Rodney Davis

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I have the utmost respect for my friend and colleague from New York, but he is dead wrong in the information and advice that he got from the Committee on Rules. The sheer fact that this so-called turn-off provision is nonchalantly just used as--well, it wasn't part of the consensus process, but let's pound our chest and say we created the consensus calendar process to begin with, so we are great. Well, when you disrupt the consensus process, you are not great. You are actually changing the rules midgame. Really, here is the kicker: There is talk about us having to come back to do a few votes while we are in the midst of August. The way this rule is written, those days won't even count toward the consensus calendar. Rest assured, there is no other reason that the Democrats and the majority on the Committee on Rules are doing this than to stop the progress of actually addressing the Social Security Fairness Act. We have 294 cosponsors. We played by the rules. Democrats changed the rules midgame. And you trust this majority to actually put a bill together that is going to stop China from dominating the chip production industry in the globe when they play games like this? That is what the American people are sick and tired of. That is why that is an outgoing majority. That is why we are going to have a new majority. It is games like this that have to stop being played when you talk about bipartisanship, but you don't actually govern in a bipartisan way. Today is another shining example of that. Again, 294 cosponsors. We play by your rules, we play by the majority's provisions, and you change the rules midgame. I certainly hope our umpires tonight at the Congressional Baseball Game are better at actually codifying the rules that exist.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Mr. Jordan, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this anti-Second Amendment legislation. I know firsthand how important firearm ownership and the Second Amendment are for self-defense. Mr. Speaker, 5 years ago, I was in the batter's box at a baseball field in Virginia, practicing for our Congressional Baseball Game, when a deranged gunman tried to kill us because we were Republicans. The attack would have been a massacre if not for the armed U.S. Capitol Police Officers, my heroes, David Bailey and Crystal Griner, who were there. The actions on that field that day solidified my support for the Second Amendment. Remember, Mr. Speaker, this gunman wanted to settle his political differences with us, who were trying to fix a broken healthcare system, with bullets on a baseball field. It is not what we do in the United States of America, but that day, my thought was, I wish I had my firearm to protect myself. We don't need more laws and restrictions that make it more difficult for law-abiding, gun-owning citizens to exercise their constitutional rights and protect their families. We need to support law enforcement and get tough on criminals who steal guns and commit violent crimes and further improve mental health programs. I am a proud gun owner. I am a concealed carry licensee and a strong supporter of our Second Amendment. I always have and always will work to preserve the Second Amendment for law-abiding, American citizens. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this attack to undermine the Second Amendment.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 270.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend, Mr. Walberg, and appreciate his leadership on this issue and also, the bipartisanship that is being shown to the American people today to address an issue that is important--to Ranking Member Foxx, too--to our communities. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6087 because of what has been said. The positive impact that this bill can have within our medical communities, and giving Americans access to the healthcare that they deserve is something that deserves all of our support. This bill would include physician assistants and nurse practitioners in the Federal workers' compensation program and put them in line with the State scope of practice. It is also going to improve access to care for injured Federal workers and postal employers, especially in the areas that I serve--in rural and underserved areas--like central and southwestern Illinois. Getting people back to work as soon as they can once they recover from an injury is now more important than ever given the record inflation we are seeing and the staggering 11.4 million open jobs in this country. This is a commonsense piece of legislation. I am glad to support the work of my friend, Congressman Tim Walberg, on this bill to ensure that injured Federal employees return to the workforce quickly. Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important bill.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, this past February, a Democrat staffer organization began a public campaign to unionize. A month later, the Committee on House Administration held a hearing on the topic of congressional unions. To be clear, that hearing was not to consider the resolution that is before the House floor today, much less a mark-up. That hearing was, however, an opportunity to ask the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights--the office that administers the law governing unionization efforts in Congress--questions about how staffer unions would logistically work. The result of that hearing was more unanswered questions. While unions play a vital role in many workplaces, including throughout my district, they just aren't feasible for Congress. OCWR's own General Counsel was unable to provide answers regarding how the unique office structures, fluctuating partisan balance, and unavoidable turnover due to elections would impact congressional unions. Yet Speaker Pelosi is bringing forward the resolution for a vote anyway. This isn't about helping all staffers, because if it were then the majority would have given Republicans the opportunity to provide our input, including a chance to amend today's resolution. But once again, the majority is abandoning regular order to push a partisan proposal. One of the main concerns of staffers is low pay. As a former staffer myself, I know both the opportunities and challenges of working in a Congressional office and can assure you that an office providing fair pay and maintaining a healthy work environment are the keys to recruiting and retaining top talent. And I have great news for everyone here today: you don't need to wait for the Speaker to unilaterally implement a pay order to start doing so. Every Member's office was provided a 21 percent MRA increase in March of this year. Further, collective bargaining would not and could not address the issue of low pay--Federal law forbids this. Federal law also prohibits negotiation on healthcare and retirement benefits even if this resolution were to pass. Instead, union dues would just take more money out of staff's hard-earned paychecks without really anything to show for it. Unionization also creates potential conflicts of interest that could impact a Member's constitutional responsibilities, including unique influence over Members' development and passage of certain legislation, and political contributions to Members using dues paid by their staff. As a reminder, under current law, congressional staff are not allowed to make political contributions to their employers. I urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution because it is quite simple: unions don't make sense for Congress.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois, which celebrated 100 years of business on December 28, 2021. In 1921, Charles ``C.C.'' Pyle made the decision to build a major entertainment venue in downtown Champaign, an area that had been known as a cultural hotspot. He initially had a vision of a 12-story hotel with a large theatre space, but that quickly changed. The final building resulted in a stand-alone, multipurpose performing arts center. In January of 2000, the Champaign Park District made countless efforts to prevent this landmark from demolition. Once they assumed control of the theatre, it went on to grow into a $10 million restoration project to bring the theatre back to life. Through the years, the Virginia Theatre has been the ``place to be'' for friends, families, and colleagues in the community. The Theatre hosts local productions, concerts, movies, live theatrical plays, stand-up comedy events, and many more. Congratulations to the Virginia Theatre on their 100th anniversary, and I wish them all the best in the years to come.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, 15 months have passed since January 6 of 2021, yet I have seen little evidence over that time to indicate the necessary progress has been made to ensure the Capitol complex is more secure. And I have seen no evidence that the politicized select committee is serious about identifying or addressing the issues that led to our Capitol being so unprepared on that day, which should be its top priority. On February 17 of this year, the GAO released a report detailing the lack of security preparedness by Capitol Police leadership and the Capitol Police Board on and in the lead-up to January 6. The rank-and- file men and women who serve Congress as members of the Capitol Police put their lives on the line every day. Yet, the Capitol Police Board, controlled by Speaker Pelosi, failed them. They deserve better. Instead of working to ensure our Capitol Police officers have the tools and the training they need to prevent another event like January 6 or taking long-overdue steps to reform the Capitol Police Board, the House is once again voting on a contempt resolution because two individuals are not complying with another sham subpoena issued by House Democrats. I have a newsflash for members of the Select Committee: You do not have limitless power. You cannot demand testimony, documents, or even view the information of your political opponents without their consent or without the law on your side. You have neither. Specifically, Mr. Scavino and Mr. Navarro are unable to testify on specific topics that are related to their work in the White House, nor can they testify on communications between President Trump and the President's closest advisers, as those communications are protected under President Trump's claim of executive privilege. As a reminder, the American taxpayer is spending millions of dollars on this select committee. According to The Washington Post, the select committee is on pace to spend $9.3 million by the end of December. To put that into perspective, that amount exceeds the current budgets for the Committees on the Judiciary; Agriculture; Budget; Ethics; the Committee on House Administration; Rules; Science, Space, and Technology; Small Business; Natural Resources; Homeland Security; Veterans' Affairs; and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. That is right, this select committee is using more taxpayer resources on their partisan investigation than Democrats have devoted to serving veterans, addressing rising prices in inflation, or helping our farmers during a massive supply chain crisis. This is nothing more than a sham investigation full of misuses of congressional authority, including Speaker Pelosi violating 230 years of precedent by refusing to allow the minority party to select its own committee members, failing to investigate pursuant to a valid legislative purpose, altering evidence to fit a certain narrative, lying to witnesses, falsely accusing witnesses, violating deponents' right to challenge subpoenas, and perhaps above all, refusing to investigate why Speaker Pelosi and the Capitol Police Board left the Capitol so unprotected that day. I urge my colleagues to oppose the resolution.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 103.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Scott Busboom of Decatur, Illinois. Scott has worked in the radio industry for more than 30 years. Most recently, he has spent over 20 plus years broadcasting in Decatur. He spent the past 10 years waking up Decatur with the ``Busboom and Wolfe'' morning show, which he hosted with long-time television reporter and friend, Doug Wolfe. Scott was an avid fan and supporter of local high school and college athletics. He has broadcast more than 350 boys' and girls' high school basketball games and more than 325 Millikin University men's and women's games. He broadcast the first Decatur High School girls' game on the radio and was at the microphone for the Millikin women's 2005 NCAA Division III National Championship victory. Scott helped form the Decatur Thanksgiving Tournament and was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2013. As a monthly guest on ``Busboom and Wolfe'' for many years, I will miss our conversations and his presence on Talk 101 FM. I want to congratulate Scott on a long and accomplished career, and I wish him a restful retirement. He truly deserves it.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 98. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Baird (Walorski) Bilirakis (Fleischmann) Bowman (Meng) Cawthorn (Nehls) Comer (Fleischmann) Crist (Wasserman Schultz) Cuellar (Pappas) Curtis (Stewart) DeGette (Blunt Rochester) Espaillat (Correa) Harder (CA) (Gomez) Jayapal (Gomez) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Joyce (OH) (Garbarino) Kahele (Mrvan) Krishnamoorthi (Beyer) Lawson (FL) (Wasserman Schultz) Mace (Rice (SC)) Manning (Beyer) McClain (Fitzgerald) Newman (Beyer) Owens (Stewart) Roybal-Allard (Wasserman Schultz) Salazar (Gimenez) Sanchez (Gomez) Scott, David (Jeffries) Sessions (Babin) Sires (Pallone) Soto (Wasserman Schultz) Steel (Obernolte) Strickland (Takano) Suozzi (Beyer) Taylor (Carter (TX)) Thompson (MS) (Evans) Trone (Beyer) Waltz (Mast) Wilson (FL) (Jeffries)

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4738, the COVID-19 American History Project Act. I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Julia Letlow of Louisiana, for championing this important legislation. When the COVID-19 pandemic reached our shores, our lives were all impacted. Some of these changes were temporary, and some of them were permanent. Congresswoman Letlow continues to live every day with the impact this pandemic has had on her family, and I am inspired by her courage and willingness to share her story. Unfortunately, her story is not entirely unique, and many families across this Nation have been forced to say good-bye to a loved one far too soon. Their lives and memories deserve to be recorded, collected, and preserved so that this unprecedented pandemic is accurately understood by historians, students, and Americans from all walks of life. Over the last 2 years, we have all felt fear of the unknown. In a lot of ways, when the pandemic hit, our Nation was caught off guard. This project will help ensure future generations can learn from the trials we have overcome and the triumphs we have been able to achieve. The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress is the largest and most extensive library in human history, and I can think of no better place to house the personal histories, testimonies, written materials, and photographs of Americans whose lives were lost, those who bravely stood on the front lines, and also all those who demonstrated the American spirit through innovation, resilience, and compassion. As Congresswoman Letlow has expressed, this project is about providing healing and hope for the future. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 15 seconds to my colleague from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, against my better judgment, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino), my good friend.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Louisiana (Ms. Letlow), the sponsor of this piece of legislation and my good friend.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have been in this institution now and had the privilege to serve here for over 9\1/2\ years. And that was, by far, one of the most inspiring personal stories that I have had a chance to witness. I can tell you, based upon what I learned about Luke Letlow from my colleagues like Garret Graves and Steve Scalise and Clay Higgins and others, was that Luke Letlow was so excited to be a part of what we sometimes take for granted here in the House. I was a former staff member just like Mr. Letlow was, but his runoff election was right at the time between orientation, where I would have had a chance to meet him, and a chance for him to be sworn in. And that is when the tragedy that Congresswoman Letlow talked about her family facing took place. Luke Letlow didn't get a chance to raise his right hand and be a part of this House, but his legacy will live on forever as part of this oral history project. I cannot think of a better way for a mother to be able to give her children, in honor of their dad and her husband, the legacy that he deserves than by passing this bill tonight. Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone in this institution to vote ``yes'' to preserve the legacy of not only Luke Letlow but of those whose families have been impacted the exact same way as the Letlow family by this pandemic. Let's move beyond this pandemic but let us never forget. Let us remember our heroes, and let us remember those families, and let us remember how great our country is to be able to move beyond. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3294. As all Members of Congress and every American who has visited the United States Capitol when it was completely open know, the Halls of this foothold of democracy are lined with statues to honor and commemorate the lives of great Americans from all corners of this country, all walks of life, and different political leanings. The National Statuary Hall collection includes two statues donated from each State, and in addition to the base collection, Congress has been able to accept donations or authorize the commission of statues of other individuals who have shaped our Nation and contributed to the excellence of this country. Such additions have included the statue of Abraham Lincoln, commissioned by Congress in 1866, the portrait monument to Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony in 1920, and most recently, the statue of Rosa Parks, which was officially unveiled in 2013. It is among these giants that today we consider the addition of the first two women confirmed to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. It took nearly 200 years after the creation of the Supreme Court for the first woman to sit on America's highest bench. Appointed by President Reagan and confirmed by the Senate in 1981, with a vote of 99-0, a record for the most votes in support of a Supreme Court Justice that stands to this day, Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor blazed a trail that has forever changed the Court for the better. In the years that have followed, the Senate has confirmed Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whom this bill also honors, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and, most recently, Justice Amy Coney Barrett. I have no doubt that the legacy of women on the Court will continue. The art collections throughout the Capitol Grounds play a very important role. The pieces honor the ingenuity, courage, creativity, and patriotism of so many who came before us. They inspire us and remind us of the extreme weight and honor of our duties as elected representatives. Congress rarely commissions the addition of statues to its collections, a practice that signifies a rare and high honor. The addition of the first two female Justices to serve on the Supreme Court is welcomed, and I look forward to their presence in these great Halls. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn't point out a bit of irony that exists as we discuss honoring anyone by adding a statue or a bust to the Halls of the Capitol when for the past 745 days this building has been closed to the American people. Despite what is being called a reopening, it continues to be closed to most Americans. This is about the last place in America to remain closed, and for no legitimate reason whatsoever. The honor of being memorialized in the Halls of Congress is far less an honor when no one is around to see it. It is past time for Speaker Pelosi to reopen the people's House to the American people. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. One of the things I most appreciate about this bill is the balance that it brings in recognizing the first two women Justices of the Supreme Court, and they have very different ideologies and views. While I may have significant disagreements with Justice Ginsburg and her rulings and positions on certain issues, that doesn't mean her role in the history of this country is not worthy of being recognized. In the same way, Justice O'Connor is worthy of recognition despite the fact that I am sure many people on the other side of the aisle take issue with her beliefs and positions on certain issues. Cancel culture is a disease infecting our society today. Those who seek to wipe out the accomplishments and contributions of historic figures simply due to opposing politics is wrong. I am certainly not going to engage in that kind of mentality even though I may not have cared for Justice Ginsburg's politics. In fact, Justice Ginsburg herself spoke out against cancel culture. She was once asked how she could be friends with the late Justice Antonin Scalia. They held vastly different views. In her response, she quoted Justice Scalia by saying: ``I attack ideas. I don't attack people, and some very good people have some very bad ideas.'' She is also famously quoted as saying: ``Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.'' In short, Mr. Speaker, it is okay to fight for what you believe in. It is okay to disagree or even despise what someone else believes, but it doesn't mean they don't have a right to those beliefs. Unfortunately, this contrasts with some of the actions of my friends on the other side of the aisle these past few years. I hope this serves as an example that we can disagree without being disagreeable, that we choose to rise above being easily offended and instead respect alternative points of view, and that the Halls of Congress are a place where everyone feels their viewpoints and beliefs are given equal credence. Mr. Speaker, again, I appreciate the balance of this bill. I rise in support of this legislation. I urge everyone to adopt it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important and irreplaceable work done by our court reporters and the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) during National Court Reporting and Captioning Week February 5-12, 2022. As guardians of the Record, Court reporters hold the great responsibility of capturing our history for posterity. Throughout our Nation's 250 years of existence, court reporters have been the cornerstone of our American justice system. From the great speeches of our Founding Fathers to the eloquently orated speeches of Lincoln and Kennedy, these noble servants have transcribed some of the most important pieces of American history. Currently, the NCRA provides a free course to introduce real-time writing to all Americans. This course allows high schoolers, career changers, college redirects, and military veterans to see if a profession in real-time writing is the right career choice for them. It has always been an honor and a privilege to support the NCRA. Last year, I was proud to co-sponsor H.R. 4652, the Training for Realtime Writers Act. This bill will establish a grant program that will support and increase training for court reporters and closed captioners, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and I look forward to continuing to work to get this bill passed. I want to thank real-time writers everywhere and the NCRA for all the hard work they do.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I do want to reiterate congratulations and thanks to Chairwoman Maloney and Ranking Member Comer. I am a little disappointed, though, because our colleague, Mr. Young, the dean of the House, is sitting right in front of my favorite microphone. But I will go here. I do want to say, this is a great day. We see bipartisanship in action, bringing this bill to the floor. I have been a strong supporter of the Postal Service throughout my time in Congress. The Postal Service is a lifeline to many rural communities across our country and many right in Illinois' 13th District that I am proud to represent. For many families, the Postal Service delivers lifesaving medications, benefits, and messages from loved ones. Its services are critical. That is why I have been a leader in supporting it and its employees, like the letter carriers and the postmasters, who truly are essential. Because of the Postal Service's importance to my constituents, I have worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to lead on initiatives to ensure it is not privatized, delivers mail on Saturdays, and retains strict service standards. The Postal Service keeps us connected in ways electronic communication and other services cannot. Additionally, it finishes delivering packages for private companies in more rural regions of our country, like mine. I am glad we are here today, voting on this vital piece of legislation that will provide more funding and resources to our postal employees. This bill, importantly, makes the Postal Service financially viable for generations to come and implements efficiencies that will protect taxpayers and consumers alike. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy projects this legislation will save the Postal Service $58 billion over the next 10 years and correct the agency's long-term financial problems by 2030. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office estimates this legislation will save the Federal Government $1.5 billion over 10 years. For these reasons, I support this vital piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend John Thomas Long. We all knew him as Tom. You know, I got a chance to meet Tom Long through my former bosses, my former direct boss, Craig Roberts, and my big boss at the time, a guy named John Shimkus, who used to serve in this Chamber. Tom was a friend to them, and he immediately became a friend to me. Tom was somebody who was a giant in the legal community in and around the metro east area of Illinois. He served as a law clerk for the Department of Justice. He was the CEO of Argosy Gaming. He was a member of the White House advance team. He was a delegate to the 1988 Republican Convention, but I met him when he was the Madison County Republican Party chairman. Tom was a guy who was active all throughout his community, but what he was most active in doing was loving his family and making sure his family was his highest priority. Tom passed away just this past week, and my heartfelt prayers and thoughts go out to his wife, Robin, and his three daughters: Margaret, Erin, and Emma. Madison County, Illinois, and Illinois and this country lost a giant in Tom Long. He will be missed. May God rest his soul.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for giving us the opportunity to honor a hero, Jeremy Ridlen. I rise in support of this bill today to designate the United States Postal Service facility in Maroa, Illinois, as the Jeremy L. Ridlen Post Office. Army Specialist Jeremy Ridlen was born and raised in Maroa, Illinois, where he attended Maroa-Forsyth High School with his twin brother, Jason. Jeremy and Jason, like my twin boys, were inseparable. They were active in their church, played on its softball team, and were included in its weekly prayer list after they both deployed. Jeremy and Jason attended Illinois State University and joined the National Guard shortly thereafter. Their unit, the 1544 Transportation Company, was deployed to Iraq in 2003. On May 23, 2004, after a truck rigged with an IED detonated next to his convoy, small arms fire killed Jeremy in the ambush. Designating this post office in honor of Jeremy will serve as a testament to his bravery and a reminder of all those who laid down their life for the United States of America. Jeremy Ridlen died serving his country, and for that, he is a hero to all of us. He put his country above all else, and we thank him for his service and are thinking of his entire family back in Illinois today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight. It is actually bittersweet because we are here to honor a friend, a long-time friend to many, even to some sitting here in this institution because Vicki Dixon was an institution here in Washington, D.C.; not in a bad way, but in a way where she touched so many lives in such a positive manner. I am going to go ahead and save my comments about Vicki until later because we have got some friends that got to know Vicki over the years like I did, and got to not only become friends but just to see the wholesome, genuine, kind individual that Victoria Sands Dixon was. Her career was encapsulated by helping so many people here in Congress get things done, and her passing is bittersweet to all of us. One good friend of Vicki and a very good friend of mine is the ranking member on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost).