Gregg Harper

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to one of the truly outstanding individuals who works at the U.S. Capitol, Mr. Theodore R. Bechltol, Jr. Better known to many of us as the Superintendent of the U.S. Capitol Grounds, Ted is responsible for preserving and maintaining more than 290 acres of the historic landscape and infrastructure across the U.S. Capitol campus. Prior to being promoted to his current position in 2007, Ted served as the Deputy Superintendent for U.S. Capitol Grounds. As part of Ted's responsibilities, he ensures the routine and periodic landscape maintenance, comprehensive tree care, and upkeep of the supporting infrastructure, vehicles, and equipment are completed. Additionally, snow removal, trash collection, and support for major events, such as the annual December Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, are key responsibilities for supporting our U.S. Capitol campus. In total, Ted has taken part in 13 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree events. Throughout Ted's years at the U.S. Capitol, he worked hard to bring recognition to the historical significance of the grounds and helped to produce cultural landscape reports. His depth of knowledge about Frederick Law Olmsted, the American landscape architect who designed the U.S. Capitol Grounds, has changed how each section of the grounds are cared for, with a focus on historical horticulture. Ted has also consulted on historical horticulture work at many institutions throughout the east coast. Under his leadership, the U.S. Capitol Grounds have received designation as an accredited arboretum, a notable industry standard. On Friday, January 5, 2018, Ted Bechltol will retire from his position as Superintendent of the U.S. Capitol Grounds for the Architect of the Capitol. In retirement, he will be spending more time with his granddaughter, working on home improvement projects, and enjoy hiking and beach trips. He will continue to explore American history trails--he and his wife recently hiked Gettysburg and Civil War trails. Although we are sad to see someone with Ted's accomplishments leave the service of the institution, I offer him my sincere best wishes in his retirement.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance). He is a distinguished member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 630) requiring each Member, officer, and employee of the House of Representatives to complete a program of training in workplace rights and responsibilities each session of each Congress, and for other purposes.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 630.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this House resolution. The resolution is one part of the Committee on House Administration's comprehensive review of the laws, procedures, and resources concerning workplace harassment in the House. A harassment-free policy and workplace is vital in creating that culture that will require everyone on Capitol Hill to work together effectively. First and foremost, Mr. Speaker, there is no place for sexual harassment in our society, and especially in Congress--period. I believe as Members of Congress, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard, a standard that demonstrates we are worthy of the trust placed in us by our constituents and the American public. There have been a number of accounts by current and former colleagues and staff that suggest not every office is achieving this goal. That is simply unacceptable. This resolution will mandate that each Member, officer, employee, intern, and fellow of the House of Representatives is fully aware of the laws that apply to them and their right to a harassment-free workplace under the Congressional Accountability Act. The Committee on House Administration recently held a hearing as its first step in its review. We heard from Members, House employment counsel, and the Office of Compliance. There was a broad consensus that mandatory training is a necessary step for the House to prevent and eliminate harassment in the workplace. It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that Republicans and Democrats have joined together to take this step, and I want to specifically thank Representative Comstock and Representative Speier for their leadership on this issue. The resolution requires training and education to ensure that each Member, officer, employee, intern--paid or unpaid--and fellow knows their obligations and rights. Further, the resolution requires that each congressional office post in a prominent place a notice describing the rights and protections provided to House employees under the Congressional Accountability Act. Both of these measures are regular order in the private workplace, and the House should do nothing less. The American people have entrusted each of their Representatives with an enormous responsibility. Each Member is sent here to help make our country better. The first place we should start is in our own Chamber. Training on workplace rights and responsibilities will ensure that those who are victims of harassment can obtain justice and work in that harassment-free environment. In Ronald Reagan's farewell address, he spoke of his vision of America as the shining city on the Hill, one built on rocks stronger than oceans, with everyone living in harmony and peace. We are not perfect and we never will be, but I believe in that vision. This resolution can be one important step to protect the members of our Capitol Hill community and to demand that we have respect for each and every person here in this workplace. The resolution sets an important requirement that each Member, officer, and employee, including interns and fellows, must undergo this mandatory training or education every year. For the current Congress, everyone must complete this training within 180 days of the start of the second session of January 3. Following that, individuals will have to complete the training within 90 days of the start of each session. It is often said that the urgent gets in the way of the important on Capitol Hill. Not today. This is an important issue, and today we will vote to ensure that the entire House community receives the needed training on how to ensure a harassment-free workplace. This harassment-free environment should be afforded to every single member of our community from that unpaid intern to the Speaker of the House. Awareness, education, and training is a first step in the prevention and elimination of sexual harassment, which has no place on Capitol Hill. I look forward to working with my colleagues to achieve this goal. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis), who is the vice chairman of the Committee on House Administration.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks), who is the distinguished chair of the Committee on Ethics.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Poliquin), a distinguished member of the Committee on Financial Services.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Comstock), who is also a distinguished member of the Committee on House Administration.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time I have left?

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello), a distinguished member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Messer), the chair of the House Republican Policy Committee and a distinguished member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed), a distinguished member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this House, this special place, should not be tarnished any longer by the inexcusable behavior of some of our Members. The standard needs to be high. Mr. Speaker, I give a special thank-you to Speaker Paul Ryan and his commitment that he has that we get this right. I thank Ranking Member Brady for the way that we have been able to work together on this. Certainly, Representatives Speier and Comstock have been invaluable in this process as we go forward. We have heard from so many Members today on the importance of this. This is a resolution that is necessary and it is a product of a strong bipartisan incorporation. This is something that is just the beginning, as has been said today. We had a hearing on November 14, and we will have another hearing on the Congressional Accountability Act on December 7. But to have this resolution to make sure that our Members and staff are educated to know their rights and responsibilities is a critical first step. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the career of U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant Joel Hobbs, who is retiring in November after twenty-seven years with the force. Since 2014, Sergeant Hobbs has served in the Criminal Investigations Section. He was responsible for supervising investigations for criminal offenses occurring on Capitol Grounds, such as assaults, stolen property, thefts, and fraud, among other offenses. Prior to his promotion to Sergeant, Sergeant Hobbs served over 20 years on the Patrol Division. The Patrol Division is responsible for providing police services on a 24-hour basis, and security services designed to protect Congress, its employees, visitors, and property under the jurisdiction of Congress. As a Patrol Division Officer, Hobbs became recognized as a subject matter expert in areas involving arrest procedures, crime scene search, report writing, among other areas. Sergeant Hobbs has accumulated numerous awards and recognitions from USCP and the Congressional Community throughout his career. As an officer and supervisor, Sergeant Hobbs has embraced every assignment given to him, and has had a positive impact everywhere he has been. The U.S. Capitol Police play an extraordinarily important and often- overlooked role in the functioning of our nation's democracy. Without the safe and secure space they provide, lawmakers would be unable to conduct the American people's work and carry out our functions under the Constitution. All of us who serve in Congress hold the U.S. Capitol Police and its personnel in high esteem, and we are grateful for those who put on its uniform every day. I hope my colleagues will join me in thanking Sergeant Joel Hobbs for his almost three decades of service to the U.S. Capitol Police, to the Congress of the United States, and to our nation. I wish him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 26) authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for the unveiling of the American Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Chair of Honor, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I am so honored to rise today to recognize and commend the Deputy Librarian of Congress, Robert Newlen, who is leaving the Library of Congress after more than 43 years of distinguished service to accept a position with a private foundation. Before being named Deputy Librarian last year, Mr. Newlen served as chief of staff, assistant law librarian in the Law Library, and held several leadership positions within the Congressional Research Service. Mr. Newlen is literally an institution within an institution. He has provided exceptional leadership and counsel across the Library of Congress since the mid-1970's and is admired and respected widely by his many colleagues and friends there. His knowledge, energy, and wisdom have enabled him to be an enthusiastic champion for the Library, both across the nation and the world. It has been my honor to serve as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress in the current Congress and in previous terms, and in those capacities I have always been impressed with Mr. Newlen's dedication to the world's premier library and his personal warmth and self-effacing manner. Robert Newlen is a classic example of what a public servant should be. I thank him for his service to the Library of Congress, to the United States Congress, and to the American people. He will be missed on Capitol Hill. I wish him well.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, today, Ranking Member Robert Brady and I wish to recognize the exceptional employees of the Officers (Clerk of the House, Sergeant at Arms, and Chief Administrative Officer) and the Inspector General of the U.S. House of Representatives, and congratulate those who have reached the milestone of 25 years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the recipients of the House Employee Excellence Award and the Officers' and Inspector General's Team Player Award. The House's most important asset is its remarkable and steadfast employees, whose work is essential to keeping the operations and services of the House running efficiently and effectively. The employees we acknowledge today are commended for their hard work, dedication, professionalism, and teamwork; support of House Members, their staffs, and their constituents, and for their contributions day- in and day-out to the overall operations of the House. These employees, whose work is often performed behind the scenes, possess a wide range of responsibilities and skills that support the legislative process, ensure the security of this great institution, maintain our technology and service infrastructure, and contribute to more efficient and productive House support operations. These dedicated employees have accomplished many great things in a diverse range of activities, and the House of Representatives, its Members, staff, and the American public are better served because of them. We recognize and honor the individuals named below for 25 years of loyal service to the House. Collectively, the employees listed below have provided 350 years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives. Lisa Alvey, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Kevin Brennan, Office of the Sergeant at Arms; William Crudup III, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Sharon Ellis-Gregg, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; John Hodges, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Derek Johann, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; William Michalek, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Louis Miller Jr., Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Michael Modica, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Christopher Naughton, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Todd Redlin, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Ronald Simmons, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Tammy Taft, Office of the Clerk;

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3388, the SELF DRIVE Act. The bipartisan bill we are considering today is vital not only to all Americans, but especially individuals with disabilities. My wife, Sidney, and I have an adult son, Livingston, who has special needs. He wants to go everywhere. He has a job Monday through Friday, but he can't drive, so he is dependent on his family and friends to get him around. In the disability community, the lack of transportation is the number one obstacle to employment and security in society. I previously introduced the Disability Mobility Advisory Council Act, which creates a forum for individuals with disabilities to work with manufacturers, suppliers, and regulators to identify impediments and ways in which the needs of this community can best be met by self- driving car technology. I appreciate the chairman including the general intent of my bill in the SELF DRIVE Act. Self-driving vehicles can open the door for the disability community to access new job markets and opportunities and to have an even more active role in our society. I urge support of this bill.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 3298) to authorize the Capitol Police Board to make payments from the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund to employees of the United States Capitol Police who have sustained serious line-of-duty injuries, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3298, which allows United States Capitol Police officers who have sustained serious injuries in the line of duty to receive payments from the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund. The bill is just one of the ways that we, as an institution, can recognize the swift and heroic actions taken by the Capitol Police officers who put their lives on the line each and every day to protect the United States Capitol not just for the Members of Congress, but for all of the staff and all of the many visitors from across our country and around the world. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were injured during the June 14 shooting, including Officers David Bailey and Crystal Griner, and we wish them a speedy recovery. General Leave