Matt Cartwright

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I urge my fellow Members of the United States House of Representatives to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4904, a commonsense, bipartisan, bicameral effort to save the American taxpayers money in the purchase of software. It is our chance to nip this problem in the bud before it gets bigger and bigger and bigger. It is an opportunity to save a whopping amount of money for the American taxpayer. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly.)

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4904, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me first begin by thanking our chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Jason Chaffetz, for bringing this bill forward for a vote. I also want to thank the gentleman from Maryland, Elijah Cummings, my friend and the ranking member; as well as the other two lead cosponsors who are here, Congressman Will Hurd of Texas and Congressman Steve Russell of Oklahoma who just spoke for their support. Additionally, I also want to join him in thanking Senator Bill Cassidy--lately our colleague here in the House, but now over in the minor leagues--for his support and his authorship of this bill. Mr. Speaker, we are always looking for ways to curb waste in the Federal Government, and sometimes it is surprising the places you find it. It is a changing world. Fifty years ago, nobody used the acronym IT, but now they do, and there is waste to be found in the IT procurement mechanism. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government spends $82 billion a year on information technology. Right now, for the second year in a row, our GAO has identified IT software license management as a top priority in its annual duplication report. A duplication report is something that is really good at identifying waste because duplication means what it says: you are duplicating purchases in the Federal Government. Of the 24 major Federal agencies, as you just heard, only two have implemented policies of comprehensive and clear management of software licenses. It is like this: anybody in the private sector knows that when you go to buy a suite of software from a major vendor, they sell it in blocks with a price point. So you might buy a block of 25 copies of a particular brand of software even though your office only needs 19 copies. That means you have six extra licenses left over. The Federal Government buys software the same way. What we found is they are not doing a good enough job of keeping track of the unused licenses. This bill codifies current administration efforts to do things like that to save the Federal taxpayers their tax dollars. Right now none of the 24 agencies have fully implemented all of these industry best practices recommended by the GAO, and that ends now with this legislation. The Making Electronic Government Accountable By Yielding Tangible Efficiencies Act, the MEGABYTE Act, is comprised of necessary reforms to the Federal Government's management of IT software licenses. In particular, the MEGABYTE Act achieves cost savings by seven action items: Number one, it requires the Office of Management and Budget to issue directives requiring agencies to identify clear roles, responsibilities, and central oversight authority for managing IT software licenses; Number two, it requires having agencies establish comprehensive records of software license spending and inventories of enterprise licenses in the agency, as I just mentioned; Number three, regularly track and efficiently and effectively utilize software licenses to assist the executive agency in implementing decisions throughout the software license management life cycle; Number four, analyze software usage and other data to make cost- effective decisions in the purchase of software; Number five, provide relevant training for software license management; Number six, establish broad objectives and targeted implementation strategies of the software license management program of the agency; And, finally, number seven, consider the software license management life cycle phases, including the requisition, reception, deployment and maintenance, retirement, and disposal phases in order to implement effective decisionmaking, again, in the purchase and handling of software. The GAO found that when implementing these oversight and management practices reflected in the MEGABYTE Act, a Federal agency--one Federal agency--saved 181 million tax dollars in a single year. Enacting MEGABYTE across the entire executive branch promises potentially yielding billions of savings to the American taxpayer footing the bill for all of this. Mr. Speaker, improving the management of agency contracts and licensing for commercial software is critical to ensuring the procurement process works effectively for both the Federal Government and industry that provides the software. An obvious example of how effective software management could save not only dollars and cents, but improve the lives of Americans is in the health records of our servicemembers. Mr. Speaker, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee has held hearings on the failure by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a fully integrated electronic health record system for our Active Duty soldiers and our veterans. As early as 1998, DOD and VA began an effort to create health records that could work together, with an initiative to create a joint system--an integrated electronic health record system. But after nearly two decades and spending over $560 million toward that effort, DOD and VA ditched the plan and continued on with their separate systems. Now, our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who are making their transition from DOD to VA health care are told to print out hard copies of their medical records and bring them to the VA. That is an enormous sum of money to have spent with absolutely nothing to show for it. Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that the MEGABYTE Act is the first in a series of steps we can take to minimize wasteful software spending and to promote efficient procurement of technology. Our software and technology must promote interoperability across multiple platforms--and this starts with effective decisionmaking. By encouraging the use of open standards that are technology neutral, we can encourage innovation when we create connected, interoperable components and systems, driving down costs and avoiding unnecessary lock-in to any one particular technology platform. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the bipartisan and bicameral effort behind this bill. I thank, again, our chairman, Jason Chaffetz, for advancing the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Helene M. Whitaker, vice president for administrative affairs at Northampton Community College, where she is responsible for government relations, planning, institutional research, human resources, and labor relations. Few people have had as significant an impact on Northampton's outreach to students and the community as Helene. She has worked with state legislators from the Lehigh Valley to support the conversion of the former Bethlehem Steel plant offices into the Fowler Family Southside Center--a hub of education and workforce development to which tens of thousands of people flock each year. She also was instrumental in garnering public funding critical to the construction of a new campus to serve citizens of Monroe County. Highly respected both on campus and off, she is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Athena Award presented by the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, the Outstanding Woman of the Year Award presented by the Bethlehem YWCA, the Women's Leadership Award presented by the Allentown YWCA, the Woman of Distinction Award presented by the Great Valley Girl Scouts, the Courageous Woman of the Year Award presented by Lehigh Valley Hospital, the Alumnae Award and Associates Award from Cedar Crest College, and the Pennsylvanians with Disabilities Award. She was named a ``Mover and Shaper'' by Lehigh Valley Magazine and an honorary alumna by the NCC Alumni Association. Last, but certainly not least, she was a national finalist in the White House Fellows Program. Her commitment to improving the quality of life in the community is reflected in her current or past service on the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, the City of Bethlehem Zoning Board, and the boards of ArtsQuest, Musikfest, the Banana Factory, the Fine Arts Commission, the Northampton County Development Corporation, the Northampton County Open Space Advisory Board, Cedar Crest College, Northampton County United Way, Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, and the former Allentown State Hospital. Helene earned a master's in public administration at Lehigh University, a master of arts in government at Villanova University, and a bachelor of arts at Cedar Crest College. Prior to joining the staff at Northampton Community College in 1985, she was a community and government affairs representative in the public affairs department at Bethlehem Steel Corporation. I wish her well in her retirement--it is certainly well-earned.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Monsignor Joseph P. Kelly, who will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on May 28, 2016. Monsignor Kelly will be honored for his devoted service to those in need in our community at the Catholic Social Services Gala on May 22 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Throughout his career, Monsignor Kelly has tended to the needs of many throughout the 11 counties within the Diocese of Scranton. He has been Pastor to several parishes in northeastern Pennsylvania, including St. Catherine's in Moscow, St. Ann's in Tobyhanna, and Nativity of Our Lord and Holy Rosary of Scranton. In addition to leading local faith communities, Monsignor Kelly has served as Diocesan Director of Catholic Men, Women and Youth as well as the Episcopal Vicar of Hispanic Ministry. Monsignor Kelly has played an important role as an educator and mentor to young people during his ministry. He taught 8th grade religion for 25 years and taught religion to seniors at Scranton Prep for 13 years. He was the Executive Director of Camp St. Andrew and Co- Founder of Project Hope at Camp St. Andrew. Monsignor Kelly has been an advocate for Catholic charities and human services throughout Pennsylvania and the United States. He has worked tirelessly to provide services to children and families who are struggling to make ends meet, shelters for the homeless, food for the hungry, adoption and foster care, affordable housing, help for homeless veterans, resettlement services for refugees, and treatment for drug addiction. Today, Monsignor Kelly continues to devote himself to northeastern Pennsylvanians as the Executive Director of St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Fione Evans & Abbie O'Brien, who participated in the 2016 National C-SPAN Student Cam Video Contest. The 7-minute entry entitled ``National Immigration Issues'' earned Fione and Abbie 2nd Place in the nationwide contest. In the video, Fione and Abbie covered a variety of aspects regarding immigration, currently facing the United States. The two students inquired what actions should be taken for individuals that reside in the United States without legal status and how to best provide for those seeking asylum. The video featured interviews with local leaders Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright and Congressman Lou Barletta, as well as an interview with U.S. Park Rangers Dennis Mulligan & Kathleen Durkin of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. C-SPAN footage of politicians speaking about immigration policy was included in the piece to show the scope of positions within the national debate. The two advocated for a fair but compassionate approach to resolve current immigration issues and urged lawmakers to work together. Fione and Abbie concluded their video by urging presidential aspirants to make immigration a top priority of their message. It is an honor to recognize the achievement of these two industrious young women. I extend my congratulations and applaud Fione and Abbie on a job well done. May they continue to strive for excellence in their education and achieve ever greater honor in the future.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Matthew Gary, Samuel Borick, and Julia Fontana, who participated in the 2016 National C-Span Student Cam Video Contest. The five-minute entry entitled ``2016: The Race to Protect the Environment'' earned them an honorable mention. The team created the documentary to emphasize why environmental policy should be at the forefront of 2016's political debates. The team met with qualified individuals such as environmental advocate Peter Iwanowicz, environmental policy expert Barry Rabe, and the Honorable Robert Casey, Jr., a United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Through these interviews, they explored why environmental issues are neglected by politicians and why public officials and aspirants at the highest level should make them a priority. As many of my colleagues know, I am a passionate advocate for the environment. I believe preserving our natural, recreational, and cultural resources is an environmental, as well as an economic, imperative. I am impressed by these young people and their contribution to the national dialogue. Like them, I believe we need to take steps to ensure our environment is in good hands for future generations. It is an honor to recognize the achievement of Matthew Gary, Samuel Borick, and Julia Fontana. May they continue to strive for excellence in their education and be good stewards of our planet.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to give voice to lament that House Republican leadership has done nothing at this point to help the thousands of Americans struggling to protect their families from the threat of three different public health emergencies: the Zika virus, the opioid addiction and overdose problem, and the Flint water crisis as well. Last month, House Democratic leadership wrote to Speaker Ryan asking for him to address these public health crises, calling for swift and decisive congressional action. Unfortunately, House Republican leadership has not responded with anything but inaction and indifference. As reported by Roll Call: ``an average of 78 people are dying every day from opioid overdoses, and mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus have been found in 30 States. But Congress has shown no urgency about addressing those issues. Maybe that's not surprising from a Republican majority that can't even adopt a nonbinding budget resolution after months of `family' discussions.'' Mr. Speaker, hardworking families deserve a Congress that can get things done.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Scranton, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary on April 23, 2016. Scranton has a long history of significant contributions to the economic, civic, and social development of our nation. The city was the center of America's anthracite coal industry, a major transport hub during the golden era of railroads, and home to the first electric streetcar. In 1778, Isaac Tripp settled the village of Slocum Hollow in the Lackawanna Valley. With the founding of the Lackawanna Steel Company by Seldon and George Scranton in the 1840s, the small agrarian community rapidly transformed into a multicultural, industrial center responsible for producing T-rails, which were used to construct railroads all across the country. In February 1856, Scranton was officially established as a borough. On April 23, 1866, Scranton was incorporated as a city of 35,000 people and was merged with the neighboring communities of Hyde Park and Providence. When Lackawanna County was formed in 1878, Scranton was named as the county seat. Today, Scranton is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with more than 75,000 citizens residing in the ``Electric City.'' Many of the city's attractions, such as the Steamtown National Historic Site, Everhart Museum, and the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour, commemorate Scranton's history as an industrial and cultural center. Scranton is home to a thriving, welcoming, diverse community committed to celebrating the ethnic heritage on which the city was built. It hosts one of the nation's largest St. Patrick's Day parades and La Festa Italiana. A hub for higher education, Scranton is also home to five colleges and universities: Marywood University, The University of Scranton, The Commonwealth Medical College, Lackawanna College, and Johnson College. It is an honor to recognize Scranton on its sesquicentennial celebration. I am proud to represent a city so rich in history with so bright a future. May the citizens of Scranton honor their past with pride and look forward with confidence to great things as they celebrate the city's 150th anniversary.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Patrick J. Solano, who will receive the Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth Award on April 22, 2016 during the 118th annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Society. Since 1976, the Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth Award has been bestowed upon an individual whose actions have stood out in benefiting the Commonwealth. Mr. Solano is renowned across Pennsylvania for dedicating a lifetime of service to his country, state, and community. A veteran of World War II, Mr. Solano was with the Eighth U.S. Air Force Heavy Bombardment Group from 1943 to 1946. Mr. Solano completed twenty-three combat missions aboard a B-17 named ``Hangover.'' His valor earned him the Group Presidential Citation, the Air Force Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the European Combat Theatre Medal with two Bronze Stars. Following his military service, Mr. Solano advised nine governors of Pennsylvania. He offered counsel to William Scranton, Raymond P. Shafer, Milton Shapp, Dick Thornburg, Robert P. Casey, Tom Ridge, Mark Schweiker, Ed Rendell, and Tom Corbett, as well as Pennsylvania State Senate Majority Leader Dominick Pilleggi. Mr. Solano earned a reputation for working behind the scenes to find bipartisan solutions and funding for projects. In addition to advising Pennsylvania's chief executives, Mr. Solano served as Deputy Secretary for Parks and Forests at the Department of Environmental Resources and as the Acting Secretary of the then newly created Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. After forty years of service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Mr. Solano retired in 2002. Today, he resides in Hughestown with his wife Marie. They are the parents of six daughters and have eleven grandchildren. It is an honor to recognize Patrick J. Solano for receiving the Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth Award. I am deeply grateful for his outstanding service to Pennsylvania.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Marywood Campus Choir under the direction of Dr. Rick Hoffenberg. The choir filled the rotunda on Marywood University's campus on May 2-3 2015 for a program entitled ``Almost A Cappella.'' The performance was unique in that it featured musical accompaniment for the first time in the four years that the University has been giving choral concerts inside the rotunda. The concert opened with Richard Rodney Bennett's ``A Farewell to Arms'' with the Campus Choir singing to cello accompaniment, beginning with a cello solo elegy performed by Mrs. Christiane Appenheimer-Vaida. This memorable piece was followed by Henryk Gorecki's ``Lobgesang'' featuring the glockenspiel performed by Christopher Morrison. Next on the program were two selections by Stephen Chatman, ``Alas, that Spring should vanish with the rose'' and ``Thou whose harmony is the Music of the Spheres.'' The former featured the florid accompaniment of a clarinet performed by Ms. Katie Morell who did ascending scales and trills as part of the flowery duet with the choir. The latter featured accompaniment by oboe performed by Mr. Thomas Heinze, and here the musical embellishment was melancholy and blended with the wistful sounds of the choir. The Chatman selections were followed by Stephen Paulus' ``Meditations of Li Po.'' The piece concluded with a draining of the voices to the sound of hand bells performed by Ms. Mary Ann Rutkowski. The concert concluded with two selections of Giovanni Gabrieli, his ``O Quam Suavis'' and his ``Angelus Domini Descendit,'' to the accompaniment of oboe courtesy of Thomas Heinze, clarinet courtesy of Katie Morell, bassoon courtesy of Alyssa Speicher, and horn courtesy of Sarah Schouten. These selections were caught in the jaws of articulation between the Renaissance and Baroque periods of music and sounded a bit like music from both time periods. It is an honor to recognize Dr. Rick Hoffenberg and the Marywood Campus Choir for their excellent performance. May they continue to contribute to the cultural value of Marywood University and its surrounding community in greater Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Stephen P. Curto. This past Sunday, City of Easton Mayor Salvatore J. Panto, Jr. declared April 17 to be Stephen P. Curto Day to give tribute to a man who brightened his community through a lifetime of service. Stephen Curto dedicated himself to the city of his birth. A noteworthy chapter in his life was filled by nearly fifty years of volunteering for the Easton Area Community center, which, for over sixty years, served the West Ward, one of the most diverse and impoverished neighborhoods in the City. He was instrumental in establishing the Center's annual testimonial roast fundraiser and diligently worked to ensure its continued success. Stephen Curto was also a dedicated family man and was involved for years in Democratic politics and labor causes. In 1990, he retired from his position as a business agent for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and gave himself even more fully to his family and his causes. I applaud the City of Easton for bestowing such a worthy tribute to a uniquely resolute and enduring figure of community service.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the grand opening of the Easton Public Market, which will offer the citizens of Easton and surrounding towns a new community resource. The Public Market, a full-service artisan food hall, will feature a farmstand, demonstration kitchen, and numerous local food vendors. Its focus on locally-sourced goods and crafts, sustainable business practices, and relationship- building will surely inspire new directions for growth and help transform the health of the community. Markets like this have significant cultural and economic impacts. They offer opportunities to purchase from regional farmers and craftsman as well as provide a space for meaningful social engagement. They also encourage entrepreneurs and create jobs. I commend the Greater Easton Development Partnership as well as its staff and volunteers for their commitment to creating a vibrant Easton Public Market. Paired with the offerings of the Easton Farmer's Market, America's oldest continuous open-air market, it will forge the Easton Market District into a regional attraction showcasing Easton's unique food culture.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is tax day, April 15. It is also the day that, by law, the U.S. Congress is supposed to introduce a budget. Mr. Speaker, the sad truth is that the Republican House leadership is failing to meet even this most basic responsibility. Despite Speaker Ryan's promise months ago to return this House to regular order and restore the American people's faith that this body is working to address the needs of everyday Americans, House Republicans cannot even bring themselves to agree on a budget for us to vote on. Hardworking American families deserve a Congress that invests in the future, protects their safety, and creates a level playing field for them and their children to succeed. Hardworking Americans deserve a Congress that will address the growing threat of the Zika virus, which we now know is becoming more of a threat and causes birth defects. We need to address it. Democrats will continue to press for a budget that creates jobs, raises the paychecks of the American people, and keeps them safe, while reducing the budget in a balanced and responsible way.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding to me and for laying out the problem. I rise proudly to remind my colleagues in this Chamber that what--as Representative Ted Yoho of Florida just mentioned--what is in the Constitution really, really matters. In fact, I credit Ted Yoho for carrying the Constitution with him at all times. I know that he says what is particularly dear to him in the Constitution is the Bill of Rights--those first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. And Representative Johnson alluded to it earlier, it is the Seventh Amendment that we are talking about right now. If you are scoring at home, the Seventh Amendment is the thing that gives you the right to a jury trial in a civil case. And I'll quote it: ``In suits at common law . . . the right of trial by jury shall be preserved . . .'' It is a short sentence, it is unambiguous, it is easy to understand, and it is something that makes us Americans--that we can go to court and have our disputes settled by a jury trial. It is one of the things that has made this Nation great. It is one of the things that we went to war over in the American War of Independence because the British king was trying to take that right away from us. In suits of common law, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved. But I am here to say, Mr. Speaker, that there have been attacks on the Seventh Amendment. As Mr. Johnson pointed out so deftly, it is in the last 25 or 30 years that these attacks have come to a crescendo. Even in the Supreme Court of the United States now, they are getting so squishy on the Seventh Amendment that they think it is all right--it is a case called Concepcion from about 5 years ago--it is all right for corporations to have you enter into contracts that do away with your Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial in the event of a dispute. This is called a pre-dispute forced arbitration clause. It rears its ugly head in all sorts of ways to hurt workers and consumers and homeowners and Americans of every stripe. Now, what is wrong with this? What is wrong--and, again, Mr. Johnson of Georgia alluded to this. The main problem is that it is a secret system of justice. It is not out in the open. He is right. America has a tradition of open court systems, trials that you can go watch, proceedings of justice that are open and transparent and open to the sunlight so that sneaky things don't happen, things that they would be embarrassed to tell you about don't happen. That is the purifying aspect of sunlight overall, and that is why we treasure our justice system here in the United States. It is the opposite when you talk about forced arbitrations. You are talking about arbitrators who have been selected by who knows who. Certainly not elected, certainly not appointed by elected officials. Accountable to no one. No one. Is that really who you want deciding your case when you have a dispute? Absolutely not. Mr. Speaker, there is something even more insidious about these forced arbitration clauses, and that is this. It does away with any possibility of a class action. Now, why do we care about that? The ordinary American consumer may never get into a class action or know about one or care about one. But here is what happens. If, for example, your credit card company--when you signed up for your credit card, you signed a boilerplate agreement. There is no way you read through that whole thing, but there was a forced arbitration clause in there. It says, in any dispute between us and the consumer, the dispute shall be decided by an arbitration. What that means is that they can do anything they want to you. They can say, this month, in honor of it being April, we are going to charge everybody $45 for no reason. Forty-five dollars goes on your bill. If you don't pay it, they start dunning you and hurting your credit record. They can do that just for fun. What are you going to do? Are you going to go to court over it? No. You are going to join a class action because nobody can afford to hire a lawyer where $45 is the amount in controversy. That is why we have class actions, so the corporations don't get away with that monkey business. In forced arbitration clauses, that precludes any possibility of going to court and, thereby, it precludes any possibility of a class action. That means a lot of wrong can happen in this country at the hands of unaccountable corporations. They can get away with it because there is no chance of a class action. Well, I am here to raise my voice in support of something Mr. Johnson from Georgia has done. He has written something called the Arbitration Fairness Act, which remedies much of what I am talking about. I am also here to stand up and add my voice in support of things that the administration has done: executive orders, either already done or in the works, in the Department of Education to combat forced arbitrations against for-profit universities; in the Department of Defense to combat actions of predatory lenders against our armed service men and women and our veterans; executive orders in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to combat arbitration clauses such as the one I discussed about a credit card company; executive orders by the CMS, Center for Medicare Services, to combat abuses in arbitration clauses in nursing homes so that you wouldn't be able to bring a court case against a nursing home because you signed on the dotted line when you put mom or dad in the home so no matter what they do to mom or dad, you can't go to court, you have to go to arbitration. CMS is working on an executive order to curb that abuse. An executive order in the Department of Labor to enforce rules and laws about safe work places and fair pay to prevent these forced arbitration clauses from taking these cases out of the sunlight and into the dark back rooms of the arbitrations where goodness knows what is going to happen, and it is probably not justice. We have a statue of Thomas Jefferson right outside these chambers, Mr. Speaker. Thomas Jefferson said: ``I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its Constitution.'' We need to honor those words of Thomas Jefferson, we need to honor the Seventh Amendment, we need to support Mr. Johnson in his Arbitration Fairness Act, and we need to support the administration with executive orders fighting these unfair and nontransparent mandatory forced arbitration clauses.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rose Randazzo, who has been named the Sunday Dispatch's Greater Pittston Person of the Year for 2015. Since 2000, the Sunday Dispatch selects a person annually who has a positive impact in the Greater Pittston Community over the course of the previous year. Rose has been a key figure to Pittston's efforts to revitalize the city's Main Street. In 2010, Rose was named the Main Street Manager, a volunteer position to help attract new businesses and arts to downtown Pittston. The most recent major art project is the Inspirational Mural, completed by muralist Michael Pilato and located on the side of the Newrose Building. The mural is dedicated to the residents of Greater Pittston and depicts more than forty local figures who have had an impact on life in the area. In addition to Pilato's mural, downtown Pittston implemented Second Friday Art Walks in May 2013. Every second Friday during the summer months, craft and art vendors populate Pittston's Main Street. Due to the success of the art walks and other endeavors taken on by Rose, ``American Craft Week'' named Pittston the 8th best town for craft lovers in 2015. Rose's agenda also includes rehabilitation of the city's aging buildings. The first building Rose helped revitalize as Main Street Manager was the building at 26 Main Street, which houses Napoli's Pizza. Completed in November 2011, it is the first and only building with Italianate architecture in Pittston. Another one of Rose's success stories is the Christopher Building. Before Rose intervened, the City of Pittston was considering demolishing this historic building. Rose purchased the building and had it renovated. Today, the Christopher Building houses one of Pittston's most successful restaurants. It is an honor to recognize an individual who is ushering in a new renaissance for the City of Pittston. Rose truly has great vision for the historic town. I wish Rose continued success in her efforts to bring new life to Pittston.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas F. Quinnan, who will receive the 2016 Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick Achievement Award on March 17. Thomas has had a diverse career that has stretched over several decades, while still finding time to participate in the community. Thomas F. Quinnan was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania and is the son of the late Edward and Clare Gunning Quinnan. Tom received his early education at St. Mary's Assumption School and graduated from St. John the Evangelist's High School, Pittston, and Penn State University, Wilkes-Barre. He later received training in Air Navigation Systems and Equipment at The FAA Academy, and management training at the Management Training School and the Center for Management Development. He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, majoring in Electrical Engineering Technology. Mr. Quinnan was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration for over 33 years and retired as the Field Office Manager, Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton sector. His career started at the New York International Airport, and he advanced to a Navigational Aid Specialist assigned to the Newark, New Jersey sector office. During his time in Newark, he was assigned to most of the facilities in the state of New Jersey including the Teterboro, Newark, Trenton, Morristown, and Atlantic City airports. In 1975, Tom was selected to be Chief of Navaids And Communications Unit at the Rochester International Airport, where he served until his selection as manager at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. During his career, Tom obtained FAA Certification credentials on Instrument Landing Systems, Vhf Omnirange, Tactical Air Navigation, Air Traffic Control Towers, and several other air traffic control systems. Quinnan was a member of the Manville, New Jersey Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 serving as Recording Secretary and was a Fire Inspector for the Borough of Manville. He is a former President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Neil McLaughlin Division, Avoca, Pennsylvania and a former President of the Airport Management Association. Tom is a member of the Queen of Apostles Parish in Avoca, and a long-standing member of the Friendly Sons. Tom resides in Avoca with his wife, the former Barbara Ann Grace. They are the parents of three sons: Thomas, Shawn, and Robert, with daughters-in-law, Ann, Denise, and Kara. Tom and Barbara also have six grandchildren: Melissa, Kaleigh, Patrick, Brady, Collin, and Ryan. It is an honor to recognize Thomas F. Quinnan for his service in the community and his extraordinary career.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas J. Keeney, who was named 2016 Man of the Year from the Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick. Tom received his award from the Friendly Sons on Friday, March 11. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Tom's family traveled a great deal throughout his youth, as a result of Tom's father, Donald, serving as a Major in the U.S. Army. In 1964, Tom graduated from Coughlin High School and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1969. While in the Air Force, Tom was an aircraft mechanic and maintained the F100D/F fighter aircraft. After leaving the service, Tom entered the Plumber Apprentice training program offered by Plumbers Local 147 and began working as a contractor in the construction industry. Tom also served as a Reserve member of the U.S. Army, while working as a plumber, pipefitter, and welder. He served a variety of units as a Combat Medic 91B. He remained in the Army serving for 27 years, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant E8. Today, Tom resides in Plains, Pennsylvania and is a retired master plumbing and heating contractor. He is the father of two children, Patrick and Maurita, and has three grandchildren. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 302 and served the organization in many capacities, from Grand Knight to Faithful Navigator. He is also the past Commander of Alhamar Caravan Number 4 Order of the Alhambra and is an active member of Ancient Order of Hibernians, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and remains active in many other community organizations. It is an honor to recognize Thomas Keeney for receiving the Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons Man of the Year Award for 2016. I am grateful for his extensive service to our nation. I wish him the best as he and the Friendly Sons celebrate his many civic achievements.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bill Burke, who on March 17, 2016 will receive the Swingle Award from the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick. For nearly three decades, Bill's dedication and service to the community has produced many ambitious pupils and hardworking students. Born in Pittston, Pennsylvania and son of William P. Burke and Nora Barrett Burke, Bill is married to the former Maripat Seitzinger of Scranton. They have four children: William, Jack, Peter, and Maeve. Bill is a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, the University of Scranton, and the University of Notre Dame. He has been employed as a history teacher at Scranton Prep since 1990. In recognition of his contributions in teaching, he received The Rochelle Olifson Teacher of Impact Award from the University of Southern California, the Rose Kelly Award from the University of Scranton, and has been a finalist for the Disney Teacher of the Year. He has also served Scranton Prep as Director of Admissions and Assistant Director of the Richmond Summer Service Program. Under Bill's direction, the Scranton Prep cross-country team has won four PIAA State championships and twelve PIAA District II Championships. In his sixteen years at the helm of both cross-country and track, Prep has produced 18 all-state athletes and three state champions, and three athletes have garnered regional and national honors. As an all-state performer himself, Bill was elected to Scranton Prep's Athletic Honor Roll. He is also a member of the University of Scranton's Wall of Fame, and was elected to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, North Eastern Pennsylvania Division, in 2008. Bill was included in the Scranton Times Tribune's Top 25 Coaches of All Time list in 2005. Bill is a member of the John F. Kennedy Council Number 372 Knights of Columbus, Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick, and the AOH Wolf Tone Division Pittston. He has been a coaching instructor for Special Olympics. He is a founding member of the Diocese of Scranton Cross-Country League and is on the staff of the North Pocono football team as the speed and conditioning coach. He is currently the cross- country coach at the University of Scranton. It is an honor to recognize Bill for all of his community contributions, and I congratulate him for receiving the Swingle Award. I am grateful for his efforts to develop young people into leaders.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joseph Heffers, who was named Man of the Year by the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick for the year 2016. Joseph is the son of the late John Heffers and Mary Golden Heffers. He was born and raised in Pittston, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Pittston High School. He attended Wilkes-Barre Business College and earned a degree in Business and Accounting. He served in the Army from 1964 to 1967 in the Special Troops United at Fort Dix, New Jersey and was named Soldier of the Month during 1966. He worked at Eberhard Faber in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania as Project Manager for 21 years, receiving the President's Award from Eberhard Faber in 1986. He later worked at Cooper Industries in Weatherly as a Production Specialist and retired from InterMetro Industries in Wilkes-Barre. Joseph then managed the Metro Wire Federal Credit Union in Plains from 2001-2010. He is a former President of the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and received the Achievement Award in 2010. He was the historical speaker at the 100th anniversary banquet at the Friendly Sons in 2015. He is on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army in West Pittston. And, finally, Mr. Heffers is a former financial secretary of President John F. Kennedy Council Number 372 Knights of Columbus, council Choir and Trustee of the 4th Degree Assembly. Mr. Heffers coached several youth teams: Stoners Soccer, Jenkins Township and girls' softball and girls' Varsity Basketball at St. Mary's Assumption in Pittston. He is a member of St. John the Evangelist Church where he also serves as a Senior Altar Server. Mr. Heffers resides in Port Griffith with his wife of 44 years, the former Mary Catherine Shea. They are the parents of two children, Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Gregor. Joseph and Mary Heffers have two grandchildren, Maxwell Wallace Gregor and Declan Joseph Gregor. It is an honor to recognize Joseph for all of his accomplishments, and I am grateful for his lifetime of service to our community and country.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Jim McNulty, former Mayor of Scranton, who passed away on March 2, 2016 after battling cancer and heart problems. Jim was a champion for the Electric City and will be remembered for his service to his community. Born in Scranton on February 27, 1945 to Henry and Eloise McNulty, he was the eldest of six siblings. Jim graduated from the University of Scranton in 1966, with a degree in Political Science. In 1981, Jim entered his name in Scranton's mayoral election, and his campaign was centered on reviving Scranton's economy. The rose became an iconic image of Jim's candidacy, as he handed out thousands to voters and wore one on his lapel. Jim assumed office in 1982. During his time as mayor, he took on several projects that revitalized city's infrastructure, attracted tourism, and reclaimed pride in Scranton's history as a railroad hub. Jim worked with the National Park Service to establish Steamtown National Historic Site. Through Jim's efforts, Scranton was also able to rehabilitate the historic Erie-Lackawanna train station on Jefferson Avenue and convert it into hotel. His administration committed the funding needed to finish Montage Mountain Road, which allowed for the development of Montage Mountain Ski Resort. He also attracted a heavyweight championship fight between Larry Holmes and Lucien Rodriguez. After his term ended in 1986, Jim went on to become a local media personality. He hosted a radio talk show on WARM, billed as ``the Mayor of WARMland.'' He also covered politics on WYOU-TV's ``Sunday Live with Jim McNulty.'' Outside of the media, Jim worked as a political consultant to other candidates and campaigns. In 1991, Jim married Evie Rafalko, and the couple recently celebrated their 25th anniversary. It is an honor to recognize the life of this talented public servant. Jim's legacy will not be soon forgotten by the Electric City. His passing is deeply saddening, and he will be greatly missed by the people of Scranton.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of Exeter, Pennsylvania's Police Chief John ``Maxie'' McNeil, as he celebrates his retirement from an extensive career in law enforcement. Chief McNeil will be honored by friends and family on March 5, 2016. For forty-one years, Chief McNeil dedicated his life to ensuring the safety and welfare of the people of Exeter, thirty-two years as police chief. Chief McNeil led his department with dedication, honesty, and integrity. Over the years, he guided his beloved police department from a small town force into a skilled and mobile law enforcement agency capable of providing safety and security to the residents of a changing Exeter. Under his leadership, he has helped make Exeter and the surrounding communities a safer place for everyone. I am grateful for Chief McNeil and the Exeter Police Department for their dedicated service. These courageous individuals face each moment not knowing for certain of the peril that may wait with the next challenge of the job. Yet they carry on, made strong by a resolve to protect and serve. Police officers, be they big city beat cops or small town sheriffs, defend what is dear to us, including our loved ones, and we owe them a great deal of gratitude for standing as a shield from harm. It is an honor to recognize John for his contribution to the safety of his community. I am immensely thankful for his many contributions to the security of Exeter throughout his long career of public service. I wish him all the best in retirement.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Albert F. Giallorenzi who was named the Scranton Chapter of UNICO's ``UNICAN of the Year,'' and will be recognized on February 27, 2016 during their Annual Ball. Dr. Giallorenzi is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry. Following dental school, he interned at the Philadelphia General Hospital and was an oral and maxillofacial surgical resident at Hahnemann Medical College. Dr. Giallorenzi maintained a private practice for forty years in association with Drs. Christopher Kotchick, Mark Giallorenzi, and Justin Burns, with offices in Scranton, Carbondale, and Tobyhanna. In 2013, Dr. Giallorenzi retired from his practice. Licensed in Pennsylvania for dentistry, Dr. Giallorenzi held memberships in a wide variety of professional associations including Chief of Service at Mercy Hospital for thirty-seven years, President and later Chairman of the Scranton Dental Society, Chairman of the United Way Dental Division, and member of the Advisory Committee to the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. In addition, Dr. Giallorenzi served as an Examiner for Board Certification for the Committee of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, and he volunteered his time with the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare, Jewish Federation Indigent Dental Clinic, Third District Dental Society Board of Governors, Pennsylvania Dental Association, and on the dental staff of St. Michael's School for Boys. Dr. Giallorenzi has received both Diplomate and Fellow Honors from the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, American College of Dentists, American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology, International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard International Dental Honor Society. In addition, he contributed articles to the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, Journal of Oral Surgery and Oral Health, and was an editor for the Bulletin of the Scranton District Dental Society. Today, Dr. Giallorenzi is an active participant in the community, including volunteering service to the American Cancer Society, St. Gregory's Church, Clarks Green, Cub Scout Pack 152, Abington Junior Soccer League, Waverly Community House, and the Holy Cross Club of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Dr. Giallorenzi also serves on the Board of the Scranton Chapter of UNICO National. He is married to the former Diane Valera, and they have two adult children, Dr. Mark A. Giallorenzi and Christina Giallorenzi. It is a distinct honor to recognize Dr. Albert F. Giallorenzi for his superb service to his profession and community, and I congratulate him on being named Scranton UNICO's ``UNICAN of the Year.''

Mr. CARTWRIGHT

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

Mr. CARTWRIGHT. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I also oppose the underlying bill, which I call the wrongdoers 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 the 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 there. It is not because they think the Federal judges are better looking or that the Federal judges are more polite or that the decor is nicer in Federal court. No. They want to go there because they are more likely to beat consumers in Federal court cases. After a generation of bad decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States, Federal court has become candy land for corporate wrongdoers, generations of bad decisions that invite and exhort district judges to forget about the 7th Amendment in the Bill of Rights. You remember what that says. 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 says this: ``In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved.'' There is nothing ambiguous about that. But since the 1980s, there has been this steady drumbeat of Supreme Court of the United States decisions encouraging and emboldening Federal court judges to decide and dismiss cases without the trouble of a jury trial. Their toolkit is enormous: 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 without the trouble of jury trials, and the Seventh Amendment right to jury trial is not preserved. That is why wrongdoer corporations prefer to be in Federal court. So that is the backdrop, Mr. Chairman. On top of that, I want to give you some very strong reasons why this underlying bill is 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, you get no help. If you are a small-business owner only doing work in your State, you are out of luck. This doesn't provide you any help. Only multistate, multinational corporations get help, and that is why I call this the wrongdoers protection act for multistate and multinational corporations. Number two, it is burdensome. Representative Johnson from Georgia already made this point. The Federal courts are already overworked and understaffed. The civil caseload already is growing at 12 percent a year--much of that, by the way, contract cases filed by corporations. There are currently 81 vacancies in the Federal judiciary. There is no reason to add to this burden. Number three, this bill is ironic. We have a crowd in this House that constantly preaches about states' rights and the need to cut back on the Federal Government. But a bill like this comes along, and they drop that states' rights banner like it is a hot potato and pick up the coat of arms of the multistate, multinational corporations. Number four, and maybe most importantly, the underlying bill is wrongheaded because these cases, called diversity cases, are filed in State court under State law; and ever since the 1930s in the Erie Railroad case, if you take these cases and handle them in Federal court, the Federal judges have to follow State law, not Federal law. Mr. Chairman, there is nobody better at interpreting State law than State court judges. It stands to reason. I offer this amendment that is on 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, this enormous gift to the multistate and multinational corporate wrongdoers, at least include this amendment and give a couple of crumbs to the average American consumer trying to defend himself or herself in court. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.