Daniel Donovan

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner).

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. I thank Congressman Guinta and Congresswoman Kuster for their leadership in this area. Mr. Speaker, this week the House of Representatives will act to pass a package of bills addressing the opioid crisis. One of them, the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction Act, will authorize new grant programs for cities and nonprofits for education, treatment, and enforcement, and not a minute too soon. Opioid abuse is an epidemic. It is everywhere you look. It is in our neighborhood, in our social circles, and in our schools. Too many parents have buried their sons and daughters or watched them struggle for years with addiction, treatment, and relapse. It has to stop. An effective response needs to address three areas: education, treatment, and enforcement. Today's youth have to be educated about the dangers of addiction, and loved ones need to learn to recognize the early signs. The legislation the House will pass this week authorizes new grants to prevent the next generation from abusing pills and heroin. Proven diversion programs, like the drug treatment courts I participated in as district attorney of Staten Island for 12 years, should have the resources and the staffing needed to accomplish their mission: To get users off of drugs. The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction Act authorizes grants to establish new drug courts and expand those already in operation. However, we must follow up on our efforts this week and ensure that the grant application process is not overly complicated and onerous. In the past, the Federal grant processes has discouraged effective treatment organizations from seeking the resources made available by Congress. This is a national health emergency, and the bureaucracy must not get in the way of treatment. Mr. Speaker, this week marks a major step forward. Congress is directing resources towards programs and policies that have been effective, and will continue to evaluate what is working and what is not. By working together and getting the right tools to local experts, we can beat this demon of addiction.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Staten Island resident Joseph Sciacca for his positive contributions to our community. Joseph was born in the Little Italy neighborhood and moved to Staten Island at the age of four. He grew up in Grant City and graduated from Tottenville High School in 1937. Joseph began a business career in his early adult years, but had to put this on hold when he was drafted into the military in 1941, serving until 1946. Joseph has been an outstanding model of success and humility in our community. In the private sector, Joseph had a long career as a sales executive, but has remained involved with other causes throughout his life. In the mid-1960s, then-Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller named him a deputy commissioner of the State Athletic Commission, which issued regulations on boxing matches in New York. Later on, Joseph was named as a research assistant to the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. Joseph has shown support for health care throughout his life. He is a former trustee of and currently on the advisory board for Bayley Seton Hospital. Additionally, Joseph has been co-chairperson of the Seton Society, the hospital's fund-raising arm. Joseph is also a trustee of St. Elizabeth Ann's Hospital Care and Rehabilitation Center and is an honorary member of the American Cancer Society's Staten Island Chapter, as well as the Staten Island Chapter of the American Red Cross. The organization that has remained closest with him throughout the years is the Staten Island Council of the Boy Scouts of America, of which he is the former president and currently a member of its executive committee. His affiliation with the Boy Scouts dates back to his son's youth. His unrelenting passion for helping children on Staten Island has been inspiring, as Joseph is a man who stresses the greater good over the individual. Mr. Speaker, Joseph Sciacca's dedication to selflessly helping others has been remarkable. I thank him for all of his hard work and I am proud to honor this great man who has been such a strong influence on the residents of Staten Island.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Senior Chief Petty Officer James Brown's tireless commitment to serving our nation. Senior Chief Brown first enlisted in the United States Navy on February 2, 1961. During his tenure in the U.S. Navy, Senior Chief Brown has served in numerous locations, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Naval Air Station Roosevelt, Puerto Rico in 1962, and Sigonella, Sicily in 1963. He was discharged from active duty on January 25, 1965. After being initiated as a Chief Petty Officer on September 16, 1989, he advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer on January 15, 1995. In recognition of his exemplary service, he has received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Naval Reserve Meritorious Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Armed Forces Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Navy Expert Rifle Medal, and the Navy Expert Pistol Medal. These accolades speak volumes to the distinguished dedication and valor with which Senior Chief Brown has served our nation. After being discharged from active duty, Senior Chief Brown returned to New York, where he worked for the New York Telephone Company for a decade. He then moved on to positions with the American Satellite Corporation, Western Union, Satelco, Greenwich Air Services, the Teleport Communications Group, and AT&T. In 2000, after thirty-five years of working in the private sector, Senior Chief Brown began his well-deserved retirement. Currently, Senior Chief Brown serves as the president of Staten Island's Fleet Reserve Association Branch 226, an organization that conducts patriotic activities to honor veterans. Mr. Speaker, Senior Chief Petty Officer James Brown has devoted his life to serving his country and his community, and it is only right to take this opportunity to recognize him and thank him for all that he has done. I am proud to honor this great American from New York's 11th District.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4820, the Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act authored by Mr. Fleischmann. This bill is one step in implementing the recommendations of the Committee on Homeland Security's Foreign Fighter Task Force. This bipartisan team was charged with studying how our government can combat Western citizens who become radicalized and take up arms with terrorists. The President, senior national security officials, industry leaders, and experts have all expressed support for this concept. While all self-radicalized terrorists deserve the consequences of their behavior, some realize just how profound they were mistaken after seeing the reality of life under ISIS. They sometimes recant and tell the truth about the atrocities that they have witnessed or committed. That is valuable information. What this bill does is common sense. It directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to use testimony from these individuals as part of our efforts to combat violent extremists. President Obama himself stated that we need to ``lift up the voices'' of former extremists in order to expose the hypocrisy of ISIS, but this bill does not limit the Department's ability to countermeasure terrorist groups that threaten us no matter where they are located. As we speak, ISIS is using social media and the Internet to radicalize young Americans who are vulnerable to a message of inclusion in a grand cause, no matter how sinister. Before they make a mistake that could cause them and others their lives, let's take every opportunity to counter ISIS' poisonous narrative. To hear from others like them who wanted to believe in ISIS and found the truth too late is a tactic we should utilize. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill, which received bipartisan support in committee.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman McSally for yielding. As chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3583, the PREPARE Act, of which I am pleased to be an original sponsor. Introduced by the subcommittee's former Chairwoman, Representative McSally, the PREPARE Act seeks to enhance accountability at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Office of Emergency Communications, and Office of Health Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security. The Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee is fortunate to work with a very engaged stakeholder community, and many of the provisions of this bill were formed through hearings, briefings, and meetings with those stakeholders. For example, the bill sets the period of performance for a number of grant programs at 3 years. We heard from numerous stakeholder groups that FEMA's reduction of the period of performance from 3 years to 2 years inhibited their ability to make meaningful grant investments. I am pleased that FEMA has changed the period of performance back to 3 years, and the PREPARE Act codifies that timeline. The PREPARE Act prohibits FEMA from implementing its National Preparedness Grant Program proposal, which was widely opposed by first responders. It seeks to ensure greater outreach by the Department to law enforcement agencies through the Office of State and local law enforcement. It prohibits the Undersecretary of National Protection and Programs Directorate from reorganizing or changing the location of the Office of Emergency Communications without authorization of Congress. Stakeholder groups such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Major Cities Chiefs, and National Sheriffs' Association have expressed their great concern about the impact this proposed reorganization would have on the Office of Emergency Communications and its work with first responders to achieve and maintain interoperability communications. It authorizes the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which provides vital training for first responders, and it authorizes a voluntary anthrax vaccination program for first responders to help protect those who protect us. The PREPARE Act also includes flood insurance provisions of great importance to my constituents. Superstorm Sandy devastated Staten Island and South Brooklyn 3\1/2\ years ago, claiming dozens of lives and destroying thousands of homes. Unfortunately, since then, my constituents have gone through the storm after the storm. Damage inspectors shamelessly doctored their reports to blame pre-existing conditions for Sandy's destruction, cheating Sandy victims out of insurance proceedings they rightfully deserved. By applying lessons learned in the aftermath of that fateful day, title V of the PREPARE Act will make two important improvements to the National Flood Insurance Program. First, this legislation will empower and protect policyholders by requiring engineers and inspectors employed to assess flood insurance claims to provide policyholders with copies of the reports listing flood damage to their homes. This will prevent fraud and increase efficiency and transparency by giving policyholders more information about their claims at a critical stage in the process. Second, this legislation will improve the flood insurance claims appeal process by fixing an archaic and confusing court filing deadline that prevents policyholders from using the FEMA appeals process for fear of missing their opportunity to seek relief in Federal court. The bill will set a firm start date for the claim's statute of limitations and pause the statute of limitations while policyholders pursue their appeal at the agency level. Ultimately, this legislation will reduce costly litigation, saving taxpayers and policyholders money. I am pleased to work with Chairwoman McSally and Ranking Member Payne on this bipartisan legislation. I would like to thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson for their leadership in moving it forward. I would particularly like to thank Chairman Hensarling and Subcommittee Chairman Luetkemeyer of the Financial Services Committee for working with me to advance the flood insurance process reforms in this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 3583.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4509) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to clarify membership of State planning committees or urban area working groups for the Homeland Security Grant Program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I rise in support of H.R. 4509, the State and High-Risk Urban Area Working Group Act, which was introduced by the subcommittee's ranking member, Congressman Payne. The Homeland Security Act requires States and urban areas that are receiving State Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative funds to have planning committees to determine how to efficiently and effectively expend these funds. H.R. 4509 expands the stakeholders who are required to be involved in these committees to include representatives from public health, educational institutions, fusion centers, and interoperability coordinators, as appropriate. In New York City, the New York City Police Department, the FDNY, emergency management, and public health, along with other partners, work together to ensure that these grant funds provide the biggest return on investment for the city's security. Time and again, these officials have told me how important these funds are to their ability to ensure the security of millions of residents, commuters, and visitors in the city each day. They have used these funds to train personnel, to conduct exercises, and to procure helicopters, fireboats, cameras, and radiation detection equipment. This funding is vital now more than ever. Securing high-risk urban areas, like New York City, becomes more challenging every day considering the fact that we are at our highest threat level since the September 11 terrorist attacks. That is why it is so outrageous that the President's fiscal year 2017 budget proposes to cut more than $500 million from grants to support States, localities, ports, and transit systems. The Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications held a hearing last month on the proposed cuts. We heard from representatives of emergency management, law enforcement, the fire service, and fusion centers. They all had the same message: these grants have made a difference, and cutting them now would have disastrous effects on their ability to prevent, to prepare for, and to respond to terrorist attacks. Not only would they be unable to make new security investments, but the investments they have made since 9/11 would be eroded. In this threat environment, this is not the time to back away from our support of our Nation's first responders. Mr. Speaker, the States and urban areas that are receiving Homeland Security grant funding take their responsibilities to secure their areas very seriously. They diligently work through the planning committees that are discussed in this bill in order to make sure they make sound investments to secure their jurisdictions. The President must take the security of these jurisdictions equally as seriously and fund these programs accordingly. I support the passage of H.R. 4509. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. If the gentleman from New Jersey has no other speakers, I am prepared to close once the gentleman does.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4509. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Staten Island resident Joe Borelli's dedication and leadership in serving the 51st Council District and the South Shore of Staten Island. Born in Staten Island, Joe has always been very active in his community. He has been involved in the Staten Island Growth Management Task Force, the West Shore Light Rail Task Force, the Brookfield Landfill Citizens Advisory Committee, and helped spearhead the formation of the South Shore Local Development Corporation. Additionally, Joe was one of the key leaders in the successful fight to eradicate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from public school buildings. Joe has consistently proven himself to be a leader in the movement to reduce taxes, tolls, and fees in New York City. As a volunteer, Joe currently serves on the Development Board of St. Joseph by the Sea High School, as well as the Friends of the College of Staten Island, an organization that raises money for scholarships. Additionally, Joe assists dozens of non-profit, veteran's, and community organizations in accessing governmental grants. Joe has also helped raise private money for equipment to support handicapped Children at Mount Loretto, and has worked with the Verdino Foundation to bring a top quality Little League facility to the South Shore. As an elected official, Joe previously represented his South Shore constituents in the New York State Assembly. He was the ranking minority member of the Assembly Cities Committee, and he also served on the Health, the Housing, the Transportation, the Mental Health, Banks, Education, and Energy Committees. From his time in the State Assembly to his current role as a city councilman, Joe has consistently been a staunch advocate against energy cost increases, as well as the common core curriculum. Mr. Speaker, Joe Borelli has a remarkable history of dedication to serving the people of Staten Island. I thank him for all of his great work and I am proud to honor this great man who has consistently put others before himself, and continues to be such a positive influence on our communities.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former Staten Island resident Jerry Judin's endless commitment to legal service in the public interest. Jerry's career as a public servant began as a Ranger for the National Park Service assigned to Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty. After a short stint serving the public safety as an Air Traffic Controller, Jerry returned to school, attending night classes at Brooklyn Law School. Following law school, Jerry spent two years working for the Richmond County Family Court, before transferring to the Richmond County Surrogate's Court in 1982. For the last 34 years, Jerry has been a fixture in the Surrogate's Court, and in April of 2006 he was made the first ever Supervising Court Attorney in the Surrogate's Court. As he approaches retirement, he caps his career having served three Surrogates, the people of Staten Island, and the attorneys of Staten Island for a total of 36 years. He has served his community by lecturing before civic organizations on Staten Island, and the Richmond County Bar Association. He has taught Business Law at the College of Staten Island, as well as at Rutgers, while also serving on the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels of Staten Island. Mr. Speaker, it is right and proper that we recognize Jerry Judin's dedication to serving his community and the legal profession. I thank him for all of his great work and I am proud to honor this great man who has consistently put others before himself.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Staten Island resident John Boyle's endless commitment as an educator serving the people of New York. John is a native Staten Islander, and has dedicated his life to helping others. Upon his graduation from St. John's University, he immediately went to work at Elias Bernstein Intermediate School. After six years teaching, he was promoted in 2005 to Assistant Principal at Totten Intermediate School 34 and in 2011, he became the school's Principal. As the head of I.S. 34, John spearheaded a renaissance in the school's approach to educating the youth of the 21st century, which allowed Totten to enter the upper echelon of schools in New York City. A lifelong learner dedicated to his profession and a role model for our youth, John made the time to continue his own studies while serving as Assistant Principal, earning his first Masters in Secondary Education from the College of Staten Island in 2003 and his second Masters in Educational Administration from Touro College in 2005. Based upon his demonstrated excellence, John was nominated by his peers to the Council of Supervisors and Administrators Executive Board where he serves as an advisor to the Executive Vice President. In 2013, John was asked by Chancellor Farina to be one of only 18 school leaders from across New York City to be a part of her Learning Partners Pilot Program. Last year, he was designated a Model Principal by the Chancellor for his work as a host principal in the Learning Partners Program. In June of 2015, John was chosen along with seven other New York City principals to expand the work of the Chancellor's Learning Partners Program into the Learning Partners Plus Program for which was named a ``Master Principal.'' Mr. Speaker, John Boyle's dedication to serving and educating our youth epitomizes the highest qualities we seek in our educators and community role models. I thank him for all of his great work and I am proud to honor this great man who has consistently put others before himself.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Staten Island resident Betty Harty's contributions to our community and tireless service to great causes. A native of Staten Island, Betty has been heavily involved in the Boy Scouts organization, which she joined roughly forty-nine years ago. Betty served as Den Mother and a Den leader Coach for Pack Eight, Messiah Lutheran Church for twelve years, before becoming an Advancement Chairperson, a position she held for thirty-nine years. Additionally, Betty served as Pack Eight and Group Eight Commissioner for twenty years, and is now a member of Troop 26--Castleton Hill Messiah Church. Betty also has been a member of the District Committee. She served as the Cub Roundtable and Cub Adult Treasury. Betty also chaired the Cub Pow Wow Treasury for Staten Island Council. Currently, Betty is on the Advancement Committee for Staten Island Council for Eagle Scouts. She has been on the Staten Island Council Committee for seventeen years. Betty has been active with parent-teacher associations at P.S. 36, Bernstein Intermediate and Tottenville High. She was a leading volunteer for five years at P.S. 36, a library volunteer, and taught in the after school center. Betty was team mother for the South Shore Little League and the Babe Ruth League. She has also been engaged in teaching Sunday school. Twenty years ago, Betty became involved with the Have a Heart Foundation, the Staten Island based organization that helps raise financial aid for people to fund therapy treatments not covered by insurance. This wonderful foundation helps mitigate some of the expensive medical costs in New York, and is a member of the Staten Island Children's Campaign. Mr. Speaker, Betty Harty's dedication to serving our community and positively influencing our youth is the essence of a model humanitarian. I thank her for all of her great work and I am proud to honor this great woman who has consistently touched the lives of people across Staten Island.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Staten Island resident Francis Harty for his positive contributions to our community. Francis was born and raised in Westerleigh, Staten Island. He graduated from Port Richmond High School and went on to work at Procter and Gamble Co. Francis has been married to his high school sweetheart, Betty, for almost sixty-one years, and they have three children together. When Francis' son wanted to join the Cub Scouts, he also joined the Boy Scouts at the Messiah Lutheran Church. He served twenty-seven years as Scoutmaster and had one hundred Eagle Scouts in Group Eight. Francis retired as Scoutmaster in 2000, but continued to work on all District events, as well as the Council Dinner and the Fall Outing. Francis held several positions on the District Committee and the Staten Island Council. He has had an extensive influence on the programs by being heavily involved in various training programs that lay the foundations for the Boy Scouts organization's programs. Francis has been awarded many honors to recognize his services. He has received the Award of Merit, the Silver Beaver, the Ten Mile River Award, The Good Scout Award, the Paul Intermediate School Service to Youth Award, and the Staten Island Museum Circle of Friends for Youth Volunteerism in 1994. Outside of scouting, Francis was the Vice President for the Have a Heart Foundation for twenty-four years. He helps run the annual Golf Outing and the five kilometer race to raise funds for patients with therapy needs and parents with large medical insurance bills for their children. Due to the foundation's affiliation with the Staten Island Children's Campaign, he also works on their events including Breakfast with Santa. Additionally, Francis managed and coached in the South Shore Little League and the Babe Ruth League. Mr. Speaker, Francis Harty's dedication to providing a role model for youth and positively impacting his community is remarkable. I thank him for all of his hard work and I am proud to honor this great man who has been such a strong influence on the residents of Staten Island.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former Staten Island resident Aziz Memon's endless commitment to rid the world of polio. Born in modern-day Mumbai, India to Pakistani parents, Aziz has always been a very self-motivated and socially-aware individual. This former Staten Islander is the very definition of altruism. From his first job teaching senior citizens at the age of thirteen, he has risen to become the Chairman of the Kings Group, a conglomerate of six companies in industries ranging from textiles to property development. In 1995, Aziz joined Rotary International, a global network of volunteer business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian services and works towards a better and more peaceful world. He served as President of the Rotary Club of Karachi in Pakistan from 2003 to 2004, as well as Governor of Rotary International District 3270, Pakistan and Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008. Aziz has dedicated much of his time to eradicating polio in Pakistan, a country where the virus has been declared a national emergency and a global public health emergency by the Pakistani government and the World Health Organization, respectively. In the face of threats from the Taliban, which has banned polio vaccination and murdered those who have dared to defy them, Aziz has courageously continued his work to improve the lives of those less fortunate. He is currently the national chairman of Rotary International's Pakistan Polio Plus Committee. He has facilitated the opening of several health centers and has provided financial support to families of fieldworkers killed by the Taliban. He has received several awards in recognition of selfless dedication, including the Pride of Performance from the President of Pakistan and the Regional Service Award from Rotary International. Mr. Speaker, Aziz Memon's dedication to serving humanity and improving the global community is the essence of a model humanitarian. I thank him for all of his great work and I am proud to honor this great man who has consistently put others before himself.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I rise today in support of S. 1180, the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015. This important legislation was introduced by the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Ron Johnson. IPAWS provides public safety officials with a mechanism to alert and warn the public about emergencies using multiple communication platforms, including the Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alerts, and NOAA Weather Radio. The bill we are considering today authorizes the IPAWS program and provides it with needed direction to help ensure that we can make available as much information to the public as possible to get them out of harm's way in the event of a terror attack, natural disaster, or other threat to public safety. We know that these alerts can help to save lives. IPAWS was used after the Boston Marathon bombings to direct residents to shelter during the manhunt. In my district, IPAWS was used to warn people during Hurricane Sandy. Elsewhere, IPAWS has been vital to locating missing children through the AMBER Alert system. We also know that the system is not without its challenges. While I understand that in a recent test of the Emergency Alert System, a component of IPAWS, worked for stations in my home State of New York, there were challenges in other States. The test was canceled in several States due to weather concerns. However, a number of those States were not informed of the cancellation, leaving their broadcasters to wonder why the test didn't occur. We must ensure better communication between IPAWS and relevant stakeholders. That is why the IPAWS subcommittee of the National Advisory Council, established in this bill, is so important. This advisory committee will provide stakeholders with a mechanism to provide input into the program. Ensuring stakeholder engagement and feedback will serve to enhance the effectiveness of IPAWS. The Committee on Homeland Security has a long history of oversight of the IPAWS program, having held a number of hearings and briefings. Legislation similar to the bill we are considering today was approved by the Committee on Homeland Security just last year. Like the legislation passed out of the Committee on Homeland Security, this legislation is supported by the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Association, and CTIA--The Wireless Association. We thank these organizations for their continued engagement on this bill to improve the text and get us to this point. The enactment of legislation to authorize IPAWS has been a long time coming. I urge all Members to join me in supporting this commonsense legislation so that we can send it to the President's desk to be signed into law.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for allowing me this time to express and rise in support of H. Con. Res. 75. When considering the long history of civilization, we look back in horror at the unimaginable pain mankind is capable of inflicting on itself, and each succeeding generation wonders how a people stood idly by as warring factions destroyed innocent life and property. Last year, the world watched a beach turned red as executioners sawed off the heads of 21 Coptic Christians on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Two weeks ago, terrorists stormed a retirement home full of nuns caring for the elderly and frail. And in the months in between, ISIS systemically killed or enslaved thousands of Yazidi people. Scripture speaks of perseverance and endurance in faith under siege and not growing weary. Matthew says: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of their righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. But that doesn't excuse our silence. Political correctness cannot stand in the way of our moral obligation as a free and decent people. I support the resolution and hope we can have the moral conviction to call this massacre what it is: genocide.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Annamarie Gulino Gentile on receiving the Community Service Award from the Italian American Women of Staten Island. Ms. Gentile graduated magna cum laude from the State University of New York at Albany and received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. She then rose to become the Supervising Partner at Angiuli & Gentile, LLP, where she handles matters such as real estate, family and matrimonial law, personal injury law, and, particularly, elder law. With her extensive background as an elder law attorney, Annamarie advises families in the event that a loved one requires long-term care. As a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and as a Department of Veterans Affairs-Accredited Attorney, Annamarie has worked tirelessly to give our local veterans any and all legal advice they may need. Moreover, she is a passionate volunteer for various causes in support of senior citizens and those with special needs. But her service to the community doesn't stop there. She is also the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce as well as Chair of the Community Agency for Senior Citizens (CASC). Ms. Gentile was also a recipient of the Staten Island Friends for Hospice Care Couple of the Year Award, and was an honoree of the Garibaldi's Meucci Annual Luncheon for her involvement as an Italian American in the Staten Island community. Mr. Speaker, I can think of no one more deserving of this award than Annamarie Gulino Gentile. I thank her for all she has done for our community, and I am proud to call her my constituent.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, 15 years ago this September 11th, our country suffered the most deadly and devastating attack since its birth. Terrorists chose the Twin Towers because they stood proud and they stood tall. They stood as symbols of the raw power of people free to pursue their dreams, to live their values, and to practice their faiths. When the towers fell, they took Americans from every corner of our Nation; and when the President stood atop a fire engine and spoke through a bullhorn to console a broken Nation, he spoke to every man, woman, and child in our United States who was suffering and was saddened by an unimaginable act of hate. Heroes from all over the country came to Lower Manhattan to sift through the rubble and pick up the pieces. It was a site of national tragedy, a site of national heroism, and it must also be the site of a national memorial. It is only fitting that the 9/11 Memorial receives proper funding just like every other national memorial. It is sacred ground, and it must be maintained accordingly. Also, annual security costs run into the millions of dollars as the site remains a top terrorist target. Mr. Speaker, terrorists may have attacked our country at three locations that day, but they also attacked the spirit inside all of us. I encourage every Member of this body to vote for this legislation and to visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to see what I and Representative Nadler see every day. I thank Representative MacArthur for introducing this legislation, and I again thank--always--the heroes of that fateful day.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor William A. Morris for his courageous service to our nation during World War II. As a lifelong resident of Staten Island, New York, he deserves recognition for the dedication to his family, community and country. William served as a sergeant in the all-black 369th Coast Artillery Regiment and fought on the front line in Germany during a period of segregation. Overcoming the deep racial divisions in society to fight for his country during such momentous historical events like the invasion of Normandy shows his immense courage and loyalty. It was during this time in Europe that William formed a special bond with a stray dog he met named Trixie. Trixie provided William and the rest of his company not only with an indispensable companion, but, in an astonishing act, also bravely aided in their protection against three German soldiers. Serving as an unofficial mascot for the regiment, Trixie traveled back to Staten Island with William where she quickly fit in as a member of his family. Upon returning to Staten Island, William's remarkable commitment to giving back has been widely recognized and celebrated. He served as a Boy Scout leader for Troop 47 for 35 years and, along with his wife, ran a food pantry for 30 years. This commitment earned them both the Silver Beaver Award for their distinguishable work in scouting. At 96 years old, William has continued to share his story with his community through an inspiring book written by his daughter Dolores, The Soldier That Wagged Her Tail. Mr. Speaker, William's dedication to our country and his community serves as an inspiring lesson to all. I admire his outstanding sacrifices and I am proud to honor this great resident from New York's 11th Congressional District.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3878, the Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act of 2015. This bill by my friend Representative Torres contains an amendment I offered at committee, which makes an important change to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. More than $1.3 trillion worth of cargo travels through U.S. ports each year, making them a truly critical part of our Nation's infrastructure. Any disruption or slowdown of activity could have a tremendous impact on the entire economy, costing billions of dollars every day. Ensuring the security of our maritime infrastructure is a complex task and one that falls primarily on the United States Coast Guard. However, while the Coast Guard has the history and the expertise to provide physical security, its mission of ensuring that our maritime infrastructure is safe from cyber threats is still evolving. Currently, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 requires vessels and port facilities to conduct vulnerability assessments and develop security plans for physical security, access controls, procedural security measures, and communication systems. My amendment in committee added cybersecurity to that list. This addition will make it crystal clear that the Coast Guard has the specific authority to require maritime vessels and facilities to incorporate cybersecurity into their assessments and plans. The need for this change and the underlying legislation was highlighted during a hearing before the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee on the topic of cybersecurity at our Nation's ports. In that hearing, we heard how a range of actors--from narcotics traffickers to terrorist organizations, and even nation-states--could exploit cyber vulnerabilities at our ports for the purpose of smuggling illicit materials or causing severe economic disruption. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will ensure that we are better prepared to respond to the growing cyber threat to our Nation's maritime infrastructure. I thank Representative Torres for offering this legislation and for accepting my amendment at committee. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.