[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 22, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3404-H3405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING SAM SIMMERMAKER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Pence) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sam Simmermaker, 
who is retiring this week after 64 years with White River Broadcasting 
in my hometown of Columbus, Indiana.
  Sam grew up in Pulaski County and graduated from Indiana University 
in 1954. He started his radio career in Goshen and later covered the 
Indianapolis Indians for WTTV. Sam joined WCSI on January 1, 1960, and 
over the past six decades, he has covered generations of high school 
athletes.
  Receiving multiple awards, including the Indiana Basketball Hall of 
Fame and the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame, Sam 
and his trademark ``holy cow'' will be truly missed.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate and wish Sam the best of luck in his 
retirement.


                         Recognizing Ed Jenkins

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I recognize Ed Jenkins, who was named Indiana 
Teacher of the Year.
  An Indiana native, Ed teaches English at Franklin Community Early 
College, a high school in my district. Those who know him say that Sam 
is dedicated to his students and passionate about instilling a love of 
reading.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Ed for his work to grow our next generation of 
leaders.

[[Page H3405]]

  



                        Recognizing Mike Buckley

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I recognize former fire Captain Mike Buckley.
  Mike served the Rushville Fire Department for 32 years, retiring as 
captain in 2017. He later worked for the Indiana State Police as a 
motor carrier inspector.
  I recently met Mike and learned of his cancer diagnosis at a benefit 
in his honor at Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department. I am so proud that 
that community is supporting him in this challenge, and I am grateful 
to have met him.
  God bless Mike and the entire Buckley family.


                        Recognizing Emma McLeish

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I recognize Franklin County college student 
Emma McLeish, who recently received the American Red Cross' Lifesaving 
Award for Professional Responders.
  Last year, Emma used her Red Cross training to help save lives twice. 
In July she unexpectedly helped deliver a neighbor's baby, and then in 
October she saved a man suffering from cardiac arrest.
  Emma is a true hero, and it is my honor to recognize her today.


                 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, this weekend is the 108th Running of the 
Indianapolis 500.
  Beginning in 1911, the first Indy 500 was unlike anything the world 
had ever seen, with 40 qualifiers fighting a 500-mile race for an 
overall total purse of $27,000. Eighty thousand spectators came out to 
watch Ray Harroun drive into victory, and a tradition was born.
  The Greatest Spectacle in Racing has evolved over the last century, 
but its time-honored traditions keep racing fans coming back every 
Memorial Day weekend, like I will this weekend.
  This weekend promises to be no different, hosting hundreds of 
thousands of people from all over the world.
  I wish all this year's drivers the best of luck, and I am glad to 
say: This is May.


                          Our Southern Border

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, the state of our southern border is a 
travesty, and this administration refuses to face the facts. I am here 
to repeat what we all know and what we have all said: Border security 
is national security.
  We have seen over 7.8 million illegal aliens cross over since 
President Biden took office, bringing chaos, crime, and terror into our 
country.
  It is time to take a real action: Build the wall. Grow the Border 
Patrol, and reinstate the policies that we know work.


                         Record-High Inflation

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, inflation under this administration continues 
to hit record highs.
  We are all paying the price for this administration's mistakes. In 
April, the average Indiana household was paying $948 per month more 
than they were in January 2021. Everything, from electricity to rent to 
groceries, costs more under this administration.
  Numbers don't lie, and the Democrats can't keep pretending everything 
is okay.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge the Biden administration to quit ruining 
the American middle class.

                          ____________________