Mike Kelly

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, December is such a great month, and there are so many great dates in December. We talk about the wonderful things that have happened in Decembers of the past. In addition to Christmas being something we celebrate, the Boston Tea Party took place in December. Also, on December 7, 1941, a horrific act happened in the United States, one that President Roosevelt said: This is a date that ``will live in infamy.'' Today, December 18, 2019, is another date that will live in infamy. Just because you hate the President of the United States, and you can find no other reason other than the fact that you are so blinded by your hate that you can't see straight, you have decided the only way we can make sure this President doesn't get elected again is to impeach him. On the floor of the people's House, the bastion of democracy and liberty in the whole world, we have decided that political power is far more important than principle. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members of the House to vote ``no'' on impeachment and to look their voters in the eye. Listen, let me tell you, the voters will remember next November what you are doing this December. This is a terrible time. This is a date that will live in infamy.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Chair, I am going to read a letter from a family back in Pennsylvania, the Stewarts, Sara, Michael, and their three daughters: Maddie, Gilly, and Daphne. It start off this way: Dear Congressman Kelly, my name is Sara Stewart, and I am from Saint Petersburg, Pennsylvania. It is my understanding that the House Ways and Means Committee is having a public hearing on H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019. Now, it appears this legislation does not have bipartisan support. It needs to take a more balanced approach. The balance is needed for patients like my 10-year-old daughter, Maddie. Maddie suffers from a rare mitochondrial deletion condition called Pearson syndrome, which is a disorder that occurs as a result of mutated genes in the body. These genes impact mitochondria of her cells that prevent them from producing enough energy for the body to function properly. Pearson syndrome is difficult to diagnose because it affects each individual differently. Maddie's symptoms through the years have included being blood transfusion- dependent for several years, the inability to heal after heat and Sun exposure, becoming type 1 diabetic, progressively losing her hearing and her vision, kidney failure, and several other daily complications, including developmental delays from having a body that runs on limited energy. It has been truly heartbreaking to see her endure this disease, but she continues to defy the odds. My message is simple to you, Mr. Kelly, and to the rest of the committee: There is no cure or treatment for Pearson syndrome. There isn't any right now. Each day is a struggle to keep Maddie balanced so her body is able to better cope with the symptoms of this terrible disorder. All we have--as well as many other families across the world--is hope. Please don't let partisan bickering impact the ability of researchers to discover and innovate new therapies that could save Maddie's life one day. The clock is ticking, and Maddie is waiting. Madam Chair, I went to visit the Stewarts. I saw this adorable child, and her mom told me: She has so much energy today, and we are really excited that she is feeling this way when you came to see her. When I looked at the Stewart family, when I looked at Maddie, when I looked at her sister Gilly, and when I looked at her sister Daphne, I thought: This isn't fair. She has never had a chance to live her life. She has already doubled the chances of what the life expectancy is. The mom is saying please don't let political bickering stand in the way of developing and innovating a new source that could save Maddie's life. Last year, there were 80-some children who had the same condition as Maddie. This Christmas, hopefully, the 40 who are left will have the chance to celebrate it. Now, I don't know how the Stewarts are registered. I don't know if the Stewarts vote, and I don't care. But I do know how the Stewarts pray, and they pray every night not just for Maddie, but for all the rest of the children who have this horrible disease. The other thing they pray for is that, in the people's House and on the floor of the people's House, we don't look at each other as Republicans and Democrats, that we look at each other the way we really are: We are moms and dads. We are grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles. If we cannot come here and agree that the hallmark of America has always been her ability to develop, to innovate, and to be the savior of the rest of the world, then what are we doing? Do we really want to make this a political battle, or do we want to start developing policy that is about people and not political power?

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Chair, do we really want to look in the eyes of a 9-year-old or a 10-year-old and say to that child: It is not just in the cards right now because we can't get together as adults and do the right thing for the right reasons and let good things happen. No. We have allowed ourselves to be so damned political and so damned divided that we turn our backs on the people who sent us here. Maddie Stewart can't develop the drug herself. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart can't develop the drug themselves. The people of Saint Petersburg, Pennsylvania, can't help Maddie develop a drug. But we can. We can by passing legislation and looking not at H.R. 3, because you know it stops innovation. Forget all the rest of the talk. It is all about innovation. It is about something new, something better, and something great that is going to save somebody's life. Let's look at H.R. 19. Let's talk about the substitute, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act. I wish we all had unlimited time to speak on this issue, but we don't. The clock is ticking. It is ticking for Maddie Stewart in Saint Petersburg, Pennsylvania. Please do the right thing for the right reasons, and good things are going to happen.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I am in its current form.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, as we get ready to leave the House today and go home for Thanksgiving, I think it has been alarming that, as we read the newspapers, as we listen, we find that so many families are not going to be celebrating Thanksgiving together because of the political divide that is taking place, not only here on the floor of the people's House, but in our homes. It is incredible to me that we have allowed our political rhetoric to divide not only Republicans and Democrats on the floor, but also our families back home. This has never happened before in the Speaker's House. We should never have this happening on the floor. Now, look, I know that we have differences of opinions. The relentless pursuit to delegitimize the election of Donald Trump has taken over any activity that should be taking place on the floor of the people's House. Madam Speaker, as we stand here in the House, on the floor of the people's House, and we get ready to depart for Thanksgiving celebration, it is hard to imagine what it is that this majority has in mind when it comes to legislation because we are not doing legislation. We have concentrated on impeachment. Now, I would ask all Members to recommit, and recommit for the purposes that the American people elected us: to do legislation that makes sense, to do legislation that is long overdue, to do legislation that is critical, to do legislation that makes sense for every single American. I appeal to you, not as a Republican, but as an American. Have we left this floor and decided that we can no longer work together? Because the American people are drawing that conclusion. And when I go home, they say to me: Can't you all agree on anything? And I say: Yes, we can. Madam Speaker, we have wasted precious time and millions of hardworking American taxpayer dollars on a pursuit of an effort to impeach a President of the United States. We have done nothing to legislate and to act in the best interest of every American. I would ask again that we look at what we are doing as Americans and not as Republicans or Democrats, because the people back home can't understand why it is that they sent us here to do what we are not doing today. Why? Why are we not doing it? Madam Speaker, at some point, I would hope and pray that the greatest nation the world has ever known, the defenders of liberty and freedom all over the world, could take a look and see what we are doing right now and ask: What is the message we are sending to the rest of the world? Really? America is caught up in an effort to impeach the duly elected President of the United States? And why? Because we have been so consumed with hate that we can no longer see straight. Look, why are we not passing the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, which is a jobs bill? Why are we not passing the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2020, which is critical to our safety? Why are we not passing the Department of Defense Appropriations Act? Madam Speaker, I appreciate you, but I am going to ask my colleagues to please extend to me the same respect that I extend to you.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I would, Madam Speaker, but I don't think the other side is interested in hearing what I have to say. Madam Speaker, we also have not passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act. Can you believe we are that irresponsible? Legislation to secure operational control of our southern border, we are not doing that. And we are not doing bipartisan legislation to lower prescription drug prices and handle surprise billings and preexisting conditions. Why are we not doing those things that are the most important things to our citizens back home? I would ask that we look into what we are doing and if we are doing it strictly for political purposes and in a power grab. That is not why the American people sent us here. That is not why the majority on the floor of the House changed during the last election. But now people are seeing exactly what happens when the majority switches up, and when I go home, people ask me: Why aren't you doing something about what is happening in Congress today? I say: You know what. That was America's choice, not ours. When we are in the majority, we are able to govern. Madam Speaker, I would like to sincerely wish all of our colleagues a happy Thanksgiving. God bless America. I yield back the balance of my time. Point of Order

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I appeal the ruling of the Chair.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a man who has achieved greatness in motorsports, business, and in his community. On October 24th, Roger Penske was awarded the highest honor a civilian can receive, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This award is not given lightly. According to the White House, to receive such an honor one must either contribute ``to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or significant public or private endeavors.'' It is fair to say, that Mr. Penske has done much in his life to grow his community into a better place and his business into the global industry leader it is today. Mr. Penske has had significant success in both auto racing and business for more than 50 years. After forming his own auto racing team in 1965, Team Penske has won over 500 races and 36 national championships. The team's most recent wins include the 2018 NASCAR championship and 2019 Indianapolis 500, which marks a record breaking 18 Indianapolis 500 victories for a team owner. Since starting his own car dealership in 1969, Penske Corporation has expanded into a company that generates $32 billion in revenues and employs approximately 64,000 people. However, Mr. Penske is not only a man with a mind for business, he is also a man with a generous heart. In 2005 he was named Michiganian of the Year after vowing to spend $35 million, in order to revive and restore neighborhoods in Detroit. Just as Penske Corporation is an exceptional example of a great American business, so also is Roger Penske an outstanding example of an American citizen. Our country is fortunate to have Roger Penske as a role model for generations to come. I offer Mr. Penske my sincere congratulations on this prestigious honor.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate our country's brewers. This week, some of America's 7,000 beer brewers and importers are in our nation's capital as part of the Beer Institute's beer jobs showcase. They are meeting with lawmakers to discuss how they're creating more than 2.1 million good-paying jobs and generating $328 billion in economic activity. One beer job contributes to 31 more in a wide range of industries, including farming, manufacturing, trucking and restaurants. Every congressional district is home to a brewery. My home state of Pennsylvania has a rich history with brewing that dates all the way back to the 1600s. Currently, we have more than 500 breweries that employ 77,000 people. That's why I'm proud to have co-authored the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act with my friend and colleague Congressman Ron Kind of Wisconsin. Today, H.R. 1175 has 288 cosponsors. Our bipartisan bill would provide permanent federal excise tax relief to America's brewers and beer importers, ensuring they have the resources to reinvest in their businesses, hire new employees and continue to innovate. The federal excise tax cut was enacted in 2017, but it is set to expire at the end of the year. By extending this tax relief, brewers can continue to invest, produce and create America's favorite beers. Brewers across our nation exemplify the American dream and our country's spirit of entrepreneurship. As Americans, let's raise a glass to our beer-making heritage.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge the Speaker to immediately schedule this important bill.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Listen, I share the same concerns. I don't think there is anybody I agree with, probably, on 99 percent of what we talk about than Mr. Neal; and I have been, for the last couple years, trying to figure out how to fix this. If this would actually fix it, that would be great. We look at this like it is some type of a government program that hasn't been run right; and Lord knows, there is enough of those out there. This is a private plan. We keep talking about union members, and I have to tell you, I live in a union town. I grew up with union members. I work with people. My dad was the first Kelly to wear a white shirt to work for crying out loud. But the question isn't about union members being irresponsible. It is about union plans that just didn't function the way they are supposed to. If I knew going out of here today and voting for this legislation would fix the problem, I would do it in a minute. But we know it is not going to. And then we will have people who will clap and say, yes, they passed it. Well, we are going in the right direction. And we know it is not going any further than the floor of the House. Fixing the plan is paramount. Let's quit figuring out who we are going to put the blame on and figure out how we are going to fix it. I am not saying it is anybody's fault on their own. But, collectively, you have got to look at, if I am a member of a union, I am saying: So all those things that I won at the bargaining table, all that compensation I passed up, all those things that I could have asked for but didn't because I was planning for the future, I found out that the people who I entrusted my future to weren't capable of running the program the right way. The program that we have at my small business is okay. We are going to be able to meet our obligations. We have got to stop using taxpayer money to fix irresponsible decisions or actions by people who didn't-- maybe they knew what they were doing; maybe they didn't know what they were doing. I am not blaming anybody. But the real problem sits on our doorstep right now today. And believe me, there is nothing easier than loaning other people's money to somebody who needs it. I get that. But the truth of the matter is every single penny we talk about comes out of hardworking American taxpayers' pockets. They had no role to play in this, and what we are saying is you are going to have to bail them out.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I want to fix this. I want to see it fixed, and I want to see everybody in labor feel that all those generational gains, all of that negotiation actually meant something. I think it is a shame when they look at, well, why isn't it functioning the way we were told it was functioning when we signed that contract? It wasn't their fault. It certainly wasn't the rest of America's taxpayers. Something failed, probably a lot more than one instance's worth. But today, we aren't fixing this. We are putting it across something that isn't going to get through the Senate, and we are giving people false hope, which I think is the worst thing we can do. Let's not make promises we can't keep. Chairman Neal, I would be glad to work with you any amount of time. However we have to do it to get this fixed, it has to get fixed.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I think dates matter and I think votes matter, and I think that sometimes because of where we are, this is kind of this Potomac amnesia. We say we want to raise people's wages, we want to create jobs, we want to be able to do things that lift every single boat because that is what a rising tide does. It is not a Democrat tide; it is not a Republican tide; it is a rising tide for the American people. I would just want to remind my colleagues, in December of 2017, not one of you was on board with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. You could not vote for it in the House; you could not vote for it in the Senate. And we come here today and we talk about minimum wage and raising minimum wages, and I would just suggest to you that America is not about minimals. Nobody comes to America because I may get a minimum wage increase. They come to America because of maximum opportunity. Why would we dwell on a minimum wage when you had the chance in December of 2017 to lift all boats? Why would we turn our back on an opportunity to completely change the economy of the United States? Why would we turn our back on workers who had not been employed for many years, and we sit today with millions of open jobs and we don't have enough workers to fill them? And what are we talking about today? We are trying to right a wrong. We are trying to fix, somehow, a wrongheaded decision to vote against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. And a lot of it had to do with not because we were Republicans, but because we have somebody in the White House that we just don't like; and, my God, if we do something that lifts the hopes of all Americans and the wishes of all Americans and Donald Trump gets credit for it, that just won't work in 2020. I would ask my friends on the other side, if you really want to see America soar, stop putting roadblocks in the way. Stop standing in the way of hardworking American taxpayers who couldn't care less what your political affiliation is but watch the legislation that you pass and, more importantly, the legislation that you passed on. I would just remind you--and I know you are going to tell me the average wages in Pennsylvania--those wages are only available if you get hired.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this is a great day for us. We worked with Chairman Neal on this and Joe Courtney. I don't normally go out on a limb, but it is nice to see a bunch of Irish guys get together--I am not sure you can say that anymore in the people's House--to make sure that we are protecting so many people who have earned healthcare through their employer. I think the last couple days, if you were to look at what happened here in the House and you were to go back home and talk to people back home, they would ask, ``Can't you guys get along on anything? Can't you put away these things you fight over and actually start to talk about the things that help us? Can't you do things like that?'' We have watched it, Madam Speaker, and I am sure people are back home saying, ``They can't do anything.'' Well, I am here to tell you today that is just not true. You are going to see a bipartisan effort today on a bipartisan bill to make sure that hardworking Americans get to keep their employer-sponsored healthcare. Those are people in labor unions. Those are people in everyday businesses: small businesses, big businesses, all across the board. What we are doing today is a move in the right direction. What we are doing today is truly bipartisan, and we hope it becomes bicameral. Today you are going to see both Republicans and Democrats come together to do the right thing for the right reasons, and good things are going to come of that. It just doesn't get any better than this, especially at a time when you go back home and people just look at us and say, ``Holy smokes. On the floor of the people's House, you guys can't get along on anything?'' Well, we are. We are going to get along on something. And we are going to do something that is really big, and we are going to pass H.R. 748, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act. It is also known as the Cadillac tax. I happen to be a Cadillac dealer. Cadillac has forever been described as the standard of the world. The healthcare piece we are talking about is a standard of the world. And so many times in the past it was described as, this is just too darn generous for generations of people who went to the bargaining table and negotiated, as part of their labor agreements, healthcare. Too generous? Too good? For all those who thought that was a good statement or a good idea, that is just too bad because it was terrible. It made no sense. Today, we are going to change that. We are going to take the time we have today on the floor to talk about it, to talk to our colleagues and say we all need to be on board with this. By the way, the gentleman knows this because we have been working on it for a long time. It is the gentleman's bill this session, but it has gone back and forth, depending on who the majority is. This is the end of today's talking when it comes to partisan gridlock because it is not going to happen. Much like Mark Twain when he was overseas one time, in London, and somebody printed in the paper that Mark Twain was not only ill but that he had died. Mark Twain replied, ``The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.'' Let's use that today when we talk about the fact that we can't get along here in the people's House. The gentleman and I have worked hard on this. Last Congress, we had 304 cosponsors. This Congress, our legislation has more than 370 cosponsors. That is the majority of both parties, Democratic and Republican. Our bill is going to repeal this onerous tax, originally passed as part of the Affordable Care Act, that would have been assessed on any health plan that would provide more than $10,200 for individual coverage, $27,500 for family coverage. I deplore the fact that it was called too generous for hardworking Americans who get up every day and go off to work to make sure they can put a roof over the head of their family, food on the table, clothes on the backs of their kids, and somehow plan for the future. If that is a bad benefit, I want to see what a good one looks like. According to researchers, it is projected--I think Chairman Neal just went over some of these numbers--that 75 percent of employer-sponsored health plans would be affected if we allow this tax to stand. That was put in the Affordable Care Act, but it was never enforced. Today, we have a chance to do away with it fully, just repeal it. That is what we are trying to get to. The groups that support this legislation go across the board. There are millions of workers waiting for us to do something today to act in their best interests. More than 665 organizations have weighed in, in support of repealing this tax. It is absolutely an incredible effort that is going to take place today. I can't say this enough: It is a bipartisan effort by the majority of both parties to get this done for hardworking Americans, to protect not only themselves but their families. It is a benefit of generational negotiations. It is an incredible piece of legislation that we are going to get through today. I could keep talking about this forever. I can't wait to get back home again to tell people we got it done. Keep in mind, I am going to say that ``we got it done,'' not that ``I got it done.'' I have never seen another place where people take credit for legislation that they had nothing to do with, that they kind of inherited from previous sessions and say, ``Well, this is my bill.'' This is not my bill. This is a bill that we have been trying to pull off for many, many years, not just me, not just Joe Courtney, but together, all of us, Republicans and Democrats, acting in the best interests of the people we represent here on the floor of the people's House. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes).

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes).

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks).

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Chair, may I inquire how much time is left.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to thank my colleagues on the other side. There is an old saying in life that sometimes you get a second chance to do the right thing. Eight years ago when the Affordable Care Act was passed, I am sure it was an oversight or an undersight or just not actually understanding what was taking place that day, my colleagues on the other side at that point were looking to pass the Affordable Care Act, and one of the victims in that was employer-sponsored insurance. We referred to it today as the ``Cadillac tax,'' and I am glad we used that term, quite frankly. I told you earlier I am a Cadillac dealer, so I am really happy to hear it. Any time anybody thinks something is outstanding, they call it a Cadillac. But what we are going to do today has nothing to do with fancy cars. It has nothing to do with extravagant health plans, but it does have everything to do with punishing hardworking Americans and their families. What we are doing today is a crucial step toward protecting employer-sponsored health insurance for all Americans. Again, as I said earlier, we are doing the right things for the right reasons for the right people, not just Republicans, not just Democrats, but every single American out there who gets his or her health insurance through their employer. It is a remarkable thing to see happen here on the people's floor, the people's House, where we come together and agree that we can fix a wrong, we can right a wrong, we can make things right that we maybe had a different look at 8 years ago but we decided today that it just really makes sense to do that. I want to give a special thank-you, though, to my good friends Tom Reed and Josh Gottheimer for forming the Problem Solvers Caucus. In the rules package this year, they were able to bring up a rule that says if you get 290 sponsors or cosponsors on a piece of legislation, that needs to come forward. Joe Courtney has worked on this for many years, and we have already talked about the number of people who were already on board and ready to see this come forward, but it just couldn't get through the procedures to get to the floor. And I think when I go back home, people would say to me, if you have so many people that agree on the same thing and are doing the right thing for the right reasons, why can't you get it done? And then you have to say: Well, you know what? Not only do you not understand it, I don't either. If we are acting in the best interests of the people we represent, then we should be able to do these things. So sometimes you take a look at what is holding you back from doing the right thing and you say there is something in the rules that needs to change, and that has taken place today. But the really great part of it is--the really great part, is that Republicans and Democrats are coming together in the peoples' House and doing the right thing, ensuring, at least from our part of the Congress, that we can repeal this onerous tax on hardworking Americans. So I am so glad to be here today and I am so thankful. Working with Joe Courtney has been absolutely marvelous. The gentleman has really had staying power. He has never given up on this. He has stayed on it and stayed on it and stayed on it. There is an old saying: Play through the whistle. I have got to tell you, Madam Speaker, in this case, Joe Courtney played through the echo of the whistle. He never gave up. So to be here with my colleagues today and coming to a conclusion that this is the right thing for us to do is really good. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friends that came here and spoke today on behalf of our side of the aisle for supporting this. We have had an opportunity this afternoon to do something, to do something not for ourselves, but for the people who sent us here to represent them. Madam Speaker, having said that, I would urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of this piece of legislation and pass it and send it on to the Senate, where we would hope they would understand that at this end of the Capitol, there is overwhelming support for hardworking Americans and their healthcare. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize one of my constituents from back home in Western Pennsylvania, Mr. Sam Zurzolo. Sam is a lifelong resident of Butler County and an admirable veteran who proudly served as a Sergeant Major in the United States Marine Corps. Sam is the epitome of a service-minded citizen and his unwavering dedication to the community is inspiring and praiseworthy. Sam had a successful military career, dedicating thirty years to the United States Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps Reserves. During this time, Sam served in various capacities and was stationed all throughout the country. Regardless of the assignment or location, Sam displayed an exemplary work ethic and went above and beyond to serve the surrounding communities and volunteer where there was a need. His efforts did not go unnoticed and he was awarded numerous certificates of appreciation and meritorious mast, including the following: Navy Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Star, Marine Corp Good Conduct Medal with 3 Stars, Marine Corps Reserve Medal, Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon, Cold War Certificate & Ribbon, Rifle Expert Badge and numerous Pistol Expert Badges. After his military service Sam spent eighteen years working as a maintenance superintendent for Oxford Development, a real estate and construction company, before retiring. Driven by a desire to continue serving, he got involved with local government and in 2005 Sam was elected to serve as a Butler Township Commissioner, a position which he maintains today. Furthermore, Sam is the Vice-Chairman of the Butler Township Planning Commission and he serves on the Executive Committee for the American Legion Post 778. Sam is actively involved with the Butler County United Way and the Butler County Rotary Club. As a tireless volunteer for these organizations, his involvement has been absolutely essential to the success of many projects. From taking the lead on a major west-end revitalization project to overseeing the construction of local playgrounds, Sam has spent thousands of hours working to enhance the community. He has installed flag poles, constructed monuments and memorials, remodeled homes for wounded marines, mentored local Eagle Scouts, and much more. In addition, Sam is a past master of the Masonic Lodge, a 32nd Degree Mason, and a lifelong volunteer with Lifesteps and the group Toys for Tots, which he started in Butler in 1983. His involvement does not stop there, Sam is also a member of countless civic organizations, such as, but not limited to: 2nd Marine Division Association, Sons of Italy, Loyal Order of the Moose, and Butler County Law Enforcement Association. Sam has been a catalyst for improvement throughout the community and his passion and dedication deserve praise. He is a leader in the truest sense of the word and a role model for those who are privileged to know him. Sam has built a legacy based on selflessness, compassion, and integrity. He has set a standard of excellence and generosity that will inspire others for generations to come. Therefore, on behalf of the 16th Congressional District, the State of Pennsylvania, and the United States of America, I would like to express sincere gratitude and appreciation to Sam Zurzolo--an extraordinary individual, a noble public servant, and a true Community Champion.