[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H3490-H3491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING BRYAN HEALTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Flood) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bryan Health on 
being named one of America's most trustworthy companies by Newsweek.
  Bryan Health is a pillar of Nebraska healthcare, notably serving 
Lincoln and many communities around the State with locations in 45 of 
our State's 93 counties. Bryan cares for over 2,100 trauma patients a 
year.
  Their work is helping grow Nebraska by ushering in the next 
generation. The Bryan Family Birthplace delivered more than 3,000 
babies in 2022, including 58 sets of twins and three sets of triplets.
  Now they are plowing new territory in behavioral healthcare. They 
report they are the first medical center in the Nation to have a 
designated behavioral health emergency department.
  Bryan Health isn't just a business. They are a key community 
stakeholder, giving back more than $200 million of charity care last 
year.
  On behalf of the people of Nebraska's First Congressional District, I 
extend our sincere congratulations to the team at Bryan Health. I thank 
them, and they should keep up the great work.


                      Columbus Community Building

  Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the City of 
Columbus on their new community building.
  The Columbus Community Building is a $32 million project that will 
provide 75,000 square feet of space for housing a new Columbus Public 
Library, City Hall, City Council chamber, and community room.
  This project, which took about 3 years, required over 150,000 hours 
of labor and 1 million pounds of steel.
  Columbus is known as the city of power and progress, and their work 
over the last decade and a half is helping grow the community and 
setting it up for long-term success.
  From their health department to the Columbus Wellness Center to their 
STEM program, the community is building the infrastructure they need to 
attract families and the workforce that employers rely on.
  Since 2000, the community has grown about 15 percent as companies 
like BD Medical have invested millions to upgrade their operations.
  Columbus, indeed, has a bright future ahead. On behalf of the people 
of the First Congressional District, I congratulate the City of 
Columbus, Nebraska, on their new community building and all their 
recent success.


                Recognizing Colonels Thompson and Howard

  Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincere gratitude 
to Colonel Kristen D. Thompson for her service as Commander of the 55th 
Wing headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base.
  Colonel Thompson recently completed her time as commander. During 
that time, the 55th Wing returned flight operations to Offutt after the 
base's runway was rebuilt.
  I thank Colonel Thompson for her work and leadership through the 
years.
  As Colonel Thompson transitions to New York, I also give a hearty 
congratulations and welcome to Colonel Mark Howard, who is now taking 
over.
  Colonel Howard comes to the 55th Wing as a 22-year veteran pilot with 
almost 4,000 flying hours, 700 of those in combat.
  Colonel Howard also brings years of experience as the 55th Wing's 
deputy commander, which will serve him well as he takes on his new 
role.
  On behalf of the First Congressional District, I extend our sincere 
gratitude to both Colonel Thompson and Colonel Howard for their 
leadership of the 55th Wing.


                          Supporting the NDAA

  Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the passage of the 
National Defense Authorization Act. The NDAA is a pillar of the House 
Republicans' commitment to America in building a Nation that is safe.
  Our U.S. servicemembers protect our country every day, and they 
deserve the best quality of life. This NDAA provides a much-needed pay 
raise, access to healthcare, and critical oversight, all while saving 
American taxpayers billions of dollars and making key investments in 
innovative technologies and our defense industrial base.
  One of the most important facets of this NDAA: its provisions to 
counter communist China's aggression. It builds up projection forces, 
increases funding for essential military construction projects, and 
provides more funding for innovative new technologies needed to stop 
the CCP.
  The NDAA makes critical investments in our national defense while

[[Page H3491]]

honoring the Fiscal Responsibility Act's spending levels.
  It accomplishes this by capturing $40 billion of savings by cutting 
inefficient programs, obsolete weapons systems, and unnecessary 
Pentagon bureaucracy.
  This bill also ensures that the taxpayer dollars being spent in 
Ukraine have proper oversight. Under our NDAA, a new inspector general 
will direct and coordinate an audit of all aid provided to Ukraine by 
the United States.
  Additionally, the NDAA protects our military from weaponization by 
liberal activists by stopping our DOD resources from subsidizing 
President Biden's Green New Deal and banning the military from teaching 
critical race theory.
  I applaud the work of the committee in preparing this year's NDAA, 
and I strongly urge my Republican colleagues and friends across the 
aisle to come together and pass this critical legislation this week.

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