Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor several men and women for dedicating their lives to the service of this country and to Iowa.

Recently, three University of Iowa alumni, a staff member and a graduate student, received the 2021 Hawkeye Distinguished Veterans Award for their honorable service to this great Nation and their continued service to the University of Iowa and the Iowa City community.

The recipients of this prestigious award are Chaplain George M. Campbell, Jr.; Colonel Kenneth E. Madden; Staff Sergeant Maria Guadalupe Bruno; General Charles A. Horner; and Staff Sergeant Jake L. Schillo.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for these wonderful men and women and for their service to the United States and to Iowa.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize a man from my district for his commitment to keeping Iowa beautiful and preserving some of our most treasured historical sites.

Marc Moen, a developer in Iowa City, was recently presented with the Iowa Architectural Foundation's 2021 Community Enhancement Through Architecture and Design Award. The awards program recognizes individuals, organizations, agencies, or communities outside the architectural profession who have demonstrated consistent and effective leadership, vision, and support for architecture, or have continually championed the cause of architecture in ways that contribute to the betterment of Iowa communities.

Marc began his architectural work in 1985 when he advocated to save the first brick house in Iowa City from being razed and began restoring the building instead. Since then, Marc has worked to make Iowa City the beautiful community it is today.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to Marc for his dedication to our community and to our State.

Lewis Payne Is Carrying on Iowa's Family Farm Heritage

Mr. Speaker, today I recognize a man from my district for continuing his family legacy of leadership in Iowa agriculture.

This year, Lewis Payne of Kalona was awarded the Heritage Award by the Iowa Farm Bureau. The Heritage Award recognizes agriculture industry leaders who have carried on the tradition of farming family- owned land.

Known as the Pickard Farm, Lewis' 261.4-acre plot of land was originally purchased by his great-great-grand uncle over 172 years ago and was passed from Lewis' great-grandfather down to his grandfather, then eventually to his mother, who then passed the land down to Lewis, who had been raised on that farm helping his parents.

When asked about the future of his family farm, Lewis said that his goal is to be a steward of the land and eventually pass it down to the next generation.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to Lewis for continuing a fantastic Iowa family tradition and for making Iowa a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

4 Paws for Ability

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share a heartwarming story about total strangers coming together to make a positive impact in a child's life in my district.

Six-year-old Keagan Berding of Bettendorf, Iowa, loves to run. Diagnosed with autism at the age of 2, Keagan is nonverbal, but he is very social and has several passions, including playing outside with other children, showing affection through hugs, and watching videos on his tablet.

Because of Keagan's love of running, extra measures are needed to ensure his safety, and this is where a fantastic organization has come in to assist Keagan and his parents. 4 Paws for Ability is a group that provides and trains service animals to assist people like the Berding family across the globe. Currently the organization has raised over $43,000 toward providing Keagan with a fully trained service dog, with the largest single donation being $10,000 from a complete stranger whose own child has benefited from a service animal.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for 4 Paws for Ability and everyone who has contributed for striving to make positive impacts in the lives of children like Keagan all over the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a military servicemember from my district for his historic and heroic actions that saved over 30 lives.

Earlier this year, Joshua Gaeta of Muscatine and his Coast Guard crew were successful in a daring search and rescue operation involving 31 fishermen stranded on a ship that caught fire 200 miles off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada.

Facing winds of over 50 miles an hour, waves 30-feet high, and freezing cold temperatures, our Coast Guard, with Gaeta on board, bravely flew their helicopters to the scene and were able to save all 31 crew members.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Aviation Maintenance Technician First Class Gaeta and all our servicemembers for all that they do to keep our country safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a wonderful woman from my district who dedicated her life to the betterment of her community by educating the next generation.

On November 2, 2021, Fairfield lost a beloved member of their community, Nohema Graber. Born in Mexico, Nohema later moved to Iowa, where her love for education drove her to pursue a career in teaching. She would eventually go on to teach Spanish at Fairfield High School.

When reading stories about Nohema's kind and caring spirit, I came across one that really warmed my heart, and I would like to share it.

When a dear friend of Nohema's son was diagnosed with a brain tumor 12 years ago, Nohema would pray with her friend every single day. Her son, now healthy, was among the countless members of the Fairfield community to attend Nohema's vigil.

I send my prayers out to the friends and family of Nohema Graber, as well as the students and faculty of Fairfield High School, as they mourn this tragic loss.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the generosity and Iowa nice spirit of a couple from my district.

Recently, Brent and Amy Brightman, the owners of Brent's Firehouse Coffee in Camanche, presented the Camanche Police and Fire Departments with $2,000 each in what they hope to be the first of an annual donation to their city's first responders.

When asked about the generosity of their donations, Brent, who has served as a volunteer firefighter in Camanche for over a decade, said that they started Brent's Firehouse Coffee not only to support their community but to support first responders.

Iowa has some of the best businesses and first responders, and I am beyond proud to see our community come together to support one another.

I thank Brent, Amy, and the first responders of Camanche for their continued and unwavering service to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a young woman from my district for making University of Iowa and Big Ten sports history.

Recently, University of Iowa field hockey star Anthe Nijziel was awarded both Big Ten Co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the Hawkeyes to an impressive 16-1 regular season.

Though each of these honors are an impressive feat on their own, Anthe has raised the bar, becoming the first Iowa student athlete to win both awards in the same season and the third person in Big Ten history to win the Player of the Year title in more than one season.

I congratulate the entire Iowa field hockey team for a great season, and Head Coach Lisa Cellucci, who was unanimously named Big Ten Coach of the Year after being awarded Co-Coach of the Year last season.

Congratulations to Anthe, Coach Cellucci, and the rest of the Iowa field hockey team, and good luck as you head into the Big Ten tournament.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a group of young women who have made history in a small town in my district.

Last week, the Solon High School Girls Cross Country team defied the odds at the 3A Iowa State championship and brought home their first girls cross country title after upsetting last year's champion, Ballard High School.

Led by top ten finishers, Kayla Young and Emma Bock, every Solon Spartan finished in the top 54 in a crowded 133-member field, earning a total score of 77 points.

Congratulations to Kayla Young, Emma Bock, Anna Quillin, Meghan O'Neill, Mara Duster, Gracie Federspiel, and Kaia Holtkamp. This is a great achievement for both Solon and the Second District, and I could not be prouder to represent all of these young women in Congress.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present in Washington, D.C. to vote on Monday, November 1, 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call no. 340, and YEA on Roll Call no. 341.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a group of people from my hometown of Ottumwa for taking part in a great event for an even greater cause.

On October 23, 37 teams, comprised of 170 participants, took part in the 2021 Walk to End Alzheimer's in my hometown of Ottumwa.

The annual walk, led by the Alzheimer's Association, is held in over 600 communities across the United States to raise funds for research and to raise awareness for the disease that over 5.8 million Americans currently live with, as did my mother prior to her death.

This year, I am proud to announce that the Walk to End Alzheimer's in Ottumwa has raised $27,636 thus far, with donations still coming in, exceeding their initial goal of $26,000.

Thank you to the residents of Ottumwa and the over 600 communities across the United States who have stepped up and stepped forward to put an end to this debilitating disease.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a veteran to recognize an amazing achievement of a fellow servicewoman in Iowa.

Last month, Private First Class Taylor Patterson, a student at Iowa State University, became the first female enlisted infantry soldier in the Iowa National Guard after being the first Iowa woman to complete the rigorous 22-week training program at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Five years ago, the United States Army began to allow women to serve in combat positions given that they can pass the same base physical requirement for all combat personnel. Through determination and the support of her family and team at Fort Benning, Private First Class Patterson blazed a trail for generations of Iowa women.

For over 183 years, the Iowa National Guard has been an excellent example of service above self by always answering their call to duty. Whether it is assisting communities in disaster relief efforts, like we saw with last year's derecho in Iowa, or being deployed to Afghanistan this year to aid in the refugee crisis, Iowa's National Guard has always gone above and beyond in their service to our State and our country.

Congratulations to Private First Class Patterson for her service and for being a trailblazer for women everywhere.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, small business owner, and a dear friend to many in my hometown of Ottumwa.

On October 20, Doris Wilz passed away at the age of 93. Born and raised in Ottumwa, Doris was known by many as being the one who always went above and beyond for the betterment of the community. As a young widow, Doris met Karl Wilz, a small business owner and also recently widowed with four small children, the youngest of which was around three. They got married, and Doris went forward to help him conduct two small businesses in two towns 30 miles apart.

Whether it was through serving customers at one of the family's small businesses or volunteering at Ottumwa Regional Health Center, comforting patients and making cookies for the families at McCreery Cancer Center, Doris always loved to put a smile on the face of others.

But when asked what her greatest passion in life was, Doris would say her four children, 12 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Doris' gentle smile, melodious laugh, and encouragement meant so much to so many and drew people to her, including myself, and I am honored she considered me a friend.

Madam Speaker, I thank Doris for contributing to our community, and I will keep her, her family, and her loved ones in my prayers.

Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Foxx for yielding me time to speak on this important issue.

As a mother and a physician, I understand the tremendous value that nursing an infant brings both to the mother and the child.

As the director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, I attended conferences and spoke on the need to encourage mothers to consider breastfeeding and the benefits of breastfeeding, be they nutritional, immunological, or the tremendous bond that occurs through breastfeeding.

It is also why, despite being a working mother who was doing a general surgery internship and ophthalmology residency, I breast-fed both of my children. Because I was a working mother, that included expressing breast milk by pumping.

I understand and I am supportive of the collaboration between employers and nursing mothers to have a private place to do so at their place of employment. I recognize that H.R. 3110 is trying to address this issue and provide accommodations for nursing mothers, which I wholeheartedly support, however, I feel the bill needs improvement.

As it stands, H.R. 3110 puts a one-size-fits-all treatment of nursing accommodations for different businesses and industries. The bill also puts excessive penalties for minor or technical violations of the nursing-accommodation requirements in the Fair Labor Standards Act.

These unreasonable penalties, combined with compliance challenges posed by the mandate, will lead to costly and protracted lawsuits because of their adversarial nature.

The result will be delayed accommodations for working mothers. Rather than a collaborative arrangement between an employer and a nursing mother employee, this bill is punitive in nature.

To address laws and H.R. 3110 and build on current law protections for nursing mothers, I submitted my bill, H.R. 4297, the Supporting Working Mothers Act, to the Rules Committee as an amendment.

My bill is based on legislation introduced in a previous Congress by the sponsor of the bill we are debating today. Unfortunately, the majority refused to allow my amendment to even be debated on the floor.

My amendment represents a workable, feasible, and reasonable approach to the Fair Labor Standards Act nursing-accommodation requirements.

First, my amendment would have modified current law by providing coverage to white collar executive, administrative, and professional employees, while also maintaining current law coverage of hourly employees. My bill also preserved the 50-employee undue hardship exemption threshold as a safeguard for small businesses.

These provisions would ensure coverage for over 80 percent of the women who are not currently covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act nursing-accommodation requirement.

The bill we are debating today, H.R. 3110, significantly increases the penalties for employer violations that are required for breastfeeding accommodations, regardless of attempts at compliance.

These penalties are disproportionate to the technical and unintentional Fair Labor Standards Act violations which could occur under this bill.

My amendment would have preserved the authority of the Secretary of Labor to provide injunctive relief to address shortcomings and accommodations and assessable monetary penalties for repeat violations.

However--and this is critical--my amendment also includes a provision establishing a collaborative process for employees and employers to create and improve accommodations in a timely fashion without relying on time consuming and expensive lawsuits.

Because workplaces are not one size fits all, it is critical that legislation on nursing accommodations provide clear requirements that are adaptable to many kinds of workplaces, so that employers understand their obligations and are able to comply.

Again, given my strong support of breastfeeding, pumping, and storing of breast milk, I am very disappointed that my amendment was not ruled in order by the majority and that Congress did not take this opportunity to address the flaws in H.R. 3110.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the recent success of a high school football team in Iowa's Second District. For the first time in 31 years, the Clarke Community High School Indians are headed to the playoffs. The team finished the regular season with a 5-and-3 record, which is also a first in 31 years.

Although their season had plenty of ups and downs, the team persevered and worked hard to make their community proud. They will be traveling up to Williamsburg, Iowa, tomorrow, October 22, to take on the Raiders in the first round of the playoffs. I am confident that Clarke will make the Second District proud.

Congratulations to Coach Quinlan and his staff, and all the players, and the entire Clarke County community on their success, and good luck tomorrow night.

Save our Servicemembers

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss an issue that has become a national crisis and that must be immediately addressed. Serving in the Army for 24 years as both a nurse and a physician, from the Vietnam era to the first Gulf War, I have seen many of my fellow veterans suffer from anxiety, depression, survivor's guilt, and PTSD. Many veterans are still living with those scars, and without proper care and treatment, mental health crises can make everyday life a struggle or even life-threatening for them or their families.

Yesterday, I partnered with my fellow veterans, Congressman Ruben Gallego, a corporal in the Marine Corps, Senator Joni Ernst, a fellow veteran and a fellow Army lieutenant colonel, and Senator Mark Kelly, a captain in the Navy, to introduce the Save Our Servicemembers Act.

This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would direct the Pentagon to evaluate the effectiveness of their suicide prevention efforts and to improve its data collection, reduce bureaucratic duplication, and strengthen collaboration between its offices.

I am heartbroken at the continued rise in suicides in the veteran community and our military communities. It is no secret that our servicemembers often face invisible challenges when they return to civilian life, and we need to do a better job addressing their needs and the needs of their families.

We need to look into all of our mental health and suicide prevention programs to better service our heroes, and I am proud to partner with an incredible group of veterans in Congress on this legislation.

To our servicemembers and our veterans, I want you to know that you are not alone and there are people who care and are trained to help you in any mental health crisis you might face.

I encourage everyone to check in on your family and your friends because sometimes the deepest wounds are the ones that we cannot see.

Mourning the Loss of State Trooper Ted Benda

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tragic loss of one of Iowa's heroes.

Yesterday, October 20, Iowa State Trooper Ted Benda passed away from injuries sustained during a crash while responding to a call for help to detain a wanted suspect in Clayton County.

Over his 16-year public safety career, Trooper Benda served with honor and courage each and every day. Trooper Benda began his public safety career with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation in 2005. He later moved to the Special Enforcement Operations Bureau, and finally, to the Iowa State Patrol, admirably serving communities in Northeast Iowa.

It is days like this when we are reminded of the sacrifices so many of our law enforcement officers make every day. I am proud to say that I was always ready to support them and do whatever I could in Congress to ensure that they are properly funded, trained, and equipped. Trooper Benda was a hero, not just in his community, but to all of Iowa. His years of dedication and service will never be forgotten.

My thoughts and prayers are with Trooper Benda's wife, Holly, their four young children, all of his loved ones, and the entire Iowa State Patrol family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

As a physician, and also as a member of our society and country and the female gender, we are all familiar with the amazing work the Komen Foundation and Komen Race for the Cure have done to raise awareness, education, and research in breast cancer.

I would like to take the time to recognize an extraordinary group in my district that has found a creative way to help underserved women in the Ottumwa community receive annual mammogram screenings and breast ultrasounds.

Founded in 2011 by two-time breast cancer survivor and River Hills Community Health Center nurse Laurie Hornback, Bras for a Cause is an annual fundraising event held in Hedrick, Iowa, where donated and decorated bras are modeled by local firefighters and auctioned off. Over the past 10 years, the event has raised a total of $174,000 to help women receive breast cancer screenings or treatment.

This year, Bras for a Cause raised a total of $27,000, and they will be donating $15,000 to help Ottumwa women receive breast cancer screenings at River Hills Community Health Center in Ottumwa. Additionally, a portion of the remaining funds was donated to the Mahaska Health Partnership, while the rest is being saved to help women currently diagnosed with breast cancer undergo treatment.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Laurie and Bras for a Cause for coming together to put on this fantastic event and for their service to our community.

Recognizing Sara Russell, Iowa Teacher of the Year

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a teacher from my district who recently received a prestigious Iowa award for her work to inspire the next generation.

Last week, Sara Russell, who has been teaching social studies for nearly 20 years at Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, was awarded the Department of Education's 2022 Teacher of the Year Award by Governor Kim Reynolds.

The Iowa Teacher of the Year Award was established in 1958 to recognize educators who go above and beyond to motivate and inspire students to achieve at their highest levels.

Sara was selected for this award for her leadership in helping students build life skills while also being a mentor for new teachers in the Pleasant Valley School District.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Sara and all educators who work to inspire the next generation of American leaders and make Iowa the best place to learn, live, work, and raise a family.

Recognizing Eric Vander Velden

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to share a story about educators in my district literally going the extra mile to ensure their students' success.

For the last few months, the Newton School District in Jasper County has reported a shortage of bus drivers, leaving many parents and students uncertain about how they would be able to make it to school each morning. In a rural area, our bus transportation to school is extremely important.

With the importance of education and safety in mind, Eric Vander Velden, a physical education teacher in the Newton School District, answered the call for help by driving a school bus when needed. This is part of a larger effort by the Newton staff, in concert with parents, to do whatever they can to help their students succeed.

It is stories like these that remind us that our teachers are the backbone of this country, and I couldn't be more confident in our future, knowing that the next generation is in their capable hands.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of an exceptional healthcare

professional in my district. Recently, Dr. Stuart Weinstein, the Ignacio V. Ponseti chair and professor of orthopaedic surgery and professor of pediatrics at the University of Iowa, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Scoliosis Research Society for his incredible work studying pediatric spinal deformity.

Since joining the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Iowa in 1976, Stu has worked to make our community and the whole world a better place.

Stu has published over 250 scientific articles in some of the most well-known and prestigious peer-reviewed journals. His research has focused on spinal deformity in children and the natural history and long-term outcome of pediatric musculoskeletal disorders.

Listing and discussing all of Stu's accomplishments would take much longer than one minute, so I will close by saying how grateful I am to have people like Stu living in Iowa's Second District. I also tell anyone I meet that Iowa is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. With outstanding citizens like Stu, we will continue to hold that title.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to extend my enthusiasm with a happy birthday to our colleague from California, the Honorable Young Kim. Happy birthday to Young.