[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 210 (Friday, December 12, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





           HONORING MEBAL KAANYI FOR HER LIFE SAVING HEROISM

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                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 12, 2025

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mebal Kaanyi for her 
extraordinary and courageous act. On November 20, 2025, she saved a 
missing 4-year-old child from drowning in Lake Owasso. We are so 
grateful to recognize Mebal Kaanyi for her extraordinary courage, 
compassion, and selflessness.
  Ms. Kaanyi is a Roseville Area School District bus driver. On 
November 20, 2025, she was completing her route in Shoreview when she 
noticed a young boy running down a hill towards Lake Owasso. She tried 
to interact with the child from her bus, but he did not respond. The 
boy passed through a gate and continued running towards the lake, 
entering the frigid water. Ms. Kaanyi leapt into action. Even though 
Ms. Kaanyi didn't know how to swim, she followed the child into the 
lake, risking her own safety to pull the child to shore. Ms. Kaanyi's 
quick reaction to this emergency saved the 4-year-old boy's life.
  Unbeknownst to Ms. Kaanyi, the child's aunt had reported her nephew 
missing to the Ramsey County Sheriffs Office that same day. Following 
the incident, the sheriffs office contacted Ms. Kaanyi to let her know 
that the young boy had been reunited with his family. Ms. Kaanyi's 
actions will be recognized with a Life-Saving award from the Ramsey 
County Sheriff's Office.
  Ms. Kaanyi exemplified what it means to be a good Samaritan and a 
leader in our community. Thanks to her heroic and selfless actions this 
story had a happy ending. In Ms. Kaanyi's own words, ``we need to live 
in a society, whereby we care for one another.'' Our community is safer 
and stronger because of people like Ms. Kaanyi who embody compassion in 
their daily lives. May we all follow her example and stand ready to 
help our neighbors when they need us most.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing and honoring Mebal Kaanyi 
for her remarkable courage and her outstanding dedication to the well-
being of our community.

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