Recognizing Jordan Duncan

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, today I take a moment to recognize Jordan Duncan, an exceptional educator and firefighter in my district.

Jordan has been teaching in Washington State for a decade, and during this time, he has made a real impact on the students with his innovative teaching techniques.

From taking his students to nearby forests to teaching them the ecological importance of timber to using his firefighter experience to teach them about wildfire safety, he has continuously made his students excited to learn about STEM through real-world applications and outdoor, hands-on experiences.

Jordan's unwavering dedication to his students and contributions to the field of education have not gone unnoticed. This year, he was awarded the FieldSTEM Teacher of the Year award by the Pacific Education Institute. This recognition is a testament to his efforts in educating the next generation.

Jordan's passion for promoting outdoor learning for students is admirable, and I hope he continues to inspire and brighten the future of our youth through hands-on education.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Jordan for his hard work, and I congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition. Plastic Trees Antithetical to Environmentalism

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to share that I was deeply disturbed to read some antifarmer propaganda in a national news publication.

Going out and buying a plastic Christmas tree that will take 5,000 years to degrade is antithetical to the real spirit of environmentalism.

My county, Lewis County, is the number one producer of Christmas trees in Washington State, and we grow Christmas trees for a living in the State, so this is a big deal.

This terrarium view of nature, where you can buy plastic to celebrate nature, is antithetical to the true spirit of American values and environmentalism.

I applaud all of our farmers who are fighting hard to keep this tradition alive. Recognizing Importance of Cranberry Growers

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the hard work and the importance of cranberry growers in southwest Washington.

Washington is the fifth largest producer of cranberries in the country, and cranberry growers have been cultivating the land for more than 100 years.

Pacific County's Long Beach Peninsula in my district is one of the three main cranberry regions in Washington, with about 1,300 acres of land dedicated to production.

This year, the price of cranberries is expected to increase to an estimated $42 per barrel, according to Malcom and Ardell McPhail, two Ilwaco-based cranberry growers.

While there was an oversupply of cranberries in 2017, the dry summer this past year caused a water shortage that has seriously affected bog irrigation. As the effects of climate change continue to reach across agricultural industries, I commend the resilience and dedication of cranberry growers in southwest Washington.

I remain committed to fighting for policies that sustain and strengthen the agricultural sector and will continue to focus on Federal policies that support small family growers like Malcolm and Ardell during times like this. Supporting Ukrainian Refugees Enriches Communities

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a community effort in southwest Washington.

The ongoing war in Ukraine has resulted in countless Ukrainian citizens being forced to flee their homes, leaving behind everything they once knew. However, in the midst of all this chaos, turmoil, and pain, it fills me with hope to witness Washington extend a welcoming hand to many of these refugees, offering a safe haven and a chance to rebuild their lives.

One example of this is the School of Knowledge, a place where Ukrainian children can learn important subjects, like reading, math, music, and Bible studies, all in their native Ukrainian tongue.

For Ukraine refugees in my district, this Saturday school serves as a vital lifeline, allowing them to stay connected to their culture and heritage while forming new bonds with our community.

I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering that as we support Ukrainian refugees in their journey to start anew, we also enrich our local communities' culture and self-sufficiency. Knucklebusters Provide Hands-on Experience Through Community Engagement

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Skamania County Knucklebusters Association Skills Center in my district, a place that resonates with my own background as the owner of an auto repair and machine shop.

I visited the Skamania County Knucklebusters this past May, and I learned about the free auto repair program they offer to teenagers.

The diverse range of hands-on skills development classes they host include shop safety and tool usage and brakes and tires. These classes equip young students with essential life skills, like how to use a wrench.

Nobody sitting in these classes asks themselves when they will use this in real life, yet they deeply complement STEM and fields like geometry and physics.

In addition to their educational efforts, they also provide services to the community at a reasonable cost, making it accessible to all and providing teenagers with access to hard skills and self-sufficiency.

What is even more commendable is that the Knucklebusters are an all- volunteer organization, which means they are motivated by the simple desire to pass on their knowledge to the next generation. They are discerning about their volunteers, ensuring that they are all quality mechanics committed to producing quality, safe work.

I am so grateful for folks like the Knucklebusters for embodying education principles beyond just theoretical learning and instead involving practical, hands-on experiences through community engagement.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source