John Katko

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a longtime central New York ovarian cancer advocate, Mary Gosek, who recently lost her own tremendous battle with the horrible disease. Through her work as president of the Oswego Chapter of Hope for Heather, Mary devoted countless hours to educating women and men throughout our community on the symptoms and causes of ovarian cancer. Her great passion for finding a cure inspired many and gave hope to those who were suffering. Mary's strength and determination was most visible in her efforts to raise awareness for ovarian cancer. Whether she was working together with her husband, Ed, to turn the Oswego State's ice hockey arena teal, organizing a teal takeover of the Oswego Speedway, or sharing her own experiences in Washington or Albany, Mary was committed to saving lives. Her spirit and tenacity in the fight against ovarian cancer will always be remembered. May it serve as an inspiration for others. In Mary's memory, I will continue to advocate for increased funding for research into cures, treatment, and prevention so that we can someday know a day free of ovarian cancer. May her name forever be remembered in the Congressional Record. Rest peacefully, Mary.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishment of Zach Bobbett of the Union Springs/Port Byron Bowling Team, who was part of the Section IV team in the New York State Public High School Association on March 5, 2017. The Section IV team defeated the Section III team by 228 pins to secure the title. Zach Bobbett scored the second highest score of the tournament with 1,341 pins over six games. I am honored to recognize the hard work displayed by Zach Bobbett and the rest of the Section IV team, their families, the coaching staff, and teachers. This is a historic win for Central New York and I am confident that the positive experiences from the 2017 season will yield continued success in both athletics and academics.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a dear friend and former colleague, longtime Syracuse Police Captain Richard Walsh. For nearly 20 years, I served as a Federal prosecutor in central New York. During much of this time, I had the distinct privilege of working alongside Captain Walsh and witnessed firsthand his commitment to serving the city of Syracuse. Captain Walsh joined the Syracuse Police Department in 1970, rising to the rank of captain of detectives. He led a very successful and distinguished career, retiring in 2011 after 41 years on the job. On the day of his retirement, Captain Walsh was named the grand marshal of the Syracuse St. Patrick's Day parade, a mark of high distinction for any central New Yorker. In addition to his diligent efforts to keep our community safe, Captain Walsh volunteered countless hours to many community organizations, including Hunger Project, Huntington Family Center, and the Rape Crisis Center. Eternally proud of his Irish heritage and roots in Tipperary Hill, he devoted many hours to the Syracuse Irish Festival, was a founding member of the St. Patrick's Day parade committee, and served as president of the Onondaga County Ancient Order of Hibernians. Captain Richard Walsh was the true definition of a public servant. He loved his work, he had the utmost respect of his colleagues and community, and he was relentless in his efforts to make central New York a safer and a better place. His kindness and generosity will forever be remembered. May Captain Richard Walsh's name and legacy forever be remembered in the Congressional Record. Rest peacefully, my friend.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of Special Agent William Bates of the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, after 32 years of dedicated government service. Special Agent Bates' grew up in Buffalo, New York, and attended the SUNY Fredonia. Upon graduating, he served in the U.S. Army as a Veterinary Food Inspector and then worked as a Treasury Agent for the Internal Revenue Service. In 1989, Mr. Bates joined the Defense Criminal Investigative Service where he has served as a Control Tactics Instructor and Health and Wellness Coordinator for the Syracuse, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh offices. Throughout his esteemed career, Special Agent Bates' work includes assistance in the recovery efforts in New York City immediately following the terrorist attacks on our country on September 11, 2001 as well as the investigation of Lynx Machine Total Corporation which brought to light false testing certifications on U.S. military products. He has received several commendations during his esteemed career, and is a member of the DCIS's prestigious Million Dollar Club. It is my honor to recognize Special Agent Bates and to congratulate him on his retirement after 32 years of devoted service to keeping our great nation safe. I wish him the very best in his retirement.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend the vote series on May 19, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 267 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 268. personal explanation

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to adopt this legislation. I want to note that, back in the mid-nineties when I was starting out my career as a Federal organized crime prosecutor, I was set on the border in El Paso, Texas, and I had a frontline view, as I was going after cartel-level drug traffickers back then, of just what a problem the border is. Many people think of the border's primary problem being illegal aliens, but I can tell you firsthand--and I think my colleague from Texas will agree with me--that drug trafficking remains a gigantic issue, and the poison that is killing our kids is streaming across the southwest border in particular. It is imperative that bills like this continue. It is imperative that Congressman Vela, Congresswoman McSally, and the others on their subcommittee continue their great work identifying issues along the border, both north and south, and that the BEST concept continues and, indeed, hopefully, expands in the future. Targeted law enforcement that involves people on both sides of the border and law enforcement is the only way we are ever going to solve this problem. I commend them for their work on this. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 2281, the Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017. Mr. Speaker, we are living in unprecedented times. A quick glance of recent headlines shows that our Nation is suffering from the largest heroin epidemic in the history of the United States. In fact, just last week, Bloomberg Businessweek reported that heroin has become so pervasive in our cities and so profitable for the cartels that supply it that even our local law enforcement officers are disheartened and admit that sporadic street-level arrests seem to have little to no effect. Recently, in my district and because of the hard work of our men and women in law enforcement, we witnessed the dismantling of a large-scale organization. News reports indicate 52 individuals are facing charges for about 370 crimes, including operating as drug dealers and traffickers. Mr. Speaker, if these individuals had not been stopped, their nefarious activities would have broken the dreams of children across America, and their criminal enterprise would have caused millions in economic loss through increased incarceration, rehab, and medical expenses. If they had not been stopped, their actions would have continued to introduce poison into our communities and shattered lives. Even worse, a recent trend shows that the heroin hitting our streets is becoming more lethal as drug cartels have now begun lacing heroin with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid making doses more addictive and cheaper to produce. I might add parenthetically that, for 20 years as a Federal prosecutor, I prosecuted every possible drug organization known to man. I have never seen anything with the lethality that is heroin. This epidemic is, in large part, due to the stream of illegal narcotics that is flowing across our Nation's borders. However, there are steps that can be taken to shut down these illicit pathways. Thankfully, there is a Federal task force dedicated to this singular purpose. In 2005, in response to the increase in violence along the southwest border of Mexico, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as well as other Federal, State, local, and international law enforcement officials, created what is known as BEST, the Border Enforcement Security Task Force. To date, a total of 44 BEST units have been deployed across 16 States and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. My home State of New York is well served by three BEST teams, two of which are situated on the northern border and one of which I helped stand up in Massena, New York. Nationwide, BEST teams comprise over 1,000 members who represent over 100 law enforcement agencies that have committed to jointly investigate transnational criminal activity along the southwest and northern borders and at our Nation's major seaports. Since inception, their collective efforts have initiated more than 10,654 investigations which have resulted in almost 13,000 criminal arrests, the seizure of 1.2 million pounds of narcotics, and more than $130 million. The street value of 1.2 million pounds of narcotics is astronomical. This is an impressive feat by any measure; however, as we are considering reauthorizing this important task force, it is important to highlight where there is some room for improvement. Every Congress looks at existing programs and makes adjustments when needed. That is exactly what we are proposing to do here today. Of the 44, total, BEST units, 20 of them are designated by Homeland Security Investigations as having a maritime security focus. While the Coast Guard provides critical support to Federal, State, and local partners through a majority of the maritime BESTs, not every maritime BEST is currently benefiting from Coast Guard participation. This bill mandates the participation of both a Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent and a uniformed Coast Guard intelligence officer on every maritime BEST. By utilizing both plainclothes investigators and uniformed intelligence officers, BEST will be able to partner with the Coast Guard in ongoing criminal investigations and the generation of actionable maritime intelligence. The Coast Guard is the only agency within DHS that is also an independent member of the intelligence community. This unique position, coupled with the fact that the Coast Guard has unparalleled maritime domain awareness through daily interaction with mariners and facility operators, makes it imperative that they are included in all maritime BESTS in a mandatory fashion. As we find ourselves halfway through Police Week this week, I want to take a second to pause and thank the men and women of law enforcement throughout this great Nation--many of whom I have stood side by side with for over 20 years--for all they do in keeping our country safe. I would also like to thank the ranking member, Mr. Vela, for introducing this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support the law enforcement community and vote in favor of reauthorizing this important task force. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC, May 15, 2017. Hon. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul: I write concerning H.R. 2281, the Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017. This legislation includes matters that I believe fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 2281, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure agrees to forgo action on this bill. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill would not prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I request you urge the Speaker to name members of the Committee to any conference committee named to consider such provisions. Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Sincerely, Bill Shuster, Chairman.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2281) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reauthorize the Border Enforcement Security Task Force program within the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to report that H.R. 2169 is a very bipartisan bill that passed the Committee on Homeland Security unanimously. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2169) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance information sharing in the Department of Homeland Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2169. Before I close, I want to note that I routinely engage in bipartisan efforts on behalf of Homeland Security with Congressman Vela and others. The committee works in a very bipartisan manner to do what is best for this country to keep it safe, and this bill is one of those bills that helps keep our country safe. It is critical that we ensure the proper flow of information to all law enforcement agencies, that they properly use that information, and that they have access to it on a regular basis no matter whether they are a local police officer who is working at a fusion center or whether it is an FBI agent. Everyone should have access to that information because we are all on the same team to keep this country safe. I think our bipartisan efforts that we engage in with Homeland Security on a regular basis are a good example of the good things that happen in Congress. I am proud to be a part it, and I am proud to have Mr. Vela as my colleague on that as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2169, the Improving Fusion Centers' Access to Information Act. In the years since 9/11, Congress and the executive branch have taken many steps to address information shortfalls and information-sharing shortfalls. However, we know that silos remain. The purpose of H.R. 2169 is to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is truly serving as a State and local information-sharing advocate, as originally intended by the Homeland Security Act. This bill requires the DHS to regularly review information-sharing efforts with the National Network of Fusion Centers and then work with other Federal agencies to close any identified gaps. State and local fusion centers have grown in maturity and number during the last 16 years since 9/11. There are now 78 fusion centers within the national network. As the network has matured, fusion centers have established themselves as a critical conduit for sharing terrorism, homeland security, and criminal information with Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial partners. As the threat environment continues to evolve, it is vital they have access to the tools and information systems to stay ahead of threats to the homeland. Despite existing requirements for DHS to share intelligence and information with State and local entities, I have found that the Department does not regularly assess if fusion centers have access to necessary information or databases held by other Federal agencies. H.R. 2169 addresses this deficiency by requiring the Secretary to conduct outreach to the fusion centers to identify information-sharing gaps and work with the appropriate Federal agencies to address these gaps. Additionally, the Secretary is required to identify Federal databases and datasets that should be included in the information-sharing environment and coordinate with the appropriate Federal agency to deploy such systems. H.R. 2169 includes input from the fusion centers, Department of Homeland Security, and other Federal agencies. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the National Fusion Center Association, and I am pleased they have endorsed the bill. National Fusion Center Association, April 28, 2017. Re Support for H.R. 2169--Improving Fusion Centers' Access to Information Act. Hon. John Katko, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Katko: On behalf of the National Fusion Center Association (NFCA), I write in support of your legislation--H.R. 2169--to enhance information sharing and analysis among fusion centers and federal agencies by encouraging appropriate fusion center access to federally managed information systems. As you know, the National Network of Fusion Centers (NNFC) is a focal point for analytical collaboration and information sharing on threats to public safety among federal, local, state, territorial, and tribal public safety agencies. The NFCA has worked closely with DHS, the FBI, and other partners to develop strong information sharing pathways. We have made significant strides to improve daily working relationships with our federal partners. The flow of information from state and local public safety agencies to appropriate federal agencies continues to improve, and the same is true with information coming from federal agencies to local and state jurisdictions. We are also seeing enhanced analytical collaboration. Still, challenges remain that should be addressed. Your legislation will provide important support in this effort by encouraging improved access to data from federally managed information systems that our analysts need to do their jobs in the most effective manner possible. It is crucial for Congress to consistently support a strong information sharing environment, and this legislation would assist in that effort. We appreciate your dedication to effective information sharing and analysis and look forward to working with you to move your legislation forward and accomplish our shared mission of protecting America. Sincerely, Mike Sena, President.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the courage and commitment of our policemen and -women across this great country. Every day, individuals donning the police shield risk their lives to protect and serve our local communities. Having served as a Federal organized crime prosecutor for 20 years, I have had the distinct pleasure and honor of working with countless police organizations across this country, including in my hometown, such as the Syracuse Police Department, the Syracuse Gang Violence Task Force, and the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department, among many others. Together, we worked to make Syracuse safer by going after drug and gang organizations that plague our community. While I now proudly represent New York's 24th Congressional District, their mission continues. I am elated that this body will consider two bills, the Thin Blue Line Act and the Probation Officer Protection Act, that will help protect these individuals who protect us every day. Further, I have a bill that will be debated tomorrow. This bill will help fusion centers disseminate information to our policemen and -women as they continue to tackle new and adapting threats across this country. Again, I would like to thank all our Nation's police officers and honor them this day for their dutiful service.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroic actions of two law enforcement officers from my district, Syracuse Police Department Officers Joseph Mauro and Kelsey Francemone. Both of these officers put their own lives on the line in protection of our community: Officer Mauro, in October of 2016, when he was confronted by an armed suspect in the University Hill neighborhood and Officer Francemone on Father's Day of 2016, when she approached a fatal riot head on, only to be brutally attacked by an angry crowd. For their bravery, Officers Mauro and Francemone were each nominated for the National Association of Police Organizations TOP COP Award. Next week, Officer Francemone will be honored as one of only a few nationwide winners of this prestigious award. As a federal prosecutor, I worked alongside the brave men and women of the Syracuse Police Department for nearly twenty years. I have the utmost respect for these officers and their selfless actions. Congratulations to Officers Francemone and Mauro, and I thank them for their commitment and dedication to making Syracuse a safer place.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the victory of the Onondaga Thunder Boys' Ice Hockey Team in the U14 Tier 3 New York State Championship on March 5, 2017. The Onondaga Thunder defeated White Plains by a score of 5-1 in the title game. With this win, the Onondaga Thunder took home the state title for the second time in three years. Members of the state championship team include Jordan Joslyn, Brackton Bowler, Tanner Burns, Kaleb Benedict, Brett Collier, Zach Delaney, Ben Hammond, Josh Kuchinski, Tyler Murray, Brad O'Neil, Derek Shumaker, Luke Pinkney, and Dominick Tutino. The team is coached by Greg Burns and assistants Greg Murray and Tom Joslyn. I am honored to recognize the teamwork displayed by the Onondaga Thunder and to congratulate the members of the team, their families, and the coaching staff. This is a historic win for Central New York and I am confident that the positive experiences from the 2017 season will yield continued success in both athletics and academics.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 876) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reform programs of the Transportation Security Administration, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I echo the sentiment of my colleague, Mr. Payne. He is spot on in his discussion about the vulnerabilities that have been highlighted overseas that can easily come our way if we don't act on this bill. I applaud his comments and thank him for those. This issue is critical to the safety of traveling Americans. We must act today to close every known security gap. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 876, the Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act of 2017, which seeks to implement findings from a multiyear investigation into the insider threat facing our Nation's airports. This bipartisan legislation will help mitigate an increasingly disturbing threat to safety of the traveling public. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security, it is my duty to understand and respond to the ever-changing threat landscape facing our Nation's aviation sector, which is a critical component to both America's economic and national security. In February of this year, we released a telling report on airport insider threats, which painted a disturbing picture of security vulnerabilities and gaps in screening and access controls at airports across the country. Just 3 days after the release of our report, news broke of a massive drug smuggling ring between Puerto Rico and the continental United States involving both TSA and airport employees. This network of criminals exploited their access to secure areas of airports to smuggle an astounding 20 tons--or $100 million worth--of cocaine into the United States and into our own communities. Another concerning example uncovered in our investigation throughout last Congress was when an airport employee offered to smuggle explosives on a passenger aircraft. Luckily, this individual was caught in a drug trafficking ring by the FBI and was arrested. However, we have seen multiple examples of aviation workers with access to secure areas of airports being involved in serious criminal activities, including terror plotting, after being radicalized. We cannot allow these lapses in security to continue placing the traveling public at risk, and we must continue to work together like my brother across the aisle, Mr. Payne, with our partners in security in the aviation sector and at the Transportation Security Administration. After a number of insider threat-related attacks at airports overseas, along with plots here in the United States, it is essential that we act on this legislation. This bill, if enacted, will enhance employee vetting requirements, improve procedures governing the way airports issue security credentials, and reform TSA's employee screening operations to be more targeted and effective. It will also provide policymakers with critical, previously unavailable data relating to the cost and feasibility of providing full employee screening at all domestic airports. The insider threat is real, and it is our duty to ensure the Federal Government is taking every step possible to keep the traveling public safe. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the ranking member of the subcommittee, my friend and colleague, Mrs. Watson Coleman, for her shared leadership on this issue. I would also like to thank the chairman of the full committee, Mr. McCaul, for shepherding this legislation through the committee. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, April 25, 2017. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul: I am writing with respect to H.R. 876, the ``Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act of 2017.'' This bill contains provisions within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. The Committee on Ways and Means will not seek a sequential referral on H.R. 876 so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration. This is done with the understanding that the jurisdictional interests of the Committee on Ways and Means over this and similar legislation are in no way diminished or altered. In addition, the Committee reserves the right to seek conferees on H.R. 876 and requests your support when such a request is made. I would appreciate your response confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 876 and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the House floor. Sincerely, Kevin Brady, Chairman.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the victory of the Moravia High School Boys' Basketball Team in the New York State Public High School Association Class C Championship on March 18, 2017. The Moravia Blue Devils defeated the Lake George Warriors by a score of 54- 39 to secure the Blue Devils' first state title in program history. The Blue Devils, who finished the season 22-5, were determined to win the program's first state title. Junior Kaleb Stayton led the team with 17 points followed by senior Jordan Crossgrove with 12 points. Members of the state championship team include Stayton, Crossgrove, Zack Becker, LinWei Chen, Parker Dickenson, Jack Fedrizzi, Carter Flick, Gavin Genson, Kaden Hooper, Austin Kulas, Dustin Mondics, Gabe Short, Scottie Sovocool, and Zack Stanton. The team is coached by Todd Mulvaney. I am honored to recognize the teamwork displayed by the Moravia Blue Devils and to congratulate the members of the team, their families, the coaching staff, and teachers at Moravia High School. This is a historic win for Central New York and I am confident that the positive experiences from the 2017 season will yield continued success in both athletics and academics.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the victory of the Skaneateles Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Team in the 2017 New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championship on February 11, 2017. The Skaneateles Lakers defeated Orchard Park by a score of 5-1 for their second state title. The Lakers, who never trailed a game and had nine shutouts, finished out a perfect season with a 19-0 record. They scored 109 goals this past season, while only getting scored on 13 times. Members of the undefeated state championship team include Sophie Kush, Alison Weiss, Maria McLean, Johna Halko, Lauren Jones, Kat Lindgren, Katie Halko, Emily Cox, Grace Schnorr, Abby Kuhns, Cecily Kawejsza, Katrina Harter, Anne Rubel, Megan Teachout, Heather Tanzella, Jessica Smith, Sophia Burns, Ioanna Christou, Grace Kush, Campbell Torrey, and Caroline Corbett. The team is coached by Andy Rozak. Not only did the Lakers play hard this season, but they studied hard as well. The Lakers were also a New York State Scholar Athlete team due to their academic accomplishments. I am honored to recognize the teamwork displayed by the Skaneateles Lakers and to congratulate the members of the team, their families, the coaching staff, and teachers at Skaneateles High School. This is a historic win for Central New York and I am confident that the positive experiences from the 2017 season will yield continued success in both athletics and academics.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the victory of the Jamesville-DeWitt Girls' Basketball Team in the New York State Public High School Association Class A Championship on March 18, 2017. The Jamesville-DeWitt Red Rams defeated the Pittsford-Mendon Vikings by a score of 48-46 to win the state title for the second year in a row. The Red Rams' victory over the undefeated and number one-ranked Vikings was a close game, but the tournament's most outstanding player Meg Hair scored 12 points and senior Julia Kelner scored 11 points to secure the title. Members of the state championship team include Hair, Kelner, as well as senior Angela Bussone, juniors Jamie Boeheim and Kasey Vaughan, freshmen Sydney Baker, Paige Keeler, Maya Leslie, Gabby Stickle, Andrea Sumida, and eighth graders Momoka LaClair and Tracey Edison. The team is coached by Rob Siechen. I am honored to recognize the teamwork displayed by the Jamesville- Dewitt Red Rams and to congratulate the members of the team, their families, the coaching staff, and teachers at Jamesville-Dewitt High School. This is a historic win for Central New York and I am confident that the positive experiences from the 2017 season will yield continued success in both athletics and academics.