Greg Walden

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Chairman, the past several decades have been really hard on Oregon's forested communities as timber harvest from Federal lands dropped more than 90 percent because of, in part, litigation, lack of management, government regulation. Across the State, we have lost more than 300 forest product mills. They have closed. We have lost more than 30,000 forest-related jobs. This has left our communities in really bad shape, nearing bankruptcy in some cases in our counties, high poverty rates in our communities. Unemployment rates are high in these forested areas and, of course, we face, without active management, these enormous forest fires that contribute massively to the carbon buildup. Recently, the BLM released a proposed update to their two-decade, 20- year-old management plan in western Oregon. The vast majority of the forests covered by these plans are what are called O&C lands, which are managed by a very unique Federal statute called the O&C Act. That law calls for sustainable timber production and revenue to local counties. It is different than the other forest laws. Now, despite that clear mandate in Federal law, the BLM's proposal would allow for harvesting on about 22 percent is all, 22 percent of the land base. It would lock up the remainder in various reserves. Oregon's forested counties, some of which have more than 70 percent of their land controlled by the Federal Government, rely on receipts from Federal timber projects to fund basic needs like law enforcement, schools, and other essential services. Unfortunately, under BLM's proposal, these counties would receive an estimated 27 percent is all of their historical average receipt--27 percent. Now, while the BLM's proposed plans fall far short of meeting these communities' needs, it seems the agency is determined to push forward anyway with these plans. In a bipartisan effort, the entire Oregon Congressional Delegation requested a 120-day extension of the comment period so that the counties and other interested parties have time to thoroughly review the more than 1,500 pages of analysis and provide some useful input and comment. Apparently, the BLM isn't interested in that input, since I understand they will be rejecting our request and moving forward with their plan under their current timeline. That is really disappointing. You see, these local communities are most affected by the management changes on the Federal land that surrounds them, and the BLM, I wish, would care more about their input than a self-imposed deadline likely out of some office back here. This amendment would simply delay the BLM's implementation of these proposed plans. That would give more time for our counties and interested parties to thoroughly review the more than 1,500 pages of analysis. It would also give the agency time to consider additional alternatives that better incorporate the clear mandates of the O&C Act. I want to quote, Mr. Chairman, from the Portland Oregonian. This is the statewide newspaper that probably leans a little more to the left. They said: ``Minimally, BLM needs to extend its comment period and develop more alternatives to be considered. But it is unlikely to develop any alternative that would be acceptable to the industry, counties and environmental advocates. Congress, not a government agency, needs to step up and help solve this long-festering problem.'' Mr. Chairman, with Oregon's wildfire season well off to a terrible start, we need time to review these plans, get active management on these forestlands, and by passing this amendment, we will give the taxpayers, the people who live there, a better opportunity to weigh in. So I urge support. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the chairman of the committee.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to a dear friend of mine who passed away on March 17th of this year. I first met Gertie Webb when her oldest daughter and I worked for former Congressman Denny Smith of Oregon. Subsequently, I developed my long lasting friendship with Gertie when she worked for me while I served as the Oregon House Majority Leader. Gertie was the youngest of nine children--five brothers and four sisters. Their father was a laborer while their mother tended to the needs of the family and the house. Gertie came along shortly before the onset of the Depression and was old enough to watch her brothers leave the home to serve in World War II. While those were challenging years for an entire generation, those were also the defining years of Gertie Webb's life. During her childhood years, Gertie was expected to perform her fair share of the chores around the house. By age 13, she was driving the family car to the store to purchase the groceries. When she returned from her babysitting jobs, she would place much of her money in the family jar. It wasn't until she was ready to enroll in high school that her mother returned most of the money so Gertie could attend St. Mary's Academy in Portland, Oregon. Those were tough times, but whenever Gertie spoke of her youth, there always seemed to be a positive message in what she said. In 1953, Gertie married Charles Webb in Portland, Oregon where they resided until 1964. With their three young children--Sue, Jan and Bill--they then moved to Salem where Gertie lived for almost 50 years. Charles passed away in 1982 and shortly after their college years, the kids scattered in different directions. That is when Gertie returned to the working world, including jobs with Congressman Denny Smith and at the Oregon legislature. My last visit with Gertie took place at a nursing home where she lived her final three years. These were not sad years but years filled with many friendships and positive memories. She was an active resident, always offering assistance in organizing field trips, social events and other activities for her fellow residents. She would start out every morning in the chapel attending daily religious services. Gertie's faith was the bedrock of who she was. Not one to wear it on her sleeve, Gertie instead manifested her faith through her actions towards others. A good listener, she had a particular interest in the concerns and needs of the less fortunate. When she would say that she would offer her prayers for someone suffering from a hardship, she truly meant it. And then there is Gertie Webb, the sports guru. Mr. Speaker, this woman knew sports better than anyone I've ever known. Football. Baseball. Basketball. Golf. It didn't matter what sport, Gertie could tell you what teams were ahead in the standings or what golfer had the best shot at winning the U.S. Open. I was told that some of the nursing home staff would frequently visit Gertie's room for a rundown on the scores. Her favorite team was Notre Dame. Few things caused her as much stress as the Irish facing defeat. Rather than watching the final outcome, she would turn off the TV and rely on one of her children or a close friend to give her the final score. Gertie leaves behind many family members and friends. I offer my condolences to Sue, Jan and Bill following the death of their mother. Someday, we will all face the same fate as Gertie. When my day comes, I can only hope to be as willing to accept the journey as my friend Gertie. Her faith carried her through a remarkable 85-year journey and I am so thankful that I was able to encounter her during her journey. She was a dear friend to many, and a loving and caring mother of three and grandmother of five.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 26 World War II veterans from Oregon who will be visiting their memorial this Saturday in Washington, D.C. through Honor Flight of Oregon. On behalf of a grateful state and country, we welcome these heroes to our nation's capital. The veterans on this flight from Oregon are: Howard L. Huffman, Army; John Kincaid, Army; Thomas D. Lloyd Sr., Army; Richard P. Swanson, Army; Harold Von Werner, Army; Alfred Willstatter, Army; Wallace Wilson, Army; Albert J. Bochsler, Army Air Force; Lincoln G. Ekman, Army Air Force; Douglas I. Ernst, Army Air Force; Ernest L. Henderson, Army Air Force; Richard I. Kuehl, Army Air Force; Leonard E. Lonigan, Army Air Force; William D. McDonald, Army Air Force; Richard A. Wright; Army Air Force; Edwin H. Bietshek, Merchant Marines; Walter F. Behrle, Navy; Gerald J. Bowerly, Navy; Darrell D. Ervin, Navy; Otis E. Huskey, Navy; William E. Kelly, Navy; Nathan D. Laster, Navy; Clyde C. Martin, Navy; Paul W. Morgan, Navy; Wayne E. Sparks, Navy; and David G. Wienecke, Navy. These 26 heroes join more than 138,000 veterans from across the country who, since 2005, have journeyed from their home states to Washington, D.C. to reflect at the memorials built in honor of our nation's veterans. Mr. Speaker, each of us is humbled by the courage of these brave Americans who put themselves in harm's way for our country and way of life. As a nation, we can never fully repay the debt of gratitude owed to them for their honor, commitment, and sacrifice in defense of the freedoms we have today. My colleagues, please join me in thanking these veterans and the volunteers of Honor Flight of Oregon for their exemplary dedication and service to this great country. I especially want to recognize and thank Gail Yakopatz for her tireless work as president of Southern Oregon Honor Flight.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 48 World War II veterans from Oregon who will be visiting their memorial this Friday in Washington, D.C. through Bend Heroes Foundation. On behalf of a grateful state and country, we welcome these heroes to our nation's capital. The veterans on this flight from Oregon are: Joe DeMarsh, Army; Harry Galloway, Army; Donald Hoyt, Army; Robert Hughley, Army; Shige Imai, Army; Fred Krieger, Army; Steve Lund, Army; Roger Mockford, Army; Andy Riener, Army; Bud Simonis, Army; Jim Starr, Army; Bill Stewart, Army; Jack Tavenner, Army; Rodger Barber, Army Air Force; Les Barnhart, Army Air Force; Don Bennett, Army Air Force; Tom Bessonette, Army Air Force; Ralph Butterworth, Army Air Force; Nick Cassinelli, Army Air Force; Dick Ford, Army Air Force; Fred Forsythe, Army Air Force; Ed Miller, Army Air Force; Jim Murphy, Army Air Force; Sandy Porter, Army Air Force; Kenny Arnold, Navy; Betty Ashford, Navy; Don Bower, Navy; Gib Branstetter, Navy; Mike Brant, Navy; Frankie Carling, Navy; Paul Clayton, Navy; Dalton Fox, Navy; Bob Grills, Navy; Carroll Heckenlively, Navy; Cal Husbands, Navy; Royce Irby, Navy; Vern Kube, Navy; Harry Kuhlmann, Navy; Ken Larsen, Navy; Ernie McCabe, Navy; Donald McLaughlin, Navy; Lloyd McNary, Navy; Alice Tatone, Navy; Al Walters, Navy; Fred Warner, Navy; George Griffith, Marine Corps; Irv Kaplan, Marine Corps; Ted Carlson, USCG Merchant Marine. These 48 heroes join more than 138,000 veterans from across the country who, since 2005, have journeyed from their home states to Washington, D.C. to reflect at the memorials built in honor of our nation's veterans. Mr. Speaker, each of us is humbled by the courage of these brave Americans who put themselves in harm's way for our country and way of life. As a nation, we can never fully repay the debt of gratitude owed to them for their honor, commitment, and sacrifice in defense of the freedoms we have today. My colleagues, please join me in thanking these veterans of Honor Flight of Eastern and Portland Oregon for their exemplary dedication and service to this great country. I especially want to recognize Bend Heroes Foundation Chairman Dick Tobiason, and Trip Leaders Erik Tobiason and Pam Kelsay. Their tireless work will result in over 450 World War II veterans from Honor Flight of Eastern and Portland Oregon visiting the memorials and U.S. Capitol.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 26 World War II veterans from Oregon who will be visiting their memorial this Saturday in Washington, D.C. through Honor Flight of Southern Oregon. On behalf of a grateful state and country, we welcome these heroes to our nation's capital. The veterans on this flight from Oregon are: Lloyd A. Gathright, Army; Ralph K. Lanning, Army; Charles E. Leierer, Army; William S. McMorrine, Army; Edward C. Phillips, Army; Michael Roebuck, Army; Eugene A. Schmick, Army; Clifford W. Scovell, Army; Duane J. Smolik, Army; Vernon Staley, Army; James A. Holland, Army Air Force; Frederic W. Kuhlmann, Army Air Force; Donald D. Williford, Army Air Force; Joe L. Winter, Army Air Force; Charles F. Paul, Marine Corps; Edward C. Glen, Navy; Gerald G. Holland, Navy; Herbert A. Johnson, Navy; Melvin A. Jones, Navy; Robert E. Murray, Navy; Dale B. Palmer, Navy; John K. Penniman, Navy; Walter W. Schafer, Navy; John Wallenburg, Navy; Kenneth A. Wisdom, Navy; Michael D. Zagyva, Navy. These 26 heroes join more than 81,000 veterans from across the country who, since 2005, have journeyed from their home states to Washington, D.C. to reflect at the memorials built in honor of our nation's veterans. Mr. Speaker, each of us is humbled by the courage of these brave Americans who put themselves in harm's way for our country and way of life. As a nation, we can never fully repay the debt of gratitude owed to them for their honor, commitment, and sacrifice in defense of the freedoms we have today. My colleagues, please join me in thanking these veterans and the volunteers of Honor Flight of Southern Oregon for their exemplary dedication and service to this great country. I especially want to recognize Honor Flight of Oregon President, Gail Yakopatz. Her tireless work will result in over 350 World War II veterans from Honor Flight of Oregon and Southern Oregon Honor Flight visiting the memorials and U.S. Capitol.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, we have a great opportunity before us today to not only provide certainty for healthcare providers and seniors by repealing the flawed SGR for Medicare, but also to fund rural schools and rural forested counties. So I commend my colleagues for their work on this with me. Included in this legislation is 2 years' worth of funding for the Secure Rural Schools program. Now, this is like one of those cans of Fix-A-Flat, if you will. It is an emergency repair on the side of the road to solve a short-term problem, when what we really need is a permanent fix for our forested counties. But this is an emergency, and what we are doing here today is providing that lifeline to our schoolchildren in the classrooms in our rural counties that are forested under Federal land and making sure that our local law enforcement folks have the resources they need and, in my own State of Oregon, protecting some counties from actually going bankrupt because of lack of management and lack of activity on our Federal lands. So I remain fully committed to working on forestry legislation that puts people back to work in the woods, reduces the threat of wildfire, and produces the revenue to allow for self-sustaining counties and the people in them. I just hope this time with a new Senate we will be able to move forward.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the twenty-six Congressional Medal of Honor recipients with strong ties to Oregon who will be honored in the special Oregon Medal of Honor Exhibit at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. On behalf of a grateful state and country, it is my privilege to honor these heroes who served above and beyond the call of duty, earning the Congressional Medal of Honor, our nation's highest award for military valor. Their brave service spans over 108 years, from the Civil War to the Vietnam War. Their names are as follows: Civil War (1861-1865): Alaric B. Chapin, U.S. Army; Hartwell B. Compson, U.S. Army; Nathan E. Edgerton, U.S. Army; Louis Renninger, U.S. Army. Indian Wars (1861-1898): James Jackson, U.S. Army; Meaher Nicholas, U.S. Army; Lewis Phife, U.S. Army. Philippine Insurrection (1899-1911): Frank C. High, U.S. Army; Charles E. Kilbourne, U.S. Army; Marcus W. Robertson, U.S. Army; Jacob Volz Jr., U.S. Navy. Boxer Rebellion (1900): John A. Murphy, U.S. Marine Corps. Peacetime (1903): Harry D. Fadden, U.S. Navy. World War I (1917-1918): Edward C. Allworth, U.S. Army. World War II (1941-1945): Arnold L. Bjorklund, U.S. Army; Arthur J. Jackson, U.S. Marine Corps; David R. Kingsley, U.S. Army Air Forces; Robert D. Maxwell, U.S. Army; Henry Schauer, U.S. Army; Stuart S. Stryker, U.S. Army. Korean War (1950-1953): Stanley T. Adams, U.S. Army; Loren R. Kaufman, U.S. Army. Vietnam War (1964-1975): Larry G. Dahl, U.S. Army; John N. Holcomb, U.S. Army; Gary W. Martini, U.S. Marine Corps; Maximo Yabes, U.S. Army. These wartime heroes were either born in Oregon, entered service from Oregon, were laid to rest in Oregon, or live in Oregon. Seven of the recipients gave their lives during an act of valor. Nine of them were commissioned officers and seventeen were enlisted men and non- commissioned officers. Twenty-one served in the Army, two in the Navy, and three in the Marine Corps. They served in ten countries around the globe: the United States, China, Philippines, France, Palau, Italy, Romania, Germany, Korea and Vietnam. Two World War II recipients are living today--Mr. Robert D. Maxwell, Bend, Oregon, and Mr. Arthur J. Jackson, Boise, Idaho. Mr. Maxwell is the oldest of the 79 living Medal of Honor recipients of all wars. Among other items, the Oregon Medal of Honor Exhibit will feature displays for each recipient, interactive digital kiosks and a large American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol on March 25, 2015, National Medal of Honor Day. This outstanding project was organized by the Bend Heroes Foundation and their partners: Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, Pacific Standard Television, Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, my office, and BNSF Railway.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I join my friend and colleague from New Jersey and ask our colleagues to support passage of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I now yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), our majority whip, and a terrific member of our subcommittee.

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 734) to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to consolidate the reporting obligations of the Federal Communications Commission in order to improve congressional oversight and reduce reporting burdens.

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in our multiyear effort to update the Communications Act, one of the most common themes we have heard is the convergence of the telecommunications marketplace. No longer are companies just one service over just one medium. Both technology and consumer expectations have completely changed the game. However, the agency tasked with regulating the communications sector still exists in the outdated and siloed structure that reflects decades-old assumptions, even how they evaluate and report on the industry. While that fractured approach will be a continued focus of our CommActUpdate process, this bill will take an important first step toward modernizing the way we look at this sector and its regulator. This legislation consolidates eight separate reports that require the FCC to evaluate the state of competition in various sectors and combines those eight reports into just a single biennial report to Congress on the communications marketplace as a whole. This bill also takes the important step of eliminating outdated reports that only serve to junk up the Communications Act and cause confusion. Reports like the ORBIT Act--which I have a copy of here--are aimed at ensuring that satellites that were long ago privatized are procompetitive, an examination that the FCC and the industry recognizes as both outdated, unnecessary, and burdensome. There are still laws on the books that address such outdated technologies as telegraphs. This is a small but significant step toward cleaning up the act and modernizing the laws and the agency that control this very dynamic marketplace. Ensuring that all of the reports on the books are both necessary and effective helps to reduce the burden on the agency. It also helps the regulatory agency make more informed decisions. I would like to take a moment to thank my colleagues, Representative Scalise, Ranking Member Eshoo, and the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Pallone, for their work to make this bill a bipartisan success both today and, frankly, in the last two sessions of Congress. I am hopeful that the first bill to pass out of our subcommittee this Congress is an indication of the work that we can get done when we collaborate. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the entire Oregon delegation who are with me to inform the House of the passing of our former colleague Wes Cooley. Wes Cooley was born in Los Angeles in 1932. He graduated from the University of Southern California, served in the Army, raced motorcycles professionally, and among other business ventures, he owned a vitamin supplements company and ranched in Oregon. Wes Cooley cared deeply for his community and his State, prompting him to run successfully for and serve in the Oregon State Senate before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, where he served one term. He worked hard, and he cared deeply about the rural West and the country. Last week, Wes passed away in Bend, Oregon, after a long illness. Our thoughts and our prayers are with his wife, Rosemary, and his family during this difficult time of loss. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Oregon delegation, I ask that the House observe a moment of silence in memory of former Congressman Wes Cooley.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Georgette Brown, a dedicated public servant and a very good friend of mine who passed away earlier this month. For 25 years, Georgette served the people of Josephine County, Oregon, as the longest serving County Clerk in county history. Along the way, she implemented local vote-by- mail and published the first local voters' pamphlet. Today, I honor her commitment and lifetime of community service. Georgette understood the importance of participating in our democracy. Whether at a town hall, rotary speech or business roundtable, Georgette was always present, actively listening, asking pertinent questions and showing genuine support. She believed the best way to make her voice heard in Washington, DC was by being present and engaged. For Georgette, the core duty of a citizen was voting. She worked hard to make sure every vote counted. When Oregon moved to a vote-by-mail system, Georgette appeared before the Oregon Legislature to advocate for ballot deadline announcements in the media. In her own county, she took it upon herself as Clerk to make sure as many people as possible voted, telling anyone who would listen that they better vote! Georgette Brown's belief and dedication paid off. Voter turnout in Josephine County peaked at nearly 90 percent in the 1996 general election and averaged nearly 70 percent during much of Georgette's tenure. She served as president of the Oregon Association of County Clerks. I am sure more than a few of the fellow clerks with whom Georgette served are grateful for having so many helpful things from her along the way. Georgette had the distinction of being Josephine County's first clerk to perform marriages, and she performed hundreds of them during and after her tenure. She even once traveled on her own time to New Zealand to perform a wedding for a Grants Pass resident, quickly making new friends along the way. If someone had a question, Georgette usually had an answer. Often, she would even rattle off the appropriate Oregon statute from memory. Georgette believed it was important to be fiscally responsible in running her office. She ran it like a business, looking for ways to save money. Sometimes, when times were tight, she'd pay her own expenses when traveling to a conference, sharing a room when necessary. Georgette had great respect for the office of Clerk, and those who worked there. After her retirement in 2008, she would stop by the county courthouse to say hello. Her last visit was in May when she hand delivered her ballot to make sure the county clerk knew her signature had changed--and likely to see how the turnout was looking to see how many people she still needed to remind. In addition to her official duties, Georgette was generous, donating to parks and 4-H programs. She was very community-minded, working on Rotary projects and serving as Rotary president. She was a member of St. Anne's parish for more than 40 years, serving as a reader during Saturday evening mass. One of her favorite retirement roles was reading with students at Allen Dale Elementary School. Always fun to be around, Georgette brightened every activity she was involved in and she never spoke ill of others. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, Georgette attended school at St. Mary's in New York. She and Larry moved to Grants Pass in 1972. When Larry died of cancer in 2002, Georgette missed him terribly. Georgette was deeply loved and will be dearly missed by her daughters, Martie and Monique, her 7-year-old grandson, Taylor, her many, many friends and the countless people whose lives she positively touched through her service. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring Georgette Brown for her many years of exemplary service in Josephine County and caring leadership of her community.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. North Carolina: William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson. South Carolina: John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler. Georgia: William Few, Abraham Baldwin.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to honor the memory of Gerald Hogan, who passed earlier this week at his home in McLean, Virginia. Jerry, as everyone called him, was a longtime outstanding advocate for the telecommunications industry, most recently with AT&T. Jerry is very well known throughout this Chamber and many of us regarded him as a close personal friend. Jerry was always interested in you as a person and would ask about your family. He genuinely cared and would remember what you told him. If he learned it was your birthday, you could expect a phone call the next year. If you recounted a tale of your child, he would offer tips from a lifetime of parenting his children. Humble, generous, genuine, caring, funny and smart. . . . Jerry was all of these to his broad range of friends. Jerry will be sorely missed for so many wonderful personal attributes, not least of which was his love for his children and their endeavors. The last few years Jerry and I had a fun gentleman's bet as his youngest son played against my beloved Oregon Ducks. On a few big occasions my Ducks came out on the losing side of the contest but Jerry, always the funny and classy act, would see me with a twinkle in his eye and deliver some well-deserved ribbing. Our business meetings in the past were never quick as we'd joyfully spend the first portion of our time swapping stories about all of Jerry's children and family and mine too before we'd get down to the official business matters. I will really miss all of my interactions with Jerry. I am very privileged to have known Jerry and will always remember him very fondly. On behalf of many of my colleagues and my staff I want to let Jerry's dear friends and family--especially his wife Donna, his two sons, Brian and Kevin, and his daughter, Kelly--know that all who knew Jerry always felt that he brought high respect and honor to his work. Our prayers are with you during this time of sadness, and may the luck of the Irish be with you always. Mr. Speaker, a number of my colleagues have asked me to include their following comments. Congressman Fred Upton said: ``My condolences go out to Jerry's wife, Donna, and their wonderful children. We will miss Jerry's bright smile, wit, and warmth. Jerry was one who, virtually every minute of his all too short life, truly lived the words of the poem `I shall not pass this way again.' `I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.' Thanks for all the love and laughs, Jerry. Godspeed.'' Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. said: ``The world will be a little less full now that Jerry Hogan is no longer a part of it. Jerry was a truly wonderful person and I was blessed to call him a friend. I wish his wife Donna and his children the very best during this difficult time.'' Congressman Tom Marino said: ``I am deeply saddened by the loss of Jerry Hogan. He was a close friend and trusted advisor and we all feel the void of his passing. My condolences go out to his friends and family during this time of sadness.'' Congressman Peter King said: ``Jerry put up a terrific fight against his illness over the past four years and exemplified the term Fighting Irish. I admired his dedication and loyalty and will miss my good friend.'' Former Congressman Dan Lungren said: ``Jerry was a great friend and a special person. Even during his time of need, fighting his own battle, he heard of a challenge that a member of my family was once again taking on and he informed me that he awoke that morning at 4 AM and said the Rosary in her honor. That is how he lived his life thinking of others and giving to others to the very end. God Bless you Jerry and God Bless your wonderful family during this sad time.''

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my very good friend, Mike Fahey, for his many years as a leading Oregon business executive and advocate of forest health. Mike is retiring this month as CEO of Columbia Helicopters, where he has loyally served in numerous executive roles for nearly 40 years. As his career at Columbia Helicopters winds down, I'd like to take a moment to pay tribute to his significant contributions to Oregon and the aerospace industry. A native Oregonian, Mike was born in Oregon City and attended local public schools. He graduated from Portland State University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting, with Honors. His studies emphasized economics and finance, subjects that would prove to be crucial later in life when he took the helm of a company with global operations. In 1966, Mike began working for the accounting firm of Arthur Young & Company, and in 1968 he began a three-year project, auditing the books of a rapidly growing, young company called Columbia Helicopters. That audit introduced him to the company's founder, Wes Lematta, a pioneer in the helicopter operations industry. In 1975, Mike joined Columbia Helicopters full time as the company's first Director of Finance. He later was named Vice President of Finance, and became Executive Vice President in 1997. For the majority of his employment with Columbia Helicopters, Mike has been involved with contract negotiations for both foreign and domestic operations, as well as assisting with the purchase of aircraft to expand the company's fleet of heavy-lift helicopters. One of Mike's happiest memories was when the company purchased two Chinook helicopters from tycoon businessman Donald Trump in 1993. Mike always felt the company got the best end of the bargain because he'd read Trump's book ``The Art of the Deal'' and anticipated a negotiating tactic that Trump attempted to use. Mike won that deal, Donald. In the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s, Mike took an active role in promoting legislation that would improve forest health. Like most of us from the West, Mike believes that proper forest management is key to maintaining good forest health. The company's ``selective harvesting'' system uses Columbia's helicopters to remove only a portion of the timber, creating natural forest spacing and improving the overall health of the forest. In 1999, Mike was named President of Columbia Helicopters, a position he held until 2013 when he was named CEO. Perhaps his greatest achievement during that period was the acquisition of the Type Certificates for the Boeing 234 commercial Chinook helicopter, and for the Boeing Vertol 107-II helicopter. This is the equivalent of Chevrolet selling the engineering and manufacturing rights to the Corvette to a small business. Today these heavy-lift helicopters are identified as the Columbia Model 234 Chinook and the Columbia 107-II, and Columbia Helicopters is the world leader in commercial heavy-lift helicopter operations. The company currently has aircraft working around the world: supporting military operations in Afghanistan, moving petroleum exploration equipment in Peru and Papua New Guinea, logging and construction projects in Canada and domestic operations in the westem United States. Throughout the years, Mike has always been a dedicated supporter of numerous charities and organizations, whether local, national or global in scale. He has supported Lines for Life, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing substance abuse and suicide in youths and the military; Medical Teams International, a global health organization working to provide care to people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty; the Providence Medical Foundation and Providence Child Care; and the American Heart Association. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Forest Industries Council. More than anything else, Mike is a devoted and loving family man. He married his wife Penny in 1964 in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where they still maintain a home. They have three children, Michael Fahey II, Holly Bellavara and Elizabeth Tobin, and they have six grandchildren. Mike will finally get to spend more time with his family in retirement, but I expect he will still find time to hit the links with his clubs--he got his first hole in one in August 2013, and he is making a valiant effort at his second. Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, please join me in recognizing and thanking my good friend, Mike Fahey, for his many years of exemplary leadership as an Oregon businessman and caring member of his community. I wish Mike and Penny many more years of good health and true happiness.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Howard, an indispensable member of my staff and good friend who will soon retire after ten years of faithful service to me and the people of Oregon's Second District. John has had a long, dedicated career serving his country. In fact, this actually marks John's second retirement. In 1994, John left his beloved United States Navy after a thirty year career, rising from enlisted seaman to Commander. A passionate Fighting Illini alumnus, John received his commission in 1970 as a graduate of the Navy ROTC program at the University of Illinois. John served on five ships, including command of the USS Saginaw (LST-1188) and several shore assignments, including two tours in Washington D.C. After a few years of retirement--and a brief stint as a dotcom millionaire gone bust with an independent software development company--John and his wife Cathy relocated from Virginia Beach, Virginia to Medford, Oregon in September 2001. In fact, the closing on his home was delayed because of 9/11. He persevered through and settled in to the Rogue Valley getting involved in his community through the United Way and several military organizations. I first met John when he was the president of the Rogue Valley Council of the Navy League where he presented me with an honorary Navy League membership. A lifelong Republican, John stepped up to volunteer with the 2004 Bush/Cheney presidential campaign in Jackson County, OR. John stayed in touch with my office through similar political and community volunteer efforts. Soon, when a member of my staff decided to return to school part time, I brought John on to share the workload and the following year, John joined my team full time to handle veterans and military casework and provide input on related policy matters. Bringing John onboard wasn't without issue. John Howard is a pretty common name for one and we already had a John on staff. The communication logistics could have been daunting, yet by chance House IT averted a crisis. John was bestowed with a non-standard email address that had no ``dot'' between his first and last name. Thereafter and forevermore, John was referred to as NoDot amongst Team Walden. During his ten years on staff, John has handled 4,144 cases for individual constituents and veterans, almost 1/3 of all the cases handled in 16 years by my office. That doesn't include the countless other veterans and other constituents assisted on the side with information and guidance. Of course, it was hard for him to top the success of one of his first cases on staff where he showed an ability that surprised us all, bringing veterans back to life. John was contacted by a veteran who had received a letter from the VA containing the shocking news that he was deceased. Working with his contacts at the VA, John was able to get the error corrected and brought the veteran back to life in the VA's records. Over the years, John has had a couple other similar cases, all of which he found fascinating to resolve. As my veterans caseworker, and later as Director of Constituent Services, John worked with veterans organizations across the district to make sure that I heard their concerns and let them know I was available to assist. John was a familiar face at veterans meetings and events in southern Oregon. Further, he was instrumental in developing a presentation for civic groups on what goes on in congressional offices, making my services more known and available to constituents. A good naval officer is always concerned about the morale of his sailors. John carried that approach with him and became the de facto Morale Officer in my Southern Oregon District Office. Combining this with a firm belief in the importance of quality community outreach in politics, John founded ``Rope Yarn/Veterans Outreach Wednesdays'' which are weekly after hours gathering for staff and local veterans to discuss local veteran's issues and partake in the occasional fermented beverage--as any good sailor would! During his tenure, John took the reins of my service academy selection process, changing and building it into the strong program it is today. He constructed a board of retired military officers to interview all candidates that was decidedly ``Purple,'' ensuring all service components were fully represented. This system has proven to be highly successful. In fact, nine of the 18 students I nominated last year received an appointment to the class of 2018. As John heads into retirement, he is looking forward to some increased time with his extensive family, which includes his wife Cathy, his son, five daughters; soon-to-be 13 grandchildren--including two newborn fraternal twin granddaughters--along with 2 foster grandchildren. Always service oriented, John will continue to volunteer in his community and was recently appointed to the board of the Jackson County Retired Seniors Volunteer Program. In addition, he has been approached to serve on the board of the United Way and the Jackson County Veterans Advisory Committee. Whether spending time with family, golfing or volunteering it will always be easy to identify John from afar in the University of Illinois characteristic orange and blue, or overhear the words to the Songs of the Illini--from Illinois Loyalty to Hail to the Orange--which he loudly and proudly belt out with the slightest provocation. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring John's 40 plus years of public service and in wishing fair winds and following seas to a true gentleman, shipmate, and friend. Godspeed, NoDot!

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Hood River Valley High School boys' soccer team, which brought home the title of ``State Champions'' this year in the 2014 Oregon 5A state championship. Hood River is my hometown, and both my son and I are proud graduates of Hood River Valley High School, so this victory is especially sweet. Led by head coach Jaime Rivera and assistant coach Joe Dolan, the Eagles had a perfect 18-0 season and playoff run that was topped off by a 2-0 victory against Woodburn in the finals. After making it to the state finals last year, this season marks the culmination of willpower and sacrifice displayed by these dedicated young men. The Eagles' undefeated record illustrates what happens when a team unites under one goal and exhibits the necessary work ethic, team work, and positive attitude to achieve success. I know that these skills have helped prepare these young men to be upstanding citizens of our great state and nation. I am always proud to see how young men and women can inspire a community, and Hood River certainly rallied around the Eagles. Throughout the season, the community has rallied around and supported this team, game after game. After being engulfed on the field by supporters following their championship victory, the team was escorted by a caravan of police and fire trucks on their way back to Hood River. I'd like to personally congratulate each member of this team: Travis Running, Marco Cuevas, Danny Romero, Manuel Mozqueda, Uriel Torrez, Joel Garcia, Marcos Trejo, Mario Sandoval, Andres Baeza, Gio Magana, Alex Gutierrez, Angel Sonato, Johnny Villafana, Luis Perez, Noah Noteboom, Antonio Bustos, Jaime Frias, Diego Rueda, Aldo Muro, Noe Magana, Coach Jaime Rivera, and Coach Joe Dolan. As a proud Hood River resident, I look forward to cheering on this year's team as they pursue their goals in the years to come. It is truly a privilege to represent the members of this team in the House of Representatives and my pleasure to congratulate them on their outstanding accomplishment of bringing home the teams' first state title. Go Eagles!

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, that it adjourn to meet at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2640) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to adjust the Crooked River boundary, to provide water certainty for the City of Prineville, Oregon, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the committee. Mr. Speaker, last July the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4572, the STELA Reauthorization Act, by unanimous vote. Today, after extensive consultation with our colleagues in the Senate, we are offering a second version of STELA's reauthorization, which will extend the copyright and retransmission consent provisions for distant signals retransmitted by commercial satellite providers for 5 years. Now, if we don't act to extend these provisions by the end of this Congress, there will be 1.5 million subscribers to satellite television, including many in my home State of Oregon, that just won't have access to broadcast network programming come New Year's Day. This bill represents the best of how Congress can work together and get things done. Today's version of STELAR is a compromise bill that incorporates the previously passed provisions--these were passed unanimously by the House earlier this year--with the provisions that passed by voice vote out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Now, by coming together to produce legislation with strong, bipartisan, bicameral support, we have demonstrated our clear commitment to the continued availability of broadcast programming to millions of subscribers and to some targeted and, in some cases, much- needed reforms to our communications laws. Specifically, Mr. Speaker, this bill sets a date for the sunset of the FCC's integration ban on cable-leased set-top boxes. That clears the way for innovation and new investment by lifting an unnecessary regulatory burden that has cost the cable industry and its consumers $1 billion. One billion dollars, Mr. Speaker, since 2007 it has cost. I especially want to thank Vice Chairman Bob Latta, who is right here, and my Democratic colleague from Texas, Gene Green, whom you have just heard from, for their thoughtful, bipartisan work on lifting the integration ban. Now, the bill offers a glide path for those companies that currently rely on CableCARD and urges the consumer electronics manufacturers and MVPDs to work together to find a next-generation solution for a competitive set-top box market. Our bill also opens up the ability for satellite operators and broadcasters to modify local markets so that consumers can receive programming that is relevant to their communities. Broadcasters have long had the ability to reach such agreements with cable systems, and this bill creates parity, allowing broadcasters to ensure their programming is reaching the right communities via satellite, regardless of DMA boundaries. Our bill also provides parity by removing a government restriction on cable's ability to drop broadcast signals during the Nielsen sweeps. Additionally, the bill ensures that consumers will be able to access locally relevant broadcasts from outside their local markets without interference from local broadcasters. Mr. Speaker, we have also sought to stabilize the retransmission consent regime. This bill prohibits broadcast stations in single markets from negotiating jointly with cable and satellite operators. The bill also seeks to allow policymakers to gather more information on retransmission consent by requiring cable operators to report annually on their payments for broadcast programming. This bill also asks the FCC to reexamine the meaning of ``good faith'' in retransmission consent negotiations, but, importantly, it does not predetermine any outcomes for that rulemaking. The STELA Reauthorization Act is yet another example of true bipartisanship with support from all sectors of the communications industry. This type of collaboration has long been the hallmark of our committee, and I am pleased to see the legislative result before us today. As this Congress is drawing to a close quickly, I urge my colleagues to join me in getting this important legislation onto the President's desk and signed into law before the authorization ends at the end of the year. Now, it takes many hands to make light work, and this bill is no different. In particular, Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the staff from the House Commerce Committee's staff, David Redl, Ray Baum, Grace Koh, Shawn Chang, Margaret McCarthy, and David Grossman; as well as Senate Commerce staff Ellen Doneski, John Branscome, Shawn Bone, David Quinalty, and Hap Rigby. They spent many hours working to find common ground on this bill, Mr. Speaker, and their effort has paid off for consumers.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 50 World War II veterans from Oregon who will be visiting their memorial today in Washington, DC through Honor Flight of Oregon. On behalf of a grateful state and country, we welcome these heroes to the nation's capital. The veterans on this flight from Oregon are as follows: Albert Azar, Army; Clarence Brace, Army; Howard Christopherson, Army; Jacob Egger, Army; Theodore Flaiz, Army; Henry Krebs, Army; Loyal Lee, Army; Richard Lovett, Army; Eddie Morris, Army; Henry Nelsen, Army; Lewellyn Renville, Army; Robert Strick, Army; Henry Tiano, Army; James Rose, Army Air Corps; Richard Smith, Army Air Corps; Frederick Parish, Army Air Force; Ray Burgess, Coast Guard; Helen Hansen, Coast Guard; Richard Shettler, Coast Guard; Marvin Adams, Navy; Robert Bigler, Navy; Harold Candland, Navy; Paul Clayton, Navy; Byron Dougan, Navy; Joseph Fahey, Navy; John Faust, Navy; John Ferguson, Navy; Troy Grimshaw, Navy; Herman Hansen, Navy; Cecil Hector, Navy; Imer Henry, Navy; Richard Higgins, Navy; Marvin Johnson, Navy; Glenn Lewis, Navy; Robert Montgomery, Navy; Bob Moore, Navy; James Stangland, Navy; Gordon Stone, Navy; Neil Swarthout, Navy; Paul Swenson, Navy; Arthur Tooze, Navy; Gilbert Turner, Navy; Harold Wakefield, Navy; George Yates, Navy; Robert Ganson, USMC; Edward Kimball, USMC; Richard Mann, USMC; Harold Reeves, USMC; Albert Riney, USMC; Thomas Teela, USMC. These 50 heroes join more than 98,000 veterans from across the country who, since 2005, have journeyed from their home states to Washington, DC to reflect at the memorials built in honor of our Nation's veterans. Mr. Speaker, each of us is humbled by the courage of these soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who put themselves in harm's way for our country and way of life. As a nation, we can never fully repay the debt of gratitude owed to them for their honor, commitment, and sacrifice in defense of the freedoms we have today. My colleagues, please join me in thanking these veterans and the volunteers of Honor Flight of Oregon for their exemplary dedication and service to this great country. I especially want to recognize and thank Dick Tobiason for his tireless work as president of Honor Flight of Oregon and trip leaders Erik Tobiason and Pam Kelsay for their efforts.