Marilyn Strickland

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr Speaker, I rise today to recognize a standout member of our South Sound community, Dr. Nichole Ayres, whose clinical practice has served thousands of veterans, servicemembers, and their families seeking mental health care and services in our region. As the Clinic Director at The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Valley Cities, Nichole leads a team of care professionals that has provided mental healthcare to over 6,000 military-connected clients since her clinic opened in 2019. As a military spouse of over 14 years, Nichole understands the importance of listening to--and learning from--our military and veteran community on how providers can best meet the community's mental health needs and build clinical approaches around military cultural competency. I, along with the thousands of South Sound residents her clinic has reached, am deeply grateful for her leadership and dedication to our district's active-duty and veteran population. As Mental Health Awareness Month approaches, I'm proud to shine a spotlight on her and her vital work.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a standout member of our South Sound community, Chris Hyde of Olympia, whose soup- centered, community-powered food hub has helped keep fellow Olympians fed for free. A longtime Olympia resident, Chris founded Souper Sunday to help ensure his community's access to healthy, hot, and nutrient-dense meals, as well as strengthen community connections through his almost 2,000-member strong Facebook page on which he takes soup orders and posts menu updates. The increasing popularity of Souper Sunday has resulted in Chris ramping up production, and he now spends five days a week making hot soups and preparing frozen soups for pickup from his ``soup library'' to meet the community's needs. No matter who you are, where you are from, or what you believe in, Chris refuses no one and aims to serve all of his community, one soup at a time. To help spread his soup mission across the South Sound, Chris is also actively looking to start similar soup groups in nearby towns, which speaks to his strong spirit of service and commitment to combatting hunger while promoting community cohesion. Chris is a stellar example of what it means to be an active and compassionate member of a community, and I am proud to honor him as my Constituent of the Month.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, on March 20, 2024, I missed Roll Call votes. Had I been present I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 92, and NAY on Roll Call No. 93.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 25-year Army veteran Shellie Willis, a Pierce County-based leader in the veterans' advocacy space who empowers veterans to put the skills and knowledge they gained serving our nation to work in the civilian workforce. As Founder and CEO of the Redefining You Foundation, Shellie shepherds a team of skilled life coaches and workforce development professionals to help transitioning servicemernbers and their spouses reenter civilian life. With special attention to supporting female veterans, Shellie's organization provides professional and personal development training, connects retired servicewomen to job resources, and builds bespoke programs to help reorient and redefine the lifestyles of those seeking direction after their military careers. Shellie's spirit of service extends to her role as Senior Director of Collective Impact at WorkForce Central matching jobseekers with employment opportunities throughout Pierce County. With the South Sound's significant active duty and veteran population, Shellie's work plays a critical role in putting transitioning servicemembers on pathways to post-service success. I commend Shellie's service to our country and our community and am proud to have her as my Constituent of the Month.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Katelyn Cleland, a South Sound resident who has shown exemplary commitment to community service and self-improvement, and congratulate her on being awarded the Bronze Medal Congressional Award for such service. I commend her desire to better both herself and the community around her and know that her contributions to our South Sound community merit Congress's highest form of recognition that can be granted to America's youth. I hope that Katelyn's service has paved the path for more achievements in the next chapters of her life, as well as inspired others in our community to prioritize service.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Dr. Laurie Dent, a standout educator in our South Sound community who was recently named the 2024 Superintendent of the Year by the Washington Association of School Administrators. As Sumner-Bonney Lake School District's Superintendent since 2016, Dr. Dent has not only shepherded school communities through numerous challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but has also transformed schools' and individual students' performance trajectories through and in spite of pandemic-related challenges. Since the start of her tenure as Superintendent, the district's graduation rate has risen from 84 percent in 2016 to 92.1 percent in 2023, an achievement that her colleagues attribute to her staunch commitment to her ``100% Graduation Campaign.'' Beyond the numbers, Dr. Dent's commitment to this campaign has undoubtedly strengthened schools, enriched students, and deepened community connections. I commend Dr. Dent for being a standard-bearer in our state for what excellence in education is and should be, and I am honored to spotlight her efforts in empowering local education professionals and supporting students' success in our South Sound community.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pastor Gregory Christopher, who will retire from Shiloh Baptist Church in Tacoma, Washington, after leading the congregation for more than 24 years. Pastor Christopher became a leader in the Tacoma faith community in 1989 and received a Doctor of Ministry. Following the passing of his mentor Rev. Earnest Brazill in 2000, Dr. Christopher became the Pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church. In the 24 years since, Pastor Christopher has continued to strengthen the congregation, develop the church for future generations, and invest in the surrounding Hilltop neighborhood. With Pastor Christopher at the pulpit, Shiloh Baptist serves the city's most vulnerable residents with an emergency shelter for unhoused men in the church basement and as well as a sixty-unit affordable housing development on church property. As both Mayor of the City of Tacoma and as a member of Congress, I have worked closely with Pastor Christopher on community development, social justice, and economic issues. His leadership as President of the Tacoma Chapter of the NAACP and member of the Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective will continue to impact the community, even after he retires as Pastor. I thank Pastor Christopher for his service to Shiloh Baptist Church and Tacoma as well as congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sasha ``taqws4blu'' LaPointe, a Coast Salish poet, essayist, and educator whose work illuminates Native identities, historical memories, and heritages found throughout the United States. Centered on themes of trauma and resilience, Sasha's poetry and memoirs touch on topics such as PTSD and sexual violence, her great grandmother's efforts to revitalize the Lushootseed language, and personal reflections on her own mixed heritage. A graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts with a Master of Fine Arts, Sasha now teaches creative writing as part of the Native Pathways Program at Evergreen State College and is a mentor for Seattle's Youth Poet Laureate program. I'm proud to shine a spotlight on Sasha, who enriches our South Sound community through her exemplary craft, as our Constituent of the Month.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize delivery driver Phillip Jackson of Thurston County for his remarkable perceptivencss that helped to reunite a five-year-old boy with his mother. While making a delivery to a West Olympia Texaco, Phillip noticed an unaccompanied boy without shoes or a shirt walking around the convenience store. Sensing that something was amiss, Phillip immediately sprang into action and called 911. It was Phillip's initiative in alerting authorities of the situation that allowed local law enforcement, who had already been working with the boy's mother after she had reported him missing, to locate the child. Even after the police had arrived, Phillip remained with the boy until the mother and her child were reunited. Phillip credits his intervention to a workplace training he took that teaches delivery drivers to recognize signs of human trafficking and children at risk on the road. I applaud Phillip's awareness and quick action to help keep our most vulnerable members of our community safe and I am proud to recognize him today as our community's Constituent of the Month.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Matthew Landers, an elementary school educator at Pleasant Glade Elementary School in Lacey, Washington who empowers his students to be everyday stewards of our environment. In response to his students' requests to have more of a hands-on role in confronting our climate crisis, Matthew established several programs to encourage composting and recycling on campus. Thanks to Matthew's programs, over 35,000 pounds of food waste have been saved from landfills and over 1,500 pounds of food have been redistributed. Matthew also spearheaded the school's switch from plastic to biodegradable utensils, signaling to students that seemingly small but practical changes can be high-impact solutions. To amplify student activists' voices, Matthew also helped his students present their ideas to supplement ongoing on-campus conversation efforts to the school board. I'm inspired by Matthew's initiative to ground his students' awareness of environmental issues in actionable avenues for change, and I'm proud to spotlight him and all of the students of Pleasant Glade who have made Lacey cleaner, greener, and better.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a standout member of our South Sound community, Mr. Ian ``Shige'' Ainoa. An Air Force veteran, a steward of our South Sound waters as a scientific diver, and a Little League coach, Shige brings Aloha, goodwill, and good spirits to everyone he encounters. Shige currently works for the Environmental Protection Agency as an IT specialist and a scientific diver, working to support the preservation of our Sound's ecosystem through his skilled fieldwork. A leader in advancing equity and fighting for justice, Shige also served as the manager of the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Program for the EPA's Northwest region. Outside of his day job, Shige goes above and beyond as an active board member of the University Place Veterans Plaza and volunteers his time to engrave and install new commemorative tiles. He has also coached Little League softball for the last three years. I thank Shige for his commitment and service to our Nation, our waters, and our South Sound community.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Trenton Brazie, an Army veteran who continues to answer the call of service everyday as a firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, and CPR public education instructor here in our South Sound community. During his decade-long career in the Army, Trenton was deployed 3 times, completing a combat tour in Afghanistan and peace tours in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. He also served with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade at Joint Base Lewis McChord, and served in roles that, in 10 years' time, increased in leadership responsibility, including team leader, squad leader, and platoon sergeant. After the Army, Trenton reentered the civilian workforce with an eye towards community-centered service--he soon found himself with the Tumwater Fire Department, where he continues to work as a firefighter. And his service doesn't stop with fighting fires--he works to prepare and protect the community by teaching CPR and serving as an Emergency Medical Technician. Trenton is also pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Service Administration at Eastern Oregon University, demonstrating his dedication to his own self-development as a public servant and emergency service professional. As Washington continues to face a fierce fire season, I thank Trenton for his selfless service to our community and our country.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have made it clear that they do not support liberty, justice, and equal protection under the law for all. Last week, the majority passed an extremist defense bill that bans gender-affirming and reproductive care for servicemembers, guts support for our servicemembers of color, and prohibits Pride flags from being displayed in any workspace, common access area, or public area of the Department of Defense. However, they decided that the homophobia and discrimination can't stop there. This week, Republicans voted to strip critical funding to enhance career development opportunities, provide meals to low-income seniors, create affordable and transitional housing units for vulnerable populations in need, and more. These projects, led by Representatives Boyle, Pressley, and Houlahan, were vetted months ago to ensure they meet the rigorous community project funding guidelines and are responsible uses of taxpayer dollars. So why were these projects denied? Because recipients had LGBTQ in their name, and they served communities that the other side demonizes daily. It is hypocritical, it is homophobic, and it damages the idea of liberty and justice for all.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, Mr. Banks' amendment to prohibit our Nation's service academies from promoting diverse experiences and backgrounds as part of its missions policy will do nothing but weaken our military. The Supreme Court recently recognized in its decision to leave service academies out of its ruling on affirmative action that our academies are not laboratories for ideological gerrymandering. They are institutions that are foundational to our national security. Our service academies are responsible for providing a higher education but also for training our Nation's men and women to serve as global leaders. Many graduates will serve in the highest levels of our military and government, where success depends on maintaining an open mind, building diverse coalitions, and drawing on broad experiences. They will lead as part of a military that has never been more diverse, more capable, or more lethal. Soon, nearly half of our servicemembers will be people of color, but only a fraction serve as officers and even a smaller fraction as senior leaders. We learned bitter and painful lessons in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, when leaders neither understood nor looked like the formations they led. It is 2023, not 1952. If my colleagues across the aisle knew more about the painful history of this country, perhaps last night one of them would not have referred to Black servicemembers as ``colored people.'' Let's not move our country backward. I oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kim), the ranking member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee.

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ryan), vice ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chair, today's military leaders are unequivocal in their support of diversity and leadership. Joint Chiefs Chairman Milley considers it fundamental. Army Chief McConville calls it a crucial competitive advantage. Then-Air Force Chief CQ Brown called diversity an imperative. Marine Corps Commandant Berger said the core of America's strength lies in its diversity. The very government assembled here today, in its amicus brief to the Supreme Court, characterized a diverse pool of academy graduates as a vital interest on which the Nation's future depends. The American people expect and demand that our academies are given every tool and advantage to train leaders capable of fighting and winning our Nation's wars. Make no mistake, diversity is not synonymous with less qualified. We want the best. We want the brightest. We need the most diverse. This amendment attempts to weaken a concept foundational to our current and future military supremacy, that diversity translates into capability and lethality. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Chair, this amendment will eliminate the inspector general position responsible for overseeing diversity and inclusion efforts in the military. My colleagues across the aisle must understand the full purpose of this office. Number one, it is tasked with supporting effective, evidence-based programs on diversity and inclusion. Number two, it is responsible for responding to extremism and criminal gang activity within our Department of Defense. This amendment eliminates the investigators who are responsible for weeding out criminal efforts in our government, the same investigators who keep our military accountable to the people we serve. Mr. Chair, is it my colleagues' intent to support these criminal activities? Because eliminating the deputy inspector position is exactly the message this sends to our department and the American people. Researchers at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism looked at three decades of extremist attacks in the U.S., and they found that a military background is the most commonly shared characteristic among extremists who committed or plotted mass casualty attacks from 1990 through 2022. Offenders with military backgrounds were 2\1/2\ times more likely to be classified as a mass fatality perpetrator than extremists who don't serve in the Armed Forces. Through December 2021, 120 individuals with U.S. military backgrounds were identified as participants in the violent failed coup on January 6. This is unacceptable. For our safety, for the security of our military, the U.S. must make it a priority to root out extremism in our Armed Forces. Eliminating this office and deputy inspector general sets us back. The NDAA that we passed out of committee was broadly supported in a bipartisan manner. This suite of amendments attacking DEI and validating extremism, undermines our safety and our security. Instead of putting housing, childcare, military families and their needs first, my friends across the aisle are choosing to fail them. I strongly oppose this amendment.

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Chairman, Congress must support an inspector general position that ensures military equal opportunity programs work and sounds the alarm when extremism takes root in our military. What we are seeing here today is a small group of MAGA extremists holding the NDAA hostage in their efforts to politicize the Department. I urge my moderate colleagues across the aisle who don't want to fire criminal investigators, who don't want to tell our servicemembers that they don't belong, who don't want to leave military families high and dry to please vote ``no'' on this amendment. Use your conscience.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Major Jonathan Taylor of the United States Air Force upon his departure from this body as a Legislative Affairs Officer for NORAD and USNORTHCOM. In that role, Major Taylor served as a bridge between key Department of Defense senior leaders and Members of Congress, advising both on the impacts of Congressional proceedings and legislation to Homeland Defense and National Security. Prior to this role, he served for nearly three years as a Legislative Liaison for the Department of the Air Force during which he escorted many of us Members across the world on successful Congressional delegations, educated and advised his commanders and Members on critical missions sets, and helped us pass three consecutive NDAAs. Major Taylor's exemplary career began in 2009 as a Distinguished Graduate from the University of Mississippi's Air Force ROTC Det. 430, and he earned his wings at Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training on Sheppard AFB, TX. He spent the next nine years flying the mighty C-17 Globemaster III around the globe, amassing over 2,400 hours, including 555 combat hours, executing airlift, humanitarian, airdrop, and special operations missions. Prior to joining us in the Capitol, he taught hundreds of students how to fly at Altus AFB, OK. We wish Major Taylor and his wife, Amber, the best of luck as he furthers his education at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and we look forward to seeing him lead in the years to come. On behalf of the U.S. Congress and a grateful Nation, I extend our deepest appreciation to Major Jonathan Taylor for his dedicated service to the U.S. Air Force and to our Nation.

Ms. STRICKLAND

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sarah Harris, a standout public servant and local leader who recently retired from her role as Puyallup's Parks and Recreation Director after a 35-year career with the City. After graduating from Arkansas College, Sarah spent several years working for the military with a focus on recreational sports and fitness. When she moved to Washington state, she applied her love of sports and recreation to her first job with the City of Puyallup as a part-time Recreation Supervisor in 1988. Sarah eventually shifted to her most recent role with the City as their Parks and Recreation Director, working to grow the City's parks and beautify its public spaces for South Sound communities. During her decade-long tenure as Director, Sarah oversaw several community projects, including the creation of Van Lierop Park and the installation of Puyallup's first-ever Spray Park in Pioneer Park. Thanks to Sarah's skilled leadership and sustained commitment to the City's development, Puyallup has one of the best Parks and Recreation systems in Washington. I commend Sarah for her tireless service to the people of Puyallup and the state of Washington and wish her all the best in her well- deserved retirement.