Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor the Clifford and Susie Thornton family on their well-deserved recognition as the 2015 honoree at the McDonald County Schools Foundation's second annual Heart of Education Banquet.

The Thornton family has blessed McDonald County with their dedication to community service and development. Clifford and Susie opened their family-owned pharmacy in Noel in 1979 and ran this small business for 29 years. They are the proud parents of three McDonald County Schools graduates, all of which have greatly contributed to the community's betterment.

Clifford and Susie's son Matt served as executive director of the McDonald County Community Development Council. While there, Matt played an influential role in the creation of the McDonald County Schools Foundation.

Their son Mike continued in the family profession and is now a pharmacist and small business owner in Anderson within the McDonald County community. Mike is also the current McDonald County Schools Foundation president.

Clifford and Susie's daughter Suzanne Schmidt also remains embedded in the local education as a nurse for the McDonald County School District. She is an avid supporter of the school's sports and extracurricular activities.

I urge my colleagues to join in congratulating the family of Clifford and Susie Thornton as the 2015 McDonald County Schools Foundation honoree.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give Consul General of Canada Roy B. Norton an enthusiastic welcome and wish him well on his visit to Southwest Missouri.

Consul General Norton represents Canadian interests in Missouri as well as in Illinois and Wisconsin. He focuses on trade, investment, environmental, cultural and academic policy areas.

Missouri and Canada's alliance runs deep in trade, impacting nearly 164,000 jobs in the state.

Canada is a strong partner with not only Missouri, but the U.S. as a whole. There is deep appreciation for the resources Canada offers such as energy and agricultural trade and our mutual national security interests as we partner to protect our shared borders, our homelands from shared enemies abroad and assisting the defense of our allies from theirs.

I am honored to recognize Consul General Norton, his representation of Canada and the valuable partnership the great state of Missouri and Canada share. I welcome him to my home state and continue looking forward to a strong future and alliance ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Coach Jay Osborne, head coach of the Nixa High School's men's basketball program, on his 500th career win.

Coach Osborne reached this impressive feat of 500 wins in his 23rd season at Nixa High School, a public school located in Nixa, Missouri, right outside of Springfield. With this win, Coach Osborne is now one of only 54 Missouri basketball coaches to reach 500 wins.

Through his tenure as head coach, Coach Osborne's teams have reached one state championship title in 1999, eight district championships, and won seven Blue and Gold Tournaments. On top of this impressive record, Coach Osborne has led his teams into three state final four appearances.

Coach Osborne's exemplary devotion to coaching is a testament of his hard work and dedication to the Nixa High School students, both on and off the court. The Nixa community is justifiably proud of Coach Osborne and the Nixa basketball program. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating him on his well-deserved victories.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize congenital heart defect Awareness Week, which is February 7th through 14th, 2015.

Each year approximately 40,000 babies are born right here in the United States with congenital heart defects. That is an astounding one in every 125 babies, making this the most common birth defect.

Most newborn infants are not routinely screened for congenital heart defects, causing many children to suffer or even perish early in life. However, if the defects are detected and treated early in life, they can be treated successfully. In the past quarter century, treatments have been developed enabling 500,000 children in the U.S. to survive to adulthood.

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week serves to raise awareness about this condition.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Webb City football team for winning their fifth straight state football championship.

The Webb City Cardinals clenched their fifth consecutive state title by defeating the Cape Central Tigers 48-21. Through their hard work and excellence on and off the field, the Cardinals have developed into a truly great championship team.

I also want to commend Head Coach John Roderique for a job well-done on developing such a strong football program. In his 18 years of coaching the Cardinals, his teams have won ten of the school's 13 state titles.

The Webb City community is rightly proud of this astonishing group of young and talented student-athletes. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Webb City Cardinals as they celebrate their fifth consecutive State Championship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Meyer Communications for broadcasting The Mormon Tabernacle Choir to the Ozarks area for over 50 years.

My dear friend Ken Meyer and his late wife Jane started Meyer Communications. Since its founding, Meyer Communications has been an outstanding neighbor in the Ozarks.

Jane passed away in 2001 but her generous spirit lives on today in the philanthropic endeavors of Ken and the Meyer Communications family.

For almost 86 years, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has been dedicated to transcending cultural and generational boundaries through music. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has been a much-loved phenomenon of broadcasting with the longest continuous broadcast on the air. Meyer Communications continues to present the Choir each week to be enjoyed by all in the Ozarks.

As we celebrate this special time of year with our family and friends, I want to say thank you to Jane and Ken Meyer for bringing the gift of music to the Ozarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Eagle Scout Baron Ryan on earning all 139 Merit Badges possible during his time in the Boy Scouts.

This feat is even more remarkable since only 242 boys out of the 110 million Boy Scouts who have ever been involved in Boy Scouts have earned every Merit Badge possible. Even then, because the Boy Scouts re-issued 4 additional historical Merit Badges in 2010 to celebrate the organization's 100th anniversary, Baron earned a total number of Merit Badges that only a handful of Boys Scouts in all of scouting history have accomplished.

But Scouting is not only about achieving Merit Badges. In his time as a Scout, Baron has completed hours upon hours of service to his community through projects such as collecting food for Least of These during Scouting for Food, playing his bugle for numerous Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies, cleaning up area rivers, serving our nation's veterans at VFW and American Legion events, and volunteering with charities such as Lost and Found, which serves children and teens in the Missouri Ozarks who are grieving due to the loss of a parent.

Aside from the time Baron dedicated to his community, he also dedicated himself and his time to his troop. During his time as a Boy Scout, Baron held many important leadership roles, including troop guide, instructor, historian, and chaplain's aide among others. As a Scout, Baron has also spent approximately 150 nights camping with his troop, including participating in high adventure crews at the Boy Scouts' Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Sea Base in the Florida Keys, and Northern Tier in Minnesota, all of which ultimately earned him the Boy Scouts' coveted Triple Crown award.

As if his accomplishments do not already seem vast, for his Eagle Project, Baron produced a 1,022 page book called Lamonga, River of the Seven Spirits that was ultimately donated free of cost to hundreds of Missouri schools and libraries.

I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Baron on all that he has accomplished and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Jim Giglio, Clif Smart, and Tom Strong on receiving the 2014 Missourian Award.

The Missourian Award recognizes Missourians who have positively impacted their communities, state, or nation through contributions in civics, arts, business, or politics.

It is important that we strive to better the community we live in and it is apparent that these three men from Missouri's 7th Congressional District have continually done that.

Jim Giglio served as an officer in the U.S. Army and taught at Missouri State University for 39 years. He has produced eight books, including one of my favorites `Call Me Tom: The Life of Thomas F. Eagleton,' along with the best seller out of the series on the study of John F. Kennedy in the American Presidency Series.

Since Clif Smart joined the Missouri State University community in 2007, he has not stopped working to better the school. When he became president in 2012, he immediately started to make new changes that would benefit the college and its students. Under President Smart, Missouri State University has met all five of its performance measures established by the Missouri Coordination Board of Higher Education and oversaw many improvements to the campus.

Tom Strong founded Strong, Garner, Bauer P.C. in 1976 and is admitted to practice law in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys awards the Thomas G. Strong Trial Attorney Award in his name to the attorney who is a great example of what a trial lawyer should be. He also authored a book that I thoroughly enjoyed titled 'Strong Advocate: The Life of a Trial Lawyer.'

I am proud of the initiative these three individuals have taken to make the great state of Missouri the best it can be. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating them on this tremendous honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sunshine Elementary School's sesquicentennial.

On October 24th, Sunshine Elementary School will celebrate 150 years of providing the children of Springfield, Missouri, with an outstanding education. Sunshine Elementary has always striven to provide children with the tools and skills necessary for them to be successful in life.

Though many changes have occurred in the past 150 years, one thing has remained constant, and that is the dedication of Sunshine Elementary faculty and staff to their students. Past and current faculty and staff have contributed long hours of committed service in providing each Sunshine Elementary student with the best education possible.

Sunshine Elementary would not be nearly as successful without the help and support provided by the surrounding Springfield community. Its strong ties to the neighborhood have allowed parents and faculty to work closely together, creating an environment especially conducive to learning and success.

Sunshine Elementary started out as a one-room building 150 years ago and over the years has grown into a great elementary school for Springfield students.

I congratulate Sunshine Elementary School as the school celebrates 150 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Arrowhead Building Supply, Inc. on receiving the Small Business of the Year award presented by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

Arrowhead Building Supply, Inc. arrived in the Branson area four years ago and has made its mission to develop relationships and trust in the community. Arrowhead prides itself on integrity, a principle that has helped it fit in well with the Branson community.

With services like same day delivery, roofing recycling bins, and job lockers, Arrowhead provides value that other suppliers simply cannot match. Arrowhead designs and builds all of its own delivery equipment, job lockers, and shingling recycling bins. Manufacturing its own products allows it to save time and service more customers in a day.

Arrowhead has gone above and beyond to become a part of the Branson community and we are lucky to have it and the outstanding services it provides to customers.

I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Arrowhead Building Supply, Inc. on receiving the Small Business of the Year award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Crisis Center on receiving the Charity of the Year award presented by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Crisis Center was first established in 1990 for the purpose of providing safe shelter, support, and advocacy for victims of domestic and sexual violence and their children. Since its establishment, the Crisis Center has grown to be able to accommodate up to 40 women and children at one time.

The Crisis Center provides a large number of invaluable services to victims such as support groups, counseling, case management, crisis intervention, court advocacy and a 24-hour crisis hotline. It is the only non-profit in the area that provides such services, and all free of charge. The Crisis Center shelters an average of 300 women, men and children each year, and also provides services to 700 non-resident women, men and children.

As a member of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and its Board of Directors for the past 15 years, the Crisis Center has become involved with many other organizations that share its vision for providing a community based response to eliminating domestic and sexual abuse.

The services provided by the Crisis Center have greatly helped to make Branson a safer and happier community over the past 24 years.

I would like to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Crisis Center on receiving the Charity of the Year award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chateau on the Lake Resort on receiving the Ozark Mountain Hospitality award presented by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

Chateau on the Lake prides itself on its outstanding customer service. Its client-based business philosophy has continually ensured that its customers always have the best experience possible during their stay. The Chateau takes the approach that the customer knows what they want and should receive nothing less.

The Chateau, also known as the ``Castle in the Ozarks,'' offers 301 beautifully appointed guest rooms and 57 spacious hotel suites with a focus on comfort and luxury. Nestled on Table Rock Lake, one can truly let one's cares melt away at this resort.

Chateau on the Lake has shown the community the true spirit of hospitality, and that spirit is exhibited in its employees' drive to meet the needs of its customers.

I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Chateau on the Lake on receiving the Ozark Mountain Hospitality award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judge Alan Blankenship for being awarded the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (ASTAR) fellowship distinction by the Missouri Supreme Court.

Judge Alan Blankenship has served as Associate Circuit Judge in Stone County since 2002. Aside from presiding over civil and criminal general jurisdiction cases, Judge Blankenship presides over the successful Stone County Drug and DWI court programs and serves on the Missouri Trial Judge Education Committee and Missouri Association of Drug Court Professionals Board of Directors.

ASTAR is the lead agency responsible for conducting a program whereby judges from around the country undergo advanced training in science and technology to better equip the courts to handle issues dealing with science and technology. ASTAR judges may be assigned to handle cases or consult with judges with complex scientific matters and help develop training programs for trial judges.

On August 27, 2014, Missouri Supreme Court Judge Zel Fischer presented Judge Blankenship with his ASTAR fellowship award. The ASTAR fellowship award was given to him after completing over 120 hours of court-related science and technology training given by experts in fields such as computer forensics and cybercrime.

I am honored to recognize Judge Alan Blankenship for his service and leadership to the Stone County community.

Mr. Speaker, over the last few decades, the Federal Government has regulated activities of the American people in increasingly minute detail. It was the Founders' desire to protect our individual liberty by having a government which was energetic in its ability to perform the duties entrusted in it but limited in its scope, a concept incompatible with the current degree of overregulation.

The result is diminished job opportunities and higher costs for the average American. When jobs are lost, when new businesses never open, it is the low-skilled, the young, new worker and those already suffering from chronic unemployment who are harmed the most.

The story of America is the story of someone starting out with nothing and achieving the American Dream. The secret to our success has always been our free and dynamic society that enables everyone to fulfill their unique human potential. It is time for Congress to decide whether it values paperwork or

people. Don't regulate the American Dream out of existence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Southwest Missouri Regional Community Emergency Response Team (MOCERT1) on being awarded one of the 2014 Community Preparedness Awards by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Each year FEMA announces the winners of its Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. These awards are intended to recognize the outstanding emergency preparedness efforts of individuals, programs, and organizations throughout the country.

Out of more than 230 applications FEMA received for the 2014 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards only 11 were chosen to be awarded with the honor.

MOCERT1 is the first regional Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) within the State of Missouri. MOCERT1 incorporates the region's city and county CERT personnel, equipment, and assets into one regionally based team. MOCERT1 has enabled larger and stronger response efforts that would not otherwise be possible. MOCERT1 has not only deployed relief efforts locally, but their help has been requested in surrounding states and communities. The many response efforts of MOCERT1 have included helping the communities of Moore, Oklahoma, and Baxter Springs, Kansas, with tornado relief and response efforts.

I am honored to recognize the members of MOCERT1 for their outstanding and commendable efforts in providing assistance to local and regional communities.