Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the default on America act.

Mr. Speaker, we need to raise the debt ceiling not because of money we want to spend in the future but because of money that we have already spent.

Both parties have contributed to our current debt, including over $2 trillion of debt caused by the 2017 Republican tax bill and hundreds of billions in COVID relief spending voted for by both parties and signed into law by a Republican President.

One-quarter of our Nation's debt was racked up during the previous administration, and now Republicans are trying to use our obligation to pay our debts as a leverage point to kick millions of people off of healthcare insurance, to defund the biggest investment in climate change in our country's history, and to make it harder for the neediest among us to feed themselves.

Let's be clear. If we default on our debt, the consequences will be felt by every American.

We have repeatedly passed a clean debt ceiling bill, and we need to do that today. It is time to stop playing games with our debt and end this attack on the stability of the American economy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Woodland Fire Department Battalion Chief Richard Thomas in honor of his retirement and service to our community.

Chief Thomas was born in Vallejo, California and grew up in Crockett, California. At the age

of 16, he joined the Crockett Fire Department as a volunteer and later went on to obtain an Associate of Arts degree in Fire Science from Columbia Junior College. While in college, Chief Thomas worked and lived at the firehouse as a member of the sleeper program. He eventually joined CalFire as a sleeper serving at the Twain Harte and Sonoma stations.

In 1986, Chief Thomas joined the Woodland Fire Department as a Firefighter after ranking first on their fire service test. His dedication to fire service and Woodland persisted while commuting from Crockett for his first year of service. Seventeen years after joining the Woodland Fire Department, Chief Thomas was promoted to the rank of fire captain in August of 2003. While serving in the Woodland Fire Department, he was acknowledged by the City of Woodland with a Proclamation for rescuing a victim from a house fire in zero visibility conditions.

Chief Thomas was promoted to battalion chief in December of 2012. He has been involved in many aspects of the Woodland Fire Department, including the Fire Department Honor Guard, Arson Investigation Team, and he is President of the Woodland Firefighters Association. Additionally, he built the department's first-grade program, an educational program dedicated to teaching kids about fire service. This program is still in use today throughout all schools in Woodland.

When not on duty, Chief Thomas loves spending time with his fire family and his non-fire family. He has also been a baseball coach for the last twelve years and enjoys volunteering.

Mr. Speaker, Chief Richard Thomas is deeply appreciated for his decades of selfless service and commitment to the Woodland Fire Department and our community. His efforts have made our district a safer and more enjoyable place to live. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Frederic ``Fritz'' A. Reid in recognition of his career with Ducks Unlimited, Inc. and immense contributions to the protection of wildlife habitats.

Dr. Reid grew up in Edina, Minnesota where he loved hunting ducks with his grandfather. In 1978, he received an A.B. in Biology from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. He then attended the University of Missouri at Columbia, receiving a Master of Science degree in 1983 and a Ph.D. in 1989, both in Fisheries and Wildlife Ecology.

For decades, Dr. Reid has played a key role in efforts to conserve wetlands and other habitats. He joined Ducks Unlimited in 1990 and as a result of his professionalism, hard work and determination, eventually became their Director of Boreal and Arctic Conservation. He has also helped lead the Central Valley Joint Venture, San Francisco Bay Joint Venture, International Sea Duck Joint Venture and Arctic Goose Joint Venture. Dr. Reid is the recipient of numerous awards for his conservation work including the J. Martin Winton Conservation Award, the Holly Andre Award, and the International Canvasback Award.

Dr. Reid has worked across North America to preserve and protect fragile habitats which are increasingly at risk due to the effects of climate change and other man-made impacts. With Ducks Unlimited, Dr. Reid helped conserve one billion acres of Canada's boreal forest, a major breeding ground for American birds. He has supported countless efforts to research and remedy water management including work with the Central Valley Grassland Water District, Suisun Resource Conservation District and the California Rice Commission. Dr. Reid has also committed himself to the next generation of conservationists, having been a Visiting Assistant Professor in the biology department of Southeast Missouri State University and a Postdoctoral Fellow in wetland ecology at the University of Missouri. Currently, Dr. Reid is an Adjunct Professor of Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation at the University of California, Davis.

Outside of his work, Dr. Reid enjoys traveling and spending time with his partner Kim Forrest, her son Forrest Hansen and his dog Boreal.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Reid is most deserving of many accolades and appreciation for his decades of hard work and dedication to conservation efforts. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor my duck hunting buddy Fritz Reid here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob Schelen one year after his passing. Mr. Schelen, a resident of Davis, California, devoted his life to legislative service and Democratic Party organizing on both the local and state level. We in California's 4th District are proud to remember his legacy here today.

To honor Mr. Schelen, we must first recognize how his family's commitment to public service shaped his own. In the 1960s, Mr. Schelen's mother Maggie was a close confidant and associate of former California Speaker Jesse Unruh. Maggie mentored several legislators during that time, including then Assemblymember and later Congressman Vic Fazio. During Speaker Willie Brown's tenure, Maggie was essential in organizing the Speaker's Office of Majority Services (SOMS) which provides programmatic and constituent support to the majority caucus. Both Maggie's children, Bob and her daughter Delilah, spent most of their careers serving in the SOMS, thus following in their mother's footsteps.

Mr. Schelen worked in the SOMS from 1974 to 2022. He served under every Speaker from Leo McCarthy to Anthony Rendon, where he specialized in communications work relating to constituent services and Assemblymember outreach. His devotion to the legislature could only be matched by his devotion to the LA Dodgers.

Mr. Schelen was also an outstanding leader for the local Democratic Party. He was President of the Yolo County Democratic Central Committee for 12 years, from 2009 to 2021. He also served as Yolo County's delegate to the California Democratic Party (CDP) for nearly 40 years and held several CDP leadership positions. He co-chaired the standing CDP committees on Organizational Development and Campaign Services, where he worked to build up local grassroots infrastructure for the party. He was an indispensable resource and mentor to other local Democratic organizations, like the Davis Democratic Club, the Davis College Democrats, and the Sacramento Truman Club.

Mr. Speaker, Bob Schelen was a dedicated public servant and leader in our community. Therefore, it is fitting that we honor his memory here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with Congressman Jared Huffman, to honor Coach John Victor Perry for his service to young athletes as a dedicated little league baseball coach for over 50 years for Westside Little League in Santa Rosa, California.

Perry has supported little league players in 1,182 games and led them to 713 victories. From 1980 through 1988 and over the course of 143 games, Mr. Perry also coached little league senior teams. Throughout those seasons, hundreds of young athletes have benefitted from Mr. Perry's leadership.

Aside from his teams' victories, he is very proud that two of his players, Aaron Willis and Kailee Diaz Randall, went on to earn National Little League Good Sport Awards. Both of his players' names are now displayed on a plaque at the National Little League Museum in Williamsport. It is noteworthy that Westside Little League remains the only little league in the Nation to have two of its players honored with this award.

Aside from teaching baseball fundamentals, Mr. Perry makes it a point to educate his players on the importance of hard work, public service, and the history of baseball. He has devoted his time to maintaining the baseball fields for the leagues. Moreover, Mr. Perry instructs his players to thank their parents in writing for their permission to play on the team, and he snips roses for the players to present to their mothers on Mother's Day.

Mr. Speaker, it is evident that Coach John Victor Perry has been a tireless volunteer and outstanding role model for the young athletes of Santa Rosa California for half a century. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Buchanan Miles for being named Vacaville Unified School District 2022- 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Mr. Miles has been a teacher at Hemlock Elementary School for 21 years. Throughout the duration of his impressive career, Mr. Miles has taught kindergarten and grades fourth through sixth. He spends his free time before and after school lending a helping hand around campus. He is always one of the first teachers to arrive in the morning, and one of the last teachers to leave. Mr. Miles prioritizes and finds joy in connecting and building relationships with students and their families.

Mr. Miles is intent on creating a positive school culture. For Hemlock's Harvest Festival, Mr. Miles hosts a yearly haunted house that is extremely popular with students and families with the proceeds going towards field trips for his students. He also runs Hemlock's student council and assists the students with campaigning and speeches so they can share their vision with the student body. He loves encouraging and supporting students to run for student government because of his strong belief in the need to empower students. Mr. Miles also places a high priority on building relationships with staff and faculty by organizing the staffs monthly luncheons.

Mr. Miles' commitment to public service extends beyond Hemlock. Before becoming a teacher, Mr. Miles served his country in the Air Force. He continued to serve as a reservist while teaching for the first few years of his tenure with Vacaville Unified School District. He now shares his expertise by coaching the Color Guard for Vacaville High School, as well as three other high schools in the surrounding area. This year, he helped guide Vacaville High School to the bronze medal at the National Color Guard competition.

Mr. Speaker, teachers of Mr. Miles' caliber are an exceptional asset to the students and families they serve. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Anita Kelly who is Vacaville Unified School District 2022-2023 Classified Employee of the Year.

Ms. Kelly has served as a dedicated and compassionate employee at Jepson Middle School counseling department for several years. Throughout her time at Jepson Middle School, Ms. Kelly's range of skills and expertise have been a tremendous asset to students, teachers, and the school. Ms. Kelly's institutional memory and talents are essential to keeping Jepson Middle School running smoothly. She goes above and beyond to assist others and helps teachers remain informed about their students in order to serve the student body and their parents more effectively.

Ms. Kelly is known to welcome new students and parents with a warm and inviting smile. Ms. Kelly's role in translating for Spanish speaking students and parents allow all members of their school community to feel valued and connected.

Ms. Kelly also helps foster youth and students who are without a home to feel more comfortable and supported. Ms. Kelly prioritizes checking in with students and their families regularly, while monitoring their grades and progress to encourage student success.

Last year, Ms. Kelly supported the management of the virtual speech program to ensure that students could successfully access the resource. Even this year, she still maintains information for teachers involved in managing the virtual speech program. Ms. Kelly's ability to effectively manage data provides the school with important information, including attendance and grades. This informs the school's leadership about the work of the students and is crucial to guiding the school's administration on which students may benefit from the school's intervention program. For these reasons, she is an indispensable part of Jepson's counseling department.

Mr. Speaker, employees of Ms. Kelly's caliber are an exceptional asset to the students and families they serve. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor her here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the founder of the Napa Valley's Grgich Hills Estate and the proclaimed ``King of Chardonnay'', Miljenko ``Mike'' Grgich as he and his family celebrate his milestone 100th birthday.

Mr. Grgich was born in 1923 in Croatia. He studied agronomy and chemistry at the University of Zagreb in Croatia, establishing himself as a talented student of his field and as

a bold critic of his home country's communist government. When Mr. Grgich was protesting the forced retirement of his professor, who spoke out against the Croatian government, he soon found out that he was also being monitored by the state's security forces. Upon this revelation, Mr. Grgich fled Croatia, migrating to Germany, and was eventually granted an American visa in 1958.

A year later, Mr. Grgich was hired at Beaulieu Vineyard as chief of quality control, effectively becoming one of Napa Valley's first quality control chemists. After years of being involved with other wineries, he broke ground on his own winery in 1977, which he named Grgich Hills. In 1996, nearly two decades after opening Grgich Hills, Mr. Grgich opened a small winery in his home nation of Croatia. This led to Mr. Grgich also having the opportunity to fulfill his academic goals, which he did by earning his master's degree in agronomy at the age of 74.

Because of his contributions to winemaking, Mr. Grgich was inducted into the Vinter Hall of Fame. Mr. Grgich is recognized to be among the first in California to use Millipore filters for wine, introducing the malolactic fermentation alongside world renowned Andre Tchelistcheff, utilizing oak barrels for proper aging, and developing French Wine commercial yeast. In 1976, Mr. Grgich participated in the Judgement of Paris wine tasting competition, resulting in the triumph of the 1973 Chardonnay he crafted for Napa Valley winery, Chateau Montelena. This victory helped Napa Valley to be recognized as a leader within the global wine community.

When people describe Mr. Grgich, they often mention his generous and loving personality. Mr. Grgich is known by our community to be a respected philanthropist who is dedicated to students. Mr. Grgich was instrumental in creating many scholarships: the Croatian Scholarship Fund in 1989, the Miljenko Grgich Wine Studies Scholarship in 2006, and the Miljenko ``Mike'' Grgich's American Dream Scholarship in 2014.

Mr. Speaker, it is fitting and proper that we recognize Miljenko ``Mike'' Grgich during his 100th birthday celebration and recognize the impact he has had for our community and many others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) Agricultural and Natural Resources Department. SRJC is celebrating its 50th year of providing high-quality agricultural and natural resource education and certification opportunities in California's 4th Congressional District.

Founded in 1969 by professors John Edwards, Steve Olson, and Rich Thomas, the department has grown to serve approximately 2,700 students per year. Since its inception, the department has enabled 135,000 students to graduate with degrees and certifications in sustainable agriculture, animal science, natural resource conservation, argi- business, and viniculture. Many of those graduates have gone on to hold key leadership positions as college trustees, county department heads, owners of large agricultural enterprises, and board members of major commodity groups.

Since 1972, the department has operated Shone Farm, a 365-acre federal surplus property that was transformed into a hands-on learning laboratory for agriculture and natural resource students. The Shone Farm Foundation, the nonprofit operator of the Shone Farm Winery, grows 90-acres of premium wine grapes that are then sold to many North Coast wineries. Shone Farm recently became the center of operations for the SRJC's new Fire Resilient Training program which prepares student interns to combat wildfires in California and the country. Shone Farm has also been honored twice by the California Agricultural Teacher's Association as the top community college agriculture department in the state of California.

By producing such knowledgeable and experienced graduates in the field of agriculture, SRJC's programs have helped to strengthen our community's vibrant economy. Many of our business leaders in agriculture continue to donate and partner with the SRJC Foundation's Friends of SRJC Agriculture program. This program has raised millions of dollars for new farm improvements, department programs, and student scholarships.

Mr. Speaker, though their 50th anniversary celebration was delayed by the COVID pandemic, the Santa Rosa Junior College Agricultural and Natural Resources Department deserves to be commemorated for its impact on our district. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor their half-century of work here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sherry Treppa whom I have named the 2023 Woman of the Year for Lake County because of her service to our community. Woman of the Year recognizes women who have made important contributions to California's 4th Congressional District in Arts and Culture, Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurship and Innovation or Community Service.

Born in Lake County, California, Ms. Treppa has served on the Executive Council of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe since 2004. She first served as Vice Chairperson before becoming Chairperson, a position she has held for 15 years.

As Chairperson, Ms. Treppa has been instrumental in developing tribal programs that expand access to education, elder care, health care, and home and auto purchase assistance to more Tribal members. She also played an important role in passing essential tribal relief packages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, the Tribe passed three Tribal CARES Acts, which helped Tribal members and businesses stay afloat, while also providing $65,000 to local first responder and educational organizations.

Under Chairperson Treppa's leadership, the Habematolel Pomo's philanthropy was extended beyond their own tribe. The Habematolel Pomo donated $660,000 to the North Shore Fire Protection District to increase their effectiveness in responding to and preventing wildfires. The tribe also donated $100,000 to the California Tribal Families Coalition's Legal Counsel for Tribes to address the inequality in courtrooms that tribal members face regarding Indian child welfare matters.

In keeping with the Habematolel philosophy that ``high tides raise all boats'', Chairperson Treppa has been instrumental in establishing the Running Creek Casino, building an expanded local call center, and supporting other programs that resulted in over 240 potential jobs in the rural Upper Lake community. Similarly, she has been engaged in extensive outreach programs with the goal of educating officials and other sovereigns about tribal issues. Her leadership and knowledge of tribal issues have led her to be called on to testify in front of Congress. She also helped to secure bipartisan support for the Indian Child Welfare Act as it faces legal challenges.

Mr. Speaker, Sherry Treppa has been a strong and generous leader as the Chairperson of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe. Therefore, it is fitting that we honor her here today as Lake County's 2023 Woman of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Kimball whom I have named the 2023 Woman of the Year for Yolo County because of her service to our agricultural community. Woman of the Year recognizes women who have made important contributions to California's 4th Congressional District in Arts and Culture, Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurship and Innovation or Community Service.

Ms. Kimball's leadership in the Center for Land-Based Learning's growth has been invaluable in turning the organization from a small group of 30 high school students to a program with five models. This program helps thousands of students and adults across California learn more about agriculture and the management skills necessary to run a farm. It now partners with hundreds of organizations, businesses, and government agencies to help up and coming farmers succeed.

Ms. Kimball's civic work has been essential in supporting the agricultural community by funding scholarships for women in the industry and investing in the Sacramento region as a critical food system. She has also worked to protect agricultural and natural resources, particularly when it comes to preserving agricultural land use designations.

Her efforts have had a tremendous impact in making the agricultural industry more accessible to new farmers through education and assistance programs. In doing so, she has helped thousands across the state learn about the best ways to run their businesses while maintaining their land in a sustainable manner.

Born in Carson City, Nevada, Ms. Kimball grew up on a small farm in Woodland where her family continues to live today. She has spent her career in public service for Yolo County and currently works as a Director for Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation board. She spends her extra time as a member of the Sacramento Chapters of Les Dames Escoffier and the Land and Economics Society.

Mr. Speaker, Mary Kimball has been a strong leader in Yolo County's agricultural community. Therefore, it is fitting that we honor her here today as Yolo County's 2023 Woman of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Alexis Koefoed whom I have named the 2023 Woman of the Year for Solano County because of her service to our agricultural community. Woman of the Year recognizes women who have made important contributions to California's 4th Congressional District in Arts and Culture, Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurship and Innovation or Community Service.

Born in Danville, Ms. Koefoed started her agricultural life when she stumbled upon a 56-acre property in Vacaville and became a farmer on a whim. What started as a small-scale chicken and egg farm eventually evolved into the Soul Food Farm, a hub for community events where she teaches workshops and supports local producers and farmers.

Ms. Koefoed currently serves as the president of the Pleasants Valley Agriculture Association, an organization of Vacaville farmers focused on promoting local businesses and sharing their sustainable agricultural practices. In doing so, she has helped her community's economy grow while providing a positive environment for farmers to share their stories and experiences. She is also a member of the policy board of the Community Alliance of Family Farmers, where she advocates for state and national policies that help sustainable agriculture.

Her work in creating the Soul Food Farm Farmstand and the Soul Food Farm Reserve, food hubs for local and regional farmers to sell their produce, has also been invaluable for members of our community to have more choices when deciding where to get their food. Through this hub, she has been able to expand access to healthy and affordable alternatives to processed food, all while supporting regional farmers.

Ms. Koefoed's work at Soul Food Farm and with the Pleasants Valley Agriculture Association has helped farmers across Solano County by teaching them about the business of running a farm while also bringing the community together. She has taught new farmers about the best ways to grow their business and their crops more efficiently. Her work also extends to organizing events where members of the community can connect with industry leaders.

Mr. Speaker, Alexis Koefoed has been a strong leader in Solano County's agricultural community. Therefore, it is fitting that we honor her here today as Solano County's 2023 Woman of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sharon Stensaas for her 25 years of serving our Yountville community through local journalism.

Ms. Stensaas founded the Yountville Sun 25 years ago with her husband, Oscar. She has served as the editor and publisher during the entirety of her tenure, working long hours to faithfully report the news.

The Yountville Sun is a weekly, local paper dedicated to local news that is impacting Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, and unincorporated areas of Napa County adjacent to the Silverado Trail and Highway 29. The paper distributes about 3,700 copies every week which are all free of cost for the reader. The local issues the paper covers spans a wide range of topics including natural disasters, local government decisions, and wine news. In 2018, the paper did extensive and important coverage on the shooting at a veteran's home in Yountville.

Through the challenging Covid-19 pandemic, when many other publications closed, Ms. Stensaas kept the paper running to ensure her community was informed about public health information and other newsworthy events. In all her years of publishing, Ms. Stensaas only missed one week, when her beloved husband passed away.

In 2018, the Yountville Sun had the honor of being named ``Small Business of the Year'' by the Yountville Chamber of Commerce. The impact this paper had on our community is exemplified by a 2016 poll, conducted by the National Citizen Survey, which found that the Yountville Sun was a major source of news for 80 percent of people in the local survey.

Ms. Stensaas is devoted to providing her community with quality local news. She describes her time as the publisher and editor at the Yountville Sun as one of the best gifts of her life. She remains involved in the Yountville Sun as a member of the board of directors.

Ms. Stensaas is a proud graduate of California State University, Northridge. Outside of her work at the Sun, Ms. Stensaas is also known in her community for her generous nature, great sense of humor, enjoyment of fishing, and love for Yountville.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Stensaas for her selfless service and commitment to the people of Yountville. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor her here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jasmine Palmer whom I have named the 2023 Woman of the Year for Sonoma County because of her service to our community. Woman of the Year recognizes women who have made important contributions to California's 4th Congressional District in Arts and Culture, Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurship and Innovation or Community Service.

Ms. Palmer was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and grew up in Sonoma County where she still lives today with her two daughters. She is a distinguished community member who has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of vulnerable populations in our community.

Ms. Palmer has developed numerous programs to enrich the community, such as Art in the Park for our Unhoused Neighbors and the annual Breakfast Burrito Feed, both of which support at-risk populations with food and care packages. She has been involved in community projects for the past ten years, supporting incarcerated and unhoused individuals, and facilitating educational support groups for those dealing with these issues. Jasmine is committed to bringing more compassion and kindness into the world, as she knows first-hand the impact it can have on someone's life.

Last July, a major Residential Treatment Facility in Sonoma County called Athena House, was threatened with closure. Athena House provides housing and care for women and children who struggle with substance use. With its closure, the home's residents were at risk of losing their housing and medical treatment entirely. After hearing this news, Ms. Palmer, having been a part of the Athena House program, and her counterpart Brooke Igleheart Ross worked tirelessly to save this vital treatment center. They dedicated themselves to informing the community of how devastating the loss would be for those who need treatment, while also raising money to buy the property. Before the facility closed, they were able to help secure the funding, that made it possible to not only keep but also expand and enhance the program by partnering with Buckelew Programs.

Ms. Palmer is a tenacious and loyal community member who has been a fierce advocate for the needs of those struggling with substance abuse. Therefore, it is fitting that we honor her here today as Sonoma County's 2023 Woman of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Brooke Igleheart Ross whom I have named the 2023 Woman of the Year for Sonoma County because of her excellent work in our community. Woman of the Year recognizes women who have made important contributions to California's 4th Congressional District in Arts and Culture, Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurship and Innovation or Community Service.

Ms. Igleheart Ross grew up in Southern California and San Luis Obispo County with her mom, dad, and little sister Hilary. She received a degree in Merchandise Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California, before moving to Sonoma County.

Ms. Igleheart Ross is a prominent leader in the business and recovery communities because of her passion for supporting others who have overcome alcohol and substance abuse challenges. She is an outstanding member of our community, helping those who struggle with substance abuse to reintegrate into the workforce.

Last July, a major Residential Treatment Facility in Sonoma County called Athena House, was threatened with closure. Athena House provides housing and care for women and children who struggle with substance use. With its closure, the home's residents were at risk of losing their housing and medical treatment entirely. After hearing this news, Ms. Igleheart Ross, having been a part of the Athena House program, and her counterpart Jasmine Palmer worked tirelessly to save this vital treatment center. They dedicated themselves to informing the community of how devastating the loss would be for those who need treatment, while also raising money to buy the property. Before the facility closed, they were able to help secure the funding, that made it possible to not only keep but also expand and enhance the program by partnering with Buckelew Programs.

Ms. Igleheart Ross currently lives in Sonoma County with her husband Robert, stepdaughter Natalie, and black lab Harley. A small business owner, marketing director, and real estate agent, Brooke has contributed to her community through a variety of professions.

Ms. Igleheart Ross is a tenacious and loyal community member who has been a fierce advocate for the needs of those struggling with substance abuse. Therefore, it is fitting that we honor her here today as Sonoma County's 2023 Woman of the Year.