Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the Summer Olympics in Tokyo will kick off in less than a month, and I would be remiss not to mention a young track star from a college in my district who is making his first Olympic appearance.

Kenny Bednarek, a 22-year-old sprinter who hails from Indian Hills Community College in my hometown of Ottumwa, earned a spot on the USA Olympic team when he finished second in the men's 200-meter dash, with an impressive time of 19.78 seconds, becoming the first Iowa junior college athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Though COVID-19 might have delayed the 2020 Summer Olympics, we are all glad to see that it is back on schedule, and Iowa's Second District is proud to be represented by such a stellar athlete on Team USA.

I wish you the best, Kenny, and I know you will do great as you go on to Tokyo to represent both the United States and Iowa in the Summer Olympic Games.

I would also like to wish my brother Richard Miller a happy birthday. Richard was a Secret Service agent who guarded five Presidents. Happy birthday, Rick.

And happy Independence Day to our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an Iowa trailblazer from my district.

LaMetta Wynn, Iowa's first African-American female mayor, passed away last week at the age of 87 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

LaMetta was an incredible woman who spent her life in service to her community of Clinton, Iowa.

For 30 years, LaMetta worked during the day at Rock Island Arsenal and night shifts as a registered nurse.

LaMetta's service as an elected official officially began when she ran for Clinton School Board in 1983. For 12 years, LaMetta served on the school board, eventually becoming board president, all while raising 10 children.

In 1995, LaMetta was elected mayor of Clinton, a position she held for 12 years before retiring in 2007.

In 1996, Newsweek picked LaMetta as one of the 25 most dynamic mayors in the country.

Madam Speaker, I thank LaMetta for her service to the State of Iowa, and I will keep her loved ones in my prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a matter that is incredibly important to our national security, our public health knowledge, and preparing for the next pandemic.

It has been well over a year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our country has closed down in the face of a public health crisis the likes of which we have not seen in decades.

And to this day, we still do not have a definitive answer regarding the origins of COVID-19. Getting to the bottom of how this virus originated and how it spread across the globe should be one of our top priorities in Congress.

Today, the Republican members of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis will hold a forum to discuss the origins of this virus. This is not a partisan issue, and every Member of this body should want to know where this virus came from and every member of the select subcommittee should be in attendance.

As I said earlier, finding the origins is important to our national security, public health knowledge, and preparing for the next pandemic.

Additionally, Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an individual in my district who has been the true embodiment of Iowa nice and midwestern tough his entire life.

Darrell Harris has lived his entire life in rural southeastern Iowa.

Darrell grew up very poor and dropped out of school in the eighth grade to help take care of his family.

Throughout his life, Darrell spent time working on the railroad and started a family farm that is still in operation today.

Darrell was lucky enough to marry the woman of his dreams and have three beautiful children with her.

Sadly, his wife passed away at a young age, leaving Darrell as a single father to raise three young children.

Nevertheless, Darrell kept his head down and he worked hard, never asking for help and always willing to lend a hand when others needed it.

Darrell's work ethic, kindness, and never-give-up attitude are an inspiration to us all, and I am proud to represent him in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, Sunday is National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day, a day to bring attention to a disorder that affects countless of my fellow veterans.

PTSD is a disorder that tens of thousands of Americans are diagnosed with every year. Sadly, our veterans and Active Duty servicemembers are among those that face the toughest challenge.

As a 24-year Army veteran, and as a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I was proud to work together with my colleagues across the aisle in addressing PTSD by introducing two pieces of legislation to help veterans get the mental healthcare they both deserve and need. The Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act will expand VA mental healthcare for veterans in rural areas. It passed the House last month and unanimously passed the Senate last night.

I am now proud to cosponsor the recently reintroduced Brandon Act, which will make it easier for veterans and servicemembers to seek confidential mental health resources.

We, as Members of Congress, have the ability to take action, and I urge all of my colleagues to support the mental health of our veterans and our servicemembers through passing the Brandon Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a high school in my district that was recently recognized for their commitment to student success.

For over 15 years, Iowa has partnered with the ACT's college application campaign to increase the number of first-generation college students and students from low-income households in applying for and pursuing higher education.

I am proud to announce that, in 2020, 176 Iowa schools participated in the college application campaign, and all together, 504 students completed 1,578 college applications. Of the 176 schools that participated, Muscatine High School in my district was awarded the 2020 School of Excellence Award for Iowa from ACT. Muscatine was selected for this great award based on their commitment to student success and for serving as an exemplary model for Iowa's college application campaign.

Congratulations to the students and faculty at Muscatine for being leaders in academic achievement and for serving as a great role model for student success in Iowa and the entire Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an incredibly important national security issue.

We all know that Wuhan, China, where the COVID-19 virus originated, is the home to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The WIV is China's only cellular level 4 biosafety super laboratory that researches human infectious diseases. This lab is in very close proximity to the wet market that is reputed to be the origin of COVID-19.

Last year, Senator Tom Cotton was thoroughly dismissed for questioning the true origins of this virus, citing the Chinese Communist Party's duplicity and dishonesty from the very beginning.

We all know that the Chinese Communist Party lied to the world about the severity of COVID-19, how it is transmitted, and the dangers associated. There needs to be a thorough and serious investigation into the origins of COVID-19, what the Chinese Communist Party knew, and when, and what the World Health Organization knew and when.

Uncovering the true origins of COVID-19 will be incredibly helpful in helping us prepare for the next pandemic, which I think is something we can all agree on.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a very special day for a woman in my district, but I also want to say how joyful it is to see people's faces and smiles now that we are following the science and not fining the science.

I am rising today to celebrate a very special day for a woman in my district. Last week on June 8, Clarissa Rozenboom of Oskaloosa, Iowa, celebrated her 100th birthday. Clarissa was

born and raised on a farm in Mahaska County, Iowa, and is the oldest of five siblings.

In the 1930s many children who were raised on farms elected not to attend high school, but Clarissa was inspired by her aunt to not only attend high school but to continue her education through courses at William Penn University, which is still in Oskaloosa today.

In the early 1940s, her love for children and teaching led her to pursue a career in education at Bryan County school, a small school south of New Sharon.

On August 14, 1945, Clarissa married her husband, Gerald, and together they had six children: Allan, Calvin, Norman, Kathleen, David, and Ken, who is a State senator and my colleague in the State senate in Iowa.

Clarissa, I wish you all the joy in the world as you celebrate this with your loved ones.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a young woman from my district for her appointment to fill an important seat in the State of Iowa.

On April 16, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Abby Crow, a native of

Tiffin, Iowa, and a sophomore human physiology major at the University of Iowa, to fill the student seat on the State Board of Regents.

The Board of Regents, which governs five public educational institutions across Iowa, first established a student regent position in 1973 to give students a say in decisionmaking. Since then, five University of Iowa students have served in this position.

On April 28, Abby was unanimously confirmed to serve on the board, six years since the last Hawkeye student filled the seat.

The student regent seat is incredibly important, and I have tremendous faith that Abby will be an excellent representative for the university and for her fellow students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share an uplifting story about a young man from my congressional district.

Jake Wegner, a senior at Central College in Pella, Iowa, took his first at bat after beating cancer twice.

Jake's first battle with cancer began when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma before the start of his high school senior baseball season.

After recovering from surgery, Jake enrolled at Central College, where he finished his first semester, but upon returning home for a checkup, he learned that the cancer had relapsed.

Jake kept his faith strong and family close while he endured chemotherapy for the next 15 months, and in January of 2018, he was ready to begin classes again.

In yesterday's game against Simpson College, after 3 years of being cancer-free, Jake took his first at bat for senior night.

Jake, your story of following your dreams and overcoming adversity is an inspiration to all of us, and I couldn't be prouder to represent you in Congress.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Ranking Member Bost and Chair Takano, for their leadership, and I thank Representative Bost for yielding me time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of my bipartisan GI Bill National Emergency Extended Deadline Act, which I was proud to introduce with a fellow veteran, Congresswoman Sherrill.

Our legislation would protect veterans' educational benefits from expiring due to institutional closures or other factors caused by the COVID-19 national emergency.

This important legislation will allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to pause the time limit currently placed on the use of GI bill benefits and to permit them to restart the clock after it is safe for veterans to return to school.

I am pleased to see that our legislation was amended in the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to include my Veterans Readiness and Employment National Emergency Extended Deadline Act, which I was also proud to introduce with Congresswoman Sherrill.

The VR&E NEED Act would ensure disabled veterans get the support they need to enter the civilian workforce through the VA's VR&E program. Our legislation will allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pause the 12-year time limit to use VR&E benefits during national emergencies and other crises when eligible, disabled veterans are prevented from leveraging those benefits through no fault of their own.

The VR&E program is an excellent path for our veterans to receive the education and training they need to reenter the workforce. By pausing the timer on their benefits when programs are closed, we preserve the opportunities veterans have earned through their service to our country. Our disabled veterans sacrificed greatly in service to our country, so now it is our turn to serve them.

It is critical these benefits are not reduced due to no fault of the individual veteran. Over the past year, we have seen the COVID-19 public health emergency force universities and colleges across the country to temporarily close their doors. As a 24-year Army veteran, I know how important being able to use GI benefits is to ensure that our veterans can find meaningful employment. In fact, I used the GI bill benefit throughout medical school.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Sherrill for her partnership on both of these commonsense bills to help our veterans to access the benefits they have earned.

Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the bipartisan GI NEED Act.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Bost, for yielding to me.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of Congressman Gallego's bipartisan Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program Act.

I am proud that this legislation was amended by the Veterans' Affairs Committee to include my bipartisan VET TEC Enhancement Act. This legislation, which I proudly introduced with a fellow veteran, Congressman Kahele, would increase the amount authorized to be appropriated for the Veteran Employment Through Technical Education Courses program.

VET TEC is a 5-year pilot program that allows eligible veterans to use GI Bill-style benefits to attend innovative job training programs to prepare them for future employment in the technology industry.

My bill to support our veterans would increase current funding for the VET TEC program from $45 million to $90 million per year to allow the VA to enroll more veterans in this popular program. This program ensures that our veterans have the tools they need to gain meaningful employment.

To date, over 1,800 veterans have completed the VET TEC program and found well-paying jobs with an average salary of $57,000 per year.

I have spoken to veterans' groups in my district and across the country, and there is overwhelming support for this commonsense program.

This is another highly successful avenue to assist veterans reentering the civilian workforce, and I am proud to see the House taking action to support our veterans.

In closing, I would like to thank Congressman Kahele for his partnership on this important issue, and Congressman Gallego for his support.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bipartisan Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program Act.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Illinois for yielding me time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the bipartisan Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act, which I was proud to introduce with the Iowa House delegation.

This legislation was named in honor of the memory and service of Sergeant Brandon Ketchum of Davenport, which is in my congressional district. Sergeant Ketchum died by suicide in 2016 after being denied access to much-needed mental health services for PTSD at the VA facility in Iowa City.

Our legislation would establish new Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement, or RANGE, programs throughout the VA and support additional research on rural veteran mental healthcare needs.

The case of Sergeant Ketchum is tragic and shows us that we must do more to serve our veterans. Expanding healthcare services in rural America and among our veterans are two of my top priorities in Congress, so I am proud to join the entire Iowa delegation in this effort. We simply have to do better for our veterans. There is no other option.

I would like to thank my colleagues in the Iowa delegation, Congresswoman Axne, Congresswoman Hinson, and Congressman Feenstra, for their partnership in this simple legislation to help veterans. I urge all of my colleagues to support the bipartisan Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on an issue critical to this Chamber setting an example for the rest of the country.

Yesterday, the CDC issued guidance that fully vaccinated individuals can resume indoor activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing.

I am pleased to see the Centers for Disease Control following the science and recommending that fully vaccinated individuals can go without masks indoors.

As Members of Congress, we should not only encourage constituents to get vaccinated, we should be showing them what a return to normal looks like and follow the science.

According to the Speaker, roughly 75 percent of our Members have received COVID-19 vaccinations, and, therefore, should have the choice to go without masks. Americans are looking for hope, and we are not showing it. Just as I implored on April 22, I am, again, calling on the Speaker and Attending Physician to lift the rules and fines that require fully vaccinated Members of Congress to wear masks in the House Chamber.

Even The New York Times today said that the Centers for Disease Control is

finally catching up to the science and so should the House. We must be the leaders we were elected to be, follow the science, and have the choice to go without a mask.

I am going to be that leader, and I choose no mask.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a man from Iowa's Second Congressional District for his countless hours of service to our community.

Recently, Wilson Elementary School principal and Polar Xpress frozen yogurt shopowner Jeff Hendred, from my hometown of Ottumwa, was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award by the United Way of Wapello County.

The volunteer service award is given to honor individuals who have gone above and beyond to leave a positive impact in their community and for inspiring others to pay it forward through community service of their own.

Jeff was instrumental in coordinating the annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and has dedicated countless hours to the Emergency Youth Food Program.

It is truly inspiring, and I am incredibly thankful to have Jeff in Ottumwa.

With over 20 years of service in Ottumwa's schools, Jeff has the important job of being a role model and teacher to hundreds of students, and his service to the Ottumwa community sets a great example for our next generation of community leaders.

I could not be prouder to represent Jeff in Congress, his first Congresswoman from Ottumwa, and to call him and his wife, Sandra, a friend.