Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent of mine, Mr. John Griesheimer, on his retirement after 36 years in service to the citizens of Franklin County.

Since 1982, Mr. Griesheimer has provided dedicated service to his community of Washington, Missouri. It started with his representation on the City Council in 1982 through 1988 before being elected as County Commissioner in 1989 and serving in that role until 1992. Those 4 years of service as a commissioner adequately prepared Mr. Griesheimer for his next elected official roles as State Representative followed by the State Senate. For nearly 20 years he served in the Missouri Legislature and holds the title of being the first State Senator from Washington, Missouri--what an honor! Once his term as State Senator was completed, Mr. Griesheimer continued his dedicated public service to Franklin County as Presiding Commissioner until July of this year.

Throughout his commissioner and state elected official duties, Mr. Griesheimer was active in many community organizations: OATS Transit, Washington Lions Club, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Missouri Association of Counties, Knights of Columbus, Elks, Missouri Main Street Connection, Washington Historical Society, and the Washington Bridge Committee. Each of these organizations have shared their great appreciation for the many hours Mr. Griesheimer has spent volunteering his time.

With his numerous civic responsibilities, Mr. Griesheimer has seen major accomplishments over the years. In 1986, during his time on the City Council, the Washington City Pool Renovations were completed. In 1997, as he served as Missouri State Representative, Amtrak installed a stop in Washington. Then in 2007, while he was a Missouri State Senator, he helped with the passage of the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Bill for Franklin County. This zoning bill paved the way for the building of the Menards Distribution Center in Sullivan, Missouri. In 2010 the Associated Industries of Missouri acknowledged his great work by presenting him with the Friend of Manufacturing and Industry Award.

Of Mr. Griesheimer's biggest supporters over the years are his wife, Rita and their three children. In his retirement, he will enjoy spending more time with his family. He will also continue his service on the statewide OATS Transportation Board and with the Washington Lions Club.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. John Griesheimer on his retirement after 36 years in dedicated service to his hometown, county, and state.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus), who is vice chair of the House Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee, and the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty) for their work on this legislation.

For years, the Federal Government has slowly expanded its jurisdiction in a number of areas. From healthcare to education, the Federal Government's presence has grown larger and larger. This bill attempts to restore regulatory balance and ensure that the proper authority--in this instance, the State insurance commissioners--can continue to do the job they have done well for more than 100 years.

In a pre-Dodd-Frank world, there were more than 30 insurance savings and loan holding companies that owned insurance depository institutions. Federal Reserve supervision of these institutions has driven insurance companies to close their banks. That list includes Shelter Insurance, headquartered just outside my district in Columbia, Missouri.

In the wake of Dodd-Frank and the dawn of Federal Reserve supervision, Shelter executives said it was simply no longer cost- effective to run a bank.

This was a profitable, well-run bank that served people in the communities I represent that was put out of business by the Federal Government.

Mr. Rothfus and Mrs. Beatty have introduced legislation that would mandate more tailored supervision of insurance holding companies subject to Federal Reserve oversight. The legislation will require the Fed to streamline examination procedures and better coordinate with State insurance regulators.

To be clear, the legislation does not, Mr. Speaker--and I say again, does not--end Federal Reserve supervision. It merely directs the Fed to better coordinate with the States and develop standards that are more suitable for insurers, something Congress has asked them to do for years.

The gentleman from Pennsylvania and the gentlewoman from Ohio worked together and with the Federal Reserve, both before and after the markup, to address various concerns. They are both to be commended for their efforts to work across the aisle and with the regulators.

H.R. 5059 is a commonsense solution to Federal overreach and a step toward reduction of bureaucratic redundancy. The bill has received tremendous support, so much that it was agreed to by a voice vote in the Financial Services Committee on July 24.

Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank Mr. Rothfus and Mrs. Beatty for their ongoing leadership and ask my colleagues to join me in supporting

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Harrison Frank of the Russellville Indians for his first-place finish in the 800m Run at the 2018 Missouri Class 2 State Track and Field Championship.

Harrison and his coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Harrison Frank for a job well done

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Julia Christy and wish her a Happy 90th Birthday. She will be celebrating this milestone on August 16, 2018.

Mrs. Christy has enjoyed a rich and fulfilling life; from her childhood home of southeast Missouri to her current place of residency in O'Fallon she has been a blessing to her friends and family and loved by her community. During her time in southeast Missouri she met and married her late husband, Mr. Walter Christy. For over 60 years, they lived, laughed, and loved through the life they shared together. Mrs. Christy treasures the many nieces and nephews that are part of her life. Until her retirement, Mrs. Christy was a dedicated employee at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis. Her parish, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is very appreciative of her dedicated volunteering spirit and commitment to the daily mass schedule. For many years, Mrs. Christy was an active member of her quilting circle. No doubt that those who received her quilts are still cherishing them to this day.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in wishing Mrs. Julia Christy a very Happy 90th Birthday. Best wishes for much happiness and health in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, the National Flood Insurance Program is critical to millions of Americans who need access to affordable flood insurance, but it is also in desperate need of reform. The current construct of the NFIP doesn't serve anyone well. Taxpayers are left unprotected, and the program continues to offer antiquated policies and provides insufficient coverage. FEMA continues to hold a monopoly in the flood insurance space, leaving policyholders with no freedom to choose a policy that works best for them.

Mr. Speaker, last year, we came together as a body and passed comprehensive NFIP reform. Unfortunately, the Senate has failed to do anything with those even modest reforms that we had in that bill. Tomorrow, we are probably going to pass another bill and kick the can down the road. We will probably do the same thing in November.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose this bill because I think it is time to make some reforms. It is time to take a stand and do something to protect the taxpayers who are on the hook for all of what I call the mismanagement of this agency and for these continued risks to individuals who are policyholders of these policies who continue to live in dangerous areas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Devin Roberson of the Jefferson City Jays for his first-place finish in the Discus Field Event at the 2018 Missouri Class 5 State Track and Field Championship.

Devin and his coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community.

I ask you to join me in recognizing Devin Roberson for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Margie Ann Luetkemeyer Luebbert on the celebration of her 90th Birthday.

On August 3, 1928, Margie was born to Henry and Regina Luetkemeyer in Meta, Missouri and was a welcomed addition to the families of her beloved grandparents Anton and Anna Luetkemeyer and George and Angela Dickneite. A joyous union of marriage began when Margie married her late husband Fritz on February 4, 1950. Fritz and Margie welcomed 4 children to their family: Kathy, Steven, Mark, and Kristen. Margie enjoys the love of 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way.

Throughout the years, Margie worked for Mid-America Bank in Meta. In her retirement, she has been committed to public service in various capacities. The community banks in Meta and Linn have benefited from her banking experience by her service on the board of directors. Margie has also been actively involved with the St. Cecelia Parish in Meta and especially enjoys the yearly picnic. Margie and I share a love of baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals along with her favorite college team, the University of Missouri Tigers. The love of sports runs in Margie's family and many of her children and grandchildren are involved in local and college sports such as: baseball, basketball, and softball. She is their biggest cheerleader at their sporting events.

Of her many accomplishments, Margie considers one of her greatest to be the organization of the family reunion for the Anton and Anna Luetkemeyer family in Jefferson City in 1992. It was certainly no small feat with the 15 descendants and their families for a total of over 450 people joining the celebration that day. The reunion was such a grand event the local TV station reported on it during their evening newscast.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in wishing Margie Ann Luetkemeyer Luebbert a very Happy 90th Birthday. Best wishes for much happiness and health in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 4x800m Relay Team of the Washington Blue Jays for their first-place finish at the 2018 Missouri Class 4 State Track and Field Championship. This 4x800m relay team includes Mikayla Reed, Mia Reed, Morgan Holdmeyer, and Claire Ayers.

The 4x800m Relay Team and their coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community.

I ask you to join me in recognizing the 4x800m Relay Team for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Bryan Candrl of the Owensville Dutchmen for his first-place finish in the Pole Vault Field Event at the 2018 Missouri Class 3 State Track and Field Championship.

Bryan and his coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community.

I ask you to join me in recognizing Bryan Candrl for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Jasmine Evers of the Eugene Eagles for her first-place finish in the Discus Event at the 2018 Missouri Class 2 State Track and Field Championship.

Jasmine and her coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community.

I ask you to join me in recognizing Jasmine Evers for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Harrison Fran of the Russellville Indians for his first-place finish in the 800m Run at the 2018 Missouri Class 2 State Track and Field Championship.

Harrison and his coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community.

I ask you to join me in recognizing Harrison Fran for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Anna Heacock of the Festus Tigers for her first-place finish in the 300m Hurdles at the 2018 Missouri Class 2 State Track and Field Championship.

Anna and her coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community.

I ask you to join me in recognizing Anna Heacock for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Emma Homfeldt of the Calvary Lutheran Lions for her first-place finish in the 800m Run at the 2018 Missouri Class 1 State Track and Field Championship.

Emma and her coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community.

I ask you to join me in recognizing Emma Homfeldt for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Gabriel Kurtz of the Camdenton Lakers for his first-place finish in the Javelin Field Event at the 2018 Missouri Class 4 State Track and Field Championship.

Gabriel and his coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community.

I ask you to join me in recognizing Gabriel Kurtz for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Kylie Meier of the Camdenton Lakers for her first-place finish in the 100m and 300m Hurdles at the 2018 Missouri Class 4 State Track and Field Championship.

Kylie and her coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community.

I ask you to join me in recognizing Kylie Meier for a job well done.