[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 135 (Thursday, July 30, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H3988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ANITA MONOIAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Newhouse) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the career of Anita 
Monoian, the president and CEO of Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, 
who announced her retirement after 41 years of tireless service and 
advocacy.
  At a time when community health is of the utmost importance, it is a 
privilege to honor an individual who has spent her life's work 
advocating for the care and well-being of the people of Yakima Valley.
  Anita describes her career's work as a labor of love. With that 
labor, Anita expanded the scope of Yakima Neighborhood Health Services 
from a single clinic to 10 clinics across the Yakima Valley, reaching 
92,000 patients, annually.
  Anita's voice has influenced State and Federal healthcare policy 
through her work on the board of the National Association of Community 
Health Centers and the Washington Association of Community and Migrant 
Health Centers.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Anita's legacy of improving 
healthcare in central Washington, and I urge my colleagues to join in 
me in congratulating her on an impactful career of service.


                      Recognizing Dr. James Irwin

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of one of 
central Washington's American heroes, James Irwin.
  Dr. James Irwin served as chief of surgery at the U.S. Navy Hospital 
in Oak Harbor, Washington. Following his service, Dr. Irwin treated 
patients in north central Washington for 13 years before opening a 
medical practice in Moses Lake. He was named chief medical officer of 
Samaritan Healthcare and was an original member of the Moses Lake 
Medical Team.
  He and his wife, Frances, were active members in their church and 
spent many years on medical missions across Africa, where he provided 
surgical services and shared his knowledge with local doctors.
  At age 62, Dr. Irwin, once again, answered his country's call. He 
deployed to Iraq as a naval surgeon before retiring as a captain in 
2004 with over 40 years of military service.
  In central Washington, Dr. Irwin was known for his kind attitude 
toward the patients he cared for. To his fellow brothers in arms, he 
was known as a hero. He passed away on June 30, but he has left a 
lasting legacy of providing care wherever it was needed.

  Mr. Speaker, my prayers go out to his family and loved ones, and I 
urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Irwin's life and service 
to our country.


            Remembering Brad Fisher of Kennewick, Washington

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, Brad Fisher of Kennewick was a friend, a 
businessman, and a passionate advocate for the Tri-Cities community.
  A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and dedicated community 
leader, Brad found endless ways to serve others. Over the years, he 
served as a Rotarian, a city council member, the mayor of Kennewick, 
and a member of numerous community service boards.
  One of Brad's many contributions to his community was his role as a 
fierce champion of local governance. He helped spearhead the 
reconveyance effort in the Tri-Cities to return thousands of acres of 
river shore land from the Federal Government and placed it back into 
the hands of the local community. His work is not yet complete, but I 
look forward to continuing his advocacy in accomplishing this effort to 
improve our community.
  Mr. Speaker, Brad Fisher is an example of the engaged and selfless 
citizenship that we should all strive to emulate. May his family and 
our community continue to be blessed by his memory, and may he rest in 
peace.

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