[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 44 (Thursday, March 5, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H1524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                              {time}  1215
                       RECOGNIZING BILL GAERTNER

  (Mr. TRONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bill Gaertner for 
receiving the distinguished St. Dismas Award for his work through the 
Gatekeepers Re-Entry Program in Hagerstown, Maryland.
  Gatekeepers is a program that addresses one of the top needs in our 
criminal justice system: support for returning citizens.
  Today, 90 percent of incarcerated people get released into their own 
communities, but many struggle to find the resources and support to 
thrive.
  A returning citizen himself, Bill was 70 years old when he was 
released from prison. He started the Gatekeepers organization when he 
realized the challenges those released from prison face as they reenter 
society.
  Gatekeepers aims to provide a connection to resources so folks could 
be successful as they transition back into their communities.
  We should all be working toward a more just criminal justice system.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Bill Gaertner on this much-deserved award 
for his work to support justice-impacted communities.

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