Leonard Lance

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of The Academy of Our Lady of Peace in New Providence, New Jersey, and the Woodland School in Warren, New Jersey, for being named Blue Ribbon Schools by the United States Department of Education. New Providence is in Union County, and Warren is in Somerset County, New Jersey, both in the district I have the honor of representing. The National Blue Ribbon Schools award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in levels of achievement. The Academy of Our Lady of Peace and the Woodland School were cited as exemplary high-performing schools, as measured by State assessments and national tests. This recognition is a testament to the outstanding work and dedication of the faculty and staff in creating schools where students master challenging content. These are among our youngest students, infectious in their enthusiasm because of the excellent schools they attend. I commend Joel Castillo, principal of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace; and Jeffrey Heaney, principal of the Woodland School, for all of their hard work. I also commend the faculty, parents, and the communities in general. This prestigious award is noted throughout the country, and certainly the United States Department of Education is to be commended for presenting these awards. The Academy of Our Lady of Peace and the Woodland School are proud examples of academic excellence and worthy of this national distinction.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank the members of the Kingwood, New Jersey, Rescue Squad for helping a community in need recover from Hurricane Harvey. After Harvey, many in the Houston area were without cell phone service, stranded by the rising waters, and lacking necessary means of communications to call authorities for help. One family in Kingwood, Texas, without cell reception but with a wireless internet connection made the savvy decision to see if they could contact rescue services by email. They used an internet search to locate the necessary authorities to coordinate their rescue. Their internet search yielded the name Kingwood Rescue Squad--not their Kingwood, but Kingwood in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Fortunately, the members of the New Jersey Kingwood Rescue Squad acted quickly to contact their partners in Texas to ensure that rescue services would be able to find and rescue the Texas family. They are now safe due to the coordinated efforts between the Kingwood, New Jersey, Rescue Squad and their respective partners in Texas. I wish to thank the members of the squad for their service and express my gratitude that there are such fine and capable first responders located in the district I serve.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act sponsored by my close friends, Congressman Collins and Congressman Pascrell. Congressman Collins has been involved in this issue for many years, including as an Erie County executive in western New York. Congressman Pascrell has spent his entire public career in defense of firefighters as mayor of Paterson, as a member of the State legislature, and for more than two decades as a Member of Congress. This bill will direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collect data on cancer incidence among firefighters. We need this data to help save the lives of the brave heroes who put their lives on the line every day. The CDC will compile critical information like risk factors and the dangers to which firefighters are exposed. This information collected on a voluntary basis will help develop better protective equipment and prevention techniques that can be disseminated across the country. It is fitting that we consider this legislation this week as our Nation mourns the somber anniversary of the September 11 attacks. This country can never forget the images of firefighters, police, EMS, and other first responders initiating rescues and putting themselves in grave danger, both during and after the attacks. Many lives were lost that day and, in the years that have followed, from the rescue and recovery work. Let's do all we can to make sure this information and best practices are shared so that we can protect as many lives as possible. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of Mr. Pascrell's amendment to increase COPS grant funding. The COPS program works. These resources have saved the lives of police officers and the citizenry they are tasked with protecting. These funds often bridge the gap between the policing services a community requires and the capabilities of its existing force. These funds are merit based, prioritizing hiring and equipment where they are most needed and for the best use of the taxpaying public. In these challenging times for law enforcement, it is critical that we keep this program operational for our Nation's crime challenges. Earlier today, we discussed legislation critical to the health and safety of our Nation's firefighters, and now we consider this important priority for our Nation's police officers. I commend Mr. Pascrell and Mr. Reichert for their leadership in the Law Enforcement Caucus. I am proud to be a member of the caucus, and I join in their efforts to provide continued support for COPS funding and for expanding the capabilities of law enforcement to do their jobs and protect the public and themselves, which is critical to every officer in the Nation.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chairman, I thank both Chairman Calvert and Chairman Frelinghuysen for their work on this legislation. I greatly appreciate the committee's efforts to fund the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. I stress the importance of Federal investments in the arts and humanities. The numbers speak for themselves. The NEA and the NEH each consist of only .003 percent of a nearly $4 trillion Federal budget, yet for every dollar the United States spends on Federal arts initiatives, nine nonFederal dollars are leveraged, generating roughly $600 million in matching support. Federal arts and humanities funding is a catalyst for the economic development and job creation that we all need, having a powerful multiplier effect not only in New Jersey, the State I represent, but throughout the entire Nation. The arts and humanities also engage nearly every community. In April, I visited the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, in the district I serve, to see its ``Theater for Everyone'' project in action, an autism-friendly program supported by the NEA. It provides a creative outlet for children with developmental disabilities and for their families. Seeing these performances reinforced the importance of our continued investments in the NEA and in the NEH. Mr. Chair, I also thank both Chairman Calvert and Chairman Frelinghuysen for including funding for the Delaware River Basin Restoration project authorized just last year to coordinate private investments, regional partnerships, and local knowledge, and develop strategies to protect and restore the watershed's ecological and recreational assets and historical significance. Throughout the four States that are involved--New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware--the Delaware River Basin supplies 15 million people with clean water and supports approximately $25 billion in economic activity each year. It is imperative that we preserve these resources for future generations, and I look forward to working with the committee on this initiative. Let me repeat my deep thanks to Chairman Calvert and to Chairman Frelinghuysen.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this measure to allocate critical funds to urgent rescue and recovery operations currently underway in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The destruction of Hurricane Harvey is horrific, and the loss of life is heartbreaking. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is helping to lead the disaster response. FEMA needs immediate resources from Congress. Natural disasters can strike any part of the Nation at any time. No State is immune from the forces of nature, and States and localities should never have to question if aid is on the way. Our excellent Federal officials have the resources and experience to mitigate harm. They need to continue putting that experience to use, helping our neighbors in need, protect critical infrastructure, contain hazardous sites, and save lives. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen for his leadership in assembling this immediate assistance for those in need. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the SELF DRIVE Act. This groundbreaking work of the Energy and Commerce Committee is the first major step toward establishing a clear legal and regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle deployment. Self-driving cars are going to transform many aspects of American life and our economy. Autonomous vehicle technology will spur job creation while increasing productivity, accessibility, and safety for consumers across the country. The potential benefits are tremendous. Those with limited mobility will have new transportation options, and self-driving cars can reverse the rising trend of distracted and impaired drivers, road accidents, and highway fatalities. Autonomous vehicles can help turn the tide. Innovators are waiting to jump into this exciting new market. We need to be their partners in this 21st century groundbreaking achievement. I thank Chairman Latta and Ranking Member Schakowsky for leading this bipartisan effort through the U.S. House. Let's drive into the future. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Diaz-Balart for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, this is not an earmark. The Northeast Corridor region is an economic powerhouse. It generates $3 trillion in annual economic output and is home to 20 percent of the Nation's gross domestic product, more than 51 million people, and 4 of the 10 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. It is a moneymaker for Amtrak and the Federal Government, serving more than 750,000 people every day on 2,000 intercity and commuter trains. Travel up and down this corridor of passengers and freight is critical to the economy of the entire country. If one of these tunnels were to fail, the negative economic and transportation implications would ripple to other States such as Kentucky, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, North Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. According to the Northeast Corridor Commission, underinvestment in the Northeast Corridor already costs the economy $500 million annually, $30 million more than the savings from the amendment. The Gateway Project is a national priority. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of permanently authorizing the E-Verify system and requiring U.S. employers to use the system to ensure their employees are eligible to be working in the United States. I am proud to be a partner with United States Senator Grassley of Iowa in offering legislation to do so, entitled ``The Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act.'' E-Verify is a proven system for making sure job opportunities are for American workers. E-Verify is a deterrent against illegal immigration. Expanding it to new workplaces will make sure legal American workers are not shut out of employment. There are 700,000 American businesses that successfully use the E- Verify system. There is no cost for the employer or employee to use E- Verify, and our legislation will make sure that there are no costs passed onto businesses, their employees, or to customers. We should be considering practical solutions that remove incentives for illegal migration into the United States. We need E-Verify up and running, and we need all employers to participate to make it effective. I urge cosponsorship and collaborations from both sides of the aisle to implement this effective policy.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen for yielding to me, and I thank him for his tremendous leadership as chairman of the Appropriations Committee. New Jersey and, indeed, the entire Nation are fortunate to have Mr. Frelinghuysen as chairman of this critical committee. Under the chairman's leadership, all spending bills have advanced out of the committee, and now, today, we consider a package that affirms one of Congress' most important responsibilities: to provide for the common defense. Included in this legislative package is an important measure that opens reports by the Congressional Research Service and opens those reports to the public. I have been involved in this issue for some time. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and subcommittee Chairman Yoder for their support of this measure. American taxpayers spend more than $100 million a year supporting the work of the Congressional Research Service. Their findings, reports, and analyses should be public information. It is good public policy to allow educators, students, members of the news media, and everyday citizens across the Nation to have access to CRS's nonpartisan, taxpayer-funded reports. By providing public access to CRS reports, we can elevate our national discourse and make it easier for citizens to cut through the misinformation that is too often involved in the national debate. Citizens should have full access to the same neutral, unbiased information that many of us in Congress use to help us make important decisions. CRS is governed by requirements for accuracy, objectivity, balance, and nonpartisanship--the very sort of analysis sought and valued by engaged constituents. Mr. Chairman, I, again, commend the chairman for including this measure in the Legislative Branch title. This is one of many victories for taxpayers in this important bill.

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chairman, first, I thank Chairman Simpson for the committee's continued support for the Rahway River flood control project in the district I serve. This project is essential to the safety and security of communities in the district. These communities have worked extensively with the district office of the Army Corps, which, together with their colleagues at Corps headquarters in Washington, prepared a Tentatively Selected Plan. We are waiting for Corps headquarters to schedule an agency milestone meeting to finalize the details and begin the process of compiling a chief's report. Is it the committee's intent in providing funding that the Corps should complete the Rahway River feasibility study?

Mr. LANCE. I would further ask your assistance to ensure that the extensive work, expertise, and planning at the district level and the extensive community involvement is also followed by the Army Corps headquarters. There is growing concern in the communities I serve that Army Corps headquarters might shelve this project despite its continued authorization--as recently as the 2016 WRDA bill--and the ongoing funding from your subcommittee. This would represent the worst kind of disconnect between the needs of communities in need and the bureaucracy of Washington. Doing nothing, wasting taxpayers' time and money, and allowing the current hazards to endure are not an acceptable outcome. I would respectfully ask the full committee chairman and subcommittee chairman to assist in convening a meeting with the affected Members of Congress and the Corps to ensure we continue to move forward with this chosen alternative, and proceed with the project now.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this sanctions bill. The governments of Iran, North Korea, and Russia do not share American values or interests and are active threats to our national security. These regimes will see a united message from the Congress of the United States with an overwhelming vote in favor of strong sanctions. Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. North Korea, the most dangerous and isolated place on Earth, has tested long-range missiles demonstrating a frightening potential to target our West Coast. Russia has intolerably involved itself in our Nation's democratic electoral process. Its invasion of Crimea and actions in Ukraine are totally unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, let us act decisively today and put these states on notice: violate international law by threatening the United States and thereby face the consequences. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the formation of the Congressional Payer State Caucus. I join my colleague, Congressman Bill Foster from Illinois, in leading this bipartisan caucus that will examine the disparity States like New Jersey and Illinois experience by paying more in Federal taxes than we receive in Federal spending. In fact, New Jersey is dead last, with a rate of return of just 77 cents for every Federal tax dollar sent to Washington. The caucus seeks to recommend legislation to ensure that donor States keep more of their hard-earned funds. For example, working to maintain the State and local tax deduction when this body considers an overhaul of our Nation's Tax Code. Eliminating that deduction would further increase the disparity that already exists. Alexander Hamilton wrote in the Federalist Papers about his fear that the Federal Government might monopolize taxation to the ``entire exclusion and destruction of State governments.'' The caucus will work to address this problem and for a greater return on the tremendous Federal revenue stream from economic activity and innovation in New Jersey and other States.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Drs. John Gorman, Vincent Freda and William Pollack for their creation of the Rh Vaccine. May 29, 2018, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the availability of this important and innovative medical therapeutic. Prior to May 29, 1968, Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN), which is caused by a blood incompatibility between the mother and the fetus or newborn baby, had afflicted women over the ages. In the United States alone it was affecting thousands of Rh negative women and was responsible for nearly 9,000 fetal or newborn deaths annually. To address this crisis, Drs. John Gorman and Vincent Freda, practicing physicians at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and Dr. William Pollack, of the Ortho Research Foundation at Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey, created a new vaccine that would prevent HDN and rapidly become the standard, world-wide, in the care and management of every Rh negative pregnancy. The Rh Vaccine has nearly eliminated Rh hemolytic disease in the United States. This development has produced savings in human and financial costs that are estimated to exceed $750 million dollars annually. The Rh Vaccine has a track record of being one of the most effective and safest products in the history of vaccines. Drs. Gorman, Freda and Pollack were recognized for their work by the American Association of Blood Banks in 1969. In 1980, they were again recognized for this accomplishment by sharing the Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, which honors those whose contributions have improved the clinical treatment of patients. The Rh Vaccine is just one example why New Jersey is known as the medicine chest of the world. All the research and development for the vaccine was done in Raritan, New Jersey, which is part of the district that I serve. The product continues to be manufactured there today. Mr. Speaker, the accomplishments of Drs. Gorman, Freda and Pollack should inspire all of us. They should remind us the important role Congress has in encouraging research and development. Together, we can continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that the next group of great doctors and scientists in this country has the support they need to bring innovative medicines and products to market.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, on September 7, 2017, the Philhower family will have its 100th annual family reunion. I am proud to join my fellow family members in celebrating this very special occasion. My great- grandmother was Elizabeth Philhower Lance. The Philhowers were some of the earliest settlers of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The patriarch of the Philhower family was Philip Wulhauer, who emigrated from Germany on the ship the Patience, landing in the port of Philadelphia on September 16, 1738, at the age of 24. He met his wife, Anna Maria, on their voyage to the Colonies. Together they traveled to Hunterdon County, New Jersey, to start a new life. Philip went on to lease 14 acres in what is now Tewksbury Township in 1758 and established the Philhower homestead, which was first a log cabin that included one room and a loft. Shortly after, he built the house that still stands on the property. It was constructed of mortar, lime, sand, and clay, and its walls are 18 inches thick. The Philhower homestead had grown to 100 acres when the house was completed. The Philhowers have occupied the land since then and have spread their roots all over Hunterdon County, all over the State of New Jersey, and, indeed, all over the rest of the country. Among the family names entwined in the Philhowers are Apgar, Sutton, Fleming, Hoffman, and Lance. Philhowers have represented Hunterdon County in many of the military conflicts that have faced our Nation. They have also been farmers, millers, physicians, ministers, merchants, bankers, and educators. In 1917, the Philhowers held their first family reunion at their homestead, attended by nearly 400 descendants of Philip and Anna Maria. This fine tradition has continued over the last century, usually marked by a turkey dinner, finance meeting, and exchanging of family mementos at Cokesbury United Methodist Church in Hunterdon County. This year, however, family members will travel back to the original Philhower homestead to be together. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to be a descendant of the Philhower family. This is but one example of the strong immigrant tradition in this country that continues to be one of our greatest strengths as a nation, as much a strength today as in the middle of the 18th century. I am honored to share this milestone with colleagues in the United States House of Representatives and with the American people.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the chairman, the ranking member of the full committee, and the chairman and the ranking member of the subcommittee for this important work. I rise in strong support of the Food and Drug Administration Reauthorization Act. We need a strong FDA to make sure lifesaving medicines reach the market and that patients have the peace of mind of a safe regulatory process. This bill ensures the wheels of creation keep turning, and in no part of our Nation is this more important than New Jersey, one of the medicine chests of the world. It means that patients here in the United States and hundreds of millions around the world have benefited from the genius of our biopharmaceutical and life science industries. Patient safety is always the critical priority, and I am pleased this legislation includes language I authored to crack down on counterfeit drugs that are flooding into the United States. Too many Americans are falling victim to knockoffs that have infiltrated the U.S. supply chain, and this legislation significantly changes that. Disease knows no bounds and, one way or another, each of us is affected by disease. This work makes a difference in patients' lives and makes sure the system from idea to pharmacy is working. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to support this product.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Walberg for his invitation to join him on the floor today to discuss combating human trafficking and in support of the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act. When people hear the term ``human trafficking,'' they often think of faraway places, or perhaps even movie plots. But, unfortunately, human trafficking is a horrible 21st century problem here in the United States. We have to do all we can to help combat the scourge of human trafficking, and this measure is a strong addition to the actions already taken here in the House, and I commend the chairman, Ranking Member Sablan, and also the full committee chair, Ms. Foxx, and Ranking Member Scott for their leadership on this issue. Making sure Department of Labor employees can identify these practices will be another tool to work against these terrible crimes. We need workforce law violation investigators to be on the lookout for patterns of human trafficking and labor exploitation, and this bill will make it happen. Since 2007, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has received nearly 150,000 reports of trafficking here in the United States. The majority of these victims are women and children forced into heinous situations. They need our help. I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure and to continue to do all we can to combat human trafficking.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Staff Sergeant Henry J. Nykamp of Milford, New Jersey. This July, Sergeant Nykamp will be awarded the French Legion of Honour, normally reserved for French nationals. However, other nationals who have aided France or promoted its ideals can receive the recognition as well. Due to Sergeant Nykamp's tremendous dedication to the allied cause in World War II, from June of 1943 to October of 1945, there is no one more deserving of the honor. During World War II, Sergeant Nykamp was stationed in Hardwick, England, where he flew 35 missions as a B-25 nose gunner. Some of Sergeant Nykamp's most important operations involved low-level flying in support of ground forces during the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded four Bronze Stars and five Air Medals. Sergeant Nykamp's is a story of great sacrifice and courage. Mission after mission, flight after flight, he answered the call of duty. He entered World War II at one of the world's darkest hours and did not rest until the struggle was over and the forces of right had prevailed. I am pleased that France is recognizing Sergeant Nykamp for his role in its liberation, and I also thank him for his tremendous service not only to the United States but to the allied cause.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the tireless dedication of one of New Jersey's greatest Alzheimer's awareness advocates, Jeannie Castells of Lambertville, Hunterdon County. Jeannie has served as a congressional ambassador for the Alzheimer's Association since 2014, meeting with Members of Congress here on Capitol Hill, holding educational events in which I have participated in Congressional District Seven, and organizing fundraisers like the Walk to End Alzheimer's. Unfortunately, Jeannie's advocacy does not come without tragedy because the disease has claimed the lives of both her mother and her husband. And Jeannie's family is not alone, Mr. Speaker. Alzheimer's is the Nation's sixth leading cause of death. More than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's, and as many as 16 million Americans are estimated to have Alzheimer's by 2050. That is why in June, Alzheimer's Awareness Month, I urge advocates around the country, like Jeannie, to continue to fight for Alzheimer's research funding. We are on the verge of a breakthrough, and with your help, we will certainly find one.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the Financial CHOICE Act. In response to the Great Recession, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank law. While well intentioned, various Dodd-Frank provisions and regulations are actually encouraging some of the behavior that led to the financial crisis. The law permits Wall Street to receive bailouts and has constricted credit lending for consumers and small businesses. It has drastically hurt community banks throughout this country, and they had absolutely nothing to do with the financial crisis. Two thousand community banks have closed nationwide since Dodd- Frank, including 42 in New Jersey. Dodd-Frank has institutionalized too big to fail for Wall Street, while telling community banks on Main Street that they are too small to succeed. Congress agrees on the need for strong regulation of our financial system. The Financial CHOICE Act will bring balanced reform to our Nation's financial institutions.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome the veterans from Rolling Thunder to Washington for their Memorial Day events. Veterans like Gus Dante of Branchburg, New Jersey, serve on Rolling Thunder's national board, and every year he and others help organize events here in Washington to commemorate those brave Americans lost in war. For 30 years, Rolling Thunder's voices and motorcycles have been roaring in Washington, and lawmakers and the new administration are listening. Veterans' issues are front and center in the Halls of Congress, and Secretary Shulkin is reforming the Veterans Administration to restore the trust Rolling Thunder and all veterans demand. We must keep up the fight for the rights and benefits veterans have earned in the service to the Nation. I am proud to join with Rolling Thunder in introducing two important measures: legislation to end the 40-mile rule for private care through the VA and legislation to display the POW/MIA flag on Federal properties. Mr. Speaker, on this commemorative Memorial Day weekend, let us all recall those who answered the call of service, especially those who did not return home.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of New Jersey's most distinguished community and business leaders, Gary Pruden. Gary has dedicated the last thirty-three years of his life as a leader at Johnson & Johnson, creating a healthy, innovative world for patients everywhere. Gary joined Johnson & Johnson in 1984 to serve in sales and marketing for Janssen Pharmaceuticals. He led Janssen commercial efforts in Canada and after returning to the US in 2006, Gary joined the Ethicon franchise located in Somerville, New Jersey as Worldwide President of Ethicon Products. Gary's leadership and commitment to improving standards of care for patients helped to develop not only exceptional life-saving products but also better hospital conditions, education for surgeons and healthcare professionals'. He also supported many community and charitable programs to improve healthcare and patients' lives globally. As Johnson & Johnson's medical device footprint grew around the world, Gary's portfolio also continued to expand and he soon become the global Company Group Chairman in 2012 and the Worldwide Chairman of Medical Devices and a member of the Johnson & Johnson Management and Executive Committees respectively in 2015 and 2016. Gary has also become involved in the federal advocacy and legislative policy-making process with local, state and federal law makers. He has committed himself to advocating for sound, science-based public policy. He has been successful because of his commitment to building bi- cameral, bi-partisan relationships that support access to medical innovation and improve the U.S. healthcare system. Gary's leadership at national trade associations, community organizations and with elected and appointed government officials has made a lasting positive effect on patient care. Of all the professional accolades Gary has received during his impressive career, however, I believe he is most proud of his devotion to his family as a committed husband and father. Gary's wife Georgeane and their two children Kyle and Chelsea are his highest priorities. I wish Gary well in his personal and professional endeavors as he retires from Johnson & Johnson. I thank him for his exceptional service to our community.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, on June 10, 2017, the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church will celebrate its 300th Anniversary. I am proud to join the more than 760 members of the congregation, the clergy and church leaders in celebrating this very special occasion. The Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church was founded in 1717 by a small group of Scotch-Irish farmers. At 1 East Oak Street, the same location where services are still held today, those settlers erected a log house of worship that became the cornerstone of the community in Basking Ridge, New Jersey for generations. Until 1837 the church was the only organization that promoted religious life in the area. The Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church's theme for its 300th Anniversary year is ``Sharing God's Love for 300 years'' and the members of this great faith community are certainly living out that mission. Locally, the Church works with organizations like God's Co-op Pantry, Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity, the Interfaith Hospitality Network and Community in Crisis. Internationally, Basking Ridge Presbyterian supports missionaries in the Ukraine, Haiti and Indonesia as well as relief organizations Hogar de Cristo in Ecuador and Peaceworks in Nicaragua. These charitable efforts are shining examples of the great deal of good that comes from faith based organizations throughout all of the United States. As the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church celebrates this important milestone, I congratulate Pastor Reverend Dennis Jones and Associate Pastor Dr. Maureen Paterson for their dedicated efforts. As the Church continues to carry on the traditions of the Gospels and spread the good news, I wish it the best in celebrating the next 300 years. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to congratulate the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge, New Jersey in celebrating 300 years of service to the community. I am proud to share this important milestone with my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives and with the American people.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the backbone of the American economy: small business. Whether I meet with an owner of a family restaurant that has been on the same street corner for 50 years or a programmer for a startup tech company trying to land its first big break, I am always inspired by the amount of dedication and ingenuity that goes into running a small business. These men and women work hard, and their passion can always be seen in the products and services that they produce. The district I serve is home to so many thriving small businesses, and each one has a great story behind it. Such is the case with M.J. Neill, Incorporated, a family-owned heating company located in Bernardsville, New Jersey. This is M.J. Neill's 100th anniversary. Business has not always been easy for M.J. Neill. The company has been overcoming obstacles since David W. Neill started it in 1917. It has had to navigate through the Great Depression, the OPEC oil crisis, and the 2008 financial crisis. It has had to make the move from coal to more efficient fuels. But through four generations, M.J. Neill has always been able to adapt and expand its business. M.J. Neill continues to be a household name in heating in the Bernardsville area. It caters to other local small businesses and families all around Somerset and Morris Counties, and it is known for its 24/7 service and family-oriented approach. Some of its customers even date back to when the company first began, testament to the value of the honest service that M.J. Neill provides. Today I congratulate current owner David Neill on the centennial of the company. The entrepreneurial spirit and innovation the Neill family has exhibited over the past 100 years is truly exemplary and serves as an example to all of us. The stories we hear about successful small businesses are not the only evidence we have that they are pivotal to our economy. The statistics also prove that point. We have over 29 million small businesses in the United States, and nearly two-thirds of the jobs created in this country come from those businesses. It is undeniable that a thriving small business sector is critical to bolstering employment in this country. The same is true in New Jersey, which is home to 843,000 small businesses, accounting for over 99 percent of the total businesses in the State. These same small businesses employ 1.8 million people in New Jersey, more than half of our total workforce. With so many people relying on work from our small business community, it only makes sense that Congress does everything possible to support them. That is why we must use this week, National Small Business Week, to continue to talk about the ways we can help rid small businesses of harmful regulations and equip them with the tools they need to grow and to prosper. Last year we made great strides in the House by passing legislation such as the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act and the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, but we need to do more. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together to support pro-small business legislation. Families like the Neills work hard their entire lives to serve their communities. It is imperative that those of us in Congress work to serve them as well.