[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE BUCKS COALITION AGAINST TRAFFICKING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bucks 
Coalition Against Trafficking, a group working to eradicate human 
trafficking in Bucks County and in our entire region. The Bucks 
Coalition Against Trafficking is a project created by the Network of 
Victim Assistance, working to end this modern-day slavery.
  Members of NOVA received recognition recently from the Bucks County 
Board of Commissioners for their work to educate our community and to 
raise awareness.
  The project was established to encourage victim identification, 
community education, enhancement of arrests and prosecution of 
traffickers, legislative advocacy, and a coordinated response for 
survivor services.
  Mr. Speaker, it is estimated that 25 million people across the globe 
are victims of human trafficking, and approximately 75 percent of these 
victims are women and girls. Statistics show that one in seven children 
who run away from home end up being trafficked.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the first bills I introduced this Congress, the 
End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2019, would increase the role 
of financial institutions in combating human trafficking, which is an 
incredibly important part of this fight.
  I call upon the House to bring this commonsense legislation to a 
vote, and to continue to work to support the victims of human 
trafficking.

                              {time}  1015


   Recognizing 2019 School Psychologist of the Year, Dr. Julia Szarko

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Julia 
Szarko, who was recently named the 2019 School Psychologist of the Year 
by the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania.
  Dr. Szarko is in her 23rd year as a school psychologist, currently 
working at Cold Spring Elementary in Central Bucks County, 
Pennsylvania. A former president of the Association of School 
Psychologists of Pennsylvania, Dr. Szarko has worked for years to 
expand school-based mental health services in Pennsylvania and to 
address the national school psychologist shortages across the country.
  Ensuring students have access to mental health resources is vital to 
their current and their future success, along with that of their peers 
as well. With only 20 percent of America's youth receiving the mental 
health services they need, further action must be taken to expand 
access to these services in schools, which is legislation that Dr. 
Szarko helped us draft.
  We need more people like Dr. Szarko working to ensure that children 
in Pennsylvania and across our Nation have the resources and support 
they need to succeed.


            Honoring the Life and Legacy of Leslie Kolifrath

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
legacy of Leslie Kolifrath, who recently passed away after a brave and 
courageous fight with breast cancer.
  A lifelong resident of Bucks County, Leslie always put the needs of 
others ahead of her own. She was very much beloved by her family, her 
friends, her pets, and her coworkers.
  Mr. Speaker, I got to know Leslie personally through the amazing work 
she did throughout Lower Bucks County, particularly Bristol Township, 
and helping so many people. The one thing that we all remember about 
Leslie is that no issue was too small for her to tackle when it came to 
protecting and serving the residents of Bristol Township and Lower 
Bucks County.
  So we offer our prayers to Leslie's family. We stand by her family in 
this very difficult time.
  She is now enjoying her eternal reward for a life she lived serving 
others in Bucks County and across our region.


           Recognizing Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an 
organization in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, changing the lives for 
individuals with cognitive, physical, emotional, behavioral, and 
psychological needs.
  For over 20 years, the Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center in 
Hilltown, Bucks County, has created therapeutic programs for people of 
all ages and levels of ability utilizing the equine experience.
  In addition to equine-assisted activities, Ivy Hill collaborates with 
several community partners to provide job training through specialized 
programs dedicated to an exponentially-growing special needs population 
in our region and across the country. Through these programs, Ivy Hill 
serves over 150 program riders with more than a dozen trained therapy 
horses, led by nearly 200 staff members and volunteers.
  Mr. Speaker, their motto is: ``Horses + Love = Hope'' and, having 
heard firsthand the heartwarming testimonials of riders and their 
families, it is clear that this equation is holding very true. We are 
very thankful for all they do for our special needs population and 
everybody in our region.

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