Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor John Sweeney of Havertown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Sweeney entered the United States Navy after graduating from high school in 1943, and served aboard the USS Hancock. The Hancock took part in some of World War II's most pivotal battles, including the invasions of the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Mr. Sweeney was honored for his heroic service and awarded the Philippines Liberation Medal, two Battle Stars and a Presidential Unit Commendation.

It was during his time in the Navy, that Mr. Sweeney befriended his shipmate, John Finn. Lt. Finn received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions at Pearl Harbor. During the Japanese surprise attack, Lt. Finn manned his machine gun and fought off the Japanese Zeroes for two and half hours even as he took an onslaught of bullets and shrapnel. And for the past nine years, John Sweeney has tirelessly worked to honor Lt. John Finn, who passed away in 2009.

On February 15th, 2011, those efforts proved successful as the Navy announced that a new guided missile destroyer will be named the USS John Finn. For these efforts Mr. Sweeney is being honored by American Legion Post 667 in Havertown. On behalf of a grateful nation, I congratulate Mr. Sweeney on his efforts to ensure that Lt. Finn's name and legacy lives on, and for his service during World War II, reflecting great credit upon himself and the United States Navy.

Mr. Speaker, let me take a moment to associate myself with the remarks of the gentlelady from California and commend her for her efforts in this point to identify the steps that can be taken to alleviate the issue of unaddressed rapes in the military. As a former prosecutor, I commend that effort and urge my colleagues, in a bipartisan fashion, to pay attention to this issue and hope that we might be able to find common ground to alleviate this injustice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 36 remarkable young people in my own district. The following students from Pennsylvania's Seventh Congressional District will receive my nomination for the United States Service Academies.

Nominated to the United States Military are: Domenic Luciani from Monsignor Bonner High School, Nicholas Gustaitis from B. Reed Henderson High School, Andrew Helbling from La Salle College High School, Evan Harkins from West Chester Bayard Rustin High School, Kunal Jha from Delaware County Christian High School, Daniel McCormick from The Episcopal Academy, Ryan Fulmer from Devon Preparatory School, Dean Feinman from Haverford High School, and Isacc Wagner graduating from the Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Accreditation Agency.

Nominated to the United States Naval Academy are: Maxwell Wiechec from West Chester East High School, Sean Ridinger from Marple Newtown High School, Timothy Bell from Archbishop John Carroll High School, Micheal Cerrato from Methacton Senior High School, Fletcher Criswell from Spring-Ford Senior High School, Micheal Dartnell from Monsignor Bonner High School, Thomas Dolan from Ridley High School, Andrew Driban from Garnet Valley High School, Peter Guo from Conestoga High School, Joseph Horn from Roman Catholic High School, William Kacergis from The Episcopal Academy, Alexander La Bruno from St. Joseph's Preparatory School, Brian Landi from Marple Newtown High School, Luke Lawrence from West Chester East High School, Michael McKernan from Penncrest High School, Eric Milkowski from Monsignor Bonner High School, Jackson Pierucci from Malvern Preparatory School, Thomas Shiiba from Strath Haven High School, Joseph Sincavage from St. Joseph's Prepatory School, and Eric Csop from Strath Haven High School has been nominated to both the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy.

Nominated to the United States Air Force Academy are: Caitlin Sullivan from Radnor Senior High School, Rebecca Bates from Villa Maria Academy, Kevin Brewer from Monsignor Bonner High School, Meghan Callahan from Cardinal O'Hara High School, and Kyle Schwirian from Spring-Ford High School.

And lastly, to the United States Merchant Marine Academy are: Kelly Choi from Garnet Valley High School and Peter Heinbockel from Strath Haven High School.

Mr. Speaker, it's my privilege to nominate these fine young men and women to our United States Service Academies, some of the finest institutions in the world. These exceptional students have demonstrated themselves to be the best of the best. I invite the people of southeastern Pennsylvania to join me in honoring them for their willingness to serve our country, and I wish each and every one of them all of the best in their bright futures ahead.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to stand with my colleagues, Erik Paulsen, Mike Quigley, Larry Bucshon, and Brian Higgins, in a true bipartisan fashion to deliver the exciting news to the entire House that this team, skating together as part of the Congressional Hockey Caucus after a 2-year absence, on Sunday at the Verizon Center won back the important cup in a victory of 5 3 over the Lobbyists.

It's tough enough staying together, but Quigley is awfully chippy and we have to watch his back. There's absolutely no question about that.

Mr. Speaker, this is a great game for the spirit of the conference, but in all honesty, the true value of this game is it is a charity. With the great cooperation and support of the National Hockey League, the Washington Capitals and owner Ted Leonsis, we were able to raise in excess of $160,000; and those dollars first will be dedicated to support a program that the National Hockey League has, which is, Hockey is for Everyone, and that is to bring the game of hockey to inner-city youth who would otherwise not have an opportunity.

More significantly, Mr. Speaker, in cooperation with the National Hockey League, and for the first time, there has been a commitment that has been made. Part of these proceeds will be matched with commitments that will, with Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the National Hockey League, support scholarships now for the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, to the college fund. They will help support 4-year scholarships to one of the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities for an inner-city youth. We are excited and grateful to be a part of it.

I yield to my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley).

I rise in support of this motion this morning, but for a very important reason. The politics here is thicker than Maine molasses, but if you take time and you go back and you talk to the real job creators in your district, you'll see the commonsense approach that's being detailed right here to look for a solution.

The House has already voted. We have supported the idea of passing the payroll tax. We've passed that bill. We supported the reimbursement for the doctors so we can continue to create certainty in the relationships between doctors and their patients. We've passed that bill. Now we've got to come back and work out the differences. But when the difference becomes a 2-month extension, it defies common sense.

I sat this morning and spoke with one of the individuals who is a tax accountant in my district. The quarterly tax return is the way so many small businesses do their work. The quarterly tax return, a 3-month situation. This bill would require us to go and just change these forms all over the country. Let me just close my comments with the words of the NFIB.

Employers who don't have correct withholding calculations will have to collect more from employees and amend their employment tax returns later next year, which may increase their chances for an audit.

This is the kind of insanity that we're looking at: small businesses being audited because Congress can't do their work.

Mr. Speaker, in Pennsylvania and across the country, we are moving forward to develop American sources of energy. This development will reduce energy prices for hardworking taxpayers, create jobs for Americans and lessen our dependence on foreign oil. As this important development moves forward, we must remain strongly committed to protecting our environment and ensuring these operations are safe and responsible.

The production of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania is an economic driver for our State but it also presents unique challenges. Thousands of wells have already been drilled in Pennsylvania, and many more and thousands of miles of Marcellus-related pipeline are planned in the Keystone State alone. Most of these facilities are unmanned and spread across rural areas, making monitoring and data communication difficult. Critical failures of these systems can cause untold environmental and economic damage, yet we may not know of these failures until far too much damage has been done. There is an urgent need for better systems to monitor wells and pipelines for leaks, damage and anomalies to protect the environment and the public.

The House has taken a step to address these deficiencies in passing H.R. 2845, the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011. Among other provisions, the bill requires the Secretary of Energy to continue evaluating industry safety standards and readiness to respond to infrastructure failures. In performing these evaluations, I encourage the Secretary to investigate the utility of secured, meshed wireless networks. These meshed networks--multi-antenna, no-root meshed-radio systems--can provide continuous monitoring and then alert operations personnel and first responders to leaks and damage in real- time. They can be expanded as new operations are brought online and added to exploration vehicles like ships and trucks, improving communications potential in the critical first minutes after an incident.

As the Secretary moves forward with his safety review and evaluations pursuant to the bill, I encourage the consideration of secured, meshed wireless networks as a possible means of ensuring both real-time monitoring of remote energy infrastructure and swift, seamless response and communication in the event of leaks or other critical failures.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Ed Snider, the owner of the Philadelphia Flyers hockey club, on being inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. This is a special occasion, not only for the city of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley as a whole, but particularly for those who love the game of hockey, myself included.

Ed's tremendous success with the Flyers franchise--winning two Stanley Cups and reaching the finals six times--contributed to making Philadelphia a Class A hockey town. However, the key is that he has really given back to communities.

Through his organization, the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, he teaches high-risk inner city boys and girls from Philadelphia the game of hockey. But it prepares them with life skills for success in school and life as well. Hard work, honest effort, teamwork, dedication, and a solid work ethic are instilled in these children as life lessons and values as part of participation in this program. It is through these lessons that his organization helps our children become good and productive citizens. His philanthropic cause is significant to our region and to these young children in our area.

Congratulations to Ed Snider on this recognition.

I rise in support of H.R. 1254 for the very practical reason that, as a prosecutor, I have seen the impact of what can be done when children are lured into the false promise, into the sense that somehow, because it's synthetic, it doesn't present the same kind of danger as the drugs that are often believed to be the most dangerous--the heroins, the cocaines. These are luring kids into a false sense of security.

As has been suggested, this evidence isn't anecdotal. I have had the chance to visit an emergency department at one of the leading children's hospitals in the Nation where we have seen a dramatic rise in families who are being affected because their children are coming in and are under the control of these synthetic substances. For that reason, the American College of Emergency Physicians supports this bill.

Lastly, I think we have it backwards. If what we're trying to say is that somehow we've got to let these children be exposed while we wait with the potential that there could be research done, the fact of the matter is I have worked with pharmaceutical companies and with the DEA to be able to get access to drugs that have been held under control. That can be done in working with the DEA. That's the solution. It's not the solution to put our kids at risk.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Springfield Township's 1st Ward Commissioner Thomas Mahoney who will be retiring at the conclusion of this year. His political career began on October 10, 1989, when he was appointed to that very position. For almost 25 years Thomas has been an outstanding leader in the community, as well as an advocate for the improvement of Springfield Township for the benefit of all. First elected Vice-President of the Board of Commissioners in 1994, Thomas has honorably served as President for 11 of the past 15 years. From raising a family to being involved with the Youth Club and the Athletic Association his commitment to Springfield Township has never wavered. Thank you for all of your hard work and best of luck in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Collingdale Borough Councilman John J. Dintino. After 37 years of honorable service, he will retire on December 5, 2011. Having served continuously since joining the Borough Council on January 5, 1975, John's service has left immeasurable contributions on the community. For many years he was the Chairman of the Public Safety Committee and is the current Chairman of the Highway and Sanitation Committee. Through hard work and tremendous commitment, John has helped make the Borough of Collingdale a great place to work, live, and raise a family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 125th Anniversary of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. This is especially true in Delaware County. The business owners and entrepreneurs help make our region what it is today. These businesses have been relying on the support and services of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce for 125 years. They are a true asset to our community. The Chamber provides businesses with valuable benefits, seminars and programs that give our business community the tools they need to succeed.

Particularly during this time of economic uncertainty, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce provides an immeasurable benefit. As the bridge between business and government, the Chamber has helped create a business friendly environment. By showcasing the incredible benefits of Delaware County, the Chamber is demonstrating why they are poised to lead us into a new era of growth.

On behalf of the region's residents, I congratulate the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce on its 125th anniversary. I want to

thank the Board, staff and members for their service to southeastern Pennsylvania and for making our region a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. I wish them all the best for continued success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 733, the Pancreatic Cancer Research Education Act. Oftentimes, we talk about numbers, Mr. Speaker, but often there's the occasion to actually talk to the people who are behind the bills. One of the most moving experiences I have had is to have had a visit to my office by a young woman by the name of Sienna Gonzalez, who visited with her mother and her family. You see, Sienna's mother is a victim of pancreatic cancer; and Sienna is on a mission, along with many of her friends, to help people fight to find a cure for pancreatic cancer.

She took a lead by urging so many of her friends and colleagues in her classroom, and I hold in my hand just one of the volumes of hundreds upon hundreds of letters that came and were so moving.

The facts speak for themselves: 43,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; 36,000 will die just this year; and the life expectancy after announcement of that is about 3 to 6 months. I think the words are better said, however, by some of the students.

People are losing a lot of friends and family, writes Aly, because of this horrible, horrifying disease. We are trying to help. Did you know that this disease is one of the few cancers for which survival has not improved substantially? In over 40 years, survival rates have not changed. The average life span after diagnosis is 3 to 6 months. Please use more of your research money to help these people if you can. Thank you.

That's just one of the hundreds of letters.

I want to express my deep appreciation of Dr. Timothy Quinn, the superintendent of the Methacton School District; Mrs. Melissa Gora, the principal; but, mostly, the hundreds and hundreds of students who have taken the time to ensure that their voices are heard. As they said: pancreatic cancer: know it, fight it, end it.

Thank you for your role in making sure that my colleagues understand the importance of this great challenge and the opportunity that we have to fight for those with pancreatic cancer.

First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry's 237th Anniversary

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry on the occasion of their 237th anniversary. This volunteer cavalry troop was the first of its kind organized in the defense of our country during the American Revolution. Through those hard-fought years is where the original members forged concepts of service and a body of tradition which is kept alive today by its current members.

The First Troop Cavalry is a private military organization whose membership is comprised of members of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard who serve with A Troop 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry in the 28th Infantry Division. Many of their members have served overseas, including Afghanistan and Iraq. Their service to our country is immeasurable, and we should all be extremely thankful.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding.

One trillion $1 bills. We're talking about trying to make sense of a trillion dollars. If they were stacked on top of each other, they would reach nearly 68,000 miles into the sky, about a third of the way from the Earth to the Moon. As of yesterday, our national debt was 15 times that $1 trillion.

Fifteen years ago the balanced budget amendment passed the House with bipartisan support, only to lose by one vote in the Senate. Since that time, our Nation's debt has grown $9.2 trillion more.

Every day families make tough decisions in order to live within their means. But when it comes to our country's bank account, both parties in Washington simply don't practice these responsible habits.

It is wrong for us to accumulate this mounting debt that we know we're never going to repay. Instead, we expect our children and our grandchildren to do so. It's our obligation to pass on the blessings of liberty, not a crushing debt to our posterity.

A certain way to ensure that is that Congress and the President will not allow the U.S. to be driven further into debt, and that is to pass an amendment to the Constitution forcing our government to balance the budget each year. Promising to make cuts in Federal spending is one thing, but an amendment to the Constitution demanding it is quite another.

A balanced budget would legally force Congress to spend only what it takes in, and it protects taxpayers and small businesses from the threat of higher taxes to cover Washington's spending habits. This will be for a better future for our children and our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3321.

While it may be identified as the America's Cup Act, and the reasons behind it having been clearly articulated by our good friends across the aisle, I want to drive home, as well, the fact that there are some additional issues that will be served by the passage of this bill. And what it relates to is a genuine opportunity today for people from both sides of the aisle to support the creation of genuine, blue-collar jobs immediately.

Mr. Speaker, what this bill will do is allow for a simple process to take place. In my own district of southeastern Pennsylvania, which is adjacent to the Delaware River, we have the opportunity to re-flag three vessels. What that means is three vessels that were built here in the United States, and that because of their service went outside the continent of the United States for a period of time, must now come back into the United States. In order to do that, they have to be able to comply with the Jones Act. With a simple vote today, we will be able to put these three vessels back into service here in the continental United States.

But the significance of this, most importantly, Mr. Speaker, in my backyard is the fact that what they will do is create the opportunity for the creation of new jobs that will relate to the utilization and transportation of the gas that is being developed in this country, 25 good, blue-collar jobs in my district which will sustain themselves, and close to 300 to 400 construction jobs in which people will be put to work as soon as possible building the extension of a pipeline that will go out into western Pennsylvania.

This is an opportunity for people from both sides of the aisle to put hardworking blue-collar workers back to work almost immediately by helping us cure what is a simple, technical issue. I strongly support the passage of this important bill because it will help put people back to work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the Springfield Literacy Center, which is an innovative district-wide initiative in Springfield Township, Delaware County School System in the Seventh District of Pennsylvania, which I have the privilege to represent.

Like so many of my colleagues, when we have our district work week, it gives us the chance to go back and really spend some quality time engaging with a number of the groups. While the principal focus of my work weeks is to go back and work on the issue of jobs and the creation of opportunities, particularly with small businesses, one of the issues that many of them will talk to me about is the unpreparedness of many of our graduates to be able to take on the jobs, particularly the jobs in the expanding global economy which we face.

One of the issues is the ability to do fundamental things. I visited this literacy center last week because it's setting the standard for educational excellence in the 21st century. It's a community-wide focus on the issue of the fundamental of reading, and it started with the superintendent on down and every teacher in the school district focused on having the ability for every child being able to read.

This particular literacy center brings their entire second grade class from the full district together to learn. While it's an architecturally impressive area which supports the learning concept, it's really the individualized attention that's given to each and every student, identifying where they are in the process and, if necessary, going down and even to an individual basis to help them stay current with their class.

The literacy center is the foundation of Springfield Township's literacy first initiative, which aims to ensure that every child leaves elementary school reading at grade level. Let me repeat that: every child leaves elementary school reading at grade level. The center's teachers accomplish this by designing an individual literacy curriculum designed for each student. Lessons often use creative techniques, and the settings are tailored to individual students' learning styles. The key thing here is that students do not fall behind and they are prepared as they move into later education to stay with the rest of their class.

With these innovative techniques and through the hard work of the literacy center's teachers, students and families after only 5 years of operation, 99 percent of its students were reading at grade level. Let me repeat that again: 99 percent of its students were reading at grade level.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the Springfield Literacy Center and its staff for all that they do in making a difference in the lives of their students and their communities. But I suggest to you that this is the kind of model that we should be replicating so that all American students will be prepared to have the fundamental of reading be a central part of their ability to be prepared to compete in the global economy.

I rise in support of the Infrastructure Jobs and Energy Independence Act. Let me first just start with the element of process because I want to follow up on what the gentleman from Minnesota was so articulate in explaining.

On the merits, we can speak to why this is right for America, but today we're seeing scrutiny of the inability of the Congress to come together with commonsense solutions that address the real needs of the American people today and that will help us put people back to work today. Right before us here, we have just such a bill--one that enjoys bipartisan support in which you have leadership from both sides identifying the ability for us to use existing resources. Much like the way today we use the tax on gas, this allows us to generate the revenue to support the creation of a real commitment to infrastructure.

As a member of the Transportation Committee, I struggle with the reality of the tremendous challenges we have from bridges to roads to waterways across the Nation.

We have an opportunity to address that need. We have an opportunity to do it without having to continue the greatest wealth transfer in the history of America, which is the petro dollars we are spending to foreign nations. It is time for us to join together and support the Infrastructure Jobs and Energy Independence Act.