Brendan Boyle

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I speak from the heart about someone who was not just a colleague but a good friend. We heard some of my Republican colleagues, also from Pennsylvania, speaking about Mike Fitzpatrick earlier. I had the privilege to say that I was Mike's constituent for a few years. Under the old, old lines in Pennsylvania, he represented a portion of Philadelphia in the far northeast, where I reside. He and I became friends when I was a State representative and he was my Congressman. We quickly realized we had so much in common: similar sort of families, both born in Philadelphia, both proud Irish American families, both went to Catholic high school--Mike went to Bishop Egan, now Conwell-Egan; I went to Cardinal Dougherty. So it was not exactly difficult for the two of us to get along and to work so well together, especially when I would become a Member of Congress and he immediately reached out to me and helped in any way he could. As colleagues, we worked well together on a whole host of issues. Our districts shared the entire Philadelphia-Bucks County border and then much of the Montgomery County-Bucks border as well. When I think of Mike, though, it is not so much the water safety issues and PFOS that we worked on or transportation or so many issues that affect northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County-Montgomery County. What really strikes me is just what a nice and decent person Mike was and his basic human decency. You see those same traits in his brother, now our colleague, Brian. So, Mr. Speaker, I am deep in mourning today for Mike, his wife, Kathleen, his six children, Mike's parents, including his father, whom I had the opportunity to spend time with and meet this summer. My heart breaks for the Fitzpatrick family, but I hope that they can take solace in the fact that Mike left his mark on this institution. Mr. Speaker, to also speak about the life of Mike Fitzpatrick, I yield to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry), my friend and colleague.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans).

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, recently, I went on a tour of a public elementary school in my district, a school I attended. As I describe what I saw, I want everyone in this body to imagine having to send your child to a school with these conditions: mold- covered ceilings, exposed wires and pipes, and lead paint chipping down the walls. These issues are felt across my city of Philadelphia. Three schools in my district have had to close this school year because of asbestos. Schools should foster an environment that stimulates intellectual curiosity. Instead, our students and teachers are surrounded by health hazards. That is why I urge this House, later this year, when we consider a comprehensive infrastructure package, to ensure that we include rehabbing and rebuilding America's schools. We cannot leave our Nation's kids and educators behind.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, this is the fourth impeachment proceeding against an American President and the most serious. The President committed numerous crimes, threatening the national security. Ultimately, the matter before us today is not a question of fact, for the evidence is undisputed, nor is it a question of law, as the Constitution is clear. The heart of the matter is this: Will Members of this House have the courage to choose fidelity to the Constitution over loyalty to their political party? For the sake of our Constitution and our country, for Americans today and tomorrow, I urge all Members to summon the courage to uphold the rule of law and vote ``yes.''

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, this is the fourth impeachment proceeding against a president of the United States, and the most serious. President Trump committed numerous crimes. He conditioned two official acts, hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid and an Oval Office meeting, on getting help for his campaign in return. When his scheme was publicly exposed, he did everything possible to obstruct the investigation. Congress voted to grant hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to our ally Ukraine because it is both morally right and in our national interest to stand with them in their fight to preserve their independence against Russian aggression. I was one of the members of Congress who advocated and voted for this military aid. It was never intended to become a bargaining chip for the President to use to get foreign help for his re-election campaign. The factual evidence is clear and convincing. It was reinforced by the testimonies of every single fact witness, all of whom are career, nonpartisan public servants or Trump appointees. So, the matter before us, ultimately, is not a question of fact, for the evidence is undisputed. Nor is it a question of law, as the Constitution is clear. The heart of the matter is this: will Members of this House have the courage to choose fidelity to the Constitution over loyalty to political party? The Constitution has endured for more than two centuries, not just because of the brilliance of our founders, but because of the commitment of generations of Americans to uphold it. For the sake of our Constitution, and the sake of our country, for Americans today and tomorrow, I urge all Members to have the courage to vote yes.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Chair, I thank the chairman and all the colleagues of mine on both sides of the aisle and my committee, the Ways and Means Committee. What a perfect illustration of the difference in priorities between the two parties. The major health initiative of the opposite party, when they were in power 2 years ago, was to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would have taken away healthcare from more than 20 million Americans. Yet, now the House, under Democratic leadership, is considering a major priority on this side of the aisle, H.R. 3. A bill that, according to the Congressional Budget Office, will save on drug costs of $500 billion for the American people. Now, there are many reasons why I support H.R. 3, and I am proud to do so, but I want to highlight, especially, just one of them. This legislation would generate $10 billion to fight the opioid crisis, setting aside resources for the localities that have been impacted the most. That includes many rural areas in our country, but it also includes urban areas as well, especially in my district, in my hometown of Philadelphia. I am proud to stand here and support H.R. 3. This is one of the most important things we can do for the American people: save prescription drug costs. Madam Chair, I urge its support.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey. The Good Friday Agreement was just the start of the creation of peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland, not the end. Brokered by the United States, this agreement was one of our Nation's great foreign policy achievements of the 20th century. This ongoing peace process requires our continued engagement, especially now as Brexit becomes a reality. We cannot and, let's be clear, will not stand by idly and watch the Good Friday Agreement weakened or destroyed. I was proud to introduce a similar resolution back in January, and I am equally proud to cosponsor Mr. Suozzi's bill, which reaffirms our bipartisan support in this Chamber for the Good Friday Agreement, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I did not come here to launch an impeachment process. However, the facts demand it. ``A Republic, if you can keep it.'' What we decide today will say more about us than it says about the conduct of the President.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 598, the Georgia Support Act. This bill helps strengthen the vital U.S.--Georgia partnership, a strategically important relationship in a critical part of the world. In 2008, Georgia was invaded by Russia and the Kremlin continues to attack Georgia through subversive disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks. This bill provides Georgia with assistance to combat this threat and support its democratic institutions. The Georgian government has long made closer integration with the EU and NATO a priority. According to recent polls, almost 80 percent of the Georgian population supports membership in the EU and over 70 percent supports membership in NATO. As a member of the U.S. delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I am pleased that the bill recognizes that Georgia has been a longstanding NATO-aspirant country. I urge all of my colleagues to support the Georgia Support Act. Passing this bill shows our support for Georgia's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as for its democratic development, Euro-Atlantic integration, and peaceful conflict resolution in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer, the first female African-American Archbishop in America and presiding prelate of the Philadelphia Council of Clergy. She has--and continues to be--a vital part of the Philadelphia community, where she carries out her life mission of helping and ministering those in need. As a native of my district, Archbishop Floyd Palmer is the eldest daughter of Rev. Dr. Melvin Floyd and has been serving her community since childhood. She began her career in full time ministry as a Motivational Speaker and soon became Confidante and Counselor to Pastors, their wives, and Episcopal leaders from all around the world. She continued to be a positive influence in Philadelphia by ministering in federal, state, and county prisons, half-way houses, nursing homes, and youth centers. Her commitment led to her appointment as the Pennsylvania Re-entry Council, which focused on reducing recidivism rates. Archbishop Palmer soon became the founder and Pastor of the Samaritan Temple. Her dedication has been recognized by the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Congress of Black Women and she was named their ``Women of the Year in Ministry.'' She also received the Lucien E. Blackwell Guiding Light Community Award. Moreover, Archbishop Floyd Palmer hosts an award-winning, weekly radio show called the ``The Bishop Mary Show'' to connect with national, and even international, listeners. In March 2019, she made history by becoming the first female African American Archbishop in America. Philadelphia is extremely lucky to have someone like Archbishop Floyd Palmer to enrich our community. There is no doubt she has positively impacted many lives, and I am certain more lives will be impacted by her service.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 549, the Venezuela TPS Act of 2019. I cosponsored this bill because I believe this is the right policy to protect the thousands of Venezuelans fleeing horrific conditions in their country. They don't want to leave. They are being forced to leave. Today, the people of Venezuela face economic, political and humanitarian crises. The economy has shrunk by nearly 30 percent over the past four years, declines often seen only in wartime. Their currency erodes daily and is experiencing the highest inflation rates in the world. Poverty rates have skyrocketed with over three out of every four Venezuelans living in dire straits. Venezuelans can no longer meet the recommended 2,000 calories a day. 75 percent of the population reported significant weight loss in the last year alone. Hospitals are without basic medicines and equipment to treat the sick. Venezuela used to be South America's richest nation, now the majority of Venezuelans live in unsustainable conditions. This crisis is also affecting regional stability. Brazil and Colombia are dealing with escalating migrant and refugee flows, as millions of Venezuelans cross into their borders. Colombia has taken in almost 1.5 million Venezuelan refugees, straining their countries resources. The U.N. called the exodus from Venezuela the ``largest in recent history of Latin America and the Caribbean.'' It is time for the United States to step up. President Trump has been tough on Venezuela's dictator, Maduro, but has shown no mercy to the thousands of Venezuelans that have applied for protection in the United States. The conditions in Venezuela are exactly what TPS was designed to address. It prevents foreign nationals from being deported back to countries facing civil unrest. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this critical bill tonight. This is how we help Venezuelans in the short term.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Washington State for yielding. More than anything, today is about fairness for America's workers. I come to this issue with the experience of remembering on several occasions when I was growing up, my parents, who were both hardworking members of organized labor, going through a contract negotiation and wondering, if they were going to go out on strike, what was going to happen. On more than one occasion, it would end like this. They would say: Well, I think we got a fair deal. We are forgoing a pay increase, but thank God we are able to save our healthcare and our benefits. Time and time again, thousands--indeed, millions--of American workers made that decision that they would forgo pay raises, forgo pay increases, so they could save their healthcare. So then, decades later, to face a 40 percent tax on that healthcare just is not right and not fair to America's workers. So I am proud to stand here today with my fellow Pennsylvanian on the other side of the aisle, with colleagues of mine on both sides of the aisle, in order to repeal this Cadillac tax which never should have been passed in the first place. Madam Speaker, I will enter into the Record a number of letters from organizations all supporting this piece of legislation to repeal the Cadillac tax.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, my rising today is bittersweet as we acknowledge the departure of Ireland's Deputy Chief of Mission here in Washington: Michael Lonergan. Known for his quick wit, diplomatic instinct, and passion for the job, he has served Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs honorably and has been a great resource and friend to the Irish-American community. There are few Irish Citizens, and perhaps even few Americans, who could compete with his encyclopedic knowledge of United States politics and history. Born in Limerick, he studied law at University College Dublin, and joined the Irish Foreign Service in April 1997. Prior to this posting in our nation's capital, he has served as Consul General in Boston, Press Officer for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Head of Irish Community Affairs at Ireland's Embassy in London, First Secretary for British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat in Belfast, and vice-consul in Edinburgh, Scotland. I know that his departure will leave a void to many in the Irish- American community, where he has been a strong presence at events and celebrations throughout the country. We wish him the best in his future endeavors, as he continues his service in Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chair, my amendment designates $1.5 million for the International Fund for Ireland in the Economic Support Fund account of the Fiscal Year 2020 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Act. The International Fund for Ireland is an independent organization that supports economic regeneration and social development projects in areas most affected by the decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Since its inception in 1986, IFI's projects have made vital contributions to improving the physical and economic infrastructure in some of the area's most vulnerable communities. My amendment increases funding for IFI because their work is more relevant now than it has ever been in recent years. Brexit will have significant consequences for the island of Ireland. The border between Northern Ireland and Ireland is in danger of, once again, becoming a significant barrier, physically and psychologically, to harmonious relationships that have been delicately fostered over the past few decades. Additionally, the shared political arrangement established by the Good Friday Agreement has stalled. Currently, there is no power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. The absence of shared political leadership has affected reconciliation and the delivery of other benefits that should be flowing form the Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement just was the start of the creation of peace and reconciliation on the island of lreland, not the end. Brokered by U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell, the agreement was one of our country's great foreign policy achievements of the 20th century. Successive U.S. Administrations and many Members of Congress have actively supported the Northern Ireland peace process and the International Fund for Ireland. Increasing IFI's funding would put more money towards the Fund's three main programs: the Peace Impact Program, the Personal Youth Development Program and the Peace Walls Program that bring critical changes to deprived areas and reduce fear in communities. An increase in funding will also go towards building civic voices along and across the border and towards supporting the field of peace builders on the island. Over the years, the United States has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to help create a strong and peaceful society in Northern Ireland, and our continued involvement is important for maintaining that peace. Peace is not a given. It must be constantly upheld and cannot be taken for granted. Right now, is a critical time for my fellow Members of Congress to continue their support for peace throughout the island by increasing funding to the International Fund for Ireland. I thank Chairwoman Lowey for working with me on my amendment and urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, it has been, now, well over a year since the devastation of Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. It ripped apart the homes and lives of millions of Puerto Ricans, leaving tens of thousands struggling without jobs and housing. Thousands of Puerto Ricans are feeling the sting of insufficient Federal funds to help the island recover from Hurricane Maria. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that helps Puerto Ricans buy food, get medical treatment, and recover from the hurricane, when the money trust ran out, Puerto Rico's government had to start cutting benefits just last month. Madam Speaker, I am proud to support and see this House just pass, finally, the Disaster Relief Act, which provides approximately $1.4 billion for our fellow American citizens in Puerto Rico. It provides $600 million for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, $5 million for a study of the disaster nutrition assistance provided to the Commonwealth in 2017, and approximately $500 million to the Coast Guard. Madam Speaker, we must do more for Puerto Rico.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today with bittersweet sentiment and thanks to my Legislative Director, Helena Schwarz. Helena has spent her career focusing on public service. Working in the Maryland Legislature, and eventually here in the U.S. House of Representatives, she has always found ways to support policies and people she believes in. Helena joined my office more than four years ago after serving in the office of my colleague, Congressman Sarbanes from Maryland. During her tenure on ``Team Boyle'' she has been a steady hand that provided guidance to the legislative team and substantive policy advice to me. She is thorough, dedicated, and always willing to advocate for policies in which she believes. A Michigan native, Helena quickly adapted to the City of Brotherly Love. In her time here, she's worked tirelessly to elevate the voices of blue-collar workers and the shrinking middle class, and to ensure that all Americans have a fair shot at achieving the American Dream. The people we serve in my district have greatly benefited from her service to this institution. Helena will still be part of the important policy debates we have ahead of us, as she leaves to lead an advocacy effort focused on America's infrastructure agenda. I wish her the best of luck on this venture, and I look forward to seeing her package on the House floor in the future.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I thank Chairman Pallone, my colleague and neighbor from New Jersey. I also thank Chairman Engel for his leadership on the Foreign Affairs Committee. My amendment to H.R. 9 takes language from the Paris Agreement and recognizes that adaptation of the agreement is a key component of the global response to climate change. Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time, and we are in a defining moment. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Without dramatic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be far more difficult and costlier. The Paris Agreement for the first time brought all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and to adapt to its effects. The agreement chartered a new course in the global climate effort. This amendment stands for the American leadership that was displayed throughout the development and the adoption of the Paris Agreement. In order to bring every nation to the table, it is essential that we retain our commitment to this agreement. That is why I urge support for this amendment as well as for the underlying bill. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Chair, I yield myself the remainder of my time. Madam Chair, this amendment basically attempts to state the following: Not only is climate change real and not only are there profound environmental reasons for addressing it, the Paris climate agreement was also a tremendous achievement of U.S. foreign policy. That is why we must keep it. The United States must remain in it. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, on May 17, 2018, had I been present, I would have voted no on Roll Call vote No. 198 and No. 199. On May 18, 2018, had I been present, I would have voted no on Roll Call vote No. 203.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise to praise what must be two corporate CEO superstars based on just how much they have made in compensation. The first is Irene Rosenfeld who was CEO of Mondelez/Nabisco. Over the last 5 years she was paid over $100 million, and her successor--who makes Ms. Rosenfeld look poor by comparison--Mr. Dirk Van de Put in 41 days was paid $42 million. Now, $42 million for 41 days of work, $105 million for the last 5 years' worth of work, you must think: What superstars these two are. What great achievements or great invention did these two CEOs come up with? Here is what they have done leading Nabisco. They closed the factory in Philadelphia in my district that employed hundreds of people for over 60 years. They closed a similar plant in Chicago that employed over 600 people. By the way, when I say employed, I am not talking about minimum wage jobs. I am talking about good, family-sustaining jobs. Now, where did these jobs go? To what other part of the United States did they go? Salinas, Mexico, where workers, instead of getting family-sustaining wages, are getting paid approximately $1.50 an hour. That is wrong. When you wonder why there is such angst in our economy today, despite the historically low unemployment rate, this is why. In case you think that Philadelphia and Chicago might be exceptions to this Nabisco business model, they have also done it in Pittsburgh, Houston, Niles, St. Elmo, Buena Park, and as I have mentioned, of course, Philadelphia and Chicago. This is greed on steroids. So the next time you crave an Oreo or crave Chips Ahoy!--both Nabisco brands--Madam Speaker, I urge you to take a look at the back of the package and see whether or not it was still made in the United States or if it is one of the products that is now made in Mexico. Madam Speaker, I also urge you to do this: contact your Member of Congress and say that you are not going to accept trade deals and tax policies that allow this sort of disgraceful behavior to happen--the hollowing out of American middle class jobs. It is wrong, and we the elected officials of this country have to stand up for the American worker.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I applaud the gentleman from California for leading on this issue. I find that there is a false perception when it comes to Federal workers that they are all based in the Washington, D.C., area. We even heard some comment to that effect from the President not so long ago. In fact, so much of our Federal workforce is spread throughout the country. In the Philadelphia metro area that I represent, we have the fifth highest number of Federal workers in the country. Furthermore, there are all those who actually are impacted in some way by this government shutdown, not just the 800,000-plus who are going right now without a paycheck. My ask is very simple. I want the Senate majority leader to allow a vote on the same bill that passed unanimously--unanimously--in the Senate just a few weeks ago. On that Wednesday, it passed on voice vote unanimously in the Senate. We were here on Thursday morning, prepared to vote on that same legislation. But what happened between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning? The President received a great deal of criticism from his base, and then suddenly the bill that passed unanimously from the Senate less than 24 hours prior was not good enough, and now here we are, stuck in the longest government shutdown in American history. I also want to make this point, because all of us in government so often have gone from crisis to crisis to crisis. This is a real systemic problem in which we--all of us, regardless of party--are shooting ourselves in the foot and actually reducing now the economic projection of our GDP growth over the next year, completely needlessly. Almost every Western democracy does not do it this way. Once we get beyond the shutdown, a bipartisan group of legislators should look for a systemic fix to this and the other sort of major way in which we shoot ourselves in the foot, which is when we actually come into danger of not raising the debt ceiling and playing really with fire. These are mechanisms that most other Western democracies don't have. They certainly have their partisan fights; only, instead of two parties, often, it is more than two major parties. So I do think that once we get beyond this crisis, we do need to figure out a way to prevent this from ever happening again. There are going to be different legislators in these seats, inevitably all of us will be gone. There will be the switch of party control that has happened multiple times in this century and will continue to happen. We need to figure out a way to avoid these needless government shutdowns in the future that are only costly. They hurt real people who are living paycheck to paycheck--people, by the way, who are Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and nonvoters. And there is really nothing to be gained out of these government shutdowns. So let us work together to end this government shutdown. It is completely unnecessary. It could end tomorrow if there were willingness in the White House and on the Senate side. And then let's also work together to ensure that this is not only the longest government shutdown in American history, but also the last.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I am here this evening to honor Raed Fares, a hero who I had the opportunity to meet right here in the Capitol some months ago. He was shot and killed in Idlib, Syria, last week by two gunmen, likely al-Qaida affiliates. Raed founded ``Radio Fresh'' to give Syrians a source for unbiased reporting other than that of the extremists and the Assad regime. He trained journalists and organized community services and events with the goal of empowering civil society. His work made him the target of the Assad regime, al-Nusrah, and ISIS many times, but he refused to back down. Raed was killed because of his bravery. His work mattered. His life mattered. Raed's death must remind each of us that the Syrian people are fighting for their lives. In the words of Raed: ``Freedom is an idea, and an idea cannot die.''

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today alongside my friend Mr. Norcross to honor Carr & Duff, Inc., a family- owned electrical construction company in my district that will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this month. Mr. Norcross worked as a journeyman, foreman, and lead splicer for Carr & Duff, one of his first jobs as an electrician. In fact, he was hired by the company's founders we honor today. In 1958, Edward Duff and Harold (Hap) Carr were just two lineman who set out to fulfill the electrical construction needs of Philadelphia's burgeoning suburbs. More than half a century later, what started as a single line truck operation has evolved into one of the most prominent electrical contractors in the Greater Philadelphia and Tri-State Area, now employing roughly 200 people. Though much has changed for Carr & Duff over the past sixty years, much has stayed the same. It's still a family-owned business, now in its second generation, and it's common to see parent and child working alongside one another. The Carr & Duff team is just as committed to giving back to the community as they were some six decades ago, having donated tens of thousands of hours and equipment. They continue to be a vital arm of natural disaster response along the Eastern seaboard, true pillars of the communities they serve. People have always looked to them personally and professionally during times of need. When power is knocked out, Carr and Duff are immediately on the scene. In fact, they carry such a wide array of transformers that even the utility companies turn to them during crunch time. As leaders of the Blue Collar Caucus, we know that men and women like those employed by Carr & Duff are the backbone of American communities. We celebrate their achievements; their hard work and constant contributions to our districts. We rise today to thank Carr & Duff, Inc. for upholding its commitment to reliable and accessible service while keeping its employees safe--and for all it contributes to Huntingdon Valley, Greater Philadelphia, and New Jersey. We need more companies like Carr & Duff.

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the FY19 NDAA conferees for their hard work on this important piece of legislation. There are many good, important provisions in this bill, including several of my own amendments. However, I am here today to express my disappointment that the Senate provision which would have reinstated penalties against ZTE was stripped out of the final conference report. No nation steals American intellectual property or spies on America more than China, and Chinese telecommunication companies are among the most powerful tools they use to do this. In April 2018, the Commerce Department issued a seven-year ban on U.S. companies working with ZTE due to its illegal sales to North Korea and Iran. Following President Trump's negotiations on trade with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Secretary Wilbur Ross announced an alternative set of penalties that would allow the company to keep operating in the U.S. market. The Senate provision would have required the President to certify that Chinese telecoms had not violated U.S. laws and cooperated with U.S. investigators for a full year before granting relief from civil penalties. ZTE is a notorious ``bad actor'' on several policy fronts, and has blatantly violated and ignored U.S. law. The Chinese telecom company is a consistent violator of U.S. intellectual property rights, sued multiple times by U.S. companies for intellectual property violations. The vast majority of these lawsuits have been successful. Our intellectual property laws set us apart from the rest of the world. They have been and remain critical to fostering American innovation. As the Administration develops its policies on China and ZTE, it cannot forget that ZTE's rogue behavior with regard to intellectual property is a critical element of the problem and must be addressed in any solution.