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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E334-E335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LEADERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
______
HON. JOE WILSON
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Friday, March 27, 2020
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I am grateful during
this National Emergency to face the coronavirus pandemic many dedicated
and extraordinary leaders have come forward to protect American
families.
The White House briefings have been informative and encouraging with
President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Surgeon General
Dr. Jerome Adams, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) Alex Azar, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator
Dr. Deborah Birx, Acting Deputy Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, Head of the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield, and
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Seema
Verma.
I appreciate hosting townhalls by telephone with professional
participants Dr. Jonathan Knoche of the South Carolina Department of
Health and Environmental Control, Jeremy Wheeler Congressional
Relations Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs Southeast
Region, District Director Gregg White from the South Carolina Small
Business Administration SBA Counselor Savannah Wilburn, Jamie Suber,
the Interim Chief Administration Officer of the South Carolina
Department of Employment and Workforce, Dr. Steve Shelton of Emergency
Management for the Prisma Health-Midlands, Dr. L. Brannon Traxler of
the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, and
Dr. John Gnann of the Medical University of South Carolina and with
Deputy Director Chuck Bundy of the S.C. Department of Commerce.
In the District, Governor Henry McMaster has been a defender of the
families of South Carolina with Adjutant General Van McCarty, Emergency
Preparedness Director Kim Stenson, School Superintendent Molly
Spearman, Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers, and Attorney General
Alan Wilson. Local officials have been effective in combating this
virus with Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, Lexington Mayor Steve
MacDougall, Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon along with local law enforcement and
all first responders with Sheriffs Leon Lott of Richland, Jay Koon of
Lexington, Michael Hunt of Aiken, Ed Carrol of Barnwell, and Leroy
Ravenell of Orangeburg.
The Second Congressional District Staff I have faith in, and they
have fulfilled their duties on behalf of citizens. Chief of Staff
Jonathan Day has ably led the Washington staff of Oren Adaki, Drew
Kennedy, Leah Grace Denny, Emily Saleeby, Stephanie Pendarvis Jeremy
Tillman, McLaurine Pinover, Joshua Grant, Daniel Ramirez, and Omar
Hossino. District Director Alex Morris has always been available to the
public for constituent service along with Laura Batey, Millie Powell,
Hal Wade, Jeffrey Crosby, Byron Thomas, Sam Orr, Butch Wallace. Aiken
and Barnwell Deputy Director Marth Ruthven along with Garrett Dragano
with Evan Caldwell work tirelessly in promoting families.
Our office has been assisted by private sector leaders capably
stepping up to face the invisible threat. Beginning with our medical
and hospital professionals. All members of the community are courageous
in standing up with churches and religious leaders, pharmacies, food
stores, trucking with leaders Bill and Tobin Cassels, restaurants for
being innovative with drive up service as developed by
[[Page E335]]
Alex Koutrakas, Ted Stambolitis with Gus and Pete Manos, motels and
hotels inspired by the Asian American Hotel Owners of America,
convenience stores led by Seema Shrivastava-Patel, truck stops,
agriculture, the military led by Fort Jackson Commander Milford Beagle,
the National Federation of Independent Business promoted successfully
by Director Ben Homeyer, local chambers of commerce inspired by Terri
Smith, Terra Carrol, David Jamison, Kerry Powers, Carl Blackstone, Otis
Rawl, Richard Skipper, and Ted Pitts, the pharmaceutical industry with
Lou Kennedy of Nephron, educators with innovative distance learning,
Postal workers, insurance personnel with AFLAC and Blue Cross/Blue
Shield, Midlands talk radio hosts Keven Cohen, Gary David, Kelly Nash,
and Jonathan Rush, and Christopher Thompson, delivery services such as
UPS of West Columbia, airline pilots, mechanics, and flight attendants,
veterans service organizations, online sales personnel such as Amazon
of Cayce, financial services industry led by Kim Wilkerson, Mike
Brenan, and Scott Woods, and vital large corporations such as Boeing
with suppliers Zeus, Prysmian, and AGY.
Our prayers for the people of South Carolina and America in this
worldwide crisis.
We are confident of the leadership of President Donald Trump and Vice
President Mike Pence with Governor Henry McMaster.
God Bless America.
____________________
