[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 149 (Tuesday, September 24, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5653-H5654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
        CONGRATULATING JORDAN CHILES ON GOLD MEDAL IN GYMNASTICS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Ms. Perez) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jordan Chiles, a 
Gold Medal Olympic gymnast representing Team USA on her incredible 
performance in Paris.
  Chiles grew up in Vancouver and attended Prairie High School. She was 
raised by parents who were both pastors, a unique identity I proudly 
relate to.
  By the time Jordan had graduated high school, she had already made a 
national name for herself. At only 12, she made the U.S. gymnastics 
national team, a truly remarkable feat for any age.
  Jordan's incredible journey as an athlete, where she navigates the 
pressure of being watched by millions, is nothing short of inspiring.
  Mr. Speaker, Jordan Chiles has made her community in southwest 
Washington and her country very proud.


              Recognizing Vancouver Police Chief Jeff Mori

  Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Police Chief Jeff 
Mori of the Vancouver Police Department and congratulate him on his 
upcoming retirement.
  Chief Mori has served the Vancouver Police Department for 5 years and 
spent over 31 years working in law enforcement.
  While serving as chief, Chief Mori oversaw the rollout of the VPD 
camera program, the recruitment and hiring of over 75 officers and 
staff, and advocated for a southwest Washington regional Criminal 
Justice Training Academy, which is now successfully training new 
recruits.
  The Vancouver Police Department is our first line of defense to keep 
our communities safe, and it is a responsibility I know they don't take 
lightly.
  Although we are losing a valued member of the team, I know his impact 
will remain.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chief Mori for all that he has done for our 
community. I am honored to have gotten to know him and for the chance 
to work with him, and I hope that retirement treats him well.


          SkillsUSA's National Leadership & Skills Conference

  Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the six high school 
students from my district who placed in the top three for their 
category at SkillsUSA's National Leadership & Skills Conference this 
past June.
  The SkillsUSA competition highlights skilled trades and the 
accomplishments of career-ready leaders in a nationwide, weeklong 
event.
  Sebastian Nejar and Luke Twiss from Evergreen High School in 
Vancouver won a silver medal in the category of interactive application 
and video game development.
  Zachariah Hubbard and Kaiden Wood from Rochester High School won a 
silver medal in the category of commercial sUAS drone.
  Daniel Dugas and Mason Young from Rochester High School also won a 
silver medal in the category of robotics--urban search and rescue.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate each team for such a great 
accomplishment. They all have made us very proud in southwest 
Washington.


                 Recognizing Retirement of Bill Draper

  Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of 
Bill Draper, who has been a construction technology instructor at 
Cascadia Tech for 28 years.
  Cascadia Tech Academy is a premier career and technical education 
institution that was created in partnership with 10 school districts in 
my community. Cascadia Tech provides hands-on learning opportunities 
for students so they can develop talents and gain credentials that will 
make them ready to hit the ground running after graduation.
  After 11 years in the construction field, Bill became a steward of 
the next generation of doers and makers. I have seen firsthand the 
incredible respect his students have for him and the pride

[[Page H5654]]

he cultivates in them for the trades, which is why he so deservingly 
earned the Evergreen School District's Educator of the Year award in 
2021.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Bill for all he has done for our community and 
our students. I wish him the very best in his last year in the 
classroom and in his well-deserved retirement.


     MIA Air Force Sergeant David Stanley Price Finally Comes Home

  Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the return home to 
Centralia for Air Force Sergeant David Stanley Price, who has been 
considered missing in action for the last 56 years.
  On March 11, 1968, while serving in the Vietnam war, Sergeant Price 
was declared missing in action when the outpost he was manning was 
attacked.
  On that day, he, along with 10 other servicemembers manning that 
post, were deemed to be killed or captured.
  Finally, last year, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency recovered 
his remains and was able to identify Sergeant Price. This allowed for 
him to finally return home and end the decades of worry and wondering 
his family has gone through.
  Sergeant Price was a husband and father and an active member of his 
community. I cannot imagine the pain his loved ones have had to endure 
over the last 56 years, but I hope the return of his remains brings 
them some measure of peace.
  Sergeant Price made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, and I am 
grateful that he can be properly laid to rest at home.

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