Ed Perlmutter

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the public service of my Chief of Staff, Danielle Radovich Piper. Danielle has served as my trusted adviser for more than two decades. She managed my first campaign for Congress in 2006 out of a former veterinarian's office in Golden and has been by my side ever since as my Chief of Staff. Together, we've served Colorado's 7th Congressional District for the last 16 years. Danielle expertly managed our team of dedicated public servants. She ensured a dual focus for our office on advancing legislation which would benefit the hard-working people of Colorado while simultaneously providing excellent constituent services. Danielle is a brilliant strategist and communicator. This has served us well during difficult times including natural disasters and devastating crises in our community. She is highly respected by her peers in both Colorado and Washington, D.C. Danielle graduated from Colorado State University with a major in Political Science and a minor in Spanish. Before serving as my Chief of Staff, Danielle was Chief of Staff for the Senate Majority in the Colorado General Assembly. She has been appointed to several state- level entities, including the Supreme Court Nominating Commission and the Census Outreach Grant Committee. Danielle has done this all while raising two boys, Aiden who attends Golden High School and Liam who attends Manning Middle School, with her husband Chris. Danielle is a tremendous role model with a strong moral compass who checks every line of the Code of the West, especially ``Always finish what you start,'' ``Know where to draw the line,'' ``Be tough, but fair,'' and ``When you make a promise, keep it.'' Danielle's leadership and commitment to our community is remarkable and it is impossible to count the ways her work has impacted the State of Colorado. I am proud to see Danielle continue her public service next year at my alma mater, the University of Colorado, as the Senior Vice President for External Relations and Strategy. On behalf of our friends, neighbors, and constituents from Colorado's 7th Congressional District and the entire Congress, I want to express sincere appreciation for the career and public service of my colleague and friend, Danielle Radovich Piper.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Phil Nelson for his decades of service to the Citizens' Climate Lobby and to the State of Colorado. Phil Nelson has been active in the environmental community for most of his life. In 1958, he started his education at MIT and received his B.S. in 1962 and Ph.D. in 1967; both in geophysics. After graduating from MIT, Phil worked at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1977-1982) as well as the Sohio Petroleum, BP and Book Writing (1982- 1987) before finishing his career at the United States Geological Survey (1988-2014). Phil retired in 2014 and continued his passion for environmental issues through volunteer work. In 2014, he joined the Citizens' for Climate Lobby (CCL) in Golden, Colorado where he served as chair until 2022. This group meets regularly with local, state and federal leaders and staff members to advocate for and discuss environmental concerns and issues. Through his work, Phil has attended regional and national meetings, lobbied in Washington D.C., and raised awareness of the threat of climate change by making presentations to civic groups and providing information at public events. Phil and members of his CCL chapter have also been active in writing letters to the editor which have appeared in various Colorado news outlets and worked to obtain signatures for petitions, written public comment, and garnered support for various issues across the state. Throughout his time at CCL, Phil's hard work and dedication has proven to be a tremendous asset to the environmental community in Colorado. I extend my deepest appreciation for Phil Nelson and his service and dedication to our community and the State of Colorado.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Parry's Pizzeria & Taphouse of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's Large Business of the Year Award. The Large Business of the Year Award recognizes a local business with over 50 employees and shows business growth and stability. Parry's Pizzeria & Taphouse is dedicated to providing craveable food and beer served with uncommon hospitality. With its dedication to community commitment and involvement, Parry's Pizzeria is a valued large business in Northglenn. Congratulations to Parry's Pizzeria & Taphouse for receiving this award and I wish them all the best in the future. I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Animal Clinic North of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's Business Longevity Award. The Business Longevity Award recognizes a local business that has existed in Northglenn as a business for over 20 years and provides exceptional customer service. Animal Clinic North, owned by Dr. Kerry Madole, is committed to providing comprehensive care for everyone who is seeking care for their pet. With a focus on small animal care, Animal Clinic North is a valued business in Northglenn. Congratulations to Animal Clinic North for receiving this award and I wish them all the best in the future. I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Murray-Brown Laboratories of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's Mid-Size Business of the Year Award. The Mid-Size Business of the Year Award recognizes a local business with up to 50 employees that exemplifies a high level of business ethics and professionalism. Murray-Brown Laboratories, co-owned by John Murray and Brenda Brown, exists to provide testing to food and beverage companies that depend on the results to keep the products for consumers safe for consumption. With a passion for providing excellent customer service, Murray-Brown Laboratories is a valued mid-size business in Northglenn. Congratulations to Murray-Brown Laboratories for receiving this award and I wish them all the best in the future. I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Painted Tree Boutiques--Northglenn of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's Small Business of the Year Award. The Small Business of the Year Award recognizes a local business with up to 20 employees that impacted the community with its entrepreneurial spirit. Painted Tree Boutiques--Northglenn exists to provide space for hundreds of other small businesses in its store. With its ability to create space for others to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, Painted Tree Boutiques--Northglenn is a valued small business in Northglenn. Congratulations to Painted Tree Boutiques--Northglenn for receiving this award and I wish them all the best in the future. I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Yvette Klinger, The Anubis Emporium of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes one student with an established business who either lives in Northglenn or attends a Northglenn (K-12) school and exemplifies an entrepreneurial spirit. The Anubis Emporium, founded by Yvette Klinger, is passionate about sharing art that customers will resonate with. With a focus on providing unique, creative products that display her digital art, Yvette Klinger--The Anubis Emporium is a valued business in Northglenn. Congratulations to Yvette Klinger--The Anubis Emporium for receiving this award and I wish her all the best in the future. I thank her for her contribution to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ruby Jean Patisserie of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's Home-Based Business of the Year Award. The Home-Based Business of the Year Award recognizes a business operating from a Northglenn residence and exemplifies exceptional customer service and products. Ruby Jean Patisserie, owned and operated by Jennifer Essex, is dedicated to creating sweet delicacies with European techniques. With an emphasis on exceptional quality and giving back to the community, Ruby Jean Patisserie is a valued home-based business in Northglenn. Congratulations to Ruby Jean Patisserie for receiving this award and I wish them all the best in the future. I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize MJ Better Books, Inc. of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's Rookie Business of the Year Award. The Rookie Business of the Year award recognizes a newly formed business that has been operating for less than two years and exemplifies innovation. MJ Better Books, Inc., founded by Miriam Nunez and Jamie Nunez, is passionate about helping small businesses and entrepreneurs be successful. With an emphasis on helping Hispanic and Spanish speaking businesses, MJ Better Books, Inc. is a valued newly established business in Northglenn. Congratulations to MJ Better Books, Inc. for receiving this award and I wish them all the best in the future. I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize KF Developers of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's Business Investment Award. The Business Investment award recognizes one established business or Northglenn property owner that has made major capital investments in equipment and/or facility improvements. KF Developers is passionate about transforming Karls Farm into a mixed-use development that commemorates the legacy of the dairy farm. With a focus on meeting the needs of the community, KF Developers is a valued developer in Northglenn. Congratulations to KF Developers for receiving this award and I wish them all the best in the future. I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 2nd Time Sports of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's People's Choice of the Year Award. The People's Choice of the Year Award recognizes one business that has been chosen through an online popular vote for having the best product or service and overall customer satisfaction. 2nd Time Sports is passionate about providing new and used sports equipment to consumers in the north metro area. With a focus on excellent customer service, 2nd Time Sports is a valued business in Northglenn. Congratulations to 2nd Time Sports for receiving this award and I wish them all the best in the future. I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Wheat Ridge Poultry and Meat for receiving the Wheat Ridge Business Association's 2022 Business of the Year Award. The Wheat Ridge Business of the Year Award is given to businesses within our community who exemplifies outstanding service, leadership, and participation in the community and aims to recognize them for their achievement. Eighty years after its original founding in 1942, Wheat Ridge Poultry and Meat remains a cornerstone of Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Driven by the goals of ending food waste and food insecurity, and providing locally sourced fresh products to our community, the operators, Jessica and Bob Babinski, have given back to Wheat Ridge through working with the City to open a food bank for lower income families and those in need of food options. Jessica has leveraged her marketing expertise to not only support her own business, but other businesses within the community too. Wheat Ridge Poultry and Meat has been recognized nationally, receiving visits from USDA Secretary Vilsack and Colorado Department of Agriculture Commissioner Kate Greenberg, as well as being a recipient of the Meat and Poultry Readiness Grant. Wheat Ridge Poultry and Meat deserves all its accolades, and I cannot thank them enough for how they have given back to the community. Wheat Ridge is made better by businesses like Wheat Ridge Poultry and Meat.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Peter DeWolf for receiving the Wheat Ridge Business Association's 2022 Member of the Year Award. The Member of the Year Award is given to an individual who exemplifies exceptional leadership and above all else, commitment to our community. Peter DeWolf has been an outstanding member of the Wheat Ridge Business Association, bringing his expertise and leadership to all that he does. Mr. DeWolf has attended more events and meetings than any other non-board member. Mr. DeWolf brings his cheerful spirit and positive perspective to every meeting he attends and often generously donates his delicious toffee to member meetings. Mr. DeWolf embodies the best of Wheat Ridge and is a treasured member of our community. I thank Mr. DeWolf for his service to the great City of the Wheat Ridge.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Clancy's Irish Pub for receiving the Wheat Ridge Business Association's 2022 Cultural Commission Award. Clancy's Irish Pub is being recognized by the Wheat Ridge Business Association's Cultural Commission as the longest running Irish Pub in the State of Colorado and as a vital cultural hub for members of our community. Clancy's hosts annual Celtic and Sonic Bluegrass Festivals, weekly Irish music performance, Celtic and bluegrass jam sessions, and karaoke. Clancy's also opens their doors to community events like Hops with a Cop, Pints and Policy, and Ridgefest Deconstructed. Their steadfastness toward engaging the community of Wheat Ridge in Irish culture and providing a space to celebrate and learn about it is why the Cultural Commission chose Clancy's. I thank Clancy's Irish Pub for the rich culture they bring to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rebekah Raudabaugh for receiving the Wheat Ridge Business Association's 2022 Council Partner Award. The Council Partnership Award is given to a member of the community who the City Council believe exemplifies the best of Wheat Ridge. This year, the Wheat Ridge City Council chose Ms. Raudabaugh for her empathic service to our community. From the first time she met with City Council members, her commitment to bettering her community was clear and is seen through her earnest plight to earn the trust of the community. I thank Rebekah Raudabaugh for her outstanding leadership, which helps make Wheat Ridge a wonderful place to live and work.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Margie Seyfer for receiving the Wheat Ridge Business Association's 2022 Member of the Year Award. The Member of the Year Award is given to an individual who exemplifies exceptional leadership and above all else, commitment to our community. Margie Seyfer has been an outstanding member of the Wheat Ridge Business Association, bringing her expertise and leadership to all that she does. In her tenure, she has worked in the capacity of membership, greeter's coordinator, speaker coordinator, and member welcome committee. Even after retirement, Ms. Seyfer has remained an active participant in our rich business community and has continued to remain an instrumental part of the Wheat Ridge Business Association. I thank Margie Seyfer for her service to the great City of Wheat Ridge.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jeremy Laufer for receiving the Wheat Ridge Business Association's 2022 Rising Star Award. The Rising Star Award is given to an individual who exemplifies exceptional leadership and who shows great promise in their continued commitment to our community. Jeremy has been an outstanding member of the Wheat Ridge Business Association, bringing his expertise and leadership to all that he does. While he is new to the Association, Mr. Laufer has jumped into his new role feet first. Starting out as a member of the Community Outreach Committee, he now chairs the Committee since joining the Board of Directors. His focus is on bridging the connections between the non-profit organization member, community partners, and the WRBA. I thank Jeremy Laufer for his continued service to the great City of Wheat Ridge.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize New Image Brewery for receiving the Wheat Ridge Business Association's 2022 Reinvestment Award. New Image Brewery is being recognized for their resilience in investing in our community despite opening a business at a challenging time. When New Image Brewery first came to Wheat Ridge, they were looking for a facility to produce their beers, however, due to zoning laws, they were required to open a tasting room. New Image Brewery agreed to this new vision, but as they began to open their doors, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Now, two years after their original opening, New Image Brewery was able to finally open the doors to their tasting room and has been met with great community support. Quickly, this brewery has become a popular spot in the community, featuring a wide array of brews inside and an onsite food truck outside. I thank New Image Brewery for their ``reinvestment'' in our community. We are happy to have their tasting room's doors finally open.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cheryl Brungardt for receiving the Wheat Ridge Business Association's 2022 Mayor's Award. The Mayor's Award is selected by Mayor Bud Starker to be awarded to an outstanding member of the community. A Wheat Ridge native, Cheryl was selected as this year's awardee for her tireless community service that she does with energy and dedication. She is passionate about every task she undertakes and often the first to volunteer to do the unglamorous but necessary tasks that help move the City of Wheat Ridge forward. Genuine and cheerful, she is a vital community member. I thank Cheryl Brungardt, for her outstanding leadership, which helps make Wheat Ridge a wonderful place to live and work.'

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Wheelie Bean for receiving the Wheat Ridge Business Association's 2022 Sustainability Green Business Award. The Sustainability Green Business Award is given to a business in Wheat Ridge with a strong commitment to protecting the environment to help end the climate crisis facing our planet. I thank the Wheelie Bean for their continued work to help create a greener, more sustainable Wheat Ridge.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I compliment my friend or her Googling talent, because I am sure that is true. The situation that we faced is gas prices shot up to about 4\1/2\ bucks, and they have dropped now almost to $3, or in places across the State, less than $3. But, obviously, in Colorado, we are enjoying a very good economy. Virtually everybody is working. We have an unbelievably low unemployment rate. So we feel gas prices are going in the right direction, prices generally are going in the right direction, and there are a lot of people to credit for that, starting with the President of the United States. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues for joining me here today to speak on the rule and the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act. Over the course of the Joint Consolidation Loan program, more than 14,000 borrowers participated. It seemed like a simple consent. Joint consolidation loans allowed for couples to have one single monthly payment with a lower interest rate, but Congress never provided a way for individuals to separate their loans if and when the time came necessary; whether it is an abusive relationship where there is domestic violence, economic abuse, or you simply can't find your ex- spouse to have them help carry the burden. To my friends on the other side of the aisle who claim they want to help these borrowers, the opportunity to help them is right here, right now. Borrowers who have experienced physical and mental abuse from former partners who now refuse to pay their student loans, like my constituent from Wheat Ridge, say this legislation would set them free. Supporting this legislation is the right thing to do to help borrowers who for years have been stuck in these joint loans with no way out. Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and on the previous question.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. With respect to the bill that we have before us and the rule that we have before us involving the separation of these loans, I would just say there was a woman named Angela who is on the hook for nearly $200,000, she has been divorced since 2016. What she owes is five times what her initial loan was because of this consolidation of loans. And she suffered from domestic violence and has had her credit score drop like a rock. She is faced with crippling debt. And until we are able to uncouple and decouple these joint loans through this separation loan act, she is going to continue to be burdened by something that really is not her responsibility. That is the bill we are here to really debate and discuss, S. 1098. And obviously, the rule is to allow its debate on the floor of this House. This weekend, I was out walking precincts on Saturday--going back to the energy discussion that we are having. And at one of the houses was a young man getting his electrical engineering degree at the Colorado School of Mines. And he didn't really recognize too many of the candidates. But he did say that he was familiar with the Inflation Reduction Act because it is the first time we have done anything of any real significance for a long time to deal with climate change, and he was very appreciative of that. A gentleman who doesn't have an affiliation; he is not a Democrat, he is not a Republican, unaffiliated. But he was aware of the substantial policy changes and investments we are making to deal with extreme climate that we face all across this country. I am glad it is nice in North Dakota right now. But across the country, we have seen wildfires at times that nobody has ever experienced before. We have seen terrible floods, and we continue to see the ocean rise. There are so many pieces to that Inflation Reduction Act dealing with improving our climate and dealing with the change that I certainly was proud to have supported it. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I would also say to my friend from Texas, as it relates to inflation, the gentleman is correct. There has been, on a year-over-year basis, a jump of about 8 percent, 8.3 percent, I think he mentioned. But since the beginning of the year, that has fallen dramatically. Of course, over the summer we saw deflation in a couple of months, and the most recent inflation report in August was it rose .1 percent. So, annualized, that is a 1.2 percent inflation rate now because we are seeing prices drop, particularly in the energy sector. So as much as my friends on the other side would like to wish that we had inflation, it is going away because we have been able to pass legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, which takes a good look at both climate responsibilities that we have in urging and incentivizing towards renewable energy. But it also has a huge piece in there to allow us to negotiate prescription drug prices and bring those down. So I would say to my friends on the other side, this bill is about dealing with loans, consolidated loans that now need to be separated. But on the subjects brought up, I can tell you that inflation is dropping based on the most recent reports, and gas prices are falling. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.