Tom Reed

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Charlotte and Bill Winkky as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Married June 23, 1963, Charlotte and Bill have spent the majority of their lives residing in Horseheads, New York. Their devotion to each other and to their community is truly commendable. Charlotte, a German immigrant, came to the United States with her mother after World War II. She lived in Newburgh, New York before attending the State University of New York, Cortland, where she met her husband Bill. They have been together ever since. Both Charlotte and Bill served as public school teachers for the Horseheads Central School District for over 30 years. Bill also coached football, wrestling, swimming, and track at Horseheads. Although the couple has retired from teaching, they continue to give back to their community. Charlotte plays an active role in the American Cancer Society, and she and her husband contribute to several other non-profit organizations, including the YWCA and Tanglewood Nature Center. Bill currently serves as the Supervisor for the Town of Veteran. Charlotte and Bill Winkky have set an admirable record of devotion to each other, their family, and their community. I am honored to congratulate Charlotte and Bill on their milestone of 50 years together and it is only proper that they be officially recognized here today.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of a prominent and active New Yorker who passed away June 9, 2013. Charles H. Joyce of Andover, New York was a dear friend to many in the 23rd District. Charlie worked in the oil and gas industry from the age of 14, rising to become President of Andover Oil, a company he built after his retirement from Otis Eastern Service, Inc. Considered an expert in the energy industry, he received an honorary membership in the Pipe Line Contractors Association for his outstanding contributions to the industry. Additionally, he was a long-time member of the New York State Oil Producers Association and served as President from 2008 until his passing. Charlie dedicated himself to responsibly preserving the land he worked with, receiving many awards for his commitment to conservation. His passion for philanthropy led him to help countless others in Allegany County. He donated his time to numerous community groups, including the Andover Lions Club, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Wellsville Elks Club. Our communities are enriched and improved by citizens like Charles H. Joyce and I am honored to commemorate his contributions. He was an outstanding member of our southern tier community and it is right that we honor his legacy here today in the official record of the United States.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sriram Hathwar, a resident of Painted Post, New York. Sriram, a seventh-grader at the Corning Alternative School for Math and Science, placed third in this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee. This thirteen-year-old stands as a representative of the bright young minds of the 23rd Congressional District of New York. The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation's largest and longest-running educational promotion, with the purpose of helping students build the foundations for English language skills they will use all their lives. Only 281 spellers out of 11 million won regional bees to advance to the national level, and Sriram rose up through the ranks to place in the top three. He has competed at the national level four times, and his performance this year has placed him at his highest ranking thus far. Sriram has not taken his eye off the prize, though, as he plans to compete in the bee again next year, his final year of eligibility. I am proud to have students like Sriram in my district. His accomplishments show the brilliance set to come forth from this district in the future, and I am honored to recognize him today.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of a truly courageous young woman, Jillian Dagon Andolina. Jill, 26, passed away on May 11, 2013 after a two-and-a-half-year battle with leukemia. She always carried a bright smile with her and was an inspiration for her parents, Dr. Richard and Molly Andolina, and for all those in our community who had the fortune of meeting her. A resident of Arkport, New York, Jill graduated from Arkport Central School in 2005. She received an associate's degree from SUNY Alfred before continuing on to SUNY Geneseo where she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2009. The diagnosis of leukemia interrupted her plan to acquire a master's degree in November of 2010. Despite this setback, Jill persevered through chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants to remain an active member of the community. She was a member of the Hornell Association and the Arkport American Legion Post 1248 Auxiliary. The Hornell Humane Society and Relay for Life were also graced with her time and efforts. Jill Andolina will be missed by all, but her legacy will continue to inspire. She touched the lives of hundreds of people and her spirit and determination motivate each and every one of us every day.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize May 19-25 as National Emergency Medical Services Week. The goal of this important week is to encourage safety and to honor the dedication of those who provide day-to-day lifesaving services. Though this honorary title may only last a week, the highlighted message should be recognized throughout the entire year. This year's theme is ``EMS: One Mission. One Team.'' This powerful theme serves as a reminder that emergency providers work selflessly each and every day to aid those in need whenever the call may be heard. Though the titles may differ--paramedics, first responders, firefighters--they all strive to improve the communities in which we live and work. One does not have to look past the recent tragedy in Boston to fully understand just how important emergency medical services are in our daily lives. The heroes on that dark day were ordinary citizens who rose up in the face of tragedy to treat the dozens of wounded runners and innocent bystanders. It is my hope that everyone takes a moment to thank those around them who perform these live-saving services. They are America's true everyday heroes.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Frank E. Berrish, who has served as CEO of Visions Federal Credit Union for 38 years. Mr. Berrish, who will be retiring April 30th, 2013, has overseen the financing of over $500 million in capital projects and has developed the Credit Union from $24 million in assets to $3.2 billion in assets. Visions Federal Credit Union has had a positive impact on businesses and customers in Upstate New York, much of that reputation can be attributed to Mr. Berrish. In recognition of Mr. Berrish's service to the Credit Union, he has been inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders on Capitol Hill. Mr. Berrish is only the second New Yorker to receive this national honor. I am proud to recognize Frank E. Berrish for his dedication to Visions Federal Credit Union and Upstate New York. It is a privilege to have such a successful business in my district and I am honored to have this opportunity to recognize Mr. Berrish today.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. I would like to thank the gentleman from Iowa for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the underlying bill. Before I make my comments, I would just ask my colleague, a good friend of mine from Maryland, we have an opportunity today to send a signal to America that we have a bicameral, a Senate-passed bill, and here in the House we are considering a bill that will address an issue that needs to be addressed on behalf of American citizens. Let us start here on a bipartisan fashion to solve the problems for hardworking taxpayers and worry about D.C. over those concerns of the people back home. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the underlying bill because I have heard from my constituents, in particular, the city of Ithaca in upstate New York, where a contract tower is going to be closed. And what this bill does is it restores that funding on a commonsense basis where that contract tower--my sincere hope and belief--will be preserved and go forward. That will preserve the safety of my air- traveling public out of that airport and also the local economic opportunity that it represents for the city of Ithaca. I'm proud to stand here today and say, because of bipartisan efforts, we worked together to solve this issue. Let's pass this bill and move forward.

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation to give the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, and Department of Transportation, DOT, flexibility to use unobligated funds to ensure the safety of our nation's air transportation system and American travelers. Specifically I rise to affirm the intent of this legislation that grants the Secretary of Transportation the ability to use unobligated balances of the Airport Improvement Program account to prevent the closure of 149 contract air traffic control towers and halt the furloughs of air traffic controllers. Maintaining service at all contract air traffic control towers is inherent to the authority given in this legislation to ensure a safe and efficient air transportation system. Over the past seven weeks, Congress has seen a swell of reaction to the FAA's decision to furlough and lay off hundreds of air traffic controllers across the country. In my district in New York, it was announced that the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport control tower would be closed. Since this announcement, residents, local businesses, and employees at the airport have flooded my office with feedback that this closure will have serious safety and long-term economic impacts in the region. Many Members of Congress as well as industry representatives who utilize our nation's general aviation system have expressed grave concerns over the closure of contract towers and furloughs of air traffic controllers, both of which contribute to the overall safety of our nation's air transportation system. The inaction of the Department of Transportation to request sequester reprogramming authority and maintain some level of service at all contract towers is unacceptable and has led to the need for this legislation. The safety and efficiency of our skies have been put at risk and it has become incumbent upon the Congress to direct this authority to the Secretary of Transportation. I look forward to working with the FAA and DOT to ensure that the Ithaca Tompkins control tower, as well as the other 148 towers across the country, remain up and running to ensure our skies are safe.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. I so appreciate the gentleman yielding time, my good friend from Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I join this conversation tonight coming at it from a perspective of being the chair of the Natural Gas Caucus and cochair of the Manufacturing Caucus here in Washington, D.C., caucuses that have cochairs on a bipartisan basis, where we're working together to try to figure out how we can become energy independent, but more importantly, Mr. Speaker, what this issue represents for the average American family. What this represents, when we are developing domestic energy sources such as the natural gas boom across America that's coming out of our shale formations and our tight sands formation when it comes to oil, what this represents to manufacturing is it puts American manufacturers in a competitive position so that they can invest in manufacturing facilities here on American soil. So what does that mean? What that means to every man, woman, and child out there in America right now is that we are sitting on the precipice of a manufacturing renaissance in America. This competitive edge that we are getting from developing our natural gas and oil resources here in America means that we're going to build plants. They're going to be putting people back to work for today and tomorrow and for generations to come. We need to build things in America. That's what this represents. We have a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers: by 2025, we are talking 1 million manufacturing jobs. There should be no dispute in this Chamber to join hands to make sure we develop the energy resource in a safe and responsible manner, but develop it for the sake of creating those jobs that put food on people's tables, put a roof over their heads, and take care of families for generations to come. I appreciate my good friend from Colorado yielding the time to me today. I just have to say, American energy means Americans' national security, and it means American prosperity for Americans of today and tomorrow.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Francis J. Savage. A resident of Olean, New York, Mr. Savage served his country admirably across the world for the better part of two decades as a member of the Foreign Service and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Mr. Savage's career in the Foreign Service began with an assignment in Iceland in 1950, but he was subsequently transferred to Marseilles, France where he met his wife, Doreen. The two continued to serve across the world, specifically Greece, Trinidad, Tripoli, and Libya. Following his tenure with the Foreign Service, Mr. Savage began to work for the USAID. It was during this time that his work took him to Vietnam as a Provincial Representative. Tragically, Mr. Savage was mortally wounded at the My Calm bombing in 1965. To honor his sacrifice, President Lyndon Johnson posthumously awarded Francis Savage with the Secretary's Award at the White House with his surviving wife, Doreen, and two children in attendance. It is with great privilege that I announce Francis J. Savage will be honored on May 3, 2013, Foreign Affairs Day, at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. Mr. Savage's service and sacrifice to this great nation deserves such recognition and I am proud to represent the district Mr. Savage once called home.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ray Miller, who has served as a volunteer member of the Dundee Fire Department for 58 years. Mr. Miller has completed seven terms as fire chief, during which he has demonstrated unequivocal dedication to the fire service and the entire Dundee community. In recognition of Mr. Miller's service to the fire department, he has been honored with the Dundee Fire Department's Fireman of the Year Award six times. Mr. Miller also received the Yates County Roger A. Ribble Memorial Award in 1998 for his ``dedication to the fire service, embracing its traditions, and training its future members.'' It is evident that Mr. Miller leads by example. Year after year, he leads the fire department in number of responses, ambulance calls, and extra work details. He provides an example for other members to follow, and inspires younger members to train and perform to the best of their abilities. Mr. Miller is well-known and respected throughout the community, and he is held in the highest regard by his fellow firemen. Anyone who knows Mr. Miller will attest to his character, work ethic, and countless contributions to the community. I am proud to recognize Ray Miller for his dedication to the fire department, and the invaluable contributions that he has made to the Dundee community over the past 58 years. It is a privilege to have a man of Mr. Miller's reputation in my district and I am honored to have this opportunity to recognize him today.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Oklahoma for organizing this important topic and this conversation tonight. Mr. Speaker, I believe in an America that is fair. I believe in an America where the rules are simple, so that hardworking taxpayers in America understand what those rules are, and they're not subject to the jeopardy of violating the rules because they're too complicated. I believe in an America where it's not judging a person by whom they know but, rather, who they are. And, Mr. Speaker, why I start my conversation with those beliefs is because we need to apply those beliefs to getting rid of this broken, complicated Tax Code that we have in America. What we have is a Code that is not simple, that is not fair, that is way too complicated. That's why I believe in going through commonsense tax reform for the purposes of coming up with a simple, fair, and reasonable Tax Code so that people can fill out their own taxes. As my colleague from Oklahoma rightfully points out, people are spending billions of dollars on tax preparers, third parties, and millions of hours--that can otherwise go to their businesses or to their families--to fill out a tax return that they can't understand because the rules are too complicated. Also, we have to end what we came here to Washington, D.C., to do, my colleague from Oklahoma and myself of this freshman class in November, 2010, and that is having our country under the control of the special interests and creating those loopholes in the Tax Code that go to narrowly tailored people because of whom they know. We want a Tax Code, I want a Tax Code, and I know my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee want a Tax Code that promotes growth, that promotes economic opportunity, that promotes the opportunity for us to be competitive on the world stage. Because when America competes on a world stage in a competitive market, we win. We have the best workers. We have the best technology. We have freedom. We have the rule of law. We need to do commonsense tax reform for the purposes of putting us in a position where we can create the jobs today and for generations to come, because we will then create a fair, level playing field that allows us to start building things in America, allows us to put people to work for generations to come. So I appreciate my good friend from Oklahoma bringing this issue to the forefront and having this conversation tonight, and I know he's bringing forth a copy of the Code and the regulations. And all you have to do is look at that colossal piece of paper, or reams of papers, books of papers, 70,000 pages of statutory tax and regulation. We in America can do better. We as House Republicans demand us to do better. And we will do better under the leadership that House Republicans are doing in the Ways and Means Committee and as a Conference to make sure that we end up with a Code that is simple, fair, and no longer riddled with loopholes, big government handouts, big government subsidies. That's the principle of tax reform for the Republican side of the aisle.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sriram Hathwar who, this May, will compete in the National Scripps Spelling Bee for the fourth time in his scholastic career. During his first attendance in 2008, Hathwar notably became the youngest speller in the history of the event but was eliminated in the preliminaries. He performed increasingly better in 2009 and 2011, finishing sixth in 2011. Sriram, a 12-year-old from Painted Post, New York, attends Corning's Alternative School for Math and Science. This year marks his sixth time contending in the Regional Spelling Bee, but it came with a new challenge: his younger brother. Out of 40 contestants, Sriram came head to head with his 10-year-old brother, Jairam Hathwar, in the final round. The last two standing flawlessly spelled out words such as ``liquesce'' and ``flexuosity'' for three rounds, until Jairam stumbled on ``jicama.'' Sriram then clinched the regional title with the word ``mobiliary.'' The National Scripps Spelling Bee, run on a not-for-profit basis by the E.W. Scripps Company and local spelling bee sponsors across the country, is the longest-running and largest educational promotion in the United States. Sriram will compete live on ESPN in the 88th National Scripps Spelling Bee from May 28th-30th in our nation's capital. I wish him the best of luck in May.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Elmira College women's ice hockey team, winner of the 2013 NCAA Division III National Championship. Led by the strong play of goaltender Taylor Steadman, who posted her 11th shutout of the year, the Soaring Eagles skated to a 1-0 victory over Middlebury College on March 16. Under the leadership of head coach Dean Jackson, the Soaring Eagles finished the season with a remarkable 24-5-1 record. This marks the third time that Elmira College has captured the National Championship since its women's ice hockey program was established in 2002. The unrivaled success of the Elmira College women's ice hockey team is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaches. The months of practice and training culminated in the highest level of success that an athletic team can achieve, being crowned as the national champions. This team is a source of pride in Elmira and across my entire district, and I am honored to recognize their great athletic accomplishment.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the individuals from the 23rd District of New York who were recently awarded the Fulbright Award. Thirteen constituents from my district were selected to receive this prestigious honor: Dr. Christopher Barrett, Ms. Emily Brown, Ms. Abena Bruce, Ms. Dina Bryan, Dr. Abigail Cohn, Dr. Matthew Evangelista, Mr. Andrew Hart, Dr. Teresa Jordan, Ms. Catherine Kearns, Mr. Joshua Kim, Mr. John Maher, Dr. Judith McKinney, and Ms. Sarah Steece. The recipients include both undergraduate students and scholars from a wide range of higher education institutions including Cornell University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Ithaca College, New York University, Stanford University, and Williams College. The Fulbright Program is America's largest international exchange program, having linked over a quarter of a million students with more than 155 countries worldwide. These opportunities not only offer our students a chance to educate themselves in foreign nations but these programs also help to strengthen our relationships with their host countries. Since 1977 when the Fulbright Association was established, many notable individuals have been recipients of this award. Ten Fulbright recipients have been elected to the United States Congress, 43 have received a Nobel Prize, and 78 have received the Pulitzer Prize. Fulbright Award recipients are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement as well as the leadership potential they show in their fields. It is a privilege to represent a district that so many of these award recipients call home. The bar has now been set very high, and I am proud to have them representing our nation as ambassadors abroad.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Renovating Hope, a nonprofit organization that assists America's heroes in need. Renovating Hope's mission is to provide professional and sustainable home repairs and renovations to families of men and women currently serving in the armed forces, as well as veterans. This organization delivers renewal and hope to the members of our military who are in need of assistance, and provides comfort to their families. I recently had the privilege of observing Renovating Hope's service and commitment to our military 'heroes in my district. The organization developed a project to remodel the home of Retired Army Sgt. Robert C. Costley, a Purple Heart Award recipient who was critically wounded by a roadside bomb during his tour in Iraq. The renovation of Sgt. Costley's home in Erin, New York, would not have been completed without the leadership of Renovating Hope and the hard work of countless volunteers from the community. I am proud to recognize the efforts of Renovating Hope in assisting our military heroes, and I commend their dedication to giving back to the individuals who have given so much of themselves to serve this great country. This organization truly exemplifies the commitment to serving the men and women of the United States military. As Americans, we should strive to emulate this commitment every day.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to rise in support of this proposed legislation before us today. I have been sitting here, listening to the arguments of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and I've heard conflicting messages. I've heard that this is an irrelevant piece of legislation, that it's not necessary because no one is requesting a waiver, that HHS and the administration have not engaged in a policy that allows waivers to occur; yet in the same breath, in the same argument, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say, But many Republican Governors are asking for waivers from States in going forward. The point is: this needs to be clarified. This needs to be firmly stated in our record and in the laws of the land that TANF requires a work requirement for our welfare program. I am a firm believer in the work requirements as they empower our unemployed, our underemployed--the folks who need it the most--to have the skill sets and the resources to put them back to work for generations to come so as to take care of their children and the people who are below them in regards to their needs. What I would say is any effort to send a conflicting message that somehow waivers are an acceptable policy should be fought on both sides of the aisle and rejected. That's why this legislation is necessary, and it is also necessary to get the reauthorization in place so that we can set the stage for a comprehensive, vigorous debate on welfare reform at the end of this 9-month reauthorization that this legislation does. So I encourage my colleagues, this is not about a Presidential election; this is about firm, solid policy when it comes to our welfare rolls in America. This is about giving people the tools to get back to work, and that work under the welfare program makes sense and is good, sound policy. I urge my colleagues to join with us and support this reauthorization.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, today I join my colleague Mr. Doggett of Texas, to introduce the Standard Data and Technology Advancement Act of 2013, or the ``Standard DATA Act.'' This legislation follows legislation previously introduced and championed by former Congressman Geoff Davis during his time as the Committee on Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman. The Standard DATA Act builds on the progress that has been made to establish consistent requirements for the electronic content and format of data used in the administration of key human services programs authorized by the Social Security Act. Human services programs serve overlapping populations and should, from an information technology standpoint, operate consistently within and across programs. By continuing the process of data standardization and the use of common reporting mechanisms, this bill will help achieve three goals: better prevent and identify fraud and abuse; increase the efficiency of administrative resources to serve eligible beneficiaries; and produce program savings for U.S. taxpayers. This bill continues the efforts begun in the bipartisan, bicameral Child and Family Services Extension and Enhancement Act of 2011, which was the first effort at requiring a human services program to implement standard data elements and reporting. President Obama signed that bill into law on September 30, 2011. The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, signed by the President in February 2012, applied similar data standards provisions to unemployment insurance and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. This program-by-program approach has been useful, but the ultimate goal is to work across programs. The legislation being introduced today provides a path forward to cover additional programs under the jurisdiction of the Human Resources subcommittee, with the intention of moving to create a complete system of program information exchange. As a member of the Human Resources subcommittee I commend these efforts and recognize the data provisions enacted in P.L. 112-96 are designed to be a catalyst for continued action. Consistent with the bipartisan approach developed and maintained by former Subcommittee Chairman Geoff Davis and Ranking Member Lloyd Doggett, today I introduce this bill with the full support of the Human Resources Subcommittee, from both sides of the aisle. Improved data standards will help increase the efficiency of data exchanges to use and reuse data within and across programs. That will allow States to automate the exchange of claimant data on work and benefit receipt, reducing delays and minimizing improper payments. It will also help to automate application forms by pre-populating them with reliable and verified data, which can reduce the manual burden on staff and allow them more time to engage beneficiaries, all while reducing error. This efficiency will better serve program beneficiaries and taxpayers at the same time. I thank my colleagues for co-sponsoring this important legislation, starting with Mr. Doggett, the Ranking Member on the Human Resources Subcommittee, Mr. Reichert, Chairman of the Human Resources Subcommittee, as well as Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Dr. Boustany, Mr. Young of Indiana, Mr. Griffin, Mr. Renacci, Mr. Tiberi, Mr. Paulsen and Mr. Danny Davis of Illinois. I invite all Members to join us in supporting this important legislation designed to improve the integrity of the benefit programs millions of Americans access today, and ensure that taxpayer funds are properly spent.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I am writing to inform you that I was detained on February 28, 2013, and was unable to be on the House floor to vote. Had I been there, I would have voted as follows: rollcall 54--McMorris Rodgers Amendment: ``no,'' rollcall 55--Passage of S. 47: ``yes.''

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Jamestown Community College and its faculty, staff, and student body whose commitment to the environment has earned them the distinguished award as a ``Tree Campus USA'' college for the fourth consecutive year. As the first community college in New York State to earn this distinction from the Arbor Day Foundation, JCC met the necessary criteria by fulfilling five standards: maintaining a campus tree advisory committee, campus tree care plan, providing annual expenditures to the tree program, observing Arbor Day, and service learning projects for students. By achieving these standards, Jamestown Community College displayed effective management of their campus trees and collaboration with the community to foster urban forests. The Arbor Day Foundation created this national program to recognize colleges and universities who exhibit dedication to sustaining their campus and community forestry as well as engaging their student body and faculty in these conservation goals. With one million members, Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. It has helped campuses throughout the country plant hundreds of thousands of trees and last year ``Tree Campus USA'' colleges and universities invested $23 million in campus forest management. Jamestown Community College stands as an example to the community and other colleges and universities for making initiatives to sustain the environment by protecting and maintaining trees. I applaud their many efforts and look forward to Jamestown Community College's continued leadership on this front.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 21 years of dedicated service that John E. Margeson provided to Allegany County as County Administrator. Mr. Margeson began serving the Allegany County government over thirty years ago in 1977 as a probation officer. In 1982, he was appointed to be the administrative assistant to the chairman of the board and held that position until 1992 when he was appointed the county's first administrator. Mr. Margeson recently announced his retirement as Allegany County Administrator to be effective at the end of March 2013. As the first county administrator in Allegany County, he spent over two decades making changes and updates as new federal and state mandates emerged. As a result of these mandates, the role of the Allegany County government has grown and reacted to the issues at hand. Mr. Margeson also helped oversee some of the largest capital projects in the county's history, including a new jail and a court annex. Making it a priority to attend every committee and full board meeting, Mr. Margeson provides extensive and invaluable knowledge to the board members. Following his many years of dutiful work, Mr. Margeson looks forward to spending his retirement with his wife, two kids and his grandchildren. He also intends on playing many rounds of golf and his favorite card games in his hometown of Scio, New York. I wish Mr. Margeson the very best in retirement and thank him for his public service.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I write to inform you that I was detained on February 6, 2013, and was unable to be on the House floor for the vote on H.R. 444. Had I been there, I would have voted a ``yea'' on rollcall 38: Final passage of H.R. 444.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments and long-standing success of Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Recently, Wegmans was named 5th in Fortune Magazine's ``100 Best Companies to Work For'' in 2012. Since opening their first store in 1916 in Rochester, New York, Wegmans has experienced sustained growth for nearly a century, with a total of 81 store locations and a workforce of over 43,000 Americans. Even during trying economic times, Wegmans continued to grow and has plans to open additional stores, which will add more than 1,500 new jobs to the economy in the near future. Wegmans exemplifies the American dream of entrepreneurship, and the core reason for the sustained success of this company is their workforce. By providing employees with a positive work environment with opportunities to learn and contribute to the organization, Wegmans is able to share in the success and growth of their employees. This recognition from Fortune Magazine is just one of many accolades received by Wegmans throughout their long history and I trust there are many more to come. I hope new business owners and entrepreneurs will look to the business practices of Wegmans as an example. Additionally, I would like to thank Wegmans for not only their services to consumers, but also for their contributions to the economy and communities in my district.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Time Warner Cable for its Connect a Million Minds (CAMM) initiative. This program is designed to inspire the next generation of problem solvers by connecting young people to the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) outside of the classroom. This campaign includes original public service announcements and programming, grants to support nonprofit organizations that introduce students to STEM, and the creation of ``The Connectory,'' a one-of-a- kind resource that allows parents to find kid-centric STEM learning opportunities in their own backyards. The CAMM initiative also encourages Time Warner Cable employees to volunteer at science fairs, robotics competitions, and local Connect a Million Minds events. The STEM fields have become increasingly important for the development of our country as the world continues to modernize at a rapid pace. The performance of U.S. students in STEM subjects has fallen behind their international peers. Today, more and more employers report having a difficult time finding qualified applicants for STEM jobs. This problem will continue to grow as it is estimated that the number of jobs in STEM fields will increase 17% by 2018. Given this figure, it is difficult to understate the importance of STEM education for both our nation's collective economic future and the future of our nation's students. The CAMM program has focused resources across several Congressional Districts, including the 23rd District of New York. With increased attention and support from community and industry leaders that will someday hire students in STEM fields, programs like CAMM are critical to building a pool of future qualified employees. I commend Time Warner Cable for its CAMM initiative; and I want my colleagues to understand the importance of such initiatives and their positive impact on all of our communities.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate David W. Oliker's 30 years as President and Chief Executive Officer of MVP Health Care. Mr. Oliker has been a successful and steadfast advocate for improved health care and economic prosperity in my Congressional district, but will be retiring during this calendar year. Through Mr. Oliker's efforts, MVP Health Care has become a leader in the promotion of wellness and health education in our communities as a vehicle to lower health care costs and drive collective well-being. As a non-profit organization, MVP Health Care demonstrates what a truly successful public-private partnership looks like. Advancing our nation's educational system has also been a priority of Mr. Oliker's. He has served on multiple boards, including the Advisory Council of Union Graduate College and the Albany College of Pharmacy. His hard work has ensured that generations to come will be well prepared for the future. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with Mr. Oliker and I wish him the best in his retirement. The health care system in the Northeast will not be the same without him.