Pete Olson

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia, the Peach State (Mr. Carter).

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense bill that helps schools all across America. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 756. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I will close by saying that H.R. 6375 ensures that these important and potentially lifesaving devices work when needed. This is a great bill. I urge all my colleagues to vote for this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6375) to provide for consideration of the extension under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of nonapplication of No-Load Mode energy efficiency standards to certain security or life safety alarms or surveillance systems.

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia, the Peanut State (Mr. Carter).

Mr. OLSON. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6375, the Power and Security Systems (PASS) Act, extends an important exemption from current regulations for devices such as security systems and medical devices. Specifically, many electronic devices use external power supplies that are subject to strict limits on the amount of electricity they can consume when not in use. However, these provisions are not feasible for products that have to be on 24/7, such as home security alarms and heart monitors. This bill extends the existing exemption for external power supplies for these kinds of products. H.R. 6375 would ensure the continued availability of these important and potentially lifesaving devices, and I urge everyone to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. I thank my friend from San Antonio. Mr. Speaker, Randy Neugebauer is many things. He is a damned proud Texan and is a Texas Tech Red Raider who always has his guns up. He is a husband to a fierce force of Texas nature--his wife, Dana. He is a father of two sons and is a grandfather of four grandkids. He is a respected Member of Congress--seven terms in this body--and he is my dear friend. In Randy's time here, he has made America a better place for my family, for his family, and for every American family. As we say in our Navy to departing friends who leave the ship, who go ashore for the last time: Randy, may you always have fair winds and following seas. Texas 19 departing. I salute you.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the City of Richmond, TX, for receiving the Community of the Year award from the American Planning Association--Texas Chapter (Texas APA). Richmond received this award due to its outstanding planning tools it adopted to prepare for the city's growth. Without submitting an application for the award this year, Richmond won anyway thanks to their impressive planning efforts that caught the attention of the Texas APA. Over the last year and a half, Richmond leaders have adopted three different planning tools without an existing internal Planning Department. The Texas APA's goal of rewarding cities with significantly notable contributions to planning projects, made Richmond a clear choice. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the City of Richmond, TX for receiving the Community of the Year award from the Texas APA. We look forward to seeing your growth.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital for receiving the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award. This prestigious award is given by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It is the nation's highest Presidential honor for sustainable excellence through visionary leadership, organizational alignment, systemic improvement and innovation. Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital received this award thanks to ranking among the top 10 percent for its emergency center arrival-to-discharge time, compliance with regulations to reduce medication errors, bed turnaround times, radiology and laboratory result turnaround times, and the use of computerized physician order entry. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital for receiving the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award. We all benefit from their commitment to quality healthcare and we thank them for their hard work to keep Houstonians healthy.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate San Jacinto College of Houston, TX for being named a top-10 finalist for the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence has nominated the top-notch community colleges in the country regarding student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings for graduates and accessibility and success of minority and lower income students. San Jacinto was recognized because of its extreme focus on supporting and working with students to ensure they are the most equipped to find a job and prepare for life after graduation. Between 2007 and 2015, the number of certificates and associate degrees San Jacinto College has awarded has increased by an impressive 140 percent. The winner of the $1 million prize will be announced in March. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to San Jacinto College for being named a top-10 finalist for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. We are very proud of their strong commitment to prepare students for life after graduation. Keep up the good work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Robert C. Robbins, M.D. for being named Houston's 2016 International Citizen of the Year. The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston awarded Robert the International Citizen of the Year award for his partnership with the Texas Medical Center (TMC) and his vision and energetic efforts to engage with biotech leaders, investors and other stakeholders from around the world. Robert is an internationally recognized cardiac surgeon and joined the TMC as president and CEO in 2012. His expertise is in the surgical treatment of congestive heart failure and cardiothoracic transplantation and his research expands from cardiac transplant allograft to bioengineering blood vessels and automated vascular anastomotic devices. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Robert C. Robbins, M.D. for being recognized as Houston's 2016 International Citizen of the Year. We benefit from his medical skills and commitment to quality care. We look forward to his future accomplishments.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Janiece Longoria of Houston, TX, for being named the 2017 Maritime Person of the Year by the Greater Houston Port Bureau. Janiece was recognized for her leadership and accomplishments in the Port of Houston. In 2013, she was unanimously appointed as Chairman of the Port Commission by the City of Houston and Harris County. Since her tenure began, the Port of Houston Authority has reached a historic high of handling more than 2 million loaded container units, increased revenue, made infrastructure investments, and worked on projects to keep the Houston Ship Channel deep and wide. Her enthusiasm and dedication to the Port of Houston have made the port competitive internationally and a continued boost to the Houston economy. Janiece's stellar accomplishments also previously earned her the Distinguished Alumnus Award for the University of Texas, the 2008 Sandra Day O'Connor Award for Board Excellence, Female Executive of the Year Award from the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, recognized as a ``Breakthrough Woman,'' and inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Janiece Longoria for being named the 2017 Maritime Person of the Year by the Greater Houston Port Bureau. She has done so much for the Port of Houston and the Houston area and makes us proud. We look forward to seeing her continued success.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 6U American Force baseball team from Pearland, TX for winning the United States Specialty Sports Association Baseball World Series title in Dallas. After going 3-0 in the pool play, the team was a Number 2 seed going into the first round of the tournament. From there American Force went undefeated in the tournament earning the championship title. The American Force coaches are Ruben Ramirez, James Turrubiartes, Tino Arredondo, Junior Vasques, Bryan White, and Cliff Santellana. Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the championship game was Alex Vasques and Offensive MVP was given to Thomas Turrubiartes. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the 6U American Force team for their accomplishments. We wish them success in future baseball seasons and look forward to rooting for them next year. Pearland, Texas is proud of them.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Gustaline Samba of Fort Bend County, TX, for earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. The Gold Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn. To earn this distinguished award, Gustaline had to spend at least 80 hours developing and executing a project that would benefit the community and have a long-term impact on girls as well. To do this she created ``Project Cycle Safety Shield,'' which addresses bike safety in her community where students often ride their bikes to school. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Gustaline Samba for earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. We are confident she will have continued success in her future endeavors. We are very proud.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I want the American people to know why I proudly voted for the 21st Century Cures Act last night--six words: Sarah Hughes and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Sarah found out she had this autoimmune disorder when she was 11 months old. For over 20 years, she fought intense pain, fevers of 107 degrees, and getting fed through a tube for over a decade. Her mom, Fiona, was told by her doctors that she would watch her daughter die before she turned 20 years old. Sarah proved those doctors wrong by getting stem cell therapy from Celltex Therapeutics from my own town of Sugar Land, Texas. Within 2 hours of her first infusion, Sarah felt a change. Here she is today. Her mom, Fiona, summed up Sarah's amazing miracle. She said: ``She's her, and I'm me. We're enjoying life together, the way it should be.''

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Houston's Donna Cole for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, part of the Houston Business Journal's 2016 Women in Energy Leadership awards. Donna was selected for her successful leadership and the significant strides she has made in the energy industry. As a 27-year-old single mother, she founded Cole Chemical Distributing Inc. with only $5,000. Since then, her company has grown and expanded, providing a range of products and services, from fuel and chemicals to supply chain management for the aerospace, automotive, refineries, petrochemical, specialty chemical plants, personal care, and electricity utility industries. In 2010, Donna was recognized at a Breakfast of Champions by the Harris County Education Department and was named one of Houston's 50 Most Influential Woman of the Year by Houston Woman Magazine. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Donna Cole for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. We are proud of her and thank her for all she has done for the energy industry.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Connie Almeida of Fort Bend County, TX for being awarded the Mental Health Professional of the Year Award by the Texas Crisis Intervention Team. As Fort Bend County's Behavioral Health Director, Dr. Almeida received this award thanks to her significant strides in working with local law enforcement to improve responses to the mental health community. She's been consistently working to improve the way Fort Bend County responds to mental health crises and issues by speaking with the government, community groups, mental health providers, law enforcement and the courts. Her goal is to improve the conditions for those with mental illness and addictions that come into contact with Fort Bend County courts. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Dr. Connie Almeida for receiving the Mental Health Professional of the Year Award. We are very thankful for all her hard work to progress the services and systems for those with mental illnesses.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Shivam Albee of Sugar Land, TX for his enthusiasm about government and in particular Congress. Shivam has expressed a keen interest in how our government works. He and his parents recently visited Washington, DC with stops in their congressional office and our nation's Capitol building. As a result of his trip, he completed a school report on how Congress operates. His eagerness to learn and contribute to our representative democracy is heartwarming and gives us hope for our future leaders. America is at its best with an engaged and active citizenry. We hope more students and young leaders emerge as they become adults. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, thank you Shivam Albee for reminding us of the importance of youthful enthusiasm. We are proud of his hard work and look forward to his future success.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Kelly J. Zuniga of Sugar Land, TX for being named the chief executive officer of the Holocaust Museum Houston. Dr. Zuniga was brought to the Holocaust Museum Houston as executive director to expand outreach and enhance programming to expand the museum's reach throughout the community. Her experience and success have brought the museum forward, making her the obvious choice for the CEO position. Dr. Zuniga has more than 25 years' experience in building, managing and leading fundraising teams that focus on the successful completion of capital and endowment campaigns. In 2012, she was also named as one of ``Houston's Most Influential Women of 2012'' by Houston Woman magazine. She is a true leader. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Dr. Kelly J. Zuniga for being named CEO of the Holocaust Museum Houston. We are confident she will expand her success as the new CEO.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pearland's Brooke Botkin for her outstanding volleyball career at Pearland High School. The 6-foot, 3\1/2\ inch senior is preparing to complete her fourth year starting for the Lady Oilers. Brooke's impressive career has included being named as a Wendy's 2016 High School Heisman candidate, a three-time all-state selection and two-time Greater Houston Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year, not to mention numerous national honors. Her coach, John Turner, said she was the best six-rotation player the school has ever had, surpassing everyone with her blocking ability, digging, aces, setting and ``of course, the kills.'' On top of her near perfect grade point average, Brooke spends her spare time helping with clothing drives, food drives, beach cleanup in Galveston and working youth volleyball clinics. She will attend and play volleyball for the University of Southern California in early 2017. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again on her exceptional volleyball career at Pearland High School. We know she will represent Pearland well in California

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sugar Land siblings Octavia and DeMario Gee for winning five medals at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics. Octavia competed for the Houston Sonics Track Club and won gold in turbo javelin, shot put and triathlon. In the 10 Girls Turbo Javelin she tossed an incredible national record of 86 feet, 8 inches. Her brother DeMario placed fourth in the 11-year-old boy's javelin, with a throw of 110 feet, 6 inches. DeMario was also recently chosen to play for the USA Baseball 12U national team trials. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Octavia and DeMario Gee in their success at the AAU Junior Olympics. We are so proud of such a talented family. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jaelynn Walls of Pearland, TX for earning a Davidson Fellows Scholarship. The Davidson Institute of Talent Development awarded Jaelynn a $25,000 Davidson Fellows Scholarship for her project, Humanity On- Screen: Engendering Positive Self-Perception and Political Activism in Persons with Marginalized Identities. Only 20 students across the country earned this prestigious scholarship. Jaelynn's project was inspired by her desire to present characters of marginalized racial or cultural backgrounds painted in a positive light due to her inability to identify with protagonists in literature growing up. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Jaelynn Walls for earning a Davidson Fellows Scholarship. We are extremely proud of her and wish her luck in her future studies.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Aileen Lang, Justin Liang and Miyo Fujiwara of Katy, TX for winning 13 medals at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics. The three students represented Katy-based Rope Warriors in the jump rope competitions. Aileen scored five gold medals and two bronze medals, including a gold medal in the All-Around competition. Eleven- year-old Justin earned two silver medals, two bronze medals and a fifth-place finish. And Miyo won two gold medals. Rope Warriors is a competitive jump rope team with athletes ranging from 6 to 16 years old. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Aileen Lang, Justin Liang and Miyo Fujiwara for winning 13 medals at the AAU Junior Olympics. We are proud of them and wish them luck in their future jump rope careers.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Candy Howard of Pearland, TX for being named president-elect of the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). Candy will serve as Region 4 president-elect for TEPSA, representing Pasadena ISD principals. She is currently the principal at South Belt Elementary School and was named Pasadena ISD's Elementary Principal of the Year in 2016. Throughout her 32 years with the Pasadena ISD, Candy has gone from teacher to assistant principal to becoming principal in 2009. She continues to inspire and educate her students and staff. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Candy Howard for becoming president-elect of TEPSA. We're proud to have such a great leader and educator in Pearland.