Diana Harshbarger

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department in Sevier County in the First Congressional District in Tennessee which recently celebrated fifty years of protecting and serving their community. Fire protection in our great Nation began as an all-volunteer service and in Seymour that rich tradition of volunteer service continues today. In 1971, Seymour was a small community comprised of family farms and some small businesses. The owners of those businesses made the wise decision to establish fire protection for their homes and businesses as there was no such service in the thirty mile stretch between Knoxville and Sevierville. And thus, with the purchase of a new Boardman Class A fire engine, the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department was born. In that first year, twelve firefighters responded to 24 calls for service and their engine was stored outside in a vacant lot at the corner of Chapman Highway and Old Sevierville Pike. Over the last fifty years, as the community of Seymour has grown and gone from zero stoplights to eight and those family farms have developed into subdivisions, the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department has also grown to serve over 40,000 people, 400 businesses, 70 churches, 2 private schools, 8 public schools and Johnson University. The Fire District is spread across three Tennessee counties: Blount, Knox, and Sevier, covering a response area of almost 120 square miles. The Department now has six stations, 26 pieces of equipment and over 60 volunteers that continue to answer the call of duty. With all these changes, the original fire truck remains and serves as a reminder of the many volunteers who have responded to the call of duty over these last five decades. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department on fifty years of service. I am proud to represent these volunteers and the communities they serve.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Hyde amendment. As a mother and grandmother of two precious grandsons, I am committed to protecting the life of the unborn. Since enacted, the Hyde amendment ban on taxpayer-funded abortions has saved nearly 2\1/2\ million lives. We cannot understate the importance of this amendment in saving these precious, innocent lives. I have taken care of young women with infertility problems for over 30 years, and they would love to cradle a precious baby in their arms. So many want to discard that precious child as just an unnecessary interruption in their way of life. This is why we need to enact H.R. 18, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, to ensure these pro-life protections remain in place. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18 and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Dale Edward Whitehead, who recently lost his battle with lung cancer after spending his life serving his community and his country. Dale graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences before going on to graduate from the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business with a Master's Degree in Business Administration. He also attended the United States Defense Language Institute, where he was awarded an Associate of Arts Degree in Arabic. Dale served as a Cryptologic Arabic Linguist, Sergeant E-5 in the United States Marine Corps from 1999 to 2004. Dale not only honorably served his country in Iraq, he was at the forefront of the search for weapons of mass destruction in Operation Iraqi Freedom. For his brave service, Dale was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with Combat ``V''), the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation-Navy, and the Marine Corps Rifle Badge (Sharpshooter). After his return from Iraq, Dale worked as a program manager for 6 years for Poole & Associates as well as SAIC. In 2010, Dale joined General Dynamics where he became a Senior Program Manager and ultimately rose to the level of Director. In 2014, Dale played an important role in Range Generation Next (RGNext) (a joint venture of General Dynamics IT and Raytheon) in bidding and winning the United States Airforce's Launch and Test Range Integrated Services Contract valued at $2 billion. The contract provided a sole prime contractor responsible for operations, organizational and depot-level maintenance as well as sustainment at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Vandenberg Air Force Base. This was a significant and transformational contract which included the engineering support to all Space launch activities. RGNext was awarded this contract in April of 2015, and Dale was subsequently appointed as Deputy Program Manager of the contract. In this role he focused on mission and program leadership, organizational development, new business change proposals, and day to day management activities of the broad contract. Dale excelled in working with people and enjoyed the comradery of building successful teams in the workplace. His RGNext co- workers have shared with me that his constant mentorship helped them professionally and personally and they will forever be better for it. As a non-smoker and fitness advocate with no family cancer history, it is strongly suspected by his doctors that Dale's terminal lung cancer was most likely due to his exposure to Yellow Cake Uranium and Burn Pit toxicities during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dale's life underscores the need for the U.S. government to support veterans like him, who have been exposed to dangerous agents in the theatre of war and now face sickness or even death. We must uplift our veterans and honor their sacrifice to our country. Dale did an outstanding job while here on earth, and he served our country fearlessly. He made a difference in his professional career, and his many co-workers have described him as incredibly personable, a great supportive leader, a wonderful person, and a dependable friend whose love for his family was always self-evident. I believe one thing Dale had in common with my fellow East Tennesseans was his deep respect for his country that drove him to spend years in service both at home and abroad. Those who had the opportunity to interact with him have shared with me how very friendly and an openly giving person he was and will be remembered for all of eternity as. Dale will forever be cherished as a loving family man to his wife, Erin, and his sons Henry, Nathan, and George. Those who could find a way to describe him in a single short sentence would say he was and will forever always be a patriotic Marine veteran and a loving family man. All those touched by his life are better for knowing him.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the important need for an investigation into China's role in the origin of COVID-19. More than 600,000 Americans and 3.8 million people have died worldwide from the virus, and now it is becoming more evident than ever that the virus may have originated from a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. It is also clear that China withheld critical information at the beginning of the pandemic to cover up how deadly the virus could become. We have demanded an investigation to find out what Chinese Communist Party leaders knew and when they knew it. My colleagues from across the aisle have blocked our attempts. Millions have died and countless others have suffered from the economic effects of the pandemic. The American people deserve answers as to how the outbreak originated, and the Chinese Communist Party must be held accountable if they are responsible for the outbreak and its global spread. The bottom line is this: China lied and people did die. We need an investigation now.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium located in the City of Kingsport, in our First Congressional District in Tennessee, that is celebrating their golden anniversary of 50 years. Since 1971, Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium has been a continuing resource to the citizens of Kingsport. Since the region's humble beginnings in the late 1700s, Bays Mountain provided for the families who settled there with land to farm and wood to build houses, a church, and a school. From the early 1800s to the early 1900s, Bays Mountain was the source of life for settlers and citizens. In 1914, one of Kingsport's founders, J. Fred Johnson, began buying up land on the mountain in order to create a lake. The next year, work began on a dam with much of that work being done by family members of those living on and around the mountain. The lake created by the dam served the city until 1944 when the city outgrew the capacity. Over the next two decades, the Mountain segued into a source of sustenance for its citizens to a resource to be recognized for its history and contribution to the livelihood of Kingsport. It was this transition that in 1965 led to the appointment of a committee to study ways to develop the mountain into a park by then Kingsport Mayor, Hugh Rule. After completion of the study, the City of Kingsport hired the National Audubon Society to help in the design of a park. The National Audubon Society's recommendations were to designate the area as a nature preserve to also allow hiking, naturalist-led activities, natural history studies, research, and leisure activities such as photography, painting wildlife observation and school day-use. They also recommended building a maintenance shed, a residence for a caretaker and an interpretive nature center. In short, the park was to be of great service to the public, including schools, while also serving to preserve the natural habitat it featured. Development of these plans began in 1968 and, with assistance from Tennessee Eastman Company, as well as a bond referendum voted on by the citizens, the work culminated on May 24, 1971, with the opening of what our citizens know today as Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium. Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium is the largest city owned park in the State of Tennessee with its 3,650-acre nature preserve, 40 miles of recreational trails, an adventure ropes course, and the original 44- acre lake. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium as a jewel and part of the rich history of Tennessee's First Congressional District.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 225 years of Tennessee statehood. June 1, 2021 began a year-long celebration which will rightfully begin in the oldest town in Tennessee, Jonesborough, located in the First Congressional District and which was established seventeen years before Tennessee was granted statehood. The original territory of Tennessee consisted of six counties-- Washington, Sullivan, Greene, Davidson, Sumner, and Tennessee (later Montgomery & Robertson)--under the jurisdiction of North Carolina from 1777 to 1788. The counties requested protection from Native Americans and the right to navigate the Mississippi River but North Carolina neglected these territories so, in 1784, dissatisfied East Tennesseans formed the breakaway state of Franklin, or ``Frankland,'' under the direction of John Sevier, the newly named governor. As North Carolinian officials discovered the territory's attempted independence, they slowly reasserted their authority over the area. Disagreements among rival factions, coupled with the North Carolina resistance, doomed the state of Franklin, which passed out of existence in 1788. The following year, North Carolina gave its Tennessee lands to the Federal government which designated it as the Territory of the United States, South of the River Ohio, also known as the Southwest Territory. William Blount governed the territory and, in 1795, called for a constitutional convention in Knoxville to begin the process of joining the Union. Tennessee became the first Federal territory to apply for statehood and, after a close vote on June 1, 1796, became the 16th state of the Union. Our Governor, Bill Lee, has declared the theme for this yearlong celebration ``Untold Tennessee.'' He has encouraged Tennesseans to share their untold stories of people, places and events that have shaped our state since its beginning. With Jonesborough being the oldest town in Tennessee, established seventeen years prior to statehood, and home to the International Storytelling Center, it is only fitting that those stories begin to be told here. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the Great State of Tennessee on 225 years of statehood and Jonesborough, located in the First Congressional District, on being the site of the kickoff of the yearlong celebration. I am proud to be a Tennessean and, even more so, to represent the people of the First District who will all be part of the next 225 years of stories that will continue to shape our state.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize a boys basketball team from Greeneville City High School, in our First Congressional District in Tennessee, that recently won the 2A State Championship. The Greeneville Greene Devils, under the leadership of Head Coach Brad Woolsey, and Assistant Coaches Nathan Hall and Josh Bennett, won its first state championship in program history just one year after the team punched their ticket to the state tournament that ended up being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That unfilled journey tested their mettle and served as a guiding force leading them to a 31- 6 record for this season. The Greeneville Greene Devils opened the state tournament by leading the Bolivar Central Tigers of Hardeman County for all but 1 :53 seconds of the game which ended in a 61-58 victory for Greeneville. The Greene Devils then faced the Upperman Bees of Putnam County in the semifinals. Upperman proved to be a worthy opponent claiming the lead for over half of the game, but the Greene Devils persevered and came out on top 47- 41. The only thing standing in their way of overall victory was the 25- 1 Jackson South Side Hawks of Jackson, TN. Greeneville led for most of the game, but the Hawks fought their way to a one-point lead with just 4:00 minutes left. With ice in their veins, however, the Greene Devils regained the lead and never looked back ending with a 47-46 victory. I am so very proud of these young men and their coaches. Winning a state championship is a monumental accomplishment and is a testament to their commitment to their mission statement which is to ``embody the principles and practices of a community-minded, championship basketball program by: utilizing gifts and influence, emphasizing other-centeredness, and developing athleticism and basketball skill.'' I commend these young men, their excellent coaching staff and the statisticians and videographers who support them on this well-deserved title. I wish them equal success in their future athletic and academic pursuits. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the Greeneville High School Greene Devils on winning the 2A State Championship and representing Tennessee's First Congressional District with such distinction. I am proud to represent these students and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the PRO Act. The bill is nothing more than a payoff to union bosses at the expense of the American workers and our businesses. This bill would abolish States' right-to-work laws, like ours in Tennessee. This would force workers to give money to unions from their hard-earned paychecks, even if they don't want union representation. Where do these union contributions end up? Well, let me tell you: with left-wing political activist groups. $1.6 billion--and that is billion, with a B--in union member dues went to these groups between 2010 and 2018 alone. Last week, the Democrats passed a bill to direct tax dollars to political campaigns. And if that wasn't enough, now they are trying to force more workers to pay union dues so union bosses have more cash to funnel as political donations to left-wing groups. So let me ask you, America: Should Members of Congress be able to tell others how to do their jobs and who can employ you? I think not. This bill is just another progressive power grab, and American workers and businesses deserve better.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the attempts to take away our Second Amendment rights. As a gun owner myself, I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, and for me, this support is personal. Years ago, myself and my employees were held at gunpoint in my own pharmacy. Fortunately, we all made it out safe. Do you want to know why we made it out safe? Because we had a gun as well. But I know we were more fortunate than most who have a similar experience. I have utilized my gun carry permit ever since. I believe Americans should have the right to defend themselves like I did. This experience is just one reason why I oppose attempts to weaken our right to carry. Without our Second Amendment rights, we undermine our own rights to self-defense for ourselves, our businesses, and our families. This would be a terrible mistake, to try to take away our inalienable right to self-defense. Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in opposing any legislation that threatens our Second Amendment rights, including H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1 today. Despite its name, this act is not for the people. It is for the politicians seeking power. East Tennesseans and Americans want election reform that increases the security and integrity of our election, and they are demanding it. Instead, this bill erodes the public confidence in our elections. This bill picks D.C. bureaucrats over State and local officials, and it uses hard-earned tax dollars to fund political campaigns by a 6-to-1 fund- matching provision. Now, let me repeat that. It is a 6-to-1 fund- matching provision. I am sure my fellow east Tennesseans agree this is a waste of money. Wouldn't you rather have our tax dollars used to fund measures to safely open schools or to expand critical access to rural broadband? These are the priorities we need to fund, not political power grabs and public financing of our own political campaigns. Mr. Speaker, I oppose, and I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 1.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the so-called Equality Act. Rather than delivering equality, this bill undermines protections for women and for girls. And simply put, women's shelters should remain women's shelters and not allow biological men to intrude. And girls' sports should remain sports for girls. This is not equal opportunity. This is catastrophic for girls' sports. This is what the Equality Act seeks to overturn, and that is fairness in girls' sports. All of this is even before mentioning the provisions that would undermine religious freedom. Religious organizations shouldn't be forced to act contrary to their beliefs. This is why they call it religious freedom, after all. This bill poses a dangerous threat to free speech, religious freedom, and pro-life, the sanctity of life. This, honestly, goes against everything that I believe as a Christian and I will be opposing this bill.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the right to life. As a mother, a grandmother of two precious grandsons, and the other mother to many students and young people who I have mentored over the years, I am truly committed to saving the lives of the unborn. As a pharmacist, I have helped many women through the years with infertility issues and helped them achieve successful pregnancies. These women were desperate to have and to hold those precious children that many women want to abort. That is why 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. We always must remember to protect the most vulnerable among us and give a voice to those voiceless babies, those precious children that somebody would want and somebody would nurture and somebody would love.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against impeachment of our sitting President, Donald J. Trump. You can tell the American people that this is a vote to impeach upon the grounds of inciting violence and insurrection, but the American people see a double standard. They see a standard applied to those on the left who commit violence, and they see a standard applied to those on the right who commit violence. The American people see this, and they understand it. I have been here all of 1 week, and what I see instead of lawmakers who are truth-seekers, I see lawmakers who are power-seekers. That is never good--never good. What a shame. What a shame. The American people are watching to see how their elected officials respond at this moment in history. Will you vote to mend or will you vote to further divide this country? I am urging you to use this opportunity to be the leaders the American people are seeking for such a time as this. God help us as a nation, and I pray that God will keep His hand upon on the greatest nation that the world has ever seen.