Billy Long

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Melanie Ward. Melanie was recently chosen as a member of the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, a national honor ensemble for outstanding musician- scholars. Each year, only 125 students are chosen from the thousands who apply to the Army All-American Marching Band. Only students with superior musical ability, academic achievement, and positive standing in the community are selected to represent their school in this elite group. Students are selected by the National Association for Music Education to represent their state and local communities at the U.S. Army All- American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. Melanie was selected for one of twenty positions reserved for the band's color guard and she certainly fits the mold for this elite group. She is the editor of the Parkview High School yearbook, an award winning cross country runner and captain of the school band's color guard. The marching band members will perform for thousands of active duty military members at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January. The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a football game made up of the best high school seniors from around the country. Together, the marching band and football team represent the best their schools have to offer in the arts and physical education. Mr. Speaker, Melanie's hard work and determination in both academics and music have earned her a spot on the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. I am proud of her achievements and honored to call her a neighbor in the 7th Congressional District of Missouri.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize William, Bill, Putnam Jr., a recent recipient of the National Eagle Scout Association's Outstanding Eagle Scout Award and the Distinguished Citizen Award. The Outstanding Eagle Scout Award was first awarded in 2010 as part of the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. A local council can honor one recipient per year and Bill is the Ozark Trails Council's first recipient. A Carthage native, Bill first became involved with scouting in Cub Scouts, where his mother served as a Den Mother. He received the Arrow of Light, earned his Eagle Scout Award in 1959, and is a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow. This latest addition to his scouting accolades, the Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, is awarded to Eagle Scouts who have demonstrated outstanding achievements at the local, state, or regional level. Bill has served as an inspiring example to his family and neighbors. This is evident in the fact that his son John, two brothers and three nephews are also Eagle Scouts. Bill is a Rotarian who was named Carthage's Citizen of the Year in 1995 and received the Spirit of Giving Award from the Carthage Area United Way in 2009. He was named to the Prep School All-America Swim Team in 1961, was recognized as an Outstanding Alumnus at Beloit College, and is a member of the school's Athletic Hall of Honor. Bill is the president of TAPJAC Company Inc. He has served on numerous boards including the board of the Ozark Trails Council-Boy Scouts of America, Carthage Area United Way, Carthage Republican City Committee, Carthage Community Foundation, Carthage City Council, Missouri Southern State University Board of Regents, Board of Public Works, and Hardware Wholesaler. The Distinguished Citizen Award recognizes noteworthy and extraordinary leadership of citizens in communities across the United States. Bill's numerous achievements stand as testimony to his exemplary quality of character. I am proud of his achievements and honored to call him a neighbor in the 7th Congressional District of Missouri.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sam F. Hamra. On October 11, Legal Services of Southern Missouri (LSSM) will dedicate their new building, the ``Sam F. Hamra Center for Justice.'' It is my hope that this building will help LSSM provide services to Missourians for many years to come. Born in Steele, Missouri, Sam attended the Gulf Coast Military Academy in Mississippi and went on to receive both business and law degrees from the University of Missouri. After receiving his first degree, he served as an officer in the United States Army Field Artillery and Second Armored Cavalry Regiment. After his service he returned to the University of Missouri to pursue his law degree and began practicing law in Springfield, Missouri. He would later become the city attorney for Nixa and the governmental relations attorney for Branson and St. Robert. As an alumnus of the University of Missouri he has been honored with the MU Law School Citation of Merit Award in 2003 and the Missouri University 2003 Distinguished Service Award which was named for the Outstanding Alumni of the Year. In 2012 he was the recipient of the Distinguished Tiger Award from the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the Missouri Alumni Association for his ``dedication and continued support of the University of Missouri.'' He also received the ``M'' letter from Athletic Director, Mike Alden, and Assistant Athletic Director, John Kadlec, of the MU Athletic Department. In 1976 Sam was elected as the first Chairman of the Board of the newly formed Legal Aid Association of Greene County, MO, known today as the Legal Services of Southern Missouri, LSSM. The Legal Aid Association was created to help low income citizens whose legal needs would otherwise be unmet. Under Sam's leadership, LSSM helped thousands of Missourians throughout 43 counties. In addition to Sam's accomplishments in the legal field, he is the proprietor of 75 restaurants across the country, including 28 Wendy's restaurants in Missouri. In 2009 Wendy's International honored Sam with their highest honor, the R. David Thomas Founder's Award, for being named the outstanding Wendy's Franchisee of the Year. Sam served on numerous boards among them the Foundation Board of Ozark Technical Community College, the Board of Cox Health Systems, the Board of St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, and Chairman of the Highway Committee of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce in 1977 when he was instrumental in expanding Chestnut Expressway from two lanes to four lanes from Highway 65 to Kansas Avenue. Mr. Speaker, Sam F. Hamra's contributions to the City of Springfield and the State of Missouri are far-reaching, and it is an honor to recognize him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I yield back.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bob Brown, a legendary high school basketball coach in the state of Missouri, veteran, and member of the 2012 Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame induction class. With 672 career victories and 12 playoff appearances to his name, Bob's impressive track record has earned him quite a distinguished reputation in both the sports arena and in the community. His remarkable career began at Richland High and concluded at Springfield Catholic. He amassed 367 victories and a state runner-up title in 1966 with the famed ``Jolly Green Giants'', who were 27-1 that season, during his 20-year tenure at Parkview. Bob even had the opportunity to coach his son, Bill Brown, at Parkview. During his coaching career Bob won a state championship at Bolivar in 1960, runner-up with Parkview in 1966, and third place with Richland in 1956 and Parkview in 1981. In addition to his exemplary coaching career, Bob is a veteran of the Missouri National Guard. Beginning in 1956 he served 32 years until ending his career as a full Colonel in 1988. During this period he served as Chief of Plans and Operations at Headquarters Stark, as Commandant of the Missouri Military Academy, and Commander of the Medical Battalion. Mr. Speaker, Bob Brown's contributions to our community are far- reaching and the lives he has affected are uncountable, and it is an honor to recognize him.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Hollister High School's Jordan Britton for winning the Long Jump and the Triple Jump State Titles at the Class 2 Missouri Track and Field Championships. Jordan worked hard throughout the season to achieve his state championship titles. After districts he was ranked first in Long Jump. Upon reaching the state competition Jordan found himself struggling to match his previous best jumps. With help from Head Coach Tucker Pierce and Jump Coach Greg Brown, Jordan was able to recover and found himself in fourth place before his second to last jump. It was then that Jordan put forward his best performance with a leap of 21 feet and 10 inches, which was just enough to give him the top prize in the Class 2 finals. Jordan also took the Triple Jump with a leap of 43 feet and 6 inches, gaining his second title at the state championship. Having entered the state competition in third place, Jordan knew he would have to jump a personal best to even medal. Competing against the number one seed in the final, Jordan overcame a 43 foot leap to secure first place by 6 inches, again giving his best performance in the second to last jump. The Hollister School District as well as the track and field staff are proud to have such a fine young man representing their school. He truly represents his family, school and the state of Missouri in a positive manner. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Jordan on his State Track and Field Championship Titles.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, we agree that we need to get our Nation's economy growing again in order to create jobs for American families. Increasing our Nation's exports is one area that would help grow the economy and create jobs without costing one thin dime. I support free trade because more exports equal more jobs. I recently led an effort, as Mr. Dreier mentioned there, to rally my freshman class to support permanent normal trade relations with Russia. After nearly two decades of negotiations, Russia is poised to join the World Trade Organization this summer, and without repealing a Cold War- era trade restriction, American businesses will be at a severe disadvantage to international competitors. While the U.S. already trades with Russia, the repeal of the Jackson-Vanik provision would level the playing field for U.S. exports after Russia joins the WTO. The media and some in this country like to portray my freshman class as a group that's not willing to work for the benefit of the American people or work in a bipartisan spirit. We can put those portrayals to rest. The President has shown an interest in increasing American exports, and the purpose of my letter was to show the President that 73 Members of the Republican freshman class are willing to work on this issue to help support American jobs. I will continue to support efforts that will boost trade opportunities for American manufacturers and businesses. This is about doing what is right for our country and supporting efforts to create jobs for American families.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Victoria Foley of the Joplin McAuley Catholic Track and Field Team for winning the Discus State Title at the Missouri Class 1 State Track and Field Championship. Victoria worked hard throughout the season to achieve her state title. She continuously strove to better her performance, inspiring her teammates as well as earning the respect of her competitors. Victoria is a solid definition of what it takes to be a great student athlete by virtue of her phenomenal talent and great sportsmanship. Through her hard work and dedication she won the Missouri Class 1 State Discus Championship with a throw of 121 feet 3 inches. In the end, she added herself among only 2 others who can share the State Champion title in the McAuley Catholic High School history. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Victoria Foley, the Missouri Class 1 State Discus Champion.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Parkview High School Boys 4x100m Relay Team for winning Missouri Class 4 State Track and Field Championships. The team, which included juniors Christopher Hargrove, AJ Green and Myron Willis, and senior Quintin Smith, won the relay event with a time of 42.17. Coach Jay Miller and his talented coaching staff should be proud of their accomplishment in guiding this group of talented athletes. I commend them all on a job well done. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Parkview High School State Champion Boys 4x100m Relay team.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Nixa High School Bowling Team for winning their second State High School Bowling Championship. Nixa High School's bowling team, in its second year of existence, returned to defend its championship title at the Missouri State Tournament and left its competition in the gutter. The Eagles advanced with 3 other local teams to the Missouri State Championships where they competed against 23 other teams from all across the state. The team, which included seniors Kyle Bates and Jacob Nelson; juniors Justin Lair, Kristen Nunn, Nick Zummo, and Brandon Maser; and sophomores David Krol, Shannon Burns, and Dylan Brentlinger, initially competed in 24 games which followed the Baker Format. The Baker format is patterned after college bowling competitions and is used to maintain a quicker pace from game to game, yielding more excitement. Nixa bowling was the Number 1 seed out of the top five teams to advance to the championship round, and the team ultimately prevailed against Jefferson City after two straight games with scores of 215-174 and 211-196. While bowling is usually recognized as an individual sport, the Baker competition format required each member of the Nixa bowling team to think as a team because each shot would be included as part of one score. As a result, teams competing in this format will only be as good as their weakest link because all players participate in only 2 frames each. Coaches David Krol and Larry Hughes worked diligently to instill that concept in their team and should be proud of their accomplishment in guiding such a phenomenal group of young men and women. I commend them all on a job well done. The Nixa community is justifiably proud of this extraordinary group of young and talented future leaders. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Nixa High School Bowling Team as they celebrate their second State Bowling Championship.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Quintin Smith on his 200 Meter Dash State Title at the Missouri Class 4 State Track and Field Championships. Quintin Smith, a senior at Parkview High School, took home first place for the Vikings in the 200 Meter Dash with a time of 21.50. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Quintin Smith on his 200 Meter Dash State Track and Field Title.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Glendale High School's Spencer Haik for winning the 1600 Meter Run at the Missouri Class 4 State Track and Field Championships. Through his hard work and dedication, Spencer placed first in the 1600 Meter Run with a winning time of 4:15.11. His winning time was 5 seconds off his previous school record of 4:20.23. This achievement also marked the third time this year Spencer established a new school record. Spencer plans to participate in several meets across the country this summer and will be a junior at Glendale High School in the fall. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Spencer Haik, the winner of the 1600 Meter Run at the Missouri Class 4 State Track and Field Championships.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, for 25 years John R. ``Chuck'' Rogers has tapped into his artistic talents to entertain audiences at the Springfield Little Theatre. As the Springfield Little Theatre's technical director, Chuck has played an instrumental role in more than 175 productions. I had the honor of working with him and seeing up close his talents and passion for the theatre when he directed me in a production of Cheaper by the Dozen in 1994. Having no prior acting experience, I can attest to the tremendous job and care he puts into the entire production. In addition to the Springfield Little Theatre, Chuck shares his artistic talents with the Springfield Ballet, Springfield Regional Opera, Ozarks Technical Community College, The Creamery Arts Center, and Drury University. He has also helped with public television shows in Branson, Missouri. The Springfield community and surrounding area is lucky to have a neighbor like Chuck. He continues to provide us with great entertainment after more than 25 years of involvement in the arts. I want to congratulate Chuck Rogers' 25 years at the Springfield Little Theatre and wish him continued success. Break a leg Chuck!

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, it was June 13, 1962, when KTXR 101.3 FM ``The Gentle Giant'' began informing and entertaining the Ozarks audience with great music and special programming. Under the guidance of local owners Ken and Jane Meyer, what started in the 60s as a 6,000 watt station by 1970 became a 100,000 watt ``Class C'' FM operation. In 2001, when a bad ice storm brought the KTXR tower down, the Meyers received FCC permission to build the only ``Class C-0'' tower in the state of Missouri. Soaring 1488 feet above ground, it is Missouri's tallest radio tower with the state's largest coverage, heard throughout mid and southern Missouri, northern Arkansas, parts of Oklahoma, and Kansas. KTXR is a rarity in Springfield. It is one of the only locally owned and operated FMs in the market. When it signed on the air, KTXR became not only the second FM station in the city but also the second in the state to broadcast in stereo. Jane Meyer was the first woman in Springfield to sell radio advertising and was the first woman in the state to be a radio station general manager. While the music on KTXR may have changed over the decades from classical to easy listening to light hits to today's Greatest Hits, there have always been several constants. Jane Meyer decided early on to add ``special programs with special appeal.'' Knowing the volatility and importance of weather in the Ozarks, she hired her own resident meteorologist rather than be dependent on the National Weather Service. Then, 35 years ago Wayne Glenn, ``The Old Record Collector,'' became part of KTXR special programming and has not missed an air shift in all that time. Possibly the most unique programming decision the Meyers made was to put sports on a music station. While most in the radio broadcast industry would tell you a music/sports format would never work, KTXR has proved them wrong. It started with the Kansas City Royals in the 1970s, and a few years later KTXR became the exclusive radio home of the St. Louis Cardinals in the Ozarks and remains so today. Drury University and Evangel University were two of the local colleges sports programs aired on KTXR in the 70s. In the 80s the station picked up the Missouri State University Bears and KTXR remains the flagship station of the Bears Radio Network. After carrying the Bears for several years it was Jane Meyer's decision to broadcast the Lady Bear basketball games that helped propel them to a nation-high attendance record and in turn she received an invitation to address the NCAA national meeting about marketing women's sports. Though Jane Meyer passed away in 2001 her influence is still felt not only in the halls of KTXR but throughout the Ozarks. She and Ken Meyer have always served on numerous boards and foundations giving of their time and finances to support the community that has always been supportive of Meyer Communications. Over the past 50 years Meyer Communications has grown from the humble beginnings of one station to, at any one time, owning several radio and television stations, an outdoor signage company, and an advertising agency. But, it has always been KTXR ``The Gentle Giant'' that is the heartbeat of the company. Ken Meyer has stated unequivocally ``in my opinion Jane Meyer made KTXR the class station of Springfield. Any way you look at it Jane was the Gentle Giant.''

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor LTG Marc E. Rogers for his service to our country. Our country has been blessed to have citizens like Lt. Gen. Rogers who have selflessly volunteered to defend our Nation and freedom. They are the reason why we are the strongest Nation on Earth, and the reason we stand today with freedoms unparalleled across the globe. Lt. Gen. Rogers joined the Air Force in 1974 and served as an electronic combat pilot, Aggressor pilot, instructor pilot, evaluation pilot, operations officer and commander. During his time in the Air Force he commanded at the squadron level, group, wing and numbered air force levels. Lt. Gen. Rogers led combat operations in Iraq and Bosnia. He has served in a variety of positions at command headquarters including the Joint Staff, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Tactical Air Command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Air Education and Training Command, and Air Force Material Command. Our republic and the freedoms that flow from it remain the envy of the world because of service and sacrifices of men and women like Lt. Gen. Rogers. I am proud of Lt. Gen. Rogers' service to our Nation and am honored to call him my neighbor in the 7th Congressional District of Missouri. I wanted to take this opportunity to honor his service to a grateful Nation.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the reopening of Oxford HealthCare in Joplin, Missouri. Oxford HealthCare is a home care provider that serves more than 50 counties in southwest and central Missouri. In 1975, Oxford HealthCare began operations in Joplin and Springfield, Missouri. On May 22, 2011, a tornado struck the Joplin community and destroyed Oxford's office. It was very important to Oxford HealthCare that they get to a new normal as quickly as possible because their patients and employees were dependent on them, and in their business there is no excuse not to show up for work. Hours after the tornado tore through Joplin, Destiny Church opened its doors to Oxford. By the next morning the Joplin and Springfield staff converged on the church with everything needed to do business. For weeks Oxford staff worked out of plastic tubs that held office and medical supplies and they used cell phones and laptops using a computer system that their IT Department was able to establish on the spot. Oxford was back to business as usual. The Zimmer Radio Group helped Oxford get word to their staff and patients that they were working out of Destiny Church. With the help of the entire company, within three days of the storm all 650 employees and patients were accounted for. Some had been in the path of the storm and lost their homes. Many suffered injuries. Immediately after the tornado employees who were suffering themselves continued to see their patients without fail. In those first days after the storm many Oxford staff stayed with the patients they were with during the storm, without going to their own homes, until they knew the patients were safe and had family to watch over them. In an effort to ensure that the community's clinical needs were being met, Oxford set up makeshift first aid stations throughout the neighborhoods that were in the path of the tornado. Volunteer nurses from the entire company took their vacation time to staff the tents from 8 5, seven days a week for a number of weeks, where 1,400 tetanus shots were given and first aid was administered. Oxford eventually left Destiny Church and set up a temporary office in Carthage as plans were being made to return to Joplin. The resilience of Oxford and its employees is amazing and I am honored to help Oxford celebrate the reopening of their new facility in Joplin.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Grace Apostolic Church's 65 years of service in the community of Joplin, Missouri. Grace Apostolic Church was founded in 1947, by the late Irving Baxter Sr. It was originally located at 16th and Pearl Street. In 1948, an Army chapel was picked from Fort Crowder and moved to the location on 15th and Pearl, where the church remained until 1967. In 1957, Reverend William J Garrett assumed the pastorship. In 1966, land was acquired at 2601 Connecticut, where the new facility was built. The new building at 26th and Connecticut was dedicated in 1967 and Elder William Garrett served as Pastor for 52 years. In 2009, Dr. Gary W. Garrett assumed pastoral duties. A major remodeling project was started by Pastor Garrett and has transformed this property. Grace Apostolic Church has impacted the Joplin area for 65 years and is a purpose-driven church. The vision of Grace Church is to help people, restore lives and families, and help meet the needs of the families that are hurting. On May 22, 2011, Grace Church became a refuge for many who sought shelter, just minutes before the storm ravaged the city. Having been blessed by God and escaping the full impact of the storm, Grace Church stood and continually provided shelter, food, and encouragement to those in need. Grace Church has an illustrious history of 65 years of service in Joplin, and has provided spiritual guidance for thousands of people spanning nearly seven decades. Grace Church has been blessed to serve Joplin and the surrounding communities.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Ozark Christian College's 70th Anniversary. Ozark Bible College started out in Bentonville, Arkansas, on June 12, 1942 and two years later relocated to Joplin, Missouri. The name Ozark Christian College was adopted in 1985 when Ozark Bible College merged with Midwest Christian College of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ozark Christian College offers degree programs that help lay the foundation for their graduates who are called to careers in vocational ministry. Ozark Christian College graduates total more than 14,000 and are serving in 48 states and 40 counties. Volunteerism is an important characteristic for the school. Ozark Christian College has been serving the Joplin area for 68 years and was heavily involved in helping after Joplin was struck by an EF 5 tornado on May 22, 2011. With open arms, the entire campus was used in a variety of ways from a Red Cross Command Center, to housing for 3,000 volunteers, and to a meeting place for three churches. The school's motto of ``Training Men and Women for Christian Service'' has played an important role in the school's 70 year history and will continue to as students answer the call to vocational ministry. I want to congratulate Ozark Christian College as they celebrate 70 years.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dylan Bekemeier from Republic High School for winning the Missouri Class 3 State Individual Golf Championship. Dylan should be commended for all of his hard work throughout the regular season and bringing home the individual state title to his school, family and community. At the State Golf Championships in Springfield, Dylan won the individual state title with an impressive second round showing of 68, 4 under par. His total score was 140. Completing his sophomore year means Dylan will be a force to be reckoned with in Missouri high school golf in the coming years. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dylan Bekemeier, the Missouri Class 3 State Golf Champion.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, when a weather emergency strikes, local radio and television stations play an instrumental role in keeping families informed on vital warnings and emergency response efforts. A little over 1 year ago, the city of Joplin, Missouri, was changed forever when an EF 5 tornado struck. Local radio stations like KZRG, the Zimmer Radio Group, Community Radio Group, and KDMO provided Joplin residents with critical information as it was happening. After the tornado, they helped families locate their loved ones and provided information on where they could seek shelter and food. Local stations are a tremendous asset to their communities, especially during weather emergencies. These stations keep their communities informed on the latest weather conditions and provide support after the storms pass. I want to thank all of the local radio and TV stations across the country, especially those in the Joplin area, for the great public service they provide their communities before, during, and after these weather emergencies.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Editor Carol Stark and her staff at The Joplin Globe for their steadfast coverage of the Joplin tornado disaster. The Joplin community was dealt a devastating blow when it was struck by a deadly tornado on May 22, 2011. During the entire aftermath of this catastrophe, Carol and her team did not waiver in providing up-to- date coverage to the Nation. Amidst the chaos that included the destruction of half of the staff's homes and the death of a fellow staffer, The Joplin Globe carried on its work and managed to get the next day's newspaper out only an hour late. Because of her unyielding dedication and leadership during these hard times, Carol is the recipient of the Local Media Association's Editor of the Year award. The Joplin Globe also received the Jesse Laventhol Prize for Deadline News Reporting by the American Society of News Editors on April 2, 2012 in Washington, DC for its coverage of the tornado. These are noteworthy accomplishments and I am proud that they have been acknowledged for their efforts. Mr. Speaker, Carol Stark and her team at The Joplin Globe have served both our community and our Nation well amidst times of trial and it is an honor to recognize their dedication and work.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the resilience of the Duquesne, Missouri community. One year ago the community of Duquesne and surrounding area was devastated by an EF 5 tornado, but showed the nation and the world what it means to help your neighbors in their greatest time of need. The tornado that wreaked havoc on our friends and neighbors was \1/2\ mile to \3/4\ mile wide and traveled approximately 13 miles in Duquesne, Joplin and surrounding area. The tornado damaged over 500 residential and commercial structures in Duquesne, forever changing the landscape of the community and lives of those who call the area home. This destructive force of nature claimed 161 lives in the area. I saw the immediate aftermath of this disaster with my own eyes, and I know it is vital to get the right resources to the right people as quickly as possible, because lives depend on it. As their representative in Congress, it was my job to make sure the federal government worked with local and state officials to provide disaster relief. As a neighbor, it was my job to help in any way I could, from setting up cots in aid stations with other volunteers to helping with search and rescue. Missouri is called the Show-Me State, and Missourians and Americans from across our great country showed the nation and the world the compassion and generosity of the American spirit. Over 120,000 volunteers poured into the area to offer their help and support, and some are still assisting with rebuilding efforts. As we commemorate the one-year anniversary which changed the lives of all families impacted by this horrific disaster, we treasure the good times in the past and look forward to a promising future for Duquesne and all who call this wonderful place home. Even though we can't explain why tragedy strikes, we can use what happened here to remind us of the good inside us all and to remind us that even though we lost a lot, we did not lose everything. If anyone thinks that there are not good, generous and compassionate people in this world, then they need to come down here to see firsthand how this community came together during their time of need.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 91st birthday of Jessie C. ``Dink'' Hosman who was born June 3, 1921, and grew up in the Willard, Missouri area. During World War II, Technician Fifth Grade Hosman was in Company B, 1st Battalion, White Combat Team, which fought all over Burma with ``Merrill's Marauders''. T/5 Hosman fought through some of the harshest conditions of the war where the enemy was often less of a concern than malaria, deadly Mite Typhus, Amoebic Dysentery, and malnutrition. T/5 Hosman spent two years in the jungle and also served in Panama and India. Being a member of ``Merrill's Marauders'' earned T/5 Hosman the distinction of United States Army Ranger. T/5 Hosman helped secure the strategic Burma Road while it was being built in treacherous conditions. Extraordinarily, while ``Merrill's Marauders'' had such a high casualty rate, they never left a fellow soldier's body behind. T/5 Hosman received the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Bronze Star Medal for exemplary service. After the war, Jessie returned stateside and spent some time in San Francisco where he was given everything and anything he wanted to eat to make up for two years of malnutrition. Eventually Jessie returned home to the Willard area where he raised his family and purchased a farm where he ran a milk and beef cattle operation for 50 years. These days, Jessie is enjoying life and taking it easy living with his daughter, Terri Hughes, and her husband, Jimmy Hughes, in Walnut Grove, Missouri. He still enjoys his hobbies of fishing, hunting, boating and his RV. Jessie has also attended several ``Merrill's Marauders'' reunions. As the years create more and more distance from the events and heroes that defined World War II, I personally wanted to take this opportunity to recognize one of my constituents who is a Real American Hero. Without the sacrifices of America's Greatest Generation, we would not be enjoying the freedoms and rights they fought to preserve. May God bless Jessie C. Hosman. I wish him a very happy birthday and many more.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Convoy of Hope's generous outreach following last year's tornado which devastated the community of Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011. Convoy of Hope provides food, clothing, medical aid and other resources to disaster areas or to those in need. They are a shining example of the generous American spirit and the immense power of private faith-based charities to be a force for good in our local communities. Since its founding in 1994, Convoy of Hope has served over 51 million people throughout the world. Hours after the tornado struck Joplin, Convoy of Hope was on the scene offering a helping hand to those in need. Convoy of Hope's initial response was coordinated with the cooperation of Ignite Church in Joplin where a mobile distribution site was established. Twelve local churches in Joplin and surrounding states organized volunteers to assist Convoy of Hope in the disaster response effort, which has provided more than 3 million pounds of food, water and supplies to help the community get back on its feet. Through a partnership with Pyramid Foods, Convoy of Hope operated a ``compassion store'' where tornado victims received free relief products like rakes, shovels, trash bags and gloves to assist them with debris removal. The compassion store remained opened until November 2011. In January 2012, Convoy of Hope announced their commitment to provide $1 million to help tornado victims on the series finale of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which featured the building of seven homes in seven days in Joplin. In February, Convoy of Hope, in partnership with the Global Green Building, Project Safe Home and T.F. Concrete Forming systems, embarked on a mission to help build storm- resilient homes for at least a dozen deserving families. Convoy of Hope is constructing homes that emphasize protections against strong winds and promote energy efficiencies. Convoy of Hope and its partners are coordinating these and future efforts with the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide guidance on other future ``resilient'' constructions. These new high-tech, low-energy buildings are specially designed with reinforced concrete walls and other innovations to be sturdier than traditional houses. Convoy of Hope and their 3,852 volunteers served 12,161 families, helped clear and clean 42 houses at no cost to the homeowners, and completed four major critical needs projects for homeowners who did not have adequate resources to address the safety concerns on their property. Convoy of Hope's generous spirit of outreach helped thousands of Joplin residents during a dark chapter in their lives. I know that many families impacted by this tornado are grateful for the helping hand and support they received from Convoy of Hope.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the resilience of the Joplin, Missouri community. One year ago the Joplin community was devastated by an EF 5 tornado but showed the Nation and the world what it means to help your neighbors in their greatest time of need. The tornado that wreaked havoc on our friends and neighbors was a \1/ 2\ mile to \3/4\ mile wide and traveled approximately 13 miles, forever changing the landscape of the community and lives of those who call Joplin home. This destructive force of nature claimed 161 lives, damaged an estimated 7,500 residential dwellings, damaged nine schools, and damaged 545 businesses. I saw the immediate aftermath of this disaster with my own eyes, and I know it is vital to get the right resources to the right people as quickly as possible, because lives depend on it. As Joplin's representative in Congress it was my job to make sure the Federal Government worked with local and state officials to provide disaster relief. As a neighbor it was my job to help in any way I could, from setting up cots in aid stations with other volunteers to helping with search and rescue. Missouri is called the Show-Me State, and Missourians and Americans from across our great country showed the Nation and the world the compassion and generosity of the American spirit. Over 120,000 volunteers poured into the Joplin area to offer their help and support, and some are still assisting with rebuilding efforts. Before the life-changing event of May 22, 2011, Joplin was just a town in Missouri, but now its sense of community is known throughout the Nation. While the Joplin community is still picking up the pieces from that fateful day, I know they have a bright future ahead. Though lives were lost and homes and businesses destroyed the one thing the tornado did not take is the sense of community that makes Joplin a welcoming place to live, work and visit. Joplin is stronger despite this unfortunate disaster. As we commemorate the one-year anniversary which changed the lives of all families impacted by this horrific disaster we treasure the good times in the past and look forward to a promising future for Joplin and all who call this wonderful place home. Even though we can't explain why tragedy strikes, we can use what happened here to remind us of the good inside us all and to remind us that even though we lost a lot, we did not lose everything. Joplin has faced challenges that most communities will not ever experience, but the outpouring of support is also something any community would be fortunate enough to receive. If anyone thinks that there are not good, generous and compassionate people in this world, then they need to come down to Joplin to see firsthand how this community came together during their time of need.

Mr. LONG

Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Sophia Greenwalt, a truly outstanding young Missourian. Sophia is a seventh grade student at Reeds Spring Middle School in Reeds Spring, Missouri. She was recently honored by the American Red Cross with their Everyday Hero Award for her charitable activities. While in sixth grade, Sophia came up with a plan to help others. In consultation with her mother, Nettie Greenwalt, teachers and school district administrators, she received approval to create the Helping Hats program for students in the Reeds Spring school district. The Helping Hats program grants students the privilege to wear hats to school once a month for a one-dollar fee. The fees collected from the Helping Hats program are distributed to local charities monthly. Currently, the program has collected over $13,000 for local charitable organizations. Sophia's endeavors are a truly exemplary investment in our community. On May 22, 2011, an EF 5 tornado struck Joplin, Missouri, devastating the once quiet Missouri town. Based on Sophia's efforts, the Helping Hats program was able to raise more than $8,000 to donate to the Joplin school district to help with recovery and rebuilding. Sophia has also been honored for her outstanding charitable activities by the Missouri House of Representatives and the Reeds Spring Board of Education. I would like to add my voice to the growing choir praising the accomplishments of this truly exceptional young woman. I am proud and humbled by the accomplishments of Sophia Greenwalt and look forward to following her future in the 7th Congressional District of Missouri.