Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I come before the House of Representatives to recognize the Midlothian Innovative Learning Experience, or MILE, as the nonprofit of the year in 2021 for the city of Midlothian, Texas.

This is a state-of-the-art educational facility that is providing high school students with additional learning pathways throughout the community. Nonprofits are a fundamental part of America, and I thank Midlothian Innovative Learning Experience for their dedication to teaching the future generation.

It is important that we bring awareness to career and technical education so that people can learn about many different professions at a younger age. Career and technical education is a perfect way for students to apply what they are taught in school to a real-world environment.

MILE offers five career and technical education pathways: culinary arts, entrepreneurship, civil engineering, aerospace engineering, and cybersecurity. These programs provide students the opportunity to utilize industry-standard equipment and practices they have shown an interest in.

This unique learning space is able to replicate scenarios found in a professional, real-world working atmosphere. With the support from industry professionals, MILE is able to thrive and partner with Midlothian Independent School District.

It is an honor to represent this group of mentors who help contribute to the outstanding education found all around Texas' Sixth District. I thank them for all they do.

Recognizing Orise Kopnak on Her 100th Birthday

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Orise Kopnak, who just celebrated her 100th birthday.

Twice a week, this Waxahachie, Texas, resident volunteers at Baylor Scott & White hospital to volunteer in the day surgery department waiting room. Since 2014, she has logged more than 2,400 hours of her personal time to encourage, serve, and assist people who are waiting for a loved one to come out of surgery.

Orise's faithfulness to stand with the families, friends, and caregivers of patients during anxious and often difficult circumstances is a testament to her character. Even during a pandemic, Orise continued to volunteer.

People like Orise Kopnak represent everything that is good about our country. America was built on the volunteer principle. It has been instrumental in our Nation's advancement and made us, as Americans, a strong and self-reliant people.

Ronald Reagan once said the volunteer spirit is the engine that drives the whole history of the United States. It is an extra dimension of faith, friendship, and brotherhood that makes us good neighbors and good people and made America a great country.

I thank Orise for showing us how it is done. There is a reason her generation has been dubbed the Greatest Generation. May God bless her as she continues to carry out one of life's greatest causes: serving others.

Recognizing Demond Davis

Madam Speaker, I take this time to recognize one of my constituents, Ellis County Sheriff's Deputy Demond Davis.

Deputy Davis was new to the sheriff's force when he responded to a 10-200, which is a drug-related incident. Once he arrived, he witnessed a drug overdose. The individual was struggling, barely breathing, and his conditions were intensifying. Deputy Davis rushed to help and quickly administered Narcan nasal spray.

According to the account, the individual immediately started coming to. They were transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Waxahachie, where they received additional medical attention.

Deputy Davis' actions ensured another person did not fall victim to the opioid epidemic. Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman awarded the Life- Saving Award commendation and pin to Deputy Davis for his heroic actions.

Drug overdoses, especially from fentanyl, have become more prevalent in the U.S. Deputy Davis and his fellow law enforcement officers are our front line in responding to this terrible crisis. We cannot thank our law enforcement and first responders enough. America needs more heroes like Deputy Demond Davis.

Congratulating Timothy Redhair

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate a resident of Waxahachie, Texas, Timothy Redhair, who was promoted to the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve this month.

Colonel Redhair has a long and distinguished career in the military while also being a steward of our community.

As a lieutenant colonel, he commanded the 2nd Battalion, 132nd Infantry Regiment of the Texas Army National Guard and later had the opportunity to lead the Headquarters Battalion of the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Infantry Division.

During the height of the pandemic, Colonel Redhair deployed with his division to Kuwait. After returning from the Middle East, Timothy joined the Army Reserve, where he serves as the emergency preparedness liaison officer for Texas.

When Colonel Redhair isn't protecting our community, he spends his time as an assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 520, Circle Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America, where he trains young men and women to become our future leaders.

This commitment to our country and our community is outstanding, and I am glad to see such a worthy member of our community receive this honor.

I thank Colonel Redhair again for his service and congratulate him on his well-deserved promotion.

In Support of Ukraine

It has been over 2 months since Russia invaded Ukraine. We are witnessing a war crime forced upon the people of Ukraine.

But from this tragedy we have seen great strength from the Ukrainian people, as well as a great deal of kindness and support from our fellow Americans.

In fact, throughout Texas District Six, you will see support with Ukrainian flags being flown and people donating their time to help the people of Ukraine. For example, Waxahachie's very own Gregg Burdette went with a nine-person team from Texas Baptist Men to assist with Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

Gregg's team spent 10 days volunteering in shelters and receiving and sorting donated materials. With volunteers from all over the world, they were able to help many families and children get food, supplies, and a good night's rest.

Gregg is not the only District Six native giving aid to Ukraine. Surepoint Medical Centers, a local free-standing emergency room chain based out of Mansfield, Texas, donated their own medical supplies to aid the people of Ukraine.

With the help of many District Six residents who work for Surepoint, they were able to send critical medical supplies that included tourniquets, bandages, and various other lifesaving items.

I am proud of the work and kindness not just from the people of District Six, but everyone else who has donated any time, supplies, or sent prayers to the Ukrainian people in their time of need.

My friend from Arizona, I appreciate you yielding me time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Thomas Peek Rozier, Jr., as he retires after 42 years of distinguished service in keeping the lights on for the people of Texas. A graduate of DeSoto High School, Tom started his career as a member of the Right-of-Way Crew for Texas Power & Light in 1980. The following year, Tom graduated from climbing school and scaled his way up--both literally and figuratively--to become a senior lineman in 1984, which happened to be the year Texas Power & Light became Texas Utilities Electric Company, later known as TXU and now Oncor. For the next 22 years, Tom proved to be a trusted employee of TXU, rising to the ranks of senior electrician and patrolman and managing several substation crews. A humble kid from Greenville, Mississippi, who--in his own words--``crammed 12 years of school into 14,'' Tom never saw himself reaching the heights that he did. Luckily, his superiors recognized his potential and encouraged him to seek a position in the Transmission Grid Management (TGM) Division in 2004, where he has worked ever since. Tom's decades of experience as a lineman and patrolman have been invaluable for TGM and allowed him the opportunity to serve the very crews he dedicated so much of his life to. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the people of the 6th Congressional District and the State of Texas, it is an honor to recognize Tom for his many years of hard work and to wish him the best in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I come before the House of Representatives to bring attention to National Agriculture Month. And, of course, before I begin my prepared remarks, I want to talk about what we see going on in Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine is the breadbasket of that region. And 30 percent of all of the world's grain, wheat, is produced in that region. And as we talk about this today, and in a few months we are going to be talking about it even more, about how the farms and ranches of the United States feed the entire world.

Over the past couple of years our farmers have faced unprecedented obstacles from COVID, COVID lockdowns, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, high fuel prices, and record-high fertilizer prices. But as always, they have overcome those challenges, and they have kept Americans and the world fed during a time of great uncertainty.

Each American farmer feeds more than 165 people. Texas leads the Nation in the number of farms and ranches, with 248,416 farms and ranches covering 127 million acres. The ag industry is the pillar of a healthy and prosperous nation. And in the 6th Congressional District of Texas, we have a long history of farming and ranching. We are home to families like the Beeklys, the Patmans, the Buchholzes, the Borns, and the Dineens.

Many of them have earned the title of a ``Texas Century Farm'' or Texas Century Ranch.'' Those titles are only given to families that have served our country as farmers and ranchers for over 100 years. Families who get up before dawn to tend to crops and herd cattle. They are part of over 5,000 farms and ranches in my district.

So if you fed your family today, thank a farmer. Thank a rancher. And in Texas, thank a neighbor.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to address the floor today and bring attention to an extraordinary young man from Mansfield, Texas, named Orion Jean.

In 2020, Orion was selected as the National Kindness Speech Contest Winner. With the cash prize that Orion received from the speech contest, he created his own initiative focused on community and kindness, called Race to Kindness.

His first project was Race to 500 Toys. Orion collected and personally donated over 600 books to the Children's Medical Center of Dallas, but Orion did not stop there. He continued on with his next Race to Kindness project, Race to 100,000 Meals. With the support of local communities and nonprofit organizations, Orion fed over 100,000 people during Thanksgiving 2020.

Orion's efforts not only reached the people of District 6, but with his most recent endeavor, Race to 500,000 Books, he has collected 500,000 books and is distributing them to Mansfield Independent School District, Fort Worth Independent School District, and Dallas Independent School District, along with several literacy organizations.

Just when you think this young man could not get any more impressive, he is also a published author with his debut book, ``A Kids Book About Leadership,'' which encourages children to discover the power of leadership that resides within themselves.

He has appeared on Good Morning America and The Ellen Show, where he received a $10,000 donation for Race to Kindness. And right now, Orion is a Top 5 finalist for Time's Kid of the Year 2021.

Orion's goal is to pull kindness to the forefront and show the true power of community and how those two qualities can change people's lives. We should all strive to be more like Orion Jean.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize an outstanding constituent of Texas 6, Battalion Chief David Maeker, who has dutifully served the people of Waxahachie for the past 26 years.

David was Battalion Chief in 2018 but was leading in and out of the fire station well before that. Throughout his career, he has set the tone for what it means to be a good leader.

I am incredibly proud to announce that Chief Maeker was named Firefighter of the Year for Waxahachie in 2021, an outstanding honor for which he deserves to be recognized.

David also helps his community. He has done so by starting a nonprofit called Compassion for the Fatherless, which works with an orphanage overseas in fulfilling the needs of children by providing them with a strong foundation to be successful in life.

David, you truly lead by example. I, and the citizens of Waxahachie, thank you for your incredible service and leadership in our community and to those who need it most.

Congratulations on the well-deserved honor.

Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor today to congratulate Mike Fletcher, the store director of the H-E-B in Corsicana, Texas. After 27 years, Mike did something we all hope to do one day, and that is retire.

Though not a Corsicana native, Mike has come to call Corsicana home. He grew up in Waco, and lived there until he was about 20, and then attended Texas A&M University and while attending school, started his career in the grocery industry.

What H-E-B and Mike have done for Corsicana and the surrounding community over the last 19 years cannot be captured in a 1-minute speech. But what I can say is that Mike has served his community. He kept the doors open, the shelves stocked, and the community fed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the winter storm that hit the great State of Texas.

He and his wife, Deedy, have been an integral part of Navarro County since they moved there in 2002. Mike has served on the Salvation Army board, the United Way board of Navarro County, been a member of the Rotary Club, volunteered on disaster relief teams in West, Texas, when the fertilizer plants exploded in 2013, and much more.

He might be retired from working at H-E-B, but he is not finished serving his community.

So, Mike, congratulations on your retirement and thank you for your continued dedication to Corsicana and Navarro County.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Bost for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be addressing the House today as we are just days removed from Veterans Day, when our Nation recognizes those who honorably served to protect our precious, God-given liberties and freedoms. We have a duty and responsibility to help the veterans of our Armed Forces who have fought to preserve our freedoms and liberties.

In 2011, VA launched the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program, or the VITAL program, to provide mental health services to student veterans on college campuses.

Hundreds of thousands of veterans attend college every year. They often have difficulty adjusting from the military to an academic campus culture and relating to nonveteran peers.

As someone who has personally gone through the transition back to civilian life, I can say my experiences in combat and leadership were vastly different than the experiences of my fellow students. I was much older than my fellow students; much older. I was no longer surrounded by my fellow warriors; and I was a stranger in a strange academic land. For these reasons, I understand why the VITAL program is so important.

Since its inception in 2011, it has grown to support student veterans at 183 locations. VITAL program services are locally managed, staffed, and evaluated by VA medical centers working with area schools, which allows for independence and flexibility. It connects student veterans with needed care and services, and helps prevent veteran suicide.

The VITAL Assessment Act will ensure critical information about the VITAL program is gathered, improvements are made, and will help provide mental healthcare and support to student veterans.

This act adds accountability and transparency. It will require the VA to report to Congress about the program's management, operations, and effectiveness in support of student veterans' mental health and educational goals.

It also requires the VA to use information gathered to create best new practices, goals, and performance measures for the program.

In conclusion, I thank the many veterans' groups supporting this bill.

I am grateful to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Bost for being an original cosponsor of this bill.

And I thank Chairman Takano for supporting this bill and speaking favorably during the committee hearing; Health Subcommittee Chair Brownley, and the members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for their unanimous support of this bill.

This will help student veterans achieve their goals and dreams. And just as the VITAL program has a proven record of saving lives, this bill will further improve the program and help save even more lives of veterans.

I ask all Members of the House to please support H.R. 5516.

Madam Speaker, I rise to urge defeat of the previous question so that we can immediately consider H.R. 5071.

Operations Enduring Freedom and Freedom's Sentinel are coming to a conclusion in a way that no American should be willing to tolerate nor accept. This conflict began nearly 20

years ago. There have been 2,443 U.S. military killed in action, 3,800 contractor and DOD civilians killed in action, 1,144 allied troops killed in action, and over 30,000 veteran suicides since 9/11; the victims of their internal and unseen wounds.

In Texas District 6, we lost Staff Sergeant Jeremy S. on April 6, 2011, and Private First Class Joel R. on April 16, 2011. Brothers in arms, killed 10 days apart.

In Texas, we have lost 193 of our sons and daughters, all of whom, like Luke Bushatz would say: ``Not one ounce of sweat or blood in the defense of others is a waste.'' But last week, this administration handed over 600,000 weapons, 75,000 vehicles, and 200 aircraft to the enemy.

What we have now is September 10, 2001, with a well-armed enemy.

For those who have stood the watch and those who have died standing that watch, duty, honor, and country is not an academic study; it is a way of life and sometimes death.

So I call on our Commander in Chief, Madam Speaker, to take those words as seriously as we do and to do his duty to honor our servicemembers and their families by informing this body, and the Americans we represent, every day on what is happening on the ground in Afghanistan and what this administration is doing to bring American citizens, and the Afghans who helped us, to safety.

Infrastructure needs did not leave 10,000 to 15,000 Americans stranded. Climate change did not cause this catastrophe. Combat is a not a PowerPoint briefing. American lives are at stake. Get our countrymen out of Afghanistan. The mission is only complete when they are out, not one minute before.

Madam Speaker, first of all, I thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; my family--my beautiful wife, Shelby, my incredible daughter, McCall; and my incredible son, Jack; my parents in Texas and California; and papa looking down on me from Heaven.

I thank my family in the Sixth District of Texas. I will serve you with quiet professionalism.

I would like to read for you Philippians 4:8-9.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever

is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is

lovely, whatever is commendable--if there is any moral

excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy--dwell on

these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard

from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with

you.

I believe America is exceptional. I love my country. It is an honor to serve. I would appreciate the prayers of all of those in here as I learn my job.

Madam Speaker, I would like to leave you with a moment of silence for your colleague, our friend, and my predecessor, Ron Wright, and his family.