Bill Shuster

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, Congress has just approved an FAA extension to fund the agency for 6 months, but our work is not done. We have a responsibility to pass a long-term FAA bill that ensures America remains a leader in aviation. The status quo means American aviation manufacturing will lose out to competitors in Europe, China, Brazil, and Canada. We will lose jobs. It means the drone industry will continue to go overseas for testing and development. That is more lost jobs. The status quo means more delays and lost time for our passengers. Let me read you a quote: ``The FAA is the only agency of government worse at procurement than the Pentagon. Congress has tried to reform it; it didn't stick. We have got to try something different to get it to be more agile to give us 21st century equipment and software that we need.'' Mr. Speaker, that is not my quote. I am quoting the ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. And that, based on what he has said and what we have seen over the last 20 years, that is why it is time to reform the FAA. With my Republican and Democratic colleagues, I have introduced H.R. 2997, the 21st Century AIRR Act. Like all major reforms, there have been false claims made against this bipartisan bill. The false issues I want to address are from general aviation. My colleagues and I, including Sam Graves, worked with the general aviation community to include everything they have asked for in this bill. Not one of their legislative requests was excluded. In fact, Congressman Graves now supports the bill because of how far we went to address the needs of the GA community. We did so because general aviation is vital to our unique aviation system, and I would never sponsor legislation that harms my own rural community and the GA pilots and the several hundred GA pilots who live within it. Here is what the general aviation community asked for: They did not want to pay user fees to use air traffic control services, and they won't. All they have to do is look at page 83 in the bill. The only entity that will be able to change this is Congress, just like it is today. They did not want any airspace restrictions. This bill prohibits airspace restrictions for the GA, and just look at page 114 to find that. In fact, GA doesn't have that guarantee today. Our bill actually puts that guarantee in law for the first time. They wanted to fully fund the Airport Improvement Program. I want to fully fund the Airport Improvement Program, in part, because it helps my district and small- and medium-sized airports in rural communities around this country. AIP will be funded the way it has been in the past, and it will be, going forward, by the traveling public. Currently, AIP funding is flatlined at $3.3 billion a year, but over the course of the bill, we will raise that up to almost $4 billion, and you will find that on page 7 of the bill. GA wanted parity on the board, and they got it, the ability to nominate two board members. So the board will be balanced. It will include airports, pilots, controllers, commercial passenger carriers, cargo carriers, regional carriers, general aviation, business aviation, plus the government will put two seats on the board. A super majority will choose two independent board members, and then they will choose a CEO. Yet even when faced with these facts in black and white text, opponents of reform still claim these guarantees are not in the bill. Ask a member of the GA community what we can do to get their support, and they will say: ``Nothing.'' They want to keep the status quo. Unfortunately, a few Washington special interests that represent business jets oppose this commonsense reform. Think about it this way: 850 million passengers will fly commercially every year, and that number will go to a billion over the next 10 years; this bill is real reform that will benefit them at no cost and harm to the business jet aviation; in fact, every person that flies commercially subsidizes business jets using the air traffic control system. A small number of GA owners, the number is about 500,000, are opposing something that will benefit a billion passengers that will fly annually. Another thing that was brought up is that we harm the defense of this country. That is absolutely not true. As a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, I would never do anything that would harm the defense of this country. And Secretary Mattis and Deputy Secretary of Defense Shanahan have been on the Hill, have written letters supporting our efforts to this fact. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, this is not speculation. This reflects the very carefully drafted text of the bill that the House will vote on in the coming days. I encourage Members to read the bill and come to us with questions. This bipartisan bill has broad and diverse support. For example, Heritage Action, the pilots and the air traffic controller union, and the flight attendants union all support this very bipartisan bill, a bill that will transform aviation in this country, keep us competitive, keep us safe, and keep us efficient. I ask all my colleagues to support the bipartisan H.R. 2997.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3823. Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear what is at stake if Congress fails to pass the FAA extension. Starting on October 1, no aviation taxes will be collected. Approximately $40 million of revenue will be lost each day; the revenue that would have been used for airport infrastructure funding and the FAA's important safety, operational, and research functions. No new Airport Improvement Program grants will be issued to airports in the communities across the country. All FAA accounts funded out of the aviation trust fund--the Facilities and Equipment; AIP; Research, Engineering, and Development accounts--will be impacted. Thousands of employees will be furloughed and some will be required to show up to work for no pay. We must also be clear on the impact to hurricane recovery efforts currently underway by the FAA and funded from the Facilities and Equipment account, including those in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FAA is currently trying to restore radars, navigational aids, and other equipment damaged during Hurricane Maria. This is happening while stranded passengers in the San Juan airport wait without air- conditioning and electricity for flights off the island. The FAA technicians are working around the clock to restore services, but because of the extent of the damage and the challenges of the terrain where equipment is located, it is difficult to determine when full restoration will happen. For instance, as we debate this bill, technicians are making their way to a long-range radar site on a mountain in Puerto Rico. The last two miles to the site through the rainforest are impassable, so the technicians are using chainsaws to clear a path for themselves and their replacement equipment. The radar and navigation equipment are critical for the safe operation of flights. We will have plenty of time to debate aviation policy in the coming weeks, and I look forward to it. But the FAA extension we are considering this week is not a pawn in a Washington game of political brinksmanship. It is time for Congress to ensure the FAA's authorities, funding, and disaster recovery efforts continue uninterrupted in order to help those impacted by the hurricanes that are desperately needed. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this critical legislation.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judge Jolene Grubb Kopriva for 30 years of devoted service to Blair County and to wish her well on her upcoming retirement. Since earning her Juris Doctorate Degree in 1978 at the Duquesne School of Law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Judge Kopriva has been an essential part of the Blair County community. In November of 1987, Judge Kopriva challenged the status quo by becoming the first elected female judge in Blair County. In January 2006, she broke through another barrier by becoming the first female President Judge of Blair County--a position she held for over ten years. Judge Kopriva has been rightfully recognized time and time again for her service to the community. Despite her busy career, Judge Kopriva has been an active volunteer serving on the United Way Board of Directors, the Hollidaysburg Area YMCA Board of Directors and Officer, the Multi-Disciplinary Child Abuse Team of Blair County, the Governor's Community Partnership for Safe Children, as well as several other spots in her church and around Blair County. These positions earned her many distinctions such as the Altoona YWCA Tribute to Women Award, a NAACP Humanitarian Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from WISE Women of Blair County. Judge Kopriva's devoted service is an inspiration to us all, and I wish her the best on her retirement. Though her time in court may be coming to a close, the impact she has made to improve the lives of those in Blair County will be felt for decades to come.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry of Martinsburg, PA and Chancellor of Penn State Altoona, for receiving the 2017 Altoona Kiwanis Club Citizen of the Year Award. Dr. Bechtel-Wherry is Penn State Altoona's Chancellor and Dean and is the first woman to hold such a position in the college's history. She is also the first female full professor at Penn State Altoona. Her involvement on campus is tremendous as she engages with students, pushes for the lasting success of the college and even sponsors a Challenge the Chancellor Ping Pong fundraiser each year to support Penn State Altoona's THON Team. Dr. Bechtel-Wherry has been recognized by the Blair County Board of Commissioners for her dedicated involvement and service towards the local community through Penn State Altoona. Dr. Bechtel-Wherry serves on the board of directors for the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation and will become the first female Chair of its Board in January 2018. Dr. Bechtel-Wherry has earned countless awards both at Penn State and in the surrounding Pennsylvania communities. Her work is clearly deserving of the Altoona Kiwanis Club Citizen of the Year Award. As such, it is my honor to help celebrate her having received this award.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me time. I rise today in support of the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2017. This extension provides stability to our aviation system and extends the funding to the FAA over the next 6 months while Congress continues to make progress on a full FAA reauthorization bill. This extension is absolutely necessary to prevent a shutdown in FAA programs, delays in airport construction projects, and the possible furlough of thousands of FAA employees across the country. I will be the first to admit I am disappointed we have not passed a long-term bill yet. Unfortunately, this is not a new problem for Congress. Between 2007 and 2012, Congress passed 23 extensions before approving a full reauthorization. These short-term stopgaps, while necessary, create long-term budget instability, and they contribute to the FAA's overall inability to effectively manage the modernization of our antiquated air traffic control system. Congress has passed numerous piecemeal reforms over the years to try to help the FAA act more like a business and efficiently modernize the system. These reforms have not worked, and passing the same kind of reforms again is not going to change the simple fact that the Federal Government is not an innovative, high-tech service business. It is time to face the truth that, without transformational reform, the American people will not get the most modern and efficient air traffic control system that they have been promised and deserve. For too long, we have been trying to manage the symptoms of the problem instead of finding a cure. Thankfully, we now have that cure. H.R. 2997, the 21st Century AIRR Act, and progress is being made every day on this bill to provide long- overdue reform of the FAA. While we have made progress, I believe we will move this bipartisan bill through the House in the next few weeks. In the meantime, we have to pass this extension today to provide 6 months' worth of certainty and stability to the FAA, the aviation community, and the flying public. Without it, starting this Sunday, October 1, the FAA programs will face a shutdown, thousands of FAA employees could be furloughed, airport projects across the country will come to a halt, and approximately $40 million a day in aviation trust fund revenue will go uncollected. That is funding for air traffic control, airport development, and other safety and modernization programs that will never be recovered. I want to remind my colleagues again that the very fact that we have to pass this bill today is one of the many reasons we need fundamental, comprehensive FAA reform. In order to ensure America remains the world leader in aviation, I look forward to bringing the bipartisan 21st Century AIRR Act to the floor in the coming weeks. Until then, I urge my colleagues to support today's bill. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Brady and Chairman Hensarling for their work on this bill, and I thank my friend for yielding.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Curbelo for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I just heard the ranking member get on the floor and call me stubborn. I am pretty committed to what we are doing here because this week will be the second year anniversary of this quote by the ranking member in debate on the floor on H.R. 3614. ``The FAA is the only agency in government worse at procurement than the Pentagon. Congress has tried to reform it; it didn't stick. We have got to try something different to get it more agile, to give us the 21st century equipment and software that we need.'' That is exactly what we are trying to do in the 21st Century AIRR Act. We have tried for the last 40 years to get it modernized. We spent somewhere around 40 to $50 billion, and we haven't been able to get it done. This is a true transformational reform.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Debbie Byler of Martinsburg, PA, winner of the Patient Advocate Award from the HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Altoona. Debbie is cofounder and coordinator of John's Way Medical Equipment Ministry, a faith-based outreach program of Clover Creek Church of the Brethren. John's Way provides wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and other medical equipment to individuals who do not have the necessary funds or medical insurance. Debbie has been instrumental in the growth of John's Way which donated 16 pieces of equipment in its first year in 2009. Last year, the program made available more than 4,200 items to those in need. She oversees 40 volunteers who take requests, clean and repair equipment, pick up donations and deliver items to clients. Debbie and her work at John's Way have had a significant, positive impact on the local community. Given her admirable actions in support of individuals and families facing hardship, Debbie is unquestionably deserving of this recognition. As such, it is my honor to help celebrate her having received this award.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Shelly Kerchner, one of the winners of the 24th annual Personal Achievement Award from the HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Altoona. This award is given to encourage and recognize those who have made an outstanding effort to deal with or overcome a disability. This year, Shelly has earned that distinction. Shelly's life changed eleven years ago in 2006 with she fell down a flight of stairs, suffering a devastating spinal cord injury. She was only able to move her eyes and had weak movement in both of her hands. Shelly's medical prognosis was bleak, indicating she would never walk again or use her hands. Yet, through perseverance, hard work and dedication she proved that grim forecast wrong. Today, Shelly is now walking with braces and a rolling walker and is independent with her everyday tasks. She cooks, cleans, drives, practices yoga and is an author. She is said to be an inspiration to many people through her Internet blog and her published book--Standing Tall: The Healing Power of Gratitude. I am humbled to recognize the truly impressive recovery Shelly has made. Her strength and positivity in the face of such adversity is remarkable. As such, it is my pleasure to wish Shelly the best as she continues to reclaim her health and life.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Fayette County Community Action Agency for 50 years of service to the communities of Fayette County in western Pennsylvania. The work of this agency has set an example for Community Action Agencies nationwide causing FCCAA to be recognized on numerous occasions for its community and economic work, as well as the quality of services which its employees provide. In addition to recognitions by the United States Department of Agriculture and the AARP foundation, just last year the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency recognized FCCAA with its Lender Partnership Award. The agency's Board of Directors is composed of elected officials, business leaders and community representatives, and has built an agency which is an example for other communities. Their work touches thousands of people each year by providing services such as emergency food and shelter, housing development, services for older residents, education and support for first time mothers, and training and education programs. Fayette County Community Action Agency is fulfilling their mission of helping people and changing lives, and I am proud to have such a fine agency in my district. Fayette County is lucky to have an agency so committed to improving the livelihood of its citizens, and I am thankful for their dedication to this community.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kim Emes, one of the winners of the 24th annual Personal Achievement Award from the HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Altoona. This award is given to encourage and recognize those who have made an outstanding effort to deal with or overcome a disability. This year, Kim has earned that distinction. Kim was diagnosed in January 2017 with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves causing weakness and temporary paralysis throughout the body. Kim was completely dependent as she began rehabilitation therapy with very little functional movement. But she showed determination, hard work and a desire to be challenged during each treatment visit and continued to make excellent progress. By discharge, Kim had totally regained her strength, balance and mobility, and was able to walk without braces or a rolling walker. I am honored to help celebrate Kim's impressive efforts and recovery, as I believe her dedicated and positive attitude is something many of us can learn from as we attempt to overcome the hardships in our lives. Furthermore, I am happy to recognize Kim for her perseverance, and I wish her the best as she returns to a life of full health.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ron Clawson, one of the winners of the 24th annual Personal Achievement Award from the HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Altoona. This award is given to encourage and recognize those who have made an outstanding effort to deal with or overcome a disability. This year, Ron has earned that distinction. Ron was at work atop a tanker car when it exploded in January 2017. He sustained significant trauma and multiple injuries including nine rib fractures, multiple spinal fractures and burns all over his body. The accident dramatically changed his life, causing him to endure many trips for medical treatment including outpatient therapy three times a week, follow-up appointments with multiple doctors and a surgical procedure on his right shoulder. Yet, through all of these troubles, Ron, with the boundless support of his wife Diane and their four children, has approached his situation with strength and calm determination. I am humbled to recognize the truly impressive recovery Ron has made. His steadfast perseverance in the face of such adversity is remarkable. As such, it is my pleasure to wish Ron the best as he continues to reclaim his health and life.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jessica Stellabotte, one of the winners of the 24th annual Personal Achievement Award from the HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Altoona. This award is given to encourage and recognize those who have made an outstanding effort to deal with or overcome a disability. This year, Jessica has earned that distinction. Jessica was diagnosed in April 2017 with Acute Demyelinating Encephalopathy, an inflammation of the body's central nervous system that affects the brain and spinal cord. At the time, Jessica was just a typical young woman pursuing her Master's Degree in Grief Counseling. She faced many obstacles being unable to speak, sit without support or simply wheel her wheelchair. However, through her hard work, motivation and family support, Jessica has made tremendous gains in speech and occupational therapy and now even walks with a walker. She is completing a graduate program to become a grief counselor, and is an inspiration to many. I am honored to help celebrate Jessica's impressive efforts and promising recovery, as I believe that her dedicated and positive attitude is something many of us can learn from as we attempt to overcome the hardships in our lives. Furthermore, I am happy to recognize Jessica for her perseverance, and I wish her the best as she continues to reclaim her health and life.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dan Mathews and thank him for his years of dedicated service to Congress and the American taxpayers. Dan has worked on the Hill for over 20 years, and, he has been a fixture on the staff of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as the Republican Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management for the last 14 years. The Subcommittee has a wide area of jurisdiction covering federal buildings and courthouses, the General Services Administration, and GSA leases and capital projects, the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center, the National Gallery of Art, and numerous other federal facilities. In addition, Dan also staffed the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparedness for and the Response to Hurricane Katrina in 2006. He was one of the primary authors of the Committee's investigative report, ``A Failure of Initiative,'' which led to the successful enactment of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, and later the establishment of the National Preparedness System and the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act. In his time with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Dan has had a leading role in the enactment of major pieces of legislation related to public buildings and emergency management. Most notably, during his tenure, he has overseen the passage and the initial implementation of the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act (FASTA), which will shrink the size of government and help ensure savings by selling or redeveloping high value properties, consolidating federal space, and streamlining the disposal of unneeded assets; the Post- Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, which gave FEMA clear guidance on its mission and priorities, and provided the legislative authorities needed to better partner with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments before, during, and after disasters; and the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act, which was the most significant legislative change to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) substantive authorities since the enactment of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974. Dan has also worked tirelessly to save taxpayer money by reducing the cost of federal real estate, reducing waste in the federal courthouse construction program, coordinating efforts by agencies to reduce leasing costs through space reductions and consolidations, and pushing GSA to negotiate the best lease deals for the taxpayer. It comes as no surprise given his experience and efforts, that the Administration has appointed him Commissioner of GSA's Public Buildings Service. I am confident in that role, Dan will continue the important work of ensuring GSA and other federal agencies continue to reduce costs and make smarter decisions in federal real estate to benefit the taxpayer. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his family, his wife Lara and their two daughters, traveling, doing yoga, and rock climbing. Mr. Speaker, please join me in acknowledging Dan's achievements during his tenure here in the House of Representatives and in wishing Dan the best of luck with new endeavors.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to the dedicated service of Colonel Deacon Maddox, commander of Letterkenny Army Depot. Since his arrival in August of 2015, Colonel Maddox has brought the finest elements of the U.S. Army Warrior Ethos to bear on the task of revitalizing operations at Letterkenny Army Depot. Through his innovative leadership, Colonel Maddox has brought about substantial and lasting changes that have cemented Letterkenny's place as the premier defense industrial facility in the nation for decades to come. Throughout his career as an Army officer, Colonel Maddox has exemplified the finest traditions of this nation's armed forces. His tenure at the helm of Letterkenny has been marked by an unshakeable commitment to the men and women under his command, and his work to improve the efficacy and production at the depot has made this nation safer and more secure. Let no one make the mistake of underestimating the role of America's organic industrial base. Our depots and arsenals work tirelessly to put the weapons and equipment in the hands of the warfighter, and the labor being done in the heart of Pennsylvania saves lives in lands far from home. That would not be possible without the steadfast guidance of leaders like Colonel Deacon Maddox. In his time at Letterkenny Army Depot, Colonel Maddox has done more than simply steer the installation towards greater success--he has also become a welcome part of the Franklin County community. From his engagement with local officials to his collaboration with Team Letterkenny, Colonel Maddox has been a valued member of the 9th District. It has been an honor to work with him, and his presence will be missed in Franklin County. On behalf of Pennsylvania's 9th District, I want to thank Colonel Deacon Maddox for his selfless service, and for working so hard to protect both the American warfighter and the dedicated workforce at Letterkenny Army Depot. Though Colonel Maddox's time at Letterkenny Army Depot may be over, the impact he has made to improve the installation and the lives of its employees will be felt for decades to come.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2825, and I want to commend and congratulate my two good friends, Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson, and the members of the Homeland Security Committee and their staff for their work on this important bill. This Congress, eight committee chairmen agreed to work together on the Department of Homeland Security reauthorization. I did so because securing our Nation's homeland is extremely important to the American people. I also believe it is our duty to work together to support fellow chairmen on their priorities, especially large reauthorizations like this. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up two authorizations in our jurisdiction that are included in this bill: the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Coast Guard authorization supports service missions to enforce all Federal laws on the high seas and in U.S. waters. It does so by providing a variety of acquisition authorities to help lower costs, requiring a land-based unmanned aircraft system program, eliminating redundant training requirements, and providing the Coast Guard parity with other armed services in matters related to healthcare and retirement. On FEMA, the bill provides the first ever reauthorization of the agency to ensure accountability and strong congressional oversight. It includes a number of provisions to help address 21st century challenges to disaster preparedness and response and to support energy response personnel. Both of our reauthorizations were bipartisan efforts and approved with bipartisan support. Again, I thought it was important to move these measures through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to support Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson and their legislative priorities. I want to thank them both again for their work. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the great honor of welcoming Reverend Terry Sanders and his wife, Rhonda. Reverend Sanders traveled here from Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where he is the founder, CEO, and director of Genesis House Ministry, a ministry created to help men leaving the prison system move through a recovery process within a supportive environment, enabling them to transition back to society. His ministry has been helpful in battling the fight against the opioid crisis we face in America today. The Genesis House, at its core, is a resident house where clients receive far more than a warm bed. Rather than sending former inmates aimlessly into the streets, the ministry provides counseling, mentoring, job skill development, substance abuse programming, job placement services, and family integration assistance. Reverend Sanders has been working as the chaplain of the Fayette County Prison for more than 10 years and knows firsthand prison release qualifications and what it takes to make a difference in the lives of men. The ministry opened its doors in 2014 and is a result of Reverend Sanders' desire to make a difference in the community. I am grateful that Reverend Sanders is able to join us here today, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep and sincere appreciation for the great work he and his team are doing in western Pennsylvania.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the achievements of the Meyersdale Area High School Varsity Baseball team of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. The Red Raiders baseball team brought home the long awaited PIAA Class A State Championship on Thursday, June 15. This is a monumental moment for the school; it is the first state championship the school has won in any sport since its opening in the late 1940's. In fact, this was the first PIAA crown earned by any team in the Somerset County school district. The Red Raiders defeated the Clarion Bobcats 2-0, finishing their season with a record of 21-6. Baseball is a team sport, Mr. Speaker, and this championship is a team championship. The Red Raiders were led to victory against the Bobcats by their five seniors and captains, Riley Christner, Zach Hotchkiss, Max Caton, Cody Welker, and David Swank, and head coach Wayne Miller. This headlining win gave Wayne Miller an overall record of 183-44 during his ten years of coaching the Red Raiders. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to congratulate the players, coaches, and families of the Meyersdale Area High School Varsity Baseball team on their state championship. The passion, commitment, and teamwork shown by these young men will surely follow them in their future endeavors as well as inspire the Meyersdale community for years to come.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Young, Oakes, Brown, & Company, P.C. Young, Oakes, Brown, & Company, P.C. is the oldest professional firm in Blair County and one of the largest independently owned accounting and consulting firms based in Central Pennsylvania. Founded in Altoona, Pennsylvania in 1917, the firm has grown to employ 30 individuals that maintain the company's reputation of Excellency in the accounting, tax preparation, and auditing profession. Throughout their 100 years, Young, Oakes, Brown, & Company, P.C. has continuously been an active community partner supporting charities, service and fraternal clubs and contributing to the 9th District of Pennsylvania. Young, Oakes, Brown, & Company, P.C.'s current stakeholders are an outstanding example of integrity and professionalism in the workforce, and I know their founder, Robert E. Young, would be proud of the legacy they have continued. I ask that all of my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives join me in congratulating Young, Oakes, Brown, & Company, P.C. on this historic milestone, and wishing this business nothing but continued success.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the New Meadow Run Community in Farmington, Pennsylvania, and submit the following Proclamation: Whereas, in July of 1957 members of the Bruderhof purchased Gorley's Lake Hotel in Farmington, Pennsylvania calling it first Oak Lake and subsequently New Meadow Run. Whereas, this Assembled Body is justly proud to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the New Meadow Run Community in Farmington, Pennsylvania; and Whereas, the Bruderhof was founded in 1920 in Germany by Dr. Eberhard Arnold, and since then, has grown into an international Christian communal movement, inspired by the first century Christian church in Jerusalem; and Whereas, the Bruderhof has been a living example of the sanctity of family life, peace, racial equality and brotherhood and has been an advocate for religious freedoms, education and welfare of children and care of the elderly and downtrodden; and Whereas, Bruderhof members are involved in a wide range of social services on a volunteer and charitable basis which include visiting those in prison, providing food, shelter, and medical care to those in need--locally and internationally, serving as police chaplains, and volunteering on local ambulance and fire departments; and Whereas, the Bruderhof is known for publishing quality books and a quarterly magazine through the Plough Publishing House, and working for peace and reconciliation through ``Breaking the Cycle,'' a conflict resolution program for schools that reaches thousands of students each year; and Whereas, since its arrival in the United States, the Bruderhof has become well-known for its businesses: Community Playthings, which manufactures quality wooden toys and durable nursery furniture; and Rifton Equipment, which produces Innovative equipment for people with motor disabilities; and Whereas, since 1954, the Bruderhof movement has expanded to include sixteen communities in the United States, including three in Pennsylvania and ten in New York State. Internationally there are three communities in England, two in Germany and three in Australia, one in Paraguay; and Whereas, Bruderhof members appreciate the freedoms the United States has afforded them and have participated in the political process, supporting the leadership of their representatives; and Whereas, the Bruderhof's distinguished record of valuable, practical, economic, and spiritual contributions to Pennsylvania and the United States merit the recognition and respectful tribute of this Assembled Body; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the New Meadow Run Community in Farmington, Pennsylvania and look forward to a continuing association with the Bruderhof as it works to improve the quality of life of every person and serve the common good; and be it further.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, in accordance with House Report 115-193, I include in the Record the following Congressional Budget Cost Estimate for H.R. 1684. U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, June 27, 2017. Hon. Bill Shuster, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1684, the Disaster Assistance Support for Communities and Homeowners Act of 2017. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Robert Reese. Sincerely, Mark P. Hadley (For Keith Hall, Director). Enclosure. H.R. 1684--Disaster Assistance Support for Communities and Homeowners Act of 2017 As passed by the House of Representatives on June 26, 2017 H.R. 1684 would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide technical assistance to community, homeowner, and similar associations. FEMA would be required to help such associations take actions after a disaster that would make them eligible to receive reimbursement from entities that receive FEMA grants. This legislation also would require FEMA to submit a report to the Congress on expanding the areas of condominiums and housing cooperatives that are eligible for federal disaster relief. Based on information provided by FEMA, about the cost to collect information necessary to complete the report, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1684 would cost $1 million in 2018; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting H.R. 1684 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1684 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028. H.R. 1684 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Meghan Shewsbury and Robert Reese. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the achievements of the Central High School Varsity Baseball team of Martinsburg, Pennsylvania. The countless hours of commitment required by the players and coaches was rewarded by their PIAA, 3A State Championship win on Thursday, June 15th. The Scarlet Dragons defeated Holy Redeemer High School with a final score of 8-3 in the team's first-ever state championship. The Dragons finished the season with a record of 24-3. The team represented Pennsylvania's Blair County at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The town of Martinsburg, PA is small but mighty, much like that of the 40 player team led by their head coach AJ Hoenstine. Coach Hoenstine has led the Dragons as a head coach for 10 years, and is a Central High School Baseball alum himself. The 2017 varsity team was home to 11 seniors with a solidly backed line up of underclassmen. The game's star pitcher was a junior named Preston Karstetter. Karstetter took over for the team's ace Jarret Imler after the Dragons made it to the final game of the playoffs. The rest of the starting line-up from the Championship Game included Alex Hoenstine, Chase Smith, Josh McKnight, Michael Speck, Noah Muthler, Hunter Liebal, Larry Corle, Jacob Muthler, Brady Nicewonger, and Brice Brumbaugh. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to congratulate the players and coaches of the Central High School's Varsity Baseball team on their championship win. The type of dedication and hard work required to achieve this level of victory will surely follow these young men throughout the rest of their lives.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mike Christopher, a devoted public servant in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Mike is retiring after 40 years of dedicated public service as supervisor of Washington Township. Mike was born March 18, 1952 and graduated from Penn State University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environment Resource Management. He married his wife Andrea on May 15, 1976, and began working for Washington Township the next year as Supervisor. In 1993, Mike began serving as the Township Treasurer as well as Supervisor. Mike is one of those outstanding individuals who is a true public servant, Mr. Speaker, and he didn't stop with working for his local community full time. He's served on numerous boards and committees in the Waynesboro area and Franklin County including the YMCA Board of Directors and Building Committee, as President of the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce, and as Secretary for the Waynesboro Area Drug Education Consortium. He is also the founder of the Franklin County Crime Solvers Board. I am certainly not the first to recognize Mike for his outstanding service. In addition to much recognition throughout his career, just this year he was awarded the Chairman's Distinguished Service Award at the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors 95th Annual Conference in Hershey. Mr. Speaker, Mike's willingness to serve his community and Pennsylvania sets him apart as an outstanding individual and I am honored to represent him in the United States Congress. I ask that all of my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives join me in congratulating Mike on his retirement and wishing him nothing but continued success.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate four talented young Pennsylvania students who volunteered their time and artistic abilities to the beautification of the Altoona Mail Processing Center. Portage Area High School students Makayla Klein, Christopher Hartline, Kaylee Koval, and Alexis Miller were selected by their instructor to design and paint a mural in the lobby of the postal center. They submitted several designs for consideration, and, upon selection, collaborated to carry out the chosen design. The design that was selected by the postal center was a striking image of a bald eagle with wings spread and talons out. On the left wing is the emblem of the United States Postal Service, and on the right wing an American flag. On April 7th and 8th, 2017, Makayla, Christopher, Kaylee, and Alexis volunteered their time to complete the mural on the lobby wall of the postal center. The mural was dedicated to the hardworking men and women of the Altoona Mail Processing Center, and their commitment to ensuring the efficient and accurate handling of our mail and postage. The students who carried out this tremendous project deserve nothing but our gratitude and admiration. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to thank Makayla, Christopher, Kaylee, and Alexis for their hand in the improvement of the Altoona Mail Processing Center. Congratulations on a job well done and for your beautiful contribution which will be enjoyed by thousands in the community for years to come.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the service of Lieutenant Colonel Trenton J. Conner, who has served his nation and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania admirably as Commander of the Letterkenny Munitions Center (LEMC) in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Lieutenant Colonel Conner was installed as commander of LEMC in 2015, and has since led a dynamic effort to modernize both the facilities and logistical technology that allow Letterkenny to operate as one of our nation's most efficient and effectual munitions centers. His leadership has helped turn LEMC into the Army's premier munitions center, orchestrating the distribution, maintenance, and demilitarization of munitions from around the globe. On behalf of Pennsylvania's 9th District, I want to thank Lieutenant Colonel Conner for his selfless service, and moreover highlight the sense of purpose with which he has handled every project managed in his time at Letterkenny Munitions Center. His leadership and the progressive changes he has made will live on, and it is with the utmost appreciation with which I wish him the best as he continues to serve his nation in new capacities. As he passes the guidon, I take great pleasure in congratulating Lieutenant Colonel Conner on his prodigious accomplishments. I thank him for his tireless devotion to duty and continued service to the state and to the nation.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished life and career of William T. Coleman, Jr., a fellow Pennsylvanian, who passed away on March 31, 2017 at the age of 96. Coleman served our Nation as the fourth Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, from March 7, 1975 to January 20, 1977. He was nominated by and served under President Gerald R. Ford. Ironically, just one day after the passing of Secretary Coleman, the Department he once led marked its 50th anniversary of operation. President Ford nominated Coleman, a fellow Republican, to serve as Secretary based in part on his expertise in transportation law. During his tenure at the Department, he worked to strengthen the long-term viability of the U.S. rail industry, oversaw the opening of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's automobile test facility at East Liberty, Ohio, established the Materials Transportation Bureau to address pipeline and hazardous materials transportation safety, and opened the United States to flights of the Concorde aircraft. As Transportation Secretary, William Coleman was beloved by Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle. My father served on the Public Works and Transportation Committee during Secretary Coleman's tenure. The two were good friends, even though they didn't agree on every issue. On one occasion, the previous Congressman Shuster gave the Secretary a particularly difficult time during a committee hearing. Afterwards, my father received a bottle of wine from the Secretary and a note that said, ``I hope we're still friends.'' Although it never crossed my father's mind that they wouldn't be, Secretary Coleman's gesture is one small example of why he was so well respected. By the time William Coleman was sworn in as the Secretary of Transportation, he had already made his important and indelible mark on U.S. history. Coleman was the second African American to serve in a cabinet-level post, following Robert Weaver, who served as housing secretary under President Johnson. Appropriately enough, his oath of office was administered by Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, with whom Coleman had previously worked alongside to help end discrimination and secure greater equality for all Americans. For example, they worked together--Coleman writing legal briefs for Marshall--on Brown v. Board of Education, the case which ultimately ended the doctrine of ``separate but equal'' and segregation in our public school system. This alone would have been an exceptional achievement for an African American from the Germantown area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who attended a segregated elementary school. However, Coleman also later argued against a law that prohibited interracial couples from living together, and soon after, the Supreme Court ended all prohibitions against interracial marriage in the United States. Coleman was the first African American to serve as law clerk to a Supreme Court Justice, worked to defend civil rights activists, and served as president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He also served as a lawyer on the Warren Commission, charged with investigating President Kennedy's assassination. During his career, Coleman served in the military, argued 19 cases before the Supreme Court, co-chaired the White House Conference on Civil Rights, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995. Ably serving as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation would have been a notable enough accomplishment, but William T. Coleman, Jr. achieved much more than that. He will be remembered as a thoughtful, dedicated, and just man who helped spearhead the fight for equal rights for all Americans.