Evan Jenkins

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on May 23, 2015, the world lost one of the brightest mathematicians of the 20th century. John Nash, Jr., and his wife, Alicia, were tragically killed in a car accident, and I offer my sincerest condolences to their family. John Nash, Jr., was born in Bluefield, West Virginia, on June 13, 1928. At a young age, he displayed immense intelligence and an affinity for mathematics. Many may know Dr. Nash's story from the movie, ``A Beautiful Mind,'' where he was portrayed by actor Russell Crowe, but many are unaware of the groundbreaking impacts he had in the field of mathematics and economics. In 1994, Dr. Nash shared a Nobel Prize in economics for his work on game theory. Dr. Nash's work developed the concept of an equilibrium in noncooperative games that has come to be known as the Nash equilibrium. Today, economics students across the world are familiar with Dr. Nash's contributions to the field of economics, studying the Nash equilibrium and game theory exclusively. He revolutionized economics, and his work will have lasting impacts in business, sports, politics, and is even applicable to nuclear deterrence theories. Dr. Nash's work in pure mathematics is just as important and revolutionary as his work on game theory. Dr. John Nash was not only a genius, he was also an advocate for those suffering from mental health issues. As many who have seen the film know, Dr. Nash suffered from mental illness. He used his struggles as a way to help others with mental health problems, becoming a staunch supporter for awareness and outreach for those with mental health issues. Dr. Nash's advocacy work and brilliance will be missed by so many. This Saturday would have been John Nash's 87th birthday. Dr. Nash was clearly taken from us too soon, but his work and his advocacy will live on. The best way we can honor his legacy is to continue his fight for treatment, for education, and for dignity for those facing mental health issues and their families.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. I thank the Chairman for his good work. Mr. Chairman, I have the honor of serving on the Appropriations Committee, which enables me to have input into our spending priorities. This bill has a number of important programs. I want to highlight drug courts. Drug courts have a proven track record. Drug courts are effective and efficient. Drug courts work. A respected pastor and community leader in my State said: ``Prisons are for people we are really scared of, not just mad at.'' The drug epidemic continues to ravage my State, and drug courts give a needed alternative to sending those suffering from addiction to jail. Drug courts allow individuals to undergo treatment, get help staying clean, and reenter society as a productive individual. West Virginia drug courts are succeeding. Earlier this year, West Virginia honored the first 1,000 adults and juveniles to successfully complete the program. While no single program will solve the drug epidemic, we must continue to support programs that work. This bill maintains critical funding for a number of other programs that will help those trying to end this crisis. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a team of talented students from Huntington High School and Huntington Middle School in Huntington, West Virginia, for their participation in the 2015 Science Olympiad National Tournament at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln May 15-16. Their participation is a first for any school from West Virginia and is testament to the great accomplishments of West Virginia students in the subject areas of science, technology, engineering and math. It is these students that are our future engineers, mathematicians, physicians, and if the results from this competition are any indication, our future is in great hands. I also want to recognize the teachers and other volunteers that made this event possible to attend for the students. The knowledge and passion they convey to the students is certainly reflected in the impressive work that they do. In closing, I would like to list the names of those who represented the great state of West Virginia at the 2015 Science Olympiad National Tournament: Science Olympiad team members from Huntington Middle School include: Team Coach Leann Haines, Tess Anderson, Beth Bell, Khaled El-Shazly, Allyson Ey, Elena Ferguson, Shylah Johnson, Phillip Murphy, Kayla Patrick, Rankin Payne, Sam Pittman, Clara Poling, Perin Schray, Isaac Sutherland, Megan Wolf, Demetrios Svingos, Cassidy Woodrum. Science Olympiad team members from Huntington High School include: Team Coach William Strait, Adam Cordingley, Sarah Cordingley, Denise Dawley, Omar Salem, Abdullah Hijazi, Alicia Bird, Zach Perry, Triston Poston, Will Frazier, Kyle Grimes, John Holbrook, Phillip Murphy, Thad Taylor, Steven Richbart, Yazan Khader and Levi Parett.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. I thank the chairman. Mr. Chair, I was elected to fight for the people of the Third Congressional District. That is what I am doing, and that is what this bill does. As members of the Appropriations Committee, we are using the power of the purse. This bill provides full funding for key Army Corps of Engineers projects in my district, nearly $26 million for projects in southern West Virginia--East Lynn, Summersville, Bluestone, and Beech Fork lakes--all critically important. This bill supports the excellent work of the Appalachian Regional Commission, making a real difference in real people's lives. This bill actually adds an additional $5 million over last year's funding. And this bill also says no to funding for the administration's war on coal, no to expanding the definitions of the ``waters of the U.S.,'' and no to new regulations on fill material. This is a good bill, and I urge its passage.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor today to introduce my first bill, a resolution to protect black lung benefits. Miners work hard to keep the lights on, to power our homes and businesses, and to provide for their own families. In West Virginia alone, over 18,000 men and women work in the coal mines. It is good work, it is important work, work that puts food on the table and provides a better life for their families. While great strides have been made in mine safety, some miners will still develop black lung disease. The Federal Government made a promise decades ago to help coal miners and their families if miners develop black lung. Since 1973, miners have known that if they get black lung, the Federal Government will be there and stand up for them. More than 100,000 miners from West Virginia have filed for black lung benefits. And today, almost 5,000 miners and their families depend on these benefits for care for their families when they are no longer able to work. Congress must uphold, protect, and secure these crucial benefits for our hardworking miners and their families. As we in Congress work on health care reform, we must remember the miners who toil above ground and underground to power our Nation. Any reforms must secure the black lung benefits program and ensure that these critical benefits will be available for our miners and their families. We made them a promise. We must keep that promise.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 51, due to inclement weather, I was unable to vote on H.R. 361, Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 53 due to inclement weather, I was unable to vote on H.R. 623, Social Media Working Group Act. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 52 due to inclement weather, I was unable to vote on H.R. 615, Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Amendment II: ``A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.''