Robert Brady

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier). Again, I thank her for her courage.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren), a valued member of our committee.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington, D.C. (Ms. Norton).

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Kuster).

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence).

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel).

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney). (Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in closing, make no mistake about it, this is bullying: sexual bullying harassment. I have a wife, a daughter, a granddaughter, and a great- granddaughter. I have a responsibility to protect them. In the people's House, we have mothers, wives, daughters, granddaughters, great- granddaughters, and we have a responsibility to protect them. Men have a responsibility to stand up and confront this behavior when we see it. We have a responsibility to demand better of other men. We have a responsibility to confront these bullies. Men who use their power to harass and abuse others are disgraceful, and we cannot tolerate their behavior. We need to stop having a system that enables it. Mr. Speaker, I personally witnessed an incident back in my perch, where I stay back in the corner there, of a Congresswoman that was leaning back talking to me, and a Congressman walked by and groped her from behind. I reached over and, lucky for him, I just couldn't grab him. I wanted to chase him down the aisle, but the Congresswoman, as classy as she is, said: ``No, don't do that. You may get in a little trouble. We will take care of him.'' And he got taken care of pretty well. I wonder if women would be disrespected or sexually bullied if their husbands or their fathers were standing next to them when somebody tried to sexually harass them or grope them. That is why I say men who do that are bullies and cowards. Just treat women with the respect and dignity that you would your own mother. Mr. Speaker, I ask for a unanimous vote on this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Davita Vance-Cooks, the Director of the Government Publishing Office (GPO), both to this institution and to the American people, on the announcement of her retirement from Federal service. A seasoned business executive with over 35 years of private sector and Federal Government management experience, Ms. Vance-Cooks was nominated by President Obama in May of 2013 to serve as the 27th Public Printer of the United States and then swiftly confirmed by the Senate in July 2013. Upon her confirmation, she became the first woman and the first African-American to lead the GPO in the agency's more than 150 year history dating back to the Inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln. Ms. Vance-Cooks is a trailblazer in so many ways. Her appointment to this prestigious position was well earned. Prior to her confirmation, Ms. Vance-Cooks had capably served as acting Public Printer for 19 months, the longest such tenure in GPO history, and in a number of senior management roles since she first joined the agency in 2004, including Chief of Staff, Deputy Public Printer, Deputy Managing Director of Customer Services, and Managing Director of Publications and Information sales. Ms. Vance-Cooks' service to the GPO began at a time of great change and uncertainty at the agency, as information technology and digital media challenged GPO to move from a primarily print-centric focus to a more content-centric one. In her senior management positions, and then as the head of the GPO, Ms. Vance-Cooks helped guide a fundamental and comprehensive transformation of the agency. She also articulated a vision for the future of the GPO as the Official, Digital, and Secure source for producing, protecting, preserving, and distributing the official publications and information products of the Federal Government in an age of rapid technological change. Today, thanks to her dedication, and that of so many committed GPO employees, that vision is being realized. In recognition of the GPO's successful transition to digital publishing technologies that Ms. Vance-Cooks championed, Congress passed legislation to rename the agency that was signed into law in 2014. From that point forward, the Government Printing Office would be known as the Government Publishing Office to more accurately describe its capabilities in this age of digitization, and the anachronistic Public Printer title would be replaced as well. Ms. Vance-Cooks would subsequently serve as GPO's Director, the position from which she has retired this week. The transformation Ms. Vance-Cooks helped lead at GPO was broad in scope, and the accomplishments she helped achieve are impressive. First and foremost, she leaves a legacy of cutting agency costs while improving services, and generating positive net income for the agency while modernizing its operations and expanding the availability of Government information to the public. She oversaw the creation of a new, dynamic website, govinfo.gov, where over 2 million Federal titles are available free of charge to the general public, and spearheaded GPO's move to become the first legislative branch agency to move to cloud technology. Under her leadership, GPO also became a key participant in the Legislative Branch Bulk Data Task Force, working closely with legislative branch agencies to expand the transparency and openness of congressional information. Her commitment to expanding the accessibility of GPO products also extended to the development of mobile applications, eBooks for GPO publications, the digitization of historical issues of the Congressional Record and the Federal Register, and the enhancement of GPO's relationship with its 1,100 partners in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). Just this spring she offered testimony on how to strengthen that partnership by modernizing the laws that govern the FDLP. Ms. Vance-Cooks also successfully executed an expansion of GPO's production capacity to incorporate the newest, state-of-the-art printing capabilities to deliver greater value to the American people. These enhancements have reduced the cost of printing congressional and agency documents, and provided GPO with the capability to produce next generation U.S. passports and secure identity cards for other Federal partners. A strong believer in the importance of strategic planning, Ms. Vance- Cooks chartered a course for GPO that dramatically improved the agency's capabilities and productivity in a fiscally responsible way. Under her leadership, the agency reversed a previous decade-long pattern of requesting ever greater appropriations from Congress and achieved clean opinions from annual independent audits of its finances. It also endured an unprecedented 13-day shutdown of Federal operations without incident, and managed two employee buyouts that reduced GPO's total staffing to 1,700, the lowest level in more than a century. It is a testament to Ms. Vance-Cooks' commitment to employee engagement that GPO was able to meet these challenges while maintaining a ``best place to work'' rating among Federal agencies and an ``innovative agency'' designation from the Partnership for Public Service. That commitment formed a bedrock principle of her leadership and was demonstrated in her quarterly town halls with GPO employees from each of the agency's three daily shifts. At each step of the way along the path of GPO's transformation, Ms. Vance-Cooks sought the support and input of GPO's dedicated workforce, and that collaborative approach paid enormous dividends. There is no question that Davita Vance-Cooks provided transformative leadership at the Government Publishing Office, and that she rendered a great service to the Legislative Branch, the House of Representatives, and the American public. She should look back on her tenure with GPO with great pride, and we express our gratitude to her today. She will be missed, and I join the hardworking men and women of the GPO who thought so highly of her in wishing her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my friend Pete Ciarrocchi, Chairman and CEO of the world famous Chickie's & Pete's Crab House and Sports Bar. Since 1977, Chickie's & Pete's locations have been rightfully called the best sports bars in Philadelphia. So none of us were surprised when they were voted ESPN's No. 1 Sports Bar on the East Coast. Every Philadelphian knows that Chickie's & Pete's and Philly sports go hand in hand. The only thing better than pre-game, post-game or game watching at the restaurant is enjoying their food at the stadium. And of course, you can't leave without an order of Pete's world famous Crabfries. But Mr. Speaker, Pete Ciarrocchi is more than a successful businessman. He's one of Philadelphia's finest citizens. He is one of the owners of the three time Arena Bowl champion Philadelphia Soul Arena Football Team. He is also one of our leading philanthropists serving on the Aria Health Foundation Board of Trustees and on the Holy Family University Business Advisory Board. Pete is a Mummer, who is active with The Polish-American String Band. But most importantly, Pete is a proud husband and father. His lovely wife Lisa and three sons Peter, Blaise, and Anthony are his first loves and the foundation on which the rest of his world is built. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in honoring Pete Ciarrocchi and Chickie's & Pete's Crab House and Sports Bar as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary tonight.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remind my colleagues that October 10th is Taiwan's National Day--also known as Double Ten Day. As this day approaches, I would like to congratulate President Tsai Ing-wen and the people of Taiwan, both on this occasion and on building one of the world's great democracies. Over the past 30 years, Taiwan has come to embody the same principles we hold dear: constitutional government, democracy, and free enterprise. With its successful, sixth-direct presidential election last year, Taiwan continues to serve as a proud example of democratic success in the Asia-Pacific region. But rather than focusing solely within its own borders, Taiwan has been able to use its immense capabilities to become a leader both in the export of culture humanitarian work, and technical expertise the world over. Given Taiwan's vibrant democracy, I urge my colleagues and the House as a body to advocate for Taiwan's return to both the World Health Assembly and the International Civil Aviation Organization, as well as its meaningful participation in other international organizations where it cannot be a member. Arguments against Taiwan's inclusion in these bodies belie the immense benefit that Taiwan can provide; Taiwan's omission is a detriment to both to the mission of these organizations and the wider world. The bond between the United States and Taiwan, cemented by the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, remains strong. I reaffirm it today, and again congratulate the people of Taiwan on this important occasion.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the continuous dedication and hard work of Ms. Patricia McDermott. Ms. McDermott is an invaluable member of our community and longtime dedicated employee of the Philadelphia Municipal Court. Ms. McDermott, a trailblazer in the Philadelphia Municipal Courts, was the first woman to be appointed to Deputy Court Administrator of the Civil Division in 1996. However, her path to arrive at this point was not easy. As a single mother, Ms. McDermott struggled early in her career to find her footing within the court. Nevertheless, she worked her way up the system diligently, starting in the Private Criminal Complaint Unit, then moving to the First Filing Unit in the clerical division, then to Assistant Supervisor, then to Supervisor until she was appointed to her current position. Ms. McDermott has shown exemplary devotion and dedication throughout her 43-year-long career. She has done much good for the City throughout her tenure, including her several renovation projects such as the combination of units work space at 34 S. 11th Street 2002 and the successful relocation of Municipal Court's Civil Division to The Widener Building in June 2012. Ms. McDermott was also responsible for the implementation of a nationally recognized electronic case management system known as C.L.A.I.M.S. Ms. McDermott's work is certainly admirable and notable. A devoted wife and mother of four children, she will always consider the Philadelphia Municipal Court to be her second family. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Ms. Patricia McDermott for the wonderful work she has done and continues to do for the Philadelphia Municipal Courts.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first of all and foremost, thoughts, again, and prayers are out for Representative Steve Scalise. I can't wait and hope to see him walk through these doors. I wish him well and his family well. An inside joke: I hope he has his beans in his pocket. Both being from Italian ancestry, we carry our beans with us, and I hope that he has them with him now for a speedy recovery. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3298 and applaud my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Michael F. Doyle) for helping to introduce this measure. Officer Bailey and Officer Griner are American heroes. It has been widely reported that their swift action saved dozens of lives. Every Member of Congress owes them an enormous debt. Every day, thousands of our Capitol Police officers protect Members, staff, and visitors in this building. You see some at the doors, others working with canine dogs, but there are also many officers you do not see. These officers are analyzing intelligence, working with law enforcement, and performing many other tasks that keep this place safe. Should any of these officers be seriously injured performing their duties, this bill would provide some measure of relief and peace of mind for their families. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Michael F. Doyle), my friend.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My dad was a police officer, and I know what it is like when you get that phone call in the middle of the night, when he would call our house, and we would jump out of bed, even though he was just calling to find out whether I was home or not. But I know the hardship it can put on families. On 9/11, when we were in our office buildings, and we were told to run and get out of our office buildings, our police officers were running in. Two days later, on this same floor, when there was a bomb scare and everybody cleared out, we were getting briefed, and we were clearing out running down those steps, our police officers--men and women--and first responders and firefighters were running in. We need to let them know every day, not just today. This is a great thing we are doing here today for them. We need to let them know every day just how much we appreciate what they do. When we come to work here, we are protected. We have dogs sniff our cars, and we go through metal detectors. Everybody goes through metal detectors. The Capitol Police come to work and leave their house every day with a vest, after they give their loved ones a kiss good-bye, the loved ones not knowing whether they are going to see them again. So make no mistake about it, we need to let them know every single day how much we appreciate them and tell them please to stay safe. Officer Bailey and Officer Griner saved many injuries and possibly many lives. We need to thank Officer Griner and Officer Bailey, and may God bless both of them. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Deputy Silvio DeAngelo IV of the Delaware County Sheriff's Office and Officer Matthew Cavanagh of the Glenolden Borough Police Department. These men saved the life of my staffer and friend Joseph Campisi when he suffered a heart attack on April 19th, 2015. Joe had just finished a game of basketball at the L.A. Fitness in Springfield, PA when he suddenly collapsed. Fortunately, Deputy DeAngelo and Officer Cavanagh happened to be finishing a workout at that very moment. Despite being off-duty and having never used a defibrillator on a live person before, they immediately sprang into action. Their training came through in the clutch and they were able to resuscitate him before the EMTs arrived. Thanks to their heroism and decisive action, Joe's heart was beating again in less than two and a half minutes. After 8 days in a coma, open heart surgery, five weeks in the hospital, and another six months of recovery, Joe was once again able to rejoin my staff. Now, more than two years since his heart attack, I am happy to say that Joe has made a full recovery. Looking at him today, you would never know he came within an inch of death. Without the bravery and quick-thinking of Officer Cavanagh and Deputy DeAngelo, my friend Joe would not be here today. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in thanking these two law enforcement officers. They represent the very best the First District of Pennsylvania has to offer.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Marguerite and H.F. ``Gerry'' Lenfest on being named the winners of this year's Carnegie Medal. The Lenfests are true philanthropists who have given an incredible amount to the city of Philadelphia. The Lenfests first founded the Lenfest Foundation in 2000. However, unlike most foundations, the Lenfest Foundation was not meant to remain in perpetuity. Rather, its purpose is to give all of its funds to deserving causes and then dissolve. Their approach embodies the philosophy of Andrew Carnegie himself, who said that ``the man who dies rich, dies disgraced.'' The Lenfests' contributions to the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding areas have been innumerable. Their contributions helped build the five-story Lenfest Pavilion at Abington Memorial Hospital, they have left a lasting endowment to the Curtis Institute of Music, and they also sponsor the Lenfest College Prep Scholarship, which offers support to Pennsylvania students who would normally be unable to afford elite college preparatory private schools. Perhaps most importantly, The Lenfests have done more than anyone else to ensure that Philadelphia's important cultural events live on. Through their unparalleled support of the Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund, they kept events and organizations such as the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Steuben Parade, Puerto Rican Day Parade, Columbus Day Parade, Pulaski Day Parade, Greek Independence Day, Odunde, Pride Day, Mummers Parade, Chester Fine Arts Center, Philly Pops, and the Martin Luther King Day Celebration alive. Their extraordinary philanthropic spirit has led them to give more than $1.2 billion to deserving causes. Whether the beneficiaries are children at overnight camps, the Michener Art Museum, or the rowing team at Temple University, the Lenfests' generosity has touched countless Philadelphians. I cannot imagine more deserving recipients of this honor. The City of Philadelphia would not be the same without the generosity of the Lenfest family. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring Mr. and Mrs. Lenfest on receiving this tremendous honor.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my sorrow at the loss of my friend Louis Farinella. Lou was one of the most dynamic men I know. He worked his way up from the bottom of the Philadelphia Electric Company to the post of Administration Manager. That was a sign of his talent. He was a Democratic Committeeman in the Ward 66 B for 45 years. He was also Chairman of the Parkwood Civic Association Zoning Committee. Those were signs of his commitment to his community. He worked for me at the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee for 22 years. That was a sign of his loyalty. But most of all, Lou was Florence's loving husband for 56 years. They had two children, Louis III and John and four grandchildren, John, Ryan, Tyler and Angela. He loved and was loved by his sister, Marie. Those were all signs of his heart. Mr. Speaker, Lou probably never knew how important he was to me. But, I know it. I miss him and I ask all of my colleagues to join me in giving the condolences of the House of Representatives to his family.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for whom I have the utmost respect for. But unfortunately, I rise in opposition to this bill. Dr. Carla Hayden, appointed by President Obama, has been on the job less than a year and deserves the opportunity to complete the IT modernization of the Copyright Office before this authority is taken away from her. As ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, I know that Dr. Hayden has made excellent process in reforming the Copyright Office, knocking 2 years off the estimated time to complete its modernization. This bill is a solution in search of a problem. This measure not only impedes the progress Dr. Hayden is currently making but will also undue the strides that have already been made. Simply put, this bill does nothing to improve the operations of the Copyright Office. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to stay with Dr. Hayden and vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution before us. The credit for this bipartisan legislation goes to my colleague and friend, the gentleman from Mississippi. I want to thank Chairman Harper for his bipartisan cooperation in developing this agreeable legislation. All committees should follow our lead. I also want to thank our staffs, the Democratic and the Republican sides, for putting together the bill that we have on the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation we are considering now. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, please allow me to note the retirement of my Chief Counsel on my House Administration Committee staff, Michael L. Harrison. After 32 years of service to the House of Representatives, half of them with the Committee, Mike has decided to close out his Capitol Hill career in favor of other pursuits in the Sunshine State. His staff colleagues and I will greatly miss him, his experience and especially his clever sense of humor, which enlivened many meetings and discussions. Mike first appeared in these precincts in 1980 as an undergraduate intern for one of his home-state senators. To this day, he often refers to the Senate as the Upper Chamber. I'm told that as a teenager, Mike harbored plans to study law and eventually run for a seat. He was reportedly the only resident of his college dormitory with a mail subscription to the Congressional Record. While working as a Senate intern, Mike had lots of spare time which he put to good use. He explored the Capitol and the capital city thoroughly. Among his other discoveries during the winter of 1980, Mike was fortunate to find another intern, whose good looks and willingness to take a chance led to their eventual marriage which endures to this day. Everybody who knows his wife, Laurie, agrees that she is a saint with a great sense of humor of her own. Following law school in St. Louis, Mike returned to Washington in pursuit of a career not as a senator but on the staff. Mike served three House committees, one joint committee, and three individual Members. He worked on budget-process, reconciliation, campaign-finance reform and on a measure to clarify when a President can use the pocket veto. At the House Administration Committee, Mike worked on sundry legislation and oversight of the Government Publishing Office, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Architect of the Capitol and the Library of Congress. Mike, an ardent Democrat by birth, worked in the majority and, to his chagrin, the minority. But whether in the majority or minority, Mike sought every day to serve the interests and uphold the traditions of this institution and its members. We need more like him, Mr. Speaker, and must find ways to attract and retain them. While Mike's thoughts will undoubtedly turn elsewhere in the years ahead, I will not be surprised if his name appears once again on the list of Congressional Record subscribers. I urge all Members to join me in wishing Mike Harrison a long, healthy and prosperous retirement.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ron Rubin on being an honoree at the National Museum of American Jewish History's Only in America Gala. This honor seeks to recognize those individuals who have greatly helped in the development of the Museum and for service to the business, cultural, and philanthropic communities. His contributions to our community have been recognized by many, and I am grateful for his work for the people of Philadelphia. Ron's career began in the 1950s when he joined his father's small real estate firm. Throughout his career, Ron has worked to guide growth for major development in office buildings, retail centers, and malls up and down the East Coast. Ron's work helped make the Rubin Organization one of the largest real estate companies in the United States. After the Rubin Organization was acquired by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), Ron served as CEO of PREIT and was recently appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees. In the 1990s, Ron helped to revitalize the Center City Business District by helping develop the Center City District business- improvement group. He has worked closely with many Philadelphia organizations including PECO Energy, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Kimmel Center, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. As the co-chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum of American Jewish History, Ron helped oversee the expansion of the Museum to its current location on Independence Mall. Ron's hard work and dedication to improving Philadelphia embodies the Museum's motto of ``Dream, Dare, Do.'' In recognition of his years of service to Philadelphia, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues rise to congratulate him on this honor.