[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 164 (Tuesday, October 18, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1053-E1055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE 2022 WOMEN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 18, 2022

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2022 Women of 
the Year. The honorees represent some of the most outstanding and 
dedicated women in California's 3rd Congressional District. Nominated 
by their peers, these women are recognized for the integral and crucial 
roles they play in improving the lives of everyone in their 
communities. This year marks the 102nd anniversary of the 19th 
Amendment, which guaranteed and protected women's constitutional right 
to vote. In securing the right to vote, suffragists broke through a 
seemingly impenetrable barrier to women's full and equal citizenship in 
our country, signaling a new era of equality. Yet, even today, women 
still face significant barriers to their rights and liberties from pay 
discrimination to criminalizing women's reproductive rights. I take 
heart that each of this year's honorees will be a vital part of the 
work left to be done to realize women's full equality and rights.
  The 2022 Women of the Year are:
  Jamie Elliott has been a strong advocate for people with intellectual 
and developmental disabilities. During the time she worked with the 
City of Davis Parks and Recreation Department, she initiated a key 
program to provide social and recreational activities for youth and 
adults, now known as Adaptive Recreation. She has served as a volunteer 
coach for the non-profit Team Davis and the Special Olympics Team for 
the city of Davis as well as conducted several other recreational and 
educational activities for children and adults with intellectual and 
developmental disabilities throughout Yolo County. Jamie serves as a 
personal caregiver for a number of adults with disabilities who do not 
have family nearby, ensuring they are engaged in Adaptive Recreation, 
Team Davis, and other community events. She is known by her peers for 
her fierce advocacy and compassionate leadership which has touched the 
lives of countless individuals.
  Lieutenant Colonel May Euavijitearoon serves her country in the 
United States Air Force with distinction. She currently serves as the 
60th Maintenance Squadron Commander at Travis Air Force Base, 
California, where she oversees over 500 military and civilian personnel 
and the maintenance of over $9.2 billion worth of aircraft and 
equipment critical to the mission at Travis. Under her command, the 
unit's achievements include the Air Mobility Command's selection as the 
Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence, the fourth consecutive 
Maintenance Effectiveness Award, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit 
Award. In addition to her squadron's accolades, May earned the 60th Air 
Mobility Wing's Field Grade Officer of the Year in 2019, took command 
in 2020, and won the wing's Lance P. Sijan USAF Leadership Award in 
2021. In addition to her exemplary leadership of the 60th Maintenance 
Squadron, May has done important work to improve diversity, inclusion, 
and representation within the Air Force and throughout our community. 
She was the featured speaker at Beale Air Force Base's 2017 Asia-
Pacific Heritage Month Event, served as the only Asian woman sitting on 
an aviation discussion panel at the Oakland Aviation Museum's Asia-
Pacific Heritage Month event in 2019. And in 2021, the Society of Asian 
Scientists and Engineers Professional invited her to speak about her 
degree, Air Force career, and her experience as a minority woman in 
STEM and the military. May immigrated to the United States from 
Thailand when she was ten years old, and despite English being her 
third language, always excelled in school. She earned an AFROTC 
scholarship to Texas A&M University where she graduated with a Bachelor 
of Science in Engineering and went on to earn her MBA from Wilmington 
University during her first duty station. May is an outstanding leader 
who has devoted herself to serving her country and is an inspiration to 
all who know her.
  During Nancy Federle's 23-year teaching career she worked with 
students at all levels, starting at the St. Catherine of Siena School 
and moving on to Solano Community College. She has a passion for the 
arts, having taught art and art history to elementary, middle school, 
and college students. For six years, she has been an active part of the 
Solano

[[Page E1054]]

County Chapter of the Climate Reality Project, focusing on local 
changes to benefit the environment. Nancy also values civic engagement, 
serving as the Secretary for the Solano County Democratic Club and the 
Solano County Action Team where she is an integral part of every event 
that takes place. During Women's History Month, she works on the social 
media campaign for the Vacaville People's Forum, ``31 Inspiring Women 
of Vacaville,'' and volunteers her time with the Solano County League 
of Women Voters. Nancy is known by all who see her at work for the 
unparalleled generosity, joy, and collegial spirit she brings to 
everything she does. She is a role model for outstanding career 
achievement and civic engagement who inspires all who know her.
  Cynthia Fontayne is a committed supporter of nonprofits throughout 
her community working in the fields of civil and human rights, 
conservation, healthcare, literacy, and the arts. She served for 10 
years on the Yuba-Sutter Arts Council where she obtained and managed 
NEA grants for The Big Read. She also created the Art Everywhere 
project and has taught art classes in her community. She served as 
President of the Packard Library, raising funds and helping to organize 
programs benefitting community members. Cynthia has worked on 
addressing food insecurity issues by organizing forums and establishing 
a program called ``A Simple Gesture'' in Yuba and Sutter Counties. In 
addition, she staged and publicized Socktober, collecting socks 
benefitting unhoused persons. Cynthia also worked with Bridges for 
Housing, a nonprofit that helps place families in permanent housing 
through physical and online presence. She is a founding member of 
Marysville 2020 and a member of the Bounce Back Marysville Steering 
Committee. Professionally, she has served as a board member for the 
Association of Travel Marketing Executives, the Society of American 
Travel Writers, the California Travel Association, the North American 
Airlines PR Association, and the Vassar Alumnae/i council. Cynthia's 
impact can be seen in every facet of her community through her 
professional and volunteer work.
  Christina Forrest has been a fierce advocate of voting rights, 
multicultural advancements, and veterans' affairs. She has dedicated 
years to civic engagement, community activism, and voting rights 
advocacy. She has worked as an advocate for ending housing 
discrimination and worked with the Episcopal Diocese of California to 
organize a forum on housing rights. As a military spouse and veteran, 
herself, having served eight years in Active-Duty Air Force and two 
years in the Air Force Reserve, she has advocated tirelessly both 
locally and nationally on behalf of veterans. During the pandemic, she 
held zoom calls to educate people on the COVID-19 vaccine and organize 
donations of critical PPE. She has years of experience with community 
organizations and has been involved with organizations such as the 
ACLU, the Democratic Black Caucus, and multiple local Democratic Clubs. 
As a relatively new California resident, Christina wasted no time in 
becoming an active member of the Tri-City NAACP and earned the 
Outstanding Volunteer award for 2020. Christina is known by her peers 
as an effective leader and dedicated community servant.
  Elizabeth Gasang has worked for decades on behalf of charitable and 
philanthropic initiatives. Through her work with CC Yin's McDonald's, 
she has helped feed tens of thousands of people in our community by 
orchestrating donations from hundreds of thousands of donors. 
Elizabeth's organization of charitable events at the Yin Ranch has 
supported countless organizations throughout Northern California. 
Through her efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, she coordinated the 
dissemination of a million units of PPE at a time when they were in 
short supply. She worked in partnership with regional civic 
organizations and local city and county municipalities to protect our 
communities during an unprecedented crisis. She has been instrumental 
in the success of the Solano County Asian Pacific Islander American 
Public Affairs organization, Solano County Asian Americans for Good 
Government, and the Chinese American Association of Solano County. The 
lasting impact of her hard work and dedication cannot be overstated.
  Sandra Gonzalez currently sits on the board of the Fairfield 
Community Services Foundation where she has been instrumental in 
putting on important community events benefitting the underprivileged. 
One notable event is the annual backpack giveaway that ensures students 
have the tools they need to successfully begin the school year. The 
annual Christmas toy giveaway is another way she demonstrates her 
passion to serve, providing gifts for children, as well as food and 
coats for the families who benefit. Sandra has also served on the board 
of the Solano Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for many years where she has 
played an important role in serving local businesses. She is currently 
the Secretary of the chamber, making a positive impact by helping small 
businesses meet the requirements established by the government to 
ensure their success.

  Tonya Haddix is an active member of the Rio Linda community and a 
natural leader who generously volunteers her time with a variety of 
organizations. As a vital member of the Rio Linda Lions Club, she has 
actively recruited new members and taken on the role of chair for 
numerous annual fundraising events benefitting her community. Most 
recently, she played an integral role in Natomas Cares' efforts 
benefitting the global organization, Rise Against Hunger, where she 
helped package 46,000 food boxes for needy families around the world. 
Tonya has contributed hundreds of hours to the Rio Linda Lions Club 
where her positive enthusiasm, and positivity make her an asset both to 
her club and the larger community. She is an exceptional leader whose 
generosity, humility, and contagious smile make her a trusted friend 
and beloved community member.
  Cathy Hemly and her husband Doug are fifth-generation farmers who are 
proud stewards of the land that their forefathers farmed during the 
Gold Rush era. Cathy is a leader and strong advocate for sustainable 
farming practices, and you will often find her leading a tour of the 
orchards, educating the community, or helping to run the harvest on 
their family farm. She is deeply committed to the community, having 
served as an active member of the Delta Community Design Study group 
which was developed to identify the community's common goals and 
priorities in the effort to support and enhance historic Delta towns, 
referred to as the Delta ``legacy communities.'' Her dedication and 
compassion have enabled her to become a driving force behind the 
positive changes taking place in her community and her work will have a 
lasting impact for years to come. Her outstanding career 
accomplishments and dedication to the betterment of her community are 
deserving of this recognition.
  Alma Hernandez was raised in Suisun City and has dedicated her life 
to giving back to her community. She has supported community 
initiatives that included mentoring troubled youth, raising money for 
music programs in schools, fundraising for the Boys and Girls Club, and 
raising breast cancer awareness. Seeing a need for additional support 
for Latina Women across Solano County, she founded a non-profit 
organization, Latinas de Solano, where she serves as Executive 
Director. She is the past President and active member of the Solano 
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where she is committed to strengthening 
local businesses. Alma also belongs to a variety of city committees, 
foundation boards, county-based business organizations, and youth and 
young adult mentorship programs. She was elected to the Suisun City 
Council where she currently serves as Mayor Pro-Tem, advocating on 
behalf of those she represents. She is an outstanding public servant 
and a valued member of her community.
  Sherry Jasara is an unsung heroine in her community who exemplifies 
inspirational civic engagement through her unique work, philanthropy, 
and volunteerism. Sherry enlisted in the United States Navy during the 
Vietnam Era where she became a Hospital Corpsman Second Class. After 
receiving an Honorable Discharge, she worked as a healthcare 
professional and became a Registered Nurse, before retiring in the 
Trilogy community of Rio Vista. She is an artist, a mother, a breast 
cancer survivor, and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ Delta Rainbows. She 
is also an active member of numerous clubs in her community, including 
the Trilogy Tennis, Pickleball, and Dog Clubs. She is also a strong 
advocate for veterans. She is kind and comforting to anyone in Rio 
Vista who is experiencing pain, illness, home-bound, or in end-of-life 
care, and has become known as the ``Community Caregiver.'' She is there 
for anyone in need, riding her bike all over town delivering her 
beautiful hand-drawn watercolor cards to help bring cheer to people 
experiencing hardship. She provides comfort in whatever way it is 
needed, reading or singing to others, holding their hand, providing 
companionship, medical advice, or a listening ear. She makes everyone 
feel as if she is their guardian angel. She is dedicated to supporting 
and bringing together those who may feel isolated and providing them 
with the opportunity and inspiration to live healthy and fulfilling 
lives. Sherry's positivity and generous spirit have touched the lives 
of countless people in need.
  Amy Kahn has dedicated herself to helping patients with Multiple 
Sclerosis to receive the care they need and achieve a higher standard 
of living. Amy is a specialty healthcare consultant, working in the 
pharmacy division of one of the Nation's largest healthcare companies 
providing critical medications for the treatment of MS. In just over 
three years at her current position, she has been promoted to a Field 
Sales Trainer, served on the National Advisory Board, and won the 
highest President's Club recognition for her work. She chose to further 
her professional development

[[Page E1055]]

through the UC Davis Annex Human Resources Certification Program and 
shows tremendous commitment to the patients in her work. She goes above 
and beyond to help any patient in need, from helping the under-insured 
to secure new sources of funding for medications to assisting patients 
with mobility and transportation challenges and in navigating their 
insurance benefits. Amy also serves on the Northern California Multiple 
Sclerosis Society Board of Trustees and the Dinner of Champions 
Committee, which raises over half a million dollars each year for the 
National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This year, Amy was chosen to 
represent Northern California as a Delegate to the 2022 National 
Multiple Sclerosis Society Annual Leadership Conference and continues 
to be an active volunteer at local MS events, such as Waves to Wine 
Bike MS and Climb MS. Amy has served as the corporate Team Captain for 
the MS Walks in Sacramento, Reno, and Folsom where she helped raise 
funds and foster morale.
  Kathie Kalafatis is the Founder and CEO of Clean Air Solutions Inc., 
a company that designs and installs clean rooms for the fabrication and 
manufacturing of scientific and medical equipment. Kathie is one of a 
handful of women in this industry and has earned recognition from the 
Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology ``for her 
contribution to the evolution of modular cleanrooms.'' Kathie has lived 
in Fairfield for over 20 years where she and her husband raised two 
children. In addition to her successful company, she has written three 
children's books, the first of which is a tribute to her children. Her 
books offer a message of hope and perseverance, and she is often 
invited to do public readings for children throughout her community. 
Kathie is also an advocate for women's rights, often attending rallies 
and sharing her passion through her paintings which depict the strength 
of women in the face of oppression. Seeing the need for women to come 
together in support of one another, Kathie created the ``OWLS'' Group 
(Offering Women Love and Support), a monthly gathering of women sharing 
inspirational messages of support and comradery. Kathie's kindness, 
wisdom, and positivity make her an inspiration to others, and she has a 
talent for motivating others to join her in serving her community.
  Carol Kalamaras spent her career of over 30 years as a librarian and 
classroom teacher. When she retired from teaching, she became active 
with the California Retired Teachers Association, serving for over 12 
years on the board, and several as co-president. Through her advocacy 
with California RTA, she works on many issues but has a keen focus on 
Social Security reform. Her main target for legislative change is the 
Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset which 
currently harm teachers and widows throughout California and other 
states. Carol frequently travels to Washington, DC, to meet with my 
colleagues and advocate on this issue. She is also passionate about 
equal pay for women, drawing attention to the many women who pause or 
delay their careers to care for their children and end up diminishing 
their retirement benefits. This has affected countless women who work 
in education and other industries, and Carol continues to fight for 
Social Security reform that would help fill that gap. Through her 
volunteer work, she also manages the California Retired Teachers 
Association's scholarship programs providing funds to students in 
teaching credential programs. She also continues her work as a 
substitute teacher in the Fairfield-Suisun School District where she 
continues to have a positive impact on students' lives. Carol acts as a 
mentor to many and a friend to all and gives tirelessly to her 
community.
  Christine Katzenmeyer is a tireless community servant who has 
exhibited great commitment and dedication to the Dixon Unified School 
District. Her continuous service has been unmatched and greatly 
appreciated by teachers and administrators alike. Over the years, 
Christine has served on numerous site councils and district-wide 
advisory committees where she works to ensure her community's schools 
are the best they can be. For 14 years, she has been a consistent 
participant in the district Destination Imagination program, working 
with individuals and groups on an annual basis to help students 
discover their potential. Christine has also worked diligently to 
support the Dixon High School Water Polo Team by organizing and hosting 
fundraisers for the team as well as annual scholarships given to Dixon 
High School students. Her current work as a Solano County COVID liaison 
with both Dixon and Vacaville schools helps ensure our students receive 
the best school experience possible during a difficult time. Her 
service to the Dixon community has had an impact on countless students 
and families.
  I congratulate each of them and commend them for their work. I am 
inspired by them and firmly believe when women succeed, America 
succeeds!

                          ____________________