John McHugh

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Thank you very much, Jay. It's a great privilege, as always, to report again on this outstanding program. As you have indicated in the past, this Congress to Campus program has been administered by our association now for 3 years in cooperation with the Stennis Center. During that time, the program has experienced marked growth and has expanded to include a number of community colleges as well as traditional universities. As most of you know, this is the association's flagship program. It sends bipartisan teams of former Members to colleges, universities, and high schools across the country to educate the next generation of leaders on the importance of civic engagement. The participating students benefit from the interaction with our association members, whose knowledge and experience clearly are a unique resource. Our members at the same time benefit through their continued involvement in public service and the ability to engage young people on issues of real importance to them. During each visit, our bipartisan team conducts classes, meets individually with students and faculty, speaks to campus media, participates in both campus and community forums, and meets with local citizens. The program has made both domestic and international visits this academic year, including two separate visits to campuses in the United Kingdom. During the 2009-2010 academic year, the program has made a total of 22 campus visits. More than 35 former Members participated, and I want to thank all of you who took the time from your busy schedules to do so. I also want to encourage those who have not yet had the opportunity to seriously consider doing so. It's a great way to continue our public service after Congress. I also want to thank the faculty, staff members and students who worked so diligently on each of these visits. Without the hard work of these folks, these visits would not have been possible at all. We have continued our relationship with the Stennis Center for Public Service in the administration of the program, and we owe a special debt of gratitude, I think, to Tracy Fine of our staff and to Brother Rogers of the Stennis Center for their fine work throughout the year. Our staffs work very closely together to make the program such a success and we also appreciate the continuing financial support from the Stennis Center. We look forward to our continuing association in the years ahead. In addition to the expansion of the program to community colleges, and with the help of a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the program has also commenced a concerted effort in partnership with the University of Central Florida and the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government to reach out to high school students through a series of webcasts. These programs focus on specific topics related to Congress and the legislative process and are designed as a tool for teachers to showcase these topics and encourage involvement in government. During the fall and the spring, the program was piloted to high schools in Florida and around the country. The broadcasts were taped and streamed live with an in-studio audience of high school students in Washington as part of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. We have also continued our working relationship with the People to People Ambassador Program that brings young people to our Nation's capital for a week of events centered on the concepts of character and leadership. This year, the association sent former Members to 30 different speaking engagements in this area and reached hundreds of students through these appearances. These students are younger than those who participate in Congress to Campus activities, but they have already demonstrated a commitment to the ideals that Congress to Campus seeks to promote. The association's involvement in this program allows our members living in the Washington area to speak to these younger students on the importance of public service and to answer their many questions about our country and its government. A number of our members continue to work full-time, and the People to People engagements allow them to continue their public service in this way. The events are typically held in the early morning at suburban locations. Again, I want to thank my colleagues, especially Orval Hansen, Jack Buechner and Martin Frost, who have participated in this program regularly over the past year. Finally, Jay, I want to say again how grateful we are to those who have made the Congress to Campus program such a great success, and I strongly encourage all of my friends and colleagues to participate in this program either by making a visit to a school or by recommending a school to host the program. As you know, a democracy can prosper only if its citizens are both informed and engaged. As former legislators, we have a particular opportunity and responsibility to encourage such involvement. This program gives us the chance to do so, particularly with our young people. Again, many thanks to you for your leadership. My congratulations to our friend and colleague, Bill Gray, on this award, and it is great to see all of you back again.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank and recognize the men and women who constitute my Congressional staff. I greatly appreciate their service to me and the people of New York's 23rd Congressional District, which I have had the privilege and honor to represent since 1993. New York's 23rd Congressional District encompasses 11 counties in Northern and Central New York: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Oswego, and St. Lawrence. It is bounded by Lake Champlain on the east, the St. Lawrence River to the north, and Lake Ontario to the west. Additionally, it includes the Thousand Islands and most of the Adirondack Park, which have both long been world renowned for their incredible beauty. The District is also home to historic battlefields, such as Fort Ticonderoga, Ogdensburg, Plattsburgh and Sackets Harbor, and it has been the birthplace of national leaders including former Vice President William A. Wheeler of Malone and former House of Representatives Minority Leader Bertrand H. Snell of Colton. However, most importantly, it is where a capable, generous, independent, proud, and resourceful people reside. During the time I have had the honor of representing the people of Northern and Central New York, I have been blessed to have had a dedicated and talented staff. Given my time as staff to former New York State Senator H. Douglas Barclay, I can well appreciate their efforts. While I value the efforts of everyone who has served on my staff, at this time I would like to recognize the following men and women who have served during the 111th Congress: Michael Backus, Donna Bell, Karen Brayton, Diane Henderson, Mike Holland, Anne LeMay, Mira Lezell, Jason Miller, Ruth Mary Ortloff, Matt Satterley, John Sweeney, Robert Taub, Melanie Turpin, Stephanie Valle, and Kate Wehrle. As I have candidly confessed on more than one occasion, I simply could have never fulfilled the duties of my office without their tireless efforts. Accordingly, at this time, I wish to thank them for their excellent service and wish them my best for a productive future.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud sponsor of H.R. 22, a bipartisan bill with 339 cosponsors that would provide immediate but temporary financial relief to the Postal Service. As a Member who has closely followed postal legislative issues for more than 14 years, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) for their work to bring this legislation to the floor today. As every Member of Congress and most Americans are aware, the Postal Service faces a crisis of huge and historic proportions, despite extensive efforts to reduce costs. This situation is due to the precipitous decline in mail volume brought about by the deepening recession, changes in technology and society, and the economic condition of the agency's largest customer, the financial services industry. Additionally, the Postal Service is laboring under a crippling cost burden imposed by a statutory requirement that the Postal Service prefund the health benefits of future retirees, while still continuing to pay annual premiums for its current retirees. The payment for current retirees totals about $2 billion and is growing each year. At the same time, the annual statutorily-mandated prefunding ranges from $5.4 billion to $5.8 billion over the 10-year period from 2007 through 2016. In 2008, the Postal Service's total retiree health benefits costs came to $7.4 billion, with $1.8 billion of that amount paid for current retirees and $5.6 billion deposited into the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund to prefund future premium payments. Without the mandated payments, the Postal Service would have achieved a positive net income in 2008 rather than its actual $2.8 billion loss. It is important to note that no other entity--public or private--is required to prepay this health benefit obligation at these extremely high levels. As amended, H.R. 22 would begin to address this serious situation. It would do so by simply accelerating, for just the remainder of fiscal year 2009, a provision in the law to allow the Postal Service to pay the health premiums for current retirees from the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits fund; this fund already holds in excess of $32 billion and will continue to grow. H.R. 22 does not require an appropriation or use of any taxpayer monies, but rather involves merely an intragovernmental transfer of funds. It would not increase the health benefit premiums paid by current or future Postal Service retirees, nor would it affect their benefits. Put simply, it is not a bailout. The Postal Service is in a dire financial situation, and while H.R. 22 is not the full answer to all of the Service's woes, it is an important solution to alleviate the pressure before the agency risks running out of money at the end of this month. According to the committee, the amended version considered on the floor of the House today does not score based on the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) evaluation. This is not a budget gimmick because the fact of the matter is that the Postal Service cannot adjust its spending for this fiscal year so late. Any cost cutting the Postal Service would have made for the fiscal year ending September 30 has already taken place and cannot be reversed. Again, the main driver of the Postal Service's debt has been the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act's (P.L. 109-435) requirement to prefund 80 percent of its future retiree health benefit costs, a 75- year liability, in just 10 years. No other business or government entity does that. As I noted, if it had not been for this prefunding, the Postal Service would have had a profit in 2008, in spite of the economic turndown. That is why 339 Members of the House have put their name as sponsors on H.R. 22. Mr. Speaker, there is a consensus that Congress should enact H.R. 22, which is strongly supported by the Postal Service, all of its unions and management associations. It is also supported by the entire $900 billion mailing industry, which employs 9 million Americans. Accordingly, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation and work with me to enact it into law.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall No. 693. At this time, I wish to note that had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3326, the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Defense Health Program Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO) Address of Requesting Entity: 120 Washington Street, Suite 302, Watertown, NY 13601 Provide an earmark of $430,000 to enable the FDRHPO to hire the necessary staff and conduct the required assessments. The health care delivery model for federal beneficiaries at Fort Drum is unique as the only MEDDAC with a division and no inpatient capabilities. The model is a military-community partnership that joins the Army medical treatment facility with community providers to augment the medical treatment facilities primary care capability with specialty care and inpatient services. Through ongoing collaboration of the FDRHPO, access to quality health care will continue to improve, costs will be reduced, communication will continue to increase, additional resources will be leveraged and innovated cooperative health care arrangements and agreements will be tested. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Research and Development, Air Force Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Clarkson University and ITT Address of Requesting Entity: Clarkson University (8 Clarkson Ave., Potsdam, NY 13699) and ITT AES (474 Phoenix Drive, Rome, NY 13441) Provide an earmark of $4,000,000 for Cyber Attack and Security Environment (CASE). Operating effectively in cyberspace requires a Cyber Command and Control (CC2) system to synchronize cyber attack operations, facilitate analysis of attack results including measures of effectiveness, and deconflict friendly use of cyberspace. The objective of ITT's proposed effort is to conceptualize and demonstrate the technologies necessary to systematically coordinate, plan, and execute offensive cyber campaigns; determine effects associated with an offensive cyber weapon; monitor/evaluate events that occur in cyberspace; and ultimately achieve situational awareness of cyberspace with an overall goal of achieving dominance within that critical realm. Alpha and beta testing throughout the lifecycle of this project will occur at a secure military installation in upstate New York. A significant partner in this effort is Clarkson University through its complex networks group, its biometrics group, critical electric power/ large scale systems faculty, and cryptographic protocol analysis researchers, who will provide subject matter expertise and project research. The results of the CASE effort will help form a strategic partnership between AFRL Rome and Air Force's Global Cyberspace Integration Center (GCIC) located on LAFB, VA. The addition of funding in Fiscal Year 2010 for CASE will help demonstrate the technologies necessary to systematically coordinate, plan, and execute offensive cyber campaigns while maintaining defensive continuity. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Research and Development, Navy Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Trudeau Institute Address of Requesting Entity: Trudeau Institute, 154 Algonquin Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 Provide an earmark of $2,000,000 for the U.S. Navy Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Program: Enhancement of Influenza Vaccine Efficacy. Prevention of seasonal and pandemic influenza remains a significant unmet need for the US armed forces. Influenza in active duty personnel and dependents compromises force readiness and impacts training. The funding for the proposed project will help advance the development of novel techniques for enhancing vaccine efficacy to promote Force Readiness and general health of the members of the Armed Services and their dependents. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Research and Development, Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Syracuse Research Corporation Address of Requesting Entity: 7502 Round Pond Road, North Syracuse, NY 13212 Provide an earmark of $2,000,000 for the Foliage Penetrating, Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Tracking, and Engagement Radar (FORESTER). U.S. Forces currently have no radar capability to detect and track activity under foliage. FORESTER is an airborne sensor system that provides standoff and persistent wide-area surveillance of dismounted troops and vehicles moving through foliage. The Phase II funding will help transition FORESTER to the User community, and apply the technology to additional platforms and U.S. border security applications, providing U.S. forces a critical new capability to detect and track activity under foliage. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account:Research and Development, Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Welch Allyn, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 4341 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls, New York 13152 Provide an earmark of $1,000,000 for the Personal Status Monitor (Nightengale). Welch Allyn is actively working on a project to monitor the health status of a soldier, remotely communicating the data to obtain the most appropriate level of care in a forward combat environment, which is essential for medical and military strategic decision-making. The Research and Development funding for this project will allow Welch Allyn to further develop its smart sensing technologies. These technologies provide on-body sensing of physiologic parameters that can be relayed to a remote server by means of a series of wireless relay devices for notification in the case of a critical or life threatening event. Specifically, the technology consists of wearable sensors with RF communication to observation stations, doctor's offices, electronic patient records, and hospital information systems, providing anywhere, anytime access to real-time or archived patient information. Applications include deployment on individuals or groups of individuals who are subject to catastrophic physiologic events such as military personnel, public safety personnel and those with cardiovascular disease.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3293--Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: HRSA: Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: E.J. Noble Hospital Address of Requesting Entity: 77 West Barney Street, Gouverneur, NY 13642 Description: The purpose of this earmark is to provide $350,000 for the upgrade and modernization of the medical and surgical facilities at E.J. Noble Hospital. These antiquated facilities have not been upgraded since 1952. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: HRSA: Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Northern Oswego County Health Services, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 61 Delano Street, Pulaski, NY 13142 Description: The purpose of this earmark is to provide $150,000 for the expansion of existing primary dental care facilities at Northern Oswego County Health Services, Inc. (NOCHSI) to expand service to its medically underserved population. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: Department of Education: National Projects Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Reach Out and Read National Center Address of Requesting Entity: 56 Roland Street, Boston, NY 02129 Description: The purpose of this earmark is to provide $4,965,000 for the Reach Out and Read (ROR) national program that promotes literacy and language development in infants and young children, targeting disadvantaged and poor children and families. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: Department of Education: National Projects Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Reading is Fundamental Address of Requesting Entity: 1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 Description: The purpose of this earmark is to provide $24,803,000 to the Reading is Fundamental program designed to enhance child literacy by providing millions of underserved children with free books for personal ownership and reading encouragement from the more than 18,000 locations.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3288--Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill of 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3288 Account: Federal Highway Administration: Federal Lands Legal Name of Requesting Entity: New York State Department of Transportation Address of Requesting Entity: 50 Wolf Road, Albany, New York 12232 Description: The purpose of this earmark is to provide $1,077,000 for the construction of a 4-lane road from Interstate 81 to the main gate at Fort Drum in order to enhance the viability of the Fort and improve traffic safety in the region. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3288 Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: North Country Vietnam Veterans Association Address of Requesting Entity: 27 Town Line Road, P.O. Box 1161, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Description: The purpose of this earmark is to provide $250,000 for the renovation and expansion of the existing North Country Veterans Service Center, a non-profit organization that provides services and support to veterans and their families.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3183--Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Account: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legal Name of Requesting Entity: SUNY Morrisville Address of Requesting Entity: Post Office Box 901, Morrisville, NY 13408 Description: The purpose of the project is to provide $200,000 to demonstrate the feasibility of using algae production as a renewable fuel source while incorporating carbon sequestering and aquaponic technologies into one demonstration scale model. Aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and aquaculture, whereby the waste products of each system are utilized by each other, increasing cost effectiveness. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Account: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lewis County Industrial Development Agency Address of Requesting Entity: 7642 N. State Street, Lowville, NY 13367 Description: The purpose of the project is to provide $500,000 for upgrades to necessary biomass components that will improve energy efficiency while further reducing already permit compliant emissions by 50 percent. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Account: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Council for International Trade, Technology, Education and Communications, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: Box 8561 Main Street, Room 101, Potsdam, NY 13699 Description: The Center for Advanced Ferrite Production in collaboration with Syracuse University Industrial Assessment Center will demonstrate that mature manufacturing industries in the Northeast may be made globally competitive through aggressive investment in energy efficiency measures. This project will be a model for other New York manufacturing businesses.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3170--Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2010 Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 3170 Account: Salaries and Expenses Legal Name of Requesting Entity: New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Address of Requesting Entity: Bray Hall 224, Syracuse, NY 13210 Description: The purpose of the project is to fund the New York State Forest Community Economic Assistance Program. It would fund dedicated research and outreach for forest-products community businesses and provide assistance with technical manufacturing and financial management issues. It would also serve these communities in overcoming the challenges of navigating complex regulatory and public policy matters. Forest-based manufacturing, small business and tourism generate $8.8 billion annually and employ over 72,000 workers. This program would work to maintain and enhance these types of forest community economic activities.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, due to official business, I missed two rollcall votes on Friday, July 10, 2009. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 528 and ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 529 of H.R. 3082, the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the 50th anniversary of one of the world's great waterways, built and operated by the United States and Canada: the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System. On June 26, 1959 in Montreal, President Dwight E. Eisenhower and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Seaway, followed the next day by the dedication on U.S. soil in Massena, New York, of the two U.S. locks, Snell and Eisenhower. At that ceremony in Northern New York, Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Queen Elizabeth presided to celebrate the completion of these last two of the seven Montreal-Lake Ontario locks. This historic anniversary year provides a perfect opportunity to celebrate the beneficial impacts the Seaway System, and its many users, have had on the Great Lakes region. The Seaway links the many cities of North America's heartland to the Atlantic Ocean and to ports across the world, providing a vital trade corridor for business and industry. It directly serves an eight-state, two-province region that accounts for 29 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), 60 percent of Canada's GDP, 55 percent of North America's manufacturing and services industries, and is home to one-quarter of the continent's population. At age 50, the Seaway has facilitated the movement of over 2.5 billion metric tons of cargo, valued in excess of $375 billion. Maritime commerce on the Great Lakes Seaway System impacts 150,000 U.S. jobs, $12 million per day in wages, $9 million per day in business revenues, and provides approximately $3.6 billion in annual transportation cost savings compared to the next least costly mode of transportation. At its height, the massive Seaway construction project employed 22,000 workers on both sides of the St. Lawrence River. The undertaking required 210 million cubic yards of excavation, 6.1 million cubic yards of concrete, 45 miles of dikes, 69 miles of channels, the relocation of 9,000 people, the rerouting of 47 miles of highway and 40 miles of double-track railroad. The engineering challenges and magnitude of the work was staggering, not only for its time, but by today's standards as well. The St. Lawrence Seaway/Power project was subsequently recognized as one of the top ten public works projects of the century by the American Public Works Association. The Seaway has been a shining example of how two nations, the U.S. and Canada, can work together cooperatively to achieve a common goal. The U.S Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation coordinates its activities with its Canadian counterpart, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, particularly with respect to rules and regulations, overall day-to-day operations, traffic management, navigation aids, safety, environmental issues, and trade development programs. The unique binational nature of the Seaway System requires 24-hour, year-round coordination and the two Seaway agencies work hand- in-hand to provide seamless operation and management of this vital U.S. and Canadian asset. While a lot has changed in 50 years, the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System remains the safest, most efficient, environmentally- friendly mode of transportation available for moving cargo in and out of North America's heartland. It has been a model of performance and dependability, achieving a 99 percent reliability rate over its history. It is truly a cornerstone of the region's economy and culture. This year's 50th anniversary opening ceremony will be held at the Eisenhower Lock Visitors' Center in Massena, New York on Friday, July 10. A number of U.S. and Canadian dignitaries will be speaking at the event, including U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood; Canadian Consul General Georges Rioux; Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN); Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH); U.S. Seaway Administrator Collister Johnson, Jr.; Canadian Seaway President Dick Corfe; Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President of the Eisenhower Group; Richard Kessel, President of the New York Power Authority; Karl Weissenbach, Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum Director; and John B. Adams, former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seaway construction project engineer. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Seaway on this milestone anniversary and wishing them a memorable celebration weekend and an enduring future.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Clarkson University Golden Knights upon winning the 2009 NCAA Division II Racquetball National Championship, their second national championship since 2005. I am proud to represent Clarkson University and the community of Potsdam. In April, Clarkson University won the Division II National Championship in Tempe, Arizona, which involved 330 players representing more than 50 colleges and universities. The Golden Knights did so by having the highest combined total of the men's and women's team points, which were attained by defeating competing players in individual matches. The Clarkson men's team included Marco B. Fontana, Joseph V. Kapas, Justin A. Konopaske, Brian C. Robertshaw, Brian T. Straub, and Joseph E. Tabor of Nicholville, New York, which is located in New York's 23rd Congressional District. The women's team was comprised of Michelle E. Turk and Rachel D. Weiss, captain of the combined teams. Professor Norbert Ackermann has served as the team's advisor for more than a decade. Madam Speaker, it takes a tremendous amount of dedication, hard work, perseverance, and teamwork to win a national collegiate championship. Thus, I am pleased to extend my congratulations to these young men and women, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the entire Clarkson University Golden Knights racquetball team for this very significant accomplishment.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I rise today regarding the Forewarn Act (H.R. 3042), which was introduced on June 25, 2009, in an effort to help American workers by updating and improving the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act (P.L. 100-379). I am pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the Gentleman from California, Mr. Miller, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, to craft this important legislation. Congress enacted the WARN Act over two decades ago in August 1988 in an effort to help American workers better prepare for, and overcome the difficulties resulting from the loss of a job due to a mass layoff or plant closure. Specifically, through the WARN Act, Congress required that employers give workers 60 days advance notice of mass-layoffs to facilitate their efforts to find a new job, obtain retraining, or otherwise prepare for the significant consequences of lost employment. Simultaneously, to maximize the assistance provided to workers under such difficult circumstances, Congress also required the same 60-day notice be provided to state dislocated worker entities and the chief elected official of the pertinent local government. Last Congress, I was prompted to closely review the WARN Act and its requirements in the wake of a decision by the General Motors (GM) Corporation to phase out 500 jobs and close its Powertrain facility in Massena, New York, which I represent. As a result of this examination, on September 25, 2007, I introduced the Forewarn Act of 2007 (H.R. 3662) to strengthen the WARN Act by expanding its scope and increasing its notice requirements to 90 days. Additionally, H.R. 3662 sought to enhance compliance by increasing the back pay penalty, clarifying that the notice period should be determined by the use of ``calendar'' rather than ``business'' days, and giving the Secretary of Labor or appropriate state attorney general the ability to enforce the law. I was later pleased to vote for similar provisions when the House considered the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007 (H.R. 3920) authored by Mr. Miller to reauthorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act. Unfortunately, H.R. 3920 did not become law before the conclusion of the 110th Congress. Since that time, economic circumstances have reinforced the need to modernize and expand the WARN Act. From December 2007 through May 2009, seven million Americans have become unemployed and in the 11 counties encompassed by New York's 23rd Congressional District, over 34,000 people are without work. Moreover, during that timeframe, there have been 37,059 mass layoffs across the nation involving over 3.8 million workers. In the face of such circumstances, it is incumbent upon Congress to ensure that American workers have as much notice as practicable and that the law providing such notice and associated rights is understandable and enforceable. Thus, as the Gentleman from California and I reviewed the WARN Act, one of our goals was to clarify provisions that had caused confusion and resulted in litigation. For example, the question of whether the notice period required under the Act was to be determined by counting ``calendar'' days or ``business'' days has long been litigated. In our recently introduced bill (H.R. 3042), we seek to clarify that ``calendar'' days are indeed to be used when calculating the notice period. Likewise, there has been confusion as to whether or not an employer's ``good faith'' could be used as a complete defense to liability under the Act. When Congress enacted the WARN Act, it clearly intended that an employer's good faith should only be used by a court to reduce the damages owed--not to entirely eliminate liability--and we have sought to reinforce Congress' original intent through Section 2(c)(3) of this proposal. As in the legislation (H.R. 3920) passed by the House in the 110th Congress, the current Forewarn Act (H.R. 3042) would require employers to give 90 days, rather than 60 days, notice of mass-layoffs and plant closures to employees. However, H.R. 3042 would expand the bill's reach to those employers who have 75 or more employees, including those who are new or part-time, and lower the threshold number of affected employees from 50 to 25 employees. In addition, our measure would require employers to give notice to the Governor of the pertinent state, as well as to the U.S. Secretary of Labor, who in turn would be required to give notice to the appropriate Senators and Members of the House of Representatives. To better ensure compliance, as H.R. 3662 and H.R. 3920 would have done last Congress, the current Forewarn Act (H.R. 3042) would increase the remedies available to employees in instances where proper notice was not given. For example, employees could receive damages in the amount of double back pay for each calendar day they were not provided with the requisite notice and the Secretary of Labor could initiate an enforcement action on their behalf. The bill (H.R. 3042) would make clear that the appropriate statute of limitations is two years and provide further protections to workers by precluding waivers of their rights under the law unless they were made by the Secretary of Labor, an attorney general, or with the assistance of counsel. We have also clarified that parent companies are ultimately responsible for the actions or inactions of their subsidiaries. Finally, to increase assistance to workers, our bill (H.R. 3042) requires employers to post notices regarding worker rights under the WARN Act and to permit on-site access to rapid response teams. Likewise, it requires the Secretary of Labor to prepare a guide of benefits and services that may be available to unemployed workers. Madam Speaker, as Congress continues its efforts to address our nation's current economic circumstances, it should favorably consider the Forewarn Act.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3082, the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H. R. 3082 Account: Military Construction, Army Name of Military Installation: Fort Drum Address of Requesting Entity: Fort Drum, New York 13601 Description: Provide an earmark of $8,200,000 in MCA to build an All Weather Marksmanship Facility at Fort Drum, New York. Currently, Fort Drum has only one operational All Weather Marksmanship Facility. The project is required to provide year round live fire training to more efficiently support soldiers in meeting weapons proficiency and qualification standards, and minimize the amount of time required to complete training. The Light Infantry Doctrine and the missions of the 10th Mountain Division require higher than normal levels of marksmanship proficiency and fire discipline.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2997--Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2997 Account: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: Salaries and Expenses Legal Name of Requesting Entity: SUNY Environmental School of Forestry Address of Requesting Entity: SUNY ESF Bray Hall 224, Syracuse, NY 13210 Description: Provide an earmark of $500,000 for the eradication of the Asian Long-Horned Beatle in New York State forest lands. The Asian Long-Horned Beetle is an invasive species that can have disastrous effects on forest areas. Several beetle infestations have already occurred in the U.S. including Chicago, NJ, Staten Island, NY and most recently in Worcester, Massachusetts in August 2008. In order to eradicate the beetle 30,000 trees were cut down in an effort to keep the beetle from spreading. While other methods are being explored, chopping down infested trees and burning the wood is currently the only way to eradicate the beetles which have no known natural predator in the U.S. More than 61 percent of New York State is forested and highly vulnerable to an introduction of Asian Long-Horned Beetle. The trees preferred as hosts by the Asian Long-Horned Beetle are hardwoods, which also compose the majority of the Northeast United States mixed hardwood forests critical to New York rural economic vitality and the forest products and wood-based renewable energy industries, New York State water quality, sequestration of carbon and greenhouse gases known to contribute to climate change. There is no wide scale proactive protection technology deployed today and the threat is moving north toward the Catskill and west toward the Adirondack and Southern Tier. The Asian Long-Horned Beetle infestation is an economic, social and environmental disaster waiting to happen. Presently, all therapies for Asian Long-Horned Beetle infestation are reactive; all the trees are removed for miles around.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. I want to thank the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee and also my dear friend, the distinguished ranking member of the subcommittee and indeed the Appropriations Committee in general, for recognizing the value and the importance of this funding. As I have said to the gentleman from California's friend and colleague, my colleague from Arizona, Mr. Flake, in past years when he has brought amendments to the floor striking out at some of the programs that I have been proud to advance, I always appreciate the opportunity, Madam Chair, to rise and to talk a bit about the district I have the honor of representing and the special people who live there. I agree we have an economic challenge in this country. I'm not sure $150,000, as much as I wish that all of us in America had that amount in our hip pocket, will save that. But taking with seriousness the gentleman from California's proposal, I would just make the following comments. Most people view New York State through one lens--and that lens is New York City. When they think of New York, they think of Broadway, they think of the Statute of Liberty. They think about all the great things that is indeed New York City and is, in many real ways, New York. New York is all of that, but it's much more as well. In my part of the world, in my part of New York State, it's the St. Lawrence River; it's the Adirondack Mountains; the Adirondack Park--the largest publicly held park in the lower 48 States. It's Thousand Islands. It's beauty. It's natural wonder. And it's great people. It's not a metropolis. It's small towns, it's villages, and its hamlets with very industrious, very proud, and very kind people. But for all of our natural beauty, for all that causes us to be proud in calling this great part of the world home, it's a region that has long been confronted by economic challenges--closed factories, abandoned mills, failing farms, declining populations. In our part of the world--and I can't speak for the coast of California where the gentleman represents--and I know he does that proudly--economic development is a little bit different, perhaps. It's something that we take very seriously, but it has to be configured around those things that the good Lord has given to us: the great universities--four of them within 10 miles of this facility; the tourism, which is our number one industry, along with agriculture, those failing farms I spoke about; the need to bring economic development by revitalizing downtown centers. I can't speak to the fact why the gentleman had trouble as he did in the first amendment identifying the right amount as to the proper group he was unable to identify, but the organization to which this money will go is a not-for-profit organization. They're configured in Canton, New York. They're attempting to do all of the things I listed: bring economic development through vitalizing tourism; giving people who come to that beautiful part of New York State something to see, something to do; an opportunity to learn about the very special culture, starting with the 1600s in New York State on the Canadian border. That opportunity to revitalize that downtown center, to create the opportunities for new businesses to come in, and for that chance for those good and proud people to realize that glory and the opportunity and the growth that they had in the past. I don't think the gentleman from California has any animosity towards Canton, quite frankly. With no disrespect, I doubt he could find it. But the fact of the matter is I think we have a difference of philosophy. The gentleman doesn't believe that it's the opportunity and the right of Members of Congress to come here and to do within the rules and regulations, within the standards established by this House-- and if we want to expand them, I'm happy to do that--to provide a little bit of help--in this case, $150,000--to bring a difference where the unemployment rate is pushing over 10 percent. This is a program that is not just an earmark. It's under the Save America's Treasures Act. The gentleman spoke very eloquently in the first amendment he brought about standards, about guidance, about benchmarks. There are nine benchmarks under the Save America's Treasures Act. Where it is in the timeline, this project meets every one of those standards. I would hope my colleagues would join me in understanding the importance of this.

Mr. McHUGH. If that were the case, why didn't the gentleman come to me or go to the committee and ask what the differences were? We reached out to your staff today, and we had a response that had nothing to do with what the offer was we made.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2892--Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2892 Account: Infrastructure Protection and Information Security Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Clarkson University Address of Requesting Entity: 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699 Description: Provide an earmark of $100,000 to Clarkson University to establish and maintain a collaborative cyber security training center designed to strengthen the nation's ability to educate large numbers of highly qualified individuals in the fields of information assurance and cyber security. This initiative will also update cyber security training modules to anticipate and respond to new threats, improve warning capabilities, accelerate comprehensive responses to real time attacks, and develop next generation cyber security experts.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2996--Interior and Environment Act of 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2996 Account: Save America's Treasures Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Traditional Arts in Upstate New York Address of Requesting Entity: 53 Main Street, Canton, NY 13617 Description: Provide an earmark of $150,000 to the Traditional Arts in Upstate New York for the renovation of a building that houses the North Country Folk Life Center in Canton, NY. This National Register-- listed building has the potential to become a destination point and serve as a vital economic driver in the region.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2487 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2487 Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Madison County Address of Requesting Entity: 138 North Court Street, Wampsville, NY 13163. Description: Provide an earmark of $800,000 to Madison County for the construction and implementation of an interoperable emergency communications system to help facilitate communications with area first responders. I certify that I do not have any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2487 Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: St. Lawrence County District Attorney's Office Address of Requesting Entity: 48 Court Street, Canton, NY 13617. Description: Provide an earmark in the amount of $200,000 for the St. Lawrence County Drug Investigation Equipment Project. The project involves the purchase of electronic equipment to combat drug trafficking through surveillance. The equipment would be used by St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force to investigate, solve, and otherwise address drug trafficking. I certify that I do not have any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2487 Account: Office of Justice Programs: Juvenile Justice Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: PO Box 565, 4403 Main St. 2nd Floor, Waitsfield, VT 05673. Description: Provide an earmark in the amount of $300,000 for the establishment of an innovative, replicable youth outdoors program model which will serve underprivileged urban and rural 10-14 year olds. This project represents a scalable model for engaging youth in active outdoor experiences that lead to a number of positive outcomes. I certify that I do not have any financial interest in this project.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Military Construction, Army Name of Military Installation: Fort Drum Address of Requesting Entity: Fort Drum, New York 13601 Provide an earmark of $8,200,000 in MCA to build an All Weather Marksmanship Facility at Fort Drum, New York. Currently, Fort Drum has only one operational All Weather Marksmanship Facility. The project is required to provide year round live fire training to more efficiently support soldiers in meeting weapons proficiency and qualification standards, and minimize the amount of time required to complete training. The Light Infantry Doctrine and the missions of the 10th Mountain Division require higher than normal levels of marksmanship proficiency and fire discipline. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Defense Health Program Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO) Address of Requesting Entity: 120 Washington Street, Suite 302, Watertown, NY 13601 Provide an earmark of $430,000 to enable the FDRHPO to hire the necessary staff and conduct the required assessments. The health care delivery model for federal beneficiaries at Fort Drum is unique as the only MEDDAC with a division and no inpatient capabilities. The model is a military-community partnership that joins the Army medical treatment facility with community providers to augment the medical treatment facilities primary care capability with specialty care and inpatient services. Through ongoing collaboration of the FDRHPO, access to quality health care will continue to improve, costs will be reduced, communication will continue to increase, additional resources will be leveraged and innovated cooperative health care arrangements and agreements will be tested. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Research and Development, Air Force Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Clarkson University and ITT Address of Requesting Entity: Clarkson University (8 Clarkson, Potsdam, NY 13699) and ITT AES (474 Phoenix Drive Rome. NY 13441) Provide an earmark of $5,000,000 for Cyber Attack and Security Environment (CASE). Operating effectively in cyberspace requires a Cyber Command and Control (CC2) system to synchronize cyber attack operations, facilitate analysis of attack results including measures of effectiveness, and deconflict friendly use of cyberspace. The objective of ITT's proposed effort is to conceptualize and demonstrate the technologies necessary to systematically coordinate, plan, and execute offensive cyber campaigns; determine effects associated with an offensive cyber weapon; monitor/evaluate events that occur in cyberspace; and ultimately achieve situational awareness of cyberspace with an overall goal of achieving dominance within that critical realm. Alpha and beta testing throughout the lifecycle of this project will occur at a secure military installation in upstate New York. A significant partner in this effort is Clarkson University through its complex networks group, its biometrics group, critical electric power/ large scale systems faculty, and cryptographic protocol analysis researchers, who will provide subject matter expertise and project research. The results of the CASE effort will help form a strategic partnership between AFRL Rome and Air Force's Global Cyberspace Integration Center (GCIC) located on LAFB, VA. The addition of $5M in FY10 for CASE will demonstrate the technologies necessary to systematically coordinate, plan, and execute offensive cyber campaigns while maintaining defensive continuity. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Research and Development, Navy Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Trudeau Institute Address of Requesting Entity: Trudeau Institute (154 Algonquin Avenue Saranac Lake, NY 12983) Provide an earmark of $8,000,000 for the U.S. Navy Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Program: Enhancement of Influenza Vaccine Efficacy. Prevention of seasonal and pandemic influenza remains a significant unmet need for the U.S. armed forces. Influenza in active duty personnel and dependents compromises force readiness and impacts training. The funding for the proposed project will help advance the development of novel techniques for enhancing vaccine efficacy to promote Force Readiness and general health of the members of the Armed Services and their dependents. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Research and Development, Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Syracuse Research Corporation Address of Requesting Entity: 7502 Round Pond Road North Syracuse, NY 13212 Provide an earmark of $5,000,000 for the Foliage Penetrating, Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Tracking, and Engagement Radar (FORESTER). U.S. Forces currently have no radar capability to detect and track activity under foliage. FORESTER is an airborne sensor system that provides standoff and persistent wide-area surveillance of dismounted troops and vehicles moving through foliage. The Phase II funding will help transition FORESTER to the User community, and apply the technology to additional platforms and U.S. border security applications, providing U.S. forces a critical new capability to detect and track activity under foliage. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Research and Development, Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Legend Technologies Address of Requesting Entity: 1541 Front Street, Keeseville, New York 12944 Provide an earmark of $2,000,000 for the Remote Sighting System. Currently available optical technologies are not optimal for the various ``Robotic'' platforms currently being fielded. These platforms are only as good as their ability to ``See.'' The final funding installment will allow for the outfitting of production facility in Keeseville, New York, for manufacture of the Remote Sighting System from a domestic source. Consistent with current Department of Defense mandates and overall goals, the RSS can be used across platforms, which results in future savings, increased troop security and safety. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Research and Development, Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Welch Allyn, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 4341 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls, New York 13152 Provide an earmark of $5,000,000 for the Personal Status Monitor (Nightengale). Welch Allyn is actively working on a project to monitor the health status of a soldier, remotely communicating the data to obtain the most appropriate level of care in a forward combat environment, which is essential for medical and military strategic decision-making. The Research and Development funding for this project will allow Welch Allyn to further develop its smart sensing technologies. These technologies provide on-body sensing of physiologic parameters that can be relayed to a remote server by means of a series of wireless relay devices for notification in the case of a critical or life threatening event. Specifically, the technology consists of wearable sensors with RF communication to observation stations, doctor's offices, electronic patient records, and hospital information systems, providing anywhere, anytime access to real-time or archived patient information. Applications include deployment on individuals or groups of individuals who are subject to catastrophic physiologic events such as military personnel, public safety personnel and those with cardiovascular disease. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Aircraft Procurement, Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Rockwell Collins, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: Rockwell Collins, Address: 33 Lewis Road, Binghamton, NY 13905 (Hqs: 400 Collins Rd., Cedar Rapids, IA 52498) Provide an earmark of $2,000,000 for the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS-PVI) CH-47F. The funding for the project will help reduce pilot workload to assist Army pilots and crewmembers as they prosecute the war on terror. This proposal is to make timely long lasting changes to the CAAS cockpit of the CH-47F aircraft through an effective Pilot Vehicle Interface program. The results of such activity will reduce aircrew workload and deliver a safer more usable system to the field. Once completed, the CAAS cockpit will be suitably aligned for future integration into all conventional Army rotary wing aircraft. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Operations and Maintenance, Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: John Deere Address of Requesting Entity: 2000 John Deere Run, Cary, NC 27513 Provide for an earmark of $2,000,000 for the M-Gator. The M-Gator is a proven asset to our troops around the globe in support of the Global War on Terror and provides a unique capability that does not exist in the Army equipment inventory. M-Gators fill critical equipment shortages in Infantry, Aviation, Military Police, Combat and Field Service Hospitals, Special Operations, and other Combat Support and Combat Service Support units. The M-Gator enjoys an enviable reputation because of its ruggedness, load-carrying capability, and reliability. It has proven to be a key asset to our troops around the globe in support of the Global War on Terror and provides a unique capability that does not exist in the Army equipment inventory. Army units, including the 10th Mountain Division, have never had sufficient operational funds to replace their war-torn M-Gator fleet. The funding is to provide M-Gators to the 10th Mountain Division. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Research and Development, Navy Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lockheed Martin Address of Requesting Entity: 497 Electronics Parkway, Syracuse, NY 13088 Provide an earmark of $4,700,000 for the Future Generation Thinline Towed Array (TB-29A). Towed arrays are the primary long range ASW sensor systems for search, acoustic intelligence collection, and self- defense on today's submarines. The Thinline TB-29 series Submarine Towed Array is the premier sensor in the submarine fleet today. The TB- 29A delivers enhanced performance at half the acquisition and life cycle support costs of its predecessors. It also uses a lightweight tow cable allowing operation of the array in a littoral environment. The design of the TB-29A has not achieved the desired reliability for optimum fleet operations. Telemetry components and connectors are primary failure points after frequent reeling in and out of the submarine. The funding will help develop a modernized design, resulting in a new, low risk thinline submarine towed array that provides significant reliability improvements, equal performance and lower life cycle cost compared to current arrays. Requesting Member: John M. McHugh Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Research and Development, Defense-Wide Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sensis Corporation Address of Requesting Entity: 85 Collamer Crossings, East Syracuse, NY 13057 Provide an earmark of $2,000,000 for the SOF Craft Integrated Backbone. Most SOF craft vehicles have limited space available for hardware but continue to require additional systems to complete their missions. The SOF Craft Integrated Backbone will provide an integrated data processing system in order to consolidate the number of computer processors on the vehicle, thus resulting in a reduction of size, weight, and power (SWAP) requirements for the craft. The program will significantly reduce the physical footprint of the data processing system on the craft while maintaining the critical flexibility needed to provide for future technology upgrades. FY2010 funding will help leverage current sensor technology and open architecture COTS processing with vast experience integrating dispirit sensor systems to command and control stations. The SOF Craft Integrated Backbone will provide SOCOM with a solution prototype for full scale testing within 12 months.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I was inadvertently recorded as having voted in the negative on H.R. 1256, House rollcall vote 335, on June 12, 2009. I would like the record to show that I fully intended to vote ``yea.'' I strongly support this measure and, indeed, voted for the legislation when the measure first came before the House for a vote on April 2, 2009.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Thank you very much, Jay. It is always a pleasure to be here with our friends and colleagues. Before giving my report on the program, I want to say it's a special pleasure to be here this year because we're giving our annual award to Lou Frey. I had the privilege of serving as vice president during Lou's tenure as president and he was a tremendously strong leader for us in those days and has since then been a leader of our association. I think no one really deserves the honor more than Lou and I note that he has Marcia his wife with him and many of his beautiful family members. And so we're delighted to be with you today, Lou, and to give you this long-deserved honor. As Jay said, the Congress to Campus Program has been administered by the Association in cooperation with the Stennis Center for 2 years now. During that time, the program has experienced a marked growth and has expanded for the first time to include community colleges across the country. As most of you know, this program is the flagship program for our Members. It sends bipartisan teams of former Members to colleges, universities and high schools across the country to educate the next generation of leaders on the importance of civic engagement. The participating students benefit, we think, from the interaction with our association members, whose knowledge and experience are truly a unique resource. Our members, as Jay said, benefit through their continued involvement in public service and the ability to engage young people on issues of importance to them. During each visit, our bipartisan team conducts classes, meets individually with students and faculty, speaks to campus media, participates in both campus and community forums, and meets with local citizens. Institutions that we visit are encouraged to market the visit to the entire campus community, not just simply to students who major in political science, history or government. Over the course of 2\1/2\ days, hundreds of students are exposed to the former Members' message regarding the significance of public service. The program has made both domestic and international visits this academic year, including two separate visits to campuses in the United Kingdom and one in Canada. Over the 2008-2009 academic year, the program has made 20 campus visits, including visits to institutions we had not previously visited, such as the U.S. Air Force Academy, the University of Montana, and a number of community colleges as I have mentioned. More than 30 former Members participated this year, and I want to thank all of you who took the time from your schedules to do so. I would also like to encourage those of you who have not had the opportunity to seriously consider participating. It's truly a great way to continue our public service after Congress. I also want to extend our thanks to the faculty, the staff members and students who worked so diligently on each of these visits. Without their hard work, these visits would simply not have been possible. We rely heavily on the universities to take the lead in coordinating logistics related to each visit and appreciate the time they devote to ensuring that their students receive the full benefit of the program. We have continued our relationship with the Stennis Center for Public Service, as Jay mentioned earlier, in the administration of this program and I think we owe a special debt of gratitude to Tracy Fine of our staff and to Brother Rogers of the Stennis Center for their fine work on this program. Our two staffs work very closely together to make the program such a success and we appreciate the continuing financial support we also receive from the Stennis Center. We look forward to working with the Center in the years ahead. I would also like to take this opportunity to second Jay's note of thanks to the Joyce and Donald Rumsfeld Foundation for its generous financial support for the program during this past year. The Foundation's generous grant enabled the program to reach an even wider array of students, including those at the community colleges that participated for the first time this year. In addition to the expansion of the program to community colleges, the program has also commenced a concerted effort in partnership with the University of Central Florida and the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government to reach out to high school students via a series of webcasts, another example of the kind of work that Lou does consistently with younger people. These programs focus on specific issues and are designed as a tool for teachers to showcase the legislative process and encourage involvement in government. During the fall, the first in the series was piloted to high schools in Florida, and in 2009 and 2010 it will expand its reach to high schools in other States. Using this technology, the Association can reach a much larger audience and can make an even greater contribution to civics education. While these ``virtual'' visits cannot replace the person-to-person experience of a traditional Congress to campus visit, they can play an important supplemental role in teaching about representative democracy at the high school level. We have also continued our working relationship with the People to People Ambassador Program which brings young people to our Nation's capital for a week of events centered on the concepts of character and leadership. These students are younger than those who participate in the Congress to Campus activities but they have already demonstrated a commitment to the ideals that Congress to Campus seeks to promote. The Association's involvement in this program allows our members living in this area, the Washington area, to speak to these younger students on the importance of public service and to answer their many questions about our government and our country. A number of our members continue to work full time, but this program permits them to continue their public service in this way. The events are typically held in the early morning at suburban locations, and I want to thank my colleagues who have participated in this program. As some of you may know, the Association also partners with the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars to organize panels of former Members of Congress to meet with students who are interning in the area, and to participate in seminars that address current issues and the relationship between the administration and the Congress. During the past academic year, the Washington Center and the Association convened six separate panels of former Members to speak with the students. Since last year was an election year, the Washington Center held seminars at each of the party conventions at which former Members of Congress spoke to the students about the party platforms, the nomination process and other issues that the students were interested in. I also want to thank my colleagues who participated in these panels throughout the year. Finally, I want to say again how really grateful we are to those who have made the Congress to Campus Program such a success and to strongly encourage all of my friends and colleagues to participate in the program either by making a visit to a school or by recommending a school to host the program. As all of us know, a democracy can prosper only if its citizens are both informed and engaged, and as former legislators we have a particular opportunity and responsibility to encourage such involvement. This program gives us a good chance to do so, particularly with our young people. Again, I thank those who have been part of it and encourage all of us to continue to participate. Thank you very much.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, on Thursday, May 21, 2009, I was unavoidably delayed and unable to vote on rollcall Nos. 288 through 291. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on No. 288, ``yes'' on No. 289, ``no'' on No. 290, and ``yes'' on No. 291.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I rise today as the proud sponsor of H.R. 2090, which would designate the Ogdensburg, New York post office in honor of renowned 19th-century American sculptor, painter, author and illustrator Frederic Remington. I want to thank the Gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) and the Gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) for their work to bring this legislation to the floor today. I also want to thank the members of the New York delegation for cosponsoring this measure along with Representative Chaffetz, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia. Frederic Remington was born in Canton, New York, in 1861 and moved to Ogdensburg, New York in 1873. Best known for his depictions of frontier life of the American West, including cowboys taming broncos, cavalry soldiers engaged in battle, and Native American warriors and scouts, Remington first headed west to the Montana Territory in 1881. Upon his return east, he sold his first sketches to Harper's Weekly, thus beginning his career as a magazine illustrator. In the mid 1880s, Remington moved from illustration to water-color and oil painting, and in 1895 began sculpting in bronze. He ultimately produced nearly 3,000 drawings and paintings, 22 sculptures, and eight volumes of writings throughout his career. Frederic Remington died on December 26, 1909, thus making 2009 the 100th anniversary of his death. Unfortunately, he was only 48 years old and died at the height of his popularity. In 1961 the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Frederic Remington's birth. The stamp featured an oil painting drawn by Remington in 1905 entitled ``Smoke Signal.'' Over 111 million Remington stamps were issued by the Postal Service. Remington's works can be found throughout the nation, in some of America's most highly regarded museums, including the Art Institute in Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and many others. Indeed, President Obama has kept ``The Bronco Buster,'' the stirring Remington sculpture, in a prominent location within the Oval Office at the White House. Today, a comprehensive collection of original Remington paintings, sketches and sculptures are housed at the Frederic Remington Art Museum, founded in 1923, and located in Ogdensburg, New York. The Remington Museum is open year-round, and offers many programs for the public, including school tours, gallery talks, exhibit openings and workshops. Since the Museum's founding, purchases and donations of Remington art and personal artifacts have added significantly to the breadth of this amazing collection. The Remington Museum's importance to the residents of my Congressional District can be attributed to both its cultural and historical significance, as well as its economic impact on the surrounding community. Frederic Remington was, indeed, one of Northern New York's most famous residents and it is fitting we honor his artistic contributions to the world. It is also fitting that Ogdensburg, one of America's most historic destinations, be the home of such an equally historic figure. Located along the strategic St. Lawrence River, Ogdensburg was the site of key battles during the French and Indian War as well the War of 1812. In fact, the city was captured by British forces during the famed Battle of Ogdensburg in the War of 1812. Ogdensburg was also the site of the appropriately titled Ogdensburg Agreement of 1940. This was a joint defense pact signed between Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King and President Franklin Roosevelt. It is also fitting that such a storied city has a duly historic post office. In fact, the Ogdensburg Post Office was listed in the National Historic Register in 1977. The building serves as the oldest active post office in New York State and among the oldest in the United States. It was constructed between 1867 and 1870, and is truly a building befitting of this honor. Of note, on August 7, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant visited the building for a public reception. It is also very likely Frederic Remington himself would have sent some of his correspondence from the very post office that will be dedicated in his name. Accordingly, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation to designate the Ogdensburg, New York Post Office as the Frederic Remington Post Office Building.