Brad Wenstrup

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marcia Fudge, my friend, former colleague, and the current and soon-to-be-former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. I recognize Secretary Fudge for her service to our Nation, to our great State of Ohio, and to her local community. I had the privilege of working alongside Representative Fudge for 9 years in this Chamber, working together to tackle the issues that matter the most to Ohioans. She has been a tireless advocate for Ohioans, willing to reach across the aisle to find common ground on key issues, like advancing access to affordable housing. While we, of course, didn't always see eye to eye on everything, Marcia and I shared the important goal of helping Americans have the opportunities and resources needed to achieve the American Dream. I am grateful to have had a fellow Ohioan working as Secretary on behalf of so many of my constituents. Public servants like Secretary Fudge, always willing to roll up her sleeves and get to the business of the American people, are a credit to our community. I wish Marcia the best on the next stage of her journey.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I am here today in support of the Dr. Michael C. Burgess Preventive Health Saving Act, a bill aptly named after my colleague and friend, my co-chair on the Doctors Caucus, Dr. Michael Burgess. This important legislation is going to allow the Congressional Budget Office to measure the long-term impact of health policies, breaking free from the arbitrary 10-year budget window that currently constrains our ability to help our fellow Americans to live a healthier and longer life. This is something that we as the Doctors Caucus have met with CBO on. They were not sure how to do it. Dr. Burgess put forward a way that we can get this done. We worked in a bipartisan manner to enact policies that can bring patients more access to drugs, treatments, cures. Yet, when looking at the initial cost of bringing new treatments and drugs to patients, the long-term savings that are associated with keeping Americans healthier for longer are not considered. They need to be. The Congressional Budget Office should have the ability to fully score the impact that reductions in obesity, access to early and preventive treatments, and keeping patients healthier will have on Medicare, for example. It has been my great honor to serve with Dr. Burgess on the Doctors Caucus and here in Congress. I am glad to support this bill led by Dr. Burgess, whose expertise and desire for quality care for all Americans has inspired many to practice medicine and encourage them to get involved with government. I encourage support of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the American Medical Association supporting H.R. 766. American Medical Association, Chicago, IL, March 18, 2024. Hon. Mike Johnson, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jeffries: On behalf of the physician and medical student members of the American Medical Association (AMA), I am writing in support of H.R. 766, the ``Dr. Michael C. Burgess Preventive Health Savings Act.'' This bipartisan bill would provide leaders in Congress with the ability to request that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provide an estimate of the long-term health savings that are possible from preventive health initiatives. Chronic disease is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year more than 877,500 Americans died of heart disease or stroke, more than 1.7 million people were diagnosed with cancer, and more than 37.3 million Americans have diabetes, with an additional 96 million adults diagnosed with prediabetes, which puts them at risk for type 2 diabetes. These diseases, along with other conditions such as obesity, Alzheimer's, and mental health issues, place a significant burden on the economy, accounting for 90 percent of our nation's $4.1 trillion in annual health care spending. These figures will undoubtedly worsen as the population ages. Congress should be able to consider the long-term economic benefits of legislation that would promote wellness and disease prevention initiatives that reduce chronic conditions. However, the way in which the CBO currently ``scores'' legislation severely constrains the ability of policymakers to accurately assess legislation that would prevent chronic disease. For example, while research has demonstrated that certain expenditures for preventive medicine generate savings when considered in the long term, those cost savings may not be evident when evaluating only the first 10-year ``scoring'' window. We believe this legislation represents a significant step towards providing Congress with the means to obtain a more relevant long-term economic picture of the benefits of legislation to prevent chronic diseases. The legislation would allow, among other things, the Chair and Ranking member of the budget and health-related committees in the House or Senate to jointly request an analysis of the two 10-year periods beyond the existing initial 10-year window. The provisions requiring these requests to come jointly from the Chair and Ranking Member of the budget and health-related committees in the House or the Senate will ensure the CBO is not diverted to frivolous or overly partisan analyses. Furthermore, the legislation's definition of ``preventive health'' appropriately captures the unique nature of this concept by including actions that focus on the health of the public, individuals, and defined populations to protect, promote, and maintain health and wellness, as well as prevent disease, disability, and premature death as demonstrated in credible, publicly available studies and data. The AMA applauds your leadership in bringing this important legislation to the House floor for consideration and looks forward to working with you on this and other efforts to promote wellness and increase chronic disease prevention. Sincerely, James L. Madara, MD.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I rise here today in support of H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for all Patients Act, and I thank Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers for bringing this important legislation forward. I am a physician who is proud to join my colleagues in leading this bill that bans the use of quality-adjusted life years, QALYs, as it is called, in all Federal programs. As a physician I took an oath, determined to treat each patient as a human being first and foremost. Quality metrics intentionally devalue treatments for disabled and chronically ill patients in determining whether a treatment is cost-effective. In other words, telling the patient, you are not worth it. The bottom line is this: These cost measurements put an artificial dollar value on a person's life, valuing the lives of Americans differently. In doing so, QALYs interferes with the sacred duty of a physician to care for all patients equally. Treating all patients equally and with a personal touch is something that I have always taken great pride in. Our healthcare system must value all lives and ensure every person is treated with dignity. Our government should never deny healthcare to all Americans based on how much a life is perceived to be worth. This is a check on our morality. This is a check on our values. We should value human life and work towards healthier human lives, not devalue human life nor indignify one another. Mr. Chair, I urge all my colleagues to join me in blocking government bureaucrats from putting an arbitrary price tag on the life of every American--bureaucrats that will never meet you or take responsibility for your care.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, America and Members of Congress really need to understand the impact these recent cuts to the Medicare physician fee schedule have on patient access to healthcare across the country. The cuts that took place January 1, 2024, took effect, impacting providers everywhere. Providers have to continue to bear the costs and the many challenges that arose during and after the pandemic, including staffing shortages, supply chain shortages, and continued rising inflation. As the cost of providing care continues to rise, the reimbursement to physicians who provide that care continues to be cut. We can't keep this up. Here is the scary part. Doctors retire early. Some reduce Medicare patients out of survival for their practice or stop seeing them at all, and they hate that. They quit taking call. They go to a cash-only practice in order to keep their doors open. If we don't act swiftly to address these cuts now and in the long term, patients are going to suffer the most. The physician shortage will continue to rise. Hospitals and independent community-based providers will continue to shut their doors. America's seniors will be left with no option for high-quality, affordable healthcare. Rural communities in underserved areas will become healthcare deserts. Mr. Speaker, I urge congressional leadership to put the health of America first. Ensure that patients and Medicare beneficiaries have access to the providers who care for them. We have to stop these cuts. Every cut the government makes affects the entire United States. We are one great Nation, but we become a less healthy Nation. This is just one issue that gets in the way of our goal to make the United States of America the healthiest nation on this planet.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Social Security Child Protection Act, H.R. 3667. Child identity theft is a serious problem in our country, and families across America should have the ability to protect their children when a child's Social Security number is compromised early in life. When a child's identity falls into the hands of the wrong person, it sets the stage for a future of financial problems and headaches that can hinder their ability to do things like open a bank account, purchase a car, or establish a line of credit. I know firsthand that when adoption takes place, often there is a recommendation that that child, who may already have a Social Security number, get a new Social Security number for their protection. Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration's current policies make it challenging for families to obtain a new Social Security number after a child's Social Security number has been compromised. This commonsense legislation that we propose would direct the Social Security Administration to issue a new Social Security number to a child under the age of 14 if that child's Social Security card was lost or stolen. Parents should not be forced to navigate bureaucratic red tape to protect their child's financial future. I am proud to be leading this bipartisan solution with my friend and colleague, Representative Blumenauer. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure, and I thank my Ways and Means colleagues and staff for their support of this sensible legislation.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the Live Oaks Career Center JROTC Cadets. Beginning as a local Army JROTC program in 1993 to teach high school students leadership and citizenship classes, the Live Oaks JROTC program has evolved into a nationally recognized leadership and citizenship program. This year, three teams of Live Oaks JROTC Cadets competed against 216 other teams in the U.S. Army Cadet Command Junior ROTC Raider Challenge Championships at Fort Knox. The Live Oaks male and female teams finished first in their divisions, and the coed team came in fifth place. Twenty-eight cadets earned full-ride scholarships to the university of their choice due to their success. Live Oaks' JROTC Cadets demonstrated incredible tenacity and grit in their championship success, qualities that will serve them well in their southern Ohio communities. I am proud to congratulate them today.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am deeply concerned by the impact that recent cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will have on patient access to healthcare across our great country. On January 1, 2024, a 3.4 percent Medicare cut took effect, impacting providers all across the United States. This is in addition to previous cuts. Providers have continued to bear the cost of many challenges that arose during the pandemic and after the pandemic, including staffing shortages, supply chain shortages, and continuing rising inflation--all of these. As the cost of providing care continues to rise, the reimbursement to physicians who provide the care continues to be cut. If we do not swiftly act to address these cuts now and in the long term, patients will suffer the most. The physician shortage will continue to worsen. Hospitals and independent community-based providers will continue to shutter their doors, and, sadly, America's seniors will be left with no option for high-quality, affordable healthcare. I urge congressional leadership to put the health of Americans first by stopping the Medicare cuts and ensuring that patients and Medicare beneficiaries have access to the providers who care for them by not cutting them out.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bradley Poppell, a senior at Archbishop Moeller High School, on being named Mr. Ohio Soccer by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association. The Men of Moeller amassed a 24-0-1 record, being ranked number one in the country for three weeks during the season. The team only allowed one goal during the regular season and would go on to be state runner- up in Division One. Bradley led his team with 23 goals and six assists this season as the team captain. Alongside his play at Moeller, he plays on the Cincinnati United Premier U19 team, which is ranked number one in the state of Ohio. In the classroom, he is ranked near the top of his class with a 4.7 GPA and is also a school captain. This is alongside his high test scores and multiple AP-level courses. I am excited to nominate Bradley to the United States Air Force Academy, where he will be a member of the men's soccer team. He hopes to receive a pilot slot, just as his grandfather did in the Class of 1970.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, on December 11, 2023, I was unable to be in attendance for votes on the House floor due to official Congressional travel. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on rollcall No. 707, YEA on rollcall No. 708, and YEA on rollcall No. 709.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Madam Speaker, I rise today to welcome Reverend Jared Timberlake and his family to the House Chamber. Reverend Timberlake has dedicated his life to selfless service, first through his time as a fellow Army soldier and then later through his work as a youth minister and pastor at Sandhill Baptist Church in Scioto County, Ohio. As President George Washington said in his farewell address: ``Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.'' Nearly 250 years later, I am glad we welcome our religious leaders to the people's House to open our work with prayer. Madam Speaker, I thank Reverend Timberlake for his decades of service to our country and to the local Scioto County community.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly) from cosponsorship of H.R. 972.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate St. Mary Grade School's fourth Blue Ribbon Award. Located in Southwest Ohio and serving students across the region, St. Mary Grade School was founded by the Sisters of Charity. Opening its doors in 1908 with 100 students, the school has expanded and now has well over 400 students enrolled annually. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program seeks to honor schools from around the country that have a vision of excellence and hold their students and faculty to a high standard, and I can't think of a more worthy school than St. Mary Grade School. For over a century, this school has pushed each and every student to be the best they can be, academically and spiritually, and they continue to serve the local community to this day. I, like the thousands of other graduates who began their educational and spiritual journey at St. Mary Grade School, owe so much of our educational foundation to the dedicated faculty who have devoted years of their lives to ensuring that future generations of Ohioans will continue to prosper. I am incredibly proud that the National Blue Ribbon School Program has chosen my alma mater to be one of the forty private schools honored this year as the school is so deserving of this distinction. I am looking forward to their continued success in the community.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Village of Wellston, Ohio. Since its founding in 1873, the Village of Wellston has been an important industrial and historical center of Southeast Ohio for nearly 2 centuries. Harvey Wells, a Civil War veteran and Ohio native, used part of his Jackson County property to establish Wellston. Wellston was officially incorporated as a Village in 1876 with the hopes of being the ``New Pittsburgh of the West.'' With the construction of numerous blast furnaces, the Village of Wellston solidified itself as an important industrial and mining town in Southern Ohio. Wellston also played an important role in the Underground Railroad system acting as one of the first stops in the North and became the settling point for several freed slaves. Throughout its history, the Village of Wellston has been a beacon of prosperity and freedom for Southern Ohio, and I am honored to represent a town with such a rich history and strong sense of community. Again, I want to congratulate the Village of Wellston on celebrating its 150th Anniversary and recognize their importance to Jackson County and all of Southern Ohio. May they continue to prosper over the centuries to come.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the career of General James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, and congratulate him on his retirement. General McConville graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1981 and was commissioned as an Infantry officer shortly thereafter. Throughout his distinguished military career, General McConville served our country in the Iraq War, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and during the war in Afghanistan, he was part of Operation Enduring Freedom. General McConville earned 2 Distinguished Service Medals, 3 Legions of Merit, 3 Bronze Star Medals, 2 Defense Meritorious Service Medals, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, 2 Army Commendation Medals, 4 Army Achievement Medals, the Combat Action Badge. In 2019, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Army, following 2 years as Vice Chief of Staff. As a soldier and member of Congress, I can honestly call General McConville a ``Soldier's Soldier.'' General McConville's life work is an example of patriotism, sacrifice, and commitment--qualities that all in the U.S. military strive to emulate. We are grateful for his dedication to this country, and I wish him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Wheelersburg High School Softball Team on winning the 2023 Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III Softball State Championship. The Wheelersburg Pirates won their second straight state championship following a 6-0 shutout victory over Indian Lake. The Pirates have posted an impressive 57-1 record over the past two seasons and a perfect 32-0 this season. Wheelersburg head coach Teresa Ruby remarked that she was ``speechless'' and so proud of how her team played this season. The Pirates broke the game open in the 3rd inning, scoring four runs, and Pitcher Andi Jo Howard took control after, recording two strikeouts and only allowing two hits in a shutout. I want to congratulate Coach Ruby and her players, including four of whom were named to the All-State team, on their amazing season. I look forward to watching them chase a three-peat next spring.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Clermont County Deputy Bobby Hau Pham, who was awarded the Medal of Valor by President Biden for his heroic efforts while on duty, rescuing the life of a woman trapped in a car sinking underwater. On November 23, 2021, Deputy Pham sprang into action after a woman drove her car into East Fork Lake, submerging it under water. Fighting through dark, frigid conditions, Deputy Pham sprang into action, jumped in the water, and fearlessly worked to rescue the driver from the sinking car. Through his bravery, Deputy Pham saved her life, and he said he would do it all over again wherever needed. Deputy Pham is an example of the extraordinary actions our law enforcement officers make each and every day to protect our citizens and communities. I want to thank all who put on the uniform and risk their lives to protect us every day. I thank Deputy Pham for his service and courage. I congratulate him on being recognized with the Medal of Valor, our Nation's highest honor for bravery by apublic safety officer, for his actions.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Cincinnati Clermont Women's Basketball team on winning the 2023 Small College Division II National Championship. The UC Clermont Lady Cougars captured the title after a 60-46 win over Johnson & Wales University, Charlotte. Head Coach Ken Lowe's vision was complete after the team made it to the Final Four in the previous season but fell short of a championship. The Lady Cougars rallied early with a 24-0 run, and 27 points from senior Captain, Ashley Moore. Junior, Tyra Murphy and Grad Student, Kristi Duncan, both recorded double doubles in the Championship game. There is no doubt that the leadership among the coaching staff and the Lady Cougars in the locker room and on the court helped this team turn their dreams into reality. Again, congratulations to Coach Lowe, the rest of the coaching staff, and the players for their amazing achievement.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Village of Oak Hill, Ohio. Since its founding in 1873, the Village of Oak Hill has remained a pillar of Jackson County for nearly 2 centuries. Six Welsh families found themselves stranded along the Ohio River in 1818, choosing to settle in the area Oak Hill was established in 1832 in the hopes that it could become the new Jackson County seat. In the mid 1800s, the Village of Oak Hill became a Midwestern transportation hub, and included new switch railroad stations and new roads to connect the village to Portsmouth. Throughout its storied history, the Village of Oak Hill thrived as a crossroads town, connecting people to new areas of the mid western region. I am honored to represent the Village of Oak Hill, an area of the state with such a rich history and strong community. Again, I want to congratulate the Village of Oak Hill on celebrating its 150th Anniversary and recognize their historical significance in Southern Ohio. May they continue to prosper over the next 150 years.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Zach Benjamin Merrill of Aberdeen, Ohio, who recently passed away after a long battle with cancer at the age of 37. Zach was a proud Marine who served his country bravely in Iraq with his brothers in Lima Company. On May 11, 2005, 15 members of Lima Company were killed by an IED. Zach lost friends and brothers during his service and again survived an IED attack in August 2005. In September of 2016, Zach was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Throughout rounds of chemotherapy and treatment, Zach never wavered. He continued to fight for his life until the very end. Zach is an example of the patriotism, sacrifice, and commitment we associate with the finest examples of our nation's military. We are all safer because of his dedication to this country and we will miss him.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate my good friend Todd DeGarmo on his acceptance of the 2023 William Howard Taft Medal from the University of Cincinnati for notable achievement in the field of architecture. A graduate of UC, Todd put his blood, sweat, and tears into a career in architecture that has spanned nearly 35 years. Todd has worked for and led STUDIOS Architecture, overseeing numerous projects and renovations during his tenure. Todd founded the company's New York office in 1995 and, ten years later, was named the first CEO of STUDIOS. Under his stewardship, STUDIOS opened new offices in the United States and around the globe, including in Mumbai, India and Lyon, France. I want to commend Todd for his career at STUDIOS and his many meritorious projects that earned him the 2023 William Howard Taft Medal. Todd deserves this.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), which celebrates the 50th anniversary of its charter this month. Over the past half-century this Chapter has served the Cincinnati metropolitan area, fostering community among retired, active, and former officers of the uniformed services and providing useful services for them and their families. Since March 1973, the Chapter has been a leading advocate for all personnel of the uniformed services. Its members have served faithfully as MOAA's ambassadors, supporting programs that make a difference in the lives of others, going the extra step to give back to our community, Ohio, and our Nation in the truest sense of servant leadership. I am proud to be a member of this Chapter. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in congratulating the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, and extending our very best wishes for its continued success.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of the late Corporal Helen M. Lattal, a proud World War II veteran who passed away in March at the age of 103. Helen enlisted in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in 1942. In 1943, President Roosevelt transformed the WAAC into the Women's Army Corps, giving women full military status. She served in the headquarters of the 8th Air Force of the Army Air Corps under the command of Gen. Jimmy Doolittle. After the war, she returned to the United States and worked as a counselor for soldiers. In her later years, she would serve as a volunteer with the Red Cross. She was a 57-year member of the American Legion where she served a term as post commander. Cpl. Lattal's life's work is an example of the patriotism, sacrifice, and commitment we associate with the military. We are grateful for her dedication to this country, and we will miss her.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 619, the COVID- 19 Origin Act of 2023. The American people deserve answers on the origins of the COVID-19 virus, a novel coronavirus that sparked a pandemic and has killed nearly 7 million people worldwide to date. The impact of the pandemic on the American people has been catastrophic. We lost loved ones. Everyone has been touched. Our physicians, nurses, and healthcare workers were strained beyond capacity. We had to contend with lockdowns and school closures resulting in learning loss, as well as shutdowns and job loss, and depression and suicide that spiked after these measures. Many Americans still suffer physically, mentally, and economically from the impact of the virus and the measures taken during the pandemic. This bill will provide some sunlight for the American people, scientists, and physicians. I am honored to be one of seven physicians on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, as Dr. Bera referenced earlier. In order for us to be able to predict, prepare, protect, and prevent against a future pandemic, we need to know how and where this pandemic began. There are sound reasons to conclude that this particular virus may have resulted from a lab leak in the Wuhan Institute of Virology. In the fall of 2019, well before Americans were aware of a problem in Wuhan, four unusual things happened at the Wuhan lab. Multiple researchers became sick with COVID-19-like symptoms, according to a State Department fact sheet. The Wuhan institute deleted the sequences of viruses that they had in their library. They changed control of the lab from civilian to military--highly unusual--and had a contractor redo the ventilation system in the laboratory. Furthermore, we know the Wuhan Institute of Virology was conducting gain-of-function research on novel bat coronaviruses by creating chimeric viruses, combining two viruses together to test infectivity, and infecting mice with these viruses for study. The Wuhan lab applied to receive U.S. grant funding in order to insert what is called the furin cleavage site into novel coronaviruses, the same unique genetic aspect of COVID-19 that made it more infectious to humans. Last Congress, I was honored to lead the House Intelligence Committee Republicans in producing our second interim report on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. This Congress, I am fortunate to continue this work as the chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, where we will work on a bipartisan basis to follow the facts, conduct a fair investigation, and seek to deliver the truth to the American people. This bill we are voting on today to declassify information on the origins of the COVID-19 virus will provide much-needed transparency for Americans who have lost so much in this tragedy, but it is only a start. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in this endeavor. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, which condemns the wave of attacks on pro-life groups and facilities. As a Nation, we are blessed to have a nationwide network of faithful, dedicated pro-life pregnancy centers that provide care for pregnant women and their babies. Women deserve to be offered the full range of health support that can help them in their time of need. Pro-life pregnancy centers do exactly that, offering a compassionate support system for pregnant women. Shamefully, since the Dobbs decision was rendered, these pregnancy centers have been under attack by radical abortion activists. We have seen horrific displays of vandalism, threats, and intimidation directed at pro-life groups and facilities for the simple fact that they support life and serve to help pregnant mothers in need. No one is forced to receive care at a pregnancy center, yet we see people committing violence on pregnancy centers. Why? Are they angry that so many choose to not terminate the life of their own baby and let their child live, like all of your mothers did, rather than violently terminate the life of their own baby? Madam Speaker, I ask Congress to stand together and strongly condemn this violence by passing this resolution.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank everyone involved with this really wonderful moment that we are experiencing here on the floor, not only in memory of Jackie Walorski but in the work that she put in and how much was accomplished here, especially in a bipartisan fashion on behalf of so many people across America that are going to benefit from this great program--the mothers and the children, especially. I take a moment to thank Jackie's husband, Dean, who shared Jackie with us here in the House of Representatives, where she was able to do so much good work, and this being one of the very highlights of her career. It spoke so much about who she was and who she is. This is a special moment for me, as I know my friend Dr. Owens in Cincinnati--who took care of so many mothers that benefit from this program--is being laid to rest today, and he was so proud of what we were doing with this program. Well, he is with Jackie now. But we are all blessed to have had so much hard work put into this across the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Davis, who worked tirelessly on this, as well. This was definitely a dual effort, and I am grateful for all those who have participated, to the entire community, the Committee on Ways and Means, the subcommittee, and to all those involved. I am very proud that we are moving this bill forward today. I urge its reauthorization and encourage all of our Members to support this wonderful program. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.