Lou Barletta

Mr. BARLETTA

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), the chairman of the subcommittee.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Chair, again, I thank the chairman and the committee for continuing to work with me on this issue. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BARLETTA

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from California. A vote for this amendment is a vote to force American servicemembers serving abroad to rely on Russia as their source of energy, energy they need for warmth and comfort. The language that this amendment strikes simply requires our military base in Kaiserslautern, Germany, to use at least one American energy source for heat and power. If we remove this, our military base will have to turn to Russia for energy. Now Vladimir Putin has used Russian energy as a weapon in international politics before. We should not give him that power over our military assets. I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment and stand against Russian influence over the energy used by our military personnel.

Mr. BARLETTA

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize Mr. John Breitsman on the occasion of his retirement as the Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture after 34 years of devoted service. Working every day to provide the best possible service to the consumers and producers of Pennsylvania's agriculture, John challenges his team to instill excellence and leadership in meeting the state's agricultural needs. Comprehensive oversight under John's leadership has improved agriculture significantly in my district and throughout Pennsylvania, ensuring a diverse and healthy ecosystem for generations to come. Beginning his service to the state in 1982, John quickly advanced from an Agricultural Products Inspector to Agronomic Specialist, eventually holding the titles of Chief of the Division of Agronomic and Regional Services and Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry. His leadership and expertise have earned him positions with state, regional, national, and international organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration, the American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) where he served as president, and the FBI. John has also worked closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Rapid Response Team, which is responsible for creating a Best Practices Manual for food and feed related emergency responses. His service and involvement with such diverse organizations has instilled a sense of security in my constituents' food supply and helped my district's farmers meet today's most daunting challenges. John has always understood the value in surrounding himself with an elite team, mentoring his employees, and providing them with the support needed to fulfill the Bureau's mission of protecting Pennsylvania agriculture and ensuring consumer safety. With such unique and committed service to his position and employees alike, John has received numerous awards highlighting his service. In 1999, he was recognized with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Outstanding Employee of the Year award and, in 2001, was honored with the AAFCO Distinguished Service Award. John has also been integral in the development of PaPlants, the Bureau's comprehensive web-based tracking and interactive constituent access program. PaPlants is now a model for USAPlants, a nationwide initiative in use by five other states. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Mr. John Breitsman for his extensive guidance and superior leadership with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Commitment to his colleagues has allowed John to inspire his coworkers on a daily basis, and his hard work is evident through various achievements and lasting contributions to my community and state. John's retirement will be accompanied by quality time spent with his wife Kristin and his daughter Stephanie. On behalf of my constituents, I wish Mr. John Breitsman well on the occasion of his retirement, and best of luck in his future endeavors.

Mr. BARLETTA

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the Community Area New Development Organization (CAN DO) upon the occasion of its 60th Anniversary. CAN DO is a private, non-profit, industrial and economic development corporation operating in Northeastern Pennsylvania. CAN DO has been doing great work in my hometown of Hazleton, and in fact my office back home is in the CAN DO building at 1 South Church Street. With a mission of improving the quality of life in the Greater Hazleton area through the creation and retention of employment opportunities, CAN DO's presence in Northeastern Pennsylvania has provided my constituents with the resources they need to secure meaningful employment and engagement in their communities. In 1956, a small group of merchants and professional men believed that they could turn the tide on Hazleton's post-coal mining economic troubles. It was this spirit that fueled Dr. Edgar L. Dessen, the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, and a group of local civic and business leaders to create a community economic development organization, known as CAN DO. The organization's first fundraising initiative encouraged residents to donate a ``dime-a-week,'' which they hoped would raise enough money to invest in new industries across the city. Growing up, I remember hearing stories of red lunch pails displayed around town to promote their fundraising effort, as well as the ``Miles of Dimes'' event, which saw men, women, and children place their dimes onto a strip of tape on Broad Street in downtown Hazleton. After this successful fundraiser and starting with the purchase of one industrial park, CAN DO now operates one corporate center and three industrial parks in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including Humboldt Industrial Park, which is one of the largest parks in Pennsylvania and an employer for over 10,000 constituents in my district. As mayor, I saw firsthand how CAN DO continued to grow throughout the region. They now offer a wide range of services to the community, such as infrastructure development, financial assistance, and resources for entrepreneurs. CAN DO's commitment to the community in which they operate is evident through their receipt of numerous awards throughout the years. In 2006, CAN DO won a Best of Class Award for its 50th Anniversary video and commemorative book, and an Excellence Award for the marketing department's print advertisement placed in Attache magazine. Also in 2006, CAN DO won the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Award for a property in the CAN DO Corporate Center. In 2008, CAN DO was named Large Agency of the Year by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association. These various accolades exemplify the superior service and community advancement provided by CAN DO, and I am confident that their continued engagement will be recognized for years to come. Mr. Speaker, it is with gratitude and admiration that I honor the Community Area New Development Organization (CAN DO) upon the occasion of its 60th Anniversary. Time and again, CAN DO has exemplified the bond between private enterprise and community service through targeted initiatives and a commitment to excellence in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I wish to congratulate CAN DO on 60 years of meaningful community engagement, and look forward to witnessing the continued service provided by such a selfless and strategic organization.

Mr. BARLETTA

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor Mr. John Lazarsky for receiving lifetime membership after his 50 years of involvement with the American Legion Post 473 in Freeland, Pennsylvania. The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 and has continually worked to advance core principles aimed at promoting the well-being of current and former service members, the communities in which they reside, and the next generation of patriotic Americans. John has time and again exemplified this spirit, and after 50 years of dedicated engagement, has become an integral part of Post 473's commitment to the service members, veterans, and civilians in my district. After graduating from Freeland High School where he excelled as a two-sport athlete in basketball and baseball, John was drafted into the U.S. Army. John was stationed in Germany from 1964 to 1966, and upon his return to Pennsylvania, he joined Post 473. Having served at various levels within his local post, John knows firsthand the impact that the American Legion can have for service members and veterans. A strong sense of obligation to community, state, and nation are the underpinnings of all legionnaires, and John's service has provided innumerable contributions at each of these levels. Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration that I recognize Mr. John Lazarsky upon receiving lifetime membership in the American Legion Post 473 after 50 years of selfless engagement. The American Legion's success depends on active participation in the post and volunteerism in the community, both of which have been embodied by John's dedication to Post 473. I wish him all the best as he continues to work on behalf of all legionnaires and their communities.

Mr. BARLETTA

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4465) to decrease the deficit by consolidating and selling Federal buildings and other civilian real property, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on H.R. 4465, as amended.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 4465, as amended, includes reforms that will reduce the deficit through the consolidation and selling of Federal buildings and improving the management of Federal real property. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this legislation. I want to recognize the tireless work of the gentleman and former chair of the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee, Mr. Denham, for his leadership on this issue, along with the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Mr. Chaffetz. This bipartisan legislation incorporates critical provisions crafted by both committees to address decades-old problems related to Federal real property. H.R. 4465, as amended, establishes a pilot program that includes an independent review of the Federal real property inventory and development of recommendations for the disposition of vacant and underutilized properties. We have had hearings highlighting Federal buildings sitting vacant, costing the taxpayer through maintenance costs and unrealized sale proceeds. These buildings are often eyesores in local communities and provide no local tax benefits. Agencies have been slow in getting rid of unneeded properties. For example, the Old Georgetown Heating Plant, in one of the most expensive areas of D.C., sat vacant for 11 years and was only sold after our committee held a hearing spotlighting the vacant property. The pilot included in this legislation will result in an independent look across agencies at opportunities to sell, redevelop, and consolidate Federal properties. Following the pilot, H.R. 4465, as amended, would then allow agencies to retain a portion of the disposal proceeds to offset the up-front cost of property disposal. The legislation will also codify the Federal real property database, providing for better congressional oversight of the real property inventory. If this bill works as intended, we can make significant strides in reducing the cost to the taxpayer and putting underused properties back on local tax rolls for redevelopment. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this important legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham).

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BARLETTA

Mr. BARLETTA. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4487, as amended, includes reforms that will reduce the cost of Federal real estate and improve Federal building security. I am pleased to be the sponsor of this important legislation. I want to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and our subcommittee Ranking Member Carson for working with me on crafting this important legislation. The Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a series of hearings, roundtables, and listening sessions to examine the General Services Administration's lease portfolio. What we found was, within 5 years, half of all GSA leases will expire. To give some perspective on how much space that represents, that is 100 million square feet of space or 32 new World Trade Centers in New York. More than half of GSA's total real estate inventory is in commercial leased space, costing the taxpayer more than $5.5 billion each year. How we replace these leases has a huge impact on the costs to the taxpayer. For larger leases and projects requiring committee authorization, we have already taken steps to reduce the cost of Federal real estate to the taxpayer. Since last Congress, the committee has worked with GSA to reduce the Federal footprint through consolidating space and improving space utilization. Through those efforts, we have saved the taxpayer more than $3 billion in avoided lease costs. Those are real savings. When we reduce the amount of office space agencies are leasing, it directly reduces the cost to the taxpayer. With the large number of leases expiring in the near future, we now have a ripe opportunity to save even more by negotiating better rental rates and concessions. To take advantage of this opportunity, the Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act establishes a leasing pilot program. This pilot program will allow GSA to streamline the leasing process to work through expiring leases more quickly and lock in good deals for the long term. The legislation gives GSA flexible pilot authority to address roadblocks to reducing costs so that space acquisition can be based on the best deal and not on arbitrary factors like unusually high ceiling heights that reduce competition. The legislation could result in a 20 percent reduction in lease costs and save taxpayers more than $500 million annually, without even accounting for savings through reduction in space. The legislation also includes language that will give GSA a better ability, where appropriate, to use public-private partnerships to meet space needs, leveraging private dollars to offset costs. In addition to these reforms, H.R. 4487, as amended, includes provisions that will improve building security by clarifying requirements related to the training and accountability of the Federal Protective Service. H.R. 4487, as amended, also includes other provisions that will improve Congress' oversight of public building projects to ensure building projects make sense and stay within budget and on time. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, May 23, 2016. Hon. Bill Shuster, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Shuster: I am writing to you concerning the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Homeland Security in H.R. 4487, the ``Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act of 2016.'' The bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security. I recognize and appreciate the desire to bring this legislation before the House of Representatives in an expeditious manner, and accordingly, the Committee on Homeland Security will forego action on this bill. The Committee takes this action with the mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 4487 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. The waiver is also given with the understanding that the Committee on Homeland Security expressly reserves its authority to seek conferees on any provision within its jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference that may be convened on this or any similar legislation, and requests your support for such a request I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 4487, and ask that a copy of this letter and your response be included in the Congressional Record during consideration of this bill on the House floor. Sincerely, Michael T. McCaul, Chairman.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4487) to reduce costs of Federal real estate, improve building security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4487, as amended.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BARLETTA

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4843) to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require certain monitoring and oversight, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 4843.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4843, the Infant Plan of Safe Care Improvement Act. Every 25 minutes in America, a baby is born suffering from opiate withdrawal. It is an eye-opening statistic. The more you consider what it really means, the more tragic it becomes. Every 25 minutes a child enters the world having already been exposed to drugs. Every 25 minutes a newborn has to pay the price for something that he or she was defenseless against. Every 25 minutes another infant becomes a victim of the national opiate crisis. These are the victims this bill will help protect. Federal policies, including the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, or CAPTA, have long supported State efforts to identify, assess, and treat children who are victims of abuse and neglect. The law provides States with resources to improve their child protective services systems if they assure the Department of Health and Human Services that they have put in place certain child welfare policies, for example, requiring healthcare providers to notify child protective service agencies when a child is born with prenatal illegal substance exposure and requiring the development of something known as a safe care plan to keep these newborns and their caregivers healthy and safe. Last year a Reuters investigation examined the care that infants receive when they are born to parents struggling with opiate addiction. The investigation detailed the heartbreaking consequences those infants had to endure, consequences like suffering through the physical pain of withdrawal and, in the most shocking cases, terrible deaths. It is hard to imagine that stories like these could be any more tragic. Unfortunately, they are because they should have and, in many cases, could have been prevented. As Reuters revealed, HHS is providing Federal funds to States that do not have the necessary child welfare policies in place. In short, the law is not being properly followed and enforced and some of our most vulnerable children and families are slipping through the cracks. That is why Representative Clark and I worked with a number of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle and introduced the legislation before us today. The bill requires HHS to better ensure States are meeting their legal responsibilities when it comes to preventing and responding to child abuse and neglect. Through a number of commonsense measures, it strengthens protections for infants born with illegal substance exposure, improves accountability related to the care of infants and their families, and ensures States will have the best practices for developing plans to keep infants and their caregivers healthy and safe. As the House works this week to fight the opiate epidemic that is destroying communities and lives across the country, these are commonsense reforms that we all should embrace. By working together and advancing this legislation, we can help ensure these children, their mothers, and their families have the help they need and the care that they deserve. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, in response to an inquiry from the Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman Kline and Chairman Rokita of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, HHS indicated that it would request additional information from States regarding their child protective services notification processes and plans of safe care policies. HHS has started this process. I include in the Record the HHS Children's Bureau Program Instruction requesting this additional information. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Children, Youth and Families 1. Log No: ACYF-CB-PI-16-03 2. Issuance Date: April 13, 2016 3. Originating Office: Children's Bureau 4. Key Words: Title IV-B Child and Family Services Plan; Annual Progress and Services Report; Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act State Plan; Chafee Foster Care Independence Program; Education and Training Vouchers Program

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline), the chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee.

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).