Joseph Hoeffel

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Hyde-Smith amendment. The distinguished chairman started this debate by saying there is a difference between the issues of abortion and family planning, and he is correct. The underlying issue in the Hyde-Smith amendment is not the question of stopping abortion, although they would like us to believe that. The underlying issue is how do we best deliver family planning services to women around the world. We do that by abolishing the gag rule, by voting against this amendment. This amendment would prevent women around the world from getting fundamental family planning information, the most basic information that would go directly to the issue of them controlling their reproductive freedom and not needing to turn to abortions. It is contrary to what my Republican colleagues say they stand for to cut off funding for international family planning, and we would cut it off to the poorest women in the world, not women in our districts, but women around the world that need this information. Vote ``no'' on the amendment.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. John Landis Ruth. Dr. Ruth compiled an exhibit, part of the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit, which illustrates the ``Route 113 Corridor'' in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Route 113 winds its way through central Montgomery County and is arguably one of the most historic roads in the county. Dr. Ruth was bom on his family's eight-generation homestead in Lower Salford, Montgomery County. He is a graduate of Eastern College and Harvard University where he earned his Ph.D. in English and American Literature. He later returned to Eastern College as a teacher, and also taught at the University of Hamburg in Germany. Dr. Ruth has authored numerous books and articles on the Mennonite people and their way of life and produced films about the Mennonites and the Amish. He served as the Associate Minister of the Salford Mennonite congregation for twenty years. Following his retirement from the ministry in 1993, Dr. Ruth has continued to serve on the Board of the Mennonite Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania. He currently is working on a multi-volume narrative interpretation of Mennonite life in the Lower Salford/Franconia area. Dr. John Landis Ruth's photographic expertise and work have been invaluable in helping to preserve the history of our community. It is an honor and a privilege to recognize him as his works are showcased at the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit and the outstanding contributions he has made.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the State Department authorization bill. Under the terms of this bill, we will rejoin the Kyoto Treaty negotiation on global warming, as we should; we will pay our dues to the United Nations, as we should; we will rejoin UNESCO, as we should; and we will lift the gag rule on international family planning, as we should. I would like to point out two additional things that I sponsored in the committee. With the bipartisan support of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the leadership of our ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), these measures were included in the bill. First, requiring the State Department to conduct a 5-year strategic study of our arms control and nonproliferation program; and, secondly, for the Bush administration to undertake a policy review of our relations with China. Both of these are needed with the talk of unilateral deployment of a national missile defense and the unilateral reductions in the number of warheads. It is time for us to have a 5- year strategic plan developed and publicized, and I ask for approval of this bill.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. I support sending this bill back to the Committee on the Budget. There is so much work the conference committee still has to do. I say with respect to the gentlewoman who talked about missing pages, there are more than just pages missing from this document. There are whole chapters that are missing. Just look at the President's priorities that are not funded or included. How are we going to pay for national missile defense? The President is talking about that. That is hundreds of billions of dollars not recognized in this budget document. How are we going to pay for his military build up that he is going to ask for in 2 weeks, probably $25 billion a year? How are we going to pay for that? It is not mentioned in this budget. How are we going to pay for his proposal to privatize Social Security? If that is implemented, there are probably $1 trillion in transition costs; yet this budget document is completely silent on those Presidential priorities. There is an awful lot missing in this document, Mr. Speaker. The problem is it cuts taxes too deeply, and it has far too little for debt reduction. The American people want us to pay down the debt. The American people I represent want debt reduction. That is a higher priority for them than large tax cuts, and they do not want us to take our budget process back to unbalanced budgets, deficit spending, and years and years of debt. Mr. Speaker, we need to return this for the missing pages, the missing chapters to be added. I support a ``yes'' vote on recommittal.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Myra Olshansky on her retirement after 38 years of dedicated service at Olney High School in Phildelphia, Pennsylvania. Her fine example of professional dedication is truly admirable. Myra is a graduate of Philadelphia High School for Girls where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania where she received her degree in English in 1963. She has served as an English teacher, Acting Department Head, as Coordinator, Resources-in-Action Charter and the Coordinator for The Academy of Travel and Tourism, SLC. During her tenure she has taught some 10,000 students. Under Myra's direction, Olney High School has implemented a college prep program which partners Olney students with the Penn State Abington campus and this year with LaSalle University. The program has been a dramatic success. Myra was the subject of an in-depth piece by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Today Magazine in 1982, which focused upon the daily rigors that teachers face. She was able to show the public the typical environment that one would experience in a day at Olney High. Her dedication does not stop at the classroom but continues into her community. She is a member of the Golden Slipper Club & Charities, the West Point Parents Club of the Delaware Valley, the William Penn Charter School Community Association and the National Association of Teachers of English. It is honor to recognize Myra Olshansky and the outstanding service she has given to the students of Olney High School. She has been steadfast in her belief that the youth are our future. I commend her for her decades of contributions and wish her well.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Robert Haakenson upon his award as the 2001 Democrat of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Haakenson has served the Township of Cheltenham and the residents of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in various capacities for the past fifty years. As a young man of 14, Dr. Haakenson joined the Minnesota National Guard and went on to bravely serve his country in the Navy during World War II. He saw duty which included amphibious attack landings on Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, and Southern France. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander. Following his service, he received his M.A and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Since 1953, Dr. Haakenson has served as a Democratic Committeeperson in Cheltenham and has been the chairman of the Democratic District 154 for thirty-eight years. In 1963, he began his tenure on the Montgomery County Democratic Executive Committee where he was responsible for slating countywide candidates. He was elected Fourth Ward Commissioner in 1973 and was twice re-elected. He has been instrumental in gaining residential permit parking throughout the township and in the creation of the Victorian Homes of Wyncote Historic District. He also has served as a member of various boards and committees which include: Citizens Scholarship Foundation of America, Health Watch Inc., Carson Valley School, and the Committee of Seventy to name just a few. In addition to his political activities, he is a practicing psychologist and he and his wife Peg are known for their great singing voices. It is an honor to recognize Bob on his awards. I congratulate him on fifty years of service to the Cheltenham Community.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time and for her leadership, and the ranking member for his leadership as well. This should be a debate, Mr. Speaker, about protecting women against violence, specifically about protecting pregnant women against violence, and the Lofgren amendment, the Lofgren substitute, does just that. It makes a new and very specific crime against violence to a pregnant woman that injures the fetus or terminates the pregnancy. That is the appropriate way to give such protection to pregnant women. The underlying bill politicizes this issue. I do not think it is intended to politicize the issue, but it does, because it would give to the fetus a legal status that the courts nor Congress have ever given. It would give to the fetus the same legal status and a separate legal status from the woman, and that is the heart of the abortion debate. By writing their bill in such a fashion, they open up the whole floodgate to the very polarizing and politicized abortion debate that has not moved forward nor helped us deal with the issue at hand. We should focus on potential injury to the woman, to violence to the pregnant woman, and pass the Lofgren substitute that is carefully written, that is constitutional, that is effective. It avoids the polarizing debate that prohibits us from solving this problem. The Lofgren substitute gets the job done. We should vote for it to protect women.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chief of Police Stephen W. Ott upon his retirement after forty-eight years of service with the Cheltenham Township Police Department of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. His long and dedicated service to the citizens of Cheltenham Township has served as an example to all. Chief Ott was appointed to the Cheltenham Township Police Department on May 11, 1953 and is the longest serving police officer in the history of the Township. He began as a patrol officer and then was quickly promoted to Sergeant. He was promoted to Lieutenant and later was named Chief of Police on February 29, 1980. His tenure as Chief lasted twenty-one years. He has been awarded the Bravery Commendation, which is the department's second highest official commendation that can be awarded. During his distinguished career, Chief Ott guided the police department as it became the third largest municipal law enforcement agency in Montgomery County. He has been instrumental in adding many special operations units such as the Canine, Highway Safety, Community Relations and Crime Prevention. Although Chief Ott's tenure began before the information technology age, he embraced technology by adding computers to the Investigative Division, police department operations and record keeping and dispatching. The structure of the department was also overhauled due to Chief Ott's foresight. It is a privilege to honor the contributions of Chief Stephen W. Ott to the citizens of Cheltenham Township. Chief Ott has my sincere best wishes for a long and happy retirement.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, we need to put money in people's pockets today. We should not start next year or 5 years from now or 10 years from now. We need to pass a tax rebate that would give people now $300 per person, $600 per family. This would give the American economy an immediate $47 billion stimulus this year. We have spent the last few weeks debating and passing tax bills that give more relief than is prudent and most of which will not affect the average taxpayer for 7 to 10 years. In fact, the bill before us today provides only $50 million in stimulus this year, $50 million to rebate that we want to propose would establish almost $50 billion in economic stimulus. That is almost 1,000 more economic stimulus, 1,000 times the economic power, the spending and saving power this year. We must support a tax package that includes sensible rate reductions for everyone that will not threaten our fiscal footing and allows us to pay down all of our national debt, a tax package that will include targeted marriage penalty relief, a tax package that does not threaten Social Security and Medicare. Pass this motion to recommit. Do it today.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Valley Forge Alumnae Chapter on their decade of public service. In 1913, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded at Howard University by twenty-two African American Women. Since then, over 200,000 women have joined chapters all over the world. The Valley Forge Alumnae Chapter in my district was founded on February 10, 1991 by 27 civic-minded women who saw the need for public service in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. The Valley Forge Alumnae Chapter has been active in a number of areas such as economic and educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health and political/international awareness. Through their efforts, they have successfully produced many community programs and projects. One such program, ``Patriots of African Descent,'' commissions artists in memory of African Americans who fought for our nation's independence. I am pleased and honored to celebrate this outstanding occasion with the alumnae. They have played an important role in our community and for this they should be commended.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle), the chairman of the Committee on the Budget, for his great leadership and for his fundamental fairness throughout. Madam Chairman, I stand to express the great support on the Democratic side for fully funding our environmental commitments in this budget. We know that the Republican resolution underfunds the environment and in fact does not fund the commitment, the bipartisan commitment, the landmark commitment made 1 year ago to double our funding for conservation programs, preservation programs and recreation programs in this country. Many of us in this body supported CARA, legislation that passed overwhelmingly a year ago, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, which would have tripled funding for these important preservation and conservation programs. We could not win support to pass that legislation into law, but in the interior appropriations bill last year, we struck a bipartisan agreement to double the funding, and that is a good, bipartisan compromise. Unfortunately, the Republican resolution before us today underfunds that commitment by 25 percent, and the Democrats feel that is unacceptable. We provide the full commitment, over $10 billion over the next 5 years. The Republican resolution underfunds that commitment by $2.7 billion. The Democrats also provide money for brownfield reclamation, $200 million next year, $2 billion over the next 10 years to reclaim and revitalize brownfields, those abandoned, polluted industrial sites across this Nation that should be reused with reinvestment for commercial, residential and retail possibilities. Every time we reclaim a brownfield, we save a greenfield from development. We need to fund those programs. Madam Chairman, we are very concerned on our side of the aisle with the broken promises from the President regarding the environment. He has blocked the rule that would stop the building of roads and logging in one-third of our national forests. He has revoked the rule to reduce arsenic in our water supply. We permit, under the rule that the President supports for arsenic and water, an amount that is 5 times greater than the standard of the World Health Organization, and that is unacceptable. He has broken his promise to curb carbon dioxide. We want to support the environment. I ask for support for the Democratic alternative.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday March 5, 1 missed two votes numbered 26 and 27. I missed these votes on account of illness. If present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both suspension bills.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me; and I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon), for his extraordinary leadership in this Congress and on this trip due to his vast knowledge of Russia and the former Soviet Union, the extraordinary contacts he has as a result of those 23 visits. I can report to the House that the gentleman is well known and well regarded among Russian officials, members of the Duma, as well as members of the Putin cabinet and members of the Russian military. My colleague has devoted years and years to the study of Russia. And with his relationships and in developing relationships with people in Russia, that reflects so well on this Congress and provided such great guidance to us on this trip. And, of course, he will agree that we were blessed to have as a co-chair on the trip the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who just spoke, who also has a marvelous background with his many visits to Russia. I cannot imagine a delegation that could possibly be better led than this one led by my colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon), and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer). I wanted to thank my colleague for his foresight in establishing with the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) the Congress-Duma committee. I wanted to say just a few words about how interesting I found this relationship during our visit to Moscow; how useful I found it to be to have an established format and framework in which Members of Congress could talk with Members of the Russian state Duma and have a very free flow of information and questions back and forth. In fact, we had that free flow of information. I was able, along with the members of our delegation, to ask some tough questions of our Russian guests regarding, first off, the question of freedom of the press that the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) has just eloquently addressed. We were able to ask the members of the Duma why this crackdown is occurring against the independent media in Russia. We asked about the background for it, the reasons for it, and we got some mixed results. Some of the members on the Russian side denied that there was any serious crackdown or infringement of freedom of the press in Russia. That is not the information that we have been given by human rights advocates, by our embassy personnel and by others. We did not resolve this dispute in our discussions, but we had a good opportunity to talk about it and to raise the issue and to make sure that the members of the Duma understand that the Members of Congress are well aware of this issue. I and other members of the congressional delegation were able to raise questions about legislation the Duma is considering that would restrict religious practices in Russia by regulating organized religion, and legislation that would restrict and limit political parties in Russia. Both of those restrictions are of great concern to those of us in this country who understand how important it is not just to have a free and independent media but also, obviously, to have a free exercise of religion and a political system that allows political parties to organize free of government control. There is no doubt that while Russia is moving toward a more democratic society, dedicated to free enterprise and the development of free markets, there are still some efforts involved to centralize society and government, efforts that we do not fully support here in this country. We were able to raise these issues with our colleagues from the Russian Duma in a way that I think was very positive. In turn, as the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) knows, this format gave members of the Duma the opportunity to raise issues with us. I and members of our delegation asked them about the arms transfers to Iran which concerned us. Their reply was that this was an economic matter, that the budget problems they have in Russia leads them to sell their arms technology and the ability to establish nuclear reactors, for example, to Iran to help with their budget problem. And so they asked us, in turn, to help them with their debt, to help the Paris Club of Nations to understand the need to either forgive or restructure some of the Russian debt that is owed that is a crushing burden on that economy. Much of that debt is Soviet era. Some of that debt is World War II era. The Russians made a good argument for the need for some debt relief. But that, of course, did not change our belief that these arm sales and technology transfers to Iran is not something that we view as simply an economic issue as the Russians do but something that we consider to be a security threat to this country and a political problem for this country that must be addressed and must be changed. And, of course, the issue that we discussed the most with our Russian hosts was the question of arms control and missile defense. While we did not have a complete meeting of the minds on that issue and while in fact our own delegation had several different views on the question of missile defense in particular, we did have a good discussion which I think would be summarized that the Russian officials as well as the Russian military would like to see continued arms negotiations, bilateral negotiations as opposed to unilateral reductions, because the process of going through bilateral negotiations allows confidence and trust to be developed on both sides and allows the negotiations of verification provisions that would make sure that through inspections and other mechanisms, we can be sure that the reductions in arms that are being negotiated are actually implemented, something that is not available when one country unilaterally cuts its weapons. On the question of missile defense, the Russians are very alarmed by the possibility that this country will unilaterally deploy a national missile defense. They seem anxious to work with Western nations on the notion of missile defenses. They recognize that the biggest threat to them as the biggest threat to us is the concern about rogue nations, terrorist use of weapons and of course the possibility of accidental launches. I think while we certainly did not come to a meeting of the minds, there is a greater understanding, I think, as a result of this visit regarding the potential for the United States and Russia and our European allies and NATO to work jointly to develop a joint missile defense system that would protect all of the Western democracies and our emerging democracies, such as Russia, against the very real threats that our President has quite rightly pointed out that are posed by rogue nations and others. I thank the gentleman for this opportunity to speak. I did not mean to talk this long this afternoon, but the gentleman has given me an opportunity to learn a great deal about Russia and the former Soviet Union. It was a fascinating trip. I believe that this kind of travel is very useful for Members of Congress. And when there is an organization in place, such as the Congress-Duma Committee, it gives a wonderful opportunity for a better understanding between parliamentarians of different countries. I thank the gentleman for the work he has done over the last decade or so here in Congress dealing with Russia, I thank him for his leadership on the trip, and I thank him for his time this afternoon.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Det. Sgt. William Holt on his induction into the Police Chief's Hall of Fame. William A. Holt, Jr. was born and raised in the Crestmont section of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania and attended Abington public schools. Upon graduation he entered the the U.S. Army where he served 3 years and did a full tour of Vietnam. In July 1968 he joined the Abington Police Department and was promoted to patrol sergeant in 1987 and to the prestigious ranking of detective sergeant in 1995. Detective Sergeant Holt is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Crestmont. He is the cofounder and president of the Montgomery County Black Law Enforcement Officers Association. He is a past president of the Abington Township Police Association, a State certified instructor at the Police Municipal Training School, Scout Master of Boy Scouts of America Troop #712, and a life member of the VFW Post 3398 Corporal William Sydnor. Detective Sergeant Holt has received numerous awards and citations over the years from local civic organizations. Some of those awards include: Law Enforcement Office of the Year, Induction into the American Police Hall of Fame, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day award for community service, Recognition for Unselfish Devotion, Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement and the NAACP Recognition Award. It is an honor and privilege to acknowledge Det. Sgt. William A. Holt on this momentous occasion. The citizens of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania are fortunate to have benefited from the outstanding service he has provided to our community.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Mr. Harold Praediger, who is retiring as Borough Council President of Rockledge in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Praediger has been a resident of Rockledge for 45 years and has contributed years of extraordinary service to his community. He has been a member of the Borough Council for more than 14 years where he served as Recreation Chairman, Vice President and currently as President. As President, Mr. Praediger has played an integral role in kicking off the new Municipal Building project that is scheduled to break ground next year. A graduate of Abington High School, Mr. Praediger resigned as the Head of Maintenance at Jeanes Hospital in Philadelphia and is now a co- owner of Acker's Hardware. He and his wife, Linda, have three children: Michael, Steven and Leigh Anne. It is a privilege to acknowledge the achievements of Mr. Harold Praediger. The entire Rockledge community has benefited from his leadership and fellowship. I join the Borough Council in congratulating him on his many years of exemplary service.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate General Anthony Zinni on receiving the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen Award. Gen. Zinni is a native of Conshohocken in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and retired in July after 39 years of service in the Marine Corps. The General joined the Marine Corps in 1961 after graduating from Villanova University with a degree in economics. In addition to earning a bachelor's degree, Gen. Zinni holds a masters in international relations and management and supervision. Gen. Zinni has held numerous command and staff assignments that include platoon, company, battalion and expeditionary force units. He has also been a tactics and operations instructor at several Marine Corps schools and colleges and was selected as a fellow on the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group. General Zinni's joint assignments include command of a joint task force and a unified command. He has also had several joint and combined staff billets at task force and unified command levels. During his distinguished career as a Marine, General Zinni served in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Western Pacific, European and Korean headquarters. He supervised a number of security operations including Operation Provide Hope in the Soviet Union, Operations Restore Hope, Continue Hope and United Shield in Somalia as well as more than a dozen anti-terrorist operations in the Central Command. He also commanded major noncombatant evacuations in Liberia, Zaire and Sierra Leone and participated in presidential diplomatic missions in Somalia, Pakistan and Ethiopia. It is an honor and privilege to recognize General Anthony Zinni for the extraordinary service and leadership he has provided to the citizens of the United States of America. I applaud the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce in choosing such a deserving man for Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Lieutenant Bruce S. Haslam, who is retiring after 26 years from the Abington Township Police Department in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Lt. Haslam began his career in law enforcement as a Patrol Officer and moved up the ranks to Detective Lieutenant. He has been involved in many programs throughout his tenure and the community has benefited greatly from his service. Lt. Haslam developed and implemented one of the first Officer Street Survival programs in the region. He has been involved in the Abington Police D.A.R.E. program from its inception. Today, the D.A.R.E. program is taught in all Abington schools. Helping victims of domestic violence has been a priority for Lt. Haslam. He coordinated domestic violence issues for the department by working with state and county agencies to combat this abuse. Lt. Haslam served the larger community as well. He was in active duty in the United States Army and is now a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. He participated in special assignments in Haiti in 1994 and returned to service in Bosnia from 1998-1999. It is an honor and privilege to recognize Lt. Bruce Haslam as he retires from the Abington Township Police Department. I congratulate him on 26 years of extraordinary service to the people of Abington and the United States of America.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate Lieutenant Peter C. Hasson upon his retirement from the Abington Township Police Department in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is an honor to recognize Lt. Hasson and his outstanding service to the entire Abington community. Lt. Hasson served the Abington Township Police Department for 28 years and is currently Chief of Police of Lower Moreland Township. He began his career as a Patrol Officer and was promoted to Patrol Sergeant and then Patrol Lieutenant. For 12 years, Lt. Hasson served as Patrol Commander, which oversees the single largest division of the police department. He served as Commander of the Abington Police Tactical Team and as Commander of the Abington Police K9 Unit. Lt. Hasson was also instrumental in starting the Abington Police Community Policing Division. In addition to serving the people of Abington, Peter Hasson served his country on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, serving in Vietnam and receiving the Purple Heart. It is a privilege to honor the contributions of Lt. Peter Hasson to the Abington Township Police in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. His dedication and service is appreciated by all those whose lives he has touched.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate Mr. James Heiden upon his retirement from Easter Seals. It is an honor to recognize Mr. Heiden and the outstanding service he has given to the entire community of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Heiden has served Easter Seals for 26 years and is currently Executive Director of the local affiliate. Over the past 20 years as director of the local Easter Seals, he has worked tirelessly to implement new programs for this community and to expand Easter Seals services to thousands of families. Under the direction of Mr. Heiden, the local affiliate serving Montgomery, Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester Counties has become a national leader in early intervention services for children up to five years of age and their families. The Easter Seals affiliate has also been successful in expanding home- and community-based services. They have implemented many cutting-edge programs including specialized assistive technology services for children and adults with disabilities, programs for siblings and families of children with disabilities, and a variety of adaptive recreation programs. Easter Seals has received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This is a prestigious recognition that has been achieved by only seven percent of early childhood programs nationwide. It is a privilege to honor the contributions of Mr. James Heiden to the Easter Seals foundation of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. His hard work and dedication is appreciated by all whose lives he has touched.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Franklin A. Bivighouse, who is retiring after 25 years from the Telford Borough Police Department in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Franklin Bivighouse began his law enforcement career in 1971 with the Franconia Township Police Department and continued his service with Lower Salford Township Police Department until 1975. He was hired by the Telford Borough Police Department on July 21, 1975 and served Telford into the 21st Century. During his tenure with the Telford Borough Police Department, Sergeant Bivighouse received many accolades for his outstanding service. On December 24, 1976, he rescued a man who was trapped in a burning automobile and was honored by the Chapel of Four Chaplains as well as local civic groups. He also received the Silver Star for Bravery from the American Federation of Police. Sergeant Bivighouse has been an active within the Montgomery County community as a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Montgomery County Lodge #14 and the Pennsylvania DUI Association. He also served as the Telford Borough Police Department Director. It is an honor and privilege to recognize Franklin Bivighouse as he retires from the Telford Borough Police Department, and I congratulate him on 25 years of extraordinary service to the people of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the First Baptist Church of Huntingdon Valley in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The First Baptist Church of Huntingdon Valley was established in 1900. The first two decades of the century were years of intense recruitment as new Christians were being sought, baptized, and organized into a church body. The founder and first pastor, the Reverend Price David Chandler, united two small groups, a home-based weekly prayer meeting and a home-based Sunday School class, to form the nucleus of the church. Through World War I, the church remained intact and served as a place of worship for the community suffering from national unrest and disrupted family lives. During this time, the building experienced a series of remodelings and renovations including the installation of electric lighting, stained glass windows, a metal ceiling, pews to replace chairs, and central heating. The 1930s brought the Great Depression and First Baptist established a system of dues whereby members were considered in good standing if they paid 25 cents each month on Communion Sunday. In 1937 after 37 years of faithful service, Reverend Chandler passed away. The spirit of First Baptist Church was tested in the 1940s as a result of World War II. Attendance was unstable because young men were drafted into the military and other members, both men and women, worked in defense plants with irregular and demanding hours. Despite the hard times, First Baptist remained in business. The 1960s were a time of renewal for the church. A Vacation Bible School was initiated and the First Baptist Church installed its fourth pastor, the Reverend Howard Cartwright, Jr., whose intense interest was missionary work. The congregation became acquainted with missionaries from far and near, serving in both foreign and domestic areas. In 1997, the First Baptist Church of Huntingdon Valley installed its current pastor, the Reverend Bruce Wayne Petty, Sr., whose very vigorous, enthusiastic teaching and preaching ministry increase spiritual insights necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. As one of the oldest churches in Montgomery County, First Baptist demonstrates how commitment and dedication can lead to a prosperous and successful church. The history that surrounds the First Baptist Church of Huntingdon Valley is unparalleled and it is a privilege to recognize this extraordinary parish on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Stewart Middle School of Norristown, Pennsylvania on their 75th Anniversary. On September 8, 1925, Stewart Junior High opened its doors to 916 pupils and has been a model of academic excellence for the past 75 years. The current Stewart Middle School was the first junior high school in the Norristown School District and currently enrolls more than 650 students from diverse backgrounds. In 1926, the first Student Council was established and continues to provide real leadership and community involvement for the students. In 1981, Stewart was selected as one of only two schools statewide to participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education's School Climate Improvement Project and has been recognized by the PDE and the Senate of Pennsylvania for its efforts to improve mathematics and reading scores. As an advocate of combining academic and special area instruction, Stewart Middle School applies a ``school within a school'' concept to learning. This allows students to learn in smaller classes with an emphasis on group learning. Stewart should serve as a model for schools throughout the country. I am pleased to celebrate this momentous occasion with the Stewart Middle School community. They have much to be proud of during their first 75 years and I expect even more accomplishments to come.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Rotary Club of Ardmore in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on their 75th Anniversary this year. The Rotary Club of Ardmore was founded October 21, 1925 by J. Elmer Watts and Albert L. Reinhold and is currently the third largest Rotary Club in District 7450 of Southeastern Pennsylvania. The 111 members of the Ardmore Rotary contribute about $25,000 annually to community organizations and donate thousands of hours of time to public service initiatives. Community service is an integral part of the Rotary's mission. The club was instrumental in the reopening of the Main Line YMCA in the 1930s. Club members travel weekly to the George Gordon Meade Elementary School to tutor students and help promote literacy. The Rotary conducts an annual Holiday Basketball Tournament fundraiser at Lower Merion High School and an annual pancake breakfast to benefit the Merion Fire Company. During the Holidays, the Ardmore Rotary raises thousands of dollars for local charities. The Ardmore Rotary extends its charitable aims overseas as well. Frequently, Rotarians travel to countries like India and Mexico to care for sick children and provide crucial medicinal vaccines to those in need. The residents of Montgomery County are fortunate to benefit from the services provided by the Rotary Club of Ardmore. It is an honor to recognize such an extraordinary group of individuals on their 75th Anniversary.

Mr. HOEFFEL

Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in welcoming dignitaries from their sister city of Cheltenham, England. The dignitaries have come to Cheltenham to celebrate 100 years as an Official First Class Township. The visit is another exchange in the long-standing relationship between the two communities, which actually began with the founding of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. Two of our founding fathers brought the name with them from their former home near Cheltenham, England, when they settled in America in the 1600s. The visiting dignitaries include Mayor Daphne Pennell and her daughter, Lorraine, Councillors Brian and Alexis Cassin, Councillor William Todman, and Twinning Officer Annette Wight. For many years, representatives from both communities have visited their counterparts on official or pleasure trips, forging a bond of friendship and exchanging insights on municipal operations. This year's visit coincides with Cheltenham Township's Community Harvest Festival which attracts families from around the region with activities like haunted hayrides, a craft sale, live music, kids' games and a grand fireworks finale. The dignitaries will also have the opportunity to meet with township and school board officials, tour historic Philadelphia and be honored at a dinner with Centennial Celebration Committee members and other local, county and state officials. I am pleased to recognize our visitors from Cheltenham, England to Montgomery County and it is my hope that their visit is an educational and rewarding experience in the United States.