[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 22, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H3669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN CANDICE BOWEN

  (Mr. CLINE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Candice 
Bowen who, this week, became the first woman to lead a Virginia 
National Guard infantry company. On Saturday, she took command of the 
Woodstock-based Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 
116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
  After being deployed to Qatar in 2016, Captain Bowen then volunteered 
for an assignment in Afghanistan, where she earned a Combat Action 
Badge. Her superiors say that she has ``demonstrated the absolute 
ability to lead soldiers in close combat.''
  Captain Bowen had already earned the distinction of becoming the 
Virginia National Guard's first female infantry officer in 2019, and 
when she spoke after accepting her command, Bowen encouraged other 
women to follow in her footsteps and join an infantry unit. In short, 
she said to jump in there, do it aggressively, and give it everything 
you've got.
  I wish Captain Bowen the best of luck in this new endeavor and know 
that those under her command in Bravo Company are in good hands.

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