Greg Pence

Mr. PENCE

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the great impact that farming and the agriculture community has on carbon sequestration. The use of cover crops increased by 15 percent per year since 2012. This means that 20 million acres across the U.S. are likely to be planted in cover crops this year with the potential to sequester about 60 million metric tons of CO2, equal to the emissions of over 12 million cars. The use of ethanol and biodiesel is notably reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the same amount as if 17 million cars were taken off the road in 2018. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to support the agriculture community and its leadership in being stewards of our environment.

Mr. PENCE

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize four outstanding agriculture students from Eastern Hancock High School for winning the 4-H livestock judging contest at the Western National Roundup. Conner Knudson, Hunter Knudson, Reed Hedrick, and Ashtyn Harvey represented the State of Indiana with integrity and skill. This team competed against 27 other teams from across the Nation and came out victorious. Congratulations to these future farmers on their tremendous accomplishment. You have made the Sixth District proud. Scott County, Indiana, Celebrates Bicentennial

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Scott County, Indiana, on their bicentennial celebration. In these two centuries, Scott County has become a cornerstone of my Sixth District. With a growing economy, beautiful parks and lakes, and a close community of Hoosiers, Scott County continues to be a great place for all of us to call home. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Scott County on their bicentennial, and here is to the next 200 years. Rushville Rotary Club's 100th Anniversary

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Rushville Rotary Club for celebrating 100 years of service. For a century now, the Rushville Rotary Club has been a pillar of community involvement in the district. The Rotary Club continues to support local service projects around the community and helps students at the Rushville High School. I want to thank the members of the Rotary Club for their service and dedication to the people of Rushville and congratulate them on their 100th anniversary. Congratulating Marlin Kohlmeier

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Marlin Kohlmeier, who was named the 2019 Volunteer of the Year by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement and the Indiana Hunter Education Association. Mr. Kohlmeier has been a teacher at South Ripley schools for over 40 years and volunteers his time to teach hunter safety to all the students at South Ripley. According to his colleagues, Mr. Kohlmeier has a heart of gold, and there is no one more deserving of this honor. As an avid hunter myself, I want to thank Mr. Kohlmeier for his work educating kids, and extend my congratulations for receiving this award. Recognizing Railroad Day

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Railroad Day on Capitol Hill. Today, we have 450 industry professionals from railroads, rail labor, rail contractors, and rail supply companies on Capitol Hill fighting for the issues that affect us all. In my home State of Indiana, we have over 1,200 miles of Class III rail tracks and over 3,800 miles of Class I railroad tracks. As a crossroads of America, our rail industry is one of the busiest in the Nation and contributes to our thriving economy and business development. I am proud to support policies that increase the safety and efficiency of infrastructure in Indiana and the rest of our great Nation. We must support our country's railroads so that we can keep America's economy rolling. Congratulating Sam Bennett

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sam Bennett of Delta High School for winning the 1-Meter Diving State Title at the 2020 Indiana Swimming and Diving State Meet. Sam put in the hard work and dedication into his sport to rise from fourth place last year to the number one spot this year. I wish Sam the best of luck next year as reigning champ for his senior season. I look forward to seeing him continue to make Indiana's Sixth District proud.

Mr. PENCE

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 75th anniversary of the battle for Iwo Jima. I had the privilege of joining Senator Young at a ceremony last week in Indianapolis to commemorate this fateful battle that led to the allied victory in World War II. With us at the Indiana War Memorial was Wayne Saucerman, a World War II marine veteran of Iwo Jima and a true American hero. Seventy-five years ago Wayne found himself thousands of miles away from home in the midst of a fierce 5-week battle that would help change the course of the war and history itself. To Wayne and to other patriots who fight for the freedom and liberty we hold so dear, thank you for your service. Next month I will have the honor of returning to the island as part of a congressional delegation invited to participate in the 75th Reunion of Honor on Iwo Jima. We will be joined by the commandant of the Marine Corps and dignitaries from Japan to renew this commitment by remembering and honoring those who fought 75 years ago. Trump Administration Puts Farmers First

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend President Trump's leadership on the Waters of the United States issue and support his repeal of the burdensome Obama-era regulation. As a result of this decision, our farmers can worry less about government overreach on their own property and instead focus on building and growing their farms and small businesses. We finally have an administration that puts our farmers first, and for Hoosiers in my district, that is a big deal. I pledge my commitment to farmers and families in my district to continue working with the Trump administration on this very critical issue. Recognizing Ahaus Tool and Engineering

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ahaus Tool and Engineering in Richmond, Indiana for their effective apprenticeship program. While recently visiting Ahaus, their leadership told me about their nationally accredited apprenticeship program, which has been helping Hoosiers for over 30 years. Ahaus offers a full-time job while their employees attend school to gain hands-on learning experience with peers in the company. I wish Ahaus continued success and I thank them for their investment in the community of Richmond. Recognizing the Good Samaritan Food Pantry

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Good Samaritan Food Pantry of North Vernon and its wonderful manager, Ginger Miller. The Good Samaritan Food Pantry served over 29,000 Jennings County residents last year, including 1,000 veterans. The Good Samaritan Food Pantry is run by an all-volunteer staff and runs completely on donations. Not only does this organization help feed those in need, but it also provides clothing and household items for families in need. God bless those that help the Good Samaritan Food Pantry run, and God bless all the volunteers involved. Congratulating Silas Allred

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Silas Allred of Shenandoah High School for winning the 195-pound weight class Indiana Wrestling State Title. This is Silas' second straight wrestling State title, and he joined an elite group of only one of five Indiana high school wrestlers in history to win the title by pin. Silas is ranked fourth in the Nation for his weight class and qualified for Team U.S.A. to compete at the Pan Am Cadet Games. I congratulate Silas and wish him the best of luck in his future.

Mr. PENCE

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, surprise medical bills can be financially devastating for families. Patients must be protected from this harmful practice. As Congress considers solutions to this issue, I urge Speaker Pelosi to reject any proposals that include government price-setting. Setting price controls on private transactions gives more power to the Federal Government and reduces access to healthcare. Congress must pursue solutions that hold patients harmless, increase transparency, and resolve disputes that arise from surprise bills. Congratulating Melani Shaffmaster

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Melani Shaffmaster of New Castle High School on being named the 2019-2020 Gatorade Indiana Volleyball Player of the Year. This is Melani's second time honored with this title, having led her team to three straight volleyball State championships. Melani has had a remarkable high school career with thousands of assists, and kills, and hundreds of aces and digs. Not only has she been a master on the court, but she has also maintained a 3.9 GPA. Mr. Speaker, Melani is a true role model for any student athlete, and I wish her the best of luck in college and in her future. Congratulating River Valley Resources on its 30th Anniversary

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate River Valley Resources on celebrating their 30th anniversary. On a recent visit to RVR Clearinghouse in Madison, Indiana, I was able to witness the wonderful services that are provided to both adults and children. RVR currently provides programs and services in 14 counties in southeastern Indiana and central Indiana. RVR strives to create a competitive workforce through job readiness training, life skills management, job placement, and is also a Child Care and Development Fund voucher agent in 12 counties. Mr. Speaker, I thank RVR for the wonderful work that they do, and I wish them a happy anniversary. Recognizing Matt Peiffer

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Muncie resident and Ball State student Matt Peiffer. His Muncie-based organization, A Voice for Kids, is one of 30 winners in T-Mobile's second annual Changemaker Challenge. The Changemaker Challenge asks kids aged 13 to 23 to come up with ideas to help their local communities. A Voice for Kids advocates for the improvement of the foster care system. A former child in Indiana's foster system, Peiffer has already helped improve the system, and this award shows that people around the Nation are noticing his good work. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Matt and A Voice for Kids for making their community and the Hoosier State a better place. Celebrating Shelbyville Rotary Club's 100th Anniversary

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Shelbyville Rotary Club for celebrating 100 years of service. The rotary club has been a beacon of service in the Shelbyville community for this century. Last year alone, the club raised funds for the Shelbyville Boys Club Youth Football program, Pantry Pals, SCUFFY, the Blue River Community Foundation, and Girls Inc. The rotary club also provides scholarships for every high school in Shelby County. Mr. Speaker, I thank the members of the Shelbyville Rotary Club for their service and dedication to Shelbyville and congratulate them on their 100th anniversary.

Mr. PENCE

Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, this past December, I had the honor of serving as the keynote speaker for the graduation of Class 25 of the Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy. Since 2007, the Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy has helped change the lives of many young men and women between the ages of 16 and 18, who, for one reason or another, were headed down the wrong path. Many cadets who take part in the Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy program are either dropouts or have been expelled from school. For five and half months, the cadets of Class 25 participated in a quasi-military modeled training and education program that teaches and instills in them a sense of discipline, responsibility, achievement and positive behavior. Among the group of graduates included an impressive 17-year-old from Indianapolis named De'Von Bates. As the Distinguished Honor Graduate, Cadet Bates spoke to his peers as a leader, a role model and a changed young man now filled with confidence, pride and strength. A sense of accomplishment and hope washed over the faces of he and his fellow graduates upon completion of this rigorous program, and I would like to include in the Record Cadet Bates' remarks: ``Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to start off by saying welcome to the Hoosier Youth ChalleNGe Academy's 25th graduating class. It is an honor and a privilege to represent this class of 60 as the Distinguished Honor Graduate. It is truly inspiring to look out at my fellow cadets and see just how much we have changed, both physically and mentally. In the beginning, on Day Zero, I remember waiting in line to get a haircut thinking, ``This is not where I want to be.'' By the looks around the room everyone else had the same exact mindset as me. All we had in common that day was a uniform and an I.D. card, and trust me: those pictures were not pretty. During Acclimation Phase we were introduced to a lot of concepts and ideas we weren't used to: for some it was early wake ups; for others it was the physical training. A few of us had problems with organization. I think I speak for us all when I say that one of the most challenging aspects of Acclimation Phase was the time hacks. Everything, no matter how trivial, had a time associated with it. Meeting these time hacks was absolutely crucial because if we failed to do so we got rewarded with PT, with plenty to spare. This made us realize that to succeed we needed to work as a team, and that we were only as strong as our weakest link. We could no longer act as individuals, but had to operate as a team, giving us a ``one team, one fight'' mindset. Thinking back to 5 months ago, I remember how great it felt to receive mail from family and friends. Those 2 weeks were extremely demanding, both physically and mentally, but because of the encouragement from each other, and the constant uplifting notes from our loved ones, we were able to make it through Acclimation Phase and graduate with flying colors. A wave of relief washed over us as we graduated Acclimation Phase, became cadets, and enjoyed the weekend. To finally get a phone call home for the first time since being gone was like a bottle of ice cold water on a hot summer day. These incentives that we had worked so hard for were a privilege, as compared to back at home where we took everything for granted. Acclimation Phase tore us down, but built us back up even stronger. After those two grueling weeks, we entered the ChalleNGe Phase of the program. Throughout the next 5 months we were being shaped, shifted, and molded into the best individuals that HYCA could produce. We started going to school learning our 8 core components, essential life skills needed to succeed in our time here and outside of HYCA. Then more options opened up to us: activities such as basketball, Color Guard, yearbook, and Art Club were made available to us to spend some extra free time we had. An early highlight in the program was Family Day where we were allowed to spend a few hours with our loved ones. Everyone had an amazing time, and it was a huge stress reliever for all of us after being here over 2 months. Soon after there were even more opportunities presented to us: we took the ASVAB test, earned college credit, created a resume, participated in a mock interview, learned job skills, and had a job fair to give us insight into which career interests we could potentially have. We also gained experience by going on Service to Community trips. We learned how to be selfless by investing time in others, not just ourselves. In October we had the Tri-State ChalleNGe, something exciting and different from previous classes. We were able to interact with other people our age and learn about some of the other ChalleNGe academies. To end such an eventful weekend, we also had Mentor Match, followed by weekly visits from our mentors. We received guidance, emotional relief, and plenty of advice from our mentors. You have played an important role in our success here at HYCA and we would like to thank you for spending precious time with us. Finally, here we are at graduation today. After 5\1/2\ long months, I am proud to say that you are looking at a group of successful young men and women. During our time here life- long friendships have been made, relationships with family members have been strengthened, and we have found a driving factor in our lives. A lot of us will leave with our high school equivalency, along with our Building Trades and Retail Sales certifications. We also take with us the confidence and discipline instilled within us during these 22 weeks. To the cadets, I want to say to you: congratulations! We've done it! We've made it through something that most people our age wouldn't dare think about doing. Take great pride in yourself knowing that you have succeeded where others have failed. To the staff of the Hoosier Youth ChalleNGe Academy, a huge thanks to you all for being there when we needed you. Thanks for being here through the good and bad days, during the ups and the downs, and for motivating us to be the best that we could be when we couldn't find the motivation from within ourselves. Thank you for being such a critical part of our success, for making us who we are today. Lastly, a special thanks to the family, friends, mentors, and loved ones: you stood on the sidelines, gave your best support possible through letters, phone calls, and constant engagement. Without you, some of us wouldn't have come here to make a positive change in our lives, let alone be here on graduation day ready to start anew with a different, but hopeful outlook on our futures. Thank you again. President Theodore Roosevelt defined success as ``the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.'' Don't be discouraged by your failures, but be motivated by them. We all have the ability to succeed; we just have to find it. I leave you with these words from sportscaster Ernie Harwell: ``It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure.'' This is the first day of the rest of your lives. May you all continue to be successful in your own adventures, wherever they may take you! Thank you. Class 25: On your feet! HYCA Creed on 3 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . .'

Mr. PENCE

Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize seven high schools located in Indiana's Sixth District for their extraordinary Early College Development Program that I observed when I was at Lawrenceburg High School. Participating in this program are also high schools in Greensburg, Connersville, Richmond, Muncie Central, Delta, and the New Castle Career Center. The Early College Development Program provides students the ability to earn both a high school diploma and an associate's degree or up to 2 years' college credit towards a bachelor's degree. The Early College Development Program also provides higher learning at a much lower cost, with early college tuition waived for some students. I am proud to see the Hoosier State being a leader in education, preparing our students for the future, and finding solutions to fight the rising cost of higher education.

Mr. PENCE

Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend and fellow veteran, Lonnie Gilbert Nefouse, who recently passed away at the age of 73 in Carmel, Indiana. Early in his life, Lonnie chose a path of service to our country. Lonnie defended our stars and stripes with the courage and selflessness that will continue to make our nation great for generations to come. This is evident in the many honors he was awarded including a Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart. Not only was Lonnie a patriot, but a pillar of our Hoosier community and a true family man. He valued spending time with his family and served as a role model for future generations through his civic leadership and commitment to country. The Pence family is lucky to have considered Lonnie a close friend. He was a generous person who will be remembered fondly and greatly missed. May God rest his soul and bring comfort to his family and friends as we mourn his loss and celebrate Lonnie's life here on earth.

Mr. PENCE

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an American hero, PFC Louis Wiesehan, Jr., of Richmond, Indiana, and celebrate his return home to the Sixth District of Indiana. PFC Wiesehan was a fellow marine who gave the ultimate sacrifice while fighting on the island of Betio in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. After 77 years, PFC Wiesehan is finally coming home. His remains will be buried in his hometown. Thank you, PFC Wiesehan, for your service and sacrifice. You will never be forgotten. Semper Fi. March for Life

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give my wholehearted support for the upcoming March for Life rallies taking place across the Nation next week. I am a passionately pro-life American and I will always fight for unborn children. It is our duty to protect the most vulnerable and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. As millions of Americans march across the Nation next week, I pledge to always stand with their cause. Greenfield-Central High School Radio Station

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Greenfield- Central High School Radio Station WRGF for being on air for 20 years. The high school station was established in 1999 and is now a 24/7 on- air public radio station run completely by students and their teacher, Jonathan Hudson. Greenfield-Central's radio/TV classes draw 70 students a semester who are able to learn and gain professional experience before they enter college or the workforce. I was able to witness the advantages that these students are able to gain while visiting the facility last fall. Happy anniversary to WRGF and all the students who participate in the program. Congratulating New Palestine Coach Kyle Ralph

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate New Palestine football coach, Kyle Ralph. Coach Ralph is among the list of only 32 coaches nationwide who are finalists for the 2019 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award. In his 7 years as head coach at New Palestine, Coach Ralph has built a program that has become a statewide powerhouse. Throughout his tenure, Coach Ralph has amassed an amazing 88-4 record and has brought three State championships home to New Palestine. Mr. Speaker, I wish Coach Ralph the best of luck during the ceremony at the NFL Pro Bowl. NEPA Update

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Trump administration for proposing to update the totally outdated National Environmental Policy Act regulations. These policies haven't seen reform in over 4 decades. As a result countless infrastructure projects have been backlogged for years. It is time to roll back burdensome regulations that stifle growth. Modernizing NEPA regulations will allow schools, bridges, and other vital projects to finally move forward safely and efficiently. I pledge my support for these updates and look forward to the continued improvement of America's infrastructure.