Todd Platts

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in my final time as a Member of the House of Representatives, as a retiring Member, just to express my gratitude to the people of the 19th Congressional District of Pennsylvania for allowing me the privilege, for the last 12 years, to serve. I'm a 12-year-term-limit guy, and it's hard to believe that 12 years have come and gone already. But it's been a great privilege to serve with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. It's been an experience I will forever remember. In addition to my constituents back home, my wife, Leslie, is in the gallery today, and I certainly have to convey my thanks to her for standing by me all these years. It's certainly a family commitment, and it's one we've been honored to have and to do to the best of our ability in serving the people of our community. A final comment: While I've loved what I've done and I've been proud to serve, I also understand that what I do and what we do pales in comparison to those who serve us in uniform. As a Nation, as a citizenry, can we always keep our men and women in uniform in our thoughts and prayers, along with their families who make tremendous sacrifices so that we can be so blessed here as Americans. So thank you again and God bless.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 633, 634, and 635, I was inadvertently delayed and was not present. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all three votes. personal explanation

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 614, 615, and 616, I missed the votes due to stopping to assist at an automobile accident scene. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 614, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 615, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 616.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. I thank the gentlelady again for the time she's allowed me here today.

Mr. PLATTS. If the gentlelady will yield, I would add it's been a great privilege to serve with you here and to travel. You'll enjoy a story from that trip when we were visiting the Special Forces in the Philippine Islands. This past September, I was at my local fair in York, Pennsylvania, and I ran into one of those Special Forces members that's from my district that we had met and had just left the military and was getting ready to go back to school. But we were reminiscing about our trip to visit him and his fellow special operators on that trip. It was great to travel and to serve with you, and I wish you great success as you continue to serve the State of Colorado with great fashion.

Mr. PLATTS. And public education, and one of our colleagues who we both had the privilege to serve under when he was chair of our committee as well.

Mr. PLATTS. It's one of the blessings, Judy, that I've been allowed, because of my district, about 100 miles each way, in my 12 years serving here, while I've been honored to work here, I've been blessed to live at home all but 12 nights, or maybe 13 nights that I couldn't go back home. But being able to go back to my wife and children, to start every day and end every day with them kept me grounded. And it's one of the sacrifices that, as you know, and our colleagues, the families of Members make a tremendous sacrifice, because I'm the exception. I'm the only Pennsylvanian. There's a couple of Maryland and Virginias, but most Members have to be away all week or relocate their families here, so it is a tremendous family commitment. But you're right. As I say, my kids, when I walk in the door, they don't care if I was meeting with the President of the United States or working whatever issue. Dad, get rid of the coat and tie. We're late for practice. Let's go. Kids do a good job of keeping our priorities straight.

Mr. PLATTS. Congratulations.

Mr. PLATTS. I thank the gentlelady. Before commenting on my own retirement, I want to echo the gentlemen from Colorado and Maryland, Mr. Perlmutter and Mr. Hoyer, and their right-on-point remarks, Judy, about you and your service. We have sat together for the last 12 years on the Ed Committee working on education issues and children's issues. You've been such a great leader on the issue of homeless children and the importance of us doing right by them in the education arena even though they were homeless--and maybe all the more important that we do right by them. When we hear the terms ``statesman'' or ``public servant,'' you epitomize both. Judy, it has been a great privilege to work with you. As I think back to arriving 12 years ago, one, it is hard to believe it has been 12 years since first coming here. My decision about a year ago, January of this year, to step down was not an easy one, but it's one that I felt was the right decision for me. I've always been one who believed in 12-year term limits and thought I've got to live what I preach as a servant, as a public official, but maybe most importantly as a dad, that I needed to set a good example to my sons, Tom and TJ, that they saw me living up to my word and that my actions backed up my words. So while it wasn't an easy decision to decide to leave this great Chamber, I believe it was the right one. But it has been such a privilege to represent the people of Pennsylvania's 19th Congressional District--Adams, Cumberland, and York counties; Gettysburg, Carlisle, and York, the county seats in the three counties in my district--and the fact that 12 years ago the citizens of this district said, Todd, we trust you to represent our interests in Washington. And to allow me to return for five more terms after that first one has been pretty remarkable. And it speaks volumes to me about what truly a land of opportunity we are. As a kid growing up, that I would be given this opportunity, it only happens in America. I'm one who's known that I wanted to do this since I was 14. I've often been asked, What made you want to serve in Congress at such an early age? I point first to my mom and dad, Babs and Dutch Platts, just average citizens, middle class family. Dad was a mechanical engineer; Mom was a stay-at-home mom, park director, a lot of odd jobs that were part time to make sure that she could be hands on with all five of us kids. They were not active politically other than always voting and taking us with them to vote when they would go, but they were so active in the community. They were community servants, teaching Sunday school, coaching Little League baseball. In fact, I had the privilege to coach my sons for about 10 years on the same fields that my dad coached three of us Platts sons way back when; Mom running the school candy sales. They gave all five of us children--I'm the fourth of the five--a wonderful example to follow, that if you want to live in a great Nation and a great community, you need to do your part. You need to be engaged and be involved. So they gave me the example of service, and then it was my eighth grade social studies teacher by the name of Earl Lucius, who passed away just shy of 2 years ago, who encouraged taking that community service example of my parents and to make it a public service career. So as I left eighth grade and Mr. Lucius' class and got ready to enter high school, I joined the Teenage Republicans as a ninth grader and volunteered on my first campaign. It was Jerry Ford running for reelection for President, John Heinz for the United States Senate, and Bill Goodling for his first reelection to represent the 19th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. Pretty eerie, 24 years later, after volunteering for Mr. Goodling as a ninth grader, that's who I succeeded. When he retired after 26 years here in the people's House, I had the privilege to succeed him. But I have known ever since then that this is what I wanted to do. So first, I thank the citizens of the district for allowing me this privilege and for giving me their trust. Certainly I could not have served the citizens back home without a tremendous staff in the district, as well as here in Washington. I have been blessed with just true public servants. When we would hire, I never asked what their party registration was or anything about their politics other than, Why do you want to serve, and why do you want to serve in the 19th District in particular? So, thanks to all of my staff, to my personal staff in the district and down here, and to the committee staff. I've had the privilege to chair a subcommittee on Oversight and Government Reform for many years, and have been blessed in the past and present with a great staff there as well. But the one thing I would emphasize is we call this the people's House, and I look at it that way for a number of reasons. One in particular is the only way you get here is if you're elected. You can be a Senator, you can be Vice President, you can be President and never be elected to those positions. Jerry Ford, never elected Vice President and President, served in both Houses. You can serve in the Senate, but here, if there's a vacancy, you have to wait until the people decide. So we're the people's House. But also because we're a great representation of the people of this great country. The approach and how I got here, it was because of the people of the 19th District. When I leave, it's my understanding that I'm the last Member of the House or Senate, other than a couple of self-funders, who rely solely on individual contributions--no special interest money, no PAC contributions. I've never had a paid television commercial in any campaign. I've never had a paid pollster in any campaign. It's been about volunteers going door to door with me spreading the word. I think back to that first campaign 12 years ago when over 500 volunteers came out in 1 day and stuffed a 115,000-piece mailing for me. And not only did they come and volunteer and spend about 10 hours that day doing that work for us, but they also brought their own food and fed themselves because we were a low-budget campaign, then and now. We didn't have money to buy them food, so it was kind of like a church supper where everybody brings a dish and we'll have food, we'll get some good work done. But the people of the 19th district is what allowed me to come here. That first campaign I was outspent 5-1, 3-1, 2-1, and because of the people, I've been allowed to serve here for the last 12 years, and I will be forever grateful for that. Before I wrap up, I'd be very remiss if I didn't recognize my family. My wife, Leslie, well, we celebrated 22 years of marriage this past July. I've been in office for 20 of those, 8 in the State House, 12 here. And so this is our first election year in 22 years where we weren't campaigning, going door to door. And I certainly would not be standing here as a Member of the United States House of Representatives but for her great love and support over all these years, along with our sons, T.J. and Tom, and my extended family. Mom and Dad. Dad passed away my first year here in Congress, but Babs and Dutch Platts; my brothers, Mark and Craig; and sisters, Pam and Jill; and my sons, Tom and T.J., who have made so many sacrifices while I've been allowed to serve in this position from a time standpoint of being away and missing ball games here or there. But because of their support, and that love and support of my family, and the support and trust of my constituents, I've been allowed this great privilege. I'll leave here with a heavy heart, because I'm still pretty passionate about what we do. I'll leave here with great friends on both sides of the aisle, Republican, Democrats, from all corners of this great country. It's been such a privilege to serve with these true public servants. I'm going to share one final story that kind of captures what I think is great about our country and the fact that I've been allowed to serve here. When my dad passed away my first year in Congress, June 25, 2001, I had just, about a month earlier, had the privilege of introducing my parents to President Bush for the first time. In fact, the last picture of my dad before his passing is a picture of my mom and dad with me and President Bush taken up on the edge of my district in Pennsylvania. Dad passes away. I get a note from the President expressing his sympathies, having just met my dad. But about a week after his funeral, President Bush was here in the Capitol with us in caucus and meeting with all the House Republicans. And when it was over, we all scattered and went back to our offices, wherever it may be. As I'm leaving the Capitol Building to go back to Longworth House Office Building, I hear applause up here in the rotunda. And I come up, and this was pre-9/11, and the President's just going down a rope line, shaking hands with all the visitors to the Capitol that day. So moms and dads and kids are just getting to meet the President of the United States by good timing of being in the Capitol. I'm standing at the House side of the rotunda with Bill Livingood, our then-Sergeant at Arms, and the President stopped and said hello to Bill, said hello to me, and invited me to walk out to the motorcade with him. And the subject of our conversation was the passing of my dad and how he dreads the thought of some day losing his dad. And, thankfully, President Bush 41, 88 and I know in the hospital right now, but hopefully still going strong. But it was an amazing conversation, one, President Bush, a new President showing concern for a freshman House Member and my family and how my mom and I were doing with the loss of my dad and my mom's husband. But it also spoke volumes about what an amazing country in which we live. My dad was one of nine kids who grew up in a row house in the city of York during the Depression. Five boys, four girls. Five boys in one bedroom, four girls in the second, Grandma and Grandpa, his mom and dad, in the third. The fact that his passing was the subject of a conversation between the President of the United States and a Congressman who happened to be his son speaks volumes about us being truly a land of opportunity. That this kid from a typical middle class family has been allowed to serve here for 12 years, it's just amazing about what we stand for, that if you are willing to work hard and follow your dreams, they can come true. So to the people of the 19th District of Pennsylvania, I say thank you for allowing this now 50-year-old's dreams to come true many years ago as a State representative and then ultimately as a United States Congressman. I will be forever grateful and would tell you that while I'm a proud Republican, most importantly, every time I entered the Chamber, I came into this Chamber, as our men and women in uniform do every day on the front lines of democracy, as a proud American, first and foremost. I think they give us the example, and that's my final comment is to all those out there who are defending the freedoms we have and the blessings we have, such as Todd Platts, me, being allowed to serve in Congress, I say thank you to those courageous men and women and to their families. Godspeed as they continue to defend us and all that's great about this great Nation. I thank the gentlelady for yielding.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 811, supporting the goals and ideals of American Education Week, which this year celebrates its 91st annual observance. As a proud father of two children enrolled in public schools and a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, I recognize the critical role public schools play in providing our young people the intellectual and practical skills necessary to become functioning and productive members of our society. American Education Week, to be recognized from November 11 through November 17, 2012, provides our Nation the opportunity to recognize the importance of public education and honor those individuals who each and every day strive to provide a quality education to every child. Each day of this week features a special observance dedicated to five critically important groups within the public education sphere. Specifically, armed service veterans (especially student and teacher veterans), parents, education support professionals, educators, and substitute educators, as well as the countless individuals who devote their time to our public schools but are not mentioned here, should be all recognized and honored for their hard work and the services they provide to our Nation's youth. Today, I express my strong support for American Education Week and encourage all schools, teachers and staff, universities, and citizens to recognize this occasion as well. I support the resolution and ask my colleagues to please do the same.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, it is with tremendous respect and gratitude that I rise to honor MAJ Edward (Ed) Kennedy, United States Army, for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to the United States of America. Major Kennedy has recently moved on from his assignment as an Army Congressional Liaison to the House of Representatives to become a Battalion Operations Officer in the 3rd Infantry Division. A native of Danbury, Connecticut, Major Kennedy graduated from the United States Military Academy in May of 2000 and was commissioned in the Infantry Branch. After his first assignment as an Infantry Platoon Leader in Hawaii, he commanded both Infantry and Armor units in the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, TX. During that time he deployed once in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and twice in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. In July 2009, Major Kennedy was selected for the highly competitive Joint Chiefs of Staff Internship program. During the internship, he earned a Master's degree at Georgetown University, and then served a one year tour on the Joint Staff as the Action Officer for the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with principle focus on Warrior and Family Support. His next year was spent on the Army Staff as a Congressional Liaison to the United States House of Representatives working for the Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison. Mr. Speaker, it was during his assignment as a Congressional Liaison that I had the honor of getting to know this great patriot personally. It has been a true pleasure and privilege to work closely with Major Kennedy during the 112th Session of Congress. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues in recognizing and commending Major Kennedy for his meritorious service to our country. For all that he and his family have given and continue to give to our country; we are forever in their debt. But for the courageous service of our Nation's heroic military personnel such as Major Kennedy and the selflessness of military families such as his, the unparalleled freedoms and security that I and all Americans enjoy every day would not be. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I extend heartiest best wishes to Major Kennedy, his wife Jacey, and his daughter Katelyn as they continue on their journey of service.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, S. 743, and, as a long-time sponsor and cosponsor of similar legislation this session and in past sessions, hope to clarify the intent of the application of the bill's provisions in two important ways. By way of background, I first introduced a version of this legislation in 2003, H.R. 3281, to respond to a series of decisions by the Merit Systems Protection Board, MSPB, and the Federal Circuit Court. Those decisions undermined Congressional intent with respect to the original Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989. Specifically, Congress intended that ``any'' protected disclosure of waste, fraud, and abuse by a federal employee be covered by the law. As interpreted by the MSPB and the Federal Circuit Court, however, loopholes began to develop. Congress strengthened the law in 1994, but decisions by the MSPB and Federal Circuit Court continued to undermine the intent of Congress. A mark-up of my original legislation was held in 2004. A mark-up of a re-introduced version of the bill, H.R. 1317, was held in 2006. A version introduced by Representative Henry Waxman and myself, H.R. 985, was passed by the House in 2007. At the core, all of these bills--and their Senate versions--restored the Congressional intent of the original Whistleblower Protection Act by plugging the loopholes that had developed. The bill before us today makes the same attempt at restoring Congressional intent, but--if interpreted incorrectly--I fear the possibility of two more loopholes opening up. First, agencies must not be allowed to circumvent whistleblower protections through so-called ``secrecy'' regulations, such as a new category of information (labeled ``Sensitive Security Information'') created by the Department of Homeland Security. Whistleblower law understandably already exempts from whistleblower protections information which is classified or ``specifically prohibited by law'' from release. Classified information is information that is kept secret by Executive Order, not a hybrid category of information created by agency regulation like ``Sensitive Security Information.'' Moreover, ``prohibited by law'' has long been understood to mean statutory law and court interpretations of those statutes, not to agency rules and regulations. If the Federal Circuit Court broadens the ``prohibited by law'' exemption to include anything that an agency tries to keep secret under any of their regulations, a new loophole could be opened up that would substantially undermine Congressional intent in passing this bill. It is therefore important to once again make it clear: ``Prohibited by law'' has long been understood to mean statutory law and court interpretations of those statutes, not to agency rules and regulations. Any exceptions to these rights must be created by Congress, and Congress must act with specificity. That has been the law since 1978, and it continues to be the law. Second, it must be understood that those whistleblowers who have been waiting for this bill to be enacted are protected by its provisions. As stated by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in its report accompanying this bill, S. Rpt. 112-155: The Committee expects and intends that the Act's provisions shall be applied in OSC [Office of Special Counsel], MSPB, and judicial proceedings initiated by or on behalf of a whistleblower and pending on or after that effective date [30 days after the date of enactment of the bill]. Such application is expected and appropriate because the legislation generally corrects erroneous decisions by the MSPB and the courts; removes and compensates for burdens that were wrongfully imposed on individual whistleblowers exercising their rights in the public interest; and improves the rules of administrative and judicial procedure and jurisdiction applicable to the vindication of whistleblowers' rights. Some in the whistleblower community have been waiting for more than a decade to see Congressional intent with respect to whistleblower law restored. The number who could actually take advantage of the protections in this bill is probably not large, but their cases are significant and justice requires protections for them. In concluding, I would like to thank the many, many individuals and organizations that have championed this important ``good government'' issue over the years. There are more than I could possibly mention, but allow me to name just a few: Senator Daniel Akaka, who has pushed this issue for years in the Senate; former Representative Connie Morella, who introduced the first House version of the bill before her retirement; former Representatives Tom Davis and current Representative Henry Waxman, who pushed the issue during their service on the Government Reform Committee; my colleagues Darrell Issa, Elijah Cummings, Chris Van Hollen and their staffs; and, finally, the Government Accountability Project (GAP), Project on Government Oversight (POGO), and National Taxpayers Union (NTU). Without all of their efforts, we would not be in a position to finally secure enactment of this important legislation that ensures whistleblowers with the courage to report waste, fraud, and abuse are applauded--not punished.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the month of October 2012 as National Work and Family Month. At this time each year, National Work and Family Month reminds us of the many ways that strong work-family policies continue to create and maintain healthier and more flexible work environments. These programs and practices--from workplace flexibility such as flextime and telecommuting, to sick and family leave, dependent and day care resources, and even stress management and community involvement initiatives--are highly effective in attracting a loyal and talented workforce. Yet there is always room for improvement. As more of America's organizations incorporate work-family policies such as those mentioned above, the greater the competitive edge we will have in the recruitment and retention of our loyal and talented workforce. Since a bipartisan resolution established National Work and Family Month in October 2003, Congress has consistently acknowledged the importance of good family-work policies and celebrated the progress made in expanding the availability and use of workplace flexibility. This October, I seek again to raise awareness of National Work and Family Month and encourage my colleagues to also acknowledge the overwhelmingly positive effect of a healthy balance between work and family life on workforce engagement, motivation and satisfaction.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 589 I was inadvertently delayed in an official meeting and arrived on the House floor after the vote had been closed. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' Stated against:

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, today's vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal the health care law will ensure continued scrutiny of a complex law that was wrongly rushed through the legislative process and largely remains a mystery to a vast majority of the American people. Given that rising health care costs are the main driver of our Nation's long-term debt crisis, it is imperative for Congress to fully debate a policy that will have such dramatic ramifications for future generations of Americans. The health care law was enacted more than two years ago. Yet health care costs continue to rise. Uncertain business owners are hesitant to invest and hire workers. And major portions of the law--including higher taxes on businesses, increased taxes on certain medical devices, and countless new regulations--have yet to even be implemented. This massive new entitlement program will cost taxpayers more than $2 trillion per decade, further burdening our already crippling national debt. Truly reforming our health care system requires a common-sense, step- by-step approach that will lower costs and better ensure access to affordable, quality health care. Opponents of the health care law have long proposed alternative solutions--such as allowing small businesses to form health insurance pools and join together across state lines to purchase health insurance, medical malpractice liability reform, and insurance reforms addressing the issues of pre-existing conditions and allowing young adults to remain on their parents' plans--that would achieve these goals. The status quo in health care is clearly unacceptable. A narrow majority of the Supreme Court may have upheld the constitutionality of the health care law last week, but that does not change the fact that this law is clearly bad public policy. Congress must continue to press for true, common-sense reforms focused on lowering the cost of health care for all Americans.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to offer my heartiest congratulations to Dr. Robert Fawcett of York, Pennsylvania on being named the 2012 Family Physician of the Year by the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians. This is indeed an outstanding achievement. Throughout his career, Dr. Fawcett has practiced a wide range of family medicine, including critical care, pediatrics, geriatrics and sports medicine. As evidenced by the previous awards for his medical work, Dr. Fawcett's skill and compassion has benefited hundreds of families throughout his career. In addition, his history of volunteer service has made his community a better place in which to live and work. This dedication is shared by Dr. Andre Lijoi of York, who was previously named Pennsylvania's Family Physician of the Year in 2008. Dr. Lijoi has dedicated his career to making a meaningful contribution to the lives of his patients. He has educated residents and students on the need to provide competent, compassionate care by strengthening the physician/ patient relationship and by motivating patients to lead healthier lives. Dr. Lijoi has also been a very active community volunteer. I once again offer my congratulations to Dr. Fawcett and Dr. Lijoi for personifying the best ideals and practices of family medicine. They have positively impacted countless of their fellow citizens throughout their careers and I know that their patients, friends, family and colleagues join with me in offering best wishes for continued success in their future endeavors.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to offer my heartiest congratulations to Lieutenant Commander Zachary Daniel Merritt of the United States Navy on his recent promotion. This is certainly a momentous occasion and one worthy of great commendation. Lieutenant Commander Merritt was born and raised in my hometown of York, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Naval Reserves Officer Training Corps at Penn State University with a Bachelor's Degree in nuclear engineering. He was commissioned at Penn State in December 2004. Lieutenant Commander Merritt served his junior officer tour aboard the U.S.S. Michigan and later served on the faculty of the Naval Submarine School, where he earned the distinction of ``Instructor of the Year.'' He currently serves as the Engineer aboard the U.S.S. Alexandria. Lieutenant Commander Merritt's outstanding record of service to our country is certainly worthy of great praise. All Americans are forever indebted to him and his family for their dedicated service and deep commitment to our country. I am certain that Lieutenant Commander Merritt's fellow citizens, family, friends and colleagues join me congratulating him on his recent promotion.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1339) to amend title 32, United States Code, the body of laws of the United States dealing with the National Guard, to recognize the City of Salem, Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United States, as amended.

Mr. PLATTS. 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 material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1339, recognizing the city of Salem, Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United States. I would like to thank my colleague from Massachusetts, the Honorable John Tierney, for bringing this measure before the House, and I'm honored to be a cosponsor of this legislation with him. It was in 1629 that Captain John Endicott organized the first militia in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Salem and that all males between the ages of 16 and 60 participated in the defense of that community. Each week, this first regiment diligently practiced drill and provided guard detail to protect the colony throughout each night. This militia, and those that followed, would come to play a significant role in the Revolutionary War and all conflicts that have followed. Today, the National Guard continues its proud mission of providing units for the first line in defense of our great Nation at home and throughout the world. By designating the City of Salem, Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United States, we hope to see positive tourism and economic developments in the city, a city already recognized throughout the world as one of immense historical significance. But most importantly, Mr. Speaker, this resolution will instill pride in both the local and State communities in their rich patriotic heritage and properly recognizes the critically important role that the National Guard has played in defense of our Nation and its citizens since the earliest days of our Nation. As the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States, the services our National Guard has provided our country are innumerable and immense. I'm honored to be here today to be part of the history in the formal recognition of this, the National Guard's birthplace. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just want to add, again, my words of thanks and commendation to the gentleman from Massachusetts for sponsoring this resolution. Because, as was reflected, in honoring the birthplace of the National Guard, we honor all who have served throughout our Nation's history. During my statehouse days, as well as now in Congress, I've had the remarkable privilege to interact with both my Air and Army National Guard in Pennsylvania, as well as National Guard troops from around the country in my many visits to Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere. These are remarkable, remarkable men and women, citizen soldiers through and through, who, when called upon, respond to the call of their Nation and their fellow citizens, serve us so courageously. So, again, I'm honored to be a sponsor of this resolution, and I commend the gentleman for introducing it. I urge a ``yes'' vote in support of its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 47 and 48, I missed both votes due to an automobile accident. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' in both cases.