[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 62 (Thursday, May 12, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H3239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING KELSEY RYAN

  (Mr. KELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kelsey Ryan, a 9-year 
old little girl from Celebration, Florida, my home district. Kelsey is 
a true hero to her community and her country. We are honored that she 
is here with us today.
  Kelsey possesses a life-threatening allergy to peanuts. She is not 
alone; 4 percent of our population has some form of life threatening 
allergy, either to peanuts, shellfish, insects or other items.
  Kelsey decided to do something about it and took action. She traveled 
to Tallahassee, Florida, where she testified before six separate 
committees of the Florida legislature. She explained that by allowing 
her and other school children to use this Epipen it would help save the 
lives of 100,000 different school children in Florida who also suffer 
from life-threatening allergies.
  She was so effective that the Florida House and Florida Senate 
unanimously passed the Kelsey Ryan Act, and it will be signed into law 
by the Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, in a matter of days.
  On behalf of the United States Congress, I was pleased today to 
present Ms. Kelsey Ryan with a Certificate of Special Congressional 
Recognition, an award we humbly give to true American heroes.
  Mr. Speaker, we are proud of Kelsey in Florida. And today we honor 
the achievements of an amazing 9-year-old lady who has selflessly 
helped save the lives of up to 100,000 different school children in my 
home State of Florida. We are proud of her in Congress. We are proud of 
her in Florida. We are proud of her back in Celebration.

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