[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 49 (Friday, March 18, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H3848-H3851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DEMOCRATS ARE DELIVERING FOR AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 2021, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, the Republicans lost the majority and the 
Presidency because of their incompetence on COVID and the economy, and 
passed a tax cut for the rich that exploded the deficit by $400 
billion, and the debt by $4 trillion.
  So forgive me if I won't stand here and be lectured about fiscal 
responsibility from folks who took their only moment in charge to give 
windfalls to the wealthiest Americans, and now they are desperate to 
paint a sad picture of America. They are invested in our Nation's 
failure, solely as a desperate move to try to get back to power.
  Meanwhile, we Democrats are delivering. First, we defended democracy. 
I was up there in the Chamber on January 6 when a violent insurrection 
attempted to stop the democratic, peaceful transfer of power. This 
violent insurrection was stoked by my Republican colleagues. They don't 
want to talk about that now. But that's too bad.
  They attacked our democracy. They desecrated this Chamber by stoking 
extremism. Yet, we got back here and they voted ``no'' and we voted 
``yes'' to make sure that American voters were heard and certified Joe 
Biden's election

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as President. And yes, some brave Republicans joined us because they 
realized it was treason.
  We will defend democracy and hold those responsible accountable 
through the January 6 committee.
  Second, we got the pandemic under control. We passed the American 
Rescue Plan, put shots in arms, money in pockets, got kids back to 
school and families back to work. Every American had access to the 
vaccine; every American, and life is getting back to normal.
  We stopped a great recession back in Florida, where we both have the 
honor of representing. We stopped a foreclosure crisis that knocked in 
half people's wealth, hurt through the generations, so many homeowners 
in Florida and across the Nation.
  Unemployment is down to 4 percent nationally and under 4 percent in 
Florida. Yet, no Republicans voted for it.
  Third, we passed the largest infrastructure law in our Nation's 
history. The infrastructure plan will upgrade America, roads and 
bridges, clean air and water, airports and ports, high speed internet 
access for all Americans, including rural Americans left behind before, 
and brownfield restoration and other environmental restoration. Ten 
Republicans voted for it. We applaud them. But they were ridiculed by 
their own party for voting for infrastructure.

  What is wrong with the minority leaders in this Chamber if they are 
going to attack their own Members for investing in America, something 
that they had the chance to do? I would have voted for it under then-
President Trump for an infrastructure package. But they failed to do 
it. We got it done.
  Then Democrats led this House to pass a bipartisan National Defense 
Authorization Act. That is to protect the homeland, fund our military, 
support our troops.
  We passed a bipartisan budget just last week to meet the needs of the 
American people, jobs, healthcare, education, the environment, local 
projects; yes, supporting a robust immigration system, and making sure 
that we can meet all the needs of the American people.
  We also had bipartisan support for the war on Ukraine, the relentless 
and disgraceful invasion by Russia of Ukraine. We have supplied them 
with military weapons, training, humanitarian relief, and we will 
defend democracy in Europe with that $14 billion we passed in a 
bipartisan fashion here.
  And yes, we need to still continue to address COVID-related 
inflation. First, by getting COVID-19 under control, our economy is 
finally producing more goods again. Things are more efficient now. 
People are buying more services again to balance that out.
  Second, our infrastructure law will upgrade our ports, our airports, 
and our highways to improve supply chains.
  Third, we are addressing price gouging of companies that are taking 
advantage, particularly in gas and groceries.
  Fourth, we are boosting domestic oil production to compensate for the 
Russian oil ban which was very popular and demanded upon by my 
constituents and others. And in the long term, we are investing in 
renewable energy. And yes, the Federal Reserve will do their part to 
help make sure we can address COVID-related and Ukraine war-related 
inflation, and we need to do this together, rather than politicize it.
  Next, we are turning the corner to go to the America COMPETES Act, 
Madam Speaker, bringing American manufacturing jobs back home, 
something that people have talked about for years. We will get this 
done. We have had bipartisan support in the Senate. We had some 
bipartisan support in the House. We will now go to conference.
  And what will that mean? Bringing back home more microchip 
manufacturing, which has made it harder to get cars and trucks on to 
American car lots. We can make it here at home. We can make it in 
America.
  We will bring back personal protective equipment and other healthcare 
manufacturing to help out, like we saw during the pandemic, where it 
was a huge issue.
  We will bring back telecommunications equipment. We invent 
telecommunications equipment, but so much of it, all of it, is made 
overseas. And with China now spying on us, we need to make sure we have 
our domestic production ready to go.
  And pharmaceutical production, biosimilar production, aerospace 
production, like we do in East Orange County, as well as space 
production; having the busiest spaceport in the world, 70 percent of 
space flights going through there at Cape Canaveral, something that we 
beam with pride about in Florida.
  So as we hear about the mistakes of the past and trying to invest in 
failure by many Republicans in this Chamber, the Democratic majority is 
defending democracy. We have gotten COVID under control. We have passed 
a major infrastructure package. We have passed bipartisan bills for the 
budget, for our military, for the war in Ukraine. And now, we go on 
next to bring American jobs home with the America COMPETES Act. The 
future is bright if we work together, Madam Speaker.


                      Honoring Ashlee Maree Wright

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would 
like to recognize Ashley Maree Wright.
  Ashlee Maree Wright is a mother, dynamic visionary, and results-
oriented leader. She founded Wright on Time Educational Services in 
2006, which provides customized educational solutions to communities 
that desire to open a school, solve an educational problem, or require 
management services. WOT focuses on developing innovative learning 
environments that cultivate the entire student in a way that empowers 
them to be impactful leaders of tomorrow.
  As the founder of New Beginnings High School in 2011, Ashlee 
successfully implemented a unique educational model that provides an 
innovative and nurturing educational experience, which is available to 
all students in central Florida.
  Thousands of students who were once unsuccessful in a traditional 
public school model are now thriving, graduating from high school, and 
pursuing postgraduate opportunities due to Ashley's unparalleled work.
  Before her role as founder of NBHS, Ashlee established herself as an 
educational professional by being an exceptional teacher and ultimately 
climbing the career ladder to become a principal at the age of 25. As a 
result of her modus operandi, she is widely acclaimed as a business 
leader who genuinely cares about the growth of each child.
  Her ability to effectively raise students' academic prowess and self-
esteem helps bolster their performance amidst any present challenges 
they may have. Today, she builds and operates schools utilizing her 
education ethos to replicate her success.
  Ms. Wright graduated from Florida State University in 2003, gave 
birth to the beautiful and precocious Victoria Maree in 2007, and 
started her own charter system in 2010. Her passion, upbringing, and 
love for empowering others through education laid the framework for her 
unique education and management methodology.
  Building on her parents' legacy, award-winning educators Dr. Clint 
and Debra Wright, Ashlee continues to shift the education paradigm and 
change lives for the better, one community at a time.

  For this and more, Ashlee Maree Wright, we honor you.


                          Honoring Asma Patel

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would 
like to recognize Asma Patel.
  Asma Patel is a board-certified community attorney who has diligently 
served and continues to serve Osceola County. Ms. Patel holds dual 
degrees with honors in psychology and legal studies, as well as a Juris 
Doctorate degree.
  During her law school career, Ms. Patel was a student ambassador, 
mentor, and the president of the Muslim Law School Association at her 
alma mater. She honed her dispute resolution skills by competing in and 
ultimately winning first place in an international law school mediation 
tournament.
  During this time, she continued to demonstrate her dedication to 
serving her community as a guardian ad litem fellow. In this role, she 
played a crucial role as a representative for abused, abandoned, and 
neglected children.
  Ms. Patel has spearheaded community initiatives aimed at ending 
domestic violence. As a certified domestic abuse victim advocate, she 
assisted survivors in crisis by providing essential resources and 
support. In an effort

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to create awareness, she has hosted family empowerment seminars and 
tabled at events aimed at tackling domestic abuse.
  Through mentorship, extensive networking, and volunteerism, Ms. Patel 
has worked with marginalized and vulnerable communities, striving to 
bring light and change to the social injustices that plague them. Most 
recently, she has begun to help address the issue of inaccessibility to 
feminine hygiene products by providing these products to local Title I 
schools.
  Ms. Patel's Bridge the Gap initiatives in Osceola County are inspired 
by her desire to take action that empowers women to be courageous in 
the pursuit of dreams.
  For this and more, Ms. Asma Patel, we honor you.

                              {time}  1200


                  Honoring Deputy Chief Betty Holland

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I 
recognize Deputy Chief Betty Holland.
  Deputy Chief Betty Holland is a 34-year veteran of the law 
enforcement profession. She currently works for the Kissimmee Police 
Department as deputy chief of the operations bureau.
  Before coming to the Kissimmee Police Department in March 2018, she 
worked for 30 years for the Polk County Sheriff's Office, where she 
retired as a captain.
  Deputy Chief Holland has held several prominent supervisory positions 
in the law enforcement community, including her time as the criminal 
and strategic investigations lieutenant and overseeing the criminal 
justice academy as a captain.
  Deputy Chief Holland received her bachelor of science in business and 
professional leadership from Southeastern University and her master of 
public administration from Troy University. In addition, she is a 
graduate of the Southern Police Institute's administrative officers 
course from the University of Louisville and a graduate of the 
certified public manager program from Florida State University.
  Deputy Chief Holland's first thoughts of a law enforcement career 
surfaced at 15. Her best friend's dad was a retired deputy sheriff, 
which sparked her interest in law enforcement. This interest quickly 
developed into a passion, and when she graduated from high school, she 
immediately accepted a position at the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
  Deputy Chief Betty Holland's career goals include becoming chief of 
police with the Kissimmee Police Department and continuing to build 
relationships with the community. She is passionate about lowering 
crime rates with innovative, new deterrent measures; holding public 
servants to higher standards and expectations; and creating more open 
lines of communication between officers and civilians. Her actions 
regarding these objectives remain a consistent measure of her interests 
in the betterment of the field of law enforcement.
  For this and more, Deputy Chief Betty Holland, we honor you.


                          Honoring Cindy Lewis

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I 
recognize Ms. Cindy Lewis.
  Cindy Lewis has dedicated her nearly 33-year career at the Kissimmee/
Osceola County Chamber of Commerce to serving the business community of 
Osceola County.
  A native Floridian, Cindy was born in DeLand, Florida, as the second 
daughter of Johnny and Annette Wimberly. She has called central Florida 
her home for her entire life and is a proud graduate of Osceola High 
School's class of 1980.
  Cindy began her career with Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of 
Commerce as an administrative assistant in 1989. She was promoted to 
officer manager in 1994 and executive vice president in 2008. In her 
time at the chamber, Cindy was recognized as Chamber Professional of 
the Year in 2017 by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals. 
She received her certification as a Florida Certified Chamber 
Professional and is currently in her fourth year at the Institute for 
Organization Management, a professional development program of the U.S. 
Chamber Foundation from which she will graduate in June of this year 
with the IOM certification.
  During her tenure at the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber, the chamber has 
been recognized by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals as 
Chamber of the Year in 2001, 2017, and 2021. Cindy is also a graduate 
of Leadership Osceola.
  Cindy has been married to Troy Lewis, the love of her life, for 32 
years. Cindy and Troy own a ranch in Clermont, Florida, filled with 
cattle, donkeys, chickens, cats, and two spoiled dogs who are their 
pride and joy.
  When she is not working or ranching, she enjoys spending time with 
her husband boating, enjoying other outdoor activities, learning new 
recipes, vacationing in the Florida Keys, and spending time with her 
family and friends.
  For this and more, Ms. Cindy Lewis, we honor you.


                      Honoring Doris Moore Bailey

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I 
recognize Doris Moore Bailey.
  Ms. Moore Bailey's innovative marketing skills for a national youth 
organization inspired her to develop middle school and teen mom 
initiatives in four Florida counties and 24 schools to provide services 
for 1,000 students yearly.
  An experienced adjunct professor and YMCA program director, she 
believes that no one achieves a successful life without the influence 
of positive mentoring.
  Twice appointed by Florida's Governor Lawton Chiles to the Peace 
River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, 
she participated in flyovers of the basin's 105-mile Peace River, 
Florida's Manatee River that flows into the Gulf of Mexico to Tampa 
Bay, and Florida's largest storage facility with 1,147-acre New Wales 
gypstack in Polk County.
  She established the African American Chamber of Commerce of Polk 
County, Inc.; the African American Historical Museum of Lakeland; 
reestablished the Polk County Democratic Black Caucus; organized Polk 
County USCT and buffalo soldiers re-enactors; and is a founder of the 
Friends of Cathay Williams Organization. She is also the only female 
buffalo soldier and advocates for the rights of voters to access the 
ballot box. Through her work, she strives to enhance community 
resources.
  In 2022, she organized the African American Historical Museum of 
Lakeland Equal Justice Initiative's lynching Community Remembrance 
Project and Polk County's first commemoration of the 56th anniversary 
Selma Bridge crossing Jubilee Unity march. She is a Polk County 
trailblazer, spanning 30 years in talk radio as an executive producer 
and host of Our Voices.
  Moore Bailey and her husband of 44 years are parents of two adult 
children and the grandparents to five grandsons.
  In 1992, she organized Florida's first Juneteenth observance. She is 
a member of New Bethel AME Church, an NAACP Gold Life member, and a 
chartered member and past president of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 
Inc., Chapter in Lakeland. She also authored anthologies: ``Voices of 
Unsung Immortal Mothers'' and ``Sons of Immortal Mothers.''
  For this and more, Ms. Doris Moore Bailey, we honor you.


                       Honoring Dr. Lynn Marshall

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I 
recognize Dr. Lynn Marshall.
  Dr. Lynn Marshall's journey in public health began when she worked as 
an education and training coordinator for the Healthy Start Coalition. 
During that time, she joined the Florida Healthy Babies Committee and 
led a subcommittee that consisted of the following partners: Lakeland 
Regional Health, Florida Department of Health, Healthy Start Coalition, 
Sunshine Health, and Spirit Life Ministries.
  In 2019, Dr. Marshall and a handful of community partners hosted the 
first Melanin Families Matter community event at Lakeland Regional 
Health Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children. In August 
2019, Dr. Marshall took the initiative to incorporate and serve as the 
president of Melanin Families Matter. She has received proclamations on 
behalf of Melanin Families Matter from the Polk County Board of County 
Commissioners, Winter Haven Chain of Lakes Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler, 
and city of Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz.
  These governmental officers have recognized and publicly declared the

[[Page H3851]]

month of March to be Melanin Families Matter Month.
  Dr. Marshall continues to host annual Melanin Families Matter health 
panels and community events that are open to the public at no cost. In 
addition to providing education to the Polk County community, Dr. 
Marshall also spearheads a Community Distribution Day each year. It is 
during this time when care packages, educational materials, clothing, 
food, and play items for babies and children are provided to families 
in need at no cost.
  As a community advocate, Dr. Marshall has served as a guest speaker 
on the following platforms: 100 National Coalition of Black Women, Polk 
State College Women's History Month panel discussion, The Empowered 
Woman, Our Voices Live radio broadcast, and more.
  Dr. Marshall is the wife of Dr. Jarvis L. Marshall, and together, 
they have two beautiful daughters.
  For this and more, Dr. Lynn Marshall, we honor you.


                          Honoring Laudi Campo

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I 
recognize Laudi Campo.
  Laudi Campo was born and raised in Morovis, Puerto Rico. Through a 
25-year professional trajectory in communications, government, and 
nonprofits, she continues to build organizations, create partnerships, 
and implement innovative outreach and services for the community.
  Her career started in the Puerto Rico Senate as a communications 
specialist. She then became an English teacher and later gained 
valuable experience in Federal grant management in the private sector. 
As a public relations director for Vega Alta, her most notable 
contribution became a radio program to connect the community with the 
local government.
  In 2011, she moved with her family to Orlando, where she has been a 
noteworthy player in Hispanic relations in central Florida. As a 
Spanish-language teacher, she acquired valuable insight into the 
education system. Her passion for community work reignited at the 
Orange County Property Appraiser and the city of Orlando's District 2 
office, a sector rich in diversity and community pride, where she 
helped people of different nationalities.
  One of the most significant achievements became her work on the Trust 
Act policy, which was approved unanimously by the Orlando City Council 
and helps noncitizens who are victims of crime.
  In 2019, Laudi was named deputy director for the Hispanic Federation 
Florida, the Nation's premier Latino nonprofit. She directed the 
Census, voter registration, and COVID-19 media campaigns during the 
pandemic. In 2021, she became HF Florida's State director. She expanded 
services and spearheaded a massive effort to vaccinate 13,000 
individuals and educate more than 1 million Floridians on vaccines. She 
foresaw a pandemic aftershock and provided $1 million in financial aid 
to local nonprofits.
  Laudi continues to forge partnerships and advocate for affordable 
housing, immigration, environmental justice, and fair redistricting. 
Most recently, she has been recognized by the 2021 Tech Innovadores for 
her work in digital inclusion.
  For this and more, Senora Laudi Campo, we honor you.


                        Honoring Sarah Johnston

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I 
recognize Sarah Johnston.
  Sarah Johnston serves as the vice president of development of the 
Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida. She began her career in the 
development field in 2002 after graduating from the University of 
Central Florida. Her goal has always been to obtain a leadership 
position that utilizes and challenges her abilities to maximize 
results, build strong relationships, and honor her commitment to 
excellence, innovation, and community.
  Sarah is a mission-driven professional with over 20 years of 
experience in building and sustaining excellent investor relationships 
with a measurable track record of success. Through her experience, she 
has demonstrated expertise in creating philanthropic cultures by 
utilizing a strategic, collaborative, data-driven, and results-oriented 
mindset. In her eyes, her team's responsibility is to serve as a 
connector for individuals in the community and their passion for 
investing in the future of children of promise.
  Sarah's favorite part of her role is building bridges with investors 
and sharing the potential impact they can have through the stories of 
club members she serves. She believes there is nothing more important 
than telling a child you believe in them and that regardless of their 
ZIP Code or the economic status of their family, they deserve a chance 
to realize their dreams.
  In her service to the community, Sarah raised over $25 million in 
hope and opportunity. Ultimately, she is driven every day by the 
bravery of the club members she serves who face and have overcome 
unimaginable obstacles, as well as the success they achieved through 
mentors and club programming. For her, being able to watch a club 
member be the first in their family to walk across a stage to receive a 
high school diploma, and seeing the pride light up in their eyes, keeps 
her believing that every day is an opportunity to be great.
  For this and more, Ms. Sarah Johnston, we honor you.

                              {time}  1215

  In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to recognize Yulonda 
Bell. Ms. Yulonda Bell serves as the associate dean for the student 
services at Polk State College where she listens to, learns from, and 
encourages people from all walks of life to achieve their dreams. Bell 
is a strong leader who does not seek the spotlight and prefers to work 
in the background providing guidance and support that fosters student 
success.
  Born and raised in Bartow, Florida, Bell was a teen parent who 
overcame obstacles to achieve her diploma and provide for her family. 
Her perseverance resulted in her achievement of an associate degree 
from Polk Community College, a bachelor's degree from Warner 
University, and a master's degrees from Webster University, all while 
raising two sons.
  She first served Polk County Public Schools, followed by positions 
with the Florida Department of Children and Families, and finally Polk 
State College. She was the first in her family to achieve a college 
diploma, providing her with an understanding of the challenges that 
students of color and first-generation-in-college students face as they 
navigate higher education.
  She is a leader on campus serving as an advisor to the Black Student 
Union; a founder of SISTERS, Strong, Independent, Sisters, that 
Encourage, RESPECT and Survive; a mentor for Polk State basketball; and 
the STEM Club students.
  She invests time as a member of the organizing committee for the city 
of Winter Haven Juneteenth Celebration, serving on the city of Winter 
Haven's Martin Luther King committee, volunteering at the Neighborhood 
Service Center, and participating in Lift Lakeland to improve race 
relations and expand economic, education, and civic involvement.
  Bell lives Maya Angelou's quote, ``I've learned that people will 
forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will 
never forget how you made them feel,'' as she plays an important role 
in supporting students and celebrating their achievements.
  For this and more, Ms. Yulonda Bell, we honor you.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________