[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9648]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             JESSE KATZEFF

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. FRANCIS ROONEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 21, 2017

  Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Jesse Katzeff of Naples, Florida, who has just recently earned the 
Congressional Gold Medal Award.
  The Gold Medal award program presents an opportunity for young people 
to set and achieve challenging goals that build character and foster 
growth. It demands a significant time commitment of several hundred 
hours devoted to community service, personal development and physical 
fitness.
  The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor Congress may bestow 
upon a young civilian. This year, Jesse Katzeff is one of just 373 
young people from across 39 states to have earned it.
  Jesse volunteered with Teen Court and the Sheriff's Department while 
also completing two summer internships at a local museum. This allowed 
him to learn more about his community while devoting his time for the 
benefit of others. Jesse learned to fly a plane while taking part in 
the Civil Air Program for nearly 5 years. Additionally, he competed on 
a local swim team while also improving his physical fitness with 
CrossFit. He chose to go hiking in the mountains of West Virginia, 
giving him the opportunity to learn more about himself while outside of 
his comfort zone.
  The Congressional Gold Medal Award program has allowed Jesse to lay a 
foundation of engagement, determination and fortitude that will serve 
him immensely well going forward. I congratulate Jesse on this truly 
extraordinary honor, and wish him the best of luck as he continues to 
grow and advance in life.

                          ____________________