Sam Graves

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jacob Brian Ahart. Jacob is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 394, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Jacob has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Jacob has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Jacob has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jacob Brian Ahart for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America, and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Ryan DeCamp. Ryan is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 374, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Ryan has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Ryan has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Ryan is the 350th Eagle Scout in his troop's history. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Ryan DeCamp for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America, and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Byron James Arnold. Byron is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 214, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Byron has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Byron has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Byron has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Byron rebuilt and replaced an entrance sign to Our Lady of Mercy Country Home in Liberty, Missouri, that had been damaged in a car accident. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Byron James Arnold for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America, and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Brock Rohlfs. Brock is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1376, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Brock has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Brock has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Brock has led his troop as the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, earned the rank of Tom-Tom Beater in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, and become a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow. Brock has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Brock designed and completed a concrete sidewalk and a ramp from the Life Unlimited Facility to the Immacolata Manor's north room gathering space in Liberty, Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Brock Rohlfs for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America, and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Stanley, an English Bulldog in my district, who has become an inspiration to many of my constituents and continues to serve his community. Stanley was born with a bilateral cleft lip, requiring the need for surgery to tooth problems and holes in his sinus passages. The community came together and raised the funds for the surgery. Now, Stanley goes to schools and community events and has become a source of inspiration for kids with his anti-bullying message. Stanley has also recently joined with the American Childhood Cancer Organization to form the first local chapter of the Founding Hope program, helping to raise funds and awareness to help children with cancer get the support they need. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Stanley and the Pack family for their continuing service to their community, and for serving as an inspiration for children who face bullying and cancer diagnoses.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on September 13, 2017, I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call votes 486, 487, 488, 489, 492, 493, 497, 498, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, and 515. I would have voted NAY on Roll Call votes 490, 491, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, and 514.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on September 12, 2017 I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on No. 485.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on July 28, 2017 I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on Nos. 436, 437, and 438.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Brian Ross Lucas. Brian is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 222, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Brian has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Brian has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Brian has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Brian completed a landscaping project around a sign he also erected for Eagleville United Methodist Church in Eagleville, Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Brian Ross Lucas for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on July 25, 2017 I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on No. 410, 411, 412, and 413.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on July 26, 2017 I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on No. 414 and 415.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on July 24, 2017, I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on No. 407, 408, and 409.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Parker Swaggerty. Parker is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1360, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Parker has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Parker has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Parker has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Parker built a wheelchair accessible sidewalk for the Chapel of Family Promise in Kansas City, Missouri, which provides transitional housing for homeless families. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Parker Swaggerty for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Patrick Downton, Jr. Patrick is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 692, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Patrick has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Patrick has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Patrick has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Patrick Downton, Jr., for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Keith Andrew Williamson, II. Keith is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 214, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Keith has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Keith has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Keith has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Keith refurbished a council ring and fire pit at Immacolata Manor in Liberty, Missouri, rebuilding the trail to the ring, repairing the fire pit and constructing benches around the fire pit. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Keith Andrew Williamson, II, for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Nathan Paul Rawson. Nathan is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 692, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Nathan has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Nathan has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Nathan has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Nathan Paul Rawson for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Matthew Parr. Matthew is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1393, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Matthew has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Matthew has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Matthew has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Matthew researched native plants and then constructed a pollinator station outside of St. Therese North Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Matthew Parr for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Colonel Ralph L. Schwader, Commander of the Missouri Air National Guard's 139th Airlift Wing. Colonel Schwader has dedicated years of service to not only the people of Missouri, but in defense of the United States of America. It is with great honor that I take a moment to recognize Colonel Schwader today. On paper alone, Colonel Schwader is an incredibly impressive man. His list of various commands, deployments, decorations and awards could fill volumes. However, what you will never see on paper are the people he has touched while on those deployments or commands. The lives he has touched while earning those decorations and awards. Colonel Schwader may never know the lives he has saved delivering supplies to soldiers in the field while deployed for Operations Desert Shield, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom, among many other deployments and service stations. The lives other airmen he saved through training provided under his command by the Advanced Airlift Training Center. He may never fully know the gratitude for aid he helped provide to other Missourians during a flood or tornado or internationally to Haiti following the earthquake of 2010. It is on behalf of those people who haven't been able to give their thanks, myself and everyone in the Sixth Congressional District that I give my deepest thanks to Colonel Schwader for his dedication and service. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Colonel Ralph L. Schwader for his decades of service to Missouri, the Sixth Congressional District and to the United States of America.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2258.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1684) to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide technical assistance to common interest communities regarding eligibility for disaster assistance, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2547) to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs medical professionals who may qualify to perform physical examinations on eligible veterans and issue medical certificates required for operation of a commercial motor vehicle, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2547, as amended.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the Fixing of America's Surface Transportation Act, or the FAST Act, created a process only for doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs to qualify to perform physical examinations on eligible veterans and then issue the medical certificates that are required in order to operate a commercial vehicle. H.R. 2547 would expand who is eligible for the process to all VA medical professionals as long as they are authorized by the State in which they are licensed, certified, and registered to perform physical examinations and they meet other requirements. H.R. 2547 would ensure that the list of eligible medical professionals within the VA matches the list of eligible medical professionals that can become certified under the traditional FMCSA process. This is a bipartisan bill. It is going to ease the regulatory burdens that help create employment opportunities for our veterans. Madam Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2547, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall).