Brad Ashford

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose any potential default on our Nation's fiscal obligations. Treasury Secretary Lew stated that we must act before November 3 to avoid a default. If we default, we can't pay our obligations at home, and that means our veterans and seniors go without the benefits that they have earned. There is no doubt that we must rein in spending, and we must work together--and I know we can--to do so. At the same time, we must keep the promises that we have made to our veterans, to our seniors, and to our Nation's bondholders. President Ronald Reagan agreed that sacrificing our credit rating in the name of fiscal responsibility is not responsibility at all. He said of a potential default: ``Brinkmanship threatens . . . those who rely on Social Security and veterans benefits. Interest rates would skyrocket, instability would occur in financial markets, and the Federal deficit would soar.'' Colleagues, let's not bring the government again to the edge of a default. Rather, let's find a bipartisan pathway, which I know we can do, that will control our spending and prevent the devastating effects of default on our economy and our veterans.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, I rise today to recognize two true Hispanic leaders in my home district of Omaha, Nebraska. Two remarkable women, Linda Garcia Perez and Magdalena Garcia, have been instrumental in the preservation and advancement of the Latino arts and culture in our area. Linda Garcia Perez has spent 40 years creating, teaching, and exhibiting Mexican/Latino traditions and customs. She incorporates Mexican folk art with basic art instruction to teach English and Spanish-speaking children and adults. She has broadened my community's knowledge and understanding of the Hispanic heritage, as has Magdalena Garcia, the founder and executive director of Omaha's El Museo Latino. The museum is a resource center for Latino studies throughout the Midwest. Of special note, however, are the museum's educational programs, which enlighten students from kindergarten through college as well as adults. The contributions of Linda Garcia Perez and Magdalena Garcia have established a robust environment for the Latino arts and culture in Omaha. It is with great honor that I recognize these two outstanding women.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend who has not only left his mark on a nationally recognized Omaha business, but also on the city itself. Fred Simon joined the family business Omaha Steaks back in 1959, helping to make it the household name and success story it is today. But the memory of Fred Simon goes beyond the bottom line. Through his love of the arts, he spent many years helping propel the city of Omaha into a world-class community. Art lovers in Omaha have long recognized the role Fred played in elevating the city's cultural stature. It has been said that he knew that great cities need great art. With that goal in mind, Fred helped bring a full-time professional opera company to Omaha, and he didn't stop there. Serving as Opera Omaha's board president, financially backing and attending the opera for more than four decades, Fred once said that he was sensitive to the meaning of words and the power of music. Fred, you will certainly be missed on many levels. Omaha thanks you for a life that has indeed been well lived.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. I thank the gentleman for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a subject many of our veterans and their families understandably find great difficulty in discussing. Veteran suicide, as we have already heard, is a major problem in our country. We have all heard the numbers. An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide every day. That is one life every hour. Please keep in mind those horrific numbers have names, the names of men and women who put themselves in harm's way in order to keep each and every one of us safe. Earlier this year we passed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention of American Veterans Act. It addresses the need for more mental healthcare experts inside the VA along with expanding the time available to veterans to seek mental health care through the VA. The new law also calls for an evaluation of all VA mental health care and suicide prevention practices to determine what is working and make recommendations on what is not. This is a major step in the right direction, but we must continue to do more. I am proud to say, Mr. Speaker, that, in Omaha, we are currently working with the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a center of excellence, a national model for veterans' care that will include top- flight mental health care and other services so much needed by our veterans in our community. That treatment would cover post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and problems relating to other people. The debt we owe the men and women who serve this country is a debt that can never be repaid. But we must continue to ensure that we keep our promises to our veterans and support their very unique healthcare issues.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Mike Harper, on his 88th birthday. Mr. Harper served as the CEO of ConAgra, an agricultural giant and Fortune 500 company headquartered in the heart of my district. In 1975, Mike came to Omaha to take the helm at ConAgra and presided over a massive expansion of business in Nebraska. By 1987, though, Nebraska was emerging from the farm crisis and feared the loss of significant corporate presence. Mike personally spearheaded the effort to reform State taxes and regulations that made corporate investment burdensome. Between 1975, when Mike took over as CEO of ConAgra, and 1987, the profits of ConAgra soared, as did the fortunes of business in Nebraska. Thanks to Mike's leadership in business and politics, Nebraska now has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. My district in particular enjoys a well-balanced economy, including manufacturing, agriculture, and a wide array of services. On this day, I wish to rise to applaud this giant of the agriculture industry and a major contributor to the expansion and preservation of Nebraska's local economy. Happy birthday to Mike Harper.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, today, we face another government shutdown, another government shutdown that threatens our economy. And what is this potential shutdown about? It is about Congress trying to dictate to women in my community which healthcare providers they can and cannot see to get care. Let me set the record straight. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland provides vital preventive care to women in my community. Last year, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland served nearly 10,000 patients. They conducted over 4,000 cervical and breast cancer screenings and over 13,000 tests for sexually transmitted infections. They provided prenatal care, pregnancy testing, and other preventive health services. They are an active supporter of the national campaign to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy, and they even have licensed adoption professionals on site to help women navigate the steps of adoption. I am a strong believer that education regarding women's health prevents abortions. We must come together and work in a spirit of bipartisanship to avoid this government shutdown.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, when we return from our recess, we need to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. Ex-Im has helped Nebraska businesses grow and export U.S.-made products overseas. In fact, last year, my district exported over $60 million of Nebraska manufactured goods all over the world. Growing U.S. exports mean growing jobs at home. Secondly, we need to come together and pass a long-term transportation bill. According to a recent report, nearly a quarter of Nebraska's bridges are structurally unsound. Beyond safety, investments in infrastructure can create immediate jobs and long-term economic growth. Lastly, we need to pass a responsible, comprehensive immigration reform bill. This would pull hard-working people out of the shadows, work to attract the best, talented people across the globe, and make our businesses more competitive in the world economy. Upon our return, Mr. Speaker, let's commit ourselves to bipartisan solutions to these issues.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up H.R. 1031--a bill to protect thousands of American jobs by preventing the Export-Import Bank from shutting down.

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I rise today to express my support for the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. The Ex-Im Bank is an independent, self-sustaining executive branch agency with one mission, to foster American job growth by helping American companies with the tools they need to compete in the global marketplace. In short, the Ex-Im Bank provides the business community the certainty it needs to compete in overseas markets and grow jobs at home. Why am I so supportive of the Ex-Im Bank and its reauthorization? In my district alone, in the month of May, the Ex-Im Bank provided $3.8 million worth of Nebraska's export goods into the global marketplace, companies as large as Valmont Industries, one of the largest manufacturers of center pivot irrigation systems in the world, and companies as small as Volcanic Peppers, that in a small kitchen produced hot sauce that is exported to Australia. In fiscal year 2014, the Ex-Im Bank supported approximately $107 million in Nebraska exports, 49 percent of which went to Nebraska small businesses. Since 2007, the Bank has supported $230 million in exports from 52 Iowa companies and $550 million in exports from 39 Nebraska companies. This translates into American private sector jobs in every district of this country. In real terms, the Ex-Im Bank helps to level the playing field for both large and small businesses who export products abroad. Simply put, there is no rational reason, Mr. Speaker, for allowing American products and American goods to have a disadvantage in the global marketplace. Congress must reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank immediately, and I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make this happen.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. I would like to commend my colleague Congressman Fortenberry for his work on this issue and his words, which are right on. I would like to thank as well the chairman for his words, which accurately describe the history of Boys Town. Let me also thank the ranking member for her comments that so accurately reflect what Boys Town means to our community and to the entire country. I grew up around Boys Town. I grew up playing sports at Boys Town. The high school that I went to, Boys Town was in our conference; and we spent many very difficult nights playing basketball against the Boys Town basketball team which, quite frankly, was better than we were on most every occasion. In my years in the legislature that lasted until last year, I had the opportunity to work with a colleague of mine, Senator Bob Krist from Omaha, who spearheaded significant juvenile justice reform in our State. The child welfare system in Nebraska was in deep trouble; and Senator Krist, along with Father Boes, who is the acclaimed and incredibly competent leader at Boys Town, we passed significant juvenile justice legislation that helps families throughout the State of Nebraska, that deals with brain development, that deals with wraparound services, family services, as was so aptly described by my colleague Congressman Fortenberry. Mr. Speaker, we are changing lives in Nebraska; and, as has been mentioned, Boys Town is changing lives throughout the country. Their unique approach to juvenile justice issues, the wraparound family- centered services that deal with not only the parents but the siblings to help bring these young people into a productive life, is what Boys Town has been about for the 100 years that it has been in existence. It is no longer there, but I remember as a child in the 1950s actually seeing the first Boys Town facility in downtown Omaha. When I was growing up, Boys Town was way out of town. It had a farm around it. The farm is still there, but now, it is in the middle of Omaha, as Omaha grows. Though it is in a different place in the world today than it was in 1917 with Father Flanagan, by bringing business leaders in Omaha together and others to create Boys Town, it serves that grand purpose that Father Flanagan envisioned in 1917. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I thank the ranking member for giving me this opportunity to speak.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. I thank the ranking member. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that this is a vote for the ages. My constituents in Nebraska are asking me: ``Brad, can we govern? Can we come together? Can we move this country forward?'' What we do here today will determine how we do move forward as a nation. What kind of country do we leave our children? In my view, Mr. Speaker, we are at our best when we reach for the Moon. This, in my view, is one of those moments. This is a vote for better jobs, a stronger economy for American workers and for American exceptionalism. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that this is a vote for the ages. Please support TAA and TPP and TPA to make life better for all Americans.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support and admiration for the AbilityOne Program, this country's single largest provider of employment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. AbilityOne currently works with approximately 4,600 blind individuals and over 44,000 disabled people, 3,000 of whom are military veterans or wounded warriors, helping them gain greater independence and a higher quality of life. This is accomplished by providing them with both the skills and training necessary to find valued jobs with good wages and benefits. Mr. Speaker, Congress first recognized the need for this type of program in 1938 and expanded upon it in 1971. Today AbilityOne delivers more than $2 billion in quality products and services to the Federal Government at fair market prices. It also provides critical support to the U.S. armed services for both military and humanitarian operations. With a national network of nearly 600 community-based nonprofit agencies, AbilityOne contracts projects in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. With the participation of more of its citizens in the workplace, every community benefits from greater cultural diversity and awareness.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud several Nebraska schools for their nationally recognized roles in protecting the environment. Two Omaha schools--the Edward ``Babe'' Gomez Heritage Elementary School and the Wilson Focus School--along with the Lincoln School District, have been named 2015 Green Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. These schools have been honored for their promising efforts to reduce negative environmental impact, ensure environmental education, promote better health, and cut utility costs. As Secretary Duncan has noted, these schools are ``an inspiration and deserve the spotlight for embodying strong examples of innovative learning and civic engagement.'' It is clear that the honorees are powerful examples of the ways in which schools can help students cut school costs, provide healthy learning environments, and prepare for the real world ahead. I also want to take this opportunity to honor my good and late friend, Senator Ron Raikes from Ashland, Nebraska, who with me developed the legislation for the focus schools in Nebraska. He has been and is sorely missed.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember six heroic United States marines who died last week serving our country during a humanitarian lifesaving mission halfway around the world. They were killed in a tragic helicopter crash in Nepal as they delivered badly needed supplies to that nation's suffering earthquake victims. Among the six are two men with close ties to Nebraska. One of the helicopter's decorated pilots, 29-year-old Captain Dustin Lukasiewicz, grew up in Wilcox, Nebraska. Prior to serving in Nepal, he was deployed in Afghanistan. Captain Lukasiewicz leaves behind his wife, Ashley, and one daughter. Ashley is also pregnant and due to deliver next month. Twenty-two-year-old Lance Corporal Jacob Hug, a decorated combat videographer from Arizona, leaves behind several family members and close friends who live in Omaha and neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa. Corporal Hug was capturing images of the Marine Corps' relief efforts in Nepal. Prior to deploying to Nepal, Corporal Hug filmed and photographed marines from South Korea, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Guam, and the United States. Mr. Speaker, please join me in keeping these brave, selfless individuals and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my unqualified support for those struggling with mental health issues. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and an opportune time to reach out to those battling with this issue, including this country's veterans and their families. Many of our veterans endured trauma during their time of service and, as a result, are now forced to face the negative perceptions and stigma associated with mental health care. I want to lend my voice to a national program designed to reducing those negative views. The Department of Veterans Affairs is encouraging veterans, along with their families and friends, to visit the Web site maketheconnection.net. Make the Connection allows veterans to tell their personal stories of mental health treatment and recovery. Through the Web site, veterans and their loved ones hear from hundreds of other veterans who may be experiencing similar challenges and learn strategies for support and recovery. This is truly an excellent source of strength for veterans in need of hope.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my unwavering support for the Export-Import Bank of the United States and its chairman, Fred Hochberg. In fiscal year 2014 alone, the Ex-Im Bank supported approximately $107 million in Nebraska exports. As the bank looks to extend its charter through the end of 2022, Chairman Hochberg graciously accepted my invitation to come to Omaha, where he recently sat down with several of the Nebraska firms which work hand-in-hand with the Ex-Im Bank. Mr. Speaker, I also wish to express my support for the many Nebraska firms who work for the bank. Among these are Chief Industries of Kearney, Nebraska, which manufactures grain storage systems and employs 245 full-time workers. For the last 15 years, Chief Industries has worked with the bank to increase its export sales by 1,000 percent. That's right, 1,000 percent. It is this kind of success story which makes clear the significant contribution which the Ex-Im Bank makes to our Nation's economy. Among these contributions are the 1.3 million American jobs the bank has helped create since 2009, while reducing the Federal deficit alone by $7 billion over the last 20 years.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my unwavering support for the plight and uncertainty that DREAMers face in Nebraska and across the Nation. Let me start by stating that I unequivocally support the DREAM Act. In Nebraska, the notion of immigration is as bipartisan as the legislative body itself. As evidence, Republicans and Democrats in the State capitol are backing L.B. 623, introduced by State Senator Jeremy Nordquist. It allows driver's licenses for thousands of Nebraska DREAMers. I wholeheartedly support and endorse this bill. My good friend from across the aisle, State Senator John S. McCollister, is making these licenses his top priority. By the way, if the name McCollister sounds familiar, it should be. In the early 1970s, John's father, Congressman John Y. McCollister, served the people of Nebraska's Second Congressional District with distinction. His son continues that tradition as he reaches across the aisle in Lincoln, Nebraska, to give our DREAMers a better life than their parents have had. Again, I pledge today, as I have in the Nebraska legislature, to support the DREAMers. I ask my colleagues in this body and in the Senate to work towards a comprehensive reform package which includes a permanent and certain path for our DREAMer youth.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in observation of National Women's History Month. During this time, it is important to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in our great Nation. I am proud to recognize my friend, Mayor Jean Stothert, the 51st mayor of the great city of Omaha, Nebraska, and the first woman elected to this office. In 1993, Mr. Speaker, Ms. Stothert moved to Nebraska, quickly embracing her new home. Her advocacy garnered an appointment to the Millard school board, a position to which she was reelected three times. Expanding her passion for service, she sought and won election to the Omaha City Council in 2009. With a strong work ethic and ambition, Mayor Stothert was elected mayor of the city of Omaha on May 14, 2013. An illustration by our very famous editorial cartoonist Jeff Koterba of the Omaha World-Herald portrays Mayor Stothert breaking the proverbial glass ceiling in Omaha. Good for her--she represents a phalanx of women in Omaha who are taking leadership positions in our community and in our State.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Thank you, Mr. Costa. I am privileged to have the opportunity to speak today. Mr. Speaker, you mentioned, just briefly, the concept of ``Profiles of Courage.'' John Kennedy, in writing that book, wrote about a great Nebraskan, George Norris. George Norris was a Senator from Nebraska, and prior to that time, he served in this House. In 1908, he led a bipartisan effort in the House to change the rules of the House in order to make the House more transparent and more accountable to the American people. In that regard, in John Kennedy's book he wrote about Congressman Norris, and then, subsequently, Senator Norris. In the 1930s, Senator Norris, who had worked to create the Tennessee Valley Authority, worked across the aisle with FDR--he was a Republican--to pass the Rural Electrification Act that electrified the country. He did so working across the aisle. And in the 1930s--and 1934, specifically--he reached out to the people of Nebraska and said to them: We can do better. We can have a more transparent government. We can have a bipartisan, nonpartisan government that will address the tough issues of Nebraska in the Depression of the 1930s. And he recommended to the voters: Look, let's do this. Let's have a unicameral, nonpartisan legislature. And the lobbyists and the special interests said: George, you should go back to Washington. This isn't going to work in Nebraska. Well, the voters of Nebraska, in 1934, voted for a unicameral, nonpartisan legislature, and I am proud to say that we have such a legislature today. I am so proud and honored to be here. There was a discussion earlier by prior speakers about relationships. And what is so interesting to me and amazing to me--not amazing, really, but gratifying--are those relationships, are the relationships that I have been able to achieve through my association with the Blue Dogs and relationships with Republicans and Democrats alike. It is very, very gratifying that that exists. That is what I am used to in Nebraska. When I first arrived here, I went to a Democratic Caucus. I served in the Nebraska unicameral legislature for 16 years. I never went to a caucus in my life. I didn't really know exactly what a Democrat or Republican really was. I suppose I would have to look, but of the 49 members of the Nebraska Legislature, I would have to think long and hard about what party they belonged to. And in the 16 years that I served there, we had many tough issues. In fact, one of the toughest issues we had in the State was the pipeline issue, and that was referenced earlier--the TransCanada pipeline. Well, it goes through Nebraska. As originally routed, it would have gone through some of the most sensitive areas of our State, the Sandhills area and the Ogallala Aquifer. We spent a year together, the 49 of us. Not every day. We would kill each other if we spent every day together, but we spent a lot of time. At the end of the day, we came up with a process to reroute the TransCanada pipeline to move it away from the most sensitive parties of the Ogallala Aquifer. We did it with a vote of 49-0, environmentalists and those on the other side of the issue coming together to pass a routing bill. So the idea that George Norris had was, number one, be transparent. Let the people of Nebraska know exactly what you are doing. What is interesting about the 16 years that I was there--and, quite frankly, if you do count Republicans and Democrats in the unicameral legislature, you will find that there are a lot more Republicans, traditionally, than there are Democrats, at least during the 16 years I was there, and I don't think that at any time I was there, any year, any legislative session I was there, that there were not an equal number of committee chairs that were Republican and Democrat. There was nothing magic about that. It was just the way we balanced things out in our State. We did it and do it intuitively. We do it intuitively. I don't suggest that we are going to decide tomorrow or even next year or 10 years from now to have a unicameral, bipartisan, nonpartisan legislature, but the lessons that I learned there are the lessons that I have brought here. And when I had the opportunity, Mr. Costa, to meet the Blue Dogs, it reminded me of home. It reminded me of the Nebraska Legislature and the idea that Republicans and Democrats make that decision for themselves. But as my good friend and former Senator from Nebraska Ed Zorinsky used to say, there are no Republican Senators or Democratic Senators. There are only American Senators, U.S. Senators. It is in the water in Nebraska. That is how we think. That is how we are. And what is great about this place is those same relationships, those same committed people are there to make those kinds of relationships work in a bipartisan way. We have heard examples of that today. When I ran for this office, I said to the voters of the Second Congressional District of Nebraska, Sarpy County and Douglas County, Nebraska, the two most populace counties: I'm going to go to Washington, and I'm going to make 25 friends. Because in Nebraska, if you make 25 friends, you get 25 people to vote for a bill, it passes. You know what? I found more than 25 friends. I found a lot of friends, a lot of great people who sit in this body, this place, every single day, Republicans and Democrats. I just got back--and then I will conclude, Mr. Costa--from a trip to Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, the Emirates, and Kuwait. I went with three other Members: Elise Stefanik, who is a freshman Republican from New York; Joe Wilson, who is a veteran Member from South Carolina; and Seth Moulton, who is a freshman from Massachusetts. What great people. What great committed Americans to have gone on that trip. So, Mr. Speaker, I commend the Blue Dogs to the country, to those that are watching, in furtherance of the old tradition of transparency and working together and making things happen.

Mr. ASHFORD. Thank you for the comment. Yes, I was fortunate enough to visit with Nebraskans who were serving in Iraq and serving in Afghanistan. I was on a C-130. We were traveling over the Strait of Hormuz area. The navigator in the C-130 said to me: Sir--because he had to call me ``sir''; that is the protocol--get behind us. We're doing the best we can over here, and we need your support. And they are going to get our support and have our support. Thank you for the question. I was so deeply appreciative of the opportunity to meet with my fellow Nebraskans who were there as well.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, as we close out Black History Month, I want to recognize a leader in my community in Nebraska, Thomas H. Warren, Sr., the President and CEO of the Urban League of Nebraska. Prior to assuming his leadership role at ULN, Mr. Warren served for 24 years with the Omaha Police Department, serving 4 years as the Chief of Police--the first African American to assume this position. Mr. Warren transformed the struggling Urban League of Nebraska into an organization serving the public's interest and advocating for social justice. Today, ULN provides programs in youth development, employment services and violence prevention--services that were not previously offered in our community. Thomas Warren's record of public service is extensive, but it is safe to say that Omaha would not be the same without him. He has been recognized on both the local and national level for his dedication to our community, and it is with great honor that I recognize him here on the House floor. On behalf of our community, I want to say thank you to Mr. Thomas Warren, Sr.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the men and women from my district in Nebraska who have served and continue to serve our country. Often their service keeps them from their families for extended periods of time and too often leaves them with unnecessary obstacles to overcome when they return home. For that reason, I am proud to announce that my office is launching our Military Voices Campaign. Over the next 6 weeks, my team and I will be meeting with folks in the military community on ways that we can help men and women who serve. Our goal is to build a network of support throughout the Second Congressional District. Nebraska is home to some of the finest men and women to serve this country, and our entire congressional delegation is committed to giving them the benefits and opportunities that they have earned.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Byron L. Diamond for his nearly 29 years of military service in the Nebraska Army National Guard and United States Army Reserve. Colonel Diamond was born March 30, 1967 in Belleville, Kansas. He graduated from Columbus High School in Columbus, Nebraska in 1985. Colonel Diamond enlisted as a Private on July 17, 1986 into the Nebraska Army National Guard as a member of Company C, 1/195 Armor Battalion in Fairbury, Nebraska. In order to become a commissioned officer, Colonel Diamond attended Southeast Community College in Lincoln where he received an Associate Degree of Applied Science--Finance in 1989. Colonel Diamond was then commissioned a Second Lieutenant on July 22, 1989 at the Nebraska National Guard Military Academy. From there, he continued his education to obtain a Bachelor of Professional Studies--Business Administration/Technical Services from Bellevue University at Bellevue, Nebraska in 1992. Later on Colonel Diamond would earn a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in 2011. Colonel Diamond and his wife, Denise, have two daughters, Emma and Olivia and son, Alexander. His career included traditional and full-time positions of ever increasing responsibility. Colonel Diamond's career culminated as the G4--Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics in the Nebraska Army National Guard. Colonel Diamond's significant service contributions include key assignments within the 267th (Direct Support) Maintenance Company (command), the 67th Infantry Brigade Forward Support Battalion, the 19th Theater Support Command, the 67th Area Support Group, commander 402nd Military Police Battalion, and Joint Force Headquarters-- Nebraska. His key achievements include: serving as the Directorate of Installation Management for the 67th Area Support Group while deployed to Al Asad Air Base; developing plans with the 19th TSC for the defense of South Korea; and the establishment of communications infrastructure to relocate the Nebraska National Guard Headquarters to a new facility. Colonel Diamond was promoted to his current rank December 13, 2011. Colonel Diamond distinguished himself through his extensive knowledge of logistics and mobilization operations where his mentoring and championing of logistics personnel and processes resulted in Nebraska's numerous regional and national Chief of Staff of the Army, Combined Logistics Excellence Awards. His accomplishments are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and patriotism and have brought great credit upon himself and the country. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize Colonel Byron Diamond for his years of service and sacrifice to our country.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Melissa Dunlow for her 25 years of service in the United States Air Force Reserves, seventeen of which were served on active duty. Mrs. Dunlow grew up in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. She had an interest in traveling and although she had the desire to attend college, it was not financially feasible. In her senior year of high school, Mrs. Dunlow entered the delayed enlistment program, and subsequently active duty with the United States Air Force. Mrs. Dunlow was first assigned to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma as an Air Transportation Specialist; which primarily meant manual labor of loading cargo and passengers onto military aircraft. Mrs. Dunlow applied for and was approved to cross- train into the paralegal career field where she could perform administrative work. During the four and a half years Mrs. Dunlow served as a paralegal, she took college classes at night and on Saturdays to complete her bachelor's degree. She then applied for a commission and attended Officer Training School about three weeks after her college graduation. Mrs. Dunlow's first assignment as a Second Lieutenant was to Offutt AFB in Bellevue, Nebraska, in 2003. While stationed there, she met her future husband, Neil who was also stationed at Offutt. Mrs. Dunlow applied for a ROTC teaching position at University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill. The couple married in June 2006 and Mrs. Dunlow was assigned to Chapel Hill the next month. However, her husband Neil remained at Offutt to fulfill his duty requirement. During their separation, Mr. Dunlow came to realize that the Bellevue/Papillion area was where he wanted to start an orthodontic practice as well as a family. Together, they decided to separate from active duty and make a life in Nebraska. Mrs. Dunlow returned to the area in a civil service position in Human Resources at STRATCOM while Mr. Dunlow opened a small orthodontic practice in Bellevue. Mrs. Dunlow joined the Air Force Reserves as a Liaison Officer to the Civil Air Patrol. After ``buying in'' her active duty time and completing the minimum required time in civil service, Mrs. Dunlow left her position with STRATCOM in September 2012 in order to spend time at home with their two children who are now 6 and 4. Currently, Mrs. Dunlow spends days at home with their youngest daughter and works part-time at the orthodontic office as an office manager. Only time will tell what Mrs. Dunlow will do once their youngest daughter is in school full-time, maybe she will utilize her Master's degree, or perhaps she will strike out a new career after using the remaining two years of her GI bill to complete another degree. Mr. Speaker it is with great pleasure that I recognize Mrs. Melissa Dunlow for her 25 years of military service. What a truly inspiring career she has had and will continue to have. Her hard work and tenacity are commendable. Mrs. Dunlow represents a real American hero through her commitment and solidarity to her brothers and sisters in arms.

Mr. ASHFORD

Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Frank P. Matthews, Jr. for his dedication and commitment to improving the Omaha community he has called home for so many years. On Friday, Mr. Matthews was named by St. Cecilia Elementary School as the first recipient of its Bernadette ``Bonnie'' Pryor Distinguished Alumnus Award for his continued service to the school. Mr. Matthews is the son of the late Frank P Matthews, the 49th United States Secretary of the Navy from 1949-1951 and United States Ambassador to Ireland from 1951-1952. The late Mr. Matthews installed many admirable values in his son, including service to one's country as well as the importance of giving back. Mr. Matthews took this advice, and following graduation from Creighton Preparatory High School and completion of a correspondence course, served in an Army gunnery unit from 1942-1946. During this time, Mr. Matthews studied Chinese in anticipation of his deployment there; however Japan surrendered, ending the war. After the war, Mr. Matthews earned a Juris Doctorate from Creighton University Law School. He and his partner Martin Cannon, practiced for many years, in the Matthews and Cannon Law Building. In the 1960's Mr. Matthews pooled together resources so as to buy shares in a new company led by the young Warren Buffett. Having the advantage of early participation, Mr. Matthews has echoed his father's credence of good will by giving back at least half of what he has earned from this investment. Since his retirement at 65, Mr. Matthews has spent the past 30 years with his late wife, Helen, traveling the world and experiencing new things. Throughout this time he has enriched the lives of so many Omahans through his service and commitment to the community. Mr. Speaker it is with great pleasure that I recognize Mr. Frank Matthews for his and his family's achievements and service to our great state and this great country.