January 29, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 19 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page H704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE HEROIC ACTION OF ODREN POLK

  (Mr. KELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, today, it is my great pleasure to 
recognize the heroic action of Odren Polk, a resident of Williamsport, 
Pennsylvania, in our 12th Congressional District.
  Affectionately referred to as ``Mr. O,'' Odren serves his community 
at Stevens Primary School through STEP AmeriCorps, a national service 
organization.
  On what Odren described as an otherwise usual day in the cafeteria, 
Mr. O noticed one of the students choking on a grape tomato. Utilizing 
the first aid training he received at AmeriCorps, Mr. O jumped into 
action, dislodging the tomato from the student's airway and saving his 
life.
  What Mr. O described as an automatic reaction was possible only 
because of the training he received at AmeriCorps.
  AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that seeks to 
improve lives and foster civic engagement. Approximately 75,000 
Americans across the country serve their community through AmeriCorps 
each year.
  AmeriCorps members also receive training that prepares them to serve 
their communities after their AmeriCorps is completed. As in the case 
with Mr. O, sometimes that training comes in handy sooner rather than 
later.

                          ____________________