Brian Fitzpatrick

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituent Dr. Timothy M. Block, president of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute of Living Science, and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center in my district in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Block was recently named as a fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors. Being elected as a NAI fellow is the highest professional recognition for academic inventors who have shown a lifelong commitment to innovation, specifically by facilitating or creating inventions that make a measurable impact on quality of life, economic development, or the welfare of society. Dr. Block is being recognized for his contributions to therapeutic drug and biomarker of disease screening and discovery. He also holds numerous patents and has been involved in more than 30 years in viral hepatitis research. Mr. Speaker, we thank Dr. Block for the work that he has done in this field, which has undoubtedly impacted the people in my district, throughout our country, and around the world. Recognizing Archbishop Wood Football Team

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the players, staff, and coaches of the Archbishop Wood football team and congratulate them on winning the PIAA Class 5A State championship. With their discipline and hard work, the young men of this football team have continued a tradition of excellence for the Vikings. The dominance they displayed in their championship win in December is an excellent example of what teamwork and tenacity can achieve. They have made our community very proud. To the coaching staff, we say congratulations and thank you for leading and teaching these young men. It is my hope that the lessons of determination and perseverance that these student athletes have learned will help guide them off the field as well. To the fans, friends, and family that have supported Archbishop Wood, we say congratulations. To all those who work with and support organized youth sports in our district, we say thank you.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituent Dr. Timothy M. Block, president of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center in my district in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Block was recently named as a fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors. Being elected as an NAI fellow is the highest professional recognition for academic inventors who have shown a lifelong commitment to innovation, specifically by facilitating or creating inventions that make a measurable impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society. Dr. Block is being recognized for his contributions to therapeutic drug and biomarker of disease screening and discovery. Dr. Block also holds more than nine patents and has been involved, for more than 30 years, in viral hepatitis research. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives thanks Dr. Block for the work that he has done in this field, which has undoubtedly impacted the lives of constituents in my district and people around the world.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank and recognize the leaders of the Doylestown Township community in my district for their hard work, generosity, and support for the community as Doylestown Township celebrates its bicentennial, 200 years of history and community that I am proud to be a part of. I would like to recognize the Doylestown Township Board of Supervisors: Barbara Lyons, Rick Colello, Ryan Manion, Jennifer Herring, and Ken Snyder; and the Volunteer Bicentennial Committee: Arthur Zapolski, Joe Paternostro, Ted Feldstein, Stu Abramson, David Hansen. Dr. Vail Garvin, Tina Mazaheri, Mary Lou Parry, Renu Dalal, Beth Long, Chris Nardo, and John Arnold. I would also like to recognize the community sponsors whose generosity made the celebration possible: my friend Senator Chuck McIlhinney and State Representative Marguerite Quinn, Pine Run Retirement Community Center, Covenant Bank, Delaware Valley University, Boucher & James, Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority, Gilmore & Associates, Pennoni, Pennsylvania Soup & Seafood House, Pickering, Corts & Summerson, FRANC Environmental, Doylestown Hospital, Worth & Company, Shelley Law Offices, Greenstreet, CB Cares Educational Foundation, Mazaheri Law, Monument Bank, and Doylestown Health for sponsoring the opening gala I was privileged to attend. I ask the House of Representatives to join me in saying thank you for their commitment to our community. Recognizing Souderton Area High School

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a school in my district. On November 30, 2017, Souderton Area High School was recognized as a National Banner Unified Champion School by the Special Olympics International headquarters. Through the diligence and compassion of Athletic Director Dennis Stanton and Supervisor of Special Education Megan Zweiback, the introduction of unified sports into the school has greatly enhanced the curriculum of special-needs students and allowed them to compete with other students in interscholastic competition. One of only four schools in the Nation and the first in Pennsylvania to have been honored in this respect, I am proud of the work done at Souderton Area High School to support and enhance the education and recreational development of all students.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to a growing humanitarian crisis, one that is often forgotten in news around the world. Venezuela is suffering through a collapse of its economy and Venezuela's children are starving to death. According to a recent media report, the number of cases of severe malnutrition has nearly tripled in the years since the economic collapse, and doctors believe that 2018 will be even worse. The Venezuelan Government has taken pains to hide the impact that the collapse has had on its population and the role their own repressive policies have played, but the recent statistics tell the true story. From 2012 to 2015, the mortality rate of infants under 4 weeks old has increased tenfold. In 2016, 11,446 children under the age of 1 year old have died, an increase of 30 percent. Families and children now dig through trash in the hopes of finding food. This is a crisis we cannot turn a blind eye to. We must work together to address it. I urge my colleagues to keep this at the forefront of our consideration.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of reauthorizing section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is due to expire. As a 14-year FBI special agent, including significant time as a counterterrorism agent, I am an eyewitness to the importance of this program and the deliberate and lawful manner in which it is used. The fact is, section 702 is a critical tool that the intelligence community uses properly to target non-U.S. persons located outside of the United States to acquire information that is vital to our Nation's security. Equally as important, this crucial program has operated under strict rules and has been carefully overseen by all three branches of our government to protect the privacy and civil liberties of all Americans. As we have seen, both in our country and abroad, proper surveillance and law enforcement is vital to protect us against terror attacks, especially lone attacker scenarios. As terror groups like ISIS continue to lose territory in Iraq and Syria, our intelligence community has warned that we will see more of these one-off attacks as opposed to more traditional conspiracies. At a hearing of the Homeland Security Committee, I asked FBI Director Chris Wray about this program as part of our national security posture. He said, despite the high volume of threats, there are few dots that can actually be connected in regard to these ``more loosely organized situations.'' Information already lawfully obtained by the FBI is crucial in, as he said, understanding ``which threats are real and which ones are more aspirational.'' Section 702 allows the national security professionals to query information to determine whether a tip from State or local law enforcement or others is credible, and it begins the process of marshalling resources to head off potential threats. Allowing section 702 to expire would leave America vulnerable at a time when we need this protection the most. As Director Wray clearly stated: ``If 702 is walked back, we will be . . . starting to rebuild the wall that existed before 9/11.'' Mr. Speaker, with today's terror landscape, we cannot go backwards when proven, legal means exist to keep Americans safe. I urge my colleagues, Democrat and Republican alike, to support this vital national security measure. The safety and security of the families we represent depend on the passage of this measure. Let us get this done for them.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4581) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop best practices for utilizing advanced passenger information and passenger name record data for counterterrorism screening and vetting operations, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to voice my full support for H.R. 4581, the Screening and Vetting Passenger Exchange Act of 2017. This legislation directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop best practices for utilizing advanced passenger information, or API, and passenger names record data, or PNR, for counterterrorism screening and vetting operations. It also enables the Secretary to share those practices with our allies, including countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program, and to provide assistance in implementing these practices in those countries. Having access to API, which is biographic information, and PNR data, which is data about reservation and itinerary information, allows our homeland security professionals to confirm the identities and travel patterns of potential criminals and terrorists before they enter the United States. Allowing our men and women on the front lines to fight against terrorism, to work with Visa Waiver Program countries to make sure that they rise to the same standards only increases the safety of our Nation, the safety of all Americans traveling abroad, and the safety of all people across the globe. This legislation is a step in the right direction toward addressing further potential emerging threats. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support our Nation's Homeland Security by supporting my bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4433) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to achieve security of sensitive assets among the components of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I, once again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4433, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4433, the Securing Department of Homeland Security Firearms Act of 2017. A recent report by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, entitled, ``DHS' Controls Over Firearms and Other Sensitive Assets,'' found that, between fiscal year 2014 and fiscal year 2016, personnel from DHS and its components misplaced a total of 2,142 highly sensitive assets, including 228 firearms and 1,889 badges. DHS is charged with the safety of our Nation and its citizens. The OIG report indicates that not only are there some DHS personnel not being held accountable for failing to safeguard their sensitive assets, they are also not receiving proper training on how to properly safeguard and keep track of such equipment. Given the importance of DHS' mission, this is unacceptable, Mr. Speaker. H.R. 4433 follows the OIG's recommendations and requires DHS' Under Secretary for Management to promulgate a departmentwide directive to DHS personnel aimed at achieving adequate security over DHS firearms and other sensitive assets. H.R. 4433 mandates that this directive include descriptions of what equipment is classified as a sensitive asset, requirements for securing Department-issued sensitive assets, and recordkeeping requirements for reporting lost or stolen firearms and other assets. H.R. 4433 also requires DHS to update its Personal Property Asset Management Program Manual to include procedures and training on how to safeguard assets, both on and off duty, in accordance with the directive. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve 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 include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, the Doylestown Health Foundation is a healthcare network that has provided critical care to the Bucks County community for over 90 years. In recognition of its continued work, Doylestown Health recently received $10 million in gifts, the largest amount in their history. The pair of $5 million donations were given by two families with close ties to the Doylestown Health Foundation. Richard and Angela Clark have had four generations of family cared for at Doylestown Hospital, while Alex Gorsky, the CEO of Johnson & Johnson, and his wife, Patricia, have served on the hospital board and board of directors, respectively. Supporting institutions in our community through charitable donations are crucial to community prosperity. The generous gifts of the Clark and Gorsky families are earmarked for vital projects like a new heart and vascular center. With contributions like these, the Doylestown Health Foundation will be able to continue providing optimal care to those in our Bucks County community.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of Philip Gutis. Mr. Gutis is from New Hope, Pennsylvania. At the age of 56, he has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Early-onset Alzheimer's currently affects hundreds of thousands of Americans who are under the age of 65. Diagnoses for this debilitating neurological disease in its early stages can be arduous and frustrating, as many of the symptoms resemble less serious issues like stress. Mr. Gutis recently visited my district office to discuss living with this disease. He detailed the pain, stress, and confusion that he felt when first diagnosed. He described how simple tasks can become challenging when dealing with memory loss. But his message was not to complain about his ailment, it was to be a voice for other individuals who live with Alzheimer's, those who are unable to have their voices be heard. Alzheimer's is a serious neurological disease. Though there is no cure, treatment for symptoms can help slow the progressive effects of dementia. I stand in support of Mr. Gutis and all those living with Alzheimer's. Doylestown Health Foundation

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Sensei Shuji Maruyama, the Founder of Kokikai Aikido, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his teaching Aikido in Pennsylvania. In so doing, I honor his achievements and the beneficial role that Kokikai Aikido has played in enriching the lives of the men, women and children of Bucks County, PA and the USA. Kokikai Aikido is a self-defense training system that stresses timing, centering, and coordination, rather than meeting force with force. Aikido students strive to use minimum effort for maximum effect, making Aikido an effective self-defense method for people of all levels of physical ability and of all ages. Kokikai Aikido teaches that strength comes from one's mental state as well as from one's physical prowess. It provides a path for personal realization and ethical self- defense. Students learn that as they become stronger, a peaceful resolution of conflict becomes more, not less, possible. In this way Aikido students also become better citizens, as they work toward attaining their personal goals. After 50 years of teaching in the USA, Sensei Maruyama continues to share his unbounded energy with his students. He constantly strives to improve and simplify his technique, and to find even more effective ways of teaching. Through his leadership, Kokikai Aikido has grown to include dojos all over the United States and the world. Keystone Kokikai Aikido has made his teachings accessible to hundreds of Southeastern Pennsylvania residents. I offer congratulations to Sensei Maruyama on his achievement and congratulations to his students who are fortunate to celebrate this milestone with him. It is my hope that Kokikai Aikido will continue to flourish and that Sensei Shuji Maruyama will continue to bring his skills to the martial arts community for many years to come.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. In 2017, 128 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. Despite the significant danger they face, these brave men and women continue to put their badge on every day, leaving their loved ones at home, to protect our friends, our families, and our communities. I was fortunate to be a member of the thin blue line for nearly a decade and a half as an FBI special agent. During that time, I worked with some of the most dedicated, mission-oriented professionals in the Nation, to include Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers. I ask that today, and every day, all Americans take a moment to reflect on what our law enforcement officers do to protect our liberties and to ensure the safety of our communities. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their service and for their sacrifice. As I did last year, I urge the President to observe this day by lighting the White House blue this evening.