Vicky Hartzler

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. He is a great guy.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and to applaud the heroism of Clinton Police Officer Ryan Morton, who gave his life last week protecting the citizens of Clinton, Missouri. Ryan was beloved by all. He was a veteran who fought in Afghanistan, an ardent Royals fan, and a dedicated law enforcement officer who stepped up to serve his community as a full-time police officer after the tragic death of another Clinton police officer named Gary Michael. Sadly, Officer Morton lost his life 7 months to the day after Officer Michael was killed. Officer Morton embodied what we all should emulate: dedication, patriotism, service, and a willingness to lay down one's life for others. We mourn the loss, but we celebrate Ryan's life. May the Lord comfort his family and the Clinton Police Department, and may his example inspire us all.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and Representative LaMalfa for hosting tonight's Special Order to draw attention to the wonderful benefits of crisis pregnancy centers. I would like to share the story of two women. Summer is a smart 17- year-old who is in love with her first love, John. Although their parents are concerned about how serious they have gotten, they spend as much time together as possible. They soon find out that their college plans are in jeopardy when they discover that they are pregnant. Tanya is a 40-year-old single mom with three kids. She works at a local restaurant as a server, and she gets by with the help of Federal welfare programs. She has been seeing Sam off and on for the past several months, but they recently broke up. Now she finds out that she is pregnant. She can't handle one more mouth to feed. Abortion seems to be the only option. Summer's and Tanya's situations are different, yet they both can find help and hope through their local crisis pregnancy centers. Like over 2.3 million women and men across America, they can receive pregnancy tests; ultrasounds; parenting classes; and other basic necessities, such as maternity and baby clothing, through these centers. These vital centers are making a huge difference for so many. Pregnancy care centers provide a safe haven for women in crisis. In other words, they provide a safe haven for pregnant moms who need love and support as they welcome their babies into the world. There are more than 2,300 pregnancy care centers throughout America. Some of these clinics provide medical care, housing for expectant moms and their children, and adoption referrals. I am thankful for the Shiloh Center in Harrisonville, Missouri, my hometown. The Shiloh Center welcomes moms in difficult circumstances, offering hope and help, enabling each mother to choose life for her baby. Like many other centers, the Shiloh Center provides free pregnancy testing, ultrasound services, counseling, and educational resources. The Shiloh Center also provides prenatal care for pregnant moms, and ensures that new moms are equipped with baby clothes, diapers, and formula for their little ones. There are thousands of these centers across America. I would like to highlight the wonderful pregnancy care centers in my district: Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center in Warsaw, Missouri; My Life Clinic in Columbia, Missouri; Pregnancy Health Center Lake of the Ozarks in Camdenton, Missouri; Door of Hope Pregnancy Center in Clinton, Missouri; New Beginnings Women's Center in Warrensburg, Missouri; Pregnancy Support Center in Lebanon, Missouri; Birthright of Sedalia in Sedalia, Missouri; Free Women's Center of Pulaski County in Waynesville, Missouri; Birthright of Moberly in Moberly, Missouri; Birthright of Nevada in Nevada, Missouri; and Choices Pregnancy Center in Marshfield, Missouri. I am grateful to each of these centers for the countless hours of community service and client care lovingly offered to women like Summer and Tanya and thousands in similar circumstances experiencing challenging life circumstances. They are bringing practical help and hope, and that is the best story of all.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, I was unable to vote due to my absence. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on Roll Call no. 61, YEA; on Roll Call no. 62, YEA; and on Roll Call no. 63, YEA.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, as Members of Congress, we have an explicit constitutional responsibility to provide for the common defense. Yet some of my colleagues would rather use our military as a bargaining chip for political reasons. For 3 days, our military was held hostage while the government shut down for an unrelated immigration issue. For 3 days, military families across the globe faced fear and uncertainty over whether they would be paid on time. Unfortunately, this is not the last time or the first time our military has been used as a political pawn. Year after year, defense spending is held hostage, causing our readiness to reach a dangerously low level. In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Secretary Mattis stated: ``No enemy in the field has done more to harm the readiness of our military than sequestration.'' We are facing a host of threats from every direction; threats that jeopardize our safety, our freedom, and our way of life. North Korea is aggressively pursuing a nuclear arsenal that can target the United States and our allies. China's land reclamation has sparked international clashes. Russian opportunistic aggression is threatening our allies and could trigger a NATO alliance response. Violent extremists are threatening global stability as their evil idealogy poisons minds and induces followers to kill innocent people. Iran continues to invoke instability by sponsoring terrorism around the globe. We expect our military to be able to respond to each of these threats, yet years of budget cuts and continuing resolutions have degrade our military's capabilities and destroyed morale. Here are the stunning and sobering facts: Less than half of the Navy's aircraft can fly due to maintenance and spare parts delays. Of the 58 Army combat brigade teams that our Nation depends on to deploy overseas to defend our freedoms, only five could be called upon to fight tonight. Last year, two Navy destroyers were involved in collisions that tragically claimed the lives of 17 sailors. These ships will undergo repairs for years to come. I saw this personally in September when I toured the USS Fitzgerald in a naval base in Japan. I stood in the room where seven sailors died when their ship collided with a commercial freighter, tearing a hole in the side of the ship and flooding their room where they were sleeping with water in less than 2 minutes, giving them too little time to escape. It was heart-wrenching to see, and it remains heartbreaking to think about the pain these families will endure for years to come. Perhaps saddest of all is that these accidents were not due to an enemy attack. They were due to training lapses and poor leadership which was exacerbated by high demand for service, combined with a lack of funding for needed ships and a lack of training because of defense cuts. Last year alone, 80 U.S. servicemembers were killed in readiness- related accidents, nearly four times the number that were killed in hostilities. Our men and women in uniform deserve better. We owe it to them to provide them with all that they need as they stand ready to actively fight a resurgent Russia, an emergent China, an unstable North Korea, an unpredictable Iran, and widespread violent extremism. We cannot expect our sons and daughters to volunteer for military service and thereby volunteer to be placed in harm's way without proper equipment and adequate training. Mr. Speaker, we must end this deadly cycle of continuing resolutions. We must end sequestration and provide for the common defense. We must approve a long-term budget that provides desperately needed increases in funding for the military. American military superiority is not a God-given right or a law of nature. It has been earned on the backs of a motivated volunteer force. It is our duty to ensure that force is well-equipped and well-trained. The current normal is unacceptable and irresponsible. Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to end this travesty and to stand with our military as they stand for freedom for us every day.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I have written remarks here, but after what I just heard, I have got to change what I was going to share. The idea that you could oppose this bill under the ruse that it helps children and mothers is absolutely preposterous. The reason that we need this bill is because, yes, we did pass legislation in 2002 saying that a baby, if they are born during an abortion procedure, deserves life, but the problem is it is not being followed. You can go out in the hall and visit with some nurses who have come here who have experienced the traumatic trauma of witnessing a baby born and then being put in a plastic bag and suffocated to death. You can visit with the nurses that I have met who found a baby in a soiled closet who was born alive and was put there to die. You can visit with a young mother named Angelee who unexpectedly gave birth to a baby boy in the restroom of an abortion clinic, and once she saw that baby, Angelee changed her mind. She wanted it to live. It was there. And her friend called the paramedics, but the clinic staff turned the medical team away, denying lifesaving care for Angelee's baby. The little baby died in the mother's arms as she rocked it and comforted it, showering it with love. The reason this bill is needed is because it puts penalties on those healthcare officials who refuse to provide medical care, refuse to follow the law that you state you support. And so if you truly support life, if you support these babies, if you support the mother, then put some teeth in this legislation and make sure it is followed. Madam Speaker, I urge everyone here to support it.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, here we are again, having to vote on a continuing resolution instead of a full-year appropriations deal because of political reasons. Mr. Speaker, I am appalled that much-needed defense dollars are once again being held hostage for political reasons. We have heard time and again from military leaders about the devastating readiness crisis plaguing every corner of the military. We have planes that cannot fly, troops that cannot deploy, and we are literally running out of bombs. It is irresponsible and morally wrong to send our troops into harm's way without adequate resources and training. Last year alone, there were 80 deaths related to readiness and training accidents. It is clear that insufficient and unreliable funding is wearing our military to the bone and costing precious lives. As Members of Congress, we have the power of the purse. We can relieve the military from this deadly cycle. I call on my colleagues to end the political games. Support the men and women in uniform who risk their lives every day to defend this country. Support a budget agreement that provides our servicemembers with the funding they so desperately need.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Central Missouri's women's soccer team on winning the NCAA Division II national championship. This is the Jennies first NCAA women's soccer national championship in program history. The Jennies completed the season with a perfect record of 26 and 0, making them only the third women's Division II national champion to finish a season with a perfect record. The team's 26 wins set a new single- season NCAA Division II women's record. In addition to winning the national championship, the Jennies had five athletes join the Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-American teams. The team's outstanding accomplishments mark a great milestone for the University of Central Missouri's athletics department and its head coach of 11 years, Lewis Theobald. Please join me in congratulating the Central Missouri Jennies on this momentous achievement.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to praise the progress the Senate and the House has made toward passing tax reform for the American people. Our tax plan would roughly double the standard deduction, a deduction that 71 percent of Missourians use. When our tax bill passes, the simple truth is that it will allow Missouri families and families everywhere to take home more of their paychecks. Our tax plan will also be more fair, eliminating special interest loopholes and making it easier for average Americans to file taxes. Currently, our country spends a total of $378 billion per year filing tax returns. Our tax plan will change all that. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the final version of this bill so we can give Americans a great present by Christmas and watch our economy thrive.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. This bill, which reaffirms the Second Amendment rights of all law- abiding citizens to keep and bear arms in every State, includes a provision I introduced earlier this year as the Police Officers Protecting Children Act. My provision would help protect our children from school shootings and empower local law enforcement to respond rapidly in the case of an emergency. As many of you who represent rural areas know, in these sparsely populated regions, our local law enforcement is stretched thin. My bill would amend the Gun-Free School Zones Act to allow school boards to permit off-duty and retired police officers to carry their firearms on school campuses so they can respond quickly in the event of a crisis. The legislation would expand the reach of local police officers, decrease emergency response time, and put more choice back in the hands of our local school districts. It is a win-win-win. As we have learned over and over, localities are much better equipped to know what works for their district rather than the Federal Government. In fact, the idea of my bill came from a constituent who is a retired police officer and served his community for 30 years. This gentleman came to me because he wasn't allowed to use his weapon to protect his grandchildren at school even though he had decades of experience and continued to pass an annual recertification test. Additionally, the sheriff of Laclede County in my district said: Not allowing current law enforcement officers, or qualified retired law enforcement officers, to carry weapons at schools simply puts children's lives at risk. I agree. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Judiciary Committee for including my legislation in this important bill, and I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, I was unable to vote due to my attendance at an event with the President. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on Roll Call no. 640, YEA, and on Roll Call no. 641, YEA.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and thank Reverend Robert Hughes of Sedalia, Missouri, for his leadership in the faith community. After beginning his career in film and television, working for media companies like Disney and National Geographic, Reverend Hughes left show business to do God's business. He entered the ministry, which led him to Sedalia, in Missouri's Fourth Congressional District, where he serves as the pastor at Broadway Presbyterian Church. Reverend Hughes is well loved by the members of his congregation, and he uses his time and talents to energize others about God's Word. It was my honor to recommend him as guest chaplain to lead the House in prayer this morning. Reverend Hughes, thank you for your devotion to your community and congregation and for bringing inspiration and encouragement to those you serve. May God bless everything you set your hand to. Your service to God and your church is appreciated.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of an important bill that could help so many families with loved ones struggling with life-threatening diseases. I am talking about the Right to Try Act which would allow terminally ill patients to request access to experimental drugs after all other available treatment options have been exhausted as well as prevent the Federal Government from interfering with States that have already passed such laws. While Missouri passed a right-to-try law in 2014, I was reminded of the importance of this bill just last year. As I was returning to my office one morning after votes on the House floor, I was stopped by a little boy, Zack Mongiello, who ran after me to catch my attention. Zack, who is only 11 years old, is one of the most effective advocates for the right-to-try campaign. His father, Frank, was diagnosed with ALS a few years ago. This devastating disease has an average life expectancy of 2 to 5 years, with half of those diagnosed surviving for only 3 years. Ever since that life-changing diagnosis, Zack's family, including his mother and five siblings, have been doing all they can to ensure passage of this important bill. When Zack came running up to me that day last year, his message was clear and powerful: ``My dad is dying,'' he said. ``Please help.'' I was incredibly moved by this, as I think anyone would be. Here is his picture. This precious little boy, whose family is dealing with the unimaginable, convinced me and numerous other legislators of the urgency of this legislation. We must act now. I want Congress to help Zack's family and other families who have no other options. Washington should not stand in the way of Americans with life-ending illnesses who want to try to save themselves and have no other available options. That is why I am a proud cosponsor of the Right to Try Act and was glad to see the Senate pass their version of this bill. It is now time for the House to act, and I call on my colleagues to support this potentially lifesaving legislation. Please join me so that we can give families like Zack's more options and hopefully more time.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. I would like to thank Chairman Thornberry, Ranking Member Smith, all of the conferees, and the committee staff for their hard work on this important piece of legislation. As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to provide support for our men and women in uniform while they selflessly serve our Nation. This bill authorizes a much-needed $634 billion in base budget requirements for our national security. This number is the minimum requirement needed to even begin the process of restoring our military's readiness. Tragically, this year alone, we have heard report after report of deadly training accidents. These accidents demonstrate severe readiness shortfalls across the services. We cannot stand by as our men and women in uniform continue to suffer. Now is the time to invest, and this bill does just that. The NDAA authorizes a 2.4 percent pay increase for our troops; authorizes 24 additional F-18 Super Hornets to help fill the Navy's strike fighter shortfall; and it fully funds the B-21 bomber, a critical platform needed to deter and defeat future aggression around the world. I am proud to represent Missouri's Fourth Congressional District, which is home to Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood. This bill funds modernization programs for the B-2 bomber, authorizes $50 million in the DOD impact aid for military-connected schools, and fully authorizes a new hospital facility and blood processing center at Fort Leonard Wood. As chairwoman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, I am proud of the provisions in the conference report that will improve the foreign military sales process and provide the National Nuclear Security Administration with much-needed flexibility to address the crippling infrastructure of the U.S. nuclear security enterprise. I want to thank Ranking Member Seth Moulton for his support in working on these important issues in a bipartisan fashion. Mr. Speaker, our troops deserve this bill and they deserve the funding that this bill authorizes. Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Thornberry, this conference report increased defense spending to meet the needs of today's warfighter. I am proud of this critical bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I have a riddle for everyone. What is the most dangerous book ever published? What is the most powerful book ever written? What is the most cited book by Presidents and our Nation's Founders? What is the most prized possession that I own? The Bible. It is a controversial book. Many people have it on their shelf at home, or it gathers dust on some end table, and people think it is a pretty innocuous book. But more people have lost their lives over this book than any other book ever written. Many rulers have ordered the gathering and burning of all Bibles in the country, and, even today, in countries like North Korea, possession of a Bible results in death or sentence to a labor camp. Why? Well, because it is more than a historic book, although it is; and it is more than a collection of wise advice and spellbounding stories, which it is. It has the audacity to claim something radical and all-inspiring at the same time. It claims to be the Word of God. Now, as a result, it changes lives. The Bible reveals a plan. It starts right out with these words: ``In the beginning, God made. . . .'' That changes everything. That sets the stage saying that we are not here by chance, that there is a loving God who has a design, and we are a part of it. It makes a difference if we have a plan. It reveals that plan. It also gives us a purpose. Part of the Psalms in 139 says, we are ``fearfully and wonderfully made'' by a loving God. We are not here by chance. And it goes on and says, and this is God speaking: ``For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.'' That is exciting. The Bible also gives us power. It gives us power to overcome evil, hardship, and trials of life by revealing how God sent his son, Jesus, to introduce us to God and make a way for us to have a personal relationship with the living God who made us and loves us. It is incredible. The Bible also gives us peace and hope as a result, not just for today, but for the future. I start each day reading from my Bible, and I am so thankful for it. It has made a difference in my life. I want to invite anyone who has never read it to read it and to discover God's plan and purpose for your life which will give you power and peace. So let this most radical book ever written touch and bless your life.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and thank Mr. Stephen Gaither for his dedication and service to our Nation's veterans. After over 40 years of service, Mr. Gaither is retiring as the public affairs officer at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. Mr. Gaither has spent his entire life serving this great Nation. In addition to his numerous years serving our veterans at the Truman VA, Mr. Gaither served in the United States Air Force, the Utah Air National Guard, and the Army Reserves. Since 1989, he has been an active volunteer for the Heart of Missouri United Way, a nonprofit organization that works to improve the economic and social conditions of those who reside in our local community. His passion for serving others will forever leave a mark on the Truman VA and the city of Columbia. So, Mr. Gaither, this week, as we celebrate Veterans Day, I want to thank you for your devotion and your work on behalf of our Nation's veterans and our community, and I want to wish you the very best in your retirement.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize some outstanding high school students from my district in Missouri, who have displayed a deep appreciation and respect for our Armed Forces. Before the last regular season varsity football home game, members of the Waynesville High School Freshman Mentor Council presented pocket flags to the 763rd Ordnance Company, who will soon be deploying. The students also presented the pocket flags to Waynesville High School's Partners in Education, the 787th Military Police Battalion and 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, to share with deploying soldiers. The flags are part of the Pocket Flag Project, which provides military personnel on the front lines with personal pocket flags. Waynesville High School freshmen folded the flags and wrote personalized messages to accompany each flag on Patriot Day. I applaud these students for taking the initiative to honor our men and women in uniform. With young people like these walking down the halls of schools, I am certain America has a bright future.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two valued members of Missouri's defense community, Staff Sergeant Ryan McCarthy and Staff Sergeant Chad Hickey. They are both stationed out of Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri's Fourth District, and these soldiers are exceptional representatives of their base, their State, and their service branch-- the United States Army. Both men recently received top honors at the Association of the United States Army's Annual Meeting and Exposition, where they were recognized for their leadership, excellence, and achievements. Staff Sergeant McCarthy, who is right here, was named the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year by AUSA. A combat engineer with more than 9 years of service, McCarthy has served multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. His dedication and leadership represent the best ideals of our Army and America's fighting forces. Another Fort Leonard Wood soldier, Staff Sergeant Chad Hickey, pictured here, was named Drill Sergeant of the Year. Hickey received the honor after winning a grueling fitness, endurance, and combat- readiness competition against the Nation's top drill sergeants. The fact that Staff Sergeant McCarthy and Staff Sergeant Hickey are both from Fort Leonard Wood is no surprise. The men and women stationed there serve with strength, seriousness, and purpose, setting an example of military leadership for the entire Army. To Staff Sergeants McCarthy and Hickey, and to all of the soldiers stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, I wish to extend to each and every one of you and your families our gratitude and congratulations.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to stand and support this rule that will allow for the passage of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which is also known as Micah's Law. The underlying legislation will protect thousands of unborn babies from the excruciating pain of abortion. Twenty weeks post-fertilization is an incredible milestone in pregnancy for moms and their unborn babies. Children at this stage in development have fingers and toes, and they have well-developed neurological structures that can feel pain. In fact, babies at this age are hypersensitive, feeling pain more acutely than you and me. Preemies, children born at the beginning of the sixth month, just like Micah, can survive outside the womb. These babies are the future doctors, nurses, scientists, teachers, law enforcement officers in our country. H.R. 36 protects this next generation of America's children. Our country is unified in protecting life at 20 weeks. Six in ten Americans support the pain-capable legislation, and 20 States have passed similar legislation. Let's put an end to the abortion of these potential children. Let's support this rule.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, my dear friend and colleague, Mr. Trent Franks, who is certainly a champion of our time in standing up for life, for our national defense, and has a heart so big that comes through in everything he does. And certainly, tonight, I think we see the gentleman's heart for unborn children, certainly at the beginning of 6 months of age, who deserve to live. The gentleman's bill, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, also known as Micah's Law, will do that, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it tomorrow. But tonight, Mr. Speaker, I want to share with you a heartwarming story that puts a face to what we are talking about. It is one thing to say 20 weeks old, a baby, unborn baby, but it is another thing to look at the picture of Micah Pickering--and his picture is up there, as well as up front. Micah Pickering was born at 20 weeks' gestation. He was born at the age of which we are talking about that you are trying to say we should not allow for abortions at this stage because they can live, and Micah is a living example of that. You know, I want to share a little bit about what his mother shared about his story, with Micah, her son. His mother's name is Danielle, and she recalled that when Micah was born, he cried twice immediately, and that was music to her ears and contrary to the worst case scenarios for which Micah's parents were bracing. This is what Danielle talked about during those first few moments. She said: ``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 2 hours after his birth. The sight I saw was a perfectly formed baby.'' At 20 weeks, at the beginning of 6 months, she says he 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''--the baby, Micah--``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''-- has a powerful grip on--``our hearts.'' This little miracle baby spent 4 months in intensive care. He underwent heart surgery 2 weeks after birth, weighing a little over a pound. He was on a ventilator for a while. He was on morphine to ease the pain, and this was the size of the diaper that he wore. Isn't that incredible? But he wore a diaper that size, and this little preemie, when he was born, he was the size of an M&M package. It is hard to believe that a baby could be that small and live, but that is about the size of a baby at this age, 20 weeks old, the beginning of 6 months, and he lived. His name is Micah. Now he is a healthy, energetic kindergarten student. Micah's story is beautiful. It is a miracle. And we thank God for Micah's fighting spirit, for his parents' unwavering love for their son, and for the team of doctors, nurses, surgeons, and medical professionals who tended to Micah during those first few months. But the point about Micah is he puts a face on this that, from the moment of conception to the birth of a child, the growth and development of the baby is miraculous. With advances in medical science, we can better understand what is happening at each stage of development. When these little babies are just 4 weeks old, the basics of their nervous system are developed. By 8 weeks after fertilization, the unborn child reacts to touch. After 20 weeks, and that is the age of the gentleman's bill, the unborn child reacts to stimuli that would be recognized as painful if applied to an adult human, for example, by recoiling. We know that by the 20th week, the beginning of the sixth month, unborn babies, children the same age as Micah when he was born, respond to painful stimuli by flinching and jerking, just like you and I would if we were burned or hurt in some way. Micah's parents were told that they could not hold their little son, that it would be too painful for the newborn. But babies at this stage are actually hyperresponsive to pain since the neurological features that inhibit or regulate pain sensations do not develop until much later in pregnancy. Certainly, these babies should not undergo this pain and, certainly, not have to have their life snuffed out through abortion. When a mother and her unborn baby undergo a surgical procedure, doctors give fetal pain medication, or fetal anesthesia to the baby so that he or she does not feel the procedure. This is common practice. It is common sense. The legislation before the House tomorrow will ensure that unborn children are not subjected to the excruciating pain of being euthanized in the womb. And this is where I wish the story could end, that all children be given a fighting chance like Micah. But that is not the case for too many children whose lives are taken from them before they can take their first breath. Late-term abortion procedures, abortions performed on babies 20 weeks and later in pregnancies, are graphic, detestable, and, tragically, allowed in this country. In a dissent opinion that Representative Smith just shared, and I want to share it again, Justice Kennedy offered the insight into this grizzly practice. He said: ``The fetus, in many cases, dies just as a human adult or born child would: it bleeds to death as it is torn limb from limb.'' Aborted, unborn babies endure unspeakable pain in the most horrific manner possible. Knowing that innocent 20-week babies acutely experience pain and endure inhuman dismemberment or poisoning should be enough to pierce each of our hearts and prick our sensibilities. Micah's Law, the legislation that would protect the lives of unborn children halfway through pregnancy because of their ability to feel pain, is our call to action. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to leave you with the words of Micah's mom as she watched her tiny infant grow into the child he is today, and it speaks to the potential of every one of these children that we hope from now on will have a chance to live like Micah. She said: ``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.'' So as we anticipate tomorrow's historic vote, I ask my colleagues to lend their support for Micah and thousands of children just like him who want to live, who want to experience life, and who have so much to give.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and thank the airmen of the 442nd Mission Support Group who returned home to Whiteman Air Force Base last month after a 6-month deployment. These dedicated reservists were deployed across six bases in support of Operation Resolute Support and provided vital base functions for our military overseas. The reservists of the 442nd left their homes, jobs, families, and friends to travel overseas to support our military's mission. I admire their commitment, their sacrifice, and dedication to our Nation. Their bravery and sacrifice deserve our appreciation and respect, and I am glad to welcome them home and thank them for their service to our country. I would also like to take a moment to thank their families for their commitment to our country. America's military families say good-bye to their spouses, parents, children, and siblings for extended periods of time for the good of our Nation. They are unsung heroes, and they, too, deserve our recognition for their sacrifice. So to the airmen of the 442nd, you and your families have our undying gratitude. You are truly heroes. Welcome home, and thank you for your service.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the brave members of Missouri's Task Force 1, who have risked their lives to help others in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Missouri's Task Force 1 is one of 28 urban search and rescue teams in the country. Its 210 members are trained to provide emergency response and disaster relief services at a moment's notice. Last week, as the rains came down and the waters came up in Houston, 47 members of the task force deployed to Texas with a mission: to turn potential stories of tragedy and despair into stories of salvation and hope, and they succeeded. In just one day during Hurricane Harvey, the team made more than 300 water rescues and evacuations. Deployed to Houston for 14 days, these skilled crewmembers risked their lives to save the lives of others in Houston. Now they are monitoring a possible new deployment to assist after Hurricane Irma. We should all keep in mind the contributions and rescue efforts of Task Force 1. Their courage and selflessness demonstrated the best of humanity in the worst of times. I want to thank them for putting their lives on the line to help others in their time of need. You are all worthy of our respect, appreciation, and honor.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to return local control to the National School Lunch Program. For far too long, Washington has imposed burdensome and unnecessary mandates on our local schools. These misguided regulations have created a bureaucratic nightmare and mountains of paperwork for local school lunch administrators who truly want to spend their time focused on providing healthy meals for our children. My amendment is simple. It stops a federally mandated formula called the Paid Lunch Equity program that requires all schools to raise their school lunch prices to an arbitrary level set here in Washington. This amendment does not address the actual nutritional content of lunches, although I believe that is a policy area that should be addressed. This amendment only stops regulations setting local school lunch prices. Local officials know their communities best, and they should ultimately be responsible for setting school lunch prices in their cafeterias. Many schools are forced to raise their school lunch prices each year just to meet the Federal mandate. This pushes families struggling to make ends meet off the school lunch program and leads to more hungry students and higher costs for hardworking families. It is time to get Washington out of the local school lunch pricing business and return more control to our local schools. I ask my colleagues to join me today in supporting this commonsense amendment to return more control to local schools. Again, I ask my colleagues' support. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the chairman's support. In closing, I would urge all my colleagues to support this commonsense measure to restore local control of our school lunch pricing. This exact language was passed in the House version of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act last year, but that bill has not passed, and we need to address this right now. Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.