[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1170-E1171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF JOE KRAUS AND MATT PROUTY WITH PROJECT 
                                 VISION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETER WELCH

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 17, 2020

  Mr. WELCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Joe Kraus and Matt 
Prouty for their service to Project VISION of Rutland, Vermont. Both 
Joe and Matt will soon be ending their impressive service to Project 
VISION after years of success helping Rutland build a better, stronger 
community.
  Formed in 2013 at the height of Rutland's opioid crisis, Project 
VISION has celebrated two core values since its founding: collaboration 
for the greater good and focus on the positives that make Rutland a 
special community. The former Chief of Police for the City of Rutland, 
James Baker, spearheaded the creation of Project VISION with the 
enthusiastic support of Mayor Christopher Louras and the Board of 
Alderman. These leaders recognized that the community's challenges were 
not going to be fixed by making more arrests, so they sought community 
partners to build real and substantive change.
  With passion and hard work, Joe Kraus and Matt Prouty have helped 
Project VISION lead a diverse coalition of over 300 social and health 
service agencies and organizations, who are united in their goal of 
making Rutland one of the healthiest, safest and happiest places in 
America. Project VISION's allies include the Rutland Regional Medical 
Center, the Rutland City Police Department, Rutland City Public 
Schools, Rutland Regional Planning Commission, NeighborWorks, and the 
Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging.
  In its early years, the coalition concentrated on treating addiction 
and substance abuse, reducing crime, and building great neighborhoods. 
Their success was impressive. A survey conducted in Rutland's Northwest 
neighborhood just three years after Project VISION was founded showed 
that people felt safer, had a more trusting relationship with law 
enforcement, and were proud of their neighborhood.
  Thanks to the work of Joe and Matt, Project VISION continues to grow. 
It has expanded its work beyond opioid addiction to address larger 
health and welfare issues affecting Rutland. Most recently, the 
organization announced that it would focus on reforming systems that 
relate to social and racial justice.
  I am proud to say that Rutland's future is bright. This is a 
community that has worked together to accomplish their common vision of 
a stronger Rutland. My thanks to Joe Kraus and Matt Prouty for stepping 
forward with energy and commitment to ensure the success of Project 
VISION. Their work has made a positive difference that will be felt by 
generations to come.

[[Page E1171]]

  

                          ____________________