André Carson

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Duck Boat Safety Improvement Act of 2022, a bill to implement safety regulations for amphibious passenger vessels, particularly those known as duck boats. These safety recommendations were made by federal agencies to address persistent problems associated with duck boats that have resulted in far too many injuries and fatalities. I became much more aware of these problems when my constituents, the Coleman family, were involved in a horrible duck boat accident on July 19, 2018 in Branson, Missouri. Tia Coleman was one of only two survivors from her family of 11, losing her husband Glenn and her children Reece (nine years old), Evan (seven years old), and Arya (one year old). Tia's 13-year-old nephew, Donovan Coleman, was the other surviving family member, losing his mother Angela, his younger brother Maxwell (two years old), his uncles Ervin (76 years old) and Butch (70 years old), and his aunt Belinda (69 years old). Boarding a duck boat on Table Rock Lake started out as a fun outing for family members, but turned into an unspeakable tragedy when the boat capsized and sank. Seventeen of the 31 passengers on board were killed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and U.S. Coast Guard have separately investigated the incident and the last few aspects of the investigation should be completed soon. But Congress should not wait to act. We know from past incidents that more can be done to make these vessels safer. Since 1999, more than 40 people have died in duck boats accidents, the vast majority of them from drowning when the vessel sinks. The NTSB in 2002 issued recommendations to improve the safety of the vessels in flooding or sinking situations but little has been done to implement those measures. Duck boats are hybrid vehicles that can travel on roadways and waterways, so the safety measures must be updated for both land and waterborne operations. The Duck Boat Safety Improvement Act will require vessel operators to implement commonsense boating safety measures, including: Improving reserve buoyancy and watertight compartmentalization to prevent sinking, Requiring more monitoring and adherence to severe weather alerts and warnings, Requiring release of road safety seatbelts when Duck Boats become waterborne, Requiring stronger crew safety training and certification, Removing or reconfigure canopies and window coverings for waterborne operations, Requiring personal flotation devices for waterborne operations, Requiring installation of better bilge pumps and alarms, Installing underwater LED lights that activate automatically in emergencies, and Complying with other Coast Guard boating safety requirements. These basic safety requirements will help save lives and prevent future tragedies. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill to make commnsense corrections to the persistent safety problems facing duck boats so that no other family must suffer the kind of tragedy faced by my constituents on Table Rock Lake. I urge the House to support this bill.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I am proud to introduce a bicameral resolution today, to express solidarity with and reaffirm the dire need to protect vulnerable and minority populations and their allies in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. I thank my Senate Colleague, Senator Markey, for his leadership on this urgent human rights issue. The United States spent over twenty years in Afghanistan, in an endless war. It was crucial that we leave, and I applaud President Biden for commanding this effort and not leaving it as a task for yet another President. There is no good way to end a war without a decisive resolution; however, what we must not do is not leave innocent Afghan people behind. We cannot abandon the innocent women, children and families who have suffered through this war. We have a moral obligation to ensure that they are left with some system of government that respects and honors the international standards of human rights that our country has helped establish. Reports have shown that Taliban fighters have explicitly targeted religious and ethnic minorities, abusing them with impunity, and have threatened Afghan journalists with violence. Similar reporting shows that the Taliban continue to target LGBTQI individuals, forcing them into hiding due to the threat of physical violence and attacks perpetrated by Taliban fighters. Women, in particular, are facing dire circumstances. Despite promises to the contrary, the Taliban leadership have re-instituted many of the draconian measures that characterized their previous rule. Restrictions on their freedom of movement, punishments for dress code violations, and constraints on their occupational and educational opportunities all severely limit the future of Afghan women--and subject them to gross injustices and violence. The rapidly deteriorating human rights conditions in the country are exacerbated by the worsening humanitarian crisis, by which vulnerable and minority communities are disproportionately impacted. I am proud to introduce this resolution today, which calls on the Biden Administration to work closely with the international community and nongovernmental organizations to support at-risk Afghan communities, including efforts to counter the growing humanitarian crisis that unduly impacts already vulnerable groups. Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in calling for the protection of vulnerable and minority communities in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, especially during this humanitarian crisis.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Nasser Paydar as he retires after thirty-seven years of service in higher education in Indiana. Nasser's life-long dedication to public education began in 1985 as a faculty member in the School of Engineering and Technology at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis (IUPUI). From here, he took on many roles within the Indiana University system and across the State of Indiana. In August of 2015, Nasser became chancellor of IUPUI and executive vice president of Indiana University. As Chancellor, Nasser led a strategic plan focused on student success, academic excellence, and community engagement. He helped lead the transition of IUPUI Fort Wayne to IU Fort Wayne, which is administered by IUPUI, and the creation of the School of Health and Human Sciences through a merger of two existing IUPUI schools. During his tenure, IUPUI celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019 and raised more than $1.7 billion in philanthropic endeavors. Always focused on students, Nasser created the ``Through Their Eyes'' Scholarship, presented to a student who is descended from a resident of the thriving Ransom Place and Indiana Avenue neighborhoods that once stood on what is now the IUPUI campus. After the scholarship's creation in 2012, IUPUI received the Insight into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award. Under Nasser's leadership, IUPUI saw an increase in student diversity, with the percent of students of color increasing from 24.7 percent to 39.8 percent. When the world drastically changed in the wake of COVID-19, Nasser led the campus through the pandemic. He spearheaded the unprecedented shift to remote learning in spring 2020, and the return to in-person classes in fall 2021. Chancellor Paydar has dedicated his life to helping students through public education. He has led with his heart and persevered through many challenges. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Nasser Paydar and honoring his legacy. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, as we mark National Mentoring Month, I am proud to reintroduce legislation to the Transition-To-Success Mentoring Act to help local education agencies prepare at-risk students for the transition from middle school to high school. I have had many mentors at every stage of my life, whether it was my theatre teacher in school who encouraged me to be who I am and elevated the confidence in myself to pursue sports, or my grandmother who raised me, and who was the reason I find myself following her large footsteps in public service. Mentors are important at every stage in life and especially at a young age. We should help children foster these mentor/ mentee relationships to look up to someone bigger than themselves. The Transition-To-Success Mentoring Act would establish a grant program for school-based mentoring programs targeted at helping at-risk middle school students transition from middle to high school. Under my legislation, participating students would develop and execute a formalized plan for success in high school and beyond, and be supported by a school faculty member or volunteer from the community known as a ``Success Coach.'' Middle school is a uniquely challenging time for students and ensuring a smooth transition from middle to high school is critical to their long-term success. School-based mentoring is an innovative supplement to the traditional learning that takes place in the classroom, providing underserved and at-risk students with attention and support to keep them engaged in school. This legislation is a small step towards providing some of the most vulnerable students with individual attention to help cross the bridge towards high school, college, and career. Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing the need for mentors for our children by signing on to this important legislation.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Mike Epps, who will be filming his next Netflix comedy special in his hometown of Indianapolis and will also be inducted into the Madam Walker Legacy Center Walk of Fame on November 20, 2021. Mike was born in Indianapolis to parents Mary Reed and Tommie Epps, and raised in our great city. Mike began performing comedy as a teenager. After achieving success in standup comedy, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to pursue a career in comedy at the Comedy Act Theater. At 21 years old, Mike moved to New York City where he became a sensation in the underground Black comedy scene. Mike's career continued to prosper, performing in two HBO Def Comedy Jam broadcasts and appearing in the movie ``Strays'' in 1997 and the television series ``The Sopranos'' in 1999. After New York, Mike's rise to fame took him to Los Angeles, where he landed a role in Ice Cube's movie ``Next Friday.'' His acting career gained momentum, appearing in films such as ``Dr. Dolittle 2 ,'' ``All About the Benjamins'' and ``The Fighting Temptations,'' to name just a few. Mike has used his platform to support our city and give back to others. In 2012, he served as the ``Super Bowl Ambassador'' to Indianapolis. In addition, his generous contributions to the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation for the Arts in Georgia has helped provide opportunities for young people wishing to follow in his footsteps. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mike Epps. Our community is proud of his success and deeply grateful for his dedicated philanthropic and mentorship efforts, which are making a positive impact in the lives of countless young people across the country.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bipartisan resolution today with my colleagues, Representatives Eshoo, McKinley, and McClain. Our resolution raises awareness about pancreatic cancer and the importance of increased Congressional funding for research by expressing support for the designation of the month of November 2021 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. I am grateful for Representatives Eshoo, McKinley, and McClain's leadership in helping to combat pancreatic cancer. Recently, pancreatic cancer has killed three American icons: Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Alcee Hastings, and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Accurately described as a silent killer, this disease does not have an early detection test, so unfortunately, by year's end, pancreatic cancer will have killed an estimated 47,050 Americans and is the third largest cause of cancer-related death in our country. As COVID-19 continues to rob us of our fellow Americans, pancreatic cancer continues to devastate thousands of American families and communities. In my home state of Indiana, nearly 1,000 Hoosiers will be killed by pancreatic cancer by year's end, and almost 2,000 Hoosiers will be newly diagnosed with this terrible disease. Nationwide, an additional 60,430 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. These horrific statistics highlight how few tools exist to detect this disease and, as a result, the immense pain and suffering it causes. Alarmingly, pancreatic cancer still has no early detection test to quickly and accurately determine the presence of this cancer. As a result, it is very difficult to detect this cancer before it has advanced to later--and more deadly--stages. Tragically, 72 percent of pancreatic cancer patients live less than one year following their diagnosis. This was the case for our colleague, Congressman John Lewis, who was killed by pancreatic cancer less than a year following his diagnosis. The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted how longstanding health disparities and lack of access to care results in disproportionate numbers of infections and deaths from this virus in communities of color. Sadly, the same is true with pancreatic cancer. The incidence rate for pancreatic cancer among Black Americans is twenty percent higher than that of any other racial demographic and the death rate is seventeen percent higher for Black men than for white men. In this way, the lack of pancreatic cancer early detection research accelerates the racial inequities in our health care system, with devastating consequences for minorities. To help detect pancreatic cancer earlier and to help address racial inequities, the 117th Congress has a unique opportunity to make historic investments in pancreatic cancer research at the Department of Defense (DoD). Congress can do this by increasing funding to pancreatic cancer research. Within this research funding, DoD should include early detection research as a major funding priority to help more patients detect this deadly disease early. In fact, if diagnosed early, the 5- year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients is above 80 percent. Current pancreatic cancer research funding remains at a fraction of the level that our fellow Americans struggling with this disease deserve. That's why it is so critical that we raise awareness about how deadly and destructive this cancer is to our American family, and why increasing pancreatic cancer research is critical to lowering this disease's deadliness. Moreover, at a time when our country is having a national conversation about the deep disparities in access to health care for Black and Brown people during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress must do everything within our power to improve health outcomes through research and treatment, and that includes pancreatic cancer. And in order to ensure that we improve outcomes, we need to raise awareness with the American public and our colleagues in Congress about just how deadly this cancer is and why we need to find early detection tools, effective treatments and reduce this disease's disproportionate impact on communities of color. I urge my colleagues in the House to support this resolution.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDDA) and my bipartisan amendment which authorizes an increase of five million dollars for a pancreatic cancer early detection initiative (EDI) at the Department of Defense (DoD). I thank my colleagues, Rep. Eshoo and Rep. McKinley, for their support and leadership on this issue. Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all major cancers--in large part due to lack of research in early detection. I believe we all agree that the patients, families, friends and loved ones suffering from this disease deserve greater support. My amendment will provide critical funding needed for more research and an early detection initiative (EDI) under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at DoD. I am pleased that the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee has already appropriated fifteen million dollars for general pancreatic cancer research funding in this year's funding legislation. While encouraging, we need to continue doing more. This issue has hit painfully close to home recently, as America lost giants to pancreatic cancer. Rep. John Lewis, our civil rights hero, passed away from pancreatic cancer only seven months after receiving his diagnosis. My good friend and colleague, Rep. Alcee Hastings, also passed from pancreatic cancer earlier this year. And, Americans lost a fighter for voting rights and women's protection, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to this deadly disease. We have lost too many loved ones and must do everything we can to save lives. It is unacceptable that, despite being the third leading cause of cancer-related death in our country, pancreatic cancer still does not have a dedicated early detection initiative. In fact, the lack of research in ways to detect pancreatic cancer early has led to devastating consequences: sixty-six percent of patients live less than one year following their diagnosis. If diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients is above eighty percent. However, if pancreatic cancer is detected late, the five-year survival rate drops to less than five percent. By failing to support our nation's researchers with the means to find new ways to detect pancreatic cancer early, we are leaving America's pancreatic cancer patients with few ways to detect this disease in time to extend the quality and duration of their lives. It's important to note that persistent health care inequities and disparities for communities of color compound the devastation of pancreatic cancer and the effects of lack of early detection research. Unfortunately, Black people are more likely than their fellow Americans to get pancreatic cancer. In fact, the incidence rate for pancreatic cancer among Black Americans is twenty percent higher than any other racial demographic. This disease is more deadly for us: the pancreatic cancer death rate is seventeen percent higher for Black men than white men. Significant evidence demonstrates that these disproportionate levels of pancreatic cancer are in large part rooted in disparities in health care and access to tests and diagnostics. As a result, the lack of pancreatic cancer early detection research accelerates the racial unfairness in our health care system, with devastating consequences for minorities. At a time when our country is having a national conversation about the deep disparities in access to health care for Black and Brown people during a global pandemic, Congress must do everything within our power to improve health outcomes through research and treatment. Providing dedicated funding for early detection research at DoD will help fill a critical gap in our pancreatic cancer research and will help address the pancreatic cancer disparities for communities of color. I urge the House to support this amendment.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the centennial of Frederick Douglass Park in Indianapolis. This historic park honors the memory and legacy of legendary abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Located in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood on the east side of Indianapolis and maintained by the City of Indianapolis's parks department, the Frederick Douglass Park has been an integral part of our city for generations by bringing our community together. The park's history reflects America's civil rights journey. It opened in 1921 in the Jim Crow era to serve Black citizens, as they were excluded or intimidated from visiting other recreational spaces in Indianapolis. Black Hoosiers embraced the park, organizing and advocating for its maintenance and improvement. Frederick Douglass Park is well known for its role in cultivating Black golfers, and it has hosted professionals such as Ted Rhodes, Charlie Sifford and Tiger Woods. Today, it is visited and appreciated by Hoosiers of many different backgrounds. Frederick Douglass Park continues to play an important role in Indianapolis, and in celebration of its 100 years, our community is planning a series of events including a golf-tournament, festival, and movie night. The City of Indianapolis will additionally announce a $19.5 million investment into Frederick Douglass Park, updating it for its second century through the construction of a new family center that includes educational, fitness, and community spaces. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this incredible park and its rich history in my district.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I thank the Congressional Black Caucus for giving us a leader, a hero, a visionary, a general, and a true public servant in Chairwoman Joyce Beatty, a fellow Midwesterner. Madam Speaker, when I see people like Congresswoman Beatty, it motivates me in the spirit of my grandmother, in the spirit of Fannie Lou Hamer, in the spirit of Harriet Tubman, in the spirit of Sojourner Truth. That fearlessness, that boldness, that commitment to liberation in freeing us from physical shackles along with mental shackles. Madam Speaker, I am proud to join my great colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus tonight in support of the INVEST Act, a bill that we marked up over 18 hours in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Madam Speaker, now this is one of the greenest bills to ever come to the floor. It provides strong support for sustainable infrastructure, green infrastructure, and green transit. The INVEST Act also addresses critical water projects for clean drinking water and wastewater projects, priorities that are long overdue after the racial injustices discovered in the Flint water crisis. The INVEST Act includes strong job creation provisions for minority contractors and transportation professionals that will help spur Black generational success and wealth. We also know that access to reliable transportation is a civil rights priority. It is critical to economic and educational opportunities. This bill makes big investments to cut carbon emissions. For electric vehicle technologies, it expands EV charging stations and networks across our country by investing $4 billion in charging infrastructure, helping the U.S. shift to the next generation of clean vehicles. I am especially proud of the EV charging stations approved in the bill for Indianapolis, which has one of the first green bus rapid transit systems. This bill also dedicates $8.3 billion for activities targeted to reduce carbon pollution and provides $6.2 billion for mitigation and resiliency improvements. It also advances the development and utilization of green construction materials. It makes our roads safer with a great boost to smart road technologies and roadway safety programs, plus record levels of investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, complete streets planning and smarter road design, and safe routes to schools. This bill also strengthens passenger rail service, as Mr. Clyburn mentioned. At my request, our staff request, there were provisions included to improve rail safety by addressing highway-rail grade crossing needs, as well as addressing trespasser and suicide fatalities and eliminating gaps in railroad safety. This bill also creates a Federal blocked crossing program to collect data and enforce a 10-minute blocked crossing limit. This is a huge win for the problems we have faced in Indianapolis and other places as well. Madam Speaker, the INVEST Act is a long-overdue bill, and I urge my colleagues to help us in passing this monumental piece of legislation.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill that will address intelligence gaps and sharpen our focus on transnational white supremacist extremist threats. Specifically, this bill will improve our federal intelligence agencies and prioritize the white supremacist extremist threat, including its ties to international groups. This bill builds on previous work done by a number of congressional committees, including the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's Intelligence Authorizations (IAA) over the past few years. As the Chairman of the Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Counterproliferation (C3) Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I am proud to strengthen our earlier provisions in the IAA and introduce this new bill. I am also extremely grateful for the collaborative efforts and support of Chairman Adam Schiff--who joins me as an original cosponsor of this bill, and whose work was invaluable in developing this legislation for introduction today. This bill mandates that the National Counterterrorism Center-- alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security--explore and analyze more completely the ideology and objectives driving white supremacist groups with transnational connections, including their leadership and operational structure. Currently, the United States government too often and too heavily relies on outside research organizations for detailed analysis of white supremacist extremists. It is imperative that United States government's intelligence agencies and subordinate organizations perform the high-level analysis needed to best utilize existing data, add additional data that may be missing, and ensure this is done on a national level. The new assessments required by this bill will allow lawmakers and the public to more completely understand the full scope of the transnational threat and will help foster a sustained examination of its international impact well into the future. As a former law enforcement professional, I have warned my colleagues for a number of years that the threat of white supremacist extremist organizations has been growing worse. Today, this problem is the top terror threat to American lives, and the United States Government needs to take actions that reflect this heightened priority, especially since the January 6th insurrection and home-grown attack on the U.S. Capitol. While there has been improvement under the Biden Administration, plus increased Congressional efforts, the Intelligence Community continues to place a priority on the international terror groups and their offenses, while ignoring the domestic terror threats. While some were taken by surprise by domestic terrorists that blew up the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995, we should never again be caught by surprise--especially when we have the ability and the duty to prevent future attacks with stronger intelligence assessments. I strongly believe this bill will complement and enhance the recently announced Department of Justice strategy to combat the domestic terror and domestic violent extremism threats, so I urge all my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this bill.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor former Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson for 60 years of service in law enforcement. Frank's life-long dedication to public service began in 1956 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Shortridge High School. Shortly after joining the Marion County Sheriff's Office in 1961, Frank moved to the U.S. Marshals Service where he quickly rose through the ranks. He played a vital role in the creation and direction of the Federal Witness Protection Program. In 1977, he was appointed as U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Indiana where he served until 1981 and again from 1994 to 2001. Frank's successful handling of the government seizure of the Indianapolis Baptist Temple earned him the Martin J. Burke Award in 2001, a recognition awarded to the most outstanding marshal in the Nation. In 2003, Frank made history when elected the first Black sheriff in Marion County; he served in this role for eight years. Frank was a trailblazer for diversity and inclusion in our community and across the State of Indiana. He will forever be remembered for the ``Stop and Think'' program where he provided youth participants his personal phone number to call before they made a wrong decision. Frank dedicated his life to service. He led with his heart and persevered through the many challenges that came his way. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Frank Anderson.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I am proud to introduce legislation to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Federal Protective Service (FPS) in recognition of their service to our Nation. After passing the Capitol security bill in this chamber earlier this week, it is only natural that we highlight the work of our protection agencies and their commitment to the Federal workforce. As a former law enforcement officer, I understand the pivotal role of security today more than ever. Following the U.S. Capitol attacks on January 6, we witnessed firsthand how important it is to have law enforcement agencies like FPS to protect our federal facilities and workforce. For half a century, FPS has served and protected the American people and government business with honor, integrity, and commitment. Since its inception in 1971, FPS has contributed to the protection of people and property in the Federal Government by identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities through risk assessments, law enforcement, intelligence analysis, and security measures. Two major acts of terror against the United States have shaped FPS to anticipate emerging threats more effectively: the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, and the terror attacks on September 11. Today, FPS provides the Department of Homeland Security Secretary with a highly trained, nationwide force that can support needs in countering emerging or existing threats and terrorism, within the boundaries of our Nation and territories. It is also responsible for protecting over 9,000 facilities and more than 1.4 million people who work, visit, or conduct business at these facilities each day. FPS has shown that it is a leader within the law enforcement and protection community. It is their work and dedication that brings us closer to the vision of a Federal workforce and workplace that is safe, secure, and resilient moving forward. Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing one of our nation's most critical federal agencies.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to re- introduce the Young Americans Financial Literacy Act. Financial literacy is critical to ensuring future financial responsibility. Studies have shown that 88 percent of Americans believe finance education should be taught in schools and 92 percent of K-12 teachers believe that financial education should be taught in school, but only 12 percent of teachers actually teach the subject. Yet, according to a 2020 survey, less than half of States require high school students to take a personal finance course, and less than 17 percent of high school students were required to take a semester-long personal finance course. I believe that Congress has an opportunity and a responsibility to address the pressing needs of individuals faced with the loss of their financial stability and the challenges of economic uncertainty. This should include financial literacy education reform and long-term solutions to prevent future personal financial disasters. Research- based financial literacy education programs are needed to reach individuals at all ages and socioeconomic levels, particularly those facing unique and challenging financial situations, such as high school graduates entering the workforce, soon-to-be and recent college graduates and young families, and to address the unique needs of military personnel and their families. High school and college students who are exposed to cumulative financial education show an increase in financial knowledge, which in turn drives increasingly responsible behavior as they become young adults. According to the Government Accountability Office, giving Americans the information they need to make effective financial decisions can be key to their well-being and to the country's economic health. The global financial crisis, when many borrowers failed to fully understand the risks associated with certain financial products, and currently, the economic hardships presented by the sudden disruptions caused by the spread of COVID-19, underscore the need to improve individuals' financial literacy and empower all Americans to make informed financial decisions. This is especially true for young people as they are earning their first paychecks, securing student aid, and establishing their financial independence. Therefore, focusing economic education and financial literacy efforts and best practices for young people between the ages of 8 to 24 is of utmost importance. I believe America should be leading the world with the best-educated students who will drive our economic innovation and success, so please join me in cosponsoring the Young Americans Financial Literacy Act. This act: Establishes a grant program in the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to develop and implement financial literacy programs for young people ages 8 to 24, Incentivizes the development of partnerships between institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, and financial institutions to develop programs aimed at young Americans in different phases of their life; Ensures the development of evidence-based instructional material that is geared towards targeted groups and addresses unique life situations, including bankruptcy, foreclosure, student loans, credit card misuse; and Conducts ongoing assessment and accountability of the program over the short- and long-term to ensure that grant money achieves the greatest impact. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the Young Americans Financial Literacy Act.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise to re-introduce a resolution recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Poppy Day, May 28. The importance of this day cannot be overstated. It's a day full of respect and remembrance for servicemembers who sacrificed so much for our Nation. The poppy flower has long been a marker of respect and a way to raise awarerness and support for members of our Nation's veterans communities, servicemembers, and their families. On May 28, we share our respect for their work on behalf of our country by acknowledging the poppy flower's symbolism, and by recognizing their sacrifices--all by donning our ``poppy red.'' The red-flowered corn poppy became symbolic as a living representation of the brave soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice on the fields of battle in World War I. Since that time, the red of the poppy flower--itself a symbol of the blood shed by those who have served--has been worn as a gesture of gratitude and recognition of others' respective sacrifices for their country, in different theaters of war. In the United States, The American Legion--and the entire American Legion Family--first called attention in 1920 to the symbolic importance of the poppy flower. At that time, near the end of the war, red-flowered corn poppies were especially linked to the poem In Flanders Fields, which reads: ``In Flanders Fields the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row'' This reference, evoking images of the poppies that sprang up in the churned-up earth of newly dug soldiers' graves in parts of Belgium and France following World War I, encapsulates the symbolic importance of National Poppy Day. I am proud to have partnered with The American Legion on this bill as their headquarters is in Indianapolis, in my district, and we invite all Members of Congress to wear their poppy red, support the goal and ideals of National Poppy Day on May 28, and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed for our country. I also invite all of my colleagues to join me in sponsoring this resolution.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, today I join my colleagues, Rep. Don Young of Alaska, Chairman Emeritus of the Transportation Committee, and Rep. Rick Larsen, Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, in re-introducing the bipartisan and bicameral National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act of 2021. Our committee has worked for years to make American skies the safest in the world, and to strengthen the industry workforce to maintain the highest standards of aviation excellence. Our legislation, the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation (NCAA) would support and promote collaboration amongst civil, commercial, and military aviation sectors to address the demands and challenges associated with ensuring a safe and vibrant national aviation system through research, education, and training. Too often in the past, innovation and lessons learned in various aviation sectors has not been shared in a collaboratively or timely manner, especially considering rapid developments in new technology. Our bill helps break down silos across commercial aviation, general aviation and military aviation sectors that will not only improve safety and best practices, but also expand opportunities for those interested in the aviation workforce--for the young and not so young, from those just starting out, to those with experience who want to move into other types of aviation work. The National Center would focus on four key areas with an emphasis on aviation workforce development. First, it would support education efforts and provide resources to curriculum developers so educators at all levels have the tools and training to educate the next generation of aviation professionals. Second, the national center would provide a forum to leverage and share expertise amongst industry sectors including the dissemination of existing high school education curriculum to develop and deploy a workforce of pilots, aerospace engineers, unmanned aircraft system operators, aviation maintenance technicians, or other aviation maintenance professionals needed in the coming decades. Third, it would serve as a central repository for economic and safety data research and analysis allowing a comprehensive perspective of industry information that would improve safety for all stakeholders. Finally, it would support symposiums and conferences to facilitate collaboration across the industry and develop future advancements for the aviation and aerospace community. This legislation would also allow the FAA to focus on safety, certification, and air traffic operations. The national center would be funded by using a small percentage of the interest accrued annually on the taxes and fees collected from users of our aviation system and deposited into the aviation trust fund. In other words, no general fund taxpayer dollars would be used to support this national center. Our aviation and aerospace industry supports over 11 million jobs and contributes more than $1.6 trillion per year to the national economy. More than 130 organizations including schools, airports, airlines, manufacturers, unions, and other entities involved in aviation and aerospace have expressed strong support for this legislation. The list of organizations supporting this legislation are as follows: AAR Corp; ACI Jet; Aeronautical Repair Station Association; Aerospace Center of Excellence; Aerospace Maintenance Council; Air Care Alliance; Air Line Pilots Association, International; Air Medical Operators Association; Air Wisconsin Airlines; Airbus; Aircraft Electronics Association; Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association; Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; Airlines for America; Alabama General Aviation Alliance; Alaska Airlines; Alaska Airmen Association; Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation; Alliance for Aviation Across America; Allied Pilots Association. American Airlines; American Bonanza Society; American Yankee Association; Arizona Airports Association; Arizona Flight Training Working group; Arizona Pilots Association; Arizona Safety Advisory Group; Arkansas General Aviation Association; Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International; Association of California Airports; Atlas Air Worldwide; Aviation Council of Pennsylvania; Aviation Technician Education Council; California Pilots Association; Cape Air; Cargo Airline Association; Cessna Flyer Association; Choose Aerospace, Inc.; Citation Jet Pilots, Inc.; Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations. Colorado Aviation Business Association; Commemorative Air Force; Community and Airport Partnership for Safe Operations; CommutAir; Compass Airlines; Delta Air Lines; Delta State University; EAA Type Club Coalition; EAA Warbirds of America; East Central Ohio Pilots Association; East Hampton Aviation Association; Empire Airlines; Endeavor Air; Envoy Air; EVAC, the Emergency Volunteers Air Corps; Experimental Aircraft Association; ExpressJet Airlines; FAST; FedEx Express; Flight School Association of North America. Flying Knights Flying Club; Flying Physicians Association; Friends of Linden Airport; Fullerton Airport Pilots Association; General Aviation Council of Hawaii; General Aviation Manufacturers Association; Glasair Aircraft Owners Association; GoJet Airlines; Hawaiian Airlines; Helicopter Association International; Horizon Air; International Air Transport Association; International Council of Air Shows, Inc.; Iowa Aviation Association; Kentucky Aviation Association; Kimmel Aviation Insurance; Ladd Gardner Aviation Insurance, Inc.; Lancair Owners and Builders Organization; Lewis University Airport; LIFT Academy. Long Island Business Aviation Association; Los Alamos Airport; Louisiana Airport Managers and Associates; Maine Aeronautics Association; Maine Aviation Business Association; Massachusetts Airport Management Association; Michigan Business Aviation Association; Minnesota Pilots Association; Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association; Mississippi Agricultural Association; Montana Pilots Association; Mooney Summit, Inc.; National Agricultural Aviation Association; National Air Traffic Controllers Association; National Air Transportation Association; National Association of State Aviation Officials; National Business Aviation Association; National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education NetJets; NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots; New Hampshire Pilots Association; New Jersey Aviation Association. New Mexico Airport Manager's Association; New York Aviation Management Association; North American Trainer Association; Ohio Regional Business Aviation Association; Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission; Oklahoma Airport Operators Association; Oklahoma Pilots Association; Oregon Pilots Association; Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals; Palo Alto Airport Association; Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum; Petaluma Area Pilots Association; Piedmont Airlines; Piper Flyer Association; Plane and Pilot News; Professional Aviation Maintenance Association; PSA Airlines; Pure White Smoke Oil, Inc.; Recreational Aviation Foundation; Red Star Pilots Association; Regional Airline Association; Republic Airways; Rhode Island Pilots Association. San Carlos Pilots Association; San Diego Christian College; Seaplane Pilots Association; South Carolina Aviation Association; South Dakota Pilots Association; Southwest Airlines; Southwest Airlines Pilots Association; Start Skydiving, Inc.; Sturdivant Brothers Flying Service; T-34 Mentor Association; The Boeing Company; The Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington; Trans States Airlines; U.S. Contract Tower Association; U.S. Parachute Association; United Airlines; UPS; Veterans Airlift Command; Virginia Aviation Business Association; Washington Pilots Association; Washington Seaplane Pilots Association; Women in Aviation International; Zerowait, Inc. Madam Speaker, this legislation will address the demands and challenges our aviation and aerospace industry face today and tomorrow. I strongly encourage my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act of 2021.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I am proud to introduce legislation to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Federal Protective Service (FPS) in recognition of their service to our Nation. After passing the Capitol security bill in this Chamber earlier this week, it is only natural that we highlight the work of our protection agencies and their commitment to the Federal workforce. As a former law enforcement officer, I understand the pivotal role of security today more than ever. Following the U.S. Capitol attacks on January 6, we witnessed firsthand how important it is to have law enforcement agencies like FPS to protect our Federal facilities and workforce. For half a century, FPS has served and protected the American people and government business with honor, integrity, and commitment. Since its inception in 1971, FPS has contributed to the protection of people and property in the Federal Government by identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities through risk assessments, law enforent, intelligence analysis, and security measures. Two major acts of terror against the United States have shaped FPS to anticipate emerging threats more effectively: the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, and the terror attacks on September 11. Today, FPS provides the Department of Homeland Security Secretary with a highly trained, nationwide force that can support needs in countering emerging or existing threats and terrorism, within the boundaries of our Nation and territories. It is also responsible for protecting over 9,000 facilities and more than 1.4 million people who work, visit, or conduct business at these facilities each day. FPS has shown that it is a leader within the law enforcement and protection community. It is their work and dedication that brings us closer to the vision of a Federal workforce and workplace that is safe, secure, and resilient moving forward. Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing one of our Nation's most critical Federal agencies.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise in remembrance of Hurley Goodall, former Indiana State legislator, civil rights icon, and one of the founding members of the Indiana Democratic African American Caucus, who passed away on May 12, 2021. Hurley was a lifelong resident of Indiana, who spent his life dedicated to community service and fighting for the rights of others. He was a graduate of Muncie Central High School before serving two years in the United States Army. As Muncie's first African-American firefighter in 1958, Hurley began to forge a trail for young African-Americans. Hurley continued to serve his community, as the first African-American to be elected to the City of Muncie's school board in 1970. He then served seven terms in the Indiana General Assembly, where he helped to establish the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus. Hurley believed in setting an example for young men and women, and helping them succeed. He established a scholarship program, with his wife, Fredine, to support up and coming leaders to continue their education at a local community college. Hurley is survived by his son Fredrick; his nephew, Robert; as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering Hurley Goodall and honor his remarkable achievements throughout his full life.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill to honor the 100th anniversary of the creation of Wonder Bread at Taggert Baking Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. This bicameral and bipartisan resolution recognizes that this storied company, with deep Indiana roots and its iconic Wonder Bread product, made lasting impacts on American life and showcase the best of Hoosier values. With hard work and a pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps story, the Taggart Brothers' creation of Wonder Bread in Indianapolis jumpstarted an innovation in commercial baking that touched American lives from the Midwest heartlands to our nation's coasts. Americans from all walks of life know Wonder Bread, and just as many enjoyed childhood memories with this iconic product and lunchbox favorite. Indianapolis has long been a haven for hard-working entrepreneurs with big ideas--from Madam CJ Walker to the current generation of visionaries. That Wonder Bread can tout Hoosier roots, is yet another example of our state's industrial and entrepreneurial spirit. I am honored to join many of my House colleagues who represent Indiana and Senator Braun, on the Senate side, in celebrating this legacy through our resolution commemorating and honoring the 100th Anniversary of the creation of Wonder Bread. I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity with the Palestinian people as they face grave injustices, violence, and certainly abuse. I join the countless people around the world, Mr. Speaker, who are vehemently opposed to the planned, forced evictions of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah and saddened by the escalating violence that threatens Israelis and Palestinians alike. We must condemn all forms of violence and mourn the loss of both Palestinian lives and Israeli lives. I stand here today as one of the three Muslims serving in Congress on Eid day, heartbroken to see the attacks on the worshippers at the Al- Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites of Islam in our holiest month of the year by the Israeli Government. For decades, Israel has violated international law and basic human rights through its systematic displacement of Palestinians. For too long, America has looked the other way as Israel has engaged in this horrific campaign against Palestinians. Israel is our security partner. In fact, the U.S. alone gives Israel billions of dollars per year. But we must make sure that our taxpayer dollars are not being used to fund human rights violations. Enough is enough. America has a moral obligation to use our influence to protect the victims of human rights violations including the Palestinian people. We must work to strengthen our work to bring peace to this region. This is our moral responsibility to do the right thing. It is not about Jews versus Muslims or Israel versus its neighbors. It is about right versus wrong. Let me be clear: Israel's decade of forced displacement is wrong. That is why we are working hard in Congress to make things right. Our American Government must enforce international law and our own foundational principles, and our allies, like Israel, must be held accountable for human rights violations. Now, we are going to keep working hard in Congress to pass much- needed legislation that achieves accountability, equality, and justice for all. America is great and powerful--probably the greatest nation in recorded history. But America is complex. It is a complicated work in progress. For centuries she has engaged in and enabled the mistreatment of countless people from the slavery enshrined in its Constitution against Africans to the taking of land from Native Americans, or the shameful support of dictators beyond our shores. But today we face an inflection point, a reckoning of whether we will stand up for the values we claim to cherish or if we will turn a blind eye to repeated violations of human rights. We cannot turn our backs now. We must recognize that this is an international struggle and stick by the words of Dr. King when he said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. I am thankful for Dr. King and for the long list of great Americans who have helped bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice. We stand on the shoulders and march in their footsteps as we advance their legacy and boldly stand up to protect the human rights of the Palestinian people. By working together, we can ensure that America uses her power for good in Palestine and around the world. Let's keep up this momentum. Let's help secure justice for the Palestinian people. Let's work for peace. Let's never give up.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend, the Representative who we affectionately call Chief Demings, for organizing this Special Order hour. You don't get many friends like Congresswoman Demings. She is a true leader; she is thoughtful; and she is a true public servant. I join her, Mr. Speaker, this National Police Week to honor and remember the officers who lost their lives last year in the line of duty. I can remember, years ago, traveling with my colleagues from the Indiana State Excise Police to honor my colleague's dad, who passed away in a high-speed pursuit on State Road 231. He was the sheriff, Sheriff Jim Baugh of Putnam County, and we came out here years ago to honor Mr. Baugh. Though nothing can bring back the lives that have been lost or ease the collective grief we feel, we take comfort in knowing that we will never forget them or the sacrifices they have made. We pledge, Mr. Speaker, to keep their legacy alive through our efforts to improve policing for every community, for all Americans. As a former law enforcement officer, this priority is deeply personal. I want to pay special tribute to all the law enforcement officers in my district who are working to keep our city safe and build greater trust with the neighborhoods they serve. I also want to honor the Hoosier officers statewide who have lost their lives. One such officer I would like to recognize is Officer Breann Leath, an Indianapolis Metro Police Department officer who was shot and killed last April while responding to a domestic disturbance. She was 24 years old, Mr. Speaker, a veteran of the National Guard, the mother of a young son, and part of a family and a proud legacy of law enforcement. She had her whole life and a great career ahead of her, only to have it tragically cut short. Today and every day, Mr. Speaker, we honor her and those like her who have been killed in the line of duty. Mr. Speaker, I would also be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to recognize the countless Americans who we have lost to police brutality. In Indianapolis alone, and in communities across our country, the list grows longer each day. We must honor their memory and commit to enacting reforms that save lives in the future. Now, let's be clear, Mr. Speaker. We are not advocating for these reforms in order to punish police or to make their jobs harder. We also want to improve their lives as well. We want to provide police with better training and the right resources. We want to help police build stronger and healthier relationships with the communities they serve. We also want police to be able to focus on keeping the peace and relieve them of their many other duties that they are expected to do even when they are not trained or equipped to carry out these additional duties. As a former law enforcement officer and as a Black man who has been the victim of police excess and misconduct, it is clear to me that these changes are desperately needed. We can improve policing and save lives by passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The House has done its work and passed it twice, last year and this year. Now, the Senate must be bold and pass it as soon as possible so President Biden can sign it into law. Thank you again to all the law enforcement officers who risk their lives to keep Americans safe, and a special thanks to those we have lost.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to reintroduce the COVID-19 Memorial Quilt Act of 2021 to again honor all the victims of this pandemic with a national memorial quilt. The horrors of the COVID-19 pandemic have touched every corner of our country, wreaking unprecedented devastation on Americans' lives. As I reintroduce this legislation today, COVID-19 has infected at least 32 million Americans. Tragically, this disease has quickly robbed our country of at least 578,000 of our fellow citizens. We need to remember that these numbers are not just statistics: they are people. They are our moms, dads, children, grandparents, neighbors, teachers, religious leaders and fellow Americans who have been taken from us due to this pandemic. Moreover, these numbers do not capture the depth of this disease's devastation. While our television screens are often filled with images of empty streets and packed hospitals, we often don't see the private isolation and loneliness of the individual struggles against COVID-19. In order to slow the spread of this disease, our hospitals, nursing homes, funeral homes, and businesses have had to impose strict social distancing and protective measures. While necessary for our public health, these restrictions come at a great human cost and deepen the private pain caused by this disease. For the thousands of brave patients fighting COVID-19, including the hospitalized patients, nursing home residents, and individuals at home in quarantine, the struggle against COVID-19 is a lonely, scary, and isolating fight. In hospitals and nursing homes, often a patient's only human contact is a health care worker in full personal protective equipment (PPE). Family, friends, and loved ones can't be there to provide comfort, to hold their hands, or to pray with them in this terrifying time. At best, loving words and support might be shared over the telephone or video call. At worst, there is only an isolating silence where a loved one should be. These scars need to be acknowledged and hopefully healed. The death toll from COVID-19 is even more wrenching. At least 112,000 Americans--whether in the hospital, the nursing home, or at home--have met the end of their lives without the comfort of their family, friends, or loved ones. Yesterday, more than 700 Americans died from this disease, and many were forced to close their eyes without the support of their loved ones nearby. In my home state of Indiana, we have lost at least 12,966 Hoosiers to COVID-19 at nursing homes. We also know that African Americans are dying at disproportionate rates from COVID-19. African Americans in Indiana. Institutional racism, compounded by environmental and economic injustices, have made COVID-19 particularly devastating for African Americans. My heart grieves for my fellow Americans who took their last breath, because of this terrible disease, without the loving comfort and support they deserved. For the family, friends, and loved ones of those who died from COVID- 19, the isolation and loneliness brought by this disease only grows after their loved one's passing. Social distancing and the isolating fear of this disease prevent us from adequately honoring and memorializing the many victims of COVID-19. Large memorial services are not possible. Family gatherings to celebrate lost loved ones are curtailed, with supportive hugs replaced by six feet of distance and protective masks. Private funeral services--if not cancelled or postponed altogether--have often had to take place with only 10 people or less. In addition to its sickness, death, and disruption, COVID-19 has robbed us of traditional ways of honoring our lost loved ones. Holding smaller funerals or forgoing them entirely because of social distancing measures has denied us the opportunity to fully celebrate the lives of the deceased. Our ability to publicly grieve together, and to adequately honor and celebrate the lost has been largely denied due to this isolating and frightening disease. Many Americans will also remember another isolating and frightening disease: the AIDS epidemic. Ryan White, a brave and remarkable Hoosier, faced isolation and many frightening obstacles because of his AIDS diagnosis. However, Ryan's courage, bravery, and advocacy for AIDS research galvanized many in support of AIDS treatment, research and recognition of this disease's horrific impact. Since no official commemoration existed, concerned Americans decided to celebrate and honor the lives of those who died from AIDS--often isolated and alone-- by creating a memorial quilt. As a result, in 1987, the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt was displayed and stretched the length of the National Mall. This remarkable quilt allowed us to honor and celebrate the lives of those tragically lost to a frightening disease, which at that time, had no cure, vaccine or effective treatment. More than 105,000 individual lives are commemorated through this quilt's 50,000 individual panels that contain photographs, correspondence, and news clippings to remember those who died from AIDS. In these panels, the memory of the victims were able to live on in public view. Inspired by the brave advocacy and powerful legacy of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, I am proud to introduce the COVID-19 Memorial Quilt Act of 2021. This legislation honors and celebrates the lives of those we have lost to the COVID-19 pandemic through the creation of a memorial quilt. Like the AIDS quilt, creating a memorial quilt to remember the lives lost due to COVID-19 will allow Americans to publicly grieve our lost loved ones, but also commemorate their lives in permanent, visible, and dignified way. The COVID-19 Memorial Quilt Act of 2021 authorizes the design, creation, and display of a memorial quilt and other commemorative programming and exhibits to honor the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. My legislation does this by creating a Congressional Advisory Panel which will submit plans to the Smithsonian Institution and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for how the quilt should be developed and displayed. Once complete, this memorial quilt will be displayed on the United States Capitol Grounds with a subsequent display on the National Mall and other locations, continuing the legacy of the AIDS quilt. This legislation also supports the powerful creativity of artists around the country by providing them with grants from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) to help design and prepare panels for the memorial quilt. All Americans have been affected by COVID-19. All have felt the disruption wrought by this pandemic to our families, our workplaces, our businesses, our places of worship, and our social lives. But that is nothing compared to the Americans who have not only faced disruptions, but also the wrenching loss of loved ones from this disease. Because of social distancing and protective restrictions, we have been denied the ability to adequately honor, commemorate, and publicly celebrate those we have lost. And unfortunately, as more Americans continue to die in isolation from this disease, this deficit in our collective grief will only grow. As a result, my legislation builds on the powerful legacy of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and will help our country to collectively grieve and appropriately honor the victims of COVID-19. Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join us in supporting the COVID-19 Memorial Quilt Act of 2021, and I urge the House to support this legislation.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I rise with my fellow Congressional colleagues from lndiana to honor the 8 Hoosiers we lost in the senseless shooting at the FedEx facility in Indianapolis. We also honor those who were injured, and pray that they have a full and fast recovery. The deceased were our friends, family and neighbors. They had hopes, dreams, and plans for the future--only to have their lives tragically cut short. And sadly, they are part of a much larger group of Hoosiers and Americans we have lost to gun violence. As our community and our state grieve, and as we seek to move forward, we pledge to never forget those we lost--in this shooting, or any other senseless act of violence. Their legacies will live on through our efforts to save lives in the future. Hoosiers are resilient, and we will continue working hard to create safer communities across America, always carrying the memory of those we have lost in our hearts. We will never forget them. [Apr. 18, 2021] Indianapolis FedEx Shooting: Who Were the Eight Victims? Officials in Indianapolis have released the names of the eight people who were killed when a gunman opened fire at a FedEx warehouse on Thursday night. Among the victims were four members of the local Sikh community--including a mother, a father and two grandmothers. Other victims include two 19-year-olds, a university graduate and a father. Local Sikhs say they feel ``traumatized'' by the attack. It remains unclear if Sikhs were targeted, authorities say. About 90% of workers at the facility are members of the local Sikh community, police chief Randal Taylor said. Here's what we know about the victims. Amarjeet Johal, 66 Johal was a ``mother, grandmother and member of the Indianapolis' Sikh community'', according to the Indianapolis Star. Her granddaughter, Komal Chohan, says she is ``heartbroken'' at the death of her ``naniji'', or grandmother. ``I have several family members who work at the particular facility and are traumatised,'' Ms Chohan said in a statement released by the Sikh Coalition. ``My nani, my family, and our families should not feel unsafe at work, at their place of worship, or anywhere,'' she said. ``Enough is enough--our community has been through enough trauma.'' Jaswinder Singh Mr. Singh only started working at the FedEx facility this week and had told everyone how excited he was, an inlaw, Harjap Singh Dillon, told the New York Times. He said Mr. Singh had been working a night-shift sorting mail when the attack happened. An active member of the local temple, Mr. Singh had moved to Indianapolis from California. ``He was a simple man,'' Mr. Dillon said. ``He used to pray and meditate a lot, and he did community service.'' Authorities provided Mr. Singh's age as 68, but his family told the newspaper that he was 70. Amarjit Sekhon A mother of two sons, Ms Sekhon began working at the FedEx facility six months ago on an overnight shift, her niece told the New York Times. ``She was a workaholic, she always was working, working. She would never sit still unless she felt really bad,'' her brother-in-law, Kuldip Sekhon, told the Associated Press news agency. While officials said Sekhon was 48, her relatives said she was 49. Ms. Kaur had been planning to make her ``renowned yogurt'' to celebrate for her granddaughter's second birthday at a large family gathering on Saturday, Rimpi Girn, a family member, told the New York Times. ``And today we're gathering to plan a funeral,'' she said. Authorities said Kaur was 64, but her family told media outlets she was 50. Samaria Blackwell was a 19-year-old soccer and basketball enthusiast who dreamed of becoming a police officer. Her parents, Jeff and Tammi Blackwell, said they were ``blessed by the Lord to have such a fun-loving, caring daughter as the baby of our family'', in a statement posted on GoFundMe page launched to fund funeral and other expenses. ``Samaria was tenacious in everything she did, from playing basketball and soccer to being a lifeguard for Indy Parks,'' they said. ``As an intelligent, straight-A student, Samaria could have done anything she chose to put her mind to.'' Mr. Weisert was a former Air Force officer who served in Vietnam and had previously worked as a mechanical engineer ``to make ends meet'', his son, Mike Weisert, told the New York Times. Mike Weisert said his father had been thinking of retiring in the coming months. Mr. Weisert's wife of 50 years, Mary Carol Weisert, told local broadcaster WKRC she felt ``terror, horror, fear, shock'' at his death. ``I don't know how else to describe it.'' A fan of action and classic movies, he enjoyed playing country and bluegrass guitar, according to the New York Times. Mike Weisert described his father as ``a very decent, kind man, very dedicated to protecting and providing for the ones he loved''. Ms. Smith was a sister and daughter, the Indianapolis Star reported her family saying. The recent High School graduate was awaiting her first pay cheque after starting work at the plant two weeks ago, a family member told the newspaper. ``She was a lovely, beautiful and youthful teenage girl,'' a family member told the Indianapolis Star. ``She had just started to buckle down and get a job and take life a little more serious.'' Mr. Alexander was a former Butler University student who had worked at FedEx for several years, according to the Indianapolis Star. ```He was a great kid. He loved to play golf. Had a big heart--always had a smile on his face,'' Albert Ashcraft, a former FedEx colleague, told the newspaper. ``Everybody liked him,'' Ashcraft said. ``He was always saving somebody's ass. People would bring doughnuts in and he was always sticking doughnuts back for his drivers.'' ``The Butler community is mourning the loss of Matthew Alexander, a former student who was killed tragically along with seven others at the FedEx facility in Indianapolis. We want to extend our deepest sympathies to Matthew's friends and families during this time of great sorrow,'' the university said in a tweet.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today, joined by my fellow congressional colleagues from Indiana, as well as our two Senators, to honor the eight Hoosiers we lost in last week's senseless shooting at the FedEx facility in Indianapolis. We also honor those who were injured and pray that they have a fast and speedy recovery. The deceased were our friends, family, and neighbors. They had hopes, Madam Speaker, dreams, and plans for the future, only to have their lives tragically cut short. And, sadly, they are part of a much larger group of Hoosiers and Americans we have lost to gun violence. As our community and our State grieve, and as we seek to move forward, we pledge to never forget those we lost in this shooting and any other senseless act of violence. Their legacies will live on through our efforts to save lives in the future. Hoosiers are resilient, Madam Speaker, and we will continue working hard to create safer communities across America, always carrying the memory of those we lost in our hearts. We will never forget them. Please join us for a moment of silence.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor my mentor and friend, Mrs. Cordelia Lewis-Burks, a remarkable Hoosier who has dedicated her life to the service of others. Throughout her career, Ms. Cordelia has fought tirelessly for inclusion, equality, and justice through the election of qualified diverse individuals. Ms. Cordelia discovered a love of politics from an early age, inspired by her father who was a pastor in West Virginia. Recognizing the importance of policy as a means to help her community, she engaged in political efforts as a young woman after moving to Chicago by volunteering for a local Congressional campaign. In 1959, Ms. Cordelia moved to Indiana where she worked as a licensed practical nurse for two decades before accepting an internship with the A. Philip Randolph Institute. She next embarked on a career with the senior constituency group of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Ms. Cordelia continued her work with unions for many years. In 1989, she served as chief lobbyist for the Indiana branch of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union (AFSCME), and then as the Director of Politics and Legislation until 2005. Ms. Cordelia served as a precinct committeewoman in the 7th Congressional District of Indiana for forty years, promoting the importance of voting. She has worked on local and national campaigns, including Bill Clinton's 1996 presidential campaign and Barack Obama's 2004 Illinois senate campaign. On March 20, 2021 she will end her 15 year tenure as the Vice-Chair for the Indiana Democratic Party. Ms. Cordelia has been honored as one of the City of Indianapolis's 100 most influential Black citizens and has received Indiana's highest honor, the Sagamore of the Wabash Award. She is also a recipient of the Rosa Parks award, Rosa Parks Trail Blazer Award, as well as the Sojourner Truth Award. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the outstanding achievements and remarkable life of an Indiana treasure, Mrs. Cordelia Lewis-Burks and extend our best wishes for her future endeavors.

Mr. CARSON

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise in remembrance of Susan Bayh, 46th First Lady of Indiana, who passed on February 6, 2021. Susan is survived by her husband, former Indiana Governor and United States Senator Evan Bayh, twin sons Beau and Nick as well as her parents and two siblings. At 29 years of age, Susan became the 46th First Lady for the State of Indiana and the youngest First Lady of Indiana. She worked tirelessly to support her husband, Evan Bayh, in his work. She also worked hard to advance her own priorities as First Lady, focusing on important causes like combating adult illiteracy. Professionally, Susan served on the boards for several biotech, telecommucations, and healthcare companies. She was on the board of Trustees for Butler University, on the Dean's Council at Indiana University's Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and she taught at both Butler University and her alma mater, the University of Southern California. In 1994, Susan was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the International Joint Commission and served for six years. Susan was a loving wife, married to Evan for more than 36 years, a proud mother of twin sons, Beau and Nick, and a beloved child, sibling, and friend. She will be remembered by Hoosiers for her commitment to our state, and for the barriers she helped break for women throughout her distinguished career. We also commend her courageous fight against the cancer that took her life. I will continue supporting cancer research and advocacy to honor people like Susan Bayh and help save lives in the future. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering Susan Bayh. She leaves behind a legacy of outstanding accomplishments, as well as a deep connection with her community and those whose lives she touched.