Rod Blum

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the work of the Chairman and the Members of her subcommittee. I rise today with grave concerns about this agreement that could very well lead to an increased likelihood of a nuclear Iran. This outcome is unacceptable and the consequences would have harmful effects on our country and the region. Simply put, we cannot trust a country that continues to sponsor and sanction terrorism against U.S. interests and actively promotes the destruction of our strongest ally in the Middle East--Israel. The United States must limit opportunities for Iran to obtain nuclear weapons rather than providing avenues for the spread of such weapons. A nuclear Iran will be very unlikely to respond to peaceful international intervention. By permitting Iran to obtain nuclear weapons capability--even after 10 years--we will increase the likelihood of future military action in the Middle East. This will increase the burden on our already strained military and put the brave men and women of our armed forces at risk unnecessarily-- while increasing the possibility of further destabilization in multiple countries in the Middle East. Additionally, by lifting the sanctions on Iran and releasing the money held in accounts held abroad will we be promoting the further funding by Iran of terrorist activities and groups such as Hamas and the Taliban. Strengthening a regime well known for state sponsorship of terrorism goes against all reason. Further, we can be sure that other countries are looking at this agreement with Iran as a bellwether of permissive activity. If one country in the region is allowed by the United States to obtain a nuclear weapon, surely others will look to follow suit. It's my belief that Congress should step up the pressure and reject any agreement that does not meet our nation's strategic objectives. I am deeply concerned that the U.S., once a strong leader on the world stage, is now allowing ourselves to be duped and undercut by a country with an agenda of terror and instability rather than the peace and cooperation that developed nations seek. I urge my colleagues to reject any agreement that diminishes the standing of the U.S. and does not completely cut off weaponized nuclear capabilities for Iran.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge three players on the Waterloo Black Hawks, a United States Hockey League (USHL) team from my district, as they prepare to represent the United States in a prestigious international hockey tournament. Goalie Dayton Rasmussen, defenseman Sam Rossini, and forward Garrett Waite were chosen to participate on the national team for the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup Tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia this August. The tournament, hosted by the Czech Ice Hockey Association and Slovak Ice Hockey Federation, serves as the premier hockey tournament for under-18 teams. As the co-chair of the Congressional Slovak Caucus and a member of the Congressional Czech Caucus, I look forward to this international display of athletics in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. I am excited to watch these three Waterloo Black Hawks represent their country and hope they do so with the utmost dignity and class that reflects my constituents in Iowa. This type of international cultural exchange with our friends in Eastern Europe demonstrates the universal appeal of sportsmanship, competition, and international diplomacy that athletics can provide. Congratulations to Dayton, Sam, and Garrett on their selection to the United States under-18 team and I wish them the best of luck in the tournament.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the wellbeing of seniors in my district. The House passed H.R. 1190, which would repeal provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as ObamaCare, to create an unelected Independent Patient Advisory Board (IPAB) to determine Medicare benefits. Currently, ObamaCare grants the IPAB the authority to unilaterally cut Medicare spending, risking the solvency and stability of the program, without an Act of Congress. Simply put, the unelected and unaccountable Washington bureaucrats, not patients and doctors, control the level of benefits at the most important health care system for seniors. Like millions of seniors, my late mother depended on Medicare for quality health care to meet her needs during her golden years. Because this issue is so personal to me, I am proud to join Representative Roe (R-TN) and 233 other bipartisan cosponsors in the House to vote in favor of this critical legislation. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to protect Medicare for today's seniors, while providing a fiscally sound program to assist future generations. Our seniors deserve the best health care, and the right to make their own choices and not rely on unaccountable executive appointments to make decisions for them. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to support the bipartisan Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015 and the repeal of the IPAB.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Iowa state championship boys' soccer teams from my district. The champions from each of Iowa's three soccer classes claimed their titles over the weekend on ``Championship Saturday'' at James W. Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines, Iowa, and all of these schools are located in my district. The Dyersville Beckman Blazers capped an undefeated 18-0 season with a 1-0 victory over Gilbert High School in the class 1A final. Senior Billy Hoffman scored the game winning goal in double overtime to secure the school's first boys' soccer state title in Beckman's history. The Cedar Rapids Xavier Saints bested Central DeWitt 1-0 in double overtime to capture the school's seventh class 2A title and fourth boys' soccer title in five seasons. Luke Dunball netted the game winner to cap a 17-2 season for the Saints. Lastly, the Marion Linn-Mar Lions shut out Ankeny Centennial High School 2-0. An ``own goal'' off a free kick by junior Alexy Boehm and goal by sophomore Leroy Enzugusi proved enough to secure the school's first state championship in boys' soccer. The Lions finished the season 20-3. I congratulate all the players and coaches including head coaches Mirek Laskowski of Beckman High School, Amir Hadzic of Xavier High School, and Corey Brinkmeyer of Linn-Mar High School. I look forward to seeing continued success both on and off the field from these student athletes next season.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 365 severe weather unavoidably detained my flight in Chicago, Illinois and I was unable to make the vote series. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 364 severe weather unavoidably detained my flight in Chicago, Illinois and I was unable to make the vote series. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you and your committee for your hard work on this most important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my support to the passage of H.R. 2393, the Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015. This important legislation repeals country of origin labeling requirements for muscle cuts of beef and pork. Unfortunately, the World Trade Organization issued the final judgment of a long-running case brought by Canada, ending all doubt that COOL violates U.S. trade obligations. Now, America's two largest export markets, Canada and Mexico, are moving to institute retaliatory duties against U.S. products, including $1.3 billion of products from Iowa. Canada has published their list of retaliatory targets, including those aforementioned meat cuts, but also corn, fructose, cereals from my district, along with products from districts all across the United States. Mexico has not yet published their list, but is likely to include some of the same corn-based products and perhaps even include ethanal. It is critically important that COOL requirements be repealed to comply with existing trade obligations as soon as possible. Implementations of these tariffs would negatively affect a great deal of farmers and processors in my district and across Iowa. I urge the House to pass this legislation today and the Senate to act swiftly to avoid these potentially devastating economic consequences.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chris Norton, an advocate for those recovering from spinal cord injuries and a graduate of Luther College, Class of 2015 in Decorah, Iowa. During his freshman football season, Chris sustained a serious injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. In the aftermath of his injury, doctors informed Chris he had a 3% chance of ever walking again. This exceptional young man, after years of physical therapy and rehabilitation, overcame those odds and walked across the stage at his graduation this past weekend. Moved to action by people with similar injuries he met during his rehabilitation, Chris, his family, and his friends started the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) CAN Foundation. This foundation is committed to increasing access to quality therapy options for those with spinal cord injuries. Recently, SCI CAN donated $60,000 to Des Moines University, bringing the total donations of the Foundation to nearly $375,000 to assist in spinal cord injury recovery. I applaud Chris' important work with SCI CAN, his message of hope and healing, and wish him well as he continues to recover from his injury. I firmly believe Chris is both an inspirational figure and asset to his community. I wish Chris and his family the very best as they begin the next chapter of their lives. I encourage everyone to learn more about the SCI CAN Foundation by visiting their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheSciCanProject.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a constituent from my district, Bryan Keck from Dubuque, Iowa, on his participation in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Bryan, a seventh grader at Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School in Dubuque, Iowa, won the Telegraph Herald Media Regional Spelling Bee last March to earn a spot in the national bee. Last week, he and his family traveled to National Harbor, Maryland where 285 spellers from across the United States competed during Bee Week 2015 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. In the preliminary round, Bryan correctly spelled ``omnivorous''--an adjective meaning ``of an animal or person feeding on food of both plant and animal origin.'' He also correctly spelled ``rhipiphorid''--a noun that classifies certain types of beetles. In his free time, Bryan enjoys, giving back to his community through the Boy Scouts, going bowling, playing Minecraft, and reading crime novels. He hopes to one day become a federal prosecutor. I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations, c-o-n-g-r-a-t-u- l-a-t-i-o-n-s, congratulations to Bryan on his participation in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and wish him well in all his future endeavors.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Chairman, as a small-business man and a supporter of the private sector, I wish to commend the committee for the inclusion of report language which states: ``The committee encourages NOAA to purchase services from the private sector when such services are available, cost effective, and practicable.'' As my friend from Texas knows, NOAA operates a fleet of survey ships for nautical charting as well as a fleet of survey aircraft for aerial photography and LIDAR for mapping. However, the inspector general of the Department of Commerce has long recommended that the aircraft fleet be privatized, as aerial survey operations are better, faster, and less expensive when purchased from the private sector. In fact, the inspector general found NOAA survey operations cost 42 percent more than the private sector, which was then confirmed by a second NOAA- commissioned study. Rather than accept these cost savings and productivity improvement requirements, NOAA has continually acquired new planes, new aerial sensors, and new ships. This is not only poor stewardship of taxpayer money and inefficient use of resources, but results in the government duplicating and directly competing with private enterprise. There are numerous companies, including small businesses, ready and able to perform these services for NOAA at a reduced cost and increased quality. I have visited one such private sector mapping firm in my district and heard firsthand about how government agencies are engaged in this behavior, which hinders private economic growth and job creation. My question for the gentleman from Texas is: Regarding the language I quoted earlier, is it the intent of the committee to include contracting for such surveying and mapping services when there is a qualified, capable, and cost-effective solution available in the private sector?

Mr. BLUM. I thank my friend from Texas and appreciate his hard work on this important legislation.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, today I want to congratulate the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL) on their successful 2014-2015 season. The Fighting Saints, led by head coach and general manager Matt Shaw, finished the regular season 36-19-5, resulting in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference and earning them a berth in the playoffs. Goalie Jacob Nehama posted the second lowest GAA in the USHL for the season at 2.31 and forward Brett Boeing completed the season in the top 10 in the league for goals scored with 28 for the year. The Fighting Saints won the ``Cowbell Cup,'' winning the head to head matchups among the three teams in eastern Iowa, finishing one game ahead of the Waterloo Blackhawks and two games ahead of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. The impact of the team extends outside the arena and into the greater Dubuque community. Through the ``Live Like a Saint'' initiative with Two by Two Character Development, the Saints visit local schools and teach empathy, kindness, respect, responsibility, teamwork, and the importance of physical education to young people. I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to the 2014-15 Dubuque Fighting Saints on their successful season and thank them for their charity work in the Dubuque community. I look forward to cheering them on next year to a championship.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, with summer approaching, many Iowans are firing up their barbecues. While hotdogs, bratwursts, and pork chops are all traditional family favorites, I rise today in special recognition of the hamburger--a delicious staple of grilling season. May is National Hamburger Month which warrants special recognition in Iowa. Iowa's beef products are considered some of the best in the world, supplying several well-known steakhouses around the U.S., including here in D.C. According to the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa is home to over 26,000 cattle operations, with ranches in all 20 counties in my district. Furthermore, the cattle industry in Iowa supports over 15,000 jobs and injects over $6 billion into the economy. Additionally, the cattle industry supports corn growers in Iowa by using corn as a feed source, consuming over 148 million bushels of corn every year. Iowa's ranchers and packers play important roles in making sure consumers have safe and nutritious ground beef for our burgers. For great hamburger recipes, cooking tips, and beef safety information, I encourage all my constituents to visit www.iabeef.org.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the bipartisan bill H.R. 880 the American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2015 to make permanent and simplify an important tax credit, which promotes job creation and economic growth. Unfortunately, Congress did not address this issue last year, so I applaud Mr. Brady for continuing to work on this important measure to bring certainty to an important sector of the U.S. economy. By simply enhancing and making permanent the now expired research tax credit, H.R. 880 increases the ability of businesses to compete in an increasingly globalized marketplace by rewarding investments in innovation technologies and manufacturing. These new technologies provide the basis of new consumer products, increased scientific discovery, and technological improvements across numerous fields and disciplines. The common sense American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2015 lowers the cost of innovation, creates high wage jobs, and lays the foundation for a strong economy in the 21st century. The U.S. is facing increasing competition around the globe from countries with more advantageous tax structures, so it is critical that Congress extend this credit to remain competitive in the future. As a cosponsor of the bipartisan H.R. 880, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in support of this common sense legislation to provide the tools necessary to create jobs, promote economic growth, and create the innovations of tomorrow--right here in America.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 91, the Veteran's I.D. Card Act. This legislation is a commonsense proposal to permit veterans to show their service without hassle and inconvenience. Upon enactment, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to issue a photo identification card to veterans who request it. The identification card serves as proof of honorable military service. In the First District of Iowa, many of my constituents--including veterans of World War II, the Korean war, and Vietnam war--would benefit from the existence of such a card. The card would increase veterans' access to available military service discounts at commercial establishments. The Veterans I.D. Card Act, an overwhelmingly bipartisan bill and supported by AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Veterans for Common Sense, makes proving veteran status easy, expedient, and credible. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to enact this commonsense legislation that assists veterans in receiving all the recognition and benefits they deserve.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. As a father of five children, I understand the precious joy children bring to the world. I firmly believe as a Member of Congress, I should defend the sanctity of life. I believe it is morally imperative to protect those who are unable to protect themselves. As a cosponsor of the bipartisan legislation, I am confident this is a step in the right direction to protecting unborn children at the moment that they can feel pain. It is important that Congress continue to pursue legislation that protects the right to life. I believe that most constituents in Iowa agree with me. According to a recent Quinnipiac poll, 62% of Americans support a ban on abortions after 20 weeks or earlier. Of women polled, 68% supported this bill's proposed ban on abortions. I will continue to defend the lives of the unborn and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act on this measure.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise today on behalf of Iowans in my district to support H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015, to prohibit the implementation of the rule concerning ``Waters of the United States (WOTUS)'' by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The rule permitting the expansion of WOTUS grants EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction over traditionally state regulated water under the auspices of the Clean Water Act. This includes water previously unregulated by the federal government, such as dry ditches and intrastate rivers. These regulations simply defy common sense. Every constituent in my district desires clean water, but the EPA and USACE are transferring authority from state and local officials, who know the needs of stakeholders, to Washington bureaucrats. In response, I am proud to join the 69 other Members as a cosponsor of this bipartisan bill along with the hundreds of organized stakeholders nationwide, along with thousands of individual farmers, raising serious concerns or issued public statements in opposition to adoption of these proposals. These regulations unnecessarily burden farmers and small business owners and prevent job creation, wage increases, and economic growth. I cannot permit such proposals to go unchallenged. I thank so many of my colleagues for standing with me in this effort and rest assured, I will continue to fight against government overreach on behalf of Iowa's hard working farming families.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the motion picture, ``Field of Dreams,'' which is set in the First District of Iowa. 26 years ago today, movie-goers were introduced to the wonderful pastoral landscapes that dot my district and first heard ``If you build it, he will come.'' Since then, the movie, adapted from the novel ``Shoeless Joe'' by W.P. Kinsella, has become recognized as a representation of classic American cinema. Directed by Phil Alden Robinson and starring Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, and Burt Lancaster, ``Field of Dreams'' uniquely blends the importance of family, dreams deferred, and America's pastime--baseball. Released on April 21, 1989, ``Field of Dreams'' received three Academy Award nominations: Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture. The original farmhouse and baseball diamond from the movie, in Dyersville, Iowa, is open daily to the public for the 2015 season through October free of charge. On July 5, 2015, the ghost players will return to the field for their first ``Ghost Sunday'' game of the year. Visitors enjoy a ball game played by the baseball legends appearing in the movie. I encourage all fans to visit the Field of Dreams site website at www.fodmoviesite.com for more information. On the anniversary of the release of ``Field of Dreams,'' I encourage all baseball lovers, movie-buffs, and Americans to visit this timeless piece of Americana where they may ask themselves: ``Is this heaven?-- No, it's Iowa.''

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, Governor Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds inducted three individuals and one organization into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame on April 14th, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa. The 2015 inductees include H.D. ``Ike'' Leighty from Waterloo and the Sisters of Mercy from Cedar Rapids. Both reside in my district and I rise today to honor their hard work and acknowledge their accomplishments. H.D. ``Ike'' Leighty co-founded Engineered Products Company in Waterloo, Iowa in 1977. After selling the business, he established The Leighty Foundation and the Mother Moon Service Scholarship program. Every year, this program awards a college scholarship to one Black Hawk county high school junior who completes over 100 hours of community service. To date, 179 Iowans have received assistance towards a college education from the Mother Moon Service Scholarship. In 1989, the Sisters of Mercy founded the Catherine McAuley Center to develop long term solutions to poverty in the Cedar Rapids area. Guided by the five core values of empowerment, learning, mercy, community, and commitment, the Sisters provide one-on-one tutoring for adults, as well as transitional housing for victims of domestic violence, and those who suffer from mental illness and substance abuse. H.D. ``Ike'' Leighty and the Sisters of Mercy are model citizens and assets to their communities. I encourage all Iowans to visit the State of Iowa Historical Museum in Des Moines and view the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame plaques where their names now join 155 other inductees. On behalf of the people of Iowa's first district, I commend Mr. Leighty and the Sisters of Mercy for their selflessness and sacrifice in service to our communities. I congratulate them on their 2015 induction into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Madam Speaker, to paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, there are only two sure things in life: death and taxes. Unfortunately for Americans, the federal government has managed to combine the two into greater tragedy with the federal estate tax, more commonly known as the ``death'' tax. The death tax is a tax levied against property transferred at death to a person's heirs. This property is neither new income or newly acquired real estate or assets, but rather a simple transfer of ownership. Confusingly to most commonsense folks, this the federal government has already taxed this income. While there is an exemption of up to $5.43M, the death tax remains a growing issue with farmers and small businesses in the First District of Iowa as the values of farmland real estate and industrial equipment continue to rise. While supporters of the death tax say only a small percentage of businesses and farms actually end up paying the tax, I believe this is a question of fairness. I oppose any means that grants the federal government the ability to tax you twice on your income. This, along with the compliance costs for estate planning, is why I advocate for abolishing the death tax altogether. As a cosponsor of H.R. 1105, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, I commend my colleagues in the House of Representatives in joining me in passing this legislation by a bipartisan vote of 240 to 179. Americans, already taxed to death, should not also be taxed in death. Let the heirs, no matter the value of the estate, determine what is best for the family fortunes, large or small. It would be far better for our children and grandchildren to invest, spend, or utilize our estates rather than the federal government any more. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to continue to advance this important legislation that will finally permit farms and small businesses to pass from generation to generation without the specter of the death tax looming.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the collegiate basketball teams from the great state of Iowa on their seasons and their 2015 NCAA Tournament success. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes Women's team finished the regular season 26-8, earning a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament's Oklahoma City region. The Hawkeyes reached the ``Sweet Sixteen'' after wins over American University 75-67 and the University of Miami (FL) 88-70. The Hawkeyes Men's team finished the regular season 22-12, earning a #7 seed in the NCAA Tournament's South region. The Hawkeyes defeated the Davidson Wildcats 83-52 in the second round. The Iowa State University Cyclones Men's team finished the regular season 25-9. The Cyclones won the Big 12 tournament with a 70-66 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks in the championship game and earned a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament's South region. Finally, I am proud to congratulate the University of Northern Iowa Panthers Men's team, from my district, finished the regular season an astonishing 31-4. The Panthers won 16 straight games down the stretch and eventually won the Missouri Valley Tournament Championship, defeating Illinois State University by a score of 69-60 in the championship game. UNI earned a #5 seed in the East region and defeated the University of Wyoming Cowboys 71-54 in the second round. In week 11 of the regular season, all three Iowan Men's programs were nationally ranked in the AP Top 25 poll with the Hawkeyes at #25, the Panthers at #20, and the Cyclones at #9. As a proud Iowan and devout college basketball fan, I extend my congratulations to coaches, Lisa Bluder and Fran McCaffery from Iowa, Fred Hoiberg from Iowa State, and Ben Jacobson from UNI, and their student athletes on successful seasons and I look forward to cheering them on again next year.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Zach Johnson, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa native, on his 9th place tie the 2015 Masters Tournament held at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Zach Johnson attended Regis High School, lettering on the varsity golf team. The 2007 Masters Champion made the cut at even par after the first two rounds. He followed up on Saturday and Sunday with back to back 68 stroke rounds to finish with a final score of -8, his lowest ever final score at Augusta. I also wish to commend him for his community service and charity work. Founded in 2005 by Johnson and his wife Kim, The Zach Johnson Foundation through the ``Birdies that Care'' program has raised over $800,000 for organizations that serve at-need children in the Cedar Rapids area. In the golfer's own words: ``This Foundation will fulfill a dream of mine and Kim's to give back to Cedar Rapids in a long- lasting, meaningful way.'' I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to Zach Johnson on his successful 2015 Masters and would like to recognize him for giving back to his community. I look forward to cheering on a fellow Iowan during the rest of the tournaments this summer.

Mr. BLUM

Mr. BLUM. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, known as ``the father of the green revolution,'' was born on March 25, 1914 on a farm outside Cresco, Iowa. Moved during the Great Depression by the examples of hunger he witnessed, Dr. Borlaug committed his life to developing the then nascent field of plant biology to increase food production and combat world hunger. The mutation techniques he developed led to high yield, disease resistant wheat varieties suitable for planting around the globe. In honor of his work, Dr. Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. Today, on what would have been his 101st birthday, I rise to honor this great native Iowan. Dr. Borlaug revolutionized agriculture and saved over one billion lives from starvation. His legacy stands as an example of American ingenuity and the impact one good man can make on the world. I encourage all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to visit Dr. Borlaug's statue in Statuary Hall to reflect on the life and achievements of this great American.