Glenn Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments. Mr. Speaker, the timing is good for our approach here, isn't it? We have an economy where, for the first time maybe in 10, 15 years, we see wages rising and we see job creation. Even before this most recent economic surge, I guess for lack of a better word to call it, there are an estimated 5 million jobs that are open and available in the United States. These are jobs that most of them do not require a 4-year degree or a 6-year degree. These are jobs that require some skills-based education, maybe a certification, a specialization. It is kind of perfect with what we are looking at. There is some confusion that is out there. Some people are saying this is creating a brand new level of bureaucracy. I know for a fact that the people I serve with here wouldn't go for anything that is creating more bureaucracy. The fact is we are actually taking advantage of, first of all, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, WIOA. That is our Career Links. That is where people go today, where if they are unemployed or underemployed, to be able to get a job. That is where employers look to find qualified and trained employees. So we are going to be able to utilize that existing infrastructure. But community colleges, apprenticeships, and private companies that want to engage in training, there are a lot of opportunities out there for this. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler), who is another absolute friend and leader of agriculture. She is a former teacher and leads our chair's Values Action Team which I am proud to be a part of. Representative Vicky Hartzler represents the Fourth Congressional District of Missouri.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), who is another great leader within the Agriculture Committee. The Congressman is a man I have been really pleased to serve with. He has been a Bible study buddy of mine. He represents Georgia's Eighth Congressional District and actually chairs the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for leading what has been one of the most transparent processes. The amount of hearings that we have had, over 20 hearings just on nutrition, 80 witnesses--a job well done. You know, there is a saying that we have always heard. What is it? The doctor knows best. I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Marshall), another member of the Agriculture Committee, a physician, who really understands health and healthy nutrition.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for being part of this Special Order. All of the hearings that we had were bipartisan, great bipartisan input into the hearings, and there is nothing in the nutrition title that really hasn't come out as a part of those hearings. In fact, I know my colleagues, my friends across the aisle, our Democratic members of the committee I have been so honored to work with and be a part of these hearings, they submitted specific priorities for the nutrition title under title IV, and I am proud to say that all those priorities are included within this farm bill. I now yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford), a friend of mine, who is also part of our leadership with the Agriculture Committee, a subcommittee chairman, from the First District of Arkansas.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Excellent. I will take advantage of that opportunity. If we have some other Members who come in, I will yield to them. The nutrition title for me, personally, is important. When I was just starting out in life, I had graduated from Penn State, I was working with people facing life-changing disease and disability, and married. We were pregnant with our first son, Parker, and so it was during that first pregnancy. And I was making, I think, maybe a whopping $8,000 a year working full time. There wasn't a time when we visited my parents or Penny's parents, my wife's parents, where we didn't come back with a bag of groceries. People do that. Families step in and they help. We did what we could, but we always came home with a bag of groceries. We also found ourselves WIC eligible. The Women, Infants, and Children program is not under the farm bill. That is on the Committee on Education and the Workforce side. But we know what it was like. It was difficult, actually. It was embarrassing to be able to use that voucher, but it was important that Penny and our unborn son at that point, now a 30-some-year-old dad with two boys of his own, got the nutrition that they needed. So I have been there, I have experienced that, and I know how important nutrition is. Nutrition title, for me, I kind of relate it to, Mr. Speaker, what I would say is the worst part about living and growing up in a rural area, outside a small town, that everybody knew your business. I would be out playing with my brother and my sister, and if I did something wrong, when I got home, mom and dad already knew about it. But the best part about living in that rural area, in rural America, is that everybody knows your business. I have a cousin, and about a month and a half ago their house burned to the ground. It was a terrible fire. They were lucky to get out. They just barely got out of the house. Yet, as the fire was just breaking through the roof of their home and the volunteer fire department was on the scene, they were surrounded by loved ones, friends, neighbors, and strangers who were there to offer their assistance, whether it was their love, their support, money, clothing, whatever, all kinds of things. That is what the nutrition title is. Nutrition title is about helping neighbors in need, whether those neighbors live in the most densely populated city or whether they live back on long country lanes. So that is why I'm so proud of the bipartisan work we have done up to this point, because there is nothing, again, in this nutrition title in this farm bill that wasn't a part of all those, over 21, hearings that we had. Some of the things that are in there, in fact, are some of the priorities. I enjoy working across the aisle in a bipartisan way. I dedicate myself to that. So I was pleased to see my Democratic colleagues who communicated their four priorities into this bill to the committee. Their first one was to incentivize nutrition education and healthy eating through a continuation of the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program, what we call FINI. I am pleased to report that the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018--that is what we are calling the farm bill--which includes the nutrition title, Title IV, maintains the FINI Program and enhances it with a technical assistance center allowing for best practices in operations and delivery to be housed and used for current and future grantees. Additionally, the bill provides $275 million for FINI over the life of the farm bill, actually establishes a baseline funding of $65 million a year, allowing for expansion of opportunities to bring together stakeholders from the distinct parts of the food system to foster understanding of how they might improve nutrition and the health status of participating households and the people who live in those houses. Their second priority, which I am pleased to report on, was--and I appreciated them putting this forward; it was important--to maintain our commitment to food banks with adequate funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program. You just heard the former Agriculture Committee chairman, Mr. Goodlatte from Virginia, talk about TEFAP. The farm bill increases TEFAP, funding for our food banks, by $45 million. We have been funding it at $15 million. It goes to $60 million and directs $20 million of that in a very innovative way, that funding, to establish a farm-to-food bank program in all States. It allows States to access agriculture surplus products directly from the farmers. The freshest of foods is the way I like to look at it. What a great enhancement, Mr. Speaker. The third priority I am pleased to report on that is a part of this farm bill that they communicated was to promote the use of cutting-edge technology to ensure that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, retailers and recipients have secure, reliable, and efficient benefit processing. The farm bill introduces the concept of a national gateway, which is a system modernization that gives the USDA real-time oversight over the flow of transactions. It helps control costs. It allows USDA to develop more tools to ensure integrity, assist in controlling access to individuals' payment information, and it sets the stage for the USDA to handle future developments in payment technology. With that increase in accountability, in those rare instances where fraud and abuse may occur, it allows for identification of that. And we incentivize States. States are now able, when they actually identify fraud, to keep a greater amount of that money that is recovered, although it has to be reinvested back into the nutrition title. It is about to go for more program integrity, to make sure we are doing a better job of serving the needs of our neighbors who find themselves in those circumstances. And finally, the last one was to continue to encourage States to collaborate with business and education leaders to provide innovative employment and training solution opportunities and programs. That is what we have been talking about this evening, largely. It is about the workforce solutions. This was put forward by my friends across the aisle that I am proud to serve with, the Democratic members of the Agriculture Committee. This was their goal. We were able to do that. We have provided significant attention and considerable investment to improve SNAP workforce and education development services for recipients. I appreciate what they put forward as a part of this process, and I appreciate the fact that we have stepped up and we see this as a part of the text of this farm bill. The updates to employment and training include best practices taken from beneficiary, industry, and State feedback. It includes interim education and training pilot reports. It partners with the workforce- to-innovation opportunity works that are already in place across our communities and our counties all across this great country. And it heightens emphasis on public-private partnerships and nutrition education and also allows recipients to continue to receive a supportive suite of services to address both food insecurity and upward mobility. That is what we are trying to achieve. We want to make families food secure. We want to provide them access to the rungs on the ladder of opportunity. Mr. Speaker, we have also done something for populations very near and dear to my heart as the dad of an Active Duty soldier, and that is, when individuals join the military later in life, they tend to enter with a spouse and a couple of kids, and it is hard to support a family on a private salary. Most privates are usually 18, 19 years old. They don't have that family support, and they do fine. In fact, we just provided all of our military a 2.9 percent pay increase, the largest in over a decade. But for those who are joining later in life, it is difficult. Their families live off base and they get a basic housing allowance to help pay for that, but in the past, basic housing allowance, 100 percent, with no contribution, no assistance, counted towards their eligibility for the SNAP program. They need that SNAP program to be able to make sure that their family gets support. We have addressed that by providing moneys that would go toward an allowance, more or less, that would go towards to help them to truly to be able to receive those benefits and to be eligible for the SNAP program. And so I am just so thankful for, really, the good bipartisan work that we have done up to this point, with all these hearings--over 100 hearings on the farm bill, as a whole; over 20 hearings for the nutrition title, title IV of this farm bill. We had over 80 witnesses. There is nothing in this farm bill that didn't come out there. There were some rumors of something about a Harvest Box, which was a terrible idea. That is not a part of the farm bill, never had any intentions of including that as a part of the farm bill. I am appreciative to all the hard work that has gone into the bill, preparing this at this point, and I look forward to next week, next Wednesday. We will be marking this bill up in the Agriculture Committee. And I am pleased at the timing too. Normally, when we talk about reauthorizing the farm bill, we are 6 months, 12 months after it expired. Quite frankly, we can't afford to do that. The farm income has been down for 4 years now, and this total farm bill is so important to providing for a robust rural America, and that is important to every American. Because without a robust rural America, people everywhere, including the cities, will wake up in the dark, in the cold, and hungry, because that is what the people of rural America, those farm families, provide for each and every one of us. So, Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the opportunity to be joined by so many colleagues tonight on this topic, and I thank you for your attention. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, we appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight to join with my colleagues for this Special Order. Over the past 3 years, the House Agriculture Committee has been diligently working on the next farm bill, which sets agriculture and food policy for our Nation every 5 years. As chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, I am pleased that we can discuss this important topic tonight, nutrition, and I want to thank Chairman Conaway for his great leadership and commitment putting forward the best farm bill possible. Tonight, we are here to talk about the nutrition title, specifically the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which we used to call food stamps. SNAP accounts for 80 percent of spending in the farm bill, and it is an important safety net for low-income families to help ensure that no one in America goes hungry when times get tough. Far too many Americans are living in poverty, and many have been for a generation. There is no worse feeling for a parent than to see their child go without something as basic as food, yet food insecurity exists for so many. That is why, since 2015, the Nutrition Subcommittee has hosted 21 hearings on SNAP. It has heard from more than 80 witnesses on how we can improve the program and work to end hunger in America. In fiscal year 2017, SNAP provided 42.2 million Americans with food benefits at a cost of $63.7 billion. That is nearly 21 million households, Mr. Speaker. In my district, Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, nearly 35,000 households received SNAP benefits for fiscal year 2015. Thirty percent of those homes have one or more people over the age of 60, and nearly half, 45.9 percent, of those homes have children who are under the age of 18. What this farm bill does is ensure that SNAP benefits continue to be available for those who truly need the help, especially children, seniors age 60 and older, and the disabled, who represent nearly two- thirds of the program's participants. Unfortunately, though, many Americans may not have the skills necessary to find a family-sustaining job or may have encountered roadblocks while trying to get ahead. This new farm bill makes a historic investment in work programs so SNAP recipients have a chance to learn new skills and climb the rungs on the ladder of opportunity. Now, this investment will equip States with resources to arm participants with the soft skills--job search skills, certifications, and education--needed to succeed in today's economy, truly, on-ramps to opportunity. Now we have a unique opportunity to expand funding and resources for these life-changing programs by closing loopholes and improving opportunities for individuals who have been marginalized by a lack of employment, education, or, quite frankly, life circumstances. By doing this, SNAP can provide immediate food assistance in the short term, while also helping those in need learn skills to help them permanently escape poverty. Now, let me be clear. We are not removing anyone from receiving the SNAP benefits. What we are doing is providing the tools necessary to help individuals escape the cycle of poverty. I believe that there are many pathways to success in life, and sometimes we do need that critical safety net to take care of our families and help us get back on our feet. With a rebounding economy and an increased focus on workforce development, I know we are going to be able to open new economic doors for many, because all Americans deserve no less. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway), the chairman of the Agriculture Committee.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for being a part of this important Special Order tonight, because nutrition matters and farmers feed. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to a gentleman from another part of our Agriculture Committee leadership from the State of Illinois. He is the chairman of the Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Subcommittee. He actually did a great job yesterday convening a briefing where he brought in 4-H leaders from all over the country to share their experiences as a part of that great organization. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) from the 13th Congressional District.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for joining us here this evening. One of the things I really love about the Agriculture Committee is, quite frankly, what we do. Everyone eats, nutrition matters, and our Agriculture Committee is represented by Members from all over the country, including Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. DesJarlais), another member of the Agriculture Committee from Tennessee's Fourth Congressional District.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Chairman Goodlatte, thank you for your leadership and your mentoring. Greatly appreciated. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for being a part of the Special Order. I am now pleased to yield to a former chairman of the full Agriculture Committee and currently the Judiciary Committee chairman, who obviously has a lot of experience in this area and with agriculture. And so it is my pleasure and privilege to yield to the gentleman from Virginia's Sixth Congressional District (Mr. Goodlatte).

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, Saturday marks the 70th anniversary of the Air Force Reserve. Since President Harry S. Truman called for the formation of the Air Force Reserve in 1948, it has been a critical part of our Nation's defense. Its mission is to provide combat-ready forces to fly, fight, and win. Operating in various locations around the world, the Air Force Reserve has evolved from a ``stand by'' force for emergencies into a major command of the Active Duty Air Force. The Air Force Reserve currently performs about 20 percent of the work of the Air Force, including traditional flying missions and other more specialized missions, such as weather reconnaissance, modular aerial firefighting, and personnel recovery. The Air Force Reserve is part of every Air Force core mission function and performs the same missions as the Active Duty partners. On Saturday, we will remember where the Air Force Reserve has been, where it is now, and where it is going. Great men and women have sacrificed to give all Americans a better tomorrow. On Saturday, we honor their legacy. Happy birthday to the Air Force Reserve.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on Holocaust Remembrance Day to honor the memory of those who were murdered during the Holocaust. The Holocaust was the systematic, government-sponsored persecution and murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. We honor the resilience of survivors, and we rededicate ourselves to uphold the promise of ``Never Again.'' This week marks the Days of Remembrance for the Holocaust. Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the Nation's annual commemoration. Each year, State and local governments, military bases, workplaces, schools, religious organizations, and civic centers host observances and remembrance activities for their communities. These events occur during the Week of Remembrance, which began Sunday, April 8, and runs through Sunday, April 15. The events and results of the Holocaust were so devastating and so extreme that we can barely imagine how such a horrendous event can even take place. But we remember because it is an unthinkable scar on humanity. We not only remember, but, more importantly, we say: Never again. Today, we mourn the lives of those we lost, and we celebrate those who saved them, and we honor those who survived. The Holocaust was a tremendous blight on the history of humanity, but also a time when we honor those who were brave enough to put an end to it; those who stood in the face of such evil and refused to turn a blind eye. Our American soldiers were fighting to win World War II and liberated concentration camps and the horror that ensued there. It was an incredible task carried out by members of the Greatest Generation. By looking back, we can understand how important it is to defend those who are defenseless. We recognize the sufferings that took place and the lives that were shattered, but also the efforts that were made to put an end to such destruction and suffering. We have seen such hatred and genocide occur again in places like Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur, and Syria. There are still millions of people being persecuted because of their ethnicity, because of who they are. We must eradicate hatred and never become indifferent to the sufferings of others. On the Day of Remembrance, the most important thing to remember is the humanity that exists in all of us. May we always remember and always pledge: Never again.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of National Library Week, which began on Sunday and runs through Saturday, April 14. This year's theme is Library's Lead, and ballerina Misty Copeland is this year's honorary chair. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is an observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April. It is time to celebrate the contributions of our Nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries--school, public, academic, and special--participate. Celebrations during National Library Week include: National Library Workers Day, celebrated yesterday, which is a day for library staff, users, administrators, and friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers. National Bookmobile Day, which is celebrated today, recognizes contributions of our Nation's bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities. Tomorrow is Take Action for Libraries Day, which is a national library advocacy effort. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 60th anniversary of National Library Week. In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios and television and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954. The committee's goals range from encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time to improving income and health and developing a strong and happy family life. In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that, once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With the cooperation of the American Library Association and with the help of the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with a theme ``Wake Up and Read.'' National Library Week was observed again in 1959, and the American Library Association Council voted to continue the annual celebration. When the National Book Committee disbanded in 1974, the American Library Association assumed full sponsorship. Today, it is an annual celebration, marking six decades this year. The 2018 honorary chair, Misty Copeland, is not only a best-selling author, but she is also the principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, making her the first African-American woman to ever be promoted to that position in the company's 75-year history. Misty's passion is giving back, and she has worked with many charitable organizations and is dedicated to giving of her time to work with and mentor young boys and girls. It is clear that she is an excellent role model for our youth and a strong supporter of libraries. Mr. Speaker, libraries have always been great equalizers in our society. Our libraries promote knowledge as a power and ensure that it is within reach of every American, regardless of their personal life circumstances. From the magnificent Library of Congress to small-town community libraries, I wish everyone a happy National Library Week.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Mr. George Ellis for his dedicated service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. At the end of March, George retired as the executive director of the Appalachian Region Independent Power Producers Association. He served in the role since 2015. The organization has accomplished much during that time, and a lot of credit goes to George for his dedicated efforts and service. George started his career in 1974 as a staff member, and shortly thereafter, became executive director of the House of Representatives' Mines and Energy Management Committee. In 1982, George accepted the position of executive vice president of government affairs with the Keystone Bituminous Coal Association, which in 1988 became the PA Coal Mining Association. In 1996, George was appointed president of the Pennsylvania Coal Association before joining ARIPPA in 2015. Mr. Speaker, George Ellis has been a highly respected resource in the Pennsylvania coal industry, and his knowledge and dedication are unparalleled. He has had a long and outstanding career, and I wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during World Autism Month to recognize and support all children and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Today, millions of adults and an estimated 1 out of every 68 children in the United States have been diagnosed with some form of autism spectrum disorder. Notwithstanding these diagnoses, Americans with autism make exceptional contributions across our Nation and around the world. Each April, Autism Speaks celebrates the start of its signature campaign, Light It Up Blue, along with the international autism community, in recognition of United Nations-designated World Autism Awareness Day, which was celebrated on April 2, and April as World Autism Month. Light It Up Blue is a unique global campaign to increase understanding and acceptance for people living with autism. Mr. Speaker, during World Autism Month, let us renew our commitment to support the entire international autism community, including children and adults with autism, their families, and caregivers. Together, we can increase access to information, encourage heightened understanding of autism, promote respect and dignity, and support the services that assist people with autism to reach their full potential.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to welcome the National Grocers Association to Washington, D.C., this week for their annual fly-in. Our grocers have a tremendous impact on our communities throughout the country. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania alone, food retailers provide more than 220,000 jobs, have an output of $15 billion, and a total economic impact of $39 billion. As the House Agriculture Committee continues to move forward with the farm bill, it will be important to our grocers, who provide food to American families. Over the past 3 years, the Agriculture Committee has hosted 21 hearings on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, and has heard from more than 80 witnesses. SNAP and other Federal nutrition programs are vital to ensuring that all Americans have healthy foods within reach, whether low income populations, the elderly, or those living in areas with strained access to nutritious food. We will continue to identify ways to work alongside State and local organizations to help provide safe and nutritious food for those who need it most. One of my primary goals with SNAP is to ensure that those who truly need the assistance when falling on hard times continue to have access to this critical program. Limited access to supermarkets and grocery stores with nutritious fresh foods can be a challenge in both rural and urban communities. We know them as food deserts. According to USDA, to qualify as a low-access community, at least 500 people and/or at least 33 percent of the population must reside more than 1 mile from a supermarket or large grocery store. For rural areas, the distance is more than 10 miles. I know from personal experience the value of Federal assistance, particularly WIC, when times do get tough. I have also seen the value of obtaining an education and ultimately finding a career path. Unfortunately, too many Americans at the poverty level are caught in a cycle. We want to change that cycle by providing a workforce solution and necessary supports, walking with individuals on their pathway to self-reliance and success. The House farm bill makes a significant, even historical, investment in SNAP employment and training to equip States with resources to arm participants with the soft skills, the job search skills, certifications, and education needed to succeed in today's economy. But to ensure this investment yields results, we are also making these work requirements mandatory. We have a unique opportunity to expand funding for these life-changing programs by closing loopholes only utilized by certain States, and improving opportunities for individuals who have been marginalized by a lack of employment, education, or life circumstances. For nearly 80 percent of the SNAP recipients--children, seniors, and the disabled--these requirements won't change anything. For those who rely on SNAP and will continue to do so, we want to ensure that they have access to the array of foods that benefit their health and their well-being. Our bill allows retailers to expand the purchasing power of recipients via incentive programs, and we are also expanding or enhancing current incentive and nutrition education programs to improve diet quality and awareness. We want to emphasize the importance of consumer choice and the impact SNAP has on our communities and families. Madam Speaker, I appreciate having our Nation's grocers in town today, and I look forward to continuing the Agriculture Committee's good work on the next farm bill. After all, farmers feed and nutrition matters.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Boy Scout Troop 14 of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on its centennial celebration. Troop 14 is the oldest consecutively chartered troop in the Susquehanna Council Boy Scouts of America. Saint John's-Newberry United Methodist Church has been its sponsor for these 100 years. Troop 14 has provided scouting to boys in Newberry and the surrounding area. Impressively, the troop has produced 127 Eagle Scouts during that time. It has been through the efforts of many that the troop has been and continues to be an active and strong unit. For 100 years, Troop 14 has helped scores of Boy Scouts build a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society. The Boy Scouts of America is one of the Nation's largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations, providing programs for young people that build character, train them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develop personal fitness. Mr. Speaker, along with my colleague, Tom Marino, I commend Troop 14 on its centennial celebration for building so many future leaders by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. I wish them the very best on this milestone occasion and look forward to another 100 years of excellence.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on World Down Syndrome Day, to celebrate the many individuals living with Down syndrome who are changing the world. People with Down syndrome can and do make meaningful contributions throughout their lives, in schools, in workplaces, their communities, public and political life, culture, media, and more. Take Gerber's adorable spokesbaby, Lucas Warren, a 1-year-old from Dalton, Georgia, whose infectious smile set him apart from the 140,000 entries that Gerber received for the competition. After Lucas made his big debut in February on the TODAY show, the world fell in love with him, too. Lucas is the first child with Down syndrome to win the title since Gerber began the competition. His parents, Cortney and Jason Warren, said they hope that Lucas' story will shed light on the special needs community and help more individuals with special needs be accepted, and I certainly agree. Another incredible person living and thriving with Down syndrome is Kayla McKeon. Kayla is the manager of grassroots advocacy for the National Down Syndrome Society. She is the first registered lobbyist with Down syndrome. I met Kayla not too long ago when she interviewed me for her podcast, Kayla's Corner. She is upbeat and outgoing, and that is just part of what makes Kayla so special. A native of Syracuse, New York, Kayla is also a motivational speaker who draws on her experiences as an individual with a disability whose positive attitude inspires others to reach their highest potential. Kayla is also a Special Olympian who competes in floor hockey and bowling tournaments. But in many ways, Kayla is living a life like any other young person. She lives in Washington, D.C., and rides the Metro. She has a busy social life. She likes sporting events and motorcycle rides, but she is extraordinary and she is a role model for others. Kayla told the Auburn Citizen newspaper that she is committed to showing how much people with Down syndrome can achieve. She said: ``We are most definitely ready, willing, and able to do anything we set our minds to, getting a job, driving a car, going to college. We want to showcase our abilities, not our disabilities.'' Well, I couldn't agree more with Kayla. After meeting this enthusiastic young woman, I am certain that she is able to do anything that she puts her mind to, and she is an outstanding ambassador for the Down syndrome community. Mr. Speaker, all people with Down syndrome must have opportunities to contribute to the community and live valued lives on a full and equal basis with others in all aspects of society. People with Down syndrome can and do bring so much to the community wherever they live, around the world, when given the opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating World Down Syndrome Day, where we not only celebrate all the achievements of those living with Down syndrome, but we double down in our commitment to ensure that no one with Down syndrome is prevented from making meaningful contributions to society. They have so much to give and make this world a brighter place.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Penn State wrestling team on winning this year's NCAA Division I National Championship. The Penn State Nittany Lions are a force to be reckoned with and they proved it again last weekend in Cleveland, Ohio, when they brought home their seventh team title in 8 years. The team went 4-and-1 in the finals, coming back from a 6-point deficit heading into the final round to clinch the title on a pin by junior Bo Nickal in Penn State's final match of the night. Penn State won the team title with 141.5 points, while Ohio State was in second with 134.5. Iowa took third with 97. Head coach Cael Sanderson now has 22 national champions as a head coach, 20 at Penn State, and 7 NCAA titles. I could not be more proud of my alma mater or this team that gave us yet another season to remember. Many college athletes dream about participating at the NCAA championships. This team truly is the pride of Happy Valley, and I congratulate Coach Sanderson and every wrestler on the team. We are.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.