Robert Brady

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for Ms. Zoe Lofgren to control the remaining time on this bill.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6475, which would establish the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program. This program would bring the most talented law school graduates from across the country to Washington, D.C., and offer them the opportunity to be employed as congressional clerks in the House of Representatives or the Senate. This program is modeled after the judicial clerkships offered in the Federal courts. H.R. 6475 would offer no fewer than six 1-year clerkships in each Chamber. The clerks would be apportioned equally between majority and minority offices within each Chamber. H.R. 6475 would give recent law grads invaluable insight into the functions and operations of the Federal legislature, and I urge my colleagues to support this program. I would also like to thank Ms. Lofgren and Mr. Lungren for introducing the bill in the 109th Congress, and Ms. Lofgren for bringing it up and Mr. Lungren for being a prime cosponsor. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks in the Record on this bill.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6475) to establish the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I find myself a little miffed that they would have to politicize this soldier bill, but I understand we have two soldiers on that side of that bill. With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I will inquire of the gentleman if he has any other speakers.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6608 provides supplemental income to House employees who are Armed Forces reservists and who are involuntarily called to active duty. The House will supplement the active military duty pay by making up the difference between the employee's military salary and the employee's House salary prior to their call to active service. To be eligible for the supplemental income, employees must be employed by the House for at least 90 days prior to military activation. The cost of the pay supplements will come from appropriate House accounts and not charged to the employing office. In addition, the employee's salary will be subject to the cost of living adjustments in the same as other House employees. Mr. Speaker, I introduced this bill to address family hardships caused by some reservists and National Guard members being deployed for the second or third time. These servicemen and women earn military wages while on active duty and must leave their families and jobs, often for an undetermined and unpredictable amount of time. The private sector is supporting our soldiers and sailors by continuing to pay the difference between their usual salary and their active duty pay. This bill will offer the same for House employees. This is a good bill with strong bipartisan support that honors the devoted public service of our House employees. Our active duty reservists should not endure undue financial hardship for heeding our Nation's call to service. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks in the Record on this bill.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank the gentlelady for her very responsive bill, and I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his remarks even though it had nothing at all to do with this bill whatsoever. And, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I would also like to thank the gentlelady from North Carolina for a very sensible bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1207) directing the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives to provide individuals whose pay is disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer by electronic funds transfer with the option of receiving receipts of pay and withholdings electronically, as amended.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks in the Record on this bill.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this resolution is a commonsense step in modernization of our pay system. It would offer Members and staff the option, not the requirement, of receiving their pay stubs electronically. It would also make W-2 forms available electronically and allow individuals to change the deductions and withholdings, and to electronically redesignate the depository institutions for their electronic deposits. Not only will this simplify pay records for Members and staff, it will reduce paper waste to support the Speaker's Green the Capitol Initiative. This resolution has strong bipartisan support. Once it has been adopted in the House, and the committee will work with the CAO to ensure a smooth transition. 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. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize my dear friend, Rev. James S. Allen, in honor of his 30th anniversary as pastor of the Vine Memorial Baptist Church of Philadelphia. Reverend Allen has carried the torch for human rights throughout his career and has brought that same passion to his ministry in Philadelphia. Through his work, he has touched the lives of numerous members of my community and continues to be a blessing to all those who encounter him. Born in rural Arkansas, Reverend Allen was a firsthand witness to the injustices of racial segregation. The young Reverend Allen walked 4 miles both ways to his segregated three-room schoolhouse every day, and in spite of the challenge, he went on to become valedictorian of his high school's graduating class. After Reverend Allen joined the United States Air Force and honorably served in the Korean War until 1956, he returned home to the ever burgeoning issue of racial equality and discovered his life's calling in the ministry. When the integration orders handed down in Brown v. Board of Education were jeopardized, Reverend Allen joined the fight to uphold its central purpose of racial equity. The day that President Eisenhower ordered military troops into Little Rock to ensure its desegregation, Reverend Allen, with the same thought in mind, enrolled at the Arkansas Baptist College. As a champion of human rights, Reverend Allen has made his mark in a number of places. He assisted Dr. Leon Sullivan in planning the first and second African American Summits and has worked extensively with the Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America Incorporated to help members of his community find and maintain jobs. Reverend Allen has served in numerous leadership positions for various organizations. Most notable has been his service as vice-president of National Baptist Congress of Christian Education and as the first president of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity. Reverend Allen also served as a special assistant to the first African American mayor of Philadelphia, W. Wilson Goode. Currently, Reverend Allen serves as the chairman of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. Above his charitable contributions to the community at large, he is also a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Madam Speaker, Reverend Allen has been a minister for 51 years, 30 of which have been at the Vine Memorial Baptist Church of Philadelphia. He has served the people of many cities, making a lasting impact everywhere he has been. As a valued member of my community, I ask that you and my other esteemed colleagues join me in congratulating Reverend Allen on this occasion of achieving 30 years of pastoral excellence in Philadelphia and a growing legacy of human rights successes.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous matter on the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, once again I thank the gentleman from Florida for introducing this resolution. I also thank the Capitol Police for the fine job they perform for us every day of the year, making our work in Congress possible. It's great that we offer a resolution today commending them, and it's sad that we have to have a 10-year anniversary tomorrow for the two police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. I think the most befitting thing we can do for them and for our police officers is to say hello to them, say ``How are you? How's your day?'' instead of running by them for a vote, running out, leaving, going to our offices. They're people, too. They're great men and women. They do a great job. We do thank them for their job. But we should take a moment or two to have a little conversation with them and let them know, not only one day a year, not today, not tomorrow, but every time we pass by them, to thank them for keeping us safe. We walk in this building through metal detectors, dogs. They check our cars and we're safe as can be and we're safe as can be because of them. When there's a problem and we have to evacuate, we're running out and they're running in. We ought to let them know every single day that we appreciate them. With that, I urge an ``aye'' vote. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to offer this motion. The Capitol Police earn and deserve our gratitude every day of the year as they work hard under unique and trying circumstances. They are constantly here, even when we are not, making the Capitol complex and all who work in and visit these hallowed halls safe. Under the leadership of Chief Phillip Morse and his team, with the support of officers represented by Matt Tighe of the Fraternal Order of Police, and of civilians led by Karen Gray-Thomas of the Teamsters unit, the Capitol Police work wonders, enabling us to conduct our business without worry. Beyond their day-to-day shifts, the Capitol Police routinely demonstrate their dedication, as recently when 600 officers reported one weekend to cope with a political demonstration. The Capitol Police perform such feats daily, without comment or complaint. It is an honor to chair the subcommittee that oversees this fine organization and to support them as they discharge their mission every day of the year. I thank the gentleman from Florida for introducing this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 645) expressing the gratitude and appreciation of the House of Representatives to the professionalism and dedication of the United States Capitol Police, as amended.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to discharge the Committee on House Administration from further consideration of House Concurrent Resolution 395 and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1360) honoring and commemorating the selfless acts of heroism displayed by the late Detective John Michael Gibson and Private First Class Jacob Joseph Chestnut of the United States Capitol Police on July 24, 1998.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, once again I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland for introducing this resolution remembering these brave officers and their families. It is important that we remember their sacrifice, and I urge an ``aye'' vote. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, 10 years ago on July 24, 1998, a gunman entered the Capitol and shot to death two Capitol Police officers, Detective John Gibson and Private First Class Jacob Chestnut. As they lay in honor in the rotunda, Congress and the whole community mourned the loss of the men who gave their lives defending the Capitol. Madam Speaker, we continue to mourn the loss of these fine, dedicated members of our Capitol community. At the 10th anniversary of that tragic day, we commemorate the passing of Private Chestnut and Detective Gibson. We honor their memories and once again offer the House's condolences to their widows and to their families. I thank our colleague from Maryland (Ms. Edwards) for introducing this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.