Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Peter Mallon. Peter is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 374, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Peter has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Peter has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Peter has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Peter built an eight-foot tall wood fence around three recycling bins at the entrance to Liberty United Methodist Church.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Peter for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jacob Magyar. Jacob is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 314, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Jacob has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Jacob has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Jacob has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jacob for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jackson Garrett. Jackson is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 314, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Jackson has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Jackson has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Jackson has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jackson for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Spencer Cole. Spencer is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 255, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Spencer has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Spencer has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Spencer has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Spencer built an educational birdhouse display for the Burroughs Audubon Nature Center in Jackson County.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Spencer for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, on March 14, 2018 I missed a Roll Call vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' No. 105.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Benjamin Daniel Graves. Ben is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 714, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Ben has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Ben has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Ben has become a Firebuilder in the Tribe of Mic-0-Say while also attending High Adventure at Philmont Scout Ranch and participating in the Peak Scout Camp in Derbyshire, England. As part of the Peak Scout Camp exchange, Ben was able to visit London and Scotland and in return hosted two English Scouts in the summer of 2017. Ben has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Ben cleaned up the park, mulched the landscaping, and repainted the bandstand the Veterans Memorial Park in Edgerton, Missouri.

As Ben's uncle, I am proud of the young man he has become. As an Eagle Scout, I admire the determination he has shown in completing his path to Eagle.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Benjamin Daniel Graves for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Justin Lee Snyder. Justin is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1028, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Justin has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Justin has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Justin has become a member of the tribe Mic-O-Say. Justin has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Justin designed a wall to enclose the HVAC unit at his church where the Scout troop meets. He raised the funds with help from the Knights of Columbus, and organized a group of volunteers to build the enclosure.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Justin for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the students, teachers, and communities who work together to support our public schools during Public Education Week.

Our public schools are where our students come to be educated in the fullest sense of the word as citizens of this great country. Our educators strive daily to make every public school a place where we prepare the nation's young people to contribute to our society, economy and citizenry:

Ninety percent of American children attend public schools. Lawmakers of every level can agree that we should all support our nation's public schools and empower local education leaders to manage and lead school districts in partnership with educators, parents, and other local education stakeholders and learning communities. This support includes recognizing how educators and our schools provide important services outside the classroom such as counseling, extra/co-curricular activities, and mental health supports that are critical to help meet students' needs.

As an advocate for public education, I believe we must promote advancing excellence in public education, by implementing continuous improvement and evidence-based practices. Every child has the right to an education and to attend schools that offer a high quality experience and help them reach their full potential.

I support predictable and adequate funding for our public schools so that students have classrooms and up-to-date resources as well as well- prepared educators. Our school buildings should have manageable class sizes to allow teachers to provide students the attention they need to succeed. Furthermore, I believe that public tax dollars should support public schools that are accountable to parents, educators and the communities they serve.

As a product of the public school system in Northwest Missouri, I reiterate my support for

public education and pride in our public schools. I will continue to promote the promise and purpose of public education, to elevate the great things happening every day in our public schools, and to engage communities about strategies that help students succeed. I affirm my commitment to fight for resources and support for public schools, and will be steadfast in my efforts to support policies that would protect these values.

Mr. Speaker, on February 27, 2018, I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on Roll Call votes No. 83, No. 84, No. 85, No. 86, and No. 87.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Mark Van Eyck. Mark is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 522, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Mark has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Mark has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Mark has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Mark remodeled a youth area at his church, Harmony Vineyard, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Mark for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Ian McDonald. Ian is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 255, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Ian has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Ian has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Ian has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Ian built and delivered a dozen wooden duck houses to the Missouri Department of conservation for distribution and installation on both public and private waters in western Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Ian for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, on February 26, 2018, I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on No. 81 and 82.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Garrett Jackson. Garrett is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 60, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Garrett has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Garrett has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Garrett has become a member of the tribe Mic-O-Say. Garrett has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Garrett for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America, and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Derek Ronald McFerrin. Ronnie is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 313, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Ronnie has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Ronnie has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Ronnie has constructed an 8' x 8' brick patio at Lake Doniphan in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, which hosts a summer camp for kids with special needs.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Ronnie for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Kylan Paul Woerth. Kylan is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 337, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Kylan has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Kylan has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Kylan has led his troop as the acting Patrol Leader and earned the rank of Brave in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Kylan has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project by replacing a split-rail fence at Shoal Creek Living History Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Kylan for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America, and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.