[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 188 (Tuesday, October 26, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING THE TZEDEK ASSOCIATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a proud American. In 1776, 
our Founding Fathers proposed e pluribus unum, ``Out of many, we are 
one,'' for the first Great Seal of our country. It can be found on our 
currency, on buildings, and in the seal of the U.S. House of 
Representatives.
  Sadly, this fundamental value is rarely seen in today's day and age. 
I am proud because I have come across an American faith-based 
organization that should serve as an example to all of us and this 
principle of e pluribus unum.
  I am referring to the Tzedek Association. Recently, though they are 
of a completely different faith, and though this is really outside the 
purview of what they normally do, Tzedek has dedicated itself to saving 
the people from Afghanistan.
  The Tzedek Association is a Jewish national nonprofit that advocates 
for criminal justice reform and religious liberty and fights for 
humanitarian cases throughout the globe.
  Tzedek championed the First Step Act, as well as other commonsense 
criminal justice reforms. In fact, the president and founder of Tzedek, 
Rabbi Moshe Margaretten, was honored by former President Trump and the 
First Lady with the lighting of the menorah at the White House Hanukkah 
party in recognition of Tzedek's contribution to prison reform.
  After the Taliban took over Kabul, it came to Tzedek's attention that 
the last remaining Jew of Afghanistan was in danger of being killed. 
They were requested to utilize their political connections to save his 
life. One thing led to another, and this led to Tzedek coordinating the 
escape of dozens and dozens of Afghans.
  Let me stress the novelty of this: An Orthodox Jewish organization, 
led by Orthodox rabbis, is working day and night to save the lives of 
Muslims, Christians, and people of other faiths--mostly many women and 
children--because they clearly live by the value ``out of many, we are 
one.''
  Tzedek has thus far coordinated the rescue of female judges, orphans, 
translators, and other individuals who helped the United States and the 
U.K. in the war on terror. They also saved the lives of female soccer 
players, who are at risk of being killed by the Taliban simply because 
they have chosen to play this global sport.

  They recently led an effort to save two pregnant women who were high-
risk targets, one of whom gave birth to a healthy baby girl just 3 days 
after being rescued. And yes, they also saved the last remaining 
Afghanistan Jew, Zebulun Simantov.
  But along with him, they rescued 30 other people, religious 
minorities who were at risk of persecution just because of their faith. 
To accomplish all of this, Tzedek has raised hundreds of thousands of 
dollars, all of which has come from the Jewish community. It is awe-
inspiring and a lesson to us in Washington and to those all across the 
world that we must come together more often for the greater good.
  Despite our differences, we must unite as creations of an Almighty 
God and do what we can together to make this world a better place.


                   Recognizing Troop 60 of Papillion

  Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Boy Scout Troop 
60 of Papillion, Nebraska, for their efforts to partner with the city 
of Papillion to preserve the community's historic 100-year-old Boy 
Scout cabin.
  Originally formed in 1913 as Troop 1, they began building the log 
cabin in 1921 under the leadership of Scoutmaster Reverend B. Johansen 
to be used as the troop's headquarters. In June 1922, the Papillion 
community dedicated the Scout cabin, and it has been in continuous use 
ever since.
  The cabin is an iconic local landmark in Papillion's City Park, 
celebrating pride in both Scouting and the community. It is believed 
that this Scout cabin could be one of the oldest Scout cabins in 
continuous use west of the Mississippi. Troop 60 recently finished 
renovation of the historic cabin, preserving it for another 100 years 
and for generations to come.
  This restoration was part of the Papillion 150 celebration. Papillion 
150 was a community movement that recognized the city of Papillion's 
150th anniversary, having grown from an 1870s railroad town that was on 
the mainline of the Union Pacific Railroad to now being one of the 
fastest growing cities in Nebraska.
  I also recognize the troop's longtime sponsor, the Harry Bossard 
American Legion Post 32, which has mentored Troop 60 to be the shining 
example of positive impacts of Scouting. Throughout Troop 60's history, 
it is estimated that over 200 individuals have attained the rank of 
Eagle Scout, and many of those have gone on to become leaders 
throughout the community of Papillion, the State of Nebraska, the 
military, and even in the Halls of Congress with our own chief of 
staff, Mark Dreiling.
  Madam Speaker, I salute Troop 60 of Papillion.

                          ____________________