Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and service of Mr. Andrew Carter who recently celebrated his 100th birthday. He is a member of the greatest generation, and I am very proud to have men like Mr. Carter representing the state of Mississippi.

Mr. Carter is a native of Tippah county. He joined the U.S. Navy on May 17, 1944. He loves to tell stories of his time aboard the SS Felipe De Nerve, a French liner used to transport troops and supplies during heavy fighting. He survived and returned home to Mississippi. In December of 1946, Mr. Carter married Naomi Street. The couple had six children together.

Mr. Carter currently resides in Ripley. He enjoys trips to the local coffee shop to spend time with his friends, mowing the lawn, and exercising. He is a natural storyteller and has no shortage of experience.

I am so thankful for Mr. Carter's lifetime of service to this country and the state of Mississippi. I wish him many more years of good health and happiness.

Madam Speaker, I hereby remove myself as a cosponsor from H.R. 1297.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Mr. William Otis Fitch who passed away on September 22, 2021. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends, and loved ones.

Mr. Fitch was born on August 1, 1933. He was raised in Holly Springs, Mississippi and graduated from Holly Springs High School in 1951. Bill was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and riding horses. After graduating high school, he enlisted with the U.S. Navy and joined the flight team. With this team he made lifelong friendships and considered it an honor to serve his country.

After his Naval service, Bill began his career in consumer finance and lending. He joined City Finance Corporation in Memphis as the Vice President. In 1974 Bill and his wife, Clydean, opened their own consumer lending company, First National Loans. He expanded the company throughout Tennessee. He sold the company and opened a new chain of consumer finance companies, Fidelity Loan Company. Over the course of his career he served as President and board member of the Mississippi Consumer Finance Association and Memphis Consumer Credit. He was a lifetime member of the shriners.

Preceding him in death are his wife, Clydean; mother, Lurline; father, Theodore; and brothers Robert, James, and Jerry. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Aleita; daughters Lynn and Lisa; six loving grandchildren, and three great-grandsons.

I am grateful for Mr. Fitch's service and join countless others in mourning his loss.

Madam Speaker, l rise today to celebrate the life of Vicky Russell who passed away September 19 at North Mississippi Medical Center. She was 61 years old.

Vicky was born on May 20, 1960 to Raymond and Donna Gaines Yeager. She has lived all her life in Saltillo. She attended Saltillo schools and managed the B-Quick. For 13 years she worked at Hunter Sadler Mfg. before pursuing a career as a law enforcement officer. She served under Lee County Sheriff Harold Ray Presley and the Sheriff Larry Presley. 15 years ago she joined the Itawamba County Sherriff's Department. She had risen to the rank of Major and served as a Jail Administrator.

Left to cherish her memory are her beloved daughter, Jessica; grandchildren, Carson, Maisy, Delaney and Dylan; mother, Donna; sister, Patty; and countless friends, colleagues, and loved ones.

I join the Saltillo community in mourning the loss of an outstanding woman and member of the law enforcement community.

Madam Speaker, l rise today to celebrate the life and service of Mr. Andrew Carter who recently celebrated his 100th birthday. He is a member of the greatest generation, and I am very proud to have men like Mr. Carter representing the state of Mississippi.

Mr. Carter is a native of Tippah county. He joined the U.S. Navy on May 17, 1944. He loves to tell stories of his time aboard the SS Felipe De Nerve, a French liner used to transport troops and supplies during heavy fighting. He survived and returned home to Mississippi. In December of 1946, Mr. Carter married Naomi Street. The couple had six children together.

Mr. Carter currently resides in Ripley. He enjoys trips to the local coffee shop to spend time with his friends, mowing the lawn, and exercising. He is a natural storyteller and has no shortage of experience.

I am so thankful for Mr. Carter's lifetime of service to this country and the state of Mississippi. I wish him many more years of good health and happiness.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Carolyn Clayton who passed away Saturday, September 11 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in New Albany. I join her family, friends, and loved ones in mourning her loss.

Carolyn was born on February 14, 1941 to Marlin and Maggie Curtis Evans. She worked at the Lee County Chancery Clerk's Office. She found joy in attending yard sales, gardening, and spending time with family.

Carolyn was the founder of the nonprofit organization, Survival Incorporated. The organization works to advocate for the victims of violent crimes across the state of Mississippi. She was awarded Victims Advocate of the Year.

Carolyn was married for 58 years to her husband, Joe, who passed away two months prior. Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Brad and Rob; grandchildren, Nikki, Kattie, Jack and Carson.

I am grateful for Mrs. Clayton's lifetime of service to the state of Mississippi.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the FY22 NDAA. Our military has and is facing unprecedented challenges, and this body is duty-bound to ensure

our military is adequately funded and has the tools to win. We also do this by empowering American companies and the industrial base that provides goods and services to the DOD.

The hardworking Mississippians who work for companies like Airbus, Huntington Ingalls, Winchester, General Dynamics, Stark Aerospace, SpaceX and General Atomics keep our Nation safe and deserve the support of our Congress.

This bill includes a Republican amendment boosting the defense top line by nearly $25 billion and reverses the administration's reckless cuts to our national security, restoring funding for shipbuilding, procurement, missile defense, and modernization.

This bill will also fund the unfunded top priorities of our military that the White House failed to support. Once passed, this bill further bolsters our military's ability to maintain its dominance in every domain, and ensures military leaders have the resources to take care of servicemembers and military families.

Additionally, this year's NDAA will begin the process of holding the White House accountable for the mistakes in Afghanistan. For months, we have asked for more detail on the so-called over-the-horizon strategy to conduct counterterrorism. We received scant details ahead of the withdrawal, and America deserves answers to why the withdrawal was so unorganized in planning and execution run by the Commander in Chief and the State Department.

The lack of planning leading up to the withdrawal and the continued inability to maintain control on the ground by this administration is staggering. The Armed Services Committee, particularly this Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, will not allow these weaknesses of the administration to continue to place our citizens, allies, partners, and overall national security at risk.

This year's bill calls for the administration to provide a plan to get the rest of the American citizens out.

Finally, I would be remiss without asking about my teammates, which is Tony Starks, Colin Hawkins, and Rodney Hall, professional staffer, Patrick Nevins, and my battle buddy in all of this, Ranking Member Gallego.

I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and service of Mr. James Alvin Marlin who passed away on Friday, August 27 at the age of 88. I join his family, friends, and loved ones in mourning his loss.

Born on October 16, 1932 in Fawn Grove, Mississippi to Theron Kendall and Vivian Lucas Marlin, Skillet went on to graduate from Iuka High school in 1951. He attended Itawamba Junior College before joining the United States Army. He served as a Tank Commander in the Korean War in the ``Hell On Wheels'' division.

After service, Skillet moved to Tupelo to work in car sales. He co- owned the Lincoln-Mercury dealership and later purchased and managed it. Years later in Iuka, he purchased and managed the Marlin-Moore Chevrolet dealership. In Iuka he served on the A71 board for the state of Mississippi. For six years he was the Game and Fish Commissioner. For 11 years he served on the Tombigbee Water Management Board and worked as an investigator for the State Insurance Commissioner. Mr. Marlin was the president of the board for NASA Facilities Operations and served on the TCEPA board for more than fifteen years.

Skillet was an avid outdoorsman. He was instrumental in bringing Turkey back to Tishomingo County and was a friend to Elvis Presley. He was beloved by all who had the opportunity to know him. Mr. Marlin is survived by his two sons, Bob and Scott.

Mr. Marlin served his country proudly, and I am thankful for his life of service to this Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Staff Sergeant First Class Jason Belue who passed

away on Thursday, August 26 at the 154th Regiment, Regional Training Institute, Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I join his friends, family, and loved ones in mourning his loss.

Staff Sergeant Belue was a National Guard solider assigned to Charlie Troop, 1-98th Calvary Regiment, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team. At the time of his passing, Staff Sergeant Belue was attending the Maneuver Senior Leaders Course as a part of his professional military education and career advancement.

He served in the U.S. Armed Forces for 24 years, earning the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award), Armed Forces Reserve Medal, (2nd Award), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge, ad Iraq Campaign medal (with 4 campaign stars). He served on three deployments with the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi National Guard in support off Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and again for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009, then Operation Spartan Shield 2018 to 2019.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of twenty-two years, Jennifer Brents Belue; sons, Blake, Jason, and Bentley; and granddaughter Hazel. He is preceded in death by his grandparents.

I am grateful for Staff Sergeant Belue's years of service to the state of Mississippi and this country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and service of Major Bobby Crabtree who passed away on Thursday, August 26 at North Mississippi Medical Center. He served with the Mississippi Army National Guard within the HHC, 115th Armored Brigade in Tupelo.

Bobby was born in Louisiana to William and Aleta Best Crabtree. He was raised in Houma and graduated from H.L. Bourgeouis High School. He studied Business Administration at Nicholls State University in Louisiana and began his career at Sears. In 2002 he was transferred to Tupelo, where he retired and began his career as a truck driver.

Bobby served for twenty-three years in the Mississippi Army National Guard and retired as a Major. He was deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was an active member of the Orchard Church in Tupelo. He was a lifelong LSU football fan, but gladly cheered for Mississippi State, where his sons attended. In his free time he played bass guitar and fished.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Pamela Smith Crabtree; sons Wesley, Matthew, and Lance; his mother, Aleta; and brother, Billy.

I am grateful for Major Crabtree's many years of service to the state of Mississippi and I join his family, friends, and loved ones in grieving his loss.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Mr. Tony Austin who passed away on August 15. I join his family, friends, and loved ones in mourning his loss.

Tony was beloved by his community. He proudly served in the United States Army as a Sergeant in the Korean war from 1950-1953. After returning he continued to serve his community as a Memphis police officer driving car #1 on Beale Street. He was affectionately known by his colleagues as Mr. Smiley.

In his free time, Mr. Austin enjoyed a round of golf, singing gospels, and playing the guitar. He was a father, grandfather, great- grandfather and a friend.

Mr. Austin was a fixture in his community and his legacy will be long remembered. I offer my most sincere condolences to all who had the opportunity to know and love him.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Mrs. McClain who turns 100 years old on September 26, 2021. I congratulate her on a long and healthy life and decades of service to her community.

Mrs. McClain is a gifted seamstress. She is known for her ability to adapt any pattern and create something beautiful overnight. She was also an athlete with the Hernando Community Ladies Softball Team. She was a domestic worker and a seamstress at Minor France Dress Shop in Memphis before retiring.

Mrs. McClain was married to Mr. Cornelius Lloyd McClain and the mother of two sons, Alfred and Calvin. She is a lifelong member of Rising Sun Missionary Baptist Church in Hernando.

I am thrilled to wish Mrs. McClain a happy 100th birthday and offer my most sincere congratulations.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and service of Embra Jackson, a member of the Montford Point Marines. Mr. Jackson fought bravely alongside twenty thousand African American men who joined the armed forces during World War II. Embra and countless other African American men served their country overseas while the fight for civil rights continued at home.

Embra completed basic training at Montford Point Camp, North Carolina, which remained segregated. He fought for the United States in the Pacific, and many of his fellow Marines continued their service through the wars in Korea and Vietnam.

The Montford Point veterans made an invaluable impact on the rich history of the Marine Corps. Their efforts at home and abroad aided President Truman in his 1948 decision to desegregate the military. After 64 years, the 112th Congress awarded the Montford Point Marines the Congressional Gold Medal for patriotism and distinguished achievement.

I am grateful for Embra Jackson's lifetime of service to this great nation and the United States Marine Corps.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Gary Dedeaux who passed away August 4, 2021. He was born March 31, 1956 in West Point to Ruth Murray and Dr. Howard Dedeaux.

Gary was known for his humility and compassion. He was a successful entrepreneur in Columbus and West Point. He enjoyed farm work, shooting, and above all flying. Gary was a member of Faith Baptist Church and sought to live in a way that honors Christ.

Left to cherish his memory are Gary's wife Natalie; daughter Gina; son Richard; and grandson Thomas Lane. I join countless others in mourning Gary's loss and offer my most sincere condolences to his loved ones.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and service of Mr. Samuel Larry Richey who passed away Saturday, July 17 at NMMC Nursing Home in Pontotoc. He was a dedicated basketball coach, husband, and father. I join his family, friends, and loved ones in mourning his loss.

Mr. Richey did not expect or plan on becoming a boys basketball coach. He was hired as a teacher at Jumpertown and was hired as the assistant coach in 1967. He coached in Wheeler, Baldwyn and Mantachie over the course of his career. He brought seventeen boys teams to the Mississippi State Tournament and won six. His team was once ranked 29th all-time in the National Federation of Schools record book. He was named ``Coach of the Year: in multiple publications and by the time of his retirement, he was the winningest coach in Mississippi history.

Mr. Richey holds a bachelor's degree in business from Mississippi State University and served in the United States Armed Forces from 1958-1960. He was a member of Asbury Methodist church and enjoyed raising cattle, playing golf, and watching westerns.

Left to cherish his memory are wife of 57 years, Dale Gardner Richey; sons, Clark and Clay; grandsons Gardner, Gabe, Reggie, Maddux, Rob and Walker; granddaughters Kate, Lee-Anna, and Rylee.

I am grateful for Mr. Richey's legacy and the positive impact he had on countless young athletes. I offer my most sincere condolences to those who had the opportunity to know and love him.