[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 17, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO NANCY BAUMGARTNER HANSON

 Mr. SCHMITT. Madam President, today I rise in recognition of a 
great Missourian, Nancy Baumgartner Hanson. She embodies someone who 
enriches their community as a service to others, loving their fellow 
neighbors and caring for them like family.
  A resident of Fulton, MO, Nancy saw a need to create opportunities 
for adults with disabilities, in part because her daughter Shelby, a 
decorated Special Olympics athlete, recently graduated high school and 
was looking for a safe space to start her adult life. Not seeing 
options for her daughter, Nancy set out to build her own. WeBUILT is 
the first of its kind in Missouri. It is a self-sustaining community 
development that provides a safe shelter to adults with disabilities. 
It is maintained and owned by those living in the development.
  In reporting on her efforts, a local television station reported, 
``Ask any parent what they would do for their child, and most would say 
they would go to the ends of the Earth for them. We met one mom [Nancy] 
who is moving the Earth to help her adult daughter find freedom and 
independence.'' Indeed, the level of effort and dedication to find a 
solution for her daughter and create a big enough endeavor to share it 
with her community is a feat every Missourian should be proud of.
  Further, Nancy's commitment to her family and community extends to 
empowering individuals with disabilities through programs like the iCan 
Bike camp. As the current host of iCan Bike in Fulton, Nancy teaches 
individuals with disabilities how to ride a bicycle. The program 
fosters independence and confidence. Nearing a decade of teaching, iCan 
Bike underscores Nancy's enduring commitment to making a positive 
difference in the lives of those with disabilities.
  Nancy Baumgartner Hanson is truly a Champion of Missouri. Her 
accomplishments lie in the lives she has changed, the can-do attitude 
that she embodies to serve others, and the resulting community she has 
forged through her efforts. I am proud to represent her and highlight 
her remarkable contributions to Missouri in the U.S. Senate.

                          ____________________