Mike Coffman

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize a truly great citizen of Aurora, Colorado, Julian Scadden. Julian selflessly volunteers countless hours in a program known as the `VA's Compassion Corps.' Those in the Compassion Corps spend time with veterans who have no family or friends to come visit them at VA Hospital Community Living Centers. Julian works as a full time housekeeper at VA Hospital's Community Living Center, and then will often spend 12 or more hours sitting with veterans afterwards. To say that Julian has a strong commitment to our nation's veterans would be a vast understatement. A veteran himself, Julian enlisted in the Army in 1967 and served in Vietnam. Today, unfortunately, Julian is the last of what were once 20 members of the `VA Compassion Corps' volunteers in the Denver area. It is my hope that his example will inspire others to volunteer for the Compassion Corps which fills such a vital role for those military men and women who have served the United States of America. Thanks to you Julian Scadden.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Korean Language news service, Weekly Focus, on its 10th Anniversary, and by extension President Hyun Joo Kim, and her entire staff. I am proud to represent the largest Korean community in Colorado in my Congressional District. Throughout the ten years that Weekly Focus has been running, the service has worked tirelessly to not only represent their community, but to also connect Coloradoans by offering a way to communicate and learn from each other. Since its founding in 2006, Weekly Focus has grown to be the biggest and most influential Korean language newspaper in Colorado. Thanks to this tremendous news service, Korean-Americans and Coloradoans have a dependable source of news that features a weekly publication of 128 pages. Hyun Joo Kim's passion and diligence, as well as that of her staff, has allowed Weekly Focus to develop and become an important part of our community. By creating a reliable newspaper with quality articles, Weekly Focus has undoubtedly improved Korean-American representation within the media of Colorado as well as residents living in the 6th Congressional District. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the Weekly Focus newspaper and its entire staff for their hard work and dedication these past 10 years.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 21st Century Cures Act, a bill aimed at fostering medical innovation, supporting medical research, and developing new treatments to provide better individualized care. The 21st Century Cures Act ensures Americans suffering from some of the most common and devastating diseases receive quicker access to the latest cutting-edge medical treatments. I am pleased that key elements of my REGROW Act, a bill aimed at addressing the lack of FDA standards and oversight approval of regenerative medicine, were incorporated into the final version of the 21st Century Cures Act. Regenerative medical treatments, developed from stem cells, show the potential to fully restore or establish normal functions in damaged human cells, tissues, or organs. Thanks to the Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine in Colorado, one of the Nation's leading regenerative medicine research centers, I have had the opportunity to see up close the potential of these treatments and have long advocated for their increased use and availability. The 21st Century Cures Act will bring a renewed hope to so many Americans across our country. I urge the President to sign this bill into law without delay.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dedicated member of my staff, Mr. Drew Kerin, who will be retiring from my office at the end of the year. Mr. Kerin began working in my Colorado District Office in 2010 after a long career teaching elementary school in Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. During his seven years in my office, he has served countless constituents with a smile and a caring spirit. Drew is still a teacher at heart as he is able to share wonderful anecdotes from history, sports, and personal stories about former students that can quickly warm your heart. He is an avid sports fan, a dog lover, and someone both my staff and I are proud to call a friend. I am grateful for Drew's tireless work on behalf of Colorado's Sixth Congressional District and I wish him all the best in retirement.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize J.P. Johanson, Lennox Kohn, and John Thomas, V for their hard work and dedication to the people of Colorado's Sixth District as interns in my Washington, D.C. office for the autumn of the 114th Congress, Second Session. The work of these young men has been exemplary and I know they all have bright futures. They served as tour guides, interacted with constituents, and learned a great deal about our nation's legislative process. I was glad to be able to offer this educational opportunity to these three and look forward to seeing them build their careers in public service. All three of our interns have made plans to pursue careers in public service. I am certain they will continue in their great success and wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize J.P. Johanson, Lennox Kohn, and John Thomas, V for their service this autumn.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $19,871,327,867,180.13. We've added $9,244,450,818,267.05 to our debt in 7 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate El Comercio de Colorado on their award-winning editorial excellence. El Comercio de Colorado is a bilingual newspaper which has served Colorado and the Denver area since 1999 with articles about international, national and local news topics of importance to our community. El Comercio de Colorado has embodied leadership in the Hispanic printed media industry. In recognition of their quality publications, the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) has presented El Comercio de Colorado with four Gold Jose Marti Publishing Awards. El Comercio de Colorado was noted as having the number one Classified Ads section in the nation during the 34th edition of the Jose Marti Publishing Awards. For industry leading distinction, the sports section was awarded two gold awards for content and design, as well as cartoonist Angonoa, whom received gold for outstanding work. El Comercio de Colorado's also received honorable mentions for editorial content, photography, illustrations and design. I would like to congratulate President Manuel Tejada and Editor Eva Tejada, as well as the entire staff at El Comercio de Colorado on a job well done. These awards show El Comercio de Colorado's unwavering commitment to quality publications and the Hispanic printed media community.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate El Comercio de Colorado on their award-winning editorial excellence. El Comercio de Colorado is a bilingual newspaper which has served Colorado and the Denver area since 1999 with articles about international, national and local news topics of importance to our community. El Comercio de Colorado has embodied leadership in the Hispanic printed media industry. In recognition of their quality publications, the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) has presented El Comercio de Colorado with four Gold Jose Marti Publishing Awards. El Comercio de Colorado was noted as having the number one Classified Ads section in the nation during the 34th edition of the Jose Marti Publishing Awards. For industry leading distinction, the sports section was awarded two gold awards for content and design, as well as cartoonist Angonoa, who received gold for outstanding work. El Comercio de Colorado also received honorable mentions for editorial content, photography, illustrations and design. I would like to congratulate partner and Editor Eva Tejada, as well as the entire staff at El Comercio de Colorado on a job well done. These awards show El Comercio de Colorado's unwavering commitment to quality publications and the Hispanic printed media community.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $19,847,114,759,737.23. We've added $9,220,237,710,824.15 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $19,852,972,577,729.55. We've added $9,226,095,528,816.47 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $19,805,366,357,023.77. We've added $9,178,489,308,110.69 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Brie Oakley for her first place finish in the Colorado 5A Girls' State Championship Cross Country Meet on October 29th, 2016. She has shown dedication and excellence throughout her cross country career, which has brought her to the pinnacle of high school athletics, a state champion. A Grandview High School Huskies senior, Oakley finished with a time of 17 minutes and 7.83 seconds, smashing the course record at the Norris Penrose Equestrian Center in Colorado Springs by over a minute. I am proud to report that Oakley has become the first girls cross country state champion from Grandview High School. I would also like to congratulate Grandview coach Allyson Robbins and the teachers and staff of Grandview High School, whom have made Oakley's success possible. Their mentorship and guidance played an important role in her ability to succeed at the highest level of high school athletics. I am proud to congratulate Brie Oakley on her hard earned state championship and for being a positive role model for other students in Colorado's 6th congressional district.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Cherokee Trail Cougars varsity softball team on their thrilling 5A state championship win over the Broomfield Eagles. The Cougars won the first ever state softball championship thanks, in part, to senior Chloe Knapp. Her walk off grand slam, the day before in the semi-finals, put them in the championship game, and her 8th inning homerun was the only run scored in the championship game. I would also like to congratulate seniors Emily Bell, Skylar Higens, Sonoma Olson and Audrey Pickett, who helped propel the Cougars to a 20- 3 season record. Special thanks to Coach Caley Mitchell and the teachers of Cherokee Trail high school who made this year's success possible. Regardless of any team's inherent talent and ability, no team can achieve success without the support of the community around them. This was a hard fought battle between two great schools. I am so proud of the Cherokee Trail Cougars varsity softball team for being a positive role model for other high schools in the Sixth District of Colorado. Congratulations on a stellar season.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $19,524,762,977,719.62. We've added $8,897,885,928,806.54 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $8.8 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $19,524,335,895,543.03. We've added $8,897,448,846,729.95 to our debt in 7 years. This is over $8.8 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the service of an extraordinary retired high school world history teacher, Mr. John Yee, whom I had 44 years ago when I was a student at Central High School in Aurora, Colorado. Mr. John Yee was a teacher who inspired his students by making history come alive in the classroom and by leaving us with an intellectual curiosity about the world around us that would forever be a part of our lives. Mr. John Yee's personal story of having grown up in Kunming, China, during the Imperial Japanese Army's invasion of his homeland, as well as his subsequent service as a translator with the Flying Tigers, gave him an unparalleled depth of understanding when it came to describing the cultural dynamics of global events. Mr. Speaker, a great nation cannot exist without great teachers, and I believe that Mr. John Yee is among the very best, and I will forever be grateful for his unyielding dedication to public education.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $19,524,335,895,543.03. We've added $8,897,458,846,649.95 to our debt in 7 years. This is over $8.8 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $19,520,012,359,884.18. We've added $8,893,135,310,971.10 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to memorialize the tragic passing of Chelsey Jean Hood Russell from Denver, Colorado. I've been fortunate to know Chelsey and her family for many years, and had a close relationship with her late father Don Hood, a Vietnam War hero who passed away in 2012. Chelsey Jean Hood Russell, 35, passed away on August 23, 2016, on Lake Powell in Utah. She was born on February 24, 1981, in Denver, Colorado to Trisha and Donald Hood. She was soon joined by her younger brother, Cayman, who was her best friend and confidant for life. Chelsey earned both her B.S.B.A. and her law degree from the University of Denver. Chelsey was an associate attorney at the law firm Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, specializing in mineral title examination and oil and gas regulatory matters. Chelsey was an outstanding legal talent gifted with a creative mind, was instrumental in building the firm's highly successful oil and gas regulatory practice, and possessed an exceptional ability to make her clients feel respected and appreciated. She was recently elected Secretary of the Colorado Bar Association's Natural Resources and Energy Law Executive Council and spoke regularly on oil and gas regulatory matters. Those who knew her best characterized Chelsey by her extraordinary strength of both willpower and athleticism. She gave birth to her daughter just three days before taking--and acing--the Colorado bar exam. Her lifelong goal was to run a marathon in every state, and she recently achieved her personal record in the Revel Run marathon in Morrison, Colorado. Last summer, she ran both the Leadville 50 and the Leadville 100, running 50 and then 100 miles (for good measure) from elevations of 9,200 to 12,600 feet. In addition to a lifelong love of running, Chelsey passionately pursued climbing, cycling, and swimming, and was an avid backpacker and camper. Even more notable than Chelsey's athletic achievements was her compassionate heart. Chelsey was dedicated to her many friendships and always thought of others before herself. She gave back through numerous charitable causes, and in particular supported the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Chelsey attended Mile Hi Church and had a deep and abiding spiritual practice that carried her through many difficult times. In spite of her countless achievements and staggering moral strength, Chelsey was truly defined by a singular role: she was the most loving mother in the world to her two children, Hayden Elaine, 5, and Harvey Donald, 2. Leading by example, she instilled in her children a love for outdoor adventures; a commitment to hard work; the importance of family and friendship above all else; and a strong sense of passion, fearlessness, and love of life. Chelsey's life was cut tragically short when she displayed the ultimate act of motherly love: at the end of a wonderful family vacation on Lake Powell she suffered an acute cardiac event while helping her young son, who had fallen in the water. She will always be remembered as a true hero. Chelsey is survived by her mother, Trisha; her brother, Cayman; her children, Hayden and Harvey; her niece, Zoii; and countless friends who loved her dearly. It is a true honor to have the opportunity to memorialize Chelsey Jean Hood Russell on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today. She lived fully and died courageously, and it is my hope that we can all learn from the beautiful example she set in her 35 years of life.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Constitution Day. Each year, we celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th, in honor of the signing of the document over two centuries ago on September 17, 1787. This holiday provides our nation with the opportunity to discuss, critically examine, and celebrate one of the most important documents in American history. The strength of America lies in its people and the establishment of laws by their fellow citizens. The United States Constitution serves as the foundation of our government and provides our people with the rule of law over tyranny and lawlessness. It is an inspiration that the founders of our great country were able to prescribe for our fledgling nation the principles and rules that continue to guide us and to be a beacon of democracy and freedom worldwide. Honoring and celebrating this great document provides us with the opportunity to reflect and study an important piece of American history. Congress first established Constitution and Citizenship Day in 1952, and in 2007 the act was expanded to prescribe educational programs and lessons to all institutions which receive funding from the Department of Education. Therefore, I encourage all Americans, especially those who are educators of our young, to set aside some classroom time this month to examine the Constitution in both celebration, and in review, as well as to promote a greater understanding of how the Constitution has contributed to making our country the great nation it is today.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $19,484,660,626,765.52. We've added $8,857,783,577,852.44 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to memorialize the tragic passing of Chelsey Jean Hood Russell of Denver, Colorado. Throughout her life, Chelsey displayed extraordinary strength. She gave birth to her daughter 3 days before acing the Colorado bar exam. Her lifelong goal was to run a marathon in every State. Last summer, she ran a 100-mile race at elevations of over 9,200 feet near Leadville, Colorado. Chelsey was a loving mother to her two children. Leading by example, she taught her children a love for outdoor adventures, a commitment to hard work, the importance of family and friendship, and a strong sense of passion, fearlessness, and a love of life. Chelsey's life was cut short when she displayed the ultimate act of motherly love. At the end of a family vacation on Lake Powell in August, she suffered an acute cardiac event while rescuing her son from drowning. Chelsey is survived by her mother, Trisha; her brother, Cayman; her children, Hayden and Harvey; and countless friends and family members who loved her dearly. Mr. Speaker, Chelsey lived fully and died courageously. We can all learn from the passionate example she set in her 35 years.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $19,482,086,271,333.82. We've added $8,855,209,222,420.74 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the men and women of United Launch Alliance on another successful space launch on Thursday. United Launch Alliance, or ULA, is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, and has provided assured access to space since 2006. ULA's most recent launch propelled NASA's OSIRIS-REx into space. The payload will travel to a near-Earth asteroid called Bennu, map the chemical elements on the asteroid's surface, and then return a sample to Earth in 2023. This launch marks ULA's 111th consecutive successful space launch. This amazing success record is a testament to the hard work of ULA's dedicated team of professionals. Congratulations on a job well done.

Mr. COFFMAN

Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2009, the day President Obama took office, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08. Today, it is $19,478,308,415,366.69. We've added $8,851,431,366,453.61 to our debt in 6 years. This is over $7.5 trillion in debt our nation, our economy, and our children could have avoided with a balanced budget amendment.