Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Anthony Cicero IV and Dakota Snyder of Elizabethtown High School in Lancaster County for their remarkable achievement on winning the Student Angler Federation High School Fishing World Championship last month.

Their partnership led them to victory over 389 high school teams from around the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, these two young gentlemen are no strangers to the water. At their young age, they have been tournament fishing for years and practicing all year round.

Dakota said: ``As long as there is no ice, I am out there fishing.''

It is a trait that runs in the family, as Anthony and Dakota's fathers fished together as a team as well.

Mr. Speaker, we are blessed with beautiful and great natural resources in York and Lancaster Counties, which will be celebrated and protected through the passage of my legislation to create the Susquehanna National Heritage Area.

I am very thankful that these two young men enjoy spending time in nature while using their talents. I wish them both continued success and congratulate them on their championship victory.

Honoring Community Leaders Making an Impact Combating the Opioid

Epidemic

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and give thanks to community leaders who are making an impact on the communities I represent in combating the opioid epidemic.

York and Lancaster County are leading the Nation in their community- wide, collaborative approach to help neighbors who are struggling with addiction.

York County District Attorney David Sunday and coroner Pam Gay are leaders in our community. They have brought together community organizations in York County, creating an organization that is now known as the York Opioid Collaborative, assisting in coordination of services and raising awareness about the opioid crisis in our communities and across the Nation.

Similarly, in Lancaster County, Alice Yoder, the director of community health with Penn Medicine, and Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons have led an organization called Joining Forces, another community-wide effort, this one in Lancaster County.

Mr. Speaker, while Congress continues to address this critical issue, we are fortunate in Pennsylvania's 11th District to have public servants leading on the effort to address this horrific epidemic. I thank them and many others across our community who are working together to make a difference.

Madam Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding.

I rise today in opposition, as well, to this amendment which seeks to limit education choices for our Nation's servicemembers. Under current law, institutions receiving Federal funding must meet the financial responsibility standards under the Higher Education Act. That is why the Department of Defense and the Department of Education are already required to oversee and evaluate an educational institution's fiscal health and academic programming. Let me repeat, they are already required to do that.

This amendment is not only unnecessary, but it is also misleading. Let's be honest about what this amendment is really about. It is just another effort at eliminating all for-profit higher education institutions.

Just a few weeks ago, I met with a group of veterans from my district who are attending or recently graduated from YTI Career Institute in Lancaster. They each shared similar stories about how traditional institutions of higher education--and I have a lot of good ones in my district--but in this particular instance they did not meet their needs.

YTI Career Institute in Lancaster, a for-profit institution, did meet their needs and offered them a pathway to fast-track them into the workforce.

Why should we take this option away?

These veterans were very concerned that the programs which have worked so well for them and many others may be eliminated by this overregulation.

Madam Chair, if my colleagues truly were interested in improving accountability, then they would apply these standards to all institutions of higher learning, not just the ones they dislike.

I strongly oppose this unneeded amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Oklahoma for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly oppose the rule and spending package being debated before us. Not only does this massive spending package blow our budget caps by nearly $200 billion, but this flawed legislation severely undermines critical protections for the lives of the unborn.

I am very proud of the work that the Trump administration has been doing to finally make Title X about family planning and not a way of using taxpayer money to fund abortions. The administration's new Title X provisions draw a bright line between abortion and family planning, while ensuring taxpayer dollars are put towards comprehensive, preventive, and primary care for women.

These new regulations will also make it easier for faith-based clinics to provide care through the Title X program, which will expand access to care for families. Yet, under this partisan piece of legislation, these protections are stripped and taxpayer funding for abortion clinics is increased. This is unacceptable.

The fight to give a voice to the unborn will not be swayed by partisan poison pills. I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of John David--he was known as ``JD''--Smith, a volunteer firefighter with the Red Lion Fire Department.

JD passed away on Sunday due to injuries sustained during a motorcycle accident.

JD officially joined the Department in June of 2016, though he was involved in years prior as well. His sister, Megan, said, ``He was a very dedicated firefighter. It was like his second home. He ran just about every call he could without hesitation. He had a kind heart and would help anyone who needed it. If you were sad, he was the first to ask you what's wrong and if you need anything.''

Mr. Speaker, we appreciate JD's compassion and service to his community. We recognize that those who volunteer with our local fire companies are special, and their dedication to the protection of others is admirable.

I ask that the community join me in keeping JD's family, friends, and fellow firefighters at the Red Lion Fire Department in our prayers during this difficult time.

National Foster Care Month

Mr. Speaker, May was National Foster Care Month, and I would like to recognize all of the loving and caring foster parents in my district.

Nearly 670,000 young people have foster parents across this great Nation, and it is in a loving home that they are able to grow and thrive. Today, I would like to thank the foster parents, volunteers, family members, social workers, child welfare professionals, and countless others across the district that I represent who help them find permanent homes and build strong foundations.

In particular, I would also like to recognize the work of two outstanding nonprofit organizations in my district that do great work in assisting foster children and families: Bethany Christian Services and COBYS Family Services.

This is an issue we should all care deeply about. I was very proud that my very first legislation to become law was bipartisan language, cosponsored with Representative Terri Sewell, to help place foster children in the home of family members.

When it comes to finding loving homes for children, there are no Republicans or Democrats, just mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, and sons and daughters who believe that each child should have a bed to be tucked into at night in a loving home. Our thanks are with those foster parents who provide just that.

Congratulating Warwick Girls Track and Field

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the State champions, PIAA AAA Girls Track & Field champions, the Warwick Warriors. The Warriors bested the competition last week, bringing home the school district's fifth State championship. The team took home seven medals from the State championship games.

``Every time those girls were asked to do something, they did it,'' said Coach Alex Decker. ``They rose to every occasion, from the time they were sophomores to now, and they are just unreal.''

Certainly, there is much to be proud of. The lessons that these young women have learned together will stay with them throughout their lives.

When asked what she learned from graduating seniors on the team, junior Meaghan Quinn said: ``No matter how many medals or how many awards you get as a team, it always comes back to the people who you are and the friendships that you've made along the way. . . . We can't do it without each other.''

Mr. Speaker, the community is proud of the efforts of these young women. We congratulate them on their tremendous success and continue to wish them well in the future.

Mr. Speaker, this Thursday, June 6, will mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and I rise today to honor the sacrifices and efforts of those brave soldiers.

It is critical for us always to remember those who took part in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day. Their efforts,

in the words of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, brought about ``the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe and security for ourselves in a free world.''

Mr. Speaker, over 160,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen participated in the invasion, which would precede the long and difficult battle across Europe, ending in the full victory that Eisenhower asked of his men on June 6, 1944.

Of the many brave soldiers from Pennsylvania's 11th District, perhaps none is better known than Major Dick Winters, who was born in Lancaster County and attended Franklin & Marshall College. Dick offered the world his memories and the memories of his fellow soldiers in the book and later HBO miniseries ``Band of Brothers.''

One day, Dick Winters was asked by his grandson, ``Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?'' He said to him, ``No, I'm not a hero, but I have served in a company full of them.''

Mr. Speaker, we offer thanks and unending gratitude for the heroes who have served.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the new trade agreement negotiated with Mexico and Canada, or the USMCA.

My district that I represent, the 11th District of Pennsylvania, is one of the top ten dairy producing counties in the Nation and is the number one producing county for egg layers.

One thing that I can tell you about the farmers of the 11th District is that they adapt, and they hold on to hope that better times are yet to come. I agree with them: better times are coming for these farmers because the Trump administration has worked to do right by the American farmer in negotiating the USMCA.

Under the agreement, Canada would eliminate its price control systems, which have effectively locked out America's dairy industry.

The agreement also makes improvements for the egg and poultry industry, with Canada agreeing to increase its quota regimes to allow for more American eggs and chicken into the market.

The farmers of my district are eagerly calling for the USMCA to be enacted as soon as possible, and I join them today in that call. I am hopeful that we can get there.

That is why I urge the leadership across the aisle to join in standing up for our Nation's farmers and to allow a vote on the USMCA. We have a generational opportunity to help American farmers compete and to thrive. Let's take that opportunity.

Honoring Warden Cheryl Steberger

Madam Speaker, earlier this month was National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, and I rise today to recognize individuals from Lancaster County, who are making a difference improving criminal justice and public safety in our community.

I would like to recognize Lancaster County Prison Warden Cheryl Steberger, who has shown exceptional leadership in managing the Lancaster County Prison. Warden Steberger has substantially improved the welfare of those repaying their debts to society while in prison and helped with their transition out of incarceration.

The warden has done so by meticulously following the data with a program known as Prison Stat. Prison Stat is run in conjunction with the Lancaster County Prison Board, led by Lancaster County Commissioner and Chairman Josh Parsons. This program monitors key metrics on the prison's performance and holds leaders accountable through transparent and frequent public review of the data.

Their work in Lancaster County has been honored by the National Association of Counties, who awarded both Commissioner Parsons and Warden Steberger with the 2018 Achievement in Criminal Justice and Public Safety Award.

Madam Speaker, we appreciate the work of our correctional officers and we thank Warden Steberger for her dedication and leadership.

Madam Speaker, I was absent from votes on 5/16/2019 as I was with my family at my daughter's college graduation. Had I been present, I would have voted on the following roll call votes in the manner recorded below: ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 210; ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 211; ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 212; ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 213; ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 214; ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 215; ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 216; and ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 217.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues for the work that they have done on this bill, and I rise today in strong support of the Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.

Not only will this bill strengthen our laws to help keep children safe, but this legislation also makes needed investments to help ensure children impacted by the opioid epidemic do not face abuse, maltreatment, and neglect.

Every one of our communities, sadly, has been impacted by the opioid epidemic. Sadly, our children are suffering the consequences.

This bill includes a bipartisan amendment that I was pleased to offer in committee with Representative Underwood to study and learn more about how parental substance abuse affects the outcomes on adoption. This study is necessary to help States better serve children in need, and I was proud to see it unanimously adopted.

Last Congress, I introduced legislation that was passed to reduce known barriers for foster placement, which was signed into law. This amendment builds on that important work to help States detect additional barriers to better serve children caught up by the opioid epidemic.

Madam Speaker, child abuse is not a partisan issue, and I am proud of the strong bipartisan work my colleagues have done on the Committee on Education and Labor to strengthen prevention efforts.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to mourn the passing of Norman Franck, a fire police officer and member of the Willow Street Fire Company.

After responding to a crash this past weekend, Norman fell ill and then passed away at Lancaster General Hospital. It was a tremendous loss to our community and, certainly, even more so to his wife, Marian.

Today, we remember her in our thoughts and prayers and wish her comfort and peace in this time of mourning.

Norman will be remembered as a giving man, described by Willow Street Fire Company Chief Craig Rhineer as someone who would do anything for you. Norman, by the way, was also considered an authority on the history of the Willow Street Fire Company.

He lived a life in service to the community, as a member of the fire service and ambulance company since the 1980s. When he moved to Maryland, he served there at the St. Michael's Volunteer Fire Company. Then, after returning to Lancaster County, he resumed his service once again at the Willow Street Fire Company.

Even at age 81, Norman still selflessly served his community. His spirit of volunteerism, his spirit of giving, should be an example for us all.

We thank him for his years of service.

Madam Speaker, I ask everyone to join me in keeping his family and the members of Willow Street Fire Company in our prayers.

Madam Speaker, members of our volunteer fire companies are true heroes. Today, we honor Norman Franck, a hero who served in my community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor those brave men and women who selflessly serve our communities as sworn officers in our local police departments.

This week is National Police Week.

To say that police officers are heroes would simply be an understatement. Their work at times puts them in extremely dangerous circumstances where they are faced with life-or-death decisions. They, of course, know this and go back to work keeping us safe every day.

That was true late last year for three Lancaster City Police Officers--Andrew Williams, Matthew Caple, and Todd Dickinson--when a man visiting Lancaster fell short of breath and began leaning against a building. The officers performed CPR and used a defibrillator to stabilize him and save his life.

It is people like Detective Chris Jones of East Lampeter Township Police Department, who is working to end human trafficking, and Lower Windsor Township Patrolman Mark Jackson, working diligently to stop aggressive drivers.

One of the Lancaster City police officers who saved that man last year said: ``We did what we had to do.''

But we know they do not have to. They could choose any other profession. They choose to keep us safe, and for that, we are grateful.

Madam Speaker, a few weeks ago, our Nation observed National Public Health Week, and I rise today to honor the work and accomplishments of a leading figure in public health in Lancaster County, Dr. Hilda Shirk, who is retiring after 7 years as president and CEO of Lancaster Health Center.

Dr. Shirk has been a tireless advocate for public health and for ensuring everyone has access to quality care,

and she has been a tremendous leader in our Lancaster County community. Just last year, the health center that she leads logged over 80,000 patient visits.

Madam Speaker, Dr. Shirk led the health center during a pivotal time in the organization's history. Under her steadfast leadership, she grew the organization in many ways, including doubling the organization's operating budget, increasing its staff by nearly 50 percent, and increasing accessibility at two new sites in Lancaster City.

Dr. Shirk will be retiring later this year. It is a pleasure to honor such an incredible community leader. We thank her for her years of service and wish her well in her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to thank some individuals who helped in the passage of my bill, the Susquehanna National Heritage Act, which designates York and Lancaster Counties in the district that I represent as a national heritage area.

I thank Senator Bob Casey, who has been working on this in the Senate for 12 years, as well as Representative Rob Bishop from Utah, who helped push this bill through the Natural Resources Committee when he served as chair there last year. Representative Tom McClintock was chair of the subcommittee.

Also, I would like to recognize Mark Platts and Jonathan Pinkerton of Susquehanna Heritage. They have been proposing this and working on it in the district, and they will be helping to manage this national heritage area.

I also thank Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz, who testified in support of the bill last year.

National heritage areas celebrate the special historic places in our country and highlight the beauty and natural resources of our community. They also provide 148,000 jobs and nearly $13 billion in economic growth. Our area will definitely benefit from this designation.

I am very proud to have worked with these folks to help this bill become law. I am also grateful to my colleagues who supported the passage of this bill, and I thank them for their hard work and help.

Madam Speaker, March is Women's History Month, and I am proud to honor some remarkable women in my district.

Today, I am recognizing Ms. Cher Kondor, who I had the honor of meeting just recently. Cher is a Gold Star mother. Her son, Martin Kondor, was a U.S. Army specialist killed in Baqubah, Iraq, in 2004.

Of course, Ms. Kondor was devastated, but she decided to do something in his honor and in honor of all the other veterans who have served, particularly those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

She created a memorial veterans garden called the Gold Star Garden in York County and has raised, since the time it was created, nearly $1 million for the garden. This beautiful, living monument is a gathering place for those who want to commemorate and remember the fallen and celebrate the lives of our sons and daughters who volunteered to protect this country.

Ms. Kondor honors our Nation's veterans, and it is a privilege to recognize her contribution to our community on the House floor today.

We are thankful for her example and for her continued awareness of the sacrifices of those who have fought for us and for our freedom.

I am proud to honor Ms. Kondor.

Mr. Speaker, March is Women's History Month. I would like to take this time to honor a notable woman from my district, Ms. Anne Beiler, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Anne is well known in our community but is also well known and beloved throughout the world, since she is the founder of Auntie Anne's pretzels. She was born into an Amish family, and her parents became members of the Amish Mennonite church when she was 3 years old. She was a baker and a bread maker and worked at a waitressing job, which taught her the values of hard work and customer service. She learned to make pretzels when she worked at a food stand in a farmer's market.

Eventually, she started her own pretzel business. In 1989, she opened the first franchises throughout central Pennsylvania. Auntie Anne's unmistakable pretzel aroma can frequently be smelled in malls around the country and the world, and I am very honored to recognize her hard work here today.

Anne has also been instrumental in supporting many organizations and causes in our community. Currently, she serves on the board of the Museum of the Bible here in Washington, D.C. I am honored to recognize Anne Beiler on Women's History Month.

Honoring Marilyn Ware

Mr. Speaker, March is Women's History Month. I would like to honor a notable woman from my district, Ms. Marilyn Ware, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Ms. Ware was CEO of American Water Works. During that time, she grew that company to a market cap of $8.3 billion.

Marilyn was also involved in the local community, serving as chair of the Lancaster County GOP from 1978 to 1980. She was a pioneer in fundraising and cared deeply about the direction of our State and our country. She was always doing all that she could to make sure our country was on the right path. In our local community, she was a lifetime advocate of farmland and open space preservation.

From 2006 to 2008, Marilyn served as Ambassador to Finland. She was passionate and hardworking, always looking to make a difference and to recruit young people into the world of politics.

Unfortunately, Marilyn passed away in 2017, but she left a lasting legacy for women and for people all across my district. It is an honor to recognize her on the House floor today.

Honoring Jackie Pfursich

Mr. Speaker, March is Women's History Month. I would like to honor a notable woman from my district, Ms. Jackie Pfursich, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Jackie currently serves as the Lancaster County clerk of courts, where she has served since 2016. Since then, she has improved the court system by modernizing the criminal court with an electronic filing system. This allows attorneys and case participants to file documents electronically and helps speed up our court process and make it more efficient.

Jackie began her legal career as an assistant attorney for the Pennsylvania Office of General Counsel, Department of Labor and Industry, where she prosecuted those who violated the Commonwealth's labor laws.

She resides in East Hempfield with her husband, Ed; and children, Ella, Nathan, and Tyler. Jackie is an example of a strong, innovative, and hardworking woman. I am honored to recognize her on the floor of the House today.

Honoring Peggy Steinman

Mr. Speaker, March is Women's History Month. I would like to honor a notable woman from my district, Ms. Beverly ``Peggy'' Steinman, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Peggy served as the chairwoman for Steinman Communications. Her family's business history in our area actually began not long after the founding of the country. They were responsible for publishing many of the local papers in our area, including our daily newspaper, the LNP, and Lancaster Farming. Peggy took helm of the companies in 2010 and did an extraordinary job of leading Steinman Communications.

More importantly, Peggy is a leader in our community in philanthropy, always working to make Lancaster County a better place. She served on the leadership boards of the United Way of Lancaster and, currently, works with the Steinman Foundation to improve the quality of life for people in our community. She loves our community and is always giving back. For that reason, I am honored to recognize her on the floor of the House today.

Madam Speaker, March is Women's History Month, and I am proud to honor some remarkable women in my district this month.

Today, I would like to honor Judge Louise Williams, who was elected in 1973 as the first female district judge in Lancaster County. She served for 26 years, and also was the first female Black district judge in Pennsylvania. But she did so much more than that.

She was a member of the Lancaster City Council for three terms, served as council president during two of those terms, and she was also appointed to the State Board of Pardons, where she became the first victims advocate, serving 18 years there. She was involved in many other community organizations, including terms as president of the Lancaster NAACP, and of Girls, Inc. of Lancaster County.

Ms. Williams was a trailblazer for women in our community and always found ways to give back to our community and encourage others. She is one of the most respected civic figures in our district. It is an honor to recognize her today.