Floor Statements

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

Parker 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 Parker, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Parker's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Arvada West High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

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

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

Kaydence 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 Kaydence, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Kaydence's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Arvada West High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

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

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

Caleb 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 Caleb, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Caleb's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

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

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

Toby 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 Toby, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Toby's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

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

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

Zahra 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 Zahra, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Zahra's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

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

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

Ira 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 Ira, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Ira's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

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

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

Jorge Mario 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 Mario, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Jorge Mario's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

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

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

Ashley 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 Ashley, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Ashley's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

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

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

Maxamus 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 Maxamus, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Maxamus's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

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

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

Jr. 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 Jr., develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Jr.'s hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jake Canter, born in Evergreen, Colorado, for representing the United States in the Men's Snowboard Slopestyle at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy and congratulate him on his winning of the bronze medal.

In 2016, Jake experienced a traumatic brain injury that caused him to go into a six-day coma with a 20 percent survival rate. Jake had to relearn how to walk and talk and ultimately returned to snowboarding in 2017. With hard work and community support, he ended up earning the Junior Jam title at the 2018 U.S. Open and at just 15 years old Jake competed in the inaugural 2019 Knuckle Huck at X Games Aspen, earning a silver medal. Jake went on to win a bronze medal at the 2022 Laax Open and represented the USA at the 2023 FIS Snowboard World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia. And in 2026, Jake made his Olympic debut in Milan and won bronze.

Jake Canter's story is one of resilience in the face of challenges. Not only did he overcome the obstacles but found growth and is now inspiring other Coloradans to do the same.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's 7th Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate Jake Canter for winning the bronze medal and representing Colorado as part of the 2026 Winter U.S. Olympic Team at the Milan Olympics.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cannonball Creek Brewing Company of Golden, Colorado, for receiving both gold and silver medals at the Beer World Cup, designating their Project Alpha 81 and Mindbender brews as world-class.

The World Beer Cup, otherwise known as the ``Olympics of Beer,'' evaluates beers from around the world and recognizes the top brewers and their beers, drawing 8,166 entries from 50 countries. Beyond their medal, the Cannonball Creek Brewing Company won in the most competitive category, known as West Coast-style IPA.

Small businesses like Cannonball Creek Brewing Company help drive Golden's local economy and our state's economy. For both natives and members of Golden's thriving tourism industry, Cannonball Creek Brewing Company has provided excellent service and beers for over 20 years, contributing to Colorado's leadership in producing outstanding craft brews.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's 7th Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate the Cannonball Creek Brewing Company on receiving a gold and silver medal at the World Beer Cup and thank them for their contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Baby Doe's Clothing from Golden, Colorado, for winning the 2026 Golden Rotary Club's Ethics in Business Award for a for-profit organization.

For over two and a half decades, Baby Doe's Clothing has supported the Golden community through volunteer efforts, donated goods, and by fundraising for local organizations. Named after Colorado infamous historical figure Elizabeth ``Baby Doe'' Tabor, their organization sells a variety of women's clothing and accessories in downtown Golden. Baby Doe's Clothing stands as a model business promoting the best interest of Golden--recycling their waste, prioritizing transparency with customers, and donating excess inventory to local non-profits supporting low-income and previously incarcerated women.

Baby Doe's Clothing owner, Lynn Conrad and original founder Nancy Mason, have also gone above and beyond for our community by volunteering their time with the Golden Chamber of Commerce and for cherished community events like the Golden Fine Arts Festival. They also contribute as community sponsors for the organizations GoFarm and the Golden Civic Foundation. In the words of her award nominee, Lynn is ``all about Golden'' and ``has lived in, worked in, and contributed to Golden for over two decades.''

On behalf of the people of Colorado's 7th Congressional District, it is my honor to recognize Baby Doe's Clothing for all they do for our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nashely Leon Matos for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Nashely 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 Nashely, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Nashely's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Arvada West High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Nashely Leon Matos on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Royal Family Kids from Arvada, Colorado for winning the 2026 Golden Rotary Ethics in Business Award for a not-for-profit organization.

Royal Family Kids Arvada is a subchapter of For The Children, a national nonprofit that has served at-risk foster youth since 1985. In their unrelenting support for children who have experienced relational trauma in the foster care system or abuse, Royal Family Kids Arvada is driven by the mission to ensure every ``kid from hard places'' is treated well.

Their commitment to responsible stewardship, financial transparency, trauma-informed care, and long-term mentorship serves both their donors and the healthy development of

each child they serve. Supporting at-risk youth in our community is such critical work. As someone who faced many challenges growing up, I know my life is on a much different path because of the adults and teachers in Jefferson County who cared about me and invested in me as a teen.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's 7th Congressional District, it is my honor to thank Royal Family Kids Arvada for all they do to support at-risk youth in Jefferson County.