[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 13, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE SELFLESS WORK OF MARTHA COLEY

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                           HON. DOUG COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2019

  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
admirable work of a fellow Northeast Georgian, Ms. Martha Coley.
  Ms. Coley began caring for foster children thirty-three years ago, 
and has since cared for over 100 children in her home in Hall County, 
Georgia. In June of 2016, Ms. Coley's house tragically caught fire and 
burned to the ground, forcing her to start from scratch and completely 
rebuild. But that did not stop her from welcoming children back into 
her home just six months later, as soon as she moved in.
  Ms. Coley's willingness to foster teenagers makes her an especially 
valuable foster parent. She says that the most rewarding part of being 
a foster parent is when she has the opportunity to witness her foster 
children succeeding after they have left her home, and often times 
giving back to their community, just as she has done for many years. 
The hardest part of fostering, she says, is when they eventually leave 
her home.
  The State of Georgia has approximately 14,400 children living in 
foster homes, which is why we are especially fortunate to have citizens 
like Ms. Coley serving our communities.
  All children deserve the opportunity to lead a happy and healthy 
life, free from any type of abuse or mistreatment, and I want to thank 
Ms. Martha Coley for the many lives she has touched.

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