Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the one hundred and sixty-five years of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church located in Ann Arbor, Michigan as they host the Michigan Annual Conference of the Fourth Episcopal District of AME Churches. Their over one hundred and fifty years of service and dedication to our community is worthy of commendation.

The AME Church is the oldest historically Black church denomination, founded by faith leaders who faced racial discrimination that would prevent African American worshippers from attending the same sermons as their white peers. Beginning with the first Church in Philadelphia, Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the AME churches expanded rapidly following the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of enslaved African Americans who sought a spiritual home. The Mission of the AME Church is to minister the social, spiritual, and physical development of all people.

Founded by John Wesley Brooks in 1857, Bethel AME is the oldest historically Black church in Washtenaw County. Since their humble beginnings in a shared worship space, they have been a welcoming a vibrant member of our diverse faith collaborative in Southeast Michigan. Currently led by Reverend Mashod A. Evans, Sr. Bethel AME is a beacon of the Ann Arbor community. Their work goes far beyond worship with their charitable work done throughout the county by the congregation. They arrange donation drives for agencies that assist our neighbors at all walks of life, run a literacy program for children, and host events that support the health of our entire community. The church and its members are dedicated to uplifting and bettering our community, and for that we are thankful for their nearly two centuries of service.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating one hundred and sixty-five years of Bethel AME Church. As the Fourth Episcopal District celebrates their one hundred and thirty sixth Michigan Annual Conference here in Ann Arbor, we welcome leaders and delegates representing over fifty churches from across this great state. I join with Bishop John F. White, Reverend Mashod A. Evans, and the entire congregation of Bethel AME and the Fourth Episcopal District in extending my best wishes and gratitude to all on this special day. We are grateful for Bethel AME's impactful work and wish them continued success in the coming years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Sandra Harris of Ann Arbor, Michigan on the occasion of her 70th birthday. Her excellent service to our community is worthy of commendation.

Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Dr. Harris is a graduate of Mack Elementary, Forsythe Middle School, and Pioneer High School. She attended Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti where she earned four degrees: a bachelors, masters, specialists, and doctorate, all in the education field. She began her career at Ann Arbor Public Schools, serving in various roles, including as teacher, Vice Principal, Personnel Director, and Vocational Coordinator. Dr. Harris then went on to serve as Superintendent at Lincoln Consolidated Schools and the Oak Park School District before retiring. Coming out of retirement, Dr. Harris now serves as Dean Emerita and Director of Graduate Education at the School of Education at Concordia University in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Harris' lifelong dedication to education exemplifies her passion for helping the youth in our community succeed and thrive. Her work has touched the lives of so many and her warmth and enthusiasm for helping others is made known wherever she goes. Even if she is busy, she always has time to mentor the next generation. Her commitment to our students has not gone unnoticed, and Dr. Harris is the recipient of multiple awards including the Women of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of the Huron Valley Council, the Outstanding Professional Educator Award from the Ann Arbor Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, the Most Influential Women Award from Business Direct Weekly, and the Women of Courage-Women of Change Award from the Minerva Educational Development Foundation.

Dr. Sandra Harris has paved the way for young African American women in our community and is a trailblazer in educational leadership. She is the first African American to earn a Doctor of Education from Eastern Michigan University, the first African American to hold the position of Superintendent for Lincoln Consolidated Schools and the first African American to become a Dean at Concordia University. Additionally, she was the first female Superintendent at Oak Park School District. Dr. Harris is a member of the Ann Arbor Chapter of the Links, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, and the Second Baptist Church of Ann Arbor. Her continued involvement and outstanding contributions to our community are commendable, and I am proud to honor all her accomplishments here today.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Dr. Sandra Harris on her 70th birthday. She is someone that I am proud to call my friend. I join with Sandra's family and friends in extending my best and warmest wishes to her on this special day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022.

I thank all of my committee members on both sides for months of work on this important bipartisan legislation, which reauthorizes and strengthens critical mental and behavioral health programs that will help address public health issues like the opioid epidemic, which claimed over 107,000 lives in the United States last year alone.

The mental health package before us contains strong mental health parity provisions that my colleague Congresswoman Katie Porter and I led. This will close a critical gap in healthcare coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment for thousands of frontline workers across the country.

It also includes a provision I worked on with my friend and colleague, Congressman French Hill, that provides incentives for co- prescribing when a doctor pairs an opioid prescription with a prescription of an opioid overdose reversal drug like naloxone. This is a proven method to reduce overdose deaths.

Finally, it is good to see consideration of an amendment I coauthored with Congressman McKinley cracking down on suspicious orders of opioids, which will help further curb abuses and save lives.

Mr. Speaker, all of us have had family members or know someone who has had a mental health crisis or issue or suffered from depression. For too long, people have been afraid to even acknowledge it, to seek help, or to get help. There has been a stigma associated with it. Today, all of us on both sides of this aisle need to help remove that stigma.

My sister died of a drug overdose, and my father was a drug addict. Perhaps we wouldn't have suffered some of the traumas had people not been afraid to speak of it.

Mr. Speaker, this is a strong package that will improve our national response, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Revolutionary War Veterans Sergeant Benjamin Woodruff and Corporal Josiah Cutler on the occasion of the laying of a plaque in their honor at Forest Hill Cemetery located in Ann Arbor, Michigan by the Huron Valley Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Freedom is not free, and today we pause to remember two men who served their country during the Revolutionary War. Their service to our nation at the time of its birth is worthy of commendation.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Sergeant Benjamin Woodruff first enlisted in the Continental Army as a drummer in 1776. He later enlisted as a Sergeant in the New Jersey Militia and served in this position for the remainder of the war. During his time in the army, Sergeant Woodruff fought in the battles of Elizabethtown, Springfield, and at Acquacvkanock. He died in Pittsfield Township, Michigan in 1837 at the age of 92.

Corporal Josiah Cutler was a native of Brookfield, Massachusetts. Beginning in 1778, he served for four years and 10 months in the Continental Army until he was honorably discharged in 1784. While enlisted, Corporal Cutler fought at Battle of Kingsbridge and stormed the redoubt at Yorktown under General Lafayette. In 1840, at age 78, Cutler moved to Pittsfield Township, Michigan where he died a couple months later.

Both Sergeant Benjamin Woodruff and Corporal Josiah Cutler are remembered for their honorable military service and dedication to our nation. They are just a few of the native and adopted Michiganders who fought for our country during the revolution. It is important for us to honor the veterans of community who fought for the freedom of our nation, a value we continue to hold dear today. There is no better moment to recognize these veterans than on the upcoming anniversary of our nation. We are thankful for the path these soldiers laid out for past, present, and future Americans over two centuries ago.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the honorable men Sergeant Benjamin Woodruff and Corporal Josiah Cutler as they are memorialized in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We join with Americans everywhere in extending our thanks to the Huron Valley Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution for their work remembering these important men. Today and every day, we honor the brave patriots we lost in the fight for our independence. We are grateful for their military service and their willingness to fight for the freedom and liberty that we enjoy today.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1170, I call up the bill (H.R. 2773) to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to make supplemental funds available for management of fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need as determined by State fish and wildlife agencies, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2773.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2773, the Recovering America's Wildlife Act. This legislation has been years in the making, and this moment is the culmination of the collected works of a bipartisan group of Members, a strong, diverse coalition of advocates, and grassroots support from across the country.

This work began in 2015 when the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies--which represents State fish and wildlife agencies across the country--established a blue ribbon panel on sustaining America's diverse fish and wildlife resources.

After working closely with hunting and fishing organizations, as well as partners in the sportsmen's community, businesses, and other advocates, it was decided that we needed a 21st century model of funding conservation to address the current shortfalls in wildlife conservation.

Right now, the United States is facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis. One-third of all bird species are in need of urgent conservation action. In fact, the number of birds in the United States and Canada have fallen by 29 percent since 1970; a decline of almost 3 billion fewer birds.

We have seen similar declines across the board. For example, 40 percent of freshwater fish species are also at risk. One-third of all U.S. wildlife species are currently imperiled or vulnerable.

These developments threaten our common environmental heritage, reduce opportunities for outdoor recreation, and will require costly and aggressive interventions if not addressed soon.

This legislation is particularly critical for the sportsmen's community. As one of the co-chairs of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I have always said that sportsmen and women are some of our best conservation advocates, as they understand the on-the-ground reality of the decline in wildlife and the importance of cost-effective conservation.

Their input has been critical to the historic and innovative legislation before us today. Without a change in the way we finance fish and wildlife conservation, the list of Federally threatened and endangered species will balloon from nearly 1,600 species today to thousands more in the future.

The cost of inaction is immense. The longer we wait to address this issue, the more resources we will ultimately need to safeguard our Nation's wildlife and environment. And we cannot keep waiting. We must take the bold, urgent action that addresses the scale of the threat. We need strong, proactive conservation measures to address these

unmet needs, and that is why the Recovering America's Wildlife Act is necessary.

The legislation provides approximately $1.4 billion in dedicated, annual funding to the States, territories, and Native American Tribes for proactive conservation efforts for the approximately 12,000 species of wildlife and plants identified under State wildlife action plans.

This bold investment in our Nation's wildlife will pay significant dividends. It will allow States to take proactive action that will prevent at-risk species from becoming endangered. This is critical not only to preserving our common environmental heritage, but for supporting hunters, anglers, and the almost $900 billion outdoor recreation economy.

As I have said previously, as one of the co-chairs of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I understand the importance of these measures to support fishermen and hunters across the country.

I thank my three fellow co-chairs of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus who have sponsored the Recovering America's Wildlife Act as well. It shows the strong, bipartisan support for this bill.

The broad group of stakeholders supporting the Recovering America's Wildlife Act underscores the need for action and the support for this approach. Hundreds of leading sportsmen's groups, hunting and fishing advocates across the country, conservation organizations, environmental organizations, and businesses, all support the legislation for good reason: it utilizes proven funding mechanisms, boldly addresses pressing conservation needs, and prevents the need for more costly interventions in the future.

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act is the product of years and years of work and consultation with these stakeholders and has broad bipartisan support. This legislation has received bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, and the thoughtful input of my colleagues has resulted in strong consensus legislation that will benefit every single congressional district in the country.

We have a conservation, economic, and moral rationale to act in order to protect and recover America's wildlife for future generations. This is an opportunity to take historic action to address a pressing conservation need, and I ask my colleagues that they support the Recovering America's Wildlife Act.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's perspective on permanent funding, and I have a great deal of respect for him. We have and will always continue to work together on conservation issues. But the fact is we know that stable and predictable funding is critical to effective conservation efforts, and that is what the blue ribbon panel on sustaining America's diverse fish and wildlife resources--which included 26 members from the hunting and fishing business and outdoor recreation communities--found in their 2016 report whose recommendations formed the basis of this legislation. We have seen that this funding structure has been fundamental to the success of Pittman- Robertson and Dingell-Johnson conservation programs upon which this is built.

I appreciate my colleague's views on oversight. This legislation contains robust guardrails to ensure that there is appropriate use of public funds, including reporting requirements and other oversight provisions.

So the Recovering America's Wildlife Act does meet the moment because of its funding structure and because of the strong oversight language which is

supported by the coalitions of hundreds of organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to note that hunting and angling collectively support over $200 billion in economic activity annually, including over 1.5 million jobs as well as almost $15 billion in Federal tax revenue.

My home State of Michigan, the Great Lakes State, is home to almost 650,000 licensed hunters and over 1.1 million licensed fishermen and - women as of last year. However, with over 40 percent of freshwater fish at risk, and significant declines in game and nongame species that support local ecosystems, we need RAWA's investments in on-the-ground conservation to support hunting and fishing for future generations, which is why the major sportsmen's groups, like the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and Ducks Unlimited, have endorsed this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Before recognizing my colleague, I would like to talk about these costs and address the fact that dollars invested properly do save dollars.

I note that the droughts in the American West cost $8.6 billion just last year, according to NOAA, and that the impact of wildfire cost over $10 billion last year alone.

Restoration efforts, which this bill would help do, that make habitats and communities more resilient to climate change have an exceptionally high return on investment, such as reducing drought and wildfire risks, increasing job opportunities, and growing local economies.

Conservation and restoration of key habitats help reduce the threats of wildfires and help States conserve water and improve water quality, making their water systems more resilient to the drought.

Finally, full implementation of State and Tribal wildlife plans will help species recover and be removed and even stay off the endangered species list, which is what we want, saving the U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

The large economic and social benefits of this legislation would boost our economy and help us deliver on our climate commitments for years to come as well.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my distinguished colleague from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer).

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I say to my colleague, I deeply agree that these fires are horrific in what they are doing to our natural resources and our habitat, but that is why this bill is so important.

It is not Washington telling the States or the Native lands or territories in the Native lands what to do. It is the State wildlife plans that are being drafted at the local level where they know what needs to be done that we will be funding and trying to prevent fires like that.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the very distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, who leads all of us on so many of these issues.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I say to my colleague, we have worked in good faith. We will continue to work in good faith.

The Senate, which doesn't work together as closely at times the way we do, has negotiated a legacy fund that is a bipartisan negotiated provision by the chairman and the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Actually, more Republicans voted for that than Democrats did.

This bill has been supported by a broad cross-section of Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats. Quite frankly, there are some of your Senate Republican colleagues who will only support it the way it is now. I have talked to many Republicans who want to see this bill go through. I don't know how the final vote will be today. I know people want to support it.

By the way, it addresses a shared goal, what the Senate did, that third provision helping to move species off of the ESA listings more quickly. It contains guardrails on the use of funds that I know were important to my Republican colleagues. These include prohibitions on the use of funds to make any listing or critical habitat determination relating to the endangered or threatened status of any species or to acquire any Federal land, which I know is really important on your side.

The broad coalition supporting the bill, including the State wildlife agencies and sportsmen's groups, have also backed all these provisions. We are not done. If the bill passes the House, we will go to conference with the Senate. We will all be at that table. But the time is now. We need to get this done. We have lost almost 3 billion birds since 1970. We are losing 40 percent of our fish. You and I both fish. I am not as great a hunter as you guys are, but I was married to one. But they know what is happening. The time for action is now.

Mr. Speaker, we are prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close.

I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for the constructive debate and input that we have had to date on Recovering America's Wildlife Act. This legislation is historic, and our shared efforts today will help move us one step closer to a bold solution to the biodiversity crisis and will establish conservation measures that will endure for generations, which I know we both care about.

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act has strong bipartisan support, the backing of hundreds of meetings of sportsmen's groups, hunting and fishing advocates, conservation organizations, environmental advocates, businesses, and countless others.

It will fund proactive conservation measures that will benefit every State and territory and contains a strong Tribal title to support Tribal organizations' efforts to protect wildlife on tens of millions of acres of land.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Recovering America's Wildlife Act. It will make a difference in every congressional district in this country.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1170, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. Speaker, this en bloc consists of four amendments: Amendment No. 3, offered by the gentlewoman from Texas; amendment No. 7, offered by the gentleman from Georgia; amendment No. 6, offered by the gentlewoman from Washington; and amendment No. 1, offered by the gentlewoman from Florida.

Amendment No. 3, offered by the gentlewoman from Texas, requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit a report to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works outlining the dollar amount of grants, contracts, and subcontracts, and the percent of total awards and grants that were awarded or allocated under RAWA to HBCUs and minority-serving institutions, minority- and women-owned businesses, and community-based organizations serving minority communities.

Current conservation and restoration practices underutilize the breadth of traditional, indigenous, and local knowledge found in our communities. To be successful in our restoration and conservation goals, we must use all of the tools at our disposal.

Amendment No. 7, offered by the gentleman from Georgia, adds activities that support native pollinator conservation and restoration to the list of appropriate uses of funds from the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Subaccount.

While many State wildlife action plans already include projects that will conserve and restore native pollinator species and habitat, we recognize the important role that pollinators play in ecosystem functionality.

Twenty-seven States included monarch butterflies in their State wildlife action plans, and thousands of other pollinators are identified as species of greatest conservation need.

Our pollinators are at risk, and it is important that we not forget the important impact they have on our landscape.

Amendment No. 6, offered by the gentlewoman from Washington, clarifies that the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Subaccount funds may include conservation infrastructure projects related to the protection and conservation of a species of greatest conservation need and the habitat of those species.

Conservation infrastructure projects are cost-effective methods to enhance conservation and build climate resiliency. They can protect against excessive heat and coastal storms while improving wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration.

Conservation infrastructure projects improve the health and management of ecosystems so that they provide important benefits and services. Examples include managing stormwater runoff, improving water quality for wildlife, restoring wildlife habitat in the built environment, and attracting beneficial species.

Finally, amendment No. 1, offered by the gentlewoman from Florida, broadens the appropriate uses of Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Subaccount funds to include using innovative technologies, tools, strategies, or collaborative partnerships that accelerate, expand, or replicate effective and measurable recovery efforts for species of the greatest conservation need and endangered species.

Supporting the implementation and expansion of new, creative conservation methods is of the utmost importance if we wish to interrupt the ongoing mass extinction event. In this time of need, our species and ecosystems need all the help we can provide. Funding innovative ideas will fill the gaps left by traditional conservation methods while spurring research and creating jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad we found an area of agreement this afternoon. I think we have more agreement than people realize.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), the author of one of these very critical amendments.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this en bloc package as well as the bill upon final passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1170, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. Speaker, en bloc No. 2 consists of two good- government amendments offered by my Republican colleagues: amendment No. 2 offered by the gentleman from Oregon and amendment No. 8 offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Amendment No. 2 stipulates that no more than 1.85 percent of funds can be used for administrative costs in the grant programs authorized by title III.

The purpose of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act is to fund on- the-ground efforts that are focused on conserving and restoring wildlife and habitat. This 1.85 percent cap will ensure that these dollars are being used toward actions that create the most impact.

Amendment No. 8 offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin requires that half of 1 percent of the money in the Endangered Species Recovery and Habitat Conservation Legacy Fund be directed to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior to oversee the expenditure of the fund.

This amendment will ensure that money from the Endangered Species Recovery and Habitat Conservation Legacy Fund is used appropriately and in a manner that is in line with the spirit of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on en bloc No. 2, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the en bloc package as well as the bill upon final passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend from Michigan for this amendment.

This bipartisan amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan and cosponsored by the Republican gentleman from northern Michigan makes it clear--or western Michigan, not from where Dan and I are, but it is Michigan--makes it clear that eligible funding for conservation activities under the Endangered Species Recovery and Habitat Conservation Legacy Fund include invasive species and disease management control and prevention efforts.

Invasive species and diseases pose severe threats to our Nation's wildlife population, especially for species that are already threatened or endangered.

Few places in the United States are more familiar with invasive species than the Great Lakes region which has been battling sea lampreys, zebra and quagga mussels, and now Asian carp. Native fish species are smaller and less plentiful than they once were thanks to these invasive species.

On the disease front, chronic waste and disease, a fatal disease for North America's deer, elk, and moose have spread to 25 States posing significant risks to those populations.

To properly recover native species, we must provide the resources and coordinate efforts to eradicate or control invasive species, prevent new introductions, and better understand emerging diseases.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Madam Speaker, this amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Arizona and the gentleman from North Carolina adds nonprofit organizations to the list of entities that are eligible to compete for innovation grants funded by the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Subaccount.

Ten percent of subaccount funds are used to fund innovation grants. These grants are meant to catalyze the innovation of techniques, tools, and strategies while fostering collaborative partnerships that accelerate, expand, or replicate effective and measurable recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need and species listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Including nonprofit organizations in this competitive grant process will foster collaboration and ensure that the best strategies and efforts are being funded.

Madam Speaker, I am sure that none of the groups are the radical groups that you are referring to, but I don't know. It is a competitive process that will be carefully managed.

Madam Speaker, I support my colleague's amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the one- hundredth anniversary of the Alpha Beta Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity at the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor. Their one hundred years of service and dedication to our local community is worthy of commendation.

Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity was founded in 1904 by eleven women at Syracuse University. Over the years, the fraternity has expanded to include chapters at 199 different colleges and universities in the United States and Canada and has been home to over 197,000 women. The Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Beta Chapter at the University of Michigan was founded in 1922. Starting with only 25 members, the fraternity has grown immensely, and members have gone on to be leaders in Michigan and around the globe.

At the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor, the Alpha Gamma Delta fraternity has served children, families, and individuals affected by social and economic challenges in the City of Ann Arbor and in surrounding communities. The fraternity is dedicated to making a positive impact through their philanthropy and leadership. Their volunteer work includes partnering with charitable organizations such as Feeding America and Meals on Wheels.

A century after its founding, the Alpha Gamma Delta fraternity is working harder than ever to make a difference in Ann Arbor. While fundraising for Fighting Hunger, the fraternity recently raised almost seven thousand dollars to help fight hunger in Ann Arbor and all around the United States. With the help of their enthusiastic members, the Alpha Gamma Delta fraternity has lent vital support to those in need, supporting our local community and beyond.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the Alpha Beta Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity at the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor. We are grateful for the fraternity's century of impactful work and wish Alpha Gamma Delta members and alumni continued success in service in the years ahead.

Madam Speaker, as a child, I lived with a man, my father, who should not have had access to a gun. When his temper flared, we would hide in the closet, my brothers and sisters, praying we would see the morning. My baby sister never recovered from those fears and ultimately died by suicide, haunted by the memories.

Too many children are living with those fears today, in classrooms, and in their homes. We cannot afford to look away, once again, and do nothing.

Twenty-eight years ago, when the assault weapons ban was debated, my husband, then an NRA board member, and who, by the way, slept with a gun under his pillow until the day he died, made one of the toughest votes of his career. He supported the bill, though he didn't agree with everything in it.

We all have a job to do for our country. I don't want to take the guns away from any responsible gun owner. But the clock is ticking.

Who will be the next mass shooting? Who is the next target?

What do we want our American story to be?

We need to act now.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Brenda McKinney on the occasion of her retirement from Superior Township, Michigan, where she has served as Treasurer for over 25 years. Her significant contributions to our community are worthy of commendation.

Ms. McKinney has a long history of service to Washtenaw County, Michigan. In 1996, she retired from the Washtenaw County Treasurer's Office after 15 years of service. She decided to bring her wealth of knowledge back home and run for Treasurer of Superior Township in August of 1996. Ms. McKinney was successful. She made history as the township's first elected African-American treasurer and has been reelected every 4 years since. Responsible for managing the Township's funds and investments, she has modernized and improved the Township's tax collection and cash management systems. Her efforts to improve the functioning of the Treasurer's office will benefit the Township and its residents for years to come.

For the past 26 years, Ms. McKinney has been a crucial leader in Superior Township and has always been willing to step up to the plate. Recently, she worked with local leaders in ministry to ensure that all members of the community have access to the vaccinations they need to be healthy. When people are hungry, she makes sure they are fed and connects those in need to affordable housing and health care services. Active in charitable causes and serving on several humanitarian boards, she is a mentor to her fellow public servants and a friend to many. Everything she does is in service of her fellow neighbors, and the passion she has for her community is evident in her work. Ms. McKinney continues to reside in Superior Township with her family.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Treasurer Brenda McKinney. We are grateful for her nearly 40 years spent serving the citizens of Superior Township and Washtenaw County. Her wisdom, experience, and caring heart has guided me in my own public service, and I am blessed to call her my friend. I join with Brenda's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my best wishes to her in retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Michigan Water Color Society as they celebrate their seventy-fifth anniversary. Their significant contributions to our community and their seventy-five years spent promoting local artists and their work throughout the state of Michigan are worthy of commendation.

In September 1946, a group of about 70 watercolorists interested in forming a statewide society met in the galleries at Detroit's Scarab Club to discuss creating what became the Michigan Water Color Society. Their exploratory meeting focused on the need for integrity, professionalism, and inclusion of all points of view. By the end of the year, the Society was established, with Emil Weddige of the University of Michigan and William Bostick of the Detroit Institute of Arts serving as the first co-presidents. Their first exhibition was held in Detroit in June 1947, featuring fifty-nine unique paintings.

Annual juried exhibitions are the Michigan Water Color Society's premier event, these exhibitions feature watercolor paintings by Michigan artists and are on display for Michiganders and art enthusiasts of all ages to see. Winning artists receive cash prizes, and their paintings are then shown at museums around the state. The Michigan Water Color Society also provides other opportunities for Michigan artists to display their art such as ``Out of the Box''--a ``not necessarily watercolor'' art showcase that exhibits other artistic mediums beyond watercolor. A volunteer-run organization, the Michigan Water Color Society has created a welcoming community for artists of all ages and backgrounds. They work tirelessly to promote and showcase the talents of our Michigan artists and share their passion for art with us all.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Michigan Water Color Society on this special day. We are grateful for their seven and a half decades spent enriching our culture in the state of Michigan. We wish them the very best in the years to come and congratulate them on their seventy-fifth annual exhibition at the Kayrod Gallery in Detroit, the city where it all began so many years ago.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Tri-City Community Development Corporation on the occasion of their Memorial Day Salute to Veterans Ceremony in Detroit, Michigan. The group's work to improve the lives of our entire community and honor our servicemembers is worthy of commendation.

Today and every day, we honor the veterans of the greater Detroit area and honor those brave and patriotic servicemembers who we have lost. Freedom is not free, and today we pause to remember those who gave their

all for their country. We commend our veterans for their honorable service to this country and all of the work they continue to do for our communities. We are proud to honor and recognize them this Memorial Day at the future site of Eden Park.

Eden Park is a vibrant outdoor area located in Southwest Detroit and will be the first park in Michigan catered specifically for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. It will also offer senior, veteran, and disabled citizens' accommodations. This environmentally conscious park will contain beautiful botanical gardens, large and eco-friendly trees, raised vegetable gardens, walking paths, a playground for children, an amphitheater, a veteran's memorial, and other picnic and play opportunities.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Board of Directors and Staff of Tri-City Community Development Corporation and the Eden Park Community Project Steering Committee on this day. We would especially like to thank Crystal Ancrum, Reverend William J. Price, and Miranda White-Redley who all served our country honorably in the United States Army and put together this special event. We are thankful for the work that this organization has done to improve the lives of Detroiters through their tireless advocacy and look forward to the opening of Eden Park. I thank them for coming together today to honor those who have served our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize General Joseph M. Martin on the occasion of his retirement. We are honored to have him returning home to serve as the Grand Marshal for the City of Dearborn's ninety-sixth annual Memorial Day Parade. His honorable years of service to our community and to our entire country are worthy of commendation.

Born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, General Martin is a graduate of Dearborn High School. He went on to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned degrees at the University of Louisville, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. After graduation from West Point, he joined the 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Division. Following years of successful brigade command domestically and during deployments through Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, he became the Chief of Staff of III Corps at Fort Hood. Some of his other assignments include Observer/Controller at Fort Irwin, Aide to the Commanding General at the U.S. Armor Center at Fort Knox, Battalion and Brigade Operations Officer and Aide to the III Corps Commanding General at Fort Hood, Armor Branch and Fires and Effects Division Chief at the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, and Initiatives Group Director for the Commander of U.S. Forces Iraq and U.S. Joint Forces Command. General Martin was appointed to serve as Vice Chief of the Chief of Staff of the Army on July 26, 2019.

Having served in the Army for thirty-six years, General Martin is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations for remarkable service, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal. Even though he is the third-highest ranking officer in the U.S. Army and is highly decorated, he serves this Nation with the pride and humility of a true patriot. In his role as Vice Chief of the Chief of Staff of the Army, he is always searching for new ways to support our men and women in uniform, including focusing on mental health efforts to save soldiers at risk of death by suicide. He resides in the Washington, DC area with his wife Leann and their two children, Joey and Kylie.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring General Joseph M. Martin for a career of exemplary service to our Nation in the U.S. Army. I join with General Martin's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my gratitude to him from a grateful Nation and thank him for all he has done for our armed forces. We also thank him for serving as Grand Marshal this Memorial Day as we come together to honor those who gave their all for this country. We wish him the best in retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Robert S. Kober of the Dearborn Fire Department on the occasion of his retirement. His honorable twenty-five years of service to our community is worthy of commendation.

A native of Dearborn and a graduate of Edsel Ford High School, Captain Kober began his career at the Dearborn Fire Department in April 1997, beginning as a Firefighter 1. In 2003, he was promoted to Firefighter 2 and then to the role of Fire Engineer in 2006. Due to his excellence in service, he was named Lieutenant in 2012 and then Captain in 2017. Known for his bravery and leadership, he received the Medal of Valor in 2014. He is also the recipient of several awards, including numerous Fire Chief Unit Commendations and Meritorious Company Commendations.

Involved in the Dearborn community, Captain Kober participates in the annual Dearborn Firefighter Burn Drive and other community events, such as the 9/11 memorial services and Santa at the Firehouse. Caring deeply about public service and helping those in need, he has supported his fellow firefighters and other officers through activism at the Michigan State Capitol. When not at the fire station, he can be found spending time cheering on his kids at sports events. He resides in Dearborn, Michigan with his family.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Captain Robert S. Kober for a career of exemplary service to the Dearborn Fire Department. I join with Captain Kober's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my gratitude to him for his honorable service in protecting our community and thank him for his role in serving the people of the City of Dearborn for the past twenty-five years. We wish him the best in retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Ted Darnall of the Dearborn Fire Department on the occasion of his retirement. His honorable twenty-five years of service to our community is worthy of commendation.

Lieutenant Darnall began his career at the Dearborn Fire Department in 1997, beginning as a Firefighter 1. In 2003, he was promoted to Firefighter 2 and then to the role of Fire Engineer in 2006. Due to his excellence in service, he was named Lieutenant in 2012. Always looking to grow professionally, in 2016, he earned three Professional Certification Awards from the Michigan Urban Search and Rescue

Training Foundation in the areas of Rope Rescue Operations, Confined Space Task Force, and Collapse Technician. He is also the recipient of numerous awards, including the Fire Chief Life Saving Award, the Fire Chief Company Citation, and numerous Fire Chief Unit Commendations and Meritorious Company Commendations.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Lieutenant Ted Darnall for a career of exemplary service to the Dearborn Fire Department. I join with Lieutenant Darnall's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my gratitude to him for his honorable service in protecting our community and thank him for his role in serving the people of the City of Dearborn for the past twenty-five years. We wish him the best in retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fire Engineer Lori Barch of Livonia, Michigan on the occasion of her retirement from the Dearborn Fire Department. Her honorable twenty-five years of service to our community are worthy of commendation.

Fire Engineer Barch began her career at the Dearborn Fire Department in May 1997, beginning as a Firefighter 1. In 2003, she was promoted to Firefighter 2 and then to the role of Fire Engineer in 2006. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Meritorious Service Award, the Fire Chief Company Citation, the Meritorious Company Commendation, two Departmental Commendations, and several Safe Driving Awards and Certifications of Special Recognition.

Fire Engineer Barch is deeply involved in the Dearborn community, participating in the annual Dearborn Firefighter Bum Drive and Safety Town, which teaches children safety lessons on fire, traffic, guns, and other common dangers. Always there to lend a hand, Fire Engineer Barch is known by her peers to be kind and caring, as shown by her work benefitting the community's children and animals. Beyond her work at the fire department, she is an active member of Timothy Lutheran Church located in Livonia, Michigan. She resides in Livonia with her husband Jeff, daughter Riley, and their beloved pets.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Fire Engineer Lori Barch for a career of exemplary service to the Dearborn Fire Department. I join with Fire Engineer Barch's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my gratitude to her for her honorable service in protecting our community and thank her for her role in serving the people of the City of Dearborn for the past twenty-five years. We wish her the best in retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Emergency Management Coordinator Bradley Smith of the Dearborn Fire Department on the occasion of his retirement. His honorable twenty-five years of service to our community is worthy of commendation.

A graduate of Annapolis High School in Dearborn Heights and the Eastern Michigan University School of Staff and Command, Coordinator Smith began his career at the Dearborn Fire Department in July 1997, beginning as a Firefighter 1. In July 2003, he was promoted to Firefighter 2 and then to the role of Fire Engineer in 2005. Due to his excellence in service, he was named Emergency Management Coordinator in 2008. He is also the recipient of several awards, including two Fire Chief Life Saving Awards, the Meritorious Service Award, and numerous Certificates of Special Recognition.

Coordinator Smith was responsible for identifying and analyzing potential hazards that the City of Dearborn could face, including man- made and natural disasters. He has ensured that the city has emergency plans and safety procedures in place, helping prepare residents for when disaster strikes. Beyond that, he has worked to incorporate special concerns of those with disabilities and differing religious beliefs into those plans. Known for his leadership, kindness, and willingness to help those in need, Coordinator Smith is a friend and mentor to many. Despite all the work he has done to keep our community safe, he still has time to teach karate at PKSA in Flat Rock. An active member of his church, he resides in Carleton, Michigan with his wife Kelly and their children.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Emergency Management Coordinator Bradley Smith for a career of exemplary service to the Dearborn Fire Department. I join with Coordinator Smith's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my gratitude to him for his honorable service in protecting our community and thank him for his role in serving the people of the City of Dearborn for the past twenty- five years. We wish him the best in retirement.