Jason Crow

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and accomplishments of Colonel Stephen Gourley and congratulate him on his upcoming retirement. He took the values from his years of service and cultivated a post-service career that made lasting impacts in our community by educating, advocating, and supporting veterans and their families. Prior to Colonel Gourley's contributions to our community, he served our nation with honor as a 26-year veteran of the United States Air Force. Throughout his service, he worked on projects in space acquisition and operations--commanding teams and space systems of the highest national importance. Upon retirement from active duty, Colonel Gourley came to Colorado and began working on behalf of veterans and furthering youth STEM education. After years of service as an active member of the Air Force Association--where he led the development and implementation of StellarXplorers--Colonel Gourley was appointed to serve as the Chair of the Aurora Defense Council. Colonel Gourley worked diligently to ensure the Council continued operating throughout the pandemic--conducting virtual meetings focused on strengthening military healthcare, promoting the aerospace industry, establishing the Aurora Armed Forces Treatment Court, recognizing those who served during the pandemic, and supporting the people and missions of the U.S. Military. Colonel Gourley's contributions to our country and community epitomize what it means to practice servant leadership. I congratulate Colonel Gourley on his retirement and thank him for his service to our community and Nation.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the members of South Metro Fire Rescue for their bravery and professionalism in combating the devastating Marshall fire that swept across Boulder County. As we prepared to ring in the new year, Colorado experienced the most destructive wildfire in its history. Faced with hurricane-level winds that fueled rapid spread, our very own South Metro firefighters jumped into action. They sacrificed time with family during the holidays and put their lives on the line to protect thousands of homes, save countless lives, and make our community proud. Rising temperatures and prolonged drought have made wildfires a part of everyday life in Colorado. As Coloradans inevitably face similar challenges in the coming years, I am grateful to have the heroes at South Metro representing and protecting our community. I am honored to recognize the members of South Metro Fire Rescue for their service to our community and thank them for inspiring a hope in our future, a hope that together we can face the challenges of this new future head-on.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of El Comercio de Colorado for receiving 14 national journalism awards granted by the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP). In my time in Congress, I have been proud to represent the most diverse district in Colorado. With people from all walks of life and over 120,000 immigrants calling our community home, our diversity makes our community a stronger and more vibrant place to live. As our district's Latino and Hispanic populations have grown, El Comercio de Colorado has offered high-quality Spanish-language content for our community. As the publication has gained recognition. Jesus Sanchez, chief editor of El Comercio de Colorado, has made it his mission to provide our Spanish-speaking community with a publication that provides well-sourced information about what is happening across our district and nation. The hard work and dedication shown by Jesus and his staff at El Comercio de Colorado has more than paid off as the publication was awarded 14 national journalism awards by the NAHP, including five first place recognitions for Outstanding Entertainment Section, Outstanding Latin American Article, Outstanding Community Photo, Outstanding Cultural Photo Essay, and Outstanding Editorial Audio. These awards truly demonstrate the hard-earned trust El Comercio de Colorado has built within our community. It goes without saying that the Latino and Hispanic communities in our district play an integral role in making the Sixth District a better place to live. Publications like El Comercio de Colorado play a vital role in making our community feel like home for everyone--no matter their ethnicity, religion, or place of birth. Our community owes El Comercio de Colorado a debt of gratitude for their remarkable work and I congratulate them on receiving this well-deserved recognition.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a group of volunteers led by Maisha Fields, Jessica Price, Andrea Herbert, and Kelly Osuna for their work providing equitable access to the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine. The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt in every corner of our community. Unfortunately, underserved communities have borne the brunt of the pandemic--with racial and ethnic minority groups contracting and dying from COVID-19 at a much higher rate due to discriminatory healthcare practices, lack of healthcare access, disproportionate representation in front-line occupations, and unfair and crowded housing conditions. As the COVID-19 vaccine finally began its rollout, many breathed a sigh of relief as a return to normalcy seemed within view. However, community leaders like Maisha, Jessica, Andrea, and Kelly--who had seen first-hand the effects of inequity in our pandemic response--knew vaccine accessibility would not only face similar challenges reaching marginalized groups but would ultimately hamper our recovery and cost even more lives. These four incredible women jumped into action and created a system of equitable vaccine clinics that operated throughout underserved communities in Arapahoe and Adams Counties. Their efforts included extensive collaboration with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, finding and securing accessible venues, and recruiting volunteers to work at the clinics as translators, organizers, and vaccine administrators. Despite working full-time, this group of women went on to hold over 150 equity vaccine clinics throughout our community--culminating in more than 50,000 people receiving life-saving vaccines. Time and time again, it is community leaders like Maisha, Jessica, Andrea, Kelly, and their devoted group of volunteers who give me hope we can overcome any challenges that are thrown our way. I am honored to recognize this group of volunteers led by these four women and I thank them for their work putting our community on a path towards a more equitable and safe place to call home.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I, along with Representative Perlmutter, Representative DeGette, Representative Lamborn, Representative Neguse, Senator Hickenlooper, and Senator Bennet rise today to recognize the service and accomplishments of Major General Jay Lindell and congratulate him on his upcoming retirement. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Major General Lindell served our nation as a fighter pilot and as Commander of the 35th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea and the 27th Operations Group at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. In his highly decorated career, Major General Lindell logged more than 4,000 flying hours and was a recipient of the Silver Star--the third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. After leaving his combat role, he went on to serve as a Colonel, a Brigadier General, and was eventually promoted to Major General to serve as the Director of Global Power Programs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. After over 33 years of valiant service to our country, Major General Lindell left the Air Force and was appointed by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade as Colorado's Aerospace & Defense Industry Champion. Due in no small part to Major General Lindell's dynamic and inspirational leadership, Colorado soon ranked No. 1 in the nation in aerospace employment per capita. During his tenure, Colorado became the proud home of the United States Space Command Headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base and saw two bases redesignated: Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora and Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. Beyond Major General Lindell's dedication to the aerospace and defense industry, he has given back to our community and made it his mission to advocate on behalf of active duty veterans and their families. Major General Lindell has served on several boards committed to strengthening our community through providing youth space education programs, creating economic opportunities for veterans, and ensuring we fulfil our sacred promise to care for veterans and their families when they return from duty. Major General Lindell's contributions to our country and the community epitomize what it means to go above and beyond the call of duty. We congratulate Major General Lindell on his retirement and thank him for his service to our community and nation.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Congressman Perlmutter, to recognize the exceptional accomplishments of Mr. Raymond H. Gonzales and commend him for his outstanding work as County Manager of Adams County--the 5th largest county in the State of Colorado. Mr. Gonzales is a third generation Coloradan, proud son of Brighton, Colorado, and a dedicated public servant with over 20 years of experience. As County Manager, he supported more than 2,500 personnel, and has always remained devoted to not only his staff, but to all county employees. Adams County has flourished under his nine years of leadership. In a recent survey, 94 percent of employees named the County an ``Employer of Choice.'' In 2019, he was the first county manager to receive the ``County Manager of the Year'' award from the Colorado City and County Management Association. Mr. Gonzales has dutifully implemented the policies and priorities of the Board of County Commissioners and expertly overseen the day-to-day operations of the county throughout his tenure. Mr. Gonzalez managed many initiatives that positively impacted the residents of Adams County. Initiatives such as the People and Culture Services Department, the establishment of a new animal shelter, the completion of the state- of-the-art human services building, and a new Veterans memorial dedicated to Adams County Veterans who served and sacrificed for their country. We thank Mr. Gonzales for his years of service to Adams County, and we are pleased he will be taking the next step in his career as the President of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (MDEDC) and Executive Vice President of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to the incredible things he will do for the State of Colorado.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Dr. Michael Eduardo Cortes and congratulate him on his retirement. Throughout his career, Dr. Cortes has played an integral role in strengthening and empowering our district's Latino community. Cortes' career in academia has taken him across the nation, with faculty and administrative appointments at the University of Colorado Denver, the University of San Francisco, and the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught graduate courses in social policy advocacy and public policy analysis. Cortes also served as Scholar in Residence and Special Community Member at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work where he tackled questions surrounding income security and care for disabled Latino elders, policy analysis and advocacy by public charities, and improvement of curricula in schools of social work. His contribution to the community did not stop there. Dr. Cortes spends much of his time outside work volunteering to help Latinos in Colorado solve problems facing their communities. Recently, Dr. Cortes was honored by the Latino Caucus in the Colorado General Assembly for his work as executive director at the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, and Research Organization (CLLARO). In this role, he led the organization in its effort to empower Latinos across Colorado through leadership development, advocacy, and policy research. Dr. Cortes' extraordinary career and service to our community has caused a positive ripple effect across our community that has certainly not gone unnoticed. I congratulate Dr. Cortes on his retirement and thank him for his incredible dedication to our community.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor twelve Colorado nurses who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and been recognized by the Colorado Nurses Foundation (CNF) with the Nightingale Award for working tirelessly to advance the nursing profession, improve quality and access to care, and positively impact their communities. The CNF has dedicated itself to creating a sustainable health care system for our community and the entire state of Colorado. Throughout their decades of work, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have continued to work tirelessly to advance their vision of a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable care environment for Colorado nurses and the people they serve. CNF offers scholarships, funds research projects, runs educational initiatives, and makes a concerted effort to recognize nurses who make a difference in the profession. To this end, CNF hosts the Nightingale Gala each year to recognize pioneers in nursing from across the state who have continuously pushed the boundaries of their profession. This year, the Foundation recognized twelve exemplary nurses who went to great lengths to serve their community by finding innovative solutions to problems like expanding telehealth, combatting sexual assault, and large-scale vaccine administration. These nurses made a profound difference in our community, and I am proud to recognize the twelve Nightingale Award winners: Jenifer Bartel, RN, BSN from Parkview Medical Center Kathy Casey, RN, PHD from Denver Health Jennifer Coffman, RN, MSN, JD from Children's Hospital Colorado Christina Denton, RN MSN from UC Health Amy Dreher, RN, BSN, MPH from Falcon School District 49 Brian Fun, RN, BSN from Denver Health Medical Center Catherine Kleiner, RN, PhD from Children's Hospital Colorado Stacey Kreil, RN, DNP from Centura-Penrose-St. Francis Health Services Dixie Melton, RN, MSN from Centura Health Ignacio Family Medicine Laura Sandoval-Adams, RN, BSN from Parkview Health System Rosalyn Walker, RN, MSN from Centura Health St. Thomas More Hospital Lori Wightman, RN, DNP from SCL Health. The work and sacrifice by nurses in our community has taken on a whole new meaning these past few years. From twelve-hour shifts, to being forced to isolate from loved ones--nurses have held our community together while enduring enormous personal costs. Still, these nurses have overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges to pioneer breakthroughs in their profession. Our community is forever indebted to these heroes, and I am honored to have the opportunity to recognize the twelve Nightingale Award winners as well as thank the Colorado Nurses Foundation for their dedication to advancing the nursing profession and keeping our community healthy and safe.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Haneen Omar. A brilliant entrepreneur and dedicated civil servant, Haneen has made it her life's work to aid the underprivileged and make our community a better place to live. Many American families struggle to find quality caregiving for their loved-ones, forcing them to shoulder the immense responsibility themselves. In 2016, Haneen recognized this need in our community and founded the 2nd Home Adult Day Service Center of Aurora to provide the elderly and individuals with disabilities daytime programming, emotional support, and assistance with healthcare issues. Haneen designed 2nd Home to provide the highest quality care to these individuals so family members and caregivers can take a break and relieve stress--all while maintaining the much-needed peace of mind that their loved ones are in safe hands. Haneen did not stop there. In 2019, she founded Helm Community Services (HCS), and this past August, HCS organized the second annual ``Taste of the Middle East'' festival to celebrate the Middle Eastern culture that is such a rich part of our community. Community members from every walk of life came together to listen to Middle Eastern artists and try Middle Eastern staples like Manooshe, Turkish Coffee Cup Reading, Henna, and delicious food from local restaurants. Our community is stronger for its embrace of diversity. Throughout Haneen's career, she has been a tireless advocate for those who are all-too-often marginalized. Driven by her mission to bring the community together--regardless of beliefs, race, or cultural background--Haneen has found unbelievable strength in differences and diversity. I congratulate Haneen on her incredible achievements and express my sincere gratitude for her dedication, leadership, and service to our community.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3462, the bipartisan SBA Cyber Awareness Act. As we all know, small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they are certainly the backbone of my community. However, these small businesses are also increasingly the target of cyberattacks and theft of data and intellectual property. Unfortunately, Federal agencies are not immune to such attacks either. For more than 20 years, SBA's Office of Inspector General has listed IT security as one of the most serious management and performance challenges facing the agency. During the pandemic, demand for relief programs like PPP and EIDL have overwhelmed SBA's IT systems. As a result, a glitch in the EIDL application system led to an exposure of personal information of over 8,000 applicants with no public announcement of the data breach until weeks later. The SBA Cyber Awareness Act would direct SBA to issue an annual report assessing its cybersecurity infrastructure. The bill would also require the SBA to report cyber-threats, breaches, and cyberattacks to the House Small Business Committee and the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and notify affected individuals and small businesses within 30 days of an incident. Cyberattacks are one of the biggest threats to our economy, small businesses, and way of life. This bill would ensure that we are doing everything we can to protect the millions of small businesses that the SBA serves and prepare them for 21st century threats. I would like to thank Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Luetkemeyer for the bipartisan support and my friend, Young Kim from California, for joining with me on this very important effort. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to join with us and support this bill.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the accomplishments of Leanna Harris, Jamie Sarche, and Cary Chapman who will be honored by the Jewish Family Service (JFS) for making a lasting impact in our community. Each year, JFS honors three individuals who embody the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam--the obligation to make the world a better place--and impact our community through exemplary leadership, philanthropy, and dedication to JFS. The winners come from all walks of life but unite around their values to provide premier human services to those in need no matter their faith, age, income, ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The ``Yana Vishnitsky Leadership Award'' is given to one individual who embodies former JFS president and CEO, Yana Vishnitsky's, commitment to exemplary leadership, public service and those in need. This year's winner is Leanna Harris who, in addition to her work as an author and educational consultant dedicated to improving student achievement, serves on the JFS Board of Directors and spends many of her days volunteering at the local Weinberg Food Pantry. The ``Joyce and Kal Zeff Humanitarian Award'' is given to two individuals who embody the passion of two legendary community leaders who made a lasting impact as a part of JFS--Joyce and Kal Zeff. This year's winners are Jamie Sarche and Cary Chapman--both of whom, motivated by their faith, have served on the JFS Board of Directors and committed themselves to JFS' mission to make our community a better place. In the face of challenges like mental health difficulties, homelessness, and food insecurity--all heightened by the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic--our community needs heroes. In the last year alone, JFS helped over 25,000 individuals with the aid of over 1,300 volunteers who have pulled upon their faith to serve as heroes in our community and in the lives of others. I congratulate Leanna Harris, Jamie Sarche, and Cary Chapman on their award, and I thank them for their work making our community a better, more inclusive place to live.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the accomplishments of Maria Bales, Heidi Ganahl, and Dr. Shauna Gulley who will be honored by the Northwest Douglas County Chamber & Economic Development Corporation as ``Women Who Soar.'' Each year, the Northwest Douglas County Chamber & Economic Development Corporation recognizes three women in the Denver Metro Community who inspire our community and are blazing the path for future generations. Maria Bales has been recognized as a ``Woman Who Soars'' because of her strength in turning heartbreak into inspiration. In 2016, while a sophomore at Arapahoe High School, her son Nick Bales started Brought to Reality (BTR) to bring awareness to teen mental health and end the stigma surrounding mental illness. Tragically, on September 29, 2018, Nick took his own life. After her son's passing, Maria made it her mission to continue Nick's work and fight each day to spare other parents, siblings, and friends from feeling how her family did. As a survivor of incredible adversity in the face of the unthinkable, she used that same adversity to inspire and help others. That strength makes her truly deserving of such an honor. Heidi Ganahl has been recognized as a ``Woman Who Soars'' because of her entrepreneurial success. She is the founder of the recently launched women's lifestyle brand SheFactor but is best known as the founder of Camp Bow Wow, where she turned a lifelong passion for dogs into the largest pet care franchise in the world. She's passionate about giving back and in 2013 founded the Fight Back Foundation, a charity to positively tackle the most pressing issues facing our kids today. Dr. Shauna Gulley has been recognized as a ``Woman Who Soars'' because of her exemplary leadership and exceptional background, knowledge, expertise, and record of success in bettering our community. Dr. Gulley provides strategic direction to Centura Health in its mission to build whole person care and flourishing communities. Her work focuses on optimizing clinical quality and patient safety, building world-class clinical service lines, and promoting an agile, team-based culture at the forefront of all they do. From overcoming incredible adversity to showcasing exemplary leadership in medicine and business, this year's recipients have made a lasting impact on those around them and in our community. It is leaders like these three women who will allow us to achieve a more prosperous and inclusive future and I congratulate them all on being recognized as ``Women Who Soar.''

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Tom Bugnitz and congratulate him on his upcoming retirement. For over 20 years, Tom was a proud resident of Colorado where he dedicated his career to helping manufacturing businesses and their people be and do better. Most recently, Tom led Manufacturers Edge, a non-profit that positioned itself as the ``go to'' resource for the manufacturing industry in Colorado. Under Tom's leadership, Manufacturers Edge built a strong team of dedicated professionals and developed an extensive portfolio of services--all while dealing with economic uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Tom's inspirational leadership in manufacturing, however, is not confined only to Colorado state lines. Tom was instrumental in forming the Center Leadership Team (CLT) for the National Institute of the Standards and Technology's (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program that developed and deployed cybersecurity services to manufacturers across the United States. Additionally, as the MEP Center Director for Colorado, Tom mentored, inspired, and supported other Center Directors across the country while working to ensure the voice of Colorado manufacturers were heard by local, state, and federal lawmakers. Throughout Tom's career he has been a champion for small- and medium- sized manufacturers both in Colorado and across the country. Further, his coworkers attest that through hard work, integrity, and a genuine passion for making an impact on those around him, Tom changed the staff of Manufacturer's Edge from a group of people who work together to a family united behind the same mission--to grow and strengthen the Colorado manufacturing community. Tom's contributions to the community, the manufacturing industry, and those around him have been enormous. I congratulate Tom Bugnitz on his retirement and thank him for his service to our community.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Renaissance Veterans Apartments at Fitzsimons in Aurora, Colorado, for receiving the 2021 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award by demonstrating one of the most impactful uses of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit--the primary tool to build new affordable homes for the most vulnerable populations in Colorado and the Nation. As you know, our Nation's lack of affordable housing has reached crisis levels in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Colorado alone, over 175,000 renters pay more than half of their monthly income on rent, leaving too little for other expenses like health care, transportation, and food, let alone education or retirement savings. However, using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, Renaissance Veterans Apartments built 59 new affordable homes in order to house and provide quality services to veterans who were formerly unhoused or are living with physical disabilities. I applaud the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, National Affordable Housing Trust, Colorado Division of Housing, City of Aurora, Home Depot, and all who made Renaissance Veterans Apartments possible, and I thank them for serving our community.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the accomplishments of Mi Casa Resource Center, now in their 45th year of service. Mi Casa was founded in 1976 by a group of eight Latina mothers who dreamed of a better world for themselves and their families. They wanted a safe space to develop skills for employment and education and expanded Mi Casa to include business development--delivering training for low-income entrepreneurs who just needed an opportunity. Today, Mi Casa is a pillar for women, Latinos, or anyone looking for business or career support in the Denver metro area. In the midst of the devastating pandemic, Mi Casa launched 45 new businesses, supported 45 Coloradans pivot to new careers, and reached more than 1,800 people overall. The transformational impact of Mi Casa on our community cannot be understated. I commend them for their remarkable work, and I congratulate Mi Casa Resource Center on their 45th anniversary. Community Churches

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the efforts of several churches in my district that worked tirelessly to provide relief, support, and resources to their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. They hosted food banks for those in need, provided financial help to those struggling to make ends meet, and sought out opportunities to support the social, spiritual, and emotional needs of members. Our community is better because of them, and I recognize the volunteers who sacrificed their time, energy, and own well-being to provide relief to those who needed a lifeline extended to them. In a time of fear, they built a network of hope. I thank the staff, volunteers, and members of Mosaic Church, Friendship Church, Word in Action Church, City of God Church, Confluence Ministries, Orchard Church, Northern Hills Church, Colorado Multiethnic Coalition, Renewal Christian Center, and Hard Rock Church. The impact of this outreach in our communities is profound. I commend all involved for their ongoing effort to ensure that no one gets left behind. Celebrating Douglas County

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Douglas County in Colorado's Sixth District for being named the second healthiest county in the United States by the U.S. News & World Report. With all due respect to the rest of my colleagues, there is no State like Colorado. We are home to 300 days of sunshine, the Rocky Mountains, world-class outdoor recreation, and exceptional small businesses. In a year defined by a devastating public health crisis, our State added another accomplishment: community health. With six of America's top 257 healthiest communities in Colorado, Douglas County ranks second. Home to countless walking trails, community-building events, and innovative infrastructure solutions, Douglas County is a great place to live. So come out to see what it is all about. I invite my colleagues to visit Douglas County and the rest of my incredible district to see for themselves what makes the Centennial State one of a kind. Recognizing the Career of Vita Lantz Brown

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the career of Vita Lantz Brown. In Arapahoe County, the saying goes: If you want something done, ask Vita. And, if Vita asks you to do something, you just can't say no. A force for change in our community, Vita's faith drives her devotion to good government and diverse leadership. Vita is civic-minded and is committed to ensuring elected officials at every level are working to better the community. She devotes her time and energy to many organizations, including Moms Demand Action, the Aurora NAACP, and countless others. As a servant leader, she also supports her community by providing free babysitting, tutoring for children, volunteering at a local school, feeding the homeless, and serving as deaconess at Macedonia Baptist Church. Vita's life work is inspired by 2 Timothy 4:7: I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness. I thank Vita for her exemplary leadership, expertise, and commitment to our community. 30th Anniversary of Aurora NAACP

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the 30th anniversary of Aurora, Colorado's NAACP branch. In 1991 Dr. Barbara Shannon-Bannister founded the Aurora branch as an important step in a long career devoted to civil rights. She built upon the legacy of her father's work in her hometown of New Orleans and later moved to Wyoming where she helped form the NAACP Wyoming chapter. She recognized a need in Aurora. Though Aurora was one of Colorado's fastest growing cities, it lacked essential advocacy on civil rights issues. Dr. Shannon-Bannister addressed this gap by creating the Aurora branch of the NAACP. I extend my gratitude to Dr. Shannon-Bannister, current president Omar Montgomery, and all who have dedicated their time and expertise to the Aurora NAACP over the last 30 years. I thank them for their commitment to the residents of my district and for continually working toward this crucial mission.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership and support, as well as the members of the committee and the committee staff for making sure that this bill received full and quick consideration. I do rise today in support of H.R. 4172 to name the new Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Aurora, Colorado, for Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mosley. Lieutenant Colonel Mosley embodies the finest our country has to offer. Mosley was an inspirational leader in the Aurora community and in the Air Force. Mosley was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1921 and broke barriers at a time where Black men and women were prevented from achieving the full rights of their citizenship and full participation in the military. Colonel Mosley attended what is now Colorado State University and became the first ever Black player on the football team. After college, Colonel Mosley wanted to become a pilot, so he paid to get his own pilot's license. When the Air Force didn't assign him to be a pilot, he lobbied his own command in D.C. to assign him to a pilot role. He was eventually assigned to the segregated Tuskegee Airmen unit. During World War II, he trained as a bomber pilot, serving as one of the first African Americans in that role. He earned the flight qualification of Command Pilot during his service in the U.S. Air Force. The brave service of the Tuskegee Airmen and Colonel Mosley helped pave the way for integration of the armed services. Upon his return, he married Edna, and together John and Edna Mosley became tireless community activists and organizers. Among her many achievements, Edna was elected to three terms as Aurora's first African American city councilwoman. After a brief break from military service, Colonel Mosley served during the Korean and the Vietnam wars. Three conflicts. Mosley was an operations officer in Thailand during the Vietnam war. So naming the new Aurora clinic after Colonel Mosley honors his legacy and will inspire future generations to break barriers. I can't think of a better name for my fellow veterans to be walking in to this new clinic in Aurora, Colorado, than to see the name of Colonel John Mosley as they walk in and to remember his service, his sacrifice, his leadership, and the best of what we can be as a country. I thank the House Veterans' Affairs Committee for their work to advance this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this effort to honor Lieutenant Colonel John Mosley.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and sacrifice of the Thornton Fire Department in my district. When COVID-19 vaccines became available, the city of Thornton jumped into action and tasked the Thornton Fire Department with administering vaccines to residents. Thornton Fire was uniquely qualified for this rollout as they had been providing mass COVID-19 testing during the pandemic. As of this past June, Thornton Fire administered over 82,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. These efforts went above and beyond their call of duty and drew in Coloradans from all over the state. In late-April, the Congressional Fire Services Institute awarded Thornton Fire their ``Fire Service-Based EMS Award,'' a highly coveted award that recognizes the work of the department in testing and vaccinating our community members and implementing a monitoring program for COVID-symptomatic firefighters. I thank Thornton Fire for their service, sacrifice, and unfailing commitment to all Coloradans.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, as a combat veteran who served three tours of duty, both in Afghanistan and Iraq, I understand the danger and lasting implications of war. We mourn for the U.S. servicemembers killed in the August 26 attack in Kabul. These service members were engaged in a mission to save the lives of others, and we should never forget their service and sacrifice. As we grieve with the rest of America, we must commit to evacuating U.S. citizens and our Afghan partners, regardless of the August 31st deadline. I recognize this operation is not without risk, but I believe it is both a moral and national security imperative to see this evacuation to completion. Therefore, I include in the Record the following letter signed by 600 veterans on the importance of continued evacuation efforts. I look forward to our continued work to bring our brave service members, U.S. citizens, and Afghan partners to safety. Veterans' Letter to President Biden on Afghanistan August 25, 2021. President Joe Biden, The White House, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. President: As veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, we are writing to express our strong and unwavering support for the ongoing evacuation efforts for U.S. citizens and our Afghan allies being led by the United States at the Hamid Karzai International Airport. Throughout our military service, we have seen firsthand the importance of not just the interpreters who worked alongside our troops on the battlefield, but also the thousands of Afghans who directly supported our American mission through U.S.-funded NGOs, contractors, and other implementers. These civilian operations--led by the Afghans working on U.S. funded projects--have been vital for U.S. national security and for empowering millions of women and girls. The grave danger now faced by these Afghan allies and their families cannot be overstated. We are also deeply worried that this group of Afghans-- individuals who qualify for Priority 2 refugee status--could be largely left behind by the current U.S. military evacuation efforts. We fear that the U.S. will fail in its moral duty to protect these individuals who stood directly with America. Therefore, we write with three specific and urgent requests for your Administration: 1. Prioritize U.S.-led evacuations for potential and qualifying Priority 2 applicants and their families for evacuation efforts alongside potential Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants and U.S. citizens. 2. Extend the evacuation mission past August 31, 2021--not just for U.S. citizens--but for all our Afghan allies that worked alongside us in the military and U.S. civilian missions, assuming everyone cannot be evacuated by the deadline. 3. Ensure safe corridors for evacuees to access the Kabul airport. Thank you for your attention and leadership to help get all our Afghan allies to safety. As we all know, time is of the essence. Very respectfully, Russell McLachlan, Joseph Snowden, Anne Hobbs, Birmingham, Neil Rafferty, Dena Contri Cook, Chris Perry, Paulette Risher, John Hamilton, Mike Ball, William Turkoski, Al Wood, Stephen Charles, Danielle Bennett, Tim Smithpeters, Donald Becka, Betty Carlene Gilio, Wade Rutt, Luis Cardenas Camacho. Edward Logan, Henry Wade, Sean Till, Bruce Pagel, Terell Welch, Tim Cullison, John Phelps, Sol Jaffe, Brett Hunt, Rick Erickson, Richard Chapman, Kees Rietsema, Jon Miller, Robert Welch, Wanona Fritz, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Flanigan, Jeff Tennen, Jason Tomlinson, Robert Hayward, John Steele. Bob Rieman, Elton Johnson, Joanne Johnson, Thor Gjerdrum, James Boarman, Tommaso DeAngelis, Tony Priestley, Diana N Richard Rabe, Bianca Garilli, Penny Doswell, Lupita Palacios, Cheryl Shipman, Leon Persaud, Cindy MacDonald, Presley Guio, David Taliaferro, Edward Post, Bill Holen, Jim Glenn, Donna Abenroth, John Brackney, Bear McConnell, Joseph Reagan, Peter Mueller, Corey Tucker, Randy Garcia. Joanna McConnell, Jeffrey Samet, David French, Donald VanGilder, Michael Crader, Joe Rice, David Skaggs, Otis McGregor, Brittany Bartges, Ron Struthers, Sally Ireland, Christopher Rivers, Jeremy Rodrigues, George Mitchell, William Card, Robert Rains, Jeff Steele, Nick Riffel, Sean Sorbie, Scott Cooper, David Anderson, Larry Reed, Ronald Blanck, Dawan Collick, Rick White, Klint Krieger, Anthony Hardie, Mike Bontell, Bruce Jones, Andrew Learned, Christopher Charo, Diane Maye Zorri, Stphen Leisenring, William Oshell, Laura Waters, John Miller, Ron Fithen Sr., Wayne Hoyt, Kirby Wedekind. Bobby Drummond, Michael Raynor, Gregory Martin, Scott Wuesthoff, Barbara Cooper, Paul Chevalier, Emilio Gonzalez, Andres Soberon, Lynare Robbins, Mark Kerr, Michael Bryan, Connie Crawford, Blake Locklar, Martha Marden, Dick Batchelor, William Toti, Ross Clemons, Walter Bondarchuk, Christopher Baker, Willie Berges, Jerry Rogers, Jeff Ponkratz, Houston Tucker, Dennis Stoneking, Elizabeth Masters. Alfredo Anthony, Kevin Connelly, James Welch, Rosa Sanders, Daniel Hubbard, Bob Burleson, David Brady, Christopher Cano, Andrew Wilson, Bill Aquino, Houston Mc Gowan, John Ionoff, Jay Hood, Mark Campbell, Mike Brassaw, Steve Rutherford, Jeff Cathey, Mark Fetterman, Anthony Pawlisz, Thomas Trifiletti, John Mulholland, Chris Purdy, Frederick Lutz, WD Williams, Kevin Murray, Michael Karabasz. Michelle Cain, William Howerton, Kevin Wince, Roger Harrison, David Snow, William Leverett, Angela Vinson, Robert Anderson, Christopher Drumhiller, Don Albertson, Peter Welch, Keith Luchtel, Robert Felderman, Steve Dodson, Ron Dardis, William Holderman, Richard Ritter, Chris Clark, Laura Hubka. Steve Warnstadt, Miyoko Hikiji, Bernie Stone, Jim Durand, Jeff Dow, John MacDonald, Ken Holliday, Reo Felts, Everett Wohlers, Rudy Soto, Susan Megy, Brent Webb, Charles Tucker, Michael Hubbard. Megan Everett, Theresa Eckard, Jennifer Mcintosh, Anil D'Souza, Kirk Samson, Sharon DeVary, Beverly Thompson, Matthew Brodycz, Chris Young, Lindsey Figgins, Andrew Gothreau, Gregory Runyon, Joseph Ellis, Gary Dillman, Brian Copes, Angela DeMaree, Matthew Piety, Charles Williams, Tabitha Bartley. David Zipoff, Paul McKinney, Charles Winkle, James Wieser, Dr. Richard Marcantonio, Daniel Bradley, Otis Kerr, Doug Martin, Erika Steuterman, Jamie Richards, Rick Burns, Mike Denning, Doug Tystad, Aaron Estabrook, Barth Crouch, Gary Morsch, Jim Gartner, Seth Merrell, Jeff Mahan, Tim Hudgins. Danny Davis, Lewis Walter, Robert Gadd, Joseph Tharp, Robert Durham, Doug Tirey, Vernon Black, Marty Smith, Sonny Greeson, James Santos, John Rice, Evette Mittin, Richard DeNoyer, Peter Prieto, Martha Barbone, Ken Murphy, John Caldwell, David Tohn, Stuart Dye, Kathryn Beasley, Lawrence Brill. Andrew Fallon, Edward Slaughter, Christopher Ackerman, Ethan Dietrich, Joe Plenzler, Gregory Grunwald, Lyn McCall, Nicholas Albicocco, David Paschane, Arielle Berghammer- Ziegler, Charles Ray. Richard Kessler, Stephanie Grant, Sharon Nelson, James Settele, Peter Kuniholm, Christian Trocchi, Alicia Barnes, Joe Schwarz, John Schwarz, Richard Van Buskirk, Travis Ernst, Joshua Lunger, PJ Mulford, Tom Niemela, Dennis Kooren, Jan Bakalyar, Kristy Janigo, Sheila Jessen, George Waldow, Matt Gill, Walter Kocemba, Shelia Jessen, John Baker, Thomas Cocchiarella, Rage Ali, Mathew Meyer, Mary Hafner. Ronald Schwartau, Pat Finley, David Currey, Steven Clark, Robert Bennett, Pat Castillo, Jim Gwinner, Robert Speir, Michael Guiles, Bruce McDonald, Lee Mitchell, Sammy Martin, Missionary Cecil Fayard, Michael Philley, Moe Davis, Nick Justice, Richard Vosteen, Francis Proctor, Dennis Harris, Gene Stewart. Michael Kingsley, Paul Dillon, Peter Aubrey, Kathy Greggs, Stacy Mathews, James Keith Grindle, Linda Barto, John Wilkinson, Craig Horn, Richard Cantwell, Dana Tucker, Kathleen Volandt, Frank Segal, Tomas Franklin Castillo, Stefanie Maloney, Aurelia Fedenisn, Larry Skogen, Murray Sagsveen, David Sprynczynatyk, Drew Combs, Frank Jessup, Kathy Lahners Rall, Thomas Janssen, Fred Tisdale. John E. Nelson, Jesse Edwards, Chuck Nettleship, Paul Lloyd, Dave Porterfield, Carol Bartlett, Peter Burdett, Otto A. Busher III, Kenneth Clark, Al Baldasaro, Mark Aquino, Karen Merrill, William Yamaji, Corey Houghtaling, Bryan Dunn, Steven Hashem, Rhonda Spinelli, Jannell MacAulay, Peter Robinson, Robert Goff, Beverly Cover, Quentin Collins, Timothy Harrod, John Williams, Brian Maccormack-Burt. Kathy Scariot, Sue Balderrama, Linnes Chester, Ross Bryant, Chaz Wellington, Joseph Godwin, Christopher Milan, Matt Carrescia, Emilia Montenegro-Stroud, Edward Vento, Steven Schwarzer, Mike Bolley, Ralf Schloss, William Andrews, Jerry Terhaar, Leslie Green, Eric Gardiner, Gerard Grant, Henry Grossman. John Flynn, Mike Parks, John McCance, Richard Lauf, Gregory Johnson, Frank Titus, Frank LaRose, Jason Rafeld, Terry Lawson, Matt Eichmann, Gretchen Klingler, Al Burzynski, Robert Viney, George Hoffman, John Shaw, Robert Lees, Carl Miller, Bill Tate, Linda Davis, Patrick Williams, Brian Kennedy, David Butler, Howard Mckinnis, Seth Mccool, Timothy Lind, Will Meyer, Donald Dean, Rob Luster. Jack McCutchen, Joseph Bautista, Charles Allen, Stephen McNamara, Thomas Rodriguez, Bob Sutton, John Strong, Bruce Bingaman, Jesse Hamilton, Bob McMahon, Richard Bugbee, Carl Witte, Joe Gullo, Glenn Geissinger, Irv Halter, Mark Liberman, Joe Witte, Michael Noonan, Robert Hoe, Bill Mccartan, Gary Freyberger, Todd Werley, Bradley Kenny, Joseph Albert, David Eisele, James W. Houck. Dr. Karin Warner, Thomas Richards III, Joe Kirlin, Warren Gunderman, Matthew Peoria, Osvaldo Sanchez, Jose Cabrera, Tracey Rivkin, Ron Green, Samuel Hines, Bud Ferillo, Jeff Jacobs, Mike Dhunjishah, George Goldsmith, Steven Diaz, Allison Love, James Polasky, Samuel Boone, Harry Dean Cook, Jason Kramer. George I. Boniface, Bob Cristian, Robert Brennan, Steve Stark, Robyn Grable, Melissa Watson, John Krenson, Richard LaMonica, Danny Hatcher, Wayne Culbreth, Robert Coughlin, Glasgow Rex, Charles Bowers, Robert Peal, Patrick Ryan, David Lambert, Joe M. Caraveo, Johnny Dickey, Michael Carroll. Mike Valadez, John Gerlaugh, Michael LeCompte, Heather Herrera, Joe Cerami, J. Wayne Trimmer, Howard Schauer, Rene Chapa, Evelyn Quattrone, Alan Manley, David Sanders, Martin White, Jo Kat, David Lewis, Jeff Haynes, Sharon A Bataille, Jeremy Jordan, Tommy Gonzalez, Martin Martinez, Omar Williams, Juan Pablo Gmz, John Roe, Rafael Rodriguez, Shirby Ford, Jeffrey Kendall, Sam Tijerina. Walter Ulrich, Charles Starnes, Jose Garduno, Boyd Neathery, Rosalie Burleson, Robert Hastings, Constance de Chevalier, Brett Farley, Ronald Olness, Tim Farrell, John Casey, John Duggan, Todd Speer. Mark Alvarez, Richard Delgado Jr., Richard Delgado, Merlin Bjerke, David McArthur, Jeff Snell, Brittany Lambert, William Cosgrove, David Pyne, Alex Dubovik, Josh Burgess, Daniel Gade, Terron Sims II, Isaac Eagan, Robert Gard, Michael Luttrell, Clay Monroe, Edwin Vincent, Will Woldenberg, Jon Stull, Jeanie Graves, Ralph Hastings, Terry Orndorff, Alec Williamson, Eliot Evans, Hal Donahue, Ron Suzuki. William Parrish, Rudy Wadle, John Peterson, Mckinley Price, Leandrew Reese, Robert Bracknell, Cherylynn Sagester, Charles Tyler, Terry Phillips, Christopher Campbell, William Leighty, Eric Postow, Jason Roberge, Royes Gernandt, David Hamon, Isabel Hodge, Mark Kustra, Dave Belote, Jeri Prophet. Gerard Mauer Jr., Chris Phillips, Peter Smith, Heather Veenker, Matthew Hepner, John Petersen, Steven Brown, Dave Baine, John Kilpatrick, Peter Wilson, Jim Perkins, Echo Penley, Diana Smith, Mike Moore, Brian Newberry, Steven Bell, Margaret Cope, Andrew Anderson, Michael Trudeau, James Strong. Toni Horak, John Katzka, Christopher Goebel, William Davis, Hector Sepulveda, Mark Freitag, Walter Hladko, .Jason Johns, Thomas Plantenberg, John Becker, Darrel Feucht, David Hollis, Rob Palmer, Darla LeClair, Herb Davis, Michael Martin, Davidjames Lynch, Patrick M. Kitkowski Sr.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the efforts of several churches in my district that worked tirelessly to provide relief, support, and resources to their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Churches provide essential support in our community during the pandemic, far beyond the call of duty. They hosted food banks for those in need, provided financial help to those struggling to make ends meet, and sought out opportunities to support the social, spiritual, and emotional needs of members. Our community is better because of them and I recognize the volunteers who sacrificed their time, energy, and own well-being to provide relief to those who needed a lifeline extended to them. In a time of fear, they built a network of hope. I thank the staff, volunteers, and members of Iglesia Amistad, Mosaic Church, Iglesia Palabra en Accion, Iglesia Ciudad de Dios, Confluence Ministries, Roca Fuerte, Iglesia Orchard, El renuevo, Northern Hills Church, the Colorado Multiethnic Coalition, and Renewal Christian Center. The impact of this outreach on our community is profound. I commend all involved for their ongoing effort to ensure that no one gets left behind.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the importance of SCORE and stand in favor of the amendment I introduced with Rep. Spanberger to increase SCORE funding to $21.7 million. Simply put, this amendment would help build businesses and create jobs. SCORE is the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, with more than 10,000 volunteers across 240+ chapters. They offer free and confidential advice, and free or low-cost educational workshops to current and aspiring small business owners. Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs to start and grow their small business. In FY20, SCORE helped its clients to start 45,027 new businesses and create 74,535 new jobs. It is estimated that this increased funding would help SCORE create over 100,000 additional new businesses and/or jobs, beyond last year's impact numbers. Moreover, SCORE is cost-effective. In 2020, SCORE clients generated $67.35 in new federal tax revenue for every $1 appropriated to SCORE. The need is urgent. As we continue to recover from the COVID pandemic, we need to support entrepreneurs in building businesses and creating jobs. Our response must meet the moment.

Mr. CROW

Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, the ALLIES Act is a chance for Congress to ensure that America honors its promise to our Afghan partners and friends. The phrase ``life and death'' gets tossed around in this Chamber, but this bill is truly that for thousands of our Afghan friends. The Taliban is intent on hunting down and killing Afghans that served alongside Americans for the past 20 years. Some Members of this body, including me, may not be here today without the service and sacrifice of Afghans who answered the call to serve shoulder to shoulder with us. Those Afghans knew the risk that their service posed to them and their families, yet they signed up to help because they believed we would have their back. They have already demonstrated unwavering courage and loyalty by working alongside us. They have demonstrated their commitment to America, and they have earned a path to safety. The U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan will come to an end in a matter of weeks. At the same time, the threat to our Afghan partners who served alongside men and women is increasing drastically every single day. Simply put, we are running out of time. They are running out of time. We must streamline the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa process and increase the number of visas to match the pipeline of applicants. The ALLIES Act does just that. The ALLIES Act removes several administrative barriers to expedite visa processing, and it makes these changes without weakening the important security vetting of applicants. The bill allows family members of deceased SIV applicants to continue through the process if the applicant is killed before visa approval. The bill clarifies that Afghans who worked to benefit the U.S. mission under federally funded cooperative agreements and grants also qualify for the program. This includes Afghans who performed critical democracy, human rights, and governance work on behalf of the U.S. Lastly, the ALLIES Act raises the visa cap by 8,000 visas to meet the current number of applicants. Before I close, let me thank the Honoring Our Promises Working Group, a bipartisan group; the Biden administration; Leader Hoyer; and the Judiciary Committee for their partnership in crafting this bill and getting us to the vote today. This is personal to any of us who served with the men and women who will be saved by this bill. But it is also a moral and national security issue for America. It is a moral issue because the American handshake must matter. We must be a country that honors our promises if we are to be a beacon of hope and democracy for the world. It is a national security issue because America is strong, not just because we have aircraft carriers and fighters and bombers, but because we have friends and allies. We don't go it alone. We face many threats, and we will continue to in the future, and we will need friends to help us face those threats. If we turn our back on the Afghans who served with us for the last two decades, it is going to be awfully hard to find future friends. Mr. Speaker, this is our chance to do the right thing. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the ALLIES Act.