Scott Perry

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate my constituent, Abde-Ali Emadi, for his accomplishment in earning the rank of Eagle Scout. The Eagle Scout designation is the highest advancement rank in Scouting, which only a small number of Boy Scouts earn. The rank is performance-based, and must meet high standards that have been well- maintained over the past century. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout is obligated to pass specific tests that are organized by myriad requirements and merit badges, as well as completing an Eagle Scout project to benefit the community. Abde-Ali has been recognized as a valuable member of Troop 180, and has served in various leadership positions; i.e. Junior Assistant Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader. His Eagle Scout Project was to clean and stain over 70 picnic tables at the New Kingstown Fire Company pavilion, in addition to building four ADA-compliant tables. I've long appreciated the commitment of people who demonstrate hard work and devote themselves selflessly to serving our communities and fellow citizens. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, I recognize and congratulate Abde-Ali Emadi on his significant accomplishment and community service. I wish him continued success and Godspeed in his future adventures.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate my constituent, Matthew Brittain, for his accomplishment in earning the rank of Eagle Scout. The Eagle Scout is the highest advancement rank in scouting; only a small number of Boy Scouts earn this auspicious title. The Eagle Scout is performance-based and has high standards that have been well- maintained over the past century. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout is obligated to pass specific tests that are organized by myriad requirements and merit badges, as well as completing an Eagle Scout project to benefit the community. Matthew has been recognized as a valuable member of Troop 15, and has served in various leadership positions like Troop Guide and Senior Patrol Leader. His Eagle Scout project was to clean, repair, and refurbish an outdoor band shell for the picnic grove of the Salem UCC Church in Dover, Pennsylvania. I have long appreciated the commitment of people who demonstrate hard work and selfless devotion to serving our communities and fellow citizens. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, I recognize and congratulate Eagle Scout Matthew Brittain on his great accomplishment and community service. I wish Matthew continued success and Godspeed in his future adventures.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate my constituent, Daniel Risser, for his accomplishment in earning the rank of Eagle Scout. The Eagle Scout designation is the highest advancement rank in scouting; only a small number of Boy Scouts are able to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. The award is a performance-based achievement with high standards that have been well-maintained over the past century. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout is obligated to pass specific tests that are organized by myriad requirements and merit badges, as well as completing an Eagle Scout project to benefit the community. Daniel has been a Scout for ten years, since he joined Troop 150 in the first grade. Since then he has been deeply involved in the organization, rising to become a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow. Daniel also performed a great deal of community services through his involvement in the National Youth Leadership Training Program. I've long appreciated the commitment of people who demonstrate hard work and selflessly devote themselves to serving our communities and fellow citizens. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, I commend and congratulate Daniel Risser on his great accomplishment, and wish him Godspeed in his future adventures.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commemorate Corporal Alvin T. Rehmeyer on the 100th Anniversary of his death in World War I. Corporal Rehmeyer was born on September 25, 1898. When the United States entered the First World War and the call to arms sounded, Alvin Rehmeyer left his native Red Lion, Pennsylvania for training at Camp Meade, Maryland. On July 7, 1918, Rehmeyer was sent overseas, where he was assigned to the 316th Infantry Regiment of the famous ``Cross of Lorraine'' 79th Division. Soon afterwards, he and much of the Division were deployed to the front lines. On September 26, 1918, Rehmeyer was declared Missing In Action following an attack during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive--the largest offensive in American military history. His fate was unknown until March 20, 1919, when his gravesite was located near the town of Montfaucon, France. Corporal Rehmeyer is one of the 1,151 Soldiers of the 79th Division who gave their last full measure in defense of the United States and her allies in World War I. On behalf of Pennsylvania's 4th District, I ask that you join me in honoring and commemorating Corporal Alvin T. Rehmeyer on the centennial of his sacrifice; his life exemplified civic virtue in its greatest and noblest form.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, today I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Chad M. Shifflet, a resident of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on his retirement upon 24 years of selfless service to the United States of America. Master Sergeant Shifflet currently serves as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Operations and Training at the 193rd Special Operations Security Squadron. He entered the United States Air Force in 1994, and served in numerous assignments and deployments over his distinguished career. In November 1994, Master Sergeant Shifflet was assigned to the 377th Security Forces Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base from November 1994 to 1998. Following his exemplary commitment to service, he joined the Department of Corrections in July 1998, and went on to enlist in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard (PaANG) in August 1999. Master Sergeant Shifflet was selected to serve on full-time military duty in the PaANG's Active Guard & Reserve force in January 2000. MSgt Shifflet's numerous commendations and awards--which include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medal, Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, to name a few--are a testament to his steadfast courage, personal integrity, unwavering work ethic, and impeccable character. His enduring legacy of service to our Nation is exceptional and sets the standard for all to follow. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, I commend and congratulate my fellow Brother-in-Arms, Master Sergeant Chad M. Shifflet, upon his retirement and for his tireless and selfless service to the United States of America.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to recognize York College of Pennsylvania on its 50th Anniversary. Higher education in York County first began in 1767, when Reverend John Andrews established York County Academy to teach German immigrants English, Latin, and Greek. In 1873, the York Collegiate Institute opened its doors after generous donations from Samuel Small. The two schools merged in 1941 to form the present York College of Pennsylvania, and established its accredited Bachelor's Degree program in 1968. Today, York College of Pennsylvania offers more than fifty baccalaureate majors in various professional programs, the sciences and humanities. The College also offers Master's programs in business, education and nursing, as well as a Doctoral program in nursing practice. A faculty of 154 full-time professors educates over five thousand students from across the Country. Mr. Speaker, I'm privileged to commemorate York College of Pennsylvania as it celebrates its 50th Anniversary. On behalf of a grateful community, I thank the College faculty and staff for their tireless service to the community, and their dedication to educating many generations of Americans.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Conewago Township on its 200th Anniversary. Conewago Township formally was created in 1818 from portions of Newberry and Dover Townships. The name ``Conewago'' is of Iroquois Native American origin, meaning ``at the rapids.'' The Township's authentic natural beauty, underscored by its rolling hills and rich farmland, give our residents great sense of pride in our community. In the past eight years alone, Conewago Township has undergone a significant housing boon, increasing its population from 7,510 to almost 9,000, an increase of nearly 20 percent. Conewago is the home to two villages, Zion View and Strinestown, the latter being founded in 1800. Residents are hard-working and selfless; their generosity of spirit is perhaps best exemplified in the 200th Anniversary celebration itself; while they will mark a significant milestone in their community's history, they also will have a Red Cross blood drive and donate to Northeastern Food Bank. On behalf of Pennsylvania's 4th District, I commend and congratulate Conewago Township, Pennsylvania, on its 200th Anniversary and wish our residents the very best in their future adventures.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 389. Amendment No. 2 Offered by Ms. DeGette

Mr. PERRY

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

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6438) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Department of Homeland Security an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Coordinator, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6438, the DHS Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Coordinator Act. In 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration estimated that there were 1.9 million consumer unmanned aircraft systems vehicles, commonly known as drones, in the U.S. This number is expected to grow to a staggering 4.3 million by the end of 2020. The increased availability and expanded use of drones has led to concerns over the potential risks to national security. Drones provide malicious actors both a robust aerial delivery mechanism for potentially hazardous payloads and anonymity in carrying out an attack. This threat is not just imaginary. Known incidents involving drones have included weaponized use by ISIS and cartels, smuggling operations, intrusions at NFL and Olympic stadiums, and damage to electrical grid infrastructure in Canada. Several DHS offices and components assess drone threats and are members of interagency and industry drone working groups which promote information sharing, research, and joint problem-solving initiatives. However, DHS currently does not have a centralized, departmentwide official responsible for the coordination of counter-drone policies and activities. H.R. 6438 authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to designate a countering unmanned aircraft systems coordinator at the Department to serve as the lead DHS official for coordinating counter-drone threat planning policies and plans. H.R. 6438 enables DHS to centralize the coordination of counter-drone threat planning efforts under one official. Under H.R. 6438, the countering UAS coordinator is responsible for coordinating with relevant DHS components on the development of policies and plans to counter threats from drones. The countering UAS coordinator promotes the research and development of counter-drone technologies within the Department and ensures that information and guidance regarding drone threats is disseminated across the Department as appropriate. The coordinator will also serve as the principal Department official responsible for disseminating information to the private sector regarding DHS counter-drone measures and will ensure that DHS counter- drone activities are carried out in accordance with Federal laws. H.R. 6438 is an important and timely piece of legislation that seeks to further prepare the Department in carrying out its duties in countering this emerging threat. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6438, and I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, September 4, 2018. Hon. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul: I write concerning H.R. 6438, the DHS Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Coordinator Act. This legislation includes matters that I believe fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 6438, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo action on this bill, including seeking a sequential referral. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. Finally, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I ask that you support my request to have the Committee represented on the conference committee. Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the Congressional Record during House Floor consideration of the bill. I look forward to working with the Committee on Homeland Security as the bill moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Bill Shuster, Chairman.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey. She has been a leader on this issue, and it is something that is important to both of us and to our country. I applaud her efforts and thank her for her support of these efforts. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6438, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, today I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Sally Panzar, a resident of York Haven, Pennsylvania, on her upcoming retirement after nearly 25 years of service to the United States of America. Technical Sergeant Panzar currently serves as the Unit Training Manager and Unit Deployment Manager at the 193 Special Operations Wing Logistics Squadron. She entered the United States Air Force in 1993, and served in numerous assignments, to include humanitarian missions such as TROPICARE 2013, as well as Turkey and Saudi Arabia during Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch, respectively. Her numerous commendations and awards, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and others, are a testament to her steadfast courage, personal integrity, dedication, and impeccable character. Her enduring legacy of service to our Nation is truly exceptional and sets a standard for all to follow. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, I commend and congratulate my fellow soldier, Technical Sergeant Sally Panzar, upon her retirement and for her tireless service to the United States of America

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 367.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, are we or are we not a sovereign Nation? I think that most people would agree that we are, and, as such, we don't take issue with the Congress, with the administration doing its job to keep our air clean and to make treaties and provisions with other nations. But what we do take issue with is other nations working with, potentially, this administration, any administration, that comes up with an agreement not ratified by the American people, not ratified by this body or the body on the other side of the Capitol to encroach upon the constitutional rights of States to regulate their own environmental emissions, as provided. So it is not a question of whether we think that the climate isn't changing, man has something to do with it, or whether it should be regulated or how it should be regulated. It is a question of the authority vested in the Constitution, in these bodies, and the ones that are not. It is not the place of unelected bureaucrats or individuals to make an agreement with some other nation, then to impose itself on the States individually. That is all we are saying here. It has passed on numerous occasions because it is good. The President got us out of the Paris climate agreement, but that doesn't mean that some other administration in the future might make another agreement that, yet again, the American people had no part in; neither did this body. So this just ensures that if that is the case, we have the protection that this body should provide. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, the EPA has imposed these substantial competitive barriers, despite the industry's significant reduction in methane emissions through their own initiatives and innovation. What is not known is that through the EPA's own analysis, it shows that methane emissions from hydraulically fractured gas wells have actually fallen dramatically. According to EPA data--not my data, but EPA data--methane emissions from oil and gas production declined by 38 percent from 2005 to 2012, and methane emissions from hydraulically fractured natural gas wells have plummeted 73 percent since 2011. Total methane emissions from natural gas systems actually are down 11 percent since 2005, despite the significant production increases over this time period. This is a prime example of market forces at work. American producers developed innovative means of capturing additional methane because doing so means they have more product to sell. Profitability, rather than a top-down Washington regulation, drove this unprecedented emissions reduction. In fact, in 2012 alone, voluntary methane emission reductions activities by the U.S. oil and gas industry generated $364 million in additional revenue. Unfortunately, the methane rule represents the kind of one-size-fits- all policy that will actually stifle innovation and discourage further investment in emission reduction technology. Actually, as a result, the EPA's methane rule, if allowed to stand, will not only lead to economic harm, but environmental harm as well. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, this amendment prohibits the use of funds to take retaliatory actions against individual States. Importantly, this amendment would not prevent the EPA from working with States to restore the bay. In 1985, the States in the Chesapeake Bay region recognized the need to address pollutants in the bay and, through their own initiative, came together to conduct cleanup efforts. These State-driven efforts were largely successful. As a matter of fact, water quality improved almost 50 percent from 1985 to 2010. However, in 2010, the EPA seized the States' authority to determine their own continued compliance and threatened to dictate Federal requirements if the States were unable to comply. This 2010 power grab, known as the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, directly contradicts the intent of the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act clearly acknowledges State authority in water quality and requires cooperation rather than coercion between the States and the Federal Government. These coercive methods have been tried and imposed and have failed. Actually, water quality has not improved since the federalization of the bay cleanup efforts. It is simply imperative that we return the constitutional rights of the States to make their own water quality improvement decisions and restore the State control that has been shown to actually improve water quality. The future of the Chesapeake Bay depends on it.

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

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I want to start by thanking Chairman Calvert for this opportunity. Mr. Chair, this amendment prohibits the EPA from using funds for actions pursuant to section 115 of the Clean Air Act. Section 115 of the Clean Air Act allows the agency to mandate State emissions levels to whatever level the agency deems appropriate if, in collaboration with a foreign government, they determine endangerment and if the other government has a reciprocal agreement to prevent or control these emissions in their own nation. Now, this is a backdoor provision that allows the agency to vastly expand its regulatory authority and encroach on the constitutional rights of the States to regulate their own energy sectors, based on the actions of a foreign nation and the whims of the executive branch. It is irresponsible to allow unelected bureaucrats at the EPA to retain the ability to seize such an expansive authority. If the U.S. government wants to pursue such a policy, one that, in my opinion, is constitutionally suspect, it should be done through an explicit congressional delegation of authority on a case-by-case basis. A similar amendment has passed the House during the interior and environmental appropriations packages for the previous 2 fiscal years, Mr. Chairman. I urge my colleagues to take back our Article I authority and support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, garbage in equals garbage out. We have heard this on numerous occasions. And in this instance, the international--or correction--the Interagency Working Group has chosen to disregard the policy decisions from OMB Circular A-4 regarding how they set the modeling. And as a result of that, they have--interestingly, the analysis generated by them would have been 80 percent lower than the mean SCC value if they had followed the guidance. And the result overstates the benefits by at least four times relative to what it would be if only the national benefits were considered as OMB directs. This is a blatant pattern of disregard, Mr. Chairman, for the OMB guidance in order to inflate the SCC and begs the question how many input decisions were responsible where responsible people could disagree were selected in order only to inflate the SCC value. Let's restore the faith and vote for this amendment.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, the voting machine did not record my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 284.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Bakers Creek Air Crash on June 14, 1943, in which forty U.S. Army Air Corps Service Members tragically perished at Bakers Creek, Queensland, Australia during World War II. These deaths were the result of the crash of a B-17C Flying Fortress, which proved to be the worst aviation disaster of the Southwest Pacific War. More men died on that plane from Pennsylvania (6) than from any other State. The PA Fallen were: Pvt James E. Finney/Erie; T/Sgt Alfred H. Frezza/Altoona; Sgt Donald B. Kyper/Huntingdon; Pfc Frank S. Penska/ Moscow; Sgt Anthony Rudnick/Philadelphia; and Cpl Raymond H. Smith/Oil City. Only since passing the FY06 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 109-163) has Congress officially recognized this previously classified wartime accident. Previously, most of the crash victims' Families were left in the dark about the truth of their loved ones' deaths in World War II. A dozen years ago, many of my colleagues actively supported efforts to place a memorial in Arlington. Moreover, in June 2008, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed a resolution designating June 14th as ``Bakers Creek Memorial Day.'' I understand that Colonel Kimberly A. Peeples, Garrison Commander, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, the Honorable Joe Hockey, Australian Ambassador to the United States, and U.S. Fifth Air Force Commander, General Ralph E. Eberhart, USAF Ret will place a wreath at the Bakers Creek Memorial to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the crash. I applaud the Service Members at JBM-HH and members of the Bakers Creek Memorial Association for their continued efforts to help bring closure to the casualty Families with annual public remembrance ceremonies for the forty American Servicemen who perished at Bakers Creek in Australia during World War II.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On May 28, 1918, Azerbaijan declared its independence following the Bolshevik victory in the Russian Revolution of 1917, and the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Caucasian Front during World War I. Just 2 years later, Azerbaijan fell to the Red Army and lost its independence to the Soviet Union. While its initial independence was short, it laid the foundation for the country that exists today. Since ultimately gaining its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has played an increasing important role in the region and the world. Azerbaijan is a key military ally to the United States. Its peacekeepers have served alongside American and NATO troops in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Today, Azerbaijan has 120 troops in Afghanistan supporting the NATO-led Resolute Support mission there. Azerbaijan also became a leader in the energy sector. Since one of the world's first oil wells was drilled south of Baku in 1848, Azerbaijan has developed its natural resources and is helping to reduce Europe's reliance on Russian gas through the development of the Trans- Anatolian Pipeline. The Baku Flame Towers, now a global city for the country, pays homage to Azerbaijan's nickname, ``the land of fire,'' hailing from the rich deposits of natural gas. The United States is grateful for Azerbaijan's friendship and we wish its people continued peace and prosperity.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, the current U.S. sugar program represents an anti-free market scheme that imposes a massive hidden tax on both American businesses and consumers for the benefit of a small, concentrated group of special interests. People say, well, we have got the safest, cheapest food source in the world in the United States. It is cheap because we are paying for it with our taxes. These are Soviet-style policies imposing significant, unnecessary costs on the domestic food manufacturing industry and the consumer. Policies have imposed $2.4 billion to $4 billion worth of losses to sugar users across the Nation. These industries provide jobs to 600,000 Americans, including 40,000 Pennsylvanians. Mr. Chairman, I urge passage.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to honor the Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna, located in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, on its 100th Anniversary of supporting our Nation's warfighting and peacekeeping forces. In 1817, the United States government purchased 832 acres of farmland and began the construction of the Marsh Run Storage Depot, located in a small town just outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. A ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the depot in November of 1918. During that first year, the installation served as a receiving point for supplies returning from overseas. The next few years, the depot provided engineer and chemical warfare support and then from 1921 to 1941, the base was a quartermaster, ordnance, signal and medical inactive storage area. From 1941 to 1946, the depot served as a WWII reception center and recruit processing center. Then from 1945 to 1949, it was a German and Italian prisoner of war camp. From 1955 through 1985, Chinook helicopters were repaired and maintained on the depot. The depot provided an air maintenance mission from 1958 through 1983. During that timeframe, in 1962, the name changed to New Cumberland Army Depot, or NCAD. In 1991, as a result of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions, the depot became part of the Defense Logistics Agency and is now known as the Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna. Since 1991, the Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna, the largest distribution center within the Department of Defense, has provided military and commercial repair parts, medical supplies and industrial and electronic components to the Department of Defense in support of the warfighter. From the beginning of its humble history, the Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna has provided unwavering support to our military-- providing critical supplies needed to perform their mission. As someone who has served in several combat theaters, the world-class support to the Warfighter provided by the Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna was greatly appreciated by my brothers-and-sisters-in-arms. The men and women of this installation, past and present, should be justifiably proud of their role in sustaining our Nation's military readiness. It's with great pride, on behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, that I congratulate the men and women of the Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna for 100 years of dedicated service to the United States of America.