Chris Collins

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I come before you in support of my bill, H.R. 931, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act. Sixteen years ago yesterday, on September 11, 2001, we witnessed a horrible tragedy that will leave an impression on generations of Americans forever. Through this tragedy, we witnessed the heroic actions of America's brave first responders working and volunteering in the days and weeks that followed. We lost many first responders during those attacks of 9/11, and we continue to lose more every year from ongoing health effects. All firefighters across our Nation sacrifice their health every day to face the dangers of smoke inhalation and toxic chemicals. These dangers cannot be entirely avoided, which is why this bill, H.R. 931, is so important. This bipartisan legislation takes an important first step towards addressing the detrimental health impacts faced by our Nation's firefighters. The career of firefighting is a dangerous one. There are nearly 1.2 million men and women serving as firefighters in the United States. With every single fire they fight, these heroes take their lives into their own hands. Firefighters bravely risk their safety to protect our families, our homes, and our communities. Unfortunately, the risks of firefighting surpass the scene of the fire. These men and women are exposed to dangerous smoke and chemicals that often result in a lifetime of health trouble. We see firefighters all across the United States with higher rates of cancer than the general population, and it is vital that we learn more about this correlation. That is why I, along with my colleague, Representative Bill Pascrell, introduced the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act. This bill will require the CDC to establish a registry to track cancer incidence in the firefighting community. This comprehensive registry will work with fire departments across our Nation to include the important variables of a firefighter's career, including years of service, number of fires attended, and the types of fires attended. This information is essential to the development of future protocols, safeguards, and the development of equipment that will better protect these men and women. Firefighters put their lives at risk every day, and Congress should do all it can to shed light and reduce the health hazards they face. I would like to commend Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone of the full committee, and Chairman Burgess and Ranking Member Green of the Health Subcommittee for a bipartisan showing of support during both markups of this legislation. I cannot think of a more relevant week to bring this legislation to the House floor. I urge the rest of my colleagues to support the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, as we honor tragic losses of September 11.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Francis Bellamy, one of the most influential individuals from Mount Morris, New York. Francis Bellamy is the author of the Pledge of Allegiance. Tomorrow marks the 125th anniversary of the Pledge of Allegiance, which was first published in a magazine called The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892. The pledge was initially written as part of a campaign to put American flags in every school in the country. In its original form, it read: ``I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'' In 1923, the words, ``the flag of the United States of America'' were added. In 1954, Congress added the words, ``under God,'' creating the 31-word pledge we have today. Bellamy's words are recited millions of times every day and are ingrained in our society as an expression of national pride and patriotism.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I missed one vote on June 28, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 332.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Boy Scouts of America Troop 100 of the District of Columbia on its 100th anniversary, and for its long history of heritage and service. As a co- chair of the Scouting Caucus and a life-long eagle scout, I am proud to recognize the oldest Troop in Washington, D.C. The Boy Scouts of America was founded on February 8, 1910, here in Washington, D.C., when Chicago Publisher Mr. William D. Boyce and Washington, D.C. Railroad Tycoon Mr. Colin H. Livingstone filed the papers of incorporation. Less than a month later, in March 1910, the first Troop in Washington, D.C., Troop I, was formed at the G Street branch of the Y.M.C.A. On June 15, 1916, the Federal Charter of the Boy Scouts of America was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. In the summer of 1917, due to size limitations, Troop I split, with the majority of its membership forming a new Troop. Subsequently, this newly formed Troop was ceremoniously given the Troop number of ``100'' by the District of Columbia Boy Scout Council, now known as the National Capital Area Council. Over the years, Troop 100 has become the preeminent Troop in the Council by virtue of winning almost every special Scout Award available, including the Service Awards, Drill Awards, Signaling & Orienteering Awards, the Evening Star Inspection Trophy, and the coveted Washington Post Advancement Trophy. Additionally, Troop 100 has a history of demonstrating patriotism and heroism. Members have earned the War Service Awards for selling War Bonds, rescued individuals from burning buildings, and answered the call of duty by serving in one of the branches of the United States military. Today, the Boy Scouts of America has more than 2.4 million active members, and 1 million adult volunteers. The Boy Scouts of America and Troop 100 continues to prepare young people to exercise ethical and moral judgments by teaching them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and remains faithful to its mission of ``patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred values,'' and its goal of providing ``citizenship, service, and leadership.'' Again, I would like to congratulate Washington, D.C.'s Boy Scouts of America Troop 100 on the occasion of their 100th anniversary, and its over 100 years of service, character and leadership development, and for instilling the values of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law in America's youth.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of the Property Tax Reduction Act introduced by my colleague and friend from New York, Representative John Faso. I am committed to working to provide tax relief to my constituents, which is why Representative Faso and I worked to include a similar measure in the Affordable Health Care Act, and I urge the Senate and Leader McConnell to include that measure in their healthcare bill. The State of New York saddles its residents with the highest overall tax burden in the Nation. A main driver of this hardship remains New York's persistently exorbitant local property taxes, which are a symptom of irresponsible governing from Albany. Governor Cuomo continues to rely on New York counties to foot the bill for New York State's outrageous Cadillac Medicaid plan, which costs each recipient 44 percent more than the national average. The Governor essentially runs up a tab and then demands that the counties find a way to pay the bill. This is an unconscionable shift of cost. The entity of government that spends taxpayers' money should be the entity that pays the bill. Instead, Governor Cuomo wants this scheme to continue shielding his outrageous spending and keeping his actions from public scrutiny. The Governor's sleight of hand costs the eight counties I represent over $470 million a year and my home county of Erie almost $204 million a year--nearly 83 percent of the total county property tax. The Property Tax Reduction Act will end this outrageous cost shift, hold Governor Cuomo accountable for the State's Medicaid spending, and deliver much-needed tax relief to the hardworking taxpayers in my district. I want to thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Faso, for introducing this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. COLLINS of New York. We should put it into perspective because New York spends too much on everything. Florida now has more people than New York. Florida's entire budget is $80 billion a year for more than 20 million people. New York, with fewer people, has a budget of $160 billion--you almost can't make this up--double Florida. Now, a point that I have tried to make when you see what the position of New York is, there was a day New York had 45 Members of Congress. Congress is apportioned by population. Today, we have fallen from 45 to 27. We have lost 40 percent of our representation in New York because of the high tax burden. And I know, as sure as I am standing here, we are going to lose another seat, possibly two, in the Census coming up in 2020. Now, contrast to Florida that doesn't have an income tax and has much lower property taxes, half of the budget of New York. When we had 45, they had 7 Members of Congress--45 versus 7. Today, they also have 27. In the next Census, they are going to grow from 28 to 29. You almost can't make this up. Certainly the property tax burden is a big thing that drives these people out of New York State. They want to live there. People want their kids to be there. There was a day in Erie County--and I was the county executive--we had 1.25 million people in Erie County in 1972, 1973. We are down to 900,000. Forget about relative growth. We have actually lost 25 percent of our absolute population over the last 40 years because of the high tax burden in New York, so much so, they coined the phrase of our airport. They called it the Runway of Tears because the parents were watching their children and grandchildren fly off to Florida, to North Carolina, and to other States where there were jobs and opportunities--the Runway of Tears. So anything we can do to help reduce that tax burden in New York and to let our kids come home and be able to afford to live in New York State, maybe one day again we will be the Empire State. So I thank the gentleman for his leadership on this. Certainly I am going to be fighting side by side with the gentleman and the other New Yorkers to get this through.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station for their accomplishment of attaining a total of 187,000 accident free flying hours. Since I have been in Congress, Congressman Brian Higgins and I have worked together to ensure this base is protected for future generations. The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station sits near the North East international border, near one of the largest populated areas in Canada. In 1970, the base made the transition from the C-119 to C-130 aircraft; a large tactical aircraft primarily used for troop transportation and supply drops, the C-130 can withstand rough terrain and has been a major tactical component for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. Not only does the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station provide national security and give those in Western New York a chance to serve their county, it also provides a significant economic boost to Western New York. The base employs over 2,600 people and has an economic footprint of more than $200 million in the Western New York Community. It has been an honor, alongside Congressman Higgins, to fight to protect this base, and keep its location in Niagara Falls. These brave men and women were called to active duty to participate in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Their professional ism, teamwork and pride for their country enabled them to achieve 187,000 accident free flying hours since 1961. These men and women are not just exemplary servicemen and women. They are your neighbors, your scoutmasters, your children's coaches, your friends. You notice when they are gone, because they bring their leadership and teamwork skills to everything they do. The 914th Airlift Wing Vision statement is, ``Attain the highest state of readiness in support of the nation and our community through the development of our Airmen to deliver exceptional performance.'' From the flight crew, to the maintenance crew, everyone must be fully prepared for whatever comes their way. In order for this to happen, they train efficiently, and regard safety as their top priority. I, along with Congressman Higgins, applaud their accomplishment, and thank them for their relentless commitment and service to our country.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from votes May 22, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 269, and YEA on Roll Call No. 270.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank Eagle Scout Pete Sessions for yielding. I am very honored to be standing with him today as the co-chair of the Scouting Caucus, along with Eagle Scout Jim Cooper from Tennessee. There are, in fact, 33 Eagle Scouts--23 from the House of Representatives and 10 from the Senate--currently serving in the United States Congress. But just as importantly, there are 150 Members of Congress who experienced Scouting, whether as a youth, and, perhaps, in the case of 33 progressing to the rank of Eagle Scout, or, currently as myself does, serving as an adult Scout leader. Scouting was important to many of us growing up. I think when a lot of us look back on our lives and say what was one of the larger impacts we had, I can tell you, in my case, it was Scouting. And the same is true for my 24-year-old Eagle Scout son. I can't tell you how many different camping trips my son and I enjoyed together-- what a great bonding experience for a father and a son coming right up through Cub Scouts. So for all of those Scouts today, as Eagle Scout Pete Sessions indicated, who are currently involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and Explorers, Scouting is changing their lives, and it is changing their lives for the better. We have all heard the 12 points of the Scout law. That is a compass for the youth of America today, when they are faced with tough decisions, to look at those 12 points and remind themselves that a Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Those 12 points of the Scout law are a compass for them to live their life and make the right decisions. Many cases I referred to the first three words of the Scout Oath, and we can't talk about them enough, those first three words, ``on my honor.'' That is so important today for our youth to have a compass, to understand what honor is, and Scouting introduces them to that. But I will also tell you what Scouting is. It is young men, young boys having fun outdoors. Some say today the problem with youth in America is they have and they suffer from nature deficit disorder: They don't get outside enough; they don't know how to play outdoors; they are stuck with their electronic devices. Well, Scouting gets the youth of America outside. It is healthy. They get to enjoy themselves, learn all kinds of skills, but just the friendships that they get within Scouting that, over a lifetime, will help them as they become the future leaders of America. There are a disproportionate number of leaders in America today who were Scouts and, in fact, Eagle Scouts. Today, in President Trump's Cabinet, we are honored as a country to have four Eagle Scouts: Eagle Scout Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State; Eagle Scout Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy; Eagle Scout Jeff Sessions, our current Attorney General; and Eagle Scout, Ryan Zinke, our Secretary of the Interior. I will tell you, in most of their cases, they would identify Scouting as a major part of them growing up and, maybe they didn't know it at the time, but giving them the life skills that have served them to the point today they are serving our Nation. We have 27 Members in the bipartisan Scouting Caucus; many, but not all, are Eagle Scouts. I think all of us are proud to talk about our past as an Eagle Scout, but we also remind people, to this day, we are Eagle Scouts. Once a year, our Chief Scout Executive, Mike Surbaugh, comes to Washington, D.C., to present a report on the status of Scouting in the Nation today. We have a great reception for our Chief Scout Executive once a year to welcome him and Scouts from around the country as they present to us the status of Scouting in America today. I would be remiss if I didn't recognize the last four presidents of the Boy Scouts of America. Our current president, Randall Stephenson, is the current CEO of AT&T. He followed Bob Gates, who was our Secretary of Defense; Wayne Perry, the vice chairman of AT&T; and our own Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, when he was CEO of Exxon, was the president of the Boy Scouts of America. So I think all of us today understand the importance of Scouting in our lives and, in many cases, just reflect back on the fun that we had as young kids and young adults. Once every 4 years, all the Scouts in America gather, with some from around the world as well, at our national Scout jamboree. We currently have a permanent Scout High Adventure site in West Virginia at the Summit. Eagle Scout Pete Sessions and I, as well as others, 4 years ago, went to the Summit. And you know what? We just had fun. We went down the zip line. We went on some of the other obstacle courses. Even as adults, it was reliving our youth. And we intend to go back later in July for, every 4 years, as I said, they have the national Scout jamboree. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 40,000 Scouts from around the United States will gather for approximately 1 week and just have a lot of fun, get to meet others from around the country. So that is what Scouting is. I can't think of a more healthy activity for young men to be involved in, and, I think, in many cases, certainly, the moms of this world understand the important values that their sons are getting, as well as the dads. I can just tell you, I am happy to stay involved in Scouting. As the co-chair of the Eagle Scout Caucus, I am proud to remind people I am today an Eagle Scout. And we also have fun shaking hands with our left hand. That's how Scouts do it, the hand closest to our heart. I was with our Secretary of State in Alaska a week ago and went to introduce myself. He put out his right hand to shake hands, as adults do, and I said: ``No, sir, Mr. Secretary. As one Eagle Scout to another, we are going to shake hands the right way, with our left hands.'' He got a big smile on his face because he knew exactly what I was talking about. So Eagle Scout Pete Sessions, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk a little bit about Scouting today in our Congress. Thank you for your leadership in our Special Order tonight, and I look forward to hearing from our other Members of Congress, fellow Eagle Scouts. I know it impacted their life. Thank you again for your leadership tonight.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, for the past 7 years, the American people have pleaded with their Representatives in Washington to repeal ObamaCare. Today, every Member of this body has the opportunity to do just that. We have the chance to eliminate excruciating mandates and taxes that are suffocating our economy and marketplaces. Under ObamaCare, premiums have increased by over 37 percent since 2014, one-third of counties in this country have only one insurance provider, and 4.7 million Americans were kicked off the insurance coverage they wanted to maintain despite President Obama's promise that, if you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it. But today we have the chance to lower premiums, increase competition among insurance providers, and improve access to health insurance for all Americans. We finally have the chance to formally reject an unprecedented government overreach into health care and take the first step towards giving patients control over their own health. In western New York, this bill will have even more profound benefits. The amendment that I authored with Representative John Faso will relieve county governments in New York of a $2.3 billion unfunded mandate forced onto county taxpayers by the Governor of New York and will substantially reduce the tax burdens of property owners across New York State. This one provision of the American Health Care Act will save taxpayers in the eight counties that I represent over $470 million a year. This is a game-changer for local New York governments and restores a fundamental tenet of representative democracies that the level of government that makes the decision about spending should be responsible for raising those funds. I am proud to stand up for western New Yorkers whose voices have been silenced for too long, and I am proud to vote for the freedom, fiscal responsibility, and local decisionmaking this bill guarantees. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the people who worked to make this legislation a reality. As we become increasingly concerned with cyber threats, online privacy is a critical concern for every American. Unfortunately, in October of last year, the FCC issued regulations titled, ``Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services,'' also known as broadband privacy rules. These titles do not actually accurately reflect the impact these regulations are having on constituents' electronic privacy. These broadband privacy rules took internet service providers, ISPs, which you subscribe to for TV and internet access, and edge providers that deliver online applications, services, and website content, and separated them into two different groups. This has caused confusion among businesses trying to adhere to this change. While writing this regulation, the FCC had the opportunity to employ FTC precedent in drafting the broadband privacy rules, but instead chose to ignore existing precedent and create additional and onerous regulations. The FCC believed that these new rules would give consumers more choice and heightened transparency; however, this has not been the case. This legislation does not remove privacy protections for consumers, and it does not expose consumer information. Both the FCC and the FTC will retain authority over consumer privacy on a case-by-case basis. ISPs will continue to be subject to the Communications Act of 1934, which protects all consumer proprietary network information. This is in addition to the many other existing Federal and State privacy rules that ISPs must continue to follow. This proposed system, separating edge providers from ISPs, creates confusion for both consumers and business operations. This legislation works to reduce the confusion that has been created from this unnecessary regulation that has stifled competition and impeded innovation. I am happy to support this legislation which will provide much-needed clarity to the ongoing debate.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, today is a historic day, make no mistake about it. The American Health Care Act changes the trajectory of health policy in this country. Here are just a few of the highlights: This bill eliminates the individual mandate penalty; eliminates the employer mandate penalty; eliminates the ObamaCare subsidies in 2020; eliminates ObamaCare tax increases; eliminates insurance mandates so we can lower premiums; provides refundable tax credits for individuals and families who do not get their health insurance through their employer or the government, and allows them to choose the health care that works for them; almost doubles the contribution limits for health savings accounts; provides $115 billion for the Patient and State Stability Fund to lower patient cost and stabilize the insurance market; and enacts the most significant reforms to Medicaid in history, ensuring that Medicaid is sustainable and available for the most vulnerable among us for generations to come. The American Health Care Act is a monumental step toward freedom, choice, and individual responsibility in health care. Mr. Speaker, I will proudly vote for this bill today, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from votes March 15 and March 16, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 159, YEA on Roll Call No. 160, YEA on Roll Call No. 161, YEA on Roll Call No. 162, YEA on Roll Call No. 163, YEA on Roll Call No. 164, NAY on Roll Call No. 165, NAY on Roll Call No. 166, NAY on Roll Call No. 167, YEA on Roll Call No. 168, YEA on Roll Call No. 169.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate people in my district coming together to take a stand against bigotry, racism, and acts of hate. On March 7, 2017, members of the Muslim Public Affairs Council met with members of the Jewish community at the Jewish Community Center in Getzville, NY. Both groups sat down together to take a stand against recent threats towards the Jewish community in Western New York. This act of solidarity is an example of a community coming together despite their different backgrounds and beliefs. This type of collaboration in the face of hate is a model for the rest of the country. During my recent meeting with the Muslim Public Affairs Council, we discussed the importance of uniting behind our shared American values, such as inclusivity and tolerance. The recent demonstration of unity by members of the Jewish community and the Muslim community demonstrates that despite any differences, we are all Americans and must join together in condemning hateful acts in our community. For their demonstrated leadership, I commemorate the groups and individuals working to bring unity to Western New York.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from votes January 4 and January 5, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted: NAY on Roll Call No. 7; YEA on Roll Call No. 8; YEA on Roll Call No. 9; YEA on Roll Call No. 10; YEA on Roll Call No. 11; YEA on Roll Call No. 12; NAY on Roll Call No. 13; NAY on Roll Call No. 14. NAY on Roll Call No. 15; NAY on Roll Call No. 16; NAY on Roll Call No. 17; NAY on Roll Call No. 18; NAY on Roll Call No. 19; NAY on Roll Call No. 20; YEA on Roll Call No. 21; NAY on Roll Call No. 22; YEA on Roll Call No. 23.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank all the people who worked tirelessly to make this legislation a reality. Simply stated, the goal of this legislation is to incentivize innovation to defeat disease. Today, the 21st Century Cures Act will do that and much more for patients suffering from currently incurable diseases. This legislation provides substantial funding to the National Institutes of Health, including $1.8 billion to speed up cancer research, $1.5 billion to improve our understanding of debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's, and another $1.5 billion to assist in genetic and other individual specific research efforts. This bill provides funding to fight the opioid addiction crisis, which has been particularly devastating to western New York, and it includes mental health legislation to improve those services nationwide. I am excited that this final bill contains a few provisions I authored and worked on over the past 2 years. Section 3021 encourages the broader application of innovative clinical trial designs to enhance and accelerate effective clinical trials. Section 3071 will expedite and improve drug approval processes by increasing the allowable number of senior biomedical researchers the FDA is allowed to hire and making their salary more competitive with the private industry. Section 9023, which I worked on with Representative Joe Courtney, incentivizes child and adolescent psychiatrists to begin their practices in underserved areas like those in rural western New York. Lastly, Section 5006, which I worked on with Congressman Paul Tonko, includes the House-passed Medicaid DOC Act, which requires States to publish an online directory of physicians who have billed Medicaid in the past year and indicate whether those physicians are accepting new patients. None of this would have been possible without the tireless work of Chairman Fred Upton and the entire staff on Energy and Commerce. I thank them for their tremendous effort and look forward to seeing innovation defeat disease because of this game-changing legislation.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the memory of a distinguished member of New York's 27th District. Mr. Charles R. Newman of Arcade, New York, passed away November 12, 2016. Charles was born in Buffalo, New York on October 6, 1925. He attended St. Bonaventure University with a major in Accounting and Pre-Law while also participating in the Army Reserves. He served in the United States Army as a First Lieutenant from 1943 to 1946 during World War II, and for his bravery and patriotism Charles was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, the Army Occupation Medal, and the Army Commendation Ribbon. After his years of service, Charles returned to Western New York to graduate from Buffalo Law School in 1950. Charles went on to practice law in Arcade for twenty-seven years before serving as Arcade Village Justice, Town of Arcade Justice, Wyoming County Attorney, and eventually Wyoming County Court Judge for many years. Charles was a community leader and was dedicated to helping the young men and women of our community. He was a Boy Scout leader and sat on the Board of Directors for the Genesee County Boy Scouts, an organization vital in helping many young men reach their full potential. Charles also served as Clerk to the Arcade Central and Pioneer Central School boards. Charles also contributed to the Arcade community by serving as board member of the AJ Odell Medical Foundation, a member of the Arcade Chamber of Commerce, President of the New York State Magistrates Association, Member of the Free-Masons for over 63 years, and Member of the American legion for over 68 years. Charles was an important and loved member of the town of Arcade that left a deep impression on everyone he met. I had the privilege to meet and honor Charles as New York 27th's Congressional District Veteran of the Month--fittingly this Veterans Day. Dozens of members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion attended the ceremony, and I was despondent to hear of his passing the following day. After many years of service to his community, I would like to again recognize this American patriot.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Francis Bellamy, one of the most influential individuals from Mount Morris, New York. Francis Bellamy is the author of the Pledge of Allegiance. Today marks the 124th anniversary of the Pledge of Allegiance, which was first published in a magazine called The Youth's Companion, on September 8, 1892. The Pledge was originally written as part of a campaign to put American flags in every school in the United States. In its original form, it read: ``I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'' In 1923, the words ``the Flag of the United States of America'' were added. In 1954, Congress added the words ``under God,'' creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Bellamy's words are recited millions of times every day and are ingrained in our society as an expression of national pride and patriotism.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished resident of New York's 27th District, Mr. Brian Leigh Dunnigan. Mr. Dunnigan served as Executive Director of Old Fort Niagara from 1979 to 1996. During his 17-year tenure, he greatly improved operations and programs at the site, and conducted groundbreaking research that made the Fort a leader in historical interpretation. He researched and authored numerous books and articles on the history of the Fort and the region, setting new standards for historical accuracy. His works include the definitive history of the Siege of Fort Niagara in 1759 and seminal works on the history of the French Castle and the North and South Redoubts. He also authored the Fort's guidebook, which is currently used as guidance for visitors to the historic site. His proudest achievements include the creation of professional interpretive programming focused on the British occupation of the Fort in 1779, the organization of a series of special events based on events of the Fort's history, the inception of a collections storage facility and archaeology lab, and the acquisition of the Fort's most-prized artifact, the 1812 Garrison Flag. Mr. Dunnigan's research on the Battle of la Belle Famille determined the true location of this historic engagement, which will be dedicated this year in a special ceremony. For his scholarship, leadership, and dedication to historical accuracy and authenticity, we honor him today.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished Colonel Thomas Schaefer, an American hero. Colonel Schaefer was born in Western New York and spent much of his childhood at his parents' cottage, ``The Cottonwood,'' on Honeoye Lake. Colonel Schaefer eventually joined the military and was the highest-ranking United States military officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran when it was seized by a group of Iranian students on November 4, 1979. During the next 444 days in captivity, Colonel Schaefer bore the brunt of the Iranian hostile actions and intimidation due to his senior position. During his captivity, his Iranian captors frequently threatened to execute him. Despite these dire conditions, Colonel Schafer displayed tremendous leadership and bravery. Colonel Schaefer was among the last hostages to be released, finally returning to his family on January 20, 1981. Two years after he was released from Iran, Colonel Schaefer retired from the Air Force to undertake a new mission. Described by his family as enduringly positive, Schaefer turned to a career as a motivational speaker, focusing on the importance of never giving up in the face of hardship. As a professional speaker, he spoke to more than 250,000 people about his own experiences with adversity. Colonel Thomas Schaefer recently passed away at the age of 85 in Scottsdale. Arizona, where he has lived with his wife, Anita, for the past 30 years. His family is exceptionally proud of the thousands of lives he impacted and his actions as a leader, father, and husband. In describing how he wanted to be remembered. Schaefer remarked, ``for being a good guy.'' It's safe to say he achieved his goal. Colonel Schaefer will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. I want to thank Colonel Schaefer for his brave service to our nation, and remember the thousands of lives he has positively impacted.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. I thank the gentleman from Iowa for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I come before you in support of H.R. 4372, a bill to designate the Bergen Post Office as the Barry G. Miller Post Office. It is a great honor to introduce legislation that designates a post office in my district after someone who dedicated his entire life to public service in western New York. Barry Miller was a lifelong Bergen resident and served as a member of the Bergen Volunteer Fire Department for 31 years, including 10 as the assistant EMS chief. Barry was also the Genesee County coroner, a business owner, and a member of the Bergen Town Board. Barry was dedicated to helping fellow New Yorkers, and he made numerous lasting contributions to the Bergen and Genesee County communities. Unfortunately, Barry was tragically killed in the line of duty, during an emergency response, on November 23, 2015. In order to honor his service and memory, the post office will be named the Barry G. Miller Post Office.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Peter ``P-B'' Bielak of Washington, D.C., who recently received the Silver Beaver Award for his outstanding contributions to the Boy Scouts of America here in the District of Columbia. P-B has dedicated his life to furthering the scouting movement and preserving its storied legacy in the United States. A Scout Historian for over 40 years and enthusiastic vexillologist, P-B is the person scouts go to with questions about old patches, uniforms and flags. A symbol of his dedication to getting more boys involved in scouts, P-B recently helped found the Helping Other Scout Troops Incorporate Needed Gear (HOSTING) program, which collects uniforms, sleeping bags, backpacks, tents, and cooking gear for financially needy youth and adults all over the D.C. area. Due to its overwhelming success, the HOSTING program outgrew its warehouse space and plans to increase its imprint on the community. P-B is also the founder of the History Of Scouting Trail (H.O.S.T.), located in Washington, D.C. This set of four interactive hikes allows scouts and leaders to learn about the founders of the Boy Scouts of America while exploring the nation's capital. As Chairman of the Congressional Scouting Caucus, I have had the privilege of working with P-B on a number of occasions to promote scouting on a national level. P-B embodies the twelve points of the Scout Law, so I know he is always prepared and doing his best in every aspect of life. A role model for young scouts, P-B is a tireless advocate for the D.C. scouting community. His receipt of the Silver Beaver Award is certainly well-deserved. I congratulate him on this honor and look forward to working with him to increase the positive impact scouting can have on our nation's young men.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent of mine who was recently awarded one of the highest honors in her industry. Mary Catherine (Kitty) Van Bortel, president of Van Bortel Subaru in Victor, New York, which is located in my Congressional district, was named the 2016 TIME Dealer of the Year. Ms. Van Bortel received this highest honor out of a select group of dealers from across the country recognized at the 99th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention & Exposition in Las Vegas on April 1st. The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry's most prestigious and highly coveted honors. Recipients are among the nation's most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long- standing commitment to community service. In fact, Ms. Van Bortel was one of only 50 auto dealers from 16,000 nationwide--nominated for the 47th annual award. The award is sponsored by TIME in association with Ally Financial, and in cooperation with NADA. A panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan selects one finalist from each of the four NADA regions and one national Dealer of the Year. A 1972 graduate of Palmyra-Macedon Central High School in Palmyra, New York, Ms. Van Bortel earned a B.A. in psychology from Wells College in Aurora, New York, in 1976. Although her father was a car dealer who owned 17 franchises at one time, she began her career at a dealership independent of her family. Having first worked at Ridley Ford in Webster, New York where she became the top salesperson, Ms. Van Bortel was later a sales manager at Holtz Mercedes-Benz and BMW in Rochester, New York, before opening a used-car lot--her first step toward owning a dealership. She later convinced Subaru to give her a chance and opened Van Bortel Subaru in 1991 vowing to make it the largest-volume Subaru dealership in the nation. Within seven years, that goal was achieved. Her business has since expanded to include Van Bortel Chevrolet in Macedon, New York, and Van Bortel Ford in East Rochester, New York, both of which she owns with her brother. The reputation which she has built over the last 30 years has been the most rewarding part of her automotive career. And that reputation includes an unwavering commitment to giving back to her community. A nine-year breast cancer survivor, Ms. Van Bortel is dedicated to spreading the word that early detection is the cure. She has raffled off pink Ford Mustangs, given countless speeches to those who would listen and become a major contributor to the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. Other organizations Ms. Van Bortel supports include: National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House in Rochester; The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure (fundraising cycling event); Warrior Salute (assists veterans as they transition back to civilian life); Vistor/Farmington Food Cupboard (Thanksgiving baskets); IAC Kids: It's About Caring for Kids (help families in the Greater Rochester region going through financial hardships due to their child's severe illness); House of Mercy in Rochester (homeless shelter and advocacy group); Open Door Mission in Rochester (homeless shelter); Catholic Charities USA and many other local organizations. In addition, Ms. Van Bortel has received numerous awards for her community service and business leadership, including the 2009 Herbert W. Vanden Brul Entrepreneurial Award from the Saunders School of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology; 2011 Athena Award from the Women's Council of the Rochester Business Alliance and 2009 Rochester Women's Network ``W'' Award. In 2005, she was named one of the ``100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry'' by Automotive News. Ms. Van Bortel was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Robert Vancavage, president of the New York State Automobile Dealers Association. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all of the members of the New York Congressional delegation, please allow me to once again congratulate Ms. Mary Catherine (Kitty) Van Bortel on this prestigious award and thank her and her family for their involvement in the Rochester area. I wish her, her family, and her employees at the dealerships a prosperous and bright future.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Chair, I thank both Congressman Bucshon and Congressman Tonko for their help on this very important bill that we are debating today. Included in Congressman Bucshon's bill, H.R. 3716, is a bill that Mr. Tonko and I put together, H.R. 3821, the Medicare Directory of Caregivers, or DOC, Act. Our thought behind this bill came from the GAO report that identified access to care as one of the key issues facing Medicaid beneficiaries. There is nothing worse than someone saying: ``The good news is you have got medical insurance coverage through Medicaid. The bad news is they can't find a physician.'' So as a very good, commonsense government idea, what Representative Tonko and I came up with was the thought that we should be publishing on each State's Web site a list of the providers who have seen a Medicaid patient in the last 12 months, the name of the physician, the address, the telephone number, and their specialty, so at least these folks navigating the system to find a doctor have somewhere to go as a starting point: ``Here is a doctor that has seen a Medicaid patient in the last 12 months. Let me give them a call.'' So they are not just lost going through the phonebook, so to speak, or Google. What our bill would do, it would require that States that operate a fee-for-service or primary care case management program set up an online directory of physicians who have seen these Medicaid patients. We believe that this kind of access to caregivers will keep people out of the emergency rooms. They will have coordinated care by a physician, which is the best and most inexpensive way to treat them. Representative Bucshon's bill combined with our bill, H.R. 3821, does save $15 million over the 10-year period, as scored. The bill went through regular order and passed out of the Energy and Commerce subcommittee and full committee by voice vote with no objections. We are also encouraged to know the White House has signaled that they do support passage of this important access to care legislation. Again, I thank Chairmen Upton and Pitts, and Ranking Members Pallone and Green for their support. I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. COLLINS of New York

Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the 50 men and women and the 1 unborn child who died 7 years ago today in the crash of Continental Flight 3407. As Erie County Executive, I was in charge of the emergency response and one of the first people on the scene. The plane crashed less than a mile from my house. I will never forget what I saw and the grief of the families who lost loved ones that fateful night. Over the past 7 years, Flight 3407 families have been relentless in the fight to achieve one level of aviation safety for all airline carriers, from new training standards to guidelines that prevent pilot fatigue. On this seventh anniversary, we remember those who died that night and reinforce our commitment to ensure the safety measures these families have fought so hard to enact will stay in place.