CONGRATULATING REESE DEHEN ON HER OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 4
(House of Representatives - January 08, 2020)
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[Pages H16-H17]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING REESE DEHEN ON HER OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Minnesota (Mr. Emmer) for 5 minutes.
Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an outstanding
athlete from Anoka, Minnesota.
Reese Dehen, this year, became a repeat State champion in swimming.
She won the State swimming title in the Class AA 200 individual medley,
and then the sophomore from Anoka continued to add a second State
championship in the 100 breaststroke during the swimming State
championships at the University of Minnesota.
Reese is an outstanding young talent and one of Minnesota's premier
athletes. She is also a role model for thousands of young swimmers and
student athletes who make the sacrifice to achieve the best they can
be.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Reese and thank her for being a great
role model. Our entire community is proud of her.
Honoring Christopher Stewart, an Outstanding Educator
Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Christopher Stewart of
North Lakes Academy charter school in Forest Lake, Minnesota. Mr.
Stewart took learning to a new level this past year, participating in a
program designed to preserve and amplify the history of fallen U.S.
service personnel.
For an entire year, Mr. Stewart researched the life and service of
Richard Willard Moody, a fallen World War II hero of the United States
Army's 129th Aero Squadron assigned to the French Escadrille Br. 129.
Mr. Moody was from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and he fought bravely on
behalf of the United States before making the ultimate sacrifice in
France.
Sponsored by National History Day, in conjunction with the U.S. World
War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and
Library, Mr. Stewart brought history to life and revived and preserved
the memory of Richard Willard Moody. In fact, he even traveled to
France to give a graveside eulogy and, when he returned to the United
States, used this experience to teach his students.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Stewart for remembering a fallen hero and
preserving his legacy. His students are lucky to have him and so is
Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District.
Honoring Stan Nelson, a Minnesota Hero
Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Stan Nelson for his
decades of service to the United States and to the city of Anoka,
Minnesota.
Stan is well known throughout his community as a man of faith,
family, and football. Some know Stan as ``Coach.'' Others know him as
``Lieutenant Junior Grade.'' Others know Stan as a Minnesota Senior
Olympic gold medalist. Today, we add ``Hero'' to the list of titles
that accompany his name.
Stan was a student and football player at Augsburg College who went
on to enlist in the Navy following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Stan
operated one of the first boats to land on Omaha Beach on D-day.
Following his service in World War II, Stan went on to coach the
Anoka High School football team for 26 years, becoming a legend in
Anoka and a mentor for generations of players. In honor of his repeated
sacrifices, Haven for Heroes, a local nonprofit that provides
transitional housing for veterans, recently dedicated their auditorium
in honor of Stan.
Men like Stan deserve to be honored. He has lived a life as a servant
leader. And at age 99, he hasn't slowed down.
Mr. Speaker, we are honored that Stan's name will forever adorn the
Haven for Heroes auditorium, and I thank him for his service to Anoka
and to his country.
Recognizing Starkey Hearing Technologies
Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Starkey Hearing
Technologies, a Minnesota-based manufacturer of hearing aids, for
earning a place on Time magazine's list of Best 2019 Inventions.
Starkey's invention of the Livio AI hearing aid not only provides
users with improved hearing quality, but it also tracks an individual's
body and brain health.
This device, in addition, has several features that apply to our
fast-paced world: It can stream music; it can act like a smart
assistant; and it can even translate languages.
Minnesota is proud of its many innovators and inventors. From
Medtronic's pacemaker to Starkey's cutting-edge hearing devices,
Minnesota remains one our country's premier medtech hubs.
I congratulate Starkey for its amazing contribution to hearing health
for patients across the country. Minnesotans are proud that they call
our great State home.
{time} 1015
Addressing Workforce Shortages for American Farms
Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the recent passage of
the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, H.R. 5038.
I want to thank my colleague from the State of Washington, Mr. Dan
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Newhouse, and my colleagues from across the aisle for working in good
faith in search of a solution to a longstanding issue in our
agricultural community.
Workforce shortages are crippling our most important industries. In
the Sixth District of Minnesota, agriculture and manufacturing have
suffered the most. Farmers need assurances they will be able to
maintain their farm over the long term and that includes having a
reliable workforce.
Unfortunately, H.R. 5038 fell short of addressing key changes to our
temporary worker visa programs.
While we have more work to do, I appreciate my colleagues' efforts to
find solutions to the challenges.
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