Stephen Lynch

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 2711) to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the transportation of the dependents, remains, and effects of certain Federal employees who die while performing official duties or as a result of the performance of official duties.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, the United States Postal Service, Postal Inspectors Equity Act, is intended to allow postal inspectors to receive full law enforcement availability pay (LEAP) comparable to criminal investigators of other executive branch agencies. Postal inspectors protect the U.S. Postal Service, its employees and its customers from criminal attack, and protect the nation's mail system from criminal misuse. Under current law, compensation and benefits for postal inspectors are required to ``be maintained on a standard of comparability to the compensation and benefits paid for comparable levels of work in the executive branch of the Government outside of the Postal Service.'' See Title 39, U.S.C. 1003(c). Currently, the Postal Service is paying postal inspectors LEAP, but such payments are not statutorily required. As written, the bill will require the Postal Service to pay postal inspectors LEAP pursuant to statute. The United States Postal Service, Postal Inspectors Equity Act will amend Title 5, U.S.C. 5545a to define postal inspectors as law enforcement officers eligible to receive LEAP. The bill will preserve and protect postal inspectors' law enforcement availability pay and ensure that the Postal Inspection Service will be able to recruit and retain highly qualified postal inspectors.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, the United States Postal Service, Postal Inspectors Equity Act, is intended to allow postal inspectors to receive full law enforcement availability pay (LEAP) comparable to criminal investigators of other executive branch agencies. Postal inspectors protect the U.S. Postal Service, its employees and its customers from criminal attack, and protect the nation's mail system from criminal misuse. Under current law, compensation and benefits for postal inspectors are required to ``be maintained on a standard of comparability to the compensation and benefits paid for comparable levels of work in the executive branch of the Government outside of the Postal Service.'' See Title 39, U.S.C. 1003(c). Currently, the Postal Service is paying postal inspectors LEAP, but such payments are not statutorily required. As written, the bill will require the Postal Service to pay postal inspectors LEAP pursuant to statute. The United States Postal Service, Postal Inspectors Equity Act will amend Title 5, U.S.C. 5545a to define postal inspectors as law enforcement officers eligible to receive LEAP. The bill will preserve and protect postal inspectors' law enforcement availability pay and ensure that the Postal Inspection Service will be able to recruit and retain highly qualified postal inspectors.

Mr. LYNCH

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

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, in closing, I just want to thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry) for his foresight and for proposing this resolution. In closing, I want to wish all the moms in Massachusetts and across America a happy Mother's Day, including my own mom and my mother-in-law and my wife. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present House Resolution 1295 for consideration. This legislation celebrates the role of mothers in the United States and supports the goals and ideals of Mother's Day. Introduced by my colleague and friend Representative Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska on April 22, 2010, House Resolution 1295 enjoys the support of over 60 Members of Congress, and I am proud to say that I have gone out on a limb and become one of those cosponsors. First, I would like to thank the gentleman from Nebraska for introducing the resolution. I would also like to thank Chairman Towns and Mr. Chaffetz, my colleague on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for bringing the resolution to the floor today. On Sunday, May 9, 2010, we will celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the first official Mother's Day, which was celebrated on May 10, 1908, in Grafton, West Virginia, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It may come as a surprise to some, particularly our own mothers, that it took nearly 103 years for our country to officially designate a day praising motherhood. Thankfully, in 1908 Senator Elmer Burkett of Nebraska had the good sense to propose making Mother's Day into a national holiday. And since 1914, Congress has recognized the second Sunday of May as a time to celebrate the immeasurable contributions mothers have made toward building strong families, thriving communities, and our great Nation generally. I would not presume to speak on behalf of America's 82 million mothers. Instead, I would simply recognize their importance in shaping our society and our future. Many of our greatest national heroes attribute their own successes to the guidance of their moms. While examples abound, I will quote President Abraham Lincoln, who once said of his own mother, ``I remember my mother's prayers, and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.'' I am sure that similar thanks and praise are appropriate for mothers of every American. Madam Speaker, although I think you would agree that it is completely inadequate to spend just 1 day a year celebrating the contributions of America's mothers, my wife regularly reminds me that in our house every day is Mother's Day. As a small token of our appreciation, I urge this body to join its 63 cosponsors and agree to House Resolution 1295. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1295) celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1247) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that public servants should be commended for their dedication and continued service to the Nation during Public Service Recognition Week, May 3 through 9, 2010, and throughout the year.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I want to thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) for his support on this resolution and cosponsorship. I ask my colleagues to join us in supporting House Resolution 1247. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I now yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as chairman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Federal workforce, postal service, and the District of Columbia, I am pleased to present House Resolution 1247 for consideration. This legislation expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that public servants should be commended for their dedication and continued service to the Nation during Public Service Recognition Week and throughout the year. As the original sponsor of the resolution, along with my friend and colleague, Mr. Chaffetz of Utah, I'm proud to say that House Resolution 1247 has the support of 60 Members of Congress. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Chaffetz for jointly introducing the resolution with me and for his work on bringing this to the floor today. I'd also like to thank the Partnership for Public Service for their role in organizing this annual celebration week, as well as for their superior work promoting careers in the public sector. Madam Speaker, this week marks the 27th anniversary of Public Service Recognition Week. From May 3 through May 9, 2010, Public Service Recognition Week is designed to commemorate the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice made by our Nation's Federal, State, and local government employees. It's highly appropriate that we take a moment each year to fully appreciate the extraordinary deeds that are performed by our public employees throughout our country and abroad. Among other things, public servants fight fires and they enforce our laws; teach in our schools and libraries; defend our Nation; and protect the environment and our national parks. These individuals deserve our highest praise, although too often they are criticized and undervalued. There are millions of individuals who work in government services in every city, county, and State across America and in hundreds of cities abroad. We all benefit enormously from the hard work of these dedicated individuals, and I'd like to take this opportunity to highlight a terrific example from my own district of a good Federal employee who performs on a daily basis tasks that are vital to a lot of people that we worry about--and that is within the Veterans Administration Boston health care system. The VA system is a consolidation of facilities which delivers high-quality patient care to our Nation's veterans in areas such as mental health services, occupational therapy, and the women's veterans' homeless programs. The employees of all of these centers help to ensure that our Nation's heroes receive the health care they deserve. In particular, Cecilia McVey, who is the Associate Director of Nursing and Patient Care Services at VA Boston, who began her Federal career in 1972, and continues to be recognized as a leader of the Boston VA health care system. Madam Speaker, our public servants are being recognized this week. I just want to talk about a few of them very, very briefly. For example, Pius Bannis works for the field office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. He has worked tirelessly and selflessly providing assistance to Haitian orphans in the aftermath of the devastation of the January, 2010, earthquake. Sergeant Kimberly D. Munley and Sergeant Mark A. Todd, Sr., both civilian employees, members of AFGE, the American Federation of Government Employees, who responded to the shooting at Fort Hood. These are civilian employees but they confronted an armed gunman and also mass chaos. The two civilian Defense Department police officers brought an end to the tragic carnage and rampage at Fort Hood that killed 14 people and wounded 43 others. Also, Sara Bloom, an attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office in my own district of Massachusetts. Sara Bloom led the legal case against one of the major drug manufacturers and recovered $2.3 billion on behalf of the American people in fines and penalties--the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the United States. Jamie Konstas, an Intelligence Analyst at the FBI. He provided vital resources in the fight against commercial and sexual exploitation of children, which has resulted in the conviction of more than 500 individuals and predators and the rescue of more than a thousand child victims. Also, Carl W. Pike and the Project Coronado Team. They led the largest strike against the La Familia Mexican drug cartel, resulting in more than a thousand arrests, plus the seizure of 1\1/2\ tons of methamphetamine and $32 million in cash. Also, Terry Glass and the Army Medical Support Systems Team, which developed a state-of-the-art medical evacuation kit to provide lifesaving treatment and emergency transportation to soldiers severely wounded by roadside bombs. Lastly, Robert James (RJ) Simonds, who dedicated his 20-year career to fighting the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, advising policymakers on the creation of lifesaving programs and working in developing nations to assure those families receive those services. Those are just a handful of the public servants that we recognize this week. They are a wonderful reflection of what a lot of people do every day. Madam Speaker, our public servants' hard work and dedication contribute significantly to the greatness and prosperity of our Nation. It is for this reason that, with the help the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) I introduce this resolution, and I urge its adoption. Public servants improve our lives on a daily basis. I hope this Congress will take the time to honor all of those who have dedicated their life to our country by voting in favor of House Resolution 1247. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for his thoughtful comments and his leadership on this issue. I do want to just try to address the scoring aspect of it, for those who are, as rightly they should be, sensitive to the budget. Our understanding from the estimate provided by the Congressional Budget Office is that this provision would cost approximately $30 million over 5 years. However, I think it is important to point out that during the recent unexpected snowstorms in the Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia area this past winter, in February we saved $30 million per day. So the program costs $30 million over 5 years, and in one severe snowstorm, we saved $30 million per day by utilizing the telework function. In closing, I also want to thank Mr. Sarbanes and Mr. Connolly for their leadership on our side and also the bipartisanship showed by the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito) and Mr. Wolf as well. I think they did a fine job. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 1722. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1722) to require the head of each executive agency to establish and implement a policy under which employees shall be authorized to telework, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, at this time, it gives me great pleasure to yield 5 minutes to Representative John Sarbanes, the gentleman from Maryland, who is the lead sponsor on our side in support of this legislation.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentlelady from West Virginia for her thoughtful remarks, and I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) who is also an original cosponsor and a tireless champion of this legislation.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as chairman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Federal workforce, postal service, and the District of Columbia, I am pleased to present H.R. 1722 for consideration. This legislation seeks to improve and expand access to telework among Federal employees governmentwide. The bipartisan measure before us today was introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative John Sarbanes of Maryland, along with myself and Congressmen Frank Wolf, Gerry Connolly, Jim Moran, Dutch Ruppersberger, and Danny Davis on March 25, 2009. The bill was amended and favorably ordered reported by the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on April 14, 2010. Madam Speaker, despite the evolving nature of the way the Federal Government conducts its affairs, telework continues to be underutilized by Federal agencies. H.R. 1722 provides for improvements to increase the number of Federal employees that participate in telework programs. Some of the most notable aspects of this legislation include: requiring agencies to develop telework policies within 1 year that allow authorized employees to telework; directing the Office of Personnel Management to develop regulations on overall telework policies and to annually evaluate agency telework programs; requiring the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidelines on information security protections for telework; and instructing agencies to designate a telework managing officer to ensure effective development and implementation of telework plans. H.R. 1722 also seeks to elevate the importance of incorporating telework into the continuity of operations planning of agencies. Notably, the Office of Personnel Management and its Director, John Berry, estimated that telework reduced the estimated cost of lost productivity during the snowstorms this past winter by $30 million. H.R. 1722 is critical if the Federal Government is going to evolve into a more efficient, prepared, and environmentally responsible entity. This legislation is being considered with an amendment making technical corrections. Notably, H.R. 4106, a bill similar to H.R. 1722, was passed by this body during the 110th Congress. I urge my colleagues to again take action to move telework forward by passing H.R. 1722, the Telework Improvements Act of 2010. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I don't believe we have any further speakers, but I will continue to reserve.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I present House Resolution 1103 for consideration. This resolution honors the life and accomplishments of Sam Houston for his historical contributions to the expansion of the United States. Introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Mike McCaul of Texas, on February 24, 2010, House Resolution 1103 was favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee on April 14, 2010, by unanimous consent. In addition, the legislation enjoys the support of over 50 Members of Congress. As we all know, Sam Houston, a 19th century American soldier, statesman and politician, played a pivotal role in the development of the State of Texas as well as our collective national history. As a soldier enlisted in the 7th Infantry Regiment, Private and then-First Lieutenant Houston fought courageously in the Battle of 1812 during which he received nearly mortal wounds at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in March of 1814. As a practicing attorney in the State of Tennessee, Mr. Houston served as a district attorney in 1819, as the State's adjutant general in 1820, and then as a major general in 1821. As a United States Representative elected to the 18th and 19th Congresses, Mr. Houston proudly represented the State of Tennessee before his service as the State's Governor from 1827 to 1829. As a subsequent resident of the State of Oklahoma, Mr. Houston served as a vocal advocate in support of Native American rights and in 1829 was recognized as a member of the Cherokee Nation by the Cherokee National Council. However, Mr. Houston is best known for his relentless efforts to secure statehood for Texas. In 1835, Mr. Houston moved to the Texas territory and promptly served as a member of the convention at San Felipe de Austin, a gathering of colonists designed to promote and establish separate statehood for Texas. One year later, Mr. Houston was elected to serve as commander in chief of the Texas army and in this capacity successfully led his volunteer Texas forces against those of Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana in the Battle of San Jacinto. Notably, the battle culminated with the signing of the Treaty of Velasco, which recognized the Republic of Texas. In recognition of his service, Mr. Houston was subsequently elected to serve as the first President of the Texas Republic, a position that he held from 1836 to 1838 and again from 1841 to 1844. Fittingly, the city of Houston was named after the President of the Texas Republic in 1837. Mr. Houston also served the Texas Republic as a member of the Texas Congress from 1838 to 1840, and upon Texas' admission as a State into the Union, served as a United States Senator from the 31st through the 34th Congresses. Mr. Houston would also serve as Governor of the State of Texas from 1859 to 1861, making him the only person in the United States to ever have served as the Governor of two different States. Notably, Mr. Houston's tenure as a Texas Governor ended with his refusal to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy following Texas' secession from the Union, an act that Mr. Houston deemed illegal. Mr. Houston died on July 26, 1863, at the age of 70. Fittingly, his last words, as spoken to his wife, Margaret, were reportedly: ``Texas, Texas, Margaret . . . '' Mr. Speaker, let us honor the lasting contributions of Sam Houston to the State of Texas and our national history through the passage of this resolution, H. Res. 1103. I urge my colleagues to join Mr. McCaul of Texas in supporting H. Res. 1103. I reserve the balance of my time.