Brian Fitzpatrick

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about the very important topic of police reform and qualified immunity. Last week, I joined my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in voting in favor of the Justice in Policing Act, a bill that the National Fraternal Order of Police said, ``we believe, after good-faith discussions, will create a law that will have a positive impact on law enforcement and policing in our country.'' My Republican colleagues who voted in favor of this bill did so because we must move the legislative process and negotiations forward so we can begin to repair the social contract again between our police officers around the nation and the communities that they serve. That being said, we believe that the qualified immunity provision in the bill, as it is currently drafted, must be fixed so that we can ensure that we protect our hero police officers both from physical harm and potentially frivolous lawsuits. Qualified immunity is a judicially created doctrine that grants government officials who are performing discretionary functions immunity from civil suits unless the plaintiff shows that the official violated clearly established statutory or constitutional rights that a reasonable person would have been aware of. Madam Speaker, to put it simply, qualified immunity states that if an officer acts in good faith and is doing what he or she believes is in line with their responsibilities of being a police officer, then they are protected from personal liability. While I believe that qualified immunity is a very important doctrine, it should be reformed but not abolished. There must be reforms that address personal responsibility, accountability, and transparency in law enforcement, no doubt. However, the Justice in Policing Act includes a provision on qualified immunity that must be amended in conference committee prior to final passage. I, for one, will be insisting on that prior to any bill being sent to the President's desk. Madam Speaker, as it currently stands, this provision would specify that a defendant is not immune from lawsuits just because they were acting in a way that they thought was reasonable or lawful at the time or because they were not violating a clearly established law. The overwhelming majority of our Nation's police officers conduct themselves responsibly, appropriately, and within the confines of the law. Madam Speaker, I know this because I was one myself. We must reform qualified immunity to allow our police officers to act in a way they need to to perform their jobs while also removing protections that would shield those who illegally deny citizens of the rights given to them by the United States Constitution. Having served as a lifelong Federal law enforcement agent and a Federal prosecutor, I will be playing an active role in bridging this gap and bringing our law enforcement officials in our communities together, as will my Republican colleagues who voted in favor, as we move to conference committee to merge the Senate and House proposals into one bill that works for everybody and protects our police officers. I will insist that the final package be written in a way that both protects citizens' constitutional and civil rights and preserves the noble profession of law enforcement--the profession that I have dedicated the majority of my adult life to, the profession that my great-uncle Phil sacrificed his life and paid the ultimate price for having been killed in the line of duty as an NYPD police officer. Madam Speaker, this moment calls on all of us to come together and repair this social contract so that we as Americans can start to heal. I firmly believe that we are all capable of rising to this challenge because my own community in Bucks and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania has been a model when it comes to police-community relations. We need to apply the community model of my amazing colleagues back home in law enforcement, always making improvements based on self- reflection, listening, understanding, and learning, and show the rest of our Nation and the world that we are a country of law and order, a country that respects the rights, dignity, and equality of every single individual, and a country where police officers are one with the communities in which they serve, which is certainly the case back home. I am so proud of our law enforcement officers. We have a chance at real positive change, Madam Speaker. Let us not miss this moment. We can support our law enforcement officers and enact meaningful reform. I, for one, will be insisting on both before any final bill goes to the President's desk. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, we are here today to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program, and that is a good thing. We should have been here last week when the program ran out of money, and we will be back in the same position next week if we don't fix the PPP. There are over 700,000 applications currently in the queue, and if the Treasury Department does not establish guardrails to differentiate between well-capitalized brokerage firms and undercapitalized mom-and- pop shops, we will not be helping the people who need us the most right now. We need to get these small businesses and nonprofits every single penny they need to survive, and we must hold China accountable for every single penny. Madam Speaker, this is not the time to be attacking each other. We must get through this crisis together. We must have each other's back. Let's have each other's back. Let's think with our hearts and our heads, and let's march through this together.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the champions of the Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School's 10th annual Super Duper Bowl, the Miller Mean Machines. Since 2010, Roosevelt Elementary, in Falls Township, has come together for a flag football tournament. The tournament consists of fifth-grade students and their teachers coming together for a fun day outside. The event also acts as a fundraiser, taking donations of both food and money for the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Mr. Speaker, any event that brings our community together for a day of fun, teamwork, and sportsmanship, while also helping those in need, should be celebrated by this House. Congratulations again to the Mean Machines, and I thank Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary for being an educational leader in our community.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the school-based initiative designed to increase student interest in the world of coding. The Hour of Code, which occurs every year during Computer Science Education Week, has the goal to teach students coding basics. The Bristol Township School District is one of several around the world taking advantage of this program, and they are leading the way in our community. Bristol Township schools are known for their science, technology, engineering, art, and math initiatives, and they held multiple events to allow students to participate in the Hour of Code. The introductory program uses games to teach younger children. By showing kids the basics of coding, it can spark an interest in computer science and engineering, which, as our society becomes more technology based, can be incredibly valuable skills to have. I applaud the Bristol Township schools for participating in this program, and I hope that other school districts across our community and across our Nation will follow the lead of Bristol Township schools. Congratulating Roosevelt Elementary's Miller Mean Machines

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the concerning issue of puppy mills throughout the State of Pennsylvania and across America. If we all care for our canine companions, we cannot continue to support the horrifying practices at puppy mills. Mr. Speaker, it is well-documented that puppy mills supply pet stores with puppies. My home State of Pennsylvania is no exception. Cutting off the puppy mill to pet store supply chain will decrease the demand for puppies raised in puppy mills. The inhumane practices at most puppy mills are shocking, appalling, and unacceptable. We have all seen the images on television. Stores that sell commercially-raised puppies operate based on an outdated and socially unacceptable business model. We need to work to shift the pet markets towards humane sources, including shelters and rescues that are burdened with finding families for homeless pets, thousands of which have to be euthanized in Pennsylvania each year. President Truman once said: If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. Mr. Speaker, let's show our best friends the love they deserve by combating the inhumane practice of puppy mills. Celebrating Hour of Code

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, the FREED Vets Act mandates that the Department of Education automatically discharge Federal student loan debt for eligible permanently disabled veterans. The staggering student loan debt crisis harms the financial security of many Americans, including the women and men who have honorably served our Nation. Our Nation's veterans have sacrificed immensely for our freedom and our way of life, and it is unacceptable that many disabled veterans continue to be saddled with high levels of student debt. The least we can do for them, Mr. Speaker, is to forgive the Federal student loans for those who have served our country. The VA established a program in 2018 to forgive veteran student debt, but the barrier of going through the processes meant that only 20 percent of those eligible veterans received the assistance they deserved. This strong bipartisan bill makes student loan forgiveness for these vets automatic. I thank my friend, Congressman Lamb from Pennsylvania, for leading this bill, and I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand with our veterans today and vote for H.R. 3598.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bucks County Community College, which recently received a $200,000 grant to raise awareness and promote its metal working apprenticeship program. This 12-week program provides entry-level training, forklift certification, and other skills necessary to begin a career in manufacturing. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grant will be used to promote Bucks County Community College's manufacturing preapprenticeship training programs. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I partnered with Bucks County native, Congressman Ro Khanna, to introduce the Student Apprenticeship Act, a bill that would close the gap between higher education and labor by modernizing workforce training and catalyzing the growth of registered apprenticeships nationwide. Apprenticeship programs provide skills and education for high-paying jobs and vital careers, and we need to be sure we give them the attention that they deserve. Recognizing Aileen Torrente

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Aileen Torrente of the Middletown Township Police Department. Sergeant Torrente was the first woman in the history of the police department to be promoted from patrol officer to detective in 2014. Recently Aileen was promoted again; this time from detective to her current rank of sergeant. Sergeant Torrente's success will set a great example for current and future officers at my hometown township police department in Middletown. Aileen's hard work, determination, and diligence led to her promotion. She is a great role model for our community, and I look forward to seeing more promotions in the future as she works her way up to her dream job of chief of police. Mr. Speaker, I wish her well. Recognizing Bensalem Township Council

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bensalem Township Council, who took a huge step to ensure the safety and well- being of their residents by prohibiting vaping in public township facilities, including parks and other recreational areas. The health and safety of our children should be our top priority, and the recent youth vaping epidemic has been a huge health issue in our community and across our Nation. I recently had the opportunity to meet with students from New Hope Solebury Cares who expressed their concerns with how prevalent vaping has become in their schools, and they talked about solutions that we can work on to bring attention to this issue. Part of the rise in youth vaping has been attributed to flavored nicotine. Flavors such as mango, cucumber, and other types of flavors undoubtedly target our children. Tomorrow the House will vote on final passage of H.R. 2339, the Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act. This legislation would ban all flavored vaping products, e-cigarette ads targeting youth, and remote cigarette sales. As a cosponsor of this bill, I look forward to voting in favor of this bill and taking a much- needed step to mitigate tobacco use among our children.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Davis for yielding, and I thank Chairwoman Maloney for her leadership, her partnership, her friendship, and passion that she has shown to get us here today. Madam Speaker, I rise today to proudly support the Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act. I was proud to join the chairwoman in introducing this legislation last year. I am even happier to be here today to support it on the floor. Madam Speaker, women's contributions to the development of our Nation are immense, however, only 5 percent of the approximately 2,400 national monuments honor women, and as the first museum in the United States dedicated to the full story of women's history, this museum will tell the diverse story of the women who helped shape the United States of America. H.R. 1980 will finally establish a comprehensive women's history museum in the Smithsonian Institution. The museum will honor and document women's contributions to United States history and exhibit diverse perspectives across our history. For too long the contributions of women and the contributions that they have made to our Nation have been overlooked and underappreciated. This is unacceptable. Women have been making contributions to America since our founding, and it is time that they get the recognition they deserve. This bipartisan bill sends a message loud and clear that women deserve an entire museum to show the important role that they have played in building the greatest Nation on Earth. It is time for Congress to authorize the creation of this national museum, and I am proud to stand with Chairwoman Maloney and all my colleagues to support this legislation. Madam Speaker, as the saying goes, if you can see it, you can be it. Let's show women across America, young and old, the contributions that they and their predecessors have made to the United States of America can be theirs as well. Again, I thank Chairwoman Maloney so much for engaging our bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus to be very instrumental in getting us here today.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Julia Szarko, who was recently named the 2019 School Psychologist of the Year by the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania. Dr. Szarko is in her 23rd year as a school psychologist, currently working at Cold Spring Elementary in Central Bucks County, Pennsylvania. A former president of the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania, Dr. Szarko has worked for years to expand school-based mental health services in Pennsylvania and to address the national school psychologist shortages across the country. Ensuring students have access to mental health resources is vital to their current and their future success, along with that of their peers as well. With only 20 percent of America's youth receiving the mental health services they need, further action must be taken to expand access to these services in schools, which is legislation that Dr. Szarko helped us draft. We need more people like Dr. Szarko working to ensure that children in Pennsylvania and across our Nation have the resources and support they need to succeed. Honoring the Life and Legacy of Leslie Kolifrath

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an organization in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, changing the lives for individuals with cognitive, physical, emotional, behavioral, and psychological needs. For over 20 years, the Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Hilltown, Bucks County, has created therapeutic programs for people of all ages and levels of ability utilizing the equine experience. In addition to equine-assisted activities, Ivy Hill collaborates with several community partners to provide job training through specialized programs dedicated to an exponentially-growing special needs population in our region and across the country. Through these programs, Ivy Hill serves over 150 program riders with more than a dozen trained therapy horses, led by nearly 200 staff members and volunteers. Mr. Speaker, their motto is: ``Horses + Love = Hope'' and, having heard firsthand the heartwarming testimonials of riders and their families, it is clear that this equation is holding very true. We are very thankful for all they do for our special needs population and everybody in our region.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bucks Coalition Against Trafficking, a group working to eradicate human trafficking in Bucks County and in our entire region. The Bucks Coalition Against Trafficking is a project created by the Network of Victim Assistance, working to end this modern-day slavery. Members of NOVA received recognition recently from the Bucks County Board of Commissioners for their work to educate our community and to raise awareness. The project was established to encourage victim identification, community education, enhancement of arrests and prosecution of traffickers, legislative advocacy, and a coordinated response for survivor services. Mr. Speaker, it is estimated that 25 million people across the globe are victims of human trafficking, and approximately 75 percent of these victims are women and girls. Statistics show that one in seven children who run away from home end up being trafficked. Mr. Speaker, one of the first bills I introduced this Congress, the End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2019, would increase the role of financial institutions in combating human trafficking, which is an incredibly important part of this fight. I call upon the House to bring this commonsense legislation to a vote, and to continue to work to support the victims of human trafficking. Recognizing 2019 School Psychologist of the Year, Dr. Julia Szarko

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Leslie Kolifrath, who recently passed away after a brave and courageous fight with breast cancer. A lifelong resident of Bucks County, Leslie always put the needs of others ahead of her own. She was very much beloved by her family, her friends, her pets, and her coworkers. Mr. Speaker, I got to know Leslie personally through the amazing work she did throughout Lower Bucks County, particularly Bristol Township, and helping so many people. The one thing that we all remember about Leslie is that no issue was too small for her to tackle when it came to protecting and serving the residents of Bristol Township and Lower Bucks County. So we offer our prayers to Leslie's family. We stand by her family in this very difficult time. She is now enjoying her eternal reward for a life she lived serving others in Bucks County and across our region. Recognizing Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly support H.R. 2382, the USPS Fairness Act. I have led, with my colleagues, this important legislation that ends the unfair prefunding mandate for the Postal Service and also solves the most pressing financing problem facing our letter carriers and post offices across the United States. Mr. Speaker, the USPS is the only Government entity--the only one-- which is mandated to prefund its retirees' health benefits. 100 percent of the Postal Service's financial losses over the past 6 years--100 percent--are directly due and linked to this requirement. This is an outdated policy which has forced the Postal Service into a horrible financial position, which has prevented it from investing in resources that would benefit all of our communities, no matter where we live. Moreover, Mr. Speaker, this legislation has widespread support from the National Association of Letter Carriers, the American Postal Workers Union, and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union. This bipartisan bill will restore USPS' financial health by shoring up that funding and ensuring that it has the resources to improve the Postal Service for all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation. This is the priority for our postal workers, in addition to 6-day delivery as well as door-to-door service. We have to get all three done for our postal workers, our letter carriers, and our post offices that serve all of our communities.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend and my colleague, Mr. McCaul, for yielding and for his kind words and for his friendship. Madam Speaker, first, I want to thank the entire committee, including yourself, Madam Speaker, Representative Frankel, and Representative Brooks, for all of your and their work on this very, very important issue. As a co-chair of the bipartisan International Basic Education Caucus, I want to join with all of our colleagues today to voice our strong support for H.R. 2153, the Keeping Girls in School Act, a bill that many of us helped introduce. Today, as was echoed earlier, many girls worldwide are not in school, and this bill will work to close the gender gap between boys and girls and work to keep girls in school through the high school level, when girls are at the highest risk of dropping out. This is a commitment of the U.S. to support programs, policies, and resources to help vulnerable girls stay in school. This bill will provide results-based aid grants, lower the cost of secondary education, and make sure that schools are safe for all of our children. We must work to ensure that girls in every country are able to stay in school so that we can empower them in order to reduce poverty and create safer, healthier communities. The Keeping Girls in School Act will help reduce barriers girls around the world face when trying to remain in school and help them access more opportunities. Madam Speaker, the top line summary of H.R. 2153 states this bill is ``to support empowerment, economic security, and educational opportunities for adolescent girls around the world.'' However, this bill will do much more than that. This bill provides opportunity. This bill provides hope. This bill will give some of our most vulnerable a chance to succeed. As Madam Speaker said earlier, we need to be a voice for the voiceless. And, Madam Speaker, I want to thank you for doing just that, yourself and Representative Brooks, because these 130 million girls, they need a voice, and we are going to be that voice for them here today.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, the following individuals have attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement of the Boy Scouts of America. Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of boy scouts achieve this rank after a lengthy review process. Troop Name No. Adam Jason Chast............................................... 5 -- Aj Olczak...................................................... 121 --- Alex Vincent Hudzinski......................................... 607 - Alexander John Peppiatt........................................ 71 - Alexander Spear................................................ 71 -- Andrew Friedman................................................ 82 -- Andrew John Lapiere............................................ 24 -- Andrew Joseph Coleman.......................................... 91 -- Andrew Michael DiDomenico...................................... 147 - Andrew Prock................................................... 24 --- Andrew R. Iannacone............................................ 10 -- Andrew Schmitz................................................. 19 -- Andrew Seth Van Siclen......................................... 52 - Austin Cervasio................................................ 36 -- Avi A. Gajjar.................................................. 10 --- Avishan Q. Bewtra.............................................. 10 -- Benjamin Armagost.............................................. 48 -- Benjamin Vouk.................................................. 210 -- Brady Christopher Stergion..................................... 230 - Brandon Michael Dorsey......................................... 29 - Brandon Switzer................................................ 71 -- Brendan Skowronek.............................................. 24 -- Brogan Donovan................................................. 87 -- Caleb Kisler................................................... 30 --- Caleb Y. K. Cho................................................ 542 -- Carl J. Stine.................................................. 14 --- Carl Sebastian Di Giorgio...................................... 52 - Christopher Gasiewski.......................................... 29 -- Christopher Rowan Haskell...................................... 147 - Colby Ryan Detwiler............................................ 91 -- Cole Michael Stanely........................................... 6 Cole Schenkman................................................. 29 Colin McGuire.................................................. 5 Connor Crawford................................................ 137 Connor James Eirich............................................ 210 Daniel Featherstone............................................ 22 Daniel Schmid.................................................. 24 Daniel Strobel................................................. 71 David McGee.................................................... 547 Dean Taipale................................................... 137 Eric Nawrocki.................................................. 229 Ethan Engelman................................................. 41 Ethan Marschean................................................ 99 Ethan Patrick McKale........................................... 153 Evan Magee..................................................... 137 Evan Veiga Wadley.............................................. 30 Ezra Greenberg................................................. 30 G. Fearghas Evanick............................................ 178 Gabriel John Hagen............................................. 178 Gabriel Lloyd.................................................. 3 Gary Gibson.................................................... 30 George Vicente................................................. 36 Gerritt Alt.................................................... 29 Gunner Lee Mullin.............................................. 36 Henry Price.................................................... 14 Isaac Danuloff................................................. 27 Jack Armagost.................................................. 48 Jack Collins................................................... 29 Jack Kraynak................................................... 303 Jack Monaghan.................................................. 87 Jack Stuckey................................................... 27 Jack Walsh..................................................... 102--- Jake Allen Anderson............................................ 29 -- Jake Armbruster................................................ 10 -- Jake Robert Pepe............................................... 547 -- James Cullen Jr................................................ 385 -- James Eric Lande............................................... 52 -- Jared John Loeper.............................................. 147 -- Jayden Riexinger............................................... 27 -- John Andrew Horgan............................................. 29 -- John Burkett Yates............................................. 30 -- John Gerard Barry.............................................. 230 -- John J. Roache................................................. 99 -- John Williams Joyce............................................ 547 -- Jordan Steel................................................... 172 --- Joseph Kroszner................................................ 187 -- Joseph P. LaMorte.............................................. 10 -- Joseph Roger Peller............................................ 5 -- Josh Jablonski................................................. 36 -- Joshua Michael Ware............................................ 607 -- Joshua N. Maier................................................ 178 -- Justin Harnishfeger............................................ 19 -- JV Fluehr...................................................... 36 --- Kyle Horn...................................................... 210 --- Kyle Macik..................................................... 27 --- Louis F. Schmid III............................................ 24 -- Luke Alexander Ramalho......................................... 145 - Luke Eric Andre................................................ 5 -- Matthew Corso.................................................. 48 --- Matthew Davies................................................. 29 -- Matthew Hannum................................................. 24 -- Matthew Jacob Humbert.......................................... 30 -- Matthew Nurse.................................................. 24 --- Matthew Thomas Finn............................................ 380 -- Matthew Walters................................................ 169 -- Myles Collier.................................................. 36 --- Nestor Beltran................................................. 14 -- Nicholas Cebula................................................ 542 -- Nicholas Correra............................................... 6 -- Nick Tony Erisman.............................................. 36 Nicolas James Kollas........................................... 52 Niklaas Owen Jimmink........................................... 169 Owen Neal..................................................... 24 Owen Wasitewski................................................ 185 Patrick Getty.................................................. 3 Paul Nicholas.................................................. 52 Paul W. Hand................................................... 13 Pierce McKelvey................................................ 24 Raymond Slifer................................................. 87 Robert Buchman................................................. 147 Russell Abernethy.............................................. 153 Ryan Edward Doyle.............................................. 210 Sam Hezel...................................................... 153 Sean Grant..................................................... 36 Sean Ryan...................................................... 48 Shree Kumar.................................................... 99 Spenser Haslam................................................. 137 Stefan Paul Cutrone............................................ 380 Stephen Grant Brown............................................ 145 Stephen P. Daniels............................................. 380 Szymon Bartnik................................................. 147 Thomas Alesi Jr................................................ 547 Thomas Barrett................................................. 82 Thomas Giampa.................................................. 36 Thomas James Plunkett.......................................... 230 Thomas John Black.............................................. 123 Tucker Andrew Smith............................................ 99 Tyler Gary Hunsperger.......................................... 30 Tyler Simmons.................................................. 123 Will Russell................................................... 52 William Bednarz................................................ 380 William G. Handwerk............................................ 178 William LaBelle................................................ I William Robert Jack............................................ 36 William Samuel Ketner.......................................... 610 Zachary Chan................................................... 16 Zachary Jared Chast............................................ 5 Zachary Gutherman.............................................. 82 Zachary Michael Taub........................................... 147

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, on Friday January 10, 2020 I missed votes in the House of Representatives to attend funeral services for my brother Former Congressman Michael G. Fitzpatrick. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 09; NAY on Roll Call No. 10; YEA on Roll Call No. 11; YEA on Roll Call No. 12; and YEA on Roll Call No. 13.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, on Thursday January 9, 2020 I missed votes in the House of Representatives to attend funeral services for my brother Former Congressman Michael G. Fitzpatrick. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 05; NAY on Roll Call No. 06; NAY on Roll Call No. 07; and YEA on Roll Call No. 08.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Chair, I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 535--The PFAS Action Act. This bill is a big step towards cleaner water for all Americans. It designates PFOA and PFOS as hazardous; these are two of the most prevalent substances that make up the group of substances known as PFAS. These `forever' chemicals are known to pose serious health concerns that have affected many of my constituents throughout Bucks County along with Americans across our country. 99 percent of people have traces of PFAS in their blood. One of my top PFAS priorities has been getting a federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for PFAS chemicals in our water. Most states do not have an MCL and ones that do, are not uniform. State residence should not be the defining factor for an American to have safe drinking water, having one universal MCL for PFOA and PFOS in the U.S. helps to solve this problem. Currently there is no limit on how much PFAS pollution is in our water and air. This bill gives EPA the power to begin regulating this lethal pollution. It will jumpstart the cleanup effort and hold PFAS polluters accountable. It will require polluting companies to submit information to EPA, so that the Agency can more fully evaluate the environmental and health effects of these toxins. Hundreds of PFAS chemicals are used in commercial goods and The PFAS Action Act will put in place a labeling system so that PFAS-free products can be easily identified by consumers. I have seen firsthand the devastating health effects that PFAS substances cause in my community. The Department of Defense (DOD) used PFAS chemicals in its firefighting foam for decades at the Willow Grove base that contaminated the water and soil in Warminster, PA. Last month I supported a new Defense bill that became law which ends the practice of using that specific kind of firefighting foam by 2024. This bill goes further and will make people safer and less likely to consume these toxins. Every American deserves access to clean drinking water and clean air. Most of us think only clean water comes out of our faucets when we turn them on, unfortunately, this is a misconception. Until this bill is signed into law and is fully implemented, we cannot trust that our water is not contaminated with these toxic substances. I urge my Republican colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill. A vote for this bill means that you care about safe drinking water for your constituents. EPA has promised to address PFAS, and this bill will ensure that they make substantial progress by setting firm deadlines. I would like to thank Congresswoman Dingell, Congressman Upton along with Congressman Kildee, who co-chairs the Bipartisan PFAS Taskforce with me, for their work in leading this important bill. I also want to thank Joanne Stanton and Hope Grosse of the Buxmont Coalition for Clean Water along with many of the townships and municipalities throughout my district, they have fought for years for meaningful action to be taken on this issue, and while this bill is by no measure the finish line, it is a major milestone.

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Salute 2 Service, a veteran outreach program based in Bristol, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Founded by Langhorne's Rodney Wyatt, Salute 2 Service prides itself on its ability to provide a multitude of services and resources for our veterans in distress. In addition to extensive work towards career growth and homeless outreach, they help veterans through local, State, and national advocacy, community activism, and emergency assistance. Mr. Speaker, the motto of Salute 2 Service is ``Leave No Veteran Behind.'' With nearly a half million unemployed veterans across our great Nation, Salute 2 Service has vowed to help find jobs for the servicemen and servicewomen in our community. I am proud to represent Salute 2 Service and Rodney, and I am glad to see like-minded groups working together to help our veterans each and every day.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible work of the students, the staff, and the families of Bristol Township's Keystone Elementary School. This holiday season, the Keystone community came together to help 27 local families in need. The students and staff at the school donated nonperishable items throughout November, and Oldcastle Infrastructure of Croydon, Pennsylvania, provided turkeys and pies to accompany the meal baskets. Mr. Speaker, this is the third consecutive year that Oldcastle Infrastructure has partnered with the Keystone families. It is great to see our communities come together to help those families who have fallen on hard times, and that is what makes neighbors so great. They are always there to help others in times of need. Mr. Speaker, we hope to see this program continue in the future, and we hope other communities will follow their lead. Salute 2 Service

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bucks County Elite Girls basketball program and those who were recently recognized by the Monroe Foundation for Youth and presented awards for their service to our community as well as for their athletic and their academic achievements. Over the last year and a half, the team has won 11 tournaments. This is an incredible achievement that speaks to their teamwork, their coaching, and their dedication. Moreover, many of the team members are also honor students, and many more are active community volunteers throughout our region. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Bucks County Elite Girls basketball program for this amazing accomplishment, and we look forward to their future success. Keystone Food Drive

Mr. FITZPATRICK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of former Pennsylvania State Representative Bob Godshall who passed away before the Thanksgiving holiday. Bob represented the 53rd District honorably for 36 years and retired in 2018. Bob Godshall was born in Franconia, Pennsylvania, on the family farm where he lived until his passing. He was a proud graduate of Souderton High School and Juniata College in Huntingdon. As an adult, he helped run the family farm's poultry operation, served on the Souderton area school board, and was a former Montgomery County controller. In the State House, Bob served as the chairman of the Consumer Affairs Committee, following his tenure as chairman of the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee. He frequently worked across the aisle to push legislation that protected consumers, boosted tourism across the State, and benefited the people of Montgomery County. Mr. Speaker, no matter the politics, Bob put his community first. Bob worked tirelessly to bring better jobs, safety, and improved infrastructure to our community. Bob was great man and a dedicated public servant, and as long as good, honest individuals like him work to serve the people, we can look forward to the future.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Thomas Hecker of Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hecker passed away surrounded by his family at the age of 72. Tom was born in Philadelphia and raised in Langhorne. He graduated from Bishop Egan High School and received his undergraduate degree from La Salle University, both my alma maters. After receiving his law degree from Villanova University, he joined the law firm of Begley, Carlin & Mandio, where he faithfully worked as a partner until his passing. Tom was a man of devout faith. Tom volunteered at his church as a lector and a Eucharistic minister visiting the homebound. Tom had a zest for life, which was often expressed through the twinkle in his eyes that we all saw every time we saw him. Tom cherished his family and friends, and he loved to socialize and connect with them over a meal and a good bottle of wine. Tom was notorious for his Eagles Sunday football parties and even created bleachers in his house for game days. Tom was also a golf enthusiast. You could often find Tom in the summer at his beach house. He lived by the motto, ``Smile, you are in Sea Isle City.'' Mr. Speaker, our deepest condolences go out to his entire family and friends. Tom is now enjoying his eternal reward for a life he spent serving others. Honoring Bob Godshall