[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 130 (Friday, September 27, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H5892-H5893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0930
             MICHAEL D. RESNICK TERRORIST SCREENING CENTER

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3096) to designate the building occupied by the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation located at 801 Follin Lane, Vienna, Virginia, 
as the ``Michael D. Resnick Terrorist Screening Center''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3096

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The building occupied by the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation located at 801 Follin Lane, Vienna, Virginia, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Michael D. Resnick 
     Terrorist Screening Center'' during the period in which the 
     building is occupied by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       During the period in which the building referred to in 
     section 1 is occupied by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
     any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or 
     other record of the United States to that building shall be 
     deemed to be a reference to the ``Michael D. Resnick 
     Terrorist Screening Center''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Carson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 3096 would designate the building occupied by the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation in Vienna, Virginia, as the ``Michael D. Resnick 
Terrorist Screening Center.''
  Supervisory Special Agent Michael Resnick dedicated his 20 years of 
service with the FBI to protecting our Nation. He demonstrated his 
dedication to protecting us all from terrorism as he continued to work 
while fighting pancreatic cancer. Sadly, he passed away in 2011.
  I think that it is more than fitting to name the FBI's Terrorist 
Screening

[[Page H5893]]

Center after him. I support the passage of this legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 3096, which designates the building 
occupied by the FBI in Vienna, Virginia, as the ``Michael D. Resnick 
Terrorist Screening Center.''
  As a former law enforcement officer, I have a special appreciation 
for Supervisory Special Agent Resnick's 20-year FBI career. His service 
was highlighted by his role as a senior advisor in the White House, 
where he had a prominent role in leading the Presidential review of 
watch-listing policies and procedures in the aftermath of the failed 
terrorist airplane bombing on December 25, 2009. Special Agent Resnick 
led the interagency review, which led to significant improvements in 
how the U.S. Government screens and integrates intelligence on 
terrorist suspects.
  Agent Resnick was a well-respected public servant who passed away in 
2011 as a result of pancreatic cancer. This designation is supported by 
the building owner, and it will stay with the building for as long as 
the FBI occupies this facility. The name designation of the FBI's 
Terrorist Screening Center is a very fitting tribute to Supervisory 
Special Agent Resnick and his exemplary career with the FBI. Agent 
Resnick will be remembered for his dedication to developing the 
architecture of a government-wide watch-listing of terrorism suspects, 
and for his tireless efforts to protect our fellow Americans from 
terrorism. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3096.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARLETTA. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished subcommittee 
chairman and, of course, my colleague, the distinguished ranking member 
of the subcommittee, for their wonderful cooperation on this important 
bill.
  By the way, I believe we are going to be joined by Mr. Resnick's 
widow and daughter very soon. Our colleague Mr. Grimm is going to be 
accompanying them here to the House.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation, as already indicated, will rename the 
FBI's Terrorist Screening Center, located in the 11th District of 
Virginia, in honor of Supervisory Special Agent Michael Resnick, who 
was instrumental in the creation of this very critical component of our 
national security network.
  I am pleased to sponsor this bill, along with my fellow Virginia 
colleagues Frank Wolf and Jim Moran and with my colleague Richard Hanna 
of New York.
  Like so many of the brave men and women throughout our law 
enforcement community, Mike Resnick was seized by the mission of public 
service and gave every ounce to ensure the safety of those he was sworn 
to protect. In his more than 20 years with the Bureau, Mike held 
numerous tactical and supervisory roles, but his greatest contributions 
came in the field of counterterrorism at precisely the time we needed 
it.
  Following the attacks of 9/11, Mike Resnick was instrumental in 
laying the foundational policies and architecture for the screening and 
watch list system now administered by the interagency Terrorist 
Screening Center. He was later assigned to the National Security 
Council, where one of his last assignments was in promoting timely and 
effective information-sharing among Federal, State and local law 
enforcement partners. As a former local government leader myself, I can 
tell you how vital such collaboration is to the safety of our 
communities. Tragically, Mike Resnick was diagnosed with pancreatic 
cancer in May of 2010, but he continued to staff his post through the 
physical and emotional strain of his treatments.
  CIA Director John Brennan, who at the time was the Assistant to the 
President For Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, said that Mike 
wanted to make sure everything was in order for those who will carry on 
with his work.
  He died on February 2, 2011, at the age of 50.
  Mike is survived by his wife, Sarah Chamberlain, and their daughter, 
Jordan. It was one of my former colleagues, Amo Houghton of New York, 
who introduced Mike and Sarah by setting them up on a blind date. They 
were married here in Washington, and they enjoyed tennis, golf and 
travel when they could find the time. Mike played as hard as he worked. 
In fact, I'm told he was known to give some of our Republican 
colleagues a run for their money on the tennis court.
  He grew up in Bayside, Wisconsin, where his parents, Sheldon and 
Ruth, still reside. It will come as no surprise that Mike was an Eagle 
Scout growing up. He was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin--
Madison and of the DePaul University College of Law. Prior to his 
service with the FBI, he spent a brief period as a prosecutor.

  Former FBI Director Robert Mueller said that Mike was not motivated 
by recognition but by a desire to get the job done, help others and to 
see those around him succeed.
  Though he shied away from the spotlight, renaming the building in 
which he invested so much of himself offers a fitting recognition and a 
lasting tribute to the memory of one of our Nation's most dedicated 
public servants, whom the President characterized as no less than an 
American hero. I hope we remember that as we debate the issue of a 
shutdown of the Federal Government. Our Federal Government is filled 
with such noble public servants who are serving this country.
  Let me close by again thanking the chairman and ranking member of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and of its Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, and I 
urge the passage of this fitting tribute, this legislation, this 
morning.
  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. BARLETTA. I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, as a former mayor for 11 years, I had the opportunity to 
work with some great people in law enforcement, not only in our city 
government but also those in the FBI, and I know all too well the 
difficult job that these men and women do to keep us safe, especially 
Mr. Resnick, who dedicated his life to fighting terrorism. I don't 
believe we need to look very far to see how vitally important it is as 
we try to keep Americans safe from terrorism right here at home.
  Mr. Resnick not only loved his job, but he loved his country, so I 
think it is very fitting that we honor all of those unsung heroes who 
go to work each day, never expecting to see their names in the 
headlines or in a story. They are the men and women who go to work and 
make sure that we have the freedoms that we have here in America. 
Naming a courthouse is not a small thing, and naming a building is not 
a small thing, nor is just the dedication of a good American who did 
all he could. Even during illness, even during a time when most would 
quit and stop, he continued to work because of his love for his family 
and his country.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3096.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BARLETTA. 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.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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