Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jacob Brian Ahart. 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 394, 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 Brian Ahart 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 Byron James Arnold. Byron 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 214, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Byron has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Byron 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, Byron has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Byron rebuilt and replaced an entrance sign to Our Lady of Mercy Country Home in Liberty, Missouri, that had been damaged in a car accident.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Byron James Arnold 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 Ryan DeCamp. Ryan 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.

Ryan has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Ryan 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, Ryan is the 350th Eagle Scout in his troop's history.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Ryan DeCamp 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 Brock Rohlfs. Brock 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 1376, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Brock has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Brock 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, Brock has led his troop as the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, earned the rank of Tom-Tom Beater in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, and become a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow. Brock has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Brock designed and completed a concrete sidewalk and a ramp from the Life Unlimited Facility to the Immacolata Manor's north room gathering space in Liberty, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Brock Rohlfs 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 Stanley, an English Bulldog in my district, who has become an inspiration to many of my constituents and continues to serve his community.

Stanley was born with a bilateral cleft lip, requiring the need for surgery to tooth problems and holes in his sinus passages. The community came together and raised the funds for the surgery. Now, Stanley goes to schools and community events and has become a source of inspiration for kids with his anti-bullying message. Stanley has also recently joined with the American Childhood Cancer Organization to form the first local chapter of the Founding Hope program, helping to raise funds and awareness to help children with cancer get the support they need.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Stanley and the Pack family for their continuing service to their community, and for serving as an inspiration for children who face bullying and cancer diagnoses.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Ernest Frederick Schowengerdt. Mr. Schowengerdt, a World War II veteran, is celebrating his 95th birthday on September 2, 2017.

In 1944, Mr. Schowengerdt joined the Navy to become a pilot and serve his country during World War II. After his discharge in 1945 he continued his passion for flying and got his pilot's and aircraft mechanic's licenses at the Lambert Field Airport in St. Louis. He also continued helping at his family farm in Chamois, Missouri, until the Missouri River's flooding took its toll in 1958. Mr. Schowengerdt continued his career as a plant engineer for the Central Electric Power Plant and later as the Director of Plant Management for Lake Ozark General Hospital where he worked with the Missouri Hospital Association and Nuclear Energy Commission in disposing of hazardous and radioactive wastes.

Mr. Schowengerdt has had many life-long interests and passions. He has been involved in music for 76 years, playing numerous band instruments. Mr. Schowengerdt was also a passionate civil servant as he served 2 terms in the Chamois city council and four years as the Osage County Republican Committeeman. He helped organize the Rural Fire Department of Chamois, was the American Legion president, and was involved in many more boards and organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in wishing Mr. Ernie Schowengerdt a happy 95th birthday, and thanking him for his lifetime of dedication to his family, community, and his country.

Mr. Speaker, on September 13, 2017, I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call votes 486, 487, 488, 489, 492, 493, 497, 498, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, and 515. I would have voted NAY on Roll Call votes 490, 491, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, and 514.

Mr. Speaker, on September 12, 2017 I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on No. 485.

Mr. Speaker, on July 28, 2017 I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on Nos. 436, 437, and 438.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Brian Ross Lucas. Brian 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 222, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Brian has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Brian 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, Brian has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Brian completed a landscaping project around a sign he also erected for Eagleville United Methodist Church in Eagleville, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Brian Ross Lucas 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 July 25, 2017 I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on No. 410, 411, 412, and 413.

Mr. Speaker, on July 26, 2017 I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on No. 414 and 415.

Mr. Speaker, on July 24, 2017, I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on No. 407, 408, and 409.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Patrick Downton, Jr. Patrick 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 692, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Patrick has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Patrick 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, Patrick has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Patrick Downton, Jr., 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 Matthew Parr. Matthew 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 1393, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Matthew has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Matthew 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, Matthew has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Matthew researched native plants and then constructed a pollinator station outside of St. Therese North Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri.

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