[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H1246-H1248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                      HONORING CARMEN CARRASQUILLO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2019, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto) is recognized 
for the remainder of the hour.
  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewomen from Wisconsin and 
California for their wise words and for invoking the angels that we 
lost in Florida as well.
  In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to recognize Carmen 
Carrasquillo.
  Carmen is a graduate of New York's Baruch Community College and 
earned a business management certification from Columbia University. 
She worked as the administrator of the Boriken Health Center for the 
indigent community in East Harlem, New York.
  Since joining the council in 1992 as the senior center coordinator, 
Carmen has worked with residents and leaders to initiate and sustain 
programs serving seniors and disabled adults. These have earned the 
Osceola Council on Aging Senior Center numerous awards for maintaining 
the independence and dignity of our constituents, including Outstanding 
Senior Center in the State of Florida.
  Her background as a bilingual teacher led to the first English 
classes for Spanish-speaking adults in Osceola County. This also led 
her to become a founding member of BRAVO, a nonprofit organization that 
provided necessary information and referrals to a newly emigrating 
Hispanic population in Osceola County. Carmen was also named Woman of 
the Year in 1994.
  Carmen assisted the Council on Aging with the opening of the first 
Hispanic site, Centro Latino Americano Edad de Oro, in the Buena 
Ventura Lakes Community Center, also known as the Roberto Guevara 
Community Center.
  She was also one of the founders of the Senior Follies with the 
Osceola Center for the Arts, partnered with Southwest Airlines on a 
Home for the Holidays program, organized volunteer activities for AARP 
Community Care Days, organized Hispanic outreach for the South Florida 
Water Management District, started an intergenerational program with 
New Beginnings Educational Complex that partners at-risk high school 
students with seniors in various social activities, operating the 
Federal Emergency Food Assistance program and local food bank that 
supplies commodities to the poor and area organizations feeding the 
poor in Osceola County, and was appointed to the Florida Department of 
Agriculture TEFAP Advisory Board by Charles Bronson, our former ag 
commissioner.
  For that, Ms. Carmen Carrasquillo, we honor you.


                     Honoring Deborah Guerrera Gale

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would 
like to honor Deborah Guerrera Gale.
  Deborah Guerrera Gale moved to Florida in 1978 from upstate New York, 
where she worked as a banking accountant after graduating from Ulster 
County College. Once in Florida, she decided to switch careers and 
became a draftsperson by studying engineering at Valencia College.
  Deborah worked for Walt Disney World Ride & Show Engineering as an 
electromechanical designer for 10 years. She later returned to college 
to earn a bachelor's degree in human resources at the age of 40 from 
Barry University and held positions in Disney Human Resources, 
Organizational Development, and HR Information Services.
  Deborah was raised by caring, progressive parents, Barbara and John 
Guerrera, who instilled in her a belief in the basic human dignity of 
all people. Through them, she learned that she could make a positive 
difference in the world and that she could achieve anything with hard 
work.
  This belief inspired a drive for volunteer service in the community, 
such as organizing projects for foster teens residing at The Grove, an 
adolescent residential center for at-risk teens, and Help Now, a 
domestic abuse shelter.

                              {time}  1545

  She also served as president of the Celebration Women's Club, 
supporting women's charities and college scholarships. While living in 
Celebration, she was a founding member and president of the Democrats 
of Celebration.
  After retirement, Deborah turned her attention full-time to civic 
activism and founded the Democrats of St. Cloud Club and was elected as 
chair of the Osceola County Democratic Party in 2019.
  Deborah's belief that she can make a difference has fueled her 
passion to advance causes that can make our community and our county a 
better place for the next generation.
  Deborah lives in St. Cloud with her husband, Michael Womick. They 
have one daughter, Jenna Womick Stowers, and a grandson, Treston James.
  For that, Deborah Guerrera Gale, we honor you.


                     Honoring Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon

  Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to 
recognize Dr. Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon.
  Dr. Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and moved 
to the United States in 1986. Since then, she earned a master's in TV 
production and journalism and a Ph.D. in social psychology.
  Giorgina has extensive experience in television, print, and radio and 
has worked in various roles for Telemundo Orlando, Casiano 
Communications' Imagen magazine, and other local news outlets.
  Currently, she works for the city of Orlando as the director of the 
Office of Multicultural Affairs.
  Giorgina has been very involved in the business community and the 
local government of central Florida. She has been recognized for her 
work with the following awards: Don Quijote Awards' Professional of the 
Year; Girl Scouts of Citrus' Women of Distinction Awards Visionary of 
the Year; Orlando Business Journal 40 Under 40; Working Together 
Outstanding Community Service Award; and the Executive of the Year, 
HABLA Awards.
  Dr. Pinedo-Rolon is a board member of the Crimeline and Girl Scouts 
of Citrus. She is also chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro 
Orlando's Government Affairs Committee and a member of the Central 
Florida Commission on Homelessness' Family Homelessness Committee. She 
was a former board member and chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 
of Metro Orlando, the Economic Development Commission, the Orange 
County Membership and Mission Review Board, the Coalition for the 
Homeless, the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund, Easter Seals, and a 
former president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists' 
Central Florida Chapter.
  She is a member of the National Association of Professional Women, 
National Association of Hispanic Journalists, American Association of 
Marketing and Public Relations, Hispanic Public Relations Association, 
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, and a lifetime member of 
the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.
  Giorgina is married to our Orlando police chief, Orlando Rolon, the 
first Puerto Rican to hold that position. She has two stepchildren and 
three grandchildren.
  For all this and more, Dr. Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon, we honor you.


                Honoring Dr. Angela M. Garcia Falconetti

  Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to 
recognize Dr. Angela M. Garcia Falconetti.
  A native Floridian and the daughter of Cuban exiles who completed 
their degrees at Florida colleges, Dr. Falconetti has a personal 
commitment to the Florida college system and to ensuring all students 
have the chance to receive a quality education. She has developed a 
vision to strengthen student success and has advocated successfully at 
the State level for critical funding.
  Her two decades of service in three States include extensive 
experience in all aspects of higher education administration. She holds 
a bachelor's degree with specializations in communications and 
education cognate from New York University and a master's degree and a 
doctorate degree in educational leadership from the University of North 
Florida, with specializations in instructional leadership and 
postsecondary education and adult learning.
  She later completed an endowed postdoctoral fellowship in community 
college leadership with the University of Texas at Austin while working 
as a research associate for the Community College Survey of Student 
Engagement.

[[Page H1247]]

  At the national level, she served as special assistant to the first 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges in Washington, D.C.
  Prior to being named president of Polk State College, she served as 
vice president of institutional advancement at Virginia Western 
Community College and as executive director of the foundation.
  Dr. Falconetti continues to serve as an active leader in national, 
statewide, and local organizations, including the American Association 
of Community Colleges' Commission on Institutional Infrastructure and 
Transformation, the Florida College System Council of Presidents' 
Steering Committee, the Florida Association of Colleges and 
Universities, and the Florida Chamber Foundation Board.
  She lives in Winter Haven, Florida, with her beloved husband, Robert, 
and their daughter and the light of her life, Sophia.
  For that, Dr. Angela M. Garcia Falconetti, we honor you.


               Honoring First Sergeant Daila Espeut-Jones

  Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to 
recognize First Sergeant Daila Espeut-Jones.
  First Sergeant Daila Espeut-Jones was born and raised in Jamaica 
until the age of 15. In 1979, she migrated to Boston, Massachusetts, 
and later joined the Army in 1982. She served on Active Duty for 22 
years and retired in 2004.
  During her military tenure, she served in many positions, including 
squad leader, platoon sergeant, training noncommissioned officer, 
customs supervisor, plans supervisor, area support team leader, Korean 
linguist, senior transportation supervisor, first sergeant, and acting 
division sergeant major.
  Her duty assignments included Fort Eustis, Virginia; Seoul, Korea; 
Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Haiti; Honduras; Albania; Bosnia; Hanau, 
Germany; Orlando, Florida; and southwest Asia.
  Her awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit; Bronze Star; 
Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal, with two oak leaf 
clusters; Army Achievement Medal, with three oak leaf clusters; 
Humanitarian Service Ribbon; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; 
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Overseas 
Service Ribbon; Parachutist Badge; Expert Weapon Marksmanship Badge; 
and German Silver Marksmanship Badge.
  First Sergeant Espeut-Jones currently serves as the president for the 
Association of the United States Army's Sunshine Chapter in Orlando and 
chair of the Orange County Mayor's Veterans Advisory Council. She is an 
active member of the Women in Defense Central Florida Chapter; Kappa 
Epsilon Psi Military Sorority, Inc.; Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club 
Orlando; National Defense Industrial Association; Semper Fidelis of 
America, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4287; American Legion; Orange 
County Veterans Treatment Court mentorship program; and mentor at 
several schools in Orange County.
  In 2015, First Sergeant Espeut-Jones was selected as one of Orlando 
Business Journal's Veterans of Influence. She is currently employed at 
ZelTech as a program manager.
  For all that and more, First Sergeant Daila Espeut-Jones, we honor 
you.


                     Honoring Ernestine Mason Davis

  Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to 
recognize Ernestine Mason Davis.
  Ernestine Mason Davis grew up in the Florence Villa community and 
attended Jewett High School. She is a member of the First Missionary 
Baptist Church.
  She is a founding member and a board member of the Lake Maude 
Recreation Center, now known as the Neighborhood Service Center. She is 
also a founding member of the Winter Haven Northeast Cultural 
Recreation Complex, Polk County Opportunity Council, and Haven Day 
Care. She has assisted in organizing the East Central Polk Democratic 
Club Council. She presently serves on the board of the Agricultural and 
Labor Program, Inc.
  Ms. Davis is a regular attendee at Winter Haven Commission meetings 
and spends her time working for social and economic justice issues. She 
continues to devote her time to the Polk County community by advocating 
for homeless, food programs for low-income families, recreation for the 
youth, and civic and cultural programs for the community.
  She is a member of the NAACP and has received numerous awards and 
recognitions. In February 2020, she was honored with a proclamation by 
the city of Winter Haven for her commitment to community service. She 
has received the Honorary Pioneer Award, the Agriculture and Labor 
Program Community Action Partnership Award, Volunteer Service Award, 
the J. Owens Academy of Fine Arts Award for being a civil rights 
leader, Community Service Award for advocating for children and 
families, and the NAACP Exemplary Leadership and Service Award. She has 
also received awards from her family for organizing and supporting 
family reunions.
  She was married to the late John Wesley Davis and has five children. 
She is a grandmother and a great-grandmother.
  For that, Ernestine Mason Davis, we honor you.


                          Honoring Maria Ramos

  Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to 
recognize Maria Ramos.
  Maria Ramos Joiner was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. At the age of 3, 
her father decided to move the family to the Bronx in New York in 
search of the American Dream.
  The New York public school system gave her the opportunity to attend 
field trips to museums and cultural art centers, sparking her love for 
the arts with her first visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  Influenced by her mother's old Bible, with its beautiful 
illustrations and stories, Maria's passion for artistic expression 
further grew. The oldest of six, she collected brown paper bags as her 
canvases and confiscated every pen, pencil, or crayon that was 
unattended for her pretend studio.
  Mostly self-taught, Maria's work has been shown in galleries and 
museums. Maria has also donated work for fundraisers to raise money for 
various causes.
  One of the most important works she has exhibited was at the Mennello 
Museum, honoring the Pulse nightclub victims in 2016. After its 
exhibition initially, Maria graciously donated the piece to the city of 
Orlando.
  Maria has also been recognized for her art depicting the culture of 
Puerto Rico, with an influence from the European masters she studied.
  Maria is an advocate for the homeless and is known for her charitable 
work throughout the years, whether through her art donations or when 
someone is in need.
  For that, Maria Ramos, we honor you.


                    Honoring Colonel Paulette Schank

  Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to 
recognize Colonel Paulette Schank.
  Colonel Paulette Schank began her outstanding career as a licensed 
practical nurse out of high school, eventually achieving her master's 
degree in nursing in pursuit of a career in patient care.
  After gaining clinical experience, and speaking to several registered 
nurses in the anesthesia field, she decided her desire for further 
autonomy and utilization of critical thinking skills was perfectly 
matched to a career in the anesthesia profession.
  Upon successful completion of a post-master's certificate in nurse 
anesthesia, she worked for 6 years at Frankford Hospital and later at 
Osceola Regional Medical Center in Florida.
  However, as the daughter of a retired naval chief petty officer, 
family legacy and patriotism drove Colonel Schank's wish to assist 
patients in a much different setting. She enlisted in the Air Force and 
learned to transport patients in critical conditions.
  These skills served her well in support of Operation Desert Storm, 
where she evacuated troops, with a 100 percent survival rate of those 
transported. During her 24 years in the service, Colonel Schank 
provided medical assistance in times of war and in humanitarian 
efforts--from Iraq to Turkey, Mozambique to Honduras and beyond.
  As both a civilian nurse anesthetist and Air Force Reserve officer, 
she has dedicated her life to caring for others, be it in Florida or 
around the world.
  Her love for education and helping those in need is ever present, and 
she

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continues to surpass what it means to be a student, nurse, and a 
constituent of Florida's Ninth Congressional District.
  For that, Colonel Paulette Schank, we honor you.

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                      Honoring Yasmin Flasterstein

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would 
like to recognize Yasmin Flasterstein.
  Yasmin Flasterstein is the cofounder and executive director of Peer 
Support Space, Inc., which serves as a hub for diverse peer communities 
in central Florida. She also works as a wellness recovery action plan 
facilitator, is a board member and the Community Engagement Committee 
chair for the One Orlando Alliance, is a founding leader of Orlando 
Trans Collective, and sits on the board of directors for Central 
Florida Cares and Peer Support Coalition of Florida.
  Yasmin has been in social justice leadership positions since she was 
14; and in college, she brought membership of a mental health advocacy 
group, UCF Active Minds, from 20 to over 200 members in one semester.
  Yasmin has worked in various clinical roles at La Amistad Behavioral 
Health Services and at the Mental Health Association of Central 
Florida.
  Yasmin was a leader in the mental health response to the Pulse 
tragedy, working as the program director for Orlando United Counseling, 
providing long-term counseling for those affected directly and 
indirectly. During this time, Yasmin also set up events to destigmatize 
mental health in LGBTQ+ communities and Latin, Black, and immigrant 
communities as well.
  She has since shifted from working in clinical environments to the 
peer professional environment. She believes in the power of peers with 
similar lived experiences, particularly from within marginalized 
communities, and works to train and support them in using their own 
experience with mental health in order to guide and support others.
  She is passionate about breaking the mental health stigma that leaves 
people suffering alone and uses her experience as a suicide survivor 
living with PTSD and dissociative disorder to help others.
  Her nonprofit, Peer Support Space, has helped over 2,500 individuals 
with free services during its inaugural year, and they have recently 
opened central Florida's very first peer respite in my district.
  And for that, Ms. Yasmin Flasterstein, we honor you.


                       Honoring Catherine Haynes

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would 
like to recognize Catherine Haynes.
  Originally from Indiana, Catherine now lives in Orlando, Florida. She 
is known to be a dedicated volunteer, member, and supporter of the 
central Florida veteran and military community.
  Fourteen years ago, she realized veterans weren't receiving 
information about events that would be helpful to them. In order to 
fulfill that need, she created a massive email distribution list that 
includes veterans from six counties who are served by the Orlando VA 
Medical Center in Lake Nona.
  As part of her patriotic duty, she regularly greets the three Honor 
Flight hubs at the Orlando International Airport. Once she greeted and 
thanked over 3,000 senior veterans for their service.
  Catherine's patriotism is inherent. She can trace her family's 
military history back to the Revolutionary War, where her family served 
and became America's first veterans. Almost every generation in her 
family has served our country, including her son, Andrew, who served in 
the United States Navy.
  For several years, Catherine has volunteered with the Wall of Faces 
national project, whose goal is to match a photograph with every name 
that appears on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Last 
year, she found a Florida Vietnam war casualty without a photograph. By 
using reverse genealogy, she found the veteran's family, received his 
photo, and found where he had been buried in an unmarked grave for 
almost 50 years.
  Catherine has been finding photographs of war casualties across the 
Nation for years and recently began focusing her efforts on Puerto 
Rico, where she has faced several challenges in locating nearly 100 
pictures of the remaining Vietnam war casualties.
  One of her favorite quotes is: ``Well-behaved women seldom make 
history.'' Her motto is: ``The soles of my shoes seldom cool off, and 
neither do the tires on my car.''
  Catherine is supported by her husband, Joseph, in her continual 
efforts to support our central Florida veterans and military community.
  And for that, Ms. Catherine Haynes, we honor you.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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