[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 51 (Thursday, March 18, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1572-H1573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING GARY CLARK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bowman). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 4, 2021, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. C. Scott 
Franklin) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority 
leader.

[[Page H1573]]

  Mr. C. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a 
longtime friend and the biggest advocate for veterans in central 
Florida, retired Air Force Colonel Gary Clark.
  I have known Colonel Clark for 20 years as a fellow veteran and 
veteran's advocate. I am honored to recognize him as one of the 
distinguished 2020 inductees into the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame. 
This is an honor truly befitting Gary, thanks to his countless 
contributions to Florida's veterans.
  Florida is known as the most veteran-friendly State in America, with 
over a million vets calling the Sunshine State home. Anywhere you go in 
central Florida, if there is a veteran in need, you can bet that Gary 
is on it.
  Retiring from the Air Force in 1993, Gary continued his service and 
quickly became a distinguished advocate for veterans. Gary established 
the Polk County Veterans Council, developed a partnership for the Polk 
County School Board to support 13 Junior ROTC units, and chairs the 
Flight to Honor Polk, which brings senior veterans to the memorials 
near Washington.
  Gary coordinates an annual Veterans Day breakfast with the Rotary 
Clubs of Lakeland and has chaired the 15th Congressional District of 
Florida's Service Academy Nominating Committee for at least a decade, 
and he remains the chair for my current board.
  Mr. Speaker, it is simply impossible to think of veterans in central 
Florida without thinking of Gary Clark. On behalf of Polk County and 
the 15th District of Florida, we congratulate him on this honor and his 
induction into the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame, and we thank him for 
his selfless service to our veteran community.


                  Supporting Public Access to Capitol

  Mr. C. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on a more somber note, 
I rise in support of public access to this House, the people's House.
  While I have only been a Member since January 3, as a former Naval 
aviator who had the privilege to travel to over 40 countries, I know 
the importance of our free and open democracy in both the figurative 
and the literal sense.
  I was on the House floor on January 6 when violence erupted. As we 
continue to investigate the tragedy that resulted, the military 
fortress erected in response is a gross overcorrection.
  Capitol Police have indicated there is no credible threat justifying 
maintaining this security posture. On March 4, facing nonspecific 
rumors of a potential threat, the House rushed to conclude its work the 
night before and did not meet. Not only was the threat unfounded, but 
the Senate, operating under the same security protocols as the House, 
was open and conducting the people's business, the same Senate that is 
only a few yards down the hall behind us.
  Speaking of the differences between the two Chambers, doesn't it seem 
odd that the same House impeachment managers who testified before the 
Senate without masks would insist that I be fined if I take my mask off 
right now, even though I have been vaccinated and there is no one 
around me?
  In addition to dismantling this fortress, we should begin relaxing 
the protocols put in place a year ago to limit the spread of COVID. 
Today, all House Members have been offered the vaccine, and roughly 75 
percent have been vaccinated. Many of the remaining 25 percent 
have antibodies from being infected previously.

  There is no justification for this House to continue operating in a 
quasi-virtual state. The CDC has issued new guidelines easing masks and 
social distancing for the nearly 32 million people who are fully 
vaccinated.
  It is time to end the proxy voting, begin in-person committee 
meetings, and return to regular order. Our strength as an institution 
relies on personal relationships and the ability to build alliances 
where we find common interests. As a freshman, I have yet to meet most 
of my colleagues. We should be working to find common ground, and that 
is simply not possible in a virtual meeting.
  Mr. Speaker, as the new administration acts to tear down the wall at 
our southern border, we have a new one right here, paralyzing the seat 
of democracy. The hypocrisy is obvious, and it is shameful.
  This is no longer about safety. It is about making every effort to 
create disruption and hide what is really going on from the American 
people.
  It is time to take down the razor wire fencing, send the troops home, 
and open the people's House to the public.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________