Sam Graves

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Butchart Flowers and Gifts. Butchart Flower and Gifts won the award for Employer of Excellence from the YWCA St. Joseph Women of Excellence Awards program for its honorable business practices. Butchart Flowers and Gifts was purchased three years ago by John and Michelle Leimbach and has expanded to include a second location. To compensate for the added growth and responsibilities, the business increased employee wages and instituted a quarterly bonus system to encourage employees to take a personal role in ensuring the business's success. The business recognizes their important role in helping people celebrate the seasons of life and their employees take that responsibility seriously. In addition to meeting the floral needs of their customers, the business regularly gives back to the community through donations and partners with the nonprofit, Sisters of Solace. Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in thanking and congratulating Butchart Flower and Gifts for winning the Employer of Excellence award as well as their excellence in serving the people of the Sixth Congressional District. I am proud to represent Butchart Flowers and Gifts in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Cindy Reeder. Cindy Reeder is an exceptional woman who won the award for Woman in the Workplace from the YWCA St. Joseph Awards Program. Cindy Reeder is the Treatment Court Administrator for the Buchanan County 5th Judicial Circuit. Starting out as a clerk in Division 3, she willingly took on the additional responsibility of the program, along with her regular duties as a clerk. Over the years, she has been instrumental in developing the fluid process in which participants are referred to the program and has the responsibility of tracking all participant case information while on supervision. During her 21 years of service to the program, Cindy has continuously worked to improve the program to match both state and national levels and serves on the Missouri Association of Treatment Court Professionals. Her continual dedication has made her effectively the heart and soul of her program. Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in thanking and congratulating Cindy for winning the Woman in the Workplace award as well as her hard work in serving the people of the Sixth Congressional District. I am proud to represent Cindy Reeder in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jane Frick. Jane is an exceptional woman who won the award for Lifetime Achievement from the YWCA St. Joseph Awards Program. Jane Frick served as an English professor, department head, and Writing Project director at Missouri Western State University from 1972 to 2012. She published in state and national English and educational journals and made numerous state, regional, and national presentations at English and National Writing Project conferences. She also served as the Chair of the Missouri Humanities Council and President of the Missouri Folklore Association while at MWSU. Throughout the years, Jane has served this community in multiple ways on the St. Joseph School Board, 1984 to 1996; at First Christian Church (1971 to present; former Church Moderator and Elder); as a long-time member of the St. Joseph's Women's Press Club (former president); as a volunteer for Helen Washington's after-school program at the Bartlett Center, 2013 to 2014); and as a volunteer reader for the United Way. Her service in her community and dedication to education are worthy of this award and further commendation. Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in thanking and congratulating Jane Frick for winning the Lifetime Achievement award as well as her hard work and service to the people of the Sixth Congressional District. I am proud to represent Jane Frick in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Phyllis Myers. Phyllis won the award for Woman in Volunteerism from the YWCA St. Joseph Women of Excellence Awards program for her service in her community. In 1970, Phyllis co-founded the New Generation Singers with her husband, the pastor of Wyatt Park Christian Church. Over the last 52 years, she has served as a leader, mentor, and chaperone, attended countless rehearsals and performances, and accompanied the group on 2- week tours across the United States and Canada. She's developed fond connections with thousands of young people, over the years, and has served as a substitute mother and grandmother to many. Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in thanking and congratulating Phyllis Myers for winning the Woman in Volunteerism award as well as service to the people of the Sixth Congressional District. I am proud to represent Phyllis Myers in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Ellen Kisker. Ellen is an exceptional woman who won the award for Woman of Merit from the YWCA St. Joseph Awards Program. Ellen served as Director of the Non-Traditional Student Center and ADA Coordinator for Missouri Western State University for 24 years. While at MWSU, she was honored with the National ANTSHE College Advisor of the Year and Northland Regional Excellence in Higher Education awards, as well as being awarded the MWSU Presidential Citation under two different presidents. After retiring from MWSU, Ellen worked at the YWCA for 8 years, where she served in various capacities, ending her tenure there as the Family Resources Director. As a hands-on leader, she facilitated the Choices/Decisions program, as well as assisted her staff in the Encore Plus and Healthy Teen Parents and Healthy Babies programs. Since retiring for the second time in 2020, Ellen continues to be a strong supporter of the YWCA and serves on the Women of Excellence Steering Committee. Ellen's hard work and service to the community has been extremely valuable and she is well-deserving of her award. Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in thanking and congratulating Ellen Kisker for winning the Woman in the Workplace Leadership award as well as her service to the people of the Sixth Congressional District. I am proud to represent Ellen Kisker in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my long-time staffer, Paul Sass, as he marks his last week on Capitol Hill after more than 20 years. Every Member knows that nothing would get done around here if it weren't for the dedication and commitment of our staff. I have served in Congress for 22 years, and I have had a lot of great staff over that time. Paul has worked for me in a variety of different roles over the course of his Capitol Hill career, in both my Congressional Office and the two committees I have had the privilege of leading. Paul is my longest serving staffer and is unquestionably one of the best and capable staffers I've ever had. In 2002, I hired Paul fresh out of college as a Staff Assistant, where he was tasked with making the coffee and answering the phones. And as I like to remind him, he was our third choice for the job at the time. Despite that, Paul was determined to prove himself, and he quickly climbed the ranks of my legislative team, rising to Legislative Director and eventually to Deputy Chief of Staff. After I was elected by my colleagues to serve as the Republican Leader of the Small Business Committee, Paul served there as my Deputy Staff Director from 2009 to 2015. After my time as Chairman was done, I asked Paul to return to my personal office as Chief of Staff to help lead my internal campaign to succeed my friend Bill Shuster as Republican leader of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In 2019, I was fortunate enough to be elected to that position, and it was an obvious choice to ask Paul to come with me again and lead the Republican Committee staff as Staff Director. And for the last three and a half years, he has done a fantastic job. During this time, Paul oversaw and led our staff in negotiations on multiple bipartisan, bicameral legislative efforts of great consequence to our Nation, many of which were signed into law. He has worked on two Water Resources Development Acts; an aircraft certification bill, which was crafted in response to two major international aviation accidents; the CARES Act, which was the first major comprehensive legislative response to the COVID-19 pandemic and included significant support targeted toward the transportation industry; two Coast Guard reauthorizations; and efforts to reauthorize the surface transportation programs. While Paul's accomplishments are not limited to legislative achievements and bills signed into law, they do represent some of the very real and tangible impacts his 20-year career of public service has had on our Nation. If you asked Paul, he would say his real legacy and career accomplishments are best measured by the relationships he has developed over the past two decades--from those he served under and beside at the beginning of his career--to those he has since hired, mentored, and guided in their own careers. And even to those he met extending his Hartwick College baseball career into a ``legendary'' softball career as part of the Lawn Wranglers and Owego dynasties, coaching the Republican Congressional baseball team, or just talking politics over a beer at the storied, now sadly shuttered, Capitol Lounge, without a doubt, Paul has put his imprint on the offices, committees, policies, and colleagues across Capitol Hill he's been involved with throughout his career, and we are all better for it. As Paul enters the next phase of his already-successful career, I thank him for sticking with me for over 20 years. I thank him for his advice and guidance. And I thank him for his loyalty and friendship. When I look back at my Capitol Hill service, it is those dedicated staffers like Paul that I am most thankful for in helping me address the needs of Missouri's Sixth District and the Nation at large. I thank Paul and I wish him continued success in his next endeavors.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7776, or WRDA 2022, is a very good bipartisan piece of legislation that will improve flood control infrastructure. It is going to improve ports, harbors, and inland waterways all across the country. This bill provides the support and the investment in our country's water infrastructure needed to keep our supply chain moving and boost the competitiveness of the American economy. When it comes right down to it, this bill is a projects bill that was pulled together based off requests from Members from all across the country in the House on both sides of the aisle, and there isn't a single line in this bill that cannot be attributed to an individual Member request. I again thank my colleagues and the members of the committee for coming together to develop this bipartisan legislation. Again, I thank the chairman for his work. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer), who is a member of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 7776, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, or WRDA 2022. Mr. Speaker, 3 weeks ago we advanced this bipartisan legislation out of committee by voice vote, and I am proud to continue the bipartisan tradition of passing a WRDA bill every 2 years--as the chairman pointed out--something we have done since 2014. I thank Chairman DeFazio, Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chair Napolitano, and Ranking Member Rouzer for all of their hard work and support in getting this legislation across the finish line here in the House. WRDA 2022 authorizes water infrastructure projects and policies that are critical to local communities, but also provides far-reaching benefits to both the region and our national economy. With the current supply chain crisis and surging inflation our country faces, it is more important than ever that Congress continues to support our Nation's water infrastructure that keeps our economy moving and protects our communities. WRDA 2022 supports American competitiveness and our economy by ensuring the reliability and the effectiveness of our Nation's ports and inland waterways to move American goods and products to those who need them. This legislation also boosts flood production for our local communities, such as those in Missouri's Sixth District, which is my own district. In Missouri, we are at a crossroads of the largest rivers in the country--the Missouri River and the Mississippi River. These rivers are an invaluable natural resource that provide drinking water, irrigation, and transportation; however, they can also be the source of some very devastating flooding. My constituents are still working to recover and rebuild their homes, farms, businesses, and their communities after devastating flooding that occurred in 2019. I know all too well the consequences when water resources are mismanaged, which is why WRDA 2022 is going to ensure that the Corps remains focused on its core missions and priorities and activities like flood control and navigation. To do this, this bill contains assistance for meeting levee inspection requirements, it examines ways to control erosion on our rivers, and it supports Missouri flood control projects. These and other provisions in WRDA 2022 are going to provide benefits not only to Missourians, but citizens all across the country who depend on water resources and infrastructure in their daily lives. Mr. Speaker, I thank everybody for their support in developing this legislation, and that includes staff on both sides of the aisle. Specifically, on my team, I acknowledge the work of my staff director, Paul Sass, for his leadership of the Republican staff on this bill, and many other important bills for that matter, over the last 3\1/2\ years. At the end of this week, Paul will be leaving the committee after more than 20 years of public service on Capitol Hill--and all of that time working for me in my personal office or on my committee staff. I thank him for his dedication and his guidance and friendship over the last two decades. He has a lot to be proud of as he moves forward onto the next chapter of his career. He can look back and be proud of all that he has done. I wish him and his family nothing but the best. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support today's legislation, WRDA 2022, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Nehls).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, can I inquire as to time remaining?

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Malliotakis).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gimenez).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. And the time for the other side?

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford), who is the ranking member of the subcommittee.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this resolution, as has been pointed out, authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the annual Greater Washington Soap Box Derby on June 18, 2022. This is a time-honored tradition. With the exception of World War II, it has run every year since 1934 and provides children in the greater Washington area an opportunity to build knowledge and character through fair and honest competition. This is one of the many regional competitions across the country to qualify children to compete in the All-American Soap Box Derby. This is a program I participated in some 40-odd years ago. It is a good program, and I fully endorse it. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, this resolution authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for a longstanding tradition for the children of the greater Washington, D.C., area. Once in a while, we do some fun stuff here on the floor, and this is one of those things. I urge support of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Moila Shrine in St. Joseph, Missouri. 2022 is a huge year for the Moila Shrine celebrating two big milestones in their history. 2022 will mark both the 100th anniversary of the first Shriners Hospital for Children as well as their 100th anniversary of their location in St. Joseph, Missouri, The Moila Shrine is a true landmark in St. Joseph. Whether it was being remodeled or expanded, wars, civil unrest, bust or boom the Moila Shrine has stood proudly on Noyes Ave. For those in St. Joseph, it has been a meeting place of celebration and community for generations. While it is the Moila Shrine, it's absolutely something enjoyed by all of St. Joseph. The unofficial motto of the Moila Shrine is: Regularly experience fun with a purpose. That purpose is the support of Shriners Hospitals for Children. There are 22 hospitals across North America that provide expert orthopedic, cleft palate, spinal cord and bum care for children under the age of 18 at no cost to their families. Over 1,000,000 have been helped to lead better and more fulfilling lives in the century since the first of these hospitals have been founded. Which speaks nothing of the valuable research they have undertaken to advance treatments for children everywhere. Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me and the people of the Sixth Congressional District in recognizing the Moila Shrine of St. Joseph, Missouri upon the centennial of their Shrine in St. Joseph and the centennial of founding of their first children's hospital. I am proud to represent the 1200 members of the Moila Shrine in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.