H. Griffith

Mr. GRIFFITH

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

Mr. GRIFFITH

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

Mr. GRIFFITH

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

Mr. GRIFFITH

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

Mr. GRIFFITH

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

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in great sadness. Last night, at 6:16, my friend, a community leader and a member of my district staff, passed away, Barbara Morris Stafford. Barbara was born in 1953, and was part of a political family. Her father, Howard Morris, was chairman of the Giles County Board of Supervisors. Her husband was a 10-term member of the Virginia House of Delegates, and when he died young, she took over his seat. Now a single mother to Chris, Elizabeth, and Mary, she served her community for many years as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates; mayor of her hometown of Pearisburg, Virginia; director of the chamber of commerce; and then, for over 10 years and until last night, as a constituent services representative in my district office. Barbara was a great leader and she will be sorely missed by the community she loved and the community that loved her.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Garland Life, who died on June 2, 2021 at the age of 78. Mr. Life was a longtime educator in the Roanoke Valley who made a tremendous positive impact on his students. Mr. Life was born on June 15, 1942 in McGaheysville, Virginia to Cecil and Mary Burner Life. He grew up on a farm and graduated from Montevideo High School. Subsequently, he earned degrees from Bridgewater College and the University of Virginia. During his career as an educator, he worked as a teacher, a principal at Andrew Lewis High School in Salem and Cave Spring High School, and an administrator of Roanoke County Schools. His students benefited from the lessons he taught and the learning environment he created. I recognized this firsthand as one of the students at Andrew Lewis High School when he was principal. When the Salem School Board signaled intentions to remove Andrew Lewis from the high school's name and I wanted to keep it, he let me pursue what would become my first public campaign in the community. He could have stopped this student-led movement, but he didn't. I have always appreciated the indulgence he showed his students on this occasion. Mr. Life is survived by his wife, Kimberly Hale; son and daughter-in- law, Jason and Amy Life, daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Paul Tesoriere; grandchildren, Benjamin and Megan Life and Bella and Luca Tesoriere; stepdaughter, Gretchen Roberts; stepson Andrew Roberts; and sister, Janet Wayland. I offer them my condolences on their loss.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of James Gerard McNulty Jr., who passed away on May 23, 2021. Jerry was committed to improving western Virginia through volunteer and charitable work. Jerry was born on October 12, 1938 in Binghamton, New York to Elise and James McNulty. After graduating from Michigan Tech University, he moved to western Virginia with his wife Colleen. He worked at General Electric in Salem, where he led the Drives Systems division. I first came to know Jerry through his involvement with the Roanoke Valley Aquatic Association. Other causes and organizations to which he devoted his time and support included the Smith Mountain Lake Lions Club, Lake Christian Ministries, and the Smith Mountain Lake Homes Tour. A 2016 story in the local Laker Weekly profiled Jerry and Colleen's generous support of their neighbors through Lake Christian Ministries' food pantry, helping to feed those in need in the area. Jerry's survivors include his wife of 60 years, Colleen; his children, Kate McNulty and spouse, Jeff Johnson, Lori McNulty and husband, Ernie Sigala, Terry McNulty, and Michael McNulty and wife, Mandy; his grandchildren, Justin Johnson, Ciaran McNulty, Logan Pope, Sable McNulty, Caitlin McNulty, Sophia McNulty, and Indy McNulty; and his siblings Mary Gillette, Kay McNulty, John McNulty and wife, Larraine, Gene McNulty and spouse, Kathy, and Terry Blood. I offer them my condolences on their loss.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the service of all the selfless men and women of law enforcement in Giles County, Virginia who ensured Noah Trout was brought home safely. On May 2, 2021, 2-year-old Noah Gabriel Trout was abducted from his church nursery. Within a day, he was located by the police and securely returned to his mother. The Giles County Sheriffs Office and the Virginia State Police Department handled the case with great care and diligence. Virginia local and state police partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Pearisburg Police Department, and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to fulfill this duty to the best of their abilities. Southwest Virginia is lucky to have law enforcement officers that hold their jobs to the highest regard and fight vigorously to keep the people of our region safe.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Russell Eugene Gwaltney, who died on March 12, 2021 at the age of 81. Russ was a local legend in his youth who later served his hometown as a career law enforcement officer who honorably fulfilled his professional duties. Russ was born in Roanoke, Virginia on August 21, 1939, to Charles Wesley Gwaltney and Florence Gay Gwaltney Boggess. His father passed away before he was born, and his mother, a cashier, raised him in Salem. His first calling in life was as a marbles champion. The game was popular in his neighborhood, and his older brother Charlie taught him to play at the age of four or five. He grew in skill, amassing a collection of marbles he won from other players. Russ lost to Charlie in the semifinals of a 1948 tournament sponsored by the Salem Recreation Department. As he recalled to the Roanoke Times in 1993, ``When he beat me, he made me want to get better.'' Russ did, winning the town championship in 1949 and then the 1952 National Championship held in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Salem showered its national marbles champion with laurels upon his return. Although interest in marbles declined, he stayed involved in the game as an adult and helped with the national tournament. In the following years, Russ graduated from Andrew Lewis High School and served in the United States Navy. After starting his policing career in Newport News, he moved back to Salem and began his 34 years with the Salem Police Department, which he served as a uniformed officer, detective, and member of the SWAT Team, rising to the rank of captain. He concluded his career as chief of police in Dublin, Virginia. Russ is survived by his wife, Rita Woodyard Gwaltney; son and daughter-in-law, Rusty and Katy Gwaltney; daughter and grandson, Renee' Moore and Phoenix Moore; and brothers Charles Thomas Gwaltney and Douglas MacArthur Hawkins. I offer them my condolences on the loss of this good man, who earned a unique fame in Salem as a boy and then returned it with a career of faithful service in law enforcement.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, today I am absent due to a family matter. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 143 (H.R. 1065).

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Eric Wayne McClure of Abingdon, Virginia, who died on May 2, 2021 at the age of 42. Mr. McClure was a longtime NASCAR driver and owner. Mr. McClure was born on December 11, 1978 and was a native of Chilhowie, Virginia. Racing was part of his family: his uncle Larry was an owner of the Morgan-McClure Motorsports team. Eric McClure graduated from Emory & Henry College. He began his racing career in 2003; throughout its duration, he made 288 starts in the Xfinity Series and three starts in the NASCAR Cup Series. His best finish came in 2013 at Daytona, when he placed eighth in the Xfinity Series season opener. Health challenges ended his driving career in 2016. He also formed Martin-McClure Racing in 2015 as an owner with former driver Hal Martin. The team won two races in the K&N Pro Series with drivers Chad Finchum and Austin Cindric. Mr. McClure is survived by his parents Jerry and Sue McClure; his sister Emily Brandt and her husband Robert; mother of his children Miranda McClure; and his seven daughters Mabreigh, Maryleigh, Mirabella, Merritt, Myanna, Meraline, and Melania. He is also survived by his special friend Keira Tibbs and her two daughters. I offer my condolences on their loss.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Michael Anthony Chiglinsky, a Salem, Virginia School Board member, who died on April 13, 2021 at the age of 65. Widely and affectionately known as ``Dr. Mike,'' he left a memorable mark on the Roanoke Valley area through his care and service to the children and families of the region. Dr. Chiglinsky was born on August 7, 1955 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He attended nearby Lycoming College and then earned a doctorate in psychology at Georgia State University. He pursued a career as an expert in children and family therapy, which brought him to Southwest Virginia. Dr. Chiglinsky and his wife Joanne founded ACA Counseling Services, offering support to local youth and families. He had a passion for helping children and families, which he further fulfilled as a member of the Salem School Board. His service on the board began in 2009, and he rose to vice chairman in 2013. Professional expertise, a friendly demeanor, and an interest in helping people characterized his service. Dr. Chiglinsky's service extended far beyond Salem schools and his private practice. He often testified as an expert witness in juvenile and domestic relations court, assisting in evaluating their needs for services. His testimonies were always regarded with great value and his professional judgement was held in the highest esteem in the courts. Dr. Chiglinsky is survived by his wife Joanne; his children, Brian, Katherine, and Peter; his daughter-in-law, Crystal; his sister, Ann; and two brothers, Joseph and Vince. I offer my condolences on the loss of this selfless and service-minded community leader.

Mr. GRIFFITH

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

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, D.C. statehood is unconstitutional. Both Republican and Democrat administrations of the past have long interpreted the Constitution in that fashion. One of the problems with D.C. statehood is that two States, Maryland and my home State of Virginia, gave land for the cede of government, and they did not do so with the intent to create a new State. When Virginia's land wasn't used for the cede of government, Congress ceded it back to Virginia. It did not create a new State. As it was then, retrocession is our best course of action today. Shrinking the seat of government, which is permitted by Article I, and returning the rest to Maryland for the purposes of representation, offers D.C. residents a voice in the Federal legislative branch and keeps faith with Maryland's original cession of land for D.C. It also works within the bounds of the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, I have introduced a bill, and it is later going to be a motion to recommit. And I have also taken great care, as a part of that, making sure that retrocession and the transfer of administrative functions from D.C. to Maryland runs as smoothly as possible. If you are worried about the details of D.C. government, this bill, this motion to recommit, takes care of them. As the old Prego commercials said: It's in there. Congressional representation, it's in there. The courts, it's in there. The National Guard, it's in there. Commitments to retirees, it's in there. Tuition assistance, it's in there. Preventing the remaining Federal District from casting the three electoral votes meant for D.C., it is in there. My motion to recommit, which I will offer in a bit, is the most practical solution to giving D.C. residents a voice in Congress, to give them a right to vote. Mr. Speaker, if we adopt a motion to recommit, we will instruct the Committee on Oversight and Reform to consider my amendment to H.R. 51, to provide for the retrocession of land to the State of Maryland, rather than to create a new State. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the text of the amendment immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Mr. GRIFFITH

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

Mr. GRIFFITH

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

Mr. GRIFFITH

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

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Evan Morgan Massey of Richmond, Virginia, who passed away on March 10, 2021 at the age of 94. Morgan Massey was a business leader and philanthropist whose visionary leadership in the coal industry made an impact across the globe and certainly in the Ninth Congressional District of Virginia I represent. Mr. Massey was born on December 29, 1926. He trained for service as an aviator during World War II and later graduated from the University of Virginia. He joined his family's firm, A.T. Massey Coal Company, in 1949. Mr. Massey helped drive the company from a midsize operation to one of the largest coal companies in the United States. The family sold the company to St. Joe Minerals in 1973, and Mr. Massey continued to run the company until he retired in 1991. Following retirement, Mr. Massey extended his endeavors across the globe, developing operations abroad and championing new uses for coal. He expanded mining into China and Venezuela and founded the Evan Energy Company to improve coal mining safety in South America and China. Mr. Massey supported research such as that at Virginia Tech which generates rare earth minerals from coal and coal byproducts. A tireless innovator and entrepreneur, Mr. Massey remained active in his office daily even late in life. Beyond his role in business, Mr. Massey served Richmond's philanthropic community through the Massey Foundation, founded by his uncle and father, and the Joan and Morgan Massey Foundation. His interests included higher education, medical research, and the development of new technologies, and his philanthropic support of these causes have improved the lives of many. Mr. Massey's survivors include his daughters, Elizabeth Anne Massey, Susan Chapman Massey and Nancy Lee Massey; sons, Evan Morgan Massey, Jr. and his wife, Robin, John William Massey and his wife, Kelli, Charles Taylor Massey and his wife, Sarah and Craig Lewis Massey and his wife, Sky; 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. I offer them my condolences on this loss of the great business leader and philanthropist.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1899, the Ensuring Compliance Against Drug Diversion Act. This is a small but very important step that could play a key role in helping contain the opioid epidemic. License to distribute opioids is not a commodity to be freely bought and sold. We must ensure that those who wish to engage in opioid distribution earn the ability to do so. An investigation, as the Speaker has heard, published by the Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee in 2018 found that the current procedures for transferring the licenses to distribute controlled substances lacked sufficient accountability. In one instance, a distributor and its pharmacy customer did not go through the appropriate process of transferring registration to a new pharmacy owner, but the mistake wasn't caught until long, long afterward. As a result, there was a period of time during which the DEA was unaware that a particular pharmacy was distributing controlled substances. Failing to properly verify whether a transfer has been approved creates a serious risk of drug diversion. This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to prohibit the transfer of any DEA registration without consent from the agency. By requiring written approval from the DEA before the transfer of registration, we decrease the risk of controlled substances falling into the hands of those who have not been vetted by appropriate regulatory authorities.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Frank Brady of Bluefield, Virginia, who has announced his retirement as General Manager of WVVA-TV. Frank is a 47-year veteran broadcaster who devotes his professional and personal time to improving the greater Bluefield region. WVVA broadcasts to residents of Virginia's Ninth District as well as in West Virginia. Many Southwest Virginians tune into WVVA for their news. Frank arrived at WVVA in 2005 from KHQA-TV in Quincy, Illinois, bringing his extensive knowledge of the broadcasting industry to the Bluefield market. Under his management, WVVA added nine additional hours of news programming and four additional channels to its digital signal. His professional work has been honored by the Mel Burka Distinguished Broadcaster Award for lifetime achievement by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association. Frank's time in Bluefield has also been characterized by community service and advocacy for the region. Under his management, WVVA regularly engages in charity work in its viewing area, including food and clothing drives. It partners each holiday season with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in the Toys for Tots campaign, providing toys for over 2,600 children in the region. Frank has chaired the Bluefield Chamber of Commerce and serves on the boards of the Community Foundation of the Two Virginias and the Bluefield State College Foundation. He promotes the region's economic development and cultural events. As Congressman for Virginia's Ninth District, I have been a regular visitor to WVVA and participant in the debates it sponsors. When I am in the Bluefield area, I appreciate the opportunity to come by the studio and communicate with constituents about my work in the House of Representatives, but I also appreciate the chance to stop in and see Frank, and over the years we have developed a friendship. I would like to congratulate Frank on concluding his impressive career in broadcasting and wish him all the best upon his retirement.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Louis Stephens ``Luke'' Waldrop Sr. of Salem, Virginia, who passed away on March 12, 2021 at the age of 97. Mr. Waldrop was a real estate developer and philanthropist who made a tremendous impact on Salem throughout his long and active life. Mr. Waldrop was born on June 11, 1923 to Alexander Atkinson and Carolyn Bear Waldrop. He grew up in Roanoke and attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria. His collegiate studies at the University of Virginia (UVA) were interrupted by World War II, in which he served as a Navy medic in the Pacific theater. After completing his service, Mr. Waldrop returned to UVA to finish his degree and married Harriett, at the time a senior at Mary Baldwin College. After a stint in Richmond, Mr. Waldrop moved with his young family back to his native Roanoke Valley. His brother John introduced him to R.L. Russ, who educated him in the real estate business. Mr. Waldrop launched his own company, L.S. Waldrop Realty, in 1956. Much of our country was remade by the housing boom that followed World War II. It was Luke Waldrop that harnessed that boom to remake Salem. With a keen sense for deal making and closing the sale, he drove forward residential and business development. Middleton Gardens, West Club Forest, Woodbridge, Spartan Square, Salem Terrace at Harrogate, Caroline Forest Apartments, and over 900 single family homes resulted from his professional efforts. Mr. Waldrop was devoted to charitable causes and community organizations in Salem and beyond. Among the educational institutions that benefited from his contributions and support for endowed scholarships are his alma mater UVA, Roanoke College, Mary Baldwin College, Virginia Western Community College, and Episcopal High School. He was on the vestry at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, belonged to and at one time served as president of the Salem Rotary, and served on the Roanoke County Planning Commission. Mr. Waldrop was preceded in death by his first wife, Harriett, his second wife, Anne ``Dickie'' Dickson Jordon Waldrop, and grandson Adam Thomas Waldrop. He is survived by children Kathryn Kerkering (Tom), Caroline Buckman Haddock, Louis Stephens ``Steve'' Waldrop Jr., Preston Adam Waldrop (Jamie), Harriett Ann Waldrop, and Laura Doub (Bruce); thirteen grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and numerous great- grandchildren. I offer them my condolences on the loss of Luke Waldrop, a member of the Greatest Generation who changed Salem for the better over his many decades in business and in service.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor George Harvey Sr. of Radford, Virginia, who passed away on February 24, 2021 at the age of 92. Mr. Harvey's life was a true American success story, in which he rose from hard beginnings to great accomplishments in business and then drew upon them to give back to his community. Mr. Harvey was born on May 31, 1928 in Mann, West Virginia. His family moved to a farm in Montgomery County, Virginia in 1932. As a child, he walked two miles to attend school. When attending Auburn High School, he had to walk two miles to catch the bus, and if his responsibilities of milking the farm's cows delayed him from catching the bus, he had to walk five miles more to school. After graduating from Auburn in 1945, Mr. Harvey joined the United States Air Corps and was deployed to Fairbanks, Alaska. He passed on the chance to attend West Point and opted instead to return home to Southwest Virginia. He enrolled in National Business College in Roanoke, majoring in Business and Accounting. Mr. Harvey began his career by operating a gas station, followed by a Texaco Oil Distributing Business and a used car dealership. In 1957, he became a General Motors Chevrolet dealer in Christiansburg. The next year, he bought an Oldsmobile dealership, and in 1959, he purchased a Chevrolet-Oldsmobile-Cadillac franchise in Radford. His business grew through the decades, earning him millions and providing jobs to many in the region. In 1989, it added a Pontiac-Buick dealership as well. He took the obligations that came with wealth and job creation seriously. According to the Roanoke Times, he said in 2009 that the number he was proudest of was zero, which was the number of employees he had laid off over the then-50-year history of Harvey's Chevrolet Cadillac Buick. Many local organizations and causes benefited from Mr. Harvey's support. At Radford University, he was the second president of the foundation and the chairman of the Business and Economics Department, driving the creation of a certified School of Business. He was chairman of the board at Radford Community Hospital, now Carilion New River Valley Medical Center. Other roles he held in the community included president of the Chamber of Commerce; Vice President of First & Merchants National Bank in Radford; past president of the New River Dealers Association, Kiwanis Club and Retail Merchants Association; past chairman of United Fund and the Michelle ``Petie'' Lineberry Heart Recipient Fund Drive; past vice president of the Southwest Virginia Health Services; board member of the Virginia automobile Dealers Association, the Commonwealth Dealers Life Insurance Association, and Saint Albans Psychiatric Hospital; and Elder and member of The Presbyterian Church of Radford. Mr. Harvey's survivors include his wife of 61 years, Juanita Kirk Harvey, five children, and grandchildren. I would like to offer my condolences to them on the loss of this great businessman and community leader.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I offer these remarks in honor of Paul Wesley Jewell of Salem, Virginia, who passed away on February 17, 2021 at the age of 79. Mr. Jewell was a photographer by profession who actively participated in Salem's community organizations. Mr. Jewell was born on December 28, 1941 in Roanoke County to Curtis W. and Ethel Starkey Jewell. As a young man, he graduated from Andrew Lewis High School, excelled at athletics, and belonged to the Boy Scouts of America. He made the community he grew up in his lifelong home. As a professional photographer, he owned several studios, including the Deyerle Studio for over 25 years. After retiring from professional photography, Mr. Jewell remained active in the Salem area as a member of the First United Methodist Church of Salem and of Taylor Masonic Lodge No. 23 and as a funeral assistant at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home. Mr. Jewell is survived by son Paul ``Matt'' Jewell and wife, Peggy; daughters Beth Kennedy and Susan Grimberg and her husband John; granddaughters Cierra McDaniel and husband Jared, Kristen Porter and husband Josh, Kaitlyn Duhon and husband Matt, Kyndsey Cook, Kendall Cook, Gracie Grimberg, and Olivia Grimberg; and great-grandchildren Aria McDaniel, James Duhon, Avery Duhon, and Mason Duhon. I would like to extend to them my condolences.