Glenn Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the players and coaches of the Bellefonte High School Red Raiders baseball team, in Pennsylvania's Fifth District, for their PIAA Class AAA championship 2-0 win over Susquehanna Township. It is Bellefonte's first State title in baseball in school history. Remarkably, the Red Raiders started this year with a 1-7 record. When most teams would have lost heart and the will to win, these young men served as an inspiration. At the championship game, Dom Masullo pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and struck out five batters. Colton Burd stole second and scored on a single by Tyler Kreger to give the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead. Bellefonte pushed its lead to 2-0 after Garrett Reiter scored. Coach Dan Fravel offered this observation, saying, ``I don't know why you would play the game if you don't plan on winning every game. That's just my mentality, and it's a compliment to them as a group. I've watched them play the last couple of years. I knew that there were talented kids on the team, and they know how to win.'' Congratulations, Red Raiders, on your historic win. We are very proud of you.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of 19-year-old Madison ``Maddie'' Hill, a student at Penn State University, who, sadly, passed away after a long battle with cancer last week. Madison was not originally from Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. In fact, she was a native of York County, but she was no stranger to Penn State University even before she started classes there as a student. Following her cancer diagnosis, Madison benefited from the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, or THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, which raises funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer. Upon enrolling in Penn State, Madison worked to provide that same support for other cancer patients as a volunteer and family relations co-chair with THON. She was also a member of the university's Blue & White Society. I join the entire Penn State community in mourning the loss of Madison and offer my thoughts and prayers to her family and friends.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I organized a discussion here on Capitol Hill focused on a resolution I have introduced which I believe could have a major impact on our Nation's ability to return more than 80,000 American citizens who served in the Vietnam war, Korean war, and World War II who are still missing in action. I authored H. Con. Res. 56 because I am thankful every day as the father of an injured Army soldier that he returned home safely. I cannot imagine the pain and anguish of the wives, the husbands, the mothers, the fathers, the sons and daughters who wait for decades, and even generations, to receive word regarding their loved one who was taken as a prisoner of war or is missing in action. We need to make the greatest effort possible to bring home the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. We need to fulfill that promise that we leave no man behind. That is why this resolution states that, in order to ensure transparency and efficiency, countries that enter into trade agreements, trade deals with our Nation, must assist in the research and the recovery efforts of America's missing servicemembers. I am proud to represent the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District, which covers a broad expanse of my State's northern and central territory. Over the years, I have heard from the families of servicemen, such as Major Lewis P. Smith II, of Bellefonte, Centre County, a Vietnam soldier who was listed missing in action; Captain Darl Bloom of Morrisdale, Clearfield County, who served in Vietnam as a pilot and is listed as missing in action; and Lieutenant David Myers of State College, Centre County, who also served in Vietnam and is listed as missing in action all these decades later. These brave men and the thousands of others across our Nation who remain listed as missing or as prisoners of war deserve our most diligent efforts. When a servicemember makes the ultimate sacrifice, it is our duty to ensure that they are returned home to their loved ones. I appreciate the support of this measure from groups dedicated to our servicemembers and veterans. It is time to bring home the men and women over the past several generations who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the founding of Roulette Township, Potter County. The township was founded on January 29, 1816, in honor of John Sigmund Roulet. Roulet was an associate of John Keating, one of the original settlers of Potter County. Today, the community's name is spelled a bit differently due to an early error by the Post Office Department. Today, the township is home to more than 1,300 people. Later this week, members of the community will kick off a 2-day celebration, starting on Friday, in honor of the township's bicentennial and its history. The celebration will start with a 5K walk for the fight against domestic violence, and it will continue with an ice cream social and bingo. On Saturday, a prayer service is planned, followed by a barbecue, with a parade planned for Saturday afternoon. A hymn sing is planned for Sunday, along with a ``Walk Down Memory Lane,'' with signs placed highlighting the long history of Roulette Township. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to see the residents of Roulette Township honoring their history with this week's celebration, making sure that the region's past is not forgotten.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, thousands of Americans lose their lives every year across communities of all sizes to a terrible epidemic, and that is an epidemic of substance abuse that steals lives, that steals futures, and that tears apart families. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the efforts of a constituent of mine, Dennis Heindl, who lives in Elk County, located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. Mr. Heindl is the owner of Laurel Media, based in Ridgway. After seeing the effects of the opioid abuse and heroin epidemic affecting our Nation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and areas such as Elk County, Dennis was compelled to act. He set up a telephone hotline in an effort to fight back against drug use in communities across the region. The hotline is anonymous, strictly confidential, and is being administered by the North Central Pennsylvania Municipal Drug Task Force. Mr. Heindl is offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest or conviction of any individual who sells or distributes illegal or prescription drugs. In addition to the hotline, Mr. Heindl is organizing a series of anti-drug meetings across the area. In fact, the latest meeting in the community of Ridgway drew a crowd of nearly 300 people all interested in taking their town back from this horrible epidemic. Just like in so many other areas of our Nation, communities across Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District have suffered as a result of this drug epidemic. Elk County is ranked ninth in Pennsylvania in overdose deaths per population of 100,000 people while, further west, Crawford County has seen its overdose deaths double in the past 4 years. Now, I am so proud of the efforts of the people such as Dennis Heindl and all those across the Fifth Congressional District who are helping in the efforts to fight back against drugs. I am also proud of the package passed recently in this House, which will make grant funding available to States and local governments for the creation of opioid reduction programs, creates a task force to review prescribing practices, and cares for babies who are born opioid addicted and dependent. If we all work together, I know that we can win this battle.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Pennsylvania Marine Corps League. The organization will hold its 71st annual department convention later this week in State College, located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. Mr. Speaker, the Marine Corps League was founded by Major General John A. Lejeune in 1923 and chartered by an act of Congress on August 4, 1937. Today, the Marine Corps League has a membership of more than 50,000 men and women and is comprised of honorably discharged, Active Duty, and Reserve Marines, including both officers and enlisted men and women. I have the deepest respect for the accomplishments of the U.S. Marine Corps over the course of our Nation's history. The Corps was founded on November 10, 1775, and since then, those who have served as marines have shared the unyielding commitment to protecting the lives of American citizens and the interests of our Nation. Marines have served our Nation bravely since before the start of the American Revolution, proving their courage from the shores of Tripoli to the island of Iwo Jima and, in recent actions, in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, I thank all the men and women from Pennsylvania and across our Nation who have served as United States Marines.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this commonsense measure that would prohibit funds within this bill from entering into contracts for energy or fuel with the Russian Federation for the purpose of heating our military installations. I have longstanding concerns regarding the prospect of American military installations in Europe being exposed to unnecessary vulnerabilities as a result of becoming dependent upon foreign energy resources. Russian natural gas already makes up a majority of the fuel mix used at some military posts, and we cannot allow Russian coal or natural gas to take control of the difference. Mr. Chairman, this is a national security issue. By purchasing energy from areas impacted by volatile international or regional politics, we are putting our troops and their dependents at risk. Furthermore, we are filling the coffers of hostile regimes who seek to use energy as a weapon. Furthermore, the United States has become the North American energy giant. With congressional action to lift a 40-year moratorium on crude oil exports, we are seeing new markets develop. We must ensure our allies in Europe are provided a choice. Similarly, we must utilize American-sourced energy to strategically support our military installations overseas. This is about countering Russian aggressions. I encourage support of the Barletta amendment.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose entering into contracts for energy or fuel with the Russian Federation for the purpose of heating our military installations. I have longstanding concerns regarding the prospect of American military installations in Europe being exposed to unnecessary vulnerabilities as a result of becoming dependent upon foreign energy resources. Russian natural gas already makes up a majority of the fuel mix used at some military posts, and we cannot allow Russian coal or natural gas to take control of the difference. This is a national security issue. By purchasing energy from areas that are impacted by volatile international or regional politics, we are putting our troops and their dependents at risk. The United States has become the North American energy giant. With congressional action to lift a 40-year moratorium on crude oil exports, we are seeing new markets develop. We must ensure our families in Europe are provided a choice. Similarly, we must utilize American- sourced energy to strategically support our military installations overseas. This is about countering Russian aggressions--saying ``no'' to Russian energy and saying ``yes'' to American jobs and security.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to another gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta).

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, last year, the House voted to remove longstanding language from the fiscal year '16 Department of Defense Appropriations bill that sourced Pennsylvania Anthracite to a public utility in Germany, which provides energy and heat for our troops stationed in the Rhine area and, in particular, in Kaiserslautern. While seemingly well-intentioned, my colleagues misrepresented the overall costs associated with this provision, and they painted this as the poster child for government waste. Taking their concern into account, the Appropriations Committee drafted language for fiscal year 2017 that does not prescribe the energy type or where it is to be sourced from, with the exception that the energy be domestically produced here in the United States. Mr. Chairman, nearly 56,000 American defense personnel and family members reside in the Kaiserslautern military community. There are more overseas U.S. defense installations and personnel in Germany than in any other nation. Their well-being is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, the amendment to strike section 8127 will place the energy needs of our military installations and, by the way, all the dependents, those family members, clearly in the hands of Russia. And I am not the only one sounding this alarm. In February, Commander of the U.S. Forces in Europe, General Philip Breedlove, testified before the House Armed Services Committee that, and I quote: ``European continued dependence on Russian energy, specifically former Soviet and Eastern Bloc states, only serves to bolster Russia's ability to coerce those nations to achieve political gains.'' Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO provided testimony before the Armed Services Committee that: ``Mr. Putin's strategy does not rely on military power alone. He seeks to maintain European dependence on Russian gas and continues to use that dependence as a weapon; he deftly applies a `divide and conquer' strategy to undermine Europe's cohesion.'' Mr. Chairman, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia, Dr. Evelyn Farkas testified that ``the Defense Department should no longer do any business with Russia.'' She concluded that ``we must work with Germany and other allies to meet Europe's natural gas demand in a way that gives them leverage against Moscow, not the other way around, and benefits U.S. companies and alternative suppliers.'' Those who have environmental concerns need to recognize that even Greenpeace evaluated the facilities at Kaiserslautern in 2013. They set a goal for the reduction of CO2 emissions by 2020 greater than 40 percent, with a 35.4 percent reduction that was achieved by 2014. Mr. Chairman, I do agree with my colleagues that we should do everything in our power to increase efficiency, but the cold reality is that if we do not domestically source energy for our troops, it is going to be left in the hands of Russia. I encourage my colleagues to take into consideration what is at stake and reject the Huffman amendment. Failure to address these concerns could leave our servicemen and -women serving overseas in a new and very literal cold war. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Huffman/McClintock amendment.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America Charter. On June 15, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the law granting a national charter to the Boy Scouts of America, which had been incorporated 6 years earlier in 1910. I spent more than four decades in scouting as a scoutmaster, Juniata Valley Boy Scouts Council executive board member and Council president. In my own scouting experience, I was honored to become one of just 2,000 people since 1969 to receive the national Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. It was my experience in scouting that first sparked my interest in public service, in the vein of the Boy Scouts model, which urges us in part to do our duty to our country. In 2013 there were more than 2.6 million members of the Boy Scouts of America. In a time which has in many ways been highlighted by a decline of volunteerism, I know that our Nation's future is in good hands with these young men and young ladies. It is my hope that this wonderful organization continues to contribute to the lives of youth for generations to come.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the farm credit, which was signed into law through the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916 and was created to be a source of competitive credit for those who live and work in rural America. Today, the farm credit system plays a vital role in the success of our rural communities throughout our 50 States and in Puerto Rico, providing more than $237 billion in loans to more than 500,000 customers. Now, while the farm credit system has a national footprint, its leaders are local. There are nearly 75 independently owned and operated farm credit organizations across the Nation, acting as cooperatives, owned by its customers with a deep understanding of agriculture in their area. Agriculture is the number one industry in Pennsylvania, my home State, and I can tell you that the farm credit system has played a major role in helping farm families survive and thrive through the use of financing, the construction of new buildings, the purchase of land, the pursuit of agribusiness opportunities, and the purchase of new equipment to remain competitive. The farm credit system has also been vital to helping new farmers in Pennsylvania hit the ground running and to start to grow their new businesses. Mr. Speaker, American agriculture is responsible for feeding our local communities, our Nation, and the world as a whole. It is my hope that the farm credit system will assist our farms for generations to come.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in praying for the victims and the impacted families from Saturday's terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida. This terrorist attack serves as a reminder that we must do everything possible to defeat those who inspire hate and we must eradicate ISIS before other incidents occur. Mr. Speaker, over the past 2 years alone, 73 American lives have been taken by acts of terrorism here at home, in the United States. Mr. Speaker, the first duty of American leadership is the safety of our citizens and our families. When American leadership fails, our citizens pay a heavy price. Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Farm Credit

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate members of the Dotterer family in Clinton County on the 65th anniversary of the their farm, which they celebrated earlier this month. The Dotterer farm was founded in 1951, when Paul and Jean Dotterer started with just 15 dairy cows and 147 acres. Their hard work paid off, since today the farm includes approximately 950 dairy cows and about 3,000 acres of land, which provides for a harvest of many different crops. The farm is now in its third generation. Members of the Dotterer family are proud that the milk from their farm is sold locally. In fact, it can be found on the shelves of grocery stores just miles away from their farm. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I know how important farming is to not only Pennsylvania's economy, but to our Nation. It is wonderful to see family farms that are being passed from generation to generation, feeding their communities, our Nation, and the entire world. I wish the Dotterer family continued success and prosperity in the future.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, recently I was proud to vote for a package of bills here on the floor of the United States House intended to help crack down on the terrible epidemic of prescription opioid abuse and heroin abuse across our Nation. Today, I want to recognize the efforts in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to assist in the goal of fighting back against all drug use. Specifically, a new law authored by State Representative Matt Baker, who represents a portion of Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, would go after designer drugs in which different chemicals are combined to create new drugs. This new law will speed up the process in adding these drugs to the State's list of banned drugs, enabling law enforcement to arrest and prosecute the individuals responsible. Giving members of our law enforcement community the tools that they need to thwart illegal drug manufacturers will save lives. Mr. Speaker, if you want to successfully fight back against a problem, you surround it. I am proud to see great lifesaving solutions coming from both the Federal and the State levels, with additional community action in the form of local roundtables and townhall meetings.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Stanley Fedorek, a former police officer in Oil City, located in Venango County in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. Mr. Fedorek was recognized just this week as the oldest member of the Fraternal Order of Police in Pennsylvania at the age of 98. Fedorek has been a member of the Fraternal Order of Police for 68 years and received a certificate of appreciation and a commemorative letter from the organization. Mr. Speaker, Stanley Fedorek is also a veteran, serving as a first sergeant in the United States Army in Italy during World War II. He joined the Oil City Police Department following his discharge and served as an officer up until 1968. He later worked security at Mellon Bank. Mr. Fedorek has only missed two meetings in his time as a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, and he was still driving himself to those meetings at 95 years of age. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Fedorek for his service to the Oil City community and to our Nation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to observe the 200th anniversary of the community of Port Allegany, McKean County, in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. Port Allegany was founded in 1816 as Canoe Place, located just 30 miles from the headwaters of the Allegheny River. True to its name-- Port Allegany, which was bestowed in 1838--the settlement served as a port along the river for Native Americans and pioneers who would stop to build or repair canoes before traveling along the river. Later in its history, Port Allegany became known for its glass manufacturing. The first plant of the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation was constructed there in 1937, and glass block used in construction all over America are still built there. Today you can still find people enjoying the outdoors in the settlement first known as Canoe Place. Tourism is a big part of the town's economy, with visitors enjoying canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The celebration of Port Allegany's anniversary will kick off Sunday and run through June 18 with plenty of activities, including an ice cream social, Pioneers Day picnic, a car cruise, and wagon rides. Honoring Former Oil City Police Officer Stanley Fedorek

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the students and staff at the DuBois Area Middle School on being named a Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn School to Watch. This is the 12th consecutive year that the middle school has earned this distinction, one of only two middle schools in the State to do so. The Schools to Watch program was started in 1999 as a national program to identify exceptional middle schools across the country. As part of the program, State teams observe classrooms; interview administrators, teachers, parents, and students; and look at achievement data, suspension rates, quality of lessons, and student work. DuBois Area Middle School will be formally recognized at an event coming up on June 25 in Arlington at the national Schools to Watch Conference. Maintaining this level of excellence over more than a decade is hard work. I have the highest respect for the students, the staff, and the administration at the DuBois Area Middle School. I wish them the best of success in the future.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the tragic loss and in memory of 19-year-old Coy Lutz, a young man from my hometown of Howard, Pennsylvania, who was killed in a New Jersey rodeo accident. Coy was a four-time national qualifier and a two-time Pennsylvania State champion in High School Rodeo Associations. He was also a 2015 graduate of the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology. He continued his education at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he was majoring in criminal justice. At the University of Tennessee, Coy was also pursuing his passion for rodeo. Following his death, the university's rodeo coach, John Luthi, said, ``Even though he was only here for 1 year, his impact will always be felt here at UT Martin. He was a super human being who always took care of his business. It's hard to imagine why something like this had to happen, but we have faith that God is in control.'' My thoughts and prayers remain with the Lutz family, including Coy's parents, Doug and Sabine, along with his sisters, Melanie and Laura.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of National Mental Health Month, which is being observed during the month of May. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, approximately one in five adults in the United States, or more than 43 million people, experience mental illness in any given year. Mental illness is responsible for lost earnings of nearly $200 billion each year. In addition, mood disorders, including major depression and bipolar disorder, are the third most common cause of hospitalization in the United States for both youth and adults between the age of 18 and 44 years old. National Mental Health Month was created to draw awareness to these conditions and attention to the efforts to help those who are suffering. As someone with a background in the mental health care industry, including 28 years as a therapist, a rehabilitation services manager, and a licensed nursing home administrator, this is something that is very important to me. I signed on as a cosponsor to the resolution declaring May as Mental Health Month and remain committed to helping improve, through legislation here in Congress, the mental health of people all across this Nation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Raymond Graeca, who will retire next month as CEO of Penn Highlands Healthcare, which includes several hospitals in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, including in DuBois, Brookville, Clearfield, and St. Marys. Raymond is a native of Erie and graduated with a degree in accounting from Gannon University. He is also a veteran and completed a tour of duty with the United States Army before earning a master's degree in health service administration from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1973. After graduation, Raymond entered the field of health care and did not look back. He worked at hospitals in Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas before returning to Pennsylvania in 1979 to become president of the Corry Memorial Hospital in Corry, Pennsylvania, also located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. Ray came to DuBois in 1990 as president of the DuBois Regional Medical Center. He is credited as being part of a group which started the Free Medical Clinic of DuBois in 1998, and has served on a number of statewide boards, including the Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania chapter of the VHA. In 1998, he was named the Distinguished Citizen of the Year in DuBois. In 2011, he was instrumental in the creation of Penn Highlands Healthcare, bringing together hospitals across the DuBois region, including the DuBois Regional Medical Center, Clearfield Hospital, Brookville Hospital, and later, the Elk Regional Medical Center. The system covers eight counties, employs more than 3,600 people, including 360 physicians. Raymond Graeca's retirement caps a more than 40-year career in healthcare services and hospital administration. I congratulate him on all of his hard work, and wish him the best of luck in retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome Donald Robinson to Capitol Hill as part of the Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Program. This program is a part of Foster Care Month across the Nation. This recognition was created more than 25 years ago to bring the issue of foster care to the forefront, highlighting the importance of permanency for every child. Having a brother who joined my family through foster care 46 years ago, foster care is important to me. As for Donald, he entered foster care in Pennsylvania at the age of 14, experiencing six placements. Despite attending multiple schools, he was able to complete his education and enroll in college after aging out of foster care. I am proud to say that Donald recently graduated with his master's degree in exercise science from the University of Texas. He plans to create an international sport performance training and consultancy business, and would eventually like to open a charter school. Mr. Speaker, I am so happy to see someone with Donald's background working to give back to our Nation's children. I look forward to spending time with him today and to learn more about his story. Recognizing the Retirement of Raymond Graeca

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, my congressional office in Titusville Pennsylvania, participated in a bridge naming service for Lieutenant Colonel Michael McLaughlin of Tionesta, Forest County, located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. Thanks to the efforts of State Representative Kathy Rapp, the bridge was renamed the Lt. Col. Michael McLaughlin/AMVETS Post 113 Memorial Bridge. Lieutenant Colonel Michael McLaughlin was actually born in Germany, but raised in Forest County. He graduated from the West Forest High School in Tionesta, and later attended Clarion University. It was there he became an ROTC cadet, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1982. Starting his military career in the Army Reserves, Lieutenant Colonel McLaughlin went on to earn a master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and later became the president of his own company in Mercer, Pennsylvania, all while serving in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Throughout his service, he was highly honored, earning many ribbons and medals throughout his 26 years of service. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Colonel Michael McLaughlin was killed in the line of duty on January 5, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq, as the result of a suicide bomber. He was just 44 years old, and left behind his wife and two daughters. McLaughlin was honored posthumously with the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Badge. He was the first field grade officer of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard to die in action since World War II. I was proud to see members of Lieutenant Colonel Michael McLaughlin's community come together to honor him with this bridge naming. It is so fitting that it came in May, the same month as Memorial Day, when we honor the men and women who lost their lives in service to our great Nation. I am the proud father of an Army soldier. America's servicemen and - women are very important to me. With Memorial Day coming up on Monday, I want to not only recognize the sacrifice of men and women such as Lieutenant Colonel McLaughlin who have given the ultimate sacrifice, but all of the members of our Armed Forces serving across the globe and all of our Nation's veterans.