Marco Rubio

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my privilege to recognize a small business that exemplifies creativity, hard work, and dedication to improving their community. This week, it is my honor to name The Big Cheese of Miami, FL, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Having just celebrated their 35 year anniversary, The Big Cheese has grown from a 12-seat and 2-person operation to a landmark Miami Italian restaurant. Lifelong friends Bill Archer and Garry Duell founded The Big Cheese in 1984 and due to their rapid success, expanded to a larger location across the street. Bill is the culinary expert of the duo and has developed original recipes for all 120 items on the menu, while Garry focuses on the day-to-day operations. Along the way, they have shared in the restaurant's success. Today, The Big Cheese remains family-oriented and affordable and uses only the finest ingredients. They have an extensive menu that includes everything from Italian favorites to Miami classics. Many of their employees have been there since inception, and others are second- generation employees, with an average employee tenure of 16 years. Bill, Gary, and longtime manager Salvatore Aiello strive to create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere and they have certainly succeeded. Their dedication to fair prices and made-from-scratch dishes has not gone unnoticed. They were voted The Best Inexpensive Italian Restaurant in Miami and received the 5 Kids Crown Award from South Florida Parenting Magazine for their pizza. They are proud to feed people from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds and remain focused on serving their community. One example of their efforts to help community members in need was during Hurricane Irma recovery, when they donated food to the emergency operations center in Monroe County. They are also the official sponsor of the University of Miami Athletics Department, providing both the Hurricanes and their competitors with pregame meals. Since their founding, they have served thousands of University of Miami students and collected more than 200 pieces of original memorabilia. Their dedication to the school was recently honored when they were chosen to represent the University of Miami during the Taste of the NFL, a charity aimed at bringing awareness to the millions of Americans who struggle with hunger. The Big Cheese is an exemplary community-focused small business. They have remained true to their original values and serve their community in times of need. Like many Main Street restaurants throughout our country, The Big Cheese is a place where community members have gathered and enjoyed meals together for decades. By focusing on quality food and superior customer service, The Big Cheese has stayed in high demand. It is with great pleasure that I extend my congratulations to Bill, Gary and all of the employees at The Big Cheese. I wish you well as you continue serving the people of South Florida, and I look forward to watching your continued growth and success.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I recognize Lindsay Summerlin, the Gulf County Teacher of the Year from Port St. Joe Junior--Senior High School in Port St. Joe, FL. Lindsay was shocked and overwhelmed with emotion to receive this award in front of her students when her daughter presented her with a bouquet of golden roses. She credits her students with making her a better teacher and was honored to receive Gulf County's support. Lindsay works to build relationships with her students and seeks to help others in need. Following Hurricane Michael, she opened her home as a haven for neighbors and school district personnel whose homes sustained damage. Lindsay is an exceptional student education teacher at Port St. Joe Junior--Senior High School. Her family moved from Georgia last year after her husband accepted the head baseball coaching position for the high school's team, the Tiger Sharks. I express my best wishes and gratitude to Lindsay for her work and look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years ahead.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I recognize Tami Porter Parish, the Washington County Teacher of the Year from Vernon Middle School in Vernon, FL. Tami's students find her more than their academic influencer, she is also a kind and admirable friend. Her students view her as someone who is always there for them and inspires them to achieve academic success. Tami considers herself blessed to teach her students, with many seeking her advice after class. Tami is an eighth grade teacher at Vernon Middle School. She believes she is fortunate to work in the Washington County School District and would not trade a day of her teaching for anything. I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Tami and extend my best wishes on her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I recognize Evan Gould, the Clay County Teacher of the Year from Lake Asbury Junior High School in Green Cove Springs, FL. Evan regards it a tremendous honor to represent all school employees as teacher of the year. He believes support staff play a critical role in the success of students and teachers. His colleagues note he leads, inspires, and coaches his students to perform at the highest level. Evan believes every student can succeed academically, artistically, and socially. Evan currently teaches chorus and drama classes at Lake Asbury Junior High School. He has been a teacher for 30 years, with 22 years in Clay County. His chorus and drama programs are highly regarded in Florida, winning awards and superior ratings at district and State competitions. He also serves as chair of District 1 Junior Thespians, hosting more than 500 drama students from across the region for their annual festival. I express my sincere thanks and best wishes to Evan for his work to educate his students in chorus and drama. I look forward to learning of his continued success in the years ahead.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I am honored to recognize Tonya Miles, the Putnam County Teacher of the Year from William D. Moseley Elementary School in Palatka, FL. Tonya was honored to receive this award, noting that she was overwhelmed with joy. Her colleagues commended her on the difference she has made within the school district. Tonya's students describe the culture in her classroom and their school as one of a big family. It is an atmosphere where everyone works to help others succeed. Her students feel like she is their biggest supporter, both in the classroom and in their extracurricular activities. Tonya has taught for 15 years and has been a fifth grade math teacher at William D. Moseley Elementary School for the past year and a half. I extend my best wishes to Tonya for her dedication to her students and community and congratulate her on this award.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, I honor Meredith Ness, the Walton County Teacher of the Year from Mossy Head Elementary School in DeFuniak Springs, FL. Meredith's colleagues describe her as possessing the skills and dedication of a true leader and note that she is highly respected by all at her school. She views herself as a lifelong learner with a love for teaching students. In Meredith's classes, she uses her knowledge for research in education and technology in designing lesson plans to teach her students. She currently serves as a professional learning facilitator, sponsor of Lego league and robotics club, a teacher mentor, and a member of the MHS school improvement team. Meredith has been a teacher for 16 years, with the past 8 years at Mossy Head Elementary School. She is currently a fourth grade teacher. I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Meredith for all of the great work she has done for her students and congratulate her for winning this award.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I honor Alanna Rohling, the Escambia County Teacher of the Year from Lincoln Park Elementary School in Pensacola, FL. Alanna's colleagues describe her as a teacher who embraces students with emotional challenges and helps them to succeed through her creative teaching style. She has been credited as a significant factor of the school's turnaround model to improve students' academic success in recent years. She dedicates her time not only to her students, but also to their parents, keeping them informed of their students' progress throughout the school year. Her students' parents are grateful for this dedication, noting she is always willing to communicate, no matter the time of day. They believe her efforts have resulted in their young students being better prepared for future schooling. Alanna is a kindergarten teacher and has been at Lincoln Park Elementary School since 2015. She also serves as the STEM committee cochair, a member of her school's leadership team, and works as a mentor to students outside of school. I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Alanna for her work and look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I recognize Bryan Poepperling, the Hendry County Teacher of the Year from Clewiston High School in Clewiston, FL. In Bryan's classroom, his teaching of philosophy is based off a quote from Thomas Edison, ``There is no substitute for hard work.'' He works to instill this mentality to both his students in the classroom, and the student-athletes he coaches. Bryan is the social studies department lead and teaches advanced placement U.S. history and U.S. history classes to sophomore and juniors at Clewiston High School. He also coaches cross country and junior varsity basketball. He earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education and social studies at the Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Bryan for his dedication to helping his students succeed in school. I look forward to learning of his continued good work in the coming years.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I recognize Jeff Becker, the Lee County Teacher of the Year from Island Coast High School in Cape Coral, FL. Jeff believes building trust with his students is important for their future success. Every morning, Jeff greets students as they walk into the building and spends his lunch break in the cafeteria getting to know everyone. Jeff is the digital media technology teacher, where he strives for his students to learn video skills. He is credited with transforming the school's news program, winning Best High School News Show at the Lee County Film Festival Awards in his first year of teaching. He was previously in sales for 4 years and noted that, while he was having a fun time, he felt as though he should be doing something else with his life. He became a guidance counselor at Cape Coral High School in 2011 after earning his master's degree in elementary and secondary school counseling at Wilmington University. I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Jeff for his dedication to the students at his school and look forward to hearing of his continued good work in the years to come.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I recognize Caroline Buechner, the Santa Rosa County Teacher of the Year from Navarre High School in Navarre, FL. Caroline was named teacher of the year after being selected among 33 teachers nominated from each school in her district. Santa Rosa superintendent, Tim Wyrosdick, visited her classroom during one of her chorus lessons to present the award. Caroline was humbled to receive this honor and wished to convey a message to all educators: ``Join together to better the educational experience for students.'' Caroline considers her students the best she could ever ask for, many of them are training for an upcoming singing competition. While she was shocked at the honor, her students knew she deserved the award and gave her a round of applause. She is credited for marrying academia and the performing arts and growing the school's choir program. Caroline has been a choral music educator at Navarre High School for the past 9 years and is the coordinator of the 2019 All State High School Concern Choir. Her chorus program is considered one of the more prestigious programs in Florida. I extend my sincere gratitude to Caroline for her dedication to teaching her choir students and look forward to hearing of her continued good work in the years ahead.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I recognize Debra Hartline, the Manatee County Teacher of the Year from Braden River High School in Bradenton, FL. Debra works closely with her students who need to improve their reading comprehension scores in order to meet the requirement for graduation. Each year, more than 96 percent of her students reach that goal. Her students note she spends many hours of work regularly reinstilling their confidence in themselves and preparing them before they take the reading test. Debra's proudest moments are when she watches her students walk across the stage at their graduation. Many of them thought they would never graduate and credit Debra's reading methods with helping them improve their reading comprehension. Debra has taught for 13 years, with the last 8 years at Braden River High School as a reading and English teacher. She previously managed a law in Cleveland, OH, when she noticed her daughter was struggling with reading comprehension. After she moved to Florida in 2000, she began to tutor at her home and later became a volunteer teacher at Braden River Elementary School. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Debra for her dedication in helping students achieve the important steps of graduating from high school. I look forward to hearing of her continued success in the coming years.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to the memory of Leon E. ``Bill'' Braxton, a World War II veteran and teacher who dedicated his life in service to our Nation and educated countless students throughout his career. Bill Braxton was born near Hope Hills, NC, on May 1, 1917. After graduating high school in 1934, he enlisted with the U.S. Army in April 1935, serving in Panama, Austria, Germany, Japan, and Korea. He was an honor graduate of the Coast Artillery School, European Air Transport Service's Flight Captain's School, and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Bill flew combat missions in Indo China in 1954 and aided the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. In 1959, he retired from the U.S. Air Force and enrolled at the University of Miami, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in German. He then received a fellowship under the National Defense Education Act to attend Kent State University, earning a master's degree in German in 1964. Bill's first teaching position was at Hialeah High School, teaching German and English. He taught at Stetson University before moving to Satellite Beach in 1971, where he joined Satellite High School. While there, he developed the school's German Student Program and was named teacher of the year for southern Brevard County. His proudest achievement was establishing the school's Fulbright Student Exchange program for German students before retiring from the school in 1979. In retirement, he continued to teach French, German, and Spanish at Brevard Community College and co-authored four nonfiction books based on his life experiences, people he met at home and abroad, and events he witnessed while serving in the military. Bill Braxton lived a full life and made a difference for his community and his country. I express my sincerest condolences to his four children--Thomas Braxton, Douglas Braxton, Patty Braxton, and Susan Braxton--his seven grandchildren, and his three great- grandchildren. May God bless his family during this time of sorrow, and may they be strengthened by the memory of his life's service.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I recognize Angela Hritz, the Okaloosa County Teacher of the Year from Davidson Middle School in Crestview, FL. Angela received this award at her school district's annual banquet at the Emerald Coast Conference Center. She views teaching as a balancing act between challenging students and empowering them, and believes the most rewarding part of her job are the connections she makes with her students. In her classes, she incorporates English language arts standards and keeps her students engaged by using Socratic seminars to deepen their understanding and develop communication skills. She ensures that her classroom is a respectful environment for her students. Angela is a world history teacher and has taught at Davidson Middle School for more than 20 years. She earned a master's degree in educational leadership in 2008. I congratulate Angela for receiving this important recognition after decades of teaching and extend my best wishes to her. I look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I am pleased to honor Sarah Hall, the Seminole County Teacher of the Year from Longwood Elementary School in Longwood, FL. In receiving this award, Sarah's colleagues described her as an energetic and inspiring teacher who radiates positivity to her students each day. She believes every student should have the opportunity to learn, and she devotes time to assisting her colleagues. Sarah has been a teacher for 15 years and has made it her mission to build relationships with her students and their families by creating a literacy program, Roaring Readers: How to Train Your Cub. The program invites parents of kindergarten and first graders to the school each month for discussions on how they can better support their young readers at home. I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Sarah for her dedication. I look forward to learning of her continued success in the coming years.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I am pleased to recognize Daniella Boyd, the Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year from Royal Palm Beach High School in West Palm Beach, FL. Daniella received this award in front of her students with a surprise visit from Palm Beach County Superintendent Donald Fennoy, her husband, parents, grandparents and her 7-week-old son. Her students credit her style of teaching that allows them to learn with ease. Teaching has long been a part of Daniella's ambitions, originally focusing on social science in college. Her time with Teach for America allowed for her first assignment in a math class, leading to where she is today. In order to meet that challenge, Daniella had to relearn math and considered it a great opportunity to better understand how to teach her future students. Daniella has been a mathematics teacher at Royal Palm Beach High School for 7 years and founded the school's math honor society and the Girls Who Code Club. She earned her master's degree from Harvard University. She is the eldest child of Ecuadorian immigrants. I extend my sincere gratitude to Daniella for her tireless efforts to help her students succeed in math. I look forward to learning of her continued success in the years ahead.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I honor Shannon Kraeling, the Brevard County Teacher of the Year from Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, FL. Shannon enjoys showing her students how to use their imagination to create art and guides them through the learning experience. She loves teaching the concept that success comes from perseverance, reevaluation, revision, refinement, and failure. Her greatest appreciation is seeing her students' pride when they master a skill with which they initially struggled. Shannon is responsible for developing and implementing a curriculum for her classes and organizes lessons, units, and daily activities as a model for teachers throughout the district. She also provides training to integrate fine arts into the curriculum and co-teaches a biology unit. Shannon has spent her 13-year teaching career at Eau Gallie High School. She is the ceramics teacher and department chair for the fine arts program. Shannon also mentors new teachers on classroom management and is a faculty member for the University of Phoenix, supervising local interns and teaching arts integration classes for its College of Education. I extend my deepest gratitude to Shannon for her work to help her students succeed in school. I look forward to hearing of her continued work in the coming years.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I honor Makeda Brome, the St. Lucie County Teacher of the Year from Fort Pierce Westwood High School in Fort Pierce, FL. After receiving this important recognition, Makeda said everything she does is to serve others and see them experience success in all aspects of their lives. She takes to heart the fact that her students must learn mathematics and retain what she has taught in order to be successful in their next courses, in college, and beyond. Makeda models the best practices she has seen into her classroom to provide students with the best opportunity to succeed. Her colleagues note her expertise in a wide array of mathematics practices and keen ability to share this knowledge with others makes her an energetic educator and a leader among her school. Makeda is an instructional mathematics coach and leads collaborative planning sessions, tutors students, and participates in her school's algebra 1 and geometry boot camps before and after school. I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Makeda for her dedication to helping her students succeed in mathematics. I look forward to learning of her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I recognize Katharine Williams, the Okeechobee County Teacher of the Year from the Okeechobee School Board in Okeechobee, FLa. Katharine believes God has led her to the position she is in today, where she is able to help students with serious emotional or mental distresses. She teaches them they are lovable, can love others, and can learn how to have successful emotional regulation. Helping students has inspired her every day, and it represents PRIDE--perseverance, respect, integrity, dependability, ethics--to her. This teaches students to be active listeners, how to have emotional regulation, and also serves as the foundation of the school district's work for its students. Katharine has a master's degree in counseling psychology and is a licensed mental health counselor. She has worked with the Okeechobee County School District for 16 years and as a crisis counselor for 13 years. She is involved in the development and management of district protocol for both threat assessment and safety planning for students. Katharine is also one of six instructors for youth mental health first aid. I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Katharine for her dedication in helping her students succeed in life. I look forward to learning of her continued success in the coming years.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I recognize Shelli Rhoden, the Baker County Teacher of the Year from Baker High School in Glen St. Mary, FL. Shelli was shocked and humbled to be named teacher of the year and considers it to be a great honor. Originally a civil engineer, Shelli became a teacher because she wanted to have more interaction with the local youth and influence their growth. She enjoys the opportunity to build relationships with her students and says that while it can be challenging, seeing their success makes it worthwhile. Each of her students come to class with different academic and emotional needs. Shelli tries to meet with them individually, but knows they can be distracted with life outside of the classroom. Though she finds this frustrating, humbling, and heartbreaking, she also finds the relationship and their questions fulfilling and always worth the effort. Shelli is a math and science teacher and she teaches pre-calculus, algebra 2, and physics. Aside from teaching, Shelli cochairs the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports, PBIS, team and cosponsors the Mu Alpha Theta math honor society. I convey my sincere thanks and gratitude to Shelli for her work with her students over the years and look forward to hearing of her continued success.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I recognize Hollie Cunningham, the Marion County Teacher of the Year from West Port High School in Ocala, FL. After Hollie received the teacher of the year award at the Circle Square Cultural Center, she credited God with leading her on this journey. When she first started college, she was an education major and contemplated earning degrees in teaching or nursing. One of her professors, Dr. Osteen, gave her advice she considered an impactful pearl of wisdom: Dr. Osteen advised her to become a nurse as she would always have the chance to teach. She earned her bachelor of science in nursing from Florida State University in 2002 and her master of science in family practice from the University of South Alabama, College of Medicine in 2011. Hollie said she left the nursing profession because God put it on her heart to become a high school teacher as her students are worth the effort and sacrifice. Hollie teaches certified nursing assistant, electrocardiograph technician tech honors, health science foundations II honor, and medical skills classes and is the department chair for the vocational department. She has the opportunity to instruct young students interested in nursing. She believes great teachers are always on call, like doctors and nurses, and that teaching is a gift, not a degree. I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Hollie for her medical work and dedication to teaching her students. I look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I am pleased to recognize Joseph Malfara, the Osceola County Teacher of the Year from Poinciana High School in Kissimmee, FL. Joseph challenges his students each day toward success. His influence on the school's campus is seen with all students; from those considered at-risk to the highest achieving, they all note how tirelessly Joseph works to help them learn. Joseph is credited with implementing several teaching strategies that led to significant gains in his students' performance in class and on the SAT. In his classroom, 78 percent of students met their reading and writing graduation requirements, compared to 57 percent for other classes. According to the school district, the average student scores increased from 442 to 476 in his content area for the SAT. They also saw an increase in the percentage of students meeting their concordance score after junior year, rising from 47 to 73 percent in one year. Joseph is an English III, Honors, Advanced Placement English language and composition teacher. He also leads a mentorship group called Suit Up Society that is dedicated to mentoring young men who have grown up without a positive male influence and to help improve their lives academically, behaviorally, and socially. I would like to thank Joseph for the good work he has done for his students over the years. I extend my best wishes to him and look forward to hearing of his continued success.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I recognize Kristin Murphy, the Broward County Teacher of the Year from Nova Middle School in Davie, FL. In Kristin's classroom, being respectful and never lying are the only two rules. She considered it a high honor to have been among her peers that were also nominated for this award. She was taken aback after learning of their backstories and the great strides they are achieving for their schools. Kristin has been at Nova Middle School for 3 years and teaches world history and pre-law. She has been an educator for more than 20 years. She credits the school with providing several programs that present opportunities for students to improve their learning potential. In the law program, students work with the Public Safety Institute at Broward College to help future police officers prepare to testify in their careers. I am thankful to Kristin for her dedication to teaching her students and look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I recognize Nicole Mosblech, the Indian River County Teacher of the Year from Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, FL. When named teacher of the year, Nicole noted the amount of support, enthusiasm, encouragement, and love she received from her students and colleagues. Nicole has been an AP and Honors-level environmental science and honors chemistry teacher at Vero Beach High School since 2012. She educates students to better serve the planet and is also the sponsor for the Green Team and the Q+ Acceptance Club. Earlier in her career, Nicole took a 5-year hiatus from teaching to earn a doctor of philosophy degree from the Florida Institute of Technology. I express my sincere thanks and best wishes to Nicole for her work to educate her students in science. I look forward to learning of her continued success in the years ahead.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I am pleased to recognize Sarah Pasion, the Duval County Teacher of the Year from Sadie Tillis Elementary School in Jacksonville, FL. Sarah considered this recognition an unexpected blessing from God. She believes teaching is more than a profession; its role is to serve as an inspiration for students to learn and become productive members of society. To Sarah, education is the key to a better life. Sarah likes to engage her students in conversations to help them understand mathematical concepts, which results in the students discussing the concepts amongst one another. When she sees them agree or disagree with their ideas, she knows this is a more effective and efficient strategy to teaching and helps them to fully grasp the concepts. Sarah is a 4th grade teacher at Sadie Tillis Elementary School and is a 15-year veteran educator in Jacksonville. Her teaching philosophy has been credited with improving her school's grade from an F to a C through personalized instruction for each student and by developing strong professional relationships with her colleagues. Both students and teachers take notes from her instructions and lessons. I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Sarah for her dedication to her students and colleagues. I look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years ahead.

Mr. RUBIO

Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize a small business that exemplifies the unique American entrepreneurial spirit. It is my privilege to honor a Florida small business that has worked so diligently to expand opportunity within their community, proving that small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the heartbeat of Main Street. This week it is my privilege to honor Sunshine Peanut Company of Jacksonville, FL, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Founded in 2005, Sunshine Peanut Company is Florida's only peanut butter producer and processes more than 10 million pounds of peanut butter each year. Sunshine Peanut Company, owned by CEO Jeff Turbeville and his brother David, completes every phase of production, from roasting to packaging, entirely in house. Focusing on competitive cost, high quality, and timely delivery and with the help of the Jacksonville Small Business Development Center, Sunshine Peanut Company has become a leader in the peanut processing industry. Through the utilization of their Small Business Administration HUBZone certification, Sunshine Peanut Company has been awarded contracts to sell their high-quality peanut butter to hospitals, schools, universities, and correctional facilities. Sunshine Peanut Company's work with the Florida Department of Corrections goes far beyond just supplying peanut butter. Jeff employs a number of rehabilitated offenders, and David, a former police officer, understands firsthand the criminal justice system and the support that parolees need. Jeff takes his role as an employer and community sponsor seriously, and his dedication to provide dignified work to the members of his community that need it the most is an outstanding example of community support. Sunshine Peanut Company's efforts have resulted in reduced recidivism and increased opportunity within his community. Jeff's efforts and Sunshine Peanut Company's success has not gone unnoticed. He was recently honored as the 2019 Florida Small business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration. This distinction is awarded to an entrepreneur who represents diversity, hard work, and perseverance. Jeff's commitment to both his company and his community have made him a clear choice for this award. He will be honored this year in Washington, DC, at the beginning of National Small Business Week. Sunshine Peanut Company is a great example of how dignified work can lead to community engagement and business expansion, while changing lives for the better. I commend Jeff and the Sunshine Peanut Company on their dedication to their community and am honored to name them as the Senate Small Business of the Week. I wish them good luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success.