Mark Critz

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the eighth graders of Frazier Middle School from Perryopolis, PA and their achievements in the national March Math Madness Competition. More than 1,400 schools from 30 states took part in the March Math Madness Competition sponsored by Apangea Learning. Students were challenged to complete hundreds of thousands of math equations in a competition designed to mirror the college basketball March Madness championship. The group of 74 students from Frazier Middle School, led by math teacher Susan Szelc, completed 132,023 math problems and worked 2,175 hours since March 1, 2011. A majority of that time, 1,161 hours, was spent solving equations outside of the traditional school day. These are committed students who put in the extra effort to complete a challenge and stimulate their minds. The eighth graders from Frazier Middle School first qualified for the Sweet 16 on February 28, 2011; later advanced to the Elite Eight, the Final Four, and then to the national championship round. The students' hard work has brought them the coveted March Math Madness Trophy and a banner to proudly display in their school gymnasium. They also had the distinguished honor of having one of their own peers, Alex Lyons, be named the MVP of the East. Alex was able to pass the most math equations, 530 units, without failing. Our country's future is dependent on the hard work and intellect of students like these. It is encouraging to see such talent and ambition being nurtured in our public school system. Outstanding educators, such as Susan Szelc, must also be commended for her efforts in this challenge. These students have displayed a true aptitude for learning and should be properly recognized for the great champions that they are. Mr. Speaker, once again I would like to honor these students for their hard work, dedication, and commitment towards their education.

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. Well, thank you, Mr. Reed. And, yes, serving as cochair for the Marcellus Shale Caucus is truly an honor because we do have such an opportunity before us. As Mr. Reed mentioned earlier, Mr. Speaker, this isn't a Democrat or a Republican issue. This is a bipartisan issue because it's about economic opportunity for all of our regions. Mr. Speaker, I am joining my colleagues to discuss the significant economic potential that the Marcellus shale natural gas play has for our country. As you may know, the Marcellus shale is the largest unconventional natural gas formation in the United States. The shale is estimated to hold almost 500 trillion cubic feet of extractable natural gas currently valued at nearly $2 trillion. As with most economic activity, the impacts of the natural gas affect more than just specific firms directly involved in the industry. There are also important employment and income effects on local businesses who supply the industry, such as oilfield service companies, restaurants, retailers and hotels, in addition to effects that result from employees spending their wages locally. In Pennsylvania, 75 percent of the natural gas it uses every day is imported currently. This is just Pennsylvania. The Marcellus shale formation that runs along the Appalachian Mountains--so it goes up into New York, comes down through Pennsylvania, into Virginia and West Virginia, as G.T. Thompson, Mr. Thompson from Pennsylvania, mentioned earlier, goes into eastern Ohio and down through the Appalachian Mountains--is really an opportunity for this country. Because, as Mr. Thompson mentioned, as we watch the unstableness in the Middle East, we're talking about the natural gas industry, which is just booming in our region of the world. It's sort of interesting because, in a conversation with some of the folks from industry about a decade ago, the natural gas industry was told that they'd better start building processing plants at ports and on the shorelines because there was going to be a need for this country to import natural gas. Well, now that equation has flipped, and this country is really on the verge of producing so much natural gas just through the Marcellus shale that we will exceed the needs of this country, and we actually could be on the verge of becoming an exporter of natural gas to foreign economies. It's incredible. The high-paying jobs available today in the Marcellus shale gas industry are expected to multiply in the future, meeting the needs of gas companies' efforts to increase drilling and production across the region. In Pennsylvania alone, it is estimated that more than 110,000 new jobs have been created because of the development of this shale. Mr. Reed mentioned earlier and Mr. Thompson reiterated that this is a game-changer. As I said, this isn't a Democrat or a Republican issue. It's not a New York or a Pennsylvania issue. This is an issue for our country. This is an issue that bodes well for the future of economic development in this country. I am so excited to be co-chair with Mr. Reed. I use a lot of football analogies. I think, by game-changing, what we're doing is we're moving our economic football down the field. We're making progress. There is an opportunity here, and I think we need to take care of it. One of the things that was alluded to earlier was environmental concerns. Let me tell you that, in growing up in western Pennsylvania, we grew up with the steel industry and the coal mining industry. We had a lot of problems as those industries wound down as, in years past, there was not a lot of environmental protection. We had streams that were fouled. We had huge, what we call gob piles, of the slag that comes off of steel production. Let me tell you that, over the last 20, 25 years, Pennsylvania has done some incredible work in cleaning up those slag piles and in cleaning up the streams so that, in the streams that had been dead for decades, you can now fish, and now we have trails throughout western Pennsylvania. So, from a Pennsylvania standpoint, what I can say is that, in government's working with industry, working with local officials, working with people on environmental interests, we have all come together in Pennsylvania and are moving our way forward, and we do a very good job of it in Pennsylvania. This Marcellus shale has created an opportunity for us that is really second to none, which is just from a Pennsylvanian's perspective, but I can't end with saying it's just Pennsylvania, because, as we've talked about, it goes through New York. There is so much opportunity for the future of this country and for the economic development of this country that I want to thank Mr. Reed for inviting me to be his co-chair on the Marcellus Shale Caucus, because, in working together, we can get a lot done for this country. I applaud him for his efforts, and I look forward to working with him, with Mr. Thompson, and with the 17 other members of this caucus in making sure that we do the right thing for this country and for this country's future. So, with that, I yield back, Mr. Reed. I appreciate the time to be able to talk.

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. I urge support of this amendment. It does not recommit the bill. It is an amendment and will just be added to the bill.

Mr. CRITZ. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. CRITZ. Yes, I am.

Mr. CRITZ. Madam Speaker, as I listen to the debate on the current CR and where this debate has been taking us throughout this year, I have some reasons for alarm. I think the best way to start it off is to at least start to let you know a little bit about myself. For most of my life, I have worked in the private sector. I have worked all my life and paid into Social Security. And the folks that I live with and live around and the people of my district have come to rely on Social Security, as it provides for, actually, generations at this point. As I have been sitting here listening to this current CR, which I am opposed to, you know, all 435 of us are sent here to lead. Unfortunately, what we have heard time and time again is finger- pointing as, ``It's your fault,'' ``It's our fault,'' ``It's their fault,'' instead of us sitting down, talking to one another and figuring out where we can compromise and how we can come to a final solution to what our problems are. And it's really very disheartening. I can understand that the folks who watch this at home are trying to figure out, well, whose side are we on? Are we on their side? Or are we on our particular party's side or on our particular stance's side? And I think it's very unfortunate because, at the end of the day, we all have very strong opinions on what the best way forward is in this country. Unfortunately, it's about compromise. Because even though we all have strong opinions, we all have differing opinions; and if we don't work it out, we are not going to get anywhere. As I stand in opposition to this CR, it is something that is disheartening. Now, I am on the Armed Services Committee and have been hearing from industry time and time again at how difficult it is for them in the long term. So as we talk about cutting, we are going to cut $2 billion a week for these next 3 weeks. Well, by doing these short-term CRs, we are actually costing our country money. And no one talks about that, of what the impact is going to be from this temporary solution. The Republicans have talked about, well, the Democrats didn't complete their work last year. That's true. But now the Republicans are in charge. You are in charge. You were given a charge to lead this country. And here we are going around again doing a 2-week, a 3-week. This isn't leading. This is playing games, and it's time to stand up and do the right thing for this country. But my MTR, motion to recommit, involves Social Security, because the debate that has been happening has been trying to frame Social Security as a problem and the reason for the deficits that this country is experiencing. I brought a chart with me, and I want to read to you the net increase in assets in the Social Security Trust Fund for the last 6 years. In 2005, the Social Security Trust Fund increased $172 billion. In 2006, it increased by $189.5 billion. These are increases. This means that the money that comes in to Social Security via your taxes and interest is more than what is going out, being paid in benefits. So when people start talking about, well, Social Security is causing our deficit problem and we have to address entitlement programs, they're not giving you the whole picture. They are trying to tell you that down the road we may have an issue. Well, no. In 2007, the Social Security Trust Fund increased $190.4 billion. In 2008, it increased $180 billion. In 2009, it increased $122 billion. So the trust fund is going up. And it actually has $2.6 trillion in it right now. So the people that are receiving Social Security now shouldn't be worried about what it's doing to the deficit, because that increase in the trust fund is actually money that's coming in to the government in excess of what Social Security is spending. But I brought up a chart here because I want to show people that when you start talking about Social Security--now, if you look at the 12th District of Pennsylvania, I have an elderly population. I am one of the districts that has a lot of senior citizens in it. A lot of people are on Social Security. And if you look at this chart, 77 percent of people say, Leave Social Security alone. Don't touch the retirement age. Don't touch the benefits. They say, Come to a solution. Figure out a way to move forward. And there are compromises that can be had to help solve the Social Security issue because we do have an issue long term. Baby boomers are retiring. Less people are paying in. So there are some issues that we have to address. But don't be buying into this crisis legislation that, if we don't do something immediately, Social Security is going to be in trouble. You are hearing all kinds of scenarios.

Mr. CRITZ. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a special young woman who has done a great deed for our servicemen and woman. The actions of Chrissy Young of Clymer, Pennsylvania, truly embody what it means to honor those that serve. On September 2, 2010, Ms. Young experienced an angst that the family members of our brave uniformed men and women dread to bear. She received the call that her high school sweetheart, Lance Corporal Joshua T. Twigg, had lost his life while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. While Chrissy suffered a great loss, she did not recluse herself from the world. Instead, she decided to organize a care package drive to deliver essentials to her fallen hero's unit, the Marine's 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment. By leveraging resources from area churches, schools, businesses, and individuals, she was able to send almost 300 care packages to the Marine unit on Veterans Day 2010. It is efforts like these that convey to our service members that there are Americans who care about you, who miss you, and who are thankful for the job that you are doing to protect our freedoms and to keep our Nation safe. This past February, Chrissy had to bear the brunt of Lance Corporal Twigg's unit returning home without him or the fourteen other Marines who lost their lives in Afghanistan. While he did not return with his unit that day, Chrissy could stand proud knowing that he had served his country bravely and that her act of kindness had deeply touched this Marine unit. In referring to the dedication someone must possess to serve in the military, Chrissy wrote, ``it takes a person of character, a person who knows what they have, is thankful for what they have, and is willing to give whatever it takes to preserve those freedoms for all of us.'' Mr. Speaker, although she may not be in the military, Chrissy exemplifies the person of character, valor, and dedication that she so eloquently spoke of. Once again, I would like to honor Chrissy Young for her actions and selfless efforts.

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind this body of what the American people asked of us in November. They did not ask us to continue the parliamentary back and forth this institution has become known for; nor did they ask us to stand around while small businesses are hurting on Main Street. What the constituents of the 12th district of Pennsylvania asked of me, and what the American people demanded from this Congress, is for us to help build an environment where business can create jobs. Yet today, we are here considering a resolution that would give lip- service to creating jobs, but have no actionable results. H. Res. 72 simply instructs House Committees to review existing, pending, and proposed regulations by federal agencies. These Committees are to then create an inventory of these regulations to report this information. Mister Speaker, this is what our committees are already doing. These are the actions we are already taking to ease the burden on the small businesses in this country. What productive action are we taking by debating and voting on our Committees to fulfill a role in Congress that has already been defined for them? This resolution is the epitome of the redundancy. I can say with certainty that H. Res 72 does nothing to reduce real regulatory burden on small businesses. Yet we are on the cusp of adopting a rule that will have my colleagues charged in a debate for an extended amount of time. This is what Americans see as the problem in Washington. As they are struggling, we are engaging in debate on a symbolic measure that does nothing more than reiterate what we have already been charged to do as Members of Congress. What are we doing for our small businesses today? Small businesses create two-thirds of net new jobs each year in this country. It is our duty to make sure that we help generate the best environment to allow these job creators to thrive. Some of the reasons we were all elected to the 112th Congress was to help these small businesses and help our economy. What we are considering today, will produce no actionable result for either of these two goals. There is no question that the small businesses of America face a large burden when it comes to federal regulations. Federal regulations now cost Americans $1.75 trillion each year; that's up 50% from their annual costs in 2005. Federal agencies continue to add thousands of pages of new regulations which add to the already challenging task of creating a small business. It's estimated that these federal rules cost $10,585 per worker for businesses with less than 20 workers. This cannot be the environment in which we expect our unemployment rate to turn around. It will take a bipartisan effort to reduce this burden and guarantee that our economy continues to thrive. As a member of the Small Business Committee, I am determined and ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to review these challenges and barriers faced by job creators in this country. But I am sure this can be accomplished with the rules already set in place for this body. What will hinder this process and do nothing for small business is a debate on the House floor for nine and a half hours, as this rule sets in place, on instructing members to do what has already been asked of them. After that time, how can Congress say that it helped foster the environment for small businesses to create jobs? How many jobs can we say have been created as a result? What our small businesses need is action. What the American worker needs is action. What our economy needs is action, and today, with this resolution, we have no action. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this rule, which will result in no jobs for the small businesses of America.

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the members of the Vintondale Veterans of Foreign Wars post, the needle arts club of the Nanty Glo Senior Center, and the In-Stitches Sewing Club of the SS. Gregory and Barnabas Roman Catholic Church for their consorted effort to comfort our wounded troops and their families. Together, these groups recently provided 100 handcrafted blankets to wounded service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda right before the holiday season. Organized by Joseph Gresko and Charles Sago, two members of Post 5211 VFW, the project was part of a tradition in helping veterans and active duty service members. Mr. Gresko and Mr. Sago requested the assistance of women in the community to knit these comforting gifts for our brave men and women. Marge Younkin, and her fellow members of the needle arts club at the Nanty Glo Senior Center, and Eleanor Chromy, and her fellow members of the In-Stitches Sewing Club of the SS. Gregory and Barnabas Catholic Church, answered the call. With a donation from the church's Altar and Rosary Society and contributions of yarn from other individuals, these women set out to work. Their efforts not only touched the lives of the service members that received the blankets, but also earned the participants recognition as ``Persons of the Week'' in the local newspaper, the Johnstown Tribune- Democrat, for their generosity and care. Performing this act of kindness for our brave men and women was not about receiving accolades for these individuals. As Mr. Sago has stated, these gifts are reminders that there are people these soldiers never knew who truly appreciate what they have done. Upon delivering the blankets to our wounded service members, I let them know that these gifts were a token of our appreciation for the service and sacrifice they have made, and continue to make, on behalf of a grateful nation. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor the individuals in the Johnstown community who generously dedicated their time, talent, and heart for this worthy project.

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. ``Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.''

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Women In Defense, A National Security Organization that will celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary this Sunday, December 19, 2010. Women In Defense began in the fall of 1979 as the brainchild of seven dynamic women, Margo Giordano Anderson, Karen Hopkins, Betty Kimmel, JoHanna Kinley, Diane Lafferman, Lillian Morris, and Rebekah Nottingham. They met and discussed the idea of starting an informal network to assist participants, especially women, in expanding their knowledge of national security issues and of the national defense community in which they participated. The association was incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(6) on December 19, 1985. For 25 years, Women In Defense has provided women a formal environment for professional growth through networking, education, and career development. Its 3,000 members, and 16 chapters throughout the United States, cultivates and supports the advancement and recognition of women in all aspects of national security. Women In Defense also offers the HORIZONS Scholarship, which was established in 1988 to encourage women to pursue careers related to the national security and defense interests, and to provide development opportunities to women already working in these fields. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Women In Defense for the dramatic impact it has had on professionals who serve the national defense and national security of our nation. Its numerous successes have elevated the presence and stature of women in industry and military leadership. Because of their efforts, the United States benefits from a workforce that is better equipped to serve our great nation.

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize both Conemaugh Township Area Intermediate School and Wylandville Elementary School for being selected as two of this year's 2010 National Blue Ribbon Schools. This announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on September 9, 2010. The U.S. Department of Education selected 304 schools nationwide to receive this year's honor, including 14 schools in Pennsylvania. I'm proud to announce that two of these schools were from the district that I represent. Conemaugh Township Area Intermediate School is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and is the home of over 350 elementary students. Wylandville Elementary School, a member of the Canon-McMillan School District, serves a population of approximately 200 students in North Strabane Township, near Eighty Four, Pennsylvania. Beginning in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program has honored public and private schools that are models of both excellence and equity. The Award is granted to schools that are either high performing, or have improved student achievement to high levels, particularly among disadvantaged children. These two schools are outstanding examples of how hard work and commitment can pay off in achieving these criteria. Both of these schools recognize the importance of achievement, and the need to ensure that students have the resources to learn and to succeed. I appreciate the efforts of Conemaugh Township Area Intermediate School and Wylandville Elementary School in teaching our children to recognize their full potential, and equally important, providing them with the tools they need to achieve success in life. Madam Speaker, I conclude my remarks by congratulating these schools on their exceptional dedication and passion for helping our students succeed. I wish them well as they continue to inspire our young scholars.

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1605) recognizing the service of the medical and air crews in helping our wounded warriors make the expeditious and safe trip home to the United States and commending the personnel of the Air Force for their commitment to the well-being of all our service men and women, as amended.

Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. CRITZ. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1605, recognizing the service of the medical and aircrews in helping our wounded warriors make the expeditious and safe trip home to the United States and commending the personnel of the Air Force for their commitment to the well-being of all our servicemen and -women. I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) for bringing this resolution before the House. Mr. Speaker, twice a week, those of us who have south-facing offices in the Cannon, Longworth and Rayburn House Office Buildings can sometimes catch a glimpse of something subtle but something altogether awe-inspiring. Every once in a while, we can see the arresting silhouette of a C-17 in a flight pattern towards Andrews Air Force Base in the final few minutes of the journey home for some of America's wounded warriors. Twice per week, on schedule, these aeromedical crews bring our wounded servicemembers home right here to the National Capital Area after having fallen ill or having suffered injury during an already difficult deployment overseas. This powerful image is part of a much larger system. The Air Force has up to 500 aeromedical personnel deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, in Europe, and in the United States as part of the team providing care and helping to ensure that wounded soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines get safely home to their families. It takes an average of 3 days for wounded troops to arrive at hospitals in the United States. This is over 40 days faster than during the Vietnam war. We have Air Force aeromedical evacuation to thank for being the transportation spine of the effort to bring our ill and injured men and women home as safely and as quickly as possible. Ultimately, aeromedical evacuation by the Air Force is part of an integrated combat casualty care system that includes front-line medics and corpsmen of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as medical evacuation and casualty evacuation by Army, Navy and Marine Corps flight, air ambulance and ground ambulance crews. We owe our sincerest gratitude to each and every person in this system who has yielded an extraordinary 98 percent survival rate for wounded servicemembers. So, Mr. Speaker, if you are ever facing south on the Hill and see a C-17 on the horizon, you might now just sigh in relief because it might be one of our aeromedical evacuation transports bringing our wounded warriors home to receive world-class medical care. I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1605. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1630) expressing support for National POW/MIA Recognition Day, as amended.

Mr. CRITZ

Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 319) recognizing the anniversary of the tragic shootings that occurred at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009.

Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. CRITZ. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 319, recognizing the anniversary of the tragic shootings that occurred at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009. I am grateful to my colleague from Texas (Mr. Carter) for his work in authoring this resolution. Mr. Speaker, last November a gunman opened fire at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood, where military and civilian personnel had recently returned from deployment or were preparing to go overseas. This was an event that saddened every American, and it is important that we as a Nation remember those killed and injured and that we honor those who responded with courage and skill to assist the victims. Ultimately, 12 soldiers and one civilian lost their lives in this atrocious attack. In addition to these 13 unfortunate Americans who were murdered that day, 31 more were wounded. Many of them were seriously wounded, but a quick response from Army medics saved lives and mitigated the severity of some of the injuries. Soldiers and civilians rushed to remove those in need of medical attention from the building, even while the threat of the gunman was still present. At the same time, law enforcement personnel worked to eliminate the danger to Fort Hood and to the surrounding community. I would like to convey my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those killed and injured in the Fort Hood shootings and express gratitude to the soldiers, Army civilians, and local residents who assisted in the rescue and recuperation of the victims, especially as the anniversary of this event draws closer. I urge my colleagues to recognize the soldiers and civilians killed and wounded by voting in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 319. List of Soldiers and the Former Soldier Who Lost Their Lives at Ford Hood Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Warman. Major Libardo Caraveo. Captain John Gaffaney. Captain Russell Seager. Staff Sergeant Justin Decrow. Sergeant Amy Krueger. Specialist Jason Hunt. Specialist Frederick Greene. Private First Class Aaron Nemelka. Private First Class Michael Pearson. Private First Class Kham Xiong. Private Francheska Velez. Michael Cahill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee and original cosponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards).

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