Statements For the Record

Mr. Speaker, today is International Women's Day and I am proud to be a strong advocate for equity, opportunity, and full rights for women and girls both in the United States and around the world. Over my [[Page E294]] tenure in Congress, I have fought to improve women's healthcare, advance pay equity, and make sure girls have access to every educational opportunity that is available to boys.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the volunteers, staff, visitors and supporters of the Thomas Irvine Dodge Nature Center in West Saint Paul, Minnesota on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the center. Founded in 1967 by Olivia Irvine Dodge, the center has served as a pioneering venue for environmental education and a premier outdoor classroom for generations of Minnesota students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 7, a bill that makes it harder for women to access comprehensive reproductive health care, including safe and legal abortion. It is outrageous that, in 2017, women still have to fight for our right to make basic health care decisions.

Under the Hyde and Helms Amendments, no federal dollars fund abortion. H.R. 7 would codify these unjust limitations and in fact goes much further by restricting women’s access to comprehensive health care even when no federal funding is involved.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and honor the career of Doug Peterson, who will retire from his position as President of the Minnesota Farmers Union on December 31, 2016.

Doug has worked dutifully on behalf of the people of Minnesota for more than two decades, serving in the Minnesota State Legislature from 1990 to 2002 before leading the Minnesota Farmers Union from 2002 through 2016. It was my profound honor to serve with Doug in the Minnesota State Legislature for eight years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize residents of the historic Rondo neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota as the community comes together to seek hope and healing. Earlier this fall, it was an honor to join community leaders to break ground on a Rondo Commemorative Plaza as a first step toward reconciliation for this neighborhood that was torn apart during the construction of the National Interstate Highway System in the 1960s.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Park Service Centennial Act. This year, our nation is celebrating the first one hundred years of what filmmaker Ken Burns so accurately labelled “America’s best idea”. With this legislation, we are helping to strengthen the National Park Service for its second century of serving visitors and conserving our national treasures.