Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize David Henry Comer. David 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.

David has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years David 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, David has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project, which included constructing a pair of benches for his parish.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending David Henry Comer 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 Riley Thomas Nible. Riley 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.

Riley has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Riley 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, Riley has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project, which included constructing bookshelves for his church.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Riley Thomas Nible 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 Linda Kay McKim. Linda was a very special individual whose life was an example of courage and patriotism.

In 1966, Linda married Hosein Radmanesh, an Iranian foreign-exchange student at Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, Missouri. Together, they would have two children and move to Iran, where Linda was routinely mocked and cursed at for being an American Christian. Her entire family was imprisoned during the Iranian Revolution, beginning in 1979. There she was beaten and offered clemency if she renounced the United States, but she held on to her faith and her patriotism throughout the ordeal. In 1986, she escaped from Iran with her daughter, followed the next year by her son and husband. After returning to Kirksville, she worked as a health and nutrition aide at Residential Care and Grimm Smith Hospital, and was a member of First Assembly of God in Kirksville.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending the family of Linda Kay McKim for her inspirational life and her dedication to her faith, her family, and her country.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Taylor Luke Parrish. Taylor 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 138, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Taylor has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Taylor 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, Taylor has earned the rank of Ordeal in the Order of the Arrow and become a Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Taylor has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Taylor improved the landscaping and installed a gravel walkway and patio at Mission Woods Community of Christ Church in Blue Springs, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Taylor Luke Parrish 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 Thomas Alan Reilly, Jr. Thomas 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.

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

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Thomas Alan Reilly, 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 John Bradley Tharp. John 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.

John has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years John 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, John has earned the rank of Foxman in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and led his troop as Senior Patrol Leader. John has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. John installed erosion breaks and provided needed trail maintenance on a three-mile walking trail in Weston Bend State Park in Weston, Missouri. This trail is used by 25,000 people annually and is a major attraction in Platte County.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending John Bradley Tharp 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 a special member of my staff. After more than 11 years of service, Chad Higdon has left his position in my Saint Joseph District Office to become the Executive Director of Second Harvest Community Food Bank.

Chad had been with my congressional office nearly from the start. He began as an intern in 2001, helping to set up our first office in the St. Joseph Post Office Building. A year later, he was hired as the office Staff Assistant. Chad has filled many roles in the office, eventually working his way to become the congressional ``go-to-guy'' for the Saint Joseph community.

As a field representative, Chad spent many hours behind the wheel representing me in the small towns across Northwest Missouri. He built strong relationships with local leaders and always had his finger on the pulse of a community. Whether it was listening to a veteran's retelling of war stories, helping a local community find funding for sewer upgrades, or providing a legislative update to farmers, Chad's work was always done whole-heartedly and with a smile.

In 2010, Chad temporarily left his post to serve as my campaign manager. He helped secure a solid vote-margin that November and represented our organization well across all 26 counties. Chad's willingness to serve and his dedication to constituent service was a great example of how government should work. While I am losing a valuable member of my team, I am proud of Chad and excited to watch the next chapter of his career.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in thanking Chad Higdon for his many years of service to the people of the Sixth Congressional District. I know Chad's colleagues, family and friends join with me in thanking him for his commitment to others and wishing him many years of success to come.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, July 31, 2013, I missed two rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on No. 426 and No. 427.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Andrew James Farnen. 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 138, 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 24 merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Andrew has earned the rank of Firebuilder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, become an Ordeal Member of the Order of the Arrow, and led his troop as the Junior Assistant Scout Master and Senior Patrol Leader. Andrew has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Andrew designed and constructed a sandbox for a new outdoor classroom at Burr Oaks Nature Center in Blue Springs, Missouri. Andrew cut down trees for logs, cleared the area for the sandbox, constructed and filled the sandbox, and landscaped the area surrounding the sandbox for the Nature Center.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Andrew James Farnen 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 Kyle William Millsap. Kyle 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 138, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Kyle has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Kyle has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned 32 merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Kyle has earned the rank of Firebuilder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, become an Ordeal Member of the Order of the Arrow, and led his troop as the Patrol Leader. Kyle has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Kyle leveled the ground, installed a border ring and placed rubber mulch within the ring for the Joella Conrad Memorial Playground at Heartland Church in Blue Springs, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Kyle William Millsap 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 Tuesday, July 30, 2013, I missed seven rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Nos. 419 and 420, and voted ``no'' on Nos. 421, 422, 423, 424, and 425.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Cameron Miller. Cameron 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.

Cameron has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Cameron 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, Cameron has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Cameron reconstructed a hiking trail inside the Parkville Nature Sanctuary in Parkville, Missouri, overlaying the path with mulch and providing a better walking experience for hikers in the sanctuary.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Cameron Miller 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 Avis Parman, who will celebrate her 90th birthday on July 28, 2013.

Avis has been an important leader in Albany, Missouri for decades, earning the moniker ``Miss Albany.'' While she grew up in Worth County, she moved to Albany in 1943. In 1963, she became a founding member of Albany Community Betterment, an organization dedicated to improving Albany and one of two clubs that have competed in the Missouri Community Betterment program every year of its existence. Albany Community Betterment won the Grand Prize in state community betterment in 2001 and 2010, a feat Avis was instrumental in helping achieve. She has also taken time to serve on parks boards, on the Missouri Agriculture and Small Business Development Authority, serving as chairwoman from 1998 to 2000, on the state Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority, on various library projects and currently as a director emeritus of the Missouri Independent Bankers Association. Whatever Albany or Avis's neighbors in northwest Missouri needed, she answered the call and served to the best of her ability.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Avis Parman for a life of service to Albany and northwest Missouri, congratulating her on her 90th birthday and wishing her many more wonderful years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Darrin Arnold. Darrin 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.

Darrin has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Darrin 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, Darrin has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Darrin repaired 200 feet of a hiking trail inside the Parkville Nature Sanctuary in Parkville, Missouri, removing tree roots and large rocks, overlaying the path with gravel and providing a better walking experience for hikers in the sanctuary.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Darrin 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 Mrs. Helen S. Slagle of Saint Joseph, Missouri. Mrs. Slagle is retiring from Federal service after 36 years of loyal service.

Helen Slagle entered into Federal service in 1977 and has never truly left. In 1977 Helen enlisted in the United State Marine Corps. After her honorable discharge in 1997 from the Marine Corps at the rank of Gunnery Sergeant; Helen was once again called into Federal service with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Helen then transitioned to the private sector, working under contract for the Federal Government. In 2006, Helen began her final posting with the Federal government as a Special Agent with the United States Office of Personnel Management's Federal Investigative Services, Kansas City Office. During her time at O.P.M. Helen has directly supported the Federal, military and defense contractor assets located in Northwest Missouri. The investigations that Helen conducted have been for the proud military men and women who are serving their state and country.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Mrs. Helen S. Slagle. For the last 36 years Helen has dedicated herself to the United States of America through her unwavering Federal Service and I am honored to represent her in the United States Congress.