Michael Turner

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chairman, we are blazing along on the timeline of nuclear weapons and missile development where we had a missile that was last placed in the ground in 1973 during Richard Nixon's second term, after he was elected to a second term. We now have a 1980 Jimmy Carter- era warhead. The analogy of the B-52 doesn't apply to this technology. The B-52 is a plane that has been in continuous flight. We are not talking about a plane that has been put in a hangar since Jimmy Carter. These are items that we don't use. Nuclear weapons are there as a deterrent to deter our adversaries. The only way we can deter our adversaries is to have them believe that any aggression against us would be matched with such overwhelming force that it would be at their great risk. To the extent that we allow our nuclear deterrent to degrade, which we have with Nixon-era missiles and Carter-era weapons, we lessen our overall security. Now, this is--again, it sounds like just a study. It is not really a study. It is a study of a study of a restudy of a restudy. This has been studied so much, in fact, it is on a bipartisan basis that this W-84 warhead needs to be refurbished, needs to be redone. Even the Obama administration had an analysis of all alternatives and concluded that the air-launched cruise missile and its warhead could not be sustained and had already experienced reduced survivability. Even the Obama administration said, Don't do this. They said, Move forward. Now, once again, this is not about a study. This is about stopping the ongoing efforts of a program. This is about holding moneys back so that we don't modernize our nuclear weapons. Again, China is moving forward; Russia is moving forward. But here we are, on the floor of Congress, trying to stop our ability to match and meet those who might wish to do us harm. This amendment needs to be defeated. This is an ancient 1980s Carter- era warhead. Even the Obama administration agrees it needs to be replaced. We should not jeopardize its funding. Every time we do this, every time we stop and say, Let's study this, our costs go up and our risks go higher and our security gets lower. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry).

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chairman, I understand that there are people who don't like nuclear weapons. I don't like nuclear weapons either, but I don't like nuclear weapons in the hands of other people. And, yes, there are those who say that we are in the middle of an arms race. But the reality is that we are sitting this one out. We are not in the arms race. When we are debating on the House floor about a warhead from the Carter-era and a missile from the Nixon-era and we can't even talk about moving forward on funding, there is no race here. We are sitting this out. But our adversaries are racing, and I am concerned about what they are doing. That is why this is important that this be defeated. But another aspect of this that is incredibly important is that this calls for an independent study. Independent: That is saying they don't trust the study that happened before. The study that happened before was the Obama administration. I think their answer was correct: We need to not study this and we need to move forward. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chairman, this is very basic. You cannot have a treaty with yourself. You must have a treaty with someone else. If that other person steps out of the treaty, you no longer have a treaty. Russia stepped out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The North Atlantic Council all came together and confirmed it. At the last NATO summit, every one of our allies confirmed it. The treaty is dead. To have a treaty, now, where the other side has stepped out and it is only us that is left and say, by statute, we are going to shackle ourselves so that we are going to stay there has no reflection on reality. Their violating the treaties aren't minor violations of the treaty. They have developed, tested, and deployed a weapon that violates the treaty. That means that they are once again deploying nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons for which we don't have a response. Our response doesn't necessarily have to be go field one. We can continue diplomacy. But legislation is not diplomacy. By legislation, we are going to say that the United States shall forever, as long as the legislation stays in, be tied to a treaty that the person on the other side already left and deployed missiles that are pointed at our assets, our military people, our men and women in uniform, and our allies. This is folly. Now, the Missile Defense Agency, by the way, issued a statement that says this affects our cooperation with Israel and our interceptor research with them.

Mr. TURNER. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. TURNER. Madam Chair, this is an amendment that would strike section 1646 of the bill and replace it with a determination by the Secretary of Defense as to a certification of need. Madam Chair, this provision is a unilateral nuclear disarmament provision. Now, the chairman has said repeatedly this is not a unilateral nuclear disarmament, but let's break down those words. It is unilateral because it only applies to us. There is no one else. It is nuclear because it applies to a nuclear weapon. And it is disarmament because it requires the pulling of a nuclear weapon that is scheduled for deployment. What we currently have in this bill is a requirement that the W76-2, which is a low-yield nuclear weapon that is currently headed for our submarines, be pulled and not be deployed, a weapon that our Department of Defense has determined that we needed and, in fact, last year, on a bipartisan basis, was funded and approved for deployment. But now we are going to reverse course because now Congress is going to decide, for unilateral nuclear disarmament, to reach out and start pulling back nuclear weapons that are there to defend us. Let's talk just for a moment as to why we need this. Russia has adopted a new nuclear doctrine that is called escalate to deescalate. They actually believe that the first use of nuclear weapons is something that can deescalate a fight as opposed to escalate it. They have deployed low-yield nuclear weapons, and they have even practiced scenarios where they use low-yield believing that, because we have, usually, larger yield, bigger weapons, that we would be less likely to respond. In fact, the BBC did a documentary where they began a scenario of an attack by Russia against the United States where it is a low-yield nuke against one of our aircraft carriers, and the assumption being we wouldn't answer back with a very large nuke. The problem here that we have is that this is a step to reduce our nuclear arsenal which is there for one reason and one reason only, and that is to deter our adversaries so that they never think of using nuclear weapons. This provision would take this unilateral nuclear disarmament out. It would put back in the bill a provision that requires the Secretary of State to determine that it is needed, and we would instead look to their determination, not the random determination of Congress. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Madam Chair, this is unilateral nuclear disarmament because we get nothing from the other side. I mean, if you are against this nuclear weapon, put a provision in this bill that says I strongly encourage the United States to negotiate with Russia that we both get rid of these nuclear weapons. I don't like nuclear weapons. I am just more concerned about the ones that are in the hands of the other guys than the ones that are in our hands. Now, what is weird about this is that the determination by the chairman that we need to pull this weapon back after, again, bipartisan support for this weapon being deployed; is it because this weapon is dangerous? No. Is it because our adversaries have it? Well, adversaries do have it. Do we have it in other forms? Yes. But yet, instead of those who are charged with our military policy deciding it, they want to decide it. Now, again, this should be decided by treaty. We should require that the other side get rid of theirs if we are going to get rid of ours. But the other aspect is, this is not just musings about Russia saying escalate to de-escalate. That is their nuclear weapons policy, and we have to be very concerned as to how that policy affects their calculus. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Madam Chair, how much time remains?

Mr. TURNER. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The provision that this amendment seeks to modify in the bill is a provision that Vladimir Putin would love. I can't imagine what it must be like when, in Moscow, they begin to tell Vladimir Putin that the United States Congress is looking to pass a law to limit our nuclear weapons arsenal; that we are going to look to pass a law to actually remove weapons that are scheduled for deployment; to remove weapons that Russia has; to remove weapons that are intended to change Russia's calculus, so that when they look to threaten our country, they know that we have the ability to respond to both proportionately. And it is not a new weapon. There are other forms of low-yield nuclear weapons that we have. It is just this one that is being objected to. By the way, the money has been spent. This weapon is on its way. This is not a destabilizing weapon. This is a weapon that keeps us safe. Now, the concern with this, of course, once we begin unilateral nuclear disarmament--it is unilateral because we get nothing for it. Our other side is doing nothing. Nuclear because it is a weapon; disarmament because we are taking an armament out--is then when do we stop? If Congress decides to do this, that we have the ability to just start pulling weapons, then is the nuclear triad at risk, Madam Chair? Do we go pull our ICBMs? Do we say that we shouldn't have this weapon or that weapon? Shouldn't we be looking to those who actually have the expertise in understanding what our adversaries are doing; what our strategy is; what our nuclear weapons capabilities are and our adversaries' nuclear weapons capabilities; how those compare; what their procedures have been, and how they have been deploying? All those should figure in to the expertise, not random decisions to pull nuclear weapons here on the Congressional floor. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chairman, I am disappointed by the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that is offered here on the floor today. This bill represents a significant deviation from our past sentiment of bipartisanship. Now, the Senate has passed their bill by 86 votes, but not the House, not this year. This bill, in its totality, makes us less safe, which is why it does not have bipartisan support on this floor. Chairman Smith said that we were able to negotiate through a few things, and that is right. But there are also some that we were not, and one of them is a big one, and it is why there is not one Republican who voted in the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces for the bill to come out of subcommittee, and not one Republican in the full committee voted for the Strategic Forces portion of this bill to be referred to the full committee and to this floor. That is because it contains a provision that can only be described as unilateral nuclear disarmament. It is unilateral because it does not involve anybody else; it only inhibits us. It is nuclear because it involves our nuclear weapons; and it is disarmament because it recalls a nuclear weapon. It prohibits the use of funds for the deployment of low-yield ballistic missile warheads that have already been funded and produced and are to be deployed on a bipartisan basis. Efforts by Congress to recall these assets from deployment is unilateral disarmament. Now, even if you are against nuclear weapons, you should be against the other side having nuclear weapons, and that means that you should be pursuing restrictions by treaty. Imagine how this conversation is going to go in Moscow. Someone in the Kremlin is going to walk into Vladimir Putin's office, and they are going to say: Vlad, you have modernized our nuclear weapons. You have invaded our neighbors. You have threatened the U.S. and our adversaries and their allies. And now, the U.S. Congress has just voted to unilaterally pull the low-yield nuclear weapon that was scheduled for deployment. Putin is not going to believe them. He is going to think that this is a joke, because no one would believe that the United States Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act would reward Russian aggression in this bill by pursuing unilateral nuclear disarmament. I am comforted that many of these provisions will never become law. I never thought I would say this, but I am going to: Thank God for the Senate. I encourage my colleagues to oppose this bill and oppose unilateral nuclear disarmament.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Republic of Azerbaijan on its 101st Republic Day. On May 28, 1918, the Republic of Azerbaijan was formed, becoming the first democracy in the Muslim world. Unfortunately, just a few short years later, Azerbaijan was invaded by the Russian Red Army in 1920 and was subsequently occupied by the Soviet Union. After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, Azerbaijan regained its independence and has been a key international partner of the United States ever since. Together, the United States and Azerbaijan continue to work as partners in combating terrorism and transnational threats. Azerbaijan has played a vital role in assisting our NATO allies and has supported U.S. operations overseas, particularly in Afghanistan. Azerbaijan is an important ally in bolstering European energy security--therefore, it is imperative that the United States continue to support initiatives such as the Southern Gas Corridor, which routes natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe. Azerbaijan is a key partner in securing U.S. interests in the region. Madam Speaker, it is for these reasons that I urge all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating Azerbaijan on the 101st anniversary of its Republic Day.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, on May 22, 2019, I was unable to vote due to a classified briefing. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 222.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, on May 17, 2019 I was unable to vote due to my daughter's graduation. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 215; YEA on Roll Call No. 216; and NAY on Roll Call No. 217.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I wish to pay tribute to the memory of a dear friend and a remarkable woman from my community in Dayton, Ohio, Mrs. Jean Ann Foward, who passed away on April 11, 2019. Jean was the wife of Dr. Derrick L. Foward, president of the Dayton chapter of the NAACP, the second largest NAACP chapter in the State of Ohio. Jean was born in Springfield, Ohio on December 2, 1958. She spent most of her life in Dayton and attended Dayton Public Schools. She was highly recognized for her Spelling Bee talent at Jackson Elementary School. Jean graduated from Wilbur Wright High School in 1976 and pursued a degree in Business Management at Ohio University. Jean married the love of her life, Derrick L. Foward, on July 11, 1998. Together they raised four wonderful children: Jayme, Letoia, Troy Jr., and Donte. Jean was a devoted wife and mother known throughout the community as the ``Wind beneath Derrick's Wings''--as she supported him throughout his community service career. She was sweet, mild mannered, and loved dearly by her family and friends. She catered and hosted several family, community, and political gatherings at their home, where she welcomed everyone with a smile. Jean and her husband shared a passion for the cause of justice and civil rights for all Americans. She was an equal partner and an inspiration to her husband in the fight for human rights and equality for all people. She was more than just Derrick's wife, she was a leader in her own right. Jean was an exemplary community servant and role model. She took pride in her neighborhood and was a member of the Northern Hills Neighborhood Association. Moreover, she participated in the annual Back-To-School, Stay-In-School school supplies event. Jean loved volunteering for the City of Dayton Feast of Giving, where she served food to hundreds of people on Thanksgiving Day. She also participated in WDAO Radio's annual Feast of Love to feed the homeless and others during the Christmas holiday season. Jean served for 13 years as Advisor of the Littlejohn Junior NAACP Youth Council. Because of her sound financial stewardship, the Littlejohn Junior NAACP Youth Council had a budget surplus from 2005 to 2018. Due to her commitment to youth development, the Littlejohn Junior NAACP Youth Council remains the only active NAACP Junior Youth Council in the State of Ohio. Jean contributed greatly to the lives of many young people throughout the Dayton region. She exemplified phenomenal leadership in mentoring, training, and developing our youth ages 1 through 13. She encouraged them to be humble leaders and faithful community servants. During her tenure as Youth Advisor, she had the distinct honor of richly depositing hope, respect, integrity, discipline, and character into the lives of over 510 youth who joined the organization under her leadership. Because of her outstanding community leadership, Jean was the recipient of numerous awards that include: the International Apostolic University of Grace and Truth (IAUGT) Appreciation Award (2002); the Dayton Unit NAACP President's Award (2011); the Youth Empowerment Award (2013) the Stellar Attendance Awards (2010 through 2017); the General Membership Award (2018); and the Christian Women Coalition Senior Citizen Trailblazer Award (2018). I am deeply saddened by the loss of a long-time personal friend and outstanding public servant whose many contributions to the community she loved will always be remembered. The Dayton region was blessed to have benefited from the good deeds of this exceptional mother, wife, mentor, and civil rights champion. Let us remember Jean by following her example and committing ourselves to spreading love, serving our communities, and working with our neighbors to achieve equal opportunity and justice for all Americans. Madam Speaker, I offer my heartfelt condolences and prayers to Dr. Derrick Foward upon the loss of his beloved wife Jean Ann Foward, and their children, family members, and their many friends. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring her memory.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud the Honorable Judge Walter H. Rice in conjunction with House passage of legislation to name the Federal Building and United States Courthouse in downtown Dayton, Ohio in his honor. Judge Rice was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1958 and then attended Columbia University School of Law, earning a Juris Doctorate degree in 1962. Exhibiting the intelligence and hard work that would serve him so well throughout his career, Judge Rice also received a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University's Graduate School of Business Administration that same year. Judge Rice began his legal career in 1964 in Dayton, Ohio, as an Assistant County Prosecutor for Montgomery County. In 1966, he entered private practice, joining the law firm of Gallon & Miller. In June of 1969, Judge Rice returned to public service as First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office. Judge Rice's distinguished judicial service commenced in November 1969 when his fellow citizens elected him Judge of the Dayton Municipal Court. He held that position until 1971, when he was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Montgomery County. His exemplary judicial record and steady presence on the bench earned him re-election to the Court of Common Pleas in 1972 and 1978. Federal officials took note of Judge Rice's impressive track record and experience, and President Jimmy Carter appointed Judge Rice to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. After confirmation by the United States Senate, Judge Rice was sworn in as a Federal District Court judge in Dayton on June 4, 1980. During his tenure, Judge Rice spent seven years as Chief Judge for the Southern District of Ohio, leading that bench from October 13, 1996 to October 12, 2003. He assumed senior status in 2004, maintaining a full docket. A recipient of numerous awards, honors, and recognitions, Judge Rice received the Thomas J. Moyer award for judicial excellence in 2014. This award recognizes a current or former Ohio state or federal judge who displays outstanding qualities of judicial excellence, including integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, professionalism, ethics, creativity, sound judgment, courage, and decisiveness. In receiving the award, Judge Rice was lauded for his commitment to serving the needs of the most vulnerable in our community and for his efforts to encourage dialogue among his fellow citizens. Judge Rice has been a tireless advocate for our community. He received the Citizen Legion of Honor Award from the Presidents Club of Dayton in recognition of his efforts as a champion of peace, inclusion, and civil rights. His volunteer efforts have included service with Wright Dunbar Inc., Inventing Flight, Aviation Heritage Foundation, American Veterans' Heritage Center, and the Montgomery County Ex- Offender Reentry Policy Board. He was a founding member of the Montgomery County Volunteer Lawyers Project and Dayton's Dialogue on Race Relations. He taught for many years at the University of Dayton School of Law and Wright State University, and received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Dayton in 1991 and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Wright State University in 2000. It is only fitting that the chambers in which Judge Rice continues his long service to the Dayton community, the state of Ohio, and the American public at large as a Senior Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio should be in a building that bears his name. I thank Judge Rice, for his numerous contributions to the greater Dayton community and congratulations on this well-deserved honor.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on Roll Call vote 437. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 437.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) as it celebrates 160 years of service dedicated to supporting women, girls, and their families across the United States. Throughout its history, the YWCA has been at the forefront of the most critical social movements of the time, including civil rights, women's empowerment, pay equity, health care reform, and gender-based violence prevention. The YWCA serves over two million women, girls, and their families each year, with 210 local associations across 46 states and the District of Columbia. The YWCA is the largest network of domestic violence and sexual assault service providers in the country, reaching over half a million women and girls annually. In my hometown of Dayton, Ohio, the YWCA has been a champion in the community since 1870 on behalf of women and families seeking to escape homelessness and domestic violence. The Dayton YWCA's mission of empowering women and eliminating racism is displayed through the programs and services it provides, including the only emergency shelter service programs for women and families who are victims of domestic violence in Montgomery and Preble Counties; a confidential 24-hour crisis hotline; and a mentoring program for teen girls, which inspires them to explore and achieve their highest potential. In 1893, the Dayton YWCA became the first YWCA in the United States with an officially organized program for African-American women and girls. As mayor of the city of Dayton, and as a Member of Congress, I have been proud to recognize the important contributions made by the Miami Valley's most influential women, who have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA's mission of ``empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.'' Each year the YWCA Women of Achievement Award is presented to a select group of distinguished Dayton-area women, at a ceremony that coincides with our annual observance of Women's History Month. It has been my privilege to congratulate a number of these recipients, who embody the YWCA's 160-year mission to eliminate racism and empower other women. Mr. Speaker, as the YWCA celebrates its 160th anniversary, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating this outstanding organization, which has worked so hard to improve the lives of women and girls in my community, and across our nation.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on September 12, 2018 due to inclement weather that caused air travel delays. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 394; YEA on Roll Call No. 395; and YEA on Roll Call No. 396

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking Chairman Thornberry for his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. I strongly support H.R. 5515, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, the 58th consecutive NDAA passed by Congress. I also want to thank our leadership--Speaker Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, and Patrick McHenry--for their contribution to this bill being a contribution to readiness. This is about increasing the top line, increasing national defense spending, and increasing support for our men and women in uniform. I want to thank them for their leadership in accomplishing that. I have the privilege of serving as the chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, and I would like to recognize our subcommittee ranking member, Ms. Niki Tsongas. I want to thank Niki for her support on the subcommittee and as co-chair of the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus. Throughout her tenure in Congress, Niki has worked in a solidly bipartisan fashion to support our warfighters, improve the readiness of our military, and help our servicemembers eliminate sexual assault in uniform. She is leaving behind a strong legacy of accomplishments. Within our subcommittee's jurisdiction, this bill recommends authorization for over $97 billion in modernization funding that is necessary to regain our advantage against peer competitors. This bill recognizes the importance of the fifth-generation strike fighter and supports the President's budget request for 77 Joint Strike Fighters. It also authorizes the Department to procure an additional F- 35 aircraft if funds become available through cost savings and program efficiencies. The bill includes several oversight provisions to combat the physiological episodes occurring in military aircraft. We now require the Department to certify that all new aircraft will have the latest technology to keep our pilots healthy and safe. In the bill, Congress reiterates the importance of the Air Force's JSTARS program. For more than 25 years, the aircraft has provided our warfighters command, control, and surveillance of ground battle. JSTARS have flown over 130,000 combat hours and will be an integral piece of the Air Force's arsenal for years to come. For the seventh consecutive year, this bill addresses sexual assault. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, due to inclement weather, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 366, and YEA on Roll Call No. 367.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, on June 20, I was unable to vote on Roll Call votes 272, 273, and 274. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Roll Call 272--Yes. Roll Call 273--Yes. Roll Call 274--Yes.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Miamisburg, Ohio as it celebrates its bicentennial anniversary. There is only one community on Earth named Miamisburg--and that community is located in my congressional district. Miamisburg is affectionately known as Ohio's ``Star City.'' The city drew its name from the Native American tribe that inhabited the valley between the Great and Little Miami Rivers. The area was originally settled by a minister named Zachariah Hole, who came with his family from Virginia in 1797, and built a stockade on the east bank of the river as protection from the Indians. The Indians proved to be friendly, and the stockade attracted additional settlers, mostly from Pennsylvania. The settlers called their community ``Hole's Station.'' Miamisburg was founded on February 20, 1818, fifteen years after Ohio was admitted into the Union as the 17th State. The community was organized as a village in 1832, and achieved city status one hundred years later, in 1932. Today, Miamisburg is home to over 20,000 residents, in a community that is known to be one of the best places in the United States to live and raise a family. The entire downtown district is listed on the National Historic Register. In 2008, Ohio Magazine named Miamisburg as one of the state's five ``Best Hometowns.'' Miamisburg is home to notable citizens including the McGuire Sisters, America's most popular singing trio, who recorded dozens of hit songs during the 1950s and 1960s; George Kinderdine of the Dayton Triangles, who kicked the first-ever extra point in NFL history in the first game played between two professional football teams in 1920; and David Bruton, Jr., a defensive back who helped the Denver Broncos win their third Super Bowl championship in 2016. Theodore Roosevelt is the only President of the United States known to have visited Miamisburg during his time in office. The Miamisburg Mound is the city's most visible historic landmark. The Mound is an ancient burial site constructed by the prehistoric Adena Indians approximately 2,500 years ago. It is one of the two largest conical mounds in eastern North America. The site is still intact and serves as a popular picnic destination and tourist attraction for area visitors. The Mound Laboratory was the first permanent atomic energy facility to be constructed after World War II in the United States. Its work was essential to U.S. national security during the Cold War. The laboratory operated from 1948 to 2003 and served as a facility that conducted research, development initiatives and production for U.S. nuclear weapons and space programs. Mound scientists and employees worked on a number of NASA missions and projects, including the creation of the nuclear battery (radioisotope thermoelectric generator). The citizens of Miamisburg will celebrate their city's rich history and vibrant future during a festive week of activities from June 16-23, 2018. Riverfront Park will serve as the city's center stage for its bicentennial celebrations. The festivities include a bicentennial parade, fireworks, performances by the Dayton Philharmonic, the Ohio State University Alumni Band, the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight, and a concert by Country Music Hall of Fame musician Ricky Skaggs. The week of celebration coincides with the annual Miamisburg Alumni Dinner Dance. The Miamisburg High School Alumni Association is the oldest continuously active high school alumni association in the United States, and has held a reunion each year since its inception in 1888. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the citizens of Miamisburg, Ohio, as they celebrate this important milestone in their city's history. I want to thank the Miamisburg Bicentennial Committee, Mayor Dick Church, and the many volunteers for all the hard work they have done in preparation for this special event. May Ohio's ``Star City'' continue to shine bright for another 200 years.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to a respected community leader, and a dear friend from my congressional district, for his lifetime of service to our country and to the people of Southwest Ohio. Dr. Lynn E. Wolaver, age 94 of Fairborn, passed away Monday May 7, 2018 at the Hospice of Dayton. He was born March 10, 1924 in Springfield, IL, the son of the late Lindle and Esther (Skoog) Wolaver. Lynn is the former Mayor of the City of Fairborn, Ohio and Dean for Research Emeritus at the Air Force Institute of Technology located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He is a charter member of the Federal Senior Executive Service and was first appointed to super grade status in 1967 at the age of 43 at the USAF Aerospace Research Laboratories where he was one of the Directors. His civilian protocol status was DV-5 equivalent to a Major General. His academic life includes time with the University of Illinois, (BSEE 1949, MSEE 1950), The Ohio State University extension at Wright Field (1951-1956) and the University of Michigan where he obtained the Ph.D. degree (1964) in a program called Computers, Information and Control Engineering. Lynn was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and flew in C-47 aircraft in the European Theater of Operations with the IX Troop Carrier Command Pathfinder Group. The former Mayor started employment at Wright-Patterson in 1950 and retired in 1988. He did research in the areas of navigation, guidance and control, systems analysis, astrodynamics and bioengineering. In addition to his job as Dean, he also served as Chairman of the System Engineering Program and as a research Professor of Engineering Science. Prior to joining AFIT in 1970, he was one of the directors of the Aerospace Research Laboratories. He was a Project Engineer on the Navigation System for the B-58, helped develop the release envelopes for the Sidewinder Missile, and was a pioneer in precision trajectory analysis. Lynn also served as Adjunct Professor in mathematics at Wright State University for seven years starting with the first day it opened its doors, and taught at the Ohio State Extension at Wright Field, and at the Engineering and Science Institute of Dayton. He also lectured at a number of management workshops including the Brookings Institute, Federal Executive Institute, American Management Association and the American Society for Engineering Education. Lynn belongs to the standard set of honoraria including Eta Kappa Nu (Electrical Engineering Honorary), Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honorary), and Sigma Xi (Research Honorary). Among his honors and awards are Senior Executive Bonus Awards, Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, Exceptional Service Medal, University of Illinois Distinguished Alumnus Award, Fairborn Chamber of Commerce Ed Duncan Distinguished Citizen Award, Fairborn Chamber of Commerce Presidents Award, Fairborn Ministerial Association Peace Maker Award, and induction into his Springfield (Illinois) High School Hall of Fame and in 2006 he was selected as Grand Marshal of the Fairborn Fourth of July Parade. Lynn was selected as the Outstanding Senior Citizen in Greene County for 2009 by the Agency on Aging PSA2. He also received the prestigious E. J. Nutter Award as outstanding Greene County Citizen for 2010. He was inducted into the Ohio Seniors Hall of Fame in 2010 and a the Ohio Veteran Hall of Fame in 2015. Lynn and his wife Arah-Dean were selected as King and Queen of the Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival. He is a member of the New York Academy of Science, the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Biofeedback Society, Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society, Midwestern Simulation Council, charter member of the Astrodynamics Committee of the American Rocket Society, member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society for Engineering Education. The former Mayor was listed in American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who in Midwest (12th-16th edition), Who's Who in Government, Directory of International Biography, Leaders in American Science, World Space Directory, Outstanding Leaders in Education and the Dayton, Ohio telephone directory. Dr. Wolaver is the author of over 60 technical papers in the fields of navigation, astrodynamics and nonlinear systems analysis and physiological systems modeling. He has a textbook in Astrodynamics and is a reviewer of technical articles for a number of journals, an editor of the Brazilian Engenharia International Journal and served as reviewer and consultant to the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, National Science Foundation, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. He is also active in civic affairs being a member of the Fairborn Chamber of Commerce, Fairborn Rotary Club and the American Legion. He served six years on the City Planning Board, two years on the Zoning Board of Appeals, eight years on City Council, two of those years as Deputy Mayor and four years as Mayor. He was one of ten Dayton corporate leaders on the Dayton Development Council's Science and Technology Task Force that inventoried the area's technological assets and made recommendations for strategies to expand jobs in technology. He served on the Steering Committee of Challenge '95 and as representative on the Miami Valley Research Park and on the Board of Directors of the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, member of the Miami Valley Military Affairs Association and was a former Chairman of the Board of Toward Independence. He was a charter member of the Board of Trustees of the 2003 Committee, served as a Commissioner of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park, Commissioner of the Ohio Wright-Dunbar State Park, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fairborn Senior Citizens Center, and a member of the Board of Greene County Career Center Adult Education Scholarship Endowment Fund. He helped start Kids Voting in Greene County, was Co-Chairman of the Senior Citizens Levy Campaign, served as Fairborn Rep on the Greene County Combined Health District Board including a term as Chairman of the Board and served as a volunteer for SAYUS Walkathon. He was a member of the City of Fairborn Tax Incentive Review Council, member of the Greene County Bar Association Ethics and Grievance Committee, Vice-President of the Greene County Library Board of Trustees, Vice-President of the Greene County Library Board of Trustees, Congressman Hobson's Military Advisory Committee, and his Academy Selection Advisory Committee. He was active with the Fairborn Area Chamber of Commerce where he served on the Ambassadors Club. He was a Presiding Precinct Judge with the Greene County Board of Elections and was on the Board of Directors of the Fairborn Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow. Wolaver represented Fairborn on the County Advisory Board of the Greene County Council on Aging, and was then appointed to the Board of the Greene County Council on Aging. He was a member of the AFIT Foundation Board and was a member of the Wright State University College of Liberal Arts Community Advisory Board. He was also a charter member of the Fairborn Education Foundation. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Donna Wolaver. Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Arah-Dean; two sons, Judge Stephen (Gayla Sue) Wolaver, Rick Wolaver; two grandchildren, Scott (Kerri) Wolaver, Lindy Wolaver; and two great-grandsons, Carter and Connor.