[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 53 (Thursday, March 23, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H1333-H1334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CELEBRATING JILL DeSTEFANO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Nevada (Mrs. Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a true 
conservation leader who has dedicated years of her life to ensuring the 
Tule Springs Fossil Beds in Las Vegas would be declared a permanent 
national monument.
  Jill DeStefano was one of the five founders of the Protectors of Tule 
Springs, and she worked tirelessly until the beds were officially 
designated the 405th unit of the National Park Service by President 
Barack Obama in 2014.
  She has served as the board president of the Protectors of Tule 
Springs as they protect, preserve, support, and promote responsible 
stewardship of the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument and the 
Ice Age Fossils State Park.

[[Page H1334]]

  Jill's passionate advocacy for Tule Springs has ensured they will 
always be safe and that our children and grandchildren can enjoy them 
for years to come.
  These protected lands tell a story and teach the next generation 
about our American values for conservation and preservation of our most 
precious remnants of our national history.
  I thank Jill for all of her hard work to protect Southern Nevada's 
beautiful outdoors. The people of Nevada's Third District are eternally 
grateful for Jill and all that she has done. I am wishing Jill the best 
of luck in her next chapter.


                         Azerbaijan's Blockade

  Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud 
Representative of a large Armenian-American community in southern 
Nevada as we mark 100 days since Azerbaijan began a devastating, 
heartless blockade of Artsakh, cutting off 120,000 Armenians from a 
critical humanitarian lifeline and their main artery to the outside 
world.
  For 100 days, Azerbaijan has denied the citizens of Artsakh basic 
human rights and access to food, fuel, and medicine in freezing 
conditions on what is on its way to becoming a humanitarian 
catastrophe.
  As if that wasn't enough, we have seen increasingly escalatory and 
troubling rhetoric from Azerbaijani officials in just the last few 
days.
  It is long overdue that our government acts to hold Azerbaijan 
accountable for its heartless treatment of the innocent Armenian 
civilians in Artsakh.
  That is why I was proud to join my colleagues as an original 
cosponsor of H. Res. 108 in February condemning Azerbaijan's brutal 
blockade and calling for an end to this manmade humanitarian crisis.
  Mr. Speaker, I continue to urge the administration to take action 
here and to respond to Azerbaijan's aggression by cutting off U.S. 
military assistance in line with section 907 of the FREEDOM Support 
Act. Particularly, as we enter the thick of the appropriations process, 
I will also continue to work to ensure that vital humanitarian 
assistance is delivered to civilians who continue to suffer from the 
blockade and ongoing fighting.
  During these difficult times, I share the serious concerns of my 
constituents in southern Nevada's Armenian-American community. I will 
continue to be an advocate for solutions to this manmade crisis.
  I will always stand with the Armenian people and to work to secure 
much-needed relief as they face down continued threats and unjustified 
aggression from Azerbaijan.

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