Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the New Kensington Area Rotary Club on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. Since its inception, this great international service organization has operated according to its motto of ``service above self,'' providing support to our troops and to laudable philanthropic causes in southwestern Pennsylvania and throughout the world.

In addition to providing support to local chapters of Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and the YMCA, the New Kensington Area Rotary Club has sponsored efforts to promote literacy at local elementary schools, held Santa breakfasts for local needy children, sent clothing, shoes and other needed materials to needy communities in Appalachia and provided computers to St. Joseph's Indian School on the Cheyenne Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It has also worked to improve lives in disadvantaged and medically underserved communities abroad, performing water projects in Uganda, supporting the effort to eliminate the global Polio epidemic and participating in national immunization days in India, Venezuela and elsewhere.

To honor the selfless efforts its members have made to promote peace and prosperity throughout the world over the last 75 years, the New Kensington Area Rotary Club will hold an Anniversary Gala on October 23rd at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. It is my most sincere hope that this event brings pride and fulfillment to all those who have had a hand in making the New Kensington Area Rotary club one of Southwestern Pennsylvania's most successful community service organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud to represent the members of the New Kensington Area Rotary Club in Congress; everyone should attempt to emulate their abiding generosity and kindness. I have every expectation that their great organization will continue to accomplish charitable feats of international significance for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, on August 28, 2012, Concurrent Technologies Corporation will celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary. I rise to acknowledge this notable milestone and to pay recognition to the company's history and dedicated employees.

Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) was first known as Metalworking Technology Inc., a subsidiary of the University of Pittsburgh Trust. Metalworking Technology Inc. was formed in 1987 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to operate the National Center for Excellence in Metalworking Technology for the U.S. Navy.

In 1992, Metalworking Technology Inc. changed its name to Concurrent Technologies Corporation to more accurately convey the organization's expanded mission: to provide cutting-edge scientific, applied research and development solutions to its clients. Two years later, CTC separated from the University of Pittsburgh Trust to become a fully independent nonprofit corporation.

Daniel R. DeVos was the company's first permanent Chief Executive Officer, and through his leadership the organization quickly expanded its capabilities and gained national recognition. Edward J. Sheehan, Jr., who succeeded Mr. DeVos, is the current President and Chief Executive Officer. Under his guidance, CTC continues to grow and prosper--earning respect and appreciation from its many customers across our nation and globe.

Over its 25 years, Concurrent Technologies Corporation, in partnership with its clients, has created numerous breakthrough technologies and innovative solutions. CTC takes a collaborative approach to its work, sharing credit and celebrating achievements with everyone who plays a role in its success.

Today, Concurrent Technologies Corporation, with offices throughout the U.S. and in Europe, is an independent, nonprofit, applied research and development professional services organization providing management and technology-based solutions to each branch of the U.S. military, various U.S. Government agencies, and industry. CTC is routinely listed as one of the Top 100 Government Contractors by Washington Technology.

At any given time, CTC is working on multiple projects in areas such as advanced engineering and manufacturing; environment and sustainability; intelligence and information security; logistics, management, and acquisition; power and energy; readiness, preparedness, and continuity; safety and occupational health; and special missions.

For example, CTC helped NATO establish quality management services in less than 60 days at Kabul International Airfield in Afghanistan. The company also won the Environmental Excellence in Transportation Award for designing and implementing laser coatings removal systems throughout the U.S. Air Force.

Concurrent Technologies Corporation played a major role in the development, certification, and implementation of HSLA-115, a new higher strength modification of the HSLA-100 structural steel used for critical applications on aircraft carriers and other U.S. Navy combatant vessels.

Working for the U.S. Marine Corps Logistics Command, CTC developed an information technology tool that benefits U.S. warfighters by resolving logistics challenges in the Marine Corps supply chain. The tool, known as START, which stands for Secondary Repairables (SECREP) Total Allowance Recomputation Tool, won the Defense Logistics' Best Technology Implementation Award as a ``significant contribution to military logistics and the warfighter.''

Concurrent Technologies Corporation developed a highly successful Exportable Combat Training program that immerses warfighters in real- life computer-generated scenarios, preparing our troops to survive and succeed in rapidly changing operational environments. The program was developed for the National Training Center with the support of the U.S. Army Forces Command.

The transportation Capacity Planning Tool developed for the U.S. Marine Corps has grown into an approved Global Combat Support System- Marine Corps bridge technology.

Concurrent Technologies Corporation is a responsible employer, business partner and community-oriented organization. The company was recently named one of the world's most ethical companies by the Ethisphere Institute. For 11 consecutive years, CTC has been named ``One of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania.''

Concurrent Technologies Corporation has received multiple honors as a military-friendly organization. Two awards came from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve that recognized the company's initiatives in promoting cooperation and understanding between the National Guard and Reserve members and their civilian employers. CTC is a member of the 100,000 Jobs Mission; a coalition of 41 companies committed to hiring at least 100,000 veterans by 2020, and has also been named a ``Best for Vets Employer'' for the past two years.

The company is also a good corporate citizen, whose employees volunteer thousands-of-hours to worthwhile local, regional, and national causes. They actively support schools, healthcare and human service providers, economic development programs, the arts, and recreation.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my congratulates to Concurrent Technologies Corporation on completing twenty-five years of vital collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense and other U.S. agencies to improve the security of our nation. Because of their efforts, the United States military is better equipped to serve our great nation and the United States is a safer place to live for all of us. I know I speak for many when I wish CTC and its employees the best of luck in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the christening of the USS Somerset. On July 28, 2012, the USS Somerset will become the latest San Antonio class landing platform/dock, LPD, to join our Navy's fleet. This ship will commemorate the valor and courage of the 40 passengers and crew of United Flight 93 who gave their lives to protect our way of life on September 11, 2001.

In waters across the globe, the USS Somerset will continue the fight for freedom that the United Flight 93 passengers and crew began. Wherever the ship travels, her impregnable exterior will symbolize our impregnable resolve to honor their memory and to continue their legacy of sacrifice for the greater good.

About 22 tons of steel taken from a crane near the Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville, PA, has been incorporated into the ship's bow stem. Like the steel from that crane, the American people have taken a new form since 9/11. We are stronger and more resilient than we were prior to that fateful day. Like the steel from that crane, we have emerged from the tragic events of September 11th ready and eager to take on new challenges, embark on new journeys and explore new horizons.

The USS Somerset is the last of three ships that have been built in honor of the September 11th victims. The USS New York, christened in March 2008, was built as a tribute to the individuals who lost their lives at the World Trade Center and the USS Arlington, christened in March 2011, was built as a tribute to the servicemembers and civilians who perished at the Pentagon.

Mr. Speaker, I celebrate the christening of the USS Somerset with great pride. It is my most sincere hope that the delivery of this ship will provide the family members and friends of the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 with some measure of solace. For the USS Somerset will carry the story and sacrifice of their loved ones to the Sailors and Marines tasked with defending our freedoms, promoting peace and providing assistance across our oceans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh for reaching its 100th year of service to Jewish communities around the globe. Since 1912, the Federation has been capably serving Jewish needs in the areas of healthcare, education and social welfare.

Since its inception, the Federation has never taken its finger off the pulse of the global Jewish community. Its efforts have always kept pace with the dynamic challenges facing Jews living in Pittsburgh, Israel and elsewhere throughout the world. The Federation serves as the central Jewish fundraising organization for Greater Pittsburgh, and has undertaken a number of initiatives to build solidarity and promote prosperity within western Pennsylvania's Jewish community.

In 1984, the Federation conducted a Comprehensive Jewish Community Study to highlight the needs of Greater Pittsburgh's Jewish population. The results led to the creation of a Jewish Community Center in Pittsburgh's South Hills and Jewish Residential Services for special needs individuals of the Jewish faith. After conducting a similar demographic study in 2002, the Federation established new outreach programs and created the Centennial Fund for a Jewish Future through the Jewish Community Foundation.

The Federation has also done a significant amount of philanthropic work abroad. Federation leaders have done a great deal to promote the Buncher Community Leadership Program, which trains Jewish professionals from vulnerable Jewish communities throughout the world. They have also played an active role in programs such as Spectrum and Passover in the FSU, which focus on rebuilding Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union. Furthermore, the Federation was on the front lines of the humanitarian responses to Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 tsunami in Asia and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

In Israel, the Federation has actively helped to respond to terror attacks and promote economic development in recent years by raising more than $5.5 through its Israel Emergency campaign and by sponsoring numerous educational and solidarity programs. Historically, the Federation has also helped to raise money for Israel during times of conflict. Currently, the Foundation is working to advance the Jewish Agency for Israel's Partnership Together Program, which is focused on strengthening relationships between Jews in Israel and the Diaspora, and on promoting economic development within Israel's Karmei and Misgav region.

Mr. Speaker, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh's long history of promoting solidarity and prosperity within Jewish communities throughout the world is a testament to its abiding commitment to philanthropy. I offer this great organization my most heartfelt congratulations on 100 years of fruitful community service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the distinguished career of a devoted public servant, steadfast patriot and personal friend of mine. On June 30, 2012, Marie McCullough will transition into retirement after 29 years with the Army Corps of Engineers and over 33 years as a federal government employee. Marie has spent the last three- plus decades strengthening our communities and inspiring public trust in government.

Marie began her career in the federal government with the IRS. From there, she went to work for the Army in Nuremberg, Germany as a Payroll Liaison Clerk and Lead Military Personnel Clerk. In 1983, Marie joined the Army Corps of Engineers. She worked in the Corps' Pittsburgh District office for several years in a number of different capacities before joining the Programs and Project Management Branch in 2007. While working in Project Management, she adeptly managed several critical Environmental Infrastructure Programs, including the Section 313 South Central Pennsylvania Environmental Infrastructure Program. Under Marie's stewardship, this program--which was created by my mentor and predecessor, the late Congressman John P. Murtha--provides grant funding for numerous water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection projects.

Marie managed more than 30 projects involving over $28 million during her 5 years in Project Management. Furthermore, when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) became law in 2009, she managed $8.5 million of additional funds to further assist our communities throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.

Through her energetic and agreeable personality, Marie has served as a skilled community liaison for the Army Corps of Engineers and has done a great deal to improve southwestern Pennsylvania's environmental infrastructure and resource conservation capacity. The impact of her outstanding work will undoubtedly continue to be felt throughout our region for years and years to come.

Mr. Speaker, we should all strive to emulate the passion and skill Marie has exhibited throughout her long and successful career in public service. I wish her the best of luck as she begins a new chapter in her life.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to rule XXII, clause 7(c), I hereby announce my intention to offer a motion

to instruct on H.R. 4348, the transportation conference report.

The form of the motion is as follows:

Mr. Critz moves that the managers on the part of the House

at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses

on the Senate amendment to the bill H.R. 4348 be instructed

to resolve all issues and file a conference report not later

than June 28, 2012.

I thank the gentleman from West Virginia for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the McKinley motion to instruct conferees, asking that the bipartisan-supported coal combustion residuals program language from H.R. 4348 be retained in the final transportation reauthorization bill.

Coal ash is of critical importance, as it is contained in the composition of the concrete used in our roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. The use of coal ash in transportation has allowed our country to maintain lower costs for infrastructure building.

Studies have shown that coal ash costs 20 to 50 percent less than other products on the market today. During a time when our roads are deficient and we need solutions that are cost efficient, coal ash serves as a reliable resource. We need to invest in materials

that will allow us the highest return on investment and stretch our highway dollars for needed improvements.

In addition to the cost savings that this will provide, including this language is also critical to support our environment and nearly 300,000 jobs that rely on coal ash use across the Nation.

In western Pennsylvania, I've witnessed the importance of coal ash to many communities in my district and surrounding areas. We have seen a transformation from orange skies and orange streams to an area whose beauty has been restored thanks to the safe use of coal ash for landfill, transportation use, and other purposes.

For these reasons, I strongly urge my colleagues to include in the final conference report the McKinley language so critical to our Nation's economic and infrastructure needs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a son of southwestern Pennsylvania and a tremendous public servant.

In 1971, a young man named Armond Mascelli took the advice of his Scranton college professor and went to work for the American Red Cross. Four decades later, after a distinguished career of philanthropic work that has taken him to many different parts of the world, Armond is set to retire from the Red Cross as Vice President for Disaster Operations.

Over the last 41 years, Armond has served on and directed numerous disaster relief operations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Central America and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He has also served on Red Cross assignments in South Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Turkey and Guam.

Over his long career, there have been many significant disasters and Armond remembers them all, particularly the Johnstown, PA, flood of 1977.

Any school child from my district can tell you about the Great Johnstown Flood of 1889 caused by a dam failure which resulted in the release of 20 million tons of water into Johnstown. The flood killed more than 2,200 people and was the first major disaster relief effort handled by the American Red Cross, led by Clara Barton.

But on July 20, 1977, a line of severe thunderstorms moved slowly over Johnstown, dropping a foot of rain on the city in only 12 hours. Small streams overflowed and several dams failed, causing history to repeat itself. Water tore through highways, homes, factories and stores.

The death toll would eventually reach 85 as a result of the flood. Property damage reached about $300 million. Hundreds were left homeless. Our town was once again reminded of its tragic history, opening old wounds and inflicting new ones. But not all of the stories from this flood were sad.

The Red Cross and many other non-profit agencies, State and Federal Governments, and private individuals rushed to help with the relief efforts. Armond Mascelli was a young Red Cross disaster worker who had been assigned to the Johnstown relief operation for more than a month when he met a young and attractive Johnstown girl who was volunteering for the Red Cross in the operations. Armond and Kathy Lenzi were married 2 years later.

Armond was also assigned to the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster near Harrisburg, PA, in 1979, and was part of the task force at Indiantown Gap near Lebanon, PA, helping the more than 19,000 refugees brought there during the Cuban Boat Lift in 1980 and 1981.

Armond has been part of the Red Cross response to a number of major national and international disasters over the past four decades, including hurricanes Hugo, Andrew, Mitch and Katrina, the Loma Prieta and North Ridge earthquakes and the 1993 flooding in the Midwest. When the floods from Irene ravaged our State last year, Armond was in the Red Cross Disaster Operations Center coordinating the response.

When asked if it was ever difficult to stay in a field that witnesses so much devastation and sadness, he said the good work the Red Cross does was motivation to stay in the job.

``Disaster is unfair, heartbreaking,'' he said. ``Working for the Red Cross is an opportunity to provide assistance to those in need. I've met a ton of real interesting people--good people--through my years with Red Cross.

``The people I work with really believe in the principles of the Red Cross, the mission,'' he said. ``And our volunteers--they amaze me. It's neighbor helping neighbor. People in this country want to help when something happens, it's part of their makeup.

``Part of being with the Red Cross is to make it better. I'm passing this to someone else for them to make improvements,'' Mascelli said. ``The Red Cross is always looking to the future, to change, to improve. We're an old organization, but we're still relevant. I attribute that to our mission, our volunteers and adapting to meet the changing needs of those we serve.''

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Armond on his upcoming retirement and salute his great service to our Nation and to the American Red Cross. He and his wife Kathy have my best wishes as they transition into a new phase of their life together.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, the medical device industry is a unique American success story, both for patients and for our economy. Within the last two decades, we have seen a rapid growth in medical technology companies in my home State of Pennsylvania, providing tens of thousands of jobs, billions of dollars in revenue, and contributing to better health outcomes for millions of Americans and patients globally. These are good-paying jobs that help sustain the middle class in our country, and we must create an environment that encourages 21st century innovative industries like medical device manufacturing.

As our economy continues to struggle, an additional 2.3 percent excise tax would be a burdensome charge on an industry that is steadily growing and creating jobs. One medical device company that employs hundreds in my district told me:

We are at full capacity and need to expand. This excise tax

will prevent any plans for growth in the near future.

Mr. Speaker, we simply cannot allow the potential for job growth, the potential for further American innovation and competitiveness to be lost in today's economy.

Last year, I cosponsored the original version of the Protect Medical Innovations Act. There is bipartisan support to repeal this tax, but in the past week Republicans have muddied the process and decided to play politics with this bill.

While I strongly disagree with the path Republicans have decided to take, the issue at hand is about sustaining and creating American jobs, and I support the repeal of the excise tax on medical devices.

Thank you, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Visclosky, and Chairman, for yielding.

I would like to add my voice to Mr. Doyle's on the issue of the aging state of our Nation's waterways and the vast shortfalls and funding on urgently needed projects. I believe the chairman has done his best, given if available funds in the trust fund and would like to work with the gentleman from New Jersey to find a long-term solution to this issue.

Consisting of over 230 lock chambers, our inland waterways move hundreds of millions of tons of cargo annually. To move this cargo on the Nation's highways would require an additional 24 million trucks, would cost billions more in fuel costs, and generate millions of tons of pollution.

The Federal Government has invested in this infrastructure for over 200 years. The locks and dams that are the backbone of this system are built with a 50-year design life; yet many, for example, those on the Monongahela River in western Pennsylvania, are over 100 years old.

I am deeply troubled by the lack of funding for these projects and specifically by the lack of progress on finding a solution to the funding shortfalls in the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. This fund generates roughly $85 million per year through a fuel tax on barges, yet falls well short of the $380 million per year the Inland Waterways Users Board estimates is needed to fully fund capital reinvestments in the system.

The Transportation Department projects that the waterway traffic will increase 20 percent by 2020. We can no longer afford to sit on our hands and wait for these vital lanes of commerce to fail. We need to invest in America and keep our Federal waterways open for business. The Inland Waterways System is far too important to allow it to continue to languish with inadequate funding and crumbling infrastructure.

I look forward to working with the chairman, the ranking member, and Mr. Doyle to find a solution to this urgent need.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit.

I am, in its present form.

Mr. Speaker, intelligence gathering has always been a key component of keeping America strong and resilient through our history, and it is imperative in this post-9/11 era.

It is crucial that the intelligence community be provided the resources they need to combat threats from foreign powers and global terrorist organizations. This is why I'm offering this final amendment today, to help strengthen our defenses against physical and cybersecurity attacks.

Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. This amendment will not kill the bill or send it back to the committee. If it is adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended.

My amendment contains three components that will ensure we continue to provide the best security to our Nation.

First, it would instruct the head of each element of the intelligence community to take all steps and precautions to ensure that the intelligence and military capability of the United States is not improperly transferred or stolen by a foreign nation or a state sponsor of terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, we live in a time where information is readily available and transferable at the click of a mouse or the stroke of a keyboard. While the advantages of such readily available information have helped spur economic opportunities and growth, it has also opened the door for one of the many intelligence challenges we face as a Nation.

We already have in place a number of protocols that dictate how and under what circumstances our military can transfer technology, goods, and services to our allies across the globe, but it is imperative that we do everything we can to ensure this information doesn't end up in the hands of unfriendly foreign powers or state sponsors of terrorism.

Within the past few years, we have seen foreign nations attempt to steal our Nation's military technology and sensitive information through the use of joint ventures and other techniques. We must do everything that we can to ensure that our military and intelligence secrets remain our secrets. Many of those same capabilities reside in, are accessed through, or are enabled through cyberspace.

Reliable access to cyberspace is critical to U.S. national security, public safety, and economic well-being, but cyberthreats continue to grow in scope and severity daily. Tens of thousands of new malicious software programs originating from Iran or China are identified each day, threatening our security, our economy, and our citizens.

No longer do we need to just worry about foreign spies infiltrating our military and intelligence agencies. Our worry must now extend to the young man or woman sitting in their apartment 6,000 miles away utilizing a laptop to tap into our government mainframes.

Secondly, my amendment would direct the head of each element of the intelligence community to take those steps necessary to ensure that our Nation's intelligence and military capabilities, as well as sensitive economic, financial, and consumer information, remain protected from improper transfer, theft, or cybersecurity attack.

Finally, my amendment would ensure that we continue to promote American businesses and keep jobs--especially one of such crucial importance--in America.

As the number of threats to our Nation has grown and the required response has put a large demand on the intelligence community, we have increasingly relied on contractors to perform tasks to ensure the safety of our Nation. This amendment would instruct our intelligence community to always put American workers first and not outsource these jobs to foreign-owned companies.

Mr. Speaker, I have witnessed the detrimental effects that outsourcing has had. Numerous areas of our country have also seen the ugly effects of outsourcing, and we must put American workers and businesses first, especially in the critical sphere of intelligence.

Compounding the economic damage outsourcing has done to our country, the national security risk posed by allowing foreign companies to operate our intelligence capabilities would be catastrophic to the environment of our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, in the global environment in which we operate, we must keep America strong, keep America competitive, and keep America first.

Mr. Speaker, again, my amendment will be the final amendment to the bill. I have great respect for the chairman, Mr. Rogers, and the ranking member, Mr. Ruppersberger, for the bipartisan bill they put together. It is important to note that this amendment will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If it is adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended. My amendment will ensure we have an even stronger American intelligence community.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on this final amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, in April, the Johnstown-Somerset Central Labor Council announced the winners of its annual scholarship essay contest. This year's first-place winner, Lisa Vatavuk, wrote an essay entitled: ``The Modern Tax System: Fair to the Average American?''

I would like to read Lisa's essay, as it has particular meaning to our current tax and budget debate:

Dating back to ancient Egypt in the year 3000 BCE, taxes

have been a familiar part of society for almost as long as

civilizations have existed. So how do taxes affect the

current citizens of the United States? Today's tax system

affects all three classes in different ways. Unfortunately,

in the United States, taxation hits the average middle class

family the hardest out of all three demographics.

The United States follows a progressive taxing system. This

means that, ideally, families in the lowest income brackets

pay the lowest percentage of taxes, while families in the

highest income brackets pay the highest percentage. However,

this system of taxation is flawed. Because the Bush

administration cut taxes for the wealthy, families in the top

income brackets pay much lower tax rates than the progressive

system calls for. Also, because taxes include sales taxes,

property taxes, and other kinds of taxes in addition to

income taxes, families in the highest income tax brackets

almost always pay lower percentages of their income in their

total taxes than low and working class families. In addition,

because State and local taxes are typically regressive rather

than progressive, low and middle class families are given a

higher percentage of taxes than wealthy families. In 2007,

out of all the income brackets, families in the middle-income

bracket paid the highest percent of their income in their

total taxes in Washington, D.C., Maine, Minnesota, New York,

South Carolina, and Vermont. In the vast majority of the

remaining States, the lowest-income families paid the highest

tax percentage, and the highest-income families

paid the lowest. There were no States in 2007 in which the

wealthy families paid taxes at a higher rate than the middle

and low classes.

The current tax system affects families in high-income

brackets much differently than it affects those in the low-

and middle-income brackets. First, wealthy families receive

many tax deductions. The government, on average, pays for

about 35 percent of high-income families' taxes. A second way

in which the wealthy are not affected by the tax system as

much as lower class families is that they generally do not

have to pay as much income tax. The average millionaire does

not earn their money from working; they earn money from their

investments. Taxes on long-term investments are lower than

taxes on income because the government wants to encourage

consumers to spend money. However, this means that wealthy

families that earn money from investments pay lower taxes

than middle- and low-income working families.

Finally, the families in the top income brackets are almost

never hurt by the current tax system because some politicians

do all they can to protect the wealthy. Some politicians

believe that as long as the wealthy families have money to

spare, they will make investments that will benefit the

economy and the lower classes. While this theory may or may

not be true, the higher classes continue to have lower tax

rates than the middle and low classes. The United States'

current tax system clearly benefits wealthy families.

Wealthy families are not the only ones that benefit from

this system of taxation in the United States. Poor families

are often given benefits as well. While families in high-

income tax brackets receive many breaks on their taxes, they

are not the only people that receive these breaks. Families

that are considered to be in poverty by the United States

Government are many times given breaks on their taxes as

well. For example, the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, is

given to many low-income families in this country. This tax

credit gives families money back to help relieve the burden

of taxes. In some cases, the EITC gives families back more

money than they originally paid in government taxes. In some

cases, poor families also receive benefits from the current

tax system because in some cases the members of the family do

not work. In families in which no one works, there are no

income taxes or payroll taxes. These families instead receive

assistance from welfare. There is no tax on money received

from welfare, so families receiving this aid that do not earn

additional income from a job do not pay any income taxes.

Consequently, the tax system in the United States can be

beneficial to low-income families.

In the current tax system, there are certain advantages to

being in either high-income families or low-income families,

but what happens to those families that fall in the middle?

The majority of Americans are hardworking citizens that earn

a moderate salary. These citizens are the ones that have to

pay for the benefits that others receive. For example, when

the wealthy receive tax deductions, the government receives

less money as revenue, and the people that fall in the middle

are the ones that suffer.

The less money the government has, the less it can provide

funding to programs that benefit middle-income families, such

as education funding, libraries, and government aid for

skyrocketing college costs. A second way in which the middle

class is hurt by tax deductions is when poor families receive

tax credits. As previously mentioned, sometimes when families

receive the EITC, they receive more money from the government

than they originally paid.

This money comes from money taken straight from taxpayers. Middle- income families are many times forced to pay the highest tax rates out of any of the income brackets, and they receive no special treatment from the United States government.

In conclusion, in the United States today, most of the burdens of taxation are put onto the average middle-income working families. The system of taxation is extremely unfair for working families; they work their entire lives to have a large part of their income taken away from them by the government when people in both high- and low-income brackets receive special treatment from the government. The average American family falls in the middle-income category, and in the current tax system, this family, the heart and soul of America, is the one that ultimately suffers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Colonel Mary G. Lockhart on the occasion of her retirement from the United States Air Force. I have a great appreciation for Colonel Lockhart's professional and distinguished career, and her dedicated service to our great Nation. Although it is difficult to encapsulate her Air Force career of 30 years in just a few brief remarks, I would like to highlight her contributions to the Air Force and our country by offering the following tribute.

In some aspects, Colonel Lockhart's career may appear to be similar to those of the many thousands of senior officers who have served in the Air Force since its creation in 1947. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Colonel Lockhart has performed highly sensitive roles in critical Air Force missions with a level of skill that few other officers

can match. Equally important, she has served as a mentor to numerous young officers throughout her career, inculcating them with the Air Force's core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence.

Colonel Lockhart received her commission in 1982 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at the College of Holy Cross. As a freshly minted 2nd Lieutenant, she attended meteorology school for a year, where she began to build the skills necessary for a successful career in the Air Weather Service. Shortly after arriving to her first duty station at Griffiss AFB, NY she was recognized for her initiative, intellect, and quick grasp of the operational requirements. She was given responsibilities generally reserved for more senior weather officers in SAC and NORAD, and continued to establish herself as an exceptional meteorologist. As a 1st Lieutenant, she was credited with improving the overall readiness of her squadron and wing, and protecting valuable resources with her accurate forecasts and astute weather warnings. She was routinely tasked to handle the most delicate and time sensitive weather briefings to missile warning and space surveillance centers. In 1986, Colonel Lockhart transferred from active duty to the Air Force Reserve as a Captain, and continued to serve in the weather field as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) at Peterson AFB, CO. Her active duty experience would prove invaluable as a new Reservist who would go on to provide years of support to the Air Force's active, guard, and reserve components in a variety of positions and assignments.

As an IMA weather officer, she helped develop combat plans to support strategic, conventional, and special operations, to include leading weather forces for a deployment of KC 135 aircraft during Operation DESERT STORM. As a Major assigned to Eglin AFB, FL, she was handpicked to provide specialized on-site support to two high-visibility Space Shuttle landings at Edwards AFB, CA. While serving as an IMA Weather Officer at McConnell AFB, KS, she provided operational forecast, weather advisories, watches and warnings to a major refueling wing, and the Kansas and Oklahoma Air National Guard. Colonel Lockhart became an expert and innovator in the electro-optics arena, provided exceptional weather support during Hurricane Opal, and prepared critical climatology packages for the wing's F 16 deployments around the world. While assigned to an operations support squadron at Nellis AFB, NV, Col Lockhart commanded a weather flight that provided 24-hour weather support to the HQ Air Warfare Center and two of Air Combat Command's busiest and complex wings. Her successes and expertise led to her being selected as the first weather officer assigned to the Air Force's Weapons School. There, she helped to integrate and establish 21st century combat weather support into the warfighter's contingency operations. She was tasked to model critical targets post 9/11, maintain direct contact with Operation ENDURING FREEDOM deployed units and aircrew, and cited as the most operations oriented, bombs-on- target-on-time weather officer ever assigned to her wing. Colonel Lockhart was asked to bring her experience and natural diplomatic talents to Washington, D.C. to serve as the IMA to the Chief of the Air Force House Liaison Office on Capitol Hill.

Over the past four years Colonel Lockhart has carried out the delicate tasks of managing the House Liaison Office while her active duty colleagues have traveled on CODELs and deployed. She has been an important part of building strong relationships between Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, and senior Air Force leadership. Colonel Lockhart is trusted and relied upon by Members of Congress and their staffs to help facilitate legislative and programmatic matters. We have benefited greatly from her kind, professional, and capable ways.

Throughout Colonel Lockhart's career, her commanders have referred to her as, ``the brightest junior officer on my staff'', ``brilliant'', ``superior and visionary leader'', and ``Total Force ace.'' Simply stated, Colonel Mary Lockhart has made lasting and important contributions to the United States Air Force. Our Nation is indebted to her and her family for their selfless years of service and unquestioned devotion to peace and security at home and abroad. Mr. Speaker, I wish Mary, her husband Paul, and daughters Jenna and Marisa, Godspeed and much happiness as she begins her retirement from the United States Air Force.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize two dedicated champions of the American worker for receiving an award for outstanding labor leadership. Each year, the Allegheny County Labor Council confers its Labor's Man of the Year and Labor's Woman of the Year Awards on one male and one female who have worked passionately and effectively to advance the cause of organized labor in western Pennsylvania. This year's Labor's Man of the Year is Philip Ameris, President and Business Manager of the Laborers' District Council of Western Pennsylvania. Labor's Woman of the Year for 2012 is Carol Coultas, a longtime servant of western Pennsylvania's labor movement, who most recently served as Executive Vice President of Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 13500. The enthusiasm with which these two individuals have worked to advance the material wellbeing and workplace safety of hardworking Americans over the years is a tribute to their integrity and selflessness.

In 1994, Philip Ameris was appointed a Field Representative for Laborers International Union of North America Local 1058. Since then, he has risen through the ranks on account of his outstanding managerial and organizational skills. In his current post, he oversees the Labor District Council of Western Pennsylvania's efforts to provide fair working conditions and wages to the hardworking men and women who build and maintain western Pennsylvania's physical infrastructure.

Mr. Ameris also holds leadership positions on several prominent labor boards. He serves as Chairman of the Western Pennsylvania Laborers' Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, Chairman of the Western Pennsylvania Laborers' Education and Training Trust Fund, Chairman of the Laborers' Combined Funds of Western Pennsylvania Pension and Welfare Funds and Chairman of the Western Pennsylvania Laborers' Political Action Fund.

An 8th degree black belt, Mr. Ameris is the founder of several martial arts instruction programs for young children. He has served as a martial arts instructor to the children within his own programs for the last 30 years.

Mr. Ameris has been married to his wife Jeanne for the last 30 years. He and Jeanne have two sons--Philip, Jr. and Jimmy--who are both proud members of the Laborers' International Union of America.

Carol Coultas is a 30-year veteran of the Communications Workers of America. In addition to having served as Executive Vice President of CWA Local 13500, she has been the President of the CWA Local 13051 Retired Members Council and Executive Vice President Emeritus of the CWA Local 13500. Ms. Coultas has also served as a board member of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans, a trustee and delegate to the Allegheny County Labor Council and a member of Jobs for Justice.

Ms. Coultas began her career as a Long Distance Telephone Operator for the Bell Telephone Company in 1944. She first became a member of CWA when she went to work in Bell's Special Accounts Business Office. From that moment on, she has worked with the utmost passion to protect the rights and the livelihoods of working families and seniors.

In addition to being a dedicated advocate for active and retired American workers, Ms. Coultas is also a devoted wife to her husband Ronald--a Vietnam veteran and retired National Guardsman--loving mother to her daughter Bernadette and proud grandmother to her grandchildren David and Emily.

Mr. Speaker, all of us should strive to replicate the passion for serving others that Phil Ameris and Carol Coultas have exhibited throughout their distinguished careers as labor leaders. I want to congratulate them on receiving such a well-deserved honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Jim White, a true champion of the people and small businesses of Johnstown, PA. Next month, Jim will retire from his post as Johnstown's Director of Community and Economic Development. In this capacity, he manages millions of dollars in federal subsidies supporting homeowner assistance, street paving and annual demolitions, and oversees the city's planning, zoning, code enforcement and economic development efforts.

Jim became Johnstown's Economic Development Coordinator in March of 1998. Since then, he has helped to revitalize the city's downtown storefronts and improve the city's infrastructure by stimulating investment in neighborhood businesses and cultivating strong relationships with local entrepreneurs. Thanks to Jim's outstanding leadership, the American promise of opportunity is alive and well for all those who live and work in Johnstown.

Jim is the sort of visionary leader our cities need more of. No matter how much he has accomplished for the city of Johnstown, he has never stopped seeing it for what it could be, rather than for what it is. In 2009, Jim played a key role in formulating a master plan for the future of the city. Not even three years later, officials have already begun to implement several of the projects this document proposed, including a plan to comprehensively improve access to Main Street, one of the city's main thoroughfares.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful community, I want to wish Jim the best of luck as he prepares to begin a new chapter in his life. Having worked with him for over a decade, I know that his strong leadership skills and eternal optimism will serve him well in whatever he chooses to do next.