[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 176 (Wednesday, October 6, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6940-S6941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO THE MARRS FAMILY

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Dave and 
Jenny Marrs of Bentonville, AR, on being named National Angels in 
Adoption honorees by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, 
CCAI.
  The CCAI is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and I was 
honored to nominate Dave and Jenny for their work to support and 
promote adoption and other critical services for children in Arkansas 
and around the world.
  Since 2001, the CCAI has played a vital role in eliminating barriers 
standing between orphaned and foster children becoming part of a loving 
family. As the CCAI's signature public awareness program, Angels in 
Adoption annually recognizes outstanding individuals, families, and 
organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to adoption 
and child welfare.
  Dave and Jenny are the parents of five children, including Sylvie 
whom they adopted from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They had 
always known they wanted to adopt and, in 2012, began the process to 
make Sylvie part of their family. It only took a few months for Sylvie 
to legally became their child, but the couple had no idea how difficult 
it would be to bring her home to Arkansas when international challenges 
brought the process to a halt. Shortly after their visit to the Congo, 
the Congolese Government shut down adoptions. Dave and Jenny were 
devasted, but the hardships only strengthened their resolve to rescue 
their daughter. It was during that process that my office first met the 
Marrs family, and I am pleased we were able to advocate for them with 
the U.S. State Department and Embassy officials. After more than 600 
days, their Sylvie finally arrived home.
  Inspired by their newest addition to the family, Dave and Jenny 
developed a passion for orphan care, family preservation, and adoption. 
The family started a nonprofit blueberry farm in northwest Arkansas as 
a way to help fund a program to educate orphaned and at-risk teenage 
boys in Marondera, Zimbabwe. They also advocate for children in need, 
including working closely with the philanthropic organization Help One 
Now to empower families in developing nations through capable local 
leaders.
  The Marrs family has traveled the world to see firsthand the extreme 
poverty and truly dark circumstances facing parentless children around 
the globe. While visiting the Congo, the couple witnessed extreme 
starvation in the orphanage where their daughter Sylvie was living. 
This shocked Dave and Jenny, launching them into action. They organized 
an online raffle to raise money to feed the kids and their program was 
so successful it was able to feed three orphanages for an entire month. 
The Marrses have also used their platform on their hit HGTV show 
``Fixer to Fabulous'' to help spread awareness about adoption and share 
their journey with viewers.
  It was a privilege to nominate Dave and Jenny for their exemplary 
work that led to this well-deserved national honor, and I believe I 
speak for all Arkansans when I say they have made our State incredibly 
proud. They join influential and deserving members of this community, 
including Mohammed Ali and First Lady Laura Bush, as recipients of this 
important recognition. I am grateful for the life-changing efforts Dave 
and Jenny Marrs, as well as

[[Page S6941]]

their wonderful children Nathan, Ben, Sylvie, Charlotte, and Luke, have 
contributed to shine a light on this truly worthy and necessary 
cause.

                          ____________________