Pete Olson

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, this is just a procedural motion to deny the important benefits of this bipartisan legislation to American workers, businesses, our energy security, and global American energy dominance. It fits a pattern of delay and obstruction that we simply can't afford. Our neighbors in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean are praying for American LNG instead of fuel oil from unstable and collapsing Venezuela. Let's answer those prayers today. Vote against the motion to recommit and for final passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, September is the National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It is a month about a young lady from home. Her name is Marlee Pack. On April 10 of 2015, she was told a small bump on her left foot was cancer. Two weeks later, her left foot was cut off. Next was 40 straight weeks of chemotherapy in Houston. The chemo took all of her hair, but it never took her smile. She kept smiling when her cancer came back in July of 2017. She smiled because she beat her cancer again. Marlee smiles because she is bathed in love from her parents, a teacher who let Marlee shave her head at school, and a parade at her school, Sienna Crossing Elementary in Fort Bend County. But Marlee's biggest smile is yet to come. Soon, she will ring that bell that she is cancer-free. Let's smile with Marlee and make D.C. gold this month.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Stephen F. Austin High School student, Komal Panjwani of Sugar Land, TX for earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. The Gold Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn. To earn this distinguished award, Komal had to spend at least 80 hours developing and executing a project that would benefit the community, as well as have a long-term impact on girls. For her Gold award project, she organized two workshop events to educate parents and students about the importance of career diversity. She also created a blog and a Facebook page to encourage students to choose careers that they are passionate about. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Komal Panjwani for earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. We are confident she will have continued success in her future endeavors. We are very proud.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Randy Stock for his 40 years of service to the city of Sugar Land, TX. Randy, a Public Utilities Operator, was born and raised in Sugar Land and began working for the town's water division when he was 17 years old. When he started, there was one water plant for the whole city--the city now operates 12 groundwater plants and five elevated tanks. Over the years, he has played a role in ensuring Sugar Land has safe water and helped during the numerous annexations that occurred during his tenure. Randy was also on the front lines during Hurricane Harvey and previous hurricanes, making sure that our water supply remained safe. Each and every day he goes above and beyond to serve our community. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Randy Stock on his completion of 40 years of service to the city of Sugar Land, TX. I thank him for his work to ensure Sugar Land has safe, quality water. His efforts help make Sugar Land a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reese Vannerson from Sugar Land, TX for winning three medals at the 2018 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics. Vannerson is an 8th grade student at Laurence Catholic School. After qualifying for numerous events, Reese went on to win a gold medal in the 1500-meter race, setting a new personal record of 4:18.71. He continued his success by winning bronze in the 800-meter and finally earned a silver medal for his performance in the 3000-meter. One day later, he was the overall winner for the 13- to 15-year-old boys at the 2018 Triatialon Nationals in W. Chester, Ohio, running the fastest split for the race and placing first among 13 year old boys. His hard work has brought great pride to our Sugar Land community and will be remembered by his community and parents, Lisa & Rodner, for many for years to come. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Reese Vannerson for winning three medals at the 2018 AAU Olympics in Iowa. We look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in the future on and off the track.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Meeha Amirthalingam from Sugar Land, TX, for making it to the final round in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Amirthalingam, a 14-year-old student at Travis High School, was named one of the top 10 students in the nation for taking on a global challenge: water conservation. She was the only student from Texas to make it this far in the competition. Meeha was inspired when she learned of the water shortage in Cape Town, South Arica, and made it her mission to make water preservation a simpler task. When she was in eighth grade, she developed a toilet flushing system that uses both fresh and recycled water, which reduces water consumption. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Meeha Amirthalingam for becoming a finalist in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. We look forward to seeing what she will accomplish in the future.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jerry Hodge of Stafford, TX for being one of three national runner-up winners for the 3rd annual National Educator of the Year Award from Edmentum. Jerry Hodge has worked in education since 1997 and has been with Stafford MSD for the last seven years. She is an instructor at the Stafford High School's Alternative Education Program, SHS Quest Academy, which serves students who have been repeatedly unsuccessful in a traditional classroom setting. The award is given every year and seeks out Edmentum educators who go above and beyond for their students. Jerry spends countless hours helping students, even going beyond the district recommended time, and visits students at home to help encourage attendance. She makes it a priority to meet with potential graduates and the overall success rate of her program has increased to an impressive 91 percent. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Ms. Jerry Hodge. I thank her for her commitment to our Stafford MSD students. We look forward to seeing her accomplishments in the future.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Epiphany of the Lord Catholic School in Katy, TX on opening their doors. Epiphany of the Lord Catholic School opened to students on August 16, after four years of hard work, fundraising, and careful planning. Denny Dillinger, the development board co-chair has stated the project began four years ago, with 12-18 months of periodic fundraisers. Currently, there are just over 90 students, but 100 are expected on their first day. The faculty consists of 14 teachers, two in prekindergarten, two in kindergarten and one teacher per classes 1-4. The plan is to add at least one grade each year over the next three to four years until they get to eighth grade. The Epiphany School will boast a library, music room, STEM lab and science lab. The church hopes to provide a faith- based alternative to public schools, with a dedication to faith, and knowledge and compassion being at the forefront of their curriculum. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Epiphany Church for opening the Epiphany of the Lord Catholic School.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lenny Garcia of Alvin, TX for winning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (TISCA). Garcia was the head swim coach at Alvin High School between 1981 and 2013 and is a two-time region coach of the year. He is known for his willingness to give each and every student an opportunity and was instrumental in their development in and out of the pool. Over the years, many of his swim and water polo teams advanced to regional and state competitions. Mr. Garcia and his wife Vicky direct the Annual BENeezy Purple Monkey Fun Run, which celebrates the life of their late son Ben. He is also an active volunteer at the Alvin YMCA, the Alvin Senior Center and the Upward Bound program at Alvin Community College and Salvation Army. Lenny will receive his award at the TISCA luncheon on September 15. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Lenny Garcia for winning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association. We thank him for his continued service and dedication to our students and Alvin community.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees for being selected as one of the Honor School Boards as part of the 2018 Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) School Board Awards--one of only five school boards to be selected across Texas. The five Honor Boards are selected by a committee made up of distinguished school superintendents. Their selection decisions were based on a specific educational criterion, including maintaining harmonious and supportive relationships amongst board members, support for educational improvement projects, a commitment to a code of ethics and support for continuous educational development. The Lamar CISD Board was chosen by Superintendent Dr. Thomas Randle, who said the Board has ``made a dramatic impact in the lives of the local community, taxpayer, and schoolchildren in a just a short time.'' Their mission resonates within their community as they continue to center their teachings to develop and relay practical life-long learning habits. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees. I thank them for their commitment to the betterment of education and helping to nurture Texas students. We all wish them the best of luck as they compete for the final prize: 2018 Outstanding School Board.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize `Bel Sanchez of Alvin Community College for receiving the 2018 Hispanic Hero Award from Comcast Houston. Sanchez was one of only ten recipients of this award, which she received for her commitment to making a difference through mentorship, volunteerism, civic engagement and advocacy. She has served on the ACC Board of Regents since 2008. Previously, Sanchez was an educator with Alvin ISD for 30 years and has volunteered for many local boards including the Thelma Ley Anderson YMCA, Red Cross of Brazoria County, Soroptimist International of Alvin, Alpha Delta Gamma and the United Way of Brazoria County. She was the district's first director of bilingual and ESL programs and was named Alvin's Citizen of the year in 2013. Alvin ISD has also named an elementary school in her honor. `Bel credits her parents for their instruction and wise life lessons, where they felt they were doing the Lord's work through helping out their fellow man. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to `Bel Sanchez on receiving the Hispanic Hero Award from Comcast Houston. I thank her for her commitment to our students.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Catcher's University Baseball 12U team from Katy, TX for winning second place at the 2018 Nations World Series. Catcher's University Baseball 12U team, under the coaching of head manager Rick Ruff, capped off a season of 34 wins, 9 losses and 2 ties with a second place finish at the 2018 Nations World Series. Team members T.K. Rollins, Blake Davila, Tanner Reese, Ty Garrett, Myles Jackson, Jackson Cleveland, Pablo Lazcano Jr., Jose DeJongh, Christian Jaquay, Kaden Reising, O.D. Denner, Charlie Radley, Aaron Brashear and Drew Leuders are all 11 and 12 years old. Their hard work has brought great pride to our Katy community and will be remembered by many for years to come. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Catcher's University Baseball 12U team from Katy, TX for winning second place at the 2018 Nations World Series. I look forward to seeing what y'all accomplish in the future on and off the field.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my hometown, the city of Sugar Land, TX for receiving its 22nd consecutive Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Budget. Sugar Land was recognized for strong financial leadership, transparency initiatives, continued financial resiliency, including fiscally conservative budgeting and proactive planning. The city has also maintained one of the state's lowest tax rates while still providing quality city services. To obtain this award, Sugar Land met national guidelines for effective budget presentations assessing how well the city's budget serves as a financial plan, an operations guide and a communication device. Independent judges measured Sugar Land's standing in these four categories and said the budget was ``proficient'' in all and met or exceeded 14 mandatory criteria. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the city of Sugar Land, TX on receiving its 22nd consecutive Distinguished Budget Award for its Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Budget. Thank you for your commitment to making Sugar Land an amazing place to live, work and raise a family.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Seven Lakes High School Chapter of Best Buddies for receiving numerous awards at the 2018 Best Buddies International Leadership Conference. Best Buddies, an organization of over 2,500 chapters worldwide, seeks to positively impact the lives of over 1.2 million people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Seven Lakes High School Chapter of Best Buddies received the Overall Outstanding High School Chapter Internationally Award, the Outstanding High School Chapter in Texas Award, the National Pacesetter Award and was honored for being one of the top fundraising chapters in the entire United States. After Hurricane Harvey, members of Best Buddies helped deliver meals to families displaced by flooding. They also participated in Troopons, a program that allows active military families use coupons for up to six months after their expiration date, and were able to donate almost $35,000 worth of coupons to the program. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Seven Lakes High School chapter of Best Buddies. I thank them for their commitment to serving our Katy community.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Aditya Saharia of Sugar Land, TX for earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout is the highest honor a Boy Scout can earn. Only a small percentage of Boy Scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout, which requires years of effort to develop the necessary leadership, service and outdoor skills. To earn this honor, Aditya earned 46 merit badges, and developed and provided leadership to others in a service project. For his project, Aditya worked with 12 other students to help construct trophy shelves for the Fort Settlement Middle School Orchestra, where he was previously a member. This project took over 83 hours of Aditya's time and the shelves he helped build covered a span of 48 feet. Aditya and his troop also completed over 100 hours of service following Hurricane Harvey. Aditya also regularly volunteers with the Sai Center of Houston, helping make food for local shelters. Aditya's dedication to our community has prepared him to be a leader in his future career. The leadership skills he has learned through Boy Scouts are already benefiting our community. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Aditya for becoming an Eagle Scout. I am proud and confident of his continued success. I thank him for his dedication to making our community a better place.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Luis Fernando Sanchez of Richmond, TX for earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout is the highest honor a Boy Scout can earn. Only a small percentage of Boy Scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout, which requires years of effort to develop the necessary leadership, service and outdoor skills. To earn this honor, Luis earned 33 merit badges, and developed and provided leadership to others in a service project. For his project, Luis constructed a prayer and meditation area for Sacred Heart Family Catholic Church in Richmond, TX. Luis attends Travis High School and plans to study aeronautical engineering in college. His dedication to our community has prepared him to be a leader in his future career. The leadership skills he has learned through Boy Scouts are already benefiting our community. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Luis for becoming an Eagle Scout. I am proud and confident of his continued success. I thank him for his dedication to making our community a better place.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Yolanda Kelley of Stafford, TX for celebrating 35 years with Stafford Municipal School District. Yolanda arrived at Stafford Middle School when it opened in 1983, after receiving her undergraduate degree at the University of Houston. She later obtained a master's degree from her alma mater. She teaches mathematics and was named Stafford Middle School Teacher of the Year in the early 1990s, but still to this day regularly declines the award as she feels someone else deserves to receive it. Yolanda is known as a valuable asset to all of her students and peers. She will also teach at the new Stafford Middle School when it opens next year. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Yolanda Kelley for 35 years with Stafford Municipal School District. I thank her for her dedication to our students. Here's to many more years

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Troy Ketchum of Rosenberg, TX for being the first student from Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County to compete at the 54th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Troy, a Diesel Equipment Technology student, traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to represent TSTC in Fort Bend County at the SkillsUSA conference. SkillsUSA is an organization that teaches technical, academic, and employment attributes to enable high school and college students to learn valuable work skills. Troy competed against thousands of students from across the country, in pursuit of a gold medal in his category of ``Job Skills Presentation.'' He is also a U.S. Navy veteran, and has been diligently preparing for his presentation on ``The Importance of Proper Tread Depth and Safety of Truck Tires.'' On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again Troy Ketchum for representing Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County at the 54th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. His dedication to his craft brings great pride to our entire community.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kendra Beverly of Sugar Land, TX, for being awarded the Certified Municipal Court Clerk Certification. Kendra, a Sugar Land court clerk, was awarded the Certified Municipal Court Clerk Certification by The Texas Court Clerks Association in conjunction with Texas State University and the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center. Kendra is one of just 86 court clerks in Texas to earn the certification. She previously earned her Certified Court Clerk I and II certifications which are academically rigorous and both require 40 hours of education and a three-part exam. Certified court clerks, such as Kendra, are extremely valuable to municipal courts in Texas and help ensure defendants receive due process and proper legal opinions. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Kendra Beverly for being awarded Certified Municipal Court Clerk Certification. I thank her for her dedication to the rule of law.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lee Vela of Sugar Land, TX, for receiving the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Houston Legacy Award. PRSA awarded Lee this prestigious honor at its annual Excalibur Awards program. The Legacy Award is given to individuals who have 25 years of experience in public relations and demonstrate a strong sense of leadership and expertise in the field, showcasing a lifetime of achievement in public relations. Lee serves as Vice President of Public Affairs for the Houston region of Clear Channel Outdoor. He previously served as Chief Communications Officer for Houston Independent School district and the Port of Houston Authority. Lee's leadership at Clear Channel Outdoor was critical to the development of the ``Gulf Coast Emergency Communications Network,'' which helped save lives during Hurricane Harvey by displaying emergency messages on company billboards. He is the chairman of the Fire Fighters Foundation of Houston and President of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas. Lee has also been a PRSA member since 1986 and is the past president of the Houston PRSA chapter. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Lee Vela on receiving the PRSA Houston Legacy Award. His work brings great pride to TX-22. I thank him.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alexis Paget of Missouri City, TX, for receiving the Hero Award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Alexis, a 16 year old student at Ridge Point High School, won the national award for her fundraising efforts during the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Texas Gulf Coast Chapter's 2018 Students of the Year campaign. Alexis raised over $61,000 with her fundraising team and her class brought in over $350,000 to fight blood cancer. This funding is then distributed by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to over 1.3 million blood cancer patients in the U.S. Paget ran her campaign in honor of her grandfather, who lost his battle to Acute Myeloid Leukemia. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Alexis Paget for receiving the Hero Award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I thank her for her dedication to creating a world without blood cancer.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Plantation at Quail Valley in Missouri City, for being named Senior Living Community of the Year. Plantation at Quail Valley in Missouri City was named Senior Living Community of the Year by the Houston Apartment Association (HAA). Each year, HAA presents awards to different properties located within its 12 county membership area. Receiving this award is a prestigious honor for Plantation at Quail Valley, not only locally but also brings much statewide and national recognition. This senior living community is state of the art and is greatly valued by the residents of Missouri City. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Plantation at Quail Valley for being named Senior Living Community of the Year. Thanks for helping make Missouri City a wonderful place to live.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker I rise today to recognize Kendra Ramirez, of Rosenberg, TX, for being named the Texas Education Support Staff Association (TESA) Educational Office Employee of the Year. Kendra Ramirez received the Nelda Van Dyke Award for being the 2017- 2018 Educational Office Employee of the Year, the top individual honor for TESA members. TESA is a professional organization focusing on the advancement of education and furthering its development in the state of Texas. Kendra is a Human Resource Specialist with Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. This distinguished honor reflects Kendra's dedication to our Lamar CISD students and staff. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Kendra Ramirez on being named the Texas Education Support Staff Association Employee of the Year. Her service is crucial to the development of education in our district. I thank her.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, the American Dream is alive and well in Texas-22. It is alive in the south loop Ellington area, and it is alive and thriving at Tony's Pizza and Grinders. Tony's is a walking, talking American Dream. In 1996, the Canolli family left war-torn Kosovo. They started their life here in Michigan. But shortly, they saw the bright light of the Lone Star State and moved to Texas. That is where they started Tony's. The Canollis are special because they care more about others than about making dollars. Through Hurricane Harvey, they gave free food to the Southeast Volunteer Fire Department so they could keep saving lives. If you want the freshest and the best pizza in America, try the Mrs. Marie's. That is amore.