James R. Baird · TranslatePolitics.com

House of Representatives

Celebrating 200th Anniversary of Tippecanoe County's Founding

2026-09-03

“I like Tippecanoe County. It is 200 years old. It has two colleges. The rivers have a lot of fish. I studied at one of the colleges. The towns are nice. Good job, Tippecanoe County.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Tippecanoe County's founding. In 1811, the Battle of Tippecanoe was fought between American forces led by William Henry Harrison and a confederacy of Native American forces. The county was officially founded on March 1, 1826. The word ``Tippecanoe'' comes from the Miami word of ``place of the buffalo fish people.'' The rivers there teemed with bigmouth buffalo fish. Today, Tippecanoe County is known for Purdue University and Ivy Tech Community College, two academic powerhouses in Indiana. Tippecanoe County has thriving university communities and vibrant downtowns in Lafayette and West Lafayette. As a Purdue graduate, I am especially fond of the time I spent studying there. For two centuries, generations of Hoosiers have helped build Tippecanoe County into the amazing community it is today. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate everyone in Tippecanoe County on reaching your bicentennial.

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House of Representatives

Celebrating Morgan County Boys & Girls Club 20th Anniversary

2026-07-22

“I like the Boys & Girls Club in my district. It helps children. They learn sports, science, and technology. They get snacks. It is good for the community.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Boys & Girls Club of Morgan County, Indiana. The mission of the Boys & Girls Club is to empower all youth, and all of our youth, especially those who need us the most, to reach their full potential and to become caring, productive, and responsible citizens. The Morgan County Boys & Girls Club has provided an indelible mark on the local community. Every day, youth are coached on positive decisionmaking, participate in sports, learn about science, technology, talk about the arts, receive tutoring, and gain valuable lessons through volunteering in the community. A healthy snack is provided daily. Youth attend the Boys & Girls Club to reach their full potential to become caring, productive, and responsible members of society. Mr. Speaker, I thank all the staff and volunteers who have made the Morgan County Boys & Girls Club successful over these past 20 years.

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House of Representatives

Congratulating Indiana Ffa State Officers

2026-07-15

“I am happy for some students. They won a contest. They want to be farmers. A student got a scholarship. That is good. The government should support this program.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate two State FFA officers from the Fourth District who were recently elected at the Indiana State convention. FFA is the largest U.S. career and technical student organization. FFA is rooted in farming and preparing youth for careers in agribusiness, science, veterinary medicine, and using hands-on learning techniques. Katie McClain from Carroll High School was elected as secretary. She is the granddaughter of a former Indiana State representative, Rich McClain, who I had the privilege of serving with. She is the 2026 Lilly Scholar winner, which has a full ride to Purdue University. Katie was the president of her local FFA chapter at Carroll and the district vice president last year. Jessie Frazee from Fountain Central High School was elected as the Northern Region vice president. Jessie was the local FFA president at Fountain Central High and the Fourth District president this past year. Jessie is the first Fountain FFA chapter member to become a State officer. Congratulations to these two amazing Hoosiers. I think they are in the audience. If they are, I ask that they please raise their hand or stand. I congratulate them.

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