Ralph Norman

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of a truly great American, Mary Phillips White Gettys, who will turn 99 on August 6 of this year. Ms. Gettys was born in Chester, South Carolina, on August 6, 1920, which was the same year that women gained voting rights. She graduated from Chester High School, where she was valedictorian of her senior class. She enrolled in Erskine College and graduated in 1941 with a degree in music. Her first job was teaching junior high school in Anderson, South Carolina, and she later joined WAVES, which stands for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, in 1943. She began her training at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, where she specialized in communications while studying at Smith College in North Hampton, Massachusetts. She was assigned to the communications office in the Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia. After achieving the rank of lieutenant, she was tasked with the complicated task of coding and decoding communications received and sent by the Naval Command. Her duties included delivering urgent top secret messages to military leaders, where she would have to strap on her weapon and be escorted across the yard to deliver the vital information. In 1946, Ms. White left the Navy and began working for AAA, the American Automobile Association, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1947, she met Tom Gettys, whom she would become engaged to after 3 weeks and married 3 months after their engagement. Little did she know that she would become the lifelong partner of a man who would successfully become the Fifth District Congressman of South Carolina, where he would serve for five terms until retiring in 1974. They returned to his hometown of Rock Hill, South Carolina, where they would raise two daughters, Julia Martin Gettys Burchett and Sara Elizabeth Gettys Pierce. The Gettys were married for 56 years until the death of Congressman Gettys in 2003. Mary Phillips Gettys is a true leader in her community and received many awards, including: Woman of the Year from the First ARP Church, where she faithfully attended; the Cross of Military Service from the United Daughter of the Confederacy in 2001; the Quilt of Valor award in 2015, presented by the Quilts of Valor Foundations for veterans touched by war; the National Award in 2017, presented from DAR, the Daughters of the American Revolution for Women in American History. Mary Phillips Gettys is the proud and devoted grandmother of six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is the epitome of a gracious and charming Southern lady, and by her life, she has demonstrated a love for her God, a love for her family, the love of her fellow man, and the love of her great country. She is a true American patriot who always has a smile on her face and has lived her life in true service to her fellow man.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true American hero, Pierre King, who is a police officer with the York Police Department in York, South Carolina. I say this because, on May 11, 2019, Jamie Brock and his wife, Kimberly, were having dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse, celebrating their oldest son's graduation from the University of South Carolina. While eating their food, Jamie began choking and unable to breathe due to experiencing an allergic reaction to the food. Kimberly, his wife, began screaming for help, and Officer King, who was off duty at the time, rushed to help the choking man, whom he did not know, and was able to use lifesaving techniques that he had been trained to administer and was successful in dislodging the food from Jamie's throat. Due to the actions of Officer King, a life was saved, and in the words of Brock family: ``God put you there that day, and you saved my husband and you saved our kids' father.'' In the words of Officer King: ``All I knew is that I was not going to let this man die, and he would do the same thing for me.'' Officer King is a true American hero who epitomizes the slogan ``to live is to serve'' and is an example for all of us to follow. When I think of Officer King, I think of the words of Winston Churchill, who, when Great Britain was about to be under siege by Germany, said: There will be a time when doing your best is not good enough. We must do what is required. Mr. Speaker, Officer King did what was required.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and could be sent to the President's desk for his signature today.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of America's finest servicemen, Colonel Frank Childress. Colonel Childress exemplifies the honor and fortitude of the men and women who make up our armed services. Colonel Childress was placed on an assignment in the Pentagon in 2001 and was set to arrive in Washington, D.C. on September 6. Destiny arrived in a humble disguise when a clerical error delayed his household goods from being delivered on time. He was offered the choice of a new delivery date, either September 10 or September 11. He chose September 11. The Colonel lived a mile away and heard when the plane crashed into the Pentagon. He turned on his TV and saw the carnage that took place in New York and immediately headed for the Pentagon to help in any way possible. In a time of crisis and panic, Colonel Childress ran toward danger when many would have fled. Among the thousands who died that day, Colonel Childress survived. Twenty-six of his fellow servicemen and -women were killed in the very office he would have been working in that day. At first, he was nearly consumed by survivor's guilt, but instead of surrendering, he joined a Bible study group for Pentagon employees. Once again, he chose not to run and instead face reality through his strength and faith in God who led him through those dark and difficult days that he would face ahead. In his immediate response to the 9/11 attacks and his fortitude in dealing with the aftermath, Colonel Childress is a paragon of bravery. He exemplifies the words of Winston Churchill before Britain was about to be under siege by Germany when Prime Minister Churchill said: There will be a time when doing your best is not good enough. We must do what is required. Colonel Childress did what was required in the service to freedom. His actions set the example that all Americans can share pride in and follow.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Congressional Record a special poem that was written by Harold Renwick, Jr. to his daughter, Penny, on her second birthday. Harold Renwick never delivered the poem as he was killed in action during the Vietnam war. The poem was discovered by Captain Bennet and mailed by a friend of Harold Renwick's, Major Charles King. It was mailed to Harold Renwick's wife, Penny's mother, on March 22, 1968. The poem is titled: ``Now You Are Two.'' Rejoice and be happy this fine day. Have fun in all the games you play. Run, sing, be happy and gay, For you are 2, my daughter, today. Of all the wonderful days of the year, Today especially I wish I could be near To hold you, to hug you and share your world Of being a year older and being a girl. But alas, my child, with you I cannot be Because there is a need to keep the world free. A need that was created many years ago, When a people's thirst for freedom began to grow. You do not know these people; they are strangers to us. And you may ask, ``Daddy, why all the fuss For a people who live in a land far away? Daddy, why can't you be with me on my birthday?'' As you grow older, my child, you will learn That in men's hearts a spark will burn. A spark so intense that it cannot be denied, So strong it is that men have died Fighting for what they believe is true; Fighting for freedom the way all men do. We have watched enough television to know That in this world bad people will go And try to hurt and harm the good guys. Cheat, steal, and tell all kind of lies, These are some of the things these bad guys do. This is the reason that your daddy flew Across the oceans to a land far away To help other daddies with their children to play, To help these daddies see their struggle through So they can say, ``Happy birthday, my daughter, now you are 2.'' Don't weep, my child, for this birthday I'll miss. Go to your mommy and she'll give you a kiss From me, to remind you I've not forgot. You see, my child, I do love you a lot. So much, in fact, that to you I do pledge That a world of freedom shall be your heritage. Sleep, my child, the night is here. Sleep, my child, and wake without fear. Grow, my child, be happy and free, For these are the dreams I have for thee. This poem was written in 1968, over 51 years ago, and I submit to you that now is the time for America to heed these words of this poem written by a father who voluntarily made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. This amendment would establish a pilot program that would allow an expeditionary sea base, ESB, to be equipped with weaponry to defend itself. This pilot program is needed because, currently, an ESB must be accompanied by a destroyer when on a mission. To deploy a destroyer, operational costs add up to $33 million. If the $7.5 million pilot program--which is the cost--is passed, then this expeditionary sea base will be able to protect itself and a destroyer will no longer be required to accompany it, allowing the destroyer to complete other missions. This pilot program does not mean the ESB will go out actively using its weaponry. Rather, the intent of this program would be to free up the destroyer for other missions without leaving an ESB defenseless. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I rise today because I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I would just say, this is a return on investment. This is a good investment that will save this country a lot of money with its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, it is--what?--20 till 2. We have got a group here that is willing to stay all night until we address this problem with the supplemental. You can talk about children, but, just like my good friend from Texas says, go to the border. See these children who are going, who are being drug back and forth, charged, making money for these adults. Let's put the money--we don't have to just go to Virginia. I feel for these children in Virginia, but I feel for those 144,000 whom they caught, much less the ones that got by. I further feel for the children who, according to DHS, were saying that they are being carted back and forth, raped. They have rape trees. Go to the border. Where is the compassion for them? It is high time for us to debate a supplemental. And if it takes however long on this clock, we are going to do it, because we are tired of it.

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Luther Eugene Rollins. Gene, as he was better known, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Rollins of Greer, South Carolina. Gene, like many Americans, wanted to serve his country, and he joined the Army during the Vietnam war and was assigned to Company A in the 6th Battalion Infantry in the 9th Division. The commander of his battalion was Captain Vernon Green, who quickly became his lifelong friend. Gene's unit was known as the Polecats or Bearcats and, in March of 1968, was assigned to the advance party in Southeast Asia. While serving in combat on the front lines, he quickly became known as the ``preacher'' because of his daily reading of the Bible and dedicated prayer life. During an attack on his battalion, Gene was asked to lead his men in prayer, which he did on numerous occasions. Gene credits his many prayers to God as the reason for his survival during an attack when his M60 machine gun jammed and he was unable to return fire to the enemy. Gene became a radio operator during his service in Vietnam, attaining the rank of platoon sergeant. When his best friend, Captain Green was promoted to the battalion staff, Gene was invited to join him. He declined to do so saying, ``I want to stay with my men.'' As he later told members of his hometown church, his service in the Vietnam war was a ``missionary journey'' where he was doing what God wanted him to do. For Sergeant Rollins' heroic efforts, he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. After the war, he returned to Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he married his wife, Brenda Faye, and had three children, a son, Wendell, and two daughters, Tabatha and Tonya. He worked as a machinist for several years until joining Duke Energy in June of 1973 where he was an operator and coordinator for maintenance, working until March of 2016 at the Catawba Nuclear Station in York County, South Carolina. Just as Gene Rollins had heeded the call of God during his service in Vietnam, he continued to serve his Lord by joining Woodhaven Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday school superintendent, finance committee member, and usher. Gene and his family united with their grandchildren by joining Calvary Baptist Church. And as said by Pastor Reggie Hopkins, ``We love having a man of God like Gene Rollins and his family'' in our church. He spends his time by continuing to serve his fellow man by cutting his neighbor's grass, giving rides to those who need medical care, and numerous other tasks that epitomize the saying ``to live is to serve.'' Gene Rollins is a man who continues to serve his God, his country, his family, and, just as our Savior Jesus Christ did, his fellow man. May God continue to bless Gene Rollins for years to come.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to recognize one of the most accomplished constituents in the Fifth District of South Carolina. Janie L. Mines, who lives in Fort Mill, encompasses what it means to serve and honor one's country. In 1975, after the United States Congress authorized the entrance of women into our first-rate military service academies, Janie soon applied to enter the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Out of 81 women who entered the academy in 1976, Ms. Mines was the first and only Black woman to graduate from her class and the first ever Black woman to graduate from the United States Naval Academy as a whole. After her departure from the academy with the rank of ensign and a bachelor of science in engineering, Ms. Mines was trained as a supply officer and became a supervisor at the former Naval Training Center in Orlando, Florida. She proceeded to serve in the former Naval Annex at the Pentagon, aboard the USS Emory S. Land, and as a senior adviser to the Secretary of the Navy. In fact, she has continued her work in the Armed Forces on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women. Her exceptional accomplishments include being granted the position of torchbearer for the 2002 Olympic Games, starting a foundation that tends to the needs of socioeconomically disadvantaged boys, and being honored by the United States Navy with a business achievement award in 2010. In 2018, Ms. Mines wrote and published the book ``No Coincidences: Reflections of the First Black Female Graduate of the United States Naval Academy.'' In it, she shows us the true meaning of faith, patriotism, and persistence. We can all learn from her story and her deep love of this country. I will end with a quote from her book: ``God has a plan for us all. If we submit to His will, we need not fear. We are prepared and protected.'' We thank Ms. Mines for her continued service to this great country. Honoring Southside Fire Department

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Southside Fire Department on March 19. The fully volunteer fire department has protected the people and property of Union County since 1974 when the first call rang. The station has grown from as little as five calls a year to 98 calls in 2018 alone. The foundation of Southside Fire Department was a community effort. The seed was planted in 1969 when a meeting was held at Roper Chevrolet to hear the public's opinion on the organization of a fire district for the local area in Union County. However, it was not until 1972 that Southside received its first truck and could finally open its station. Supported by the local community's generosity, the fire department established itself and eventually joined South Carolina's Firefighters Association. For almost 50 years now, Southside Volunteer Fire Department has fought fires to protect the great folks in the district. The station currently has an ISO Class 3/9 rating and serves over 3,500 residents. As a Nation, we ask much of our citizens. Yet, even on top of the burdens and the toil of everyday life, some choose to volunteer to save the lives and property of their neighbors. With nothing to gain and everything to lose, they head straight toward danger. I congratulate the fire chief, Michael Lancaster, and the rest of the crew at Southside Fire Department on this incredible milestone. We thank them for their tireless, continued service to our community and our great Nation.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Gary Lee Mitchell, who passed away on March 13, 2019. Gary was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, and was the son of the late Eldred Dale Mitchell and the late Mary Green McGath. Gary served in the United States Navy from 1965 to 1972 aboard the USS Nathaniel Green submarine as a nuclear reactor operator. Gary worked with Duke Energy for 43 years, where he was known as the resident expert in the field of nuclear energy and oversaw mentoring new interns coming into the field. Gary was awarded the prestigious J.B. Duke Award, which recognized his career knowledge of how to react to critical situations in saving a coworker from serious injury or death. Gary lived a life of service to others and voluntarily joined many organizations, including the American Legion in 1972, where he served as district commander at the South Carolina Department American Legion. He served as zone commander and all vice commander levels. On June 2, at the 94th annual convention held in Greenville, South Carolina, Gary was elected department commander of the South Carolina American Legion Department. Gary was married to Marlene A. Mitchell for over 50 years and had two daughters, Stephanie and Stacy, and his grandchildren, Victoria, Alexandria, and Mitchell Friel. In describing what type of husband Gary Mitchell was to his wife, Marlene, she stated that ``he was her best friend and was the kindest person she ever knew.'' The world is a better and kinder place because of the life of Gary Lee Mitchell, and he was a man who served his God, his family, and his country.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Emily Carnes, a former resident of South Carolina's Fifth District who dedicated her life to the preservation of the historic Buford battlefield. The Battle of Buford was significant and momentous in the southern campaign during our Revolutionary War. 113 Continental troops perished during this struggle and another 150 suffered terrible wounds. Witnessing this carnage was Emily Carnes' great-great-grandfather, Jacob. Emily would go on to tell her ancestor's story in her book, ``Jacob Was There''. The book describes Jacob Carnes, who was 16 years old at the time, and on the fateful day of May 29 of 1780, Jacob was employed plowing in a field close to the historic site when the Continental troops under Colonel Abraham Buford clashed with the British forces led by Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton. Jacob hid behind a tree during the struggle, but was eventually discovered by British troops, who took him into custody. While in their custody, British troops commanded Jacob to bury an American soldier alive. Jacob refused. In reply, a British soldier fired his musket and shot off one of Jacob's fingers, therefore, adding Jacob's name to the long list of patriots who gave their blood for our freedom. In remembrance of her great-great-grandfather's traumatic experience and the historic importance of the battle to the southern campaign, Emily Carnes singlehandedly cared for and preserved the 2 acres of leaf and debris-filled battlefield for years. She did this with no support and very few means. Indeed, she couldn't even afford to fly a flag in remembrance of those who gave their life for our independence. Finally, in 2010, the Friends of Buford Massacre Battlefield was established, and Ms. Carnes was awarded an honorary member. Thanks to Ms. Carnes' lifelong efforts, the former 2-acre site now encompasses over 47 acres of surrounding land on which the battle was fought, with the site now proudly flying the Stars and Stripes, the Buford Battle flag, and the State flags of Virginia and South Carolina. The site now also includes modern comforts like a patio, walkways, informational kiosks, and a memorial bronze plaque inscribed with the names of 216 men recognized for defending their country in the Battle of Buford. We thank Ms. Carnes for her lifelong passion and dedication to this sacred soil and for preserving this moment in a State and Nation's history for all of us to remember and enjoy.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a truly great American, Mrs. Catherine Rosalie McFaddin Beaty, who passed away on April 27, 2019, at the age of 94. Mrs. Beaty was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and was the daughter of the late Roy D. McFaddin and the late Eulalie Boykin Cook McFaddin. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Cherry Beaty, and brother, First Lieutenant Robert Eli McFaddin, who was killed in action during World War II. Mrs. Beaty was a 1941 graduate of Rock Hill High School, where she was a member of the following clubs: the National Honor Society, the Glee Club, the Public Speaking and Drama Club, and the Latin and French Club. She was a junior assistant of the Bearcat publication. She graduated from Winthrop College in 1945, where she received a bachelor's degree in business and, later, a teaching degree. Upon graduation from Winthrop, she first worked as a paralegal and secretary before beginning her career as a teacher, where she taught at Rock Hill High School, Ebinport Elementary, Riverview Elementary, Fort Mill Elementary, McCelvey Elementary, and Richmond Drive Elementary. During her teaching career, she was a member of the NEA and the SCEA as a representative of Richmond Drive Elementary School and Delta Kappa Gamma International Society of Teachers, along with Alpha Delta Kappa, where she served for over 30 years. Mrs. Beaty was a dedicated member of Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, volunteering for the Providence Presbytery for over 20 years in the resource library. She rang handbells in the Memorial Handbell Choir and sang in the Chancel Choir for over 59 years. In recognition of her dedicated and tireless service to the church, Mrs. Beaty was awarded the Presbyterian Woman of the Year in 2015. Rosalie Beaty was an icon with the very people who knew her the best, her family. She delighted in family gatherings, where she would provide bottled Coke, hot tea, and cheese rings for everyone who attended. She had the uncanny ability to remember family birthdays and anniversaries with cards and special mementos. Rosalie Beaty will be remembered for her fierce independence, her sharp mind, her amazing memory, and her loyalty and strict attention to detail. During her memorial service held on May 1, 2019, the description stated by Reverend Jeff Bryan was that she was simply the mother of Cathy Rose, and the legacy left behind by her life was epitomized by these words: While she was alive, she lived, and the 94 years she lived on this Earth were spent serving her God, her family, and her fellow man, in that order. The indelible mark she left on her family and community will remain for years to come. The world is truly a better place by having the person of Rosalie McFadden Beaty as a shining example of dedication to a higher calling and, truly, a life well lived.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great American, Gerald Alexander Knight, who was born on April 11, 1944. He was the middle child of five children born to his parents, Woodrow and Virda Knight. His family, like most American families, had much to overcome during the ending of World War II and the economic and emotional hardship that ensued during the postwar period. While the Knight family struggled to make ends meet, the American values of hard work, pride in what you do, and determination were instilled at a very young age. Gerald began working at the early age of 6 when he routinely walked a half mile to gather 3 gallons of water from his grandparents' home. When he turned 14, he earned his driver's license and began driving a pulpwood truck at 4:30 every morning to earn money for his family. After finishing his early morning drive to the lumberyard, he would attend school and then returned home to gather another load of wood. Gerald would often say: ``I was born into poverty, but I did not choose to stay in poverty.'' After graduating from Flat Creek High School in 1962, he joined the Air Force and boarded a bus to San Antonio, Texas, where he entered training to become an air traffic controller. He was one of only three out of 18 to graduate, and he became an air traffic controller as part of the 648th SAGE Squadron serving during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where he monitored air traffic in the Southeastern United States and Puerto Rico to Cuba. Gerald was soon stationed in Germany. During a visit to his home, he met his future wife, Joyce, on a blind date set up by his brother Charles. After one date, he asked her to marry him. However, being a senior in high school and needing to graduate, Joyce declined but promised to wait for Gerald until his military service was completed. Gerald spent the next 2.5 years in Birkenfeld, Germany, where he continued to work in air traffic control and warning systems, monitoring the airspace of Europe, including tracking and identifying all aircraft in the airspace. After completing his service in the Air Force, Gerald hitchhiked home, where the Vietnam war was raging. His younger brother Ronnie had been drafted and sent to serve in Vietnam. Gerald, wanting to be with his brother, offered to reenlist in the Air Force, provided he went to Vietnam. He never served in Vietnam due to a clerical error by the Air Force and was, instead, sent to Maine, where he declined and returned to South Carolina. He married Joyce on November 6, 1966, and by 1970, they were the proud parents of two small girls, Carrie and Bobbie. After working in the textile industry for a short time, he was hired by the DuPont company located in Camden, South Carolina, where he initially worked as a spinner operator. The company quickly realized that Gerald had a unique talent for listening and relating to people and moved him into the employee assistance department, where he was certified and began investigating sexual harassment cases and representing DuPont in Federal court. He counseled employees and their families dealing with addiction problems, as well as working for the Lancaster Recovery Center, which served the entire community on these issues. Gerald was uniquely qualified to deal with these issues as he had struggled with alcohol abuse in his younger years until surrendering his life to Christ at the age of 38. Gerald was instrumental in writing new human resources policy for DuPont and was once told: ``You are the best outhouse lawyer I have ever seen.'' His career at DuPont was stellar, and he was characterized by his peers as being honest, caring, and treating everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of their status in life. When Gerald was asked what his greatest accomplishment was in life, his response was: ``My girls. I look at their lives to measure my success, as they are well-adjusted human beings with their own families serving God.'' Gerald Alexander Knight has lived a life with a sense of moral obligation to duty and a personal creed of God, family, and country, in that order. He is a proud member of the Greatest Generation and will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, and integrity. God bless you, Gerald Alexander Knight. The world was a better place because you were in it.