Patrick Meehan

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to express as well, as I close, once again, my appreciation for the tremendous collaborative working relationship with my colleague, Ms. Clarke, and her staff and the staffs from both committees who have worked extensively to put these bills in the position that they have. It is a joy to be part of something here in this Congress in a bipartisan fashion, in which people are working together to solve problems that challenge us all. In my closing, I will include in the Record a letter in support of H.R. 2952 that is written by the Security Industry Association. These are the folks that represent over 470 suppliers of electronic physical security and other kinds of solutions. Security Industry Association, September 12, 2013. Hon. Pat Meehan, Chairman, House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Meehan: The Security Industry Association (SIA) would like to express its strong support for H.R. 2952, the ``Critical Infrastructure Research and Development Act of 2013'' (CIRDA). SIA represents more than 470 suppliers of electronic physical security solutions and countless technology leaders who design and install the security systems that protect millions of Americans each day in our nation's cities and towns, schools, factories, government buildings, transportation systems, ports, and other components of critical infrastructure. Owners and operators of these facilities work closely with SIA members as trusted advisors to ensure that cutting edge security technology solutions are adopted to prevent crime and terrorist attack. SIA believes the CIRDA legislation will help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) set clear and measureable R&D priorities that will accelerate the development of cutting-edge security technologies to protect critical infrastructure. More specifically, we strongly support the provision of H.R. 2952 that will require the development of a R&D strategy by the DHS Science and Technology Directorate that draws upon the expertise of Sector Coordinating Councils to identify security risks and technology gaps. With this essential information, DHS will be in a better position to communicate with the private sector about the security technologies that are most needed to prevent emerging threats to our homeland. SIA is pleased to serve on the Emergency Services Sector Coordinating Council and would be pleased to identify Subject Matter Experts from our membership to contribute to the development of this proposed R&D strategy and the Critical Infrastructure Protection Technology Clearinghouse provided for in your legislation. Thank you for your leadership in introducing this important piece of legislation. SIA appreciates the priority this legislation places upon public-private partnerships and we look forward to working with you to ensure swift passage of CIRDA this year. Sincerely, Donald R. Erickson, Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. MEEHAN. The essence of what this is is the recognition by those who are in the industry that the Department of Homeland Security needs to be able to set clear and measurable R&D priorities that will accelerate the development of cutting-edge security technologies to protect the critical infrastructure. When we are out there so frequently, what we hear from people is the concern: I have been attacked. What do I do to protect myself? And they turn to the Department of Homeland Security for advice. As I said at an earlier point, the reality is that, while the responsibility rests with the Department and in the government to be able to facilitate the protection of the homeland and our assets, the reality is that 90 percent of these assets are placed within the private sector, and it is, in fact, there where much of, as much of, in fact, maybe some of the most pioneering research and development is accomplished. One of the other realities we face, and I think the gentlelady pointed to it so well, this concept of innovation, when we often think of innovation in a positive way. It usually is a positive thing. It means somebody is always thinking of a new and better way to accomplish a task. But criminals do that, too, and so do those who want to do us harm; and no matter how good our protections are, there is the reality that somebody else, the moment that it goes online, is looking for a way to get around it. That means that we have to have the capacity to have the ability to work quickly and effectively; then, once those who are in a position to know what is best, to be able to communicate down the line. So not just the big company that is situated someplace in New York City, but the small manufacturer in the middle of Kansas who is still worried about their R&D, can have access to the same kinds of protections. This bill allows that kind of collaboration to take place, working through the clearinghouse in the Department of Homeland Security. That is why I think it is so important that we take this step forward. I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful for the gentlewoman's presentation of this issue, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. I just want to conclude my remarks on this bill by pointing to the preparation that went into this bill. I would also recognize the importance of not just this issue and the challenges that we face with the complexity of this issue but to recognize that in order for the Department to fulfill its mission, they have to have the kind of workforce that is capable of doing it. And in areas like this, that requires a skilled workforce and, some would say, a uniquely skilled workforce. I think the gentlewoman's wisdom in recognizing that once you develop that skilled workforce, when 90 percent of the assets are out in the private sector, it does not take too long before that private sector comes knocking on the door and starts to say, we want your people out here. And so wisely, the gentlewoman has pointed to allowing us to have a plan in place that looks at the three Rs: readiness, recruitment, and retention. And that is the essence of what we want to try to do with this very, very important legislation. We want to give some flexibility and control to the Department to not only train and make sure we have got the best next generation of those who will commit themselves to our Nation by service through the Department and protecting our homeland but, once they have developed those skills, that we are able, as much as possible, to retain them within here by virtue of allowing them the capacity and flexibility to do the work that they do best. There will still be plenty of opportunity to find bright people in the private sector as well. But we have got to make sure the mission of homeland security is not affected. For those reasons, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dennis Kelly, who died 150 years ago yesterday, and the Dennis Kelly Division of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians. In 1806 Dennis Kelly arrived from Ireland with his wife, Mary, and their daughter, Margaret, and settled in the Philadelphia area. Mr. Kelly entered the textile business and supplied cloth to the Army and Navy during the War of 1812, providing jobs to people in his local community. When Mr. Kelly died on July 21, 1864, he donated a part of his land for the establishment of St. Denis Church. Waves of immigrants from Ireland joined the parish and worked at Kelly's Cotton Mills. The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Dennis Kelly Division is located in Havertown, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2001, this Irish Catholic fraternal organization remains dedicated to promoting and preserving Irish and Irish-American heritage. The Ancient Order of Hibernians promotes values such as friendship, unity and charity. Over the years the group has supported numerous philanthropic causes in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today's Havertown, locally known as Ireland's 33rd county, and the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania owe a great debt to Mr. Dennis Kelly, one of Havertown's most influential immigrants on this, the 150th anniversary of his death.

Mr. MEEHAN

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

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to the FY15 Financial Services Appropriations bill. But first, before I start, I would like to commend Chairman Crenshaw for his tireless commitment to stopping the culture of spending and continuing the culture of savings that we have seen from his subcommittee chairmanship. Given our country's current fiscal situation, we need to be mindful of our limited resources and that we need to do more with less. And one of the most basic concepts in budgeting is balancing wants versus needs. A need is something that you have to have, something you can't do without. A want is something that you would like to have. A good example is calcium. You know, calcium is necessary for survival, but ice cream, on the other, hand is a want. Everyone needs calcium, but plenty of people would do just fine without ice cream. What will my amendment do? It will demonstrate to the taxpayers that this Congress understands the difference between wants and needs. My amendment prohibits any funds from this bill being spent by the General Services Administration towards the renovation of the bowling alley in the White House Eisenhower Office Building. With our Nation $17 trillion in debt, upgrading the President's private bowling alley shouldn't be a priority. A spiffy new bowling alley may suit the wants for Commander in Chief, but I think I speak for the taxpayers of the Seventh Congressional District when I assert that it is certainly not a need. I think when the administration came forward with this proposal, they rolled a gutter ball. The hardworking Americans expect and deserve better. These are difficult times in our country. This is no time for business as usual. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, I suspect it is only silly if you are the people who don't care about the important expenditures of the taxpayers of the United States of America. This isn't some trivial issue. This is a question of priorities at a time where every family is struggling. And the justification here in Time magazine of one of the individuals was this needs renovations. Would you believe it? According to their first-person testimony--and this is just the staffers and the President--there is no electric scoreboard down there, so you have to score by hand. And that is just debilitating when you are focused on bowling a 300 like I am. Well, maybe we ought to have people who are focused on other kinds of things at this point in time. This is a serious issue in terms of the mispriority of spending Federal dollars. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to assert the appropriate priorities in terms of our spending, and I urge a ``yes'' vote. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3488) to establish the conditions under which the Secretary of Homeland Security may establish preclearance facilities, conduct preclearance operations, and provide customs services outside the United States, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 3488. This legislation would require that the Secretary of Homeland Security meet certain conditions and requirements prior to establishing any new U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance operations in foreign countries. The Customs and Border Protection's preclearance operations overseas inspect and examine travelers and their merchandise in foreign locations prior to their arrival in the United States. Once cleared on foreign soil, passengers do not have to clear customs upon arrival in the United States. Now, Congress has a long history of supporting limited and specific preclearance operations. These serve to facilitate travel, and they improve homeland security. However, earlier this year, Customs and Border Patrol, or CBP, commenced preclearance operations in Abu Dhabi without prior notification to Congress, without concern to American jobs, and without a clear homeland security benefit. This legislation ensures that the DHS takes into account the impact on American jobs and our global competitiveness as we enhance our security through future preclearance facilities. My bill requires DHS to meet a series of benchmarks to establish a preclearance operation and requires transparency and prompt notification to Congress while the Department negotiates preclearance agreements with foreign governments. This legislation will go a long way towards preventing a repeat of CBP's mismanaged rollout of the preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. I have long had serious concerns about the agreement with Abu Dhabi, especially the way it was handled by the Department and, ultimately, the disregard DHS had for the domestic airline industry. To correct that error, this bill requires extensive consultation with key stakeholders so that that never happens again. Abu Dhabi was the first new preclearance location established since 9/11. Prior to Abu Dhabi, the U.S. had preclearance locations in places like Ireland, the Bahamas, and Canada. We had an obligation to get this right, and CBP did not. Despite the security-focused rationale, this agreement was conducted without suitable congressional notification or a thorough explanation for the rationale of preclearance operations in Abu Dhabi. We know that a significant number of watch list hits and suspicious travel pattern information originates from the region, but that does not excuse the lack of notification or, more importantly, not taking into account how such agreements affect American workers and their employers. The establishment of a preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi, where no domestic carrier currently flies--let me repeat that, no domestic carrier currently flies--puts U.S. carriers at a competitive and significant disadvantage, as customs wait times are generally shorter at preclearance facilities compared to wait times in the United States. This facility provides a clear facilitation benefit to foreign airlines at the expense of U.S. carriers and U.S. jobs, and this is particularly egregious where the foreign-based airline is given subsidies designed to tilt the market unfairly in their direction. By requiring the Secretary to consider the economic impact in establishing preclearance facilities, we protect American jobs and American workers. I support giving our security professionals the tools needed in their effort to ``push out our borders,'' but we must do so in a way that makes us more secure, does not divert limited CBP staffing resources, or threaten U.S. jobs and a vital economic engine provided by U.S. carriers. I am pleased that over 150 of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle cosponsored this measure, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my deep appreciation to my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for responding so collectively to the importance of this issue. First and foremost, the principle that I think we stand for on both sides of the aisle is, when important issues like this are raised, that there be appropriate consultation with Congress and an appropriate understanding of the clear articulation by Homeland Security of the benefit that they expect to reach. As the chairman has identified, once he visited Abu Dhabi, he came away convinced that there was a benefit. But the idea that that would not have been shared with us prior to entering that agreement is one of the critical things that we want to see addressed by this legislation. But it is also the inability of the Department to appreciate or to take into consideration the impact that this will have, that it may have, and, in fact, it will have when there is no United States airline flying from Abu Dhabi. And the competitive disadvantage of that, which is generated by the fact that individuals who choose to fly the foreign airline currently get right into our country once they get into the preclearance facility, while those on American airlines coming into the same airport will wait in long lines. It creates a competitive disadvantage and the real possibility of a loss of American jobs. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4007) to recodify and reauthorize the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program, as amended.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 4007, the Chemical Facility Anti- Terrorism Standards Program Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014. This bipartisan legislation continues our efforts to provide a sound plan and clear objectives for the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, or what we call CFATS. Before I discuss the merits of the bill, itself, I would like to extend a special debt of gratitude to Chairman Upton and subcommittee Chairman Shimkus of the Energy and Commerce Committee, without whom H.R. 4007 would not be on the floor today. The Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Energy and Commerce share jurisdiction over the CFATS program, and our goal of ensuring that CFATS is doing what needs to be done to protect American chemical facilities from acts of terrorism is a common one. Therefore, our two committees work together to create this bill. In fact, last summer, Chairman Upton and Chairman McCaul sent a letter to then-Secretary Napolitano, expressing their frustration with the Department's delay in getting the CFATS program up and running. They vowed to work together as the program's authorizers to provide the guidance and direction the program needed and to do so immediately. H.R. 4007 represents the culmination of our collaborative efforts to fulfill the pledge. Over the course of the past year, our two committees have worked in partnership with all of the CFATS key stakeholders, including both the regulated community and the Department itself, to assess the program's strengths and shortcomings, and develop a straightforward, practically minded piece of legislation to improve the CFATS program overall. I am very proud of the partnership in getting H.R. 4007 done, and I am grateful for Chairmen Upton and Shimkus and their support for allowing us to bring the bill to the floor swiftly in the interest of seeing this legislation enacted in this Congress. I would like to note that the Energy and Commerce Committee's exchange of letters with the Homeland Security Committee in no way diminishes that committee's jurisdictional claim to or authority over the CFATS program. This bill represents the result of the legislative process done right: committees and Members of Congress working in partnership with one another to do what is best for America. I am proud to share the credit of the bill with Chairman Upton and Chairman Shimkus, and my good friends and colleagues from the other side of the aisle. Good governance is represented here today. CFATS was created by the Department of Homeland Security in 2007 after Congress authorized the Department to develop a set of vulnerability assessment standards for chemical plants and to implement a corresponding set of regulations that will protect the highest risk facilities from a physical attack. Prior to the attacks on 9/11, Congress had established an array of laws aimed at preventing environmental disasters at facilities that produce or store potentially dangerous chemicals. While those laws remain, Congress and the Department of Homeland Security developed CFATS specifically to prevent an intentional attack on chemical facilities. The program uses risk-based performance standards in order to provide individual facilities the flexibility to address their unique security challenges. Importantly, the Department developed a tiering structure that permits CFATS to focus their resources on the higher-risk facilities. By partnering with industry, CFATS requires the covered chemical facilities to prepare security vulnerability assessments and develop and implement site security plans that are based on those assessments. Despite what we would all agree are the best of intentions, it is no secret that CFATS has struggled throughout its 7-year history. From implementation problems to management flaws to insufficient feedback from facilities, highlighted in the aftermath of the West, Texas, disaster, CFATS has had a rocky start. However, let's be mindful that mismanagement is not synonymous with policy failure. Our goal has been to identify both the major problems with the program and the progress made by DHS to correct them. The assessment has given us the ability to craft a set of benchmarks that are complementary to the President's Executive Order No. 13650 that was released after the tragic explosion at the West Fertilizer plant in West, Texas, last spring. For the past 4 years, CFATS has relied on appropriations with no official guidance or authorizing statute from Congress. Past attempts to reauthorize the program have failed due to either overly ambitious proposals or sweeping overhauls that expand the scope of its intent. Let's first fix the program before we debate granting greater responsibility. We have taken a modest, practical approach to reauthorization. We have determined that the site security plan approval process needs greater efficiency. The compliance process is greatly in need of better coordination. Implementing a sensible and effective methodology in assessing risk will help DHS better communicate with State and local officials, as well as other Federal agencies and industry associations, to identify facilities. This is important as we talk about issues like the West, Texas, plant. CFATS must remain on probation until the program proves its effectiveness. Therefore, the Government Accountability Office should continue to assess the program and report to Congress its findings on a biannual basis--all parts that are included in that bill. The resulting legislation, H.R. 4007, does all of these things and, therefore, enjoys support from a wide array of stakeholders. Republicans and Democrats have voiced their support for the bill. In addition to having two Democratic cosponsors, Representatives Gene Green and Filemon Vela, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson explicitly endorsed H.R. 4007 in February of this year. We have worked with the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to produce legislation that puts the security of Americans above politics and jurisdictional values. This bill has support from the House; the Senate, which is in the process of crafting a companion bill, which they plan to mark up this month; DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson; and industry stakeholders, including the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, the American Chemistry Council, CropLife America, and a coalition comprised of a broad spectrum of agricultural, mining, petroleum, and transport organizations. At this time, I would like to enter those support letters into the Record. American Chemistry Council, Washington, DC, April 28, 2014. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Patrick Meehan, Chairman, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Dear Chairmen McCaul and Meehan: The American Chemistry Council (ACC) would like to thank you and your colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee for your work and leadership on the authorization of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014, H.R. 4007. ACC strongly supports this bill, and we look forward to continuing to work with you to help secure final passage of this important and much needed legislation. Long term authorization of CFATS is critical to helping safeguard chemical facilities, and this bill would give the industry long overdue regulatory certainty. ACC is the trade association for the chemical industry in the United States, which is a $770 billion industry and employs 784,000 Americans in high wage jobs. The industry is experiencing a renaissance in the United States thanks to the increase in shale gas production, and our members have announced over $100 billion in new planned capital expenditures that will provide tens of thousands of new jobs, and give manufacturers throughout the value chain a domestic supply of the chemicals they need to manufacture products in this country. Ensuring that clear and workable security regulations remain in place is an important part of creating an environment that will continue to foster these new investments. DHS has dramatically improved its administration of the CFATS program, which has had a positive impact on enhancing security at US chemical sites, and ACC supports making this a permanent program for the approximately 4,500 sites that are regulated under CFATS. Congressional oversight via an authorization would help DHS with some of the challenges they have faced implementing the program, even as the agency has made progress with a new management structure. The industry has seen considerable increased activity from DHS, including improved quality of inspections and faster authorizations. Most importantly, DHS leadership has demonstrated a commitment to working with stakeholders to improve the implementation of the CFATS program. A long term authorization outside of the appropriation process will provide the regulatory consistency and operational stability to ensure the success of CFATS, while giving industry confidence in long term capital commitments to this program. Ensuring the future of this important program will also help DHS recruit and retain top talent to effectively implement CFATS. We are committed to continuing our work with you and your staff to help move this legislation forward. Sincerely, Cal Dooley.

Mr. MEEHAN. I would specifically like to thank my cosponsors, as well as Homeland Security Committee staff, for their hard work and tireless efforts to ensure that the views of the regulated community and the administration were properly reflected and implemented in a realistic and achievable way, with strict goals which will lift this program from stagnation to success. I am proud of this legislation and its bipartisan support, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass H.R. 4007, so we can ensure that the proper measures are in place to secure our communities from the devastating potential of a terrorist attack. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), the chairman of the full committee.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, so I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green).

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers and reserve the balance of my time to close.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to express my deep appreciation to my colleagues on my side of the aisle, but particularly to my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee and subcommittee, the ranking member, Mr. Thompson, and the ranking member of the subcommittee, the gentlelady from New York. As both have articulated, there is more work to be done, and nobody disputes that particular issue; but we also appreciate that this is an issue which has been laying for a long period of time without resolution, and we are taking very responsible steps to take a big step forward in the authorization of this program. We worked with both sides of the aisle to try to handle as many issues as we could. As has been articulated, 15 Democratic amendments have been made part of this bill. The wastewater issue was an important one, but mature security programs do exist for that. It is one of the original critical infrastructures as part of the Sector Coordinating Council for DHS. But I agree, there is still more work to be done in that particular area. We are worried about outliers as well. One of the gentlemen raised the issue of the chemical facilities that have avoided scrutiny, which led to the West, Texas, situation, but it is for that reason that this bill is so critically important and we act now. It is because it gives DHS the ability to affirmatively reach out to those facilities that are not compliant, and what this bill does is it rewards those who have taken responsible steps towards identifying and creating the kinds of plans that are contemplated underneath this bill, but it also calls to challenge those who have been avoiding scrutiny. So the issues still may be there for future resolution, but we will, in 3 years, be able to bring this bill back up for reconsideration, and during that period of time we can work together on both sides of the aisle to ensure that it is done appropriately. I encourage my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support this bipartisan bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, James F. Kilcur, 62, of West Chester, Pennsylvania died Wednesday, February 19, 2014. Born in Northeast Philadelphia, Jim was a proud Philadelphia native and pillar of his community. Jim was a labor lawyer admired for his trusted counsel and respected by all for his ability to broker a deal. Jim stood out at Saul Ewing LLP, as partner, and at South Eastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority or SEPTA, as General Counsel for nearly a decade. Then, just as now, everyone knew Jim. I had the pleasure to work with Jim during his time at SEPTA. Jim was a confident, intelligent man, and while tolerant of others positions, was steadfast in his own. He was decisive, and there was no waffling or ambiguity in his thinking. Jim was chairman of the board of trustees of his alma mater, DeSales University in Center Valley and proud alumni of Cardinal Dougherty High School. Last week I attended the Transportation Management Association of Chester County for their annual legislative breakfast. At breakfast, the Transportation Management Association of Chester County posthumously named Jim as Executive Director Emeritus. I cannot think of someone more deserving of this distinction than Jim and I join the Transportation Management Association of Chester County in honoring Jim's service. I would like to commend Jim on his devoted service to the Catholic Church, impressive career history, and life of love and caring concern for his family especially his wife Maria Theresa; three sons, James Francis III, wife Kristen and granddaughter Annabel Katherine; Patrick and fiancee Julie; and Matthew. Let me end by suggesting we remember that Jim left us too soon. But we know--because this was Jim--he left a lasting legacy. Jim's spirit, and example of a good life, well lived, helping others, will always be with us.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, last week, I attended the Transportation Management Association of Chester County for its annual legislative breakfast. At the breakfast, the association posthumously honored James F. Kilcur as its executive director emeritus. It is a very special recognition by his colleagues within the transportation industry. I can't think of anybody more deserving of this distinction than Jim, and I join the association in honoring Jim's service to southeastern Pennsylvania. Jim Kilcur, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, died on Wednesday, February 19, 2014. Born in northeast Philadelphia, Jim was a proud Philadelphia native and a pillar of his community. He was a labor lawyer admired for his trusted counsel and respected by all for his ability to get to a fair resolution of any matter. Jim stood out at Saul Ewing as a partner and at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority as general counsel for nearly a decade. Then, just as now, everybody respected Jim. I had the pleasure to work with Jim during his time at SEPTA. He was a confident, intelligent man, and while tolerant of other positions, was steadfast in his own. He was decisive, and there was no waffling or ambiguity in his thinking. Jim was the chairman of the board of trustees of his alma mater, DeSales University in Center Valley, and a proud alumni of Cardinal Dougherty High School. I would like to commend Jim on his devoted service to his community, to his church, and his impressive career history, and his life of love and devotion to his family, especially his wife. Let me remember Jim with this legacy.

Mr. MEEHAN

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