Richard Nolan

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ruth Flower, the 2016 recipient of the Coalition on Human Needs' Hero award for her outstanding work fighting against poverty and for peace and justice. As a Human Needs Hero, Ruth is joining an esteemed group of individuals who go above and beyond to fight for the dignity and quality of life of all people. In her numerous interactions with my office, it was clear Ruth has a passion for helping others, and is a truly extraordinary advocate for those in need. During Ruth's career as Associate Executive Secretary for Legislative Programs at the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Ruth enjoyed meeting with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and with a wide array of viewpoints. She would leave no stone unturned in her efforts to find the necessary resources for those who needed them most. For example, in my Congressional District, Ruth's worked with me to dramatically improve the lives of students attending the Bug-O-Nay-Ge- Shig school, which is in desperate need of renovation. Ruth's advocacy helped build support in Congress and the Administration for funding for a new school. I am so pleased to say that after years of tireless efforts by many, including yours truly, students from the Leech Lake Reservation will no longer have to attend class in a drafty, unsafe, and hazardous pole building. In addition to advocating for Native American concerns, Ruth led efforts to address a wide range of our shared priorities, including health care reform, affordable housing, federal budget priorities, civil liberties, campaign finance reform, and the challenge of poverty in the U.S. Mr. Speaker, please join me and others in congratulating Ruth on her receipt of the Human Needs Hero award as we thank her for her tireless work at FCNL to improve the lives of all-too-often underrepresented segments of our society.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Farm Credit System which this year is celebrating 100 years of service to our rural communities and agribusinesses of all types and sizes. Across our country, and in my own District, the Farm Credit System provides the needed capital to help agricultural producers grow and thrive. The Farm Credit System actively supports 500,000 borrower-customers, including 24,000 in Minnesota. The system also provides much needed support to the next generation of agricultural producers, as well as financial support for agriculture education, scholarships and organizations like 4-H and FFA. In my district, Farm Credit has partnered with USDA and banks on investments in projects that help fulfill the critical need for high quality healthcare. These partnerships fund projects that are vital to my constituents and all that utilize their services. I ask my colleagues in Congress to join me in recognizing this important milestone for the Farm Credit System and its continued contributions to our rural communities and agriculture.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, on June 21, 2016, I was unavoidably detained due to a flight delay caused by inclement weather in the Washington, DC area. Had I been present and voting on Roll Call No. 334, I would have voted NO (On H.R. 5525, End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016). Had I been present and voting on Roll Call No. 335, I would have voted AYE (On H.R. 5388, Support for Rapid Innovation Act of 2016). Had I been present and voting on Roll Call No. 336, I would have voted AYE (H.R. 5389, Leveraging Emerging Technologies Act of 2016).

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Chairman, Members of the House, I would like to begin by thanking the staff and respective chairman and ranking member and my colleagues as well, Frank LoBiondo and Lois Capps, who co-chair with me the Lung Cancer Caucus. I have come to be so impressed with the hard work that the staff and the chairman and the ranking member do to bring this legislation forward. My amendment would simply increase the amount of money available for lung cancer research by $2 million, from $12 million to $14 million, in the hope that we can do better. Mr. Chairman, $2 million, I know, is but a dent in the Defense operations budget, but it is a source of great hope and great promise for people struggling with lung cancer, the most deadly of all cancers. 159,000 people, including many veterans, are victims of that each year. I think so many of you know that my daughter Katherine was diagnosed some time ago with an advanced stage form of lung cancer. I would be remiss if I didn't thank my colleagues for their prayers, for their condolences, for their support, and for their support for this medical research to give hope to the victims of lung cancer for the future because, but for the money that this Congress has appropriated, my daughter wouldn't be experiencing the hope that she has for her recovery. With this additional amendment--it is a small one--I am appreciative of your support for it because it provides not only great hope for Katherine and her family, but it offers hope for so many more people all across the country affected with this dreadful disease. I thank the committee, and I urge adoption of the amendment.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize June Kreutzkampf of Duluth, Minnesota for her service to her hometown. June is the 2016 recipient of the Woman of The Year Award given out at the annual Port Cities luncheon which celebrates the cities of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin together known as the Twin Ports. June is an active volunteer at many organizations in the Duluth region. She is a board member of the Duluth Public Library, a member of St. Luke's volunteer service guild, and a teacher at the University for Seniors, just to name a few. In addition, June also serves as a lay minister at First United Methodist Church and an Election Judge. The Twin Ports communities are thankful for June's hard work and dedication. Throughout decades of service to others, June has shown that she exemplifies what makes the Twin Ports the great community that it is today. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 2016's Port Cities Woman of the Year: June Kreutzkampf.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sean Kehren of Pine City, Minnesota who heroically saved a woman he had never met before from a fiery car crash on a busy interstate highway in Northern Minnesota. Sean was traveling south back to the University he attends after attending the eighth Congressional District Democratic Convention in Duluth, Minnesota when the car in front of his veered off the road, crashed into a tree and caught fire. Sean ran to the driver's door of the car to see if the driver was injured. When he saw flames underneath the vehicle, Sean decided it was time to act and he pulled the driver out of the car. Then, with the assistance of the passengers in his car, he carried the driver to safety away from the burning vehicle. After rescuing the driver, Sean even accompanied her to a local hospital and helped her contact relatives so that she could be surrounded by her family after her accident. When Sean was asked what motivated him to act so courageously, he was very humble. Sean said he was just doing the right thing and helping out a person in need. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Sean for his selfless actions which put his own safety in jeopardy to save a stranger.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained for voting on Monday, May 16th. Had I been present and voting, I would have voted accordingly: Aye on Roll Call Vote Number 194 (Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 4743--National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act of 2016); and Aye on Roll Call Number 195 (Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 4407--Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act of 2016).

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Thomas Stolee of Duluth, Minnesota for intervening and ultimately thwarting a suicide attempt. Thomas's usual Sunday afternoon jog around the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus became a life-saving experience after he spotted a woman standing at the edge of a bridge over the Mississippi River. She appeared ready to jump, and when Thomas asked if she was in trouble, she ordered him to leave. Despite his best efforts at persuasion, the woman proceeded with her attempt to leap from the bridge. At that moment, Thomas jeopardized his own safety as he lunged forward and pulled her back from the precipice. Following the incident, a passing campus security patrol stopped to provide assistance. Thomas saved the life of a total stranger that day. However, those close to him were not surprised by the college freshman's compassion and heroism. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Thomas Stolee for his courage in saving the life of a desperate person in need.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Darwin Anderson of Brainerd, Minnesota. Last Saturday the tanker base at the Brainerd Airport was named after Darwin, who passed away February 6th 2015, to commemorate his 43 years of service and exceptional work as a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) firefighter. Darwin was one of the first to see the potential for using aircraft and a network of tanker bases throughout the state to fight wildfires. He was also a pioneer in utilizing a helicopter with a bucket as a tool for fighting wildfires. In addition to Darwin's innovations, his compassion and charisma have earned him the respect of his coworkers. His colleagues speak very highly of Darwin's supervisory skills and the guidance he has given them throughout their careers. Many of his peers attribute their own success to Darwin's mentoring. Leaders such as Darwin make a positive impact on others' lives and in their communities--so much so one of his colleagues said, ``With Darwin, forestry equaled family.'' His family, wife Janet, sons Jeffery, Ryan, Erik, and daughter Yvette gave him the support he needed to do such a difficult job. It is an honor to recognize Darwin's many accomplishments, and I know my colleagues will join me in thanking Darwin for his leadership, innovation, and many years of dedicated service to our state.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained for voting on Thursday, May 12th, Had I been present and voting, I would have voted accordingly: ``Aye'' on rollcall No. 186 (Lynch Amendment to H.R. 5046); ``aye'' on rollcall No. 187 (Final Passage of H.R. 5046); ``aye'' on rollcall No. 188 (Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1818, Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act of 2016); and ``aye; on rollcall No. 189 (Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 4586, Lali's Law).

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks) for her leadership on this important issue and her support for this important amendment, most importantly the great work she is doing here on behalf of our veterans and our men and women in the Armed Forces. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Chairman, Members of the House, my amendment simply would ensure that the concerns and the interests of Active-Duty members of our Armed Forces and veterans have their interests and concerns taken into consideration by the interagency task force. The simple truth is that there is a greater need and use of opioids among Active Duty and veterans of our Armed Forces simply because of the many serious accidents and injuries that they incur in combat and in training. Over half of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have had to use opioids as painkillers from the accidents and the injuries that they have suffered. That is well over half a million of our finest and bravest citizens here in this country, and an 80 percent increase in its use over the last decade. I would be remiss if I didn't point out as well that overdose from opioids is twice the rate among our Active-Duty servicemembers and veterans of that of the general population. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that, because of problems that we have been seeing in the Veterans Administration with veterans having a difficult time sometimes getting appointments to get their prescriptions filled, they have been tragically forced to go to alternative street measures, including heroin, with disastrous consequences for our soldiers and our veterans. Our veterans, our men and women of the Armed Forces, deserve better. This is a growing problem, a growing concern, and my amendment would simply require that they be represented on this interagency task force so that their interests, their concerns can be properly reflected and reported in the findings and results of this interagency task force. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to amend my vote on Roll Call No. 179 (Motion to Recommit H.R. 4901) to YES. I inadvertently voted in the negative. In my view, every child deserves access to a quality education without fear of being ostracized, punished, or discriminated against because of their race, religion, gender, ability, or because they are LGBT. I have long been an outspoken advocate for efforts to protect individuals from discrimination because of who they are or whom they love. That has not and will not change.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marie Willan of Wadena, Minnesota who is celebrating her 110th birthday today. A lifelong resident of Wadena, Marie has always been an active member of her community, who put caring for her family and community before herself throughout her life. She put graduating high school on hold to take care of her eight siblings, her family's farm, then later her own son Roy. Never one to leave things unfinished, Marie returned to Wadena High School and in 2007 completed her high school diploma at age 101. Her family, thankful for all Marie's support, says her secret to such a long life is not holding onto worries and problems. A strong woman all her life, Marie made a point not to get worked up over the little things and today looks back at a long vibrant life with over a century of memories shared with her family, friends, and community. On this very special day for Marie and her loved ones, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Marie a happy 110th birthday.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the United States House of Representatives for the passing of H.R. 223, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2015, which authorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through Fiscal Year 2020 at $300 million per year. This initiative continues to perform vital work to combat the influx of invasive species, restore polluted habitats, and clean up areas where significant harm has been caused by human activity; also known as Areas of Concern. H.R. 223 is a commonsense, nonpartisan bill that creates jobs, restores communities, and boosts small businesses in the Great Lakes region. Beginning in 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been working hard to protect and preserve the largest freshwater system in the world. I would like to thank my dear friend Mr. David Joyce for leading this legislation to provide long-term stability for the protection and restoration of our beautiful Great Lakes, which are home to over 1.5 million jobs and more than thirty-five hundred plants and animals. This initiative has made a significant impact in the 8th District of Minnesota; specifically, the St. Louis River, which is one of the largest Areas of Concerns in the Great Lakes Basin. With the support of federal and state agencies involved, this Area of Concern is making incredible progress. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congress for passing this vital piece of legislation to provide long-term stability to our Great Lakes region and I commend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for all of the important work it does.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise with great pride to honor my friend, Brigadier General Sandy Best, the first woman in the Minnesota National Guard to be promoted to the rank of General. In recognition of her extraordinary leadership and exemplary service to the Guard and to our Nation, she began her new command of the 133rd Airlift Wing and 148th Fighter Wing on February 25th. In her many visits to my office, General Best has always been an outstanding advocate for the Minnesota National Guard. She exemplifies the best of what makes our National Guard so effective. In her former role as the Minnesota National Guard's Director of Government Relations she advocated for Minnesota's bases at the federal and state level, contributing greatly to making our state's bases some of America's premier defense operations. Members of the Minnesota National Guard have been deployed around the world, and they always stand ready to help our region when natural disasters strike and people are in need of aid and assistance. I'm confident that both the 133rd Airlift Wing and 148th Fighter Wing are in strong hands under General Best's command. And I know she will continue her strong advocacy for the brilliant, highly trained and hardworking men and women of Minnesota's National Guard. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing General Sandy Best for her historic accomplishment and service to our great nation.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dave Pritschet, of Brainerd High School in Brainerd, Minnesota, who has been named 2016 Coach of the Year by the Minnesota Debate Teachers Association. Dave built a great and growing debate program at Brainerd High School that has brought so much honor and recognition to his students and to our entire community. In fact, under Dave's guidance, the program has sent students to state and national debate tournaments in every year but one since 2000. So it's no wonder his fellow coaches saw fit to recognize those achievements with this year's award. Though his students debate many things, they can all agree Coach Pritschet's knowledge and passion for the art of debate motivates them to strive for excellence. Moreover, the success Brainerd's debate team has earned and enjoyed is inspiring other schools throughout rural Minnesota to form debate teams where students learn to respectfully exchange ideas and opinions based on facts. That ability to speak clearly and eloquently will take them far in life; perhaps even to this very Chamber one day. Once again, it is an honor to recognize with my colleagues Minnesota's 2016 Coach of the Year, Dave Pritschet.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend, and Elyite, Lt. Col. David Merhar for his many athletic achievements, service to his country, and passion for helping others pursue their goals. On February 6th his West Point number 7 jersey was retired--one of the first three jerseys to ever be raised to the rafters of Tate Rink-- in honor of his many accomplishments while playing for West Point's hockey team. During his senior season, he became the first NCAA hockey player to surpass 100 points in a season. The 57 goals and 50 assists that season made him the highest scoring NCAA hockey player at the time and today his 107 points in one season remains 6th all-time in NCAA history. After graduating from West Point, Dave went on to a fulfilling 35 year career in government service, including 23 years in active military duty and serving as a special assistant to then General Alexander Haig stationed at NATO headquarters in Belgium. Dave's hard work and dedication helped to keep our country safe. Today Dave continues in public service by helping me select candidates for service academy nominations. I truly appreciate the time he sets aside every year to help me nominate students to service academies, such as West Point, so they can pursue their goals just like Dave. Once again thank you Dave for your service to our country, and congratulations on this historic achievement.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my Minnesota colleague Congressman Collin Peterson, to recognize the Blandin Foundation and all they do for rural Minnesota, and particularly for their efforts to provide broadband internet service to all Minnesotans. I was honored to recently speak at the `Border to Border Broadband: Better Together' conference, which was sponsored by the Blandin Foundation and the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development. More than 170 participants came together and agreed on a vision statement for the future of broadband of Minnesota. Today, Congressman Peterson and I rise in strong support of that vision, which states that ``All Minnesotans will be able to use convenient, affordable world class broadband networks that enable us to survive and thrive in our communities and across the globe.'' The fact is, we need high-speed broadband in our rural communities. It's a necessity required to help grow our small town rural economy and compete, start new businesses, create new jobs, attract new people and modernize the education and health care services so essential to quality of life. Across our expansive and diverse district the Blandin Foundation is working hard to make sure rural communities have access to world-class high-speed broadband internet. Once again, we would like to thank the Blandin Foundation for all they do to strengthen rural Minnesota through their many important programs, in addition to their work on rural broadband.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Minnesota State Trooper Glen Bihler and Mary Dinger of Aitkin, MN for their selfless acts of kindness toward a fellow Minnesotan in need of shelter on a cold winter night. Winters in Minnesota tend to be cold but the temperature on January 19th was particularly cold at 15 degrees below zero. Mary Dinger was driving along Highway 169 in Aitkin County, Minnesota. At mile marker 249 Mary saw a man lying down on the side of the road. Although we are all taught not to stop and pick up strangers--particularly on dark rural roads late at night--Mary stopped to help and let the man warm up in her car while she called 911 and waited for a state Trooper to arrive. After Trooper Bihler picked up the man and confirmed he did not have frostbite, Bihler brought him to a fast-food restaurant for a hot meal. Trooper Bihler said he was just doing what he could to help the man out. Afterwards he brought the man to the lobby of the Aitkin County Sheriff's office, the only place open so late, where he could rest in a warm place until a ride could be arranged to a shelter in the Twin Cities. Once again I want to thank both Minnesotans for the compassion and care they showed for a fellow citizen desperately in need.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lisa Kruse of McGregor, Minnesota for being named 2015 Person of the Year by the Aitkin Age for her outstanding service to her community. As Director of Community Education Lisa works tirelessly to promote wellness to all people in her community. She has brought activities to McGregor for all ages, from indoor recess equipment, to an ice rink at the High School, and to fitness classes for seniors. The programs Lisa helps bring to her community go beyond physical health. Recently she attended training to educate others in her community on the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences. She obtained grants to make McGregor schools a Reading Corps site where additional reading help is available for struggling students to promote literacy to early readers in kindergarten through third grade. Her assistance to McGregor's Early Childhood program helped it earn Parent Aware's highest rating of four stars. In addition to all she does to promote education and wellness Lisa was instrumental in bringing the Governor's fishing opener to Aitkin County for the first time ever. After four years of hard work by Lisa the 2016 Governor's Fishing Opener will be held at Big Sandy Lake nearby her hometown. She is a great example of what it means to be an active citizen. Once again I would like to thank Lisa Kruse for all she does for her hometown of McGregor, Minnesota.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the students in the Youth in Government Club at Brainerd High School (BHS). Last week thirteen students in the club: Alison Jones, Sean Paulus, Thea Fisher, Ellen Hickman, Alyssa Neistadt, Emma Anderson, Nick Ashman, Rachel Cleveland, Marina Cruz, Caleb Meyer, Anthony Rice, Lillian Schmitz, and Claire Waltion participated in a four-day assembly at the state Capitol in St. Paul. During the assembly students from across Minnesota assumed roles of state legislators, executive branch staffers, lobbyists, and political reporters. Students then dealt with bills on topical issues such as: stricter sentences for drunk drivers, ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, and changes to state curriculum requirements for public secondary schools. I would also like to recognize Amy Aho, the club's faculty advisor for all her hard work coordinating the club's participation in the assembly. As a teacher myself I admire her passion for helping her students pursue their interest in public policy. Amy's participation allowed students to take part in a unique, valuable, hands-on experience which will help them to become our future leaders. The Youth in Government Club at BHS gives students experience in how government works and an opportunity to learn more about the legislative process. Their level of interest and engagement is very impressive and I would not be at all surprised to see any of them representing Minnesota in Congress one day.

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, on December 10, 2015, I was unavoidably detained due to ongoing issues surrounding the health of my youngest daughter in Minnesota. Had I been present and voting on rollcall No. 687, I would have voted ``yea'' (Suspend the Rules and pass H.R. 3578). Had I been present and voting on rollcall No. 688, I would have voted ``nay'' (Motion to Table). Had I been present and voting on rollcall No. 689, I would have voted ``yea'' (Suspend the Rules and pass H.R. 2795).

Mr. NOLAN

Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by getting the attention of our chairman over there and thanking him for the terrific job that he did, as well as our ranking member, Mr. DeFazio. It was a real treat. It was, for me, a take-back to an earlier time when regular order prevailed around this place. Quite frankly, that is how you fix things and get things done. It is not always just a matter of attitude; it can be a matter of process. When you have a chair and a ranking member that welcome all members to bring their ideas before the committee, to have an opportunity to have them discussed, examined, argued, and debated, that is how you bring people together. That is how you fix things. That is how you get things done. I would also be remiss if I didn't thank the staff, both the Republican and Democratic staff. You all worked so hard and late into the night and long hours, day after day, getting us to this point. I thank my own staff assistant, Eddie Wytkind, in particular, for the work that he has done on this. With regard to the bill itself, you know, finally, after kicking this can down the road some 34, 35 times, we finally have the kind of long- term surface transportation legislation that people in this country have been crying for and begging for so that we could begin fixing the roads and the bridges that are falling down and the trains that have been coming off the tracks. It is a good, nonpartisan piece of legislation that will allow our States, our counties, and our cities to plan accordingly. Of course, that brings with it greater efficiency. It will put a lot of people back to work. Everyone has told us that infrastructure, transportation is fundamental to our ability to grow jobs, to grow our economy, and to strengthen business opportunities. I am particularly grateful for our Duluth amendment that solves a particular little problem, but an important one, that we have there with regard to logging trucks on our Main Street. Last but not least, I want to commend the leadership for including the reauthorization of Ex-Im Bank with this. As we all know, it is a great banking institution that helps us reduce the deficit and creates jobs throughout the country, including the Eighth District of Minnesota. Thank you to all who were a part of moving this important legislation forward.