[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 29, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            JENNIFER KRNETA

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2017

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge Jennifer Krneta from 
Belleville, IL. Jennifer is a Case Worker with Caritas Family 
Solutions, a foster care organization, in Belleville.
  Jennifer has served as an exemplary Case Worker in Belleville for 
several years. Her actions came to the attention of our office thanks 
to a letter written by A1C Dakota Greenwood, a current member of the 
United States Air Force who is serving at Osan Air Force Base. In this 
letter, Dakota captured the tremendous impact that Jennifer has had on 
Dakota's life and upbringing.
  After the tragic death of Dakota's mother at the hands of a drunk 
driver, Dakota grew up in foster care and transitioned between living 
with several extended relatives, group homes, and foster families. 
Throughout childhood, Dakota faced poverty, hunger, neglect, and abuse. 
Through all of these adversities, Dakota credits Jennifer as the only 
person who showed devotion to improving Dakota's life. Dakota believes 
that without Jennifer's positive influence, Dakota would not be alive 
today.
  In addition, Jennifer played an essential role in helping Dakota to 
enlist in the Air Force. It was Jennifer who cared enough to ask about 
Dakota's life goals and interests. It was Jennifer who helped Dakota 
identify that service in the U.S. Air Force matched those goals and 
interests. And it was Jennifer who ensured that Dakota was prepared to 
meet with an Air Force recruiter when the time came.
  I offer my deepest admiration and gratitude to Jennifer Krneta for 
all that she has done for A1C Dakota Greenwood and all that Jennifer 
continues to do for the foster children of Southern Illinois. I hope 
that she continues to make life better for these children for many 
years to come.

                          ____________________