Richard Hanna

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the young men of the Maine-Endwell Little League team on their outstanding victory at the Little League World Series championship game. With an ending score of 2-1, the Maine-Endwell Little League team triumphed over South Korea to become the first American team to win the overall title since 2011, and the first New York team to win the title since 1964. The game was played in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with a reported 23,211 people in attendance. It was a perfect ending to Maine- Endwell's undefeated season of 24-0. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize the Maine- Endwell team today, the 2016 Little League World Series champions. On behalf of the United States Congress, and the 22nd Congressional District of New York, I congratulate each of you for a job well done. To the team members--Jude Abbadessa, Billy Dundon, Jayden Fanara, James Fellows, Ryan Harlost, Jack Hopko, Michael Mancini, Jordan Owens, Brody Raleigh, Conner Rush, and Justin Ryan--congratulations to each and every one of you. To the coaches--Scott Rush, Joe Hopko, and Joe Mancini--congratulations, again, from a grateful community and a grateful country.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Chabot, Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Velazquez, and Ranking Member Thompson for the support of their committees on this bill. This bill was a collaborative endeavor and all of their staffs worked hard and long to help ensure this bill made it to the floor today. I also want to thank the bill's lead sponsor, Representative Kilmer, for working with us on this bipartisan legislation. America's small businesses are a critical part of our Nation's economy. There are 28 million small businesses, and in recent years they have increasingly become the victims of cyber attacks. By one estimate, nearly 70 percent of all cyber attacks are now being directed at our Nation's small businesses. The reason for this is clear. Small businesses too often lack the resources or the experience required to make prudent investments in cybersecurity. The Improving Small Business Cyber Security Act addresses this issue by empowering the more than 900 Small Business Development Centers across our country to provide cyber support to these small businesses. This support would be offered in accordance with a small business cybersecurity strategy, which would be developed jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Small Business Administration. Cyber attacks can decimate small businesses, potentially costing them tens of thousands of dollars to recover lost data and secure networks. It is clear to all of us that the upfront cost to invest in state-of- the-art technologies are prohibitive for many businesses. This bill represents an opportunity to help small businesses bridge the knowledge gap in cyberspace by empowering the Small Business Development Centers to provide up-to-date relevant and cost-effective cyber support to service them. This bill also makes good financial sense. By relying on already existing programs and infrastructure, it improves the Federal resources we already have to ensure that they better work for America's small businesses and at no additional cost. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill. Again, I would like to thank Chairman Chabot for his support.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 472, I mistakenly voted against the Pocan of Wisconsin Amendment No. 103 to H.R. 5538, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Amendment No. 104 Offered by Mr. Polis

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Number 334 on H.R. 5525, I am not recorded because I was absent due to a weather-related flight cancellation. Had I been present, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Number 336 on H.R. 5389, I am not recorded because I was absent due to a weather-related flight cancellation. Had I been present, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Number 335 on H.R. 5388, I am not recorded because I was absent due to a weather-related flight cancellation. Had I been present, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the cooperative owners and employees of the Farm Credit System for meeting the credit and financial-services needs of rural communities and agriculture for 100 years. I was pleased to cosponsor House Resolution 591 commemorating the Farm Credit System centennial. Congress designed the Farm Credit System as a permanent means to support the well-being and prosperity of the Nation's rural communities and agricultural producers of all types and sizes. Congress designed the Farm Credit System as a network of cooperatives, independently owned and controlled by its borrowers, responsive to their individual needs for credit and financial services. Farm Credit East serves many farmers in my district through their offices in Cortland and Sangerfield. Further, the Farm Credit system actively supports our next generation of farmers with agriculture education and support for organizations like 4-H and Future Farmers of America. One of Farm Credit East's recent stewardship initiatives focuses on improving ag education. One of the top FFA chapters and ag education programs in the state of New York is located in my district at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School--VVS. In honor of the Farm Credit System centennial, Farm Credit East has committed substantial resources toward teacher scholarships to attend institutes sponsored by the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE), a program of the National Association of Agricultural Educators. The CASE program trains ag educators how to deliver hands on, STEM- based learning to agricultural students in subjects like plant and animal science. As a strong supporter of STEM education, I understand how valuable these investments in our children's education are, and I am grateful for their generous participation in this critical area of study. Farm Credit East recently announced 15 teacher scholarships to attend CASE institutes, including Paul Perry and Sara Tuthill from VVS. Two other recipients are also from the 22nd district--Crystal Aukema from Oxford and Johanna Fox-Bossard from Hamilton. VVS will be hosting an institute this summer to instruct educators on teaching the CASE introductory course: Introduction to Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Eleven of the Farm Credit East scholarship recipients will be attending this program. I applaud Farm Credit's support of ag educators as they train the next generation of farmers. No doubt many of those students will become members of Farm Credit during its second century of service. Congratulations to the Farm Credit System's cooperative owners and employees on the System's centennial.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to honor high school graduates from the Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services area who are entering the United States Armed Forces. These young men and women have made an admirable decision to defend our country. I join the Conklin Kiwanis Club in honoring them. The Conklin Kiwanis Club will hold a special celebration to honor these graduating high school seniors. ``The First to Say Thank You'' event will take place on Tuesday, May 24th at Susquehanna Valley High School in Conklin. Mr. Speaker, I would ask you join me in honoring the following students entering the Army National Guard: Sabrina Robinson, Afton; Cydney Mallory, Chenango Valley; Jonathan White, Downsville; Tyler Festa, Dryden; Debick Wilson, Harpursville; Chris Thornton, Oneonta; Jacob Johannessen-Butler, Roscoe; Kaitlyn Howard, Sherburne-Earlville; Rebecca Urda, Trumansburg; Dan Spring, Tully; Zach Abdullah, Windsor; Zach Emmons, Windsor. Honoring the students entering the United States Air Force: Katherine M. Colwell, New Milford, PA; Ryan T. Simmons, Chenango Forks. Honoring the students entering the United States Army: Sean Sousa, Binghamton; Dylan Bean, Candor; Dylan Jumper, Chenango Forks; Izaiah Cabello, Chenango Valley; Michael Doan, Chenango Valley; Nicholas Mace, Chenango Valley; Donald Moore, Chenango Valley; Robert McDowell, Hancock; Ashlyn Dudek, Harpursville; Tyler Lavergne, Harpursville; Joshua Wagoner, Johnson City; Sydney Aleba, Whitney Point; Nytice Saunders, Whitney Point; Mr. Isaac Hyde, Windsor; Mr. Jefrey Colwell, Windsor. Honoring the students entering the United States Marines: Joseph Cardenas, Afton; Ray Zukowsky, Bainbridge; Rebecca Wlasiuk, Bainbridge; Dylan Frey, Chenango Forks; Shawn Hurd, Binghamton; Cordell Deperiis, Chenango Forks; Nathan Deordio, Chenango Forks; Alex Lent, Cortland; Jacob Gombas, Dryden; Chris Lum, Greene; Derek McWeeney, Franklin; Ian Stoddard, Homer; Zachary Hulbert, Homer; Dylan Bush, Homer; Daniel Sager, Maine-Endwell; Stephanie Wales, Marathon; Alex Wilcox, Newark Valley; Kasimeir Card, Newark Valley; Raymond Wright, McGraw; Nicholas Murphy, Norwich; Robert Meek, Oxford; Tyler Phillips, Roxbury; Robert Kozak, South Kortright; Samuel Cohen, Sidney; Michael Pelicci, Susquehanna High School (PA); Trevor Passetti, Susquehanna High School (PA); Cody ODell, Susquehanna High School (PA); Lucian Derzanovich, Susquehanna Valley; James Fish, Susquehanna Valley; Drake Winnicki, Unadilla Valley; Dwight Cook, Unadilla Valley; Dominic Spinelli, Union-Endicott; Lauryl Pheil, Union-Endicott; Anthony Johnson, Union-Endicott; Alex Gaskin, Union-Endicott; Michael Kakusian, Vestal; Zachary Simerson, Whitney Point; Dante Pultz, Windsor. Honoring the students entering the United States Navy: Abigail Proppe, Binghamton; Robert Crisell, Deposit; Ian Scaglione, Groton; Isaiah Brand, Johnson City; Mark Nicosia, Johnson City; Kevin Finkbeiner, Maine-Endwell; Benjamin Judkiewicz, Maine-Endwell; Shea Osovski, Maine-Endwell; Austin Fiske, Marathon; Matthew Harrington, Norwich; Samuel Rickenback, Vestal. Honoring the students entering the United States Coast Guard: Liam Cornell, Union-Endicott.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 179 on H.R. 4901, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Stated against:

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 176 on H.J. Res. 88, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Stated against:

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Number 172 on S. 1890, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 177 on H.R. 2901, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 175 on H.R. 5019, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Number 171 on H.R. 4498, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 166 on H.R. 4923, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 167 on H.R. 699, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Number 164 on H.R. 4820, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Number 165 on H.R. 4096, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 152 on H.R. 2666, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 67 on H.R. 4470, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' personal explanation

Mr. HANNA

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 64 on H.R. 3036, I am not recorded because I was absent for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. HANNA

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

Mr. HANNA. Madam Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chairman of the full committee.

Mr. HANNA. Madam Chairman, this bipartisan amendment presents a simple, nonbinding sense of Congress recognizing the value of private sector engineering services in delivering road, bridge, and public transportation projects of all natures. Nearly identical language was included in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act last year, which we adopted with overwhelming support on both sides of the aisle. Local engineering firms in each of our districts play an important role in partnering with State and local agencies to deliver transportation projects. Just as States use private contractors to build roads and bridges, they utilize private engineering companies to design them. While many DOTs partner well with private engineering firms, some States do not take advantage of the services and expertise available. Local firms are essentially shut out from competing for federally funded projects. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to balancing private and public sector engineering expertise. But let me be clear: This amendment is not about privatization; it is about options. Private firms will be the first to argue that we must have trained and experienced engineers within the DOTs to manage, design, and oversee the many programs. This is about encouraging States to strike the balance that works best for them. Collaboration between public and private engineers is essential in delivering the highest quality and most cost-effective projects. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HANNA. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.