Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the vital contributions that independent, not-for-profit standards development organizations (SDOs) make to our nation's economy and Americans' quality of life.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), headquartered in my district in Quincy, Massachusetts, is a leading SDO. I am familiar with the work of the NFPA and other, similar non-profit SDOs through my service on the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Safety, where model fire codes and sprinkler standards developed and updated by SDOs were integral to the Joint Committee's statewide effort to promote fire safety.

SDOs and the voluntary consensus standards that they develop are crucial to preserving the quality of life that we, as Americans' enjoy. From the safety of industrial machinery to standard interfaces for audio equipment, SDOs such as, the NFPA, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and ASTM International, have been safeguarding our health, safety and prosperity for over a century. Additionally, standardization is essential to the health of our economy. Uniform methods, specifications, and interfaces improve efficiency and reduce uncertainties in the marketplace.

The Federal government has repeatedly affirmed the benefits of SDOs. In his first term, President Ronald Reagan directed all Federal agencies to turn to private-sector voluntary consensus standards whenever appropriate, rather than developing separate government standards. In 1995, Congress codified this policy with the passage of the National Technology Transfer Advancement Act. This legislation recognizes the expertise of private-sector specialists, and their ability to react to emerging challenges more nimbly than their government counterparts. It also recognizes the value of a stakeholder- driven process oriented towards achieving consensus.

NFPA recently demonstrated this responsiveness in the wake of the tragic explosion that occurred during the final stages of construction at Kleen Energy Plant. Six workers died and nearly 50 others were injured in the explosion. An investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) revealed that the explosion was caused by the use of natural gas to remove construction debris from the plant's piping. After its investigation and subsequent safety recommendations, the CSB turned to the NFPA to develop a new safety standard to prevent such explosions in the future. After seeking input from numerous interested parties, the NFPA Standards Council voted in October 2010 to establish a consensus technical committee to develop new standards for gas process safety. Just 18 months after the accident, the NFPA committee issued a new industry standard to prevent future fires and explosions during gas pipe cleaning and purging. I applaud the NFPA for its prompt response to this tragedy. This is just one example of the benefits that standard development organizations provide.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the important work that not-for-profit standards development organizations contribute to developing health, safety and environmental standards that serve the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the unveiling of the high water mark sign in Bourne, Massachusetts, commemorating the hurricane that struck the northeastern United States on September 21, 1938. This storm was among the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded in the region.

Striking with virtually no warning, the hurricane devastated the unprepared Northeast and resulted in over 500 deaths and over 1,700 injuries. In the upper Buzzards Bay region, the hurricane produced a storm surge of 11 to 13 feet across. This resulted in significant financial damages, including the total destruction of 2,600 boats and almost 9,000 homes, as well as severe damage to businesses, roads, and railroads. In addition to record-setting gusts and devastating floods, the hurricane severed power lines in Connecticut, sparking catastrophic fires.

The 1938 hurricane serves as a sobering reminder of the raw power of nature, and of the constant need to safeguard our coasts against these deadly storms. We must never forget the contributions and sacrifices that public safety officials make daily to protect us from disaster, and we must never forget the need to support their critical endeavors. Preparedness is every bit as necessary now as it was in 1938, and we neglect the danger posed by tropical storms at our own peril.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in remembering the lives lost on September 21, 1938, as well as reaffirming our commitment to protecting our nation from the ever-present threat of natural disasters.

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

In the important debate to save National Guard units, we made some steps forward in this bill and, unfortunately, also took steps backward. Many in the Chamber may assume that all the National Guard units were restored in the markup of this bill. That's simply not the case.

A vital and unique group of Air National Guard units, known as C- NAFs, have a full-time mission to support Active Duty bases. These augmentation units take on a large chunk of the workload while only accounting for a small percentage of the mission's workforce--and the work is all done domestically. In and of itself, that provides a higher degree of security because there are discrete sites that are isolated and more easily secured here in the United States. These units were created because they're cost effective, and eliminating them will result in unfinished business, displaced costs and, perhaps the most alarming of all consequences, endangered lives.

To illustrate, the 102nd Air Operations Group at Otis Air National Guard Base works 24/7 365 days of the year to conduct 30 percent of the Air Force Global Strike Command's surveillance mission, and only accounts for 10 percent of the Command's workforce--30 percent of the mission and 10 percent of the Command's workforce. The 102nd Air Operations Group's counterparts at Barksdale Air Base in Louisiana rely on these great men and women to examine realtime footage and spot out threats.

When I talk about consequences, including the endangering of lives, the work of this unit has helped our servicemen and -women avoid concealed insurgents on the battlefield, and it tracks the proliferation of nuclear weapons as these events are occurring. It has the backs of our soldiers in the field, and it affords its own level of defense against nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, the Air Force is only now realizing the impact of this loss.

I apologize for all of the acronyms that are here, but I wanted to take the actual slide from the Air Force's presentation. This slide is from May 2. It is an Air Force briefing to Lieutenant General Herbert Carlisle, deputy chief of staff for operations for the Air Force.

It proves that units like the 102nd AOG are essential. According to this slide, which is only 2 weeks old, the 102nd Air Operations Group is ``essential to the U.S. Strategic Command's time-sensitive planning mission,'' and the impact of losing this unit will render the Air Force ``unable to fully support extended time-sensitive scenarios.''

Furthermore, the Air Force reiterates that without the 102nd Air Operations Group, the mission of the Global Strike Command will not be supported, and the Rapid Assessment Team currently in place at Barksdale cannot take on more surveillance duties without the 102nd

Mr. Chairman, how much time is remaining on each side?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Don't be presumptuous enough to tell me my motivations. We looked for many pay-fors in this plan. What we have is plain and simple. We have enhancement of the security of our country because we have a plan that works and that will save lives and help us resolve missile-defense issues by tracking them versus a pay-for that we located that was $400 million over budget. I only took 9 percent of that, leaving 91 percent of that intact because I think this tradeoff enhances our security.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, although I support the Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors (STOP) grant program, I regretfully had to vote no on final passage of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization (VAWA). Even with the changes in the manager's amendment, the bill that came to the floor today remains a partisan, extremist bill that provides far fewer protections for domestic violence victims than the strong, bipartisan Senate-passed bill.

This bill would put victims of domestic violence in greater danger by rolling back key protections in current law and by excluding entire populations of women, particularly in the LGBT and Native American communities, from these valuable victim protections. Even though VAWA is a critical grant program, I could not support the House GOP version, as such I voted ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Boston Carmen's Union, Local 589, who for the past 100 years has been a strong voice for transportation professionals in Boston and the surrounding areas.

As it celebrates its centennial, the Boston Carmen's Union

represents 6,000 union members and is a part of the

Amalgamated Transit Union, the largest labor union in America

with over 190,000 members. The union was born in the same way

as the labor movement itself: with a great deal of

cooperation, dedication and perseverance. In 1912, after a

number of failed attempts to meet with management to assert

their rights and address their grievances, the first

organized Boston Elevated Carmen's Union voted to strike--

1,389 votes to eight. During the strike, the newly-formed

union faced uncooperative tactics and strike breakers hired

by the transit company. Despite these challenges, the union

members fought for their rights, enjoying strong support from

the labor community, and soon after, from District Attorney

Joseph Pelletier, Governor Eugene Foss and legendary Boston

Mayor John ``Honey Fitz'' Fitzgerald. Finally, after more

than six weeks of striking, the union was able to come to a

settlement and gained recognition from Boston Elevated

Company.

In the years to come, the Carmen's Union continued to grow

and collaborate with other local unions, evolving with the

changing transit industry to best serve its members. As it

marks this centennial milestone, the Boston Carmen's Union

has both served and represented the many transportation

professionals whose important work forms the backbone of our

city and the surrounding area's infrastructure. It is with

their help that the employees of the MBTA have been able to

stand up for better working conditions, hours and wages.

The Boston Carmen's Union has a stellar record of activism

and community service. This year, the union participated in

the National Day of Action for Transportation on April 4th.

The event gathered the Carmen's membership and supporters to

demand fair treatment for transit workers and to demonstrate

that available, affordable and well-maintained public transit

is an issue of civil rights. The union also works hard to

build awareness about the crucial role transportation

professionals play in the daily life of every Bostonian. From

subway drivers to mechanics to baggage handlers, and so many

more, members of the Local 589 provide integral services to

their communities every single day.

Along with its efforts to improve working conditions for

its membership and empower them to assert their rights as an

employee, the Boston Carmen's Union values its ability to

play a positive role in the community. When firefighters,

policemen or other public servants are killed in the line of

duty, members of Local 589 routinely volunteer their time and

services to provide transport to and from the memorial

service. I applaud the Boston Carmen's Union both for its

dedication to its mission of empowering transportation and

allied professionals and for its commitment to serving the

Boston community and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Boston Carmen's Union, Local 589, its President John Lee and the entire community on the celebration of 100 years of service to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Specialist Jason Branch, the winner of the Massachusetts Army National Guard's 2012 Best Warrior Competition.

To be eligible for the grueling contest, Spc. Branch was first selected by his unit, the 189th Engineer Detachment, as the most qualified candidate. The Massachusetts Best Warrior Competition is known to test participants with rigorous physical and mental challenges. Now in its fourth year, the competition continues to evolve to meet the caliber of the contestants. This year's event included tests

of physical fitness and marksmanship, a written exam and a challenging mock urban combat situation. The demanding weekend culminated in an interview with a board of Command Sergeants Major testing each participant's knowledge on a variety of subjects.

Throughout the competition, Spc. Branch demonstrated the dedication, ingenuity and perseverance that make an excellent soldier, and in the end, emerged victorious amongst the commissioned officers competing. When not in uniform, he continues to serve his community as a Unit Manager at Plymouth's Radius HealthCare and Pediatric Center, playing a vital role in the rehabilitation of the center's patients. Spc. Branch truly represents the very best of our community and our country.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Spc. Jason Branch as he is honored for his excellence as a soldier, and we wish him the best of luck as he moves on to the regional stage of the competition.

I thank the gentleman from Virginia for his leadership and his willingness to preserve resources for marine mammal stranding response in the fiscal year 2013 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill.

I understand that the House Report 112 463 includes language encouraging NOAA to maintain funding for essential marine mammal stranding grants. The competitive Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance grant program is a cost-effective, community-oriented program that works with stranded mammals, enables the collection of data to prevent future strandings, and deals with the practical dilemma communities face with beached dolphins weighing 200 to 500 pounds, as well as with right whales.

Based on conversations with the chairman and ranking member, I will not be offering my amendment specifying this grant at this time. I look forward, rather, to working with the gentleman from Virginia towards inserting this language in conference.

I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dedicated and courageous citizen from my district in Massachusetts. Diane Lilly, a resident of Duxbury, will be retiring as a Trooper First Class from the Massachusetts State Police after 26 years of exemplary service.

Diane was born on December 13, 1956 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She graduated from Cardinal Cushing High School in South Boston in 1974 and the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in 1980. Six years later, she graduated from the State Police Academy and began her long career of service to the state. Her work did not slow her passion for education or justice, however, as she graduated from Westfield State College with a Masters in Criminal Justice in 1990.

Diane comes from an extraordinary family of civil servants and community leaders, so it is no wonder she has chosen such an admirable career path. Her father, Leonard, was a Boston Police Officer and retired as Chief Court Officer in Boston Municipal Court. Her sister, Janet, also went to work at that court for many years and her brother, Michael, has been a corrections officer at Suffolk County House of Correction. Two of her other brothers, Lenny and Brian, have both worked as police officers in Massachusetts, while her brother, Kevin, runs the heart and lung machines during open heart surgery at Cape Cod Hospital.

Between 1987 and 2001, Diane worked out of the Norfolk County State Police Office. During this time she was instrumental in the Salvi and Sampson case that put a dangerous and prolific criminal behind bars for more than 30 years. She then began working with the Plymouth County Homicide Unit, where she was able to play an important role in the Matthew Cody cold case and the Magnarelli murder case. Since 2005, she has been a member of the Diversion Investigative Unit working on prescription drug abuse cases.

Bay Staters are safer because Diane--and her colleagues--have had the courage to take on the most dangerous issues facing our community.

As Diane retires after such a commendable life of public service, she will be able to spend some much deserved down time with her three dogs, Dermott, Maggie and Josephine.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Diane Lilly on this remarkable occasion. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing her a great retirement and many years of happiness with her family and dogs and thank her for making Massachusetts a safer place.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

There's been a lot of talk about kick the can down the road and kick the can down the road. I want to know what road that is?

The road I know, the road that gave me the American Dream, was the road to an education that's being undercut by this budget. It's a road to medical security that my grandparents worked hard and struggled for to give me. So that's the road we're talking about.

The other question I have is, What can are we talking about? The budget offered by the Republicans kicks the can down the road all right, but that can is the middle class American.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mrs. Ellen Stillman, a resident of Hanson, Massachusetts, who celebrates her 100th birthday on February 20th.

Ellen was born in 1912, and began her first job at a Hanson cranberry cooperative, Cranberry Canners, when she was 15 years old. She fell in love with the work and after graduating from the Chandler School for Women and Boston University with a degree in journalism and advertising, she convinced her father to cultivate a bog of their own. In 1937,

she borrowed $15,000 and built a six-acre bog on the Stillman property in Hanson. Her bog paid for itself after only the second harvest.

Ellen continued to pursue her passion, and by the time she retired as vice president in charge of advertising at the Ocean Spray Cranberry Association in 1956, she had built a national reputation for the cranberry industry. Some of her more notable accomplishments include spearheading an advertising campaign to join cranberries and chicken, appearing on radio and TV and making a presentation of cranberries to President Eisenhower and Vice President Nixon at the White House. One year later, she was named the only female member of the 24-person Ocean Spray board of directors.

When not busy with her bogs, Ellen took time out for philanthropy, serving on the women's committee of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and donating generously to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She also used her expertise to write a number of cookbooks.

More than 70 years later, Ellen's cranberry bogs continue to be an important part of the Hanson community and economy, and Ellen, herself, remains a pioneer in the industry. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Ellen Stillman on this joyful occasion and I hope my colleagues will join me in wishing her many more years of happiness and health.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Margaret Bonner of Quincy, Massachusetts who celebrates her 103rd birthday on February 22nd.

Margaret was born on February 22, 1909 in Great Britain, where she spent her childhood. A concert pianist by training, she graduated from the London College of Music and shortly thereafter immigrated to the United States, arriving just before the crash of the stock market. Margaret first moved to Dorchester, Massachusetts before settling in Quincy in 1975. Always a creative person and an arts enthusiast, she worked as an illustrative artist on greeting cards during the Great Depression.

Throughout her life, Margaret has had a rich and remarkable career. At the end of World War I, she returned to Great Britain to volunteer with the Red Cross as a nurse's aide. Following that, she embarked on a long and accomplished career in the fashion and bridal industry, working as a buyer and manager for Worth of Boston on Boylston Street, among other high-end stores. In this position, Margaret traveled the world, purchasing couture clothes and meeting directly with famous designers from Versace to Halston. It was her love of fashion and the arts that kept her going over the years, and she did not retire until she was 86 years old.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Margaret Bonner on this joyous occasion. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing her many more years of health and happiness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Julie Caruso, who was honored as the 2011 Citizen of the Year by the Pembroke Express, in recognition of her tireless support of our troops serving overseas.

Julie started the Pembroke Military Support Group following the attacks of September 11th, and for the past ten years, she has been the moving force behind it. The group's goal is both simple and noble: support our service men and women and military families in tangible ways.

Meeting every month, a core group of approximately fifteen volunteers assemble care packages for more than 120 Pembroke residents--or those connected to Pembroke--who are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Members of the Military Support Group also provide support to the service members' families living in Pembroke, Massachusetts. In 2009, the group received the Community Caring Award presented by the Norwell Visiting Nurse Association for outstanding service to the community.

Many people would have become fatigued or worn out after a couple years supporting a military community, but not Julie. Julie is that rare individual with the imagination to dream up this successful group, the dedication to get it off the ground and the perseverance to remain its backbone for over ten years. She not only organizes fundraising, but collects and packages the items and then works with multiple agencies to get the care packages to the troops overseas. Julie has said that she lives by the belief that her door is always open for family members of servicemen and servicewomen in need of a shoulder to lean on, and I doubt there is any resident in Pembroke, MA who would disagree with her.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Julie Caruso as she is honored for her generosity, drive and initiative. She is a model of leadership and selflessness for us all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedicated service of Franklin Fryer. In his 57 years of service to the Town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, Franklin helped advance many important initiatives and tirelessly served his community. Now at age 90, as he celebrates his retirement from public life at the end of this month, I am proud to join family, friends, colleagues, and community leaders in thanking him for his many years of commitment to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Franklin is that rare individual who dedicates his entire life's work to public service. After bravely serving as a Marine in World War II, he returned to his native Weymouth to continue his civic service. In 1955, he was elected to the Board of Selectmen, where he served until 1973. Three years later, Franklin was elected Town Clerk, a position he has held ever since. But those are just the positions he held; they don't speak to the countless hours and services he has dedicated to his community in excess of his job. Franklin is a reflection of all that we hope and expect community leaders to be. The Town of Weymouth would not be the same without him, so it was a fitting tribute that the office where he had been working for the past 12 years was renamed in his honor. Franklin's retirement marks the end of an era for the Weymouth community.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Franklin Fryer for his dedication to the people of Weymouth, Massachusetts. He is an excellent role model for young adults, a leader for his fellow community members and a shining example of what it means to be a public servant. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him many more years of health and happiness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Nantucket Whalers in my district who represented their communities in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's (MIAA) annual Super Bowls. The teams from Bourne High School, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, Duxbury High School, Mashpee High School, and Nantucket High School won five of the nine Super Bowls across the State, demonstrating a true commitment to excellence in Massachusetts' 10th District. Since 1978 when the MIAA first regulated athletic events in the Commonwealth, these tournaments have highlighted the dedication and discipline of our State's high school football teams, and the five teams from the 10th Congressional District, who won their division Super Bowls, are wonderful examples of the best of high school sports.

I am certain that the student-athletes on Nantucket's high school football team will take the valuable lesson of teamwork they have learned and translate it into many successes in the future. This is a tremendous achievement for the school, coaches and players, and I congratulate them on making everyone in their communities, including myself, proud.

I would like to take a moment to now recognize each of the hardworking athletes, their coach, and assistant coaches for their achievements both on and off the field:

From Nantucket High School (by alphabetical order):

Jake Adams, Oscar Andersen, Keegan Bartlett, Andrew Benson, Victor Boucher, Valentino Coleman, Matt Correia, Terrel Correia, Bryan Depass, Sam Earle, Hunter

Gray, Shane Hanlon, Stephen Harris, Jon Holdgate, Thomas Holdgate, Taylor Hughes, Jacob Martinson, Zach Moran, Dylan O'Connor, Tanner O'Keefe, Jake Pearl, Codie Perry, Dylan Perry, Jack Pitts, Alex Rezendes, Colton Robinson, Will Sarnie, Marshall Slade, Ian Smith, Joe Tallman, Trent Valero, Cooper Voigt, Jon Vollans, Zach VonKampen.

Bill Manchester, Head Coach; Beau Almodobar, Assistant Coach; Vaughan Machado, Assistant Coach; Steve Murphy, Assistant Coach; Tim Psaradelis, Assistant Coach; Travis Lombardi, Assistant Coach; Bob Kessler, Assistant Coach; Matt Erisman, Assistant Coach.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Dennis-Yarmouth Dolphins in my district who represented their communities in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's (MIAA's) annual Super Bowls. The teams from Bourne High School, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, Duxbury High School, Mashpee High School, and Nantucket High School won five of the nine Super Bowls across the state, demonstrating a true commitment to excellence in Massachusetts' 10th District. Since 1978 when the MIAA first regulated athletic events in the Commonwealth, these tournaments have highlighted the dedication and discipline of our state's high school football teams, and the five teams from the 10th Congressional District, who won their division Super Bowls, are wonderful examples of the best of high school sports.

I am certain that the student-athletes on Dennis-Yarmouth's high school football team will take the valuable lesson of teamwork they have learned and translate it into many successes in the future. This is a tremendous achievement for the school, coaches and players, and I congratulate them on making everyone in their communities, including myself, proud.

I would like to take a moment to now recognize each of the hardworking athletes, their coach, assistants and managers for their achievements both on and off the field:

From Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School (by number):

1--Damion Johnson, 2--Quan Lovett, 3--Kent Metz, 4--Rufus Hamilton, 5--Spencer Tyler, 6--Mike Dunn, 7--Mathew Montalto, 10--A.J. Breault, 11--Jeremy Lucyk, 12--Steven Azor, 13--Kyle Stephens, 14--Spencer McCaffrey, 15--Mike Anderson, 16--Ryan Barabe, 17--Liam Matheson, 18-- Jacob Pawlina, 20--Ben Chapakso, 21--Sean Iliffe, 22--Dylan Hodsdon, 23--Cory Desimone, 24--Kenneth Couture, 25--Gandin McCaffrey, 30--Joe Furness, 33--Cooper Greenspon-Sullivan, 35--Tom Dasilva, 44--Chase Orava, 45--Mathew Peterson.

50--Liam Breen, 51--Quinn Campbell, 52--Eduardo Seabra-Amancio, 53-- Dan Robles, 54--John Downs, 55--John Terrio, 56--Casey Allen, 57--Barry Dempsey, 58--Mathew Quattrucci, 59--Hunter Oppedisano, 60--Anthony Burke, 61--Tristen O'Leary, 63--Anthony Daly, 65--Spike Elizondo, 66-- Chip Evangelista, 67--Arthur Hairston, 68--Zach Mancini, 69--Nick Coelho, 70--Andrew Robles, 71--Morgan Rosetta, 72--Kyle Pina, 73-- Justin Haley, 74--Mike Alker, 75--Shane Lappen, 76--Ryan Donahue, 77-- Tommy Kennedy, 78--Joe Tyo, 79--Dillon Collins, 84--Will Campbell, 87-- Jason Lavallee, 88--Thomas Cooper, 90--Raheem McFarlane, Jake Campbell, Nick Warme, Devan Smith, Matt Perrino, Jeff Romulus, Ziad Kamel.

Coach: Paul Funk; Assistants: Tom Campbell, Chris Capobianco, Ross Jatkola, Matt Crossetti, Joe Jamiel, Nick Montalto, Dave Hamshire, Derick Rodrigues, John Terrio, Bob Montalto, Chris Corna; Managers: Joe Elliot and Zack Hardigan.