Bruce Westerman

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedication and hard work of the Bradley, Arkansas branch of Community State Bank. During unprecedented times, these individuals have risen to the challenge of serving the economic needs of Fourth District citizens. Individuals and businesses across the nation have faced the financial consequences of a weakened economy during COVID-19. The Community State Bank team has worked tirelessly throughout this year to ensure the success of Arkansas small businesses with Paycheck Protection Program loans and assistance. Without their hard work, many Arkansans would be facing a much more difficult future. Essential workers, like those in Community State Bank, exemplify what it means to be a frontline hero. It is a joy to hear of their efforts to secure a brighter future for Arkansas families. I take this time to thank them for their commitment to excellent service and to honor them as true heroes in Arkansas' Fourth District.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional work of Tanners Team Sports in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The local company stepped up to the plate during COVID-19, transitioning the production of their famed baseball and pickleball products into developing high-quality face masks. As an economic shutdown approached, the cancellation of the spring baseball season put Tanners' peak shipping season on hold. While many businesses shut down, Tanners got creative with a way to move forward, keep local jobs available and support the health and well-being of the communities around them. Owner Vince Signorelli and his staff worked tirelessly with their existing network to create a mask that would not only meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's protection recommendations, but also allow athletes to wear and still perform. Within just three weeks of planning and design, Tanners and their in-house clothing brand, Vulcan Sporting Goods, had these masks in production and distribution. This team of Fourth District citizens are heroes who have battled the COVID-19 pandemic directly. It is my hope that all Arkansans will see the value of their labor. Mr. Signorelli said it best when he said, ``I can't help but marvel at how the American Spirit is alive and well right here in Hot Springs, Arkansas.''

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the exemplary service of the Hot Springs Police Department. In these uncertain times, my hometown department's officers have continued serving and protecting our community. Now more than ever, we've seen the impact of our communities' first responders and frontline workers, and in the Fourth Congressional District, none are more appreciated than our police. Throughout this pandemic, Hot Springs officers have continued to put their own safety on the line defending our streets, homes and businesses. I take this time to honor these brave men and women who have stepped up, providing the Fourth District of Arkansas and the rest of the nation with a prime example of what it means to serve the people around you.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional work of Tanners Team Sports in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The local company stepped up to the plate during COVID-19, transitioning the production of their famed baseball and pickleball products into developing high- quality face masks. As an economic shutdown approached, the cancellation of the spring baseball season put Tanners' peak shipping season on hold. While many businesses shut down, Tanners got creative with a way to move forward, keep local jobs available and support the health and well-being of the communities around them. Owner Vince Signorelli and his staff worked tirelessly with their existing network to create a mask that would not only meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's protection recommendations, but also allow athletes to wear and still perform. Within just three weeks of planning and design, Tanners and their in-house clothing brand, Vulcan Sporting Goods, had these masks in production and distribution. This team of Fourth District citizens are heroes who have battled the COVID-19 pandemic directly. It is my hope that all Arkansans will see the value of their labor. Mr. Signorelli said it best when he said, ``I can't help but marvel at how the American Spirit is alive and well right here in Hot Springs, Arkansas.''

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the exemplary service of the Hot Springs Police Department. In these uncertain times, my hometown department's officers have continued serving and protecting our community. Now more than ever, we've seen the impact of our communities' first responders and frontline workers, and in the Fourth Congressional District, none are more appreciated than our police. Throughout this pandemic, Hot Springs officers have continued to put their own safety on the line defending our streets, homes and businesses. I take this time to honor these brave men and women who have stepped up, providing the Fourth District of Arkansas and the rest of the nation with a prime example of what it means to serve the people around you.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Republican leader and our ranking member, Mr. Graves from Missouri, for their continued leadership on the consideration of the Water Resource Development Acts, or WRDAs. Today I rise in strong support of H.R. 7575, WRDA 2020. H.R. 7575 strengthens our Nation's ability to withstand severe weather and flood events. It authorizes the construction of key water infrastructure projects, creates jobs here at home, and directly contributes to our economic growth and competitiveness. The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, where I have the honor of serving as ranking member, has jurisdiction over the water resources development missions of the U.S. Corps of Engineers. H.R. 7575 authorizes vital Corps projects for navigation; flood control; shoreline protection; recreation; water supply; environmental protection, restoration, and enhancement; and fish and wildlife management. This WRDA bill focuses on supporting more resilient infrastructure, increasing rural flood protection, addressing the maintenance backlogs at our Nation's ports and harbors, and prioritizes our Nation's inland waterways. This bill will help key projects in my home State of Arkansas that will spur economic development and prevent further environmental degradation. It advances the long-stalled MKARNS deepening project, protects the water supply for users of the Ouachita-Black system, and begins the process of preventing bank destabilization of the Sulphur River. Our committee passed this bill 2 weeks ago by a voice vote, continuing the strong bipartisan support and the WRDA tradition. H.R. 7575 is fiscally responsible, with new project authorizations fully offset by deauthorizations of projects that are outdated or no longer viable. Above all, this legislation represents the continued bipartisan commitment to regular order for consideration of water resources projects. Regularly overseeing the improvement of our Nation's infrastructure is one of Congress' most important responsibilities. This is a good, commonsense bill, and I want to thank Chair DeFazio and especially Chair Napolitano for her leadership on our Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, and both of them for working across the aisle with us. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the incredible staff work on both sides of the aisle, but, in particular, the Republican staff, which includes Ian Bennitt, Jon Pawlow, and Victor Sarmiento. I also want to recognize Jefferson Deming on my staff for his work. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 7575.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to not talk about a transportation bill. I am on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, but it has turned into an energy package, and I just want to expose the fallacy of this so-called green infrastructure package. Let's just look at one part of it. Let's look at all-electric vehicles. Let's assume that we could go to all-electric vehicles in the U.S. overnight. What would that mean? We hear a lot of talk about electric vehicles, and it sounds good, but what would it actually do for greenhouse gases? The answer is not nearly as much as my colleagues across the aisle would like for you to believe. First, the people who write this legislation must be the same ones who think that food comes from the grocery store and electricity comes from the wall outlet. Just like the food in the grocery store, energy has a supply chain, and less than 10 percent of it is coming from wind and solar. In fact, between 60 and 70 percent of electricity comes from coal and natural gas. And guess what? It is going to keep coming from coal and natural gas unless we build nuclear power plants, and I haven't seen proposals from anyone on the left to be building any nuclear power plants. I have got some science and engineering to share with my friends about their wind and solar daydream without coal, natural gas, or nuclear power: It won't work. I realize the truth about this might hurt people's feelings, but science is science. And just in case you didn't catch that: Wind and solar without coal, natural gas, or nuclear power will not work. If you don't believe me, I challenge you to watch the movie called ``Planet of the Humans,'' and maybe you will believe the left's very own Michael Moore, who basically says the same thing in that movie. Let's do some quick math on what all-electric vehicles would do for greenhouse gas emissions. I don't think anybody denies the fact that the U.S. emits 15 percent of the world's greenhouse gases and that transportation is the largest sector of that, making up 28 percent of all greenhouse gases. Well, 28 percent of 15 percent is 4.2 percent. So of the global greenhouse gases, transportation in the U.S. makes up 4.2 percent. But passenger cars aren't all of transportation. They make up only 32 percent of transportation. So, 32 percent of 4.2 percent is 1.34 percent. That is how much greenhouse gases passenger vehicles in the United States emit. But, remember, when you plug the electric vehicle into the wall, that power is coming from somewhere, somewhere that is making electricity at 60 to 70 percent with fossil fuels.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, electric vehicles versus internal combustion engines are 25 percent less greenhouse gases. So, all- electric vehicles in the U.S. would mean that we would reduce global greenhouse gases by one-third of 1 percent. It would also require a tremendous amount of mining and other activities that my friends oppose. America needs cleaner air and a sustainable environment and sound energy policies. H.R. 2 fails on all of these. We need sound policy to make existing energy sources cleaner and more efficient, and we need to work on next-generation nuclear energy. Then we can talk real numbers on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I am grateful that we are finally having a discussion on the important issue of healthcare. More than a decade of healthcare conflict has squandered trillions of dollars, driven up our national debt, done relatively little to improve healthcare, and destroyed the public's confidence in either party's ability to fix the system. We can do better, yet we don't. As an engineer, I learned that the first step to solving a problem is identifying and defining the problem. Our problem is not that we lack creative solutions to the issues that plague the healthcare system. Our problem is not that the electorate doesn't care about healthcare. They do. The need for healthcare is nonpartisan. There are no Republican, Democrat, or Independent strains of cancer, forms of dementia, types of diabetes, or hospitals that check your political party registration when you arrive at the emergency room. Our primary problem with fixing healthcare for America is that we have pushed and continue to push partisan solutions for a nonpartisan issue. Have we in both parties not learned that this will not work? We both paid the price for our failures on healthcare, but the folks who have lost the most are our constituents, the American citizens that sent us here. Let's be honest, face our past, learn from it, and craft a better healthcare future. The record is clear. In 2008, the Democratic Party controlled the House, the Senate, and the White House. You passed the Affordable Care Act on straight party lines. If it were the correct solution to America's healthcare problems, we wouldn't be here today with your bill to fix it. Fast forward to 2017. My Republican Party had majorities in the House, the Senate, and controlled the Presidency. We failed to even get the American Healthcare Act on the President's desk. Both of these attempts at solving healthcare failed, just like any other partisan attempt to solve healthcare will fail. The issue is so partisan that both parties had to ultimately resort to the parliamentary gymnastics of budget reconciliation to have a prayer of getting a bill on President Obama's or President Trump's desk. We know that budget reconciliation creates too many limits to implement the best solutions for healthcare policy. We know that you can pass whatever healthcare legislation you dream up with a simple majority here in the House. We also know that partisan bill from the House will not get past the 60-vote cloture threshold in the Senate, much less get signed into law by the President of the opposing party. Must we continue learning our lessons in Congress at the expense of the American citizenry? Let's work on healthcare legislation that can get a veto-proof vote in the House and 60 votes in the Senate, regardless of which party controls each Chamber. Let's pass a healthcare bill that is too good for a President of either party not to sign into law. After the Republican failure to pass the American Health Care Act in 2017, I called my staff together and told them, ``Even though we failed to pass a bill and moved on to the next issue, the problems with healthcare did not go away and we are not going to stop working on the issue.'' We decided to reverse engineer legislation with the final goal being something that everyone could agree upon, a bipartisan bill that covered preexisting conditions, insured more people, lowered cost, and gave Americans a fair shot at healthcare. After 1\1/2\ years of hard work, the result was the Fair Care Act of 2019. After another year of work, scrutiny, and more good ideas, we are close to filing the Fair Care Act of 2020 with both a House and Senate version. It has more than 50 bipartisan bills from the House and Senate in the language, and a few of the bipartisan bills from the 2019 bill have already been signed into law. We should follow this pattern. Hopefully, you will be pleased to know that several of the provisions of your Affordable Care Enhancement Act can be found in the Fair Care Act. However, no one reached out to me for input on your bill. I am reaching across the aisle and asking you to consider working with us in cosponsoring the Fair Care Act or other bills with bipartisan policy. The American citizenry and I am tired of partisan healthcare in action. Will you please join us to change that?

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have ``nay'' on rollcall No. 120.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Darin Landry of Lakeside High School in Hot Springs for his recent recognition as the 2020 Arkansas Principal of the Year. Landry was given this award by the Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) in recognition of his years of service and his innovative techniques for educating Arkansas students. Among Landry's successes as an educator is the Second Chance Policy program in which students found to be in possession or under the influence of drugs at school are given the opportunity for community service hours and access to drug and alcohol abuse programs. In addition, he has implemented a ``restorative justice program'' in which educators implement alternative methods of discipline to see students succeed and decrease student suspensions and expulsions. Landry has worked extensively with the rest of the school district and with the community to start projects such as the Lakeside Legacy Program, the Project Search program which provides onsite job training, and the Future of Lakeside Committee dedicated to determining a new method of ranking students. It is clear from Landry's years of work that his goal is to seek a better learning environment for these students. I take this time to thank him for his commitment to our community's youngest minds and to congratulate him on this high honor.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dorothy Morris of Hot Springs on her induction in the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame. Nominated by the public and selected by a panel of state leaders, Morris received this honor during a lifetime of philanthropic giving to her community and peers. Having grown up modestly in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, she and her husband, Walter, focused much of their earnings over the last thirty years toward philanthropic work. In addition to her work with over 50 nonprofits such as Garvan Woodland Gardens, The Arkansas Rice Depot, and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, she spends much her time on children and teenagers with organizations like Youth Ranches, THEA Foundation, and multiple other educational programs. Morris also co-founded the Hot Springs Giving Circle with Don Munro, a fellow Hot Springs citizen, with the effort of dispersing funds to numerous local organizations. She additionally started the Morris Foundation with her late husband, Walter. Her induction into the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame speaks to her incredible influence on the people of our state. I take this time to congratulate her on this high honor and thank her for her lifetime of service to the place we both call home.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) James Oliver Taylor, Jr., a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army and civil servant. CW4 Taylor served in the Army from 1951 to 1972 and completed assignments in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, China, the Philippines and the Ryukyus Islands. On July 7, 2020, CW4 Taylor would have been 101 years old and we take the time this day to recognize his service and commitment to the United States of America. CW4 Taylor, of Ashdown and previous resident of the Fourth District of Arkansas, began his service on October 11, 1951. During his career in the Army, he attended the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence School and U.S. Army Advance Management Training School. He specialized in critical areas such as Domestic Intelligence, Intelligence Research and Analysis, Interrogation Techniques, Investigative Legal Principles and Aviation Security Management. After retirement from the military, he worked as a Civic Aviation Security Manager in Chicago, Illinois, where he served with distinction. I am honored to recognize Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Oliver Taylor, Jr. for his service and bravery. CW4 Taylor passed away on April 11, 2019.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor four exceptional students of Arkansas' Fourth Congressional District. These four young men recently accepted appointments into United States Service Academies, bringing their home district extreme pride in their academic excellence, their desire to serve, and their commitment to patriotism. I take this time to congratulate Cannon Turner of Arkadelphia on his appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, Jacob Tankersley of Pearcy and Daniel Woolsey of Ozark on their appointments to the United States Military Academy, and Samuel Tabler of Hot Springs Village on his appointment to the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School. These young Americans embody qualities of academic excellence and service above self which are necessary for such appointments. These four young men are a tremendous source of pride not just for their hometowns, but for the entire Fourth Congressional District. Their commitment to excellence is to be commended, but it is their love of country, their defense of liberty, and their pursuit of a freer America that truly sets them apart from all others. I take this time to honor them for their successes, to encourage them on this new pursuit, and to thank them for their example to the rest of the country of what a patriot truly is.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sadagicous Owens on her selection as one of only 44 students nationwide to the White House Initiative for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) 2020 Competitiveness Scholars Program. Ms. Owens, a student at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), joins a community of scholars representing 33 HBCUs in the country. According to the White House, students are nominated by their institution's president and chosen based on their academic excellence, their professional acumen, their leadership experience and potential, civic involvement, and entrepreneurial spirit. Due to COVID-19, this year's scholars will not be able to attend the annual meeting in Washington, D.C., but they will instead be participating in virtual events throughout the year. These seminars and activities will focus on creating a platform in which the scholars can communicate and share ideas about professional pathways, government resources, and best practices on careers and professionalism. We are honored to have one of America's finest young scholars in the Fourth Congressional District. Ms. Owens' success highlights not only her commitment to excellence, but also her example try of what perseverance and a strong work ethic can accomplish.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the near-century- old legacy of McClard' s Bar-B-Q in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Founded by Gladys and Alex McClard in 1928, the fourth generation of the McClard family, represented by owners Scott and Shannon McClard, keeps its doors open today. In the last century, McClard's has been a cultural icon of the Hot Springs area, gathering long lines of customers outside its doors on Albert Pike Road. Known for barbecue pork, ribs, tamales, and infamous barbecue sauce, the barbecue joint is a local favorite, even noted to be a favorite of President Bill Clinton's during his upbringing in Hot Springs. The restaurant's leadership recently made the decision to sell the family-owned spot following a brief closing during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it has reopened this week under new ownership, the McClard family is still actively involved in the restaurant's progress in the community. Not only does McClard's Bar-B-Q boast of some of the best cooking in the Southwest Arkansas area, but the restaurant holds 92 years of Arkansas culture, history, and memories. Theirs is a story of the American dream, and I look forward to seeing this place continue to be a place of joy for Fourth District residents, just as it has for nearly a century. I take this time to thank all generations of the McClard family for their years of hard work and their diligence in creating the most loved of Hot Springs traditions.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of the Pine Bluff School District in Arkansas' Fourth Congressional District. In the face of COVID-19, these educators are going the extra mile to bring internet access to students working from home in rural areas. This school district took quick action to deploy their school buses to those rural areas from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday, providing their students the opportunity to conduct their assignments from home. This actively combatted the struggle that young people of low-income households may face without having access to their school's network. It also aided those students who may face rural connectivity issues. In a rural district like Arkansas' Fourth, action like this is necessary to ensure our students can succeed even out of the classroom. Thanks to the quick thinking and hard work of educators at Pine Bluff School District, students of South Arkansas are provided the opportunity to learn and to stay connected in the time of the COVID-19 crisis. I take this time to thank these servant-leaders for their example and for their commitment to the education of our communities' most vulnerable citizens. Because of these heroes, the future of our country is brighter, even in the face of trying times.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor David Mangan of Hot Springs, Arkansas for his front-line efforts to combat the COVID-19 epidemic in our home state. Due to his actions, medical professionals will now be able to research the effects of convalescent plasma on those recovering from the novel virus. In April 2020, Mangan became the first person to donate blood plasma after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved clinical trials and use of plasma extracted from those who have survived the virus to treat those who are currently battling COVID-19. After contracting the virus on his way home to Arkansas from a ski trip, Mangan and his wife soon realized the severity of their symptoms, quarantining themselves for 14 days and learning of their positive tests. While he has recovered from the illness, Mangan knew that his plasma could be the life-saving difference for someone else facing this virus. During a visit to the Arkansas Blood Institute, Mangan donated over 600 millimeters of yellow plasma to be donated to the cause. David Mangan is truly an example of heroism in a time of great need. He exemplifies the strength of a survivor and the heart of a true servant. I take this time to wish him and his family well in the coming days and thank them for their commitment to seeing our communities thrive and return to good health.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, why is it not too big of a health concern to call us back from all across the country to vote on a useless messaging bill that will wither on the vine outside this Chamber, but it is too much to ask us to come back and hold committee hearings? Proxy voting shouldn't happen; not now, not ever. If Members of Congress are unwilling to do their job, they should step down and let someone else do it. If politicizing a process weren't enough, the Speaker is now weakening the core foundations of Congress. Already, House Democrats have demonstrated their expertise at crafting partisan bills behind closed doors. And on the Natural Resources Committee, they have been holding partisan virtual hearings disguised as roundtables with no Republican input. I will concede to my colleagues across the aisle that proxy voting will keep the process moving: the wrong process, the wrong direction, and for all the wrong reasons. I am not only concerned about how we will be voting; I am also concerned about what we will be voting on. Is the plan now for a handful of Members to come back to D.C. every other week to vote on yet another messaging bill from the Speaker? This is wrong and none of us should stand for it. Republicans are ready to get back to real work. I ask Speaker Pelosi to please quit playing games with the rules and let us do our jobs.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the exemplary service of Crystal Ridge Distillery. Family owned and operated in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Crystal Ridge Distillery was on the front lines of battling the threat of COVID-19 on a state-wide stage. Started in 2018, Crystal Ridge Distillery was created by Danny Bradley, a native of the Hot Springs area with a passion for local history, job creation, and revitalization of the Downtown Hot Springs area. Originally intended to become a family venue restaurant and distillery, Mr. Bradley and his family quickly saw the need for action in facing the public health crisis that resulted from COVID-19. Halting the production of its locally sourced southern moonshine, the Bradley family and Crystal Ridge team shifted their production and their fermentation tanks to produce hand sanitizer. Within days, Crystal Ridge hand sanitizer was on the shelves of Arkansas stores, ameliorating the shortage in the State of Arkansas and protecting its people from the spread of the virus. The quick action of Crystal Ridge Distillery not only actively combatted a public health crisis, but it also served to highlight the power of a few good people who have the desire and conviction to serve their fellow man. Their family and their business are to be commended for their heroic efforts not just here in Arkansas, but all across America.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Randy Thompson on being selected as one of only fifteen journalism and communications students in the 2020 Berlin Capital Program. Funded through the Fulbright Commission, this elite educational program highlights the best and brightest of America's students. Thompson is a senior mass communications major at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, set to graduate in May 2020. He is also a member of the Collegiate 4-H Club, the Peace Corps Prep Program, and the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Throughout his education at UAPB, Thompson travelled all over South America and Asia, studying Spanish and Chinese. The 2020 Berlin Capital Program will focus on introducing Thompson and other participants to German politics, society, and cultural affairs in remembrance of the 20th anniversary of German reunification. Thompson will also have the opportunity to explore the role of media in nurturing democracy. Randy Thompson's accomplishment is to be commended not just in our district, but across our state and nation. Not only docs his work serve as an example of academic excellence and perseverance, but it also serves as a source of pride for the citizens of South Arkansas

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Emmaline Landes on her selection as Arkansas' state honoree with the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. As one of only 102 students chosen nationwide, Emmaline was recognized for her outstanding service to her peers. Sponsored by Prudential Financial and partnered with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), this award honors the top youth volunteers of the year. A senior at El Dorado High School, Emmaline has raised over $16,000 since 2013 for various nonprofits and causes by selling more than 300 pieces of original artwork. Some of these causes include child abuse, homelessness, animal adoption, hunger, healthcare, and arts education. In addition to these causes, Emmaline has produced several original art shows with the aim of raising funds for those in her community. Some of her shows' revenue has been used to purchase medical supplies for those with ALS or AIDS, and some has been used to purchase baby clothing and supplies for those facing teenage pregnancy. Given a $1,000 scholarship and $2,500 to donate to the COVID-19 efforts of a nonprofit of her choosing, Emmaline stands out as one of the most selfless examples of servant-leadership. I take this time to thank her for her service to the state we both call home.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hot Springs Village. The largest gated community in North America with land spreading across 20,000 acres of Garland and Saline Counties, Hot Springs Village has long been a community vital to the Fourth District of Arkansas. April 20, 2020 marks 50 years since the community's founding by local developer John Cooper Sr. and his family. Boasting an extensive list of recreational activities, a deep appreciation for local art, culture, and history, beautiful scenery of the Ouachita Mountains and nearby Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs Village has become one of the premiere retirement communities and tourist destinations in the United States. Using the expression ``Proud Past and Strong Future,'' the Hot Springs Village 50th Anniversary Planning Committee strives to make this year-long ``party'' a celebration of the Village's rich history and a platform to discuss its future successes. While the Village leadership has already hosted several celebration events throughout the early part of this year, local citizens can expect a schedule of events to celebrate the founding of this close-knit community until December 2020. I take this time to recognize the work of this citizenry's leadership, their commitment to community, and their 50 years of success. For many in the Fourth District of Arkansas, Hot Springs Village serves as a model reminder of the values we all hold dear and the homes we all strive to create.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Fulton W. Walker, a three-year World War II Veteran of the United States Army. On February 28, 2020, Mr. Fulton W. Walker will be recognized for his service and commitment to the United States and presented with his service medals. Mr. Walker, of Emerson and Texarkana and resident of the Fourth District of Arkansas, began his service during World War II in 1943 at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he trained as part of a tank battalion. He later transferred to Fort Campbell, Kentucky as a member of a transportation outfit where he learned how to drive military trucks to haul supplies. In July 1944, he deployed overseas to the European Theater of Operations where he served in England, France, Germany and wherever service needs required. He worked tirelessly as a truck driver transporting supplies from coastal docks to the frontlines, all during the darkness of night to avoid enemy detection. At the end of the war, he returned home to Arkansas and re-entered the Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College (AM&N), now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and English in May 1950. He then moved on to graduate school earning a Master's in Education Administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1957. He then served in several different capacities including as an English teacher and high school basketball coach in Rison, Arkansas. In 1952, he accepted a teaching position in the grade 1-12 school in Star City, Arkansas and two years later became principal, serving in this position until 1965. The Pine Bluff School District hired him into his next assignment where he served as elementary school principal, middle school principal, district central office federal title I program coordinator and finally assistant superintendent in charge of all federal programs for the Pine Bluff School District. Mr. Walker mentored many students throughout his 36-year career and served as a role model to all he interacted with. His faithful service to students in Southeast Arkansas is a testament to his military service in putting others before self. I am honored to recognize Mr. Fulton W. Walker and all African American veterans of World War II for their rich history of service and bravery. I thank each and every one of them for protecting the freedoms of this country, and hope their legacy continues for generations to come.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Tracey Childress of Hot Springs on her recognition as the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce's 2020 Woman of the Year. This award is given yearly by the Chamber of Commerce based on the impact that members of a community have on their fellow man. Since she moved to Arkansas in 1992, Ms. Childress has been a vital part of the Hot Springs area, specifically in her work with the Cooper Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center where she has served as Director since January 2019. She worked as a forensic interviewer for several years, often cited as one of Arkansas' leading experts on Child First Forensic Interview Protocol. In addition to her work, she is also a respected and active member of her church, a state and national forensic interview instructor, a certified law enforcement instructor, and a beloved mentor in the local YMCA Reach and Rise Program. Ms. Childress provides this nation with a perfect example of what service can accomplish in a community both professionally and personally. I am proud to call her a friend and a fellow Fourth District citizen. I take this time to congratulate her on her success as Woman of the Year and thank her for her continued service to the young people around us.