Glenn Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend several school districts in the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District for their work in helping promote healthy lifestyles for their students, staff, and residents. In 2015, more than 2,200 people participated in the Nutrition Habit Challenge, which was established 3 years ago by One on One Fitness, a local fitness consulting company, in order to inspire people across the county to make better choices for their diet and exercise habits. Each year, the winning school district is picked based on the number of successful participants divided by the district's total number of students. Those who participate must commit to changing a nutritional behavior over the course of 1 month. This year, the Bald Eagle Area School District, my alma mater, won $500 through the competition. District officials say families participating in the challenge cut soda from their diets and increased consumption of water, while others packed salad for lunch instead of opting for fast food. I commend the students, the staff, and residents of all Centre County's school districts for participating in this unique challenge.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, or the PFBC, on their 150th anniversary. The PFBC was founded on March 30, 1866, following a convention in Harrisburg that was held to investigate water pollution caused by the effect logging in the Commonwealth was having on mountain lakes and streams. The discussion at that meeting prompted the current Governor, Andrew Curtin, to sign a law naming James Worrall as the State's first Commissioner of Fisheries, creating what would become the Nation's second oldest fish or wildlife agency. Since its founding 150 years ago, the PFBC has grown to employ more than 400 people and operates on an annual budget of nearly $60 million funded by anglers and boaters through license and registration fees, among other methods. The PFBC is responsible for policing 86,000 miles of Pennsylvania streams, nearly 4,000 lakes, more than 60 miles of Lake Erie's shoreline, and around 400,000 acres of wetlands. As an avid fisherman, I am proud of the work done by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission in keeping our lakes and streams healthy.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate several students from Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District on their appointments as delegates to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders. These students will be delegates to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders to be held later this year in Massachusetts. The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or are going into a field devoted to medical research. Each of these students was nominated by their teachers and has demonstrated tremendous academic success. Many who attend the Congress will receive full academic scholarships as they look toward completing university courses. The six students selected to attend the Congress of Future Medical Leaders represent many communities in the Fifth Congressional District. Those chosen include: Courtney Craft from Bradford Area High School, Aubrey Feinour from Penns Valley High School, Kendra Gadley from West Forest Secondary School, Bella Huber from Central Mountain High School, Needhi Sharma from State College High School, and Laiken Turner from Mt. Union High School. I wish these students the best of success at the Congress in June and as their academic careers progress and continue.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Pennsylvania's Wildfire Prevention Week, which will be observed through this Saturday. As chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry and the Representative of Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, which includes the Allegheny National Forest, I know how quickly simple brush fires can get out of control at this time of the year, often devastating acres of forest. In Pennsylvania, it is estimated that nearly 7,000 acres of State and private land are burned each year. Additionally, nearly all brush fires, an estimated 85 percent, occur in the months of March, April, and May. Because of the prevalence of fires at this time of the year, I also want to praise the efforts of our fire departments across the Commonwealth. These men and women, the vast majority of whom are volunteers, volunteer their time and service to their communities and often put their lives on the line to save property and homes impacted by fires which grow out of control. Nearly all wildfires are caused by human activity, which is why it is so important that we continue to educate the public on commonsense ways to stop them before they start.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of World Down Syndrome Day, which seeks to draw awareness to Down syndrome and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and our communities. All of us know someone who lives with Down syndrome, and we know that in spite of some extra challenges, they live full and robust lives surrounded by family and friends. In order to provide those living with Down syndrome and other disabilities the best start possible, I was happy to cosponsor, along with a majority of my colleagues in the House, the Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE, Act, which was signed into law in 2014. This law empowers people with disabilities and their families to create a flexible account to help save for medical and dental care, education, community-based employment, community-based support, training, housing, and transportation. My office participates in the Congressional Internship Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. This program, which is a partnership with George Mason University's Mason LIFE program, gives students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to gain congressional work experience. We have welcomed several bright young men and women who have made significant contributions to our office, and I am proud to participate in this vital program.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, I rise today to commend the efforts of students at Penn State University in their efforts to set up a student- run farm in State College, Pennsylvania, located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. Mr. Speaker, the university's Student Farm Club has been working toward securing ground for this farm for the past couple years, finally obtaining an acre of space at a meeting in January. The farm will operate as a laboratory where students will have the chance to study food production as well as distribution and marketing. Food grown there will be delivered to the community through student- run, community-supported agriculture, which connects consumers with growers. Now, I know that this is just the beginning for Penn State's Student Farm Club, as they hope the student-run farm will expand in years to come. Agriculture is the number one industry in my State, and it is key to Penn State University's past, present, and future. I wish these students the best of luck in this endeavor.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Penn State University, which is located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, on receiving a nearly $18 million grant from the National Science Foundation. These grant funds will be used over the next 5 years and will be dedicated to the growth of two-dimensional crystals in order to research how they can be used in next-generation electronics. This is very technical work which, at times, involves the use of materials only a few atoms thick. Eventually, this research is expected to play a significant role in the development of electronics which are faster, use less energy, and can be built on flexible surfaces. This grant for Penn State's Materials Research Institute was only one of two in the Nation awarded by the National Science Foundation. I am proud to see such groundbreaking research happening at Penn State. It stands as proof of the university's leadership in this area of research, along with a testament to the skills of its faculty. I know this funding will be put to great use.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to laud the efforts of a student organization at Penn State University, located in the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District. These students are participating, Mr. Speaker, in a nationwide competition called Up to Us. The goal is raising awareness of the national debt and the impact it will have on the leaders of tomorrow and generations to come, especially in terms of their future economic opportunities. The winning team will be recognized later this year and will receive $10,000. The national debt isn't something you often hear much about from men and women in their late teens and early twenties, which is why I was so impressed by this. These are signatures of more than 1,500 students seeking to raise awareness among the men and women who represent them in such places as the United States House of Representatives and the Senate. I was happy to share some of the work we have done over the past few years in lowering the debt and pledge to continue that effort. Spending has been reduced to historic levels under the Republican-led Congress. These fiscally responsible reductions are greater than those achieved under President Reagan and greater than those under former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. This has been a challenge, given that before Republicans took charge of the House, total spending to gross domestic production had skyrocketed from 21 to 24 percent. Discretionary spending alone went from 7 percent to 10 percent. We were drowning in debt. One of the first measures in restoring financial common sense advanced by Republicans was the Budget Control Act that decreased government spending by more than $2 trillion over 10 years. By flexing the power of the purse, the Republican-led House reduced spending from 9.1 to 6.5 percent of gross domestic product. The second significant and successful debt reduction measure came in the form of the Ryan-Murray deal. This extended the Budget Control Act savings an additional 2 years. Newly hired Federal employees are now required to contribute more to pension plans, and taxpayers contribute less. The spending reductions that were impacting mandatory spending for the first time resulted in faster and greater debt reduction. The very first meaningful entitlement reform that provided even greater debt reduction came from the Republican-led Medicare reform legislation that has been enacted, known as the doc fix. Now, while this legislation provided a permanent patch of the Medicare outpatient payment system, securing access to care, health care for America's older adults, the reforms are estimated to save $2.9 trillion over 10 years in Medicare's unfunded liabilities. This leadership reduced the debt and supported the Medicare program's sustainability. While the Republican-led Congress has taken action on debt reduction, much work remains. Raising awareness of the threats that debt creates for fiscal health, individual opportunity, upward mobility, and national security is a critical step. I want to say thank you to the students at Penn State University who are involved in leading the Up to Us project for their work in this effort. I wish them the best of luck as they continue to work to bring attention to this very important issue. I look forward to working with them as we continue to work at eliminating the debt that threatens their future and the future of our Nation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team on earning its fifth Big Ten wrestling title in the past 6 years. The Lions scored 150.5 points to win the title over Iowa earlier this month, which was just one-half point shy of its school record. Beyond the title itself, Penn State wrestler Zain Retherford was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year, and Jason Nolf won the conference's Freshman of the Year award. Penn State coach Cael Sanderson was also named Coach of the Year. With a Big Ten title on the books, the focus shifts this week to the NCAA National Championships in New York City. Nine members of the team will compete for the university's fifth national title in 6 years, mirroring their Big Ten success. I wish these young men the best of luck as they compete in New York City this week, and I congratulate them on their achievement in securing the Big Ten title.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dina Kim, a senior at State College Area High School, located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, on earning the national President's Volunteer Service Award. This award honors people across the Nation who have volunteered 100 hours per year or more in service to their communities. Dina has worked for years as a translator for Compassion Korea and was a former volunteer in Malaysia, helping to teach English to refugee students. Dina started volunteering with Compassion Korea when she was in fifth grade. The organization allows people from around the world to sponsor a child in need from another country. Dina works to translate letters from children to their sponsor families in Korean. Dina Kim estimates that she has accumulated 600 hours of volunteer service both in State College, her former home in Texas, and in Malaysia. She will graduate this year and plans to attend college, majoring in linguistics. She is an example of the great contributions young people can bring to the communities we serve. I congratulate Dina on this award and wish her the best of luck in the future.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 109, I was absent during the roll call on final passage of H.R. 4557 because I was meeting with constituents from Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YES.''

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Pennsylvania State Floor Hockey Tournament at Bald Eagle High School, located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. This Special Olympics tournament is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday. Each year more than 300 Special Olympians and more than 100 coaches from across Pennsylvania compete in this event, which includes teams from a large number of the Commonwealth's counties. I congratulate the athletes participating in this week's tournament in advance for their hard work and perseverance, rising above the challenges to excel in athletics. I look forward to seeing them in person at Bald Eagle High School this weekend. I also commend Special Olympics of Pennsylvania for its work in planning this annual event. Mr. Speaker, the Thompson family has a special connection to these games. My younger son, Kale, who is now a music teacher, was the first student director when the floor hockey tournament moved to the Bald Eagle Area site. Along with the annual floor hockey tournament, Special Olympics holds its summer games each year at Penn State University in State College. This is a great organization which helps so many people across Pennsylvania and our Nation.

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.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Miller-Raffaele VFW Post 6221 in Emporium, Cameron County, located in the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District. The post is named after two sets of brothers who answered the call to defend the United States of America in World War II, Jack and Harry Miller, along with Sam and Frank Raffaele. Jack and Harry were killed within 1 month of each other in 1944. Sadly, Sam and Frank also made the ultimate sacrifice on the same day, yet miles apart from one another, also in 1944. After the war ended, the community welcomed back the surviving men and women who formed the Miller-Raffaele Post 6221, which was officially opened on March 5, 1946. Mr. Speaker, we owe so much to the members of our Nation's Armed Forces, and especially to those members of the Greatest Generation who traveled to places such as Europe and Asia to fight tyranny. I am proud to salute the members of the Emporium VFW on this important anniversary, and I wish them the best of success in the future.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I have the deepest respect for the law enforcement men and women who are tasked with protecting the communities of Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. It is with deep respect that I congratulate Titusville Police Chief Gary Thomas on his upcoming retirement. Chief Thomas has served his community for nearly 26 years, after being hired as a patrolman in 1990. He is credited with helping fight back against a rise in methamphetamine production in Titusville, which spread through northeastern Pennsylvania, starting in the late 1990s. He worked together with State police and the State Attorney General's Office to crack down on this plague. More importantly, he enlisted the help of the Titusville community to fight back. After being promoted to police chief in 2009, he continued the battle against drugs--this time, against bath salts and synthetic marijuana-- educating the public on what to look for. The effort got results in the form of tips from the community, which helped cut down on abuse. Chief Thomas' last day on the job is March 4. I wish him the best of luck in retirement, and I commend him for a job well done.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Grace Preston, a sixth-grader from the Brockway Area Elementary School, which I am proud to say is located in the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District. Grace was recently among two students in Pennsylvania to be honored with a Prudential Spirit of Community Award. This award is given to young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Grace has raised more than $4,000 in the past 3 years to improve the lives of animals in her community. She has done this through the sale of homemade dog treats, cat toys, and flea and tick repellent. She became interested in helping animals after her family adopted a dog from a local shelter. Now, through her efforts, Grace has raised enough money to enable the local Humane Society to purchase a storage shed, as well as other supplies such as rabies gloves. She has also provided animal oxygen mask kits to a local fire department for pets that are caught in fires, helped pay for a shelter dog's recent surgery, and collected animal food for the pets of needy families. Mr. Speaker, it is wonderful to see such dedication to community from someone so young. Great work, Grace.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the Greenfield Volunteer Fire Department stationed in Erie County, which has been named Pennsylvania's EMS Agency of the Year. I am proud to have these dedicated volunteers stationed in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. Just 2 years ago, their department only had two active volunteers, two active members. Now they have a team of 25, with an additional 2 junior members. Responders say 70 percent of their calls are for emergency services and that their department hasn't missed a call in 2 years. Department officials say that they are overjoyed with the support they have received from both the volunteers and their community. At a time when many volunteer fire departments in my State and across the Nation are shrinking, it is great to see this kind of growth. Mr. Speaker, it is the dedicated men and women, like the volunteers of Greenfield Township, that make our communities across Pennsylvania safe and great places to call home. Well done, Greenfield Volunteer Fire Department.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Penn State Potter County Cooperative Extension, which connects those in the agriculture industry with the tools and the knowledge to build and grow their farms. This landmark anniversary will be celebrated at the Extension's annual Black and White Gala this Saturday, February 27. Agriculture continues to be a major industry in Potter County and has also played a big role in the county's heritage, especially when it comes to potatoes. Potter County is the home of Potato City, which was built in 1949 through the efforts of the Pennsylvania potato growers, packers, and related industries. It was there that Dr. E.L. Nixon, uncle of President Richard Nixon, worked on the development of new types of potatoes for crossbreeding. To this day, the Potato City Country Inn is a tourist destination for people across the Commonwealth. Potatoes from Potter County also continue to be sold across the United States and in many foreign countries. I congratulate the Extension on 100 years of serving local farmers, and I wish them continued success in the future.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, I rise today in recognition of Future Farmers of America, or FAA, Week. Earlier this week, the Nation marked the birthday of our first President, George Washington. Since 1948, the week of Washington's birthday has also been FAA Week due to the President's legacy as an agriculturalist and a farmer. Agriculture is a key to not only the history and heritage of our Nation, but also to Pennsylvania and to our Commonwealth's Fifth Congressional District. It is important that we help the future leaders of this industry continue to grow, ensuring that the future of agriculture is just as bright as its present and past. ``I believe in the future of agriculture'' are the first words from the FFA creed. Earlier this year, I met with FAA members from across Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, where I held a forum focused on agriculture issues. I was impressed with their knowledge of issues currently impacting farming across the Nation and was inspired by their vision for the future. Echoing the words of the FAA creed, I am sure that, with the dedication of FAA members across the Nation, the future of agriculture is in good hands.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Mike Herr on his retirement from the United States Postal Service. For generations of students at Penn State University, Mike is lovingly known as ``Mike the Mailman.'' Mike's first day with the Postal Service was April 1, 1968--48 years to the day of his expected retirement this year. In his nearly five decades of working at the university's main campus in State College, he has formed bonds with countless students and has become a fixture at the school's annual dance marathon, also known as THON--the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. In fact, Mike has become known for delivering Mack Trucks that are full of letters and packages for dancers who are participating in the event. When asked about becoming a Penn State campus institution, Mike said: ``My secret is fairly simple: kindness matters; humor always helps; staying enthusiastic about the big and little things and showing compassion to every single person that I meet.'' Mr. Speaker, these are words that we can all live by, and I wish ``Mike the Mailman'' the best of luck in his retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the annual Penn State Dance Marathon, or ``THON,'' which was held over the past weekend on Pennsylvania State University's main campus in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, raising funds and awareness for the battle against pediatric cancer. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $127 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. Each year, people from across Pennsylvania and even the Nation gather at the Bryce Jordan Center for THON, including Penn State students, university alum, and the parents and the children who have been impacted by childhood cancer. To the organizers of this wonderful event, I want you to know just how proud I am of your efforts. It was just announced that this year's dance marathon raised nearly $9.8 million. I continue to be amazed by the good works of this student-run organization, and I wish them the best of luck in their planning for next year.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, I was honored to host Christa Mereen in Washington. Christa has competed in the Special Olympics as an athlete for 15 years. Recently, more than 300 athletes participated in the winter games in Pennsylvania, with 135 coaches and more than 1,000 volunteers. Pennsylvania's Special Olympics includes many athletes from Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, including Potter County athlete Denise Menderler. Denise is highly accomplished, having earned 110 medals, including many gold honors. Denise gives back to her community as a peer advocate and a Potter County Human Services Advisory Board member. Denise's story is just like so many who participate in the Special Olympics who rise above challenges and excel in sports, from skiing to figure skating, speed skating, and snow shoeing. Mr. Speaker, on March 5 and 6, the skills of our Special Olympians will again be on display at the State Floor Hockey Tournament at Bald Eagle Area High School in my home district. I look forward to seeing them compete in person.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today as co-chair of the bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus to recognize February as National Career and Technical Education Month. Career and technical education programs play a key role in closing our Nation's skill gap by preparing students of all ages for the 21st century workforce and jobs. That is why I was encouraged by the inclusion of career and technical education center provisions in the recently passed Every Student Succeeds Act. Not only does the ESSA provide much-needed flexibility to States and local education agencies, it also encourages businesses to get involved with their local schools. More schools will be able to use Federal funds to provide academic credit for apprenticeships and strengthen their career counseling programs. This was a result of bipartisan legislation I introduced with the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), my colleague and friend, aimed at informing school counselors of local labor market conditions so that they can best guide the decisionmaking process of their students. It is my hope that this and other Federal education policies will provide support to schools, businesses, and community organizations in Pennsylvania's Fifth District and across the country as they work to prepare our students for the future. I look forward to working toward improving and reauthorizing the Perkins Act for career and technical education training.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I joined my colleagues--Representative Mike Kelly from Pennsylvania's Third Congressional District, along with Pennsylvania Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey, Jr.--in sending a letter to the Assistant Secretary of the Army. In that letter, we requested that Presque Isle State Park remain a high-priority project for the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for the fiscal year 2016. Presque Isle State Park is located along 7 miles of Lake Erie's shoreline. The park's beaches require proper care and nourishment every single year to fight their constant erosion. More than 4 million people visit Presque Isle State Park each year, making it Pennsylvania's most visited State park. The park is woven into the social fabric of the region and is a highly important part of northwestern Pennsylvania's economy. It is my hope that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will continue to support replenishment of this vital resource for the Erie region, preserving these beaches for future generations.