Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, last week, I attended the Transportation Management Association of Chester County for its annual legislative breakfast. At the breakfast, the association posthumously honored James F. Kilcur as its executive director emeritus. It is a very special recognition by his colleagues within the transportation industry. I can't think of anybody more deserving of this distinction than Jim, and I join the association in honoring Jim's service to southeastern Pennsylvania.

Jim Kilcur, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, died on Wednesday, February 19, 2014. Born in northeast Philadelphia, Jim was a proud Philadelphia native and a pillar of his community. He was a labor lawyer admired for his trusted counsel and respected by all for his ability to get to a fair resolution of any matter. Jim stood out at Saul Ewing as a partner and at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority as general counsel for nearly a decade. Then, just as now, everybody respected Jim.

I had the pleasure to work with Jim during his time at SEPTA. He was a confident, intelligent man, and while tolerant of other positions, was steadfast in his own. He was decisive, and there was no waffling or ambiguity in his thinking.

Jim was the chairman of the board of trustees of his alma mater, DeSales University in Center Valley, and a proud alumni of Cardinal Dougherty High School.

I would like to commend Jim on his devoted service to his community, to his church, and his impressive career history, and his life of love and devotion to his family, especially his wife. Let me remember Jim with this legacy.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. Chair, my amendment seeks to transfer $3 million from the Office of the Secretary of Transportation salaries and expense account to the Federal Railroad Administration to fund the use of a second car to support the inspection of crude oil routes covering more than 14,000 miles of track nationwide. This funding would also be available to expedite implementation of a remote automated track inspection capability to increase inspection mileage while reducing costs.

For more than 30 years, the Federal Railroad Administration's Automated Track Inspection Program has provided accurate track geometry data, as well as other track-related performance data, to assess compliance with the Federal track safety standards. Currently, FRA is operating only one ATIP car for inspections. My amendment would enable the FRA to add an

additional car to support safety inspections.

Mr. Chairman, I realize you're in the unenviable position of allocating the difficult funding level given to you. I would like to be clear that I think you and your cohorts have done a tremendous job in crafting a bill which truly does more with less. My amendment seeks to match what is included in the Senate FY15 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill for the Automated Track Inspection Program.

According to data from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, more than 1.15 million gallons of crude oil were spilled from railcars in 2013. Last year's total spills of 1.15 million gallons means that 99.99 percent of shipments arrived without incident. But recent derailments in my home State of Pennsylvania, including one in Westmoreland County and one in my district of Philadelphia, have made us all keenly aware of the dangers that train derailments can pose to a community. Just yesterday, a train carrying crude oil derailed on a bridge outside Pittsburgh. At this moment, it is dangling off the track and over the water.

Derailments are fairly uncommon. The sober truth is that people's lives are at risk, and we must do everything in our power to ensure we continue to transport this crude in the safest manner possible. Track data collected by ATIP is used by FRA, railroad inspectors, and Federal railroads to assist in assured track safety.

Oil has been moving by rail through populous areas for decades, and industry is responding by improving safety measures. It is time the Federal Government do its part and increase our investment in the safety inspections of our rail lines.

Mr. Chairman, this program produces results. It is not just people on one side of the aisle that recognize this, but Congress as a whole does. Why not take a modest increase in the funding of the FRA to double their capability in performing safety evaluations?

This amendment would make our rail lines safer while reducing costs. I urge its adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Point of Order

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the American Society of Clinical Oncology on 50 inspiring years of innovative cancer research and treatment.

Many Americans have a close connection to this terrible disease, whether they have survived it themselves or cared for a loved one who suffered through cancer. It galvanizes all of us to push for new early detection methods as well as new treatments.

In 1964, the seven founding physicians who created the American Society of Clinical Oncology came together with a vision for a professional society that would educate other physicians on treatment methods. At that time, cancer was largely untreatable and only a handful of hard-to-tolerate therapies were available.

Fifty years later the American Society of Clinical Oncology has almost 35,000 members

worldwide. The number of drugs available to treat different types of cancer has steadily increased over the years thanks to some of these physicians. Today more than two-thirds of patients with cancer are alive five years after their diagnosis. This is a true testament to the groundbreaking research and diligent work of so many in this field.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the American Society of Clinical Oncology for their leadership in the fight against cancer. It is my sincere hope that this and other research avenues will lead to new discoveries to better detect cancer and save lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor eight Pennsylvania veterans of the Second World War who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima.

These brave and heroic gentlemen are members of the Delaware County #288 and General Smedley D. Butler #741 Marine Corps League Detachments. Although many of their brothers in arms died in the midst of battle or in the years since, these Marines and Sailors continue to carry the legacy of their brothers' sacrifices for the security of our nation and defense of freedom for all of us in this world.

Let us forever remember and be grateful for the sacrifice of these heroes of the Second World War. Please join me in recognizing the following gentlemen for their service to our country: Louis Camilli, Jack Depew, Cliff Doud, George Edelmann, Joseph Hinderhofer, Alan McCauley, Walter Tallamage and Donald Walz.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of National Animal Advocacy Day. National Animal Advocacy Day encourages citizens to speak up to help secure meaningful protections for animals at the federal, state, and local levels.

On this National Animal Advocacy Day, I want to speak up for the humane treatment of our nation's horses. I ask the House of Representatives to pass H.R. 1094, the Safeguard American Food Exports Act, or SAFE Act. This bipartisan legislation, which I introduced with my colleague from Illinois, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, bans horse slaughter for human consumption and the export of horses for the same. Until a ban is in place, every horse is just one bad sale away from being sent to slaughter. I've seen this happen in my own district, and it must be stopped.

Horses are not bred for human consumption. Unlike dogs or cats, horses are routinely treated with drugs that can be toxic to humans. Horses are often transported without food, water, or rest in dangerously overcrowded trailers to endure an inhumane slaughter process.

Passage of the SAFE Act will not only protect our nation's horses. It will also protect consumers from exposure to the toxic chemicals found in horsemeat. Horses have a special place in our nation's history. Surveys show that 80 percent of American voters oppose the slaughter of horses for human consumption. It's a bill whose time has come. The SAFE Act will help to ensure that our horses get the protection they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, on National Animal Advocacy Day I applaud 170 of my colleagues in the House who are cosponsors of the SAFE Act, and encourage the rest of my colleagues to support it as well.

Allow me to express my appreciation to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed) for your leadership in putting together this very important opportunity for us to talk to not just our colleagues, but citizens all across this country, as we jointly focus on this issue of sexual assault and domestic violence.

I am moved by my colleagues who are telling stories from so many different perspectives. Many of them are personal. I think that is really the way we have to explain these kinds of circumstances, through the personal stories in which it is driven home, because you can understand how it affects real people on an everyday basis.

I was a former prosecutor before I came here to Washington, D.C., and while this story is about 20 years old, it defines a particular problem at a particular point in time.

I remember distinctly engaging with a young woman. She had been the victim of a sexual assault. She met a young man at a party. She returned to a dorm room, believing that everything was going to be safe. He sexually and violently violated her.

This was a very prestigious school in New England. She reported it later that week to the school authorities, but they took a position that, since she really hadn't reported it immediately and she didn't have any other kind of particular evidence, it was her word against his word, and they took no further action.

This young woman was completely abandoned on this campus, but worse yet, her perpetrator used that opportunity thereafter to jeer at her and to taunt her, and not only was she the one who was violated, but she was the one who was finally driven to a point where she was so uncomfortable, having to confront this guy each and every day, she is the one who had to leave her college. She had to go home and start to heal and try to start a life all over again and a whole new experience.

I ran into her because, 2 years later, she came to my district in Pennsylvania. She came there as a witness because, only weeks before she had arrived, there was another party on a college campus nearby me and this same perpetrator happened to come to that college, visiting a friend, where he met a woman. He went back to that woman's dorm, and another woman was violently raped.

Fortunately, this victim, for the first time, was able to testify against him. We used pattern evidence to give her her first chance to hold him accountable. Based on that rape that we were able to prosecute, I think he may still be in jail.

But her life didn't get put together immediately by virtue of that. In fact, she represents a story that is too infrequently understood, as has been demonstrated by some of my colleagues.

One in five women on college campuses today will report being victims of an attempted or actual sexual assault, yet only about 5 percent of those are being reported to law enforcement, so we have got this huge disconnect.

While it is 20 years after the incident that I experienced and a great deal more work has been done on college campuses, many of which have taken prudent steps to deal with this issue, we have to do a lot of more.

I am encouraged. Just recently, President Obama--and this demonstrates the bipartisan nature of this effort--has appointed a White House task force to protect students from sexual assault. I am pleased to be able to be participating with some local folks in my community to help advise that committee.

We are using the experiences that we have from experts at local colleges like Drexel, Villanova, and Penn State and campus experts who have worked in this area on the campuses. We are seeing some issues that need to be addressed.

We are looking at issues like reporting procedures that require victims of sexual assault, once they report the story, to sometimes have to retell it two and three different times, in order

for them to fulfill the requirements of reporting either at colleges, rape crisis centers, or with law enforcement. We are violating these victims again and again with procedures like that.

We are seeing women who are subjecting themselves to rape kits. It is appropriate and may be necessary for the collection of evidence, but we are finding, a year later, they haven't even taken the time to process the rape kit.

How many years do we have to continue to deal with dramatic backlogs in just the identification of straightforward evidence that would help us put some of these perpetrators in jail, where they belong?

We are examining the convoluted patchwork of Federal rules and regulations that, while well-intentioned, often work at cross-purposes. We are trying to strengthen the way partnerships can be generated between victims' services groups, college representatives, and among law enforcement.

The biggest challenge we face from the victims is the confusion about the process. They don't know who to turn to or who to report to. That is why we must continue to work together as colleagues to help clarify the rules and regulations that we are creating to send the kinds of signals so there is certainty and the ability of these victims to reach out for help.

I thank you, Mr. Reed, for your leadership on this. I pledge my intention to continue to work with you and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to assure that we are making not only good, sound law, but making the procedures work for the benefit of the victims.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to address our colleagues for 1 minute on behalf of the Congressional Hockey Caucus and our colleagues from both sides of the aisle who now, for the sixth year, have participated in what we call the Congressional Hockey Challenge.

This is the game for charity in which we have Members of Congress who play hockey and three of our friends from the Parliament in Canada, representing the lawmakers, play against a team of lobbyists. The game specifically supports hockey for children in underprivileged communities who would not otherwise have access to the game.

In addition, it has raised dollars for scholarships for children from underprivileged communities to go on to play hockey in college. This was the sixth annual game, and to date, we have raised over a $500,000 for that charity.

Let me just close with this observation. In addition to being able to play with our colleagues and the lobbyists, we were joined on each side by very, very special guests. They were members of the Wounded Warriors ice hockey team.

The lobbyist team was privileged to have retired Army reservist Joseph Bowser, who lost a leg in Iraq, playing on their team. Our side was joined by retired Army Captain Mark Little, who lost both legs in Iraq.

I might tell you that there is no more inspirational thing than to see the courage of two young men who have found hockey as a way to find continued aspiration and accomplishment.

I will close my observations by saying that the winning goal--and this was no giveaway. This was a remarkably competitive game. The winning goal was scored by Captain Mark Little.

So on behalf of my colleagues, I am pleased to report that the pride of the institution is intact. Congress won 7-5.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. The Renfrew Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been a leader in the education on eating disorders and the treatment of women since 1985. Its clinical excellence and supportive environment has empowered women to change their lives.

More than 8 million people in the United States suffer from eating disorders. Nearly half of all Americans personally know someone with an eating disorder. Unfortunately only one in 10 people with an eating disorder receive treatment for their disease.

The theme of this year's National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is ``I Had No Idea.'' Since symptoms can be different for everyone, it's not always easy for friends and families to tell when a loved one is suffering from bulimia or anorexia. For someone suffering from one of these diseases, it can take over their life.

The Renfrew Center is the nation's first residential eating disorder facility. Renfrew has helped more than 65,000 women with eating disorders and other behavioral health issues in their 13 locations around the country. Renfrew offers help to women suffering from bulimia, anorexia, binge eating disorder, and related health problems. Renfrew empowers women with the tools they need to succeed in their recovery and in their lives.

The stigma that comes with suffering eating disorders can often lead to other illnesses

both physical and mental, and sufferers need and deserve the strong support of their family, friends, colleagues and health professionals. This is where Renfrew excels, and I am grateful for the staff and supporters of The Renfrew Center for their dedication to this important effort.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Renfrew Center and all health professionals across the country for their dedication to treating those suffering from eating disorders. In recognition of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, it remains important today and every day to educate those in our lives about eating disorders and provide them support and hope for a better path.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the skaters and families, current and past, of the Wissahickon Skating Club in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania and the Merritton Athletic Association in St. Catherines, Ontario. This third weekend in February marks the 50th anniversary of the Wissahickon Skating Club--Merritton Athletic Association Hockey Exchange. For five decades without interruption, the organizations have taken turns hosting players and even entire families in their homes for a long weekend of festivities. The exchange culminates in a youth hockey tournament for which trophies are awarded to the victorious teams. It is understood to be the longest uninterrupted exchange of its type in international competition.

This tournament would not be possible without the vision of former Wissahickon hockey coach Walter Jewell and Merritton Athletic Association President, Walter Baum. Walter Jewell had been taking hockey teams to Canada since 1962. Looking to start his own tournament with a team from Canada, the Merritton Athletic Association was recommended to him. In November of 1964, the Merritton Athletic Association and Walter Baum received a letter written by Walter Jewell from the Wissahickon Skating Club seeking to arrange an exchange trip between the two organizations.

In March 1965 two teams from the Wissahickon Skating Club arrived as guests of the Merritton Athletic Association. The first games were a Pee Wee-Bantam double-header, taking place at the Thorold Arena in St. Catharines, Ontario, the home of the Merritton Athletic Association. The tournament trophies for this exchange were donated by the Wissahickon Skating Club for the Bantam level and the Kaupp Electric Trophy for the pee wee level. Each organization was victorious that weekend with the Merritton Pee Wees accepting the Kaupp Electric Trophy and the Wissahickon Bantams taking home the Bantam Trophy. No one had any idea at the time that 49 exchanges were to occur without ever missing a single year.

Mr. Speaker, this tournament brings back special memories for me. As an 11-year-old I can recall the adventurous bus ride, for the first of numerous visits to Canada, and the warm hospitality of the Greenough and Isherwood families who welcomed my older brother Mike and me into their homes. We visited Niagara Falls, learned how a cargo ship navigates a river lock and walked the floor of a paper mill, all the while growing closer to the same boys we would be skating against that evening. Lifetime bonds were formed. It was then and still remains so much more than a hockey game. It represents the warm and genuine affection Americans and Canadians have for each other and it is expressed through the rich tradition of friendly competition and the great game of ice hockey. The friendship endures through generations as fathers are reunited watching their sons skate on the same ice they remember playing on as children.

The 50th anniversary of this very special engagement of camaraderie and sportsmanship will be celebrated the weekend of February 13-15, 2014 in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. The two ``Walters'' would be proud of their legacy. I hope that this wonderful tradition can continue for the children of the children who will compete on this special 50th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the skaters and families, current and past, of the Wissahickon Skating Club in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, and the Merritton Athletic Association in St. Catherines, Ontario.

This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the Wissahickon Skating Club--Merritton Athletic Association Hockey Exchange. For five uninterrupted decades, these organizations

have taken turns hosting players and families for a weekend of festivities surrounding a youth hockey tournament. It is understood to be the longest uninterrupted exchange of its type in international competition.

Mr. Speaker, this tournament brings back special memories for me. As a youth, I can recall the bus rides to Canada and the warm hospitality of the families who welcomed my brothers and me into their homes. It was and remains more than a hockey game. It represents the genuine affection Americans and Canadians have for each other, expressed through the rich tradition of friendly competition and the great game of ice hockey.

Mr. Speaker, the 50th anniversary of this very special engagement will be celebrated this weekend in Philadelphia. I hope this wonderful tradition continues with similar enthusiasm for the children of the children who will compete.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the family of Sergeant Brian LaLou from Chester County, Pennsylvania. Tragically, in the summer of 2012, Sergeant LaLou took his own life while he was at his duty station at the U.S. Embassy in Greece. What happened next was unconscionable.

During the course of an autopsy performed by Greek authorities, his heart was removed and not returned to his body before it was sent home to his family for a proper burial. When the Greek Government finally sent the family a heart, it was not their son's. The DNA testing revealed that it belonged to someone else.

Mr. Speaker, I wrote to the Commandant of the Marine Corps in December seeking answers for this young man's family. The response from the Pentagon so far has been silence.

The LaLou family deserves answers. They deserve peace of mind. It is time for the Greek authorities and the Pentagon to tell Sergeant LaLou's parents what happened to their son's heart, because we know what happened to his family's.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate math professor Dr. Andrew Woldar and Villanova University for winning a research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Professor Woldar's project on algebraic graph theory was recognized by the NSF for its important contribution to the mathematical sciences. This grant will support a conference at Villanova University in June 2014, which will bring together experts, researchers and students to discuss recent advancements in mathematics. Professor Woldar and Villanova University's dedication to the field and leadership in teaching continue to prepare students with the technical background they will need for successful careers.

The NSF is a leading, independent national academy promoting the progress of science through research programs and education projects. NSF grants help recognize individuals for their contributions to the mathematics and science communities. I commend the NSF for its continued support of innovative research.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Professor Woldar for his hard work and wish him the best of luck with the conference.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the name of the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen) be removed as a cosponsor of

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to a condition that is sadly misunderstood. Breath-holding spells occur when a young child stops breathing for up to one minute, generally as a response to stress or emotions like fear and frustration. Sometimes, these spells cause the child to pass out. However, it is important to note that breath-holding is an involuntary reaction, and not something the child can control. While most children do not need treatment for breath-holding spells, they can be a difficult and scary experience for both parent and child.

Jennifer Horne of Prospect Park, PA, in the 7th district of Pennsylvania, is the founder of BHS Awareness. Ms. Horne's son, Brayden, suffers from BHS. Founded in 2013, the group is dedicated to providing medical facts and personal experiences from parents. BHS Awareness recently supported an effort in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to pass legislation officially recognizing July 14 as Involuntary Breath Holding Awareness Day.

Mr. Speaker, I honor BHS Awareness for its bravery and leadership regarding breath-holding spells. Ms. Horne and BHS Awareness are helping parents and children understand and cope with a difficult condition. Their hard work on this little-known condition is raising awareness for the children who experience these spells and the parents who care for them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the young men and women from the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania who have been nominated to attend a service academy. These men and women will honor a commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. They have been nominated because they have displayed character traits such as leadership, service and dedication both inside and outside the classroom. I am confident that their parents and teachers have prepared them well for this world-class educational opportunity and extraordinary service to their nation.

The following individuals have been nominated for academy appointment:

Evan Allen, Valley Forge Military Academy, United States Naval Academy; Zachary Assenmacher, Haverford High School, United States Naval Academy; Bret Beebe, Twin Valley High School, United States Naval Academy; Troy Bergwall, Bayard Rustin High School, United States Naval Academy; Nicholas Bologa, Pequea Valley High School, United States Merchant Marine Academy; Matthew Brecht, LaSalle College High School, United States Military Academy; Steven Bushold, LaSalle College High School, United States Military Academy; Julia Clements, Downingtown High School, United States Naval Academy; Cole Drahus, Twin Valley High School, United States Naval Academy; Jonas Fiant, Governor Mifflin High School, United States Air Force Academy; Daniel Geibler, Ridley High School, United States Military Academy; Chasan Hall, Coatesville Senior High School, United States Air Force Academy; William Higgins, Penncrest High School, United States Merchant Marine Academy; Phillip Ianozi, Springfield Township High School, United States Merchant Marine Academy; Matthew Jones, Malvern Preparatory School, United States Naval Academy; George Keating, North Penn High School, United States Naval Academy; Ethan Klabunde, Unionville High School, United States Naval Academy; Heather Laudermilch, Westtown School, United States Air Force Academy; Justin Lee, Upper Dublin High School, United States Military Academy; Kiersten Martin, Cardinal O'Hara High School, United States Naval Academy; Catherine McCarthy, Upper Darby High School, United States Naval Academy; Jacob McCubbins, Methacton High School, United States Air Force Academy; James McWilliams, Haverford Senior High School, United States Military Academy; Ross Obenschein, Twin Valley High School, United States Air Force Academy; Christopher Paolantonio, St. Joseph's Preparatory School, United States Naval Academy; Matthew Prestia, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, United States Naval Academy; Charles Rossino, Haverford High School, United States Naval Academy; Thaddeus Schlamb, Downingtown West High School, United States Naval Academy; Andrew Schutta, LaSalle College High School, United States Naval Academy; Zachary Smith, Cardinal O'Hara High School, United States Naval Academy; Olivia Tierney, Villa Maria Academy, United States Naval Academy; George Ulrich, LaSalle College High School, United States Naval Academy; Madeleine Wawrzyniak, Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School, United States Air Force Academy; Kyle Werner, Kennett High School, United States Military Academy; Dalton Wolfe, Oxford Area High School, United States Naval Academy

Again, Mr. Speaker, congratulations to all of these outstanding nominees. I wish them nothing but the best in all their endeavors.