Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exceptional member of the Olympia, Washington community. I would like to recognize Nadine Gerber's distinguished service and dedication to the success of our students.

Nadine Gerber is the President of the McLane Elementary School's Parent, Teacher and Student Organization, or the PTSO. Intended to be inclusive of all members of the McLane Elementary community, the PTSO has made it its mission to enhance learning experiences for students, aid teachers, and support families as this Olympia school reemerges from the pandemic.

One of the group's greatest achievements has been the After School Enrichment program. Starting in full force after schools reopened in the fall of 2020, Nadine's After School Enrichment program seeks to shore up deficiencies in students' socio-emotional development caused by distance learning, as well as offer parents an affordable childcare option as more and more households transition back to in-person work.

Nadine first partnered with Discover Aquatics, a swimming center within walking distance of the Olympia school, to provide students with swimming lessons. She also founded two faculty and parent-led clubs, one focused on gardening and the other on running, that allow students to engage in these activities at no cost to families.

As the After School Enrichment program grew in popularity, Nadine was able to expand the extracurricular program to include theater classes, a comic books club, and 3D printing and game design introductory classes, made possible in part by partnerships with local businesses and the South Sound YMCA.

Over the past few years, Nadine has seen scared students who wouldn't dip their toes into the pool turn into strong swimmers, participants in the program's running club embrace challenges head-on to become confident cross-country athletes, and curious children tending to their above-ground garden plots blossom into full-blown gardeners. All the individual and collective growth seen in McLane Elementary's children can be attributed to the consistent efforts of Nadine as PTSO President and her tireless leadership of the After School Enrichment program.

That is why Nadine Gerber, a proud community leader, is my constituent spotlight.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the contributions of Black business owners during National Entrepreneurship Week.

Black entrepreneurs have been at the forefront of innovation, introducing new products, services, and industries that drive economic progress. Yet, many face barriers accessing equity capital and financing with affordable interest rates to sustain their growth.

According to the Alliance for Entrepreneurial Equity, Black startups receive a mere 1 percent of total venture financing. Most start with just one-third of the capital available to their White counterparts.

This Black History Month, I want to recognize Makieda Hart, a startup founder and Black businessowner in my district. Through her tenacity and determination, she continues to grow her business and makes an impact in the 10th Congressional District of Washington State.

Knowledge about capital and resources are essential to all small business owners, and she encourages young people to seek a mentor and to always learn.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in Congress to take a closer look at the challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs and to work together to build a stronger, more equitable economy for all because economic justice is, indeed, social justice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Lourdes Alvarado-Ramos, also known as Alfie. After a career that has spanned over 52 years of distinguished service in the military and public service, Alfie will retire from her role as Director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs at the end of this month. I wish to recognize her enormous contributions to the lives of servicemembers and veterans and to express our nation's gratitude for her enduring service.

Born in Puerto Rico, Alfie enlisted in the United States Army in 1971. She would rise to the rank of Troop Command Sergeant Major overseeing the Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis. Upon her retirement from military service in 1993, Alfie continued her commitment to service with the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and has served as the Director of WDVA for the last decade. Before then, she served as Superintendent for the Washington Soldiers Home in Orting and the Washington Veterans Home and was the Deputy Director and Assistant Director of Operations for the agency at large.

Under Alfie's leadership, the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs has been recognized as the leading state veteran's affairs department in the nation, offering the largest portfolio of services. These programs include suicide prevention, clinical counseling, military spouse community integration, peer support, transitional housing, apprenticeships, long-term care, and services for women and LGBTQ+ veterans.

For her service to the veteran community in Washington State and our nation at large, Alfie has received the Army Legion of Merit Medal and the Military Order of Medical Merit. She has also received state and national awards that include the Governor's Distinguished Management Leadership Award and the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary's Leadership Award. She presently serves as an executive member of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs and the National Association of State Veterans Homes.

Mr. Speaker, Lourdes Alvarado-Ramos exemplifies a devotion to public service and a commitment to providing exceptional public service to veterans at the highest level. Through her career, Alfie has broken barriers and empowered the next generation of soldiers, especially women, to lead at the highest levels of military and public service. I am proud to recognize Director Alvarado-Ramos.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Harvey Drahos, a beloved World War II veteran who lives in the South Puget Sound of Washington State.

A member of America's Greatest Generation, he joined the military in 1943 and rose to the rank of technician fifth grade.

Like many of our World War II heroes, Mr. Drahos was wounded on the front lines, and as the Battle of Okinawa went on, he made a promise: If I survive, I vow to help people.

Like many of his generation, he made serving our great Nation and its citizens a cornerstone of his life's work.

Post-military service, he served on multiple service organization boards and dedicated 53 years of active community service and leadership to Washington State.

One piece of Mr. Drahos' story that stood out to me is that while on the battlefield in Japan, he recovered a cherished photo album. After decades of searching for the family it belonged to, he was able to get it back to the Nakamoto family in Okinawa. This selfless act helped a family reunite with their past loved ones, transcending the boundaries of war with a kind act of humanity.

Madam Speaker, Harvey Drahos exemplifies courage, selfless service, and love for others. He recently celebrated his 100th birthday and is the last living member of his World War II military unit. I am honored and proud to recognize him for his service in combat and his love and compassion for our Nation.

Congratulating Alfie Alvarado-Ramos

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lourdes ``Alfie'' Alvarado-Ramos, who will retire at the end of this month as director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.

I congratulate Alfie on an exemplary and distinguished career serving the American people and my fellow Washingtonians for more than five decades.

Alfie enlisted in the Army in 1971, rising to the rank of troop command sergeant major at Madigan Army Medical Center, part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in my district.

After retiring from the military in 1993, Alfie joined the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and has served as its director for the last decade. Under her leadership, the department was recognized as the leading State veterans affairs department in the entire Nation, offering the largest portfolio of services.

Madam Speaker, throughout her career, Alfie has broken barriers and empowered the next generation of soldiers to lead at the highest levels of military and public service. More importantly, she has been instrumental in making sure that our veterans are never forgotten.

I thank Director Alvarado-Ramos for her selfless service to our veterans, the State of Washington, and our Nation. She is a true patriot indeed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the hardwork of Kahne Loftus, an extraordinary young citizen in Washington State who has worked to honor the sacrifices made by members of the nation's armed forces.

Kahne, a 17-year-old from Rainier Washington, has sent collected items and care packages to several hundred service members over the last 5 years. Kahne's humility and initiative are truly admirable, especially because he started this amazing service to to cope with the loss of a family member.

In October 2016, Kahne's uncle and a man with a deep influence on Kahne's life, Derek Harris, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. The loss of his uncle Derek was a significant challenge for Kahne as he found himself confronted by the death of someone close to him for the first time. Struck by the difficulty of watching her son grieve, Kahne's mother contacted a family friend in the armed forces who in turn connected Kahne with a soldier named Chad who was stationed in Afghanistan. The 2 began to write letters to each other, which helped Kahne heal from the loss of his uncle Derek.

Through this correspondence, Kahne learned more about the military and life as a service member overseas. He was surprised to learn that service members stationed abroad are unable to travel home and visit loved ones over the holidays. Kahne was immediately motivated to act and proceeded to collect donations and gather items that could be sent to our nations heroes. Since starting Kahne's Kare Packages in 2017, Kahne has sent collected items and care packages to over 800 service members overseas. Last year alone. 108 soldiers, airmen 4 K-9 working dogs and their handlers received care packages. To fund the cost of the shipping for his packages, his largest cost, he sells woodworking projects, hosts fundraisers, and gathers donations from members of the community.

Mr. Speaker, Kahne Loftus exemplifies deep humility, hard work, and selfless service to others. Kahne is an exemplary resident of Washington's South Sound and serves as a reminder that each of us can contribute to the recognition of our men and women in the Armed Forces. I am proud and honored to recognize Kahne Loftus.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exceptional member of the Army National Guard. I would like to recognize Major Jeremy Catob's distinguished service and dedication to enhancing the relationship between the National Guard and Congress as a Legislative Liaison.

MAJ Catob enlisted into the Florida Army National Guard on 4 June 2008 where he served in the Simultaneous Membership Program and trained with the 20th Special Forces Group as an attachment. He earned his commission as an Infantry Officer and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Florida on 29 April 2011. He has served 14 years in both the Georgia, and the Washington National Guard in a broad range of drill status and active duty assignments, including attending numerous technical schools, eXportable Combat Training Capability rotations, and led a joint US-Canadian Platoon in Operation Stalwart Guardian. While serving in the Washington Army National Guard, MAJ Catob supported the 81st Brigade Combat Team transforming from an Armor Brigade to a Stryker Brigade, and supported the initial COVID-19/Civil Unrest response teams in 2019. It was this experience that made MAJ Jeremy Catob the perfect fit to serve as a legislative liaison officer for the National Guard Bureau for the past 18 months on Capitol Hill.

Jeremy served as a legislative liaison officer from August 2021 through January 2023, skillfully performing his duties throughout. MAJ Catob shaped numerous engagements between Congress and National Guard senior leaders. He served as the primary handler for all Congressional Engagements related to Military Construction (MILCON) issues, resulting in millions of dollars earmarked for National Guard project's planning and design, construction, and the successful reprogramming of over $400 million from Fiscal Year 2018 supplemental funding. Jeremy was also able to facilitate a Congressional education series for the Military Construction process with both chambers' subcommittees on MILCON appropriations. His legislative knowledge and relationships established within Congress aided in the development of several Congressional Objectives and legislative proposals that gained

favor from Congressional staff. MAJ Catob worked to impact Incentive Pay Parity in the NDAA 2022, the improvement to the Federal Recognition process for National Guard Officers in NDAA 2023, and the proposal for State Active Duty reimbursements for the use of federal equipment.

After concluding this challenging assignment, MAJ Catob will deploy to CENTCOM/Asia for a 6 month tour supporting the J3. In closing, I express my gratitude and appreciation to MAJ Jeremy Catob for his excellent support in furtherance of National Guard missions and my appreciation to his supportive wife, Mrs. Erin Catob and children Kennedy and Carter. His presence will leave a lasting impression within the NGB-LL community and Capitol Hill for years to come. I wish this National Guard family all the best in their next chapter of service to our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Major Jonathon Cody, an extraordinary public servant in Washington State who recently retired from the United States Army.

Jonathon Cody, the son of a veteran and police officer, grew up with a strong sense of patriotism. Jonathon demonstrated his dedication to his country when he entered the Army ROTC program and began active-duty service in 2002.

When he was Second Lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps, Jonathon was assigned to a combat unit near the DMZ in South Korea. On active duty, his commitment to excellence was recognized when he was selected to attend the U.S. Navy School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal, where he earned the coveted Explosive Ordnance Disposal badge. After his promotion to Captain, Jonathon assumed command of the 731st EOD company, where he demonstrated remarkable leadership in command. He also deployed to Iraq from 2007 to 2008 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic actions which saved many lives.

Following his deployment, Jonathon's achievements were recognized by his chain of command when he was selected for the Judge Advocate Generals Funded Legal Education Program. It comes as no surprise that Jonathon continued to excel as a JAG. He served as a military prosecutor and command legal advisor in Washington state, served an additional tour in Afghanistan, and served as the legal advisor for the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, where he met his wife, Anna Ilchenko.

Wanting to return home to Washington state as he neared retirement, Jonathon was reassigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where he completed his service as the Chief of Federal Litigation Division and Special Assistant United States Attorney. On June 30, 2022, Major Jonathon Cody retired after 20 years of active-duty service in the Army. Remaining committed to public service, Jonathon has taken on a new role as a Prosecuting Attorney in Thurston County, Washington.

Madam Speaker, Major Jonathon Cody has demonstrated remarkable courage, honor, and duty in service of his country. His devotion to our community and his country is inspirational. I am proud to recognize his achievements, celebrate his retirement, and offer these remarks in his honor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, which my colleagues and I wrote to support reproductive choice.

Simply put, this bill codifies the constitutional right to travel, which includes the ability to cross State lines to get safe and legal access to abortion.

The reality is that an increasing number of women are now forced to either carry an unwanted pregnancy against their will, even in cases of rape and incest, or travel hundreds of miles just to safely receive reproductive healthcare.

This is especially dangerous for indigenous women, who are 2\1/2\ times more at risk for rape and sexual assault. We cannot force women to give birth. Worse, those forced to carry out an unwanted pregnancy are giving birth in a Nation with one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the developed world.

When compared to Canada, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand, the United States' maternal death rate is more than twice the rate of these countries.

What is more, Black and indigenous women will be among the most at risk because they are more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth. They are also two to three times more likely to experience a pregnancy death than their White counterparts.

If access to safe and legal abortion becomes more restricted and inaccessible, the Black maternal mortality rates are expected to jump by a whopping 30 percent or more.

All told, taking away Federal protections for abortion hits Black women, indigenous women, women of color, low-income women, LGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities the hardest.

This is about healthcare justice. This is about social justice. This is about economic justice. Taking away our right to safe and legal abortion is yet another way to try and control us.

Please listen carefully. Black women will not be stopped. Indigenous women will not be stopped. Women of color will not be stopped. LGBTQ+ will not be stopped. Women will not be stopped.

This bill ensures our right to reproductive freedom by reaffirming the constitutional right to travel. Those who hold the literal words of the Constitution and so-called States' rights as the absolute standard, you must do one thing: you must recognize the constitutional right to travel guaranteed by the 14th Amendment and vote ``yes'' on this bill.

We know you won't because for you this isn't about the Constitution or States' rights, it is about control. It is about controlling women's bodies and forcing people to give birth against their will.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honor of representing Joint Base Lewis- McChord, the largest military base on the West Coast, and tens of thousands of servicemembers and their families who call the South Puget Sound home. I am pleased that the NDAA raises base pay by 4.6 percent and includes inflation bonuses.

The top concern that I hear from command staff and servicemembers and their families is a lack of housing and housing that is affordable. That is why in April, I introduced a four-bill package ensuring every servicemember has a home.

I am very pleased that this bill includes:

The Basic Allowance for Housing Calculation Improvement Act; and

Increasing Home Ownership for Servicemembers Act.

This act directs DOD to create a more transparent and modernized way to calculate the housing allowance.

The defense bill also directs DOD to consider restoring the housing allowance back to 100 percent.

I am also pleased that we will direct DOD to collect data on scholarship awards and ROTC program completion by gender, by race, and ethnicity. Many officers come through ROTC, but unfortunately, fewer officers of color come through ROTC compared to other commissioning sources. We must find out why.

This year's NDAA invests in the lives and livelihood of servicemembers and their families. I strongly urge adoption of this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Sylvia Sass, an extraordinary public servant and community leader in Washington State.

Since she was young, Sylvia Sass has been committed to overcoming obstacles. When Sylvia was 15, she applied for a sales position at a local shoe store where the store manager told her that they didn't hire women to sell shoes. She was given a trial period where she received no pay and, in the end, sold more shoes than the assistant manager. This same tenacity led Sylvia to become one of Tacoma's leading figures while serving her local and national community, raising a family, and owning a business.

So it was no surprise in 1956, when Tacoma's Mayor needed help rebuilding international relations around the world in the aftermath of World War II, that he turned to Sylvia Sass. She became the mayor's representative for President Eisenhower's Town Affiliation Association, today Sister Cities International. Sylvia was a vital player in the early development of the organization and was appointed Washington State Coordinator for Sister Cities International. She attended regional meetings and represented SCI at annual League of Cities meetings with mayors from across the country. She was even one of twelve people selected as delegates to have lunch with President Eisenhower. To this day, she remains active as an honorary board member and is known as the First Lady of Sister Cities International.

In addition to her work with SCI, Sylvia has been a dedicated community leader in Tacoma and Pierce County for decades, founding the Lakewood Alacoma Club, a non-profit center for recovering alcoholics, receiving a volunteer award from the National Association for Mental Illness, and serving on the University Place Parks and Recreation Commission. In 2011, as former Tacoma Mayor, I declared March 1 as Sylvia B. Sass Day to recognize the amazing service and work she has done for the city of Tacoma.

Madam Speaker, Sylvia Sass exemplifies hard work, perseverance, and selfless service to others. She is a deeply respected member of our community and has profoundly impacted her region, country, and the world for decades. I am proud to call her my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Sylvia Sass, an extraordinary public servant and community leader in the State of Washington.

Sylvia was a vital player in the early development of the Sister Cities International organization. She was even appointed Washington State coordinator due to her work in helping President Dwight Eisenhower rebuild international ties, and she was selected as a delegate to have lunch with him.

In 2017, Sylvia received the Sister Cities International Lifetime Achievement Award, and to this day she remains an active and honorary board member of the organization. Sylvia Sass is known as the first lady of Sister Cities International.

Mr. Speaker, Sylvia exemplifies hard work, perseverance, and selfless service to others. I am proud to call her my friend, and I offer these remarks in her honor.

Madam Speaker, I stand before you to talk about two topics: The confirmation of Judge Jackson, as well as the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Judge Jackson is more qualified than the people with whom she will serve, and she is not soft on crime. It is why she has the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Police Chiefs, hardly the radical left.

As we look at the opportunity to make history, we want to make sure that our Supreme Court is representative and reflective of our entire Nation.

Judge Jackson deserves confirmation. She has earned it, and she will be someone that we are proud to have on the Supreme Court.

Restaurant Relief

Madam Speaker, this week is one to celebrate. After almost a year of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, the House will finally take up legislation to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and move us one step closer to getting much-needed relief for restaurants across the finish line.

The funds provided by Congress in 2021 were a lifeline for so many businesses in Washington State and across our Nation. Restaurants were hit especially hard by highly transmissible COVID-19 variants, staffing shortages, supply chain issues, and inflation, which only added to the existing challenges and long-term effects that brought many to the brink of closing their doors for good.

Restaurants have lost 2 years' worth of revenue, and it will take them years to recover and repay their debts. In fact, in Washington State alone, the average full-service restaurant reports being $160,000 in debt, and it would take them over 3 years to repay it.

I know how critical this second round of funding is because I regularly hear about it from my constituents. The south Puget Sound of Washington State is the proud home of so many small, local restaurants, including Vien Dong in the Lincoln International District and Budd Bay Cafe in Olympia, to name a few.

Many businesses are still struggling to get back on their feet, and most were shut out from ever receiving relief in the first place.

That is why on February 10, I led the Washington State delegation in sending a letter to congressional leadership urging them to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and help these employers and employees in need as soon as possible.

These businesses are often neighborhood anchors and family-owned. They are often owned by women, veterans, minorities, and immigrants. They are a critical part of the south Sound and Washington State's economy. We must do everything we can to support them and push for an equitable and inclusive recovery.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership in holding this Special Order on such an important issue.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize our law enforcement officers across Washington State and to honor those killed in the line of duty.

I want to personally thank our law enforcement officers who work tirelessly to keep our community safe despite staffing shortages and, increasingly too often, at the expense of their own safety.

We live in challenging times. We are coming out of a pandemic. Our social safety net has been frayed. People are anxious. Mental and behavioral health issues are prevalent. Gun violence is on the rise.

As my colleagues and I gather here to thank and acknowledge the contributions of law enforcement across our State, I also stand here in honor of those officers and deputies injured and killed in recent weeks in the South Puget Sound.

For those not familiar with our community, it is a special place, a tight-knit community of veterans, seniors, military families, educators, and, yes, law enforcement professionals who come together to serve and help each other every single day.

The past 3 weeks have been rough in our community. We lost one officer and have had at least three more officers and deputies injured. Just this past Thursday evening, two Olympia police officers were stabbed after pursuing a suspect. Thankfully, both are recovering and will be okay.

Nearly 3 weeks ago, in Spanaway, our community was shaken as our Pierce County Sheriff's Department officers put their lives on the line in service. Sergeant Rich Scaniffe was seriously injured and survived the incident, but tragically, we lost a young hero who served alongside him, Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Dom Calata, whose photo you see over there.

Deputy Calata's heroism and his commitment to protect his community will always be remembered. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. I am grateful for their service and hope we can all stop for a moment to reflect on their sacrifices to serve our State.

I hope all of us in this House will take a moment to remember Deputy Calata and our fallen law enforcement officers in Washington State.

Before I close, I want to reiterate my support for and appreciation of law enforcement serving South Sound and the State of Washington, doing their part during these challenging times. From Mason County Sheriff's Department to Lakewood Police Department, Tacoma Police Department, Olympia Police Department, and Pierce County Sheriff's Department, please know that we appreciate your service.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Newhouse for calling this Special Order.

Madam Speaker, I rise today as a member of the Washington State delegation to honor the service and sacrifice of Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Dom Calata.

He was killed in the line of duty after pursuing a man wanted for second-degree assault.

I have been told that he had a tireless work ethic and was someone who went above and beyond in his commitment to our community and to our Nation.

In addition to his role as a deputy, he was also in the National Guard and previously served in the U.S. Army.

But his and his family's commitment to the community doesn't stop there. He was also an organ donor. It is just

one more way that he and his family have stepped up to support others in need.

Dom is nothing short of a hero. His loss is a devastating blow to our community, and I am thinking of and praying for the Pierce County Sheriff's Office and Dom's family, friends, and loved ones.

I hope all of us in this House will take a moment to remember Deputy Calata and his contributions to our community and to our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 6181.