Bill Shuster

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. The next few days will tell the American people whether Congress represents their interests and their will. The American people do not want this health care bill to become law. In my district, they strongly and vocally oppose this plan, and I hear this every day in phone calls and emails, people coming into my office. But I also hear it when I go to the grocery store or to a restaurant in my district. People come up and tell me, Bill, oppose this bill. Stop this bill. And I fully intend on voting against it. I have also talked to the small businesses and large businesses across this country. They oppose it also because it's creating great uncertainty for them, and this great uncertainty is causing harm to our economy. They're not hiring new employees because of the uncertainty of the cost this bill will have on them. They're not investing in their businesses because of the uncertainty these mandates will have, will push down onto their businesses. This is exactly the kind of uncertainty that's keeping our unemployment rate at 10 percent, and job creation is stagnant. The Democrats' health care plan is reckless, and I believe it will put America on a path to financial ruin.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Grand Opening celebration of the Guild of American Papercutters National Museum which will take place on March 20, 2010 in Somerset, Pennsylvania. The twenty-two year old guild has partnered with Laurel Arts at the home of the Philip Dressler Center for the Arts, and will bring to the area the ancient art form of papercutting, which dates back to Fifth Century China. The Guild of American Papercutters (GAP) museum will feature a number of exhibits and artwork created by past and present guild members as well as the international community. Such exhibits will feature artwork from Polish, Dutch, German, Swiss, Mexican, and Israeli artists. The Guild currently retains over four hundred members, in which every state in the United States is represented. Before the new two hundred sixteen square foot gallery was completed, the GAP held traveling exhibits in a number of locations throughout the country, beginning with its 1989 debut at the Hershey Museum of American Life in Hershey, Pennsylvania. In their new gallery, the GAP plans to hold regularly scheduled hands-on workshops and guest presentations to further introduce this artistic technique to the ninth district of Pennsylvania. I ask my fellow colleagues in the House to join me in celebrating this achievement of the Guild of American Papercutters, and wish them the best of luck and continued success in their new National Museum. May it be a creative outlet for generations of artists to come.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, a little over a week ago, I spent a very memorable and moving afternoon watching Penn State students taking part in THON, the annual Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. THON at Penn State is no small event. It remains the largest student-run philanthropy in the world which since 1977 has raised over $68 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children's Hospital to fight childhood cancer. THON involves over 15,000 student volunteers from Penn State's University Park campus and its 19 commonwealth campuses. Over 700 dancers take part in THON's marquee event: a 46 hour dance marathon at the Bryce Jordan Center. Thousands of other students join in as moralers, family and public relations, entertainment, donor relations, finance, communication, hospitality, logistics, technology, rules and regulations, and `OPP'erations team members. These students' year-long efforts culminate in THON weekend--truly an amazing and uplifting sight to see. All of the student dancers, volunteers and sponsors who participated in this year's THON deserve recognition from Congress and the thanks of Americans everywhere for their work to help end the scourge of childhood cancer. Their hard work resulted in raising $7.83 million this year, breaking last year's record of $7.5 million. I am proud to say that my own daughter was among the hundreds of students who took part in THON 2010. Ali served on the Morale Committee ``Jule Runnings'' and helped lift the spirits of exhausted dancers, massage tired feet, and lead the hourly line-dance to keep everyone moving to stay motivated for their cause. Penn State students are joined by hundreds of Four Diamonds Families from Penn State Children's Hospital who look forward to THON all year round. Four Diamond Families often develop lifetime friendships with the Fraternities, Sororities, and organizations that ``adopt'' them and spend time with them throughout the year. At THON weekend you will find the kids running throughout the event, participating in talent shows, playing games with the dancers, getting piggyback rides and even starting water-pistol fights with unsuspecting volunteers. The culmination of the weekend is Family Hour--when families share the struggle in the fight against childhood cancer with everyone in attendance. This was a deeply emotionally moving hour that brought the struggle of childhood cancer into a personal light. Some of the stories had happy endings, some did not. But each story was an inspiration to keep fighting for the cure for childhood cancers. These children and families are why Penn State dances. THON is a life changing event for anyone who attends or takes part in the event. And while Penn State students are hoping to change the lives of children affected by childhood cancer, more often than not it's the students whose lives are changed by participating in THON. Love truly does ``Belong Here.'' We Are Penn State--For the Kids.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, one of our greatest strengths as elected officials is the opportunity to bring to light truths that are little known and command recognition. Today, as the cochairman of the House Azerbaijan Caucus, I would like to bring to the attention of this body the tragedy that took place in Khojaly, Azerbaijan, a town and townspeople that were destroyed on February 26, 1992. At the time, the Khojaly tragedy was widely covered by the international media, including the Boston Globe, Washington Post, New York Times, Financial Times, and many other European and Russian news agencies. Fifteen years later, there is little attention or interest paid to the plight of Khojaly outside of Azerbaijan. Sadly, Khojaly, a town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, now under the control of Armenian forces, was the site of the largest killing of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians. With a population of approximately 7,000, Khojaly was one of the largest urban settlements of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. According to Human Rights Watch and other international observers the massacre was committed by the ethnic Armenian armed forces, reportedly with the help of the Russian 366th Motor Rifle Regiment. Human Rights Watch described the Khojaly Massacre as ``the largest massacre to date in the conflict'' over Nagorno-Karabakh. In a 1993 report, the watchdog group stated ``there are no exact figures for the number of Azeri civilians killed because Karabakh Armenian forces gained control of the area after the massacre'' and ``while it is widely accepted that 200 Azeris were murdered, as many as 500-1,000 may have died.'' At the time, Newsweek Magazine reported: ``Azerbaijan was a charnel house again last week: a place of mourning refugees and dozens of mangled corpses dragged to a makeshift morgue behind the mosque. They were ordinary Azerbaijani men, women and children of Khojaly, a small village in war-torn Nagorno-Karabakh overrun by Armenian forces on 25- 26 February. Many were killed at close range while trying to flee; some had their faces mutilated, others were scalped.'' Time Magazine stated ``While the details are argued, this much is plain: something grim and unconscionable happened in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly two weeks ago. So far, some 200 dead Azerbaijanis, many of them mutilated, have been transported out of the town tucked inside the Armenian-dominated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh for burial in neighboring Azerbaijan. The total number of deaths--the Azerbaijanis claim 1,324 civilians have been slaughtered, most of them women and children--is unknown.'' Azerbaijan has been a strong strategic partner and friend of the United States. The tragedy of Khojaly was a crime against humanity and I urge my colleagues to join me in standing with Azerbaijanis as they commemorate this tragedy.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Representative Kanjorski for organizing this afternoon's special order to honor the memory of our friend and colleague Jack Murtha. Over the course of the hour many members of our delegation and the House will add their own personalized sentiments to memorialize Jack Murtha and I appreciate the opportunity to add my own remarks today. Jack Murtha will always be remembered for his extraordinary service to his country, both in and out of uniform. He always put the interests of his country, his state, and his constituents first and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Outside of Pennsylvania, Jack Murtha will be remembered--and rightly so--for his skills in navigating the ins and outs of House rules and procedures. He will be remembered as someone who could get things done in Washington. As a former colonel in the Marine Corps, Jack never forgot Congress' primary responsibility to provide for our common defense. His unceasing commitment to our national security will go down as legend in Washington, as will the work he did on behalf of our men and women in the military through his chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations. For those of us from Pennsylvania, especially the western part of the state, Jack will always be remembered and greatly missed for the dogged determination he showed over his career to make sure the needs of the people he represented were met. There is little doubt that Jack left an indelible mark on this House and his impact will still be felt long after he is gone. Personally, I will always remember Jack as a friend to both my father and me over the 36 years he served the people of the 12th district of Pennsylvania. Jack was an extraordinary person--a tireless advocate for his constituents, and a champion for our national security. We have lost a true patriot. I send my condolences to Jack's wife Joyce and their children. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with them and the people of the 12th District.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. John R. Gray, Deputy Commander of Letterkenny Army Depot, on his commendable career upon his retirement after thirty-two years of distinguished service. Dr. Gray joined Letterkenny Army Depot in 1985 and founded a branch for the U.S. Army Materiel Command Management Engineering Activity. Since 1988, he has held a number of positions at the depot working his way up to Deputy Commander. After two years of service as the Supervisory Budget Analyst with the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Army Depot appointed Dr. Gray as Deputy Commander at Letterkenny. As the senior civilian at the depot, Dr. Gray managed a $500 million operation and an 18,000 acre installation, that employs many of my constituents in Franklin County. Deputy Commander Gray began his federal career in 1978 in Rock Island, Illinois, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. During his time there, he was an instructor with the Army Management Engineering College providing training to students on financial management and productivity measurement. In addition, Dr. Gray performed cost analyses on hydropower, flood control, and water supply projects. Dr. Gray graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975 and Master of Business Administration in 1978. Twenty years later, he earned his Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California where he later received his Doctorate in Public Administration. In 1990, Dr. Gray became a graduate of the Secretary of Defense Executive Leadership Development program. Dr. John Gray's service is a brilliant example of how dedication to personal and professional development in life can lead to success. He has been a leader throughout his entire career and a valuable resource to all whom have had the pleasure of knowing him. He is a man of outstanding character and we will remain grateful for his unwavering dedication and service to our community and our nation. I wish Dr. Gray and his family continued success and my best wishes upon his retirement.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the principles of the Oath and Law of the Boy Scouts of America. This year marks the Centennial Celebration of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. On February 8th, 2010 the Penn's Woods Council will be promoting ``The Rededication to the Principles of the Scout Oath and Law Ceremony'' at the County Courthouses in Pennsylvania's Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Somerset, and Indiana Counties. The Oath and Law of the Boy Scouts bind the 55 million alumni of the organization at all levels of participation. Among these alumni: lawyers, doctors, industrialists, educators, labor leaders, military leaders, astronauts, and Presidents of the United States. The principles of the Oath and Law propelled them to the tops of their professions, and in some cases to the stars. The Oath expects Scouts to be patriotic, obedient, generous, and upstanding. Indeed, the law requires them to be: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. These principles make good scouts, and they make good citizens. And that is the greatest legacy of 100 years of the Scout Law and Oath. As Scouts learn the Law and Oath, repeat them, adopt the principles within them, and live them, they learn at the same time how to be good Americans. The accomplishments of many of our citizens drew on the timeless virtues they developed as Scouts. Such a record of good work deserves another 100 years. I applaud the Boy Scouts of America for their excellent virtues and their success in living them. I commend the Penn's Woods Council for its work in central Pennsylvania. I hope they continue to contribute to our country for years to come.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, I attended the funeral service of a constituent, Staff Sergeant Matthew Ingham, United States Marine Corps, who was killed in action in southern Afghanistan on January 11, 2010. I rise today to recognize his life and his extraordinary service and sacrifice for our country. Matt's parents, Gary and Tammi Ingham of Altoona, Pennsylvania, and his wife, Yasmin Ingham, mourn the loss of a remarkable young man and a brave Marine. They are in my thoughts and prayers, and I pass on my sincere condolences. Sergeant Ingham was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for the heroic actions that ultimately led to his death. He was responsible for saving the lives of nine Marines by crawling to a radio to call in air support after his unit was ambushed. Although apparently wounded, Sergeant Ingham exposed himself to more enemy fire, and put the lives of his fellow Marines above his own. Sergeant Ingham was a 2002 Altoona High School graduate. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 2002, and was promoted to staff sergeant in April. He served two tours in Iraq and went to Afghanistan in the fall as part of a reconnaissance outfit assigned to the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan. The Ninth District of Pennsylvania and our entire Nation owes a great debt of gratitude to Sergeant Matthew N. Ingham, his family, and all those who have sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of freedom.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5, I was not present. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 2, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 3, ``yea'' rollcall No. 4, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 5.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks received as part of H.R. 3288, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9) Bill Number: H.R. 3288, Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Projects Project Name: Confluence Cellular Communication Tower Project Account: DOJ/COPS Tech Legal Name of Requesting Entity: County of Somerset Address of Requesting Entity: 300 North Center Avenue, Somerset, PA 15501 Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $100,000 for Confluence Cellular Communication Tower Project It is my understanding that funding will be used to construct a cellular communications tower to provide mobile phone and radio communications along the Greater Allegheny Passage Trail. This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the tower would make emergency communications available to law enforcement personnel, rangers, and trail users for critical incidents and emergencies.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the Northern Cambria Lady Colts volleyball team for their remarkable season that ended with a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class A State Championship title. The Lady Colts, who concluded their season with an impressive 26-1 record, swept the defending champions, Holy Name--25-14, 30-28, and 25- 22 in the championship match on November 14, 2009. The State Champions title capped off an extraordinary season, with the Lady Colts also winning their 100th consecutive conference match. Additionally, these young women also posted their sixth consecutive District VI title as the team completed their season without a single conference loss. Led by Coach Mike Hogan, the new state champs will be graduating four outstanding seniors: Janae Dunchack, Breanna Kochinsky, and cousins Arie & Jess Rocco. However, this tight-knit team will have twenty-two girls returning next season to follow in the footsteps of their leaders. I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication that these young women from Northern Cambria have displayed. I would like to extend my most sincere congratulations to the team, the coaching staff, and their fans on a fantastic season. I wish them the best of luck in all of their future endeavors.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, after weeks of closed-door meetings, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has brought her healthcare reform to the floor for a vote today on Saturday while the attention of the majority of Americans is diverted. The Pelosi plan clocks in at over 1,900 pages, which is 648 pages longer than Hillary-care and it costs over a trillion dollars, or about $2 million per word. The sheer size and scope of the Pelosi plan is enormous. As we enter a time of 10.2 percent unemployment, the American people will not accept a government takeover of healthcare that will kill even more jobs, hurt small businesses, increase the deficit now and drown future generations in stifling debt. While the sheer size and scope of the Democrats' takeover of healthcare prevents me from pointing out every egregious part of the proposal, I would like to point out four areas that should give all Americans pause. Taxes: The Pelosi plan would impose $730 billion in new taxes on businesses that can't afford to pay for their employees' health coverage. According to President Obama's own economic advisor, Christina Romer, these new taxes would put 5.5 million workers at serious risk of losing their jobs. Close to 32,500 small businesses in Pennsylvania would be at risk from this new healthcare surcharge. Deficit Spending: The Pelosi plan contains $1.055 trillion in new federal spending over the next ten years. All of this spending will be used to take healthcare decisions out of the doctor's office and centralize them in Washington, DC, requiring the creation of over 100 new federal panels, commissions and unelected civil servants who will be charged with making decisions on your care. Senior's Coverage: Earlier this year, President Obama pledged that ``the government is not going to make you change plans under health reform.'' Today, he and Nancy Pelosi are proposing $170 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage. These cuts would force close to 38,000 enrollees in the 9th district out of Medicare Advantage and into regular Medicare. Personal Freedom: The Pelosi plan will bring the nationalization of one-sixth of our economy and the elimination of choice for a majority of Americans to extend coverage to a few. Republicans have an alternative focused on simple principles that will lower the cost of quality healthcare for all Americans. Our plan would let families and businesses buy health insurance across state lines and pool together and buy health insurance at lower prices. We would give states the tools to create their own innovative reforms that lower health care costs. Finally our plan would end excessive and unnecessary tests doctors perform that contribute to higher health care costs to protect against junk lawsuits. Real health care reform should foster a system where competition and patient choice drive quality care and success. I believe we can accomplish this and fix what is broken in our health care system without forcing another trillion-dollar government takeover on taxpayers. I urge all of the members of this House to vote no on this reckless reform package. Vote no on a government takeover of healthcare.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 858, H. Res. 868, I was not present because the vote was called unexpectedly when myself and other Republican members were attending the House Call rally. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on No. 858.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I submit this statement. Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9) Bill Number: H.R. 2997--Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY 2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Projects Project Name: Flight 93 National Memorial Account: National Park Service, Construction Legal Name of Requesting Entity: National Park Service Address of Requesting Entity: 109 West Main Street, Suite 104, Somerset, PA 15501 Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $725,000 for Flight 93 National Memorial It is my understanding that funding for this project would be used for infrastructure costs at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the Flight 93 National Memorial honors the men and women who gave their lives in the first counterattack of the Global War on Terror to defend the Nation's Capitol on September 11, 2001.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 852 H. Res. 863, No. 853 H. Res. 641, No. 854 H. Res. 711, and No. 855 H. Res. 856 I was not present. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on No. 852; ``yea'' on No. 853; ``yea'' on No. 854, and ``yea'' on No. 855.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, we do need health reform in this country, but not this plan. We need a plan that uses common sense to fix what is broken and keep what is good. Eighty-five percent of Americans have health insurance, and 85 percent of those people are satisfied with what they have. President Obama has said over and over that no one will lose their insurance if they are happy with it. And just a couple of weeks ago he said that seniors on Medicare Advantage will have to go on regular Medicare, and that means 38,000 seniors in my district will lose their current Medicare plan. I have many small business owners who have come up to me and said they will be forced to abandon their current plans and go on the public option, not because they want to but because, if they don't, it will hurt their businesses. Finally, on page 94, it will prohibit families and businesses from changing plans unless the plan has been approved by the health czar. That is not freedom. This is not the plan that America wants. Let's vote this bill down.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 832, H.R. 1168, rollcall No. 833, H. Res. 291, and rollcall No. 834, S. 509 I was not present. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on No. 832, ``yea'' on No. 833, and ``yea'' on No. 834.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the troops of the Second of the 112th Infantry Battalion (Stryker), 56th Stryker Brigade, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard that was deployed and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 56th Brigade (Stryker) and 2-112th Infantry Battalion (Stryker) is the only reserve component selected to be a Stryker unit. Headquartered out of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and based at Camp Liberty in Iraq, the brave soldiers of this Stryker unit went into the hostile Abu Ghraib sector of Iraq with approximately 800 soldiers. Company A hails from the Huntingdon-Everett area, Company B is comprised of soldiers from Altoona, and the Tyrone-Bellefonte area makes up Company C. These brave American heroes were a part of the particularly successful Stryker Task Force Paxton that conducted lethal terrorist operations against Al Qaeda and the insurgent forces. The 2-112th Infantry Battalion (Stryker) accomplished the most active and successful time sensitive enemy targeting in the highly contested Baghdad region of Iraq while suppressing the instability. Not only have these brave men and women put their lives on the line for the peace and prosperity of our nation, but they also contributed to the betterment of another. The 2-112th Infantry Battalion (Stryker) participated in operations which improved the human and physical infrastructure of Iraq to include its economic capacity and schools. Madam Speaker I would like to extend to these brave soldiers my most sincere personal thanks for their honorable service to our nation. They have helped maintain our security through some of our country's most trying times, as we adapt to unconventional threats. I know that my words reflect the feelings of all citizens of our Nation when I say that these men and women are true American heroes.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina. I want to rise also to congratulate all the participants in a game well-played last night. We had many Members of Congress. As the gentleman from North Carolina said, we had some former pro football players. It was a hard-fought battle. We won in overtime, 32-26, with a fantastic pass from Heath Shuler to John Booty. It was fabulous. As Mr. Shuler said, it has been four tries. This is our first victory, being able to beat the Capitol Police. But the big winner was the Capitol Hill Police Memorial Fund and the Washington Literacy Council. We believe we raised about $50,000 to be split between those two groups. I would also like to acknowledge our offensive and defensive players in the game. Offensive, it was easy. It was Heath Shuler, five touchdown passes. He played a fantastic game. I think the NFL is going to start looking at you again, Heath. We'd like that. Maybe that seat will come open in North Carolina if you went back to the NFL. Also, on defense, there were two players that played the game, big surprises for our team: Jack Kingston, better known as Brett Favre of the congressional team, had an outstanding game. But the defensive player of the game went to Anthony ``Mad Dog'' Weiner, who had two key interceptions in the game and just played fantastic. I want to thank Speaker Pelosi and Leader Boehner for their help and support in putting this game together. Also Roger Goodell, the Commissioner of the NFL, was there last night to flip the coin. And John Booty and Ken Harvey, two former NFL players, did a fantastic job in setting this up. And finally, again, just to thank the Capitol Police, who do a great job day in and day out, making sure the Capitol is safe, making sure the people who come here are safe. So thank you to them.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, health care reform should empower all Americans to choose a health care plan that offers them choice and affordability. However, the Democratic plan will only lead to higher taxes, cuts in benefits, and government's taking away our seniors' health care choices. For seniors on fixed incomes, the prospect of being forced to pay more for health care could become a frightening reality. The Democrat plan would raise Medicare prescription drug premiums by 20 percent over the next decade and deny seniors the choice of keeping their current coverage. The Democrat plan includes $163 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage. Up to 38,000 seniors in my district would be negatively affected by these cuts. Nothing should ever come between seniors and their doctors; yet this is exactly what the Democrat bill does. The American people and our Nation's seniors deserve better than this reckless rush to reform.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 775, 776, 777, 778, and 779, I was not present due to a family commitment in Pennsylvania. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on 775, ``yea'' on 776, ``yea'' on 777, ``yea'' on 778, and ``yea'' on 779.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Mr. Frank G. Mills, Sr. Mr. Mills was elected and installed as the State Commander of the Pennsylvania Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars at the 90th State Convention. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization that has been serving the community as well as other veterans for over 100 years. The VFW is a model organization that exemplifies the principles that our Nation was founded upon. Mr. Mills, a Life Member of Post #1754 in Huntington, Pennsylvania, has successfully served in all post chairs at the VFW. He served as the Post Commander four times and attained All State Post District Commander in 2006-2007. Frank also served on the national level on the Americanism and Community Activities Committee, Finance and Organization Committee, and Veterans Service Resolution Committee. Frank Mills proudly served our country in the United States Navy as an Engineman 2nd Class on the USS Tang SS 563 submarine during the Vietnam war. His service medals include: National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon. Mr. Mills has led a life of service through the VFW and military service that instills a unique sense of pride in the hearts of every American citizen. For his commitment to the citizens of Pennsylvania, I am extremely grateful to Frank G. Mills Sr.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. At this time, I would like to yield such time as he might consume to my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).