Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Mountain Home AAA 11-year-old baseball team for winning the Global World Series Championship earlier this year.

During the 4-day, 24-team tournament, the Mountain Home Bomb Squad suffered a first round loss, but went on to win six straight games. In the championship game, they defeated the Missouri Wildcats 10-1. This championship is a great source of pride for the entire Mountain Home, Arkansas, community.

I'd like to commend the team manager, Dr. Eric Arp, and Coaches Tony Dibble and George Sitkowski for their leadership on the 11-and-under Global World Series Championship. Additionally, I would like to recognize players Garrett Steelman, Austin Mize, Clayton McManness, Luke Dibble, Sam Arp, Bradley Ludwig, Austin Helms, Luke Jackson, Jordan Anderson, Will Sitkowski and Luke Kruse for their leadership as well.

Now that the Bomb Squad has brought a Global World Series trophy home to Mountain Home, I have no doubt that the players will set new, even higher goals to achieve.

Congratulations once again to the Mountain Home Bomb Squad and the entire Mountain Home community for their Global World Series victory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the leadership and dedication Reta Hamilton has shown to the Republican Party of Arkansas and the Republican National Committee. Ms. Hamilton has made a lifelong commitment to advancing conservative causes.

Her career began as a volunteer in political activism in 1995; and she has

gone on to hold positions, including the first vice chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas, an appointee to the Governor's Appointments Committee, and a member of the National Committee's Women's Leadership Forum.

She served as a national committeewoman for the Republican Party of Arkansas since 2004; and as a member of the national rules committee, she is able to influence party nominations and messages.

Ms. Hamilton has been a delegate to every Republican national convention since 1992. She is also a 2012 RNC convention committee member.

Mr. Speaker, today I honor Ms. Reta Hamilton for her commitment to our commonsense, conservative ideals and thank her for her service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor George Dunklin on completing his term as an Arkansas Game and Fish commissioner. For the last 7 years, Mr. Dunklin has worked tirelessly to maintain a healthy wildlife population in Arkansas.

From the time he took office in 2005, after being appointed by Governor Mike Huckabee, Mr. Dunklin has been a devoted public servant. One of the accomplishments he's most proud of is improving and restoring water flow habitat in crucial areas. Arkansas is world renowned for duck hunting, and restoring the water flow habitats will make for a better environment for the many ducks that over winter in Arkansas.

Mr. Dunklin also worked on an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers to provide minimum flow in the White River below Bull Shoals Dam and in the Norfork River below the Norfork dam.

Always the gentleman, Mr. Dunklin maintained a healthy balance of opposing passions on the commission. I appreciate all of Mr. Dunklin's efforts and wish him well on his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to introduce our guest pastor this morning, Dr. Stan Ballard.

For the past 30 years, Brother Stan has pastored numerous congregations, and today he serves as a pastor of my family's church, Nettleton Baptist in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Brother Stan is a native Mississippian and earned his undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University. After graduating from Mississippi State, he earned a bachelor's degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans and a doctorate degree from Luther Rice Theological Seminary in Atlanta. During his career in ministry, Brother Stan has pastored churches in Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and Arkansas.

The pride and joy of Brother Stan's life are his wife, Beth, and their children and grandchildren. During their 42 years of marriage, Stan and Beth have been blessed with three sons and, more recently, four grandchildren.

On a personal level, I can say that Brother Stan has been a constant source of support and guidance for the entire Nettleton Baptist congregation. Any time a member of our congregation is in need, we can rely on Brother Stan.

It's an honor to introduce Pastor Stan Ballard and welcome him to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Howarth Taylor on being inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame. For over 60 years, Mr. Taylor has been a pillar of his community.

Before starting a career in agriculture, Mr. Taylor demonstrated a strong commitment to our country as a member of the Greatest Generation. Mr. Taylor was a prisoner of war following the Battle of the Bulge in Germany. For his service, Mr. Taylor earned a Purple Heart and a Prisoner of War Medal.

Mr. Taylor started out as a tenant farmer growing corn and soybeans. Soon after he moved to Hickory Ridge, Arkansas, he bought an 850-acre farm and established Taylor Seed Company. Today Mr. Taylor farms over 3,000 acres and grows, processes, stores, and sells rice, soybeans, oats, and wheat seed to farmers throughout Arkansas. By devoting his entire operation to seed production, Mr. Taylor is able to produce a very high-quality product.

Mr. Taylor and his wife, Ella, raised six children on their farm and in 1969 were named the State's Farm Family of the Year. He has been an active member of the Cross County Farm Bureau board of directors since 1952 and served as president for 3 years. The Taylors are also active in their community, local schools, and the Hickory Ridge Missionary Baptist Church.

Congratulations, Mr. Taylor.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor from H.R. 835.

Madam Speaker, tomorrow the House Ag Committee will vote on a farm bill that will give producers across our country the certainty they need to continue producing the safest, most abundant, and most reliable source of food on the planet. As the committee works to produce a responsible farm bill that works for all regions of the country, I would like to recognize Farm Families in my home State.

In my home State of Arkansas, farming is a family business. Young people begin helping with chores on the farm almost as soon as they can walk. In many cases, generations of family farmers work side by side cultivating the land. Families take great pride working together and continuing a tradition of hard work.

Agriculture is the backbone of Arkansas' rural economy, and each year the Arkansas Farm Bureau recognizes families across Arkansas for their contributions to our State. I congratulate all the county Farm Family winners across Arkansas on this achievement. All Arkansans take great pride in our State's Farm Families that were recognized this year.

Congratulations once again to all the county Farm Families recognized by the Arkansas Farm Bureau. I applaud them for their commitment to agriculture and hope for their ongoing success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of the Mountain Home High School FIRST Robotics team, first known as the ``Baxter Bomb Squad,'' who recently won the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology championship. The team was made up of 22 students and 14 adults, including several pairs of father-and- son teams.

Together they spent hundreds of hours building a robot, which competed in the Rebound Rumble, a basketball-inspired game. The team competed in front of an audience of 30,000 people and against more than 400 other teams.

The Baxter Bomb Squad has been competing for 17 years, and for the very first time this year, they won the championship. They were sponsored by local businesses, including Baxter Healthcare and Mountain Home High School.

The For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology championship has helped influence thousands of students throughout the country to pursue higher education in engineering and related scientific fields. Students who participated in this competition are 50 percent more likely to attend college and twice as likely to major in science and engineering.

Congratulations to the Baxter Bomb Squad. Best of luck of luck for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, last week this body took up H.R. 3541, the

Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act, which would prohibit abortion on the basis of an unborn baby's gender. Many advanced nations around the world already have laws restricting sex-selection abortions.

The United States of America should not allow abortions to be performed to select an unborn child's sex. Recognizing the importance of all life, I voted in favor of the bill and had high hopes it could be signed into law. Sadly, the measure failed to reach the majority needed for passage.

As unbelievable as it may sound, some Members of Congress were unwilling to vote to restrict abortions based on sex. Aborting a baby based upon its gender undermines one of our Nation's founding principles that all human beings are created equal.

Every Representative, every physician, every American needs to be reminded that at the center of our struggle is the protection of human life. We cannot live in a nation where some human life is valued and other life is not. All life has value, and the casual taking of life is morally wrong.

Let's join together to pray for the protection of the unborn. The intersection of prayer and action can produce amazing results. Through prayer and perseverance we can accomplish our goals and innocent human life can be protected.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Donald Kaczynksi from my home State of Arkansas. Donald is a Marine veteran with a passion for serving other veterans who are living with a disability.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the Marines, Donald was faced with the challenge of finding a new career. He saw firsthand the obstacles disabled veterans face and knew he wanted to help other veterans have a higher quality of life.

After moving to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, he started a mobile concession stand business. With his business, Donald drives to events throughout Arkansas, providing concessions for veterans' gatherings.

In addition to his business, Donald serves Arkansas' veterans as commander and adjutant of the Hot Springs Village VFW. Most recently, Donald was elected to serve as the 2011 2012 State commander of the Disabled American Veterans Department of Arkansas. In 2004, Donald was recognized as the VFW Man of the Year for Arkansas, and in 2008 as the Disabled American Veterans Man of the Year.

Madam Speaker, we honor Donald Kaczynski and his service to Arkansas' veterans.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 I was inadvertently detained on rollcall votes 250, 251 and 252. Had I been present to vote I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall 250, ``yes'' on rollcall 251, and ``yes'' on rollcall 252.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the lives of two brave men who died serving their Nation. Explosive ordnance disposal technicians serve the important role of disarming explosive devices (IEDs) in war zones and here at home. As a former EOD tech myself, I know the dangers these soldiers face, and today I honor their ultimate sacrifice.

Naval Lieutenant Christopher Mosko trained for more than a year to become an EOD technician. He was assigned to EOD Mobile Unit 3 for the past 3 years, and during that time, among other missions, he supported humanitarian operations following the earthquake in Haiti. He was killed in an IED blast in Afghanistan on April 26 of this year, directly supporting Navy and Army special operations forces.

Lieutenant Mosko and his wife, Amanda, called San Diego home. Lieutenant Mosko was described by his command as a personable and outstanding leader who went out of his way to support his men. They also said he was a kind and gentle person who will be greatly missed by the EOD family.

Twenty-five-year-old Marine Sergeant John Huling was killed by gunshot wounds inflicted by a person wearing an Afghan National Army uniform in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. Sergeant Huling enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2006. He deployed to Iraq in 2007 and was on his second combat deployment. As an EOD tech, he was assigned to the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group at Camp Pendleton in California.

Sergeant Huling's mother said: ``He was brave and selfless and gave his life for his country so everybody could enjoy the freedom that we live now.''

Sergeant Huling is survived by his wife of 2 years, Priscilla; a brother, who is also a marine; and a sister.

Mr. Speaker, Navy Lieutenant Christopher Mosko and Marine Sergeant John Huling are American heroes. Each brave man died in action defending the freedoms so many Americans take for granted.

I did not know these two men, but to many, these men were sons, husbands, brothers and friends. Because they served, America and the world are safer and more free. Their families are in my thoughts and prayers, and I ask that all Americans remember the sacrifice they made.

Explosive ordnance disposal technicians are the first line of defense in the war on terror, protecting our servicemembers from IED threats overseas and in homeland missions. The EOD community deserves the respect and full resources of the Department of Defense to continue their lifesaving mission.

God bless the memory of Lieutenant Mosko and Sergeant Huling, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

I rise today to honor Mr. Ralph Cheshier, a veteran teacher in the Valley View School District of Jonesboro, Arkansas.

For 37 years, Mr. Cheshier has taught his students the principles of agriculture. Mr. Cheshier is also a longtime member of the Partners in an Active Learning Setting, or PALS program. PALS is a mentoring program that matches high school students in the Vocational Agriculture Leadership Class with kindergarten students to develop personal skills and explore interests in plants and animals. The Valley View PALS chapter is one of only 10 in Arkansas.

Mr. Cheshier has a unique style of teaching through storytelling. He loves spending time with his students in the school greenhouse and shop, teaching them valuable skills and making his students become self-sufficient members of society. Mr. Cheshier will be remembered for his contributions to the academic and life development of his students. Many of the lessons he taught will go well beyond the classroom and will stick with those students forever.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent people like Mr. Cheshier, who make Arkansas a great place to live.

Happy retirement.

Mr. Speaker, this week the postal service announced a new strategy to keep rural post offices open. My district in Arkansas could have lost as many as 100 post offices.

This new plan from the postal service is not perfect. The retail window at many post offices will have limited operating hours. However, access to the retail lobby and post office boxes will remain unchanged. More importantly, towns will keep their ZIP codes, and community identities will be preserved.

In November of 2011, I introduced H.R. 3370, Protecting Our Rural Post Offices Act, which prohibits the postal service from closing rural post offices that do not have an alternative office within 8 miles. Now that the postal service has announced plans to keep all post offices open, Congress can enact reforms that will ensure rural Americans no longer have to worry about access to mail services.

So many of the challenges we face in Washington are not Democrat versus Republican; rather, urban versus rural interests. In small communities across Arkansas and across the country, the post office represents the town identity and lets the world know the community exists. If post offices were to completely close and small communities no longer had their own ZIP codes, cities' identities would be lost. For my part, I will continue efforts to ensure rural Arkansas communities keep access to postal services.

I rise today to highlight a subject that is personal in Arkansas's First Congressional District: the proposed closure of thousands of rural post offices across the country.

This week I sent a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe asking him to give the House of Representatives time to pass meaningful postal reform legislation. As it stands now, over 3,600 post offices are slated for closure on May 15. In my district alone, 100 post offices have been put on the closure list.

In November, I filed the Protecting Our Rural American Post Offices Act of 2011. The bill would prohibit the postal service from closing rural post offices that do not have an alternative office within 8 miles accessible by public roads. The bill is an effort to level the field between rural and urban post office closures.

So many of the challenges we face in Washington are not Democrat versus Republican, but rather urban versus rural interests. Americans living in rural communities rely on their post offices for medicine delivery and Social Security benefits and veterans benefits, among other things. Access to postal services should not be limited to urban families.

I urge Postmaster General Donahoe to give the House time to pass meaningful postal reform legislation. The postal service cannot hope to cure all their budget woes on the backs of rural Americans.