Diana Harshbarger

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Dave Foster who is retiring as the superintendent of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site and the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery in Greeneville, Tennessee. Before joining the National Park Service in 2009, he served twenty- one years in the United States Marine Corps with deployments to Kuwait, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa in support of the global war on terrorism. While in the military, he held leadership assignments at the company and battalion levels and retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel. Dave began his National Park Service career as a subject-to-furlough maintenance worker at the Blue Ridge Parkway and has since served as a maintenance worker, utility systems operator, maintenance supervisor and facility manager on the Parkway. In 2014, he was selected by his peers to receive the class leadership award upon graduation from the Facility Manager Leaders Program. He attributes his success to the professional and dedicated teams he has worked with both at the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Andrew Johnson Historical Site. He said, ``as a veteran, I am especially humbled by the privilege of overseeing one of the final resting places for our nation's heroes.'' Born in western North Carolina, Dave holds a bachelor's degree in education from the University of South Carolina and a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. He and his wife Terri reside in Bedford, VA, and they have two children: Autumn and Brian. Madam Speaker, Dave Foster, has served our country faithfully, first as a Marine across the world and later as an exemplary employee and leader in our National Park Service. I thank him for his service and congratulate him on his upcoming retirement in January of 2022.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, my faith and belief in God are the catalyst for every decision I make, and I am committed to protecting the most vulnerable among us. We all have a moral responsibility to defend the right to life, which begins at conception. Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the monumental case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. This case concerns Mississippi's law passed in 2018, which limits abortion at 15 weeks gestation to medical emergencies in cases of severe fetal disability. The Court is expected to decide whether laws like Mississippi's aimed at protecting unborn children pre-viability align with the Constitution. I hope and pray that the Justices will be guided by righteousness, by a respect for human dignity, by proper constitutional interpretation, and by modern science to uphold Mississippi's law, and protect the lives of the unborn.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and holding this Special Order hour tonight. Let me start with a couple of questions that people might have about the Bible. What is the Bible? It is 66 different books composed by different people in three different languages written in different circumstances. The writers were from different social ranks: statesmen, peasants, herdsmen, fishermen, kings, priests, tax collectors, tentmakers, physicians. They were educated and uneducated, Jews and gentiles. Most of them were unknown to each other, writing during various periods over 1,600 years, and yet it is one book about one subject. That subject is about mankind's redemption. The Bible is inspired by God. It is without error and does not misrepresent the facts. It is trustworthy and the final authority for everything it teaches. The next question is: Why would God give us the Bible? He did it to tell us the story of His infinite love and redemption for you and for me; to give us the amazing truth that the Lord not only offers forgiveness for our sins but also, He gives us the power to obey His law. Every problem you face has already been answered in the Bible. It says nothing is new under the Sun, and that is true. I have learned by reading God's Word that there is an answer to every question, if we just take the time to look in the Scriptures. God desires an intimate relationship with each one of His creations, and it should be our goal as Christians to be obedient to God's Word, because obedience is better than sacrifice. God gives us that little bit of faith to believe that He loved us enough to die for us so we can live again with Him in Heaven. He already knows the desires of our heart before we even ask. Reading the Scriptures has taught me that nothing is wasted that happens in a person's life. Our steps are ordered, and God has a plan for our lives. My prayer is this: That God would keep His hand on this great Nation. I am asking my fellow Christians to help me pray for our country that God's will be done; that God will uncover what men or women try to deceitfully cover up; that God will raise up men and women to serve in all places in the government throughout the world and will call upon His name and pray according to His will and faith, believing in the name of Jesus Christ. We should remember this: Our enemies are defenseless against our prayers. I want to encourage America that there are Congressmen and Congresswomen who meet every Wednesday at 7 o'clock to pray for our Nation, and I implore them to help us pray. Jeremiah 29:11 says, `` `For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, `plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.' '' That is what I pray for America.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church in Johnson City in the First Congressional District of Tennessee as they celebrate 150 years of sharing the love of Christ in their community and throughout the world. Built of handmade bricks at a cost of four thousand dollars in 1871, Munsey, known then as East Market Street Methodist Church, was part of the heritage of the early Methodist circuit riders that brought the gospel to the pioneer settlements of the American Frontier. Just three decades later, the church had outgrown that initial structure and relocated to their present address on the corner of Roan and Market Streets and, in 1908, renamed the church in memory of their brilliant, self-taught pulpit preacher, Reverend William E. Munsey. Their new, modern facility attracted many new congregants, so many, in fact, that the church doubled in size in just three years. Growth and expansion continued with the addition of an indoor swimming pool in 1949 and the establishment of a preschool program in 1950. While the pool closed due to structural issues in 2001, the preschool continues to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment for two-, three- and four-year-old children and is the oldest state accredited preschool program in Tennessee, As the sharing of the good news of Christ continued so did the growth of the church, necessitating the building of a new sanctuary in 1955. Munsey continued to be a beacon of God's love over the next several years. This display of love was never more evident than on Christmas Eve 1989 when a terrible fire at the John Sevier Center, a low-income residential high-rise across the street from the church, claimed the lives of sixteen residents. Services were cancelled as the church became a triage center for those escaping the horror and a location for families to be reunited. Members spent the evening bringing food, blankets, and comfort to victims and first responders. Following that fire, a new ministry, The Melting Pot, was born which grew from providing a Saturday morning breakfast for those residents to working cooperatively with Good Samaritan Ministries to provide breakfast every morning and lunch five days a week. Now, that same Melting Pot offers the Open Door worship service as an outreach to downtown. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church as they celebrate 150 years of ministering to the needs of their community, region, and world. They represent the strong faith of the First Congressional District of Tennessee, and I am proud to represent them and wish them great success in the next 150 years.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, one of the top concerns for Americans is the high cost of prescription drugs. Congress must do something to lower these prescription drug prices. We know the American people want lower prices, but they don't want to sacrifice access to lifesaving treatments. Prior to representing the great people of east Tennessee in Congress, I served for 35 years as a community pharmacist, so I know a thing or two about safeguarding patient access to affordable medicines and solving patient problems. We absolutely need to reform the ways pharmaceutical manufacturers price their products and sometimes manipulate the system. But there is another part of the drug pricing equation that doesn't get nearly as much attention, and that is the role of the pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, their lack of transparency, their market dominance, and the effects of their business practices on drug prices and patient choices. PBMs were created as middlemen to reduce administrative costs for insurers, validate patients' eligibility, administer plan benefits, and negotiate costs between pharmacies and health plans. But they have morphed into one of the most highly concentrated and least accountable profit centers in the healthcare industry. Over time, these PBMs have been allowed to operate and consolidate their market powers virtually unchecked. Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial health plans all use PBMs to manage drug benefits. That is more than 260 million American lives. These pharmacy benefit managers wield enormous power as middlemen on numerous fronts. They choose what drugs are covered and not covered by insurance; they negotiate purchasing deals with drug makers; they determine copays for consumers; they decide which pharmacies are included in prescription plans and which are not; they decide how much pharmacies are reimbursed for the drugs they sell, where, by the way, a lot of pharmacies dispense drugs to a patient, and they are reimbursed less than what they paid for the drug. In 2020, the top six PBMs handled more than 95 percent of total U.S.- equivalent prescription claims. Curiously, this market power concentration and vertical integration with the insurance carriers was allowed by our Federal Trade Commission over the last 15 years, the very agency whose mission it is to safeguard Americans from concentrated corporate power. What are the effects on drug spending? Between 2015 and 2018, nearly half of the increase in total brand drug spending went to payers, including PBMs, according to an analysis from Berkeley Research Group. Such a huge slice of yearly drug spending going to middlemen has catapulted the U.S. PBM market to be valued at more than half a trillion dollars, and that is with a ``T''. Analysts see PBMs continuing to prosper in the coming years. The virtually unchecked powers of PBMs have enabled them to: Number one, charge drug manufacturers hefty rebates for preferred placement on formularies. The higher the list price, the higher the rebates, but no one knows where these rebates go. Number two is to impose restrictive take-it-or-leave-it contracts with community pharmacists. Number three is charge community pharmacies outrageous clawbacks or DIR fees, often totally unpredictable, where PBMs claw back or take back moneys they have already reimbursed pharmacies, often weeks or months after a patient transaction. The typical community pharmacy now pays roughly $81,000 a year in DIR fees, making it all but impossible to set a budget for the future. These and other business practices happen in relative secrecy with no real oversight. No one is really able to follow the dollars on how and where the money flows; not the payer, not the pharmacist, and certainly not the patient. I have introduced bipartisan legislation, the PBM Accountability Study Act, H.R. 1829, which would have the U.S. Government Accountability Office study the roles PBMs play in drug pricing and spending, their market concentrations, and states of competition. My bill also requires GAO to make recommendations on lowering drug costs, improving transparency, and improving competition in the PBM industry. This is a commonsense, bipartisan bill, and I invite all of my colleagues to cosponsor and help with this important legislation. I sincerely hope we can work together to include the provisions of this bill and other PBM reforms in any drug-pricing legislation that we consider this year.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and service of Mr. James Charlie Lane of White Pine, Tennessee. J.C. was born on April 30, 1920 and celebrated his 101st birthday on April 30, 2021. He was a Veteran of WWII and served in the Navy from March 1941 to August 1946. From 1940 to March 1941, he was an employee of the Civilian Conservation Corps in both Unicoi and the Sugarlands in his birth county, Sevier County. He volunteered and joined the Navy in March 1941 and was assigned to the USS Albemarle, where he would qualify as an electrician and would eventually be promoted to electrician first class. Volunteering for a new ship that was commissioned, he became a ``plank owner'' on the Wasp by being one of the original crewmen. By 1944, the Wasp's battles would include the islands of Marcus, Wake, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Leyte Gulf and the Japanese homeland. He arrived in Hawaii and then went to the Marshall Islands in May and saw his first action in the Marshall Islands as part of Admiral Halsey's fast carrier fleet at the Marianas. During his time in the Navy, he saw action in the European Theater, to the African Coast, to the Pacific Theater in the Philippines and the five-week long battle for Iwo Jima. His military service went on until almost a year after Armistice Day when Japan formally surrendered as his ship brought soldiers back from Italy and England. He retired as a Chief Petty Officer. Upon returning to Tennessee, he settled in Sevier County for a short period, then upon getting a job at American Enka, he moved to White Pine in 1951. He retired from American Enka after thirty-six years. J.C.'s legacy of love includes his marriage to his wife, Ruth, of forty-nine years until she passed in July 1992, and his children who are so proud of his service, Rita Lane Potter, and Betty Jo Lane Moore. He has three grandchildren and four great grandsons. Madam Speaker, James Charlie Lane faithfully served his country under the most difficult situations possible, and all a WWII Veteran and member of the United States Navy, and I proudly honor his legacy and service to the United States of America.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and service of Mr. James Charlie Lane of White Pine, Tennessee. J.C. was born on April 30, 1920 and celebrated his 101st birthday on April 30, 2021. He was a Veteran of WWII and served in the Navy from March 1941 to August 1946. From 1940 to March 1941, he was an employee of the Civilian Conservation Corps in both Unicoi and the Sugarlands in his birth county, Sevier County. He volunteered and joined the Navy in March 1941 and was assigned to the USS Albemarle, where he would qualify as an electrician and would eventually be promoted to electrician first class. Volunteering for a new ship that was commissioned, he became a ``plank owner'' on the Wasp by being one of the original crewmen. By 1944, the Wasp's battles would include the islands of Marcus, Wake, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Leyte Gulf and the Japanese homeland. He arrived in Hawaii and then went to the Marshall Islands in May and saw his first action in the Marshall Islands as part of Admiral Halsey's fast carrier fleet at the Marianas. During his time in the Navy, he saw action in the European Theater, to the African Coast, to the Pacific Theater in the Philippines and the five-week long battle for Iwo Jima. His military service went on until almost a year after Armistice Day when Japan formally surrendered as his ship brought soldiers back from Italy and England. He retired as a Chief Petty Officer. Upon returning to Tennessee, he settled in Sevier County for a short period, then upon getting a job at American Enka, he moved to White Pine in 1951. He retired from American Enka after thirty-six years. J.C.'s legacy of love includes his marriage to his wife, Ruth, of forty-nine years until she passed in July 1992, and his children who are so proud of his service, Rita Lane Potter, and Betty Jo Lane Moore. He has three grandchildren and four great grandsons. Madam Speaker, James Charles Lane faithfully served his country under the most difficult situations possible and as a WWII Veteran and member of the United States Navy, and I proudly honor his legacy and service to the United States of America.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and service of Mr. Loy A. Ownby of Sevierville, Tennessee. Loy was born on August 9, 1920 and passed away on February 5, 2004. He was a highly decorated Veteran of the United States Army, having served in World War II in Burma, China, and India as a member of the famous Merrill's Marauders. Officially named the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), this elite unit was a United States long range penetration special operations jungle warfare unit which fought in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II. In slightly more than five months of combat, the Marauders had advanced nearly 1,000 miles through some of the harshest jungle in the world, fought in five major engagements and battled hunger, fevers, and diseases as they traversed more jungle terrain than any other U.S. Army formation during World War II. They had the rare distinction of each soldier being awarded the Bronze Star, Silver Star and the Burma Liberation Medal. Their unit was also awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. On December 5, 2019, the United States Senate passed Senate Bill 743, the Merrill's Marauders Congressional Gold Medal Act, to honor their extraordinary service. On September 22, 2020, the House of Representatives also passed the bill by unanimous consent. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest expression by Congress of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions to the country. Loy's legacy of love includes his marriage to his wife, Beatrice; of fifty-nine years, and his children who are so proud of his service, Freda Carver, Linda Ownby, Paul Ownby, and Steve Ownby. Madam Speaker, Loy A. Ownby faithfully served his country under the most difficult situations possible and as a member of Merrill's Marauders. I proudly honor his legacy and service.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to condemn the reckless and irresponsible proposed spending by the radical left. This reconciliation bill is nothing more than a socialist wish list. It disincentivizes people from working and it is littered with Green New Deal items we cannot afford. The Biden administration has outrageously claimed this bill costs zero, nada, nothing, zilch. If you believe that, then I have got a nice piece of oceanfront property to sell you in east Tennessee where I come from. This deficit spending is a wrong prescription for our country. Instead of calling this the build back better, they should call it the build back broke. It would raise inflation--you have to remember, inflation is taxation--making everyday necessities even more expensive than they have already become under the Biden economy; that is, if you can even get the items you need due to the supply chain disruptions. And it will fail to incentivize Americans to get back to work. What we need to focus on are real solutions to restarting our great American economy, not on increasing debt and government reliance. I urge my colleagues in joining me in opposing this out-of-control spending. Our country's future depends on it and the future of east Tennessee depends on it.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Ron Seals, a beloved Sheriff and dedicated public servant of Sevier County, Tennessee. Mr. Seals is currently the Sheriff of Sevier County in beautiful East Tennessee, having served the citizens for forty-nine years in a law enforcement career that has spanned six decades. In 2007, he was appointed Sheriff and he ran for and was elected Sheriff to fill the remaining term of Sheriff Bruce Montgomery. He subsequently won elections in 2008, 2010, 2014, and 2018. He was named ``Sheriff of the Year'' in 2012, an honor bestowed upon him by the other 94 Sheriffs in the State of Tennessee. A Sevier County native, he graduated from Sevier County High School and then graduated from Walters State Community College with an associate degree in Criminal Justice. He is also a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy. Over his career, he has worked as a dispatcher, corrections officer, a police officer in the Patrol Division, a Sergeant in the Patrol Division, Assistant Chief of a Police Department, Chief Deputy and Deputy Chief of Administration. In 2014, he was recognized by Walters State Community College with the Distinguished Alumni Civic Achievement Award for his service with WSCC and the Sevier County community. He has been recognized by the Humane Society of the United States and was given the Humane Law Enforcement Award for leadership in combating illegal animal abuse. He is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Sevier, and a member of the Scottish Rite and the Kerbela Shriners. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police-Smoky Mountain Lodge No. 31 and the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Smoky Mountain Chapter. In 2014 the Sevier County Sheriff's office received accreditation with the State of Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation program. He created a professional records division, served as part of the design team for the Sevier County jail that opened in 1991 and managed the main jail expansion in 2002. His legacy of love includes being married to his wife, Wanda. He says, ``I am blessed beyond measure to serve in what I believe to be the finest place on earth.'' Madam Speaker, Sheriff Ron Seals, has had a distinguished career in law enforcement and has served the citizens of Sevier County with honor and integrity and I proudly honor him.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Corporal Burl Mullins, who served in the United States Army during World War II and the Korean War and spent his life in service to our country. I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to Cpl. Mullins and his family for his courage and bravery, as his dedicated service cost him the ultimate price. Corporal Mullins was born in Kentucky on December 19, 1926 and began serving in World War II on March 23, 1945. He continued to serve through the post-war period for one year and nine months. Remarkably, less than two years later, Cpl. Mullins enlisted for a second term of service on September 2, 1948 to serve in the Korean War. At only twenty-three years old, Cpl. Mullins was reported Missing in Action on November 30, 1950 after enemy forces attacked his unit in the Chasin Reservoir, North Korea. While his remains originally couldn't be found, they were later recovered at the location of the battle where he went missing. It was determined that he was likely killed in action. In June 2018, after nearly 70 years MIA, U.S. President Donald Trump and D.P.R.K. Chairman Kim Jong-Un conducted a summit meeting in Singapore where Chairman Kim promised to repatriate American remains collected by the D.P.R.K. during the Korean War. A month later, Cpl. Mullins' remains were returned home to the U.S. where he was reunited with his family. His family, who were unsure if they would ever know what happened to him, were glad to have closure and described it as a ``wound finally healed.'' Cpl. Mullins' return home was celebrated by the small Kentucky community where he grew up. His casket was escorted by a veterans motorcycle group, and his funeral precession was met with community support, as some members of the community gathered to wave their American flags and pay their respects. The family is grateful to President Trump for the return of their loved one. Madam Speaker, Corporal Burl Mullins was a courageous patriot who gave his life in service to our country. I am proud to honor him and his family.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and service of Cpl. Ralph Sarratt Boughman. Ralph was born on April 19, 1929, and passed away on December 2, 1950. He grew up on the family farm one of ten children born to J.Q. and Grace Laxton Boughman near Santuc, South Carolina. As a young man he helped with chores around the farm. In his spare time, he roamed those 180 acres hunting, fishing, and enjoying nature. On August 10, 1948, he joined the U.S. Army. He was 19 years old when he was inducted at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina and was stationed there from August 16, 1948, through November 2, 1948, taking basic training. Boughman was stationed in Japan for around a year and then was transferred to Korea. Boughman was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. During the Korean War he was reported missing in action on Dec. 2, 1950, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. He was presumed dead on Dec. 21, 1953. He received the Purple Heart, the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan clasp, the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars and the Presidential Unit Citation with one Gold Star-Navy. On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned over 55 boxes, believed to contain the remains of American service members killed during the Korean War. The remains arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on August 1, 2018, and were subsequently sent to the DPAA laboratory for identification. Boughman's remains were accounted for on April 20, 2020. His late mother's prayers for the next twenty-five years of her life was to ask God to ``bring Ralph home with the other boys.'' Ralph's sister, Pansy Bourne, who turned 90 on September 29, 2021 continued those prayers until he came home. Madam Speaker, Cpl. Ralph Sarratt Boughman, faithfully served his country and is finally home in his resting place in Union, South Carolina as of May 11, 2020. I proudly honor his legacy and service.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose the previous question so that we could immediately consider H.R. 1897, the REACT Act. It is urgent that we pass this critical and commonsense legislation offered by my friend and colleague from Iowa, Mrs. Miller- Meeks. We all know that the crisis on our southern border is a national security crisis. My colleague, Mrs. Miller-Meeks is a physician and I am a pharmacist, so we totally understand. What is less discussed is that it is also a public health crisis. Illegal immigrants are coming across our southern border in record numbers and they are coming from countries with low COVID vaccination rates. My colleagues are right. The ERs are full of a lot of unvaccinated people, because there are 200,000 or more coming across the southern border every month and 209,000 were encountered in August alone. And the Biden administration is then transporting these illegal immigrants to communities all across our country--in most cases, without the Governor's approval, as is in Tennessee. Currently, there is no requirement for individuals released by CBP or ICE to test negative for COVID before they are released. That means that any COVID-positive migrants released by the administration are spreading COVID throughout our communities. Just this week, the DHS Secretary admitted that there were at least 12,000 or more Haitian migrants released into our communities who were not subject to COVID testing mandates--and I won't even talk about the non-SIV Afghans. Contrast this with the Biden administration's policy of forcing American workers to get tested or vaccinated or its policy of only letting fully vaccinated tourists fly into our country. The lack of COVID testing at the southern border is reckless and it is unacceptable, and it is a detriment to our healthcare system. But it doesn't have to be this way. There is a solution to the border health crisis. My friend from Iowa introduced the REACT Act to protect American public health from the border crisis. This critical bill would require testing for everyone crossing our border, and it would require a negative test before CBP or ICE can release these illegal immigrants from custody. The ultimate solution is just to close the border, but since that is a commonsense solution, it is not going to happen. It is time to implement the proper health screenings for these individuals entering our country and stop putting Americans at risk. Madam Speaker, the House should immediately pass the REACT Act because lives depend on it.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4363, the DHS Contract Reporting Act of 2021. Improving transparency and accountability is an essential way for the America people to gain and have confidence in their government and the Department of Homeland Security. Currently, there is no clear line of sight into DHS' purchasing decisions. Even though DHS is required to report some contract awards to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, it is not required to report them to other committees with oversight responsibilities such as ours, the House Committee on Homeland Security. And most importantly, if the American people want to know where their tax dollars are going, that information is almost impossible to find. Today, if someone wanted to find a DHS contract award, they would have to know how to use and navigate the cumbersome Federal data systems, and even then they may not be successful if they don't already know some key details about the contract. Furthermore, DHS acquisition management is still on the Government Accountability Office's high-risk list. GAO reports that although DHS has taken steps to strengthen its acquisition requirements development process, DHS continues to face challenges in effectively executing its acquisition portfolio, with many programs not meeting the cost and schedule goals they establish. I want to change this. The bill I am putting forward today will increase the transparency into these contracts. The DHS Contract Reporting Act of 2021 requires DHS to have a public facing website where it will report all contract awards over $4 million. To illustrate the current opaqueness of our oversight, I want to ask: Does anybody here know whether all the DHS contracts that should have been awarded competitively actually were? I don't know the answer. But I do know that competition and contract awards helps to lower the cost of services and technologies the Department buys, and to get the best return on investment for the American taxpayer. To get at this type of information and to have more insight into DHS' awards more generally, this bill also requires DHS to include key aspects of each contract award it reports, such as the total amount it plans to spend; what the contract is for; what type of agreement it is; and whether the government competed the contract award. According to the government's top 100 contractors report for 2020, DHS alone awarded over $12 billion to its top 100 contractors. And this is an increase in spending of $1 billion from just the previous year. This includes everything from drones and IT systems to medical services at the border. With these significant levels of increased spending, it is crucial that Congress have better oversight of DHS contracts. If this requirement would have been in place last year, the American people and Congress would have had that insight into nearly 1,000 contracts DHS awarded in 2020. We need to put this requirement in place now so that Congress can ensure better stewardship of taxpayer dollars next year. With increased Federal spending across the board, it is more important than ever that this committee does its job to ensure DHS is being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. More accountability will make the Department a better business partner and a better provider of services to the public, and that is why I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I would like to thank Ranking Member Katko and Representatives Luria and Slotkin for reaching across the aisle and cosponsoring this bill with me.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to oppose the unconscionable abortion on demand until birth act. As a mother and a grandmother of two precious grandsons, I am sickened by the attempt to allow abortions on demand until birth. As a pharmacist, I have seen countless women who struggle with infertility issues. All they ever wanted was to be able to give birth and to have and to hold those precious children of their own. Contrast this with what is happening today. My colleagues across the aisle, many of them are women. They are trying to make it easier to abort for reasons like bad timing or inconvenience. Under this law, every State will be a late-term abortion State, where abortions can be performed until birth for any reason with no accountability or protections for women. This is heartbreaking to me, and it is heartbreaking to all of the women I have helped overcome fertility issues over the years. I have talked to many women who have had abortions. Most of them think about that baby they aborted every day. What would their baby look like? What would their baby have grown up to be? Whom would they have married? How many children would they have had? How could that unborn baby have affected our country or our world? There is such a sorrow that follows these women post-abortion. I want those women who have had abortions to know this: Nothing is wasted, and there is forgiveness from a loving God. They can make a difference today, even now, by praying. I will continue to advocate on behalf of the right to life. I believe it is a moral and a God-given responsibility that we protect these treasured trusts from Heaven. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``no'' on this unmerciful and unthinkable bill. The sanctity of human life depends on it.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak against this unconscionable abortion on demand until birth act. I strongly oppose this extreme bill. I am a mother and a grandmother of two precious grandsons, and I am committed to protecting the life of the unborn. As a pharmacist, I have helped many women overcome fertility issues to be able to give birth to these treasured trusts from Heaven, which supporters of this bill deem expendable and nonviable. These same women were desperate to have and to hold these precious children that this bill would make so easy to abort for such reasons as inconvenience, wrong sex, medical inadequacies, and bad timing. The uncompromising push to allow on-demand abortions until birth is heartbreaking. It would overturn almost all pro-life laws put in place by States to protect those unborn children, including late-term abortion bans. We cannot allow this to happen. I will be voting no on the abortion on demand bill. And let me tell you, when I do, I will be thinking of all the precious lives that have been saved through the very pro-life protections that this bill seeks to overturn. Mr. Speaker, I urge my fellow colleagues who care about the sanctity of life to join me in opposition.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Horizon Credit Union's President/CEO Beverly Boling who has announced her plans to retire this year after 42 years of service to members of the credit union. Her retirement will be effective September 30, 2021. Boling began her career in 1979 at what was then the Municipal Employees Credit Union, in the basement of the former city hall on Center Street. During her tenure, she has seen the credit union grow from having under $500,000 in assets to $65 million. She was instrumental in the 1999 merger of Kingsport Postal and Federal Credit Union to form First Kingsport Credit Union, which then merged with AGC Credit Union in 2014 to create Horizon Credit Union. Boling also worked to introduce many of the innovations customers now see as common place to Horizon Credit Union, including debit cards and credit union-owned ATMs. The credit union industry and the local community have also benefited greatly from Boling's desire to help others. She served on the Tennessee Credit Union League Board and in the Upper East Tennessee Chapter of Credit Unions. Currently, she volunteers her time and expertise as Treasurer of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kingsport and Chairman of the Mount Carmel Block Party. When Boling started at the credit union, she was the second full-time employee ever. Now, she leaves Horizon Credit Union in the hands of a tenured, capable team of people. After she retires, Boling will embark on a life of adventure and exploration. Her plans include boarding a catamaran with Mr. Dana, her husband, and sailing to the Caribbean, Fiji and beyond.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Ms. Jewell Bell, a beloved pillar of King University and Bristol, Tennessee. Ms. Bell has dedicated over 70 years of service to this excellent academic institution and the well-being of its students. Her tenure spans nearly half of King's 152-year history. She began as a maid in the women's dormitory. In 1961, while Bristol's public schools were still segregated, she was promoted to switchboard Operator and Supervisor and given a staff of 10 assistants. She was the first African American in the region to manage a switchboard, for which she became affectionately known as ``Ma Bell.'' In 1966, her son, Lawrence, Jr. became the first African American student to attend King. As the Executive Administrative Assistant for Communications, she remains the voice of King, answering calls and serving the President's office. Jewell's legacy of community service is notable as well. She has earned the Algenon Sydney Sullivan Award, the YWCA's Tribute to Women Award, the first ever King University Lifetime Achievement Award, her own lane on the campus named after her, and being declared an Aide-de- Camp by former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, an honor that carries with it the title of Tennessee Colonel. In addition, King University offers a scholarship named the Jewell H. Bell Scholarship, which goes to help students who, as she describes, ``have fallen through the cracks and need a little extra help to stay in school.'' She has devoted many years of service to the YWCA of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, the American Red Cross, Slater Community Center, Healing Hands Health Center, and Lee Street Baptist Church. While her children were in school, she served on the PTA and was the first African American PTA Council President in the Bristol, Tennessee, city school system. Her legacy of love includes being married to her late husband, Lawrence, for 50 years, three grown children, seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. In her words, she says ``my children are grown now, but King is still my home, the students are my family and I love them. Some of my family call me Gran, some call me GG, JB, Miss Jewell, plain Jewell, Mrs. Bell, or Ma Bell. I feel like God has enabled me to be here so long because of them, and I believe I've made an impact.'' Madam Speaker, Jewell Bell has been a source of wisdom, compassion and support for students and alumni, as well as a strong community advocate for racial equality and positive change and I proudly honor her.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Navy Fireman First Class Paul E. Saylor, who, as a 21-year-old, was assigned to serve on the USS Oklahoma. The Oklahoma was moored at Ford Island in berth Fox 5 on Battleship Row of Pearl Harbor on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, when it was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The ship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize and resulted in the death of 429 crewman, including Saylor. His remains were recovered, but not identified and accounted for until Nov. 24, 2020. Saylor was born in 1920 in the First District of Tennessee in Bluff City to the Reverend Samuel and Mary Saylor. Reverend Saylor was a Free Will Baptist minister whose ministry took the family to both Unicoi and Carter Counties in Tennessee as well as Mitchell County, North Carolina before they settled in Johnson City, Tennessee. Paul was the third of four sons born to the Saylors. Saylor's legacy included not only service to his country but his admirable character, as well. Letters that he wrote to his family during his year in the United States Navy revealed his intelligence, his strong work ethic, and his generous spirit. Growing up the son of a Free Will Baptist minister during the Great Depression gave Paul a deeply personal understanding of the financial burden his family faced. Lower enlisted men received very little pay during the early 1940s however, Paul's letters indicated that he was sending money home to his parents showing a strong sense of responsibility. He also was driven to succeed as his writings revealed that he figured out early that if he studied hard and passed his exams he could be promoted. His time of service was just over a year, but he was quickly promoted to Fireman First Class. Paul Saylor's remains were unidentified, like many others, until modem analysis revealed his identity, allowing him to be brought home for a proper burial on August 20, 2021. Although his life was tragically cut short, his memory will continue to live and generations to come will see his name recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others who are missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Navy Fireman First Class Paul E. Saylor's legacy and ultimate sacrifice to our Nation. He represents the spirit and sacrifice that has made the First District of Tennessee as well as these United States, great.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Major General Gary Harrell, who is a distinguished veteran that has served our country in numerous combat operations and in both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After an accomplished career in service to our country, Gary retired as the Deputy Commanding General of the United States Army Special Operations Command. It is my privilege to recognize him for his service and to honor his sacrifice to our country. Gary earned his bachelor's degree in industrial technology from East Tennessee State University in 1973. His distinguished career began shortly after when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Anti-Tank (TOW) platoon leader. In 1977, having earned a Green Beret, he was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group in Panama. Gary was deployed to Grenada during ``Operation Urgent Fury,'' and then took part in combat operations in Panama with ``Operation Just Cause.'' He was also sent to the Middle East during ``Desert Shield'' and ``Desert Storm,'' and as commander of the special operation Delta Force, he was wounded by mortar fire during United Nations relief efforts in Somalia, a story chronicled in the book and movie ``Black Hawk Down.'' In 2001, Gary was Assistant Division Commander for the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan, and during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he led the largest special operations force assembled since World War II. He retired in 2008 as the Deputy Commanding General of the United States Army Special Operations Command. Gary's awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal (with V- device and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), and the Purple Heart among many others. Gary is hailed as an expert in the special operations community, and he is highly respected by his colleagues and friends. He has been described as having ``unmatched expertise,'' and at his retirement ceremony in 2008, Lt. Gen. Robert Wagner stated, ``If it was complex, if it was difficult or critical to our nation, Gary was there.'' When being inducted into the ETSU ROTC Hall of Fame, it was said that ``to say General Harrell is a legend would be an absolute understatement.'' In retirement, Gary has served in several roles, including as Director General for King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) in Amman, Jordan and Senior Vice President of Special Operations and Intelligence Advisory Group for CUBIC Applications Inc. He and his wife, Jennifer, have been blessed with three children and six grandchildren. I am proud to join the chorus of Gary's family, friends, colleagues, and admirers in thanking him for his dedicated service to our Nation.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Lt. Colonel Gerald W. Boston Retired of Baneberry, Tennessee. Jerry was born in Oklahoma of Cherokee Heritage. The family moved to Tennessee where he spent his younger years growing up in the Mill Springs community of Jefferson County, Tennessee and he celebrated his eighty-sixth birthday on August 23, 2021. He attended Jefferson High School and then Carson Newman College. He graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corp in 1959. His career in the Marine Corps led him to the war in Vietnam where he was commander of ground reaction forces involved in heavy fighting at the DMZ and the TET combat mission. He also served in Rota, Spain and later attended and graduated the ``Command and Staff'' College in Quantico, Virginia. Due to his experience and his training, he was sent back to Vietnam to serve as an Advisor to the Vietnamese Marines who were engaged in severe combat with the North Vietnamese Army. Later he was assigned to Hawaii and was Battalion Commander of the 2nd BN, 4th Marines. In 1982, he retired after serving his country for twenty-three years in the United States Marines Corp. After his career in the United States Marine Corps, Colonel Boston transitioned to civilian life and worked in California's Silicon Valley's high-tech industry working for ATARI and then Sun Microsystems, where be would go on to build high tech campuses across the United States. Upon retirement, he came home to Jefferson County, Tennessee where he volunteered and contributed greatly to the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and Baneberry City government. Jerry's legacy of love includes his marriage to his wonderful wife, Marilynn, whom he has been married to since Valentine's Day in 1959, and their two children, Andy and Karen, who have given him and Marilynn four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Madam Speaker, Lt. Colonel Jerry Boston has served our country faithfully, along with his community and family and I proudly honor him.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Roland Dykes, III, a beloved pillar of Newport in Cocke County, Tennessee. Mr. Dykes is currently the Mayor of the City of Newport, having followed in the footsteps of his father. He is a graduate of Jacksonville University where he earned his MBA; the University of Tennessee- Knoxville where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1974; and Cocke County High School in 1969 where he graduated with honors. He retired from Quaker Oats/PepsiCo in 2012 and then worked briefly as an independent marketing consultant in the beverage industry before retiring for good in 2013 to pursue volunteer and political opportunities. His illustrious career includes stints working for such notable companies as Xerox, DuPont, AT&T, and Quaker Oats in positions of leadership ranging from District Manager, Regional Manager and Area Manager. Roland's legacy of community service is notable as well. He is a graduate of both the East Tennessee Regional Leadership program and Cocke County's Leadership program. Mr. Dykes has served as the President of the Tanner Preservation Alliance, an organization to preserve the first school for African Americans in Cocke County. He is a former President of the Tennessee Picnic Association, served on the Board of Directors for Newport Utilities and served as Chairman. He is the immediate Past Chair of the East Tennessee Development District and currently chairs the Policy Council of the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency. His civic and community service also includes being active with the Newport Kiwanis Club and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. His legacy of love includes being married to his wife, Rhonda, and they will celebrate 45 years of marriage on November 26, 2021. They have one son, Roland IV. Mr. Dykes will be honored by the Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service with the Cocke County Citizenship Award in September of 2021. Madam Speaker, Roland Dykes, III has been a source of leadership, compassion, and support for the citizens of Newport and Cocke County as well as a strong community advocate for racial equality and positive change. I proudly honor him.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and service of Mr. George Lawson of Sevierville, Tennessee. George was born on August 6, 1949 and passed away on Thursday, August 5, 2021. He was bonded as a deputy in 1972 and was elected in 1976 to serve as a Constable for Sevier County. His years of service made him one of the longest serving elected officials in the State of Tennessee, and he loved serving his community and his church family. Along the way, he mentored and inspired many young adults to serve in law enforcement including one, Matt Grooms; who went on to become a United States Border Patrol Agent and eventually an agent with the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Lawson was a self-employed business owner and his flexible schedule enabled him to serve his fellow citizens as their Constable. For decades he served the citizens of Sevier County as a Constable with the familiar slogan, ``my services as your Constable are always as close as your telephone'' and as the times changed, he offered his personal cell phone to his fellow citizens to be available to them. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and at one point served as a deputy Sheriff in Sevier County. He helped lives including his own Sheriff in one dangerous setting and pulled a woman to safety and saved her from drowning in the Little Pigeon River. He was a true public servant. George's legacy of love includes his marriage to his wonderful wife, Charlotte, and his children, Cindy, Tammy and son, Little George Stephen, who have given he and Charlotte seven grandchildren. Madam Speaker, George Lawson has faithfully served his community and family, and I proudly honor him.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Honorable Tom Wright of Greeneville, Tennessee. Mr. Wright currently serves as Circuit Court Judge for the State of Tennessee's Third Judicial District. He was elected to the position in 2006 and reelected in 2014. Prior to his election as Circuit Judge, he served for eight years as the General Sessions and Juvenile Judge for Greene County, Tennessee, having been elected to that position in 1998. Judge Wright will be retiring September 1 to spend more time with his family, including two children, their spouses, and grandchildren at two separate Army bases, with the third grandchild coming soon. Tom graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law with high honors in 1983 and was selected for membership in the Order of the Coif. Following his graduation from law school, he worked briefly for Campus Crusade for Christ before accepting a position as a Judicial Law Clerk for United States District Judge Thomas G. Hull. Tom was in the private practice of law for several years following the judicial clerkship then accepted the position of Assistant Federal Community Defender for upper East Tennessee. He served as Federal Defender for six years before his election as Judge in 1998. Judge Wright has been active with the Greeneville High School football team as their chaplain, Young Life, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He says, ``I thank God for the opportunity to mentor, teach, and encourage these folks in their faith. Serving the State of Tennessee and the people of the Third Judicial District has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am so incredibly grateful to God and the people of Greene, Hawkins, Hamblen, and Hancock counties for giving me the opportunity.'' Madam Speaker, Judge Tom Wright has been an outstanding judge and valuable contributor to the Greeneville community. I proudly honor him.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Hiram ``H'' Bowlin, who is a distinguished veteran that served our country in World War II and recently celebrated his 101st birthday on June 7, 2021. I extend my sincerest gratitude to Hiram for his dedicated service to our country, and I further thank him for his continued service to our community. I am delighted to wish him a very happy and joyful 101st birthday. Hiram's service began when he was sent to Europe and assigned to the 94th Infantry, which was a part of the 3rd Army commanded by the great General George Patton. This infantry saw a total of 209 days of combat and participated in campaigns in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes- Alsace, and Central Europe. Hiram served as a Communications Sergeant and was responsible for stringing ``commo wire'' to different command posts during the war. He was discharged January 16, 1946, and he returned home to the U.S. on February 6, 1946. For his service, Hiram has been awarded the Bronze Star, the World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the M-1 Rifle Marksmanship Badge Medal, among other awards. Hiram is described by his friends as a man of God who is beloved by his community. He often exchanges a warm smile and friendly wave with his neighbors as they pass by his home. He spent his 101st birthday surrounded by his friends and loved ones and even got the opportunity to ride in an antique fire truck that is as old as Hiram himself. When asked about the secret to living a long life by a local reporter, Hiram jokingly quipped, ``Keep breathing.'' Hiram is a blessing to everyone that knows him, and he has made a large impact on our community. He is known as a kind, caring man who loves Jesus. Veterans like Hiram are the backbone of our nation, and we owe them our sincerest gratitude. His service and sacrifice are a testament to his character and his deep love for our country. I want to extend my deepest thanks to Hiram for his dedicated service to our nation, and once again, wish him a very happy birthday.