The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING COLLEEN DENNY
______
HON. ELISSA SLOTKIN
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Ms. SLOTKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Colleen Denny, a partner in our effort to evacuate Afghan allies and a trusted resource for them as they look ahead to the vetting process.
Service is ingrained in Ms. Denny's DNA--she is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, where she earned her degree and was commissioned as an ensign. During her 8 years in service, she served on three different ships, including as commanding officer of a fast response cutter. Her duties spanned from search and rescues, counter-
narcotics operations, to humanitarian aid missions. In 2010, when Haiti's infrastructure was leveled by a massive 7.0 earthquake, Ms. Denny was one of the first boots on the ground at the Port-au-Prince harbor, providing essential medical care, helicopter evacuations, and disaster relief to the population.
Later, as a Peace Fellow with the Children's Peace Initiative in Kenya, she worked to settle differences between warring pastoralist communities. With a focus on shared activities and common purposes, Ms. Denny helped bring together children from the two sides as well as tribal leaders in order to shift how the groups saw each other from adversary to ally.
Now, as regional director for Europe at Spirit of America, Colleen was instrumental in helping our group of Afghans escape grave and immediate threats from the Taliban. Despite the tragedy of fleeing their homeland, Ms. Denny provided them the support they need to now look towards the future with hope. From securing housing to providing basic supplies and tools to stay in touch with loved ones, Ms. Denny has given the same time, care, and consideration to each request. Ms. Denny is an example of our country at its best, with an attention to detail second to none. I cannot express how grateful I am to have her skills and expertise on our side.
Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Ms. Colleen Denny for her willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty in our effort to evacuate Afghan allies from Kabul and support them in their new life. For being there, on the tarmac, to meet vulnerable men, women, and children when they landed in Tirana and for continuing to be there for them in the days and weeks afterward, I submit these words--may they stand as a tribute to her dedicated service when the moment called for it most.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 211(1), Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 211(2)
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