July 30, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E701 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS PERSONAL EXPLANATION significant and positive impact on the Brazos COVID–19 pandemic. Recently, the House Valley during its 100–year history. passed H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, a HON. PETE OLSON I have requested the United States flag be comprehensive package that invests more OF TEXAS flown over our Nation’s Capitol to recognize than $1.5 trillion in America’s transportation IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES this significant milestone and their contribu- and infrastructure over the next five years. tions to our veterans and to our community. This includes nearly $7 billion for Washington Thursday, July 30, 2020 As I close today, I urge all Americans to state’s transportation network. The Moving Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, due to a per- continue praying for our country, for our vet- Forward Act is part of a long-term vision to put sonal matter, I was unable to make votes on erans, and for our military men and women Americans back to work, jumpstart the econ- Monday, July 27th. Had I been present, I who protect us and for our first responders omy and make the transportation network would have voted ‘‘YEA’’ on Rollcall No. 167. who keep us safe at home. smarter, safer and greener. f f Although H.R. 2 significantly increases sur- face transportation funding, it falls short in PERSONAL EXPLANATION RECOGNIZING THE CAREER OF helping the nation’s medium-sized cities, like BULLHEAD CITY CHIEF OF PO- Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood and Oak Har- HON. STEVEN M. PALAZZO LICE BRIAN WILLIAMSON bor in my district. Congress must recommit to OF MISSISSIPPI supporting medium-sized cities’ efforts to im- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. PAUL A. GOSAR prove their transportation systems and foster Thursday, July 30, 2020 OF ARIZONA economic development. We can do this by in- creasing federal infrastructure investment. Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, due to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Previously known as Transportation Invest- COVID–19 travel restrictions, which impacted Thursday, July 30, 2020 ment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) my flight options, I was not present in the Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today grants, the U.S. Department of Transpor- House and unable to vote on July 27, 2020. to commemorate the retirement of Bullhead tation’s (DOT) Better Utilizing Investments to Had I been present, I would have voted City Chief of Police Brian Williamson, ending Leverage Development (BUILD) program ‘‘YEA’’ on Rollcall No. 167. a career serving our country for 32 years in awards grants to local surface transportation f law enforcement. projects across the country. However, the CENTENNIAL OF AMERICAN Chief Williamson began his honorable ca- BUILD program’s structure can force medium- LEGION EARL GRAHAM POST 159 reer in 1988 by enlisting in the U.S. Army as sized cities to delay or indefinitely postpone a military police officer. He would leave the vital transportation projects. HON. BILL FLORES Army in 1992, only to enter public law enforce- The City of Mountlake Terrace, Washington ment to protect the people of Western Ari- is one example. The city applied for a BUILD OF TEXAS zona. grant in 2011 and 2012 to help fund the rede- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES After serving with the Mohave County Sher- velopment of Main Street to facilitate eco- Thursday, July 30, 2020 iffs Office, Chief Williamson became a patrol nomic development and affordable housing Mr. FLORES. Madam Speaker, I rise today officer with the Bullhead City Police Depart- connected to the planned Light Rail station. to recognize the 100-year anniversary of ment, working his way through the ranks to Despite receiving among the highest economic American Legion Earl Graham Post 159. eventually achieve the position of chief of po- benefit ratios by DOT, the city’s population American Legion Post 159 was chartered 13 lice, where he has served for the last nine size was the main reason DOT did not fund February 1920 and named after First Lieuten- years. This year, Chief Williamson is entering the project. ant Cyrus Earl Graham, Texas A&M University a much-deserved retirement and we in West- The City of Shoreline, Washington faced a class of 1916. ern Arizona deeply thank him for his tireless similar problem. For the past two years, Lieutenant Graham was a member of the service to Mohave County. Shoreline has submitted a BUILD grant appli- United States Army Air Corps and was killed Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chief cation for a project to rebuild a highway inter- in action in France on 9 November 1918. Williamson for his lifetime of service to our na- change that will help reduce congestion and From the beginning, The American Legion tion and offer my warmest wishes for a happy improve mobility. Although this project was created an egalitarian organization open to retirement. Western Arizona is safer and highly rated and advanced to the Transpor- membership regardless of race, gender, or re- stronger on the back of the service provided tation Secretary’s desk for consideration, it ligion. Post 159 has embodied these goals by Chief Williamson and his officers, and I has not received federal funding due to its me- and has been a community-minded organiza- urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Chief dium-sized population. tion since its inception 100 years ago. Williamson well in the next adventures life To help address these issues, I introduced During this period, Post 159 has been dedi- brings. the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage cated to serving the local Brazos Valley com- f Development for Underfunded Projects munity through events such as the Brazos (BUILD UP) Act earlier this year. The BUILD County Fair and the historical Juneteenth H.R. 2, THE MOVING FORWARD UP Act would require at least 30 percent of Celebration, both of which were hosted on ACT funding from the U.S. Department of Transpor- The American Legion grounds. These events tation’s BUILD grant funding be awarded to saw over 1,000 people come together to em- HON. RICK LARSEN cities with 10,000 to 75,000 residents. Over brace our community. OF WASHINGTON the past two years, cities with populations be- Post 159 of The American Legion continues IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tween 10,000 and 75,000 have received ap- its commitment to the community to this day, proximately 35 percent of BUILD funding. The Thursday, July 30, 2020 with programs that provide activities for local BUILD UP Act would codify current DOT dis- youth and veterans, as well as support for Ac- Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Madam Speak- tribution practice and not re-route funding from tive Duty military members currently serving er, I rise today in support of medium-sized cit- other rural or urban areas. overseas. ies in Washington state and across the coun- As the country recovers from the COVID–19 The annual Resource Fair and Veterans As- try who play a critical role in driving the na- pandemic, Congress must ensure medium- sistance program provides over $20,000 in fi- tion’s economy. size cities can access the federal resources nancial assistance to veterans in need. In Washington state, transportation and in- necessary to proceed with shovel-ready infra- Madam Speaker, it is clear that The Amer- frastructure mean jobs and are key to eco- structure projects and to help put Americans ican Legion Earl Graham Post 159 has had a nomic recovery as the nation grapples with the back to work. I encourage House leadership ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. VerDate Sep 11 2014 13:51 Jul 31, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A30JY8.001 E30JYPT1 rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with REMARKS E702 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 30, 2020 and the Appropriations Committee to include a covery. Notably, he oversaw the restoration of and Technology, commonly called NIST. He similar BUILD UP set-aside in a final FY2021 a historic cannon which is now on display in later became a tenured professor at the De- appropriations package. the History Museum of Mobile. partment of Statistics at Texas A&M Univer- f A dedicated member of the Mobile, Ala- sity. bama community, Robert was Mobile’s Consul Serving on the faculty at Texas A&M for HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY to Guatemala for twenty years and organized over 30 years, Cliff became renowned in his OF ROBERT EDINGTON Mobile’s first trade mission to Central America. field and a highly sought-after expert in the For his efforts, he was awarded the U.S. De- application of statistical expertise to forensic HON. TERRI A. SEWELL partment of Commerce’s Achievement Award. science, chemistry, and medicine. In 2009, he OF ALABAMA Robert served on the National Advisory was named a distinguished professor of statis- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Board for the U.S. Small Business Administra- tics, the university’s highest rank for faculty. Thursday, July 30, 2020 tion. He was a member of the Mobile Kiwanis His contributions to the field of statistics were Club and the American Legion. He was further recognized in his appointment as a re- Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, named Alumnus of the Year in 2008 by gents professor in 2019. I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Rhodes College; and served as Director of the Cliff was particularly known for his helpful Robert Edington, a military veteran, former Mobile Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer’s nature and deep commitment to justice and Alabama State Senator and Representative, Program.