[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 200 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6116-H6117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING JORDAN DUNCAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Ms. Perez) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, today I take a moment to recognize Jordan 
Duncan, an exceptional educator and firefighter in my district.
  Jordan has been teaching in Washington State for a decade, and during 
this time, he has made a real impact on the students with his 
innovative teaching techniques.

                              {time}  1030

  From taking his students to nearby forests to teaching them the 
ecological importance of timber to using his firefighter experience to 
teach them about wildfire safety, he has continuously made his students 
excited to learn about STEM through real-world applications and 
outdoor, hands-on experiences.
  Jordan's unwavering dedication to his students and contributions to 
the field of education have not gone unnoticed. This year, he was 
awarded the FieldSTEM Teacher of the Year award by the Pacific 
Education Institute. This recognition is a testament to his efforts in 
educating the next generation.
  Jordan's passion for promoting outdoor learning for students is 
admirable, and I hope he continues to inspire and brighten the future 
of our youth through hands-on education.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Jordan for his hard work, and I congratulate him 
on this well-deserved recognition.


             Plastic Trees Antithetical to Environmentalism

  Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to share that I was 
deeply disturbed to read some antifarmer propaganda in a national news 
publication.
  Going out and buying a plastic Christmas tree that will take 5,000 
years to degrade is antithetical to the real spirit of 
environmentalism.
  My county, Lewis County, is the number one producer of Christmas 
trees in Washington State, and we grow Christmas trees for a living in 
the State, so this is a big deal.
  This terrarium view of nature, where you can buy plastic to celebrate 
nature, is antithetical to the true spirit of American values and 
environmentalism.
  I applaud all of our farmers who are fighting hard to keep this 
tradition alive.


              Recognizing Importance of Cranberry Growers

  Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the hard work and the 
importance of cranberry growers in southwest Washington.
  Washington is the fifth largest producer of cranberries in the 
country, and cranberry growers have been cultivating the land for more 
than 100 years.
  Pacific County's Long Beach Peninsula in my district is one of the 
three main cranberry regions in Washington, with about 1,300 acres of 
land dedicated to production.
  This year, the price of cranberries is expected to increase to an 
estimated $42 per barrel, according to Malcom and Ardell McPhail, two 
Ilwaco-based cranberry growers.
  While there was an oversupply of cranberries in 2017, the dry summer 
this past year caused a water shortage that has seriously affected bog 
irrigation. As the effects of climate change continue to reach across 
agricultural industries, I commend the resilience and dedication of 
cranberry growers in southwest Washington.
  I remain committed to fighting for policies that sustain and 
strengthen the agricultural sector and will continue to focus on 
Federal policies that support small family growers like Malcolm and 
Ardell during times like this.


           Supporting Ukrainian Refugees Enriches Communities

  Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a community effort 
in southwest Washington.
  The ongoing war in Ukraine has resulted in countless Ukrainian 
citizens being forced to flee their homes, leaving behind everything 
they once knew. However, in the midst of all this chaos, turmoil, and 
pain, it fills me with hope to witness Washington extend a welcoming 
hand to many of these refugees, offering a safe haven and a chance to 
rebuild their lives.
  One example of this is the School of Knowledge, a place where 
Ukrainian children can learn important subjects, like reading, math, 
music, and Bible studies, all in their native Ukrainian tongue.
  For Ukraine refugees in my district, this Saturday school serves as a 
vital lifeline, allowing them to stay connected to their culture and 
heritage while forming new bonds with our community.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering that as we support 
Ukrainian refugees in their journey to start anew, we also enrich our 
local communities' culture and self-sufficiency.


Knucklebusters Provide Hands-on Experience Through Community Engagement

  Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Skamania County 
Knucklebusters Association Skills Center in my district, a place that 
resonates with my own background as the owner of an auto repair and 
machine shop.
  I visited the Skamania County Knucklebusters this past May, and I 
learned about the free auto repair program they offer to teenagers.
  The diverse range of hands-on skills development classes they host 
include shop safety and tool usage and brakes and tires. These classes 
equip young students with essential life skills, like how to use a 
wrench.
  Nobody sitting in these classes asks themselves when they will use 
this in real life, yet they deeply complement STEM and fields like 
geometry and physics.
  In addition to their educational efforts, they also provide services 
to the community at a reasonable cost, making it accessible to all and 
providing teenagers with access to hard skills and self-sufficiency.
  What is even more commendable is that the Knucklebusters are an all-
volunteer organization, which means they are motivated by the simple 
desire to

[[Page H6117]]

pass on their knowledge to the next generation. They are discerning 
about their volunteers, ensuring that they are all quality mechanics 
committed to producing quality, safe work.
  I am so grateful for folks like the Knucklebusters for embodying 
education principles beyond just theoretical learning and instead 
involving practical, hands-on experiences through community engagement.

                          ____________________