Pete Olson

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Department at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital for earning a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence. The Beacon Award for Excellence, given by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recognizes caregivers in units that successfully improve patient outcomes using evidence-based care. Houston Methodist Sugar Land is one of only seven ICUs in Texas to receive this prestigious award. It serves as a role model to other hospitals striving for excellence in patient care. On behalf of the Twenty-Second District of Texas, congratulations again to the Surgical ICU Department at Houston Methodist Sugar Land, Hospital for receiving a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence. I thank them for their commitment to providing the best possible care for their patients.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office for receiving the Texas Fire Marshals Association's (TxFMA) Achievement of Excellence Award and a Letter of Appreciation from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. The Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office was recognized for their performance excellence in fire prevention. This achievement award is the only formal recognition for performance excellence of organizations given by the TxFMA. In addition, the Letter of Appreciation identifies the Fire Marshal's staff for their leadership as a TCOLE agency. Our community is safer because of the dedication of the first responders in the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office. We thank them for their service and their sacrifice. On behalf of the Twenty-Second District of Texas, congratulations again to the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office for earning this distinction. I thank them for their commitment to keeping our community safe.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Missouri City native Madison Ellis for being named President of the Student Government Association. Madison, 19 years old and in his first semester at TSTC, was named as the first ever SGA President for TSTC's Fort Bend County campus. He is very active in his community, volunteering with organizations like the Special Olympics, and has already implemented partnerships with businesses for student discounts and a local recycling center to help raise funds for his proposals. Thanks to his ambition, leadership, and commitment to serving his fellow students, Ellis is clearly an excellent President and a role model for future SGA presidents. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Madison Ellis for being chosen as President of the Student Government Association at TSTC's Fort Bend County campus. I thank him for his advocacy on behalf of his fellow students, and look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in the future.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Needville High School Girls Volleyball Team for their fifth state championship and for the impressive awards team members received from the Texas Sports Writers Association (TXSWA), Texas Association of Volleyball Coaches (TAVC) and Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA). The team, led by TXSWA and TAVC Coach of the Year Amy Schultz, had a remarkable 43-6 season, culminating in their fifth state championship. Anna Gadway was voted TXSWA 4A Player of the Year. She was also named state tournament MVP and made the TAVC and TGCA all-state teams. Sydney Sacra was voted TAVC 4A MVP, earned TXSWA first-team all-state honors and made the TGCA all-state and all-academic teams. Kaitlyn Kovarcik was a TXSWA first-team selection, TAVC all-state honoree and TGCA all- state academic scholar. Hayden Smyers made the TXSWA second team, as well as the TAVC and TGCA all-state squads. Janssen Cain, Kailey Labay and Peyton Sulak made the TGCA all-state academic list. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Needville High School Girls Volleyball team. I look forward to seeing what these talented young ladies will be able to accomplish in the future.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lane Pearson for being named the Houston Association of Realtors/Fort Bend County Outstanding Realtor for 2017. Lane Pearson, of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene, was recognized for her leadership and support of the Fort Bend County Realtor community. Not only has Lane demonstrated great leadership professionally, but she has also served in many volunteer leadership roles to improve our Fort Bend community. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Lane Pearson for being named the Houston Association of Realtors/Fort Bend County Outstanding Realtor for 2017. I thank her for her enduring commitment to making Fort Bend County a great place to live.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Art Klawitter of Memorial Hermann Medical Group Needville for being named the 2017 Physician of the Year by the Harris County Academy of Family Physicians (HCAFP). This prestigious award recognizes a medical professional who spends at least half of his or her time in active practice or family practice education. Dr. Klawitter has been practicing medicine in Needville for 36 years, and has dedicated his career to advancing the health and wellbeing of his patients. In addition to his work as a board-certified family physician, he has served in multiple organizations that promote health care at the state and national level. He served as the secretary and treasurer for the Texas Medical Association and was a state delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Dr. Art Klawitter for being named the Harris County Academy of Family Physicians 2017 Physician of the Year. I thank him for his commitment to keeping the Needville community healthy.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Sarfraz Aly for being named OakBend Medical Center's 2017 Physician of the Year. Dr. Aly was awarded this honor thanks to his 14 years of experience and reputation for kindness and sincerity appreciated by patients and staff alike. The Physician of the Year award is OakBend's highest recognition, and honors the physician who demonstrates significant skill, along with genuine compassion for both patients and coworkers. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Dr. Aly for being named OakBend Medical Center's 2017 Physician of the Year. We all benefit from his commitment to quality healthcare, and I thank him for his dedication to keep Houstonians healthy.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, last week, God called home a true icon of Katy, Texas: Johnny Nelson. Katy was a little rice farming town when I moved there in 1972, to southeast Texas. It was forever changed by Johnny. He served as our mayor from 1983 to 1987, and as our senior administrator from 1994 to 2014. Those were glorious years for Katy, Texas. He was the force behind the Katy Mills Mall and the Katy Heritage Museum. A true Texan, Johnny was a rice farmer and a cattleman, and we all loved his trademark cigar and cowboy hat. Mr. Speaker, I will close by paraphrasing another Texas icon, Bum Phillips, the coach of the Houston Oilers, who said: ``Johnny Nelson may not be in a class by himself, but whatever class he's in, it don't take long to call the roll.'' Thank you, Johnny. Welcome home.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from New Jersey for allowing me to join this important debate. My friends on the other side are showing why the people, the American people, like root canals, head lice, and colonoscopies more than Congress. In a brazen act that hurts our youth in poverty, congressional Democrats are going to vote against basic healthcare for these needy kids. The CHIP program is their only choice for their health. Nearly half a million young Texans depend upon SCHIP. It expired September 30 of this year. This bill we vote on tonight will extend SCHIP for 6 more years. Mr. Speaker, I beg my colleagues, listen to your heart, to your soul, and the voice of these kids who want basic healthcare. Vote for SCHIP today. Vote for the CR.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Carole and Bob Brown for receiving the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation's Cultural Vanguard Award. Carole and Robert C. ``Bob'' Brown, III have been married for 63 years and have been a staple of our Sugar Land community for much of that time. Bob has over 40 years of leadership in the telecommunications industry. He remains an active member of our business and civic communities and serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council. Carole has selflessly served in numerous organizations, including the Fort Bend Women's Republican Club, the American Heart Association and the Sugar Land Garden Club. Carole's passion is helping children. Both Carole and Bob have dedicated their lives to making our community a better place to live, work and raise a family. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Carole and Bob for this much deserved recognition. Thank you for your dedication to our Sugar Land community.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend and unquestioned leading fighter for all life as the chairman of the Pro-Life Caucus, Chairman Chris Smith. My dear friend has saved millions of lives not just in America, but on every continent on God's Earth. It is a true honor to join my friend tonight to fight for life. One of America's darkest days is rapidly approaching. Forty-five years ago, January 22, 1973, seven activist judges masquerading as being impartial on our Supreme Court came up with a constitutional right to kill the unborn. In Roe v. Wade, these activists create a constitutional shadow, a ``penumbra'' on the 14th Amendment to make abortion legal. Since that decision in 1973, America's moral values have declined and we have attacked our decency. It reached its high point when videos came out of Planned Parenthood personnel drinking a large glass of wine and talking about selling baby parts. But America is starting to rebuild her moral fiber. We now have a strong pro-life President in Donald Trump. President Trump has appointed a Supreme Court Justice, Justice Gorsuch, who will apply the laws and not make laws and violate our Constitution. He knows that the word ``penumbra'' has no business being in a Supreme Court decision. More and more States are choosing to save lives, instead of taking the lives of the innocent. In a few days, millions of pro-life Americans will come to their Capital to show the world we respect all human life at the March for Life this week. I hope that all the activists who want to kill unborn babies leave their offensive foam helmets at home. I want to close with two quotes from two people very involved in this issue. The first one is from Norma McCorvey. She is the Roe in Roe v. Wade. She died in Katy, Texas, in my district, last February. She made this strong confession: ``I felt crushed under the truth of this realization. I had to face up to the awful reality. Abortion wasn't about `products of conception.' It wasn't about `missed periods.' It was about children being killed in the mothers' wombs. All those years, I was wrong. Signing that affidavit, I was wrong. Working in an abortion clinic, I was wrong. No more of this first trimester, second trimester, third trimester stuff. Abortion--at any point--is wrong. It is so clear. Painfully clear.'' Mr. Speaker, my final quote is from Mother Theresa. It is short, but says it all about the fight for life. She said: ``It is a poverty to decide that a child must die that you must live as you wish.'' Mr. Speaker, reject poverty and choose life.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, the people of my hometown of Sugar Land, Texas, are amazing. Last Thursday, something terrible happened on a road I drive on every day at home. On Interstate 69, an 18-wheeler jackknifed during heavy rain. It flew off an overpass, crashing down on a small Toyota Camry. Look. That Camry is about 3 feet tall. The first miracle is that the driver, Karan Singh, is still alive. The second miracle that day is named Lori Lowery. Lori is training to be a nurse, most likely across the street at the University of Houston Sugar Land. The crash happened right in front of her. She jumped out of her car, crawled through metal and broken glass, and got Karan out. Lori Lowery shows the best in Texas and my hometown of Sugar Land, and I am proud to call her my boss in Congress.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, the men and women who defend our country have one sacred creed: leave no one behind, and they all come home. It took 72 years and 234 days, but today, at Houston's VA cemetery, Lonnie Eichelberger came home. At 16, Lonnie left China Spring, Texas, to fight the Nazis and Adolph Hitler in Germany in World War II. He was a Buffalo Soldier, the all- Black 92nd Division of our Army. He never returned to see his family. His remains were found in Italy in 1945, but they could not be identified. So Lonnie, for 17 years, was known as ``Unknown X-193.'' In 2016, his remains were identified. At 11:15 a.m. this morning, Texas time, Lonnie was laid to eternal rest. Welcome home, soldier.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, sometimes life matters by the inch. Last month, for the Manvel Mavericks, their dream came down to 12 inches--1 foot. That is how close they came to winning every football game they played in 2017, including the Texas 5-A Division 1 State Championship. Was Manvel disappointed when they lost? Heck yes. Did we shed some tears? Heck yes. Are we more proud than ever of our guys? Hell yes. That pride comes from how they played, win or lose. An example of our pride is next to me. That is our team listening to our senior quarterback, Kason Martin's final words as a member of the Mavericks. Kason's words rang true then, and they ring true for all eternity. He said: I'm forever Manvel. I don't care what the scoreboard says. We are the champions. Hoka Hey.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, the Bible says angels come down from Heaven to end our pain. On December 9, 2006, God called an angel home to end our pain. Her name was Chelsey Campbell. She died of cancer at age 16. Our Lord put Chelsey in the hearts of two dear friends, Trish and Kevin Kline. They started the Snowdrop Foundation to end cancer for all kids. Kevin is a DJ on the 93Q Morning Zoo. Loyal listeners call Kevin ``Gumpman.'' He is joined by two partners, Erica ``La Reina Hermosa'' Rico and Tim ``Knucklehead'' Tuttle. Every Christmas, 93Q partners with Snowdrop and the Texas Children's Hospital for a radiothon. All December, stories are aired on iHeartRadio from parents and kids who are fighting cancer. Please tune in. If you listen closely, you will hear Chelsey's voice and feel her heart.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, it first happened in 1975, then 1976, 1977, and 1992. The fifth time was November 18, 2017, 2 weeks ago. The Needville Lady Blue Jays won the Texas State volleyball championship. One word describes our Blue Jays, and that word is ``domination.'' They swept the playoffs, losing 1 out of 22 sets. All of Texas 22 is proud of our coaches--Schultz, Bradford, and Smyers--and the stars who took us on the drive for five: Janssen, Sydney, Kailey, Peyton, Hayden, MacKenzie, Kaitlyn, Samantha, Anna, Baley, Madison, Evan, Treasure, and Maddy. Mr. Speaker, get ready, number six is coming in 2018. Go Blue Jays.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Child Advocates of Fort Bend for their continued commitment to helping foster children in Fort Bend County. Child Advocates of Fort Bend is the only program in the entire state of Texas that is able to match every single foster child with a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). These CASA volunteers advocate for the ``best interests'' of children in foster care and ensure that their needs are met. Through their CASA program, Child Advocates of Fort Bend trains volunteers so that they can best serve as a voice for these children in the courtroom. The lives of these children and by extension our communities, are stronger thanks to the dedication of these committed volunteers at Child Advocates of Fort Bend. We thank them for their commitment to volunteering their time for children who truly need it. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations to the Child Advocates of Fort Bend. I thank them again for their dedication to foster children in our Fort Bend community.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, a wise man said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. The definition of public bankruptcy is not having enough public taxes to pay public debts. This means that the current National Flood Insurance Program is both insane and bankrupt. It is insane because taxpayers pay when others' homes are flooded. They pay again when the same homes are flooded a second time and a third time and a fourth time. The GAO confirmed that the National Flood Insurance Program has created a flood of taxpayer debt; $23 billion in March of 2016. Three recent major hurricanes on the Gulf Coast doesn't help. Because Texas 22 had record floods when Hurricane Harvey hit in May, I was proud to be one of 237 Members to vote for needed reform, the 21st Century Flood Reform Act. Mr. Speaker, I urge my Senate colleagues to do the same. Give America a Christmas present before Santa Claus comes to town.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office for receiving the Texas Fire Marshals Association's Achievement of Excellence Award and a Letter of Appreciation from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). The Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office was recognized for their excellent performance in fire prevention. This achievement award is the only formal recognition for performance excellence of organizations given by the TxFMA. In addition, the Letter of Appreciation identifies the Fire Marshal's staff for their leadership as a TCOLE agency. Our community is safer thanks to the dedication of our first responders in the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office. We thank them for their service and their sacrifice. On behalf of the Twenty-Second District of Texas, congratulations again to the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office for earning this distinction. Thank you for your dedication to keep our community safe.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly encourage my colleagues to support the HEALTHY KIDS Act. There are many reasons to support this bill, but, most importantly, it extends the Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP, until 2022. CHIP ensures that children with incomes too low for Medicaid get basic health insurance. Close to 400,000 children in Texas rely on CHIP for access to quality healthcare services. We must act now. Earlier this year, Hurricane Harvey left a path of destruction across Texas. It put a major strain on our communities and resources that has resulted in moments of uncertainty. The bottom line is, we must act now. This bill responsibly provides children in need with the proper resources to live a healthy life without adding to our country's deficit. Mr. Speaker, again, I strongly urge my colleagues to act now. Vote for this bill.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, there is a great town back home in Texas 22, which some people think has a strange name. It is called Needville, Texas. The folks in Needville need nothing except open ground and clear skies with millions of bright stars visible at night. On the third weekend in October for the last 34 years, the whole town turns out for the Needville Harvest Festival. The Harvest Fest is all Texas. There is a talent show with twirlers and clog dancers; barbecue cook-offs; contests for the best fajitas, the best pork loins, the best chicken, and the best pork ribs; and they give away a 4-by-4 Gator. City slickers think that is some sort of lizard. It is a big farm tool, a farm tractor. The best part is all the money they raise goes to their city to improve their 60-acre Harvest Park and the Needville schools. I will close with a message from Mayor Ernie Stuart, Harvest Festival President Chris Janicek, and my guest for President Trump's speech this upcoming February, Katie Vacek. They all say, ``Go Astros. Beat L.A.''

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 7th and 8th Grade Girls' Volleyball Teams at Sugar Land Middle School for their efforts to raise money to help beat breast cancer. The teams worked together to raise $1,375 for the Fort Bend Junior Service League's Breast Cancer Fund, in spite of the hardships they have faced after Hurricane Harvey. These girls exemplify what it means to be a team, not just on the court, but also working together to give back to our community. The funds they raised will go toward improving quality of life, diminishing suffering and providing access to early detection and treatment for Fort Bend County breast cancer patients. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Sugar Land Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Girls' Volleyball Teams. We are very proud of them and look forward to their future successes. Go Titans.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Briscoe Junior High Honor Band for being selected for the Foundation for Music Education's Mark of Excellence Program. The Mark of Excellence Project recognizes outstanding achievement in performance from high school and middle school bands, choirs and orchestras across the country. The Briscoe Junior High Honor Band was chosen as a Commended Winner. This is a wonderful honor and speaks to the talent of the band members and the school's music program. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Briscoe Junior High Honor Band. We are very proud of them and look forward to their future successes. We are excited to have them represent TX-22.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Kailei McGowan of Richmond, TX for her dedication to helping victims of Hurricane Harvey. Kailei and her family were forced to evacuate by boat after their apartment was flooded from Hurricane Harvey. But, that did not stop this 9 year old Girl Scout from helping other survivors at the Marshall High School Shelter where her family was staying. As soon as they arrived, Kailei put on her Girl Scout vest and started handing out canned food, water, clothes and cleaning supplies to folks in need. Like them, she too lost everything, but was determined to do as much as she could to help. Her spirit and commitment to serving others exemplify what it means to be both a Girl Scout AND a Texan. Thanks to people like Kailei we are Houston Strong. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, thank you again to Kailei for her selfless dedication to serving others in their time of need. We are very proud of her and look forward to her future success.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Jacob, Zachary and Luke Miller of Pearland, TX, for their efforts to raise money for victims of Hurricane Harvey. Jacob, Zachary and Luke collected $800 for Harvey victims by setting up a lemonade and cookie stand in their neighborhood, and are donating the proceeds to the J.J. Watt Harvey Relief Fund. The Miller boys are a shining example of the Texas spirit. They have stepped up to do whatever they can to help friends, neighbors and strangers alike in their time of need. Their selfless actions make our community Houston Strong. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, thank you again to Jacob, Zachary and Luke Miller for their hard work to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. We are extremely proud of them and look forward to their future accomplishments.