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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1619-E1620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING KURT ERICKSON FOR HIS 20 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH WRAP
______
HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize my friend, Kurt
Erickson, and to commend him for his 20 years of service with the
Washington Regional Alcohol Project (WRAP) and his dedication to the
elimination of impaired driving and underage drinking in the Washington
metropolitan area.
WRAP is a public-private partnership that works with law
enforcement, community stakeholders, and advocacy groups in Northern
Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland. Kurt serves as President and
CEO of WRAP and it is not an exaggeration to say that he is the driving
force of the program. For two decades,
[[Page E1620]]
he has spearheaded public and government relations efforts in the DMV
area. Kurt has been named Legislative Chairman of the Maryland Impaired
Driving Coalition, an appointee by the Governor to the Virginia's Task
Force to Combat the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol and has served on
multiple boards and associations.
Among his many duties, Kurt oversees the SoberRide Program which
provides free and discounted rides home during the holidays. This
program is considered one of the most successful programs of its kind
in the nation. Kurt has Chaired the Checkpoint Strikeforce for the last
18 years, working with local and state law enforcement to get impaired
drivers off the roads. WRAP also has aggressive outreach programs for
adults as well as youth and provides multi-media presentations and
school resource guides.
In recognition of his years of service and dedication, Kurt has
received numerous awards including the 2014 Kevin Quinlan Award, the
2008 Metropolitan Police Department's Chief of Police Special Award,
the MADD-Chesapeake Region Community Champion Award, and the National
Highway Safety Administration's Public Service Award. Under his
leadership, WRAP has also earned multiple honors including the 2019
Peter O'Rourke Special Achievement Award from the Governors Highway
Safety Association and the Virginia Governor's Transportation Safety
Award.
While Kurt has been publicly lauded by local, state, and national
organizations and received many awards, I believe that his most
precious possession is the knowledge of the countless people who have
been kept safe and the tragedies that have been prevented through his
efforts. Since its inception in 1991, nearly 79,000 safe rides home
have been provided by SoberRide, the vast majority occurring during
Kurt's tenure. It is not possible to know how many possible injuries or
deaths have been prevented, but these unknown potential victims all owe
a deep debt of gratitude to Kurt and WRAP.
Madam Speaker, for two decades Kurt Erickson has played an integral
role in the effort to eliminate impaired driving and underage drinking.
I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Kurt on his 20th
Anniversary with WRAP and in thanking him for his tireless advocacy and
unending efforts to keep our roads and our residents safe.
____________________
