Glenn Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the staff from Skills of Central Pennsylvania following the recognition of their psychiatric rehabilitation program being named Program of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services. The program at Skills of Central Pennsylvania, which is located in Centre County, provides recovery-oriented treatment through psychological education, skills teaching, and other methods. Those who are eligible for the program either suffer from serious mental illness or moderate-to-severe functional impairment as a result of an illness. The program was nominated and eventually won this recognition from the Pennsylvania Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services following the efforts of their registered nurses and staff in their integrated care program to handle a physical health crisis that could have resulted in the death of a participant if not for their swift intervention. Mr. Speaker, as a former healthcare professional, I commend the staff of Skills of Central Pennsylvania for their important work for their community and the surrounding region, helping people emerge from what is often the darkest time of their lives.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two friends, two Members of the Pennsylvania delegation, here in the House, Representative Joe Pitts and Representative Mike Fitzpatrick, on their upcoming retirements and for their service to this Nation and to their constituents. It has been an honor to serve with both of these gentlemen over the past 8 years. Representative Pitts' retirement caps a long career of service to his Nation. His career started as an educator, teaching math, science, English, physical education, along with coaching basketball. He also served 5\1/2\ years in the United States Air Force with three tours in Vietnam. After being commissioned as a second lieutenant, he was promoted to the rank of captain by the time he left the service. After settling in Pennsylvania, Representative Pitts continued to teach until he felt the call of public service, launching a 24-year career as a Pennsylvania State representative, and serving as chairman of the Committee on Labor Relations and later of the Appropriations Committee. Joe was sworn in as a United States Representative in January of 1997, the beginning of a 20-year career here in Washington, D.C., and in serving the residents of Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District. His ten terms here in the House of Representatives have included time spent chairing multiple subcommittees, including the Health Subcommittee for his last two terms here in Congress. I have greatly enjoyed time spent with Joe during our weekly Bible studies, and I wish him and his wife, Ginny, the best of luck in retirement. I also want to recognize the retirement of my friend and colleague, Representative Mike Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania's Eighth Congressional District. Like Representative Pitts, Mike has dedicated much of his life to public service and was first elected in 1995 as a Bucks County commissioner, a position he served in for 10 years. During that time, he showed a commitment to bringing jobs to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, creating the county's first enterprise zone, which eventually created thousands of local jobs. Mike arrived in Washington, D.C., as the representative of the Commonwealth's Eighth Congressional District in January of 2005 and later worked to bring the national veterans' cemetery to Bucks County. More recently, he has served as the chairman of the Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing. Personally, I have bonded with Mike over our shared ties to the Boy Scouts of America. We are both longtime Boy Scouts and fellow Eagle Scouts. Mike's service to scouting includes time spent as president of the Bucks County Council of the Boy Scouts of America. I wish Representative Mike Fitzpatrick a great retirement, along with his wife, Kathy, and their children. Congratulations, Joe and Mike. It has been an honor serving with you.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the second annual National Apprenticeship Week, which commenced yesterday, November 14. This special occasion helps to highlight the value of apprenticeships and educate businesses and individuals about the positive impact they have on our economy. As co-chairs of the House Career and Technical Education Caucus, my colleague, Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, and I have advocated for a modernized approach to career and technical education programs and apprenticeship opportunities across the United States. As part of our commitment, we worked in conjunction with members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to introduce H.R. 5587, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to help Americans acquire the skills necessary to compete for high-wage, high-demand jobs. Notably, the bill encourages stronger public-private partnerships, increases opportunities for apprenticeships and credentialing, and strengthens support for academic counseling. H.R. 5587 overwhelmingly passed the House in September, demonstrating the enthusiastic support for career and technical education. I remain dedicated to moving this bill through the legislative process and providing a path forward to those who are looking to better their lives.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend our Nation celebrated Veterans Day, a day to recognize and thank those who selflessly serve in the face of danger to protect our Nation and our way of life. Throughout history, beginning with the Revolutionary War, our veterans have earned and protected the freedom which we often take for granted. Originally established as Armistice Day in 1919, November 11 was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 in order to include the many Americans who honorably served during World War II and in Korea. Today, we continue that tradition and honor the dedication, the service, and the sacrifices that our veterans made in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and, more recently, in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and Coast Guard will continue this legacy of service to protect our country, and they deserve our utmost respect. God bless our veterans, and thank you for your service.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6094, the Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses, Schools, and Nonprofits Act introduced by my colleague, Mr. Walberg. As an original cosponsor of this measure, I am fully supportive of its goal--to put the brakes on the Department of Labor's final overtime rule and continue to shield workers, small businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions from its potentially devastating effects. Under the final rule from the Department of Labor, companies and organizations will be required to pay overtime to employees who make less than $47,476, more than double the current salary threshold. While there is little doubt that the current overtime rules are in need of modernization, the Department's drastic approach will do more harm than good, marginalizing economic growth, diminishing access to valuable services provided by nonprofits, and discouraging upward mobility in the workplace. Mr. Speaker, in the midst of an economy that is still struggling, we simply cannot allow for the enactment of ill-advised policies that make it harder for hardworking Americans to make ends meet. For that reason, I am proud to support this measure, and I ask my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, over this past weekend people in Oil City, Venango County, located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, joined to honor an American hero. On April 8, 2004, Specialist Jonathan Kephart was killed in Iraq after his convoy patrol was ambushed outside of Baghdad. Kephart was credited with protecting his fellow soldiers by laying down fire against hundreds of enemy fighters, even after being wounded twice. He was the first soldier from Venango County killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Last Saturday, the Petroleum Street Bridge in Oil City was named after Specialist Kephart, and September 24 was declared Jonathan R. Kephart Memorial Day in Oil City. I want to commend the efforts of everyone who worked to make this a reality, including State Representative Lee James, who authored and led the effort to pass the bill that made this distinction possible, earning unanimous approval in the Pennsylvania State House and Senate. It is my hope that, because of this memorial to Specialist Kephart, his bravery and his sacrifice will live on in the hearts and the minds of the people in Oil City and Venango County for generations to come.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 50th anniversary of Goodwill Industries North Central Pennsylvania located in my district. This organization assists people from across a portion of north central Pennsylvania, including 13 counties. Goodwill has been a valuable part of this region since its launch in 1966. Over the years, their service area has grown to cover more than a dozen counties, 20 stores, and has created jobs for more than 500 people. Coming up this weekend, I will visit the community of Falls Creek, in Jefferson County, located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District for a celebration of Goodwill's 50th anniversary. It certainly helps that this great local organization is backed up by a highly-regarded national network. Across the United States, Goodwill is considered one of the top five most valuable and recognized nonprofit brands and is the second largest nonprofit organization. Pennsylvania alone is served by 10 Goodwill Industries service areas. Goodwill has solid ties to the communities that it serves through partnerships with local businesses, schools, and human service agencies, helping individuals overcome life challenges through opportunity, education, training, and employment. Those who donate to Goodwill can have peace of mind that their money is going to the right place since 90 cents of every dollar is directed towards its mission and services. Those services were provided to nearly 1,200 people across the north central region in 2013, providing an immeasurable benefit to the region. This 50th anniversary celebration is a great time to reflect on all of the growth Goodwill Industries North Central has achieved as a team and continue to prepare their plans for the future. I commend them for all of their remarkable achievements, and I look forward to the great things that are yet to come.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the efforts of an Erie County-based food bank to combat childhood hunger across northwestern Pennsylvania, especially in several counties of Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. In 2011, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania launched its backpack program, which enlists the help of volunteers to fill backpacks with enough meals and snacks to help feed children over the weekends of each school year. Over this past weekend, around 70 volunteers, including residents, teachers, and businessowners from Warren County gathered to supply backpacks to around 350 students in the Warren County School District. The backpacks are expected to last those second and third grade students through the end of the year. In Erie County, around 1,100 students benefit from the program in the Erie County School District with meals being distributed to children throughout its 15 elementary schools. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that a program such as this is necessary, but I am proud that there are folks in the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District and the surrounding area who are willing to help step up to the plate for kids in need.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of a group of men and women from the Fifth Congressional District of Pennsylvania who recently volunteered their time and talents to help improve their community. Lowe's Heroes is a companywide volunteer program for Lowe's that gives employees a chance to volunteer for local community improvement projects. In return, Lowe's provides the material and manpower to make those projects happen. Just last week, men and women from the DuBois Lowe's store volunteered to help build a centerpiece for a town square project in Sykesville, a community only a handful of miles away from the store's location. This is a long-awaited project in the community to transform a vacant lot into a beautiful park for community events and a place for people from across the community to gather. In addition to the contributions of the Lowe's Heroes, the store is also donating the decorative and structural blocks for the town square's centerpiece, along with lighting for the area. These men and women represent the best of what small towns across the United States represent. I commend them for their selfless efforts.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an event in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District--and across New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, and Massachusetts--raising awareness for missing children across our Nation. Fireball Run is an 8-day, 2,000-mile road rally competition starting this Friday and running through Saturday, October 1. This Sunday, I will be joining the teams in Curwensville, located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. While I have been told that the race itself is a lot of fun, what really impresses me about the Fireball Run is the effort made to raise awareness for missing children across the United States of America. Every driving team is assigned a child missing from their home area, in addition to being provided 1,000 missing child flyers to distribute along their 2,000-mile journey. Since the start of Fireball Run 10 years ago, the campaign has aided in the recovery of 44 missing children. I commend everyone involved in Fireball Run for their selfless efforts in raising awareness for this important issue, and I wish them the best of luck and safety as their journey begins on Friday.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Constitution Week. I especially want to honor the efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who initiated the observance of Constitution Week in 1955, in order to encourage the study of the events that led to the framing of the Constitution in 1787; to inform the citizens of the United States of America that the Constitution is the basis of America's heritage and our way of life; and to reinforce our responsibility to protect, defend, and preserve this great document. Over this past weekend, the Colonel Hugh White-Colonel John Chatham Daughters of the American Revolution chapter in Lock Haven, located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, organized a display of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence at the community's library. I want to thank the members of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Lock Haven and the members of the DAR all over Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District for everything they do to make sure that we never forget the work of our Nation's Founders and the tremendous importance of our Constitution.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 670, the Special Needs Trust Fairness and Medicaid Improvement Act, a bipartisan measure that will remove arbitrary legal barriers for individuals with disabilities to independently create their own special needs trust. Special needs trusts are valuable tools that enable assets to be saved on behalf of individuals with disabilities, while protecting their eligibility for means-tested benefits. Under current law, individuals who are or become disabled must have a parent, a guardian, or a court-appointed special needs trust regardless of the individual's capacity to do so on their own. Mr. Speaker, not only does this requirement place an undue burden on individuals who seek a better financial future and want to live with dignity, it runs counter to the precedent set by Congress with the creation of pooled trust accounts in 1993 and the passage of the ABLE Act in 2014. Both provide disabled individuals and their families unencumbered access to mechanisms for savings. My drive to correct this legal inequity stems from my experience as a certified recreational therapist, a hospital manager, a rehabilitation services manager, and a licensed nursing home administrator. In these roles, I worked with many people who set out on challenging journeys towards rehabilitation and future independence. As a result, I found it difficult to ignore the fact that current law is working to further complicate anyone's path to becoming more self-reliant and independent. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to share the personal narrative of Rana McMurray Arnold, cofounder and director of the Sight- Loss Support Group of Central Pennsylvania and a constituent of mine. As an individual who is living with blindness, Rana helped form a remarkable nonprofit to assist others with sight loss by providing peer counseling, vision rehabilitation referral services, and direct accessibility support for local events. Despite challenges she has been faced with, Rana has led a very fulfilling and successful life, running a successful service organization for 30 years and raising a family. However, under the current law, Rana would be deemed unfit to establish her own special needs trust. It is on Rana's behalf and on behalf of the millions of Americans living with disabilities that I introduced H.R. 670, and I am grateful for its consideration this afternoon on the House floor. I would also like to thank another constituent of mine, Amos Goodall, who has worked as an elder law attorney in State College, Pennsylvania. Mr. Goodall originally brought this issue to my attention and has been a tireless advocate for this bill. I would also like to thank Katie Brown of my staff, whose work on this bill has gotten us to this point today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in seizing this opportunity to correct a legal inequity and safeguard the rights of Americans living with disabilities to secure their own future financial stability.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Howard Area Lions Club located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. The Howard Area Lions Club recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. The club has consistently earned the recognition as the largest Lions Club in Pennsylvania. There are probably many factors that have led them to this title, but none more significant than their commitment to the Lions Club motto, ``We serve.'' The members of this club have served as the chartering organization for Howard Scout Troop 353. I have been honored to serve as a Scoutmaster of their troop since they first assumed this responsibility. The Howard Area Lions operates a food bank that provides access to food for those struggling to make ends meet, including driving food to those individuals that have limited transportation. Very few community needs are addressed in the local community where the Lions are not a part of the solution. Mr. Speaker, as a fellow Lion, I am honored to offer my congratulations to the members of the Howard Area Lions Club. I am confident they will continue to serve the needs of their neighbors and communities.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, small businesses are, and have always been, a key to the economic success of our Nation. With that in mind, I want to recognize the importance of the Happy Valley LaunchBox, which was introduced last year as part of the Invent Penn State initiative. As an alumni and longtime friend of the university, I am proud to consistently celebrate the unique accomplishments of the leadership, faculty, staff, and student body at Penn State. Additionally, in my role as a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I often have the opportunity to highlight the importance of cutting-edge concepts--such as the Invent Penn State initiative--in strengthening the overall economy of our Nation. The Happy Valley LaunchBox is a place where entrepreneurs from the community as well as Penn State faculty, students, and staff can work to commercialize their innovative business concepts. Last month I had the chance to meet with university officials and those, including students, who have been able to get their small businesses off the ground thanks to this initiative. I know that I join those from the university and the Centre County region in wishing the LaunchBox the best of success in the future.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5587) to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, as amended.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, career and technical education helps men and women across the country achieve the American Dream of finding and seizing opportunities to work hard and to succeed within the workforce. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act makes the positive reforms necessary to ensure more Americans are able to access life-changing education and experience that will allow them to do just that, to achieve the American Dream. I am pleased that we have been able to work across the aisle in a bipartisan manner--my hope is that we will be able to work in a bicameral manner with the Senate, and I encourage swift action in the Senate--to ensure that this generation is equipped with the tools needed to remain competitive in today's workforce. I believe this is an effort that we can all support. Mr. Speaker, the title of this bill is Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. Normally, we usually find some kind of an acronym--something short and catchy--to call this. Those initials don't lend to that process, but I would have to say I like to refer to this legislation as the opportunity bill. It is the opportunity for those young people who are looking to enter the workforce and want to go on to a path to be able to earn a family- sustaining wage, to be successful through career and technical education training. It is an opportunity bill for those families who today find themselves depressed and caught in unemployment and looking to get back into the workforce and greater opportunity. It is an opportunity bill. It is an opportunity bill for those families that, maybe, for generations have found themselves trapped in poverty and without an exit strategy, Mr. Speaker. This bill is an opportunity bill. It is an exit ramp from poverty for those families, those Americans. For those who are job creators who can't grow or maybe even start their business or sustain their business because they can't find qualified and trained workers, this is an opportunity bill, Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5587. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, so I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Curbelo), another very effective member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson).

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I am now pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), also a leader on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. She serves as our chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education that has jurisdiction on this bill. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Rokita).

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe), a classmate of mine and also another leader in the Education and the Workforce Committee and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to take a point of personal privilege just as a chance to recognize Chairman Kline of the Education and the Workforce Committee and to thank him for his leadership in education, for truly making a difference in the lives of our youth and, quite frankly, people of all ages, like with this piece of legislation. I very much appreciate his leadership. So it is my honor to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline), the chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee.