Congratulating Michael Mckee
Floor Speech
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Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Michael McKee on being the recipient of the 2024 John van Hengel Fellowship Award.
Feeding America presents this award to an executive of a partner food bank for excellence in leadership, local impact, national influence, and entrepreneurial spirit in the area of hunger relief.
For over a decade, Michael has served as the CEO of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, which distributes food to one of the largest regions in Virginia. He has overseen the food bank's tremendous growth, including expanded warehouse capacity, thousands of people served each month, and millions of pounds of food distributed each year.
During COVID, Michael ensured that vulnerable populations, such as children, seniors, and immigrants, continued to have access to nutritious food. More recently, his innovative partnerships include collaborating with Sentara RMH to launch a new online directory of food assistance resources and with the National Association of Letter Carriers in a successful Stamp Out Hunger campaign.
Mr. Speaker, I once again congratulate Michael for the national recognition of his efforts and tireless advocacy to end hunger in our part of Virginia. Congratulating Debbie Martin
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Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Debbie Martin of Frederick County Middle School for being named the Discovery Education Educator of the Year.
This distinguished award recognizes educators who demonstrate unwavering commitment to student achievement, innovative teaching practices, and unique contributions to learning. Debbie Martin exemplifies all of these qualities and more.
Discovery Education offers digital classroom resources, including podcasts, science experiments, videos, and articles, which Debbie Martin has utilized in her own classroom to shape the next generation of Virginians.
After 28 years of teaching in Frederick County, including 21 years at Frederick County Middle School, Debbie announced her retirement at the end of the school year.
Mr. Speaker, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Debbie Martin for her well-deserved recognition and thank her for her years of devotion to the students of Frederick County.
Celebrating The George Washington Hotel's 100th Anniversary
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Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate The George Washington Hotel in Winchester, Virginia, as it celebrates its remarkable 100th anniversary.
Since its opening in 1924, ``The GW'' has stood as a beacon of hospitality and splendor. Located at the intersection of East Piccadilly and North Cameron Streets, it was once the tallest building in Winchester.
For half a century, The GW flourished as a premier luxury destination. By 1978, it had transformed into an assisted living facility before closing its doors 1993. In 2003, The George Washington Hotel was purchased and underwent a meticulous restoration. By 2008, the hotel once again opened its doors, rejuvenating its historic grandeur.
Today we honor The George Washington Hotel's first century, celebrating its enduring legacy of resilience and charm. Congratulations to The GW on reaching this significant milestone. Here's to another hundred years of exceptional hospitality and profound success.
Congratulating Clarke County 4-H Poultry Judging Junior Team
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Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary achievement of the Clarke County 4-H Poultry Judging Junior Team. For the third consecutive year, these outstanding young Virginians won first place at the State level.
Among this talented group of fourth to eighth graders were Samuel Sinclair, Josiah Sinclair, Molly Solich, Brendan Whalen, and Finn Whalen.
The team won the 2024 State 4-H/FFA Poultry Evaluation Contest in Harrisonburg, Virginia, which consisted of evaluating eggs, patties, live birds, and ready-to-cook birds.
Under the guidance of their coach, Brian Cather of Clarke County, these students have been practicing since February, preparing rigorously for the statewide competition. Their hard work and commitment are truly commendable.
Please join me in congratulating these remarkable 4-H members and their coach for this extraordinary accomplishment. Biden's Weak Immigration Executive Order
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Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, last week, the Biden administration rolled out another ineffective executive order supposedly aimed at securing our border. This executive order claimed that the U.S.-Mexico border would shut down once illegal crossings hit 2,500 per day. That would result in nearly 1 million additional illegals crossing over the border during the next year.
The American people deserve more than an election-year stunt that won't actually secure our borders.
For the past 3\1/2\ years, Biden has failed his responsibility to the American people to secure our borders and safeguard our national security. Instead, Biden and his administration have taken over 60 executive actions to open our borders and completely dismantle one of the most secure borders our country has ever had.
The chaos unleashed by Biden's policies has turned every community into a border community whether in the form of rising crime, the fentanyl crisis, or massive strains on our hospitals, schools, and other community services.
Mr. Speaker, it is far past time that we hold the Biden administration accountable for its complete dereliction of duty to secure our borders. The executive order is nothing but a desperate ploy to boost Biden's poll numbers ahead of November. The American people deserve an administration that will put their safety and concern first by implementing actual solutions to this border crisis, not political theatrics.
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