Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of the TSA workers at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, and please understand, this is not a token acknowledgement.

I am about to wrap up a 16 year Congressional career in which I've flown from my home in Louisville to the Capitol and back around 40 weeks or so in a non-pandemic year. That's about 1,120 flights, give or take.

I see these folks more than I see most of my colleagues. And it's great. They're friendly, they're funny, they're kind. If they obstruct, it's with good reason.

Seriously, they've made these encounters a truly enjoyable part of my job. Yes, I'm talking about going through airport security. No easy task.

Of course, being nice for me to talk to is hardly the most important part of their jobs. They're keeping us safe, our families, our community. Every single person who passes through Muhammad Ali International Airport is their responsibility, both to protect and to ensure is not a threat.

One week a year, 30,000 people pass through in just a few days for the Kentucky Derby, and each one requires attention from our TSA workers.

And people think airport security is stressful for them.

But if they get stressed, you'd never know it. You'll get a friendly smile, a kind word, and maybe even a joke.

When I ran for Congress, I'll be honest, I never thought about how much time I'd spend with the men and women of Louisville's TSA. But now, it's time I'll never forget.

They are true public servants who've kept us safe and secure, and I thank them. I don't know where I'll be going in retirement, but I look forward to seeing them on the way there.

Mr. Speaker, several years ago, I ran into a former Member of the House and asked him whether he missed it. He answered: ``I don't miss the circus. I miss the clowns.''

Now that I am in my final days as a Member and have reflected on my 16 years here, I am going to tweak that line. I won't miss everything about the circus, and I will miss many but not all of the clowns. I also now understand why so many people are afraid of clowns.

I definitely will miss speaking on the House floor, so I will use my last appearance in this historic space to talk about what I will and won't miss.

I will miss the feeling that I am part of history, if not always history I would brag about.

I will miss the constant reminder that I have served in the same body as Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, John Lewis, and so many other amazing Americans.

I will miss the serious, thoughtful, and often noble discussions about how we can make a positive difference in the lives of so many Americans, even if we rarely make as big a difference as we would want.

I will miss the give-and-take of policy debates, even though I know there was never a chance the debates would change anyone's mind.

On the other hand, I won't miss the reality that most of our rhetorical firepower is preaching to our respective choirs and that too much of what we say comes from the devils and not the angels of our natures.

I won't miss the constant emphasis on raising money and the apparent conviction of some that only gobs of money can persuade enough voters to win elections.

I won't miss the frustrating reality that we rarely move quickly enough to deal with the challenges of a fast-moving world and the fear that if this body doesn't figure out how to work more expeditiously, we will continue to frustrate our citizens.

I will miss many of my colleagues, some of whom are now among my best friends and, yes, even some from across the aisle. They have broadened my perspective and reinforced my belief that, with all of our flaws, we are essentially decent and caring people who try to find better ways forward for our country. I respect them and thank them for their service and friendship. They are definitely not clowns.

I have so many other people to thank as I leave this body. Of course, I must thank my family for encouraging me to do this work and for excusing me for missing so much of their lives, and in recent years, my grandsons, J.D. and Rory, for being constant reminders that what we do here has implications far beyond the moment.

I will be eternally grateful to the people of Louisville, who have given me the extraordinary honor and responsibility to represent them here.

As a former staffer, I knew that a great staff is essential for success. I have been blessed with phenomenal staff members throughout my eight terms. Thanks to every one of you.

I am also grateful to the staff of the House Budget Committee, which always made me look more competent and knowledgeable as the chairman than I otherwise would have.

Thanks to all the House support staff, who serve quietly and effectively to keep this body functioning.

Thanks to the Capitol Police, who protect and defend us and who showed the world on January 6, 2021 how brave and selfless they are.

Thanks to all of my committee chairs and ranking members whose examples kept me from screwing up any more than I did.

Thanks and praise to Democratic leadership, Speaker Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, and Jim Clyburn, for their friendship, trust, and inspiration.

Finally, I thank the person who has been with me every minute of my 16 years in the House. If Julie Carr is not the best chief of staff ever to serve here, there is no better model to emulate. I often said that if she left me, I would retire the next day. Luckily, she stuck with me, and now she will also leave the House after 25 years of service to me and others.

The citizens of Louisville are, unbeknownst to them, much better off because of her work, and I was a better Member because of her intellect, judgment, dedication, and friendship.

Thank you for everything, Julie.

I will leave the House proud of my work, grateful for the opportunity to serve here, and committed to continue to serve our great country and its people.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Diana Meredith, staff director of the House Budget Committee. Diana is retiring after more than 25 years of dedicated service to Congress and the Executive branch, including 20 years on the House Budget Committee.

A native of Washington state, Diana worked as a newspaper reporter in Seattle and the Napa Valley for several years. In 1997, she came to Washington, D.C. to work for the Senate Budget Committee, led at the time by U.S. Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine. In 1998, Diana moved to the White House Office of Management and Budget (0MB) to serve as a program examiner for Social Security and fiscal issues, analyzing Social Security reform proposals and negotiating and resolving policy disagreements among agencies and White House offices.

After five years at 0MB, Diana joined the Democratic Staff of the House Budget Committee in 2003, under Rep. John Spratt, Jr. of South Carolina. Diana went on to serve as a budget analyst on the House Budget Committee for 14 years. She advised House leadership and committees on budget-related matters--developing recommendations, messaging guidance, and overall strategy for key Congressional legislative deliberations. Diana played a particularly important role in the development and passage of the historic Affordable Care Act (ACA) and in pushing back against harmful proposals to restructure Medicare and other crucial social programs.

In 2017, Diana became Deputy Staff Director of the House Budget Committee, where she assisted in the negotiation and passage of a number of highly consequential pieces of legislation. Her legacy includes the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019, which ended the threat of annual discretionary sequesters from the Budget Control Act, the 2021 concurrent budget resolution that paved the way for the American Rescue Plan, and the historic American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which helped our nation rapidly recover from the COVID pandemic, with record- breaking job creation and broad-based economic growth.

Diana became Budget Staff Director in 2021, an enormously consequential year for President Biden, Congressional Democrats, and the American people. Diana led the Committee in enacting the framework for what would become the Inflation Reduction Act--landmark reconciliation legislation that has lowered the cost of prescription drugs for millions of seniors, expanded health insurance subsidies to help families access affordable, high-quality care, and provided the largest investment in U.S. history to combat climate.

Diana is a deeply caring public servant. She is uniquely adept at navigating complex budgetary issues and negotiations, while never losing sight of the reason we do this work: to help the American people. And Diana never missed an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate her staff's victories, big or small. The Budget Committee and our entire country has benefited from Diana's expertise, her extensive knowledge of the budget process, her mentorship of staff, and her unwavering dedication to America's working families.

I want to thank Diana for her advice, dedication, and leadership. I wish her all the best in her much deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding; and I do mean the gentleman. It has been an honor over these last 16 years to participate in this event.

My record as a captain after the first 4 years was not very good; and, actually, John Tanner was the captain for some of those years.

But the gentleman from Georgia is absolutely right. It is an incredible retreat from what we do around here, to get out on the golf course; to play in friendly competition in a game known for its courtesies; and to have met so many fine Republicans and made so many fine Republican friends over the years and, in the course of doing that, for raising an awful lot of money for good causes.

So once again, I thank the gentleman for his kind words. I hope that I can come back as captain emeritus; or maybe even let the former Members play, and then I will be back for that, as well.

Of course, congratulations to the victors. It is getting old. I had that trophy for a little while. I haven't seen it in quite some time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a leader in my community and a person I consider one of the most impactful individuals in the history of Louisville, Sadiqa Reynolds, in her final days as president and CEO of the Urban League of Louisville.

It was only 7 years ago that Sadiqa was an esteemed judge, a role where she conducted herself with impartiality and kept her feelings and opinions to herself. My, how times change.

As head of the Urban League, Sadiqa has held nothing back, leading with an open heart and open mind, speaking out for Louisville's marginalized communities with the passion and eloquence necessary to create positive, lasting change in people's lives.

You cannot drive Louisville's streets without seeing Sadiqa's impact. Our West End has begun a much-awaited transformation in the last few years, anchored in large part by a new world-class track and field and education complex, which she conceived and spearheaded.

Sadiqa, you have been the conscience of our community, leading the fight against injustice in historic times. We are a better city because of your leadership. We are grateful for your service and can't wait to see what you will achieve next.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1316, I call up the bill (H.R. 5376) to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on the Senate amendment to H.R. 5376.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us today is a big deal for American families and a big deal for our planet.

The Inflation Reduction Act will lower healthcare costs and energy costs for American families. It will allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices and cap drug costs for seniors, saving many Medicare beneficiaries hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each year.

This legislation finally makes the biggest corporations start paying their fair share in taxes, and it ensures that rich tax cheats start paying what they owe.

The Inflation Reduction Act is fiscally responsible, fully paid for, and has been strongly endorsed by top U.S. economists across the political spectrum.

Not one American family making less than $400,000 a year will see their Federal tax bill increased by this legislation, not by a penny.

The Inflation Reduction Act is also the biggest investment the U.S. Government has ever made to combat climate change. It leapfrogs us ahead of nearly every other country in terms of our commitment to tackling this crisis.

Now, we have seen a lot of Republicans spreading misinformation about this legislation, and it is for one reason and one reason only: They are scared. They know the provisions of this bill are overwhelmingly popular, yet because they consider it a Democratic bill, every single one of them will be voting against it. This is a crystal-clear example of Republicans putting party before country.

Just look at the numbers.

Mr. Speaker, 77 percent of Americans support placing caps on prescription drug prices to lower healthcare costs. That is a key component of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, 83 percent of Americans support allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices to make healthcare more affordable. That is another key component of this bill.

Two-thirds of Americans think the government should do more to combat climate change. This bill takes on climate change with the urgency it deserves.

By opposing this bill, Republicans are making it very clear where they stand: not with the American people, not with their priorities or needs, but with Big Pharma, with corporate lobbyists, with tax cheats.

The American people are on our side. They want this bill. Today, in a huge victory for them, we will send it to the President's desk to be signed into law.

Let me remind my Republican colleagues what they are voting against. They are voting against cutting prescription drug prices for their constituents--in many cases, for lifesaving medication. They are voting against combating inflation and lowering energy costs when American families are desperate for us to take action. They are voting against providing the largest Federal investment ever to combat the climate crisis and its life-threatening consequences.

I could not be more proud that I will not only be voting ``yes'' on this bill but that this historic legislation will bear my name.

With or without Republican support, today, we will make a real difference. We will use the power of the Federal Government to make American lives better and our country and planet safer. In other words, we will do our job.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), the Assistant Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), the Democratic Caucus chair, and a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), the distinguished chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, and a member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I will say in response to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert) that this is typical of what the Republicans are doing.

First of all, they are making up numbers. There is nowhere anywhere that shows that 87,000 new IRS agents are going to be hired in this bill. That is a totally fabricated number. The idea that they are armed--I know that Mrs. Boebert would like everybody to be armed, as they are in her restaurant, but that is not what IRS agents do.

Mr. Speaker, I would implore my Republican colleagues to cut out the scare tactics, quit making things up, and debate the substance of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Peters), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. Speaker, we just heard the big lie a couple more times about 87,000 IRS agents that are going to be armed. It is total bunk. Nonsense. The Republicans should stop it and tell the truth. They are continuing to say it.

I will say one thing. We were informed last week by the Commissioner of the IRS, Mr. Rettig, an appointee of former President Trump, that audits would not increase for anybody making under $400,000 a year.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who is a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), who is a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), who is a distinguished member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I just want to clarify one thing. It seems to me that Republicans just don't want people to pay taxes even if they are owed. We know there are hundreds of billions of dollars of owed-but-not-paid taxes in this country every year. This is an attempt to try and recover some of that money that is owed and is not being paid by taxpayers who are, in many cases, cheating.

To be clear, IRS has made no decisions or no announcements regarding the potential hiring plans under this bill. As I said before, the commissioner of the IRS has said that they are not going to increase audits of people making under $400,000. A lot of this money is designed to go to help service the legitimate and lawful taxpayers of this country by giving them better service, making the IRS more responsive, and to upgrading equipment which is now 50 or 60 years old in many cases.

So they can continue with this claim that we are going to go after taxpayers with armed IRS agents, and I know that Republicans would like to arm every tax agent as they want to arm everybody else in this country, but that is nonsense.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Khanna), who is a distinguished member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), who is the distinguished member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Pocan), a distinguished member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Allred), a distinguished member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter), a distinguished member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I want to respond one more time to these claims about 87,000 new IRS agents. The IRS has never made any announcement about plans to hire any number of agents. The Washington Post fact-checker has actually given that claim three Pinocchios. Again, these are Republicans making it up to scare the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger), a distinguished member of the Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jones), a distinguished member of the Committee on the Judiciary.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Ross), a distinguished member of the Committee on the Judiciary.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I want to remind my Republican colleagues and the American people, once again, what Republicans will be voting against today.

They will be voting against cutting prescription drug prices for their constituents. They will be voting against combating inflation and lowering energy costs. They will be voting against the largest Federal investment in dealing with climate crisis in the history of this country.

I cannot believe that I still heard from the other side today the hoax comment, that climate change is a hoax. You would think that as we watch what is going on in the world, while I watch what is going on in my State, when my citizens in eastern Kentucky were devastated by historic floods, when my citizens in western Kentucky were devastated by historic tornadoes, all of which scientists have said were exacerbated by climate change, that there are still people who deny that climate change exists.

But for the first time in this country, we will show true leadership to the world, that we are taking action, and we are going to lead the world in combating climate change.

The gentleman from Texas said Democrats own this bill. Yes, we do. Proud of it. I don't know one member of the Democratic Caucus who is not thrilled to death today that we are doing what we are doing, because the vast majority of the American people support what we are doing. The vast majority of the American people want us to cap out-of- pocket expenses for seniors for their medications at $2,000.

Republicans say no. They are going to vote against that. They are going to vote against a cap of a $35 copay for insulin. Tens of millions of Americans will benefit from that.

We know that five former Secretaries of the Treasury from both Democratic and Republican administrations, 126 of our Nation's top economists, including seven Nobel Laureates, support the Inflation Reduction Act.

On other side, we have Big Pharma, corporate lobbyists, tax cheats, and congressional Republicans.

This debate has made clearer than ever that Democrats are working to make life better for the American people while Republicans just don't care. It is as simple as it is harsh.

This legislation is important, historic, and a significant win for American families and for the planet.

I will be voting ``yes'' on the Inflation Reduction Act, and soon we will be sending it to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. I know he will be proud to do that as well.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the outstanding service of Jeffrey Werling, who is retiring this week after almost 40 years as a dedicated public servant, educator, and economist, the past six of them at the Congressional Budget Office.

Jeff has served as the Director of CBO's Macroeconomic Analysis Division since 2016. In that capacity, he has overseen the production of the economic forecasts that underlie CBO's budget projections, led the agency's macroeconomic analyses of major legislation, and provided guidance to the Director and staff on economic issues under some of the most challenging circumstances that the agency has experienced. Jeff has been a leader in enhancing transparency in CBO's economic analyses and promoting public understanding of the key economic issues facing the nation. Drawing on his diverse experience, deep understanding of economic relationships, and strong intuition, he helped make CBO's analyses clearer and more helpful to the Members of Congress and more accessible to the broader public.

Jeff started his career in 1981 in the United States Peace Corps as a secondary education teacher in West Africa. After receiving his Ph.D. in economics from University of Maryland, he made many contributions to economics research and education as an analyst, teacher, and leader in private and public organizations in the United States and abroad. He came to CBO from Inforum, an economic research organization, where he was the executive director, providing guidance on government policy analysis and a variety of economic issues.

In his leadership role at CBO, Jeff has been a constant source of support, encouragement, and constructive feedback to his colleagues. He has always been generous, especially to junior staff, with his time, ideas, and mentorship. His colleagues in CBO will miss his guidance, wisdom, keen sense of humor, and softball prowess.

I know my colleagues join me in extending our thanks and appreciation to Jeff for his service to our country. We wish him well in his future undertakings and hope that the Nation will continue to benefit from his expertise and commitment.

Madam Speaker, today, I would like to recognize and honor the outstanding service of Robert G. Shackleton, Jr., who retires June 27 after more than 30 years as a public servant, the past 22 of them at the Congressional Budget Office.

Bob Shackleton joined CBO in 1999. Throughout his career there, he has been integral to the development of CBO's economic projections that underlie the agency's budget projections and analysis. For several years now, for instance, Bob has been the principal analyst behind the agency's model for projecting potential output over the long run. In macroeconomic forecasting circles, those projections by CBO are the benchmark to which other forecasts are compared. The profession knows that the agency's model of potential output is backed by very careful analysis and scrutiny. As the economy and data about it have evolved, Bob has made substantial improvements to the model and published a paper and code documenting this fundamental tool for CBO's analysis.

Bob also has been a primary contributor to CBO's analysis of the economic effects of climate change and the policies that might be adopted in response. Almost 20 years ago, he wrote a comprehensive survey on the issue: The Economics of Climate Change: A Primer. Since then, he has helped develop and write several other CBO reports on climate change.

Bob's public service did not begin with his work at CBO. He came to the agency after eight years at the Environmental Protection Agency. At EPA, Bob worked with headquarters staff responsible for providing policy analysis. He directed state-of-the-art economic research policies aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change.

By all accounts, Bob's colleagues at CBO and in Congress appreciate his dedication, ability, skillful work, and breadth of experience. They will miss his generosity with his time and knowledge-and especially his musings about topics such as linguistics, geology, and bird watching.

I know my colleagues join me in extending our thanks and appreciation to Bob for his service to our country. We wish him well in his future undertakings and hope that the Nation will continue to benefit from his expertise and commitment.

Madam Speaker, l rise today to honor Sharon Darling, President and Founder of the National Center for Families Learning and former Kentucky Director of Adult and Community Education, as she begins her well-earned and much-deserved retirement after years of dedication to the advancement of education policy and family literacy.

For decades, Sharon has served as a national leader in family learning, making NCFL a go-to resource for all who are working to make adult literacy not only a priority, but a powerful tool for breaking the cycles of poverty that limit far too many families. Without her pioneering work, the very definition of family literacy that our federal government relies on to steer the policies that help countless Americans would not exist. It is not an exaggeration to say that Sharon Darling helped write the lesson plan for America's comprehensive approach to intergenerational learning, because that's exactly what she did.

Her day-to-day presence will be sorely missed by her colleagues and all whose lives she has touched, but I'm thrilled to know that Sharon is staying on to serve as an active member of NCFL's Board of Directors and will continue to support the organization in a variety of ways. Even in retirement, she will help continue the success of NCFL in the years ahead as they continue under the leadership of Dr. Felicia C. Smith.

When asked about her upcoming retirement, Sharon said, ``Never did I expect my life to unfold how it has, but each day I am grateful to all those who believe in the tremendous power of multigenerational learning.'' On behalf of the people of Kentucky's Third Congressional District and all who know Sharon Darling, let me say that we are all incredibly grateful that her life unfolded as it did, and that millions of Americans--including the more than 4.5 million parents and children across the 150 communities in 39 states and Washington, D.C. served by NCFL--are all better for her life's work.

I thank Sharon for her selfless dedication to improving the lives of others through learning. I wish her nothing but the best in her retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Brendan Canavan, President of UPS Airlines and head of UPS's Worldport Freight Facility located in my district in Louisville, Kentucky, as he begins his retirement after 41 years with the company.

Under his leadership, Worldport has grown to a 5.2 million square- foot facility that processes more than 2.4 million packages a day, thanks in large part to its massive air operation and a team of more than 3,200 skilled pilots led by Brendan at UPS Airlines. His work has helped grow the UPS Airlines fleet to more than 290 aircraft that circle the globe ensuring that the goods and packages they're trusted to carry are delivered on time.

Brendan first joined UPS in 1981, loading trucks while earning his degree at Villanova University. Since that time, he has worked his way up through leadership of the company here in America and abroad, becoming a trusted leader and working in numerous positions around the world to help expand UPS's operations and meet the challenges of an always changing global economy. No matter the assignment, Brendan Canavan answered the call.

On behalf of the people of Kentucky's Third Congressional District, I congratulate Brendan Canavan on his successful career at UPS and wish him the very best in his much-deserved retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my friend, Rabbi Joe Rooks Rapport, as he begins his much-deserved retirement.

Since 1988, Rabbi Rapport has served at The Temple, Congregation Adath Israel Brith Sholom, the oldest and largest synagogue in Kentucky. During his time at The Temple he has been an incredible leader, teaching a variety of adult education classes, working closely with Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, leading countless congregational programs, and serving as rabbinic liaison for the Brotherhood, The Temple Archives, and The Temple Library.

In addition to his spiritual leadership, Rabbi Rapport is also a deeply involved community leader, serving as a member of the President's Advisory Council of the University of Louisville and sharing a seat on the Board of Directors of both the Center for Interfaith Relations and Kentucky Interfaith Power and Light, alongside his wife, Rabbi Rooks. He also is a former chair of the Louisville Coalition for the Homeless and Many People One Community, a diversity project of the National Conference for Community and Justice.

Rabbi Rapport's deep devotion to his faith has also called him to always lend a voice on behalf of the less fortunate or the oppressed. Whenever incidents of intolerance or injustice rear their ugly head in our community--whether racial or religious, Jewish or not--Rabbi Rapport is one of the first people there, offering his support to those victimized and standing up for decency and good in our community. This is why I firmly believe, in my years of friendship with Rabbi Rapport, that he is the true embodiment of the Hebrew phrase Tikkun Olam--or ``world repair''--a mandate to not just look out for our own moral and spiritual welfare, but also the welfare of society as a whole. Rabbi Rapport not only teaches the lessons of social justice, he lives them each and every day.

Rabbi Rapport is a treasure to our community and is truly a ``mensch'' in every sense of the word. He has never grown weary of helping others, and during his 34 years of service to our Commonwealth, he has enriched countless lives with his wise words and spiritual guidance. Rabbi Rapport has not only inspired me, but also a younger generation of leaders who will continue his passionate pursuit of peace, love, and justice in the world for years to come.

On behalf of the people of Kentucky's Third Congressional District and the city of Louisville, it is my honor to recognize Rabbi Joe Rooks Rapport for his outstanding leadership, his friendship, and his unyielding love for our city and the people who call it home.

I wish Rabbi Rapport nothing but the best in his well-deserved retirement, and I hope he enjoys every single moment of his time spent with family and loved ones.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my constituent, Oksana Masters, who is now the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian of all time.

Born in Ukraine in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster, Ms. Masters faced challenges early on in life due to the serious impacts of radiation exposure. But, like most things in her life, she overcame these obstacles with unyielding courage. Knowing the serious medical attention that would be needed, Ms. Masters was placed up for adoption and spent the first seven and a half years of her life in orphanages. After being adopted, Ms. Masters' family moved to Louisville when she was 13 years old, where she excelled in sports and graduated from my alma mater, Atherton High School. During her impressive career, Ms. Masters has established herself as a world-class athlete who continues to inspire young people in Louisville and beyond to pursue their dreams in the face of adversity.

With a gold medal in the cross-country skiing mixed relay at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics, Ms. Masters now holds 14 Winter Paralympic medals in cross country skiing and biathlon, along with three more Summer Paralympic medals in cycling and rowing. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Ms. Masters is an outspoken activist on behalf of her home country, where she advocates to improve medical services for children with disabilities in Ukraine.

On behalf of the people of Kentucky's Third Congressional District and the city of Louisville, I thank Ms. Masters, for her leadership and for representing the United States with such distinction. She is an incredible role model both on and off the slopes, and I have no doubt that she will continue to be a source of pride for her friends and family, the people of Louisville and our entire nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the best college basketball team not in a bracket this weekend. The Bellarmine Knights did what no team has done before, winning a Division I championship just 2 years removed from Division II, a title that should come with a big dance invitation.

Instead, this Cinderella story was cut short by an NCAA which, as it often does, played wicked stepmother, upholding a bizarre rule preventing teams elevating too quickly from Division II to championship contender.

Who they think they are serving, I don't know, but they cannot take away the Knights' extraordinary achievements or the pride they brought their school and hometown. They entered the season as afterthoughts and finished as ASUN champions and just the tenth team since 2007 to win 20 games against a top-5 schedule.

This incredible feat for the players is a triumph for Coach Scotty Davenport, who has won championships in Louisville for 35 years at every level and seems like he could for 35 more.

Scotty noted that each season ends with just two teams left standing, the NCAA and NIT champs. This year, the season ends with three. Please join me in honoring the Bellarmine Knights, the first NCAA team to finish this basketball season as champions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Kentucky Science Center--located in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky--as this outstanding institution celebrates its 150th anniversary.

Originally founded in 1871 as a ``cabinet of curiosities'' in the Public Library System of Kentucky, what was soon known as the Louisville Museum of Natural History and Science has grown in size and scope to become the largest hands-on science center in the Commonwealth and one of our region's leading resources for education immersion.

Simply put, they make science fun. At the core of the Kentucky Science Center's mission are these simple instructions: ``play, tinker, explore, collaborate, test, experiment, goof up, and try again.'' Though their focus is helping teach their visitors about a specific field of study, I can't think of more fitting instructions for any endeavor of learning, no matter your age.

Their approach makes learning accessible to people from all walks of life. Whether you 're an individual, a family, or an educator with a classroom full of students, the Kentucky Science Center has a seemingly never-ending supply of programming tailored to meet your needs, helping you think big and learn more. Understanding the important role STEM education plays in our future, the Kentucky Science Center has been an invaluable resource in advancing this field of study for all who are lucky to pass through its doors, helping us prepare the next generation of leaders right here in Louisville.

On behalf of the people of Kentucky's Third Congressional District, I thank the administrators, staff, volunteers, and supporters of the Kentucky Science Center for all of their hard work in making this place of learning such a valuable asset to our community. The Kentucky Science Center has encouraged us to think critically, to immerse ourselves in the marvels of science, and to stay forever curious. I congratulate them on this important milestone and I look forward to another 150 years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Wayne Perkey, a Louisville broadcasting legend, a man of immense compassion and charity, and my friend. He passed away this weekend after a hard-fought battle with COVID-19.

A Tennessee native, Wayne landed at Louisville's WHAS as a young deejay in 1969, and he would ultimately grace our city's airwaves for more than 30 years, hosting the radio station's daily morning show and emceeing WHAS11 TV's annual Crusade for Children charity event.

Wayne's skills as a broadcaster were only surpassed by the kindness he showed to his colleagues and fellow Louisvillians, his dedication to helping others, and his deep love for his family.

Wayne's passing is a loss for our city and Commonwealth, for all who remember starting their morning with that familiar cheerful voice, and for me personally. I am keeping the entire Perkey family in my thoughts and hope the fond memories we all have of Wayne are a source of strength for them. He truly was a treasure.