Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Marcia Parker for her contribution to our state and Hancock County.

Marcia has served Hancock County with honor and distinction for years. I have spent time with her at almost every Republican event I've attended in the county over the past six years. It's been an honor to get to know Marcia and to work with her to advance our shared Republican values.

On a personal note, Marcia is among my favorite people that I met on this journey in Congress. She is smart, strong, honest, and loyal. Although we occasionally disagree, with Marcia, you always know where you stand.

I will be forever grateful for her friendship and support of my work in Congress. I wish her continued success in all that God has planned for her family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Barb Anderson for her contribution to our state and Shelby County.

Barb has always put her fellow Hoosiers first and made a positive impact in the Shelbyville community. For decades, she led Girls Inc., an incredible organization that empowers girls in Shelby County. Our state is better off today because of Barb's extraordinary leadership and service.

On a personal note, I've known Barb for most of the past two decades and my wife, Jennifer, worked with her as part of Girls Inc. Barb has been a mentor to both of my daughters. She is one of my closest friends in politics, and she always kept us organized in Shelby County. Without a doubt, Barb embodies the Girls Inc. principles of being strong, smart, and bold.

I want to thank Barb for her friendship and support of my work in Congress. She is a loyal friend and wise adviser and my family wishes Barb all the best in whatever God has planned for her future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Chris King for his contribution to our state and Shelby County.

As a member of the 6th District Manufacturing Advisory Committee, Chris regularly met with my team to discuss emerging manufacturing issues that are impacting Indiana. The Shelbyville community is better off because of his extraordinary leadership and service.

On a personal note, Chris was among my earliest and most vocal supporters. He is a loyal friend and wise adviser. I want to thank him for his incredible support of my work in Congress, and wish Chris continued success in all that God has planned for him and his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Greg Rust for his contribution to our state and Decatur County.

On a personal note, I have known Greg and his wife Judy since childhood. His family has always been kind to my family. And, Greg is a loyal friend and wise adviser. Whether he knows it or not, Greg's consistent encouragement has been an inspiration to me throughout my career.

Without a doubt, Greg was among my earliest and most vocal supporters in Decatur County. I want to thank Greg for his incredible support of my work in Congress. I wish him continued success in all that God has planned for him and his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Clay Morgan for his contribution to our state and Henry County.

As a member of the 6th District Faith Based Advisory Committee, Clay regularly met with my team to discuss important faith and family issues affecting Hoosiers. Through his ministry and community service, Clay has made New Castle a better place to live.

On a personal note, Clay is a brother in Christ, and I appreciate his prayers and encouragement over the years. Clay is a wise adviser and among my closest friends in politics. I want to thank him for his incredible support of my work in Congress. I wish him continued success in all that God has planned for him and his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Chris Lowery for his contribution to our state and his community.

From his time at the Batesville Casket Company, to his role with Hillenbrand, and now as senior vice president with Ivy Tech Community College, Chris has dedicated himself to making his community a great place to live. He was also instrumental in helping my office with the 6th District Scholars Program, which recognized outstanding 8th grade students from our community. Our state is better off because of Chris' extraordinary leadership and service.

On a personal note, Chris is among my closest friends in politics. He was one of my earliest and most vocal supporters and is a loyal friend and wise adviser. I want to thank Chris for his support of my work in Congress. I wish him continued success in all that God has planned for him and his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Eric and Lori Wallien for their contributions to our state and their community.

The Walliens are important business leaders in Shelby County. Without a doubt, they have made a positive and lasting impact in Shelbyville and embody exactly what ``Hoosier hospitality'' is meant to be. Our state is better off today because of Eric and Lori's extraordinary leadership and service in their community.

On a personal note, their daughter, Hannah, worked for our team as an intern in both my Washington, DC office and state office. She is a dynamic young leader with a big future in front of her.

Jennifer and I cherish our friendship with the Walliens. They were among my earliest and most vocal supporters and they are loyal friends and wise advisers. I want to thank Eric and Lori for their friendship and incredible support of my work in Congress and we wish them continued success in all that God has planned for their family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Claudia Thornberg for her contribution to our state and Randolph County.

Claudia has served in various positions in Randolph County throughout her career, including as Clerk of the Circuit Court and as the Voter Registration Deputy. She has made an incredible impact on her fellow Hoosiers through her service.

On a personal note, I've known Claudia for nearly twenty years, dating back to my first campaign for Congress in 2000. Claudia and her husband, Ed, were among my earliest and most vocal supporters. They are loyal friends and wise advisers.

I want to thank Claudia and Ed for their friendship and support of my work in Congress. I wish them continued success in all that God has planned for their family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize David and Ruth Nutty for their contributions to our state and Fayette County.

David and Ruth have made a positive and lasting impact in Fayette County through public and community service. Our state is better off today because of their extraordinary leadership and service.

On a personal note, the Nuttys were among my earliest and most vocal supporters. They are loyal friends and wise advisers. I want to thank David and Ruth for their friendship and support of my work in Congress. I wish them continued success in all that God has planned for their family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize former State Representative Cleo Duncan for her contribution to our state.

For 16 years, Cleo represented Southeastern Indiana with honor and integrity in the Indiana General Assembly. As a former school teacher, Cleo worked to ensure Indiana's students were best equipped to succeed. It was an honor to serve with her during my time at the Statehouse.

On a personal note, I've known Cleo and her husband, John, since childhood. Their kids went to school with my brother and me, and their family has always been kind to us.

The Duncans were among my earliest and most vocal supporters. They are loyal confidants and wise advisers. I want to thank Cleo and John for their friendship and support of my work in Congress. I wish them continued success in all that God has planned for their family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Di and Tony Schantz for their contributions to our state and their community.

The Schantzs have made a positive and lasting impact in Ripley and Franklin counties. Our state is better off today because of their extraordinary leadership and service in their community.

On a personal note, I will be forever grateful for Di and Tony's prayers and their constant positive encouragement. Di has one of the best smiles you will ever see and both Di and Tony live lives that embody the principles of putting family first.

The Schantzs were among my earliest and most vocal supporters. I want to thank Di and Tony for their friendship and support of my work in Congress. I wish them continued success in all that God has planned for their family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Dave Adams for his contribution to our state and Shelby County.

As Superintendent of Shelbyville Central Schools, Dave dedicates himself to Hoosier students and teachers every single day. Dave also served on our 6th Congressional District Education Advisory Committee and regularly met with my team to discuss important education issues in Indiana. Our state is better off today because of his extraordinary leadership and service, and I wish him the best in his retirement in 2019.

On a personal note, I have known Dave for over 20 years, and I'm proud of the work we did together to improve high school graduation rates in our state and Shelby County. Dave is a loyal confidant and wise adviser.

Dave and his wife, Cindy, are among my closest friends in public life. They were among my earliest and most vocal supporters. I want to thank them for their friendship and support of my work in Congress. I wish them continued success in all that God has planned for their family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Dana and Audra Caldwell for their contributions to our state and their community.

The Caldwells are an institution in East Central Indiana and are some of the best people I have had the pleasure of knowing during my time in Congress. They are both very involved in the community and have spent years volunteering their time and resources for community organizations. Dana and Audra's embodiment of ``Hoosier hospitality'' has truly made a difference in their community and I know our state is better off today because of their extraordinary leadership and service.

For six years, the annual 6th District Messer family picnic was hosted at the Caldwell family farm. Our family is grateful for the Caldwell's extraordinary friendship. They are loyal confidants and wise advisers.

I would also like to thank Dana and Audra for their incredible support of my work in Congress. The Messer family cherishes the time we get to spend with them and we wish the Caldwells all the best in whatever God has planned for their family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Chuck Waggoner for his contribution to our state and Jennings County.

From his time with the Indiana State Police to his volunteer work with the United Way, and countless other endeavors, Chuck has served his community with honor and distinction. Our state is better off today because of his extraordinary leadership and service.

On a personal note, Chuck was among my earliest and most vocal supporters. He is a loyal friend and wise adviser. I thank Chuck for his friendship and support of my work in Congress and wish him continued success in all that God has planned for him and his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize State Senator Jean Leising for her contribution to our state.

For nearly 18 years, Jean has represented East Central and Southeast Indiana with honor and integrity in the Indiana State Senate. As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Jean has been an advocate for farmers in her district, leading on issues that impact family farms across Indiana. She also continues to be a strong voice on education policy in the Indiana General Assembly, working to ensure our students and teachers are well equipped to succeed. Our state is better off today because of her extraordinary leadership and service.

On a personal note, I have known Jean and her husband, Frank, for decades. I would like to thank them for their friendship and support of my work in Congress. I wish them continued success in all that God has planned for their family.