Vicky Hartzler: “I thank the chairman for bringing this bill forward. I am so excited to be here today and so proud to support Senate…”

“I thank the chairman for bringing this bill forward. I am so excited to be here today and so proud to support Senate bill 846, which renames the new Federal courthouse in my district of Jefferson City the Christopher S. Bond United States Courthouse. This is such a fitting tribute to a great Missourian, who I have had the privilege of knowing and working with over the years. Senator Bond was first elected in 1986 to the U.S. Senate and served over 24 years representing our State here valiantly in the United States Congress. And before he came here to the Senate, he served two terms as Governor and was also State auditor. He is known for accomplishing many things--and there's not enough time to share all of them--but one thing he is certainly noted for is that he started the Parents as Teachers program and took it statewide. That has benefited thousands of children in Missouri and across this country, and certainly I participated with our daughter. It's a wonderful, wonderful program. He is also a great supporter of free trade. He had been a champion of building highways and infrastructure, which has enabled vital investments in our roads and bridges in Missouri. He was vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and he worked for bipartisan support to renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He is a strong defender of our military and our national defense.…”