March 5, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E271 to be instrumental in keeping inpatient serv- 3rd so that we could meet with local officials The Aviation and Transportation Security ices here through cooperation with other and first responders to assess the damage for Act, passed by the 107th Congress and stakeholders, and we are equally as proud to ourselves and lend a helping hand to our signed on November 19, 2001, established see this new facility come to fruition. friends and neighbors wherever it might be TSA just 2 months following the September The new facility is a state-of-the-art hospital needed. Because of our decision to return 11, 2001 attacks. with emergency and surgical services, fifteen home, I was absent for votes today. The urgent need to provide a response to inpatient rooms, an infusion clinic, MRI serv- I missed Roll Call vote number 87. Had I the available security threat was facing meant ices and other imaging services, a new cafe- been present, I would have voted ‘‘yes.’’ that much of the work to provide administra- teria, gift shop and more. This eighty-seven I missed Roll Call vote number 88. Had I tive structure and integration measures that thousand square-foot facility will be an asset been present, I would have voted ‘‘yes.’’ would have woven in the civil service protec- and treasure in the Hornell community. I missed Roll Call vote number 89. Had I tions now be added did not occur at that time. I cannot thank the doctors, medical profes- been present, I would have voted ‘‘yes.’’ The TSA’s mission is to protect the nation’s sionals, board members, administration and I missed Roll Call vote number 90. Had I transportation systems to ensure freedom of other staff members enough for the work they been present, I would have voted ‘‘no.’’ movement for people and commerce. do in the Hornell community. They have saved f The work of the TSA is a frontline Depart- ment of Homeland Security and it is not lives, provided excellent care for a plethora of RIGHTS FOR TRANSPORTATION easy—it can in fact be very dangerous. years and we are all grateful in the Twenty- SECURITY OFFICERS ACT OF 2020 Third Congressional District of New York for Like many of my colleagues, I recall the the work they do each and every day. I con- SPEECH OF shooting incident at LAX that killed Gerardo gratulate St. James Hospital on the new facil- Hernandez, who became the first TSA officer ity and wish them many more years of extraor- HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE killed in the line of duty; and the machete at- dinary healthcare services. OF TEXAS tack at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans Given the above, I ask that this Legislative IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES International Airport that resulted in injuries to Body join me to recognize the dedication of Wednesday, March 4, 2020 Senior Transportation Security Officer Carol Richel. the new St. James Hospital in Hornell, New Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I rise to These incidents only highlight the difficult York. speak in strong support of H.R. 1140, the work that the men and women of the TSA f Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act must perform each day to keep our nation’s of 2020, which will create civil service protec- PERSONAL EXPLANATION airports and flights safe. tions for TSA employees that are long over- The Department of Homeland Security due. (DHS) supports several key parts of the U.S. HON. KIM SCHRIER H.R. 1140, mandates the conversion of all coronavirus response. OF WASHINGTON covered employees and positions within the The TSA is responsible for: enforcing the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Transportation Security Administration (TSA) travel restrictions for all flights that are car- Thursday, March 5, 2020 to the provisions of title 5, United State Code. rying individuals who have recently traveled The bill represents a longstanding priority from China; notifying passengers and travelers Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I was trav- for Chairman THOMPSON, the bill’s author, and of risks of contracting the virus; and coordi- eling to Washington State to help officials and my own as a former chair of the Homeland nating with air carriers and airports to discuss my constituents best prepare for and contain Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Trans- COVID–19 (coronavirus). government actions and seek input (TSA). portation Security to extend the rights and pro- Allegations about mismanagement, wasteful As a result, I missed Roll Call vote number tections afford to all federal government em- 87 regarding the Cisneros Amendment to H.R. procedures, retaliation against whistleblowers, ployees to TSA personnel. low morale, and security gaps within the 1140. Had I been present, I would have voted Several versions of the bill have been intro- YES. Agency are causes for concern. duced over the past decade, but this Con- TSA has consistently struggled with low mo- I missed Roll Call vote number 88 regarding gress is the first time the bill has received my amendment offered by Representative rale across the workforce, ranking 303 out of overwhelming, bipartisan support, with 236 co- 305 government agencies in 2016. MUCARSEL-POWELL to H.R. 1140. This amend- sponsors including 10 Republicans. ment would ensure that TSA officers have the Low morale has a nexus to the high turn- The legislation curtails TSA’s broad authori- over rate within the ranks of Transportation proper guidance regarding prevention and pro- ties to create and control its personnel sys- tections against the coronavirus. I thank Rep- Security Officers (TSOs). tems, instead requiring TSA to abide by the TSOs represent 70 percent of the TSA resentative MUCARSEL-POWELL for offering this provisions of title 5 which regulate personnel workforce, yet have been denied full collective amendment in my absence. Had I been systems for most Federal agencies. bargaining rights, whistleblower protections, present, I would have voted YES. The bill would provide TSA employees with and opportunities to effectively raise issues in I missed Roll Call vote number 89 regarding the workforce protections and benefits avail- dispute to an independent third party, such as the Republican Motion to Recommit on H.R. able to most other Federal workers. the Merit Systems Protection Board. 1140. Had I been present, I would have voted The bill sets forth transition rules to protect Additionally, TSOs are subject to a pay and YES. the rate of pay and other rights of TSA em- performance system that does not track with I missed Roll Call vote number 90 regarding ployees during a transition to title 5. the General Services (GS) wage system, the final passage of H.R. 1140. Had I been The bill also requires the Secretary of primary wage system for Federal workers. present, I would have voted YES. Homeland Security to consult with the appro- It is past time to make the changes provided f priate labor organizations to carry out the tran- by H.R. 1140, so the TSA workforce is treated sition. PERSONAL EXPLANATION equally to other federal employees with the This bill does not affect prohibitions against power to advance and expand their opportuni- disloyalty and asserting the right to strike ties as government employees. HON. JOHN W. ROSE against the federal government. I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for OF TENNESSEE The bill also extends the timeline for the H.R. 1140. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES transition from 60 days to a more realistic 180 days, and it contains language to protect em- f Thursday, March 5, 2020 ployees with grievances or disciplinary actions PERSONAL EXPLANATION Mr. JOHN W. ROSE of Tennessee. Madam pending during the transition. Speaker, on the night of March 2nd into the On the morning of September 11, 2001, HON. LLOYD DOGGETT early morning of March 3rd, several tornadoes nearly 3,000 people were killed in a series of OF TEXAS struck Middle Tennessee, inflicting severe coordinated terrorist attacks in New York, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES damage and taking numerous lives. Most of Pennsylvania and Virginia. the devastation occurred in my congressional The attacks resulted in the creation of the Thursday, March 5, 2020 district, the Sixth District of Tennessee, includ- Transportation Security Administration, which Mr. DOGGETT. Madam Speaker, with yes- ing my hometown, Cookeville, TN. was designed to prevent similar attacks in the terday’s storms in Texas, my early morning After careful consideration, my family and I future by removing the responsibility for trans- post-election day flight to Washington was de- returned home to Cookeville, TN, on March portation security from private entities. layed, preventing my arrival before the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:35 Mar 06, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A05MR8.024 E05MRPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with REMARKS E272 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 5, 2020 coronavirus bill vote. Had I been present, I school near the MacKenzie River in Vida, Or- For the first time in program history, Pleas- would have voted for H.R. 6074, which I egon where her father owned Heavens Gate ant Plains girls’ basketball won the IHSA state strongly support. Had I been present, I would Cabins. After the war, she and her family championship. Pleasant Plains’ newfound suc- have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 86. moved back to Eugene and she attended cess on the hardwood is a testament to the f Roosevelt Junior High and then Eugene High leadership of Coach TJ Fraase and the deter- School, graduating with the Class of 1950. mination of the young women he coaches. HONORING THE BALLSTON SPA Connie attended the University of Oregon, ma- The Pleasant Plains girls’ basketball team VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS joring in Music and was a proud member of has made all of central Illinois proud with their POST 358 ON THEIR CENTENNIAL the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. accomplishments this season, finishing with a ANNIVERSARY After college, she moved down to San Fran- 28–3 record. Each girl’s commitment to their cisco where she ultimately joined American team and their community is truly inspiring. HON. ELISE M. STEFANIK Airlines as a Stewardess. It was while working Congratulations to Coach Fraase and the OF NEW YORK for the airlines that she met her future hus- Pleasant Plain’s Cardinals for their remarkable IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES band, Edward ‘‘Duke’’ Ulrich. They soon mar- state championship win. ried and immediately transferred to Kansas Thursday, March 5, 2020 City, Missouri and subsequently to Chicago, Il- f Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise linois. She was then excited to return to Cali- today to honor the Ballston Spa Veterans of fornia where they settled in Sunnyvale, the NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS Foreign Wars Post 358 on their 100th anniver- heart of Silicon Valley. They raised their two CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY AS- sary. children, Gregory and Linda and resided there SISTANCE ACT The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United for 47 years. States (VFW) is a nonprofit veterans service Connie, blessed with a beautiful soprano HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO organization that traces its roots back to the voice, loved music and would frequently burst Spanish-American War of 1898. Veterans re- into an operatic solo. She enjoyed horseback SABLAN turning home following the war in 1902 found riding as a young girl, and loved all animals, OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS themselves with little or no support from the especially cats and dogs. I had the good for- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES government, even those with severe wounds tune of getting to know Connie through Linda Thursday, March 5, 2020 and permanent disabilities. From this vacuum who was an integral part of my DC staff for Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, today, I in- emerged the VFW, whose membership now many years. I can tell you that Connie had an troduce the Northern Mariana Islands stands at more than 1.6 million. The VFW infectious zest for life and a sparkle that drew Coronavirus Emergency Assistance Act which made significant contributions to the establish- people to her. I will long remember her sense would provide $100 million to the Common- ment of the Veterans Administration and con- of fun and humor which so clearly live on wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to re- tinues to advocate strongly for veterans to this through her daughter. day. At the local level, each post makes a Connie’s husband, Duke, predeceased her spond to the severe loss of revenues for gov- positive impact on the broader community. in death, as did her son Gregory, and more ernment operations resulting from the Post 358 sponsors and contributes to many recently her sister, Kathryn Seymour of Eu- coronavirus’ impact to our tourism industry. local charitable events and organizations in- gene. Connie is survived by Linda and son-in- The funds will help avert the disruption of es- cluding elementary school literacy programs, law John ‘‘JY’’ Yeagley of Vienna, Virginia. A sential health and other public services to the Memorial Day Parades, junior baseball celebration of her life will be held in McLean, people of my isolated district. leagues and the Brookside Museum. They Virginia. She will make Alta Mesa Memorial The coronavirus outbreak has resulted in maintain strong friendships with annual Park in Palo Alto her final resting place and the loss of thousands of lives and disrupted barbeques and outings for members, while will join her husband and son. I extend my commerce worldwide but its impact has hit supporting each other in times of need. heartfelt condolences to my dear friend Linda tourism-dependent jurisdictions like the Com- The VFW’s vision is to ensure ‘‘veterans are and to all those who knew Connie. Although monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands respected for their service, always receive she may no longer be with us, she will con- particularly hard. Major hotels have less than their earned entitlements, and are recognized tinue to have a lasting impact on the lives of 30 percent occupancy. Airlines serving our is- for the sacrifices they and their loved ones her family and community. lands have cut routes. As a result, less funds will be available to provide health and other have made on behalf of this great country.’’ I f echo this sentiment and will continue to work public services for the people of my district. with all veterans’ groups to realize that vision. RECOGNIZING THE PLEASANT Our Commonwealth’s governor, Ralph Torres, On behalf of New York’s 21st District, I want PLAINS GIRLS BASKETBALL declared a state of significant emergency on to congratulate President Karen Shea and all TEAM ON WINNING THE ILLINOIS January 29 and implemented across-the-board the members of VFW Post 358 on this mile- 2A STATE TITLE budget cuts and austerity measures including stone and thank them for their century-long a 20 percent cut to teachers’ salaries and a 4- tradition of service to North Country veterans. HON. DARIN LaHOOD day school week. Last week, Acting Governor f OF ILLINOIS Arnold Palacios extended the state of emer- gency for another 30 days. Today, Governor IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRIBUTE TO CONSTANCE Torres declared a price freeze on food, water, SEYMOUR ULRICH Thursday, March 5, 2020 clothing, emergency supplies as well as fuel. Mr. LAHOOD. Madam Speaker, today, I Due to forces beyond our control, the people HON. KEN CALVERT would like to recognize the Pleasant Plains of my district are facing an emergency that re- OF CALIFORNIA High School girls’ basketball team on winning quires me as their sole representative in Con- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the 2020 Class 2A state title. gress to act now and provide emergency as- Last Saturday, at Redbird Arena in Normal, sistance measures to ensure their health and Thursday, March 5, 2020 Illinois, the Pleasant Plains Cardinals defeated safety. Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today the two-time defending champion Chicago Yesterday, the House passed an $8 billion to honor and pay tribute to an outstanding in- Marshall Commandos in a performance domi- emergency supplemental funding bill that will dividual, Constance Seymour Ulrich, who nated by Pleasant Plain’s defensive efforts. help every part of our country respond to the passed away at the age of 87 on February 29, The Cardinals held Chicago Marshall to 32 coronavirus. However, these funds cannot be 2020. Connie, as she was known, was a lov- percent shooting and forced 12 turnovers in used to support general government oper- ing wife and mother and she will be deeply the game, winning by a final score of 43–37. ations such as public education. This is why I missed. The Cardinals victory was not without drama, am introducing the Northern Mariana Islands Connie was born in Eugene, Oregon on as the Cardinal’s allowed a 13-point fourth- Coronavirus Emergency Assistance Act to pro- March 22, 1932, the first daughter of Darle quarter lead dwindle to just 1-point, but on the vide $100 million in fiscal support to ensure all and Vada Belle Seymour. Her parents owned strength of strong senior leadership, the Car- members of my community, especially our the iconic Seymour’s Cafe in downtown Eu- dinals were able to seal the game and bring seniors and children, can continue to access gene by the University of Oregon Campus. a state championship home to Pleasant the care and education essential to their She grew up in Eugene, attending grade Plains. health, safety and families’ well-being.

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