Floor SpeechNeutral2026-02-11

HONORING YVONNE FEDDERSON

TaxesCrime & Justice

Context

On 2026-02-11, Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ-5) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING YVONNE FEDDERSON" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered crime and justice.

Full Text

HONORING YVONNE FEDDERSON

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 29 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)] [House] [Page H2173] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING YVONNE FEDDERSON (Mr. BIGGS of Arizona asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Yvonne Fedderson, cofounder of Childhelp, a national organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Yvonne lived an amazing, divinely inspired life. In 1959, Yvonne was in her mid-twenties and in the midst of a successful acting career. She and Sara O'Meara, who became a close friend and cofounder of Childhelp, were on a USO tour in Japan when they found 11 Japanese-American orphans kicked out of their orphanage. Yvonne and Sara responded, finding them shelter and long-term care. What started as an effort to help these 11 children turned into a lifelong calling. Yvonne and Sara went on to open orphanages in Japan and Vietnam, saving tens of thousands of children. In the mid-1970s, at the behest of Nancy Reagan, they opened their first iteration of Childhelp in California. They have since created a nationwide network of assistance, including a 24/7 hotline, treatment centers, abuse prevention programs, and awareness campaigns. We are honored that they chose to headquarter Childhelp in Arizona. On January 23 of this year, at the age of 90, God called Yvonne home. I count it as a tremendous blessing to have known Yvonne and witnessed the profound impact she had on the lives of our most vulnerable, on our community, our State, and our Nation. Her legacy will endure. ____________________

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HONORING YVONNE FEDDERSON Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 29 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)] [House] [Page H2173] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING YVONNE FEDDERSON (Mr. BIGGS of Arizona asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. BIGGS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Yvonne Fedderson, cofounder of Childhelp, a national organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Yvonne lived an amazing, divinely inspired life. In 1959, Yvonne was in her mid-twenties and in the midst of a successful acting career. She and Sara O'Meara, who became a close friend and cofounder of Childhelp, were on a USO tour in Japan when they found 11 Japanese-American orphans kicked out of their orphanage. Yvonne and Sara responded, finding them shelter and long-term care. What started as an effort to help these 11 children turned into a lifelong calling. Yvonne and Sara went on to open orphanages in Japan and Vietnam, saving tens of thousands of children. In the mid-1970s, at the behest of Nancy Reagan, they opened their first iteration of Childhelp in California. They have since created a nationwide network of assistance, including a 24/7 hotline, treatment centers, abuse prevention programs, and awareness campaigns. We are honored that they chose to headquarter Childhelp in Arizona. On January 23 of this year, at the age of 90, God called Yvonne home. I count it as a tremendous blessing to have known Yvonne and witnessed the profound impact she had on the lives of our most vulnerable, on our community, our State, and our Nation. Her legacy will endure. ____________________