Pete Olson

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Aileen Lang, Justin Liang and Miyo Fujiwara of Katy, TX for winning 13 medals at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics. The three students represented Katy-based Rope Warriors in the jump rope competitions. Aileen scored five gold medals and two bronze medals, including a gold medal in the All-Around competition. Eleven- year-old Justin earned two silver medals, two bronze medals and a fifth-place finish. And Miyo won two gold medals. Rope Warriors is a competitive jump rope team with athletes ranging from 6 to 16 years old. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Aileen Lang, Justin Liang and Miyo Fujiwara for winning 13 medals at the AAU Junior Olympics. We are proud of them and wish them luck in their future jump rope careers.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 1192, the National Clinical Care Commission Act, a bipartisan bill which is cosponsored by over half of my House colleagues. It has this level of support because this Nation faces an epidemic. Diabetes or prediabetes affects over 100 million Americans. Nearly one in three of our neighbors are affected. Dr. Phil has diabetes. We met, and he is a strong proponent of this bill. This is in addition to all of the other Americans who have diseases that fall under complex metabolic, autoimmune, or insulin resistant diseases. When I first came to Congress in 2009, it was crystal clear that we had a big problem. The benefits of all the Federal research dollars going into these diseases were simply not making their way to patients. The researchers at the NIH, the CDC, and even the EPA weren't sharing diabetes research. It was clear to me in 2009, and it is clear to me in 2016. We need a laser-like focus on improving patient care by pursuing a strong Federal focus on research. My bill accomplishes that goal through the establishment of a national clinical care commission made up of doctors with specialties, such as endocrinologists, and other healthcare providers who work directly with patients and pharmacists. This commission will have 3 years to strengthen the partnership between Federal stakeholders and health professionals who will bring hands-on, clinical experience to improve care. This is not a new, unending bureaucracy. After 3 years, this commission will sunset. In 3 years, it will be gone. We have made a huge investment of taxpayer dollars in research. It is time for us to leverage that investment and translate that into meaningful prevention and effective treatment options. So today, on World Diabetes Day, I ask my colleagues to vote for H.R. 1192 and help all those who suffer from diabetes and other complex metabolic and autoimmune disorders.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Chairman, I say a special thank you to my cosponsor, co-chair of the House Corrosion Prevention Caucus, Congresswoman Esty, for introducing this amendment that will help the taxpayers protect America's aging infrastructure. Corrosion in our Nation's infrastructure reduces the lifespan of our investments, costs our taxpayers billions of dollars, threatens our environment, and endangers our public safety. If left unchecked, corrosion affects many sectors of our economy, including defense projects, energy development, ports, water infrastructure, utilities, roads, rails, bridges, and other critical American assets. The good news is that corrosion is an issue that can be tackled to extend the life and value of our Federal investments. When properly maintained, corrosion is largely preventable. I have dealt with corrosion my whole adult life. Serving in our Navy for 9 years, I have seen young sailors fighting corrosion on our ships with a paint scraper, a paint brush, and a bucket of gray paint--the glory of the so-called paint and chip detail. Working for the Houston region, I know how corrosion can impact our investment in our ports and waterways. Investing in corrosion prevention now will save the taxpayers billions down the road. If my colleagues want to know more about corrosion prevention, come to Houston, Texas, headquarters of NACE, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, International.

Mr. OLSON. This amendment would simply require the Army Corps to submit a report on corrosion prevention activities for our Nation's infrastructure, including water and sewer systems. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, commonsense amendment.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Virgil Gant of Pearland, TX, who was killed in a tragic truck accident this summer. Virgil was the longest-serving member on the Pearland ISD Board of Trustees, having served 16 years. Throughout his time on the Board, Virgil displayed true leadership, serving as board president and being a member of the Long-Range Planning Steering Committee. In 2014, the Texas Association of School Boards awarded him the Master Trustee designation. Prior to serving on the Board of Trustees, Virgil served our nation with 28 years of active and reserve duty in the United States Navy. Virgil Gant epitomized the best qualities of a Texan and American patriot. His dedication to his country and community will be greatly missed. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, we mourn the loss of Virgil Gant. He truly was a beloved member of the Pearland community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Fort Bend County Historical Commissioners for winning the Texas Historical Commission Distinguished Service Award. The Commission is comprised of volunteer historians and preservationists appointed by the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court to protect Texas history, culture and education throughout the state. Volunteers have dedicated over 480,000 hours to recognizing, protecting and transcribing various parts of Texas history so future Texans can continue to learn the heritage of our great state. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Fort Bend County Historical Commissioners for winning the THC Distinguished Service Award. We appreciate your continued efforts to preserve the history that has made Texas so great.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Claire Jeffress of Pearland, TX for her outstanding extracurricular activities on and off the field. As a strong soccer player, it was a natural fit for Claire to start playing football in seventh grade. Now a varsity football player at Dawson High School, Claire is the kicker for the Eagles and has proven she can hold her own with her teammates. When she's not kicking her way to victory on the football field, Claire puts her leadership skills to work as a member of my Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC). In her second year as part of CYAC, Claire joins 19 other high school students who provide me with critical input on issues they face, while also hearing from community leaders throughout the year. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, I thank Claire Jeffress for all of her contributions to our community. We are proud of her for breaking barriers and setting a great example for other young girls. We expect great things from her in the future.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Pearland, Texas student Siddharth Krishnakumar for becoming co-champion of the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee--the second largest local bee in the U.S. His accomplishment means a repeat trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, where he previously took 4th place in the nation. Siddharth, an eighth-grader at Pearland Junior High West, won his Spelling Bee title by correctly spelling the word ``ineffable.'' He advances to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in February. We are very proud of Siddharth and wish him luck on the national stage. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Siddharth for becoming co-champion of the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mackenzie Duck of Katy, TX for winning the national championship at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics. Mackenzie and her Track Houston teammates, Nia Reed, Alexa Granderson and Jesica Gordon, raced in the 3,200 meter relay with a time of 9 minutes, 34.70 seconds to win the victorious national championship title. Mackenzie is a junior at Cinco Ranch High School and is a part of the school's cross country team as well. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Mackenzie Duck for her national championship win at the AAU Junior Olympics. We are proud of her for bringing this win home to Katy and wish her luck with her future track and field and cross country career.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate David Williams of Sugar Land, TX for being named a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Gulf Coast Area. Mr. Williams is the President and CEO of Noble Corporation, an offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. As a proud Aggie, Williams is a finalist thanks to his hard work and dedication in his industry. This award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in innovation, financial performance and commitment to their business and communities. We are lucky to have Mr. William's talent and dedication help our area remain at the forefront of job-creation, technology and scientific discovery. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations and thank you to David Williams for his innovation, dedication and work with Noble Corporation. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Andrew Gandy of Katy, TX for winning the national championship at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics. Andrew's winning time of 9 minutes, 12.46 seconds in the 3,000 meter run earned him the prestigious national championship title. However, a couple of weeks later, the Seven Lakes High School junior won yet another national championship at the Cy Woods XC Invitational in the 3,200 meter race, with a time of 10 minutes, 29.68 seconds. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Andrew Gandy for his national championship win at the AAU Junior Olympics. We are proud of him for bringing this win home to Katy and wish him luck with his future cross country career.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Thompson Lin of Sugar Land, Texas for being named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in Technology for the Gulf Coast Area. Dr. Lin is the Chairman of the Board, Founder, President and CEO of Applied Optoelectronics Inc., a leading provider in fiber-optics access network products for the internet datacenter, cable broadband, and the home market. With a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and founder of AOI, Dr. Lin has more than 10 U.S. patents and has authored over 200 technical papers and presentations. This award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in innovation, financial performance and commitment to their business and communities. We are lucky to have Dr. Lin's talent and dedication help our area remain at the forefront of job-creation, technology, and scientific discovery. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations and thank you to Dr. Thompson Lin for his innovation, dedication and work with AOI. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Gabriel Oladipo of Missouri City, TX for winning the national championship in the discus at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics. Gabriel competed in two events at the Junior Olympics, the discus and shot put. His impressive throw of 192 feet, 6 inches in the discus earned him the esteemed national championship. In the shot put competition, Gabriel made Missouri City proud with his second place throw of 61 feet, .25 inches. Gabriel is a senior at Fort Bend's Hightower High School and competed in the discus in the 2015 International Association of Athletics Federations World Youth Championships. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Gabriel Oladipo for winning the national championship in the discus at the AAU Junior Olympics. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lance Hindt for being elected to serve as Superintendent of the Katy Independent School District (ISD). Lance served as the Superintendent of Allen Independent School District (ISD) since 2014. While there, Lance was tasked with solving issues relating to the new stadium for the high school football powerhouse conference. Prior to serving Allen (ISD), Lance was the Superintendent of the Stafford Municipal School District. He began his teaching career at John Foster Dulles High School in Sugar Land and is himself a graduate of Katy ISD's James E. Taylor High School. With his distinguished career in education, his return to Fort Bend County makes him a fantastic addition to the Katy ISD. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Lance Hindt for being named the new Superintendent of the Katy Independent School District. We thank him for his commitment to education excellence.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Milan Young of Richmond, TX for winning the national championship at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics. Milan leapt to victory with a time of 13.85 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles. Currently at Lamar High School, she suffered from stress- fractures in her pelvis as a sophomore. After qualifying for the Class 6A meet as a freshman, Milan was forced to take an entire season and summer to heal. The future Olympic hopeful has clearly returned from her injury with vengeance and has her sights on what's next. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Milan Young for her national championship win at the AAU Junior Olympics. We are proud of her for bringing this win home to Richmond and wish her luck with her future track and field career.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sophie Atkinson of Katy, TX for winning two gold medals at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics. Sophie brought victory home to Track Houston in both the 1,500 and 3,000 meter races in the girl's 13-year-old division. Her winning time in the 1,500 meter race was 4:45.04. She not only won the 3,000 meter sprint, but also set a new Junior Olympic record, with a time of 10:03.41. Sophie is an incoming eighth grader at Bend Middle School and earned a silver medal in last year's 3,200 meter relay at the AAU Junior Olympics. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Sophie Atkinson for winning two gold medals at the AAU Junior Olympics. We thank her for bringing this success home to Katy and wish her the best in her future track career.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sugar Land, TX native Octavia Gee for winning three gold medals at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics. Octavia competed for the Houston Sonics Track Club and won gold in turbo javelin, shot put and triathlon. In the 10 Girls Turbo Javelin, she tossed a remarkable national record of 86 feet, 8 inches. When it comes to breaking records however, Octavia is no stranger. In the last year she has broken two world shot put records, with her most recent in February in the 10-year-old division at the 2016 Lions/Outright Performance Winter Series-Throws Meet Number 2, where she threw 26 feet, 11.75 inches. Octavia's hard work and talent make our Sugar Land community proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Octavia Gee for winning three gold medals at the AAU Junior Olympics. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Thao Nhi Do of Houston, TX for receiving a Fulbright award for teaching English in Taiwan during the 2015 through 2016 academic year. Each year the Fulbright Program grants students with the opportunity to study, research or teach English abroad in an effort to internationalize communities and campuses around the world. Fulbright scholars focus on the conditions and challenges differing regions face, as well as building valuable U.S. relationships. Thao graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2011 from Clear Brook High School and earned a full scholarship to Harvard University. As a Fulbright participant, she helped teach English in Taiwan. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Ms. Thao Nhi Do for receiving this Fulbright award. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Richmond native Logan Pate for winning the 90th Texas Junior State Championship. After ending two rounds in a three-way tie for first place during the local golf tournament, Logan beat two brothers in the sudden-death playoff hole. Getting par in that last hole put him over the edge past the competing brothers, securing this impressive win. Logan is a recent graduate from William B. Travis High School and is no stranger to placing first, having won the 2016 UIL Region 3-6A individual title. He will continue his promising golf career at the University of Arkansas- Little Rock. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Logan Pate for winning the 90th Texas Junior State Championship. Thank you for bringing this prestigious honor to Richmond. I wish him success on the links in his impressive golf career.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Shayak Sengupta of Sugar Land, TX for receiving a Fulbright award for his energy research in India during the 2015 through 2016 academic year. Each year the Fulbright Program grants students with the opportunity to study, research or teach English abroad in an effort to internationalize communities and campuses around the world. Fulbright scholars focus on the conditions and challenges differing regions face, as well as building valuable U.S. relationships. Shayak graduated from Hightower High School and attended Rice University. Under the Fulbright program, he studied the effectiveness and cost of air pollution control technologies in Indian coal power plants. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Mr. Shayak Sengupta for receiving this Fulbright award. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Madeline Castillo of San Jacinto Girl Scout Troop Number 61401 on earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement a Cadette can earn. Madeline, a senior at Clear Creek High School in League City, achieved this honor through her accomplishments in leadership, advocacy, and dedication to improving her community. Madeline completed her Girl Scout Gold Award project, #WeCare4Patients which strives to help hospital patients feel more comfortable. Madeline has paired with Health Occupations Students of America clubs and other organizations in the area to encourage people to donate toys, blankets, games, and other items for local medical facilities. On behalf of all of the residents of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, I'm pleased to recognize Madeline's Girl Scout accomplishment and her contributions to help make our community a better place to live. We are all proud of Madeline Castillo and wish her the best of luck at Stephen F. Austin University in the fall.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Katy native Jon Duplantier, for being named as an All-America pitcher by Collegiate Baseball magazine. Jon Duplantier graduated from Seven Lakes High School in 2013 and is currently a junior attending the great Rice University. Duplantier has been drafted and picked to pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Duplantier was named the C-USA Pitcher of the Week three times, National Pitcher of the Week and has faced six nationally ranked teams. Duplantier has displayed great discipline and dedication. We are proud to have such talent representing our Katy community. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Jon Duplantier for his outstanding athletic achievements. We wish him success in his baseball career and look forward to rooting for him in the majors. Katy, Texas is proud of him.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Stafford Elementary teacher Carolina Sievers for being named Stafford Municipal School District Teacher of the year. Each year Stafford MSD recognizes a teacher with this honor as a reflection of his or her outstanding work and dedication to the students and the entire Stafford school community. Carolina's dedication to her students made her this year's recipient. She is the Bilingual Math, Science, and Technology teacher for Stafford Elementary. She has a Master's degree in Engineering Management from The Catholic University of America and previously taught at two Houston area colleges before becoming an elementary school teacher. She is known for her passion for teaching and instilling reasoning skills in her students that will be valuable to them for life. Stafford students are well served by her dedication to education. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Ms. Seivers for being named Teacher of the Year by the Stafford Municipal School District. We thank her for all that she does for our community and the students at Stafford Elementary.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Alvin, TX Passmore Elementary School Sea Sharks II for placing third in the Obstacle Course Challenge at the National SeaPerch Challenge at Louisiana State University. The U.S. Navy National SeaPerch Challenge is an underwater robotics competition. The Passmore Elementary School built and operated their own remotely operated vehicles that function underwater and are designed to complete an obstacle course. The SeaPerch Challenge competition judges the students' underwater vehicles in poster and interview first, and then two underwater challenges follow. The first being an obstacle course and the second being an orbs challenge where the students move different sized balls into submerged containers. The students develop problem-solving, teamwork and technical skills through this competition. They were awarded 3rd Place in the Obstacle Course Challenge. We are very proud of what these bright young students have accomplished. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Passmore Elementary School Sea Sharks II for placing third at the National SeaPerch Challenge. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Debra Haney of Sugar Land, TX for being elected to serve as Associate Superintendent of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Debra Haney has served as the beloved principal of St. Laurence Catholic School for ten years. Prior to serving St. Laurence Catholic School, Haney was the Principal of John Paul II Catholic School for six years. She has more than twenty three years of Catholic educational experience. Under Debra Haney's guidance, St. Laurence Catholic School has expanded and thrived, adding specialized teachers, new opportunities to participate in the arts and sports, and greater access to new educational technology. Thanks to her leadership, St. Laurence Catholic School has flourished while retaining a focus on spiritual growth and Catholic identity. As the new Associate Superintendent, Debra Haney will reach even more new students in the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Debra Haney for being named the new Associate Superintendent of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. We also thank her for her years of dedicated service to Sugar Land Catholic students.