Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tracy Kraft- Tharp of Jefferson County, Colorado for her service as a Jefferson County Commissioner.

Commissioner Kraft-Tharp's commitment to working across the aisle to find bipartisan solutions for the benefit of Colorado is truly remarkable. She dedicated her career to serving others, first as a public school teacher and then as a social worker at the Tennyson Center for Children. After seven years as a Colorado State Representative, she was elected to serve as a County Commissioner. Tracy used her experience as a small business owner to champion policies that help businesses and nonprofits in her community, including mentoring executive directors and expanding access to mental health services. Her dedication to improving the lives of every Coloradan is commendable, and her presence will be greatly missed.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's Seventh Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate Commissioner Tracy Kraft-Tharp for her time with the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners and sincerely thank her for her contributions to the Colorado community. I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I missed a vote today on the Motion to Recommit on H.R. 115. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 508.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Colorado School of Mines Men's Cross Country Team for winning their fourth NCAA Division II National Championship.

Over the past ten years, the Orediggers have dominated Division II Athletics. This season, they won the team title in every race and six out of seven runners earned All-American honors. The championship race was especially impressive, with three runners finishing in the top ten. This team, made up of Logan Bocovich, Loic Scomparin, Ethan Grolnic, Paul Knight, Dawson Gunn, Jeremiah Vaille, and Max Bonenger, showed the very best in competitiveness that the Colorado School of Mines Athletic Department has to offer.

This achievement was earned by the commitment of the runners, support from students, guidance from Athletic Director David Hansburg, and the coaching of Chris Siemers. Their Division II championship title, cements Colorado School of Mines's reputation as an academic and athletic powerhouse in Colorado and across the country.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's Seventh Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate the Orediggers on their successful season.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Aditi Muthukumar of Westminster, Colorado for earning the Rookie of the Year Award in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge.

Aditi built an interactive app called SafeSpace, which provides young people with mental and behavioral health resources and uses a trained machine learning model to help give advice on symptoms and share resources.

Aditi spent countless hours and used many tools to develop her app and advance her STEM education.

I congratulate Aditi Muthukumar for her success in the Congressional App Challenge. I am certain she will exhibit the same dedication and character in her future accomplishments. I am excited to see all she will accomplish.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Nolan Keating of Golden, Colorado for winning Best in Show in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge.

Nolan built an interactive app called The Swelling Dark, which is an immersive 3D survivor horror game with advanced graphics that serves as a metaphor for dealing with mental health.

Nolan spent countless hours and used many tools to develop his app and advance his STEM education.

I congratulate Nolan Keating for his success in the Congressional App Challenge. I am certain he will exhibit the same dedication and character in his future accomplishments. I am excited to see all he will accomplish.

Mr. Speaker, I missed a vote today on the Motion Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 1576. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 468.

Madam Speaker, since the Supreme Court's unthinkable decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, women face countless attacks on our reproductive healthcare and desperately need Congress to act now.

Despite an overwhelming majority of Americans supporting reproductive healthcare, 14 States have enacted total abortion bans, and many others have brought partial bans or restrictions. This is resulting in devastating consequences across this country.

Millions of women are losing the right to critical, lifesaving care, and some States are actively attempting to stop emergency rooms from providing lifesaving abortions and miscarriage care.

These bans do not just threaten the health and safety of women seeking abortions. They jeopardize all pregnant people. In States with abortion bans, we have seen maternal death rates increase by 300 percent compared to States without abortion protections.

In States where abortions remain legal, like my home State of Colorado, people are facing longer wait times, delays in care, and a strained medical workforce.

We have seen maternity wards even shut their doors because they can't navigate what might happen in a medical emergency and how they would navigate the liability.

In response to this assault on women's healthcare, Americans across seven States, including my home State of Colorado, voted to protect access to reproductive healthcare in their State's constitution.

Choosing how and when to start a family is one of the most personal decisions somebody can make, and nobody should make that for you. These choices should be between women, their families, and their doctors.

I am a proud mother of a 4-year-old, and I am also 27 weeks pregnant. While we are very excited to welcome our second boy, with every pregnancy comes so much uncertainty. At our first appointment, I was told that I faced a high-risk pregnancy because of my age and that the heartbeat wasn't where they wanted it to be.

In a moment that should be filled with joy and excitement, you are faced with anxiety. I remember reminding myself that I am so lucky to live in Colorado because no matter what happened, I knew that I would be taken care of.

I am grateful that every single day since then, every appointment and milestone I have made I have had positive news, but far too many women are not as lucky and they also don't have access to the critical care they need.

Women across this country deserve more, which is why we must pass H.R. 12, the Women's Health Protection Act, to codify a woman's right to abortion federally.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can bring up H.R. 12, the Women's Health Protection Act, because we cannot afford to wait and not address the urgent needs of women across the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Battalion Chief David Marshall of Canon City for reaching his well-earned retirement after a 46-year career with the Canon City Area Fire Protection District.

Chief Marshall began his career as a volunteer firefighter with the Canon City Volunteer Fire Department in 1978. Since the 1980s, he has served as leader of the District's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division. David led EMS trainings for over 30 years at Pueblo Community College, where he taught and mentored the majority of EMS professionals serving in Fremont County today. Many of them have since gone on to lead their own EMS programs across the state. In his time leading the EMS division of the Canon City Fire Protection District, David enhanced the EMT training to more advanced certifications, including Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Paramedic level providers. His work and effort elevated the level of care provided to his community.

Chief Marshall's legacy of bringing access to emergency services and trainings to rural communities will live on across Colorado through the generations of EMS providers he mentored. His strong, dependable leadership sets an example for all Coloradans, and his teachings will forever have an impact on Fremont County.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's Seventh Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate Battalion Chief Marshall on his retirement and to thank him for his contributions to our community.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Over 3 million people in my home State of Colorado live in areas at moderate to high risk of wildfires, which is over 50 percent of our State's population. Since 2001, 20 of the largest wildfires in our recorded history have occurred in Colorado, resulting in the loss of more than 2,500 homes over the past two decades.

Wildfires have not only threatened lives but also damaged ecosystems and disrupted communities.

Coloradans feel the devastating impacts of climate change every single day. This is our new normal: Fires are burning more frequently and more fiercely than ever before.

It is essential that we recognize the urgency of addressing this crisis to protect our communities. While recognizing that this bill doesn't include everything that we want to see, it is an important step moving forward.

We need a holistic approach, and this includes investing in predisaster mitigation measures, such as strengthening our infrastructure in housing and enhancing early detection capabilities, supporting our wildland firefighting workforce, and focusing on post- disaster resilience.

My amendment is a piece of this comprehensive response. Specifically, my amendment will require the Department of the Interior, in coordination with States, local governments, Tribes, and colleges to identify critical lands in need of reforestation and restoration due to natural disasters, and to support projects in those areas.

By investing in restoration and reforestation projects, we can ensure that our communities not only recover but also rebuild in a way that enhances their resilience against future disasters.

Unfortunately, wildfires leave lasting scars on our landscapes and can permanently alter our environment, heightening the risk of deadly flash flooding and mud flows. I hear from my constituents about their concerns regarding wildfires but also, unfortunately, flooding is close behind.

That is why it is important that we pass this amendment to strengthen the provisions in the underlying bill and ensure our communities are equipped to face the challenges head-on.

Recovery after a wildfire is a lengthy and challenging process. However, my amendment, together with the provisions in the bill, represents a step toward building stronger, more resilient communities against the threat of wildfires.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the adoption of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Melissa Kraai of Arvada, Colorado for winning the Arvada Economic Development Association's 2024 Chris Adams Community Spirit Award. Each year, this award honors an Arvada resident who defines and shapes the community's character through their work and engagement.

In 2009, Ms. Kraai founded SustainAbility in Arvada, Colorado, after noticing her community lacked a center to process hard-to-recycle household goods. Taking the initiative to improve her community, she decided to open a facility that recycles items that most municipal recycling facilities are unable to process and otherwise end up in landfills, such as styrofoam, paint, and electronics.

Ms. Kraai is also dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable workforce, especially for Coloradans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since SustainAbility first opened, Ms. Kraai has made it her mission to address un- and under-employment among disabled Coloradans by creating quality, meaningful jobs for her employees, a majority of whom are disabled. After successfully starting the Arvada facility, Ms. Kraai expanded operations to the nearby cities of Broomfield and Westminster, allowing thousands of more Coloradans to recycle their household products.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's Seventh Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate Melissa Kraai for winning the Chris Adams Community Spirit Award and thank her for her contributions to the Arvada community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Piper Electric of Arvada, Colorado for winning the Arvada Economic Development Association's 2024 Outstanding Large Business Award. Each year, this award honors a local company who brings job growth, economic investment, and innovation to the Arvada business community.

Since 1983, Piper Electric has provided electrical services ranging from wiring updates and installation in residential homes to electrical construction and maintenance projects in commercial sites throughout Arvada and Jefferson County. As Piper Electric continues to expand, they remain committed to serving the Colorado community. Ongoing projects such as the expansion of their headquarters or their partnering with a national electrical group to increase their resources and job-capabilities, highlight the company's mission of providing high-quality jobs and services for families throughout our state.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's Seventh Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate Piper Electric for receiving the Outstanding Large Business Award and for their passionate work within Arvada, Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Servicios de la Raza of Denver, Colorado in honor of their 11th Annual Raices Latinas Gala.

Denver Chicano and Chicana activists first founded Servicios de la Raza in 1972 to provide community engagement and economic opportunities for low-income Spanish speakers throughout Colorado. Today, Servicios de la Raza provides a variety of life-changing services for all Coloradans, including a food pantry, clothing bank, job search assistance, and re-entry programs for Coloradans leaving incarceration. Last year, Servicios de la Raza served over 93,000 Coloradans.

The annual Raices Latinas Gala is a celebration of culture and diversity and honors outstanding community leaders whose activism and community service exemplifies Servicios' mission of inclusion, justice, equity, and peace.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's Seventh Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate Servicios de la Raza for their Raices Latinas Gala and thank them for their contributions to the Colorado community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Arvada Elks Fraternal Order Lodge No. 2278 of Arvada, Colorado for winning the Arvada Economic Development Association's 2024 Community Partnership Award. Each year this award goes to an Arvada organization that demonstrates a strong commitment to serving their community through outreach, engagement, and impact on local issues.

Members began Arvada Elks Fraternal Order in 1963 with the mission of giving back to their community. Today, over 1,200 members support their mission of providing ``charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity'' to the local community. Their service projects have a wide reach, from providing drug-use education in schools and awarding college scholarships to Arvada high school students to purchasing groceries for families in need and raising money for the families of fallen law enforcement officers. Their philanthropy work has made a large impact on countless veterans, children, and families throughout Jefferson County.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's Seventh Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate the Arvada Elks Fraternal Order Lodge No. 2278 for winning the Community Partnership Award and thank them for their contributions to the Arvada community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cappello's of Arvada, Colorado for winning the Arvada Economic Development Association's 2024 Outstanding Small Business Award. Each year, this award honors one small business in Arvada that demonstrates excellence in innovation, local outreach, and community engagement.

Ben Frochlichstein and Stacey Marcellus created Cappello's in 2011 when they noticed a lack of gluten-free products in Colorado grocery stores. This led them to create their line of products that emphasize simple, fresh ingredients that prioritize the health and well-being of their customers with celiac disease and other gluten sensitivities.

Since then, Cappello's has expanded to grocery store shelves across the country, creating a large variety of products, including gluten- free pizzas, pastas, cookie doughs, and biscuits. Their business has allowed people in Colorado and across the country to make and enjoy the foods they love with safety and peace of mind.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's Seventh Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate Cappello's for winning the 2024 Outstanding Small Business Award and thank them for their contributions to the Arvada Community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize David Lucas for winning the 2024 Paul Kroegel Refuge Manager of the Year award from the National Wildlife Refuge Association.

The Paul Kroegel Award honors refuge managers who have made significant contributions to the protection and management of national wildlife refuges. During his time as a manager for the Rocky Flats, Two Ponds, and Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuges, David rehabilitated two formerly hazardous waste sites into thriving animal refuges, oversaw the restoration of 15,000 acres of prairie habitat, and reintroduced the Black-Footed Ferret to one of his refuges. He also expanded access to his refuges by installing ADA accessible e trails and piers and hiring bilingual rangers. David's work brought Colorado's public lands closer to home, ensuring that everyone can learn from and enjoy our diverse environment.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's Seventh Congressional district, it is my honor to congratulate David Lucas on receiving the Refuge Manager of the Year award and thank him for his remarkable work in conserving Colorado's public lands.