Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Royal Marines as they celebrate their 350th year of service to the people of Britain.

The Royal Marines were originally formed as ``the Duke of York and Albany's maritime regiment of Foot'' in 1664 under the reign of King Charles II. Later, in 1755, they became the official marine infantry for the Royal Navy, and acquired their present-day title by King George III in 1802. For centuries, the countless men and women who have served in the Royal Marines have fought valiantly for their country, and they have been present at more battles on land and sea than any other branch of the British Armed Forces. From the Battle of Trafalgar and other Napoleonic-era battles to World War I and World War II, and from Cold War conflicts up to modern-day service in Iraq and Afghanistan, members of the Royal Marines have witnessed the world changing drastically throughout their many centuries of service.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the Royal Marines upon this important milestone. I ask that my colleagues join me in commemorating their 350 years of service to the people of Britain.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 375th anniversary of Sandwich, Massachusetts, a scenic and vibrant town on Cape Cod.

Settled nearly 150 years before the American Revolution, Sandwich is not only the oldest town on Cape Cod, but it is also one of the oldest in the country. Sandwich was founded in 1637 by Puritans as an offshoot of the famed Plymouth Colony. The early economy of Sandwich emerged as one that was centered mostly around fishing and farming. Today, however, tourism is the town's highest grossing industry--and visitors flock from all over, especially in the summertime, to experience Sandwich's quaint charm. Attractions include the Sandwich town boardwalk, a place for crabbing, beach-going, and taking prom pictures. The adjacent Town Neck Beach on Cape Cod Bay is also a popular place to spend summer days sunbathing and admiring the view of the bay. The oldest home on Cape Cod--the Hoxie House--is a traditional saltbox design perched on scenic Shawme Lake; and nearby Dexter's Grist Mill, the oldest of its kind on the Cape, is located in the historic downtown district. Also located downtown is the Sandwich Glass Museum, a place that pays homage to the once lucrative trade of Sandwich settler Deming Jarves, who founded the Boston & Sandwich Glass Factory in 1825. Well known for its vibrant colors, Sandwich glass still graces the windows of many homes in this bayside town.

Along with its historic, colonial architecture, Sandwich also boasts beautiful natural landscapes such as salt marshes, cranberry bogs, and woodlands. The Cape Cod Central Railroad services tourists and the public with seasonal train rides along a scenic route that showcases some of these Cape landscapes.

Sandwich's town motto, translated from Latin, reads quite appropriately, ``After So Many Shipwrecks, A Haven''. And on this town anniversary, I know that I speak for all of us here when I acknowledge that Sandwich remains a haven for all of the families and individuals that call it home. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the town of Sandwich and the entire Sandwich community on the celebration of their anniversary. May this beautiful Massachusetts town flourish for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 350th anniversary of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, a scenic and vibrant coastal town in southeastern Massachusetts.

Dartmouth was originally settled in the 1650s by the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers, a group that had been banned from Plymouth Colony on account of its religious doctrines. The town's official incorporation came in 1664. The Quakers have been long known for their refusal to participate in war, their opposition to slavery, and their belief in the priesthood of all followers, and remain an important part of Dartmouth's culture today.

In its early years, Dartmouth was mostly an agricultural, whaling, and shipping settlement. Its most famous whaling ship was the HMS Dartmouth, which is more famously known for being the first ship targeted in the Boston Tea Party. The Dartmouth set sail to London in 1773 with a cargo of whale oil, returning to Boston with a ship full of tea from the East India Trading Company. Luckily for the American ship owners, only the tea was destroyed. The protestors even swept the decks clean after the protest.

Today, this South Shore town maintains its rural charm, continuing to attract vacationers to its picturesque coast. Many portions of Dartmouth have changed very little in the past hundred years, serving as important historical sites.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the town of Dartmouth and the entire Dartmouth community on the celebration of their 350th anniversary. May this beautiful Massachusetts town flourish for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commemorate the accomplishments of Michael Maresco of Marshfield, Massachusetts, who has been named Marshfield Citizen of the Year.

Mr. Maresco, a resident of Marshfield since 1994, has been a vital member of the community for a long time. For nearly twenty years, Mr. Maresco has been involved in Community Christmas, a local organization that works to deliver presents to children in need during the holiday season. He serves as Vice President of the Marshfield Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, and he also leads Boy Scout Troop 212. Additionally, Mr. Maresco is deeply involved in both state and local government, having served three terms on the Marshfield Board of Selectmen and having worked in the office of the Massachusetts Secretary of State for over thirty years. Currently, Mr. Maresco serves as Chairman of the Marshfield Democratic Town Committee. A husband and father of two, Mr. Maresco is well-known throughout his community. The town of Marshfield is fortunate to have such a dedicated citizen, and his commitment to serving others serves as a valuable example for us all.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Michael Maresco for his service in his community, and I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking him for all that he has done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., recipient of the President's ``E Star'' Award for Exports.

Ocean Spray Cranberries has played a pivotal role in forwarding U.S. exports abroad through its innovative, multi-tiered marketing strategies. The team at Ocean Spray Cranberries has worked extensively with non-profits to expand U.S. agricultural exports. In this way, Ocean Spray Cranberries has been a leader in the global promotion of exports in American agriculture and serves as a model for other domestic exporters. Their achievements have also enabled Ocean Spray Cranberries to employ many Americans, including many Massachusetts cranberry growers, providing valid solutions to the issue of national unemployment. Ocean Spray has long been vital to the Commonwealth's community and region's economy.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Ocean Spray Cranberries for receiving the President's ``E Star'' Award for Exports. I ask that my colleagues join me in offering congratulations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished life of Mr. Fernando Garcia.

Mr. Garcia, who served as Bristol Community College's Chair of the Board of Trustees, passed away after a long and valiant battle that lasted several years. During his life, he was a tireless advocate for students as well as educational opportunities for all, and his devotion and dedication to Bristol Community College was unsurpassed. When he was appointed the Chair of the Board of Trustees at Bristol Community College in 2012, Gov. Deval Patrick called Mr. Garcia a ``critical partner'' in the Commonwealth's ``collective efforts to better serve our students and employers.'' An exceptional role model for students and a valuable asset to his colleagues at the Bristol Community College, Mr. Garcia will be sorely missed.

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Mr. Garcia was also a local business leader in the South Coast region for over 30 years. In 2001, Mr. Garcia was named Fall River's Business Person of the Year, and only a year later he was inducted into the New Bedford Area Business Hall of Fame. Mr. Garcia has also served on the Board of Directors for the Fall River Chamber of Commerce for several years and held a post as the Vice Chair for the Fall River Office of Economic Development. As a friend and leader in the South Coast community, Mr. Garcia understood Bristol Community College's role in the local economy and in the livelihoods of its students and faculty.

We celebrate Fernando Garcia's life and his proactive role in the business community of Fall River. Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Mr. Fernando Garcia for over three decades of outstanding service to the community and economy in southeastern Massachusetts. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Mr. Garcia for his countless contributions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lupus Awareness Month. As co-chair of the Congressional Lupus Caucus, I am honored to help raise awareness of lupus throughout the month of May.

Despite affecting an estimated 1.5 million Americans--approximately 90 percent of whom are women--lupus is not very well known. And for those who have heard of the disease, it is much more widespread than most realize.

Lupus is a chronic illness that can affect any organ in the body. It occurs when the immune system is out of balance, damaging the body's organs and tissues. Most puzzling, no two lupus patients experience the same symptoms. Thus, a variety of medications are used to treat the disease since its manifestations vary dramatically between cases. Many symptoms of Lupus mimic those of other illnesses, and can change over time, making diagnosis difficult. Consequently, diagnoses of Lupus can take up to four years and require visits to more than three physicians.

My goal in founding the Congressional Lupus Caucus was to raise awareness and help further research efforts in regard to this little understood, life-threatening disease. Researchers are working to better understand the disease's complexity and are making great strides in finding effective treatments. Today, there are more than two dozen potential drugs for lupus in the development pipeline. Because of research, initiatives such as Lupus Awareness Month, and other grassroots efforts, more and more people with lupus are leading healthier lives and living longer than at any time in history.

I am proud to report that in my home state of Massachusetts, excellent resources are available to those affected by lupus. These resources include a support group at the Bourne Council on Aging and a state-of-the-art Lupus Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Despite local successes, Federal funding for advocacy and research remains critical. Increased funding will lead to improved knowledge of the disease and earlier and more accurate diagnoses, helping to improve disease management, diminish adverse effects, and increase quality of life for individuals living with lupus. I pledge to continue to raise awareness and do what I can to secure the resources needed to build upon the steady strides already achieved in lupus research and development. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to continue to support lupus research and treatment and to help spread the word about this disease.

Will the gentleman yield?

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey and also the gentleman from Virginia for addressing this important matter. I agree with my colleagues that habitat restoration programs are vital to coastal areas, including Massachusetts, and elsewhere throughout this country. In March, I led a letter with over 70 cosigners to the Appropriations Committee supporting funding for this important program.

NOAA's coastal programs serve as the front lines of defense in the fight to keep our communities resilient, create domestic jobs, and promote local economies while benefiting fish and wildlife and improving coastal ecosystems.

Further, each public-private partnership directly creates jobs and benefits local and regional coastal economies that generate more than half the Nation's GDP. These projects are improving lands that will benefit and be able to filter pollutants from storm water runoff, control flooding after storm events, provide vital nursery habitat for fish and shellfish, and create nesting and foraging habitat for coastal birds. The resulting clean water and more abundant habitats will benefit local economies by improving land values, supporting commercial fishing, improving tourism, and creating new business, and they also do beneficial work to enhance recreational opportunities.

I stand with my colleague from New Jersey in urging for adequate funding for NOAA's fisheries habitat restoration programs in order to allow NOAA to continue supporting community-based restoration programs that create jobs and help protect fragile communities like the ones in my district.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 120, for their ongoing friendship with American Legion Post 40 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The camaraderie between these two posts began in 1978 when four members of the Canadian Legion in Georgetown, Ottawa, headed to Plymouth for a fishing trip. Before long, they found themselves chatting with members of the local American Legion Post. The following year, the Georgetown vets were invited to attend the annual Memorial Day parade in Plymouth--and so began 35 years of exchange. Each year, American Legion members attend the Warriors' Day parade in Ottawa and Canadian Legion members march with our Plymouth veterans on Memorial Day.

The relationship between these two veteran associations is emblematic of the affinity between our nations. Not only are we neighbors, allies, and friends, but we also share a border, a continent, and core democratic values. As such, I was touched when American Legion Post 40 Commander Phil Ryan told our office, ``There's nothing we wouldn't do for them.'' This, Mr. Speaker, is true friendship.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 120, and American Legion, Post 40, for 35 years of friendship, respect, and understanding between their posts. I look forward to watching this alliance continue to thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the addition of a piece of Massachusetts'--and our nation's--history to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). In September 2013, a traditional canoe of the Wampanoag tribe, known as a mishoon, was delivered to the NMAI from Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts-- completing its trip down the coast from the Wampanoag's historical home to our nation's capital. Here, it will be proudly displayed as a symbol of the cultural significance and technological advancement of the Tribe.

The history of the Wampanoag is deeply intertwined with the turbulent settlement and birth of our nation. Known as ``the People of the First Light,'' the Wampanoag Tribe inhabited southern New England at the arrival of the first European settlers. It was the Wampanoag with whom the Pilgrims celebrated the first ``Thanksgiving,'' and it was from the preceding and continued interactions between these settlers and that native population that our modern judicial system and promotion of civil rights evolved.

Today, the Wampanoag Tribe continues to play an active role in promoting tribal rights and preserving their heritage. Plimoth Plantation's Wampanoag Indigenous Program is a shared museum that has worked to educate citizens across the country and raise public awareness of the shared history, rich culture, and traditions of the tribe. The gift of the hand-made mishoon--a vessel of passage and goods--is symbolic of the role of the Wampanoag people have played from the early years of our nation to our continued fight for equality and tribal rights. I am proud that it has found a home at the NMAI--an institution devoted to the preservation of our nation's intricate history.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues and their constituents to join me in experiencing a page out of history and visiting the Wampanoag mishoon at the NMAI.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judge Brian Merrick of Orleans District Court upon his retirement.

Judge Merrick first took up his gavel over twenty-five years ago in Lynn, but transferred to Orleans in idyllic Cape Cod a little over a decade ago. By his own accord, he quickly became accustomed to life on the Cape. Known for his sharp legal mind, strong wit, and habit of wearing bow ties and boat shoes underneath his judicial robes, Judge Merrick has been admired by many throughout his career. He was appointed First Justice of Orleans District Court in 2013, an honor that aptly reflected his many years of service to the Commonwealth. His fellow judges, courthouse employees, and many others who have worked with him throughout the years agree that he will be sorely missed as he steps down from this position.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Judge Brian Merrick upon his retirement. I ask

that my colleagues join me in wishing him the very best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the twenty-one law enforcement officers from Massachusetts honored by the National Association of Police Officers' 2014 Top Cops Award.

These brave officers have gone well beyond the call of duty in order to protect our citizens and keep us safe. I am proud to know that these officers are working to protect us and would like to express my gratitude for their service by presenting their names:

Boston Police Department: Police Officer Omar Borges,

Detective Kenneth M. Conley, Police Officer Gregory R. Eunis,

Police Officer Jarrod Gero, Police Officer Jean Gerard

JeanLouis, Detective John B. Joyce, Police Officer Terence

Long, Police Officer Gregory McCormick, Police Officer

Richard G. Moriarty, Police Officer John Moynihan, Police

Officer John M. Noberini, Police Officer Jason A. Nunez,

Police Officer Scott Pulchansingh, Detective Joseph G.

Scaringello, Police Officer Dennis O. Simmonds, Police

Officer Walter J. Suprey, and Sergeant Detective Kevin E.

Waggett.

Massachusetts State Police: Trooper Christopher J. Dumont.

Watertown Police Department: Police Officer Miguel A.

Colon, Jr.; Police Officer Michael W. Comick; Sergeant John

C.P. MacLellan; Police Officer Timothy B. Menton; Sergeant

Jeffrey J. Pugliese; Police Officer Joseph Reynolds, and

Police Officer Jean S. Sarkissian.

Many of these officers were on duty during the Boston Marathon bombings last year, and the search for the perpetrators that followed the bombings. These courageous men embody the best ideals of our country, and have dedicated their lives to our security.

Mr. Speaker, it brings me great pride to recognize these officers and the incredible work they have done in the past year, and, indeed, every day. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing these officers and their role in protecting our citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the New Bedford Women's Military Memorial, which was dedicated on May 10 at Fort Taber in New Bedford.

This monument is located in the City of New Bedford to honor all women in military service from the Revolutionary War to the present day, and it is only the second such memorial in Massachusetts. Since the founding of our nation, women have served our country with courage, patriotism, and selflessness in times of peace and in times of war. In addition to their service, these women have fulfilled many other roles, including as mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, and of course, friends.

Although women were not officially recognized in the Armed Forces until the founding of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901, countless women have served our country both directly and indirectly throughout our history. One of the earliest examples is Deborah Samson Gannett of Massachusetts who, in spite of her gender, enlisted to serve in the Army during the Revolutionary War, using her deceased brother's name as an alias. Since then, countless women have contributed to the U.S. Armed Forces as nurses, water bearers, cooks, and even saboteurs, helping to ensure our freedom. They served at home and abroad, during times of peace and on the battlefield, and were essential in helping to shape our great nation over the centuries. The New Bedford Military Memorial aptly honors these women and the many sacrifices they made.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the New Bedford Women's Military Memorial. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing our women in service, as well as the dedicated individuals who have worked for two years to make this memorial a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize James Goodson, a veteran who served in the United States Air Force during World War II.

A recipient of the military's second-highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, James Goodson was also one of the first Americans to fly a low-level strafing sortie over France and Belgium in 1942. Mr. Goodson, who flew in one of three ``Eagle'' Squadrons, was among the first American volunteers to serve in the British Royal Air Force. In 1942, these RAF units that consisted of American pilots were incorporated into the 4th Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces. During his career as an Eagle squadron pilot, Goodson recorded two enemy kills. Mr. Goodson has also been recognized for his brave service with the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and several other military honors. A resident of the town of Duxbury when he passed away on May 1, 2014, James Goodson will be sorely missed by his family and many friends.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor James Goodson upon his death and distinguished military career during World War II. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing his life and his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today express my strong support for today's pending legislation on Ukraine.

These two important pieces of legislation are similar in many respects to the Ukraine Support Act, which was adopted by the House with overwhelming bipartisan support last week. These measures will provide much-needed assistance to the government and people of Ukraine in the wake of Russia's illegal invasion and occupation of Crimea. They complement IMF efforts to restore the health of Ukraine's economy. They will support free and fair presidential elections in May, and they will expand funding for efforts to fight corruption and strengthen democratic institutions, the rule of law, and civil society in Ukraine. Just as importantly, the legislation condemns Russia's illegal invasion and occupation of Crimea and provides for additional sanctions if President Putin does not reverse course. With Russian forces now consolidating their control of Crimea and with tens of thousands of additional Russian troops threateningly massed on Ukraine's eastern border, we must remain resolute in calling on Russia to withdraw its troops and to engage in constructive dialogue with the Ukrainian government. In addition, any diplomatic effort to resolve the crisis must include the full participation of Ukrainian government representatives. Continued Russian refusal to meet these basic conditions must be met with additional sanctions.

Mr. Speaker, I commend colleagues from both sides of the aisle and from both Houses, and in particular Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, who have worked so quickly to pass legislation that reaffirms the United States' longstanding support for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. These measures send a clear signal to the people of Ukraine and other countries in the region that we will continue to support the principle that countries must be free to choose their own paths, free from outside pressure.