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“RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE HONORABLE RICHARD DALE NICHOLS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H2651 on March 12, 2019.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE HONORABLE RICHARD DALE NICHOLS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) for 5 minutes.
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I speak today about the passing of the great Kansan and former Member of the United States Congress, my friend, Mr. Richard Dale Nichols.
Dick was born in southeast Kansas and honorably served his country in World War II as a member of the United States Navy. Upon returning to Kansas, he attended Kansas State University and was a fellow Beta Theta Pi fraternity brother.
After graduation, Dick entered the banking industry and, ultimately, settled down in McPherson, Kansas, where he served as president and then as chairman of the board for Home State Bank & Trust.
In 1990, Dick was elected to the United States Congress, representing the Fifth Congressional District of Kansas. Two years later, following the census, Dick's district was eliminated, and he returned to life as a businessman, but he never gave up his passion and love for our country.
Dick served as president of the Kansas Bankers Association, was active in the local Chamber of Commerce, and was a fellow Rotarian. He was a proud husband, father, and grandfather, and his outgoing, optimistic personality gained him new friends wherever he traveled.
I had the opportunity to get to know Dick and will always be grateful for the time and energy he spent helping me find my way to Washington, D.C. When I was back in McPherson, I always enjoyed chatting with him about Kansas State athletics, fellow Beta fraternity brothers, and Republican politics.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Dick's wife, Linda, and the entire Nichols family as they mourn the loss of a great Kansan and a great man. He will certainly be missed.
Restoring Integrity of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of Secretary Sonny Perdue and the Department of Agriculture's proposed rule to restore the integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and implement the program as a safety net, not a way of life.
In 2019, too many able-bodied men and women remain on the sidelines of our workforce. Recent data published by the U.S. Federal Reserve in February indicate a historically robust economy yet sluggish labor force participation rates, indicating a continued reluctance by some to engage in the workplace.
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According to data from USDA, we have more families accepting SNAP dollars today than we did at the height of the financial crisis of 2008.
Despite major economic gains and today's record low unemployment; too many States are allowing people to opt out of work, leaving employers to spend valuable resources searching for men and women to fill our many vacant jobs.
By requiring able-bodied adults without minor dependents who are seeking SNAP benefits to work at least 20 hours a week while participating in training or educational programs, we are ensuring these men and women are no longer disengaged from the labor market, but finding a way back to the workforce and long-term self-sufficiency.
This Nation's economy is as strong as it has been in my professional lifetime. We must continue to encourage individuals to become self-
sufficient and find new employment opportunities.
For too long, too many States have bypassed the rules and allowed able-bodied adults to neglect valuable job training and educational opportunities.
Employers across the country have good-paying jobs that can help individuals move out of poverty and regain their independence and integrity.
It is time we restore SNAP to its intended purpose, help men and women move back into the workforce, and take a major step in closing the workforce participation gap.
Closing the Digital Divide
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the progress made over the past two years to close the digital divide.
Access to a reliable internet connection remains a significant challenge in rural America and across my district. Society is becoming more and more reliant on broadband, whether for access to educational resources, telemedicine, or precision agriculture technology.
At the end of 2016, more than 26 million Americans did not have access to high speed internet. However, in a recent draft report circulated by Chairman Pai, that number dropped to just over 19 million at the end of 2017, with many of these new connections being in rural America. According to that report, fiber was deployed to another almost 6 million homes by the end of 2018, which is the largest number ever recorded.
Reducing regulatory burdens for deployment has helped to incentivize investment. Our local providers are working hard to leverage Federal programs, private dollars, and savings from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to further deploy broadband infrastructure to rural communities, better connecting our farmers, small businesses, and families. Companies like Rockhouse Motion, a digital media company in Geneseo, Kansas, or Rollin J Boutique in Phillipsburg, Kansas, both in my district, are able to thrive thanks to that internet connection.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud our efforts at the FCC, the USDA, and Congress to make broadband access in rural America both affordable and reliable. I also encourage my colleagues to continue working to ensure that Americans have access to an internet connection no matter where they live.
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