Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor a constituent who truly has left a lasting legacy on our state and our country.

Marina Metevalis was just 16 years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941. This traumatic event galvanized many Americans to join the army or do whatever they could to serve their country in our time of need. Marina was inspired to apply for a job at the Wichita aircraft plant, putting together the planes that would defend our country.

Just a high schooler, Marina took up the mantle of Rosie the Riveter, stepping up to do what was at the time considered ``men's work'' while our troops were fighting the Axis Powers abroad.

Marina juggled school work with her job at the aircraft plant, coming home after the night shift to work on homework before getting up in the morning to start all over again.

In the years since, Marina has gone on to be an educator, a mother, and an inspiration to many, but recalls her time as a Rosie the Riveter as one of her proudest moments. Marina turns 95 years old today and remains just as full of life and service-minded as she has been her entire life.

Congress is pending legislation to award Marina and the many other inspirational women who joined the workforce during World War II, taking on the mantle of ``Rosie the Riveter'', with a Congressional Gold Medal. I look forward to voting for her and our many Rosie the Riveters to be awarded with this honor.

She is an example of true patriotism, selflessness, and American spirit. I thank her for her service to our country and the legacy she has left on our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Chief Bill John Baker for his many years of service to the Cherokee people and to his community. Chief Baker's service to the Cherokee Nation and the state of Oklahoma has touched the lives of many, whether acting in the capacity of Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, as a Cherokee Tribal Councilor, as PTA President, as President of the Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce, or as the coach of local youth sports teams.

Personally, my wife Tammy and I can attest to Chief Bill John Baker's dedication to community by our mutual involvement in the Ronald McDonald House Charities. When we first moved to Muskogee Oklahoma, Tammy called Chief Baker to bring his attention to the Cherokee Nation women's use of the Ronald McDonald House--roughly 1/3rd of the House's inhabitants are Cherokee citizens. Without hesitation, Chief Baker stepped up to the plate and asked--how much money does Ronald McDonald House need?

Chief Baker's accomplishments have been heralded by his colleagues and neighbors alike. The town of Okay is grateful for the Veterans Monument project that Chief Baker spearheaded. People recall the countless times that he expedited housing assistance for disabled and elderly Cherokee citizens. Chief Baker's friends, neighbors, and those who

may not have had the pleasure of knowing him will benefit for years to come because of the extra first response vehicles that he helped secure for the Fire Department and the drivers education cars that he worked to provide for the local schools.

All these amazing things that Chief Bill John Baker had a hand in, ultimately help raise awareness of the Cherokee people and their presence in Northeastern Oklahoma. I congratulate Chief Baker on his retirement, as it is well deserved

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Peter E. Luitwieler, an American hero and a true friend to our country's veterans.

Mr. Luitwieler served in military intelligence during the Vietnam war, and in January of 1968, when his compound was surrounded by enemy troops and the machine gunners abandoned their posts, Mr. Luitwieler and a brave marine manned the machine guns for hours, keeping the enemies at bay and protecting the lives of their team. For this act of bravery, he was awarded the Vietnamese equivalent of the Bronze Star.

After he retired, Mr. Luitwieler dedicated his time to fellow veterans. He now serves as a program manager for Warrior Partnerships of Eastern Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Veterans Connections, and he is a mentor to veterans going through the Tulsa Veterans Treatment Court, going above and beyond to enrich the lives of Oklahoma's veterans.

Mr. Luitwieler is an incredible example of the great men and women who have served our country every day. He is the First District's March 2019 Veteran of the Month, and I am honored to recognize him with this award.

Madam Speaker, today I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Lieutenant Eric Jimenez, a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, on eight years of dedicated active duty service to our Country in the United States Navy.

Lt. Jimenez currently serves as an Operations Research Analyst in the Naval Service Warfare Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He entered the USN in 2011, and served in numerous assignments and deployments throughout his distinguished career.

Lt. Jimenez has shown not only outstanding leadership, but uncommon technical skill. As a Reactor Control Officer on the USS Santa Fe, he managed a team of nine nuclear trained electronics technicians charged with maintaining nuclear reactor protection systems. He further trained an underperforming division by implementing a rigorous training and monitoring program resulting in a two-letter grade improvement in all categories of the Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination (ORSE). As an Electrical Division Officer, Lt. Jimenez maintained a 100 percent electrical safety training performance and executed the ship's electrical safety program using the most up-to-date instructions and notices. As Assistant Weapons Officer, Lt. Jimenez led his team through several weapons exercises, earning the 2015 Commanders Submarines Squadron SEVEN Battle Efficiency and the Submarine Squadron Seven Weapons Excellence White ``W'' award.

Since November of 2016, Lt. Jimenez has led four studies, valued at $3 million dollars, in the development, analysis, and interpretation of results of Defense Planning Scenarios designed to inform and influence Navy senior executive leadership. He further served as a co-chair on Technical Evaluation Boards, overviewing contract proposals worth an estimated $1.5 million.

On behalf of Oklahoma's First Congressional District, I commend and congratulate my constituent, Lieutenant Eric Jimenez, on his devoted service to the United States of

America. May we learn from this young man the virtues of self-sacrifice and fidelity to our beloved Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Clarence G. Oliver, Jr. of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Dr. Oliver has worn many hats. He's been a teacher, journalist, school administrator, Army officer, newspaper editor and publisher, community leader, university professor, author, and the Dean of Education at Oral Roberts University.

In all of these roles, Dr. Oliver has proven himself to be a service- minded leader and a role model for many.

An American hero, Dr. Oliver served our country as an Infantry master sergeant during the Korean War. He received a direct appointment as a second lieutenant, Infantry, in 1952 and served in command and staff assignments for two decades, plus another 10 years in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Dr. Oliver's career of service extends far beyond his military accomplishments.

He was superintendent of one of Oklahoma's fastest-growing schools and served as an administrator for 30 years. After serving as the Dean of Education at ORU, he continues to volunteer as an adjunct professor and guest lecturer and serves on doctoral degree dissertation committees.

Dr. Oliver was twice chosen as the Oklahoma Superintendent of the Year.

The Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce recognized him as the ``Outstanding Citizen of the Year'' in 1975 and again in 1992 and awarded with the Chamber's ``Legacy'' award in 2011. In 2015, the Chamber created the ``Dr. Clarence G. Oliver, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award'', further testament to the impact Dr. Oliver continues to have on his community.

I am honored to recognize Dr. Oliver today for his service both in our military and as a citizen and educator, and I am honored to call him my friend.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Brigadier General Cynthia Tinkham, the first female Oklahoma Army National Guard General Officer.

This is a tremendous accomplishment, but those who know her know that this is a long overdue honor.

Brigadier General Tinkham joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1989, a time when female service was severely limited. She has seen the scope of female service change drastically over her 30 years of service. For most of her time in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, she has been either the first female or the only female in her position.

But she is not one to shy away from a challenge. Brigadier General Tinkham uses her platform to encourage more women to be trailblazers in their industries and especially in the army.

I congratulate Brigadier General Tinkham on her promotion and look forward to seeing how she influences the future of the Oklahoma Army National Guard and the future of women who serve.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Ossie Mills from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Those who knew Mr. Mills best say that he was a loyal friend, a hard worker, a devoted husband and father, and a servant of God. Mr. Mills encouraged and challenged others to live out their full potential.

Mr. Mills served as an executive vice president at Oral Roberts University from 2011 to 2018, where he served as executive director and global council member of Empowered21. He also served on the Board of Directors for Convoy of Hope, a worldwide, faith-based organization aimed at empowering others to live lives free of poverty, disease, and hunger.

Most recently, Mr. Mills was the president and CEO tvChaz, a faith- based streaming platform aimed at helping people discover God's vision for life.

While Ossie Mills' time on Earth has come to an end, the impact of his work will last for years to come.

Mr. Mills is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie, and his three children, Nick, Olivia, and Alex.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents have been calling the office in overwhelming numbers. They tell me to stand with our President to get the funding our Customs and Border agents have asked for.

I got a call from a police recruit in Tulsa just this week who has seen firsthand the impact that illegal immigration has on the safety of our citizens. It places a huge burden on our law enforcement agents who are already putting themselves in harm's way for our safety every day.

With unregulated borders, we open our country up to the tragedy of human trafficking. Undocumented women and children are especially vulnerable to traffickers. Ninety percent of the heroin in our country comes illegally from Mexico.

With dangerous drugs like cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroine come gun activity, violent crime, and the serious problem of addiction.

In December, Tulsa law enforcement officers found 2 pounds of heroin and 16 pounds of methamphetamines in connection in the Sinaloa drug cartel smuggled into the States from Mexico. These dangerous and illegal drugs are finding their way into communities across the country.

There is a fix for all of this: Build the wall.

A physical barrier--which I might add, most of my friends from the other side of the aisle have historically supported--will stop illegal entry in its tracks. There is no replacement for a physical barrier.

Last month, the President told the American people that we need a wall, not because we hate the people on the outside, but because we love the people on the inside.

Mr. Speaker, I agree. How can we keep our people safe when we don't know who is coming into this country? Let's start prioritizing the American people and their safety.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to rise above partisanship for the sake of our citizens. We can stop the human trafficking crisis. We can catch the drug smugglers. We can keep our people safe. At the end of the day, the only thing that will truly help us is to pass bipartisan legislation to secure our borders and build a wall.

Madam Speaker, I rise to shed light on an incredible new development in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

A Gathering Place for Tulsa, the nation's largest privately funded- park, opened in September after years of planning, construction, and anticipation. The park has quickly become a beloved and cherished landmark in Tulsa.

Recently, the Gathering Place won the USA Today's award for Best New Attraction in the country, a well-deserved honor.

While there were many amazing donors to this project, the Gathering Place could not have happened without the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

I'd also like to thank Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and his predecessor Dewey Bartlett for their hard work helping this park become a centerpiece for our community.

The Gathering Place is drawing visitors not only from Oklahoma, but across our region and the country; it's a testament to the excellence that is possible with strong public-private partnerships.

Mr. Speaker, just a few minutes ago, we voted to fund Federal pay through the end of the shutdown. Republicans voted unanimously with bipartisan support from 10 Democrats. If we had just eight more Democrats, our Federal workers would be getting paychecks. Now hardworking Americans are facing a second zero-dollar paycheck.

President Trump has asked Democrats to work with him to find a way to reopen the government and pay our furloughed employees, but Speaker Pelosi didn't even listen to the President's proposal before she rejected it this weekend.

This is ridiculous. The President offered a legitimate proposal with the compromises that Democrats asked for, the same priorities that Speaker Pelosi talked about just last year. In return, he wants the funding to solve the crisis at our border.

This is bigger than partisan games. This is the lives and livelihood of hundreds of thousands of Americans. Let's stop stonewalling, stop the theatrics, and do our jobs.

Madam Speaker, I rise in celebration of the inauguration of Oklahoma's Governor Kevin Stitt, Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready, and State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. These leaders come from Oklahoma's First Congressional District and will represent Tulsa well in our capital.

Governor Stitt, like our President and myself, is an entrepreneur and a businessman. He has a vision for Oklahoma to be a top ten State, shaking up the status quo in Oklahoma City and turning the State around.

Lieutenant Governor Pinnell is, likewise, a business owner and has been an advocate of the Republican Party and conservative agenda in our State for many years.

Commissioner Mulready is a long-term insurance professional and businessman, most recently serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the majority floor leader.

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, another business owner, is beginning her second term in the role and will continue to work hard for Oklahoma's students.

A new day is dawning in Oklahoma with the leadership of Governor Stitt, Lieutenant Governor Pinnell, Commissioner Mulready, and Superintendent Hofmeister. I congratulate them on this accomplishment and wish celebration and joy this week.

Mr. Speaker, in the last 10 years, our country's national debt has grown from $10 trillion to nearly $22 trillion. This trajectory is not sustainable. While there is no easy fix to this, the first step is clear: stop adding to it.

President Trump is leading by example telling his Cabinet to eliminate waste in their departments. He understands the fiscal cliff we are standing on and is taking the right steps to get our spending under control.

Now it is time for us to do our job. We cannot govern from crisis to crisis. We need a budget that balances, and we need to get back to regular order by passing all 12 appropriations bills.

Short-term spending bills are not the solution, and we cannot rely on them anymore. With the national debt growing every day, we cannot continue to kick the can down the road. We need to face this crisis head-on.

Frankly, Americans deserve better. It is time we put in the work to get it right and solve our budget crisis. Let's get to work.

Mr. Speaker, Members of this esteemed body, it is my honor to represent the citizens of Oklahoma's First Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank my wife, Tammy, of 25 years. I would not be here today without her. My oldest son, Kelby, is here with his wife, Dana; and my youngest son, Kaden, is here.

I also want to thank my colleagues from Oklahoma who have gone above and beyond in welcoming me to this body: Congressman Lucas, Congressman Cole, Congressman Russell, and Congressman Mullin. I cannot thank them enough.

The most recent advice they gave me was to keep this very brief, so brief I will be.

I have lived the American Dream, growing up without running water to now serving my great country and fellow Oklahomans in Congress.

Now, we as a body need to work together to make sure that that dream can be achieved by so many generations to come. Let's get to work.