Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jacob Dean Mitchell. 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 92, 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 Dean Mitchell 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 Logan Wayne Caldwell. Logan 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 167, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Logan has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Logan 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, Logan has earned the rank of Brave in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Logan has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Logan restored the dilapidated pillars in front of the Winston School and placed the original stones from the classes of 1929 and 1930 back into the pillars.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Logan Wayne Caldwell 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 Alan Crouse. 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 309, 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 led his troops as Junior Scoutmaster. Jacob has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project by building a picnic shelter for his church.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jacob Alan Crouse 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 Ty Michael Kixmiller. Ty 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.

Ty has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Ty 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, Ty has earned the rank of Firebuilder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and is a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow. Ty has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Ty renovated and landscaped Lion's Park in Kearney, Missouri, rehabilitating the front signage, replacing the park grills and mulching the entire park.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Ty Michael Kixmiller 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 Todd Hiley. 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 397, 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 earned the rank of Firebuilder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, has become a Brotherhood Member in the Order of the Arrow and currently serves as his troops' Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. Jacob has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Jacob built a storage mezzanine in the bus barn for First United Methodist Church of Kearney.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jacob Todd Hiley 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 Christian Polovich. Christian 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 404, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Christian has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Christian 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, Christian has earned the rank of Firebuilder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and serves as his troops' Senior Patrol Leader. Christian has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Christian constructed a workout station on the fitness trail on the campus of A. T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Christian Polovich 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 Sullivan J. Easley. Sully 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 391, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Sully has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Sully 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, Sully has led his troops as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Sully has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Sully organized and constructed six bird houses in four different parks. He also led a team in building new trails along a new expansion in a nature preserve for the Friends of Webster Trails organization near Rochester, New York.

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

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank Chairman McKeon and the Members of the House Armed Services Committee for the Committee's work on the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. As the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, I know very well that efforts of this magnitude take leadership, thoughtfulness and compromise. I support the final bill, and thank the Committee for continuing to make our Nation's security a top priority.

I want to draw attention to a key priority that the Committee helped address this year. Earlier this year, United States Navy offered to the Committee its ``unfunded priority'' request of additional EA-18G Growlers, an electronic attack aircraft. Specifically, the Navy Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Jonathan Greenert testified that there is an emerging requirement for more electronic attack, and he asked for 22 Growlers. The Growler is the only aircraft that can provide the full spectrum electronic attack that are needed for future operations.

In addition to a specific warfighting capability that the Growler provides, the men and women that work on the aircraft are part of America's aerospace industry that has undergone significant change over the last several decades. A vital part of this industry are the small businesses that have kept our military force on the cutting edge, armed with technologies and programs no other nation can match. The production of the Growler is no exception to this rule as there are 340 small businesses that are located across 32 states, including in my home state of Missouri, which support the program.

At a time when the small business sector is regaining its footing in the recovering economy, there should be a way to preserve the military industrial base. This bill supports that effort by adding 5 Growlers above the President's Budget Request and encouraging the Navy to keep the manufacturing line open. Closing the line would not only upend many small businesses that sustain the program, but would also lead to less competition and fewer innovative technology breakthroughs in tactical aviation. The Committee bill represents a good first step at meeting the dual needs of the Navy's requirements and the defense industrial base.

As the Fiscal Year 2015 bills move through the process, I look forward to working with the Committee to meet the needs of the warfighter and to protect the small businesses interests in our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Isaiah Hutson Salinas. Isaiah 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 152, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Isaiah has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Isaiah 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, Isaiah has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Isaiah planned and coordinated a project to remove the asphalt shingles from a hiking shelter at Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton, Minnesota, and replace them with a metal roof.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Isaiah Hutson Salinas 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 Hartmann. Matt 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 175, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Matt has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Matt 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, Matt has earned the rank of Firebuilder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and led his troop as the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Matt has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Matt led a team in designing and constructing 30 new signs and replacing 28 burlap targets at the James A. Reed Conservation Area archery range in Lee's Summit, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Matthew Hartmann 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 Dylan N. Straughn. Dylan 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 251, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

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

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Dylan N. Straughn 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, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise today to recognize the outstanding service of Mark Pauley on the occasion of his retirement to the State of Missouri and our veterans.

Mark began his career as a Local Veterans Employment Representative for the Division of Workforce Development in 2007 and in the seven years that have passed since then, he has worked tirelessly to help our veterans find employment. In 2009, Mark was presented the ``2009 Governor's Conference Outstanding Service to Veterans Award'' at the Missouri Governor's Conference, which also included a trip to Washington DC.

In 2010, Governor Jay Nixon launched the ``Show Me Heroes'' initiative to help Missouri's veterans reconnect with meaningful careers, and to showcase Missouri employers who have pledged to do so. Mark has since presented 20 Flag of Freedom awards to local employers who have hired veterans in our area, and has had 31 employers take pledges to consider hiring a Missouri veteran when job openings arise.

Mark is also a veteran himself. Before he began his work for the Missouri Career Center, he served in the United States Navy between 1980-1996. He was a natural fit for this position because while in the Navy, Mark worked as a personnelman and retired as a Petty Officer First Class. His life's dedication and hard work should serve as an example of how we can better serve each other and our great nation. Now that Mark will be retired, I hope he will have more time to spend with his family including his wife, Mary; his kids, Kyra, Shawna and Bobby; and his grandkids, Kyler, Kyrstyn, Bryson and Jack.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in commending Mark Pauley for his dedicated service to Missouri's veterans. I know Mark's colleagues, family and friends join with me in thanking him for his commitment to others and wishing him happiness and good health in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise today to recognize the outstanding service of Mr. Lynn Cook on the occasion of his retirement after nearly 40 years of Federal service.

Mr. Cook began his career as an investigator for the personnel security program of the Civil Service Commission, now the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, in 1974. In the nearly 40 years that have passed since then, he has worked tirelessly to conduct investigations that support national security. In his position as a Special Agent with the Office of Personnel Management, he conducted background investigations that have directly supported Federal, military, and defense contractor assets in the Kansas City Metro and Northwest Missouri areas. A large number of these investigations have been for military men and women who are nobly serving their country.

Lynn's lifetime dedication and hard work should serve as an example of how we can better serve each other and our great nation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in commending Mr. Lynn Cook for his dedicated service to our national security. I know Lynn's colleagues, family and friends join with me in thanking him for his commitment to others and wishing him happiness and good health in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in remembering the workers who have lost their lives on the job. It is an honor to join The Builders' Association and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today in recognizing these men and women, alongside their colleagues and families.

At the turn of the 20th century, it is estimated that more than 100 American workers died on the job every day, with few laws in

place to protect them. Today, over 4,000 workers are killed on the job annually, and 3.3 million suffer a serious injury, leaving much work to be done to provide all workers a safe work environment.

In an effort to address this challenge, trade unions and workplace health and safety organizations world-wide have concentrated on the issue of workers' health and safety on April 28th of each year. Helping lead the charge is OSHA, who has worked to reduce workplace injuries and death for over forty years. In 2001, OSHA and The Builders' Association, through the Build Safe Partnership Program, developed cooperative partnerships designed to protect and promote the safety and health of construction workers in the Midwest. I would like to personally thank The Builders' Association/Kansas City Chapter, AGC and the Region 7 OSHA office for your continued efforts to keep worker safety a priority.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in recognizing the local workers who lost their lives. We must never forget them, and we must respect their memory by continuing to work to improve standards for workplace health and safety.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Brooke Jackson. Brooke is a very special young woman who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Venturing Crew 2883, and earning a most prestigious recognition, the Venturing Silver Award.

Brooke has been very active with her troop, participating in many activities. Over the years Brooke has been involved with scouting, she

has not only earned numerous awards, but also the respect of her family, peers, and community. The Venturing Silver Award is the equivalent of obtaining an Eagle Scout and recognizes the high level of achievement Brooke has accomplished through the Venturing program.

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