Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize our nation's dairy farmers. Since 1937, the month of June has been set aside to celebrate National Dairy Month.

The dairy industry, and the products it produces, is extremely important to the agricultural sector and hundreds of millions of Americans and consumers around the world. It generates $38 billion of direct wages for 3 million jobs on 37,000 family-owned dairy farms and related industries.

But times have been tough in recent years with narrow margins and low to no profitability. In fact, this is the fifth consecutive year that we've had low prices, pushing 2,700 dairy farmers out of business in 2018.

That's why USDA's Dairy Margin Coverage Program is so important to the American dairy industry. The Dairy Margin Coverage program will provide farmers with better coverage for lower premiums, including a retro-active start which means our dairy farmers will be able to get help with over 5 months of tough losses.

As we honor the dairy producers in our communities this month, I encourage all of our Hoosier dairy farmers to sign up for their program in order to secure much needed protection during times of uncertainty. I thank them for their tireless work for the American people.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding me time.

Madam Speaker, keeping our elections safe from cyberattacks and fraud is not and should not be a partisan priority.

H.R. 2722 has been rushed to the House floor without giving the Science, Space, and Technology Committee the opportunity to hold even a single hearing on the bill or the subject matter.

The problem with rushing this bill through Congress is that it will have a significant negative impact on NIST's ability to work with State and local governments to identify standards and best practices for election security.

Our priority in Congress should be to develop useful tools that empower States and local officials to ensure their elections are secure, accessible, and accurate.

In fact, our secretary of state in Indiana, Ms. Connie Lawson, has done a remarkable job leading the effort to add safeguards to our elections process, ensuring it is completed with integrity.

Given the opportunity, I believe that our committee could come to an agreement, in a bipartisan manner, to update NIST's election and security activities.

Congress should focus on legislation that provides much-needed improvements and reinforcements for local officials without overstepping the States' authority to maintain their elections.

Madam Speaker, because of the lack of following regular order, the committee has never been given the opportunity to ensure those issues are addressed.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and could be sent to the President's desk for his signature today.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Dorothy ``Mom'' Brown for her dedication to the Phi Kappa Psi house at DePauw University. Few individuals have had an impact on Phi Kappa Psi as great as Dorothy, and we thank her for her selflessness.

Prior to her time with Phi Kappa Psi, Dorothy graduated from Indiana University, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Science in Administration and Supervision, and began a teaching career in Gary, Indiana. After serving as principal in Warren Township Schools in Indianapolis in the 1980's, Dorothy returned to her home in Greencastle in 1986 to teach in the education department at DePauw University.

In 1993, Dorothy took on a new role as Housemother of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. She quickly became an ``anchor'' of Phi Kappa Psi and made it a memorable experience for generations of young men over the next 26 years.

She was honored in 2009 for her contributions to DePauw by the city of Greencastle as the DePauw Cultural Resource center was renamed in her honor. Whether during her time as an elementary school teacher or fraternity Housemother, she exemplified leadership and compassion. I am proud to call her a fellow Hoosier.

On behalf of the 4th District of Indiana, I thank her for her dedication to her community, and I wish her the very best in retirement.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Dorothy ``Mom'' Brown for her dedication to the Phi Kappa Psi house at DePauw University. Few individuals have had an impact on Phi Kappa Psi as great as Dorothy, and we thank her for her selflessness.

Prior to her time with Phi Kappa Psi, Dorothy graduated from Indiana University, receiving a bachelor's degree in education and a master of science in administration and supervision, and then began a teaching career in Gary, Indiana.

After serving as a principal in Warren Township Schools in Indianapolis in the 1980s, Dorothy returned to her home in Greencastle in 1986 to teach in the Education Department at DePauw University.

In 1993, Dorothy took a new role as housemother of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. She quickly became an anchor for the fraternity and made it a memorable experience for generations of young men over the next 26 years.

She was honored in 2009 for her contributions to DePauw by the city of Greencastle, as the DePauw Cultural Resource Center was renamed in her honor.

Whether during her time as an elementary school teacher or fraternity housemother, she exemplified leadership and compassion, and I am proud to call her a fellow Hoosier.

On behalf of the Fourth District of Indiana, I thank her for her dedication to her community, and I wish her the very best in retirement.

Madam Chair, I rise today in support of my esteemed colleague's amendment to increase the funding for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program at the USDA.

In Indiana, many of our rural areas do not have access to adequate broadband coverage, putting them at a disadvantage in our global economy. In Indiana, many of our rural areas do not have the access that is necessary to be current.

Broadband is important to education and healthcare, as well as economic development and agriculture. By responsibly increasing the funding for this program, we are providing educational opportunities and improved healthcare without any additional cost to the taxpayer.

We must equip our students with our 21st century tools to further their education and ensure that all of our citizens have access to quality healthcare, regardless of their ZIP Code. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment on behalf of rural communities across the Nation.

Mr. Chair, on roll call no. 372, I mistakenly voted ``yes'' when I intended to vote ``no.''

Amendment No. 85 Offered by Ms. Stevens

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jason Dombkowski, who is retiring after 25 years of faithful public service with the West Lafayette Police Department. Jason has been the Chief of Police at the department for 11 years, serving his fellow officers and community with integrity and professionalism.

He received his master's degree in Technology, Leadership, and Innovation from Purdue University, and has completed the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, the FBI National Academy at Quantico, and the U.S. Secret Service Dignitary Protection Programs, among others.

In addition to his remarkable career, Jason remains a steadfast pillar in the community, known for his commitment, leadership, and service. He serves on the YWCA board, and has been a board member for the Red Cross, Lafayette Crisis Center, the Lafayette Catholic Diocese Bishop's Review Board.

He also volunteers with the ``Shop With a Cop'' program and coaches a youth flag football team.

He and his wife, Cristie, have four children, and reside in West Lafayette.

Congratulations on your retirement, Jason. I know you will continue to serve our community well in your new capacity, and I wish you the very best.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th performance of Purdue University's ``All-American'' Marching Band at the Indy 500, along with Director of Bands Jay Gephart becoming president of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the band performing pop tunes, patriotic songs, and Indy 500 ceremonial music like ``God Bless America'' and ``Back Home Again in Indiana.'' The band builds the sound, color and emotion leading to the start of the race, thrilling fans for the past century.

The All-American band has become part of the fabric of the ``Greatest Spectacle in Racing.'' Nearly 300 members pay their own way each year to return to the Indy 500 from around the United States to perform on the track and under the Pagoda.

They also invite high school bands from across the Midwest to participate in the Parade of Bands that has marched around the course before the start of the race since 1922 and have appeared in every nationally televised IPL 500 Festival Parade since its debut in 1957.

Thanks to Director of Bands Jay Gephart, Purdue's participation in one of Indiana's most storied traditions has held strong at the ``Racing Capitol of the World.'' I congratulate every band member-- former and current--and Director Gephart on their remarkable achievements.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my support for the RSC 2020 budget.

I have a copy of that here, so I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to study it and look for those positive aspects that are important that Congressman Banks and his team put together to have a balanced budget.

It reduces Federal spending by over $12 trillion in the next decade and balances our Federal budget in the next 6 years.

As the gentleman mentioned, the State of Indiana passed an amendment to the constitution in 2018 to require our budgets to balance, and Hoosiers have enjoyed a balanced State budget since 2012.

We are among a minority of States that have a Triple-A credit rating, and Indiana has cut 15 different taxes while still balancing our budget and funding key State priorities.

This proposed budget addresses out-of-control spending and rightfully aims to significantly decrease our national debt. We are $22 trillion in debt as a Nation. That is not my money. That is money that belongs to the taxpayers. Because we have been paying interest on this debt for decades, it is really the money of our next generation of American taxpayers, our kids and our grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I am proud of what Hoosiers have been able to do in our State, and I will continue to fight for that same Hoosier common sense here in D.C.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mike Piggott, who has become virtually an institution for the Lafayette community and Purdue University.

Mike has been an integral part of the greater Lafayette area for more than 40 years. He serves numerous roles at Purdue, including public address announcer for the men's basketball team and public orator for more than 100 commencement ceremonies.

Before working at Purdue, Mike was general manager at WLFI, and he was the television station's news director and news anchor for 14 years and news director at WASK radio for 13 years.

Mike's remarkable career focused on communicating with neighbors, friends, and alumni through sharing stories, delivering the news, and representing Purdue University.

His wife, Nancy, is a retired fourth grade teacher at Glen Acres Elementary. Together, they have two daughters, Jane and Julie, both married and living in the Indianapolis area, along with five grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mike on his retirement and thank him for his dedication to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my alma mater, Purdue University, as we celebrate 150 years of ``giant leaps'' and academic excellence.

Since Purdue's first classes with six instructors and 39 students in 1874, upcoming generations have been equipped to push boundaries in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Now, with more than 200 areas of undergraduate study and over 69 graduate disciplines, students continue to pave the way for tremendous advances in medicine, agriculture, space exploration, engineering, and numerous other professions.

Through partnerships with world-renowned programs like NASA and serving the manufacturing sector with technical assistance programs, Purdue's mission to increase economic prosperity touches every aspect of life in Indiana and across the nation.

I am proud that this university stands as a pillar of excellence in our community.

Since its 1869 groundbreaking, Purdue University has evolved in response to a changing world, but one thing remains the same: a commitment to integrity and service that has been embodied since the very beginning.

I join all current and former Boilermakers in wishing Purdue a very happy 150th birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate two outstanding high school basketball teams from the Fourth District of Indiana. I'm proud to say that the Fourth District is home to not only the runner up for the Indiana High School Athletic Association's Girls Basketball State Tournament, but also the 2019 State Champions.

At the State Championship on February 23, in Indianapolis, Northwestern Senior High School, from Kokomo, Indiana achieved their second-straight state title with a sixty-one to thirty-nine victory over Benton Central, from Oxford, Indiana.

Both teams played with the passion and dedication they have shown all season. Northwestern junior Kendall Bostic led the night with twenty- five points and set Class 3A State records for both rebounds and steals. Her teammate, Madison Layden, tied a state record as well, making ten out of twelve free throw attempts. Allison Miller from Northwestern was named the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A Girls Basketball.

From Benton Central, leaders like Audrey Strawsma contributed eleven points, Tressa Senesac with nine, and senior Emma Fisher had seven. In addition to the strong showing from all the players on the court, it is notable

that this is only the third time since 1995 that both teams in the State Championship game were from the same conference.

It is an honor to represent hardworking student athletes across the Fourth District, especially the young women of Northwestern and Benton Central. Their coaches, Kathie Layden from Northwestern and David Baxter from Benton Central, should also be commended on their leadership and commitment.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Fourth District of Indiana, I want to congratulate both teams, their families, schools, and coaches on an impressive 2019 basketball season.

Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.

Madam Chair, although I strongly oppose H.R. 1, I appreciate the intent of Mr. Lujan's amendment.

This amendment would improve the election infrastructure innovation grant program established in H.R. 1 by requiring consultation with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

NIST is already working with the Election Assistance Commission to develop voluntary standards and guidelines for voting systems and is well-positioned to support the Department of Homeland Security, the National Science Foundation, and the Commission's election security research efforts.

I would like to note that the amendment does not add the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology as a recipient of the report required by section 321(b).

I am the ranking member of the Research and Technology Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, the NSF, and the NIST, all of which are implicated by section 321.

Although I do not expect H.R. 1 to ever become law, I hope election security is something that we can do on a bipartisan basis in the future. This process has been rushed, and appropriate due diligence to create strong and effective bipartisan election and security reforms has not been done.

Once again, I support the intent of this amendment, but I oppose H.R. 1.

Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank the gentlewoman, and I appreciate all her efforts regarding this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise here today to voice a concern over the actions taking place in New York, Virginia, and across the country that directly threaten the sanctity of life. These proposals are far beyond what Hoosiers in my community, and most folks around the country, believe is right.

That is why I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This legislation will make it illegal to kill babies that are born alive after surviving an attempted abortion.

The degradation of life in this country is deeply concerning. Congress needs to step up and do what is right. The extreme views of some should not overwhelm the commonsense majority of millions of Americans.

Protecting the sanctity of life is something I will continue to fight for, to ensure that those without a voice can be heard and their lives spared.