Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Daniel Santaniello, who will be recognized as the Man of the Year by the Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna County. Daniel will be celebrated during the Association's 110th annual banquet on Sunday, October 7.

Daniel, the son of Anthony and Trudy Quinnan Santaniello, was born and raised in Lackawanna County. He is a graduate of North Pocono High School and received his degree in accounting from Marywood University. Daniel currently lives in Moscow, Pennsylvania with his wife, Tina, and their four children, Angelo, Anthony, Lauren, and Daniel.

Since December 2010, Daniel has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Fidelity Bank. Under his leadership, Fidelity Bank's assets have increased by over fifty percent. The bank has been ranked in the ``Top 200 Community Banks in the Country'' five years in a row by the American Bankers Association and named as the number one community bank brand by a blind market study. Fidelity has additionally been the number one mortgage lender in Lackawanna County for seven consecutive years, according to peer community bank and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data.

Daniel is dedicated to serving his community and lending his time to many local philanthropic and civic organizations across Northeastern Pennsylvania. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Pennsylvania Association of Bankers. He is Chairman Emeritus for the Board of Directors of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, President of the Scranton Cultural Center's Board of Directors, and the 2nd Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Friendship House. Daniel further serves as Treasurer for the Prostate Cancer Awareness Foundation, the St. Joseph's Center Foundation Board, and the Lackawanna Workforce Investment Board. He also volunteers his time with the Women's Resource Center, Marywood University, and his local church, St. Eulalia Parish.

It is an honor to recognize Daniel as he is celebrated as the Man of the Year by the Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna County. I wish him all the best and thank him for his service to the community of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. One-hundred years ago, the parish members rolled up their sleeves and built a place of worship where generations of their family members and neighbors would attend. Their hard work and dedication has fostered a strong Byzantine faith community in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

In 1905, many families began moving to Northeastern Pennsylvania from their homelands in what is now Ukraine. Wishing to practice their faith in a Byzantine church and continue to feel connected to their homelands, these families began attending churches of the Byzantine Rite in Northampton, Lansford, and Nesquehoning. Their faith was so strong they would wake before daybreak on Sundays to walk over ten miles to worship at one of these churches.

After years of traveling, they decided to build their own church. The devoted and faithful pioneers spent their own money and provided their own labor to build a Byzantine church close to home. The church, which sits on the corner of Delaware Avenue and First Street in Palmerton, has constantly been renovated and improved upon over the years to maintain the sense of pride in their place of worship. St. Vladimir's continues to celebrate an active and engaged parish community of congregants and a long history of dedicated, spiritual pastors.

It is an honor to recognize St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. I take great joy in joining the commemoration of such an important milestone. I wish everyone in the parish and community all the best as they continue to worship at St. Vladimir for many more prosperous years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Leo J. Delaney on four decades of service to our nation's defense. Leo will retire from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) on September 30. Mr. Delaney grew up in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and joined the Air Force following graduation from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He served as an officer in the Air Force for six years.

Following separation from military service, Leo embarked on a civil service career with DIA at the Department of Defense. His career there spanned over three decades during times when America was engaged in the Cold War, Desert Storm, and the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath.

Leo's service in DIA was notable and unique in terms of responsibility, diversity of subject matter, and success. His years of executive service spanned the development of and brought improvements to the entire scope of DIA's collection, analysis, and supporting activities. He received numerous awards throughout his federal service, including being honored twice by the president with the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Service.

It is an honor to recognize the Leo as he celebrates his long career and begins retirement. He is a patriot and a committed professional who contributed significantly to our country's well-being. On behalf of both a grateful nation and myself, I extend sincere congratulations and best wishes to Mr. Delaney for the next chapter of his impressive story.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Pride in the Park festival, which is currently organized by the Bradbury- Sullivan LGBT Community Center in addition to its other vital services.

Since 1993, the Pride in the Park festival has acknowledged the achievements made in and by the local LGBT community. It is a vibrant event with vendors, merchants, business services, community groups, games, and live entertainment. In 2016, the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center opened to fill a gap in community services by addressing the cultural, health, and education needs of the LGBT community in the Lehigh Valley.

In 2017, Pride of the Greater Lehigh Valley merged with Bradbury- Sullivan LGBT Community Center. I am sure the legacy of Pride in the Park will continue to grow and flourish with its support and the strong leadership provided by Founder and Executive Director Adrian Shanker.

It is an honor to recognize Adrian Shanker and the Bradbury-Sullivan Center and their work to usher in the 25th Annual Pride in the Park Festival. It is vital to have well-organized groups like this to ensure all voices are heard and every person can pursue a life of dignity and respect.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. One-hundred years ago, the parish members rolled up their sleeves and built a place of worship where generations of their family members and neighbors would attend. Their hard work and dedication has fostered a strong Byzantine faith community in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

In 1905, many families began moving to Northeastern Pennsylvania from their homelands in what is now Ukraine. Wishing to practice their faith in a Byzantine Church and continue to feel connected to their homelands, these families began attending churches of the Byzantine Rite in Northampton, Lansford, and Nesquehoning. Their faith was so strong they would wake before daybreak on Sundays to walk over ten miles to worship at one of these churches.

After years of traveling, they decided to build their own church. The devoted and faithful pioneers spent their own money and provided their own labor to build a Byzantine Church close to home. The church, which sits on the corner of Delaware Avenue and First Street in Palmerton, has constantly been renovated and improved upon over the years to maintain the sense of pride in their place of worship. St. Vladimir's continues to celebrate an active and engaged parish community of congregants and a long history of dedicated, spiritual pastors.

It is an honor to recognize St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. I take great joy in joining the commemoration of such an important milestone. I wish everyone in the parish and community all the best as they continue to worship in St. Vladimir's for many more prosperous years.

Mr. Speaker, a debate on the topic of climate change on the floor of the House is long overdue. Those who care about the future of our planet and our species have waited for Congress to begin working on negotiating some sort of sensible solution to climate change for years. A topic of this gravity deserves our attention.

Now, Republicans have been in charge of Congress for the 5\1/2\ years that I have been here, but have they brought a new idea to the floor today? Have they proposed a solution? Are they taking the threat seriously? Do they believe in science? Today's debate makes it clear that the answer is no.

Instead of a proposed solution, we are wasting our time with an empty partisan resolution, a misleading and false resolution that doesn't do anything more than thoughtlessly swat away an idea that deserves careful consideration.

Solutions do exist. We can design market-based climate policies that would greatly reduce greenhouse gases. If we design the policy right, it can help low-income and middle class citizens, while creating jobs and spurring innovation.

I believe it is important for us to focus our attention on things like immigration, on the economy, on healthcare.

Well, climate change is impacting immigration. In 2017, The New York Times reported that 10 percent of Mexicans age 15 to 65 could eventually try to emigrate north as a result of rising temperatures.

Climate change is impacting the economy. Hurricanes Irma and Harvey cost this Nation $280 billion.

That is just the beginning. Climate change is impacting our health. This includes extreme weather events, vector-borne diseases, chronic conditions, and things like that.

Today, instead of posing a sensible solution, instead of seeking a productive discussion on the options at our disposal, Republicans have decided utterly to reject a possible market-based solution without any evidence or justification, without any hearings or real debate, without regular order.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose this rule and this resolution, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Roger Mattes, Jr., who will become governor of Rotary District 7410 on Sunday, July 1. District 7410 covers forty-three Rotary clubs in ten counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania and serves over a thousand members. Roger joined Rotary International in 1985. Since then, he has served the organization in many capacities, including as president of his local chapter and on the Board of Directors. He is a graduate of Rotary Leadership Institute and a recipient of Rotary's Paul Harris Fellowship Award.

Roger is a 1976 graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy. He attended DePauw University, graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor's degree in English. He went on to obtain his G.R.I. from the Pennsylvania Realtors Institute. In 1991, Roger received his Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa.

Roger has been practicing law for over twenty years and is president of Mattes & Mattes, P.C. in Scranton. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania, among others. His outstanding work as an attorney has earned him several awards, including the American Lawyer's Distinguished Service Citation and the Winner's Circle Award.

It is an honor to recognize Roger Mattes as he assumes the role of governor for Rotary District 7410. His achievements are significant, and his service to the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania is immeasurable. May he continue his commitment to community service, and I wish him all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I represent a district in northeast Pennsylvania where collective bargaining rights are time-honored and highly valued. The work our unions have done over the past 100-plus years has changed our laws and practices that helped create our strong American middle class. Our middle class is something that really makes us the envy of the free world, and American unions keep the middle class strong.

Today, public sector unions represent about 17.3 million workers in State and local governments across the country. These public sector workers keep us safe and teach and nurture our children, care for our families. As union members, they are empowered through collective action to fight for fair wages and work conditions, as Mr. McGovern mentioned.

But yesterday, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled against unions in the case of Janus v. AFSCME. They overturned four decades--40 years--of legal precedent to undermine the rights of correctional officers, State and local policemen, firefighters, snowplow drivers, teachers, all the local government employees that work hard for us and make us safe every day.

The Court's decision invalidates the laws of 22 States and the District of Columbia. These are States that decided to allow unions and State employees mutually to agree on ensuring that employees pay a fair share fee to cover the costs of collective bargaining enforcement.

This Court's decision is nothing but bare-knuckled politics. In fact, prominent Republican politicians have already described it and praised it as a devastating blow to Democrats. It is not jurisprudence; it is just politics.

When you overturn 40 years of American legal precedent, when you rip up 40 years of the fabric of American law, it is a big deal.

Associate Justice Kagan described it yesterday as a weaponization of the First Amendment that has been going on. And she is right. This decision comes at a time when hardworking Americans are fighting every day just to pay their bills and support their families. Labor unions are working hard to give workers a collective voice to gain higher wages, better healthcare, and a secure retirement.

Make no mistake, a tax on public-sector unions is the camel's nose under the tent flap. They are coming after private sector unions next.

Strong public unions build the middle class in our country and shape the life of every American by negotiating for labor rights, including the minimum wage, 8-hour workdays, weekends, employer health insurance.

Now is not the time to turn our back on American workers and labor unions. Now is the time to stand with employees who serve the public across the country.

For that reason, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to the rule to bring up my bill, H.R. 6238, the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, a bill that will defend the right of every public sector employee to join a union and bargain collectively.

The bill empowers the Federal Labor Relations Authority to ensure that State and local government employees are treated fairly and that workplace conditions meet a proper standard. Every employee deserves these basic standards, whether they choose to join a union or not.

Again, the Janus decision is an outright attack on all unions, on all working people, and an attack on the cause that we here in Congress, here in the people's House, fight for every day.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the previous question and the rule so that this important legislation will be considered immediately.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California for yielding.

When I think of California and I think of conservation, I think of John Muir, the father of our national forests and the founder of the Sierra Club. We have a lot to be proud of in California in John Muir. His final resting place was there.

But when I think of conservation, I also think of a wonderful Pennsylvanian conservationist by the name of Gifford Pinchot. Gifford Pinchot was a noted Republican and Progressive conservationist to make Pennsylvania proud. He was the Governor of Pennsylvania twice. He was the first Chief of the United States Forest Service. Above all, he was a pioneer in the American conservation movement. It makes me proud to be from northeastern Pennsylvania where for many, many years Gifford Pinchot lived.

Mr. Speaker, the Land and Water Conservation Fund's authorization expires on September 30. This vital program, which has broad bipartisan and bicameral support, should be made permanent and should be fully funded.

I am proud to support H.R. 502, which permanently authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It has bipartisan support from 231 cosponsors in the House. Over 30 Republican House Members recently wrote to leadership expressing their support for reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund this year.

LWCF plays an instrumental role in preserving and protecting our precious drinking water, safeguarding our natural resources, and providing pristine outdoor recreational spaces to millions of Americans, all while creating jobs and supporting local economies.

Stakeholders work together to leverage LWCF funding with other State, local, and private funds to make the most out of every LWCF dollar spent. Without these Federal funds sparking the investment, we would never amass the resources needed to protect critical tracts of land.

LWCF funds are almost always the critical piece of a puzzle that allows precious land to be forever protected and preserved. It is the funds from offshore gas and oil revenue that provide the funding for LWCF, not taxpayer dollars.

We all benefit greatly from the LWCF and the lands that it protects. The outdoor recreation economy generates $1 trillion per year and supports 7.6 million American jobs. In my district alone, outdoor recreation accounts for well over $1 billion a year. It is a sector that also annually generates $65.3 billion in Federal tax revenue and $59.2 billion in State and local tax revenue.

Our Federal investment in these historic, cultural, and recreational landmarks and wildlife habitats generates a substantial return to the American taxpayer.

As we speak, LWCF is making a dramatic difference in my own district. We have worked for years to find the funds to take advantage of a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase and preserve a beautiful piece of land in the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge. LWCF helped leverage funding from State, local, and private sources, but without LWCF, this land would have been lost forever. I worked very hard in the Appropriations Committee to make sure the LWCF had enough money to acquire the full 2,931 acres in Cherry Valley.

But we shouldn't have to work this hard for every LWCF dollar. We should be dedicating more money and permanently reauthorizing the LWCF to complete more projects like Cherry Valley.

From historic battlefields like Gettysburg to the very home of Gifford Pinchot--Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pennsylvania--LWCF is providing critical funding to protect our most important lands. It has wide-ranging bipartisan support, and it is past time that we permanently reauthorize LWCF and give it the robust funding that it so richly deserves.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the great country of Lithuania and the hundred-year anniversary of her independence. On February 16, 1918, Lithuania declared her independence from the Russian empire and has since been a tremendous ally to the United States in Eastern Europe.

In 1917, in a tumultuous geopolitical climate, dominant superpowers throughout Europe, including the Russian and German empires, were seeking to control the Baltic state of Lithuania. Despite these powerful forces, the Lithuanian people dreamt of a unified, sovereign nation founded on the rich cultural and linguistic history of the region. They longed to gain independence from the powers of Europe and establish their country on democratic values and ideals.

In September 1917, the Vilnius Conference met to begin the process of separating from the Russian Empire. The Conference established a group of 20 men, known as the Council of Lithuania, to act in the interest of the Lithuanian people throughout this arduous process. In December 1917, the Council, led by activist Jonas Basanavicius, declared Lithuania to be independent as a protectorate of Germany. Seeing that the German Empire was weakened by its struggles in World War I, the Council adopted the Act of Independence of Lithuania on February 16, 1918, ultimately liberating the country from the powers of Europe.

Since the days of her independence, Lithuania has maintained a strong working relationship with the United States. Though, for a time during World War II, Lithuania was forcefully annexed and occupied by the Soviet Union, the United States never recognized this lapse in Lithuanian independence and has always supported Lithuania's democratic principles and values. By joining NATO and the UN in 2004, Lithuania has demonstrated a deep commitment to peace and freedom that I am proud to acknowledge here today.

One hundred years removed from this historic independence, it is an honor to recognize the rich history and culture of one our nation's strongest international allies. With confidence and support, the United States looks forward to additional centuries of Lithuanian strength and prosperity.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5892, a bill I am proud to have cosponsored with Representative Lewis.

I thank Congressman Lewis, as well as the Education and the Workforce Committee, for their hard work on this bill.

Madam Speaker, Pennsylvania has the fourth highest rate of death due to drug overdoses in the Nation, and northeastern Pennsylvania, where I represent, has one of the highest rates of fatal drug overdoses in our State. Beyond the statistics are stories of broken families and broken dreams, due to the addiction to and the abuse of these drugs.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that approximately 91 deaths from opioid overdoses occur every day in our Nation. This epidemic breaks our hearts. But it also hurts our economy. An estimated 20 percent of men's and 25 percent of women's decline in labor force participation between 1999 and 2015 can be attributed to the increase in opioid prescriptions. This is a public health and economic crisis that we have to address right now.

That is why I am so pleased to see the House taking up this legislation. Establishing this advisory council to study the impacts of opioid abuse on the workplace is essential to understanding how damaging this epidemic is, both to individuals and communities.

We know that we must confront this epidemic on all fronts. It is a bill that is an important step towards helping those dealing with substance abuse remain in the workforce.

Our work on opioids has to continue after this week. Our communities have not yet healed from the traumatic losses they have suffered, and we have to continue to focus on this issue if we are to have any hope of adequately addressing the harm to public health that opioid abuse has caused.

Again, I thank Congressman Lewis for his work on this bill, I am proud to join him in that work, and I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Seaman 1st Class Edward Slapikas. 77 years ago, Edward was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor and buried in Hawaii, but never identified. On Saturday, June 9, 2018, Edward received a hero's welcome home and full military honors following a Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Spirit Parish.

Edward Slapikas was born on August 9, 1915, son of the late Frank and Ursula Slapikas. He grew up in the Wanamie section of Newport Township, Pennsylvania and attended Newport Area High School. After graduation, he worked for the Glen Alden Coal Company before joining the Navy in 1940.

On December 7, 1941, Edward was serving aboard the USS Oklahoma berthed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Oklahoma endured Japanese torpedo attacks which capsized the ship and killed 26-year-old Edward and more than 400 of his fellow sailors. Edward and his compatriots were laid to rest in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl Cemetery) in Hawaii.

More than 70 years after that fateful December day, Edward was identified and finds his final resting place in St. Mary's Cemetery in his hometown of Wanamie. VFW Post 971 is named in Edward's memory, and his remaining family, a niece and nephew, was in attendance to celebrate his legacy.

It is a solemn honor to recognize the memory of Seaman 1st Class Edward Slapikas. Our nation is grateful for his selfless service in World War II. We shall never forget his sacrifice for our freedom, and we are honored to finally welcome him home. May he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Shiloh Manor, a senior housing complex located in the South Side neighborhood of Easton, Pennsylvania. The vision of Shiloh Manor began in the mind of the late Pastor Fred Davis of the Shiloh Baptist Church. In 1987, while attending a world conference in Japan, Pastor Davis met a former associate and a Philadelphia realtor who specialized in building complexes for senior citizens. With their renewed fellowship, Pastor Davis and Mr. Hatton developed a strategy to apply for a HUD sponsored loan to build a senior citizen's home. On their third application attempt in 1992, the application was approved for $3.7 million dollars. Since the completion of Shiloh Manor in July 1993, the Greater Shiloh Church congregation, now led by Senior Pastor Phillip Davis, as well as the Board of Directors and the larger community rejoice in the Manor's 58 units, which provide affordable housing for senior citizens of diverse backgrounds.

The story of Shiloh Manor exemplifies how a group of inspired individuals can create meaningful change in their community. I commend the late Pastor Davis and those who carry on his vision for a strong, inclusive community. I wish them well as they celebrate this milestone anniversary through fellowship and worship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the late James Reddington, Lance Corporal USMC. A medal presentation at Lackawanna County Courthouse and memorial service at Cathedral Cemetery was held in his honor conducted by Lieutenant General Ron Christmas, Colonel Terry Ebbert, the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard, and the Greater Scranton Black Diamonds Pipe Band over Memorial Day Weekend 2018.

Jimmy was a Lance Corporal with Echo Company 2nd Battalion 5th Marines and served his country during the Vietnam War. On March 23, 1967, nineteen year old Lance Corporal Reddington charged an enemy position to draw fire away from the rescue and recovery from the field of a wounded fellow Marine. He was fatally wounded during this exchange.

Because of his actions, Jimmy was posthumously awarded two Purple Hearts. He also received ten additional medals and awards for his service. However, because his family was deceased, these medals had gone unclaimed for fifty-one years. Lance Corporal Reddington's medals will be presented to the Marine Corps League, N.E. Detachment, where they will be held in repose and displayed.

It is a solemn honor to recognize the memory of Lance Corporal James Reddington, USMC. I am grateful to him for his service in defense of his country and his willingness to sacrifice his life so a fellow Marine might live. We shall never forget his selfless actions that day and we are thankful for his service and the service of all who served in Vietnam. May he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to remark on a notable milestone in the history of the Pennsylvania 17th Congressional District. Thirty years ago, a group of thoughtful and committed citizens took the region's case for national historic significance to Congress. The result is the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L).

Today, the D&L Corridor is a lively, vibrant place to live. Towns and cities are revitalized, and their historic districts have been preserved. Technology, culture, and innovation have replaced the industrial past, while agrarian roots are still visible in the surrounding countryside. The D&L Trail connects people to our industrial heritage, health and wellness, economic development, and nature and the environment.

The D&L's unique combination of industry and natural resources helped it fuel America's 19th Century Industrial Revolution. The discovery of anthracite, and later the manufacturing of iron ore and its historic transportation path from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, catapulted the region into an internationally-recognized hub of production. Without a doubt, the Delaware and Lehigh Canals and the Lehigh Valley Railroad were essential in this process. It is their history that the D&L works to preserve and celebrate as a Smithsonian Affiliate through the National Canal Museum and aboard the Josiah White II mule-drawn canal boat.

With the support of the National Park Service, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the William Penn Foundation, countless volunteers, and like-minded partner organizations, the D&L is continuing its commitment to inspiring connections by revitalizing towns, restoring its beautiful landscape, celebrating and preserving its heritage, and planning its future for generations to come in Luzerne, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks County. The history of the D&L is still in the making.