Hillary Scholten

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Chris Hammer for winning a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. At 38 years old, Chris Hammer dedicated over half his life to achieving his Paralympic dreams. He began his athletic journey at a young age, where he quickly discovered a passion for long-distance running. In 2004, Chris began his collegiate career at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in West Michigan. There, he earned five All- American honors--once in cross country and four times in steeplechase. In 2022, he was inducted into GVSU's Athletic Hall of Fame. Following his success at GVSU, Chris joined the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team in London, competing in the 1500-meter, marathon, and 800-meter track events. He then competed in the PT4 paratriathlon at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the PST5 paratriathlon at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, finishing fourth in both events. In Paris, Chris finished the men's PTS5 paratriathlon in just 58 minutes and 44 seconds, winning the gold medal for his outstanding performance. We are honored that Chris called the great state of Michigan home for so many years, and applaud his commitment, drive, and persistence throughout his athletic career. Mr. Speaker, once more I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Mr. Chris Hammer's first gold medal victory. I congratulate Chris on his well-earned success, and hope he finds some time to celebrate this incredible feat alongside his teammates, family, and community.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituent, Mr. Aaron Cummings, for his outstanding performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Originally from Muskegon, Aaron represented West Michigan on the world stage as an athlete on the U.S. Men's Rugby Sevens Team. Aaron has dedicated his time and energy to becoming one of the foremost rugby players in our country. Growing up in West Michigan, Aaron began his rugby career at Grand Haven High School. He then attended Davenport University in Kent County, Michigan, and helped the Davenport Panthers finish fourth in the 2016 and 2017 USA College Sevens National Championship. Kicking off his professional rugby career, Aaron won the 2021 Club Sevens National Championship with the Chicago Lions and joined the USA Men's Sevens Residency in Chula Vista. In early 2022, he entered the world stage at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Debut in Malaga, Spain, and was later named to the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 squad in Cape Town, South Africa. This year, Aaron joined the 2024 U.S. Men's Rugby Sevens Team at the Paris Olympics, where he and his teammates finished eighth. Mr. Speaker, once more I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Mr. Aaron Cummings for his commitment to sportsmanship, his tenacity, and his athleticism. I congratulate Mr. Cummings and thank him for being such a wonderful representative of West Michigan.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituent, Mr. Evan Medell, for his exceptional performance in para-taekwondo at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Evan proudly represented West Michigan on the world stage, displaying his exceptional talent and perseverance as one of the world's foremost para-taekwondo athletes. Growing up in Grand Haven, Evan began his athletic journey at the Lakeshore Taekwondo Academy when he was just 12 years old. Throughout his career, Evan excelled in numerous international events, including winning gold at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Chile. When para- taekwondo made its Paralympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, Evan became the first American to secure a bronze medal. Furthermore, he was the youngest athlete in history to compete in a para-taekwondo world championship. As an athlete competing with Brachial Plexus Palsy, a paralysis that impacts the nerves in the arm and hands, Evan is an inspiration to all West Michiganders who have dreams of competing at the Olympic level. This year, Evan joined the 2024 U.S. Men's Taekwondo Team at the Paris Paralympics, where he secured a bronze medal for our country. Mr. Speaker, once more, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Mr. Evan Medell for his commitment to sportsmanship, his perseverance, and his outstanding athleticism. I congratulate Mr. Medell and thank him for being such an admirable representative of West Michigan.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of my constituent, the Honorable Sara J. Smolenski, who is retiring from the Kent County 63rd District Court after 34 years of outstanding public service. As a trailblazer in our West Michigan community, Judge Smolenski has dedicated her professional life to serving the people of Kent County. Judge Smolenski served as a private attorney and an assistant city attorney in Grand Rapids prior to her judgeship. She was first elected to the court in 1990 and served as Chief Justice for over a quarter century, from 1996 to 2023. Throughout her life, she has supported local organizations such as the Hospice of Michigan, Kent County Literacy Council, RAVE (Resources Against Violent Encounters) to Women of West Michigan, and the Young Women's Christian Association. Her incredible service to our community has not gone unnoticed, receiving awards from organizations such as the American Red Cross and Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. In 2016, Judge Smolenski became the first elected official to enter a same-sex marriage in Kent County when she married her partner of 27 years. She remains a role model for women and LGBTQ+ people in Michigan's Third District, and I am honored to celebrate her today. Mr. Speaker, once more I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Judge Sara J. Smolenski for her commitment to public service, justice, and the people of Kent County. I hope her retirement is restful and filled with joy.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Madam Speaker, Michigan put the world on wheels, and we are going to keep it moving forward. We are proud of our legacy that is ever-evolving, thanks to the grit of the American worker. West Michiganders, in particular, are a key part of this legacy as folks across my district manufacture transportation components necessary to keep this country in motion. I also take special pride in representing miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline, the largest freshwater reserve in the entire world. My community knows that we must be good stewards of our Nation's most critical cargo ports. Right now, we are fighting to preserve our resources so that our children might inherit a world where our kids can breathe, that can sustain our farms, is void of extreme weather events, and has clean water to drink and air to breathe. This is not going to happen overnight. It requires a multifaceted approach. The EPA's effort to limit harmful air pollution from light- and medium-duty vehicles is a piece of this lifesaving puzzle. Our Nation's transportation sector is critical, but it is also one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions, so to safeguard the health and well-being of Americans, we have to work to slash pollution associated with our planes, trains, ships, and cars. To be clear, the EPA's technology-neutral rule is not an EV mandate. It is a call on manufacturers to innovate and expand options for consumers to choose vehicles based on their potential environmental impact. What exactly do so many of my colleagues across the aisle have against choice? When it comes to forging a new path forward in transportation, I would never bet against Michigan, especially Michigan automakers. Air pollution, particularly from tailpipes, is responsible for asthma and a wide array of respiratory illnesses in children, adults, and seniors. If this rule stays intact, families across West Michigan will save on healthcare costs an estimated $1.6 trillion and protect the well-being of their children. As a mom of two young children, two young student athletes in particular, I take this seriously. If you are a parent out there of a child with asthma, I stand here on your behalf today. If you are an American autoworker, I stand here on your behalf today. If you are ready to stand up to big polluters and China and stand up for American autoworkers, I am standing for you here today. Rolling back this rule is bending a knee to big polluters while ignoring the broad coalition of autoworkers, automakers, public health advocates, and environmental organizations who believe in addressing climate change head-on while furthering innovation in transportation.

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Madam Speaker, I am so proud of West Michigan's critical role in the transportation sector, but this CRA won't do anything to address the reality of the sector's emissions. This is not a mandate. It is an opportunity to innovate for families, for farmers, and to get out there and keep China from eating our lunch. I thank Ranking Member Pallone for his leadership in pushing back against this CRA, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of my constituent, Frank Charles Bielecki, who turns 100 years old on August 28th of this year. Mr. Bielecki has dedicated his life to our country, his family, and Michiganders. Bielecki served in the United States Army for three years, where he worked as a Private and Tec 5 Cook at Fort Custer in Michigan. Bielecki spent 60 wonderful years with his wife Dorothy Joan Kulak, and he is a proud father to three sons, a grandfather of seven, and a great grandfather of eleven. Before retiring in 1986, he worked at Rapistan Conveyors in Grand Rapids for over 31 years. When asked about his secret to longevity, Bielecki recalls always working hard, staying healthy, and eating plenty of Vernors and Little Debbie Honey Buns. From raising generations of Michiganders to serving our country, Bielecki has inspired so many people across the Third District. I applaud the positive impact he continues to make in our West Michigan community. Mr. Speaker, once more I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Mr. Bielecki for his lifelong commitment to family, community, and service; and to Mr. Bielecki, I wish him another happy, healthy, and fulfilling year ahead.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Police Week to honor the service and contributions of law enforcement officials in west Michigan and across the country. Throughout my time in Congress, I have had the privilege of meeting with so many brave public servants who put their lives on the line every single day to protect our communities. Policing is hard work and not without significant challenges in the year 2024. For some, it might be easier to just walk away. It is for that reason that I am constantly in awe of those that continue to serve because of their dedication, sacrifice, and willingness to place others above self in a time where serving our community has become all the more difficult. To all the law enforcement officers in west Michigan and around the Nation, we honor them this week, and we thank them for everything they do to protect our families, neighbors, and our communities.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, for months we have been hard at work crafting the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. I am so excited that we are finally here to pass this critical piece of legislation that includes so many wins for my district back home in west Michigan. This bill is innovative, it is collaborative, and it is essential. We are moving air travel forward. I thank Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and all of the Members who came together to unanimously pass this bill out of committee. Michigan's Third is home to Gerald R. Ford International Airport and a number of other incredible airports. GRR is one of the busiest airports in the Nation, but its growth is being inhibited by an air traffic control tower which doesn't meet security standards or operational necessities found in newer towers. Yet, it has consistently been passed over for replacement by the FAA. My bill includes a provision directing the FAA to specifically consider older towers at airports, like GRR and others, when selecting projects for replacement and increasing transparency around the process used when deciding which towers need to be upgraded.

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I have a lot to say about this airport. This will help GRR and other airports forge a path forward to meet the needs of the region. I thank the chair and ranking member again for working with me, and I urge passage of this bill for my local airport, our workers, and travelers.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Williams and Ranking Member Velazquez for holding this really important hearing during National Small Business Week. Mr. Speaker, 99.6 percent, that is the number of businesses in Michigan that are considered small businesses. That is nearly 1 million small businesses that call our State home. As diverse as these businesses are, there is one thing that binds them all together. These small business owners consistently tell me that access to capital is the number one thing that they need and rely on to keep their doors open. This is especially true for our small businesses in low-income and rural communities. That is why this bipartisan bill with my colleague, Dan Meuser, the Investing in All of America Act, is so important. It will build on the success of the Small Business Investment Companies program to ensure that more capital can reach the small businesses that need it most. Our legislation will incentivize deployment of additional capital by changing how investments are counted against the SBIC's leverage cap. In doing so, small businesses will be able to access more capital than before, especially those in underserved communities, and, as my colleague noted, without costing the taxpayers additional dollars. Recent studies have shown that less than 20 percent of SBIC funds reach low-income and rural communities. That disparity is unacceptable, and if we pass this bill we can change this statistic. It is incumbent on this body to invest in the people who are investing in our communities. I am known to say back home that we are bringing boring back to Congress. That is what I set out to do every time I come here. Oftentimes, this body is not known for that, but it is essential that we do this type of bipartisan, unglamorous work that corrects errors in our laws that so disproportionately impact the people who need it most. This bipartisan solution will address an urgent need in every corner of our Nation, and I urge my colleagues to support this much-needed bill.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedication and commitment of my constituent Matthew Vriesman as an educator shaping the lives of high schoolers at East Kentwood High School. As we come to the end of another school year, I would like to commend him for his outstanding contributions to our community as an Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies, AP United States History, and AP World Studies teacher. I would also like to congratulate him for being named the National History Teacher of the Year. Every year for the past two decades, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has chosen one history teacher out of thousands across the nation for this prestigious award. The institute's selection committee chose Mr. Vriesman in recognition of his extraordinary ability to tell history through the lens of his community while also cultivating students' passions for storytelling, learning, and American history. It was an honor to celebrate this recognition by inviting Mr. Vriesman as my guest to the 2024 State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C. Matthew Vriesman serves as an inspiration to us all, particularly in West Michigan. He has gone above and beyond by working with the Grand Rapids Museum to teach students through historical archives, primary source documents, and a historical virtual tour of the area that he helped create. He has also emphasized teaching about the Great Migration from the perspective of Black migrants to Grand Rapids. I admire his efforts to make American history accessible to all students, especially those from underserved communities. On behalf of myself and West Michigan, I applaud Matthew Vriesman for the impact his leadership has had on the student population and community as he strives to ensure our students' historical education is reflective of the accuracy and fullness of our Nation's history.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible work of Jaylynne Calderon-Monterroso from Michigan's Third Congressional District. Jaylynne, a senior at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy, is one of 750 high school students from across the country to receive the prestigious Gates Scholarship, which fully covers all educational expenses throughout recipients' undergraduate careers. This highly selective scholarship is awarded to minority students from low-income households, with 48 states being represented in this year's cohort. Graduating with a 4.35 grade point average, Jaylynne has been a shining example of academic and merit based excellence for her West Michigan friends and colleagues. Along with being valedictorian and president of the senior executive board for University Preparatory Academy, she has also served on the Mayor's Youth Council and is a member of the National Honor Society. When asked about Jaylynne, Principal Kenyatta Hill-Hall said, ``I know that she's impacted our community and the Grand Rapids community, but I'm telling people they need to watch out, because this girl is going to impact this world''. And impact the world, she will. Jaylynne has been a fearless leader and advocate for her fellow students, initiating the creation of a mental health room at her high school that allows students and faculty to have a safe space to de-stress from school. On behalf of myself and our proud West Michigan community, I applaud Jaylynne for her hard work and cheer her on as she embarks on her college career at the University of Notre Dame, studying pre-law and economics as a first-generation college student. There is no doubt that her future is bright and that she will go on to become an influential changemaker, making West Michigan proud.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Shane Fairfield, an incredible leader and educator from Michigan's Third Congressional District. I commend Shane Fairfield for his dedication and commitment to his players on the Muskegon High School football team. I would also like to congratulate him for being named the 2023 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Year. His approach to coaching is inspiring and sets a wonderful example of what being an educator should look like. The Detroit Lions Coach of the Year program selects its recipient from the large number of high school football coaches across Michigan. Due to the success of Coach Fairfield, Muskegon High School will receive a $3,000 grant from the Detroit Lions and NFL Foundation. There is no doubt that Coach Fairfield is more than deserving of this recognition; he has secured a record of 154-29 as Muskegon's head coach during his 14 years of leadership to the team. Beyond collecting an impressive number of wins, Coach Fairfield has also dedicated his life to mentoring his players. Fairfield strives to serve as a role model and shape players' successes both on and off the field. His commitment to improving these young people's physical, mental, and emotional health has enacted long-lasting benefits in their lives. On behalf of myself and our proud West Michigan community, I applaud Shane Fairfield for the impact his leadership has had on the Muskegon student population and community.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the commitment of my constituent Verla Thomas in getting her father, the late Corporal George Wills of Spring Lake, a Purple Heart medal over 100 years after he was shot and wounded in World War I. I also commend Dr. Chris Petras for his continued research and efforts to help West Michiganders secure such medals from the Army. Dr. Chris Petras has dedicated much of his time to researching Company F Grand Haven WWI soldiers. His work has led to 20 Purple Hearts being awarded to veterans, a feat that deserves recognition and applause. As a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 28 Grand Haven, Dr. Petras got his start in 2019 when he sought out to learn more about a significant figure in the post, Charles A. Conklin. After digging through National Archives documents, military documents, and numerous publications, he sent over the information he found for review to the U.S. Army who then affirmed Conklin's eligibility for the Purple Heart. Dr. Chris Petras' determination in ensuring these soldiers are recognized for their sacrifice and service is truly admirable. I had the great honor of working alongside Dr. Petras to help Verla Thomas acquire the posthumous Purple Heart medal and WWI Victory medal for her father's service. Several members of the military, veterans, and local residents attended the award ceremony in honor of her father's legacy. It was a truly touching moment to present Verla with these awards. She serves as an inspiration for my team and our district as we seek to give others the recognition they deserve.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence of Grand River Preparatory, a High School of Michigan's Third Congressional District. I commend the faculty at this high school for their dedication, perseverance, and performance. They were recently awarded with the 2023 AP Honor Roll Platinum Award and the 2023 AP Access Award for their ability to go above and beyond in making college preparatory resources accessible to students. These awards are given to schools in which the percentage of underrepresented and low-income students involved with the school's AP Program is the same or greater than the percentage of underrepresented students in the school's graduating class. In 2023, over 4,000 schools participated in the consideration of this award. On behalf of myself and our West Michigan community, I applaud Grand River Preparatory for becoming the only high school in Michigan to achieve this major accomplishment. The Grand River Preparatory High School has been a constant example of excellence by outperforming peers in surrounding schools by 3.5 months each year, according to research done by Stanford University. The school's teachers, students and employees have worked tirelessly to assure that all students can pursue their dreams in an equitable way. Mr. Speaker, once more I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the Grand River Preparatory High School. There is no doubt that these young students have a prosperous future ahead of them.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 7023. Mr. Chair, despite meeting every stipulated requirement, my amendment to this dangerous bill to protect our children from pollutants in their water was not ruled in order. Something is not right. This is unacceptable as a matter of parliamentary process, and it is unacceptable because our children's health is at risk. Infants and children are among the most vulnerable to the negative health effects of pollutants in their water. They are often the closest to the source. They crawl on the floor and in the grass, and they put anything they find in their mouths, including their hands, which puts them at greater risk of exposure to toxins. Their immune systems are the least prepared to handle this exposure. Children's internal organs are still developing and maturing. According to the National Institutes of Health, kids' immune systems may provide less natural protection against toxins than adults. Infants and children face more critical periods when exposure to toxic chemicals may alter their health for the rest of their lives. The Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act would increase the risk to our children by limiting the tools and processes that the EPA utilizes for monitoring the health of our water, improving water quality, and limiting pollutants from entering our waters in the first place. The amendment I submitted was simple. It would have paused the changes within the bill until the EPA could certify that they would not lead to increased discharges of pollutants that have adverse effects on infants and children from increased exposure. Some of these pollutants we may see more of are linked to neurological disorders, behavioral changes, and certain forms of cancer, including breast cancer, leukemia, and brain tumors. My colleagues and I across the aisle may not agree on the merits of the Clean Water Act or the importance of protecting our local waters from contamination and degradation, but surely we can all agree that protecting our Nation's infants and children from toxic chemicals is our shared responsibility and that we simply need to know where there is poison in our water and whether we are giving it to our children. For that reason, Mr. Chair, at the appropriate time I will offer my amendment as a motion to recommit because I will never stop fighting for our children. This is not just a bad bill. It is dangerous for our kids. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the text of my amendment, and I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for this motion to recommit for our children. Ms. Scholten moves to recommit the bill H.R. 7023 to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith, with the following amendment: Add at the end the following:

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Madam Speaker, each February, we come together as a nation to celebrate Black History Month. While we may have just closed out Black History Month, our celebration here in Congress and back home in west Michigan continues. This year, I had the honor of partnering with the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives to elevate the stories of west Michigan's heroes, barrier breakers, and change-makers who shaped the course of our community and our Nation's history. I am proud to offer these six stories of change-makers from Michigan's Third Congressional District. Here are their stories. First, as we stand at this bridge between February and March, Black History Month and Women's History Month, as we just heard from our incredible Congressional Black Caucus, it is appropriate to begin with our first story, the story of Emma Warren Ford. Mrs. Ford was a well-known community organizer who challenged Jim Crow laws and protested discrimination in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She began her work in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the WCTU. At the 1982 WCTU State convention in Benton Harbor, she was appointed as the superintendent of the Work Among Colored People. She was a founding member of the Married Ladies' 19th Century Club, hosting meetings and leading activities for the first literary and social club for African-American women in Grand Rapids. In 1913, Mrs. Ford was chosen by Governor Woodbridge Ferris to represent the State of Michigan at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation in New York. What an honor for west Michigan. Our second story is the story of Paul Phillips. Phillips grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, where he set a State record in track, earning himself a scholarship to Marquette University. Later, he received a master's degree and a Ph.D. in sociology from Fisk University. In 1946, Phillips came to Grand Rapids to work for the Borough Community Association. Passionate about civic and community work, by 1947, he became executive director and secretary of the Grand Rapids Urban League, where he would continue to serve for more than 30 years, including through the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s, serving as a calm and strong force against racial discrimination. Phillips was passionate about documenting and researching Black history in Grand Rapids and is one of the most influential contributors to the local history that we know today. In 1951, Phillips won election to the City Charter Commission, one of the first African Americans elected to public office in Grand Rapids. He was also the first African American elected to the city's board of education. During President Gerald Ford's time in office, Phillips served as a consultant on minority citizen concerns. In 1972, Phillips received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Grand Valley State University. In 1967, Phillips passed away. The Paul I. Phillips Boys and Girls Club in Grand Rapids is named in his honor. The third story is that of Yvonne Little Woodward, the sister of Malcolm X and a local leader and advocate in west Michigan. Yvonne secured her place of recognition as the first African-American telephone operator for Michigan Bell in Grand Rapids in 1948. Her son said: ``She knew if she didn't do the right thing, it would take years for them to hire another Black operator.'' In Grand Rapids, the operators took a vote on whether they were willing to work with her. The vote was unanimous except for one, who Little later won over. From her engagement with customers at the Woodland Park grocery store to her civic involvements, winning people over was at the heart of how she interacted with her community. Little was often called on to speak in west Michigan and elsewhere where children were the audience, focusing always on the next generation. Our next story is Merze Tate. Merze Tate defied the odds during the Jim Crow era and became a college dean and professor, a world traveler, an international reporter, and an adviser to General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Tate was born 60 miles northeast of Grand Rapids in Blanchard, Michigan, in 1905. She longed to see the world outside the pine trees and dirt roads and to receive an education. After high school, Tate applied to the University of Michigan but was rejected because of the color of her skin. This obstacle did not prevent her from getting an education. She was invited to attend Western Michigan University by President Dwight B. Waldo. In 1927, Tate became the first African American to graduate from that institution. In 1935, she went back to school and became the first African American to earn a graduate degree from Oxford University. Her dissertation and scholarly interest focused on disarmament, and she pursued a Fulbright fellowship in India. This wealth of experience led her to an appointment as an adviser to General Eisenhower on international relations. It also formed the basis for her continued scholarly work on the subject. Her second book, ``The United States and Armaments,'' was widely used by the Department of State and Committee for World Development and World Disarmament. In 1984, the Department named Dr. Tate one of three Americans to represent the United States at a UNESCO seminar. Tate made history throughout her career. In 1941, she became the first African-American female to earn a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University. In 1970, she became the first African American to receive a distinguished alumni award from Western Michigan University. Tate was a college professor at several institutions, including Barber-Scotia College, Bennett College, Morgan State College, and Howard University, where she taught from 1942 to 1977. She spoke five languages, traveled the world twice, was an international reporter for Baltimore's Afro-American newspaper, and worked as a photographer, filmmaker, and researcher for the U.S. State Department, all while being a college professor. Tate passed away in 1996 at the age of 91. She has left millions to institutes of higher learning that looked beyond her race and gender to provide her with a stellar education and to inspire her to impact the world in many areas for generations to come. We next have a pair of stories, those of Major Denzal Harvey and Dr. Robert Garrison. Major Harvey and Dr. Garrison both have strong connections to the Muskegon community and served as Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Denzal Harvey was born at Hackley Hospital and graduated from Muskegon High School. In high school, he earned a letter in track, where he was only one of a few men of color on the team. In 1941, Harvey enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a private first class and by 1942 had been sent to Air Corps' advanced flight school in Tuskegee, Alabama, where he joined the 99th Fighter Squadron. The 99th Fighter Squadron in 1943 was assigned to North Africa, flying hand-me-down aircraft on support missions. They joined up with other African-American aviation units there to create the 332nd Fighter Group. The 99th eventually moved to Foggia, Italy, where the group served as fighter escorts to B-24 bombers in bombing raids over the Mediterranean and Europe. It was the bombing crews that gave the group its name, ``Red Tails.'' The National Park Service's Tuskegee exhibit notes that the transition from training to actual combat wasn't always smooth, given the racial tensions of the time. However, the airmen overcame the obstacles posed by segregation. In 1942, Harvey eventually began serving temporarily as a captain. It was extremely rare. At the start of World War II, there were only 12 African-American officers in the U.S. military. As a captain, Harvey once had a corpsman who refused to salute him. His daughter said he responded with: ``You are going to salute the uniform if you don't salute me.'' She said: ``They made it look easy, but it was never easy because dealing with racism was never easy.'' Garrison's daughter, Judy Rogers, says her father was reluctant to talk about the war. Until she was 45 years old, she never knew that he had been a Tuskegee Airman. ``He was proud of himself, but I can't say he actually enjoyed being in the war.'' Dr. Robert Garrison was from Ohio, but he spent his entire postwar adult life working as a physician in Muskegon after being hired by Hackley Hospital in 1958. He didn't much talk about his work or his service, and for many years, he was known mostly for his work as a doctor in the community. Harvey earned a degree from Muskegon Community College, worked as a real estate agent, and attended law school. He later returned to the Air Force, taking his family with him to far-flung bases. He finished his career working in the city of Detroit's municipal courts. His daughter, Judy Rogers, said he was the area's only Black physician for several years. In 1971, Garrison became the first Black member of the Muskegon Community College Board of Trustees. He served for 10 years as a trustee for the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Finally, to close out this moment of reflection, we have the story of a storyteller. I would like to honor the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archive's owned George Bayard. A long time Grand Rapidian, every single day, George is working to preserve west Michigan's African American history and keep memories alive for future generations. I couldn't be more grateful for his friendship, his partnership in this project, and our shared work together for our west Michigan community. Madam Speaker, this is for George. His passion and dedication to telling the stories of Black west Michiganians ensures that Black History Month is not contained just to a single month but that we recognize the contributions of African Americans in our community every day. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the birthday of a beloved constituent, Blanche Vander Bent, who turned 100 years old this month. Blanche Vander Bent's life has been one of service: to God, to her family, and to others. Blanche is a distinguished matriarch, a mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother. She has a servant's heart and has spent countless hours volunteering at schools and food programs throughout west Michigan. Blanche's commitment to service didn't just stop in west Michigan, though, as she and her husband volunteered throughout their life in disaster relief efforts all across the country, lending a hand to those whose lives had been upended. Blanche defines what it means to put her faith into action, and I couldn't be more thrilled to celebrate her today. A very happy birthday, Blanche.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the lives of five marines who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash last week: Lance Corporal Donovan Davis of Olathe, Kansas; Sergeant Alec Langen of Chandler, Arizona; Captain Benjamin Moulton of Emmett, Idaho; Captain Jack Casey of Dover, New Hampshire; and my constituent, Captain Miguel Nava of Comstock Park, Michigan. I ask my colleagues to join me in a moment of silence to recognize these heroes and their service. We are holding their families and their fellow servicemembers close in our thoughts and prayers at this devastating time.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, last week I joined my colleagues from all corners of the country on a trip to the southern border to El Paso, hosted by my good friend, Congresswoman Escobar. This wasn't my first trip to the border. Before coming to Congress, I worked on this issue for close to 20 years as a social worker, walking alongside immigrants and refugees who were new to this country, also as an attorney for the United States Department of Justice enforcing our immigration laws at the Nation's highest law enforcement agency. I also worked at a community legal aid organization in west Michigan. I have also helped employers try to get the workers that they need. I have worked on all aspects of this issue. What I saw on the border was truly horrific. We are in a crisis mode. During our trip we talked to Border Patrol agents, we met with individuals at holding facilities, talked to the immigrants themselves, and we talked to humanitarian aid workers. Across the board everyone was unified in this one belief: the border is broken. Our immigration system is broken. There has never been a more important time to come together with bipartisan solutions to fix it. There is truly a crisis at our border. It is a humanitarian nightmare, a national security red alarm, and an economic disaster. We visited a holding facility just outside of El Paso. The number of immigrants crossing the border every single day is far too many for the El Paso Del Norte Processing Center to contain in just 1 day, so they are held at a detention facility. It costs our United States Government, our taxpayers, $1.2 million every single day to run this facility just to hold people. This cannot be. Now is the time for action, not the time for pointing fingers. Now is the time not for kicking the can down the road but picking it up and solving this problem. We don't have to start from scratch for a new bill, a bill that would get bipartisan support. We already have that bill. It is bipartisan, and it is called the Dignity Act. It is the only bipartisan comprehensive reform bill in Congress right now. Instead of infighting and pointing fingers, Mr. Speaker, why not put it to a vote on the floor and see how many individuals would support it? What are we afraid of? That it might actually work? That it might actually solve this problem? The immigration crisis in our country is at a fever pitch. It has evolved over many years of inaction, of moments just like this where we are compelled to act but we refuse to do so. The immigration crisis in our country is a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted response. Just insisting that we are going to close the border is not a magic wand that would wave and fix the vast number of individuals who are finding their way across our border every day. It doesn't automatically provide the funding necessary for the Border Patrol agents who would be required to enforce this border closure, and it doesn't provide the pathways to the legal workforce that is so desperately needed in this country. Moreover, it surely does not address the root causes of the increase in migrant flow that we are seeing over the years. However, the bipartisan Dignity Act does. The Dignity Act provides for an immediate infusion of $25 billion to help secure our border, and the bill pays for itself through fees generated from visas for qualified workers. If we put this bill to a vote on the floor tomorrow, billions of dollars would begin to start flowing to our border communities to give them the help that they need. This bill also addresses the source of the flow by creating new, regional in-country processing centers, taking the pressure off the border and helping individuals determine their eligibility ahead of time--or lack thereof--and immigrate here to the U.S. The bill also addresses the fact that our immigration crisis does not exist in a vacuum at the southern border. Our years of failed policy have resulted in millions of individuals living in the shadows of the United States, again, a national security red alarm, an economic disaster, and a humanitarian crisis that must be addressed. This bill provides a means to identify these individuals and the means to remove those who have violated our laws and pose a threat to our country. Those who pass a background check and qualify and who pay a fine will immediately receive permission to work and be provided a pathway to lawful citizenship, supporting our growing economy and enhancing all of our communities in a multitude of ways. Why wouldn't we take this moment to address this immigration crisis? Why wouldn't we put this bipartisan bill on the floor? This is not a perfect bill by any stretch of the imagination. It is a compromise bill. Republicans are not getting everything they want, and Democrats are surely not getting everything they want, I can tell you that, Mr. Speaker, but it is a compromise. That is not a dirty word. The last time we had comprehensive immigration reform in this country was over 40 years ago. Think about how much our world and our economy have changed in that time. We are not always going to get exactly what we want, but if we work hard and we work together, then we can provide for the good of this country.

Ms. SCHOLTEN

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4668, the Providing Opportunities to Show Transparency via Information Technology Act, also known simply as the POST IT Act. It has been an honor to co-lead this bill with Congressman Molinaro to increase transparency in the small business space. Most Americans want more transparency from our government. This is an easy, straightforward, and bipartisan bill. It is critical that Federal agencies produce smart, well-crafted regulations. I hear all the time from small business owners across different sectors in west Michigan that they want to comply and follow rules and regulations, but they need clear guidance. Far too often, it is hard to find. Federal regulations can be a nightmare to navigate for small businesses who often serve as founder, CEO, president, store clerk, janitor, CPA, and attorney all in the same day. Most small businesses don't have attorneys, accountants, or compliance departments to learn and track all Federal regulations to make sure that they remain in compliance. That is why it is imperative on the agencies themselves that are setting the regulations to make sure that these regulations are open, available, and as easy as possible to follow and understand. I am proud to cosponsor this bill with Congressman Molinaro. This bill will help small businesses stay in compliance with Federal regulations by making compliance information from the Federal agencies easier to locate. Specifically, this bill requires that Federal agencies post guidance on the Small Business Administration's Office of the National Ombudsman's website for any rule that has a significant impact on a small business. It seems pretty easy, doesn't it? Now more than ever, as our Nation's small businesses are recovering from a global pandemic and are dealing with widespread worker shortages and rising inflation, it is our duty as lawmakers to take unnecessary hurdles for small business owners out of the way, whether that is increasing access to capital, ensuring access to technical assistance for SBA programs, or making sure that Federal regulations are easy to understand. I am working hard in the Small Business Committee to keep Main Street alive and thriving. It is great to partner with Congressman Molinaro in that effort. Before I close, let me say a few words about another bill on suspension today, H.R. 4670, the Small Business Contracting Transparency Act, by Representative Houlahan, of which I am an original cosponsor and have been proud to help usher through the Small Business Committee, where I serve as the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure. This bill would ensure that the SBA is acquiring up-to-date data on where Federal procurement dollars are going. In addition, this data will inform my committee's work to ensure that all small businesses are able to compete in the Federal procurement space.