Vicky Hartzler

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, this month marks 1 year since the Trump administration negotiated the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. USMCA is undoubtedly a win for Missourians and for all Americans. The agreement will bring 176,000 new jobs and will spur $63 billion in new economic activity. Benefits of USMCA will be felt across diverse industries, including many of our manufacturing industries, agriculture, and small businesses, while also supporting technology and innovation. But month after month, this Congress has been subject to missed opportunities for our producers and consumers as we have been refused the chance to vote on the USMCA. This needs to change. Instead of House leaders squandering precious legislative time bringing up impeachment inquiries, they should be bringing up USMCA for a vote. Let us hope that we get this opportunity soon. That would be a positive win for all Americans.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, today I want to commend Mrs. Beverly LaHaye of the Concerned Women for America for the work that she has done in inspiring millions of women across America to defend Christian, conservative values throughout our beloved country. This month marks the 40th anniversary of this great national organization. LaHaye has been a hero of mine and has been an inspiration in my own public service. She started as a pastor's wife who was serving the church and raising her family, deeply concerned about the direction some in our country wanted to take. After hearing other progressive organizations claiming to speak on behalf of all American women, LaHaye had the courage to stand up and work with other Christian, conservative women across America to join together and pray for the soul of our nation. As more women gathered and joined the group, LaHaye became instrumental in promoting Godly values of life and the value of family in the public arena. I appreciate everything she has done in paving the way for other conservative women to speak out, to get involved, and to never give up. I wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Boys & Girls Club 2019 Missouri State Youth of the Year, Ms. Jazzmine Jones. Jazzmine is a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri's Cole Camp Site, where she serves as a junior staff member. In her position, she helps run programs and mentors the younger club kids. Earlier this year, Jazzmine was named the Missouri State Youth of the Year at a 2-day event in Jefferson City, Missouri, marking the first time a student from the Boys & Girls Club of West Central Missouri was awarded this title. Last week, on July 18, Jazzmine represented Missouri at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Midwest Regional Youth of the Year competition. She made Missouri proud with her speech highlighting the importance of a healthy lifestyle, education, and the impact of one's actions. I am so thankful to have such a talented young individual in Missouri's Fourth Congressional District working hard to be the best person that she can be and sharing her knowledge with younger kids as a mentor. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Jazzmine for her hard work and dedication in using her actions to inspire others. I also want to wish her well in her future endeavors as she begins her freshman year at the University of Missouri. Go, Tigers. Fayette Optimist Club

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Optimist Club of Fayette, Missouri. This club, founded on December 13, 1968, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. For half a century, they have helped to support youth, and cultivate an overall stronger community in Fayette. The Optimist Club relies on their dedicated volunteers to raise funds and complete projects that impact the lives of kids in their community. The Optimists promote youth involvement in Fayette by hosting a summer recreation program, a youth appreciation banquet, and a fishing derby every year, as well as numerous other activities that promote local programming for young people throughout the community. It is organizations like the Optimist Club that create the backbone of our small towns and help preserve their treasured culture. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Optimist Club of Fayette, Missouri, for their hard work and dedication to the youth of the community for the last 50 years. CoMo Fire Chief Randy White

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Columbia, Missouri, Fire Chief Randy White on his retirement. Since joining the department in 1998 as a firefighter, Chief White has dedicated his life to the safety of mid-Missouri families. He has saved countless lives and led his department to new heights. During his time as fire chief, Randy's department became one of only 258 in the world to achieve accreditation through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. His hard work and leadership have been a blessing to the Columbia Fire Department and a true role model for other departments to follow. I join with many Missourians, families, and friends to wish Chief White a fulfilling retirement. I hope Randy enjoys the days he has worked so hard to earn and wish him continued health and happiness in this new phase of life.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 582. This bill is yet another overreaching power-grab from Washington. Missouri voters already decided to raise their minimum wage last year. However, now the federal government believes it knows better than the states and wants to force a one-size-fits-all policy on all Americans. Unfortunately, this policy will cost 3.7 million jobs nationwide, and would cause nearly half of families with a minimum wage earner to see a reduction in household income. Even more concerning, H.R. 582 contains a provision to remove choices for disabled workers and their families. Section 6 of this bill would eliminate the 14(c) certificates which enable Sheltered Workshops to operate. Sheltered Workshops are non-profit, local, or state organizations that provide dignified employment opportunities for individuals who are developmentally, physically, or mentally impaired. These opportunities are enabled by the 14(c) certificates which allows individuals to be paid a wage commensurate with their ability level. Sheltered Workshops also provide the necessary tools for those with disabilities to succeed in their jobs and can help these individuals acclimate to the workforce, and even learn and hone their life and social skills. The level of training and support provided by Sheltered Workshops is essential to the success of the individuals who work there. No family wants fewer options when deciding how to help their child with disabilities succeed. That is why the 14(c) provision and the Sheltered Workshops provide more options, especially for those who may not ``fit'' or desire Vocational Rehabilitation services or Medicaid Waiver services. Without the 14(c) provision, many of the people working in sheltered workshops would be left to fend for themselves in the ``competitive workforce'' or stay home. The 14(c) provision is necessary for providing these individuals the tools they need to succeed. That is why I submitted an amendment to strike Section 6 from H.R. 582. Unfortunately, my amendment was not made in order which is one more reason why I must oppose this flawed legislation. Let's defeat this bill and preserve job choices for Americans.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express concerns regarding H.R. 2500, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, specifically the overall top-line budget for the Department of Defense that is outlined in the bill. Senior military commanders, including General Dunford and Secretary Mattis, have testified that a 3 to 5 percent real growth in the defense budget top line is the minimum necessary to maintain readiness recovery and our competitive edge over peer adversaries like Russia and China. Regrettably, this bill in its current form reduces the President's budget request by $17 billion to achieve an arbitrary lower top line. To reach this lower top line, many critical modernization and readiness programs had funding reduced that will slow our recovery efforts. These programs include hypersonic munition development, precision-guided munitions, the Air Force Next Generation Air Dominance program, and F-15C spares and repair parts. I am concerned that we are creating conditions that could prohibit the realization of the National Defense Strategy and impact our ability to project credible deterrence at a time when we need it most, given the evolving threats that we now face. Mr. Chair, as the ranking member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, I would like to thank our subcommittee chairman, Donald Norcross, for his leadership and his bipartisanship. From a policy perspective, I am pleased with the legislative outcomes the subcommittee was able to accomplish with this bill. For example, the bill rightfully recognizes the importance of fifth generation strike fighter capability and also supports growing fighter force structure capacity through strong support for both the F-15EX and the F-35 programs. The bill appropriately provides oversight on vehicle Active Protection Systems for combat and tactical vehicles and authorizes additional funding for these critically needed systems. The NDAA has always been a product of bipartisan consensus, and I hope that as we go forward with the floor process, we can reach that level of consensus again.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chair, first of all, I would say, being from Missouri, I would think that Harry Truman would be shocked that this would try to be named after him. But anyway, this amendment eliminates all enlistment requirements except for the gender-neutral occupational standards. It says, ``Any qualifications established or applied for eligibility for service in an armed force shall take into account only the ability of an individual to meet gender-neutral occupational standards for military service,'' and it goes on. Intended or not, I am concerned that this means that an individual with a chronic illness, with zero ability to deploy, could apply for and join the military as long as the candidate meets the gender-neutral occupational standards. This is not how the military recruits and retains the best military fighting force. The military prides itself on high medical and physical standards. Currently, if you meet both standards, then you may be granted the honor of serving. The military is under no obligation to accept individuals who do not meet the medical criteria for service. The military's recruitment process doesn't screen for race, religion, color, national origin, or sex. Neither does it screen for gender preference. It seems that the intent of this amendment is to gut the President's recently implemented policy on transgender servicemembers, which, I will remind everyone, allows transgenders to serve. It allows transgenders to serve in their biological sex, except for those--except for those--who have undergone treatments for gender dysphoria, which would make them nondeployable. I would remind my colleagues that the DOD policy is based on medical conditions, not an individual's fluid and preferred gender identity. It is based on deployability and readiness, not discrimination. The Trump policy states that anyone who meets military standards without special accommodations can and should be able to serve. This includes transgender persons. This amendment appears to gut the military's ability to ensure our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines can medically serve by stating the DOD can only take into account whether or not an individual meets gender-neutral occupational standards. Military service is a privilege. It is not a right. It would be unwise for us to make exceptions to service for one specific entity who could not meet medical standards. That is why I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in opposition to this amendment, which establishes and mandates the establishment of a curriculum to be used in education programs on family planning for every military serviceman and -woman, and I will be the first to say I think this amendment is excessive. We already have DOD policy that requires the defense health agency in each military service medical department to administer its own training on counseling and methods of contraception to all DOD healthcare providers so that they may provide assistance to our military members when it is needed. In addition, I am a former teacher, and I believe knowledge is important, but a simple brochure would suffice; however, this amendment is over the top. It would require an entire curriculum to be developed, which would be used in education programs. It requires every military member, men and women, to come in off the field, and, instead of honing their skills on a target range or in the cockpit, they would be subjected to perhaps hours of PowerPoint presentations, worksheets, and lectures not on what China is doing in the South China Sea or the latest tactics of Russian aggression, but on family planning. Not only would this amendment force every servicemember to be subjected to this curriculum and programming, suggesting that this training is more important than their military training, but it ambiguously defines what comprehensive family planning is. As written in this amendment, this training would include information about the prevention of unintended pregnancy and the importance of providing comprehensive family planning. I am extremely concerned this ambiguous terminology will be interpreted to include abortion counseling or services. We already see this dangerous terminology in places like New York, where their comprehensive family planning program funds over 57 Planned Parenthoods. I would like to know from the author of this amendment whether this amendment encompasses information about abortion services as part of comprehensive family planning services. Madam Chair, I yield 10 seconds to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier) to answer this question.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Chair, it sounds like a little ambiguous answer there. We don't know if this includes abortion counseling or not. Madam Chair, I just think that this is an unnecessary mandate to push family planning curriculum on a captive audience, and perhaps it is not the best use of the time of our military. Other government employees are not forced to leave their job duties to attend family planning training. You don't hear of the Department of Education having their employees go or the Department of Transportation or any of the other departments, yet we want to take our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines off the training field and bring them in for this curriculum. I would suggest that we should not target our military population and use their precious time in this way. I believe too much is at stake. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Chair, I appreciate what my colleague is trying to do, but I do think that it is unnecessary, it is excessive, and it is redundant. The author of the amendment already said it is already being done. And servicemembers already have access to counseling on methods of contraception, so we should not require mandatory training for every servicemember and have this expanded curriculum and bring them off the training field and sit them down for a PowerPoint presentation. Madam Chair, I urge all my colleagues to join me in opposing this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, it has come to my attention that Colonel Douglas B. Guttormsen is retiring as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District Commander. He has diligently served in this role for three years. After earning degrees from The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the University of Missouri at Rolla, the National Defense University and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Colonel Guttormsen went on to lead engineering battalions across the United States and around the world. In addition to these assignments, he served in combat operations in Iraq and the Republic of Korea. As Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District, Colonel Guttormsen oversaw many military and civil works projects throughout the District. From overseeing construction projects at the region's many military installations to ensuring our levees and dams are structurally sound, Colonel Guttormsen ably led an office with diverse mandates and responsibilities. Although his resume boasts many accomplishments, Colonel Guttormsen's work to maintain the superiority of the Emergency Operations Center, which plays a vital role in responding to natural disasters whenever and wherever they may occur, is most impressive. Madam Speaker, Colonel Guttormsen is a true professional and has exhibited remarkable leadership during his time as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District Commander. I trust my fellow members of the House will join me in wishing him well in the days to come.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and could be sent to the President's desk for his signature today.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure and personal blessing to be able to congratulate and thank my friends Keith and Emma Swartz for serving the Lord for over 40 years. Pastor Keith Swartz has been a leader in my community, making a difference in the lives of countless families, achieving 13 years as principal and coach at the Harrisonville Christian School, as an elder for over 20 years, and 26 years as associate pastor at my church, the Harrisonville Community Church. Emma Swartz inspired and equipped students from kindergarten to sixth grade for 19 years at Harrisonville Christian School, as both principal and teacher. She used her gift of teaching beyond the classroom as a respected Sunday school teacher and a leader of adult Bible studies. Together, they have ministered to countless individuals, visiting them in the hospital and being by their side during the final days of an illness, as well as supporting the families afterwards. The foundation of their service began at home, where they raised four beautiful children to love God and to love others; and, now, this legacy of faith and service is being lived out in the lives of their 10 grandchildren. Keith and Emma are special people individually, but, together, they make a remarkable team that I have been blessed to know over the years, and our church has been blessed by their service. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Keith and Emma on their retirement. I hope they enjoy the days which they have worked so hard to earn, and I wish them continued health and happiness in this new phase of life and pray God's richest blessings on them. Congratulating Rich Hill High School Boys Track and Field Team

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Rich Hill High School boys track and field team for winning the Class 1 State championship. As a former track runner and track and field coach, I am thrilled to have a school in my district take home the State championship. This truly is a feat due in no small part to the hard work and talent of the team and its leadership. A Class 1 State record was also broken during the State competition. Rich Hill, sophomore, Clifton Bridgewater, threw 177 feet to win the boys javelin competition, breaking the previous record of 169 feet set last season. The outstanding performances by these Tigers mark a great milestone for Rich Hill High School, and I would like to ask all Missourians to join me in congratulating these Tiger teammates on this momentous achievement.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support my colleague's amendment to strike section 236 from this bill. This amendment will preserve the right of women to be protected in a domestic violence shelter designated just for them, free from the unexpected and unsettling presence of a man identifying as a woman sharing the same facility. Faith-based organizations and many community organizations segregate programs based on gender, but under the Obama administration, rules were changed allowing policies that forced domestic violence survivors into unwanted and unsafe coed housing arrangements. We can see how this is causing problems as already in Anchorage, Alaska, Downtown Hope Center's mission was providing overnight shelter for abused and battered women. However, the center is facing a lawsuit for not allowing a man, who identifies as a woman, access to the women's shelter. The core to the Downtown Hope Center's mission of providing women suffering from rape, physical abuse, and domestic violence as a safe place to sleep at night without the presence of men, is at risk. This nonsense must stop, and I urge my colleagues to support this very commonsense amendment for the protection of women.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate Mr. Duncan offering this amendment which would strike section 237 from the underlying legislation because without this amendment, a February 2015 HUD notice, which is no longer applicable under this administration and which requires the placement of transgender persons in single-sex emergency shelters, would become law. Should this notice become Federal law, it would offer no protections for women facing harassment in the shelters' showering or sleeping areas. This bad policy is at the heart of the California emergency shelter lawsuit. Nine women were sexually harassed by a male by birth, a trans individual, while using the showering facilities. The women's shelter confessed that they would rather allow the abuse to continue than lose Federal grant funding. The shelter went as far as threatening the nine women out of the shelter if they continued to refuse to shower with their attacker. This is preposterous. We should not codify this notice. Instead, HUD must review and strengthen its resolution and notices governing shelters and housing so that these examples do not become the new normal. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Mr. Duncan's amendment.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, I was unable to vote on roll call no. 364. If I had been present, I would have voted YEA.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, it is a distinct privilege and personal blessing to congratulate and thank my friends, Keith and Emma Swartz, for serving the Lord for over 40 years. Pastor Keith Swartz has been a leader in my community making a difference in the lives of countless families, achieving 13 years as Principal and coach at Harrisonville Christian School, as an elder for over 20 years, and 26 years as Associate Pastor at my church, Harrisonville Community Church. Emma Swartz inspired and equipped students from kindergarten to 6th grade for 19 years at Harrisonville Christian School as both Principal and teacher. She used her gift of teaching beyond the classroom as a respected Sunday School teacher and a leader of adult bible studies. The foundation of their service began at home where they raised four beautiful children to love God and others. Now this legacy of faith and service is being lived out in the lives of their ten grandchildren. Keith and Emma are special people individually, but together, they make a remarkable team that I have been blessed to know over the years. Congratulations to Keith and Emma on their retirement, and I hope they enjoy the days they have worked so hard to earn. I wish them continued health and happiness in this new phase of their lives, and pray God's richest blessings on both of them.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to highlight a humanitarian crisis happening within our borders. Because of our failing immigration policies and inadequate border security, people, including tens of thousands of unaccompanied children, are streaming across our porous borders. In shelters throughout the country, the Department of Health and Human Services is caring for over 13,000 unaccompanied migrant children who illegally crossed our southern border. This is just a portion of the over 40,000 children who have come into U.S. custody since October of last year, and more of these children are arriving sicker than ever before and require immediate medical attention. Time is not on our side. To continue caring for these children, HHS needs more funding. HHS projects it will be out of funds to provide care within a matter of days. HHS requested $3.2 billion in emergency funds to continue providing shelter, food, and medical care for these children, but Democrats have ignored this request. It is time for us to work together to provide the resources necessary to care for these children, work to fix our immigration system, and secure our borders to prevent this crisis from happening again.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, on Monday, June 3, 2019, I was unable to vote on roll call no. 233. If I had been present, I would have voted NO.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, I was unable to vote on roll call no. 222. If I had been present, I would have voted Yea.

Mrs. HARTZLER

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, critical legislation protecting newborns from infanticide. This is the 50th time we have petitioned this Chamber, and I ask for this bill's immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, if this unanimous consent cannot be entertained----