[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 30, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5100-H5102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING CULLAN BROWN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2019, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. 
Comer) for 30 minutes.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
remarkable life led by Mr. Cullan Brown from Eddyville, Kentucky.
  Mr. Brown was a student athlete at the University of Kentucky where 
he excelled on the golf course. He passed away in August at the age of 
20 after battling a rare form of bone cancer.
  A young man with a love for golf, he racked up numerous 
accomplishments over his young career. He won the individual Kentucky 
High School Athletic Association State Championship, Lyon County's 
first State championship in any sport.
  Mr. Brown was a highly ranked recruit nationwide in 2018 and could 
have played golf at many different schools, but he decided to commit to 
the University of Kentucky, saying: ``I love the State of Kentucky and 
its people.''
  Cullan Brown would go on to have a successful freshman year at the 
University of Kentucky, including being named to the All-Southeastern 
Conference freshman team.

  Even more impressive than his success on the golf course, friends, 
coaches, and others have widely noted that this young man had a love 
for the people around him and impacted many lives with his wonderful 
personality.
  Cancer takes a harsh toll on individuals and families. One life lost 
to this disease is too many. It is critical for our Nation to double 
down on efforts to fight cancer, including expanding research efforts 
aimed at developing effective treatments and cures.
  Cullan Brown was a force for good whose courageous battle inspired 
many. His family and friends continue to be in our thoughts and 
prayers.


                        Honoring Jeremy Creason

  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayfield Fire 
Department Chief Jeremy Creason for recently being named the Kentucky 
League of Cities 2020 City Employee of the Year.
  Mr. Creason joined the Mayfield Fire Department in Graves County in 
2008, serving as a firefighter and paramedic. He quickly rose through 
the ranks to become chief at the age of 34.
  At a time when essential workers have made numerous adjustments to 
serve their communities, Mr. Creason's dedication to Mayfield has been 
on full display. When personal protective equipment was scarce, he 
found some for his fellow firefighters to ensure they remained safe. 
This, along with other precautions he took, have proven to be 
effective, with no positive cases within the Mayfield Fire Department 
personnel.
  In addition to taking good care of his staff, Mr. Creason met with 
local businesses and churches to advise them on capacity seating in 
their buildings and regulations for reopening. His due diligence is a 
shining example of caring for others and taking proper precautions to 
safely reopen.
  I am honored to recognize Jeremy Creason for this award and his 
excellent service and commitment to his community.

                              {time}  1930


                    Honoring Neighborhood Pet Stores

  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the support 
neighborhood pet stores provide for our local communities.
  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses have been slammed 
economically, but these dire circumstances have provided us with an 
opportunity to raise awareness of the tremendous impact local pet 
stores have on our communities.
  As we all know, our animals serve as an extension of our families and 
often provide a source of friendship and comfort for both adults and 
children. During the pandemic, that companionship has become even more 
paramount as pet owners are spending significantly more time with their 
pets.
  Local pet stores establish personal relationships with the community, 
whether those relationships are formed through employees providing 
expert advice and helping customers buy the correct product for their 
animals or helping to raise money for the local humane society.
  These small businesses make a huge impact on the lives of our 
animals, and they become part of our families' lives, watching the pets 
grow over the years and serving as a go-to resource time and time 
again.
  I join with everyone in honoring the extraordinary work neighborhood 
pet stores do to make a difference in our pets' lives. I am honored to 
represent them as they continue to build relationships throughout the 
First Congressional District of Kentucky and across the United States.


       Congratulations to Marie Gatton Phillips Elementary School

  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Marie Gatton 
Phillips Elementary School in Sacramento, Kentucky, for receiving the 
distinction of a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. 
Department of Education. The award is based on a school's overall 
academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among 
student subgroups.
  I am grateful to the hardworking faculty and staff at Marie Gatton 
Phillips Elementary School for their commitment to the betterment of 
their students and the local community. Their passion for creating a 
positive and supportive learning environment helps each student develop 
essential academic and social skills.
  These skills help them succeed both inside and outside the classroom, 
placing them on a path to become leaders in their communities for years 
to come.
  At a time when schools are working tirelessly to adjust to present 
challenges, I am proud to congratulate you all on this terrific 
achievement. Your faculty, staff, and students are very deserving of 
this honor.
  I look forward to continued success from Marie Gatton Phillips 
Elementary School. All of McLean County, the First Congressional 
District, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky should be very proud of this 
recognition.


                        Honoring Roger Holloway

  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Roger Holloway of 
Hopkinsville, Kentucky, a veteran and one of the last Buffalo Soldiers 
alive, who is on a mission to keep their legacy front and center.
  Mr. Holloway enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1950 at the age of 17, 
serving in the Vietnam and Korean wars where he rose in the ranks to be 
named a corporal and squad leader.
  At that time, the all-Black regiment was segregated from the general 
Army that would soon be integrated in 1951. In 1953, Mr. Holloway took 
a break from service, but soon reenlisted in 1954 and served in the 
airborne division until his retirement in 1972.
  Mr. Holloway is now on a mission, a new mission, spreading the word 
to keep the stories of the Buffalo Soldiers alive.
  In 1866, Congress passed the Army Organization Act, creating the 
Buffalo Soldiers, a unit composed of all African-American troops. The 
Buffalo Soldiers mainly helped to protect the western frontier after 
the American Civil War and later fought in the Spanish-American War and 
the Korean war.
  The Buffalo Soldiers were a pivotal part of our Armed Forces, 
including working to secure the first U.S. victory in Korea on July 20, 
1950.
  I am honored to share the exceptional history of the Buffalo Soldiers 
on the House floor today. Throughout decades of service, they provided 
much-needed support, not only for our military but for all Americans. I 
am proud of all of their accomplishments.

[[Page H5101]]

  I am honored to recognize Mr. Holloway and the Buffalo Soldiers for 
their exceptional service to our Nation. I especially want to thank Mr. 
Holloway for being an exceptional leader in his community and the First 
Congressional District of Kentucky.


             Congratulations to Starfish Orphan Ministries

  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Starfish 
Orphan Ministries in Paducah, Kentucky, for being selected as an Angels 
in Adoption Honoree by the 2020 Congressional Coalition on Adoption 
Institute.
  The Angels in Adoption program honors individuals and organizations 
focusing on adoptions, permanency, and child welfare issues. I was 
proud to nominate this outstanding organization for this award, which 
they have gone above and beyond to achieve.
  The Starfish Orphan Ministries supports children going through the 
foster care and adoption processes, both in my district and around the 
world.
  One way they help children is through Kendra's Kloset. This program 
serves single-parent households, foster parents, and teens aging out of 
the system by providing them with clothing and furniture. These and 
other necessities allow children to become more settled in their new 
home environments.
  In addition to serving Kentucky children, Starfish Ministries has 
expanded the footprint of their ministry through international mission 
trips. They regularly take high school students on mission trips to 
Central and South America, giving young people hands-on exposure 
to community outreach programs, which make an extraordinary difference 
in countless lives.

  Thanks to their tireless efforts to promote the well-being of 
children, I can think of no organization more deserving of this 
recognition.
  Congratulations, again, to Starfish Orphan Ministry of Paducah.


                    Honoring the Late Trevor Gosser

  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, the late 
Trevor Gosser from Russell County, Kentucky, who tragically passed away 
last month.
  I first met Trevor on Gosser Ridge in Russell County when I was out 
campaigning with farmers. I hired Trevor at the Kentucky Department of 
Agriculture when I served as Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture.
  He quickly demonstrated a strong work ethic and high level of 
dedication to his work. He also became a good friend of mine, and I 
offer heartfelt condolences to his family.
  Trevor was a devoted husband, father, and employee who was able to 
get along with everyone.
  I join with everyone throughout Russell County and the First 
Congressional District of Kentucky in keeping his family in our 
thoughts and prayers.


                     Honoring the Late Ted Roberts

  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Mr. Ted 
Roberts, a Paducah, Kentucky, whose life was dedicated to public 
service in his community.
  Throughout his job at the United States Postal Service, Mr. Roberts 
rose through the ranks to become the first and only African American to 
hold the position of postmaster for the United States Postal Service in 
this tristate region.
  In addition to serving as postmaster, he served as a member of the 
Postmaster General Speaker's Bureau in 1991 and a member of the 
National League of Postmasters of the United States.
  Mr. Roberts' community service extends beyond the Postal Service. He 
was a part of the Paducah mayor's Task Force on Human Rights; 
commissioner of the Paducah Human Rights Commission; vice president of 
the Paducah, Kentucky, NAACP chapter; and an associate member of the 
Fraternal Order of Police. Throughout these roles, Mr. Roberts proved 
himself to be an integral part of his community.
  In addition to serving his community, Mr. Roberts served his country 
in the Navy during the Vietnam war.
  I am honored to recognize Mr. Roberts, whose distinguished record of 
public service is remarkable.
  Thank you for being an exceptional leader with unparalleled 
contributions to the city of Paducah and all of west Kentucky.


                        Honoring Richard Dicken

  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Richard Dicken from my 
hometown of Tompkinsville, Kentucky. Richard retired from TVA, where he 
was a well-respected engineer.
  To demonstrate both his work ethic and his entrepreneurial spirit, 
Richard began building houses while working full time at TVA.
  Upon his retirement from public work, Richard returned home to Monroe 
County and started four credible businesses, which employed hundreds of 
people: Dicken Construction, Southern Kentucky Hardwood Flooring, 
Country Boy Pellets, and a lumber company.
  Richard told people to ``always keep busy and work hard for anything 
and everything you want in life.''
  Richard Dicken passed away unexpectedly last month. He is survived by 
his spouse, Stephanie Dicken, four stepchildren, one brother, and two 
sisters.
  He was a true Monroe County success story who will be deeply missed.


                Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett

  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on the importance of 
ensuring that the Supreme Court, the highest court in our land, is 
armed with Justices who will respect our government's guiding light, 
the Constitution.
  There is a reason that my friends on the left are so heartbroken by 
the possibility of President Trump's outstanding nominee to the Supreme 
Court being confirmed. Unfortunately, they see judges as lawmakers, not 
merely interpreters of the law, as outlined in the Constitution. Any 
judge who rightfully stands in the way of judicial activism is a 
barrier to their agenda.
  They want policy to be made by unelected black robes, not through the 
leaders we elect at the ballot box. Democrats' only hope for forcing 
fringe policies on the American people is for judges to sign off on 
unconstitutional executive actions, which we saw President Obama 
repeatedly pursue as a substitute for congressional approval.
  Judge Amy Coney Barrett is an exceptional nominee who brings a wealth 
of experience from her time in both the private sector and on the 
Federal bench. She was confirmed to her current position on the Seventh 
Circuit Court of Appeals by a bipartisan vote, including with the 
support of Hillary Clinton's 2016 running mate. Everyone who has spent 
time around her has praised her qualifications and devotion to the law.
  Additionally, she clerked for the late Justice Scalia and has pledged 
to follow his philosophy of following the words of the Constitution, 
not legislating from the bench.
  Being extremely qualified and devoted to the Constitution is 
apparently a red flag for Washington Democrats. They are going to 
desperate lengths to stop her confirmation, including attacking her 
faith and threatening to impeach President Trump for following his 
constitutional duty to nominate a replacement for the late Justice Ruth 
Bader Ginsburg.
  The American people put President Trump and the Republican Senate in 
charge to nominate and confirm judges to the Federal bench. President 
Trump was incredibly transparent about his plans, even putting out a 
list of candidates he would choose from. And the American people 
elected him to do just that.
  I look forward to seeing the Senate fulfill their constitutional duty 
and confirm the President's very qualified and capable nominee.

  Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 17 minutes.


  Explaining the Difference Between Absentee Voting and Mail-In Voting

  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I want to conclude by talking about the 
election process that we are about to face. Recent news stories from 
across America highlight the fundamental problem with blue States 
implementing universal mail-in voting.
  Now, let me explain the difference between absentee voting and 
universal mail-in voting. Absentee voting is where a registered voter 
requests a ballot. Universal mail-in voting is where everyone on the 
voter rolls receives ballots unsolicited.
  With respect to mail-in voting, we have uncertainty, delay, and 
inaccuracy. These are the consequences of the

[[Page H5102]]

universal mail-in scheme that threaten the integrity of American 
elections.
  As ranking member of the Oversight and Reform Committee, I recently 
published a report, alongside Congressman   Jim Jordan, that laid out 
these threats to our elections. Simply put, Democrat States are 
changing the rules in the middle of the game.
  There is nothing wrong with absentee voting. Absentee voting is a 
time-honored tradition where voters request a ballot if they are unable 
to vote in person. Expanded absentee voting is appropriate for those 
who don't feel safe because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I support 
absentee voting.
  However, blue State Governors have taken mail-in voting to a whole 
new level. Their brilliant idea is to mail out ballots to everyone on 
the voter rolls, which are notoriously inaccurate.

                              {time}  1945

  They include people who have moved and even died, creating a 
situation ripe for fraud as millions of unrequested ballots go out to 
households. Who lives in those households? We don't know.
  Look no further than my home State of Kentucky, where former 
Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes was sued for the State's 
failure to maintain accurate voter registration lists.
  And just yesterday, New York City announced that they would be 
resending nearly 100,000 absentee ballots out due to a printing error 
just a month before the election.
  This raises numerous questions: How many of these ballots were 
already cast? Will votes in New York count twice? Do these ballots even 
have to be postmarked?
  The fact that we are even asking these questions raises fundamental 
concerns with the integrity of the upcoming election.
  Another concern is the flurry of late ballots we will see after 
election day. It is a disgrace to our electoral system that we are 
allowing ballots to be counted for days after the November 3 election. 
Shame on the States that are allowing this to happen, including 
Kentucky.
  Ballots received after election day is a disaster waiting to happen. 
If you vote by mail, then do it now, or at least by October 15 or 
October 20 to ensure that it has time to arrive by election day.
  We know what the consequences of ballots accumulating in the days and 
weeks after election day will be. Look no further than a recent New 
York primary, where Governor Cuomo's shift to mail-in voting led to 
absolute chaos. Election officials disqualified thousands of ballots 
for not having timely postmarks, and the election wasn't certified for 
6 weeks.
  The surest guarantee of election integrity is for Americans to vote 
in person where safe and possible. Even Dr. Fauci has declared in-
person voting to be safe. This method comes with knowledgeable workers, 
identity verification, and secure ballot submission practices. These 
safeguards will minimize any delay in election results and ensure the 
integrity of the outcome.
  I wish Congress could come together to have universal voting 
standards for what will be a Presidential race that, by all accounts, 
will come down to the wire.
  Ballots should be received by election day, and if we can't agree on 
that, then surely we can agree that ballots that are received after 
election day have to be postmarked.
  There are States that are coming out with new guidance that say 
ballots received after election day don't even have to be postmarked. 
Are you kidding me?
  We have to come together on this before we leave. We have to come 
together to ensure the integrity of our elections.
  Madam Speaker, that concludes my remarks, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.

                          ____________________