[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 26, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE OUTSTANDING DETERMINATION AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF 
     STEPHANIE JALLEN, A 2014 WINTER PARALYMPIC GAMES ALPINE SKIER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 2014

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Stephanie Jallen 
for her remarkable and inspirational perseverance and resolve. Ms. 
Jallen will represent the U.S. at the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in 
Sochi, Russia, which take place March 7-16, and she has also been 
recognized by the Sunday Dispatch of Pittston, Pennsylvania as the 
Greater Pittston Person of the Year for 2013.
  Ms. Jallen was born on February 13, 1996 with CHILD syndrome 
(Congenital Hemidysplasia with Ichthyosiform Erythroderma and Limb 
Defects Syndrome), a rare genetic birth disorder that mostly affects 
girls. Consequently, the left side of her body is underdeveloped. Ms. 
Jallen has only one leg and one fully developed arm. Despite a life-
altering condition, Stephanie has thrived.
  At the age of nine, Stephanie was first introduced to skiing by the 
Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports. She met and trained with Mau 
Thompson, who would help her enter multiple NorAm ski races. With Mr. 
Thompson's assistance, Stephanie became involved with the U.S. 
Paralympics Alpine Skiing Team and was named to her first national team 
for the 2011-12 season. Since then, she has been a part of the two most 
recent national teams. She has competed in countries across the globe, 
including Germany and Australia.
  Ms. Jallen is the epitome of a student-athlete. She trains and 
competes while also balancing academics. Stephanie is a senior in my 
district at Wyoming Area Secondary Center, and she has been accepted to 
Kings College in Wilkes-Barre where she will be starting in the fall as 
a freshman.
  I would like to commend Stephanie Jallen on her determination to 
compete on a global stage and wish her the best of luck as she proudly 
represents our country in the 2014 Winter Games. Her remarkable story 
has brought her community together like few things can, and she has 
inspired many fellow students and citizens of northeastern Pennsylvania 
to be the best they can be.

                          ____________________