Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the grave marking of Isaac Berry at the Woodside Cemetery in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.

Born in 1728, Isaac Berry was a landowner, farmer, merchant, constable, sea captain, and lawyer in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. He was elected as constable in 1774, where he had the unique opportunity to directly serve the townspeople of Yarmouth. In this position he was assigned to oversee that a limited amount of British tea was consumed in Yarmouth.

In 1778, Berry joined the Yarmouth militia during the American Revolution. Under the command of Lot Crowell, he responded to the Alarm at Falmouth and the Alarm at Dartmouth. During his time, he was also responsible for guarding the prisoners of the HMS Somerset after the ship sank in Cape Cod waters.

Isaac Berry married Sarah Crowell in 1751 and together they started a family. After living a long life dedicated to his community and country, he passed away in 1803 and was buried in Yarmouth.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Isaac Berry and his contribution to the town of Yarmouth. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing his hard work and dedication on the event of his grave marking.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the retirement of Officer James Francis Winn, a thirty-five-year veteran of the Dennis Police Department.

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Jim got his Associates Degree in Law Enforcement from Springfield State Technical Community College. He then went on to receive a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice at Western New England College. In 1983 Jim began working for the town of Dennis as a summer-appointed special officer. He soon rose to becoming a Dispatcher, and finally, a Patrol Officer.

Jim is dedicated to the safety of children and families in the town of Dennis. Throughout his thirty-five years on the force and thirty-one years as a Patrol Officer, Jim held positions ranging from K-9 Officer, to D.A.R.E. Officer, to Family Services Officer. He has been praised for his work at a Bike Safety Program and with the students of the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District, to name just a few. Further, Jim has received many awards and recognitions for his incredible work for the people of our community.

In 2003, Jim married his wife Anne. They have two children, Lindsay and Ryan, and I wish them many years of happiness and more time spent with their family.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor James Francis Winn and his commitment to ensuring the safety of his community. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing his hard work and dedication as he celebrates his retirement.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment that directs the Department of the Health and Human Services to issue and expand guidelines for medical providers for prescribing naloxone to reflect a major shift that has occurred in the opioid health crisis that we continue to work to counter today.

Mr. Chairman, earlier this year, I sat in a room with my colleagues on the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force and listened to Dr. Francis Collins and the NIH leadership present data revealing how we have seen a shift in the opioid crisis.

For the first time, we learned that opioid overdoses from prescriptions of opioid drugs have dropped. That is good news.

The shocking news was that overdose rates for illicit opioids, heroin and fentanyl, had risen at an alarming rate.

If we are going to save lives of people overdosing from increasingly prevalent and increasingly unpredictable illicit compounds, we need to make sure naloxone gets in the right hands.

My amendment would provide necessary guidance to patients, providers, public health professionals, first responders, and loved ones on the ability to obtain effective doses of naloxone to combat overdoses of all types of opioids, prescriptions or otherwise.

It is so crucial that people dealing with this brain disease know how to use naloxone in an emergency and, importantly, understand that it is okay to have naloxone in the home.

I was proud that I and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus), who also joins me as a cosponsor of this bipartisan amendment, were able to insert legislative language on prescribing guidelines into the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act that passed Congress and became law last year. But giving HHS the option to issue guidelines didn't go far enough.

This amendment before us is firm in its requirement, and I believe my amendment will more explicitly and more expansively direct and yield necessary change.

Mr. Chairman, I conclude by reaffirming our commitment to ending this devastating epidemic that takes the lives of 115 people every day on average in our country.

I share this commitment with the Members of the House, and I pledge to work with you all to see this amendment's passage and to effect necessary change that reflects the ever-shifting landscape in this battle.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus), the cosponsor of this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, in Cape Cod, the islands, and South Shore and south coast of Massachusetts, the real cause of death in overdoses now is fentanyl. It is being mixed with cocaine. It is being mixed with marijuana. And this is very important.

This bipartisan amendment will save lives. I want to thank Chairman Walden. I want to thank Chairman Brady. I want to thank my cosponsor Mr. Rothfus. I want to thank Ranking Member Pallone and Ranking Member Neal for their work on an amendment that will truly save lives.

Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Elizabeth O'Handley, a resident of Rockland, Massachusetts, who today celebrates her 80th birthday.

Elizabeth, more affectionately known as Betty or Betty O', was born on June 19, 1938 to Daniel and Rose MacDonald. She is the oldest of three sisters, mother to nine children, grandmother to 42, biological and through love, and great-grandmother to 10.

In her 40s, Betty made the decision to return to school to pursue her degree. She worked a full-time job and a part-time job and attended nursing school full-time while raising the 7 of her children who were still at home. There were many nights when she could be found at Dunkin' Donuts doing homework or studying because it was quieter than at home.

She currently works at the Brockton VA Hospital, where she has worked for over 35 years in the spinal cord injury unit. She was the recipient of the Pierik Award in recognition of her outstanding nursing skills.

Betty has been a devoted parishioner of Holy Family Church in Rockland since 1970 where all of her children were confirmed . She has lived her life as a woman of great faith who shared this by providing religious education to children through teaching CCD for many years. She has shown that being trustworthy, generous, and making everyone feel included are traits to be emulated. The words ``great'' and ``exceptional'' do not even begin to describe the truly amazing people like Betty.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Betty O'Handley on this joyous occasion of her 80th birthday. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing her continued health and happiness.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment that would direct the VA to establish an opioid abuse kit for community healthcare providers.

We are fortunate to live in a time when, because of medical advancements, members of the military are surviving combat injuries at unprecedented rates. However, our duty of care for military veterans does not stop there.

As our Nation welcomes home thousands of veterans from missions all over the world, we must be better prepared to provide those who suffer from chronic pain with the help that they need. It is the responsibility of this Congress to do our part to ensure they are receiving the level of healthcare they deserve.

According to VA data, despite the number of opioid prescriptions at the VA declining--and that is the good news--since 2012, the number of veterans with opioid use disorders has spiked 55 percent between 2011 and 2016.

Additionally, the American Public Health Association found that veterans are twice as likely to overdose on prescription opioids as the general population.

The Veterans Health Administration has taken initial steps to combat the growing opioid crisis by rolling out its Opioid Safety Initiative for VA health settings, and the VA has also begun to publish toolkits for its community health providers so they better understand why veterans are looking to them for help.

My amendment provides the resources for the VA to take their efforts a step further. It would direct the VA to utilize the opioid safety resources already available at the VA and create a similar opioid toolkit for healthcare providers at civilian facilities who help veterans with opioid use disorders. This is even more important, Mr. Chairman, because of the establishment of the Veterans Choice Program.

The toolkit will provide safe prescribing practices provide additional resources for effective pain management, and it will ultimately save lives.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join with me in support of this.

Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for her comments, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I know the gentleman from Texas and I will work together on this going forward and, hopefully, this amendment will move us in that direction further.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment that would direct healthcare providers with VA affiliation to continue their efforts at continuing education courses in specific areas to manage pain, opioids, and substance abuse disorders.

Nationally, about 30 percent of Americans have some form of chronic pain. However, the percentage of veterans who report chronic pain is significantly higher. Over 50 percent of elderly veterans report chronic pain, as do 60 percent of veterans returning from current conflicts. In fact, chronic pain is the most common medical problem experienced by returning combat veterans over the last decade.

Of course, pain is not a standalone problem. We are increasingly aware of the mental health, the hidden wounds consequences stemming from time in combat. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or brain trauma are more likely to report physical pain and, in turn, are more likely to receive a prescription for opioids. Likewise, approximately one out of every three veterans seeking treatment for a substance use disorder also have PTSD.

My amendment addresses this challenge by helping those who provide healthcare services to veterans to learn the latest pain management techniques, understand safe prescribing practices, and spot the signs of potential behavioral health conflicts and challenges, including substance abuse disorders.

Further, my amendment recognizes that VA healthcare providers already need continuing education credits to maintain their State-issued professional licenses. The amendment does not add to the total number of credits that prescribers already have to take. It simply makes sure that appropriate time is spent learning about this important issue.

My constituents are fortunate in Massachusetts because we have State laws that deal with this and require that kind of continuing education on this matter. However, in the other part of my district, in the southwestern portion, most of the veterans in that area go to the Rhode Island veterans center and, in Rhode Island, this is not covered by the State.

Healthcare professionals in Providence, Rhode Island, already have pain management education available, but there is no guarantee that they are taken. There is a recommendation, but no guarantee. My amendment simply makes sure that our veterans get that guarantee. I urge my colleagues to join in support of this amendment.

I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

MR. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, although I will not oppose this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, it is another area where we can keep working together to help veterans, and this amendment will bring us forward in that task.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 200th Anniversary of the Plymouth Fragment Society of Plymouth, Massachusetts.

This exceptional organization was founded on February 13, 1818 with the goal of aiding families living in poverty. In response to the Embargo Act of 1807 and the War of 1812, Marie de Verdier Turner gathered with 183 women to sew garments for the poor. Their mission was expanded to provide aid such as milk, fuel, and rent to those who needed assistance. As one of the oldest continuously operating charitable organizations in the country, they have adapted to the changing needs of the community, guiding Plymouth through prosperous times and economic downturns, including the Great Depression.

The Plymouth Fragment Society, which was founded and run by dedicated and determined women, exemplifies the work women did for our communities long before they had the ability to engage in politics or business. Those who carry on this legacy remind us all of the power of dedicated individuals and their ability to effect lasting change.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the 200th Anniversary of the Plymouth Fragment Society for their dedication to bettering their community. I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking them for their invaluable service and wishing them all the best in the many years to come.

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

Mr. Chairman, this amendment would direct the Army Corps to consider the historic and national significance of dredging projects as the Corps makes its funding decisions.

In my area, this amendment will provide much-needed support for the completion of the Plymouth Harbor dredging project in time for the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower landing in Plymouth and Provincetown, Massachusetts.

The year 2020 will be a momentous year for our country, as we commemorate the 400th anniversary of the settlement at Plymouth by the Pilgrims, the vital contributions of the Aquinnah and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribes, and the significant events that followed, including the signing of the Mayflower Compact, the 50-year Pilgrim-Wampanoag peace treaty, and, of course, the first Thanksgiving.

For my entire time in Congress, I have worked closely with my constituents to prepare for this commemoration of Plymouth 400. The Plymouth Harbor dredging project has always been at the heart of these preparations.

The dredging project is required ahead of the return to Plymouth of the fully restored Mayflower II, a full-scale replica of the original ship that brought the Pilgrims to Cape Cod in 1620. The Mayflower II cannot return to her home in Plymouth Harbor unless much-needed dredging work is completed.

We also anticipate a maritime salute to mark the return of the Mayflower II as part of the commemoration, and the flotilla will need safe passage in the harbor.

Furthermore, an uptick in marine traffic is also expected as Americans and visitors from around the world travel to Plymouth to participate in the 2020 celebration. It is therefore critical for navigational safety concerns that this dredging occur.

This amendment will help ensure that one of the final pieces of the 2020 commemoration is completed and in place. We anticipate an exceedingly memorable year for the people of our community, for visitors across the country, and for a significant number of international visitors as well.

Mr. Chair, I look forward to the completion of this project ahead of the commemoration, which also, it is important to note, will bring in significant added revenue and jobs.

I thank the chairman, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman and staff for their cooperation. And I also invite them to come to Plymouth in 2020 and enjoy what will be an amazing international celebration and a celebration of the beginning of our country as well.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, my amendment seeks to provide adequate resources for the marine and hydrokinetic energy resource supported by the Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office.

Renewable power offers exciting and important security opportunities for our energy future here in the United States. My amendment would allocate resources to support these efforts, including for the development of pilot project plans, development of prototype turbines and associated undersea cables, as well as environmental impact assessments.

In my district, there is an important research already underway in marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies to tap the power of ocean waves, tides, and currents to generate electricity.

For example, the Marine Energy Renewable Collaborative of New England created the first permanent tidal power testing station in the entire United States. This state-of-the-art testing station is collecting new and valuable data every day on tidal power. Companies like MERCO in Marion, Massachusetts, and Littoral Power in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, are also pursuing this cutting-edge science in this emerging field of energy projection.

Southeastern Massachusetts is a leader in the maritime economy. The research and technologies being developed currently will enhance our energy security for the future. We must make these investments today to ensure our security, health, and economic competitiveness going forward.

The power supplied by these marine and hydrokinetic technologies is clean, predictable, and domestic. These technologies are environmentally friendly and don't rely on the importation of energy from foreign sources. They give us even more flexibility to keep our energy prices low for families and businesses. Cheaper energy means keeping business operating costs low so they can invest in more employees and on products and research.

Supporting research in these technologies also means investigating the potential positive and negative effects that they might hold. We need to know more about water quality, our cultural and historic sites, our electromagnetic devices, and our shellfish, fish stocks, marine habitats, and large mammals.

This is a very important program for my region and for the country. I thank my colleagues.

I will say, this is so technologically advanced, this is a real tongue twister as I have gone through this whole thing, but don't let that dissuade anyone going forward. This is the future. This is where economic growth is already occurring in our region. We should do everything in our power to help the development of this power.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Chairman Simpson for that opportunity to work together. I think we can work together going forward in the short term. Perhaps as this goes to conference, we can look at working together in the long-term and really investigating the importance of this new energy that can be developed here in the United States so cleanly.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my amendment.

Mr. Chairman, there are people in our country who are looking for jobs. We also have in our country jobs that are looking for people. So this matches that up.

Research and development is important, but without people to be trained to go forward it will come to no avail in our country. It is important for our region; it is important for our country.

Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Simpson for yielding me additional time. This gives me a brief time to tell how it is important in my region as well as how real it is in our region.

In my district, a major offshore wind project just got the green light to build an 800-megawatt wind farm 15 miles south of Martha's Vineyard. It is going to bring with it hundreds and hundreds of new, high-quality job opportunities in southeastern Massachusetts.

This requires skilled labor, and the amendment would try to connect those workers with these skills and the training they need to take advantage of these opportunities to these new jobs.

This is something that has to be done ahead of time in our country. One of the biggest weaknesses we do have, I think, economically, is that we have to prepare for the jobs that are here that we don't have people for and the jobs that will grow that we don't have enough people for. It is an opportunity to do this.

I thank the chairman again for yielding the time, and I thank the leadership of the gentlewoman from Massachusetts, Ms. Tsongas.

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

Mr. Chairman, my amendment allocates resources for additional research into innovative technologies and processes for safe and secure storage, treatment, transportation, and disposal of spent nuclear fuel from civilian nuclear reactors.

Five nuclear power plants have retired since 2013. Six more across the country, including the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in my district, are slated to retire just in the next few years.

This is also timely, because just last month, this House passed, by a margin of 340-72, a bill to improve nuclear waste storage.

Reactors can shut down, but that doesn't mean there is a safe, secure plan for spent fuel stored onsite.

Pilgrim has been operating for over 45 years in Massachusetts, and its spent fuel has been stored there ever since.

The Pilgrim Plant is slated to retire in 2019, almost exactly 1 year from today. The spent fuel there needs to be addressed. My community in Plymouth and those around the country are asking legitimate questions on how the safety and security of these materials can be increased.

We have an opportunity to dig deeper into these questions and find better answers for my constituents and for people around the country who have a nuclear power plant nearby.

New advanced research should examine how the safety and security of spent fuel pools can be improved.

Additionally, the safe transfer of materials to dry casks deserves to be reexamined, as does the design and long-term integrity of dry casks. Furthermore, research into the transportation and ultimate disposal of spent fuel is crucial in identifying the best and safest long-term solutions. They too need to be examined and improved.

My amendment supports further research into these areas so that when nuclear energy is part of our communities, we are able to ensure, as best we can, that spent nuclear fuel is secure and not posing unnecessary threats.

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleagues for their consideration of this amendment and urge their support.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, my amendment seeks to ensure adequate resources for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the NRC, to provide for safe and effective decommissioning of nuclear power plants.

In 2016, Entergy Corporation, the owner and operator of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, announced that the plant would be decommissioned by 2019 after facing severe losses in revenue and plagued by safety concerns.

Since coming to Congress, I have been concerned by the safety of Pilgrim's day-to-day operations as well as the security of its spent fuel storage. Following Entergy's announcement, I have worked with State and local representatives to prioritize the safety of the decommissioning process, security of the plant's spent fuel, and the displacement of over 600 workers who are employed at the site.

The NRC has previously issued reports revealing that Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station comes up short on critical systems maintenance, and it is currently the worst performing reactor in the entire country.

While this infraction ultimately falls on the responsibility of Entergy, it is equally important that the NRC has the necessary resources to address concerns as they arise, including through cooperation with local communities.

As we have often cited, decommissioning of nuclear power plants has an enormous economic and financial impact on host communities. We have urged that decommissioning funds be used for the safe removal of spent fuel to dry cask storage, to restoration, to remediation of the site and maintaining emergency preparedness and security resources throughout the entire process.

Finally, it is my hope that the NRC prioritizes worker protections as it oversees decommissioning both in my district and around the entire country. As the number of decommissioned plants increases, the potential exodus of highly skilled experienced workers presents a serious threat to our safety. The people in my community rely on the workers in Plymouth to keep them safe, and we hope the NRC will facilitate workforce continuity throughout the entire decommissioning process.

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleagues for their consideration of this amendment and urge their support. Again, I would like to thank the chairman from Idaho.

We started the day working on issues from the Pilgrims to the Mayflower, too, to things the Pilgrims never envisioned, like decommissioned nuclear power plants. So rest assured that when we celebrate the 2020 400th anniversary in the town of Plymouth, America's hometown, that he will be very welcomed, and I will give him a personal tour of the awe-inspiring view of Plymouth Rock.

Thank you again for your help, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chair, this amendment would direct the Army Corps to expedite and complete dredging in Plymouth Harbor in time for the 400th anniversary celebration of the Mayflower landing in Plymouth and Provincetown, Massachusetts.

This is a huge international event that will attract people from all over the world, particularly from Britain--including Plymouth, England--and it is going to be a significant revenue producer for our Commonwealth but also for our country.

The 2020 anniversary is a proud milestone for our country as we commemorate the 400th anniversary of the successful settlement of Plymouth by the Pilgrims; the essential contributions of the Aquinnah and Mashpee Wampanoag tribes; and the number of key events that followed, including the signing of the Mayflower Compact, the 50-year Plymouth Pilgrim-Wampanoag peace treaty, and of course, the first Thanksgiving.

For my entire time in Congress, I have worked closely with my constituents to prepare for this Plymouth 400 event.

The Plymouth Harbor dredging project has always been a cornerstone to these preparations. A centerpiece of the anniversary will be the return of the fully restored Mayflower Two, a full-scale replica of the original ship that brought the Pilgrims to Cape Cod in 1620. However, the Mayflower Two cannot return to her home in Plymouth Harbor unless much-needed dredging is completed by that time.

Further, we anticipate a maritime salute to mark the return of the Mayflower Two as part of the commemoration. We also expect significant uptick in corresponding maritime traffic.

The amendment is part of a final piece to ensure that 2020 will be a memorable year for our community and our country, and I look forward to the completion of this project and all the good that will follow.

This is something that is critical not only in terms of the event but making sure there is safe navigation, which we will have to be able to, in some way, counter the influx of marine traffic as well.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I just want to thank the chairman for his help working with this, and I want to say, you are welcome. In 2020, come be part of the celebration. It is so integral to our country, and it is something that will, I think, be a great revenue producer as well.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, this amendment would grant the Army Corps of Engineers the authority to repair or replace any Army Corps bridge that is necessary for evacuation during extreme weather or natural disaster in New England.

In my district, Mr. Chairman, the Bourne and Sagamore bridges represent the only roads for crossing the Cape Cod Canal by car. These bridges, owned by the Army Corps, have long reached the end of their working lives. In fact, the Army Corps is already spending a significant amount of funds just to keep the traffic on the bridges moving. Anyone who has gone there in the summer and experienced that can well attest to that.

We cannot risk the safety of those vital roadways at any time, let alone at a time of an emergency. As the Corps already knows, it is important that we recognize that the canal bridges and other critical evacuation infrastructure across the Nation play a fundamental role in providing for the public safety of countless Americans. Much of this State and local work required to ensure the long-term safety of the canal bridges is already under way.

I have also been working closely with the Army Corps leadership in New England and in Washington to ensure that the funding necessary for the safest, most resilient evacuation routes remains a priority.

This amendment would authorize the Army Corps to continue down the path towards long-term safety for the people in my region, the people in New England, and, importantly, the over half a million people that the population swells to just in that small area over the summer months. For that reason, I ask my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman again for his cooperation. This is a vital matter of public safety going forward, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Bill and Linda Zammer who were named Citizens of the Year by the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce in Mashpee, Massachusetts.

The Zammers moved to Mashpee from Wellesley, Massachusetts in the late 1980s. With their vision, the Chamber of Commerce grew from twenty members to over three hundred today. Their efforts and dedication have given tremendous life to the Mashpee business community and Mashpee Commons.

Over the years they have owned many hotels, restaurants, and other similar establishments in the Mashpee area. They ran the Popponesset Inn in New Seabury for eleven years, the Coonamessett Inn in Falmouth for twenty-one years, and they still own the Flying Bridge Restaurant which they bought in 1994.

The Zammers are also celebrated today for their philanthropy in our community. Their charitable work aims to help the homeless and needy, youth programs like the Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod, and education through their scholarships. They also helped establish the William and Linda Zammer Institute for Hospitality and Culinary Studies at Cape Cod Community College. Their work in the Mashpee Scholarship Foundation gave over $100,000 to Mashpee High School students.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Bill and Linda Zammer as Citizens of the Year. I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating their accomplishments and wishing them many more years of success and community leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Wilbert Lannon of Cotuit, Massachusetts; who turns 100 years young on Friday, May 25th.

Wilbert has been devoted to taking care of others from an early age. After growing up in Roslindale, he displayed his devotion to family when--following his father's passing--he chose to stay home and help instead of attending the United States Military Academy at West Point.

In 1950, Wilbert served his country in the United States Army Air Corps for four years. He returned home to Roslindale and married his wife Mary. They would go on to raise two children, Elizabeth and Ferne, and spend 55 blissful years of marriage together. The Lannon Family settled in Medfield and Wilbert, a dedicated and caring father, supported his family by working in the insurance business until his retirement in 2010.

Wilbert's daughter Elizabeth speaks incredibly highly of her father, noting his compassion and dedication to taking care of others. He truly understands the value of lending a hand. In 1960, he drove his family to the New York World Fair just to see his children smile. He has dedicated his life to caring for his family and loved ones, including spending every moment taking care of his daughter, Ferne and wife, Mary when they fell ill.

Today, he lives in Cotuit, near his loving daughter Elizabeth, where he continues to lend a hand to the residents of his retirement home. Wilbert, always ready to help, is truly beloved by everyone who has the opportunity to cross his path.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Wilbert Lannon on his 100th birthday. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing him many more years of good health and happiness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Marybeth Shea as she is named the 2018 Citizen of the Year by the Norwell Chamber of Commerce.

Marybeth is a pillar of the community, serving on seventeen boards and committees and being a staple in town politics and events. For thirty years, she has put the people of Norwell first, always trying to figure out how to better her community.

After first moving to Norwell, Marybeth immediately become involved in the Parent-Teacher Organization. Marybeth has stepped up at every point to improve our school and our community.

Marybeth spent eight years as president of the Norwell High School Boosters Committee, where she planned fundraisers and headed countless initiatives, including the creation of the Norwell High School Athletic Hall of Fame. She made every opportunity to advocate for the students of Norwell and worked to ensure their incredible athletic accomplishments would long be remembered.

Outside of school, Marybeth has become a familiar face in local politics and does not miss an opportunity to advocate and inform others about issues that have a direct impact on the town of Norwell.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Marybeth Shea for her dedication to her community. I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking her for her work and wishing her all the best as she continues her efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement and many distinguished accomplishments of Captain Timothy A. Tobiasz, Commanding Officer of the United States Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Captain Tobiasz has honorably served our country with over 32 years of Active-Duty military service. His career began in the U.S. Army as a Black Hawk assault pilot, where he served in the 9th Cavalry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division ``Old Reliables'' at Fort Lewis, Washington.

In 1991, he was accepted to the United States Coast Guard's Officer Candidate School, commissioning as an ensign in 1992.

From there, he quickly rose to the rank of captain, and during his 32-year military career, Captain Tobiasz amassed over 7,000 flight hours and qualified in nine different aircraft, to include the MH-60 Jayhawk, MH-90 Hornet, HC-130 Hercules, MH-65 Dolphin, and the HC-144 Ocean Sentry.

He served at Coast Guard Air Stations Clearwater, Florida; San Diego, California; HITRON-10 Kodiak, Alaska; New Orleans, Louisiana; Savannah, Georgia; and Cape Cod, Massachusetts; and as the commanding officer of two bases.

In addition to his remarkable aviation career, Captain Tobiasz served in the U.S. Senate as a military liaison officer, as a budget and program reviewer at U.S. Coast Guard headquarters, a senior military adviser to the U.S. Northern Command/NORAD combatant commander, and a National Security Fellow at the Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Of his many outstanding achievements during his storied career, I would like to highlight three.

In 1999, then-Lieutenant Tobiasz was one of only six pilots selected to pioneer Helicopter Interdiction Squadron 10. This successful concept led to one of the most significant policy changes in Coast Guard aviation history through the development of the aviation use of force policy and establishment of a permanent command in Jacksonville, Florida, now responsible for armed counterdrug operations around the entire globe.

In 2005, while serving as the operations officer at Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans, Lieutenant Commander Tobiasz led rescue operations during and immediately after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, and in a 10-day period, aircrews under his leadership saved over 1,400 lives.

Most recently and just last year, Captain Tobiasz was called upon again to lead air rescue operations following landfall of Hurricane Harvey over Texas and Louisiana. Thanks in great part to his extraordinary coordination and unflappable judgment, he strategically directed 53 aircraft and 415 aviation personnel for 21 different units, saving lives of over 1,700 civilians.

Mr. Speaker, I join a very grateful Nation in thanking Captain Timothy Tobiasz and his family for their service and sacrifice, and wish them the absolute very best in their next careers.

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

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Congressman Shimkus for his support of this amendment. I would also like to thank Congressman Tonko as well, and express my support for the underlying bill, which will, among many other things, prioritize decommissioned nuclear plants for removal of spent waste.

The hard work to come to this stage has been important, and we are finally moving forward.

In 2015, news broke that the nuclear plant in my district would be decommissioned in 2019. Unfortunately, this plant has also been in the news quite a bit because of significant safety concerns. So the communities back home are intimately aware of the safety and security risks to local neighborhoods and plant employees, and local officials and stakeholders have worked hard to hold plant operators accountable to prepare for all the risks presented, and to demand a plan for what happens after the plant is decommissioned so that the families and the businesses in my district are not left high and dry.

I offered a number of amendments to H.R. 3035, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act. They included efforts to strengthen local stakeholder engagement, to support funding for communities where spent nuclear fuel is awaiting transfer, to ensure the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel at decommissioned or soon-to-be decommissioned plants. And I offered these amendments because of the safety of the communities that are affected by nuclear plants and the nuclear storage sites, the importance of that being recognized.

And while some of these ideas weren't included in the particular bill, the amendment I offer now is fundamental to making sure that they will be ultimately addressed.

Congress created the Nuclear Waste Fund to fund a solution to civilian nuclear waste that would provide for safe disposal in a permanent repository. These funds came from funds paid by ratepayers and generated by tens of billions of dollars, $31 billion as of 2014, to support a solution for dealing with nuclear waste in a safe and secure manner.

And in the issuance of what is happening with this fund, the administration ceased making an easy-to-read summary to be part of that. The American people deserve to know just how this fund is being managed, and that any expenditure is actually necessary or justified and publicly reported and easily digested by local officials and the public as a whole.

For this, transparency really is key. We should be making it as easy as possible for the public and the officials that oversee this fund, and my amendment does just that by requiring a clear, plain English summary to accompany annual reporting on the Nuclear Waste Fund's financial status.

The information about the fund should not be only accessible to those who can understand the technical information contained in the full report. When communities like mine are working as hard as they can possibly work under the circumstances to make sure that they keep families safe, we should be making every possible tool available to them to achieve this goal.

Transparency around the fund created by ratepayers and intended to support a permanent solution to the safety risks they face from nuclear waste is only one piece of that, but an important piece.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko), who has worked tirelessly on this issue as well and with a strong spirit of bipartisan cooperation on this bill.

Mr. Chairman, once again, I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard: Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Tonko, and all of the people who are finally moving this ahead. It is a very important issue in terms of our energy. It is very important in terms of safety of our communities. We have finally got the ball rolling, so again, I thank them for their hard work.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Joseph Silva, a resident of New Bedford, Massachusetts, who turned 100 years young on Thursday, April 12th.

Joseph has dedicated his life to serving his community and country. In World War II he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years in North Africa and another in Italy. During his service, Joseph attained the rank of staff sergeant for the 22nd Quarter Master Battalion, Company A.

Upon returning home, Joseph joined the New Bedford Fire Department, and remains the first and only Cape Verdean to achieve the rank of deputy chief. Joseph served at the Fire Department for thirty-six years, where he routinely encouraged other Cape Verdeans to apply, even inviting them into his home to study for the firefighter's exam. On his days off he worked as a longshoreman for nineteen years.

In 1950, Joseph married Julia Barros. The two would go on to have two daughters together and today Joseph is a proud grandfather. Joseph has remained active in his community, receiving the Marian Medal from the Dioceses of Fall River for his dedicated service, and serving on his church's Building and maintenance Committee until just five years ago.

Mr. Silva's children and grandchildren speak incredibly highly of him, noting the value he placed on education, as well as the importance of listening and understanding.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Joseph Silva on this joyous occasion of his 100th birthday. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing him many more years of health and happiness.