[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 185 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                          TRIBUTE TO KODI LEE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 19, 2019

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
an individual from Riverside County and the 42nd Congressional District 
who has inspired people around the country. On September 18, 2019, Kodi 
Lee from Lake Elsinore, California was named as the winner of the NBC 
talent show competition ``America's Got Talent.''
  Kodi's voice is amazing. His life story is even more extraordinary. 
Kodi was born legally blind and diagnosed with autism when he was four 
years old. Yet, when he was just two years old, Kodi's musical talents 
began to shine after his father tapped out ``Mary Had a Little Lamb'' 
on a toy piano and he immediately played it back. At the age of three, 
Kodi was already replicating tunes he heard on a real piano. Throughout 
his childhood, music became an essential form of therapy for Kodi and 
provided a unique form of treatment for his autism. It was determined 
that Kodi has an audio photographic memory, in which he can recall 
music he hears after just one listen. Incredibly, Kodi started to 
perform publicly at the age of six and has sung and played the piano at 
over 200 charity events and in Korea, China and Japan.
  As a contestant in the America's Got Talent competition, Kodi drew 
instant attention in May by singing the Donny Hathaway version of ``A 
Song For You.'' Later in the competition, Kodi earned a spot in the 
semi-finals with a memorable rendition of Simon and Garfunkel's 
``Bridge Over Troubled Water.'' During the competition's finale, Kodi 
earned the top prize thanks to an inspired performance of Freya 
Riding's ``Lost Without You,'' that drew a standing ovation from both 
the fans and judges.
  It's hard to think of anyone who has represented our region as well 
as Kodi Lee has on an worldwide stage. To say Lake Elsinore and 
Riverside County is proud of Kodi and all that he has accomplished is a 
tremendous understatement. To conclude, Madam Speaker I want to thank 
Kodi for inspiring us and congratulate him on winning the America's Got 
Talent competition.

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