[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 119 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H3211-H3212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF AARON SMITH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Pence) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a fallen Indiana 
State Trooper, Aaron Smith. He was tragically killed in the line of 
duty just last month.
  Trooper Smith, of Whiteland, Indiana, served his fellow Hoosiers as 
both a State Trooper and a sergeant in the Indiana National Guard.
  We will never forget Trooper Smith's service and sacrifice to our 
Indiana community and our entire Nation, and I offer my deepest 
condolences to his family and friends. He was a hero.
  May Trooper Smith, as well as all our fallen officers, rest in peace.


                     Congratulating Elisabeth Coon

  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Elisabeth 
Coon, Indiana's Sixth District Congressional Gold Medalist.
  Elisabeth resides in Bargersville, Indiana, and is currently a 
student at Cardinal Christian Academy Home School.

[[Page H3212]]

  She earned the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal for completing 
over 400 hours of community service, dedicating 200 hours to learning 
how to run a small business, improving her fitness by running 5Ks, and 
attending an expedition in Colorado.

  Congratulations to Elisabeth on her achievements, and I wish her the 
best of luck on her future endeavors.


  Condolences to Victims Impacted by Recent Storms and Thanking First 
                               Responders

  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, on June 25, numerous thunderstorms in 
central Indiana developed into tornadoes with damaging wind and large 
hail.
  I offer my sincerest condolences and prayers to those impacted by the 
storms, as well as thank our brave first responders who have never 
failed to respond and put their lives on the line for us.
  God bless our first responders.


       Recognizing the Sixth District Agriculture Advisory Board

  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my Sixth District 
Agriculture Advisory Board.
  Indiana's ag industry is essential to America's ag success, and 
Hoosier farmers are at the backbone of America. Therefore, I will 
always make sure to consult my ag advisory board on all issues 
affecting the agriculture industry, especially as Congress looks toward 
the 2023 Farm Bill Reauthorization.
  I thank this fine group of 15 Hoosier farmers for all their insight, 
and it was great to see them again in June.


                       Thanking First Responders

  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about my recent visit 
to the Columbus, Indiana Fire Department. During the visit, I spoke 
with Fire Chief Lay and was able to see the department's training 
operations taking place right there in the Sixth District.
  Thank you to all our first responders for the work they do, and may 
we never forget that they are putting their lives on the line every 
single day.
  God bless everyone at the Columbus Fire Department, and God bless all 
the fire departments in the Indiana Sixth District.


                  Thanking Centerstone Health Services

  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere thanks to 
Centerstone Health Services. I recently had the opportunity to visit 
Centerstone in Columbus, Indiana, and learn about their great work 
providing behavioral and mental health care, addiction treatment, and 
crisis services.
  Centerstone operates 25 clinics and over 500 residential or 
supportive housing units, serving about 30,000 patients in my district. 
Still, more needs to be done to expand access to care to those 
suffering from mental illness.
  Medicaid's outdated IMD exclusion serves as a barrier preventing most 
access to care for the most vulnerable in our communities. 
Unfortunately, without treatment, these individuals find themselves on 
the streets, in jails, or, of course, worse.
  I urge my colleagues to work together and remove the IMD exclusion.


                   Skyrocketing Crime in Indianapolis

  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to raise my concerns about 
skyrocketing crime in Indianapolis, Indiana. In just the past 2 years, 
497 people were killed in homicides in that city. This is the city's 
deadliest number on record.
  This is the direct result of the Democrats' soft-on-crime policies, 
reckless bail reform efforts, and, of course, their ``defund-the-
police'' rhetoric. Hoosiers and the American people deserve better.
  It is long past time for the Biden administration, the Indianapolis 
mayor's office, and Congressional Democrats to join us in cracking down 
on crime to help make our streets safe again.

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