Vicky Hartzler

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to the President's nuclear agreement with Iran. It is not good for America or her allies. The administration would have us believe that the only alternative to this deal is war. Those of us saying this is a bad deal are not advocating for war. We are advocating for a better deal, one that effectively prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon now, 15 years from now, and into the future. Instead of preventing a nuclear weapon-capable Iran, this deal allows Iran to keep its nuclear infrastructure; gives Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief to promote terrorism and instability throughout the region; does not allow for anytime, anywhere inspections; lifts the arms embargo, allows Iran to acquire intercontinental ballistic missiles; and does nothing to free the four American hostages being held in Iran. Quite simply, this is a bad deal that aims to solidify a legacy rather than prevent a nuclear weapon-capable state sponsor of terrorism. I urge my colleagues to reject this deal.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, today, I rise to lend my support to H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. As a mother, farmer, and former nutrition education teacher, I understand the importance of providing valuable information to consumers about where their food comes from and how it is grown. If we are going to face the growing challenges of obesity in this country and increasing demand for food worldwide, each and every American is going to have to engage in an honest dialogue about our food production and distribution systems. It is important that these systems are based on sound science, with a strong set of food labeling guidelines that are consistent across State lines, affordable for all Americans, and provide accurate and easy to understand information on the package for those consumers wanting to know more. H.R. 1599 is a mirror image of the successful USDA organic program that many of my constituents have come to appreciate and trust. This voluntary, commonsense option program is a compromise that balances the needs of both consumers and producers while providing a national path to getting consumers information that they may want. I thank the chairman for bringing this timely bill to the floor. I ask all my colleagues to support H.R. 1599.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. I thank my colleague from Wisconsin for his leadership and hosting this Special Order tonight. Mr. Speaker, it is vital that we have this extremely important conversation concerning the unborn. While this topic is very difficult to discuss, it is something we must talk about and recognize in order to stop the unspeakable horrors currently taking place. Last week and this morning, new videos were released detailing how Planned Parenthood harvests and sells the body parts of aborted children. For decades, Planned Parenthood employees have tried to diminish the humanity of the unborn by belittling them to blobs of tissue. However, this video is evidence that Planned Parenthood knows that these are not simply blobs of tissue, but actual human beings that have tiny lungs, livers, and beating hearts. We need to get our priorities straight. In the video the Planned Parenthood doctor callously describes altering abortion procedures by crushing a baby's body in order to preserve certain organs for harvesting. She says: I am going to basically crush below; I am going to crush above. This is human life we are talking about. We cannot stand by while aborted baby parts are being sold for profit. This morning's video shows another Planned Parenthood doctor shamelessly haggling over the price of aborted baby body parts. She discusses how the price could change based on the volume and developmental stage of the aborted babies. While I am pleased that there are Federal and State investigations underway, I believe more needs to be done. Planned Parenthood has received over $200 million in Federal funds since 2012. It is clear that Planned Parenthood places profit--not women's health and safety-- ahead of all else, and they must be stopped. I urge support for Congresswoman Black's legislation that prohibits all Federal funds to Planned Parenthood. Federal dollars cannot continue to flow to any entity that has such a blatant and heartless disregard for human life.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in response to the Obama administration's announcement of reaching an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism, regarding its nuclear program. This agreement jeopardizes our national security and that of our allies by giving Iran the ability to continue its march towards nuclear capability. Where are the restrictions that the American people and her allies were promised? Where are the ``anytime, anywhere'' inspections? Where is the dismantling of Iran's nuclear infrastructure? I do not see these restrictions, Mr. Speaker. Additionally, this deal will hand Iran billions in sanctions relief for it to continue funding terrorism and promoting instability in the region. This agreement jeopardizes our closest ally, Israel, and relies on the hope that Iran, which has proven to shirk agreements in the past, complies with the terms. In short, this agreement does not stop Iran from being on the doorstep of nuclear capability. We cannot allow that to happen. Mr. Speaker, any deal that ends in a nuclear Iran is a bad deal and should be rejected.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give honor to Payton Dahmer, Kaylee Farmer, Cara Comstock, and Skyler Scotten for earning the title of the 2015 World Championship FFA Livestock Judging Team. These members of the Nevada FAA chapter, along with their coach, Tanya St. John, practiced for countless hours, traveling all across the State and Nation to evaluate the quality of classes of cattle, swine, sheep, and goats as well as demonstrate the reasoning behind their placements in the oral presentation. At the national competition, the team placed first overall, with all four competitors placing in the top ten individually. Winning nationals qualified them for the International Livestock Judging Competition in Scotland, where they again placed first in the team judging event. While it was a long and challenging journey to earn this title, I would like to commend the 2015 World Champion FFA Livestock Judging Team for their dedication, perseverance, and poise they displayed in this competition. I am proud of how they represented themselves, their families, and our country. I want to congratulate Payton, Kaylee, Cara, and Skyler for this amazing achievement. You are the future agriculture leaders this country needs.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. I thank the chairman. Mr. Speaker, while I respect my colleague who offered this amendment, I oppose this resolution and urge my colleagues to vote in opposition. This unwise resolution would call for the unilateral withdrawal of U.S. forces from the fight against ISIL and leave this growing evil to continue to expand, terrorizing millions. This resolution would do more than halt all U.S. strikes against the terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, removing the approximately 3,500 U.S. trainers from Iraq; it would unwisely deny the Kurdish Peshmerga critical support to fight against the brutal and barbaric terrorist group, leaving them alone to stop this threat. This resolution would leave ISIL unchecked by U.S. airpower and allow the vicious terrorist group to gain strength as it would further destabilize the region by threatening allies, such as Jordan, and create a largely uncontested safe haven from which ISIL could plot attacks against the United States. It would allow the continued brutality of a group that beheads innocents, including Americans, that forces women and children into sexual slavery, that destroys religious heritage sites, and that targets Christians and others. This resolution has nothing to do with authorizing the use of military force against ISIL; instead, this resolution simply unilaterally withdraws our U.S. forces from fighting back against this evil. I urge opposition to this resolution.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas and the gentleman from California for their leadership in bringing this legislation to the House floor. I will make my remarks short and simple. Country of origin labeling, or COOL, has been a 13-year failed experiment in public policy. It provides little to no value for the consumer, raises costs for all producers, and has created a significant trade dispute with our number one and number two trading partners, Canada and Mexico. It is an embarrassment to our country that we have lost four times in the WTO court and now are facing significant retaliation from our two closest trading partners. This is particularly concerning when you consider that my home State of Missouri alone could face up to $623 million in economic losses from retaliation. America should be a leader in creating free and fair trade around the world by focusing on removing tariff and nontariff trade barriers, not creating our own. Americans expect labels on their meat and other food products to clearly state the health and safety information. COOL goes beyond that, though, and has amounted to nothing more than a government-mandated marketing program that provides little to no value to producers and consumers. The only solution to this failed experiment in public policy is full repeal of the country of origin labeling law. I support the underlying bill and encourage my colleagues to vote for H.R. 2393.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Why? There are many reasons. But the predominant reason is because it allows the following people to come to America's shore or possibly be released. Here are a few people who are in Guantanamo Bay that the sponsor of this amendment wants to bring here: Sixteen detainees associated with Osama bin Laden or other top al Qaeda leaders; eight detainees who have received explosives training; four detainees closely associated with al Qaeda recruiters; two detainees knowledgeable about poisons; others involved in a plot against a U.S. Embassy; volunteered to be a suicide bomber; commander of an al Qaeda training camp; agreed to commit to jihad if let out; and a terrorist financier. Also, KSM, the architect of the 9/11 attacks, KSM's third in command; another senior al Qaeda operative who trained and selected the 9/11 hijackers; the mastermind of the USS Cole attack; on and on. The idea of bringing these individuals to America is foolish, and it makes no sense. We already have a secure facility that is working, is constitutional, and is keeping Americans safe. We need to keep GTMO open. I oppose this amendment.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this very important amendment. We live in a dangerous world. Whether it is ongoing conflict in Yemen, the march of ISIL, the slaughter of Christians by Boko Haram, the murder of innocents by al Shabaab, or the continued desire of al Qaeda to attack Americans, the rise of Islamic extremism is real; and we need a safe, effective place to detain these combatants. GTMO is an appropriate facility to house this unique mission. Now is not the time to transfer these detainees or close its doors. I had the opportunity to visit Guantanamo Bay and see the operations there firsthand, and I can confirm that GTMO is currently the safest and most appropriate location to hold detainees who were engaged in dangerous acts threatening the U.S. and our allies. We need to continue to protect American citizens from some of the world's most dangerous individuals. We need to pass this amendment.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the fiscal year 2016 NDAA, and I want to thank Chairman Thornberry for bringing this important bill to the floor. We have a proud tradition in the Armed Services Committee of supporting our national defense in a bipartisan manner, and I hope that tradition will continue this year. This country is facing a vast array of threats, both from state and nonstate actors, and I am pleased that the NDAA provides for the resources needed to address those threats today while also preparing for those of tomorrow. As Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee chairwoman, I am proud of the provisions included to address issues related to detainee transfers. I remain frustrated and concerned with the administration's lack of cooperation in the investigation of the Taliban Five transfer. I consider it prudent to withhold funding from DOD until more information and support is given so that we may continue proper oversight. This bill is good news also for the men and women at Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base. One of my top priorities since I got to Congress has been to support Whiteman commanders' requests for the construction of the Consolidated Stealth Operations and Nuclear Alert Facility. This facility is included in this NDAA, and it will bring substantial, immediate, and long-term benefits to the base and to its B-2 operations. Additionally, I requested the provision to authorize 12 additional F/A-18F Super Hornets. These aircraft will fill an immediate need in the fight against ISIL and allow them to be converted to airborne electronic attack Growlers later, if necessary. After a marathon 18-hour-long debate throughout the day and night, my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee and I have produced a bipartisan bill that allocates vital funds for our Nation's defense. I am proud of this bill, and I urge Members to support its passage.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, we must protect unborn children from cruel suffering, and we must ensure that any survivors get treated like any other premature baby. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 36.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Pain- Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This bill protects unborn children and ensures that those born alive are given the same level of care as other premature infants. I would like to introduce you to Micah Pickering and his parents. His mom, Danielle, recalls being told that her son, if born early, was not going to be viable at 20 weeks. She says: We were told that our baby would not cry upon birth. We were told that he would be stillborn. We were told that, if by some miracle he survived, he had a 95 percent chance of horrible, life-altering disabilities that would likely include not walking, not talking, not even eating on his own. On the morning Micah was born, he defied all odds. We didn't know what God's will for Micah was, but we do now--it is to be a voice for all of those other babies. I insert into the Record Danielle Pickering's full story and letter. ``Miracle Micah'' (By Danielle Pickering, Mom) My son was not ``viable''. It was a word we were coming to hate. It all started the day my water broke, at 21 weeks. I was treated as if I had a Urinary Tract Infection, instead of a rupture of membranes. I was sent home with no instructions to do anything outside of my normal routine. I worked 8 hours a day in a warehouse, I cooked meals for my husband and myself, and I went to yard sales like normal, all with my water broken. One week later, at exactly 22 weeks, I started having small contractions and bleeding. My husband and I rushed to the Emergency Room, where they confirmed that my water was at less than 1 CM, and that I would be ambulanced to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for the remainder of my pregnancy. When I was admitted my heart rate was high, baby's heart rate was high, and I was running a fever. They determined that since baby was not ``viable'' they would like to induce labor as they feared I had a life threatening infection. We called on everyone we knew to start praying, and within two hours I was now stable. We were then told that it was our decision to induce or to hold out and see what baby does, but they couldn't do anything at that time to stop labor. We decided to wait. We couldn't induce when we were sure this baby was not going to make it. For the next three days we were told horrific statistics that no parent should ever have to face. We were told that our baby would not cry upon birth. We were told that he will likely be stillborn. We were told that, if by some miracle he survived he had a 95% chance of horrible life altering disabilities that would likely include not walking, not talking, not even eating on his own. On the morning of 22 weeks and 4 days, Micah was born. He defied all odds and cried two times upon birth. This was music to this devastated mom's ears. I didn't get to see him. He was rushed away by a huge team of Doctors and Nurses dedicated to saving his life, as that was the choice we had made. You see, we were told that we didn't have to choose to intubate him and put him on a ventilator, but we had to do all we could to save this precious life. He had trusted his Mommy from conception to care and nourish him, and though my body was failing him, I wasn't going to! I was going to fight for him. I was going to advocate for him! I was going to be the voice of this tiny, fragile little boy who already I was so in love with, and hadn't even seen yet and thanks to an anterior placenta I hadn't even felt him kick or move yet. The second I was able to meet Micah changed my life. He was so small. I didn't know what to expect. Would he look ``normal''? Could I bond with this baby? Those questions were a mess in my head as I was wheeled into his room two hours after his birth. The sight I saw was a perfectly formed baby. Lots of tubes and monitors all set up to be an artificial womb to this baby born too soon. My husband and I stood there just staring at this beautiful little boy who we were told we couldn't hold as the skin was so sensitive it would hurt him. We were told we could press lightly on the skin so we each put our hand near him. HE reached up, and held our fingers. This was the strongest grasp I would ever feel. I never knew how strong a baby was until that moment! He had a powerful grip on our hands, and now our hearts. Micah was about to spend the next 4 months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He was going to go through heart surgery, at 2 weeks old and just over a pound. He was going to hang on to life by a thread some days. There were days I couldn't leave his room. I slept on the floor next to his warmer bed many nights, because my heart was so grieved for this tiny baby and I couldn't leave him alone. He was going to go through every ventilator they had available. He was going to be on Nitric Oxide to help his lungs. He would get scores of X-Rays and heel pricks. He was going to do something amazing-all because we were able to say ``Yes, Please save our baby''. Here was this little baby who was on morphine for pain. He still had his eyes fused shut. You could see his chest vibrate from the ventilators. It was heartbreaking. Here was a boy who we would see get to take his first sneeze. His first smile. We would get to see the hiccups, from the outside. We would watch his eyes slowly unfuse. We would watch his hair grow in and we would watch his body develop. It was indescribably the most joyful time of our life. We knew the Lord had a plan for Micah. Our prayer to God from early on was that Micah's life, Micah's story, and Micah's example would help others, and could somehow save other babies born too soon. We didn't know what the will for Micah was, but we do now. It was to be a voice for all those other babies. We didn't understand at the time that Micah was right on time, but now we do. Until you are faced with a situation like this, you cannot grasp the intensity that will become every decision. You can read every doctor report, you can get advice from everyone. You can be knowledgeable on every part of prematurity, but that does not change the fact that Micah was just as much full of life at 22.4 weeks as he now is at almost 3 years old. Every scary moment has been worth it. Every doctor visit, every oxygen tank we went through, every middle of the night phone call from Neonatologists, was worth it. We now have a very perfect almost 3 year old we get to call son, when we were preparing for empty arms. Our hearts are full because we chose to give him a chance at life.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize William Lewis Trogdon, also known as William Least Heat-Moon, an author and native Missourian who was recently awarded for his Distinguished Literary Achievement by the Missouri Humanities Council. The Missouri Humanities Council (MHC) promotes humanities education and engages the public in dialogue about important issues, bridging the gap between ideas and participatory democracy. Each year MHC recognizes Missouri authors producing exemplary literary works that make a significant contribution to our understanding and appreciation of Missouri's history and culture. Mr. Heat-Moon's body of work displays poignant accounts of traveling through rural America whether by car, boat, or foot with a particular emphasis on Missouri's local geography. His book Blue Highways: A Journey Into America records his trip through rural towns across 38 states, and was a New York Times Bestseller for 42 weeks. As a former teacher, I understand the importance of arts and humanities education in shaping our understanding of history and culture. Again, I would like to congratulate Mr. Heat-Moon for his lifetime of literary achievements and his artistic contributions to the state of Missouri, and express my desire that other authors follow Mr. Heat-Moon's footsteps, exemplifying Missouri's culture in their literary and creative works.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 43, and I commend the gentlewoman from Tennessee and the gentleman from Texas for sponsoring this important piece of legislation. This resolution would prevent the District of Columbia from violating America's basic First Amendment freedom of religion. We must protect pro-life organizations in D.C. and allow them to operate according to their sincerely held beliefs. The D.C. City Council's actions would have serious negative consequences for religious organizations operating in D.C., and religious or pro-life groups could be forced to make personnel decisions that are inconsistent with their moral convictions. Additionally, these actions will force employers to defend against lawsuits of questionable merit brought with a political motivation. Our Nation's Capital should not be a place where people's freedoms are taken away; it should be a place where the right to live according to your beliefs is most fervently protected. We must respect and protect the religious freedoms established by the Constitution and the Federal law. We must reject the overreach by the D.C. City Council. I urge my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 43.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Thank you very much, Chairman. You are a wonderful chairman and have helped us produce a wonderful, responsible budget. Mr. Chairman, this budget goes a long way to address the out-of- control spending problem and crushing debt the administration has fostered over the last few years. Unlike the President's proposal, though, our budget contains progrowth economic reforms, repeals ObamaCare, and it balances. Most importantly, Price 2 restores harmful defense cuts and provides the necessary resources our warfighters need. The threats facing this Nation and the world right now are vast, real, and expanding: ISIL has proclaimed a caliphate in the Middle East, and it is now looking to expand into other countries; Russia is continually making headlines with aggression and invasions into Ukraine and surrounding areas; China continues to build its military as it gains more and more power globally; and Islamic extremism continues to spread to more and more countries. We, as representatives of the people, are charged with providing for the common defense. Given the size, reach, and increasingly brutal nature of the threats we face, we should feel obliged to make sure that we create a budget that gives our military the tools necessary to address today's threats and be fully prepared to address the threats of tomorrow, whatever they may be and wherever they may come from. As the only Member to sit on both the House Budget Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, I am proud that these two committees have come together for Price 2 to provide total defense funding spending above the President's request. Missouri's Fourth Congressional District is proud to be one of our Nation's most military-intensive congressional districts, home of two major military installations--Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood--and thousands of dedicated military families sacrificing so much to keep us safe. Providing our military the resources necessary to safeguard our liberties and protect our shores is one of the top legislative priorities I have, and I am proud that these resources are provided in Price 2. Again, I thank Chairman Price for his leadership on this committee and in this process, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on Price 2.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 2, 2015, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: On roll call no. 107, YEA.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, February 27, 2015, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: On roll call no. 106, YEA.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of National Marriage Week. It is an honor to promote an institution that has been the cornerstone of society for centuries, and I am blessed to celebrate this week with my husband of 30 years, Lowell Hartzler. When a man and woman join together in holy matrimony, they are not only starting a life together and creating a family, they are also establishing the foundation of a healthy society. Researchers document many benefits to marriage: better health, greater personal happiness, enhanced financial stability, and positive impacts for children. Boys and girls raised at home by a mom and dad perform better in school, have less addictions, experience lower rates of teen pregnancy, and see less trouble with the law. At a time when some question the future of marriage, I think it is wise to reflect on the unique benefits the intact, married family provides. Social science clearly tells us that marriage leads to greater wealth, health, longevity, and happiness. It is something to aspire to, to treasure, and to fight for. Not only does society benefit but, most importantly, so do the men and women who commit to a lifetime of love, laughter, faithfulness, and future generations.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Representative Noem's leadership on this and the opportunity to share tonight how horrific this crime is and how we must unite and stand together to put an end to it. With almost 21 million victims globally and more than 293,000 American youth at risk of sexual commercial exploitation and trafficking each year, this heinous crime must be stopped. This week, I am proud to work with my colleagues to vote on legislation that will take steps to do just that. Tonight I would like to share the story of an amazing woman in my district that I had the privilege of meeting last year. Misty, a survivor of human trafficking, was first trafficked at the age of 14, and it would be 16 more years before she would finally escape a world in which she was brutally beaten and tortured regularly to keep her submissive. When she was severely injured 5 years ago, she thought she was going to die and was too tired to go on anymore. It was then that she agreed to go with a kind police officer who found her that day to get some help. There aren't words to adequately describe the strength and courage of this woman who testified against her trafficker; who, thankfully, because of Misty's testimony this fall, was found guilty of all charges. Despite the horrific conditions Misty had to endure, she willingly shares her story with others and says her experience motivates her to help others who have been in similar situations. It is women like Misty who inspire me to fight against this scourge in our society. It is a crime against humanity, and it must be stopped.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the fiscal year 2015 NDAA, and I want to thank Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith for bringing this important bill to the floor. I am pleased that Congress came together in a bicameral, bipartisan effort to pass this critical bill for the 53rd consecutive year. This legislation gives our brave troops the resources needed to combat the national security threats we face as a Nation. This bill works to provide the necessary tools to our troops, even though we face a scarcity of funds under sequestration. I am happy that we were able, I believe, to keep the Apaches with the National Guard and secure additional funding for the E/A-18 Growlers. I am particularly pleased that the A-10 will be spared from retirement. The men and women defending our national security deserve the Nation's best close air support aircraft, and the A-10 is simply unmatched in this category. This bill is a fitting tribute to Chairman McKeon as his final act leading the House Armed Services Committee. He has been a tireless advocate for our national defense and our men and women in the military, and I am honored to have served with him.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express concern over the state of our negotiations with Iran and the threat of Iranian nuclear capability. I am disappointed and extremely concerned with the extension of negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and the continued relaxing of economic sanctions against Tehran. Every day that we ease sanctions or fail to apply new ones is another day Iran races toward a nuclear weapons capability. Iran currently has 10,000 operational centrifuges, each working hard toward a nuclear Iran. As the administration continues to cede ground in this area of negotiations, we must remember that Iran has threatened America and called for the total annihilation of our ally, Israel. The instability and unrest in this region would only be compounded should Iran achieve its goals. Sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table in the first place, and these sanctions must be strengthened to convince them to stop their treacherous quest for nuclear weapons. I believe Congress must put renewed pressure on Iran. The Senate needs to pass the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act before going home. We cannot allow Iran to hold the world hostage with nuclear weapons. Now is the time to act.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize my alma mater, the University of Missouri, as it celebrates 175 years of providing quality education, cutting-edge research, and practical extension services to all Missourians. Mizzou was the first State university established west of the Mississippi and is a school rich with tradition. I am humbled to be a graduate of such a longstanding, esteemed institution. The University of Missouri was home to the first journalism school in the world and is still recognized as one of the best schools around the world for agriculture, business, and journalism, just to name a few. The core values of the University of Missouri--respect, responsibility, discovery, and excellence--leave a mark on every individual influenced by this institution and have helped shape me as an American citizen and lawmaker. Throughout my career in education and public service, I have striven to uphold the values of the university and sleep well knowing that all alumni, present and future, will do the same. I am so proud to be a Tiger, and I wish a very happy birthday to Mizzou. Go Tigers!

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to recognize Peggy Kirkpatrick who has served the needs of Missouri citizens for over 22 years as the Executive Director of the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri and will be retiring at the end of this year. This incredible woman has cared for and made a resounding difference in the lives of thousands of families in Missouri's 4th District and beyond. Mrs. Kirkpatrick began her career at the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri over two decades ago. Transforming a nearly- shuttered program into one of the most prominent food banks in the United States, Peggy's legacy will continue long after her retirement. Under Mrs. Kirkpatrick's leadership, the Food Bank went from distributing about 3.4 million pounds of food in 1992 to over 36 million pounds in 2013. She was also instrumental in making the Food Bank one of only two in the entire nation, at that time, to not charge client agencies for their products and services. I rise to recognize Mrs. Kirkpatrick's passion for her tireless work to better the lives of those in her community. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I call all my colleagues to join me in applauding the service and commitment of Mrs. Kirkpatrick. Her steadfast and enduring service is a shining example for all. We are blessed to have such dedicated citizens like Peggy serving us, and we wish her the best in the years to come.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, September 15, 2014, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on rollcall No. 497, ``yea.''

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, July 31, 2014, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on rollcall No. 472, ``yea.''