Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ty Rosales for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Ty has overcome many challenges along his journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Ty, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Ty's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr/Sr High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Ty Rosales on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jorge Alvarez for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Jorge has overcome many challenges along his journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Jorge, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Jorge's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Mandalay Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Jorge Alvarez on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Olivia Saavedra for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Olivia has overcome many challenges along her journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Olivia, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Olivia's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr/Sr High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Olivia Saavedra on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Denise Salazar for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Denise has overcome many challenges along her journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Denise, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Denise's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr/Sr High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Denise Salazar on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Keira Donaldson for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Keira has overcome many challenges along her journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Keira, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Keira's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Mandalay Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Keira Donaldson on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nickalette Valadez for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Nickalette has overcome many challenges along her journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Nickalette, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Nickalette's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr/Sr High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Nickalette Valadez on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Abel Vasey for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Abel has overcome many challenges along his journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Abel, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Abel's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr/Sr High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Abel Vasey on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aaron Vegas for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Aaron has overcome many challenges along his journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Aaron, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Aaron's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr/Sr High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Aaron Vegas on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Max Vasquez for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Max has overcome many challenges along her journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Max, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Max's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr/Sr High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Max Vasquez on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alfonze Romero for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Alfonze has overcome many challenges along his journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Alfonze, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Alfonze's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr/Sr High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Alfonze Romero on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Peyton Webb for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Peyton has overcome many challenges along her journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Peyton, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Peyton's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Wheat Ridge High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Peyton Webb on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Olde Town Pickin' Parlor of Arvada, Colorado for receiving the 2026 Outstanding Retailer Award from the Arvada Economic Development Association. Each year, this award recognizes an Arvada retail business that stands apart in their job growth, innovation, community involvement, outreach, and more.

Since its founding in 1991, Olde Town Pickin' Parlor has been one of the most beloved independent music shops in Colorado and a destination for acoustic instrument enthusiasts from across the region. For more than three decades, Olde Town Pickin' Parlor has welcomed musicians and instrument enthusiasts from across the region with exceptional service, expertise, and warm hospitality. Owner Kit and his knowledgeable staff take the time to help every customer, while the shop's luthiers have earned a reputation for performing remarkable work restoring and repairing instruments. I am grateful for their contributions to the Arvada music and retail community.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's 7th Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate Olde Town Pickin' Parlor for receiving the 2026 Outstanding Retailer Award and for their contributions to the Arvada community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mountain Resource Center Chief Executive Officer Sarah Kinzer for her distinguished leadership and service to the Conifer and Foothills area.

For over seven years, Sarah has led the Mountain Resource Center by strengthening and expanding the resources the organization provided throughout the Covid pandemic and in recent years marked by drastically rising costs and instability with funding sources. Under her leadership, the Mountain Resource Center launched the Mobile Market in 2021 and a fully licensed, award-winning preschool in 2024. Beyond the crucial services Sarah has helped expand, she has also left the Mountain Resource Center in a more stable position with its building mortgage fully paid off, allowing the organization to remain active in Conifer for years to come.

In an unincorporated, rural community like Conifer without local elected municipal officials, leaders like Sarah are even more critical in building community and providing services for our most vulnerable neighbors. The Mountain Resource Center's services, including food resources, case management, veteran support, and community building, are especially needed in rural areas with many senior residents, like Conifer. Sarah and the Mountain Resource Center have been an invaluable partner as my office has worked to engage with and serve our constituents ``up the hill.''

On behalf of the people of Colorado's 7th Congressional District, it is my honor to thank Sarah for her dedication to our community. I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Mr Speaker, I rise today to recognize Barber-Nichols of Arvada, Colorado for receiving the 2026 Outstanding Large Employer Award from the Arvada Economic Development Association. Each year, this award recognizes a large employer that stands apart for their job growth, innovation, community involvement, outreach, and more.

Barber-Nichols exemplifies outstanding corporate leadership through its commitment to workforce development, innovation, and connection to the Arvada community. The company is helping build the next generation of skilled workers through its apprenticeship program with Warren Tech, Manufacturing Day tours, student visits, and hands-on STEM opportunities. Young people gain firsthand exposure to machining and engineering work that supports critical applications in aerospace, defense, energy, and naval systems. Barber-Nichols also invests in the Arvada community by supporting local schools, outdoor education, and holiday food and toy drives. I am grateful for Barber-Nichols' continued dedication to employees, education, and the Arvada community.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's 7th Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate Barber-Nichols for receiving the 2026 Outstanding Large Employer Award and thank them for their contributions to the Arvada community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Flourish in Life through Art and Resources for Endometriosis (FLARE) for their work making the realities of endometriosis visible through patient-created artwork, healthcare education, research, and advocacy.

In September of 2026, FLARE will hold their inaugural Art Exhibit in New York City, bringing awareness to a chronic illness that continues to be one of the most under-recognized medical conditions in the world. The exhibit will make endometriosis visible by presenting it through the eyes of artists experiencing the real symptoms and life disruptions that chronic pain causes.

Chelsea Hardesty, a health policy advocate and artist from Lakewood in Colorado's 7th Congressional District, has worked tirelessly to connect local leadership with the growing national movement to improve access to endometriosis education and healthcare. Her dedication to advocacy supports patients with endometriosis and clinicians across the United States.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's 7th Congressional District, it is my honor to recognize FLARE for their work bringing hope to endometriosis patients nationwide.