C. Ruppersberger

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Mr. Dunbar Brooks on the occasion of his retirement from the Baltimore Metropolitan Council after a long and distinguished career and decades of selfless community volunteerism. A lifelong resident of Turner's Station in Baltimore County, Mr. Brooks is a United States Army veteran, honorably serving two tours of duty in Vietnam before starting his career. He has worked as a manager of data development and regional planner at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council since 1982, developing expertise in spinning numbers into compelling stories. He has become the go-to guy for demographers and planners across the region, helping to shape Baltimore's landscape. Throughout his career, Mr. Brooks has held several teaching positions, including at the Community College of Baltimore County and the Morgan State graduate school. He has managed to find time volunteering for countless boards and commissions, including both the Baltimore County Board of Education and Maryland State Board of Education, where he served as president. He is the longtime chairman of the Turner Station Development Corporation and a life member of the Dundalk-Sparrows Point NAACP. I would be remiss not to mention that Mr. Brooks' relentless leadership helped terminate plans for a dangerous and ill-advised liquid natural gas facility near the Turners Station community. Mr. Brooks spent countless hours fighting on behalf of his community, the Port of Baltimore and the thousands of jobs dependent on it. Mr. Brooks' is the well-deserved recipient of awards and accolades too numerous to list in their entirety. Most recently, he received the Baltimore County NAACP Excellence in Education Award. In 2002, he earned the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Baltimore City Community College and the Chesapeake Region Community Service Award from the Boy Scouts in 1998. I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Brooks on a personal level for many years. In addition to his community spirit and generosity, I am deeply impressed with his dedication to his family. He is also a loving husband to his wife, Edith, as well as a proud father and grandfather. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Mr. Dunbar Brooks. His service and dedication to the people of Maryland is an inspiration. It is with great pride that I congratulate him on his retirement and wish him many more years of continued success and happiness.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Dr. Stephen T. Bartlett, a close friend and accomplished surgeon and respected professor, on the occasion of his 60th birthday. A specialist in kidney and pancreas transportation as well as vascular surgery, Dr. Bartlett has taught and practiced medicine at the renowned University of Maryland since 1991. He is a Peter Angelos Distinguished Professor and chairs the Department of Surgery at the university's School of Medicine. He also serves as Senior Vice President and Surgeon-in-Chief at the University of Maryland Medical System. Dr. Bartlett earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago and completed his residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He continued his training at Northwestern University and taught at the University of California Davis. He was then recruited to Maryland and revitalized the university's transplant program. The school's kidney transplant program is now the second highest in volume in the country. Under his leadership, the surgical department ranks among the highest in the country in National Institute of Health grant funding. While Dr. Bartlett's accomplishments are too numerous to list in their entirety, it bears mentioning that he has been recognized as a ``Top Doctor'' by Baltimore Magazine. The National Kidney Foundation recently named him one of its 2013 ``Kidney Champions'' for his ground- breaking contributions to the field of kidney research and transplantation. He has authored more than 230 peer-reviewed journal articles and 11 book chapters. Of particular note, Dr. Bartlett lead an effort that recently resulted in the most extensive full face transplant completed in the world to date. In addition to historic projects like this, he continues to spearhead basic scientific research always with the singular goal of improving patients' quality of life. I have had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Bartlett--as well as his wife, June, and three children--on a personal level for many years. I am impressed with his dedication to his family. He may receive distinguished accolades for his medical breakthroughs, but his commitment to his wife and children come first. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Dr. Stephen Bartlett. His service and dedication to the University of Maryland is an asset to the state. It is with great pride that I wish him the happiest of birthdays and many more to come.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley, a longtime member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a champion of the Port of Baltimore and a dear friend on the occasion of her 90th birthday. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Congresswoman Bentley is a former journalist who worked as a reporter and editor for the Baltimore Sun, where she developed her lifelong passion for the Port of Baltimore and Chesapeake Bay. She then hosted a TV program about the Port focusing on maritime and transportation issues. She was elected to represent Maryland's Second Congressional District in 1985 and served the next four terms. She chaired the Federal Maritime Commission and became a strong advocate for responsible trade policies, the U.S. Merchant Marine fleet and, of course, American ports. As chair, she was then the fourth-highest ranking woman in federal government history, the first woman to serve in a key government position in the maritime field and the first woman appointed by a President to head a regulatory agency. It is because of Congresswoman Bentley's decades of dedication, passion and advocacy that the Port of Baltimore will continue to prosper and provide honest, good-paying jobs to many Maryland families for generations to come. In 2006, the Port was rightly renamed the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. Congresswoman Bentley continues to exercise her expertise in the maritime and manufacturing industries as President and CEO of Helen Bentley & Associates, Inc. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Baltimore Museum of Industry. While too numerous to list in their entirety, Congresswoman Bentley is the recipient of countless awards and accolades. In 2006, she earned the Governor's International Leadership Award and was named the 2010 William Donald Schaefer Industrialist of the Year. She was inducted into the International Maritime Hall of Fame in 2004 and has earned 10 honorary doctorates. I have had the pleasure of knowing Congresswoman Bentley for many years. Once political rivals, I consider her a mentor and trusted advisor, especially on maritime issues. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley. The citizens of Maryland have been lucky to have her as a champion all these years. It is with great pride that I wish her the happiest of birthdays and many more years of success.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 428, I was unavoidably detained in a meeting off the Hill at the White House with the President. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 434, I was unavoidably detained in a meeting off the hill at the White House with the President. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 429 I was unavoidably detained in a meeting off the Hill at the White House with the President. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 435 I was unavoidably detained in a meeting at the White House with the President. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 430, I was unavoidably detained in a meeting off the Hill at the White House with the President. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 431 I was unavoidably detained in a meeting at the White House with the President. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 432 I was unavoidably detained in a meeting at the White House with the President. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall no. 433 I was unavoidably in a meeting off the Hill at the White House with the President. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Thank you, Mr. Pompeo. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Pompeo amendment. This amendment strongly reaffirms that in America, privacy and security must coexist together. This amendment states in no uncertain terms that the government cannot use section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, FISA, to intentionally target an American for surveillance. This important amendment also reaffirms that phone conversations cannot be collected through section 215 of the PATRIOT Act. It makes the intentions of Congress very clear. I believe the Pompeo amendment makes a powerful statement that NSA cannot target Americans for the collection or listen to their phone calls. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' However, I do understand the concerns of the American people and of Congress when it comes to these programs. On the House Intelligence Committee, we are reviewing and evaluating potential ways to change the FISA Act that will provide the intelligence community with the tools it needs to keep our country safe while also protecting privacy and civil liberties. We are committed to having this important discussion. However, I do have concerns about the amendment we will debate next. The Amash amendment is an on/off switch for section 215 of the PATRIOT Act. It will have an immediate operational impact and our country will be more vulnerable to terrorist attacks. This authority has helped prevent terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. A planned attack on the New York City subway system was stopped because of section 215. But the Amash amendment passes this authority and it will end it. This amendment goes too far, too fast, on the wrong legislative vehicle. We need to debate the scope of this program, and we are, but this is an extreme knee-jerk reaction to the situation. This program has been authorized and reauthorized by Congress. It receives extensive oversight by the Intelligence Committee and is a vital tool for our intelligence community to protect our Nation. Remember, 9/11 happened in part because we failed to connect the dots. One of the critical tools we now have and use to connect those dots is section 215 of the PATRIOT Act. Remember, this is just phone records-- just phone numbers--no conversations. I respectfully urge a ``no'' vote on the Amash amendment and a ``yes'' vote on the Pompeo amendment.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Mrs. Mary L. Harvey--who devoted her long career in Baltimore County government to preserving and improving communities--on the occasion of the posthumous dedication of the ``CenterPiece Family Arts Center'' in her name. A lifelong resident of Perry Hall, Mrs. Harvey graduated from Perry Hall High School in 1976 and from the Community College of Baltimore County in Dundalk in 1986. She became active in eastern Baltimore County politics and worked as a legislative aide to the Baltimore County Council for eight years. After witnessing first-hand her tireless drive and passion for helping people, I appointed Mrs. Harvey to the position of Eastern Sector Coordinator within the Office of Community Conservation during my tenure as Baltimore County Executive. Her excellent work twice earned her promotions: first, as manager of revitalization efforts and then director of the office. Mrs. Harvey was reappointed to the position and retained it until 2010. Mrs. Harvey was a true visionary. Under her leadership, Baltimore County embraced the concept of the ``Urban Design Assistance Team,'' which encourages input from community members. She also oversaw the construction of three new community centers and developed partnerships with local businesses that lead to safer affordable living communities for thousands of county residents. Her constant goal was to create neighborhoods that were vibrant, attractive and family-friendly. She had a special compassion for the homeless and coordinated a 10-year plan to eradicate it in Baltimore County. Mrs. Harvey's accolades were many. She was the Baltimore County Commission for Women's ``Woman of the Year'' in 1995 and received the ``Renaissance Milestone Award'' from the Dundalk Renaissance Corporation in 2010. She served on the boards of the Essex Community College Foundation, the Essex-Middle River-White Marsh Chamber of Commerce and the Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Mrs. Mary L. Harvey, whose legacy of service to the families of Baltimore County continues today. I have many happy memories of working with Mrs. Harvey and wish to thank her family for their support during her years in county government. I could not think of a more appropriate or well- deserved namesake for this beautiful new facility in one of Mrs. Harvey's favorite communities.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce and to welcome to Washington U.S. Army Chaplain Angel Berrios, who is currently stationed at Fort Meade, located in the Second Congressional District of Maryland. Chaplain Berrios, a captain in the U.S. Army, has been an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God for 24 years. For nearly two decades, he served as a full-time evangelist ministering in 47 countries and 47 States. Chaplain Berrios then joined the Army and was assigned to the 3rd Squadron of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood. He was deployed to southern Iraq during operation New Dawn and provided a church in the desert for 850 fellow American soldiers. In addition to regular services and Bible study, Chaplain Berrios counsels soldiers struggling with day-to-day life in a war zone. His ministry earned him a Bronze Star. His father, a Vietnam veteran, also served in the Army for 20 years. We welcome Chaplain Berrios and his guests today. I wish to thank him for his many years of service to his community and his country. I'm honored to call Chaplain Berrios a constituent, and I offer thanks on behalf of this entire body for his delivery of the opening prayer today.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Dr. John and Mrs. Gwen Sloop on the occasion of their retirement after 27 years of devoted service to First Presbyterian Church. As senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Harrisonburg, Virginia, Dr. Sloop is a true spiritual leader dedicated to his flock. A powerful preacher, he is a man ``on fire'' for Jesus. He has been a champion for global missions and has lead dozens of others to follow him into the missionary field. He has been actively involved in Presbyterians for Renewal, the Presbyterian Coalition, the Confessing Church movement and has served on the board of the Presbyterian Outreach Foundation. Mrs. Sloop has earned a reputation for her selflessness and kindness, routinely demonstrated by her outstanding work with children. Along with her husband, she attended Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Boston before transferring to Columbia Seminary in Atlanta, graduating in 1973. For 13 years they served the growing congregation of the Lithonia Presbyterian Church in the suburbs of Atlanta. The Sloops are passionate about seeing the Presbyterian Church renewed and growing again. Under their stewardship, First Presbyterian has grown to more than 1,100 members and more than 500 attendees for Sunday services since they were called there in 1986. They are loving parents to three children and devoted grandparents to five grandchildren. I have had the privilege of attending First Presbyterian Church under the direction of Dr. and Mrs. Sloop. I know them to be dearly beloved by the entire congregation. Though they will be truly missed, we know they will continue to inspire many more followers, just as they have inspired my family and me. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to recognize Dr. and Mrs. Sloop. Their generosity and commitment to leaving this world better than they found it is an inspiration to us all and deserving of the utmost gratitude. It is with great pride that I congratulate them on their retirement and wish them continued success and happiness in the next chapter of their lives together.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Ms. Judith L. Fitzgerald, who will be honored with the ``2013 Dream Keeper Award'' for her many contributions to the education of youth in Maryland over the past three decades. A Baltimore native, Ms. Fitzgerald is a graduate of Western High School and Lincoln University. She earned her law degree from Boston College and practiced both privately and for various government agencies. She began her teaching career as an adjunct professor at the University Of Maryland College Park and Baltimore City Community College. Ms. Fitzgerald was a distinguished lecturer at Bowie State University, serving as a pre-law advisor, faculty advisor to two clubs and as program director for a consortium of Historically Black Colleges and University's with National Intelligence Studies Programs. During her tenure at Bowie State, Ms. Fitzgerald was the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the ``Outstanding Service & Appreciation'' Award and the ``2012 Bowie Girls Rock Award'' for her tremendous work as a mentor and faculty member. Ms. Fitzgerald is currently a contributing faculty member at Walden University, where she teaches in the PhD and Masters Programs for the School of Public Policy and Administration. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is the lead faculty for other courses and serves on several dissertation committees. When she is not teaching, Ms. Fitzgerald serves as the Vice President and Executive Director for ReInvent Inc., a music and arts after-school and summer school program for at-risk youth. She has also volunteered as a mediator for the Maryland Commission for Human Relations and Community Mediation Maryland. She has served on advisory boards too many to name and is a member of All Saints Church in Baltimore. Mr. Speaker, the ``Dream Keeper Award'' was established to recognize the contributions of educators in the State of New Jersey. This is the first time the award will be presented to a resident of another state. This fact reflects Ms. Fitzgerald's personal commitment to each student she encounters. She truly leads by example, providing guidance and mentoring to those aspiring to enter the legal profession and other careers. I ask that you join with me today to honor Ms. Judith L. Fitzgerald. It is with great admiration and appreciation that I congratulate her on this well-deserved honor and wish her many more years of success.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today on behalf of myself, Representative Conaway from Texas, Representative LoBiondo from New Jersey, Representative Nunes from California, Mr. Rogers from Michigan, and Representative Thornberry from Texas to honor Mr. George J. Pappas, Professional Staff Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel. During his time with the House Intelligence Committee, Mr. Pappas traveled extensively on bi-partisan congressional delegations, leading world-wide congressional trips for individual Members of Congress and group delegations. He has specific knowledge and expertise in engaging partner allies and emerging democracies from Eastern Europe, East Asia, and Western Africa. He advised bipartisan Members of the House on issues related to national security, cyber security, nuclear non- proliferation, global conflict, military intelligence operations, and institutional organizations within the Department of Defense. Before serving as an exceptional policy advisor, he dedicated 24 years to active military service, holding a number of command and staff assignments including Deputy Commander United States Special Operation Command--Korea and Chief of Civil Affairs, United States Forces Korea. He also served as Operations Officer, Company Commander and Special Forces Detachment Command, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne); and Battery Commander and Brigade Fire Support Office in the 82nd Airborne Division. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Four Army Achievement Medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, two Joint Meritorious Unit Awards, two Army Superior Unit Awards, and the Master Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab. Mr. Pappas received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Saint Bonaventure University and his Masters of Science in Resource Management from Troy University. His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Special Forces Qualification Course, Air Command and Staff College, U.S. Army Force Management School, and the Armed Forces Staff College. Mr. Speaker, George Pappas has dedicated his career in service of his country, and I ask that you join with me today to acknowledge Mr. George J. Pappas for his tremendous contributions to the security of the United States of America.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I thank the chairman for yielding. First thing, to the Congresswoman from Arizona, I really appreciate all of your work on this bill. You came to Congress; you did your homework; you decided that it was important to protect our country; and you've done a lot of work. I just want to let you know that you've done a great job for your district and for America, generally, and I want to thank you for that. Basically, this amendment really allows the Committee on Homeland Security and the Inspector General to oversee and to do reporting. It's important that we have oversight. I know the chairman and I have worked hard to make sure that we deal with all of the privacy issues, and this is just another example of how we're going to protect our privacy. You cannot have security if you don't have privacy.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chair, I rise to claim time in opposition, even though I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chair, while we never believe that any surveillance of Americans was permitted under our bill, we are taking any and all precautions to make it entirely clear that no element of the intelligence community--which, of course, includes the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency--is authorized to target any United States person for surveillance. The chairman's amendment solidifies the privacy and civil liberties protections that we always have intended to have as part of the bill. No American activities or communications will be targeted--period. We cannot have security without privacy. Therefore, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. LaMALFA It is my pleasure to now yield 1 minute to the chairman of the Intel Committee, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers).

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I would like to yield to the gentleman from Virginia, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman Goodlatte, as much time as he may consume. And I would also like to thank him personally for working closely with us on this bill to have a bill that will protect the citizens of the United States of America.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I rise to claim the time in opposition to this amendment even though I'm not opposed.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I thank Congressman Paulsen for his work on this bill. I support his amendment with the sense of Congress to encourage international cooperation with regard to cybersecurity whenever possible under this bill. Given that cyber threats are global in nature, as are our networks and computer systems, international efforts must work together to protect against domestic and foreign actors who seek to destroy our industries, government, agencies, and utilities. Therefore, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I rise to claim the time in opposition even though I am not opposed to the amendment.