Ryan Costello

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the SELF DRIVE Act. With over 127,000 vehicle crashes in Pennsylvania in 2015, advances in deploying self-driving technology are critical to helping make our roads safer. Importantly, self-driving cars can also increase mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities and can reduce carbon emissions. As with many innovations, we must recognize the importance of safety, including cybersecurity vulnerabilities, when it comes to self-driving cars. Provisions of my cybersecurity legislation, which were included as part of the bill we are voting on today, directs the Secretary of Transportation to create a Federal advisory council on cybersecurity. The council will be responsible for gathering information and providing advice related to the cybersecurity of self-driving vehicles, and it will ensure both public and private sector stakeholders are communicating about cybersecurity concerns before they become a crisis. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Walden, Chairman Latta, and staff for their work to bring this bill to the floor.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, on July 28, 2017, I missed three recorded votes on the House floor due to family commitments. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call 436, YEA on Roll Call 437, and YEA on Roll Call 438.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, on July 26, 2017, I missed ten recorded votes on the House floor due to family commitments. Had I been present, I would have voted NO on Roll Call 416, NO on Roll Call 417, NO on Roll Call 418, NO on Roll Call 419, NO on Roll Call 420, NO on Roll Call 421, NO on Roll Call 422, NO on Roll Call 423, NO on Roll Call 424, and YEA on Roll Call 425.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, on July 25, 2017, I missed four recorded votes on the House floor due to family commitments. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call 410, YEA on Roll Call 411, YEA on Roll Call 412, and YEA on Roll Call 413

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on July 24, 2017, I missed three recorded votes on the House floor so that I could be present for the birth of my daughter, Caroline. Had I been present, I would have voted yea on Roll Call 407, yea on Roll Call 408, and yea on Roll Call 409.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2664, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act. We all know human trafficking is a serious problem all over the world, but it is not a distant concept. It exists in communities all across this country. Last year, in Pennsylvania alone, there were over 150 human trafficking cases reported, and labor trafficking was the second highest type of trafficking in the Commonwealth. We should and must do all that we can to combat this disgusting activity. This legislation before us now would help train Department of Labor inspectors to identify patterns and circumstances surrounding this abuse so that they can assist law enforcement in recognizing and stopping labor exploitation. A significant component of the fight against human trafficking is knowing where it exists, and this legislation is an important step forward.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the FDA Reauthorization Act, which is very important to our country and to Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District. Many communities in my district are at the forefront of innovation in the life sciences industry, and this legislation will make sure our businesses remain competitive and on pace with public health needs. This bill is critical to allowing us to continue our bipartisan work to reduce drug costs, to advance therapies that can save lives, and to develop safe and innovative treatments for patients and their families. Finally, Mr. Speaker, it is important the public is aware that this is a bipartisan bill. There are some things that perhaps some Republicans would have liked to have seen in this bill that didn't make their way in, and there are some things that perhaps some Democrats would have liked to have seen make their way into this bill that didn't. We found consensus and we worked together. It was a unanimous vote out of the Energy and Commerce Committee. I am proud to stand behind that, and this is a good day for America.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, one thing that we can all agree on is that America is the land of opportunity. Our beautiful country has remarkable stories about those young and old, who, through adversity, have gone on to achieve great things. Those human stories are often the best way for us to demonstrate why our country is so special. I would like to share two stories with you this morning. Emily Torchiana recently visited my office while she was here in Washington, D.C., after being chosen for a Jefferson Award for community service. Just last week, she was also awarded the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Public Service. Emily is from Collegeville, in my congressional district, and, after her own experience with severe cyberbullying led to a suicide attempt, she began telling her story. Emily found people would reach out to her after each speech to share their own experiences and thank her for being so open with her journey. She is now the founder of a nonprofit focused on mental health advocacy, awareness, and services. Emily's nonprofit supports mental health workshops in schools as well as workshops for parents and teachers so adults can learn how to support children and young adults suffering from mental illness. The mission statement of Emily's nonprofit includes working to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, something I believe is a critical aspect for us all as we continue to develop and advance solutions for those facing mental illness. Quoting from Emily's nonprofit website, she writes: ``My hope is that the more people who will open up about their struggles, the more others will feel comfortable reaching out for help. . . . Unlike physical illnesses, these mental illnesses are not seen, but that does not mean they are not there. I hope this will give us all the opportunity to walk briefly in the shoes of the fellow human beings we come across every day.'' Emily's work is an inspiration to us all. Congratulations, Emily, for being recognized for your outstanding service to communities across our country, and we wish you the best of luck with your career. Ammar Al-Rubaiay is another young adult who has an inspiring and remarkable story. A reporter in my congressional district recently shared Ammar's story with me, and I want to take a moment to share a story about opportunity, hard work, and a young man fulfilling his dreams. A native of Baghdad, Iraq, Ammar became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2015. He was participating in a youth exchange program that transferred him to West Vincent Township, in Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District, where he attended Owen J. Roberts High School and ultimately attended Westtown School. Ammar came face to face with al-Qaida before his move. In a column in 2009, journalist Michael Rellahan remembered reading Ammar's college essay. Mr. Rellahan wrote: ``In striking detail, Ammar recalled the day in June 2007 when he sat in his classroom at the Gifted Students School in his native Baghdad and a teacher came in to announce simply that: `They are here--al-Qaida.'' Ammar wrote in his journal: ``At that time, I felt like I was a few minutes away from death, getting closer every second. I was scared, but not because I thought that I was going to die. I was scared because I was thinking about what might happen to my family when they heard that I got killed. My dad always told me, `Don't go to school; your life is more important than your education,' but I never listened, and I always argued with him because I believe that my education was important enough to take the risky chance.'' The gunman entered the room, looked around, and went away. They stole some cars, but left everyone alive. Ammar recalled: ``Those seconds felt like years; they were the longest seconds in my life.'' Here is the great part of the story: It is not a story; it is real life. Ammar was granted political asylum, and in 2013, he graduated from Bard College and has since completed medical school, moving on to a career to help others and improve their healthy lives. We should be proud of him and the thousands of other young men and young women every day who are fighting through adversity to achieve, who will go on to make this a greater country than it already is; and it is a reminder to all of us in what is, at times, a very divisive political environment that the reason that we do these jobs is to make sure that we are providing opportunity for the next generation, and it is they who will make our country an even greater place. It is their achievements that are the cornerstone of our country and a great reminder to all of us that we are a special country with special people doing great things every single day.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Immigrant Heritage Month. America is a great nation of immigrants, and we should recognize the countless contributions and positive impact immigrants have made on our country. We should take pride in the fact that most of us have passed down the stories of our families traveling from somewhere else in pursuit of the American Dream. I'm proud to be the descendant of Irish, Italian, and German immigrants who sought a better life in the United States. Our country was built on the just belief that all men are created equal, and we have a proud history of advancing economic, educational, and personal opportunity. It is my honor to take this opportunity to celebrate our country's traditions during Immigrant Heritage Month.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the VA Prescription Data Accountability Act. We face a serious opioid epidemic in our communities across the Nation. As we work to put forth solutions to this crisis, it is critical that we incorporate the Veterans Health Administration into existing, effective controlled substance monitoring programs. To ensure effective, accurate oversight of who is being prescribed controlled substances, this legislation would require the VA to disclose information about all individuals, veteran or dependent, who receive such prescriptions from the VHA. In my home State of Pennsylvania, we have an established comprehensive and effective Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Incorporating additional data from the VA is an appropriate step to utilize proven existing networks to fight back against the opioid epidemic. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation that would assist veterans in Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District who suffer from a service-connected disability. H.R. 1005 would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to work with State Veterans Homes, such as the Southeastern Veterans Center in my district in East Vincent Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, to fund adult day healthcare for veterans who have a disability rating of 70 percent or more from the line of duty. Making this program available to more veterans who need assistance with daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, or eating, would help improve the lives of those who have sacrificed so much, as well as their families. Our veterans and their loved ones deserve to receive high-quality health services with the freedom and flexibility to live independently and at home. I commend Congressman Zeldin for his leadership and all those on the Veterans' Affairs Committee for passing this out of committee. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this bill will improve the appeals process at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is currently operating under a significant backlog. Last session, when I served on the VA Committee, a major focus was reforming the repeals process to better serve veterans' appeals rights. My office has assisted hundreds of veterans, many of whom have struggled with the appeals process and several of whom have struggled with getting the care they need in a timely manner. One individual my office worked with estimated the entire process, from when he first began seeking benefits until the recent favorable decision from the Board of Veterans Appeals, lasted 20 years. Mr. Speaker, it is clear a solution is needed. This legislation would set out to improve the claims process by providing veterans with three lanes--or three choices--as to how they would like to proceed with an appeal. These choices include: one, having the original evidence reviewed again; or, two, introducing new evidence and having another hearing; or, three, sending the decision directly to the Board of Veterans Appeals. The VA's current 5-year appeal wait time is simply not acceptable for our veterans. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation, which is an appropriate solution to this problem. It will streamline many claims and also enable a more efficient administrative handling of those claims. I thank the leadership of Chairman Roe and those on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2288.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, burn pits, which are found on military bases, create substances that can be toxic. Tires, batteries, human waste, medical waste, and other garbage items are put into pits and set on fire, sometimes after being soaked with jet fuel. Burn pits were regularly used in Iraq and Afghanistan, so veterans of these wars are particularly at risk. My colleagues and I have introduced legislation that says, if a veteran does not have visible wounds, it is often difficult to provide the proof that VA needs to process a claim--but it shouldn't be that burdensome for a veteran who has sacrificed so much for our country--to get the treatment they need when they come home. There are many reports of veterans who believe their illness was caused by their exposure to burn pits who have not been able to get the VA to provide them with coverage. This epidemic is being compared to the major problem veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange had when they returned home from the Vietnam war, and we cannot let that happen again. So we have introduced legislation because veterans who are exposed to burn pits and subsequently have complications need to have the right diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. This bill would create a Center of Excellence at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which would provide research to be able to properly address the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these veterans. It is important the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our country can access the care they need when they return home.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, because of the fentanyl crisis we are facing, I have cosponsored the Synthetic Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act, also known as the STOP Act. The bill aims to prevent synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, from being shipped to the United States by drug traffickers. Illicitly produced synthetic opioids have strong associations with countries like China and India, where there is little to no regulation, and fentanyl and its analogues are manufactured in both small- and large-scale production laboratories. The STOP Act would require foreign postal operators to send advanced electronic data to the USPS, the Postal Service, for packages imported into the United States. This would enable Customs and Border Protection and other agencies to target high-risk shipments for screening. This bill also gives the Postal Service more authority to scan arriving mail from places that are currently exempt from CBP protocol, helping to stop these packages from reaching U.S. borders in the first place. It is a vigilant Federal response, including the STOP Act, which is crucial to reversing the tide of addiction, helping to save lives in our community and across the country. Burn Pits

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, during the recess period, I had the opportunity to host townhalls and meet with constituents to hear about the issues and concerns that matter to them. One of the recurring topics of concern that I kept hearing was about potential cuts to Federal medical research funding, in particular, NIH cuts from the President's skinny budget. We made great progress last Congress toward strengthening the NIH, most notably through passage of the 21st Century Cures Act. In addition to increasing funding, we have made positive structural changes to ensure that every dollar invested is being used effectively and efficiently. The NIH and medical research represent our best hope to find cures, improve care, and solve the diseases and conditions that affect millions of Americans. We should not reduce one penny of NIH funding, not one penny. The work and research of the NIH is simply too valuable. Fentanyl Crisis

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate students in Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District. Yesterday, my office was proud to announce the winners of the 2017 Congressional Art Competition. As a member of the STEAM Caucus and a strong supporter of funding for the arts and humanities, I always encourage students across my district to participate in the competition. This year, Hannah from Conestoga High School, was awarded first place for her piece, entitled, ``Three Cranes''; second place went to Rachel from Henderson High School; third place was awarded to Elizabeth from Conestoga High School; and fourth place was awarded to Juliet from Phoenixville Area High School. The creativity displayed this year and every year by students from our community shows the depth of hard work and talent of our region's students. I congratulate and thank each student who submitted their work to the competition. NIH Funding

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the first round of grant funding for the 21st Century Cures Act. As a cosponsor and supporter of Cures and a Member who represents communities in Pennsylvania directly impacted by the opioid crisis, this was an encouraging and welcomed step toward combating this epidemic. This first round of funding will support prevention and treatment initiatives for those individuals in need. In particular, these resources will assist our local health centers that serve the uninsured or underinsured and are leading the fight on the front lines against this epidemic. This is one of many steps that will need to take place to combat this crisis. As the debate here in the House on efforts to improve health care continues, this announcement serves as a reminder of the positive and good we can do when we work together to deliver solutions that strengthen our communities. Moving forward, I will continue to work with my colleagues to advance and support policies to address addiction prevention and treatment. Congratulating Winners of 2017 Congressional Art Competition

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Veterans Choice Program Improvement Act. This legislation protects access to health care for our Nation's veterans by maintaining the VA Choice Program and ensuring that funds already allocated for veterans health care remain dedicated to that purpose. Veterans across my district have utilized the program to access treatment from community healthcare providers. And while they appreciate the flexibility this program provides, I often hear of a need to make improvements and remove hurdles that prevent this program from realizing its full potential. I am pleased this legislation takes several steps to reduce red tape. Now, what do I mean by that? First, we are going to speed up reimbursements to community providers. We are going to strengthen medical record sharing between the VA and community providers and reduce out-of-pocket costs for veterans--all very important steps to improving the VA Choice Program. These are commonsense, bipartisan improvements. I want to thank Chairman Roe for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, on March 1, 2017, I missed one recorded vote on the House floor. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call 121.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about MATHCOUNTS, a national program designed to improve math skills among U.S. students. The 2017 MATHCOUNTS competition series will consist of approximately 40,000 students. Twenty-three schools with 182 students competed in the 32nd Chester County MATHCOUNTS competition at Great Valley Middle School recently. I want to commend Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, specifically Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School and also the Valley Forge Middle School of the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District for placing in the top six schools, as well as the following other schools in my congressional district: Great Valley Middle School, Lionville Middle School of the Downingtown Area School District, and J.R. Fugett Middle School of the West Chester Area School District. Congratulations to all schools involved, all students participating. I want to thank all the teachers, staff, and administrators who helped make MATHCOUNTS an enjoyable, enriching experience for all the students.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of three veterans' bills the House considered this week and passed. I would like my constituents to know how the House is working to better serve our veterans, and I want to specifically focus on the WINGMAN Act, which we passed. Mr. Speaker, enabling caseworkers to more efficiently handle the casework that we receive from veterans is critically important. Right now, my office, much like most Members in Congress, is experiencing a tremendously high volume of phone calls and office visits about a multitude of issues; and I welcome that continued energy and interest from my constituents. I also want to remind everyone that a central function of congressional district offices--perhaps its most important day-to-day function--is to be a clearinghouse for solving a variety of problems for our constituents and a resource to help them. And the caseworkers in our district offices do an exceptional job. That is why enhancing the tools available to caseworkers to more efficiently serve veterans can result in more cases being effectively administered and answers provided to veterans. This week we took an important step in streamlining this process by passing the WINGMAN Act. This bill would allow caseworkers to access read-only versions of veterans' records without having to first contact the Department of Veterans Affairs. This is if a veteran grants their congressional office this access. It is important to note that casework staff is already trained to handle this sensitive information as part of their work to serve constituents who are veterans. I was pleased to support this bill and believe it will have a positive result for veterans seeking assistance from my office in Pennsylvania and veterans across the country. In fact, I did ask for some comments from caseworkers in my office in Wyomissing and West Chester; and I especially want to thank them for the above-and-beyond, 110 percent effort that they are giving day in and day out. Particularly, at this point in time, with such a high volume of phone calls and office visits, they are still getting their casework done. This bill that we passed in the House will help them further in helping veterans. Jason, my constituent services director, had this to say about the bill: The accountability piece is extremely important. This will allow us to see a more complete picture rather than just relying on what we are told by the VA. This should also help us triage the inquiries, thereby reducing the number of contacts we have to make to our VA liaisons, something they would probably welcome as well. Lisa from my West Chester office indicated that she also believes it is a great initiative. It is important to note the claims process is a lengthy one. It would be beneficial to be able to periodically check in on the record to monitor its progress. Most times veterans say they would just like the VA to let them know that the claim is still being worked on rather than forgotten. It would let our office provide that information without the added steps of contacting VA employees. Patrick, from my Wyomissing office, a veteran himself, said that: In my view, it is an interesting concept which would allow us to move more swiftly from information gatherer to advocate for cases that legitimately warrant it. Oftentimes, there is a significant lag time between placing the inquiry and receiving substantive feedback, at which time we will then have to make the judgment if further action is justified. It would also appear to hold the VA more accountable as well to outside eyes, which is also very much needed. So it sounds good to me. Mr. Speaker, it also sounds good to me, and I believe it will do good for veterans across this country. I am pleased to see it pass the House, and I encourage the Senate to move swiftly on it. Tredyffrin/Easttown Wins Mathcounts Competition for Third Year

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last Congress, Members on both sides of the aisle came together to restore education decisionmaking authority to where it should be--at the State and local level--devolving it from overreach by the Federal Government through the Every Student Succeeds Act. It was a bipartisan accomplishment that I speak very proudly of in my congressional district, as I know many Members do in their congressional districts. However, certain regulations were issued by the Department of Education last year that threaten regulatory overreach, including problematic provisions requiring States to issue uniform standards to determine a teacher's level of effectiveness or ineffectiveness. Put quite simply, the rule, as it was issued late in November, is not consistent with the law that we passed that we were all so proud of. In fact, it is necessary to use the CRA to override this rule in order to maintain the integrity of the ESSA, which we are all very proud of passing, to restore local control, and that goes from student testing to curriculum, to teacher evaluation. What we have here, as written, are regulations which threaten an overemphasis on students' standardized testing scores when evaluating the quality of a teacher. H.J. Res. 57 would override regulations because they are not consistent with the law that we just passed. H.J. Res. 57 would preserve the bipartisan accomplishments achieved in the ESSA by allowing States to continue tailoring the ESSA to meet local needs without overreach and without mandates from the Federal Government. Put simply, what we are seeking to do here is to prevent the Federal Government from once again nudging its nose into local and State control over teacher evaluations, which was one of the main objectives of the ESSA in the first instance. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Rokita for his leadership.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 423, the Anti-Spoofing Act, a bill I also supported last Congress. Mr. Speaker, call spoofing is a telephone scam used to change the information on a caller ID and pose as a trusted source, such as an official government agency, a medical center, or a bank. The intention behind call spoofing is to collect valuable personal information, such as banking information, to defraud or cause other harm to an individual or family. Seniors and veterans are frequently targeted in these scams. In an effort to protect your personal information, this bill would close existing loopholes and direct the Federal Communications Commission to ensure those who engage in spoofing face criminal fines and penalties. Call spoofing is not just limited to voice messages. Those using this tactic also utilize text messages, and H.R. 423 would include text messages in these fines and penalties. This bill would keep personal data secure and protect consumers, and I am pleased to see that it has passed the House.

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 590, the Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act, legislation that takes an important step towards developing safer, more reliable clean energy. Nuclear energy accounts for approximately 20 percent of all U.S. electricity and, very importantly, 60 percent of all carbon- free electricity in the U.S. As our existing nuclear infrastructure moves closer to retirement, advanced nuclear technology offers a modern solution to ensure that American families have a safe, affordable, and reliable source of clean energy for generations to come. However, in order to fully realize the potential of advanced nuclear, we must remove the costly red tape that prevents innovation and streamline existing practices to allow for the safe and effective development of this technology. I thank Congressman Latta for his leadership on this bipartisan issue, and I am pleased to support it and see it pass the House. Keeping Personal Data Secure from Spoofing

Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today on behalf of myself and all readers of the Daily Local News, a newspaper in my congressional district, Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District, to honor the life of Tom Murray, the editor of the Daily Local News, who just passed. Mike Rellahan, in writing an obituary on Mr. Murray, accurately had this to say: Tom Murray's personality shone through in the way he dealt with reporters, photographers, other editors, and colleagues on the multiple newspapers and media outlets he worked at over the years. It showed in his passion for helping people get better at their craft, in his own strong work ethic and in his sense of humor and humanity. He was a hard-core newspaperman who loved a good lead paragraph, a clever headline, and an action-packed photo. He believed the society page was as important in the Main Line papers he worked for as the sports page was to the Gloucester, New Jersey, Daily Times, where he held the post of sports editor for 9 years, because he believed a newspaper at its best reflects its readers. More than that, however, Murray stayed true to the ideals of old-school print journalism, loving the traditions and storytelling while at the same time embracing and chasing the future with enthusiasm. He began reporting when electronic journalism was in its infancy, but became so involved in the new digital age that one of his happiest moments came when a video screen showing the realtime activity of the Daily Local News' Web site was installed in the newsroom. Tom Murray, you will be missed. Thank you for your service and your contribution to journalism, to our democracy, and to sharing news with those throughout the tri-county area for so long. Realizing Full Potential of Advanced Nuclear Energy