Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Marrara, who will be honored as Unican of the Year on March 4, 2017 during the annual Scranton UNICO banquet. Each year UNICO honors a member that puts Service above self. Mary has a lifetime record of service to the Scranton community.

Mary was born and raised in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. She attended school in the Philadelphia area, and she started her career as a dental manager there. In 1970, she and her husband Phil moved to Scranton. Mary and Phil own P & M Associates, Inc. The company was one of the first to offer cabinet refacing with a major national department store. They have received every top award for over 25 years for customer service and installations. Mary was part of the team in Chicago that created the Quality Every Day program, which set the standard for the national installation. Currently, they work with major retailers and sell and install kitchens on their own. Mary also owned and operated an ice cream shop, The Mary Go Round, which included The Floral Corner with her sister Fran.

In her 47 years of living in northeastern Pennsylvania Mary has served in, helped, and advised a wide array of area organizations. One of the first charities Mary became involved with was St. Joseph's Center, which helps individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental delays, pregnant women, young families, couples hoping to adopt, and people who require outpatient therapy. Currently, Mary serves on several boards of The Wright Center and co-chairs the Wonderful Women Program and the Wright Center Health Fair. She also serves on the boards of the American Red Cross, the NEPA Philharmonic League, LaFesta Italiana, and the UNICO Scranton chapter. She is a committee member of the Jim Minicozzi 5K Race, the Jermyn Lions Club, and she serves on the advisory boards for Meals on Wheels and the Scranton Cultural Center.

It is an honor to recognize Mary Marrara for receiving the Unican of the Year Award from Scranton UNICO. I am grateful for her commitment to the citizens of northeastern Pennsylvania. I hope that she will continue to work for the welfare of her neighbors and the improvement of her community.

Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am opposed to it in its current form.

Madam Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. This motion to recommit is to defend ethical conduct throughout our government.

In response to the Watergate scandal, Congress created the Office of Government Ethics to protect against unethical behavior in the executive branch. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed into law a bill to strengthen the Office of Government Ethics by removing it from the Office of Personnel Management and giving it greater independence from the White House.

Now Congress is attempting to undo this vision of a strong, independent Office of Government Ethics at a time when we need it more than ever. This bill would put the Office of Government Ethics right back under the control of the White House, and that is why this motion to recommit simply excludes OGE from this bill.

We appreciate the need for strong ethical guidelines most strongly when people act unethically. Every day we witness this White House struggle with honesty and credibility. We heard the promises last night, the ones we have been hearing all along.

When you promise to create family-sustaining jobs by revitalizing American infrastructure and then we find out he means to do it with tax breaks to huge corporations and none of the regular guarantees that the people actually doing the work will be treated right and paid fairly, that is when you have a credibility problem.

When you promote yourself as a man of the people but then we find out you have stuffed your Cabinet with out-of-touch billionaire friends, that is when you have a credibility problem.

When you promise to fix America's education system but then we see you appoint Betsy DeVos to head the Department of Education, someone with no education experience, someone who wants to gut public education, that is when you have a credibility problem.

When you address Congress and promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act in a way that guarantees increased access, coverage of preexisting conditions, and that costs will go down but no one in America knows how you plan to pay for that, that is when you have a credibility problem.

We don't need a White House with a credibility problem. We need these promises the President has made to come true. We need a stronger economy full of family-sustaining jobs. We need Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare to be protected. We need to have an executive branch we can trust. This is our future, and we need to be smart about it. I believe that smart people trust, but they verify.

The problem is we do seem to have a President whose relationship with the truth is, at best, a nodding acquaintance. This is why we need a strong Office of Government Ethics more than ever.

Ronald Reagan was right; it needs to be an office independent of control by the White House.

We need it to keep our leaders from enriching themselves in public office, to keep our leaders honest, to help us trust, but verify that our elected officials do what is best for the American people and not their own pocketbooks.

We need it to ensure that our President is acting in our best interest with nations around the world. We have already seen this President and his staff repeatedly lie and refuse to answer questions about their business and political ties with dealings in Russia. We have seen, at a minimum, improper and potentially far worse collusion over rigging an election, and we have seen the administration attempt to influence investigations into their dealings with Russia.

We need an Office of Government Ethics to be independent of the White House because this President has used diplomatic relations to promote his businesses abroad at the expense of the American taxpayer. He promised to drain the swamp and immediately started appointing his billionaire buddies to Cabinet positions and rush their hearings through before they could even complete the ethics process.

Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Caprari Family of Pittston for celebrating the 60th Anniversary of their family business, the Duchess Outlet, last year on Friday, November 11. The Duchess Outlet, which began as a textile manufacturer, operates as a retail clothing outlet and seller of heirloom toys.

Established in 1956 by Sam and Theresa Caprari, the Duchess Coat & Suit Manufacturing plant was a major garment producer for northeastern Pennsylvania and employed over 150 workers. As the business grew, the Duchess opened a discount retail outlet that offered raincoats, wool jackets, leathers, and outerwear.

When Sam and Theresa retired, they handed over the business to their son Paul and his wife Paula. The Duchess Outlet expanded their inventory with suits, sport jackets, outerwear, and name-brand raincoats. The store also began carrying Madame Alexander Dolls and opened a Doll Museum. The Museum now has more than 1,000 pieces, dating from the 1930s to the present.

In addition to operating the Duchess Outlet, the Caprari family has a long record of service to their community and country. During World War II, Sam Caprari served as a military aircraft-manufacturing instructor. He was a member of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, the Elks Club, and the Italian American Association. Theresa is the Vice-President of the Business and Professional Women's Club Association. She was also a member of National Federation of Independent Business and the Pennsylvania Mental Health Association.

Paul Caprari is the founder of Hear for You, a program that provides hearing aids to those who cannot afford them. Paul also serves with the Knights of Columbus Council 372 as a 4th Degree Knight. Paula Caprari has received multiple honors and awards for overseeing Duchess Outlet Doll Museum, including being recognized by the Madame Alexander Company. Julio Caprari is also a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus with Council 372. As Co-Chairman of Pittston City History Day, Julio has worked with Misericordia University and Luzerne County Agency on Aging to preserve the history of Greater Pittston.

It is an honor to recognize the Caprari family as they celebrate the Duchess Outlet's 60th Anniversary. May they continue to serve their neighbors and community in the Greater Pittston Area with distinction.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. James Kelleher. He is a United States Marine, an Olympic contender, and a champion boxer, but today I take note of his service and a tradition of goodwill that inspired his path. A resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania, James is a role model for the young people of my district. James started boxing when he was nine years old. As a youth, he found encouragement through the United Way of the Lehigh Valley's TeenWorks program, which sponsored his wish to improve a boxing club serving over 100 at-risk children in the heart of an area known for gang activity. For him, the club provided discipline, focus, and a safe place to grow and develop.

For many Americans, being a good citizen is defined by a willingness to do for others. They recognize that some of the greatest rewards in life come when we give our time and talents to improve our communities. There are many programs in our country proving opportunities to be a mentor and model a spirit of giving. I hope others will be inspired by James Kelleher's focus and his charity and ask themselves: What more can I do for others?

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mitch Kornfeld, a local business owner and outgoing President of the Jewish Community Alliance of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He is a force for change in the local Jewish community, and professionally, Mr. Kornfeld is the Owner and Vice President of Operations at The Woodlands Inn, one of the premier hotels in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Area.

Mr. Kornfeld is a South Wilkes-Barre native and graduate of E.L. Myers High School. In 1969, his father and uncle opened The Woodlands, and Mr. Komfeld grew up in and around the family business. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, he earned a degree in economics and communications. After college, Mr. Kornfeld returned to Wilkes-Bane to play a vital role in his family's business.

Mr. Kornfeld grew up in a Jewish family, and today, he gives back as an active member of the Jewish Community Alliance of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The JCA seeks to create a community for Jews to connect to each other and to their faith through services and programming. As president, he has been instrumental in expanding the Jewish Community Center, currently located in Wilkes-Bane, to the new Center for Jewish Life in Kingston. The 60,000 square foot space will feature a fitness center, a library, class rooms, and a resource room to serve and support the Jewish population of the Wyoming Valley and the general public.

Mr. Kornfeld combines business acumen with an altruistic spirit. He is committed to supporting and reenergizing the Jewish population in Northeast Pennsylvania with projects such as the Center for Jewish Life.

It is an honor to recognize Mitch Kornfeld and his exceptional work as President of the Jewish Community Alliance. He has left a remarkable legacy by taking a leadership role in the development of the Center for Jewish Life. I look forward to watching the final realization of this ambitious project, and I wish him the very best in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lawrence C. Malski, who on January 27 received the Eminent Eagle Award from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council

Boy Scouts of America. The Eminent Eagle Award recognizes an Eagle Scout from Northeastern Pennsylvania who is a role model for all Scouts who aspire to achieve the rank of Eagle.

An Eagle Scout since 1966, Larry has long been a leader in his community. Throughout his life, he has been devoted to service and committed to excellence. In 1972, Larry graduated with the highest honors from Penn State University with a degree in Transportation/ Traffic Management and Labor-Management Relations. He received his Juris Doctorate from the Temple University School of Law in 1977. Larry is admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar, New York Bar, and admitted to practice before the District Court in Eastern Pennsylvania and Northern New York.

Larry is the President of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority, which manages the region's 100-mile railroad system. Formed in 2006, the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority was established by the merger of Lackawanna and Monroe Counties' Rail Authorities. Before the merger, Larry served as Lackawanna County Railroad Authority's Executive Director and General Counsel for twenty-two years. He also consulted with the Monroe County Railroad Authority, advising them on transportation funding, policy, and administration. Throughout his career, Larry has been a leading figure in the effort to reinstate commuter rail in between northern New Jersey/New York City and the Poconos and greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Larry has a long record of service to his community. He is one of fifteen members of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Railroad- Shipper Transportation Advisory Council. The Council often advises the Secretary of Transportation, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the STB Chairman on matters of regulation, policy, and legislation. Larry currently serves as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Rail Freight Advisory Committee. Appointed by Governor Casey in 1989, Larry has helped that statewide committee advise the governor, legislature, and PennDOT on rail freight preservation and development in Pennsylvania. He has also served on the boards of the County of Lackawanna Transit System, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Transportation subcommittee, the Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company, the PennDOT Lackawanna/Luzerne Transportation Study Committee, the Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Bi-State Rail Project Technical Committee, and Penn's Northeast industrial development corporation.

It is an honor to recognize Larry Malski for upholding the values of the Boy Scouts of America. I extend my warmest congratulations to him for receiving the Eminent Eagle Award for 2017.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas Williams, State Director of U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development for Pennsylvania. Appointed to the USDA by President Obama in July 2009, Mr. Williams will retire from federal service on January 7, 2017.

As State Director for Pennsylvania, Mr. Williams was responsible for securing loans, grants, loan guarantees and technical assistance offered through 40 Rural Development housing, utility and business programs. Mr. Williams managed 106 employees and 9 regional offices across Pennsylvania, as well as the state office in Harrisburg. During his seven years with the USDA, Rural Development invested over $5 billion in Pennsylvania infrastructure.

Prior to his tenure with the USDA, Mr. Williams served as a congressional aide to former U.S. Congressman Paul Kanjorski. Mr. Williams also worked with several communities in Pennsylvania and New York to assist local development and economic development efforts. Mr. Williams is a graduate of Wilkes University and received his Master's degree from Bloomsburg University. He currently resides in Mountain Top with his wife, Nancy.

It is an honor to recognize Thomas Williams for his service to our country, and I wish him all the best in his retirement.

Amendment IV:

``The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.''

Mr. Speaker, from the shores of the Delaware and the banks of the Allegheny, to the streams and the creeks that feed them, Pennsylvanians know that water is vital to our health, our recreation, and our wildlife.

Mr. Speaker, our waterways remain at risk. To protect them, the EPA is considering a rule to restore Clean Water Act protections to thousands of waterways in Pennsylvania and across the country. When finalized, this rule will mark the biggest step forward for clean water in more than a decade.

Unfortunately, polluters and their allies are now working to derail this clean water rule. They have even scheduled a rare, joint House- Senate hearing to set the stage for this dirty water attack.

I say it is time for Congress to get out of the way and let EPA do its job and protect our water, as is its charge.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Paul Lantz as he completes his term as President of the Jewish Community Alliance of the Greater Wyoming Valley. Under Paul's dedicated leadership, the Jewish Community Alliance has made great strides in preparing for its future, most notably in the acquisition of land that will allow for establishment of a new Jewish Community Center for the Wyoming Valley. This project will maintain many of the traditional aspects and artifacts of the current structure but will also allow the center to expand into a modern facility designed to meet future needs. The Jewish community in the Wyoming Valley has had a rich history of charitable and educational works dating back many years, and this project will allow this work to continue well into the future.

Educated at Connecticut College, Paul graduated with a bachelor of arts in zoology. After receiving his master's in business administration from the University of Connecticut, Paul went to work for Price Waterhouse in New York as a CPA. In 1981, he moved to Wilkes- Barre with his wife, where they still reside. Paul is actively involved in the Wilkes-Barre community in many ways. In addition to serving as the President of the Jewish Community Alliance, Paul has also served on the board of several non-profit organizations, such as the SPCA, the Domestic Violence Service Center, The Wyoming Valley Children's Association, and the Boys & Girls Clubs. Currently, Paul is the owner and President of the A. Rifkin Co. in Wilkes-Barre and Hope Uniform & Security Products in Columbia, New Jersey.

I congratulate Paul on his work as President of the Jewish Community Alliance of the Wyoming Valley, and I commend him for his dedication, his quiet confidence, and his selflessness in offering his time and talents on behalf of others.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of Thomas J. Keeney, past Grand Knight of the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Knights of Columbus Council 302. Mr. Keeney was born on July 3, 1946. His father, a Major in the army, was stationed in Arkansas, Japan, and New Jersey and took the Keeney family with him as he traveled around the world. In 1964, Thomas graduated from Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre and currently resides in Plains with his wife, Karen.

After finishing high school, Thomas Keeney joined the air force in the winter of 1965. He was trained as an aircraft mechanic at Lackland Air Force Base and Sheppard Air Force Base. Upon completing his training, he was stationed at RAF Lakenheath Air Base in England. At Lakenheath, Thomas served as a Crew Chief on F-100D & F aircraft. While in England, Thomas married Irene V. Tucker. In the summer of 1968, they were blessed with their first son Patrick. Thomas finished his service with the air force in 1969, leaving with the rank of Sergeant.

When he returned to the United States, Thomas settled back in Wilkes- Barre and had his second child, Maurita. He took a job as a laborer at the Pressed Steel Plant on Penn Avenue. Thomas entered the apprentice program for Plumbers with Pipe Fitters Local 147 of Wilkes-Barre in 1970. He completed his apprenticeship in 1974 with Scranton's Local 90. As a journeyman plumber, he worked with many contractors in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Thomas left the construction industry to work for the City of Wilkes-Barre, as a member of the city's sewer department. In 1985, he returned to the construction industry where he worked for Penn State Mechanical as a plumber, welder, and foreman. While working with Penn State Mechanical, he obtained his Masters Certificate in Plumbing and Heating with the cities of Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. In 1995, as a Plumbing Trade Instructor for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Thomas helped prepare inmates for a job in the plumbing trade after rehabilitation. After working for the Department of Corrections, he went on to be a caretaker for Camp Raninu and then took a position with the VA, before he retired in 2011.

Thomas Keeney also served his country with distinction as an army reservist in the 79th Army Regional Command. Starting in 1974, Thomas was a Specialist 4 Welder with the 365th Engineers of Wilkes-Barre. When he left the Engineers, Thomas had attained the rank of Sergeant. Thomas then joined the 300th Field Hospital Unit and was retrained as a combat medic. He was then promoted to Sergeant First Class and reassigned to the NCOIC of the 338th Medical Group Headquarters in Folsom, Pennsylvania. At Folsom, Thomas was responsible for the care and training of the soldiers assigned to the Medical Group Headquarters. After serving at Folsom, Thomas returned to Wilkes-Barre, where he served with the 424th Military Police Liaison Team as the Senior Medic and Instructor. While with the 424th, Thomas was responsible for all medical and environmental issues for setup and operation of military POW camps in the U.S. and overseas. After being promoted to Master Sergeant, he was sent to the Regional Command Headquarters at Willow Grove, Pennsylvania to be a Senior Medic for the 79th ARCOM. Thomas retired from the army reserves when the 79th ARCOM was disbanded in spring 1996.

Additionally, Thomas has served as a member of the Knights of Columbus for a number of years. He has been the Grand Knight twice, first from 1998 to 2000 and recently from 2012 until 2014. He was also a District Deputy for the Pennsylvania Knights of Columbus and Faithful Navigator of the Bishop Hafey Assembly Fourth Degree Knights.

In addition, Thomas has been involved with many organizations. He was the past President of the Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick, where he currently holds the position of Secretary. He has also served as the President of Council 302 Home Association and was a former Trustee of the Plumbers Local 90.

It is an honor to recognize Mr. Keeney for his service to the Knights of Columbus and all of his achievements. He is a true patriot, and I applaud him for his dedication to his country and the work he has done for his community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my frustration in the process by which this bill was brought to the floor and my disappointment that the process has yielded a bill that I cannot support.

This bill did not go through regular order. The Judiciary Committee did not hold any hearings or markups on the bill. And now under a Closed Rule, Members do not have the opportunity to offer amendments, let alone debate the merits of specific sections they wish to change.

I submitted an amendment to H.R. 36 that would have extended the exception for all incest victims. Under a Closed Rule, this amendment was rejected.

Incest victims are victims regardless of their age. What some people call ``consensual incest'' often begins as child sexual abuse. Even if the relationship continues into adulthood, there is still a perpetrator and still a victim. In addition, it is hugely unfair to require an incest victim to report a relative to the police.

In the future, should the House again consider legislation railing to abortion, I urge my colleagues to bring the bill through regular order so that all Members can participate in the debate over this sensitive issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Dr. Lori A. Williams, who will be honored as the 137th President of the Lackawanna County Medical Society during its Annual Presidential Reception on Saturday, January 24. Dr. Williams has brought her training and education to the task of providing and improving health care in Eynon, Lackawanna County, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Williams is an alumnus of the University of Scranton and Hahneman Medical School. She completed her internship and residency at MacDill AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi. Dr. Williams is board certified in internal medicine. She served three years as a staff internist at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. After serving as a major in the Air Force, Dr. Williams returned home to northeast Pennsylvania.

Upon returning to Eynon, Dr. Williams set up a private practice where she has been a driving force in the Lackawanna medical community. Throughout her career, Dr. Williams has provided exceptional medical care and served as a leader in her field. An outspoken advocate for fellow physicians, she has served on the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Dr. Williams has also served as the Society's chief spokesperson on patient rights and quality of care issues.

It is a great honor to recognize Dr. Lori Williams for her work in the medical field. I am grateful for her leadership and advocacy in the Lackawanna medical community. May she continue to achieve excellence in providing care to the citizens of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Francis Chesko, who is being recognized by the Mahanoy City Historical Society on Saturday, December 13, 2014. During World War II, Mr. Chesko took part in the D-Day Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge, reached the rank of sergeant in the 148th Engineer Battalion, received five Bronze Stars and the Army Presidential Unit Citation for his service.

In 1942, Francis received his basic training in Camp Shelby, Mississippi. In October, he was deployed and stationed in Swidon, England, where he helped construct a Bailey bridge and a landing strip. While in Swindon, Francis was informed that his brother Joseph, who was also enlisted, was stationed 25 miles away from Francis's post. The two were able to visit each other one weekend with permission from Francis's captain. Shortly thereafter, Francis's outfit was ordered to move south to Southampton and prepare to leave for German-occupied France. On June 6, 1944, Francis landed on Utah Beach as part of the Allied Invasion of Normandy.

On July 19, 1944, Francis was wounded during German shelling in the town of La Haye du Puits. He returned to Swindon for treatment. After his recovery, Francis was sent back across the English Channel and joined the 7th Armored Division in Holland. While serving with the 7th Armored Division, Francis endured the Battle of the Bulge. During the battle, while his unit was constructing a small tree-cut bridge, Francis narrowly avoided being hit by an 88-mm enemy mortar shell.

While guarding a bridge in Holland, German forces took Francis's unit by surprise. After a friendly anti-tank round misfired, Francis and comrades had to fall back from their position. While trying to avoid a German tank, Francis was knocked over by debris sent flying by enemy gunfire. Friendly reinforcements arrived and disabled the German armor. Later, German forces began bombarding Francis's position. In the midst of the shelling, he took cover in a ditch and did not discover until the next morning that a mortar struck the ground above. Fortunately, the round did not go off.

Francis's unit was dug in at the town of St. Vith, Belgium when Germans attacked the town on December 17, 1944. His division was ordered to hold their position for three days; they held it for five. German forces eventually took the town, but on January 23, Allied Forces recaptured it. After the Battle of the Bulge, Francis's unit helped construct the longest bridge of the war (1,300 feet) over the Rhine river. As he pushed into Germany, Allied Forces liberated 1,200 captive American soldiers.

Francis currently resides in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania with his wife Rose. They have been married over 65 years and have been blessed with 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. I am sure Francis has been thanked many times for his brave service to his country, but, today, I add one more official notation of gratitude for his heroic answer to our nation's call to military duty.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Blaise Alan Dente for being awarded UNICO's ``Man of the Year'' Award for 2014. Mr. Dente is a lifelong resident of Pittston, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Seton Catholic High School. Mr. Dente received a Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. Today, he is the owner of Dente's Catering and Rental, which has been voted the Sunday Dispatch's ``Best Caterer of Greater Pittston'' in both 2011 and 2013.

Mr. Dente is a member of the American Culinary Federation, a national organization of chefs, cooks, and culinary students. Through this association, he obtained his certification as a Certified Chef de Cuisine, which he has held since 2003. He was also inducted as an ``honorary fellow'' in the American Academy of Chefs, the prestigious honor society within the American Culinary Federation. In addition, Mr. Dente is a member of the local chapter of ACF, Professional Chefs of Northeast Pennsylvanian. Within this local chapter, he has chaired several committees and has years of service in various chapter offices. Mr. Dente has also held the position of Chapter President and currently serves as the chapter's Chairman of the Board. In 2008, he was named Chapter Chef of the Year.

Mr. Dente is also an active member of the local community. He serves as a Eucharistic Minister, lector, and usher at his church, Our Lady of the Eucharist. Mr. Dente is a member of both the Wilkes-Barre and Greater Scranton Chambers of Commerce and sits on the Executive Board of Directors, Pittston Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Mr. Dente volunteers for the Pittston Tomato Festival Committee and is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus Council 372 & Assembly 948. He is also a member of the Color Guard Core Group and serves as Assembly Faithful Scribe. In 2010, Mr. Dente was named one of the ``Top 40 under 40'' Business Professionals. Mr. Dente is also a graduate of Leadership Wilkes-Barre.

It is a great honor to recognize Mr. Dente's many achievements and to congratulate him being UNICO's ``Man of the Year'' for 2014. I wish him continued success with his business and express my gratitude for his involvement in the community.