Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Claus Ihlemann on receiving the 2019 Humanitarian Award for the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. This is an amazing accomplishment.

This award recognizes Claus' lifetime of service and commitment to the promotion of respect among people of diverse backgrounds. His commitment to Equality Virginia, the Tidewater AIDS Crisis Task Force, and his involvement in the Hope House Foundation are just some examples of his service to the community.

Claus' dedication to strengthening bonds among people of different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds is truly inspiring. I am proud to honor and recognize Claus' leadership and the role he plays in making our community a better place. The Tidewater Region has significantly benefited from his presence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Regina Darden on receiving the 2019 Humanitarian Award for the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. This is an amazing accomplishment.

This award recognizes Regina's lifetime of service and commitment to the promotion of respect among people of diverse backgrounds. I am inspired by her commitment to create and establish the first summer homeless shelter in Hampton Roads, called Helping Others Pursue Excellence (H.O.P.E.). H.O.P.E. is an exceptional organization that has served over 600 homeless guests during the summer of 2017 and continues to grow.

Regina's dedication to strengthening bonds among people of different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds is truly inspiring. I am proud to recognize Regina's leadership and the role she plays in making our community a better place. The Tidewater Region has significantly benefited from her presence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Kevin Turpin on receiving the 2019 Humanitarian Award for the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. This is an amazing accomplishment.

This award recognizes Kevin's lifetime of service and commitment to the promotion of respect among people of diverse backgrounds. As Executive Director of the Life Enrichment Center, he serves the local community by providing tutors for children struggling in school or at home. He has gathered over 250 volunteers to serve the children, and the ministry continues to expand. The positive impact will be seen for many generations.

Kevin's dedication to strengthening bonds among people of different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds is truly inspiring. I am proud to honor and recognize his leadership and the role he plays in making our community a better place. The Tidewater Region has significantly benefited from his presence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander on receiving the 2019 Humanitarian Award for the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. This is an amazing accomplishment.

This award recognizes Dr. Newby-Alexander's lifetime of service and commitment to the promotion of respect among people of diverse backgrounds. Her thought-provoking books, such as Virginia Waterways and the Underground Railroad, have educated many on the importance of the Underground Railroad for freedom seekers in our state. Dr. Newby- Alexander's input on the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Virginia Law Foundation, and the Historical Commission of the Supreme Court of Virginia is invaluable.

Dr. Newby-Alexander's work shows her dedication to strengthening bonds among people of different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. I am proud to honor and recognize Dr. Newby-Alexander's leadership and the role she plays in making our community a better place. The Tidewater Region has significantly benefited from her presence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Patricia Wainger on receiving the 2019 Humanitarian Award for the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. This is an amazing accomplishment.

This award recognizes Patricia's lifetime of service and commitment to the promotion of respect among people of diverse backgrounds. As the founding director of Norfolk Academy's Learning Bridge, an academic enrichment program, Patricia ensured that students have the best tools and resources to accomplish their long-term goals and achieve success in their future endeavors. Through her work at the Park Place school, she continues to empower children, their families, and their communities in the urban neighborhoods of Norfolk. Students with extra preparation for college will be well-equipped to make our community a better place.

In addition, Patricia's dedication to strengthening bonds among people of different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds is truly inspiring. I am proud to honor and recognize Patricia's leadership and the role she plays in making our community a better place. The Tidewater Region has significantly benefited from her presence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Dr. Alok Verma on receiving the 2019 Humanitarian Award for the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. This is an amazing accomplishment.

This award recognizes Dr. Verma's lifetime of service and commitment to the promotion of respect among people of diverse backgrounds. Dr. Verma generously serves the students of Old Dominion University and the community as a whole. His input at international conferences and in scholarly publications is exceptional. His service to the Norfolk Sister City Association, World Affairs Council, and Asian Indians of Hampton Roads demonstrates his heart for service.

Dr. Verma's dedication to strengthening bonds among people of different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds is truly inspiring. I am proud to honor and recognize Dr. Verma's leadership and the role he plays in making our community a better place. The Tidewater Region has significantly benefited from his presence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Ms. Joan Brock for receiving the 2019 Lenora Mathews Lifetime Achievement Award through Volunteer Hampton Roads. This is an amazing accomplishment.

This award recognizes Joan's lifetime of hard work and service to the community. Her dedication to improving global health and the Chesapeake Bay is truly inspiring. Her input on various boards and councils such as Virginia Wesleyan University's Board of Trustees, the National Board of the United Way Women's Leadership Council, the Chrysler Museum Board, and her leadership on the ACCESS College Foundation--just to name a few--has been invaluable. Joan's generosity with her time and resources to improve the environment, education, and health of our community is exceptional.

I want to thank Joan for her leadership in philanthropy and the role she plays in making our community a better place. Hampton Roads has significantly benefited from her presence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Ms. Susan Colpitts on receiving the 2019 Corporate VOLUNTEER Excellence Award through Volunteer Hampton Roads. This is an amazing accomplishment.

This award recognizes Susan's lifetime of hard work and service to her community. Her dedication to her company and to her community is truly inspiring. She founded a highly competitive firm and led a group of advisors in the service of ensuring that clients have their

financial needs met. Her dedication to offer the best financial strategic and philanthropic planning stands out.

In addition to Susan's dedication to her work, she has held multiple leadership roles in the Hampton Roads community, such as Director of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, Vice-Chair of Virginia Humanities, and Director of Building Goodness Foundation--just to name a few. Susan's commitment to various organizations, such as United for Children and Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore, displays her passion for the welfare of others and her community.

I want to thank Susan for her leadership in service and the role she plays in making our community a better place. Hampton Roads has significantly benefited from her presence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the late Anne Shumadine for receiving the 2019 Corporate VOLUNTEER Excellence Award through Volunteer Hampton Roads, in memoriam.

This award recognizes Anne's lifetime of hard work and service to the community. Her dedication to her company and to her community was truly inspiring. Anne founded a highly competitive firm and led a group of advisors in the service of ensuring that clients have their financial needs met. Anne's dedication to offer the best financial strategic and philanthropic planning stood out.

In addition to Anne's dedication to her work, she held multiple leadership roles in the Hampton Roads community, including the President of the Norfolk Day Nursery Association, the President of the ACCESS College

Foundation, and a Trustee of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation--just to name a few. Anne's commitment to these organizations showed her passion for the welfare of others and the community as a whole.

Anne will be missed. Hampton Roads significantly benefited from her presence; she made our community a better place.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Drew Ungvarsky for receiving the 2019 Harvey L. Lindsay, Jr. Changemaker Award through Volunteer Hampton Roads. This is an amazing accomplishment.

This award recognizes Drew's many years of hard work and innovative accomplishments. His dedication transformed an idea into a highly competitive company while simultaneously giving back to the Hampton Roads community. I am inspired by Drew's commitment to support local businesses and charities. By renting out his company's work space for ``pop ups,'' and requiring each ``pop up'' to donate some of the proceeds to charity, he demonstrates the true meaning of a changemaker. Drew's innovative and thoughtful business ideas are not simply benefiting his company, but the entire Hampton Roads community.

I want to thank Drew for his leadership in the digital sphere and the role he plays in making the community a better place. Hampton Roads has significantly benefited from his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I am a Jewish American woman who served for 20 years in uniform and continue to serve in the United States Congress.

At the age of 17, when I entered the United States Naval Academy, I first took the oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I subsequently repeated that oath six times at every promotion in rank and, most recently, when I had the honor to become a Member of Congress.

Is that not enough to prove my loyalty to our Nation?

I deployed six times, serving in six ships in the Middle East and Western Pacific, working under challenging conditions while operating complex weapons systems, overseeing nuclear reactors, driving ships, and, ultimately, commanding a combat-ready unit of 400 sailors.

Is that not enough to prove my loyalty to our Nation?

In the first 3 years my husband and I were married, we spent almost 2 years apart so that we could both serve at sea and deploy three times.

Is that not enough to prove my loyalty to our Nation?

Mr. Speaker, am I to look back on my military career and the sacrifices it meant for my family and remain silent in the face of people questioning my loyalty to my country?

I believe that I speak clearly for all fellow Jewish veterans that this echoes of language that has been used to marginalize and persecute the Jewish people for centuries.

The recent accusations of dual loyalty call into question the equal footing of Jewish Members in elected office and, by extension, all Jews living in America.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to vote on this resolution in condemnation of this rhetoric.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Chief Jeffrey Wise's 40 years of service with Norfolk Fire-Rescue. His selfless work, bravery, and dedication have made the City of Norfolk a better place.

The health of our community depends on public servants. I want to thank Chief Wise for dedicating his life's work to the safety, health, and wellbeing of his neighbors.

Chief Wise has been an effective leader. He has spearheaded innovations in the quality and type of service Norfolk Fire-Rescue provides, and has devoted himself to the mission of ``preventing harm in the community and maintaining the public's trust.''

His dedication to the mission is inspiring, and I am confident that he has improved the lives and safety of many in the community.

I congratulate Chief Wise on his retirement. I commend him for his selfless work, and I want to thank him for faithfully caring for the City of Norfolk for 40 years. I am confident he will continue to make an impact on the community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Captain Wallace Driskell Jr.'s 45 years of service with the Norfolk Police Department. His selfless work, bravery, and dedication have made the City of Norfolk a better place.

The health of our community depends on public servants. I want to thank Captain Driskell for dedicating his life's work to the safety, health, and wellbeing of his neighbors.

Captain Driskell has been an effective leader and worked his way up from patrol officer to captain.

His dedication to our city is inspiring, and I am confident that he has improved the lives and safety of many in the community.

I congratulate Captain Driskell on his retirement. I commend him for his selfless work, and I want to thank him for faithfully keeping the City of Norfolk safe for 45 years. I am confident he will continue to make an impact on the community.