[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12502]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    ENSURING SAFETY, QUALITY, AND RELIABILITY FOR OUR VETERANS WITH 
                         PHYSICAL DISABILITIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 3471, the Veterans Mobility Safety Act, a bill I am proud to 
cosponsor. This legislation would set minimum standards for any 
individual or company installing or selling mobility products to 
veterans through a Department of Veterans Affairs equipment program.
  These products are used by disabled veterans to increase their 
mobility and their overall quality of life, but the VA does not 
currently require vendors who make or repair the products to meet a 
certain level of certification. Standards in this legislation would 
help guarantee safety, quality, and reliability.
  It is critical that our veterans who have given so much for our 
country have the best available equipment to accommodate any physical 
disability. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.


             Supplying Students with Skills Businesses Need

  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 5587, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 
21st Century Act, a bill I am proud to cosponsor; and I wish to 
recognize my colleague from Pennsylvania, G.T. Thompson, for his work 
on that bill.
  This bipartisan legislation would provide State and local educators 
with greater control and flexibility with respect to career and 
technical education programs; and it takes an important step in closing 
the skills gap faced by American employers and manufacturers.
  In order to succeed in the modern workforce, students need to emerge 
with the skills that State and local businesses need. The Strengthening 
Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act does just that, 
encouraging greater student involvement in work-based learning and, in 
the classroom, emphasizing the development of employability skills and 
the importance of attaining credentials.
  As co-chair of the 21st Century Skills Caucus, I have been working on 
legislation with similar goals, and I am very proud to see provisions I 
have advocated for included in this bill.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.


                         Halting Tax Increases

  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 3590, the Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act. 
This legislation would put taxpayers' hard-earned dollars back into 
their own pockets. It would lower the required percentage of income 
that must be spent to qualify for a tax deduction for medical costs.
  Americans should be able to deduct high-cost medical expenses, and 
this legislation would reduce the required percentage from 10 percent 
to 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill to provide middle class 
families and seniors with deserved tax relief, as they have already had 
to spend a significant amount of their income on these expenses.

                              {time}  1045


                 Richland Borough Celebrates 100 Years

  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
congratulate Richland Borough, Lebanon County, of my district, on 110 
years of incorporation.
  On September 17, 1906, Richland became its own municipality, breaking 
from Millcreek Township, gaining its name from the fertile soil in the 
area.
  Richland is home to the inventor of the air pump used by Henry Ford 
on the Model T and will celebrate this and the rest of its impressive 
history this weekend.
  I wish to also recognize the Lebanon Daily News for a great article 
on the history of Richland Borough. Gary Althaus of the Richland 
Heritage Society and many others have been organizing a series of 
events that will take place this upcoming Saturday.
  A little bit more brief history: August 9, 1906, the citizens of 
Richland held a public meeting on the subject of the advantages of a 
borough. On August 12, the plan was put in circulation, and by 11 p.m., 
it had 50 signatures. Then on August 16, 1906, Mr. Holstein took the 
petition to the county courthouse and presented it before the court, 
and on September 17, the presiding judge granted the charter. On 
February 25, 1907, the first Richland Borough Council meeting was 
organized at the Union House, which then became the place of many 
meetings, including borough council meetings thereafter.
  Congratulations to Richland Borough and all its residents. I am very 
proud to represent you in the United States Congress.

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