Robert Brady

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Minister Asenath Katherine Talley of Philadelphia, who passed away last Wednesday. Asenath Katherine Brown, known affectionately as Sennie, was born in Philadelphia on June 10th, 1942. The youngest of Benjamin and Hattie Brown's eight children, Asenath was involved in the church from an early age. She was a member of the Baptist Young People's Union, Sunday school, and the junior choir at Enon Baptist Church. Her family and friends often said that singing in the choir was one of her greatest joys as a child. Asenath devoted her life to serving others long before she was ordained. She could frequently be seen preaching on the streets, prisons, and shelters of Philadelphia and Camden. Her compassion for the less fortunate was without peer, and her involvement in her community only grew after she became an ordained minister in 2000. A natural-born teacher, Asenath taught at Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and New Life Bible School. Of course, she never stopped singing in the choir. Preceded in death by her husband Leonard M. Talley, Asenath is survived by three children, five grandchildren, four great- grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends beyond count. She left behind a legacy of love and compassion that will endure through every life she touched. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring the life and memory of Minister Asenath Talley.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the 8 people who were killed, as well as the more than 200 people injured in the Amtrak train 188 derailment one year ago today in Philadelphia. This tragedy affected the entire region, touching the lives of hundreds of people across the country. It serves as an important reminder that we must work to ensure the necessary safeguards are in place, in order to protect Amtrak riders and employees from unnecessary heartbreaks such as this. On this day, it is also important to remember and be thankful for the selfless work of our first responders and hospital staff that treated the victims and consequently saved lives. Equally important was the open hearted response of the residents of the area, who truly showed the nation why we are known as the ``City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection'' by immediately opening their doors to the victims and providing food and water. In spite of this terrible tragedy, we can be proud of the humanity exhibited by all those who offered help. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues help me in honoring the victims of the train 188 derailment one year ago today.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Ed Snider. Mr. Snider, the founder and owner of the National Hockey League's Philadelphia Flyers and chairman of Comcast-Spectacor, passed away this Monday following a two-year battle with cancer. Although he was born in Washington, Ed Snider was a true Philadelphia icon. When, in 1964, the NHL announced that they would be adding six new teams, Ed was quick to see the potential for hockey in Philadelphia. His Flyers took the ice in 1967, at first to little fanfare. However, it did not take long for Philadelphians to latch onto their new team. By the time the Flyers won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975, the city's love for the game of hockey had been permanently cemented. Ed has been the face of the Flyers for nearly 50 years, and his passion for the game is reflected in the Flyers teams that took the ice for him. From the Broad Street Bullies to the Legion of Doom line, Ed's squads always represented the tough, blue-collar nature of Philadelphia. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame's class of 1988, Mr. Snider has also been inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, and the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Ed's contributions to the city of Philadelphia extend far beyond the doors of the Wells Fargo Center. His Ed Snider Youth Foundation provides after-school, recreational, and supplemental educational activities for children and families in Philadelphia. Thanks to his foundation, countless underprivileged children in Philadelphia and Camden have been afforded the opportunity to learn and play hockey at no cost. Although he won't be here to see it, Ed's legacy will be on display tonight when the Flyers come to Washington for game one of their Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the Capitals. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring the life and memory of Ed Snider.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, March 4, 2016, marks the 155th anniversary of the Government Publishing Office (GPO), the legislative-branch agency that Congress depends upon every day to produce the documents we need to discharge our constitutional responsibilities. Opening its doors for business as the Government Printing Office the same day that Abraham Lincoln was first inaugurated as President, the GPO since that time has worked around the clock in support of Congress, Federal agencies, and the right of the American people for access to information by and about our Government. Where once GPO produced this Government information solely through the printing process, in the past generation GPO has transformed itself into a digital publisher, reducing dramatically the cost of producing Government information while exponentially expanding its reach to the public. More than 8,000 staff labored at GPO when it provided print only, while today there are about 1,700. Yet because of technology changes embraced by GPO the productivity of the 1,700 vastly exceeds their predecessors'. That productivity has yielded huge savings for the taxpayers and vastly modernized the way we work on behalf of the citizens we represent. The technological changes the GPO has undergone have not gone unnoticed. In 2014, legislation was introduced in the Senate to recognize that the GPO is, by virtue of its digital progress, not just for printing anymore, and Congress and the President agreed that the time had come to change the GPO's name. Today, the GPO is the Government Publishing Office, a lean, technologically proficient, and thoroughly modern agency under the leadership of Director Davita Vance- Cooks, a talented manager who understands how to lead and sustain the benefits of change. For the third year in a row Director Vance-Cooks has sent Congress a flat budget request. With her at the helm the GPO's employees have rated it one of the best places to work--a big change from how they felt ten years ago--and in their work they now turn out one success after another. Last year they installed high-efficiency equipment that has yielded a significant price reduction in the cost of producing our hearings. Last month, they unveiled a new, easy-to-use website that is drawing universal praise, including from you, Mr. Speaker. Moreover, together with the Library of Congress, GPO employees last week launched public access to bulk-data files of bill-status information, a move that is further expanding openness and transparency to the legislative process. For the future they are poised to support the State Department's introduction of the next generation e-Passport and in 2017 they will move to a new composition system to speed and further reduce the cost of producing documents for Congress and Federal agencies. Mr. Speaker, in remarks five years ago observing the GPO's sesquicentennial, I noted that Benjamin Franklin--America's patron saint of printing and Philadelphia's greatest citizen--would be surprised and pleased by what the GPO is and does. I can confidently say that he would feel the same today. On behalf of all of us in this House, congratulations and best wishes to GPO Director Davita Vance- Cooks and the men and women of the Government Publishing Office. Many thanks for all their good work.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alhaji Saccoh for his outstanding humanitarian work. A volunteer firefighter in Collingdale, PA, Mr. Saccoh has led an effort to provide undersupplied firefighters in his native Sierra Leone with desperately needed equipment. In June of 2013, Mr. Saccoh made his first trip to Sierra Leone since fleeing the country's civil war in 2000. A chance visit to Sierra Leone's National Fire Service in Freetown brought him face to face with the state of his homeland's fire departments. The firefighters he met lacked even the most basic protective gear and would frequently respond to calls in their street clothes. This encounter inspired Mr. Saccoh to spearhead an effort to collect used fire gear for his counterparts in Sierra Leone. He recently returned from a trip to Sierra Leone, during which he volunteered for two months with local firefighters and distributed approximately $50,000 worth of equipment donated by several fire companies in Delaware County. Mr. Saccoh's humanitarian work extends beyond his work with Sierra Leonean firefighters. A graduate of University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Saccoh is also the founder of the Sierra Leone Children's Fund, a nonprofit organization that promotes health and primary education in rural Sierra Leone. For his work, Mr. Saccoh has been awarded the Legion of Honor from the Chapel of the Four Chaplains and recently received a Wells Fargo Community Connections Grant. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring Mr. Saccoh for his tireless humanitarian efforts, both in the United States and abroad.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Grace H. Daniels for her service to the city of Philadelphia. A force in Philadelphia politics and an unwavering advocate for Philadelphia's African American community from the late 1940s until her death in 1980, Grace's lifetime of service to the people of Philadelphia will be recognized this month when 46th Street is renamed Grace H. Daniels Way in her honor. Shortly after becoming one of the first African-American women to graduate from Duke University, Grace came to Philadelphia in the 1940s with her husband Otis and their large family. Settling into their new home on 46th Street, Grace quickly became active in the community and as a parent of nine children in the Philadelphia School District. It should be no surprise that Grace's desire to help better her community led her to develop an interest in politics. She was elected Democratic Committeewoman of Philadelphia's 44th Ward in 1947. She later became chairperson of the 44th Ward in 1967 and a member of the Democrat State Committee in 1977, positions she would hold until her death in 1980. During her time in Philadelphia politics, Grace developed a reputation as a loyal and dedicated leader who always paid close attention to the needs of her constituents. Although she is no longer with us, Grace left behind an enduring legacy of strong leadership and activism. She is an important part of Philadelphia's history and I am proud that 46th Street will be renamed in her honor. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues help me in honoring the life and memory of Grace H. Daniels.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Acel Moore Sr., a journalist who was a trailblazing change agent who died on Jan. 12. Born in South Philadelphia in 1940, he joined the U.S. Army after graduating high school. And then he decided to set his sights on a career in journalism and was hired as a clerk at the Philadelphia Inquirer. During his 43-year career at the Inquirer, he rose through the ranks from clerk to reporter, columnist, member and associate editor of the editorial board and ultimately was named the newspaper's Associate Editor Emeritus. Along the way he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting and was named a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. While his primary focus was reporting the news, he also dedicated himself to opening the doors of the esteemed fourth estate to minorities. He was a founder of the Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists. And, because of his advocacy the complexion of journalists in newsrooms across the nation changed. He also co-produced and hosted a groundbreaking television program, on PBS, ``Black Perspective on the News.'' The program attracted African American journalists from across the country, focusing on national issues. In spite of his accomplishments he never stopped being a man of the people, proudly representing his community. He was as comfortable interviewing mayors, judges and congresspersons as he was interviewing sanitation workers and the lady on the block holding a bat as she attempted to rid her neighborhood of gang violence. Today there are hundreds of young people of color who are working journalists because they were mentored by Mr. Moore, or they were part of minority high school journalism programs he began or were simply inspired by his advocacy to make American journalism more inclusive. With his death we have lost a powerful voice, but he has left such a legacy of dedication to journalism, justice and inclusion that we are all forever changed.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate National Freedom Day 2016, a holiday established to recognize the day President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment freeing enslaved Blacks. On February 1, 1941, Major Richard Robert Wright, Sr. invited national and local leaders to meet in Philadelphia to formulate plans to set aside February 1st each year to memorialize the signing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution by President Lincoln on February 1, 1865. One year after Major Wright's death in 1947, a bill passed both U.S. Houses of Congress making February 1st National Freedom Day. Major Wright is recognized as a post reconstruction pioneer and trailblazer who dedicated his life to establishing this national day of commemoration of freedom. Each year on the first day of Black History Month, National Freedom Day Associations in cities and states across the nation come together for this annual observance to promote goodwill, harmony and equal opportunity and to rededicate the nation to these ideals. And, as we look back at the life of Major Wright, we discover a true American story of resilience, foresight and faith. He was born into slavery in 1855. And, as a child he encountered retired Union Civil War General Oliver Otis Howard, in an Atlanta classroom. Summoning up unbelievable courage he said, ``Sir, tell them we are rising,'' as a way to help northerners understand the hope of newly freed Blacks. These words came to be Major Wright's lifelong mantra. His personal ``rising'' included: serving as a major in the Spanish- American War, founding and leading Savannah State College; attending the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania at the age of 67; and, founding the Citizens and Southern Bank and Trust Company, in Philadelphia, the only northern Black-owned bank at the time. Therefore, I am proud to honor the life and contributions of Major Wright, a great American visionary and trailblazer and the National Freedom Day Association as it stands as an historic reminder of our nation's promise of freedom and justice.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to mourn the loss of my dear friend, Al Stewart. Al was a giant of a man with a heart of pure gold. He was the person everyone in his community came to when they needed a helping hand. He never turned anyone away in their hour of need. He was a friend to everyone and a true pillar of our community. Al Stewart was deeply committed to the safety and security of his fellow citizens. He bravely served his country in our Army during the Korean Conflict. He also served in the Philadelphia Police Department for 25 years, including 5 years in the Gang Control Division. His commitment to our citizens did not end when he left the Police Department. He moved to the Board of Revision of Taxes where he was dedicated to ensuring that our seniors and citizens of modest means were not unfairly taxed. Mr. Speaker, Al Stewart honorably served the people of Northwest Philadelphia as a community leader and as their City Councilman. But, his greatest service was as a husband and a father. He deeply loved his late wife Ojetta and was devoted to his children Alinda, Shellyn, and Dwayne. Al leaves a great legacy behind as he goes on to his reward. Those of us who knew him are better off for that privilege. So, I ask all of my colleagues in the House to join me in honoring him today.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my dear friend and colleague, Shirley Gregory-Johnson. Shirley has served the people of Philadelphia since her early years. She was active in her Germantown neighborhood in her youth. Subsequently, the people of Logan were lucky enough to have her move into their community and to continue her public service. Shirley has been a dynamic leader of that community for over thirty years. In 1986, 950 homes in the Logan Triangle were found to be sinking, leaving families homeless and without a future. Shirley led the efforts to rescue affected families, participating in the creation and operations of the nonprofit Logan Assistance Corporation to help relocate Logan residents. She extended her efforts to help her neighbors and constituents by serving on boards such as Albert Einstein Hospital and Bebashi, one of the nation's HIV/AIDS organizations which serves low-income people of color with HIV disease. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Gregory-Johnson also has a distinguished record of service to this House. She worked in the office of my predecessor, Hon. Tom Foglietta for fifteen years. She was one of my first hires, when I persuaded her to join my staff as District Director in 1998. She retired from the House in January of this year, but continues her public service in various volunteer and political positions. Shirley will be celebrating her 80th birthday on December 13. Dignitaries and residents of Philadelphia will come together to honor that milestone and the life of this dynamic leader. I ask that all of my colleagues in the House join me in honoring her today. This is an honor she richly deserves.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere appreciation for the Republic of China (Taiwan) President Ma Ying-jeou's leadership in pursuing long-term peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. President Ma met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Singapore on November 7. This meeting was historic and paved the foundation for future prosperity and peace in the East Asia region. On the same day, our State Department expressed the view that the United States welcomes the meeting between leaders on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and noted the historic improvement in cross-Strait relations in recent years. I particularly took notice of President Ma's remarks on the importance of consolidation of the ``1992 Consensus'' and the maintenance of peace across the Taiwan Strait. Below is the summary of President Ma's remarks in meeting with mainland Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which explains clearly the origin and the meaning of the Consensus and shows how it is consistent with the Constitution of the Republic of China. For the full text, please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China: http://www.mofa.gov.tw. Summary of President Ma's remarks: Sustainable peace and prosperity is the common goal in the development of cross-strait relations, and the ``1992 Consensus'' is the fundamental basis for achieving this goal. On Aug. 1, 1992, our National Unification Council passed a resolution on the meaning of ``one China,'' which said that both sides of the Taiwan Strait insist on the ``one China'' principle, but they differ as to what that means. The consensus reached between the two sides in November 1992 is that both sides of the Taiwan Strait insist on the ``one China'' principle, and each side can express its interpretation verbally; this is the 1992 Consensus of ``one China, respective interpretations.'' For our part, we stated that the interpretation does not involve ``two Chinas,'' ``one China and one Taiwan,'' or ``Taiwan independence,'' as the Republic of China Constitution does not allow it. This position is very clear, and is accepted by the majority of the people of Taiwan . . . The two sides have together created a model for the peaceful resolution of disputes that should be further consolidated until it becomes the normal state of affairs. Another goal is the reduction of hostility and the peaceful handling of disputes. Taiwan's people, especially civic leaders, have a negative impression of situations such as our tourists being refused admission to the United Nations Headquarters because of their passport, frustrations our experts have had in participating in NGO meetings, and interventions we have faced when engaging in bilateral or multilateral cooperation on trade. The two sides ought to begin by reducing hostility and confrontation on these fronts. Those participating in these activities are mostly intellectuals or members of our middle class, and this affects our work pertaining to cross-strait ties, and also the impression our citizens have of the mainland. We hope for expansion of cross-strait exchanges and mutual benefits. The two sides should move quickly to deal with issues that are currently still under negotiation, including the trade-in-goods agreement, reciprocal establishment of representative offices, and flight transfers in Taiwan for mainland Chinese travelers. We are currently applying to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and hope to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in the future. Because these two mechanisms would account for approximately 70 percent of our external trade, we cannot afford not to participate in them. We believe there should be no issue as to which side joins first and which side later. We proposed establishment of a cross-strait hotline to handle important or urgent matters. There is no contact mechanism between the heads of MAC and TAO. We should take this opportunity to establish one. Of course, further adjustments could be made to raise the level of contact should the need arise in the future. It will be beneficial for both sides to be able to promptly handle important unexpected or crucial matters. Joint cooperation leads to cross-strait prosperity. I want to reiterate that the people of both sides are Chinese, descendants of the emperors Yan and Huang, sharing a common lineage, history, and culture. The two sides should cooperate to promote cross-strait prosperity. History has bequeathed the two sides a convoluted relationship, and cross-strait exchanges have led to new problems. These issues cannot be resolved overnight. In exchanges and consultations, the two sides need to face the issues squarely, move forward step by step, and build mutual trust. The peace and prosperity achieved over the last seven years is proof that the two sides have beaten their swords into plowshares, becoming models for stability in the East Asia region as a whole. The two sides need to be confident of this. We hope the mainland Chinese side fully understands this, and realizes that cross-strait relations should be built on the foundation of dignity, respect, sincerity, and good will, for only this will lead to deeper mutual trust, and enable us to go the distance. Mr. Speaker, there is much to be done to ensure peace and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and in the Taiwan Strait. But, this historic meeting will go a long way towards a peaceful future for East Asia and for the world.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 77th Anniversary of the Fair Labor Standards Act. As you know, we can thank the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938, for providing workers with an hourly minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor protections. Since then, the FLSA has been amended numerous times in an attempt to reflect changes in the cost of living. The most recent increase was in 2007, bringing the hourly minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to its current rate of $7.25 per hour. Unfortunately, many key components of the FLSA are outdated and have failed to keep pace with the demands of daily life in 2015. This includes the value of the minimum wage, which has decreased sharply over the past few years--a mere $7.25 per hour equates to $14,500 per year for a full-time minimum wage employee. This makes it difficult for individuals to support themselves and their families, forcing many people to live below the poverty line. Other present day workers' concerns include the subminimum wage for tipped workers, which has remained at $2.13 per hour for the past two decades. Domestic workers lack access to health care, paid sick days or paid time off--something I believe must be changed. Moreover, ``comp time'' in lieu of overtime pay, and break time for nursing mothers are workers' rights issues that need to be addressed in order to have a more productive workforce that can compete in a global marketplace, as well as to maintain a thriving society here at home. We just celebrated the Fair Labor Standards Act's 75th Anniversary two years ago, and there was a lot of positive discussion around the issue at that time. We must keep up this momentum and continue to fight for workers' rights in our increasingly global economy. People deserve a livable wage for a hard days' work, and we urge you to bring up legislation that will lift so many Americans out of poverty.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call for greater support for closer U.S./Taiwan relationship. Taiwan is an important economic and security partner, and as an advanced industrial economy, has much to contribute to the world. I would also like to take this opportunity to share a speech entitled ``True Friendship Lasts Forever'' addressed by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on June 2, 2015, at a video conference at Stanford University. In his speech, President Ma delineated the importance of future cooperation opportunities between our two countries. Below is the summary of President Ma's speech. For the full transcript, please visit the website of the office of the President of the Republic of China: http://www.president.gov.tw. Summary of President Ma's remarks: ``This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. In July 1937, two years before WWII broke out, ROC forces began fighting against Japanese aggression alone, and for four long years, they continued with virtually no outside help. It wasn't until the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941 that the ROC joined forces with the Allies to declare war against Japan, Germany, and Italy. The United States proved to be a staunch friend. The most notable example of that friendship was the American Volunteer Group (AVG), organized in 1941 even before the Pearl Harbor attack, a group that became legendary by their nickname: The Flying Tigers. During the Cold War period following World War II, the friendship between the ROC and the U.S. flourished, as the U.S. continued to help us militarily while providing economic assistance. Between 1950 and 1965, that assistance included U.S. $1.5 billion in economic aid, which is probably worth at least 12 billion now. Although the ROC and U.S. severed diplomatic ties in 1979, barely three months later, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). Under that Act, Taiwan is treated as a foreign government for purposes of U.S. law and in U.S. courts. The Act also requires the U.S. to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons. Since I came into office in 2008, mutual ROC-U.S. trust has been restored at the highest levels of government. And over the past two years, there have been frequent, reciprocal visits by high-level officials. In April of last year, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy visited Taiwan, and Charles Rivkin, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs is visiting Taiwan now. At the same time, heads of various ROC government agencies have visited the U.S., so there is a solid foundation of mutual trust there. The ROC is also gaining more support in Congress. Just last month during deliberations on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees both passed initiatives that call for increased U.S.-ROC military exchanges. In addition to strong security ties, Taiwan-U.S. trade relations have also made significant progress over the last few years. In March of 2013, after a five-year hiatus, we reopened negotiations with the U.S. under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), a platform set up in 1994 to facilitate talks in trade and investment matters. We have continued bilateral consultations in a series of 12 work conferences, and have made significant progress. As of the end of this March, the ROC is America's 10th largest trading partner, surpassing Brazil and Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. is Taiwan's third largest, after mainland China and Japan. Let me turn to cross-strait relations. Over the past seven years, Taiwan and mainland China have signed 21 agreements. In April last year, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel said in Congress that ``As a general matter, we very much welcome and applaud the extraordinary progress that has occurred in cross-strait relations under the Ma administration.'' In addition to seeking stable development in cross-strait and ROC- U.S. relations, Taiwan has also taken concrete actions over the past few years to be a regional peacemaker in both the East China Sea, and the South China Sea. Back in August of 2012, I proposed the East China Sea Peace Initiative. That Initiative asks stakeholders to forgo conflict in favor of peaceful negotiations, and emphasizes cooperation in sharing resources. Eight months later in April of 2013, Taiwan and Japan signed a fisheries agreement that embodies the spirit of that Initiative, and solved a fisheries dispute between Taiwan and Japan that has troubled both countries for 40 years. Secretary of State John Kerry has publicly stated that the ROC-Japan fisheries agreement is a model for promoting regional stability, and that the principles at the heart of the East China Sea Peace Initiative apply to all of the waters in Asia. On the 26th of last month, I formally announced the South China Sea Peace Initiative, hoping that the relevant parties will: ``shelve sovereignty dispute, pursue peace and reciprocity, and promote joint exploration and development.'' By upholding those principles, we hope that all the parties involved will work together to maintain regional peace and promote regional development. Immediately, a U.S. State Department official stated that the U.S. appreciates the proposals in the South China Sea Peace Initiative. I sincerely hope that all of the outstanding scholars and experts gathered here will support the pursuit of peace that I've presented today.'' Mr. Speaker, I highly recommend that all of my colleagues review President Ma's important remarks and that we continue to work to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the people of the United States and of the ROC.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Bradley, two constituents born and raised in my district, who will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on June 18, 2015. Michael Bradley was born and raised in Philadelphia and is a graduate of St. Thomas More High School. His loving wife, Bernadette Ann Sherry, was also born and raised in Philadelphia and graduated from West Catholic High School. The Bradleys are an extremely close knit Irish Catholic family, blessed with eight children and twenty-three grandchildren. Mr. & Mrs. Bradley taught their children that the best way out of poverty was through hard work and education. Fortunately, Michael and Bernadette were able to support all eight of their children as they attended college. Above all, the Bradleys always gave their children three major items to live by: ``Faith, Family & Friends''. Mr. & Mrs. Bradley are not only prosperous with love from their large family, but have also succeeded in the business realm. The M.J. Bradley Company was founded in 1973, and continues to be a well known contender in the construction industry, installing quality floor and wall products. The M.J. Bradley Co. continues to grow and thrive under the guidance of five of the Bradley's children. I would like my colleagues to join me in honoring the significance of this occasion, as Mr. & Mrs. Bradley celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. They are both model citizens of Philadelphia and will remain an inspiration to their family and community for generations to come.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, May 12, we had a horrific train derailment crash in the city of Philadelphia. So first off, our thoughts and prayers are with the eight men and women who lost their lives and the over 200 who were injured. I have never been more proud of the men and women who live and work in the city of Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection. We had this major catastrophe at 9:15 at night. Within 4 minutes, our first responders--our police, our fire, Police Commissioner Ramsey, Fire Commissioner Sawyer--were on the scene. The scene was in total darkness, and we had volunteers from the neighborhood who even joined in. Imagine, total darkness. The only light was flashlights flashing back and forth. I stand here as proud as I could be of the mayor of the city of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, who, from Tuesday until Sunday, was on that scene constantly, orchestrating the administration people, moving them around, consoling families, making sure that all were accounted for, and even making sure that their belongings were given back to them. I can't be more proud of our hospitals and our universities. Universities opened their doors for loved ones to come. And our hospitals, the doctors, nurses, all the men and women who worked there--there were doctors who worked 30 hours and went back home and couldn't sleep and came back to work another 12 hours. But most importantly, two things really struck me. Temple University Hospital in the city of Philadelphia had a lot of the injured people admitted to their hospital. The students who go to Temple University heard about it, jumped on their bicycles, and rode down to assist all those in the hospital, whether it be by pushing a gurney or whether it would be consoling a family member or putting a family member with a loved one. And the neighbors, the neighbors ran out--again, in total darkness. There were 200 people-plus injured. Neighbors ran through, helping out through all the soot, picking them up, pulling them out of the trains, bringing them into their house, bringing out water, going to a local store and buying water, bringing towels, wiping them down. One person said: I am sorry I am in your home. I am full of soot, and I am dirtying your rug and your couch. And in response, the lady said: That is okay. We can buy more couches, and we can buy more things, more whatever we need to buy. But you can't buy your health back. So we want to be here to be able to help you in the best way we can. I am honored to be standing here with my colleagues from Pennsylvania and some others from throughout the country. Some lost a loved one. I am extremely proud to recognize Chairman Jeff Denham and Ranking Member Mike Capuano, who assisted me and toured the site with me. I appreciate their concern, and I appreciate them being there. So, Mr. Speaker, the best way we can honor these men and women is to make sure this accident never again happens in the United States of America. With that, I ask for a moment of silence.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, in November of last year, the newly elected members of the House of Representatives came to Washington, D.C. for New Member Orientation. This weeklong event, organized by the Committee on House Administration, is designed to orient our new colleagues and their staffs to the various responsibilities they assume in the upcoming congress, as well as to educate the members and their staffs on the resources they have here to help them in their new roles. It is a comprehensive undertaking, but fortunately safety was never a concern during the event due to the hard work and professionalism of the Capitol Police. The Capitol Police did excellent work protecting our visitors, allowing them safe travel between destinations and providing a sense of security as they visited their new offices on Capitol Hill for the first time. I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to the Capitol Police for their fine work in keeping our grounds secure and for their essential guidance, information and support.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extremely talented Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School Girls' Varsity Basketball Team of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They have achieved the consensus recognition as the Number 1-ranked and National Champion girls' basketball team in the United States of America, and won the Pennsylvania State Championship (PIAA Class AA), Philadelphia City Championship (PIAA District 12), and the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship. The Lady Saints put on a dominant performance in their state championship game against the Seton-LaSalle Rebels of Pittsburgh, with a commanding victory of 79-34 to become Pennsylvania State Champions. Not only did they finish their unprecedented season a perfect 30-0, but they've also been recognized as the ``Team of the Year'' by the Philadelphia Inquirer for the Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania region. These talented young women were mentored throughout the season by former head coach Letty Santarelli, who was a star-player at Immaculata University, and were led by Head Coach Andrea Peterson. Following this remarkable season, Coach Peterson has been named the Top High School Girls' Basketball Coach in the United States, winning the Naismith National Coach of the Year Award. I ask you and my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating this team on an outstanding season.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds. I would say let's have the courage to stop hiding behind Warren Buffett, George Soros, the superrich. They don't pay this tax. They have lawyers and tax accountants and tax finders. They have charitable trusts. This is family-owned farms and businesses. I am proud to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams), a second-generation small-businessowner.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds. For those listening today, young people included, ask yourself a question: Do you want a government that guarantees you food stamps and welfare checks or an opportunity to build your American Dream? At the end of your life, all the years of hard work, all the sweat, all the sacrifice, do you want to pass that down to your kids and grandchildren? Or should Uncle Sam swoop in and take nearly half of everything you have worked a lifetime to earn? I am proud to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen), a key member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 132. After several days of testimony by committee chairs and ranking members and careful review by the Committee on House Administration, we determined what we believe to be appropriate committee funding levels for the 114th Congress. I want to thank Chairman Miller and her staff for their diligence throughout this process. We have worked closely and cooperatively. While we would have liked to have done more, I believe that these levels will allow committees to perform their oversight responsibilities. It is my hope that we continue to explore ways to ensure congressional committees are equipped with the proper amount of resources needed to operate fully, while still maximizing the value of their committee funding. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to take this opportunity to thank the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller). It is no secret that she won't be returning in the next Congress, but this will be the last time that I will be with her managing the committees' funding. I know she is here 21 months more, but I want her to know that every chance I get, with this microphone, I will thank her. She is, without question, one of the classiest ladies I know in this House. She is fair. I enjoy going to the committee meetings. We smile and we shake hands before the meeting, and we smile and we shake hands after the meeting. She is a pleasure to work with. I wish her well. And again, for the next 21 months, any chance I get, I just hope that I do have the opportunity to keep on thanking her. I only hope that this House will take note of the way our committee works. We work together. We compromise together. And because of that, things get done. So, again, I wish her well, and I will have more opportunity to wish her well. With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on March 4, 1861, the Government Printing Office (GPO), as it was then known, opened its doors and began fulfilling an essential mission for the American people. On March 4, 2015, 154 years later, the newly renamed Government Publishing Office continues to perform that mission: producing and disseminating the official documents of this Congress and the executive and judicial branches to keep America informed. This is not merely my opinion as a proud supporter of the GPO and its talented workforce, but also the conclusion of a 2013 report of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) requested by Congress. As I noted in the House Administration Committee's activities report for 2014 (H. Rept. 113-721), I was pleased that Congress honored the request of Public Printer Davita Vance-Cooks, first made to the Committee in 2013, for statutory redesignation of GPO as the Government Publishing Office. This long-overdue change rightly proclaims to the American people how Congress and the President view the agency. The proud men and women of GPO do not fulfill their mission solely by applying ink to paper. For decades GPO's employees have been in the vanguard of the Government's shift toward electronic publishing. The agency's former name, focused on the technological limits available at its birth, no longer reflected the breadth of its abilities and importance. GPO's work publishing and distributing information in multiple formats assures Americans perpetual access to the documents of our democracy. This change gives GPO and its employees the recognition they have earned. During 2014 GPO has continued making significant strides under the stewardship of Ms. Vance-Cooks, who has now become the first Director of the Government Publishing Office. Evidence of the Director's strong management and sound judgment abounds there. For example, the Partnership for Public Service listed GPO as one of the Best Places to Work and among the top 10 most innovative mid-sized federal agencies. The Partnership compiled its list based on the results of the OPM Federal Viewpoint Survey for 2013. Along a similar vein, a survey of over 500 customer agencies found 90% are generally satisfied with the goods and services GPO provides. GPO's improved electronic gateway to the growing expanse of Government information, the Federal Digital System, or ``FDsys'', has recorded its one-billionth document retrieval. FDsys users can now browse among over one million titles as routine as daily editions of the Federal Register and as historic as President Nixon's Watergate grand-jury testimony. GPO is already taking steps to create the next generation FDsys with improved search and retrieval capabilities. GPO is also collaborating with the Clerk of the House, the Secretary of the Senate, the Library of Congress and others to make legislative data available to users in bulk form. Although the Director and her management team have much to be proud of, challenges remain. The Director has embraced the NAPA report, especially its recommendation that GPO increase revenues through lease of surplus space. GPO has redoubled efforts to attract office tenants, including Legislative agencies for which proximity to the Congress offers a premium. With the support of the Joint Committee on Printing, GPO solicited the private sector's input with a Request for Information on how to make better use of several acres of land now devoted to parking. The Director successfully completed a new round of wage agreements with GPO's employee unions, prudently setting future wage increases at the rate proposed by the President and Congress for all other federal civil- service employees. In addition, a successful employee buy-out conducted last year will improve the agency's financial condition. I am greatly encouraged by the Director's eagerness to work constructively with her earnest and talented Inspector General, Michael Raponi, and to incorporate his valuable recommendations into her strategic planning. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join in congratulating the Government Publishing Office on the agency's 154th birthday. I thank Director Vance-Cooks and her dedicated workforce for their extraordinary service to this country and wish them well in the years ahead.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, as the nation celebrates Black History Month, I rise to celebrate a Philadelphia treasure, Mrs. Sydney G. King. Because of her love and dedication to dance and her desire to train Black ballerinas, Mrs. King opened the Sydney School of Dance in the 1940's for aspiring African American dancers who were not allowed to attend white dance studios in post war segregated Philadelphia. Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1919, King came to Philadelphia with her family when she was just two years old and at an early age began studying ballet under the tutelage of dance pioneer Essie Marie Dorsey. For more than six decades the Sydney School of Dance trained hundreds of Black children and many went on to receive national and international recognition in the dance world. Those students include dance professionals such as: Joan Meyers Brown, the founder and director of the much acclaimed Philadanco; Billy Wilson, famed director/choreographer and soloist with the National Ballet of Holland; Broadway performer Betsy Ann Dickerson; singer/actress Lola Falana; Carol Johnson, a former principal dancer with the Eleo Pomare Dance Company and founder of an aboriginal dance company in Australia; and Arthur Hall, founder of the Afro American Dance Ensemble. These dance greats in no way diminish the accomplishments of hundreds of her other students who did not choose careers in dance but because of the empowering and esteem building training at the Sydney School of Dance they are today proud and successful professionals in a variety of fields. Mrs. King, the mother of three children, is a widow and now at the age of 95 sums her life's dedication to dance by saying simply she wanted to, ``train and create Black ballerinas.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring her and her lifetime contribution to the arts and the African American community. Mrs. Sydney Gibson King is a treasure!

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, as the nation celebrates Black History Month, I rise to celebrate a Philadelphia treasure, Mrs. Sydney G. King. Because of her love and dedication to dance and her desire to train Black ballerinas, Mrs. King opened the Sydney School of Dance in the 1940s for aspiring African American dancers who were not allowed to attend white dance studios in post war segregated Philadelphia. Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1919, King came to Philadelphia with her family when she was just two years old and at an early age began studying ballet under the tutelage of dance pioneer Essie Marie Dorsey. For more than six decades the Sydney School of Dance trained hundreds of Black children and many went on to receive national and international recognition in the dance world. Those students include dance professionals such as: Joan Meyers Brown, the founder and director of the much acclaimed Philadanco; Billy Wilson, famed director/choreographer and soloist with the National Ballet of Holland; Broadway performer Betsy Ann Dickerson; singer/ actress Lola Falana; Carol Johnson, a former principal dancer with the Eleo Pomare Dance Company and founder of an aboriginal dance company in Australia; and Arthur Hall, founder of the Afro American Dance Ensemble. These dance greats in no way diminish the accomplishments of hundreds of her other students who did not choose careers in dance but because of the empowering and esteem building training at the Sydney School of Dance they are today proud and successful professionals in a variety of fields. Mrs. King, the mother of three children, is a widow and now at the age of 95 sums her life's dedication to dance by saying simply she wanted to, ``train and create Black ballerinas.''

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor our 16th President Abraham Lincoln and his first and most enduring monument, the United States penny. Just three years after adoption of the U.S. Constitution, Congress passed The Coinage Act in 1792 and established the U.S. Mint. In 1793, the first federal building constructed in the then-capital city of Philadelphia, minted the first circulating coins, 11,178 copper cents. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that the Mint was and remains in my own district and that it continues to produce high quality products for the American people. And true to its Philadelphia roots, the first pennies were designed by one of our town's most famous sons, Benjamin Franklin. In 1909, after several design and composition changes, the penny's design was changed to honor President Lincoln, the first real person to appear on an American coin. The Lincoln penny is the longest used design of any American coin, and its release was timed to honor his 100th birthday. The Lincoln penny was the first U.S. coin to carry the motto ``In God We Trust,'' and it preceded by five years the construction of the Lincoln Memorial. For generations of Americans, the penny has served as a memorial to the first President assassinated in office, as well as a reminder of the brutal Civil War that threatened to end the American experiment, and the liberation of the enslaved African. Mr. Speaker, the penny is the most common and most highly circulated coin in the United States. 62 percent of the 11.2 billion new coins put into circulation by the U.S. Mint in fiscal year 2013 were pennies. The Mint has shipped 90 billion new pennies since 2000. We can clearly see that demand for the penny remains high and we need to keep minting it. I am proud that my own City of Philadelphia was the first and longest running producer of the penny. As we celebrate President Lincoln's 206th birthday, I am pleased to honor him, and the coin that commemorates his place in our history.