[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 57 (Thursday, March 31, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H4014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PHIL JENKINS' REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Ms. Spanberger) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the remarkable 
contributions of Phil Jenkins, who recently finished serving as 
managing and executive editor at the Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, 
Virginia.
  Phil gave his time, his energy, and his dedication to the Free Lance-
Star for 24 years.
  ``Equally wise and unflappable,'' that is how his colleagues describe 
him. ``A trusted leader, gifted editor, and generous mentor.''
  When he arrived at the paper in 1998, Phil made sure the paper stayed 
at the top of its game. As the years went on, his determination guided 
the paper through difficult stretches and through thousands of local 
news developments.
  He oversaw critical investigations, including those related to the 
D.C. sniper trial. He managed major transitions, such as shifting from 
an afternoon to morning production cycle and moving the paper's offices 
to downtown Fredericksburg.
  Under Phil's leadership the Free Lance-Star was nine times judged as 
Virginia's best midsize daily between 2011 and 2020, winning first 
place for its writing, design, and photography.
  In Fredericksburg, Phil supervised dozens of people, including 
writers, photographers, designers, editors, web producers, and clerical 
staff. Those who worked with him over the years said that ``few knew a 
more journalistically savvy, more evenhanded or more calming influence 
in the newsroom.''
  When asked to describe Phil's tenure at the paper, a former colleague 
said that Phil showed ``unparalleled leadership'' as well as ``an 
uncanny ability to measure and satiate the community's hunger for the 
news that makes it unique.''
  Today, Phil's staff and the entire greater Fredericksburg region and 
the Free Lance-Star readership will greatly miss Phil's hand at the 
helm of the Free Lance-Star.
  One former Free Lance-Star editor said, ``Working with such a gifted 
journalist and wonderful person as Phil Jenkins was one of the highest 
honors of my life. There is no way to adequately thank him for the 
contributions he has made to the paper and to the community.''
  Phil's service to the Fredericksburg area and Virginia overall speaks 
to the enduring importance of local news, including print journalism. 
Local news keeps us informed about the day-to-day events in our 
communities. It allows us to share the triumphs of our neighbors. It 
holds those in power to account, and it brings to light the challenges 
we face together, as a community, as a Commonwealth, and as a country.
  As another former colleague said, ``Nobody gave more to the cause of 
community journalism than Phil Jenkins.''
  Today, on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, I would 
like to thank Phil Jenkins for his service to the people of Virginia. 
We thank him for his devotion to his colleagues, his commitment to 
accuracy, and his love of a good story founded on the truth.

                              {time}  1045


                       Recognizing Bill Shugarts

  Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Seventh 
District constituent and U.S. Army veteran Bill Shugarts.
  Bill is a Vietnam veteran who served with the 23rd Infantry Division. 
In Vietnam, Bill planned and ran convoys, and one day, while doing 
command and control above the Hiep Duc Valley, Bill was in a helicopter 
crash. Thankfully, he suffered only minimal injuries.
  Bill was honorably discharged in 1971 with various commendations and 
medals, including a Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters. He began a 
successful corporate career spanning three different Fortune 500 
companies.
  But never forgetting his experiences in Vietnam or with his soldiers, 
Bill has devoted himself to his fellow veterans and our Nation's allies 
who have stood by our servicemembers.
  In service to the community and local veterans, Bill founded the 
Northern Virginia Military Ministry Outreach, and he cofounded the Fawn 
Lake Veterans Group. He is a docent at the U.S. Army Museum, and he is 
a lay leader of the Methodist Wilderness Community Church's military 
ministry.
  In my earliest days in office, and well before the final exit of 
American forces from Afghanistan, Bill was working to bring attention 
to the urgent needs of the SIV program. As a founding member of No One 
Left Behind, Bill focused on increasing the number of visas available, 
speeding up processing, and bringing refuge to those in danger. Bill 
worked closely with my office as we strived to make progress, get 
questions answered, and ultimately get SIVs home to America, their new 
home.
  Now, through their church, Bill and his wife, Margene, continue their 
tireless work to help Afghan evacuees resettle and build community in 
their new home in Virginia.
  Bill represents the best of Virginia, a Commonwealth made stronger 
through our ability to keep our promises to our veterans, our military 
families, and our allies. As the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 
Seventh District, I thank Bill Shugarts for his advocacy, his 
compassion, and his deep and abiding sense of service to our country 
and our Commonwealth.

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