Michael Fitzpatrick

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address an objection raised by my friend from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison). He called this bill that is before us, H.R. 5405, a megabill. I would like to note for the Record that the bill is 39 pages, as opposed to Dodd-Frank, which accumulated about 2,300 pages. This is a 39-page bill, and it is written in plain English; everybody understands it, composed of 11 bills, 11 sub-bills, subtitles. Each one of those bills had its own hearing in the Financial Services Committee, and those hearings had witnesses and those bills had markup hearings. At those markup hearings, there was opportunity for amendment and debate. So what I am saying, Mr. Speaker, is each one of these 11 bills make up a 39-page bill, divided approximately four pages per bill, written in plain English everybody understands, all debated quite a bit already in this session. Those bills, when they were sponsored, they were bipartisan in sponsorship. They passed the House in bipartisan fashion. And before that, they were before the committee with their bipartisan cosponsors and passed the committee in bipartisan fashion. So this is not a megabill, Mr. Speaker. This is actually just the opposite. This is a plain-English bill of bipartisan fashion that has already been debated and vetted fully in the committee and in this House. So to take the idea that you could put 11 bills that are bipartisan and passed overwhelmingly together and it is going to produce results and, yes, Mr. Ellison, jobs for the American people, unleash the power of the American economy to put people back to work, I am not sure how that becomes a bad thing. I think that is a very good thing, because my friends on the other side of the aisle are talking about process and procedure and debate and amendments. We are talking about results. Now Ms. Waters of California, the ranking member, has raised two objections. First she called this a partisan effort. Eleven bipartisan bills, hardly partisan, all passed the House or committee with bipartisan support. The second thing that Ms. Waters has identified is an objection to this. She calls this a mad dash for political gain. Mr. Speaker, this is a mad dash for sensible regulation for small businesses in Bucks County, in Pennsylvania, and across our Nation. This is a mad dash to get the Senate to do something, to do anything, to help American job creators. Mr. Speaker, this is a mad dash to get results. As I said, there is a lot of talk on this floor and in this town about ending the partisan divide, about getting people to work together. These are bipartisan bills that produce results, that get things done. This is a good bill. Of the 11 bills that make it up, 10 of them were supported by Ms. Waters and voted for by Ms. Waters. The 11th bill, that she objected to, her witness in the hearing identified some issues with that 11th bill, and we actually negotiated against ourselves. We made changes to the 11th bill to make it more palatable so that everybody could come together around a job-creation bill. That is the bill that is before the House. That is the one that we are asking the Members to support. So in closing, Mr. Speaker, a vote for this legislation is a vote to support emerging growth companies. It is a vote for small businesses. It is a vote for entrepreneurs. It is a vote for the American worker. These are the people we are counting on to drive American progress and economic progress, to fuel the next American century. I urge my colleagues to support this measure and pass these bills. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5405) to make technical corrections to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, to enhance the ability of small and emerging growth companies to access capital through public and private markets, to reduce regulatory burdens, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3374) to provide for the use of savings promotion raffle products by financial institutions to encourage savings, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Cotton, and Ms. Tsongas for their efforts in drafting the legislation that is before us this evening. The American Savings Promotion Act is bipartisan legislation that would remove Federal barriers and allow financial institutions to offer savings promotion raffles. Studies show that Americans are not saving enough, whether for an emergency or for their retirement. This lack of savings is more pronounced among those with lower incomes. H.R. 3374 seeks to reverse this trend and encourage savings by offering depositors chances to win prizes based on their deposit activity. This legislation would simply amend Federal law to allow depositors to enter into a lottery in lieu of accruing interest, with the number of raffle tickets based on the size of their deposit. The American Savings Promotion Act is a commonsense bill that will provide consumers greater access to the financial services they want and need. Allowing financial institutions the ability to provide innovative products is a simple way to encourage consumers to open savings accounts, incentivize saving, and foster healthier financial habits. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to thank Representative Cotton of Arkansas for his leadership on this bill and for the leadership of his cosponsors. I urge my colleagues to pass the bill as submitted. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 3374, as amended, and currently under consideration.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following correspondence between the Financial Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee on H.R. 3374, as amended. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, September 12, 2014. Hon. Jeb Hensarling, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Hensarling, I am writing concerning H.R. 3374, the ``American Savings Promotion Act,'' which was referred primarily to your Committee, and additionally to the Committee on the Judiciary. As a result of your having consulted with the Judiciary Committee on the provisions in our jurisdiction and in order to expedite the House's consideration of H.R. 3374, I agree to discharge our Committee from further consideration of this bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration. The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 3374 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation, and asks that you support any such request. I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would request that you include a copy of this letter and your response in the Congressional Record during the floor consideration of this bill. Sincerely, Bob Goodlatte, Chairman. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, September 12, 2014. Hon. Bob Goodlatte, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Goodlatte: Thank you for your letter of even date herewith regarding H.R. 3374, the American Savings Promotion Act. I am most appreciative of your decision to forego consideration of H.R. 3374 so that it may move expeditiously to the House floor. I acknowledge that although you are waiving formal consideration of the bill, the Committee on the Judiciary is in no way waiving its jurisdiction over any subject matter contained in the bill that falls within its jurisdiction. In addition, if a conference is necessary on this legislation, I will support any request that your committee be represented therein. Finally, I shall be pleased to include your letter and this letter in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 3374. Sincerely, Jeb Hensarling, Chairman.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to submit extraneous materials for the Record.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 2866, the Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, introduced by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), and seek its immediate passage. Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us commemorates the centennial, in 2017, of the founding of Boys Town, an almost mythic place that pioneered a method of caring for the youth of this country who had fallen by the wayside in one way or another. In a way, the coin commemorates the spirit of what was then still a young country and of Boys Town's founder, Father Edward Flanagan. Irish-born, he had come to this country only a bit more than 100 years after the first Congress met, yet, by the time he had died, he had been sent by President Truman to all corners of the globe to teach others to care for kids as he had done. Ordained in 1912, Father Flanagan was assigned to the Diocese of Omaha and, after a stint of working with homeless men, decided to focus on youths, founding what later came to be called ``The City of Little Men.'' He famously thought, as the Boys Town Web site points out, that every child could be a productive citizen if given love, a home, an education, and a trade. He accepted boys of every race, color, and religion, and he believed that there are no bad boys, there is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking. I am almost certain that every Member of this Chamber knows that famous line that became the motto of Boys Town: ``He ain't heavy, Mister. He's my brother.'' That is what is said by an older lad, with a younger boy on his shoulders, in a logo adopted during the Second World War. All of us, surely, know the ``Boys Town'' movie, with Mickey Rooney, that won Spencer Tracy an Oscar for the role of Boys Town founder, Father Flanagan, but how many of us know that the organization that began in a rented, rundown Victorian mansion in central Omaha as Father Flanagan's Home for Boys has grown to be one of the country's largest nonprofit child care organizations, serving the emotional, behavioral, and physical problems of children and their families--as many as 2 million people each year? Or that it operates throughout the country, in 12 major sites, from California to south Florida to New England, and even here in the District of Columbia? Boys Town maintains its national headquarters in the Nebraska village of the same name, on the site of a farm Father Flanagan bought a few years after renting that first house for $90. There he founded a community that, under the careful hands of those leaders following his death, expanded its services to help kids live in a family setting, with married couples carefully watching the units that included both boys and girls. In the 1970s, the Boys Town National Research Hospital opened. It has become a top treatment center for kids with speech and hearing disabilities, with outreach programs that touch as many as 60,000 deaf and hearing-impaired students each year. The bill before us would allow the minting and issue in 2017 of no more than 50,000 gold coins and no more than 350,000 silver coins in commemoration of the centennial of the founding of Boys Town. The coins would be sold at a price that covers all taxpayer costs, and a surcharge on the sale of the coins would go to Boys Town to continue its work after Boys Town has raised an equal amount from private sources. The legislation has 293 cosponsors, and a Senate companion bill, introduced by Senator Johanns, has 36 cosponsors. Mr. Speaker, the spirit of Boys Town embodies the best of America. This bill would help recognize and continue to nurture that spirit. I commend the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) for his hard work on this issue. I ask for the immediate passage of the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2866) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of Boys Town, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to, again, thank Mr. Terry of Nebraska for his hard work on this issue and so many other issues. The passage of this bill is an appropriate way to commemorate the great work and the legacy of Father Flanagan, of his home for boys, of the medical center that bears that name, and the great work of the boys and girls who come through the facilities of Boys Town throughout the country; so I urge my colleagues to support the bill and pass it under suspension. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the Pennridge Community Center on its 50th anniversary. The Upper Bucks Branch of the Bucks County Association for Retired and Senior Citizens was established in 1964 for the purpose of creating a senior center. Located in Perkasie, PA, the Center has served as a place for personal growth for the constituents of Bucks County, offering opportunities to its thousands of members that have passed through its doors. With the help of its strong leaders and associates, the center has become a model of high-quality service, reliability, and integrity and has contributed greatly to the community of the 8th District of Pennsylvania. I commend the Pennridge Community Center for its hard work and its achievements in Bucks County, PA and offer my sincere congratulations on its anniversary.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the American Nephrology Nurses Association, an organization that works to advance quality care to Americans with kidney disease. These nurses function as educators, direct caregivers, and coordinators to help patients manage their lives while effectively dealing with their health issues. The number of new patients diagnosed with kidney disease has doubled in each of the last two decades; as a result, the demand for nephrology nurses continues to expand. The Keystone Chapter 110 of The American Nephrology Nurses' Association has declared the week of September 14th through the 20th as Nephrology Nurses Week with the theme ``Cherishing the Treasures of Our Specialty'' to celebrate and honor the unselfish work that each nurse performs each day to maintain the health of thousands. Today I honor these nephrology nurses from Bensalem and congratulate them for their dedicated service to the community.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, today, I recognize Alex Holley who has joined FOX29 as the new anchor of Good Day Philadelphia. Ms. Holley is a native Texan and comes to the City of Brotherly Love by way of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where she previously served as a local news reporter and anchor. Philadelphia, and our region, has a rich history of journalism dating back to the founding of our nation, including the likes of Benjamin Franklin, and the signing of the Bill of Rights which ensure a free and open press. It is my hope that Ms. Holley continues this tradition and will loyally report on the latest news from around the Delaware Valley. As the federal representative of Bucks and Montgomery counties, and part of Good Morning Philadelphia's broadcasting area, I look forward to her reporting on the issues affecting the people and communities of our region. I join my neighbors in welcoming Ms. Holley and wish her the best of luck in this new, exciting position.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor George Didden Greenhouses, a greenhouse business in Hatfield Borough, which is celebrating its 100 years of excellent service to the community of Pennsylvania's Eighth District. Didden's Greenhouses was founded by George Didden and his wife Laura in 1914. His three great-grandsons, Ken, Jon and Dan Ruch, now own and operate the greenhouse business, making it the oldest family business in Hatfield Borough. Over the years, Didden Greenhouses gained widespread recognition, not only as superb growers, but also as developers of their own flower species. During the late 1950's, Didden Greenhouses became instrumental in developing disease resistant varieties of plants, including the world famous ``Didden's Improved Picardy''. Today, Didden Greenhouses has grown to over 31 greenhouses and continues to provide service to the Bucks and Montgomery County area. I am honored to represent those who do such influential work and wish them continued success in the next 100 years.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States on its 101st year of service. The organization honors military service and ensures that the history of America's veterans is preserved for future generations. Rallied behind National President Ann Pantekeakos's theme ``Patriotism Begins at Home,'' 500,000 members across the country, including those from the seven auxiliaries in my home district, work to maintain veterans' memorials, share veterans' history with the community, volunteer at veterans' hospitals, and provide scholarships to students recognizing patriotism through art and volunteerism. I congratulate the Ladies Auxiliary on its outstanding work and wish its members continued success as they serve our veterans and their families.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate Neshaminy High School for its tradition of academics and football and the recent gathering of the school's football community to honor James Franklin, a 1990 graduate who was recently named head football coach at Penn State University. Also, returning to Pennsylvania is Coach Franklin's teammate and fellow graduate, Mike Frederick, who will coach Neshaminy football this year. Both men represent the sportsmanship and scholarship taught by their teachers and coaches at Neshaminy High School as students and they proudly carried it forward. It is a tribute to the families, the community and the school when former students follow the path they traveled in high school on to success and dedicate their professional lives to passing on that tradition of sportsmanship, hard work and discipline. In so doing, they have set an example for their future students and players. They have our best wishes for a bright future.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has awarded its prestigious Bronze Key Award to an outstanding community servant and leader in my district, the Eighth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, the Honorable Judge Donald Nasshorn, for his outstanding contribution in the field and with the affiliated Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., where he was a member of the council's board of directors for 27 years and president of its board for 16 years. During this time, Judge Nasshorn led the council through periods of growth and expansion of its services, including chairing the council's building committee, as it purchased three buildings to accommodate council programming, and for many years, he has been recognized as a champion of early intervention and recovery support services to those involved in the criminal justice system. Currently, Judge Nasshorn chairs a Bucks County overdose prevention task force, and so we join in honoring Judge Nasshorn for his years of outstanding leadership, for his advocacy, for his compassionate service to our community, and for setting an example for others to follow.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to offer my congratulations to Middletown Township Police Sgt. Mark Wert for 33 years of outstanding service to the people of my home community and its police department. As always, the community owes a debt of gratitude to those first responders who, each day, selflessly protect our lives and property. Sgt. Wert began his career on July 15, 1981, moving to squad supervisor and then administration overseeing the Traffic Safety Unit. He also was the instructor for Emergency Vehicle Operations and one of the department's first Field Training Officers. His dedication is recognized by the responsibilities he took on within the police department and also in the community. He was a director of the Transportation Management Association of Bucks County and active in the community's volunteer fire service--Skyline Fire Association and William Penn Fire Co. Sgt. Wert's retirement begins on August 1, 2014 and so, on behalf of the grateful community where I live and that I represent in this House, I extend sincere appreciation to Sgt. Mark Wert and wish him many healthy and happy retirement years.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, the Bucks County Playhouse--located along the banks of the Delaware River in New Hope--has been a community icon in my district for generations. Built inside a historic former mill by a group of artists and community leaders, the Bucks County Playhouse officially opened on July 1, 1939 with a production of the comedy Springtime for Henry. In the 75 years since its opening, the Playhouse has played host to some of the biggest names in stage and screen; and entertained families from across my district and around the region. Thanks to the resolute support of volunteers and non-profits, the theater was pulled through tough times and beautifully renovated and re-opened in 2012. The Playhouse's mission is to ``stimulate, support, inspire and celebrate the performing arts in New Hope and Bucks County''--a goal worth fighting for and one made easier by their continued involvement in the arts in my district. This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Bucks County Playhouse and join the New Hope community, Bucks County and all theater lovers in wishing it another 75 years of continued success and entertainment.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, to many people, human trafficking seems like an issue a world away. But, as we're hearing tonight, the tragic reality is that it affects children and communities in neighborhoods across our nation. This evening, in bipartisan fashion, lawmakers are standing together to address the continuing need to support anti-trafficking programs and upgrade our nation's response to this crime--both locally and nationally. I have proudly cosponsored most of the bills we have debated tonight. While these bills are important, legislation alone isn't the only solution to stopping trafficking or abuse in our country or in the Bucks and Montgomery county towns across my District. It's the continued interaction and sharing of ideas between all stakeholders that will ultimately help us address this problem at all stages--from prevention, to counseling to prosecution. To that end, I am proud to represent a district that is leading the way in proactive and innovative efforts to end trafficking while supporting the individuals it affects. Groups like Network of Victim Assistance, Bucks Coalition Against Trafficking and Worthwhile Wear each contribute to the fabric of victim assistance in our region, while government and law enforcement organizations work side-by-side to adapt to the challenges presented by this crime. Supporting these groups and legislation like that being considered tonight are vital steps in the fight against trafficking. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in voting for these measures and protecting those most in need in our communities.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, Mr. Camp, for his leadership on this issue. And I also want to thank and recognize Representative Gerlach of Pennsylvania. Over several terms here during his time in the United States Congress, he has been a constant advocate for so many important issues, including the conservation easement tax program which has helped a lot of people. And while this is another extension, what we really need is that it be made permanent in tax law. Even with the temporary extension, so much good has been done. I remember coming here in 1999, while serving as a local elected official, a Bucks County commissioner. I was asked to testify before the United States Senate on this topic on the Federal Government helping to preserve land throughout our great Nation. And in those 15 years since, in my community of Bucks County, we have preserved over 10,000 acres of farmland, parkland, and critical natural areas. It is important for so many different reasons, not just for good land use, planning, and quality of life, but also creating food security for our Nation. It reduces the cost of providing local government services. So much good has come of the conservation easement program and this incentive act, which is part of the greater America Gives More Act we are debating today. It is not only good tax policy, but it is good environmental policy. These are issues that can bring us together as Democrats and Republicans in this House. So by permanently removing the uncertainty for those communities who would set aside land for conservation easements, we are going to help ensure that we can pass on open spaces and wild places to future generations of Americans yet to be born. So, Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that this legislation will pass the House today, it will proceed swiftly through the United States Senate, and we can come together around an American ethic of preserving and conserving our open spaces and get this bill to the President's desk.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, Raymond P. Mongillo, Sr., was a Middletown Township, Bucks County businessman. He was a public servant and a United States Army veteran of the Korean war. He passed away on July 8, 4 days after his 82nd birthday. He had dedicated and devoted many years in service to his community, to veterans organizations, and to his church. Ray was a leader in the effort to preserve Middletown Township's quality of life and served for 24 years on the Middletown Board of Supervisors. He was very instrumental in saving Styer's farm and orchard from future development. Aiming for the best outlook, he said: The main thing is preserving it. We'd like to keep it going in its present form, as a farm store with pumpkins and hayrides. And so it is, and it stands as a monument to Ray's hard work. He leaves behind his wife of 61 years, Margaret, five children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many friends-- and he has left a space that will be very hard to fill.