Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Gabriel Harrison Biggs. Gabriel 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.

Gabriel has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Gabriel 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, Gabriel has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Gabriel removed and replaced stones from the prayer garden at St. James Catholic Church in Liberty, Missouri, enhancing the overall beauty and quality of the prayer garden.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Gabriel Harrison Biggs 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 Christopher David Johnson. Christopher 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 247, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Christopher has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Christopher 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, Christopher has earned the rank of Runner in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say while serving as his troop's Senior Patrol Leader. Christopher has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Christopher built eight movable walls for the Kansas City Pet Project to be used for training stray dogs in order to prepare them to be adopted by loving families.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Christopher David Johnson 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 Grant Alvin Bergman. Grant 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 247, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Grant has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Grant 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, Grant has earned the rank of Brave in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and became a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow. Grant has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Grant constructed two animal-accessible benches for the Kansas City Pet Project, to be used by staff and volunteers as well as a meet-and-greet area for potential adopting families.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Grant Alvin Bergman 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 Fletcher Grant Hoke. Fletcher 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 247, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Fletcher has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Fletcher 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, Fletcher has earned the rank of Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say while serving as his troop's Patrol Leader. Fletcher has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Fletcher extended a path towards the Butterfly Garden at Hodge Park Living History Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, making it more easily accessible.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Fletcher Grant Hoke 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 Joseph R. Pluenneke. Joseph 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 261, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Joseph has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Joseph 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, Joseph has become a member of the Order of the Arrow and led his troop as Patrol Leader. Joseph has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Joseph completed much needed improvements to the White Tail Trail at the Parkville Nature Sanctuary in Parkville, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Joseph R. Pluenneke 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 Grant Michael Downes. Grant 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 261, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Grant has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Grant 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, Grant has become a member of the Order of the Arrow and led his troop as Patrol Leader. Grant has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Grant led an effort to assist inner city youth participating in soccer through the Police Athletic League.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Grant Michael Downes 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 Tristan Michael Ott. Tristan 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 261, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Tristan has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Tristan 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, Tristan has earned the rank of Brave in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and became a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow. Tristan has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Tristan completed a much needed landscaping project at St. Therese School in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Tristan Michael Ott 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 Charles M. Gosselin III. Charles 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 261, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Charles has been very active with his troop, participating in many Scout activities. Over the many years Charles 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, Charles has earned the rank of Brave in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and became a member of the Order of the Arrow. Charles has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Charles designed and constructed a changeable billboard sign, along with the accompanying landscaping, at Divine Mercy Park in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Charles M. Gosselin III, 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 Michael David Neeley. Michael 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 247, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Michael has been very active with his troop, participating in many Scout activities. Over the many years Michael 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, Michael has earned the rank of Runner in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and became a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, all

while leading his troop as Senior Patrol Leader. Michael has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Michael renovated the landscaping around the lower level entrance of Gashland Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Missouri, by installing stone pavers and a bench and by planting an evergreen tree along with a yellow rose bush.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Michael David Neeley 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 late Senator John Brooks Henderson, a native of the Sixth Congressional District town of Louisiana and co-author of the Thirteenth Amendment, on this 100th anniversary of his death.

Sen. Henderson was a quintessential pioneer man. Having moved with his family from Virginia to Missouri, he studied law while working as a farm hand and gained admittance to the Missouri Bar at the age of 18. He served two terms in the Missouri State House, and was commissioned as a brigadier general of the Missouri State Militia at the onset of the Civil War before being appointed a United States Senator in 1862. There, as a slave-state senator, he co-authored the Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery throughout the United States. Sen. Henderson subsequently made an impact by joining seven other Republican Senators in voting against the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, supporting women's suffrage, and by prosecuting tax cheats in the Whiskey Ring in St. Louis in 1875.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Senator John Brooks Henderson for his many contributions to the State of Missouri and the United States that ultimately changed the course of history for this nation.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Logan McIntosh Lee James. 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 261, 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 and has become a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow. Logan has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Logan made significant landscaping improvements to the Edgerton Christian Church in Edgerton, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Logan McIntosh Lee James 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 Nathan Foster Brown. Nathan 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 271, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Nathan has been very active with his troop, participating in many Scout activities. Over the many years Nathan 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, Nathan has earned the position of Tom-Tom Beater in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Nathan has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Nathan completed a much needed landscaping project at the North Cross United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, replacing a deteriorating retaining wall outside the preschool entrance.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Nathan Foster Brown 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 Tyler W. Shipman. Tyler 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 249, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Tyler has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Tyler 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, Tyler has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Tyler performed needed work on the landscaping of the front office building at Weston Bend State Park near Weston, Missouri, adding decorative rock around the building and flagpole while also painting the railings and posts at the main gate.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Tyler W. Shipman 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 Adam Dickmeyer. Adam 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 1206, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

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

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Adam Dickmeyer 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 Nicholas Joseph VanBebber. Nicholas 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 96, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Nicholas has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Nicholas 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, Nicholas has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project, which included providing necessary maintenance for his parish, including a drag of the diamond.

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