Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Technical Sergeant Callie Aberin as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Callie enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2012 and now serves as a Technical Sergeant at Travis Air Force Base. She was selected as a Senior Instructor at the Air Mobility Command's largest Airman Leadership School, where she educates, mentors, and certifies front- line supervisors on leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and behavioral theory. Her leadership in these positions have fortified strategic objectives in the personnel of Travis AFB. In addition to her official duties, Callie serves as the local Air Force Sergeant's Association Chapter President, and advocates for improved quality of life and economic fairness for all military personnel. Under her leadership, this organization surpassed membership goals by 217 percent. This community service has extended beyond Travis AFB and into the surrounding community where she has helped raise money for causes such as the Solano County Law Enforcement Torch Run and the Special Olympics. Callie was recognized as an NCO of the Year for the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB Instructor of the Year in 2022, and ASFA's 2023 International NCO of the Year. Callie's dedication to her community and her country deserves recognition, as she goes above and beyond her official responsibilities to advocate for military personnel.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Callie Aberin for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Mayor Catherine Moy as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Cat is a dedicated public servant who has offered years of service to her community. A Fairfield native, she stepped up to serve on the Fairfield City Council in 2008, following a career as a journalist. Cat's work on the City Council, and current service as Mayor, have helped make life better for the residents of Fairfield, including through reducing gang violence and working to address homelessness. As a member of the National Conference of Mayors, Cat serves on a task force aimed at finding solutions to homelessness for populations in need across our county. In addition to her work as an elected official, Cat offers her own time in service to her community. She has been involved with countless organizations serving youth and those in need, including Girls of the Run, Boy Scouts, and local youth sports programs. Cat also makes a point of reaching out to those living in homeless encampments, helping them to find the support they need while working toward a more permanent solution. She is an impactful leader who has offered her time and resources in service to her community.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Mayor Catherine Moy for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Cheryl Sudduth as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional Districts Women of the Year.

Cheryl is involved with numerous organizations that aim to improve the status of marginalized people in her community. As a Senior Director for Goodwill's AbilityOne program, she oversaw the building of thousands of fair housing units in Alameda County. Through this program, Cheryl also created programs that employ and train thousands of people who are traditionally excluded from the job market. Veterans, disabled individuals, formerly incarcerated people, and people returning to the workforce have benefitted from Cheryl's work. She has also been involved with Alliance 4 Girls, a local program providing mentorship to young girls to give them a space to grow and thrive. Through this program and others, Cheryl has personally mentored hundreds of girls in her community. In addition, she has served on a variety of boards and commissions, including the West County Wastewater District, Contra Costa Racial Oversight Body, ACLU, and NAACP. She also gives her time to a variety of organizations, ranging from racial justice, education, the environment, public safety, and much more. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her considerable contributions to the community at-large. Cheryl's commitment to her community and improving all different aspects of public life serves as an inspiration to all who know her.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Cheryl Sudduth for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Claudia Jimenez as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Claudia has dedicated her life to serving the community of Richmond and is a current member of the Richmond City Council, serving the 6th District. As such, she is not only a proponent for positive social change but also a leader in her community. She has worked throughout her city to bring about transformative programs in areas such as affordable housing and homelessness. Claudia is known for forging alliances between key stakeholders across diverse communities. Her background as an immigrant from Colombia has helped shape her motivations as a community organizer. Trained as an architect in Colombia, she moved to Richmond in 2009, took English language classes, did volunteer work to practice her skills, and earned a Master of Environmental Planning from UC Berkeley. Claudia accomplished all this while caring for two children and still found time to lead campaigns and volunteer with other mothers in her neighborhood. Now as a Richmond City Councilmember, she is even more committed to improving the lives of those in her community and making Richmond one of the more affordable places to live in the Bay Area. Her commitment to her community and improving all different aspects of public life is an inspiration to all who know her.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Claudia Jimenez for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Courtney Tindall as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Courtney serves as a Senior Dependency Drug Court Case Manager for the Solano County Superior Court. In this role, she advocates for those who suffer from substance use disorder and has graduated hundreds of parents who have regained custody of their children. She is committed to helping those struggling with substance use disorder become sober and better their lives. Every day, she displays compassion and empathy as she advocates for children and families. Courtney has an unfailing commitment to her work and to reuniting families. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Superior Court of California Customer Service Award, the California Bar Association Court Staff Award, the Child Abuse Prevention Council Henry Bergh Award for Practitioner of the Year, and Henry Bergh Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Dependency Drug Court and Support of Child Abuse Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment Efforts, The work Courtney does has touched the lives of countless vulnerable individuals and helped them make change for the better.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Courtney Tindall for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Ebony Antoine as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

As a victim of gun violence herself, Ebony founded a nonprofit, Broken By Violence, to help families like hers heal after being impacted by gun violence. Broken By Violence has provided services to hundreds of families, including rental assistance, food assistance, emergency housing, mental health service referrals, and monthly healing spaces for survivors. She has worked with Solano Family Justice Center, the Vallejo Police Department, the City of Vallejo, and the Alameda County District Attorney to provide victims services and has also advocated for legislation that would better support survivors throughtout California.

Although her life was irrevocably changed by tragedy, through her strength and determination, she became a beacon of hope for others. Her resilience and dedication to serving others is an inspiration to all who meet her. She truly embodies the values of a woman of courage by showing kindness, wisdom, humility, and compassion.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Ebony Antoine for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Anjali Rimi as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Anjali is a dedicated leader, activist, and community member.

As a transgender immigrant from South Asia, Anjali has overcome many challenges while continuing to give back to her communities.

As one of the co-founders of Parivar Bay Area, Anjali has transformed the services available for transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex immigrants from the Global South. Parivar Bay Area emerged from earlier grassroots organizing, including a project that redistributed almost $1 million worth of food, housing funds, and livelihood grants for transgender South Asians to open their own businesses.

In addition to her work globally, Anjali is deeply involved in LGBTQ+ activism in the Bay Area, through fundraisers, arts and cultural showcases, and social support group meetings. She was the first South Asian transgender person to be recognized for her LGBTQ+ activism in the California Legislature and has also received recognition from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Anjali has accomplished all of this while remaining a kind and patient person and serving as an inspiration to others for her dedication to serving her community and improving the status of marginalized groups.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Anjali Rimi for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Amy Fabi as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Amy has served her community of Solano County in a profound and meaningful way.

Early in her career, she worked tirelessly to provide advocacy and academic support to Asian American Pacific Islander, Latinx, and African American families in the East Bay. Working with diverse communities led her to her current role as Commissioner with First 5 Solano where she works to ensure a solid foundation for all children.

Amy graduated from UC Berkeley and received her master of social work from San Francisco State University. As a licensed social worker, she has seen the impact of trauma on childhood development and the importance of support services for vulnerable youth. Inspired by those she meets through her work, she advocates tirelessly for all children to have access to opportunities that will allow them to achieve their fullest potential.

Beyond her professional work, Amy is a member of the board for the Vacaville Police Activities League, scholarship chair for the Chinese American Association of Solano County, and internship chair for the Solano County Asian American Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association. She has earned numerous awards for her volunteerism throughout the community and her commitment to serving others inspires all who know her.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Amy Fabi for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Audrey Cormier as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Audrey is a community volunteer who is dedicated to advocating for youth and women of color. She is passionate about STEM education, diversity, climate advocacy, and golf, and has organized many events for underrepresented groups based on those interests.

As a member of Easter Hill United Methodist Church, she organized a trip for church youth to attend STEM days at Lawrence Livermore Labs, a Federal research facility. She also coordinated the attendance of five African-American sixth grade girls at a STEM conference at St. Mary's College.

Audrey's love of golf has led her to serve on several boards and organizations, including those that expose youth and African-American

women to the sport. She founded a weekly Zoom session for women to discuss their golf journeys and provide support for each other, showing the impact of her love of golf on her community.

Audrey is also passionate about the positive impact diversity has on an organization and the importance of creating inclusive spaces. During her 30-year career at Chevron, Audrey served as the Manager of Diversity and Inclusion, where she was responsible for developing workplace inclusion strategies and mentorship programs. As an active alumna of Auburn University, she is also a member of the college's Advisory Board for the Office of Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity.

Audrey's dedication to her community and work to advocate for youth and women of color cannot be overstated. On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Audrey Cormier for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Barbara Brewer as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Barbara retired from the United States Air Force after 20 years but continued her service as a civilian employee and is now a Unit Program Coordinator in the 21st Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base. In addition to her official duties in this role, Barbara selflessly volunteers for more responsibilities, including Security Program Manager, Paying Agent, and Resource Advisor. She has been essential to the squadron's success and is fondly referred to as ``Squadron Mom.''

Barbara is the liaison between the aircrew, government travel agencies and foreign embassies, ensuring rapid travel in support of USTRANSCOM operations. Her actions have directly contributed to the success of over 5,000 flight hours, 1,300 sorties, and 7 million pounds of cargo successfully delivered to meet our Nation's priorities. Every member of her squadron knows they can rely on Barbara regardless of time or day or the reason for the call, because she shows unfailing care for every servicemember.

Barbara was chosen as an Assistant Mission Commander for the Capstone Military Leadership Program where she manages the development of over 50 Generals and Flag Officers. On one mission she was asked to speak about her experiences as a woman in the military with the women of the Zambian Air Force, a country where women were historically excluded from service.

Barbara's 35 years of service to our country have led to a profound impact on her squadron. Travis AFB, and beyond.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Barbara Brewer for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Betty Reid Soskin as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Betty is widely known for being the National Park Service's oldest park ranger who retired at the age of 100. She has lived in the East Bay since 1927, when her family moved from New Orleans.

As a young woman during World War II, Betty worked as a shipyard clerk for an all-Black auxiliary lodge of the segregated Boilermaker's union. In 1945 she and her husband founded one of the first Black-owned music stores, which remained open until 2019. Over the years she has worked as staff to a Berkeley city council member, a state Assemblywoman, and a California State Senator.

In the early 2000s, Betty became involved in the plans to open the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. This led to her career as a ranger which began in 2007, at the age of 85.

Betty led talks explaining the importance of the park in memorializing the contributions of women and African Americans working in war industries supporting the U.S. World War II efforts on the home front. She has used her own experiences and observations as a Black woman to bring light to untold stories of African Americans during WWII and underscore the racism and misogyny experienced by her and countless other women of color throughout her lifetime. Through hard work and storytelling, she has touched the lives of the thousands of park visitors and millions of Americans who can not only empathize with her story but celebrate and learn from it.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Betty Reid Soskin for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Brenda Plechaty as she is a honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Brenda's life was changed when her partner had a serious accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury. During his recovery, Brenda experienced the lack of support there is for the family members of those who have traumatic brain injuries. This led Brenda to create, run, and fully fund a free support group for family members who are caregivers to TBI survivors.

Brenda is dedicated to this group and helping the caregivers of TBI survivors, making herself available to caregivers every day, not just during the group's monthly meetings. Brenda's work for this group has led her to become fully immersed in the TBI community, willing to share information and provide support whenever possible to those who have been impacted by TBI.

In addition to her work supporting caregivers, Brenda serves on several commissions and committees in the city of Vallejo and is actively working with the city to improve the Vallejo Municipal Marina. A passionate rower, Brenda is involved in her rowing club's volunteering division and helped to create a summer youth rowing project that included instruction on the importance of the marina.

All facets of Brenda's work show her compassion and dedication to serving others.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Brenda Plechaty for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Alice Wilson-Fried as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Alice is dedicated to teaching the youth of Solano County about the importance of democracy and civic engagement. Seeing the need to educate young people about voting rights and civic duty, Alice implemented the Democracy Matters program at Golden Hills Community School. This curriculum gives students the opportunity to learn about the importance of democracy and its impact, allowing students to see themselves as leaders with a voice in the policy process.

The importance and impact of this program has been recognized by the California Secretary of State, who is in discussions to use it in their statewide youth outreach efforts. Through the framework of Democracy Matters, Alice has given students hands-on experiences with civic engagement, including coordinating a mock City Council meeting in the

Suisun City council chambers and training students on how to conduct a forum with Solano Youth Council. She also worked with the Solano County Registrar of Voters and League of Women Voters to train students who volunteered as poll workers. These hands-on opportunities have allowed students to learn about the importance of citizenship and the power of their voices in our democracy.

Alice's work to educate the next generation about democracy will have an impact for years to come. On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Alice Wilson-Fried for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Amber Duncan as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Amber is a Community Readiness Specialist for the Military and Family Readiness Center at Travis Air Force Base. Her duties focus on assessing personnel and family needs while providing work and life services related to the demands of the military mission.

In her role, Amber has initiated countless programs and events to assist servicemembers and their families. She pioneered a database to track personnel preparing to leave the military workforce, allowing Travis Air Force Base to achieve 100 percent accountability in notifying personnel about the process and options for their transition out of the military.

Amber is also passionate about strengthening military families and connecting them with the local community. She developed a needs assessment to identify limitations and their corrections, worked with the Base Chaplain Agency in hosting courses promoting the strengthening of family interactions, and has worked to foster resiliency for 46 newly appointed military members.

Amber's work has benefited military personnel and their families, and her dedication to aiding members of the Travis community does not go unnoticed.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional Distrist, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Amber Duncan for her positive contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Alissa Stolz as she is honored as one of California's 8th Congressional District's Women of the Year.

Alissa is the Head of School at East Bay Montessori where she has demonstrated outstanding school leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.

The pandemic impacted schools in previously unimaginable ways, and school leaders were called upon to hold their communities together. Alissa was instrumental in keeping East Bay Montessori intact throughout the pandemic, avoiding any COVID-19 outbreaks and never having to lay off any staff or faculty.

Alissa was committed to in-person learning, and East Bay Montessori quickly reopened with an outdoor classroom set-up that let students and teachers come together and learn in innovative ways. This decision allowed children to continue to learn through peer collaboration and face-to-face interactions.

Alissa provided a strong vision for East Bay Montessori during times of uncertainty and change. Her work led her to be featured in the American Montessori Society's magazine, and she was selected to present at the International Montessori Congress in Bangkok. The impact of Alissa's work goes beyond East Bay Montessori--she is the model of a capable leader who acts in the interest of her community, inspiring educators across the globe.

On behalf of the people of California's 8th Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Alissa Stolz for her positive contributions to our community.