Ed Perlmutter

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Reverend Doctor Jules Smith and his wife Reverend Ida Smith for their service and dedication to their community and the Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church. As devoted servants of the Lord, Reverend Doctor Smith has served the Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church with faith, devotion, and integrity since 1986. Under his leadership and Ida by his side, the church has grown from 33 members to over 1500 and serves 42 multi- faceted ministries to meet the needs of every age group. Prior to joining Rising Star Church, Reverend Doctor Smith served as Assistant Pastor at Unity Baptist Church in the Bronx, New York and as Sunday School Radio Commentator and Associate Pastor at Union Baptist Church in Denver. Reverend Ida Smith serves as First Lady and Associate Minister at Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Ida has inspired many throughout her work, serving on several missionary tours to Canada; Caribbean Islands; Burkina Faso, West Africa; Nassau, Bahamas; Lagos, Nigeria; and China. Together, they also serve in various leadership capacities across a variety of local and national organizations including the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Colorado, Salem Baptist District Association, Baptist Ministers Conference of Metro Denver, International Association of Ministers' Wives and Widows, RSMBC Spiritual Stars Women's Ministry, and the American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains. In addition, they have both received numerous awards, citations and commendations in both the secular and Christian communities. I extend my deepest appreciation to Reverend Doctor Jules Smith and Reverend Ida Smith for their service and dedication to the Rising Star Church congregants and our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Laura Tobey with Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Premium Panels Inc., Wanco Inc., Community First Foundation, and Gene and Dee Milstein for being honored by the Arvada Economic Development Association for their outstanding contributions to the Arvada community. Laura Tobey is posthumously recognized with the ``Community Champion Award''. Through her vision, enthusiasm and leadership, Laura was instrumental in the redevelopment of the blighted buildings in Olde Town Arvada. Today this area of Arvada is a thriving retail and commercial district. Her significant impact on the community will be felt for years to come. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is recognized as ``Retailer of the Year''. Their capital investment of $750,000 to the property at 77th and Wadsworth Boulevard created improvements to the facade and interiors including opening an interior walkway to all tenants. I commend Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage on their mission is to provide shoppers with an affordable, healthy lifestyle as well as empower them to take control of their own wellbeing. Premium Panels Inc. is recognized as the ``Outstanding Small Business'' for their $3.1 million capital investment in a building in the Arvada Tech Center allowing the company to remain in Arvada and double their workforce. Premium Panels provides high quality metal roofing panels for commercial and residential roofing. Wanco Inc. is recognized with the ``Outstanding Large Business Award'' for their $8.6 million expansion of a 95,000 square foot building which resulted in the retention of the existing facility and 200 new jobs. Wanco was established in 1984 and is the leading manufacturer of highway safety and traffic control products. Community First Foundation is recognized with the ``Community Partnership Award'' for their $1 million grant to Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) Health Sciences building in Arvada. This investment in the RRCC will improve the quality of education for students and create positive change within the community. Community First Foundation is a grant making public charity dedicated to identifying and solving broad community problems.Gene and Dee Milstein are recognized with the ``Lloyd J King Entrepreneurial Spirit Award''. Gene and Dee are the founders and owners of Applewood Seed Company which has been in business for more than 50 years. Applewood Seed Company is a premier commercial and wholesale supplier of wildflower, garden flower, native grass and herb seed. I commend them on their commitment to innovation, their community and the environment. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege and honor to recognize each of the Arvada Economic Development Association award recipients for their professionalism, investment in the community, and their dedication to making Arvada a thriving world class city.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Sheree Barker, age 24, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of action on the House floor.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Eldon Laidig for receiving the West Chamber's 2016 Jefferson County Hall of Fame Award. Known for his passion for education and community service, Eldon has been a pillar of the Jefferson County community for more than fifty years. Before becoming a financial planner, Eldon spent 42 years in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves and 27 years working for Jefferson County Public Schools, 25 of which were spent as a middle school principal. In 1990, Eldon became an associate with Personal Benefit Services Wealth Management, which has been recognized by 5280 Magazine and the Arvada Chamber of Commerce. Eldon's involvement in the Arvada community is unparalleled. He was named the Arvada Sentinel's Man of the Year, has served as club president of the Arvada Council for the Arts and Humanities and Arvada Rotary Club and Friendship Force of Greater Denver, as well as vice president of the Arvada Historical Society. In his five decades in the Jefferson County area, Eldon has worked tirelessly to improve the City of Arvada through community service. I extend my deepest congratulations to Eldon Laidig for this well- deserved recognition by the West Chamber.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Federal Heights Police Lieutenant Gary Toldness for his decades of service to the City of Federal Heights, Colorado. For more than forty years, Lieutenant Toldness has been active within the community and the police department serving constituents of Federal Heights. Lieutenant Toldness started his career in 1976 as a reserve police officer at the Federal Heights Police Department (FHPD). From there he served in various parts of the department including Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Commander. He worked his way up through the Department serving as the Federal Heights Police Department public information officer, the FHPD SWAT team where he served both as a sniper and the Commander, and as the first supervisor of the 17th Judicial District Critical Incident Team. His hard work and dedication each and every day to making the community of Federal Heights a great place to live and work demonstrates his exemplary work as a police officer. I extend my deepest thanks to Lieutenant Toldness for his dedication and service to the Federal Heights community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Dawn Bauer, a teacher at the Carson Elementary School in Denver, CO, for her 2016 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The PAEMST program, administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, recognizes outstanding teachers for their contributions to the teaching and learning of mathematics and science. Dawn has been an active teacher at the Carson Elementary School and now in the College and Career Readiness Office at Denver Public Schools has played an integral role in ensuring her students are prepared with critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are vital to their future success. Dawn's dedication to teaching and commitment to her students serve as a role model for other teachers and is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. I extend my deepest congratulations to Dawn Bauer for her PAEMST Award and for representing the great State of Colorado on a national level. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Dan Pike for receiving the West Chamber's 2016 Jefferson County Hall of Fame Award. An active Colorado conservationist, Dan began advocating for the environment in 1976 when he opened an office for the Nature Conservancy and drafted the first ever Colorado conservation easement. Since then, Dan has continued to defend the environment as a founding member of both the Mountain Area Land Trust in Evergreen and Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy and as retired president of Colorado Open Lands. Under Dan's leadership, Colorado Open Lands has made vast contributions to the protection of open space, preserving five thousand acres of Jefferson County land overall. Dan's civic achievements include Vice Chair of the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts, Chair and Founder of the Mountain Area Land Trust, and a legislative member of the Colorado Conservation Easement Tax Credit Task Force. In 2015, Dan received the Friend of Open Space Award from the Palmer Land Trust for his recent efforts to protect southern Colorado. Recently, Dan has been working on the Jeffco Vision 2020 plan as well as coaching youth sports. I extend my deepest congratulations to Dan Pike for this well- deserved recognition by the West Chamber.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Betty Miller for receiving the West Chamber's 2016 Jefferson County Hall of Fame Award. When Betty Miller moved in 1959, Jefferson County gained a selfless public servant who had a significant impact on the community until her death in January of 2012. Betty began her involvement by volunteering with both the local League of Women Voters and PTA, and later turned her attention to resolving school finance and county zoning issues until her election to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1964. In that role, she helped establish the City of Lakewood, and served on the first Lakewood City Council from 1965 to 1975. The Lakewood Sentinel recognized Betty's hard work and awarded her Outstanding Woman of 1972 and the Jeffco Board of Realtors named her Citizen of the Year in 1977. Betty continued her commitment to Jefferson County as Director of Colorado Local Affairs under Governor Dick Lamm and as Chief Administrator for Senator Tim Wirth, where she famously helped shut down Rocky Flats. Betty was named the Leo Riethmayer Outstanding Public Administrator in 1980 and recognized for her ``outstanding achievement and distinguished service'' as Regional Administrator of HUD under President Jimmy Carter. In 1992, Betty was elected Jefferson County Commissioner, where she helped inspire and lead Jeffco's first long-term planning efforts that helped make our community what it is today. I extend my deepest congratulations to Betty Miller's family for this well-deserved recognition by the West Chamber.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Jenny Simpson for her Bronze Medal finish in the 1500 meter race at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Jenny is the first American woman to win an Olympic Medal in this event. Jenny is a native of Florida and was an eight-time state high school champion. She attended the Univeristy of Colorado, Boulder and represented the Buffs winning four NCAA titles and set five NCAA records. After graduation, she continued her success where she took gold in the 2011 World Championships and a silver medal in the 2013 World Championships. She was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games. In addition to her elite performances, I had the pleasure of working with Jenny while she interned for my office in 2009 and have enjoyed watching her success ever since. The dedication demonstrated by Jenny Simpson is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. Jenny is a role model for other runners and athletes to strive to make the most of their education and develop a strong work ethic. I extend my deepest congratulations to Jenny Simpson for her Bronze Medal finish at the Rio Olympic Games and for proudly representing the great State of Colorado and the University of Colorado Buffaloes. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future endeavors.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Eldon Laidig for receiving the West Chamber's 2016 Jefferson County Hall of Fame Award. Known for his passion for education and community service, Eldon has been a pillar of the Jefferson County community for more than fifty years. Before becoming a financial planner, Eldon spent 42 years in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves and 27 years working for Jefferson County Public Schools, 25 of which were spent as a middle school principal. In 1990, Eldon started Personal Benefit Services Wealth Management, which has been recognized by 5280 Magazine and the Arvada Chamber of Commerce. Eldon's involvement in the Arvada community is unparalleled. He was named the Arvada Sentinel's Man of the Year, has served as club president of the Arvada Council for the Arts and Humanities and Arvada Rotary Club and Friendship Force of Greater Denver, as well as vice president of the Arvada Historical Society. In his five decades in the Jefferson County area, Eldon has worked tirelessly to improve the City of Arvada through community service. I extend my deepest congratulations to Eldon Laidig for this well- deserved recognition by the West Chamber.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Red Rocks Community College on the completion of their Arvada campus expansion. This expansion triples the size and capacity of the current campus located in Arvada, Colorado. I applaud Red Rocks Community College on this $22.5 million expansion project as it is the largest expansion project in the history of the college. This expansion will have a lasting impact on generations to come as well as result in significant economic impact for the Kipling Corridor and Ralston Road Corridor and Arvada and Wheat Ridge communities. The Physician's Assistant Program at Red Rocks Community College is one of the first of its kind in the country. The relocation of this program to the new Arvada Campus will allow for even more students to participate in this unique program. In addition, the new campus will house all of the college's health professions programs in one place and will host more than four times the current number of faculty and staff. I congratulate the Red Rocks team for their success on this important expansion. I applaud the school and faculty for their dedication to this project and their leadership and commitment to helping community college students blaze a path for our country's future leaders and innovators. I am proud of the work Red Rocks Community College does every day and I look forward to celebrating future accomplishments of the school and its students in the years to come.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Oscar Reiss, Ph.D. and World War II Army veteran for his service to our country. Dr. Reiss served in the United States Army from January 1944 to 1947. During his time he was assigned as a replacement to the 79th Infantry, 315th Division B Company, in Alsace, France, guarding the right flank during the Battle of the Bulge. His company was transported to a small town in the Netherlands, near the German border to practice crossing the Rhine in confiscated German boats. In 1945, he was wounded by shrapnel and taken to a hospital in Liege, Belgium. He was later awarded the Purple Heart for these injuries. His awards and decorations include the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with 2 bronze service stars), World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, and the Honorable Service Lapel WWII pin. In 1947, after being discharged from the U.S. Army he returned to the U.S. and was accepted to the University of Chicago chemistry program, beginning his long career in medical research. Dr. Reiss received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and continued his postdoctoral fellowship with the American Heart Association's Department of Cardiology. Dr. Reiss's decades long service in environmental biochemistry and medicine culminated in 1991. During his distinguished career he served as a lecturer in various courses on environmental and dental biochemistry at the University of Colorado Medical School and taught foreign seminars, most notably in Germany, France and Bulgaria. Through his courageous service in the military and medical fields, Dr. Reiss charted the path for future generations in this country. I extend my deepest appreciation to Dr. Reiss for his dedication, integrity and outstanding service to the United States of America.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Sylvia Brockner for receiving the West Chamber's 2016 Jefferson County Hall of Fame Award. An avid author and environmentalist, Sylvia Brockner has led the Evergreen area preservation movement for more than forty years. Her works culminate in her published book, entitled Birds in our Evergreen World. In 1968, Sylvia and her late husband founded the Evergreen Naturalists which has since evolved to the Evergreen Audubon and Nature Center. Sylvia helped Jefferson County Open Space acquire 319 acres for what would become the Lair O' Bear Open Space Park in 1987, opening to the public in 1991. Sylvia also was a founding member of the Mountain Area Land Trust in 1993, which helped to preserve thousands of acres of open lands within 50 miles of Evergreen. Sylvia's long time role as an advocate for animals and plants has been influential to the community, as evidence of her being honored with the Evergreen Area Community Service Award and Evergreen Audubon Founders' Award. At age 97, Sylvia continues to pursue writing and illustration in her weekly column for the Canyon Courier. I extend my deepest congratulations to Sylvia Brockner for this well-deserved recognition by the West Chamber.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Jessica Noffsinger, teacher at the STEM Magnet Lab School in Northglenn, CO, for her 2016 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The PAEMST program, administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, recognizes outstanding teachers for their contributions to the teaching and learning of mathematics and science. Jessica has been an active teacher at the STEM Magnet Lab School and has played an integral role in ensuring her students are prepared with critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are vital to their future success. Jessica's dedication to teaching and commitment to her students serves as a role model for other teachers and is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. I extend my deepest congratulations to Jessica Noffsinger for her PAEMST Award and for representing the great State of Colorado on a national level. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Steve Camins for receiving the West Chamber's 2016 Jefferson County Hall of Fame Award. Since moving to Colorado in 1970, Steve Camins has played an active role in the Jefferson County community. Steve received his bachelor's in Psychology from Colorado State University in 1968, and soon after became a certified financial planner and insurance counselor. For more than forty years, Steve has worked as an insurance agent for his self- owned and -managed company, Financial Dimensions Ltd., an Arvada business that helps Jefferson County citizens manage risk and protect assets. Steve served on the board of the Arvada Economic Development Association for more than fifteen consecutive years, and also served on the Arvada Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He played an instrumental role in the formation of the Arvada Enterprise Center which joined with the West Chamber nine years ago to create the Jefferson County Business Resource Center. Steve's determination and passion was recognized in 1996 when he was named the Arvada Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year and continues to lift the Jefferson County economy to new heights. I extend my deepest congratulations to Steve Camins for this well- deserved recognition by the West Chamber.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago next week, a guy dressed up as the Joker barged into a theater in Aurora, Colorado, and killed 12 and wounded about 58 others. One of those killed was a young sports reporter named Jessica Ghawi--4 years ago. Have we had one hearing on gun violence? Have we had one vote on gun violence in 4 years? No. The Republican majority has blocked every effort at just reasonable, sensible things like background checks, or, if you are a terrorist, you don't get a gun. Have we had one vote? Have we had one hearing? No, but people are dying--5 officers last week and 49 people in Orlando the month before that. We need a hearing. The Republican majority has taken off for 7 weeks. These things have to be addressed. We are not going away. The subject is not going away. It is time for a vote. It is time for a hearing. It is not time for a 7-week recess. Jessica Ghawi deserves more than that.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, it has been 4 days since the mass shooting in Dallas. It has been a month since the mass shooting in Orlando. It has been 7 months since the mass shooting in San Bernardino, and at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs. It has been a year since the mass shooting in Charleston. It has been 2 years since the mass shooting in Umpqua Community College in Oregon. It has been 3\1/2\ years since the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. It has been 4 years since the mass shooting at the theater in Aurora, Colorado. It has been 5\1/2\ years since the mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, where our colleague, Gabby Giffords, was shot. Mr. Speaker, please talk to Speaker Ryan. Not once, after any of those shootings, in all of these 5\1/2\ years, have we had one hearing or one vote on gun violence, not one. Now, we have had 60 votes on repealing the Affordable Care Act, none of which went anywhere. The Republican majority has spent millions of dollars going after Benghazi or emails to no avail; but not one vote, not one hearing, nothing on gun violence. Now, Mr. Speaker, you know I would much rather be here talking about the Broncos winning the 50th Super Bowl. I would much rather be talking about the unbelievable accuracy of NASA getting the Juno satellite to Jupiter after 5 years of space travel within 1 second of the planned time. I would much rather be talking about Jenny Simpson, who is a University of Colorado graduate who is going to Rio, and wish her much success and that the wind be at her back. Those would be a lot more fun. Those would be some things I would love to do. But we have got to grapple with this issue. It is not going away, and we are not going away. We asked for two commonsense pieces of legislation. They certainly aren't going to handle all the ills of society, but one is no fly, no buy; meaning, if you are on the terrorist watch list, you don't get a gun. The second is so common sense, which is background checks on anybody who wants to purchase a weapon. Those two simple pieces of legislation we have asked to be brought to this floor. In fact, a couple weeks ago, we were so upset that we actually did a filibuster and broke some rules of this House to try to make our voices heard to have a vote. The Republican majority has refused to let us have that vote. Let us have a hearing. These are bipartisan pieces of legislation sponsored by Mr. King. Mr. Curbelo, just a second ago, asked that something be brought up, but it is not going to be brought up. It is time. It is time that we have a vote. It is time that we have a hearing. It is time that we do something about gun violence. Today I just brought the picture of Garrett Swasey, the police officer who was killed in the mass shooting at the Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs, and a picture to remember, Alex Teves, who was killed in the Aurora movie theater protecting his girlfriend from being shot by a madman who thought he was The Joker. It is time, Mr. Speaker. It is time, Mr. Speaker, that we address these things. We can't avoid it any longer. These subjects are not going away. We are not going away. These people cannot have died in vain. Whether it is the 5 police officers shot last week, the 49 people killed at the nightclub, the hundreds who have been killed by guns over the course of the last few years, it is time for a hearing, and it is time for a vote.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank Mr. DeFazio. Mr. Speaker, on July 3 last year, a Flight for Life air ambulance helicopter took off in Frisco, Colorado. Just seconds later, the helicopter crashed in a parking lot next to the helipad and burst into flames. The post-crash fire contributed to the death of the pilot, Patrick Mahany, and severely burned the two flight nurses, Dave Repsher and Matthew Bowe. Dave Repsher is still hospitalized today after suffering burns on more than 90 percent of his body. The U.S. military required changes to helicopter fuel systems over 50 years ago. The FAA underwent a rulemaking in 1994 concerning crash- resistant fuel system standards, but 22 years later we still do not require newly manufactured helicopters to meet these safety standards. The 1994 rulemaking required all newly certified helicopter designs to incorporate crash-resistant fuel systems, but helicopter designs are certified once and then can be manufactured for years. So new helicopters like the AS350, which crashed in Frisco and was only 1 year old, are being built to an unsafe standard.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, this resolution today includes section 2105, requiring the administrator of the FAA to evaluate and update these safety standards. I want to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio for working with me on this issue. Together, we can work with the FAA and industry to update these critical safety standards and make sure newly manufactured helicopters include crash-resistant fuel systems.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of AJ Boik, the nephew of a friend of mine, Police Sergeant Dave Hoover, who was killed at the Aurora movie theater during the premier of the Batman movie.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank my friend from Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Daniel Mauser. He is a young man who was a victim of gun violence at Columbine High School and was the son of a friend of mine, Tom Mauser.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Federal Heights Police Sergeant Teresa (Terry) Dougherty for her decades of service to the City of Federal Heights, Colorado. For over thirty years, Sergeant Dougherty has been active within the community and the police department serving constituents of Federal Heights. Sergeant Dougherty started her career in 1985 in the dispatch center within the Federal Heights Police Department. From there she served in various parts of the department including service in records and code enforcement. She worked her way up to a patrol officer and detective, finally ending a stellar career at her current rank of Sergeant. The police chief of Federal Heights credits her with a rare ability to bring calmness to chaos in a variety of circumstances. Sergeant Dougherty continuously brought passion to her job and made a personal investment in the employees within the police department. Her hard work and dedication each and every day to making the community of Federal Heights a great place to live and work demonstrate her exemplary work as a police officer in Federal Heights. I extend my deepest thanks to Sergeant Dougherty for her service to the community. Thank you for your continuous dedication to serving the people and the City of Federal Heights, Colorado.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud David Hiller who is retiring as the Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory after years of service to the renewable energy industry in Colorado. The Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory is a research consortium among four leading research institutions--University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Through Mr. Hiller's leadership, the Collaboratory worked with industry partners, public agencies, and other universities and colleges to develop and advance the commercialization of renewable energy technologies, energy management systems, and energy efficiency technologies. These efforts have supported tremendous economic growth in Colorado and the nation with renewable energy industries. They educate our nation's finest energy researchers, technicians, and workforce. Mr. Hiller started his career in 1991 as a partner at the Don, Hiller & Galleher, P.C. law firm. He served in this position for twelve years and then moved to public service. In 2005, Mr. Hiller began working for then-Senator Ken Salazar as his State Issues Counsel. In 2007, Mr. Hiller became Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory and focused on advanced clean energy in biofuels, solar and wind technologies. The Collaboratory also expanded research to include energy systems integration and carbon management cutting across renewable and traditional energy technologies. Through his time at the Collaboratory, Mr. Hiller continuously brought his passion, hard work and dedication each and every day to growing the renewable energy community and we will forever be grateful. I extend my deepest thanks to David Hiller for his service to the renewable energy community and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I thank him for his continuous dedication to serving the people and the State of Colorado.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Marwan Altaweel for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Marwan Altaweel is an 8th grader at Drake Middle School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Marwan Altaweel is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Marwan Altaweel for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Colorado Delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives, I am highlighting an issue of importance to Colorado and its community of senior citizens. Earlier this year, Congress passed the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2016 and sent it to the President for his signature. This reauthorization ensures that a wide range of social and nutritional services, directed to assist senior citizens, is not disrupted. While the reauthorization improves the status quo for the state of Colorado, I still have concerns about the continuing inequity in funding going to our state in comparison to the rest of the country. In an attempt to protect certain states with shrinking senior populations, Congress in 2006 changed the Older Americans Act funding formula to ensure states received a guaranteed funding level. This is known as the ``Hold Harmless Funding Formula.'' Due to Colorado's growing senior population and this provision from 2006, Colorado (among other states) saw massive cuts during sequestration when other states did not. Instead of allowing the funding to go to states with growing senior populations, the hold harmless funding formula in the current reauthorization continues the disproportionate trend. It prevents funding in states with lower senior populations from going to states with growing levels of senior citizens. While I am supportive of the services provided by the Older Americans Act, Congress' priority should be ensuring the stability of the programs upon which millions of seniors around the country depend. I believe that moving forward, it is imperative that steps are taken in future reauthorizations to safeguard services for all seniors regardless of their state of residence. It is my hope that as Congress continues to address issues that are important to all senior citizens, we find a path forward to address the issue I've raised today.