Kenny Marchant

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the grand opening of the Cypress Waters commercial and residential planned community. Developed by Henry and Lucy Billingsley, Cypress Waters is a 1,000 acre development on the 362 acre North Lake. It is anchored by the City of Dallas, Texas, with parts also in the cities of Coppell and Irving. Cypress Waters is in close proximity to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and sits in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Once completed, the Neighborhoods of Cypress Waters will feature over 10,000 multi- family units. Currently, the Neighborhoods of Cypress Waters contain 673 multi-family units which are open for lease. The second phase of the multi-family construction will commence in early 2015 and will offer approximately 500 additional units. The Neighborhoods will be within the Coppell Independent School District and a new elementary school, junior high school, and high school will all be built to educate the young residents. The Shops of Cypress Waters sits at the entrance of the development and will serve as a retail hub in Dallas-Fort Worth by adding 400,000 square feet of retail space, most of which has now been built. In addition, the development will host 4.5 million square feet of Class A office space which will be home to some of Texas' largest corporations. As a result, thousands of new jobs will come to the 24th District, furthering the area's resilient economic growth. Cypress Waters also features a great outdoors environment consisting of hiking and biking trails, including a five mile loop around North Lake and connections to adjacent cities' trail systems. There are also watercourse environments and preservation areas for native species of plants and animals. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the grand opening of Cypress Waters and welcoming its new residents to the 24th Congressional District of Texas.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the Honorable Leon Hogg who is retiring from his position on the Euless City Council after 18 years of service. Mayor Pro Tem Leon Hogg has served on the City Council since 1996. His dedication to the City of Euless, Texas, has ensured happier and healthier lives for its citizens, and his commitment to enhancing the infrastructure of the city has been vital to the area's prosperity and growth. Mayor Pro Tem Hogg has a long-standing history of serving in leadership roles. He currently presides on the Animal Shelter Advisory Board and the Crime Control and Prevention District Board. Prior to his existing leadership positions, he served as the Council representative to the HEB Economic Development Foundation and as a member of the Half- Cent Sales Tax Education Committee. For 12 years, he served on the Parks and Leisure Services Board; furthermore, for eight of those years he presided as the chairman. Mayor Pro Tem Hogg is involved in various community and civic groups. He graduated from the inaugural class of the Euless Citizens Fire Academy, and he is a graduate of the 12th class of the Euless Citizens Police Academy. Additionally, he is a charter member of the Euless Citizens Fire Alumni Association. He has represented the City of Euless in the National League of Cities where he served on the Program Committee in 2005 and the Community Development Policy and Advocacy Committee in 2006. He has also represented the City of Euless in the Texas Municipal League, serving on the Resolutions Committee in 2004 and 2005, and the Legislative Policy Committee on General Government in 2006. In 2003, Mayor Pro Tem Hogg was inducted into the Hurst-Euless- Bedford ISD Sports Hall of Fame. The recognition was in honor of his positive impact on the community and HEB ISD students. Mayor Pro Tem Leon Hogg is a retired businessman who has owned several businesses over his lifetime. He and his wife, Jan, have been married for over 55 years. They have 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in thanking the Honorable Leon Hogg for his years of service on the Euless City Council.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of making the research and development tax credit permanent. America has a long tradition of supporting research and development. The R&D tax, which was first enacted in 1981 under President Ronald Reagan, stimulates investment, creates high-value jobs, and drives economic growth. But the R&D credit has never been made permanent. In fact, the credit expired at the end of last year, which has caused significant uncertainty and hurts long-term investment for businesses of all sizes. The roller coaster of tax extensions, expirations, and renewals should stop. Businesses need to make decisions on what is best for their workers and companies, not the stop-and-go policies of an uncompetitive Tax Code. Permanency of the R&D tax credit will propel U.S. competitiveness, and it will also help promote future investment, innovation, and job growth right here at home.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Refundable Child Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Reform Act. This bill, authored by my friend and colleague, Congressman Sam Johnson, cracks down on fraud. It requires taxpayers who claim the additional child tax credit to provide a valid Social Security number. This is just common sense. It has been well-documented that the government loses billions of dollars due to the rampant fraud of the additional child tax credit. The IRS inspector general puts this fraud number at an unbelievable $4.2 billion a year. This fraud--and failure to fix the problem--is simply unacceptable. This is why my constituents in Texas deserve to know what is being done to address this problem. There is a clear solution. That solution is H.R. 556. I urge all of my colleagues to join me today in cosponsoring this bill to deliver a more responsible government to Texas and to American taxpayers.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of three school districts in the 24th District of Texas, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, and Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, that have recently been designated to receive the prestigious honor of ``Best Communities for Music Education'' by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. The ``Best Communities for Music Education'' is a program that celebrates communities in America who support access to music education as part of their core curriculum. Each school district involved filled out a survey that answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. This year, with over 2,000 school districts nominated, 376 were awarded this designation, of which I am incredibly honored to have three of those in the 24th District of Texas. This award recognizes the commitment of these school administrations, community leaders, teachers, and parents who believe in music education and are working to ensure that it is part of a complete education for children. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in honoring this recognition from the NAAM Foundation for the Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Grapevine-Colleyville, and Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School Districts.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Hockaday School's centennial anniversary. The school will celebrate 100 years of learning and service this weekend. Hockaday is a world-renowned institution in Dallas, Texas, in my congressional district. The school educates over 1,000 students from pre-K to 12th grade. Hockaday stands on the same four cornerstones upon which it was founded: character, courtesy, scholarship, and athletics. These four cornerstones were the original vision of the school's founder, Miss Ela Hockaday. They remain the very fabric of the school and will continue to guide Hockaday students for years to come. I ask all of my colleagues today to join me in honoring the Hockaday community on this very historic occasion.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, every American family has to live within its means. It is time for Washington to do the same. The House Republican budget deals with our debts and builds an economy that rewards Americans who work hard and want to get ahead. I support the conservative budget for three simple reasons: the plan balances the budget within 10 years, cuts wasteful government spending over 10 years by $5.1 trillion, and pays down the national debt. In addition, the Republican budget proposal grows the economy, repeals ObamaCare, strengthens Medicare, secures Social Security for the long term, simplifies the broken Tax Code, promotes American energy production, and enhances national and diplomatic security. In contrast, President Obama's budget never balances, hikes taxes by $1.8 trillion, and adds $8.3 trillion more to the national debt of $17.5 trillion. My constituents know that we can't afford more of the same Big Government spending that has buried our economy and our country in debt. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the House Republican budget and getting our Nation's fiscal house in order.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Bill Blanton who passed away on April 4, 2014. It was my privilege to have known Bill for over thirty years. He was a long standing pillar of the Carrollton, Texas community and will be greatly missed. Bill was born March 11, 1924 and leaves behind a lasting legacy to his community and country. He served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and then would serve his local community and Texas for many years thereafter. Bill served on the Carrollton/Farmers Branch Independent School District Board for ten years and then would continue his service to the community as their elected representative to the Texas House of Representatives. Bill served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987. During his service in Austin, Bill continued his commitment to improving the lives of our students by serving as the Chairman of the Public Education Committee. In 1986, the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce honored Bill as the ``Citizen of the Year.'' Upon Bill's retirement from the Texas House of Representatives, I was honored to succeed him in Austin. Throughout all of his service to the community, many will remember him forever from one of their first times to hear Bill--as the voice of Carrollton High School on Friday evenings. Bill served as the voice of the Carrollton High School football team during the 1950s and 1960s on their old football field which now belongs to DeWitt Perry Junior High School. The people of Carrollton will continue to benefit from the legacy of Bill and the entire Blanton family for many years to come. The Old Downtown Square in Carrollton features the Blanton Grain Tower. The Blanton Grain Tower serves as a tribute to the rich history and original roots of Carrollton and many other North Texas cities. Originally Carrollton was a town which served as a collection of many small and large family farms which fed into the great grain-growing plains of Middle America. Though many grain towers that were essential for the storage and distribution of grain have since been demolished or relocated to rural areas, the Blanton Grain Tower still stands and thrives in the heart of Carrollton. Long since closed for its original purpose, the Blanton Grain Tower was redesigned to now be billed as the world's largest indoor climbing gym. Ten giant grain silos with 110 foot ceilings will continue to challenge indoor rock climbers for years to come. For many years Bill worked for the family grain company--while at the same time being an active member of Lion's Club, Rotary Club, and the Carrollton Chamber of Commerce. So many have been touched by Bill, and many will continue to benefit from his legacy. My heartfelt condolences are with the Blanton family at this difficult time. Bill was a loving husband to his wife Clovis, father of four, grandfather of five, and a great-grandfather of seven. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the lasting legacy and public service of William W. Blanton.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, this weekend will mark the culmination of the centennial school year for The Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas. The Hockaday School is a college preparatory day and boarding school for girls and young women in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is an exceptionally well-regarded and large institution with 1,000 students from eleven different countries around the world. The Hockaday School today stands on the same Four Cornerstones upon which it was founded--Character, Courtesy, Scholarship, and Athletics. Though it has grown over the course of this century, it has grown to continually fulfill the vision of its founder, Miss Ela Hockaday, who believed that education, combined with a sense of ethics, was essential to the advancement of women in society. Miss Hockaday, born in 1875 and raised in Ladonia, Texas, was a lifelong educator. She received her bachelor's degree from what is today the University of North Texas and worked in several institutions as both a teacher and a principal in Texas and Oklahoma. She also attended the University of Chicago and Columbia University. Miss Hockaday's interests were especially strong in the sciences and, after receiving many accolades, she was made head of the biology department at Durant State Normal School in Oklahoma in 1910. In the summer of 1913, while working her small farm in South Texas and on a break from teaching at the Oklahoma College for women, she received a telegram from Menter B. Terrill, who had previously founded the Terrill School for Boys (now St. Mark's School of Texas) in Dallas. At his suggestion she met with several Dallas businessmen who wanted her to establish a girls' preparatory school so that their daughters might have educational opportunities. Shortly thereafter, in September of 1913, Miss Hockaday's School for Girls opened in a house on North Haskell Avenue in Dallas, with an initial enrollment of ten students. Miss Hockaday's School grew quickly, moving to its second site on Greenville Avenue in 1919. By the 1920s, its academic reputation has been well established and the school grew. A Lower School and Boarding Department were added in those years. In 1931 a Junior College was added and, seven years later, the Music Institute was opened. Miss Hockaday continued to serve as headmistress until 1946 and remained involved until her passing a decade later. All the while she ensured the permanence of the Four Cornerstones and the rigor of the classical education at the school. In 1961, The Hockaday School moved to its third and present location at Welch Road in North Dallas. The effort had begun in 1956 under J. Erik Jonsson (who later became mayor of Dallas) and was made possible by a donation of 100 acres by Karl Hoblitzelle. The Dallas Times Herald called it ``eye-catching'' and ``the most unusual, the most attractive, the most advanced learning facility in Dallas.'' Today the Hockaday School continues to thrive. Thanks to the Hockaday Tomorrow Capital Campaign in 2004, it is home to a state-of-the-art Academic Research Center, a Lower School Addition, and a Wellness Center. Now, ten years later, the Centennial Campaign aims to provide the school with even more facilities and initiatives in the years ahead. The Hockaday School continues to serve as an important part of Dallas' educational landscape, educating girls and young women to assume positions of leadership in an ever-changing world. Throughout this centennial school year, the school has hosted various festivities to commemorate its rich history and celebrate its bright future. After kicking-off the events in September, the school has put on an ongoing Centennial Exhibit, the Hockaday Day of Service, and the Centennial Speaker Series. It all culminates in a Centennial Week of commemorative events with a luncheon on April 11 and ``The Party of the Century'' finale on April 12, complete with musical performances and fireworks. This magnificent moment in the history of a venerable institution of women's education will be shared by students, alumnae, faculty, and many friends and family who share in the Hockaday legacy. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in marking and celebrating the centennial of The Hockaday School.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the outstanding and proactive leadership in Texas by ExxonMobil and its recognition by the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB). NAWB works to create a relationship between businesses and Workforce Investment Boards to coordinate and maximize employment potential for employers and workers. ExxonMobil was recognized at the Annual Excellence Awards in Washington D.C. for creating training programs and high-paying careers for over 10,000 Texans. This large job growth is made possible by the billions of dollars of capital investment in the Texas economy. ExxonMobil has established partnerships with local workforce boards to find unemployed workers that would be best suited for immediate employment or training. In line with training, they have also committed $500,000 to fund the Community College Petrochemical Initiative, expanding training programs to quickly recruit workers to long-term careers. In addition to creating jobs, ExxonMobil has partnered with schools and other community collaborators to improve primary and secondary education in Texas. For instance, ``Introduce a Girl to Engineering'' provides 180 middle school girls with hands-on activities that help them learn about career opportunities in the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematical (STEM) fields. STEM education is important, as the number of job openings is expected to grow nearly twice as fast as the number of jobs in non-STEM sectors in the next 5 years. Another program, called the Advancement Via Individual Determination helps more than 400 students improve their academic and organizational skills, increasing their chances of attending college. ExxonMobil has also partnered with Lee College to provide paid internship opportunities. An impressive 100% of students that completed the internship program to date have been hired by ExxonMobil. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in honoring this recognition from the National Association of Workforce Boards.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, most people agree that a 40-hour workweek is considered the average for a full-time American worker. However, ObamaCare defines full-time employment as being only 30 hours a week. The legislation before us will restore the commonly held 40- hour workweek standard. Unless we take action, many businesses in my district will reduce the hours of their employees or will be unable to hire new workers. This will hurt many hardworking Americans who want to work more to provide for their families but who will not be able to do so because of the changes in ObamaCare. Washington should not place barriers in front of job creation. Washington should not discourage people from working more to provide for their families or to further their careers. We can change this. I urge all of my colleagues to join me today in supporting the Save American Workers Act.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably delayed in returning to Washington, DC on Monday, March 24, 2014 and missed the following two rollcall votes. On rollcall vote 136, passage of H.R. 3060--A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 232 Southwest Johnson Avenue in Burleson, Texas, as the ``Sergeant William Moody Post Office Building,'' I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall vote 137, passage of H.R. 1813--A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 162 Northeast Avenue in Tallmadge, Ohio, as the ``Lance Corporal Daniel Nathan Deyarmin Post Office Building,'' I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness and pride that I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of the grandfather of one of my employees, John Nicholas Deoudes, who passed away on February 12, 2014 at the age of 90. Born Ioannis Nickolas Deoudes in the village of Apeiranthos on the Greek island of Naxos, Mr. Deoudes took the name John after coming to the United States as a child. He graduated from Roosevelt High School of Washington, DC in 1942, becoming a U.S. citizen shortly thereafter and serving in the Army during World War II. Mr. Deoudes then operated a vending machine business in the Washington, DC area for nearly seven decades. Mr. Deoudes served on the national board of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association and a member of the American Legion where he was a past president of his local chapter. He was a founding member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Bethesda and in Ocean City, Md., and was a past president of the parish council at the Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Washington, DC. He was given the title of archon for his work with the Greek Orthodox Church, which included membership in the ``Leadership 100'' endowment fund. John N. Deoudes was blessed with a loving family who were all greatly impacted by his insatiable spirit and zest for life. To put it plainly, he and his entire family ``never had it so good.'' He shared his life with his wife of 64 years, Mary Scounas Deoudes, his four children, Nick Deoudes, Bill Deoudes, Tom Deoudes, and Jo Ann D. Calomiris of Washington; and eight grandchildren, Valerie (Michael), John Nicholas, Andrea, John William, Angelica, Dimitri, Alexa and Julia. Mr. Speaker, John N. Deoudes great man in the many communities in which he lived and worked. I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating his life, and honoring the many people whose lives are better for having intersected their paths with his.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I hear from seniors in my district every day that they are very pleased with their Medicare Advantage plans but are greatly concerned about the recently announced program cuts caused by ObamaCare. These cuts will result in higher out-of-pocket costs and benefit reductions. These cuts will be especially hard hitting on the 40 percent of Medicare Advantage enrollees who earn $20,000 a year or less. Some plans are already cutting doctors that were previously available to Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Many seniors are only now hearing about these cuts. The larger problem is that most of the cuts to Medicare Advantage are all back loaded in ObamaCare--the worst is yet to come. I call on the administration to give immediate relief to our seniors and allow them to keep the Medicare Advantage plans that they depend on every day.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the Simple Fairness Act and eliminate the individual mandate tax penalty under the Affordable Care Act for a year. Many of my constituents in the 24th District of Texas have lost their health insurance and access to doctors they liked due to the President's healthcare law. The law is hurting millions of Americans. The President has recognized as much, as he recently issued another delay that protects businesses from his employer mandate tax. In fact, the President has delayed provisions in his own healthcare law over 20 times in the past year. It is simply not fair for the President to give businesses a one-year delay on the tax penalty, but not give hardworking individuals and families the same relief. My constituents, and all Americans, deserve the same thing: fairness. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the Simple Fairness Act.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Jon Reedy of Irving, Texas, on receiving the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association's (NSSGA) 2013 James M. Christie Safety and Health Professional of the Year award. The award, established in 1987, gives national attention to an individual who contributes outstanding efforts to his or her company regarding healthy work practices. Mr. Reedy, Director of Environment, Safety, and Health for the South Region & Hanson Building Products, Lehigh Hanson, Inc., has been a strong advocate for a safe work environment and brought proactive changes to daily procedures, particularly in mining. His tireless efforts have led to many man-hours without workplace injuries among several facilities as well as reductions in compensation costs. He is a great asset to not only the company but the community as well. NSSGA President and CEO Michael Johnson stated that ``Jon's diligent work to boost safety and health performance is a great example of the aggregate industry's commitment to worker wellness celebrated by the Christie Award.'' Jon Reedy's receipt of this honor evidences his hard work and dedication to not only his company but his workers and community. Keeping a safe and healthy work environment is beneficial to all parties involved. It is an honor to represent such a distinguished and hardworking constituent in Congress and I look forward to seeing the results of that success in the form of safer workplaces in North Texas. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Jon Reedy on his award.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Ron Whitehead the city manager of Addison, Texas, who is retiring today, February 28, after nearly 32 years of service for the Town of Addison and over a decade more in other Texas municipalities. Mr. Whitehead was raised in Orange, Texas, where he learned about city management from his father who was a city councilman and mayor. He participated in student government and graduated Stark High School in 1967. After graduating from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, with a degree in Government in 1971, he started interning for the City of Beaumont and eventually became the assistant director of personnel. Mr. Whitehead began work as the administrative assistant to the city manager in Irving, Texas, in 1974 and in 1977 became the assistant city manager for administration. He earned his Masters in Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas in 1980 and became the general supervisory assistant city manager in Irving the following year. In June of 1982, Mr. Whitehead became the city manager of Addison and he has served that role until today. Over the decades, Mr. Whitehead helped Addison transform from a small town with a handful of businesses to a bustling center with approximately 1,600 registered businesses. In 1982 there were 200 family households in Addison, and today the population numbers 15,000. Today Addison has 260 full-time employees and an annual budget of $60 million. As city manager, Mr. Whitehead helped build up the modern city with multiple projects such as Wheeler Bridge, Addison Circle, Vitruvian Park, and the Addison Airport Toll Tunnel. The Dallas North Tollway came through Addison during his tenure as well. Future projects that the city will continue to develop include work on Addison Airport, a pedestrian connectivity effort, and underground utilities along Belt Line Road. His long-standing passion for people, service, and making a difference have earned Mr. Whitehead many board positions and awards during his 32 years in Addison. In 2006 he received the Texas City Management Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2009 he was named Metrocrest Citizen of the Year by the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce, which represents Carrollton, Farmers Branch, and Addison, Texas. He earned the William J. Pitstick Regional Excellence Award in 2013 and was commended for his strong commitment to regionalism and collaboration with neighboring cities with regard to transportation, services, art, and planning. Mr. Whitehead has also been the recipient of a distinguished alumni award from the University of North Texas, the L.P. Cookingham Award for Career Development from the International City Management Association (ICMA), as well as recognition from the ICMA on his 35th anniversary of municipal service. Among his roles in numerous associations, he has been particularly active in the Greater Dallas Planning Council, the North Texas City Management Association, the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and the Metroplex Mayors Association. Mr. Whitehead has been married to his wife Donna for 27 years and they have two daughters, Maxey and Lauren. Donna is an elementary school music teacher in Good Shepherd Episcopal School and also plans to retire soon. They are involved in church and civic activities, and intend to travel together in the coming years. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Ron Whitehead on his 32 years of service as city manager of Addison and wishing him well in retirement.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the ``Taxpayer Right-to-Know-Act.'' The Taxpayer Right-to-Know Act would require all federal agencies to describe, in detail, all programs under their agency, their costs, the number of employees running each program, and possible duplication. Reports would be due each year. Agencies would also have to publish performance reviews and improper payment rates. OMB would then analyze the reports for overlapping programs and provide concrete recommendations on how to reduce duplication and waste. This bill would ensure greater transparency, enhance scrutiny of taxpayer dollars, and help deliver better value to the American people. The Taxpayer Right-to-Know Act is about transparency, fiscal responsibility, and finding solution to right-size the government for the American people.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the ``Protecting Taxpayers from Intrusive IRS Requests Act''. Many of my constituents in the 24th District of Texas--some of whom were unfairly targeted by the IRS--have lost confidence in the impartiality of the agency. Due to the political targeting scandal, my constituents are deeply skeptical about the IRS and angry at how they have been treated. I fully agree with their concerns: the IRS has been blatantly too intrusive on my constituents' personal lives and of many other Americans around the country. Americans should always be protected from unnecessary and intrusive questions about their political, religious, and social beliefs. On behalf of my constituents, I respectfully urge members to help protect American taxpayers and vote for this bill.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the naming of U.S. Highway 75 in north Texas as the Sam Johnson Highway, after my friend and our colleague, Representative Sam Johnson. This Monday, over 200 gathered to attend the public sign unveiling ceremony in Collin County, Texas. This highway is a major artery in the north Texas area. The recognition it now provides is fitting, but can never repay Congressman Johnson for his sacrifice and service for our country, first in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean and Vietnam wars, including 7 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. After returning and being reunited with his family, he put years of hard work into being an entrepreneurial homebuilder in his community. He went on to serve in the State legislature and now serves as the U.S. Representative to Collin County, which he calls home. I am honored to work with him in this Congress and on the Ways and Means Committee. I would like to thank my friend from Texas, Sam Johnson, for his years of service to our communities and our Nation.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize retiring Sergeant Ron Williamson for his many years of public service as a police officer with the City of Euless. Ron began his career in law enforcement in the late 1970s when he served as a reserve officer for the Bedford Police Department. While serving the City of Bedford, Ron was promoted to Reserve Sergeant and was briefly employed as a Bedford Police Officer. In 1980, Ron was hired as a patrol officer by the Euless Police Department where he served continuously until his retirement in February of 2014. Throughout his career with the City of Euless, Ron has accomplished many achievements such as obtaining the ranks of Corporal in 1991 and Sergeant in 1993. Additionally, Ron has served a decorated career earning over 40 personnel commendations, Police Officer of the Year in 1983, Supervisor of the Year in 1996, Life Saving Award in 1999, and the prestigious Blackie Sustaire Award in 2011. Ron has a diverse background in law enforcement as evident in the following departments in which he operated. He served in the Patrol Division from 1980 to 1985, Criminal Investigation Division from 1985 to 1999 and 2001 to 2004, Community Service from 1999 to 2001, and Administrative Internal Affairs from 2004 to 2014. In each department listed, Ron has held a supervisory position. Ron has been an important leader in the Euless Police Department, and his guidance will be missed. Ron has also earned a number of certifications and academic degrees within the field of law enforcement. The distinctions Ron has received over the years include the Basic Police Certification in 1980, Intermediate Police Certification in 1987, Dare Officer Certification in 1988, Advanced Police Certification in 1991, and Master Police Certification in 1999. In 1994, Ron graduated from the Southwest Law Enforcement Institute School of Police Supervision; additionally, he completed Basic SWAT Operations Training in 1989 to become a supervising SWAT leader. Overall, Ron received over 2,600 hours of in- service training throughout his career. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in thanking Ron Williamson for his 34 years of public service as a Euless Police Officer.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the completion of the Valley Ranch Library's renovation project. The library has been serving the citizens of Irving, Texas, since 1996 with an amazing collection of books, educational programs, and meeting spaces for community groups. The history of the Valley Ranch Library begins in 1996 when it established its operations in a rental space no larger than 10,000 square feet. Following its opening, the library quickly became one of the busiest branches in the Irving Public Library system. In June of 2006, the City of Irving initiated the construction project of a new 26,000 square foot library at 401 Cimarron Trail. In less than two years, the Valley Ranch Library celebrated its new facility at the grand opening ceremony in October of 2007. The new library brought new features to the community such as additional study rooms, public computers, and a cafe. Of the entire constructed facility, 5,000 square feet was left unfinished for future expansion. In September of 2012, the citizens of Irving voted on a bond sale to complete the Valley Ranch Library, and in October of 2013, the library renovation project began. The library expansion included more community meeting spaces, increased shelving by 20%, defined children's areas for a more comfortable experience of all ages, and the addition of a digital media lab. The Valley Ranch Library is the second busiest and next-largest branch in the Irving Public Library system, after the Central Library. The library's surrounding community is composed of families focused on education; consequently, the library operates to meet and exceed the community's demand for educational resources and programs. The programs are often filled to capacity and patrons are known for maximizing their 50-book limit every three weeks. Since the establishment of the facility in 2006, the Valley Ranch Library has grown significantly as demonstrated by the following statistics. The library has grown 72% in visitation, 26% in items checked out, 44% in collection size, 40% in reference requests, and 87% in public computer usage. I am extremely appreciative of the City of Irving and the Irving Public Library system for continuing to address the needs of the community by enhancing the quality of their infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating the City of Irving and Irving Public Library on the completion of the Valley Ranch Library's renovation project.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize retiring Lieutenant John Williams for his 31 years of public service as a police officer. John graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1972 with a Bachelor's Degree in Management. In the following year, he earned his Basic Police Certification and shortly afterwards joined the Arlington Police Department as an officer where he served for four years. Following his service in Arlington, John served as an officer for the Odessa Police Department for two years. Aside from being a police officer, John has been the owner of several successful businesses including a bowling center and custom harvesting operation. In 1988, John was hired as a patrol officer by the Euless Police Department. Throughout his career with the City of Euless, John has accomplished many achievements such as obtaining the ranks of Sergeant in 1992, Lieutenant in 1999, and the supervisor roles of the Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations, Jail & Property Operations, Internal Affairs and the Traffic Unit. Aside from his promotions, John has been honored with 35 police commendations and nominated ten times as Supervisor of the Year, which he won in 2005. John has also earned a number of certifications and academic degrees within the field of law enforcement. The distinctions John has received over the years include the Intermediate Police Certification in 1975, Advanced Police Certification in 1990, Breath Test Operator Certification in 1991, Police Officer Instructor License in 1992, and Masters Police Certification in 1996. In 1992, John graduated from the Southwest Law Enforcement Institute School of Police Supervision; additionally, he graduated in 2000 from the Southwest Law Enforcement Institute Command School. At both institutes, John obtained high honors for his academic achievements. Overall, John has received over 3,000 hours of in-service training throughout his career. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in thanking John Williams for his 31 years of public service as a police officer.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize retiring Captain Steven Eskew for his 34 years of public service as a police officer. Steven graduated in 1977 from Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration. Following his graduation, Steven worked for the Department of Public Safety in Raytown, Missouri, and as a security officer in the private sector. In 1980, Steven was hired as a patrol officer by the Euless Police Department. Throughout his career with the City of Euless, Steven has accomplished many achievements such as obtaining the ranks of Criminal Investigator in 1985, Sergeant in 1989, Lieutenant in 1993, and Captain in 2011. Aside from his promotions, Steven has been honored with 12 personnel commendations, Distinguished Service Award in 1984, Police Officer of the Year in 1985, and Supervisor of the Year in 1991. Steven served as the Department Armorer for many years. Additionally, he has held the positions of Tactical Commander, Internal Affairs Officer, and Firearms Instructor. Steven has also earned a number of certifications and academic degrees within the field of law enforcement. The distinctions Steven has received over the years include the Basic Police Certification in 1981, Intermediate Police Certification in 1982, Advanced Police Certification in 1986, Tactical and Sniper training in 1986, Firearm Instructor Certification in 1995, and Master's Police Certification in 1995. In 1989, Steven graduated from the Southwest Law Enforcement Institute School of Police Supervision; additionally, he graduated in 1994 from the Southwest Law Enforcement Institute Command School. At both institutes, Steven obtained high honors for his academic achievements. Overall, Steven received over 2,600 hours of in-service training throughout his career. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in thanking Steven Eskew for his 34 years of public service as a police officer.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, next week will mark forty-one years since the United States Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade. Since that time, millions of lives have been lost to legalized abortion in the United States, and it is fitting to recognize them at this unfortunate landmark. This is also a time to renew hope as millions of Americans continue to advocate for the respect due all human life and many state governments across our country are working to embrace the right to life. Here at the federal level, many of my colleagues and I have cosponsored legislation that would help in these efforts. To that end, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which passed the House and would limit abortion after the age at which evidence shows that an unborn child can experience pain. I have also cosponsored H.R. 1091, the Life at Conception Act, to legally define human life as beginning at conception, and H.R. 940, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act, to protect the freedom of conscience for healthcare professionals who do not want to participate in abortions. Mr. Speaker, in recognizing the approaching anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I urge my colleagues in both houses of Congress to advance and pass these and many other bills that defend the fundamental right to life, without which all other rights are impossible.