[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 100 (Thursday, June 13, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H3985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING MICHAEL MCKEE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Molinaro). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Michael McKee on 
being the recipient of the 2024 John van Hengel Fellowship Award.
  Feeding America presents this award to an executive of a partner food 
bank for excellence in leadership, local impact, national influence, 
and entrepreneurial spirit in the area of hunger relief.
  For over a decade, Michael has served as the CEO of the Blue Ridge 
Area Food Bank, which distributes food to one of the largest regions in 
Virginia. He has overseen the food bank's tremendous growth, including 
expanded warehouse capacity, thousands of people served each month, and 
millions of pounds of food distributed each year.
  During COVID, Michael ensured that vulnerable populations, such as 
children, seniors, and immigrants, continued to have access to 
nutritious food. More recently, his innovative partnerships include 
collaborating with Sentara RMH to launch a new online directory of food 
assistance resources and with the National Association of Letter 
Carriers in a successful Stamp Out Hunger campaign.
  Mr. Speaker, I once again congratulate Michael for the national 
recognition of his efforts and tireless advocacy to end hunger in our 
part of Virginia.


                      Congratulating Debbie Martin

  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Debbie Martin of 
Frederick County Middle School for being named the Discovery Education 
Educator of the Year.
  This distinguished award recognizes educators who demonstrate 
unwavering commitment to student achievement, innovative teaching 
practices, and unique contributions to learning. Debbie Martin 
exemplifies all of these qualities and more.
  Discovery Education offers digital classroom resources, including 
podcasts, science experiments, videos, and articles, which Debbie 
Martin has utilized in her own classroom to shape the next generation 
of Virginians.
  After 28 years of teaching in Frederick County, including 21 years at 
Frederick County Middle School, Debbie announced her retirement at the 
end of the school year.
  Mr. Speaker, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Debbie Martin 
for her well-deserved recognition and thank her for her years of 
devotion to the students of Frederick County.

                              {time}  1115


      Celebrating The George Washington Hotel's 100th Anniversary

  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate The George 
Washington Hotel in Winchester, Virginia, as it celebrates its 
remarkable 100th anniversary.
  Since its opening in 1924, ``The GW'' has stood as a beacon of 
hospitality and splendor. Located at the intersection of East 
Piccadilly and North Cameron Streets, it was once the tallest building 
in Winchester.
  For half a century, The GW flourished as a premier luxury 
destination. By 1978, it had transformed into an assisted living 
facility before closing its doors 1993. In 2003, The George Washington 
Hotel was purchased and underwent a meticulous restoration. By 2008, 
the hotel once again opened its doors, rejuvenating its historic 
grandeur.
  Today we honor The George Washington Hotel's first century, 
celebrating its enduring legacy of resilience and charm. 
Congratulations to The GW on reaching this significant milestone. 
Here's to another hundred years of exceptional hospitality and profound 
success.


      Congratulating Clarke County 4-H Poultry Judging Junior Team

  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary 
achievement of the Clarke County 4-H Poultry Judging Junior Team. For 
the third consecutive year, these outstanding young Virginians won 
first place at the State level.
  Among this talented group of fourth to eighth graders were Samuel 
Sinclair, Josiah Sinclair, Molly Solich, Brendan Whalen, and Finn 
Whalen.
  The team won the 2024 State 4-H/FFA Poultry Evaluation Contest in 
Harrisonburg, Virginia, which consisted of evaluating eggs, patties, 
live birds, and ready-to-cook birds.
  Under the guidance of their coach, Brian Cather of Clarke County, 
these students have been practicing since February, preparing 
rigorously for the statewide competition. Their hard work and 
commitment are truly commendable.
  Please join me in congratulating these remarkable 4-H members and 
their coach for this extraordinary accomplishment.


                Biden's Weak Immigration Executive Order

  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, last week, the Biden administration rolled 
out another ineffective executive order supposedly aimed at securing 
our border. This executive order claimed that the U.S.-Mexico border 
would shut down once illegal crossings hit 2,500 per day. That would 
result in nearly 1 million additional illegals crossing over the border 
during the next year.
  The American people deserve more than an election-year stunt that 
won't actually secure our borders.
  For the past 3\1/2\ years, Biden has failed his responsibility to the 
American people to secure our borders and safeguard our national 
security. Instead, Biden and his administration have taken over 60 
executive actions to open our borders and completely dismantle one of 
the most secure borders our country has ever had.
  The chaos unleashed by Biden's policies has turned every community 
into a border community whether in the form of rising crime, the 
fentanyl crisis, or massive strains on our hospitals, schools, and 
other community services.
  Mr. Speaker, it is far past time that we hold the Biden 
administration accountable for its complete dereliction of duty to 
secure our borders. The executive order is nothing but a desperate ploy 
to boost Biden's poll numbers ahead of November. The American people 
deserve an administration that will put their safety and concern first 
by implementing actual solutions to this border crisis, not political 
theatrics.

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