Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Alessandro Pagano. Mr. Pagano, a member of the Italian National Parliament, has worked extensively to strengthen Italian American relations.

As a member of the Italian Parliament, Mr. Pagano works tirelessly to improve the fields of health, education, and budget. He has served as Regional Minister of Health, Regional Minister for Budget and Finance, Regional Councilor for Cultural Heritage, and Regional Minister for Education.

As the Regional Minister of Health, Mr. Pagano has served under various committees in an effort to improve both Italian healthcare systems and improve quality of life for the Italian people.

With his extensive educational background in both economics and banking, Mr. Pagano has impressively increased revenues without raising taxes and recovered financial resources of over one billion Euros per year, earning a positive rating with the international rating agency Fitch.

Mr. Pagano also has as history of teaching. He holds two degrees earned with honors in both banking and economics from the University of Messina, and has dedicated well over a decade of his life to teaching in higher education. He continues to serve as a member of the Scientific Committee of the weekly tax legislation, titled ``The Taxes.''

Under his position of Regional Minister for Education, Mr. Pagano has begun multi-million Euro programs to help keep Sicilian schools safe.

In his continued efforts to preserve cultural heritage, Mr. Pagano was appointed as Regional Minister for Cultural Heritage, and has begun projects to renovate and restore priceless buildings and cultural artifacts.

Mr. Pagano's long and impressive career showcases his commitment to a better society, his profession, and his community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you, and my other distinguished colleagues join me in thanking Alessandro Pagano for his work and his continued service to both Italy and the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor F. John White. Mr. White, the Chief Executive Officer of Public Financial Management, Inc. and a member of its Board of Directors, will celebrate his retirement after a lifetime of service to his company, profession, and community.

As CEO of Public Financial Management, Inc., Mr. White is responsible for the overall daily management of the firm and chairs the PFM Management Committee, the primary policy-making body in the firm. In his role, Mr. White has spearheaded PFM's growth in personnel, technology advances, and business practice expansion. He has helped to expand PFM over the past 30 years from a single office with five employees in 1980 to over 445 employees in 31 offices nationwide.

Mr. White has also taken the lead in PFM's effort to develop and maintain a strategic consulting practice designed specifically to assist state and local governments in strengthening credit ratings. He led the team that wrote the original Five Year Plan for the City of Philadelphia in 1992 enabling Philadelphia to recover from a more than $200 million structural operating deficit and regain an investment grade rating. This effort resulted in upgrades from all three major credit rating agencies and Philadelphia's return to the bond market after a two-year absence.

Prior to joining PFM in 1980, Mr. White held policy-making positions in various aspects of local, state and federal governments. He served as Deputy to the then District Attorney Edward G. Rendell of Philadelphia and as Regional Representative in the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce. He spent five years handling administrative and legislative matters for then Congressman William Green, serving on the House Ways and Means Committee.

A life-long resident of Philadelphia, Mr. White is a graduate of The William Penn Charter School and Muhlenberg College. He serves on Penn Charter's board of overseers as Treasurer.

Mr. White's long and impressive career showcases his commitment and service to his profession and community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in thanking F. John White for his work and congratulate him on the occasion of his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Honorable Lydia Y. Kirkland. For 25 years, Judge Kirkland has served on the Philadelphia Municipal Court, and on November 4, 2011 she celebrated her retirement after decades of service to her community.

Judge Kirkland's roots run deep in Philadelphia. During the difficult days of American segregation, her grandparents and great grandparents were among the most accomplished business persons and clergy in Philadelphia. Indeed, her grandfather, Reverend Doctor James E. Kirkland pastured the Union Baptist Church, the congregation which gave the magnificent Marian Anderson to the world. Judge Kirkland's father, Rev. Joseph Kirkland was a renowned cleric and civil rights leader in his own right, having graduated Crozer Theological Seminary in my district. His classmate and friend at Crozer was The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Judge Kirkland received both her Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctorate Degrees from Howard University in Washington, DC in 1974 and 1977 respectively. In 1978 she was admitted into the Pennsylvania Bar. Judge Kirkland was an associate in the Law Office of retired City Councilwoman Augusta A. Clark from 1979-1980. She was a sole practitioner, serving the people of my district, from 1980-1985.

Judge Kirkland was elected to the Philadelphia Municipal Court in 1985. During her tenure she was elected Secretary of the Board of Judges. She distinguished herself on the bench, receiving the 2009 Judge A. Leon Higginbotham Award, presented by the Barrister's Association of Philadelphia, and the Judge Doris M. Harris Image Award, presented by the National Bar Association Women Lawyer's Division-- Philadelphia Chapter and other awards. Judge Kirkland is the proud mother of two sons Joseph C. Cornell and Joel Kirkland Cornell.

Judge Kirkland's long and impressive career showcases her commitment and service to her

community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in thanking Judge Kirkland for her work and congratulate her on the occasion of her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in opposition to H.R. 3463.

This is not new territory for this Congress. This proposal to eliminate the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and the Election Assistance Commission has already been dealt with in this Congress. The legislation before us proposes to combine these two really bad ideas.

In an era of rapidly changing election law, both in terms of campaign finance regulation and voting rights, these two programs are more important now than ever. The electoral landscape is much different today than it was even 4 short years ago. The Supreme Court allows unlimited contributions from special interests, and Super PACs are raising vast amounts of funds with no government oversight or regulation. Corporations and special interests are donating massive sums of money, and some may expect a return on their investment. Unfortunately, this return often comes at the expense of the American people and sometimes at the expense of the integrity of this body.

We cannot expect the trust of the electorate if they feel they do not have a voice. We should provide transparency and accountability, not secrecy and irresponsibility.

Just last Congress, my colleagues and I passed the DISCLOSE Act, which called for more transparency in how our elections are financed, and that bill was killed by Senate Republicans. Members of the House, such as Mr. Van Hollen of Maryland and Mr. Larson of Connecticut, have authorized bills that would strengthen public financing of elections, not weaken it, as this bill does.

When sources of funds are intentionally concealed, what kind of message does this send to the country? It sends the message that we do not care where we get our contributions as long as they are substantial and they are secret, and that is wrong.

We can reform the Presidential Election Campaign Fund without repealing it. This is the best course of action.

Across the country, States are making it harder for voters to cast their ballots. New laws requiring voter identifications, strict and arbitrary voting registration regulations, and eliminating the days designed for early voting are all part of an effort to limit voter participation and turnout. Voters have noticed and have already started to push back.

This was the case in Maine last month when they used the ``People's Veto'' to throw out a law passed by the Republican legislature and Governor to eliminate the State's successful same-day voter registration program which has been in place for 40 years. In other States, restrictive new laws may be forced onto the ballot for a possible repeal in referendums in 2012.

If that wasn't bad enough, overworked and underpaid local election officials and volunteers are expected to keep track of election law changes while still administrating large, complex, and often unpredictable elections. The Election Assistance Commission does much of the heavy lifting for them, establishing and maintaining an information database for all local election officials to utilize.

The EAC also produces instructional videos and materials, which cash- strapped election officials claim save them thousands of dollars annually. And the letters of support for the EAC, which have been also sent to my colleagues across the aisle, are still rolling in.

The EAC's essential services do not stop there. The Commission is charged with the testing of certification of voting machines, the only agency in the Federal Government tasked to do this. Who will ensure that all of our votes are counted? Who will ensure that everyone has an opportunity to cast a ballot for their intended candidate? Who will ensure that we do not repeat the historical debacle of Florida in the year 2000?

It is important to remember that events led to the establishment of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and the EAC--the Watergate scandal of the early 1970s and Florida in 2000, respectively. These historical controversies eroded the public's faith in our political system. These measures were meant to restore their faith, to restore accountability to Washington and, most importantly, to ensure that the people were heard. All this bill will do is weaken further what little faith the American electorate has left.

Today I stand with every letter writer that has pleaded with us not to terminate the EAC. I stand with those who cannot afford to make huge contributions and would rather speak with their votes than their wallets. I, along with Democratic colleagues, stand with the principles that voter inclusion, not voter exclusion, is what we should strive for, and the attempted disenfranchisement of any eligible voters is despicable and is beyond words and cannot be tolerated.

On this bill I urge a ``no'' vote.

League of Women Voters

of the United States,

Washington, DC, May 24, 2011.

To: Members of the Committee on House Administration

From: Elisabeth MacNamara, President

Re H.R. 672, To Terminate the Election Assistance Commission

The League of Women Voters urges you to oppose H.R. 672,

which would terminate the Election Assistance Commission and

transfer some of its functions to the Federal Election

Commission. Instead of eliminating the EAC, we believe that

Congress should strengthen the commission and expand its

responsibilities. Moreover, the FEC is dysfunctional;

expanding its role would be a mistake.

The League believes that elections are fundamental to a

functioning democracy and that every effort should be made to

elevate their administration to the highest importance.

Congress should not turn its back on federal efforts to

ensure election integrity, improve voter access to the polls,

and improve election systems. The value of the EAC far

outweighs its monetary costs; in fact, the costs of poorly

run elections are intolerable. It is time for election

administration to move into the 21st Century, not back toward

the 19th.

Unfortunately, elections in our country are still not well-

administered, and we are concerned that many states and

localities are not doing a good job ensuring federally-

protected voting rights. For example, a GAO report on the

2008 election said that there are significant problems for

persons with disabilities in gaining access to the polls.

Physical barriers remain in far too many cases. In fact, 31

states reported that ensuring polling place accessibility was

``challenging.''

There many other areas of election administration that

cause concern, including statewide voter registration lists,

provisional balloting, list cleaning, voting machines and

tabulating, access to registration, and meeting voter

information needs. In addition, there are critical questions

that must be addressed about the application of new

technologies like the Internet to the voting and registration

processes. Each of these areas would benefit from additional

study, data gathering and information sharing among election

officials at every level, the public, and concerned

organizations.

With these continuing problems, now is certainly not the

time to abolish the only federal agency that devotes its full

resources and attention to improving our elections. Let us

not go back to the 2000 election but go forward, improving

each election over the last. We know what needs to be done;

now let us devote the resources to what should be done.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Lofgren).

I yield the gentlelady an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Mrs. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez), a valued member of the House Administration Committee.

I yield the gentleman an additional 10 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

(Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time we have.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished Democratic whip, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

(Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

The Presidential campaign fund currently has over $190 million. Tens of thousands of Americans put that money there. They wanted their money to go for this purpose. We would be fooling and deceiving our very own citizens if we were to pass this bill. They put that money there to be able to have the small say that they can--with their $1 or $3 or whatever it may--and be able to say who they would want to support and put it towards campaigns. We would be giving it back to the Treasury. They already put their money in the Treasury. This would be wrong, and we would be fooling the American people.

We would be telling them, We told you to check off a box and give us X number of dollars for a campaign. Now we're going to take $100 million of the money we told you to check off to use for that purpose, and we're no longer going to use it for that purpose.

That's wrong. It's not right. It's deceptive, which is why I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill.

Ohio Association of

Election Officials,

October 12, 2011.

Hon. Rob Portman,

Russell Senate Office Building,

Dear Senator Portman: We are writing today regarding the

possible elimination of the US Election Assistance Commission

(EAC) as part of the Super Committee's recommendations for

budget reductions. The EAC is an independent federal agency

created in the wake of the 2000 election to help solve

election related problems. The EAC provides assistance to

election officials in the form of best practices, guidance,

and the testing and certification of voting systems.

Basically, the EAC provides an outlet and open forum for

election officials to share their experiences, consider

alternatives, deliberate their outcomes, and establish

continuity of process, thus strengthening our democracy by

helping election officials to do their job well. However, if

Congress has its way, the EAC may not provide these services

much longer. There has been movement in the House to

eliminate the agency since last year, labeling it

``wasteful'' and ``unneeded.'' However, election

administrators on the local level feel differently.

Although it has been argued that the EAC has outlived its

usefulness because the Help America Vote Act funding it

oversees has been exhausted, the EAC has become far more than

a distributor and auditor of money; the EAC is a repository

and resource of election management procedures, performance

measures, election materials, and administrative knowledge.

Effective designs of polling place signage, webinars on

topics such as contingency planning, minority language

glossaries of election terminology, Quick Start Guide

publications regarding Developing an Audit Trail, Conducting

a Recount, and Acceptance Testing are all pertinent reminders

for veteran election officials as well as critical learning

tools for those officials newly elected, appointed, or hired.

The EAC is not without its issues. The agency's Voting

System Testing and Certification program was slow to develop

and continues to struggle to certify systems in a timely

manner. As with many federal agencies greater efficiencies of

operation should be considered in order to more effectively

produce election materials at less cost to the public. Also,

as the EAC has grown so has its overhead costs and management

size. These areas should all be addressed through greater

Congressional oversight, not through eliminating the agency.

Ironically, proponents of the elimination of the EAC would

simply reassign the various function of the Commission to

other more bureaucratic federal agencies such as the Federal

Election Commission (FEC). Claims that any savings would be

realized by its elimination are specious at best. We see no

need to eliminate or dismantle the only federal resourc

available to local election officials.

The EAC has never been needed more than now. Election

officials across Ohio and the United States are doing more

with less and it's only going to get worse. As budgets

tighten and voting equipment ages, the chances of another

election disaster increase. Without the EAC's help, another

Florida 2000 election may be inevitable, and Congress will

have no one to blame but itself. With a total operating

budget of just under 18 million dollars the EAC would make up

approximately half a percent of the total federal operating

budget: a small price to pay for helping protect our

democracy. If you think a good election costs a lot, you

should see how much a bad election costs.

We urge you to reject these efforts as part of the Super

Committee review of federal spending.

Respectfully submitted,

Dale Fellows,

President, Ohio Association of Election Officials.

Llyn McCoy,

First Vice President, Ohio Association of Election

Officials.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join many around the world in celebrating the accomplishments, talents, and music of Andrea Bocelli. Our Nation's Capital will play host to the Italian tenor on Friday, December 2nd when he takes the stage at the Verizon Center.

Born on September 22, 1958 in Pisa, Toscana, Italy, it wasn't until Mr. Bocelli was 34 when he was discovered for his incredible talents. In short time, with the support of legend Luciano Pavarotti, Mr. Bocelli won many competitions, festivals, and a record deal. His many talents include musician, songwriter, record producer, and multi- instrumentalist playing keyboards, flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, harp, harmonica, guitar, drums, and melodic.

The best selling solo artist in the history of classical music, Mr. Bocelli has recorded thirteen solo albums and eight operas, selling over 70 million copies across the globe. He has sung for presidents, popes, queens and millions of fans.

Throughout his career, Mr. Bocelli has served as a cultural ambassador for the Italian people. He continues to represent and promote the talents of Italy. Among his many accolades, he was honored with the status of ``Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic'' from past President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. Here in the United States his honors include a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in appreciation of Mr. Andrea Bocelli, and thank him for his contribution to music, the arts, and popular culture.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true hero, Bernard ``C.B.'' Kimmins. For over 44 years, Mr. Kimmins has been a committed volunteer, leader, and teacher throughout Philadelphia. He is a man of great courage and a true friend of mine.

Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on February 13, 1944, Mr. Kimmins lived most of his

life in Philadelphia wherein he graduated from Cardinal Dougherty H.S., St. Joseph's University and Temple University, Graduate School.

Under the leadership of Zachary Clayton, Mr. Kimmins began his volunteer commitment in 1967 as a gang control worker in Philadelphia. Following that he served at the House of Umojah under Sister Falaka Fattah, mother of U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah. Mr. Kimmins has been addressing youth groups with a message of respect for law enforcement, parents, clergy, teachers, adults, and fellow young people. Under the direction of Dr. Herman Wrice and Dr. Constance Clayton, Superintendent of Philadelphia Schools, Mr. Kimmins taught for over 30 years on the subjects of anti drugs, anti violence, anti guns, anti bullying, and tolerance.

Mr. Kimmins became a skilled anti crime activist and community organizer. He also studied under Dr. Russell Ackoff of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Currently, Mr. Kimmins is a full time volunteer, and Executive Director, for Mantua Against Drugs.

Mr. Kimmins is the proud recipient of numerous awards including honors from Time Magazine, the MLK Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to these accolades, Mr. Kimmins' greatest accomplishment has been the many lives he has positively impacted.

Mr. Kimmins' long and impressive career showcases his commitment and service to his community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in thanking Bernard Kimmins for his work and congratulate him on a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join several of my other colleagues in honoring America's first and most prestigious school of painting. Known as the Hudson River School of Painting, this 19th century school popularized the American landscape.

I have a connection to the Hudson River School. One of the school's most popular and prolific artists, Thomas Moran, grew up in Philadelphia. He later worked at a local engraving firm, which sparked his interest in painting. Moran soon garnered attention for his paintings and was hired to paint scenes of the wilderness of the American West. These paintings, for which Moran is best known, are primarily from the area that is today Yellowstone National Park.

Moran's massive landscapes, and works by other Hudson River School painters, inspired Congress to dedicate Yellowstone, as well as Yosemite and Acadia, as National Parks. Eventually, these paintings were used by environmental conservationists to encourage Congress to form the National Park Service in 1916.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in my appreciation for the works of painter Thomas Moran, and for the lasting legacy of the first indigenous American school of painting, the Hudson River School.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Pete Ciarrocchi, the founder of a Philadelphia institution--Chickie's and Pete's.

In 1977, Peter and Henrietta Ciarrocchi bought the Robbins Avenue taproom in the Mayfair neighborhood of Philadelphia. Young Pete followed his parents' example and served the regulars with a smile. He was and still is a friend to all. Growing up Pete ran with both jocks and rockers. He could change minds, influence peers, and even reinvent taste. In 1987, Pete made sure his parents' legacy lived on. Pete became the face of Chickie's & Pete's with the help of his brother, Tom. His charisma, dynamic personality, and great food were enough to bring in the crowds on Sunday to celebrate, jeer, and be Philadelphia. Pete understood the pulse of the city: food, sports, and people.

In 1998, the Vet, the once home of the ``Iggles'' and the ``Phightin' Phils'' became Pete's new home and kingdom. Led by his proprietary Crabfries, the Mayfair family business became a fan favorite concession. Pete's infectious energy and impressive cuisine became his recipe for success. From Andy Reid's late night meetings, ``taxi crabbing'' Eagles players from airport to complex, to mixing it up with Oprah and Jon Bon Jovi, Pete Ciarrocchi's success has exploded. The Chickie's & Pete's hometown flavor has expanded to 8 locations across Philadelphia and New Jersey and was voted ESPN's #1 Sports Bar on the East Coast.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Pete Ciarrocchi today for the lasting impact he has made on Philadelphia, and I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kenneth P. Doyle. For 36 years, Mr. Doyle has served as a Tipstaff for the First Judicial District, and in November he will celebrate his retirement after decades of service to his community.

Mr. Doyle's celebrated career began thirty-six years ago when on February 17, 1976, Ken was sworn in as a Tipstaff by then Administrative Judge Ethan Allen Doty. Mr. Doyle was first assigned to the Family Court Division at 1801 Vine Street, under the direction of Judge Gregory Lagakos before moving on to the Criminal and Civil Trial Division in first City Hall and for the last 15 plus years the Criminal Justice Center.

Mr. Doyle's knowledge of the court system has been an invaluable asset to both Courtroom Operations and the Judiciary as evidenced by his long successful stints with Judges' Paul Ribner, Theodore Smith, Ned Hirsch, Joyce Keane and most notably our current Administrative Judge D. Webster Keogh. The last seven plus years of Mr. Doyle's service have been as a supervisor for Courtroom Operations under Chief of Courtroom Operations, Michael P. Spaziano. Ken's knowledge and work ethic will be missed by the Courtroom Operations family, but his legacy will live on forever.

Mr. Doyle's long and impressive career showcases his commitment and service to his community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in thanking Mr. Doyle for his work and congratulate him on the occasion of his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Joan Slaughter for her service to the United States and to my home town of Philadelphia, PA. Joan began her career with the Federal Government on October 23, 1973. She started as a Sewing Machine Operator ant the Directorate of Manufacturing at the Defense Personnel Support Center in my district. But, she would not remain in that post for long.

Her drive for excellence and her commitment to service led her to a constant string of educational certificates and degrees and promotions at work.

Providing the best product to the warfighter has been her guiding principal. That commitment resulted in a nearly 38 year career and the undying love and respect of her colleagues and friends.

Mr. Speaker, Joan's love of country is only exceeded by her love of her family. Her husband Gregory and children Gregory, Jr., Shirley and Karen, along with son-in-law Victor, daughter-in-law Nicole, and her grandsons, granddaughters and great grandson could tell us story after story illustrating how wonderful she is.

Joan is retiring now. But, DLA' loss is her family's gain. Our country's loss will be our community's gain.

I ask that all every Member of the House of Representatives join me in honoring her on the occasion of her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues from New

York, Representative Engel and Representative Hinchey, in honoring America's first and most prestigious school of painting. Known as the Hudson River School of Painting, this 19th century school popularized the American landscape.

I, too, have a connection to the Hudson River School. One of the school's most popular and prolific artists, Thomas Moran, grew up in my district in Philadelphia. He later worked at a local engraving firm, which sparked his interest in painting. Moran soon garnered attention for his paintings and was hired to paint scenes of the wilderness of the American West. These paintings, for which Moran is best known, are primarily from the area that is today Yellowstone National Park.

Moran's massive landscapes, and works by other Hudson River School painters, inspired Congress to dedicate Yellowstone, as well Yosemite and Acadia National Parks. Eventually, these paintings were used by environmental conservationists to encourage Congress to form the National Park Service in 1916.

Another result of the School was the creation of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in 1870. Many painters from the Hudson River School helped guide the Met's formation, meeting with the President, donating funds, and serving as a trustee or member of the executive committee. Fittingly, today, many works by the School's painters can be found there.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my distinguished colleagues to join me in my appreciation for the works of painter Thomas Moran, and for the lasting legacy of the first indigenous American school of painting, the Hudson River School.

Mr. Speaker, since 1922, an American icon of the late 19th and early 20th Century, the USS Cruiser Olympia, rests majestically at Penn's Landing, in our District, along the Philadelphia waterfront of the Delaware River. The Cruiser Olympia is a National Historic Landmark, a National Historic Engineering Landmark, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is best known in history as the Flagship of Commodore George Dewey in his 1899 victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War, as well as being sent by the President to France in 1921 to return the remains of a World War I U.S. soldier for internment in the ``new'' Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. This first unknown solider was laid in State in the Capitol Rotunda before beginning the final journey across the Memorial Bridge to Arlington Cemetery on November 10- 11,1921. It is one of the only warships of that era still afloat in the world! The Cruiser Olympia stood for the principles that make America the great Nation that it is, and is the sole survivor of a time in American history when these principles helped to define a Nation to the entire world.

Unfortunately, unless the American public and the U.S. Congress takes notice to preserve this national treasure for future generations, I am afraid our Nation might lose this great ship to old age and neglect. Unless it is placed in dry dock in Philadelphia, and its hull stabilized, we could lose this historic vessel. The Cruiser suffers from a combination of threats. It has not been placed in dry dock for maintenance in over sixty years. There are 62 openings along the hull near or at the waterline that permit water to enter the vessel, the steel is rusting, and the original wood has been slowly rotting and deteriorating, causing leaks into the interior. The land underneath the Cruiser Olympia also requires dredging as years of silt have built up underneath her, not allowing her to float free from her moorings. We simply cannot permit the Cruiser Olympia to disappear.

The legislation I am introducing today will be one of many efforts to restore and preserve the Cruiser Olympia. The bill permits the U.S. Mint, at no cost to the taxpayer, to design and offer for sale to the public a commemorative coin honoring the Cruiser Olympia, and that the sales of these coins will be utilized by the Friends of the Cruiser Olympia for dry-docking and preserving the Cruiser Olympia as a ship museum. As a tax-exempt organization whose mission is to restore the Cruiser Olympia, I cannot think of any more worthwhile project to support. I understand that after its successful voyage to Manila Harbor, the U.S. Congress in 1899 struck a medal to present to each of the sailors and officers aboard the Cruiser Olympia to commemorate their victory in this engagement. This would be the first time in 112 years that the Congress would once again honor the Cruiser Olympia.

I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the bill and support its passage in the Congress so that we can begin the process to restore this great historic Cruiser so that present and future generations of Americans and visitors to our nation can view the Cruiser Olympia, walk its decks and envision a time years ago when it ruled the waves.

Mister Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on October 10th, 2011. Despite being a relatively new democracy, Taiwan has established themselves as a beacon of democracy in Asia.

Taiwan's President Ma has been successful in improving the relationship between Taiwan and Mainland China. Since President Ma has taken office, there has been a noticeable decrease in tension among China and Taiwan. Instead of hostility, there has been improved cooperation between the two countries. Direct flights occur daily between the two countries and the demand for Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan has increased exponentially. Also, in the spirit of cooperation, both China and Taiwan are working together to reduce crime along the Taiwan Strait.

Arguably the biggest evidence of their improved relationship, though, is the signing of the historic Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) last year. This agreement allows for China and Taiwan to trade and do business with one another in ways that was not thought to be possible five years ago. It is comforting and encouraging to see two countries pursuing peace and cooperation in this time of worldwide instability and upheaval.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in congratulating Taiwan on their 100th anniversary, and thank President Ma for his continued efforts in practicing peace.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol rotunda to award Congressional Gold Medals to Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin ``Buzz'' Aldrin, Jr., Michael Collins, and John Herschel Glenn, Jr., for being pioneers of space exploration. The bill granting the medals was sponsored by former Representative Alan Grayson in the 110th Congress and was signed into law by President Obama on August 7, 2009.

It can be said that these four heroes are trailblazers, but their paths ensured they were not the last. They showed everyone that the impossible is possible and inspired generations to study, question, and explore the world beyond our own planet. For that, they have not only left a mark on history but on the will and determination of mankind.

As President John F. Kennedy noted in a speech to Congress on May 25, 1961, ``I believe that this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.'' And so we did.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me today in supporting this concurrent resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman from Mississippi, my friend.

I urge all Members to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Caribbean Festival Committee (CFC) on the occasion of their 25th Annual Caribbean Festival at Penn's Landing.

Since the Festival's inception, the CFC has focused on educating the Philadelphia region on the beauty and culture of the Caribbean and creating greater awareness of the significant contributions people of the Caribbean have made.

In addition to the cultural outreach and education the CFC and the Caribbean Festival provide, the CFC is dedicated to bettering their community. Proceeds obtained from annual events are used for a variety of charitable outlets. The CFC has used these proceeds to aid to hurricane victims and bereavement support in the Caribbean/American Community. Also, the CFC has awarded scholarships to Caribbean and Caribbean/American students attending two or four year colleges. To date, over 125 scholarships have been awarded to deserving students.

For 25 years, the Caribbean Festival Committee has been dedicated to educating the Philadelphia region on Caribbean culture, and providing outreach to the area's Caribbean/American community. I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in thanking the Caribbean Festival Committee for all they have done to improve and enrich the lives of many people in Philadelphia and beyond.