Matt Cartwright

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law and codified the prohibition of discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and public and private places that are open to the general public. An individual with a disability is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment. Approximately 112,158 individuals of the population living within the 17th Congressional District have a disability. I am proud to represent them and to speak out today on a law that transformed our country. As a nation, America took another step on the pathway toward true equality during the late 1980s when the concept of federal legislation with the single, worthy goal of expanding civil rights protections to millions of Americans with disabilities gained bipartisan support. I applauded those advocates, such as former Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, who first introduced the legislation on May 8, 1988. Those great people brought to life a vision of inclusion, access, and dignity. It is my hope we can today follow in their likeness and continue to protect the rights of all people.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Patrolman John Wilding, whose faithful watch ended this past Sunday morning, July 12, due to injuries sustained while on duty, and those injuries tragically ended Patrolman Wilding's life the next day. A native son of Scranton, Pennsylvania, John Wilding joined the Scranton Police Department in April 2014, after working for years to earn his place on the force. John's passion to serve and protect his city was exhibited in his work. A fixture in his community, John would regularly check in with local businesses and talk to West Scranton High School students on their way home from class as part of his policing duties. Early this past Saturday morning, John responded to reports of a stolen vehicle in Scranton. During a pursuit, suspects exited this vehicle near the 300 block of North Main Avenue. Several officers, including Patrolman Wilding, pursued the perpetrators on foot. During the chase, John leapt over a wall not realizing that a fifteen-foot descent was on the other side. He suffered a serious head injury as a result of the fall. John succumbed to his injuries the next day at Geisinger Community Medical Center. Patrolman Wilding is survived by his wife, Kristen Tansits Wilding, his daughter, Lola Mae, his son, Sidney Wolfgang. He was a dedicated provider for his family, but, beyond that, he was a loving husband and a playful, devoted, and protective father to his children. It is a great tragedy to lose such a highly regarded officer of the law and an honest, well-respected man. I am grateful for John Wilding's bravery, his public service, and his dedication to our community. His watch has now ended; may he rest in peace.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I awoke this morning to find news that last night, in the wee hours, House Republican leadership advanced an amendment to allow the display of the Confederate battle flag in Federal cemeteries and to allow National Park Service agents to do business with gift shops that sell Confederate battle flags. Mr. Speaker, at a time when South Carolina, itself the cradle of the Confederacy, has outlawed the flying of the Confederate battle flag on their statehouse grounds, at a time when all Americans were horrified at the slaughter of nine churchgoers by an individual motivated by that battle flag, at a time when everyone understands and acknowledges that it is a symbol of hate, we find the House Republican leadership wrapping itself in the Confederate battle flag. I object to this.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Chair, the Bureau of Land Management is currently working toward implementation of a rule that would modernize horribly outdated oil and gas regulations on Federal land. My amendment would strike a section of this bill that would halt this important work. What we have to do is to allow the BLM to proceed with them implementing this rule to provide a national baseline to protect our environment, our water, and our Federal lands from hazardous contamination. Since the 1980s, the scale and impacts associated with the oil and gas industry have grown dramatically, but BLM's fracking regulations have not kept pace. In March of 2015, the BLM finalized a modest, commonsense rule to update its 30-year-old fracking regulations. With these updates, the BLM is taking responsible steps to improve well integrity, reduce the impact of toxic wastewater, and increase transparency around chemicals used in the fracking process. Importantly, these new regulations will not impact States that already have robust fracking regulations and will simply offer a regulatory baseline for the States that do not have current fracking regulations. Notably, in 2013, there were still 19 States with operating fracking wells that had absolutely no hydraulic fracturing regulations in place. Right now over 90 percent of the more than 2,500 oil and gas wells drilled every year on federally managed lands use hydraulic fracturing. Just this month the EPA released a draft report that concludes that there are above- and below-ground mechanisms by which hazardous hydraulic fracturing chemicals have the potential to impact drinking water resources. Because of this, the Federal Government really has to take the necessary steps to ensure that toxic, cancer-causing fracking chemicals do not contaminate America's water supply, America's streams, America's rivers, and America's lakes. As many of you know, the fracking fluids injected into oil and gas wells contain thousands of chemicals, many of which can harm humans and the environment. In fact, the EPA identified over 1,000 different chemicals that have been used during the hydraulic fracturing process, with an estimated 9,100 gallons of chemicals used for each well. Due in large part to fracking loopholes and outdated oil and gas regulations, fracking chemical spills and water contaminations have occurred. In my home State of Pennsylvania, for example, there were nearly 600 documented cases of wastewater and chemical spills in 2013 alone. In fact, the EPA estimates that there are as many as 12 chemical spills for every 100 oil and gas wells in the State of Pennsylvania. And I need to remind the House that there are almost 8,000 active gas wells operating in Pennsylvania right now. So that is a lot of spills. Chemical and wastewater spills associated with fracking operations harm the environment, and it has been found to contaminate surface water. The EPA's draft study found that 8 percent of studied wastewater spills polluted surface or groundwater. Thankfully, the BLM's rule will help prevent fracking chemicals and wastewater from contaminating water bodies. It does so by validating the integrity of fracking wells and increasing the standards for storage and recovery of waste fluid. This rule will require companies publicly to disclose the chemicals being pumped into public lands. While I am concerned that the BLM fracking rule does not go far enough in some areas, simply stopping the rule in its tracks is just irresponsible. I am not opposed to fracking. I believe we have to utilize our natural resources, but we need to do so in a careful and responsible manner. There are bad actors in the oil and gas business just like there are some bad actors in every area, actors that cut corners and don't drill and frack properly and safely. The States, unfortunately, don't have all the expertise and resources to properly manage this exploding industry. The rule will set a relatively low bar but one that ensures a baseline across the country to protect our public lands. I urge you to support my amendment to allow the BLM to implement a rule that will prevent fracking chemical contamination and keep our Nation's water supply pristine and something Americans can be proud of. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw this amendment.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment on behalf of myself and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lowenthal), which I do intend to withdraw.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise at this time to lodge my objection that this House is going to recess tomorrow without taking up the renewal of the Export-Import Bank. This is a time when American businesspeople are doing everything they can think of to compete abroad. American manufacturers are seeking to export our goods. This is an outfit that stands up for American exporting manufacturers. It supports 1.5 million American manufacturing jobs-- good-paying, family-sustaining jobs. We can't recess without renewing the Export-Import Bank. In my district alone, 600 people are employed by companies that benefit materially from the Ex-Im Bank: Universal Industrial Gases in Easton; Fluortek, Inc., in Easton; Victaulic Company of America in Easton; Noble Biomaterials, Inc., in Scranton; Lehighton Electronics in Lehighton; and Copperhead Chemical Company in Tamaqua. Mr. Speaker, we have to do the sensible thing and renew the Export- Import Bank. It is as plain as the nose on your face; it is as true as the law of gravity.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Borough of Bangor, located in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The area now known as Bangor, PA was settled in 1735. It was first named Uttsville after Adam Utt, one of the area's first hotel builders. In 1855, the name was changed to New Village. Slate was discovered in 1856. Robert M. Jones, from Bethesda, Wales, founded the slate industry, and the first quarry opened in 1863. Bangor was incorporated as a borough on May 5, 1875. At that time, the population was 1,500. It was and is the core community in what came to be known as the Slate Belt region of Northampton County. At its height, Bangor's slate was known as the finest in the world, and Bangor was home to over seven major hotels. In the mid-1990s, a group of Bangor residents sought to preserve the borough's historical assets to secure its future vitality. In 2007, Bangor's Borough Business Revitalization Program joined a regional Main Street Program to foster the image of Bangor's traditional assets. The program later evolved into the Slate Belt Community Partnership, which continued the work. The National Register of Historic Places listing was approved in late 2014. Its focus is the slate extraction industry and the ethnic groups it attracted to Bangor from 1866-1940. I offer congratulations to the residents of Bangor for fulfilling their vision of a preserved Historic District. I applaud their dedication to history and to their community.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which is celebrating 100 years of service to both the Jewish and broader community. Jewish Family Service is a human service organization which reflects the Jewish tradition of caring and compassion for all people in need. Through professional counseling, advocacy, and educational programming, their services enhance and strengthen the quality of individual, family, and community life in Northeast Pennsylvania. Established in August of 1915 as the Jewish Federation of Scranton, the organization sought to coordinate relief activities of all service organizations in the Jewish community. These efforts included philanthropic and charitable family services, fundraising, and coordination of medical and dental clinics. Today, the Jewish Family Service provides a host of services to Northeast Pennsylvania, including mental health counseling, Holocaust survivors assistance, Kosher Meals on Wheels, older adult services, and the Mae S. Gelb Kosher Food Pantry. Additionally, the Jewish Family Service administers the Non-Sectarian DentalCare Center, an ongoing collaborative effort between JFS, the Scranton District Dental Society, and Fortis Institute Dental Hygiene Program to provide free dental care for eligible Lackawanna County residents. It is a privilege to honor such a service-oriented institution. I hope that Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania will continue their good work as long as it is needed.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Chair, I rise to offer an amendment.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Chair, on the one point about 99.9 percent of crashes settling within existing insurance minimums, there we have the opponents of my amendment speaking really out of both sides of their mouth, because if they say it is so rare that a crash will cost more than the minimum insurance, then what that means is that the expense of insuring against that minimal risk has to be minimal itself, but these are the same people saying that it will be a crippling additional insurance premium. It doesn't make sense.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Chair, tonight I urge the adoption of my amendment, which would allow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to continue its congressionally mandated ongoing work to improve safety and accountability in the trucking and bus industry. I do so out of a concern that we need to exhibit common sense in what we do. We need to be fiscally prudent, we need to promote safe highways in our Nation, and we need to recognize the importance of promoting personal responsibility and accountability. My amendment would strike a section of this bill that would halt the FMCSA's work toward issuing a rule that would make our highways safer for everyone by creating an incentive for motor carriers to make safety a greater priority. We have to allow the FMCSA to proceed with the development of a rule to increase insurance minimums for motor carriers, which have not been updated in, fully, 35 years in this Nation and, thus, have become outdated to the point of uselessness. The first point I make is that it is simply common sense that we adjust for inflation. Not adjusting for inflation for 35 years is not prudent, and it makes no sense. It allows carriers to travel on our Nation's highways in a financially irresponsible manner, in a manner that would allow them not to be accountable for whatever harm they might cause. Adjusting for inflation is common sense. It is also fiscally prudent, because what happens? Right now in this Nation, tractor-trailers are allowed to travel around with $750,000 of liability insurance. The FMCSA is studying that number to see what it should be updated to after 35 years. $750,000 is not enough money. Just this morning in my district in northeastern Pennsylvania, there was a horrendous truck and bus accident in which three people were killed and a dozen others were seriously injured. When three people are killed, asking their families to share $750,000 is not fiscally responsible. Look who pays the difference. If somebody is killed or if somebody is rendered, for example, a paraplegic, they are going to incur incredible amounts of medical bills; they are not going to be able to work. Who picks up the difference when that happens? It is the Social Security system, it is the Medicare system, it is John Q. Taxpayer that ends up paying the bill when the trucking company doesn't have enough insurance to pay the damages. That is why it is fiscally prudent that we allow the FMCSA to continue its important work, and it is important work that was mandated by the MAP-21 bill that required the FMCSA to do this work. It also promotes safe highways, because if we raise insurance minimums up to modern and responsible levels, that means insurance companies will have to engage in actual real underwriting. They will have to go out from the home office and visit the headquarters of trucking companies to make sure they are acting properly and safely and responsibly. If they do that, if you want to buy insurance at reasonable levels, you have to act safely. Finally, Madam Chair, this is about personal responsibility. If you don't have enough insurance, you get away without being personally responsible when these horrendous crashes happen. Madam Chair, I yield to Mr. Price for a colloquy.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. That is correct. For that very reason, I urge everyone to support my amendment to allow the FMCSA to finish its important work of examining and developing a rule that is critical to preventing devastating trucking accidents and keeping our highways safe and secure for everyone. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Greg Collins, who is receiving the Community Service Award from the Greater Wilkes-Barre Salvation Army. Mr. Collins is the Area President for Wells Fargo's Northeast Pennsylvania market, which serves nine counties in northeast Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 1992, Mr. Collins was marketing manager for Bridon American Corporation. A native of northeastern Pennsylvania, Mr. Collins' leadership and influence extends far beyond the workplace. He serves as a board member for several area organizations, including Misericordia University, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, Leadership Wilkes-Barre, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Collins is a Scranton Plan committee member as well as Chairman of the 2015 American Heart Association Gala for Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Collins is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Wilkes-Barre's Executive Leadership Program, as well as a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Earlier this year, he received the 2015 North Star Award from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of the Boy Scouts of America. This community service award recognizes individuals for their contributions and dedication on behalf of humanity and the promotion of health and wellness for all. It is a distinct honor to honor Greg Collins on receiving the Greater Wilkes-Barre Salvation Army Community Service Award, and I commend him for the many years of dedicated service he provided to our local community. His work on behalf of others serves as an inspiration for all of us.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bobbie Steever, who is receiving the Greater Wilkes-Barre Salvation Army Others Award. Since retiring from Bell of America in 1991, Mrs. Steever refused to let retirement slow her down. She has worked for several companies and organizations including Trade Eastern, Inc., Lewith & Freeman Real Estate, and Penn State Wilkes-Bane. Following her time at Penn State, she spent 15 years with TRR & Associates as a professional consultant in fundraising, events planning, and public relations. Today, she serves as the Executive Director of Community Services for TFP Limited, a real estate development and management company. Driven by a genuine passion to serve others, Mrs. Steever's outreach to the community began many years ago serving as Chair of Bell's Community Relations Service Team. She has served as chair, board member, solicitor, and friend of several local non-profits, including the Osterhout Library, Back Mountain Memorial Library, Catherine McAuley House, Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley, Luzeme County Community College, Penn State Wilkes-Bane, Wyoming Valley United Way, Association for the Blind, American Heart Association, and the Salvation Army. In 2010, the Times Leader newspaper recognized Mrs. Steever as one of the Great Women of Northeast Pennsylvania for her accomplishments in the workplace and in her community. Mrs. Steever also served with the Salvation Army's Wilkes-Barre Corps for nine years, where she repeatedly proved her ability to effectively orchestrate their Annual Community Award Dinners, raising approximately $1,300,000 for the Kirby Health Center Family House, a transitional housing program for homeless families. It is a distinct honor to congratulate Bobbie Steever on receiving the Greater Wilkes-Barre Salvation Army Others Award, and I commend her for the many years of dedicated service she provided to our local community. Her work on behalf of others serves as an inspiration for all of us.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Wiconisco High School Alumni Association for exceptional civic activism--past and present--as reflected by the fact that the Association is hosting a 65th annual reunion. The Association has met every year since its first meeting in 1951 and has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to its members and the larger community. While the Wiconisco district designation no longer exists, the Alumni Association has remained dedicated to serving the redrawn district and the needs of its students. When Wiconisco merged into the Williams Valley School District in 1965, the alumni did not lose their focus or commitment. Over the decades, the Wiconisco High School Alumni Association has supported the Williams Valley Athletic Department, sponsored the local minstrel project, and actively provided scholarships to ensure the future success of area students. Since the scholarship program began in 1992, the Alumni Association has awarded over $200,000 to local graduates, and now awards a total of five scholarships annually. I extend my gratitude to the members of the Wiconisco High School Alumni Association for their dedication to each other, to education, and to the improvement of their community.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Mark P. Thomas, who will be honored for his service to the Schuylkill Choral Society on May 9. Dr. Thomas has served as the music director and conductor of the Schuylkill Choral Society for three decades. Under his leadership, the Schuylkill County Choral Society has gained worldwide recognition. Dr. Thomas has been recognized in the United States and Europe for his contribution to the performing arts. In addition to his duties with the Choral Society, Dr. Thomas is a founder of both the Anthracite Philharmonic and Schuylkill County's first children's chorus, Minor Notes Chorale. Dr. Thomas has been a guest artist and conductor for many organizations including the Prague Radio Symphony, the New York Pops, and the Schuylkill Symphony Orchestra. He has made multiple tours throughout Europe and North America which have included multiple performances at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and the Riverside Cathedral in New York, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, the State Opera House and the Cathedral of St. Mary and Paul in Prague, and the Cathedral of St. Stephen in Vienna. Thomas has served as a guest conductor with the Ocean Grove Choral Festival Choir, at Reading's Music-fest, and for PMEA choral festivals throughout Pennsylvania. He has also toured and conducted in Russia, Finland, and Estonia with members of the State Orchestra of St. Petersburg and members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Choral Society. In 2016, he will be leading the Schuylkill Choral Society on a tour to Italy and France which will include performances in Rome, Florence, Paris, and Normandy. Dr. Thomas has appeared nationally on the NPR and PBS as well as local appearances on Comcast Tonight and Comcast Newsmakers. He has served as a music consultant for Maryland Educational Television and as an adjunct professor at Alvernia University, Penn State University, and Bucks County Community College. Thomas and his choirs are also featured performers of the National Anthem for the Philadelphia sports community, including regular performances for the Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers. Dr. Thomas is deservedly listed in the Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Education, and Who's Who among American Teachers. He has received recognition from former President Bill Clinton on behalf of a music program he designed honoring World War II veterans. He has also received recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives, the Pennsylvania House and Senate, the Schuylkill County Board of Commissioners, and the Austrian and German governments. Thomas was named by Philadelphia Magazine as ``Best Choral Director'' in the Philadelphia region. He has also been recognized by the St. David's Society as a ``Citizen of the Year,'' was Pennsylvania finalist for ``Teacher of the Year,'' and was the first musician inducted into the Upper Perkiomen Valley Academic Hall of Fame. It is an honor to recognize Dr. Mark Thomas for his work in the musical arts. His passion for music is evident his impressive body of work, which has touched countless individuals over the years. I applaud him for his service to the greater artistic good, and I wish him continued success in the future.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Father John S. Terry, who will be celebrating his 40 years of service to the Priesthood on Saturday, May 2. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Father Terry heard his calling to the priesthood while attending St. Michael's Grade School and Scranton Preparatory School. Father Terry began his religious studies at the University of Scranton. After two years, he continued his formation at St. Pius X Seminary. He further continued his studies at Our Lady of Angels Theological Seminary in Albany, NY before transferring to Christ the King Seminary in Olean, NY. In May 1974, he was ordained a deacon and assigned to a small community in Ellicottville, NY. His next assignment was to the Diocese of Buffalo Seminary at East Aurora, NY. The next year, he was assigned to his home Diocese, and he served as a Deacon to St. Mary's Church of the Immaculate Conception in Wilkes-Barre. On May 2, 1975, Father Terry was inducted into the priesthood and assigned to St. Mary's Church of the Immaculate Conception. In 1979, Father Terry was appointed Assistant Pastor at St. Patrick's, and he was also made Director of the Catholic Youth Center, where he still serves today In 1982, Father Terry was assigned to Holy Savior Church and St. Christopher's Church, where he spent eight years. In December of 1990, Father Terry was temporarily stationed at the Catholic Community in Sugar Notch, and, in 1992, he was named Pastor of all three Sugar Notch churches--St. Peter and Paul, St. Charles Boromeo, and Holy Family. On July 6, 2004, Father Terry became Pastor of St. Mary's Church of the Maternity. The consolidations of St. Joseph's Church of Wilkes- Barre Township and Holy Trinity of Wilkes-Barre with St. Mary's of the Maternity formed the new parish of Our Lady of Hope, where Father Terry serves today as its first Pastor. It is an honor to recognize Father John S. Terry on his 40th Anniversary. I am grateful for his many stations and years of service to Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding area. May he continue to serve his civic community, the priesthood, and his faith community with continued, inspirational dedication.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Glenn Steele, Jr., who will be retiring in June after a stellar, fourteen-year tenure as President and CEO of Geisinger Health System. Under his leadership, Geisinger grew and gained national recognition for its innovative approach to health care. Today, the company serves 2.6 million residents across 44 counties in Pennsylvania and employs almost 21,000 people. For his groundbreaking and imaginative leadership, Dr. Steele has been recognized as one of the most influential physician executives our nation has ever seen. During his remarkable company leadership stint, Dr. Steele also served on the panel of health advisers for the Congressional Budget Office and contributed significantly to a host of prominent medical societies and organizations, including the American Surgical Association, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, and the Roundtable on Value and Science-Driven Healthcare. He is an appointee to the Committee on the Governance and Financing of Graduate Medical Education, and, in February this year, Dr. Steele joined the ranks of the Millennium Health Advisory Board. He has also served as Chairman of the American Board of Surgery and President of the Society of Surgical Oncology. Dr. Steele's work has earned him several national awards, including the CEO IT Achievement Award in 2005, the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Grassroots Champion Award in 2007, the 8th Annual (2010) AHA Health Research & Education Trust Award, and the Healthcare Financial Management Association Board of Directors' Award in 2011. He has been recognized in the Modern Healthcare's ``50 Most Powerful Physician Executives'' numerous times and has made other health care industry ``most influential'' lists repeatedly. Dr. Steele has additionally served on the editorial board of many medical journals and has authored or co-authored more than 480 scientific and professional articles--quite a career record! It is an honor to recognize Dr. Glenn Steele for his many and ongoing accomplishments. I commend him for his innovative leadership in the field of health care and for his indispensable contributions to the high quality of life we enjoy in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Rotary Club of Pottsville, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary this Friday, April 17, 2015. The club was chartered on May 1, 1915 as Club 157 in District 35, a district that included all of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. The founding 64 members were led by President O. L. Underwood, Treasurer J. E. Gregory, and Secretary J. H. Zerbey, Jr. The Reading Rotary Club, which was established the prior year, was the sponsor of Pottsville's club. In the early days of the club, the meeting places ``Rotated'' around Pottsville. The venues the club frequented included the Allan Hotel, the Necho Allen, the Penn Hall, and other spots in downtown Pottsville. Meetings also took place in communities outside of Pottsville including Long Run (now Schuylkill Haven), Tamaqua, Pine Grove, Normal Square, Hamburg, Shartlesville, and other towns. The Rotary Club of Pottsville has supported the Rotary Foundation through the years and is proud to list 68 Paul Harris Fellows, each recognized for contributions to the Rotary Foundation. Since its founding, the Pottsville Rotary Club has supported Rotary International efforts to eradicate polio worldwide. In addition to helping fight Polio globally, the Pottsville Rotary Club has a history of helping locally. It was Pottsville Rotarians who organized the Schuylkill County Crippled Children Association in Pottsville. They promoted and sponsored the Schuylkill Campus of the Pennsylvania State University. They organized and sponsored the Rotary Little League, the Zerbey Rotary little league field, the Pottsville girls softball field in Forest Hills, and improvements at the Gordon Nagle little league and softball fields. The club also helped found the annual Charity Bowl all-star basketball games, which features boys and girls high school all-star teams. It is an honor to recognize the Rotary Club of Pottsville on its 100th Anniversary. I am certain that the organization will continue to work for the improvement of our community and will be a big part of Pottsville and Schuylkill County's future.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former Pennsylvania State Representative Phyllis Mundy. First elected in 1990, Phyllis served 12 consecutive terms as the representative for Pennsylvania's 120th District. Throughout her 24-year service in the General Assembly, Phyllis built a reputation as a champion of environmental protection and early childhood education. While in Harrisburg, Phyllis was a legislative leader with signature policies that expanded care for senior citizens, improved the rights of foster children, provided stronger home visitation services for low- income expectant mothers, boosted pre-K education, cut property taxes, and expanded prescription drug coverage for seniors. As a Representative, Phyllis was beloved in northeastern Pennsylvania because of her highly responsive constituent services and her frequent attendance at public events important to local residents. Before her career in the state house, Phyllis worked as a French teacher and a manager for Injection Molding Corp., a multi-million dollar manufacturing company. She served as president of the Wilkes- Barre chapter of the League of Women Voters, a Luzerne County Property Tax Reform Commissioner, and was active in the Junior League during the late 1980s. A 1970 graduate of Bloomsburg University, Phyllis earned two degrees--in secondary education and French. Although Phyllis has retired from elected office, she remains active in promoting the welfare of her community. She currently serves on the boards of Maternal and Family Health Services, Luzerne County Head Start, the Area Agency on Aging, and the United Way's Success by Six, and she was also elected to the Vestry of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. It is an honor to recognize Phyllis Mundy and her exceptional work on behalf of Pennsylvania. The inspirational legacy she has left is a model for all who are interested in public service. I thank her for inspiring me, and I wish her the best in retirement.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to comment on the budget that was passed yesterday out of this House by the Republicans. I come from Scranton, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of our Vice President. Our Vice President is often heard to say that people talk about family values all the time, family values this, family values that. He says: Look, don't talk to me about your values. Show me your budget, and I will tell you what your values are. This Republican budget was something that I could not support because it will have the effect of cutting over 1 million jobs over the next year. Even worse than that, it will turn Medicare into, effectively, a voucher program. If you are on Medicare and you need treatment and they give you a voucher, you had better hope that that voucher covers the services you need; otherwise, you are out of luck. So if your values include increasing jobs and employment in this country and taking care of our seniors, that Republican budget was not the one to vote for.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Monsignor John Bendik, who will receive the Achievement Award from the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Monsignor Bendik was ordained on May 27, 1967, by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick, after studying at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Indiana. His first assignment was to St. Matthew's Parish in East Stroudsburg. He taught at Notre Dame High School and served as Director of Campus Ministry at East Stroudsburg University. In 1970, he was assigned full-time to serve the University students where he developed an ecumenical and inter-faith United Campus Ministry. In 1981, Monsignor Bendik was assigned as Chaplain at Misericordia University in Dallas where he organized student, faculty, and staff programs to outreach to the needy. His first assignment as a pastor was in 1986 at the parish of Our Lady of the Snows in Clarks Summit. Today, Monsignor Bendik is the pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Pittston. In addition to serving as the current pastor for St. John's, Monsignor Bendik is also on a variety of boards within the community. He is the Dean for the priests and deacons of Northern Luzerne County. Monsignor Bendik and his parishioners also operate Care and Concern Ministries. Care and Concern provides the Greater Pittston Area with a free health clinic and a food pantry. It is an honor to recognize Monsignor Bendik for his many accomplishments. I commend him for his service to our local communities throughout his career. I offer my deepest congratulation on receiving the Achievement Award from the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. John F. Callahan, who will receive the 2015 Swingle Award from the Greater Pittston, Pennsylvania Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick. A native of Pittston, Dr. Callahan is a son of the late John A. Callahan and Catherine McNulty. He attended Scranton Prep High School and graduated from The University of Scranton. Before practicing medicine, Dr. Callahan was a school teacher, and he continued to teach medical students after becoming a doctor. Upon graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Callahan operated a family practice in Pittston and worked as an emergency room physician at the Pittston Hospital and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. Dr. Callahan was instrumental in establishing the Care and Concern Free Clinic in Pittston. The clinic provides medical services to those who are underinsured or without insurance. In addition to medical care, the clinic offers dental care, psychiatric counseling, children's clothing and toys, and food. Dr. Callahan was president of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (POMA) from 1998 to 1999. In 2000, he was named Physician of the Year by POMA. He also served on the POMA board for eight years. Dr. Callahan has acquired several other awards and recognitions from varying organizations throughout his career. It is an honor to recognize Dr. John Callahan for his many accomplishments. I commend him for his service to our community, and I offer my deepest congratulation on receiving the Swingle Award from the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.