Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank Judge Gohmert for very graciously allowing me to speak before his main subject.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of three fallen heroes in eastern Kentucky. Last week we laid to rest three police officers and one service canine who were slain in the line of duty after enduring unexpected gunfire in Allen, Kentucky, on June 30, 2022.

Among the fallen were William Petry, a 31-year law enforcement veteran and the fire chief in Floyd County, Kentucky; Ralph Frasure, a 39-year law enforcement veteran and school resource officer; and Jacob Chaffins, was a 28-year-old police officer who just started his law enforcement career 3 years ago and an active sergeant in the Kentucky Army National Guard. Also among the deceased was a beloved canine named Drago, a well-trained service dog for the Floyd County Sheriff's Department.

Needless to say, the heartbreak and pain that have reverberated across eastern Kentucky at the loss of these brave men who dedicated their lives to serving and protecting our local people has been overwhelming.

President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a former New York City Police Commissioner, once said, ``No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his body, to risk his well-being, to risk his life in a great cause.''

On Thursday, June 30, 2022, these officers, and many other responders risked their lives as they valiantly answered the call to protect the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Their heroic deaths represent a powerful display of the selfless love described in John 15:13, ``Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.''

Even as we speak, several other first responders are also fighting for their lives, recovering from their injuries from that horrific day, and our prayers are with them and with their families.

In a Nation where police forces have been vilified in recent years by the actions of a few bad actors, may the lives of these brave men be a reminder of the outstanding integrity and sacrifice that the thin blue line represents. We must continue to support our law enforcement officers across the United States, ensuring they are fully equipped, adequately prepared, and never at the mercy of evildoers.

This Nation owes a great debt of gratitude for the life and service of Officers Petry, Frasure, and Chaffins. May their loved ones find abundant peace and confidence in Matthew 5:9, ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.''

Madam Speaker, I request to recognize a moment of silence in memory of William Petry, Ralph Frasure, Jacob Chaffins, and K-9 Drago.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Eastern Kentucky's fallen heroes, Jacob Russell Chaffins, a 28- year-old law enforcement officer and certified canine handler who was one of three officers killed in the line of duty in Allen, Kentucky.

Chaffins' life should not be measured by his number of years on Earth, but by the magnitude of his service and courageous action during his short lifetime. He not only earned Badge No. 533 from the Prestonsburg Police Department, but he was also a member of the Prestonsburg Fire Department, a certified EMT, and a U.S. Marshal. Chaffins was also enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces, serving as a Combat Engineer Sergeant in the Kentucky Army National Guard's 577th Sapper Company in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. As a guardsman, Sgt. Chaffins was deployed during multiple state emergencies, including the Winter Storm Response of February 2015 and COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts in March 2020, dedicating countless hours to serve and protect the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Sgt. Chaffins was awarded the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, and the Florida Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement in Exportable Combat Training Capability. Sgt. Chaffins was also awarded the Army Achievement Medal in recognition of his excellence as a team leader in preparing and equipping troops to defend this great Nation and the values we hold dear.

President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a former commissioner of the New York City Police Department once said, ``No man is worth his salt, who is not ready at all times to risk his body, to risk his well-being, to risk his life in a great cause.'' On Friday, July 1, 2022, Officer Chaffins paid the ultimate sacrifice after he valiantly risked his life and answered the call of duty to protect others in Floyd County.

His heroic death was the greatest display of love described in John 15:13, ``Greater love

has no man than this: to lay down his life for his friends.'' It was with great courage of conviction that Jacob Chaffins lived to protect the people of the United States, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and especially those in Floyd County.

In a Nation where police forces have been vilified in recent years by the actions of a few bad actors, may Officer Chaffins' life be a reminder of the outstanding integrity and sacrifice that the thin blue line represents. We must continue to support our law enforcement officers across the United States, ensuring they are fully equipped, adequately prepared, and never at the mercy of evildoers.

This Nation owes a great debt of gratitude for the life and service of Officer Jacob Chaffins. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Savannah, their daughter Paisley, his mother April and his siblings, as well as the widespread band of brothers and sisters in uniform who served alongside him. May his loved ones find peace and confidence in God's promise in Matthew 5:9, ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Eastern Kentucky's fallen heroes, Ralph Harlow Frasure, a 39- year law enforcement veteran who was one of three officers killed in the line of duty in Allen, Kentucky. Frasure was Captain of the Prestonsburg City Police Department for nearly four decades and a beloved School Resource Officer at Prestonsburg High School.

The best law enforcement officers will tell you it isn't a job, it's a calling; and it was with great courage of conviction that Captain Frasure lived to protect the people of Prestonsburg and all of Floyd County.

President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a former commissioner of the New York City Police Department once said, ``No man is worth his salt, who is not ready at all times to risk his body, to risk his well-being, to risk his life in a great cause.'' On Thursday, June 30, 2022, Captain Frasure paid the ultimate sacrifice as he valiantly answered the call of duty to protect others in Floyd County.

His heroic death was the greatest display of love described in John 15:13, ``Greater love has no man than this: to lay down his life for his friends.''

In a Nation where police forces have been vilified in recent years by the actions of a few bad actors, may Captain Frasure's life be a reminder of the outstanding integrity and sacrifice that the thin blue line represents. We must continue to support our law enforcement officers across the United States, ensuring they are fully equipped, adequately prepared, and never at the mercy of evildoers.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky owes a great debt of gratitude for the life and service of Captain Ralph Frasure. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Clearnce, their sons Ralph Kelly Frasure and Robert Clarence Frasure, daughter Stacy (Mike), their grandchildren, and the widespread band of brothers and sisters in uniform who served alongside Captain Frasure throughout his career. May his loved ones find peace and confidence in God's promise in Matthew 5:9, ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Eastern Kentucky's fallen heroes, William Edward Petry, a 31- year law enforcement veteran who was 1 of 3 officers killed in the line of duty in Allen, Kentucky.

Petry served 14 years with the Prestonsburg Police Department and 15 years with Kentucky State Police, earning the prestigious Post 9 Trooper of the Year Award. Not long after his retirement, Petry was eager to continue his lifelong passion to serve and protect his community, leading him to the Floyd County Sheriff's Office where he dedicated his final two years of service. The best law enforcement officers will tell you that it isn't a job, it's a calling; and it was with great courage of conviction that Deputy Petry lived to protect the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and especially those in Floyd County.

President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a former commissioner of the New York City Police Department once said, ``No man is worth his salt, who is not ready at all times to risk his body, to risk his well-being, to risk his life in a great cause.'' On Thursday, June 30, 2022, Deputy Petry was the first officer to pay the ultimate sacrifice as he valiantly answered the call of duty to protect others in Floyd County.

His heroic death was the greatest display of love described in John 15:13, ``Greater love has no man than this: to lay down his life for his friends.''

In a Nation where police forces have been vilified in recent years by the actions of a few bad actors, may Deputy Petry's life be a reminder of the outstanding integrity and sacrifice that the thin blue line represents. We must continue to support our law enforcement officers across the United States, ensuring they are fully equipped, adequately prepared, and never at the mercy of evildoers.

Petry's entire life was dedicated to serving others, and not only with a police badge. He was also the current Fire Chief for the Martin Fire Department, a member of John W. Hall Mason Lodge No. 950 where he was Past Master, and a member of the Oleika Shriners Temple in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky owes a great debt of gratitude for the life and service of Deputy William Petry. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sherry, their son Chase, daughter Courtney (Shane), their grandchildren, and the widespread band of brothers and sisters in uniform who served alongside Deputy Petry throughout his career.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Tommy Harold Mink in celebration of his retirement from the Rockcastle County Industrial Development Board in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, where he has dedicated 45 years of service to the community and southeastern Kentucky.

Mr. Mink has been instrumental in providing wisdom and guidance for industrial development, job creation, and economic growth in Rockcastle County, beginning with the Rockcastle County Improvement Board and continuing to aid in acquisition, retention, and development of local land for new opportunities for more than four decades as a charter member of the Rockcastle County Industrial Development Board.

Mr. Mink is also a member of the Kentucky Cattleman's Association Hall of Fame, as a result of his life-long, successful career in the farming industry. His passion for farming began as a child in Rockcastle County where he was born and raised on a 35-acre dairy farm. He became a first-generation college graduate in his family, earning a degree in agriculture in 1958. Today, he and his sons still own and operate a 350 cow/calf and back-grounding operation.

His expertise has been highly sought after by a number of local and state organizations, including serving as a board member of the Rockcastle County Cattlemen's Association since 1985, serving as Master Conservationist in 1981, a charter member of the Rockcastle County Forage Council, the Rockcastle County Soil Conservation District since 1982 and Chairman from 1983 to 2019, a charter member of the Rockcastle County Saddle Club for more than 20 years, an Extension Agency Board Member, Chairman of the Western Rockcastle Water District, the Farmers Home Administration, a Farm Bureau board member, the Vocational Educational Regional Advisory Board in Harlan County, and a court- appointed appraiser for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He is also Chairman of the Brindle Ridge Fire Department, a founding member of Cedar Rapids Country Club, and a deacon of the Brindle Ridge Baptist Church. Mr. Mink has also been a Kentucky Colonel since the late 1960's.

As a veteran of the U.S. Army, with two tours of active duty from 1959 to 1966, this nation owes Mr. Mink a great debt of gratitude for his military service. His overall lifetime of service is truly inspiring, from working on the farm as a young boy, to becoming a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, to establishing a Veterans Honor Guard in Rockcastle County, to building a successful business and providing tireless community service throughout his entire adult life.

Mr. Mink has sincerely earned his due retirement and I wish him and his family the very best in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6531, the Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act.

The impetus for this legislation was the understanding that in certain parts of the country there are pockets of systemic poverty caused by a variety of factors that can be very difficult to boost economically.

Ranging from rural towns to populated urban areas, these areas of persistent poverty deserve a keen eye from our Federal Government and a plan to help them reinvigorate.

I have been proud to work with Majority Whip Jim Clyburn on this for many years now with some modest success, but hopefully a great future today. I have been happy to work with Mr. Clyburn on legislative efforts to alleviate persistent poverty and set up these communities for economic success and self-sufficiency.

This bill directs the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with Federal agencies, to develop and implement guidance and measures to increase the share of Federal investments targeted to areas of persistent poverty.

The bill will require the OMB director to submit to Congress each fiscal year a report including the list of programs, by agency, under which the amount of Federal funds targeted to persistent poverty areas were increased in the previous fiscal year.

By targeting Federal resources to these communities, we will spur economic development in the areas of the country that need it most and strengthen the American economy as a whole.

The bill further requires the U.S. Government Accountability Office to report on the effectiveness of the measures implemented, which will responsibly ensure that this legislation is making a meaningful impact.

We have made great strides to lift up impoverished areas, like Kentucky's Appalachian region, but we have more work to do in my district and similar parts of the country that need our attention. This targeted bill will help communities break through the cycle of poverty and provide resources necessary to thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Whip Clyburn for his partnership and his great work on this over the years and his commitment, and I urge support for the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7691, the emergency supplemental appropriations act for Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, this vital assistance will continue the support of Ukraine's heroic and inspiring assistance of their countrymen and will continue to support their heroic and inspiring resistance to Russia's unprovoked invasion. We and our allies must continue to provide the assistance critical to defeat Russian aggression and help preserve Ukrainian independence.

For those in this country and elsewhere, Mr. Speaker, who thought that war was a 19th or 20th century concern, this crisis has underscored the importance of capable military alliances, the centrality of NATO, and the critical importance of American leadership in the transatlantic alliance.

This bill provides essential military assistance across State Department and Department of Defense accounts. It also includes funding for Russian sanctions enforcement, returns our diplomats to Kyiv, and provides much-needed humanitarian relief for Ukraine and other countries impacted by this crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Loretta Lynn, in celebration of her 90th birthday. The incredible voice of America's famed coal miner's daughter has resounded across the Appalachian Mountains and around the world, highlighting the resiliency and courage of the people of Eastern Kentucky, where she was born and raised.

Loretta Lynn's superstardom is a remarkable story, rising from her humble beginnings in Butcher Holler to the top of the country music charts. Her Eastern Kentucky roots shine through the lyrics of her most famous songs and paint a prominent picture of hope and perseverance that are iconic in our coal mining region. She has inspired generations of gifted singers from the mountains. Although Nashville gets much of the glory for birthing the superstars of country music, it is in the hills of Eastern Kentucky where many of them were born, raised, and played their first guitars. Loretta Lynn is just one of the many names lining our Country Music Highway in Eastern Kentucky. We have a rich heritage of talented musicians and vocalists, thanks to country music pioneers, like Loretta Lynn, who proved that hard work, mountain grit and sheer talent makes for an unstoppable combination.

At the age of 28, she signed with her first record label and stepped onto the Grand Ole Opry stage for the first of many times, becoming a member just two years later. In 1972, she was the first woman to be nominated and to win Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. She went on to win CMA's Female Vocalist of the Year award in 1967, 1972 and 1973. When we teamed up with Conway Twitty, the duo recorded five consecutive number one hits, winning the CMA's Vocal Duo of the Year award for four consecutive years, 1972 through 1975. Her best-selling autobiography, Coal Miner's Daughter, was turned into an Academy Award-winning film in 1980. As her success continued, Loretta Lynn was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988 at the age of 56. Her portfolio includes 60 studio albums, including five certified gold and one certified platinum record. Earning 18 Grammy nominations and 3 Grammy awards, Loretta Lynn stands now as the most awarded female country recording artist and the only female to be named the Academy of Country Music's Artist of the Decade. Adding to her monumental list of accolades, she was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her lifetime contributions to the arts.

The people of Kentucky are proud of our own ``Coal Miner's Daughter'' and the legacy of hope that Loretta Lynn built to move mountains for aspiring young artists from the Appalachian Mountains. On her 90th birthday, we celebrate and applaud the life of Loretta Lynn.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of Leonard Lawson, my long-time friend and trusted advisor, who literally moved mountains in Kentucky and our neighboring states.

Leonard's astute business leadership and savvy partnerships led to his rise as a giant in the transportation industry, becoming a leader across the Commonwealth and nationally-renowned among industry experts for the companies he built to transform Kentucky and beyond. In fact, his companies' portfolios include more than $10 billion in highway and airport infrastructure projects across Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, and Ohio, including interstate construction and widening projects, working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and completing local development projects.

Although his success was widely applauded and criticized by the media over the years, Leonard was a very private man who came from humble beginnings. He grew up without many resources, and he and his wife, Bonnie, were both proud graduates of the Red Bird Christian School, a small private school nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Clay County, Kentucky. Struggling to sustain the costs of operating such a courageous mission at the school, the Lawsons raised and donated enough money to reopen its doors, ensuring future students could live in the dormitory throughout high school, as Bonnie did. The Red Bird Christian School became one of many philanthropic endeavors that the Lawsons invested in. Before being diagnosed with cancer, Leonard generated enough funds to start and eventually expand the Leonard Lawson Cancer Center at Pikeville Medical Center. Last year alone, his generosity helped provide treatment to nearly 3,600 patients who otherwise would have driven hours for the same medical care. Despite losing his own battle with cancer, I am confident that his legacy cancer center will extend lifesaving hope to countless patients in the future.

Many of us dream of ways to win the tireless war on poverty and how to change the course of generational challenges in Kentucky's Appalachian region, but Leonard skillfully managed to do his part to make a lasting difference and systemically impacted access to better roads and much-needed medical care in the mountains.

Eastern Kentucky will be a different place without him. I'II miss our fishing trips and casting visionary plans together to help our beloved home region. Leonard's small stature could not contain the insurmountable hope he had for a brighter future in southern and eastern Kentucky. He leaves behind an expansive legacy that will live on in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky for many years. My wife, Cynthia, and I extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to Bonnie and the entire Lawson family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend Mike Buckles upon his retirement from the Daniel Boone Community Action Agency, where he has served as Executive Director for nearly 25 years.

Mike has dedicated his career to assisting individuals and families most-in-need. He turned an agency facing financial hardships into a thriving, successful resource to combat poverty. Mike is a visionary leader, always working to expand services to help as many people as possible in Clay, Jackson and Lee counties. As Executive Director, he increased employment from 40 to 135 employees, added two certified Kentucky Career Centers and increased the budget to over $16 million.

He worked diligently to lift the Daniel Boone CAA out of debt and increased programs for transportation, weatherization, low-income energy assistance, workforce development, child care, housing and emergency services.

As a result of his achievements, Mike was selected to lead Community Action Kentucky as President for two terms. In 2015, he was inducted into the Transportation Hall of Fame and he received the ``Jesse Amburgey Award of Excellence in Community Action'' in 2019. In 2020, he was named a ``SOAR Hero'' by the non-profit SOAR organization--Shaping Our Appalachian Region. Under his leadership, Daniel Boone CAA has also earned many accolades, including the Statewide Transportation Award, Eastern Kentucky Section 531 Award, Vehicle Maintenance Award, Statewide Transportation Award, and the Weatherization Leadership Award, among others.

Thanks to Mike's lifetime of perseverance and due diligence, countless families in our rural region have received assistance when they needed it the most--getting a ride to the doctor's office, getting the training necessary for a new job, keeping warm in the winter, accessing childcare during work hours, and much more. Without a doubt, Mike Buckles has made a resounding difference in southeastern Kentucky and I appreciate his sincere friendship and partnership over the years. I wish Mike a happy and peaceful retirement with his wife Sharon and their beautiful family.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for the introduction.

Mr. Speaker, I want to salute Chairman DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger of the full committee for putting together a final appropriations package for the year. It is a fair compromise that includes funding for many priorities here at home and abroad.

As ranking member of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, I want to highlight a few priorities included in the SFOPS section of the bill that provide critical funding to our allies and partners during a time of great angst around the globe.

Although essential military and economic aid for the brave people of Ukraine is included elsewhere in the bill as an emergency supplemental appropriation, base funding for State-Foreign Operations is essential to our national security.

Following the chaotic Afghan withdrawal by this administration, and a full-scale assault on Ukraine by President Putin, it is critically important that this Congress sends a signal to the rest of the world that the United States stands by its allies and partners.

We do so here by including $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Israel and robust, continued support for other key partners in the Middle East like Egypt and Jordan. Funding is

also increased for our efforts to counter the malign influence of the Chinese Government.

In our own hemisphere, the bill increases funding for one of our most important partners in the region, Colombia, as they continue to work to thwart drug producers and traffickers. The bill also prioritizes funding to address the flow of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids into the United States from Mexico and China.

I am also pleased to report that the agreement restores all protections for the unborn that are in current law, including a prohibition on the use of funds to pay for abortion. At no time should U.S. taxpayer dollars be used to kill the unborn. We must always protect the sanctity of life.

Finally, this omnibus provides critical resources for southern and eastern Kentucky, I am proud to say. It continues our fight against the opioid epidemic, which is as important now as it has ever been.

It provides record funding for my Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program, which is creating new economic opportunities across Appalachia and throughout my district.

It includes my community project funding requests, which will provide important resources to our first responders, help protect Kentuckians from future floods, improve access to clean water, fight the scourge of opioids, improve medical care, and promote economic growth.

This bill is a substantial improvement on the House-passed bill, and I commend our chairwoman and ranking member for their hard work on this package.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of Roy Taylor, a long-time friend and business leader in Somerset, Kentucky.

Roy and I shared a passion for broadcasting and advancing communications in rural southern Kentucky. He was incredibly talented in the world of technology and telecommunications. In fact, during his time with the U.S. Army, he was part of Special Forces and worked with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he led highly classified military operations. Our nation owes Roy a great debt of gratitude for his brave service and dedication to our country.

When he returned home, Roy used his military training and education to advance telecommunications in the Lake Cumberland region. He first worked in sales and transmitter maintenance with WSSC radio and later invested in WTLO radio in Somerset, Kentucky. A visionary for telecommunications in our rural region, Roy was always one step ahead to connect our communities to the rest of the world through broadcasting access. He became a forerunner in the cable television industry through Burnside Comex Cable TV, writing franchise agreements and expanding access in our small communities. Thanks to his foresight and diligence, he literally crossed bridges for the first time, bringing cable to the city of Burnside and Burnside Marina. Following his success in the cable industry, Roy established CNl Wireless to focus on broadband connectivity in our rural region.

I frequently sought Roy's advice over the years and counted him as a trusted confidant and advisor. We sorted out a number of challenges and strategies together over lunch or a round of golf, because he believed in making the most out of every day; work was the main topic of conversation for Roy in every situation. He always stayed busy, focusing his time and energy on projects that could create more jobs and develop new opportunities for the Lake Cumberland region.

We have made great strides to advance technology across southern and eastern Kentucky over the last 40 years, thanks to leaders like Roy Taylor, who committed a lifetime of work and expertise to help make our rural region a better place to live. My wife Cynthia and l extend our deepest heartfelt sympathies to the Taylor family and all those who were blessed to know our loyal friend.

I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky, my close friend, whose district was the hardest hit and whose constituents along with all those impacted are in our prayers.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of my good friend and long-time colleague in this House chamber, the gentleman from Kentucky, Larry Hopkins, who represented the people of central Kentucky for 14 years from 1979 to 1993.

Congressman Hopkins served with great charisma and humor, befriending folks in every corner of Kentucky and across Capitol Hill. Public service was second nature to

Larry; he fought diligently for investments in our communities and worked hard to pave a brighter future for Kentucky. In fact, Larry won the Republican nomination for governor in 1991 before Brereton Jones succeeded in the general election. Prior to his federal service, he was also elected to serve in both chambers of the Kentucky state legislature.

As a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, he led the U.S. House Armed Services Committee with invaluable insight and expertise, leading the way for military modernization. He was a true patriot and champion for our U.S. Armed Forces on that committee.

Larry and I were close friends before arriving on Capitol Hill, often traveling together, and sharing stories from home and abroad. He deeply loved the people of Kentucky and worked tirelessly to improve this great Commonwealth. I count it a great honor to have called him a friend, and I send my deepest condolences to the Hopkins family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my long-time friend Willard Kinzer, a World War II veteran, racecar driver, and successful businessman in Eastern Kentucky. He is a loyal patriot of this great nation, a generous philanthropist for Kentucky's Appalachian communities and an innovative leader for the Kinzer Drilling Company.

One of the most iconic symbols in Eastern Kentucky has become the giant American flag flying in front of the Kinzer Drilling headquarters in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. It represents Willard's consummate pride in the American way of life, our military, and his dedication to the people of our region. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Willard joined the U.S. Navy when he was only 16 years old--he adjusted his birth certificate, determined to help his country in World War II. He narrowly missed the deadly explosion on ammunition ship USS Mount Hood just before he was sent back home to the United States. That explosion killed the entire 300-plus crew on board and nearly 100 more crew members on the nearby USS Mindanao. It injured 371 more, sank 22 small boats and damaged 18 larger ships. On that day, Willard's perspective forever changed, and he began living with a new fearless lease on life.

Willard Kinzer is the type of person who wakes up and hits the ground running. In fact, he has a sign at home that says ``Life begins at 200 mph.'' With a passion for fast cars, he has won countless trophies and awards for drag racing and hill climbing competitions over the years, and he holds the record for being the first person in history to drive a stock suspension car faster than 230 miles per hour. It should come as no surprise that he celebrated his 90th birthday winning a drag race championship in Bristol, Tennessee. He is truly a thrill-seeker at heart.

For 70 years, he was blessed to share every adventure with his wife, Lucy. Together, they raised a beautiful family and invested in local communities, helping build the Mountain Arts Center, the Wesley Christian School in Allen, and Hope in the Mountains in Prestonsburg. They also grew the Kinzer Drilling Company into a successful gas and oil business, spanning 800 miles in Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia.

On this Veterans Day, I count it a great honor to join the people of Eastern Kentucky in recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Willard Kinzer, saluting him for his valiant service during World War II and his continued work across Eastern Kentucky.