Ed Perlmutter

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time each side has remaining?

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, yesterday the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 860. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act under a structured rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, makes in order two amendments, and provides one motion to recommit. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4673, the EVEST Act, under a structured rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The rule also makes in order five amendments, provides the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs with en bloc authority, and provides one motion to recommit. Finally, the rule provides for recess instructions, suspension authority, and same-day authority through February 4, 2022. Madam Speaker, I am pleased we are here today to provide for consideration of two important bills to support our Nation's veterans. H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act will make important improvements to the way GI Bill benefits are calculated for our National Guard and Reserve veterans. Since 9/11, our seven individual Reserve and Guard components of the United States Armed Forces have played a larger and larger role in military operations. Despite putting on the same uniform and taking on many of the same risks as their Active Duty counterparts, these servicemembers don't have access to the same benefits. Under current law, active component servicemembers receive credit for every day they serve while reserve component and National Guard servicemembers earn credit depending on their duty status. H.R. 1836 would expand eligibility for the GI Bill to count every day a servicemember is paid and in uniform toward benefit eligibility and ensure parity for National Guard and Reserve members. It only makes common sense. This service would include all training and general duty for which basic pay is warranted. These men and women answer the call to serve without hesitation. Our National Guard has stepped up these last several years to assist in the fight against COVID-19, help communities affected by natural disasters, as in Colorado, we had a terrible wildfire a week ago and the National Guard stepped up, and even protecting our Capitol following a domestic terrorist attack. It is past time these servicemembers have access to the GI benefits they deserve. I commend Congressman Mike Levin for sponsoring this legislation to provide parity, and I am proud to support this bipartisan bill. The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 4673, the EVEST Act, to improve healthcare benefits for departing Active Duty servicemembers as they transition into VA healthcare and civilian life, again, something that is just common sense and I thought was already part of the law. Approximately 200,000 servicemembers transition out of military service each year. This service is difficult, demanding, and dangerous, and the transition from military to civilian life can be challenging for servicemembers who suffered a service-related injury or a traumatic experience. A recent survey of 10,000 veterans showed their chief concern in their first year after leaving the military is their health and their mental well-being. At this moment, veterans eligible for VA healthcare must choose to enroll in the VA's healthcare system using its online, phone, or in- person services. However, veterans are often confused regarding their eligibility status for enrollment despite all veterans being eligible for VA healthcare benefits for 5 years after separation from the military. A 2014 study found symptoms of PTSD can be significantly improved if veterans receive prompt mental healthcare, and for each year a veteran waited to initiate treatment, there was a 5 percent increase in the odds of their PTSD not improving or even worsening. Simply put, our veterans cannot afford to not get the healthcare they need and deserve. The EVEST Act requires the VA to enroll veterans in its patient enrollment system within 60 days of receiving relevant information and notice from the Department of Defense. This bill uses existing DOD systems through the Transition Assistance Program as well as VA's existing patient enrollment system to enable a warm handoff from DOD to VA. The bill would require the VA to provide veterans notice of enrollment and instructions for how the veteran can opt out if they so wish. Smoother access to VA healthcare has never been more important than it is today. It is time to shift the burden from the veteran to the DOD and the VA where it belongs. I thank Chairman Takano for introducing this commonsense legislation to improve the health of our recently separated veterans, and I also recognize the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his service to the country as part of our military. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 860 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Reschenthaler) pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would say in response to my friend, this is a situation in the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act where the National Guard and the Reserves are standing side-by-side with active military, and they are entitled to the same benefits that the active military has when it comes to the GI Bill. So that one, in my opinion, is a no-brainer. The other, and I would say, the VSOs, the veteran service organizations supporting the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, H.R. 1836, are Student Veterans of America, National Guard Association of the U.S., Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, and the Reserve Officers Association of the U.S. With respect so the EVEST legislation, H.R. 4637, again, here we are, people have acted with military service and then have to opt in as opposed to just let the system move quickly for them to become part of the veterans medical care and benefits system. And we have a number of different organizations that support that. VSOs supporting that are the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Disabled American Veterans, the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs, and the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Ross), a distinguished member of the Committee on Rules.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the comments of Mr. Reschenthaler and Mrs. Hinson about schools. But this, in a word, is the Congress of the United States. This is not the Des Moines school board or the Punxsutawney school board where they may have individual respective issues for their area. Madam Speaker, my wife is a teacher--as you are--and in Jefferson County, Colorado, the schools are open. Now, are people getting sick? Is there a lot of pressure on teachers? You bet there is. But those schools are open. So I appreciate the comments of my friends about wanting to open the schools in Chicago or maybe wanting to open them someplace else, but they are open. And so I am not exactly sure what they are railing against other than maybe the school board of Chicago or the school board of Des Moines. Madam Speaker, I yield three minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I would just respond to my friend from Oklahoma, as well as the gentleman from Pennsylvania. Obviously, they have some issues with their school systems if this is the problem that they are bringing up. In Colorado, schools are open. I can tell you that my wife, Nancy, is pretty stressed because COVID is still around and the teaching ranks have been hit by COVID. There is a lot of stress on teachers, but the schools are open. Maybe those gentlemen need to talk to their school boards. In Colorado, we believe in local control. In Colorado, we have kept these open. I would just suggest to the gentlemen to take a look at their own school boards instead of having some national standard that they want to create here about keeping schools open, because they are open. Madam Speaker, Mr. Reschenthaler mentioned something about the economy. Let's talk about the economy. Let's start with the stock market. The stock market is up 10,000 points since Joe Biden took office. Madam Speaker, 10,000 points. Do you know what that means? It is $1.4 billion per point. It means the stock market is up $14 trillion in 1 year under Joe Biden. Since Donald Trump lost, the stock market is up $14 trillion. If that weren't enough, let's talk about how many jobs have been added since Joe Biden won and Donald Trump lost. Madam Speaker, 6.2 million jobs have been added in the last year. Wages have increased by 4.7 percent, at levels we haven't seen for decades. We had the sharpest drop in unemployment since Joe Biden won and Donald Trump lost, over the course of the last year, down to 3.9 percent. The stock market is up. Jobs are up. Wages are up. My friends are complaining about the economy. Well, they have to complain about something, so that is what they want to complain about. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the comments of the gentleman from Utah, as well as my friend from Pennsylvania. They are focusing on schools. Okay, focus on schools. Obviously, I think local control of these school districts is the appropriate way to go and not kind of a Federal mandate. Obviously, we would like to see vaccines used more and COVID eliminated. If we got everybody vaccinated and people wore masks, I think that would be the direction we would go. What these bills are about, and what this rule is about, is the mental health of our National Guard and Reserve troops. We are talking about the National Guard, and we are talking about the Reserves. They may want to bring in a school bill, which is completely unrelated to the topic at hand, but what we are talking about here should have been either passed under some kind of an expedited fashion or it should be the law already. Obviously, they want to argue about something that is not before the body because they can't argue against these two bills. We want to make sure that there is parity that exists between the National Guard and Reserve and active military when it comes to the GI Bill and the ability of those individuals to take advantage of the benefits of the GI Bill, which will benefit this Nation greatly. My dad had a saying about the original GI Bill. He said: America has made many investments, but of the two best investments that America made, the Louisiana Purchase was second only to the GI Bill in terms of the value to America. Here we are, talking about all sorts of other things and not parity for National Guardsmen, Reserve officers, and Reserve troops with the ability to access the GI Bill. We are also ignoring the mental health issues that so many coming out of the military may experience once they are out of the Department of Defense, out of their active service. We want to make sure there is a seamless approach to them entering into the VA system. Madam Speaker, I understand my friends arguing about everything else, but what we have before us are very important matters that have to be addressed. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I appreciate my friends wanting to talk about the Chicago Teachers Union because, again, they don't want to talk about the National Guard; they don't want to talk about the Reserve; they don't want to talk about the GI Bill; and they don't want to talk about mental health benefits or health benefits generally for veterans because they don't have any complaint about that. There is just a whole other conversation going on here. Again, I don't know what is going on in Wisconsin, whether the gentleman has a complaint against collective bargaining in Wisconsin; I don't know if it is the problem in Pennsylvania if there is an issue with collective bargaining. That is not the issue before the House today. Madam Speaker, we need to get these National Guard and Reserve pieces of legislation passed, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I would just like to thank the gentlewoman from Louisiana for talking about the need for broadband because in the American Rescue Plan there is funding for broadband for rural areas such as she represents as well as in the infrastructure bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time so my friend can close.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to just recognize my friend for his service to our country both in the military and here in the United States Congress. I want to thank my colleagues for joining me here today to speak on the rule, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, and the EVEST Act and how we provide and care for our Nation's veterans. We have an opportunity through passage of both bills to improve the healthcare of our separating servicemembers and ensure our National Guard and Reserve component members receive parity in their GI Bill benefits to thank them for their service to our country. I again want to thank the Veterans' Affairs Committee for their work along with Chairman Mark Takano and Representative Mike Levin for sponsoring these important bills. As we kick off 2022 and continue the House's work for the people, I am glad we are starting with our Nation's veterans. I want to thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Reschenthaler, and the numerous other veterans who have served in this body for, again, service both in the military and service here in the United States Congress. I have always fought hard for our Nation's veterans throughout my time in Congress as my way to show my gratitude for their service and fulfill my belief that it is our country's responsibility to care for our Nation's veterans after they have cared for us. Madam Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question. The material previously referred to by Mr. Reschenthaler is as follows: At the end of the resolution, add the following: Sec. 8. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the bill (H.R. 682) to encourage local educational agencies to resume in-person instruction at elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and Labor; and (2) one motion to recommit. Sec. 9. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the consideration of H.R. 682.

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

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a friend and adviser, a gentleman named Odell Barry of Northglenn, Colorado, who passed away on January 3, 2022. Born on October 10, 1941, in Memphis, Tennessee, Berry spent most of his childhood in Toledo, Ohio. In 1964, the Denver Broncos took him out of the University of Findlay in the 19th round of the American Football League draft. Barry, a very talented and standout sprinter, opted for pro football over a chance to join the U.S. Olympic team, and he played a couple of seasons with the Broncos. Once his football career concluded, Barry began his career in public and community service, first as the City of Northglenn recreation director and then as the owner of Colorado's first full-service Dairy Queen in the early 1970s. From 1972 to '79, Barry served on the Northglenn City Council and then he became mayor. Along the way, he took pride in organizing the Multiple Sclerosis Dinner of Champions for many years and running Northglenn's football camp. Other highlights include his membership in the Colorado Baseball Commission in the early 1990s, which helped pave the way for the Rockies. Barry was a devoted husband to Glenda, a loving father of two, and he loved spending time with his grandchildren. I am deeply grateful for his lifetime of service to our community and the great State of Colorado, and I personally will miss him.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robert ``Bob'' Briggs of Westminster, Colorado who passed away on December 2, 2021. Bob was born December 24, 1937 in Greeley, Colo. as one of eight children and the oldest son. His family moved to Westminster, Colo. in 1943, where Briggs graduated from Westminster High School. He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Colorado State University, both in horticulture. According to a January 2020 profile in Orchard Living, ``he majored in horticulture because he did not want to wear a tie for a living.'' Bob married his wife Shirley on September 8, 1957. Bob had a long career in local and state politics, serving as Adams County Commissioner for four years beginning in 1979, as the local Board Member for the Regional Transportation District for four years beginning in 1999, and a State Representative for District 29 from January 2003 to 2005. He served two terms on the Westminster City Council from 2007 to 2015, including a stint as the Mayor Pro Tem. He also served as charter President of the original Westminster Chamber of Commerce in 1967. That group merged with the Adams County Chamber in 1982 where he also served as a board member. In this free time, Bob spent his time serving the Colorado Greenhouse Grower's Association, the Westminster Open Space Board, the Westminster Rotary, the Jefferson County Historical Commission and was still serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Butterfly Pavilion upon his passing. He was a longtime proponent of local rail and helped found the advocacy group, Rocky Mountain Rail. Bob was a devoted husband and loving father and grandfather. Bob and Shirley raised two children and enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren. I am deeply grateful for his lifetime of service to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize David Moser on his retirement from the United States Department of Labor Office of Workman's Compensation Programs' Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation. For nearly twenty years, David served across a variety of positions at the Department of Labor serving the American people. David started his public service as a member of the U.S. Navy from June 9, 1981 through February 1, 1994. He became a Hospital Corpsman after boot camp and corps school, during which time he was stationed at several Naval locations, including at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia from 1981 to 1982 followed by a 6-month deployment on the USS America to Europe. From 1984 to 1986, he went to the U.S. Marine Base Camp Butler in Okinawa, Japan with the 3rd Marine Corps Battalion as a Corpsman for an Artillery Unit followed by stints at the U.S. Naval Hospital at Subic Clinic in Subic Bay, Philippines and the U.S. Marine Corps Air Base in Yuma, AZ, as a corpsman for a Hawks Missile Unit from 1986 to 1990. He then moved to be a Medical Representative for the U.S. Marine Corps Office Selection Team in Denver, Colo. from 1990 to 1994. After he left the U.S. Navy, David joined the Department of Veterans Affairs in Denver, working several different positions in the mail room, customer service and foreign medical program. David subsequently joined the U.S. DOL, Office of Worker's Compensation, Energy Employee's Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP) in the Denver District Office as a Claims Examiner, Senior Claims Examiner, and Medical Benefits Examiner from August 2005 to his retirement. His hard work and dedication to public service is tremendous. I wish David all the best in retirement and send gratitude for his service to our community, the State of Colorado, and the United States of America.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chuck Gross of the Adams County Education Consortium on his retirement. For more than six years, Chuck has served the Adams County Education community in his role as Executive Director. Chuck has worked in many different roles with several organizations over the years. One of his earliest roles was as Sr. Vice President and General Manager of Kinzley-Hughes from 1988 to 1995. He then moved to Broadband and Associates from 1995 to 1996 and transitioned to the consulting world as a Principal at Worden Gross Consulting for eleven years where he provided public relations, community relations, marketing and communications to senior executives at some of America's most well- known brands, including the Ritz-Carlton and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Following Worden Gross, Chuck went to work for Sector Brands for seven years working as a senior branding and marketing communications consultant, working collaboratively with each client's executive leadership team to enhance its value and position the organization for leadership and growth. His final role has been with the Adams County Education Consortium where he has been responsible for directing a county-wide partnership-- including school districts, higher education institutions, local governments and businesses--that works to enhance academic skills development, career exploration, and relevant work-ready skills for all students in Adams County. My office has worked with Chuck on several different occasions over the years and I am inspired by his work ethic and contributions to Adams County Education community. I wish Chuck all the best in retirement and send gratitude for his service to our community, the State of Colorado, and the United States of America.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Daniel Chase, Chief of Staff at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) for his dedication and service to the people of the State of Colorado. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Daniel went above and beyond to engage, educate and inform the community about unemployment benefits, including by participating in many Telephone Town Halls with my office and thousands of my constituents. Under Governor Hickenlooper's office, Daniel served as a Citizen's Advocate and then was brought on by CDLE as a Special Assistant to the Executive Director. In his time at the department, he has held many roles and now serves as the Chief of Staff in the Executive Director's office. During our Telephone Town Halls, Daniel provided timely updates and answered constituent questions about unemployment benefit programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado. It is because of local heroes like Daniel that our state has been able to support individuals and families during this unprecedented time. I thank Daniel Chase for his service and sacrifice during this difficult time, and I look forward to continuing to work with him as we work to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Rachel Herlihy, State Epidemiologist for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for her dedication and service to the people of the State of Colorado. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Herlihy went above and beyond to engage, educate and inform the community about COVID-19, including by participating in many Telephone Town Halls with my office and thousands of my constituents. Dr. Herlihy has served the constituents of Colorado in her role since 2015. During our Telephone Town Halls, Dr. Herlihy provided timely updates on COVID-19 and answered constituent's questions regarding how to protect themselves and their families during an uncertain time. Her insights and knowledge were invaluable to my office and my constituents. It is because of local heroes like Dr. Herlihy that our state has been able to protect its residents and keep our community safe. I thank Dr. Rachel Herlihy for her service and her sacrifice during this difficult time, and I look forward to continuing to work with her as we continue the fight against COVID-19 and its variants.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Francis Padilla, District Director of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in Colorado for her dedication and service to the people of the State of Colorado. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis went above and beyond by participating in many of my Telephone Town Halls to educate my constituents about small business support and resources. Francis has served the constituents of Colorado in her current role since 2017. As District Director, she is responsible for directing the expansion and delivery of SBA's various loan and business training services throughout the State of Colorado. Prior to her current position, she was the Deputy District Director where she led the Entrepreneurial Development and Lender Relations divisions in the Colorado office and managed the agency's relationships with financial institutions, resource partners, local government officials, and economic development organizations. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Diana provided timely updates related to small businesses relief programs and made herself available to my staff and my constituents around the clock. Her insights and knowledge were invaluable to my constituents and small businesses in our communities. It is because of local heroes like Francis that our state has been able to support small businesses and keep many of them afloat during this unprecedented time. I thank Francis Padilla for her service and her sacrifice during this difficult time, and I look forward to continuing to work with her as we work to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Diana Herrero, Deputy Director of the Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for her dedication and service to the people of the State of Colorado. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Diana went above and beyond to engage, educate and inform the community about COVID-19, including by participating in many Telephone Town Halls with my office and thousands of my constituents. Diana has served the constituents of Colorado as a public health professional for more than 18 years in legislative and regulatory policy, immunization and emergency preparedness program management, strategic planning, and performance management. In addition to her leadership role at CDPHE, Diana made it a priority to provide timely updates on COVID-19 and answer constituent's questions regarding how to protect themselves and their families during an uncertain time. Her insights and knowledge were invaluable to my office and my constituents. It is because of local heroes like Diana that our state has been able to protect residents and keep our community safe. I thank Diana Herrero for her service and her sacrifice during this difficult time, and look forward to continuing to work with her as we continue the fight against COVID-19 and its variants.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Bernadette Albanese of the Tri-County Health Department for her dedication and service to the people of Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her duties as a Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist and Medical Epidemiologist for Tri-County Health Department, Dr. Albanese went above and beyond to engage, educate and inform the community about COVID-19, including by participating in three Telephone Town Halls with my office and thousands of my constituents. Dr. Albanese, who specializes in communicable disease control, outbreak investigations, disease surveillance and general health trends, eagerly partnered with our office to help inform constituents on the most up-to-date and accurate information on COVID-19. On these Telephone Town Halls, Dr. Albanese used her background in disease control and epidemiology to facilitate informed conversations with constituents and answer their questions during an uncertain time. There is no amount of recognition that can accurately display just how much Dr. Albanese has done for us. It is because of essential workers like Dr. Albanese that we have been able to make it this far in the pandemic. I wish her nothing but the best in the future, as we continue to fight against COVID-19.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Dawn Comstock, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Public Health Department (JCPH) for her dedication and service to the people of Jefferson County, Colorado throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her leadership role at JCPH, Dr. Comstock went above and beyond to engage, educate and inform the community about COVID-19, including by participating in four Telephone Town Halls with my office and thousands of my constituents. After a successful career as a tenured professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz, Dr. Comstock answered the call to serve her community in the middle of a global pandemic, stepping into her role as Executive Director in February 2011. Participating in Telephone Town Halls, Dr. Comstock provided timely updates on COVID-19 and answered constituents' questions regarding how to protect themselves and their families during an uncertain time. Her insights and knowledge were invaluable to my constituents. There is no amount of recognition that can accurately display just how much Dr. Comstock has done for us. It is because of essential workers like Dr. Comstock that we have been able to make it this far in the pandemic. I wish her nothing but the best in the future, as we continue to fight against COVID-19.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. John Douglas, Executive Director of the Tri-County Health Department, for his dedication and service to the people of Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to his duties as Executive Director, Dr. Douglas went above and beyond by engaging, informing and educating community members, including by participating in seven Telephone Town Halls with my office and speaking to thousands of my constituents. With more than 43 years of experience in the medical field as an Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Douglas has enormous experience in the field of public health and has played an instrumental role in disseminating accurate and timely information to Coloradans throughout the pandemic. On Telephone Town Halls, Dr. Douglas provided timely updates on COVID-19 and answered constituent's questions regarding how to protect themselves and their families. Under Dr. Douglas's leadership, residents of our community were empowered and informed as we worked together to help limit the transmission and impact of COVID- 19 on our community. There is no amount of recognition that can accurately display just how much Dr. Douglas has done for us. It is because of essential workers like Dr. Douglas that we have been able to make it this far in the pandemic. I wish him nothing but the best in the future, as we continue to fight against COVID-19.