[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 43 (Monday, March 11, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H2635-H2638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 3, 2019, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto) is recognized
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Speaker for the opportunity. We
certainly appreciate the esteemed institution that is West Point. May I
also say that the United States Marines are also a great institution,
and I want to thank the Speaker for his service in Afghanistan and in
Iraq as well.
Recognizing Melinda Jones Williams
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Melinda Jones Williams.
Melinda Jones Williams, a civil rights activist, was born March 14,
1950, in Americus, Georgia. She is currently a resident of Haines City,
Florida, with one child, Jeffrey Jones.
In July, 1963, Melinda Jones Williams was one of 15 young Black girls
with a passion to change the bigotry and divisiveness in Americus,
Georgia, by protesting a strong force of generational racism. During a
peaceful protest, she was arrested along with 14 other young girls.
These girls were all stolen, hidden from their parents, and locked in
an abandoned building for over a month. There were no windows, toilets,
and no source of water.
This was their punishment for protesting a segregated movie theater.
Melinda Jones Williams is one of the few remaining survivors of the
Stolen Girls of Americus, Georgia.
For that and her heroism in the civil rights movement, we thank you,
Ms. Jones Williams.
Recognizing Charlie Reed
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Charlie Reed.
She was born and raised in Kissimmee, Florida, my hometown. She was
the first in her family to graduate from college with a degree in
journalism from the University of Florida in 1997. She has worked at
the Orlando Sentinel, Osceola News-Gazette, and Treasure Coast
Newspapers. While working for the Stars and Stripes newspaper, she has
covered international defense, geopolitics, and the U.S. military
community.
After a reporting trip to Vietnam, Charlie moved there to do
volunteer work and write about Vietnam veterans living in the place
where they fought a war so many years before. While living in Vietnam,
she was named editor for an English-language Vietnamese magazine and
worked closely with several NGOs helping Agent Orange victims and
impoverished children.
Charlie came back to Kissimmee in 2014 to reconnect with her Florida
roots. It was a homecoming that led her back to the staff at the
Osceola News-Gazette. As a seasoned journalist who has lived around the
world, Charlie knows no stranger. Her ability to connect with people
and understand their problems is perhaps her greatest strength.
Charlie's life work is about more than chasing a story. It is about
serving the community, being an advocate for the public, a voice for
the voiceless and shining light on corruption. The pleasure she
experiences while helping others is truly all hers.
For that, Charlie Reed, we recognize you.
Recognizing Juanita Geathers
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Juanita Geathers.
Juanita Geathers has six children and nine grandchildren with her
husband, Lemuel Geathers, former mayor of Winter Haven. She has spent
34 years as an educator in Polk County schools, retiring as an
assistant principal in 2004. She graduated from Jewett High School as
valedictorian in 1959, went on to receive her bachelor of science
degree from Rollins College and a master's in education from the
University of South Florida.
Juanita served as Secretary for the Florida Democratic Party State
Executive Committee and was the highest ranking African American woman
during her tenure as Secretary. She also served as a Democratic
National Convention delegate from Florida for three conventions.
As an active member of her community, she is a recipient of the
Outstanding Community Service Award. She has served on the Polk
Education Association, Polk County Opportunity Council, Polk County
Voters League, Girls and Boys Club, and Girls, Inc. She is also a
lifetime member of the NAACP and a member of the Hurst Chapel AME
Church.
For that, Ms. Juanita Geathers, we honor you.
Recognizing Monica Readus
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Monica Readus.
Monica Readus is a wife, mother, business owner, and real estate
professional. She was born in Detroit, Michigan.
After moving to Texas, Monica became aware of a shift in the
political climate. After the 2004 Presidential race, Democrats were
discouraged and Dallas Republicans were running unopposed. It was at
that time that Monica took time away from the company's day-to-day
operations to become a full-time volunteer for the Collin County
Democratic Party office in Plano, Texas.
Since then, Monica has worked with candidates and campaign managers,
coordinated grassroots efforts for local and Federal elections, and
fundraised for candidates and more. In 2011 Monica moved to Florida
where she immediately began coordinating grassroots efforts for
Organizing for America by spearheading daily phone banks. She then
joined the Democratic Women's Club of Florida of West Orange County,
serving as its first president.
She now happily serves as the Democratic Women's Club of Florida
Region 9 chair, serving nearly 600 members and the chair of the Annual
PerSisters Rally in celebration of Democratic Women's Month.
For that, Monica Readus, we honor you.
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Recognizing Lisa Santoni Cromar
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Lisa Santoni Cromar.
Lisa Santoni Cromar is a legally deaf Puerto Rican woman. She is the
mother to two boys, Nicholas and William, and the wife to Scott Cromar.
She was born in 1962 to Puerto Rican parents, Trina and Jose Santoni.
Her early career was in corporate IT. At age 30, she divorced her first
husband and went to work for the domestic violence agency that helped
her leave. After meeting her husband, Scott, he had a friend running
for Congress, which presented an opportunity to transition to political
consulting and issue advocacy. She has served as voting chair and co-
chair, and is now an executive board member of the Women's March of
Florida.
In 2003, the longtime consequences of her Meniere's disease became
unbearable, resulting in severe hearing loss. In 2016, Lisa moved to
Longwood, Florida. Like everyone else in her new community, she was
horrified by the Pulse nightclub shooting. The lack of family support
for some of the victims combined with memories of post-9/11 days,
prompted Lisa to reach out to the affected communities offering a safe
place and a safe space for frightened neighbors as well as visiting
victims' families.
When Hurricanes Irma and Maria worsened Puerto Rico's already
delicate situation, Lisa refocused her advocacy efforts on achieving a
just recovery for her islands. Lisa is currently vice president of
Diaspora en Resistencia, an international coalition of human
rights organizations working for a better future for Puerto Rico. She
also sits on the steering committee for Vamos4PR.
For that, Lisa Santoni Cromar, we honor you.
Recognizing Karen Green
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Karen Green.
Reverend Dr. Karen R. Green, a proud Jamaican-born Caribbean
American, is a former U.N. Humanitarian Religious Ambassador At Large.
She is a tireless community advocate and social justice crusader
fighting to enhance the rights of women, defend religious freedoms, and
secure the civil liberties of immigrants.
As a resident of Florida for over 20 years, Dr. Green has leveraged
her talents as a respected political strategist, campaign manager, and
expert mediator. She has served as the Democratic Party's former
Caribbean Coalition Director for the State of Florida and its
territories. Her vast political and voter advocacy record includes
service as field officer for President Barack Obama's Presidential
election campaign, Coalition Director for Hillary Clinton's
Presidential primary and general election campaigns, and political
advance to U.S. territories.
Dr. Green has led on issues of universal healthcare, a woman's right
to choose, and immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship under
DAPA and DACA as well. Dr. Green is also noted to have been
instrumental on the front lines of the fight to secure in-state tuition
for undocumented students living in Florida.
Dr. Green currently serves as the CEO of the Liberty and Justice for
All Community Foundation and is the primary partner at Blue Fields
Consultants International.
Passion for service and a strong sense of dedication to critical
social issues is clearly a key motivating force for Dr. Green.
She merits these values to her Christian beliefs and cultural
experiences as a Jamaican-born immigrant.
She quotes Marcus Mosiah Garvey himself, a Jamaican native and noted
civil rights leader, with: ``A people without the knowledge of their
past history, culture, and origin is like a tree without roots.''
And for that, Ms. Karen Green, we honor you.
{time} 2030
Recognizing Kim Porteous
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Kim Porteous.
Kim Porteous is one of many activists ignited by the modern women's
movement at the March on Washington, D.C., on January 24, 2017.
She is a community organizer who is supported by a community of
women. Although she has been involved in advocacy throughout her life,
she knew, as a former survivor of rape, workplace sexual assaults, and
domestic abuse, that she needed to make it her life's work to stand for
women, sexual assault victims, the disabled, the LGBTQ community,
immigrants, Dreamers, against climate change, for religious minorities,
and to promote healthcare.
She is committed to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities
through intersectional feminism and uniting communities regardless of
their privilege.
The 2016 election led Kim to amplify her message of equality beyond
her circle of friends and get out in the community to engage.
She has had the privilege of supporting organizations and community
partners, including the National Organization for Women, Organize
Florida, Planned Parenthood, For Our Future, ADAPT, Rubio Tuesdays,
Hope House, Moms Demand Action, March for Women, and Fight for $15 an
Hour.
Kim is currently the vice president of the Greater Orlando chapter of
the National Organization for Women and is focused on sustained action
to achieve the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
And for that, Ms. Kim Porteous, we honor you.
Recognizing Rasha Mubarak
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Rasha Mubarak.
Rasha Mubarak is a Palestinian American Muslim community activist and
leader who was recently named Ten People Making Orlando a Better Place
to Be by the Orlando Weekly.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in the heart of central
Florida, she is a current facilitator for the Trust Orlando Coalition,
helping make history by passing the first TRUST Act, not only in
Florida but in the Southeastern region of the United States.
Rasha also serves as a vice president for the Muslim Women's
Organization. She is the president of the Young Democrats of Orange
County, a media political strategist, is the president of Orlando's
Palestine Children's Relief Fund.
While working in the Arab American community, she helped launch
impactful programs such as Welcoming Immigrants Now Group and its
domestic violence program.
A sought-after speaker about topics including Palestinian rights,
Islamophobia, and women's representation in Islam, Rasha has been a
grassroots organizer and speaker for statewide demonstrations and
campaigns for interfaith work, Palestinian rights, and
#NoMuslimBanEver, immigrant rights, and Black and Brown liberation.
Rasha leads educational panel discussions dispelling stereotypes
about Muslim women.
In 2015, she cofounded Floridians Responding to Refugees,
spearheading efforts to welcome and transition refugees.
She was previously a mental health counseling volunteer with the
Palestine Medical Relief Society in Ramallah, aiding women and children
suffering from PTSD.
And for that, Ms. Rasha Mubarak, we honor you.
Recognizing Nicolette Fariello Springer
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Nicolette Fariello Springer.
Nicolette is the sort of woman who does not fit conveniently into a
mold. She is a criminologist, college educator, and a doting mother to
her two daughters, Emmerson and Avery.
With a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of
Central Florida, Nicolette specializes in mental health and substance
abuse. She was the assistant director of the Criminal Justice Mental
Health Substance Abuse Technical Assistance Center, where she focused
on program evaluation and policy analysis across the State of Florida.
Nicolette's research areas include mental health court, drug court,
and corrections. It is her work in criminal justice that informs her
work as a community activist, championing issues around adverse
childhood experiences, social justice, and access to education and
healthcare.
Nicolette serves as the champion leader for central and north Florida
for
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the United Nations Foundation Shot@Life Campaign, which focuses on
advocating for access to vaccines in the developing world.
On the local front, she co-leads a Girl Scout troop of 27 girls and
gives them the opportunity to see the best in themselves.
Nicolette's activism led her to run for office during the historic
Pink Wave of 2018. She parlayed her own campaign experience into a
full-time position on a Democratic gubernatorial campaign and continues
to advocate for progressive values.
She is currently one of the co-chairs of the Juvenile Justice
Committee for the Central Florida League of Women Voters and serves on
the Victory Council for Ruth's List Florida. She is the legislative
analyst for the League of Women Voters of Florida, empowering voters
and helping improve the lives of all Floridians.
For that, Nicolette Fariello Springer, we honor you.
Recognizing Iza Montalvo
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Iza Montalvo.
Iza Montalvo lives in Orlando with her husband and two sons. She is
an award-winning journalist, former news executive, radio anchor,
television producer, and congressional staffer recognized by the United
States Congress for her contributions to the Hispanic community. In
2015, Vision magazine named her as one of central Florida's most
influential Hispanics.
Under her leadership as the former editor-in-chief of La Prensa, the
oldest running publication in central Florida and also founded by a
relative of mine, readership almost doubled in 1 year alone.
As a reporter for the largest Spanish-language media outlet in the
country, some of her stories gained national attention during her
almost 20-year journalism career.
While working as a reporter, she covered news events like the
protests at the United Nations against the U.S. Navy military practices
in the island of Vieques, protests in Times Square against the war in
Iraq, the aftermath of 9/11, the World Economic Forum, and the New York
blackout.
She has had the opportunity to interview high-profile politicians and
celebrities of worldwide recognition as well as holding an exclusive
interview with the Federal agent who stopped the 20th hijacker from
catching a flight during the terrorist attacks on 9/11.
Her reporting with the Puerto Rican diaspora, neglected communities
of color, Latinx and migrant communities earned her recognitions and
awards from the prestigious National Association of Hispanic
Publications.
She served as the press secretary of two U.S. Representatives before
taking her vast experience into a new business venture. She currently
is the founder and president of the Olan Group, a purpose-led
communications, research, and consultancy firm in Orlando.
As an independent journalist and media strategist, she is focused on
raising awareness about underreported issues affecting the world, like
environmental justice and women's rights, in Spanish language and media
outlets covering the Latinx experience in the U.S.
She also served as our press secretary from 2017 to 2018 and did an
absolutely fantastic job.
And for that, Ms. Iza Montalvo, we honor you.
Recognizing Dr. Catherine ``Elizabeth'' McCarthy
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Dr. Catherine ``Elizabeth'' McCarthy.
Dr. Elizabeth McCarthy currently serves as the legislative director
for the Florida LGBT Democratic Caucus and as federal chair of the
Democratic Women's Club of Florida.
Born in Richmond, Virginia, she moved to Florida in 1981. After
attending high school in Pasco County, she attended the University of
Florida and Florida State University on basketball scholarships and
graduated from Florida State in 1992 with a degree in criminology.
She then went back to school to become a nurse. After spending 25
years working as a cardio operating room registered nurse for the
Florida Heart Group, she decided to attend medical school at the
University of Central Florida and soon became a cardiologist.
Elizabeth was working at Orlando Regional Medical Center the night of
the horrific Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. As a doctor,
her work was vital in saving the lives of many victims and members of
our community. She was able to remove 77 bullets out of 32 victims.
As a member of the LGBT community and an LGBT activist, she now
serves on the One Pulse Foundation Memorial Task Force, established to
create a sanctuary of hope and to grant care for the families of
victims and survivors.
And for that, Dr. Elizabeth McCarthy, we honor you.
Recognizing Ann Marie Siefker
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Ann Marie Siefker.
Ann Marie Siefker was born on May 8, 1957. She attended Cardinal
Gibbons High School and graduated from Florida Atlantic University with
a degree in education.
Ann was a special education teacher at West Orange High School, a
longtime member of the Classroom Teachers Association, and taught
children for over 30 years.
Ann joined God on November 18, 2018, and we are recognizing her
posthumously. She is survived by her mother, Mary; her brothers, Joseph
and James; and her sister, Joan.
Ms. Ann Marie Siefker, for that, we honor you.
Recognizing Christina Whitfield Atkinson
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Christina Whitfield Atkinson.
Christina Whitfield Atkinson resides with her husband, Jeffrey; their
four dogs; and is supported by her son, Thomas; two stepdaughters,
Mariah and Amber; and her four grandchildren.
She has long believed women are the backbone to any successful,
prosperous society. She has earned both a bachelor's and master's
degree in business administration and has worked for the past 20 years
in multiple professional capacities, including owning a dental supply
company; working in risk management, internet security, insurance
claims, as an adjunct university professor; and has dedicated hundreds
of hours to various charities.
She believes in promoting a philosophy of integrity and honor through
giving back to those who have given her so much. She believes there is
no greater honor than participating in and promoting philanthropic
activities.
In January 2018, after leaving her role in corporate America, she was
appointed as the VA representative for Soldiers' Angels. As the wife of
an Air Force veteran, sister to a Navy veteran, and mother-in-law to an
Active-Duty Army soldier, Christina was thrilled to volunteer for one
of the highest ranked 501(c)3 organizations, which is dedicated to
supporting our military veterans.
Christina oversees a diverse group of volunteers in the Orlando area
who visit veterans who are patients at the VA Hospital at Lake Nona;
help with veteran support events, including distributing gifts and
blankets from the community; and oversee the monthly mobile food
distribution, which provides 200 low-income veterans 50 pounds of food
each month.
If she is not at the VA supporting our veterans, she is reaching deep
into the community to find other groups and business and community
leaders to help our military veterans.
Her love of the military is her primary focus in all she does and is
permanently ingrained in her.
And for that, Ms. Christina Whitfield Atkinson, we honor you.
Recognizing Chloe C. Battle
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to
recognize Chloe C. Battle.
Chloe Battle works in Orlando, Florida, as the executive director for
the local food pantry called Servant's Heart Ministry. The faith-based
organization feeds children, seniors, and other vulnerable individuals
through community partnerships by providing basic needs, empowering
people to grow and thrive in their own neighborhoods, and offering
opportunities for people to serve.
Ms. Battle's mission is to feed the hungry, and she also advocates
for building relationships, which she says is the most important part
of serving and is the cornerstone for community
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health. When you get to know a family at the interpersonal level, their
needs become more apparent and easier to address, and resources
provided become more meaningful to them.
Before entering the nonprofit sector, Ms. Battle acquired her
bachelor of science in psychology from Indiana University, working out
of a prestigious child development lab. She developed a keen interest
in health psychology and social work and, from there, maintained a
personal commitment to caregiving, family, advocacy, and community
casework.
Ms. Battle cites that her strength comes from God and personal
experience, and her growth as a leader and community partner drives her
forward to show others how everyone can do something and that education
and nurturing is the key to the success of all families.
And for that, Ms. Chloe C. Battle, we honor you.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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