[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 66 (Friday, April 16, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H1847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO SHAWN FRIEDKIN

  (Mr. DEUTCH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good 
friend, Shawn Friedkin, who left this Earth on March 3 after a 
courageous battle with cancer.
  When Shawn was 27, he was tragically injured in a car accident. The 
accident took away Shawn's ability to walk, but it also inspired him to 
dedicate his life to helping other exceptional people. He founded the 
nonprofit association, Stand Among Friends, whose mission followed 
Shawn's, to help people with disabilities to live a life without 
limits.
  Stand Among Friends partnered with Florida Atlantic University to 
open the Disability Center, which provides resources and career 
guidance to help individuals with disabilities find meaningful 
employment. Shawn was a founding member of the Boca Raton Advisory 
Board for People with Disabilities. He advocated for the disabled 
community and was appointed to the White House Healthcare Task Force.
  Shawn's mission was to help people with disabilities embrace their 
differences, realize their abilities, and leave a positive impact on 
their community. And his positive impact leaves a lasting legacy 
through the lives of all the people he helped personally, and most of 
all through his loving family. All of us are privileged to call him a 
friend,
  Above all, Shawn was devoted to his family and cherished spending 
time with his loving wife of 38 years, Lisa, and their incredible 
daughters, Bennett and Sydney. We will all miss Shawn's endless 
kindness, compassion, and generosity. Our lives are better for having 
Shawn as part of them.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Shawn 
Friedkin's life on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

                          ____________________