[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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