Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to my very good friends Dr. Joseph and Dr. Rose Mattioli, of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, who have been honored by the Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce as recipients of the Frank Schoelch Community Commitment Award.

Both Mattiolis are graduates of Temple University, which is where they met. Dr. Joseph Mattioli practiced dentistry while Dr. Rose Mattioli pursued a professional career as a podiatrist. Both practiced in Philadelphia for about 10 years before they decided to embark on a complete change of careers.

The Mattiolis were determined to pursue a dream of bringing automobile racing to the New York and Philadelphia regions.

That dream became a reality in 1968 when they opened the Pocono International Raceway at Long Pond in Monroe County. They endured numerous obstacles and hardships during the early days of NASCAR, but they persevered.

Since then, the Mattiolis have developed the track into one of the best in the Nation. Today, that track hosts two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series events each year. In 2002 they were inducted into the Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame.

Known as the driving force behind the growth of Pocono Raceway, Joe is credited by his peers for his incomparable knowledge of racing, drivers and, above all, people.

Rose is well-known as a gracious lady with an infectious smile. Rose is the ``heart'' of the Pocono Raceway. She was instrumental in providing an area at Pocono Raceway for religious services for race teams and their families.

Joe is also a strong supporter of countless charitable groups throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. A veteran of World War II, Dr. Mattioli has been honored for helping the Veterans Coalition and Veterans of the Vietnam War.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Drs. Joseph and Rose Mattioli on this happy occasion. It is, indeed, fitting that this couple should be recognized for their community commitment since they have contributed so much to the greater Pocono Mountain community for so long. I am proud to consider them my friends. Pocono Raceway has hosted hundreds of thousands of guests over the years and has been responsible for generating significant amounts of revenue and jobs that have greatly improved the quality of life throughout the region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Anthony Pecone who is retiring as Pennsylvania State director of the U.S. Economic Development Administration following 39 years of service with the agency.

Mr. Pecone has had a distinguished career and has guided the investment of nearly $2 billion in Federal funding throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which has had the effect of creating or retaining tens of thousands of jobs.

Mr. Pecone came to the EDA after 11 years of working in the private sector, 2 years of service with the U.S. Army in Germany, 9 months with the Central Intelligence Agency and 16 months with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Goddard Space Flight Center.

As State director of the EDA, Mr. Pecone was an invaluable ally for local communities and economic development organizations, guiding them through the economic development process for planning, technical assistance, business loans, construction and special programs for assistance related to natural disasters, base closings and severe industrial dislocations or curtailments.

Noteworthy Pennsylvania EDA investments achieved during his tenure include brownfield restorations, creation of a statewide revolving loan fund, base closing assistance, restoration of areas impacted by hurricanes and tornadoes, construction of several technology incubators, workforce development initiatives, construction of many industrial, business and commercial parks, initiatives to combat the effects of job losses in the coal and steel industries and construction of roads, sewage and water systems and bridges.

More than 30 years have passed since I first met Tony during the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes, which devastated the Wilkes-Barre area in 1972. His can-do spirit and practical approach to stimulating economic activity shaped my overall impression of the EDA and made me a life- long fan of both Tony and his agency. Always courteous, Tony was also tough and fair in his determination of which projects were worthy of Federal funds. Every applicant seeking EDA funds learned to expect hard questions but also wise guidance as Tony worked to make sure that every EDA project was a successful project. Although few of them know his name or even the name of his agency, thousands of Pennsylvanians have jobs because of Tony's hard work. He will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Pecone upon the completion of a career that has helped so many people achieve a better quality of life. Mr. Pecone's singular dedication to improving communities deserves special recognition and I am pleased to be able to enter a tribute to him in the Congressional Record.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to former Pennsylvania State Representative Joe Battisto, of Monroe County, on the occasion of receiving the first annual Lifetime Achievement Award from the Monroe County Democrats.

Joe Battisto distinguished himself during 18 years of public service in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives following a career as public school teacher and chairman of the language arts department of the Pocono Mountain School District.

Despite moving to the realm of public service, Joe was well known for maintaining his connection with the youth in his community and frequently served as mentor for young people who were behaviorally troubled.

Prior to being elected to the State House of Representatives, Joe served in the public arena first as a borough councilman in the Borough of Mount Pocono, rising to become the council president. He also served as mayor of Mount Pocono Borough.

Joe Battisto subsequently was a driving force in the formation of the Pocono Mountain Library and in the construction of a municipal sewage system.

He founded the Monroe County Litter Control and Beautification Task Force.

During his nearly 2 decades of service in the State House of Representatives, he served on the Education and Appropriations Committees and rose to become chairman of the Transportation Committee.

While serving as a State Representative, Joe launched the reconstruction of the Pocono Mountains Welcome Center, led the efforts to build the badly needed Marshalls Creek Bypass, and ensured the environmental cleanup of major industrial and disposal sites in Monroe County.

He also obtained funding for an open space trail system and for highway safety and signalization projects. He fought to preserve rights of way for possible future rail service to major metropolitan destinations.

In addition, he obtained funding for street lights in downtown Stroudsburg and streetscaping work in the Delaware Water Gap.

Joe Battisto was the first lawmaker to receive the prestigious East Stroudsburg University's ``Legislative Fellow'' award created to establish a stronger bond between the university and elected state officials. The award was especially meaningful to Joe because he graduated from ESU in 1956.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Joe Battisto on this auspicious occasion. The quality of life in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, has been made far better due to the achievements of Joe Battisto and others like him. His integrity and commitment to his community serve as wonderful examples of what it means to be a true public servant.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart. We need to have a strong, independent and world-class regulator for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal home loan banks.

The committee I serve on, the Committee on Financial Services, has labored for 6 years, 20 hearings, hundreds and hundreds of hours, and hundreds of witnesses to put together what I think is probably one of the best examples of bipartisan activity this House has seen in many years. It is unfortunate that we come here today with the manager's amendment excluding faith-based entities from participating in the Affordable Housing Fund.

I am convinced that the overwhelming majority of our friends on the other side of the aisle, if they understood the restrictions in the manager's amendment and the denial by the Committee on Rules of a right to vote on the issue, that is all we asked, it was never considered in the subcommittee. It was never considered in the full committee. It has never had an up-and-down vote or any consideration of this issue. It appeared at the 11th hour to satisfy some political fears of some of the majority party's members, and they felt this was a way of solving it. Maybe it was directed at one entity, but in fact it has encompassed in its grasp the faith-based entities of this country which provide most of the affordable housing.

I have to say that with this we are making our religious institutions choose between a joint mission of serving God their number one mission, and then helping the poor. They are going to have to give up helping the poor because if they were to do so, they will be restricted from spending their own funds, not these affordable housing funds, but their own funds, to bring out the vote, to have voter education, and to have even carrying a voter to the polls for people who do not have a ride.

We have taken 15 protections in the bill to see that the intended purposes were not abused. We did not need these additional restrictions. They are there, I think, probably for political reaction purposes, and it is unfortunate. As a result, we are going to compromise an otherwise perfectly bipartisan bill that could have shone with great favor in this House at this particular time in our history. I find it unfortunate that we are denied this right to have an up and down vote, and, as a result, I urge my colleagues to vote no on the rule.

Mr. Chairman, the Committee on Financial Services has studied the need to reform the regulation of housing Government- Sponsored Enterprises for nearly 6 years.

Since convening our first government hearing on GSE reform in March 2000, we have examined these matters extensively. As the ranking Democratic member on the subcommittee of jurisdiction, I have also had the opportunity to participate in more than 20 hearings and to hear scores of witnesses.

The legislation to address these matters that the Committee on Financial Services ultimately reported earlier this year was a very, very good piece of legislation. It would, as long as I have advocated, created a strong, world-class, independent regulatory for housing GSEs. The bill also received the overwhelming backing of my colleagues on the committee, passing by a vote of 65 to 5.

While I still believe this base legislative package is a good bill, I am concerned about some of the amendments that we will debate today. For example, the manager's amendment that we will shortly consider will add a number of new provisions that will severely restrict the ability of faith-based groups to participate in the new Affordable Housing Fund created by this bill and to participate in our democracy.

These changes are controversial, unconstitutional, and immoral. These revisions which were not previously debated in committee, which have generated considerable disagreement, deserve close scrutiny. Because the rule does not allow a clean vote to remove these troubling provisions from the legislation, I must regretfully oppose this bill on final passage.

Beyond the concerns I have with the manager's amendment, I have concerns about those amendments which would alter the delicate balance we crafted in committee to create a strong, world-class, and independent safety and soundness regulator for GSEs. These

amendments, which I will oppose, would remove the Treasury line of credit for the GSEs, impose capital standards based on competition rather than risk, create arbitrary limitations on GSE portfolios for reasons other than safety and soundness, and alter provisions of the bill that will help middle-income families purchase homes in high-cost areas.

Still, there are also a number of good amendments which I will support, including my own amendment to restore the Presidential and regulatory board appointment systems for the GSEs.

I hope all of my colleagues will support this target amendment to retain an independent public voice on Government-Sponsored Enterprise boards. This amendment also has the support of the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors.

In closing, Mr. Chairman, while this bill has many admirable aspects, the process by which we have brought it to the floor is flawed. As a result, I will oppose this bill at the end of the day, but hope to work to improve the legislation as it moves on in the process.

Mr. Chairman, I think we have debated a tough issue. I am sure there are people on the other side that understand why we feel so strongly on this faith-based issue. We have maybe a chance to resolve this and come out of this House with a resounding victory.

If we vote down the manager's amendment, we will include the entire manager's amendment in the motion to recommit with three exceptions. We will take out that the prime purpose has to be housing, so faith-based organizations can still consider God as a primary challenge and obligation.

Secondly, we will add in the terms that will allow for voter registration and get-out-the vote on a nonpartisan basis. So this will only affect getting out the vote and voter registration in a nonpartisan way. Finally, what I urge my colleagues on the other side to do is vote down the manager's amendment, accept the motion to recommit, have a perfect bill that we can walk out of here today with almost a unanimous approval.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Gary G. Miller).

(Mr. Gary G. Miller of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I have a great deal of respect for the proponent of this amendment. I know he is a very serious and thoughtful Member; but I think this amendment goes overboard from the standpoint of during the 6 years of consideration of this bill, we balanced out very well the structure to create a regulator that would be similar to the bank regulators. The powers involved in this bill allow for the regulator to control safety and soundness and to have direction of the portfolio when systemic risk would occur in these particular organizations.

This amendment goes far beyond that and allows the latitude to the regulator to get involved whenever there are capital-markets instability, not only housing instability, but capital markets or the financial system instability. What it means is we will always be subject to the whim and fancy of a regulator to require these GSEs to sell assets or sell liabilities at the whim of the regulator's thought that there may be some need to regulate systemic risk, when in fact these organizations suffer no systemic risk.

I join with the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) when he analyzes out that what we would be doing is arming a regulator who may not always be the most thoughtful individual in the world to take actions against our housing industry and our housing GSEs at the most inappropriate time and moment, causing destabilization to the housing market and, in effect, causing further destabilization and systemic risk to the financial markets. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``no'' on this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chairman, simply stated, the amendment would ensure a continued independent public voice in the corporate governance of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. The amendment also has had bipartisan support in the Committee on Financial Services. It additionally now has the support of the National Association of Homebuilders and the National Association of Realtors.

The bill before us would make a dramatic change in the board structures of the three government-sponsored enterprises, and this issue deserves a public debate.

The charters of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac presently require that the boards of both enterprises shall at all times have five members appointed by the President. Additionally, in order to represent the public interest and provide an independent voice, the charters of the Federal Home Loan Banks require at least six individuals to be appointed by the regulator to serve on each bank board.

Unfortunately, the bill before us today would eliminate the requirement for Presidential appointees on the boards of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It would also abolish regulatory appointees on the boards of the Federal Home Loan Banks.

In my view, requiring Presidential and regulatory appointees to serve on the board of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks is entirely appropriate, given the unique nature of their charters and their important public missions.

Government-sponsored enterprises by their very nature are public- private entities, and they need to have a public voice at the highest levels of governance.

The Presidential and regulatory appointments, therefore, signal that each entity is not only accountable to its shareholders, but also to broader national public policy interests.

Additionally, the Presidential and regulatory appointment system gives citizens a needed voice in ensuring the viability of our Nation's housing finance system and that the benefits of this system are widely distributed. Maintaining public representation on the GSE boards is therefore critical to ensuring continued public trust in these very important financial institutions.

This amendment would accordingly restore the Presidential and regulatory board appointment systems for GSEs while still preserving important changes made by the bill. These changes include providing flexibility in the size of corporate boards at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and lengthening the terms of service at the Federal home loan banks.

The amendment would also make three other minor modifications to the bill related to the boards of the Federal home loan banks. They include raising the number of independent directors, adding community and economic development expertise and allowing appointed independent directors to continue to serve until a successor is in place.

This commonsense amendment to retain an independent public voice on the GSE boards received bipartisan support during the markup of this bill. It also has the backing of those who know our housing markets best, like the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors. In a recent letter to me about this amendment, the home builders note that ``a diverse governing board of directors that is well balanced in knowledge and expertise in the full range of

GSE-related issues and activities is critical.''

They also believe that the amendment ``will help ensure that the GSE's board of directors are best equipped to make informed, sound judgments in fulfilling their duties, including monitoring risk management activities of the GSEs' executives.''

In sum, this amendment is one that deserves the support of everyone who wants to preserve a public voice within the public-private entities and promote good corporate governance. It has the support of the home builders and the realtors.

May I say, at the full committee the amendment was offered and had a 35-35 vote at full committee. On the basis of knowing the importance to corporate governance of this body, I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment.

I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Maureen Moran Bufalino, regional president of Omega Bank in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on the occasion of her receiving the prestigious Athena Award presented annually by the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry.

Mrs. Bufalino is truly deserving of this honor because throughout her career she has exemplified what a true community leader should be.

As a former president of the Junior League of Wilkes-Barre, Mrs. Bufalino helped develop many young women for volunteer service within the community. She has served as a role model for businesswomen through her work in the banking industry. And despite her demanding business schedule, she has still found the time to volunteer and serve several non-profit organizations and also raise three children.

She is also a charter member of Circle 200, a regional executive women's networking organization, and is a graduate of the Leadership Wilkes-Barre program.

Mrs. Bufalino serves as vice chair of CityVest Community Development Organization, a group committed to revitalizing Wilkes-Barre's downtown. She is a graduate of King's College.

Mrs. Bufalino was also named one of the top 20 executives under the age of 40 in 2001 by the Northeastern Business Journal, a widely respected business periodical in northeastern Pennsylvania.

On a personal note, I have known Maureen and her family for decades. I know her parents Jack and Maureen are extremely proud of her success, not only as a well-respected professional, but also as a dedicated community

leader and loving mother. It has been a pleasure to watch her develop into such a fine leader for the next generation.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mrs. Bufalino on this notable occasion. Her spirit and generosity repeatedly propels her into positions of leadership wherever she goes. An outstanding and highly talented woman, she is a model business and civic leader who epitomizes all the qualities required for a recipient of the Athena Award. Our community in northeastern Pennsylvania is far better off because of Mrs. Bufalino's selfless service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Lino Marchetti, of Exeter, Pennsylvania, on the occasion of being named ``Person of the Year'' by the Italian American Association of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Born in Bologna, Italy, Mr. Marchetti is the son of the late Samuel and Sylvia Parente Marchetti.

Mr. Marchetti served in the United States Army during World War II. He worked for many years at Atlas Chain in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, and is a member of the United Auto Workers, AFL-CIO.

An accomplished musician, Mr. Marchetti serves as president of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 140. He frequently provides musical entertainment for residents of nursing homes and for patients at veterans hospitals.

He is the adjutant of the American Legion, Post 833, and he serves as vice president of the Italian American Association of Luzerne County.

Mr. Marchetti and his wife have been married for 53 years. They are the parents of two daughters and the grandparents of three grandsons.

Throughout his life, Mr. Marchetti has been a good citizen, friend and neighbor whose deeds have touched the lives of many in a very positive manner.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Marchetti on this special occasion that recognizes his service to his fellow man and the community at large.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Attorney Paul Mazzoni, of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, who has been named ``Man of the Year'' by the Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna County.

Mr. Mazzoni has enjoyed a very successful career and has distinguished himself as a dynamic crime fighter during the years he served as special assistant attorney general and as district attorney for Lackawanna County.

The son of Italian immigrants, he was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. His father worked in the coal mines and his mother labored in the factories.

A graduate of the University of Scranton, he received his law degree from Georgetown University Law School.

After serving as Census Director for the 10th Congressional District, he was named special assistant attorney general. Later, he worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and, after that, as a workmen's compensation judge.

Elected to two terms as district attorney, Mr. Mazzoni prosecuted more cases of election law violations than any previous DA in the history of Lackawanna County. He also prosecuted a murder case involving two juvenile victims that attracted the attention of a national magazine.

He also broke up the largest interstate crime ring ever to operate in northeastern Pennsylvania. The case involved organized crime figures from New York and New Jersey and led to solving a murder case and scores of burglaries and robberies throughout the region. The case sparked the book ``Marked to Die'' by Michael Brown.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania awarded Mr. Mazzoni a certificate of merit, the first such award ever presented to a county prosecutor by the state.

Having established a law firm with his brother, Robert, who is now a Lackawanna County Common Pleas Judge, Mr. Mazzoni remains engaged in the practice of law at the firm of Mazzoni and Karam.

A former president of the Lackawanna County Bar Association, Mr. Mazzoni is married to the former Elaine Seckary. The couple has four children and 11 grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Mazzoni on this happy occasion. The quality of life in northeastern Pennsylvania is better today because of the contributions of men like Paul Mazzoni.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to a former colleague and current Pennsylvania State Senator Raphael J. Musto on the occasion of receiving the ``Lifetime Achievement Award'' from the Italian American Association of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Senator Musto has had a distinguished career in public service dating back to 1971 when he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a special election to fill the unexpired term of office of his father, the late State Representative James Musto. Senator Musto was subsequently re-elected to four consecutive terms.

In 1980, then-State Representative Musto won a special election to become the Congressman representing the 11th Congressional District of Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives.

In November, 1982, he was elected to the Senate of Pennsylvania to serve the 14th District. Senator Musto was subsequently re-elected in 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002. He served as Senate Democratic Caucus Secretary from 1997 to 2004, a leadership position. Senator Musto also serves as Democratic chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and chairman of the Energy and Environment Committee of the Council of State Governments' Eastern Regional Conference, which encompasses 11 States, five Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Senator Musto is a charter member of the Pittston Township Lions Club, a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Italian American Association of Luzerne County, the Sons of Italy, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, King's College Alumni Association and he is a life member of the Pittston Township Volunteer Fire Company.

Senator Musto was honored by both King's College and Wilkes University when the two Wilkes-Barre institutions presented him with honorary doctorates of humanities and humane letters, respectively.

In 2000, he was named Conservation Legislator of the year and he received awards for excellence and distinguished service from the

National Association of Water Companies, the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, the Ford Foundation and Harvard University.

Senator Musto is married to the former Frances Panzetta and they are the parents of four children and seven grandchildren.

On a personal note, it has been a pleasure to work with Ray Musto on many issues of importance to our mutual constituents. He has epitomized the true American success story by encompassing strong family values, dedication to his community, and commitment to the democratic institutions of his community, his State, and indeed, the Nation. He has been a friend for more than half my lifetime.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Senator Musto on this special occasion that recognizes the contributions he has made throughout his distinguished career in public service. Clearly, Senator Musto has made a positive difference in the quality of life for the citizens of northeastern Pennsylvania and we thank him for that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues to pay tribute to Attorney John J. Pentz, Jr., on the occasion of being honored by the Monroe County, Pennsylvania, Bar Association for 48 years of distinguished service.

Born in Dubois, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Judge and Mrs. John J. Pentz, Mr. Pentz graduated from Mercersburg Academy and served in the United States Navy for 2 years.

He attended and graduated from Princeton University and the University of Michigan Law School.

After practicing law in New Haven, Connecticut, for 3 years, he moved to Monroe County where he later established his own law office in Stroudsburg where he specialized in real estate law, administration, corporate and commercial law and estate planning.

A member of Grace Lutheran Church where he was a former trustee and Sunday school teacher, he was the Pocono District Representative and District Chairman for Boy Scouts of America. He is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of the Stroudsburgs, the Monroe County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Married to the former Connie Beers, of New Haven, Connecticut, the couple has three sons.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Pentz on this memorable occasion during which his peers are honoring him for his service to family and community for nearly a half century. The quality of life in northeastern Pennsylvania is enhanced by the sacrifices and contributions of people like John Pentz.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in paying tribute to the Honorable Peter J. O'Brien, from the Court of Common Pleas, 43rd Judicial District, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, on the occasion of his retirement. He is being honored by his peers at a special celebration on Sunday, Oct. 16.

A native of Pennsylvania, Judge O'Brien has been recognized by his peers as a man who has accomplished much in his career. Mark S. Love, president of the Monroe County Bar Association, has stated that the association is honored to be able to recognize Judge O'Brien for his work and his service to the community.

A graduate of Villanova University, Judge O'Brien was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in December, 1962. He attended Judge Advocate General's School in 1963 and received his Military Justice Certification. He also attended several courses at the National Judicial College.

Judge O'Brien served as a captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps (U.S. Army) from 1963 to 1966. He was Chief of Military Justice, Sixth Army Headquarters in San Francisco, California. He received the Sixth Army Commanding General's Commendation, the Army Commendation Medal and the First Oak Leaf Cluster.

Judge O'Brien practiced law at the O'Brien and Miller law firm in Mount Pocono for 18 years. His former partner, the Honorable Linda Wallace Miller, is also a Common Pleas Judge in Monroe County.

As a practicing attorney, he conducted extensive litigation throughout 12 northeastern counties in Pennsylvania for many years. He also had an extensive appellate practice in the Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Courts.

He was a member and chairman of a hearing committee for the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court from 1972 to 1980.

In 1986, Judge O'Brien was elected to the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas. He was re-elected in 1996 and has presided over hundreds of civil and criminal jury trials.

A member of the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and Monroe County Bar Association, he remains active in numerous education and youth related organizations in the community.

Married for 43 years to his wife, Karin, the couple has seven children.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in acknowledging a remarkable career of public service. Judge O'Brien's example of devotion to justice, faithfulness to family and community service among our youth provides a wonderful role model for others to emulate. Judge O'Brien can take justifiable pride in a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay special tribute to St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary on Oct. 16, 2005.

A century and a half ago, a small group of German immigrants joined together to form a church where they could worship in the traditions instilled in them by their ancestors and provide a religious education for their children and for the generations to follow.

Their effort took root and quickly flourished. Soon, a small wooden church appeared to provide a place to worship and then a school. Both structures filled quickly and the need to build even larger facilities was evident.

In 1883, the congregation started construction on a magnificent Gothic edifice that remains to this day and can accommodate up to 1,200 worshippers at a given service.

In 1913, anew, larger elementary parochial school was constructed to accommodate an ever growing number of students. A high school was incorporated in 1928, and an auditorium and gymnasium were built in 1930.

The Sisters of Christian Charity, organized in Germany, joined St. Nicholas Parish as the school teachers in the early 1870s and they remain in a leadership role to this day. A new convent was built to accommodate their needs in 1963.

The old church rectory was torn down in 1971 and a new residence was built and completed by June, 1972.

The parish steadily acquired adjacent properties over the years and, today, occupies nearly an entire city block bounded by Washington Street, Pennsylvania Avenue and the South Street Bridge.

Now home to more than 1,300 families, the parish maintains more than 40 thriving organizations that minister to all segments of the congregation and the larger community nearby.

Although in existence for 150 years, the parish has had only six pastors, including Monsignors Peter Nagel, Charles Goeckel, Cyriac Staib, Francis Schmitt, Joseph Meier and Joseph Rauscher.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating St. Nicholas Parish on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. A landmark in central city Wilkes-Barre for a century and a half, St. Nicholas Church is well known for much more than just a striking physical presence in the

heart of the community. It has been a shining example of a faith community that ministers to its own while reaching out with a welcoming hand to the larger community in a myriad of ways. The pastor and parishioners of St. Nicholas Church have much about which to celebrate and be proud. We extend to them a hearty wish for continued success as a beacon of spiritual inspiration to those throughout the greater Wyoming Valley.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the life of Sergeant Paul Karpowich, of Freeland, Pennsylvania, who was killed in action in Iraq in December 2004.

Sgt. Karpowich was 30 years old when he suffered the loss of his life while trying to liberate the Iraqi people and afford them the same opportunities we enjoy in a land ruled by democracy.

The victim of a suicide bomber whose treachery claimed the lives of 20 people, Sgt. Karpowich was one of 15 military personnel who were killed. The remaining five victims were civilian employees of Department of Defense contractors.

Sgt. Karpowich was remembered by many as a ``soldier's soldier.'' He joined the U.S. Army immediately after graduating from Bishop Hafey High School. He completed basic training at Fort Benning, GA and then went on to Fort Bragg, NC, where he graduated from paratrooper school, after which he joined the 82nd Airborne Division.

Sgt. Karpowich served as a drill instructor with the 98th Division's 1st Battalion, 417th Regiment, 1st Brigade.

He had recently been notified that he was about to be promoted to Master Sergeant, the second highest enlisted rank in the Army, when the bomb blast ripped through a mess tent in a forward operating base at Mosul, Iraq, where Sgt. Karpowich and hundreds of others were gathered.

The first Hazleton area resident to give his life in the Iraq War, Sgt. Karpowich's awards and decorations included the Army Commendation Medal, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terror Medal.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in paying tribute to the life of a true American patriot whose courage and bravery transcended human frailty and shone like a beacon to inspire others.

Sgt. Karpowich well understood the importance of those objectives and willingly put his life in harm's way to help others enjoy the same liberties as we do. The world is a better place today because of the sacrifices made by Sgt. Karpowich and others like him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Ned McGinley, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, who is serving his second, two-year, term as national president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, Ned graduated from Wilkes College in 1966. He was captain of the wrestling team and was named All American in 1963. Married for 36 years to his wife, Maryellen, the couple has three children and five grandchildren.

A school teacher for 31 years in the Wyoming Valley West School District, Ned is now athletic recruitment coordinator for King's College in Wilkes-Barre. A member of the AOH since 1978, Ned served in numerous leadership roles within the organization. In June, 2002, he was elected national president without opposition. Having visited Ireland 25 times in the past 16 years, Ned has been devoted to furthering the Peace Process in Northern Ireland.

He is a strong proponent of the Hibernian Charity Corporation, instituted in 2005, to bring tax deductible contributions to Project St. Patrick, stipends for religious vocations and support for the Hibernian Hunger Project.

Under Ned's leadership, the AOH is working to introduce a resolution on the Molly Maguires to the Pennsylvania legislature. The AOH is convinced that the Irish men convicted of crimes in the Pennsylvania coal fields of Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties in the 1870s were denied legal due process during their trials. During Ned's term of office as national president, the AOH has called upon the Irish Republican Army to renounce violence in its struggle for a united Ireland. Last July, the IRA agreed to do that and limit itself to using the political process to achieve goals.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Ned McGinley for his devoted service to the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a proud organization committed to preserving Irish history and culture and to promoting Irish values.