Chuck Fleischmann

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable milestone in the history of Hoskins Drug Store & Soda Fountain, a cherished community institution in Clinton, TN. For nearly a century, Hoskins Drugstore has been a cornerstone of the community, providing not only essential services but also a deep sense of connection and tradition. On April 4, 2025, Hoskins Drug Store will celebrate 95 years of service. Founded by R.C. Hoskins in 1930, Hoskins Drug Store quickly became more than just a place to fill prescriptions; it became a trusted destination where people could count on personalized service, quality products, and a warm, welcoming environment. R.C. Hoskins built a legacy that has endured for generations, one founded on integrity, commitment, and community care. As the years passed, the legacy of Hoskins Drug Store was carried forward by R.C. Hoskins' daughters, Dudley Hoskins Bostic and Molly Hoskins Scarbrough, who continue to lead the business today with the same dedication and vision that their father demonstrated nearly a century ago. Their hard work and dedication have ensured that Hoskins Drug Store remains a beloved part of the community, staying true to its principles while adapting to the changing needs of the times. Today, we celebrate the achievements of Hoskins Drug Store, Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins, and the ongoing contributions of Mrs. Dudley Hoskins Bostic and Mrs. Molly Hoskins Scarbrough. Their enduring legacy is a testament to the power of family, tradition, and the unwavering commitment to serving the needs of the community. As Hoskins Drug Store enters its 95th year, we recognize and honor the Hoskins family for their incredible contributions to the community and the example they set for future generations of small business owners. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Hoskins Drug Store on this incredible milestone and in honoring the legacy of Mr. Rolland Carvel ``Dudley'' Hoskins. May this wonderful meeting place and business serve our community for many years to come.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and recognize Ms. Karen Partin, who, on January 30, 2025, completed 1 million miles of long-haul driving without an accident. Ms. Partin is a professional long-haul truck driver for McKee Foods Corporation based in Collegedale, Tennessee. She began her career at McKee Foods Corporation in September 1987. Starting in the Manufacturing Production Area, Karen first transferred to Shipping, then to the Transportation Department Dispatch Office approximately eleven years later. Fast-forward four more years, in 2002, she moved to Corporate Fleet Safety, where she began to learn about Safety in the trucking industry. In 2004, Karen chose to work part-time to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a long-haul truck driver. Karen returned to school to pursue a CDL. Two years later, Karen was a full-time professional semi-truck driver, bringing with her an abundance of safety knowledge from her time in Corporate Fleet Safety. The American Trucking Research Institute confirms that women make up only 8.1 percent of all U.S. professional truck drivers and only 2.7 percent of over-the-road truck drivers. Always a goal-setter, Karen began the pursuit of reaching one million safe miles. It is a milestone for every professional truck driver and an especially difficult goal for a woman professional truck driver. Since her professional driving career began in 2006, Karen has continued to further her education, completing, with Honors, a Business Management course through Cleveland State Community College. Karen recently completed an Advanced Critical Thinking course offered by McKee Foods and is continuously completing learning courses through LinkedIn Learning. Karen is a member of Women in Trucking and She Trucking. Her employer, McKee Foods, recently recognized Karen as a Road Team Captain with the Tennessee Trucking Association. As a Road Team Captain, Karen visits local schools to teach students how to share the road safely with big trucks and promote the professional truck driving profession. Karen is a role model for young adults, particularly women, to consider trucking and logistics as a career. Karen promotes a healthy lifestyle for herself and other professional truck drivers. She emphasizes the need to stay fit and healthy is vital as a long-haul truck driver. Karen is also the proud mother of two sons and has one granddaughter. I am honored to recognize Karen Partin for completing this unique and coveted milestone.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the well- deserved retirement and honor the career of Joanne Mann. Joanne spent much of her adult life in and around a military environment, serving on Active Duty and in the Reserves for the U.S. Army from 1986 to 1995 as a combat medic. Joanne then joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District in 1995 as a Legal Assistant. Joanne Mann has served as the Nashville District's Executive Officer and Congressional Liaison since 2007, where she has been an integral part of the delivering water resource projects for the Nation. She has been the primary liaison for the District, facilitating the building and maintaining of relationships with stakeholders and members of Congress. Joanne has also stepped up in times of need, deploying to Biloxi, MS immediately following Hurricane Katrina, in support of the Corps' Blue Roof program. Joanne's contributions to the Nation have been recognized with numerous professional awards, including the Commander's Award for Civilian Service and the Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal. With a lifetime dedicated to service, partnerships, and people, Joanne's legacy stands as an example of what it means to live in service of our Nation. Her care and compassion, not only for the mission, but to the Army, her co-workers, and the community are an unparalleled example of a life of service. Mr. Speaker, I thank Joanne for all she has done and continues to do for our community. We wish her all the best in retirement.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I use today to commemorate and recognize Hamilton County Sheriff Deputy Chief Mark Hooper on his retirement on February 18, 2025. Deputy Chief of Law Enforcement Mark Hooper was officially promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief on June 25, 2024. With forty years of service at the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Chief Hooper oversees the day-to-day operations of Law Enforcement Services which include Uniformed Services, Investigative Services, Judicial Security Services, School Resource Deputy Unit, and Special Operations. Throughout his notable career, Chief Hooper has held roles in Uniformed Services, Investigative Services, and Narcotics and Special Investigations, rising from Patrol Deputy to Captain. Notable achievements include founding the nationally recognized Pharmacy Alert Program and leading initiatives like the integration and expansion of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) throughout the department's operations. In 2016, he oversaw the training and the deployment of Naloxone to Hamilton County deputies, which was one of the first agencies in Tennessee to provide this capability. In 2017, he led the initiative in tracking heroin and fentanyl overdoses in Hamilton County and the pursuit and prosecution of traffickers. Since his promotion to Captain in 2018, Chief Hooper has been a driving force in the adoption of new technology within the Sheriff's Office. He has championed the use of body-worn cameras, data analytics, the creation of our Crime Intelligence and Analyst Unit (CIAU), and enhanced communication systems. Born and raised in Whitwell, Tennessee, Chief Hooper is a 2014 graduate of the University of Tennessee Southern Command & Leadership Academy. He is married to Mrs. Stacy Enloe Hooper and together they have a son, Reeves. I am honored to recognize Chief Hooper for his many years of dedicated service to the residents of Hamilton County, Tennessee and congratulate him on his retirement.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 226, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act. I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their kind words in support of this bill. Madam Speaker, this legislation has passed this House four times and must pass again today. It needs to go to the United States Senate, and it needs to go to President Trump's desk for signature. It has been far too long. The Eastern Band of Cherokee have been waiting and had a lot of promises made to them over the years, which have been broken. This is a great bill for America, and it is a great bill that will honor our wonderful Eastern Band of Cherokee. In my home State, the great State of Tennessee, it takes its name from Tanasi, a historic Overhill Cherokee settlement in present-day Monroe County, Tennessee, in the Third District of Tennessee, which I am privileged to represent. Tanasi served as the Cherokee capital as early as 1721. Unfortunately, due to misguided Federal policies, the Cherokee were forced from their homes in Tennessee and surrounding States. This tragic period in American history led to the Trail of Tears, a journey in which 15,000 Cherokees were forcibly marched to the Indian territory. My bill returns important historic sites back to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Tribal Nation comprised of descendants of those Cherokees who resisted removal in the Great Smoky Mountains and escaped the Trail of Tears. It is on these same lands where the Eastern Band of Cherokees have, for decades, honored the birthplace of Sequoyah, whose likeness we all in this House have the opportunity to pass as we make our way from the rotunda in our Capitol to the House floor. Let me be clear. My bill, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, is limited and targeted. It restores 76.1 acres of federally owned Tennessee Valley Authority land to the Eastern Band of Cherokees and will grant two permanent easements over TVA property to be held in trust for the Tribe to create recreational trails between the sites. Madam Speaker, this is about honoring history and keeping our promises. I strongly urge Members of both Chambers to understand the importance of the Cherokee Tribal land preservation and support H.R. 226 so it may be brought to President Trump's desk promptly.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and recognize McMinn County, Tennessee Veteran Service Officer Mrs. Susan Peglow on her retirement March 28, 2025. Mrs. Peglow began her service to our country in April 1985 when she enlisted in the United States Army as a registered nurse. She served in this position until May of 1987 obtaining the rank of sergeant. Following her military service, Susan continued to serve others in various capacities as a nurse. In September 2015, Susan accepted the duties as the Veterans Service Officer for McMinn County, Tennessee, a part of the Third Congressional District. This office provides support to approxunately 4800 veterans and generates 88 million dollars of Economic Impact annually. Susan is an active member of American Legion Post 68, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5146 Athens, Tennessee. As a member of the American Legion, Susan has been instrumental in the formation of the McMinn County Honor Guard and still serves with them today. To recognize both women veterans and Vietnam Veterans, Susan founded the McMinn County Veterans Ball just completing the third year. Susan has been married to her husband Robert for 36 years and has six children. Though her career as the Veteran Service Officer is ending, I believe that she will continue to serve veterans and the community of McMinn County. I am honored to recognize her for her many years of service and congratulate her on her retirement.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations is responsible for managing more than $25 billion for large-scale pilot programs and demonstrations across numerous energy technologies. It is our responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer funds, which is why the House bill includes no funding for the office to conduct new demonstrations. Instead, the only funds provided to the office in this bill are for staff to provide project management oversight. My colleague's amendment, respectfully, would prohibit funds for that oversight function, preventing the office from ensuring programs are being properly administered. That would directly impact the success of important programs within the office's jurisdiction, like the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program and the small modular reactor program. These programs, which have strong bipartisan support, are essential to ensuring our Nation's energy security and regaining U.S. leadership in nuclear energy. We can't abandon our oversight responsibilities and risk the success of programs like these. For these reasons, I must oppose the amendment, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time. Mr. Chair, I respectfully rise to oppose the amendment. While I completely understand some of the frustrations my colleagues may experience with some of the dealings with the executive branch, I don't believe reducing salaries to $1 is likely to solve the problem. I think it may create a more challenging environment. Mr. Chair, I respectfully ask for a ``no'' vote.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I share some of my colleague's concern about excess spending in EERE. EERE received over $16 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, of which there are billions in unobligated balances remaining. These reasons are exactly why, and my colleague from Texas alluded to this in his amendment, we reduced EERE spending by $1.5 billion below fiscal year 2024. In fact, the House bill has reduced funding for EERE below the fiscal 2016 level. However, respectfully, my colleague's amendment goes too far in my view by eliminating funding for EERE. I am actually a supporter of EERE. The work that they do advances research and development on renewable technologies, advanced manufacturing, and battery improvement. That includes essential work on critical minerals that will help lay the groundwork for technologies that will reduce our reliance on foreign supplies. I think that is an issue we all can support. I support strategic reductions to EERE, but I am not in favor of eliminating the account and walking away from its ongoing work. Mr. Chair, for those reasons I must oppose my colleague's amendment, I urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, for the same reasons with the previous amendments, I respectfully urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, for the same reasons as the previous amendments, I respectfully urge a ``no'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, my objections to this amendment mirror my objections to the previous amendments to cut funding for regional commissions. I respectfully urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, this regional commission helps distressed communities across Alaska with basic infrastructure, like water and sewage systems and power generation. For similar reasons as the previous amendments, I respectfully urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, while I appreciate my colleague's interest in keeping the Federal spending in check, I would note that the 12 bills reported by the Appropriations Committee collectively adhere to the Fiscal Responsibility Act. How funds are allocated within that top line may be different than it was in previous years, but cutting these regional commissions won't actually reduce overall spending. It would just result in spending somewhere else, maybe even somewhere more objectionable to my colleague. As with the previous amendment, I respectfully urge a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.