[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H772-H773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING MILKEN EDUCATOR AWARD RECIPIENT MELISSA FIKE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, the prestigious Milken Educator Awards 
have been called the Oscars of teaching. I rise today to pay tribute to 
a resident of Missouri's Fourth District who was recently honored as 
one of the Milken Family Foundation's outstanding educators.
  Melissa Fike of Oakland Middle School of Columbia, Missouri, has 
taught for 14 years and was not told ahead of time about her award. She 
was shocked to hear her name announced during a recent school assembly 
packed by Oakland Middle School students and staff.
  As a winner, she receives an award, the recognition of her 
colleagues, and a check for $25,000.
  Teachers make an indelible mark on the lives of young people through 
their kind words, encouraging smiles, impartation of knowledge, or by 
helping

[[Page H773]]

plant a seed that bears fruit in future years. Melissa Fike has 
distinguished herself and made an impact that will be felt for years to 
come.
  Madam Speaker, I want to commend Melissa Fike on her great work 
making a difference in the lives of so many young people and 
congratulate her on this prestigious award.


    Recognizing Morris Burger, Former President and CEO of Burgers' 
                               Smokehouse

  Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, it is with great joy that I share news 
of Morris Burger, former president and CEO of Burgers' Smokehouse of 
California, Missouri, being inducted into the Meat Industry Hall of 
Fame.
  After serving his country in the Army, Morris returned home to run 
the family business with the goal of producing the finest cured ham in 
the country. The business was extremely successful and expanded 
numerous times over recent decades to the point that its business 
orders now exceed 500,000 hams and tens of thousands of pounds of 
bacon, sausage, and specialty meats each year.
  Morris retired in the 1990s, and the business is now run by the third 
and fourth generations of Burger family members.
  Morris Burger has left a legacy to be proud of as Burgers' Smokehouse 
continues to epitomize quality, taste, and innovation, while playing an 
active role in the community and remaining an influential leader in the 
industry.
  Congratulations, Morris Burger, for being inducted into the Meat 
Industry Hall of Fame, a well-deserved honor.


            Stop Drug Smuggling By Filling the Tunnels ASAP

  Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, last week, our U.S. Customs and Border 
Patrol agents announced the discovery of a highly sophisticated, 
illegal, 4,309-foot cross-border tunnel from Mexico into California 
built by the drug cartels.
  Unfortunately, while the tunnel was first found in August of 2019, it 
will still take several months to close the tunnel as the agency 
completes a mandatory environmental review and a lengthy contractor 
bidding process.
  In October of 2018, I visited the southern border and heard directly 
from Customs and Border Patrol agents in Arizona, and I heard a similar 
story.
  The process of closing drug tunnels is arduous and time-consuming. It 
often takes 3 to 4 months to abate this threat. That is unacceptable.
  Last year, I introduced H.R. 3968, the Eradicate Crossing of Illegal 
Tunnels Act, to address these problems.
  This bill expedites the approval process by removing the unnecessary 
red tape currently preventing our CBP agents from addressing this 
critical vulnerability. It allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
waive the environmental review and for indefinite contracts to be 
secured so drug tunnels can be filled in a timely manner.
  We need to ensure our Border Patrol agents have the tools necessary 
to efficiently and effectively remove illegal access into our country, 
hurting our community with illegal drugs. It is time to pass this 
crucial legislation, and I call on my colleagues to support my bill.

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