[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 70 (Thursday, April 28, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H4581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF BOBBY BERKSTRESSER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Cline) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor 
the life and legacy of a good friend and Rockbridge County resident, 
Bobby Berkstresser, who recently passed away at the age of 71.
  Bobby was truly a kind soul who had a passion for both people and 
business. In 1981, he purchased his first business, Lee Hi Travel 
Plaza, in Lexington. At the time, he had only eight employees on 
payroll, but over the years he grew it exponentially and was able to 
expand.
  When Bobby passed, he employed more than 400 people, and his second 
business, White's Travel Center in Raphine was the largest east of the 
Mississippi, a fact of which he was definitely proud.
  He brought honor and pride to the job and, in 2018, he was honored 
with the NATSO Hall of Fame Award for his contributions to the 
industry.
  His employees say, ``He was not only your boss, he encouraged you, 
and he was family to a lot of people.'' That was certainly how everyone 
felt about Bobby Berkstresser.
  Aside from owning White's and Lee Hi, Bobby was deeply committed to 
his community. He regularly contributed to local nonprofits, in 
addition to serving on several boards, including the Bank of Botetourt, 
Rockbridge YMCA, Rockbridge United Way, Rockbridge County Board of 
Supervisors, former Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital, RALS, 
Rockbridge Republican Committee, and NATSO.
  Madam Speaker, it goes without saying that Rockbridge County lost a 
giant. His passing will be felt by this community for quite some time, 
and my thoughts and prayers remain with his wife, Sue, and his beloved 
family.

                              {time}  1030


                       Rejecting the Biden Budget

  Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, as Americans face the worst rate of 
inflation in 41 years, President Biden's proposed budget does nothing 
to help ease the burden on our country's struggling families.
  Despite experts predicting that a recession is coming, the 
President's proposed budget would further exacerbate high inflation by 
spending $73 trillion over the next decade and would be funded by the 
highest sustained tax burden in our Nation's history.
  As Americans pay record prices at the pump, this budget proposal 
prioritizes radical Green New Deal energy policies and continues 
Biden's destruction of American energy independence with increased 
taxes on the oil and gas industry.
  Who is going to feel those increased taxes? Working men and women in 
the Sixth District of Virginia and across this country. Further, it 
pushes unnecessary and already rejected Build Back Better social 
programs and provides benefits to illegal aliens, which is entirely 
unacceptable.
  For my constituents in the Sixth District, I will continue to hold 
Biden administration officials accountable and demand justifications 
for this spending spree that is this budget when they come before the 
committees on which I serve.
  Madam Speaker, I stand in strong opposition to the President's 
proposal, and I urge its rejection should it come before this House.

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