James Baird

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Brownsburg High School football team for winning the IHSAA 6A State championship this year. The Brownsburg Bulldogs took on Westfield High School in the State finals in Lucas Oil Stadium and emerged victorious, with a final score of 22-17. This was Brownsburg's first State title in nearly 40 years, and I know this win has meant so much to the Brownsburg community cheering them on to victory. I congratulate these outstanding student athletes on becoming State champions. They should be incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication that brought them this victory. I also congratulate the parents, coaches, and faculty who gave their time and talent to this team. They couldn't have done it without them. Congratulations again to the Brownsburg Bulldogs. Honoring Dr. Mark Russell on His Retirement

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Dr. Mark Russell, who recently retired from his position as a professor of agricultural sciences education and communication at Purdue University. Dr. Russell joined Purdue in 1982. From August of 2015 to September of 2022, Dr. Russell served as the head of the agricultural sciences department. Dr. Russell has truly been a leader in the Purdue community. Thanks to his expertise, he has judged over 1,100 horse shows for national breed associations in 14 countries. Dr. Russell has also established and expanded multiple exchange programs around the world, growing the university's global presence and relationships. He has been a stalwart professor at Purdue University's ag department, and his loss will be felt by the Purdue community and beyond. We wish him the very best as he begins this next chapter in his well-earned retirement.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Avon Marching Black and Gold, Avon High School's marching band who won both the 2024 Bands of America Grand National Championship and the ISSMA State finals for the second year in a row. Avon High School's marching band also won all three special award categories at the 2024 Bands of America Championship, taking home awards for Outstanding Music Performance, Outstanding Visual Performance, and Outstanding General Effect Performance. I congratulate the students on their two big wins this year, and I am proud of their outstanding talent and perseverance that has led to their continued successes and national dominance. I also thank the parents, teachers, directors, and volunteers for their hard work and dedication to this program. They couldn't have done it without you. Congratulations again to the Avon Marching Black and Gold.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor John W. Hall. John Hall is 99 years old and a U.S. Army veteran who fought in both World War II and the Korean war. Hall became a prisoner of war in December of 1944 following the Battle of the Bulge. John Hall and his fellow POWs faced extremely harsh conditions in the disease-ridden POW camps with little or no food each day. He and his fellow POWs were liberated on April 2, 1945. John Hall earned a Bronze Star for his service in Korea, where he was wounded in combat. To this day, Hall exemplifies humility and insists that he is not a hero. Yet John is precisely that. Our country owes him our utmost gratitude for his courage and selfless sacrifice to defend our country and our precious freedom. I thank him for his service.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kerry Shepherd, who is the chief of the Cloverdale Township Volunteer Fire Department, for winning the 2024 Indiana Emergency Response Conference Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year Award. Kerry Shepherd was nominated for his selfless and unwavering commitment to the Cloverdale Township Volunteer Fire Department. He became a volunteer firefighter over 35 years ago to promote safety and preparedness for the Cloverdale community. Kerry has consistently fostered strong relationships with the fire department and the community around him through volunteering and public service. Kerry won the Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year Award for his outstanding leadership capabilities, his perseverance during full-time, night-shift jobs, and his continuous dedication to volunteer. I am grateful for his exceptional service to our central Indiana communities, and I congratulate him on this outstanding accomplishment. Honoring 2024 IERC Fire Officer of the Year Darrick Wiatt

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Darrick Wiatt of the Greencastle Fire Department for winning the 2024 Indiana Emergency Response Conference Fire Officer of the Year Award. Darrick Wiatt has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication and was recently promoted to captain after 6 years as a lieutenant. Darrick showed extraordinary commitment during an incident in February 2024 where he supported EMS staff in maintaining the well- being of a pediatric cardiac arrest patient. Darrick is also active in his community through volunteering with other fire departments and taking part in peer mentoring and engaging with others who struggle with mental health. Darrick won the Fire Officer of the Year Award for setting an exemplary standard of work, his outstanding professionalism, and his commitment to the continuous improvement of the fire department. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to congratulate Darrick on winning this award.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I am a decorated Army combat veteran who served in the Vietnam war. I know how well and how much the sacrifices our servicemembers make to defend our Nation. Access to timely healthcare for our veterans is mission critical for the VA, and failure to deliver is unacceptable. In 2014, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs discovered that 40 veterans died while waiting for medical care. This is just one example. My bill, the VA Same-Day Scheduling Act, will ensure that no veteran is more than one phone call away from the care they have been promised. I am encouraged that the spirit of the bill is included in the Elizabeth Dole act which requires a plan to get the VA to same-day scheduling. This is a step in the right direction to fix that bureaucratic travesty.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Stephanie Winegar, the EMS division chief of the Washington Township/Avon Fire Department and for winning the 2024 Indiana Emergency Response Conference EMS Officer of the Year Award. As is displayed on this poster, Stephanie won this award for exceptional leadership, professionalism, and dedication to serving our central Indiana communities. She began her EMS career in 1988 as a volunteer EMT with the Wayne Township Fire Department. She tirelessly worked for Wishard Ambulance Service, while pursuing her paramedic certification from St. Vincent Hospital. In 2023, she became Washington Township/Avon Fire Department's first female EMS chief. Thanks to Stephanie's leadership, her teams are always well-equipped when responding to emergency situations and excel in patient care. We are so grateful for her service to our central Indiana communities for over two decades. She is to be congratulated on her outstanding achievement.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Joseph Allen, a native Hoosier from Crawfordsville, Indiana, and a renowned astronaut. He earned his bachelor's degree from DePauw University in math and physics and went on to work for NASA in 1967. While at NASA, Joe Allen flew on the first operational mission on Columbia in 1982 and the first satellite salvage mission on Discovery in 1984. On Columbia, Allen helped deliver the first satellites to orbit for paying customers, marking the first commercial deployment from a shuttle. On Discovery, he retrieved two satellites that had been stranded in useless orbits. Joe Allen was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2005. We are proud of his immense accomplishments, and we thank him for his service to our country at NASA and in the final frontier.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Houlahan for her dedication to improving STEM education and for being a great partner to work with on advancing this bill. Mr. Speaker, the Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act provides a much-needed solution to improving the quality of STEM education in America. This bill would advance mathematical instruction in our classrooms by incorporating modern tools and context, with data and computational studies. Mathematical modeling is taught today, but on a limited basis. Even so, mathematical modeling is the foundation for the important work of our Nation when it comes to research, development, and, ultimately, technological innovation. While the bill directs the National Science Foundation to grant awards to our institutions of higher education, the bill does not award any new funding. We must work with the resources we already have. As an animal scientist, I understand the life-changing effects proper mathematical modeling can have on our livestock, our food, and, ultimately, our Nation's well-being. That is why I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation to ensure that the United States continues to dominate in STEM education, and I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for this bill.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Corporal Brandon Schreiber, a native Hoosier and a Newton County Sheriff's deputy who was shot in the line of duty on September 1. He passed away on September 11 as a result of his injuries. Corporal Schreiber served with the Newton County Sheriff's Department for 8 years, 5 of which were full time. Like so many law enforcement officers, Corporal Schreiber always put the needs of his community above his own. His friends and family described him as a light of empathy, even in the toughest of situations. Corporal Schreiber leaves behind his beloved wife and their two children. Our thoughts and prayers are with Corporal Schreiber's friends and family and the Newton County Sheriff's Department during this difficult time.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to cast one vote today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 420, Previous Question.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, when we talk about land for farmers and ranchers, we are really talking about that top eight inches of soil, which for some of you that may not recognize, that we consider that a living, breathing organism because of the organisms there and the complex chemistry that takes place, the nutrient exchange that grow the plants that rise above the surface. I compliment our farmers and ranchers. We have spent a great deal of time and money and effort for conservation programs to protect that top eight inches of soil. When we talk about land, we are also referring to a very precious resource. Since we have invested so much time and effort to make sure that we preserve that land, we are not interested in letting our adversaries have access to that. In that vein, in Indiana, foreign investors own and lease about 400,000 acres of agricultural land. When I talk about agricultural land, I am talking about the land that either produces crops, forestry, pasture forages, and that sort of thing. Some of them do not pose a real threat; however, foreign adversaries, including Communist China, are buying up farmland. Investors from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela under the Maduro regime, as I heard our speaker mention a minute ago, hold about 95,000 acres of American agricultural land, but between 2010 and 2021, just the last decade or so, individuals or entities affiliated with the Communist China increased ownership of our agricultural land from 13,000 acres to 383,000 acres. That is a tenfold increase. We need to be conscious of that, we need to be aware of that, and we don't need to let our adversaries have that. What is even more concerning is that the Chinese-owned entities have purchased farmland near at least 19 of our military bases. This strategically placed land could be used by the Chinese Communist Party to surveil our military sites. This is a huge national security threat.

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, our adversaries are buying up our farmland. I mentioned that. The U.S. is currently losing 175 acres of farm and ranchland every hour for housing and other industries. The reduction in the amount of land for sale is contributing to the higher prices of land as well as making it harder for young farmers to access quality land. We cannot keep burning the candle at both ends and allow our adversaries to purchase land when the American farmers are struggling to do so. Ultimately, food security, as has already been mentioned, is national security. We must ensure a resource as precious as our farmland cannot be exploited or purchased by our adversaries.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, due to technical difficulties, I was unable to cast my vote on July 22, 2024. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 358.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, every day, our men and women in blue leave their homes and families not knowing whether they will return. This is a heartbreaking reality that we do not give enough credit to. These heroes selflessly go out into our communities every day to ensure the safety of their families, friends, and strangers that they do not know and ask for nothing in return. Mr. Speaker, this year alone, 98 officers were killed in the line of duty. That is 98 too many. One of them is Deputy Sheriff Fred Fislar of Hendricks County, Indiana. Deputy Fislar's life tragically ended on April 16, 2024, while he responded to a deadly car crash. Officer Fislar is survived by his wife and two children. I pray for his family and every other officer who has been killed in the line of duty. They sacrificed their lives for our safety. As we honor their lives during National Police Week, let us not forget how we are all impacted by these unsung heroes. Whether we see it or not, we must always back the blue.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, due to a district commitment, I was unable to cast three votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 179, H.R. 3354, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 North Hatcher Avenue in Purcellville, Virginia, as the ``Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Post Office Building;'' YEA on Roll Call No. 180, the Previous Question on H. Res. 1194; and YEA on Roll Call No. 181, H. Res. 1194, the Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 6192, H.R. 7109, H.R. 2925, and H.J. Res. 109.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, due to a district commitment, I was unable to cast five votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 182, Kelly, PA Amendment No. 3 to H.R. 6192; NAY on Roll Call No. 183, the Motion to Recommit on H.R. 6192; YEA on Roll Call No. 184, Passage of H.R. 6192, Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act; YEA on Roll Call No. 185, Consideration of the Veto Message on H.J. Res. 98, Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to ``Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status''; and YEA on Roll Call No. 186, Suspend the rules and pass H.R. 7423, Luke Letlow Post Office Building.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, unfortuately, due to a district commitment, I was unable to cast two votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 177, suspend the rules and pass H.R. 7219-- Information Quality Assurance Act; and YEA on Roll Call No. 178, suspend the rules and pass H.R. 7525--Special District Grant Accessibility Act.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) for yielding and for all the work done in committee to get this important piece of legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I also thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren), the ranking member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, for her leadership and support on this bill. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of misconceptions about what this bill does, and, unfortunately, there are some who are intentionally spreading misinformation about this bill for political gain. Before I continue any further, let's put these rumors to rest by telling the American people what this bill does not do. This bill does not give Federal agencies any authority to seize private property. I am a farmer and a private landowner, and I would never sponsor or support a bill that would give the Federal Government more power to seize private land. This bill does not specify any land for carbon capture projects or undermine the property rights of American citizens. This bill does not directly benefit or impact private companies with an interest in carbon sequestration. The United States has been using carbon sequestration methods to store excess carbon emissions underground for over 50 years, and President Biden's Department of Energy is currently studying large- scale carbon sequestration at the Federal level. The problem is that our Federal agencies are not communicating properly about this technology, leaving a knowledge gap that wastes taxpayer dollars and could result in important findings falling through the cracks. H.R. 4824 will force the executive branch to submit a plan to Congress and require Federal agencies to share research, data, and current sequestration technologies. Simply put, this bill puts guardrails on the administration's national energy plan by adding a reporting requirement to Congress and requires Federal agencies to talk to one another and share research in the most efficient way. Mr. Speaker, I am sponsoring this legislation because I believe every Hoosier and every American, for that matter, should have the best information that is available when making informed decisions about their land and their community. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and for all the work that we did in the committee to include my bill, the Precipitation Forecasting for Agriculture Act in the Weather Act's reauthorization. The Precipitation Forecasting for Agriculture Act is a simple piece of legislation. This bill simply directs the United States Weather Research Program to study seasonal precipitation forecasts for agriculture. Hoosier farmers rely on accurate forecasts to determine whether or not their farms will have rain needed for their crops. This bill supports that basic need through a collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and our universities to create measurable objectives in forecasting improvement. This study will address the scientific challenges to improving precipitation forecasting by enacting the National Weather Service's recommendations for subseasonal and seasonal forecasting innovation in the 21st century. These recommendations will enable the Indiana State Climate Office at Purdue University to produce operational models for land surfaces, soil moisture, and flash drought processes. Our farmers need the most accurate data available to guarantee a successful harvest. That is why I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, Hamas has committed countless acts of cruelty against the Israeli people since last year's unprovoked attack. Thousands lost their lives when Hamas stormed into Israel this past October to terrorize Jewish communities and brutalize their people. Many families have mourned the loss of loved ones while others still live with the uncertainty of knowing if their family members are held in captivity. I have had the opportunity to speak with the families of those hostages on multiple occasions, including some of those here tonight. I stood shoulder to shoulder with them as they recount the terrible pain they have experienced as they nervously await news of their loved ones. Despite the overwhelming grief these families have experienced, they continue to share their stories to shine a light on the true scale of Hamas' inhumanity. I appreciate them for remaining in the spotlight to remind the world of the terrible atrocities committed by Hamas. Their courage is a testament to the strength of the Israeli people and all those who have been victimized by the Hamas terrorists. We will continue to fight for the release of all the hostages that are still held in captivity and stand with our friends in Israel in their struggle for their lasting security.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 102, I mistakenly voted ``yea'' when I intended to vote ``nay.''

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Chair, today, I rise in opposition to the Spartz amendment No. 76. This amendment states that none of the funds made available by this appropriations bill may be used to carry out commodity checkoff programs. Checkoff programs function as research and promotion boards that help different commodities achieve industry success through market development, heightened demand, and expanded consumer awareness. This amendment proves factually unnecessary and inaccurate since no tax dollars are used to implement the checkoffs and no appropriated dollars are used to oversee them, pursuant to the statute. These programs benefit our Nation's agriculture industry and bolster the work that is being done by our farmers and ranchers who put food on the tables across the country. The continued success of these programs must not be interrupted and misguided by the lack of understanding and nongermane amendments. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.