Glenn Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Susan Gibson Perry and Sherri Huston Schulze, both recipients of the annual Yellow Dog Award. This award, presented by the Penn Brad Oil Museum in Custer City, Pennsylvania, honors Susan and Sherri's leadership and dedication in preserving the history of the Bradford Oil Field. The Bradford Oil Field was the world's first billion-dollar oilfield, and today, the Penn Brad Oil Museum preserves the philosophy and spirit of the historic oil community. Mr. Speaker, Susan and Sherri have strong ties to the oil industry, each dating back five generations. Susan recalls learning about the oil industry from her father and uncle. In 1995, she began work with the Penn Brad Oil Museum and eventually served as its president from 2003 to 2014. Sherri originally came to the museum for research purposes, but began working at the museum in 2000 and spent 10 years serving the museum in various roles. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate these two outstanding women, and I thank them for their years of dedicated service and contributions to the Pennsylvania oil industry and the Bradford community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Collegiate Athletic Accountability Act introduced by my friend and Penn State fellow alumnus, Congressman Charlie Dent. Mr. Speaker, there is no secret that for years the NCAA has failed when it comes to following their own rules. It has certainly failed when it comes to unduly exerting their perceived powers over college athletics. The bipartisan National Collegiate Athletics Accountability Act will ensure that the NCAA is held to the highest standard possible by providing much-needed accountability and reforms. The NCAA Act would prohibit universities from receiving title IV funds if they participate in athletic associations that do not implement and enforce specific rules related to student athletes' health, safety, education, and due process protections. For far too long, we have seen the NCAA fail to protect the well- being of our student athletes, and this bipartisan legislation is a huge step in the right direction to help fix that. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bipartisan measure.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I teamed up with Congressman Gerry Connolly of Virginia to introduce a resolution to ensure that future trade partners with the United States are active in the recovery efforts of our POWs and MIAs. Mr. Speaker, as the father of an injured Army soldier, I thank God every day that my son returned home safely, and it pains me to know that there are still brave men and women who have not been recovered. This bipartisan resolution makes it clear that we as Americans take the promises we make to our servicemembers and their families very seriously, and we are hopeful that future trade partners will become partners in our ongoing recovery efforts. Mr. Speaker, according to the Department of Defense, more than 80,000 American citizens who served in the Vietnam war, the Korean war, and World War II are still missing in action, and I will not rest until all of our men and women are returned home. These American heroes deserve no less. I strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H. Res. 56.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on June 17, the Huntingdon Post Office, located in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, will be celebrating its 100-year anniversary. The post office, the first established in Huntingdon County, dates back to 1798 during a time when mail was delivered by post riders and stagecoaches. In 1915, to accommodate the growing business needs of Huntingdon, then Pennsylvania Governor Martin Brumbaugh dedicated a building on Washington Street to house the post office, the Internal Revenue Service, and military recruiting offices. Since then, the post office on Washington Street has become a permanent fixture within the growing Juniata River community. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Huntingdon County Post Office and all of its employees on 100 years of dedicated community service.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on June 14, The Titusville Herald newspaper will publish its 150th anniversary edition, and I rise today to congratulate them on a century and a half of countless memories and news reporting. The Titusville Herald was first established in 1865 and was the first daily newspaper in the world's original oil region. For 150 years, The Herald has delivered the latest local and national news to the Titusville community and surrounding areas. Mr. Speaker, I can assure you that, with today's technological advances, it is no small feat for a small newspaper to withstand the test of time. However, with an incredible and dedicated staff, The Titusville Herald has expanded in size, technology, and outreach and continues to be a vital part of the Titusville community. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and congratulating The Herald's staff on reaching this important milestone. I know that they will continue to successfully deliver the news of the oil region to its readers for generations to come. Huntingdon Post Office Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the ranking member for her leadership and support on this bill and, quite frankly, on everything we do as a part of our Subcommittee on Agriculture. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers on this bill. I urge all Members to join me in support of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 2394, the National Forest Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2015. The National Forest Foundation has a simple mission: bring people together to restore and enhance our national forests and grasslands. Through the foundation, we are able to leverage private and Federal dollars to support our Nation's great forests in a variety of ways. These include: planting trees, preserving wildlife habitat, surveying streams, restoring and maintaining trails, and the list goes on. In recent years, the foundation has leveraged funds at over a four to one ratio and plans to continue on this success to raise at least $125 million for forest restoration activities. Since its charter in 1993, the foundation has been essential in helping to meet the challenges the National Forest System faces. Accomplishments include: over 14,000 miles of trail restored or maintained; nearly 4.4 million trees and shrubs planted; more than 500,000 acres of fuel reduction completed or planned; over 120,000 people volunteered more than 1.5 million hours with an estimated value of $34 million; over 46,000 youth employed or engaged; approximately 80,000 acres of invasive weeds treated; over 117,000 acres of wildlife habitat restored or maintained; and more than 3,000 miles of streams surveyed or restored. The foundation has also taken it upon itself to educate and engage the American public on the importance of our national forests as well as the natural resources found within them. It is an integral component in keeping our national forests--such as the Allegheny national forest, in my district, and dozens of other national forests around the country--viable and thriving for years to come. Simply put, the National Forest Foundation works, and this is a commonsense reauthorization. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2394) to reauthorize the National Forest Foundation Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy calls it ``some of the best ice cream I have had outside of my hometown of Bakersfield.'' The majority leader, of course, is referring to the ice cream produced at Penn State University's Berkey Creamery. I am proud to rise today in recognition of the creamery's 150th anniversary. The creamery, located in the Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building on Penn State University's main campus, was first established in 1865. Penn State is home to the largest university creamery in the United States, using more than 4.5 million pounds of milk each year, supporting Pennsylvania's robust dairy industry. To help celebrate their 150th anniversary, the creamery has launched a social media contest, which allows fans to select the special sesquicentennial flavor. Voters have a few days left to choose between birthday cake, strawberry cheesecake, or red velvet. Mr. Speaker, as a proud graduate of Penn State University, I congratulate the Berkey Creamery on 150 years of creating countless memories, and especially the hard-working student employees and the 23 full-time employees that make the operations such a great success.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, right before the Memorial Day holiday, Congressman Tim Ryan of Ohio and I introduced H.R. 2555, the Veteran Wellness Act, a bipartisan bill that will improve Veteran Service Organizations' ability to promote good health among our Nation's veterans. This is critical at a time when an average of 22 veterans take their lives by suicide each and every day. Mr. Speaker, veterans across the country turn to these organizations to participate in a wide variety of programs to build and cultivate a community of support among fellow veterans. These facilities are a place of comfort and familiarity for thousands of men and women and their families. The Veteran Wellness Act will expand upon what these organizations are currently doing and create a greater number of opportunities for veterans to access wellness programs and therapies. Mr. Speaker, it is our responsibility to be there for our Nation's heroes as they begin transitioning back to civilian life. I ask my colleagues to join me and Congressman Ryan in supporting this bipartisan bill. We owe these brave men and women no less.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, with this past week being celebrated and remembering Memorial Day--Memorial Day having just passed--it is important that we continue to remember and honor our fallen soldiers and the new generation of heroes who equally deserve our respect, our gratitude, and the promise of continued support. This is why I recently joined with New York Congressman Charles Rangel to introduce H.R. 2516, the Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation would allow Veterans Affairs health professionals, including contractors, to practice telemedicine across State borders if they are qualified and practice within the scope of their authorized Federal duties. Currently, overly cumbersome location requirements can make it difficult for veterans, especially those struggling with mental health issues, to get the help they need and deserve. Mr. Speaker, under current law, the VA can only waive the State license requirement for treatment if both the physician and the patient are located in a federally owned facility. The Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2015 removes these barriers and allows the VA to provide treatment through physicians free of this restriction. Veterans will no longer be required to travel to a VA facility but, rather, can receive telemedicine treatment from anywhere, including their home or a community center. Mr. Speaker, these brave men and women put so much on the line each and every day in service to our country that when they return home it is our shared duty to be there for these heroes by making lifesaving resources readily available. This legislation will eliminate the multiple layers of bureaucracy, allowing our veterans to have greater access to mental and behavioral health services, especially in rural areas. I rise today and ask my colleagues in both parties to get behind this bipartisan, commonsense legislation. Mr. Speaker, sadly, 22 veterans commit suicide every day. Let's end that crisis.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I recently teamed up with Congressman Joe Courtney of Connecticut to introduce H.R. 2407, the bipartisan School Milk Nutrition Act of 2015. Between 2012 and 2014, schools across the country served 187 million fewer pints of milk, despite an increase in public school enrollment. Mr. Speaker, this is an alarming statistic considering milk is the number one source of nine essential nutrients in young Americans' diets and provides many significant health benefits. The School Milk Nutrition Act, which has the strong support of the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation, seeks to reverse the decline of milk consumption in schools throughout Pennsylvania and across the country. To help achieve this goal, the bill would reaffirm the requirement that milk is offered with each meal and also give schools the option of offering low-fat flavored milk, rather than only fat free. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get behind this legislation and become a cosponsor of the School Milk Nutrition Act of 2015. The Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2015

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, May 29, I will have the privilege of attending a ceremony and play in Warren County, Pennsylvania, titled, ``Beyond Glory,'' which will highlight the stories of eight Medal of Honor recipients in the wars of the 20th century. The theme of the evening is First County of Veterans, recognizing the fact that Warren County, Pennsylvania, has the largest veteran population per capita of any county in Pennsylvania. I am looking forward to celebrating this special evening with local veterans who have sacrificed so much. Mr. Speaker, Memorial Day is right around the corner, and as the proud father of an Army soldier and a daughter-in-law who is now a veteran, it is my privilege to serve our Nation's veterans and my honor to recognize those who have lost their lives in service to our country. Memorial Day for many Americans has become the holiday that marks the start of the summer season, but for the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces, and in doing so gave their lives, we owe them our remembrance and demonstrated appreciation. It is my sincere hope that you will pause this Memorial Day in remembrance of our fallen soldiers, whose courage and bravery sustain our liberty.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate May as National Foster Care Month and welcome many of the foster care youth who are visiting the House of Representatives today. This year's theme is ``Get to Know the Many Faces of Foster Care.'' The goal of this special month is to celebrate the experiences of the more than 400,000 youth in the child welfare system and raise awareness about their needs. Mr. Speaker, the foster care system has and always will hold a special place in my heart. When I was 11 years old, my family welcomed a foster care child, Bob, into our home. Bob, throughout the years, has taught me so much and will be my brother for life. Today I have the honor of being shadowed for the day by Nyeelah Innis of Newnan, Georgia. Nyeelah has been in foster care for 8 years, with her first foster care setting starting when she was 10 years old. Mr. Speaker, in just these few hours, Nyeelah has impressed me with her positive attitude and eagerness to learn about the legislative branch of our Federal Government. I know for certain that this young lady has a very bright future ahead, like so many other youth whom we will see through the Halls of Congress today.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this evening I will have the honor and the privilege of presenting the national Eagle Scout Association's Distinguished Eagle Scout Award to Mr. John Graham, president and CEO of the American Society of Association Executives. The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award was established in 1969 to acknowledge Eagle Scouts who have received extraordinary national-level recognition or eminence within their field and have a strong record of voluntary service to the community. Mr. Speaker, of the over 100 million Scouting alumni over the last century, less than 4 percent attain the rank of Eagle, and of these Eagles, only 1 in 1,000 will be awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout honor. Renowned Distinguished Eagle Scouts include the president of the Boy Scouts of America, Secretary Bob Gates, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, President Gerald Ford, astronaut Neil Armstrong, and director Steven Spielberg. As a fellow Distinguished Eagle Scout, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. John Graham on receiving this prestigious award.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 17-year-old Devin Anderson of Weedville, Pennsylvania, for being named the Pennsylvania American Legion's Eagle Scout of the Year. Devin, who is a member of Kersey Troop 94, first joined the Boy Scouts after learning about them during an assembly in the first grade. Since then, Devin has dedicated himself to church, school, scouting, and community and personifies all that an Eagle Scout should be. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of attending Devin's Eagle Scout ceremony back in November of 2012, and I knew right away, then and there, that this young man had a bright future ahead. Devin now advances to the national level, where he will compete among 56 applicants to earn the coveted National Eagle Scout of the Year award. Like Devin's parents, Joe and Karen Anderson, I am so proud of all of Devin's accomplishments, and I wish him all the best as he competes for this national award.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House passed, with overwhelming bipartisan support, H.R. 1191, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which will allow Congress to review any deal on Iran's nuclear program negotiated by the Obama administration. As the world's leading sponsor of terrorism, a nuclear Iran would not only destabilize the Middle East, but it would have serious repercussions here in America and across the world for generations to come. The United States must stand with Israel, our allies, and do everything in our power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. And this legislation allows Congress to have approval and oversight over any agreement by the administration. Mr. Speaker, President Obama should take a clear message from these overwhelmingly bipartisan votes in both the House and the Senate that, as negotiations move forward, the administration must listen to the American people and their representatives in Congress.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment on behalf of our Nation's servicemembers. This amendment is verbatim to a bill that the gentleman from Ohio, Congressman Tim Ryan, and I introduced earlier this year, H.R. 1465, the Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act of 2015. This amendment will help the military identify behavioral health issues and improve suicide prevention by instituting a mental health assessment for all incoming military recruits. A recent Army study confirmed the need to address mental health issues in a timely manner, finding that ``nearly one in five Army soldiers enter the service with a psychiatric disorder, and nearly half of all soldiers who tried suicide first attempted it before enlisting.'' The amendment is respective of servicemembers' privacy, and the mental evaluation cannot be used in determining promotion. This amendment will simply ensure that we have a better baseline for the mental health of a servicemember during his or her military career. These brave men and women put their lives on the line every day in the service of our Nation, and it is our responsibility to offer everything in our power to guarantee they return home safely, both physically and mentally. This amendment has strong bipartisan support and the support of a large number of military and mental health advocacy groups which understand our troops deserve as much support as we can provide them. Mr. Chairman, 108 of our military took their own lives between October and December of 2014 by suicide. Let's stop this tragedy. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the USA FREEDOM Act, a bipartisan bill to reform the controversial domestic surveillance programs. The passage of this legislation is the result of strong bipartisan negotiations to strike a balance in order to protect American citizens' rights without dealing a blow to lawful and warranted surveillance efforts. Mr. Speaker, Congress did not intend for any law to authorize the indiscriminate collection of personal information from Americans. The USA FREEDOM Act will help end government overreach, while ensuring intelligence agencies have the tools at their disposal to lawfully pursue suspected terrorists in efforts to protect all Americans. As a member of the bipartisan Congressional Privacy Caucus, I applaud the Judiciary Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for working together to write a bill that strikes a balance to protect our constitutional rights without compromising our national security.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which is expected to be voted on later today. This legislation, which is based on substantial scientific evidence, establishes Federal legal protection for unborn children at 20 weeks, with limited exceptions in the case of rape or incest. Mr. Speaker, I believe this to be one of the human rights issues of our day. It has been scientifically proven that the unborn feel pain at 20 weeks and are, in many cases, capable of living outside of the womb. I remain greatly concerned that the United States of America continues to be one of the few countries in the world that allows for abortions this far into pregnancy. This commonsense legislation, which is supported by 60 percent of all Americans, seeks to correct this injustice. I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 36, and I urge my colleagues to join me and vote to protect the lives of the unborn.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last week was National Small Business Week; and, while back in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, I attended a ceremony honoring Jim and Colleen Small for receiving the 2015 Western Pennsylvania District Small Business Persons of the Year Awards. For Jim and Colleen, pursuing a second career as businessowners trumped an early retirement, so they decided to open UPS Store #5642 in State College, Pennsylvania. Like many small-business owners starting out, Jim and Colleen faced challenges, but through community outreach, a dedicated staff, and lots of hard work, the Smalls now run a very successful small business. Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate National Small Business Week than by recognizing two outstanding local small-business leaders. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Small on receiving this well-deserved award, and I thank them for all that they do for our community.

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 support of H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015, introduced by my friend and colleague, Chairman Bill Shuster. Enacted in 1972, the Clean Water Act established a Federal-State partnership to protect our Nation's navigable waterways. The administration has maintained that the proposed Waters of the U.S. rule would have no impact on waters historically not under the Clean Water Act's jurisdiction and is needed simply to provide legal clarity. While I agree that the boundaries of the Clean Water Act need to be better defined in statute, this proposal provides no such clarity or certainty, creating far more problems than it can solve. Conversely, rather than clarifying the law, the rule would actually create more confusion about where the law stops. Back in March, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, which I chair, held its second hearing to review the proposed rule and its impact on rural America. The various witnesses spoke loud and clear that the rule would have far-reaching and unprecedented impacts on permitting costs and regulatory uncertainty for land use activities, such as agriculture and forestry. With the significant challenges already before farmers, ranchers, foresters, and landowners, there is too much on the line to continue down the path of nonsensical overregulation. The Corps of Engineers and the EPA must withdraw this rule, and go back to the drawing board.