[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING BARBARA FEINGOLD
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HON. LISA C. McCLAIN
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Monday, March 16, 2026
Mrs. McCLAIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Barbara Feingold
for her steadfast leadership, devoted public service, and unwavering
commitment to the Jewish community and the enduring alliance between
the United States and the State of Israel.
Barbara Feingold currently serves as a Presidential Appointee to the
United States Holocaust Memorial Council, having been appointed in May
2025. In this role, she contributes to the mission of the United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and
ensure that future generations remember the lessons of history so that
such atrocities are never repeated.
A respected national leader, Barbara serves as a National Board
Member and Florida Chair of the Republican Jewish Coalition, where she
works tirelessly to strengthen the voice of Jewish conservatives and
advance the values of faith, freedom, and democratic partnership. She
is also a National Board Member of the Combat Antisemitism Movement,
where she actively works alongside elected officials and community
leaders to combat antisemitism and promote unwavering support for
Israel and Jewish causes. In March 2026, she was awarded the highest
honor from the Zionist Organization of America, the Justice Louis D.
Brandeis Exemplary Defender of Israel Award.
Barbara has long been a passionate advocate for the principle of
``Never Again.'' In 2025, she participated in the March of the Living,
commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi
concentration camps. Following this solemn journey of remembrance, she
traveled to Israel on a fact-finding mission to further deepen her
understanding and strengthen her advocacy for the Jewish state and its
people.
An engaging public speaker and dedicated philanthropist, Barbara has
spent decades advancing causes that strengthen the Jewish community
both in the United States and abroad. Her philanthropic work includes
longstanding involvement with Friends of the Israel Defense Forces,
where she and her family sponsor an Israel Defense Forces battalion and
built the Feingold Family Synagogue on an IDF base in the Negev, an
enduring symbol of faith and support for those who defend Israel's
security.
Barbara's commitment to public service extends to education. She
served on the Florida State Board of Education, helping guide education
policy for the state, and later served as Vice Chair of the Board of
Trustees at Florida Atlantic University, contributing to the
advancement of higher education and academic opportunity.
Her professional journey began in the field of education as a speech
and language pathologist. Alongside her late husband, Jeffrey, Barbara
co-founded MCNA Dental, building it into the largest privately held
dental insurance company in the United States before its sale in 2020.
Through hard work, vision, and dedication, she helped create a company
that served millions of families across our Nation.
Above all, Barbara Feingold is a devoted mother and grandmother. She
takes her greatest pride in her three children and seven grandchildren,
all of whom live near her in South Florida and remain the center of her
life and inspiration for her continued service.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Barbara
Feingold for her distinguished service, her tireless advocacy against
antisemitism, and her enduring commitment to the security of Israel,
the strength of the Jewish community, and the preservation of freedom
and memory for generations to come.
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