Scott Perry

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4785, the DHS Stop Asset and Vehicle Excess Act, or the DHS SAVE Act, of 2016. In October of 2015, the DHS inspector general released a scathing report of the Federal Protective Service's management of its vehicle fleet, a report that reads like a laundry list of poor management decisions. The IG found that the Federal Protective Service had more vehicles than officers, and officers were authorized to drive from home to work with government-owned vehicles, the bigger problem being that that was where they got the bulk of the mileage on the vehicles--from home to work and back--and not actually on the job. Additionally, the report stated that the FPS was not in compliance with Federal and departmental requirements, which is why I introduced the DHS SAVE Act. This bill improves the management of DHS' vehicle fleets by authorizing the Under Secretary for Management at the headquarters level to oversee the components' vehicle fleets; it requires the components to evaluate their fleets on an ongoing basis; it includes penalties for the mismanagement of component fleets; and it requires the DHS to identify alternative methods for the management of component fleets. With the second largest civilian vehicle fleet in the Federal Government, the DHS must absolutely have stricter controls in place at the headquarters level in order to rein in rogue components. I urge all Members to join me in supporting this important bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, today I honor my constituent, Colonel David R. Gann, on his retirement upon more than 40 years of service with the United States Air Force, United States Army Reserve and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Since December 2004, Colonel Gann has served as Commander of the 193rd Special Operations Medical Group of the 193rd Special Operations Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard. He previously served as a medic and emergency medical technician in the active Air Force and as chief warrant officer/physician assistant in the Army Reserve. Colonel Gann deployed on numerous occasions in direct medical support of Operations Desert Storm, Uphold Democracy, Joint Guard, Desert Thunder, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He has earned numerous awards and decorations for his service. Colonel Gann's tireless dedication, professionalism and sacrifice touched the lives of countless people and challenged all with whom he served to be the best. He's left an enduring legacy of service to our Nation. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, with great pride I commend and congratulate David R. Gann upon his retirement after more than 40 years of selfless service to the United States of America.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, Angie LeGore was a beautiful girl with a heart of gold and a smile that would light up a room. She loved to sing and would sing with her mother in church. Angie loved dressing up and she loved dressing in jeans and wrestling in the dirt with her brothers. Because of her character, compassion and listening ear, children with troubles were attracted to Angie. She became the go to person for help. Angie loved writing and kept journals about what she wanted her life to look like when she grew up. Angie was focused on a career as a journalist. Telling stories was an art of Angie's. Unfortunately, Angie's one weakness would be her downfall. Angie wanted friends to like her and so she was a follower. Before she knew it, Angie followed others right into a life of addiction. In 1997, Angie admitted to her mother that she was using heroin. Her mother, at the time, was uneducated about the drug and said, ``Angie, if you love me you can quit.'' Angie tried to explain the power of the drug: ``Mom, I need this drug like I need air to breathe.'' After a few months, an overdose, and much begging on her mother's part, Angie agreed that she needed help and signed herself into a treatment facility. Angie stayed there for a few weeks, but the call of heroin was too great. Angie left treatment and returned to her addiction. She called her mother a few days later: ``I'm in a black hole and I can't get out.'' Angie's mother begged her to go back to treatment and Angie said she would call her the next day. They said their usual, ``I love you's'' and signed off. Having had a few weeks clean, Angie's tolerance had decreased dramatically. On February 10th Angie's body was found near a muddy creek after having been thrown down an embankment by her dealer. The dealer had left Angie unconscious on his floor from Monday night until Tuesday night while she struggled to breathe. By the time he got home from a party on Tuesday, Angie was dead. The dealer and a friend loaded Angie into his car and dumped her body. The dealer was eventually found and prosecuted for involuntary manslaughter, seven drug violations including three felonies, and abuse of a corpse. Despite never having used drugs or alcohol herself, Angie's mother has struggled with addiction all her life. The power that opioids and heroin have had on her children is nothing short of a tragedy. This is a family disease and must be treated as such. Over the eighteen years that she has been working on substance abuse treatment and recovery concerns, there has always been a severe lack of funding. It is time that addiction is treated as it would any other disease that has become a national crisis. Fund the solutions.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, the current bill cuts hydropower by $15 million, and this amendment seeks to restore it. It offsets it with Department of Energy, or DOE, administrative costs. Actually, the amendment reduces outlays by $8 million because, Mr. Chair, water power programs are vitally important to reducing our dependence on foreign energy sources. Hydropower is available in every region of the country, every single region. Literally, 2,200 hydropower plants provide America's most abundant source of clean, renewable energy and account for 67 percent of domestic renewable generation, for a total of 7 percent of the total generation across the country. This amendment stands to create 1.4 million new jobs by 2025, Mr. Chair, and this would be harnessing a truly renewable and green source of energy. Let me just talk about some of the advantages of hydro as opposed to wind and solar. Hydro has a predictable, year-round output. Solar and wind require, often, a battery backup or an alternative power source if they are going to be viable. Even routine maintenance on a windmill way up there is problematic and expensive, where hydro is right down on the ground where we are. It is easy to maintain. Hydropower facilities are quiet and often unobtrusive. Most of the neighbors don't even know they are there. Oftentimes, we hear complaints about wind generation and the noise it also generates along with the power. Hydropower--I think this is the most important--is baseload. It is a baseload source of energy. It occurs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is actually what backs up the other intermittent sources of alternative energy. So, it is really important in that context. Now, hydropower faces a comprehensive regulatory approval process, and some folks don't like that. But the important part about that is everybody is involved: FERC, Federal and State resource agencies, local governments, tribes, NGOs, and the public. Everybody gets buy-in before a hydro plant goes on line. Sixty thousand megawatts of preliminary permits and projects await final approval and are pending currently before the Commission in 45 States. Mr. Chair, this is not parochial. There are 80,000 nonpowered dams across the U.S. right now that could accept hydropower. There are 600 that have an immediate capability to produce energy right now. That is 80,000 and 600 across the country right now. Pennsylvania, itself, has 678 megawatts of untapped power in the form of hydro. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for the opportunity to offer the amendment. I understand the $15 million concerns some Members, and I, too, am concerned about spending. So this one is bipartisan, but I am hopeful others will follow.

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

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I want to congratulate my good friend and colleague from Oregon. She has been a champion on this before. She fully understands, as I do, that resources across the country are strained. We don't have a lot of extra money to go around. And for all the reasons that I pointed out and the reasons that she pointed out and the Northwest agreeing with the Northeast, let's work together on what works. We know this works. It is one of the oldest sources of electric energy in the world. Why are we wasting our time and collective energy in the form of funds and time on these other things that might be nice and they might be great years after the development, but this works right now and doesn't break the bank? This is a good amendment, and I urge all my colleagues on both sides to support it. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I seek the time in opposition, though I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, today I honor William E. Troxell on his May 31, 2016, retirement as mayor of the borough of Gettysburg. Mr. Troxell was born in Gettysburg and is a direct descendant of John Troxell, the first settler of Gettysburg. Mr. Troxell is a World War II veteran and served 12 years in the United States Army Reserve. William is best known, however, as Mayor Troxell of Gettysburg, a position he has held since 1997 and performed with zeal, professionalism, and class. William has left an enduring legacy of service to Gettysburg and our Nation. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District and a grateful nation, I am proud and humbled to congratulate William E. Troxell on his retirement and wish him great health, happiness, and prosperity in his future adventures.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, today I honor William E. Troxell on his May 31, 2016 retirement as Mayor of the Borough of Gettysburg. Mr. Troxell was born in Gettysburg and is a direct descendant of John Troxell, the first settler of Gettysburg. He is a World War II Veteran and served 12 years in the United States Army Reserve. He returned home to serve in the private sector for many years, and then served for 29 years with the Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 as a teacher, football coach, athletic director, among other positions. Mr. Troxell's dedication to Gettysburg and its surrounding community is unmatched. He was a member of the Gettysburg Country Club, American Legion Post 202, the Gettysburg Good Samaritan Masonic Lodge No. 336 and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Arie 1562. Mr. Troxell is a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park, served on the National Park Advisory Commission and is a member of both the Adams County Historical Society and the U.S.S. Gettysburg Association. William is best known, however, as Mayor Troxell of Gettysburg; a position he's held since 1997 and performed with zeal, professionalism and class. His dedication to duty as Mayor of ``America's Most Famous Small Town'' has earned him the respect of countless officials and citizens with whom he's interacted. William has left an enduring legacy of service to Gettysburg and our Nation. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District and a grateful Nation, I'm proud and humbled to congratulate William E. Troxell on his retirement and wish him great health, happiness and prosperity in his future adventures.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I just want to reiterate that this does not take this tool out of the toolbox. It just doesn't require it. With all due respect to those who say, well, it stops strikes from happening and it makes sure it is on time and on budget, a simple contract that millions of Americans sign every single day without a project labor agreement does that already. If project labor agreements are necessary, why aren't we all doing it with the work on our homes or the work on our businesses? The fact is it is not done everywhere because it is not necessary. The fact is it discourages participation, because you can participate if you want to join the union, or at least de facto join the union because you are going to do everything by the union code, every single thing, all your employees, all your representation. I urge adoption of the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, in 2009, the President issued Executive Order 13502, which strongly encourages Federal agencies to require project labor agreements, or PLAs, on Federal construction projects exceeding $25 million in cost. This amendment simply states, as already read, that none of the funds made available by this act may be used to implement or enforce this executive order. Now, project labor agreements, Mr. Chair, discourage what is called a merit shop contractor from bidding on taxpayer-funded construction contracts. Let me be clear. That means, if you don't have a union, you can't even bid. By the way, the vast majority of all work conducted in the United States, private or government, is conducted by nonunion contractors. It is not meant to disparage unions. It is just saying that there should be open competition for everybody. Because it is a limited competition, it actually drives up the cost that each of us pay for the construction, somewhere between 12 and 18 percent, needlessly. Even if it is only 12 percent, why pay it? It results in fewer infrastructure improvements simply because there is just not as much money because we are paying more for the ones that we are doing. It is a project-specific collective bargaining agreement with multiple unions that is unique only to the construction industry. It is done nowhere else, only in the construction industry. Now, the NLRA permits construction employees to execute a PLA, a project labor agreement, voluntarily. When the PLA is mandated by a government agency, construction contracts can be awarded only to contracts and subcontractors that agree to the terms and conditions of the PLA, essentially making them a union organization. Typically, the contractors have to recognize the union as the representative of their employees. No longer is the private business the representative, but only the union is the representative, and they have to hire from the union hall. Furthermore, if you ever pay prevailing wage or the Federal minimum wage for these kinds of projects, there is a thing called the fringe benefits, which includes your medical, your dental, your retirement. Those all will be put into union-managed benefits and pension programs. So even if you are a private employer that is not unionized, all that money, all those fringe benefits go to those programs. You must obey the restrictive and sometimes inefficient rules of job classification. So, for instance, if you are an electrician, you might want to wire something up, but if you need some conduit, you can't go get it because you are not a laborer. You are an electrician, and you have to wait for the laborer to go get it. That doesn't happen in nonunion environments. It is just inefficient. Furthermore, PLAs force employees to pay union dues, whether they are in the union or not, and then accept unwanted union representation. They also forfeit the benefits earned during the life of the project unless they join the union and become vested in union benefit plans. So they lose all that. Quite honestly, it is just simply a union recruiting plan at taxpayer expense. I don't have problems with the union; I just don't think that we should be paying for them. The PLA requirements and preferences on taxpayer-funded contracts expose procurement officials to intense political pressure because they are not negotiating normally. It is negotiated under the terms of the project labor agreement, not just a regular contract where you agree to do so much work and we would agree to pay so much. You agree to do it at this time, and we agree to accept that timeframe. It disrupts local collective bargaining agreements already in place because it is contract specific for the project at the time. Obviously, because of that, it stifles competition. You stifle competition, it raises the cost. Who is paying the extra cost? The American taxpayer. It creates, or potentially creates, contracting and construction delays. We don't need any more delays at the VA. I think we have been through that plenty of times. Now, we just want to get the best price. We want everybody involved. We want everybody able to bid and able to participate. Let the government, let the taxpayer get the best job for the best price. Under this amendment, PLAs for military construction would not be forbidden. They are still not forbidden; they are just not mandated. Again, this amendment simply allows none of the funds made by the executive order to be used to implement or enforce Executive Order 13502. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, Wendy's, one of the world's largest fast-food chains, plans to replace human employees with automated self-service kiosks in many of its 6,500 restaurants around the country and around the world in an effort to counteract minimum wage hikes throughout the United States. I don't blame Wendy's at all. They can either react or they can close up their doors, and then no one will be working. The economics on the issue are pretty clear. Wendy's is doing what they have to do to survive, and others will certainly follow suit. They will adapt, or they will be gone. When the government unnecessarily and unilaterally increases the cost of labor and imposes it on the job creators, the jobs are probably going to be replaced through automation and technological advancement. This is nothing new. This technology is not new. Wendy's could have done this a long time ago if they just wanted to maximize their profits, as every single corporation in America seems to be accused of doing these days. But these are the job creators. These are the job makers. They have chosen now because they have no other choice. Many people say that this is an artificial wage and that it actually discourages employment and distorts the market. Well, here is the proof. This is exactly what is happening. And don't blame Wendy's. They are trying to survive in a 2 percent economy. Mr. Speaker, let's not lock out millions of people from their entry- level employment. I am a person who worked for less than minimum wage. One time I asked my boss at the time, I said: ``Do I make minimum wage?'' And he said: ``No, you are not worth it.'' I was just barely in high school. I didn't have much to offer, except a strong back and showing up on time with a good attitude, and he paid me for that, and I worked my way up. The squeeze on the middle class is real. It is painful for tens of millions of anxiety-ridden Americans who don't know whether they are going to have a job, even though it might be their entry-level job. It might be the job that they could get in a 2 percent economy. Some people say that we are just transferring the jobs to those who will build kiosks or robots. Well, I have got to tell you, folks, I suspect that those jobs are not minimum wage jobs, so that is not going to be of much help. And, oh, by the way, I suspect they won't be in your hometown where your Wendy's is. So if you have got a job there and it is going to be displaced or replaced with one building a kiosk, unless you are planning to move to where they are building that, that is not going to be of much solace or help to your family. What this country needs is a pro-growth agenda to help raise everyone's wages to provide the opportunity for everyone to get started somewhere and then move up, just like I did, without hurting the people already struggling to get by. What we don't need is more liberal, wrong-headed, unilateral, ideological-driven government regulation that destroys our jobs and livelihoods.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express deep concern over the recent surge in hostilities along the front line between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This outbreak of violence has claimed dozens of lives on both sides. The recent violent clashes followed a successful visit to the U.S. by President Aliyev of Azerbaijan, which included meetings with Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Kerry, as both reaffirmed U.S. support for expanding ties with Azerbaijan, a reliable strategic partner in a tough neighborhood. Given Russia's apprehension with the strategic Southern Gas Corridor project championed by Azerbaijan and providing energy security for our allies in Europe, and Azerbaijan's security alliance with the United States, this latest upsurge in fighting is a another sign of Moscow's meddling in the affairs of states along its borders. As we've seen in Eastern Ukraine and Georgia, Russia continues to exploit separatist movements along its periphery to pressure America's friends and bring them back into its orbit. Unfortunately, it's not the first time that Armenia--the Kremlin's key regional ally and the host to a number of Russian military bases-- is being used as a proxy to intimidate U.S. partners, including Azerbaijan and Georgia. As the latest loss of life shows, Armenia's nearly complete economic, political and military dependence on Russia no longer is a threat to its neighbors alone--it's a security challenge to Armenia itself. These latest hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia once again remind us of the urgency to find a peaceful solution to the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I urge the Administration to step up its efforts to achieve a peaceful solution and work with both sides to stabilize the situation. Meanwhile, in the face of increasing Russian interference and aggression against its neighbors, the United States should remain steadfast in its support for our friends in Azerbaijan.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, many Americans are deeply concerned over the recent surge in hostilities along the front line between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This outbreak of violence has claimed dozens of lives on both sides. As we have seen in eastern Ukraine and Georgia, Russia continues to exploit separatist movements along its periphery to pressure America's friends and bring them back into its orbit. We must remain steadfast in our support for our friends in Azerbaijan in the face of this Russian meddling. These latest hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia, once again, remind us of the urgency to find a peaceful solution to the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I urge the administration to step up its efforts to achieve a peaceful solution and to work with both sides to stabilize the situation.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, today I honor my constituent, Craig K. Robbins, on his upcoming retirement after 32 years with the East Pennsboro Area School District in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Robbins has served his students in numerous capacities, to include special education teacher, head track and football coach, assistant principal, and for the last 17 years, principal of East Pennsboro Area High School. Mr. Robbins also helped found and maintain the Family Fund, a charity that has raised more than $150,000 for local families in crisis. From the beginning of his career, Mr. Robbins was the epitome of professionalism and tireless devotion to his duty--positively impacting countless students, teachers and families. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, with great pride I commend and congratulate Craig K. Robbins upon his retirement after 32 years of selfless service to the East Pennsboro Area School District.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, this year, job creators should expect significant changes to Federal wage and hour laws, throwing yet one more hurdle in front of them and their employees as the U.S. Department of Labor, the DOL, finalizes new overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act, or the FLSA. The basic premise of the FLSA, which applies to many Pennsylvania employers, is that if you are receiving a salary, it must be because your employer is cheating you. The rule that has the force of law discourages salaried employees and discourages the give-and-take between employee and employer to work for the best interest of each one. There are limited exceptions to the FLSA's overtime obligations for narrow categories of employees and for those in particular industries and occupations. The most common exemptions are for white-collar employees like executive, administrative, and professional employees. Currently, an employee must satisfy three criteria to qualify as exempt from Federal overtime pay: first, you must make a salary; second, your salary must be more than $455 per week, or $23,660 annually; and third, your primary duties must be consistent with managerial, professional, or administrative positions as defined by the Department of Labor. They don't know every single job in every community across the country, but yet they are the ones that decide, not the people actually doing the work or the ones who started and own the business. Last year, the DOL proposed arbitrarily increasing the salary threshold to $50,440 per year, a 113 percent increase, just arbitrarily said that is the way it is going to be. It also proposed automatically increasing the salary threshold on an annual basis regardless of what the economy is. If the economy grew at 4 percent, I guess it would be one thing. If it didn't grow or it grew at 0.3 percent, which is what GDP is currently, it would still go up--again, just arbitrary. This doesn't come from Congress. This isn't bandied back and forth between the Democrats and the Republicans, between the House and the Senate. This is just bureaucrats making a rule, the force of law. These proposed rules will bring sweeping changes to Federal wage and hour laws, and they will be especially burdensome on rural areas, like central Pennsylvania. They will also significantly impact local governments, nonprofit organizations, and small retailers, among many others. Because of this rule, for instance, a dry cleaner that I met with recently simply is going to have to make a choice. They are either going to hire fewer people or raise prices for their customers. I recently met with county commissioners in the district I am privileged to represent. If the requirement is raised, as DOL proposes, 50 county employees will be affected, which will result in either fewer employees or nearly $400,000 in expenses for the county moving forward. How do you think they are going to offset those costs if they don't lose those employees or fire those employees? You guessed it. You and I are going to pay--the local taxpayers. I also met with the YWCA in my district, a nonprofit organization. They looked at the potential impact of these regulations and determined that approximately 30 staff members would be affected, resulting in either a loss of jobs or an additional expense of over $200,000. For a nonprofit that is struggling to get by, struggling to provide services--whether it is a daycare for underprivileged folks--or just to keep the doors open, they are going to have to make a choice, all because of a rule that didn't come from here. It came from the regulators, as usual, who aren't interested in the input of the Nation's citizens in all too many cases. This is just another example of bureaucrats of the administrative state--in this case, the Department of Labor--developing top-down regulations that crush organizations like nonprofits, small businesses, and communities that can least afford it. For this reason, I am happy to support a solution. We shouldn't have to provide this solution because this is really a problem that doesn't exist. But there is a solution, the Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act, introduced by my colleague from Michigan, Mr. Tim Walberg, which prevents the DOL from implementing this misguided and completely unnecessary proposal and rule. I strongly urge other Members to support this important legislation as well.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Tennessee for offering this bill, as well as Chairman McCaul for bringing it to the floor. When the terrorists attacked in San Bernardino, many Americans said: What are we doing? When you find out that these folks are trafficking on the Internet and messaging, they say: Where is our FBI? Where are the services protecting us, and why aren't they doing everything they can? This is one thing they can do is offer testimonials from people who have been there who can give other people who might be interested in joining the truth. Yet there are some folks here who don't want to do that. They are interested in misrepresenting this bill. I want to remind everybody that this bill is the result of a bipartisan task force, a bipartisan task force, Member-led, that said we need to do exactly this, and unanimously move this forward to the full committee. They say it is unnecessary. Well, if it is unnecessary, why isn't Homeland Security doing this already? Why not? How long are they going to wait? They say that they offered amendments. Really? They offered amendments? They couldn't be bothered to answer the chairman's call when he said: Hey, can you collaborate with us on this so we have a good bill that everybody is involved in. They waited until the day of the markup, and then came in with a bunch of amendments and concerns. It was apparent that all they wanted to do was slow the process down and, as a matter of fact, move the process to some other date. How long are we going to wait? Do you want to ask the relatives of those who are killed by these people how long they want to wait? How about the next ones? Now, some on the other side have picked this up as this is a politically motivated agenda. I say some because not all. As a matter of fact, many on the other side voted to move this bill right to the floor where it is now. I don't understand why they would want to have America be less safe. I don't understand, Mr. Speaker. We spent 4 hours--4 hours--going over a two-page bill. Two pages. We entertained what they wanted to change, and we did make some changes, but it was apparent that all they wanted to really do was stall and stall and move this process forward down the line and never get to it. Mr. Speaker, we don't have any choice. We have to move forward now. Those in opposition are simply willfully refusing to see what all America sees. We need to address this threat immediately. It is a two- page bill, and it doesn't deny Homeland Security from doing anything that it has already been doing. As a matter of fact, these folks on the other side demanded at that markup--they demanded--that we say that Homeland Security must do this. And the chairman said: Okay, if you want to demand that they do it, we will demand that they do it. Mr. Speaker, I think we ought to make America safe and pass this bill.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, today I honor the 100th Anniversary of the Adams County Penn State Extension Program. From its beginnings at the Adams County Courthouse in 1916 until today, Adams County Extension has provided practical agriculture education to empower the citizens, businesses, and local communities in Adams County to solve problems, develop skills and build a better future. The Adams County Penn State Extension program has been a community leader in supporting productive, profitable, and competitive businesses as well as a strong agriculture and food system. The Extension has helped to ensure the long-term vitality of our natural resources and strengthened families and communities throughout Adams County. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, I'm proud to have this program in our District and congratulate the staff, volunteers and supporters on the 100th Anniversary of the Adams County Penn State Extension program.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, yesterday was tax day--or at least the deadline for filing and paying your taxes. I can't imagine very many citizens look forward to that. We all know that we have to do our part, but we are often frustrated by the unacceptable waste of government spending. We all work hard; yet, they take our money and oftentimes spend it on things that we find objectionable or, worse, they simply waste it. To add insult to injury, government doesn't have to follow the same standards that every citizen has to. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the IRS and its Commissioner, who scoffs at the very same rules that every other citizen has to abide by. Now, I would just ask you: If you got subpoenaed to produce documents and to protect documents and just ignored it, how do you think that would go for you? If you lied to government officials--let's say government officials in the IRS--about your tax records, knowing that they are requirements, and you just refused to provide them, how do you think that that would be for you? This is just another example of two sets of standards, one for the ruling class and another for the rest of the citizens. It was never intended to be this way, essentially where we are forced to serve our government. In this particular case, these folks just had the wrong opinions about their government and they were sure that they would be protected under the First Amendment, protected from reprisal and punishment, but that is simply not the case. Exactly what happened is that the IRS sought to cover up and blame others that had nothing to do with what happened. Remember, the feared and omnipowerful IRS targeted and punished certain Americans solely because of what they thought of their government, violating their First Amendment right provided by God and enumerated in our Constitution. Think about that. The full power and authority of the massive Federal Government and its endless resources focused on a few citizens because they dared to disagree. Is this a Communist country? Is this something worse? Let's remember how this started. The inspector general did an investigation and said they were going to file a report. Hearing that, Lois Lerner takes a planted question and lies about who did it. She blames it on the good workers in Cincinnati. The President calls for a criminal investigation, and the Commissioner is fired. However, when it really came to conducting that investigation, the Department of Justice really just couldn't be bothered. Then the person at the center of the issue comes to Congress and pleads the Fifth. Congress has to now look elsewhere for the truth. They are not going to get it from Ms. Lerner. So they look to her email communication. Subpoenas are issued, two of them, and three protective orders, one by the IRS itself. The IRS violates literally all of it while saying they went to great lengths in search of the truth. Come on. Great lengths? They didn't even check Ms. Lerner's BlackBerry. The new Commissioner, Mr. Koskinen, hired to clean things up, knows that 422 backup tapes were destroyed, including 24,000 of Ms. Lerner's emails; yet, he waits 4 months to tell Congress while coming multiple times to testify to Congress during that period. You lie about your lost documents for 4 months and see what happens. Mr. Koskinen violated his duty to preserve and provide the information. He violated his duty to disclose, he violated his duty to be truthful, and he violated his duty to correct the record about what he knew. Mr. Koskinen violated the public trust on multiple accounts. The issue at hand is that the agency Mr. Koskinen represents violated the constitutionally guaranteed rights of American citizens and nothing has been done about it. This simply cannot stand. We cannot have two separate standards of justice, one for the ruling class, one for the government, and one for the governed. Congress has a duty to get to the truth. As Representatives of the citizens, we don't have a police force. We are Representatives. We can't fire the Commissioner. We are Members of Congress. The only remedy that Congress has is the constitutional check of impeachment. Impeachment proceedings are the only way we can hope to get some relief from this agency which has been wantonly unaccountable in the most egregious fashion. It is the only way we will be able to determine whether the Commissioner violated the standards of trust set down for government officials. It is the only way we can start to move to a circumstance where our government serves the people as opposed to citizens being forced to serve their government. So, Madam Speaker, as we reflect on tax day, I respectfully request the resolution regarding the impeachment of Commissioner Koskinen be forwarded to the Judiciary Committee and to this floor for consideration.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Barbara J. Powers on her May 31, 2016 retirement upon 30 years of Federal Civilian Service to the United States of America. Mrs. Powers' career has culminated as the Executive Support Specialist to the Commanding General, United States Army Medical Research and Material Command. Mrs. Powers served in the United States Air Force from March 1977 to March 1981, throughout which she performed duty at Andrews Air Force Base, Carlisle Barracks, the U.S. Department of Energy and at Fort Detrick, where she's served for the last 16 years. Since the beginning of her career, Mrs. Powers performed with zeal, professionalism and tireless dedication to duty--the standard by which all civil servants should be measured. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, I'm proud and humbled to congratulate Barbara J. Powers on her retirement after 30 years of service to the United States of America.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, free speech and the freedom of the press are under assault in Turkey. No longer can the United States turn a blind eye as an increasingly authoritarian regime continues to crack down on virtually all critical voices. The harassment, intimidation, and prosecution of dissenting journalists and citizens as well as the government takeover of critical media outlets represents the antithesis of free speech and a free press. These are not the actions of a nation that respects democratic values. Beyond the obvious consequences, by continuing on this path, the regime risks destabilization and pushing the persecuted into the arms of Islamist extremism. Right now, today, Turkey's leadership should embrace the marketplace of ideas that is a part of any vibrant, real, and sincere democracy.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to honor John and Denise Kurtz on their retirement after more than 62 years of combined Federal service to the United States of America. With 32 years of service, John began his Federal Government career as a GS-1 Clerk Typist with the United States Army Logistics Evaluation Agency. He rose through the ranks primarily working in financial operations and concluding his career as Director, DLA Finance Distribution. Through his financial acumen, I understand he was instrumental to the success and execution of the Defense Management Review Decision 902, as well as, numerous Base Realignment and Closure and A-76 actions. Always committed to continuous process improvement and stewardship excellence, John shared his innovative ideas and proactively developed financial solutions that enabled DLA Distribution to provide premiere distribution support to the Department of Defense and other government agencies. With 30 years of service, Denise began her Federal Government career as a Payroll Clerk, GS-3, with the Defense Depot Mechanicsburg and rose through various diverse assignments, concluding her career as Acting Director, Distribution Policy and Processing at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution. Denise was instrumental in spearheading major initiatives integral to the organization's Inventory Integrity and Stock Readiness Programs, while regularly seeking opportunities to improve processes and procedures ensuring that the organization provided effective, efficient and best value logistics solutions to our Nation's military. From the beginning of their careers, the Kurtz's exhibited professionalism and devotion to duty--the standard by which all civil servants are to be measured. On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, it's with great pride that I congratulate John and Denise Kurtz on their retirement after more than 62 years of combined service to the United States of America.