Gerald Connolly

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. I want to thank Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Fattah and their staffs for working with me and my staff and with other Members on a bipartisan basis to support this and similar amendments. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would increase funding for Veterans Treatment Courts by $1 million. It does not cut the Census Bureau, however, to do it. With the additional funds provided by the amendment, a total of $6 million would be available for Veterans Treatment Courts in fiscal year 2015. Our Nation's heroes are returning home from more than a decade of war, including from the longest war in American history, in Afghanistan. Upon their return, they bear the visible and the invisible wounds of deployment. Substance abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury--various disabilities--and various mental health disabilities can lead our returning heroes often down a difficult and lonely road in their attempts to transition to civilian life. Twenty percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder or from major depression. One in six battles with substance abuse. Left undiagnosed or untreated, these illnesses can result in an encounter with the justice system. Worse yet, these illnesses can also lead to suicide, which veterans commit at twice the rate of the civilian population. Fortunately, specialized Veterans Treatment Courts are being developed across the country to assist veterans who do find themselves in the justice system and who suffer from substance addiction or mental health disorders, so that they can alter their courses and find the assistance they deserve. The first such court was established in Buffalo, New York, in 2008. Virginia, which is my home State and that of the distinguished manager of the bill, is home to the six largest veterans' populations in the United States, with nearly 850,000 veterans, a large number of whom live in my district and in that of Mr. Wolf's, the distinguished manager. I am pleased that, locally, our State and local leaders in Fairfax County have had preliminary conversations about creating their own Veterans Treatment docket, and that is great. We have 76 veterans in our local detention centers today--that is just in Fairfax County--more than half of whom are there for nonviolent violations. Of course, those are just the veterans who have self-identified themselves as veterans. Clearly, we need to look at our intake process to ensure we are identifying these veterans who are in need of assistance. By bringing veterans service organizations, State veterans services departments, and volunteer mentors into the courtroom, Veterans Treatment Courts promote community collaboration and can connect veterans with the programs and benefits they have not only earned, but need. Having a veteran-only court docket ensures that everyone--from the judge to the volunteers--specializes in veterans' care, and the involvement of fellow veterans allows the defendant to experience the camaraderie to which he or she became accustomed in the military itself. We know this model works, and it is our hope that this amendment provides Veterans Treatment Courts with some of the resources they are going to need in order to help veterans who fall into the justice system get back on the right track and transition back into the society they swore to defend, as we swore to protect them when they came home. Mr. Chairman, finally, let me take a moment of personal privilege to congratulate my friend and colleague, Frank Wolf, on shepherding what is probably his last appropriations bill in the Congress. Frank has been a leader on gang prevention in our community, on transportation--the Silver Line going to Dulles Airport--and on human rights all across the world. Our community and Congress are very grateful for his service and especially for the integrity he brings to this institution. I am proud to call him a colleague. I am even prouder to call him my friend. I will miss him. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the House Foreign Affairs Committee for adopting the North Korea Sanctions Act of 2014. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of that legislation and was very pleased the committee unanimously adopted an amendment of mine to strengthen the legislation even further. This is an Orwellian regime. In fact, it is so much so that I think it would make George Orwell blush that he had not the imagination for the kind of suppression, oppression, and degradation that occurs in the North Korean regime today. Mr. Speaker, 200,000 North Koreans are in gulags throughout the country--freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and freedom of political practice all repressed; and the terrible, terrible suffering, preventing the reunification of Korean families even to visit, the complete lack of humanitarian regard by this brutal regime is something we Americans cannot ignore, and we here in Congress have an obligation to address. I commend the House Foreign Affairs Committee today for adopting unanimously this important piece of legislation and eagerly look forward to supporting it when it comes here to the floor.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 45th anniversary of the Prince William Lassie League for their continued service and dedication of providing a youth softball sports program for Prince William County girls to all walks of life. In 1969, a handful of rural Prince William County residents were concerned that there were not enough sports opportunities for young girls. They created a slow-pitch softball league for girls aged 6-16. This new sports venue quickly complimented the many sports venues for boys and provided girls a place of their own to play sports and have friendly competition. This new league of slow-pitch softball for girls was known as the ``Dale City Lassie League.'' In 1991, 22 years after its creation, the Dale City Lassie League became the Prince William Lassie League, which accommodated the growing county and its many families. With the dedication of volunteers and communities, the Lassie League has provided an avenue where young girls can develop athletic skills, cultivate life-long friends and learn sportsmanship. In the past 45 years, the Lassie League has supported between 12-15 thousand players and families through participation. The Lassie League now supports girls aged 5-18 and conducts two seasons (spring and fall) annually. The doors to the Lassie League are open to all young girls in Prince William County, no matter what their social or economic background might be. For young girls whose family is financially limited, the Lassie League finds a way for that girl and her family to participate. The League also provides college scholarships annually to participating girls. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 45th anniversary of the Prince William Lassie League.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, I want to thank the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee and their staffs for working with me on several amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, H.R. 4435. This legislation reaffirms our commitment to our men and women in uniform, ensuring they have the necessary tools to support our national defense. In addition to my amendments, which will help create savings and improve department management, the bill before the House preserves essential benefits that are important to the thousands of active and retired military personnel and their families living in my Northern Virginia district. It also sustains the critical collaboration with the private sector in my district which partners with the Department on a wide variety of defense priorities, including cybersecurity, logistics, and information technology services. With respect to federal investments in IT, I was pleased to co-author a comprehensive reform proposal with Chairman Issa of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. It is based on our bipartisan bill, known as the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act, or FITARA, which passed the House with unanimous support earlier this year. I also want to thank our Committee's Ranking Member, Mr. Cummings, for his generosity and leadership on these issues. In the 21st century, effective governance is inextricably linked with how well government leverages technology to serve its citizens. Yet our current laws governing Federal IT procurement are antiquated, cumbersome, and out of step with technological change. Our bipartisan FITARA amendment addresses this by comprehensively streamlining and strengthening the Federal IT acquisition process. FITARA recognizes that effective Federal IT procurement reform must begin with leadership and accountability. It enhances CIO authorities to ensure agency heads have talented leaders to serve as their primary advisers on IT management; to recruit and retain talented IT staff; and to oversee critical IT investments across the organization. FITARA also accelerates data center optimization and strengthens the accountability and transparency of Federal IT programs. If enacted, 80 percent of the approximately $80 billion spent annually on Federal IT investment would be required to be posted on the online IT Dashboard for the public to review, compared to the 50 percent or less that is available today. Fortunately, a bipartisan consensus is forming around the urgent need to streamline and strengthen how the Federal Government acquires and deploys information technology. Now is the time to ensure IT reforms are adopted government-wide and given the force of law. I also was pleased to offer an amendment that will permanently authorize the use of simplified acquisition procedures for certain commercial items, which has the support of Department of Defense and other agencies, as well as industry partners, such as the Professional Services Council. This activity was originally authorized as a 3-year test program under the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. The program aimed to simplify the contracting process by providing contracting officers with additional discretion and flexibility for the acquisition of commercial items not exceeding $5 million. Since being enacted, Congress has extended this authority eight separate times, and it is now set to expire on January 1, 2015. Earlier this year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) submitted a report to Congress, discussing the use of the test authority by the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Interior. GAO found that the test program reduced contracting lead time and administrative burdens with manageable risks. In responding to the GAO report, DHS and DOI both stated that the temporary nature of the test program hindered its use and recommended the authority be made permanent. The Department of Defense offered the following comments in support of preserving this authority: ``The test program provides benefits in terms of reducing lead time and administrative workload and enables faster delivery of much needed supplies and equipment to the Warfighter. For example, the U.S. Army Contracting Command Rock Island Contracting Center, which provides reach-back support to the theater, used this authority to execute several contract requirements in direct support of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) theater of operations in FY 2011. Without this authority, the procurement lead time would have doubled. This could have led to mission failure in contingency operations, particularly those in the CENTCOM theater of operations. In addition, this authority is extremely beneficial in responding to domestic crises such as Hurricane Katrina, Midwest flooding, and recent tornados.'' In addition, I offered an amendment to extend for five years a successful hiring authority to allow Federal retirees to be temporarily re-hired on a part-time basis to fill critical skills gaps, mentor and train younger workers, and stave off a ``brain drain'' as more and more Federal employees become eligible to retire. First adopted as part of the NDAA for FY2010, this authority allows the heads of federal agencies to bring back a limited number of Federal retirees for a limited time without them incurring a penalty on the annuity. Over the past five years, agency leaders report this has been a valuable tool in providing them with flexibility to address staffing needs as retirements have begun to increase. Nearly half of the management staff within some agencies is eligible to retire today, and agencies face further challenges as positions are being left vacant due to budget shortfalls and hiring freezes. Thanks to this re-hiring authority, agencies are able to bring back experienced staff to bridge knowledge gaps and help prepare future leaders. This program is limited in scope so as not to supplant the urgent need to hire and train new federal workers. I was pleased to have the support of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association and the Government Management Coalition, which called this a ``good-government initiative.'' I also worked with the Armed Services Committee on two foreign affairs-related amendments. The first is a bipartisan amendment that I was pleased to introduce with my fellow co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus Reps. Diaz-Balart (FL), Sires (NJ), and Carter (TX). Our amendment directs the President to sell F-16 C/D aircraft to Taiwan to modernize its aging air fleet. It is consistent with U.S. obligations to provide weapons for Taiwan's defense under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. The Obama administration said two years ago that it would ``seriously consider'' selling the newer fighter jets to Taiwan. During the 112th Congress, 181 Members of the House sent a letter to the Administration urging it to ``move quickly'' to address Taiwan's critical need. Yet since then, it has only sold retrofit packages for Taiwan's older fighter models, some of which are decades old. Taiwan is a key strategic ally in the Pacific. It is America's 9th largest trading partner. Our amendment is critical to America's strategic economic and defense partnerships with Taiwan, and it reinforces our commitment to support a democratic Taiwan given the growing military gap and cyber security threat across the Taiwan Strait. The other amendment builds on language already in the bill the limit military contact and cooperation with the Russian Federation in the wake of its annexation of Crimea and its ongoing role in stoking unrest within eastern Ukraine. The bill already limits activity and funding under the Department of Defense and the National Security Administration with respect to Russia, including the purchase of Russian-made helicopters for the Afghanistan Security Force. My amendment would also prevent the integration of Russian missile systems into the missile defense systems of the United States if such integration undermines the security of the U.S. or NATO. It mirrors a similar prohibition already in the bill relating to the integration of Chinese missile defense systems. The situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate. We are witnessing open and armed clashes in the streets and pro-Russian militants are usurping the authority of local governments. Russia's repeated attempts to undermine the sovereign governments of former Soviet Republics by stoking the discontent of ethnic minorities now constitutes Russia's modus operandi on foreign subterfuge. For countries seeking to shed authoritarian institutions, Western economic prosperity and democratic freedoms can be like a moth to flame. Cold War era geopolitics dictated that the endgame for the USSR was to extinguish that flame. In the post-Cold War era, Russia has its sights set on the moth. The President already has leveled sanctions against Russian political leaders and banks, and further economic sanctions are possible. To further pressure Russia to cease this aggression action and to reverse course, the U.S. and its allies should seek to limit all collaboration with the Russian Federation until and unless it withdraws troops from Crimea and Ukraine's eastern border. Again, I thank the Chairman and the Ranking Member for working with me on these amendments. I am grateful for their inclusion in the final bill, and I urge my colleagues to support final passage.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recipients of the 23rd Annual Best of Reston Awards for Community Service. The Best of Reston Awards are the result of collaboration between Cornerstones (formerly Reston Interfaith) and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and are presented to individuals, organizations and businesses whose extraordinary efforts make our community a better place. I am pleased to enter the names of the following recipients of the 2014 Best of Reston Awards into the Congressional Record: Individual Community Leader: Carol Ann Bradley. Ms. Bradley has dedicated herself to service both locally and globally. She has worked with Global Camps Africa, the Friends of the Reston Regional Library, the Embry Rucker Community Shelter, the Southgate Community Center, the Reston Community Center, the American Association of University Women, The Links, Inc. and Educators, Then, Now and Forever. Individual Community Leader: Jerry Ferguson. Mr. Feguson uses his broadcasting skills to highlight local nonprofits. He is the director of Development and Outreach for Fairfax Public Access, which provides television and radio cablecasting services to the region. As a volunteer he has filmed and produced videos for numerous nonprofits and civic groups. Individual Community Leader: Cate Fulkerson. Ms. Fulkerson began serving Reston as an entry-level clerk at the Reston Association and climbed the ladder to her present role there, Chief Executive Officer. She also serves as the chair for the Reston Character Counts! Coalition, chairs the annual Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce's Ethics Day for South Lakes High School, and remains active in Leadership Fairfax. Individual Community Leader: Bonnie Haukness. Mrs. Haukness has given 40 years of service in many aspects of the Reston community. She is a board member of the Reston Historic Trust and Reston Museum, and she chairs its annual fundraiser, the Reston Homes Tour. She also co- chairs fundraisers for Cornerstones, helps organize the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, and also has led the Friends of Reston's fundraising event to send children to summer day camp. Individual Community Leader: Davida Luehrs. Ms. Luehrs is a champion for the visually impaired. She works with the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the American Council for the Blind, and Visually Impaired People of Reston. She has assisted 14 Lions Clubs with hearing and vision screening programs for pre-school children, founded VisionWalk, and chaired Dining in the Dark fundraisers. She is also active in the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, school band boards, Reston Swim Team Association, parent teacher associations, blood drives, and meals on wheels. Civic/Community Leader: HomeAid Northern Virginia. Members of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association started HomeAid in 2001 to help the homeless gain stability by putting a roof over their head. It currently contributes resources to build and renovate homeless shelters as well as transitional and affordable housing. HomeAid has completed more than 70 projects and served more than 10,000 individuals, work valued at more than $10.5 million. Small Business Leader: Brennan & Waite, P.L.C. Founding members (and husband and wife) Matthew Brennan and Carol Waite have led their firm to support many local causes, including the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, Habitat For Humanity, Let's Help Kids, the Mosaic Harmony Choir, FACETS, Cornerstones, and Leadership Fairfax. Mr. Brennan also developed a training program to help those interested in serving on county and nonprofit boards. Corporate Business Leader Cooley, LLP. This law firm encourages employees to give back to the community by offering paid leave time to volunteer and providing matching funds for money raised by employees to support local causes. Last year the firm contributed more than $1 million to nonprofits around the United States. The company's pro bono efforts have led to contributions of more than 33,000 hours by 466 attorneys on more than 687 different pro bono projects per year. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the 2014 Best of Reston honorees for their continued commitment to our community. I express my sincere gratitude to these individuals, businesses, and organizations for contributing their time and energy to the betterment of our community.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Prince William County Chapter and congratulate them on being awarded a $78,000 grant from Potomac Health Foundation to educate African American women in eight churches on Triple Negative Breast Cancer. The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Prince William County Chapter was established on Saturday, November 17, 2012 in Woodbridge, Virginia with the mission to advocate on behalf of women of color through national and local actions and strategic alliances that promote the NCBW agenda on leadership development and gender equality in the areas of Health, Education, Economic and Political Empowerment. With more than thirty partners and vendors, which included local, district and national organizations, NCBW began 2013 with a community health fair on February 9--``Knowledge is Key to Good Health.'' The health fair included a panel discussion on Triple Negative Breast Cancer which included a Surgeon, Radiation Oncologist, Medical Oncologist and a Radiologist/Mammographer. The health fair ended with eight breakout sessions and on-site screenings. Each two hour session was conducted by the executive team with support from Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. In addition, each session was followed by mammography screenings. Hundreds of women in Prince William County have been educated on Triple Negative Breast Cancer and the importance of early detection. NCBW partnered with Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center and its physicians to develop the curriculum, conducted all training sessions and provided mammography screenings. The training sessions have been completed at all eight churches in Prince William County. On November 2, 2013 NCBW held their first kick off implementing their faith-based educational workshop program, ``A Culturally Targeted Faith-Based Program focused on Educating Black Women in Prince William County about Triple Negative Breast Cancer to Increase Awareness on Prevention, Early Detection, Treatment, and Quality of Life'' at First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries, Virginia. This session was followed by seven other faith-based outreach events in the surrounding community with efforts of equipping the female population with knowledge of breast cancer. These educational sessions educated thousands of women on Triple Negative Breast Cancer and the importance in Mammography Screening. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Prince William Chapter for educating the community about Triple Negative Breast Cancer. They have done yeoman's work promoting preventative care and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Prince William Committee of 100. The Prince William Committee of 100 was founded to pursue a simple but essential mission: examining issues facing Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park by engaging topics through educational forums. By hosting thoughtful discussions and debates, the Committee pursues solutions to area problems and helps foster a better understanding of pressing community matters. The Prince William Committee of 100 strives to attract membership that is representative of the cultural, political, professional, and demographic diversity of the Prince William area. Membership must reside or work in Prince William County or the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park and demonstrate that they are community stakeholders with a vested interest in local affairs. It is my honor to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the current officers and board members of the Prince William Committee of 100. It is dedication like theirs that has helped sustain this vital organization for 25 years. President: Denny Daugherty Vice President: Jack Kooyoomjian Secretary: Jan Cunard Assistant Secretary: Carol Proven Treasurer: Harry Wiggins Assistant Treasurer: Patricia Bradburn Brentsville Director: Mary Beth Schaal Coles Director: Jim O'Connor Gainesville Director: Carol Noggle City of Manassas Director: Susan Bardenhagen Neabsco Director: Patrick Durany Occoquan Director: Don Scoggins Potomac Director: James Young Woodbridge Director: Antonio Merrick At Large Director: Judy Anderson At Large Director: Harry Glasgow At Large Director: Connie Moser At Large Director: Jane Beyer Immediate Past President: Martha Hendley Program Chair: Judy Zoll Assistant Program Chair: Carol Noggle Publicity Chair: Connie Moser Assistant Publicity Chair: Nancy Vehrs Auditors: Tony Guiffre and Judith Anderson Webmaster: Jim O'Connor Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the Prince William Committee of 100 on its 25th anniversary. The Committee helps create an active and more well-informed citizenry and our community is stronger for it.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend, the former chairman of the Rules Committee, Louise Slaughter from New York. I rise in strong opposition to the rule and the underlying resolution, H. Res. 567. The majority's obsession with keeping Benghazi conspiracy theories front and center through the midterm elections, despite the fact that Republicans have held 10 Congressional hearings already, nine classified Member briefings, and 16 Intelligence Committee oversight events on the Benghazi attack, despite those 35 congressional proceedings here in the House alone on Benghazi, the most astonishing information to emerge has been the striking level of disinterest exhibited by certain Members of the majority with respect to posing substantive questions that actually might inform efforts to enhance the security of American personnel abroad. In fact, the independent Accountability Review Board of Admiral Mullen and Ambassador Pickering, two of the most respected civil servants in our lifetimes, as well as the report of the Republican majority-controlled House Armed Services Committee, have thoroughly vetted and debunked the outrageous and irresponsible Benghazi conspiracy theories that may make for good Republican fundraising, but disgracefully slander the service and dedication of public servants in the military and diplomatic corps. In a USA Today op-ed published yesterday, my friend, Mr. Gowdy, from South Carolina asked: Was our military response during the pendency of the siege sufficient? To save us all the time and resources that the Speaker now apparently plans to spend on his proposed partisan show panel, respectfully, I would recommend that my colleagues pose that very question to the esteemed Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee who stated last week: The Armed Services Committee has interviewed more than a dozen witnesses in the operational chain of command, yielding thousands of pages of transcripts, emails, and other documents. We have no evidence that the Department of State officials delayed the decision to deploy those resources available to the DOD to respond. With their one-sided partisan select committee, we will not further an investigation or get at the truth the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) talked about. We will reveal nothing new; rather, we will do our great Nation a grave disservice in continuing to perpetuate myths and conspiracies that cloud a simple, painful truth: the attack on Benghazi was a tragedy perpetrated by jihadist terrorists--not by foreign diplomats, not by U.S. diplomats. There was no coverup. There was no soft-pedaling of this act of terror, not by the President, not by the Secretary of State, not by the Secretary of Defense, nor our Intelligence Committee; and to suggest otherwise is a great slander.

Mr. CONNOLLY. Instead, Republicans on the Oversight Committee remain obsessed with recycling tired and worn talking points in a cynical attempt to fire up the GOP base before the midterm elections this November. Unfortunately, the regression into crass demagoguery has real world consequences, Mr. Speaker. Our country's diplomatic corps cannot operate effectively if we lock them in fortresses and prevent them from engaging in foreign nations because there might be a risk. The reality is that striking the right balance between necessary security and effective diplomacy is an inherently complex and daunting challenge for our foreign service every day, everywhere. As Ambassador Pickering and Admiral Mullen accurately stated in their review report: No diplomatic presence is without risk, and the total elimination of risk is a nonstarter for U.S. diplomacy. In closing, I would ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: Why do they not trust the judgment of this Chamber's foremost military expert, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, who pronounced himself ``satisfied that where the troops were, how quickly the thing all happened, and how quickly it dissipated, we probably couldn't have done more than we did''?

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I say to my friend, it is amazing that he claims the White House is covering up when the same White House gave an unredacted version to the Judicial Watch. The easier conclusion----

Mr. CONNOLLY. I am rebutting what I just heard. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman says this is about getting at the truth. Really? Because there have been so many falsehoods propounded on this subject by the other side of the aisle. There was a stand-down order proved conclusively by our own Republican-controlled House Armed Services Committee. There was no such thing. We could have and should have mobilized the military to intervene and save lives. The military did what it could, but there was not enough timeframe for the military efficaciously to intervene in the tragedy unfolding in Benghazi. The Secretary of State knew and deliberately covered up. There were talking points that deliberately avoided the word ``terrorism,'' even though the President of the United States a few days later most certainly did use the word ``terrorist'' to describe what happened in Benghazi. The Islamic video had nothing whatsoever to do with Benghazi. The Islamic video was erupting----

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend. By the way, Mr. Speaker, we don't need a select committee because a particular chairman who is subpoena-happy can't quite draft a subpoena to capture the emails in question. I rise in strong opposition to H. Res. 567, which represents yet another unfortunate chapter in the majority's relentless commitment to wasting taxpayer dollars on round after round of Benghazi political theater. There is a reason that State's slogan is ``diplomacy in action.'' To effectively represent our Nation, American personnel overseas and their families make significant sacrifices. Ambassador Stevens' own family knows that. They issued this eloquent statement after his death: Chris was not willing to be the kind of diplomat who would strut around in fortified compounds. He amazed and impressed the Libyans by walking the streets with the lightest of escorts, sitting in sidewalk cafes, chatting with passersby. There was a risk to being accessible. He knew it, and he accepted it. What he would never have accepted was the idea that his death would be used for political purposes. There were security shortcomings, no doubt. Both internal and outside investigations have identified and publicly disclosed them. Steps are being taken to repair them. Chris would not have wanted to be remembered as a victim. He knew and accepted that he was working under dangerous circumstances. He did so--just as so many of our diplomatic and development professionals do every day--because he believed the work was vitally important. That is the statement of Chris Stevens, the deceased, murdered Ambassador to Libya, his family. I deeply understand the demands we place on our Foreign Service, and I know the stakes are high. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff from 1979 to 1989, I vividly recall shortly after I returned home from a visit to the U.S. barracks in Beirut, a horrific truck bomb was detonated there, killing 241 U.S. members of the Marine Corps. Our Embassy was blown up twice in Beirut in that same timeframe. The Democrats didn't pile on. The Democrats didn't call for a select committee to investigate Ronald Reagan and his administration for malfeasance and incompetence. We didn't darkly hint there was a conspiracy by the Reagan administration to hide the facts and to deny terrorism had occurred. We were patriots. We came together. We mourned our losses. We worked with a Republican President to make it better. That is the spirit in which we should approach this issue.

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker----

Mr. CONNOLLY. I thank the Speaker for returning us to regular order. Mr. Speaker, these are all falsehoods used to justify a needless expense of taxpayer dollars to beat to death for political purposes the tragedy that occurred in Benghazi. And the invocation of the name of the deceased Ambassador, Chris Stevens, even though his own family has pleaded that he not be used as a political pawn in a political partisan game, is something that is beneath contempt.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend, the distinguished ranking member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. I think, Mr. Speaker, if the Founders were here today and if they had witnessed the proceedings on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee with respect to Ms. Lois Lerner, they would have unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to the Fifth Amendment because rights were trampled on, frankly, starting with the First Amendment rights of the ranking member himself, who was cut off and not allowed to speak even after the chairman availed himself of the opportunity for an opening statement and no fewer than seven questions before cutting off entirely the ranking member of our committee. But then we proceeded to trample on the Fifth Amendment while we were at it, and case law is what governs here. The court has said the self- incrimination clause, the Fifth Amendment, must be accorded liberal construction in favor of the right it was intended to secure since the respect normally accorded the privilege is buttressed by the presumption of innocence accorded to the defendant in a criminal trial. In other words, it is the same. It is the equivalent of the presumption of innocence. Madison said that if all men--and he meant all men and women, I am sure--were angels, we wouldn't need the Fifth Amendment. Lois Lerner is not to be defended here. She is not a heroic character. But she is a citizen who has an enumerated right in the Constitution of the United States. The relevant case, besides Quinn v. the United States, comes from the 1950s. A U.S. citizen, Diantha Hoag, was taken before the permanent subcommittee, and she was asked questions. She, also, like Lois Lerner, had a prefatory statement declaiming her innocence that she was not a spy, she had not engaged in subversion, and then she proceeded to invoke her Fifth Amendment, just like Lois Lerner. In fact, the difference is Ms. Hoag actually once in a while answered ``yes'' or ``no'' to some questions put to her. She was found to be in contempt. The chairman of the committee jumped on it, just like our chairman did, and said, aha, gotcha. Two years later, the court found otherwise. The court unanimously ruled that Ms. Hoag had not waived her Fifth Amendment right. She was entitled to a statement of innocence, and that didn't somehow vitiate her invocation of her Fifth Amendment right, and her Fifth Amendment right was upheld. This is about trampling on the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens--and for a very crass reason, for a partisan, political reason. We heard the distinguished majority leader, my colleague and friend from Virginia, assert something that is absolutely not true, which is that only conservative groups were targeted by the IRS. That is not true, and we have testimony it is not true. Words like ``Occupy,'' ``ACORN,'' and ``progressive'' were all part of the so- called BOLO list. They, too, were looked at. This was an incompetent, ham-handed effort by one regional office in Cincinnati by the IRS. Was it right? Absolutely not. But does it rise to the level of a scandal, or the false assertion by the chairman of our committee on television, as the ranking member cited, that somehow it goes all the way to the White House picking on political enemies? Flat out untrue, not a scintilla of evidence that that is true. And to have the entire House of Representatives now voting on the contempt citation and declaring unilaterally that a U.S. citizen has waived her constitutional rights does no credit to this House and is a low moment that evokes the spirit of Joe McCarthy from a long ago era. Shame on us for what we are about to do.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, which is hosting its 66th Annual Installation of Officers Banquet, and in thanking its volunteers for filling an essential role in keeping the community safe. The Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department was founded in January 1948, and for more than 6 decades it has provided lifesaving fire suppression/prevention and emergency medical/rescue services to the residents of Burke, Fairfax County, and the surrounding communities. It also provides, houses, and maintains firefighting and emergency medical equipment; provides opportunities for professional growth and development for the membership; and maintains and fosters a strong viable organization. As one of the County's most active volunteer fire and rescue departments, the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department works in cooperation with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department to serve the community. Last year alone, the Burke station responded to thousands of incidents. I am honored to recognize several of the dedicated men and women of the Burke Volunteer Fire Department who have volunteered for extra duty as officers or as members of the board of directors or who are receiving awards for their superlative service to the department and the community. It gives me great pleasure to introduce the names of these individuals into the Congressional Record: 2014 Award Recipients: Founder's Award--Kevin Grottle. Rookie of the Year--Chris Smith. Firefighter of the Year--Paul Stracke. EMS Provider of the Year--Emily Fincher. Officer of the Year--Mike Powell. Administrative Person of the Year--Nancy Stone. Career Member of the Year--Mike Istvan. Chief's Award--BVFRD Maintenance Team: Larry Bocknek, Kevin Grottle, Shaun Kurry, and Alex Budd. Board of Directors: President Patrick Owens. Vice President John Powers. Secretary Greg Fedor. Treasurer Sheryl Gilhooly. Larry Barnett. Rich Guarrasi. Alisha Sunde. Officers: Chief Thomas Warnock. Deputy Chief Tina Godfrey. Deputy Chief John Hudak. Captain Melissa Ashby. Captain Keith O'Connor. Lieutenant John Rose. Sergeant Jennifer Babic. Sergeant Kevin Grottle. Sergeant Mike Hertig. Sergeant Mike Powell. Team Leader FF Paul Stracke. Team Leader Paramedic Dave Horne. Team Leader Catherine Owens. Chaplain Harry Chelpon. I also wish to recognize Assistant Chief and Lifetime Member Lawrence A. Bocknek on the occasion of his retirement following 29 years of service with the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department and 40 total years in the fire service. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the department for 66 years of service and in thanking all of the brave volunteers who do not hesitate to drop everything when the community calls in need of help. To all of these men and women who put themselves in harm's way to protect our residents I say: ``Stay safe.''

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recipients of the 2013 Reston Association Volunteer Service Awards. The Reston Association (RA) is the largest homeowners' association in Virginia and one of the largest in the country with more than 21,000 homes under its jurisdiction. Among other roles, RA serves as the steward of Reston's architectural aesthetics, recreational amenities, and environmental resources. RA relies on hundreds of volunteers who serve on boards, committees, and projects to carry out its mission to keep Reston a model community where all can ``Live, Work, Play, and Get Involved.'' I am pleased to enter into the Congressional Record the names of the outstanding volunteers for 2013. Volunteer of the Year: Diane Blust. Ms. Blust has been a Reston resident for 36 years and has made a long-standing commitment to protecting Reston's natural resources. She has chaired RA's Environmental Advisory Committee and RA's Sustainability Working Group. She serves as the President of Sustainable Reston, which is part of the Fairfax Coalition for Smarter Growth and was instrumental in developing a program to install garden plots near low-income housing. As a member of Reston Environmental Action (REACT), Ms. Blust works to promote energy efficiency and habits that lessen our environmental impact. She helped establish the Environmental Film series at Walker Nature Center and started the Smart Market, which is a seasonal, weekly farmers market. In addition Ms. Blust teaches various Home Food Preservation classes for Reston Community Center (RCC) and RA's Walker Nature Center. Volunteer Group of the Year Garden Plot Coordinators--Karen Parnicky, Lake Anne; Richard Padgett, Golf Course Island; and Molly O'Boyle, Hunters Woods I & II. RA rents more than 270 garden plots each year in four locations. The garden plot coordinators serve as liaisons between the garden plot renters and Reston Association staff. This group also contributes by weeding and watering or coordinating volunteers to do so when a gardener may be on vacation or away due to a medical condition. Community Partner of the Year: The Boofie O'Gorman Team. The Boofie O'Gorman Team donated $5,000 and more than 100 volunteer hours to the 2013 Reston Kids Triathlon. This generous donation provides funding for our scholarship participants and other Reston Association fee-waived programs. Their monetary contributions and personal efforts in race-day support, show their dedication to the youngest members of the Reston community. The team also supports scholarships for the Reston Triathlon, the Reston Sprint Triathlon, the Runners Marathon, the Reston Relay Triathlon, and RA Camps. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the recipients of the 2013 Reston Association Volunteer Service Awards and in thanking them for dedicating their time, energy, and resources to the improvement of the quality of life and health of the Reston community.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens' Associations and the honorees of its 64th Annual Awards Banquet. The Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations is a coalition of civic and homeowners associations from across Fairfax County. Each year, the Federation honors a few select individuals for their extraordinary contributions to our community. As a former two-term President of the Federation, I understand that those who volunteer their time, energies, and talents to civic activities play a role in making Fairfax County one of the best places in the nation in which to live, work and raise a family. I am honored to recognize the following individuals for their service to the community: 2013 Citizen of the Year: Janyce Hedetniemi. Ms. Hedetniemi's service to Fairfax County has included positions on a wide variety of important boards and commissions. Since January 2013, she has served as a Member At-Large of the Fairfax County Planning Commission. Before that, she served as a Member At-Large of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board. She is a member of the Fairfax County Community Revitalization and Redevelopment Advisory Group. Ms. Hedetniemi was the Braddock District representative to the Fairfax County Transportation Advisory Commission for nine years and chaired the Commission from 2008 to 2010. She was a member of the Tysons Land Use Task Force and Vice- Chair of the Task Force Steering Committee, which helped formulate new comprehensive plan language for Tysons. She chaired two Fairfax County Bond Referendum Committees, has been President of the Oak Hill Citizens Association since 1997, and served as President of the Braddock District Council for two years. Professionally, she is an expert in community relations and enjoyed a distinguished career at the National Institutes of Health. 2013 Citation of Merit: Tena Bluhm. Ms. Bluhm was appointed to the Fairfax County Commission on Aging in 2004 and has chaired the Commission since 2007. Tena has been instrumental in increasing the Commission's presence and influence in Fairfax County through speaking on behalf of older adults and the issues of aging before elected officials of both Fairfax County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. She has educated older adults about services provided by Fairfax County and sought ways to make the county aging-friendly. Ms. Bluhm was elected to her homeowners association's board in 2000 and in 2005 became its president. She is a member of the Braddock District Council, where she raised attention to aging issues by organizing a seminar about services available to older adults in Fairfax County. Ms. Bluhm worked for 45 years as a Home Care nurse and in 2008 was named Lady Fairfax for the Braddock District. She is now retired and resides with her husband, Ray, in Fairfax. 2013 Citation of Merit: Kathy Kaplan. Kathy Kaplan is an author, publisher, artist, naturalist, and activist who has lived in Reston for 31 years. Her novel, The Dog of Knots, was recognized by the Association of Jewish Libraries and the Anti-Defamation League. Ms. Kaplan has worked as an interpretive naturalist, conducted workshops in art and bookmaking for youth camps and schools, and sculpted a bronze relief for the September 11 Memorial at Freedom Grove at Brown's Chapel in Reston. As co-chair of the Residential, Urban Design, and Livability workgroup for RCA Reston 2020, she wrote the Vision for Herndon Monroe Station area and worked on several alternate park designs for Reston Town Center North. Ms. Kaplan was appointed Chair of the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations' Library Committee in August 2013 to review proposed changes to the county library system and was named 2013 Citizen of the Year by the Reston Citizens Association for her work in library advocacy. 2013 Special Gratitude Award Honorees: U.S. Representative James Moran, U.S. Representative Frank Wolf, Virginia Delegate James Scott. The Federation also will honor three Northern Virginia legislators, who are retiring this year after distinguished careers in public service. Representatives Moran and Wolf have served the residents of our region for more than 30 years, and I have been pleased to partner with them, first as Chairman of the Fairfax Board of Supervisors and then as a Member of Congress, to champion the interests of Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth. Delegate Scott served the residents of our community for more than 40 years, including 14 years representing the Providence District on the Board of Supervisors prior to his service in the General Assembly. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking these incredible individuals and in congratulating them on being honored by the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens' Associations. Civic engagement is the root of a community and Fairfax County residents enjoy an excellent quality of life due in part to the efforts of these individuals. The contributions and leadership of these honorees have been a great benefit to our community and truly merit our highest praise.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise to commend and express my sincere appreciation to Volunteer Fairfax and the extraordinary honorees of the 22nd Annual Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards. Volunteer Fairfax matches the skills and interests of volunteers to the needs of local non-profit organizations. In a single year, more than 18,500 volunteers contributed a total of 55,683 service hours valued in excess of $1.2 million. This outpouring of generosity enables hundreds of public and private non-profit agencies to meet crucial community needs. Each year from this group of extraordinary volunteers, Volunteer Fairfax selects a few exceptional individuals to be honored. It is my great pleasure to submit the names of the 2014 Service Award honorees into the Congressional Record: Community Champions: Cheryl McDonald, Braddock District; Margaret Malone, Dranesville District; Amy's Amigos, Hunter Mill District; Bill Shuttleworth, Lee District; Mary Patricia Daniels, Mason District; Louise Cleveland, Mount District; The Oakton Virginia Stake, Providence District; Jim Kirkpatrick, Springfield District; Amrit Daryanani, Sully District; Scott Wheatley, At-Large. Adult Volunteer 250 Hours & Over: Ahsleigh Soloff. Adult Volunteer 250 Hours & Under: Patti Schule. Adult Volunteer Group: Friends of Richard Byrd Library. Corporate Volunteer Program: BB&T. Fairfax County Volunteer: John Bauer. Fairfax County Volunteer Program: Ready to Read. Family Volunteer: Anna and Kat Hayes. Lifetime Achievement: Ramona Watson Morrow. Rising Star: Nicholas Hartigan. Senior Volunteer: Doris Crawford. Volunteer Program: Food for Others. Youth Volunteer: Jonah Basl. Youth Volunteer Group: National Charity League--Cherry Blossom Chapter. Integrate Individual: Roberto Quinones. Integrate Group: St. Stephen's United Methodist Church. RSVP Northern Virginia: Sharon Page. In addition, Benchmark Honors will be awarded in four different categories to commend those who have contributed 100, 250, 500, or 1,000 hours of volunteer time to our community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in acknowledging Volunteer Fairfax for its decades of outstanding community service and in thanking the 2014 Service Award honorees for their incredible contributions to our community.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the volunteers of the Shepherd Center of Oakton-Vienna and to thank them for their many contributions to the Northern Virginia community. Organized in 1997, the Shepherd Center of Oakton-Vienna is a non-profit that provides services to help older adults continue living independently, and it offers programs that supply opportunities for enrichment, learning, and socialization. The center works to support older residents who want to age in place in their homes and to engage them in social activities. Every year, approximately 200 volunteers for the Shepherd Center serve as medical drivers, companion drivers, friendly callers and visitors, health and wellness counselors, fundraisers, and grant writers. These volunteers run programs such as Lunch n' Life, Adventures in Learning, trips and outings, special events, and caregivers' support groups. Services are available free of charge to anyone age 50 or older who resides in the local community. The Shepherd's Center has also been recognized as ``One of the Best'' 2012-13 by the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington and the 2012 Nonprofit of the Year award from the Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce. The services and programs offered by this extraordinary organization help to ensure that our seniors stay connected to the community through promotion of active lifestyles, ongoing social integration, and availability of resources for older residents to use their experience, training, and skills in significant roles in society. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the Shepherd Center of Oakton-Vienna for the services which enable older adults in our community to age in place and enjoy their golden years with dignity and independence. I thank the many volunteers who generously dedicate their time and efforts to the welfare of our neighbors. The value of their contributions cannot be overstated and are deserving of our highest praise.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Mr. McGovern from Massachusetts, a distinguished member of the Rules Committee, with whom I spent 5 hours last night. I wish my friend Mr. Kelly were still here on the floor because he reminds us we take an oath when we become a Member of Congress and at the beginning of every new Congress to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States. We don't take an oath to look at the best polling for our respective parties and pursue--no matter what--the issues that rile up our base. At the Republican retreat earlier this year, two issues polled real well with their base: Benghazi and the IRS. Sadly, cynically, we are here today--irrespective of the constitutional rights of an American citizen who happened to be an IRS employee--bending and genuflecting at the altar of that polling data to fire up that base. We are not here defending the Constitution, because if we were, we would be invoking our own history. There was a sad period known as the McCarthy era in this very body where constitutional rights of citizens--Federal employees and non-Federal employees--were trampled upon. The Fifth Amendment right is one of only 10 enumerated in the Constitution, and for a reason, because staying in the memories of our early colonists were the star-chambers that had occurred in Great Britain, the parent country, and even here. And they wanted to protect all citizens--innocent and guilty alike--from self-entrapment, from their own words being used against them in legal proceedings unfairly. They felt so passionate about it that it was one of only 10 enumerated rights in the Bill of Rights. In the McCarthy era, there were some famous cases, U.S. v. Quinn being one of them, and another one, Hoag, in which the Supreme Court of the United States and District Courts of the United States found that an individual did not waive his or her Fifth Amendment rights simply because they had a prefatory statement proclaiming their innocence. As a matter of fact, in the Hoag case, Ms. Hoag actually participated at times in answering other questions, having already invoked her Fifth Amendment. The standard is very high. If you have made it crystal clear that you intend to invoke your Fifth Amendment, it takes a lot to construe that has been waived. We Members of Congress who take that oath to the Constitution should err on the side of protection of constitutional rights, not simple waiver. But, of course, if our agenda isn't getting at the truth, if it is pandering to those two issues that polled so well with our base, Benghazi and IRS, then constitutional rights are incidental to the enterprise, and, sadly, that is what we are considering here today. I don't think you have to be a Democrat or a Republican, a liberal or a conservative, to be concerned about protecting the constitutional rights of every citizen even for--and maybe especially for--non-heroic figures such as the woman we are dealing with today, Lois Lerner. Because when you trample on her rights, you have risked every American's rights. What is next? Who is next at the docket? While we are at it, when we are trampling the Fifth Amendment, what about the First? What about that sacred Second? What about the Fourth? What about any of those rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights? This is not a noble enterprise we are about today, Mr. Speaker, and I urge this House to reject this rule and to reject the underlying contempt citation as not worthy of this body and not consistent with the oath each and every one of us takes.

Mr. CONNOLLY. I thank my friend. Thirty-two legal experts have the other point of view. And, furthermore, I just say to my friend, if the answer to the House of Representatives is that if you want your constitutional rights to be protected, hire a lawyer, we will see you in court, that is not the oath we took. It starts and stops here. What is the constitutional protection of citizens here on the floor of the House of Representatives? To simply say go hire a lawyer is a terrible message in terms of constitutional rights protection to the citizens of this country.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Camelot Community Patrol Neighborhood Watch Program, CNWP, of Fairfax County, Virginia, and join the community in celebrating the Watch's 35th anniversary. Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and best-known crime prevention efforts in North America. In the late 1960s, an increase in crime heightened the need for a prevention initiative focused on residential areas and involving local citizens. The National Sheriffs' Association, NSA, responded, creating the National Neighborhood Watch Program in 1972 to assist citizens and law enforcement. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, strengthening and securing communities became more critical than ever. Neighborhood Watch programs have responded to the challenge, expanding beyond their traditional crime prevention role to help neighborhoods focus on disaster preparedness, emergency response, and terrorism awareness. While every Neighborhood Watch program in the country deserves our recognition and appreciation, the Camelot Neighborhood Watch Program stands out as one of the best in the Nation. The CNWP is the oldest, continuously active Neighborhood Watch in the United States. In the 35 years since its inception, the CNWP has achieved great success, helping lower the general crime rate in its community. Boasting the largest number of volunteers in Northern Virginia, the CNWP is the ``eyes and ears'' of local law enforcement, informing the authorities of suspicious activities and giving their neighbors peace of mind. Those who take the time to cast a watchful eye on their surroundings ensure a safer, friendlier place to live. Through committed neighborhood watch, CNWP participants have proven that community involvement can and does make a difference. In 2013, the CNWP volunteers conducted 599 patrols totaling 763 hours. There are 50 active patrollers, each of whom volunteered an average of 64 hours per month. One of the greatest assets of the CNWP is its ability to bring neighbors together. In that spirit I am proud to recognize Mr. Paul Cevey, CNWP founder and coordinator for the first 12 years; Mr. Dave Shonerd, who for the next 11 years continued to mold the program into the great success it is today; and Mr. Frank Vajda who continues the great CNWP tradition. Years of CNWP success have merited several notable accolades. The Fairfax County Mason District Police Department has recognized the CNWP as one of the most effective crime reduction units in the county. In fact, Camelot is one of the most crime-free communities in Fairfax County and the CNWP deserves much of the credit. The Virginia Crime Prevention Association has also recognized the CNWP as the Best Neighborhood Watch in Virginia. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank the Camelot Neighborhood Watch Program for 35 years of dedicated service to its community. Programs like the CNWP are vital in our efforts to combat crime. I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding the CNWP's past accomplishments and in wishing the program continued success in the many years to come.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, this is a particularly exciting time in Northern Virginia's Dulles Corridor as major employers, such as Harris Corporation, look to capitalize on Metro's Silver Line extension to Dulles International Airport. As some of my colleagues are painfully aware, Washington, DC, is the only OECD capital not linked to its premier international gateway by mass transit. The Dulles Corridor is the second most important employment and investment center in the National Capital Region, generating 25 percent of all economic activity, and that's before the arrival of Metro. Phase 1 of the Dulles Rail project will open later this year with stops in Tysons and Reston, and Phase 2 is already under construction. I was pleased to attend the opening for Harris Corporation's new office campus, which will consolidate operations from several regional locations into a site near the future Herndon Metro Station. As my colleagues know, Harris is an international communications and information technology provider that partners with Federal, State, and local governments to support our nation's military, community first responders, and many other essential public services. Harris employs more than 1,600 people in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and this new facility will house nearly 500 high-tech workers supporting the company's satellite, defense, intelligence, public safety, and health care operations. I was pleased to join Harris CEO Bill Brown, Virginia Senator Mark Warner, and other regional leaders in welcoming the Harris team to its new location in the heart of the Dulles Corridor in Virginia's 11th Congressional District. Fairfax County alone is home to 10 Fortune 500 companies. Harris and its corporate neighbors recognize Northern Virginia as one of the best places in the Nation in which to do business and raise a family. We benefit not only from the jobs they create, but also from the tremendous support they and their employees give back to our local schools and community organizations. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to welcome Harris Corporation to its new location, and I look forward to its continued collaboration with the federal government and our local community. .

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the distinguished tenure of Deborah Hersman, who is leaving as Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board after serving 10 years on the Board and five years as chairman. Ms. Hersman, 43, is a resident of Lorton, Virginia, in my district. She is the daughter of a retired Air Force Brigadier General and spent much of her childhood abroad before her family settled in Northern Virginia, where she attended Chantilly High School. While in college at Virginia Tech, Ms. Hersman interned in the office of Congressman Bob Wise of West Virginia. After graduation, she returned to Congressman Wise's office, ultimately serving as a senior legislative aide. After several years working on the House side, she joined the staff of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where she rose to the position of Staff Director. In 2004, President George W. Bush appointed Ms. Hersman to a 5-year term on the NTSB. President Obama reappointed her in 2009 and also nominated her as Chairman, making her the youngest person to serve in that role at age 39. Ms. Hersman has presided over the NTSB during a very active period for the organization. She has presided over a number of high-profile accident investigations, including the collision of two Metro Red Line trains, the airplane crash involving Senator Ted Stevens in 2010, and the collision between two freight trains in Oklahoma in 2012. In the face of all those tragedies, and dozens more, Ms. Hersman displayed remarkable poise and provided a reassuring presence with her calm, confident leadership. In addition to her investigatory duties, Ms. Hersman helped to broaden the mission of the NTSB. She focused not just on what happened after a tragedy, but also what the government could do to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the first place. By focusing on behaviors that cause transportation accidents, like fatigue and intoxication, Ms. Hersman helped shape the NTSB into a more proactive organization. She recently announced she is leaving public service to become president and chief executive officer of the National Safety Council. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Deborah Hersman for her tremendous service to our nation. I commend her for all the work she has done to keep our roadways, railways, and airspace safe for all Americans. I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Hersman on her accomplishments, and I wish her and her family all the best in her future endeavors.