Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Dorothy Irene Hawkins Fryson, and to honor the many contributions to her family and community throughout her 102 years here with us on Earth.

Dorothy was born on November 28, 1911 in Belmont, West Virginia to Will and Cora Ross. The family later relocated to Charleston, West Virginia, where Dorothy would spend most of her life. Affectionately known to those who loved her as ``Big Momma,'' Dorothy was renowned for her cooking, which included specialties such as blackberry cobbler, sweet potato pie, and pineapple upside down cake. Remembered for her hard work, Mrs. Fryson was the first black female taxi cab driver in Charleston and worked as a popular elevator operator for several retail establishments and the State Capitol. She remained active throughout her life; taking the mound as a pitcher in baseball games, learning to swim at the age of 47, driving her own car until 96 years old, and living independently until 2013.

Dorothy not only left her mark on her family and all who knew her, but she impacted the lives of many people throughout the community who might not have known her at all. Everyone from the communities of Dunbar, Nitro, and Institute are familiar with the I-64 entrance and exit underpass, but not many know the interstate almost passed up their communities. When Dorothy heard her community would be left without immediate access to the new interstate, she went all the way to the top, writing President Johnson to express the concerns of her community. Sure enough, the construction plan was altered to include direct access to the interstate through an underpass at Institute, which her husband Sim affectionately referred to as ``Dot's Tunnel.'' Dorothy continued to give back to her community throughout her life and at the age of 80 volunteered to teach reading at Dunbar Elementary School.

She had been a member of multiple community churches, including Ferguson Baptist, Young Street Baptist, and finally the Berea Seventh- day Adventist in South Charleston, West Virginia.

On Sunday, April 23, 2014, Dorothy Irene Hawkins Fryson passed away at the age of 102. She is survived by daughters Janice Corbett, Cora Heath and her husband Harry; sons John Hawkins and his wife Barbara, Sim Fryson and his wife Susan, Paul Fryson, and David Fryson and his wife Joy. In addition, Dorothy leaves behind a host of extended family, including 31 grandchildren, 61 great grandchildren, and 77 great great grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, the state of West Virginia owes Dorothy Irene Hawkins Fryson a debt of gratitude for her devotion to her family and community. It is caring people like Dorothy who make serving West Virginia's Second Congressional District such an honor!

Mr. Speaker, today, I, along with my colleague, Congresswoman Donna Edwards, who is here with me today, am introducing an important bipartisan resolution targeting heart disease in women.

Dubbed ``the silent killer,'' this disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. Since 1984, more women have died of heart disease than men. It is the leading cause of death in West Virginia, claiming more than 4,800 lives in the year 2010.

Preventative screenings can make a huge difference in helping women learn the risk of heart disease and how to reduce that risk. Women often rely on their OB/GYNs and community health centers for primary care, and our resolution seeks to educate women of all ages on the need to make heart health an important part of their screening

wherever they receive care and from whoever they are seeing.

Women spend so much time taking care of others--spouses, children, aging parents, and the responsibilities of work. It is time to encourage all women to take better care of themselves.

Learn your risk factors. Learn how to be healthier. Learn how to live longer and healthier for yourself and for those that you love.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment which would increase funding for a program critical for the development of our local communities.

The Community Development Block Grant, CDBG, has been essential to helping our local communities address critical needs and improve residents' quality of life. Many of these communities struggle to find funds to improve lower-income or underutilized areas, and the CDGB is a lifesaver for these towns.

In my home State of West Virginia, this program has funded critical sewer and infrastructure projects, improving residents' health and their quality of life. More than 92,000 West Virginians have benefited from $71 million in Community Development Block Grants over the last 5 years. It is invaluable to rural States like West Virginia.

Despite its proven track record, funding for the CDBG program has been cut every year. As we prioritize programs in this appropriations bill, it is my belief that the CDBG program and the residents it helps should be considered a priority. In this era of fiscal restraint and responsibility, we must use taxpayer dollars where they can have the most impact, and my amendment would increase the CDBG by $100 million, redirecting $100 million from the troubled HOME program.

This redirection makes my amendment budget-neutral. While the HOME program has had some success, the evidence shows it is a program struggling from dubious oversight that has been slow to adapt to improvements that have been suggested by the Government Accountability Office.

States are not even using all of their HOME funds. Last year, HUD recaptured $16 million from States who didn't spend the funds that were granted. In the State of West Virginia, HUD has recaptured millions of dollars, and HUD officials have told me that the HOME program is scheduled to have even more funds recaptured due to inactivity.

It is clear that the HOME program has more than enough money, and we should be reallocating these funds towards programs that work, like the CDBG. It is a vital program, and I ask my colleagues to support my amendment.

I yield to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. McKinley), who is a staunch supporter of CDBG.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague for his support. We know, in rural States like West Virginia, how important this program is, not to fund entire projects, but to backfill and frontfill projects that absolutely would not get done without the great help of the communities joining together and using the CDBG funds in the proper and right fashion to enhance the quality of life for so many across this country.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, due to a family obligation, I was absent for rollcall votes on May 29 and May 30, 2014. Had I been present I would have voted as follows:

Rollcall Vote 243--Pompeo Amendment--Eliminates all funding for the Economic Development Administration and transfers the savings to the Spending Reduction Account--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 244--McNerney Amendment--Increases funding for the COPS program by $3 million (intended for the Technology Grant Program), reduces the Census Bureau by the same amount--``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 245--Brindenstine Amendment--Increases funding for NOAA--Operations, Research, and Facilities by $12 million (intended for weather research), reduces the Census Bureau by the same amount-- ``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 246--King Amendment--Directs $5 million within DOJ-- General Administration--Salaries and Expenses towards investigating the actions of DHS regarding the discretionary release of criminal aliens-- ``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 247--Cohen Amendment--Increases funding for DOJ-- Administrative Review and Appeals by $2 million, reduces Bureau of Prisons--Salaries and Expenses by the same amount--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 248--Cohen Amendment--Increases funding for the Legal Services Corporation by $15 million, reduces DEA--Salaries and Expenses by $18 million--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 249--Thompson Amendment--Increases funding for grants to improve records in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System by $19.5 million, reduces funding from various other accounts by the same amount--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 250--Polis Amendment--Reduces DEA--Salaries and Expenses by $35 million, and transfers the savings to the Spending Reduction Account--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 251--Cicilline Amendment--Increases funding for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance by $8.5 million, reduces NASA-- Construction by the same amount--``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 252--Smith (TX) Amendment--Redirects $15.35 million within NSF--Research from the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences to the Physical Sciences Directorates--``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 253--Scott (GA) Amendment--Eliminates all funding for the Legal Services Corporation and transfers the savings to the Spending Reduction Account--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 254--Moran Amendment--Strikes Sections 528 and 529 which prohibits funds from being used to transfer detainees to the U.S. or construct, acquire or modify any facility in the U.S. to house detainees--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 255--Blackburn Amendment--Reduces spending by 1% across the board--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 256--Blackburn Amendment--Prohibits funds from being used for operation, renovation, or construction at Thomson Correctional Facility in Illinois--``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 257--Bonamici Amendment--Prohibits funds from being used by DOJ to prevent a state from implementing its own state laws to authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of industrial hemp--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 258--Rohrabacher Amendment--Prohibits funds from being used by DOJ to prevent states from implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 259--Holding Amendment--Prohibits funds from being used to transfer or temporarily assign employees to the Office of the Pardon Attorney for the purpose of screening clemency applications--``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 260--Massie Amendment--Prohibits funds from being used by DOJ or DEA in contravention of sec. 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 regarding industrial hemp research--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 261--Southerland Amendment--Prohibits funds from being develop, approve, or implement a new limited access privilege program (catch shares) that are not already developed, approved, or implemented for any fishery under the jurisdiction of the South Atlantic, Mid- Atlantic, New England, or Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council-- ``no.''

Rollcall Vote 262--Ellison Amendment--Prohibits funds from being used to award contracts to contractors who have violated the Fair Labor Standards Act--``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 263--Grayson Amendment--Prohibits funds from being used to compel a journalist or reporter to testify about information or sources that they regard to be confidential--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 264--Duffy Amendment--Prohibits funds from being used to relinquish the NTIA's responsibility with respect to internet domain name system functions, including responsibility with respect to the authoritative root zone file and the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions--``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 265--Garrett Amendment--Prohibits funds from being used by the DOJ to pursue litigation using the ``disparate impact'' legal theory--``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 266--King (IA) Amendment--Prohibits funds from DOJ-- Office of Justice Programs--State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance from being used in contravention of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996--``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 267--Meadows Amendment--Prohibits funds from being used to enter into a trade agreement that establishes a limit on greenhouse gas emissions--``aye.''

Rollcall Vote 268--Motion to Recommit H.R 4660--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 269--Passage of H.R. 4660--Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015--``yea.''

Rollcall Vote 270--Motion to Recommit H.R. 4681--``no.''

Rollcall Vote 271--Passage of H.R. 4681--National Intelligence Authorization Act, 2015--``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, due to a weather related travel delay, I was absent for rollcall votes on May 28, 2014. Had I been present I would have voted as follows:

Rollcall No. 241--H. Res. 599--Urging the Government of the People's Republic of China to respect the freedom of assembly, expression, and religion and all fundamental human rights and the rule of law for all its citizens and to stop censoring discussion of the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations and their violent suppression--``yea.''

Rollcall No. 242--H.R. 503--National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial Act--``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the American Network of Community Options and Resources recipient of the 2014 Direct Support Professional of the Year for the state of West Virginia, Katherine McCormick. This decoration is truly an honor to receive, as it has been awarded annually for the past seven years to individuals in each state whom exemplify the values of the organization.

The American Network of Community Options and Resources was founded in 1970 as a national association of seven-hundred private providers that help support more than a half million of Americans with disabilities in communities. On May 6, 2014 Katherine was recognized for her outstanding leadership which set her apart from her peers in supporting those with disabilities in all aspects of life.

Without Katherine's commitment to enriching the lives of others, many West Virginians would be unable to function effectively in society. Mr. Speaker, the state of West Virginia owes Katherine McCormick and the men and women like her a debt of gratitude. I am honored to call Katherine a fellow West Virginian.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the hard work of Varun Kukkillaya who has joined 280 other spellers to compete in the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee taking place in our nation's capitol. Varun is a 13- year-old seventh grader from John Adams Middle School, one of four, who will be representing West Virginia in this year's spelling bee.

Varun has already performed exceptionally in the beginning testing round and I wish him the best of luck during the remaining preliminary rounds and throughout the rest of the competition. Varun enjoys a challenge and is an eager traveler. Through his persistence and determination he plans to pursue a career in medicine.

This will be the 87th competition in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which focuses on helping students improve their spelling, expand their vocabularies, and develop proper concepts as they continue to further their academic careers.

Mr. Speaker, the State of West Virginia commends Varun for his extraordinary efforts and looks forward to watching his progress in the coming competition.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the human trafficking legislation that was passed by the House yesterday. These five bills will ensure justice for millions of victims and further the fight to end this vicious crime.

In the United States alone, human trafficking rakes in $9.8 billion for the use and abuse of victims, many of whom are children. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that each year 100,000 children are falling victim to this vile industry within our own borders.

Human trafficking isn't something that is occurring in other countries or other continents; it is happening here in America. I will be holding a summit later this week in West Virginia, in my district to bring together stakeholders to discuss how we can protect our most vulnerable.

These bills are a call to action: to prosecute offenders, to protect victims, to prevent future cases, and to educate. By passing these important bills, the House stood up for those whose voices have been silenced and have said, ``No more.'' I urge the Senate to join us in passing these important bills.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their hard work on this bill.

As a member of the conference committee, I am in strong support of this report.

Really, there are two numbers that come to mind for me in this report, and that is 9,900. That is 9,900 local jobs in West Virginia are supported by West Virginia waterways. The next number is $1.6 billion. That is how much the waterways industry contributes to our great State.

So this is important that we do this efficiently, well maintained, that we can move our goods and services, particularly our West Virginia coal, down the rivers to power America. I am in strong support of this bill, and I again congratulate the chairman and ranking member for moving this forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cynthia K. Raffety, who on June 13, 2014 will step down from an exceptional career as a public school mathematics teacher, a profession in which she has been engaged over the past four decades.

Born in Baltimore, MD on February 23, 1948, Cynthia is the daughter of Samuel and Ellen Kirby, an engraver and a nurse, respectively. She graduated from Eastern High School in 1966 and attended the University of Maryland, where she earned a BA in Education--Mathematics. In 1991, Cynthia obtained her Masters of Education from West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC).

Upon graduation from the University of Maryland, Cynthia served as a public school teacher in Prince George's Co., MD, and Glouster Co., NJ. After a stint as a stay-at-home mom in the mid-70s to raise her two children, Jennifer and Robert, Cynthia returned to teaching in Fairfax Co., VA in 1980, and has been active in the classroom ever since.

Cynthia's most notable contributions as an educator took place in the Upshur County (WV) Public School System. From 1983 to 1990, Cynthia taught 8th Grade Math at the Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School as a member of Team H. She then transitioned to the Buckhannon-Upshur High School, where from 1990 onward Cynthia instructed a wide range of math courses, including: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre- Calculus, and Dual Credit College Algebra and College Trigonometry. Along the way, in 1991, Cynthia picked up her Masters of Education from West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC).

Outside of her duties as a public school teacher, Cynthia also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Mathematics Education at WVWC and Fairmont State University. She also served as Program Director for WVWC's Summer Institute, as well as lead instructor of SAT Math Prep. Cynthia routinely opens her high school classroom to undergraduate and graduate student teachers, as well as students engaged in clinical education research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education.

In addition to her excellence as a math educator, Cynthia also graciously volunteers her time as the faculty advisor to several school organizations, including the alcohol, smoking, and drug-awareness activities of Teen Institute/RAZEWV, and the civic and volunteer undertakings of Interact (Youth Rotary).

In all of her cherished duties--wife, mother, teacher, mentor, advisor, role-model, and civic leader--Cynthia has displayed unparalleled spirit, drive, and devotion. I am, therefore, honored and pleased to have this opportunity to call to the attention of my colleagues the extraordinary accomplishments of Cynthia K. Raffety. I admire Cynthia's idealism and life-long commitment to her community, and I join her family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues in thanking Cynthia for her life of service.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3584) to amend the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to authorize privately insured credit unions to become members of a Federal home loan bank, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 3584, as amended, currently under consideration.

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

I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stivers) and the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty) for their efforts in drafting the legislation before us this afternoon.

The Capital Access for Small Community Financial Institutions Act is bipartisan legislation that passed the House Financial Services Committee by a vote of 55-0 earlier this spring. This bill will provide meaningful regulatory relief for privately insured credit unions by allowing them to become members of the Federal Home Loan Bank system.

There are approximately 130 privately insured credit unions, with nearly $13 billion in assets in nine States across the country. These credit unions currently cannot join the Federal Home Loan Bank system, which provides an additional source of mortgage funding for its members. Allowing privately insured credit unions to join the Federal Home Loan Bank system will allow these credit unions to increase the availability of mortgage credit in the communities that they serve.

I commend the office for identifying this inequity and putting forth this legislation. This issue is not new. Similar provisions were included in the previous regulatory relief measures that passed the House with overwhelming support.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would now like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stivers), the author of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, so if the gentlelady would like to close, then I will follow.

I want to thank both the sponsors, as well, and the committee chair and Ms. Waters for her work on this bill. I echo her sentiments. I would like to urge support and yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2672) to provide for an application process for interested parties to apply for a county to be designated as a rural area, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 2672, as amended, currently under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, the legislation before us this afternoon makes an important improvement to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's qualified mortgage rule that went into effect this past January. Under the Bureau's proposed rule, a community bank or credit union operating in a rural community would be afforded some flexibility to underwrite mortgages that otherwise would not be deemed a qualified mortgage. These products, sometimes referred to as balloon loans, are a critical source of mortgage credit in rural and agricultural communities. Although the Bureau has recognized the importance of this type of credit in rural communities, the definition that they used for a rural community will result in fewer mortgage options for consumers in rural communities.

The Bureau relied on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Urban Influence Codes to define a rural community. Under this definition, half of the counties in the State of West Virginia are considered urban. Well, I think those of us who have driven through West Virginia would find that hard to believe. According to the Bureau, Clay County, West Virginia, which has a population density of 30 people per square mile, is urban. Similarly, neighboring Calhoun County, which has a population density of 27 people per square mile, is also deemed urban by the Bureau. These examples demonstrate a complete lack of understanding of rural America.

Mr. Barr's legislation sets up a process by which a community can petition the Bureau to be reclassified as rural. This commonsense approach strikes an appropriate balance that will allow consumers in rural areas to continue to have access to mortgage credit. I commend Mr. Barr of Kentucky for authoring this legislation and deftly navigating it through the House Financial Services Committee, where it passed 55-1.

I urge my colleagues to support this critical piece of legislation. Obviously, it will have a great impact on rural America, which is where I live and where many of us do, too. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I now would like to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky, Congressman Barr, the author and sponsor of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time to close.

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

I echo the comments of the ranking member, and I thank her for her help on this bill. I thank Mr. Hinojosa and Mr. Barr for their good, hard work.

As I said earlier in my opening statement, rural America does have a different way of trying to access credit and to make sure that homeownership becomes the reality that many of us hope for our families. I would like to congratulate the sponsors, and I urge passage of the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4386) to allow the Secretary of the Treasury to rely on State examinations for certain financial institutions, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to submit extraneous material on H.R. 4386, the bill currently under consideration.

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

I would like to thank Mr. Ellison and Mr. Paulsen from the Financial Services Committee for drafting the legislation before us today. I know that many of their constituents rely on money transfer services--as many do across this country--to remit money to family members living abroad.

One of the current challenges facing the money service business and the regulatory agencies that enforce the law is a lack of information- sharing between the State and Federal entities. The end result is these entities are examined for compliance both at the State and Federal level.

H.R. 4386 seeks to reduce the compliance burden for these businesses by allowing for greater information sharing between State and Federal agencies. This legislation will make it easier for consumers seeking money transfers to access these services.

I commend the authors of this legislation for identifying the duplication between State and Federal compliance and putting forth a proposal to streamline the regulatory framework for these businesses.

Consumers will have greater access to the financial services they need and want, while at the same time making it easier for these businesses--and the financial institutions they partner with--to make sure they are in compliance with the law. I urge adoption of this bipartisan legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would like to reserve the balance of my time. I have no further speakers.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close if the gentlewoman from California is also prepared.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the sponsors of the bill. We have done a great job of working together as two State colleagues. I urge support of this bill as well.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3329) to enhance the ability of community financial institutions to foster economic growth and serve their communities, boost small businesses, increase individual savings, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and then submit extraneous materials for the record on H.R. 3329, currently under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Luetkemeyer and Mr. Murphy of Florida for drafting the legislation before us this afternoon and for working together on the Financial Services Committee.

H.R. 3329 provides targeted regulatory relief for small bank holding companies. Under the current regulatory framework, the Federal Reserve's rules sometimes make it difficult for small banks to make acquisitions. This is because the acquiring institution often uses debt financing to make the acquisition.

Recognizing that many small institutions rely on debt financing for an institution, the Federal Reserve requires policy statements to ensure the debt is managed properly and subsidiary banks are well capitalized. The legislation before us today makes it easier to form new holding companies, fund existing holding companies and make acquisitions by issuing debt at the holding company level by raising the threshold from $500 million in consolidated assets to $1 billion in consolidated assets.

I commend the authors of this bill for their hard work on this bipartisan legislation which passed the committee by voice vote last November. This is about creating jobs, getting credit across the country for consumers and for small business owners.

I urge adoption of the bill and reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Mr. Luetkemeyer be permitted to control the remaining balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mary ``Josie'' Cuda for her three decades of service in community and housing development, from Bolivia to Elkins, West Virginia.

Josie started her career serving others thirty years ago as a community organizer in Bolivia, followed by jobs as a flood relief worker and a position in human services. She spent seventeen years with the Randolph County Housing Authority and her final fourteen years as the agency's Executive Director. During Josie's time with the Randolph County Housing Authority, she developed a reputation as an innovative leader, using creativity and imagination to maximize her agency's footprint, serving moderate to low income hardworking West Virginians. She used funds from the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and money from the Federal Home Loan Bank to develop over one hundred homes and thirty apartment units during her tenure as Executive Director of the Randolph County Housing Authority. In addition, independent non-profit partners Woodlands Development Group and the Home Ownership Center were both started during Josie's tenure, in order to make safe, decent, affordable housing more accessible.

Since leaving the Randolph County Housing Authority, Josie's attention has remained focused on community and housing development. She has worked with CommunityWorks and the West Virginia Community Development Hub to bring Achieving Excellence in Community Development to West Virginia, a program which helps provide training to non-profit organizations working to improve their communities. So far, ten housing organizations and sixteen community groups have utilized this program in West Virginia.

On May 1, 2014, Mary ``Josie'' Cuda will be inducted into the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame by Habitat for Humanity of West Virginia. Mrs. Cuda is truly deserving of such an honor, as countless West Virginians have her to thank for a better quality of life, better housing, and better communities.

Josie is married to Frank Cuda, a family nurse practitioner. Together they have twin sons and three grandchildren, with a fourth on the way!

Mr. Speaker, Randolph County, as well as the State of West Virginia, owe Mary ``Josie'' Cuda a debt of gratitude for her many years of devoted community service. I am proud to call her a friend and fellow West Virginian.