Floor Statements

Mr Speaker, today I rise saddened to share the news of the premature demise of one of Kansas City's greatest treasures and a dear friend of mine. Mr. Ronald McFadden. Ronald and his brother Lonnie formed the iconic duo known throughout the world as the McFadden Brothers. The McFadden Brothers graduated from Lincoln High School and after countless hours of musical and tap lessons, performed their first official McFadden Brothers act on July 30, 1983, at the Music Hall with Oleta Adams. Since then, this team performed before thousands of audiences around the world, beginning in Japan in 1976 and later performances with Wayne Newton in Las Vegas during the 1990s. But what some people don't know is that they started performing at the old Muehlebach Hotel in downtown Kansas City, Missouri at the tender ages of 6 and 7 years old where they were led by their father, an extraordinary musician in his own right.

These two were more than just musicians, they were the consummate entertainers. They could sing with the best vocalist, their harmony allowed their audiences to float on clouds, their tap dancing style and choreography evoked memories of the famous Nicholas Brothers, their coordination, timing and precision awed each audience member from every end of the world. Their energy was so electrifying that it captured each audience from the time they stepped upon the stage until their final bow, after what was certainly a memorable experience. Their dynamic brand of multi-discipline performance demonstrated talents that were honed after countless hours of practice and dedication to their craft. In 2016, the McFadden Brothers received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Jazz Museum, and they received the Living Legends Awards from Tapology in October of 2017. In 2022, the McFadden Brothers received the distinction of being enshrined into the Jazz Walk of Fame in the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District, where I personally congratulated them. During a recent interview after Ronnie's death, Lonnie was asked how significant it was to lose his brother, and Lonnie explained that everyone who knew Ronnie feels as if they lost their closest friend. Lonnie's words reflect my own feelings at the moment, but I have no doubt that Ronnie's presence will continue to be felt for generations to come thanks to his music and the lives he touched.

Mr. Speaker, please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in celebrating the life and legacy of world renowned jazz legend and Kansas City's own, Mr. Ronald McFadden. May his memory be a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, it is with immense pride that I rise today to recognize and celebrate the appointment of Frank White III as the new Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) CEO, via a unanimous vote by the KCATA Board of Commissioners. An experienced leader, innovative thinker, and dedicated professional, it is clear why Frank has been given such profound responsibility.

Frank's journey with KCATA began in 2016 as a Senior Marketing Manager, where his dedication to the Agency and the community it serves was recognized by many. He rose through the ranks to achieve positions such as Chief Marketing Officer, a role in which he earned three first place American Public Transportation Association AdWheel Awards; Director of Strategic Planning and Development; and vice president of RideKC Development Corporation. Frank continued to grow within the industry and in 2019 he graduated from the Eno Transportation Senior Executive Program, a prestigious transportation leadership development program.

Frank stands out as a trailblazer in the community and opens a new door as the first African American CEO in the storied history of KCATA. His work is crucial to the local economy and essential to the everyday lives of thousands in the Missouri-Kansas bi-state area. He continues to prepare us for the future, working to make the public transportation system more efficient and effective for current and future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in congratulating Frank White Ill in his new position of CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. Having known Frank for many years, his recent accomplishments come as no surprise to me. Frank holds himself to a standard of excellence that is contagious to those around him--one of the many qualities that make him a great leader. The future of KCATA and the livelihoods of thousands in the bi-state area are in good hands.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Kansas City Public Library's Westport Branch for its one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary of service. For more than a century, the Westport Library has nurtured Missouri's Fifth Congressional District with public services and resources that help keep our community afloat. As Kansas City's first library branch to have opened, the Westport Library paved the way for the current library system in Kansas City to exist.

The Westport Library first opened its doors to the community on February 22, 1898, under the name Allen Library in honor of Arthur M. Allen, who made its inception possible. After having discovered a surplus of $7,500 in taxes collected for the construction of a horse railroad line between Westport and Kansas City, Allen decided to go against the city in court to secure the funds and establish a community library.

Allen won the court case and began the process to open the library. With the money won, the land to build the library was purchased for $1,800 and the library built for $5,012. To ensure that there would be books for the newly built library, Allen, who was a member of the Westport School Board, helped allocate a total budget of $2000 so that the library could be stocked for its visitors. The library opened to the Westport community with Margurite Smith as its first librarian providing local residents with knowledge, resources, and a place for exchanging ideas. Then, when Kansas City annexed Westport, the Allen Library became the first branch of the Kansas City Public Library system, continuing to bear Allen's name on its outside walls. Without the establishment of the Westport Library, generations upon generations would not have had the access to books and the opportunity to nurture their intellectual curiosity.

Throughout its one hundredth and twenty fifth years of existence, the Westport Library has stood as a landmark in Kansas City's Midtown community. This historic building serves as a meeting place for students and residents looking for resources such as free Wi-Fi, help obtaining a passport, historic archives, and books to read. Now more than ever, the public service that the Westport library has provided for the residents of Kansas City must be applauded.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in congratulating the current and former staff members of this establishment who have worked tirelessly to connect people with ideas, services, and resources that make our community a better place. The Westport Library set the stage for the creation of the Kansas City Public Library system that exists today and that continues to bridge the gap between useful information and our neighbors. The Westport Library's contribution to Kansas City's population cannot be overstated, and I have no doubt that they will continue this important work over the next century and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the 100th birthday of a very special Kansas Citian who also happens to be a native Washingtonian. Dr. Howard Nelson, Jr. was born February 11, 1923, the youngest of 4 children. His parents, Howard and Florence Nelson, came from a community outside Charlottesville, Virginia. His parents' mantra was ``education, education, education.'' They dedicated their lives to ensuring that their children would be college educated. As the youngest child, Dr. Nelson was affectionately called ``babe,'' a name that family and close friends still use when referring to him today. In 1939, Dr. Nelson graduated from Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. In the 1940s, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was one of 12 Black soldiers selected to attend Officer Candidate School, where he was one of 3 to graduate. Dr. Nelson was then assigned to the 92nd Infantry Division, which was the only Black division to see combat during WWII in Italy. After serving this great country with distinction, Dr. Nelson attended Howard University and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology. During his time at Howard, Dr. Nelson was inducted into the men of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. In 1957, Dr. Nelson moved to Kansas City and opened his dental practice where he served the community for almost 45 years. Dr. Nelson was married to Evelyn, with whom he had 2 children--a daughter Karon (now 72) who is a local attorney, and a son Howard Drake ``Skip'' Nelson III, who followed in his dad's footsteps and became a successful dentist. Sadly, Skip predeceased his dad in September 2007. Dr. Nelson has several grandkids.

In 1964, Dr. Nelson became Chairman of the Kansas City Chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (``CORE''), an organization founded in 1942 that became one of the leading activist organizations in the early years of the civil rights movement. On June 26, 1964,

Dr. Nelson, then a successful 41-year-old dentist, and dedicated to the escalating fight for civil rights, suddenly found himself being lifted and physically removed from the Parkway Bowling Club, now long gone from 49th and Prospect Avenue. Dr. Nelson led a group of CORE members in a peaceful protest of the Parkway Bowling Club, which refused to allow Black people to bowl. The group refused to leave the premises and were later arrested and charged with disturbing the peace. This moment was historically memorialized by a then virtually unprecedented photo of Dr. Nelson being carried away by police. This fact was acknowledged in a Kansas City Star series of articles entitled ``The Truth in Black and White,'' which recognized that a decade into the struggle for civil rights, the newspaper had deliberately not published photos of any Black leaders of the movement on the front pages of either the Kansas City Star or the Kansas City Times. Consider for a moment that the paper did not publish photos of Emmett Till upon his horrific death in 1955, nor when his killers were unjustly acquitted, nor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. when he came to Kansas City in 1957, nor the Black Kansas Citians picketing outside segregated downtown department stores in 1958, nor the NAACP's protests in 1960 over segregation at restaurants and movie theaters. Consider during that same week of June 26, 1964, three CORE field workers--James Chaney of Mississippi, along with Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner from New York--would go missing and were later found brutally murdered as part of what are now known as the ``Mississippi burning'' murders. What was the crime Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner committed justifying being murdered? Registering Black folks to vote. Hence, the foregoing contextual facts are a testament to Dr. Nelson's profound courage and convictions, and they show his willingness to risk his life, liberty, and livelihood.

In addition to leading sit-ins at the local bowling alley, Dr. Nelson also challenged housing segregation. In the early 1960s, Dr. Nelson and his family lived on 36th and Cleveland, but he and his wife Evelyn wanted the best education for his children, so they started looking for a place to build a new home near good schools. They looked in Johnson County, Kansas, a suburban enclave that had seen rapid growth in the post-war years, a population aided in no small part by racist deed restrictions and housing covenants that had shut out people like the Nelsons. One lot was left in an area that Dr. Nelson liked in an up- and-coming neighborhood along 103rd Street in Overland Park. Banks ignored him when he tried to get a loan to build the house even though he had the finances, and architects were unwilling to design a house for a Black family in a white neighborhood. So, Dr. Nelson's wife Evelyn's Episcopalian church group stepped in to help. They bought the house for the Nelsons and then turned around and sold it to them. Dr. Nelson and his family fastidiously maintained the home, the yard, and the swimming pool out back, and they ``never had any trouble with the neighbors.'' Living in a segregated neighborhood in Overland Park was, in its own way, an act of defiance in Dr. Nelson's book. Dr. Nelson sought to ``raise the consciousness of the people in Kansas City.'' Coincidentally, that house is today occupied by another Black man named Mr. Byron Roberson, who happens to be the first Black Police Chief for the Prairie Village Police Department.

Professionally, Dr. Nelson continued his list of being a man of many ``firsts'' including first Black to serve on the Board of Governors of the Dental Association in 1972, where he served 2 terms. In 1986, the Missouri Governor appointed Dr. Nelson to be the first Black person to serve on the Missouri State Dental Board, eventually becoming the body's first Black President in 1991. Dr. Nelson was one of the first Black people to teach at the UMKC School of Dentistry, and Dr. Nelson served on the founding board of the Wayne Minor Health Center now known as Dr. Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center. As you can see, I am so very proud and honored to stand before you today to wish Dr. Howard Nelson a very happy 100th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a profound sense of gratitude that I rise today to celebrate the decades-long career of Esther George, who has served as the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City since October 2011. Having made the Federal Reserve Bank her professional home since 1982, Esther has dedicated 40 years to helping ensure the financial well-being of the United States. With her retirement nearing, let us take a moment to reflect on Esther's illustrious career and her efforts to steer our country's economy through periods of historic uncertainty.

Born on January 15, 1958, in Faucett, Missouri--a rural farming community in the northwestern part of the state--Esther remembers getting paid 25 cents an hour while working on her family's plot of land. After learning about an opportunity for high school students to study abroad in France, Esther secured a loan from a bank in St. Joseph, Missouri to cover the costs of the foreign exchange program. Representing her first meaningful visit to a local bank, this experience sparked Esther's lifelong interest in banking, and she soon began working at the institution while still in high school. While earning her degree in Business Administration from Missouri Western State University, Esther continued to work at the bank that had helped facilitate her trip to France, thereby expanding her knowledge of community banking while gaining an even deeper appreciation for the ways in which well-run banks can empower everyday people. Making use of another bank loan, Esther returned to Europe during her college years to study the finer points of international banking.

Made aware of job openings at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City through a newspaper ad, Esther joined the Bank on April 5, 1982, as a bank examiner trainee. At the time of her hiring, the banking industry was going through a period of relative stability. This smooth sailing, however, gave way to rough and stormy seas when the failure of a bank in Oklahoma City initiated a financial crisis whose waves of volatility crashed most violently against the Federal Reserve's 10th District, where Esther had begun working just 3 months earlier. This baptism by fire made clear the importance of the Federal Reserve's role in safeguarding America's financial system, and Esther quickly began rising up the ranks. Promoted 3 times by 1984, the young banker worked tirelessly to lessen the impacts of this financial storm.

Esther went on to earn an MBA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in addition to graduating from the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Esther held leading positions within the Bank's research, public affairs, and human resources departments before taking the reins of the Bank's Division of Supervision and Risk Management in August 2001, making her the chief regulator of the Federal Reserve's 10th District. In this role, Esther oversaw the regulation of the District's 200 state-chartered member banks along with 1000 bank and financial holding companies. Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Esther's responsibilities took on even greater significance as our country's financial system was made to appear vulnerable. Once again, Esther rose to the occasion and did her part in minimizing the harm inflicted to America's economy.

In 2009, Esther became the Bank's Chief Operating Officer and assumed additional duties as the Director of the Federal Reserve's Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation at the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C. With the United States in the grips of the Great Recession, Esther answered the call to offer her wisdom and expertise to a weary nation. And in 2011, Esther was appointed President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. In this position, Esther has overseen the 10th District of the Federal Reserve, which includes western Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, and northern New Mexico. Leading a team of over 2000 employees at the Bank's Kansas City office and Branch offices in Denver, Oklahoma City, and Omaha, Esther has helped shape our country's monetary policy, supervised financial institutions, and provided payment and financial services to depository institutions and the U.S. Treasury. Notably, the 10th District's workforce has more than doubled since Esther took command in 2011--a testament to her vision and leadership capabilities. Moreover, as a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee, Esther has consistently stood out as an independent voice of reason during monetary policy deliberations.

Esther has participated in the Bank for International Settlements' Financial Stability Institute programs in countries all around the world, and as the host of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, Esther has used her influence to ensure that women are afforded equal opportunities to offer their insights on pressing economic matters.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in applauding Esther George in recognition of 40 years of public service at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. On behalf of the 118th Congress, I wish Esther a joyous retirement.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 8.

Mr. Chairman, this bill requires the Secretary of Energy to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to increase the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas production when drawdowns are made on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Should this bill become law, I believe this interagency coordination will be paramount to ensuring the Federal lands leasing strategy is carried out in a thoughtful and scrupulous way.

To that end, my amendment will require that the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency are also formally included in the Energy Secretary's consultation process as the leasing plan is formulated.

Mr. Chair, I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will vote with me in favor of this amendment to ensure greater interagency collaboration and due diligence on such important matters before us.

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

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 9.

Mr. Chairman, as we all know, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was established decades ago by our 38th President, Gerald Ford, in the aftermath of the oil crisis of the early 1970s.

Ever since, the reserve has proven to be an incredibly effective tool at the President's disposal in instances where the Nation has found itself confronted with a crisis. Whether we find ourselves facing a catastrophic natural disaster, a substantial spike in global oil prices, or an outbreak of international conflict, Presidents have used the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in each of these situations and others to ensure the Nation is able to respond swiftly, avoid disruptions to vital operations, and minimize the financial pain facing American families.

Tragically, it is not a matter of if but, rather, when the next national emergency will occur. I think we can all agree that the last thing any of us want is for the President's ability to quickly mobilize the Nation's response to be encumbered or hindered by unintentional red tape.

This amendment would straightforwardly, but importantly, avoid that potential pitfall by including an exception for national emergencies as declared under the National Emergencies Act. We all know how government bureaucracies work, and it is always slowly.

This bill requires the Department of Energy to consult with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and the Pentagon to develop a

plan to increase the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas production when drawdowns on the SPR are made.

While thorough due diligence and interagency coordination are absolutely a good and necessary component in any attempt to lease Federal lands for oil and gas production, do any of us really believe that such consultation and planning between four massive government departments can be done expeditiously in a time of war or crisis? This amendment would insert an exception clause to ensure this bill does not compromise or restrict the President's ability.

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

Offered By: Mr. Cleaver

Amendment No. 8: Page 3, line 9, strike ``and the Secretary

of Defense'' and insert ``the Secretary of Defense, the

Administrator of the Environmental Protection

Agency, and the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs''.

Offered By: Mr. Cleaver

Amendment No. 9: Page 2, line 11, insert ``or during the

period of a national emergency declared under the National

Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)'' after ``(d)''.

Madam Speaker, it is with profound gratitude that I rise today to celebrate the decades-long career of Doran Cart, who has served as the Senior Curator at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri for the last eleven years. As the nation's leading expert on the material culture of the First World War, Doran's role in preserving and interpreting the history of this transformational conflict cannot be overstated. With his well-earned retirement fast approaching at the end of the year, let us take a moment to reflect on Doran's invaluable contributions not only to Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, but to the field of history at large.

Having long understood the significance of studying the past, Doran earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Indiana University in 1974, at which point he entered the museum field. Going on to earn a master's degree in Museum Administration/History from the University of California, Riverside in 1981, Doran became Curator at the Liberty Memorial nine years later, leading a professional staff of only two individuals. When the Memorial was closed in November of 1994 due to structural failure of its courtyards and stairways, a chain of events was set in motion that would soon make Doran Cart a household name in Kansas City and eventually a figure of national; and even international, prominence. Serving as the Memorial's point of contact for publicity related to the unfortunate closure, Doran worked tirelessly with various entities on restoration designs, implementation, and documentation. Spearheading efforts to pass a sales tax designed to generate funds for the Memorial's restoration, Doran led over 150 public programs extolling the importance of the Memorial and the need for public support. When Kansas City voters overwhelmingly approved the sales tax in 1998, it was made clear that Doran's message had resonated deeply with the surrounding community. At the time, I was serving my second term as the Mayor of Kansas City, and it is difficult to adequately express the sense of admiration I felt for Doran after his successful appeal to the public. With millions of visitors from around the world having made their way to Kansas City over the last twenty-four years to visit the hallowed grounds that Doran helped save, that sense of admiration has only grown.

Looking beyond the restoration of the Memorial, Doran also played a pivotal role in the passage of a $20 million bond initiative to fund the construction of a new museum that would display the thousands of WWI-related objects and documents that the Liberty Memorial Association had collected since 1920, one year before the site's dedication. Approved by voters in 2004, the same year that the 108th Congress designated the Liberty Memorial as the National WWI Museum, the bond initiative was part of a $102 million project that turned the space underneath the original Memorial Courtyard into the Museum's main gallery. Throughout this massive undertaking, Doran worked closely with the architectural, construction, and design teams. From there, he worked on the design, creation, label writing, and installation of the Museum's primary exhibition, The World War, 1914-1919.

Opened to the public on December 2, 2006 as the National World War I Museum and Memorial, the site has been home to countless special exhibitions over the last sixteen years, including Man and Machine: The German Soldier in World War I, Road to War: 1904-1914,

Over by Christmas, August-December, 1914, and Empires at War: Austria and Germany, all of which Doran helped piece together. Possessing a wide general knowledge of the First World War, along with an unmatched sense of expertise on the Museum's ever-expanding collection of objects and documents, Doran has been responsible for updating exhibits, acquiring new relics, and curating collections from around the globe. On top of exhibition production, his duties have included basic conservation, research, writing, and public outreach. Moreover, Doran has served as a consultant for World War I material culture for museums, television documentaries, books, films, and other projects originating from around the world. Through on-screen media presentations and interviews, including appearances on Fox News, the History Channel, and PBS, Doran has served as a faithful ambassador for the immense collections he has curated and made accessible to scholars and lay-people alike. By leading battlefield tours, speaking on radio programs, and writing for social and print media--including contributions to publications such as BBC History and the Kansas Magazine of History--Doran has represented the Museum nationally and internationally on all fronts. With the Museum being designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2006, and with the Liberty Memorial being recognized as our country's official World War I memorial in 2014, Doran performed exceptionally well in this role.

President Harry S. Truman, whose hometown I have had the distinct honor of representing in Congress, once explained that ``the only thing new in the world is the history you don't know.'' The lessons that history offers, however, can only be learned if the objects, documents, and stories that provide windows into the past are properly preserved. Since 1990, Doran Cart has done his part to ensure that the history of the First World War will not be lost, and much like the history he has preserved, Doran's work will never be forgotten. Let this statement in the Congressional Record, preserved for perpetuity by the Library of Congress, along with the sacred grounds of the National World War I Museum and Memorial, stand as lasting testaments to Doran's work. Madam Speaker, please join me in wishing Doran Cart a joyous retirement.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of Cleveland University-Kansas City. For an entire century, Cleveland University-Kansas City has been recognized as a leader in the chiropractic care field, serving as one of the oldest nonprofit chiropractic colleges in the Nation. This institution prepares thousands of healthcare professionals that prioritize creating a healthier world for our community. It is truly an honor to celebrate the Cleveland University-Kansas City and its 100 years of history.

Since its inception, Cleveland University-Kansas City has been an integral contributor in teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals. Originally named Central College of Chiropractic, the institution enrolled their first class of students in 1922 and celebrated the graduation of its first doctor of chiropractic in 1924. Founded by graduates of the world's first school of chiropractic care, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Dr. C.S. Cleveland Sr., Dr. Ruth R. Cleveland, and Dr. Perl B. Griffin became one of the first established families in chiropractic care in the Nation. After two years of operation, Central College of Chiropractic was renamed to Cleveland Chiropractic College, reflecting the influential contributions of the founding family.

As enrollment at the institution began to grow, it remained centered on creating a tight-knit community amongst students, staff, and faculty to ensure there was an existing support system as students continued their academic and professional journeys. As a result of the institution expanding, Cleveland Chiropractic College acquired the Ratledge System of Chiropractic Schools located in Los Angeles in 1951 and was renamed as Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles in 1955. With roots in Kansas City and Los Angeles, the college became known across the country, attracting students from every corner of the Nation. After Dr. C.S. Cleveland Sr.'s leadership was over, his son, Dr. C.S. Cleveland Jr. served as chancellor of both campuses and saw the establishment of a new bachelor's degree in human biology and a new program focused on pre-professional Health Science. Known as a worldwide chiropractic lecturer, Dr. C.S. Cleveland Jr. began the process of expanding the college's degrees while keeping chiropractic care as the foundation of the institution.

To provide students with more hands-on experience and access to advanced technological facilities, a newly developed facility was created in 2008 and by 2011, the Los Angeles campus consolidated operations with the Kansas City campus. Under the leadership of fourth- generation chiropractor and grandson of the founders, Carl S. Cleveland III spearheaded the transition to university status, changing the institution's name to Cleveland University-Kansas City. Under the new name, the university was able to support the addition of multiple degrees such as new associates, bachelors and masters' programs to enhance the opportunities available for students.

As the university continues to evolve to meet changing needs in the health science fields, it remains invested in promoting health, wellness, and vitality, ultimately leading to better healthcare for all.

Madam Speaker, please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring Cleveland University-Kansas City for their monumental achievement of 100 years of service and their indelible mark on communities across the Nation. I am certain that this institution will continue to support its students and instill in them a spirit of care as they further develop their personal and professional skills and enter the healthcare field. Let us celebrate this milestone achievement and wish Cleveland University-Kansas City continued prosperity for the next 100 years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with an abundant sense of joy to recognize the 40th anniversary of the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, located in Kansas City, Missouri. Home to the world's largest collection of fine-scale miniatures and one of the most extensive collections of historic toys currently on public display, the museum has educated, inspired, and delighted adults and children alike since its opening in 1982. Founded by close friends Mary Harris Francis and Barbara Hall Marshall, the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures stands out as one of the most treasured institutions in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District.

Born less than four years apart, Mary Harris Francis and Barbara Hall Marshall not only established the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City, as it was known until the summer of 2015, but also provided the cherished collections that went on display. Barbara--one of three children of Hallmark founder J.C. Hall and his wife, Elizabeth-- developed an appreciation for art at an early age, when she helped her dad review card designs. Having always looked forward to receiving the smallest presents from her father, Barbara acquired her first fine- scale miniature in the 1950s--a rocking chair that could fit in the palm of her hand. Drawn to the artistic efforts required to create fine-scale miniatures, Barbara became a serious collector by the 1970s. With her eye for detail refined through her professional career in the art department at Hallmark, along with her volunteer service at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Barbara only collected miniatures of the highest quality, and frequently commissioned works from artists who could meet her standards. Setting aside her personal stylistic preferences, Barbara encouraged artists to create the works of their dreams, and in doing so, the boundaries of

fine-scale miniatures as an art form were explored and redefined through her patronage.

Mary Harris Guinotte Francis, whose lineage included the Guinotte family that helped found Kansas City, taught elementary school at Notre Dame de Sion and never lost the connection she felt to her own childhood. Guided by her sense of playfulness and her love for the make believe, Mary developed a passion for collecting dolls, dollhouses, toys, and games of many time periods. Most interested in objects that had been handmade and well-loved, Mary acquired her first antique dollhouse in 1974. Assuring her husband she would ``never need another,'' Mary's ever-expanding collection of large, antique dollhouses soon began occupying a significant portion of her family's home as she continued to put her curatorial acumen to use. Mary's sense of joy in life was evident in her collection, but it became apparent that a larger space was needed to house the treasure trove of toys and miniatures that she and Barbara had acquired in their respective homes. When the two women returned from a trip and showed Mary's mother what they had purchased along the way, Mary's mother stated that ``if you girls get one more thing, you're going to have to start a museum.'' This remark, having planted an idea in the minds of Barbara and Mary, would prove prophetic.

Opening its doors in 1982, the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City was first located in the historic Tureman Mansion at the corner of 52nd and Oak on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus. At this time, the 7,500-square-foot museum employed only two full-time staff members. Expansions in 1989 and 2004 saw the museum grow to 33,000- square-feet, and by 2012, the museum's collection included 72,000 objects. Embarking on their first public capital campaign in 2012 to support building and exhibit improvements, the museum raised nearly $11 million and began a nineteen-month renovation in 2014. Reopening on August 1, 2015 as the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, the collection currently numbers more than 86,000 objects. In 2016 and again in 2018, the museum received Leadership in History Merit Awards from the American Association of State and Local History, testaments to the institution's educational significance.

The museum's fine-scale miniatures include architectural works, room settings, fine and decorative art, tools, equipment, and figures made to scale, most commonly 1:12. Crafted by master artists, the miniatures collection includes working reproductions of objects in the full-scale world, highlighting the ingenuity and skill that miniature artists employ to create their intricately detailed works. Without stepping foot outside Kansas City, the miniatures collection allows visitors to see Louis XV's study at the Palace of Versailles, an Italian Renaissance studio, and a Boston Beacon Hill mansion.

The museum's toy collection, the largest of its kind in the midwestern United States, documents society's cultural beliefs, technological advancements, and the hopes and dreams of generations of children from the 18th century to the present. The collection examines the role that toys play in providing comfort and teaching skills, while stories collected and told through children's points of view encourage visitors to think about the meaning of their own toys, thereby fueling conversations about childhood and the importance of memories. Indeed, toys represent touchstones to our earliest and most personal memories, containing important historical and cultural clues about the past.

It is often said that the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures offers something for everyone, and it is a place where art meets history. Barbara Hall Marshall once explained that ``the most enjoyment you can get from a collection that you put together is to share it with other people.'' For forty years, the museum has welcomed visitors from around the world and shared with them the precious collections that Barbara and Mary Harris Francis first assembled. Luckily for those visitors, they all left a little younger. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures on forty years. Here's to many more.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the KC Shepherd's Center on their 50th anniversary and their 5th annual 70 Over 70 Awards. These are outstanding achievements. The efforts of the KC Shepherd's Center to support, celebrate, and empower the older residents of the Greater Kansas City area by fostering independence and connection are truly commendable. As the Nation's first Shepherd's Center, the Kansas City location serves as a model for the 56 Shepherd's Centers across the country working to create a better world for senior citizens. As we look back on the previous five decades, let us take a moment to reflect on all of the invaluable services the KC Shepherd's Center has provided to the aging populations of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District.

By reducing isolation and loneliness, increasing social connection and activity, and creating opportunities for purposeful living, the KC Shepherd's Center makes a profound impact on the overall health of the seniors the organization serves. Moreover, by providing Meals on Wheels to over 1,000 elderly adults each week, the KC Shepherd's Center has made significant progress toward reducing food insecurity among older generations. Together, these efforts ensure that the Greater Kansas City area is a fine place to live for aging populations.

Founded in 1972 by Dr. Elbert Cole, then Pastor at Central United Methodist Church, the KC Shepherd's Center has faithfully lived up to its ``of seniors, by seniors, for seniors'' model. Believing firmly in the importance of listening to the voices and wisdom of older adults, the KC Shepherd's Center has built its programs around the needs expressed by senior citizens in our local communities. In doing so, the KC Shepherd's Center has helped thousands of seniors over the last five decades stay active, receive the care they need, and remain in their own homes as long as possible, leading meaningful, independent lives.

Each year, the KC Shepherd's Center provides services to more than 2,800 older adults in the Kansas City region. Guided by their understanding that social engagement is not a luxury but a basic human need, the volunteers and staff at the Shepherd's Center help reduce the devastating physical, emotional, and mental impacts of isolation and loneliness. To fully understand the impact that the KC Shepherd's Center has on the local senior population, however, one must look not only at numbers and figures, but to the ``Shepherd'' of the 23rd Psalm, from which this organization takes its name. Indeed, the volunteers and staff at the KC Shepherd's Center are ``thy rod

and thy staff'' for the thousands of senior citizens they faithfully serve. In other words, they are truly doing God's work.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, I want to congratulate everyone at KC Shepherd's Center on their 50th year anniversary as well as their 5th annual 70 Over 70 Awards. The Shepherd Center's contributions to Kansas City's older population cannot be overstated, and it is a true honor to serve as their Congressman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with an aching in my heart as Missouri's Fifth Congressional District marks a somber occasion. I rise to honor and celebrate the life of Officer Blaize Alyxander Madrid-Evans, a 22-year-old member of the Independence Police Department who was killed one year ago today while responding to a call. Independence lost an incredible young man who wished to dedicate his life to protecting and serving everyday people as a police officer. Today, on this painful anniversary, we reflect on the selflessness and courage that Officer Madrid-Evans displayed throughout his 22 years of life.

Blaize Madrid-Evans was born on June 2, 1999 in North Kansas City, Missouri. Blaize grew up in Kansas City up until his senior year of high school. In 2018, he graduated from Smithville High School. He then began working for the American Medical Response (AMR) as an Emergency Responder, where he remained for nearly two years. In July 2021, Blaize graduated from the Police Academy and started his tour with the Independence Police Department. Sadly, Officer Madrid-Evans' tour would last only two months.

Officer Madrid-Evans is remembered as being a sharp-dressed coffee connoisseur who loved going out to eat, playing computer games, and putting Sriracha on all sorts of foods. Blaize was an organ donor, and in the year since his passing, he has saved seven lives and enhanced another thirty-seven. Through the donation of his corneas, skin, muscles, tendons, bones, and other tissues, the Midwest Transplant Team estimates that Blaize will impact the lives of up to seventy-five people. In one instance, Blaize's kidney was donated to a fellow police officer in Springfield, Missouri who was critically injured in the line of duty. Even after ending his watch, Blaize has continued to make his charitable presence felt through acts of service and sacrifice. Blaize's life came to an end far too soon, but in his death, he has bestowed the gift of life upon others. He would not want it any other way. He was a beloved son, brother, fiance, friend, and police officer. According to his family, Blaize was loving, kind, respectful, and brought joy to all those who had the privilege of knowing him. He was a bright light in his loved ones' lives and has been missed terribly this past year.

On September 15, 2021, a tragedy occurred, and Blaize's life was cut short by an act of senseless, indescribable violence. When news broke that Officer Madrid-Evans had passed away, all of the Greater Kansas City Area grieved alongside his family, friends, and fellow officers. As we spend this day in loving remembrance, I keep all those who had the privilege of knowing Blaize Madrid-Evans in my thoughts and prayers. As I have been told, to know Blaize was to love him, and I am deeply saddened to have never met this fine young man. I mourn with Blaize's long list of family and friends. No parent or grandparent should have to outlive their child or grandchild. I truly hope that the love and support that Independence and the surrounding areas have offered has brought some comfort into their lives. Blaize was so loved.

Officer Madrid-Evans was awarded the highest form of recognition from the Independence Police Department, the Medal of Valor on March 25, 2022. The medal is a profound honor given only to officers that display extraordinary acts of heroism and courage that go above and beyond the call of duty. Additionally, Officer Madrid-Evans was added to the Smithville Education Foundation's Wall of Fame in February of 2022. These tributes cannot heal the loss of Blaize, but they are symbols of gratitude for his distinguished service and boundless bravery.

When tragedies like this occur, it is difficult to comprehend the loss we all feel. In times like these, I am called to Scripture. Matthew 5:1-3 says, ``Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Let us find solace in the word of God and remember that we will be reunited, once more, in the Kingdom of Heaven.''

Today, my thoughts--and the thoughts of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District--are with Officer Madrid-Evans' family. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the life and everlasting legacy of Blaize Alyxander Madrid-Evans. Let us admire the fearlessness of Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans while never forgetting the sacrifice he made in the name of protecting others.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart and an indescribable sadness. I rise, on behalf of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, to honor and celebrate the life of Officer Daniel Vasquez. Our community has lost a remarkable man, one who dedicated his life to protecting and serving the people of North Kansas City as a police officer. Officer Vasquez was described by his colleagues as a ``shining star'' in the department, always working with a smile. He worked tirelessly to keep his hometown safe, putting his life on the line each and every day until making the ultimate sacrifice on July 19 of this year, when he was senselessly killed in the line of duty. Officer Vasquez was only 32 years old.

Daniel was born on January 19, 1990, in North Kansas City. Daniel is the youngest of three children and the first of his Mexican-American family to be born in Kansas City. In his childhood, Daniel's carefree nature led to a variety of interests, ranging from playing the drums in church to tackling kids on the football field. In his adult life, Daniel's free time consisted of playing video games, going to the gym, and trying new restaurants. Officer Vasquez was a loving son, brother, fiance, uncle, and friend; he brought joy to all those who had the great fortune of knowing him.

Officer Vasquez began his career in security with the Independence Avenue Community Improvement District, serving both Wyandotte County and Jackson County as an ``Avenue Angel.'' In 2019, Daniel continued his service by joining the Kansas City Missouri Police Department as a Detention Officer. Here, Officer Vasquez worked diligently each day in hopes of achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer. After years of hard work and perseverance, Daniel joined the police force in January of 2021 and, after completing his training at the KCPD Regional Police Academy with Graduating Class No. 171, he was sworn into office. He embodied the highest standards of ethics each day as he devoted himself to making our community a safer, stronger, and better place to call home. Even with his short time on the force, those he worked with speak highly of Daniel and recount his positive attitude, cheerful spirit, and infectious smile.

On July 19, 2022, a tragedy ensued, and Daniel's life was cut short by an act of unspeakable violence. When a police officer is slain in the line of duty, the whole community grieves. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who knew and loved Daniel Vasquez. With his passing, Daniel leaves behind a long list of loving family and friends. To his parents, Francisco and Guadalupe, I mourn with you. No parent should outlive their child. I hope that you may find some comfort in seeing the outpouring of love and support Daniel has received. The world now knows what's always been clear to you, that Daniel was a remarkable young man destined for great things.

The highest form of recognition from the North Kansas City Police Department, The Medal of Valor, has since been bestowed upon Officer Vasquez. This tribute cannot begin to remedy the loss felt by those who knew Daniel, but it is a symbol of gratitude for his distinguished service and boundless bravery. While I did not have the good fortune of knowing Officer Vasquez personally, I have learned of his kind, compassionate, and dependable nature. Officer Vasquez went above and beyond the call of duty to protect his community and his service will never be taken for granted or forgotten. When tragedies like this occur, it is difficult to comprehend the loss we all feel. In times like these, I am called to Scripture. John 16:22 says, ``So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.'' Let us find solace in the word of God and remember that we will be reunited, once more, in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today, my thoughts, and the thoughts of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, are with Officer Vasquez and his family, as we illuminate his lifetime of service and sacrifice. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the life and legacy of Officer Daniel Vasquez. May his dedication to this community never be forgotten and may his memory continue to live on within us all. Let us admire the courageous nature of Officer Vasquez and face each day as he would, with a smile on our face and spirit in our heart.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters for her longstanding support of CDFIs.

I speak today in support of my bill, the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act of 2022, which would open up a significant source of long-term, low-cost capital to support CDFI projects in low-income urban, rural, and indigenous areas of the country.

Community development financial institutions, CDFIs, deliver critical lending opportunities to low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color. CDFIs are banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions that provide products and services specifically aimed at the needs of low-income and marginalized communities and are certified by the CDFI fund, which is operated by the United States Department of the Treasury.

CDFIs support people and businessowners in underserved communities by providing affordable capital to communities typically excluded from the mainstream financial system. According to Treasury, in 2019, 33 percent of CDFI lending was in high poverty areas, nearly 75 percent of lending was to underserved populations and distressed areas, and 17 percent was to rural areas. I think that ought to make all the people committed to this concept of everybody participating quite happy.

CDFIs in my district, including Central Bank of Kansas City, LISC of Greater Kansas City, AltCap, and others, are instrumental in the effort to narrow the racial wealth gap and increase financial opportunities in underserved communities. However, we know that the high demand for CDFI services far exceeds available funding.

One tool the Federal Government has to support CDFIs in their mission is by making significant capital for economic development available to CDFIs through the bond guarantee program. Enacted through the Small Business Administration, the CDFI bond guarantee program is administered by Treasury, which guarantees bonds issued by qualified issuers and injects new and substantial capital into our Nation's most distressed communities.

Unlike CDFI fund programs, the bond guarantee program does not offer grants or direct loans but is instead a Federal credit subsidy that is designed to be repaid and function at no cost to the taxpayers.

Since inception, the bond guarantee program has guaranteed over $1.7 billion in bonds used to finance schools, not-for-profit facilities, small businesses, healthcare facilities, and commercial and residential real estate, among others.

My bill, H.R. 7733, endorsed by the CDFI Coalition, Community Reinvestment Fund, Opportunity Finance Network, and others, would recognize and reauthorize this program.

The bill was a bipartisan effort and unanimously voted out of our committee. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters, Ranking Member McHenry, and my colleagues for partnership on this legislation, and I urge swift passage today.