Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Aubreigh Kincaid for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Aubreigh Kincaid is a student at Oberon Middle School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Aubreigh Kincaid is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Aubreigh Kincaid for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Blake Church for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Blake Church is a student at Arvada West H.S. and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Blake Church is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Blake Church for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Julie DeLuna for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Julie DeLuna is a student at Jefferson Jr./Sr. H.S. and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Julie DeLuna is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Julie DeLuna for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Lailah Dominguez for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Lailah Dominguez is a student at Jefferson Jr./Sr. H.S. and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Lailah Dominguez is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Lailah Dominguez for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Jamie Garcia for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Jamie Garcia is a student at Jefferson Jr./Sr. H.S. and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Jamie Garcia is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Jamie Garcia for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Jamie Gonzalez for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Jamie Gonzalez is a student at Jefferson Jr./Sr. H.S. and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Jamie Gonzalez is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Jamie Gonzalez for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Sabrina Zuniga for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Sabrina Zuniga is a student at Jefferson Jr./Sr. H.S. and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Sabrina Zuniga is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Sabrina Zuniga for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Jessica Gutierrez Quezada for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Jessica Gutierrez Quezada is a student at Jefferson Jr./Sr. H.S. and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Jessica Gutierrez Quezada is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Jessica Gutierrez Quezada for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Juanita Lewis Arreola for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Juanita Lewis Arreola is a student at Arvada High School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Juanita Lewis Arreola is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Juanita Lewis Arreola for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Casey Shade for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Casey Shade is a student at Arvada High School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Casey Shade is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Casey Shade for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Isabella Ciotti for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Isabella Ciotti is a student at Arvada K-8 and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Isabella Ciotti is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Isabella Ciotti for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Ericka Carias Valenzuela for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Ericka Carias Valenzuela is a student at Arvada High School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities.

The dedication demonstrated by Ericka Carias Valenzuela is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Ericka Carias Valenzuela for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize William (Bill) Alexander McKee of Golden, Colorado who passed away on February 7, 2021.

Bill was born in Lake Forest, Illinois and grew up in Barrington, Illinois. He graduated from Barrington High School in 1970 and went on to graduate from the University of Denver in 1974 with a B.A. in Political Science. In 1977, he received a Masters of Urban Affairs with an emphasis in Budgeting and Administration from the University of Colorado.

In 1979, Bill began his career with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment in the Water Quality Division. During his 26 years at the department, he worked to protect the rivers, lakes and streams of Colorado. Whether working with grants, permits, regional planning, nonpoint source pollution or as the Upper Colorado Watershed coordinator, Bill realized water pollution was about all of us working together and influenced how various jurisdictions were expected to comply with the Clean Water Act.

Bill met his wife Suzy through common friends in 1978. They married in 1979 at Pine Valley Ranch in Pine, Colorado and moved to Golden, Colo. soon thereafter. During his 38 years in Golden, Bill was constantly working to improve his community. Bill embraced Golden, as he did water. He served from 1988 to 1996 on the Golden Planning Commission and was elected to the Golden City Council from 1996 to 2004. Bill's time on both city council and the planning commission coincided with important changes in the history of Golden. Alongside fellow city leaders, Bill worked to revitalize downtown and bring more business and tourism to Golden. Many of Bill's lasting contributions were to the boards and organizations where he served, such as his tenure as president of the Friends of the Golden History Museum and Park. Bill helped shepherd this organization from a volunteer organization to the professionally run museum it is today. For many years, Bill also volunteered for the Leadership Golden Alumni Association Board.

In 2003, Bill joined the board of the Colorado Watershed Assembly. He served on the board for 10 years and as the chair for four years. Bill helped grow the yearly Sustaining Colorado's Watershed Conference into a top-notch multi-day event. He was a guiding force, a natural leader, and he saw the value of a statewide conference for watershed groups, private and government sectors, and concerned citizens to gather and share their mission of ensuring clean water for all Coloradans.

Bill loved spending time with his family, gathering with close friends, hiking with his faithful dog Grace, attending local ribbon cuttings, attending meetings, attending more meetings, following our local sports teams, reading the Denver Post daily, skiing the steeps, golfing, biking, playing the guitar and occasionally his flute, making the best spaghetti sauce ever, enjoying quality scotch while smoking a cigar around the fire, whistling, singing to the radio, spending time in the mountains of Colorado, and traveling.

Bill was a devoted husband and loving father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Suzy McKee, their children Meredith McKee, Gregory (Kari Hogan McKee); and grandchildren, Frances, Ace, and Mac McKee. I appreciate and thank him for a lifetime of service to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the rule and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic has cost the lives of over 500,000 Americans-- more than all the casualties of World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam war combined. Millions more have been infected and are recovering from the virus. Our economy has lost more than 10 million jobs. Countless businesses have failed or are at risk of failing. So our job today in Congress is to move quickly to address the physical, emotional, and financial health of all Americans. We can accomplish all three of these priorities through passage of the American Rescue Plan.

I want to touch on a few of the provisions included in this package. First, our State and local governments, firefighters, police, transportation workers, and healthcare providers have been on the front lines of the pandemic, supporting their communities by developing testing capabilities, supporting vulnerable populations, and now deploying the vaccines as quickly as possible.

I am glad this bill includes $350 billion for State and local governments all across the country.

We also need to work quickly to extend expiring unemployment programs, which expire on March 14. We saw what happened when Senator McConnell paused last year, and Coloradans are still struggling to receive the benefits they are owed.

This legislation will invest $130 billion to support K-12 schools as they work to return to in-person learning and help students catch up. It will also include $40 billion in rental and housing assistance. In the last month, Colorado has seen a record amount of requests for rental assistance.

The time for action is now. President Biden is laser focused on delivering relief to all Americans, and I am proud of his leadership so we can provide this needed assistance as we vaccinate more people each day. America needs this, America wants this, and they are going to get it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize William (Bill) Douglas of Boulder, Colorado who passed away on February 4, 2021.

Bill grew up outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended Drexel University before joining the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant in the Korean War. After the war, he entered graduate school at the University of Colorado. Upon graduation, he began a multi-faceted life and career as an author, historian, tennis coach, college administrator, foundation president, and business consultant. In 1959, his graduate thesis, A History of Dentistry in Colorado 1859-1959, was published as a book and widely read by dentists and Colorado historians.

Bill was known and admired for his passion for education and he held several administrative positions at the University of Colorado including dean of admissions, financial aid, and registrar. In 1972, Bill helped found the University's Presidents Leadership Class (PLC) to help prepare students to become ethical leaders for Colorado's future. The class became one of the first collegiate leadership programs in the United States. After leaving the University, Bill became assistant vice president of the Boettcher Foundation from 1980 to 1987 and then President from 1987 to 1996. As president, he oversaw numerous grants and scholarships that the Foundation awarded to individuals and organizations throughout the state.

After retiring from the Foundation, Bill served as the Colorado representative for Fiduciary Trust International for more than 12 years before retiring in 2013. In 2005, the University of Colorado and the Boettcher Foundation established the William A. Douglas Endowment Fund for the Presidents Leadership Class.

Bill was a devoted husband and a loving father and grandfather. Bill is survived by his loving wife, Susan, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I appreciate and thank him for his lifetime of service to our community.