J. Hill

Mr. HILL

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the exceptional career of Frank Thomas, who retired in March from Stephens, Inc., a financial services firm headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Frank graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1976 and was the first news director at KUAF, the local Razorback radio station. He quickly rose from local radio to national politics, working for former U.S. Senator David Pryor as his chief of staff. After Frank's time in public service, he felt drawn home to Arkansas and has worked for Stephens for the past 27 years. Stephens has long believed that Arkansas is truly the land of opportunity, and Stephens has invested in and benefited from its long association with our State. In fact, Stephens helped a little-known company called Walmart launch their initial public offering and become the largest retailer in the world. I thank Frank for his service and his lifelong commitment to Arkansas and the Second Congressional District and our Nation. I wish Frank, his wife, and his family many, many happy years ahead. Congratulating Cathy Owen on Her Induction Into Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, recently Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was invited back into the Arab League after 12 years of being in exile. I can't tell you how incredibly frustrating and disappointing this is to many, particularly the innocent people of Syria who have endured more than a decade of war, murder, and torture. Assad's readmittance to the Arab League sends the wrong signal. It sends the signal to the rest of the world that his atrocious war crimes against his own citizens over the past 12 years are acceptable. A recent Reuters article had the headline ``Arabs Bring Syria's Assad Back into Fold but Want Action on Drugs Trade.'' Well, that is rich, because the only reason that there is an epidemic in the drug trade in the Gulf and the region is because of Assad. Assad turned to Russia and Iran to maintain his death machine, and now the Captagon drug trade led by his cousins, led by his military, is providing an independent source of funding for his regime while he poisons his neighbors, takes their money and fuels terrorism in the region; and yet he is invited back to the Arab League meeting. It is preposterous. My bill that passed in last year's National Defense Authorization Act was called the CAPTAGON Act and requires the U.S. Government to develop a multilateral and all-of-government approach to disrupting and dismantling the production of the Captagon drug right in the heart of Syria. Recently the Treasury Department, along with our ally, the United Kingdom, took steps to sanction key actors in Assad's inner circle who are producing and trafficking Captagon. This is a good step, but it is months late, Mr. Speaker. It is in the right direction of disrupting and dismantling the trafficking networks associated with this illicit drug, but it is just a start, and it comes years after we know the deadly impact of Captagon on the region, on families, but also the fueling of terror by Assad through the billions of dollars transferred from that illicit trafficking. It is critical that governments across the globe continue to show their support for the Syrian people by denouncing those who seek to normalize relations with this repulsive regime. Granting Assad admittance to the Arab League once again sends the opposite message. It rewards barbaric behavior. The United States Government has an obligation to sanction Assad in our efforts to dismantle the Captagon drug trade and hold Assad accountable for his war crimes. That is why I am pleased this week to cosponsor the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia Subcommittee Chairman Joe Wilson's new bill, H.R. 3202, the Assad Regime Anti- Normalization Act. This bill was passed this week unanimously in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congress will act where this administration has continuously failed to consistently do so. I look forward to supporting this bill on the House floor and seeing it signed into law. Commemorating 70-Year Alliance Between United States and Republic of Korea

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate my dear friend of some five decades, Cathy Owen, on her induction into the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame. Cathy is a trailblazer and role model for women in banking in Arkansas, having served the banking community for over 50 years. She has been with Eagle Bank for over 40 of those years in various roles, most recently as chairwoman since 2012. During her time at Eagle Bank, she has worked tirelessly to build the bank into a large, respected community bank. Over the years, she and her team have been dedicated to customer service and developing outstanding products and services. Outside of her achievements in the banking industry, she remains an active leader in our community. She is a generous volunteer and supporter of Baptist Health Foundation, Fifty for the Future, and the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, among many other endeavors. I have had the privilege of working with Cathy in the industry for decades during my time in banking. I am proud to call Cathy a friend. I thank her for her many years of outstanding service in the community and congratulate her on this well-deserved induction into the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame. Command Sergeant Major Steven Veazey Retiring From Arkansas Army National Guard

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans), my friend. Honoring Law Enforcement

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate 125 years of the International Paper Company. International Paper, IP, was founded in January 1898, and they celebrated their 125th anniversary in January--an incredible milestone in our Nation. Their company is committed to providing essential products that people depend on, including being one of the world's largest producers of fiber-based products. Essential paper and paper products are important in our everyday lives, ensuring goods are protected and keeping consumers safe. They are a driver of local economic development in our great State. There are over 550 IP employees and 6 facilities throughout Arkansas, 150 of which work at the Conway Graphics Plant. I congratulate International Paper for their 125 years of service, and I look forward to their continued impact on Arkansas and around the world. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the fire chief from the Enola Area Fire Department, James Chance, who is preparing to retire. James is no ordinary fire chief. He is a volunteer who has been with the Faulkner County department since 1973 and became chief in 1983. When James first started at the Enola Area Fire Department, they had a single brush truck to use as an engine, tanker, and rescue, and the department did not have an ISO rating. Now, the department has three stations, 11 fire trucks, and has an ISO rating of five. According to his peers, James responded to every emergency, despite how urgent or not it was. He spent two nights at 2 a.m. putting up barricades on flooded roads during bad storms or responding to the tenth false medical alert alarm in the middle of the night. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Chance for over 50 years of selfless service to the citizens of Faulkner County, and I congratulate him on his retirement. International Paper Company

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend Mack McLarty for receiving the Legacy of Leadership Award at the 35th annual Arkansas Business of the Year ceremony. Mr. McLarty is chairman of The McLarty Companies and was White House chief of staff under President Bill Clinton. Mack also served on the National Petroleum Council and the Council on Environmental Quality at the request of President George H.W. Bush. While chief to President Clinton, Mack advised on a wide range of international and domestic issues, such as the 1993 deficit reduction package, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and multiple trips as it relates to attending the G7 economic summits. Today, Mack is a respected senior adviser in both the public and private sectors and a prominent public speaker who shares his thoughts and experiences in the realm of U.S. trade and foreign policy. Along with this recognition for his public service, Mr. McLarty was awarded the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Medal and the Center for the Study of the Presidency Distinguished Service Award. I congratulate Mr. McLarty on this recognition and thank him for his lifetime of public service at the national level and at home in Arkansas. Arkansas State Coding Competition

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, Conway High School, eStem Charter High School, Little Rock Central High School, and North Little Rock Center for Excellence for advancing to the State coding competition. Out of more than 160 teams, these five are part of the 16 teams that were selected to advance to the State competition. The top three finishing teams will receive monetary awards of $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place for each member of the team. The money will be placed in a 529 college savings plan account to help those students with their journey toward earning a college degree. I thank ARCodeKids for providing the grant money for the winning teams, and I congratulate the students for qualifying for the State competition. I wish them the best of luck. Congratulating Steven Helmick

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the reopening of our magnificent Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. The museum, located in downtown Little Rock, reopened on April 22 after almost 4 years since closing for renovation and expansion. After years of planning, the museum has been reimagined into a beautiful work of art itself. The architecture firm Studio Gang led the design which preserves historic elements of the building but includes other critical interesting and tasteful elements, making it into one of the most influential museums in the country. The museum has much to offer from the visual and performing arts to full art educational experiences. The goal is to create a cultural space where our community can engage with a diverse portfolio of artistic perspectives and come together to see the beautiful temporary exhibitions and participate in the wonderful array of educational courses. I thank all involved for their efforts in making this renovation possible and congratulate the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts for this new chapter in their history in our State. Congratulating Jim Keet

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend Jim Keet on being named Arkansan of the Year. Throughout his life, Jim has been an outstanding and active member of our State civic affairs, and particularly in central Arkansas. Jim served both in the Arkansas House of Representatives and in the Arkansas State Senate in the 1990s. In addition to his years of public service, he is one of our State's most successful entrepreneurs. He is president of the Keet Management Company and chairman of JTJ Restaurants, where he has operated 155 restaurants over the past five decades. Beyond his success in business and politics, he has served on the board of directors for 20 years at Easterseals Arkansas. Easterseals is an organization that seeks to empower those with disabilities to have fulfilling lives and to become active members of their communities. As the founder of the Arkansan of the Year award while with Easterseals Arkansas, this honor comes full circle now for Jim. His tremendous work ethic and dedication to improving the lives of Arkansans deserves this recognition. I am proud to call Jim a friend and congratulate him on this exceptional honor. Army National Guard International Sniper Competition

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Staff Sergeant Benjamin Cotten and Staff Sergeant Allen Smith of the Arkansas Army National Guard for winning this year's International Sniper Competition. This competition allows soldiers to display their abilities in a rigorous environment designed to put their extensive training to the test against 35 international teams. The team, including New Mexico Army National Guard member Erik Vargas, competed three days straight testing their shooting skills, physical endurance, and problem solving as they took on a variety of scenarios with multiple weapon systems. Staff Sergeant Smith enlisted in 2003 and Staff Sergeant Cotten in 2006. Both have deployed to Iraq, and they have served as sniper team leaders and marksmanship instructors with Army National Guard. In addition to serving their country, they serve our communities as firefighters. Their leadership abilities and mental fortitude earned them this competition, and I am honored to add these men to my recognition for this outstanding accomplishment across 35 very competitive international teams. Congratulating Mack McLarty

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Steven Helmick of Donald R. Roberts Elementary in Little Rock for being named the 2023 Arkansas Elementary School Principal of the Year. Mr. Helmick is known for his outgoing personality and willingness to do whatever it takes to inspire his students, including running a mile for each of the 168 fifth graders at his elementary school and camping out on the school's roof. Steven Helmick has turned Roberts elementary into one of the highest achieving elementary schools in Arkansas receiving a grade of A from the State education leadership. I congratulate Mr. Helmick on his well-deserved award and the outstanding work as principal of Roberts Elementary. Recognizing Margaret Gaines

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for her support of police and for her service representing the people of her State. Mr. Speaker, the United States is close to defaulting on its debt. That would be the first time in our Nation's history. The situation we face today was fully avoidable. The Biden administration's reckless spending and economic illiteracy over the past 2 years have propelled our debt crisis and driven inflation to a 40-year high. The American people have directly felt the impact of this administration's negligence toward an effective and practical economic policy. It is well past time for our government to rein in reckless spending and work together toward returning to a balanced budget, a concept that both parties used to agree to strongly for decades. Through the years, policy negotiations were a key part of many debt ceiling agreements. Throughout our Nation's history, we have negotiated spending deals and reforms many times by using the debt ceiling vote as a constructive catalyst to action. Yet, for over 100 days, despite promises to the contrary, President Biden has refused to take this opportunity and willingly and effectively negotiate with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Over the past 3 months, while the President has been unresponsive, Speaker McCarthy has been hard at work, alongside House Republicans and with support from our Republican colleagues in the Senate, to ensure that we address this debt crisis in a timely, responsible manner. We have done our part here in the House by passing the Limit, Save, Grow Act, which responsibly raises the debt ceiling while addressing the other key issues our Nation faces today. Finally, in recent hours, with less than 2 weeks to go, President Biden has surfaced and engaged in a conversation with Speaker McCarthy. This is good news. President Biden, join House Republicans in a sensible and responsible agreement this week and avoid driving our Nation even further into economic chaos. President Al-Assad Readmitted to Arab League

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend and a true example of a leader, Command Sergeant Major Steven Veazey. I wish him a happy and healthy retirement. Command Sergeant Major Veazey, an Arkansas native, has been serving in the Arkansas Army National Guard since 1979, and has retired after 44 years of service. The positive impact he has made in the Arkansas Army National Guard is undeniable, and he has set the standard for what it means to be a noncommissioned officer. Over the years, the command sergeant major deployed to Bosnia and Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with one oak-leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal with two oak-leaf clusters. Steven exemplifies leadership, not only as a command sergeant major, but as a leader in our community, serving as a member of the East Union Missionary Baptist Church, The American Legion, and as past president of the Sheridan Rotary Club. His wife, Leanna, has been his steadfast partner for the past 43 years and the cornerstone of support. Together they have raised two children, Tasha and Steven. Over the past 9 years, I have been so grateful for his friendship and leadership. I treasure our time together since my service in Congress, from paying tribute to a young soldier or an airman for a job well done or saluting those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. My best wishes, Steven, for your well-deserved retirement. Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Reopening

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Margaret Gaines who celebrated her 100th birthday on February 19 of this year. Margaret Gaines has been a resident of central Arkansas her entire life. She grew up in Griffithville, Arkansas, and currently resides in Searcy where she has lived for the past 62 years. Throughout her life, Margaret has seen and remembers many historic events, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal and President John F. Kennedy's visit to Arkansas to dedicate the Greers Ferry Dam in Heber Springs. Mrs. Gains believes the secret to her long life is plenty of exercise from gardening, which she learned to do during the Great Depression. She still grows a garden every year. Mr. Speaker, I wish Margaret Gaines a very happy 100th birthday. Recognizing James Chance

Mr. HILL

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, also I congratulate the gentleman from Massachusetts for having the third child join his family in this past week. We congratulate the Auchinclosses on that. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the gentleman from Massachusetts' bill, the Power of the Mint Act. I thank him for our partnership in introducing the first bipartisan bill in this House to prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency, or a CBDC. We believe together that under the Constitution, that authority rests solely with Congress and the American people, not unelected bureaucrats. That is a nonpartisan view. Something that sets Americans apart from others is that we are rebelliously independent and skeptical of Government overreach. It is a cultural tradition in this country that has been passed down from our Founders. I compliment the gentleman for having a portrait of Alexander Hamilton in his office indicating his strong support of the Constitution's views on money. Recently, the only time my constituents from central Arkansas call me about digital assets is when they are worried that Uncle Sam is going to use a central bank digital currency to surveil where they are spending money and how much and ultimately block them from using the banking and payments system. Instead, we are working collaboratively on a bicameral, bipartisan basis to believe that innovation belongs in the private sector. That is why we had this coalition working in both the House Agriculture Committee and the House Financial Services Committee to craft a regulatory framework that preserves Americans' privacy, preserves American competitiveness, and puts America in the right form for a digital future in money. Americans have that right to financial privacy, and that is why I am proud to support the gentleman from Massachusetts' bill.

Mr. HILL

Mr. HILL. Mr. Chair, I thank my good friend from Ohio for yielding. I rise in strong support for this legislative commitment that House Republicans have initiated, H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. I thank my friend from Ohio for his leadership. I thank my good friend from Arkansas, Chairman Bruce Westerman of the Natural Resources Committee for his fine work on this important bill. Under this administration's green energy only push, we are driving up costs for central Arkansas families, hurting our economy, and our national security. We need in this Nation an all-of-the-above energy approach for the U.S. and for the globe. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's most recent outlook, by 2050, global energy use will increase nearly 50 percent compared to today. While the share of primary energy consumption from renewables is predicted to increase from 15 to 27 percent by 2050, Mr. Chair, 83 percent of energy consumption in that period will still need to come from coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear. H.R. 1 takes this key step in the right direction. Instead, Biden officials are only focusing on intermittent energy sources like wind and solar, for which we do not possess large-scale storage or provide a reliable and consistent source of energy. We need to be a leader in powering the world, and an all-of-the-above energy strategy will do that. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. HILL

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Paul Browning, the assistant fire chief of the city of Morrilton, Arkansas. Paul recently announced his retirement after three decades of service with the Morrilton Department. Just before his departure, Paul was given the opportunity to present the department's newest captain with his captain's badge. The recipient? His son, Joseph Browning, who'd been with the department fifteen years. Paul presented Joseph with his original captain's badge as a token of his promotion. I congratulate Joseph on his promotion, and Paul on his retirement. I thank them both for their dedication and service to the Morrilton community.

Mr. HILL

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the entrepreneurial creativity of Ben Bell and Matt Bell, who recently founded Origami Sake in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Although they are unrelated, these two Bells share the same last name and the same passion for sake. The pair met in 2016 after Ben returned to Arkansas from a trip to Japan, where he became interested in the art of making sake after living in that country for two years. After years of collaboration, Ben and Matt joined forces to begin brewing sake in Arkansas, which led to the opening of their business. Arkansas is the largest grower of rice in the United States and the Isbell farm has spent decades perfecting the proper rice to be used for sushi and now the proper rice that is needed for making high quality sake. Additionally, the magnificent water from the famous Hot Springs National Park has the perfect quality for sake brewing. Ben and Matt are taking advantage of these resources in Arkansas make Sake even more popular and distribute it home grown in Arkansas across the United States. I recently led a delegation to meet with leaders in Japan, where our members had the opportunity to present Arkansas brewed Sake to former Prime Minister Suga and Deputy Cabinet Secretary Seiji, along with key members of the Japanese Diet. We also entertained our great Ambassador, Ron Emmanuel, with his own taste of 1000 crane sake brewed in Arkansas. I applaud Ben and Matt for their originality, their entrepreneurship, and I commend them for leading in America in the brewing of sake.

Mr. HILL

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, one year into Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainians valiant defense has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties for the Russians. What the Russians believed would be a victory in a matter of days or weeks has turned into now over just a year, bloody slog. The Russian Bear has turned out to be a Paper Tiger on the fields of Ukraine. The United States must remain committed as a partner with Ukraine to achieve victory. Victory, Mr. Speaker, or Putin and his allied nations will attack the Baltic states or take Moldova or try to control the Black Sea. Turkey, devastated by Erdogan's economics and the recent earthquake will now face a stark choice of remaining in NATO or becoming a Putin puppet, were Putin successful in Ukraine. Victory--or China will green light a fully nuclear madman in North Korea and attempt a blockade of Taiwan. In order to achieve that victory, President Biden must get the rest of the world even more engaged. In December, members of this body were briefed by the departments of State and Treasury, and I recently wrote Secretary Blinken and Secretary Yellen in follow up regarding the funding strategy for supporting Ukraine humanitarily, in defense and military means, and in their monthly costs. I raised two principal points. First, in my view, Congress does not have the full financial overview of contributions being made by our allies and partners on behalf of Ukraine in a straightforward and simple manner available to all members. They don't paint a complete picture. As a new member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I look forward to hearing from State and USAID and the Defense Department in the near future on what they have been doing to track our funding in Ukraine and explain it in thorough detail to the Congress. Second, I raised the successful 1990-1991 partnership between Secretary of State James Baker and Secretary of Treasury Nicholas Brady in developing an active solicitation of major countries from around the world to fund the U.S. enforcement of the United Nations Security Council Resolution authorizing use of force to liberate Kuwait from Iraq's illegal invasion of their sovereign territory. The result was that the United States received contributions from around the world of some $53 billion against an estimated total cost to eject Saddam Hussein from Kuwait of $60 billion. While some of those contributions were in the form of in-kind material support, more than 90 percent was paid in cash. The United States must more strongly engage our allies to share a greater financial burden for that military, humanitarian, and financial budget support for the government of Ukraine. On February 20th, Japan pledged $5.5 billion in additional aid to Ukraine. This is on top of the $1.3 billion in financial and humanitarian assistance it had already pledged. This is a recent example of precisely what I believe the U.S. government should be achieving in a more aggressive and effective manner. The worldwide response in support of Ukraine has been remarkable, but I believe that significantly more can be done to help Ukraine if additional countries provide more material and financial support--in Europe and beyond. The U.S. military has a unique and important role in equipping, training, and providing related military materials. A mission that suits us more than any other country. However, as demonstrated in the example of Kuwait, obtaining broad financial support from more sources is essential, in my view, to maintaining popular political support in Europe and in the United States for victory in Ukraine. This also demonstrates how all peoples from around the globe benefit from prompt success in the preservation of Ukraine's sovereignty. Costs of goods, access to food, fuel, and financing are all impeded by the Russian Federation's illegal action. That makes the case that all nations are hurt by Russia's aggressions. All nations can support Ukraine. President Biden must craft an active and effective campaign to bring forward the financial and material resources from around the world to support Ukraine in victory.

Mr. HILL

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the addition of Cleburne County to the Second District of Arkansas. Last year during redistricting, the Arkansas state legislature added Cleburne County to the Second Congressional District. The addition of Cleburne County brings beautiful nature, economic development, and many other recreational ideas and opportunities to my district. An active business and civic community, excellent healthcare and educational facilities and opportunities, along with Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery, Greers Ferry Dam, Rotary Clubs, the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail, and world class fly fishing on the Little Red all are amazing examples of what the county has to offer. I am proud to now serve those who live in Cleburne County and look forward to representing them in Washington at their U.S. Capitol.

Mr. HILL

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the important partnership between the Arkansas Martin Luther King Commission and FOX 16 and KARK television. In 2017, following the horrible shootings at the Power Ultra Lounge nightclub in Little Rock, FOX 16 and KARK kicked off an important initiative to build grassroots support to reduce violence in central Arkansas. They called it, ``Victory Over Violence''. The goal of the campaign is to unite leaders and groups throughout our local communities to be a resource for reducing violent crime and changing lives through community improvements. In January, the Arkansas Martin Luther King Commission presented FOX 16 anchors Donna Terrell and Kevin Kelly with their 2023 Drum Major for Community Leadership award. The persistence and successful leadership of Donna, Kevin, and all those involved at the Arkansas Martin Luther King Commission, FOX 16, and KARK, they're making an impact on improving the lives and safety and central Arkansans. I'm grateful for their efforts, their persistent efforts, over all these past years to keep that at the forefront of community activism. Victory Over Violence is something that we need, and I'm grateful for their leadership.

Mr. HILL

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day. I along with my Democratic colleague, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, reintroduced our legislation yesterday that establishes March 9 as National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day. On March 9, 2007, Robert Levinson disappeared in Iran. He never returned home. The commemoration of this national day brings attention to Americans that are being unjustly held as wrongful detainees and hostages in a foreign land. Since the Levinson Act was signed into law two years ago, we've heard from families and organizations that are dedicated to helping bring wrongful detainees and hostages home and how the law is working. We're learning more about how the Levinson Act is being used since it's become law. And it's time for the House Foreign Affairs Committee to conduct oversight and see what potential changes should be made. I helped create in the last Congress, the Congressional Task Force on American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad, because one of my constituents disappeared on a visit to Syria. Majd Kamalmaz is still held by the Assad regime in Syria. Majd and his wonderful family lived for a time in my hometown of Little Rock. And every member of Congress is dedicated to the more than 50 Americans who right now are held against their will wrongfully in a country around the world. We all want to bring home Majd and every other American that's being held wrongfully. I'm proud to be a part of this Task Force and work alongside my friend, Congresswoman Stevens. I thank all those who are involved in their daily awareness to bring wrongful detainees and hostages around the world home to their families in our great country.

Mr. HILL

Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2022 Miss Arkansas winner, Ebony Mitchell. Ebony was the 84th Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant winner, where she was awarded $30,000 in scholarship funds provided by the Ted and Shannon Boy Skokos Foundation and $75,000 in other areas. Last December, she represented our great state at Miss America in Connecticut. Becoming Miss Arkansas was a lifelong dream for Ebony. Her journey started when she won the Miss University of Arkansas Princess pageant in 2007, which entered her into the Diamond State Princess mentorship program. She had five appearances at Miss Arkansas before finally winning that title last year. Aside from her accomplishments at Miss Arkansas, she graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2019 with her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. As Miss Arkansas, she will continue to lead her social impact by leading the ``A Responsible Digital You'' initiative, which seeks to keep the children of Arkansas online safe. Ebony is a native of Harrison, Arkansas, where she's been a leader in civil rights and community spirit in her hometown. I congratulate Ebony for her accomplishments, and I look forward to continuing to watch her proudly represent our great state of Arkansas.