Proud Announcements

Floor Speech

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that through community project funding, my team and I have secured $3 million for southeast Iowa, delivering targeted investments in public safety, water infrastructure, and housing development.

These investments include: $500,000 for the SAFECity Initiative in Oskaloosa, bringing advanced public safety technology to the community to help prevent crime, improve emergency response times, and keep Oskaloosa residents safe; $2 million for the Papoose Creek Redundant Force Main in Muscatine to support a critical water infrastructure upgrade. This will protect homes, improve flood control, support growth, and strengthen environmental safety for years to come.

I also secured $750,000 for the Veterans District sewer project in Knoxville to help build a sanitary lift station and storm and sewer lines to serve more than 110 acres of future housing in the Veterans District.

With these historic investments, I have now secured over $8 million for southeast Iowa and will continue fighting to secure all the Federal resources our communities need and deserve. Recognizing Haley DeGreve

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Haley DeGreve, founder and president of The Gray Matters Collective, and local leader Jon Zumkehr for their partnership in raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention among correctional officers and law enforcement officers.

Their work became a lifeline for many after the tragic death by suicide of correctional officer Blake Schwarz who worked at Thomson Federal Prison but lived in Iowa, a loss that rocked our community and exposed the silent suffering of so many who serve behind the walls.

In the aftermath, Jon Zumkehr, an 18-year veteran of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, reached out to Haley and invited her to Thomson. She shared her own journey of survival and hope, speaking openly about her struggles and recovery and the realities that far too many correctional officers face in silence, many of whom are former military veterans.

On August 28, Haley nearly became another statistic, believing suicide was her only way out of pain. Instead, she chose to fight and founded The Gray Matters Collective, a nonprofit with chapters for veterans and first responders. She has listened to hundreds of stories like her own and like Blake's, and she has made it her mission to break the stigma and offer real support.

Jon and Haley's partnership has made a real difference. Together, they have sent 24 officers at Thomson to ASSIST training, organized suicide prevention walks, and led multiple staff recalls focused on mental health and resources. They have also created a law enforcement support group open to all staff with licensed counselors and free to anyone who needs it.

After Blake's death, I was honored to sit down with Jon and work to introduce Correctional Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act, legislation aimed at providing the resources and recognition our correctional officers deserve. I thank Jon and Haley for their courage, compassion, and relentless advocacy bringing attention to this very important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I want to wish a very happy birthday to my nephew, Andrew Martino.

Happy birthday, Andrew.

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