December 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1157 IN RECOGNITION OF DR. AHMAD credibility of the process. I urge this body to Becky was born in Schenectady, New York, JABER advance this bill. and went to St. Lawrence University on a f ROTC scholarship. She joined the Army as a Quartermaster officer and rose to the rank of HON. RASHIDA TLAIB TRIBUTE TO RANDY BONNER OF Lieutenant Colonel. Ms. Leggieri first came to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the House as an Army Fellow for Rep. Caro- HON. lyn Kilpatrick of Michigan in 2009. Rep. Kil- Wednesday, December 16, 2020 OF CALIFORNIA patrick was a member of the Subcommittee, Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and during her fellowship Becky met the com- honor the memory of the late Dr. Ahmad Wednesday, December 16, 2020 mittee staff and learned the mechanics of the Jaber, a physician and founder of the Arab appropriations process. The Committee, rec- American Association of New York, a human Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today ognizing her talent, hired Rebecca in 2010. rights advocacy organization. to honor and pay tribute to my friend Randy She began serving on the Defense Sub- Dr. Jaber was born and raised by his wid- Bonner, who is stepping down this month from committee in the minority. In that capacity, she owed mother in the Palestinian village of the Canyon Lake City Council. Randy is a needed to be versed on every facet of a vast Yamoun in the . Following the ex- community leader, a veteran, and a dedicated and complex bill that encompasses hundreds ample of his mother, Dr. Jaber worked hard to public servant whose many tireless efforts to of thousands of people and every issue rang- put himself through college and medical better our region will be missed. ing from day care to the delivery systems for school. He immigrated to the United States in Randy settled into his lakeshore home in nuclear weapons. This year’s bill amounts to 1974 to pursue a medical career in obstetrics. Canyon Lake more than two decades ago nearly $700 billion and it impacts our nation’s While he is well-known for having delivered after retiring from his two professional careers, security and that of our planet. Becky’s skills more than five thousand babies over the which included over 35 years in the computer/ and her life experiences were all she needed course of his career, Dr. Jaber was celebrated disk drive industry, and 28 years in the Marine to make the right decisions. In 2015, Becky for his generosity and advocacy on behalf of Corps Reserves, from which he retired as a Leggieri became the Subcommittee’s Minority others. Colonel. His first foray into serving the small, Staff Director and has worked by my side for Dr. Jaber founded the Arab American Asso- gated city of Canyon Lake came in 2007 when the past five years to ensure oversight of the ciation of New York as a welcoming center for Randy was elected to serve as the Canyon Department of Defense and numerous intel- new immigrants to New York from the Middle Lake POA Treasurer, then as the president in ligence agencies. She balanced competing pri- East. Under his leadership, the organization 2008. With his experience on the Canyon orities from administrations, Members of Con- grew to become a social services organization Lake POA, Randy felt prepared to serve on gress, labor. industry, state and local govern- that provides adult education services, youth the City Council in 2010 and was elected by ments, and citizen interest groups. Her hon- programming, and mental health services. the voters to fill that role. After a brief hiatus esty, knowledge of the issues, and willingness More than that, the organization seeks to cre- off the council, Randy was elected again in to listen allowed her to develop legislation in ate cross-culture dialogue within New York’s 2016 to rejoin the council. He was selected by which the many parties involved felt a sense multiethnic communities. It has served as a li- his city council colleagues to serve as the of shared ownership in its enactment. aison to challenge discrimination against Arab city’s mayor in 2014 and 2017. Becky Leggieri is a person of scrupulous Americans. Throughout his time on the council, Randy ethics and is possessed of a sterling intellect I invite you to join me in recognizing the leg- has been a Board Member of the Western and nimble mind, an innate political shrewd- acy of Dr. Ahmad Jaber as we give honor to Riverside County Conservation Agency, the ness, and poise under pressure. Most impor- his memory. Western Riverside Council of Governments tantly, she used these talents in the service of f and the Riverside Transportation Agency. He her country and this institution to ensure that has also served on the I–15 Through the Committee and House’s constitutional pre- INTRODUCTION OF THE COMMU- Temecula Valley Task Force and the South- rogatives were respected and protected. Her NITY DRIVEN RECOVERY FOR west Communities Financing Authorities Joint steady hand will be sorely missed. PUERTO RICO ACT Powers Agreement (Animal Friends of the Val- I know Ms. Leggieri’s husband, John, and ley). Randy is also an active member of the her children, Olivia and Gabriel, are so very HON. JESU´ S G. ‘‘CHUY’’ GARCI´A Canyon Lake Men’s Golf Club, Over proud of her, as are we all. I wish Becky every OF ILLINOIS Group, After Lunch Bunch, Canyon Lake Trav- happiness and success in her future endeav- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES el Club, Canyon Lake Yacht Club, and was ors. the Master of Ceremonies at the first Canyon Wednesday, December 16, 2020 f Lake Veterans Day event and then again in Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I 2010. COMMITTEE REPORT FROM THE rise today to introduce the Community Driven I want to personally acknowledge and thank COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AF- Recovery for Puerto Rico Act along with my Randy for serving on my Academy Nomina- FAIRS, ‘‘HIJACKING OUR HE- colleague from New York, . tions Selection Committee, and helping to de- ROES: EXPLOITING VETERANS This bill strengthens transparency and local termine which students from the 42nd Con- THROUGH DISINFORMATION ON oversight of federal recovery efforts in Puerto gressional District receive nominations to our SOCIAL MEDIA’’ Rico by establishing a Civil Society Task military service academies. I know I speak on Force to ensure that Puerto Ricans have a behalf of all residents in expressing my heart- HON. seat at the table in decisions about recovery felt thanks and praise for Randy’s significant OF CALIFORNIA efforts. contributions to the city of Canyon Lake. I IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES More than three years since Hurricane wish Randy, and his family, the very best in Wednesday, December 16, 2020 Maria hit Puerto Rico, the island is still dev- the years to come. astated and Puerto Rican voices have been f Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today shut out of the federal recovery process. The as Chairman of the House Committee on Vet- Civil Society Task Force established by this CONGRATULATING REBECCA erans’ Affairs, to bring attention to an impor- bill will represent different sectors of Puerto LEGGIERI ON HER RETIREMENT tant issue facing our nation’s veterans. Rican society including community organiza- During a hearing held on November 13 of tions, unions, nonprofits and small businesses. HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY last year, the Committee heard about the risks The Task Force will be embedded within fed- OF INDIANA faced by our nation’s veterans when using so- eral recovery agencies to ensure that the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES cial media. Based on the results of that hear- Puerto Rican community’s ideas and concerns ing, as well as additional research and anal- are incorporated into the recovery process. Wednesday, December 16, 2020 ysis, my Committee has prepared a report that The federal recovery effort in Puerto Rico Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise not only details the risks faced by veterans, has been removed from the people of the is- today to pay tribute to Rebecca Leggieri, Clerk but also outlines a series of policy options and land for too long, and this bill provides an im- of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, other solutions. The executive summary of the portant mechanism to bridge that gap and en- who will be retiring at the end of this year after report, ‘‘Hijacking Our Heroes: Exploiting Vet- hance the accountability, transparency and more than 24 years of service to our country. erans through Disinformation on Social

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