Blaine Luetkemeyer

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a locally coordinated, social media-based fundraiser that was held recently in Columbia, MO, for the Joplin tornado relief effort that raised more than $1 million. This story begins on Sunday, May 22, 2011 with Brent Beshore, a Joplin native turned Columbia entrepreneur, who immediately after the tornado struck Joplin began to call, email, text and Facebook family and friends to ensure they were safe. Wanting more information, but without anywhere to go, Brent created a Facebook page titled ``Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery'' so others would have a place to get and share information. Brent then began pulling information from a Twitter feed set up to track Joplin and tornado keywords, information and requests and sharing it with the group. The Facebook page grew almost instantaneously from 60 likes, to 600, then to 6000 and continued to grow at an almost exponential pace. The group currently has over 170,000 likes. Brent reached out to Tim Rich, executive director of the Heart of Missouri United Way and a former staff member for my predecessor, Congressman Kenny Hulshof, to set up a fund for relief efforts. Tim without hesitation set up a special fund that would go one hundred percent of its proceeds to Joplin tornado relief. Within hours of the tornado, Brent and Tim had established the world's first dedicated tornado relief fund for Joplin. They quickly established an ambitious fundraising goal of $500,000. KOMU-TV, the NBC-affiliated television station for Mid-Missouri also played a key role in getting the word out about the fundraising efforts and even held a telethon to assist Joplin. Through these efforts donations came in from small towns in Missouri to as far away as Saudi Arabia, Sweden and South Africa. A simple idea had quickly turned into a global operation. Brent was in contact with politicians, musicians, disaster relief experts, and Fortune 500 charitable foundations. Social media was constantly updated and organized. The results were nothing short of astonishing. By Thursday May 26, their fundraising efforts surpassed their greatest expectations, taking in over $1 million. The team had executed a flawless event including an on-air prime time telethon and had collected donations from around the world. The Facebook page was referenced as a go-to resource by most national media outlets. The relief efforts were even re-tweeted by Oprah Winfrey. The idea of one man, executed with the help of his friends and his community, has benefited so many. I ask my colleagues in joining me and thanking all the volunteers who made this effort a resounding success. I also ask my colleagues to continue to keep all of the people impacted by this disaster in their thoughts and prayers.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize The Zimmer Radio Group for their stunning public service during the devastating tornados in Joplin. As the tornados began their devastating assault on Joplin, and people began to seek refuge for their lives, employees from the Zimmer Radio Group based in the southwest Missouri city continued their coverage of the powerful storm. After the tornados had subsided, many local citizens were left with destroyed homes, broken memories, or worse, lost loved ones. Many citizens had no way of knowing if their families were safe due to most communication possibilities being destroyed by the tornados. The staff of Zimmer Radio Group stepped in and immediately began contributing to the efforts of relief. They connected victims over their radio broadcasts by providing an outlet for people to locate their loved ones, and to provide guidance on where they can seek shelter and food. It is times like these that we all need to rally around our fellow Missourians. The Zimmer Radio Group has led the way by setting a premier example of what disaster relief really means. In the wake of such a tremendous disaster, Zimmer has stepped up to the challenge and continued to help people in need of finding relief. As fellow citizens we are all called to help one another in times of need. We take for granted the things we have, until we have lost them. Things like food, water, and shelter have become such a routine part of life, that when they are stolen from us, we are at the mercy of our fellow man. I urge all of us to lend a hand and assist those who have been affected by this tragedy. As a friend, American, and Missourian, my thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Joplin and the state of Missouri who have fallen victim to such powerful forces of nature that have swept across our great state. I encourage those who are able, to assist people who have lost their homes, and I pray that those who have lost loved ones find comfort and relief in the days and weeks to come.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to rise in support of an amendment that would allow for the review of service records of eligible Jewish American veterans from World War I. I want to thank Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith, along with my colleagues who sponsored this legislation, for their support of this important issue. We owe much to the patriotic Americans who have worn and are wearing the uniforms of our Nation's Armed Forces. Our country has been blessed to have citizens who have selflessly volunteered to defend our Nation and our freedom. Unfortunately, due to discrimination, qualified soldiers have not been considered for the Medal of Honor, which is the highest military decoration awarded by our government. In 2001, Congress passed the Leonard Kravitz Jewish War Veterans Act, which had broad bipartisan support. This important piece of legislation presented Jewish soldiers the opportunity to receive the Medal of Honor for their service in World War II. However, Jewish veterans of World War I faced similar discrimination, and have not yet been afforded the opportunity to receive recognition for their service. Last Congress, this amendment was included as part of an en bloc group of amendments that was agreed to by the House by a vote of 416-1. We urge its adoption.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, on May 23, 2011, I missed three rollcall votes (Nos. 330-332)--H.R. 1627, H.R. 1383 and H.R. 1657-- because of a delayed flight due to inclement weather. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on each of the aforementioned rollcall votes.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Faith Andrulot, a national recipient of the Excellence in Nursing Award from Secretary Eric Shinseki of the Department of Veterans Affairs on May 10, 2011. Ms. Andrulot is a resident of Moberly, Missouri, and has been employed by the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital as a licensed practical nurse since 1994. After graduating from Ivy Tech State College in Bloomington, Indiana, Faith worked at Bloomington Hospital. Following her time there, she came to Columbia, Missouri, to the Truman Veterans' Hospital. Faith has worked as a medical surgical nurse in the Virginia community and in the private sector, at the Community Living Center, in hospice care, specialty clinics, and Primary Care clinics. Ms. Andrulot has played a part in the Root Cause analysis team, helping to advance patient safety. In her free time, she works as a member of the LPN Standards Board and the Patient Aligned Care Team. The Department of Veterans Affairs honors local recipients for the Excellence in Nursing Award. Ms. Andrulot was one of only 21 nurses chosen at the network level to progress to the national level. We recognize her today for her strong, team-oriented approach to improving the care of our nation's veterans. Her colleagues, husband, and three children are very proud of the work she has done to better her community. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring Faith Andrulot on her great accomplishment of receiving this prestigious award.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kraft Foods' Oscar Mayer plant in Columbia, MO, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary on May 7th. The plant opened in 1985 and is now a 183,000-square-foot structure located on 30 acres. It has been a formidable force in boosting Columbia's economy, employing over 600 people in the area. Twenty of the plant's employees have dedicated their service since the plant opened over two decades ago, contributing considerably to the plant's ranking as one of the top ten employers in the city. The Oscar Mayer plant has also played a significant role in contributing to the community of Columbia and its citizens. Over the past 26 years, the plant has produced over 28 billion hot dogs in the last 25 years, enough for over 100 trips around the world laid end-to- end. On average, the Columbia plant donates 70,000 pounds of hot dogs to the Central Missouri Food Bank annually, which is the only source of protein for the food bank. Through Kraft Foods' contributions programs, the facility donates to non-profit organizations for the alleviation of hunger and to promote healthy lifestyles, to support the social service and cultural activities of its employees in the communities where they live and work, and to provide humanitarian aid. Contributions made by the Kraft Foods facility in Columbia have done much to greatly enhance both the business climate and the quality of life for the entire population of the city, in addition to building upon the great sense of pride in those individuals associated with it. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in wishing the employees of the Columbia Oscar Mayer plant and the citizens of Columbia, MO, congratulations on reaching this significant milestone.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Kathy Steinhoff, a math teacher at Jefferson Junior High School in Columbia for receiving the NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence on February 11, 2011. Ms. Steinhoff should be commended for her hard work and dedication to the students in her school district and her community. The NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence is a prestigious award, and we are proud she is representing our great state of Missouri and the 9th district. Advancement in the fields of mathematics is integral to the development and competitiveness of America in the future, and I am honored to congratulate Ms. Steinhoff on her outstanding achievement. Ms. Steinhoff was selected from five finalists to receive the NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes effective teaching skills and advocacy for the educational profession. Steinhoff won the award for her unique teaching style and the use of technology in her lessons, such as interactive SMART Boards and clickers, to help her eighth- and ninth-grade students. She also uploads podcasts, which record her teaching difficult math problems, so that her students can revisit her lessons later to study. Her innovative teaching style has made her a favorite among students and a leader among her peers. It is critical for the future of our country that students have access to a quality education. Without excellent teachers, our schools fail our students and communities. Ms. Steinhoff exemplifies what it means to be an excellent teacher, and her dedication to her students and community is worthy of high praise. I ask that you join me in recognizing Kathy Steinhoff for her excellence in the field of education.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would prohibit U.S. contributions to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an entity that is fraught with waste and engaged in dubious science. The IPCC advises governments around the world on climate change, and supporters of cap-and-trade legislation have used the questionable science, the findings of the IPCC, as reasons to support onerous legislation. Criticism of this science intensified over the last 2 years when emails publicly released from a university in England showed that leading global scientists intentionally manipulated climate data and suppressed legitimate arguments in peer-reviewed journals. Researchers were asked to delete and destroy emails so that a small number of climate alarmists could continue to advance their environmental agenda. Since then, more than 700 acclaimed international scientists have challenged the claims made by the IPCC in this comprehensive, independent 740-page report. These 700 dissenting scientists represent some of the most respected scientific institutions at home and around the world, including U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense, U.S. Air Force and Navy, NASA, and even the Environmental Protection Agency. Take, for example, famed Princeton University physicist Dr. Robert Austin, who has published 170 scientific papers and was elected a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Austin told a Senate committee that ``unfortunately climate science has become political science. It is tragic that some perhaps well-meaning but politically motivated scientists who should know better have whipped up a global frenzy about a phenomena which is statistically questionable at best.'' Mr. Chairman, if the families in my district have been able to tighten their belts, then surely the Federal Government can do the same and stop funding an organization that is fraught with waste and abuse. My amendment simply says that no funds in this bill can go toward the IPCC. This would save taxpayers millions of dollars this year and millions of dollars in years to come. In fact, the President has requested an additional $13 million for the IPCC in his fiscal year 2012 budget request. Our constituents should not have to continue to foot the bill for an organization to keep producing corrupt findings that were used as justification to impose a massive new tax on every American. They deserve better. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. For the last year or two, the International Panel has been funded at the rate of about $12.5 million per year. The President has it in his FY12 budget at $13 million. This group has been in the headlines for their activities with regard to how they are trying to tinker with the data that they put out. Why would we want to fund a group of folks who is nefarious and gives us incorrect information? It's beyond me. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, I have another amendment at the desk.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, the last study was done, completed in 2004 at a cost of $35 million. It took 17 years, and now we want to do it again. I don't believe it's appropriate for our taxpayer dollars to be used in this manner. And with that, I ask for the support of the body. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. With all due respect to the gentleman, I would appreciate some certainty, and I think that's what the purpose of this amendment is all about. You indicate that it's still in existence; it's still being funded. We want it out. We don't want it funded any longer. The purpose of it is duplicative. The study has been done before. And I think it's time that we called a stop to it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My amendment would eliminate funding for the Missouri River Authorized Purposes Study, also known as MRAPS. This $25 million study was originally earmarked under the guise of a review of the 1944 Flood Control Act and relevant court rulings to determine if current authorized project purposes are contemporary. MRAPS comes on the heels of another comprehensive $35 million, 17- year study completed in 2004 that showed that the current authorized purposes are appropriate and do not need to be altered. For river communities, few issues are as important as water supply, power, and navigation. This study puts in jeopardy the flow of the lower Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, which would have devastating consequences for navigation and transportation along those rivers and result in barriers for agriculture, waterways operations, and every product that depends on the Missouri and the Mississippi Rivers to get to market. MRAPS is duplicative and wasteful of taxpayer dollars. We've already spent $35 million to examine the Missouri River Master Manual. After 17 years, hundreds of public meetings, and countless lawsuits, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concluded that the current uses of the river are appropriate. It is careless and irresponsible to conduct another multiyear, multimillion dollar study at taxpayers' expense, particularly given the dire state of our Nation's economy. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler).

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. I just wanted to put a few comments on the record with regard to the impassioned speech of the last speaker, the gentlewoman from New York. Madam Chair, I serve on the same committee as the gentlewoman, and I heard the same testimony yesterday. It is interesting that she is talking about trying to continue to fund an agency that was totally absent with regard to the crash back in 2008. Yesterday, we asked the question of the SEC representative as to whether there was anybody who had been put in jail, as to whether anybody had been fired, as to whether there had been any changes to the personnel who were there. The answer was ``no.'' There were some ongoing investigations; but at this point, nothing had been done. So we are going to try and give some more dollars to the group that was mismanaging the thing to begin with without its having any more accountability. I think that's the wrong way to go. With that, I yield to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson).

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Chairman, I rise this afternoon to oppose this amendment. Let me start my discussion by talking about two things: Number one, about the usefulness of the committee, and then about the funding of the committee as a whole. Number one, I have some grave, grave concerns with regards to the usefulness of the committee to begin with. As a former bank regulator in one of my previous careers, it's kind of astounding to me that, with all of the laws that are in place, we had all the problems that we did. We don't need more laws; we need to enforce the ones that are in place. And in testimony yesterday in our committee, in Financial Services, that was the general consensus of many, many of the folks that were there. And so what we're doing is trying to continue to over-regulate and again put in place another entity to confound and to promote some more regulation, exactly what we don't need in the private marketplace. But again, why are we having another committee to do more regulation when we could have the existing people do the job the right way? It's kind of like, to me, having a police department that doesn't do its job, and instead of firing everybody at the police department and starting over and finding some good folks who could do the job, you create another police department, so now we have two police departments to fund. And I think that's what's going on here. And this is why I'm very concerned about this model, this committee, this board. And from the standpoint of being a former examiner, this is exactly the wrong thing to do with regards to the mission of this committee. We are now putting consumer protections over the safety and soundness of our institutions, and that's wrong. That is absolutely the wrong model. We are flipping completely upside down. We are re-prioritizing the way our markets should work and regulatory systems should work. In my view, we're going in the wrong direction. But, with regards to the funding mechanism that's in place, this group, at this point, has a line of credit basically from us, and this CR cuts that off to a limited amount, which the chairman a minute ago addressed as $80 million, and we think that's adequate funding at this point. They are only going to use at the annual rate of about $65 million, and this amendment intends to put $63 million back into it. I think that's unnecessary. It's wasteful. At a time like this when we need to be consolidating and finding ways to cut our dollars, we don't need to empower an agency that we don't need, number one, with powers that are not defined at this point. We don't need to be doing it. From the standpoint we don't even have a director in place yet, we need to be confining this thing so we can provide oversight over it, rather than giving it a blank check and unlimited powers. Madam Chairman, I yield back.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Melvin E. Ziegler, who soon is to receive the World War II Bronze Star Medal. This prestigious award is given to those in the United States Army distinguished as heroic or meritorious during their service fighting against an enemy of the United States. Mr. Ziegler fought in the 88th Infantry Division during World War II in Italy. He previously was honored with the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Unbeknownst to Mr. Ziegler, he was awarded The Bronze Star Medal; however, it was never awarded or issued to him. Melvin recently received a letter from the Department of the Army informing him of this honor. I am pleased to say that after 65 years, Melvin E. Ziegler will receive the medal he so greatly deserves. During World War II, Private Ziegler was part of the force driving the Nazis from North Italy. Melvin was shot by a German machine gunner. The bullet was stopped from going through his chest by a New Testament Bible that he held in his chest pocket. Mr. Ziegler stated that he frequently did not read the Bible at the time, but since that fateful day, he reads it often. Melvin currently lives in Owensville, Missouri, with his wife of over 60 years, Iola. He will be presented the medal on Sunday, January 30, 2011, at his church of 20 years, the Salem Full Gospel Church in Salem, Missouri. Surrounded by his family, friends, and congregation members, Melvin E. Ziegler will finally receive the Bronze Star Medal for his service and heroism. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring Melvin E. Ziegler for this celebrated award and thank him for his service to this great country.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of this resolution, a bill that would direct committees to craft new health care legislation and which would help steer our country back in the right direction. A serious fix for what ails health care in America will entail more than tweaking the law; it means replacing the health care bill with real reform. Missouri is the Show-Me State, and last August, 71 percent of Missourians went to the polls and said ``no.'' They rejected this law. As I go about my district and talk to my employers, they tell me that instead of premiums going down, they have actually gone up 25-40 percent. And instead of improving access to care, we actually have doctors retiring in record numbers. True reform would be passing significant lawsuit reform so doctors can faithfully perform their jobs of taking care of their patients. I also support increasing access to insurance by allowing small businesses to pool together to get the best plan for their employees. All along Republicans have offered a commonsense approach to improving our health care system and in a way that controls cost and provides the quality of care that Americans deserve. Today's vote is an important step in realizing that goal.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating MidwayUSA for receiving the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Earlier this week representatives from MidwayUSA traveled to Washington, DC, to accept the award. MidwayUSA is a family-owned, catalog/Internet-based retail merchant that offers shooting, reloading, gunsmithing, and hunting products. Retail customers represent 90 percent of the firm's total business at its two Columbia, Missouri locations, with dealers and international customers making up the remaining 10 percent. More than 95,000 different products from more than 700 vendors are distributed by the company, which employs 243 full-time and 100 part-time workers. Named after Malcolm Baldrige, the 26th Secretary of Commerce, the Baldrige Award was established by Congress in 1987 to enhance the competitiveness and performance of U.S. businesses. The award promotes excellence in organizational performance, recognizes the achievements and results of U.S. organizations, and publicizes successful performance strategies. The award recipients were selected from a field of 70 applicants. All of the applicants were evaluated rigorously by an independent board of examiners in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; process management; and results. The evaluation process for each of the recipients included about 1,000 hours of review and an on-site visit by a team of examiners to clarify questions and verify information in the applications. Since 1988, 80 organizations have received Baldrige Awards. I am extremely proud that MidwayUSA has joined this exclusive list. Small businesses create jobs and spur economic growth, and I am extremely proud that Columbia's MidwayUSA has been recognized for productivity and quality at a time when our economy is struggling. This kind of success is yet another example of the key role that Missouri's small businesses play in the state and national economies. I would like to take this time to commend MidwayUSA for all their hard work, and I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing MidwayUSA for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1733, recognizing Mark Twain as one of America's most famous literary icons on the 175th anniversary of his birth and the 100th anniversary of his death. Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Florida, Missouri, on November 30, 1835, Mark Twain left school at the age of 13 to go to work as a printer's apprentice. He went on to become an editorial assistant at a newspaper and river pilot, where he gained his famous pseudonym. Mark Twain began writing for a newspaper during the Civil War, and his short story ``The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County'' was published in 1865. Twain would, of course, go on to author ``The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' and ``The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,'' among 28 other books and numerous short stories. Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we recognize Mark Twain and his rich contributions to our country's literary history. This wonderful occasion has also inspired me to rediscover the great works of Mark Twain with my granddaughter and connect this imaginary world with the reality of his boyhood home in Hannibal. It is critical for us to foster a love for reading among children and our grandchildren because it is part of what makes them kids. I am also extremely honored and fortunate to represent Hannibal in Congress and would encourage folks to visit the area in northeast Missouri and discover the inspiration for some of the greatest literary works of American history. Mark Twain and the city of Hannibal are integral parts of Missouri's heritage, and I am proud to recognize him on this very special day. To that end, a Mark Twain quote: ``Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones that you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore, dream, discover.'' I urge all Members to join me in strong support of this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.