[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 149 (Saturday, August 22, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING LUKE HARTZ AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK

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                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, August 22, 2020

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join 
me in honoring an Iowan who has taken up the call to respond to the 
devastation brought by the derecho that hit Iowa and the Midwest last 
week. Hundreds of thousands of Iowans were left without power as the 
storm brought sustained winds of over 100 mph in many areas of our 
state, downing trees and crop fields, knocking down power lines, and 
damaging buildings and the electrical supply capacity across Iowa. I 
ask you to join me in honoring Luke Hartz, a senior journeyman lineman, 
who is one of the many individuals working around the clock to restore 
power and a sense of normalcy to affected Iowa families.
  The shockwaves of not having power during a global pandemic cannot be 
overstated. Employees were left without a way to work from home, 
students could not complete distance learning, businesses had to close 
their doors, and fridges and freezers had to be emptied of food that 
went bad. Families that sustained significant damage to their homes had 
to find shelter in hotels, motels, and with friends or family members 
that still had power. It was a gut punch Iowans didn't need after 
everything we've been through this year.
  Luke and his fellow linemen across the State of Iowa have been 
working extra shifts and additional hours, leaving their families for 
days on end to help address the needs of others. Luke was in Long 
Island, New York earlier this month to help with the response effort to 
tropical storm Isaias. After helping New Yorkers, he came straight back 
to Iowa to assist in response to the derecho. He has consistently been 
working 14+ hour days for the past three weeks to help restore power to 
the hundreds of thousands of individuals impacted by these natural 
disasters, and he's one of many doing that work. Linemen from around 
the Midwest have come to Iowa's aid, and to them we are forever 
grateful.
  One thing Luke regularly tells the members of his crew is, ``I need 
you every day, not just today''. The scope of the damage is still being 
tabulated and these individuals are going to be pulling double and even 
triple shifts to serve their communities and state in this trying time. 
The repair work they're undertaking would normally take months. 
Instead, they're working to get us back on track within weeks.
  Madam Speaker, Iowans take care of each other. When we see someone in 
need, we step up to make them whole. Luke is helping hundreds of 
thousands of our families and neighbors reconnect and rebuild. We are 
grateful to have hardworking Iowans like Luke and linemen around this 
state to get us up and running once again. Iowa has had more than our 
fair share of difficulties over the last 18 months, and now a storm 
that had rain and winds similar to a hurricane. But no matter what 
disaster has come our way, people like Luke have showed up to help us 
get through it. I couldn't be prouder of him and his fellow linemen for 
their selfless and tireless work.
  It is my honor to ask the House to join me in recognizing senior 
journeyman lineman Luke Hartz as our Iowan of the Week.

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