Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jim Wagner as he retires from a lifetime of distinguished public service to the Downrivers of Michigan. This week he will retire as Trenton City Administrator, but his service has been long and extensive. He has brought our community together for years through his leadership.

A lifelong resident of Wyandotte, Michigan, Mr. Wagner grew up with a passion to serve

the community that he loves. He operated Wyandotte Sporting Goods in his early adult life and was known for his kind demeanor, friendliness and helping anyone that needs it. At age 34 in 1979, Mr. Wagner was approached and told that he would be a good candidate for Wyandotte Mayor. He served as Mayor for 8 years and later served in various capacities before being appointed as Trenton City Administrator in December 2011. In his role as Trenton City Administrator, he was responsible for identifying the city's top priorities and effectively utilizing the city's resources. He has held this role for over 6 years and leaves behind a legacy of passionate and successful leadership as he retires from this position. He has helped guide Trenton, Wyandotte and surrounding areas through tough economic times and challenging circumstances and is an important reason that the Downrivers remain strong.

Mr. Wagner is known by community members throughout the region as someone who has a deep knowledge of the area and worked hard to create local partnerships to make continued improvements. One of the most successful projects spearheaded by Mr. Wagner was the ``Say Yes to Downriver'' slogan that increased the area's visibility and brought new families and businesses to Trenton and the surrounding cities. Other successes included creating the yearly business summit held by the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber of Commerce, helping establish the Downriver Community Conference, assisting residents who have lost their jobs, authoring a national grant to retrain workers, addressing serious environmental issues in both Brownfield and superfund sites and continuing to renovate the International Wildlife Refuge. His colleagues have said that there need to be more public servants like him and that he is leaving behind a legacy of excellence. Mr. Wagner looks forward to seeing the Downriver area continue to flourish in his retirement, and his hard work and expertise is valued and the community will continue to tap his wisdom in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Jim Wagner's lifetime of leadership and public service. Mr. Wagner has effectively served the Downriver area throughout his career.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judge Gregory D. Bill for receiving the Tertzag Tribute Dinner's 2018 Purple Sport Coat Award for his distinguished work as a judge. His commitment to justice and the Detroit community throughout his career with the 3rd Circuit Court of Michigan is worthy of recognition.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from Western Michigan University's Cooley Law School, Judge Bill began his own practice with a specialization in aviation law. He has always had a passion for public service and served as a legislative aide for a member of the Michigan State Senate, where he honed his knowledge of the state's issues and policy procedures. Judge Bill served as a member of Michigan's 20th District Court before receiving an appointment to the Wayne County Circuit Court, a position he has held since 2000. Throughout his tenure, he has served in a variety of capacities and currently serves in the criminal division.

Judge Bill has been an outstanding public servant throughout his decades of work with the judiciary and is widely recognized and respected for his legal expertise. His colleagues have previously recognized him for his work, including being awarded the Michigan Special Legislative Tribute for Outstanding Service to the People of Michigan. The Purple Sport Coat award is granted in honor of the late Judge Kaye Tertzag who was known for his integrity and strict interpretation of the law. Judge Bill lives up to the legacy of public respect and judicial integrity that Judge Tertzag is remembered for and is truly deserving of this award. He has provided outstanding service to our state throughout his career as a judge, and I look forward to his continued work in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Judge Gregory Bill for being named the recipient of the 2018 Purple Sport Coat Award for his distinguished work as a judge. Judge Bill has been an outstanding public servant during his legal career.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize John Hartig on the day of his retirement from the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, the only International Wildlife Refuge in North America. His distinguished leadership has helped shape a new future for the Detroit River and surrounding wildlife.

A longtime Michigan resident, Mr. Hartig fondly recalls childhood vacations up north and weekends spent fishing on Belle Isle. His exposure to Michigan's wildlife and understanding of intense lake and river pollution inspired him to receive his Doctorate in Limnology, the study of inland waters, from the University of Windsor and begin what would become a lifetime of work restoring and transforming the Great Lakes states through cleanup and public education. Mr. Hartig has held various positions over the years including serving as an environmental scientist at the International Joint Commission, as an adjunct professor at Wayne State University, and as River Navigator for the Greater Detroit American Heritage River Initiative before being named Refuge Manager at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, a position he has held since 2004. In these positions, Mr. Hartig has overseen the transformation of the Detroit River, which was one of the most polluted waterways in the country in the 1960s, the revival of various animal populations including the bald eagle and lake sturgeon, as well as increasing public access to Michigan's beautiful natural lands.

Mr. Hartig is a leading voice nationwide due to his conservation work, and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge was singled out at the 2006 White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation as a national model in public-private partnerships for conservation and sustainability. In addition to being a long time board member of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, Mr. Hartig is a prolific writer on the Great Lakes and has received many awards including the John Muir Association's 2015 Conservationist of the Year and the 2013 Conservation Advocate Award from the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. He was recently selected as a Fulbright scholar and will spend the next three years in that capacity traveling the Great Lakes region and continuing his lifetime's work of addressing pollution and reviving public lands. Mr. Hartig has been an invaluable leader, and we look forward to his continued work protecting our precious natural resources. He will be greatly missed at the Wildlife Refuge, but his legacy will provide a solid foundation for its future.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring John Hartig for his lifetime of conservation work and invaluable contributions to our state. He has forever changed the Great Lakes ecosystem through his passion, hard work and ingenuity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Amanda Edmonds for her service to our southeastern Michigan community and Growing Hope, an Ypsilanti based non-profit, over the past 15 years. She has enriched countless lives as a local leader and Executive Director of Growing Hope.

Raised in Missouri, Ms. Edmonds has been a passionate community leader and social justice advocate since she was a young student. After receiving her B.S. and M.S. from the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment, Ms. Edmonds became involved as a volunteer in Ypsilanti in 1999. She started volunteering at Perry Learning Garden, now Growing Hope, in Ypsilanti and is looked to as a leader in sustainable gardening, economic development and local food access. Through her passion for food sustainability, she worked to expand the Perry Learning Garden into Growing Hope, a non-profit that serves southeastern Michigan communities with start-up and gardening assistance, teaching classes, and hosting local farmer's markets.

Ms. Edmonds is a beloved leader in our community and has served as the Mayor of Ypsilanti since 2014. As Growing Hope's Executive Director, Ms. Edmonds has greatly expanded the facility's urban farm and instituted teaching programs for students and adults all throughout Michigan. The program serves as an example for other sustainable urban farms, and Ms. Edmonds travels to share how Growing Hope's success can be mirrored in other communities throughout the country. Her work as Growing Hope's Executive Director has seen her appointed to the Michigan Food Policy Council, where she chaired the Healthy Food Access Task Force for the state, as well as Vice Chair of the Washtenaw Food Policy Council and Ypsilanti Parks & Recreation Committee. Ms. Edmonds has been an invaluable leader at Growing Hope, and we look forward to her continued positive impact on our Michigan community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Amanda Edmonds as she retires from her position at Growing Hope. Her work has bettered Ypsilanti's food sustainability and access for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Beth Chappell for her distinguished leadership as the Detroit Economic Club's President and CEO as she leaves to begin her next chapter. She has been an effective leader and advocate for Michigan's businesses and entrepreneurs.

Born and raised in Michigan, Mrs. Chappell attended Michigan State University's Broad College of Business where she received her bachelor's degree in Marketing before entering the workforce. She spent 16 years at AT&T Corporation, where she served as Vice President of Global Services and cultivated relationships with a worldwide clientele. Mrs. Chappell also served as Executive Vice President of Compuware Corporation and led the Chappell Group before being named President and CEO of the Detroit Economic Club (DEC).

Throughout her 12 year tenure as DEC President, Mrs. Chappell has increased the connectivity of Detroit's business community.

The Detroit Economic Club was founded in 1934 to serve as an organization committed to growing Michigan's business community and providing a platform for international leaders to address global economic change. Mrs. Chappell was successful in growing the DEC and expanding its accessibility to a diverse group of local and national leaders. She launched a young leaders group to ensure that students and young business leaders have the opportunity to learn from successful local leaders and receive mentorship from those who have walked in their shoes. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her dedication to the Michigan community and continued innovation to best serve business owners and consumers. Mrs. Chappell is a member of multiple boards including Detroit Regional Chamber, St. Joseph Mercy Foundation, Michigan Economic Growth Authority and Citizens Research Council. She has had a tremendous positive impact on the Detroit Economic Club through her work as President, and I look forward to seeing her continued contributions in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Beth Chappell for her distinguished tenure as Detroit Economic Club President and CEO. She has worked diligently on behalf of Michigan's business owners throughout the years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of Damon B. Flowers, Vice President of Facilities, Development and Operations, and the recognition of his lifetime of work by Washtenaw Community College's which renamed a plant operations building after him. This building is being renamed in celebration of Damon B. Flowers' work at the school, so that his legacy will inspire generations of students to come.

Damon B. Flowers has served Washtenaw Community College in various capacities for over 23 years, including his current position of Vice President of Facilities, Development and Operations. Throughout his time at WCC, two campus master plans were implemented. These plans allowed him to oversee more than $120 million in renovations and allowed for over 130 construction projects, including the Business Education Building, the Great Lakes Regional Training Center and the Health and Fitness Center. Vice President Flowers is known for his creative thinking and is recognized for the implementation of WCC's energy conservation campus standards and expanded recycling operations. Under his leadership, the campus has developed a partnership with the City of Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor Township to develop backup water resources and vegetated building roofs. He also secured WCC four Department of Energy grants through his dedication to implementing campus wide sustainability practices.

Vice President Flowers has received many awards throughout his tenure at Washtenaw Community College, including the Innovative Architecture and Design Award from Recreation Magazine, the Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus USA Designation and the Grand Award from the Professional Grounds Management Awards Program. His years of hard work have impacted countless lives and forever bettered the design of WCC's campus. His leadership will be missed, and I look forward to seeing his continued contributions to our local community in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Vice President Damon B. Flowers for his outstanding service to Washtenaw Community College. His thoughtful leadership and influence will make a difference for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Linda Yohn for her outstanding career with WEMU Radio. She has worked tirelessly on behalf of Michigan's music community for the past 30 years.

After receiving her bachelor's degree from Otterbein College in Ohio, Ms. Yohn started working at WKSU, a TV station in Kent, Ohio, where she discovered that radio was her true passion. Ms. Yohn has been a lover of jazz music her entire life and then took a job as a jazz music publicist in New York City where she stayed until joining the WEMU Radio team in April of 1987 as Music Director. She hosted Cafe Du Jazz on weekday evenings throughout her first few years at WEMU before taking the morning jazz slot which she has held for the past 25 years. Through Ms. Yohn's work, the station saw a sizable growth in the station's audience and its relationships with jazz artists and record companies. Ms. Yohn has fostered deep relationships with members of the jazz community, both locally and nationwide.

Ms. Yohn's work at WEMU has been critical to the growth and success of the station as well as cultivating the community of dedicated listeners that WEMU is known for. Southeastern Michigan's vibrant jazz scene is attributed to Ms. Yohn's work at WEMU and the relationships that she continues to cultivate. Her work has been recognized many times over the years and she serves as a board member for the Southeast Michigan Jazz Association and attends panels at various conferences and conventions throughout the country. Ms. Yohn has been named National Jazz Programmer of the Year five times, has received the Duke Dubois national award for service and has been named Ypsilanti's Ambassador for Jazz. Over the past 30 years, she has served as a mentor to the entire WEMU team; though her title was Music Director, she was also the heart and soul of the station. Ms. Yohn leaves behind a generation of passionate jazz listeners and on-air hosts. Her advocacy, passion, and hard work have made her a beloved leader in our Michigan community, and I look forward to her continued positive impact on our Michigan community in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Linda Yohn for a distinguished 30 year career with WEMU Radio. She has made a lasting impact on southeastern Michigan's jazz community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3017, the Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act of 2017.

The bill before us today is a good bipartisan, compromise bill that will reauthorize $250 million in funding for the brownfields program under the Environmental Protection Agency for each fiscal year through 2021.

The EPA's brownfields program has a long history of empowering States, local communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent contaminated sites from endangering public health and the environment.

Brownfields grants continue to serve as the foundation of the EPA's brownfields program. These grants support revitalization efforts by funding environmental assessments, cleanup, and job training activities nationwide.

Additionally, this bill makes a number of overall improvements to the law that will strengthen brownfields remediation into the future.

In 2013, the Downriver Community Conference in my district received a brownfields funding grant to clear out asbestos and other hazardous materials from a hangar at the Willow Run Airport. Once the original home of Rosie the Riveters during World War II, today the site of the Arsenal of Democracy is now the home of the American Center for Mobility, a national DOT proving ground for the testing and validation of connected and automated vehicles, autonomous vehicles.

There are many success stories like this one and all across the country that would not have been possible without brownfields grant funding. This matters.

Mr. Speaker, I thank every member of the Energy and Commerce Committee for working across the aisle to find a bipartisan way forward on reauthorization. We need to do more of this.

This program has proved its merits again and again and has historically had strong bipartisan support. It is my sincere hope this will carry over to today's vote and will continue through the appropriations process.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare's (NCPSSM) 35th anniversary on the day of its Anniversary Open House. NCPSSM has played a critical role in protecting Social Security and Medicare for all Americans.

With the passage of Medicare in 1965 under Title XVII of the Social Security Act, our country made a promise that seniors can age with dignity and security after a lifetime of hard work. As with the implementation of any historic program, it's important that there are organizational watchdogs that ensure our government makes good on its promise to the American people. There has been no group more committed to protecting the tenets of Social Security and Medicare than NCPSSM over the past 35 years.

Founded in 1982 by Congressman James Roosevelt, NCPSSM served as response to proposed changes to Social Security and Medicare during a time when 24/7 news programs did not exist and seniors needed to be informed and mobilized. NCPSSM works side by side with federal, state and local lawmakers to protect and build on the safety net programs that Americans of all ages depend on. Then, as it does now, the Committee provided seniors with a way to organize and make their voices heard by lawmakers as well as writing highly regarded, in depth analysis on Congressional legislation and Presidential Executive Orders regarding Social Security, Medicare, and the federal budget. These documents are invaluable in helping everyday Americans understand the real impact that legislation will have on their day to day life.

NCPSSM's efforts have been instrumental in passing bills that better the lives of seniors and that protect Social Security and Medicare. In 2016, the Committee and its members fought hard to pass the ``Older Americans Reauthorization Act of 2016'' which funds critical services that keep older adults healthy and independent, including job training, senior centers, benefits enrollment and caregiver support. Additionally, the Committee continues to encourage Americans from all corners of the country to participate in petitions, surveys and phone banking, with a total of over 90 million petitions and letters sent to Congress and the President to date.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and its 35 years of success. Their advocacy has influenced legislation that protects the programs seniors and hardworking Americans depend on.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this legislation because it presents us with a choice that we should not have to make. I take a backseat to nobody in this institution in terms of fighting for children and families.

But we live in the United States of America, the greatest Nation in the world. I reject the notion that we have to rob Peter to pay Paul or, in this instance, jeopardize the future of Medicare and steal $6 billion from critical prevention programs to pay for children's healthcare. They are all equal priorities, and we shouldn't have to sacrifice the health of one population to pay for another. It is that simple.

The changes that the bill makes to Medicare may sound innocuous--and I have great respect for the chairman--but the reality is they will threaten the future of Medicare.

Means testing Social Security is a good sound bite, but it is a very slippery slope. I'm not worried about whether wealthy families can be able to afford to pay for increased Medicare premiums, but I am worried that these changes will result in wealthy people abandoning the program in large numbers, which would worsen the risk pool and ultimately increase the costs for middle- and lower-income seniors. It would fracture completely the universal nature of Medicare and put the entire program at risk. It is an unwise proposal that should be rejected.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Ken Hobbs for being named 2017 Firefighter of the Year by the Washtenaw 100 Honors' Board of Membership. He has distinguished himself through his outstanding public service and advocacy on behalf of the Ypsilanti Fire Department and community.

Since joining the Ypsilanti Fire Department in 1986, Lt. Hobbs has worked tirelessly to protect Ypsilanti residents and promote a positive relationship between the department and city at large. The City of Ypsilanti Fire Department is a full-time department that provides prevention and protective fire services to Ypsilanti and the Eastern Michigan University campus, and Lt. Hobbs is well regarded by the more than 40,000 constituents served by the department. Throughout his career, he has made it a priority to give back to the community he serves by holding community fire prevention and education workshops and attending various fundraisers throughout the year.

In addition to being recognized as Washtenaw 100 Honors' Firefighter of the Year, Lt. Hobbs has served as President of the Ypsilanti Firefighters Union for many years and has received widespread acclaim for promoting unity between the union and fire department. Additionally, he has played a key role in securing grants for the department through the Department of Homeland Security, which has allowed for increased firefighting staff and much-needed equipment. Their success in securing federal grants over the years speaks to the quality of their applications and the great work being done by Lt. Hobbs and his fellow firefighters. Lt. Hobbs has also been instrumental in fostering greater diversity at the department and advocated for hiring a female firefighter with a 2014 Department of Homeland Security grant. His dedication and efforts on behalf of the city of Ypsilanti are worthy of commendation, and I know that Lt. Hobbs will continue his diligent work on behalf of the area residents in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Lt. Ken Hobbs for being named Ypsilanti's Firefighter of the Year. His advocacy and service on behalf of the citizens and firefighters of our community are worthy of public acclaim.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Detective 1st Lieutenant Mary Kapp for over 33 years of distinguished service to the Michigan State Police Department. She has worked tirelessly to help keep Michigan communities safe through her career as a law enforcement officer.

Lieutenant Kapp has served in the Michigan State Police Department since the 1980s. Prior to becoming a trooper, she was an athletic trainer in Lansing; she chose to pursue her dream career as a police trooper after the Michigan State Police Department dropped its height requirement. She has served in various capacities at the Michigan State Police Department, including as commander of the Monroe Post, as administrative leader of the Monroe Area Narcotics Team and Investigative Services, as a law enforcement officer overseeing Detroit casinos and as leader of the Downriver Area Narcotics Organization. The initiatives and programs implemented by Lieutenant Kapp has helped to make Michigan communities safer to live and work in.

Throughout her tenure, Kapp has been a tireless advocate for drug reform and community outreach, especially to high school students. She was named the 2016 Prevention Person of the Year by the Michigan Prevention Association, in honor of her work collaborating with local organizations and coalitions. Successful programs ran by Kapp include the Downriver Anti-Trafficking Coalition, Stop Underage Drinking and Drugs Coalition, and regular visits to local high school classrooms. Kapp is committed to educating community members about substance abuse and aided the department in collecting over 990 pounds of prescription drugs in 2016. She has performed the critical work of ensuring that Michigan residents remain safe at great personal risk. She is loved in our community, and her hard work and expertise will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Detective 1st Lieutenant Mary Kapp for her service to the state of Michigan. She has helped make the community safer through her work and outreach.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Byron Bunker for receiving the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal. Mr. Bunker's work as Director of Compliance Programs for the Environmental Protection Agency was key to uncovering Volkswagen Group's automotive emissions evasion scheme and safeguarding public health.

Since 1999, Mr. Bunker has worked for the EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which conducts tests to certify that vehicles and engines meet the United States' emissions and fuel economy standards. As Director of the NVFEL's Compliance Division, Mr. Bunker tests automobiles and their components to ensure that they comply with clean air regulations. Working in conjunction with academic researchers and other federal officials, Mr. Bunker helped uncover and halt a scheme by Volkswagen to evade emissions standards through the use of software designed to intentionally fool regulators about the true emissions levels of its diesel vehicles. This discovery eventually resulted in the largest penalty ever levied against a car manufacturer and helped lay the foundation for additional criminal investigations. These have resulted in $4.3 billion in civil and criminal penalties, as well as indictments against Volkswagen executives.

Mr. Bunker's expertise and tireless efforts played a critical role in uncovering this wrongdoing and underscore the importance of the EPA's enforcement efforts. As a result of Mr. Bunker's work, the EPA was not only able to detect a sophisticated and widespread emissions evasion scheme, but also strengthen its testing procedures to prevent similar deceptions in the future. Through his rigorous work and collaboration with other officials in the EPA, Mr. Bunker has been an important driver of efforts to protect Americans' health and the environment, and it is my hope that he continues to effectively safeguard public health and safety in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Byron Bunker for being awarded the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal. Mr. Bunker's rigorous enforcement work has been important in protecting public health and safety.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the occasion of Western Michigan University recognizing a lifetime of work by three leaders who bonded in college and remained friends through life, by naming two residence halls within the Western Heights complex Hall-Archer-Pickard West and East. These dormitories are being renamed in celebration of three legendary Western Michigan graduates, and their legacy will inspire generations of university students to come.

Ronald Hall Sr., Dennis Archer, and William Pickard attended Western Michigan University in the 1960s and enjoyed membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, America's first intercollegiate African-American fraternity. The three men's undergraduate experience at Western Michigan University instilled a desire to give back to the greater Michigan community and invest in meaningful educational and social change throughout the state. Hall, Archer, and Pickard are remembered for the close, meaningful friendship they cultivated at Western Michigan and their passion to make change after graduating.

After graduating from Western Michigan University, the three men remained in Michigan to influence change to the community they love. Ronald Hall Sr. served as president of the Michigan Minority Business Development Council and founded Bridgewater Interiors, LLC. He passed away in May 2016, and is remembered for turning Michigan's Minority Business Development Council into one of the country's lead minority business organizations. Dennis Archer served as Mayor of Detroit from 1994 to 2001, and has served as president of the American Bar Association and on the Michigan Supreme Court. William Pickard is an executive member of the NAACP Detroit Branch, and is the founder of the Michigan-based Global Automotive Alliance. Their post-graduate work has impacted countless lives and opened doors wider for students of color, and their friendship is a testament to the meaningful bonds forged during college.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Western Michigan University and

their three distinguished alumni, Ronald Hall Sr., Dennis Archer, and William Pickard. Their influence and community engagement will make a difference for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 532.