Robert Latta

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ostego High School graduate and Tontogany, Ohio, native A.J. Digby for his impressive performance at this summer's Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the young age of 18 years old, A.J. held his own, placing fourth in the 400-meter race and fifth in the 200-meter race. Both of his times in these events were personal bests. A.J. has not let any obstacle prevent him from reaching new track and field heights. Born without fibula bones in both calves due to a congenital order, A.J. began competing in sprinting competitions at the age of 14 with running blades. His performance in Brazil has been an inspiration to the community as well, with over 50 family and friends gathering at Ostego High School recently to celebrate his accomplishments. Mr. Speaker, to finish as well as A.J. Digby did at the Paralympics, it takes hard work, dedication, and a commitment to improving each and every day. I commend A.J. for his perseverance, and I speak for many when I say I'm excited to see what he will accomplish in the future. Congratulations, Paralympian A.J. Digby, on a job well done.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize John C. ``Jack'' Fisher, the Executive Vice President of the Ohio Farm Bureau for his dedicated service to Ohio agriculture. Throughout his career, Jack worked tirelessly to make agriculture a true asset and economic driver for the state of Ohio. He vision has allowed Ohio to continue to be at the forefront of agriculture, which is vital for American and global success. Jack's ability to bring different groups together for productive dialogue has helped ensure the continued fostering of innovation and collaboration. His management has been invaluable to the agricultural community in the state. Ohio, the agricultural community, and the Farm Bureau will truly miss his leadership, and I extend my deepest thanks to Jack for his service and I wish him well in retirement.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, ninety years ago, Paul Block, Sr. took charge of the Toledo Blade and the Block family has led the esteemed daily ever since. The Blade has been an institution of Northwest Ohio since 1835, but the steady guiding hand of the Blocks has led the newspaper to new heights over the past nine decades. The Toledo Blade has resided at the same location since shortly after Block Sr. purchased the downtown Toledo site in 1927 for $4.5 million. The day the building opened, Calvin Coolidge pressed a gold key from Washington to start the new presses. Throughout the ups and downs in the city and region, the Blade has been there to report the news and keep its readers informed. The success of the Blade would not be possible without the support and vision of the Block family. They have led the paper through revolutionary advancements in how the news is reported and distributed. That includes using technology like the Internet and social media to spread the stories of the day. The current leadership of John Robinson Block as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Blade and Allan Block as Chairman of Block Communications has served the paper well into the 21st century as the daily still boasts a circulation of 120,000 readers. Along with print editions, readership is at an all-time high with countless others consuming the news through the website, apps, and on other platforms. Mr. Speaker, ninety years of media leadership from one family is very admirable, and it should be celebrated. I'd like to recognize the Block family for their leadership of a great Ohio institution, the Toledo Blade.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in support of H.R. 4979, the Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2016, which I introduced with Congressman McNerney earlier this year. We are very excited the bill received unanimous support of the full Energy and Commerce Committee. The next generation of the nuclear industry needs to start now, with Congress ensuring that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is able to provide the certainty that the private sector needs to invest in innovative technologies. Nuclear power is currently 20 percent of our national energy portfolio, and it must remain a vital part of our energy mix. As the United States looks to the future, more energy will be needed, and nuclear power provides a reliable, clean baseload power option, currently providing approximately 63 percent of total carbon-free energy. It is imperative that we develop the right regulatory framework so advanced nuclear technologies can be developed, licensed, and constructed here in the United States. If we miss the opportunity to establish a safe, predictable regulatory framework for these technologies, private innovators and entrepreneurs will take their investment and scientists to our competitors in the global market. H.R. 4979 requires that NRC establish a regulatory framework for issuing licenses for advanced nuclear reactor technology and also requires that NRC submit a schedule for implementation of the framework by 2019. Safety in nuclear is the number one goal, and this regulatory framework ensures that NRC has the opportunity to develop a framework to safely regulate the future technologies of the nuclear industry. H.R. 4979 also requires that the Department of Energy and the NRC collaborate in developing new nuclear technology. DOE and its National Laboratories provide opportunities to test new private sector nuclear technologies. This bill would direct DOE to look at options for public- private partnerships between the DOE and the private sector companies interested in investing in the future of nuclear. There is also a role for NRC in this space because these testing opportunities may allow for demonstration of technologies that NRC has not commercially licensed for over the last 40 years. Investment in new technologies is already happening, with approximately 50 companies in this country investing over $1 billion to develop the next generation of nuclear power. That is why we introduced H.R. 4979. It is time for Congress to ensure that NRC provides a framework so that innovators and investors can prepare to apply for licensing technologies. Passing this legislation is key to ensure that the United States remains a leader in the nuclear industry, which is vital for both our electricity mix and our national security. I want to thank all of the cosponsors of this bill, as well as Chairman Upton and Congressman McNerney and all of the staff and stakeholders for their work on this important legislation. I urge full support from my colleagues for H.R. 4979.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and also for having this Special Order tonight. We heard Dad's time down here as 30 years, and I must have to also mention that was 30 years in the minority. He never served 1 day in the majority the whole time he was here. When he was elected in 1958, he served on the Ag Committee, and then went to the Rules Committee. In 1974, Gerald Ford put him on the Judiciary Committee during Watergate, a committee he did not want to serve on, but then he went on to serve as the ranking member on the Budget Committee until his retirement along with being on the Rules Committee. If I could just in the remaining time talk a little about Dad because a lot of people know about his work here, but also I think it is important to know that he was one of those they call the greatest generation. His younger brother, Lester Latta, was asked by his son what it was like when they were growing up, and my uncle had said that they didn't have much, but there were a lot of other people they knew that didn't have as much as they did. He grew up in a small town in McComb, Ohio, which had 1,600 people, which it is today. My grandfather was a barber, sold insurance, and was an auctioneer. He did anything he could to keep six kids going during the Depression. My grandmother wallpapered and did everything else and raised a family. Dad was the first to graduate from high school in his family, the first to even go to college. The thought of going to college back then was something that most people never thought about. Growing up, he knew the value of hard work. He would mow yards for 15 cents, caddied 18 holes for 25 cents, shoveled snow off the township roads with his brothers and his father, unloaded coal cars with a shovel, hauled corncobs, worked on construction crews building one of the high schools in Findlay, blocked beets, cut down trees with a crosscut saw for Rural Electric, sold shoes on commission for 5 percent, and he was also a prizefighter when he was younger. But Dad always knew what the value of an education was. He also knew what hard work was. One of Dad's crowning achievements, and he was always very proud of it, at Bowling Green State University there was a scholarship that is still there, and 174 students have received this scholarship. One of the things my dad always told my sister and me was to always remember that you never want to think that you shouldn't have much education, because one thing in life they can't take away from you is your education, so get as much as you want. One of the things I always mention about here, and I would like to close on this, Dad always told me that this is not a profession my dad told me to get into, but I learned from him. Two of the sayings were that you want to remember when you go into public service, you go in with nothing and you should come out with nothing. He also said: Always remember in life it is not the big things you do for people, it is little things, because people expect the big things, not the little things. So I think that that is the memory that Dad had not only here, but also in the district. After Dad's passing I had people coming up to me telling what my dad did for them over 50 years ago for some problem that they were having. But Dad always said to always remember that there is a big difference between a politician and a public servant. A politician sees how much they can take from the people they represent, while a public servant sees how much they can give back. I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) very much for having this Special Order.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in support of H.R. 4925, my legislation which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service at 229 West Main Cross Street in Findlay, Ohio, as the Michael Garver Oxley Memorial Post Office Building. This bipartisan legislation will honor a great legislator, friend, and former Congressman Mike Oxley for his many years of dedicated public service. Mike received his undergraduate degree from Miami University, which he was always very proud of, and he was always very proud of the fact that is where my youngest daughter just received her undergraduate degree this past May. He received his JD from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, and after that, he began his career in public service as a special agent for the FBI in 1969. After serving with the FBI for 3 years, Mike was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1972. That is when I first met Mike, out on the campaign trail. Mike served admirably in the House until 1981, when he won a special election after the death of Congressman Tennyson Guyer, also of Findlay. As was noted, Mike served then from 1981 until his retirement in 2007 here in the United States House of Representatives, which he loved. In the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses, Mike was elected to serve as the chairman of the Committee on Financial Services, and he had many, many friends, but Mike personified what a true public servant was and is. He served his constituents from Ohio well and served the United States well. When you talk about what a public servant is, my dad always told me that a public servant is a person who sees how much they can always give of themselves to the people they represent, and Mike did that. Aside from his government service, Mike also served and was dedicated to helping others through his charitable works. As a team captain for the annual congressional baseball game--in one of them he got his leg broken--Mike and his colleagues helped raise thousands of dollars for the Washington Literacy Center, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. Mike was also very active back home not only with Miami University, but also with the University of Findlay; and he was also active in helping raise funds for the greater Findlay area. I would like to thank Chairman Chaffetz and Ranking Member Cummings for their work in advancing this bill through the committee and to the House floor. I would also like to thank the entire Ohio delegation and other Members for supporting this legislation as cosponsors. Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to join me in honoring the memory of Mike Oxley by passing H.R. 4925.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 4775, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act, of which I am a proud sponsor. I would like to focus, in particular, on what this bill really does for the timeline of implementing ozone standards. H.R. 4775 focuses on efficient implementation of ozone and other air quality requirements by making commonsense adjustments to facilitate how air quality standards are implemented, based on practical experience. Our legislation provides States with additional time to implement the 2015 standards which is needed to fully implement the 2008 ozone standards, since EPA only issued the implementing regulations in 2015. Further, H.R. 4775 allows EPA time to develop the new implementing regulations and guidance needed for the 2015 standards, and also allows EPA to clear its existing backlog of hundreds of implementation plans relating to other existing standards. Clean air remains our priority, and this legislation does not change the recent new ozone standard of 70 parts per billion. It does not change of the standards set by the agency for any other criteria pollutants. Instead, it ensures that hundreds of counties are not unnecessarily subjected to additional regulatory burdens, paperwork requirements, and restrictions. EPA projects that, based on 2012-2014 data, over 240 counties with ozone monitors would violate the 2015 standards, but they are already on track to meet those standards by 2025. It makes no sense to sweep these counties into unnecessarily burdensome ``nonattainment'' regulatory regimes. EPA has estimated compliance costs for 2008 beginning in 2020 of $7.6 billion to $8.8 billion annually. On top of these costs, EPA estimates compliance costs for the 2015 standards beginning in 2025, of $2 billion annually, including $1.4 billion outside California, and $800 million in California. However, EPA's own estimate may be too low, since they have admitted that in some places, most of or even all of the technology that will be needed to meet this rule has yet to be invented. What this legislation postpones is the diversion of State resources from the most pressing challenges to meet a standard that EPA projects will be met anyway through measures already on the books. Mr. Chairman, I urge support of H.R. 4775.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2576, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, specifies that the Administrator, in selecting among prohibitions and other restrictions for chemical substances that present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, shall consider an evaluation of alternative substances. In evaluating alterative substances, the Administrator, ``shall consider, to the extent practicable, whether technically and economically feasible alternatives that benefit health or the environment, compared to the use so proposed to be prohibited or restricted, will be reasonably available as a substitute when the proposed prohibition or other restriction takes effect.'' Additionally, the Administrator may grant an exemption from a prohibition or other restriction on a chemical substance if the ``specific condition of use is a critical or essential use for which no technically and economically feasible safer alternative is available, taking into consideration hazard and exposure.'' A technically feasible alternative substance is intended to mean a chemical for which: the technical knowledge, equipment, materials, and other resources available in the marketplace are expected to be sufficient to develop and implement the alternative, and to meet consumer demand after a phase-in period; the product that contains the alternative substance can continue to comply with all applicable legal requirements; the product that contains the alternative substance can continue to comply with all applicable safety standards and regulatory approval or certification requirements applicable to the product; and, the consumer accepts the product as made with the alternative substance.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, due to the illness and passing of my father, former Congressman Delbert L. Latta, I was unable to be present for votes on Tuesday, May 10, 2016; Wednesday, May 11, 2016; Thursday, May 12, 2016; Friday, May 13, 2016; and Monday, May 16, 2016. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Roll Call Number 180: YEA; Roll Call Number 181: YEA; Roll Call Number 182: YEA; Roll Call Number 183: YEA; Roll Call Number 184: YEA; Roll Call Number 185: YEA; Roll Call Number 186: NAY; Roll Call Number 187: YEA; Roll Call Number 188: YEA; Roll Call Number 189: YEA; Roll Call Number 190: YEA; Roll Call Number 191: YEA; Roll Call Number 192: YEA; Roll Call Number 193: YEA; Roll Call Number 194: YEA; Roll Call Number 195: YEA.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Andrew Hammond of Van Wert, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Andrew's offer of appointment poises him to attend the United States Air Force Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2020. Attending one of our nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country but also guarantees a world-class education, while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. Andrew brings an enormous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2020. While attending Van Wert High School in Van Wert, Ohio, Andrew was a member of the National Honor Society, a Renaissance Program--Gold Card Recipient, a member of the Spanish Club, and a choir district participant. Throughout high school, Andrew was a member of his school's wrestling and football teams, earning various awards. He was also active with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I am confident that Andrew will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Air Force Academy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Andrew Hammond on the offer of his appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that Andrew will excel during his career at the Air Force Academy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that James Reneau, Jr. of Findlay, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. James' offer of appointment poises him to attend the United States Naval Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2020. Attending one of our nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country but also guarantees a world-class education, while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. James brings an enormous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2020. While attending Findlay High School in Findlay, Ohio, James was a member of the National Honor Society, the Distinguished Honor Roll and a Scholar Athlete. Throughout high school, James was a member of his school's football and track teams, serving as his teams' captain. He also volunteered with community youth sports teams and Special Olympics. I am confident that James will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Naval Academy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating James Reneau, Jr. on the offer of his appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that James will excel during his career at the Naval Academy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Thomas Koizumi of Findlay, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Thomas' offer of appointment poises him to attend the United States Military Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2020. Attending one of our nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country but also guarantees a world-class education, while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. Thomas brings an enormous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2020. While attending Liberty- Benton High School in Findlay, Ohio, Thomas earned top student of class awards, was a member of the National Honor Society, and was ranked first in his class. Throughout high school, Thomas was a member of his school's cross country team, serving as its captain and earning his varsity letter. Thomas was also active and exceled in gymnastics and Kendo. I am confident that Thomas will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Military Academy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Thomas Koizumi on the offer of his appointment to the United States Military Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that Thomas will excel during his career at the Military Academy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Alexander Dolan of Bryan, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Alexander's offer of appointment poises him to attend the United States Military Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2020. Attending one of our Nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country but also guarantees a world-class education, while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. Alexander brings an enormous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2020. While attending Bryan High School in Bryan, Ohio, Alexander was named an Outstanding Scholar- Athlete Academy Award winner, earned academic booster club awards, served as class president, was a member of the National Honor Society, and was ranked first in his class. Throughout high school, Alexander was a member of his school's soccer and track and field teams, serving as the teams' captain and earning varsity letters. Alexander was also active and exceled in orchestra and was selected to attend Buckeye Boys State. I am confident that Alexander will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Military Academy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Alexander Dolan on the offer of his appointment to the United States Military Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that Alexander will excel during his career at the Military Academy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Adam Hug of Bryan, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Adam's offer of appointment poises him to attend the United States Military Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2020. Attending one of our nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country but also guarantees a world-class education, while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. Adam brings an enormous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2020. While attending Bryan High School in Bryan, Ohio, Adam was named an Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Academy Award winner, earned academic booster club awards, served on student council, was a member of the National Honor Society, and was ranked first in his class. Throughout high school, Adam was a member of his school's cross country, track and field, and swimming teams, earning varsity letters. Adam was also selected to attend Buckeye Boys State. I am confident that Adam will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Military Academy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Adam Hug on the offer of his appointment to the United States Military Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that Adam will excel during his career at the Military Academy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Collin Keil of Whitehouse, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. Collin's offer of appointment poises him to attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2020. Attending one of our nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country but also guarantees a world-class education while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. Collin brings an enormous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2020. While attending Anthony Wayne High School in Whitehouse, Ohio, Collin earned scholastic honors, served as a link leader, and was named an AAU All-American in wrestling. Throughout high school, Collin was a member of his school's football, wrestling, and crew teams, earning multiple varsity letters. I am confident that Collin will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Merchant Marine Academy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Collin Keil on the offer of his appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that Collin will excel during his career at the Merchant Marine Academy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Trey Smith of Delphos, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Trey's offer of appointment poises him to attend the United States Air Force Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2020. Attending one of our nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country but also guarantees a world-class education, while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. Trey brings an enormous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2020. While attending Delphos Jefferson High School in Delphos, Ohio, Trey was a member of the National Honor Society, an Honor Roll selection every quarter, earned the Best in Class Award for three consecutive years, and was ranked first in his class. He also served as a class officer. Throughout high school, Trey was a member of his school's basketball team, earning various awards and becoming Delphos Jefferson High School's all-time leading scorer. I am confident that Trey will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Air Force Academy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Trey Smith on the offer of his appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that Trey will excel during his career at the Air Force Academy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4596, the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act. This legislation limits the regulatory burden on small Internet service providers, ISPs, serving rural America, just like in my area, and allows them to focus on improving services for consumers. The Federal Communications Commission's 2015 Open Internet Order included enhanced transparency rules for ISPs, requiring disclosure of commercial terms for prices and other fees and a number of complicated performance metrics. The FCC recognized that the burden of compliance would fall disproportionately on smaller providers and offered regulatory relief by temporarily exempting ISPs with 100,000 subscribers or fewer. Today's bipartisan action will extend the exemption to 5 years and expand the definition of small broadband providers to fewer than 250,000 subscribers. This commonsense proposal will help small and rural broadband providers across my district focus on investing in networks, deploying broadband, improving connectivity, and creating jobs. I thank Chairmen Upton and Walden, Ranking Member Pallone, and Congressman Loebsack for working together on this bill. I am proud to support H.R. 4596 and believe it will protect vital small ISPs who serve all of our constituents.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize United States Navy Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) and Ohio native, Edward Byers, as the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his brave and heroic actions during Operation Enduring Freedom on December 8-9, 2012. The citation for the Medal of Honor states: ``For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Hostage Rescue Force Team Member in Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on 8-9 December 2012. As the rescue force approached the target building, an enemy sentry detected them and darted inside to alert his fellow captors. The sentry quickly reemerged, and the lead assaulter attempted to neutralize him. Chief Byers with his team sprinted to the door of the target building. As the primary breacher, Chief Byers stood in the doorway fully exposed to enemy fire while ripping down six layers of heavy blankets fastened to the inside ceiling and walls to clear a path for the rescue force. The first assaulter pushed his way through the blankets, and was mortally wounded by enemy small arms fire from within. Chief Byers, completely aware of the imminent threat, fearlessly rushed into the room and engaged an enemy guard aiming an AK-47 at him. He then tackled another adult male who had darted towards the corner of the room. During the ensuing hand-to-hand struggle, Chief Byers confirmed the man was not the hostage and engaged him. As other rescue team members called out to the hostage, Chief Byers heard a voice respond in English and raced toward it. He jumped atop the American hostage and shielded him from the high volume of fire within the small room. While covering the hostage with his body, Chief Byers immobilized another guard with his bare hands, and restrained the guard until a teammate could eliminate him. His bold and decisive actions under fire saved the lives of the hostage and several of his teammates. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of near certain death, Chief Petty Officer Byers reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.'' I extend my deepest thanks to Chief Byers on his service to our nation and upon his receiving our nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2406, the SHARE Act. Passage of this bill will increase opportunities and reduce regulatory burdens for all sportsmen and sportswomen. I want to highlight two specific provisions in the SHARE Act that I sponsored. This legislation will authorize the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, which will serve as an official advisory board to the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture on policies that benefit recreational hunting and wildlife resources. Authorization of the council is vital to ensuring that hunters maintain an advisory role in future administrations. This legislation will provide levels of certainty and stability necessary to ensure the council's ability to engage in assisting the Federal Government in devising and implementing long-term solutions that are necessary to address policy issues important to sportsmen and sportswomen. The legislation also directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to create a new permit that authorizes a crew of five or fewer people to film for commercial or similar purposes on Federal lands and waterways at an annual cost of $200. Aside from this set fee, no additional fees may be added during their time filming and photographing. We want to rectify disparity in application and approval regulations between smaller crews and their larger, well-funded counterparts while filming on public lands. The financial burden is often too great and unfairly limits their ability to access our national parks and waterways. As the former co-chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and a cosponsor of the SHARE Act, I believe this legislation will serve to the betterment of current and future generations of hunters and outdoorsmen and -women. I thank the gentleman from Virginia for his work on this legislation, and I urge the passage of the SHARE Act.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, to Pat and Elvis, again, you have heard such great tributes not only at the funeral not too many weeks back, but this last week in the memorial service in Findlay, and with the Members here tonight. I will go back. I can remember Mike's first race that he ran for the Ohio General Assembly. I was in high school at the time. I used to drive my dad around the district, so we would run into each other quite often while we were campaigning. I know that one of my aunts from Putnam County thought that Mike was just about perfect. She used to rave about Mike all the time. That is the type of person he was. He had an infectious smile, a great laugh, and he could connect with people. As you have heard from many of the folks speaking here tonight, that is what made Mike such a great individual. He knew how to reach out and touch people and how to get those people to work together and make things actually work. One of the times I will never forget is back in 1981, after Tenny Guyer passed away, the election was taking place that summer. I was studying for the bar at the same time, but I can still remember everything that was going on. They were tough times. Having gone through a special election myself, I know what those things are like. Mike was one of those kinds of individuals that things didn't affect him; he just went into it and got things done. One of the things I mentioned just last week at the memorial service is what my dad taught me years ago. There are two types of people that get into public service. There are folks that want to be politicians and there are folks that want to be true public servants. He said to always remember what the difference between a politician and a public servant is. A politician is a person who goes out there and sees how much they can take from the people they represent for their own benefit, while a public servant sees how much they can give of themselves back to the people they represent. That was Mike. He was that true, dedicated public servant. With redistricting over the years, I have several of the counties that Mike represented. I can tell you that when I am out, it is quite often that I have people come up to me and tell me about something that Mike did for them. I don't care if it was Social Security, a veteran's case, or Medicare, you name it, people remember those things because Mike was out there. He was a very caring person because, again, he never forgot the folks back home. When you talk about the folks back home, Mike never forgot his roots in Findlay, Hancock County. Hancock county is my dad's home county. There are great people that live there. Mike and Pat were very, very generous to the University of Findlay and one of the buildings there. Mike, as the chairman mentioned, served on the Board of Trustees. He was very, very influential with his service. He gave of his time. He wanted to make sure he left things better than he found them. He did this with helping Miami University, his alma mater, and with the Findlay-Hancock Community Foundation, where Mike and Pat were so generous in establishing a scholarship. One of the things I would really like to talk about is that one of the things Mike really believed in was the Hancock Historical Society. They established the Mike Oxley Government Center. I remember the day the Center was dedicated not more than 2 years ago. Then-Speaker Boehner came up. It is one of those things that I think people need to go and see. Again, Mike truly wanted to leave things better than he found them. He also believed the best way to do that is to educate our kids. There is an interactive center where people can go in--especially children-- and learn about their government. Mike said this is the greatest form of government that the world has ever seen. To make sure you have that government go on to the next generation, you have to make sure that the children and those students know what to do when they become adults. Sometimes it is too late once they become adults and don't learn these things. At the Oxley Government Center, it is in perpetuity now. The children in Hancock will have that opportunity to learn about the greatest form of government the world has ever created and make sure that it does continue on. He really, truly believed that our children are our future. To get into it again, as my dad said, you want to make sure that you are a true public servant, to give of yourself not 90 percent, not 100 percent, but 110 percent. That is what Mike did. Again, that legacy is going to continue on because the people back home will never forget it. As I am out in the district that Mike represented, as I said, I hear it from his former constituents. It is not that they just like Mike, they loved him. Again, Pat and Elvis, from the bottom of our hearts Marcia and I offer our deepest sympathies. The world was a much better place because Mike Oxley was in it.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Again, I want to add my admiration to Mr. Smith for all his years of hard work for the pro-life movement here in this country and around the world and for holding this Special Order tonight. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the right to life for every unborn child. During my tenure in the Ohio General Assembly and now as a Member of Congress, I have consistently supported pro-life legislation and I have been unwavering in my belief that we must be vigilant in protecting the sanctity of human life. Over the past year, we have seen an unprecedented and callous disregard for life through the series of undercover videos that illustrate Planned Parenthood's involvement in the sale of fetal tissue. That is why I have supported legislative measures to end such unspeakable acts and to prevent any Federal funds going to any entity that performs abortions. At a time when pro-life values are often marginalized, I want to reassure my constituents that I will remain steadfast in my support for legislation that defends the sanctity of life and that I will continue to stand for those without a voice. I also want to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to those who work tirelessly day after day, year after year, to defend the right of life, and to the hundreds of thousands who will be here for the Right to Life March this month. I applaud them and thank them. Again, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for all of his years of hard work.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, again, I would urge defeat of the amendment because we want to make sure that manufacturers are still encouraged to participate in the Energy Star program, which has been highly successful. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the amendment to strike section 4125 of the bill, which is language that Representative Welch and I have coauthored over the past two Congresses with bipartisan support. It was developed with a cross section of interests, including efficiency and consumer advocates, manufacturers, and the EPA. By rejecting this amendment and keeping our language, we have an opportunity to encourage manufacturers to continue participation in the Energy Star program. Energy Star is a highly successful, voluntary program. Consumers, manufacturers, and the government all win under Energy Star. The program was designed to be low-cost and low-compliance to incentivize participation by manufacturers, and the language included in this bill is needed to continue to incentivize participation. For a product to be branded with the Energy Star logo, it must meet certain energy-saving guidelines. Manufacturers who choose to participate in this voluntary program make the necessary investments needed to increase the energy efficiency of their products. In order to ensure their products maintain the required levels of efficiency, the Department of Energy performs off-the-shelf testing. If a product fails to meet the standard, that product is disqualified and then publicly listed on the Energy Star Web site. Immediately following a product's disqualification listing, the manufacturer and the EPA will then work to resolve the cause for disqualification. It is important to note that our language does not prevent lawsuits from being filed; it just requires that a suit be filed before a product is disqualified from Energy Star. If a product has been disqualified from the program by EPA, the EPA is best positioned to determine consumer impact and if such impact requires any action on the part of the manufacturer. The EPA process is swift compared to legal proceedings, which could take years. If the focus is really on consumer reimbursement, shouldn't those fighting for consumer rights prefer the EPA disqualification process over class action litigation? In the EPA disqualification process, the entire reimbursement goes to the consumer, versus a legal proceeding, where legal fees can consume large amounts of the award. Energy Star has promoted economic expansion and job growth for participating manufacturers across the Nation. In defeating this amendment, we have an opportunity to continue to encourage participation by manufacturers instead of discouraging participation. This section has the support of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, and the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Chairman, I would ask to reject the amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.