[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 3, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING UTAH GOVERNOR GARY HERBERT--RECEIVING THE ``GIANT IN OUR 
                              CITY'' AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BEN McADAMS

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 3, 2020

  Mr. McADAMS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Salt Lake 
Chamber's 2020 ``Giant in our City'' Award winner: Utah Governor Gary 
R. Herbert.
  Governor Herbert is currently the nation's longer-serving governor. 
He has served as chair of both the Western Governors Association and 
the National Governors Association. During his time in office, he has 
worked to build what is one of the country's strongest economies--as of 
January, Utah's unemployment rate was the lowest ever recorded--at 2.3 
percent. Utah also led the nation for its job creation rate in 2019.
  He has defined his mission by ``The Utah Way.''
  ``Our state succeeds because of our people and their culture of hard 
work, innovation, industry, inclusivity and compassion--that is the 
Utah Way.''
  Governor Herbert was born in Utah County, where he served as a county 
commissioner for 14 years. He served six years in the Utah National 
Guard and he started a successful real estate brokerage and development 
company. Governor Herbert served as the past president of the Utah 
Association of Realtors and the past president of the Utah Association 
of Counties.
  As governor, he has prioritized public education--in a state with 
large families and many children to educate. That's why his effort to 
build a vibrant economy has been so important, since a well-educated 
work force and well-paid jobs go hand-in-hand.
  Governor Herbert has led our state with compassion, supporting local 
efforts to reform and improve our homeless services and welcoming 
refugees to Utah. He was recognized recently by the Utah Refugee 
Advisory Board, which thanked him for asking the federal government to 
let Utah take in more refugees. He received a letter which said, in 
part, ``Governor Herbert, you have touched the hearts of many people in 
the refugee community by speaking out nationally on behalf of--and for 
standing with--Utah refugees.'' It was signed by 30 leaders from a 
variety of Utah refugee groups from countries including Somalia, Sudan, 
Burundi, Cameroon, Liberia and Congo.
  Governor Herbert's wife, First Lady Jeanette Herbert, has been an 
equal partner in his service. As the owner and operator of a childcare 
center and preschool for 23 years, Jeanette focused on an initiative 
known as ``Uplift Families''--with the goal of promoting good parenting 
skills, strengthening families and offering resources to parents 
throughout Utah. The Herberts are proud parents of six children and 
numerous grandchildren.
  Governor Herbert, as the 17th Governor of our state, has served us 
well. His legacy of ``hard work, inclusivity and compassion'' will 
benefit Utahns for generations to come.

                          ____________________