February 15, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E203 the importance of agriculture inspired him to PERSONAL EXPLANATION intentionally misrepresented the veteran status donate his time and resources to the Colorado of its employees. Young Farmers Educational Association, serv- HON. GWEN MOORE One of the biggest problems facing our vet- ing as state president and national secretary. OF WISCONSIN erans right now is finding good jobs in civilian He was also a member of the Colorado Live- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES life, especially those who served in Iraq and stock Association and Colorado Corn Growers Afghanistan. Wednesday, February 15, 2017 Association. Throughout the years, he has Our veterans have received the best training won various awards for his commitment to ag- Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, on February 13, in the world. riculture, and even appeared in a Coors tele- 2017, I missed four votes as a result of per- They have unique skills and experience that vision commercial. sonal illness. Had I been present, I would cannot be acquired anywhere but in the have voted YES on H.R. 609, YES on H.R. United States military. Despite Mr. Markham’s accomplishments 512, YES on H.R. 244, YES on H.R. 974. They have what it takes to excel in the civil- within his community, he is most proud to hold f ian workforce; they do not need charity, just the title farmer. Mr. Markham is the owner of opportunity. M&M Farms, where he has spent countless RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALL- With this bill, we urge private companies to days growing Rocky Mountain Barley for EN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER SER- hire highly-trained, highly-skilled veterans who Coors Brewing Company. GEANT FIRST CLASS (SFC) WIL- know how to get the job done, whatever job it On behalf of the 4th Congressional District LIAM C. SPILLERS may be. of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to Mr. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting Bill Markham. His passion and dedication to HON. TRENT KELLY H.R. 974. the agricultural industry makes him more than OF MISSISSIPPI f worthy of this distinct recognition. Mr. Speak- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RECOGNIZING MR. BILL WEBSTER er, it is an honor to recognize Mr. Bill Mark- Wednesday, February 15, 2017 ham for his accomplishments. Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, HON. KEN BUCK today I rise in memory of Army Sergeant First f OF COLORADO Class (SFC) William C. Spillers who paid the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ultimate sacrifice while defending our great na- HONORING OAKWOOD MIDDLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017 SCHOOL AS FUTURE CITY FINAL- tion on February 17, 2007, during Operation ISTS Iraqi Freedom III. SFC Spillers died of a non- Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to rec- combat related injury in Baghdad, Iraq. ognize Mr. Bill Webster on being inducted into SFC Spillers worked at the Joint Forces the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame. This HON. BOB GIBBS Headquarters in Jackson, MS. He was as- honor is reserved for those who have made a signed to the 230th Finance Detachment, 15th significant contribution to the agricultural in- OF OHIO Finance Battalion, 13th Finance Group, Jack- dustry of Colorado and the United States. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES son, MS. Twenty-one members of his unit Mr. Webster has had a tremendous impact were mobilized in May 2006. They arrived in on agriculture in Colorado. He started Webster Wednesday, February 15, 2017 Iraq in August 2006. Land and Cattle Company at a young age and SFC Spillers, a Terry, MS native, was de- managed the company for over thirty years. Mr. GIBBS. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to scribed by Major General Harold Cross as a After his retirement, Mr. Webster served in the recognize the students of Oakwood Middle model soldier who was always attentive to his Colorado State Legislature and as the Weld School, finalists in the Future City competition. duties, Adjutant General of the Mississippi Na- County Commissioner at Large. He has con- Each year, more than 40,000 students from tional Guard. At the time of SFC Spillers’s tinuously been a leader in his community, 1,350 schools across the country compete in death, at least 47 soldiers or sailors with Mis- serving on multiple boards and participating in the Future City competition, which challenges sissippi ties had died in action since oper- various organizations. Today he is involved in students to create futuristic cities and solve ations began in Iraq and Afghanistan. the Greeley Rotary Club, T-Bone Club, First sustainability issues within the city. Thirty-four SFC Spillers devoted his life as a full-time Congregational Church, and the American Le- eighth-grade students from Oakwood Middle soldier in service to our nation. He is survived gion. School in Canton, Ohio participated in this by his parents Robert E. Spillers and Sharon In addition to being a leader in his commu- year’s competition under the guidance of their Johnson, his wife Kim, his daughter Hailey, nity, Mr. Webster served his country for two teacher, Ms. Vanessa Board. and sons Daniel and Myles. years in the United States Army. After his f many years of public service, Mr. Webster re- This year’s competition tasked the students turned to Colorado State University to com- to create an efficient, eco-friendly city set 100 BOOSTING RATES OF AMERICAN plete his Bachelor of Science degree in Ani- years in the future. These talented students VETERAN EMPLOYMENT ACT mal Science. Mr. Bill Webster has set an ex- used their knowledge in Science, Technology, ceptional example of leadership and public SPEECH OF Engineering, and Math to create the city of service, and it is a great honor to call him a Skotgeta, an Icelandic city powered by geo- HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE dear friend and my father-in-law. thermal energy, which harnesses sustainable OF TEXAS On behalf of the 4th Congressional District natural resources and utilizes technology to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to Mr. cure cancer. Their hard work earned them Bill Webster. His passion and dedication to the Monday, February 13, 2017 First Place at the regional competition and agricultural industry makes him more than qualified them to compete in the national Fu- Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in worthy of this distinct recognition. Mr. Speak- ture City competition. support of H.R. 974, ‘‘Boosting Rates of Amer- er, it is an honor to recognize Mr. Bill Webster The achievements of these students dem- ican Veteran Employment Act.’’ ‘‘BRAVE Act’’ for his accomplishments. onstrate the same ingenuity and determination authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs f to give preference to companies with high of other Ohioans like Neil Armstrong, Thomas PERSONAL EXPLANATION Edison, and the Wright Brothers. I am con- concentrations of veteran employees when awarding VA contracts. fident in the future of our nation when Oak- I support this bipartisan bill because it pro- wood Middle School’s Future City team rep- HON. BILL HUIZENGA vides an incentive to companies to actively resents the next generation of American lead- OF MICHIGAN hire veterans. ership. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.R. 974 will spur the hiring of veterans into Mr. Speaker, this accomplishment is a testa- coveted positions within large government Wednesday, February 15, 2017 ment to the students and their teacher’s dedi- contractors. Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today cation to academic excellence. I am proud of The BRAVE Act also gives the VA authority regarding missed votes due to my attendance each of these individuals, and I wish them to debar contracting for at least five years of at the White House for the signing ceremony much success in the future. any company determined to have willfully and for H.J. Res. 41 on Tuesday, February 14, VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:30 Feb 16, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A15FE8.026 E15FEPT1 smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with REMARKS E204 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks February 15, 2017 2017. Had I been present for roll call vote Bill personally. However, I know how deeply PERSONAL EXPLANATION number 88, ordering the previous question of he was loved and how greatly he is missed. H. Res. 99, I would have voted yea. Had I I offer my condolences to his family as they HON. DAVID P. ROE been present for roll call vote number 89, both mourn his loss and celebrate his life after OF TENNESSEE Adoption of H. Res. 99, the combined rule his home-going on January 17th of this year. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES providing for consideration of H.R. 428—Red Wednesday, February 15, 2017 River Gradient Boundary Survey Act and of Known to many as Hunter, Bill was raised in H.J. Res. 42—Disapproving the rule submitted West Texas and embodied many classic Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I by the Department of Labor relating to drug American traits—independent, driven, and missed Roll Call votes 89, 90 and 91 on Feb- testing of unemployment compensation appli- fiercely loyal. His childhood was not easy, and ruary 14, 2017. cants, I would have voted yea. Had I been it engendered in him his lifelong drive to work I missed these votes while attending the present for roll call vote number 90, ordering hard, fight for the underdog, and aid those in swearing-in ceremony at the White House for VA Secretary Shulkin. the Previous Question on H. Res. 116—I need.