, so that is a great change that will help a lot of individuals.

On the Education and the Workforce Committee, we wrote legislation that expands association health plans, or AHPs, which enable employers and the self-employed to band together. I have heard from a lot of self-employed individuals in my community who are having trouble accessing health insurance that they prefer. This would allow them to band together across State lines to purchase health coverage for themselves and, in the case of small businesses, for their workers.

Mr. Chair, there is one other thing in this bill which I think is very positive. We took action to preserve self-insurance. This is a system in which large and small employers pay for healthcare services directly instead of purchasing plans with a large insurer, which leads to savings and leads to collaboration between employers and workers at their company to ensure better wellness approach to keep employees healthy and not be required to access healthcare costs. It helps the workers, and it saves costs across the board. Self-insurance is another part of this bill that we preserve, which I think is very great.

The bottom line is that American workers and businesses need affordable and flexible healthcare options. This package of bills achieves those goals, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.