Patrick Meehan

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Sgt. William ``Wild Bill'' Guarnere, who served in the 101st Airborne division of the United States Army during World War II. Sgt. Guarnere was a Philadelphia native who enlisted in the Army in 1942. His bravery earned him the nickname ``Wild Bill'' for his passion and perseverance in battle. Sgt. Guarnere's first combat jump was Operation Overlord, in the early hours of the morning of June 6, 1944, hours before the first allied landing craft hit the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. A member of the famed ``Band of Brothers'' of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment's ``Easy Company'', Guarnere served in some of the most significant engagements of the European theater, including Operation Market Garden. Ultimately, Sgt. Guarnere's combat service ended when he lost a leg in the Battle of the Bulge. He was eventually awarded a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts for his bravery in the face of the enemy. On Saturday, September 19, the Delaware County Veterans' Memorial Park will unveil a statue of ``Wild Bill'' Guarnere to commemorate his service and sacrifice. It's a fitting tribute to a true American hero from Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, Sgt. Guarnere's admirable service displayed an extraordinary devotion to his country and his fellow soldiers. I am honored to recognize him today as one of the true heroes of our Greatest Generation.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Judge James Proud, who is completing his service on the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. Judge Proud began his service to our country in 1968 when he entered the United States Army. Judge Proud soon entered the U.S. Army Engineer Officer Candidate School where he completed the program as a Distinguished Military Graduate, finishing first in his class among 55 other candidates. Following his military service, Judge Proud received his law degree from Villanova University and continued to serve southeastern Pennsylvania when he was appointed as a Judge of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in 1996 by Governor Ridge. He served with honor and integrity, earning respect among his colleagues and others in the law enforcement and legal communities. Judge Proud also gave back to his community through his support for the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, the Community Development Committee, and the Delaware County Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Mr. Speaker, Judge Proud has dedicated his life to serving his community and his country, and he leaves the bench with the continuing gratitude of his friends and neighbors. I thank him for his service and wish him the best in retirement.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, $21 billion for Russian jets, but not a penny for the victims of their own acts of terror. That is what my colleagues are trying to say? In fact, the President can negotiate it. Let him reach an installment plan, but let's make sure that these dollars are paid. Look, this is a fundamental question: Should Iran receive relief from the U.S. sanctions before it pays the victims of terrorism the $43 billion that U.S. courts say these victims are owed? When we say ``terrorism,'' what are we talking about? We are talking about Iranian-backed assassinations, bombings, and attacks across time zones, from Paris to Jerusalem, to New York, to Beirut, to East Africa, to Buenos Aires. I say not one cent. These victims are United States citizens. They are wives, brothers and sisters, children who hail from all across the Nation, and they were killed in hijackings and suicide attacks and bombings of buses and planes and buildings and embassies and shopping malls and pizza parlors. In fact, I met with one of those victims this morning and yesterday, the widow of Kenneth Welch and his child. They are here in Washington today. They have been waiting 30 years for the opportunity to see this issue addressed. My friends, by voting against this legislation, you are saying that Iran and the perpetrators of these atrocities deserve U.S. sanctions relief before the victims deserve the court-ordered compensation. Let me say it again. By voting ``no,'' you are putting the interests of Iran's terror machine before the American victims of that terror. I say not 1 cent. To those who say Iran can't afford to pay these damages, let me remind you of a few facts. Iran has a yearly gross domestic product in excess of $1.3 trillion, and they just spent $21 billion on Russian jets. The facts show that Iran has the money and will have much more if the sanctions are lifted, money that our own administration freely admits will go to finance even more terror. I sat yesterday with Ken Stethem, the brother of Robert Stethem, the United States Navy diver who was executed on Beirut Flight 847. His brother Ken, himself a retired Navy SEAL, said to me yesterday, ``If the President doesn't take this opportunity and Congress doesn't take the opportunity to hold Iran accountable for their terrorist acts now, I have to ask them when will they. Thirty years for one family, more than 15 for another. When will they?'' He is talking to us. Let's answer him. Let's today stand up for the standards of U.S. Navy Petty Officer Robert Stethem. Let's today vote as one House to say we will put Robert Stethem and the many victims of Iran's terrorism before--before--the criminals who conspired to kill them. Until they pay these victims what they are owed, let's say no to Iran, not 1 cent.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to seek justice for victims of Iran's state-sponsored terror. One of those victims is Chief Petty Officer Robert Stethem. In June 1985, Petty Officer Stethem, 23 years old, was murdered by Hezbollah terrorists aboard hijacked TWA Flight 847 in Beirut. He was executed when the hijackers realized he was a United States servicemember. They tortured him, and then they murdered him in cold blood before leaving his body on the tarmac below the plane. Madam Speaker, Hezbollah is one of Iran's most lethal terrorist proxies. In 2002, a Federal judge ordered Iran to pay more than $320 million to Stethem's family and other victims of Flight 847's hijacking. It is one of the more than 80 judgments that require Iran to pay $43 billion to victims of its radical allies. Not one dime has been paid. Despite Iran's refusal to compensate its victims, it will soon get a $150 billion windfall from the end of the sanctions under the proposed nuclear deal. In short, Iran's hardliners will get a payday while their victims await billions of dollars in compensation. Madam Speaker, I have introduced legislation, the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act, which prohibits the removal of sanctions until Iran pays every penny it owes. It is the least we can do for victims like Chief Petty Officer Stethem and the families that suffered at Iran's hands, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Joe Casey, the general manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, who is planning to retire at the end of September after 34 years of service, the last seven as general manager. Mr. Casey began working for SEPTA in 1982, and his tenure has included various senior management positions before his appointment as general manager in 2008. Under his leadership, SEPTA has seen tremendous improvement in customer service, infrastructure, and financial soundness. Notably, SEPTA has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Award for 10 consecutive years under Mr. Casey's authority as Chief Financial Officer and general manager, a testament to Mr. Casey's commitment to fiscal responsibility and leadership. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Casey for his dedication to the Southeastern Pennsylvania community. The remarkable accomplishments and improvements SEPTA has achieved in recent years can be attributed to Mr. Casey's exceptional guidance. I applaud his efforts and wish him the best of luck in retirement.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Iran deal. I believe the inspections regime is weak. I don't think the Iranians can be trusted, nor can we reasonably assume that Iran will hold up its end of the deal. A broad swath of sanctions is lifted all at once, and the deal lifts the arms embargo. Iran will further destabilize an already dangerous Middle East by trafficking more weapons and rockets to its terrorist proxies, like Hamas and Hezbollah. Tehran's coffers will be flush with cash to fund Iranian terror around the world. But Iranian terrorism isn't new. Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Its support and influence was there in Beirut in 1983, Khobar Towers in 1996, Nairobi in 1998, and on this day, 9/11. It has been there at suicide bombings on busses, at shopping malls, and pizza shops. It has supported hostage takings and assassinations around the world. And to this we are to look to diplomacy? U.S. law allows victims of these attacks to sue Iran for damages in U.S. courts. Over the last 15 years, the United States courts have handed down more than 80 judgments against Iran with $43 billion in damages. Of course, not a penny has been paid. I know there is disagreement on this overall issue, but surely we can agree that Iran should have to pay out these damages to its victims' families before Iran benefits from U.S. sanctions relief. So I have introduced the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act. It requires the President to certify that Iran has paid all judgments owed to its victims before U.S. sanctions can be lifted. Our position is: Not 1 cent in sanctions relief for Iran until it pays up to its victims--not 1 cent.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Major General Nathanael Greene, a highly decorated officer in the Continental Army and leader in the fight for independence during the Revolutionary War. Born August 7, 1742 in Rhode Island to humble beginnings, Nathanael Greene committed his life to public service. He first answered this call when he served as a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly. As a supporter of the Patriot cause, Nathanael Greene helped form a local militia called the Kentish Guards. Although he was unable to become an officer due to a handicap, he volunteered as a private. He saw action in many significant engagements, including Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown and Princeton. Greene's talent allowed him to rise through the ranks, becoming first a Brigadier General and then a Major General--the only one to serve as a general for the entire eight year war for independence besides George Washington. Major General Greene led the Continental troops in the South and helped pave the way for Lord Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown. The General Society Sons of the Revolution will be designating August 7, 2015 as a Day of Honor for Major General Nathanael Greene. On this day a monument will be dedicated to Greene in Valley Forge National Historic Park. His statue will forever stand there as a reminder of his service to our country during the battle for independence. Mr. Speaker, the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania owe a great debt of gratitude to Major General Nathanael Greene.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Today, the school remains committed to the philosophy envisioned by St. Madeline Sophie Barat, founder of the Sacred Heart school network, to provide young women with a challenging education, develop their faith, and promote a desire to help others. The Country Day School of the Sacred Heart has a long tradition of fostering the growth of young women into scholars and leaders. By offering a strong liberal arts program, the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart has helped many young women reach their personal and scholastic potential. Students are able to develop academically, personally, spiritually and socially through the school's well-rounded curriculum. I appreciate the dedication of the staff members who work around the clock to educate and guide the students. Their persistence has empowered generations of young women, helping them attain the skills and character to become the leaders that St. Madeline Sophie Barat imagined. Mr. Speaker, the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart has been changing the lives of young women for the past 150 years. I congratulate the school and look forward to seeing the excellent work it will continue to do in the years to come.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my deep appreciation to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I was proud to be part of this body last week when together, in a bipartisan fashion, we, in strong numbers, passed the 21st Century Cures bill. Let me tell you why that bill matters. It matters because of people like this. This is a picture of Rhoda Mull, a woman that I had the opportunity to spend some time with this Monday when we sat together for a period of time, talking about a number of issues, but, most specifically, her life. Rhoda is an attorney of some distinction. She worked with a major pharmaceutical firm dealing in complex legal issues, traveling throughout the world. In about 2007, she began to feel a little droop in her foot. It continued to move further up. Ultimately, after numerous consultations with physicians, she was diagnosed with ALS, better known to many as Lou Gehrig's disease, and, thus, began the slow, but continuing, challenge of the ability for her to move about. But Rhoda, much to the inspiration, didn't allow this to hold her back. Quite the opposite. She embraced the challenge of the moment and reached out to become a voice, a voice for those some 30,000 people in our country every year who are victimized by the disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS. She came to be a voice for those people. It is one of the reasons why what we can accomplish with 21st Century Cures is so important. Let me talk for a second about the fact that she was a voice. Today this body is very likely to deal with the issue of something called the Steve Gleason Act. It is an act which will enable the voice recorder that allows Rhoda to speak to be able to be approved in such a manner that they will not have to have these important communication tools capped by a rental policy that has been part of CMS' attempts to try to deal with the costs associated with these devices. One of the things that we are working on is to allow people to have continued access to these technologies, to see the courage of Rhoda, a vibrant woman in her mind, but who isn't capable of feeding herself or dressing herself, yet is able to speak with me. Inside this mind, there are tremendous things going on. And as she moved to that voice box and communicated with me, it inspired me to say we have got to continue to fight for people like Rhoda, who has been given a voice. We must stand here and give her a voice as well, to fight for passage of the Steve Gleason Act today and to reach out to our colleagues on the other side of this building to make sure that we fight for the passage of 21st Century Cures. ALS is just one of thousands of conditions for which we have no real cure. We have made tremendous advancements in medicine in the last two decades. There is still much we do not know about conditions like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's. I have some good news to share with Rhoda. Just last week the House approved the 21st Century Cures Act that will direct money towards research into cures for conditions like ALS. It expands lifesaving research into conditions that affect millions of Americans, increasing the budget of the National Institutes of Health by $10 billion over the next 5 years. It cuts the red tape and bureaucracy, just as importantly, that stands between us and groundbreaking new treatments and will help train the next generations of doctors, scientists, and researchers. Millions of Americans with conditions like cancer, Alzheimer's, ALS, cystic fibrosis, and others stand to benefit from this research. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on the other side of the Senate to get behind this and pass the 21st Century Cures Act. I urge my colleagues in this House to stand up today and cast an important vote in support of the Steve Gleason Act.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 436 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. I thank the chairman for his leadership in bringing the bipartisan solution to the trade promotion authority. I stand right now in support of the Trade Preferences Extension Act, which is before us at the moment, and encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join in supporting this. I speak first about Trade Adjustment Assistance, a program I have seen in my own district, where I have watched for workers, when it can be demonstrated that they have had their jobs impacted because of foreign implications, there is a support network in place. I have seen the value of that program and believe that it is important that we keep the tradition of TAA, but we also need to point out that there have been significant improvements in this program. There is streamlining. Some of the underperforming programs were not reauthorized. There is accountability. There will now be performance goals for TAA that are aligned with other job training programs. Consolidation is a third part. It is a process in which we will promote direct services for participants over administrative spending. These are important and critical improvements to a program that already has a history. I just want to close my comments. There is a very important provision in the Trade Preferences Extension Act dealing with improving antidumping and countervailing duty laws. As an attorney, I appreciate the importance of creating an accurate record. This allows us to do this in a vitally important area, in the battle against the dumping that is being done that are affecting American jobs at home. First and most important, it will allow the Department of Commerce to have the ability to create an accurate record. When, in fact, what you have is a foreign party that fails to cooperate with the agency's request, they will be able to impute the information that is necessary to make that case. In addition, they will be empowered to be able to disregard prices or costs of inputs that foreign producers purchase if the Department of Commerce has reason to believe or suspects that the inputs in question have been subsidized or dumped. Once again, it creates an accurate record.

Mr. MEEHAN. I thank the gentleman. Because I think this is such a critically important issue to be able to create the kind of record--and it gives the Department of Commerce the kind of discretion to be able to look at the facts and to take recalcitrant countries and hold them accountable by creating what is accurate in the form of the case that we can make to assure that workers here at home are being protected. These are important and valuable assets in the ability for us to continue to protect American jobs. It is for those reasons that I strongly encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by dispelling the premise that somehow this whole thing was devised so that we can allow the medical device companies to flourish. The thing we want to flourish is research and development that is producing the kinds of things that are helping the American people, and that is the essence of what the medical device R&D innovation is doing, and this is stifling. At the precise moment where breakthrough opportunities, oftentimes, in small businesses--I see them, Mr. Speaker; I visit them in my district--and at the time that it is the most fragile for them, they are being hit with this 2.4 percent tax which touches them at the time when it is not on profits. These are the very dollars that are being used to be invested into R&D, whether they sell that product or not. We are killing our innovation right in the cradle. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support the repeal of the medical device tax.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Rishi Prasad, of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, for earning The Congressional Award Gold Medal. Mr. Prasad has put in the necessary time and commitment to rightfully earn this award. Over the course of two years, he dedicated himself to his community by volunteering at a local hospital and refurbishing computers to be donated to others. He set personal development and physical fitness challenges for himself to become a more well-rounded individual. I commend his initiative and service to his community. It is an honor to represent this young man in the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 7th district of Pennsylvania, I want to congratulate Mr. Rishi Prasad on his achievement and wish him the best of luck in the future.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Glen Moore Fire Company on its 100th anniversary of serving and protecting families in Chester County. Glen Moore's first apparatus was horse-drawn. It was bought for $100 in 1915 after local residents saw the need for fire protection in the community. Since then, the Company has grown and thrived and the Glen Moore area now benefits from the protection of a highly-trained team of expert officers and members, modern apparatus and equipment. Mr. Speaker, in 2014 alone, the Glen Moore Fire Company responded to more than 300 incidents--one every 29 hours. We are grateful to the fine firefighters of the Glen Moore Fire Company and I wish them another 100 years of success in serving the community.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Trade Act of 2015. Ninety-five percent of the world's market is outside the United States, and selling our goods to these markets is critical to America's future prosperity. One in five of American jobs are directly tied to trade. If we can't knock down the tariffs that are placed on American goods around the world, the world is going to buy these goods elsewhere. Simply put, a strong trade agenda is essential to America's national security and the economic opportunity of hard-working taxpayers. If you want a strong trade agreement with better protections for U.S. workers, you want trade promotion authority. TPA allows Congress to hold the administration accountable and gives Congress the chance to vote down a bad deal. Without it, we are negotiating from a disadvantage. If we are not setting the rules on global trade, China will. Mr. Speaker, trade promotion authority means stronger, better trade agreements. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it because what is happening right now is, if we don't have an increasingly aggressive China in there setting the rules, the trade agreements give us the chances on things like labor, things like the environment, things like a fair and open Internet. Those are the kinds of things that are going to create future jobs and keep the world safer and better. I urge my colleagues to support this.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. MEEHAN. Madam Chair, before I begin my comments, I would like to thank Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Price for all of their diligent work on this bill. My amendment seeks to prioritize investment in Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, which is its most heavily traveled route, by ensuring that operating profits that are earned there stay there. Last year, Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line earned nearly $500 million in operating profit. More than 100,000 Americans get on a train that travels along the Northeast Corridor every day, but instead of reinvesting those dollars into improvements in the line's infrastructure, much of that money was sent across the country, used to subsidize money-losing, long-distance Amtrak routes. This has left Amtrak's most heavily traveled route less funded, and it has delayed needed improvements to Amtrak's only line that actually turns a profit. This amendment will fix that. It will ensure that the dollars Amtrak earns along the Northeast Corridor are invested into improvements in the line's infrastructure. It will make travel along Amtrak's most heavily used route safer, and it will also do so without adding to the taxpayers' burden. This amendment will codify the principle that was passed in the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act, and I might add that that was approved with more than 300 votes in this House earlier this year. This tracks that same principle. And that legislation passed with the leadership of my friend and fellow Pennsylvanian, Chairman Bill Shuster, which requires that Amtrak direct capital investments into the Northeast Corridor, where it is needed most. Madam Chair, more than 11 million Americans rode an Amtrak train between Boston and Washington last year. Many more used rail lines like SEPTA or Metro-North, operating on tracks owned by Amtrak, to get to work every day. The tragic derailment in my own area of Philadelphia last month has shown that there is a desperate need to improve the line and strengthen capital investments in the region. This amendment will ensure Amtrak makes smart investment decisions and directs capital spending where it is needed most. It will help Amtrak tackle the backlog of capital projects that plague the Northeast Corridor. It will reduce delays. It will mean safer, more efficient travel for millions of Americans who rely on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor every year. I urge my colleagues to support it. I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).

Mr. MEEHAN. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN. Madam Chair, before I close my comments, I think it is important to recognize that the same principle has already been adopted by 318 Members of this body, including a near unanimous vote by my colleague from the other side of the aisle, his colleagues on that side of the aisle. I will also say that I am not sure that the gentleman understands the actual effect of the bill. It simply is to reinvest the profits that are made on the Northeast Corridor. These are being made by the investments that are being made by the taxpaying people who are purchasing those tickets. We can still look for ways to fund other parts of the system around the country where they can earn their investments on merit. We are asking, in light of the fact that this is a line which is so heavily used, the priorities be placed where they are most needed. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a lifelong servant of Pennsylvania. Jayne Bacon Garrison began serving her community in 1955, helping prepare Delaware County students to enter the workforce at the Pennsylvania Institute of Technology, an accredited junior college founded by her husband, Walter. Together, Jayne and Walter have built P.I.T. into the school it is today, with 800 students and more than 150 faculty members. Jayne continues to serve as the school's Chief Operating Officer and a member of its Board of Trustees. But Jayne's contributions to her community expand far beyond P.I.T. She's long been active in a wide variety of philanthropic endeavors, including the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, the American Red Cross, the Delaware County Historical Society and the Elwyn Foundation. Jayne has focused particularly on serving our veterans, aiding efforts to ease their transition to civilian life. Over the years, Jayne has been recognized by many organizations for her persistence and dedication. Last week, she added to that list as she received the 30th Anniversary Pearl Award from the Delaware County Women's Commission. It's a fine honor, and one she well deserves.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. Richard K. Uhler for his service and sacrifice during the Second World War. Mr. Uhler, of Springfield, Pennsylvania, served in the United States Army as a Private First Class with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He served bravely in the Anzio campaign, where he was wounded by shrapnel. Despite his service and injury, he never received the Purple Heart. Mr. Uhler was among the millions of veterans whose records were tragically destroyed by a fire at the National Personnel Records Center during the 1970s. After diligent investigation, I'm pleased my office was able to find documentation for his service and the injuries he sustained in battle. Mr. Uhler will now finally receive the commendations he earned more than 70 years after he was wounded in Italy. Mr. Speaker, this week I had the chance to host Mr. Uhler while he was presented with the Purple Heart and Bronze Star he earned for his service. On behalf of the 7th District of Pennsylvania, I want to thank Mr. Richard Uhler for his service to our great nation.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. MEEHAN. Madam Chairman, I want to thank my good friend and colleague from Florida for his indulgence and working with me on this amendment. We have benefited here across the United States in recent times with a boom in energy and moving towards energy self-sufficiency. Much of this has been due to the ability to take advantage of our natural resources, including crude oil, which is increasingly being developed from the Western parts of our country. In fact, more than 33 million barrels of crude oil are shipped by rail each month in the United States, and that is a fifty-fold increase from more than 5 years ago. Shipments from the Bakken region have brightened the future of oil workers and refineries in my own Seventh District of Pennsylvania, and indeed the entire Philadelphia area, and in fact they have created energy opportunities throughout our Nation. But now, despite the fact that nearly all of the shipments reach their destinations safely, accidents, sadly, are on the rise. Recent incidents in Ontario, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania call to mind the need for improved safety measures. Madam Chairman, my amendment seeks to transfer funding from the Office of the Secretary salaries and expense account and puts $3.5 million into the Federal Railroad Administration to fund additional cars to inspect the more than 14,000 miles of crude oil rail routes nationwide. This funding would also expedite the use of remote automated track inspection capability, which will increase inspection mileage while reducing costs. For more than 30 years, the FRA's automated track inspection program, called ATIP, has provided accurate track geometry and performance data to assess compliance with the Federal Track Safety Standards. Collected data is used by the FRA, railroad inspectors, and railroads to ensure that track safety is being maintained. Immediately following ATIP track surveys, the railroads use the data to help locate and correct problems. Often railroads use the ATIP data as a quality assurance check on their own track inspection and maintenance programs. Madam Chairman, America's energy boom has brightened communities across the country, and as crude oil by rail grows, I want to help protect those communities. My amendment would enable the FRA to increase its ATIP capability to meet this challenge. Madam Chairman, I thank the chairman and Ranking Member Price for their willingness to work with me on this issue. I urge the amendment's adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. Karen Stout for her outstanding dedication as President of Montgomery County Community College. Dr. Stout is moving on after fourteen years of service as President. Her tenure has brought the college success and expansion at a time of remarkable transformation in higher education. Under her leadership, the college has been an example of management and vision for community colleges in Pennsylvania. Her initiatives have reshaped the college's campus, forged new and important partnerships in the Montgomery County community, and given students access to programs that will teach them the skills they need for the jobs of the future. Dr. Stout is a visionary not only in her work with students and the community, but also because of the particular emphasis she has had on creating opportunity for our veterans. Her leadership will certainly be missed, but she has left the college strong and poised for continued prosperity in the future. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 7th district of Pennsylvania, I want to thank Dr. Stout for all she has done to educate countless students and I look forward to working with her again in her future endeavors.