[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 199 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H6275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING AARON CLAY, TENNESSEE SECONDARY SCHOOL ATHLETIC 
              ASSOCIATION'S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Burchett) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Aaron Clay, who was 
named the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association's Athletic 
Director of the Year.
  Aaron Clay is the athletics director at the Washburn School. He 
graduated from Washburn in 1997. His brother, Greg, hired him shortly 
after graduating to help the school's basketball team.
  Since returning to coach the basketball team, Director Clay led 
several of Washburn's athletic teams to success. He coached two 
basketball teams to the substate tournament, won two district titles in 
basketball, and sent a cross-country student athlete to the State 
championship meet for five straight years.
  Mr. Speaker, under Director Clay's leadership, the school recently 
completed a new gymnasium. Away from athletics, Director Clay also 
leads Washburn's academic curriculum as an assistant principal. In his 
academic role, he once again teamed up with his brother, Greg, who is 
Washburn's principal.
  The TSSAA Athletic Director of the Year award celebrates an athletic 
director who builds up students on and off the field and, clearly, he 
does this, Mr. Speaker.
  Director Clay's work throughout his career as a school administrator 
and athletic director positively influenced hundreds of Washburn 
students. Our community is proud of the impact he has had on young 
people.
  Congratulations, Director Clay, and keep up the good work.


                  Huge Victory for Individual Freedom

  Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, individual freedom just scored a huge 
victory. Last weekend, a court of appeals ruled what we already know. 
Joe Biden overstepped his authority with his vaccine mandate. No more 
jobs will be threatened by the administration over coronavirus 
vaccination status, for now.
  I applaud those who stood up to Biden's vaccine mandate in court. But 
the fight isn't over, Mr. Speaker. It is clearly not over. Biden's far-
left Justice Department is plotting a legal assault to revive the 
mandate. Those of us who value personal liberty cannot be content with 
one court ruling.
  More action is necessary, Mr. Speaker.
  My bill, the Keeping our COVID-19 Heroes Employed Act, which is 
sponsored in the Senate by Senator Marsha Blackburn, also from 
Tennessee, would further protect American workers by forbidding certain 
employers from firing unvaccinated employees.
  We need to ban Biden's vaccine mandate because it is 
unconstitutional, Mr. Speaker, but also because of the crippling effect 
it will have on our economy.
  For example, supply chain jobs will be lost if Biden's vaccine 
mandate takes effect. A labor shortage in the supply chains means it 
takes longer to move products to America's storefronts, Mr. Speaker. 
The costs of keeping up with demand is passed to consumers in the form 
of higher prices.
  If Biden gets his way, it will devastate our struggling economy and 
steal paychecks from hardworking Americans, Mr. Speaker. Congress can't 
wait for the Biden administration's next attack on the unvaccinated. 
Let's protect the civil liberties of the workers by passing the Keeping 
our COVID-19 Heroes Employed Act, Mr. Speaker.

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