Darren Soto

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Renee Bishop is 43 years old and shares her life with an amazing woman, Rebecca, and daughters Sutton and Piper. She has had the honor of serving and protecting the community and citizens of Orlando for 22 years. As a firefighter/engineer for the Orlando Fire Department, Renee has seen the city go through wonderful changes. Growing up as the oldest of four with two brothers and a sister, all siblings were very familiar with the fire department as her father worked for the Orlando Fire Department for 30 years and one of her brothers chose this career as well. Renee and her father were the first father/daughter combo hired at Orlando and a couple of years later, she and her brother were the first brother/sister combo for Orlando. Being a native of Orlando and being a gay female, she has watched the city grow and come to have one of the biggest LBGTQ communities around. Renee is grateful for the political leaders the city has and the dedication they give. Creating opportunities without prejudice has helped the city come so far and she believes it is an amazing transition to watch. The ongoing research and desire to make the community safe and accepting for all people is what Renee and Rebecca love about raising their girls in Orlando. She feels forever fortunate to not only live in Orlando and the state of Florida but to also serve her community and be there to help when needed the most. First responders are often on the front line when tragedy strikes, and Renee has witnessed various organizations within the community rally together and stand as one when evil strikes. Orlando bas such a diverse population and a multitude of different belief structures, but when it is time to stand together, they do it on a scale that is second to none. Renee believes this is because of the leaders.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Dr. Gregory K. Johnson is an educator, leader, and technologist in Central Florida. He was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica and currently serves as pro gram director and tenured professor for Digital Media Technology at Polk State College in Polk County, Florida. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education from the University of Central Florida, a master's degree from Southern Illinois University, and bachelor's and associate degrees from Saint Louis Christian College. At UCF, Johnson was a member of and served as historian for the AACTE Holmes Scholars program, participated in the Summer Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., and received UCF's Graduate Provost's and Dean's Fellowships. As an instructional technologist, he created multimedia content for the U.S. Marines and course modules for a National Science Foundation grant. At Polk State College, he overhauled the digital media program, created new degree and multimedia options, and hired lab staff to provide instructional support to students. For his contributions to academic excellence, Dr. Johnson received the Distinguished New Faculty and the Endowed Teaching Chair awards. He has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences, including a workshop at the University of Macau, China, and an Adobe-sponsored Remote Production Conference. He credits his achievements to personal ambition, resilience, support of his Jamaican family, rigorous academic preparation, teachers, mentors, and church. Dr. Johnson's wife, Ciara, is a teacher, and his son, Jermaine, is a student and graphic designer.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Diana Taylor is an extraordinary radio host, broadcaster, and philanthropist from Central Florida who, since 1984, has led her community by mastering the art of entrepreneurship to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of humanity--more specifically, children. Ms. Taylor engages children in her program titled ``Young People's Forum'' on CAC radio and TV broadcasting on WOKB 1680 AM and 100.1 FM studios, syndicating to South Florida and the Bahamas. She has been able to successfully engage students in the Caribbean and Canada virtually as well. Her passion to mentor children for the real world has resulted in many who are now in leadership roles in today's job market. Her motto, ``Teach the children respect and they will learn respect. Give respect and get respect,'' has been lived by every child who has been a part of this program for the past 29 years. Ms. Taylor's innovative approach to mentorship has earned her recognition from mayors, governors, law enforcement organizations, and business and community leaders in Central Florida. These include the 2017 Urban Empowerment and Inspiration Station Award for Longevity and Inspiration and Service to the Community, the 2016 Award for the Jamaica Diaspora (Southeastern USA) Facilitation of the Growth and Strengthening of the Regional Networking Capacity, and the 2014 Greater Orlando Cares Mentoring Movement Award. This year, considering Jamaica's 60th year of independence, Diana received an award of excellence from the Jamaica Diaspora Council of the Southern State. She was also honored as a Woman of Harmony and was featured in the KUOMagazine/TV during Women's History Month for her contributions to humanity.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Ebismenia Hassele is a professional Latino woman who obtained her master's degree in criminal justice and police science. This led to her work for the New York City Police Department and to currently volunteer for the Polk County Sheriff's office. Ms. Hassele is a member of Lion Club in Auburndale, Florida. Previously, she was the president of the association for Inwood Community, Inc. for 11 years. Ms. Hassele established a festival of unity--the Multicultural Unity Festival--within a community that was divided. The event was coordinated with the help of the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the fire department, and several county commissioners and brought the community and law enforcement together. The event is held every other month. Many members and residents of Inwood bring home-made food to a segment of the event known as ``Cop's Night Out.'' Ms. Hassele has also organized a black-tie fundraising event with the help of Lieutenant Navarro as well as several health fairs and yard sales to help educate and give back to the Central Florida community. Throughout the years, Ms. Hassele has assisted with free food distribution and put much of her focus on the needs of elders in her community to help bridge gaps in ages and move her community forward. Ms. Hassele's community is one of three certified as a Green Dot Agent community, which use a curriculum to help those who have been victims of any type of violence. They work together to stop apathy and inspire the community to reconnect with the renewed possibility that violence is not inevitable. Ms. Hassele draws her indomitable strength from her family, chiefly her three supportive daughters, Jessica, Love and Candy; three grandchildren; and her late husband, Guy R. Hassele, who was a disabled veteran.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Alex Morales-Hernandez is the CEO and president of EEC Solutions. EEC Solutions is a government service provider customized to the business sector by offering defense, security consulting, and education. Mr. Morales-Hernandez bases his work on years of military leadership, training, and decision-making experience in the defense, foreign service, and intelligence community. Mr. Morales-Hernandez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he lived until he enlisted in the United States Army. He is a 2013 graduate of Central Michigan University with a Master of Science in Administration. Mr. Morales-Hernandez enlisted in the United States Army on April 18, 1995 and retired as a chief warrant officer there after 21 years of military service. He served in the special operations enterprise and in the defense attache system as the operations coordinator, assistant army attache, and acting defense attache in countries such as Bolivia, Chad, El Salvador, Colombia, Malawi, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Mr. Morales-Hernandez is a recipient of numerous military awards including the third highest award in the Department of State--Award for Heroism. He speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Marielys Camacho-Reyes, MS, CAMHFA, CYMHFA, TCC is an Army veteran, a retired Army wife, a storyteller, and the founder and president of the Compassionate Hearts UNITED Foundation, Inc. Ms. Camacho-Reyes holds a Master of Science in Psychology and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology with a specialization in social psychology, focusing on prosocial behavior. She was selected as one of the recipients of the 2021 Spirit of Community Award presented by the Florida Commission of the Status of Women, is the 2020 winner of the Spirit of Philanthropy Award presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Polk County Chapter and the Give Well Foundation, as well as the 2019 Veteran of the Year for the City of Haines City for her support and dedication to her community. Ms. Camacho-Reyes is a certified adult and youth mental health first aider with the National Council of Behavioral Health and a bilingual crisis counselor with the Crisis Text Line. Her recent book ``Cleaning Out My Closet: My Road from Self-Discovery to Emotional Healing'' is currently available on Amazon and Walmart. She lives in Haines City, Florida with her family.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Michael Bailey is a native of Kingston, Jamaica, who migrated to New York City in 1975. Mr. Bailey worked as a mainframe computer operator for the Chase Manhattan Bank and then as a LAN administrator for Credit Suisse First Boston before relocating to Poinciana in Osceola County, Florida. Mr. Bailey has been a resident of Osceola County since 2000. He has served as secretary/treasurer of the Village One Association of the Association of Poinciana Villages. He has been a board member of the Poinciana Youth Soccer Organization and served as the past president of the Caribbean & American Peoples Association. He has helped sponsor events and create an atmosphere that leads to respect and mutual understanding among the ethnic groups in his community. Mr. Bailey's actions have helped identify, recognize, and support persons of Caribbean ancestry residing in the Central Florida region. These efforts have also encouraged involvement with other groups to collectively spearhead projects that improve the quality of life in the community at large. Meanwhile, Mr. Bailey's actions have promoted multi-cultural events which complement CAPA efforts and enhance their values of contributing to educational and humanitarian needs as warranted. Mr. Bailey also believes that successful movements are rooted in trust, and that trust is earned. He believes we are committed to earning trust by keeping the promises we make, practicing honesty and transparency in everything we do, and taking responsibility for our assumptions, words, and actions. Mr. Bailey is presently employed by ATOS, Inc., a technology company where he works as a system technician. He has been married to his lovely wife Geraldine for 26 years and, between them, they are parents to four children and 10 grandchildren.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Samuel Roberts has been involved in the Caribbean American community since 2004 when he was first elected vice president of the Guyanese American Cultural Association of Central Florida. He was later elected president and served in that capacity for a total of eight years, becoming their longest-serving president. Roberts was instrumental in the establishment of the Caribbean American Heritage Month celebrations initiative which launched in Central Florida in 2009. Roberts has held various positions in the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce including vice president, and various committee chairs. Utilizing their platform on the chamber, their associations, and their publication, Roberts and his wife Guenet Roberts have helped unify the Caribbean American community in the Central Florida area. Their actions have been recognized by groups like the Susan Taylor Cares organization. Roberts is a civil engineer with over 25 years of experience in engineering and project management. He graduated in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a minor in mathematics. He most recently completed his master's degree in emergency management. In 2004, he got his first introduction into the disaster recovery industry when hurricanes Charlie, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne affected Central Florida. Roberts was placed in the field to help implement guidelines while ensuring the services being provided were FEMA compliant. Since that year, Roberts has been involved in every major hurricane recovery project across the southeast. In 2017, while managing recovery operations in Polle County, Florida, Roberts developed a management plan that helped complete clean-up activities in a systematic and efficient manner. That same year, he began working on a more efficient recovery management application. In June of 2021 the app, GridMapI, was presented to attendees of the National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans where it was well received. The app is now featured in the Apple and Android app stores. Roberts is also the owner/CFO of Roberts & Roberts Management Services, LLC. He currently serves as the chairperson of the Heads of Caribbean Organizations, chairperson of the Caribbean American Heritage Month Planning Committee, chairperson of the Orlando Carnival Downtown, board member of the Guyanese American Cultural Association of Central Florida Advisory Committee, and board member of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce. He was also an affiliate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Roberts is also responsible for the Fusion Fest which is presented annually by the Orange County Mayor's Office. Roberts has been married for 26 years and is a proud parent of two children.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Nicole Reid was born on the beautiful island of Barbados. She migrated to New York at the age of 12, where she attended junior high school and then went on to high school. Nicole relocated to Florida in 2003 and has an associate degree from Valencia Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Transformational Christian Ministry from Warner University, a Master of Education, and an educational specialist degree in leadership from Grand Canyon University. Before relocating to Florida in 2003, Ms. Reid served her community by teaching a GED program for adults looking to obtain their GED. Ms. Reid went on to become the assistant director of said program. She has served in education since 2004 in positions varying from extended day to paraprofessional, teacher, and currently dean of students. Ms. Reid believes that part of her purpose in life is to impact the lives of her students. As a teacher, she served as the sixth grade chair, sixth grade language arts PLC lead, and as the school's positive behavior intervention support coach. Currently, Ms. Reid is not only a dean of students, but she also oversees the before-school tutoring program and will oversee the summer school programs as well. As an educator, Ms. Reid believes that it is very important to build positive relationships with students, their families, and the community. Ms. Reid is an active member of the Caribbean and Floridian Association Inc. She served as the recording secretary on the executive board from 2015 to 2018 and has been serving as the vice president of the organization since 2019. Ms. Reid has also served as co-chair for the finance/planning committee and was a member of the education committee. As a member of the Caribbean and Floridian Association Inc., she has participated in many community events and outreach, such as the Caribbean Fusion Festival, the annual scholarship/community awards, and their annual turkey giveaway. Ms. Reid is a strong supporter and has been a dedicated member of the Solid Rock Community Church since 2003. She currently serves as a minister in the church and as the assistant coordinator for the women's ministry. Currently, she serves as the assistant coordinator for the Florida State Women Connection Ministry of the Church of God. Ms. Reid believes that with God, all things are possible. She is the mother of two beautiful angels, Nevaeh and Nyah. After God, they are the center of her life. In 2020, God blessed her with an adult daughter, Pfalin Burton, who came to visit and stayed. She has become a part of her family and home. Ms. Reid's beliefs have allowed her to instill in her children that education is the key to success. These are the same beliefs that were instilled in her by her parents.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the strong, multidimensional, and mutually vital partnership between the United States of America and the Republic of India. Our two nations share a partnership for peace, progress, and prosperity. The solidarity between our two democratic countries and open economies is a force for global good. One of the important pillars of this relationship is the enduring bridge provided by the Indian American community in my district. I regularly meet with Indian American community members, including successful hotel owner Mr. Jan Gautam, and learn from them about our Indian friends and their progress. Support from the Indian-American community, through the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, was instrumental in assisting Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. During my past trip to India, our delegation was briefed on the significance of advancements in Artificial Intelligence technology, its role in the relationship between our nations, and its possible applications to the industry and workforce. We met with former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Aluru Seelin Kiran Kumar, where we discussed its organizational structure, mission focus, applications, and accomplishments. Later, in meetings with the former Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan, we discussed the importance of space exploration and cybersecurity advancement, all in the context of collaboration between our great democracies. I recently met with the Indian Consul General to the Southeast, Dr. Swati Kulkarni. I learned about India's developmental efforts, including efforts through the recent announcement of the 2022-23 Union Budget. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our two nations worked closely. There was robust collaboration in the health sector, including in vaccines, where the U.S. provided raw materials to India for vaccine production during a time of surging cases in the country. I look forward to continued collaboration between the United States of America and the Republic of India.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Maria Eloisa Albay de Padua, MD, is the longest-serving physician in Central Florida Health Care, a non-profit federally qualified community health care center. After finishing her education in the Philippines, Dr. de Padua immigrated to the United States of America and did her residency at the Children's Hospital of Buffalo. After learning about CFHC's mission to help migrant workers and the underserved 27 years ago, Dr. de Padua joined and never looked back. Going into medicine to help the sick and the most vulnerable, Dr. de Padua considered CFHC the perfect place to realize her dreams. Initially, she worked as a pediatrician for the Frostproof, Wauchula, and Avon Park Community Health Centers. Then, as CFHC began growing, Dr. de Padua helped start several other facilities by being one of the first providers in the Dundee, Mulberry, Lakeland, and Winter Haven Community Health Centers. As a pediatrician, Dr. de Padua treats sick children from birth to age 18. Her focus is on helping children stay healthy by ensuring they get their well checks and immunizations promptly. Having served the community for 27 years, Dr. de Padua now has former patients who are parents, bringing their children to see her as patients. For Dr. de Padua, her greatest reward as a pediatrician is to see her patients grow from newborns to young students to college graduates who then move on to become contributing members of society.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Dr. Sirajul Islam is a doctor, veteran, philanthropist, and father. He has retired from a 35-year career as a gastroenterologist, during which he contributed significant innovations to the field, founded the Kissimmee Endoscopy Center, and served as the personal physician of the prime minister of Bangladesh. As a philanthropist, Dr. Siraj leveraged his medical expertise and strong network to open and manage hospitals in Bangladesh. Since retiring from gastroenterology in 2019, Dr. Siraj has continued to actively support the health care community, both locally as the president of Central Florida's largest Gastroenterologist group, and in Bangladesh as a director of the Hope Foundation. His many other philanthropic projects include a 500-student boarding school in Bangladesh for under- privileged children and The Islamic Center of Osceola. More than anything, Dr. Siraj loves to spend time with his family, and maintains a strong bond not only with his children but also a very large extended family that spans 4 continents.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, as Outreach Director for Florida's 9th Congressional District, Vivian Rodriguez served as a Federal liaison to Central Florida constituents and community leaders. Her dedication to underserved communities helped to elevate their voices and concerns. During her tenure, Ms. Rodriguez organized hundreds of outreach meetings and community events. She proudly recognized community leaders who selflessly gave their time to benefit Central Florida at multiple cultural events each year. Ms. Rodriguez worked to support our office's belief in combatting social injustice by organizing advisory committee panels to identify areas within our community that needed improvement from criminal justice, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ priorities. Following the devastation from Hurricane Maria, Ms. Rodriguez united community leaders to help thousands of people transition into our Central Florida community from Puerto Rico. One of Ms. Rodriguez's greatest accomplishments was working with the LGBTQ+ community to designate Pulse as a National Memorial. Her efforts will honor the victims' families, survivors, and Central Florida community forever. She also drafted letters of support to increase our community's resources during the global health pandemic. Her actions helped boost our community vaccination numbers and improve COVID-19 testing availability. Today, we celebrate her lifelong career in public service, which began at the New York City Police Department where she was committed to protecting her community, especially following the 9/11 attack. She later worked as a consultant to the Department of Homeland Security before serving Central Florida as Outreach Director for Florida's 9th Congressional District. We are grateful for Vivian's commitment to serving our community and wish her the best in her retirement.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I recognize Laudi Campo. Laudi Campo was born and raised in Morovis, Puerto Rico. Through a 25-year professional trajectory in communications, government, and nonprofits, she continues to build organizations, create partnerships, and implement innovative outreach and services for the community. Her career started in the Puerto Rico Senate as a communications specialist. She then became an English teacher and later gained valuable experience in Federal grant management in the private sector. As a public relations director for Vega Alta, her most notable contribution became a radio program to connect the community with the local government. In 2011, she moved with her family to Orlando, where she has been a noteworthy player in Hispanic relations in central Florida. As a Spanish-language teacher, she acquired valuable insight into the education system. Her passion for community work reignited at the Orange County Property Appraiser and the city of Orlando's District 2 office, a sector rich in diversity and community pride, where she helped people of different nationalities. One of the most significant achievements became her work on the Trust Act policy, which was approved unanimously by the Orlando City Council and helps noncitizens who are victims of crime. In 2019, Laudi was named deputy director for the Hispanic Federation Florida, the Nation's premier Latino nonprofit. She directed the Census, voter registration, and COVID-19 media campaigns during the pandemic. In 2021, she became HF Florida's State director. She expanded services and spearheaded a massive effort to vaccinate 13,000 individuals and educate more than 1 million Floridians on vaccines. She foresaw a pandemic aftershock and provided $1 million in financial aid to local nonprofits. Laudi continues to forge partnerships and advocate for affordable housing, immigration, environmental justice, and fair redistricting. Most recently, she has been recognized by the 2021 Tech Innovadores for her work in digital inclusion. For this and more, Senora Laudi Campo, we honor you. Honoring Sarah Johnston

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I recognize Sarah Johnston. Sarah Johnston serves as the vice president of development of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida. She began her career in the development field in 2002 after graduating from the University of Central Florida. Her goal has always been to obtain a leadership position that utilizes and challenges her abilities to maximize results, build strong relationships, and honor her commitment to excellence, innovation, and community. Sarah is a mission-driven professional with over 20 years of experience in building and sustaining excellent investor relationships with a measurable track record of success. Through her experience, she has demonstrated expertise in creating philanthropic cultures by utilizing a strategic, collaborative, data-driven, and results-oriented mindset. In her eyes, her team's responsibility is to serve as a connector for individuals in the community and their passion for investing in the future of children of promise. Sarah's favorite part of her role is building bridges with investors and sharing the potential impact they can have through the stories of club members she serves. She believes there is nothing more important than telling a child you believe in them and that regardless of their ZIP Code or the economic status of their family, they deserve a chance to realize their dreams. In her service to the community, Sarah raised over $25 million in hope and opportunity. Ultimately, she is driven every day by the bravery of the club members she serves who face and have overcome unimaginable obstacles, as well as the success they achieved through mentors and club programming. For her, being able to watch a club member be the first in their family to walk across a stage to receive a high school diploma, and seeing the pride light up in their eyes, keeps her believing that every day is an opportunity to be great. For this and more, Ms. Sarah Johnston, we honor you. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to recognize Yulonda Bell. Ms. Yulonda Bell serves as the associate dean for the student services at Polk State College where she listens to, learns from, and encourages people from all walks of life to achieve their dreams. Bell is a strong leader who does not seek the spotlight and prefers to work in the background providing guidance and support that fosters student success. Born and raised in Bartow, Florida, Bell was a teen parent who overcame obstacles to achieve her diploma and provide for her family. Her perseverance resulted in her achievement of an associate degree from Polk Community College, a bachelor's degree from Warner University, and a master's degrees from Webster University, all while raising two sons. She first served Polk County Public Schools, followed by positions with the Florida Department of Children and Families, and finally Polk State College. She was the first in her family to achieve a college diploma, providing her with an understanding of the challenges that students of color and first-generation-in-college students face as they navigate higher education. She is a leader on campus serving as an advisor to the Black Student Union; a founder of SISTERS, Strong, Independent, Sisters, that Encourage, RESPECT and Survive; a mentor for Polk State basketball; and the STEM Club students. She invests time as a member of the organizing committee for the city of Winter Haven Juneteenth Celebration, serving on the city of Winter Haven's Martin Luther King committee, volunteering at the Neighborhood Service Center, and participating in Lift Lakeland to improve race relations and expand economic, education, and civic involvement. Bell lives Maya Angelou's quote, ``I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,'' as she plays an important role in supporting students and celebrating their achievements. For this and more, Ms. Yulonda Bell, we honor you. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I recognize Doris Moore Bailey. Ms. Moore Bailey's innovative marketing skills for a national youth organization inspired her to develop middle school and teen mom initiatives in four Florida counties and 24 schools to provide services for 1,000 students yearly. An experienced adjunct professor and YMCA program director, she believes that no one achieves a successful life without the influence of positive mentoring. Twice appointed by Florida's Governor Lawton Chiles to the Peace River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, she participated in flyovers of the basin's 105-mile Peace River, Florida's Manatee River that flows into the Gulf of Mexico to Tampa Bay, and Florida's largest storage facility with 1,147-acre New Wales gypstack in Polk County. She established the African American Chamber of Commerce of Polk County, Inc.; the African American Historical Museum of Lakeland; reestablished the Polk County Democratic Black Caucus; organized Polk County USCT and buffalo soldiers re-enactors; and is a founder of the Friends of Cathay Williams Organization. She is also the only female buffalo soldier and advocates for the rights of voters to access the ballot box. Through her work, she strives to enhance community resources. In 2022, she organized the African American Historical Museum of Lakeland Equal Justice Initiative's lynching Community Remembrance Project and Polk County's first commemoration of the 56th anniversary Selma Bridge crossing Jubilee Unity march. She is a Polk County trailblazer, spanning 30 years in talk radio as an executive producer and host of Our Voices. Moore Bailey and her husband of 44 years are parents of two adult children and the grandparents to five grandsons. In 1992, she organized Florida's first Juneteenth observance. She is a member of New Bethel AME Church, an NAACP Gold Life member, and a chartered member and past president of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chapter in Lakeland. She also authored anthologies: ``Voices of Unsung Immortal Mothers'' and ``Sons of Immortal Mothers.'' For this and more, Ms. Doris Moore Bailey, we honor you. Honoring Dr. Lynn Marshall

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I recognize Dr. Lynn Marshall. Dr. Lynn Marshall's journey in public health began when she worked as an education and training coordinator for the Healthy Start Coalition. During that time, she joined the Florida Healthy Babies Committee and led a subcommittee that consisted of the following partners: Lakeland Regional Health, Florida Department of Health, Healthy Start Coalition, Sunshine Health, and Spirit Life Ministries. In 2019, Dr. Marshall and a handful of community partners hosted the first Melanin Families Matter community event at Lakeland Regional Health Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children. In August 2019, Dr. Marshall took the initiative to incorporate and serve as the president of Melanin Families Matter. She has received proclamations on behalf of Melanin Families Matter from the Polk County Board of County Commissioners, Winter Haven Chain of Lakes Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler, and city of Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz. These governmental officers have recognized and publicly declared the month of March to be Melanin Families Matter Month. Dr. Marshall continues to host annual Melanin Families Matter health panels and community events that are open to the public at no cost. In addition to providing education to the Polk County community, Dr. Marshall also spearheads a Community Distribution Day each year. It is during this time when care packages, educational materials, clothing, food, and play items for babies and children are provided to families in need at no cost. As a community advocate, Dr. Marshall has served as a guest speaker on the following platforms: 100 National Coalition of Black Women, Polk State College Women's History Month panel discussion, The Empowered Woman, Our Voices Live radio broadcast, and more. Dr. Marshall is the wife of Dr. Jarvis L. Marshall, and together, they have two beautiful daughters. For this and more, Dr. Lynn Marshall, we honor you. Honoring Laudi Campo

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to recognize Ashley Maree Wright. Ashlee Maree Wright is a mother, dynamic visionary, and results- oriented leader. She founded Wright on Time Educational Services in 2006, which provides customized educational solutions to communities that desire to open a school, solve an educational problem, or require management services. WOT focuses on developing innovative learning environments that cultivate the entire student in a way that empowers them to be impactful leaders of tomorrow. As the founder of New Beginnings High School in 2011, Ashlee successfully implemented a unique educational model that provides an innovative and nurturing educational experience, which is available to all students in central Florida. Thousands of students who were once unsuccessful in a traditional public school model are now thriving, graduating from high school, and pursuing postgraduate opportunities due to Ashley's unparalleled work. Before her role as founder of NBHS, Ashlee established herself as an educational professional by being an exceptional teacher and ultimately climbing the career ladder to become a principal at the age of 25. As a result of her modus operandi, she is widely acclaimed as a business leader who genuinely cares about the growth of each child. Her ability to effectively raise students' academic prowess and self- esteem helps bolster their performance amidst any present challenges they may have. Today, she builds and operates schools utilizing her education ethos to replicate her success. Ms. Wright graduated from Florida State University in 2003, gave birth to the beautiful and precocious Victoria Maree in 2007, and started her own charter system in 2010. Her passion, upbringing, and love for empowering others through education laid the framework for her unique education and management methodology. Building on her parents' legacy, award-winning educators Dr. Clint and Debra Wright, Ashlee continues to shift the education paradigm and change lives for the better, one community at a time. For this and more, Ashlee Maree Wright, we honor you. Honoring Asma Patel

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I recognize Deputy Chief Betty Holland. Deputy Chief Betty Holland is a 34-year veteran of the law enforcement profession. She currently works for the Kissimmee Police Department as deputy chief of the operations bureau. Before coming to the Kissimmee Police Department in March 2018, she worked for 30 years for the Polk County Sheriff's Office, where she retired as a captain. Deputy Chief Holland has held several prominent supervisory positions in the law enforcement community, including her time as the criminal and strategic investigations lieutenant and overseeing the criminal justice academy as a captain. Deputy Chief Holland received her bachelor of science in business and professional leadership from Southeastern University and her master of public administration from Troy University. In addition, she is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute's administrative officers course from the University of Louisville and a graduate of the certified public manager program from Florida State University. Deputy Chief Holland's first thoughts of a law enforcement career surfaced at 15. Her best friend's dad was a retired deputy sheriff, which sparked her interest in law enforcement. This interest quickly developed into a passion, and when she graduated from high school, she immediately accepted a position at the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Deputy Chief Betty Holland's career goals include becoming chief of police with the Kissimmee Police Department and continuing to build relationships with the community. She is passionate about lowering crime rates with innovative, new deterrent measures; holding public servants to higher standards and expectations; and creating more open lines of communication between officers and civilians. Her actions regarding these objectives remain a consistent measure of her interests in the betterment of the field of law enforcement. For this and more, Deputy Chief Betty Holland, we honor you. Honoring Cindy Lewis

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to recognize Asma Patel. Asma Patel is a board-certified community attorney who has diligently served and continues to serve Osceola County. Ms. Patel holds dual degrees with honors in psychology and legal studies, as well as a Juris Doctorate degree. During her law school career, Ms. Patel was a student ambassador, mentor, and the president of the Muslim Law School Association at her alma mater. She honed her dispute resolution skills by competing in and ultimately winning first place in an international law school mediation tournament. During this time, she continued to demonstrate her dedication to serving her community as a guardian ad litem fellow. In this role, she played a crucial role as a representative for abused, abandoned, and neglected children. Ms. Patel has spearheaded community initiatives aimed at ending domestic violence. As a certified domestic abuse victim advocate, she assisted survivors in crisis by providing essential resources and support. In an effort to create awareness, she has hosted family empowerment seminars and tabled at events aimed at tackling domestic abuse. Through mentorship, extensive networking, and volunteerism, Ms. Patel has worked with marginalized and vulnerable communities, striving to bring light and change to the social injustices that plague them. Most recently, she has begun to help address the issue of inaccessibility to feminine hygiene products by providing these products to local Title I schools. Ms. Patel's Bridge the Gap initiatives in Osceola County are inspired by her desire to take action that empowers women to be courageous in the pursuit of dreams. For this and more, Ms. Asma Patel, we honor you. Honoring Deputy Chief Betty Holland

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I recognize Ms. Cindy Lewis. Cindy Lewis has dedicated her nearly 33-year career at the Kissimmee/ Osceola County Chamber of Commerce to serving the business community of Osceola County. A native Floridian, Cindy was born in DeLand, Florida, as the second daughter of Johnny and Annette Wimberly. She has called central Florida her home for her entire life and is a proud graduate of Osceola High School's class of 1980. Cindy began her career with Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce as an administrative assistant in 1989. She was promoted to officer manager in 1994 and executive vice president in 2008. In her time at the chamber, Cindy was recognized as Chamber Professional of the Year in 2017 by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals. She received her certification as a Florida Certified Chamber Professional and is currently in her fourth year at the Institute for Organization Management, a professional development program of the U.S. Chamber Foundation from which she will graduate in June of this year with the IOM certification. During her tenure at the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber, the chamber has been recognized by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals as Chamber of the Year in 2001, 2017, and 2021. Cindy is also a graduate of Leadership Osceola. Cindy has been married to Troy Lewis, the love of her life, for 32 years. Cindy and Troy own a ranch in Clermont, Florida, filled with cattle, donkeys, chickens, cats, and two spoiled dogs who are their pride and joy. When she is not working or ranching, she enjoys spending time with her husband boating, enjoying other outdoor activities, learning new recipes, vacationing in the Florida Keys, and spending time with her family and friends. For this and more, Ms. Cindy Lewis, we honor you. Honoring Doris Moore Bailey

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, the Republicans lost the majority and the Presidency because of their incompetence on COVID and the economy, and passed a tax cut for the rich that exploded the deficit by $400 billion, and the debt by $4 trillion. So forgive me if I won't stand here and be lectured about fiscal responsibility from folks who took their only moment in charge to give windfalls to the wealthiest Americans, and now they are desperate to paint a sad picture of America. They are invested in our Nation's failure, solely as a desperate move to try to get back to power. Meanwhile, we Democrats are delivering. First, we defended democracy. I was up there in the Chamber on January 6 when a violent insurrection attempted to stop the democratic, peaceful transfer of power. This violent insurrection was stoked by my Republican colleagues. They don't want to talk about that now. But that's too bad. They attacked our democracy. They desecrated this Chamber by stoking extremism. Yet, we got back here and they voted ``no'' and we voted ``yes'' to make sure that American voters were heard and certified Joe Biden's election as President. And yes, some brave Republicans joined us because they realized it was treason. We will defend democracy and hold those responsible accountable through the January 6 committee. Second, we got the pandemic under control. We passed the American Rescue Plan, put shots in arms, money in pockets, got kids back to school and families back to work. Every American had access to the vaccine; every American, and life is getting back to normal. We stopped a great recession back in Florida, where we both have the honor of representing. We stopped a foreclosure crisis that knocked in half people's wealth, hurt through the generations, so many homeowners in Florida and across the Nation. Unemployment is down to 4 percent nationally and under 4 percent in Florida. Yet, no Republicans voted for it. Third, we passed the largest infrastructure law in our Nation's history. The infrastructure plan will upgrade America, roads and bridges, clean air and water, airports and ports, high speed internet access for all Americans, including rural Americans left behind before, and brownfield restoration and other environmental restoration. Ten Republicans voted for it. We applaud them. But they were ridiculed by their own party for voting for infrastructure. What is wrong with the minority leaders in this Chamber if they are going to attack their own Members for investing in America, something that they had the chance to do? I would have voted for it under then- President Trump for an infrastructure package. But they failed to do it. We got it done. Then Democrats led this House to pass a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act. That is to protect the homeland, fund our military, support our troops. We passed a bipartisan budget just last week to meet the needs of the American people, jobs, healthcare, education, the environment, local projects; yes, supporting a robust immigration system, and making sure that we can meet all the needs of the American people. We also had bipartisan support for the war on Ukraine, the relentless and disgraceful invasion by Russia of Ukraine. We have supplied them with military weapons, training, humanitarian relief, and we will defend democracy in Europe with that $14 billion we passed in a bipartisan fashion here. And yes, we need to still continue to address COVID-related inflation. First, by getting COVID-19 under control, our economy is finally producing more goods again. Things are more efficient now. People are buying more services again to balance that out. Second, our infrastructure law will upgrade our ports, our airports, and our highways to improve supply chains. Third, we are addressing price gouging of companies that are taking advantage, particularly in gas and groceries. Fourth, we are boosting domestic oil production to compensate for the Russian oil ban which was very popular and demanded upon by my constituents and others. And in the long term, we are investing in renewable energy. And yes, the Federal Reserve will do their part to help make sure we can address COVID-related and Ukraine war-related inflation, and we need to do this together, rather than politicize it. Next, we are turning the corner to go to the America COMPETES Act, Madam Speaker, bringing American manufacturing jobs back home, something that people have talked about for years. We will get this done. We have had bipartisan support in the Senate. We had some bipartisan support in the House. We will now go to conference. And what will that mean? Bringing back home more microchip manufacturing, which has made it harder to get cars and trucks on to American car lots. We can make it here at home. We can make it in America. We will bring back personal protective equipment and other healthcare manufacturing to help out, like we saw during the pandemic, where it was a huge issue. We will bring back telecommunications equipment. We invent telecommunications equipment, but so much of it, all of it, is made overseas. And with China now spying on us, we need to make sure we have our domestic production ready to go. And pharmaceutical production, biosimilar production, aerospace production, like we do in East Orange County, as well as space production; having the busiest spaceport in the world, 70 percent of space flights going through there at Cape Canaveral, something that we beam with pride about in Florida. So as we hear about the mistakes of the past and trying to invest in failure by many Republicans in this Chamber, the Democratic majority is defending democracy. We have gotten COVID under control. We have passed a major infrastructure package. We have passed bipartisan bills for the budget, for our military, for the war in Ukraine. And now, we go on next to bring American jobs home with the America COMPETES Act. The future is bright if we work together, Madam Speaker. Honoring Ashlee Maree Wright

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Laudi Campo was born and raised in Morovis, Puerto Rico. Through a twenty-five-year professional trajectory in Communications, Government, and Nonprofits, she continues to build organizations, create partnerships, and implement innovative outreach and services for the community. Her career started at the Puerto Rico Senate as a Communications Specialist. She then became an English teacher and later gained valuable experience in federal grant management in the private sector. As Public Relations Director for the Vega Alta city, her most notable contribution became a radio program to connect the community with the local government. In 2011, she moved with her family to Orlando, where she has been a noteworthy player in Hispanic relations in Central Florida. As a Spanish-language teacher, she acquired valuable insight into the education system. But her passion for community work reignited at the Orange County Property Appraiser and the City of Orlando's District 2 office, a sector rich in diversity and community pride, where she helped people of different nationalities. One of the most significant achievements became her work on the Trust Act Policy, which was approved unanimously by the Orlando City Council and helps non-citizens who are crime victims. In 2019 Laudi was named Deputy Director for Hispanic Federation-- Florida, the nation's premier Latino nonprofit. She directed the Census, Voter Registration, and COVID-19 media campaigns during the pandemic. In 2021 she became HF Florida State Director. She expanded services and spearheaded a massive effort to vaccinate 13,000 individuals and educate more than 1 million Floridians on vaccines. She foresaw a pandemic aftershock and provided $1 million in financial aid to local nonprofits. Laudi continues to forge partnerships and advocate for affordable housing, immigration, environmental justice, and fair redistricting. Most recently, she was recognized by the 2021 Tech Innovadores for her work in digital inclusion.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Cindy Lewis has dedicated her nearly 33-year career at the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce to serving the business community of Osceola County. A native Floridian, Cindy was born in Deland, Florida as the second daughter of Johnny and Annette Wimberly. She has called Central Florida her home for her entire life and is a proud graduate of Osceola High School's Class of 1980. Cindy began her career with the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce as an Administrative Assistant in 1989, was promoted to Office Manager in 1994, and Executive Vice President in 2008. In her time at the Chamber, Cindy was recognized as Chamber Professional of the Year in 2017 by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP), she received her certification as a Florida Certified Chamber Professional (FCCP) and is currently in her fourth year at the Institute for Organization Management (IOM), a professional development program of the U.S. Chamber Foundation from which she will graduate in June 2022 with the IOM certification. During her tenure at the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber, the Chamber has been recognized by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP) as Chamber of the Year in the years 2001, 2017, and 2021. Cindy is a graduate of Leadership Osceola. Cindy has been married to Troy Lewis, the love of her life, for 32 years. Cindy and Troy own a ranch in Clermont, FL filled with cattle, donkeys, chickens, cats, and two spoiled dogs who are their pride and joy. When she is not working or ranching, she enjoys spending time with her husband boating, enjoying other outdoor activities, learning new recipes, vacationing in the Florida Keys, and spending time with family and friends.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Dr. Lynn Marshall's journey in public health began when she worked as an education and training coordinator for Healthy Start Coalition. During that time, she joined the Florida Healthy Babies committee and led a subcommittee that consisted of the following community partners: Lakeland Regional Health Hospital, the Florida Department of Health, Healthy Start Coalition, Sunshine Health and Spirit Life Ministries. In 2019, Dr. Marshall and a handful of community partners hosted the first Melanin Families Matter community event at Lakeland Regional Health Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women & Children. In August of 2019, Dr. Marshall took the initiative to incorporate and serve as the president of Melanin Families Matter. She has received proclamations on behalf of Melanin Families Matter from the Polk County Board of County Commissioners, Winter Haven Chain of Lakes Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler, and the City of Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz. These governmental officers have recognized and publicly declared the month of March to be Melanin Families Matter month. Dr. Marshall continues to host annual Melanin Families Matter health panels and community events that are open to the public at no cost. In addition to providing education to the Polk County community, Dr. Marshall also spearheads a ``Community Distribution Day'' each year. It is during this time when care packages, educational materials, clothing, food and play items for babies and children are provided to families in need at no cost. As a community advocate, Dr. Marshall has served as a guest speaker on the following platforms: 100 National Coalition of Black Women, Polk State College Women's History month discussion panel, The Empowered Woman, Our Voices Live radio broadcast and more. Dr. Marshall is the wife of Dr. Jarvis L. Marshall, and together they have two beautiful daughters.