Barbara Comstock

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the achievements of some of the 10th Congressional District's bravest constituents. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office held their 2015 Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Friday, February 19th to recognize the daily services and sacrifices provided by our local law enforcement. Selected from America's finest, and nominated by their peers, the following award serves as a testament to the officer's unwavering courage and dedication to protecting our community. The following individual deserves the thanks of not only the communities in which she serves, but also that of her elected officials. The Master Deputy Program Achievement Award recognizes Master Deputy Shannon Coderre within the Master Deputy Program for superior job knowledge, devotion to duty, dedication and loyalty to the community as well as to the Sheriff's Office. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking this member of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office for protecting and serving our community day-in-day-out.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the achievements of some of the 10th Congressional District's bravest constituents. The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office held their 2015 Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Friday, February 19th to recognize the daily services and sacrifices provided by our local law enforcement. Selected from America's finest, and nominated by their peers, the following award serves as a testament to each officer's unwavering courage and dedication to protecting our community. The following individuals deserve the thanks of not only the communities which they serve, but also that of their elected officials. The Meritorious Action Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional action in response to both routine and emergency situations. The following members merit special recognition: Deputy Eric Turner, Deputy First Class Joshua Colburn, Deputy First Class Matthew Steinfurth, Deputy Jillian Brock, Deputy Michael Ramirez, Deputy Jeffry Rima, Sergeant Nathan Zilke, Deputy Evelin Valladares, Deputy Harry Elliott, Johnique Moseley, LPN, Yvonne Savala, RN, Sergeant Dylan Foscato, Deputy First Class Derrick Franz, Sergeant Brett Phillips, Sergeant Gregory Rogers, Deputy First Class Casey Johnson, Deputy First Class Joseph Gass, Master Deputy Richard Garis, and Loudoun County Public School teachers Mrs. Linda Merola, Mrs. Jennifer Piccolonmini, Mrs. Christina Karmara, Mrs. Mary Hummer, Senior Deputy Amy Harper and resident Mr. Rick Allison, Sergeant Jeffrey Haig, Master Deputy Francis Trinh, Deputy First Class Donovan Reid, Deputy First Class Edward O'Toole, Master Deputy Charles Rounds, Deputy First Class Aaron Taylor, Deputy First Class Dawn Taylor, Deputy First Class Chad Braun, Dispatcher Christopher McDonald, Deputy First Class Dustin Moon, Deputy James Maguire, Deputy Ruben Cardenas, Deputy Jeffry Rima, Deputy Jillan Brock, Deputy Joshua Edney, Detective Steven Schochet, Detective Tommy Rodriguez and Special Agent Eric Vega, Virginia State Police. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking these members of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Department for protecting and serving our community day-in and day-out.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the achievements of some of the 10th Congressional District's bravest constituents. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office held their 2015 Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Friday, February 19th to recognize the daily services and sacrifices provided by our local law enforcement. Selected from America's finest, and nominated by their peers, the following award serves as a testament to the officer's unwavering courage and dedication to protecting our community. The following individual deserves the thanks of not only the communities in which he serves, but also that of his elected officials. The Sheriff's Excellence Award recognizes both senior civilian and sworn officer supervisors for superior job knowledge, devotion to duty, and dedication to the community which they serve. Sergeant Kenneth Dondero's actions over the years resulted in his nomination and selection for this award. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking this member of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Department for protecting and serving our community day-in and day-out.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the achievements of some of the 10th Congressional District's bravest constituents. The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office held their 2015 Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Friday, February 19th to recognize the daily services and sacrifices provided by our local law enforcement. Selected from America's finest, and nominated by their peers, the following award serves as a testament to the officer's unwavering courage and dedication to protecting our community. The following individual deserves the thanks of not only the communities in which he serves, but also that of his elected officials. The Distinguished Training Officer Award recognizes Deputy First Class Paul Morin who consistently demonstrated superior performance in training others within his respective division. His work ensures that the community will continue to be protected by some of the most highly trained officers in the nation. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking this member of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Department for protecting and serving our community day-in and day-out.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge a group of my constituents who have proudly represented Loudoun Valley High School-- located in Purcellville, Virginia--in Samsung's Solve For Tomorrow STEM Education competition. The team was led by Jose Rodriguez and Erin Wissler, and won the competition after being named one of the final five national finalists. Members of the team include Gwen Eging, Morgan Freiberg, Summer Harvey, Riley Herr, Carter Hunt, Jackson Kennedy, Sean Lohr, Blake Messegee, Malcolm Miller, Ethan Rodriguez, Riley Schnee, Graeson Smith. Samsung's Solve For Tomorrow competition is designed to give schools across the country the opportunity to raise students' interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects by awarding their schools with new technology products. It also encourages some of America's brightest high school students to create their own applications and further their interest in advancing modern technology. I know that the experience of developing new technologies, and engaging in friendly competition with their fellow students, serves as a valuable learning tool. The winning technology developed by the Loudoun Valley High School team was a solar powered safety alert system that allows students and their families to contact the police if they are in danger on the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park, which is a 45 mile paved trail that runs between Shirlington and Purcellville, Virginia. These students value our community's safety and wanted to create a more secure route for those who enjoy this park. In today's world, it cannot be stressed enough how important science, technology, engineering, and math are for the future of our nation. It is young STEM leaders, like these constituents, who will continue to help the United States compete in the global economy. I strongly encourage these students, and the rest of my constituents, to continue exploring and developing their talents. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding the 2016 Solve For Tomorrow champions from Loudoun Valley High School for their incredible achievement, and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the achievements of some of the 10th Congressional District's bravest constituents. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office held their 2015 Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Friday, February 19th to recognize the daily services and sacrifices provided by our local law enforcement. Selected from America's finest, and nominated by their peers, the following award serves as a testament to each officer's unwavering courage and dedication to protecting our community. The following individuals deserve the thanks and appreciation of not only the communities which they serve, but also that of their elected officials. The Meritorious Service Award recognizes exceptional performance by a member within the scope of normal responsibilities. The following individuals deserve special recognition: Detective Nicholas Altom, Investigator Julian Berger III, Deputy Joseph Hacay and Deputy First Class Daniel Martynowicz. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking these exceptional members of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office for protecting and serving our community day-in and day-out.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the achievements of some of the 10th Congressional District's bravest constituents. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office held their 2015 Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Friday, February 19th to recognize the daily services and sacrifices provided by our local law enforcement. Selected from America's finest, and nominated by their peers, the following award serves as a testament to each officer's unwavering courage and dedication to protecting our community. The following individuals deserve the thanks of not only the communities which they serve, but also that of their elected officials. The Commendation Award is presented by the Sheriff to individuals for acts that contribute to the accomplishment of the Sheriff's objectives or for an act that warrants special recognition in the public interest. I would like to recognize the following recipients: Deputy First Class Robert Heller, Sergeant Jay Conner, Deputy Ruben Cardenas, Deputy Jesus Diaz, Deputy Jillian Brock, Virginia State Troopers Rolando Curiel and Enzo A. Diaz, Deputy First Class Dawn Taylor, Detective Michael Hall, Sergeant Jeffrey Lockhart, Sergeant Michael Beatty, Detective Larry ``Rob'' Reed, Detective Jeffrey ``Tyler'' Brown, Deputy First Class Victor Lopreto, Mrs. Jacqueline Gallman, Detective Dana Cresswell, Detective Elissa Wilk, Detective Patrick Beaver, Detective Jeffrey Cichocki, Detective Justin Oksanen, Detective Corinne Czekaj, Sergeant Sara Tresselt (Posthumous), Sergeant Kevin Tucker, Detective Paul Loconti, Detective Christopher Staub, Detective Jenna Sullivan, Detective Timothy Lambert, Detective Christopher Salter, Detective Thomas Mengel, Detective Duane Rosa, Deputy First Class William Sullivan, Lieutenant Jamie Sanford (Leesburg Police Department), Sergeant Douglas Duhl, Deputy First Class Matthew Vess, Deputy First Class Kristopher Dawson, Deputy Joshua Carter, Detective Ron Colantonio, Deputy Sean McCormack, Deputy Eric Turner, and Assistant Commonwealth Attorney's Amy McMullen and Eric Pohlner and members of the Northern Virginia Gang Task Force. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking these members of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Department for protecting and serving our community day-in-day-out.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to use this time in recognition of Jeffrey E. ``Jeff'' Phillips, an extraordinarily gifted leader from Leesburg, VA. Mr. Phillips is retiring from the United States Army as a Major General in the Army Reserve. Currently, as the Executive Director of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, Mr. Phillips serves over 50,000 members in promoting the development of national security-minded military policy to ensure future American security. Prior to joining the ROA, Jeff served his country proudly for nearly 37 years in various positions in the U.S. Army. Mr. Philips was commissioned in the Regular Army in 1979 as a second lieutenant of armor, and eventually commanded an M-1 Abrams tank company in the 2nd Armored Division. Having been deployed overseas to Afghanistan, the Balkans, Egypt, Honduras, Israel, Iraq, and Germany, Mr. Phillips always conducted himself in a manner in which he highlighted the American ideals. Years of hard work and dedication to his country led to Mr. Phillips being appointed by President George W. Bush as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and White House Liaison for the Department of Veterans Affairs For his service, he has been awarded two Legions of Merit, Two Bronze Stars, an Army Parachutist Badge, and shares the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. Mr. Speaker, I now ask that my colleagues join me in thanking Mr. Jeff Phillips for his service and dedication to the United States of America. He is a true patriot, and I wish him all the best on his future endeavors.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Earle C. Williams of McLean, Virginia. Earle was a Northern Virginia business, technology, philanthropic, and community leader and friend to so many throughout the Commonwealth. I am so honored to have known Earle as a friend and valued advisor. He was an insightful and gifted leader who accomplished so much and gave so much back to his community. Earle was chairman of the Naval Research Advisory Committee, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, and was a permanent director and past international chairman of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association. Earle began his storied career a leader in the Washington, D.C. area and was a man who truly cared for his employees and all those around him. He was someone who believes in a strong culture of education and the arts and worked tirelessly to promote these endeavors in his life. His career as President and CEO of BDM International lasted from 1972 to 1992, during which he founded both the Professional Services Council and the Northern Virginia Technology Council. These organizations have since become major fixtures in the Northern Virginia region and Earle's work with them will forever impact our community. The Northern Virginia Technology Council appropriately named its annual lifetime achievement award, `The Earle C. Williams Lifetime Achievement Award' and it is given to a person whose lifetime personal and professional endeavors have made a significant impact on the Northern Virginia technology community. His professional accomplishments were many and celebrated and he did it all with his wife and family always surrounding him and celebrating with him and giving back with him. He passed away peacefully, blessed with his dear wife, June, by his side. She and her daughters and family had been faithfully keeping vigil the final several weeks and never left his side. Earle also worked extensively with Wolf Trap in Vienna, always valuing a culture of innovation as key to success in the arts. In 2015, he received the Jinx Hazel Arts Award for leadership and advocacy in the arts for his work with Wolf Trap and continued to work through the rest of his life to improve Wolf Trap so our entire community can benefit. In 1994, Earle was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame and from 1991 to 2004 was a part of the Auburn University Foundation Board, serving as its chairman the final two years. Earle's work ethic and passion for helping those around him was unrivaled, and was shown in his continued service to the community. He will always be a role model not just to me, but to those in his community, his wife June, his three daughters Carol, Sharon, and Gayle, and his seven grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I hope everyone joins me in honoring the life of Earle C. Williams.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the achievements and the 50th anniversary of the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue. In January of 1966, Prince William County hired its first paid firefighter, Phil Ponder. Ponder was the first of what is now over 600 Fire & Rescue personnel. Prince William County holds a number of records such as the first jurisdiction on the east coast to implement a 911 system and the first jurisdiction in the state and national capital region to implement a physical agility exam for career firefighters. In addition to those achievements, the department hired the first female fire chief of a metropolitan-sized department. I had the pleasure of meeting with Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin McGee recently where we talked about how the Department has evolved. Chief McGee always challenges his team to be on the cutting edge of firefighting and emergency rescue. Time and again Prince William County Fire and Rescue personnel have used their skills not only to help the people of Prince William County but also the citizens of Northern Virginia and beyond at their time in need. Over the years, Prince William County Fire and Rescue has assisted with incidents like the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and with rescue efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Today, the department has 555 uniformed and 60 civilian staff providing service around the clock. It is one of three jurisdictions in the Commonwealth with a delegated training authority for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and is a partner in the National Capital Region Incident Management Team. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to acknowledge the achievements of the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue over the last 50 years and thank all of the staff, both past and present, for protecting the lives and property of the region. I offer sincere gratitude for their service to the community, the Commonwealth, and the nation over the past 50 years and know that high quality service will be engrained in the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue for generations to come.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the Josephine Street community in Berryville, Virginia, has been officially designated a place of national historical significance and that the story of this proud African-American community has now been permanently included in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia and of our nation. On February 9, 2015, as the newly elected member of Congress representing the Northern Shenandoah Valley, I submitted a letter enthusiastically endorsing the community's application to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the National Park Service, to be placed on the state and national registers of historic places, and within months I received word that both designations had been granted. What an incredibly inspiring place the Josephine Street community has been since its establishment in 1870, when the 24 founders--former slaves and free blacks--purchased 31 one-acre lots from the Clermont Farm property owned by Ellen McCormick and turned the land on either side of the mile-long street into a thriving community. In June of 2014, I was privileged to have been a part of an extraordinary walking tour of the community and will never forget the wonderful presentations by the elders of the community such as Viola Brown and Geneva Jackson. During this walking tour, I learned that the history of ``Josephine City'' is the story of a proud, resilient and resourceful people who, despite the ongoing negative effects of slavery and adversity of segregation, used their own talents, energies, and good will to build a remarkably self-sufficient and caring community that thrives to this day. Through the amazing energy and positive attitude of those early residents, a community had been created by the early 20th century that included a grade school and a high school, two churches, two public wells, two restaurants, stables, boarding houses (including one for teachers), a barber shop and gas station, a hat shop, a slaughterhouse, a clubhouse and a baseball team. I want to thank the many committed people who have been involved in obtaining this important historical designation, including Ms. Dee Dee Liggins, Reverend James Page, Jr. and Mr. Kenny Liggins of the Josephine Improvement Association; the leaders of the Josephine School Community Museum, including Dorothy Davis, Helen Carr, and Norma Johnson; the elected officials of Clarke County and Berryville; the Board of Directors of the Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission; and especially, Maral Kalbian, the architectural historian of Clarke County. All of these individuals and organizations have helped to ensure that future generations of Virginians and Americans will be inspired by the hard work and indomitable spirit of the residents of Josephine City who, despite adversity, created a thriving, caring, self-sufficient community that is a model for us all.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the achievements of an individual who has shown his dedication to the future of our Nation through educating our youth. John Cavanaugh attended Georgetown University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in language and linguistics. He began his teaching career at Georgetown Preparatory School in 1973, and shortly thereafter moved to the Congressional Schools of Virginia in 1976. He has shown an exemplary commitment to teaching over what has now become a 40-year career. Over the years, Mr. Cavanaugh has taught Spanish, Latin, German, Italian, English as a second language, geography, world history, American history, and government to thousands of students. Currently concentrating on Latin and history, he has shown the same dedication to his students since the first day he walked into the classroom 40 years ago. His knowledge of American history is legendary, and he instills in his students a strong desire to learn, while also encouraging them to explore their own talents. His hard work and passion for education has led him to his peers nominating him for the Washington Post's Teacher of the Year Award. He has been described as an ``icon'' and ``shepherd'' by colleagues and students alike. His unwavering commitment to helping students thrive has been demonstrated through his early morning review sessions and his advisory role to the Yearbook Club and National Junior Honor Society. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to acknowledge Mr. Cavanaugh for his achievements over these 40 years, and I wish him the best going forward. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking him for touching so many lives as a first-class educator and for his dedication to our youth.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to acknowledge one of my constituents who has demonstrated day-in day-out what living the American dream really means. Bill Haney graduated from the College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science in Education. While teaching elementary school in Talbot County, Maryland, Bill worked to earn his Master's Degree in Supervision and Human Relations from George Washington University. In 1983, Mr. Haney accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer of Every Citizen Has Opportunities, Inc. (ECHO), a Leesburg, Virginia based non-profit which provides employment, training, and community integration to individuals with disabilities. Mr. Haney has decided it is time to retire from his life's work, thus ending a bright chapter in ECHO's history. As Mr. Haney's extraordinary career comes to a close, I would like to take a moment to highlight the work he has done over the years. When Mr. Haney took over as CEO at ECHO, the organization was supporting about 75 individuals with disabilities, with an annual budget of under three hundred thousand dollars, and only two worksites. Under Mr. Haney's leadership, ECHO's budget has grown to nearly five million dollars, and has expanded services to nearly 170 individuals with disabilities. ECHO has approximately 15 work locations, ranging from Loudoun County Public Schools to Inova Hospitals. In addition to his work at ECHO, Mr. Haney has extended his skills to the community through his work on the Board of Directors for the Loudoun County Red Cross, as Cubmaster for the Pack 11 Boy Scouts in Boyce, Virginia, and as a Sunday school teacher at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Front Royal, Virginia. Mr. Haney leaves ECHO after a storied 33 years at the helm with zero debt, positive cash flow, and outright ownership of its facility. ECHO will continue serving our community, but without a doubt, will miss Mr. Haney's leadership and dedication. At this moment, Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in extending our sincerest thanks to Mr. Haney for all the work he has done in our community, and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my constituent, Colonel Ferdinand Clarence ``Fred'' Bidgood, a retired United States Army officer, a patriot, and a true leader. After his birth in 1938 in Fort Benning, Georgia, Fred went on to live in London, England, where he graduated from Central High School in 1955. He matriculated into the United States Military Academy's Class of 1960 where he received a Bachelor of Science degree. Fred later earned a Master's degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M, and graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College. Following his graduation from the United States Military Academy, Fred was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and served around the world in command and staff positions in both Artillery and Engineer units. Throughout his career, he served as Associate Executive Director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America in Washington, DC and Chief of Staff for the National Victory Celebration, where his duties included welcoming home troops from the Gulf War. He also served as Director on the Board of Governors of the World United Services Organization and Chairman of their Human Resources Committee, and he was a member of the Board of Advisers of National Handicapped Sports. Fred lived much of his life in South Run Forest community in Springfield, Virginia. On Veterans Day, Flag Day, and Memorial Day, Fred enjoyed distributing flags across his entire community to share his patriotic spirit with his neighbors in honor of our country and all those who have served it bravely with him. Fred will be remembered dearly across the South Run Forest community by all those he touched on a daily basis. He was well known by many of his neighbors for having a witty sense of humor. One of Fred's neighbors, Norman Bayne, once told me about a time when he was mowing his lawn and wearing shorts, Fred came out and shouted, ``If I had legs like that I would wear pants.'' Fred always had a way to brighten the day of those around him. Fred's final assignment in the military was as an Executive Assistant to the Administrator of the Veterans Administration. He passed away a decorated veteran, having earned four awards of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. He was preceded in death by his daughter Kerri. He is survived by his wife Marilyn of 55 years, two sons Mark and Matthew, and four grandchildren, Damon, Haley, Aidan, and Brianna. I am honored to commemorate Fred today for his life of leadership, service, and selfless contributions to our great nation. We are fortunate to have citizens like Fred who are willing to put their life at risk to serve the United States of America.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to use this time to acknowledge one of my constituents who has demonstrated for nearly a half-century what it means to serve their neighbor. Earl Grigsby will be retiring on April 1st as Superintendent of Public Works for Loudoun County after 44 years of dedication to the community. Mr. Grigsby began his public service 44 years ago as a laborer at the county's landfill. Over the years, his hard work and positive outlook led him on a path to retiring as Superintendent of public works. His time with the county has been marked by efficiently leading his workforce, as well as guiding the county operations in emergency situations. Mr. Grigsby leaves office not only receiving honors from the Board of Supervisors, but also a standing ovation from colleagues and kin alike. Mr. Speaker, having already been honored by family and coworkers, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Mr. Grigsby's public work, and implore each of us to imitate his dedication to duty. I wish Mr. Grigsby the best in his future endeavors.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to offer a bipartisan bill Ms. Esty and I introduced, H.R. 4742, the Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act. We were also joined by the chairman and ranking member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Congressman Lamar Smith and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who are original cosponsors of this measure. I am pleased that the consideration of this bill occurs during Women's History Month. Our bill amends the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act to authorize the National Science Foundation to use its entrepreneurial programs to recruit women and to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and into the commercial world. The bill also includes a number of findings regarding women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, also known as the STEM fields. One finding in this bill notes that only 26 percent of women who attain degrees in STEM fields ultimately work in STEM jobs. We want to improve these statistics, and we believe this bill is a step in the right direction. Again, I am happy to collaborate with my colleague, Congresswoman Esty, on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4742, the bill now under consideration.

Ms. COMSTOCK

Ms. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4742) to authorize the National Science Foundation to support entrepreneurial programs for women.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4755) to inspire women to enter the aerospace field, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, through mentorship and outreach.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, while overall employment is only projected to grow by 10 percent between 2008 and 2018, careers in STEM-related fields are expected to grow at a much faster rate of 17 percent over that same time period. Unfortunately, current statistics show that women are less likely to focus on STEM-related studies in college and, of the women who pursue these areas of study, only 26 percent will ultimately work in STEM- related fields. Recognizing the need not only for more women in the workforce, but for women to be leaders in the workforce, particularly in the STEM fields, I established the Young Women Leadership Program, which I previously mentioned, where we have been so thrilled to be able to have astronauts come and speak and other people in the science and STEM-related fields and aerospace. This has been an effective tool in guiding young women into STEM fields. I appreciate the opportunity today to join with my colleague, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. Esty), to support both of these bills. I ask you to support H.R. 4755, the Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers Women Act, or INSPIRE Act. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise again to offer another bill, H.R. 4755, the INSPIRE Act. I am pleased to lead this effort along with the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Lamar Smith and Eddie Bernice Johnson, as well as Congresswoman Esty. This bill authorizes the NASA Administrator to encourage young women to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, known as the STEM fields, and to pursue careers that will further advance America's space science and exploration efforts through support of NASA initiatives, such as NASA GIRLS, Aspire 2 Inspire, and the Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research, SISTER. The goal of NASA GIRLS is to create a virtual mentoring project that offers a one-of-a-kind experience to middle school students using online capabilities. I should mention there also is a NASA BOYS. NASA's vision for Aspire 2 Inspire was to reach out to young girls and present some of the science, technology, engineering, and math career opportunities through the real lives and jobs of early career women at NASA. The SISTER program is designed to increase awareness of and provide an opportunity for female middle school students to be exposed to and explore nontraditional career fields with Goddard Space Flight Center women engineers, mathematicians, scientists, technicians, and researchers. According to NASA, 58 women have traveled in space. Forty-nine of those have flown with NASA. Most Americans are familiar with Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. We all remember that special moment when this true trailblazer literally raised the bar of achievement to new heights. She accomplished this milestone in 1983. In a lecture she gave at Berkeley later, Ride said she saw an ad for being an astronaut in the student newspaper. She said: ``The moment I saw that ad, I knew that's what I wanted to do.'' Now, imagine how so many young girls can now see so many other women and be exposed to that kind of leadership. We cannot discuss female firsts in space without also discussing Mae Jemison, who was the first African American woman in space, also an inspired leader. She was inspired by Sally Ride's achievement; so, she applied to the astronaut program in 1983. It was 4 long years before she received the call from NASA, and she was selected as one of 15 candidates out of roughly 2,000 applicants. Her trip to space was aboard the Endeavor in 1992. She served as a mission specialist on STS-47, which was a cooperative mission between the U.S. and Japan, during which 44 life science and materials processing experiments were conducted. STS-47 also happened to be the 50th shuttle mission for NASA. Later in 1995, it was Eileen Collins who became the first female to command and pilot a spacecraft, STS-63. She also commanded two more space missions, one in 1997 aboard STS-84, and one in 2005 aboard STS- 114. This mission, STS-114, was another first, as she became the first astronaut--male or female--to fly a space shuttle through a 360-degree pitch maneuver so that individuals inside the International Space Station could inspect the belly of the shuttle for damage. When asked to give advice for future astronauts, Collins stated: ``My advice to young people is go into the field you are most interested in. If you love your job, you'll do well in your job.'' I know, Mr. Speaker, from my Young Women Leadership Program, where we are able to get young girls in junior high and high school to come and hear from young leaders, hearing from these young astronauts--which we have been privileged to hear from often about all their work and the many different areas that they work in--has been one of the most popular programs. There are many other women who have contributed to America's space- related endeavors, and we want to continue to make sure that that path is widened for them. These women are physicists, chemists, pilots, astronauts, doctors, biologists. The list goes on. According to the women@nasa Web site today, there are more opportunities than ever before to join as we reach for the stars. I urge you to visit the Web site--it is women.nasa.gov--to learn more. It is in these areas in the sciences that we can help ensure America remains a world leader. These are the jobs for the 21st century that we very much want young American women to be engaged and involved in. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4755, the bill now under consideration.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my constituent, Colonel Ferdinand Clarence ``Fred'' Bidgood, a retired United States Army officer, a patriot, and a true leader. After his birth in 1938 in Fort Benning, Georgia, Fred went on to live in London, England where he graduated from Central High School in 1955. He matriculated into the United States Military Academy's Class of 1960 where he received a Bachelor of Science degree. Fred later earned a Master's degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M, and graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College. Following his graduation from the United States Military Academy, Fred was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and served around the world in command and staff positions in both Artillery and Engineer units. Throughout his career, he served as Associate Executive Director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America in Washington, DC and Chief of Staff for the National Victory Celebration, where his duties included welcoming home troops from the Gulf War. He also served as Director on the Board of Governors of the World United Services Organization and Chairman of their Human Resources Committee, and he was a member of the Board of Advisers of National Handicapped Sports. Fred lived much of his life in South Run Forest community in Springfield, Virginia. On Veterans Day, Flag Day, and Memorial Day, Fred enjoyed distributing flags across his entire community to share his patriotic spirit with his neighbors in honor of our country and all those who have served it bravely with him. Fred will be remembered dearly across the South Run Forest community by all those he touched on a daily basis. He was well known by many of his neighbors for having a witty sense of humor. One of Fred's neighbors, Norman Bayne, once told me about a time when he was mowing his lawn and wearing shorts, Fred came out and shouted, ``If I had legs like that I would wear pants.'' Fred always had a way to brighten the day of those around him. Fred's final assignment in the military was as an Executive Assistant to the Administrator of the Veterans Administration. He passed away a decorated veteran, having earned four awards of the Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star, two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. He was preceded in death by his daughter Kerri. He is survived by his wife Marilyn of 55 years, two sons Mark and Matthew, and four grandchildren, Damon, Haley, Aidan, and Brianna. I am honored to commemorate Fred today for his life of leadership, service, and selfless contributions to our great nation. We are fortunate to have citizens like Fred who are willing to put their life at risk to serve the United States of America.