Richard Hanna

Mr. HANNA

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

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

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, as Taiwan prepares for its Presidential Inauguration Day on May 20, I'd like to congratulate President Ma and our friends in Taiwan for a smooth completion of their presidential election on January 14. Mr. Ma Ying-jeou won a second term as President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). President George W. Bush once famously described Taiwan as ``a beacon of democracy to Asia and the world.'' His words were recognition of Taiwan's achievements in democratic development. We trust Mr. Ma and his people will continue to deepen and improve Taiwan's democracy and instill an even stronger commitment to democratic values among Taiwan's people. The United States and Taiwan have enjoyed a strong security and economic partnership for over half a century. Our common interest in peace and security has guided U.S.-Taiwan relations and our commitment to Taiwan's security, as stated in the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, has enabled Taiwan to build a strong democratic government and today serves as a beacon for others in the region and beyond. Similarly, Taiwan's economic partnership with us has benefited both sides, resulting in Taiwan being our tenth largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade amounting to over $68 billion. During Mr. Ma's second term, I hope our relationship with Taiwan will continue to flourish, especially in areas like military cooperation, Taiwan's inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program, as well as our trade relationship. Congratulations to Mr. Ma and the people of Taiwan.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Hamilton College on the occasion of its bicentennial. Hamilton is one of this Nation's finest liberal arts colleges. It is known for its rigorous academic program to prepare students for lives of meaning and purpose. The College is renowned for teaching students to express their ideas with clarity and precision, to think creatively and analytically, and to act ethically and with conviction. Hamilton College was originally founded in 1793 as the Hamilton- Oneida Academy by the Reverend Samuel Kirkland, missionary to the Oneida Indians. Rev. Kirkland's vision was to educate the children of the Oneidas alongside the children of the white settlers streaming into Central New York following the American Revolution. He presented his plan of education in 1793 to President George Washington who ``expressed approbation'' and to Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton who lent his name to the institution and consented to become a trustee. Oneida Chief Skenandoa and Baron von Steuben, inspector general of the Continental Army and ``drillmaster'' of Washington's troops during the War for Independence, were present when the cornerstone for the new Academy was laid on July 1, 1794. The Hamilton-Oneida Academy lasted 19 years before it was rechartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York as Hamilton College on May 26, 1812. The institution is believed to be the 31st oldest college in the United States. Over the years, Hamilton has never wavered from its mission to teach the liberal arts and sciences. In 1968, all-male Hamilton College established the all-female Kirkland College, which lasted 10 years until the two colleges combined in 1978. Today, Hamilton enrolls 1,812 students from 49 States and 37 countries. Its student-to-faculty ratio of 9-to-1 ensures significant individual attention for its students, many of whom compete successfully for Fulbright Awards, Goldwater Scholarships and other prestigious national fellowships and scholarships funded by this body. Included among its graduates are public servants at every level, including most notably former Vice President of the United States James ``Schoolcraft'' Sherman; former Secretary of State, Secretary of War, U.S. Senator and recipient of the 1912 Nobel Peace Prize Elihu Root; current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; and former U.S. Ambassadors Arnold Raphel, William Luers, Sol Linowitz, Michael Klosson and Edward Walker. The College also counts among its alumni prominent business leaders, scientists, artists, educators, physicians, ministers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, writers, and journalists. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in recognizing and congratulating the students, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees of Hamilton College on the occasion of their institution's two hundredth anniversary on May 26, 2012.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Madam Speaker, I introduced H.R. 3534 with my colleague, Mr. Mulvaney from South Carolina, to address an issue in the construction industry I know all too well: surety bonding. Bonding is not something most people think about, but it was a daily reality in my business. The concept is simple. Contractors on a Federal construction project are required to post assets prior to entering a contract to prove that they are capable of paying their subcontractors and downstream paying their suppliers for work. It indicates that a contractor is capable of successfully completing a project and is supposed to protect taxpayers and small businesses downstream in the event of failure or nonpayment. The business of bonding is predicted on a zero failure rate. The assets pledged to back a project must be real, easily convertible to cash, and held by the contracting officer for the duration of the project--and most are. Unfortunately, a loophole in these laws has been exploited. It has resulted in a number of cases where assets pledged to back a bond issued by an individual surety have been insufficient or illusory. This has left small businesses and taxpayers without sufficient payment remedies, and in the case of one Colorado woman, nearly put her out of business. A single stock or private residence, which is subject to huge changes in value or may have an existing first mortgage, are quite simply not acceptable assets to back multimillion-dollar projects. Madam Speaker, the Security in Bonding Act will remedy this problem by requiring individual sureties to pledge solely those assets described in contracting laws as ``eligible obligations.'' Further, it would require them to be placed in custody of the Federal Government just as they would using a corporate surety or posting an asset in lieu of corporate surety. This loophole is putting small businesses and workers and the taxpayer at risk. It is time to close this loophole and restore the integrity of the bonding process. H.R. 3534 would ensure that if an individual surety bond is furnished for a Federal construction project, that small businesses and subcontractors providing goods and services on that contract will not need to worry about the integrity of their payment revenue. This bill provides the surety that small businesses need and subcontractors and citizens deserve from the Federal Government. Without it, good jobs and our limited taxpayer dollars will continue to be at risk. In closing, I would like to extend a personal thanks to Chairman Lamar Smith for his leadership in advancing this legislation and for allowing me to join him during the committee's proceedings. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. I thank the gentleman from Florida. I rise in opposition to the motion to instruct. The House has developed some of the strongest policy reforms in decades. I, for one, am not ready to give them up. I thank Chairman Mica in particular for his leadership to streamline project delivery. It shouldn't take 15 years to finish a project. Our bill streamlines the permitting process so that they can be done concurrently, instead of consecutively. This is good policy and something worth fighting for. We can cut this time in half--and we should. I also worked on two other provisions that simply aren't addressed in the Senate bill: One addressed the use of engineering services. Specifically, it calls for States to utilize private sector engineering firms to the maximum extent possibility. State DOTs should streamline their operations and reduce overhead so more money is going to put shovels in the ground, not to bureaucracy. The second provision would create regional planning organizations to give small communities a seat at the table, which is something they don't have now. The rural areas I represent face stiff competition for limited Federal dollars, and they deserve their fair share. But this reform, too, is absent from the Senate bill. Let's work with the Senate to get these and other good ideas from both sides included in a final bill. Madam Speaker, we should embrace this process to make a positive impact on the Senate bill. I urge my colleagues to oppose the motion to instruct.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. They are the catalyst for job growth and job creation all across our Nation. They certainly are in upstate New York where I started my own small business some 30 years ago, which I ran successfully for that same period of time, employing hundreds of people from my community, friends and neighbors to this day. Unemployment is still too high. It's over 8 percent in my home of New York. Our constituents want to go back to work. They just need the opportunity. That's what I heard from small business owners when I hosted a meeting of the Central New York Business Network earlier this month. Government can help by advancing policies that enable our 27 million small businesses to do what they do best--compete and create jobs. There is no silver bullet, but there are solutions that we can work together on starting today. Here are a few: Tax relief. Small businesses in America pay some of the highest taxes in the world, and the associated regulations are also an enormous barrier to growth. The average tax compliance cost for employees for small businesses is three times what it is for large businesses. We need to make taxes lower, fairer, more predictable and generally more understandable. We will be voting on a bill of this nature sometime this week. Freedom from government competition. Too many of our small businesses find themselves pitted against their own government when it comes to doing commercial work like landscaping, construction, and engineering. We should require Federal agencies to use the private sector when providing goods and services that are available in the open marketplace. This gives small businesses in our community a chance to work efficiently and create jobs, and this has been shown to save taxpayers money. Finally, and most importantly, a jobs-based education policy. A major root cause of our long-term unemployment is the changing nature of the global marketplace. We are competing against developing countries like never before. Competition isn't bad, but we need to be better prepared. In order to maintain a high standard of living, we need cultivate the value-added, knowledge-based innovative sector of our economy. This can only be achieved through education and a new focus on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, also known as STEM. STEM jobs, on the average, pay 27 percent more than non-STEM jobs. The only effective long-term way to rebuild the middle class is through education. It's been this way since the dawn of time with better- paying, tax-generating jobs that provide at least those basics of the American Dream: a home, a college education for your children, and a dignified retirement. Mr. Speaker, there are few tasks more important than helping small businesses put our neighbors and friends back to work in America. Let's join to work on pro-growth policies that will enable them to do just that.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Thank you for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I am speaking on the previous offering by Mr. Mulvaney. I'd like to rise and speak in opposition to the administration's proposed 2013 budget plan. I'd like to speak about one particular issue of concern. Despite the administration's emphasizing of the importance of cybersecurity and the need to retain our technological edge, this budget presents a stark contradiction to these priorities. Key program areas that are essential to maintaining our Nation's 21st century defense initiatives have been unreasonably slashed in this proposal. For example, the Air Force's science and technology cyber funding has been cut 17 percent. Over $1 billion has been cut from the Air Force's total funding level for research, development, testing, and evaluation programs. I can personally attest to the innovative accomplishments that are produced by the Air Force Research Labs, such as Rome Lab in Rome, New York. For instance, the Air Force Research Labs were the first to institute computer network attack and exploitation as a formal science and technology discipline. Secretary Panetta has warned that a cyberattack could very well be the next Pearl Harbor that our Nation confronts. Both our defense enterprises and our commercial economy have become dependent on information technology, which makes it critical that we protect our networks. We can't say one thing and do another when it comes to prioritizing our 21st century cyberdefenses. I urge my colleagues to support our national security by voting against this budget plan.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. Sylvester Puccio, a very special veteran and a survivor of Pearl Harbor. Mr. Puccio will soon be awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, at the direction of the Secretary of the Navy. Mr. Puccio served aboard the USS West Virginia during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 as a Shipfitter Third Class. As the Japanese aerial attack engulfed the West Virginia, the call to General Quarters was sent, and Mr. Puccio went to his battle station at the same time multiple Japanese torpedoes struck the ship. Mr. Puccio and his fellow sailors, realizing that counter flooding was critical to prevent the West Virginia from rolling due to the torpedo damage, rushed to the locker containing the handles to operate the counter flood valves. The locker was padlocked and the key was on another part of the ship. Mr. Puccio, acting quickly, took a large spool and repeatedly struck at the padlock until it broke free, enabling him and the other sailors to access the handles to begin counter flooding. At this time, the West Virginia had listed 28 degrees, and the quick actions of Mr. Puccio and other sailors prevented the ship from further listing and together, they righted her. In the coming days after the day ``that would live in infamy,'' Mr. Puccio returned to the West Virginia on fire fighting and salvage detail. He was eventually assigned to the submarine section of Pearl Harbor and from there continued his Navy service in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. Mr. Puccio returned to Rome, and dedicated his life to his family, his community, and his fellow veterans as an active member of the Central New York Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Mr. Puccio never sought recognition for himself, only for his fellow veterans and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. I urge my colleagues to join me today in honoring Mr. Sylvester ``Syl'' Puccio, United States Navy, for his service and sacrifice during World War II on behalf of the United States of America.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor a very special veteran for his service to our nation during World War II. Mr. John S. Czyscon was a member of the United States Army and served in the Pacific Theater. Mr. Czyscon was in harm's way numerous times and involved in serious combat. His heroism and bravery were recognized through his awards: the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars and arrowhead attachments. Mr. Czyscon served as a Technician Fifth Grade, with the Second Battalion 188th Glider Infantry during his service to the Army. He joined the Army in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1946 after providing honest and faithful service to this country. Mr. Czyscon will turn 92 this spring and he lives in New York Mills, New York. It is a privilege and an honor to have veterans like Mr. Czyscon residing in the 24th Congressional District. His service to our country should always be a great source of pride. To serve one's nation is among the most noble and selfless acts available to man, particularly during times of war. Thank you, Mr. Czyscon. I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring Technician Fifth Grade John S. Czyscon, United States Army, for his service and sacrifice during World War II on behalf of the United States of America.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, December 12, 2011, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall 913, ``yes'' on rollcall 914, ``no'' on rollcall 915, and ``no'' on rollcall 916.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 527, the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act. The small businesses I meet on a regular basis tell me that regulation has become an overwhelming problem. Small business owners are the backbone of the American economy. I know this because I'm a small business owner. Like so many, my life was built by a belief in hard work, free enterprise, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a love to get out of bed in the morning and just do what I love to do, as you know yourself, Mr. Chairman. The preponderance of regulations is stifling that spirit. This country can't do well unless small businesses do well. They provide the jobs, the growth, and the opportunity for the rest of society. Small businesses are drowning in regulation. Federal agencies should periodically review their rules to ensure that regulations are not unduly burdensome. As with the 1099 reporting provision and the 3 percent withholding rule, the law of unintended consequences can be crippling. Fortunately, this House has repealed both. We all agree that regulations are absolutely necessary to protect the public good, but we need to ensure that regulations reflect a proper balance that does not unreasonably hinder entrepreneurship, job creation, and innovation.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize America Recycles Day and those committed to the preservation of our environment. In 1997, America Recycles Day was created to inform, educate and bring awareness to the benefits of recycling. In particular, the automotive recycling industry has taken a strong stance against pollution, advocating instead for the preservation of our natural resources. Small business owners who comprise the Automotive Recyclers Association represent automotive recycling facilities throughout the country. Just in the past year alone, they have helped to recycle over 11 million retired vehicles--to keep waste out of our landfills. Local, state and national guidelines are strictly followed and enforced to ensure all facilities meet environmental, safety, licensing and regulatory standards. What many don't realize is the reusability of vehicle components. Nearly everything from the upholstery to the engines, transmissions, aluminum and steel can be recycled. Now the most recycled product in the world, automobile parts can produce almost 13 million new vehicles, along with numerous other consumer products, while saving 11 million gallons of oil in the manufacturing of new components. Exemplary citizens such as those of the automotive recycling industry and other committed individuals around the nation should be appreciated and acknowledged. We need to preserve our resources and environment so they may be enjoyed by future generations. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in honoring those making a true difference in keeping our nation clean and celebrating America Recycles Day.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. I thank the gentleman from Utah for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud support of H.R. 2061, the Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2011. First, I would like to thank a few of my colleagues for helping to bring this bill to the floor. My friend and colleague, a New Yorker, Maurice Hinchey, one of the original cosponsors of this bill; my neighbor and friend in the Cannon Office Building and someone who has been supportive of this effort from the very beginning, Donna Edwards, Representative from Maryland; Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings for their support of this bill; and the entire staff of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for its work on this bill. In addition, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the people who prompted the introduction of this bill: Grant Reeher and Terry Newell. These gentlemen penned a joint opinion editorial in The Syracuse Post- Standard suggesting that legislation be introduced to honor civil servants who are killed in the line of duty. Mr. Speaker, this bill is quite simple. If a civilian Federal employee is killed on the job as a result of a criminal contact, terrorism, natural disaster, or an extraordinary event as determined by the President of the United States, their next of kin would be authorized to receive a United States flag. The Congressional Budget Office reports that this bill would have ``no significant effect on the Federal budget.'' Mr. Speaker, since 1992, almost 3,000 civilian Federal workers have been killed while on duty, both in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Haiti, but also in places like Oklahoma City and Austin, Texas. This legislation is widely supported by a variety of groups and individuals, including civil service organizations, former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, and the American Legion. I would like to note for the record that the American Legion raised some concerns about the language of this bill. I am personally very grateful and much appreciate their input. My office, as well as the committee staff, have worked with the Legion not only to listen to its concerns, but to act on them, which we have in this bill. In the end, we made a better bill, mindful of the real differences between military and civilian service, but also acceptable to all parties. Legislative language aside, the spirit of this bill and the original intent of this bill is simple. If a Federal civil employee is killed in the line of duty, whether at home or abroad, their life will be honored by this Nation. Their family will be presented a flag on behalf of the United States of America. More than 2 million Federal civilian employees work within our country and in countless overseas posts, many of them in dangerous jobs at Customs and Border Protection or the FBI, just to name a couple of examples. This is a modest but significant benefit in honor of these dedicated individuals who sacrifice on our behalf. Until the September 11 attacks, the largest terrorism attack on American soil took place in 1995--the Oklahoma City bombing. Employees showed up at the Federal building that day, like so many before, to go to work, to fulfill their oath of office and meet their obligations. Ours is a grateful Nation, one that values the sacrifices made in honor of this country. Mr. Speaker, a life can never be repaid, but it can be honored. I urge all my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 2061.

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud support of H.R. 2061, the Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2011. First, I need to thank several of my colleagues for their help in bringing this bill to the floor: My friend and colleague to the south--and--the original co-sponsor of this bill: Maurice Hinchey. My neighbor in the Cannon House Office Building and someone who's been supportive of this effort from the beginning: Donna Edwards, representative from Maryland. Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings for their support of this bill. The entire staff of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for its work on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I need to thank the people who prompted the introduction of this bill: Grant Reecher and Terry Newell. These gentlemen penned a joint opinion-editorial in The Syracuse Post-Standard, suggesting legislation be introduced to honor civil servants who are killed in the line of duty. Mr. Speaker, this bill is simple. If a civilian federal employee is killed on the job as a result of a criminal act, terrorism, natural disaster, or an extraordinary event as determined by the President, their next of kin would be authorized to receive a United States flag. The Congressional Budget Office reports that this bill would have ``no significant effect on the federal budget.'' Mr. Speaker, since 1992, almost 3,000 civilian federal workers have been killed while on duty, both in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Haiti--but also in places like Oklahoma City, and Austin, Texas. This legislation is widely supported by a wide array of groups and individuals including civil service organizations, former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, and the American Legion. I would note for the record that the American Legion raised some concerns about the language of the bill. I personally very much appreciated the input. My office, as well as Committee staff, worked with the Legion to not only listen to its concerns, but act on them. In the end we made this bill better. Mindful of the real differences between military and civilian service, but acceptable to all parties involved. Legislative language aside--the spirit of this bill--and the original intent of this bill--is simple: If a federal civilian employee is killed in the line of duty whether at home or abroad, their life will be honored by this nation. Their family will be presented a flag on behalf of the United States of America. More than 2 million federal civilian employees work within our country and in countless overseas posts, many of them in dangerous jobs at Customs and Border Protection or the FBI, just to name a couple of examples. This is a modest, but significant benefit in honor of these dedicated individuals who sacrificed on our behalf. Until the September 11th attacks, the largest terrorism attack on American soil took place in 1995--the Oklahoma City bombing. Employees showed up at the federal building that day--like so many before--to go to work. To fulfill their oath of service to the U.S. Government. Ours is a grateful nation, one that values the sacrifices made in honor of this country. A life can never be repaid, but it can be honored. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2061.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. I thank the gentleman from New Mexico for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud support of H.R. 2527, the National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act. First, I need to thank several of my colleagues for their help in bringing this bill to the floor: Congressman Joe Barton and Mike Doyle, respectively, the Republican and Democratic managers of the congressional baseball teams and the original cosponsors of this bill; Financial Services Committee Chair Spencer Bachus and Ranking Member Barney Frank for their support on this bill, and each of the 296 cosponsors who together joined to commemorate our national pastime. I am privileged to represent Cooperstown, a picturesque village in upstate New York and home of the National Hall of Fame. As a 10-year resident of Cooperstown, sponsoring this bill is especially meaningful to me. I urge all citizens of the world, baseball fans or not, to visit Cooperstown at least once. Cooperstown is a fine example of the beauty and grace of small town America. Mr. Speaker, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has spent the last seven decades celebrating and honoring the history of our national pastime. This bill will celebrate and honor the 75th anniversary of the Hall of Fame. The U.S. Treasury will produce an official United States Mint commemorative coin featuring the Baseball Hall of Fame. Importantly, there will be no cost to the American taxpayer associated with this bill. The coins are legal tender but will be produced in a limited quantity. They will become available in 2015 to mark the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Mr. Speaker, the story of baseball is the story of America. Baseball is a game of skill, from the most precise pitchers to the heaviest hitters. In the late 1800s, men of all ethnic backgrounds joined together on the diamond to play the game that would become America's sport. Germans, Poles, and Italians, Irishmen, Jews, Native Americans and more formed teams, a hodgepodge of Americans, immigrants, all of whom found acceptance on the field. This game broke barriers long before the civil rights movement began. While much of America was segregated in the forties, the great Jackie Robinson in 1945 was signed to play Major League Baseball. Integration began on the baseball field. The examples go on. From the storied tales of Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio to the modern-day legacies of Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, baseball touches the lives of everyday Americans and fans around the world. I cannot imagine a more timely occasion than now, during the 2011 World Series, to honor baseball and its wonderful Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. I urge all my colleagues to support me in joining this cost-free, bipartisan legislation.

Mr. HANNA. I thank the gentleman from New Mexico. While every student of baseball knows, including my sister, Robin, who has told me many times that the New York Yankees are the finest team in the history of baseball, I would like to take this opportunity to wish good luck in the World Series to the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2527.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on Taiwan's fast approaching Centennial National Day this October 10, I salute the people in Taiwan for their many accomplishments, including the completion of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with the People's Republic last year. The recent rapprochement between Taiwan and mainland China have also reduced tensions across the Taiwan Strait. The people of Taiwan no longer fear imminent hostile actions from the mainland and will be able to live peacefully and even meet and interact with tourists from the mainland. However, the current amity between the two sides does not eliminate the need for the United States to continue to provide weapons for Taiwan's defense under the Taiwan Relations Act. We need to expedite the sale of F-16 C/D fighters to Taiwan to replace Taiwan's aging air force and maintain air power balance power across the Taiwan Strait. Arms sales to Taiwan can maintain stability in East Asia by making it more difficult for the PRC to bully Taiwan now and in the future. Besides, the PRC still has more than one thousand missiles aimed at Taiwan. It is necessary for Taiwan to maintain strong military self- defense capabilities. It is also my view that we should support Taiwan's participation in global affairs by helping Taiwan become an observer of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other United Nations' specialized agencies. An internationally visible Taiwan is a strong Taiwan. Taiwan is our major trading partner and collaborating with us in many other areas. Our strong economic and cultural ties to the Republic of China (Taiwan) go back a hundred years. I am certain that this strong bond will continue for another one hundred years and more.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. I thank the chairman for yielding. I am pleased to speak in favor of this bipartisan, bicameral deal to extend the two important transportation programs at current funding levels. The 4-month extension of FAA programs will allow us enough time to iron out the final details of a long-term reauthorization. As a pilot myself, I know firsthand the benefits and efficiencies this will bring to our airports and airways as well as to our out-of-date air traffic control system. I am particularly pleased to be extending the highway and transit program for 6 months in order to ensure we have adequate time to pass the chairman and the committee's long-term plan. New York and the country need long-term certainty and a steady stream of funding. We have spent too much time focusing on so-called ``shovel ready'' projects with little or no lasting economic or employment benefits. I look forward to working over the next 6 months to pass a long-term reauthorization that will empower States to take on major projects, including bridge replacements, highway interchange improvements, and investments in our Nation's transit systems, as well as those in upstate New York. These are the types of projects that have the potential to provide jobs for years to come and to grow our economy in the long term.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2244, which designates a post office in Geneva, New York, as the Corporal Steven Blaine Riccione Post Office. I introduced this legislation to extend long overdue recognition to a national hero from the 24th Congressional District. Corporal Steven Riccione was a native of Geneva, New York. He was a Geneva High School graduate who volunteered to join the Army in 1967 during the Vietnam War. While on a search and destroy mission with his platoon in Vietnam, Corporal Riccione came under intense enemy fire and became pinned down. Riccione, then a private, saw a machine gunner in his platoon get wounded. As Major General E.M. Strong described in his October 1967 account: ``Private Riccione, with complete disregard for his own safety, rushed from his covered position through a vicious hail of enemy fire to aid his wounded comrade. ``He continuously exposed himself to the withering hail of enemy fire, standing up at times, to place effective fire on enemy positions. When his weapon was struck by an enemy bullet and was demolished, he undauntedly picked up a machine gun and charged an enemy bunker, killing two enemy soldiers. ``Shortly after, Private Riccione was mortality wounded while helping to evacuate wounded personnel under heavy enemy fire. ``Private Riccione's devotion to duty and personal courage were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.'' Corporal Riccione was killed in action while helping to evacuate wounded American soldiers. As a result of Private Riccione's actions, Major General Strong recommended him for the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, and the Bronze Star Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, which he was posthumously awarded. He was also promoted to corporal. Mr. Speaker, Corporal Riccione is a source of great pride to his family, his community in Geneva, my congressional district, and indeed to a grateful Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation so that Corporal Riccione's memory may be honored in his own hometown of Geneva, New York, for generations to come.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members shall have 5 consecutive days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. HANNA. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, there are a few components to the legislation we have before us. First, the bill provides for a straightforward extension of certain SBA programs through December 31, 2011. This is a necessary measure since the current extension, which the House passed in May, expires at the end of this month. As we continue to do work with our Democratic colleagues and with our colleagues in the other body towards a full and complete reauthorization of the SBA and its programs, this extension will ensure that these programs are still available to provide assistance to entrepreneurs who need to create jobs. Secondly, the bill before us terminates several duplicative and outdated programs that are either used very infrequently or not at all. It has been said that, once a program is initiated, it is almost impossible to eliminate. Today, we will prove that notion wrong. The program eliminations contained in this bill represent a good first step toward cleaning up the SBA's program portfolio, thereby refocusing the agency's energy on their core mission of facilitating small business lending, offering entrepreneurial advice to small business owners, and ensuring that they receive their fair share of Federal contracts. For example, one of the programs selected for termination is the Central European Enterprise Development Program. This initiative has not been funded since 1995, and one of the countries involved, Czechoslovakia, no longer exists. For an even more striking example, the Pollution Control Bond Guarantee program, initiated in 1976 to provide SBA-backed bonds for the purchase of pollution and control equipment to retrofit existing factories, has not offered a single bond guarantee since the early eighties. Simply having these programs on the books at the SBA detracts manpower and resources away from the SBA's core programs, and it is time to get them out of the way. Not only does this bill clean up the SBA; it also saves money. The bill eliminates two drug-free workplace programs. These programs were allocated $2 million for fiscal year 2011. While not a huge sum of money when considering the overall fiscal budget, each and every penny we save is a penny we don't have to borrow. For additional cost savings, the legislation also prohibits the SBA from using any of its discretionary funding on its Emerging Leaders Program. While the program started in fiscal year 2009 without any congressional approval or authorization of appropriations, the SBA has requested $3 million for this program for 2012. The program is duplicative of existing entrepreneurial development programs and does not have a good matrix for evaluating the program's success. The SBA ought to be focusing on well-evaluated, congressionally authorized programs that have been fully vetted and supported by Members of Congress. I would like to thank the gentlelady from New York, our committee's ranking member, Ms. Velazquez, for her efforts to craft this legislation. It is a breath of fresh air to work in a truly bipartisan manner on important issues facing our Nation, and I appreciate her leadership on this issue. With that, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2608 as amended. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2608) to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me state that small businesses can and will lead our economic recovery. It's time that those of us in Congress provide them with the certainty they need to create jobs and grow our economy. The legislation we have before us today gives small firms the confidence to know that the SBA programs they rely on will be there for them when they need them. It also shows them that this House is serious about cutting spending, lowering debt, and restoring confidence to our entrepreneurs. I look forward to continuing to work with the chairman and the ranking member and all our colleagues on the Small Business Committee to enact policies that benefit American entrepreneurs. I urge my colleagues to support this good bill. I yield back the balance of my time.