Floor Statements

An open letter to the Turkish people:

Today, I write to you on an issue of great importance to both our nations. It is on a subject that many of you, especially the younger generation, may know little about because it concerns a chapter of world history that your government has expended enormous efforts to conceal.

Turkey has been at the center of human civilization from Neolithic times to the present, and your arts, culture, and science have enriched the world. But interwoven with all of Turkey's remarkable achievements is a dark chapter that too many of today's Turks know little or nothing about.

Were you aware that your grandparents and great-grandparents had many Armenian neighbors and friends--that 20 percent of the population of today's Istanbul was Armenian? Did you know that the Armenians were well integrated into Turkish society as celebrated intellects, artists, craftsmen, and community leaders? Have you ever wondered what happened to the Armenians? Have you ever asked your parents and grandparents how such a large, industrious, and prosperous people largely vanished from your midst? Do you know why your government goes to such lengths to conceal this part of your history?

Let me tell you a part of their story. The rest you must find out for yourselves.

Ninety-nine years ago this month, in the dying years of the Ottoman Empire, the Young Turk government launched a campaign of deportation, expropriation, starvation, and murder against the empire's Armenian citizens.

Much of the Armenian population was forcibly removed to Syria, where many succumbed during brutal forced marches through the desert heat. Hundreds of thousands were massacred by Ottoman gendarmes, soldiers, and even their own neighbors.

By the time the slaughter ended in 1923, 1.5 million Armenians had been killed in what is now universally acknowledged as the first genocide of the 20th century. The survivors scattered throughout the Middle East and the

wider world, with some making their way to the United States and to Los Angeles.

It is their grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom I represent as a Member of the U.S. Congress. Theirs is a vibrant community, many tens of thousands strong, with schools, churches, and businesses providing a daily link to their ancestral homeland. It is on their behalf that I urge you to begin anew a national conversation in Turkey about the events of 1915-1923.

As a young man or woman in Turkey, you might ask: What has this to do with me? Am I to blame for a crime committed long before I was born?

I would say this: yours is the moral responsibility to acknowledge the truth and to seek a reconciliation with the Armenian people that your parents and their parents could or would not. It is an obligation you have inherited and is one from which you must not shrink; for though we cannot choose our own history, we decide what to do about it, and you will be the ones to shape Turkey's future.

At the end of World War II, Germany was a shattered nation--defeated in battle and exposed as history's greatest war criminal--but in the decades since the end of the war, Germany has engaged in a prolonged effort to reconcile with the Jewish people, who were nearly exterminated by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

The German Government has prosecuted war criminals, returned expropriated property, allied itself with Israel, and made countless apologies to the victims and to the world. Most importantly, Germany has worked to expunge the cancer of the dehumanizing bigotry and hatred that gave rise to the Holocaust.

This path of reflection, reconciliation, and repentance must be Turkey's path as well. It will not be easy. The questions will be painful and the answers difficult, sometimes unknowable.

One question stands out: How could a nation that ruled peaceably over a diverse, multicultural empire for centuries have turned on one of its own peoples with such ruthlessness that an entirely new word had to be invented to describe what took place? ``Genocide.''

As in Judaism and Christianity, the concept of repentance--or tawba-- is central to Islam. Next year will mark a century since the beginning of the genocide, and Armenians around the world will mourn their dead, contemplate the enormity of their loss, and ask: Why?

Answer them, please, with words of repentance.

Sincerely, Adam Schiff, Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Sidney F. Tyler, of Pasadena, California, a man of great integrity, a dedicated public servant, and an outstanding community leader, who passed away on Friday, March 28, 2014.

Sid was born in Abington, Pennsylvania on July 19, 1932. While in his teens, after his family moved to Colorado, he developed a great love of the outdoors, particularly for camping, skiing and hiking. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in American Government from Harvard in 1954, and then served in the Marine Corps for three years, stationed in Japan and Korea. Sid began working in the pharmaceutical marketing research field shortly after his honorable discharge in 1957. In 1969, Mr. Tyler moved his family to Pasadena and accepted a position with Tenet Healthcare the following year, where he remained until retiring as executive vice president in 1994.

After his retirement, Mr. Tyler was elected to the Pasadena City Council in 1997, where he served for twelve years. Known for his astute financial expertise, Sid effectively led the city through the effects of the power industry deregulation, chairing the city's Deregulation Committee. A supporter of the outdoors, particularly trees, he helped pass a tree protection ordinance in Pasadena, which protected oak trees and other species growing on public and private property, an accomplishment of which he was very proud.

Sid believed in active participation in his community, and to that end, his record of community service is impressive. He served on the boards of the Pasadena Community Foundation, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Pacific Asia Museum and Descanso Gardens, was a trustee and board chair at Chandler School, was on the Vestry at All Saints Episcopal Church, and gave generously to open space and environmental causes.

Married for fifty-five years, Sid and his wife Betsey, have four children, Toby, David, Richard and Becky, and eight grandchildren.

Sid was an irreplaceable part of our community, and he will be sorely missed. He was a model public servant, admired by all as a man of impeccable character, a great gentleman, and a trusted friend. I ask all members to join me in remembering one of Pasadena's most admired citizens, Sid Tyler.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Edwin C. Krupp as he celebrates 40 years as Director of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. During these past four decades, Dr. Krupp has become an expert on ancient, prehistoric, and traditional astronomy, authored extensive publications on astronomical and science education to promote the field to the general public, and established Griffith Observatory as one of Los Angeles' iconic destinations.

Prior to directing the most-visited public observatory in the world, Dr. Krupp graduated with a B.A. in physics and astronomy from Pomona College in 1966; he followed with M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Krupp joined Griffith Observatory in 1970 as a part-time Planetarium Lecturer, was appointed full-time Curator in 1972 after receiving his Ph.D. in astronomy, and was named Observatory Director in 1974. Soon thereafter, Dr. Krupp co- founded Friends Of The Observatory (FOTO) in 1978 as the Observatory's indispensable non-profit partner. From concept to completion, Dr. Krupp led the $93 million, award-winning renovation and expansion of the Observatory from 2002-2006, which restored and renewed the historic landmark, transformed its exhibits and programming capabilities, and more than doubled the size of its public space. Attendance has increased every year since reopening, and now exceeds 1 million visitors annually.

In pursuit of groundbreaking research, Dr. Krupp has visited, examined, photographed, and measured over 1,900 ancient and prehistoric sites throughout the world, and has led 38 field study tours for UCLA Extension and other organizations to exotic locations of both astronomical and archaeological interest.

Dr. Krupp has also published noteworthy texts on astronomy throughout his career, such as ``In Search of Ancient Astronomies'' (1978) and ``Skywatchers, Shamans & Kings--Astronomy and the Archeology of Power'' (1997), both of which demonstrate his specialist contributions to the field of archaeoastronomy. Additionally, he has written several astronomy books for children, and hosted the astronomy education series ``Project Universe'' on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), in the late 1970s. These books and broadcasts, as well as his lectures, programs, and publications at the Observatory, have inspired countless new astronomers and archaeoastronomers, not to mention tens of millions of visitors.

It is with profound appreciation and respect that I congratulate Dr. Edwin C. Krupp on 40 years of leadership and innovation at Griffith Observatory. As an employee of the City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks, Dr. Krupp embodies the best attributes of a public servant. His dedication, energy, and enthusiasm is extraordinary, and people the world over have benefited from his service and scientific contributions. I now proudly ask you all to join me in commending Dr. Edwin C. Krupp for going ``to infinity and beyond'' to share the wonder of the cosmos.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Verdugo Hills Family YMCA of Tujunga, CA upon its 25th anniversary.

The Verdugo Hills Family YMCA has had a strong presence in the Sunland-Tujunga area for many decades. Originally started in the early 1950s, the YMCA became a centralized gathering place for community activity. As a result of increasing popularity and financial support throughout the 1980s, the Verdugo Hills Family YMCA sought to expand in order to better meet the needs of the community, and so 25 years ago, the YMCA moved into its 6840 Foothill Boulevard facility in Tujunga. Since then, the Verdugo Hills Family YMCA has played a vital role in strengthening the community by providing quality programs for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, not just for young people, but for people of all ages.

The Verdugo Hills Family YMCA offers Sunland-Tujunga area residents many opportunities for involvement with a wide variety of programs and services, including camp, adult fitness, chaplain services, photography, preschool, an art and literature club, and many community events and lectures. One particular focus is the YMCA's effort to promote youth fitness. The Verdugo Hills Family YMCA is dedicated to combating childhood obesity and has developed an outreach program with elementary schools in the Sunland-Tujunga area to teach physical education classes. In addition, the YMCA's swimming training programs helps encourage young people from an early age to maintain safe and healthy lifestyles, and they provide students from the local elementary school with free swimming lessons.

In recognition of its 25th anniversary, the Verdugo Hills Family YMCA will honor its many volunteers, who have donated more than 4,000 hours of their time, with the President's Call to Service Award.

I ask all members to join me in congratulating the Verdugo Hills Family YMCA for its 25 years of service in the Sunland-Tujunga area.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Elizabeth Garo of Echo Park.

For more than two decades, Elizabeth Garo has worked both inside and outside of the music industry. Her love, curiosity and interest in music have been a focus throughout her career, where she has held positions as a band manager and tour manager. Since 2002, she has been a Senior Talent Buyer for the venues Echo and Echoplex in Echo Park and Spaceland Presents. Ms. Garo also curates the music programming for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County's First Fridays series, the Getty Center's Saturdays Off the 405 Series and is part of the booking team for the Santa Monica Pier's Twilight Concerts series.

In 2008, Elizabeth and her business partner opened Stories Books and Cafe in Echo Park, where they sell new, used and rare books. Since then, it has become a central gathering spot for the Echo Park community. In addition to literature and fiction, they have strong sections in music, poetry, non-fiction and astrology. They also hold launch parties for small literary publications, storytelling events every month, and showcase art by local artists.

In 2011, Elizabeth and others started the neighborhood festival, Echo Park Rising. Echo Park Rising is launching its fourth year with a strong sense of celebrating the Echo Park neighborhood, its people, music, art and small businesses. Ms. Garo is a member of the Echo Park Chamber of Commerce, and also serves on the Board for Dublab, which is a non-profit web radio collective, devoted to the growth of positive music, culture and arts.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Elizabeth Garo.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Cheryl Davis of La Crescenta.

Ms. Davis was raised in San Jose and moved to Southern California to attend the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Currently, Ms. Davis is a Law Firm Administrator at Bradley & Gmelich in Glendale.

Ms. Davis is very active in her community. She served as President of the Crescenta Valley Town Council for four years, and now serves as the Corresponding Secretary. Ms. Davis is the current coordinator for the Montrose-Glendale Christmas Parade, Treasurer for Prom Plus and the CV Fireworks Association, and Secretary for the Glendale Educational Foundation--Summer School. In addition, Ms. Davis is a member of CV DOGS, the volunteer group responsible for establishing the first Los Angeles County operated dog park at Crescenta Valley Park. Ms. Davis is also an avid volunteer at the Fire House Youth Center.

Ms. Davis and her husband Mark have one daughter, Katie, who is a student at Crescenta Valley High School.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Cheryl Davis.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Barbara Ferris of Los Feliz.

Ms. Ferris is the Managing Director of Symphony In The Glen (SIG), which she co-founded in 1994 with Arthur B. Rubinstein, a renowned film and television composer. Since the organization's founding, Ms. Ferris has fostered cooperative relationships with city agencies, managed the organization's finances, spearheaded fundraising efforts, and reviewed the day-to-day operations that helped shape the vibrant, thematic programming that SIG audiences have come to expect. Ms. Ferris also developed SIG's pre-concert child/parent activities to introduce children to basic musical concepts such as how to play notes, how to conduct an orchestra, and how to recognize different instruments in the orchestra.

Through her work organizing free concerts with Symphony In The Glen, Ms. Ferris has been instrumental in fulfilling the organization's mission of cultivating new generations of classical music enthusiasts. Concerts were held at the Old Zoo at Griffith Park, on the lawn of the Griffith Observatory, and at the Los Angeles Zoo. This year Symphony In The Glen also coordinated the fourth annual ``EEK! at The Greek,'' a community Halloween celebration held in collaboration with the Greek Theatre and Nederlander Concerts.

In addition to her work at SIG, Ms. Ferris is also an avid participant in civic life. She has long been involved with the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council and served a four-year term as Vice President of Administration. In 2011, Ms. Ferris was elected to the Board of the Los Feliz Improvement Association, which is the oldest residents' association in Los Angeles.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Barbara Ferris.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Alice Coulombe of Pasadena.

Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ms. Coulombe received her Bachelor's degree in Humanities and her Master's degree in Education from Stanford University. At Stanford, she met Joe Coulombe, and they got married when both were still students at the university.

In 1958, the Coulombes founded Pronto Markets, a chain of grocery stores in Southern California. In 1967, Joe, the original Trader Joe, added a South Seas motif to the stores and changed the name to Trader Joe's. During this time, the Coulombes moved to San Marino, where they raised their three children, Joe, Charlotte and Madeleine, and eventually moved to Pasadena in 1983.

A community volunteer for over forty years, Ms. Coulombe is a passionate advocate for the arts and arts education. She was a founding member and former Chair of the Pasadena Arts Commission, a member of the City of Pasadena's Centennial Committee, and a docent at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens for thirty- five years, where she helped design its school tours of the Japanese Garden. As a volunteer at the Music Center of Los Angeles for three decades, Ms. Coulombe served as Chair of Music Center Presentations and Coordinator of Volunteer Activities.

Ms. Coulombe's special love is opera, and to that end, she was founding president of the Music Center Opera League, as well as one of the founders of the Los Angeles Opera Company, where she currently serves on its board. For the past nine years, she has served on the Colburn School Board of Directors as a member of their Governance Committee and as Chair of the Board Relations Committee. Additionally, she is President of Metropolitan Associates, a local non-profit that raises funds to support the arts for children. For her selfless service to supporting the arts, Ms. Coulombe received the YWCA Pasadena- Foothill Valley's Woman of Distinction Award and has been honored by the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Alice Steere Coulombe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Nadine Trujillo of Silver Lake.

Ms. Trujillo has lived in Los Angeles since 1956. In 1993, Ms. Trujillo launched her own business and opened a Mexican restaurant. She is the proud owner and operator of the Alegria on Sunset, where she also serves as its Executive Chef, and can still be found cooking for the daily lunch crowd in addition to fulfilling her CEO duties.

Ms. Trujillo first got involved in her community by providing local schools, charitable organizations and churches with discounted menus for teachers as well as donations to school events. She has continued to give back by volunteering her time and sharing her knowledge of catering and event planning. She has organized Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic's annual fundraisers and continues to support HSFC by providing pozole to over two hundred ``Pilgrims'' in the annual observance of the traditional Mexican Christmas Posada.

In 2010, Ms. Trujillo joined the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council after she completed Level One Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. She has served as Co-Chair of the Public Safety Committee and today serves as an at large board member. Ms. Trujillo organized the first annual ``September is National Preparedness Month'' Expo. Ms. Trujillo and her two daughters are residents of Silver Lake.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Nadine Trujillo.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Sonia Tatulian of Tujunga.

Born in Armenia, Ms. Tatulian and her family immigrated to the United States in 1974 when she was a teenager. While attending Hollywood High School, she went to work in a Beverly Hills bridal shop doing a variety of jobs, including pressing, altering, and selling wedding gowns. This began her career in the retail industry, which would go on to span two decades.

In 1989, Ms. Tatulian bought her home in Tujunga, and soon after she obtained her real estate license and began a part-time flower business. After changing careers for a position with Wells Fargo, Ms. Tatulian realized she wanted to help businesses and become more involved in her community. She was able to fulfill this aspiration once she started her new position as Manager at the Sunland Bank of America. Ms. Tatulian then became a member of the Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce, Sunland-Tujunga Rotary Club and the Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club. She served as President of the Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce and increased membership from 63 to 175 members, all while being the Treasurer of the Rotary and Lions Clubs.

Ms. Tatulian also founded the non-profit organization, the Sunland- Tujunga-Shadow Hills Community Fund, which is the parent company of Voice of the Village, a local newspaper. The Fund took over the organization of the annual Fourth of July Fireworks event, with the proceeds and matching grants going to Verdugo Hills High School programs. Proceeds from the newspaper support the high school's journalism class. Recently, Ms. Tatulian founded the ``Welcome to the Foothills'' company, a free service where she visits new home owners, welcomes them and provides them with important information about the community. In addition, she volunteers with the Verdugo Hills Family

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Shelli-Anne Couch of Atwater Village.

As President of Friends of Atwater Elementary, Ms. Couch has led the turnaround of this Title I public elementary school, bringing new life to the volunteer support group which serves nearly 400 families in the Atwater Village area. She found innovative ways to generate new revenue streams, raised over $100,000 in support of enrichment, educational and capital improvement programs for Atwater Avenue Elementary School, and created strategic partnerships with local, national and international businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals. Ms. Couch has founded and produced many events and programs that support the elementary school, including the First Annual Day of the Dead Festival with celebrity chef Curtis Stone which drew close to one thousand attendees and raised a substantial amount of money for the school.

Ms. Couch also formed a partnership with executives from Paul Mitchell Hair Products and Enrich LA to sponsor the school's first outdoor classroom program, which provides free tuition for students to learn how to make healthy life choices by gardening, eating seasonal produce, and composting. She also led the effort for school uniforms and created a ``Care Closet'' for families in need. In addition, she forged partnerships between the school and local organizations such as the Northland Village Church, which provides free weekly tutoring called ``Homework Helpers,'' and the local Lions Club, which provides scholarships and free eye tests to students.

Prior to her dedicated volunteer work in Atwater Village, Ms. Couch was an international business and media executive with over twenty-five years of experience transforming how companies and people build their commerce, content and community, guiding clients like Universal Studios, Diane Von Furstenburg, and the Australian Consulate. She co- founded Billion Dollar Babes, the world's first global designer fashion sales event. Her agency's showrooms in Los Angeles, New York and London pioneered celebrity dressing and editorial placement. An award-winning journalist, Ms. Couch, who moved from her native Australia to Los Angeles in 1997, has been featured in magazines and newspapers such as Vogue, The New York Times, The LA Times, and People, and on the television show, Good Morning America.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Shelli-Anne Couch.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Martha Burns of La Canada Flintridge.

Ms. Burns was born and raised in Minnesota. She obtained her degree in Mathematics from Colorado College, where she joined Kappa Alpha Theta, a sorority she continues to be active. After graduation, she worked as a Financial Analyst at General Mills in Minneapolis. Seven years later, she moved back to Colorado Springs, where she met and married Tom Burns while both were working for Burroughs Corp. In 1979, a job transfer moved the family to Glendale, and in 1981 they purchased a home in La Canada Flintridge. Ms. Burns wasted no time in joining the La Canada Flintridge Newcomers Club and the La Canada Junior Women's Club.

As a young mother, Ms. Burns served as President and Treasurer of the La Canada Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA). She has also served in various positions with La Canada High School's PTA and Canada Council of PTA. Ms. Burns has also volunteered as a Leader and Den Mother for Campfire Girls and Cub Scouts, a Team Mom for American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), and as a ``Classroom Mother.''

Well-known in the area for her accounting and computing skills, Ms. Burns has volunteered her services to numerous service groups and businesses. She was the first woman to lead the softball arm of the La Canada Jr. Baseball/Softball Association, for which she also served as Treasurer. She is an active member Assistance League of Flintridge (ALF) and previously served as Chairperson of the Summer School Program, Summer School Treasurer, Computer Chair, and Treasurer of ALF's Auxiliary. She was also the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the La Canada Flintridge Educational Foundation, the La Canada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce, and the La Canada-AM Kiwanis Club. Ms. Burns modernized the bookkeeping system for La Canada Congregational and St. George's Episcopal Churches and their pre-schools. She has also developed database and accounting systems for the Community Center of La Canada Flintridge and its pre-school. An avid animal lover, Ms. Burns has volunteered as a bookkeeper for the Recycled Pets Rescue Organization and as Treasurer for the Pasadena Animal League, an auxiliary of the Pasadena Humane Society. Ms. Burns also received a La Canada Council of PTA Service Award and a La Canada Flintridge Coordinating Council Les Tupper Community Service Award.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Martha Burns.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Alexandra Helfrich of Burbank.

When her eldest daughter began elementary school, Ms. Helfrich learned that the school did not have any arts programs. She began to fundraise and sought out grant opportunities to bring arts education back into the classroom. Ms. Helfritch worked with other parents, the PTA and Booster organizations to provide opportunities so every Burbank Unified School District (BUSD) student could experience music, visual art, theater, dance, and media arts. Through these collaborations, art programs became available at schools during the school day and after school as well.

Ms. Helfrich has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Burbank Arts For All Foundation since 2007 and served as its co- chair from 2010 to 2013. The Burbank Arts For All Foundation works to ensure every student in Burbank public schools receives a quality arts education as a part of their core curriculum. To support the foundation's mission, Ms. Helfrich continues to serve on its Executive Committee. Ms. Helfrich's volunteer efforts have provided opportunities as well as increased access for children to become creative learners.

Ms. Helfrich has also served the Burbank Unified School District as a parent representative to the District Safety Committee, where she helped update the Special Education Parent Handbook. She is currently serving on the District Local Control Accountability Plan Committee. In addition, Ms. Helfrich, who is a committed school fundraiser, has consistently served on Booster Club Boards since 2007.

Ms. Helfrich is married to Mark Helfrich, a feature film editor and director, and they have two teenage daughters.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Alexandra Helfrich.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Blaire Lennane of Elysian Valley.

Since 2011, Ms. Lennane has been an unstoppable force in the Elysian Valley community. Especially dedicated to serving the area's youth, she is the Founding President of Partners of Dorris (POD). POD is a non- profit organization committed to supporting public education programs affected by budget cuts and the advancement of students at Dorris Place Elementary School. POD supports the school's teachers and contributes to the beautification and safety of Elysian Valley through outreach and volunteerism. A consummate organizer, Ms. Lennane has formed partnerships with local businesses, non-profit organizations, community groups, and corporations to generate funds and in-kind donations for the school. She spearheaded the complete makeover and re-opening of the school library, partnered with Home Depot to accomplish the leveling, re-building, and planting of the school garden and worked with Office Depot to provide supplies for the entire school.

Ms. Lennane's greatest achievement through POD is the Instrumental Music Program, where she partnered with the non-profit group Education Through Music-Los Angeles, to bring musical instrument instruction (violin, cello, ukulele, and recorder) to the school, as well as organized afterschool ensemble practice.

Ms. Lennane has founded and organized many events which have become beloved annual traditions highly anticipated by the community. Such events include the Training Day Fitness Fair & Walkathon, the Fine Arts Expo, and the Save the Music Program Fall Festival. Ms. Lennane is also active with the Elysian Valley Arts Collective, the Los Angeles City Parks Advisory Board for the Elysian Valley Recreation Center, and the Los Angeles Unified School District's Parent Community Advisory Committee. She sits on several committees for Dorris Place Elementary School. Ms. Lennane and her husband, Chad Gordon, have one daughter, Gala Lennane-Gordon.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Blaire Lennane.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Drian Juarez of Hollywood.

Born in Juarez, Mexico and raised by her grandmother, a five-year- old Ms. Juarez joined her mother in the United States after her grandmother's passing.

Ms. Juarez's artistic talents were noticed early on by many of her teachers. She entered a Los Angeles Times art contest, won, and was awarded with art lessons throughout middle school. With these art lessons, Ms. Juarez was able to build a portfolio and gain entry into the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Upon graduation, she was accepted to Otis College of Art and Design, where she attained a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art.

In 2005, Ms. Juarez was shot in the face at a Halloween event and lost sight in her right eye. After this tragic incident, Ms. Juarez decided to make a change in her life. For the first time, she connected with Los Angeles transgender support groups and increased her involvement in local events and activism. She became a member of the West Hollywood Transgender Task Force, which is now known as the West Hollywood Transgender Advisory Board, and also became a member of the Transgender Service Provider Network. In 2009, Ms. Juarez was invited to become a member of the Transgender Law Center's Transgender Leadership Council and the Transgender Economic Development Initiative.

For the past 6 years, Ms. Juarez has served as Program Manager of the Transgender Economic Empowerment Project (TEEP) at the Legal Services Department of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. She has demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurial skills and passion for empowering clients who are struggling with immigration, employment, and race issues due to their gender identity.

TEEP, in conjunction with Trans-Unity Pride, held its first job fair in 2008. Since then, TEEP has collaborated with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce on a yearly job fair. As part of this job fair, Ms. Juarez has provided Gender and Sexual Diversity in the Workplace trainings to human resources professionals and employers. Ms. Juarez has presented over 400 transgender cultural competency trainings to thousands of people, including at conferences sponsored by the Transgender Service Provider Network and the HIV Drug & Alcohol Task Force, LA Youth at Work, the City of L.A. Career Fair, Women's Resource & Job Fair, Trans Action/Friends Community Center, among others. In addition to all of her accomplishments, Ms. Juarez designed a plaque with an inscribed poem for the City of West Hollywood, which was dedicated in 2009 during the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred and prejudice.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Drian Juarez.