Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and my colleague, Representative Charlie Dent, to honor the 250th anniversary of the Borough of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, and to recognize the many contributions its residents have made to our great Commonwealth.

The Borough of Hummelstown was originally founded as Frederickstown by Frederick and Rosina Hummel, who in 1762 purchased a plot of land in beautiful Dauphin County to call home. The Hummels divided the tract into numerous building lots and sold each to German settlers looking to start new lives in the region. Originally serviced by the Berks-Dauphin Turnpike, commerce through the borough was greatly enhanced by the opening of the Union Canal in 1827, which connected the Susquehanna River to the Schuylkill River outside Philadelphia. The Lebanon Valley Railroad later made the community even more attractive to businesses when it arrived in 1858. Hummelstown was soon booming with jobs in stone cutting and shipyard work. With the borough growing and the nation expanding, the Hummelstown Brownstone Company (HBC) quickly became the leading employer of local residents from the late 19th Century to the early 20th Century. HBC owned and operated several quarries that produced Hummelstown brownstone, which at the time was one of the most popular building materials in the United States.

Today, Hummelstown is the very picture of the quaint American suburb. With a lively downtown area and genuine small town atmosphere, Hummelstown is home to many Pennsylvanians who commute to jobs in nearby Harrisburg and Hershey.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding, Hummelstown's various civic groups, businesses, churches, and other organizations have worked together to organize a busy week of events. These festivities included a parade, community breakfast and picnic, fireworks display, movie night, and family friendly events for children. Heritage Day, walking tours, and other activities showcased the rich history of Frederick Hummel's town and illustrated its bright future as an ideal location for families and businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand alongside my friend, Representative Charlie Dent, to honor Hummelstown on the occasion of its 250th anniversary. I would also like to congratulate the borough's residents on a highly successful anniversary celebration.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great appreciation that I rise today to remember and honor the congressional career of my good friend, Jerry Costello. Jerry and I have served together for the last twenty years.

Not only do I consider Jerry a dear friend, but he is also a mentor. He was there to provide sound advice and tutelage when I joined the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the 105th Congress. He is widely seen as a leader in Congress on transportation issues. Jerry and I also worked closely together on matters concerning the people of Ireland. Jerry never forgot his ancestral roots in trying to better the lives for the Irish.

It wasn't only in matters before Congress that Jerry provided guidance, but also in life. I had the great fortune of sharing the same travel agent as Jerry which has enriched my life greatly.

Jerry, you will be greatly missed in this body and Congress will greatly miss you. I wish you all the best in your next endeavors and know you will bring your pragmatic approach to the task at hand.

Mr. Speaker and fellow colleagues, please join me in celebrating my dear friend, Jerry Costello.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the gentleman from West Virginia's motion to instruct conferees to resolve the coal ash provision in the highway bill.

There are more co-generation plants in my congressional district than any congressional district in the country. For more than 100 years, coal refuse piles created eyesores throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. These culm banks are now baseball fields and shopping centers.

Coal ash is not hazardous. EPA determined that fact in regulatory determinations in 1993 and in 2000. The fact that EPA continues to leave a hazardous waste designation for coal ash on the table--even though these three decades of science and facts point the other way--is directly contributing to the loss of current and future recycling.

This designation would harm companies in the still emerging coal combustion byproduct markets that make everyday products like concrete, shingles, and wall board. It will also hinder State departments of transportation that use CCB in job-creating highway and infrastructure projects and overwhelm State budgets and employee resources by more than doubling the volume of waste subject to hazardous waste controls, and translate into increased energy rates for millions of American consumers.

As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I see no better way to create jobs than to pass the highway bill. During the last highway bill, Pennsylvania received over $10 billion, which created over 400,000 jobs. The coal ash provision in the highway bill only strengthens job creation. Simply put, highway spending strengthens the fabric of our Nation's infrastructure while creating jobs for millions of Americans.

I urge passage of the gentleman's motion to instruct.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of repealing IPAB. However, I speak in opposition to tying this repeal to H.R. 5. This is another act of political theater and disingenuous at best.

IPAB relinquishes congressional responsibility to care for our seniors. Passing these decisions off, whether it is to insurance companies or an unelected commission, undermines Congress' ability to represent the needs of our seniors and make decisions on health care policy for Medicare beneficiaries.

We must preserve access to quality Medicare while containing costs and replacing the flawed payment system. Simply cutting reimbursements is not the answer. If we truly want to rein in the cost of Medicare and repeal IPAB, we should do it as a stand-alone bill.

The Senate has no intention of bringing H.R. 5 up for a vote. Why then are we wasting our time on legislation that has no chance of becoming law?

Americans want their elected leaders working together to find solutions to the problems facing our country, not to be active participants in political theater.

I urge my colleagues to have an open and honest debate on Medicare reform by bringing an independent IPAB repeal bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to remember and honor the life of my good friend, Frederick J. Giorgi. Fred died on February 18, 2012, of natural causes at St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Frederick Giorgi was born on December 3, 1930. He was the son of the late Pietro and Elvira Giorgi, natives of Ascoli Piceno, Italy. Fred was a proud 1948 graduate of Reading Central Catholic High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1952 from Villanova University where he majored in Pre-Law/Accounting. He later received a Juris Doctor degree from Dickinson School of Law in 1955.

After earning his law degree, Fred served two years in the U.S. Navy before becoming a founding partner in the law firm of Austin, Boland, Connor, & Giorgi in Reading. During this time he worked part-time at the family business, Giorgio Foods Inc., and its related companies. In 1975, he left public practice to fully dedicate his time to the family business.

Until his passing, Fred was the chairman of F&P Holding Company with subsidiaries Giorgio Foods, Inc., Giorgi Mushroom, Co., Can Corporation of America, Maidencreek Plaza Co., and other companies in the U.S.A. and Can Pack S.A., with operations in Poland, the United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, India, UAE, Spain, France, Morocco, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, and Brazil.

Fred's many personal and professional accomplishments were recognized with a number of awards, including a Career Achievement Award from Dickinson School of Law, an Award of Merit from Penn State University Department of Mushroom Science, and a 2005 Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit by the President of the Republic of Poland for outstanding contribution to the development of the Polish economy. In 2008, he was presented with a 50-year Membership Award by the Berks County Bar Association.

Fred's wisdom and energy instilled in his employees the desire and will to achieve well beyond expectations. He regarded his employees so highly that he never missed an opportunity to let them know they were his stars and rewarded them with company trips all around the world.

The charitable contributions Fred so quietly contributed to his local community, the international community, and his beloved church are too numerous to mention.

Fred will be greatly missed by his family, colleagues, friends, and all of the lives that he touched with his loyalty, compassion, generosity and humor.

Mr. Speaker and fellow colleagues, please join me in remembering my dear friend, Fred Giorgi.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to enter sworn testimony into the record from Brian Aho, whose family was among the thousands who experienced the panic and confusion during the evacuation of the Costa Concordia class cruise ship on January 13, 2012. Mr. Aho and his family have taken multiple cruise vacations and are familiar with many of the safety procedures that are necessary aboard these large ships. Mr. Aho details the failure of safety measures aboard the Costa Concordia, the lack of guidance from the ship's crew, and the absence of accountability demonstrated by the ship's captain. This testimony will hopefully lead to new rules and safety guidelines that can help prevent future catastrophes.

Dear Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank

you for inviting me to testify today. My name is Brian Aho.

My wife, Joan Fleser, my daughter, Alana, and I set sail from

the Port of Rome (Civitavecchia) on January 13, 2012, aboard

the Concordia cruise liner operated by Costa Crociere and its

parent company, Carnival Corporation.

Though we have been on many cruise vacations with several

cruise lines, this was our first European cruise and our

first time sailing with Costa. We chose this particular ship

and itinerary for our 20th anniversary cruise because of the

opportunity to visit many ports in several countries.

As experienced cruise passengers, we have fallen into a

particular embarkation pattern. Once aboard we locate our

stateroom, unpack our luggage (if available) and take a

walking tour of the ship. We investigate the theater, the

pools, the dining-room to which we have been assigned and the

safety features. We made note that our stateroom was on Deck

#2 forward, our dining room was on Deck #3 aft, and lifeboat

access was on Deck #4.

After our investigation, we went back to our stateroom to

prepare for a late-seating (9 p.m.) dinner. Once seated--

while our appetizers were being served--the ship began to

shudder. The rhythmic vibration quickly became worse and,

after a tremendous groan and crash, the ship began to list

severely. People were falling, glasses and plates were

sliding off the tables and smashing, and people were

screaming. The panic got worse when the lights failed.

My family formed a three-link chain and we worked our way

through the fallen debris toward an outboard gangway leading

up to Deck #4 and the lifeboats. The central (Main) entrance

to the dining room was blocked with panicking passengers and

crew. The only crew member offering guidance was a woman in a

showgirl-style gown near the gangway who was showing the

passengers the way to the lifeboats.

Once on Deck #4, people were panicking and fighting over

lifejackets. Once I found and delivered one to my wife,

another woman damaged it while tearing it out of her arms.

The announcements indicated that it was an electrical problem

with the generators and everything was under control.

Evidence indicates that some passengers were instructed by

crew to return to their cabins. As these announcements were

made, the ship was listing more and sinking deeper.

Immediately after a similar announcement, we heard the

abandon ship signal (six short signals and one long signal).

Few people knew what it meant as there was no verbal abandon

ship announcement.

When a crewmember finally appeared, the panicking

passengers pushed their way toward the boat. My wife had to

grab my daughter and pull her into the boat as a cowardly man

tried to push her out of the way. Once the boat was filled,

the crewman had trouble readying and releasing the boat.

After much hammering noise, the boat swung away from the

Concordia. We were showered with white paint chips as if this

boat had not been released since the gear had been painted

over. After being lowered, the crew had difficulty

disconnecting the boat from the davits. Once disconnected, it

was clear that the crew did not know how to pilot the

lifeboat effectively. It kept colliding with other boats and,

eventually, the pier.

There were NO Costa representatives--neither officers nor

crew--on the pier to provide guidance to the passengers. The

only help we received was from the residents of the island.

As experienced cruise vacation passengers, we have

recognized significant problems that, in our opinion, made a

terrible situation even worse:

There were no safety drills or instructions distributed to

passengers before sailing out into the open Mediterranean

Sea.

The public address announcements provided false

information.

The manning and deployment of the lifeboats was delayed

though the ship was in imminent danger.

The crew was unable to instruct passengers during an

emergency.

The crew was unable to launch and operate the lifeboats

effectively.

According to reports, the captain and senior staff

abandoned the ship with passengers still aboard the capsizing

vessel. There was no one aboard to coordinate the evacuation.

This accident was not caused solely by the actions of a

single individual. It has been alleged that Costa and its

parent corporation, Carnival, allowed Captain Schettino to

divert from the assigned course on previous voyages. Clearly,

this course deviation was not due to climatic or safety

concerns. It is our opinion that--with today's technology--

central management of the cruise line must have been able to

locate the position of--and track the progress of--a massive

liner like the Concordia. Either they were aware of its

deviation from the pre-determined course and sanctioned it,

or they were ill-equipped to manage the operation of this and

perhaps other vessels.

The courts will determine who or what organization is to

blame for the tragic loss of life in January of 2012 off the

coast of Tuscany.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a real American hero, United States Marine Mark Fidler, who hails from my congressional district in Berks County, Pennsylvania. On October 3, 2011, while on foot patrol in Afghanistan, an IED exploded next to Lance Corporal Fidler, nearly killing him. He lost both legs above the knee and suffered extensive internal injuries. He survived, largely due to his brothers in arms and a British air unit that got him to the Bastion mash unit in record time. His parents, Stacy and Kermit Fidler, have put their lives on hold to be by his side night and day. Families are the quiet heroes who make such a huge difference in the recoveries of our soldiers. I ask that this poem, written by Albert Caswell in honor of those loving parents, be placed in the Congressional Record.

Written on Your Soul

All that we so have . . .

All that we so hold . . .

All that we so are . . .

Of which so means the most . . .

Is but so written, all on our souls . . .

As is yours Mark, something special to behold!

But, so lies something far much more precious than mere gold

. . .

As is so etched upon your heart be told . . .

As lies something far much more greater than you could ever

know . . .

Setting you apart from all the rest, all in what your fine

heart so holds . . .

'Oh, but To Be One of America's Finest . . . but, Her Very

Best!

A Uh . . . Raaaa Jar Head . . . As a United States Marine, no

less . . .

As is so written upon your soul, as was etched . . .

To go off to war, to our nation's freedom's to insure . . .

And to so face death no less!

How can one ask for more?

As our nation Mark, you and your family have so blessed!

Than, to lose half of you . . . your best . . .

And yet somehow you would so cheat death . . .

No, you are not half the man you used to be,

for you sum has grown far much greater . . . see!

As when courage comes to crest, to so teach us all the more!

To so reach deep down inside your heart of courage . . .

Amor!

As my son Mark, our world you have so blessed!

As you've come back from such heartache, and such sure death!

Is that not what heaven is so for?

As somehow, your fine soul will not give up or in . . .

All in its most courageous quest,

as we so see where its take you, from where you have been!

To but rebuild again, when This Pride of Pennsylvania . . .

Had almost nothing left . . .

As Mark, you bring The Angels up in heaven to tears at your

behest!

And all in our Lord's heart Mark, you are now so caressed!

And if ever I have a son,

I wish he could be like you this one . . .

All because of what is now so etched upon your soul!

As your great faith and courage and strength, is but

something to behold!

As now so etched!

For Heaven so awaits all of those who give their very best!

Who so freely are so ready to give up their fine lives, all

in freedom's quest!

Who all upon their souls such magnificence is so etched!

So etched with such Strength In Honor, and Faith so no less .

. .

All in your shades of green, Mark you are one hell of a

United States Marine!

Who our nation has so blessed!

Yes, arms and legs we all need . . . But we can get by . . .

But, without a heart and soul like yours Mark, we will surely

die . . .

And Mark its up In Heaven, where you need not even eyes . . .

And that's where your going one day Mark, when you rise!

With but tears in your eyes . . .

And in the coming years, it all seems so very clear . . .

That, you have so much more to etch . . . All with you fine

heart as left!

Moments, are all that we so have!

Minutes, only to hearts so grab!

To this our world to so bless!

As all written upon our souls as etched!

What, have we so written . . . As we grow old?

What, have we done that which is so worthy to behold?

What, have we so given . . . That which is far much more

precious than mere gold?

That now so lies, all etched upon our souls!

As have you Mark, so bestowed!

UH . . . RRRRAH, Jar Head . . .

All in what your fine life has said, and so continues to so

grow!

All so written, so on your soul!

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 3261.

I thank my friend from Florida for yielding, and I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation.

This committee has just concluded meetings at the International Civil Aviation Organization. Of that organization, that commission, there are 36 votes; 26 of the voting nations have in writing expressed their disapproval of what the Europeans are approving. The only 10 countries in approval are eight European countries and Australia and Canada. We believe that this clearly violates article 1 of the Chicago Convention of 1944. Article 1 states that all signature countries to this agreement shall have control over their own airspace. If the European Union wants to put this scheme into place in the European Union, they're welcome to do that.

But they can't tell aircraft leaving O'Hare or Logan or Kennedy or Dulles that they're going to have to start paying taxes there. And the explanation from the European Union doesn't pass the laugh test. They say that the European Union member states are not responsible for a 1944 agreement because the European Union was not in existence in 1944. Their member States were in existence and they are signatories to the agreement and they are bound by it. If the European Union continues to move down this path, they know at ICAO that there are remedies. And they know that there are going to be remedies that are to be sought.

So I urge this body to pass this legislation today, and I even more so urge the Europeans to put this aside, come back to the ICAO organization--a vision that FDR had in 1944 to control international aviation--and have a global solution to this problem that we face.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Berks County Deputy Sheriff Kyle Pagerly for his service and sacrifice to Pennsylvania and the United States. Deputy Kyle Pagerly was killed in the line of duty on June 29, 2011.

Kyle was a 2001 graduate of Wilson High School in West Lawn, Berks County, PA. Following his graduation he served honorably as a U.S. Army Military Police Officer in Kosovo and Iraq. Upon returning home, Kyle pursued a career in law enforcement and graduated from the Reading Police Academy, Federal Prison Academy, and Philadelphia Canine Academy.

Kyle proudly served as a Deputy in the K-9 Unit of the Berks County Sheriff's Department with his German Shepherd partner, Jynx. He loved to be outdoors, hiking, and enjoying nature. He was an active runner and loved to work out. He ran a marathon in 2010 and completed numerous triathlons.

On June 29, 2011 Deputy Pagerly was part of a fugitive task force dispatched to serve a warrant in Albany Township. When task force members arrived, the suspect fled into the nearby woods. Deputy Pagerly and his partner Jynx pursued him when the suspect opened fire. Once Deputy Pagerly was hit, Jynx attempted to pull him to safety and alerted other officers of the shooter's presence. Deputy Pagerly was gravely wounded and airlifted to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Had it not been for Deputy Pagerly and his partner's actions, it is very possible that more lives could have been lost.

Deputy Kyle Pagerly died a hero. He dedicated his life to the protection of his fellow man. He gave life, even through his death, by donating his organs and tissues so that others can live. Kyle's death has not been forgotten by the community he loved and served. At Deputy Pagerly's memorial service, Berks County Sheriff Eric Weaknecht retired Kyle's call number and awarded his partner Jynx the Medal of Honor. Deputy Sheriff Kyle Pagerly was later awarded the same Medal of Honor posthumously.

A memorial fund has been set up in Kyle's name, numerous benefits have been held in his honor, and thousands of people have joined Facebook pages dedicated to his life and memory. Kyle Pagerly is survived by his wife, Alecia Anne, as well as his parents, his siblings, and his first child, due in January.

Mr. Speaker and fellow colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of a true American hero, Deputy Sheriff Kyle D. Pagerly.

Mr. Speaker, it is with deep regret that I rise today to inform the House of the passing of our former colleague and my dear good friend, Frank Mascara. Frank passed away earlier this week and will be laid to rest tomorrow in his beloved Washington County in western Pennsylvania.

Frank dedicated his life to public service, serving as county controller in Washington County, followed by 15 years as a county commissioner in Washington County. He then served with distinction in this body from 1995 to 2003, where he dedicated his career to working on transportation issues important not only to his district but to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and all across the country.

Frank will truly be missed. We extend our thoughts and prayers to his wife, Dolores, and their children.

I thank my friend from West Virginia for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2018. The Clean Water Act created a partnership between the States and the Federal Government to keep our waterways healthy. However, the EPA has repeatedly tried to impose Federal standards on individual States.

In Pennsylvania, the EPA imposed an unachievable one-size-fits-all standard for water quality that ignores the economic concerns of our farmers, energy producers, small businesses, and local governments. This could cost Pennsylvania thousands of jobs and threaten our energy production.

This bill restores the balance between the States and the EPA as coregulators under the Clean Water Act. States and local governments are dependent upon Congress to remove regulatory roadblocks to economic growth and job creation in local communities while protecting our vast natural resources. This legislation is essential to providing much- needed certainty to support investment that will create jobs in American mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and related industries that have borne the brunt of EPA's regulatory overreach and interference with State Clean Water Act permits.

Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of House Joint Resolution 69.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, what my amendment will do is restore the $1 billion in cuts to mandatory conservation programs in the underlying bill. Almost half of the total cuts in this piece of legislation come from mandatory conservation programs. That's the largest cut in history.

Madam Chair, specifically in this bill there are $210 million in cuts in the Conservation Steward Program; $350 million in cuts in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program; $50 million in cuts in Farmland Protection Program; 96,000 acres reduced in the Grassland Reserve Program; 64,200 acres reduced in the Wetland Reserve Program; and $35 million of reductions in Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.

Madam Chair, to make this budget-neutral as it is scored by the CBO, it is paid for with a 5.88 percent across-the-board cut in discretionary spending in the bill, including the $102 million already reduced in discretionary conservation programs in the bill.

Madam Chair, this is shared sacrifice as opposed to not shared sacrifice in the overwhelming, significant reduction of $1 billion in mandatory discretionary programs.

Madam Chair, in the farm bill we worked very hard in a bipartisan manner to get the investment in conservation that our producers need all across the country, and they need it now more than ever as they are under significant danger and peril from regulatory agencies, particularly the EPA. They need these conservation programs so they can stay in compliance and they can do the job that they do so well in producing our agriculture all across the country.

This is a bipartisan bill. I am honored to be the ranking member on the Conservation Subcommittee and to be joined by the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson). And I urge adoption of the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Offered By: Mr. Holden

Amendment No. 38: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following new section: