Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a faithful patriot, skilled counselor and educator, devoted public servant and good friend of mine for reaching a notable life milestone. On October 17, John ``Jack'' E. Frank, a valued member of my Congressional staff, will turn 80 years old. Having known Jack for many years, I can attest that he is a man of the highest character. He has spent nearly his entire life serving causes greater than himself.

After serving his country admirably in the Navy in the 1950s, Jack earned a Bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Master's degree from Westminster College and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. He has used his education to foster the development of countless young men and women in Pennsylvania and to serve the interests of the citizens of Pennsylvania's twelfth Congressional District.

Jack began his teaching career at Sharpsville Junior High School while working toward his Master's degree. Following this experience, he took a job as a counselor at Yorktown High School. It was there that he met his beloved wife Jeannette, with whom he has two children, Jeffrey and Janelle, and four grandchildren, Effie, Vivian, Sophia and Elsie.

Jack spent the majority of his teaching career at his alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, serving as the Assistant Dean of Men and a veterans/career counselor. Between his work at IUP and his active participation in the local Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, Jack became a staunch advocate and friend of our nation's proud military veterans. In recognition of his 25 years of devoted service to IUP, he received the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Distinguished Alumni Award in 2006.

Following his distinguished career in education, Jack embarked on an equally distinguished career in public service. He capably served the late Congressman John Murtha for ten years before coming to work for me following my election in 2010. I hired Jack for his inimitable wisdom, kindness and experience. No one could be a more passionate and skilled liaison to the people of Pennsylvania's twelfth Congressional District than Jack.

Mr. Speaker, Jack is a great man. While he could easily be ``retired'' and enjoying the fruits of his distinguished career, Jack instead continues to serve the public and the greater good. I strive every day to emulate the selflessness and devotion to the wellbeing of others that are the hallmarks of his character.

Happy 80th birthday Jack, and thank you for your service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding scholar for being honored by his peers with an internationally coveted award for excellence in the field of social psychology. Krzysztof Kaniasty, a psychology professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, received the Stress and Anxiety Research Society (STAR) Lifetime Career Achievement Award during the 32nd annual STAR Conference held recently in Munster Germany. Each year, STAR presents this award to one of its members who has contributed an original and impactful body of work to one or more of the psychology sub-fields of stress, coping, emotions and health.

Dr. Kaniasty received a Master of Arts in Clinical psychology from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland in 1981 and a Ph.D. in Social/ Community Psychology from the University of Louisville in 1991. Since completing his Doctoral work, he has had over 50 articles published in respected professional journals and has been invited to speak about his work at over 150 different international conferences and meetings. In addition to receiving STAR's lifetime achievement honor, he has been given awards for his work by both the Polish government and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Kaniasty rose to prominence in his field by producing research that provides valuable insight into the psychological impact of natural disasters and criminal victimization. His ability to write and speak prolifically on the complex social dynamics and psychological processes that characterize populations that have experienced a traumatic event is a testament to his skillfulness as a scholar.

It pleases me greatly that Dr. Kaniasty's scholastic efforts have been officially recognized by a professional society as reputable as STAR. I expect that his research from this point forward will be as edifying as it has been over the first 30 years of his distinguished career.

Madam Speaker, I would like to insert into the Record a letter from the United Steelworkers in opposition to the Korea free trade agreement.

United Steelworkers,

June 20, 2011.

Re oppose the free trade agreements with Korea, Panama and

Colombia

U.S. Senate,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Senator/Representative: On behalf of the 1.2 million

active and retired members of the United Steelworkers (USW) I

write to urge you to vigorously oppose the Free Trade

Agreements with Korea, Panama and Colombia. These three FTA's

will undermine our economic recovery, further decimate

American manufacturing and jobs and deepen the economic

insecurity and devastation faced by workers across the

country.

International trade and the consequences of accelerated

globalization are matters of long-standing and deep concern

to the USW, as an overwhelming portion of our members work in

import-sensitive manufacturing sectors and all too often have

lost their jobs due to bad trade deals and unfair and

predatory trade practices. Promises made by administrations

past and present touting the benefits of free trade have

simply not materialized for America's manufacturing workers.

This is clearly reflected in the nation's massive trade

deficit--a deficit fueled by trade deals that grease the path

for greater and greater out-sourcing and off-shoring of jobs

and capacity--and every bit as dangerous as our federal

deficit.

The results of ``free trade'' deals are all too clear: In

the last decade alone six million manufacturing jobs and

55,000 plants have been lost. Multinational companies easily

set up operations overseas and export back to the U.S.

market. Numbers tell the story. New Department of Commerce

data show that large U.S. multinational companies cut their

workforces in the U.S. by 2.9 million during the 2000s while

increasing employment overseas by 2.4 million. This continues

even as workers and families wrestle with a tepid and

uncertain economic recovery that is generating insufficient

job growth with millions still unemployed or underemployed.

It's no wonder--our trade policies encourage job growth

overseas. Trade deals force working Americans to assume all

the risk and encourage big multinationals to reap all the

rewards.

USW members have sacrificed enough. We oppose these trade

deals because they do not adequately address the changing

nature of trade and accelerating globalization. They are

based on the failed NAFTA model. We need to update and reform

our nation's trade policies, not simply continue on the

present course.

The following comments provide an overview of our

objections to these three agreements. They touch upon only

some of the issues which undermine our nation's interests.

US-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

The Steelworkers have spent considerable time and effort

analyzing the proposed FTA and engaged in a substantive and

extensive dialogue with the Administration and leaders on the

Hill regarding the FTA's provisions. Regrettably, the US-

Korea FTA (KORUS) will undermine America's economic interests

and lead to higher trade deficits and greater job loss.

While the focus of the Obama Administration's activities

relating to KORUS was on improving the provisions relating to

trade in autos, their efforts came up short for the vastly

larger US auto supply chain. The final provisions allow for a

vehicle to be eligible for the preferences of KORUS with only

35% of the content, by value, coming from the signatory

countries. So, a Korean vehicle, to be eligible for duty-free

treatment entry into the U.S., could have almost 2/3rds of

its content, by value, coming from another country--like

China. And, KORUS gives automakers the discretion to choose

among three different methods to calculate content allowing

them to choose whichever method is best for them, not for job

retention or creation.

Americans want the term ``Made in USA'' to mean something.

Indeed, the Federal Trade Commission's standard for Made in

USA is that ``all or virtually all'' of the content should be

of U.S. origin. The KORUS will accelerate the off-shoring and

outsourcing of auto parts production, jeopardizing not only

the jobs of the 350,000 Steelworkers that make products that

can be used in the auto supply chain, but those of other

workers across the country.

These provisions alone make the FTA fundamentally flawed,

but, there are other problems that will cause serious

economic consequences with the KORUS:

It will jeopardize jobs across the economy. The Economic

Policy Institute estimates that KORUS will cause the loss of

159,000 jobs;

It will increase the trade deficit in seven high-paying

sectors, according to the International Trade Commission;

It undermines our trade laws by allowing for the diversion

of dumped or subsidized components to be shipped to the U.S.

from third countries. The agreement lacks sufficient

safeguards to address this serious problem and provides new

procedures that could advantage Korean producers.

It does not include provisions to ensure reciprocal market

access--the Korean market is one of the toughest markets in

the world for foreign products to compete in. Tariffs are

often buttressed by a labyrinth of non-tariff barriers that

will continue to impede our exports.

It fails to address Korea's ongoing currency manipulation.

It fails to include a comprehensive and annual review

mechanism that will allow for comprehensive oversight of the

workings of the FTA to ensure that the provisions that are

adopted, and fully and faithfully enforced. It largely leaves

to the private sector the job of demanding compliance, rather

than an ongoing review mechanism that identifies and

addresses problems before the injury is inflicted on our

workers, farmers and businesses.

U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement

The U.S.-Panama FTA is not an economically meaningful

agreement in terms of providing a robust market for U.S.

exports and job creation. But, its flawed provisions continue

to expand the existing trade model that has proven to

undermine our economic and employment interests. Thus, it

further jeopardizes our economic recovery and expands an

unacceptable trading framework.

Among the reasons the U.S. Panama FTA should be rejected

are:

It fails to provide significant economic opportunities to

promote our economic recovery and job creation;

It fails to reform the existing FTA approach to investment

allowing for Panamanian investors to challenge many of our

most important health, safety, environmental and other laws;

It fails to ensure adequate provision of labor rights

despite recent changes adopted by the Panamanian government;

It does not do enough to address Panama's historic role as

a tax haven or center for narco-trafficking.

US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement puts in jeopardy

America's moral leadership by sacrificing the lives and

livelihoods; the worker and human rights of the Colombian

people at the altar of free trade. Trade has the power to

lift people up and to advance America's values--it also has

the power to entrench the status quo.

In Colombia, the status quo has made that country the most

dangerous place in the world to be a union member. Indeed, as

the ITUC concluded in its most recent, 2011 world survey of

anti-union violence, Colombia, in the words of the ITUC,

continues ``to maintain the lead in a grim record of murder

and repression of workers involved in trade union

activities.''

Moreover, the Colombian government continues to fail

miserably at effectively prosecuting those responsible for

anti-union violence. Thus, impunity for anti-union killings

remains at 96%, while impunity for other forms of anti-union

violence remains at an incredible 99.8%.

Colombia should not be rewarded with a trade agreement

until it has a proven track record of bringing to justice

those who have perpetrated crimes against union activists and

has adopted and enforced workers' rights throughout the

country. In recent weeks,--since the Action Plan was

announced between our two countries--violence against union

activists and worker repression has continued unabated. And,

while the Action Plan purports to improve Colombia's existing

framework of laws and regulations, there is no reason to

believe that these changes will have any real positive impact

on workers. The US is giving away the one tool it has to

effect change in Colombia, by voting to pass the agreement

before there is time to see if the Santos Administration will

live up to its commitments under the Action Plan. Only time,

and additional improvements in the operation of their laws

and judicial system and the enforcement of their labor laws,

will position Colombia as an appropriate free trade agreement

partner.

Among the reasons that the US-Colombia FTA should be

rejected are:

Violence against union leaders and activists continues;

Colombia has not developed a sufficient investigatory and

judicial infrastructure to bring the perpetrators of this

violence to justice;

Significant opportunities exist for employers to deny

workers their most basic organizing rights. Employers can

continue to use cooperatives, temporary contracts and other

means to thwart union organizing and the ability of workers

to exert their rights;

The Action Plan is not part of the FTA and, as a result,

Colombia's adherence to its terms may be subject to the

discretion of this and future Administrations. The provisions

of the Action Plan need not only to be given time to be fully

and faithfully implemented but must be subject to specific

mechanisms and commitments to ensure that they will be

effective--now and in the future;

The FTA, through its agricultural provisions and its

encouragement of further corporate exploitation of Colombian

land, will only accelerate internal displacement in Colombia

which just overtook the Sudan as the country with the largest

internally displaced population (over 5 million) in the

world.

America's economic recovery is still tenuous. We face a

significant jobs and trade deficit which will only deepen if

these agreements were to pass. And, indeed, passage of the

Colombia agreement will create a moral leadership deficit--

where America's promotion of internationally-recognized

workers' rights is put in jeopardy. At any time, but

certainly at this time, these three agreements should be

rejected.

The American people, in increasing numbers, reject the

approach our policymakers have taken on the trade issue. They

will remember, at the next election, those who stood by their

side and those who put their jobs, their families and their

communities at risk.

Sincerely,

Leo W. Gerard,

International President.

Madam Speaker, I would like to insert into the Record a letter from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in opposition to the Korea free trade agreement.

International

Longshore & Warehouse Union,

San Francisco, CA, Dec. 13, 2010.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,

Washington, DC.

Dear Madam Speaker: President Obama has reached a trade

agreement with South Korea. That agreement must now be

submitted for Congressional ratification. We anticipate that

the President will aggressively shepherd this pact through

Congress.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU)

represents approximately 14,000 full time dockworkers and

14,000 part time dockworkers on the West Coast of the United

States and in Hawaii and Alaska. Our members are in the

business of moving cargo. By all accounts, the Korea-United

States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) will increase trade

between South Korea and the United States, which

will result in an increase in cargo movement between the two

countries. An increase in cargo movement is good for

dockworkers. However, this fact alone is insufficient to

overcome the vast deficiencies of the KORUS FTA.

The KORUS FTA will cost jobs, lower environmental, labor,

food and product quality standards, and empower corporations

from the United States and South Korea to challenge public

interests in both countries. The labor standards provision of

the agreement only provides that each country enforce its own

laws to adhere to the core labor standards identified by the

International Labor Organization. The United States and South

Korea's laws and enforcement in this area are completely

inadequate and must be amended prior to the implementation of

the agreement.

Labor supported President Obama and numerous other

democratic candidates two years ago. In exchange for this

support, we were promised a return to policies and practices

that maintain, restore, and strengthen the middle class and

working people across the United States. For two years, we

have watched campaign promises be broken, one after the

other, on this relentless march down the road of business as

usual. Now, despite his campaign promise that he would only

support trade agreements that ``put workers first,'' the

President is pushing a trade agreement, the largest since the

NAFTA debacle, that undeniably puts workers in South Korea

and the United States in jeopardy.

On December 10, 2010, the International Executive Board of

the ILWU voted unanimously to oppose the KORUS FTA. The ILWU

will not support trade policy that exacerbates inequities,

awards special rights to foreign investors, allows banks to

practice the same disastrous policies that resulted in the

current economic downturn, opens domestic environmental laws

to foreign challenge, increases the trade deficit, and costs

jobs. We urge Congress to support the Trade Reform,

Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act, which

outlines a way forward to a new trade and globalization

agenda that would be better for labor, the environment, the

economy, consumers, and our trade partners.

If my letter serves but one purpose, let it be to

communicate this basic message: we have had it. Today, we

join the growing chorus of labor unions who oppose the KORUS

FTA. We also ask that our representatives in the Democratic

Party stand up, discard meaningless oration, and remind us,

with action, what the Democratic Party stands for because we

have forgotten.

The Democratic Party needs to reject the KORUS FTA and stop

taking its base for granted.

Sincerely,

Robert McEllrath,

International President.

I appreciate the gentleman from Michigan for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership on this important issue.

``As the Chamber closest to the people, the House works best when it is allowed to work its will.'' Those aren't my words. They're a direct quote of Speaker Boehner.

Since China's 2001 entry into the World Trade Organization, we have lost nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs, and our overall trade deficit with China has grown to over $237 billion. Our manufacturers are hurting. The American people are hurting.

We were sent here to lead. Here is our chance.

We're talking about creating over 2 million American jobs and reducing our annual trade deficit by over $70 billion. The Speaker warns of a ``trade war.'' You want to talk about a trade war? Ask the workers in industries like steel tubing, tires, and solar panels who have lost their jobs because of China's unfair trade practices. At some point, we have to stand up and do what is right for the American people.

You gain respect through strength. This is our moment of truth. This bill has broad bipartisan support. We must send a strong message the United States will not stand idly by while foreign currency manipulators destroy American manufacturing jobs. It's time to stand up and be leaders for the American people and defend their interests over all others.

At any rate, Madam Speaker, it's time to stop being part of the problem and become part of the solution. Lead, follow, or get out of the way, and as the Speaker said, ``Let the House work its will.''

I urge my colleagues to stand up for America, to level the playing field with China. Support this motion to recommit.

I thank the gentleman from Maine for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Korea free trade agreement. I represent a manufacturing district, and we need trade policies that put American workers first. I've seen firsthand the negative effects that trade agreements have had on our manufacturing sector. And this one is estimated to displace 159,000 jobs and increase our trade deficit with Korea by $16.7 billion.

Every trade dollar we lose as a result of an international marketplace rigged against us is one more blow to our effort to climb out of debt and get our economy moving again. We can prevent the outsourcing and offshoring of American jobs and the ballooning of our trade deficit simply by basing trade agreements on a level playing field and rebuilding our manufacturing strength. In order to accomplish this, we must oppose agreements like this one that are founded on policies that have a record of failure.

With an unemployment rate currently hovering around 9 percent and an 11 million job shortfall, we simply cannot afford another trade agreement that increases the deficit and drives more Americans out of work. Please join me in opposing the Korea free trade agreement, as all our workers and businesses deserve to know that we are standing up for them in the global marketplace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jerry Dick, the Company President of the Cherry Hill Township Fire Company for his fifty years of active service to the department, the community, and its citizens. Mr. Dick has played a vital role in the fire company from the beginning. In 1951, when Jerry was just 11-years-old, he accompanied his father to city meetings on the construction of the community's new firehouse. He participated in laying the actual brick for the building that the Cherry Hill Township Fire Company is housed in today. Four years later at the young age of fifteen, Jerry joined the fire company as a volunteer.

Except for a brief stint away from Pennsylvania in the 1960s, Mr. Dick has served his community at the firehouse since 1954. During the Johnstown Flood of 1977, Jerry proved himself to be a true hero. While the rivers and creeks surged through the area, a family got trapped in their home, unable to reach higher ground. Jerry, along with firefighter Bob Zack, stretched a ladder across a large stream of water and extricated three children from the home. After getting them to safety, the water rushing through the area became more treacherous. Jerry made the decision that he and Bob could not safely traverse the waters to get back to safety. Both firefighters used a rope to tie themselves around a utility pole and remained in the danger zone for over nine hours. Not until the morning could they safely remove themselves from harm's way.

Jerry Dick is only the second member of the fire company to achieve such an amazing long-standing tenure of service. In his fifty

years, Jerry Dick has shown true determination, strength, and character with the Cherry Hill Township Fire Company.

Mr. Speaker, once again I would like to congratulate and honor Jerry Dick on his fifty years of service and to wish him well as he continues to serve the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary fortitude and abiding generosity of two sets of parents of fallen heroes.

John and Mary Anne Cox lost their son, Army Specialist Gregory Cox, in Iraq in September of 2004. Less than 2 years later, in February of 2006, Jim and Paulette Phillips lost their son, Marine Lance Corporal Steven Phillips, in the same war.

In the face of such horrific personal loss, the parents of Army Specialist Cox and Lance Corporal Phillips chose neither to languish in their own sadness, nor make their own emotional convalescence the focus of their lives. Instead, in the spirit of the selflessness of their courageous sons, they chose to create an event devoted to enriching the lives of others.

The event, the annual Heroes Run/Walk, will take place for the fifth time this Saturday, September 17, 2011, at Green Cove Yacht Club in Millsboro, Pennsylvania. The majority of the proceeds from the event will benefit the memorial funds that have been established to honor the sacrifices of Specialist Cox and Lance Corporal Phillips. Specialist Cox's fund provides support to graduates of Greene County High Schools entering the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) or intending to pursue a field of study that will lead to a career in public service. Lance Corporal Phillips' fund provides support to the computer-aided technology drafting program at Greene County Career and Technology Center. Part of the proceeds from the Heroes Run/Walk will also be used to fund the transportation of veterans living in Greene County who are receiving treatment at the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Last year, the race's over 400 registrants raised in excess of $15,000. Sponsors and organizers of the event expect a strong turnout again this Saturday, and are eager to once more honor the memory of Specialist Cox and Lance Corporal Phillips.

The Heroes Run/Walk is a testament to its founders, John and Mary Anne Cox, and Jim and Paulette Phillips, and demonstrates their capacity to turn tragedy into an amazing gift for others. They deserve both our support and appreciation.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed from the list of cosponsors of H.R. 451.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to vote on the Motion to Recommit and Final Passage of H.R. 2354, the Energy and Water Appropriations Act of 2012. I would have voted ``aye'' on the Motion to Recommit, and ``no'' on Final Passage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an individual who exemplifies a successful small businessperson in our country, Joseph Santelli, who was recently honored, by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The week of May 16-20, 2011 was the 48th Annual National Small Business Week. This is a time when the President of the United States and the country as a whole recognizes and honors the contribution that small businesses are making to our nation. Small businesses are the engines of growth and innovation, and Mr. Santelli, who was honored by the Small Business Administration of Western Pennsylvania, is truly moving his small businesses towards greatness. Mr. Santelli took the honor of being the 2011 local and state Small Business Person of the Year in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Joseph Santelli is the President of Santelli Tempered Glass, located in Monessen, PA. He was involved in the glass and window industry for many years prior to selling tempered glass himself. For fifteen years prior he sold tempering furnaces to companies so they could make the glass. With an ambition to grow his business and some help from outside investors, Mr. Santelli ventured into the manufacturing of tempered glass.

With his investment in the business, Mr. Santelli set up the first tempered glass outfit of its kind east of the Mississippi River. As his business became more successful, Mr. Santelli was able to buy out his business partner and expand his operation to factories in the states of Indiana and Florida.

Through his exploration of tempered glass, he has helped change the lives of residents throughout Pennsylvania and the United States. This type of tempered glass won't shatter if it is broken and greatly reduces injury in case of an accident. Recognizing that success bears responsibility, he has given back to the community by donating tempered glass for Habitat for Humanity projects and to ABC-TV's ``Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.''

In this tough economic time, small businesses are creating jobs, innovative products, and services people need. They are the engine of economic growth. Mr. Santelli epitomizes intuitive and responsible business practices in this country. Mr. Speaker, I would once again like to honor Mr. Santelli for his extraordinary work and commitment as a small business owner.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an individual who exemplifies a young, ambitious entrepreneur, Chris Sidick, who was recently honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Mr. Chris Sidick is the sole managing member of C-Side Sports Academy, LLC, located in Washington County, PA. This young entrepreneur began playing minor league baseball after college and was left with no income during the off season. With the encouragement of a fan, Mr. Sidick began training young players when he wasn't playing during the summer. Using his parents' garage and a $700 investment in a batting cage he started his own training business.

Mr. Sidick soon took his business from a few kids to almost fifty. He had to move the facility out of his parents' garage and rent a space that cost him $1,000 per month. Realizing that this investment was just the beginning, Mr. Sidick solicited the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center to assist him in developing a business plan and renting a larger space.

Utilizing a credit line, bargaining power, ingenuity, and hard work, Mr. Sidick was able to create a new 13,000 square foot facility to train young athletes. This exceptional space became quickly utilized by many colleges, high schools, and youth teams. While his business practices were extremely successful, Mr. Sidick wanted more for his company. He wanted to offer greater space and services to the young athletes. This is why he reformulated his business plan to get a $1 million bank loan and build a brand new facility.

Mr. Sidick has been able to transform his initial $700 investment in his parents' garage into a soon-to-be completed 27,000 square foot facility that will house a full-size baseball infield and a half-dozen batting cages. The building will also offer additional sports such as football, soccer, and laser tag. His accomplishments have landed him the local and regional Young Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Small Business Administration.

It is the keen mind of young people like Mr. Sidick that we can rely on to keep our economy going. He saw a need for a service, and utilized his specific skill set to fill that void. Even in this tough economic time, Mr. Sidick has been able to keep his business thriving. It is the passion for what he does and the energy he puts in his business that makes it successful.

Mr. Speaker, I would once again like to honor Mr. Sidick--a true young entrepreneur and small business owner who has pursued an idea that helps so many of our young people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Eileen Melvin, a crafty business woman in Johnstown, PA who was recently honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

In 2008, Ms. Melvin joined the board of directors of United Metal Fabricators, a producer of exam room equipment for the healthcare market. Her roots in the company lie much deeperm as her father had worked as a legal advisor to the company 20 years earlier.

In transitioning to UMF, Ms. Melvin saw an organization that held onto the ideals of good craftsmanship, but failed to keep pace with the technological and manufacturing advances of the day. She saw potential for a strong company in a global market that was craving quality American made healthcare goods.

With her ascension to board president and CEO in 2009, Ms. Melvin worked to introduce technological advances into processing and sales, while still maintaining the quality craftsmanship and workforce UMF is known for. She has also worked to introduce UMF products around the world.

Throughout her tenure on the board, UMF has seen a 62 percent increase in their exports. Ms. Melvin's immense exporting in Saudi Arabia has also led to her participating in a Trade Mission to the country. UMF products are now being utilized in hospitals around the world.

Ms. Melvin helped a struggling company become a major exporter in the Johnstown region. For her accomplishments, she has been recognized as the Small Business Administration's local and Region III Exporter of the Year. Mr. Speaker, once again I would like to honor Ms. Melvin and her contributions to America's share in the global economic market.

I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, right now, as we discuss the NDIC once again, I am concerned for the folks who are working at the NDIC, doing the great work, and am worried about them as their work and their jobs are, again, turned into a political football.

As the gentleman from Arizona has said, this is obviously not the first time that he has offered amendments or has offered legislation to close the NDIC. I am a reasonable human being, and at the vote that he referenced earlier this year, I sent Mr. Flake a note on February 22, asking him for the information that he was just citing. I want to do good things for this country, and if there had been duplicative functions and if the NDIC had not been doing the job that they tell me, I wanted to see that information. I did not receive any response to that February 22 information, so I then had my staff do research.

I found that some of the information being referenced was from a GAO report from April 1993. Some of the personal testimonies against the NDIC were from a gentleman who was fired and from another man who hadn't worked there for 16 years.

I then quantified/qualified what NDIC does, and noted that they are the only strategic drug threat assessment organization in the country. Many times, they're compared to the El Paso Intelligence Center, EPIC, which does tactical, ``tactical'' meaning that they have a 24-hour watch system that is prepared to respond quickly to requests from law enforcement. Many times, they're talked about as the ``fusion centers.'' Well, the fusion centers are operational. They support multi-jurisdictional investigations.

The NDIC is the only strategic drug intelligence center in the country. They offer strategic drug threat assessments, money laundering reporting, issue-based intelligence reports, support to the intelligence community and senior policymakers. They also have a product called DOMEX, Document and Media Exploitation Support.

What's interesting is that the prior amendment talked about the borders of Arizona and how important it was to secure them. DOMEX and the NDIC also have operations in Arizona, and according to the Phoenix DEA, they are doing an incredible job assisting and enhancing the Strike Force investigations being conducted here in Arizona.

The Arizona Attorney General's Office recently sent a letter to NDIC, stating, ``I wish to take this opportunity to express the appreciation of this office for all of the work NDIC has done in connection with the investigation of money laundering.''

Now, when talking about money laundering and the work the NDIC is doing, the money that is made illicitly through drugs also finds its way into illicit activity and terrorism as well, so the NDIC serves as the center where all the information comes in. They produce the reports and then ship them out to all the agencies. They eliminate redundancy. That's their whole mission.

In fact, on March 31 of this year, Donna Bucella, Assistant Commissioner of Office of Intelligence and Operations Coordination, testified before a Senate committee, and cited NDIC's participation in a weekly briefing, which includes over 290 participants, talking about the illicit drug trafficking across the world. They produce eight analytical mapping products each week that are a key centerpiece of the briefings in the teleconference.

In their budget request, the Department of Justice says that the NDIC ``facilitates the development of sound strategies, initiatives, policies, and regulations to counter threats, and promotes effective, intelligence-driven decision-making in support of the Attorney General's priorities.''

The NDIC is not duplicative. They've proven it time and time again. It is time we stopped rehashing information from the mid-1990s to eliminate this center.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the eighth graders of Frazier Middle School from Perryopolis, PA and their achievements in the national March Math Madness Competition.

More than 1,400 schools from 30 states took part in the March Math Madness Competition sponsored by Apangea Learning. Students were challenged to complete hundreds of thousands of math equations in a competition designed to mirror the college basketball March Madness championship. The group of 74 students from Frazier Middle School, led by math teacher Susan Szelc, completed 132,023 math problems and worked 2,175 hours since March 1, 2011. A majority of that time, 1,161 hours, was spent solving equations outside of the traditional school day. These are committed students who put in the extra effort to complete a challenge and stimulate their minds.

The eighth graders from Frazier Middle School first qualified for the Sweet 16 on February 28, 2011; later advanced to the Elite Eight, the Final Four, and then to the national championship round. The students' hard work has brought them the coveted March Math Madness Trophy and a banner to proudly display in their school gymnasium. They also had the distinguished honor of having one of their own peers, Alex Lyons, be named the MVP of the East. Alex was able to pass the most math equations, 530 units, without failing.

Our country's future is dependent on the hard work and intellect of students like these. It is encouraging to see such talent and ambition being nurtured in our public school system. Outstanding educators, such as Susan Szelc, must also be commended for her efforts in this challenge.

These students have displayed a true aptitude for learning and should be properly recognized for the great champions that they are. Mr. Speaker, once again I would like to honor these students for their hard work, dedication, and commitment towards their education.

Well, thank you, Mr. Reed. And, yes, serving as cochair for the Marcellus Shale Caucus is truly an honor because we do have such an opportunity before us. As Mr. Reed mentioned earlier, Mr. Speaker, this isn't a Democrat or a Republican issue. This is a bipartisan issue because it's about economic opportunity for all of our regions.

Mr. Speaker, I am joining my colleagues to discuss the significant economic potential that the Marcellus shale natural gas play has for our country. As you may know, the Marcellus shale is the largest unconventional natural gas formation in the United States. The shale is estimated to hold almost 500 trillion cubic feet of extractable natural gas currently valued at nearly $2 trillion.

As with most economic activity, the impacts of the natural gas affect more than just specific firms directly involved in the industry. There are also important employment and income effects on local businesses who supply the industry, such as oilfield service companies, restaurants, retailers and hotels, in addition to effects that result from employees spending their wages locally.

In Pennsylvania, 75 percent of the natural gas it uses every day is imported currently. This is just Pennsylvania. The Marcellus shale formation that runs along the Appalachian Mountains--so it goes up into New York, comes down through Pennsylvania, into Virginia and West Virginia, as G.T. Thompson, Mr. Thompson from Pennsylvania, mentioned earlier, goes into eastern Ohio and down through the Appalachian Mountains--is really an opportunity for this country. Because, as Mr. Thompson mentioned, as we watch the unstableness in the Middle East, we're talking about the natural gas industry, which is just booming in our region of the world.

It's sort of interesting because, in a conversation with some of the folks from industry about a decade ago, the natural gas industry was told that they'd better start building processing plants at ports and on the shorelines because there was going to be a need for this country to import natural gas. Well, now that equation has flipped, and this country is really on the verge of producing so much natural gas just through the Marcellus shale that we will exceed the needs of this country, and we actually could be on the verge of becoming an exporter of natural gas to foreign economies.

It's incredible. The high-paying jobs available today in the Marcellus shale gas industry are expected to multiply in the future, meeting the needs of gas companies' efforts to increase drilling and production across the region. In Pennsylvania alone, it is estimated that more than 110,000 new jobs have been created because of the development of this shale.

Mr. Reed mentioned earlier and Mr. Thompson reiterated that this is a game-changer. As I said, this isn't a Democrat or a Republican issue. It's not a New York or a Pennsylvania issue. This is an issue for our country. This is an issue that bodes well for the future of economic development in this country. I am so excited to be co-chair with Mr. Reed. I use a lot of football analogies. I think, by game-changing, what we're doing is we're moving our economic football down the field. We're making progress. There is an opportunity here, and I think we need to take care of it.

One of the things that was alluded to earlier was environmental concerns. Let me tell you that, in growing up in western Pennsylvania, we grew up with the steel industry and the coal mining industry. We had a lot of problems as those industries wound down as, in years past, there was not a lot of environmental protection. We had streams that were fouled. We had huge, what we call gob piles, of the slag that comes off of steel production. Let me tell you that, over the last 20, 25 years, Pennsylvania has done some incredible work in cleaning up those slag piles and in cleaning up the streams so that, in the streams that had been dead for decades, you can now fish, and now we have trails throughout western Pennsylvania.

So, from a Pennsylvania standpoint, what I can say is that, in government's working with industry, working with local officials, working with people on environmental interests, we have all come together in Pennsylvania and are moving our way forward, and we do a very good job of it in Pennsylvania. This Marcellus shale has created an opportunity for us that is really second to none, which is just from a Pennsylvanian's perspective, but I can't end with saying it's just Pennsylvania, because, as we've talked about, it goes through New York.

There is so much opportunity for the future of this country and for the economic development of this country that I want to thank Mr. Reed for inviting me to be his co-chair on the Marcellus Shale Caucus, because, in working together, we can get a lot done for this country. I applaud him for his efforts, and I look forward to working with him, with Mr. Thompson, and with the 17 other members of this caucus in making sure that we do the right thing for this country and for this country's future.

So, with that, I yield back, Mr. Reed. I appreciate the time to be able to talk.