Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the dedication of the SPC Holly McGeogh Memorial Highway in Taylor, Michigan. By dedicating this highway in the name of SPC McGeogh, an American hero who paid the ultimate sacrifice, we are ensuring that generations of Michiganders and Americans will remember her name and story of selfless courage. This ceremony held today is an important reminder to us all of her dedication and love of this country. It is important that we never forget the first female soldier from Michigan to lose her life in the war in Iraq.

As a daughter of Dearborn and Taylor, SPC McGeogh wanted nothing more than to serve her country and fight for our freedom. A lifelong Michigander and a dedicated member of our military from the very beginning, she served for four years as a Cadet in the Junior ROTC program at Truman High School in Taylor, Michigan.

From Truman High in 2002, McGeogh fulfilled her dream of joining the U.S. Army and hoped to continue her education and begin a career in Army intelligence or psychology. Upon joining the Army, SPC McGeogh was assigned to Company A, 4th Forward Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, and stationed at Fort Hood in Texas. She was sent to Iraq at age 19 where she served as a light truck mechanic. On January 4, 2004, while deployed in combat for Operation Iraqi Freedom, SPC Holly McGeogh and two of her fellow soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb outside of Kirkuk.

During her time overseas, she was known to eagerly volunteer for every mission and patrol and taught games like duck-duck-goose to Iraqi children. In one of her final phone calls to her parents, she reminded them that ``if she should die, we should remember that she died for a reason.'' Her family said it best, ``Holly is another reminder that our freedom truly is not free.''

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the legacy of SPC Holly McGeogh and her unwavering bravery and desire to serve our country. The dedication of the SPC Holly McGeogh Memorial Highway will ensure that all who pass through will recognize her service and honor the ultimate sacrifice that SPC McGeogh has made.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the anniversary of the Peace Neighborhood Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their 50 years of service to our community and its families is worthy of commendation.

In Ann Arbor, the Peace Neighborhood Center has served children, families, and individuals affected by social and economic challenges since 1971. The center seeks to foster a community of personal growth and opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and social inequality.

In the past 50 years, more than 16,000 members of the Ann Arbor community have participated in programs that enhance skills, promote education, and teach fiscal independence. Starting off as a place for community members to meet and discuss their concerns, the work of the Peace Neighborhood Center has expanded to after-school programs, jobs programs, substance abuse prevention programs, and so much more.

A half-century after its founding, the Peace Neighborhood Center is a pillar of the Ann Arbor community. At the onset of the Corona virus pandemic, the organization shifted gears by expanding their food distribution program and later spearheaded the effort to vaccinate community members by setting up a vaccine clinic. With the help of their dedicated leadership and their many enthusiastic volunteers,

the Peace Neighborhood Center has lent its unwavering support to those in need, supporting and uplifting all members of our community.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Peace Neighborhood Center. We are grateful for the center's half-century of impactful work and wish Peace Neighborhood Center continued success in service in the years ahead.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of the care economy and the need for significant investment in home and community-based services to meet the needs of seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers who serve them.

The vast majority of America's seniors and people with disabilities prefer to receive long-term services and supports in the home or in the community. However, there are currently significant roadblocks to quality, accessible home and community-based services. Many HCBS are provided through Medicaid, which has restrictive eligibility criteria and often has long waitlists for these services. Additionally, the direct care workforce that provides HCBS face low pay and few if any benefits, resulting in high turnover that impacts the services they

provide. As a result, far too many Americans are unable to access to quality, affordable home and community-based services. While the American Rescue Plan provided important resources for Medicaid HCBS to meet the immediate needs of the pandemic, more comprehensive reforms are needed to ensure that all Americans can live with dignity in the setting of their choosing.

The Biden American Jobs Plan will help meet this need by providing $400 billion for quality home and community-based services for seniors and people with disabilities. This investment will transform the care economy by investing in the HCBS workforce, allowing them to receive pay and benefits commensurate with the work they provide. It will allow seniors and people with disabilities to receive the high-quality care they need in the setting of their choosing. More importantly, it will provide dignity for all who participate in the care economy.

I urge my colleagues to support the American Jobs Plan and this historic investment in the care economy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life of James Clifton Clark, Jr. of Sumpter Township, Michigan who passed away on June 7, 2021. His life of honorable service to our community is worthy of commendation.

Mr. Clark was born on September 24, 1942 to James and Marion Clark in Detroit, Michigan. The eldest of ten children. he studied engineering and earned a master's degree from Wayne State University. After completing his education, he went on to work at the headquarters of Ford Motor Company where he worked as a Quality Manager for 44 years.

A dedicated member of his community, Mr. Clark served his neighbors in Sumpter Township in countless ways. He served for years as Sumpter Township Building Inspector, on the Planning Commission, and on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Along with his father, he wrote the first ordinance for Sumpter Township. At the time of his passing, Mr. Clark was serving as Sumpter Township's Treasurer.

Mr. Clark was a trusted colleague and friend to many. He skillfully balanced his career, was committed to public service, and ensured he gave plenty of family time. Mr. Clark was known for being the family handyman and has built churches throughout the state of Ohio and built homes in the state of Michigan. Notably, he built the Clubhouse at Holiday West Mobile Home Community with the help of his family.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of James Clifton Clark Jr., he was a dedicated public servant, a loving father, grandfather, uncle, and a friend to many. He will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with his wife Toni, children Jim, Loni, Melissa, Lisa, and Alisa, and his grandchildren, nieces, and nephews at this time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the occasion of the renaming of the VA Ann Arbor Medical Center in honor of Lt. Colonel Charles S. Kettles. His lifetime of service to our Nation and his heroic legacy makes this an occasion worthy of commendation.

Lt. Colonel Kettles was born on January 9, 1930, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. His father, Grant, was a pilot during World War I and II, so it was no surprise that, during his time in high school at the Edison Institute at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, he took to frequenting the school's Ford Motor Company flight simulator. After graduating from the Institute in 1949, he enrolled at Michigan State Normal College to study engineering but was drafted into the United States Army after two years. He later returned to the school, now Eastern Michigan University, to teach and develop the aviation program.

Lt. Colonel Kettles completed basic training at Camp Breckinridge and attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox. On Feb. 28, 1953, he earned his commission as an armor officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. He graduated from the Army Aviation School in 1953, before serving active duty tours in Korea, Japan, and Thailand. During the Vietnam War, Lt. Colonel Kettles heard the call and volunteered for active duty and was trained to fly. In 1966, he was assigned as a flight commander with the 176th Assault Helicopter Company, 14th Combat Aviation Battalion and was deployed to Vietnam.

During the Vietnam War, Lt. Colonel Kettles was credited with saving the lives of 44 men when he selflessly flew into enemy fire in Duc Pho, South Vietnam, four times with a damaged aircraft to rescue his fellow soldiers. For this act of bravery, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1968. On July 18, 2016, President Obama awarded him the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the United States.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Lt. Colonel Charles S. Kettles and celebrate the renaming of the VA Ann Arbor Medical Center in his honor. Lt. Colonel Kettles was a humble man, but due to his heroic actions, soldiers were able to return home safely to their families. With this medical center now bearing his name, it will ensure that his legacy and his bravery is remembered forever.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Thomas Ray Powell of Ypsilanti, Michigan. His lifetime of public service is worthy of commendation.

Mr. Powell was born on November 9, 1949, in Stamford, Texas, to Lantz Powell and Mary Falcon. He spent his childhood in numerous states before attending the University of Missouri--Kansas City. Upon his graduation, Mr. Powell entered the United States Army as a medical laboratory technician, stationed at Tripler Hospital in Hawaii. He married Ms. Marianne Parizek on December 30, 1971, and together they had two children, Megan and Benjamin. Mr. Powell received a master's degree in Health Services Administration in 1980 and worked in hospitals all around the country, including the VA Hospital in Kansas City, Truman Medical Center, Davenport Medical Center, Baker Hospital, and the Roper St. Francis Health System.

In 2001, Mr. Powell decided to pursue his lifelong dream of teaching high school science. A year later, he received his teaching certificate and taught biology, chemistry, environmental science, and forensic science at Woodland High School and Summerville High School in Charleston, South Carolina. After retiring and moving to Ypsilanti in 2015 to be closer to his family, Mr. Powell served as a long-term science substitute at Saline High School.

Mr. Powell is beloved by his former students and family. No matter where he goes, Mr. Powell has been active in his community, serving as the president of the North Charleston Breakfast Rotary Club and as a trusted mentor to countless high schoolers.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Thomas Ray Powell. He has supported so many throughout his life, and all who know him can attest to his caring personality. I join with Mr. Powell's wife, Marianne; two children, Megan and Benjamin; granddaughter, Nora; former students; family; and friends in extending my thanks to him for his lifelong dedication to public service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the anniversary of the Downriver Family YMCA located in Southgate, Michigan. Their 80 years of service to our community and its families is worthy of commendation.

In Metro Detroit, the YMCA has been serving families for over 168 years. The YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children with a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living, and fostering a sense of social responsibility.

With simple beginnings as an organization established in 1941 by W.F. Newell at a house on Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte, Michigan, the Downriver Family YMCA has grown to be an exceptional center of wellness, community, and education. In 1943, The YMCA outgrew their small house and moved to a property at Chestnut and Biddle. This new Downriver YMCA represented the first ``family'' YMCA branch including boys and girls as well as men and women. Sixteen years later, they made the big move to their new home in Southgate at Fort Street and Eureka, partnering with the YWCA. Together they built two new pools and improved their offerings constantly to continue to serve the bustling area of Downriver. On May 11, 2003, to meet the growing needs of the community the YMCA and the City of Southgate held the grand opening for their brand-new building, The Southgate Fun and Fitness Center.

Serving over 15,000 members, the Downriver Family YMCA is the largest branch in Metro Detroit. This organization has supported generations of Downriver families from childhood well into their senior years. Providing after-school programs, summer camps, food drives, active living classes, and activities for seniors, the Downriver Family YMCA's commitment to the promotion of health and wellness has impacted the lives of thousands of Michiganders of all ages as they enter their eighth decade of service to the people of Downriver.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the Downriver Family YMCA's 80 years of service to our community. The Downriver Family YMCA has been a constant in the lives of the Downriver area's children and families for decades. I extend my gratitude to the entire Downriver Family YMCA team and wish them continued success in service and healthy living for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Almyra Rourke on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Her contributions to our community as a Rosie the Riveter are worthy of commendation.

Born in Shiawassee County, Michigan she studied bookkeeping at Lansing Business College. After graduation, her work brought her to Ypsilanti where the Willow Run Bomber Plant was in need of workers in the payroll department. When she went into the interview, the worker who interviewed her told her that she would be let go after the war since this was another man's job. She started work that day along with six fellow graduates, the only women in a room full of men.

What she had been told was a temporary role, became a career. After the war ended, Mrs. Rourke was transferred to Dearborn, Michigan and worked at Ford Motor Company for ten more years. At Willow Run, she worked on the balcony above the factory floor, and didn't think of herself as a Rosie the Riveter because she was not building the planes, but a friend told her: ``I couldn't have built those bombers if you weren't there to make sure I got paid every Friday. You're as much a Rosie as I am!'' As a Rosie, Almyra's hard work, grit, and patriotism not only sustained the American war effort, but paved a path for the next generation of working women.

After the war, she married Laurence Rourke, who served in the 3rd Armored Division and was on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Mrs. Rourke eventually left work to take care of her three children, Shirlee, Edward, and Laurene. She was a Troop Leader and Mr. Rourke was a Scoutmaster. They were active members of St. John the Baptist Church in Ypsilanti. After the children left for college, they kept active through square dancing clubs in Ann Arbor and by travelling the world-- reaching all fifty states and even attending the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of Belgium in 2004.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating Almyra Rourke on her 100th birthday. I join with her family and friends in extending my best and warmest wishes to her on this special day. I am proud to honor her life, her accomplishments, and her invaluable contributions to our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Reverend Doctor Garther Roberson, Jr. of Ypsilanti, Michigan. His lifetime of service and dedication to our community is worthy of commendation.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for being a very good and fair chairman.

I rise in support of the Block, Report, And Suspend Suspicious Shipments Act. This bipartisan legislation would implement safeguards against pill dumping and other abusive practices to address the ongoing opioid epidemic, which remains one of the most pressing public health threats facing our country.

Last year, over 88,000 Americans lost their lives as a result of the opioid crisis, including 2,650 individuals in my home State of Michigan. Communities across the country are hurting, and new tools to address pill dumping and other dodgy practices that have exacerbated the opioid crisis are needed now more than ever.

The Block, Report, And Suspend Suspicious Shipments Act will strengthen oversight and integrity of the opioid supply chain by requiring that drug manufacturers and distributors exercise due diligence when they receive a suspicious order for controlled substances. This includes blocking or declining to fill the suspicious order and providing DEA additional data and background on the indicators of the order in question.

This legislation's commonsense protection will save lives in Michigan and all around this country by making distributors and manufacturers active partners in curbing these abuses.

I would like to recognize my colleague, Congressman McKinley, for his record of leadership, concern, empathy, compassion, and working to address this longstanding issue that has helped perpetuate the opioid crisis.

I would also like to thank Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member Rodgers, as well as the Democratic and Republican committee staff, for their hard work to build consensus and advance this important bipartisan priority.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial anniversary of the Kiwanis Club of Ypsilanti. I am proud to celebrate their 100 years of service to the children, youth, and families of our Ypsilanti community.

Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. In its early years, members focused on business networking but changed its focus to service, particularly service to children, by 1919. Following this admirable mission of service to local communities, the Kiwanis Club of Ypsilanti was chartered on April 13, 1921 with 86 members as the 15th Kiwanis club in the Michigan district.

One of the first projects that the Ypsilanti Club embarked on, led by a Michigan State Normal College professor, was an information campaign about the benefits of consolidating rural schools in Washtenaw County, which directly led to the establishment of Lincoln Consolidated Schools. Other projects include over a thousand volunteer hours spent paving a road, cleaning the shoreline, and beautifying Riverside Park, a project led by Andrew Smith--and finished all in one day. The Ypsilanti Kiwanis also ran the Full Circle House in the City of Ypsilanti, a home for those who need help getting on their feet after battling mental health issues. From building projects to their annual Duck Race, generations of Ypsilanti families have served in the club. Their selfless hours of service have benefitted the entire Ypsilanti community.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Kiwanis Club of Ypsilanti. We are grateful for the club's century of impactful work and wish the Kiwanis Club of Ypsilanti continued success in service in the years ahead.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Helen Bandyke of Dearborn on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Her contributions to our community as a Rosie the Riveter are worthy of commendation.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on March 29, 1921, Mrs. Bandyke attended Cass Technical High School, but moved to Dearborn in 1952 with her young family to be closer to her sister May. During World War II she worked at the Chrysler DeSoto factory building warplanes while her husband Ted served in the war.

Mrs. Bandyke recalls being told by her supervisors to ``slow down'' as she was working too fast for the production line. To this day she objects to the request because she was determined to singlehandedly win the war and bring her husband home. Beyond her efficient riveting of the plane wings, she frequently gave blood at the Red Cross. As a Rosie the Riveter, Helen's hard work, grit, and patriotism not only sustained the American war effort, but paved a path for the next generation of working women. After her time on the factory floor ended, she worked as an optician until the age of 81.

An active member of her church, St. Anselm's Parish in Dearborn Heights, Mr. and Mrs. Bandyke served as chaperones for the teen club. She is known for being a friendly face at the Arab American Museum and Wayne County Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, where she served as a volunteer. Her lifelong commitment to service reminds us all of the impact that the Rosies have had on our state and nation.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating Helen Bandyke on her 100th birthday. I join with her family--including her three children Sylvia, Mary, and Martin--and friends in extending my best and warmest wishes to her on this special day. I am proud to honor her life, her accomplishments, and her invaluable contributions to our nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Mark Szymankiewicz of the Woodhaven Police Department. His honorable years of service to our community is worthy of commendation.

Sergeant Szymankiewicz retired on April 9, 2021 after serving over two decades with the Woodhaven Police Department. A graduate of Lake Superior State and Eastern Michigan University, Sergeant Szymankiewicz was a valued leader and mainstay of the department since August of 1999 when he began his career as a patrol officer with the unit. Assigned to the Detective Bureau in 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on March 18, 2019.

Since 2004, he has mentored students interested in a career in law enforcement through the Woodhaven Police Explorers program. Sergeant Szymankiewicz also served on the board of the Michigan Law Enforcement Youth Advisory Committee. Active in service on duty and off, he served on the Woodhaven Police Department Honor Guard.

A lifelong resident of Downriver, he was raised in Brownstown Township, Michigan by Tony and Crystal along with his brothers Dennis and Steve. Dedicated to the community where he was born and raised, Sergeant Szymankiewicz still lives in Brownstown Township today with his son Jake.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sergeant Mark Szymankiewicz for a career of invaluable service to the Woodhaven Police Department. I join with Sergeant Szymankiewicz's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my gratitude to him for his exemplary and honorable service to our community and thank him for his role in serving the City of Woodhaven for the past two decades.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Command Sergeant Major William Russell III, the outgoing Brigade Command Sergeant Major of the 177th Military Police Brigade. His service to our community and to our Nation are worthy of commendation.

Born in Madison Heights, Michigan, he enlisted in the United States Army on May 16, 1989. During his time on active duty, he served Wheeled Vehicle Operator for ten years. After serving his duty, Command Sergeant Major Russell's service to our country was not yet done. He enlisted in the Michigan Army National Guard immediately after serving on active duty, serving with the 210th Military Police Company as a Section Sergeant.

His previous assignments with the Michigan Army National Guard include, Platoon Sergeant 1461st CBT HET Company, First Sergeant 1072nd Maintenance Company, Command Sergeant Major 1225th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Command Sergeant Major 272nd Regional Support Group, Command Sergeant Major/Commandant 177th Regional Training Institute, Command Sergeant Major 177th Military Police Brigade, State Command Sergeant Major and Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Michigan National Guard. He has earned many awards for his exemplary service, including the Bronze Star and the Meritorious Service Medal.

In the numerous roles that he has served and a military career that has spanned decades, Command Sergeant Major Russell has proven his tremendous commitment and dedication to service. A tried and true leader, he heard the call and has served this entire Nation well.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Command Sergeant Major William Russell III for his lifetime of invaluable service to this Nation. I join with Command Sergeant Major Russell's family--including his children DeSeandra, Alfonzo, and William-- friends, and colleagues in extending my gratitude to him for his exemplary and honorable service to this country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Chris A. McKinney, the outgoing Commander of the 177 Military Police Brigade. A key figure in protecting our Capitol, his service to our community and to our nation are worthy of commendation.

Colonel McKinney's military and federal civilian service spans over three decades. He began his service as a Second Lieutenant and was selected for the Corps of Engineers in 1993. He served as an Engineer Platoon Leader, and as Executive Officer and Company Commander for C Co. 1/151st Infantry. He also served assignments in Aviation, the Judge Advocate General Corps and the Military Police Corps, as well as in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security. Deployed in combat to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom and to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom, he served as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force. Colonel McKinney has earned numerous awards and decorations for his service across the country and globe, including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal.

During Colonel McKinney's tenure he led the Tiger Brigade in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This included setting up acute care facilities and leading testing programs in Michigan's prisons and long- term care facilities. Colonel McKinney and his team responded to the historic Midland Flooding, conducted the first ever MI Quick Reaction

Force, and led planning and preparation for hurricane response to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

An instrumental figure in protecting our nation's capital, Colonel McKinney led two task forces during the Presidential Inauguration and Operational Capitol Response II. We are eternally grateful for Colonel McKinney's leadership and the Michigan National Guard and their role in defending our Capitol and every person who works here.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Colonel Chris A. McKinney for his lifetime of invaluable service to this Nation. I join with Colonel McKinney's family--including his wife of thirty years, Terri, and his children Kate and Ryan--friends, and colleagues in extending my gratitude to him for his exemplary and honorable service to this country.