Elise Stefanik

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, in the United States, 1 in 3 women have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner; 1 in 7 women have been injured by an intimate partner; 1 in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner; and 1 in 7 women have been stalked. Let those numbers sink in for a moment. These are more than just numbers. These are our mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, and colleagues in this Chamber. Today's motion to recommit would extend the Violence Against Women Act through 2020 in order to continue critical services that protect millions of women, girls, and children across our country. I have a proven track record of supporting VAWA, and today I am continuing the fight by standing up for the victims and survivors to make sure their voices are heard. Last year, I introduced legislation that would extend the Violence Against Women Act; and then just last month, I introduced another bill that would reauthorize this program. We all know, in this Chamber, that the bill Speaker Pelosi has put on the floor today will not pass the Senate and be signed into law. However, my bill, this motion to recommit, could pass the House, the Senate, and be signed into law this week. This extension gives Republicans and Democrats time to work together to pass a truly bipartisan, long-term reauthorization of VAWA, just as Congress has done many times before. Sadly, there has been very little effort from my Democratic colleagues to meaningfully engage in a process to reauthorize VAWA that could pass with broad bipartisan support. The Democratic bill, H.R. 1585, was referred to seven House committees, but was only reported out of the Judiciary Committee on a party-line vote. It politicizes VAWA, and could put women, girls, and children at potential risk in the future. Ending violence against women and protecting women and children should not be a partisan issue. But, unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have made it a partisan issue. They have refused to work with Republicans in a meaningful way to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act every chance they got, including most recently in February during spending negotiations. House Democrats are the reason this law has lapsed, putting lives in jeopardy, and leaving victims, survivors, and families at risk. Every single minute that this critical, lifesaving program goes unauthorized is another minute that women who need help can't get it. I ask my colleagues today; can we stop playing political games at the expense of vulnerable women? We must. Voting ``yes'' on this motion to recommit is the only opportunity to extend current law. Voting ``no'' on this motion to recommit means that you are voting to end the Violence Against Women Act and, instead, knowingly voting for a partisan bill that will never see the light of day in the Senate. This will collect dust in the Senate. Once again, the Democratic bill on the floor today will collect dust in the Senate. Scoring political points, we should never prioritize that over the millions of women and children in this country. Let's pass this clean extension today to extend the Violence Against Women Act. Fight for millions of women in this country. Fight for survivors. Fight for victims. I am asking you to vote ``yes'' on the motion to recommit, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. STEFANIK. I am, in its current form.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the American Legion as a whole and specifically, the Lowville American Legion Post 162 on their 100th anniversary. The American Legion was chartered by Congress in September 1919 after members of the American Expeditionary Force, who fought in World War I, convened to create an organization to represent veterans of that conflict. Today, the American Legion focuses on serving veterans, current service members children and communities with a membership numbering over two million from 13,000 posts worldwide. The American Legion, under the leadership of its National Commander Brett Reistad, continues to grow and advocate on behalf of those who have served our nation with honor and distinction. One of the very first posts to come into existence in the months following the creation of the American Legion was the Lowville American Legion Post 162. The National organization came into existence in March 1919 and the Lowville post was founded just three months later, in June. Since then, they have been a leading post, sending members to serve on national, state, and district committees. They have made an indelible impact on the Lowville community over the past century and I wish them continued success. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to congratulate them on this milestone and thank them for their century-long tradition of service.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Chair, I thank my good friend, Ranking Member Foxx. Madam Chair, there are nearly 75 million women working in the United States, the most in our Nation's history. Thanks to our strong economy, nearly 3 million jobs were created in the last year, and of those jobs, 58 percent went to women. Women are graduating from college at a higher rate than their male counterparts and are increasingly their family's primary breadwinner. Despite all of these positive economic indicators, there remains evidence that in some cases women do not earn the same levels of compensation as men. Republicans strongly support equal pay for equal work, and we owe it to women to constructively engage on this important issue and put forward solutions to strengthen existing law. Democrats have put forth a bill that prioritizes trial attorneys and government regulation over women's economic empowerment. The Democratic bill, for the first time, would require data disclosure to the EEOC that collects compensation data broken down by the sex, race, and national origin of employees, while also tracking the hiring, termination, and promotion data of those employees. These intrusions into the operations of private businesses would add compliance costs exceeding $700 million per year. And on top of these onerous new requirements, H.R. 7 is a giveaway to trial attorneys by changing class action formation from opt in, to opt out. America's businesses will need to prepare for an onslaught of frivolous lawsuits which now will be open to unlimited compensatory and punitive damages. The bill establishes an impossibly high burden of proof for employers defending the legitimacy of any pay differentials between employees. We need to recognize that in today's modern economy, 40 percent of small businesses are run by women. This bill would make it harder for these women business leaders. This issue is far too important to leave to partisan solutions. That is why today I am proud to introduce the Wage Equity Act with over 40 of my colleagues, which offers a stark contrast to the partisan approach laid out in H.R. 7. We looked to innovation in the States to find consensus, bipartisan policies that were supported by both Republicans and Democrats, and signed by Republican Governors, proof that equal pay for equal work is not a partisan issue, and that Republicans are, indeed, leading the way on women's economic opportunity. The Wage Equity Act is reflective of the modern workforce and supports the empowerment of women in today's economy. Specifically, my legislation allows employees to negotiate voluntary, flexible work arrangements. These dynamic compensation models empower the individual to seek the work arrangement that works best in their own life and for their own family. America's businesses, in particular our small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy, they seek to do right by their employees. In recognition of this, the Wage Equity Act creates a self-audit system for voluntary pay analysis by businesses. Under our proposal, a business could and should undergo a pay analysis to proactively rectify pay disparity should it exist. By creating this environment of consistent self-reflection, we can further empower businesses to do what they already seek to do, doing right not only for their employees, but following the law. Madam Chair, I believe that an individual should be able to negotiate employment based upon their qualifications and merit for the position. I also believe that the victim of wage discrimination at any point in their career should not have to have this discrimination follow them to their next job and compound throughout the rest of their career. That is why my bill protects the employee's right to not disclose their salary history during the job interview process unless they wish to voluntarily disclose it. We must acknowledge the compounding impact of wage discrimination on a person's career and be willing to discuss ideas to free employees from this burden. At the same time, we cannot erode the necessary negotiation that takes place in a job interview or ignore the role wage figures can play in advancement of an individual through their career. The Wage Equity Act protects the ability for an employee and their perspective employer to have a wage expectation conversation, an important part of any negotiation. My legislation protects an employee's ability to discuss compensation with their colleagues, while giving the employers the ability to set reasonable limitations on the time, location, and manner of this activity to protect employees from harassment.

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Chair, furthermore, the Wage Equity Act seeks to put women on equal footing with men as they start their careers. The legislation provides for a grant program targeted toward women in college and career tech programs to provide negotiation skills education. Lastly, my bill directs the GAO to study the manager's gap. We know that the wage gap greatly expands for women after they return to the workforce following parental leave. We must have a clear sense of the impact that leave during this time will have on an employee's future earning and opportunity potentials. These are commonsense proposals that are supported by Democrats and Republicans. I encourage my colleagues to reject Big Government overreach, and find practical, bipartisan solutions that improve and strengthen the existing law of the land: equal pay for equal work.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the American Legion as a whole and specifically, The Lowville American Legion Post 162 on their 100th anniversary. The American Legion was chartered by Congress in September 1919 after members of the American Expeditionary Force, who fought in World War I, convened to create an organization to represent veterans of that conflict. Today, the American Legion focuses on serving veterans, current service members children and communities with a membership numbering over two million from 13,000 posts worldwide. The American Legion, under the leadership of its National Commander Brett Reistad, continues to grow and advocate on behalf of those who have served our nation with honor and distinction. One of the very first posts to come into existence in the months following the creation of the American Legion was the Lowville American Legion Post 162. The National organization came into existence in March 1919 and the Lowville post was founded just three months later, in June. Since then, they have been a leading post, sending members to serve on national, state, and district committees. They have made an indelible impact on the Lowville community over the past century and I wish them continued success. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to congratulate them on this milestone and thank them for their century-long tradition of service.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor The North Country Camps on their 100th anniversary. Camp Lincoln for boys and Camp Whippoorwill for girls have provided children in the North Country an opportunity to spend their summers in a safe, healthy, and educational environment for generations. By engaging children in challenging programs such as sailing, canoeing, archery and wilderness excursions, North Country Camps helps children build confidence, resourcefulness and independence. These are skills they will carry with them for life. The camp also runs a scholarship to ensure that children can attend regardless of their family's ability to pay. None of this would be possible without the steadfast commitment of four generations of the Gucker Family. The camp was founded by Colba ``Chief'' Gucker and his family has carried on this tradition ever since. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to thank the Gucker family for their commitment to our community and congratulate them on the centennial anniversary of The North Country Camps.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 1404, the Vladimir Putin Transparency Act. According to the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment produced by the CIA, NSA, the FBI, and an indictment issued by the Attorney General in 2018, it is clear that Russian actors conspired to interfere and influence U.S. political processes and the Presidential election in 2016. This assessment stated that ``Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. Presidential election. Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process.'' Madam Speaker, the Russian Government has been known to employ a system of corruption and illicit financial ties as a tool for consolidating its domestic political control and projecting power abroad to weaken not only the United States but other democratic countries as well. That is why I proudly co-sponsored H.R. 1404. The bill would require that within 180 days of enactment, the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State, shall submit a congressional report on the personal net worth and assets owned by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The report would also include accounts, holdings, shell companies, and intermediaries, and identify senior Russian political figures and oligarchs who facilitate corrupt practices. Vladimir Putin and his corrupt allies seek to weaken democracies globally by consolidating political control through unethical means, and they must be brought to account for their actions. This bipartisan legislation is an important step to ensuring the security of our elections and upholding democracy around the world. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill. I also want to thank my colleague, Representative Val Demings, for her leadership on this issue. I am proud to work across the aisle with her to pass this important bill. Madam Speaker, in closing, as I have noted in my remarks, this is important bipartisan legislation. It is about transparency, it is about accountability, and it is about standing up to the corrupt practices of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is bipartisan, commonsense legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill on the floor. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the chairman of the Conservative Party of New York and my good friend, Mike Long, who has stepped down from this position after decades of service. Mike Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in southern Queens. In 1959, Mike Long dropped out of the 12th grade to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. He felt strongly that his duty was to our country. That commitment to sacrifice and service above self is a common thread throughout Chairman Long's life. He served on the New York City Council for a term representing Brooklyn, and he stepped up to become chairman of the Conservative Party, a position he held for 30 years, which is a testament to his character, commitment, work ethic, and determination to stand up for his principles. He is a lifelong advocate for limited government, economic freedom and opportunity, constitutional liberties, and improving the lives of everyday, hardworking New Yorkers. He is one of the rare political leaders in New York who has earned deep respect from both his political allies and his political opponents. I am proud to count him as a true friend, and I want to thank him, his wife, Eileen, and his family for his lifetime of service to New York State and the United States of America.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Plattsburgh Noon Kiwanis Club. Kiwanis clubs and their members are dedicated to improving the lives of children all over the world. Their members engage in local, hands on volunteer activities to serve the needs of the children in their communities. These activities range from improving literacy and fighting hunger to fundraising for scholarships. The Plattsburgh chapter meets weekly to organize and volunteer at soup kitchens, holiday gift drives and fundraisers, and plays a vital role in improving the lives of children in the community. On Thursday, April 11th, the Plattsburgh Noon Kiwanis Club will be celebrating 90 years of service. They have served generations of North Country children since their founding back in 1929. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to congratulate them on this milestone and thank them for their long tradition of service.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life, service and sacrifice of Army Specialist Chad Fuller. Specialist Fuller was born April 8, 1979 in the City of Potsdam, New York. In high school, Chad was a star athlete and an avid outdoorsman. He had a love for animals and was a dedicated volunteer at the Potsdam Humane Society where he frequently walked and fed the animals in the shelter's care. After graduating high school in 1998, Chad enlisted in the Army. On August 31, 2003, Specialist Fuller was on patrol in Afghanistan when his unit engaged Taliban guerillas near the Pakistan border. He was one of six snipers who came under fire during the early hours of ``Operation Mountain Viper''. Tragically, Specialist Chad Fuller died from the injuries he sustained during the attack. On Sunday, February 17, The Potsdam Humane Society will be breaking ground on a new building that will allow them to improve and expand their mission. That building will be dedicated in honor of Army Specialist Chad Fuller. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to join the Potsdam Humane Society in honoring Specialist Chad Fuller's life of service to his community and this nation.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor both James ``Jim'' King and Charles ``Charlie'' Cobb for their 55 years of service in the Keeseville Volunteer Fire Department. Jim and Charlie both started at the Department in 1964 and have shared countless stories and adventures together since then. Throughout their 55 years of service, regardless of changes to technology or personnel, the two have remained life-long friends and are steadfast in their commitment to the safety of Keeseville and the surrounding communities. Jim has admired the fire station since he was a child and became the first in his family to join. During his tenure with the Department, he has held the positions of Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, and Fire Commissioner, and started the Department's enhanced 911 system. Jim also served as President of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs in 2003. Prior to joining the Department, Jim served for 15 years in the Army, which included a deployment to Korea and assignment to the 962nd Ordinance Company in Plattsburgh. For Charlie, serving as a firefighter has been a family tradition. After obtaining his license, Charlie often drove his dad--who served with the department for thirty-eight years--to fire calls, and soon followed in his father's footsteps and became a firefighter himself. During his impressive fifty-five-year career with the Department, Charlie served as Fire Commissioner, Assistant Fire Chief, Fire Police Captain, and EMS Captain. Having devoted over half a century of their lives to fire protection, Jim and Charlie are exemplary members of the community. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to join the Keeseville Volunteer Fire Department in honoring Jim King and Charlie Cobb and thanking them for their many years of public service.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the North Country Family Health Center for the 25th anniversary of its School-Based Health Center at North Elementary. The North Country Family Health Center (NCFHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides care to the underserved. In 1993, the NCFHC expanded its reach by opening a School-Based Health Center (SBCH), the first in the region, at North Elementary in Watertown, New York. Over 550 elementary school students initially registered for the program, and now, North Elementary SBHC provides care to all Watertown City School District elementary students. For the past 25 years, the North Elementary SBHC has broken down barriers to care by offering integrated medical, behavioral health, and dental services at the convenience of parents, students, and teachers alike. Every student is welcome to use the SBHC regardless of income or insurance, and all services are provided with no out-of-pocket costs. The North Elementary SBHC is just one of six SBHCs operated by the NCFHC, which reaches thousands of students in the Watertown City and South Jefferson School Districts. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to thank the North Country Family Health Center for its dedication to providing young students with high quality care. Its School-Based Health Center at North Elementary has provided an important service to families across Jefferson County for the past 25 years, truly serving as an asset to the community.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers, an organization in my district whose 10,000-plus members have climbed all 46 peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Since their founding by brothers Bob and George Marshall, the Forty- Sixers have been central to promoting environmental stewardship, protecting our natural resources, and encouraging younger generations to enjoy the great outdoors. The Adirondacks are an essential component of our tourism economy. The Forty-Sixers have done important work giving back to the mountains they love and making the peaks more accessible. They have also prioritized community outreach and volunteerism. Their all-volunteer trail maintenance program is critical to keeping trails available to hikers from across the world and, in turn, protecting our environment. For the past century, young hikers have been mentored and trained by this dedicated group of environmental stewards, and I know that over the next 100 years, many more will be inspired to experience the Adirondack Mountains. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Adirondack Forty- Sixers on this incredible milestone.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Roe for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, my legislation included in this package gives all military spouses, regardless of which State they married in, the choice to establish the same State of residency as the servicemember for both voting and tax purposes. As the proud representative of Fort Drum and the Navy nuclear site at Kesselring, I understand the challenges military families face and the sacrifices these families make to help protect our Nation and safeguard our freedoms. Military families are constantly relocating to meet the needs of the military. They sacrifice so much during these relocations, uprooting their lives and disrupting their families. This is often a very difficult and trying time, with the heaviest burden falling upon military spouses, who serve as a critical support system for their loved ones Current law allows Active Duty servicemembers to maintain one State of legal residence for tax and voting purposes even when those servicemembers receive military orders requiring them to relocate, but this does not apply evenly to spouses. Spouses are forced to establish residency every time the servicemember receives a new assignment, adding additional stress to families as they manage these relocations and seek new employment. My legislation, the Military Residency Choice Act, fixes this inconsistency to better ease these trying transitions. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Roe for his leadership, Ranking Member Walz, as well as Chairman-elect Takano. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill on a bipartisan basis.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Firefighter Francis Cook for fifty years of active service with the Crown Point Fire Department. Firefighter Francis Cook has been an instrumental member of the Crown Point Fire Department since he joined in 1968. He has held numerous positions in the Department, including Fire Chief for two years. Throughout his 50 years of service, Firefighter Cook demonstrated a superb work ethic and a commitment to becoming an outstanding firefighter. In 2018 alone, he responded to 96 emergency calls and attended 43 training events, totaling just over 223 active hours. He also took advantage of opportunities to become a card holder for CPR and First Aid to assist with first response calls, and earned multiple NYS Firefighting Certifications. Mr. Cook devoted 50 years of his life to fire protection, and is an exemplary member of his community. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I would like to thank Firefighter Cook for a lifetime of sacrifices and dedication to keeping the Crown Point community safe.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Firefighter Francis Cook for fifty years of active service with the Crown Point Fire Department. Firefighter Francis Cook has been an instrumental member of the Crown Point Fire Department since he joined in 1968. He has held numerous positions in the Department, including Fire Chief for two years. Throughout his 50 years of service, Firefighter Cook demonstrated a superb work ethic and a commitment to becoming an outstanding firefighter. In 2018 alone, he responded to 96 emergency calls and attended 43 training events, totaling just over 223 active hours. He also took advantage of opportunities to become a card holder for CPR and First Aid to assist with first response calls, and earned multiple NYS Firefighting Certifications. Mr. Cook devoted 50 years of his life to fire protection, and is an exemplary member of his community. On behalf of New York's 21st district, I would like to thank Firefighter Cook for a lifetime of sacrifices and dedication to keeping the Crown Point and the surrounding communities safe.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, the work we do each day in Congress would not be possible without the tremendous efforts of our dedicated and talented staff. Today I rise to recognize an especially valuable member of my team who is soon departing our office. Madeline Donovan has been serving the needs of our North Country community since 2010, when she began working for constituents of our district in the office of my predecessor, Congressman Bill Owens. The daughter of Timothy and Laura Donovan, Maddie was born and raised in Oswego, New York, and has enthusiastically worked on behalf of her community since she was a child, as a founding member of St. Stephen the King's Youth Group, a member of Oswego County's Youth Court, and an officer on Oswego County's Student Advisory Council. She is a graduate of Nazareth College of Rochester and has called Watertown, New York, home for the past eight years. Maddie is passionate about her home state. She loves discussing the remarkable history of our region and is always eager to point out to others just what makes Northern New York so unique. Whenever I travel across our great district, I run into veterans, seniors and farmers that she has worked tirelessly to help. I know that she will always carry a piece of the North Country with her in her heart, and it is bittersweet to wish Maddie all my best going forward. I am grateful for her incredible service to our district.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the Willing Helpers Home for Women on its 110th Anniversary. The Willing Helpers Home for Women is a not-for-profit organization located in Johnstown, New York, that offers a comfortable home for women 60 years and older. Since it opened in November 1908 through the help of generous donors in Fulton County, the Willing Helpers Home has provided women with a supportive and compassionate first-class home that advocates security, independence, and comfort. At the Willing Helpers Home, residents not only benefit from a number of professional services, such as medical supervision and exercise programs at their convenience, but they also enjoy many recreational activities, like teas and weekly bingo. By offering a full array of services, the Willing Helpers Home creates a holistic support system for the women. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to congratulate the Willing Helpers Home for Women on its 110th anniversary, and thank its dedicated staff for their commitment to serving women in their community. The Willing Helpers Home has provided an important service to women, and I look forward to seeing its continued success in the years to come.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council on its 30th Anniversary. Founded in 1988, the North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council (NCPPC) became the first perinatal network in New York State, serving Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties. Since then, the NCPPC has worked hard to bolster maternal and family health by developing a number of services and programs to improve access to this crucial form of care. As the regional coordinating council for maternal and child health issues, the NCPPC also manages grants for teen pregnancy prevention, community enrollment in insurance programs, Healthy Families Jefferson County, and a family resource center. As a result of the NCPPC's persistent outreach and dedication, our North Country women, children, and families can continue to access the care they need. On behalf of New York's 21st district, I want to congratulate the North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council and their dedicated employees on their 30th anniversary. We are thankful for their service to our local communities, and we look forward to watching them continue to thrive for many years to come.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate LTC(Ret) Nicholas Laiacona on receiving the 2018 Veteran of the Year Award. Each year, the Friends of the NYS Military Museum and the Capitol District of NY Chapter, Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) recognize an outstanding veteran from the local community. This year's awardee, LTC Laiacona, has made distinguished contributions to his country as a soldier and to his community as a veteran. After entering the Army in 1966, LTC Laiacona served in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam as a Platoon Leader and Company Commander in the Mobile Riverine Force of the 9th Infantry Division. He would later fulfill a number of assignments as a member of the Army's Ordnance Corps, and was selected as one of the first officers in the Army Acquisition Corps in 1985. By the end of his 24 years of service, LTC Laiacona had received numerous awards and decorations, among them the Purple Heart and Vietnam Service Medal with 4 stars. LTC Laiacona's service to his country did not end with his retirement from the Army in 1991. His expertise has supported the work of the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, and he remains actively involved in several Veterans organizations, including the AUSA, where he formerly served as President of the Capital District Chapter and currently serves on its Executive Committee. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to congratulate LTC(Ret) Nicholas Laiacona on his well-deserved award of 2018 Veteran of the Year. We are thankful for his service and dedication to both his country and community.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate both Sheriff Richard Cutting and Undersheriff Michael Badger on their retirements from the Essex County Sheriff's Department. After two years of service with the United States Marine Corps, Sheriff Cutting joined the Essex County Sheriff's Department in 1977 as a Deputy Sheriff. He became the first Essex County Deputy to become a certified Police and Corrections Instructor as well as the first Jail Administrator before taking on the role of Undersheriff. In 2010, he was appointed to fill the office of Essex County Sheriff and has since then run two successful campaigns. From the opening of the Department's new Public Safety Building to the success of his animal cruelty and opioid task forces, Sheriff Richard Cutting has undoubtedly made a lasting, positive impact on the Department. Undersheriff Michael Badger started in the Sheriff's Department in 1987 as a Deputy Sheriff and Jail Dispatcher, and worked his way up through the ranks until he became Undersheriff in 2011. During his tenure in the Department, he implemented the Project Life Saver Program in Essex County and was instrumental in the Essex County Jail's transition to its modem Public Safety Building. Truly dedicated to serving his community, Undersheriff Badger also sits on the Essex County Drug Court and has served for 19 years as a volunteer firefighter in Moriah. Both men have exhibited outstanding commitment to Essex County, leaving their positions with big shoes to fill. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to join the Essex County community in honoring Sheriff Richard Cutting and Undersheriff Michael Badger and thanking them for their many years of public service.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate LTC(Ret) Nicholas Laiacona on receiving the 2018 Veteran of the Year Award. Each year, the Friends of the NYS Military Museum and the Capitol District of NY Chapter, Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) recognize an outstanding veteran from the local community. This year's awardee, LTC Laiacona, has made distinguished contributions to his country as a soldier and to his community as a veteran. LTC Laiacona entered the Army in 1966 and served in Vietnam as a Platoon Leader and Company Commander in the Mobile Riverine Force, 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta. After returning home, he transferred to the Ordnance Corps, fulfilling assignments in the United States, Germany, and Korea. In 1985, he was selected as one of the first certified U.S. Army Material Acquisition Managers and became one of the first officers in the Army Acquisition Corps. LTC Laiacona retired in 1991 with over 24 years of service and numerous awards and decorations, among them the Purple Heart and Vietnam Service Medal with 4 stars. After retiring, LTC Laiacona continued to contribute to the Army by applying his expertise to several corporations in support of U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering. He also remains active in several Veterans organizations, including the AUSA where he served as President of the Capital District Chapter and continues to serve on its Executive Committee. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to congratulate LTC(Ret) Nicholas Laiacona on his well-deserved award of 2018 Veteran of the Year. We are thankful for his service and dedication to both his country and community

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Ruthie's Run on its 50th Anniversary. A visit to Lake Placid, New York, is not complete without a stop at Ruthie's Run, the iconic sportswear and skiwear shop. Ruthie's Run has offered a wide variety of skiing goods since Ruth Prime purchased Thaire's Ski Shop in 1968 and renamed it after a slope on Aspen Mountain in Colorado. In 1984, Cathy and Wayne Johnston left their jobs in the corporate world and bought Ruthie's Run to make their own mark in the community, and they have maintained quality service ever since. Ruthie's Run offers a selection for customers looking for a wide variety of price range and style. With Cathy's expertise to solve any wardrobe issue, customers never leave Ruthie's unsatisfied. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to congratulate Ruthie's Run on its 50th anniversary. Ruthie's is a staple in the Lake Placid community, and I look forward to watching the Johnstons continue its legacy in the years to come.