Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate E.T. Richardson Middle School, in the Springfield School District of Pennsylvania, on their re-designation as a School to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grade Reform and the Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn Schools: ``Schools to Watch Program.''

Schools that earn the Schools to Watch designation demonstrate academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational processes. E.T. Richardson Middle School has demonstrated its commitment to educating young students in the community and preparing them for success in and beyond middle school. The middle school provides a rigorous curriculum and offers many academic, athletic and social activities open to all students.

I congratulate Principal Daniel Tracy and all the school's hardworking teachers, staff, students and parents for earning this impressive distinction.

Mr. Speaker, today I honor Lieutenant Jason Martin of the Springfield Township Ambulance Corps. Lieutenant Martin grew up around the ambulance corps--often acting as a patient in training exercises when he was young. He has demonstrated his devotion for protecting his community through his work.

As a pillar of Springfield Township, Lieutenant Martin has rightly been nominated as EMT of the Year as part of the 25th Annual Springfield Loyalty Day.

I thank Lieutenant Martin for his service.

Mr. Speaker, today I honor Sergeant David Welsh of the Springfield Township Police Department. Sergeant Welsh

has demonstrated a steadfast devotion to the community through his work, often putting his own safety at risk in order protect others. Sergeant Welsh also served his country and community as a member of the United States Coast Guard Reserve for over 20 years.

As a pillar of Springfield Township, Sergeant Welsh has rightly been nominated as Officer of the Year as part of the 25th Annual Springfield Loyalty Day.

I thank Sergeant Welsh for his service.

Mr. Speaker, today I honor Daniel McGonigal of the Springfield Township Fire Company. Daniel joined the Company in 2013. Two years later, he decided to also answer the call to service for his country and joined the U.S. Navy. Despite his full-time service to the nation, Daniel does his most to help the Fire Company and his community when he returns home on leave.

As a pillar of Springfield Township, Daniel has rightly been nominated as VFW Firefighter of the Year as part of the 25th Annual Springfield Loyalty Day.

I thank Daniel for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate my Chief of Staff, Michael Kirlin, and his wife Emily, who serves as Director of Member Services for the Senate Majority Whip, John Cornyn of Texas, upon the birth of their beautiful daughter. Madelaine Walker Kirlin arrived into the world at 5:50 pm on Monday April 24, 2017 at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. Madelaine weighed nine pounds and measured twenty-one inches long. Madelaine is their second child, and her big brother Brock is just as excited as his parents.

I would also like to congratulate Madelaine's grandparents, Michael Kirlin of Bethany Beach, Delaware, and Brock and Cameron Hill of Crossville, Tennessee. Congratulations to the entire Kirlin and Hill families as they welcome their newest addition of pure pride and joy.

Mr. Speaker, today I recognize the life of Emlen Tunnell, a Radnor High School graduate, World War II hero, and the first African American to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Tunnell grew up in Garrett Hill, PA where he excelled in all athletics but decided to accept a football scholarship to Toledo University. Unfortunately, a broken neck nearly cost him his life and football career. But Tunnell recovered. When World War II broke out he desperately wanted to enlist but was rejected from both the Army and Navy due to his injury. Finally, the Coast Guard accepted Tunnell. Twice while serving, he risked his own life to save a fellow serviceman--extinguishing flames that engulfed a friend after a Japanese torpedo attack, and again when he dove into freezing waters to rescue a shipmate.

After serving his country, Tunnell returned to football. He played two years with the University of Iowa before hitchhiking from Lancaster Pike to New York where he tried out to become a Giant. It was a humble start to a stellar career. Tunnell spent 14 years in the league--11 with the Giants and three as a Green Bay Packer. In that time he was selected to the Pro Bowl nine times, played on two championship teams, and held the then NFL record for consecutive games played at 143. In 1967 he became the first African American inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Mr. Tunnell is an American hero. Yet, his name has largely been lost to the history books. That must change. The Sports Legends of Delaware County and Delaware County Veterans Memorial have initiated a campaign to erect a seven-foot bronze statue of Tunnell with that goal in mind. It is an important step to properly honoring this great Pennsylvanian. Through their efforts, Emlen Tunnell's remarkable life and accomplishments will rightly be remembered for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Joshua Chu of Wissahickon High School, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on receiving the Congressional Award's Bronze Medal. The Congressional Award is Congress' award for young Americans who dedicate themselves to public service, personal development, physical fitness and exploration. It motivates young people to improve themselves, try new things and learn new skills.

Joshua served his community through volunteering in a soup kitchen, packing food, sorting donated items and aiding the kitchen's staff. He also broadened his knowledge by traveling to Boston and Hawaii to learn more about their culture and history.

I congratulate Joshua on earning this honor and I congratulate his parents on raising such a fine young man.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to raise national awareness of the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi. Next Friday, hundreds of thousands of Sikhs living across the United States will take part in the festival to celebrate these significant elements of their religion: the Sikh New Year, the spring harvest, and the creation of Khalsa, the fellowship of devout Sikhs created in 1699.

This year, on April 8, the East Coast Sikh Coordination Committee has organized a National Sikh Day Parade to mark this occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I, along with my fellow chairs on the Sikh Congressional Caucus, introduced H. Res. 189, which recognizes Vaisakhi's historic, cultural, and religious significance and its importance to the Sikh communities across the United States. Additionally, it expresses this body's respect for all communities and religions who celebrate the festival.

I encourage all of my colleagues to support this measure in honor of Vaisakhi.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of Stephen P. Counihan, and I rise with my colleagues all around the greater Boston area, as we seek to raise the spirits of Stephen, who is currently battling cancer. ``Couhni,'' as he is affectionately known, is currently the tennis coach at Suffolk University, where he has led four championship teams to great renown in the greater Boston area. But it was in the 1970s, as a standout defenseman at Bowdoin College where Counihan got the name ``Couhni-Orr'' because of his remarkable presence on the ice and his cool capacity under pressure.

Now, Stephen is facing one of the great challenges of his life, as he deals not only with the chemotherapy, but the potential surgery that we are looking at in the month of April ahead.

Couhni, I want you to know that all of your colleagues from Beta Theta Pi, from Bowdoin College hockey team, from the greater Bowdoin community, in fact, the entire Boston area, stand with you today. Win one more championship for us, Couhni, so we can all celebrate together when we have you back collectively.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. George D. Vermeire for his exemplary medical care in Pennsylvania. In recognition of his dedication and involvement in the osteopathic medical profession, Dr. Vermeire was named the 106th President of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association.

Dr. Vermeire is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and later achieved his D.O. from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his postgraduate training at Zieger-Botsford Hospitals in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and he has served as a member of the board of trustees. Shortly thereafter, he was elected vice president and president-elect of the Association. He also serves as a delegate of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association.

He has distinguished himself as a dedicated family physician and leader of the osteopathic profession, and I honor all of the work Dr. Vermeire accomplished in our community.

I congratulate him on his installation as the 106th President of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association, and wish him the best for a successful and rewarding tenure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Honorable William F. Adolph, Jr. of Springfield, PA on his retirement and thank him for his decades of service to Delaware County families. Bill is retiring as Representative from the 165th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, where he served as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. After more than thirty years of public service, Bill has earned a record as a champion for the middle class, small and growing businesses and fiscal responsibility in Harrisburg.

Throughout his career in public service, first as a township commissioner in Springfield, as a lawmaker in Harrisburg and ultimately as the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Bill has always fought to ensure the taxpayer got the most out of every dollar government spends. He's fought to lessen the tax burden on job creators and spur economic growth. He's fought to ensure Pennsylvania's most vulnerable have access to the services they need. And he's fought to hold government accountable to the people it serves.

As important as his legislative achievements have been to Pennsylvania, perhaps his greatest legacy is the role model he's been to countless young people as a coach and through his decades-long involvement with the Springfield Youth Club. He's taught generations of Springfield's young people how to conduct themselves with integrity and responsibility--both on and off the field.

I thank Bill for all he's done for our state and our community, and I wish him the best in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kitty Jurciukonis for her achievements as a volunteer, professional, and elected official in southeastern Pennsylvania. In recognition of these accomplishments, Mrs. Jurciukonis was posthumously awarded the Women of Achievement Award from the Delaware County Women's Commission.

Kitty worked as a tireless advocate for her community, serving as member of the Springfield Township Board of Commissioners for nineteen years, two of which were spent as President. She was also a leader in the Suburban West Realtors Association, the Springfield School District Home and School Association, and Community Education Council. She even volunteered her time and talents to help open the Springfield School District's Parent Resource Center.

The current Springfield Township Commissioner says of Kitty: ``I was humbled and honored to follow in her footsteps. . .She worked tirelessly with integrity and enthusiasm for the Township and the people she served.''

I honor all of the work Kitty accomplished in our community and the trail she blazed for the women inspired by her achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon for receiving the Women of Achievement Award from the Delaware County Women's Commission. The Honorable Christine Fizzano Cannon has been a leader in our community both as a small business owner and a public servant. She ran her own law firm for over ten years and has served as a Delaware County Women's Commissioner, member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board Hearing Committee, Ridley Hospital Foundation, and Delaware County Council.

In 2012, Judge Fizzano Cannon was elected to the Court of Common Pleas. In this role she handles civil and equity matters, personal injury and property damage cases, real estate, land use and zoning matters, and medical malpractice cases. She is also currently serving on the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania, which reviews, investigates, and prosecutes judicial misconduct.

I thank Judge Fizzano Cannon for all of her work in our community, and I congratulate her on receiving this award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Stephanie (Sam) Fleetman for receiving the Women of Achievement Award from the Delaware County Women's Commission. Sam is the CEO of Mustang Expedition, Inc.-- a nationally recognized full-service delivery carrier. She has grown the company from one truck and a few employees to a multi-million dollar company employing over 50 individuals.

While reaching success in a male-oriented industry, Sam has also been a leader in her community. She has served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association--only the second woman to do so in eighty-six years--and the Delaware County Historical Society. And she previously held positions as the President of the Bridgewater Park Association and the Sharon Alumnae Association.

I thank Sam for all she's done professionally and philanthropically in our community and congratulate her on receiving this important award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments and contributions of Jennifer B. Morgan of Newtown Square, PA.

Jennifer Morgan was appointed President of SAP North America in 2014, a position in which she oversees some 20,000 employees with more than 100,000 customers in every sector and industry of the U.S. economy.

With Jennifer at the helm, SAP has launched a successful expansion into groundbreaking new cloud computing services and other innovative new business segments. SAP is not only one of the largest employers in Delaware County, PA, it's also a good corporate citizen, sponsoring and supporting non-profits and economic development in our region.

Jennifer is a groundbreaking female executive, and one of far too few females at the pinnacle of American business and industry. She's prioritized diversity in the workplace, promoted pay equality and worked to level the playing field for all employees.

This National Women's History Month, Jennifer is being honored by the Delaware County Women's Commission with their Woman of Achievement Award. It's a fitting honor to an outstanding leader in our community.