Tom Reed

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, November 14, 2016, I was unable to vote on Roll Call vote No. 575: Passage of H.R. 985, the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2015. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday September 13, 2016, I was unable to vote on roll call vote No. 502: Passage of H.R. 3590, the Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October 7 as National Manufacturing Day here in America. As the bipartisan co-chair of the House Manufacturing Caucus, with my good friend from Ohio, Tim Ryan, I think it is only right that we stand to recognize the efforts of U.S. manufacturing across our great country. We care about U.S. manufacturing because it brings family-sustaining, good quality jobs to the 12.33 million workers that are employed in the United States in the manufacturing industry. That is 9 percent of our workforce, Mr. Speaker, and it contributes $2.17 trillion to the U.S. economy on an annual basis. In my district alone, in western New York, the 23rd Congressional District, Mr. Speaker, there are over 404 manufacturers who employ approximately 44,000 people. That is food on the table, Mr. Speaker. That is roofs over the heads of those workers and their families, and it provides an opportunity for those families and the generation that follows with an opportunity to succeed and advance in their life. It is only right, Mr. Speaker, that we join together, on a bipartisan basis, to support U.S. manufacturing in America. That is why I partnered with my good friend on the other side, Joe Kennedy, to author and finally get passed into law the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act that is the source of innovation in advanced manufacturing going forward. That is also why I support an all-of-the-above energy plan. That is why we have also put forth a plan in writing to advance the energy effort here in America. Also, on the Ways and Means Committee on which I serve, I am fully committed to a better way when it comes to revising and reforming the American Tax Code. It is time for us to have a fair, simple, and competitive Tax Code for all Americans. On the trade front, Mr. Speaker, I stand in unison with my colleagues on the other side who want to make sure that we have fair trade; that we have enforceable agreements where unfair practices by countries that violate the spirit, the rules, and the law of trade are held accountable. That is why we need to make sure that when we engage in these trade negotiations going forward that we have trade agreements that not only open our market but also, most importantly, open the market of the 95 percent of the world's consumers that live outside of America's borders. We need to stand with U.S. manufacturers in those negotiations. We need to make sure that U.S. manufacturing interests are put at the foremost priority of the negotiation points. There is a firm philosophy that I adhere to in our office when it comes to U.S. manufacturing. We have one of the greatest, if not the greatest--no, strike that, Mr. Speaker. We have the greatest workforce in the world. We have the brightest minds in the world in America, and we have the ability to make it here and sell it there. So I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing October 7 as U.S. Manufacturing Day. And if you are so inclined, join us in the U.S. Manufacturing Caucus, so you can be an active member participating in the debate to advance U.S. manufacturing interests so that we do, again, make it here to sell it across the world, and we put America's manufacturing interests first in all conversations that we have.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Barbara Risser on her retirement and recognize her outstanding career in the field of higher education. Dr. Risser has served as president of Finger Lakes Community College since 2007. During her tenure, she oversaw a major renovation project that drastically improved the college's campus, introduced new initiatives to grow the size of the student body, and secured funding to enhance the college's academic programs. As a result of her efforts, FLCC was recently recognized as one of the fastest growing community colleges in the country. As president of FLCC, Dr. Risser launched an active strategic planning process and developed strong ties with our local community. She established an advisory committee of K-12 superintendents and expanded the services offered to local high school students. In recognition of her efforts, the Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce honored Dr. Risser with the Athena Award for professional excellence and leadership. For nearly four decades, Dr. Risser has worked to ensure that young people have the skills and knowledge necessary to enter the workforce and achieve success. Prior to beginning her tenure as the fourth president of FLCC, Dr. Risser served for 28 years as a professor and administrator at Onondaga Community College. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Barbara Risser on her successful career and wishing her all the best in her well- deserved retirement.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. As someone who was raised by a single mother when my father passed when I was 2 years old, and having 11 older brothers and sisters, poverty is something that I know firsthand and that we have seen firsthand in our household. As we go forward and we deal with extending TANF cash welfare for 1 year, I think what Mr. Young of Indiana has done is try to put forward innovative ideas that change the dialogue, that change the debate when it comes to our antipoverty measures out of Washington, D.C. Mr. Speaker, no longer should we measure the success of a program just by the amount of money we spend on that program, but measure it by the lives that are positively changed. That is what this social impact bonding legislation is all about. It is rewarding and standing with people who are moving out of poverty, standing on their own two feet. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this critical legislation as we care for those young men and women, as well as those adults who live in poverty, and break that cycle once and for all.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the life and service of Vincent Rothwell, who recently passed away at the age of 91. Mr. Rothwell was a long-time resident of Chautauqua County, New York. He graduated from Mayville High School in 1941 and joined the Army Air Corps in 1943. He served as a turret gunner aboard B-24 Bombers in the European Theater during World War II. After the war, he returned stateside and served as a Personnel Sergeant. Mr. Rothwell was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946. He returned to New York and married the love of his life, Elizabeth ``Betty'' Pickard, later that year. Mr. Rothwell graduated from Houghton College in 1952 and the Evangelical Theology Seminar of Naperville, Illinois, in 1955. Two years after joining the ministry, he reenlisted in the Army as a chaplain. He served a deployment in Vietnam and presided over more than 1,500 funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Rothwell attained the rank of Lt. Colonel and, in 1975 retired as Senior Chaplain after 22 years of service to his country. Mr. Rothwell returned to Westfield in 1984, where he continued his ministry as a pastor at the Westfield United Methodist Church. Even in retirement, Mr. Rothwell tirelessly served his local community, as a member of the Chautauqua County Jail Chaplaincy, a Westfield Village Trustee, the Westfield Village Clerk, and the Westfield Volunteer Fire Department Chaplain. As a pillar of his community, Mr. Rothwell was admired and respected by everyone who knew him. Vincent Rothwell dedicated his life to serving his country, his community, and his neighbors. I extend my sincerest condolences to his family and ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and service of this great American

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Jairam Hathwar on winning the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Jairam was crowned co-champion after correctly spelling Feldenkrais in the final round of the competition. Jairam is a seventh-grade student at the Alternative School for Math and Science in my hometown of Corning, New York. He participated in the National Spelling Bee for the second year in a row; after barely missing the finals last year, Jairam outlasted 285 other contestants en route to his first place finish this year. Jairam's achievement is a testament to his work ethic, dedication to learning, and commitment to reaching his highest potential. After spending countless hours studying complex definitions, parts of speech, and languages of origin, he correctly spelled several of the most challenging words in the English language. Despite the high level of difficulty, Jairam demonstrated confidence and composure throughout the competition. Most importantly, he treated his fellow competitors with respect and showed humility and sportsmanship from the first word to the last. Jairam Hathwar is a remarkable young man with an incredibly bright future ahead of him. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating Jairam on this remarkable accomplishment and wishing him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding. I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle--Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Renacci, and Mr. Kelly--in a common refrain. What Mr. Renacci, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. Pascrell have identified here is something we have been working on in the committee for quite some time, and that is to make sure that we have a tax administration and a Tax Code that respects the privacy of individuals. When that privacy is violated--I cannot speak like my colleague from Pennsylvania and quote Shakespeare, as I am a simple country lawyer from western New York--simply, what we need to do is to stand on the side of our taxpayers. When tax fraud occurs, real people suffer as a result of it. What Mr. Renacci and all of us have come together here to support are simple, commonsense reforms that are going to help people out like Terry. Terry is from Hornell in my district. He reached out to us, Mr. Speaker, about 1\1/2\ years to 2 years ago. He, too, was the victim of identity fraud and identity theft. When he went to file his return, he found out that he would not be getting that refund because someone had already stolen that money from the U.S. Government. Terry relied on that money, Mr. Speaker. He needed that money. After many phone calls, after many efforts from our office, we were able to work it out and get that taken care of for Terry. Terry is representative of millions of Americans who have found themselves in this situation, just like Mr. Renacci did. So I applaud Mr. Renacci for developing these commonsense reforms that are going to give a point of contact at the IRS, that are going to make sure when people engage in identity theft in the tax arena that there are real penalties and consequences to that behavior. I strongly support this legislation, Mr. Speaker, and I urge my colleagues, just as has been demonstrated here today, to come together as we care deeply about the American taxpayer and stand for them as the victims of this crime.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue that has impacted millions of Americans from coast to coast, north to south, also an issue that has impacted my family personally. Mr. Speaker, I care deeply about the survivors of sexual assault and want to ensure that their voices are heard. Every 2 minutes, Mr. Speaker, an American is sexually assaulted. That is 200,000 of our fellow American citizens that are impacted by this horrendous crime. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, less than half of those victims will report their attack to law enforcement, making sexual assault one of the most underreported crimes in America. That is why I am proud to stand with my colleague from California, Jackie Speier, to introduce a resolution to recognize April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. As Members of Congress, we are in a unique position to raise awareness and speak out on behalf of sexual assault survivors. We must unite. When one in five women will be raped in her lifetime, we cannot afford to stand silent on this issue. It is only right, Mr. Speaker, that we say enough is enough with sexual assault in America. Enough is enough to no longer speak about this issue because it is something that is difficult to speak publicly about. That is why I am an ardent and active supporter of the NO MORE Campaign. The NO MORE Campaign has taken it upon itself to unite across the country, to stand in one voice, and many of us across America have seen the commercials on our TVs to say no more to sexual assault. No more can we put up with excuses like: ``She deserved it.'' ``She was drunk.'' ``Of course she got what she was looking for.'' No more can we say: ``Well, that is what boys do. That is what young men do.'' We need to stand together as American citizens, men and women in this Chamber, to say: No more to sexual assault. It is unacceptable for us to stand silent any longer. I ask my colleagues to join us in the effort to recognize April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and join us in one voice to send a clear message across America to say: No more.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer congratulations not only to our chairman on the Ways and Means Committee, Kevin Brady, as well as the chairman of the Trade Subcommittee, David Reichert, but also the ranking member, Mr. Levin. We have come together on a bipartisan basis, Mr. Speaker, to stand for this legislation that is going to help our U.S. domestic manufacturers. This is a reduction of cost that potentially could go in the millions, if not billions, of dollars in the future and that is going to allow our U.S. manufacturers to compete on the world stage in a much better position than they find themselves today. So I applaud the efforts of colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together to find a solution that allows us to honor an open and transparent process, to stand with our U.S. manufacturers, to reduce the tax burden, and to reduce the costs on these manufacturers that are the heart and soul of our job creators across the country. As I know companies in my district in western New York, the benefits that these companies will see impact not only large corporations, but also mom-and-pop domestic manufacturers, companies like Vere Sandals. It is a small mom-and-pop shop in my district that has to rely upon an import that it can only get outside of America. They are now in a position, after this legislation is passed, to be able to build and manufacture those sandals in a competitive way. That means that that mom-and-pop operation is going be able to employ not only their present employees, but potentially invest in expansion. Why is that important, Mr. Speaker? Because those are the jobs that are being created today and tomorrow. So I want to give, again, a congratulatory tip of the hat to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle as well as to the chairman on a job well done.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, and it is my pleasure and privilege to host the Very Reverend John A. DeSocio, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Elmira, New York, for today's opening prayer over the House of Representatives. Father DeSocio has committed his life to both his faith and his country, displaying an extraordinary level of service and dedication to others. The Elmira-Corning native dedicated his early years to service in his community by volunteer firefighting. He went on to complete his undergraduate career at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, New York. He would later receive his master of divinity and master of arts from Saint Bernard's Seminary in Rochester, New York. Father DeSocio was ultimately ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1978. Father was also chaplain for Ithaca College. Mr. Speaker, in 1992, which I am very proud of, Father DeSocio was commissioned in the U.S. Navy and served 17 years before being honorably discharged in 2009. Following his military service, Father returned to his hometown and resumed working with groups like Lions International, the Knights of Columbus, and the Southport and Elmira volunteer fire departments. He is a pillar in our community, Mr. Speaker, and we are tremendously honored to have him with us here today.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. I thank the gentleman from Arkansas for yielding and for taking the leadership in putting this Special Order together to discuss poverty in America. Before I get into some of the substance, I want to talk about this from a personal perspective. I have 11 older brothers and sisters. My father passed when I was 2. I was raised by a single mom. It was tough. But she always taught me the lessons of life that have carried me through, and that is to have a good attitude, a positive, optimistic attitude, a commitment to hard work, a commitment to discipline, and a commitment to respect our fellow man. So I come here to this floor this evening as a Republican to say to all of America: We care. We care about our fellow American citizens that are stuck in poverty for generations. As my colleague from Illinois had indicated, we have spent over $20 trillion out of the Federal coffers of hardworking American taxpayer dollars on the war on poverty. And the harsh reality is that war has been lost. The policies and the visions of old must change. We must attack this issue in a new model by, first, demonstrating to our fellow citizens that we do care, that we are not here to penalize, to judge, but what we are here to do is offer a new vision. I know my colleagues on the other side of the aisle often chastise us Republicans as people who want to take things away and that we don't really care about those people that are suffering in America. That frustrates me, that angers me, because we do care. And what we are saying to those fellow American citizens is that we are offering a new way of dealing with this issue. We want to empower you. We want to provide an opportunity for you and your family to flourish. How do we do that? How we do that is what we are talking about here tonight, as my good friend from Arkansas has opened his remarks with. We empower people to have an opportunity to have the tools that really will combat and cure poverty in America, and that is a good-paying job, a good education. Before my father passed, my mom and dad had a promise to each other. They recognized and they talked to me and now I am passing it on to my kids in my household that education is key to the success that you will experience in life in America. So what we need to do is make sure that education is provided to this generation in a way that empowers them with the tools to pull themselves out of poverty. We also have to recognize that the work ethic in America is what makes us strong, that provide these opportunities, and that we should not have policies out of Washington, D.C., on this war on poverty that have penalized work as people try to rebuild themselves and pull themselves out of poverty. We should have a reform of what they call the welfare cliff. What that essentially is, if you are going back to work, you are essentially penalized because your benefits are pulled away from you. What we need is a commonsense system that says: We are going to stand with you. Life is going to throw you curve balls. We will give you a helping hand and stand with you so long as we stand together and you move yourself and stand on your own two feet as you go forward. That is what this welfare cliff reform is all about. It is about making sure that the programs have resources that encourage and promote education and technical training and skills that people can then put to their own uses so that they can have a job for themselves and their family. I will end with this. We have a system, too, that essentially says: In this war on poverty, we are going to gauge success by how much money you spend on this program. We are going to gauge success by how many people come to the government office and see you on a day-to-day basis. What we need is a system that changes that whole metric and that essentially says to the system: You know what we are going to gauge success on? How many people you move out of poverty and into that position where they stand on their own two feet. It is not just the money that is spent, but the lives that you fundamentally have changed because you stood with them through that difficult time. So as we go forward, I applaud my colleague from Arkansas. I applaud my colleagues that have come here tonight to demonstrate that, as Republicans on this side of the aisle, we are not going to continue the status quo of decades of failure on the war on poverty. We need to do better. We have an obligation. I will roll up my sleeves with any colleague on the other side of the aisle and say: This is the time we come together. Because it is not a Democrat or Republican issue. That is an American issue. And enough is enough.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 137, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of a great lady from our district, Elizabeth Garrett, Cornell University President. Ms. Garrett lost her battle with cancer on March 6, 2016, at the age of 52. We were all deeply saddened, Mr. Speaker, to learn of her passing, and our hearts go out to her loved ones, including her husband, her two step-daughters, her parents, and her sister. Mr. Speaker, following a distinguished career where she served as legislative director and tax counsel for Senator David L. Boren of Oklahoma and served as a clerk for United States Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, she rose through the ranks of academia to become Cornell University's first female president. We are very proud of President Garrett. She was a remarkable leader who led our community in the right direction. Mr. Speaker, I join with all of those in the 23rd Congressional District to extend our condolences and our thoughts and prayers to her family and to our entire community.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Gary Grinnell on his recent appointment to the Board of Directors at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. Mr. Grinnell currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Corning Credit Union, located in my hometown of Corning, New York. Prior to this appointment, he served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Grinnell has nearly 25 years of experience in the financial services industry and has held numerous positions involving internal audit, consumer and real estate lending operations, risk management, and member services. Mr. Grinnell serves on NAFCU's Legislative Committee and has testified before Congress on behalf of the Association. He has a deep understanding of legislative and regulatory issues facing credit unions across the county. I am confident that his expertise and years of experience will benefit the NAFCU Board and local credit unions for years to come. Mr. Grinnell has lived in the Corning community for 18 years, where he and his wife Melissa have raised their three children. Mr. Grinnell's commitment to our community is evident by his leadership on the Southern Tier Economic Growth Board of Directors and the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Gary Grinnell and wishing him the best of luck in his new role on the NAFCU Board of Directors.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a constituent, James B. Flaws, who recently retired after a 42-year career with Corning Incorporated. Jim joined Corning Inc. as a financial analyst in 1973. He quickly worked his way up the corporate ladder and into the company's executive leadership. He has spent the past 22 years in various leadership positions, including chief financial officer, vice chairman, and a member of the company's board of directors. Jim has managed countless projects and strategic initiatives, from the spin-off of Corning Inc.'s healthcare businesses in 1996 to the acquisition of the Samsung Corning Precision Materials business in 2014. Jim's outstanding work earned him the distinction of being named to the Conference Board's prestigious Council of Finance Executives. In addition, he was recognized as one of America's Best CFOs three times by Institutional Investor magazine. Jim has spent the past four decades serving his local community in our shared hometown of Corning, New York. He has served on the boards of trustees for the Corning Museum of Glass, the Corning Foundation, and the United Way of the Southern Tier. In addition, Jim was instrumental in the founding of the Corning Children's Center, which provides high-quality care and education to local children. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Jim Flaws on a remarkable 42-year career with Corning Inc., and wishing him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sister Margaret Carne on her upcoming retirement from St. Bonaventure University. Sister Margaret has served as president of St. Bonaventure since 2004. During her tenure, she has cultivated a vibrant college community by enhancing curriculum, promoting diversity, and developing various strategic initiatives. Sister Margaret has held several leadership positions throughout her career. Prior to being inaugurated as president of St. Bonaventure University, she served as dean and director of the Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure. In addition, she previously served as chair of the board of directors of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and a member of the Committee on Education of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In recognition of her outstanding achievements and contributions, Sister Margaret has been awarded nine honorary doctorate degrees. She has also been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Business First of Buffalo and the Citation Award from the National Federation of Just Communities. Sister Margaret truly exemplifies the Franciscan values of pursuing knowledge and serving others. She has had a profound and lasting impact on students, faculty, and the entire St. Bonaventure community. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Sister Margaret Carney on a remarkable career, and wishing her all the best in her upcoming retirement.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 113th anniversary of Korean American Day, which commemorates the start of Korean immigration to the United States. On January 13, 1903, 102 brave souls set course from Korea and landed in Honolulu, Hawaii. Since then, the Korean American community has been a vital part of our country, serving with distinction in the Armed Forces during times of war as well as contributing in every field from science and medicine to entrepreneurship and the arts. As their numbers have grown over the years, Korean Americans have become involved in local communities, organizations and politics. Our long-lasting and continued partnership has been and continues to be an extremely important one in today's world. We continue to recognize the crucial role Korean Americans play in maintaining the strength and vitality of the partnership between our two countries and I congratulate and join in with the Korean American community today in celebrating this time-honored tradition and look forward to seeing the continued success of this vibrant community in our country.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding, and I thank him for his hard work, as well as the folks on the other side of the aisle who have come together to support this legislation, as I do, today. Mr. Speaker, hardworking taxpayers across America deserve a fairer, simpler Tax Code, and one that allows them to keep more of their hard- earned dollars. That is exactly why I support this legislation, as it is a step in the right direction along that path. The other important aspect of this legislation is it brings certainty to our manufacturers and the energy sector in regard to these provisions that are temporarily extended each and every year, as my colleagues have recognized over and over again, and now, to a large extent, we make permanent. That allows them to plan for tomorrow. That allows them to make the investments with their hard-earned dollars in the places they choose to put that money. And they can rely on a Tax Code now that is certain, simpler, and fairer on their behalf. We also take care of hardworking families in this bill. We also take care of people in our bill, the Mortgage Forgiveness Act and the America Gives More Act, where we talk about charitable donation of food inventories. That is the right policy for the American people. That is the right policy for hardworking taxpayers across America. And I am glad that we have on the floor today an opportunity to demonstrate to hardworking taxpayers that we care about them and that we are going to put their interests first and foremost, rather than those of Washington, D.C., and of the elected officials here.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a great company in my district, Corning Incorporated, an American company that has risen over its 164-year history to become one of the most innovative manufacturers in the world. But, Mr. Speaker, in particular, I rise to take a moment to honor one of the individuals of that company that has made it one of the leading manufacturers across the world. That individual is Kirk Gregg, Corning's executive vice president and chief administrative officer, who is retiring from the company after 22 years of executive leadership. Over his tenure, Kirk has made an enormous contribution to the company's success and to the community's development. I am most grateful to Kirk for his unparalleled commitment to the community. He has had an enormously positive impact on our constituents and our extended family who live in the district. Mr. Speaker, Kirk joined Corning in 1993 and was named chief administrative officer in 2002. The same year, he was appointed to serve on Corning's management committee, a small, very senior group of executives who lead the company on a day-to-day basis. Over the last decade, Kirk has risen up the corporate ladder to become the third highest ranking executive in the company. As chief administrative officer, Kirk has built the core infrastructure that makes Corning efficient and effective. He has had global responsibility for the corporate staff, including human resources, information technology, supply management, transportation, business services, community relations, government affairs, and aviation--a long list indeed. In total, he has managed over $1 billion annually in corporate infrastructure, making Corning's staff one of the top performers among its peers in the country's corporate community. It has been Kirk's work for the community that distinguishes him among the corporate leaders and for which I am most grateful. He has played a huge role in meeting the needs of New York's southern tier. For 17 years, he chaired the Three Rivers Development board, attracting tens of millions of dollars of investment to diversify the local community and create jobs. For 15 years, he led the Corning Classic LPGA tournaments, raising millions of dollars for our area hospitals. And statewide, he served for a decade on the board of directors for the Business Council of New York State, 2 years as the board's chairman. Last, but not least, he has been an enthusiastic supporter of our local charities, cultural institutions, and human service organizations. Mr. Speaker, every Member of Congress seeks the perspective of people with broad insight into and who would contribute generously to the communities we represent. For me, Kirk is one of those rare people. He understands the people, the community, and the responsibility that corporate leaders have to support their local institutions. At the same time, Kirk is modest and self-effacing. Kirk is one of those people who works quietly and effectively to make our communities better. Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to call Kirk Gregg my friend. I know that I speak for the entire southern tier-Corning, New York, community when I thank him for his citizenship and service. We wish him and his wife, Penny, the very best in a well-deserved retirement. May they enjoy many more happy days entering this new chapter in their great lives.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that my Congressional district is the home of Corning Incorporated, an American company that has risen over its 164-year history to become one of the most innovative manufacturers in the world. Today, I rise to take a moment to honor Kirk Gregg, Corning's Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, who is retiring from the company after 22 years of executive leadership. Over his tenure, Kirk has made an enormous contribution to the company's success and to the community's development. I am most grateful to Kirk for his unparalleled commitment to the community. He has had an enormously positive impact on my constituents and my extended family that live in the district. Kirk joined Corning in 1993 and was named Chief Administrative Officer in 2002. The same year, he was appointed to serve on Corning's Management Committee, a small, very senior group of executives who lead the company. Over the last decade, Kirk has risen up the corporate ladder to become the third highest ranking executive in the company. As Chief Administrative Officer, Kirk has built the core infrastructure that makes Corning efficient and effective. He has had global responsibility for the corporate staff, including human resources, information technology, supply management, transportation, business services, community relations, government affairs, and aviation. In total, he has managed over $1B annually in corporate infrastructure, making Coming's staff one of the top performers among its peers in the country's corporate community. It has been Kirk's work for the community that distinguishes him among corporate leaders and for which I am most grateful. He has played a huge role in meeting the needs of New York's ``Southern Tier.'' For 17 years, he chaired the Three Rivers Development, attracting tens of millions of dollars of investment to diversify the local community and create jobs. For 15 years, he led the Corning Classic LPGA Tournaments, raising millions of dollars for area hospitals. And statewide, he served for a decade on the Board of Directors for the Business Council of New York State, two years as the Board's chairman, Last, but not least, he has been an enthusiastic supporter of local charities, cultural institutions, and human service organizations. Every Member of Congress seeks the perspective of people with broad insight into and who contribute generously to the communities we represent. For me, Kirk is one of those rare people. He understands the people, the community, and the responsibility that corporate leaders have to support their local institutions. At the same time, he is modest and self-effacing. Kirk is one of those people who works quietly and effectively to make our communities better. I am very happy to call Kirk Gregg my friend. I know that I speak for the entire Corning, New York community when I thank him for his citizenship and service. We wish him and his wife Penny the very best in a well-deserved retirement. May they enjoy many more happy days entering this new chapter in their lives.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Arc of Yates on its 40th anniversary. Arc of Yates is a non-profit organization located in Penn Yan, New York. Since 1975, it has provided services to individuals with developmental disabilities, empowering them to lead ``self-directed'' and ``meaningful'' lives. Arc of Yates serves more than 400 children, adults, and seniors across the Finger Lakes region. It provides a wide range of services, including day habilitation, residential living, employment training, and various educational opportunities. In addition, Arc of Yates offers several clinical programs, focusing on social work, nursing, and nutrition. Last month, Arc of Yates reopened its facility in Penn Yan, less than eighteen months after it was badly damaged by devastating floods. This resiliency is a testament to their commitment to serving our local families and communities. I commend the staff and volunteers of Arc of Yates on everything they have achieved in the past forty years, and I look forward to their continued efforts to empower our neighbors with disabilities to live independent and inclusive lives.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kevin Doran, who passed away earlier this week. Mr. Doran was a long-time radio personality from Hornell, New York. He began his broadcasting career by working odd jobs at WLEA, a local radio station, while in high school. After graduating from college, Mr. Doran worked as a reporter for the Hornell Evening Tribune while teaching history at Hornell High School. In 1972, he purchased WLEA and became general manager of the station. His family continues to operate the station to this day. Mr. Doran was well-known through the Hornell area for his iconic voice, personality, and sense of humor. He was best known for hosting the popular Newsmaker Show, which won several awards for excellence from the New York State Broadcasters Association. He reported on a variety of topics, ranging from national politics to social issues and local events. Many residents remember his reports on the devastating 1972 flood in Hornell, during which he worked non-stop to provide information to his neighbors in need. On a lighter note, Mr. Doran famously allowed local children to call into his show with questions for Santa Claus, whom he ``interviewed'' live from the North Pole. Mr. Doran was a larger-than-life personality who was beloved throughout the Hornell community. He leaves behind a proud legacy of broadcasting excellence, which will be continued by the numerous local reporters and broadcasters that he mentored during his career. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring and remembering the life of Kevin Doran.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 125th anniversary of Keuka College. Keuka College was founded in 1890 on the shores of Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York. This independent, liberal arts college was established by Rev. George Harvey Ball, who sought to provide high- quality education to all deserving students regardless of their economic backgrounds. Over the past 125 years, Keuka College has offered students a vibrant educational curriculum focused on experiential learning and community service. All students are required to complete at least 140 hours of hands-on experience every year, putting into practice what they learn in the classroom. This enables students to gain significant, real-world experience and professional skills before they enter the workforce. The student-designed internship program ``Field Period'' has received national recognition from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Keuka College offers 31 bachelor's degree programs on its home campus, many with specialized concentrations. In addition, the College offers seven master's degree programs and pre-professional programs in dentistry, law, medicine, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, and occupational therapy. These programs fulfill the College's mission statement by developing ``exemplary citizens and leaders'' who realize ``their full personal and professional potential.'' I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Keuka College on 125 years of success. I am proud to recognize this remarkable milestone and the great contributions the College has made, and will continue to make, to New York's 23rd Congressional District.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Barbara Iglewski on her induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame. On October 3, Dr. Iglewski and nine other women were honored in Seneca Falls, New York, the birthplace of the women's rights movement. Dr. Iglewski was chosen for this honor in recognition of her outstanding work in the field of microbiology. Her groundbreaking research led to a landmark scientific discovery about the impact of infectious bacteria on the body's immune system. Her work led to the development of preventative medications that protect humans from several types of infections and diseases. Dr. Iglewski earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Alleghany College before earning her master's and doctorate degrees in microbiology from Penn State University. She currently holds the distinguished positions of Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Immunology and Director of International Programs at the University of Rochester Medical Center. In addition, she has previously served as Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Education. Dr. Iglewski has published over 150 research papers and is recognized by the Institute of Scientific Information as a highly cited scientist. Equally as impressive is the work Dr. Iglewski has done to create opportunity for women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. As president of the American Society for Microbiology, she helped women advance their careers by obtaining editorial positions at various scientific journals. As the first woman to chair a department at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, she mentored female students and paved the way for female scientists to become leaders in their fields of study. I commend Dr. Iglewski on this well-deserved recognition. Her induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame cements her place in history alongside Maya Angelou, Susan B. Anthony, Helen Keller, and the many other women whose contributions have had a profoundly positive impact on our country.