Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, John Keach Sr. Led a Consequential Life.

John Keach Sr. was many things. He was a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. But I rise because John Keach Sr. led a consequential life and by his actions he left this community and this state better for having been here.

The life of John Keach, Sr. has been marked by accomplishments over decades that have brought about a greater quality of life to Columbus and the surrounding areas. Though he will be missed by his family and friends, John will long be remembered for his tremendous impact.

A native of Seymour, Indiana, John was born to Glenn and Lucile Kessler Keach on July 7, 1927. Before serving in the United States Navy during World War II, John graduated from Shields High School. In 1950, John graduated a Bulldog from Butler University and then married his beloved Elaine. After working under his father as a teller at the Home Federal Savings and Loan Association in Seymour, John and Elaine moved from Seymour to Columbus where John helped develop the Columbus branch of the Home Federal Savings and Loan Association.

John held many positions at what is now known as the Indiana Bank and Trust Company, serving as a teller, branch manager, president, CEO, Chairman of the Board, and Chairman Emeritus. John also held positions in the Indiana League of Savings Institutions, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, and the Family Financial Life Insurance Company.

Outside of his business ventures, John sought to make Columbus and Bartholomew County a better place to live, and his efforts are felt to this day. John was a member of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and received the Distinguished Service Award in 1960 and the Community Service Award in 1969. John also served as a Trustee and President of the Bartholomew County Library and played a crucial role in the development of the Cleo Rogers Memorial County Library.

John served on the Bartholomew County United Way, the Columbus Economic Development Board, the St. Columba Catholic Church Council, the Columbus Elks Lodge #521, the Knights of Columbus and the Columbus American Legion Post #24, among others.

Blessed with a loving family, John is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elaine, their four children, eight grandchildren and six great- grandchildren, as well as his sister Kathe Caplinger.

It is written, ``the Lord is close to the brokenhearted,'' and that will be our prayer for his beloved wife, family and all those who mourn the passing of John Keach, Sr.

The people of Columbus have lost a true giant from our community and our family has lost a friend. The life of John Keach, Sr. has come to an end but his legacy of leadership and character will endure and inspire for generations to come.

As I travel across Indiana, it's clear that Hoosier families are hurting: 8.4 percent unemployment and nearly $4 per gallon gasoline at the pump when they go to fill up their cars and trucks. It's time for this Congress to come together in a bipartisan way and adopt an all-of-the-above energy policy that will include more access to America's energy reserves, more alternative energy sources, and greater conservation.

The encouraging news is that this House has passed bipartisan legislation to do just that. We voted to streamline the energy permitting process; lift the administration's ban on new offshore drilling in the gulf and the east coast; rein in the EPA's attempt to impose a national energy tax; and even require the administration to approve and complete the entire Keystone XL natural gas pipeline. Unfortunately, the Senate and the administration have not embraced these bipartisan, commonsense measures to advance our energy independence.

The reality is the price at the pump has more than doubled from the $1.79 a gallon when the President took office to the price it is today. Hoosiers know what all Americans know: we can do better than $4 a gallon, but we must embrace a commonsense, bipartisan, all-of-the-above energy policy to do it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a man I have come to know and respect during my service in the Congress, the House Parliamentarian John V. Sullivan, on the occasion of his retirement.

John Sullivan has served the House for 25 years, starting at the House Armed Services Committee and then moving to the Office of the Parliamentarian. The last eight years he has held the position of House Parliamentarian.

Prior to his work in the House, Sullivan served in the Air Force. I would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if I did not also mention that Sullivan is a Hoosier. He grew up in Northwest Indiana, graduating from Munster High School and after attending the Air Force Academy, returning home to earn his law degree from the Indiana University School of Law.

Indiana can take justifiable pride in John Sullivan and his service to the Congress and our nation.

The job of the House Parliamentarian requires integrity, intellect, good judgment and the ability to think quickly on your feet. The House Chamber can be a pressure-cooker at times, especially during votes on major pieces of legislation or at times of heated partisan rancor.

One of those times was the night of August 2, 2007, when a vote on the Republican motion to recommit the Agriculture Appropriations bill went awry. John Sullivan was on the House floor that night advising the Speaker pro tem, and he exhibited the type of courage and professionalism that the rest of us can only aspire to in such a difficult situation.

After that night, a select committee was appointed to investigate what happened during the vote, and I was appointed ranking member for the investigation. I got to know Sullivan very well during the course of the investigation, and I appreciated his honesty, candor and full participation in the investigation. From our many conversations and what we learned as a committee, it was clear to me that Sullivan could not be more dedicated to the House as an institution or his job as a non-partisan provider of carefully considered analysis and advice. The House was fortunate to have his professional judgment on that night and all of the many other days and nights he has spent on the rostrum advising Speakers pro tem and Members of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, the House will miss John Sullivan. We wish him the best in his retirement and trust that he will enjoy spending more time with his wife, Nancy Sands Sullivan, and three children Michael, Margaret and Matthew. We thank them for sharing Sullivan with the House these many years, and again, Mr. Speaker, we thank John Sullivan for his service and wish him well in his retirement.

I thank the chairman for yielding.

I rise today in support of the Protecting Access to Healthcare Act. This bill will take an important step forward in dismantling the government takeover of health care that was passed by this body some 2 years ago.

The PATH Act essentially would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board included in ObamaCare, and I strongly support it.

Now, quite frankly, the IPAB that is the acronym that's been used often on the floor in this debate is probably something that most Americans are unfamiliar with. But they deserve to know that buried in section 3403 of ObamaCare, there's a powerful board of unelected bureaucrats, this so-called Independent Payment Advisory Board, whose sole job will be to save money by restricting access to health care for Medicare beneficiaries. That's the purpose of IPAB.

IPAB is required to achieve specific savings in years where Medicare spending is deemed to be too high. It will lead, inexorably, to rationing. It will take medical decisions out of the hands of doctors and patients, and it will reduce patient choice, unambiguously.

Furthermore, ObamaCare doesn't even require that IPAB do all of this in the public domain. There's no requirement that IPAB hold public meetings or hearings, consider public input on its proposal, or make its deliberations open to the public.

Unaccountable Washington bureaucrats meeting behind closed doors to make unilateral decisions that should be made by patients and doctors is unacceptable, and this IPAB must be repealed.

It was 2 years ago that we passed this government takeover of health care into law. It's important to note that the first act of this Congress in January 2011 was a full repeal of ObamaCare.

I thank the gentleman.

You'll never convince me that the Federal Government, under the Constitution, has the authority to order the American people to buy health insurance whether they want it or need it, or not. My hope is that in the days ahead, the Supreme Court will come to that conclusion.

I believe we must not rest, we must not relent until we repeal ObamaCare, lock, stock and barrel. But, for now, let's take the path that is before us. Let's pass the Protecting Access to Healthcare Act, and let's repeal this onerous Independent Payment Advisory Board once and for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the long and distinguished career of a true community leader in east central Indiana. After more than two decades in service to those within our community who need a helping hand, Lois Rockhill will be retiring as the executive director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana.

Before coming to Indiana, Lois had already distinguished herself while serving in Turkey as a member of the Peace Corps. When she came to Second Harvest in 1989, the organization had distributed 450,000 pounds of food to those in need. Under her leadership, that amount has grown to more than 9.5 million pounds of food this past year, which exceeded their goal for 2011.

The Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana is now the region's largest charity dedicated to alleviating hunger. Each year, the organization provides food assistance to more than 69,000 low- income Hoosiers facing hunger. That includes nearly 31,000 children and more than 5,000 senior citizens.

The leadership Lois has shown over the last 23 years will be sorely missed, but I am confident that the proud legacy she built at Second Harvest will continue. And though her retirement plans include spending more time with her grandchildren and traveling with her beloved husband Erv, Lois will always be a voice for those in our community who are less fortunate.

Mr. Speaker, Lois Rockhill dedicated her career to serving the most vulnerable of our fellow citizens. Her career at Second Harvest and tireless advocacy for those in need will long be remembered as a blessing to Eastern Indiana.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, for his leadership, and for his gracious esteem.

I rise in support of H. Res. 572, the rule supporting the JOBS Act and underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, everywhere I go across the Hoosier State, I hear job creators struggling in this economy, talking to me about the obstacles to growth, the obstacles to getting this economy moving again for their business. And again and again, I hear about the weight of Federal red tape that stands in the way of capital formation, business expansion, and jobs.

Just today I was talking to a manufacturer in the State of Indiana who said to me, Mike, the environment in Indiana is very positive. Our problem is Washington, D.C.

And I was able to report to him that in a bipartisan manner today, the Congress was going to take a small, but significant, step in lifting a regulatory burden on capital formation. And that Hoosier, like I hope all Americans looking in today, was encouraged.

The JOBS Act will actually facilitate capital formation, business expansion, and growth by lifting the burden from job creators in a number of ways. It exempts emerging growth companies from certain SEC regulations; it raises offering thresholds for SEC registration; it exempts securities issued through innovative crowdfunding sources from SEC regulation. All of those in plain English mean that we are going to change the regulatory environment to help start-ups and small businesses access public markets.

I've always believed throughout more than a decade of working on this floor that politics is the art of the possible, and today we will not do everything those of us on this side of the aisle believe that we should do to jump-start this economy. But we will do what we can do in a bipartisan fashion in passing this rule and moving the bipartisan Jumpstart Our Business Startups, or JOBS, Act, H.R. 3606.

On behalf of the hardworking taxpayers in Indiana, on behalf of that job creator I talked to this morning, I urge my colleagues to come together today to join us in supporting the JOBS Act. Let's give entrepreneurs and investors all across this country the incentive and the regulatory relief they need to get this economy back on track.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Edith Pittenger on the occasion of her 100th birthday.

Edith was born in Pendleton, Indiana, on February 24, 1912. She went on to attend Ball State University in 1929, and later earned her masters degree in 1961. Edith enjoyed a long and satisfying career in teaching, having held positions in both Pendleton and Muncie.

Edith is blessed with excellent health and is still able to drive. She is also a long-time member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. She was married for 45 years and her loving family includes three children and a stepson, 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and another on the way.

As the Good Book says, ``The elders [. . .] are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.'' And so today I honor Edith Pittenger for her lifetime of service and wish her the best in the years to come.

We are told to mourn with those who mourn and grieve with those who grieve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to do so today. Across southern Indiana, in small towns like Henryville, Marysville, Pekin, and others, Hoosier families and communities are picking up the pieces after one of the most devastating tornados in my lifetime swept through our State.

I come to the House floor today to pay tribute to the lost, and to those who lost their homes and their businesses, and pay tribute to the first responders and to the countless thousands of Hoosiers who have come alongside their neighbors in this grievous hour.

As millions of Americans have witnessed on television, these violent storms left utter destruction in their wake across a three-State area. Schools, businesses, and homes were reduced to piles of rubble. Cars were flipped and thrown about as if they were toys. Some communities, as one local official said it, were ``completely gone.''

In the Hoosier State we lost 13 lives, including an entire family from Pekin, Indiana. Yet in this dark hour, for so many families, as is always the case in the Hoosier State, we hear stories of communities coming together to rebuild. Despite the snow and cold that followed the storms, we see generosity, community spirit in full display.

Over the coming days, weeks and months the wounds will heal, debris will be cleared, homes and businesses and barns will be rebuilt. And as the Federal Government makes its assessment today about Federal support, we look forward to supporting all Federal assistance.

But I rise today to commend Governor Daniels, the Indiana National Guard, the Indiana State Police, all of our first responders and Homeland Security and community leaders for their decisive leadership in this moment.

But I also rise today to commend all of those who stepped forward to provide a helping hand, either with time or talent or treasure, volunteers donating food and clothing and labor. It is profoundly inspiring and humbling, and makes me proud to be a Hoosier.

May God comfort the families of the lost, and give strength and courage to those who will rebuild in the wake of these storms.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise in support of this important legislation and commend Ms. Sewell and Mrs. Roby for their leadership in chronicling an extraordinary time in our march toward a more perfect Union. It seems altogether fitting, on the eve of the anniversary march commemorating what history records as Bloody Sunday and at the end of Black History Month, that we consider this resolution which will create a process for preserving the valuable oral history of those Members of Congress who were early leaders in the American civil rights movement.

There are very few giants these days in public life, but John Lewis is among them. Let me say what a privilege it has been for me these last 11 years to serve and to befriend my colleague, Congressman John Lewis, and I thank you for your leadership on this resolution.

There's also an effort in this resolution to give Members of Congress who have participated in the annual pilgrimage to Selma and Montgomery to reflect on their experiences, and I'll be very humbled to be a small part of that. I was honored to serve as the coleader of the 10th Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage sponsored by the Faith & Politics Institute in March of 2010, and I can say, as my colleague Mr. Lewis knows, it was a life-changing experience for my wife, Karen, and our three teenaged-children, and I'll forever be grateful for the experience.

We started the weekend at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, the home church of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We sat in the pews as we heard Dorothy Cotton and others talk about their years in that church and how their faith in Christ sustained the cause of liberty and the cause of civil rights.

We made our way to the Civil Rights Memorial to honor and remember those who had lost their lives in the struggle for equality. But the next day, traveling with my colleague, John Lewis, to Selma to mark the anniversary of a day that changed his life and changed his Nation, March 7, 1965, known as Bloody Sunday, we will always remember.

The night before, John had recounted that momentous day. He told how he and several hundred courageous activists had crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. But it was actually being a part of the reenactment that most touched our hearts as a family. We had gathered at the Brown Chapel in Selma before we made the march, and then, along with thousands, we made our way the few short miles to the Edmund Pettus Bridge. For my part, John and I walked with Dr. F.D. Reese, pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Selma at the time.

As we strolled that historic route, I was enthralled as Dr. Reese, 80-some-odd years young, recounted the day as if it had been the day before. He told me how the Edmund Pettus Bridge crests at the middle, so it was not until you all reached the top of the bridge that you knew what was waiting on the other side. And he described to me what they saw. He said, ``All you saw was a sea of blue'' when they crested the bridge.

I thank the gentleman.

I turned to Dr. Reese, and I said to him, ``Did you think about turning back?''

He said, ``No. We had prayed at the Brown Chapel, and we decided to go on regardless.''

And so you did.

It's just extraordinary to think of the beatings that took place that day. Our own colleague experienced a notorious beating at the time. But as the march that day, the reenactment came to an end, I extended my hand to Dr. Reese and I thanked him for not only what he had done for the civil rights movement, for what John Lewis had done for the civil rights movement, but for what they all had done for America. And he put his hand on my shoulder, Dr. Reese did, and he said, ``Mike, God did something here.''

And so He did.

Through these extraordinary and courageous Americans, we forged a more perfect Union.

And so I rise in support of this resolution, commend my colleagues who will participate this weekend in Montgomery and Selma in this historic reenactment. I commend Congressman John Lewis, Dorothy Cotton, F.D. Reese, and all of those great Americans who on that day made the sacrifices necessary to further perfect this last best hope of Earth.

We should always safeguard this history, cherish it, and emulate their courage and bravery, so help us God.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 562, offered by Ms. Sewell of Alabama. I wish to extend my deep appreciation to Ms. Sewell, a native of Selma, Alabama, for introducing this timely resolution.

As we close Black History Month and near the anniversary of ``Bloody Sunday'' and the Selma to Montgomery, Alabama civil rights marches, it's important to remember the sacrifice of those who went before us nearly half a century ago and shed blood so that freedom could continue its march in the hearts and minds of so many Americans.

To that end, thanks to a resolution offered by Congresswoman Terri Sewell from Alabama, the U.S. House of Representatives is acting to preserve the valuable oral history of those Members of Congress who were early leaders in the American civil rights movement. The resolution will also document the experiences of many Congressmen and Congresswomen who have participated in the annual pilgrimage from Selma to Montgomery. It is a fitting honor of that momentous day in 1965 when my friend and colleague, Congressman John Lewis, the legendary civil rights leader, along with Hosea Williams, led 600 brave souls across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

I was deeply honored and humbled to serve as the co-leader of the 10th Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage sponsored by the Faith and Politics Institute in March of 2010. My family and I will never forget that experience.

We started the weekend at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, the home church of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sitting in the front pew we heard from Dorothy Cotton about her years working with Dr. King. She spoke of the faith that sustained their work and the historic importance of music and singing to the movement.

We then made our way to the Civil Rights Memorial to honor and remember those who had lost their lives in the struggle for equality. The nearby museum tells the personal stories of segregation by those who lived it and peacefully fought against it. Hearing firsthand accounts of how African Americans in the South were systematically denied the right to vote, intimidated, beaten and even killed fighting for that right will never leave us.

The next day we traveled with John Lewis to Selma to mark the anniversary of a day that changed his life and America: March 7, 1965, also known as ``Bloody Sunday.'' John was personally recruited by Dr. King as a college student and his courage and moral authority continue to inspire millions.

As John recounted that momentous day, he told of how he and several hundred courageous activists crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma during a march on the state capitol and were beaten by state police waiting on the far side of the bridge. The images of that day were transmitted around the world and would sear the conscience of the Nation. It set the stage for more protests and was the catalyst for Congress to enact the Voting Rights Act later that year.

We gathered for worship at Brown Chapel in Selma, and after a rousing service, we left the church to walk to the Edmund Pettus Bridge. I had the privilege to walk the entire way alongside John Lewis and Dr. F.D. Reese, pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Selma.

As we strolled the historic route, surrounded by thousands, I was enthralled by Dr. Reese's description of that fateful day. He said that when they reached the crest of the bridge and could see the other side of the river, the first thing they saw was the state police waiting to stop the march. He said, ``All you saw was a sea of blue.'' But still they marched.

I asked if they thought of turning back when they say the array of police. He smiled and said, ``No, we had prayed at the Brown Chapel and decided we would go on regardless.'' And so they did.

After pausing at the base of the bridge for prayer, he told me how the tear gas and the beatings with nightsticks overtook the crowd. My friend John Lewis was among those most severely beaten.

As our march came to an end, I extended my hand to Dr. Reese and thanked him not only for what he had done for the civil rights movement, but also for what he, John Lewis and others had done for America that day. Dr. Reese replied humbly, ``God did something here.'' And through these brave Americans, I believe that with all my heart.

Every American should know the story of Montgomery and Selma. Thanks to courageous Americans like Dr. King, Congressman John Lewis, Dorothy Cotton and F.D. Reese, these cities have become an integral part of the American story in our nation's unrelenting march toward a more perfect union.

Today's resolution further safeguards this valuable history so that it may endure throughout future generations, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of issues being debated here in our Nation's capital, but Hoosiers are talking about just one thing, and that is rising prices at the pump. The average price of gasoline in Indiana right now is $3.82 a gallon. That is 10 cents higher than the national average. And it is worth noting that when President Obama came to office, the average price of gasoline nationwide was $1.79.

This administration pushed cap-and-trade and a national energy tax that the President said would cause utility rates to skyrocket, they pushed it through regulations even though it didn't make it in the Congress, they suspended deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico for a time, they placed the entire Pacific and Atlantic coasts off-limits to drilling, refused to explore Alaska, decreased production across the Western part of our Nation, and most recently rejected the Keystone XL pipeline.

With no joy in saying this, Mr. Speaker, I say rising gasoline prices are a natural result of the policies of the Obama administration, and this administration must change course. It's time that we enact an all- of-the-above energy strategy that includes more access to America's energy reserves, more alternative energy sources, and encouragement of conservation. That's how we will tackle this crisis.

I rise on behalf of hardworking Hoosiers and everyday Americans who are struggling with the prices at the pump on this first day in March to say to this administration: Accept the Keystone pipeline, approve more domestic exploration, abandon your headlong rush toward regulation and a national energy tax, and let's give Americans real relief at the pump as this spring begins.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Edith Pittenger on the occasion of her 100th birthday.

Edith was born in Pendleton, Indiana, on February 24, 1912. She went on to attend Ball State University in 1929, and later earned her masters degree in 1961. Edith enjoyed a long and satisfying career in teaching, having held positions in both Pendleton and Muncie.

Edith is blessed with excellent health and is still able to drive. She is also a long-time member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. She was married for 45 years and her loving family includes three children and a stepson, 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and another on the way.

As the Good Book says, ``The elders [. . .] are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.'' And so today I honor Edith Pittenger for her lifetime and service and wish her the best in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report on H.R. 3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011.

I have never believed in short-term tax policy because uncertainty is the enemy of prosperity. For that reason I have authored the Tax Relief Certainty Act which would make permanent the tax cuts established in 2001 and 2003, repeal the estate tax, and provide permanent relief from the Alternative Minimum Tax.

While I would have preferred this conference report was more than another piece-meal approach to tax relief, the question we

face today is whether this Congress is going to avoid a tax increase on working families. During these difficult economic times I believe that we should not allow a tax increase on working families, and therefore, I will support this bill.

I am pleased that this conference report includes important reforms in unemployment benefits. As I travel around Indiana, small business owners in one community after another have told me about the need to reduce dependency on unemployment insurance. I believe we can provide a safety net for those who have fallen on hard times while at the same time protecting the incentive to work.

This legislation takes an important first step toward reforming unemployment insurance by reducing the maximum number of weeks of eligibility for benefits based on a state's unemployment level and creating national job search requirements for everyone collecting state and federal unemployment insurance benefits. I am also pleased that this conference report contains language that will not interfere with Indiana's efforts to return the state's unemployment trust fund to solvency.

The deal before us today is nothing to write home about, but it does avoid a tax increase on working families during these difficult economic times and starts us down the road toward unemployment insurance reform--and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to honor the passing of Mr. Bing Welch, city councilman and community leader from Richmond, Indiana.

Bing Welch was born in Tennessee and later attended the University of Tennessee. After serving in the 40th Armor Division in Korea for more than two years, Bing settled in Richmond. There he was employed by ALCOA as a tool designer, but later transferred to North Carolina and Kentucky before settling in Richmond once again in 1969.

His 37-year tenure at ALCOA was marked by several notable accomplishments and opportunities, such as product development of plastic soft drink bottles and pull-tabs on cans. By the time he retired, he was a member of the 25-Year Club and had traveled across the country representing ALCOA in product liability lawsuits.

In the mid 1970s, Bing decided to become more active in the community which he loved so well, and he was appointed to fill a vacant At-Large position on the Richmond Common Council. He would go on to serve on the council, including time spent as president, for an astonishing and admirable 22 years. Bing's legacy of leadership also includes service on the boards for the Richmond Sanitary District, the Parks and Recreation Department and Richmond Power and Light, where he spent time as chairman. Additionally, Bing was a member of the Corridor North Commission that planned the development of U.S. 27 North.

The Richmond community remembers Bing as a man of character who loved God, his family, his community, and his country. He was known for his incredible leadership, honesty, commitment, and integrity. Bing's focus was always on the interests of the people he served, and during his long career in public service and in business, he made Richmond a better place. He and his wife founded the Concerned Citizen coalition, and he also helped start the Jerry Lawrence Memorial Golf Outing.

I offer my deepest condolences to his wife of 57 years, Patricia; as well as his daughter Kristi; son Brian; grandchildren Morgan, Blaine, Jessica, and Nathan; and his many nieces, nephews, and other extended family. May God comfort Patricia and Bing's entire family with the assurance of His grace and with the assurance of the gratitude of the people of Richmond whom he served and loved.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize January 22-28, 2012, as National School Choice Week. Our children are the future of this great Nation, and they should be able to attend the highest- quality schools possible. Improving the quality of education and expanding access to highly effective schools is an important step toward ensuring that all of our children receive the best possible education in America.

This week, more than 400 events will be held in all 50 states to advance and support school choice. Tens of thousands of Americans will be taking part in these events including parents, teachers, and guardians responsible for taking care of our Nation's children. America is blessed to have a multitude of high-quality public schools, public charter schools, and nonpublic schools, as well as many high-quality teaching professionals who are committed to educating our children.

This past year, my home State of Indiana enacted meaningful and comprehensive education reform that provides parents with the freedom to make sure their child gets the best education possible. And last year I was proud to support Speaker Boehner's Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (H.R. 471) when it passed the House of Representatives. The SOAR Act allows for education scholarships to be provided to children in the District of Columbia so that they can receive a high quality education regardless of their race or income status in society. Research demonstrates conclusively and consistently that providing children with multiple schooling options improves academic performance and parental satisfaction.

And so I rise today in strong support of National School Choice Week because I support empowering parents with school choice. Every

child must have the opportunity to pursue the American dream, and I firmly believe parents are in the best position to determine which schools their children should attend. As a parent myself, I am proud to celebrate National School Choice Week, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for local control of education and for further opportunities to provide parents with the ability to give their children the best education possible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the life and ministry of Reverend William Keller.

Reverend Keller faithfully served as a pastor for nearly 70 years in both Illinois and my home state of Indiana. While attending Olivet Nazarene College in 1943, he founded the East Side Church of the Nazarene in Kankakee, Illinois. He later continued his education at both Ball State University and Liberty University.

Reverend Keller was a dear friend of mine, and I mourn the loss of this great public servant. His record of achievement in his community and around the country is extensive and includes serving as Executive Chairman for World Wide Pictures, attending Billy Graham's School of Evangelism, and participating in the Conference on Evangelism in Amsterdam among others. Reverend Keller was also a member of the planning committee for the Leighton Ford and the Lowell Lundstrom Crusades in Muncie, and he organized several open air festivals.

In 1953 he founded the William C. Keller Construction Co. that built churches, office buildings, service stations and residential housing, and Reverend Keller also developed the Keller West Addition in Muncie.

Beginning in 1969, Reverend Keller served as President of the Delaware County Evangelistic Association. Among his many involvements, he was also a member of the Board of Social Concern for the National Association of Evangelicals; past Governor and Lt. Governor of Division H, District 11 of Toastmasters International; past chairman of the steering committee of National Issues Forum; and he served several years as a volunteer Probation Officer and court appointed Special Advocate for children.

I offer my most sincere condolences to his bride of 73 years, Irene; their six children: Martha Lovern, Harold Keller, Dave Keller, Paul Keller, Don Keller, and Bill Keller, Jr.; fifteen grandchildren; twenty-two great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and his siblings Charles, James, and Reba. While the loss of Reverend Keller's selfless work in the community will be deeply felt, heaven is richer with his passing.