Joe Manchin

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I wish to commemorate the service of a patriot and decorated Soldier, COL Roy W. Bahr. Roy joined the U.S. Army in 1950 after the onset of the Korean War. Shortly after graduating from Officer Candidate School, he deployed to Korea and served as an infantry platoon leader. Following his deployment, Colonel Bahr volunteered for U.S. Army Special Forces and went on to serve with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Vietnam. There, he was assigned as the commander of Forward Operating Base 3, Khe Sanh, leading elements of Military Assistance Command Vietnam--Studies and Observations Group, MACVSOG. MACVSOG was tasked with conducting highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. This highly decorated unit was responsible for gathering critical intelligence throughout the conflict and was so effective that the North Vietnamese had to divert tens of thousands of troops in an attempt to counter MACVSOG operations. Consequently, MACVSOG's casualty rates were higher than any American unit since the American Civil War. Only the best and most highly skilled commanders were involved with MACVSOG. During Colonel Bahr's time with MACVSOG, he commanded forward operating bases at Phu Bai, Kontum, and Khe Sanh. Colonel Bahr was responsible for dozens of reconnaissance teams and special reaction forces that often worked clandestinely in enemy occupied territory with limited support. It is difficult to fully articulate the risk incurred by Colonel Bahr and his men, or the difficulty of their missions, as they heroically served our Nation. Colonel Bahr commanded MACVSOG, FOB-3 during the height of the siege at Khe Sanh in 1968. Under constant bombardment, Colonel Bahr's reconnaissance teams were given full authority to operate outside the compound during what would become one of the largest battles of the Vietnam war. Colonel Bahr's unit, in concert with a large contingent of U.S. Marines, fought to prevent the North Vietnamese units from overrunning the combat base at Khe Sanh. Later in the conflict, Colonel Bahr organized and led a force to relieve an American operating base at Da Nang after it came under assault by North Vietnamese sappers on August 22 and 23, 1968. The North Vietnamese attack on Da Nang was the single deadliest day for U.S. Army Special Forces during the war. Colonel Bahr's relief effort and subsequent pursuit of remaining enemy personnel was critical in gaining full control of the base and saving American lives. In early 1961, while visiting Fort Bragg, President Kennedy stated, ``The Green Beret is a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom.'' COL Roy W. Bahr's devotion to duty and professional leadership as a commander, a warrior and a Green Beret exemplifies this mark of distinction. Roy's life is testament to the highest attributes of American service, individual bravery, and patriotism, and I am glad to have this opportunity to thank him.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. The Senator and I disagree on a few things, but I adamantly disagree with my dear friend Senator Whitehouse regarding the wisdom of a carbon fee or so-called carbon tax. But I do agree that we can use the Tax Code and other Federal tax incentives to help clean up fossil fuels. That is why we are here together to find a pathway. First, the DOE must approve $8 billion in loan guarantees for advanced fossil fuel projects that they have had available since 2005. None of it has been invested to try to help use the fuel that we depend on--coal--in a much better, cleaner fashion. Also, I found out that we also have $3.2 billion from the stimulus money to be used for shovel- ready coal projects that is still sitting and hasn't been invested. So there is a lot we can do without appropriating any new money, just using the money that is there for the purpose it was intended. New tax incentives could be employed to incentivize providers to update sub-critical plants to the super- and ultra-super-critical configurations that pave the way for CCS. Finally, we need to incentivize the second generation of CCS technology, the one that holds the future for promise of coal use with negligible emissions. What are we talking about? Carbon capture sequestration, just being used for that purpose, if you don't have a secondary source to where you can put it and sell it for enhanced oil recovery, as we call it-- the technology that we could use in the shale that maybe can enhance the gas from the shale, the Utica and Marcellus that we have in West Virginia--so much could have been done that we haven't done. Maybe we could solidify the carbon and use it as a spent fuel. These are things we need to get to, and this money lying right now in the Department of Energy for almost 10 years needs to be invested. With the help of Senator Whitehouse, I can only think that we can move forward and find a solution.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator. Again, I say to my good friend Senator Whitehouse from Rhode Island, I look forward to coming to his beautiful State of Rhode Island and seeing all of what they are doing and the efficiencies they have and technology they are incorporating. I also look forward to showing him my State, the beautiful State of West Virginia, and its great people. We have both visited each other's States before, so we know how good our States are. It is going to be great to revisit. I thank the Senator also for joining me on the floor as we continue to have this extremely important dialogue. If Senator Whitehouse and I can start looking for a pathway, I am sure friends from both sides of the aisle can join us. That is what we are trying to have happen. I agree with Senator Whitehouse, the United States of America has long stood before the world as an exceptional country that people look up to. We have reigned as the dominant world power and have played the role of the world's leader for more than 200 years. Coal use is expanding across the globe, and we need to face that reality--and we must take our position as the world leader and broker solutions, knowing the rest of the world is going to use this product more than ever before. So finding a balance of the environment between our concerns and our economic prosperity is going to happen. We should be that leader also. The solution for the United States is to develop a technology that will allow us to use the fuels we need cleanly and to export that technology to the world. Yes, West Virginia and Rhode Island are indeed different in many ways, but most importantly the Senator and I both know they are both part of this great country, and that is what makes America great. We can deliberate and challenge each other's positions on any one issue-- and we sure have had our share of dogged debates on the issues of climate change and energy issues--but when it comes to deciding what is best for our future generations and our beautiful Earth, there is always room for reasonable compromise and a way forward. So as we continue to work diligently in the Senate, I also look forward to visiting again with him, and we will make that happen sooner than later. Once again, I thank Senator Whitehouse for coming to the table to establish a truly commonsense, all-of-the-above energy policy that acknowledges the vital role coal must play moving forward. This energy strategy will also help protect good-paying jobs, boost our economy nationwide and around the world, and improve the quality of life of all living things. We are going to fix this together, not as Democrats or Republicans but as Americans, as the world leaders we always have been. We have been looking to find the balance, and we will find the balance and show not only America but the world that we can look past our differences to better this world. I look forward so much to that. We both have looked at it from this standpoint: We both agree we need to work together and basically agree we have a responsibility in this world and this country to be a leader again in finding a pathway to using the energy the good Lord gave us and find the best balance we can with the economy and environment, cleaning up the environment for which we are responsible. I thank my good friend, and I yield the floor.

Mr. MANCHIN. When I was Governor of West Virginia, we set and have now achieved an alternative where we are going to reduce our carbon footprint by 25 percent by using coal in a cleaner fashion and also some of the other things we do, which I will explain. Not only did we do it, we did it 10 years earlier than we had targeted. In 2013, 4.1 percent of West Virginia's energy already came from hydroelectric and wind energy. Mount Storm Wind Farm--so many people don't know what we have done in our little State because we are all in; we want to do it all, and we are trying everything we have--is the second largest wind farm east of the Mississippi, 17 miles across the beautiful landscape. I also agree with Senator Whitehouse on the importance of energy efficiency. With our friend Senator Hoeven of North Dakota, I have introduced the All-Of-The-Above Federal Building Energy Conservation Act, legislation that would improve the energy efficiency of all Federal buildings and set an example for the private sector. This legislation takes a commonsense, all-of-the-above approach to the issue of Federal energy efficiency. I believe that by encouraging the use of innovative technologies and practices, instituting reasonable goals, and allowing building managers flexibility, we can achieve better environmental stewardship in a cost-effective manner. As Governors, Senator Hoeven--a Republican from North Dakota--and I relied on common sense to guide our State policies, and this bill applies that much needed common sense to Federal policies. We should be using all of our abundant resources, including coal, to power our Nation in the most efficient way possible. Our bill accomplishes this goal and proves the Federal Government can lead the way in using fossil fuels to achieve greater energy efficiency in a much cleaner fashion. While efficiency and renewables are important, let me say again that it is most important to reduce emissions from coal plants while keeping them running well into the future. Advances in coal-use technologies will continue to develop with help from the public sector. Enhanced oil recovery is already developing into a valuable tool for augmenting domestic oil production. We need Federal investments for technology such as EOR. Research is ongoing for the use of coal and CO2 for a multitude of new energy and consumer products, including fertilizers, liquid fuels, and plastic materials. I just had a gentleman come to my office who basically makes carbon out of coal which cleanses the water we drink. So there are so many things. Senator Whitehouse is right. There are so many things that we are using, and we can do a lot more.

Mr. MANCHIN. I thank the Chair. I am pleased to join my friend Senator Whitehouse from the great State of Rhode Island to talk about this important subject. In the past, we may not always have agreed on how to approach this problem, but at least we have come together to work on a solution together. That is very important. That is a rare thing in Washington, as the Presiding Officer knows. We are determined to see if we can find common ground to move forward. As the Senator suggested, the way we produce and consume energy in our States is quite different. I am the Mountain State, he is the Ocean State. Nonetheless, we both agree we need to strike a balance between the economy and the environment. One cannot go it alone. It takes a balance, if you will, in about anything we do in life, one that acknowledges the reality of the climate change, while also understanding that fossil fuels, more specifically coal that we produce so much of in our State, is such a part of our economy, is a vital part of our energy mix for decades to come. That is by the Department of Energy, the EAI's own claim. There is no doubt that 7 billion people have impacted our world's climate. Those who deny that I believe are wrong. A lot of them are my friends. I believe we have had an impact and we have a responsibility. But we need to know what is going on and the facts we are dealing with in the world today. There are more than 8 billion tons of coal consumed around the world each year. This gives an outline of where most of that coal is consumed. Currently China burns more than 4 billion tons per year. They are not stopping or letting up. If anything, they are increasing their consumption and building more coal-fired plants as we speak, while the United States and Europe each burn less than 1 billion tons. So the United States of America, you could say, uses less than one-eighth of the coal consumed annually in the world. If we stopped burning every kind of coal, would that really clean up the climate? But if we find ways to do it better, can we help the rest of the world clean up the climate? That is what we are here to talk about. There is a broad agreement in the scientific community that carbon emissions and other human contributions are causing substantial changes to the Earth's climate. According to the West Virginia State Climatologist's Office, five of the six wettest years have occurred since 1989; four have occurred since 1990. Just as I do not deny the existence of climate change, my friend Senator Whitehouse does not deny that eliminating coal from the energy mix would hurt the reliability of our grid. He knows that you cannot do it. We have got to work together to keep the reliability in the system, which is so vital to people all over this country. Without coal, the northeast United States would have suffered severe and enduring power outages during last winter's polar vortex. If our reliability had failed during the polar vortex we came through this past year, there is no question people would have died--no question at all. Importantly, during that period of time, coal provided 92 percent of the increase in energy needed to survive that disaster. Coal was able to go online to back up the grid. Ninety-two percent of it was driven by coal because it is dependable, reliable, and affordable. This chart shows basically the portion of increase in U.S. electricity generation by fuel, January-February 2014, the times we needed it most to keep the grid systems up and running. You can see coal--92 percent--and natural gas fell because of distribution problems we had. It will increase, it will get better as distribution and infrastructure is built. Oil, nuclear, hydro, renewable--you can see they weren't able to pick up the demand that was needed or the load that was needed to keep the system moving. Nick Akins is the CEO of American Electric Power. He said this about the polar vortex: ``This country did not just dodge a bullet--it dodged a cannon ball'' We need to address climate change, but we need to do it while maintaining the reliability of our electricity system. Senator Whitehouse and I both realize that coal will remain a vital part of our Nation's general portfolio for the foreseeable future. According to the President's own Energy Information Administration-- the EIA--coal generated about 40 percent of all U.S. electricity in 2011. In 2040 coal will still generate more than 30 percent of the domestic electricity that is needed. This chart basically shows where we are going in the foreseeable future. This is 2040. By 2040 natural gas will be at 35 percent, and coal will still be at 32 percent--both, it can be said, out of fossil, so you have 67 percent. Renewals increase to 16 percent. Nuclear is going down to 16 percent, and I believe we have to reengage our efforts there. I really do. So coal will assume the dominant world markets for the foreseeable future. According to EIA, coal provided 69 percent of China's energy consumption in 2011. This chart gives a little bit of an idea of where we are. China used four times the amount of coal used in the United States that year. Coal supplied 41 percent of India's total energy consumption. During that period of time, India used roughly the same amount of coal as we did in the United States. By 2040 China will produce 62 percent of its electricity from coal, while India will produce 56 percent. During the next few years, some 1,200 new coal plants are going to be built across 59 countries; 363 are going to be built in China and 455 in India alone. It is unbelievable when you look at more than 8 billion tons of coal that are consumed around the world each year. China currently burns more than 4 billion tons per year, while the United States and Europe burn less than 1 billion tons. Use in these countries and in other parts of the world is projected to grow dramatically for decades to come. The United States has already been a leader in proving to the world that we can produce coal cleaner today. Traditional pollutants--sulfur, mercury, nitrogen, and particulates--have been cut 80 percent in the last several years. What is less known is that technologies are being developed--and some already exist--that dramatically lower coal plant carbon emissions. With smarter investments from the public and private sectors, we will not only finish the first generation of carbon capture, storage, and utilization plants but also develop the second generation of these technologies. When that happens in the not so distant future, we will lead the world toward utilization of fossil fuels in a way that produces negligible or zero harmful emissions. With the right policies and the right coordination between the public and private sectors, we can lead by example and show the world that we can burn fossil fuels cleaner than ever. Most importantly, we can do all of this while protecting consumers, creating jobs, and growing our economy.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I thank my good friend from Connecticut. I appreciate his unwavering commitment to continue to fight for justice and fairness for all, and he does it every day. I am here to say happy birthday to West Virginia. Tomorrow, June 20, we will be 151 years old, and I rise to honor my great State. I have often said this: Some of us were lucky enough to be born and raised there--and I am one of the lucky ones--some people were smart enough to move there, and some people just wish they could get there. So under any circumstance, we will take you. This is a State that truly embodies a brave and daring declaration of statehood that is unprecedented in American history. Born out of the fiery battles of the Civil War, West Virginia was founded by patriots who were willing to risk their lives in a united pursuit of justice and freedom for all. Since that day 151 years ago, June 20, 1863--when our State officially became the 35th State admitted into the Union--West Virginia's rich culture and strong traditions grew. That year the Great Seal of the State of West Virginia was adopted-- and we all have our seals and preambles in all of our States--depicting who we are as a people and our culture. With our birth date's inscription forever engraved in its center, the seal features a big boulder rock with two crossed rifles and a liberty cap sitting on top to express our State's importance in fighting for liberty and justice. On either side of the boulder stand two men: On the left, a farmer stands with an ax and a plow to represent agriculture. On the right, a miner stands with a pickax and a sledgehammer to represent industry. Finally, along the outer ring is carved the text ``State of West Virginia'' and ``Montani Semper Liberi,'' which means ``Mountaineers Are Always Free.'' That Great Seal of West Virginia, designed in 1863 during America's bloody Civil War, leaves a lasting imprint of who we are as the people of West Virginia. Just like the farmer and miner on our seal, we cannot forget the countless others who fought for our freedom and embarked on our State's improbable journey to independence from Virginia and to our very own place in the Union--a land of the free and home of the brave. We believe--and we believed way back then--that justice would prevail. Those pivotal figures climbed over mountains, crossed raging rivers, tussled through thick forests, and fought against bondage and oppression to be free. Their resilience succeeded, and because of their bravery and patriotism the ``mountaineers'' are still always free. Ever since our historic beginning, we, the people of West Virginia, have never failed to answer our country's call. We have almost more veterans per capita than any other State in the Nation. When 9/11 happened to our great country, there were more West Virginians percentagewise who signed up to enter all branches of our Armed Forces to fight for our country. I am so proud of each and every one of our West Virginians and our veterans and the people serving today. Ever since we chose the stars and stripes and chose to live under a Constitution that promised a constant pursuit of ``a more perfect Union'' of States, no demand has been too great, no danger has been too daunting, and no trial has been too threatening. Our State's abundance of natural resources, coupled with the hard work and sacrifice of our people, have made America stronger and safer. Since our birth, we have mined the coal that fueled the Industrial Revolution, powered our railroads across the continental United States, and produced the steel that built our ships, skyscrapers, and our factories. Our little State has given every ounce of blood we have. To this day, West Virginians continue to generate the electricity that lights our cities, heats our homes, and powers our businesses. We have also filled the ranks of our military forces in numbers far greater than should be expected from our little State of less than 2 million people. West Virginia's population holds one of the highest percentages of veterans among all States. As I always say, West Virginia is one of the most patriotic States in the country. We always have been and we always will be. ``The best steel comes from the hottest fires.'' My father always told me that, and the fires of the Civil War transformed us. We forever branded ourselves to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the guarantees of the U.S. Constitution--and, as the ``mountaineers'' who will always be free. We are tough. We are independent. We are inventive. We are honest. Our character has been shaped by the wilderness of our State. With welcoming mountains, countless hollers, rushing streams, boundless blue skies, and dense green forests, we have it all. West Virginia is a place of coal mines and soaring eagles, Boy Scouts and community leaders, sparkling lakes and captivating mountains, winding backcountry and smoky barbecue joints, battlefields, and hidden trails, college towns and small towns, and it goes on and on. West Virginia is a place of power, pulse, and passion--a special place I get to call home, along with other West Virginians. Yes, we have had our ups and downs, our setbacks and triumphs, famous family feuds, neighborly fights, timely trials, and unexpected challenges have been thrown our way, but the spirit of West Virginia has never been broken, and it never will. I learned a long time ago, growing up in the small coal-mining town of Farmington, WV, with hardworking men and women, when things get tough, by God, we just got tougher. That is the way it had to be to survive. Tomorrow, as people across West Virginia celebrate West Virginia's 151st birthday, a day we now also know as West Virginia Day, I encourage all West Virginians to remember who we are, from where we have come, and where we are going to go. I encourage us all to remember the first mountaineers and the brave leaders and strong laborers who paved the way for us and for future generations to come. We have so many reasons to be proud of our beautiful State, its kind and compassionate people, powerful landscapes, unique customs, rich culture, and fascinating history. John Kennedy, in 1963, when he came for our centennial celebration and spoke on the capitol steps, once said: Sometimes it is raining cats and dogs. Sometimes the Sun doesn't always shine in West Virginia, but the people always do. He was so correct, as he felt the heartbeat of our State. Every West Virginian contributes to our State's amazing story, and on West Virginia Day I encourage all West Virginians to seize this opportunity to imagine the future of this great State--and this Nation--and be proud of how far we have come and how far we will go together. We are West Virginians. Even in the darkness and the gloom, we look to a just God who directs the storm, and similar to the brave loyal patriots who made West Virginia the 35th star on Old Glory, West Virginians' love of God and country and family and State remains unshakable, and that is well worth celebrating every year. So God bless every West Virginian. God bless those who came before us and who will come after us. Happy birthday, West Virginia. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise to recognize a remarkably brave, very young West Virginian, 10-year-old Brianna Vance, who helped save her father's life just last week--truly amazing. It was on Twitter, all over the pages. On June 10, as a severe storm--and with all of the severe storms we have been having all over the country--tore through her neighborhood in Henlawson, WV, Brianna's father Gregory and two of his friends were sitting on the porch when lightning struck a nearby very large tree that crashed down on top of them and their home. Brianna tried to use her phone to call for help, but the storm had knocked out all of the cell services. She had nothing. She could not do a thing. Remarkably, she was still able to access the Internet and quickly logged onto Facebook--just by a miracle. In an extraordinary demonstration of courage and resourcefulness, Brianna posted a video, and I have seen this video. If you haven't, please go to Brianna's Facebook page, ``Brianna Vance,'' and look at it. She asked anyone who had cell phone service or access to a phone to please call 911 and send an ambulance to her yellow house to save her daddy. She thought, had enough presence about her during this very trying and emotional time. When people see the video, I think it will explain and speak for itself. Thankfully, someone saw her post and a rescue team was able to save the three victims, including her father, because of that Facebook post. When all other options failed, Brianna did not give up. She still had the presence of thought and her desire to help her father and his friends. Because of her sharp wit and resourcefulness, her father is alive and recovering today--just in time to celebrate Father's Day together, as we just finished up this past weekend. I am so proud of Brianna, and I know her family and community are as well, as can be expected when we have situations not just in West Virginia but in the Presiding Officer's own State of Ohio and all over this great country, where we have family bonds such as this and we have family stories that have good outcomes that we do not hear enough of. I thank Brianna for her heroism that helped save the lives of her father and his friends. She should be recognized for her bravery. So I say, Brianna, on behalf of the grateful State of West Virginia, thank you for what you have done for your father and his friends and showing the courage you have as a young West Virginian. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I yield back the time.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I come today and I am honored to support my friend Sylvia Mathews Burwell. Sylvia is a native of West Virginia, and I have always said that we are all a part of our environment. If you know where Sylvia came from, the type of area where she was raised and the neighborhood, it will tell you everything about who she is today and why she has been so successful and why public service runs through her veins, truly giving something back. The little town of Hinton, WV, is where Sylvia is from. It is in beautiful Summers County in the southern part of the State. It is right on the New River. It is a train town. Trains will come there and dispatch, and they will get them turned around to go in the right direction. I will never forget when they introduced Sylvia. I think it was Senator Alexander who was speaking. He was talking about his father, who worked in the rail yard and was always responsible for turning the trains and getting them moving. I said: Well, one thing about that, Sylvia comes from a train town. She knows how to get the train on the track and how to get it moving in the right direction, and she has proven that. She is an unbelievable, blessed person. She is gifted, as smart as they come--a Rhodes scholar. In West Virginia we are so proud to have a person with those types of skills and the ambition to serve. Now we will get into a little bit about her mom and dad because it is really who she is. Her father is an eye doctor there and is well respected in the town, and he is an immigrant who came from Britain. Her mother Cleo Mathews was the mayor. When I was Governor of West Virginia and I would come to town, Cleo would always call and tell me everything I did wrong. She was usually right, and we would get things worked out. We always had a great relationship. But she had skills and she had to give something back. You had to be involved. You just couldn't sit around. You couldn't be satisfied with your life just thinking, well, I work and I have a paycheck. There was always something. I think that comes from--I am second generation also--coming to this country and hearing your grandparents talk about all the wonderful opportunities they have been provided and how privileged they believe they are and how honored and why we always have to give something back. You had to volunteer, be involved. You had to go out and contribute. You had to do something. That is the type of background Sylvia comes from. When you look at every job she was asked to do, she was in the Clinton administration. If fame and fortune were her desire, she could have gotten it a long time ago. She did public service, and she did it in an exemplary fashion. Then after the Clinton administration she went to the Gates Foundation. She went to the Walmart Foundation. She is always with a foundation. She is somebody who is willing to help others and give back, trying to invest in the best of America. Then she came back and she became our Director of OMB. She got totally unanimous support. Now the President has tasked her to come and take the reins of the DHHS. I say to my friends, whether or not you support the Affordable Care Act, Sylvia is not coming here to change your minds. She is not going to tell you: I am going to tell you why you should be for it, and you are wrong if you are not for it. She is not going to do that. She is going to make the system work. She is going to be following the law and listening to everybody--those who support it and those who do not support it--and making adjustments and recommendations. I trust that she will take good, solid recommendations to the President: If change is needed, this is where we need it. If this is not working, this is why it is not working. If the numbers don't add up and we cannot afford it, we will make adjustments to make sure it does work so all Americans can benefit. I come to the floor because I know Sylvia Mathews Burwell. I know where she comes from. I know her family. I know her friends. I know her town. That speaks volumes. As I said in the opening, we are all products of our environment. Sylvia Mathews Burwell is a product of her environment, which is as nurturing and loving and caring as any one of us could ever hope for. To have that quality of a person who is going to be serving at the highest level is something I am very proud of--not just because she is a West Virginian but because she is such an accomplished person and she wants to give something back. She has lived the American dream. Her parents made that come true for her, and that is who she is. I would ask all of my colleagues, when they are voting, who do you think would have better values, who would have the ability, and who has the knowledge and the experience to make sure there is fairness and bipartisanship? Every person is going to be listened to, and she will give a direct answer as to exactly how she has come to a decision. That is all you can ask for. When you have an opportunity to get somebody at that level in the private sector, you would jump all over it. You would do whatever it would take to get somebody with her qualities. In public service, we have such a hard time today recruiting the young, recruiting this new crop of leaders. Some of them will be Senators, some of them will be Congresspeople. They are going to be leaders in their communities. They care at a young age. We have a hard time recruiting this younger crop of people, and when we have it, we better hold on to it. We have a chance to hold on to Sylvia, to take us to a new level where health care could be affordable for the masses. We could have a healthier population. We don't have to rank 43rd in the world as far as wellness and longevity. It shouldn't be that we are spending more money than anybody else and not getting results. We need somebody like Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who could put all of this together and make sense out of it because she comes from a family and a community that is all-West Virginian and all-American. I say to my colleagues, I hope you will vote in favor of Sylvia Mathews Burwell and show that we can come together, we can work in a bipartisan fashion and pick the best person for the job--not because they are Democratic or Republican or Independent or have any political affiliation but because they are the best qualified person for the job. I would say thank you to all of my colleagues for allowing me to give a little bit of insight into a most amazing young lady, a mother, a daughter, and a loving friend to all who really gives all she can. Madam President, I note the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, today I am incredibly honored to recognize a group of 30 heroic military veterans who have traveled from southern West Virginia to visit our Nation's capital as part of the fourth Always Free Honor Flight. On the occasion of their visit, in which they will see for the first time the monuments built in their honor, I want to express my utmost gratitude to these special men and women for their extraordinary bravery and patriotism, and for their noble sacrifice to help keep our country free. I have said this time and time again--West Virginia is one of the most patriotic States in this great Nation. With one of the country's highest per capita rates of military servicemembers and veterans, we are so proud of the many citizens who have served and who are actively serving in the military. The 30 veterans participating in today's Always Free Honor Flight truly embody the Mountain State's history and contributions to the safeguard of our American freedoms. Our special West Virginians visiting today represent three generations of warriors--5 served in World War II, 9 served in the Korean War, and 16 served in the Vietnam War. They range from 63-90 years of age, and have traveled from all parts of our great State--from New Martinsville to Bluefield, Huntington to Princeton to Beckley, and many places in between. In addition to our Mountain State vets, two veterans from bordering Bland and Tazewell Counties in Virginia have accompanied their West Virginia neighbors on the day-long adventure. I especially want to recognize our two women veterans who joined today's honor flight, both of whom are the first women to make the Always Free Honor Flight trip. Helen ``J'' Wheby served in the Korean war as an office worker in the Navy. Vanda Jane Butcher served in the Vietnam war with the rank of a seaman as a part of an air flight crew in the Navy. Despite the challenges, sacrifices, and hardships they faced while defending this Nation, these women voluntarily stepped forward and put service above self to preserve our freedoms. We cannot thank them enough for their tremendous courage and their sacrifices. Showing our appreciation to those who have served is something that we should do each and every day, but today is a special day to pay tribute and thank those who have volunteered to put their lives on the line for our freedoms. The memorials our Honor Flight participants will visit today serve as an important reminder to us all that our freedoms and liberties come at a steep cost. However, I know our veterans will find special meaning and potentially long-lost emotions when they tour such touching sites. The brave West Virginia heroes today have all served this country in a variety of ways, working both at home and abroad. They have engaged in combat all over the world, traveling to the Panama Canal, working on the docks of Saigon, and serving in historic events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis. One of our visiting Vietnam veterans, Stephen Douglas Phillips of New Martinsville, earned not just one, but two Purple Hearts. Another, Gary Curtis Harold of Shady Spring has received both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. But regardless of their rank or duty, each and every one of these veterans answered our Nation's call and has served with incredible pride and valor. Additionally, I would like to recognize the nine volunteers, or so- called ``guardians,'' who have accompanied the veterans during their trip today. These guardians have selflessly given their time to travel alongside our veterans all the way from Princeton, WV to Washington, DC to share this very special journey with them. I am also tremendously grateful for all those involved in the Always Free Honor Flight Network, especially the president of the Denver Foundation and owner of Little Buddy Radio in Princeton--Dreama Denver. Along with coordinator and executive assistant, Dreama launched the Always Free Honor Flight and has planned four trips within a 2-year span for our West Virginia veterans. I commend Dreama, Pam, and all the Denver Foundation staff for their dedication and commitment to West Virginia's large veteran population. They have offered the people in West Virginia just one more way to say thank you' to our veterans for their service and sacrifice. I am filled with pride every time I meet the patriots who have served our country, and I am so pleased to welcome West Virginia's most courageous veterans, who are all heroes, to Washington, DC. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in saluting them. They truly inspire us all as we are reminded of their selfless service. It is because of their bravery that all Americans enjoy the greatest liberties and freedoms in the world. God bless all our servicemembers and veterans, God bless the great State of West Virginia, and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, on Monday night a tragic mining incident occurred in my home State of West Virginia where the lives of two dedicated and courageous miners were lost at the Brody No. 1 mine in Boone County. My greatest and deepest thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the miners impacted by this tragedy. Gayle and I join them and all West Virginians in mourning the loss of these heroic men. We grieve for the entire community as they bear this most heartbreaking and sorrowful hardship. Our hearts especially go out to the families of the following miners: Eric Legg of Twilight and Gary Hensley of Chapmanville. These men will be remembered forever as heroes to their community, their State, and their Nation for their unparalleled courage and unsurpassable sacrifice. They will live on forever in our hearts. As families and friends struggle to deal with the tragedy that took place, we are reminded as a country that we must consistently search for ways to improve safety conditions because our miners' safety is of the utmost importance and remains our No. 1 priority. We say in West Virginia: If it can't be mined safely, don't mine it. Our coal miners are some of the hardest working people in America, and the loss of even one miner's life is one life too many. We need to continue to improve mine safety efforts so that our miners' lives are never in jeopardy. We owe this to the families of the victims and to all of our loyal mining families across our country. It is our responsibility to be absolutely and totally committed to the safety of every worker, which means that every worker should be able to get up in the morning and expect to come home safely to their loved ones at night. This is their right, not a privilege. My staff and I will do everything humanly possible to assist the families through this difficult time. Again, we extend our deepest sympathy and most profound condolences to the families and loved ones, and we pray for their peace and comfort. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I am filled with so much pride every time our military veterans visit our Nation's Capital and have the opportunity to stand before the memorials built to honor them. This weekend, 93 veterans from North Central West Virginia, escorted by 55 guardians, will be traveling to Washington, DC, to see the memorials that commemorate their sacrifice and valor. This will mark the very first Honor Flight from North Central West Virginia--which is my hometown region of the ``Mountain State.'' Fifty World War II veterans, 42 Korean war veterans and one terminally ill Vietnam war veteran will fly from the small town of Clarksburg, WV, to Reagan National Airport, and before they lift off on a truly memorable and moving day, I look forward to greeting our vets bright and early at the local airport to wish them a safe trip to our Nation's Capital. I also will express my deepest gratitude to these special men who helped keep America free and made the world a safer place for liberty-loving people across our country and beyond our borders. Upon their arrival, 30 Active-Duty sailors from the National Naval Medical Center and 8 marines from the USS West Virginia submarine will accompany the Honor Flight entourage during their daylong adventure. These heroic West Virginians will travel to Washington to visit the World War II, Vietnam, Korean, FDR, Air Force, and Iwo Jima Memorials as well attend a ceremony at Arlington Cemetery. While their step has slowed, their spirit is keen, their pride is undiminished, and their patriotism is immeasurable. No matter the war, no matter the rank, no matter the duty, every one of these 93 veterans answered America's call and served our great country with the utmost valor. In our time of need, they stepped forward and said: I will do it--I will protect this country. This trip to our Nation's Capital is just one way to say thank you. But the West Virginia's North Central community has much more planned to show their gratitude for these devoted and courageous veterans. Upon the Honor Flight's return Saturday evening, hundreds of West Virginians will welcome home our returning vets, including National Guardsmen, Civil Air Patrol volunteers, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and our famous West Virginia University Mountaineer, Mike Garcia. In addition, more than 155 band members from the Busy Bee Band and Honeybees of East Fairmont High School will perform a medley of patriotic songs, led by their band director and former marine, T.J. Bean. I want to express my gratitude to my hometown community for their tireless efforts to make this Honor Flight a reality. I especially thank Butch Phillips and all the people who have been instrumental in planning and fulfilling this truly special experience for our 93 West Virginia veterans. This generation of Americans was united by a common purpose and by common values--duty, honor, courage, service, integrity, love of family and country, and their triumph over oppression will be forever remembered. Let us remember that these Honor Flights show tribute to all who have served this great country, so may God bless the United States of America and all the men and women who keep us free.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I wish to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, TRA, which has served as a tangible symbol of the unbreakable friendship between the United States and Taiwan. Today, the partnership between our two countries is stronger than ever. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act provides the framework for our official engagements with Taiwan, which marked the end of our official diplomatic ties. For 35 years the TRA has facilitated a partnership committed to facilitating trade, investment, security cooperation, and promoting regional security. The bilateral achievements made through the TRA have allowed our citizens to create innovative and lasting advancements to the world economy. Today, Taiwan stands as our 12th largest trading partner, and in 2013, the United States and Taiwan traded over $63 billion in goods and services. This bilateral relationship has supported thousands of jobs in both countries, and we must remain committed to the mutual gains this collaboration can provide. I applaud our West Virginia businesses that have recognized the potential of the Taiwanese economy and exported over $41 million in commodities, high-tech goods, and services to Taiwan last year. We must build on this strong foundation while helping Taiwan meet its needs for foreign sources of energy. I will continue to seek opportunities for further trade integration with Taiwan and shared economic prosperity. I look forward to working hand-in-hand with our friends in Taiwan to ensure the next generation of American leaders can stand where I stand today, 35 years from now, and celebrate several more decades of peaceful and vibrant collaboration.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I first thank my colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator Toomey. I also thank the Senator from Tennessee, for whom I also have the greatest regard for his knowledge and commitment to our children and education, to which he has dedicated his life, and also the Senator from Iowa. This is very serious and very personal to both of us. Our States have been affected. But every State has been affected. I am not in favor of a national school board in any way, shape or form. I strongly believe in the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution and States rights. But I believe that certain standards have to be set, and we have done that before as far as on a national level. There are five problems we have always talked about, and those five problems apply to every child in America--not just every child in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee or Iowa but in America. The first is every child should have a loving, caring adult in their life. Those are not always the biological parents or family. It could be you. It could be somebody next door. It could be an extended family member. Every child should have a safe place in their life. Unfortunately, as has been said, it is not always the home. It might be the school. Every child should have a healthy start. Nutrition--for many children across America, their breakfast, lunch, and nutrition comes from the school. Every child should be taught to have a livable skill. Again, that is in the school. We depend upon that. And the fifth thing--which is the hardest to teach--is that every child should grow to be a loving, caring adult, and be able to give back. That is set by us. We set the standards for that. A child will emulate what they see. If they love it and respect it, they will do it. For us to say we don't believe raising to a Federal standard the well-being and safety of every child in a school system--guaranteeing that the person who is going to be teaching them, nurturing them, taking them to school, and feeding them has a clean background check and is not a child molester--is the least we can do. That is all we are asking for in this bill. I hope that it would get the attention it needs. Again, I am also very disappointed that we cannot move it forward, and I know that precedent has been set and has been articulated by the Senator from Pennsylvania. But I would hope that both the ranking member and the chairman of the HELP Committee would maybe reconsider and take another look at it. Thank you, Madam President.

Mr. MANCHIN. I thank my good friend Senator Pat Toomey from my neighboring State of Pennsylvania--I am from West Virginia--for working with me on this vital issue to make sure our kids remain safe in every single school across this country. I am a father of three, a grandfather of eight, and there is nothing more important to me than protecting my children and grandchildren. The bill Senator Toomey and I are working on is common sense. Our bill makes sure all employees who work with our students pass a background check to make sure they have no criminal records or an abusive history. That includes everyone from principals, teachers, secretaries, cafeteria workers and janitors--anyone who has contact with our schoolkids. This is a real problem that demands our attention and demands it now. Since January 1, 130 teachers across America have been arrested for sexual misconduct. At this rate that is more than one teacher per day who will sexually assault a student. As a parent, as a grandparent, and as a representative of the great State of West Virginia, inaction is simply unacceptable. There are more than 4 million teachers and school staff employed by our public school districts throughout the United States, and there are millions of additional workers who have direct access to students, including bus drivers, cafeteria workers and janitors. Yet there is no--I repeat, there is no--national background check policy in place for people who work directly with our kids every day. Even worse, not all States require checks of child abuse and neglect registries or sex offender registry checks. A recent report by the Government Accountability Office found that five States--five States--don't even require background checks at all for applicants seeking employment in our school systems. In addition, not all States use both Federal and State sources of criminal data, such as a State law enforcement database or the FBI's interstate identification index. Our bill would simply require mandatory background checks of a State criminal registry, the State child abuse and neglect registries, an FBI fingerprint check, and a check of the National Sex Offender Registry for existing and prospective employees. Every child deserves to have at least one place where they feel safe and that harm cannot enter their life. For many of our kids these days that place is at school--not always in the home. This is truly a commonsense bill that aims to help protect our kids from sexual assault, predators, or any individuals who inappropriately behave in our schools. This is a piece of legislation that is long overdue. It is not an unfunded mandate. I know some people will say that, and the reason I am saying it is not an unfunded mandate is because the people who want the employment have to pay. They have to pay for the background check if they want in the system. I know there is a section in this legislation that says if a person has been an offender they have to be rehabilitated for 5 years--be clean, have a clean record for 5 years--before they can get in the system. I think that is common sense. I would like for all my colleagues, if they would, to please consider this piece of legislation. Again, I appreciate the hard work of my colleague Senator Pat Toomey, and at this time I yield the floor.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. That would be 1 minute and 45 seconds, I say to the Chairwoman. I thank the chairwoman for what she does and how well she has been leading this charge for all of us. As a proud husband of a brilliant and talented woman, my wife Gayle, and as the father of two daughters and the grandfather of six granddaughters, all of whom are gifted and make great contributions to our country, I believe it is past time women earn the same amount as men in the workplace. We need to correct this unfairness to make sure women are paid what they deserve. As we join together today to celebrate Equal Pay Day in the year 2014, it just defies common sense that working women in West Virginia earn only 70--not 77 but 70--cents to every dollar a man makes. Too many families are working too hard to make ends meet, and especially in families where women are the breadwinners. In West Virginia there are more than 81,000 family households headed by women. About 36 percent of those families, or nearly 29,200 family households, have incomes that fall below the poverty level. Eliminating the wage gap would provide much needed income to women whose wages put food on the table, pay the bills, and maintain a respectable quality of life for their children and families. Growing up I was blessed to be raised by two strong, hardworking women--my grandmother, affectionately known as Mama Kay, and my mother. By example, both of these wonderful ladies taught me that women can work just as hard, if not harder, with more responsibilities, and they should get paid the same as a man. As a matter of fact, they probably should get overtime. There is no reason why they shouldn't have received the same pay for the same job as men, and that certainly resonates today. Since I joined the Senate, I have been proud to have cosponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act. The very first vote I took in the Senate was for paycheck fairness. Until Congress passes this truly commonsense bill, I will continue to fight for paycheck fairness because the bottom line is people should earn the same pay for the same work, period, no excuses. As a former governor, most of my decisionmaking was made around good strong women who sat down and gave me the facts and nothing but the facts, and I appreciated that. It shouldn't matter whether you are a man or a woman. You should be treated fairly no matter what, no matter where you are or what you do. I thank our chairman, and I yield the floor.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I wish to honor Pete Ballard, a dear friend and a truly remarkable West Virginian who is known throughout the Mountain State and far past our borders for his many talents, especially for his global recognition of his still life paintings and historic period doll creations. A native of Welch, located in the southern-most part of our State in McDowell County, Pete currently resides in Peterstown, an idyllic small town in the rolling emerald hills of Monroe County. Although Pete's career in the arts has taken him across the country and around the world, including Saudi Arabia, China and Vietnam, there has never been a doubt that Pete's roots are truly imbedded in West Virginia. After receiving a degree in education from Concord University, Pete began teaching. However, it wasn't long before Pete's propensities steered him far beyond just a career in education, leading him to partake in many more professional ventures. Today, as an award-winning educator, celebrated artist, renowned painter, nationally acclaimed costume designer, curator, historian, and famous doll creator, Pete's passion for the arts and creativity know no bounds. Many of Pete's paintings are now displayed in museums and art galleries across the country. Today, three of Pete's exceptional paintings are displayed among the most celebrated collection of American Still Life paintings at The Butler Institute, which is America's first museum to collect American art. His work will forever be a part of such an extraordinary collection of America's best artwork. In addition to his distinguished paintings, Pete has most recently been recognized across the country for his unique creation of 19th century fashion dolls. Pete creates each doll based on meticulously researched and authentic period fashion. Made from head to toe in papier-mache, the dolls' figures range from approximately 3 to 5 feet tall and wear costumes that are designed in period clothing. Due to Pete's painstaking attention to detail along with his fashion expertise, hard work and brilliant vision, he is no stranger to receiving prestigious awards. As Governor, I was honored to name Pete as a Distinguished West Virginian. He has also received the Grand Groundhog Watcher Award. Both of these awards were created to honor those who have contributed significantly to West Virginia and those who have brought positive attention to our great State. He was also named Concord University's Golden Alumnus, is among the Outstanding Educators in America, and has received the Order of the Arts and Historical Letters from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Pete's paintings and dolls have also been displayed in galas and exhibitions around West Virginia and across the country. Despite his astounding success, Pete has never collected a dime for his work. After spending 12 hours a day, 7 days a week working on each piece of art, he merely donates every painting and every doll he doesn't hold for keepsake to charity or to art galleries. It has been an honor and privilege to know such a gifted West Virginian. Pete Ballard's imprint will always be marked by his brilliant creations and his countless contributions to the State of West Virginia. I join all West Virginians in celebrating his vast achievements, which will live on in our history books, atop the same shelves as some of the most distinguished artwork of our time and mounted on the walls of esteemed museums. After all these years, I continue to look forward to viewing many more paintings and doll creations because at the age of 83, Pete continues to work on his art every day.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I wish to thank my colleague Senator Wicker for his longstanding concern about Puerto Rico's current status and how they can govern themselves and work independently. As you can tell, this is a bipartisan concern we have and we are working very closely together. As Senator Wicker mentioned, the Government Accountability Office is currently working on a report that examines Puerto Rico's economy and the cost of admitting Puerto Rico as a State. I look forward to seeing the results of that report. But in light of the fact we are still awaiting the GAO report, in addition to a number of other reasons, I share Senator Wicker's concerns about the Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act. On August 1 of last year, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over Puerto Rican issues, held a hearing on the political status of Puerto Rico, where we had the opportunity to hear from Governor Padilla, Commissioner Pierluisi, and the President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party Ruben Berrios. I appreciated their willingness to openly discuss the ongoing status debate in Puerto Rico and their work with the committee members on how to move forward. Similar to Senator Wicker, I support Puerto Rico's right to self- determination. However, I have voiced my concerns that the 2012 plebiscite did not meet our democratic standards of fairness and exclusivity, and more than 470,000 Puerto Ricans who left the ballot's second question blank would seem to share my concerns as well. We need a process with the support of all Puerto Ricans, regardless of their beliefs and political status. Supporters of statehood argue about the constitutionality of different status options. Crafting a plebiscite, however, which excludes all options except statehood, as the Puerto Rico status resolution does, is not the solution. It is not the solution. The 2014 omnibus includes funding for a plebiscite that would be proctored by the Department of Justice which can authoritatively decide on the constitutionality of all possible status options. Further, both those who are pro-Commonwealth and those who are prostatehood have expressed support for this process. This is not true of the 2012 plebiscite nor the Puerto Rico status resolution. Political status is not the only issue facing Puerto Rico. The Commonwealth has faced more than half a decade of economic recession and high unemployment, as well as exceptionally high utility costs and continued obstacles to economic development. As a former Governor I have great respect for Governor Padilla and the challenges he is up against, which are not unlike many of our own States in our country. In meeting with Governor Padilla, I have had the opportunity to hear directly about the enormous economic difficulties he has tackled in his short time as Governor. In my understanding the 2014 budget--his 2014 budget for Puerto Rico--would significantly reduce the Commonwealth's projected deficit. General fund expenses were down by nearly $200 million during the second half of last year and expected revenue is up. The Governor has made these efforts with the goal of having a balanced budget by 2015, something we could all work toward and a goal I applaud. I understand and have seen that progress is being made. The Senate should do everything we can to encourage economic development across our country, including in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. We need to work as partners in confronting its high energy costs, double-digit unemployment, and continuing recession. As we support self-determination, we should ensure our focus on political status does not prevent us from addressing the immediate economic needs of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. I thank my colleague for the time to join him in speaking on this important issue and I look forward to his support of a fair and open process and to working with him on this issue.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I wish to recognize one of West Virginia's finest cardiologists, Dr. Mohammad Yousaf, on receiving the 2013 Heart of Gold Award, which was presented by the West Virginia American Heart Association on February 23, 2013. There is truly no one more qualified, more compassionate or more devoted than Dr. Yousaf, who has been practicing in West Virginia for more than 20 years. A native of Pakistan, Dr. Yousaf made his way to West Virginia to complete his residency at Marshall University. During his fellowship, he was assigned rotations in our beautiful State's capital, Charleston. Thankfully, he never left and his unwavering commitment to the cardiology field at South Charleston Cardiology, where he continues to practice today, has consistently saved West Virginian lives across our State. With the help of Dr. Yousaf's momentous contributions and medical expertise, the quality of West Virginia's medical community has strengthened throughout the years and the health and well-being of the people of West Virginia continue to improve. There are a myriad of doctors across this Nation that diagnose and treat patients every day. However, what distinguishes a good doctor from a great doctor starts and stops with patient care. Dr. Yousaf always puts his patients first and takes the time to build the trust and confidence necessary that leads to positive and long-lasting doctor-patient relationships. Long days and sleepless nights never obstruct from the compassion and dedication Dr. Yousaf devotes to each one of his patients. Dr. Yousaf is also no stranger to prestigious awards, including the Distinguished West Virginian award, which was created to honor those who have contributed significantly to West Virginia and those who have brought positive attention to our great State. After more than two decades practicing as a cardiologist in the Mountain State, it is unquestionable that his integrity and work ethic know no bounds. And today, I am proud to commemorate the success of such a wonderful person and such a talented physician. It is fitting that Dr. Yousaf was presented with the Heart of Gold Award last year, for he once described ``the personal satisfaction you get'' as a physician who has the means and opportunities to save lives every day. So today, I congratulate a remarkably intelligent and gifted cardiologist on receiving such an esteemed honor. I know he will continue to save lives in the great state of West Virginia for years to come.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I wish to congratulate one of West Virginia's most dedicated and talented cardiologists, Dr. Kishore Challa, on receiving the 2014 Heart of Gold Award, which was presented by the West Virginia American Heart Association. There is no one more qualified, more compassionate or more devoted than Dr. Challa, who has been practicing in West Virginia for more than 20 years. A native of India, Dr. Challa has called the Mountain State his home since 1989, and his unwavering commitment to the cardiology field at South Charleston Cardiology, where he continues to practice today, has consistently saved West Virginian lives across our State. We cannot thank him enough for continuing to deepen his roots in the Mountain State. His significant contributions, positive influence and medical expertise have helped boost the quality of our medical community as well as improved the health and well-being of many, many West Virginians. Dr. Challa's integrity and work ethic know no bounds in a field where long hours and often times emotional, demanding and traumatic experiences become routine. Most cannot imagine the pressure and stress physicians endure on a daily basis, and Dr. Challa's calm, compassionate and enjoyable personality should inspire us all to always focus on the good and the positive. Regardless of the day, Dr. Challa treats all of his patients, staff and friends with kindness and respect, and that is why I am truly proud to call him my friend. Dr. Challa is also no stranger to prestigious awards, including the Distinguished West Virginian award, which was created to honor those who have contributed significantly to West Virginia and those who have brought positive attention to our great State. His dedication to his patients, his commitment to the West Virginia community, and his passion of cardiology have made West Virginia a better place. It is fitting that Dr. Challa was presented with the Heart of Gold Award, for he once stated that in his field, ``helping people is instant gratitude and it's all worth it.'' So today, I congratulate a friend--and a remarkably intelligent and gifted cardiologist--on receiving such an esteemed honor. I know he will continue to save lives in the great State of West Virginia for years to come.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I wish to honor the life of a remarkable West Virginian who was taken from us on February 15, 2014. James Dominick LaRosa, known to his friends and family as Jim, was a true pioneer developer who never forgot his roots as he helped enrich North Central West Virginia into a thriving, vibrant and beautiful region of the Mountain State. As we mourn the loss of a truly special person, I join all West Virginians in keeping in our thoughts and prayers Jim's only son, Jimmy Joe, his daughter-in-law, Leigh Ann, and his three grandchildren, Lauren Louise, Natalie Nicole and James Lee. A native of Harrison County, which neighbored my local area in Marion County, Jim was driven and motivated at an early age. Anyone who met him immediately recognized that there was a bright future ahead for Jim. In 1944, he graduated from Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg, WV and then attended West Virginia University. After graduating in 1948 with a degree in business administration, he learned the fundamentals of business in his father's small surface mining company. At the ripe age of 35, James assumed the position of president of his father's company. During this time, his entrepreneurial temperament took flight. Jim's unwavering dedication to the area's communities, accompanied with his innovative visions and inspirational spirit, helped improve the region's quality of life, enhanced medical accessibility, built multiple businesses and recreational facilities, created jobs, increased local revenue, boosted visitor access, and most of all, created a positive image of the North Central region. Many of Harrison County's most well-known areas and attractions can be attributed to the vision and discipline of Jim LaRosa, including the Pete Dye Golf Course, Bridgeport Hill and the Eastpointe and Newpointe Shopping Centers. He also focused on projects that underscored his many interests, especially his Italian heritage, quality food access, the performing arts and theater, interior decorating and animals. Time and again, Jim showed how greatly an individual can contribute to his community through passion, commitment and hard work. He not only played the role of pioneer developer, but he also served on several boards of directors, such as the Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce, Lowndes Bank and the West Virginia Coal and Advisory Commission. In addition, he served on the original board of the West Virginia Surface Mining and Reclamation Association and the Director's 100 Club for WVU Athletics. During his life, Jim received countless awards to honor his accomplishments and his commitments to West Virginia's North Central region. He received the Distinguished West Virginian from two Governors. He also received an honorary doctorate degree of humane letters from Salem College in 1984. In 1985, our dear Senator Robert C. Byrd recommended to President Reagan that Jim should be a member of the Christopher Columbus 500th Jubilee Commission, which consisted of 35 Americans of Italian descent, in celebration of the 500th year of the discovery of America. Jim's remarkable foresight, coupled with his leadership skills and his well-deserved accomplishments, has consistently enriched the communities of North Central West Virginia and across the Mountain State. Jim's imprint will always be marked in the countless businesses, facilities, centers and improvements that he established over years of hard work and dedication. He will be greatly missed by the people whose lives he touched. West Virginians cannot thank Jim enough for the steadfast commitment and positive influence he's had on our great State. Jim LaRosa will always be remembered as a truly gifted and exceptional West Virginian. And though he will be greatly missed, his legacy will always live on.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the life of a dear friend and a remarkable West Virginian who was taken from us on February 5, 2014. Michael Angelo Oliverio, Sr. was a dedicated public servant, an inspiring educator and a passionate civic leader who was respected and admired by all who knew him. He led an extraordinary life that will always be remembered in the hearts of the countless individuals whose lives he touched. The son of an Italian immigrant shepherd, Mike was born and raised in the town of Carolina in Marion County, just a few miles down the road from my hometown of Farmington. Like many other families in North Central West Virginia, our families' ancestors both originated from the same town in Italy, San Giovanni in Fiore. Our shared heritage was truly a special aspect of our family friendship. Mike lived a life of unprecedented success both professionally and personally. He graduated from Monongah High School, Fairmont State College, West Virginia University, and also received postgraduate education from the University of Virginia, College of St. Thomas, Minnesota, and George Washington University. He was a tireless advocate for the disabled community, which was recognized not only in West Virginia but on a national level. As the president of the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association and also president of the National Rehabilitation Association International Advocacy Group for Persons with Disabilities, he met with Congress and Presidents Carter and Ford to promote laws for persons with disabilities. With a heart of gold, Mike passionately served his community, his State and his country. He served for more than 10 years as the Monongalia County clerk, served as chairman of the Community Advisory Committee, and vice chairman on the national board of the American Heart Association. Genuinely committed to improving the lives of all West Virginians, Mike helped start the Kennedy Correctional Center and founded the Ronald McDonald House. He also designed and facilitated the building of a memorial honoring fathers and President John F. Kennedy in Star City called ``A Father's Love.'' Additionally, he served as chairman of the Fairmont State University Board of Advisors, the Klingberg Development Center Advisory Committee, North Central West Virginia Goodwill Board, People Aware of Children Exceptional (PACE), West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival, and St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. During his life, Mike received many awards for his incredible works-- of which he was most proud, Mike received the National Nathan Hale Award for Patriotism and the F. Ray Power Award for Administration State Director Internationally. Promoting his family's cultural history and Italian heritage was one of Mike's greatest passions. He made West Virginia and Calabria, Italy, sister states and conducted the twinning process joining Clarksburg and San Giovanni in Fiori, Italy. He also initiated an exchange program with students from the University of Calabria and Fairmont State University. He was rightly awarded the International Award for Achievement and Humanity in Rome, Italy. Mike took many trips to Italy throughout his life, but there was one trip in particular I know he cherished most. Dubbed ``The Oliverio Boys Tour,'' Mike traveled to the homeland in 2009 with his three sons, Joe, Mike, and Frank; his brother, John; and his cousins, Jason, Maryn, and Nate. During the trip they were blessed to spend time with relatives and friends in the region and experience the authentic Italian traditions, passion and food. As they walked the streets, natives knew the Americans were in town and that Mike Oliverio had brought his family. They were hosted by many of Mike's second and third cousins, including Mario Oliverio, who had recently been elected President of the Region. It was very important to him to travel around Italy together as a family and to explore their roots. I know it was a special memory he held close to his heart. Mike was not only reputable and accomplished in his public life, but he was also an unparalleled example of a dedicated family man--a devoted husband, a proud father, and a wonderful grandfather. Much of his success he credited to his late wife, Julia, who supported him in all of his endeavors. His children are accomplished and respected throughout our state. I will never forget a special dinner my wife, Gayle, and I shared at the Governor's Mansion in 2007 with Mike, Julia, and their family--Joe, Paula, Alyssa, Mary, Christina, Maria, Mike, Melissa, Frank, Amy, Julia, Aunt Teresa Gabriele, and a family friend, Jessica Faulkenberry. It was just two weeks before Julia lost her life to ovarian cancer and we were celebrating her birthday. I remember being touched by the love shared within their family and the strength they had in one another. You see, the Oliverios personify the power of families--working hard, supporting one another, and standing together when times get tough. Anyone who knew Mike Oliverio can tell about his incredible ability to inspire each person he encountered to live a life of purpose. Personally, I have lost a dear friend and mentor. And although he will be forever remembered for his many years of service, he will also be remembered as a loving father, grandfather, and friend. He was truly a local legend in our State, and though he will be greatly missed, his legacy will always live on.