Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today I honor the PA 211 Northeast/ Help Line for 50 years of service to Northeastern Pennsylvania in partnership with the Family Service Association. For the past five decades, the Help Line has been a source for anyone seeking referrals to social service and support agencies or information in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This occasion will be marked with a Spring Fling and Auction celebration on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

In 1972, Hurricane Agnes and the resulting flood devastated the region, causing billions of dollars of damage and leaving citizens in need of food, shelter, and other necessities. In response to this tragedy, the Wilkes-Barre City Demonstration Agency, the Department of Public Welfare, and the Wyoming Valley United Fund all came together to establish and provide financial support for the Wilkes-Barre Information System, later renamed PA 211 Help Line, to provide vital information for the survivors of this disaster. They chose Family Service Association to operate the service. During the first year, 3,000 calls were answered regarding food, utility information, and transport services as the region slowly recovered from the flood.

In 1975, after entering into agreements with several area agencies, the Help Line became a twenty-four-hour crisis hotline. Soon after, additional agencies signed on, and Help Line was now the crisis center for most Wyoming Valley social service agencies.

While continuing to provide information and referrals, Help Line has also become a place to call when an individual needs someone to listen to them, and a team of crisis caseworkers is able to provide support and referrals to additional services as needed. In 2011, Help Line, now operating under its current name, grew beyond an active listing of local agencies to include regional, state, and national resources

Since 1972, Help Line has answered more than 3.1 million calls from its 17-county coverage area and beyond. The team has responded to numerous disasters over the years such as the blizzard of 1993, the September 11th terrorist attacks, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, Help Line continues to grow and thrive. With one phone number, callers can freely obtain resources on how to access thousands of programs and services aiming to improve the quality of their lives.

I am honored to congratulate the Family Service Association and PA 211 Northeast/Help Line for 50 years of steadfast dedication to supporting the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania. I wish them great success in the future as they continue to provide essential services to those who need it most.

Madam Speaker, today I honor Joseph F. Long, Jr. who will be awarded the Achievement Award by the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick at their annual gathering on March 17, 2022.

Joseph attended Bishop Hoban High School. and after graduating in 1982, he continued his education at Kings College, earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education. He went on to receive two master's degrees from Wilkes-University, the first in 2004 in classroom technology and the second in 2006 in educational leadership.

In 1997, Joseph began his teaching career as a middle school math and science teacher at St. Mary's Assumption School in Pittston, Pennsylvania. In 2001, he accepted a position teaching technology at Pittston Area Intermediate Center while also completing his educational leadership training. In 2006, Joseph transitioned from the classroom to administration, working for the Greater Nanticoke Area School District. While at Nanticoke, he was: trained and certified in the Student Assistant Program (SAP) and completed the state mandated National Institute of School Leadership Courses. Joseph then took on the role of principal of Montgomery Avenue Intermediate Center for the Wyoming Area School District. In 2014, he received his Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility from Edinboro University, and today he serves as the superintendent of the Northwest Area School District in Shickshinny.

Always invigorated by being around young people and helping them reach their full potential, Joseph was a successful youth sports coach. He began his coaching career in 1985 at Plains Junior High School for the 7th and 8th grade basketball teams. In 1990, he started coaching basketball at E.L. Meyers High School where he helped lead the varsity team to four Wyoming Valley Conference Championships, one PIAA District II second place finish, and four state tournament appearances. In 1997. Joseph accepted the head varsity coach position at Seton Catholic High School. During his ten years with the Eagles, his teams won over 130 games, two Wyoming Valley Conference Championships, and one PIAA District Two Championship and had two PIAA District II second places finishes and four state tournament appearances. While at Seton, he was named Wyoming Valley Conference Coach of the Year twice. Joseph's coaching career came to an end after four years at Luzerne County Community College.

In addition to his work as an educator and coach. Joseph is a dedicated volunteer in his community. He is an active member of the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, serving as the 104th president of the organization in 2018. He has been the treasurer for the board of directors of the Greater Pittston Library and the Jenkins Township Little League. Since 2013, he has also been the assistant district administrator for the PA District 16/31 Little League Board in charge of the major league boy's baseball division. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus as a member of the board, and in 2013, he was awarded his Fourth Degree Knighthood.

I am honored to join with the Greater Pittston friendly Sons of St. Patrick in recognizing Joseph for his tireless commitment to serving his community and uplifting young people through sport and education. May he continue to find fulfillment and purpose in this work. I wish him the best this St. Patrick's Day.

Madam Speaker, today I honor William J. Thornton who will be awarded the W. Francis Swingle Award by the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick at their annual gathering on March 17, 2022.

Bill, son of Bill Thornton and Kathie Bender Elechko, was raised in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, along with his four siblings. He graduated from Wyoming Area High School with the Class of 1994, and he attended Penn State University where he earned a degree in management science and information systems. He later went on to receive an MBA in finance from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

Bill began his career as a technology consultant working in the Philadelphia area with life sciences companies including Pfizer, Roche, Johnson & Johnson, and Eli Lily. He then transitioned to working as a computer programmer for Amgen, a biotech company that specializes in products for treatment of blood disorders, osteoporosis, and other inflammatory conditions. Continuing his work on the technical side of health care, Bill joined the team at Allergan, a global leader in medical aesthetics, eye care, and neurological disorders. He spent 11 years at Allergan as an IT executive working across business units in research and development, manufacturing, sales, and marketing, and he was the IT leader for the emerging markets of Latin America and Asia, supporting 17 countries and $1 billion in revenue. Bill currently serves as the Chief Information Officer for Sarepta Therapeutics in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His role at Sarepta supports their mission to engineer solutions for rare diseases with science that is on the forefront of precision genetic medicine. Bill is also a partner and member of Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan School of Management.

Bill is a sustaining member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. His maternal grandfather, Ted Bender, proudly served as the 60th president of the organization in 1973. Bill was awarded the Friendly Sons Annual Student Scholarship in 1994, and his wife, Susan, was a scholarship recipient in 1995.

Bill is a dedicated volunteer and is actively involved in his local community to support youth sports and school events. He and his wife have three daughters, Erin, Emily, and Allie.

I am honored to join with the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in recognizing Bill as the 2022 Swingle Award Winner. He has dedicated his career to supporting cutting edge medical research in the life sciences industry while also volunteering his time to support his community. May he continue to find fulfillment in his work and giving back to his fellow citizens.

Madam Speaker, today I honor Robert J. Joyce who will be named the Man of the Year by the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick at their annual gathering on March 17, 2022.

Bob, a lifelong resident of Avoca, Pennsylvania, is the son of the late Robert and Eleanor Burns Joyce. He graduated from Pittston Area High School before attending the Pennsylvania State University's Smeal College of Business where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. He then studied finance at the graduate level at the University of Scranton's Kania School of Management. He is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware and Leadership Wilkes-Barre.

Bob has had a successful career in the finance and insurance industries. He served as the Vice President of Finance at the Eastern Bank, N.A. in Wilkes-Barre, and he is currently a Vice President of the Plateau Group, Inc., an insurance holding company. He is responsible for managing, marketing, and distribution of specialty insurance lines for lenders throughout New England and the Mid Atlantic. He held similar roles at AIG American General and USLIFE Corporation. Bob shares his expertise in the industry by serving on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Financial Services Association and as a member of the Independent Community Bankers Association of America and the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Bob is an active community volunteer. He is a member of Queen of the Apostles Parish where he serves on the Finance Council. He is a Trustee and Third-Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Cardinal John J. O'Connor Council 12967 in Avoca. He has volunteered as a youth sports coach for the Avoca-Dupont Little League and managed the Avoca-Dupont-Pittston Teener League Team. He was a co-founder of the Our Lady of Peace-Holy Cross Junior High School Baseball Team. He is a longtime member of and former basketball coach for the Avoca Jolly Boys Association. Bob is also a proud member of the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and served as Toastmaster for the 90th annual gathering in 2004.

Bob is married to Noreen Nixon Joyce, and they have two children, Bobby, a Philadelphia-based accountant, and Bridgeen, a graduate student at Georgetown University.

I am honored to join the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in recognizing Bob as the 2022 Man of the Year. He has built a successful career in finance while continuing to honor his Avoca roots by tirelessly giving back to and supporting his community. May he continue to find professional success and satisfaction in community- based endeavors. I wish him the best this St. Patrick's Day.

Madam Speaker, today I honor Temple Israel of Scranton and its congregation who will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Temple's founding June 10-12, 2022. The congregation was organized in July 1921, but the celebration to mark this joyous occasion was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On July 14, 1921, a group of Jews gathered at the YMCA in response to urging by their peers to establish a modern synagogue in the City of Scranton. The result of that founders meeting was Temple Israel, a synagogue that ``would comply with the thoughts of the American Jew and would be conducted in accordance with the best traditions of Judaism.'' On September 21, 1921, Rabbi Alfred H. Kahn was installed as the first rabbi. During the final months of 1921, a Hebrew School was organized, the Temple was granted its charter, and the constitution and by-laws of the Temple were adopted.

On April 11, 1923, plans to build a new Temple began, and a committee to oversee the process was formed with Isadore Finkelstein as chairman. Over the next three years, the committee drafted a report, raised funds, approved architectural plans, and hired contractors. On May 18, 1926, they broke ground for the new Temple, and on September 11, 1927, Rabbi Max Arzt dedicated the Temple in the afternoon and an evening banquet followed. The celebrations continued throughout the week with a Hebrew School Night, Ladies' Auxiliary Night, Open House Night, the Dedication Ball, and culminated with religious services on Friday and Saturday.

Rabbi Arzt, who served Temple Israel from 1924 to 1939 before joining the faculty of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, was not the only prominent clergy member to lead the congregation. Other distinguished clergy include Rabbis Simon Shoop and David Geffen and Cantor William S. Horn, who served 50 years as cantor and youth instructor for the Temple Israel Junior Congregation and Hebrew School, which educated thousands of Scranton's Jewish youths over the past 100 years.

Today, Temple Israel remains the only Conservative Synagogue in Lackawanna County and boasts a vibrant and welcoming congregation in the heart of the City of Scranton. Rabbi Miriam Spitzer, one of the first female rabbis, and Cantor Vladimir Aronzon, who has served for more than two decades, are the Temple's current clergy. They, along with the dedicated volunteers who serve as officers and on the board of directors, work tirelessly to foster an environment and community to meet the spiritual, educational, and social needs of their members.

I am honored to join with Rabbi Spitzer and the entire Temple Israel congregation in celebrating 100 years of worship in the City of Scranton. Temple Israel has been an essential part of the Scranton community and Lackawanna County at large as a center for Jewish thought, learning, and worship. This multigenerational congregation that celebrates diversity, spirituality, and community has welcomed countless worshipers over the years, and I know it will continue to be a beacon of Jewish faith and tradition for many generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

I rise in support of this omnibus bill, in particular, the Commerce- Justice-Science title of the bill.

In commerce it makes smart investments that create good-paying American jobs with economic growth. It supports American manufacturing.

In justice, it makes funding increases for the police, creating better circumstances for public safety, for fighting crime, reducing gang and gun violence and in hate crime prevention.

And in science, it provides robust support for things Americans are proud of like NASA, the National Science Foundation, climate science research.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the staff for a lot of hard work on this bill. I thank Ranking Member Aderholt for working with me, and I urge support for this package.

Madam Speaker, today I honor James A. Conahan who will be named the 2022 Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Man of the Year at the organization's annual gathering on Friday, March 11, 2022. James joins an impressive cohort of men recognized by the Friendly Sons as Man of the Year, including his father who was honored in 2002.

James, born and raised in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, is the son of James Francis and Clare Conahan. He graduated from E.L. Meyers High School with the Class of 1981 and went on to attend King's College, earning a degree in health care management and playing baseball for the Monarchs.

James began his career in the health care field at Nesbitt Memorial Hospital in Kingston, Pennsylvania, where he worked as the manager of the sterile processing and distribution department. Following his work at Nesbitt Memorial Hospital, he joined the staff at Scranton Community Medical Center, now Geisinger CMC, as the operating room materials manager. For the past 24 years, James has worked as an executive sales account manager for 3M Medical Solutions Division where he serves the acute hospital market.

James has been a longtime supporter and member of the Greater Wilkes- Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, promoting and preserving Irish heritage in our region. He has served as president and president advisor, and he is the current chair of the Annual Golf Committee and Scholarship Committee, which supports a scholarship for local college students of Irish descent. He has been, and continues to be, involved in many of the Friendly Sons' endeavors, including the guest bartender program, the annual Wilkes-Barre St. Patrick's Day celebration, and the Irish teacher's program. In 2014, he was awarded the prestigious Michael ``Mickey'' Hayden Memorial Award by past president and Hayden's grandson, Patrick Peters, for his commitment preserving the region's Irish heritage.

In addition to his service to the Friendly Sons, James has been a familiar face throughout the community, lending his time and expertise to organizations in the area. As a former collegiate baseball player, he shared his love and knowledge of the game as an official for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) and as president of the Wyoming Valley Chapter of the PIAA Baseball Umpires. He spent ten years on the board of the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority as chair of the Personnel Committee and assistant treasurer. As a lifelong resident of Wilkes-Barre, James has been actively involved in promoting the growth and development of the city. He currently sits on the boards of the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority and Wilkes-Barre Municipal Authority. He also serves as ad hoc chair of the Wilkes-Barre Redevelopment Authority.

It is an honor to join with the Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in recognizing James as the Man of the Year. He has been a great champion of the City of Wilkes-Barre and the preservation of Irish American heritage in the region. I wish him all the best on St. Patrick's Day.

Mr. Speaker, as we heard last night in the President's State of the Union, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a once-in-a-lifetime investment in our Nation's economic foundation and our Nation's competitiveness.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes it possible for us to invest in passenger rail expansion and restoration; rebuild our roads, our bridges, our water systems, and our sewer systems; reclaim abandoned mine lands and reduce pollution; and so much more. It is the solution to improving our competitiveness on the world stage and recovering from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.

After years of talking about passing an infrastructure bill and week after week of infrastructure weeks, we have finally done it. We will begin seeing the benefits quite soon.

Thank God for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Mr. Speaker, here is the deal. When we send our servicemembers into harm's way the deal is that we are going to take care of them when they get back home. It is more than a deal; it is a pact. It is something sacred. But for far too long Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs have been slow in acting on that pact citing the high cost or the lack of science. The result is a disability claims benefit process that is cumbersome and places the burden on the veteran himself or herself to prove toxic exposure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment which streamlines this process. It helps ease the burden of the disability benefit claims process on servicemembers and their families by, number one, requiring the Secretary of the VA to share a list of resources for toxic-exposed veterans, caregivers of toxic-exposed veterans, and survivors of toxic- exposed vets, national veterans service organizations, and other veterans' groups.

Number two, it requires the VA Secretary to share an outreach program with those VSOs. I believe we have to take every step possible to ensure that we offer the best care to those who have served our Nation. My amendment is a step forward in reaching the goal that servicemembers and their families should be made aware of every resource, and that includes the resources included in the Honoring our PACT Act.

Madam Speaker, today I honor John C. Fletcher, who will be named the Man of the Year by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Paul ``Hook'' O'Malley Division 4 at their annual gathering on March 1, 2022.

John, the son of the late Elizabeth Charles and Bill E. Fletcher, was born on April 2, 1955 in Niagara Falls, New York. He, along with his three siblings, Bob, Linda, and Beth, attended Niagara Falls schools. In 1972, Bill moved his family to Scranton where he opened Fletcher's Hilltop Garage on Jackson Street. John graduated from Scranton High School as a member of the Class of 1972, and in 1973, he enlisted in the Army, earning the rank of specialist E4.

Following an honorable discharge from the Army in 1977, John enrolled at Lackawanna Junior College and earned an associate degree in business management. He put his degree to work by helping his father run the family gas station. John was then offered a position at Tobyhanna Army Depot where he was employed for 11 years.

With retirement on the horizon for his father, John resigned from Tobyhanna Army Depot to return to the family business in 1989. He kept the family business running with his brother, Bob, and, this year, the garage will celebrate its 50th anniversary of servicing vehicles in West Scranton.

John has always been an active member of his community, generously lending his time and talents to many organizations to support their mission. He is a former parishioner of St. David's Church and currently attends St. Patrick's Church in West Scranton where he is also a member of the Holy Name Society. He has been a longtime supporter of youth sports, volunteering his time to Little League baseball and the Trips Park Miss E League. John is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and a 30-year member of the Scranton Pool League. John has also served three decades as a judge of elections. Seeking to connect with his Irish heritage, he joined with his fellow Irish American Scrantonians to charter the Ancient Order of Hibernians Paul ``Hook'' O'Malley Division 4. Throughout the history of the Division, he has held many offices and is the current Shillelagh Man of the Year. His brothers in the Division recognize him as a dedicated and beloved member who would do anything for his fellow members or community at large.

John is the proud father of five children, Nina, Jonathan, Matt, Megan, and Ryan. He is known for being a loving father, a loyal friend, and for caring deeply about his fellow citizens.

I am honored to join with the Ancient Order of Hibernians Paul ``Hook'' O'Malley Division 4 in recognizing John as the Man of the Year. Selfless and hard-working Americans like John make our region a better place to live and work, and I am grateful for his service to his country and his community.

Madam Speaker, today I honor Duryea Mayor Keith Moss who retired from mayoral work in January after 20 years in office.

Keith, the son of the late George and Arlene Moss, was born and raised in Duryea, Pennsylvania along with his nine siblings. His interest in public service began as a young Boy Scout, and, at the age of 20, he joined the Germania Hose Company as a volunteer firefighter. He served the organization as president, vice president, and trustee.

Keith decided to run for Duryea council after his uncle, a councilman himself, suggested he would be a good fit for the job. In 1992, Keith ran for and was elected to Duryea Borough Council. During his time on the council, he worked closely with the Borough's police force, fostering a friendship with the late police chief Leonard Ash. It was Ash who first proposed the idea of running for mayor to Keith.

In 2001, a hallmark year for both Keith personally--he married his wife, Patricia--and for the Borough--it celebrated its centennial--he won the mayoral election. He confidently took on the office's duties of overseeing the police department, crafting the Borough budget, breaking vote ties at council meetings, and managing the Borough's public relations. In September 2011, when rain from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee flooded areas of Duryea, Keith helped his community work through the storm and its aftermath.

During his tenure as mayor, Keith worked to strengthen the sense of community in Duryea, organizing the Borough's involvement in National Night Out to foster community-police camaraderie and the Borough's Halloween party. He worked diligently to grow the Borough's police force to four full-time officers. He also found great joy and fulfillment in performing weddings, marrying more than 500 couples during his time in office.

Keith took great pride in his mayoral work and sought to share the wisdom he acquired on the job, and also to learn from others. He served as the chair of the Pennsylvania State Mayors Association's Mayor of the Year Committee. He also regularly worked with mayors from Pittston, Hughestown, West Pittston, and Old Forge.

In addition to his work as mayor, Keith has also been employed by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport as a maintenance firefighter. He additionally has served his community as the treasurer of the Duryea Lions Club, president of Duryea Borough Sewer Authority, vice president of the Greater Pittston Cultural Coalition, and the president of the Luzerne County National Recreation Trail, and he continues to volunteer with the Germania Hose Company. For his efforts, Keith was recognized by the Sunday Dispatch with the Joseph Saporito Jr Lifetime of Service Award.

I am honored to join with the citizens of Duryea in honoring the two- decade tenure of their beloved mayor. Keith has been a beacon of strength and stability for the Borough and has helped the community navigate a changing world. I wish Keith all the best as he begins this next phase of his life. May he continue to feel inspired to share his time and talents with his community.

Madam Speaker, today I honor Judge Thomas J. Munley who, after 16 years on the bench, recently retired from the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. Judge Munley is beloved by his colleagues and community as a fair and skilled jurist who treats everyone with respect and dignity.

A native Northeastern Pennsylvanian, Judge Munley graduated from Jessup High School in 1964. He continued his studies at East Stroudsburg University, graduating in 1968 with a degree in education. Judge Munley returned to his hometown to teach at his alma mater from 1968 to 1969. In 1969, he was drafted to serve in the Army and was sent to Vietnam on an 11-month tour as an infantryman with the 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. For his meritorious service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

After returning home from military service in 1971, Judge Munley enrolled in law school at Loyola University Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana. He earned his JD and was admitted into the Pennsylvania Bar in 1974. From 1976 to 1979, he served as Assistant Public Defender in Lackawanna County. In 1979, Judge Munley founded his own law practice and was renowned as a fiercely competent defense attorney, a formidable opponent in the courtroom.

In 2005, after 25 years at his own practice, Judge Munley ran for the seat on the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. He won the Democratic and Republican nominations in the May primary and easily prevailed in the November election. Judge Munley quickly earned the respect of his colleagues on the court, building on his acclaimed reputation as an attorney. The integrity and principle with which he conducted himself on the bench led his colleagues to elect him president-judge in 2011.

Inspired by his own time in the service and his experience as a veteran, Judge Munley has been a longtime, fierce advocate for veterans and their families. Since 2014, he has hosted the popular television program ``Veterans Views'' on NBC/WBRE-TV which aims to inform those who have served about the benefits and services to which they are entitled. He often receives a deluge of calls after the show from veterans seeking assistance, and he diligently calls them back. He is also a proud member of the American Legion and the VFW.

On January 1, 2022, Judge Munley retired to senior status as required by Pennsylvania's mandatory retirement age of 75. In his role of senior judge, he will serve in every county where the state Supreme Court grants him authority to hear matters. He also plans to continue his work on behalf of veterans and their families in his retirement.

I am honored to recognize the judicial career and lifetime of public service of Judge Thomas Munley. It is a privilege to call him a colleague in the legal profession, and I join with the entirety of Lackawanna County in thanking him for his service to his country and his community. May he continue to find fulfillment and purpose in this new chapter of his life.

Mr. Speaker, I could not be prouder that the Honoring our PACT Act includes my bill, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, and let me tell you why I wrote this bill. Between 1953 and 1987, two generations of marines and marine families and employees at Camp Lejeune were poisoned by the water at Camp Lejeune. Poisoned by water that by today's standards in health, 240 to 3,400 times the level of acceptable toxins was in that water. This was water that the marines drank. It was in the mess halls. It was water they showered with. It was water that they drank out from the water buffaloes and filled their canteens from while on exercise. This is water that was poisoned, and it not only poisoned the water of marines but also the marine families and the employees at Camp Lejeune.

Mr. Speaker, when marines volunteer for Marine duty, they know they are up for something dangerous. They know that the Marines pride themselves on being the first to fight. They know they are going to be in harm's way at some point, but when they went to Camp Lejeune for combat training, they didn't realize what their real enemy was going to be. It was going to be leukemia, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, aplastic anemia, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Parkinson's disease. Not only the marines, but their families were subject to this from the water.

I would like to thank the people who helped put together this bill, David Price, Greg Murphy, the Reverend William Barber, the veterans service organizations, 151 Republicans and Democrats who came together on this bill.

Folks, at long last, all of these great marines, these great Americans will get a shot at justice. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the PQ, ``yes'' on the rule, and let's vote ``yes'' on the Honoring our PACT Act and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor James Brogna who will be named the UNICAN of the Year for the UNICO National Scranton Chapter. He will be recognized at the Chapter's annual Charity Ball on February 26.

James is the son of Frank and the late Marie Lombardo and the brother of Frank, retired Lieutenant Colonel of the U.S. Marine Corps. He attended Bloomsburg University where he earned his BA in mass communications and public relations, and he earned his MS in organizational management from Misericordia University.

James began his career in television and radio, spending five years at WVIA Public Broadcasting and working at WGGY-FM and part time at WBRE TV. In 1999, he joined Allied Services Integrated Health System as the Director of Development. He currently serves as the Vice President of Strategic Partnership for the organization.

James has been fiercely dedicated to serving his community. He is a current board member of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber and Leadership Wilkes-Barre, and he was elected to the Crestwood School District's Board of Education in 2019. His expertise in the health and human services industry helped guide Northeastern Pennsylvania during COVID-19 through his service on the Luzerne County Pandemic Task Force and the S.O.S. NEPA Nursing Home Pandemic Task Force. He is a past member and former board member of the Rotary Club of the Abingtons and the Kiwanis Club of Mountain Top. He has been active with both Catholic Social Services of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) as a past Chair and Board Member.

In 2010, he co-founded WNEP-TV Ryan's Run Campaign which has raised more than $4 million for Allied Services. James himself has finished ten marathons, including the New York City, Scranton, and Marine Corps Marathons. James is also an effective fundraiser, championing veterans' causes like Catholic Social Services' St. Francis Commons for Veterans and Team Red, White & Blue, establishing a local chapter of the organization that helps veterans thrive in their transition from military to civilian life.

His sharp business acumen and his unyielding generosity with his time have earned him recognition as a Top 40 under 40 in Business in 2008 and the Outstanding Alumni Award from Leadership Wilkes-Barre. He was also named an Outstanding Fundraising Professional from the AFP and a Paul Harris Fellow Award recipient by Rotary International. He shares his extensive knowledge as a guest lecturer at the University of Scranton, Marywood University, and Misericordia University for undergraduate and masters level courses in marketing, non-profit leadership, and health care management.

I am honored to join with the Scranton Chapter of UNICO National in recognizing James for his commitment to his community and the work he does to uphold Allied Services' mission. May he continue to feel inspired and moved to work on behalf of the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Nathan Gray, who lost his battle with childhood cancer on January 6, 2022. In his eight years of life, Nathan's courage, positivity, and bright smile inspired many, raised awareness for childhood cancer, and banded a community together, inspiring others to do good.

Nathan was born on July 16, 2013 to Jeffrey and Patricia Gray, and he was the beloved brother of ten year old Jeffrey and six year old Natalie. When Nathan was two years old, he was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a rare form of kidney cancer. He fought cancer with the bravery of a superhero, enduring 221 doses of chemotherapy, 26 surgeries, 33 days of radiation, an oral inhibitor, and more than 100 blood platelet transfusions. Despite the challenges of his illness, Nathan attended St. Nicholas-St. Mary's School and enjoyed swimming, playing video games, and riding his bike.

Nathan's bravery and joy garnered local attention in August 2016 when the Facebook page ``Nathan the Super Hero'' was started by his family lo document his battle with cancer. Thousands of people have followed the page, sharing words of encouragement. celebrating the joyful moments, and offering comfort and support during the challenging ones. Nathan quickly became a local celebrity, inspiring members of the community with his infectious simile and relentless courage. The community rallied around Nathan. cheering him on and making him feel special. In February 2020, the Wilkes-Barre Area Wolfpack named him honorary team captain before they played their inaugural home game at Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium. In August 2020, Wilkes-Barre police and fire department vehicles paraded past his home while well-wishers delivered gifts, and, in December 2021, carolers visited Nathan to spread some Christmas cheer. Just last month, the Wilkes-Barre council unanimously voted to rename the Barney Farms Park in Nathan's honor.

Nathan's family's willingness to be open and share their son's experiences with Wilms tumor helped shed important light on the issue of childhood cancer and the need for more aggressive research and increased funding for prevention and cures--so that children like Nathan do not have to suffer.

I am honored to recognize the life and legacy of this brave young man. Nathan's memory will live on with his beloved family and friends and the large community that he inspired with his determination and positivity.