Jerry Costello

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Godfrey, Illinois Lions Club. The Godfrey Lions Club, chartered in February 1960, has been a model service organization in the Riverbend region of Southwestern Illinois for half a century. As part of The International Association of Lions Clubs, the Godfrey Lions Club is part of a 45,000 club association with 1.35 million members worldwide. The Lions Clubs are known for their work assisting those with vision and hearing impairments and the Godfrey Lions Club has followed that service goal by providing eyeglasses, hearing aids and eye exams to students in the Alton School District. Some of the other community services they provide include infant hearing screenings, support of centers that provide service for battered women and children, stocking food crisis centers, and support of diabetes education programs at area hospitals. While service to individuals in need is an important role of the Godfrey Lions Club, they contribute to their community in many other ways as well, such as planting flowers at a local park and participating in community and holiday festivals. The Godfrey Lions Club is made up of people who believe that communities are built by people helping each other. The Lions Club motto is very simple, ``We Serve,'' and throughout its 50-year existence the Godfrey Lions Club has been true to that basic premise. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the members of the Godfrey, Illinois Lions Club on their 50th Anniversary and wishing them the very best for many more years of service to their community.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 175th anniversary of the Trinity United Methodist Church in West Frankfort, Illinois. In 1835, the same year that noted American author Samuel Clemens-- better known as Mark Twain--was born, a dedicated group of Methodists in Frankfort, Illinois gave birth to a new church and constructed a log structure as a place of worship. While the earliest history of the church existed as oral narrative, the church was known as the ``Old Frankfort Methodist Church.'' The first pastor of record was the Reverend J.P. Crawford. As the church and the Methodist denomination evolved, there were several name changes. In 1853, the church was named the Methodist Episcopal Church and then, in 1939, already over 100 years old, it became the Trinity Methodist Church. In 1968, it was named the Trinity United Methodist Church, after the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church merged to form the United Methodist Church. As the congregation grew, the old log church could no longer meet its needs and a new frame church was built around 1875. Further structural changes were made after the Second World War, when the church was bricked and the parsonage was remodeled. A new parsonage was constructed in the 1960s. The 175 year history of Trinity United Methodist Church has not been without some lean years. In the early part of the 20th century, it was feared the church would cease to exist but, through the dedicated efforts of a few determined parishioners, the church got through those tough times and has continued as the oldest church in what is now West Frankfort, Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 175th anniversary of the Trinity United Methodist Church and wishing the best to the congregation for many years to come.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The 126th Air Refueling Wing, ARW, traces its origin to the formation of the 126th Composite Wing at Chicago's Midway Municipal Airport on November 1, 1950. During the 1950's there were a couple of name changes for the unit and its home moved between Chicago's Midway and O'Hare airports before it was finally designated the 126th Air Refueling Wing, received its first KC-97 flying tanker and flew its first air refueling mission in 1961. From 1967 to 1976, the 126th ARW took part in Operation Creek Party, during which they would fly refueling missions in support of the U.S. Air Force in Europe. 150 million pounds of fuel was off-loaded to U.S. Air Force and NATO aircraft during approximately 600 flights. This marked the first time the Air National Guard had performed a continuous operation without activation. The first KC-135 Stratotanker, the aircraft that is still flown by the 126th ARW today, began its service in 1976, at which time the 126th ARW began support of the Strategic Air Command. The 126th ARW would support U.S. Air Force operations in the first Gulf War and in Kosovo as well as respond to the Illinois Governor's call for assistance during the 1993 Midwest flooding. As part of the 1995 round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), the decision was made to move the 126th ARW to Scott Air Force Base and the move was completed in 1999. After September 11, 2001, the 126th ARW was called to fly missions to monitor the skies over major U.S. cities. The wing again was called to support U.S. Air Force missions during the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The mission of today's 126th Air Refueling Wing is to provide air refueling support for U.S. and allied nation military forces throughout the world. As it has shown throughout its history, the 126th answers the call to protect the citizens of Illinois through civil defense and disaster relief. The men and women of the 126th Air Refueling Wing continue to protect and defend ``Anytime, Anywhere!'' Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Wing Commander, Colonel Peter Nezamis, and all the service men and women of the 126th Air Refueling Wing on their 60th Anniversary and wishing them the very best as they continue to provide valuable service to the State of Illinois and our great Nation.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. I thank my friend from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6190, the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2010, Part III. I want to thank Chairman Oberstar of the full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Chairman Levin and Congressman Lewis of the Committee on Ways and Means for bringing this bill to the floor today. Two months ago, we passed bipartisan legislation, H.R. 5900, the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010, which was signed into law. It included important airline safety and pilot training provisions from House passed H.R. 3371, the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009. I am pleased that President Obama signed the legislation, H.R. 5900, into law, and I am proud of our efforts to work together in a bipartisan manner to produce the strongest aviation safety legislation in decades. In addition to the aviation safety provisions, H.R. 5900 included a clean extension of the FAA reauthorization bill until September 30. We passed another extension because the leaders in the other body said they could not reach an agreement with their members and they were at an impasse. We have reached consensus on the majority of the items from both bills and only a few issues remain which I believe can be worked out. It is unfortunate that we have reached this point after nearing the end of working through both of these bills. In the interest of keeping the FAA and the aviation transportation system operating safely, we cannot let this reauthorization expire on October 1. H.R. 6190 extends the FAA reauthorization through the end of the calendar year. There are many important provisions in the FAA reauthorization bill, such as binding arbitration for the air traffic controllers, addressing the consolidation and realignment of FAA facilities, and making investments in NextGen and the air traffic control modernization program. I am committed to passing a comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill next year so that we can provide stability to the FAA and our Nation's aviation system. With that, Madam Speaker, I urge support and ask my colleagues to vote for this legislation.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Southern Illinois Regional Social Services (SIRSS). The origin of SIRSS can actually be traced to February 10, 1958, with the meeting of a temporary committee whose purpose was to organize a mental health association and clinic in Jackson County, Illinois. Through the dedicated work of a small group of individuals, the Southern Illinois Mental Health Clinic (SIMHC) was opened in October of 1959 with the first full year of services in 1960. As the organization evolved to meet its service offerings and geographic area, its name would be modified to reflect that growth. Jackson County Community Mental Health Center was the name adopted in the 1960's and then, in the 1990's, it became Southern Illinois Regional Social Services (SIRSS). SIRSS has always been a dynamic organization, adding new services and evaluating existing services to make sure they are effective, in line with their core mission and addressing the needs of their clients. Substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, wellness education, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and satellite offices are all examples of the variety of services SIRSS has added through the years. One of the earliest annual reports listed an average clinic caseload of 58 community patients. This has grown to over 2,000 people served annually today. Clearly the need is great and SIRSS has grown to meet that need. Through 50 years of growth, however, they have stayed true to their founding commitment to Build Better Lives and their promise: ``You are not alone. We care. We know how to help.'' Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the board of directors, administration and staff of Southern Illinois Regional Social Services on their 50th Anniversary and wishing them the very best for many more years to come.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to my friend, the gentleman who testified before the subcommittee, who met with us many times to help put this legislation together, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins).

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5900) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend airport improvement program project grant authority and to improve airline safety, and for other purposes.

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, might I inquire as to how much time we have remaining on both sides?

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5900.

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5900, the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. I want to thank Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica and the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Petri, for their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. For the past few months we have been working in a bipartisan manner with the other body to produce a comprehensive Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill before it expires on August 1. We have reached consensus on a majority of the items from both bills and only a few issues remain, which I believe can be worked out. However, the leaders in the other body said that they could not reach agreement with their Members and therefore we have an impasse. It is unfortunate that we have reached this point after coming so close to working through both bills. Therefore, we have decided to go forward with the bill before us tonight. H.R. 5900 will provide a 2-month extension of the FAA reauthorization bill through the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2010, and includes the airline safety and pilot training provisions that we have been able to negotiate with the Senate. In October, the House passed H.R. 3371, the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009, as a stand-alone bill by an overwhelming majority. Unfortunately, once again, the other body has not acted on this legislation either. Therefore, we are including the safety provisions that we have been able to negotiate with the Senate on the FAA extension. The bill before us tonight contains the strongest aviation safety legislation in decades. It was introduced after many hearings, roundtable discussions, and with the input from the families of those who perished in the Colgan accident in Buffalo, the pilot groups, airlines, the National Safety Transportation Board, the Department of Transportation's Inspector General, and many Members of Congress. Throughout 2009, the Aviation Subcommittee held many hearings and roundtables on safety issues and talked about a number of issues concerning the Colgan accident, which culminated in this legislation. Regional airlines have been involved in the last seven fatal U.S. airline accidents, and pilot performance has been implicated in four of those accidents. This legislation strengthens pilot training requirements and qualifications by increasing the minimum number of flight hours required to be hired as an airline pilot by requiring the Airline Transport Pilot certificate, which is currently only mandatory for an airline captain. The ATP requires a minimum of 1,500 flight hours and additional aeronautical knowledge, crew resource management training, and greater flight proficiency testing. In addition, the bill also strengthens the ATP qualitative minimum requirements, such as flying in adverse weather conditions, including icing, and requires the FAA to create and maintain an electronic pilot records database. The database will allow an airline to quickly access an applicant's comprehensive record for hiring purposes only. Finally, H.R. 5900 requires all Internet Web sites that will sell airline tickets to show on the first page of their display the name of the air carrier operating each flight segment of a proposed itinerary. Passing this safety reform legislation now is the right thing to do. We can no longer delay enacting the strongest safety bill in decades as we work on a final agreement on the greater FAA bill. The Colgan families, many of them who are with us here this evening, have been a powerful driving force behind this legislation, and I thank each of them for their persistence. For the last 17 months, they have come to Washington, DC over 30 times at their own expense to push for the safety bill and safety improvements. Madam Speaker, it is time for the House and Senate to pass these important safety provisions and get them to the President to be signed into law. Passing this bill tonight should not distract from our efforts to finish the FAA bill. There are many important provisions in the reauthorization bill, and I am committed to passing a comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill so that we can provide stability to the FAA and our Nation's aviation system by passing a multiyear reauthorization. With--Madam Speaker, with that I urge my colleagues to support the legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds just to clarify a point in the Record. Madam Speaker, the gentleman from Florida, the ranking member of the full committee, is correct. But for the record, it wasn't that we didn't pass the bill. This House of Representatives passed a bill in 2007, passed it again in 2009, and we have been attempting to get the other body to work with us to pass a bill out that can be agreed upon. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentlelady from New York (Ms. Slaughter), who has been so very helpful to us in crafting this legislation. She has worked with us very closely.

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boccieri), a valued member of our Subcommittee on Aviation, who is a pilot. His expertise and experience was invaluable in putting this legislation together.

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional minute to the gentleman.

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the distinguished chairman of the full committee, who is recognized as one who knows more about aviation and transportation than anyone in this Congress.

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, as I have said earlier, this is the strongest aviation safety bill that we are about to pass in decades. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1875, the End the Trade Deficit Act of 2009. Since coming to Congress, I have worked to level the playing field of international trade, stop the illegal trade practices of other countries, notably China, and support American workers. The first step in achieving these goals must be addressing our $375 billion trade deficit with other countries. While this deficit is down from the $753 billion deficit we had in 2006, as the global economy recovers, this deficit has increased by billions of dollars each month, and our deficit with China stands at a staggering $226 billion. In addition, the U.S. has lost 3,178,000 manufacturing jobs since 1998 and the recession has aggravated this damaging trend. The Trade Deficit Review Commission established by H.R. 1875 will take positive steps to address the trade deficit by developing a new, competitive trade policy that emphasizes fair trade and U.S. jobs. Our trade policy must promote the export of U.S.-made goods to foreign markets and support our workers rather than aiding the multi-national corporations who seek weaker labor, safety, and environmental requirements overseas. I have consistently opposed free trade agreements--including NAFTA and DR-CAFTA--because I believe they have driven good-paying American jobs out of the country. H.R. 1875 is needed to reverse these damaging trade agreements and takes a positive step forward to revitalize manufacturing in the U.S. and create jobs here at home. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1401.

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop), a member of the subcommittee.

Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1401) expressing gratitude for the contributions that the air traffic controllers of the United States make to keep the traveling public safe and the airspace of the United States running efficiently, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. COSTELLO. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as a cosponsor of the resolution, I commend the gentlewoman from New York, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, for introducing the resolution and for her leadership on this issue. The Nation's air traffic controllers ensure the safety of approximately 2 million aviation passengers per day, or almost 1 billion people per year, and safely guide more than 60 million aircraft annually to their destinations. The current air traffic controller workforce consists of approximately 15,600 dedicated and well-trained men and women across the country and at the Air Traffic System Command Center. As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, I have visited many of the air traffic control facilities, and have witnessed firsthand the skills controllers utilize to safely separate aircraft moving through the Nation's airspace system. These individuals display exceptional skills, and are able to multitask and to work well under pressure. In fact, the resolution describes nine separate incidents where controllers have saved many lives by providing excellent service. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1401, to express our gratitude for the contributions that the air traffic controllers make to keep the traveling public safe and the airspace of the United States running efficiently. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy), who is the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1366.

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1366) recognizing and honoring the freight rail industry, as amended.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.