Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mike Huggins and Lenka Juchelkova for receiving the 2021 Arvada Chamber of Commerce's Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The Arvada Chamber of Commerce's Entrepreneur of the Year recognizes an individual or team for their commitment, investment, and innovation as a business owner in Arvada.

Mike and Lenka own and operate the Arvada Tavern and the Glo Car Wash in Arvada along with several other businesses in the Denver metro area. Their businesses define what is great about this community: reliable, consistent, great customer service with a focus on giving back to the community they call home. This husband-and-wife team work tirelessly to provide high-quality service to the community and good-paying jobs and positive work culture for their employees. Mike and Lenka support not only their employees and customers but the business community as a whole.

Congratulations to Mike Huggins and Lenka Juchelkova for this honor and I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rita Lawrence for receiving the 2021 Arvada Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Champion Award.

The Chamber Champion Award is given to an organization or individual who has gone above and beyond in their support of the Arvada Chamber and who has served as a leader and champion promoting the good work and priorities of the Chamber.

Rita serves in many roles at the Chamber, including on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee, the Networking KAPS Council, Annual Dinner Action Team and more. Rita has a long tenure as a member of the Chamber joining in 2011 and jumping right in as a leader and active volunteer. Rita serves as a role model and impressive community leader. Her work has benefited the Chamber and the business community as a whole.

Again, congratulations to Rita Lawrence for this honor and I thank her for her contribution to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 321) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the Women's Army Corps who were assigned to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the ``Six Triple Eight''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to include extraneous material in the Record.

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

The 855 women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, better known as the Six Triple Eight, were given a mission to sort a 2- year backlog of mail consisting of millions of letters. But these women did more than just sort and distribute this backlog in record time. As the largest contingent of African-American women to serve overseas during World War II, the Six Triple Eight demonstrated successfully that African-American women could and should be included in the ranks of the military.

Throughout their time overseas, the Six Triple Eight had a motto: ``No mail, low morale.'' Beginning in February 1945, with their arrival in Birmingham, England, the Six Triple Eight perfected their sorting processes, setting up three 8-hour shifts running 7 days a week. At peak efficiency, they processed for delivery 65,000 pieces of mail per shift.

Army leadership estimated it would take between 6 months and a year to clear the backlog of mail. The women of the Six Triple Eight did it in 3 months.

The Six Triple Eight were then moved to Rouen, France, where they continued their mission, often working in cold, dark, and damp conditions and alongside German prisoners of war and French civilians.

Finally, this group of women was moved to Paris, where they remained, sorting and distributing mail to American troops through May 1946. In all, the Six Triple Eight were estimated to have distributed 17 million pieces of mail.

Yet, despite their important contributions to boosting troop morale and their work to dispel racist stereotypes within the military of the value and dedication of African-American women in the armed services, the accomplishments of the women of the Six Triple Eight went unrecognized for decades. This bill is small, but it is a significant step toward ensuring the Six Triple Eight's contributions are acknowledged and widely celebrated.

The bill directs the United States Mint to strike a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the women of the Six Triple Eight Central Postal Directory Battalion in recognition of their pioneering military service and contributions to increasing the morale of all American personnel stationed in Europe by ensuring no mail from loved ones was left undelivered.

For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my friend from Ohio--and I thank him for his remarks--if he has any other speakers. If not, I was hoping Ms. Moore would be here, but I am prepared to close.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his personal remarks about how important the mail--receiving mail and receiving communication--is.

There were 7 million people in the European theater during World War II, and there were many names that were exactly the same that these women had to sort through. In fact, there were some 7,500 individuals named ``Robert Smith,'' and they had to figure out precisely who was to receive what mail. They did this, and they did this in very difficult environments and were able to provide the morale that was so key to all of these soldiers, sailors, and airmen and -women in their service.

So I suggest to my friend from Ohio that we close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume).

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio because I thought we were all finished, but obviously there are other speakers and there is time on both sides.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore), the sponsor of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I thank the sponsor of this bill and the passion she always brings to this floor. I also thank the sponsor of the bill in the Senate, Senator Moran from Kansas. I thank everybody for their hard work in ensuring the women of the Six Triple Eight receive the recognition they so richly deserve.

As Drexel University historian Gregory S. Cooke notes: They knew what they did would reflect on all other Black people. The Tuskegee Airmen, the Six Triple Eight, represented all Black people. Had they failed, all Black people would be seen to have failed. That was part of the thinking going into the war. The Black battalions had the burden that their role in the war was about something much bigger than themselves.

The women of the Six Triple Eight fought a battle indeed greater than the warehouses stacked to the ceiling with bags and bags of undelivered mail and ensuring our Nation's soldiers received letters from back home. It was also a battle for equality and for recognition and respect from their fellow Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jamie Connell of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for her service to our country and wish her well on her retirement.

For more than 37 years, Jamie has served the constituents of the State of Colorado and other states with her public service. With most of the BLM public lands concentrated in Colorado's Western Slope, Jamie oversaw more than 8.3 million acres of public land and 27 million acres of federal mineral estate in Colorado, ranging from alpine tundra, colorful canyons and sagebrush steppe to mountains rising more than 14,000 feet above sea level. During her time in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia, she tirelessly worked to improve and many areas of natural resource management. In her role, she has worked constructively with officials in the legislative and judicial branches of federal and state government as well as with industry and non-profit partners.

Jamie's hard work and dedication has been tremendous. I wish Jamie all the best in retirement and send gratitude for her service to our community, the State of Colorado, and the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the Thornton Fire Department in Thornton, Colorado, for earning the 2021 Congressional Fire Services Institute's Masimo Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award, which is given annually to the top fire department in the country.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thornton Fire Department has gone above and beyond to serve their community. As part of their efforts, they created a Pandemic Response Team that has conducted over 20,000 COVID tests for public employees, senior citizens, first responders, and other community members. When vaccines became available, the Pandemic Response Team expanded their services to administer over 80,000 vaccinations at drive-through sites for city employees and other community members.

The Pandemic Response Team's success led other fire agencies around the country to look to Thornton as a model for how to effectively respond to the challenges of COVID-19.

In a very difficult year for fire and emergency services, the Thornton Fire Department's innovative approach to a rapidly changing public health crisis is something we should all thank them for and model.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Lauren Martens of SEIU for his 16 years of service to the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) Colorado State Council.

For more than 40 years, Lauren has organized and fought tirelessly on issues in the labor community on many different issues. In his last position he fought and advocated for a raise to the minimum wage and won paid sick and family leave, passed and defended the Affordable Care Act, helped fund public services, defeated attacks on union rights, fought for immigrant and racial justice, and much more.

He has been able to help support members fighting for and winning their union, making their voices heard in politics, and winning improvements in their lives at the bargaining table, including with the first-ever union contract for state employees. I have admired Lauren's passion to be part of the fight for justice and have worked with him over the years on numerous issues. His hard work and dedication to the labor community in Colorado is tremendous.

I extend my deepest appreciation for Lauren Martens and his service and dedication to our community. I thank him for his continuous dedication to serving the people of Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bob Briggs of

Westminster, Colorado, who passed away on December 2, 2021.

Bob was born December 24, 1937, in Greeley, Colorado, as one of eight children and the oldest son. His family moved to Westminster in 1943 where Bob graduated from Westminster High School.

He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Colorado State University, both in horticulture. According to a January 2020 profile in Orchard Living, he majored in horticulture because he did not want to wear a tie for a living.

Bob married his wife, Shirley, on September 8, 1957. He had a long career in local and State politics, serving as Adams County Commissioner for 4 years, beginning in 1979--where he actually helped me on one of my very first cases that I had as a lawyer--as the local board member for the Regional Transportation District for 4 years in 1999, and a State representative for District 29 from January 2003 to 2005. He served terms on the Westminster City Council, including a stint as mayor pro tem. He was a longtime proponent of local rail and helped found the advocacy group Rocky Mountain Rail.

Mr. Speaker, Bob was a devoted husband and a loving father and grandfather. He and Shirley raised two children and enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren. I am deeply grateful for his lifetime of service to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Westminster Fire Chief Doug Hall for his 43 years of service to the City of Westminster and surrounding communities.

For four decades, Chief Hall has been active within the Westminster community and fire department. Chief Hall began his career in 1978 when the City had 18 firefighters, an administrative assistant, and only one of its three fire stations was staffed. The Westminster Fire Department now has 143 employees, with 123 serving in an emergency response capacity from six staffed fire stations.

For the past 10 years, Chief Hall has served as Fire Chief. Under his leadership, Westminster Fire Department earned an ISO Class 1 rating, the Center for Public Safety Excellence's (CPSE) highest accreditation. Less than 300 agencies have received an ISO Class I accreditation nationally. In addition to overseeing the modernization of the department, including upgrading public safety telecommunications systems and other technological upgrades, Chief Hall developed new career pathways for future firefighters through a multi-agency firefighter academy and officer development program.

Outside of the Westminster community, Chief Hall is recognized as a leader in the Colorado firefighting community. He served as President of the Board of Directors for the Adams and Jefferson County Hazardous Materials Response Authority from 2019 to 2021 and represents Colorado municipalities as a member of the Colorado Fire Commission. Chief Hall has been a member of the Westminster Rotary Club for 13 years.

I extend my deepest appreciation for Chief Hall and his service and dedication to our community. I thank him for his continuous dedication to serving the people of Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Agent Ashley Ferris of the Lakewood Police Department for her heroic actions which undoubtedly saved lives and protected our community from further violence.

On December 27, 2021, the Denver and Lakewood, Colorado, communities experienced a terrible tragedy. A gunman opened fire at multiple locations in Denver before traveling to Lakewood where he continued the shooting spree.

As a result of this gun violence, five lives were taken and two others were injured. My condolences go to the friends and family of the five victims of these murders: Alicia Cardenas, Danny Scofield, Sarah Steck, Alyssa Gunn-Maldonado, and Michael Swinyard. Jimmy Maldonado was injured as well as Agent Ferris, who bravely confronted and killed the gunman even after being shot in the abdomen, undoubtedly preventing additional loss of life.

The Lakewood Police Department said it best: ``If not for the heroic efforts of Agent Ferris and other law enforcement, this incredibly violent tragedy could have been even worse.''

Agent Ferris was previously recognized for her actions on the job in 2020 when she, along with two fellow Lakewood Police Officers, performed lifesaving measures on a woman suffering medical distress. For her actions, she was presented with the department's Lifesaving Award.

I am thankful Agent Ashley Ferris was recently released from the hospital. I wish her a full and speedy recovery, and I extend my deepest appreciation for her bravery, sacrifice, and service to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a friend and adviser, a gentleman named Odell Barry of Northglenn, Colorado, who passed away on January 3, 2022.

Born on October 10, 1941, in Memphis, Tennessee, Berry spent most of his childhood in Toledo, Ohio. In 1964, the Denver Broncos took him out of the University of Findlay in the 19th round of the American Football League draft. Barry, a very talented and standout sprinter, opted for pro football over a chance to join the U.S. Olympic team, and he played a couple of seasons with the Broncos.

Once his football career concluded, Barry began his career in public and community service, first as the City of Northglenn recreation director and then as the owner of Colorado's first full-service Dairy Queen in the early 1970s. From 1972 to '79, Barry served on the Northglenn City Council and then he became mayor. Along the way, he took pride in organizing the Multiple Sclerosis Dinner of Champions for many years and running Northglenn's football camp. Other highlights include his membership in the Colorado Baseball Commission in the early 1990s, which helped pave the way for the Rockies.

Barry was a devoted husband to Glenda, a loving father of two, and he loved spending time with his grandchildren. I am deeply grateful for his lifetime of service to our community and the great State of Colorado, and I personally will miss him.

Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 860 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Reschenthaler) pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Madam Speaker, yesterday the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 860. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act under a structured rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, makes in order two amendments, and provides one motion to recommit.

The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4673, the EVEST Act, under a structured rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The rule also makes in order five amendments, provides the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs with en bloc authority, and provides one motion to recommit.

Finally, the rule provides for recess instructions, suspension authority, and same-day authority through February 4, 2022.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased we are here today to provide for consideration of two important bills to support our Nation's veterans.

H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act will make important improvements to the way GI Bill benefits are calculated for our National Guard and Reserve veterans. Since 9/11, our seven individual Reserve and Guard components of the United States Armed Forces have played a larger and larger role in military operations. Despite putting on the same uniform and taking on many of the same risks as their Active Duty counterparts, these servicemembers don't have access to the same benefits.

Under current law, active component servicemembers receive credit for every day they serve while reserve component and National Guard servicemembers earn credit depending on their duty status. H.R. 1836 would expand eligibility for the GI Bill to count every day a servicemember is paid and in uniform toward benefit eligibility and ensure parity for National Guard and Reserve members. It only makes common sense. This service would include all training and general duty for which basic pay is warranted.

These men and women answer the call to serve without hesitation. Our National Guard has stepped up these last several years to assist in the fight against COVID-19, help communities affected by natural disasters, as in Colorado, we had a terrible wildfire a week ago and the National Guard stepped up, and even protecting our Capitol following a domestic terrorist attack. It is past time these servicemembers have access to the GI benefits they deserve.

I commend Congressman Mike Levin for sponsoring this legislation to provide parity, and I am proud to support this bipartisan bill.

The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 4673, the EVEST Act, to improve healthcare benefits for departing Active Duty servicemembers as they transition into VA healthcare and civilian life, again, something that is just common sense and I thought was already part of the law.

Approximately 200,000 servicemembers transition out of military service each year. This service is difficult, demanding, and dangerous, and the transition from military to civilian life can be challenging for servicemembers who suffered a service-related injury or a traumatic experience. A recent survey of 10,000 veterans showed their chief concern in their first year after leaving the military is their health and their mental well-being.

At this moment, veterans eligible for VA healthcare must choose to enroll in the VA's healthcare system using its online, phone, or in- person services. However, veterans are often confused regarding their eligibility status for enrollment despite all veterans being eligible for VA healthcare benefits for 5 years after separation from the military.

A 2014 study found symptoms of PTSD can be significantly improved if veterans receive prompt mental healthcare, and for each year a veteran waited to initiate treatment, there was a 5 percent increase in the odds of their PTSD not improving or even worsening. Simply put, our veterans cannot afford to not get the healthcare they need and deserve.

The EVEST Act requires the VA to enroll veterans in its patient enrollment system within 60 days of receiving relevant information and notice from the Department of Defense. This bill uses existing DOD systems through the Transition Assistance Program as well as VA's existing patient enrollment system to enable a warm handoff from DOD to VA. The bill would require the VA to provide veterans notice of enrollment and instructions for how the veteran can opt out if they so wish.

Smoother access to VA healthcare has never been more important than it is today. It is time to shift the burden from the veteran to the DOD and the VA where it belongs.

I thank Chairman Takano for introducing this commonsense legislation to improve the health of our recently separated veterans, and I also recognize the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his service to the country as part of our military.

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

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would say in response to my friend, this is a situation in the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act where the National Guard and the Reserves are standing side-by-side with active military, and they are entitled to the same benefits that the active military has when it comes to the GI Bill. So that one, in my opinion, is a no-brainer.

The other, and I would say, the VSOs, the veteran service organizations supporting the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, H.R. 1836, are Student Veterans of America, National Guard Association of the U.S., Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, and the Reserve Officers Association of the U.S.

With respect so the EVEST legislation, H.R. 4637, again, here we are, people have acted with military service and then have to opt in as opposed to just let the system move quickly for them to become part of the veterans medical care and benefits system. And we have a number of different organizations that support that.

VSOs supporting that are the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Disabled American Veterans, the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs, and the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Ross), a distinguished member of the Committee on Rules.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the comments of Mr. Reschenthaler and Mrs. Hinson about schools. But this, in a word, is the Congress of the United States. This is not the Des Moines school board or the Punxsutawney school board where they may have individual respective issues for their area.

Madam Speaker, my wife is a teacher--as you are--and in Jefferson County, Colorado, the schools are open.

Now, are people getting sick? Is there a lot of pressure on teachers? You bet there is. But those schools are open.

So I appreciate the comments of my friends about wanting to open the schools in Chicago or maybe wanting to open them someplace else, but they are open. And so I am not exactly sure what they are railing against other than maybe the school board of Chicago or the school board of Des Moines.

Madam Speaker, I yield three minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

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

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

Madam Speaker, I would just respond to my friend from Oklahoma, as well as the gentleman from Pennsylvania. Obviously, they have some issues with their school systems if this is the problem that they are bringing up.

In Colorado, schools are open. I can tell you that my wife, Nancy, is pretty stressed because COVID is still around and the teaching ranks have been hit by COVID. There is a lot of stress on teachers, but the schools are open.

Maybe those gentlemen need to talk to their school boards. In Colorado, we believe in local control. In Colorado, we have kept these open.

I would just suggest to the gentlemen to take a look at their own school boards instead of having some national standard that they want to create here about keeping schools open, because they are open.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Reschenthaler mentioned something about the economy. Let's talk about the economy. Let's start with the stock market.

The stock market is up 10,000 points since Joe Biden took office. Madam Speaker, 10,000 points. Do you know what that means? It is $1.4 billion per point. It means the stock market is up $14 trillion in 1 year under Joe Biden. Since Donald Trump lost, the stock market is up $14 trillion.

If that weren't enough, let's talk about how many jobs have been added since Joe Biden won and Donald Trump lost. Madam Speaker, 6.2 million jobs have been added in the last year.

Wages have increased by 4.7 percent, at levels we haven't seen for decades.

We had the sharpest drop in unemployment since Joe Biden won and Donald Trump lost, over the course of the last year, down to 3.9 percent.

The stock market is up. Jobs are up. Wages are up. My friends are complaining about the economy. Well, they have to complain about something, so that is what they want to complain about.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the comments of the gentleman from Utah, as well as my friend from Pennsylvania. They are focusing on schools. Okay, focus on schools. Obviously, I think local control of these school districts is the appropriate way to go and not kind of a Federal mandate.

Obviously, we would like to see vaccines used more and COVID eliminated. If we got everybody vaccinated and people wore masks, I think that would be the direction we would go.

What these bills are about, and what this rule is about, is the mental health of our National Guard and Reserve troops. We are talking about the National Guard, and we are talking about the Reserves.

They may want to bring in a school bill, which is completely unrelated to the topic at hand, but what we are talking about here should have been either passed under some kind of an expedited fashion or it should be the law already. Obviously, they want to argue about something that is not before the body because they can't argue against these two bills.

We want to make sure that there is parity that exists between the National Guard and Reserve and active military when it comes to the GI Bill and the ability of those individuals to take advantage of the benefits of the GI Bill, which will benefit this Nation greatly.

My dad had a saying about the original GI Bill. He said: America has made many investments, but of the two best investments that America made, the Louisiana Purchase was second only to the GI Bill in terms of the value to America.

Here we are, talking about all sorts of other things and not parity for National Guardsmen, Reserve officers, and Reserve troops with the ability to access the GI Bill.

We are also ignoring the mental health issues that so many coming out of the military may experience once they are out of the Department of Defense, out of their active service. We want to make sure there is a seamless approach to them entering into the VA system.

Madam Speaker, I understand my friends arguing about everything else, but what we have before us are very important matters that have to be addressed.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time each side has remaining?

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

Madam Speaker, I appreciate my friends wanting to talk about the Chicago Teachers Union because, again, they don't want to talk about the National Guard; they don't want to talk about the Reserve; they don't want to talk about the GI Bill; and they don't want to talk about mental health benefits or health benefits generally for veterans because they don't have any complaint about that. There is just a whole other conversation going on here.

Again, I don't know what is going on in Wisconsin, whether the gentleman has a complaint against collective bargaining in Wisconsin; I don't know if it is the problem in Pennsylvania if there is an issue with collective bargaining. That is not the issue before the House today.

Madam Speaker, we need to get these National Guard and Reserve pieces of legislation passed, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would just like to thank the gentlewoman from Louisiana for talking about the need for broadband because in the American Rescue Plan there is funding for broadband for rural areas such as she represents as well as in the infrastructure bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time so my friend can close.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I want to just recognize my friend for his service to our country both in the military and here in the United States Congress.

I want to thank my colleagues for joining me here today to speak on the rule, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, and the EVEST Act and how we provide and care for our Nation's veterans.

We have an opportunity through passage of both bills to improve the healthcare of our separating servicemembers and ensure our National Guard and Reserve component members receive parity in their GI Bill benefits to thank them for their service to

our country. I again want to thank the Veterans' Affairs Committee for their work along with Chairman Mark Takano and Representative Mike Levin for sponsoring these important bills.

As we kick off 2022 and continue the House's work for the people, I am glad we are starting with our Nation's veterans. I want to thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Reschenthaler, and the numerous other veterans who have served in this body for, again, service both in the military and service here in the United States Congress. I have always fought hard for our Nation's veterans throughout my time in Congress as my way to show my gratitude for their service and fulfill my belief that it is our country's responsibility to care for our Nation's veterans after they have cared for us.

Madam Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question.

The material previously referred to by Mr. Reschenthaler is as follows:

At the end of the resolution, add the following:

Sec. 8. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the

House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the

bill (H.R. 682) to encourage local educational agencies to

resume in-person instruction at elementary and secondary

schools, and for other purposes. All points of order against

consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be

considered as read. All points of order against provisions in

the bill are waived. The previous question shall be

considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment

thereto to final passage without intervening motion except:

(1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the

chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on

Education and Labor; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 9. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the

consideration of H.R. 682.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robert ``Bob'' Briggs of Westminster, Colorado who passed away on December 2, 2021.

Bob was born December 24, 1937 in Greeley, Colo. as one of eight children and the oldest son. His family moved to Westminster, Colo. in 1943, where Briggs graduated from Westminster High School. He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Colorado State University, both in horticulture. According to a January 2020 profile in Orchard Living, ``he majored in horticulture because he did not want to wear a tie for a living.'' Bob married his wife Shirley on September 8, 1957.

Bob had a long career in local and state politics, serving as Adams County Commissioner for four years beginning in 1979, as the local Board Member for the Regional Transportation District for four years beginning in 1999, and a State Representative for District 29 from January 2003 to 2005. He served two terms on the Westminster City Council from 2007 to 2015, including a stint as the Mayor Pro Tem. He also served as charter President of the original Westminster Chamber of Commerce in 1967. That group merged with the Adams County Chamber in 1982 where he also served as a board member. In this free time, Bob spent his time serving the Colorado Greenhouse Grower's Association, the Westminster Open Space Board, the Westminster Rotary, the Jefferson County Historical Commission and was still serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Butterfly Pavilion upon his passing. He was a longtime proponent of local rail and helped found the advocacy group, Rocky Mountain Rail.

Bob was a devoted husband and loving father and grandfather. Bob and Shirley raised two children and enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren. I am deeply grateful for his lifetime of service to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize David Moser on his retirement from the United States Department of Labor Office of Workman's Compensation Programs' Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation.

For nearly twenty years, David served across a variety of positions at the Department of Labor serving the American people. David started his public service as a member of the U.S. Navy from June 9, 1981 through February 1, 1994. He became a Hospital Corpsman after boot camp and corps school, during which time he was stationed at several Naval locations, including at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia from 1981 to 1982 followed by a 6-month deployment on the USS America to Europe. From 1984 to 1986, he went to the U.S. Marine Base Camp Butler in Okinawa, Japan with the 3rd Marine Corps Battalion as a Corpsman for an Artillery Unit followed by stints at the U.S. Naval Hospital at Subic Clinic in Subic Bay, Philippines and the U.S. Marine Corps Air Base in Yuma, AZ, as a corpsman for a Hawks Missile Unit from 1986 to 1990. He then moved to be a Medical Representative for the U.S. Marine Corps Office Selection Team in Denver, Colo. from 1990 to 1994.

After he left the U.S. Navy, David joined the Department of Veterans Affairs in Denver, working several different positions in the mail room, customer service and foreign medical program. David subsequently joined the U.S. DOL, Office of Worker's Compensation, Energy Employee's Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP) in the Denver District Office as a Claims Examiner, Senior Claims Examiner, and Medical Benefits Examiner from August 2005 to his retirement. His hard work and dedication to public service is tremendous.

I wish David all the best in retirement and send gratitude for his service to our community, the State of Colorado, and the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chuck Gross of the Adams County Education Consortium on his retirement.

For more than six years, Chuck has served the Adams County Education community in his role as Executive Director. Chuck has worked in many different roles with several organizations over the years. One of his earliest roles was as Sr. Vice President and General Manager of Kinzley-Hughes from 1988 to 1995. He then moved to Broadband and Associates from 1995 to 1996 and transitioned to the consulting world as a Principal at Worden Gross Consulting for eleven years where he provided public relations, community relations, marketing and communications to senior executives at some of America's most well- known brands, including the Ritz-Carlton and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Following Worden Gross, Chuck went to work for Sector Brands for seven years working as a senior branding and marketing communications consultant, working collaboratively with each client's executive leadership team to enhance its value and position the organization for leadership and growth.

His final role has been with the Adams County Education Consortium where he has been responsible for directing a county-wide partnership-- including school districts, higher education institutions, local governments and businesses--that works to enhance academic skills development, career exploration, and relevant work-ready skills for all students in Adams County. My office has worked with Chuck on several different occasions over the years and I am inspired by his work ethic and contributions to Adams County Education community.

I wish Chuck all the best in retirement and send gratitude for his service to our community, the State of Colorado, and the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Rachel Herlihy, State Epidemiologist for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for her dedication and service to the people of the State of Colorado. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Herlihy went above and beyond to engage, educate and inform the community about COVID-19, including by participating in many Telephone Town Halls with my office and thousands of my constituents.

Dr. Herlihy has served the constituents of Colorado in her role since 2015. During our Telephone Town Halls, Dr. Herlihy provided timely updates on COVID-19 and answered constituent's questions regarding how to protect themselves and their families during an uncertain time. Her insights and knowledge were invaluable to my office and my constituents.

It is because of local heroes like Dr. Herlihy that our state has been able to protect its residents and keep our community safe. I thank Dr. Rachel Herlihy for her service and her sacrifice during this difficult time, and I look forward to continuing to work with her as we continue the fight against COVID-19 and its variants.