View From the Capitol - Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler's Newsletter for the Week of January 20-24, 2014
I was privileged this week to have been given the honor of addressing the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., marking the 41st anniversary of that dark January day in 1973 when the U.S. Supreme Court sanctioned the taking of innocent life with its Roe versus Wade decision on abortion. Since that time, more than 56 million innocent lives have been lost to abortion.
In my comments, I encouraged adoption as a life-giving alternative to abortion, reminding the thousands of Americans – including many Missourians - who had come to the National Mall in Washington that all babies are wanted and that these babies, had they been allowed to live, would have grown up to be our neighbors, friends, teammates, and community leaders. And one of them might have discovered a cure for cancer or some other disease. There have been more American lives lost through abortion than as a result of combat in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Gulf War – combined. This must stop!
Later in the day, I returned home to Missouri to speak at a pro-life event in Johnson County. It is heartening to know so many good people here in Missouri and elsewhere across the country know that all life is valuable and are working in our local communities to support women facing unexpected pregnancies. I remain committed to doing what I can in Congress and in Missouri’s Fourth District to protect human life. Life is precious and is a gift from God. I join the tens of millions of people across this country who are praying that all babies get to enjoy our nation’s most fundamental right – the right to life.
On another matter, I congratulate the 15 outstanding students from Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District who have received nominations to the U.S. Service Academies.
Many factors, including academic achievement, dedication to hard work, and extracurricular achievements, went into the process that saw each of these accomplished young men and women selected as Class of 2018 nominees to the U.S. Service Academies. It is an honor to be in a position to nominate these young leaders of tomorrow.
I thank each of the nominees for their desire to serve our great country. Their exceptional skills, character, and commitment to our nation will serve them well and serve our country well.
The nominees, listed in alphabetical order with their hometowns and service academies to which they have been nominated are:
Joshua R. Baumer, Columbia – US Air Force Academy, US Merchant Marines
Seth T. Boeke, Stockton – US Naval Academy, US Merchant Marines
Logan Brawley, Lebanon – US Air Force Academy, US Military Academy, US Merchant Marines
Simeon Brewster, Belton – US Naval Academy
Kelsey J. Elbel, Holden – US Naval Academy, US Air Force Academy
Nicholas J. Forsythe, Warrensburg – US Air Force Academy
Mason-Wade A. Reed, Waynesville – US Military Academy
Remington C. Hoyer, Warrensburg – US Air Force Academy
Katherine E. Mason, Waynesville – US Military Academy, US Naval Academy, US Merchant Marines
Elisha S. Phillips, Drexel – US Air Force Academy
Nicholas S. Piontek, Warrensburg – US Air Force Academy
Trevor A. Ratcliff, Harrisonville – US Air Force Academy
Adrian C. Shanahan III, Fort Leonard Wood – US Military Academy
Abby C. Stone, Columbia – US Naval Academy
Kimberley R. Wolfe, Waynesville – US Military Academy
The various Service Academies will make their final decisions for acceptance and will notify nominees in early spring.
Students interested in applying for a Congressional nomination for the class of 2019 should contact Congresswoman Hartzler’s Columbia office at 573-442-9311 or go to our website at www.hartzler.house.gov and under the “Serving You” tab, click on “Academy Nominations.”
Finally, our Washington office recently celebrated the Missouri Tigers’ Cotton Bowl victory over Oklahoma State with some Tiger Tracks ice cream and Shakespeare’s pizza from Columbia. We shared our delicious ice cream and pizza with the good folks from the office of Congressman Mike Rogers of Alabama, whose district takes in Auburn University and its Tigers. They needed a pick-me-up after coming up just a little short in the National Championship Game.
It was a great day to be a Tiger!
Have a great week.
Vicky