Monday, June 22, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, and on behalf of a grieving community, to honor a man whose life enriched my district, my state, and indeed this entire Nation--Mr. Benjamin A. Holden--who departed this life on June 10, 2026. at the age of sixtythree. On Saturday, June 20th. his beloved famijy, his Columbus community, and friends from across this country gathered at the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia, to celebrate his remarkable life and lay him to rest. Mr. Speaker, Ben Holden believed, with his whole heart, in the power of two things--stories, and people. And across sixty-three years, he gave his life to both. His own story began far from Georgia, in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was born on June 3, 1963, to Lorine and Percy Holden. He found his calling early. At just seventeen years old, he was already a cub reporter in the sports department of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, covering high school athletics--and his gift was so evident that it earned him a scholarship from the Pulitzer family to attend the University of Missouri. It was there, in 1983, that he became a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, joining the ranks of the Divine Nine that so many of us hold dear. He went on to the University of California at Berkeley, earning both his law degree and his M.B.A., and meeting the love of his life, Melanie. And then Ben Holden became one of the finest journalists of his generation. As a Los Angeles-based reporter for The Wall Street Journal, he chronicled the most consequential stories of his time--the painful aftermath of the Rodney King trial, the O.J. Simpson case that gripped the entire nation, and more. His front-page Journal piece dissecting the staggering economics of the Simpson spectacle--which he wittily titled "O.J. G.D.P."--earned him a national journalism award. He was a truth-teller, Mr. Speaker, and he told the truth with style. But Ben understood that journalism is more than a profession--it is a pillar of freedom itself. A licensed attorney in both California and Georgia, he gave himself to the cause of a free press and an accountable judiciary. As director of the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for the Courts and Media, he carried the First Amendment far beyond our borders. On behalf of our own State Department and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, he traveled to Kosovo--a young nation still struggling to trust its own institutions--and there he trained its judges, its prosecutors, and its journalists in the principles of liberty, because he believed a free press and an honest court were essential to that fragile republic's democratic future. And right here at home, from 2004 to 2010, he led the newsroom of our own Columbus Ledger-Enquirer through one of the most turbulent eras journalism has ever known. He gave the next generation his wisdom, too, on the faculties of the University of Illinois and Northwestern University's storied Medill School of Journalism, where he taught young people that the press is the only profession the Constitution itself protects by name. And he fought for his students as if they were his own children. But Mr. Speaker, of all the chapters in Ben Holden's remarkable story, the one he loved the most was written right here in Columbus, Georgia. Nelson Mandela taught the world that "education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world"--and Ben Holden took up that weapon on behalf of children too often overlooked. In 2009, he founded a nonprofit he called Columbus Scholars. He carried a simple and stubborn conviction--that the only thing standing between a bright child who makes it and a bright child who does not is somebody willing to support them. And he did not merely say it. He spent more than forty years of his life proving it. Partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Chattahoochee Valley, Columbus Scholars pairs economically disadvantaged young people with mentors and with scholarships--and in just seventeen years, it has raised more than one million dollars and lifted more than one hundred students toward a future they could not have reached on their own. Think of that, Mr. Speaker. A man who had reported on the most powerful people in America, a man who had trained judges across an ocean, found his deepest joy in a Columbus child with ability and empty pockets--and in becoming the very support that child needed. He helped those young people write brand-new stories for their lives. And there is one last story I must share. The celebrated poet and author Maya Angelou once wrote that "there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." Mr. Speaker, Benjamin Holden refused to carry his story to the grave. In his final days, he completed the draft of a novel he called Spirit of St. Louis--the tale of two first generation Black men coming of age in America, navigating race and class and the long odds of making it as an outsider. In so many ways, it was his own story. He did not live to see it published. But his family has vowed to finish what he began and bring his words into the world--and so this storyteller, who gave his life to telling the stories of others, will at last have his own story told. For that is who Ben Holden was. A devoted husband to Melanie, his wife of thirty-one years. A loving father to his daughter, Joy. A brother, an uncle, and the very heart of a family that gathered for reunions they lovingly called "Fling Dings." He was a man who never missed a birthday, a wedding, or a ballgame--a faithful Atlanta Hawks seasonticket holder who lived and died by his Missouri Tigers and his Northwestern Wildcats. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join my wife Vivian and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District in honoring the life and legacy of Benjamin A. Holden. We give thanks for a life lived with conviction, with generosity, and with an unshakable faith in the power of stories and of people to make this world better. On behalf of Georgia's Second Congressional District, I extend my deepest sympathy to his wife, Melanie; to his daughter, Joy; to his entire family; and to the countless students and colleagues whose lives he forever changed. Their loss is immeasurable. But the truth he defended, the students he lifted, and the love he gave will go on speaking long after his pen has been laid down. Well done to Ben, and I wish him eternal rest. We will help tell the rest of his story.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob Quick, President and CEO of Commerce Lexington. After 25 years with Commerce Lexington and more than 37 years in the chamber of commerce/economic development profession, Bob is entering retirement. Bob is quite well respected in Lexington's business community, the entire city of Lexington, and all across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. His diplomatic approach helps bring people together to find solutions to issues facing the business community. Under his tenure, Commerce Lexington has experienced tremendous growth and improvement, including economic development tools, public policy programming and advocacy, talent attraction, strategic partnerships, marketing, and community and minority business developnlent. Bob's leadership resulted in several successful initiatives, including Greater Lexington's Washington, D.C. Fly-In, the Commerce Lexington Foundation, the nine-county Regional Competitiveness and the Access Loan Program. Commerce Lexington was named National Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2016. This tremendous accomplishment was due to the leadership skills of Bob Quick and his excellent team at Commerce Lexington. Numerous other awards over the years have also recognized the accomplishments of Commerce Lexington and its effectiveness in championing businesses. Bob leaves a tremendous legacy. Bob Quick is not only an excellent leader; he is a well-respected man of character and humility. He inspires others every day as he leads with a servant's heart. I wish him well in his well-deserved retirement and I am honored to recognize him before the U. S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to recognize the Unforgettable Big Band's "Freedom is Not Free" celebration of our Nation's 250th Birthday. The Unforgettable Big Band originally formed in 2000, in the York, Pennsylvania area, for the simple joy of playing music for the local community; however, its reputation quickly grew. Within a couple of years, the Lake Meade Homeowners Association invited the Band to perform at the annual charity fundraiser dance, marking the Band's first public appearance. Their overwhelming success turned the performance into a bi-annual tradition that occurs to this day. As word about the Band continued to spread, they began performing more frequently across the York area. Proceeds from performances for local charities and churches enabled the Band to invest in a sound system and stage lighting, further elevating their shows and performances. Many of the Band's early performances focused on World War II Veterans' reunion events--an important tradition the Band upholds as long as surviving Veterans are able to attend. In 2019, the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame was formed to recognize and support bands and music in Central Pennsylvania. In January 2020, the Unforgettable Big Band won "Best Ensemble," and followed that win with a "Cover-To-Cover" award in 2021, for the song "Fighter," which was written to benefit the Four Diamonds Foundation's support of families of children with cancer at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Children's Hospital. On July 3, the Unforgettable Big Band will host "Freedom is Not Free," a World War II-themed USO-Canteen Swing Dance at York's Valencia Ballroom, to honor our Veterans--past and present--and our community's First Responders, and the unique role that York County has played in the history of our Nation, All profits from this event will benefit charitable local causes supporting Veterans and First Responders. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored and privileged to recognize the Unforgettable Big Band and their "Freedom is Not Free" celebration of America's 250th Birthday. From the early days of the Continental Congress, to the York Plan that helped achieve the Allied victory, to end World War II, York County has made an enormous mark on American history, and on behalf of the Citizens of the 10th Congressional District, I commend the Unforgettable Big Band for its service to our Nation and Veterans, and am proud that this memorable and historic celebration will occur in our local community.

Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the United States Commission on an Open Society with Security Act of 2026, which would create a commission to investigate how we can maintain our democratic traditions while actively responding to the real and substantial threats posed by foreign and domestic terrorism. The impetus for this bill was the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Its importance grew after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The tragic attacks endured by our Nation have led to a series of sweeping security measures that are deemed both necessary and temporary in the moment but create lasting security infrastructure that is difficult to dismantle and infringes on our open, democratic society. We must acknowledge and accept that we have entered an era of constant internal and external threats, requiring ever-higher levels of security for our people and public spaces. What we thought would be a temporary infringement on our open society has turned into a permanent restriction on how our citizens interact with each other and our democratic institutions. Because emergencies typically dictate security decisions, essential discussions on the proper balance between security, individual rights and the freedoms enjoyed in an open society have been repeatedly deferred. This bill would ensure that these long overdue discussions take place in a public forum with experts from across the spectrum. To date, security planning has been delegated almost exclusively to security, intelligence and military experts. Although their input is indispensable, they cannot be expected to consider matters outside of their expertise. To strike a better balance with our democratic traditions, we need to invite experts from diverse fields to the same table to work together. Therefore, the commission would be composed not only of security, intelligence and military experts, but also experts from such fields as business, architecture, technology, law, city planning, art, engineering, philosophy, history, sociology and psychology. We have used commissions before to deeply investigate and address unprecedented challenges, such as the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9/11 Commission), the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction (also known as the Silberman-Robb Commission) and the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (also known as the Kerner Commission). The commission created by this bill would seek to avert a crisis in basic freedoms before their infringement becomes entrenched. We cannot allow security protocols to proliferate without informed civilian oversight and a thorough analysis of alternatives that might better safeguard freedom and commerce. Furthermore, we have had decades to develop security strategies and technologies that do not deprive our citizens of access to institutions and personal liberty. Thus far, we have either relied on imprecise, medieval approaches like crude barriers or on intrusive new technologies that treat privacy like a privilege instead of a right. We can, and must, do better. As the home of the Federal government, the District of Columbia and its residents have suffered disproportionate infringement on public spaces, personal rights and freedoms in the name of security. Public spaces that serve as the heart of our local communities have become restricted zones characterized by a heavy security presence, with individuals liable to be reprimanded for walking on the wrong side of the street or marveling too long at the architecture. Barriers such as walls and fences are touted as essential security features while our citizens are left peering at their democracy from a distance. Security is not only about reducing lives lost and costs. It is also about safeguarding the institutions, freedoms and values that anchor our country, not only for ourselves but for future generations. The social compact between government and the people should not be the result of a series of hostage negotiations. We must resume reasoned and deliberative decision-making, beginning with a high-level commission composed of experts from diverse disciplines charged with developing a new course that will protect both our people and our precious democratic institutions and traditions. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Marcia "Marty" Sink, who has spent the last 38 years as a dedicated child advocate, during which time she has left a profound and lasting impact on children in the foster and court systems in New Hampshire. Marty began her journey in child advocacy in her thirties when she and her husband, Russ, became foster parents. After witnessing the realities of the court system for minors in foster care and similar situations, Marty reached out to CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates for children. She learned there was no chapter of the program in New Hampshire and took on the challenge of founding the New Hampshire chapter of CASA in 1988. For 38 years, she has remained a dedicated advocate of children suffering from abuse and neglect across the state of New Hampshire. CASA in New Hampshire started with just ten volunteers but has since grown into an organization of over 3,000 individuals. These advocates have supported over 13,000 children since the founding of the NH chapter. In addition to serving as the President of CASA, Marty has sat on numerous committees, including the New Hampshire Citizens' Commission on State Courts, the New Hampshire Commission on Adoption, and the New Hampshire Attorney General's Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect. Throughout her nearly 40 years of service, she has received awards, including the National CASA Association Kappa Alpha Theta Program Director of the Year in 1997, the New Hampshire Bar Association's Frank Rowe Kenison Award in 2001, the University of New Hampshire's Granite State Award in 2004, and the Keene State College's Outstanding Women of New Hampshire Award in 2014. Those who know Marty best admire her leadership skills, patience, and diplomacy. Colleagues from the courtroom describe her as a force of nature who is gentle but persistent in securing advocacy for children. Her work with CASA has created lasting change in New Hampshire's courts. Marty will retire in July, leaving New Hampshire's CASA program in the hands of her trusted and experienced colleagues. Now 70, she looks forward to spending time with her husband and family. In honor of her retirement, CASA is creating the Marty Sink Legacy Fund for Advocates, a fund dedicated to supporting and investing in this year's 600 advocates. On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I thank Marty Sink for her commitment and dedication to supporting the children of New Hampshire for the past 38 years. I would also like to thank Marty for her selfless service and for her leadership in the state. I wish her and her family all the best in her retirement and future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man whose life reflects the very best of America, a member of the Greatest Generation, a United States Marine, a devoted husband and father, and a proud centenarian and United States Marine Corps veteran, Private First Class Michael Grieco, Sr. Born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 26, 1926, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Michael came of age during some of the most difficult years in our Nation's history. At just sixteen years old, while many young men were still deciding what they wanted from life, Michael knew what he wanted to give. In 1943, he left school and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, determined to serve his country during its hour of need. What followed was a journey that carried him across the Pacific, and into some of the fiercest battles of World War II. He would later fight at Tinian, landing in the first wave with the 2nd Marine Division, and he would go on to serve in the Battle of Okinawa, where so many Americans paid the ultimate sacrifice. For Michael and so many of his generation, service was never about recognition. It was about duty. It was about standing beside those who depended on you. It was about carrying burdens that others would never see and asking for nothing in return. After the war ended, Michael set out to build a life for himself. Michael became a tailor, dedicating more than four decades to his craft. In 1950, he married the love of his life, Eleanor. Together they built a family grounded in love and devotion, raising two sons, Michael Jr. and Gary, and sharing thirty-four years of marriage before Eleanor's passing in 1984. Yet what makes Michael's story so remarkable is not only what he accomplished in war or work, it is the way he embraced life itself. He discovered a love for skiing in 1950 and continued to ski in his nineties. At age fifty-eight, he took up cycling and never looked back. In many ways, that determination and spirit reflected the Marine he had always been, always moving forward, always embracing the next challenge. Today, as Michael Grieco celebrates a century of life, he is surrounded by the family that stands as his greatest achievement: two sons, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Through them, his legacy continues. Mr. Speaker, men like Michael Grieco helped save the world from tyranny and then returned home to build lives defined by service, humility, and love. Their generation asked for little, gave much, and left our Nation stronger than they found it. The example he has set is now ours to honor and ours to carry forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a distinguished veteran from Washington's 10th Congressional District, Mr. Jason Jerrodd Haley, Sr. Mr. Haley served with distinction in the United States Navy for over eleven years. His service was highlighted by an extraordinary, continuous assignment to the USS Nimitz (CVN 68). From March 18, 1993, to June 1, 2001, Mr. Haley remained assigned to the Nimitz for a consecutive 8 years and 3 months. During this extensive period, he served as an AO2/E5 AW (Aviation Ordinance-man Second Class/Aviation Warfare Specialist) within the Weapons Department. Maintaining weapons readiness on a nuclear aircraft carrier requires immense technical expertise, precision, and unwavering focus. Mr. Haley was a cornerstone of the ship's crew during a pivotal era, keeping the vessel's combat systems sharp through multiple high-tempo deployments and the grueling Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) process. A resident of Puyallup, Washington, Jason Jerrodd Haley, Sr. represents the absolute highest traditions of the naval service: resilience, consistency, and a deep-seated "Old Salt" dedication to a single command. Spending over 3,000 consecutive days assigned to the Nimitz is a profound testament to the sacrifice, endurance, and steadfastness of our nation's sailors. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Haley's remarkable service record and ensuring his dedication is permanently preserved.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, and with deep grdtitude, to honor the life and the lasting legacy of a beloved matriarch of Columbus, Georgia, Mrs. Mary Lizzie Pickett Quiller, known and loved by all who knew her simply as "Honey." After a remarkable life that spanned a full century, Mrs. Quiller was called home to her reward on June 10, 2026, at the age of 100 years old. On Friday, June 19th, her family, her friends, and her community gathered at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia--the very church home she faithfully served for more than 60 years--to celebrate her life and to lay her to rest. It is only right that this body, and this Nation, pause to remember a woman who gave 100 years of her life to her family, her faith, and her community. Mrs. Quiller was born on September 15, 1925, in Bullock County, Alabama, one of seven children raised by their devoted mother, Georgie Pickett. Of those seven, she and her sister, Annie Watkins, were the last two who remained--and today, with Honey's passing, her sister carries on as the last leaf on that family tree. Mr. Speaker, in the final season of her long life, Mrs. Quiller left her family a simple and humble request. She said: "Let the works I have done speak for me." So, on the floor of this House today, I intend to honor that wish. I rise to let her works speak. Let her works speak of a young girl who became a second mother before her time. By her own sister's loving account, Honey helped care for her siblings through all their childhood years--and she went right on caring for them even after their mother, Georgie, passed away. When the family needed someone to hold it together, she was the one who stepped forward. And that was the pattern of her entire life. Let her works speak of a woman who, as I would describe her, simply was not a quitter. She believed in bettering herself, and through hard work and quiet determination she did exactly that. Mary Quiller earned an Associate Degree in Business from Albany State, a Master of Cosmetology, and a tailoring certificate. She refused to let her beginnings set the limits of her life. Let her works speak of a wife and a mother. She was the beloved wife of George Quiller and the devoted mother of two children, Jean and Jerry. And Mr. Speaker, I must pause here, because there is no heavier burden a parent can be asked to carry than to bury a child--and Mrs. Quiller knew that sorrow. for her beloved son, Jerry, preceded her in death. Yet somehow, by the grace of God, she kept right on standing, kept right on serving, and kept right on pouring her love into everyone around her. A heart that knew that depth of grief and still chose to give is a heart worthy of honor before this Nation. She is survived by her devoted daughter, Mary, her sister Annie Watkins, her grandson, Jeremy Quiller, her great grandchildren, and her great-great grandchild, who carried her name and her spirit forward. Let her works speak of a faithful and tireless servant of God. For more than 60 years, Mrs. Quiller was an active member of Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church--the very sanctuary that will receive her home this Friday. She gave herself to that congregation in nearly every way a person can: as Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School, as a Sunday School Teacher, as a member of the Choir, as a Cub Scout Leader shaping young boys, and as Mission President. Her church family saw clearly what kind of woman she was. They named her Woman of the Year back in the 1990s, and they lifted her up in honor once again in 2024. Let her works speak of a true pillar of her community. In her neighborhood, the saying simply went that if you wanted something done, you called Mrs. Quiller. She was the one who got it done--and for that faithful service, she was presented the "Giving Your Best Award." She also gave her time to the people of her city as a member of the Keep Columbus Beautiful Board. Her motto, plain and powerful, was to work every day at improving the quality of life--not only for herself, but for everyone around her. Mr. Speaker, let her works speak of her character. Mary Quiller was a woman of unshakable honesty. If she believed you needed to hear a hard truth, she loved you enough to tell it to you--whether you wanted to hear it or not. And yet, when she did good for others, and she did a world of good, she never once advertised it. She gave in quiet. She helped in secret. She believed, too, that you do not chase after material things simply to keep up with the people around you; you live within your values, and you spend on what truly matters. Hers was a life of substance, never a life of show. Mr. Speaker, the great Shirley Chisholm--the first Black woman ever to serve in this very House--once said that: "Service is the rent we pay for the space that we occupy here on this Earth." By that measure, Mary "Honey" Quiller paid her rent in full, with interest. In the words of the old gospel hymn, "She has paid her title clear." For 100 years she served--her family, her church, and her community--and she asked for nothing in return. Mr. Speaker, Mary Lizzie Pickett Quiller asked that her works speak for her. And oh, how they speak. They speak in the brothers and sisters she mothered. They speak in the students she taught and the scouts she led. They speak in the church she served for six decades, in the community she made more beautiful, and in the countless souls she lifted without ever once asking for the credit. Her works are speaking still--and they will go on speaking long after every one of us is gone. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join my wife Vivian and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District in honoring the life and legacy of Mrs. Mary Lizzie Pickett Quiller. I extend my deepest and most heartfelt sympathy to her surviving daughter, Mary Quiller, her surviving sister, Annie Watkins; to her grandchildren; to her Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church family; and to the entire Columbus community that loved her so dearly and for so long. She was, in the truest sense of the word, a phenomenal woman, and we were blessed to share this Earth with her for 100 years. She was a caregiver, a scholar, a servant, and a saint whose good works will keep right on speaking for her, just as she asked. May she rest in peace and may the God she served so faithfully for a century welcome her home with the words she earned: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Mr. Speaker, Martha Ann Hart Cusimano was a community leader and passionate advocate for the hungry and vulnerable. Making a difference started early with Martha. A native of Buffalo, New York, from a family deeply rooted in faith and service, she learned to swim in Lake Erie from her dad. From then on, she became a lifelong swimmer. When its waters were threatened by pollution in the 60s, she was part of a movement of Western New York women who pushed to clean them up. In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Martha earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Marketing from DeSales University, graduating Cum Laude while raising a family and working in marketing and community relations at DeSales University and St. Luke's Hospital. At Lehigh University, she completed graduate coursework in American history, was a member of the first Leadership Bethlehem class, served as vice chair of the Bethlehem Community Foundation, was honored with the Miss Pennsylvania Woman of Achievement Award, and was one of three to receive the Bethlehem Star Award from the Burn Prevention Foundation for her work raising millions for that charity. As founder and executive director of the Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association, she not only produced auto shows but also created a charitable foundation and helped donate millions to local charities and scholarships. She was also a charter member of the Women's Automotive Association. At Notre Dame of Bethlehem parish, she founded the School Advisory Association, served on the parish council, and was a beautiful leader of song. As a teen, Martha met her husband, Jim, at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish in Buffalo. They led fundraising to build the new St. Rose of Lima Church in Kissimmee, which opened in 2017, and founded "DUO: Do Unto Others," an initiative with Solivita neighbors, which raised over $700,000 for the food pantry in the ensuing years. The pantry provides food to over 70,000 food-insecure people annually, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Martha also served on the board of Habitat for Humanity Osceola for eight years and worked with Osceola County to provide nine homes for people in need of affordable housing. She also testified before Members of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on the need for the Farm Bill to include aid for food pantries. For her work to help the hungry and marginalized in Central Florida, Martha was honored by Osceola County with the "Woman Warrior" Award. She did all of this while battling breast cancer for 19 years. In retirement, Martha enjoyed making pilgrimages to the Holy Land with the Jesuits of America Media, and to the Marian sites of Knock, Ireland, Fatima, and Lourdes. A dual Irish American citizen, Martha's family helped build the church in Knock, Ireland, at the site of the miraculous sighting of Mary. She remained close to her Irish family, as well as to her American and Mexican family and friends. Martha was a dedicated mother to Joseph Cusimano, Maryann Cusimano Love and husband Richard, Theresa Cusimano, and Patricia Cusimano Gomas and husband Jeff. Martha was a proud grandmother to Megan Cusimano Hower and husband Jim, as well as Adam Cusimano and Maria, Ricky, and Ava Love. She was a loving great-grandmother to Jack and Lydia Hower and Aria Grace Cusimano, and a godmother to nieces Katie Gill and Nina Hart. Martha died the evening of November 30, 2025, at the age of 82. She was surrounded by her husband and her four children. Among her last words were, "Gotta go to God," and "Promise me you will complete building of the Lima Center food pantry, promise me," true to her passions in life.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Mr. Henry Loyd Ivey of Henagar, Alabama, on the occasion of his 100th birthday, which he will celebrate on June 26, 2026. Mr. Ivey's century of life has been marked by faithful service to his country, his community, his church, and his family. A proud member of the Greatest Generation, he served honorably in the United States Army from January 1945 to August 1946 with the 25th Ordnance Maintenance Company. During his military service, he earned the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Ribbon, two Overseas Service Bars, and Sharpshooter qualification with the rifle. He was honorably discharged at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on August 28, 1946. Following his military service, Mr. Ivey dedicated his life to hard work and public service. He farmed for many years while also building a successful career with DuPont in Chattanooga, where he worked for more than 32 years before retiring at the age of 55. He further demonstrated his commitment to his hometown through 16 years of service on the Henagar City Council. Mr. Ivey's faith has been a cornerstone of his life. He has been a member of Liberty Baptist Church since 1944 and has faithfully served as a deacon since 1965. His decades of spiritual leadership have positively impacted countless individuals throughout the Henagar community. He has shared this remarkable journey with his wife, Louise, whom he married on June 29, 1951. Together they have built a loving family that includes four children, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. For nearly seven decades, they have made their home on Lee's Chapel Road in Henagar, where they have been admired for their devotion to family, faith, and community. As Mr. Ivey reaches this extraordinary milestone, we celebrate a life well lived and a legacy defined by service, integrity, perseverance, and unwavering faith. His example stands as an inspiration to all who know him, and I join his family, friends, and neighbors in honoring his many contributions and expressing gratitude for the impact he has made over the course of a remarkable century.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the distinguished life and career of Samuel L. Kaplan on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Sam Kaplan is a son of Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he was born and raised and graduated from Central High School. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota, earning both his undergraduate and law degrees with high distinction. While in law school, he served as President of the Minnesota Law Review, a preview of the exceptional legal career to come. In 1978, Sam co-founded the law firm Kaplan, Strangis and Kaplan, P.A., where he built a long and distinguished career practicing corporate law for more than six decades and earning a reputation for legal excellence. He has advised businesses across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest on complex legal matters and has served on several corporate boards, including Piper Jaffray, where he was lead director. In addition to his legal work, Sam has been active in Minnesota civic and political life for many years, including as a leader within the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. He has supported numerous political campaigns and social justice causes, including serving in leadership roles for Senator Paul Wellstone's campaigns, as State co-chair for Senator John Kerry's 2004 Presidential campaign, and as a member of the National Finance Committee of Barack Obama's Presidential campaign. In 2009, Sam was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, a position he held until 2013. In this role, he worked to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the United States and Morocco. One of a very small number of American Jews to serve as U.S. Ambassador to a Muslim-majority nation. Sam traveled extensively across the country, engaging with everyday citizens, civil rights leaders, and government officials to build partnerships based on mutual respect. While visiting Morocco in 2013, I witnessed firsthand Sam's exceptional skill and distinction in representing the United States. His wife, Sylvia Kaplan, a beloved community leader, activist, renowned host, and talented chef, also brought impressive diplomatic skill to Morrocco, winning over the hearts of Moroccans and dignitaries from all around the world. Just as in Minnesota, guests at Sam and Sylvia's dining room table in Morocco received a home-cooked meal with friends old and new, along with robust and dynamic conversation. Their hospitality compares to none. In 2015, Sam played a key role in the effort to bring Major League Soccer and Minnesota United FC to Saint Paul's Hamline-Midway neighborhood, helping to bring home a project that has strengthened the city's economy and established a permanent home for Minnesota's vibrant soccer community and its passionate supporters. It is a privilege to know Sam and his wife, Sylvia, as trusted advisors and friends throughout my service in Congress. Sam's career reflects a lifelong commitment to law, public service, and civic engagement. His contributions have had a lasting impact on Minnesota and our Nation. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Samuel L. Kaplan in commemoration of his 90th birthday and in celebrating his extraordinary career of leadership and service to Minnesota and the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to recognize the Historic Peter Allen House of Dauphin, Pennsylvania upon the auspicious occasion of its 300th Anniversary. The Peter Allen House is the oldest home in Dauphin County, dating back to 1726. The original grant to Peter Allen, a Scots-Irish trapper and trader, was for nearly 400 acres. The House is listed on both the National and State Registries of Historic Homes, and some contend that it was considered the Western English Frontier of the then-Pennsylvania Colony. Built at the base of Peters Mountain in central Dauphin County, the Peter Allen House historically served as the signature trading post for the migrating settlers of the colonial, pre-Revolutionary western frontier. Throughout the 19th Century, it also served as an inn, tavern, and hotel, hosting settlers and guests from across the Country. It was a welcomed stop on what was then known as the Sunbury Turnpike, which stretched from Reading to Sunbury. Today, the Peter Allen House serves as a memorial to early pioneers and settlers who gave everything for their Country and Commonwealth. The current owners have restored the House, converting the stable into a private residence, and growing the House into a popular site for weddings and special events. To celebrate their 300th Anniversary and America's 250th Birthday, the Peter Allen House is hosting an historic Independence Day celebration, featuring special readings of the Declaration of Independence, reenactments, educational forums, tours, fireworks, and a colonial costume ball. The celebration will be a testament to the tremendous impact the House has had upon our region throughout our Nation's history. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to recognize the Historic Peter Allen House on its 300th Anniversary. From the early days of precolonial America to today, the Peter Allen House has played an enormous role in Central Pennsylvania's history, and on behalf of the Citizens of the 10th Congressional District, I'm proud and honored that the owners can celebrate and share this wonderful and momentous occasion with our local community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a true patriot, Mr. William Oster "Bill" Tooley of Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Tooley, a veteran of the United States Army, recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Mr. Tooley was born in Russellville, Kentucky, on May 28, 1926. He attended Owensboro High School. During World War II, he volunteered for the U.S. Army. Following basic training, he was assigned to a medical battalion, the 71st Infantry Division, at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was responsible for taking care of the generators that kept the lights and electricity running, allowing surgeons and other medical personnel to care for wounded soldiers. After World War II ended, he served his last year in the medical battalion and was stationed in Germany. Following his time in the military, Mr. Tooley went to work for Bell South as a lineman. He worked his way up to an electrical engineer, moving from Owensboro to Danville to Louisville. He was in engineering management when he retired in 1987. Mr. Tooley was an active community member, serving on the Saint Regis Park City Council for 18 years, where he served as the building compliance officer. Mr. Tooley was married to Betty Rouse Tooley for 61 years. They had 6 children, 18 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. He is expecting his first great-great granddaughter in October 2026. Bill Tooley is a true patriot, a great American, and an inspiration to us all. I am forever grateful to him and his fellow soldiers who sacrificed so much in service to our Nation. It is my honor to recognize his service and his 100th birthday before the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, and with a gratitude that runs deeper than these few words can carry, to honor the life of a giant of Georgia public service, a peerless gentleman, and a man I was blessed to call my colleague and my friend--the Honorable Lawrence Cohen "Larry" Walker. Jr., of Perry, Georgia. Larry passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, surrounded by the family he loved, at the age of 84. A funeral service to celebrate his remarkable and purpose-filled life was held on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the Perry United Methodist Church. Some losses are not just the loss of a man. They are the closing of an era. Larry Walker was born on March 9, 1942, in Perry, Georgia, to the late Lawrence Cohen Walker, Sr., and the late Hilda Gray Walker. He was a son of Houston County from his first breath to his last--a native, a lifelong resident, and a fierce and faithful champion of his hometown for every one of his 84 years. He graduated from Perry High School in 1960, where his classmates, even then, saw what the rest of Georgia would come to know, and elected him Senior Class President. He went on to the University of Georgia, where he earned both his Bachelor of Business Administration and his Juris Doctorate in 1965--and where he became, and remained until his final day, one of the most devoted Bulldogs the good Lord ever made. Mr. Speaker, consider what this young man did with the years that followed. In January of 1966, at just 24 years of age, Larry Walker was appointed the very first Municipal Court Judge in the history of Perry. Twenty-four years old, sitting in judgment, trusted by his neighbors. In 1975, he was appointed Perry City, Attorney--a charge he and his beloved brother David would carry together for 40 years. Forty years. Two brothers, serving one city, side by side. That is not a job. That is a covenant. In 1972, the people of Houston County sent Larry Walker to the Georgia House of Representatives, to fill the seat left vacant by a young man named Sam Nunn, who was on his way to the United States Senate. And there, under the Gold Dome, Larry Walker became a legend. He served 32 years in that chamber--and for 16 of them, half his entire tenure, he served as House Majority Leader. Sixteen years carrying the burden of leadership, holding the floor, holding the line, holding people together. Now, Mr. Speaker, allow me a personal word. I came to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1977. And it was there, as a young legislator finding my footing, that I came to know Larry Walker. We did not always come from the same place. We did not always see every issue through the same eyes. But I tell you what I learned from that man across those years: Larry Walker never once made a difference of opinion into a difference of respect. He could disagree with you on Tuesday and break bread with you on Wednesday and have your back on Thursday. He believed--he truly believed--that we were all sent there to do the people's work, and that the people deserved leaders who could find the higher ground together. He taught a whole generation of us how to do this work with grace. I am a better public servant today because Larry Walker showed me how it was done. And he had something to show for it. You see it when you drive into Perry today and you see the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter standing tall--that is Larry Walker's vision made real. That community draws families and livelihoods and pride from Frito-Lay--that came to Perry because Larry Walker willed it there. He did not just hold an office. He built things. He left his hands' print on the soil of his home, and that print will outlast us all. After his service in the General Assembly, Larry was elected to the Georgia Transportation Board and was later appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia--still serving, still giving, still working for a state he loved. Through it all, in every chamber and on every board, Larry Walker was known for the rarest gift in public life: the ability to build relationships, to bring people together, and to work through their differences for the good of Georgia and for the good of his beloved Perry. But Mr. Speaker, if you had asked Larry Walker who he was, he would not have started with any of that. He would have told you he was a husband. A father. A man of faith. He was a lifelong and active member of Perry Methodist Church, where he and his wife Janice sat together in the Pathfinders Sunday School Class. He gave himself to the Perry Kiwanis Club, and he helped found Crossroads Bank, which grew into Security Bank, because he believed in his community's future enough to invest in it himself. And oh, how he loved Janice. In 1964, Larry married Janice Knighton--the love of his life--and they shared 61 years together. Sixty-one years, Mr. Speaker. They raised four children--Larry III, Wendy, Russell. and John Gray--and every one of them still calls Houston County home. Think on that a moment. In a restless world that scatters families to the four winds, Larry and Janice built a place so full of love that their children never wanted to leave it. He was a devoted family man who treasured nothing more than the activities of his nine grandchildren and his three great-grandchildren--there in the bleachers, there at the livestock shows, there for every one of them. He loved simple, sacred things. He loved working on the farm alongside Janice. He loved hunting dove and quail in the Georgia mornings and sharing his fishing ponds with anybody who'd come sit a while. He loved his dog Lizzy and he loved his cows. He loved watching the youth show their livestock at the Ag Center he helped create. He loved his Perry Panthers and his Westfield Hornets, and of course, always and forever, his Georgia Bulldogs. That, Mr. Speaker, is a life. Not a career--a life. Whole, and rooted, and good. Larry was predeceased by his parents, and by his brother David--his partner of 40 years--and by brothers-in-law Bob Kelly and Jeff Knighton. He leaves behind his devoted wife of 61 years, Janice Knighton Walker; his children Larry III and Adrienne, Wendy and Bob, Russell and Krissy, and John Gray and Sharon; his nine grandchildren: his three great-grandchildren; his sister Lynda, his brother Charlie, and a host of family and friends across Georgia who loved him. And Mr. Speaker, the truest measure of a man is found not only in what he built, but in what he past on. So let it be recorded that the Walker name still answers the roll call beneath the Gold Dome: Larry's son, Larry Walker, Ill, now serves in the Georgia General Assembly--the very institution his father loved and shaped--carrying his daddy's legacy of honorable service forward into a new generation. What a gift, to a father, to know the work goes on. Mr. Speaker, the Book of Proverbs tells us that "the memory of the just is blessed." Larry Walker was a just man. He kept faith with his God, with his family, with his hometown, and with the people he served. He showed us that you can hold great power and still hold great kindness; that you can disagree without dishonor; that a life lived close to home can touch the whole of a State. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join my wife Vivian and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District in honoring the life of the Honorable Larry Walker, Jr. to Janice, to his children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and to the whole community of Perry that he loved so well: the prayers of this House are with you. You did not lose him. You will carry him--in every fairground he built, in every quail field at dawn, in every Bulldog Saturday, in every kindness he ever showed. Heaven has gained a gentleman, and Georgia will not soon see his like again. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. And may God bless the memory of Larry Walker.