The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF JOHN CARDONI, MY VIRTUAL GUEST OF HONOR FOR PRESIDENT
BIDEN'S FIRST ADDRESS TO A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS
______
HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor John Cardoni, my virtual guest of honor to President Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s first address to a Joint Session of Congress. John is one of the many heroes of this pandemic who I am proud to represent in the House of Representatives. When he fell on pandemic hard times, he refused to give up in the face of adversity.
John lives in Dupont, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Agnes Cardoni, Ph.D. and their son, Christopher. He is the Facility Director for the esteemed Scranton Cultural Center, which was devastated by the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic as so many large event venues were. Although he was laid off early on amid the COVID-19 outbreak, John and his family were able to make ends meet with the help of direct economic impact payments and enhanced unemployment insurance made possible through the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan. These relief lifelines helped John and his wife keep up with their mortgage payments and meet out-of-pocket medical expenses.
A diabetic and transplant recipient, John also understood that his medical history put him at higher risk for serious COVID-19 infection, and so he was careful to avoid close contact with others outside of his immediate household.
Now, over a year later, and several weeks since the enactment of the American Rescue Plan, John and his family are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and he has been able to gather with his mother and sisters safely in person once again. Additionally, he has been able to make plans to safely reopen the Scranton Cultural Center's doors and continue providing enriching experiences for Northeastern Pennsylvanians of all ages.
Throughout this past year, President Biden has often warned the world, ``it has never, ever, been a good bet to bet against the American people.'' He is right, and Americans like John are the people he has in mind when he boasts this sentiment.
Although I regret being unable to have John accompany me in the House chamber in person due to COVID-19 safety protocols in place at the time, I am humbled to uplift his comeback story. It is a shining example of American resilience and determination through the darkest of times.
I recognize his story in honor of him, as well as all the Northeastern Pennsylvanians who suffered, sacrificed and persevered through this pandemic.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 88
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