Paul Tonko

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, does the gentleman from Pennsylvania have any further speakers?

Mr. TONKO. I reserve my time.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, does the gentleman from Pennsylvania have any further speakers?

Mr. TONKO. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the goals and ideals of the Intermediate Space Challenge in Mojave, California. The Intermediate Space Challenge Program captures children's imaginations as it relates to science, math, space, and experimental learning. The competition began in response to the Ansari X Prize manned spaceflight contest in 2004, won by Mojave's own SpaceShipOne in 2004. In twin flights from the Mojave Air and Space Port, the spacecraft designed by Burt Rutan took pilots Mike Melvill and Brian Binnie to space and back, claiming a $10 million prize. Marie Walker originally founded the Intermediate Space Challenge. She coordinated with Stu Witt, Mojave Airport's general manager, and they planned the first challenge in 2004. It has been a great success in the Mojave community. Now in its fifth year, students look forward to the annual competition, with younger students anticipating the time when they are old enough to participate. The Intermediate Space Challenge hosts a student rocket launch competition, where fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade students compete to build a model rocket that reaches the highest point during launches. Points are awarded on rocket altitude, color, marketing strategy, and spirit. In some cases, the handmade rockets reach up to 600 before parachuting downward. Individual awards are given in each category, with the overall winner announced at the end of the event. The challenge allows students to work in teams, create a team banner, craft an essay, and develop their small rocket. During the events, many of the students get a chance to view professional rockets and hear how they operate. The Intermediate Space Challenge fosters great interest in science, in technology, in engineering, and in math among these students and certainly is expected to serve to develop the next great aerospace adventurer of our time. Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for this resolution, and I want to thank Representative McCarthy for bringing this resolution forward. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 411 into the Record.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 411) supporting the goals and ideals of the Intermediate Space Challenge in Mojave, California.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, if there is a common thread woven through the fabric of volunteers across this great country of ours, it's a sense of positive, a positive spirit, a positive attitude, positive energy going forward and building stronger communities, enhancing the quality of life of American citizens. Their deeds speak to our needs. So to focus effectively and most positively on the subject at hand, bringing us to House Resolution 453, I will close with my comments focused in great respect for the volunteers of this country, the spirit of this House resolution. I would suggest that they are that muscle of America. They make a total difference. They enhance the quality of life of each and every American, and the recognition of our volunteers through AmeriCorps, the spirit of House Resolution 453, should be recognized and responded to by our colleagues. I would encourage a ``yes'' vote on the resolution.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TONKO. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the substantial contributions that AmeriCorps has made towards national and community service. AmeriCorps began in 1994 as an effort to engage Americans in the ethic of service and volunteerism. The organization launched following the establishment of the Corporation for National and Community Service under the National and Community Service Trust Act. The initial class of 20,000 volunteers established an immediate tradition of assisting communities across the country. This tradition involves improving the lives of the Nation's most vulnerable citizens, protecting the environment, contributing to public safety, responding to disasters, and strengthening our educational system. We recognize the real impact that AmeriCorps has and continues to have on our Nation's communities. Since 1994, more than 570,000 individuals have served with the organization. These individuals have tackled some of the Nation's toughest issues, including illiteracy, gang violence, homelessness, and drug abuse. They have worked with thousands of organizations ranging from Habitat for Humanity to the Red Cross. After their terms of service, these members remain engaged in their communities as volunteers, as teachers, and as nonprofit professionals at disproportionately high levels. In my district, in the capital region of New York State, we have a large AmeriCorps program with the Self Advocacy Association of New York. The AmeriCorps members, all with developmental disabilities, travel around the State, giving presentations--promoting the importance of self-advocacy for people with disabilities, the general awareness of disability-related issues and the importance of full community inclusion of people with disabilities. This is important work, and I am so pleased we have these volunteers back home in my congressional district. We realize that, as this current economic downturn puts millions of Americans at risk, the need for volunteers and national service will be more important than ever. The recently signed Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act expands the AmeriCorps program to incorporate some 250,000 volunteers each year. It is important to recognize the commitment of these volunteers so that future generations will continue to support the ideal of national service. The strength of our Nation depends upon individuals who take action towards building better communities. We observed AmeriCorps Week May 9 through May 16. AmeriCorps Week provides current volunteers, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends with the opportunity to highlight the important work done by this great organization. It is a chance for us to thank those individuals whose service to society cannot be fully measured. It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to motivate future individuals to pursue the ethic of service, whether in organizations such as AmeriCorps or in the various other service opportunities that exist in our Nation. The ethic of service is a manifestation of the greater ideal of democracy. The AmeriCorps pledge begins: ``I will get things done for America to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.'' It is important that we recognize that service is a civic duty. Not only do we express gratitude for service, but we express gratitude through service. When we acknowledge the significant accomplishments of AmeriCorps as an organization, we affirm the importance of service as a necessary component of any democracy. Mr. Speaker, I encourage everyone to take a moment to appreciate the contributions made by AmeriCorps. These volunteers are the muscle of America, and they deserve this recognition. I want to thank Representative Matsui for bringing this resolution to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 453) recognizing the significant accomplishments of the AmeriCorps and encouraging all citizens to join in a national effort to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni, and raise awareness about the importance of national and community service.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, routinely, this Chamber is visited by many young people, by many groups of young people, reminding us that we are in need of promoting and of advancing sound and principled ideas and policies that will be inherited by them, by their generation. They will inherit the good and the bad works that we do, and they will count on us for finding sound and reasonable solutions. That being said, I believe it's very important for us to advance the opportunity for them to have a sounder environment. They have the right to breathe cleaner air. We have within our grasp the opportunity to reduce that carbon footprint. We have the opportunity to go forward and to cut this pattern of advancing $475 billion annually to foreign economies for fossil-based fuels. We can do better with green solutions, and we can advance House Resolution 503, which allows for us to promote physical education and sports, which will advance the general health and well-being of our students and which will give them stronger academic performance. I strongly urge our colleagues to support House Resolution 503. I encourage them to vote ``yes'' on Representative Altmire's resolution.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, does the gentleman from Pennsylvania have any further speakers?

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 1380 into the Record.

Mr. TONKO. I yield myself, Mr. Speaker, such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1380, the Josh Miller HEARTS Act. This is a bill that my colleague and friend from the neighboring State of Ohio has introduced that will save countless lives at a relatively low cost to taxpayers. According to the American Heart Association, more than 200,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest each year. Even more disturbing is the fact that 50,000 of these deaths could have been prevented with the use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED. AEDs are portable devices used to restart the heart after sudden cardiac arrest. Studies have shown that these devices, which are required in Federal buildings and on airplanes, can be safely used by anyone, including children. Defibrillators talk the user through the lifesaving process and do not deliver a shock unless the heartbeat analyzed by the machine is in need of it. Prompt response to a patient experiencing cardiac arrest is imperative, and waiting for EMS to arrive can be indeed fatal. Utilizing CPR techniques and administering an AED can more than double the victim's chances of surviving. A defibrillator shock is the most effective treatment for sudden cardiac arrest, and heart experts at Johns Hopkins University believe over 500 lives can be saved annually with the widespread placement of AEDs. The legislation put forward today will go a long way towards saving lives in our Nation's schools. This bill establishes a grant program to place lifesaving defibrillators in every elementary and secondary school that chooses to participate in the program. Additionally, the law would require recipients of these grants to train school staff in AED and CPR practices, coordinate with local paramedics, and integrate AEDs into existing medical emergency response plans. These provisions will save the lives of students, of teachers, of parents, staff and community members in our American schools. On any given day as much as 20 percent of the community's population passes through its schools, and it is our duty to ensure that these are safe places for our children to learn and for the community members to interact. Since schools are natural meeting places for the public, this bill can save the lives of countless children, teachers, parents and others. Similar legislation passed the House last year; and some States, such as Ohio and New York, are taking a leadership role in making an important difference. As a response to the tragic death of 15-year-old Josh Miller, Ohio instituted a program to place AEDs in schools. Since the inception of the program in 2005, 13 lives have been saved by defibrillators. Similarly, the New York program, in honor of 14-year-old Louis Acompora, has saved 38 lives since 2002. I want to thank families like those of the Millers and the Acomporas whose hard work has brought national attention to this important issue. They have worked through their grief and, fueled by the tragic loss of a child, have toiled tirelessly to keep other parents from experiencing a similar loss. With passage of this bill, Congress has the opportunity to join these families and prevent future tragedies. Encouraging results and the many lives saved already demonstrates why we must pass this legislation. By putting in place preventative measures like those offered in this bill, we can save more lives. Mr. Speaker, once again I express my support for H.R. 1380, and I thank Representative Sutton for her dedication to this cause. I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution sponsored by the Member of our House, Representative Sutton. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Sutton) whose thoughtful resolution is before the House for as much time as she may consume.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth) for 3 minutes.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, to the point of H.R. 1380, we have heard of the wisdom of making available defibrillators throughout the schools of our great country. It's a natural fit because of the clustering that takes place each and every school day where the need may arise. Obviously a preventative sort of plan like this will help with saving lives and certainly will honor the memory of Josh Miller and Louis Acompora in that hopefully they will not have died in vain, that a measure like this can bring us to a sound bit of policy. For all those reasons, I would strongly urge our House to support H.R. 1380 and commend Representative Sutton for her outstanding leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. 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. TONKO. I yield back my time.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, it is most obvious that Coach Summitt and the Lady Vols have set basketball history with more than five times the number of wins in relation to the number of losses. And while they have excelled on the basketball court, it is important to note that they have also excelled in the classroom. And so for those records, both athletically and academically, and for the great career to date of Coach Summitt, we acknowledge that this is a very worthy resolution and that H. Res. 196 should be supported in the House, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. TONKO. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Tennessee's women's basketball team and Head Coach Pat Summitt on winning her 1,000th NCAA basketball game. On February 5, 2009, basketball fans witnessed Head Coach Pat Summitt lead her Lady Volunteers to her 1,000th basketball victory. The University of Tennessee easily defeated the University of Georgia 73- 43. This 30-point victory over Georgia not only reflects the Lady Vols' dominance but this victory reflects another milestone in the great Coach Summitt's illustrious career. Pat Summitt started coaching at the age of 22 and recorded her first win for the Lady Vols on January 10, 1975. From the moment she started coaching, she excelled in every facet of the game. During her tenure, the Lady Vols have won eight NCAA titles, as well as 27 Southeastern Conference tournament and regular season championships. Tennessee has made an unprecedented 27 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Sweet 16 and produced 12 Olympians, 19 Kodak All-Americans named to 33 teams, and 71 All-SEC performers. Her 1,000- 188 lifetime record leaves basketball fans in complete awe. She has collected more wins than any other NCAA collegiate basketball program, men's or women's. Coach Summitt garnered a multitude of awards. The NCAA recognized her great success by awarding Summitt with seven Southeastern Coach of the Year awards and seven NCAA Coach of the Year awards. Coach Summitt and the Lady Volunteers have left a legacy of greatness that will certainly place them in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Along with her success on the court, Summitt's student athletes have had tremendous productivity in the classroom. Coach Summitt has a 100 percent graduation rate for all Lady Vols who have completed their eligibility at Tennessee. She still considers the academic success of her athletes as one of her greatest accomplishments. While Coach Summitt and the Lady Vols produced remarkable success, congratulations also go to the assistant coaches, the fans, the alumni, and students for their unyielding support and contributions. Once again, I congratulate Coach Summitt and the Lady Vols for their unprecedented success. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Duncan for bringing this resolution forward, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, obviously the literacy issue is one of great significance to all age demographics out there. However, if we can create a program such as Toys for Tots whereby we combat illiteracy and raise awareness of the importance of literacy and allow for us to conquer poverty at the same time, we can accomplish many, many good things in the lives of children. I thank Representative Graves for having introduced House Resolution 232. Again, I strongly encourage our colleagues to support the measure before the House.