Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Jules Earl Smith, beloved grandfather, father, husband, son, brother, and community servant, who passed away on Monday, October 17, 2022, after a year-long battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Born on April 9, 1947 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jules began his religious journey at a young age. Holding church services for his younger siblings in the living room--pretending they were his congregation--Jules was destined for a life behind the pulpit.

Jules had a love of learning from a young age. He tutored his classmates and friends, and taught his father how to read the Bible. He spent his childhood accompanying his parents and siblings to multiple churches where he discovered his love for music and church administration. When he began his faith journey, he called upon the leadership and clergical skills that were instilled in him from those days attending church with his family.

Jules' service was not confined to church--he was also an activist and Civil Rights leader in Baton Rouge. He dedicated his time to teaching older Black citizens how to read and sign their names. Notably, he taught them to memorize the preamble to the Constitution-- pushing them to believe that We The People meant all people--in order to fight back against the racist ``Grandfather Clause'' as well as discriminatory literacy laws that prevented Black people from voting.

In 1969, Jules graduated from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge with a degree in Business Economics. He went on to excel in the field of sales and eventually became the Regional Vice President at Western Union Telegraph Company in New York City. He was the first African American to travel and train others in the field of telecommunications. While in New York City, he found a new church home in the Bronx where he served as a Sunday School teacher, choir director, parish pianist, church clerk, and eventually Chair of the Deacons.

In 1976, Jules preached his first sermon, and just five years later in 1981, he was ordained and Jules became Pastor Smith. He and his family moved to Denver, Colorado in 1982, and in 1986 he became the Pastor of a tiny church on the corner of Dayton and Florida in Colorado's very own Sixth Congressional District. He served a diverse congregation at Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church for over 36 years and founded the Rising Star Christian Academy for preschool to fifth graders.

It is incredibly difficult to encapsulate all that was Pastor Smith's life. I have no doubt he impacted tens of thousands of lives through his sermons and Bible studies. He was passionate about his faith, and guided many throughout the years. Even though Pastor Smith is gone, his legacy lives on through the lives he touched, and his spirit will be felt in the halls of his parish and in the hearts of the people he served for many years to come. It is an honor to recognize the incredible life Pastor Smith led, and to his family: ``The God of love and peace shall be with you.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Jimmy Day II for being recognized as the 2023 Colorado Teacher of the Year. Mr. Day has served as an educator for over a decade--inspiring, developing, and cultivating the musical talent that lies within his students.

Mr. Day joined East Middle School in Aurora, Colorado in 2017, where he serves as the Instrumental Music Teacher and Band Director. In addition to providing students with exceptional instruction in Instrumental Music, Mr. Day also leads the school's band program. The Colorado Department of Education credits Mr. Day for rebuilding and transforming three band programs during his career and transforming them into award-winning programs. As a result of his dedication to bettering the music program, his ability to connect with his students, and his effective teaching style, Mr. Day was previously recommended to participate in the Public Education & Business Coalition and the Aurora Public School Mentoring Community of Practice.

It is clear to anyone who knows Mr. Day, that though his knowledge and passion for music are extensive, the love he has for sharing that knowledge with his students is what makes him an exemplary teacher. Mr. Day's students describe him as a teacher exuding passion who always pushes them to try their best--wanting them to harness the potential he already knows lies within them. Mr. Day is known for helping his music students achieve success not only in music, but in developing the life skills they will carry with them long after they leave his classroom.

Teachers have a tremendous impact on the lives of our children and Mr. Day represents the best of what our teachers can be. I commend Mr. Day for his tireless dedication to his students, and congratulate him for receiving this recognition. It is an honor to recognize him and his achievements.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colorado Equity Compass for receiving the Redefining American Healthcare Award from the Healthcare Leadership Council for their efforts in tackling healthcare inequities in the community.

Founded in 2019, Colorado Equity Compass was piloted in four locations across Colorado: Denver, Larimer County, Pitkin County, and East Colorado Springs. The goal of this initial pilot program was to assess the needs of the community and examine the resources and data that would prompt communities and organizations to take action and work towards a more equitable and healthy community.

The knowledge and data gained from the pilot program helped form Colorado Equity Compass and guides the work they have done ever since. Colorado Equity Compass is driven by the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life and have access to resources to make this possible. They quickly discovered through their research that this wish was not a reality for many Coloradans. Colorado Equity Compass developed a data tool called the Equity Data Navigator to identify the top social determinants of health (SDOH) down to specific communities across Colorado. Utilizing the data in the Equity Data Navigator, they show how the identified SDOH affects the people of Colorado--guiding storytelling and changemaking efforts.

Colorado Equity Compass is the first recipient in Colorado to receive the Redefining American Healthcare Award from the Healthcare Leadership Council. This award recognizes best practices, programs, and organizations in communities across the nation that work to effectively address and improve health inequities. Colorado Equity Compass works in collaboration with Change Matrix, the Colorado Health Institute, Colorado Trust, and Consume & Create to provide stories, data, and resources to organizations in the community who can use this information to improve the lives of Coloradans.

It goes without saying that our community benefits greatly from the tireless work Colorado Equity Compass does to improve health equity and outcomes across the state. I am proud to recognize and congratulate Colorado Equity Compass for receiving this well-deserved award and thank them for their continued efforts tackling historic inequities faced by long-disadvantaged communities across Colorado.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize DIRT Coffee in Littleton, Colorado for creating an inclusive work environment for neurodiverse Coloradans and those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs).

DIRT, which stands for Divergent, Inclusive, Representation, Transform, is committed to disability justice and transforming hiring practices to include more equitable opportunities in the workplace for neurodivergent individuals. Currently, DIRT Coffee works to hire, train, and empower neurodivergent individuals through their Inclusive Workforce Employer Program.

After recognizing that neurodivergent people are underrepresented in the workforce and lack equitable opportunities for an integrated workforce experience, DIRT launched their coffee truck in 2013 to target the hearts and minds of the community. They quickly became a leader in providing inclusive employment opportunities for neurodivergent Coloradans, and in 2018, DIRT opened its first location in Littleton--providing internships and long-term employment for neurodivergent individuals.

In 2021, DIRT provided more than 1,000 hours of job training to over 30 neurodivergent

individuals, bringing the total people helped to over 140 across the community. DIRT doesn't stop there, they have also provided more than $50,000 in scholarships to families who need it the most. In 2022, DIRT opened its second location in Denver to try to expand its reach and community impact.

DIRT Coffee aims to create a more equitable and inclusive workforce. It goes without saying that they've had not only a tremendous impact on the lives of neurodivergent individuals who they have employed, but also our community as a whole. DIRT works tirelessly to cultivate a culture of acceptance, and I am proud to recognize and thank them for being an inspiration to us all.

Madam Speaker, it is with great respect that I rise today to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, and recognize the diverse culture, influence, and remarkable contributions Hispanic Americans have made to Colorado's Sixth Congressional District. I'm proud to represent the most diverse district in Colorado. With people from all walks of life and over 120,000 immigrants calling our community home, our diversity makes our community a stronger and more vibrant place to live.

Beginning in 1968, and continuing every year since, from September 15 to October 15, we observe and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize and honor the extensive history of Hispanic Americans across the country. The 2022 theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation. It is only fitting that this year's theme

necessitates the inclusion of all voices and reflects the need for us to come together and welcome all people in order to build stronger communities and a stronger Nation.

It goes without saying that the Hispanic community in my district plays an integral role in making the Sixth District a better place to live. In the face of a devastating pandemic, we saw COVID-19 disproportionately impact the Hispanic community. Healthcare groups like Salud Family Health, Servicios de la Raza, Colorado Access, STRIDE Community Health Center, and Aurora Health Alliance were committed to educating the Hispanic community about COVID-19--providing vaccine and healthcare services to ensure our community has an equitable pandemic recovery.

We owe a debt of gratitude to organizations like Village Exchange Center and Mi Casa Resource Center, among many others that foster an inclusive environment and work directly with the Hispanic community-- providing resources, healthcare and vaccine access to residents in District Six.

The contributions by Hispanic Americans and community leaders across our District and the State of Colorado are tremendous and play a vital role in the diversity, development, and success of our Nation. I'm proud to celebrate and recognize Hispanic Heritage Month and all the Hispanic Americans that make our community a better and more prosperous place to live.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Tina Buneta and congratulate her on receiving the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International 2022 Director of the Year award for her life saving work as a 9-1-1 professional with the Aurora Department of Public Safety Communications.

A life-long dedicated public servant, Tina applied to become a front line telecommunicator for the Colorado State Patrol in 1999--not fully understanding what the career entailed. She soon realized she excelled at solving problems and puzzles, creating order out of chaos, and most importantly--helping people.

Over her 23-year career in emergency communications, Tina has gone from directly helping people, to helping and molding the people who help people. She previously served as a Communications Training Officer, Communications Supervisor, and Regional Center Manager for the Colorado State Patrol until 2019 when she became Director of Aurora911. Under her leadership style, Tina aims to empower new leaders and develop new ideas and strategies to ensure Aurora911 is operating at its best.

In recognition of her leadership and tireless dedication to service, Tina received the 2022 Director of the Year Award from APCO. The nationwide award is given annually to a leader who exemplifies high levels of personal and professional conduct in the line of duty. I cannot think of a leader more deserving of this award than Tina, who has dedicated her life to an instrumental career in public safety.

I am honored to recognize Tina for her dedication and commitment to making our community a better place to call home. I congratulate her for receiving the APCO International 2022 Director of the Year Award, as well as an incredible career in emergency communications.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Project C.U.R.E., headquartered in Colorado's Sixth Congressional District, for their efforts in collecting and distributing life-saving emergency medical relief to the people of Ukraine.

Founded 30 years ago by Jim and AnnaMarie Jackson, Project C.U.R.E. has grown into the world's single largest distributor of donated medical relief. They've provided over 2,000 cargo containers of medical supplies and equipment to over 135 countries, and most recently, to the people of Ukraine.

Upon the invasion of Ukraine, Project C.U.R.E. identified an urgent need for medical supplies as civilian casualties increased at an exorbitant rate. Recognizing that the war was having an immediate and devastating impact on an already weakened healthcare system, Project C.U.R.E. began collecting donations and medical supplies--including hospital beds and ultrasound machines--from across the U.S., to send to the people of Ukraine.

With a goal of delivering health and hope to Ukraine, Project C.U.R.E. has delivered 60 air shipments and four containers of medical relief to Ukraine--equating to a total of about $12.3 million worth of medical supplies. Additionally, they worked closely with the Ukrainian government to transport arid distribute 5,000 kits, containing two months of supplies for newborns, across the country.

Project C.U.R.E. has an extensive history providing medical relief to Ukraine and was recognized earlier this year by the National Health Council of Ukraine for their significant contributions to the international humanitarian project ``Support Hospitals in Ukraine.''

The impact of these donations are immeasurable in terms of lives saved and I commend Project C.U.R.E. for their tireless dedication in providing critical medical supplies as there continues to be a dire need in Ukraine. It is organizations like Project C.U.R.E. that provide hope in the darkest of times, and I know that our global community benefits immensely from their continued support and generosity.

Madam Speaker, I rise in absolute fury today over what is going on to American women and this horrific decision by the Supreme Court to take away a fundamental right--for the first time in our Nation's history, to take away a fundamental right for millions of American women.

Egregious enough in its own right that this has happened, we compound it with the fact that tens of thousands of women who have stood up to answer our Nation's call, to raise their right hand, to take the oath, to give their life for this country, to defend our freedoms, now don't have the same freedoms themselves.

What is going on in this country?

I served this country as an Army Ranger, three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. I served with my fellow men and women. I now sit in this body. I sit on the Committee on Armed Services with my good friend, Jackie Speier, where we now make policy that impacts the very servicemembers like I used to be.

I remember what it was like being Private Crow, sitting in those boots, having to live with the consequences of the decisions made under this dome. I think about that now. I think about all the young women who want to serve. Maybe they want to follow in the footsteps of their mother or their grandmother. Maybe they are deeply patriotic people, and they want to give back to their country. Maybe they are trying to pursue better opportunities and get some money for college.

Whatever the motivation, they stand up and take the same oath that I took and the same oath that millions of others have taken over our Nation's history. It is an oath that says you are willing to give your life and put it all on the line for your fellow countrymen and -women. Now, we are asking those women to not just be willing to give their lives in defense of our Nation but to do so in a way that sets aside their own fundamental rights and their own freedoms and gives them second-class citizenship in the process of doing it.

What is going on in this country and in this Capitol? We know that abortion care is a time-sensitive and necessary procedure, and we know that if servicemembers can't access this necessary healthcare, their very own health is in jeopardy.

Let's just take a minute. Let's just set aside the moral arguments. Let's just park those for a minute and just talk about military readiness. Let's talk about the defense of this Nation that people love to talk about here in this Capitol: support the troops, tie a yellow ribbon around the tree. All right, how about we actually do right by the people who are willing to make those sacrifices?

Servicemembers don't have a choice of where they go to serve. That is part of the deal. You raise your right hand, go to boot camp, get trained on your job, and go where the Nation needs you. Are we really going to send thousands of women to places where they don't have rights and can't access healthcare? How is that in the interests of our force? How does that create a healthy, productive, vibrant military? How is that good for recruiting? Well, it is not, obviously.

It is not often where we have an issue that is just so egregiously abusive to people who are trying to do the right thing. It is not often where we are literally in a position of dissuading young men and women from serving this Nation and making it harder for them to do it and making it harder for our military to recruit them.

That is why I have been proud to work with Jackie Speier. We started this effort by co-leading together the MARCH for Servicemembers Act, and then we talked to folks. We held roundtables. We held discussions. We knew that just wasn't going to do it, that that wasn't enough. We had to do more.

That is why we drafted and are pursuing this legislation, the Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act, which will require commanders to approve leave for abortion care automatically. It will make DOD reimburse servicemembers for the cost of travel to receive care, and it guarantees privacy protections for servicemembers against retaliation from commanding officers and peers.

Imagine that, being retaliated against by your commanding officer. Well, it should be illegal, and we are going to try to make it illegal.

Folks, until we can pass a national law protecting abortion care and abortion rights for women, which we are going to try to do--and we are going to have to get rid of the filibuster to do it in the Senate-- until we do that, we are going to do everything possible to protect everybody we can.

Now, today, it is going to continue with us protecting our servicewomen. They are willing to give everything for us. The least we can do is have their backs.

We must pass this bill. I implore my fellow Members to walk the talk. Don't just talk about supporting our servicemembers. Do it. This is the way to do it. We can and must do this. We must have their back. Let's get this done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3157, a bill to help eliminate barriers to employment facing immigrants and refugees across the country.

I represent one of the most diverse districts in Colorado, and we know in Colorado and in my community that diversity is our strength.

Many of our immigrant refugee neighbors have skills and professional credentials they can't use because of regulatory hurdles. These hurdles, whether language barriers, difficulty in recognizing credentials, or a lack of professional networks, prevent many from making a good living for their families or contributing fully to our economy in reaching their full potential.

The unemployment and underemployment of these folks is a missed opportunity for our businesses, for our community, and for our country.

In 2016, across the U.S., nearly 2 million immigrants with college degrees were unable to find work or were employed in low-wage jobs. This includes more than one-third of the 11,000 immigrants in the State of Colorado with health-related undergraduate degrees in 2020.

Identifying these barriers to full employment for these immigrants and refugees is an essential first step to overcoming them. This bill would direct the Department of Labor to conduct a collaborative interagency study of the barriers that hold back refugees and immigrants from their full potential.

I thank Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Katko for their diligence in this effort, and I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting passage of this bill today.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the accomplishments of Mary Kraft, Sylvia Waller, and Polly Letofsky who will be honored by the Northwest Douglas County Chamber & Economic Development Corporation as ``Women Who Soar.''

Each year, the Northwest Douglas County Chamber & Economic Development Corporation recognizes three women in the Denver Metro Community who inspire our community and are blazing the path for future generations.

Mary Kraft has been recognized as a ``Woman Who Soars'' because in the face of a multitude of struggles, she harnessed innovation and technology to advance her farm's capabilities. Her and her husband used an innovative approach to nurture their Blue Toothed cows--growing the herd from 200 to 6,000. Mary held the first leadership role by a woman and eventually became President of American Agriculture at the Colorado Livestock Association.

Sylvia Waller has been recognized as a ``Woman Who Soars'' by challenging and changing the standard of beauty. At the age of 62, she became the first African American in 32 years to be crowned Mrs. Colorado. Sylvia believes beauty has no age, shape, or color, rather it is found in the heart and spirit. Sylvia is a passionate Volunteer Community Educator for the Alzheimer's Association, using her personal experience as a caretaker for her father who suffered from dementia to help promote services for individuals and families dealing with the disease.

Polly Letofsky has been recognized as a ``Woman Who Soars'' because of her efforts to support authors who self-publish their work. She founded My Word Publishing which disrupted the publishing world by helping authors professionally self-publish their books while maintaining 100 percent of their rights. Since its inception, Polly's business has grown into a publishing library of 750 books and representing authors from 14 countries.

From using innovative methods in farming to creating a publishing house for self-publishing authors, this year's recipients have made a lasting impact on those around them and in our community. It is leaders like these three women who will allow us to achieve a more prosperous and inclusive future and I congratulate them all on being recognized as ``Women Who Soar.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Nova Spark Foundation for its efforts collecting and donating critical supplies to Ukrainian orphanages and children displaced by the war in Ukraine.

Founded by Ukrainian immigrants in Colorado, Yulia Boozer and Olga Funk, Nova Spark was established to help an extremely vulnerable group of Ukrainians: children whose parents have been killed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Yulia and Olga recognized a lack of support for orphans of the war and built this organization to fill that need.

Nova Spark works with small-scale and family-style orphanages, and those caring for disabled children in Ukraine. Their fundraising initiatives have allowed Nova Spark to provide funding to orphanages and foster homes to repair physical damages sustained during the war. Additionally, the organization has partnered with Project C.U.R.E. to send Kits for Kids, providing basic necessities, humanitarian aid, STEM toys, baby supplies and college essentials, for displaced orphans across Ukraine.

Orphans are among the most vulnerable victims of war, and I commend Nova Spark for its continued efforts to provide orphanages with various necessities as supply lines and availability of products in Ukraine change. I am proud to recognize them for their tireless work and dedication to Ukrainian children. It is organizations like the Nova Spark Foundation that provide hope in the darkest of times, and I know that their generosity is not only felt in Ukraine, but in our global community as a whole.

Madam Speaker, I, along with Representative Diana DeGette, rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Lloyd Lewis and congratulate him on receiving the World Citizenship Award from Civitan International for his nearly two decades of tireless advocacy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Lloyd made the transition to advocacy following the birth of his son, Kennedy, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. This diagnosis led Lloyd to leave a successful career in finance to begin his journey as CEO of Arc Thrift Stores of Colorado--an organization that supports advocacy services for Coloradans with intellectual and developmental disabilities since its founding in 1968.

Under Lloyd's extraordinary leadership, Arc has become one of Colorado's largest employers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through their Ambassador program--which Lloyd created. The Ambassador program provides employment with full pay and benefits to individuals with disabilities, in addition to free social, educational, and professional development support.

The impactful work by Lloyd and Arc doesn't stop there. Arc has donated money, supplies, and vouchers to several non-profits throughout Colorado when the need arises. In recent years, Arc has donated to the Boulder Marshall Fire Relief, COVID relief, and to Ukrainian refugees.

With this award, Lloyd joins the ranks of distinguished recipients such as former President

Dwight D. Eisenhower and Sir Winston Churchill. The World Citizenship Award is not given out annually, rather presented based on merit to those who have made a significant difference to mankind.

Lloyd is a shining example for how we should all strive to live our lives--as passionate, dedicated advocates for the diversity and inclusion of all people. There is no doubt our community is a better place because of Lloyd's leadership at Arc. We congratulate him on receiving this award and thank him for his tireless work advocating for vulnerable communities in Colorado.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Aerospace Week and more than 100 years of American innovation and advancements in the aerospace industry, which has moved, connected, secured, and inspired our world.

Colorado has the nation's second largest aerospace economy. We are fortunate that so many aviation, space, and defense businesses call Colorado home. Not only do they employ tens of thousands of Coloradans, but they play a vital role in our national security, technology development, and keeping the U.S. competitive in the global economy.

The aerospace industry is critical in supporting U.S. national security and defense by providing the military and our allies with the most technologically advanced platforms and systems. Russia's invasion of Ukraine proved the importance of a strong, stable, and resilient defense industrial base. It is because of the cutting edge technologies developed by U.S. aerospace workers, that we are able to aid our allies and safeguard our national interests.

In other areas such as civil aviation and space, the aerospace industry has long shaped technological innovations that help the U.S. maintain global leadership in key sectors of the global economy. These include aircraft and engine design, air traffic control, and space exploration. In aviation, the U.S. industry continues the rapid development of groundbreaking technologies to enable advanced air mobility options and the potential return to supersonic commercial transportation.

The U.S. aerospace industry is working today to build a better, safer, and more prosperous tomorrow. I am proud to celebrate National Aerospace Week and honor all of the people who work tirelessly to develop cutting-edge technologies that not only protect American interests, but also put America at the forefront of aerospace and defense innovation and development.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of 17-year-old Leilani Caamal, who has broken barriers to become a tackle football star and wrestling standout.

Since she was nine years old, Leilani has tackled the stereotype that girls can't and don't play football. Leilani put on shoulder pads and a helmet to play tackle football like her brother. In the past two years, she's emerged as an All-American linebacker for the Mile High Blaze, a women's semi-pro tackle football team that is a part of the Women's Football Alliance.

Leilani represents the future of women's tackle football as it continues to grow in popularity. She's currently a linebacker on the Vista Peak High School boys varsity football team working to be a leader and role model for young girls both on and off the field. Like the trailblazers who paved the way before her, Leilani wants to inspire girls and young women by demonstrating the opportunities and choices available to them.

Leilani not only excels on the football field, but is also leading the way in the growth of women's wrestling across the country. With big Olympic and gold medal aspirations, I have no doubt Leilani's courage and perseverance will bring her success whether it's in football or wrestling.

Young women like Leilani represent the future of tackle football and women's sports--fostering and promoting an accepting environment for young women and girls to pursue their athletic goals. Leilani motivates and inspires not only her peers, but the next generation of young female athletes who have their eyes on male-dominated sports. I am proud to recognize Leilani for her athletic successes and thank her for her relentless pursuit fighting for an inclusive environment for women in sports.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Amy Lunstra, owner of Festive Cup Coffee and Gift Boutique in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, for creating an inclusive work environment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

A former special needs teacher at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Amy recognized a space where our community fell short--in the lack of employment and community engagement opportunities for those with IDD outside of school.

In July 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, Amy purchased Festive Cup Coffee with the intention of providing a space for those with IDD to work. Her goal was to break down barriers, promote tolerance and acceptance, and prove that individuals with IDD could thrive in a work environment. In January 2021, Amy began hiring workers with IDD at Festive Cup and fostered a unique partnership between employees with and without IDD.

Amy has tackled stigmas about IDD workers and provided the chance for those with IDD to gain independence and self-sufficiency. It goes without saying that Amy has had an incredible impact, not only on those with IDD that she employs, but on our community as a whole. Amy epitomizes how we should all live our lives--as tireless and dedicated advocates for the diversity and inclusion of all people. I am proud to recognize Amy and thank her for being an inspiration to all of us.