James Baird

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Chair, on roll call no. 372, I mistakenly voted ``yes'' when I intended to vote ``no.'' Amendment No. 85 Offered by Ms. Stevens

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jason Dombkowski, who is retiring after 25 years of faithful public service with the West Lafayette Police Department. Jason has been the Chief of Police at the department for 11 years, serving his fellow officers and community with integrity and professionalism. He received his master's degree in Technology, Leadership, and Innovation from Purdue University, and has completed the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, the FBI National Academy at Quantico, and the U.S. Secret Service Dignitary Protection Programs, among others. In addition to his remarkable career, Jason remains a steadfast pillar in the community, known for his commitment, leadership, and service. He serves on the YWCA board, and has been a board member for the Red Cross, Lafayette Crisis Center, the Lafayette Catholic Diocese Bishop's Review Board. He also volunteers with the ``Shop With a Cop'' program and coaches a youth flag football team. He and his wife, Cristie, have four children, and reside in West Lafayette. Congratulations on your retirement, Jason. I know you will continue to serve our community well in your new capacity, and I wish you the very best.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th performance of Purdue University's ``All-American'' Marching Band at the Indy 500, along with Director of Bands Jay Gephart becoming president of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the band performing pop tunes, patriotic songs, and Indy 500 ceremonial music like ``God Bless America'' and ``Back Home Again in Indiana.'' The band builds the sound, color and emotion leading to the start of the race, thrilling fans for the past century. The All-American band has become part of the fabric of the ``Greatest Spectacle in Racing.'' Nearly 300 members pay their own way each year to return to the Indy 500 from around the United States to perform on the track and under the Pagoda. They also invite high school bands from across the Midwest to participate in the Parade of Bands that has marched around the course before the start of the race since 1922 and have appeared in every nationally televised IPL 500 Festival Parade since its debut in 1957. Thanks to Director of Bands Jay Gephart, Purdue's participation in one of Indiana's most storied traditions has held strong at the ``Racing Capitol of the World.'' I congratulate every band member-- former and current--and Director Gephart on their remarkable achievements.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my support for the RSC 2020 budget. I have a copy of that here, so I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to study it and look for those positive aspects that are important that Congressman Banks and his team put together to have a balanced budget. It reduces Federal spending by over $12 trillion in the next decade and balances our Federal budget in the next 6 years. As the gentleman mentioned, the State of Indiana passed an amendment to the constitution in 2018 to require our budgets to balance, and Hoosiers have enjoyed a balanced State budget since 2012. We are among a minority of States that have a Triple-A credit rating, and Indiana has cut 15 different taxes while still balancing our budget and funding key State priorities. This proposed budget addresses out-of-control spending and rightfully aims to significantly decrease our national debt. We are $22 trillion in debt as a Nation. That is not my money. That is money that belongs to the taxpayers. Because we have been paying interest on this debt for decades, it is really the money of our next generation of American taxpayers, our kids and our grandchildren. Madam Speaker, I am proud of what Hoosiers have been able to do in our State, and I will continue to fight for that same Hoosier common sense here in D.C.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mike Piggott, who has become virtually an institution for the Lafayette community and Purdue University. Mike has been an integral part of the greater Lafayette area for more than 40 years. He serves numerous roles at Purdue, including public address announcer for the men's basketball team and public orator for more than 100 commencement ceremonies. Before working at Purdue, Mike was general manager at WLFI, and he was the television station's news director and news anchor for 14 years and news director at WASK radio for 13 years. Mike's remarkable career focused on communicating with neighbors, friends, and alumni through sharing stories, delivering the news, and representing Purdue University. His wife, Nancy, is a retired fourth grade teacher at Glen Acres Elementary. Together, they have two daughters, Jane and Julie, both married and living in the Indianapolis area, along with five grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mike on his retirement and thank him for his dedication to our community.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my alma mater, Purdue University, as we celebrate 150 years of ``giant leaps'' and academic excellence. Since Purdue's first classes with six instructors and 39 students in 1874, upcoming generations have been equipped to push boundaries in innovation and entrepreneurship. Now, with more than 200 areas of undergraduate study and over 69 graduate disciplines, students continue to pave the way for tremendous advances in medicine, agriculture, space exploration, engineering, and numerous other professions. Through partnerships with world-renowned programs like NASA and serving the manufacturing sector with technical assistance programs, Purdue's mission to increase economic prosperity touches every aspect of life in Indiana and across the nation. I am proud that this university stands as a pillar of excellence in our community. Since its 1869 groundbreaking, Purdue University has evolved in response to a changing world, but one thing remains the same: a commitment to integrity and service that has been embodied since the very beginning. I join all current and former Boilermakers in wishing Purdue a very happy 150th birthday.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate two outstanding high school basketball teams from the Fourth District of Indiana. I'm proud to say that the Fourth District is home to not only the runner up for the Indiana High School Athletic Association's Girls Basketball State Tournament, but also the 2019 State Champions. At the State Championship on February 23, in Indianapolis, Northwestern Senior High School, from Kokomo, Indiana achieved their second-straight state title with a sixty-one to thirty-nine victory over Benton Central, from Oxford, Indiana. Both teams played with the passion and dedication they have shown all season. Northwestern junior Kendall Bostic led the night with twenty- five points and set Class 3A State records for both rebounds and steals. Her teammate, Madison Layden, tied a state record as well, making ten out of twelve free throw attempts. Allison Miller from Northwestern was named the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A Girls Basketball. From Benton Central, leaders like Audrey Strawsma contributed eleven points, Tressa Senesac with nine, and senior Emma Fisher had seven. In addition to the strong showing from all the players on the court, it is notable that this is only the third time since 1995 that both teams in the State Championship game were from the same conference. It is an honor to represent hardworking student athletes across the Fourth District, especially the young women of Northwestern and Benton Central. Their coaches, Kathie Layden from Northwestern and David Baxter from Benton Central, should also be commended on their leadership and commitment. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Fourth District of Indiana, I want to congratulate both teams, their families, schools, and coaches on an impressive 2019 basketball season.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Chair, although I strongly oppose H.R. 1, I appreciate the intent of Mr. Lujan's amendment. This amendment would improve the election infrastructure innovation grant program established in H.R. 1 by requiring consultation with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST is already working with the Election Assistance Commission to develop voluntary standards and guidelines for voting systems and is well-positioned to support the Department of Homeland Security, the National Science Foundation, and the Commission's election security research efforts. I would like to note that the amendment does not add the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology as a recipient of the report required by section 321(b). I am the ranking member of the Research and Technology Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, the NSF, and the NIST, all of which are implicated by section 321. Although I do not expect H.R. 1 to ever become law, I hope election security is something that we can do on a bipartisan basis in the future. This process has been rushed, and appropriate due diligence to create strong and effective bipartisan election and security reforms has not been done. Once again, I support the intent of this amendment, but I oppose H.R. 1. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank the gentlewoman, and I appreciate all her efforts regarding this issue. Mr. Speaker, I rise here today to voice a concern over the actions taking place in New York, Virginia, and across the country that directly threaten the sanctity of life. These proposals are far beyond what Hoosiers in my community, and most folks around the country, believe is right. That is why I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This legislation will make it illegal to kill babies that are born alive after surviving an attempted abortion. The degradation of life in this country is deeply concerning. Congress needs to step up and do what is right. The extreme views of some should not overwhelm the commonsense majority of millions of Americans. Protecting the sanctity of life is something I will continue to fight for, to ensure that those without a voice can be heard and their lives spared.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, due to technical difficulties, I was unable to cast my vote on January 22, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 44.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, due to weather-related transportation issues beyond my control, I was unable to vote on January 14, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 30