[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 28, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5468-H5469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                    CONGRATULATIONS TO ALAN JOHNSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an 
individual from my district for his work to keep both Iowans and 
Americans healthy.
  Alan Johnson, a professor in the Department of Psychological and 
Brain Sciences at the University of Iowa, has been selected for the 
2021 Excellence Award for Hypertension Research by the American Heart 
Association's Council on Hypertension.
  This award by the American Heart Association is given to members of 
the scientific community who have had a major impact in research that 
has contributed to better understanding the causes and effects of 
hypertension.
  Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common cardiovascular 
condition that affects millions of Americans a year and is a major 
contributor of both strokes and heart attacks.
  I am proud of Professor Johnson for his decades of research into the 
effects, causes, and treatments of this condition, and I congratulate 
him for earning this prestigious award.


   Thank You to Stead Family Children's Hospital Staff and Volunteers

  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, September is Childhood Cancer 
Awareness Month, and I would like to take a moment to thank my district 
for their work in treating and researching childhood cancer.
  A staple to my district and to the Iowa City community is the 
University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, located right 
across the street from Kinnick Stadium. You all might know it well from 
the ``wave,'' one of college football's greatest traditions.
  The Stead Family Children's Hospital specializes in treating 
pediatric patients, winning several awards for their specialties in not 
only pediatric cancer but also orthopedics and cardiology, among 
others.
  Our gratitude for helping these children extends beyond the staff of 
Stead Family Children's Hospital. Many University of Iowa students and 
members of the Iowa City community use their free time to volunteer 
just to brighten a child's day.
  Thank you to the men and women in Iowa who are working to treat and 
research childhood cancer and to those who use their time to comfort 
children who are currently battling it, a disease no child or parent 
should face alone.


                   Hills Elementary School Wins Award

  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 
importance of childhood education and how a school in my district is 
taking extra strides to ensure their students' success.
  At Hills Elementary School in Hills, Iowa, one out of four students 
are in the process of learning English as their second language. This 
is far higher than the average rate in Iowa being 12 percent.
  Though many might see this language disparity as a barrier to student 
achievement, this year, Hills Elementary was selected as one of 325 
schools to win a National Blue Ribbon School Award from the U.S. 
Department of Education, with 81 percent of students at the school 
showing improvement in their academics.
  Beginning in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon School Award has been 
used to recognize American schools for their academic excellence.
  I couldn't be prouder of both the students and faculty at Hills 
Elementary,

[[Page H5469]]

and I wish the best for them as they continue their journey of academic 
achievement.
  I would also like to take a moment to wish a happy belated birthday 
to my legislative assistant, Kendyl Willox, and a happy belated 
birthday to my good friend and colleague, enthusiastically, the 
gentleman from Long Island, Representative  Andrew Garbarino.

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