William Keating

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement and many distinguished accomplishments of Captain Timothy A. Tobiasz, Commanding Officer of the United States Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Captain Tobiasz has honorably served our country with over 32 years of Active-Duty military service. His career began in the U.S. Army as a Black Hawk assault pilot, where he served in the 9th Cavalry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division ``Old Reliables'' at Fort Lewis, Washington. In 1991, he was accepted to the United States Coast Guard's Officer Candidate School, commissioning as an ensign in 1992. From there, he quickly rose to the rank of captain, and during his 32-year military career, Captain Tobiasz amassed over 7,000 flight hours and qualified in nine different aircraft, to include the MH-60 Jayhawk, MH-90 Hornet, HC-130 Hercules, MH-65 Dolphin, and the HC-144 Ocean Sentry. He served at Coast Guard Air Stations Clearwater, Florida; San Diego, California; HITRON-10 Kodiak, Alaska; New Orleans, Louisiana; Savannah, Georgia; and Cape Cod, Massachusetts; and as the commanding officer of two bases. In addition to his remarkable aviation career, Captain Tobiasz served in the U.S. Senate as a military liaison officer, as a budget and program reviewer at U.S. Coast Guard headquarters, a senior military adviser to the U.S. Northern Command/NORAD combatant commander, and a National Security Fellow at the Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Of his many outstanding achievements during his storied career, I would like to highlight three. In 1999, then-Lieutenant Tobiasz was one of only six pilots selected to pioneer Helicopter Interdiction Squadron 10. This successful concept led to one of the most significant policy changes in Coast Guard aviation history through the development of the aviation use of force policy and establishment of a permanent command in Jacksonville, Florida, now responsible for armed counterdrug operations around the entire globe. In 2005, while serving as the operations officer at Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans, Lieutenant Commander Tobiasz led rescue operations during and immediately after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, and in a 10-day period, aircrews under his leadership saved over 1,400 lives. Most recently and just last year, Captain Tobiasz was called upon again to lead air rescue operations following landfall of Hurricane Harvey over Texas and Louisiana. Thanks in great part to his extraordinary coordination and unflappable judgment, he strategically directed 53 aircraft and 415 aviation personnel for 21 different units, saving lives of over 1,700 civilians. Mr. Speaker, I join a very grateful Nation in thanking Captain Timothy Tobiasz and his family for their service and sacrifice, and wish them the absolute very best in their next careers.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Congressman Shimkus for his support of this amendment. I would also like to thank Congressman Tonko as well, and express my support for the underlying bill, which will, among many other things, prioritize decommissioned nuclear plants for removal of spent waste. The hard work to come to this stage has been important, and we are finally moving forward. In 2015, news broke that the nuclear plant in my district would be decommissioned in 2019. Unfortunately, this plant has also been in the news quite a bit because of significant safety concerns. So the communities back home are intimately aware of the safety and security risks to local neighborhoods and plant employees, and local officials and stakeholders have worked hard to hold plant operators accountable to prepare for all the risks presented, and to demand a plan for what happens after the plant is decommissioned so that the families and the businesses in my district are not left high and dry. I offered a number of amendments to H.R. 3035, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act. They included efforts to strengthen local stakeholder engagement, to support funding for communities where spent nuclear fuel is awaiting transfer, to ensure the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel at decommissioned or soon-to-be decommissioned plants. And I offered these amendments because of the safety of the communities that are affected by nuclear plants and the nuclear storage sites, the importance of that being recognized. And while some of these ideas weren't included in the particular bill, the amendment I offer now is fundamental to making sure that they will be ultimately addressed. Congress created the Nuclear Waste Fund to fund a solution to civilian nuclear waste that would provide for safe disposal in a permanent repository. These funds came from funds paid by ratepayers and generated by tens of billions of dollars, $31 billion as of 2014, to support a solution for dealing with nuclear waste in a safe and secure manner. And in the issuance of what is happening with this fund, the administration ceased making an easy-to-read summary to be part of that. The American people deserve to know just how this fund is being managed, and that any expenditure is actually necessary or justified and publicly reported and easily digested by local officials and the public as a whole. For this, transparency really is key. We should be making it as easy as possible for the public and the officials that oversee this fund, and my amendment does just that by requiring a clear, plain English summary to accompany annual reporting on the Nuclear Waste Fund's financial status. The information about the fund should not be only accessible to those who can understand the technical information contained in the full report. When communities like mine are working as hard as they can possibly work under the circumstances to make sure that they keep families safe, we should be making every possible tool available to them to achieve this goal. Transparency around the fund created by ratepayers and intended to support a permanent solution to the safety risks they face from nuclear waste is only one piece of that, but an important piece. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko), who has worked tirelessly on this issue as well and with a strong spirit of bipartisan cooperation on this bill.

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, once again, I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard: Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Tonko, and all of the people who are finally moving this ahead. It is a very important issue in terms of our energy. It is very important in terms of safety of our communities. We have finally got the ball rolling, so again, I thank them for their hard work. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Joseph Silva, a resident of New Bedford, Massachusetts, who turned 100 years young on Thursday, April 12th. Joseph has dedicated his life to serving his community and country. In World War II he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years in North Africa and another in Italy. During his service, Joseph attained the rank of staff sergeant for the 22nd Quarter Master Battalion, Company A. Upon returning home, Joseph joined the New Bedford Fire Department, and remains the first and only Cape Verdean to achieve the rank of deputy chief. Joseph served at the Fire Department for thirty-six years, where he routinely encouraged other Cape Verdeans to apply, even inviting them into his home to study for the firefighter's exam. On his days off he worked as a longshoreman for nineteen years. In 1950, Joseph married Julia Barros. The two would go on to have two daughters together and today Joseph is a proud grandfather. Joseph has remained active in his community, receiving the Marian Medal from the Dioceses of Fall River for his dedicated service, and serving on his church's Building and maintenance Committee until just five years ago. Mr. Silva's children and grandchildren speak incredibly highly of him, noting the value he placed on education, as well as the importance of listening and understanding. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Joseph Silva on this joyous occasion of his 100th birthday. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing him many more years of health and happiness.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, on April 18, 2018, I was attending the funeral of fallen Officer Sean Gannon of the Yarmouth Police Department who was killed in the line of duty. I was therefore unable to be present for the vote on the motion on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 831, the rule providing for consideration of both H.R. 5444 and H.R. 5445. Had I been present for Roll Call No. 143, I would have voted ``NAY.'' I was also unable to be present for the vote on passage of H. Res. 831, the rule providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 5444 Taxpayer First Act, and providing for consideration of the H.R. 5445 21st Century IRS Act. Had I been present for Roll Call No. 144, I would have voted ``NAY.'' I was also unable to be present for the vote on passage of H.R. 5445, the 21st Century IRS Act, offered by Mr. Bishop of Michigan. Had I been present for Roll Call No. 145, I would have voted ``AYE.'' I was also unable to be present for the vote on passage of H.R. 5444, the Taxpayer First Act, offered by Mr. Jenkins of Kansas. Had I been present for Roll Call No. 146, I would have voted ``AYE.'' I was also unable to be present for the vote on passage of H.R. 2905, the Justice for Victims of IRS Scams and Identity Theft Act of 2018, as amended, offered by Mr. Young of Iowa. Had I been present for Roll Call No. 147, I would have voted ``AYE.''

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the retirement of Richard Montoni, a New England native and dedicated government contractor with a passion for civic responsibility. Mr. Montoni is well-regarded by his peers and deeply respected in his field. As the Chief Executive Officer of MAXIMUS, Richard has developed the company into a preeminent government partner by delivering health and human services to different communities around the world. Prior to becoming CEO he served as the company's Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Since 2006, Richard has honed the vision of his company by resolving legal matters and fostering a culture that drives business growth and optimization. In October 2013 Bloomberg named Richard 3rd in their list of Tech's Top 20 Turnaround Artists. Richard has remained steadfast in his commitment to communities, teamwork, and strong leadership over the course of his time at the company, only furthering the blossoming relationship between governments and private-sector tech companies that distribute health and human services programs across the globe. Complementing his work with communities around the world, Richard serves as Vice Chairman for the Northern Virginia Technology Council and Vice Chairman of the Corporate Fund Board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Richard Montoni and his commitment to providing invaluable health and human services. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing his hard work and dedication as he celebrates his retirement.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, so many people in this world are focused on: What's in it for me? Not Officer Sean Gannon. Sean was a giver. His life was defined by his focus on serving and helping others. Sean was taken from us last Thursday in an act of violence that shocked our sensibilities and broke all of our hearts. In his early years, he gave to his community in New Bedford, his classmates at All Saints School, and then his classmates at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth. He gave to his college mates as he prepared for his lifetime goal of becoming a police officer at Westfield State and Mass Maritime Academy. He gave to the communities in preparation of this at Westfield and Nantucket working there as a police officer and began his real career at Stonehill College, working to support and help students there, keeping them safe, and working with one of his mentors and friends, former Police Chief Peter Carnes. He gave as a Big Brother to a young boy through the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program of Cape Cod and the Islands, and that young boy now wants to grow up and be a police officer just like Sean. He gave to the children he visited in the schools as a police officer accompanied most often by his partner and canine friend, Nero. He gave to his friends and his second family at the Yarmouth Police Department where he is loved and missed dearly. Sean gave the greatest love to his parents, Patrick and Denise; his brother and sister; his family; and particularly to his wife, Dara, who shared in the spirit of giving as she conducted her work in the Cape Cod Foundation with helping over 250 charities. Sean and Dara were a fixture at every charitable event on Cape Cod. Ultimately, he gave his life--the ultimate sacrifice--to protect us and protect others from a dangerous and violent individual whom the Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson said would have clearly taken another life had Sean not intervened. Sean is a hero. He is one of us. He is much more than that. He is someone we aspire to be, a giver, whose love for others will continue to inspire us. There was a vigil last Saturday in the town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts, where 1,000 people showed up to pay tribute to Sean. Tomorrow he will be laid to rest joined by several thousand who will gather together to pay tribute and share love with him. God bless Officer Sean Gannon. May he rest in peace. May his soul and spirit continue to live among us and inspire us.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Minnesota an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution. I would like to begin by thanking Representative Smith for sponsoring H. Res. 128, which expresses support for human rights and encourages inclusive governance in Ethiopia. I am a cosponsor of this resolution, along with over 100 of my colleagues--a testimony to the work Mr. Smith has put into this effort. This resolution acknowledges the partnership between the United States and the Ethiopian Government. We have partnered together on many issues in the world: economic issues, global health issues, and security issues. Indeed, the Ethiopian military benefits from the U.S. counterterrorism and peacekeeping support programs that we work with them on. However, it also expresses concern at the unrest in the Oromo, Amhara, and Somali regions since 2015 and the human rights violations perpetrated against largely peaceful protestors. With the recent election of Prime Minister Abiy last month, Ethiopia now has an opportunity to emerge from this crisis to undertake the reforms called for in this resolution, including lifting the repressive state of emergency, repealing or amending proclamations used to suppress human rights, holding accountable those responsible for human rights violations, and releasing all remaining political prisoners. As the ranking member of the Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee on the Foreign Affairs Committee, we have done a lot of work in that subcommittee around the importance of the rule of law and of legitimate, accountable governance in making sure communities are secure and more resilient to destabilizing influences from criminal and terrorist networks. This is not just an issue for us on the international front. I am also a member of the Homeland Security Committee, and this is an important issue in terms of our safety and security here at home. Prison sentences for peaceful protest, restrictions on freedom of the press, and broad enforcement actions against civil society organizations is a recipe for instability--instability that impedes economic growth and leaves countries and communities vulnerable to security and other threats, both globally and, as I said, back here at home. When a society witnesses the arrest of over 22,000 persons and the closing of over 200 NGOs, we should expect to see the trust between communities and their government suffer as a result. Instead, the government should work towards promoting this trust that is so critical to the right of Ethiopians to live freely and safely at home, as well as to their government's strength as a partner with the United States and others around the world. In light of recent events in Ethiopia, it is important to view Prime Minister Abiy's election not as the end of the crisis, but as a new beginning for social and political reform in Ethiopia. I hope he will undertake this challenge and undertake these vital reforms. In the spirit of a new beginning, I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), the ranking member of the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee.

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison), who is an original cosponsor of this legislation.

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, I will note that Chairman Royce has been a big factor in moving this forward, and when I give thanks to Mr. Smith and over 100 more colleagues, I want to make sure that Chairman Royce is a person that is highlighted for his great efforts. We are going to miss him, as he has decided not to seek reelection. He has been a person that has shown great ability to be a bipartisan leader on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and I have enjoyed working with him on this issue and many other issues. Mr. Speaker, this resolution seeks to support Ethiopia's political transition as it hopefully moves beyond a state of emergency towards greater civil liberties under a new prime minister. This resolution also supports the Ethiopian people and their aspirations to live in a more democratic system in which government respects fundamental freedoms. We have partnered with Ethiopia on so many important issues, issues important to their own security, their own health, their own global welfare, and we also recognize the value in that partnership in dealing with the security issues and the ideals and values that the United States has as a country. This resolution strongly urges them to take that other step, to expand that partnership beyond those issues into a partnership of democracy where there will be rule of law, freedom of the press, where opposition people will not be endangered in terms of their safety, will not be imprisoned. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 128, and I urge my colleagues to go forward. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. As an original cosponsor of the End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2018, I would like to first thank my coauthors, Chairman Royce, Representative Maloney, and Representative Love. I am proud of our bipartisan work on this important issue. This issue represents actions that are abhorrent, coercive, actions that constitute modern-day slavery. They also are sustained because they are among the most lucrative criminal activities we have in the world right now. This is ranked as the third most lucrative international crime in the world. And it is a unique one in the sense that, unlike drugs, where they will market their poison to individuals and they will be ingested and consumed and that ends the transaction, tragically, you see, time and time again, that these young women, many of them children, over and over again are used by these financial purveyors of criminality in their actions to redundantly gain profits at the expense of destroying and taking away years of innocent lives. This legislation is a testament to how important our bipartisan collaboration is here in the House, as well as among our colleagues in the Senate. When we have the opportunity to work together, we take meaningful action to address real harms being suffered by innocent people here and around the world. And this is, indeed, not only an international issue where we need cooperation, but it is a domestic issue as well. In 2012, the International Labor Organization estimated that there were 21 million victims of human trafficking worldwide. In the United States alone, over 8,500 human trafficking cases were reported just last year, and those are cases where the investigation was fruitful and the prosecution commenced, an understatement by multiple effects of what the actual incidence of this crime is. While there are current laws to combat the practice of human trafficking by criminalizing perpetrators and providing support for victims, the End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2018 works to dismantle the economic framework that enables it and sustains it. It empowers the Secretary of the Treasury with the ability to assist and directly get involved to a greater extent with all the other agencies involved. I know, from my own experience, that the importance of that coordination will more easily lead to good cases and more effective prosecutions and bringing people to justice. I come at this issue from many perspectives; one of them being my position, as with Chairman Royce, on the Foreign Affairs Committee, where we look at the international factor that we are trying to work cooperatively throughout the world and here at home to better prosecute, better bring to justice. I also represent the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence in the Homeland Security Committee, and it is important to note that this criminal enterprise is one of the most prominent ways that terrorists fund themselves. While we have had effect trying to eliminate the caliphate and the taxing that goes with that, we have seen terrorists lose those opportunities to raise money. However, what we have seen is them move even further into other areas to sustain their terrorist activity; and primary among them is the use of human trafficking and the funding for their terrorist activity through that criminal enterprise. Another way I have come to view this is as a former District Attorney myself. I worked with the regional task force in the Boston region in Massachusetts to try and work to coordinate activities to seek out, to investigate, and ultimately prosecute human trafficking. There is one thing I did know through my term as a District Attorney and looking at this issue as well, more specifically: If we are going to be effective, one of the best tools we have in terms of investigating, seeking out this activity, and bringing it to justice, is to follow the money, and that is what this act does. It follows the money. It uses the economic tools we have here, through the Secretary of the Treasury, among many other assets we have in this country, and it seeks out and will find out, from the money laundering standpoint, just who is involved, where this is occurring, and how we can attack it. Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry. Its perpetrators rely on banking and financial systems to fund and profit their crimes against innocent men, women, and children, and this bill will strengthen our work to target, prosecute, and to bring to justice those who reap financial rewards from this abhorrent criminal practice. This Congress, the House passed a number of important bills dealing with anti-trafficking measures. This is one of the most important, and it strikes it at its heart, where we can find out where this is occurring, where we can investigate further everyone that is involved in this. It is not just limited to the people that we find in the initial investigations with these reports, we will be better able to bring everyone involved in this activity to justice. So let's continue this momentum by passing the End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2018. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first off, I would like to say, as the chairman mentioned in the previous resolution that we discussed, Mr. Royce is leaving us at the end of this term, and I would like to thank him for the real bipartisan effort we have shown--Mr. Smith typifies that as well--on the Foreign Affairs Committee. This is an important committee that has broad responsibilities, as this bill indicates; and, in a Congress where, too often, there are divides and bitterness, that committee stands out as a committee of members who work together, who accomplish solutions to very complex international problems that affect us here at home. I know, going forward, I believe very strongly, we are going to have an even larger role in issues to come. Mr. Speaker, modern-day slavery destroys the lives of far too many innocent people. Today, in 2018, this should no longer be a topic of discussion, yet it is becoming increasingly more problematic. The solutions are within reach, and that requires coordination and cooperation. This bill does both. We have the information; we have the expertise; now we must act decisively to put the best tools in the right hands to end this injustice once and for all. And by focusing on the financial mechanism that enables this and sustains this, we will be best able to combat it, not just in seeking it out and destroying it, but making sure, in a comprehensive way, we deal with all those wrongdoers that are involved, not just a few at the bottom rung of the ladder. This bill will give the right people around the table the opportunity to better equip themselves to combat human trafficking and break down the financing that supports and enables this heinous crime. Mr. Speaker, I again thank my coauthors for their efforts, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Francis Whitty as he completes his term as Department Commander of the Massachusetts Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Frank was born in Roslindale, Massachusetts. After graduating high school in 1962 Frank went on to have a successful banking career, working at State Street Bank in Boston as well as at the Federal Reserve. He later moved to Brockton to settle down and raise a family with his wife Mary. Shortly after President Kennedy was assassinated, Frank enlisted in the Navy and proudly served in the Submarine Service on board the USS Piper (SS409) until 1967. Frank was an early member of the United States Submarine Veterans and rose to the office of National Commander. This was just the start of his service to our country and our veterans. Inspired by his uncle Eddie, a WWII veteran in the 10th Mountain Division, Frank used the help of the DAV and went on to become a member of their Brockton Chapter 76 where he was elected Chapter Commander. He served two terms in this position at a time when the public was far less supportive of veterans. Frank spearheaded initiatives to gather support to release prisoners of war in Vietnam and to account for soldiers Missing in Action. He led his chapter of the DAV to become a staple in the Brockton community, very much like Frank himself. This past year, Frank served as Department Commander of the Massachusetts DAV and will now be completing his term. According to Frank, one of his biggest accomplishments during his years of service has been expanding the DAV's outreach to include services to incarcerated veterans and better serve the community at large in Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Frank Whitty for his service and dedication to his community and country. I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking him for his work and in wishing him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Bradford Holmes as he receives a Prisoner-Of-War medal for his service and sacrifice during World War II. Bradford was born on September 29, 1925 and now resides in Onset, MA. Growing up he worked for a cranberry company. At the age of eighteen, Bradford was drafted into the United States Army, following the footsteps of his older brother. Bradford started at Fort Devens in Massachusetts and then trained at several bases across the country, eventually ending up in Camp Atterbury in Indiana, where he joined the 106th division. He was later shipped overseas to England to receive more training. Bradford then headed through Belgium to the front lines as a part of the 423rd Regiment. Moving through wood lines and digging fox holes through the frozen ground, they made their way to the front, but they were surrounded and Bradford was captured during the Battle of the Bulge on December 17, 1944. They walked for several days through snow, sleeping by the side of the road at night. They spent the holidays locked in train cars and his train was attacked by the Allies, not realizing that POWs were on board. Bradford was taken to the German POW Camp, Stalag IV-B, where he volunteered to go on a work detail to escape the horrible conditions of the camp. Bradford was sent to start working in a furniture factory. Here he looked forward to air raids because they caused factory workers to flee and gave him an opportunity to run and find food. Later he and other POWs were forced to cut down and haul out trees in the mountains. Even with three men on each side of the tree, this was incredibly difficult and dangerous. They lost many men as a result. As air raids increased, they were forced to walk fifteen miles to the border of Czechoslovakia. Finally, they were abandoned by their captors as the Red Army advanced and the POWs followed German civilians to allied territory. After returning to the United States, Bradford got married and started a family of his own. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Bradford Holmes for his service and dedication to his country. I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking him for his work and in wishing him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 150th Anniversary of the Dennison Memorial Community Center. The Dennison Memorial Community Center has been serving our area since 1868, when the New Bedford Ladies City Mission was officially incorporated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Their mission was to care for the less fortunate through free dental clinics, public baths, and social activities. Named after Rev. Tristan Dennison, the heart and soul of the organization, this center became a pillar of the community. Today this center continues to serve the people of New Bedford, equipped with a recreational center, daycare, academic assistance and more. Dennison is made up of an incredible, multi-lingual staff working tirelessly to strengthen the city of New Bedford. Welcoming children and teens, age 6 to 16, there is no doubt the center will continue to have a major impact on the success of the next generation. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the 150th anniversary of the Dennison Memorial Community Center for their dedication to bettering their community. I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking them for their invaluable service and wishing them all the best in the many years to come.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Charles Maxim who is receiving his Honorary Degree from Wareham High School. Charles is a lifelong resident of Wareham, Massachusetts. He was born on May 28, 1929 and grew up with seven sisters and one brother. Upon reaching the eighth grade, Charles left school in order to take care of his ailing mother because he believed that his mother's health was more important than finishing school. In 1946, Charles joined the United States Navy. As a Seaman First Class, he served in Pearl Harbor and spent 45 days at sea on the LST 1135, surviving a typhoon, and eventually serving at Subic Bay in Manila. During his service, Charles played on a baseball team with future Major League pitcher Ray Scarborough, and enjoyed great camaraderie with his fellow sailors. Charles had hoped to make a career in the Navy, but, for him, family was always the most important thing, so he returned to Massachusetts to care for his parents. After returning home, Charles worked for the town of Wareham for thirty-three years as a general foreman. He started a family of his own and today has three children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. One of his great-grandsons has followed in Charles' footsteps and now serves as a member of the United States Air Force. Charles has dedicated his life to serving his family, his town, and his country. He now celebrates another great accomplishment by receiving an Honorary Degree. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Charles Maxim for receiving his Honorary Degree, following a career of dedication to his community. I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating his accomplishments and wishing him many more years of health and happiness.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 8 on H. Res. 682, the rule providing for consideration of S. 139, the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017, I am not recorded due to my attendance at a briefing on airport security. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Evelyn Desrosiers, a resident of New Bedford, Massachusetts, who will turn 100 years young on January 12th. A lifelong Massachusetts resident, Evelyn was born in Fairhaven and grew up in Freetown. Her father worked on a farm while her mother raised Evelyn and her siblings. After she attended grammar school, Evelyn was hired by the billing department at Hemingway Transport. Evelyn has always been a committed member of her community. Through her dedicated involvement with St. Julie's Church in Dartmouth, she received the Marian Medal in 2013. She is also a member of the Legion of Mary. Evelyn has many talents and even played the violin in the New Bedford Symphony. Today she enjoys spending time with her nephews Jim and William, grandnephew Adam, and grandnieces Angela and Elizabeth. She lives in Whaler's Cove in New Bedford and attributes her good health to eating well and having great genes. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Evelyn Desrosiers on this joyous occasion of her 100th birthday. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing her many more years of health and happiness.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mashpee High School's third consecutive Super Bowl victory. On December 2nd the Mashpee Falcons faced off against the Blackstone Valley Tech Beavers in the Division 7 Super Bowl. The Falcons were up by six points with three minutes left in the game and a last minute interception sealed this 22-16 victory. Fans erupted in ``three-peat'' cheers at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. This is the third consecutive and fourth overall state championship for Mashpee High School Football. They left it all on the field last weekend and, as Coach Belichick would say, ``did their job.'' The dedication and support of every player, every cheerleader, their families, the coaches, and other faculty members set the foundation for the Falcons' undefeated season. With over twenty straight wins under their belt, I have no doubt that the Falcons will continue to make our community proud. I look forward to following their season next year and wish all of our graduating seniors continued success in the future. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the third consecutive Super Bowl victory for Mashpee High School. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating them and wishing them all the best in the many seasons to come.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Josephine R. (Arena) Driscoll, a resident of Rockland, Massachusetts, who is celebrating her 100th birthday. Josephine was born on November 27, 1917 to Harry L. and Rose (Galbo) Arena, who emigrated from Italy through Ellis Island. Growing up she was very active in her community as the captain of her drill and bowling teams and in the Holy Family Church in Rockland. In 1939 she won an award for her poem at the World's Fair Anthology of Verse. Josephine also spent time traveling across the country and to Mexico with her parents. As a young woman Josephine worked in the Commonwealth Shoe Factory in Whitman. After the factory closed, Josephine, who did not have the opportunity to finish high school, went back and earned her degree. She then worked in the Electro Signal Lab in Rockland, the town where she lives to this day. In 1957 she married Charles A. Driscoll, a U.S. Navy veteran from World War II. Continuing her love for travel, she made many cross- country road trips with her husband until he passed away in 1968. Josephine continued to be involved in her community and is a lifelong member of the Republican Town Committee. Today Josephine lives with her niece Rosemarie and her husband Edward, a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Josephine R. Driscoll on this joyous occasion of her 100th birthday. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing her many more years of health and happiness.

Mr. KEATING

Mr. KEATING. Mr Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the new Town Hall in Plymouth, Massachusetts. On November 12th, America's hometown will be celebrating its community with the opening of the new Plymouth Town Hall. This event will be marked by a walk from the old Town Hall to the new Town Hall with everyone who contributed to this new landmark. Construction on the new Town Hall began just two years ago, in the fall of 2015. I commend the town leadership and the residents of Plymouth for their collaboration on this community project. This would not have been possible without the dedication of all of those who were involved, from the over 40 volunteers who helped generate support for the project over local coffee and tea events, to the residents who advocated for the project at Town Meeting, to the many involved in the construction and restoration efforts. The level of planning and outreach involved in this project serves as a powerful example of how local government working together with community members can be a tremendous success. This project involved the restoration of the historic 1820 Courthouse. The Community Preservation Committee worked with a historical restoration team and many volunteers to return this building to its original glory. The centuries-old judge's bench in the courthouse is now set to be the new location for selectmen's meetings. Among the many 1800s-era pieces incorporated into the newly renovated building is its American Eagle Weathervane, which traveled aboard the ferry to Nantucket to be restored. Located at 26 Court Street in the heart of downtown Plymouth, this Town Hall will be a centerpiece for the town, including during the 400th anniversary of Plymouth just a few years away, in 2020. Mr Speaker, I am proud to recognize the celebration of the new Plymouth Town Hall and the dedication of the entire Plymouth community.