[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H205-H206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WELCOMING THE HONORABLE SHEILA CHERFILUS-McCORMICK TO THE HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-
Balart) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Speaker, as the dean of the Florida 
delegation, I have the honor of welcoming Representative Sheila 
Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida's 20th District to the United States 
House of Representatives.
  Our new colleague will fill the seat of my late dear friend, Alcee 
Hastings. Now, similar to the district that I am honored to represent, 
Florida's 20th District is extremely diverse and covers urban and 
agricultural areas in both Palm Beach and Broward Counties.
  Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick is the proud daughter of Haitian immigrants, 
and she was born in Brooklyn, New York.
  Madam Speaker, after finishing college at Howard University, she 
moved to Florida to attend St. Thomas University School of Law.
  Although she left Florida to become a project manager at the New York 
City Transit Authority, it wasn't long before Florida's sunshine 
brought her back to Florida. In 1999, she joined Trinity Health Care 
Services and eventually became the company's CEO.
  Madam Speaker, this once single mother is the epitome of the American 
Dream and represents the aspiration of so many of our South Florida 
neighbors. I look forward, Madam Speaker, to working with our newest 
colleague on the issues of importance to our country and to South 
Florida. Florida's congressional delegation is honored to welcome 
Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick to the United States House of 
Representatives.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. 
Cherfilus-McCormick), who is our newest Member of Congress.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Diaz-Balart for 
those kinds words and introduction.
  I would first like to thank my family: my husband, Corlie McCormick, 
my daughter, Ismanie McCormick, and son, Jackson McCormick, who are in 
the gallery.
  I would like to thank my team and my family, and especially God, who 
has brought us this far.
  I am a child of immigrant parents who risked their lives to come to 
the United States. I thank my colleagues who fought for me even before 
I was born here to ensure that immigrants can actually have a place in 
our country and can live the American Dream. So I thank Members in 
advance because that is how I got here.
  I also want to thank the 20th District who fought with us and who 
believed in a new voice and is giving this little Haitian-American girl 
a chance to fight for our country.
  I would like to say a special thank you for all the pastors who 
prayed. I pledge to work as hard as I can, tirelessly, to ensure that 
District 20 and the United States are getting their needs met. I pledge 
to work as hard as

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I can with every Member who is present today as we move forward 
upholding the Constitution and the promises, all the promises that 
brought me here today.
  For the other children who were told that it could never happen for 
them, we fight today, and we join hands today.

                          ____________________