Gerald Connolly

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, for those who believe in the Mayan end of days and the prophecy of the end of the world in 2012, the fact that our Republican friends have finally met a tax cut they don't like surely must be a sign of the apocalypse. Republicans fought tooth and nail opposing the middle class tax cut, only relenting at the 11th hour to a 2-month extension. But in the more than 40 days since then, they've ignored almost every attempt to enact a full-year extension. Why? Perhaps because it's primarily a middle class tax cut, saving 160 million Americans almost an average of $1,000 a year. Perhaps it's because President Obama proposed it, and in an election year, they'd rather defeat the President than, in fact, support initiatives designed to help the American people. Whatever the reason, Republican opposition, once again, threatens to raise taxes on millions of Americans, deny unemployment insurance to 2.3 million Americans, and risk Medicare access for 48 million Americans. It's long past time the Republicans stopped putting politics over people and instead extend those tax cuts for 160 million fellow citizens without making Americans wait until judgment day.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. I thank my friend. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's winter in Washington, but apparently our Republican friends have returned thinking it's August at the beach, and they've packed their neon-colored flip-flops. Last year, this Congress came together in a bipartisan fashion to avoid America's first-ever default. The business community, economists, financial analysts warned of the economic calamity that a default would cause. Passing this resolution today--in fact by two-thirds vote in this body and the Senate--would produce just such a catastrophic result. The Budget Control Act we passed didn't appropriate one penny of new spending; it just provided for America to meet its previous obligations. Although the initial intransigence of some brought the Nation to the brink and the first downgrading by S&P in our history, ultimately 174 Republicans finally agreed to do the right thing. Today's vote is a direct repudiation of that vote. The debt limit increase in this resolution is the exact same one they supported as part of the Budget Control Act only 5 months ago. Today's vote is simply an opportunity for Republicans to give themselves cover and to flip-flop and say they're against what they in fact already voted for. Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker: Nothing Republicans have proposed this year would have forestalled an increase in the debt ceiling, not the Ryan budget, not the Republican Study Committee budget, not even the balanced budget amendment. Avoiding default was the difficult but responsible action last August, and it remains the responsible action today. I urge my colleagues to leave their flip-flops at the beach and do the responsible thing. Put country ahead of politics today.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Nancy Vehrs on her retirement after 31 years of service to the citizens of Fairfax County, Virginia. I worked closely with Nancy during my 14 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and I saw firsthand her dedication and hard work. Nancy began working for Fairfax County in 1980 and held positions in the Woodburn Mental Health Center and the Fairfax County Police Department before being appointed by Clerk to the Board of Supervisors in 1990. The position of Clerk to the Board of Supervisors is often thankless, but nevertheless extremely vital to both the operations of County government and our citizens' ability to actively participate in the decision-making process. Nancy was instrumental in modernizing recordkeeping for official Board proceedings and constituent correspondence, enabling better governmental transparency and providing for County residents with a better means of communication. Citizen involvement in government provides another avenue for individual contributions; however, the process of volunteering to serve one's community can be daunting. Nancy saw the value in the County's various volunteer Boards, Authorities and Commissions, and she helped implement a training program to provide citizen volunteers with access to legal, proprietary, and procedural training to assist in their endeavors. Nancy always sought to pass along her expertise, sharing those ideas and best practices throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, and she served as President of the Virginia Municipal Clerks Association. She received well-deserved recognition for these efforts, earning the title of Master Municipal Clerk in 2008 and twice being named the VCMA Region II Clerk of the Year. In addition, Nancy has actively served her community in her individual capacity. She has served as President of the Prince William Committee of 100, a civic organization dedicated to informing the community of local issues of importance. She has served on the Board of Directors of Virginia Native Plant Society and the Board of the Prince William Conservation Alliance, and was the President of the Prince William Wildflower Society. Mr. Speaker, Nancy Vehrs is a tremendous example of a dedicated civil servant whose many efforts over the years have improved the lives of her community. While her departure will be felt throughout the County government, the many procedures and improvements she helped implement will continue to benefit County residents for many years to come. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and congratulating Nancy Vehrs on her 31 years of service to the citizens of Fairfax County, Virginia, and in wishing her well in her much-deserved retirement.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize four outstanding student musicians in my community: Nicolas Allegro, Joyce Su and Gina Hansen of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax and C. Hunter Bockes of C.D. Hylton High School in Prince William were recently selected as members of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Marching Band. These young people will represent northern Virginia, along with 125 other musicians and color guard members from across the nation, as part of the marching band for the Jan. 7 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio. The All-American Bowl is the nation's largest high school football all-star game, which seeks to generate positive publicity for the Army, strengthen the Army's connection with America and demonstrate the commitment of the Army to America's youth. These individuals were nominated by members of their communities and selected by the National Association for Music Education. They represent the top marching band musicians from across the country. Mr. Speaker, it is a tremendous honor to be selected to the All- American Bowl Marching Band, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing these young men and women for their achievements and congratulating them on representing their schools and our community on the national stage.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Colonel William M. ``Mike'' Hix Sr. of Falls Church, Virginia. Col. Hix died November 6, 2011, at the age of 71, and I would like to recognize his distinguished service to our intelligence community and his efforts to combat discrimination within the military. Col. Hix was born July 1, 1940 in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from Texas A&M University in 1962. He and his wife, Mary, relocated to Falls Church in the late 1960s. During his long career with the U.S. Army, Col. Hix served two tours in Vietnam, earned a M.S. in Operations Research and Systems Analysis from the University of Rochester, and served as deputy staff director of President Carter's Commission on Military Compensation. His last post was executive to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Army Intelligence in 1989. As a reflection on his dedication, skills and valor, he was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star. He soon began a second career as Senior Analyst and Associate Director of the Arroyo Center at the RAND Corporation. He contributed to reports on Army personnel functions and Gulf War illnesses, assisted police departments in New Orleans and New York City, and worked to end discrimination against gays in the military. Col. Hix retired from the RAND Corporation in 2006. He was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church in Alexandria. He leaves behind his wife of 46 years, three children, and a brother. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the accomplished life of Col. William M. ``Mike'' Hix Sr., expressing our gratitude to his family for his service to our nation and extending our sympathies for their loss.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. I thank my friend from New York. Mr. Speaker, this is shameful. Shame. Shame. Shame. Who are we kidding? The Republican leadership is ignoring an 89-10 vote in the United States Senate, and they want us to believe they support the underlying bill of 12 months. That's not what they've said all year long. The Speaker, who was here just a few minutes ago, dismissed the payroll tax itself as ``a gimmick,'' and the majority leader said, ``There are better ways to grow the economy.'' Tell that to the 160 million Americans whose taxes will increase on January 1. Republicans have consistently chipped away at Medicare and managed to eliminate it completely in a voucher system with the Ryan budget earlier this year. Tell that to the 48 million seniors who are at risk if we don't take care of the doctors' bills through the SGR. And Republicans have made no secret of their desire to gut unemployment insurance despite the fact that it actually helps keep the economy moving during downtimes. More than 2.3 million Americans will lose benefits if we don't pass this bill, and millions more will have their benefits reduced. Mr. Speaker, are we to believe, all of a sudden, that the House Republicans have had some kind of a miraculous metanoia and are ready to compromise? That is laughable, and the actions of our colleagues on the other side, frankly, make Ebenezer Scrooge look like a charitable humanitarian today.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend Kevin Fay for being named the recipient of the inaugural James L. Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of tremendous service to our community. Kevin has been an Executive Committee member of the Leukemia Ball for 15 years, helping to raise more than $3 million for research funding. In 2001, he founded The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Congressional Honors Program helping to educate those of us in Congress on the many challenges these deadly diseases pose, and the effectiveness of research funding in leading to advances in diagnosing and treating them. Kevin has served on the Fairfax County Park Authority since 2003, improving the quality of life for local residents. He has helped provide new athletic fields, a fully accessible playground for children of all abilities, additional County trails and the preservation of historic sites. He has chaired several Park Authority committees, as well as serving as a liaison to the Fairfax County Public Schools. Additionally, Kevin has assisted in the fundraising efforts of numerous charitable organizations such as St. Patrick's Foundation, The World's Children Choir and McLean Little League. Thanks to his tireless efforts, Kevin has helped raise millions of dollars in funding for these and other worthy organizations. I have been privileged to know Kevin Fay for many years and I have marveled at his generosity of spirit in his many volunteering capacities throughout our region. I know that our community has benefited greatly from his good deeds. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Kevin Fay for being named the 2012 recipient of the James L. Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award, and to offer our thanks for his lifetime of work on behalf of others.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Winston Churchill, who was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955, is one of the foremost world figures of the 20th century. He was renowned for leading his nation through most of World War II. And in addition to his well-known oratory skills, Churchill was a talented writer and painter. And he's the only British Prime Minister to receive the Nobel Prize in literature for his numerous works, including the six-volume set ``The Second World War.'' Churchill served in the British House of Commons and as a Cabinet Minister in several posts before being selected as Prime Minister in 1940. A great ally to the United States during World War II, Churchill was the architect of the Grand Alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union. He forged a strong relationship with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the two had numerous historic meetings shaping the direction of the war and what came after it. One such meeting resulted in the creation of the Atlantic Charter, which later led to the creation of the United Nations. As with other historical figures, Mr. Speaker, Churchill's life was fraught with complexity and contradictions. He held antediluvian views with respect to race, for example, which was long a point of contention with respect to the peoples of India and his relationship specifically with Gandhi. During World War I, he was First Lord of the Admiralty; and it was he who set in motion the failed assault at Gallipoli in a futile effort to capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople in hopes of securing a sea route to Russia. That failure forced him out of the government, and it was years before he would return warning of the threat Hitler presented in Germany. That ability to define injustice and pursue actions with clarity of purpose in the absolute face of evil no matter what the consequences is one of the traits that helped him transcend his human flaws and foibles and enter the ranks of the great statesmen of the 20th century. He stood alone in the 1930s, issuing jeremiad after jeremiad about the Nazi threat; and his peers were heedless, tragically heedless, of his warning. His years in the political wilderness then showed consummate courage and resolve. He never lost the clarity of recognition of evil, and in fact that extended into a decade later when he warned in a Missouri speech about Stalin's Iron Curtain. In recognition of his contributions to our Nation and our international alliances, Churchill was the first person to be made an honorary citizen of the United States. And it is fitting that we now recognize the 70th anniversary of his address before a joint session of Congress, mentioned by Mr. Lungren of California, by requesting to have a statue of him displayed here in the Capitol. If would not be the first time Churchill's life work has been honored in this Capitol. A bronze statuette of Churchill presented to the Joint Committee on the Library was in fact placed in Statuary Hall from 1985 to 1986, and it has since been on display in the Ways and Means Committee of the House. Mr. Speaker, I support the resolution honoring a great American ally, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. I yield the gentlelady an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my time.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to congratulate my friend from New Jersey. He has been a passionate advocate for human rights across the board. He and I may not always agree on all issues, but his passion and his commitment to human rights universally cannot be questioned and has made a great contribution to this institution, and I thank him. I believe that the yearning for human rights is a basic human yearning. It is not limited to the American culture or the Western culture, as we have seen in the outpouring of support during the Arab Spring for the basic human freedoms: the right to organize, the right to express politically, the right to practice one's religion freely, the right to organize political parties and to involve themselves in political dissent. These are universal yearnings, as our Founders understood, in their genius, in the writing of the Declaration of Independence. And it is absolutely a fundamental American value that we proclaim those freedoms, and we assist those who seek actively in that yearning to implement those freedoms. Again, I congratulate the distinguished chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and our colleague from New Jersey for their leadership. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of this legislation. One year ago today, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko staged a fraudulent election. After tens of thousands of ordinary Belarusians gathered to protest the conduct and results of that election, he arrested hundreds of them, including opposition candidates who dared to run against him. Last May, most were convicted and handed heavy sentences of up to 6 years in prison. Since then, the Lukashenko regime has continued to harass members of opposition political parties, human rights activists and civil society, and to suppress Belarusians' access to free press and information. This summer, when citizens of Belarus gathered over several weeks to protest peacefully against Lukashenko and his regime and the deteriorating economic situation there, he had them arrested for simply clapping their hands. Just last month, the government tightened restrictions on the ability of civil society groups to receive foreign grants and placed even greater restrictions on peaceful protests. The Obama administration, to its credit, has led the strong international reaction to the fraudulent elections, postelection crackdown and further deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus. On February 2, the United States significantly expanded the list of Belarusian officials subject to travel restrictions and to having their assets blocked, and restored full U.S. sanctions against Belarus' largest state-owned oil and gas concern and all of its subsidiaries. On July 2, Secretary of State Clinton met with activists from Belarus during her visit to Lithuania for a meeting of the Community of Democracies. She repeated her demand that Belarus release political prisoners and embark on the path of democratic reform. Just last night, Secretary Clinton and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton released a joint statement highlighting American and European concerns about continued human rights abuses in Belarus on the 1-year anniversary of the December 19, 2010, political crackdown. In coordination with the European Union, the Obama administration has significantly expanded democracy assistance to the private sector in Belarus this year. These new resources will support the kind of assistance called for in the Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011 which we consider here today. By passing this legislation, Mr. Speaker, we are doing our part to encourage the free exchange of ideas in Belarus and helping to ensure a brighter future for the people of that tortured nation, people who, like people everywhere, have the right to free expression and self-government. I support this bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. It's Grinch time in Washington, Mr. Speaker. One is incredulous that the House Republicans would oppose a tax cut for 160 million Americans, but that's just what they're going to do today. Is this bill perfect? No. There are aspects upon which both sides disagree. But it is the area of agreement that should be the most important: Congress stops playing hostage politics and halts the tax hike on 160 million fellow citizens. Saturday's Senate vote was 89-10--not just liberals, I say to my friend from South Carolina--with all members of the Senate leadership, Republican and Democrat, voting in favor. If House Republicans vote against this compromise, they will ring in the new year with a tax hike of their own making. If House Republicans were serious about wanting certainty, as they claim, they would vote for this bill today and guarantee that 160 million Americans won't pay higher taxes on January 1. Mr. Speaker, rejecting this bill and holding up the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits will be a true example of how the GOP Grinch stole Christmas for 160 million Americans.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, this appropriations bill presents us with a number of difficult, if not outright conflicting, choices. Certainly I and other members would prefer to have debated each of these bills individually with an opportunity to offer amendments.--6 of 12. The spending decisions being made today will have far reaching implications for all Americans, whether it's access to a community health center, quality classroom instruction or support for local police and firefighters. Some of these priorities enjoy bipartisan agreement, but some do not. We ought to have those debates, Mr. Speaker, so the public can be more informed and have time to weigh in with their thoughts to better inform our decisions. In reviewing this bill, I once again come to the conclusion that the Republican leadership in the House knows the cost of everything yet the value of nothing. For example, the Energy and Water bill preserves level funding for the renewable energy program to support research and development of alternative fuels in support of America's energy independence. Yet the same bill undercuts the foundation of our Nation's economic innovation by cutting half the budget for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) and reducing funds for basic science research. Similarly, this bill slashes funding for virtually every environmental safety initiative the federal government has pursued to protect public safety, including those promoting clean air and water. Thankfully, this bill maintains level funding for the National Institutes of Health and our community health centers, as such services will likely be in more demand due to unwise-- or unhealthy, to be more precise--decisions made elsewhere in the bill. While this bill maintains our commitment to our servicemembers, veterans, and their families, it actually undermines their hard work by further hollowing out our international aid programs. The bill cuts $6 billion from two of the three pillars of our national security agenda: diplomacy and development. While the bill provides new funding for counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and civilian programs in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, it cuts more than 15% from the State Department budget and continues the disinvestment in USAID by putting a freeze on hiring and closing 3 overseas missions. Such cuts jeopardize the stability achieved in Iraq and Afghanistan and our engagement in the power shift under way in the Middle East through the Arab Spring. How can we expect to foster moderate political movements in the Middle East if we don't invest in development and diplomacy? The same foolhardy choices are applied with respect to assistance for our local partners. This bill cuts assistance for our community first responders by 40%, and it reduces federal support for local fire station personnel and equipment by 17%. Our local police and fire personnel represent the front lines of our homeland security, and the federal government must continue to be a full partner in that effort. The bill does, however, increase ever so slightly federal assistance for local classrooms by boosting Title I funding and adding $100 million in special education aid. While the federal government still falls considerably short of meeting its commitment of funding 40% of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, this bill inches us closer and relieves pressure on local taxpayers to foot the bill for this unfunded mandate. So you see, Mr. Speaker, these are difficult choices that merit further debate than this current process allows. This is certainly not the bill I would have drafted, but it is the one we have been presented. I believe the positives do outweigh the negatives ever so slightly. Faced with an up-or-down vote to support this package or shut down the federal government, I will unenthusiastically support this bill. The public expects us to conduct the Nation's business, and this bill does accomplish that. But the public also expects us to do it in a responsible manner, and this process has been anything but that, and I hope my Republican colleagues more fully engage in this debate on spending priorities when Congress reconvenes next year. I suspect such an exercise will better inform our public, which will better inform our politics and our decisions.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the West Springfield Dance Team for their incredible run on the nationally televised show, ``America's Got Talent''. The West Springfield Dance Team progressed to the semi-finals with their professional grade choreography, distinct style, and superb dancing talents. Under the tutelage of their coaches, renowned choreographers Tara Perez and Jason King, and with the full support of the West Springfield High School community, including principal Mark Greenfelder and Director of Student Activities Andy Muir, the West Springfield Dance Team has received numerous awards and recognitions including back-to- back Championship titles from the National Dance Alliance, including the ``Innovative Choreography'' and ``Best in Category'' awards. West Springfield Dance Team has distinguished itself as the dominant team in local and national competitive dance, and it is now a national celebrity for its run on ``America's Got Talent'' and a recent appearance on ``The View'' Halloween episode. Their eye-popping performances were a delight to watch, and these young people served as tremendous ambassadors not only on behalf of their dance team, but also their school, their families and our community. They and their families should be proud of these accomplishments. I know we are, and I want to congratulate the following members of the West Springfield Dance Team for their many successes in the area of competitive dance, their achievements on ``America's Got Talent'', and recent appearance on ``The View'': WS Dance Team 2010-2011 (performers on ``America's Got Talent''): Chelsea Kopf and Julian Asuncion WS Dance Team 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 (performers on ``America's Got Talent'', and ``The View''): Emily Barnes, Dori Shapiro, Katie Lee, Riley O'Rourke, Nicole Mobley, Breezy Thompson, Sarah Thompson, Kristen Toler, Natalie Wawrzeniak, Jordan Penrod, Hannah Ernst, Jordan Dey, Nicky Ditnoy, and May Ditnoy WS Dance Team 2011-2012 (performers on ``The View''): Ellen Abood, Madeline Diez, Victoria Diez, Brianna Burns, Lauren Rader, Danny Lora, and Collin Hensley Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the West Springfield Dance Team on their many accomplishments and awards and for making it into the semi-finals of ``America's Got Talent.'' I thank the team's coaches, Tara Perez and Jason King, Principal Mark Greenfelder, Director of Student Activities Andy Muir, and the entire West Springfield High School community for their robust support of these exceptional students.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 20th Anniversary of Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William. Founded in 1991 by local librarian Dona Swanson to help teach a library patron to read, Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William has since grown to 300 volunteers and 600 students. Despite its impressive growth, LVA-PW has maintained its direct service approach, providing individualized adult literacy tutoring based on the personal needs and goals of adult learners seeking to improve their education and employment skills. LVA-PW's programs are well-researched and constantly tracked and evaluated by staff to ensure their effectiveness. This has proven to be a highly successful model; in 2010, LVA-PW's adult learners received a total of 12,000 hours of instruction, with nearly 80% achieving at least one of their personal goals. Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William has established itself as an institution in the community, fostering local partnerships to strengthen both their own services and those of other community groups, including the Prince William County Library System, the Virginia Employment Center, Northern Virginia Community College, the Prince William County Adult Education Program, and local businesses through workplace literacy programs. Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William has additionally been recognized in the past as Community Service Organization of the Year by the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer Organization of the Quarter by Prince William County, and Friday's Hero by the local Channel 9 News. Most recently, LVA-PW Executive Director Kim Sells received the Nancy Jiranek Award for Outstanding Virginia Adult Literacy Executive Director from the Virginia Literacy Foundation. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the 20th Anniversary of Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William. I also express my gratitude to LVA-PW's volunteer tutors and trainers, Board of Directors, and staff for helping to empower members of the community by increasing life skills and workforce potential through literacy.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 200th Anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia. Freemasonry has been active in the United States for over two hundred and fifty years. Since its founding in 1811, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia has encouraged interaction and discourse among individuals of differing beliefs by promoting community service, civic responsibility, and civil debate. The Grand Lodge of D.C. has participated in the development and strengthening of our national institutions of government, including the United States Congress and Judiciary, Presidency, and Executive Branch Agencies, as well as the Capital's historic landmarks such as the White House, Smithsonian Institution, Washington Monument, and Washington National Cathedral. The Grand Lodge of D.C. has been greatly involved with the enrichment of Washington, D.C., with members establishing prominent institutions such as the Corcoran Gallery and George Washington University, and has been actively engaged in charitable projects. The Masonic Foundation of DC has provided tens of thousands of dollars each year in financial scholarships to college students who attended D.C. public schools. Participation in numerous community service projects include Hands on DC, Adams Morgan Day, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Doctors Without Borders, So Others May Eat, St. Baldrick's Foundation for childhood cancer research, DC Community of Hope, DC Central Kitchen, and DC Special Olympics. The Grand Lodge of D.C. has been involved domestically and abroad in countries such as Armenia, Cuba, and the Philippines. It also hosted the 2008 World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges, the largest gathering of Masonic leaders in history, to discuss ways to build a global civil society. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia. For 200 years, the Grand Lodge of D.C. has supported the Freemasonry founding principles of ``Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth,'' and continues to do so today, supporting the American ideal that individuals can coexist peacefully and come together to form a community, regardless of background and differences.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to rise today to recognize the finalists of the 2011 Asian American Success (AASuccess) YouthCon Scholarship program. Each year, AASuccess grants scholarships and recognition awards to 6 students in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Founded in April 2006 by Dave Nguyen, Irina Nguyen, David Montanari, Sumesh Kaushal and Malou Gemeniano, the missions of AASuccess are to promote academic excellence of young Asian American and other minority students, foster mentorship and partnership between career professionals and student members, and promote ``The Act of Giving Back'' in the Asian American community. AASuccess offers 4 different programs to achieve their goals; the AAS Life Skills Academy, Scholarship Program, Giving Back Program, and the Arc360 Web TV Program. Scholarships are awarded in amounts ranging from $500.00 to $1000.00, and winners are selected based on academic performance, civic engagement, and completion of an essay. Using famous images from Saigon for inspiration, the theme for this year's essay asked applicants to consider their freedom, and the connection between protection of personal freedoms and civic duties. This thought provoking topic has encouraged students to reflect on and consider some of the most crucial questions we face today. While there will be 6 scholarship winners, it is my great pleasure to recognize the following 12 finalists: Ms. Sungmin Sohn; Mr. Vihanh Tham; Ms. Khanh-Ni Thi Nguyen; Ms. Mai Ly; Ms. Julie Hoang; Mr. Dylan Vu; Mr. Tristin Tran; Mr. Maxwell Tran; Mr. Minh Pham; Ms. Kirby Taylor; Ms. Julia Ngoc-Kim Nguyen; Ms. Krystal Sing. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding the efforts of these students, and in congratulating them on their academic and civic accomplishments. I also commend AASuccess for their efforts to ensure and encourage professional development and success of students in our community.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, the text of House Resolution 306 could lead to false conclusions about Turkey. Make no mistake: Turkey has taken concrete steps to improve religious freedom through a series of meaningful initiatives. Moreover, Turkey is a secular, modernized NATO ally that provides indispensible military and diplomatic support to the United States and our allies. Its efforts with respect to religious inclusion are welcome and worthy of recognition. In September, for example, Secretary Clinton praised Turkey's continued progress in enhancing religious freedom, stating: We have also seen Turkey take serious steps to improve the climate for religious tolerance. The Turkish government issued a decree in August that invited non-Muslims to reclaim churches and synagogues that were confiscated 75 years ago. I applaud Prime Minister Erdogan's very important commitment to doing so. Long before H. Res. 306 was introduced, the Turkish Government was enhancing religious freedom. For example: In May 2010, the Prime Ministry issued a circular underlining that Turkey's non-Muslim citizens share with all other Turkish citizens the right to enjoy and maintain their own identities and cultures in parallel with the national identity and culture of Turkey. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul recently has been permitted to conduct masses at religiously significant venues that had been rendered museums due to disuse. In November 2010, Turkish authorities returned a former orphanage to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate following a decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The attorney representing the Patriarchate declared, ``This marks a first in Europe. Turkey became the first country to implement a decision of the ECHR by returning the property. This should be an example for other countries.'' Since the original text of H. Res. 306 was introduced, Turkey amended its Law on Foundations to state that immovable properties, cemeteries, and fountains (of the non-Muslim community foundations registered in the name of Turkish public institutions) will be returned to the relevant non-Muslim community foundations, upon those non-Muslim foundations' request. On a larger scale, Turkey has been an indispensible ally and friend of the United States since it joined NATO almost 60 years ago (in 1952). Given Turkey's strategic location and maintenance of the second largest military in NATO, this should come as no surprise. Currently, NATO is installing radar systems in Turkey and Romania as part of the regional anti-ballistic missile defense system. Moreover, when NATO passed Resolution 1973, which enforced a no-fly zone in Libya, Turkey helped lead a NATO-led coalition, after playing a major role in deliberations with the United States and other key allies. Turkey also had a key role in negotiating the release of four New York Times reporters who were captured during fighting in Libya. With regard to U.S. operations in Afghanistan, Turkey: Has made available its Konya Air Base and other airports for the deployment of aircraft and allies' cargo aircraft in support of ISAF operations. Has deployed five Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLT) and has also conducted in-place training of 8,000 Afghan National Army (ANA) members and training in Turkey for an additional 1,000 Afghan troops. Turkey established two civilian-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Wardak and Jawzjan, and opened a branch of the Turkish International Cooperation Agency in Kabul, from which it runs a number of humanitarian assistance and economic development projects. Turkey stations over 1,700 U.S. military personnel under the U.S.- Turkey Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement. Incirlik Air Base, which houses about 1,500 U.S. military personnel, is a transit point for 68% of air logistical support for Iraq and Afghanistan. Each year, an average of 2,000 American C-17 aircraft and an average of 1,460 KC- 135 refueling tankers fly through the Turkish air base. Turkey's support is not limited to access of its air bases; its Mersin port on the Mediterranean is part of the U.S.'s supply network to Afghanistan. In a time when several Muslim majority countries are undergoing upheaval, Turkey provides an ideal model to its neighbors. It is a secular, modern, Muslim majority state that is a significant NATO ally. In its domestic affairs, Turkey is again a model for its neighbors. According to the State Department's 13th Annual Report on Religious Freedom, During the reporting period, the [Turkish] government took steps to improve religious freedom. Notably the government permitted religious services to be held annually in historic Christian sites that had been turned into state museums after decades of disuse. As a friend of Turkey, the United States ought to continue to recognize Turkey's initiatives on religious freedom and encourage Turkey to continue its progress. This is what allies do.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Arianna McQuillen, of Fairfax Station, on her selection as a Buick and General Motors Foundation Scholarship Recipient. She has been identified as one of 100 outstanding students from across the United States to receive up to $25,000 in a renewable scholarship. She plans to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology and specialize in robotics. Arianna is very involved in our community, working on projects such as cleaning the Occoquan watershed, planting trees, preparing care packages for soldiers abroad and tutoring young students. Her academic record is proof that she is a high-achieving student. She studied at Lake Braddock Secondary School, where her interests varied from math and science to art and the environment. She has won many awards in areas ranging from debate to art. She is a National Merit Scholar, a 2010 Beat the Odds Scholarship Recipient, an Advanced Placement Scholar, and a National Achievement Semi-Finalist. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Arianna McQuillen's remarkable achievements and wishing her continued success as she pursues her degree at MIT.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Little Union Baptist Church, in Dumfries, Virginia, on the occasion of its June 11, 2011, ``Mortgage-Burning Service.'' The Deed for the first site of Little Union Baptist Church was signed on September 9, 1901, a gift of the land from John Thomas and Mary Bates Thomas to church trustees. For Mary Bates Thomas in particular, this gift represented a great achievement in the life of a truly amazing woman. Mary Bates was born into slavery in Northern Virginia. As a slave, Ms. Bates learned to read and write and participated in the camp meetings praising God and maintaining her undying faith in the face of such great hardship. Following emancipation, Mary Bates Thomas became a pillar of her community, running a small general store with her husband John Thomas, reading and writing letters for the illiterate, and acting as a healer and midwife. Recognizing the need of her community for a church of its own, Mary Bates Thomas and her husband donated the land on which the church, which would come to be known as Little Union Baptist, was built. Its diminutive name may have reflected its intimate membership early on, but the church acted as a focal point of the community and a great source of comfort and pride in times of both joy and difficulty. In over one hundred years of serving the community, the Little Union family has grown in size, yet its mission, handed down from Mrs. Bates Thomas to the church leadership and today through the guidance of Reverend James Green, has always remained: ``to establish a fellowship in Jesus Christ that will promote the Gospel throughout the community and the world.'' Mary Bates Thomas would surely be proud to see what her church has become. Due to the generosity of the congregation, the able leadership of the church, and God's grace, today we may celebrate Little Union Baptist's satisfaction of its mortgage. Now in complete ownership of its house of worship, the church will be able use its resources in even greater support of other outreach ministries. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the ``Mortgage Burning Service'' for Little Union Baptist Church. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Little Union church family for establishing and maintaining a healthy house of worship that spreads the spirit of charity and provides counsel to those in need of guidance.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the partnership of Rachel Carson Middle School and Dominion Power in efforts to support green energy. Through their partnership, Carson Middle School was able to recently install on its roof an array of 11 photovoltaic solar panels, which have already generated over 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity--enough to power a house for more than a month. Rachel Carson Middle School is a Fairfax County public school with over 1200 students. The solar project was initiated in the spring of 2009 and driven by a group of former eighth grade students, its teacher sponsor, Mr. Kirk Treakle, and its Going Green Club, formerly established as Carson FREE--which stands for Future Renewable Energy Effort. The group was established in hopes that solar electric would be used in addition to several other prospective forms of renewable energy at school. The Going Green Club is researching wind, geothermal, solar thermal, and algae oil as future possibilities. The solar project was funded by grants from Dominion Power, the Earth Day Network, Lowe's, and InterfaceFLOR as well as donations from InScope International, Katydid Inc., the Carson PTA, and other individuals with no taxpayer money used. The photovoltaic panels are ``grid-tied'' so the electricity they produce helps power the school and decreases the amount of electricity that must be generated by other means, reducing pollution. While serving as a clean energy resource, the photovoltaic system is also used as an accessible, educational resource with students participating in an energy workshop using the new photovoltaic installation and online data logger. The system's connections to the science curriculum in areas of energy, electricity, and the environment serve as great additions to the school. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the partnership of Rachel Carson Middle School and Dominion Power. Together, they have succeeded in taking a great step towards cleaner energy for the future. I extend my congratulations to the school and thank Rachel Carson Middle School and Dominion Power for their valuable efforts.