Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aurora Fire Rescue for inspiring the next generation of women firefighters through an annual summer camp.

Aurora Fire Rescue aims to increase the number of women in firefighting through Camp Spark--a summer program for female- identifying middle and high schoolers with an interest in the fire service.

This three-day camp focuses on problem-solving, leadership, knowledge, and physical ability drills, to tackle a challenging curriculum, while introducing these young women to the daily lives of firefighters. From participating in a firehouse work out, rolling hoses, and repelling, this camp provides hands-on experience to the physical demands of the profession. Camp Spark has both female and male firefighters volunteering as instructors--providing a realistic representation of the fire service.

The goal of Camp Spark is to supply these young women with invaluable insight into the profession and motivate them to consider a career in fire service. Aurora Fire Rescue places emphasis on adaptability as being key to the success of their campers--a skill that will stick with them long after camp ends.

I commend Aurora Fire Rescue for their leadership, working to build a more inclusive department and profession. By introducing women to the world of firefighting from a young age, Aurora Fire Rescue aims to make a career in fire service a realistic and tangible goal for young women. I thank Aurora Fire Rescue and their volunteers for motivating and inspiring the next generation of women firefighters.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hands of the Carpenter, an organization that provides affordable cars and maintenance for single mothers in the Denver-metro area.

Founded in 2003 by Dan Georgopulos, Hands of the Carpenter opened its first location in Golden, Colorado. Dan recognized that affordable, reliable transportation was integral to self-sufficiency--especially for single mothers with dependent children who rely on transportation to get themselves to work and their children to school. Hands of the Carpenter was created to provide car placement and maintenance to single moms, allowing them to achieve self-sufficiency and independence.

Recently, Hands of the Carpenter opened a second location, in Aurora, Colorado, which will allow the organization to serve twice as many women as it was serving at the Golden location. They have adapted to the needs of women over the course of two decades and have created what's known as the ``Hands Community''--a conglomerate of organizations, businesses, and churches working together to assist single moms--providing not only practical assistance, but also hope.

It goes without saying that Hands of the Carpenter has an incredible impact in the lives of women throughout our community and the entire state of Colorado. I am proud to recognize them for their tireless work assisting single mothers with automotive services, and I thank them for their dedication in serving our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Zack Golditch, a survivor of the Aurora Theater Shooting, who now finds purpose in serving our community as a firefighter for South Metro Fire Department.

A 17-year-old high school football player in Aurora, with his sights set on the NFL, Zack spent his evening on July 20, 2012, as many other young people did: at a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. What began as a night with friends turned deadly as a gunman open fired in an adjacent theater to the one Zack was in, killing 12 and wounding 70. However, the injuries were not confined to Theater 9, as a bullet traveled through the wall into Theater 8 and struck him in the neck.

Zack was forced to grow up too soon that day--his perspective on life changed forever as a night out with friends was almost his last. Recognizing the unpredictability of life, he believes that life isn't just about seizing the opportunities presented to him, but to slow down and enjoy them. Zack went on to play college football at Colorado State University, before fulfilling his childhood dream of being drafted into the NFL in 2018.

After two years in the NFL, Zack returned home to Colorado where he now serves our community as a firefighter for South Metro Fire and Rescue in the Denver Metro area. Alongside his work at South Metro, Zack is involved in efforts to support victims of the theater shooting by lending his name to the Zack Golditch Opportunity Scholarships, established by the 7/20 Foundation, and managed by the Aurora Public Schools (APS) Foundation, to help APS students attend college.

Zack is a shining example of turning pain into purpose. He read a quote once that resonated with him: ``If you're not inspired by your own story, then maybe you need to start writing and there's something you need to start doing.'' So Zack became a first responder--fully prepared to respond to the next tragedy, just like those that saved him did on that night ten years ago.

Out of tragedy and unspeakable darkness, there are always heroes who rise up and answer the call to service. I can think of no better example than Zack, who, despite being haunted daily by the memories of July 20th, shows up to work every day aiming to be better than the day before.

I am honored to recognize Zack for his dedication and commitment in service to making our community a better place to call home. I thank him for continuing to serve with gratitude, empathy, and a smile--all while inspiring us to be better versions of ourselves.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Dr. Mark Johnston, and to congratulate him on his membership to the National Academy of Sciences.

A trailblazer in the field of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Dr. Johnston's lab has been a leader shedding light on how cells respond to glucose. He has played a vital role in the sequencing of the yeast genome, and is a pioneer in the field of comparative genomics.

In addition to his research, Dr. Johnston has been a professor since 1983. He began his teaching journey at the Washington University School of Medicine, until 2009, when he relocated to the University of Colorado Denver. He currently serves as Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado. Additionally, he worked as Editor-in-Chief at the journal, GENETICS, for 12 years--a journal that has existed at the forefront of the field for the past century. He has published more than 100 papers and articles, as well as a popular science book, the Genetic Twists of Fate.

Dr. Johnston has no small collection of accolades. In 2008, he received the George W. Beadle Award from the Genetics Society of America, and in 2012, was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has received a series of fellowships among other field- related recognitions.

In 2022, Dr. Johnston was elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences. There is no application process to become a member--rather membership is singularly achieved through an election process, and only 120 members may be elected annually. Membership is considered and accepted as a mark of excellence in science, and is considered one of the highest honors a scientist can receive.

Dr. Johnston's contributions to the scientific community, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and those around him have been enormous. I congratulate him for his membership to the National Academy of Sciences, as well as an incredible career in the field of genetics.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Chef Caroline Glover and congratulate her on receiving the 2022 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Mountain Region.

A Chef with a passion for farming and cooking, Caroline combined both to open Annette: Scratch to Table, in the fall of 2016, in Aurora, Colorado. Annette is named for her Great Aunt Netsie who bestowed upon Caroline the need for a strong opinion and confidence in her own taste, which would carry her through 15 years in the restaurant industry.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Caroline developed her craft working as a sous chef in both New York and Denver in critically acclaimed restaurants. She has also spent an extensive amount of time on farms in Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Colorado, honing and developing her passion for locally-grown food.

Caroline's culinary creativity has not gone unnoticed. She was recognized as one of the ``10 Best Chefs in America'' by Food & Wine Magazine in 2019, and Bon Appetit Magazine named Annette one of the ``50 Best New Restaurants in the Country'' in 2017.

The awards don't stop there. Caroline was a finalist for the same James Beard Foundation Award in 2020 after being named a semifinalist in 2018 and 2019. This Award is presented annually to chefs and restaurants in the culinary industry who exemplify exceptional talent and excellency in their craft--alongside a commitment to racial and gender equity, sustainability, and community. Caroline focuses on sustainability and sourcing locally-grown food to honor food producers and nourish eaters in a creative way, and as such, I cannot think of a chef more deserving of this award.

Caroline's culinary contributions to our community are representative of the extensive and diverse selection of food Colorado's Sixth District has to offer. I congratulate Caroline on winning one of the most coveted awards in the culinary industry--and I have no doubt this is just the start of a long and incredible career.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Fire Chief Fernando Gray of Aurora Fire Rescue, and to congratulate him on his upcoming retirement from the City of Aurora.

During his five exemplary years with Aurora Fire Rescue, Chief Gray remained dedicated to serving our community. He has surpassed expectations--striving to meet any and all challenges with innovative approaches and best practices, while emphasizing personnel safety.

As Aurora Fire Rescue's first Black fire chief, Gray was instrumental in recruiting more minority firefighters to the department, reflecting the diverse community it serves. Faced with an unprecedented pandemic, fire departments across the country were forced to restructure their operations almost instantaneously--a feat Chief Gray tackled seamlessly. He worked with the Colorado Attorney General's office to implement a consent decree agreement to restore public confidence in Aurora's public safety personnel after Elijah McClain was killed.

Chief Gray is a life-long public servant committed to making our community a better and safer place through his work in the fire service. Prior to his appointment as Fire Chief for the City of Aurora, Chief Gray worked for the City of Dallas for over 20 years--serving in nearly every capacity within the organization except Fire Chief. Further, city leadership affirms that Chief Gray's commitment to professionalism in the fire service is unmatched, and I have no doubt the City of Aurora has benefited greatly from his exemplary leadership.

Chief Gray's contributions to our community, Aurora Fire Rescue, and those around him have been enormous. I thank Chief Gray for his service to this community, and wish him the best on his next journey serving the Las Vegas community.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize ``Servicios de la Raza'' for receiving the Ohtli Award granted by the Government of Mexico for dedicating their work to making our community a better place, while promoting the beauties of Mexican American culture.

Servicios de la Raza has served our community for over five decades-- making it their mission to dismantle the cycle of poverty by placing an emphasis on empowering low- and moderate-income people and communities of color. Their work includes counseling, job-training, and other culturally responsive, essential human services meant to foster success in our community.

As we have seen time and time again, the Latinx community is an incredibly important part of the fabric of both our district and our Nation. It is because of them that our community has found incredible strength in diversity, and I congratulate Servicios de la Raza on receiving this much deserved award.

Madam Speaker, I am honored today to recognize Isabella Margolin, who earned the Congressional Award--the highest honor a youth civilian can receive from their Member of Congress.

In 2020, Isabella completed over 100 hours of community service and set personal goals to hone her interests in photography and physical fitness. Isabella's leadership and initiative is exemplified in her hard work to not only better herself and those around her, but to make a sizable and lasting impact in her community.

It's young folks like her that remind me of the unlimited promise of future generations and give me hope that inspiring young leaders like Isabella will one-day take the torch and solve many of our nation's most pressing challenges.

I am more than proud to congratulate Isabella on earning the bronze Congressional Award and look forward to seeing what incredible things she does next.

Madam Speaker, I am honored today to recognize Jordyn Poulter for winning a gold medal as a member of the U.S. Women's Volleyball team.

Jordyn began her volleyball career at Eaglecrest High School in Centennial, Colorado. Equipped with an endless passion and incredible work-ethic, Jordyn led the Raptors to four consecutive top-eight state finishes, including a third place finish in 2013.

After a successful career at the University of Illinois and as a member of the gold-medal U20 Women's Junior National Team--Jordyn was chosen to represent the United States at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo where she once again brought home the gold.

Jordyn's hard work and dedication undoubtedly led to her success on the court and will serve as an inspiration to young folks across the district. I want to congratulate Jordyn on her much-deserved success and thank her for being Colorado 6th's very own Olympian.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise as a father, a combat veteran, a gun owner, and the Representative of a community devastated by gun violence.

My constituents are family and friends of those who were killed at Columbine, at the Aurora Theater, at STEM School Highlands Ranch, and at the Boulder King Soopers. As a community, we consoled each other after each one of these terrible shootings, and we demanded commonsense reform, but for too long our Nation's leaders refused to act.

When I came to Congress I promised my constituents that I would fight to protect our community from gun violence.

Today, I am proud to vote for the first comprehensive gun violence package in 30 years. This bill is a first step. It doesn't have everything we would hope for, but it is a step in the right direction.

Today's success belongs to every Coloradan who turned their hurt into action. This long overdue progress is theirs.

Mr. Speaker, I plead with my colleagues for a ``yes'' vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7622, the Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act of 2022.

As we help small businesses navigate the labor shortage, it is more important than ever that we support small businesses as they work to find quality workers and fill positions.

I am a huge proponent of work-based learning opportunities like apprenticeships that help small businesses fill job openings and help their workers get the skills they need so they can support their families. Work-based learning opportunities are a great way to attract quality candidates who may not be able to attend traditional education models.

The Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act of 2022 aims to empower small business development centers, like the Aurora-South Metro SBDC in my district, to help small businesses establish and improve their apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and job training programs.

This bill would help workers gain the skills they need for in-demand jobs and help small businesses grow their business.

I thank Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Luetkemeyer for bringing this bill to the floor and Representatives Fitzgerald, Houlahan, and Garbarino for their partnership on this bill.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 7622.

Mr. Speaker, as a former Army Ranger, I rise today in support of S. 1872, a bill to award United States Army Rangers veterans of World War II a Congressional Gold Medal.

In World War II, the U.S. Army formed six all-volunteer Ranger battalions and one provisional battalion. Some of the most important battles of the war relied on their skill, sacrifice, and unending courage.

They fought throughout Europe, including D-day landings at Omaha Beach, and liberated 500 prisoners from a Japanese POW camp in the Philippines known as the Great Raid.

Of the 7,000 Rangers who served in World War II, only 15 are alive today. They live across our Nation, on each coast and in the heartland.

As an Army Ranger who followed in their immense footsteps, I thank them for their service, sacrifice, and example.

I also thank Senator Ernst for her partnership on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting its passage when it comes to a vote today.

``Rangers Lead the Way.''

Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize Jewish Family Services and join them in celebrating their 150th anniversary.

From their founding in 1872, Jewish Family Services has always adapted to meet the moment time and time again. They helped resettle Holocaust survivors in the wake of World War II, opened a group home for individuals with disabilities in the 1980s, and formed an employment services department in 2021.

In the last year alone, Jewish Family Services helped over 25,000 individuals stand strong against COVID-19 and even became a temporary Afghan refugee resettlement agency for Afghans looking to start new lives in the Denver metro area.

For 150 years, our community has been made a better and more inclusive place to live because of the thousands of volunteers who have pulled upon their faith to serve our community and improve the lives of others.

I congratulate and thank Jewish Family Services for their service to our community and look forward to what the next 150 years will bring.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Barbara Shannon-Bannister for receiving the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from Aurora Community of Faith, and for her lifelong service to our community.

The Spirit of MLK Award is presented to an individual who emulates the values, ideas, dreams, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King,

Jr. This year, Aurora Community of Faith presented the Spirit of MLK Award to Dr. Shannon-Bannister for her selfless service as an ally and advocate for our community. Devoted to a cause greater than herself, Dr. Shannon-Bannister works tirelessly to take risks and address critical issues and concerns in the lives of everyday people--just as Dr. King did.

Dr. Shannon-Bannister dedicated her life to serving the community. From founding several nonprofit organizations that aid the underserved to bringing the Aurora Branch of the NAACP to Colorado, she has long been engaged in civil rights advocacy and issues impacting marginalized communities. Upon her retirement from a 36-year career with the City of Aurora, Dr. Shannon-Bannister has focused her efforts on Grand Design Inc.--a nonprofit organization she founded in 1984 to preserve cultural and musical traditions of the Black community in Aurora. It is still one of the only Black performing arts companies in the city.

Dr. Shannon-Bannister is a fervent advocate and champion for the African American community, and her commitment--and voice--has never wavered from aiding those in need. Her extraordinary career and service to our community epitomize what it means to live a life for others. In honoring the legacy of Dr. King, I can think of no one more deserving of the Spirit of MLK Award. I congratulate and thank her for her incredible dedication to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and accomplishments or Vice Admiral Robert D. Sharp and congratulate him on his upcoming retirement.

A Veteran of the war in Afghanistan and the Gulf War, Vice Admiral Sharp bravely served our country during a highly decorated 34-year career with the United States Navy--receiving two bronze stars, the Legion of Merit award, two Defense Superior Service medals, and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Additionally, Vice Admiral Sharp's incredible leadership earned him the Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor award for excellence in instruction, the U.S. Army's Knowlton Award for Military Intelligence, the Rear Admiral Edwin T. Layton leadership award, and the Naval Intelligence Foundation award for excellence in operational intelligence support to the Fleet.

Beyond his many personal, unit, and campaign awards, Vice Admiral Sharp's service included operational deployments with USS Ranger (CV61). Carrier Air Wing 2 embarked on USS Constellation (CV 64) and Carrier Group 2 embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Additionally, in April 2016, Vice Admiral Sharp was tasked with serving as Commander, Office of Naval Intelligence and Director, National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office.

In February 2019, Vice Admiral Sharp began serving as the seventh director of the National GeospatialIntelligence Agency (NGA). Under his leadership, the department worked diligently to collect, analyze, and distribute geospatial intelligence that decision makers, military service members, and first responders needed to stay safe and get the job done.

I think Vice Admiral Sharp would agree that--even beyond his own incredible service and personal achievements--he is most proud of the relationships he built and the future leaders he guided and shaped during his decades of service. In my role on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Armed Services Committee, I was lucky enough to work closely with Vice Admiral Sharp, where it was clear he not only worked incredibly hard and with the utmost honor but left a lasting impression on every person he met.

Vice Admiral Sharp's many years serving our country in combat zones, keeping American servicemembers safe, and responding to national security threats before they strike epitomizes what it means to go above and beyond the call of duty. I congratulate Vice Admiral Sharp on his retirement and thank him for his service to our country.