Todd Platts

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to host our guest chaplain, Rabbi Jeffrey Astrachan, to give today's opening prayer. Rabbi Astrachan is here today to help honor the sacrifice of the four chaplains who gave their lives during the sinking of the troop ship Dorchester during World War II. This is especially significant because one of the four chaplains, Lieutenant Alexander D. Goode, was once a rabbi with the same congregation in York, Pennsylvania, my hometown that Rabbi Astrachan now serves. Along with the rabbi, I am pleased to take this opportunity to recognize the courageous sacrifice made 69 years ago by the four chaplains. The Dorchester was torpedoed off the coast of Greenland. Only 230 of the over-900 men on board survived. The survivors recounted the story of the heroic actions of the four chaplains of different faiths: Lieutenant Goode; Lieutenant John Washington, a Catholic priest; and Lieutenants George Fox and Clark Poling, two protestant ministers. These four servants of God spent their last 18 minutes in this life helping their fellow passengers to safety. When there were no more life jackets to hand out, the chaplains removed their own and gave them to shipmates. They were last seen on the hull of the ship, arm-in-arm in prayer as the ship sank into the icy waters. Chaplains Hill at Arlington National Cemetery is home to several memorials to chaplains. Last year, the United States House of Representatives adopted legislation to include a memorial to the 14 Jewish chaplains who gave their lives in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. Today, we honor not just the four chaplains of the Dorchester, but the sacrifices and selflessness made by military chaplains of all faiths.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. I appreciate the gentleman yielding. Mr. Chairman, I cosponsored and rise today in support of H.R. 3094 because it aims to restore key protections to the American workplace, protections for both workers and their employers from overreach by the National Labor Relations Board. This important legislation intends to protect job growth by deterring harmful NLRB regulations. The NLRB's recent notice of proposed rulemaking would significantly alter NLRB union election procedures, thus undermining the rights of employers and employees alike. The proposed rules will unacceptably shorten the time between the filing of a petition and the election date, which will limit the opportunity for a full hearing of contested issues, including the appropriate bargaining unit, voter eligibility and election misconduct. I share the concerns of my constituents regarding the shortened timeframe for union elections and the potential it may have on an employer's ability to communicate with his or her own employees regarding unionization. H.R. 3094 aims to ensure that employers and employees are able to participate in a fair union election process by providing 14 days for employers to prepare their case to present before the NLRB, providing employees with at least 35 days to deliberate over the pros and cons of unionizing prior to voting on this issue, discouraging the so-called practice of ``ambush elections,'' and guaranteeing the right of employers to discuss the pros and cons. This legislation is not about whether employees should have the right to unionize. As a former Teamster member who worked his way through college, I certainly strongly support that right. This legislation is about giving employees a fair and deliberate opportunity to make that decision, one of the most important decisions they'll make in their life, because it deals with their livelihood. Outside of family matters and health concerns, deciding where you work and in what type of environment you work is going to be probably more important than anything else you do related to your career. What this legislation says is we think employees should have a fair opportunity to make that decision. I support this legislation and urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. I thank the chairman for yielding, and I especially thank him for his great leadership on this very important issue. I rise in favor of this legislation. The Federal Government is currently borrowing close to 40 cents of every dollar that it spends. Our $15 trillion national debt has grown to be as large as our entire economy. One of the most important actions that Congress can take to restore fiscal sanity to Washington for generations to come is to adopt a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. I've cosponsored a version of a balanced budget amendment every session since first being elected to Congress, including the measure that we are debating here today. This proposal would impose a similar requirement for annually adopting a balanced budget, as currently exists in 49 States, recognizing a commonsense exception for defense under limited circumstances. The idea of a balanced budget amendment is not new. One of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, was a strong proponent of this idea. More recently, in 1995, as has been discussed, following passage by the House of Representatives, the United States Senate came within one vote of sending this version of the balanced budget amendment to the States for ratification. Since then, our total national debt has nearly tripled. A balanced budget amendment to the Constitution will help to restore fiscal integrity to Washington, boost confidence in the American economy, and stop Washington's practice of saddling future generations with insurmountable levels of debt. The adoption of a balanced budget amendment has the strong support of the overwhelming majority of Americans. Our constituents get it. We can't continue to spend money that we don't have. It's time for Washington to get it and to heed the will of the American people. We should pass this legislation and thereby allow our State legislatures the opportunity to ratify this commonsense addition to the United States Constitution.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the month of October as National Work and Family Month (NWFM). NWFM was established in 2003 and is the centerpiece of a national education campaign to raise awareness among employers about the value of work-life integration. NWFM encourages all workplaces to pause once a year to communicate and celebrate the progress already made on the journey to creating healthier and more flexible work environments, and then raise the bar to accomplish even more over the coming year. We know that high quality work-family policies--including those related to workplace flexibility, military family flexibility, dependent care, health and wellness, and paid and unpaid time off--are highly effective in attracting, motivating, and retaining a talented workforce. Congress has acknowledged the importance of these policies in 2009 and 2010 when both chambers of Congress passed bipartisan resolutions recognizing NWFM. This year, I encourage all of my colleagues, as well as my fellow Americans, to take time this month to acknowledge the importance of a healthy balance between work and family life.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak of the importance of the National Endowment for the Arts. I would like to thank my friend and fellow Co-Chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus, Representative Louise Slaughter, for her tireless efforts in advocating for the arts over the years. Every day we witness the impact of the arts on our society. The arts in America are an integral component to our cultural vibrancy-- fostering creativity and bringing together communities. Museums, performing arts centers, galleries, historical societies, and other cultural institutions not only provide significant contributions to the social fabric of neighborhoods and communities, but also provide significant economic contributions. In my home district in Pennsylvania, 1,410 arts-related businesses provide nearly 6,000 jobs. It is for these reasons that I support responsible investments in the NEA. As our Nation is facing unprecedented financial challenges, it is critical that we address unsustainable levels of spending. To do this all Federal agencies and recipients of Federal dollars must share in making sacrifices. The fiscal year 2012 Interior Appropriations legislation already includes a 13 percent reduction in spending over fiscal year 2011 and a 20 percent reduction over 2010 for the NEA. Accordingly, I ask that my colleagues not support further cuts to the NEA and oppose the Walberg Amendment.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. I appreciate the gentleman yielding. I rise today in support of H.R. 2560. It is important for the President and Congress to reach a final agreement on the debt ceiling that helps restore fiscal responsibility in Washington, honors America's obligations, and puts our Nation back on the path to prosperity. It is clear that our economy will continue to struggle until Washington demonstrates the ability to get our spending and our debt under control. As the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, has stated, our national debt is the biggest threat to our national security. The Cut, Cap, and Balance bill before us addresses our Nation's spending and debt challenges in a manner that stops delaying hard decisions. We immediately cut spending by over $100 billion, we cap spending in future years at less than 20 percent of GDP, and send a balanced budget amendment to the States for ratification. At $14 trillion and counting, our national debt currently is quickly approaching 100 percent of GDP. The Federal Government is borrowing 40 cents of every dollar it spends. America cannot continue on this unsustainable fiscal path. The full faith and credit of the United States Government depends on Congress acting. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would just like to add my words of great thanks to Chairman Young, who has been a great leader in doing right by our men and women in uniform in all fashion, and especially those who have suffered traumatic brain injury. As a Nation, we are indebted to you and your staff for your great leadership.

Mr. PLATTS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. As cochair of the Traumatic Brain Injury Task Force, I am honored to join with the gentleman from New Jersey in support of implementing post-acute treatment guidelines. Before 2007, there were no funds in the budget for traumatic brain injury treatments, but with the dedicated efforts of Chairman Young and other members of the Appropriations Committee, through their efforts we were not only able to provide funding, but more importantly, to sustain a significant level of funding over the past number of years. As we continue to address new gaps for our servicemembers suffering TBIs, in this 2012 authorization bill that was passed in the committee and moving forward through the process we requested $1 million to fund these post-acute guidelines that the gentleman from New Jersey has referenced. It is our understanding that while TBI funding in the Defense appropriations bill is not separated by purpose, it is our understanding that the Department uses the overall funding for traumatic brain injury research for authorized purposes. Is our understanding correct, Mr. Chairman?

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize and pay tribute to Major Kevin D. Bradley, United States Army, on the occasion of his departure from the Army House Liaison Office to join 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division in Fort Lewis, Washington. I, and many other members of this chamber, have had the pleasure of working with Major Bradley over the past year that he has served as a Liaison Officer and Congressional Delegation Escort Officer in the Army Liaison Office in the U.S. House of Representatives. Major Bradley has had a remarkably varied and successful career. After growing up in Stratford, New Jersey and graduating from Sterling High School in 1995, Major Bradley. attended the United States Military Academy. He graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Armor Branch. Major Bradley attended the Basic Officer Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky before leaving for Germany. Major Bradley's initial assignment was in Vilseck, Germany where he served as a Tank Platoon Leader, Tank Company Executive Officer, and later the Support Platoon Leader in the 1st Battalion, 63d Armor Regiment, 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. As a Platoon Leader in Germany, he deployed to Kosovo to conduct peace enforcement operations. Major Bradley's platoon secured the Serbian towns of Partes and Donje Budriga as part of KFOR 1B shortly after the start of the NATO mission. Major Bradley also deployed his M1A1 Abrams tank as part of Operation Lariant Response to Hungary to conduct a live fire exercise with a Hungarian Airborne battalion. After 3 years stationed in Europe, Major Bradley attended the Infantry Captains Career Course and Ranger School in Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon completion of these courses, Major Bradley joined 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas as they prepared to deploy to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. In March 2004, Major Bradley deployed to Baghdad, Iraq where he led a team of forty U.S. soldiers in recruiting, training, mentoring, and conducting combat operations with the 302nd Iraqi Army Battalion. After returning to Fort Hood, Major Bradley assumed command of Charlie Company, 6th 'Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division in April 2006. In October 2006, he deployed with his heavy scout company to the city of Muqdadiyah in the Diyala Province of Iraq for 14 months. Major Bradley led his troops during numerous combat operations while executing a clear, hold, build strategy against al- Qaeda in Iraq. Following his command, Major Bradley was selected for the Joint Staff/Army Staff Intern Program in Washington D.C. As part of this program, he completed a Masters Degree from Georgetown University in Public Policy Management before joining the staff of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a year. In June 2009, Major Bradley joined the Army House Legislative Division in the Rayburn Building. I have come to know Major Bradley well during his assignment in the House of Representatives through his work with Congressional Delegations and outreach to Members of Congress. Major Bradley has never failed to impress me with his energy and dedication to soldiers, their families, and the U.S. Army. Major Bradley is a superb representative of Army values and the American Soldier. I am honored to express heartfelt thanks to Major Kevin Bradley for his dedicated service to the U.S. Army and our Nation. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of this Soldier, citizen, and friend.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Bakers Creek Memorial ceremony being held today at the Selfridge Gate to Arlington National Cemetery at Fort Myer, Virginia. Sixty-eight years ago today, a Boeing B-17C bomber flying with forty- one soldiers and airmen from Bakers Creek, Australia to New Guinea crashed upon takeoff, killing forty individuals. Due to the Army's subsequent classification of the event, the victims' families were not informed about the details of their loved ones' peril until recently. Thanks to the persistence of the Bakers Creek Memorial Association and the victims' families, the events of Bakers Creek are not only known today, but are honored by a monument in Arlington. I am proud to have joined the effort to bring the Bakers Creek monument from the Australian Embassy to a permanent home on American soil. Pennsylvanians have a strong connection to this monument, as six of the forty victims of the tragic plane crash called Pennsylvania home. Many of my Congressional colleagues from Pennsylvania, and both Senators, actively supported the effort to move this monument to its rightful home in Arlington. The Pennsylvania State Legislature also passed a resolution designating June 14th as Bakers Creek Memorial Day. The distinguished speaker at today's ceremony at Selfridge Gate, the Honorable L. Jerry Hansen, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment, graciously accepted the monument two years ago on behalf of the Secretary of the Army. The Department of the Army pledged to protect and honor the monument at Fort Myer, as a permanent tribute to the brave soldiers and airmen who perished at Bakers Creek, as well as their families. I am pleased to thank Army Secretary John McHugh and Fort Myer Garrison Commander, Col. Carl R. Coffman, for arranging this appropriate and dignified memorial ceremony--with high standards of military honor. I am confident that this ceremony will be repeated each year on the anniversary date of the tragic crash. I extend my deepest sympathies to the family members of the heroic American warriors who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation during World War II. But for their selfless and courageous service, the freedoms we enjoy today would not be. I and all Americans are forever indebted to these true heroes.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 204, I was not present for the vote due to my participation, as Co-Chair of the House Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Task Force, in a meeting with Department of Defense officials regarding the treatment of wounded warriors suffering from TBIs. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 133, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Amendment No. 94 Offered by Mr. Sullivan

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following. [From POLITICO, Jan. 17, 2011] Bipartisan Case for National Service (By Eric Tanenblatt) You wouldn't think that new Republican Govs. Nathan Deal of Georgia and Sam Brownback of Kansas would have much in common with the Democratic governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick. But all three have made volunteer ``days of service'' a centerpiece of their inaugurations. They are asking citizens to join them in feeding the hungry, assisting the jobless and helping their neighbors in a host of other ways. They join a growing number of governors and mayors who are rediscovering the untapped power of citizen service. These inaugural service events are not ceremonial gestures. They remind us that citizen service crosses all boundaries-- and has always been at the heart of what it means to be an American. America's story is the story of volunteers. Since the early days of our nation, volunteers have helped us meet our greatest challenges: patriots who fought for our founding ideals, women who reached for the ballot, civil rights foot soldiers who risked their lives for equality, firefighters who rushed into burning towers, ordinary citizens who came to the aid of a disaster stricken coast. Last year, in the middle of the Great Recession, approximately 63.4 million Americans volunteered in some way in their communities--the largest increase since 2003. That's 63.4 million citizens from all backgrounds and walks of life tilting toward problems instead of running away from them. But America faces tough challenges requiring a new generation of service and service leaders. National service, as embodied in the three major programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service-- AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America--engages millions of Americans of all ages and backgrounds in addressing issues of poverty, illiteracy, disasters, public safety, independent living and more throughout the country. One the crucial ingredient of this federal program's success has been its support across the political spectrum. In fact, in a spirit of bipartisanship rarely seen in Washington these days, it took Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), working with leaders in the House, just weeks to rally the votes and pass the Serve America Act in 2009. I am a lifelong Republican--let me give you three reasons why this modest investment in service is consistent with conservative principles and has a powerful catalytic effect on citizen empowerment. First, national service recognizes that the best solutions come from outside Washington. It invests in citizens to solve problems, tapping the energy and ingenuity of our greatest resource--the American people. In the long run, this is likely to reduce reliance on government. Second, an investment in national service is a good deal for taxpayers. AmeriCorps was built to be a public-private partnership. It leverages substantial private investment-- more than $375 million in non-federal funds each year--to fund such programs as Teach for America and Habitat for Humanity. Third, while the primary purpose of national service is to get things done for people in need, it has important side benefits. One is the transforming effect it has on those who serve--exposing them to society's problems, bringing people from different races and backgrounds together, empowering them to act and often putting them onto a lifelong path of civic engagement. The modern service movement is built on these principles, shared by people of every political persuasion and all walks of life. We salute Deal, Brownback and Patrick for leading the way. We hope that their actions send a signal that will spread and carry forward through this year and beyond. We can--and should--have a robust debate about the role and size of government. But in the course of that debate, we should recognize that there are important areas, like volunteer service, where we can find common ground.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding. I rise today in support of House Bill 2. This simple two-page bill seeks to repeal the new unconstitutional health care law that will create a massive new entitlement program, cost taxpayers more than $2 trillion per decade, increase taxes, and impose job-destroying mandates on businesses, cut Medicare by hundreds of billions of dollars, and further increase health care premiums for individuals by more than 10 percent. The goal is not only to repeal the new health care law, but also to replace it with real reforms, debated openly through the ordinary legislative process, that are truly about reducing health care costs-- reforms such as allowing small businesses and individuals to join together in national group plans to cut premium costs; allowing individuals to purchase health insurance across State lines, thereby increasing competition for their businesses; and enacting medical malpractice liability reform legislation. I will continue to push for commonsense reforms that are focused on truly reducing health care costs for all Americans. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. I thank the distinguished gentleman from California for yielding to me. Madam Speaker, I rise in humble and solemn support for House Resolution 32. I also rise to express my heartfelt gratitude to our distinguished Speaker, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), and all Members of the House leadership, Republican and Democratic alike. The thoughtful and compassionate manner in which they have united the Members of this great institution in prayerful support for our beloved colleague and friend, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and all of the victims of the January 8 attack in Tucson, Arizona, is sincerely appreciated. Madam Speaker, as with all Americans, I was deeply saddened and horrified upon learning of the senseless and violent attack on Congresswoman Giffords, members of Gabby's staff, and citizens of Arizona's Eighth District. This act of violence was an unthinkable attack on a dedicated public servant and her constituents. It was also an attack on one of the most important cornerstones of our form of representational democracy--the duty of elected officials to reach out to the citizens they serve. It is imperative that we not allow the tragic events of January 8 to prevent elected officials from fulfilling this duty to remain in close contact with their constituents and well grounded in their concerns. On behalf of my wife, Leslie, and our family and all residents of Pennsylvania's 19th Congressional District, I offer our deepest sympathies to the families, the friends, and the coworkers of those who were taken from us in this attack. Please know that you and all the victims of this terrible tragedy are and will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. May God watch over you as he continues to watch over our grieving Nation.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Amendment 21, passed by Congress February 20, 1933, ratified December 5, 1933: Section 1: ``The 18th article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.'' Section 2: ``The transportation or importation into any State, Territory or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this Senate-House compromise legislation, which takes important steps to eliminate Federal Government waste. For 4 years I served as the Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Management, Finance, and Accountability, where I focused my efforts on making the Federal Government more accountable. My Subcommittee held numerous hearings in which, all too often, accounting errors such as overpayment for services or redundant payments were discovered or where programs were not effectively fulfilling their intended mission. At a time when the national debt is nearly $14 trillion, it has never been more apparent that the Federal Government must spend taxpayer dollars wisely. Federal programs must be monitored to ensure that our investments are presenting clear results and those programs that are not performing effectively must be reformed or eliminated. One of the reasons that we find ourselves in such substantial debt today is that Federal programs never end. Both high-performing and low-performing programs continue on, year after year, often with increasing funds. The Federal Government needs a clear evaluation process for each program, the results of which would be used to provide legislators with the information they need to determine which programs should continue on and which should not. The legislation we are considering today, similar to legislation that I introduced in the 108th Congress, H.R. 3826, and the 109th Congress, H.R. 185, would require that all Federal agencies work with the Office of Management and Budget, OMB, to clearly identify outcome-based goals and then submit an action plan to achieve these goals. Agencies would be required to conduct quarterly performance assessments outlining how effectively they are working to meet the stated goals, and all information would be made available to Congress and the American people. In addition, the Government Accountability Office, GAO, would be tasked with performing frequent and detailed evaluations outlining how effective the agency has been in achieving their stated goals. This impartial review of Federal programs will assure that agencies are being good stewards of our Federal taxpayer dollars. I commend Representative Cuellar for introducing this bill to ensure that Federal resources are spent efficiently and waste is minimized. Now more than ever, while American families are cutting extraneous expenses from their budgets, the Federal Government must do the same. I hope that all of my colleagues will join with me in supporting this important effort.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on March 2, 2010, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that the U.S. Department of Defense, DOD, would conduct a thorough review of the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy prohibiting openly gay men and women from serving in the military. The review was to examine the impact that repeal of the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy would have on military readiness and effectiveness, unit cohesion, recruiting, retention, and family readiness. The review solicited feedback from more than 500,000 active duty and reserve component Service members and spouses, with more than 200,000 responses ultimately being received. The Working Group that conducted the review was composed of 49 military personnel, officer and enlisted, and 19 civilian personnel from across the Department of Defense and the Military Services. The Group was Co-Chaired by General Carter F. Ham, U.S. Army, and the Honorable Jeb C. Johnson, Department of Defense General Counsel. In May of this year, while DOD's review was still underway, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act that would have effectively repealed the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy. I voted against this amendment because I felt it was disrespectful to the men and women in uniform and their families for Congress to vote on a repeal of this policy without first considering their vital input. The Department of Defense's nine-month review of the impact of repealing the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy was completed last month. The review's findings include an understandably broad range of opinions about the likely impact of said repeal. Ultimately, however, the review concludes that repeal of the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy can be implemented in a manner that minimizes the risks associated with military readiness and effectiveness, unit cohesion, recruiting, retention, and family readiness. I agree. It is important to note that House of Representatives Bill 2965, H.R. 2965, does not repeal the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy immediately. Rather, repeal is made contingent upon the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certifying to Congress that the Department of Defense has prepared the necessary policies and regulations to implement the repeal in a manner that is ``consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces.'' Such a deliberate and orderly implementation of the repeal will be critical to its success and is consistent with the recommendations of the Department of Defense review. In addition to my consideration of the Department of Defense's review, I received and thoughtfully considered the input of many currently serving military personnel and veterans in the 19th District, as well as numerous other 19th District residents. Similar to the findings of the DOD review, the input I received from my constituents included passionate appeals for and against repeal of the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have had the privilege to interact with thousands of our nation's armed service members--here at home and overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and elsewhere. Each of these interactions has been truly inspiring and humbling. Our men and women in uniform, along with their loved ones, are the true heroes of our nation. But for their selfless service, the freedoms that all of us fellow Americans enjoy everyday would not be. Given that these proud Americans have answered the call to serve and stand ready to make the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their fellow citizens, each and every one of them has earned my highest respect and heartfelt gratitude. In light of the tremendous number of troops that I have interacted with over the last 10 years, it is safe to say that I have visited and thanked a significant number of gay or lesbian soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors, and coast guardsmen for their courageous and dedicated service in defense of all that is good about our great country. In light of the findings of the Department of Defense review, to oppose a repeal of the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy would contradict the respect and gratitude that I feel for all who serve--regardless of their sexual orientation. As such, I support an orderly repeal of the policy along the lines contemplated in the DOD report and contained in H.R. 2965. In conclusion, I share the sentiments expressed by the co-chairs of the Department of Defense review, General Ham and Mr. Johnson, when they stated: ``We are both convinced that our military can do this, even during this time of war. We do not underestimate the challenges in implementing a change in the law, but neither should we underestimate the ability of our extraordinarily dedicated Service men and women to adapt to such change and continue to provide our Nation with the military capability to accomplish any mission.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to the students, teachers, and staff members of West Creek Hills Elementary School, located in my Congressional District, for a very successful school supply drive for students in Afghanistan. In particular, I want to recognize 4th grader Adam Shea Aukamp for bringing the idea to West Creek Hills' Principal, Steve Yanni, and helping to organize the drive. Adam came up with the idea for the school supply drive after reading a story in a newspaper for children that focused on U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan. The story highlighted how many Afghan children do not have enough school supplies, such as pencils, pens, crayons, etc. Adam decided he wanted to collect supplies to help Afghan children. Adam's mother, Barbara Sheaffer, contacted the Pennsylvania National Guard and connected with a colonel stationed in Afghanistan. The colonel learned through an interpreter that backpacks were also needed. Adam added this to his list. Adam wrote a letter to his fellow students asking them to support the project and donate supplies. He and a few friends, including Drew Roman, Wesley Marshall, Jacob Doll, and Nicholas Minnich, created some posters and placed them around the school. They also visited classrooms to promote the project. Adam made announcements over the school's intercom system, first announcing the project, and then providing updates on the donation progress. The drive lasted from November 8 through November 19, 2010. In the end, the school collected: 12 pencil boxes, 37 backpacks, 113 notebooks and writing tablets, 139 crayon boxes, 343 pens, and, 1,577 pencils. Once again, congratulations to Adam Aukamp and all members of the West Creek Hills Elementary School community. Their efforts are an inspiration to all Americans and stand as a wonderful testament to the unparalleled generosity of our Nation's citizens, young and old.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House of Representatives Bill 1347 (H.R. 1347), the Concussion Treatment and Care Tools Act. I am honored to have joined with my fellow cochair of the Congressional Traumatic Brain Injury Taskforce, Representative Bill Pascrell, in introducing this important legislation that aims to make significant progress in protecting student athletes from brain injuries. It is estimated that as many as 41 percent of high school athletes who suffer from concussions return to play too soon. The consequences of this practice are extremely dangerous, as suffering a second concussion before an existing head injury has time to heal can lead to brain swelling, permanent brain damage and even death. However, when students, coaches and athletic trainers are provided the proper training in prevention, detection, and management, these instances can largely be prevented. As such, the bill we are considering today provides States with the tools needed to adopt and disseminate concussion management guidelines for school-sponsored sports. In addition, the bill would fund schools' implementation of computerized pre-season baseline and post-injury neuropsychological testing for student athletes to determine the severity of each injury. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1347 and making significant gains in protecting high school student-athletes.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1560, supporting the increased understanding of, and interest in, computer science and computing careers among the public, and especially in our schools, to ensure an ample and diverse future technology workforce through the designation of National Computer Science Education Week. Computer science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems. Today, more than ever, computer science is integral to the functioning and growth of our society and economy. Computer science supports the information technology sector that has become such a large contributor to the United States' economic output. The need for diverse participants in the field of computer science exists more so today than ever before. As the world's dependence on technology grows, so does the need for individuals with the knowledge and background to support and advance that technology in all fields of science. Computer science education provides an opportunity for students to enter the field of computer science and exposes them to the opportunities this important field has to offer. A high-quality education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can help to prepare students for a future in computer science and to master the skills needed in the 21st century workforce. A computer science education can provide students with opportunities for future education and employment in some of the fastest growing industries. National Computer Science Education Week, to be recognized the week of December 5, will inform students, teachers, parents, and the public about the role of computer science in our society and the opportunities it affords to participants in the field. Today I express my strong support for National Computer Science Education Week and encourage all schools, teachers, researchers, and universities to recognize this occasion. I support the resolution and ask my colleagues to do the same. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I was expecting the sponsor of the resolution. I understand that he is on his way and should be here momentarily. I take it the gentleman has no other speakers?

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to commend the gentleman from Colorado along with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) for their sponsorship of this. We see issues often in our professional roles but also in our personal roles, and this area of computer science and education is one that I have seen as a dad, a parent of a 14-year-old and an 11-year-old, a sixth grader and an eighth grader. This generation that's coming up now can't imagine the world without computers. As one of the older generations, I regularly turn to them for input in how to troubleshoot. And I think that's what we're trying to help promote here is that understanding of how integral computer science is to our daily lives, to our economy, and to our quality of life. And this resolution will help promote that idea and remind all of our citizens that, if they're looking for a great opportunity for a career, computer science and related fields is a wonderful one that's going to be with us for decades to come and integral to our country's growth and success economically in the years ahead, as well. I believe that we're not going to be able to wait for the sponsor, so I would just conclude by acknowledging Mr. Ehlers, the gentleman from Michigan's work in this area and his professional work before coming to the House in this arena and what a great champion he has been for supporting the importance of education in computer science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. And he'll be leaving us at the end of this session, but I know he will continue to be a strong advocate for education in this field. With that, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1582 honoring and saluting Americans for the Arts on its fifth anniversary, and I am honored to have the privilege of joining with the distinguished chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, the gentlewoman from New York. As cochairs of the Congressional Arts Caucus, I was delighted to join with her in sponsoring this resolution. I appreciate her great leadership in promoting arts and helping to advance the cause of arts. Again, I speak as a dad, those boys I referenced earlier, my sons, T.J. and Tom, I have seen what a great blessing it has been to them being exposed to the arts throughout their lives, and how it has enriched them and allowed them to be even better students in other subjects as well. Today I stand in support of this resolution. Americans for the Arts is the Nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. It was founded and chartered in 1960 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by first board president George Irwin and a group of arts supporters with the mission of enhancing public and private support for the nonprofits arts and serving local arts councils in the United States. The organization played an integral role in the formation and establishment of the National Endowment for the Arts in 1965, and today Americans for the Arts serves more than 150,000 organizational and individual members and stakeholders. The organization's goals are achieved in partnership with local, State, and national arts organizations, government agencies, business leaders, individual philanthropists, and educators throughout this country. Americans for the Arts provides extensive arts-industry research and professional development opportunities for community arts leaders via specialized programs and services, including a content-rich Web site and an annual national convention. Local arts agencies throughout the United States comprise Americans for the Arts' core constituency. A variety of unique partner networks with particular interests such as public art, united arts fundraising, arts education, and emerging arts leaders are also supported. Americans for the Arts strives to ensure the arts thrive in America. It also produces annual events to heighten visibility for the arts, including the National Arts Awards and Arts Advocacy Day, which annually convenes arts advocates from across the country to advance Federal support of the arts, humanities, and arts education. Today, we congratulate and honor Americans for the Arts for its 50 years of service representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), both a strong supporter of the arts as well as computer science education, the last resolution that we adopted. He has been a great leader in these areas to us.