Jackie Walorski

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, on Monday, May 20, I was unavoidably detained due to inclement weather. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea on Roll Call No. 218, and Yea on Roll Call No. 219.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Salvador Moya, owner of the Frame Factory in South Bend, Indiana. For years, Salvador has been a pillar of the northern Indiana arts community. He has an unparalleled passion for creative expression and for helping Hoosier artists discover, celebrate, and share their talent with the world. I am grateful for the steadfast support Salvador offers young artists across our state. He has contributed so much to our community, and his continued leadership and philanthropy are true testaments to his compassion. He can always be found helping others and lifting spirits. Throughout his distinguished career, he has made a difference in the lives of countless aspiring artists by giving them opportunities to succeed that they would not otherwise have had. Since 2003, Salvador's business, the Frame Factory, has delivered high-quality products and services to its customers. Small businesses like this are the backbone of our economy, and entrepreneurs like Salvador exemplify the American Dream. Driven by his enthusiasm for cultural enrichment and sense of comniunity, Salvador's selflessness and hard work do not go unnoticed. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Salvador for his invaluable service to the northern Indiana community and to the State of Indiana.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Elkhart instrument manufacturer jj Babbitt Company, Inc., and to join them in celebrating 100 years of success. In 1919, Jesse James Babbitt produced the first of many beautifully crafted mouthpieces in his garage in northern Indiana before launching a family business that would last for generations. A century later, jj Babbitt has now grown to help musicians at every level deliver great music and dazzling performances by producing the industry's finest mouthpieces for clarinet and saxophone. From the beginning, the company has focused on unique craftsmanship and a commitment to innovation to produce the high-quality mouthpieces they have made for 100 years. Not much has changed about the Babbitt business model or vision, and even some of the original machines from the 1930s remain at the heart of production. Elkhart, Indiana, is the Band Instrument Capital of the World, and as a community we are grateful to have this company as a leader and pioneer to inspire future generations of instrument manufacturers to carry on the legacy. It is an honor to represent the hardworking employees of the jj Babbit Company, who continue to play such a vital role in delivering the perfect mouthpieces for musicians. Madam Speaker, on behalf of 2nd District Hoosiers, I want to thank everyone at jj Babbit for an incredible 100 years, and I look forward to many more incredible years to come.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to stand with America's friend and ally Israel against a rising tide of anti-Semitism and the dangerous Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, or BDS movement. BDS is a form of economic warfare aimed at marginalizing the world's only Jewish state. This radical agenda rejects Israel's right to self- defense and seeks to destroy its economy. The House must stand with Israel and pass H.R. 336, the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act. This commonsense bill would combat the BDS movement by supporting State and local governments that choose not to contract with companies that discriminate against Israel. It already passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support. Sadly, Speaker Pelosi refuses to allow a vote. I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 336. This week, I signed a discharge petition to ensure it gets a vote on the House floor. Madam Speaker, Republicans and Democrats must send a strong signal against anti-Semitism and the anti-Israel BDS movement. We need a vote on H.R. 336.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Stephen Mitros on his retirement from his orthopaedic surgery practice after 43 years. Dr. Mitros has served the South Bend community for generations. His commitment to excellent care goes beyond treatment and recovery. He has always shown his patients he truly cares about each individual and wants to treat their pain in a way that works best for them. The team at Mitros Orthopaedics in South Bend, a true family practice, demonstrates unparalleled expertise, compassion, and dedication to their work. Family has always been central to Dr. Mitros's practice. His wife, Janet, was the office manager and a registered nurse, and their daughter Kellye was a medical assistant. He shared the lessons his father, Dr. Paul Mitros, taught him about caring for patients, and I have no doubt this legacy will continue far into the future. Dr. Mitros has been a leader in addressing the opioid epidemic by focusing on a non-narcotic approach. He began to see a vast difference in his patients' health and well-being, as well as in their rate of recovery. He has been a guiding light in the orthopaedic community, and he has devoted time and energy outside of his practice to researching new techniques and training physicians across the country. Though Dr. Mitros said he ``did not do it with any crusading idea about cutting down on my contribution to the opioid crisis,'' his leadership in promoting non-opioid alternatives to pain management truly did transform his practice and made a lasting difference in people's lives. On behalf of 2nd District Hoosiers, I am grateful to Dr. Mitros for his years of dedicated service and for the innovative approach he took to caring for each patient and identifying comprehensive treatment options that put their health and well-being first. I look forward to continuing to work with providers like Dr. Mitros to address the opioid epidemic by advocating for patient-centered care. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Mitros and thanking him for all he has done to improve lives and advance the practice of orthopaedic medicine.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dave and Kathleen Sparks on 50 years of growth, innovation, and leadership at McDonald's. Dave began his career at McDonald's as a cashier while in college. In the beginning, he needed strong math skills, good customer service, and knowledge of the menu. These skills taught Dave the lessons that would stay with him through the launch of his career and would help shape his success as an owner-operator. His continued commitment to our community has helped grow our economy and provide good jobs for hardworking Hoosiers for decades. Dave's contributions to our state's workforce and franchise economy have been invaluable, and his entrepreneurial spirit and exceptional drive are inspirational to future generations. Dave and his wife Kathleen have not only transformed the lives of their employees and other McDonald's owner-operators across the state, they have also been intimately involved with the northern Indiana Ronald McDonald House Charities. Their teamwork, leadership, and business acumen exemplify the strong Hoosier values that move our state forward, and they display the compassion that connects us all. It is truly a privilege to represent Hoosier job creators like Dave and Kathleen, who never stop building opportunities for others and making Indiana a better place to live, work, and thrive. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dave Sparks on his 50th anniversary at McDonald's, and in thanking him for setting a positive example for business owners and franchisees across the country. I look forward to the incredible things that lie ahead for Dave, his family, and our nation's love of McDonald's, and I wish him all the best in this next chapter.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1759, the Building on Reemployment Improvements to Deliver Good Employment for Workers Act, also known as the BRIDGE for Workers Act, which I have worked on with my colleagues, Representative Murphy and Representative LaHood. This legislation builds upon the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, where we made a significant step forward in helping those unemployed, through no fault of their own, by pairing unemployment benefits with services. Over the last few decades, there has been a focus on automation that has removed all human interaction from the benefit claims process. Beneficiaries have become nothing more than a number entered into a spreadsheet or into a computer database. During the last recession, we saw that merely providing 99 weeks of unemployment benefits was not enough to help individuals return to the workforce. That is why, in 2012, we offered reemployment services and eligibility assessments, known as RESEAs, to the long-term unemployed based on successful State efforts to engage UI beneficiaries. Since the recession, many States have rebranded unemployment to reemployment, and focused on efforts to promote rapid reemployment, because it is better for workers, their families, and an economy where we have 1 million more job openings than we have employed. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 provides States with funding certainty, so they can invest in these services and serve greater numbers of workers. That is why H.R. 1759 is so important. It makes permanent a technical correction first made in FY 2019 appropriations. This bill clarifies that reemployment services and eligibility assessments shall promote quicker reemployment to shorten benefit durations for all unemployment insurance claimants, not just those likely to exhaust unemployment benefits. In my home State of Indiana, RESEA was redesigned in 2016 to assist UI claimants through early intervention to aid in a quicker return to meaningful employment and eliminate UI fraud. Indiana's RESEA program is two-fold. The initial RESEA expects beneficiaries to make an in-person visit to a WorkOne Center on approximately the sixth week of benefits. During that visit, they attend an orientation to learn more about these services, and then meet with a RESEA counselor for a one-on-one assessment interview to develop an individual reemployment plan. That plan may include workshops to improve job search or interviewing skills, or referrals to other supports or services beyond the UI agency. Any of the RESEA initial participants who are still collecting at the 15th week of their UI claim are contacted for reengagement as part of the subsequent RESEA program. These long-term claimants are brought in for a one-on-one reassessment interview to determine if additional barriers to reemployment are present. At any point in the process where it becomes apparent that additional, more intensive services are needed, the customer then moves into the workforce system to gain more skills. RESEAS are a valuable reemployment tool for those who have lost their job, through no fault of their own. Again, I urge support of H.R. 1759, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood).

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes).

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, having no other speakers, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, having no other speakers, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, as you have heard today, the ability to pair benefits with services can have a profound effect on the lives of workers and their families. At a time with more than a million more jobs than we actually have unemployed, this effort is especially critical. This bill gives States the flexibility they need to make reemployment services a great success. Again, I urge support of H.R. 1759, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, while I voted today for H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, I would like to note that this reauthorization is imperfect. I remain strongly opposed to firearm-related provisions that were included, and I am committed to ensuring the final bill protects the Second Amendment rights of law- abiding Americans. As a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights for Americans, I look forward to working in a bipartisan and bicameral manner to resolve these outstanding issues before this critical legislation to prevent violence and protect survivors is signed into law.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Wilbur Bontrager on his retirement from Jayco, Inc., after 47 years of dedicated and impressive service. Wilbur was intimately involved with Jayco from its inception, having helped his parents Lloyd and Bertha set up the original facility on their family farm in Middlebury in 1968. He officially joined the Jayco team in the spring of 1971, utilizing his engineering and manufacturing skills to drive innovation and growth. He rose to the position of Executive Vice President in 1985, and then became CEO and Chairman of the Board in 1993. He later stepped down as CEO but remained Chairman until his retirement. Wilbur made invaluable and far-reaching contributions not only to the company but also to the northern Indiana RV industry and our region's economy. Wilbur helped grow the small family business into a manufacturing powerhouse with nearly 4,000 employees. Over the last few decades, northern Indiana has grown into the RV capital of the world, and Hoosiers have dynamic companies like Jayco and excellent leaders like Wilbur to thank for that. Wilbur's remarkable vision and innovation have helped shape the landscape of made-in-America RVs, and the industry is sure to miss his leadership He even received the industry's highest honor in 2008 when he was inducted into the RV Hall of Fame. I want to thank Wilbur for the vital role he has played in creating good jobs for Hoosiers, and for his unwavering commitment over the years to Jayco's hardworking employees. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Wilbur's accomplishments in nearly five decades at Jayco. He defines his approach as doing things the ``Jayco Way,'' and for that we thank him. I am grateful for the legacy Wilbur is leaving behind, and I wish him all the best in the years to come.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Maureen McFadden and congratulate her on a remarkable 40-year career at WNDU- TV. I want to take a moment to honor the iconic legacy Maureen is leaving behind at WNDU-TV and thank her for all she has done for Michiana communities. A lifelong Hoosier, Maureen has been a fixture in South Bend as a reporter and anchor at WNDU Newscenter 16 for the past four decades. She has played a vital role in making northern Indiana stronger, not only by bringing us the day's news but by always finding ways to serve her neighbors and give back to the community she loves to call home. Generations of viewers have gotten to know Maureen as she delivers the local news each night. Her career in journalism began in her hometown of South Bend, and though she will soon anchor her last WNDU- TV newscast, her retirement is far from the end of her positive impact. She displays a strong sense of affection and pride for our community when sharing the stories of our fellow Hoosiers. Her steadfast commitment to shining a light on important issues, encouraging community service, and keeping Hoosiers informed and engaged is why Maureen has become such a beloved household name. I am grateful to Maureen not only for her excellence in journalism, but also for the incredible example she has set for aspiring journalists and young Hoosier women looking to give back and build a brighter future. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the exceptional character, leadership, and compassion Maureen has demonstrated both on and off the air. I wish Mo the very best.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Maureen McFadden on a remarkable 40-year career at WNDU-TV. I want to take a moment to honor the iconic legacy Maureen is leaving behind and thank her for all she has done for Michiana communities. A lifelong Hoosier, Maureen has been a fixture in South Bend as a reporter and anchor at WNDU Newscenter 16 for the past four decades. She has played a vital role in making northern Indiana stronger not only by bringing us the day's news, but always finding ways to serve her neighbors and give back to the community she loves to call home. I am grateful to Maureen not only for her excellence in journalism, but also for the incredible example she has set for aspiring journalists and young Hoosier women who are always looking for ways to give back to build a brighter future. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the exceptional character, leadership, and compassion Maureen has demonstrated both on and off the air. Mo, I wish you the very best.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, on Monday, February 11, I was unavoidably detained due to inclement weather. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 76, and YEA on Roll Call No. 77.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 962) the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. WALORSKI

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today alongside my colleagues to speak out against the radical and dangerous policies being pursued by Democratic leadership and State legislators across the country. In New York, a new law legalizes what amounts to infanticide-- allowing abortions up to and even after birth for almost any reason-- and ends the safeguards that protect babies born alive after an abortion attempt. In Virginia, a similar bill is under consideration that could lead to babies being denied lifesaving medical care. As Governor Ralph Northam put it: ``The infant would be kept comfortable . . . and then a discussion would ensue.'' I think this is sickening. That is why my colleagues and I have called for the House vote on H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a commonsense bill to require that medical care--just medical care--be provided to children who survive a failed abortion. Sadly, Democratic leadership in the House is standing in the way and refusing even to allow an up-or-down vote on this issue. This is not a partisan issue. It is simply what is right. We have got to stand together against this radical and inhumane agenda. We must act to protect the rights of all infants. I am grateful to be joined in this call by so many of my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the Third District of Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler).

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Fourth District of New Jersey (Mr. Smith), who is the co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, and I thank Representative Chris Smith for his leadership and courage.

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the Second Congressional District of Alabama (Mrs. Roby).

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend from the Second District of Missouri (Mrs. Wagner), who is the sponsor of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends who are here, Jaime, Representative Roby, and Representative Ann Wagner standing here, and I reiterate the reason we are here is that we are serious about this. I did the unanimous consent tonight and asked the Speaker to bring that bill down right now and bring it to a vote. This is an issue of what is right and what is wrong. This is an issue where we have been able to rise up together tonight and speak for those who not only can't speak for themselves but those that could potentially be born alive in this country and given a lethal injection by a doctor or some other medical professional. What is going on in this country is absolutely horrific.

Mrs. WALORSKI. I yield to the gentlewoman.