James Baird

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor the 125th anniversary of the Indiana Veterans' Home. It was established in Tippecanoe County in 1895, and the Indiana Veterans' Home initially served as a facility to care for the disabled Union soldiers after the Civil War. By 1910, the home served over 1,400 residents and offered its own hospital, bakery, and electric light plant. Over a century later, the Indiana Veterans' Home continues to operate as a full-service facility offering a multitude of medical and support services for its residents. It is also home to a small museum of historical artifacts, and serves as the final resting place for nearly 3,000 veterans and their spouses. Indiana has a proud tradition of honoring its veterans, and the Indiana Veterans' Home is a shining example of Hoosiers' commitment to the care of those who have served. I congratulate those at the Indiana Veterans' Home on their 125th anniversary, and I offer my sincere gratitude for their continued service to Hoosier veterans and their families.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from the State of Washington for allowing me to have the opportunity to participate in this Special Order. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the communities and the residents of west central Indiana to share our experience with the Endangered Species Act. As an animal scientist and a farmer, I am a lifelong conservationist. I value the well-intentioned effort of the ESA to protect and conserve our Nation's most iconic species that define our landscapes and have shaped our heritage. Instead, however, I have repeatedly found myself discouraged with the implementation of this important act. As I shared here on the House floor a few weeks ago, Lakes Freeman and Shafer, near Monticello, Indiana, have been a popular tourist destination. It has been home to many small businesses, attractions, and a vibrant local economy for generations of Hoosiers. Unfortunately, though, a series of droughts and a tangle of bureaucratic red tape involving the ESA has made a devastating impact on this community. Following a listing on the endangered species list more than a decade ago of mussels found in the Tippecanoe River, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service subsequently ordered a new higher volume of water to consistently flow out of the Oakdale Dam that forms Lake Freeman, in an effort to preserve these now-protected mussels. This executive action by unelected bureaucrats has crippled our once-thriving community. Businesses like the Tall Timbers Marina, local resorts, and the Madam Carroll cruise boat, as seen here, report catastrophic losses to revenue and depleted financial reserves. Homeowners along the lake report ruined seawalls, dried-up wells, and slashed resale values, even during this hottest real estate market of our lifetime. With zero regard for the economic and environmental catastrophe created, the Fish and Wildlife Service refuses to negotiate and continues to enforce a mandate designed to protect a population of mussels that have likely already died from the bacterial overload created when this 1,500-acre lake was reduced to a puddle, killing practically all the wildlife that used to call Lake Freeman home. Due to years of misinterpretation of the law, unchecked actions by unelected bureaucrats, and radical environmentalism, this once valuable law, designed to conserve America's natural beauty, has instead proved time and time again to be a death knell to actual ecosystems and the nearby communities. The Service consistently hides behind its ability to point fingers at other agencies, whose compliance is obligated by the ESA as a means to avoid rational management of the act and the species it protects. As thought leaders and policymakers, we have an important responsibility to preserve the natural beauty that God has bestowed on our land. The Endangered Species Act was established with that mission at heart but has gone frightfully astray. It has been 40 years since the enactment of the ESA. Now more than ever, it is time to modernize this important law, to fix its broken parts to better serve its purpose and to allow for responsible solutions to disasters like Lake Freeman. I hope my colleagues will join me in this valuable effort.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in honor of National Police Week, a week where we honor the men and women who risk their lives every day to protect and serve our neighborhoods. I want to take this opportunity to highlight some of the great work from law enforcement in my district who are helping to keep their communities safe. First, there is West Lafayette Police Officer Brian Danosky who risked his own life to provide lifesaving care to a 22-year-old who had a gunshot wound. In Frankfort, Indiana, Sergeant Chris Salaba was awarded Officer of the Year last year for helping his department overcome challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. In Putnam County, Sheriff Scott Stockton and his deputies kept deadly drugs off of our streets by seizing 225 pounds of meth. These are just a few of the examples of police officers working to keep our neighborhoods safe. I think it is important to highlight their work and remind citizens that most police officers are good people who want to protect their communities and serve the people within them.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to show my support for our men and women in law enforcement. Unfortunately, there is a growing movement across this country that is trying to defund police departments and disparage the character of all of our police officers. This movement is having deadly consequences on our communities. We are starting to see what happens when we defund the police. For the first time in decades, violent crime is rising in the United States. Major American cities saw a 33 percent increase in homicides in 2020. Many of these cities took the advice from radicals and slashed their police departments, with the ultimate goal of defunding them. These reckless decisions didn't make our communities safer. Instead, it only empowered criminals and put those most vulnerable in harm's way. All Americans want bad police officers to be held accountable, but all Americans also want to be safe in their own communities. Police officers risk their lives every day to try to make that a reality. Congress should focus on making sure our police departments have the resources they need to keep criminals off the street while implementing the needed reforms to hold accountable bad officers.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I appreciate my good friend from Texas allowing me to share with this body the program that I have for today. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the overwhelming challenges plaguing a community in my district. It is located in White and Carroll Counties of west central Indiana. The communities surrounding Lakes Shafer and Freeman are a recreation destination for Hoosiers from all across the State and from Americans across the country. The Twin Lakes, as they are known, straddle the small community of Monticello. In the nearly 100 years since the two reservoirs were created by damming up the Tippecanoe River, their far-reaching attraction has created a flourishing local economy built on tourism, replete with the trappings of a family vacation, including its own amusement park, cruise boat, resort, marina, and much more. Despite all the buildup of amenities of this Hoosier destination, the lakes remained the focal point of the community and the driving force of the regional economy. Unfortunately, lake conditions can also have a negative impact on the local area. At the hands of Mother Nature and outside forces, these crown jewels of the region have been tarnished. On multiple occasions, Lake Freeman, because of drought conditions, has been drained to the riverbed that flows at the bottom. Unfortunately, these episodes of diminishing lake levels have come at an increasingly frequent rate in recent years and in times of even moderate drought conditions. These droughts caused the lake to become almost completely drained and resulted in devastation to the natural ecology and the local economy. Businesses, homes, property--both real and personal--tax revenue, and the loss of family time are all impacted. The past 7 months have been one of those times as drought conditions last summer once again caused Lake Freeman's water level to plummet by more than 13 feet, completely draining the vast majority of this 1500-acre reservoir. One victim of this devastation is the disruption of local ecological balance. During the worst parts of the episode, area residents walked the lake bed only to find dead turtles, fish, mussels, and more that had succumbed to the lack of water. Safety also became a tremendous challenge for locals and boaters as water levels sank, exposing stumps, sharp objects, and other items usually covered by the water. These impacts on the lake quality are especially disappointing to a community that has prided itself in its conservation stewardship of the lake. Members of the community have banded together to form Shafer & Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corporation, also known as SFLECC. This volunteer group raises thousands of dollars every year to fund the Summer Lakes Clean Up project. Over the years, this group has volunteered over 17,000 hours in helping preserve the beauty and natural environment of the lakes. Residents are facing tremendous economic costs as well. Property values have plunged; local drinking water and drinking wells have dried up; retaining walls have buckled, threatening to collapse; and boats are stranded and unable to be winterized. The financial costs to solve these issues are too high for many residents. Even if they wanted to move, the values of their homes have dropped considerably. One resident who moved to Lake Freeman after she retired said: ``We built a retirement home 10 years ago. It is probably not worth half of what we have in it. It is very depressing.'' Another resident told our office about the difficulties they have faced after their water well dried up. In order to use any water, they have to drive miles away to purchase their water from a grocery store. Small businesses are facing the same tough financial decisions. The Madam Carroll, a cruise boat and entertainment venue, struggled significantly to keep their business above water, literally. Because of the dried-up lake, the owners of the vessel had to dock their boat that usually sails year-round. ``It is almost as bad as it can get,'' Chris Peters, co-owner of the Madam Carroll, told me. Tall Timbers, a marina that helps prepare and store boats for the winter, saw a dramatic drop in their business. In an average year, they process and winterize around 500 boats but were only able to house around 200 boats this year due to them being unable to access the customers' boats. Susan Wagner, who owns the convenience store and gas station on the shores of the lake, described the situation as bleak. She had to let her employees go earlier than usual because of the lack of business. I am proud of the resiliency that the Hoosiers of this magnificent community have shown. They have exhausted many options to find a solution to this constant problem. While I am disappointed and saddened for these Hoosiers because of the difficulty that these conditions have created, I am happy to report that conditions have finally been restored to normal just recently because of the rains after more than 7 long months of this kind of condition. I want the Hoosiers in my district and all those impacted by Lake Freeman's challenges to know that I hear their concerns, that I am here on their behalf, and that I will do everything I can to remedy this problem.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, today I rise for the concerns over the President's $2 trillion infrastructure plan. One concern is the steep price tag, but my bigger concern is what the administration is trying to classify as infrastructure. We are to the point of changing the definition of what that is. We are throwing everything in except the kitchen sink and the kitchen table and calling it infrastructure. I think that is irrational and I think that is irresponsible. How can you call this an infrastructure bill when less than 6 percent of it goes to roads and bridges, 5 percent goes to broadband infrastructure, and less than 2 percent goes to the waterways, locks, dams, ports, and airports? Less than 2 percent of our waterways and ports is unacceptable. This type of infrastructure is critical for Hoosiers in transporting our manufactured and agriculture exports to the global market. If we are going to ask the American taxpayers to make these critical and substantial investments, it is our duty to make sure our dollars are spent wisely and efficiently on true infrastructure.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Louisiana for yielding. I appreciate the opportunity to be here. Madam Speaker, this evening I really rise to voice my concerns over the President's $2 trillion infrastructure plan. One concern is the steep price tag, but a bigger concern is what the administration is trying to classify as infrastructure. These attempts from some on the other side of the aisle to classify their partisan priorities as infrastructure, is inexcusable and it is irresponsible. The President is asking American taxpayers to fork over $2 trillion. If the President is asking Americans to make a substantial investment, it is Congress' responsibility to ensure that these tax dollars are spent wisely. Unfortunately, the President's proposed bill doesn't do this. How can it be infrastructure legislation when less than 6 percent goes to roads and bridges and less than 5 percent goes to broadband infrastructure? There is a true need for infrastructure. For instance, in my district, our rural communities need help getting their last mile of broadband. This pandemic has proven that high speed broadband must be addressed. Madam Speaker, I hope we can remove the partisan approach to this bill and solve the real infrastructure challenges of our country.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the farm broadcaster, Gary Truitt. Gary was inducted into the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Hall of Fame for his outstanding work and commitment to delivering informative and insightful news to our Nation's farmers. I offer my congratulations to Gary for this remarkable achievement and to celebrate his dedicated career. Gary began his farm broadcasting career in 1981, bringing a fresh perspective to the industry. And in only a few years, he began his own news broadcast, which soon dominated Indiana radio. In 2006, he did it all over again after a corporate sale of his first network, and created Hoosier Ag Today. For more than 33 years, Hoosier farmers have relied on Hoosier Ag Today for the latest news about the condition of the agricultural industry and markets. Mr. Speaker, it is hard to find someone who puts his whole heart into everything that they do. Gary is one of them. I wish Gary many more years of success.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson. Since 2012, Connie has overseen Indiana's elections and modernized how Hoosiers and businesses interact with the State. Connie championed comprehensive election reforms that included election security and expanded our voting access for Hoosiers. Connie is a fierce advocate for Hoosiers to be financially literate and has advocated high schools offer a free financial class to all students. Connie modernized State government departments by implementing an efficient one-stop portal for businesses to register, file, report, and make payments to State agencies. Prior to being secretary of state, Connie served 16 years in the Indiana State Senate and, before that, was clerk of the Hendricks County Circuit Court. I congratulate Connie on her retirement. On behalf of all Hoosiers, we will miss your 33 years of dedicated public service.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to commend the work of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney. Ted is the first person to hold this position, and he set a high bar for whoever succeeds him. His work has been an integral part of shaping trade agreements, including the successful renegotiation of the NAFTA into the USMCA. His determination to help American farmers get their products to new markets has not only helped our American farmers but has helped feed the world. Ted's remarkable passion for agriculture began at an early age, growing up on a farm in Tipton, Indiana, and was active in 4-H and with the Future Farmers of America organization. He then graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in agricultural economics and later served as the director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. Thank you, Ted, for your outstanding work and devotion to our Nation's farmers.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Purdue University professor Dr. Larry DeBoer. I had the opportunity to work with Dr. DeBoer as a member of Purdue Extension Service as an Indiana State representative and as a farmer. Dr. DeBoer recently retired from Purdue after 36 years of teaching economics. His tenure at Purdue is distinguished and worthy of recognition. Every semester, he taught 200 to 400 students macroeconomics. In addition to that, he has authored macroeconomics textbooks for universities. Dr. DeBoer was recognized for his outstanding teaching with numerous awards, like the Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2015 and the Richard L. Kohls Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher Award in 2014. In addition to being a professor, Dr. DeBoer has advised and worked with the Indiana Legislative Services Agency on tax and finance issues, and has worked on former Governor Mitch Daniels' Commission on Local Government Reform. The State of Indiana has benefited greatly from his deep knowledge and expertise in the State's economic affairs. I want to wish Dr. DeBoer the very best in his retirement.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to President Biden's executive order to revoke the permit for the Keystone pipeline. This decision was political, provides no benefit to the environment, and it came at a cost of approximately 11,000 good-paying American jobs. President Biden cited concerns regarding climate change for his reason on stopping the pipeline. But under President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, the State Department conducted a review and found the pipeline to have minimal impact on the environment. Now, instead of having the pipeline, the oil from Canada will now be transported in less safe ways like trucks and railways. Axing the Keystone pipeline destroyed thousands of jobs, won't reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, and only will deepen the divide on the issue of climate change.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise on behalf of the communities and the residents surrounding Lakes Freeman and Shafer. This summer, these communities witnessed the water levels in Lake Freeman reach a dangerously low level. The low water levels were brought on by drought, but were exacerbated by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ruling meant to protect several species of mussels. However well-intended the ruling, it is having devastating consequences for these communities and the city of Monticello. Local businesses are struggling to get by, property values are decreasing, and the ecosystem of the lake is threatened. Fish and Wildlife have the power to resolve this issue, but the agency has been unable to adjust to realtime circumstances. I brought this issue to the attention of the Department of the Interior. My hope is that our government can be responsive to the concerns of the people on a problem they have helped create.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor Linden, Indiana, resident Dr. Mark Eutsler. This year marks the 25th year that Dr. Eutsler has co-chaired the nationally televised IPL 500 Festival Parade. Using his experience as the former director of bands at McCutcheon High School, he has helped over 45,000 students from 425 Indiana schools participate in the nationally acclaimed IPL 500 Festival Parade. Prior to his appointment as co-chair, Dr. Eutsler has served as an enthusiastic supporter of the Indianapolis 500 Festival for decades. Mark has attended the parade consistently since 1980 and has been a volunteer for the event for 29 years. Dr. Eutsler's consecutive years of service stand out among the more than 3,000 volunteers who will fill roughly 7,000 positions for the month-long May event every year. Dr. Mark Eutsler is a pillar of the community. I express my deepest thanks and appreciation for his passion and for the service he has devoted to a program that defines Hoosier heritage.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of fellow Hoosier Amy Coney Barrett to be confirmed to the Supreme Court. Barrett is immensely qualified to serve as a Supreme Court justice. She clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia before teaching law school in Indiana at the University of Notre Dame, where she received the ``Distinguished Professor of the Year'' award three times. Three years ago, she was confirmed with bipartisan support to the Seventh Circuit of the Court of Appeals. There she developed a reputation of being an exemplary jurist who follows and upholds the Constitution. In addition to her distinguished record and qualifications, Mrs. Barrett is a role model for women. She is a devoted wife and a loving mother to seven children, while still effectively performing her responsibilities as a justice. Judge Barrett will be an excellent addition to the United States Supreme Court, and I look forward to her confirmation without delay.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 8265 to extend the Paycheck Protection Program to keep millions of employees on the payroll of America's small businesses.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic efforts of West Lafayette Police Officer Brian Danosky. On the morning of August 27, Officer Danosky found 22-year-old Troy Moffitt, who was bleeding from a gunshot wound. Not knowing if the shooter was still in the area, Officer Danosky ignored the danger to his life and rushed to save Mr. Moffitt. Officer Danosky applied a tourniquet to Moffitt's leg, an act that saved Mr. Moffitt's life. Officer Danosky went above and beyond the call of duty and risked his own safety to save the life of a citizen he swore to protect and serve. For that, Officer Danosky will be the third officer in the last 10 years to receive the Silver Merit Award. I commend Officer Danosky for his act of bravery, and on behalf of all Hoosiers in the Fourth District, I thank him for his service. Mr. Speaker, I offer Officer Danosky's story to my colleagues not only to highlight his heroic actions, but to remind them that our police officers are dedicated public servants who want to protect their communities. Unfortunately, there is a growing movement to disparage and defund our law enforcement officers. There are even some in this Congress who advocate defunding police departments. We are already seeing the disastrous effects happening over our country in cities where they slice police budgets. New York City took $1 billion from their police budget amid rising crime. In July, the city saw a 59 percent increase in murders compared to last year. The city of Minneapolis is pushing to eliminate their police department at a time when they are seeing a spike in murders. What makes this rise in crime even more tragic is that the victims are often from underserved communities, the same communities, we are told, that will benefit from fewer police officers in their neighborhoods. These communities are no different from the communities in my district. They want the same thing: good jobs, good schools, safe communities, and a place to raise their families. I will continue to support our police officers and oppose any efforts to defund them. Supporting the Second Amendment

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the millions of Americans who are exercising their Second Amendment right and becoming law-abiding gun owners. As people across our Nation and across our country watch riots and crime consume our cities and the elected leaders in those cities do little or nothing to stop it, people will ensure they have the means to defend themselves and their family. These millions of Americans who are purchasing these firearms are exercising their God-given and constitutional right to self-defense. Since March of this year, at least 1.5 million firearms have been sold every month. I pledge to these new gun owners that I will not only work to restore law and order to our communities, but also protect the Second Amendment and make certain every American has the right to protect themselves and their families. E Pluribus Unum

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my fellow citizens that, despite our differences and beliefs and our deep divisions, we can still come together as one nation under one flag. We remember the words stitched on our Nation's first seal, ``e pluribus unum,'' ``out of many, one.'' No matter where you came from, what creed you follow, or the color of your skin, we are one nation united under the banner of freedom. This great experiment in self-government that we call the United States of America has been able to achieve great things like defeating Nazi Germany and landing a man on the Moon because we came together as one. When we stand shoulder to shoulder, there is no obstacle our country can't overcome. I ask every American to reflect and remember the bonds that unite us and that they are stronger than those that divide us.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, today I rise in opposition to H.R. 4447, the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act. My reason for this is like many of my Republican colleagues, it has a misguided focus on applied energy, and almost no focus or attention to basic research. The area I am concerned about is the lack of attention on biological and environmental research, BER. Just a few weeks ago, the Science Committee held a hearing on the Department of Energy's BER office. We heard how their world-class user facilities and bioenergy research centers bring together researchers and data for open collaboration, not seen anywhere else in the world. Ranking Member Lucas' bill, H.R. 5685, the Securing American Leadership in Science and Technology Act, authorizes these user facilities and bioenergy research centers, along with a host of other basic research provisions. My point is: That there are productive alternatives that have the right focus and are ready to be passed, instead of this partisan package in front of us today.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4979, the Rural STEM Education Act. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation. As one of only two Members of Congress with a Ph.D. in science, I understand the importance of teaching science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science at an early age. Quality STEM education is essential to train the next generation of American minds. Fostering children's natural curiosity is critical to expanding their interest in STEM. More than 9 million students in the United States attend rural schools, so investing in rural areas represents one of the most significant opportunities for STEM education. H.R. 4979 will support research and development to identify the barriers rural students face in accessing high-quality STEM education, and it will develop innovative solutions to improve rural students' participation and advancement in the STEM fields. In a time when our rural students are facing more barriers than ever before because of COVID, this bill can play an important role in helping these students remain in the STEM pipeline. With the shift to online learning in recent months, it is more important than ever that we invest in the best practices and the scalability of online STEM education courses for our rural communities. In addition to examining opportunities for online education, this legislation also promotes the importance of place-based learning. Place-based learning is a tremendous tool to broaden participation by rural students in STEM. It uses local heritage, geography, and opportunities to study STEM. By connecting them with the science that is right outside their front door, rural students will have hands-on learning opportunities, even while the courses remain online. I would be remiss if I did not mention one of the greatest barriers our rural students face, which is broadband access. Over 20 million Americans lack access to broadband, and the majority live in these rural areas. This bill prioritizes connectivity for all students and supports technologies to deploy broadband to these underserved rural areas. We must also recognize the key role educators play, especially rural teachers who teach multiple grade levels within a STEM discipline. H.R. 4979 provides rural STEM educators with resources and experiences that they can bring back to the classroom and use with their students. I would like to thank Ranking Member Lucas for his leadership on this bill. By improving access to STEM opportunities in rural schools, the Rural STEM Education Act will ensure that communities in less populated areas are not overlooked and that the intellectual power of our next generation continues to grow. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the timeless American principles of freedom, equality, and opportunity. These principles are the foundation on which our Nation was built. Unlike the nations and the empires that came before, the United States was founded on an idea, an idea that men are created equal and have certain inalienable rights given by our Creator. This idea turned into a dream, a dream that, no matter what circumstances you come from, you can come to America and be free to pursue your dreams and be equal to your peers in the eyes of the law. There are some among us who think this system of self-government has failed. There are some who believe socialism is a better tool to achieve the American Dream, and they think, by tearing down our institutions, by tossing aside the Constitution, and by giving the government more control that they will somehow achieve utopia. Using history as a guide, we know this to be wrong. Our Constitution is special because it limits the power of government while safeguarding our freedoms and our civil rights. I will do my best to follow their example and keep our America as the shining city on the hill.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the time, and I thank my friend from Texas for giving me this opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the timeless American principles of freedom, equality, and opportunity. These principles are the foundation on which our Nation was built, an idea that all men are created equal and have certain unalienable rights given by our creator. You can come to America and be free to pursue your dreams and be equal to your peers in the eyes of the law. There are some people who believe that socialism is a better tool to achieve the American Dream. Using history as a guide, we know that this is wrong. Our Constitution is special because it limits the power of government while safeguarding our freedoms and our civil rights. As we strive to make this country better, let us remember the selfless Americans who throughout our history have struggled, fought, and died in the hopes of creating a more perfect union. I will fight to keep America as the shining light on the hill.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances related to COVID-19, I was unable to cast my votes on Thursday, April 23. I would like to reflect my intended NAY vote for H. Res. 938, and my intentions of voting YEA in support of H.R. 266

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate and honor the life of Dr. David L. Rice. Dr. Rice was the founding and first president of the University of Southern Indiana, where he worked from 1967 until his retirement in 1994. Before his time at the University of Southern Indiana, Dr. Rice earned a bachelor of science in agriculture and a master of science and a doctor of philosophy in education, all from Purdue University. While studying at Purdue, he met his wife, Betty J. Fordice, and the two were shortly wedded to one another. The following year of their marriage, Dr. Rice answered the called for his country and served in the United States Army infantry in Korea. After serving in the military, Dr. Rice returned to Indiana, where he taught public school while pursuing his advanced degrees at Purdue. In 1967, Dr. Rice was appointed to lead the Evansville campus of Indiana State University. By 1985, under his leadership, the campus became its own separate university, the University of Southern Indiana. During his tenure, the University of Southern Indiana grew in enrollment from 992 students to 7,443, expanded the curriculum from 2-year degree programs to a comprehensive range of baccalaureate and master's degree programs. He did such an exemplary job, they honored him by naming the library after him. Dr. Rice was also very dedicated to bettering his community. He was a member of countless groups and organizations, such as being on the board of the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science, and starting an organization called Leadership Everyone. The group looks to develop leaders in the community who are committed to utilizing inclusion and creativity in order to bring positive change. Dr. Rice's legacy of service and achieving excellence will live on through all the lives he impacted and through the David L. Rice and Betty Fordice Rice Presidential Scholarship. Most importantly, his memory will live on through his family. Dr. Rice is survived by his wife of 69 years, Betty ``Janey'' Fordice Rice, and their two children, along with six grandchildren.