Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the firefighters of Station 9 in west Little Rock, Arkansas, for their selfless service during the horrific tornado that struck our city and region in March.

The firefighters of Station 9 were standing in their building when it was directly hit by the tornado, completely destroying it.

Despite their fire station being in ruins, they immediately got to work clearing debris, providing emergency assistance, and serving as an important beacon of hope for those in need in that neighborhood.

Their tremendous efforts were a critical component in helping my hometown recover from one of the worst storms in recent history.

I am proud to honor the brave firefighters for their dedicated work in the face of destruction and ruin. Their service stands as a model of resilience and strength for our entire State and Nation.

Recognizing Heide Harrell

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my good friend, Heide

Harrell, on being a recipient of the Public Relations Society of America, Arkansas Chapter's 2023 Crystal Award.

Heide and I worked together at Arkansas-based Delta Trust and Banking Corporation, a Little Rock-based banking, trust, and investment company, where she was the communications and marketing officer.

Today, she serves as the vice president and communications director at Stephens, one of the largest privately held independent investment firms off Wall Street.

Just a few years ago, Heide was selected as an honoree in the 27th class of Arkansas Business 40 Under 40.

Heide is truly an inspiration to all through her hard work and leadership. Mr. Speaker, I thank Heide for being a great friend and a creative force for good across our community.

Recognizing Madison Murphy

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a longtime friend and a terrific civic leader in our State, Madison Murphy, on the occasion of Highway 167 from El Dorado to Little Rock being dedicated in his honor.

Madison has been an inspiration to all Arkansans for many years and has received numerous awards and recognition for his work throughout the State.

He has been named to the Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 list and named Arkansas' Tourism Person of the Year for his financial support and inspiration in the creation of the Murphy Arts District in El Dorado.

Madison has also served as chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission from 2003 to 2013, where he championed the widening of the Highway 167 corridor to provide a four-lane connection between south and central Arkansas, improving roadway safety, mobility, and transit.

Throughout his leadership as chairman, a temporary half-cent sales tax was implemented that funded 31 highway widening projects to improve connectivity across the State.

I applaud Mr. Murphy for his leadership and service to the State of Arkansas and congratulate him on this recognition.

Control Deficits and Spending

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, this House--all the Democrats and 31 Republicans--rejected a stopgap spending measure, which would have lowered spending for the 4 weeks of the continuing resolution period; secured the border with important needs, a critical element that every day we see and hear from our constituents; and established a commission to tackle the biggest challenge this House and this Nation has, which is that 70 percent of our spending, Mr. Speaker, is not voted on on this House floor. It is on autopilot--mandatory spending.

These mandatory spending programs require bipartisan attention to reform them. We can keep the promises made to the American people on Social Security and Medicare, but we need to get our fiscal house in order.

I support that commission, and I was so disappointed that 31 Republicans joined the Democrats to reject it.

Now, in this period of 45 days, as we continue to look for the most conservative spending policies that we can achieve across this House floor and in the Senate, let's be committed that we will have a bipartisan commission on debt and deficit and get this spending and these deficits under control.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 3 o'clock and 24 minutes p.m.), on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, (legislative day of Tuesday, October 3, 2023) under its previous order, the House adjourned until Friday, October 6, 2023, at 10 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 6, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important day. This Congress needs to come together to go back and get our spending under control and also get our border under control.

Both are of concern to the American people. We hear about it in our offices every day. The spending is unsustainable, but 200,000 people a month coming across the border and living in this country illegally is also unsustainable.

This bill is a product of hard work for weeks to give us time to complete our appropriations work, to negotiate with the Senate while at the same time reducing spending, which has been an avalanche of out-of- control spending for the last 2 years, and to secure our border.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of it, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing this bill to the floor.

I rise in support of Mr. Kean's bill.

Mr. Speaker, after President Obama's appeasement and inaction, Putin took Crimea without firing a shot and invaded the Donbas, 15,000 people were killed back in 2014. It was President Trump that started sending Javelins and other lethal weapons to Ukraine to defend itself and continued important training and logistical support of the Ukrainians that had preceded his efforts.

It was President Trump that signed into law this annual funding every year

of his Presidency. That is why this small nation of Ukraine with its brave people, amazing drive, and passion for freedom have demonstrated to the world that it is the best military in the territory of Ukraine. Russia has stumbled from being the second largest power in the world militarily to maybe barely the second best in Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, the price for less than 1 week of Federal spending authorized by this Congress--less than 1 week of Federal spending--we have seen the Ukrainians decimate the Russian military strength and set it back decades.

Mr. Speaker, I support this measure tonight. I support the reassessment of Ukraine's strategy to win and win promptly, too. Heads, Ukraine wins. Tails, Russia, the invader, loses. We need to make sure they have the right strategy and that it has got the right way to win and win promptly.

I support the careful and prudent inspector general funding attached to this bill to make sure that American taxpayer funds are spent in the right way to have a decisive defeat of the Russians.

Mr. Speaker, I urge that we adopt this bill with a strong bipartisan vote.

Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman of the committee and the

ranking member for their strong work in crafting this national defense authorization bill. I am always proud to support the defense of this Nation and the airmen and women at Little Rock Air Force base and the members of the Arkansas National Guard.

This legislation comes at an important time. It protects us and our allied interests from a rapidly expanding China and from increasing Iranian and Russian influence in the Middle East.

While we continue to do our focus on Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, countering the Chinese Communists, we must not lose focus on our strategic interests and our allies in the Middle East and our continued fight against a toxic mix of radical ISIS, al-Qaida, and Shia militia that are threatening the communities of the Gulf and our military assets. I am delighted that my amendment countering the Iranian assaults on our military was ruled in order.

I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for this important work on this legislation and our 63rd annual successful year in supporting our military strategy and our troops.

Mr. Speaker, I missed Roll Call No. 140. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Steven Helmick of Donald R. Roberts Elementary in Little Rock for being named the 2023 Arkansas Elementary School Principal of the Year.

Mr. Helmick is known for his outgoing personality and willingness to do whatever it takes to inspire his students, including running a mile for each of the 168 fifth graders in his elementary school, and camping out on the school's roof.

Steven Helmick has turned Roberts Elementary into one of the highest achieving elementary schools in Arkansas, receiving a grade of A from the state education leadership.

I congratulate Mr. Helmick on his well-deserved award and the outstanding work as Principal of Roberts Elementary.

Mr. Speaker, recently, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad was invited back into the Arab League after 12 years of being in exile.

I can't tell you how incredibly frustrating and disappointing this is to many, particularly the innocent people of Syria who have endured more than a decade of war, murder, and torture.

Assad's readmittance to the Arab League sends the wrong signal.

It sends the signal to the rest of the world that his atrocious war crimes against his own citizens over the past twelve years are acceptable.

A recent Reuters article had the headline Arabs bring Syria's Assad back into the fold, but want actions, action on the drug trade.

Well that's rich, because the only reason there is an epidemic in the drug trade in the Gulf and the region, is because of Assad.

Assad turned Russia and Iran to maintain his death machine, and now the Captagon drug trade, led by his cousins, led by his military, providing an independent source of funding for his regime while he poisons his neighbors and takes their money and fuels terrorism in the region.

And yet he's invited back to the Arab League meeting.

It's preposterous.

My bill that passed last year's National Defense Authorization Act was called the Captagon Act and requires the U.S. Government to develop a multilateral and all of government approach to disrupting and dismantling the production of the Captagon drug right in the heart of Syria.

Recently, the Treasury Department along with our ally the United Kingdom, took steps to sanction key actors in Assad's inner circle who are producing and trafficking Captagon.

This is a good step, but it's months late Mr. Speaker

It's in the right direction of disrupting and dismantling the trafficking networks associated with this illicit drug.

But it's just a good start, and it comes years after we know the deadly impact of Captagon in the region, on families, but also fueling of terror by Assad through the billions of dollars transferred from that illicit trafficking.

So it's critical that governments across the globe to continue to show their support for the Syrian people by denouncing those who seek to normalize relations with the repulsive regime, granting Assad admittance to the Arab League once again sends the opposite message, it rewards barbaric behavior.

The United States government has an obligation to sanction Assad in our efforts to dismantle the Captagon drug trade and hold Assad accountable for his war crimes.

And that's why I'm pleased this week to cosponsor the Middle East Subcommittee Chairman Joe Wilson's new bill H.R. 2302, The Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act.

This bill was passed this week unanimously in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Congress will act where this administration has continuously failed to consistently do so.

I look forward to supporting this bill on the House floor and seeing it signed into law.

Mr. Speaker, I missed Roll Call Numbers 144, 235, 238, 239, and 240. Had I been present , I would have voted YEA.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford), who is my good friend and a wonderful leader in the Law Enforcement Caucus in the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for his promotion of his constituents and their success in exporting and for his recognizing the importance of small business to the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Kiley). My friend is from one of the most beautiful congressional districts in America, the Sierra Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments and for promoting this good work in his district, and I thank him for his public service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an important piece of legislation that I am working on here in the people's House.

The Ouachita Mountains inside the Ouachita National Forest stretches some 220 miles from my district in central Arkansas to eastern Oklahoma.

For 50 years now, I have sought refuge and pleasure in visiting a remarkable corner of the rugged Arkansas Ouachita National Forest mountains called Flatside. It is named for a sandstone outcrop that dominates the forest below.

Mr. Speaker, you can see in this photo on one very cold February day with a blanket of snow on the ground that I was looking west from the top of Flatside toward another high point in the wilderness area called Forked Mountain.

My guide that day was my good friend of now 50 years and longtime neighbor in Little Rock, Don Hamilton.

Don is a longtime member of the Ozark Society, a former board member for the National Wildlife Federation, and a tireless advocate for wilderness areas in our Nation.

At the time of this photo, I was a Senate staffer, and Don was urging me to persuade my then boss, U.S. Senator John Tower, a Republican from Texas, to cosponsor Democrat Arkansas Senator Dale Bumpers' Arkansas Wilderness Act.

This act would establish the 10,000 acres of public U.S. forestland around Flatside as one of nine new wilderness areas and the only one in the Second Congressional District.

With Senator Tower's endorsements and the tireless work by Senator Bumpers and my Second District predecessor, Republican Congressman Ed Bethune, Flatside did, in fact, join the U.S. Forest Service wilderness rolls in 1984 when it was signed into law by President Reagan.

At that time, the Flatside area was anticipated to be larger, encompassing the additional U.S. Forest Service lands that I am addressing on the House floor today in my new legislation.

Over the ensuing years, the Forest Service and advocates were never able to craft a strategy whereby those acres left out of the 1984 designation could be included.

When I joined Congress in 2015, I set about to design an approach that would expand Flatside to its originally contemplated size.

First, I introduced the Flatside Wilderness Enhancement Act, which passed in both the House and Senate in 2018 and was then signed into law by President Trump in January of 2019.

This bill added what I called the Bethune Woods acreage to Flatside.

Thanks to Congressman Bethune for his years of hard work on this area.

This 640-acre addition had been coded by the U.S. Forest Service as wilderness and managed that way but had never been formally added to the boundaries of Flatside.

As a companion measure, Senator John Boozman of Arkansas and I included in the fiscal year 2019 appropriations bill a provision whereby the Forest Service would complete a careful and thorough study of the other Federal forest lands around Flatside that might well meet the 1964 Wilderness Act definition and be eligible for inclusion.

In May of 2021, Flatside's wilderness evaluation was completed by the Forest Service. They thoroughly examined all the areas in question and outlined the ones that they believed would qualify as wilderness if so designated by this House, by our Congress.

Thus, Mr. Speaker, here we are, 40 years later, discussing my bill, H.R. 3971, the Flatside Wilderness Additions Act. This act implements the careful U.S. Forest Service study that was completed back in May of 2021.

Further, I collaborated on the design of the measure with my colleague, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, Chair Bruce Westerman and his staff.

This bill admits 2,200 existing qualifying public U.S. Forest Service acres to the existing wilderness area. Land that qualifies for wilderness designation in accordance with the May 2021 study and is currently already managed as potential wilderness by the Ouachita National Forest Management Plan.

This measure is supported by our Arkansas Governor, Sarah Sanders, our parks and tourism leadership, our game and fish commission, our local officials in the nearby counties, and our outdoor recreation leaders, including The Ozark Society who was so instrumental in the 1994 work.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and complete the good work started by my predecessor so long ago, Congressman Ed Bethune, and initiated by President Reagan, signing the Arkansas Wilderness Act of 1984 into law.

Today, we take this final step to complete Flatside Wilderness' original footprint and offer the wild beauty of The Natural State for generations to come.

For me, Flatside has provided five decades of peace that was promised in John Muir's great poem that goes like this:

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, nature's

peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you and

the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like

autumn leaves.

Honoring the Life of Ambassador C. Boyden Gray

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the life of a dear friend and a remarkable public servant, Ambassador Boyden Gray. Boyden died on May 21, 2023, at the age of 80.

There was no finer gentleman, father, companion, or principled conservative advocate than the Honorable C. Boyden Gray.

In his remembrance of Ambassador Gray at a June 7 service at Christ Church, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas described Boyden as calm and courageous, warm and humorous.

It was my great pleasure to serve on the White House staff of President George H.W. Bush and witness Boyden's humor, courage, and principled leadership on a regular basis.

President Bush was fortunate to have Boyden Gray as his White House counsel, his friend, and also his counsel during his years as Vice President during the Reagan administration.

Boyden was instrumental in advising the President on appointments and on landmark legislation such as the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Gray went on to continue his public service as our U.S. Ambassador to the European Union from 2006 to 2007.

Boyden was also a long-time attorney and conservative constitutional advocate in private practice in Washington, D.C.

In his touching eulogy, Justice Thomas quoted Boyden's frequent statement that his daughter, Eliza, was ``the best thing I have ever done.''

That was in full evidence as Eliza gave a beautiful tribute to her dad. Her dedication and love and his for her was in full evidence.

Martha and I send our hugs to Eliza, her husband Nick, and their children Jane and Wyatt.

The world is a less interesting place with the loss of our friend, Boyden Gray. I have no doubt that he is suggesting many structural regulatory reforms in Heaven as we speak.

Recognizing North Little Rock High School's Victory in the Capitol Hill

Challenge

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight an incredible achievement from the high school students at North Little Rock High School who finished in first place in the SIFMA Foundation's 20th Annual Capitol Hill Challenge.

This is the security industry's nationwide contest. We used to call it the stock market game many years ago.

Thousands of teams from all 50 States compete in this 4-month financial education program where student teams invest a hypothetical $100,000 and learn the value and function of our capital markets and investing fundamentals through an integrated, comprehensive curriculum.

Additionally, these students learn how to think critically and collaborate with their peers which, in turn, improves their own personal decisionmaking and financial literacy.

The Capitol Hill Challenge allows for thousands of students across the country, particularly at underprivileged schools, to have access to exceptional financial educational programming and for those who might not even have had an opportunity to learn these important skills.

These students, as well as others whose schools finish in the top 10, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., and got to meet with their Congressmen and their Senators.

I congratulate the hardworking students at North Little Rock High School for this great achievement of being tops in financial literacy and in this contest.

Recognizing Colonel Angela Ochoa

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Angela Ochoa for her distinguished service as the 19th Airlift Wing Commander at Little Rock Air Force Base.

Colonel Ochoa was commissioned in 2001, and throughout her career has flown in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Resolute Support, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, and Volant Shogun.

Colonel Ochoa has spent the last 2 years dedicated to the C-130 airlift community, ensuring that the 19th Wing is mission ready for global support.

Through her efforts, she has left a positive impact on more than 10,000 personnel and families that travel in and out of Little Rock Air Force Base every day.

In addition to her focus on combat readiness of the force, Colonel Ochoa continued to vitalize and support the central Arkansas community through the introduction of the Department of Defense's STARBASE program, which provides STEM-focused education opportunities for children in the area. She has also made immeasurable contributions to our community through the Honorary Commander Program.

I wish Colonel Ochoa continued success as she comes here to metro Washington, D.C., and takes command of the 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews.

Happy 187th Birthday, Arkansas

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge that this month, June, our great State of Arkansas celebrates 187 years of statehood.

Arkansas' rich history has shaped the vibrant and growing communities across our State today. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to stand before you and celebrate its heritage, progress, and the possibilities ahead for our citizens.

Arkansas' heritage is evident across our State in museums and historic sites but also in the individual stories of people across our State, their own stories, their own generations of calling Arkansas home.

Throughout our history, Arkansas has consistently lived up to its nickname, The Natural State. Families across our country visit our State parks, our historic sites, and other great outdoor recreational experiences from the Ozark Mountains to the Mississippi Delta.

Besides the outdoors, Arkansans of all ages take advantage of opportunities in our State from art to sports to business and technology.

I am proud to support business investment in Arkansas and our young people as they learn more about what it means to call Arkansas home.

For all these reasons and more, I am confident that Arkansas has a bright future ahead. Today, and every day, I am proud to represent the many central Arkansans that make our State great. Happy Birthday, Arkansas.

Congratulating Susan Ramsey, Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher of

the Year

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Susan Ramsey, the recipient of the Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher of the Year award from the Arkansas Farm Bureau.

Ms. Ramsey teaches language arts in Pangburn, and she leads a garden class on Fridays for third and fourth graders, providing them new and engaging experiences in and around our food system and agriculture.

Pangburn High School's agriculture teacher Brian Harris, who nominated Ms. Ramsey for the award, praised her garden program because it provides students these important experiences at such a good, young age.

Ms. Ramsey has undeniably made a positive impact on her students, providing them the tools they need for future success. Programs like these benefit students and their families across our State.

This recognition is well-deserved, and as our State's nominee, she will represent Arkansas well at the National Ag in the Classroom Conference coming up. Thank you, Ms. Ramsey, for your dedication to your students.

Congratulating Dr. Gary B. Arnold

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend, Dr. Gary B. Arnold, for his outstanding work as Head of School at Little Rock Christian Academy. After 16 years at Little Rock Christian, Dr. Arnold's legacy will not be forgotten.

From expanding the campus, building modern athletic facilities, and improving the art and science programs, Dr. Arnold improved student life immensely over his tenure.

Not only did Dr. Arnold lead his students, but he was a mentor to many other heads of school across the Nation.

Dr. Arnold held many positions of leadership for national organizations, promoting high standards and the growth of independent Christian education.

Through his devotion to spreading the faith and serving in the name of Jesus, Dr. Arnold's leadership creates a long-lasting, positive impact.

I congratulate Dr. Arnold on his amazing work at Little Rock Christian and look forward to his continued leadership across our great country.

Congratulating Allie Thomas

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Allie Thomas on representing Arkansas in the 2023 National History Day competition.

National History Day is a high school competition whereby students can present historical research projects through websites, endorsements, or even performances.

Each year, nearly a half million students across our great country participate in National History Day. The topic for this year's competition was Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas. The students' topics ranged from the history of science to politics and the military.

Allie was one of only 3,000 students selected to participate in the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland just this past week.

To advance to the National Competition, Allie's project was named a top-two project in her category and division.

I am so proud of Allie and her hard work. And we are honored she represented our great State of Arkansas.

Recognizing Arkansas Children's Hospital

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Arkansas Children's Hospital for being featured in the most recent U.S. News & World Report's list of best children's hospitals.

Arkansas Children's Hospital received a top 50 ranking in seven medical specialties for pediatric hospitals across the United States and was also ranked in the top 10 pediatric hospitals for the southeast region.

This recognition is well deserved. Arkansas Children's provides critical and incredibly valuable services to our children and their families across our State and the surrounding region.

This kind of comprehensive care is necessary so that kids and their families in our State can reach their full potential and have access to the absolute best care possible for every kind of complication that life can bring.

Providing these important services at such a high caliber requires a committed and talented team. The staff at Arkansas Children's Hospital certainly reflects these values.

As a former hospital director there and now a Member of Congress, I am always proud to highlight their quality pediatric care in our State and glad that the exceptional performance of Arkansas Children's Hospital is being recognized at a national level.

Congratulating Jimmy Moses

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jimmy Moses, who was recently honored for his work in downtown Little Rock for Little Rock's successful growth, redevelopment, and preservation over his many decades of leadership.

Mr. Moses was featured in Block, Street, & Building magazine as a true difference maker, and I can certainly assure you, Mr. Speaker, that is understated.

His family has exemplified values that made our State great for generations. They have not only benefited from their deep roots in Little Rock, but they have used those talents and love for the area to give back. Jimmy Moses is absolutely continuing that longtime Moses family tradition.

Mr. Moses has worked in urban development and planning for years. He has worked on projects to restore historic buildings and facilitate creative development as our vital central business district of Little Rock has grown and changed over the past 40 years.

Mr. Moses also serves as one of the founders of Moses Tucker Partners, a prominent real estate development firm in Little Rock.

His background, skills, and passion demonstrate why he is so deserving of this important recognition. I am proud to recognize him as a visionary that has been so clearly dedicated to making our hometown a better place.

Celebrating Earl Smith's 100th Birthday

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Earl Smith, who celebrated his 100th birthday on June 10.

Mr. Smith, an Arkansas native, is a World War II veteran. Drafted at 19, he served in the Army and the Army Chemical Corps.

He was also part of the Rhineland campaign and the northern France campaign and was awarded two Bronze Stars and a good conduct medal.

Earl was married to his wife, Eloise, for 57 years. Together, they had two children, four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Earl is still an active member of the community. He makes sure to attend all of his grandchildren's events and holds the longest membership in Lifeline Baptist Church. Earl also is the oldest member of the Little Rock VFW Post 9095.

When asked about this remarkable birthday, he said: ``I had no idea I would live this long, but every morning when I wake up, I thank the good Lord for another day.''

I thank Mr. Earl Smith for his service to our beloved Nation and congratulate him for his 100th birthday.

Honoring Dave Peresko

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Dave Peresko.

Mr. Peresko is a longtime veteran who served our Nation in the Vietnam war.

Continuing his service to our country, Mr. Peresko began working for the U.S. Postal Service in Little Rock in 1973. During that work, Mr. Peresko was no stranger to any of our community members. His lively and kind spirit spread throughout our community, leaving a positive impact on everyone he came across.

Completing over 45 years of service with the post office, Mr. Peresko retired from the post office just a few years ago in 2019.

This very committed Kansas City Chiefs superfan brightened the city of

Little Rock every day in the way he touched people and cared for them in his public service.

We salute Dave in his retirement.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate 125 years of the International Paper Company.

International Paper, IP, was founded in January 1898 and they celebrated their 125th anniversary in January, an incredible milestone in our Nation.

Their company is committed to providing essential products that people depend on, including being one of the world's largest producers of fiber-based products.

Essential paper and paper products are important in our everyday lives, ensuring goods are protected, and keeping consumers safe.

They're a driver of local economic development in our great state.

There are over 550 IP employees in six facilities throughout Arkansas, which 150 of those work at the Conway, Arkansas graphic plant.

I congratulate International Paper for their 125 years of service, and I look forward to their continued impact on Arkansas and around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and Arts, Conway High School, eStem Charter High School, Little Rock Central High School, and North Little Rock Center for Excellence for advancing to the state coding competition.

Out of more than 160 teams, these five are part of 16 teams that were selected to advance to the state competition.

The top three finishing teams will receive monetary rewards of $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place for each member of the team.

The money will be placed in a 529 college savings plan account to help those students with their journey towards earning a college degree.

I thank the Our Kids Code for providing the grant money for the winning teams, and I congratulate the students for qualifying for the state competition.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the reopening of our magnificent Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.

The museum, located in downtown Little Rock, reopened on April 22 after almost four years since closing for renovation and expansion.

After years of planning, the museum has been reimagined into a beautiful work of art itself.

The architecture firm, Studio Gang, led the design which preserves historic elements of the building but includes other critical, interesting, and tasteful elements, making it into one of the most influential museums in the country.

The museum has much to offer, from the visual and performing arts, to full art educational experiences.

The goal is to create a cultural space where our community can engage with a diverse portfolio of artistic perspectives and come together to see beautiful temporary exhibitions and participate in the wonderful array of educational courses.

I thank all involved for their efforts in making this renovation possible and congratulate the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts for this new chapter in their history in our state.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the efforts of central Arkansas during the recovery period after our devastating tornado that hit our district last month.

Our neighbors immediately began to work hand in hand, neighbor to neighbor, to rebuild our community.

Many volunteered and worked tirelessly to set up emergency shelters in our local schools and churches to ensure those impacted by this severe storm had safe housing in the wake of the tornado.

The response of our leaders at the state, county, and city level was invaluable to be commended.

The incredible efforts and active emergency response from Governor Sarah Sanders, Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Mayor Terry Hartwick of North Little Rock, Mayor Jeff Elmore in Jacksonville, and Mayor Mary Jo Heye-Townsell of Sherwood, and many others all saved lives and accelerated the recovery process.

Not only did we witness their outstanding response and an outpouring of local volunteers, but we saw the swift action of our first responders and our essential businesses.

Entergy Arkansas began repairs to the local power grid as soon as the storms passed, and many of our lineman and women worked countless hours to restore power, even when themselves were affected.

One lineman I met with was in his bed at the time of the tornado and the roof torn off his apartment, and after a day off from that tragedy was out there working 16 house a day to connect the power to his neighbors.

Countless time put in neighbor for neighbor.

Entergy Arkansas's corporate office also donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross to be used toward tornado recovery efforts, with an additional pledge of up to $50,000 matching employee donations.

The Arkansas Food Bank did an incredible job of delivering food, water, and other necessary items throughout our communities to ensure those affected by the storms were supported by necessary goods.

Additionally, our local restaurants, our local businesses all donated hundreds of meals and supplies to those in need.

I thank our community for demonstrating generosity and thoughtfulness during a time of great need. They simply demonstrate that core value that we all take pride in Arkansans and Americans.