Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my teammates to recognize the accomplishments of the Congressional Basketball Team.

The Congressional Basketball Team won Monday's 22nd Annual Congressional Basketball game against a team of lobbyists.

We ended a drought for the Members' team going back to 2014. So we were due. We won 46-36 but most importantly, this event was sponsored by the Hoops for Youth Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that supports at-risk kids in our communities.

The Hoops for Youth Foundation was founded with the mission of creating opportunities for at-risk kids through basketball. They work to teach kids that the skills they use on the basketball court can be used every day in life to help them succeed.

It is a fun game. We come together. We won in a nice bipartisan fashion. Blake Moore was the MVP. He played an outstanding game, and we congratulate him for that. It was a great team effort.

Madam Speaker, we say thank you to the non-profit that put this together for us and the success we had with raising money and having fun at the same time.

Go team House of Representatives!

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Chuck Ealey, Portsmouth, Ohio native, on his induction to the United States College Football Hall of Fame.

Chuck was undefeated during his time as quarterback at Notre Dame High School in Portsmouth. He opted to attend the University of Toledo and led is team to 35 straight victories from 1969 to 1971 and three straight Tangerine Bowl victories during that span. In his final year at Toledo, Chuck was named First Team All-American by Football News, Third Team All-American by the Associated Press, and was a finalist for the 1971 Heisman Trophy.

Chuck later played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and led his team to a victory in the 60th Grey Cup in the 1972 season, earning the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award along the way. His number 16 was retired at Toledo, and to this day, no other college quarterback has won 35 games in a row.

During his time at Toledo, in the CFL, and in his business ventures since football, Chuck has exemplified determination and integrity, and shown what it truly means to be a leader of a team.

Congratulations to Chuck and his family on his well-deserved induction to the United States College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022. I look forward to seeing where the future will take him.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Greg Schneider, a UPS employee and CEO and Founder of Operation Ramp It Up, on earning the Jim Casey Community Service Award, the UPS' highest community service honor.

Operation Ramp it Up has helped veterans with physical disabilities and their families stay in their homes by providing access and equipment they need to move about as independently and freely as possible. A few years ago, Operation Ramp it Up began installing ramps for civilians as well.

The dedication of Greg and other volunteers like him has made a profound difference for communities across 42 U.S. states. In 2020, I have been fortunate to join Greg Schneider and his team for multiple ramp builds over the years in Southwest Ohio. I was impressed by their commitment.

Their work has led to the installation of over 150 wheelchair ramps. They will stop at nothing until they have built ramps in all 50 states and helped as many people and families as possible.

Again, congratulations to Greg on his well-deserved award for his work on Operation Ramp it Up.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Sherry Ems for her dedication and service to our State, our Nation, and our servicemembers working as the Executive Director at the United Services Organizations Ohio these last seven years.

For many service men and women, the USO offers the comforts of home: a place to rest or a meal to eat, as they ship off to another duty station, return from a long journey from a faraway base, or prepare to deploy. Sherry's service was a bright beacon of hope, integrity, and diligence.

She is exemplary of the patriotism and commitment we associate with the USO. Over the many years she served, Sherry's contributions went a long way towards supporting our service men and women. She embodies the civic pride we have in our troops and our nation.

I thank her for her tremendous work and service over the years at the USO and for our men and women in uniform, and we all wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate my good friend and mentor, Dr. O'Dell Owens, on his retirement. As an obstetrician, Dr. Owens brought countless young Americans into the world.

Dr. Owens served as chairman of the board at the University of Cincinnati. He was president of Cincinnati State University. He was the medical director of the Cincinnati Health Department, and he served as Hamilton County Coroner; all before spending 5 years as president and CEO of Interact for Health in Cincinnati.

Through his everyday example, he has lived his motto to ``help people help themselves.''

Dr. Owens' life is one devoted to a career of helping people who need it most. He often reflects on his dad's advice that ``tomorrow is not promised;'' therefore, it is necessary to make a difference today.

Dr. Owens, you have made a difference in so many lives, mine included. Dr. Owens, again, congratulations on your well-deserved retirement. Yet, I look forward to seeing what you may do next.

Madam Speaker, next week will mark 5 years since the fateful morning on the baseball field where 136 rounds were fired in an attack on Republicans. Only by the grace of God were 20 or more of my Republican colleagues and staff not killed by a crazed terrorist wielding guns on that baseball field. So this is not a theoretical exercise for many of us on this side of the aisle.

I say this not to take away from the tragedies that any one of us has experienced, but to highlight the good people on both sides of this issue can bring our personal experiences to the debate and may see things differently, while both condemning violence and wanting to act.

When I reflect on that day, it is not about the weapon. It is about the person, the evil person that is on the other side of that weapon. It was guns that stopped that killer--two undercover Capitol police officers. They were only there because Steve Scalise was there. And he got hit. Otherwise, that terrorist could have easily assassinated 20 to 30 Members of Congress and staff.

Clearly, there are people I don't want to have a gun in their hands but we can't ignore the hate, the evil that is gripping too many in our country today. We have laws against murder. Yet, we see murder.

If my little daughter hits her big brother, I want to know why. I don't blame the stick in her hand. As a physician, common sense tells me that if we don't look at the events in someone's life that lead to the thoughts and the feelings that then lead to this horrific murderous behavior, then we are doing our society a grave injustice. And that is what is happening. We have seen this movie before.

Did these laws change the disturbing trends that we are seeing? Previous bans have made no difference. It has been proven. Many of our communities have gun laws and have even more homicides than ever.

We as Americans need to do some serious soul-searching about ourselves because something serious has changed in our society over the last several decades.

Is it the absence of God?

Madam Speaker, we had a public school in my district that was forced by the left and the courts to take down ``thou shalt not kill'' from in front of the schools.

Is it the breakdown of the family, the disruption of the community, the implosion of the village? Or is it the destruction of our mental health system, which, unfortunately, turned everyone onto the streets instead of reforming our institutions?

It could be all these things and many more, but until America is willing to take a long, hard look at ourselves and heal what truly ails us, I fear we are simply doomed to repeat what we have done in the past and we are doing here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 200th birthday of our 18th United States President, Ulysses S. Grant.

President Grant was born in Point Pleasant, located in Clermont County in Ohio's Second Congressional District. When Ulysses was a child, the Grant family moved to Brown County, also in Ohio's Second District, and there he was educated before accepting a nomination to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Following his commissioning, Grant served in the Mexican-American War, and most notably, the Civil War, where he became Commanding General of the United States Army in 1864.

General Grant oversaw the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox Court House and served as Commanding General of the Army until he was elected President in 1868. He served two terms as President, overseeing the beginning of the Reconstruction Era in the United States.

President Grant is the General who ``saved the Union.'' He was a great leader who left his mark in American history. We should all seek to follow his example and leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have President Grant's birthplace in Ohio's Second Congressional District, a true landmark of our Nation's history.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 200th Birthday of the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. President Grant was born in Point Pleasant, located in Clermont County in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District.

When he was a child, his family moved to Brown County, also in Ohio's 2nd District, and there he was educated before accepting a nomination to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Following his commissioning, Grant served in the Mexican-American War and most notably, the Civil War, where he became Commanding General of the United States Army in 1864.

General Grant oversaw the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox Court House and served as Commanding General of the Army until he was elected President in 1868. He served two terms as President from 1869 to 1877 and oversaw the beginning of the Reconstruction Era in the United States.

President Grant was widely considered the General who ``saved the Union.'' He was a great leader who left his mark on American history, and we can all follow his example of courage. I am honored to have President Grant's home located in Ohio's 2nd Congressional district and a landmark of our nation's history.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Mt. Orab Mayor Bruce Lunsford, who passed away on February 21, 2022, at the age of 68.

Mayor Lunsford was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather as well as a diligent public servant who was an unwavering advocate for Mount Orab. His love of country and commitment to bettering his community were as indisputable as they were indispensable.

Bruce Lunsford began public service with the Mt. Orab City Council at the age of 18 and served as Mayor of Mount Orab for over 41 years.

He made a lasting impression on this Earth and his community. Bruce's impact on Mt. Orab, Brown County, and all that knew him will be felt for generations as his legacy lives on.

With the greatest respect, we are all forever grateful for the service of Mayor Bruce Lunsford and I am personally proud to have known him.

I ask for everyone to join me in praying for Bruce's wife, Becky, his family and friends, for the community he served, and the lives he touched.

Rest in peace, Mayor Lunsford.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act.

As a member of the Army Reserve, I know the critical role that reservists and members of the National Guard play in defending our great Nation. Unfortunately, I also know firsthand that sometimes unique skills and experiences the guardsmen and reservists bring to the table have been discounted or underutilized. That has always bothered me, as I personally know of the expertise that exists in our Guard and Reserve and their capabilities.

Great strides have been made to value the Reserve and Guard like we value Active Duty, and we have come a long way and we need to continue that work. At the same time, I also know that Active Duty requires a level of commitment that does differ from the Guard and Reserve. Unfortunately, this bill has significant problems that prevent me from supporting it, which could have been worked out in the committee process had there been a full legislative hearing on it. And that is why I say I stand to discuss this bill because this is the first opportunity I have really had to discuss it.

H.R. 1836 would provide guard and reservists with Active-Duty service credit towards GI Bill eligibility for every day they are in uniform, on Federal orders, including training. So this is a status that has never been counted towards educational benefits.

Now, as cochair of the Congressional Bipartisan Burn Pits Caucus, the committee's highest priority this Congress has been working to address the health effects that toxic exposures in the military, including from burn pits. I am very concerned that the substantial spending in this bill could pull away from those efforts to address toxic exposure in this tight fiscal environment.

I also have concerns that this legislation might continue a slow creep of a permanent Federalizing of the National Guard, which was never the intent. We must be mindful not to usurp State authority of the Guard. What I do believe would be appropriate, however, would be to allow guardsmen and reservists to accrue GI Bill eligibility for any time spent on Federal Active-Duty service other than training, as many in this body that serve here in Congress have done as Guard and Reserve.

I was called to Active Duty for 15 months; 12 months in Iraq. That should count. And that is a discussion we should have had, and what actually should maybe count and what should not because I think there is common ground. But we haven't had a chance to discuss it. There is just the bill. Representative Moore has offered a substitute amendment which would do exactly that, and I hope my colleagues will support that amendment, like I do.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill as offered and to instead support Representative Moore's substitute amendment.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of

my good friend, my dear friend, Congressman Andy Barr and his legislation named, of course, in memory of his late wife, Carol.

Andy knows Monica and I loved being with Carol and Andy whenever we could. Whenever we could get together it was great, especially when we traveled together.

Let me talk about the bill for a second. The Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy Act, or CAROL Act, will help to advance research on valvular heart disease.

Specifically, this bill authorizes grants that allow us to identify and develop a cohort of individuals with valvular disease.

We will then be able to gather data and help doctors determine which individuals are at high risk of sudden cardiac death.

And finally, the bill will convene subject matter experts to strategize on what research is needed to develop guidelines for treatment of patients with mitral valve prolapse.

As a doctor, I know this legislation will undoubtedly help to save many lives.

The bill's 180 cosponsors, who span the political spectrum, are a testament to how important this body believes this bill to be.

Today, we take another step towards getting this bill across the finish line. It will be a fitting tribute to a beautiful life when we see it signed into law.

Madam Speaker, I know Carol is beaming with pride as she looks down on Andy today. And Andy and Carol's girls, Eleanor and Mary Clay, are even more proud of both their mom and their dad than they already are on this particular day.

So may God bless Andy and Carol Barr. Carol reached out and touched the face of God, but the positive effects of her life and Andy's work will never perish. Their legacies are that they bring good things to life. So I am glad to see all of my colleagues here to support this bill, and I urge its passage.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank former USO- Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore CEO Elaine Rogers for her service to our community and congratulate her on her upcoming retirement.

Elaine was first hired by the USO-Metro chapter in 1976 and was quickly elevated to the role of Executive Director the following year.

Over the course of her remarkable career, she led the expansion of the USO-Metro to support 29 military installations across the National Capital Region.

For her tireless dedication to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families, Elaine has been recognized by the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force with service awards and medals.

I don't know anyone with the same energy and dedication as Elaine Rogers. I first met Elaine in 2007 as she annually brought the USO to Cincinnati, where thousands came together to support our troops.

Elaine is a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother, and I know she is looking forward to spending more time with her family in retirement.

She has served with diligence and integrity throughout her distinguished career. She is the ultimate patriot, and as they say, a real ``Yankee-Doodle Dandy.''

I thank Elaine again and wish her the best in her retirement. A grateful Nation salutes her.

Madam Speaker, we are here tonight to recognize and bring awareness to our servicemembers who are dealing with health issues caused by exposure to burn pits and other toxins during their tour of duty.

These brave men and women answered the call. They were willing to lay down their lives for our freedom, and they served us honorably.

Unknowingly, by following orders, they put themselves in harm's way.

As our military continues to adapt, we are learning that certain amounts of exposure to burn pits can potentially present troublesome and life-threatening health challenges, some that don't show up until later in life.

When I served in Iraq, I smelled the smoke, and I don't wish it upon anyone. Those suffering from the repercussions of burn pit exposure need help, not hurdles. We must meet them with compassion, not red tape. That is why I am proud to work with fellow members of the Congressional Burn Pit Caucus, as well as friends on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, to put forth bipartisan solutions to help our servicemembers. We must prevent this in the future and care for those that have borne the battle.

I want to thank my friend, Dr. Ruiz, for hosting this Special Order. I am proud to work with him on this issue, as I have been proud to work with him on so many other issues on behalf of patients.

Madam Speaker, there comes a time to dispel the myth that we must choose between women's rights and children's rights. Now is the time because we can protect both.

Sadly, abortion reveals society's inability to love, to protect, and to care for the most innocent and helpless among us.

When we devalue life, our society suffers. When we deem some to be nonessential, we devalue their lives.

I am strongly pro-life, and I consistently stand up for the rights of the unborn and the born.

Our society is willing to and does care for the mother in need. Perhaps she is scared and alone. Americans across the country reach out to help mothers and the children that they are nourishing in their wombs.

I must rise today to express my grave concern that our Democrat colleagues' proposed spending bill lacks crucial protections that ensure that taxpayer funds do not pay for abortions.

Without this protection, taxpayer-funded abortions not only harm us as a society but violate the religious freedoms of thousands of Americans.

The longstanding, bipartisan Hyde amendment ensures just that, that taxpayer funds do not go toward abortion. However, the Democrats' currently proposed multitrillion-dollar build back broke plan does not contain those lifesaving protections.

In 1994, then-Senator Joe Biden wrote, ``Those of us who are opposed to abortion should not be compelled to pay for them.''

In God we trust.