[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 176 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING ELIZABETH AND HOWARD GREEN, ANGELS IN ADOPTION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2016

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor two extraordinary 
parents, Dr. Howard and Elizabeth Green of Winchester, Virginia. Due to 
their unwavering dedication to children in need, I nominated the Greens 
as Congressional Angels in Adoption this year.
  The loving generosity of Howard and Elizabeth has formed a family of 
12 children, seven of them adopted, who are now between the ages of 15 
and 22, and five biological children, between 16 and 24 years of age. 
Their adopted children all came from difficult circumstances, yet they 
worked tirelessly to provide them a warm and loving home. Their first 
adopted child came from China when she was 15 months old; shortly 
thereafter they adopted six children from Ethiopia, four siblings ages 
11, 9, 6 and 3, followed by two brothers, 6 and 7 years old. They 
identified at-risk children and took it upon themselves to change their 
lives for the better.
  After having been raised by the Greens in a loving home with strong 
spiritual guidance, all 12 children are extraordinary. For instance, 
the oldest three adopted children are thriving in college at Virginia 
Tech, James Madison University and Hillsdale College; while their 
biological children have either graduated or are currently in college. 
Meanwhile, their five youngest children are still in high school. While 
the years have surely been filled with joyous moments, it has not 
always been easy. With all their children, the Greens have provided the 
necessary accommodations for all of them to succeed.
  The story of the inspirational generosity on the part of Dr. Howard 
and Elizabeth Green has been celebrated for many years in the 
Shenandoah Valley and is recognized nationally, including by my 
colleague, Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, whose husband was a 
Naval Academy classmate of Howard Green. I am honored to count among my 
constituents, Elizabeth and Howard Green, whose faith in a loving God 
has inspired them to become such amazingly generous and loving adoptive 
parents.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Dr. Howard 
and Elizabeth Green. The Greens are stellar examples of the generosity 
of Americans, who have a long tradition of opening their hearts and 
their homes in adopting children from all over the world.

                          ____________________