[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 5, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H7831-H7832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING MARGIE TOWERY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Hill) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the life of a 
teacher who continues to have an indelible impact on Arkansas, Margie 
Towery, who is this year's Greenbrier School District Teacher of the 
Year.
  Margie has dedicated her life to serving and educating Arkansas' 
youth.
  This is her 26th year of teaching, including seven at the nearby 
University of Central Arkansas.
  Margie is a big advocate for STEM education, particularly for young 
girls, and even takes her students to local universities to participate 
in their STEM activities.
  She started and led the Rhetoric Society at the high school until she 
became a full-time sponsor of the student council.
  Teachers like Margie prove that education is one of the best 
investments that America can make.
  I am proud to represent her and all the teachers of central Arkansas 
who are making a difference for our youth.


                      Arnold Hameister Retirement

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of a man 
who has had a major impact on conservation and preservation throughout 
Arkansas, Mr. Arnold Hameister.
  Arnold recently retired after 37 years of service to the Arkansas 
Forestry Commission.
  He started his career with the Forestry Commission in 1981 as a tower 
operator in Heber Springs, and 6 months later became a full-time 
ranger.
  Arnold then moved his family to Conway, where he served as the county 
ranger until he was hired by Best Management Practices as a specialist.
  He ended his decades-long career as the program coordinator for water 
quality.
  Arnold and his family were recently honored at a celebration at the 
Department of Agriculture headquarters in Little Rock.
  Arnold's service to the State of Arkansas and to environmental 
conservation will never be forgotten, and I join all Arkansans in 
congratulating him on a remarkable career and a well-deserved 
retirement.


                       Recognizing Tamika Edwards

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend, Tamika 
Edwards, who has just been named executive director of the Social 
Justice Institute at Philander Smith College.
  Tamika has served her State and her country tirelessly throughout her 
whole career from her work as a former aide to U.S. Senator Blanche 
Lincoln, to her role as the Director of Governmental Affairs for 
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

[[Page H7832]]

  A native of our hometown, Little Rock, Ms. Edwards is a graduate of 
the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a two-time alumna of the 
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, most recently in 2012 with her 
law degree.
  Ms. Edwards' passion for ensuring all voices are heard will serve her 
well as she oversees the Social Justice Institute's crucial work of 
educating students and the community in advocating for equal 
opportunity, treatment, and respect.
  So, again, I would like to congratulate Ms. Edwards on her new 
position of leadership, and I look forward to working with her.


                         Recognizing Neomi Rao

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Neomi Rao, the 
current Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, for her important work in reducing the power of the Federal 
administrative state.
  Beginning in 2013, I outlined how our economic recovery was subpar in 
comparison to post-World War II recoveries, in part due to the wet 
blanket of the avalanche of Federal costs imposed by the previous 
administration.
  In Arkansas, we have seen Federal regulatory agencies have 
devastating economic effects on our farmers, our small business people, 
nonprofits, schools, colleges, and State agencies.
  Then comes Neomi Rao, and in her first year as administrator of OIRA, 
she led the way with the delay or withdrawal of 1,579 planned 
regulatory actions, leading to almost $8 billion in lifetime savings 
for the economy and the American people.
  These successes have not stopped in 2018, where she has been working 
with every agency to set a negative regulatory cost allocation to 
provide our local businesses, farmers, and schools the relief that they 
need.
  I commend Administrator Rao for her work at OMB in cutting red tape 
in Washington and giving control back to our States, our local 
communities, and our hardworking taxpayers.

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