Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I appreciate the bipartisan work here to support our bases that need to be rebuilt.

I urge the support of this amendment to increase the Air Force O&M budget in the Disaster Aid Package to a total of $670 million for recovery of the military bases that sustained extensive damage by the recent storms.

In March, my district in my home State of Nebraska experienced devastating floods where lives were lost and the scale of the destruction made it the worst natural disaster in our 152-year history as a State.

The damage to Nebraska's infrastructure, agriculture, and local economy is extensive and includes Offutt Air Force Base, one of the two largest employers in our area.

At the height of the storm, one-third of the base was under water, 3,000 people were displaced from their work centers, and 1.2 million square feet of mission space was lost. The flight line was inoperable, with a third of the runway under water. Many structures incurred significant damages, and critical systems were destroyed.

Our Nation owes a debt of gratitude to those men and women at Offutt that worked relentlessly to save what they could. The mission impact and cost to the taxpayers would have been worse without their heroic efforts.

So I am very grateful for the bipartisan leadership here and the teamwork by Representatives Cunningham, Fortenberry, Dunn, and so many others to make this a reality.

You know, Offutt is one of the two primary intelligence surveillance reconnaissance hubs in our country, and it is the home of StratComm, so it is vital that we get this done.

Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and we need to support this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an organization that works with children who have had their lives forever impacted by terrorism or traumatic loss.

Whether it was a child who lost someone in 9/11 or a child who lost a parent serving in the military, Tuesday's Children has served over 20,000 children since 2001 through trauma and grief support, youth mentoring, mental health services, youth leadership development, and so much more.

Today is its annual Take Our Children to Work Day, a program that offers the opportunity for youth to see, up close and personal, what it is like to serve in Congress.

Spending the day with me today are Spencer Hawn and Christopher Goodwin. They will be joining me at meetings and seeing what it is like behind the scenes of Capitol Hill.

The work done by Tuesday's Children and other organizations in support of the children of our fallen is critical. As a Nation, we mourn the loss of lives lost to terrorists or traumatic events, but sometimes we forget the children of those who were tragically lost.

I salute Tuesday's Children and its mission to give back to our wonderful youth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Victoria Mejias, a leader from my district in Omaha, Nebraska, who has overcome the physical impairments of multiple sclerosis, or MS, to help those in desperate need, those who need to find new homes, new jobs, and new schools in the wake of Hurricanes Maria, Sandy, and Katrina and the tornados that rampaged Pilger, Nebraska, and Joplin, Missouri.

Victoria has been involved in missionary work for many years and has always had an active interest in serving others in need. She found her second calling by assisting disaster relief efforts and facilitating the relocation of those most affected.

In 2017, Victoria found her work hitting closer to home than ever before. Victoria, who is the daughter of a Puerto Rican family, assisted in the relief efforts for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands when they were devastated by the powerful category 4 hurricane which claimed an estimated 3,057 human lives and caused $91 billion worth of damage.

She worked fervently alongside U.S. veteran Joel Ortiz to initiate a relief project that would help relocate affected families to Omaha and the surrounding areas. With her efforts, displaced families would have a place to call their home away from home.

The result was the birth of an organization which Victoria is proud to call her own, Heartland United for Puerto Rico. This organization has assisted approximately 50 families in relocating to areas throughout Nebraska and Iowa and continues to make influential impacts in the lives of these individuals who lost nearly everything.

Unfortunately, much of Victoria's efforts have been slowed as she continues her fight against the horrible impacts of MS. MS can be treated through disease-modifying therapies which work to reduce the frequency and severity of relapses, but they do not cure MS. In fact, there is no known cure.

Multiple sclerosis attacks the immune system's healthy cells and affects the ability of the central nervous system to control the activities of the body.

In 2006, Victoria encountered her first difficulty with this disease when she lost her balance and fell to the ground, having no feeling of support from her legs beneath her. She was formally diagnosed with MS in 2016.

The diagnosis, although challenging, gave her a sense of relief, as she finally knew her experience was real and valid.

She continues to suffer from many effects of the disease, such as broken legs and color blindness, and is no longer physically able to have the same influence she once had, but Victoria has the motivation to be a transformative leader within her community and does not let this stop her.

When you meet Victoria, she will tell you that being self-aware of your challenges is a strength, not a weakness.

What Victoria has accomplished in the lives of others is an achievement difficult for many who do not suffer from any physical limitations. Therefore, we should all draw inspiration from her example, her determination, and her achievements, all while struggling with the debilitating effects of MS.

May we all strive to be leaders in our communities, as Victoria has and will continue to be.

Victoria, we salute you and pray for your strength. We pray for your healing from this burdensome disease. Thank you for being such a great example and inspiration to all of us.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to advocate in support of a disaster assistance package for recent floods, storms, fires, and others. Last month, my district and home State of Nebraska was hit by devastating flooding, destroying more than 2,000 homes, 340 businesses, and taking several lives, making it the worst natural disaster to hit the State in our 152-year history.

Many families and communities in my district have been severely impacted. For several days in March, the only way in and out of Valley and Waterloo, two towns in our district, was either by boat or helicopter. Next door to our district, one-third of Offutt Air Force Base was under water to include 60 structures.

The economic impact has also been severe and will hurt the State of Nebraska for years to come. Current estimates reveal that the cost of the damage will surpass $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion. This includes $449 million in damaged roads, levees, and other infrastructure.

Currently, 200 miles of Nebraska roads are in need of repair. What once was a short drive of minutes, in some cases may take hours, disrupting everyday commerce and travel.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture estimates that the March floods will have $400 million in losses for livestock, $36 million in livestock feed loss, and $440 million worth of potential crop loss from delayed and prevented planting. Nebraskans are a strong and resilient people, but they need to know that we are with them and will help them through these difficult times.

While Nebraska has been experiencing these horrible floods, I take solace in our first responders and National Guard. I cannot thank these brave men and women enough for helping so many in our community. In many small communities across Nebraska, first responders are only volunteer, often rushing out to help others while their own homes were in peril. These heroes selflessly saved countless lives and property.

I want to give a shout-out to the Waterloo Fire Department volunteers; they rescued nearly 200 people as volunteers over the course of a week. I think of the Salvation Army leader who ran the collection center, working countless hours while his own home was underwater.

In these trying times, I urge my colleagues to put politics aside and come together to help Nebraskans and other Americans hurting from these natural disasters that have occurred over the past year. We are Nebraska strong. We do need that Federal support.

Madam Speaker, late last year, an historic event took place in the relations between our country and the Republic of the Philippines. In December of 2018, the United States returned the historic ``Bells of Balangiga'' to the Church of San Lorenzo de Martir on the Island of Samar. The three Bells had been brought to the U.S. following the Philippine-American War over a century ago. The return of the Bells by the Department of Defense became a moment of national jubilation for the Philippines.

The history of the Bells began on a Saturday morning in September 1901 when a company of American soldiers were caught in a surprise attack by Philippine revolutionaries and the U.S. Army unit was nearly decimated. Some reports indicate that one of the bells was thought to be used as a signal in the attack. U.S. forces launched a counter- attack in response, killed many of the people of the town, destroyed the church with the bells and took all three as war trophies. The three bells were then shipped to America by the U.S. Army, despite orders that Church property was not subject to retention after the end of hostilities. For over a century they remained unlocated until twenty years ago when Philippine President Fidel Ramos, a West Point graduate and American compatriot in the Korean and Vietnam wars, asked for the return of two bells from a U.S. Air Force base in Wyoming, a base that a century ago was an Army cavalry post. Since then, every Philippine president has asked for repatriation and over the years, the ``Bells of Balangiga'' have become national historic icons; sacred artifacts of a nation whose historical patrimony was largely destroyed in World War

Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the longstanding bond our Midwest communities enjoy with the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth Wing, the United States Air Force wing right here at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. It has units all over the world.

The 55th Wing and the 55th Wing Association will jointly celebrate a uniquely treasured relationship at this year's reunion in April that will feature numerous dedications and commemorative events.

The Fightin' Fifty-Fifth's historic lineage began before World War II. Since 1940, the unit has distinguished itself as a preeminent Air Force organization, flying and supporting worldwide operations in peace and conflict. Of note, the 55th Fighter Group conducted fighter sweeps over the invasion beaches on June 6, 1944, using their P-38s. In 1966, the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth transferred to Nebraska as part of the Strategic Air Command.

For over 50 years, the 55th Wing personnel have supported national interests around the world, focusing on providing first-class reconnaissance, real-time intelligence, command and control, information warfare, and combat support capabilities. It is the largest wing in Air Combat Command and flies the most diverse types of aircraft.

Notably, since Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, the 55th Wing is the only Air Force wing with continuous operations, maintenance, and aircraft presence in

the United States Central Command theater of operations.

Indeed, the sheer longevity of this storied unit's history and global mission reach personifies their motto, ``The Sun never sets on the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth.''

The unit's exceptional record of service was the catalyst for the 55th Wing Association's creation. Following decades of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth camaraderie, global deployments, and operational achievement, a handful of veteran aviators were determined to preserve this invaluable heritage so it would not be lost to future generations.

This innovative initial cadre formed the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing Association to serve alongside the Offutt's 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing Active-Duty force. Both organizations were eventually renamed to today's 55th Wing and 55th Wing Association, respectively, and have remained in Nebraska ever since.

The 55th Wing Association is comprised of Air Force veterans who served honorably in the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth, most of whom were stationed at Offutt Air Force Base. The 55th Wing Association's support to their Active-Duty counterparts is second to none, and its support to the 55th Wing alumni is a model for other Air Force organizations to emulate. It embodies the impressive relationship between alumni veterans and Active-Duty military members, and they have it in their credo, ``Honoring those who served, and serving those who do.'' It could not be said any better.

This bond between veteran citizens and military personnel is nothing short of remarkable. These organizations demonstrate the very best of cooperation to serve our national interests, sustain organizational values, and foster military fellowship from as far back as those who served in World War II to those of the present who still fly, fight, and win our Nation's battles right now. Their relationship will forever be enshrined at the many ceremonies in Nebraska on April 6, where monuments will be dedicated to the alumni of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth past, present, and future.

In 2003, the 55th Wing Association captured the inspirational essence of their history in choosing the following inscription on their U.S. Air Force Museum monument, and it says:

We must never forget that freedom is never really free; it

is the most costly thing in the world. And freedom is never

paid in a lump sum; payments come due in every generation.

All any of us can do is to offer the generations that follow

a chance for freedom.

The 55th Wing Association also chose these same words for inclusion on the monuments they will dedicate this April. They are fitting praise for the accomplishments of the past and a challenge to the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth for the future.

Just 11 days ago, Nebraska was hit with the worst national disaster in the history of our State and a third of Offutt Air Force Base was damaged, including key operations and support facilities. The Fightin' Fifty-Fifth never missed a beat supporting operations all over the world. This indomitable spirit of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth led the Secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson, to say: ``Not even Mother Nature could defeat the 55th Wing.''

So, after 75 years as an organizational flying wing, over a half century based in Nebraska, and more than 25 consecutive years deployed in the Middle East for combat operations, the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth deserves our highest respect, and I am honored to salute the 55th Wing Association for all of its efforts to preserve its rich heritage.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize and congratulate one of the distinguished finalists for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, Millard South High School senior, Carly Renken, from Gretna, Nebraska.

Carly is a cofounder of the nonprofit Special Musicians, which conducts music sessions for over 40 kids with special needs in the Omaha metro area. The organization is designed to provide an inclusive, safe, and fun learning environment; teaches basic music theory; features instrument playing, singing, and dancing; and culminates with a performance in front of friends and family members.

In 1995, Prudential Financial partnered with the National Association of Secondary School Principals to create a program that focused on the importance of community service and volunteer work to inspire other Americans to help those in need. More than 29,000 students across the country participated in the 24th annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.

I ask that you all join me in recognizing Carly for her passion and service and thank Prudential Financial for taking the time to encourage our youth in the pursuit of selfless sacrifice.

Congratulating Trey Mytty

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to support a constituent of mine who was recognized this past January as the 2019 Dealer of the Year by the American Truck Dealers.

Trey Mytty is the President and CEO of Truck Center Companies, which is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, located in my congressional district. Truck Center Companies has eight dealerships, including parts and service facilities in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa, representing seven trucking franchises. Of the nearly 575 employees, almost 25 percent of his staff are military veterans or active in the Reserves or National Guard.

In 1990, while in high school, Mr. Mytty began his career with Truck Center Companies, then known as Omaha Truck Center. He started out by washing trucks and ensuring the workplace was clean. After earning his degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and working his way through the ranks, Trey became the dealer principal and the owner of Truck Center Companies.

The 2019 Dealer of the Year is a national award recognizing a commercial truck dealer who exhibits exceptional performance in their dealerships and performs distinguished community service. Trey was chosen, in part, for his support of Make-A-Wish Nebraska by sponsoring an annual golf outing. To date, the dealership has raised over $2.6 million, with a goal of $3 million in 2019.

In addition, Mr. Mytty and Truck Center Companies donate to multiple area technical schools, and the company has developed a 16-week training program to integrate young professionals into the truck retail industry.

Earlier this year, Mr. Mytty began a 2-year role as president of the Daimler Trucks North America Dealer Council, demonstrating his selfless leadership to his fellow truck dealers.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all of the constituents of Nebraska's Second District, please join me in congratulating Trey Mytty on being named the 2019 Truck Dealer of the Year. I wish him, his family, and the dealership staff at Truck Center Companies continued success and a prosperous future.

Recognizing Sherry Wright

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to recognize a constituent of the Second District of Nebraska, Sherry Wright, the first African American woman to receive a military commission from the University of Nebraska-Omaha's ROTC program.

As a single mother, Sherry earned a bachelor's degree in social welfare and a graduate degree in urban studies and human resource planning from UNO, upholding high academic standards.

In September of 1975, Sherry noticed some ROTC members on campus and admired their willingness to serve, protect, and honor our country. It was in that exact moment that Sherry knew what she wanted to do, so she joined the Air Force ROTC that very day.

She worked as an air terminal operations officer and a squadron transportation officer, monitoring and directing airfield operations, security, and ground transportation. After serving in the Air Force, Sherry worked for 30 years in the United States Post Office, totaling 35 years of government service.

Now retired, Sherry's selflessness and consideration for children has motivated her to create programs that educate and empower today's youth. She has also taken children on educational field trips. At her own expense, she flew children to Disney World so that they could experience an airplane ride for the first time and know that there is a world outside of their neighborhood.

She founded and organized the Increase the Peace campaign, an organization to challenge youth to think about peace and what they can do to help their communities through writing and art. She has been an active board member of the Greater Omaha Neighborhood Coalition, the Drew Medical Health Clinic, the city of Omaha's Human Relations Board, and the Omaha Housing Authority board.

Not only is Sherry a published author of the book, ``Somethin's in My Water,'' she is an Outstanding Service for Women of Color Award nominee and a recipient of the Navy of the State of Nebraska and the UNO Woman of Color Award as well. She was also made an admiral of the Nebraska Navy by former Governor Dave Heineman.

Mr. Speaker, Sherry continues to lead by example and live through Christ as she serves and cares for her neighbor. Her willingness to serve our country and her local community makes her a positive role model, humble individual, and empowering community activist.

Mr. Chair, today I rise in opposition to this effort to conduct a hostile takeover of our elections by Washington, D.C.

H.R. 1 is nothing less than an attempt by the majority party to federalize our election system, strip all authority from the States, and create government-funded political campaigns. All of this will increase the election system's vulnerability for fraud and restrict free speech.

The legislation we consider today will have a long-lasting, devastating impact on our elections:

H.R. 1 will create a 6-to-1 government match for all small donor contributions. This means government funds will be going to help pay for more campaigns, more TV, more radio ads. Americans will be compelled to bankroll candidates they don't support.

My sister, a staunch Republican, shouldn't have to have her hard- earned money go towards Democratic candidates. Her son, a staunch Democrat, shouldn't have his hard-earned money go towards a Republican.

If H.R. 1 is to become law, it will place limits on freedom of speech, putting vague standards on groups who wish to advocate for any legislative issue. This is why even the ACLU does not support H.R. 1. And when the ACLU doesn't support a Democratic election bill, you know it is wrong.

Our Nation was built on individuals advocating for their beliefs. It is our right to advocate the way we wish for a cause we believe in.

If a survivor of domestic violence wishes to quietly donate to a cause dedicated to fighting domestic violence, should the Federal Government be able to come in and publicize their donation? In some States who have done this recently, we have seen donors of advocacy groups be harassed and chased out of their jobs.

H.R. 1 is another example of the Democrats saying Washington knows best. Not one secretary of state was consulted in the drafting of this legislation. In the Constitution, our Founding Fathers give the authority to the States to regulate their own elections.

Simply put, this is a power grab, a power grab by Democrats.

Mr. Chair, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to not support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Judge William Mark Ashford of the Fourth Judicial District Court of Nebraska who was known for his jovial smile, gregarious nature, and being a fearless voice for justice. February 14th marks what would have been his 67th birthday. His untimely passing is a great loss for his family, friends, and for the people of our community whom he served with the highest level of commitment, integrity, and honor.

Appointed to the bench in 1988, Judge Ashford's work ethic and uncompromising professional integrity quickly garnered the respect of most and ruffled the feathers of some. Armed with a sharp legal mind and even sharper focus on the public he served, Judge Ashford was a stalwart judicial advocate, fighting for transparency in and out of the courtroom.

His eternal faith in humanity and in the power of justice will continue to serve as an unyielding example. Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Heavican noted that Judge Ashford's work with the young adult treatment court and his pioneering efforts to establish the Douglas County Veterans Treatment Court would be sorely missed.

Veterans treatment courts are tapping into the unique aspects of military and veteran culture and using them to the benefit of the veteran. According to the Omaha World Herald: ``Ashford felt a calling to oversee veterans court because his father was a World War II pilot who once flew a fighter plane called the Aksarben Knight.''

I extend my deepest condolences to his friends and family members, especially his wife, Deb Ashford; sons, Steven and Sam Ashford; stepsons, Keith, Kristopher and Kent; and brothers, Brad and Carl Ashford.

African American History Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the occasion of African American History Month to recognize two key figures in Nebraska history, Will Brown and George Smith, both murdered by lynching at the hands of lawless mobs. This is not a past Nebraskans are proud of, but it is a story we must continue to tell so we never forget them or allow acts of hate like these to ever be repeated.

Nearly 100 years ago in the summer of 1919, Black people were killed amid violent race riots occurring across the country. Omaha, Nebraska, was not immune during that Red Summer and regrettably became known for one of the most heinous acts of hate and racial violence in American history.

According to research, the destructive flames of hatred and racism at the time were fanned by a series of politically motivated articles published in newspapers like the Omaha Bee. Alarmed at the Bee's promotion of racial prejudice, Reverend John Albert Williams, first president of the local chapter of the NAACP and minister of St. Philip's Episcopal Church called upon the editors of the Bee to stop their propaganda.

On September 28, 1919, a raucous crowd of more than 4,000, emboldened by the destructive rhetoric, grew violent and set fire to the Douglas County Courthouse. When Omaha Mayor Edward Smith tried to calm the crowd, he was assaulted and nearly killed by the mob before being rescued by local law enforcement. Without a trial, the riotous horde seized Mr. Brown, who had been accused of rape and robbery. Despite his exclamations of innocence, and physical evidence supporting his claims, Mr. Brown was brutally murdered. His body was paraded through the streets as a form of racial terrorism.

Equally disturbing was the lynching of George Smith, also known as Joe Coe, 28 years earlier in October of 1891. Mr. Smith was falsely accused of raping a young girl, despite having a valid alibi and witnesses who attested to his innocence. Again, unchecked hatred fueled the unjustified lynching without any judicial process.

By shining light on these horrid shadows of injustice in America, we can begin to speak truthfully about this difficult history so that reconciliation can be achieved. It also allows us to honor the inspirational leaders who rise up to promote equality and eradicate racial subjugation. The work of the NAACP was tremendously effective in awakening the Nation to the urgency of stopping lynching.

Today in my community a coalition has been formed called the Omaha Community Council for Racial Justice and Reconciliation, to coordinate efforts to memorialize victims of lynching and raise awareness of racial violence in Douglas County.

I call on all who hear these words to stand against hate, racism, and injustice whenever and wherever it may be found. We must ensure acts like these are never allowed to occur again and that the lessons of Will Brown and George Smith's deaths are never forgotten. We are a nation that respects life, liberty, equality, and the rule of law.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the dangerous proposal that is being put forth by leadership on the other side of the aisle, the Democratic proposal to place an artificial and arbitrary cap on ICE's detention capacity.

ICE is outstanding at arresting gang members, felons, drug dealers, and human traffickers, but now Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer want to limit how many they catch. This represents a breakdown in law and order and will only make our broken border less secure.

It does not make sense to tell a State trooper that he can only pull over 10 people and then must stop, or a city cop saying: once you catch your second thief, she must stop.

Does the next person committing an illegal act get a free pass because we have hit some magic number?

Our country embraces the rule of law. We do not get to pick and choose, especially when it pertains to our national security.

I urge the Democratic leadership to withdraw this ludicrous proposal and come to the negotiating table. It is about time we work together, but we will not and cannot undermine our national security and the safety of our communities.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Omaha Public Schools Foundation and its director, Toba Cohen-Dunning for their commitment to the children attending Omaha Public Schools.

The Foundation was established in 1984 with $1,555, gifted by teachers and staff. It is now a multimillion-dollar foundation serving the students and teachers in Nebraska's largest school district.

Last November, the Foundation was recognized with the Investor in America Award by the Partners for Livable Communities which acknowledges groups and individuals who use creative public and private partnerships to create more opportunities for livable communities.

As director of the Foundation, Toba directs a unique model of social entrepreneurship that invests the revenues from early childhood education and childhood programs to scholarships for high school seniors, teacher innovation and classroom grants, and community partnership projects.

Madam Speaker, I offer my congratulations to Ms. Cohen-Dunning and the staff of the Foundation for their commitment to our children.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana and I thank the gentlewoman from New York for their leadership today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill, H.R. 504, that I authored. It is called the DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act.

The purpose of this legislation is to provide transparency, predictability, and technology improvements to the 79 State and locally owned fusion centers across the United States. This bill fixes several shortfalls that were identified by recent inspection findings.

I was able to visit the Nebraska Information Analysis Center, known as NIAC, my home State's fusion center, in January of this last year. The NIAC was established in 2007 and serves as a critical information- sharing conduit between the State of Nebraska and the Federal Government to the benefit of all 93 counties in Nebraska.

While the NIAC currently has outside support from DHS, not all fusion centers are in the same situation throughout our country, and that needs to be fixed. To address this shortfall, H.R. 504 requires the Department to engage an engagement strategy for how to best coordinate information sharing, technology, and personnel resources with fusion centers. Additionally, the bill requires DHS to develop clear and robust performance metrics for the personnel assigned to fusion centers to provide needed accountability.

In addition to personnel, DHS also provides fusion centers with access to databases and information-sharing programs for classified and sensitive information. H.R. 504 includes several provisions to address improvements in training and technology needed for these systems, including a requirement that DHS components share appropriate intelligence products with fusion centers.

The sharing of counterterrorism and other homeland security information with State and local officials is vital in our efforts to protect the homeland. In the past few years, there have been significant improvements in DHS' support for key stakeholders. The DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act builds on this progress by holding DHS more accountable for supporting fusion centers and making the improvements needed to truly utilize them as a resource for the Federal Government.

This is a commonsense bill that passed the House last Congress. With another strong showing of bipartisan support from the House, I am confident that we will be able to work with our colleagues in the other Chamber to enact this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of Nebraska's most dedicated and inspirational leaders. Rita Sanders has served since November 2010 as the mayor of Bellevue, one of the oldest cities in Nebraska and home to one of the largest bases in the United States Air Force, Offutt Air Force Base.

She concludes her service as mayor today, and she has achieved many heralded results. Mayor Sanders was inducted into the Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame in 2017 as a testament to her tireless work and tremendous accomplishments as a Filipino American. In addition, the adjutant general for the Nebraska National Guard awarded Rita the Civilian Distinguished Service Medal in March of 2017.

Mayor Sanders was born in Hawaii in 1952. Her father served in the United States Army and was a Bronze Medal recipient for heroism in Vietnam. Her mother was originally from Germany. Mayor Sanders is married to Rick, and they have two grown sons. They are owners of a very successful business serving the elderly community.

Rita is an outspoken advocate for our servicemembers and has emphasized and enacted measures to enhance public safety, and community and family programs, including programs that support our military families at Offutt. She has served as a longtime board member for the Offutt Advisory Council and was appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts to the Commission on Military and Veterans' Affairs for the State of Nebraska.

Mayor Sanders also embraced the importance of economic development and community enhancement throughout

the city starting from the time she served as chairman of Bellevue's Chamber of Commerce. As mayor, she has worked with other city and State officials on the Governor's Summit on Economic Development to provide expertise on areas such as workforce development, new business recruitment, and tax policy.

On October 14, 2017, Mayor Sanders was inducted into the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame. The consul general of the Philippines acknowledged Rita's diligent work to facilitate the return of the historic Balangiga bells which were acquired by U.S. soldiers in September 1901 and brought to America as tribute of the war they fought and the losses they suffered.

Leaders of the Filipino Government and Catholic Church hold these bells as highly significant religious artifacts and expressed their concerns over the use of them as a war prize. When Mayor Sanders met with President Duterte earlier this year, she pledged her support to help retrieve the bells. She was successful in her endeavors and attended a ceremony at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming where Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis announced the return of the bells.

We are proud to recognize Mayor Sanders for her monumental leadership, tireless service, and epic achievements for the city of Bellevue, the Omaha area, and the State of Nebraska.

Recognizing Grace Fry

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a young lady in Nebraska who is a fighter, a fighter against a medically complex condition known as acute myeloid leukemia, and a fighter to gain support for H.R. 3325, the Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act of 2017, or the ACE Kids Act. That fighter is Grace Fry, who is 11 years old and is in remission from AML.

Grace was diagnosed with AML when she was 9 years old after dark bruises started appearing on her shins. Her parents thought the young ballerina had suffered a dancing mishap, but these bruises grew larger.

Aggressive treatment was started for Grace at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, and her parents, Jeff and Mandy, managed to maintain a family for their two other children while going through these treatments. Mandy was able to step away from her job to care for Grace, and Jeff was able to telecommute. Thanksgiving that year was spent at the hospital cafeteria, and Grace's sister spent her 16th birthday at the hospital with her baby sister.

Jeff's job did provide the family with private insurance, but the loss of Mandy's income and increased travel costs made for a tight financial situation. Medicaid stepped in to help alleviate the costs not covered by insurance, such as deductibles and coinsurance.

The ACE Kids Act is designed to improve care for children with medical complexities who are on Medicaid, while also reducing program spending. The ACE Kids Act addresses existing challenges facing these children, identified by families and physicians, including the provision and coordination of care across multiple providers and services, and easing access to out-of-State care.

This legislation has strong bipartisan support in both Chambers of Congress, and I was pleased earlier this year to join 73 other Republicans and 60 Democrats in working to advance it. Tuesday, the bill will be up for consideration under suspension of the rules. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation tomorrow.

Grace loves all her nurses from Children's Hospital and Medical Center, which serves the most medically complex children in Nebraska and the region because of their highly specialized pediatricians and surgeons. Due to Children's wide footprint, Medicaid plays a significant role in their patients' lives.

One day, the young fighter known as Grace hopes to become a pediatric oncology nurse. But until then, she will continue to fight for her health and fight for support of the ACE Kids Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of Nebraska's daughters for Native American Heritage Month, Judi Gaiashkibos, a descendant of Chief Smoke Maker of the Ponca Nation, who was a signatory to an early treaty between the United States and the Ponca people in 1825.

Judi has served as the Executive Director for the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs since 1995, where she focuses on creating partnerships and coalitions with elected representatives, Tribal leaders, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions. She has been the principal liaison to the Nebraska legislature in developing policy for the State's four federally recognized Tribes and all its native citizens. In 2006, she was elected as the president of the Governor's Interstate Indian Council. In fact, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts praised Judi as ``an advocate for Nebraska's first people and a loyal spokeswoman for their priorities.''

Judi earned a bachelor of arts degree in Human Relations and completed her master's in Management, both from Doane College in Nebraska. In 2009, Judy was a lecturer and advisor for the first Native Daughters Project at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications, and is currently an adjunct professor for the second Native Daughters project, focusing on the Indian women of Oklahoma.

In her long and distinguished career, Judi has served on many advisory councils across the State, including the Nebraska Minority Justice Committee, the P-16 Leadership Council, and the Nebraska Partners in Prevention Coalition. In 2008, she was appointed to the University of Nebraska President's Advisory Council.

Additionally, Judi is a member of the Racial Profiling Advisory Committee, the U.S. Census Advisory Board, the Interchurch Ministries' Grants to American Indians in Nebraska, the Nebraska Rural Development Commission, and recently completed a 3-year term on the Board of the United Way. She is a member of the Sheldon Museum of Art's Advisory Council and, in 2012, was appointed to the Doane University Board of Trustees.

Judi is a leader. Because of her courageous leadership, she has garnered many prestigious awards, including the Douglas County Historical Society 2009 Door Keeper Award for opening new doorways in the spirit of unity, equality, and understanding. She was the 2012 recipient of the prestigious Nebraska Humanities Sower Award. She received the distinguished NEBRASKAlander Award at the 2017 annual Statehood Dinner.

An enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, Judi descends from a family of great leaders and role models, and credits much of her success to their love and support. Her mother was born in 1913, and as a young girl attended the Genoa Indian School. Following this, her mother returned to the Ponca homelands and served on the Ponca Tribal Council in her thirties, at a time when non-Indian women were not serving in these elected positions.

Later, Judi's mother and grandparents moved with her and her 10 brothers and sisters to Norfolk, Nebraska. Her mother and grandmother took turns working and caring for the family at a time when most women were not working outside the home. As other Ponca followed them off the reservation, Judi's mother continued to serve as a leader to many of them, helping them get settled and find opportunities. Her mother was a liaison between the two worlds, much like Judi is today.

Eager to share the history of the Ponca, Judi will eagerly tell you about two key historic moments. The first is the trial of Chief Standing Bear. After the forced removal of Ponca to Oklahoma and the ``warm lands,'' Standing Bear began the return journey home to bury his 16-year-old son, keeping a deathbed promise he made. The Ponca were arrested in Nebraska by General George Crook's soldiers.

On May 12, 1879, Standing Bear won an important victory for himself and for all Native Americans, stating that he was a person under United States law. The second significant event in Ponca history was their Tribal termination in 1966, and the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska's historic restoration on October 31, 1990.

Judi believes we are all ambassadors for our people, and it is important that we show up each and every day for duty and live by our traditional principles. She is motivated each day by a famous quote by Wilma Mankiller from the Native Daughters publication and the women of Oklahoma that states, ``The secret of our success is that we never, never give up.''

We are inspired by the life and example of Judi Gaiashkibos. I can think of no one more fitting to honor for Native American Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Les Johnson, who served as the police chief of the town of Bennington in my district from 2004 until his untimely death this past August at the age of 51. He died from head injuries related to an off-duty incident.

People who knew Chief Les Johnson said he had a steady hand and was a big man with a big heart, and that he was an extremely kind and thoughtful person. Former Mayor Gordon Mueller recalled how Johnson worked to bring upgrades to the police department, including finding a good deal on a car, as the two squad cars were continuously breaking down. The superintendent of Bennington schools said Johnson would help with traffic at the beginning of the school year.

These are just a couple of stories representing his faithful service and work ethic.

Johnson joined the Bennington Police Department as a part-time officer in 1992. While it is a small department, a big man with a big heart led it.

Chief Johnson is survived by his wife, Alice Ann of Waterloo, and daughters, Paxton and Hannah. We send them our prayers and thoughts. We will miss Chief Johnson.