Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Tara Roe Smith. Tara attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1. She lived in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, where she was a wonderful mother to her two kids, Lennon and Louis, and was a loving wife to her husband Zach.

Tara was a hard worker who modeled with Sophia Models International, worked as an educational assistant with children with autism, and was about to be promoted to be a manager at a restaurant where she was a waitress.

Tara was very active and loved dancing, swimming, and being at her favorite summer spot, Clear Lake. Going to the Route 91 festival was an annual tradition for Tara and her husband. They would be there every year to celebrate their anniversary.

Tara was dedicated to her community, and if she had survived, her husband has no doubt that she would have done everything she could to help those who were victims of the Las Vegas shooting.

She was a very caring spirit who greeted everyone with a friendly face. I would like to extend my condolences to Tara Roe Smith's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Rocio Guillen Rocha. Rocio attended the Route 91 festival on October 1 in Las Vegas.

Rocio would say that her greatest accomplishment was being a mom to her four kids--Marcus, Christopher, Sofia, and Austin--and being engaged to her fiance, Chris Jaksha.

Rocio had lived through many major life events. She had given birth to her youngest child, Austin, just 6 weeks prior to her death, and she was paralyzed after giving birth to her second child, Christopher.

Rocio was a fighter who worked hard to walk again after being paralyzed. After a lot of work and training, she eventually was able to walk again.

Rocio was known as being a supermom who loved supporting her kids while they played baseball. She was an amazing mom who worked long hours as an assistant manager at California Pizza Kitchen so she could take care of her kids.

Rocio had a great sense of humor, and she was always laughing, even through the tough times. She is remembered for being patient and loving by all those who knew her.

I would like to extend my condolences to Rocio Guillen Rocha's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to remember the life of Cameron Robinson. He attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

Cameron found his perfect balance in his boyfriend, Bobby Eardley. They loved each other immensely, and Cameron loved Bobby's children as if they were his own. Bobby describes Cameron as a man who never did anything halfway. Whether it was cooking fancy meals or working in the Las Vegas City Attorney's Office, he put his all in everything he did.

Cameron loved people without judgment and without condition. He is a man who is remembered as being full of spontaneous fun.

I would like to extend my condolences to Cameron Robinson's family and friends. Please note that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Quinton Robbins.

Quinton attended the Route 51 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

He was a student at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, UNLV. He looked forward to going to dental school after receiving his bachelor's degree.

When he wasn't in school, he spent his time either working as a recreational assistant at the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex or playing on a softball team. Quinton had a passion for softball, and would occasionally coach youth t-ball teams.

Quinton was loved by everyone he met. All those who knew him remember him for being a kind and loving soul.

Quinton was a leader who welcomed everyone with a smile that could light up a room.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my condolences to Quinton Robbins' family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Chair, during rollcall Vote No. 202 on H.R. 2, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted ``yes''.

Amendment No. 31 Offered by Mr. Banks of Indiana

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Jordyn Rivera, who attended the Route 51 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

Jordyn was looking forward to graduating from California State University with her bachelor's degree in healthcare management. She was set to graduate in the spring of 2018.

Jordyn was incredibly smart and was even a member of her school's National Health Education Honor Society. Her parents were always very proud of Jordyn and loved the close bond they had with her. She had a love for Jesus, her family, and country music. She had a gift that allowed her to reach out to others and bring people together.

Jordyn's parents remember her as being personable and adventurous. She was warm, optimistic, and had an infectious energy.

I would like to extend my condolences to Jordyn Rivera's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Melissa Ramirez. Melissa attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

Melissa loved her family more than anything in the world. She always made sure to take trips home over the weekends while she was studying at California State University to get her bachelor's degree in business administration.

After she graduated from college in 2014, Melissa began working as a member specialist for an auto insurer, where she continued to work until her life tragically ended at the Route 91 festival.

Melissa loved country music, but loved the Philadelphia Eagles more. She enjoyed watching sporting events and supporting each of her favorite teams.

Melissa was known for being a hard worker, deeply loving her family, and making sure to always enjoy life.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my condolences to Melissa Ramirez' family and friends. Please note that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Chair, today I rise to speak in opposition to H.R. 3053, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act.

Mr. Chair, I find it offensive. I sit here and listen to all my colleagues, and they all want to send nuclear waste to the State of Nevada. They are all generating this nuclear waste, and they want to send it to my backyard right in the Fourth Congressional District.

Bottom line is this, Mr. Chair: If you generate nuclear waste, you should keep it in your own backyard. Don't be sending it to our backyard.

I have met with various people out at Nellis Air Force Base and Creech Air Force Base and the Hawthorne Army Depot. These are very important military installations in the Fourth Congressional District for our entire country. They don't want this nuclear waste passing through their own backyard.

It is offensive. It is offensive that we have a State that depends on tourism, that depends on people coming into the State, and we want to bring all this nuclear waste to my backyard. We want to send it to Yucca Mountain, a place that hasn't even been deemed safe.

It is disappointing, Mr. Chair, that we have all this nuclear waste and we can't pick any other place in the country. It has to be somewhere where we have military bases. It has to be somewhere where it hasn't been deemed safe, where there is seismic activity. Just a few weeks ago, there was an earthquake there.

Mr. Chair, I am seriously concerned for Nevadans. I am seriously concerned for our military bases. I am concerned about our tourists who are going to be

coming from all over the country. I am concerned about every single one of the congressional districts and its constituents where this nuclear waste is going to be traveling through. These are some serious concerns that have been brought up that none of us, none of my colleagues have been able to address.

Mr. Chair, I am here to oppose this project. I am here to speak on behalf of 80 percent of Nevadans who oppose bringing nuclear waste to our backyard, and I am here to send a message that we are going to continue fighting this tooth and nail right here in Congress, in the Senate, here in the House, and, also, if need be, we are going to continue fighting this in the legal courts.

Mr. Chair, I am here to speak in opposition and to speak on behalf of all Nevadans.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of John Phippen. John attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

John was the father of six and grandfather to one. His life revolved around his friends, children, and grandkids.

John showed his true character the night of the Route 91 festival when he died while shielding a stranger with his body from the gunfire.

John was a kind and gentle man who enjoyed the simple things in life. His favorite thing to do was spend time with his family and friends in the sand dunes at Lake Havasu or camping at the beach. Everyone who knew John remembers him for being a wonderful, selfless, and sweet man.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my condolences to John Phippen's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Lisa Patterson. Lisa attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

Lisa was very active in her community. She coached softball teams, served as the president of the St. John Fisher's PTA and was active in her church.

Lisa was married to her husband, Robert, for more than 20 years, and they enjoyed running a hardwood floor business together. Lisa and Robert had three children together--Robert, Jr.; Amber; and Brooke--and had one dog named Holly Wolf.

Lisa was warm and caring to everyone she met. She had an infectious energy and a fierce love for her family.

I would like to extend my condolences to Lisa Patterson's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the entire country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Carrie Parsons. Carrie always made sure to live her life by her favorite saying: ``live, laugh, and love.''

She enjoyed playing intramural softball and working at the staffing firm, Ajilon. Carrie recently got engaged in Hawaii to the love of her life, and they were excited to start their life together.

She went to the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1 with four of her friends for a girls trip. Carrie always loved dancing and singing to her favorite country songs, and she made sure to ensure everyone was having a good time. Her friends remember her as being a ``one in a million friend'' who was young, vibrant, and full of life.

I would like to extend my condolences to Carrie Parsons' family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Jennifer ``Jenny'' Parks. Jenny attended the Route 51 festival in Las Vegas on October 1. Jenny was a remarkable kindergarten teacher at Anaverde Hills Elementary School in Lancaster, California.

Jenny loved all of her students and their families but ensured to leave a big place in her heart for her husband, Bobby, and their two kids, Bryce and Lea.

Jenny was a loving person who always went out of her way to help people. She is remembered by her family and friends as being a beautiful and intelligent woman who had a wonderful sense of humor. I would like to extend my condolences to Jenny Park's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Rachael Parker. Rachael attended the Route 51 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

Rachael worked as a record technician at the Manhattan Beach Police Department for 10 years. She was known as the ``matron'' of the police department's front desk.

Rachael always treated people the same, no matter their circumstances. She loved her family, and had a passion for animals. She rescued two dogs, that she loved more than anything else.

Rachael always went out of her way to help those in need. Everyone knew her and remembers her as being a gifted, kindhearted, and caring woman.

I would like to extend my condolences to Rachael Parker's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to remember the life of Adrian Murfitt, who went to Las Vegas on October 1 for the Route 91 festival.

Adrian had a love for fishing. He would spend months on a commercial fishing boat to catch and sell fish. When it was not fishing season, he would repair appliances, tinker with cars, and spend time with his friends.

Adrian was a very hard worker and decided to reward himself for a successful fishing season by traveling to Las Vegas. He loved to listen and sing country music with a voice that friends described as ``beautiful.''

He enjoyed his two dogs, Laika and Paxson, and always made sure to spend time with them. Adrian had many friends who remember him as being silly and goofy and wanting to make people laugh, no matter what.

I would like to extend my condolences to Adrian Murfitt's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Austin Meyer.

Austin moved to Reno, Nevada, to study transportation technology at Truckee Meadows Community College. He had a passion for cars and sports. He loved to watch basketball, especially the Boston Celtics.

Austin was excited to watch his favorite band perform at the Route 91 festival on October 1 in Las Vegas. Austin went to the festival with his fiancee, Dana Getreu, to celebrate his birthday and their anniversary.

Austin dreamed of opening up his own auto repair shop after graduation and was excited to get married to Dana and start a family. He always had a smile on his face and made people laugh.

Austin's friends and family remember him for being ambitious, smart, and hardworking.

I would like to extend my condolences to Austin Meyer's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.