Vicky Hartzler

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Joanna Anderson on her retirement after 35 years of devotion to higher education. Dr. Anderson is retiring from State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri after nine years of serving as the school's president. Dr. Anderson received her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in 2010 from the University of Missouri; her Master of Science degree in Education Curriculum and Instruction in 1998 from William Woods University; her Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Journalism in 1978 from the University of Missouri; and an Associate of Arts degree in 1976 from Trenton Junior College (now North Central Missouri College). Dr. Anderson was unanimously elected by the State Fair Community College Board of Trustees to serve as their fifth president in July of 2013. Prior to her work at State Fair, she was vice president of student services at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming for six years. Dr. Anderson's incredible career also included time at North Central Missouri College where she acted as Dean of Student Services, Director of Public Relations, Director of Admissions, and an adjunct instructor over several years. Known for her leadership in expanding State Fair Community College's academic programs and athletics, Dr. Anderson has truly been one of SFCC's greatest leaders and biggest cheerleaders. Dr. Anderson's passion and devotion to higher education cannot be overstated. She has strived to be a source of support to all faculty, students, and staff within the SFCC family. While she will be missed, I know she is looking forward to returning to her family farm in northwest Missouri and spending more time with loved ones, I commend Dr. Anderson for her hard work and dedication, I thank her for her years of selfless devotion to education, and I wish her the best in her much-deserved retirement.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Retired United States Army Major Harold King for his hard work and dedicated service in his eight years as a Veteran Service Officer with the Missouri Veterans Commission Harold King was recently selected as the Missouri Veterans Commission Employee of the Month and Department of Public Safety Employee of the Month. Harold King has distinguished himself as an essential leader within the Veteran Service Program, providing his hard work and dedication to the 6,500 veterans and dependents within his assigned region of the state, which includes Camden, Laclede, Phelps, Pulaski, and Texas counties. He is being recognized for his outstanding work assisting a Missouri veteran win an appeal after the Department of Veterans Affairs rejected his medical claim related to her herbicide exposure during the Vietnam War. Harold diligently assisted in filing several appeals. Seven years after the initial claim was filed, the Board of Veterans Appeals awarded the veteran approximately $223,000 in backpay. Prior to the Missouri Veterans Commission, Harold King served his country for 24 years, working in Armor and Psychological Operations and deploying three times, including in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm with the 1st Infantry Division, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Harold King retired as a Major in the United States Army. It is a great honor to recognize Veteran Service Officer and Retired Major Harold King for his steadfast leadership and continuous devotion to his community. Please join me in thanking him for his service to our Nation and the Great State of Missouri.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: NAY on Roll Call No. 74; YEA on Roll Call No. 75; YEA on Roll Call No. 76; and YEA on Roll Call No. 77.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Master Sgt. Joshua Upton, crew chief with the 131st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. He has recently been selected as the 131st Bomb Wing's Maintainer of the Year. Master Sgt. Joshua Upton has distinguished himself as an essential leader in the B-2 mission, providing both hard work and high performance while stationed and deployed. He was awarded with an incentive flight in a B-2 Spirit bomber on January 9th. Sgt. Upton's leadership as an aircraft-dedicated crew chief has led to the execution of 18 sorties and 145.9 flying hours in support of 16 higher headquarters missions. Aircraft mechanics are essential to the maintenance, safety, and success of our Armed Forces. Without their long hours of hard work and commitment to detail, these sorties would not be possible. Mechanical teams and their crew chiefs work each day around the clock to ensure constant readiness for military aircraft that are vital to our national defense. Our adversaries never rest and neither do our aircraft maintenance squadrons. It is a great honor that I recognize the dedicated service of Master Sgt. Joshua Upton. His steadfast leadership and continuous devotion to each mission are part of what make our military the best in the world. I am proud of his accomplishment and his team of aircraft maintenance technicians for earning this recognition. Please join me in congratulating him for his dedicated service to our Nation.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding organization, The Embassy in Sedalia, Missouri. The Embassy operates two Christian Discipleship Transitional Men's Homes to provide support to men in recovery and help them overcome substance abuse issues. The organization was founded in 2010 by Chris Patton, Gary Smith, and Ben Embree. The Embassy officially opened their doors on January 8, 2011, to men in the community wanting to overcome their dependence on drugs. The mission of their ministry focuses on building a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and rebuilding a sense of self and confidence for their residents to become leaders, whether that be in their work, community, church, or family. Along with spiritual development, The Embassy provides occupational opportunities to ensure a comprehensive strategy for treatment and recovery. These jobs help bring restoration and fulfillment through purposeful employment and development of life skills. I am proud of Executive Director Rick Rogers, and all the mentors and volunteers that have transformed so many lives. Without their assistance, much of this would not have been possible. Their commitment and devotion to the transformation of these men have helped many Embassy residents become productive members of their community. I commend The Embassy's efforts in providing such an impactful program to help the men in the Sedalia community strive to maintain a life of sobriety. I look forward to seeing their continued work in supporting men in recovery for years to come.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding work of a local nonprofit in my district for their commitment to ending substance abuse. Lane Change was established by Lauren and Cory Mitchell, along with Brad and Stacy Segebarth, after local resident Lane Austin died from a fatal overdose while waiting for an available inpatient drug treatment facility. Within less than three short years, Lane Change has transformed many lives through education, outreach, and prevention in the Lebanon Community. Most importantly, their organization has helped families receive counseling and inpatient treatment for substance abuse through local and regional partnerships. Their network has become a vital resource for patients and probationary drug offenders, something that did not exist when Lane Austin lost his life over three years ago. Founder and executive director, Lauren Mitchell, is continually expanding her vision for Lane Change as she recognizes more unmet needs in her community. Her organization does not simply want to treat the symptoms of substance abuse but address the fundamental problems that drive it. Like many programs, their leadership understands that substance abuse is frequently linked with mental illnesses or social trauma in childhood and adolescence, making early intervention crucial to prevention. Lane Change has already outgrown their current facility as they have expanded their program to include a safe place for local students to spend time away from troubled home environments. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of donors and community volunteers. I am proud of each one and for Lauren Mitchell whose vision and commitment made this nonprofit possible. She has already made a tremendous impact. In the coming years, I look forward to watching Lane Change continue to grow and transform lives in southwest Missouri.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I thank Kat for holding this very Special Order tonight. I rise today to honor our police officers and to condemn those who shamefully unleash defund the police rhetoric into our communities. Next to me are the images of nearly 90 police officers who were killed in the line of duty just last year. There are so many lives lost that I had to make three separate posters. These courageous men and women lost their lives by being shot, assaulted, stabbed, or hit by cars. Sadly, America has seen a 115 percent increase in ambush attacks on our police officers. There is no doubt in my mind that liberal hatred and vitriol against law enforcement played a role in the uptick of the attacks on our officers. It is clear: Rhetoric has consequences. The faces on these pages are fathers and mothers, loved ones. One of them was a fellow Missourian. Last year, Police Officer Blaize Madrid- Evans of Independence, Missouri, lost his life while responding to a call when a criminal opened fire and killed him. Blaize was only 22 years old, and he was engaged to be married. He had his whole life ahead of him. This is tragic. This is unacceptable. Things must change. Our law enforcement officers deserve our respect, support, and thanks. Nothing else.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the so-called America COMPETES Act. Let's be clear: China is one of the largest national security threats our Nation faces. Addressing this threat will require a whole-of-nation approach with policies to enable the United States to not only compete but to beat China. This legislation fails to achieve that goal. Unfortunately, the Democrats have, once again, rushed through a massive package riddled with partisan and unvetted policies that enrich China rather than constrain them. Amazingly, the Democrats blocked consideration of all of my commonsense amendments, which would have prevented known Chinese spies from entering our Nation, stopped CCP officials from taking advantage of our higher education system, and sanctioned those responsible for forced abortions and forced sterilizations of Uyghur women. If Democrats were serious about protecting America, they should have welcomed these commonsense measures. This legislation fails to address the threat of China. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation and instead work on legislation that will actually empower the United States to beat China.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the service of one of the highest-time fighter pilots in the U.S. Air Force, Lt. Col. John ``Karl'' Marks. On September 1, 2021, U.S. Air Force Reserve pilot, Lt. Col. Marks made history whenever he became the only pilot to reach 7,000 hours in the A-10C Warthog; in addition to becoming one of the highest-time fighter pilots in the U.S. Air Force. Lt. Col. Marks is assigned to the 442nd Fighter Wing based out of Whiteman Air Force Base. He has an impressive career which spans over three decades with over 3,610 flights, 1,150 combat hours from thirteen combat deployments in multiple theaters of operations, and his most memorable combat mission of the destruction of 23 Iraqi tanks in a trio of missions during Desert Storm. It has been said that Lt. Col. Marks is a humble and outstanding attack pilot who loves to fly and brings an immense amount of invaluable knowledge to the 442nd Fighter Wing. Among the incredible feat of achieving 7,000 hours in a single aircraft type, Lt. Col. Marks has had memorable missions from Desert Storm I, Desert Storm II, and from Afghanistan. During his time in Afghanistan's Kunar Valley in 2014, Lt. Col. Marks was able to help extract a Jaguar 20 squadron which was surrounded by the Taliban with no casualties. This is just one of the many successful combat missions Lt. Col. Marks has had. It is with great honor that I recognize the dedicated service of U.S. Air Force Pilot Lt. Col. John ``Karl'' Marks. Please join me in congratulating this true American hero for his dedicated valor and service to our Nation.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, as I stand at this podium, I will speak for about 60 seconds, and within those 60 seconds, an unborn baby will lose its life. In fact, in America, an unborn baby will have its life ripped away every 50 seconds through the gruesome procedure of abortion. This is about 630,000 unborn lives lost per year--a number that equals about 80 percent of my congressional district. This is tragic. God has a plan for these children. They are our brothers, sisters, friends, and loved ones. They are future leaders, nurses, doctors, farmers, and small business owners. But, most importantly, they are human beings with a purpose from our Creator. There is nothing more hideous than taking the life of the most vulnerable in our society. Forty-nine years ago, the decision made by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade has resulted in the death of over 62\1/2\ million unborn babies. Despite the three-quarters of Americans who want significant restrictions on abortions, my colleagues across the aisle are still prioritizing their abortion-on-demand agenda. This is senseless. Together, as a nation, we must make this the last year we speak on this horrible anniversary. We cannot wait another 50 seconds, another 50 months, or another 50 years. Everyone is entitled to the right to life.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, tomorrow will mark 1 year since President Biden's inauguration, and Americans are left asking: Are we better off under this administration? Judging by his all-time low approval ratings, the answer for Americans is a resounding no. Everywhere you look, there is a crisis riddled with incompetence, division, and dysfunction. At our southern border, Biden has allowed nearly 2 million illegal immigrants to enter our Nation, creating the worst border crisis in 30 years. In the classroom, Biden has targeted parents and their role in education. His administration even lobbied for them to be called domestic terrorists. Madam Speaker, in our communities violent crime is at all-time highs. Last year, the murder rate was higher than at any point since 1996. On the economy, Biden's mishandling of our Federal Government has created the highest inflation rate in 40 years. Bare shelves, high gas prices, and supply chain issues continue to dog this administration. On the world stage, Biden botched our withdrawal from Afghanistan, surrendering to the Taliban and making America a laughingstock to our adversaries. All of this resulted in the deaths of 13 servicemembers, including one from my home State of Missouri. Instead of addressing these issues, President Biden had doubled down on his far-left socialist policies, out-of-control spending, and incompetence. It is past time for a change. America deserves better. They need leadership that listens and fights for hardworking families, not against them. Madam Speaker, I am proud to help lead the fight alongside my fellow Republicans to reverse course by unleashing our economy, securing our border, respecting parents, defending life and our foundational values, and providing for the common defense. On this one-year anniversary commemorating the misery of the Biden administration, we commit ourselves to never stop fighting for what is right, to work harder than ever, and to never give up. America is depending on us.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of one of Missouri's finest, Captain Mitch Phillips, who is retiring after 28 years of dedicated service in the Cass County Sheriffs Office. Cpt. Phillips started his career attending what is now known as the University of Central Missouri. While there, he discovered a call to serve and protect his community and decided to pursue a career in public service. Cpt. Phillips first joined the Garden City Police Department after graduating from the National Police Academy in Warrensburg, Missouri. Shortly thereafter, Cpt. Phillips became acquainted with the deputies from the Cass County Sheriffs Office and knew that his call to service would lead him there. In August of 1993, Cpt. Phillips joined the Cass County Sheriffs Office as a Patrol Deputy. As a result of his hard work and demonstrated leadership capabilities, Cpt. Phillips quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant in November of 1995. Cpt. Phillips has held various leadership positions within the Cass County Sheriffs Office and has cultivated an environment that promotes integrity, dedication, and excellence from all his officers. His unwavering, steadfast support for his brothers and sisters in uniform truly represents the values of Missouri. As any of the men and women that wear the badge can tell you, service does not come without sacrifice. No officer bears the burdens alone. For more than 28 years, Cpt. Phillips put the safety and wellbeing of the citizens of Cass County above his own, with the support of his wife, Michele, his three children, who stood beside their husband and father throughout all the hardships that the nature of law enforcement placed before them. We owe them all a debt of gratitude. His life verse, Mathew 7:12, is one we all should abide by--``So in everything, do unto others as you would have them do unto you . . .'' Cpt. Phillips embodies all the qualities that make an excellent officer and public servant. Please join me in recognizing and honoring this heroic police officer and his years of self-less service to protecting our community.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5609, a bill that I am a cosponsor of, the Cattle Contract Library Act. This legislation includes a vital piece of my Optimizing the Cattle Market Act that establishes a USDA-maintained library of cattle contracts, including information on the type of contract, length of the contract, pricing information, and delivery information. The increased market transparency that this bill provides is long overdue. American cattle producers continue to face challenges as a result of market disruptions and the unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential that cattle producers are equipped with the necessary resources and knowledge to increase their leverage during price negotiations for cattle. The Cattle Contract Library Act can provide a much-needed tool in helping cattle producers make informed decisions and survive volatility across today's industry. I fully support this bipartisan legislation, and I thank Congressman Dusty Johnson for his hard work and leadership on this. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work in developing this comprehensive bill that will ensure our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to keep our country safe. The bill before us today does not include a provision requiring women to register for the Selective Service. This bill does not include any red-flag gun provisions that would infringe on the Second Amendment rights of our servicemembers. And this bill does not establish an office of extremism. I want to thank Ranking Member Rogers for his advocacy in removing these provisions from the final bill. This bill does protect servicemembers who choose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by prohibiting the DOD from issuing dishonorable discharges. It also requires the DOD to establish uniform standards for COVID-19 vaccine exemptions and requires the Pentagon to consider the effects of natural immunity. As ranking member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, I am pleased with the continued investments this bill makes for our air and land capabilities. Under the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee's jurisdiction, this bill continues critical oversight of the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps' strike fighter force structure and inventory management, setting better conditions for ensuring the right mix of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters and managing operational risk. Specifically, this legislation authorizes funding for 12 F/A-18 Super Hornets, 85 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, and 17 F-15EX aircraft. The legislation also provides much-needed funding increases within the Army's small and medium caliber ammunition accounts as well as to support operational and safety improvements to the Nation's ammunition industrial base. I am proud of this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the final passage of the NDAA.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, on Thursday, December 2, 2021, I was unable to vote on Roll Call No. 398. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: YEA on Roll Call No. 398. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Adams (Brown (MD)) Butterfield (Ryan) Cardenas (Soto) Cawthorn (Nehls) Crist (Wasserman Schultz) Curtis (Meijer) DeFazio (Carbajal) Donalds (McClain) Frankel, Lois (Kuster) Fulcher (Johnson (OH)) Garcia (TX) (Jeffries) Green (TX) (Cuellar) Hagedorn (Moolenaar) Kildee (Ryan) Lawrence (Johnson (GA)) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lesko (Miller (WV)) Meng (Kuster) Moore (UT) (Owens) Palazzo (Fleischmann) Payne (Pallone) Porter (Wexton) Posey (Cammack) Reed (Kelly (PA)) Reschenthaler (Meuser) Ruiz (Aguilar) Rush (Quigley) Sires (Pallone) Stewart (Owens) Swalwell (Gomez) Takano (Chu) Underwood (Casten) Vela (Gomez) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Cammack for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today to advocate for Missouri's children, both born and unborn, and to urge my colleagues to embrace the science of life. We know children yet to be born are miracles. Windows into the womb reveal that at a mere 6 weeks, a baby's heart begins beating; at 7 weeks, a baby develops pain receptors; at 10 weeks, a baby can kick and jump if startled. Between 13 and 14 weeks, a baby will respond to light touches. By 15 weeks, a baby can taste, make facial expressions, yawn, hiccup, swallow, and suck her thumb. By this point, a baby's tiny heart has beaten nearly 16 million times. Each week that passes marks a milestone in a child's development, a celebration of life. Yet, our country remains under the shadow of outdated Supreme Court decisions that allowed these tiny humans to be aborted. While the United States is a leader when it comes to understanding in utero development and surgical procedures, our laws are antiquated and radical compared to other nations when it comes to protecting life in the womb. In fact, we are only one of seven countries across the globe that allow for abortion on demand after a baby feels pain, alongside human rights-violating countries like China and North Korea. In Europe, 47 out of 50 countries limit abortion at 15 weeks or earlier, like the law being discussed in the Dobbs case. It is time we allowed our laws to be updated to reflect what we have always known to be true about the humanity, dignity, and worth of the unborn. It is time for the Supreme Court to protect life. It is time that they right this wrong. Let's pray they rule rightly. Millions of lives, literally, hang in the balance.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for holding this Special Order tonight so that we can recognize the book that means so much to many of us and certainly our Nation, and that is the Bible. We are blessed to live in a nation that is founded on the truths of the Bible. Many people don't know this, but of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, nearly half held seminary or Bible school degrees. These Founders had a very deep religious conviction and faith in Jesus Christ, and it was based on the Bible. The following quotes from our Founding Fathers provide a window into the strong moral and spiritual convictions which helped form the foundations of our nation and our government. George Washington, our first President said: ``While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.'' That was George Washington. John Quincy Adams was our sixth President, and he said: In the chain of human events, the birthday of the Nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity. That is very clearly saying that our Nation was founded on Christianity and the Bible. And our fourth President, James Madison, recorded 10 different references to Scripture at the Constitutional Convention, which was the pivotal event in our Nation's history that codified our freedom and our God-given rights. So, our Founders quoted Scripture. Like the Constitution that it inspired, the Bible is timeless and impacts us still today. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. I started reading the Bible every day at age 13. I went to Youth for Christ camp and learned that this was a great opportunity to have God be able to speak to you every day and to start your day. It has been a source of encouragement when I was down, a source of guidance when I needed direction, and a source of comfort during life's struggles. The Bible speaks to every situation that people encounter, and it shows the path to blessings. Psalm 33:12 is really relevant today. It says: ``Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.'' Powerful for us to remember that. Psalm 1 says: Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on it day and night. That person is like a tree planted by the streams of water which shields its fruit and season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers. Good words. But the Bible also tells us the good news that we celebrate this season. Luke 2 says: But the angel said to them, ``Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord.'' And the greatest news of all is summarized in John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it but to save the world through him. So as we commemorate this National Bible Week, I would encourage all of us to pick up that Bible, dust it off, or download an app on your phone, read it, and receive the blessing it contains for us as individuals and as a nation.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Miriam Flores, a dedicated public servant from Missouri's Fourth Congressional District. After 14 years of service with the Missouri Veterans Commission, Miriam will officially retire on November 30, 2021. During her time with the Missouri Veterans Commission, Miriam has been the first person with whom veterans and their family members see whenever they come to the Commission offices. While her role has officially been the Senior Office Support Assistant located in the St. Robert office, everyone knew Miriam went well beyond her role to impact people's lives in meaningful ways. She was the friendly smile and compassionate voice to veterans seeking assistance and the support for many Veteran Service Officers, always looking for ways to make their jobs easier and more efficient to serve those who served. During her tenure, she was the main administrative contact person for the southwestern and the new central region of Missouri. After her retirement, Miriam is looking forward to spending more time with her children and grandchildren. Please join me in congratulating Miriam Flores for her dedicated service to Missouri's veterans and their families.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an amazing group, Recovery Lighthouse in Warrensburg, Missouri. Founded in 2006 by Dr. Adriatik Likcani and the late Mr. Douglas Quirmbach, the organization began as a drop-in counseling center for individuals and families in the Warrensburg area. Today, Recovery Lighthouse offers outpatient counseling in Warrensburg and Sedalia. The organization also runs five long-term sober-living houses, the first of which was LIME Tree, a house for women in recovery. They now have two houses for women, two for women and children, and one for men, with another men's house opening soon. These houses give those in recovery a place to continue their sobriety, hold a job, and build interpersonal relationships until they are ready to live on their own. Recovery Lighthouse offers training and development courses for their staff to provide them with the necessary tools to better understand what it takes to provide treatment and recovery support for individuals. This, along with partnering with their community to advocate for recovery, are just a few of the ways Recovery Lighthouse stays true to their mission of providing people with as much support as possible in a safe and caring environment. Recovery Lighthouse is a truly wonderful organization working to help communities in Missouri's Fourth Congressional District overcome substance-use disorders and provide for them a helping hand along the path to full recovery. I commend Dr. Likcani and all the staff for implementing such a life-changing program and look forward to seeing them impact their communities for years to come.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, I was unable to vote on Roll Call No. 320. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: ``yea'' on rollcall No. 320. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Baird (Walorski) Cooper (Clark (MA)) Crenshaw (Ellzey) DeFazio (Brown) Garcia (TX) (Escobar) Hice (GA) (Greene (GA)) Huffman (Stanton) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawson (FL) (Evans) McHenry (Budd) Meng (Jeffries) Moore (WI) (Beyer) Moulton (Norcross) Napolitano (Correa) Ocasio-Cortez (Pressley) Payne (Pallone) Rodgers (WA) (Joyce (PA)) Rush (Underwood) Sires (Pallone) Wasserman Schultz (Soto) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity with students, parents, and teachers seeking a brighter academic future. From a student's earliest days of learning the ABC's, recognizing shapes and colors, to the moment they walk across the gymnasium floor to receive a high school diploma, their school days have been filled with learning and exploring, reading, writing, and math. Or they should be. This, however, is not the experience of many of our K-12 students, especially not today. For the last 2 years, students, parents, teachers, and school administrators have been struggling with the global pandemic. COVID-19 has upended routines, hindered learning, shuttered schools, and angered families. These are real challenges requiring active listening and creative solutions. We need parental involvement. We need tutorial advice. We need school board engagement. Parents are concerned with their children's education, health, safety, and well-being. Parents are concerned with what their children are learning, with what is being taught in the school system. Parents want to know that when they send their daughter or son to school, their children will be safe from bullies and predators. Recently, unfiltered frustrations have boiled over at local school board meetings. Mr. Speaker, while I do not and will not condone violence, I was stunned to hear that part of the Federal response to rising parental concern with educational practices and pending school policies was to unleash Federal enforcement on vocal moms and dads. This is deeply disturbing. One particular incident was cited as a catalyst for government's heavy-handedness. At the beginning of the summer, pictures of a dad tackled to the ground and arrested during a Loudoun County school board meeting surfaced. But what is the story behind the headline? This dad was protesting a school policy that would allow biological males access to girls' private facilities. Why? Because his 15-year-old daughter was raped in the girls' bathroom at her school. The situation was expertly covered up and ignored by the very people responsible for protecting his daughter: the school. School officials eventually called the police, not to report a serious crime against a young girl, but to restrain a distraught father when he discovered the school was attempting to sweep the assault under the rug. One such horrific rape should be sufficient for every school district to review who has access to girls' safe spaces. Instead, this half-told story was crafted into a political narrative alleging examples akin to domestic terrorism. Just a few months after this incident, a national school association letter demanded that the Federal Government respond to unrest, name- calling, and protests at school board meetings across the U.S. The arrest of this distressed father whose daughter had been raped was one of the examples cited in the correspondence to the President as a need for Federal intervention. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice validated the concerns raised, not by the father or parent seeking input into their child's education, but to the dubious claims raised by the national association. Instead of adhering to the constitutional charge to oversee Federal issues, it disturbs me that the power of the Federal Government is being wielded to bludgeon everyday parents into silence. This must end. Whether parents voice concerns about a lack of safe spaces for their girls, the type of curriculum that is taught at every grade level, or mask mandates, parents deserve to be heard, and every American has a constitutional right to voice these concerns to the government without being treated like a criminal. It is time we start listening to parents. They are the best arbiters of their child's education, and they deserve respect, not contempt.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the steadfast service of one of Missouri's World War II U.S. Cadet Nurses, Gerda Fitts (Krueger). Born in 1924, Gerda grew up during the Great Depression, where she helped on the family farm, read the Bible and helped with the chores around her family home. Gerda graduated high school while America was engaged in World War II. Her father had served in World War I and seeing her brothers' commitment to fight for their country in World War II, encouraged a patriotic earning within her soul. Thus, determined to do her part, Gerda enlisted in the United States Nursing Corps in 1943. This was when God first called her to serve others, and the time spent doing His work set her on a path she has been following ever since. After getting out of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, Gerda started working for the Wentworth Military Academy as the social director. She taught etiquette class to the young boys who attended Wentworth Military Academy. It was during this time that she met her now-husband, James `Jim' Fitts, an Air Force veteran who had just retired after serving a dedicated 34 years. Gerda and Jim both retired from Wentworth Military Academy, Gerda as the social director and Jim as the Academy Commandant. After their retirement, they moved to Hermitage, Missouri, where they have both continued serving their community. Gerda Fitts has been alive nearly a century. During this time, she has seen the world advance in ways she could have never dreamed. She had to live through the horrors of the Great Depression, a World War, and a Cold War. She has witnessed 17 Presidential administrations and has watched as America had its ups and downs. Through it all, she remains the same humble, sweet, caring woman who never forgets to check on her friends, and who truly loves her community and country. Although the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps is not recognized as a formal branch of service, it is important that women like Gerda are recognized for their service to our country during World War II. Please join me in honoring Gerda Fitts for her steadfast service to our Nation.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, Democrats are here today proposing an elaborate spending scheme that will cost $3.5 trillion. President Biden claimed this week it would cost zero dollars. Well, what is the truth? Let's find out what is in this Trojan horse of a spending bill: The largest tax increase in American history. A business tax that is going to be higher than Communist China, which is our number one adversary, putting us at a competitive disadvantage and causing jobs to go overseas. The highest inflation in four decades. Already, families are being hit with high costs at the gas pump and at the grocery store. It is only going to get worse with this bill. $630 billion for the Green New Deal. This includes a $7.5 billion to create a Civilian Climate Corps, which would create over a million climate activists at taxpayer expense. $80 billion to double the number of IRS agents.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, as a woman, as a mom, as a former teacher who worked with hundreds of teenagers and who loves each and every one of them, I rise in opposition to this bill, which isn't about freedom for women; it is about death for babies. We are faced with multiple questions today. Is it okay to coerce a woman to have an abortion? Is it okay to send a 13-year-old girl home to perform a do-it- yourself abortion on herself without medical supervision? Is it okay for her to have this abortion without her parents even knowing? Is it okay to take the life of a baby just because it has Down syndrome? Is it okay to take the life of a baby just because it is a girl? Is it okay? It is not okay. The answer to all of these things should be no. Yet, this bill eliminates protections for women and girls facing coercion, neglect, and discrimination. It endangers their health, and it ends the life of a living human being with a plan and a purpose from God and who deserves to live. We are here to defend the basic right to life, and I plead with my colleagues to vote ``no.''