Vicky Hartzler

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, December 13, 2018, due to a death in my family, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: On roll call no. 435, YEA.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Betty Ruth Helms of Nevada, Missouri. Betty is 96 years old, a part of what many have called ``the greatest generation,'' those Americans who bravely served their nation and the cause of liberty during World War II. In response to the overwhelming need for sailors to serve in the war, Congress authorized the Navy's WAVES program in 1942, which permitted women to serve in the Naval Reserve as commissioned officers and enlisted sailors. Betty answered the call, and volunteered to be a part of the very first class of women to complete training at the University of Wisconsin. After qualifying as a radioman, she served steadfastly in Jacksonville, Florida for over three years. After her service, she used the G.I. Bill and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, graduating from my own alma mater, the University of Missouri, in February of 1950. She used that education to start Helms Permit Agency in Nevada, which remains open for business to this day. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to this remarkable woman and the tens of thousands of women like her who responded to our nation's need in such a dire hour, and continued to lead in our communities after the war's end. I am personally thankful for her service and the honor of representing her here in the House.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the House passage of the FAA reauthorization bill, and I am delighted that the conference agreement includes provisions from my bill, the Safeguarding America's Skies Act. These provisions provide the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice with the authority to use counterdrone technology to detect, monitor, and interdict drones that pose a threat to the safety and security of our country. We must face the reality that drone technology is being exploited to advance crime and threaten our national security. Drones are used to smuggle illegal drugs across borders and contraband into prisons. On the other side of the globe, terrorist groups are using drones to target U.S. forces and coalition partners. Unfortunately, under current law, most Federal agencies are prohibited from engaging with drones due to various outdated laws. This legislation will provide our Federal law enforcement agencies with the tools necessary to protect U.S. citizens from criminal and nefarious acts. Our skies will be safer and our families will be safer.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment that would encourage colleges and universities to offer face-to-face loan counseling. As students arrive at colleges and university campuses this fall, many will soon find themselves immediately in debt. According to the Department of Education, a typical student borrower takes out roughly $6,600 in a single year and averages $22,000 in debt by graduation. Alarmingly, default rates are at an all-time high. What is worse is that many students report not even remembering their student loan counseling. We need to change that. I have heard from schools in my district, including many community colleges, about the need for more robust, personal loan counseling. Many students take out loans and have difficulty finding the type of jobs necessary to pay those loans off and become so saddled with debt that it causes them to delay many of life's milestones, like getting married or buying a house. The type of personalized counseling my amendment encourages should include a sit-down discussion about the current demands of the job market in relation to what the student is studying and their realistic ability to repay the financial obligations they are taking. Students should know what they are getting into and not be at an immediate economic disadvantage at graduation. Schools should do their best to educate their students about their obligations and guide them toward financial literacy and stability, and this cannot effectively be accomplished through the click of a button. I applaud my colleague from Kentucky for offering this important piece of legislation to enhance the information that students receive, and I thank the Rules Committee for making my amendment on personal loan counseling in order.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentlewoman's support. With total student loan debt of over $1.3 trillion and rising and over 44 million individuals still saddled with student debt, we must take action. The student loan crisis looms over America's economy, and we must make sure that students are aware of the financial obligations they are agreeing to and cognizant of their ability to repay those obligations. Personalized, face-to-face counseling can be an effective tool to address this crisis. Mr. Chairman, I ask for support of my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Coleman Baptist Church on celebrating its 130th anniversary on the 28th of July. Since 1887, the church has been a staple of the northern portion of Peculiar Township just south of Kansas City, Missouri. The church was originally established by the daughter of Senator Robert Goodwin Coleman Jr. when she recognized the need for a community church. With help from her father, the family raised the $1,450 needed to build the church. Since then, the church has endured through trials and tribulations, including having to shut down in 1926 due to a decline in members. But the church didn't quit, and eventually reopened its doors in 1940 and has remained opened ever since. Throughout the years the Coleman Baptist Church has served as a beacon of hope and perseverance in the Peculiar region. It has touched the lives of so many in the community and I am proud to have this house of worship in my congressional district. Once again, congratulations to the Coleman Baptist Church on its 130Th anniversary. May God continue to bless you now and into the future.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, and I thank Chairman Thornberry, Ranking Member Smith, all the conferees, and the committee staff for their dedicated, hard work on this important piece of legislation. This bipartisan bill provides our troops the equipment, resources, and training they so desperately need. It authorizes a 2.6 percent pay increase for our troops, authorizes 24 additional F-18 Super Hornets, invests in A-10 modifications, fully funds the B-21 bomber program, and funds various bomber modernization programs to ensure our current bomber fleet remains operational until the B-21 comes online. I am delighted that this bill includes a provision that raises the Air National Guard control grade cap to ensure that the ANG is properly resourced. The lack of control grades severely restricts the ANG's ability to recruit full-time officers separating from Active Duty in the Air Force, many of whom are much-needed pilots. Raising this cap will help fill these needed slots. The bill also includes a vital provision that prohibits Federal agencies from purchasing certain Chinese-made telecommunications and video surveillance equipment. The Chinese Government is using every avenue at its disposal to target the United States, including expanding the role of Chinese companies in the U.S. domestic communications and public safety sectors. This provision takes a necessary step to protect the U.S. government from significant vulnerabilities. These are just a few of the examples of hundreds of provisions included in this bill that invest in our troops and combat attempts by our adversaries to undermine and threaten the United States. Once again, I would like to thank Chairman Thornberry for his leadership. This is the earliest that we have voted on the NDAA conference report in decades, and I strongly believe it is because of Chairman Thornberry's dedication to our military. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of this bipartisan bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on roll call no. 368, YEA; on roll call no. 369, YEA; on roll call no. 370, YEA; on roll call no. 371, YEA; and on roll call no. 372, YEA.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask support for H.R. 4960, which would name the downtown Columbia, Missouri, post office in memory of one of our Nation's heroes, Specialist Sterling William Wyatt, who proudly served in the United States Army. I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member and so many of my colleagues for your support of this legislation. Sterling was born and raised in Columbia, Missouri, located in the heart of Missouri's Fourth Congressional District. Early on, Sterling showed his commitment to service by being an active participant in his youth group and in his church. Through his service and hard work, he was quite an accomplished young man. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout, a first degree black belt in tae kwon do, and a certification as a certified nurse attendant, all before graduating from high school in 2009. Soon after, he decided to continue his lifestyle of service by joining the United States Army. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. Tragically, Specialist Wyatt was killed on July 11, 2012, while on patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was only 21 years old. His vehicle was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device. His awards and decorations for his service are many, including, but not limited to, the Medal of Valor and Bronze Star. Specialist Wyatt's dedication to serving his community and country were a testament to his faith and his family, especially his loving parents, Randy and Sherry Wyatt. It is fitting that we bring this bill today for a vote before the United States House of Representatives, because just a few days ago we solemnly remembered the 6-year anniversary of his passing. As representatives of the people who bravely serve our country, especially those who pay the ultimate sacrifice, we owe it to their lives and memories to never forget all that they have done for us. Although Sterling was taken from us too soon, this bill will enshrine his memory in our community for posterity so everyone can know this brave soldier and be reminded that freedom is not free. And maybe, when others learn about Sterling's story and sacrifice, they, too, will put service above self and answer the call to serve, which is the noblest and most honorable action anyone can take. Truly, greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. Sterling did this for his brothers and sisters in arms, for those who yearn to be free in a desperate land, and for all of us. We will forever be grateful. And, with the renaming of this post office in Columbia, Missouri, the Specialist Sterling William Wyatt Post Office Building, we will always remember and always be grateful. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation to honor Specialist Wyatt's memory.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Taylor for hosting this very important, special event tonight. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have heard too many testimonies after testimonies talking about the dangerously low level of our military's readiness. Years of budget cuts, coupled with continuing resolutions, have prevented and delayed the modernization of our airplanes, ships, and basic equipment, while at the same time reducing the readiness of our troops around the globe. Here is the stunning and sobering reality: Today, we have the smallest Army since before World War II, the smallest Navy since before World War I, and the smallest Air Force we have ever had. Only 50 percent of our Nation's fighter and bomber forces are able to fly, fight, and decisively win a highly contested fight, much like our forces would encounter with China and Russia. Get this: Less than half of the Navy's aircraft can fly due to maintenance and spare parts issues. Think about that. Less than half of the Navy's aircraft can fly due to maintenance and spare parts issues. Budget cuts and increased operations have depleted America's supply of precision ammunitions. Simply put, we are running out of bombs. Two Navy destroyers were involved in collisions that will take years to repair, resulting in the tragic deaths of 17 sailors--17 sailors of the 80 that my colleague from California, Representative Duncan, just shared about, where we lost 80 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines in training accidents last year. We lost 17 in this accident dealing with the two Navy destroyers. I saw the impact of this accident personally in September when I toured the USS Fitzgerald as part of an Armed Services fact-finding mission. I stood in the room where seven sailors died when their ship collided with a commercial freighter a little after 1 in the morning, tearing a huge hole in the side of the ship and flooding their room where they were sleeping with water in a little under 2 minutes, giving them very little time to escape. It was heart-wrenching to see, and it was heartbreaking to think about the pain that the families will feel for years to come. Sadly, these accidents were not due to an enemy attack. They were due to training lapses and poor leadership, which was exacerbated by high demand of services, combined with lack of funding for needed ships and lack of training caused by defense cuts and sequestration. In some cases, we found out sailors are working 100 hours a week just to keep up with the training requirements and the current operations. Our men and women in uniform deserve better. We cannot expect our sons and daughters to volunteer for the military only for them to be placed in harm's way without the proper equipment or adequate training to ensure they return home to us safely. Congress must work to fix this problem. The 2-year budget agreement passed earlier this year increased the defense spending caps to allow our Nation's military to begin the rebuilding process. Congress took action for fiscal year 2018 by investing in critical military programs, such as increased funding for Navy ship and aircraft depot maintenance, providing an additional 24 F/A-18 Super Hornets to address the Navy's strike fighter shortage, and increased Active Duty end-strength for all the service branches. However, our work is far from over. It is vital that we pass on-time appropriations for fiscal year 2019. Our military cannot adequately restore readiness without on-time appropriations. It is our responsibility as Members of Congress to ensure that the Department of Defense receives appropriations for fiscal year 2019 by this October 1. The House has already passed our version of the Defense Appropriations bill, and I hope our colleagues in the Senate will act swiftly to ensure the Department of Defense is funded on time. We need their help to make this happen, and we owe it to our sailors and our servicemen everywhere. Time is running out. We have an opportunity to get this right, and I urge the Senate to act swiftly and quickly.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Knob Noster High School Lady Panthers track team on winning the 2018 Class 2 Missouri State Track Championship. The Lady Panthers' win marks the first women's team State championship in their school's history. The Lady Panthers took home the title with 50 team points after rain delayed the final track events for nearly 2 hours. In addition to winning the State championship, the Lady Panthers' Jessica Sader recorded the second furthest javelin throw in Missouri history to claim the Class 2 title. Sader won her third straight title, throwing 143 feet, breaking her own Class 2 State record of 134.6 feet. The team's outstanding accomplishments mark a great milestone for the girls track team and its coaches and creates a legacy that will be cherished and heralded for years to come. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Knob Noster High School Lady Panthers on this momentous achievement.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the work the House is doing to address the opioid epidemic sweeping our Nation. Sadly, in 2016, our Nation lost more people to overdose deaths than were lost during the entire Vietnam war. One of those lives lost was Samantha Huntley, whose picture I have here. Samantha was an outgoing cheerleader at Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri. When she was 16, she was in a car wreck and broke her back. Her doctor prescribed opioids to deal with the pain, and when they ran out, Sam turned to heroin. At age 18, she confessed to her mom she needed help, but she was never able to beat her addiction. Tragically, Sam succumbed to an overdose last year, at age 20. This epidemic must not take any more of our young people. That is why we are passing over 70 bills this week to address this crisis. Now is the time to prevent other tragedies so beautiful, amazing youth like Samantha can live.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to honor the Fayette High School marching band from my district for being selected to march in Washington's upcoming Memorial Day Parade. The Marching Falcons found out in the fall that they had been selected to march in the parade, and their small community quickly rallied around them to raise the money they needed to go. Tomorrow they will board a bus, bright and early, to make the 14-hour drive here. The band's director, Alex Kirby, told me the group has put in many hours of practice. School has already let out for summer vacation, but the dedicated band members still show up for practice 5 days a week, even the seniors who have already graduated. I am so proud of this marching band and the dedication the students have shown in perfecting their music. I know that they will do a great job. Congratulations.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this en bloc package. Mr. Chairman, this package includes a bipartisan amendment to ensure that video surveillance equipment is included in the scope of the NDAA's prohibition on using certain Chinese technology in government agencies. China is actively expanding the role of its companies in the U.S. domestic communications and public safety sectors. Video surveillance and security equipment sold by Chinese companies exposes the U.S. Government to significant vulnerabilities due to built-in backdoors baked right into their products. These backdoors can be used to covertly funnel data, including live video and audio surveillance of America's sensitive military installations and embassies, back to Chinese operatives. Given what we know about China's intentions and the security risks posed by these firms, we have absolutely no business helping China extend its networks further and further into our agencies. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for including this amendment in the package.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment. I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for bringing this important issue into the forefront. We need to face the reality that China is actively pursuing a whole- of-nation approach to gain global influence. This includes targeting U.S. universities by exploiting our student visa program in order to gain access and steal sensitive, proprietary, and classified information. According to DOD, in 2014, almost a quarter of foreign efforts to steal sensitive information happened through academic institutions. What is even more alarming is that, under Chinese law, citizens are required to provide data, information, and technological support or assistance to the Chinese Government upon request. This means that China can intimidate and coerce its citizens to provide information. The amendment offered today will ensure that this form of espionage is thoroughly considered as we develop our whole-of-government China strategy. I do support what the gentleman said that we need to go on the offensive as well, but that doesn't mean we give up the defense, and we need to be smart in that strategy as well. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as well as the House Judiciary Committee for working with me and the Armed Services Committee to include an important amendment in this bill that will expand DOD's ability to interdict drones that pose a threat to certain military installations. My amendment adds mobility airlift to the list of mission sets permitted to use counter-drone technology. If a drone were to attack the mobility mission, it could mean a reduction in our ability to provide logistic support globally to joint and coalition warfighters. Additionally, a drone attack on our mobility forces could prevent our capacity to conduct global operations by severely limiting our ability to conduct aerial refueling. This is a commonsense proposal necessary to protect a critical aspect of our national defense. I am delighted it is included in an en bloc package, and I want to thank Representatives Garamendi, Hanabusa, Rosen, and Austin Scott for cosponsoring this bipartisan amendment.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, May 21, 2018, I was unable to vote due to a delayed flight. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: On roll call no. 207, YEA; on roll call no. 208, YEA; and on roll call no. 209, YEA.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome my pastor, Mark Goeglein, to the U.S. House of Representatives and to commend him for his many years of faithful service to the Lord and to others. It is a blessing to have him here offering the opening prayer for today's legislative session. Pastor Mark grew up familiar with the legislative process, as his mother was a longtime State representative from Indiana. I am thrilled to have him here today and appreciate his support of me and his love for our country. Mark has served in ministry for 25 years in churches in his home State of Indiana, Texas, California, and now as pastor of the Harrisonville Community Church in Missouri. I appreciate his passion for sharing God's Word with his congregation and how his love of Scripture shows in his preaching and in the faded thumbprint on his Bible, testifying to the many years he has held that Bible preaching, studying, and praying. Besides a love of the Word, Pastor Mark loves the Pittsburgh Steelers, basketball, and his family. He is blessed to have his wife, Michelle, here today along with daughter, Makenzie, and sons, Micah and Mason. This family is an inspiration to our congregation and a testimony of God's faithfulness and goodness. I wish Pastor Mark God's continued blessings and know his faithfulness will be richly rewarded.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. I thank Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for bringing this important bill to the floor. For years, the House Armed Services Committee has been fighting relentlessly to increase defense spending to ensure our troops have the capabilities, capacity, and training needed to face the growing threats of today. Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Thornberry, we were able to pass a 2-year budget agreement earlier this year that paved the way for the committee to draft a defense authorization bill that will continue our military's road to recovery. As chairwoman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, I am proud of the provisions included in this bill that relate to the subcommittee's work, and I appreciate Ranking Member Seth Moulton's support of these efforts, including several important provisions to combat efforts by our adversaries to gain unauthorized access to highly sensitive military technology. We must face the reality that countries like China are using a whole- of-nation approach to steal and exploit highly sensitive U.S. military information. This bill adds an extra layer of vetting for dual nationals who wish to work at the DOD or the National Nuclear Security Administration. The subcommittee is also conducting oversight on the transition of DOD security clearances from the Office of Personnel Management to the Department of Defense. The bill seeks to tackle security clearance reciprocity issues by directing DOD to ensure seamless transition of investigations between authorized investigative agencies. This bill is also good news for the warfighter. It fully funds continued development of the new B-21 bomber. Nuclear deterrence remains the foundation of national security for the United States and is fundamental to preserving international stability. The bomber fleet is the most flexible leg of the nuclear triad, and it is vital that we continue to invest in this new capability. As we invest in the B-21, we must also ensure that our current bomber fleet remains effective until the B-21 is operational. The NDAA supports responsible modernization programs for the current fleet, such as the B-2, to ensure we maintain our long-range strike capability. It also continues to address readiness and modernization needs by authorizing 24 additional F-18 Super Hornets, investing in A-10 modifications, and adding 4,000 troops to the Army's end strength. These investments, along with many other important provisions, will ensure our Nation remains safe and secure. Mr. Chair, once again, I thank Chairman Thornberry for his leadership in advocating on behalf of our national defense. I am proud of this bipartisan bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of the 2018 farm bill. Missouri farmers work hard every day to feed the world, and they need the certainty that this legislation provides. This bill strengthens safeguards for our food supply and improves public-private risk management programs that are vital to American agriculture. In addition, the farm bill makes significant investments in broadband infrastructure in rural America by setting a minimum speed for Federal investment. This bill contains historic improvements to SNAP which helps recipients break the cycle of poverty by improving work opportunities for able-bodied adults receiving Federal nutrition assistance. This bill also promotes work and individual success while empowering those dependent on government assistance. These reforms will reduce unemployment and instill a sense of pride and work ethic by helping people move from dependency to independence and self-sufficiency. These are commonsense improvements that we are discussing today. The 2018 farm bill is a responsible and effective piece of legislation which maintains safety net programs in crop insurance for America's farmers while making investments in job training programs to lift those in need out of poverty. This bill has my full support, and I thank and commend Chairman Conaway for his hard work on moving this legislation forward.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to shed light on a quiet war that has plagued our Nation for years. It is not the type of warfare we typically consider, but this war's implications are just as grave. It is a war being waged on our soil, in our communities, and exploiting discourse among friends, family, and neighbors. It is a war intended to divide our great Nation in order to weaken our unity and our resilience. The tactics of this warfare are not always apparent, making it possible for any citizen to become a casualty of this dangerous campaign against the United States. The war I am referring to is the disinformation war against Western democracies being waged by the Russian Federation. Russia's disinformation campaign against the United States started before the 2016 Presidential election. In 2013, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia stated: ``The very rules of war have changed. The role of nonmilitary means of achieving political and strategic goals has grown, and, in many cases, they have exceeded the power of force of weapons in their effectiveness. The focus of applied methods of conflict has altered in the direction of the broad use of political, economic, informational, humanitarian, and other nonmilitary measures-- applied in coordination with the protest potential of the population.'' Last month, General Philip Breedlove testified before the House Armed Services Committee stating: ``Russia sees the West, and in particular, a unified West, as an adversary. Waging a conventional war against the West would be unfavorable to Russia. As such, it has used hybrid warfare to break up Western unity.'' He went on to say: ``Exploiting divisions in U.S. society and promoting a `culture war' is one key element of Moscow's efforts to weaken the West.'' In 2015, Russia's disinformation campaign against the United States impacted my home State of Missouri. Research conducted by U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jared Pier found that the same Russian trolls involved in the 2016 Presidential election interjected themselves in the 2015 protests at the University of Missouri with the goal of inciting further unrest and spreading discord and fear. The Russian account @fanfan1911 tweeted: ``The cops are marching with the KKK. They beat up my little brother. Watch out.'' The tweet was then retweeted by Twitter bots and hundreds of real Twitter users who fell victim to the hoax. Lieutenant Colonel Pier's research found that this same Twitter account later changed its tweets to all German and spread rumors about Syrian refugees provoking unrest in Germany during the height of the refugee crisis. In 2016, the account switched back to English and began tweeting about the 2016 Presidential election. Russia's interference in the 2016 Presidential election by spreading disinformation on social media is troubling, and it showcases Russia's success in weaponizing the internet. Russia has exploited political divisions with the intention to cause individuals to question the legitimacy of our democracy. That is Russia's ultimate goal, not to sway the outcome of elections, but to call into question the very foundations that make our democracy strong by provoking mistrust and instability into democratic institutions. As Americans, we must wake up and band together to fight against Russia's tactics. In Missouri and around the country, we have our own interfamily squabbles. Brothers and sisters may have arguments, but the minute the neighborhood kid picks on one of us, we defend each other. It is time that we face the reality that Russia is exploiting our American family disagreements and making them far worse. Instead of placing blame on each other and further polarizing our Nation, we should turn toward each other to develop a defense strategy to counter Russia's propaganda machine. Russia is instigating fights on both sides of the aisle. They do not care about American political parties, but rather the demise of Western democratic institutions. It is time that we stop Russia from infecting our family with their disinformation virus. I call on all Americans to judge inflammatory posts with a wary eye. We need to quit being naive, allowing ourselves to become a pawn of those who want our undoing. The internet is now a battlefield. It is critical that we consider the source of all information we receive. That information could be from a Russian bot in St. Petersburg. It is time to stand united, talk to each other, and work together to solve the challenges of our times.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate so much Chairman Thompson's leadership on this to provide just a wonderful, wonderful program to help people have that onramp to opportunity. I also appreciate the chairman's heart because I know in the meetings and the opportunities I have had to have conversations with the gentleman how much he cares about people, and he has provided that care to many people. This is just a wonderful package. The chairman just mentioned that community colleges are going to be involved in this. I just had one of my community colleges in my office this afternoon. We were talking about this very proposal. They are so excited about this because they were emphasizing the point that so many of my colleagues here tonight have made in that the businesses and the manufacturers in my district and everywhere across this country cannot find enough skilled, able people who can fill these jobs that are out there. They were sharing that the salaries are really good--really good. As I visit with some of the manufacturers, they say a welder can start at $60,000 or a truck driver can start at $60,000 or $70,000. I was a teacher. I went into education, and I have a bachelor's degree and then went on to get a master's degree. When I was teaching, I never got near close to that. So there is so much opportunity out there. There is such a need. That is why I am excited about the plan that we have here to help expand the current program we have to give individuals the personalized training that they need to be able to connect with the job. It is a wonderful, wonderful opportunity. As has been said, as the chairman said, there are 5.9 million jobs sitting there waiting for individuals, yet we have people at home right now who want to fill them, but they just don't have those skills. So we are going to provide that. I want to share a little bit about what we have done in Missouri so far with this program. The SNAP employment and training in Missouri has operated as a partnership between the University of Missouri Extension, community colleges, and local job boards. MU Extension provides the most extensive interactions with each applicant by providing a coach, training, and wraparound services to support the individual in building the skills necessary to fill open positions in Missouri. Those have included and are including nursing, over-the-road trucking, warehouse logistics and management, and welding, just to name a few. MU Extension's niche component is coaching, helping those with the most barriers like homelessness, lack of transportation, or having no high school diploma to gain the necessary skills to fill the jobs in their community. MU Extension has focused their efforts on short-term certificate programs or vocation programs to ensure success of those who may not have been successful in the past and who face the greatest challenges to education and employment. This intensive coaching led to a 96.6 percent graduation rate for those participants completing training last year. Those individuals who secured employment report making annualized salaries of between $20,800 and $93,600. Can you imagine going from being on public assistance, having SNAP in order to be able to feed your family, going through this program, and getting a job at $96,000 a year? That is exciting. People are excited about this. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with one of the participants of this program. His name is Joe. After spending 10 years in prison, Joe knew he needed a new start. He signed up for an HVAC program using the SNAP employment and training funding. Joe, today, is working full time, and he gets great reviews from his employer. He no longer needs any Federal benefits, and he has the confidence and skills needed to be a productive member of society. So this bill, the 2018 farm bill, provides this unique opportunity to expand funding for these life-changing programs to ensure all SNAP recipients have access to education and training resources. Not just some, all of them will have access to this training so that they can secure employment. A major increase in the SNAP employment and training funding will provide States with the vital resources to help their residents break the cycle of poverty. Smart, commonsense reforms can produce great results like the story I told about Joe, and it can break the cycle of poverty. SNAP employment training currently being implemented across Missouri now can be expanded everywhere. So by supporting this enhanced employment training program, we are augmenting someone's future by supporting them in achieving their goals. Jobs are available, the need is great, and the time for action is now. Let's help families make their dreams of self-sufficiency a reality.