Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, over the last 26 years it has been an enormous honor and privilege to represent the people of the 11th congressional district of Pennsylvania as a member of this body, and I rise today to express my eternal appreciation to the people who gave me the extraordinary opportunity to serve them.

The youngest son of a lawyer and homemaker who was also a teacher, I was blessed to grow up in a loving, supportive family who

encouraged me to pursue even the most ambitious goals. Of all the values my parents imparted to their children, none was more important than education. My father, A. Peter Kanjorski, Jr., graduated from the Wharton School class of 1919 before completing law school at the University of Pennsylvania in 1922, while my mother Wanda Nedbalski Kanjorski graduated from Wyoming Seminary before obtaining her degree from Bloomsburg College. All four of my siblings also completed college; Wendy from Marywood College, Aloise from the Connecticut College for Women, A. Peter III from the Wharton School as well as the University of Pennsylvania law school, and Charie from the University of Florida. This tradition has continued to my parents' grandchildren, as all 13 have earned their college degrees and some have pursued graduate degrees. My daughter, Nancy, for example, has earned her doctorate in geophysics.

In light of the importance my parents placed on education, therefore, it was extremely distressing for them to realize that at the age of 10 I was still having great difficulty learning how to read, because of what I now realize was most probably an undiagnosed case of dyslexia. My mother and older sisters, most especially my sister Allie, became my personal tutors. Under their guidance, I became a voracious reader and eagerly consumed historical biographies. From reading about Arthur Vanderberg and Daniel Webster, I learned about congressional pages and convinced Congressman Ed Bonin, the representative for the 11th district of Pennsylvania, to appoint me in 1953. I met my lifelong best friend Bill Emerson when we started as pages together, and we were unfortunate witnesses to the first terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol when Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire on the floor of the House on March 1, 1954.

Bill returned to Congress in 1981 as a Republican representative from Missouri, and I followed him 4 years later as a Democratic representative from Pennsylvania. Our political views were starkly different, but we respected one another's views and disagreed agreeably.

Those of us lucky enough to be citizens of the United States are privileged to be experiencing the noblest experiment the world has ever known: democratic self-governance. As representatives of the people, we in Congress must be the guardians of that experiment, and in the words of Abraham Lincoln, ensure that it does not perish from this earth. Our constituents have entrusted us to do our very best to make the United States a better place, the reason every one of us sought to serve in Congress. It is a sacred trust, and one I hope that no Member of Congress ever forgets.

The people of the 11th congressional district of Pennsylvania gave me a gift for which I will be forever grateful, and to them I would like to say thank you.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the Greater Hazleton Area Polonaise Society and its annual celebration of Polish American Heritage Month.

The Society will mark this year's Polish American Heritage Month with its 33rd annual Polish American Heritage Ball on October 17, 2010 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

The Greater Hazleton Area Polonaise Society's mission is to preserve the culture and customs brought to Northeastern Pennsylvania by their ancestors over a century ago.

Over the past 33 years, each October the Society has celebrated the history of their ancestors who traveled to the United States, and the lasting impacts they made throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania and its mining industry during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

This year's event will also honor the late Reverend Louis S. Garbacik, who served as Chaplain of the Greater Hazleton Polonaise Society for over 23 years. He passed away on January 1, 2010.

Reverend Garbacik was born in West Hazleton in 1928.

He graduated from Hazle Township High School in 1946 before attending St. Mary's College in Michigan.

Following graduation from St. Mary's College in 1950, Reverend Garbacik enrolled at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Michigan. He was officially ordained to the priesthood at St. Gabriel's Church in Hazleton in 1954.

Over the past 50 years, Reverend Garbacik led congregations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

He first was assigned to Gate of Heaven Church in Dallas before being assigned to Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wilkes-Barre.

In 1977, Reverend Garbacik was named pastor of Holy Child Parish in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, and in 1983 he also became administrator of Ascension Church in Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania.

From 1986 through his retirement in 2006, Reverend Garbacik was pastor of St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church in Hazleton. In 2006 he was appointed pastor emeritus.

Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the Greater Hazleton Area Polonaise Society and its celebration of Polish American Heritage Month. For over 30 years, the Society has worked to preserve and promote the rich Polish American history in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and this year they will pay special tribute to one of the Society's most dedicated leaders.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. and Mrs. George and Patti Lynett on receiving the Attorney Robert. W. Munley Distinguished Service Award from Lackawanna Pro Bono.

Lackawanna Pro Bono is a non-profit organization established in 1997 to increase the availability of free legal representation for low- income individuals and families throughout Lackawanna County.

Over the past 13 years they have organized local attorneys to volunteer their time to provide representation in over 2,000 cases, and in the process have helped nearly 5,000 residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Lackawanna Pro Bono will host its second annual Fundraising Gala on October 21, 2010 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. For the second year, Lackawanna Pro Bono will honor a select number of individuals and organizations who have demonstrated excellent service to the community with its Attorney Robert W. Munley Distinguished Service Award.

This year's group of deserving recipients includes Mr. and Mrs. George and Patti Lynett of Scranton.

George Lynett graduated from Scranton Preparatory School before attending Holy Cross College. After graduation from Holy Cross, he received his MBA from The University of Scranton before attending Georgetown University Law Center. He is the former publisher of the Times-Tribune and chief executive officer of Times-Shamrock Communications.

Patti Lynett graduated from St. Paul High School before attending Marywood University. From 1982 to 1992 she was the co-owner of Helen Schwartz Gifts.

Over the past few decades, Mr. and Mrs. Lynett have been involved with numerous organizations throughout the community.

Mr. Lynett has served as chairman of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Scranton Preparatory School, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Foundation, Allied Services, Marywood University and the Scranton Area Foundation.

Mrs. Lynett has served as chair of the board of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, and as a board member of Scranton Preparatory School, Marywood University, NEPA Philharmonic, St. Joseph's Center, and Catholic Social Services. She is currently a board member of Moses Taylor Hospital and the Physicians Health Alliance.

Together, Mr. and Mrs. Lynett chaired the United Way Drive of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties in 2009.

Mr. and Mrs. Lynett currently reside in Scranton. They are the parents of four children, Sheila, George, Jimmy, and Sharon.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing George and Patti Lynett. Together they have improved the lives of a countless number of residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the Scranton Area Foundation on receiving the Attorney Robert W. Munley Distinguished Service Award from Lackawanna Pro Bono.

Lackawanna Pro Bono is a non-profit organization established in 1997 to increase the availability of free legal representation for low- income individuals and families throughout Lackawanna County.

Over the past 13 years they have organized local attorneys to volunteer their time to provide representation in over 2,000 cases, and in the process have helped nearly 5,000 residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Lackawanna Pro Bono will host its second annual Fundraising Gala on October 21, 2010 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. For the second year, Lackawanna Pro Bono will honor a select number of individuals and organizations who have demonstrated excellent service to the community with its Attorney Robert W. Munley Distinguished Service Award.

This year's group of deserving recipients includes the Scranton Area Foundation.

The Scranton Area Foundation was initially formed in 1954 as a private foundation. In 1988, the Foundation qualified as a charitable non-profit organization and transitioned into a public community foundation.

The Scranton Area Foundation's mission is to ``meet a wide variety of education, cultural, human service, and other charitable needs through Lackawanna County.''

To achieve this goal, the Foundation coordinates charitable giving throughout the Scranton area and Lackawanna County by encouraging and facilitating local philanthropy and matching donations to the community's greatest areas of need.

The Foundation educates donors on the different mechanisms of charitable giving and works with them to maximize the effectiveness of their donations.

Then, the Foundation's staff directs the donations to the community's arts and culture, economic development, education, environmental, health, and recreational needs.

Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $8 million in grants throughout the Scranton area and Lackawanna County.

Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the Scranton Area Foundation on being recognized as a valued asset of Northeastern Pennsylvania. In the years ahead I am confident they will continue to make positive impacts in the growth of our region.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Peter Bohlin on receiving the 2010 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal.

The Gold Medal is considered the highest individual honor an architect can receive from the American Institute of Architects. It recognizes ``a significant body of work of lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture.'' Mr. Bohlin is the 66th recipient of this prestigious award.

Mr. Bohlin graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1959 before receiving his Masters in Architecture from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1961.

During his sophomore year of college, Mr. Bohlin's parents moved from New York to Northeastern Pennsylvania.

After graduation from Cranbrook, Mr. Bohlin founded Bohlin and Powell in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania with his former Rensselaer classmate Dick Powell. Their first job was to design a home for Mr. Bohlin's parents in Bear Creek, Pennsylvania.

Only a few years later, they designed a second home for Mr. Bohlin's parents in Connecticut, known as the famous ``Forest House,'' which landed their small firm on the front page of the New York Times' Home section in 1976.

After the success of the ``Forest House,'' Bohlin and Powell continued to expand. Shortly thereafter they opened two more offices in Pennsylvania.

In 1989 Bohlin and Powell opened an office in Seattle, Washington after winning a contest to design Bill Gates' home.

In 1991 Mr. Powell retired and Bohlin and Powell became the firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson.

In 1999, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson opened its first office in California to design Pixar Animation Studios. It was at this time the firm established its relationship with Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs. Over the years Apple has hired Bohlin Cywinski and Jackson to design multiple Apple stores across the country, including its famous location on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Today, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson maintains offices in Wilkes-Barre, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco. The firm currently has almost 200 employees.

Over the years, Mr. Bohlin and his firms have been recognized for their work on hundreds of occasions by the Pennsylvania Society of Architects, AIA, Business Week, the National Parks Service, and the Society of American Registered Architects, among others.

Among his award-winning portfolio of projects, he has designed Seattle's City Hall, buildings throughout the campuses of Yale University and Syracuse University, and the Pocono Environmental Education Center in Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. Bohlin on this remarkable achievement. From his humble beginnings in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Mr. Bohlin has established himself as one of our country's premier architects.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Ned and Mary Ann Abrahamsen on receiving the Attorney Robert W. Munley Distinguished Service Award from Lackawanna Pro Bono.

Lackawanna Pro Bono is a non-profit organization established in 1997 to increase the availability of free legal representation for low- income individuals and families throughout Lackawanna County.

Over the past thirteen years they have organized local attorneys to volunteer their time to provide representation in over 2,000 cases, and in the process have helped nearly 5,000 residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Lackawanna Pro Bono will host its second annual Fundraising Gala on October 21, 2010 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. For the second year, Lackawanna Pro Bono will honor a select number of individuals and organizations who have demonstrated excellent service to the community with its Attorney Robert W. Munley Distinguished Service Award.

This year's group of deserving recipients includes Mr. and Mrs. Ned and Mary Ann Abrahamsen of Scranton.

Edwin ``Ned'' Abrahamsen was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1951. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in 1973, and received his Juris Doctorate from the Dickinson School of Law in 1976.

Mary Ann Conaboy Abrahamsen was born in Scranton in 1951. She graduated from Marywood College in 1973 before also receiving her Juris Doctorate from Dickinson School of Law in 1976.

Together, they are partners at Abrahamsen, Conaboy & Abrahamsen in Scranton. Mr. Abrahamsen specializes in personal injury cases, while Mary Ann specializes in family law, particularly in the areas of real estate, wills trusts and estates, and divorce. Their firm has received the Equal Access to Justice Award from the Lackawanna Bar Association and Lackawanna Pro Bono, as well as the Pro Bono Award from their Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Throughout their professional careers, Mr. and Mrs. Abrahamsen have continuously donated their time and efforts throughout the community.

Mr. Abrahamsen has served as Solicitor of the Scranton School District and School Building Authority and the Old Forge School District, and currently serves as Solicitor of Blakely Borough. He is also Chairman of the Financial Committee of St. Joseph's Church in Scranton.

Mrs. Abrahamsen has served as President of the Parents Club at Scranton Preparatory School, Chairman of the Board at Scranton Prep, President of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Poor, and as Secretary of the Lackawanna Bar Association.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. and Mrs. Abrahamsen. Together they have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to community service in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Leo P. Vergnetti, this year's recipient of the Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna County's ``Man of the Year'' award.

Mr. Vergnetti will be honored at the Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna County's 102nd annual banquet in Dickson City, Pennsylvania on October 10, 2010.

Mr. Vergnetti is a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Anthony and Angeline Vergnetti.

Since 1972 he has owned and operated LPV Enterprises, Inc., the sole food and beverage vendor in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.

Since 1994, Mr. Vergnetti has been President of Vergnetti Consulting, Inc. He is also an agent with Northeast Insurance and Financial Consultants.

Throughout this career, Mr. Vergnetti has been dedicated to helping individuals suffering from drug and alcohol abuse and addiction. Since 1994 he has served as an Aftercare Coordinator and Counselor at Clear Brook, Inc., helping to organize intervention services and support groups with schools, churches and other community organizations.

He also serves as a liaison with the Lackawanna County Treatment Court, and has served on the Medical and Legal Advisory Board of the Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Commission for the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.

In addition to his dedicated work with drug and alcohol addiction support services, Mr. Vergnetti has generously donated his time to numerous community and public service organizations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society Ball of Hope, the Northeast Theater Group, the Arts and Cultural Commission of Lackawanna County, the Lackawanna County Council on Transportation, and the Lackawanna County Council on Economic Development.

Mr. Vergnetti currently resides in Scranton. He has nine children, fifteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. Leo P. Vergnetti as the Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna County's Man of the Year. Throughout his career he has been dedicated to improving the quality of life in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Joseph A. Paglianite, this year's recipient of the ``Lifetime Achievement'' award from the Italian American Association of Luzerne County.

The Italian American Association of Luzerne County will hold its 33rd annual Columbus Day Dinner Dance in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on October 10, 2010.

The Association currently has over 200 members.

Each year, the Association honors one of its members with its ``Lifetime Achievement'' award. Members meeting broad criteria are nominated and the award is ultimately selected by the Association's Board of Directors.

This year's recipient is Joseph A. Paglianite of Dallas, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Paglianite was born in Wyoming, Pennsylvania on October 13, 1925. He is the son of Antonio and Mary Paglianite.

Mr. Paglianite graduated from Wyoming High School before working as a wielder and inspector in the aircraft manufacturing industry.

After a short time working in the aircraft manufacturing industry, Mr. Paglianite was motivated by his Uncle's pizzeria to change careers and enter into the pizza business. In 1953, he opened Joe's Pizza in Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania.

By 1960, with the help of his brother-in-law, Mr. Paglianite had transformed Joe's Pizza into Grotto Pizza, and they opened their first restaurant in Delaware. Over the next few years, Grotto Pizza's success in Delaware led to more locations throughout the state.

In 1988, a fire destroyed the original restaurant in Pennsylvania. Mr. Paglianite and his family rebuilt a new 650-seat restaurant on the original site, and two more restaurants in Edwardsville and Wilkes- Barre quickly followed.

Today, along with the three locations in Northeastern Pennsylvania, there exist eighteen Grotto Pizza restaurants in Delaware.

Mr. Paglianite's success as an entrepreneur has been an inspiration throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

This year, the Luzerne County Community College will open the Joseph A. Paglianite Culinary Institute. Mr. Paglianite has donated over one million dollars to LCCC for the development of the new Culinary Institute and a scholarship program for first-year culinary students.

Mr. Paglianite is a member of the Plymouth Rotary Club and a member of the Gate of Heaven Roman Catholic Church in Dallas.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Joseph A. Paglianite on this auspicious occasion. His hard work and generosity will continue to live on in northeastern Pennsylvania for generations.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of Saint Michael's Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

The foundations of St. Michael's Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church began in the late 19th Century when Eastern European immigrants came to Northeastern Pennsylvania to work in its mining industries.

The first group of western Ukrainian immigrants settled in Hazleton in the 1880s.

In 1910 a small group of Ukrainian immigrants purchased a church in Hazleton from the local Lithuanian community for $5,700, and established St. Michael's Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Despite limited resources and through hard labor, the founders paid back the debt they owed in one year.

The Church initially had 70 member families in 1910, and by 1912 that number had doubled.

The Church, however, was in great need of repairs. Over the next 100 years, the members of the Church and its leadership would undertake extensive renovations to upgrade and maintain their place of worship.

The first renovations began in the 1920s, when Rev. Joseph Boyarchuk led the congregation to paint the interior of the Church. In 1926, despite continued hard economic times, Rev. Lawrence Zakrevsky led a renovation of the exterior of the Church.

After a fire damaged the Church in 1935, the exterior was again replaced in the 1940s under the guidance of Rev. Andrew Ulicky, and in 1949, a new tile floor was added.

During the 1950s, the interior was redecorated under Father Shymansky, and a $4,000 iconostasis was installed.

After St. Michael's Church was rededicated in 1954, further renovations continued. In 1957 the roof was replaced, and during the 1970s new doors were added and renovations were made to the property's sidewalks.

In honor of the Church's 75th anniversary in 1985, the windows were replaced and the Church's interior was again repainted.

Under the current leadership of Monsignor James Melnic, upgrades and renovations have continued to the building and its grounds.

On Sunday, October 31, 2010 the Church will celebrate its centennial anniversary with a Pontifical Divine Liturgy.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing this milestone. Over the past 100 years, the dedicated members of St. Michael's Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church have demonstrated great pride in preserving the religious community that their ancestors worked so hard to create.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Charles J. Graziano on being honored as this year's ``Person of the Year'' by the Italian American Association of Luzerne County.

The Italian American Association of Luzerne County will hold its 33rd annual Columbus Day Dinner Dance in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on October 10, 2010.

The Association currently has over 200 members.

Each year, the Italian American Association of Luzerne County recognizes an individual who has shown distinguished service to the organization and the community as its ``Person of the Year.''

This award honors an individual who has displayed dedication and leadership in the Association. It also recognizes an individual who has volunteered their time throughout the community, and an individual who over the past year has promoted Italian American culture, preserved Italian American traditions, and worked to instill family values.

This year's recipient is Charles J. Graziano of Pittston, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Graziano was born in Pittston on September 6, 1950. He is the son of Joseph and Mary Leo Graziano.

Mr. Graziano graduated from Pittston Area High School in 1968 before attending Wilkes College where he studied Commerce and Finance.

After graduation from Wilkes College in 1972, Mr. Graziano attended The American Academy and McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York City. He graduated from the Academy in 1973.

For the past 37 years, Mr. Graziano has worked as Funeral Director at the Graziano Funeral Home in Pittston Township. He is the third generation of the Graziano family to operate the funeral service over the past 110 years.

A lifelong resident of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Mr. Graziano is a member at St. Rocco's Roman Catholic Church.

Mr. Graziano currently resides in Pittston with his wife, Mary Lou. They have two children, Joseph and Silvana.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Charles Graziano on this auspicious occasion. His lifelong commitment to the Northeastern Pennsylvania community illustrates he is most deserving of this achievement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the 150th anniversary of Temple Hesed, the oldest synagogue in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Temple Hesed's roots were founded during the mid-19th Century when small groups of worshipers would travel back and forth between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to attend High Holy Day Services.

The group, made up mostly of German immigrants, was originally known in the 1840s as ``Chevra Rodef Shalom,'' meaning, ``Brotherhood of the Pursuer of Peace.''

On August 20, 1860, the group was renamed ``Kehilat Anshe Chesed,'' meaning the ``Congregation of the People of Loving-Kindness.''

By 1862, its membership had increased to 27 and was granted a charter.

The congregation's first synagogue was located in the 100 block of Linden Street in Scranton. They purchased the land in 1867 from the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, and worshiped in the original synagogue through 1902.

During this time, the congregation joined the American Reform Movement, an organization founded by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, who was present to dedicate the original synagogue in Scranton in April of 1867.

In 1902, the congregation moved from its original synagogue to a new building on Madison Avenue in Scranton. Over the next few decades, the synagogue was renovated and expanded to accommodate the group's growing membership, and in the 1960s its name was changed to ``The Madison Avenue Temple.''

The congregation moved into its current synagogue off of Lake Scranton Road in 1974, and its name was changed one last time to ``Temple Hesed,'' meaning the ``Temple of Loving Kindness,'' and reflecting the congregation's 19th Century roots.

Currently, Temple Hesed remains a member of the American Reform Movement, today known as the Union of Reform Judaism, which now has over 900 member congregations throughout the country.

The synagogue promotes a ``welcoming'' environment, and offers traditional worship services along with youth and adult education opportunities to its congregation, which now includes about 180 member families of all lifestyles and backgrounds.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing this remarkable anniversary. Over the past 150 years, Temple Hesed has evolved from a small group of worshipers to a prominent Jewish community in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Thomas E. Pugh on his retirement from the John Heinz Rehabilitation Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Pugh was born in Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania in 1942.

A lifelong resident of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Mr. Pugh graduated from Northwest Area High School in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania before attending the Pennsylvania State University where he majored in English.

Mr. Pugh served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.

For the past three decades, Mr. Pugh has worked at the John Heinz Rehabilitation Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, part of the Allied Services network of health care and service organizations that provide rehabilitative, vocational, home care, and residential services throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

John Heinz Rehab specializes in inpatient rehabilitation services, particularly in the areas of brain injury, injured worker recovery, and pediatrics.

After almost thirty years working at John Heinz Rehab and Allied Services, Mr. Pugh will retire as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Pugh's exemplary work at John Heinz Rehab over the past few decades has been recognized throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In 2009, Mr. Pugh received the Individual Distinguished Service Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities.

This award recognizes an individual who, ``by an unusual act or by a significant history of service, has made a substantial contribution to the development of rehabilitation facility or has a marked impact on both the quality and quantity of services provided by rehabilitation programs.''

Throughout his career, Mr. Pugh has also consistently donated his time and efforts throughout the community.

He has served on the boards of the Greater Wilkes-Bane Association for the Blind, the Luzerne County Community College Foundation, the Northwest Area School District, and the Arthritis Foundation, where he was honored as ``The Community Leader of the Year'' in 2006.

Mr. Pugh has also devoted his time to assisting local veterans, and has been a strong advocate for children suffering from autism and learning disabilities.

Mr. Pugh currently resides in Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania with his wife, the former Christine Cummings. They have four children, Jennifer, Sarah, Rachel, and Matthew.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the remarkable career of Mr. Thomas E. Pugh. Over the past three decades Mr. Pugh has devoted himself in many ways to improving the lives of the residents of our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the 100- year anniversary of the Nanticoke City Fire Department Station No. 4.

The Station is located at 108 Espy Street in the Hanover section of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania and is home to the Hanover Hose Company, Engine No. 4 of the Nanticoke City Fire Department.

The Nanticoke City Fire Department is comprised of seven volunteer fire companies operating out of two fire stations. The Department serves a population of over 10,000 Nanticoke residents, including myself and my wife, and responds not only to fire calls but also EMS calls, motor vehicle accidents, and mutual aid calls with neighboring townships.

In 2010, they have responded to over 500 incidents throughout the community.

The Hanover Hose Company was originally organized in 1895, making it one of the oldest of the seven volunteer fire companies of the Nanticoke City Fire Department.

In 1897, the Hanover Hose Company purchased property at 108 Espy Street in Nanticoke, and donated the property to the local area government--at that time the Nanticoke Borough.

Shortly after its donation, the Borough erected an original frame structure on the property where the Company held some of its earliest meetings.

In 1910, the Borough replaced the original structure with a brick building, which celebrates its 100-year anniversary this year.

The current structure was first home to the Company's hose and chemical truck and horses until 1924. Since then, the building has housed the Company's upgraded fire equipment, including first a Reo Hose and Chemical Truck from 1924 to 1927, and its replacement, an American LaFrance triple combination truck.

Since its construction in 1910, the building has also been used as a police station, a jury room, and a library, and has hosted a countless number of community gatherings.

Currently, the building at 108 Espy Street in Nanticoke serves as one of two fire stations of the Nanticoke City Fire Department, and currently houses the Hanover Hose Company's 1974 Hahn Pumper.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing this local milestone. Over the past 100 years, 108 Espy Street in Nanticoke has become a symbol of community pride and service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the twentieth anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26, 1990. Twenty years ago, I proudly supported the passage of this landmark legislation in the House of Representatives along with 376 of my colleagues.

The Americans with Disabilities Act is often described as the most sweeping nondiscrimination legislation since the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Act's purpose is to ``provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.'' It prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, public services, and public accommodations to enable millions of disabled Americans to fully function in society.

As a result of this Act, employers are no longer allowed to single out disabled individuals in hiring, firing or advancement practices. State and local governments must now follow specific design standards when constructing or altering new buildings to accommodate individuals restricted to wheelchairs, and restaurants and retail stores are required to make reasonable accommodations for disabled individuals. The Act also requires that telecommunication services be provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week for individuals with hearing or speech impairments.

Twenty years after its inception, Americans across the country continue to benefit from this legislation. Many of the everyday services and accommodations we now take for granted are a direct result of this ground-breaking law.

For example, mass transit systems are now equipped with voice messages to help the visually impaired independently navigate their daily routines, and new stadiums feature accessible seating for those in wheelchairs and their guests.

The Americans with Disabilities Act's footprint can be strongly felt throughout my district in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Whether it is access to handicapped parking spaces at the Steamtown Mall, or sidewalk ramps around the public square in Wilkes-Barre, my constituents continue to benefit everyday from this legislation.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the twentieth anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is my sincere hope that in the coming years we continue to remove barriers that prevent our fellow citizens from fully functioning in society.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Mr. Chris DiMattio on being sworn in as the national President of UNICO National.

Mr. DiMattio was born in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, in 1966 as the youngest of three children of Louis and Catherine DiMattio. Growing up in Dunmore, he attended St. Anthony of Padua's Grade School and Bishop O'Hara High School.

In 1988, Mr. DiMattio graduated from Marywood University in Scranton where he majored in Business Administration and was a member of the Academic Dean's Roundtable and the Student Government.

He is currently a Senior Vice President at FNCB Wealth Management Services in Dunmore. Previously, he was an Assistant Vice President at NatWest Financial Markets Group in Scranton.

Throughout his academic and professional career, Mr. DiMattio has consistently volunteered his time and efforts throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Lackawanna Branch of the American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross, and has also volunteered with the United Way of Lackawanna County and the Scranton Cultural Center.

Mr. DiMattio has been a member of the Scranton Chapter of UNICO National since 1990 and served as the Chapter's President from 1997 to 1999.

UNICO was originally founded in 1922 by Dr. Anthony P. Vastola as an Italian American service organization to, ``engage in charitable works, support higher education, and perform patriotic deeds.''

In 1947, UNICO merged with another Italian American service organization, the National Civic League, to create UNICO National.

Today, UNICO National remains the largest Italian American service organization in the United States. Every year it donates approximately $1 million to numerous charities throughout the country, and, through its Anti-Bias committee, works to overcome negative stereotypes of Italian Americans.

Mr. DiMattio has served on UNICO National's National Executive Committee as National Membership & Retention Director from 2003 to 2006 and as Vice President from 2006 to 2010.

Mr. DiMattio will be sworn in as the national President of UNICO National at its annual convention being held from July 28 to August 1 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He will become the second Northeastern Pennsylvania resident in the past thirty years to be appointed to this position.

Mr. DiMattio currently resides in Moscow, Pennsylvania, with his wife, the former Ann Celli of Peckville, and their two children, Louis Carlo and Robert.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. DiMattio on this auspicious occasion. His exemplary community service record demonstrates he is most deserving of this achievement.