Jim Banks

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to veterans cared for by the Department of Veterans Affairs in northeast Indiana and across the United States. Each year, the week of February 14 is an opportunity for Americans to express their collective gratitude for the more than 9 million veterans of the United States Armed Services who are cared for in the VA system. This year's National Salute Week is the most important one to date, given the difficult times our nation has faced over the last 12 months with many of America's veterans hardest hit. This week also serves as an opportunity for Hoosiers and Americans everywhere to learn about the role of the VA medical system, to encourage citizens to visit hospitalized Veterans and to become involved as volunteers Nationwide, over 61,000 volunteers provide more than 9.2 million volunteer hours serving America's veterans. Volunteers are a priceless asset to our veterans, to the VA and to the country. As a veteran myself and member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee in Congress, I am honored to have served in uniform and to serve the people of northeast Indiana in Congress. One of my top priorities has been, and always will be, ensuring those who served the United States receive the honor, care, and opportunity they deserve. This is a testament to the honor and sacrifice of those heroes who have served our country, and to those who serve them

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, and I congratulate my friend in his new leadership role in addressing what is one of the most important issues in our country today, which is fiscal irresponsibility and a now nearly $30 trillion national debt. I appreciate his leadership. Mr. Speaker, that is why today I rise in opposition to this, the Democrats' sham $2.1 trillion parody of a budget. Democrats, in their own words, having failed again to pass a budget last year, now say: ``The 2021 budget resolution has a single purpose. It gives Congress the option of using a budget reconciliation.'' However, this is a very different tune than what my Democrat colleagues said just a few years ago. In August 2017, Senate Majority Leader Schumer said reconciliation is ``the wrong way to do the business of the country,'' and he demanded a bipartisan solution instead. Democrats are once again shirking their duty to produce a budget while intending to ram a partisan spending bill down the throats of the American people. However, in 2019, the Republican Study Committee, which I chair, produced a budget that balanced in 6 years. It reduced tax burdens on American families, limited the Federal Government to our core constitutional responsibilities, and prioritized individual liberty. Speaker Pelosi once infamously said: ``Show me your values. Show me your budget.'' Well, now we know what those values are. At a time when most small businesses are fighting for their lives, they would proudly impose minimum wage hikes and Green New Deal sanctions that would starve our economy. What they won't tell you, though, is where they plan on getting this money from--from American workers, American families, and robbing future generations. That is where. Mr. Speaker, every dollar taxed, borrowed, or printed by the government is a dollar taken from a hardworking family. It is a credit on a small business, or it ends up creating price bubbles that wipe out a lifetime of savings. Mr. Speaker, we know these are their values, but I ask: Are these America's values?

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend 4Ever Metal Roofing for its invaluable support of Hoosier Veterans, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its founding in 2016, the company has grown to employ several Hoosier veterans, contributed $7 million to northeast Indiana's economy, and has expanded its reach to serving the tri-state area of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. However, the company's commitment to our region stretches beyond providing jobs to Hoosier veterans and services to consumers. During the pandemic, 4Ever Metal Roofing donated $30,000 to FW22, a local non- profit focused on suicide prevention and supporting veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. This donation went a long way to ensuring a Hoosier veteran and his family had Christmas presents this year, and the remainder of the donation will be used to support the work of FW22 as it assists many more struggling veterans in the region. Going above and beyond to assist those in the community, especially those who fought to protect it, will always be something worth recognizing, and I commend 4Ever Metal Roofing for this selfless act of kindness. These are the kinds of partnerships that make our country great. I wish 4Ever Metal Roofing nothing but the best as they continue to grow in the years to come.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding time to me today and for his many years of service. America and the world are safer today because of Mac Thornberry's service in the United States House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Smith, the chairman of the committee, as well, for ensuring that this year's NDAA is bipartisan once again. Mr. Speaker, I want to rise most of all in support of the aptly named Mac Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act. While the bill doesn't include everything I want it to and there are certainly items that I wish would be removed, overall, it ensures that our Nation is protected, and it supports our men and women in uniform. So many in the Trump administration have warned us for years that China is our Nation's long-term strategic competitor, and countering China is a key focus of the fiscal year 2021 NDAA. Having just been a part of the Future of Defense Task Force and the China Task Force, I am more motivated than ever before to stop the Chinese Communist Party's egregious affronts on the U.S. Government, its citizens, and our military. I appreciate the inclusion of many important recommendations from both of those task force reports in this year's NDAA. This NDAA establishes the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to strengthen U.S. posture and capability in the Indo-Pacific region, and it works better with allies to deter against Chinese malign behavior. It also protects against Chinese industrial espionage by requiring a Presidential assessment on how to deter it and large-scale cyber threat of intellectual property and personal information. The NDAA also includes a number of protections for Federal investments in science and technology by including new mandates on university research and limiting funding for universities with Confucius Institutes, for example. These are just some of the very important provisions in this year's bill, to not just acknowledge the China threat, Mr. Speaker, but to address it head-on. That is why I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this critical legislation.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Mr. Samuel Figueroa of Indianapolis, Indiana. Samuel Figueroa was an outstanding employee who worked at the Creekside Health and Rehabilitation Center in Indianapolis. Having worked at the center since its opening in September 2017, Mr. Figueroa was a dishwasher. We are only aware of his role as dishwasher and are unaware of work in road and building construction. Those who had the opportunity to witness Mr. Figueroa work witnessed a man who took great pride in his job. While on the clock, Mr. Figueroa routinely made others smile and laugh. He was also careful to ensure that the facility was as clean as possible. On many occasions, fellow employees witnessed Samuel scanning the parking lot for trash to dispose of. By all accounts, Mr. Figueroa was the model employee. Always on time with a smile on his face and willing to go the extra mile, he desired to serve those in need. Mr. Figueroa will be remembered for the wonderful impression he made on his peers, residents and all those who interreacted with him on the campus. The story of Mr. Figueroa is one that is uniquely American. This record is a testament to those ideals he embodied of service and sacrifice, which are inherent to the American spirit. Though Samuel is no longer with us, his spirit of good will and generosity in the halls of Creekside and in the hearts of those whose lives he touched endures.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Mr. Kenneth E. Jones of Whitley County. Next week, on Sunday, November 1, Mr. Jones will celebrate his 100th birthday. To Mr. Jones: congratulations on this wonderful occasion. I hope his heart is filled with joy knowing he has experienced our country's greatest blessings, including the affection of family and friends over a long, well-lived life. Our Nation owes Mr. Jones a tremendous debt of gratitude for his dedicated service to our country in the United States Navy during World War II. Serving as a landing craft operator in the South Pacific, his sacrifices were critical to the defense of our homeland and ensured security and prosperity for millions of people. As the oldest veteran in Whitley County, I, and the entirety of Congress, send Mr. Jones best wishes as he celebrates this historic milestone. Mr. Jones' legacy of service is a proud part of our Nation's remarkable story. This record is a testament to his commitment to the American people and ideals to which our Nation strive.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Whitley Superior Judge Douglas Fahl. As a practicing attorney of nearly 25 years, Judge Fahl's record of public service is nothing short of exceptional. Having practiced law in the United States for over 20 years, Judge Fahl has also been called upon to represent military law across the world, including Guantanamo Bay and Iraq. In Whitley County, Judge Fahl spearheaded a new veterans treatment court program. Through the program, jurisdictions serve a large segment of the veteran population involved in the criminal justice system. The program has long fostered a better understanding between judges and the issues with which veterans, often casualties of war, struggle. So successful in Whitley County was this program that two neighboring county's court systems now direct qualifying veterans to Judge Fahl. In September 2020, Judge Fahl was appointed the Indiana National Guard's very first certified military judge. Few men were more qualified for such an appointment. Brig. Gen. Bobby L. Christine, National Guard adviser to the Judge Advocate General's Corps spoke in support of Judge Fahl's credentials and stated, ``Lt. Col. Doug Fahl's selection to serve as military judge for the state of Indiana is proof positive that the rights of those who defend America will be safeguarded. No finer selection for judge could be made.'' Judge Fahl has served northeast Indiana, and our Nation, with the highest honor and distinction. This record is a testament to his tireless commitment to the people which make our country great and ideals to which our Nation strive.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and ministry or Pastor David E. Keller of Fort Wayne, Indiana, After 34 years of service to the Greater Fort Wayne community, Pastor Keller is retiring from his role as Senior Pastor or Abundant Lire Church. In June of 1986, Pastor Keller began his ministry at a small church just across the street from Saint Francis College in Fort Wayne. Through the help of God, he sought to grow his church to include every culture, every tongue, and every nationality. After a significant investment of his own finance and will, what started as an 1,800 square fool facility has grown to a massive 98,000 square fool facility that is completely debt free. Pastor Keller has established a diverse outreach that now ministers to 3 major ethnic groups: Asian, Hispanic, and African. This is in addition to a ministry dedicated to the deaf and hard of hearing, and the main weekend congregation. He has also helped sponsor and establish a Bible school and Christian orphanage in India, and fostered a multi- campus ministry in Ghana, Africa. Today, Pastor Keller is leaving behind a thriving, dynamic, and diverse congregation that ministers to hundreds of people each week. Under his leadership, the Abundant Life congregation has truly become a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multigenerational assembly who understand that ``we are all level, at the foot or the cross.'' I wish Pastor Keller, his wife Marta, and their children and grandchildren the very best as he moves on to the next chapter of his life. While we will sorely miss his leadership, there can be no doubt that many in the community are better off today because of his great work.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend from the great State of Arizona (Mr. Biggs) for organizing this Special Order so we can focus on the civil unrest that has enveloped our Nation in recent months. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of my colleagues who have already shared their thoughts on how we can stop the unrest and restore law and order. Too many Americans are home tonight worried about what will happen if a violent mob descends on their community or on their small business. That is why I join my friends here tonight and rise up to voice my concerns about leftwing activists running through our streets rioting, looting, and destroying people's livelihoods. But what concerns me the most is that we are not holding them accountable for their actions. That is why I have written a bill that would strip a rioter caught and convicted of looting, vandalism, or violence of coronavirus unemployment benefits. While we all support the right to protest peacefully, I know I speak for my colleagues and my constituents when I say it is time to put a stop to the destruction of American cities and leaving the taxpayers and small business owners as the ones who are holding the bag. My bill is called the Support Peaceful Protest Act. Not only would it hold those rioting and looting accountable by preventing them from receiving enhanced unemployment benefits, but it would also force those arrested and convicted to pay the costs of policing these spectacles. It is time to force these rioters to face the financial costs of their actions. They need to feel the consequences of their actions. I offer this piece of legislation as part of a solution to stop the rioting and restore law and order across our Nation. The civil unrest is dangerous, and it must come to an end. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Biggs, for letting me share about my bill. I hope that all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will consider adding their names to it. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Biggs, once again, for holding this important Special Order hour on what is on the top of the minds of so many of the American people. Thank you. God bless.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. Like my great colleague from the great State of Texas, I love America, but I want to know: Why does it seem like some want America to fail this test? We should all be rooting for America's success in its fight against COVID-19. President Trump has overseen the unprecedented Operation Warp Speed, an effort to develop and disseminate a vaccine in record-breaking time. We learned this week that one vaccine in particular shows great promise. Thanks to President Trump, the U.S. will have access to the vaccine immediately if it proves effective. Nothing like this has ever been done before, and if successful, this President's achievement will be a defining moment in American history. We have already developed lifesaving antiviral treatments that have caused America's fatality rate to plummet. Together, we can defeat this virus. We must fight it with science and facts and leave fear behind. Madam Speaker, I believe in America, and I ask all of my colleagues to stand up and support our President during this present crisis.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from the great State of Texas for organizing this important conversation that we are having here this evening. There is so much, as the gentleman has already said, that makes America great, our history, our culture, our values, our people. But, Mr. Speaker, 300 years ago, colonists left their homes to come to these shores and become free. They didn't want to be bullied for their beliefs anymore. Our Founding Fathers thought this freedom was so important they enshrined it in the First Amendment. But it is under attack more than ever today in the form of what has become known as the ``cancel culture.'' If you hold the wrong beliefs; if you support the wrong candidate; if you affiliate yourself with the wrong party; if you watch the wrong news network, you can get canceled; which means that they can take your job, they can take your privacy and your reputation away from you in a flash. You can even get canceled for not doing something. If you refuse to utter or endorse the so-called politically correct movements or phrases, they will come to destroy you. This is an affront to the very idea of what America is and who we are, as Americans, and I vow to fight it with every fiber of my being. I appreciate my colleague from Texas organizing this Special Order to talk about these important issues, but from the bottom of my heart, this is what is on my mind and my heart as we serve in this body today. We have got to do everything we can to change it.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding, and I want to congratulate him on a tremendous record of service to our Nation and to our men and women in uniform. It seems fitting that this piece of legislation would be named after him. It should be no secret to anyone in this Congress about the threat that the Chinese Communist Party poses to Unites States national security interests and to the freedoms and values that Americans enjoy. President Trump demonstrated tremendous leadership by preparing the Nation for a new era of great power competition with the 2017 National Security Strategy. This year's NDAA upholds the ideals of the National Security Strategy more than ever and asserts U.S. leadership in the face of CCP aggression domestically and around the world. It is well documented that the Chinese Government's mismanagement of the novel coronavirus spread the virus worldwide; that the Chinese Government is engaging in human rights abuses towards ethnic populations in China and politically suppressing voices in Hong Kong; that the Chinese Government has a strategy to consolidate manufacturing supply chains that hit all aspects of the U.S. economy; and that the Chinese Government is seeking to dominate next-generation communication hardware, steal United States technology and research, and censor the real truth about the Chinese Community Party's intentions and actions that run counter to American values of freedom and democracy. This defense bill takes several positive steps on China that both Republicans and Democrats support. The base bill includes funding for an initiative for the Indo-Pacific to deter China, similar to the European Deterrence Initiative to deter Russia. The bill also increases funding in emergent technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to maintain a technical edge against China, and starts taking financial actions to reduce China's role at the World Bank. However, there is a lot more that needs to be done, and there were a number of amendments that were offered that were ultimately not ruled in order for consideration that would have helped American competitiveness and safeguarded U.S. interests against the threat of China. I won't name all these amendments because there are many of them. It is imperative that we pass this bill and counter the China threat.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Mr. Gregory Allen Thompson. Born In Ft. Benning, Georgia, Gregory was a valued father, businessman, and patriot. He graduated in 1982 from Columbus High School. Gregory received a Bachelor of Science in Communications from National Louis University. His patriotism inspired him to serve in the United States Air Force. He also worked as a Civil Service Employee. Gregory served as Chief of the United States Air Force Art Program at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Gregory worked in the U.S. State Department as a Security Officer for over 15 years. Gregory was the owner of Made to Measure, Custom Tailor clothing business and remained part-owner and partner with Howard Wallace. He was a dedicated member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Arlington. Gregory has served our nation with distinction. This record is testament to his civic engagement, attentiveness, and hard work for which our country is forever grateful. Gregory was a valued father and friend to those who knew him.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, over the last 10 days, I have seen the very best of America. I have seen restaurants Umi Seafood and Lucille's BBQ in Fort Wayne deliver thousands of meals to those who need it. I have seen TNT Floral Shop in Columbia City deliver flowers to every nursing home resident in my county. I have seen many lining up to donate blood. I have seen so many healthcare professionals put themselves in harm's way on the front lines. Mr. Speaker, it is time for Congress to join them and bring relief to our neighbors who needed it yesterday. The CARES Act will keep the lights on in America. It will put cash in the hands of Americans who need help to pay their bills and put food on the table. It will give a lifeline to small businesses when they need it most. This is, by no means, a perfect bill, but it gets help to the people who need it most. I hope we will come back and make changes, as needed, in the near future. Mr. Speaker, in this time of national crisis, we must continue working together and with President Trump to keep our country in the fight.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jon Myers for his dedicated service to Whitley County, Indiana. Hoosiers in my hometown of Columbia City and throughout Whitley County owe a great debt of gratitude to Jon for ushering our region into a more prosperous future, and we wish him the very best as he retires from his post as president of Whitley County Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Under Jon's leadership, the Whitley County EDC has flourished. As of 2019, Whitley County has higher homeownership, a higher workforce participation rate, more people with health insurance, and fewer residents in poverty than compared to the national average. The opportunity and prosperity Whitley County enjoy today is due in no small part to Jon's leadership. Jon's career is distinguished, defined by his active role in the broader northeast Indiana community. Prior to serving on Mitch Daniels' campaign for governor in 2004, Myers helped establish the law firm of Myers and Hockemeyer and held a senior role with Lincoln Life. In 2005, Jon became manager of the Indiana EDC office in Fort Wayne, where, in the years thereafter, determined to address problems facing Whitley County. He has worked tirelessly to ensure those living in the region have good jobs, can support their families and have the best quality of life. Although he will no longer lead the Whitley County EDC, his legacy will endure, and his commitment to the community and state will serve as a proud example for others in the years to come.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and career of John Niederman. Since 1985, John has poured his heart and soul into the outstanding work conducted by Pathfinder Services. Though born in New York, Indiana is proud to claim John as one of our own. A graduate of Fort Wayne's own University of Saint Francis, he has spent over three decades working in Huntington with Pathfinder Services to help those who need it most. John embodies the purest form of Hoosier hospitality in his work, helping countless others on their way to realizing greater economic, physical and developmental independence. He has been active is creating an environment that values inclusion and fairness, giving those whom he encounters the best chance possible to succeed and Jive out the American Dream. As John prepares to step down from a position he has loved and excelled at, I have no doubt that he will continue to be a leader in his community and a shining example to those who seek him out. Huntington County, and all of Indiana, are blessed to continue to count John and his family as their own.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of The American Legion, Department of Indiana State Commander Mr. Allen Connelly. As a 50-year member of LaGrange American Legion Post 215, Connelly's engagement with the Legion over the last half-century is historic. That includes serving as Post Service Officer, Hoosier Boys State and Flag Education Chairman, member of the District Finance Committee and District Advisory Committee, member of the Department Strategic Plan Committee and Centennial Celebration Committee, member of the National Veteran's Preference Committee and Education, Other Benefits and Homelessness Committee, and more. Connelly has been heavily involved in his community outside the Legion as well. He served 25 years on the LaGrange Volunteer Fire Department; he was president and member of the Lakeland School Corporation Board of Trustees; he served 12 years as a member of the Bloomfield Township Advisory Board, and he has served as the Veteran Representative on the LaGrange County Drug Court since its founding. He is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in LaGrange. Connelly has also served our nation with distinction. He was active duty in the U.S. Army between 1964 and 1965, where he earned the rank of Sergeant. This record is testament to his civic engagement, attentiveness and hard work for which northeast Indiana is forever grateful.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Katherine MacAulay, who recently retired from her role as Executive Director of the Northeast Indiana Chapter of the American Red Cross, where she served for forty years. Katherine's lifelong desire to help and serve others forged a long and fruitful career for which our region and state are forever grateful. Her dedication to the lives and struggles of others has earned her three Red Cross awards, the lasting respect of her peers, and the gratitude of countless men and women whose lives have been forever changed by her selflessness. From her beginnings as an administrative assistant at the Red Cross, Katherine rose through the ranks after years of hard work and, above all, a desire for service. For a time, she worked with my wife, Amanda, and it was then we witnessed firsthand Katherine's commitment to her community. Though she will no longer be with the Red Cross, her spirit of service there will serve as a proud example for others and her life's work will have an impact for many years to come.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jon Myers for his dedicated service to Whitley County, Indiana. Hoosiers in my hometown of Columbia City and throughout Whitley County owe a great debt of gratitude to Jon for ushering our region into a more prosperous future, and we wish him the very best as he retires from his post as president of Whitley County Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Under Jon's leadership, the Whitley County EDC has flourished. As of 2019, Whitley County has higher homeownership, a higher workforce participation rate, more people with health insurance, and fewer residents in poverty than compared to the national average. The opportunity and prosperity Whitley County enjoy today is due in no small part to Jon's leadership. Jon's career is distinguished, defined by his active role in the broader northeast Indiana community. Prior to serving on Mitch Daniels' campaign for governor in 2004, Myers helped establish the law firm of Myers and Hockemeyer and held a senior role with Lincoln Life. In 2005, Jon became manager of the Indiana EDC office in Fort Wayne, where, in the years thereafter, determined to address problems facing Whitley County. He has worked tirelessly to ensure those living in the region have good jobs, can support their families and have the best quality of life. Although he will no longer lead the Whitley County EDC, his legacy will endure, and his commitment to the community and state will serve as a proud example for others in the years to come.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share one of Fort Wayne's great American success stories, Sweetwater Sound. Founder and CEO Chuck Surack's dream started over 40 years ago with a recording studio housed in a Volkswagen van. It has since evolved into one of the Nation's leading retailers of professional recording and music equipment. Madam Speaker, Sweetwater's total sales in 2018 were record breaking at $725 million. And just recently we found out that in 2019 it was another record year with sales of $805 million, up 11 percent from 2018. The total sales only tell part of the success story, though. Sweetwater has recently hired 159 new employees and has given back to Hoosiers by providing middle school students with free instruments. Hoosiers are thankful for Sweetwater Sound's big contributions to northeast Indiana, and I look forward to watching them continue to succeed moving forward. In this record-setting economy, I look forward to seeing more American success stories just like this one.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Police Officer Jason Dobbins. Sixteen years ago, Officer Dobbins began working in law enforcement. In 2012, he transferred to the Warsaw Police Department, where he followed in the footsteps of his father, Ted, who also served as a police officer in the City of Warsaw for 20 years. In the wake of his tragic passing last Saturday, Officer Dobbins is mourned by the Warsaw Police Department, and by the whole of Warsaw, who remember him as a great leader, father, and friend. And as Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer told me just earlier today in a text message, he said, ``The overwhelming, immediate outpouring of support is testimony to his commitment to the well-being of the Warsaw community. His legacy of service lives on.'' It is people like Jason Dobbins who embody the very best of what our Nation has to offer. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife, his son, his three daughters, and his stepson in this sad time, and I pray that they may find peace.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, during the President's upcoming State of the Union Address, he has the opportunity to deliver a strong message of unity, peace, and hope to all of those who tune in, both Americans and all who are watching abroad. Just in the last few months, we have seen that America is the beacon of hope for the people of Hong Kong and Taipei, who are suffering under pressure from Beijing. We have seen that America is the lifeline for people in Beirut and Tehran who find themselves under the thumb of the Iranian regime. This is a critical moment in world history. People are looking to the United States and our President for leadership more than ever. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the majority party to refrain the impeachment antics and charades. Don't be petty. Rise above your worst impulses and support our President. The world is watching.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his tireless efforts on behalf of the unborn. Mr. Speaker, although the ruling in Roe v. Wade significantly altered the fabric of our Nation, Hoosiers will never stop marching in defense of the fundamental right to life. In my corner of the State of Indiana in the northeast corner of the State, we have one of the most active and robust pro-life organizations in the country, the Allen County Right To Life. Mr. Speaker, the Allen County Right To Life works every day to advance the cause of life at our State house in Indianapolis and the courts and in our own community. I am excited to share today that they will soon be incorporating the counties of Adams, DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, and Wells Counties to join forces under the name Right to Life of Northeast Indiana. Indiana is now considered the sixth pro-life State in the country. The remarkable progress in Indiana over these last 4 decades would not have been possible without the steadfast support of this organization and pro-life champions like Cathie Humbarger. Mr. Speaker, each year the Allen County Right To Life leads an annual bus trip to Washington for the National March for Life, and this year they will be descending on our Nation's capitol with a record-breaking 650 pro-life students and advocates from northeast Indiana, and I could not be prouder. Mr. Speaker, this incredible organization is also expecting a record- breaking 2,500 Hoosiers at the 2020 Northeast Indiana March for Life in Fort Wayne this coming Saturday. And I will be marching alongside those 2,500 Hoosiers back home in Fort Wayne to honor those of whom never had the chance to march for themselves. I believe that all life is sacred, and I ask that all Americans wherever you are in the country to join me in marching to reaffirm this principle.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I'm pretty angry. I'm angry with you, the Speaker of the House. I'm angry with Chairman Adam Schiff. I'm angry with the Chairman Jerry Nadler. I'm angry they're putting the country through this. They've bastardized the tool of impeachment and are attempting to use it to overturn the votes of 63 million people. In just a few short hours, our president will be the first president in history to be impeached by just one single political party. Every person who is responsible for getting us to this point should be held accountable.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Chuck Surack, a distinguished entrepreneur and servant of Indiana. Last month, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce named Mr. Surack as the 2019 Business Leader of the Year. Mr. Surack is the owner and president of the famous musical instrument and technology online retailer, Sweetwater Sound, Inc. This multimillion-dollar corporation was originally started with a recording studio in the back of Mr. Surack's VW bus. Sweetwater Sound, Inc. is now one of the largest instrument distributors in the United States. Committed to his community, Mr. Surack serves on the boards of Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, and Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Madam Speaker, I offer my congratulations to Chuck Surack on this great achievement. His story is a true testament to the vitality of the American Dream and what a determined entrepreneur can accomplish. My best wishes to Mr. Chuck Surack for continued success in the years to come.