Matt Cartwright

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Stanley Waleski, who will receive the 2017 Achievement Award from the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Stan will be honored by the Friendly Sons during the 103rd annual dinner on March 17. Stan is a former educator in the Pittston Area School District. He served as a teacher, coach, and principal for over 35 years, retiring in 2012. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from East Stroudsburg University with a teaching certification in Health and Physical Education. Stan received a Masters of Arts degree from Marywood University with certifications in Elementary Education, Elementary and Secondary School Administration, and a Superintendent's Letter of Intent. While attending Scranton Preparatory School, Stan was an outstanding athlete and a member of the 1973 PCIAA state champion basketball team. For 51 years, Stan has been an active member of the Avoca Jolly Boys, a civic and community service organization, serving on its board of directors and at one time as president. The organization provides the community with athletic programs for youth and adults, as well as social events and picnics. The Jolly Boys sponsor the popular Avoca Basketball League, which Stan has served as the director of for the past 22 years. The league plays annually with over 450 players and 75 coaching volunteers. It is an honor to recognize Stanley Waleski for his lifelong service to the Pittston community, and I congratulate him for receiving the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Achievement Award. I am grateful for his contributions to his community, and I wish him continued success in the future.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jason Klush, Mayor of Pittston, Pennsylvania. On March 17, Mayor Klush will receive the ``Man of the Year'' Award from the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick during their 103rd annual banquet. Jason was elected as Pittston's Mayor in 2009 and re-elected in 2013. He is the youngest mayor in the city's history. Under his leadership, Pittston has seen a revitalization of its downtown and other key neighborhoods, improvements to infrastructure including an $11 million sewer improvement project, and increased funding and development for the Pittston Memorial Library. Jason is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice. In addition to serving as Pittston's Mayor, Jason is a foreman and site supervisor for Hadley Construction. He has served on the boards of several non- profits and is a current member of the Northeast Pennsylvania Land Bank Authority, the Greater Pittston Compost Commission, and the Pittston City Festivals Association Board. It is an honor to recognize Jason for his contributions to his community and I congratulate him on being the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick ``Man of the Year''. I wish him all the best in the future.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bill Jones of Mountaintop, Pennsylvania as he is honored by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick ``Man of the Year'' during their 72nd annual banquet on March 17. Bill Jones currently serves as President and CEO of the United Way of Wyoming Valley. Since joining the organization in January 2012, he has led the local United Way in making transformational and historic changes in the way the organization serves the community. Under his administration, the United Way has become a leading and passionate voice on critical issues related to childhood poverty in the Wyoming Valley. Prior to the United Way, Bill served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania. During his twelve-year tenure he was involved in growing and developing programs that served children and youth, the elderly, the homeless, those with mental illness, and families in poverty. He also spent fifteen years in the banking industry and was Vice President and Community Development Manager for PNC Bank. Bill is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Misericordia University and earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Wilkes University. In addition, he graduated ``With Distinction'' from the Stonier School of Banking at the University of Delaware. I join with the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in congratulating Bill on becoming their ``Man of the Year.'' I congratulate him on his achievements, and I wish him the very best for the future.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

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

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I also oppose this underlying bill, which is why I call it, as others have, the wrongdoer protection act for multistate and multinational corporations, and for that purpose, I add this amendment. It is no coincidence that these corporate wrongdoers want to force consumers to fight them in Federal court. That is the effect of this bill, to enlarge Federal court diversity jurisdiction. It is no coincidence that the corporate wrongdoers want to fight in Federal court. It is not because they think the Federal judges are better looking or the Federal judges are more polite or the decor in the Federal courtrooms is nicer to look at. That is not it all. They want to go there because they are more likely to prevail and to beat consumers in Federal court. They know that. They know that, after a generation of regrettable decisions across the street by the Supreme Court of the United States, Federal court has become very favorable turf for corporate wrongdoers--generations of bad decisions that invite and exhort Federal judges to forget about the Seventh Amendment in our Bill of Rights. You remember the Seventh Amendment. It was written by James Madison. It was announced as approved by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, whose statue stands right outside this Chamber. It was an amendment that says very simply: `` . . . in suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed $20, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved. . . . `' There is nothing ambiguous about that statement. It is not hard to understand. It is about how important the right to trial by jury is to us here in these United States. But since the 1980s, there has been this steady drumbeat of decisions from the United States Supreme Court encouraging and emboldening Federal court judges to decide and dismiss cases without the trouble of a jury trial. Their toolkit is enormous for doing that: motions to dismiss, motions for judgment on the pleadings, motions for summary judgment, motions for directed verdict, motions for judgment as a matter of law. Cases do get thrown out every day in this country without the trouble of a jury trial, and the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial is not preserved. That is why wrongdoer corporations prefer to be in the Federal court. Federal court has become candy land for corporate wrongdoers in this country, and this bill helps them stay there and fight consumers in Federal court. It changes the law to allow corporate wrongdoers to do that. I want to give you some very strong reasons, Mr. Chairman, why this bill is so bad. Number one, it is discriminatory. Unless you are a multistate or multinational corporation, this bill doesn't help you. If you are an individual sued in State court, this bill does not help you. If you are a small-business owner only doing work in your State, this bill does not help you. Only multistate, multinational corporations get help from this bill, and that is why I call it the wrongdoers protection act for multistate and multinational corporations. Number two, it is burdensome. The Federal courts are already overworked and understaffed. The civil caseload is growing at 12 percent a year. There are currently 123 vacancies in our Federal judiciary. There is no reason to add to this burden by changing the law. Number three, this bill forces State court cases into Federal court. We have a crowd in this House that consistently preaches about states' rights and the need to cut back on the Federal Government's reach, but a bill like this comes along and they drop that state's rights banner like it is a hot potato and pick up the coat of arms of the multistate, multinational corporations. If you really do care about states' rights, you should be voting ``no'' on this bill. You see, these cases called diversity cases are filed in State court under State law. Ever since the 1930s, in the Erie Railroad case, if you take these cases and handle them in Federal court, the Federal judges are bound by law to follow State law, not Federal law. Mr. Chairman, there is nobody better at interpreting and following State law than State court judges. It stands to reason. I offer this amendment that is at the desk to exempt consumer cases against insurance companies for bad faith in insurance practices. If the majority is going to persist and present this gift to multistate and multinational corporations, at least include this amendment and protect consumers trying to fight insurance companies. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Patrolman Milan Barber of the Minersville, Pennsylvania Police Department. Patrolman Barber will be formally inducted to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 13 at the 29th Annual Candlelight Vigil during National Police Week. A veteran of World War II, Milan served in the Navy before becoming a law enforcement officer. Patrolman Barber served the borough of Minersville in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. His watched ended on Friday, June 19, 1970 after he suffered a fatal heart attack while on duty. Patrolman Barber and another officer attempted to apprehend an individual suspected of committing theft of a vehicle. The two officers struggled to contain the suspect as he resisted arrest. During the altercation, Patrolman Barber collapsed abruptly. The subject fled the scene while the other officer tended to Patrolman Barber. The suspect was eventually taken into custody and charged with manslaughter, larceny, and resisting arrest. Patrolman Barber was survived by his wife and four children. The loss of Patrolman Milan Barber was a great tragedy for the people of Minersville. His sacrifice and the sacrifice of all fallen police officers will not be forgotten. Our nation owes a great debt of gratitude to brave individuals like Patrolman Barber for protecting our communities. May he be remembered by all whose lives he touched and made better as he rests in peace.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

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

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

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. I am opposed to it in its current form.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. This motion to recommit is to defend ethical conduct throughout our government. In response to the Watergate scandal, Congress created the Office of Government Ethics to protect against unethical behavior in the executive branch. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed into law a bill to strengthen the Office of Government Ethics by removing it from the Office of Personnel Management and giving it greater independence from the White House. Now Congress is attempting to undo this vision of a strong, independent Office of Government Ethics at a time when we need it more than ever. This bill would put the Office of Government Ethics right back under the control of the White House, and that is why this motion to recommit simply excludes OGE from this bill. We appreciate the need for strong ethical guidelines most strongly when people act unethically. Every day we witness this White House struggle with honesty and credibility. We heard the promises last night, the ones we have been hearing all along. When you promise to create family-sustaining jobs by revitalizing American infrastructure and then we find out he means to do it with tax breaks to huge corporations and none of the regular guarantees that the people actually doing the work will be treated right and paid fairly, that is when you have a credibility problem. When you promote yourself as a man of the people but then we find out you have stuffed your Cabinet with out-of-touch billionaire friends, that is when you have a credibility problem. When you promise to fix America's education system but then we see you appoint Betsy DeVos to head the Department of Education, someone with no education experience, someone who wants to gut public education, that is when you have a credibility problem. When you address Congress and promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act in a way that guarantees increased access, coverage of preexisting conditions, and that costs will go down but no one in America knows how you plan to pay for that, that is when you have a credibility problem. We don't need a White House with a credibility problem. We need these promises the President has made to come true. We need a stronger economy full of family-sustaining jobs. We need Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare to be protected. We need to have an executive branch we can trust. This is our future, and we need to be smart about it. I believe that smart people trust, but they verify. The problem is we do seem to have a President whose relationship with the truth is, at best, a nodding acquaintance. This is why we need a strong Office of Government Ethics more than ever. Ronald Reagan was right; it needs to be an office independent of control by the White House. We need it to keep our leaders from enriching themselves in public office, to keep our leaders honest, to help us trust, but verify that our elected officials do what is best for the American people and not their own pocketbooks. We need it to ensure that our President is acting in our best interest with nations around the world. We have already seen this President and his staff repeatedly lie and refuse to answer questions about their business and political ties with dealings in Russia. We have seen, at a minimum, improper and potentially far worse collusion over rigging an election, and we have seen the administration attempt to influence investigations into their dealings with Russia. We need an Office of Government Ethics to be independent of the White House because this President has used diplomatic relations to promote his businesses abroad at the expense of the American taxpayer. He promised to drain the swamp and immediately started appointing his billionaire buddies to Cabinet positions and rush their hearings through before they could even complete the ethics process.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Marrara, who will be honored as Unican of the Year on March 4, 2017 during the annual Scranton UNICO banquet. Each year UNICO honors a member that puts Service above self. Mary has a lifetime record of service to the Scranton community. Mary was born and raised in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. She attended school in the Philadelphia area, and she started her career as a dental manager there. In 1970, she and her husband Phil moved to Scranton. Mary and Phil own P & M Associates, Inc. The company was one of the first to offer cabinet refacing with a major national department store. They have received every top award for over 25 years for customer service and installations. Mary was part of the team in Chicago that created the Quality Every Day program, which set the standard for the national installation. Currently, they work with major retailers and sell and install kitchens on their own. Mary also owned and operated an ice cream shop, The Mary Go Round, which included The Floral Corner with her sister Fran. In her 47 years of living in northeastern Pennsylvania Mary has served in, helped, and advised a wide array of area organizations. One of the first charities Mary became involved with was St. Joseph's Center, which helps individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental delays, pregnant women, young families, couples hoping to adopt, and people who require outpatient therapy. Currently, Mary serves on several boards of The Wright Center and co-chairs the Wonderful Women Program and the Wright Center Health Fair. She also serves on the boards of the American Red Cross, the NEPA Philharmonic League, LaFesta Italiana, and the UNICO Scranton chapter. She is a committee member of the Jim Minicozzi 5K Race, the Jermyn Lions Club, and she serves on the advisory boards for Meals on Wheels and the Scranton Cultural Center. It is an honor to recognize Mary Marrara for receiving the Unican of the Year Award from Scranton UNICO. I am grateful for her commitment to the citizens of northeastern Pennsylvania. I hope that she will continue to work for the welfare of her neighbors and the improvement of her community.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Caprari Family of Pittston for celebrating the 60th Anniversary of their family business, the Duchess Outlet, last year on Friday, November 11. The Duchess Outlet, which began as a textile manufacturer, operates as a retail clothing outlet and seller of heirloom toys. Established in 1956 by Sam and Theresa Caprari, the Duchess Coat & Suit Manufacturing plant was a major garment producer for northeastern Pennsylvania and employed over 150 workers. As the business grew, the Duchess opened a discount retail outlet that offered raincoats, wool jackets, leathers, and outerwear. When Sam and Theresa retired, they handed over the business to their son Paul and his wife Paula. The Duchess Outlet expanded their inventory with suits, sport jackets, outerwear, and name-brand raincoats. The store also began carrying Madame Alexander Dolls and opened a Doll Museum. The Museum now has more than 1,000 pieces, dating from the 1930s to the present. In addition to operating the Duchess Outlet, the Caprari family has a long record of service to their community and country. During World War II, Sam Caprari served as a military aircraft-manufacturing instructor. He was a member of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, the Elks Club, and the Italian American Association. Theresa is the Vice-President of the Business and Professional Women's Club Association. She was also a member of National Federation of Independent Business and the Pennsylvania Mental Health Association. Paul Caprari is the founder of Hear for You, a program that provides hearing aids to those who cannot afford them. Paul also serves with the Knights of Columbus Council 372 as a 4th Degree Knight. Paula Caprari has received multiple honors and awards for overseeing Duchess Outlet Doll Museum, including being recognized by the Madame Alexander Company. Julio Caprari is also a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus with Council 372. As Co-Chairman of Pittston City History Day, Julio has worked with Misericordia University and Luzerne County Agency on Aging to preserve the history of Greater Pittston. It is an honor to recognize the Caprari family as they celebrate the Duchess Outlet's 60th Anniversary. May they continue to serve their neighbors and community in the Greater Pittston Area with distinction.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lawrence C. Malski, who on January 27 received the Eminent Eagle Award from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council Boy Scouts of America. The Eminent Eagle Award recognizes an Eagle Scout from Northeastern Pennsylvania who is a role model for all Scouts who aspire to achieve the rank of Eagle. An Eagle Scout since 1966, Larry has long been a leader in his community. Throughout his life, he has been devoted to service and committed to excellence. In 1972, Larry graduated with the highest honors from Penn State University with a degree in Transportation/ Traffic Management and Labor-Management Relations. He received his Juris Doctorate from the Temple University School of Law in 1977. Larry is admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar, New York Bar, and admitted to practice before the District Court in Eastern Pennsylvania and Northern New York. Larry is the President of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority, which manages the region's 100-mile railroad system. Formed in 2006, the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority was established by the merger of Lackawanna and Monroe Counties' Rail Authorities. Before the merger, Larry served as Lackawanna County Railroad Authority's Executive Director and General Counsel for twenty-two years. He also consulted with the Monroe County Railroad Authority, advising them on transportation funding, policy, and administration. Throughout his career, Larry has been a leading figure in the effort to reinstate commuter rail in between northern New Jersey/New York City and the Poconos and greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Larry has a long record of service to his community. He is one of fifteen members of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Railroad- Shipper Transportation Advisory Council. The Council often advises the Secretary of Transportation, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the STB Chairman on matters of regulation, policy, and legislation. Larry currently serves as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Rail Freight Advisory Committee. Appointed by Governor Casey in 1989, Larry has helped that statewide committee advise the governor, legislature, and PennDOT on rail freight preservation and development in Pennsylvania. He has also served on the boards of the County of Lackawanna Transit System, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Transportation subcommittee, the Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company, the PennDOT Lackawanna/Luzerne Transportation Study Committee, the Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Bi-State Rail Project Technical Committee, and Penn's Northeast industrial development corporation. It is an honor to recognize Larry Malski for upholding the values of the Boy Scouts of America. I extend my warmest congratulations to him for receiving the Eminent Eagle Award for 2017.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mitch Kornfeld, a local business owner and outgoing President of the Jewish Community Alliance of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He is a force for change in the local Jewish community, and professionally, Mr. Kornfeld is the Owner and Vice President of Operations at The Woodlands Inn, one of the premier hotels in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Area. Mr. Kornfeld is a South Wilkes-Barre native and graduate of E.L. Myers High School. In 1969, his father and uncle opened The Woodlands, and Mr. Komfeld grew up in and around the family business. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, he earned a degree in economics and communications. After college, Mr. Kornfeld returned to Wilkes-Bane to play a vital role in his family's business. Mr. Kornfeld grew up in a Jewish family, and today, he gives back as an active member of the Jewish Community Alliance of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The JCA seeks to create a community for Jews to connect to each other and to their faith through services and programming. As president, he has been instrumental in expanding the Jewish Community Center, currently located in Wilkes-Bane, to the new Center for Jewish Life in Kingston. The 60,000 square foot space will feature a fitness center, a library, class rooms, and a resource room to serve and support the Jewish population of the Wyoming Valley and the general public. Mr. Kornfeld combines business acumen with an altruistic spirit. He is committed to supporting and reenergizing the Jewish population in Northeast Pennsylvania with projects such as the Center for Jewish Life. It is an honor to recognize Mitch Kornfeld and his exceptional work as President of the Jewish Community Alliance. He has left a remarkable legacy by taking a leadership role in the development of the Center for Jewish Life. I look forward to watching the final realization of this ambitious project, and I wish him the very best in the future.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. James Kelleher. He is a United States Marine, an Olympic contender, and a champion boxer, but today I take note of his service and a tradition of goodwill that inspired his path. A resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania, James is a role model for the young people of my district. James started boxing when he was nine years old. As a youth, he found encouragement through the United Way of the Lehigh Valley's TeenWorks program, which sponsored his wish to improve a boxing club serving over 100 at-risk children in the heart of an area known for gang activity. For him, the club provided discipline, focus, and a safe place to grow and develop. For many Americans, being a good citizen is defined by a willingness to do for others. They recognize that some of the greatest rewards in life come when we give our time and talents to improve our communities. There are many programs in our country proving opportunities to be a mentor and model a spirit of giving. I hope others will be inspired by James Kelleher's focus and his charity and ask themselves: What more can I do for others?

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas Williams, State Director of U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development for Pennsylvania. Appointed to the USDA by President Obama in July 2009, Mr. Williams will retire from federal service on January 7, 2017. As State Director for Pennsylvania, Mr. Williams was responsible for securing loans, grants, loan guarantees and technical assistance offered through 40 Rural Development housing, utility and business programs. Mr. Williams managed 106 employees and 9 regional offices across Pennsylvania, as well as the state office in Harrisburg. During his seven years with the USDA, Rural Development invested over $5 billion in Pennsylvania infrastructure. Prior to his tenure with the USDA, Mr. Williams served as a congressional aide to former U.S. Congressman Paul Kanjorski. Mr. Williams also worked with several communities in Pennsylvania and New York to assist local development and economic development efforts. Mr. Williams is a graduate of Wilkes University and received his Master's degree from Bloomsburg University. He currently resides in Mountain Top with his wife, Nancy. It is an honor to recognize Thomas Williams for his service to our country, and I wish him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Amendment IV: ``The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.''

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. I thank the gentlewoman from New York. Mr. Speaker, 70 years ago, United Mine Workers of America President John L. Lewis--a lifetime Republican--crossed party lines to work with President Roosevelt and his administration to make a deal to end a nationwide coal strike. The deal ended up promising health and pension benefits for miners in this country in exchange for their lifetime of hard work. It was a promise that the Federal Government has kept since then. Every year, no matter who the President is, no matter who is in control of the Congress, it is a promise that our Nation has kept every single year for 70 years; but, Mr. Speaker, that is about to change. Right now, 22,500 coal miners in West Virginia, in Ohio, in my own home State of Pennsylvania, and across coal country are facing a complete loss of their health and pension benefits during 2017. It breaks the long-time promise between the coal industry, its workers, and the Federal Government. The continuing resolution before us purports to fix this problem by ensuring that 16,300 miners who would lose their health care on December 31 are taken care of. However, this is only a short-term Band- Aid, 4-month patch for health care, which leaves miners worse off in April than they are today. Most importantly, this CR does absolutely nothing to solve the pension problem--this in return for a lifetime of hard and dangerous work. There are actual long-term solutions available that this body should be considering. The Miners Protection Act would fix both the health care and pensions for miners permanently. I repeat, it fixes the problems permanently. Mr. Speaker, there is absolutely no reason for the short-term patch the majority is proposing here today. Miners across Pennsylvania have risked their health and safety to secure better lives for their families. They have dedicated their careers to ensuring that U.S. factories have the energy to continue to work and that our homes, schools, and workplaces can keep their lights on. This country became a great country on the backs of our hardworking coal miners. We should not be turning our backs on them now. Mr. Speaker, the great American lawyer, Clarence Darrow, came to Scranton in the midst of one of these coal strikes, and he got to know the coal miners. Here is what he said about them: These are men who toil while other men grow rich, men who go down into the Earth and face greater dangers than men who go out upon the sea or out upon the land in battle, men who have little to hope for, little to think of excepting work. These are men, men like any others, who, in the midst of sorrow, travail, and a severe and cruel crisis, demeaned themselves as nobly, as bravely, as loyally as any body of men who ever lived and suffered and died for the benefit of the generations that are yet to come. Darrow was right, Mr. Speaker. We need to protect the health care and pensions of our miners and create new jobs throughout our coal regions. The commonsense, bipartisan Miners Protection Act would give miners across Pennsylvania and the rest of coal country the peace of mind of knowing that the retirements they worked all of their lives for are secure. Mr. Speaker, we cannot continue to fix our partisan spending issues at the expense of the American worker. We have to keep the promises we made to our hardworking men and women. That is why I urge my colleagues to do just that and agree to this motion to defeat the previous question so that we can bring up and include important legislation to protect our coal miners' pensions and health care.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. I thank the gentleman from Vermont. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership for taking this bill up under suspension today. I remain hopeful that a compromise energy package can still be agreed upon this Congress, and I am glad this bill was included in both the House and Senate versions of that energy package. Nonetheless, I am pleased that commonsense ideas, such as this one, may still become law even if the larger package proves too large a lift in the last days of this Congress. I thank Congressman Peter Welch for his leadership on this bill. It is no secret that he is one of the great champions in the House of Representatives on the issue of energy efficiency, and it has been my pleasure to work with him on this bill. Mr. Speaker, so many schools across the country are in need of upgrades and improvements to their facilities. In its last Report Card for America's Infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the condition of our Nation's schools a grade of D. As school administrators undertake badly needed improvements, they have an opportunity here to substantially increase their facilities' energy efficiency, producing benefits for both the environment and the economy. In reducing their energy bills, schools can put the savings to use in other educational priorities. K-12 school districts currently spend billions on their energy bills every year--in fact, according to ENERGY STAR, approximately $6 billion every year--second only to personnel costs and way ahead of the costs of textbooks and supplies and things like that. Energy expenses are one of the few costs that can be reduced while, at the same time, improving classroom instruction. In fact, high-performance schools can lower a school district's operating costs by up to 30 percent. There are numerous Federal initiatives already available to schools to help them become more energy efficient. As the gentleman from Vermont just mentioned, the problem is that these programs are spread across the Federal Government, making it challenging, time consuming, and costly for schools to identify and take full advantage of these programs. Introduced in the Senate as S. 523, by Senator Susan Collins, this bipartisan Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act aims to provide a coordinating structure for schools to help them better navigate available Federal programs and financing options. This legislation does not spend an additional dime of taxpayer money, and it keeps decisionmaking authority with the States, the school boards, and local officials. It is a bill that establishes a clearinghouse through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which will disseminate information on Federal programs and financing mechanisms that may be used to develop energy efficiency, distributed generation, and energy retrofitting projects for schools. This bill also directs the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to coordinate with Federal agencies and develop an outreach effort to streamline communications and promote available Federal programs. This kind of outreach may include a single Web site that school officials can go to for one-stop shopping and learn about relevant energy efficiency programs. Overburdened school administrators shouldn't have to spend hours and hours wading through the Federal bureaucracy as they look for ways to make energy efficiency improvements. This commonsense legislation will ensure that schools can more easily take advantage of already existing energy efficiency programs. It is a strategic and cost-saving investment to relieve the fiscal pressure felt by school districts across the Nation while bringing us closer to American energy security. So for all of these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Yogesh Varhade and his pursuit of social justice. His hero, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, died 60 years ago today. Ambedkar inspired the Dalit Buddhist Movement in India, campaigned against social discrimination of the Dalit caste, supported the rights of women and laborers, and was appointed first Minister of Law and Justice in India in 1947. In honor of Dr. Ambedkar, Mr. Varhade founded the Ambedkar Center for Justice and Peace, a non-governmental organization, which has a headquarters in Kingston, PA. For the last 25 years Mr. Varhade dedicated himself to addressing issues of child labor, bonded labor, prostitution, human trafficking, and caste-based discrimination as they occur in India by implementing a legal literacy program for the marginalized in India and by educating others at the United Nations as well as elected leaders like myself We in the United States struggle with versions of these ugly truths born from hate and intolerance. Forced labor and human trafficking are a $150 billion industry worldwide. This nation has done much to pursue diplomatic solutions to these international issues. We must rededicate ourselves to this work and to our many partners in honor of the heroes who led the way.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sondra Myers, Director of the Schemel Forum at the University of Scranton and Senior Fellow for International, Civic and Cultural Projects. On November 13, Ms. Myers was the first recipient of WVIA's Arts & Culture Award. As an international advocate for the arts, humanities and civil rights, Mrs. Myers has had an incredible career working for presidents, governors, and institutions. Ms. Myers served on the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts from 1980 to 1985. From 1987 to 1993, she served as Cultural Advisor to Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey. In 1993, Ms. Myers worked for the Chairman at the National Endowment for the Humanities for partnerships and collaboration. From 1996 to 2000, Myers served as senior advisor to the president of Connecticut College. She directed the President's Millennium Seminars: The University for a New Democratic Era, a project of The George Washington University. She was the Rapoport Democracy Fellow at the Walt Whitman Center for the Culture and Politics of Democracy at Rutgers University. She previously held the position of senior associate for the Democracy Collaborative at the University of Maryland. Since 1996, Ms. Myers has presented programs on democracy in Prague, Cracow, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Johannesburg, Kigali, and Nairobi and in cities throughout the U.S. In addition she has organized and moderated symposia on culture and public policy for academic institutions and cultural organizations including Lehigh University, the Anderson Ranch Arts Center, the New School for Social Research, and the Education Department of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She is a co-executive producer of The Courage to Care, a documentary film about rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust, nominated for an Academy Award in 1986. Ms. Myers has consulted with Radio Free Europe; Connecticut College; the municipality of Scottsdale, AZ; the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities; the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History; Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Aspen, CO; and the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL. Ms. Myers has a stellar record of community involvement. Myers is past chair of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, past President of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, and founding President of Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania and the State Arts Advocacy League of America. She is former chair of ArtTable, Inc., Washington Chapter, a former member of the Public Education Committee of the American Bar Association, and served on the Board of Directors of the Centre for Creative Communities in the United Kingdom. She has been a member and vice chair of the Board of Trustees at the University of Scranton and a trustee of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. It is an honor to recognize Sondra Myers for her lifetime of service. I am grateful for all she has done to enrich our culture, advance education, and promote civil rights. I extend my sincerest congratulations to her for receiving WVIA's Arts and Culture Award

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dominic Keating, who received the 2016 Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna County Man of the Year Award. Born to Robert and Flora Keating, Dominic is a lifelong resident of Dunmore, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School and the College of the Holy Cross. He was admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania after attending Dickinson School of Law. In 1963, Dominic began working for his family's business, the Parodi Cigar Company. During his career, Dominic served the company in many capacities, from sales to production to administration. In 1998, he became president of Parodi and kept the position until his retirement in 2014. Dominic remains active in the community and serves his neighbors in a variety of capacities. He serves as the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority and is a member of the Project 505 Trolley Restoration Committee. For his distinguished community service, Dominic was the recipient of the 2014 Governor Robert P. Casey Medal and the 2009 Alan Sweeney Award from the Lackawanna Historical Society. It is an honor to recognize Dominic Keating for his lifetime of accomplishments. I extend my warmest congratulations to him for receiving the 2016 Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna County Man of the Year Award

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Joseph J. Roy, who will receive the 2017 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. Dr. Roy will be recognized for his outstanding performance on November 17, 2016 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Roy is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He received his Master's degree in educational administration from Bucknell University and his Doctoral degree from Lehigh University. In 1986, Dr. Roy began his career working for East Penn School District where he taught social studies at Emaus High School. After receiving his Master's, he was hired as an Assistant Principal at Liberty High School in 1992. Dr. Roy served as Principal of Palisades High School in Bucks County, Springfield Township High School in Montgomery County, and Upper Moreland High School in Willow Grove. He also served as Assistant Superintendent of the School District of Springfield Township. In August 2010, Dr. Roy was appointed as Superintendent for Bethlehem Area School District, where he currently serves. Dr. Roy has earned nationwide acclaim for his work as an educator. The National School Public Relations Association and the National School Library Journal recognized him for addressing diversity issues while at Springfield Township High School. He was named Multicultural Educator of the Year in 2004 by the Montgomery County Advisory Council to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. It is an honor to recognize Dr. Joseph Roy as he receives the Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year Award. He deserves praise for the excellent work he has done on behalf of Pennsylvania educators and students.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor H.W. ``Skip'' Wieder, who will receive the Founder's Award from WVIA as they celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Public Service Media. Mr. Wieder has served WVIA as Chairman of the Board and Capital Campaign Co-Chair. Mr. Wieder is a former resident of Plainfield, New Jersey. In 1958, Mr. Wieder received an undergraduate degree and Master of Business Administration from Bucknell University. After college, he served as a Captain in the Army Reserve at Fort Bliss, Texas. Mr. Wieder retired formally from the Geisinger Health System after serving as Senior Vice President and later as Senior Vice President Emeritus and Senior Consultant. During that time, he also served in a variety of additional positions such as Vice President for Development and Vice President for Development and Government Relations. Prior to joining Geisinger in 1985, he served as Vice President for Development and Finance at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove and held positions in finance, fundraising, and public relations at Washington & Jefferson College and Bucknell University. Currently, Mr. Wieder serves as Founder and Chair of the Susquehanna River Heartland Coalition for Environmental Studies, a group of six regional colleges and universities and environmental groups engaged in the Susquehanna River Watershed. He also serves on the board of the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds and The 1994 Charles B. Degenstein Foundation. It is an honor to recognize Mr. Wieder for all of his accomplishments as he receives the Founder's Award. I appreciate all he has done in service to public broadcasting