Candice Miller

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize John D. Pridnia, loving husband, proud father and grandfather, and pillar of our community. In search of a better life for his family, John moved to Northeast Michigan becoming a small business owner. Over the next 10 years, he became a successful businessman, passionate about building, developing, and creating new ideas, businesses, and adventures. After raising his three children, he looked to a life of public service. He served two terms as a State Representative and two terms as a State Senator where he served as the Chairman of the Senate Health Policy Committee. Passionate about promoting business, encouraging tourism, and promoting conservation, John was respected by his colleagues on both sides of the isle. Upon retiring from the legislature, John married his wife of 19 years Lisa Dailey. Living in the small community of Port Austin, their family grew to include five beautiful grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. In the close-knit community of Port Austin, John was passionate about beautifying and developing the harbor and waterfront, creating spaces the entire community could come together and enjoy, such as a thriving local farmer's market. Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that the tradition of giving back to our communities is something that makes our nation unique, one that makes this country the greatest in the world and this was a spirit that John embodied throughout his entire career and life. More importantly, he has served as an example for future generations, instilling in them the importance of giving back to the communities and country who have given us all so much. I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring John for his lifelong contributions to the 10th District of the great State of Michigan, our children, and the future of this country.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two letters concerning Committee jurisdiction regarding H.R. 5160. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, May 27, 2016. Hon. Candice S. Miller, Chairman, Committee on House Administration, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Miller: I write concerning H.R. 5160, a bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to include as part of the buildings and grounds of the National Gallery of Art any buildings and other areas within the boundaries of any real estate or other property interests acquired by the National Gallery of Art. This legislation includes matters that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In order to expedite Floor consideration of H.R. 5160, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo action on this bill. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I request you urge the Speaker to name members of the Committee to any conference committee named to consider such provisions. Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the committee report on H.R. 5160 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. I appreciate the Committee on House Administration working with me to address my concerns. Sincerely, Bill Shuster, Chairman.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself and Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, our Ranking Minority Member, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Isaac B. Rosenberg, who is leaving the House to join the United States Department of Justice, National Courts Section. Mr. Rosenberg has served in the Office of the General Counsel for nearly three years as an Assistant General Counsel. Mr. Rosenberg provided frequent and invaluable legal advice and representation to the House community, particularly in connection with federal court litigation involving issues of great institutional importance. Mr. Rosenberg provided extensive advice and litigation expertise to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Committee on House Administration, the Committee on Ethics, House Leadership, and numerous Members, officers, and other committees of the House. House staff came to rely on Mr. Rosenberg's expertise and guidance, particularly in connection with their investigative and oversight activities. Mr. Rosenberg has played a very significant role in safeguarding the legal and institutional interests of the House of Representatives. He has served the House with great distinction, and we know he will continue to serve our Nation with that same level of distinction at the Department of Justice. On behalf of the Committee on House Administration and the entire House community, we thank Mr. Rosenberg for his devoted service, and extend to him our very best wishes for continued success.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dorothy May Bick Sharer, or Dodo, as she was called by her father. Dorothy is a longtime Michigan resident and a community gem. Dorothy was born on December 19, 1915, and will be celebrating her 101st birthday this year. She was born in Toledo, Ohio, where she resided until she moved to Michigan with her husband, Raymond Sharer. Dorothy has one daughter, three grandchildren, and six great- grandchildren, of whom she is very proud. She has a passion for animals and she and her husband spent many years raising and showing horses. Mr. Speaker, Dorothy has been a community member cherished by many and we are thrilled to celebrate and honor her birthday this year. I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring Dorothy.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I am so thankful that Congress is stepping up finally to do the right thing by providing assistance to the people of Flint. Flint has suffered a manmade disaster because of the failure of government at every level of government: the local level, the county level, the State level, and, certainly, the Federal level. Certainly, the State of Michigan has acknowledged their responsibility and has been taking some corrective action, but this disaster is beyond the ability of the city, county, and State to deal with. It requires the Federal Government to accept culpability as well and to buck up, and it is entirely appropriate and necessary that we do so. Helping the people of Flint, Mr. Chairman, especially the children-- these are American children, these are American babies, not from some other foreign country where we give plenty of foreign aid--speaks to who we are as a people. And we are Americans, compassionate, never turning our back on our own when they need help; and certainly our fellow American citizens of Flint need our country's--this country's--help right now. So I will be very proud to vote ``yes,'' and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to Ms. Caroline Klemp who, during the past forty-one years, has served the United States House of Representatives in the offices of the House Sergeant at Arms and the Chief Administrative Officer. In October of this year, Caroline will officially end her tenure at the House. Caroline began her career with the House Sergeant at Arms in 1975, where she held various financial responsibilities for Members of Congress. In 1993, she began working in the Office of Members' Services under the direction of George Chapin in the Office of Non-Legislative and Financial Services, which later became the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. Throughout the years, Caroline has made significant contributions processing and managing Member benefits and payroll for the House. In 1994, Caroline was promoted to Director of Members' Services. In this capacity she is responsible for the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of submissions of all Members' benefits records to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). She has provided many years of dedication, hard work, and service to Members and their families. The Members truly view Caroline as a member of their family as she continues to serve them well beyond their House careers. On behalf of the entire House community, I extend congratulations to Caroline for her many years of dedication and outstanding contributions to the House. We wish Caroline many wonderful years in fulfilling her retirement dreams.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and thank Ms. Patricia Orsini who is retiring on September 30, 2016, as the Director of the Wounded Warrior Program at the United States House of Representatives. Patricia joined the House of Representatives in February 2008 after a long and distinguished career in the Marine Corps. For the past eight and a half years, Patricia has served as the first, and only, Director of the House Wounded Warrior Program. To embark on this endeavor, Patricia relied on the skills and instinct honed as a Marine and quickly rose to the challenge of creating a brand new program for our Nation's Wounded Warriors. Through Patricia's guidance, assistance, and expert placement, many Members of Congress have come to rely on the Fellows as talented advisors and reliable advocates for military and veterans affairs issues. Every day, the Fellows are asked to attend and lead meetings with constituents, conduct policy analysis on complex issues, handle important and sensitive casework with the utmost care and compassion, and serve as a liaison with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. However, one only needs to look at the results of the program to understand and appreciate that the true benefit rests with the Veterans and their families. Over the course of the program's eight year history, Patricia helped place 142 Wounded Warriors into fellowships in Washington, DC and District Offices nationwide. Of those, 23 Fellows transitioned to full-time employment with the Member office. An additional 53 accepted a full-time position outside of the House of Representatives. Fifteen other Fellows advanced their career path by accepting a job with the Department of Veterans Affairs. All in all, 75 percent of the Wounded Warrior fellows either accepted a full-time position or returned to college after completing their assignment with the Member office. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to commend and thank Patricia for her military service. Patricia began her career in the Marines in 1975 as the Assistant Editor at the Marine Corps Institute in Washington, DC. Over the next 33 years, she rose to become a Master Gunnery Sergeant, which is the highest rank an enlisted Marine can achieve. Patricia retired from the Marine Corps in 2008 as the Program Manager for the Wounded Warrior Regiment in Quantico, Virginia. Clearly Patricia's background in the Marine Corps made her the right candidate to serve as the first and, up to this point, only Director of the House of Representatives Wounded Warrior Program. On behalf of the entire House community, we extend congratulations to Patricia Orsini for her many years of dedication, outstanding contributions, and service to the United States House of Representatives and to our grateful Nation. We wish Patricia many great years in fulfilling her retirement dreams.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marion Ashen Lusardi, or Midge as she is known to many. Midge is a longtime Michigan resident and a community treasure. Midge is the wife of Dr. Bob Lusardi, whom she married in 1970, and the proud mom of Matthew and Gregory. She graduated from St. Mary's College in Indiana with a Bachelor of Arts in 1973 and received her Master's degree in Library Science from Wayne State University in 1991. She worked tirelessly as a Librarian at the Troy Public Library for several years before becoming the Director of the Chesterfield Township Library, where she has served for the past 20 years. Throughout her time at the Chesterfield Township library, she secured over $1.2 million in awards and grants, which have provided innumerable resources to our local community. She is also the recipient of several awards, including the State Librarian's Citation of Excellence Awards from the Library of Michigan. She also chaired the Michigan Library Association's Public Policy Committee in 2002. In addition to her service at the library, she has been a member of many community organizations that have all been proud to have her input and positivity. She has promoted a love of reading and learning throughout the 10th District of Michigan, and, although she is retiring from her current post at the Chesterfield Township Library, I have no doubt that she will continue to serve our community in countless ways. Mr. Speaker, I believe we can all agree that providing our children and our communities with invaluable educational resources is a noble pursuit, and Midge has been a diligent example of this. I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring Midge for her contributions to the 10th District of the great State of Michigan, our children, and the future of this country.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and thank Ms. Tina Hanonu, who, after 31 years of dedicated service to the United States House of Representatives, retired August 5, 2016. Tina began her career in 1984 serving as an advisor and consultant to Representative Connie Morella and went on to become a senior systems administrator for Representative Sherwood Boehlert. Recognizing her technical know-how and proven ability to provide seamless customer solutions in the IT field, Ms. Hanonu was hired by the House's Chief Administrative Officer as a systems administrator for House Information Resources. During her tenure with House Information Resources, Ms. Hanonu was promoted multiple times and took on several important roles, including the Director of Technology Support, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer and then finally the Senior Advisor for the Transition to the 115th Congress. Having worked in various capacities on the Hill, Tina developed a comprehensive understanding of the House's complex IT needs and worked tirelessly to serve the House community. Tina's colleagues at the CAO and the countless congressional offices she worked with over the course of her three-decade career, not only praised her many skills, but also her upbeat attitude, positive approach to every problem and strong work ethic that cultivated strong relationships between Member offices and administrative House organizations. Ms. Hanonu's supervisor, Chief Information Officer Catherine Szpindor, praised Tina's ``deep commitment to the House and genuine love for the role she played in supporting the Member, Committee, and Leadership offices and CAO offices over her 31 year tenure.'' Tina once said that despite her many years working on the Hill, she would get ``goosebumps every day'' when she saw the Capitol Dome. The privilege of working here at the Capitol was not lost on Ms. Hanonu and it showed every day. Mr. Speaker, I think it's clear that those who worked with Ms. Hanonu considered it a privilege to call her a colleague and a friend. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I personally congratulate Tina on her retirement, and thank her for her outstanding dedication and contributions to this institution.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Macedonian-American community in honor of their homeland's 25th Independence Day. The people of the Republic of Macedonia voted on September 8, 1991, to officially gain independence from the former Yugoslavia. By voting for independence, the people decided that it was time for their country to forge its own democratic path and to begin a new era in their history. This 25th anniversary of their independence provides us all an opportunity to recognize the Macedonian-American community's significant contributions within the United States. But first, I would like to ask for a moment of silence for the 24 victims of devastating floods that affected Macedonia's capital Skopje (Scop-yay) last month, which left hundreds injured and thousands displaced. Our own government provided over $50,000 in aid to help these flood victims and repair schools in time for the start of the school year. Since 2001, Macedonia has been one of the staunchest allies of the United States in the War on Terror. Macedonia was the fourth and fifth largest contributor of troops, per capita, in the mission in Afghanistan. Macedonian troops guarded American troops at the compound in Kabul. And, Macedonia welcomed 50,000 and 400,000 refugees during the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo, respectively. For a country of little over two million, Macedonia has done its fair share and deserves to be in NATO. On that note, I ask that you join me, and 35 colleagues, in cosponsoring H. Res. 56 in support of Macedonia's NATO accession as soon as possible. With American support, Macedonia has become a model of stability in a region known for ethnic strife and tension. Up until earlier this year, Macedonia was struck with the unprecedented refugee crisis facing Europe, as hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees fled war-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa. In one year, an estimated one million migrants traveled through Macedonia, and the country's institutions organized an orderly response to the influx of people, including organizing daily trains to ferry migrants from the southern to the northern border. If the partnership between the United States and Macedonia is to remain strong, the country needs our continued support. I also use this opportunity to urge Macedonia's leaders to continue strengthening their institutions and reforming its democracy and rule of law, especially following the slated December 11, 2016 elections, which will prove a true test of its democracy. As a way to recognize and strengthen this strategic U.S.-Macedonia partnership, I started the first Congressional Caucus on Macedonia and Macedonian-Americans. This Caucus is a bipartisan group of members of Congress dedicated to maintaining and strengthening a positive and mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and the Republic of Macedonia, as well as advocating for the concerns and interests of the Macedonian-American community in the United States. Michigan's 10th District has one of the largest populations of Macedonian-Americans in the Nation. I would like to acknowledge their contributions to our District and our State, and I look forward to continuing that relationship as we deal with the problems facing our great Nation. Again, congratulations to all of Macedonian heritage for their achievements as we commemorate this important 25th anniversary of Macedonia's independence. Long Live Macedonia (Da Zivee Makedonija) Long Live the United States (Da Zivee Amerika)

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, Ranking Member Robert Brady and I stand today to recognize the outstanding employees of the Officers (Clerk of the House, Sergeant at Arms, and Chief Administrative Officer) and the Inspector General of the U.S. House of Representatives and congratulate those who have reached the milestone of 25 years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the recipients of the House Employee Excellence Award and Officers' and Inspector General's Team Player Award. The House's most important asset is its extraordinary and dedicated employees, whose work, which is often behind the scenes, is essential to keeping the operations and services of the House running efficiently and effectively. The employees we acknowledge today are commended for their hard work, commitment, professionalism, teamwork, support of House Members and their staffs and constituents, and for their contributions day-in and day-out to the overall operations of the House. These employees possess a wide range of responsibilities and skills that support the legislative process, ensure the security of the institution, maintain our technology and service infrastructure, and contribute to a more effective and proficiently operating House support structure. These dedicated employees have accomplished many great things in a wide range of activities, and the House of Representatives, its Members, staff, and the American public is better served because of them. We recognize and honor the individuals named below for 25 years of dedicated service to the House. Collectively, this group has provided 450 years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives: Bernard E. Beidel, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Sherleen V. Boyde, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Thomas E. Coyne III, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Troy N. Derrington, Office of the Sergeant at Arms; Peggy Fields, Office of the Clerk; John A. Forgione, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Anthony W. Griffith, Office of the Sergeant at Arms; Michelle Jones, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Christopher W. Martin, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Lisbeth McBride-Chambers, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; James P. Muncy, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Patricia A. Rouse, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; David P. Russell, Office of the Clerk; Barbara A. Smith, Office of the Sergeant at Arms; Clayton V. Williams, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; De'Shun Wimberly, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Nei F. Wu, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; James A. Yerge, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. We also recognize and congratulate the House employees receiving the Employee Excellence Award. This is a merit-based award, given to an employee from each House Officer organization and the Office of Inspector General. Selected employees exhibited outstanding overall job performance and displayed a willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty for their organization throughout the last year. We honor the individuals named below for receiving this prestigious award. Kathleen M. Johnson, Office of the Clerk; Lisbeth McBride-Chambers, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Debessa M. Moore, Office of the Sergeant at Arms; Alexander S. Stewart, Jr., Office of Inspector General. And finally, we recognize and congratulate several House employees being presented the Team Player Award. This award recognizes the value the House Officers and Inspector General place on working collaboratively across House organizations to strengthen and protect the U.S. House of Representatives. These awardees have demonstrated a collaborative attitude, commitment to achieving team objectives, respect and support of their teammates, and dedication to the betterment of House operations. We honor the individuals named below for receiving this distinguished award. Toinetta A. Bridgeforth, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Curt Coughlin, Office of the Sergeant at Arms; Robin Reeder, Office of the Clerk; Susan E. Simpson, Office of Inspector General. On behalf of the entire House community, I offer our congratulations and once again acknowledge and thank these employees for their professionalism and commitment to the U.S. House of Representatives as a whole, and in particular to their respective House Officers, the Inspector General, and collaboratively across these organizations. Their long hours, hard work, diverse skills, and team spirit are invaluable, and their years of unwavering service, dedication, and commitment to the House set an example for their colleagues and other employees who will follow in their footsteps. I celebrate our honorees, and I am proud to stand before you and the Nation on their behalf to recognize the importance of their public service.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, June 10, 2016, I missed the following votes: the Ellison amendment to H.R. 5325, the Blackburn amendment to H.R. 5325, the Takano amendment to H.R. 5325, the Pearce amendment to H.R. 5325, final passage of H.R. 5325, adoption of H. Con. Res. 89, and adoption of H. Con. Res. 112. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on the Ellison, Takano and Pearce amendments to H.R. 5325 and ``yes'' on the Blackburn amendment to H.R. 5325, final passage of H.R. 5325, adoption of H. Con. Res. 89, and adoption of H. Con. Res. 112.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I certainly rise in strong support of this legislation, which really includes some critical protections for one of our Nation's most precious assets. And that, of course, is the Great Lakes, which has 20 percent of our Nation's freshwater drinking supply, as well as it provides hundreds of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity. Today, there are millions of gallons per day of hazardous liquids which are transported through a number of lines in the Great Lakes. Mr. Speaker, we absolutely need energy in all transparency. We need the energy, but we need to make sure that we are transiting in a very safe and environmentally secure way because there is zero room for error in the Great Lakes. There is a 62-year-old pipeline that is called line 5 that runs under the Straits of Mackinac, which is right in between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Any rupture there would be very, very difficult, if not impossible, to contain. This bill has a number of provisions in regards to line 5, for instance, that would conduct internal integrity assessments at least once a year. This bill also designates the Great Lakes as a USA ecological resource, which is very important. As well, it also makes sure that we have emergency spill response plans if, in the case of ice coverage, which really considers the unique environment of the Great Lakes. In regards to Enbridge, there is also a line 6B which runs under the Saint Clair River, which is in my district. A number of years ago--and Chairman Upton was talking about this particular line that had a spill just outside of his district--but this part of 6B runs under something called the Saint Clair River, again, a very environmentally sensitive artery for the Great Lakes. We talked to Enbridge. And long story short, they came to the right conclusion there. They actually completely replaced almost 3,600 feet of this pipeline under the Saint Clair River. So they did the right thing there. They had been reluctant to address that. Again, we need the energy, Mr. Speaker, but we need to make sure that we are transiting energy in a very safe way and in an environmentally sensitive way. I think this bill today goes a long way to address many of the concerns that we have had in the Great Lakes. I thank Chairman Denham again for yielding the time and for taking these issues into consideration.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, I missed the following votes: H. Res. 742, H. Res. 743, H.R. 2576, H.R. 5077, and H.R. 897. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on each of these roll call votes.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I thank the chairman for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my very, very, strong support for H.R. 223, which is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2016. Actually, as the chairman has said, protecting and preserving the Great Lakes has always been a principal advocacy for myself in all the years that I have been in public service, way before I came to the Congress. I actually grew up on the Great Lakes. I still live on the Great Lakes. My family was in the marina business, so for us, the lakes were more than just a source of recreation, they put food on the table for my family. Like so many from the region, the Great Lakes are such a very proud, proud part of our heritage and of our identity. Our Great Lakes, as has been said, generate billions of dollars each and every year through the fishing and shipping industries and recreational activities. They account for 85 to 90 percent of this country's freshwater drinking supply and over 20 percent worldwide. There is actually more freshwater under the polar icecaps, but you cannot get at it. You can't get at it to drink it. You can get at the Great Lakes. That is why we are always wanting to protect the Great Lakes. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, we have not been the best stewards of these magnificent lakes, and we owe it, I think, to future generations to help assure that they are protected and that they are preserved as well. One of the ways to do that, I believe, is through continued funding and support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. For years, the administration has proposed budgets that include cuts of millions of dollars to the GLRI, but it is Congress--this Congress-- that has always stepped in to recover this funding. That is just one of the reasons that I support this bill, because it does authorize funding at the essential levels--$300 million--for the next 5 years. Mr. Speaker, I will also join my colleagues in pointing out that this is truly a bipartisan effort, as you can tell from the people that are on the floor this morning talking about this. Most of us are from the Great Lakes, whether it is Ohio, Michigan, or some of the other Great Lakes States. But it is not just a regional jewel, just a regional treasure, the Great Lakes are a national treasure and deserve to be protected in that way. Mr. Speaker, over the years I have seen firsthand the impact that GLRI is having on our lakes, whether that is dredging, or beach and shoreline restoration, fighting invasive species, all of these projects are so critical. Just last fall I was delighted to be part of the unveiling of $20 million of GLRI grants for the Clinton River Restoration. The Clinton River, which flows through a major metropolitan area in southeast Michigan, is in desperate need of restoration. So this funding will go a long way in ensuring that the Clinton River is no longer an area of concern and has a thriving ecosystem and a watershed. Mr. Speaker, God gave us these magnificent, magnificent Great Lakes that have provided us with so much, but we need to be better stewards of them. Quite frankly, we have a lot of making up to do to Mother Nature--a lot of making up. I believe this bill goes a long way in bringing the necessary attention and the resources to a problem that we have long ago identified and need to address. Mr. Speaker, again, I strongly support H.R. 223, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act, and I urge all my colleagues to support it as well.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. When we think about some of the remunerative responsibilities that Members of Congress have, certainly, securing our border is one of the most important. As we can see by what is happening this year throughout the country, there is an enormous amount of interest in making sure that we do secure our border. I feel that this piece of legislation is a critical component but that it is not nearly what we need to be doing to secure our border. We would like to see a border security bill come to the floor. At any rate, I think this is a very, very important piece of legislation. Again, it is important to note that this has been a bipartisan effort on this legislation, and I certainly appreciate the consideration and the work that we have achieved together, both Democrats and Republicans, as we have worked to secure our borders. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3586. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3586) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve border and maritime security coordination in the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd), from the 23rd Congressional District, who actually has 800 miles of the southwest border in his district.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3586, the Border and Maritime Coordination Improvement Act. I believe that this bill will provide the Department of Homeland Security the tools and the authority to find efficiencies to improve operations amongst all of its various components. In 2003, the Department of Homeland Security was cobbled together from 22 different offices and agencies--a very huge logistical and management challenge. We knew that there would be significant growing pains before that agency would function well and as a unified department. Each component of the Department, be it Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the U.S. Coast Guard, has a tendency to sort of operate in their own silo, without the coordination required to make border and maritime security efforts as successful as they should be and can be. This has had a negative effect, actually, on logistics, on communications, and, most importantly, on operations. In an attempt to adopt a better structure with a goal of enhancing border security and maritime security operations, this legislation, Mr. Speaker, authorizes joint task forces on border security. The goal of these task forces is to improve border security outcomes, and this legislation provides explicit authority to guide the task force operations and to allow this pilot concept to be utilized to secure our borders. While this concept is not unique, we intentionally provided a sunset date for the joint task force authority to give the next administration the opportunity to come back to the Homeland Security Committee and to the next Congress to demonstrate that this organizational structure has really contributed to border security, and it is not just simply another layer of bureaucracy. The second part of this bill, Mr. Speaker, requires the Department to take a very hard look at potential efficiencies in its maritime security efforts. During my time as the chair of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, we held hearings with CBP that address some of the overlap and the redundancies in the maritime environment, particularly with the units of the Coast Guard and the CBP Air and Marine Operations that, in many cases, are in very close geographic proximity. This bill also requires CBP's Office of Field Operations, the Air and Marine Operations, and the Coast Guard to evaluate their role in the maritime and supply chain security to ensure that their missions are consistent with our current threats and to find ways to consolidate operations, where possible. We think these steps are commonsense, and I certainly think that they will help save our taxpayers a number of dollars, and, most importantly, improve operations and coordinations for our homeland security. Again, finding creative ways to fund the staffing and infrastructure needs at our Nation's aging ports of entry was really the driving force behind another piece of this legislation, which is the permanent authorization of CBP's Public-Private Partnership program, which is also included in this legislation. Allowing public and private sector port of entry operators and others to enter into agreements with CBP to fund small-scale infrastructure expansion or to fund overtime needs will improve security and, as well, increase the flow of commerce that is so vital to our economy. I want to specifically thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd), who will be speaking in just a moment, for offering the amendment, Mr. Speaker, during the markup regarding the authorization of public- private partnerships. His leadership on this issue has been absolutely vital to bringing this legislation to the floor today. I certainly also want to thank Chairman Shuster and Representative Barletta from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for working so diligently with us on this particular provision. Lastly, this bill authorizes the Department's Office of Biometric Identity Management, or OBIM as we call it, for the first time. Since 2003, biometrics have been a very important part of the Nation's border security efforts. The biometric service OBIM provides is not limited to any one component. It is a department and a government-wide asset. For that reason, we believe that it should not be located in a single component, like the CBP, where the information could, again, be siloed to the detriment of other Department of Homeland Security components. In order for biometrics to be used to their very fullest potential, we think we need to appropriately fund and modernize the data systems that power the matching and the collection of biometric information. Mr. Speaker, our borders can and should be secured. We believe that this bill provides a framework to really help organize the Department for success and to improve the coordination of border and maritime security components whose job it is to secure our great Nation. Lastly, I would like to also thank the ranking member of our committee, Mr. Thompson, and the ranking member on our subcommittee, Mr. Vela, as well as all of their staffs, for working with us in the spirit of bipartisanship to strengthen our security. I ask our colleagues to support this commonsense bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as I conclude, I just want to reiterate again that these brave men and women who served as POWs or those missing in action are our Nation's patriots and heroes, and they certainly do deserve to be honored. I am just proud to be a part of this effort to install this fitting memorial recognizing those who sacrificed so that we could all be free. I certainly want to thank our colleague from Massachusetts, Stephen Lynch, who introduced this bill. He came to me and asked that we would work together on this. I am delighted to do so because there is absolutely nothing more bipartisan and important, I think, than how we remember our veterans and those who are currently serving as well. This is a very, very important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to join us in passing this measure today. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker.)

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the measure before the House today directs the Architect of the Capitol to obtain a chair featuring the logo of the National League of POW/MIA Families and to prominently place it on display in the U.S. Capitol. As Members of Congress, certainly we each represent diverse congressional districts, but one of the things that ties us together are the many brave men and women we represent who stood on the battle lines in defense of our Nation's freedom, our liberty, and our way of life. This legislation introduced by our colleague, Representative Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, honors American prisoners of war and Americans missing in action. The chair will serve as a permanent reminder of the enormous sacrifice made by those who served our country and were taken as POWs or listed as MIA. The importance of remembering and honoring their great sacrifice can never be overstated. Our Nation has a responsibility to them and to their families who have shared in their sacrifice, and we must never forget. Our heroes deserve to be honored, especially in the U.S. Capitol, which is itself a symbol of our American beliefs and the liberties and freedoms that they sacrificed to defend. This chair will honor veterans like Sam Johnson, one of our colleagues here in the House. Sam is one of the most stalwart protectors of those who have served and who himself endured nearly 7 years as a POW, including 42 months in solitary confinement, in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Forty-three years ago Sam Johnson returned to the United States to be reunited with his loved ones, and we are so honored to have the privilege to serve with him today here in this House. In addition to Sam Johnson, Mr. Speaker, when I think about the meaning behind this memorial, I think about an individual who lives in my district. His first name is Donald, but we all call him Digger, Digger O'Dell. Digger enlisted in 1952 into the Air Force. He was shot down in October of 1967, and he, like Sam, was a prisoner in the Hanoi Hilton, in Digger's case, for 5\1/2\ years. Thankfully, Digger made it home, as Sam did, after all of those years in a North Vietnamese camp. He is now in his eighties and serves as a member of our local air base community council and chairs a fundraising event for the Special Olympics. Digger is a remarkable man. He is one of many who selflessly served our Nation facing enormous adversity. I might even mention my husband, who was a fighter pilot and is a proud member of Vietnam Veterans of America and is now a proud member of Chapter 154 of the VVA in Macomb County, which is actually one the largest chapters in our entire Nation. Again, Mr. Speaker, these heroes who so bravely served our Nation deserve to be honored, especially in the U.S. Capitol, and certainly this chair with the MIA/POW logo on it will forever demonstrate that we will never forget. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1670.