Stephen Lynch

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I welcome and appreciate the kind remarks of the lady from North Carolina. In closing, I simply ask all Members to support Representative Al Green of Texas, who is the lead sponsor of this resolution. I urge all members to vote ``yes'' on House Resolution 1046.

Mr. LYNCH. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I present House Resolution 1046 for consideration. This legislation recognizes the significance of Black History Month, which is annually commemorated during the month of February. Introduced by my colleague, Representative Al Green of Texas, on January 27, 2010, House Resolution 1046 enjoys the support of over 60 Members of Congress. Notably, today's floor consideration of the bill offers Members of this body an additional opportunity to pay tribute to the remarkable and diverse contributions that African Americans have made to our Nation's history and culture. Madam Speaker, as we all know, the month of February marks our annual commemoration of Black History Month. Originally celebrated as Negro History Week in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a renowned African American author and scholar, our annual tribute to the leading role of African Americans in our Nation's history has since grown to a month-long commemorative celebration. Whether we recall the story of Crispus Attucks, an African American from my home State of Massachusetts who became the first American casualty of the Revolutionary War, or the works of such compelling individuals as Harriet Tubman, Dr. King, Malcolm X, Madam C.J. Walker, and General Colin Powell, we all understand that the contributions of African Americans are intricately woven into our identity as a people and as a Nation. Similarly, we need not look further than the thousands of brave military service men and women who have served and who are continuing to serve our Nation with honor and distinction at home and abroad, or the distinguished members of our own Congressional Black Caucus, or of course our 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, to witness the diverse and significant influence of African Americans on American society. Madam Speaker, it is also important to note that it is not just our African American pioneers or leaders that have made such a difference. Importantly, it is the everyday citizen that is serving as a teacher, a mentor, a pastor, a doctor, a first responder, a public servant, or a parent who continues to impact our Nation's history in an equally powerful and positive way. Across our Nation, Black History Month is marked by a variety of educational and cultural programs, as well as special celebrations and events designed to share the strength, ingenuity, and accomplishment of our fellow citizens with the world. Madam Speaker, as we move to recognize Black History Month in 2010, let us all recall the experience and valuable contributions of African Americans to the United States of America. Moreover, let us not forget that black history is, in truth, American history. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 1046. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. 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 526 for consideration. This legislation recognizes the historical and cultural significance of the John Mercer Langston Golf Course as well as its contributions to achieving racial equality. Introduced by my colleague, Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia, on June 10, 2009, H. Res. 526 enjoys the support of 50 Members of Congress. In addition, a Senate companion bill to this legislation, Senate Resolution 162, was introduced by Senator Russ Feingold, and was subsequently passed by the United States Senate on May 21, 2009, by unanimous consent. Madam Speaker, over the course of its 70-year history, the John Mercer Langston Golf Course has stood as a symbol of the struggle for racial equality in the District of Columbia and across our Nation. In addition, the Langston Golf Course continues to serve as a regional hub for the promotion of golf as a recreational and as a professional sport in the Greater Washington, D.C., area as well as being an invaluable community institution dedicated to providing greater educational opportunities to area residents. Located alongside the Anacostia River in northeast Washington, D.C., the Langston Golf Course was constructed in the mid-1930s in response to the exclusion of African Americans from all but one of the District's public golf courses. Appropriately, the Langston Golf Course was named in honor of a renowned African American educator and political figure, John Mercer Langston, who founded and became the first dean of the Howard University School of Law, the first president of Virginia State University and, in 1888, the first African American Congressman elected to represent the State of Virginia. From its official opening in 1939, the Langston Golf Course has served as the home course of the Royal Golf Club and the Wake Robin Golf Club--the Nation's first clubs for African American men and women. In addition, the Langston Golf Course has consistently attracted a variety of outstanding African American golfers, including Ted Rhodes, Calvin Peete, Jim Thorpe, and Lee Elder, who, along with his wife, Rose, managed the course during the 1970s. Moreover, as home of the widely known Capital City Open Golf Tournament, the Langston Golf Course has attracted a variety of prominent Americans from the world of politics, sports, and entertainment, including President Gerald Ford, heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, and comedian Bob Hope. Today, the Langston Golf Course continues to serve the general public by offering year-round educational and golf instruction designed to promote the sport of golf as well as educational opportunities in the Washington, D.C., community. In 2002, the Langston Golf Course entered into a partnership with Howard University to establish the Interpretive Educational Center, a learning facility that offers comprehensive child and adult educational programs as well as life skills workshops. Additionally, for over 15 years, the Langston Golf Course has served as the home course for three junior golf programs--the Masons Army, the Junior Boys and Girls, and the First Tee, D.C. Collectively, the program participants are known as the ``Jimmy Garvin All-Stars'' in honor of Langston's longtime general manager, community leader and member of the African American Golfers Hall of Fame, Jimmy Garvin. Notably, these juniors must utilize the Interpretive Education Center as a prerequisite to learning golf and to using the Langston facilities. Overall, the junior programs at Langston Golf Course include the participation of over 200 local boys and girls. In addition to offering golf instruction, they focus on cultivating principles of honesty and integrity as well as highlighting the interrelationship between excellence on the golf course and excellence in the classroom. Notably, the Langston Golf Course is also home to the annual Jimmy Garvin Legacy Scholarship Tournament. Proceeds from the tournament are donated to Langston's Interpretive Educational Center in furtherance of Langston's mission of teaching the sport of golf to area youth while also developing them as higher learners. Madam Speaker, in recognition of its historical and cultural significance, the Langston Golf Course was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1991. It is my hope that we can further honor this distinguished community institution through the passage of House Resolution 526. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting House Resolution 526. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, at this time, I yield 5 minutes to the lead sponsor of this resolution, the very capable Representative from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I just want to ask all of our colleagues to join with the lead sponsor of this resolution, Eleanor Holmes Norton. And I must confess that I have had the opportunity to travel out to--Langston is about 10 minutes from my house, so I have been out there. I've seen the youth programs that they have had. Absolutely fantastic. Jim Garvin does a wonderful job there as the groundskeeper and general manager, the crew there. You can tell the way the people there who run and maintain that golf course, they understand the history. They understand the importance of the Langston Golf Course from when it was home to the Negro Golf League during the days of segregation, and they understand going forward what a treasure it really is. So I am particularly happy to call on our Members to support House Resolution 526.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 526) recognizing the 70th anniversary of John Mercer Langston Golf Course, as amended.

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 to add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. I thank the gentlelady from North Carolina for her remarks, and I encourage my colleagues to join with Mr. Tonko, the lead sponsor of this resolution, H.R. 4425. I yield back the balance of my time.

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 United States Postal Service, I am pleased to present H.R. 4425 for consideration. This legislation if adopted will designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 2-116th Street in North Troy, New York, as the Martin G. ``Marty'' Mahar Post Office. This legislation has been introduced by my colleague and friend Representative Paul Tonko of New York, and I would like to yield to him such time as he may consume in presenting this resolution.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4425) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2-116th Street in North Troy, New York, as the ``Martin G. `Marty' Mahar Post Office''.

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

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1039) supporting the goals and ideals of American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I just wish to associate myself with the remarks of the gentlelady of North Carolina and with the remarks of the chief sponsor of this legislation, the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Markey). Truly, Mr. Farr was an extraordinary individual. We have no further speakers on our side on this matter. Madam Speaker, I simply ask all Members to support Ms. Markey in support of this resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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 to add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I don't have to remind you that much of the public policy debate in this country has largely focused on healthcare reform and on how best to tackle rising costs, while ensuring access and quality at the same time. These calls for change in the healthcare policy arena have also been coupled with demands for a more fiscally responsible federal government. Many policymakers look to the FEHBP as a model for providing health care. That's why it's important to ensure the program is providing the best benefits and at the best price for subscribers. Having conducted a Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia hearing in June, a September policy forum with key stakeholders, and months of additional research and collaboration, I have discovered that when it comes to prescription drugs, our federal employees and retirees are not receiving the best benefit at the best price. Considering that prescription drug costs comprise nearly 30% of the FEHBP's premiums, it is imperative that we do everything in our power to ensure that federal employees and the taxpayer are getting the best value for their dollar. In short, the FEHBP health plans contract with Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to price and to provide the pharmacy benefit to FEHBP members. In contrast with other federal health programs, the FEHBP does not regulate or negotiate drug pricing for its members. Instead it relies on competition among the various carriers and PBMs to keep prices low. However, as we recently affirmed, prices are not low! In fact, when comparing FEHBP drug prices to those of other federal programs, such as the Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense, Medicare, Medicaid and the Public Health Service's 340B Program, the FEHBP is paying substantially more for its drugs. Even more alarming is that some research actually shows that Costco and drugstore.com offer their employees better prices for drugs than the FEHBP does for federal workers and retirees. In these economically challenging times, it is unacceptable to ask federal employees and the American taxpayer to put up with such an irregularity. If the FEHBP wants to remain a model for providing health benefits, legislative changes that allow for alternative prescription drug benefit contracting and pricing are in order. For this reason, I am proud to be introducing legislation today that will afford the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) greater oversight authority in the contracting and pricing of the FEHBP prescription drug benefit. Titled ``The FEHBP Prescription Drug Integrity, Transparency, and Cost Savings Act'', this bill will prohibit certain ownership relationships; require Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to return 99% of all monies received from manufacturers for FEHBP business; cap prices paid by the health plan to the Average Manufacture Price (AMP); restrict drug switching by PBMs; and require enhanced transparency and disclosure of all contract terms and related information. These requirements intend to not only lower costs of prescription drugs in the FEHBP but to also provide our federal employees with a safer, higher quality prescription drug benefit. In this day and age, when every effort is being made to reduce federal spending and to find money to fund healthcare reform and other domestic policy priorities, the level of ambiguity around costs and drug prices under the FEHBP is appalling and must change. What we have before us is an issue that can save the taxpayer billions of dollars while at the same time reduce premiums for federal workers and their families. All I ask of my colleagues is for their support in passing this important legislation.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time; however, I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As chairman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, I am pleased to present H.R. 4095 for consideration. This legislation will designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 9727 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas, as the ``Congresswoman Jan Meyers Post Office Building.'' Introduced by my friend and colleague Representative Dennis Moore of Kansas on November 17, 2009, H.R. 4095 was reported out of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on December 10, 2009, by voice vote. Notably, H.R. 4095 has the support of the entire Kansas House delegation. Since the lead sponsor, Mr. Moore, is here, I would like to yield him such time as he may consume in bringing this resolution to the floor.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 158) expressing support for the designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms of cancer, as amended.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. 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. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I again, in closing, urge my colleagues to join the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop) in honoring Private First Class Garfield Langhorn through the passage of H.R. 3250. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, I am proud to present H.R. 3250 for consideration. This legislation will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1210 West Main Street in Riverhead, New York, as the ``Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn Post Office Building.'' H.R. 3250 was introduced by my colleague and friend Representative Tim Bishop of New York, on July 17, 2009, and was favorably reported out of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee by unanimous consent on October 29, 2009. In addition, the legislation enjoys the support of the entire New York House delegation. Born on September 10, 1948, in Cumberland, Virginia, Private First Class Garfield Langhorn distinguished himself through his brave, dedicated, and selfless military service during the Vietnam War as a member of the United States Army's Troop C, 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade. In recognition of his heroic actions during the Vietnam War, Private First Class Langhorn posthumously received the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States Government, as well as the Purple Heart. Private First Class Langhorn was one of 20 African American soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor for their service during the Vietnam War. As noted by the citation accompanying his Medal of Honor, Private First Class Langhorn demonstrated ``conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty'' while serving as a radio operator in Troop C in Vietnam's Pleiku province on January 15, 1969. Specifically, the citation recounts that Private First Class Langhorn's platoon had been inserted into a landing zone in order to rescue two pilots of a downed Cobra helicopter. While members of his platoon, who had found the two pilots dead, attempted to take the men's bodies to a nearby pickup location, Private First Class Langhorn provided radio coordination and covering fire as the platoon came under intense fire from enemy forces. As darkness fell, an enemy hand grenade landed directly in front of Private First Class Langhorn and only a few feet from several wounded members of his platoon. In response, and without hesitation, Private First Class Langhorn threw himself on the grenade and absorbed the ensuing blast, thereby saving the lives of his comrades by sacrificing his own. Accordingly, the Medal of Honor citation further notes that, ``Private First Class Langhorn's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his own life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military, and reflects great credit on himself, his unit, and the United States Army.'' Mr. Speaker, in continued tribute to Private First Class Langhorn's bravery and self-sacrifice, the members of the United States Army's 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry, past and present, have committed themselves to ensuring that his legacy and his memory lives on. As noted by retired Sergeant Major Tony Morton, president of the 7th Squadron 17th Air Cavalry Association, all cavalry troopers assigned to the squadron must ``earn their spurs'' through the completion of a grueling 3-day series of tests and tasks known as the ``spur ride.'' It is notable that completion of one of the stations requires soldiers to possess a detailed knowledge regarding the service and sacrifice of Private First Class Langhorn, a requirement that, according to Sergeant Major Morton, serves to ensure that Private First Class Langhorn ``will go on in this squadron as long as this squadron is flying the colors.'' In addition, in 2008, the squadron cut the ribbon on a conference center named after Private First Class Langhorn and the unit's other Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam, Sergeant Ray McKibben. Moreover, the squadron also rededicated a memorial to the two soldiers that has been relocated from Fort Knox, Kentucky, to the unit's new headquarters at nearby Fort Campbell on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Mr. Speaker, the life of Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn stands as a testament to the lives of all those brave men and women who have served in the United States military and offered our Nation the ultimate sacrifice. Let us further honor the courageous soldiers through the passage of H.R. 3250, which designates the Riverhead, New York, Postal Service building in Private First Class Langhorn's name. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3250. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. 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.