Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on May 22, 2017, I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on No. 269 and No. 270

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I pause to thank and honor the Smithville Police Department for their efforts in serving Smithville following the March 6, 2017 tornado.

The EF-2 rated tornado left a trail of destruction up to 1,000 feet wide and 18 miles long. In Smithville, over 60 houses were damaged with several completely destroyed, resulting in over 65 tons of debris. Miraculously, no injuries were sustained during the storm.

After the storm, officers from the Smithville Police Department helped set up a perimeter, went door-to-door making sure residents were safe, and protected the neighborhood with a 24/7 presence in the days that followed. The effect of the police department on the neighborhoods affected by the tornado cannot be understated, whether through making the victims feel safe from scroungers or looters or by helping residents with their physical needs throughout the recovery.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and the community of Smithville in thanking Chief Jason Lockridge and the officers and staff of the Smithville Police Department for their service following the March 6 tornado and wishing them God's blessings and protection in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I pause to thank and honor the Clay County Park Rangers for their efforts in serving Smithville following the March 6, 2017 tornado.

The EF-2 rated tornado left a trail of destruction up to 1,000 feet wide and 18 miles long. In Smithville, over 60 houses were damaged with several completely destroyed, resulting in over 65 tons of debris. Miraculously, no injuries were sustained during the storm.

After the storm, officers from the Clay County Park Rangers helped set up a perimeter, went door-to-door making sure residents were safe, and helped protect the neighborhood with a 24/7 presence in the days that followed. The effect of the rangers on the neighborhoods affected by the tornado cannot be understated, whether through making the victims feel safe from scroungers or looters or by helping residents with their physical needs throughout the recovery.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and the community of Smithville in thanking Interim Park Security Manager John Davis and the rangers and staff of the Clay County Park Rangers for their service following the March 6 tornado and wishing them God's blessings and protection in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I pause to thank and honor the Clay County Sheriff's Office for their efforts in serving Smithville following the March 6, 2017 tornado.

The EF-2 rated tornado left a trail of destruction up to 1,000 feet wide and 18 miles long. In Smithville, over 60 houses were damaged with several completely destroyed, resulting in over 65 tons of debris. Miraculously, no injuries were sustained during the storm.

After the storm, officers from the Clay County Sheriff's Office helped set up a perimeter, went door-to-door making sure residents were safe, and helped protect the neighborhood with a 24/7 presence in the days that followed. Their experience and training in emergency management was crucial as the city and residents began to put their lives back together. The effect of the Sheriff's Office on the neighborhoods affected by the tornado cannot be understated, whether through making the victims feel safe from scroungers or looters or by helping residents with their physical needs throughout the recovery.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and the community of Smithville in thanking Sheriff Paul Vescovo and the officers and staff of the Clay County Sheriff's Office for their service following the March 6 tornado and wishing them God's blessings and protection in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th Anniversary of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP). Formed in 1942, NASBP is a national trade organization representing firms employing licensed surety bond producers and allied professionals. NASBP producers specialize in providing surety bonds for construction contracts and for other purposes to companies and individuals needing the assurance offered by surety bonds. The NASBP bond producer stands as the bridge between the construction firm and the surety company and works closely with the construction business to position the business to meet underwriting requirements to obtain surety credit for bonded work. Surety bonds are a time-honored, vital component of federal and state procurement systems, where a furnished surety bond evidences a contractor's qualifications to undertake the contract sought and taxpayer funds are protected through the surety bond's guarantee of performance. Mr. Speaker, I want to again extend my good wishes and recognize NASBP on its 75th Anniversary, and I encourage my colleagues in the House of Representatives to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I pause to honor a constituent of Missouri's 6th Congressional District and someone I am especially proud to call my friend, Glen O. Klippenstein, upon being honored with the Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence by the Agribusiness Council of Kansas City.

Glen was born in Canada and grew up working on the family cattle operation. His family emigrated to Pennsylvania when he was 11, and it was there that he would attend Penn State University and turn down a job running former President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farm outside Gettysburg.

He and a friend would later move to Missouri and establish GlenKirk Farms. GlenKirk became one of the premier cattle operations in the nation, selling over 7,000 bulls and 7,500 females across all 50 states and internationally in 22 countries and earning a place in the Hereford Heritage Hall of Fame. Glen would later serve in the Missouri state legislature in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Glen is a tireless worker who is dedicated to aiding the agricultural community, serving as the two-term chairman of the National Beef Promotion and Research Board; as chairman of the American Polled Hereford Association; as director of the National Cattlemen's Association; as member and vice chairman of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Board; and as the CEO of the American Chianina Association.

Mr. Speaker, I could list many more organizations that Glen has guided and worked with over his very distinguished lifetime. However, I ask that you join me, Glen's wife Linda, their children Brian, Brett, Noel, and Ivan, their grandchildren and the agricultural community in congratulating Glen O. Klippenstein on this accomplishment and wishing him God's blessings in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Andrew Cable. Andrew 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.

Andrew has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Andrew 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, Andrew has served his troop as an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, become a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, and earned the rank of Fire Builder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Andrew has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Andrew constructed a gazebo with swings surrounding a fire pit at Immacolata Manor, a facility for women with developmental disabilities in Liberty, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Andrew Cable 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 Caleb Thomas Jaynes. Caleb 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.

Caleb has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Caleb 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, Caleb has earned the rank of Brave in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Caleb has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Caleb led a group of scouts to the Platte City Cemetery to use GPS tracking and photographs to document nearly 1,000 gravestones in the cemetery and preserve the historical information online.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Caleb Thomas Jaynes 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 Craig E. Muiller. Craig 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 397, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

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

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Craig E. Muiller 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 Ethan Michael Cupp. Ethan 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 1351, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

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

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Ethan Michael Cupp 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 Mitchell Karl Wolbert. Mitchell 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 1351, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

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

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Mitchell Karl Wolbert 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 Colby Layne Matthys. Colby 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 1351, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

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

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Colby Layne Matthys 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 Lucas Matthew Hodson. Lucas 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 1351, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

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

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Lucas Matthew Hodson 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 Jonah Andrew Hoppe. Jonah 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 1351, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

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

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jonah Andrew Hoppe 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 the outstanding achievements of Chief Larry Eugene Pratt. Chief Pratt is one of the most respected fire district chiefs and is retiring from the Kearney Fire and Rescue Protection District after 53 years of service. I join with the families, fellow firefighters, and citizens of the Kearney community in congratulating Chief Pratt on his many years of success, contributions to the community and now his retirement.

Chief Pratt began his firefighting career as a junior firefighter in 1963 while he was still in high school. Due to lack of manpower in the mid-1960s, Chief Pratt was one of approximately a half dozen students who were dismissed from Kearney High School to respond to calls during his high school career. While Chief Pratt was still a volunteer firefighter, he began a career working for Hallmark Cards for 34 years. In 1973, Chief Pratt became the Assistant Fire Chief and a year later after completing his EMT certification he was elected Fire Chief serving from 1975 through 1990. When the Kearney Fire and Rescue Protection District was created in 1990 Chief Pratt was appointed Fire Chief. In March 2001 he was hired as a career Chief.

During Chief Pratt's tenure, the call volume increased from 209 to a projected 1700 and the career positions increased from 3 to 28. With additional personnel and equipment, the ISO classification improved from a Class 8 to a Class 4 for the entire District.

Chief Pratt truly believes in public service and commitment to keeping his community safe. Chief Pratt is a past president of the Missouri Association of Fire Chiefs 1976 through 1978, past president of the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri 1989 through 1992, and past president of the Missouri Association of Fire Protection Districts 2011 through 2013. Chief Pratt has been a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Missouri Valley Division of Fire Chiefs since 1978 and received his Chief Fire Officer Designation in August 2002. Chief Pratt is a charter member of St. Michael's Knights of Columbus Council and the Kearney Rotary Club, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Kearney Area Development Council and KCB Bank.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and the rest of the Kearney community, family and firefighters in applauding Chief Larry Eugene Pratt's outstanding achievements and contributions to the community, and the State of Missouri. I wish Chief Pratt and his family the very best in years to come.