Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Parker Swanwick for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award. Parker has overcome many challenges along her journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Parker, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Parker's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Arvada West High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future. It is my honor to congratulate Parker Swanwick on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Redwood Baptist Church of Zachary, Louisiana, a congregation whose origins date back to 1857 when the late Reverend Kerchgo Hills founded the church on a Noble Tract, with the first services held in a tent. Early officers included Brothers Hoarse Richardson, Norse Evening, King Hills, and Ben Rowe, along with Sisters Elizabeth Beach, Nancy Rowe, and Emma Hughes. The first building served not only as a place of worship but also as one of the area's earliest schoolhouses. Many years later, the church was rebuilt on Highway 37 at Redwood Creek. Reverend Hills served faithfully until his passing, and Redwood was blessed with numerous remarkable pastors in the years that followed. In 1959, God showed His favor on Redwood Baptist Church when the property on Highway 37 was sold to the Louisiana Highway Department, prompting the need for a new church site. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the pastor and deacons contacted Brother and Sister Jett of Zachary, faithful Christians and supporters of God's work. In 1962, the Jetts agreed to sell a parcel of land on which Redwood constructed its present church home. Redwood remained resilient through trials and blessings, receiving a significant renovation in 2001 as the congregation continued to grow spiritually, financially, and physically. In 2014, Reverend Dashawn Harris served as interim pastor until Reverend Dale W. Flowers was elected on December 16, 2015, and installed on January 3, 2016. Pastor Flowers has since faithfully fulfilled the mission of Jesus Christ by preaching, teaching, and equipping the saints. In 2016, he published the New Member's Orientation and Study Class to teach foundational Christian principles and help new members discern God's purpose for their service. Under Pastor Flowers' leadership, Redwood continued to prosper, undertaking a full sanctuary renovation in 2022 and constructing a beautiful fellowship hall in 2024 without requiring a bank loan--a testament to both faith and unity within the congregation. Mr. Speaker, Redwood Baptist Church continues its legacy of service and faith under Pastor Flowers and the deacons, who together established a Community Prayer Ministry. Once a month, members go into the community to pray and share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Additional ministries have expanded the church's outreach, including Women's Ministry, Hospitality, Health and Wellness, Pastor Aide, and Faith Inspired Youth in Action (F.I.Y.A.). Built upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ, Redwood Baptist Church has weathered many storms and stands today as a testament to steadfast faith, spiritual growth, and God's unending blessings. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Redwood Baptist Church for its enduring impact and continued devotion to God's Kingdom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Officer Tonard "Tee" Warmsley, a dedicated school resource officer at Coppell ISD. After serving in the U.S. Army, Officer Warmsley joined the City of Coppell Police Department in 2007, and has served in roles ranging from patrol officer to detective, and now as a School Resource Officer. In 2017, he was named Texas School Resource Officer of the Year by the Texas Association of School Resource Officers and continues to serve as a regional co-director, supporting officers across North Texas. His impact is best seen through his mentorship of students, like Coppell High School graduate Modjet Brown Jr., whom he has guided since middle school. From stepping in on Senior Night to standing beside him as he took his oath to join the U.S. Army. Officer Warmsley has consistently shown what it means to show up for North Texans. His commitment reflects a deep belief that mentorship can change lives and that every student deserves someone who believes in them. I thank Officer Tonard "Tee" Warmsley for his dedication and for making a meaningful difference in the lives of students and families across North Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kaydence Schissler for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award. Kaydence has overcome many challenges along her journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Kaydence, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Kaydence's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Arvada West High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future. It is my honor to congratulate Kaydence Schissler on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, on September 3, 2026, I was unable to be present in D.C. for the morning vote series. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 295.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize New Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana--an institution whose history is woven into the fabric of the seventeen hundred block of America Street. Organized in 1909 under the leadership of the late Reverend Samuel Williams, pastor of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, the congregation was formed when approximately fifty members of Mt. Moriah relocated to the city and faced transportation challenges returning to their original church. They established Mt. Moriah Number Two, holding services in a hall on Knox Street. In 1912, the congregation purchased a lot for $450 and constructed a framed building, adopting the name New Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church. After Reverend Williams passed in 1922, he was succeeded by Reverend Isaac J. Anderson, under whose leadership the membership erected a larger stone structure Upon Reverend Anderson's passing in 1939, Reverend Daniel Smith became pastor and expanded the rear of the church to include a kitchen, dining area, and two choir stands before his death in 1942. Reverend Edward Brown began his service in 1942 and led the purchase of pews, an organ, and songbooks. He initiated interior renovations and established a pastor's salary and a building fund. Reverend Brown resigned in 1958, and Reverend Joseph R. Williams succeeded him, bringing strong leadership that resulted in modernization of the building and significant organizational growth. Under Reverend J.R. Williams's leadership, numerous auxiliaries and programs were created, including the Lena S. Johnson Scholarship Fund (1969), Male Chorus (1990), Mass Choir (1992), Summer Enrichment Program (1993), After School Tutorial Program (1995), and the Gospel Drill Team (1999). The fellowship hall was enlarged in 1993, and land was purchased to expand parking. After Reverend Williams's passing, Reverend Dale W. Flowers was elected pastor in September 2000. His administration brought sanctuary and office renovations, new furniture and equipment, a church van, and expansion of church property. Pastor Flowers also established a library, a bi-annual health fair, and new ministries such as Married Couples, Singles, Drama, and Youth Ushers Ministries, along with the institution of Hallelujah Night and New Members classes. Mr. Speaker, New Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church continues to thrive through its outreach programs, including free Saturday breakfasts for the homeless, dependency counseling, literacy programs, youth and teen rap sessions, and expanded family-centered activities. Renovations to the inner sanctuary and vestibule, installation of a drum stand and shield, and acquisition of additional property demonstrate the church's commitment to growth and service. Operational improvements include deacon member assignments, creation of a church website, computerization of financial and membership records, and the addition of an 8:00 a.m. worship service. Through witnessing, praying, and relying on the Holy Spirit, New Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church continues its mission of winning souls for God's Kingdom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Heros, Mrs. Dillen, Mrs. Hensley, Mrs. Eimers, and Mrs. Landolfa at Forest Vista Elementary School in Flower Mound. In their classrooms, they foster a welcoming environment where every child feels valued and encouraged to learn. Through their dedication, they support both academic growth and the confidence of their students. At Forest Vista Elementary, they go above and beyond to ensure that every child feels seen and supported. Their impact was especially meaningful during Purple Up Day on April 15th, also known as Military Child Day, when they wore purple to honor military children and presented a student with a special recognition certificate. This heartfelt gesture demonstrated their deep understanding of the sacrifices military families make and their commitment to celebrating the strength and resilience of their students. Their actions reflect the best of what our North Texas schools offer, including creating a classroom community, and encouragement at the foundational stages of a child's education. I thank Mrs. Dillen, Mrs. Hensley, Mrs. Eimers, and Mrs. Landolfa, for their unwavering dedication to their students and for the meaningful difference they make every single day at Forest Vista Elementary School.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Scott C. Cunningham, who is retiring from the House of Representatives after 25 years of exemplary service. Upon graduation from Emory University, Scott relocated to Washington, D.C., to begin his career as a Legislative Assistant for the Honorable Pete Sessions, a Member from his home state of Texas. Scott's hard work, problem-solving skills, and can-do attitude quickly made him a valued member of Congressman Sessions' staff. In 2007, Scott took his talents to the office of another Texan, the Honorable Kenny Marchant, serving in multiple capacities from Policy Advisor to Deputy Chief of Staff over the next fourteen years. During his last two years with Mr. Marchant, Scott was a Senior Advisor and the designated liaison to the House Ethics Committee. After Mr. Merchant's departure from Congress, Scott continued to serve the House by joining the office of Congressman Scott DesJarlais as a Special Assistant. In 2021, Scott joined the Office of General Counsel (OGC) as its Director of Administration and Member Services. Scott took on new tasks and responsibilities with aplomb and immediately became an indispensable part of the OGC team. It would be impossible to list all his contributions, but among them, he has taken the lead role relating to all aspects of office management and administration, including the office budget and computer systems, and was very often the first point of contact for a Member office when interfacing with OGC. During his time with OGC, Scott displayed an admirable level of dedication to serving Members, Officers, and employees of the House, proving to be remarkably trustworthy and utterly fearless when faced with novel, sensitive, and difficult matters. Scott's unwavering resolve and commitment to the House as an institution and OGC's particular role within that institution was always evident, as was his ability to find a solution to seemingly any problem. It is hard to imagine a congressional staffer much finer than Scott, who embodies the true spirit of public service. Scott has been an irreplaceable member of every team on which he has served. He has been a kind and thoughtful coworker to all, treating everyone from the Members to the maintenance staff with the utmost respect and kindness. As scores of current and former colleagues can attest, Scott is the kind of coworker who makes the workday better for everyone with whom he comes into contact. It is no exaggeration to say that he has become a fixture of the House community over his years on the Hill. Indeed, it is practically impossible for Scott to go anywhere on the Hill and not run into at least one person who wanted to stop and catch up with him. Scott is always eager to share his passion for all things aviation and travel, being a frequent wedding guest, and of course rooting for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, especially when it comes to the sport of curling. Scott's convivial and welcoming presence on the Hill will be sorely missed by all those who had the pleasure of working with him. It will be hard to imagine the House without Scott. Every day for the past 25 years, Scott has served the House with dedication and enthusiasm. Regardless of the task assigned, Scott will always find a way to accomplish it--a quality that will continue to serve him well in all future endeavors. On behalf of the Office of General Counsel and the entire House community, I thank Scott for his decades of service and wish him a joyous and relaxing retirement among his many friends, family, and former colleagues whether here in Washington, in Texas, or around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Caleb Abdelnour for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award. Caleb has overcome many challenges along his journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Caleb, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Caleb's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future. It is my honor to congratulate Caleb Abdelnour on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge New Creation Christian Center of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a ministry birthed from a divine vision God gave Pastor Cross J. Richard, Sr. in 1999. The instruction was clear: `Teach My people to fully trust God through His Word.' This mandate became the foundation and guiding direction of the ministry. Pastor Richard, a Vietnam War veteran and Bronze Star Medal recipient, opened New Creation on April 22, 2000, with five members, holding services in his home with his wife, Sis. Lois Richard. God soon multiplied the membership, blessing the church with faithful believers devoted to the vision. As the ministry grew, Pastor Richard sought a permanent home. In 2001, God directed him to 1934 Scenic Highway. After discovering the property was indeed for sale, Pastor Richard purchased it, and New Creation began renovating the building--an effort requiring over a year of prayer, work, and faith. On November 17, 2001, the congregation held its first service in the new sanctuary. In 2000, the church met Sis. Agnes Mbonyinkebe and her family, who became an integral part of New Creation. In 2005, Pastor Richard, Sis. Lois, and Sis. Agnes traveled to Rwanda, where Sis. Agnes reunited with family displaced by genocide. This journey sparked a global mission that has resulted in the planting of seven churches in Rwanda and support for construction of a new sanctuary completed in 2019. God continued expanding New Creation's impact. In 2005, the church purchased 7.74 acres on Oak Villa Boulevard for $506,000--property that appraised for nearly double the purchase price. In 2010, the George L. Harris School of Ministry opened, teaching believers how to hear the voice of God. The land was paid off in the same year. On September 16, 2012, the Holy Spirit led New Creation to plant a new location at Perkins Rowe Cinemark Theater, known affectionately as the `Church with the Smell of Popcorn.' With campuses at Scenic Highway, Perkins Rowe, and Rwanda, New Creation became one church in three locations. Preparations for a new sanctuary began in 2020, marking a new phase of growth. Mr. Speaker, in 2025 New Creation Christian Center entered a new season of leadership as Pastor Cross J. Richard Sr., and Sis. Lois Richard transitioned the pastorate to their son, Senior Pastor Joseph Hollins, and Leading Lady Casey Hollins. Today, as New Creation prepares to complete a nearly four-million-dollar campus expansion in 2026, the ministry continues advancing its mission locally and globally. From a living room gathering to three campuses and international outreach, New Creation Christian Center stands as a testament to faith, obedience, and God's provision. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this church for its steadfast commitment to teaching God's people through His Word and serving communities around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man I have known, admired, and leaned upon for the better part of my life in public service--the Honorable Ed Harbison, Dean of the Georgia State Senate, who gave thirty-four years to the people of the Fifteenth Senate District. The community he served for a lifetime gathers once more to say thank you Mr. Speaker, some men are handed a title. A rare few are handed a trust. Ed Harbison was handed a trust, and he never once set it down. Long before he ever rose to speak beneath the Gold Dome, Ed Harbison wore the uniform of the United States Marine Corps. He went to Vietnam. He came home with a Purple Heart and with wounds that no ceremony can undo. I begin there, Mr. Speaker, because everything that followed makes sense only in that light. A young man who was willing to lay down his life for strangers came home and spent the lest of his days giving his hours, his patience, and his heart to his neighbors. For Ed Harbison, service was never a campaign word It was a scar he carried and a promise he kept. Mr. Speaker, I know the seat Ed Harbison held, because I sat in it before him. When the people of Georgia sent me to this House in 1993, I left that Fifteenth District seat behind--and I did not leave it to chance. I left it to Ed. For thirty-four years, West Central Georgia has been better for that decision than for almost any I ever made. He became the longest-serving member of that chamber and its Dean, the senator other senators went to when a room needed wisdom, steadiness, and a conscience. And what he built will outlive all of us. It was Ed Harbison who carried the legislation making Georgia a Purple Heart State, so that no veteran's sacrifice would pass unmarked. It was Ed Harbison who established a separate Veterans Court, so that men and women who had served would be met with understanding rather than indifference. It was Ed Harbison who founded the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame, of which he is himself a proud member. He won a contracting preference for businesses owned by disabled veterans. He fought to see that veterans received fair academic credit for the training and sacrifice of their service. He chaired the Senate Committee on State Institutions and Property, served as Vice-Chairman of the Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committee, and led the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. And before any of it, he served his community as a broadcast Journalist, as second vice-president of the Muscogee County School Board, and on the Columbus Charter Review Commission. Mr. Speaker, if you want the true measure of Ed Harbison, do not look at the headlines. Look at the quiet bills--the ones that never made the evening news. In 2008 he sponsored a law to cut through the red tape that was punishing the children of military families, boys and girls uprooted from state to state through no fault of their own and made to start over again and again. Nobody was marching for those children. Ed Harbison simply saw them, and he wrote a law so that the moving would not cost them their education. He authored the legislation consolidating Chattahoochee County and Cusseta, strengthening the very ground his people stand on. And he fought for the emergency call boxes along Interstate 185 from LaGrange to Columbus--a small thing, Mr. Speaker, until it is your mother stranded on the shoulder of that highway after dark, and then it is the whole world. That was always his instinct: the traveler in the dark, the soldier far from home, the child who needed one grown person in his corner. The people of Chattahoochee, Macon, Marion, Schley, Talbot, Taylor, and Muscogee Counties did not merely have a senator who represented them. They had a senator who belonged to them. Ed has said the rule he lived by came from his mother, who taught him to do unto others as he would have them do unto him. For thirty-four years he did exactly that--quietly, faithfully, and without ever needing the credit. Mr. Speaker, no honest account of this good man is complete without the love that carried him. Ed shared his life and his calling with his beloved late wife, Cecilia, who sustained him through every long session and every hard campaign, and who paid the private price that public service always exacts at home. Though she is no longer with us, I have no doubt she is present in every room where his name is called, and that she looks on him with pride. And anyone who knows Ed Harbison knows what his son, Edward, means to him. Above every title he has earned, every gavel he has held, and every honor he has received, Ed Harbison is a devoted father. The same tenderness he wrote into the law for a stranger's child, he has lived out every single day for his own. A man may give thirty-four years to his state, but the truest accounting of him is the love he gives his family--and by that reckoning, Ed Harbison is a wealthy man. Mr. Speaker, there comes a moment in every life of service when a man must lay the work down and trust others to carry it forward. Ed Harbison has come to that moment, and he comes to it with his head high and his hands clean. He has called his years in the Senate the greatest honor of his life. Mr. Speaker, the honor was ours. It belonged to every family made stronger, every veteran finally seen, every neighbor who knew that somewhere under the Gold Dome there was a man who would do right by them when nobody was watching. 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 extraordinary life and service of State Senator Ed Harbison. We thank Ed, for the wounds he carries and the country he served. We thank him for the seat he tended and the trust he kept. We thank him for thirty-four years of doing unto others. May God bless him, may God bless the State of Georgia, and may He grant his every good and peaceful day he has so richly earned. Well done, my friend. Well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, the Dragon Pit Masters of Carroll ISD. The Dragon Pit Masters have earned the title of Grand Champion at the Texas High School BBQ State Championship, showcasing exceptional skill, teamwork, and dedication. Competing against top student teams from across the state, these talented students demonstrated mastery in grilling, presentation, and time management to take home the highest honor. Through countless hours of preparation, the Dragon Pit Masters have built a program that emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and excellence both inside and outside the competition. Representing the Southlake community with pride, these students continue to set a high standard and inspire others through their achievements. Congratulations to Carroll's Grand Champion Team, Preston Inouye--12th Grade, Darien Kawai--11th Grade, Caden Roberson--12th Grade, Cruz Paredes--10th Grade, and Ryan Vu--12th Grade.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a historic church in my district, Rose Hill Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as it celebrates more than 140 years of faith, fellowship, and service to the people of East Baton Rouge Parish. Built on the foundation of love, Rose Hill Baptist Church continues to spread the Gospel. For over a century, Rose Hill has remained faithful to advancing the kingdom of God and bettering its surrounding communities. In 1882, Reverend Byrd founded Rose Hill Baptist Church by purchasing land from Mr. Johnson Davis in the amount of fifty dollars. Mr. Davis originally desired to donate the land; however, Rose Hill members insisted on purchasing it. Seventy-one years later, on Friday, October 16, 1953, the church was officially incorporated as Rose Hill Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. After seventy-six years of spirit-filled worship, the original edifice of Rose Hill Church deteriorated to the extent that a new building was needed. In 1958, Rose Hill moved from its original location and built its new home on Greenwell Springs Road. The new location included both a church sanctuary and a cemetery. The Rose Hill Church cemetery is still in existence today. On Sunday, October 6, 1985, Rose Hill expanded its ministry efforts by moving from Greenwell Springs Road to its present location. Upon the unexpected passing of Pastor Campbell in 2004, the congregation's present leader, Pastor Danny M. Donaldson, Sr., inherited the ministry through the election process. Innate to his character, Pastor Donaldson exudes quintessential leadership while preaching a life-changing Word. As a yielded vessel, the Lord has allowed Pastor Donaldson to substantially grow the ministry of Rose Hill Church. Pastor Donaldson adamantly believes in the transformative power of Jesus Christ and seeks to tell nations of Christ's unconditional love. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in acknowledging Rose Hill Church for more than a century of faithful service, and in wishing its pastor and congregation continued blessings in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Toby Adams for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award. Toby has overcome many challenges along his journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Toby, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Toby's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future. It is my honor to congratulate Toby Adams on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a full heart to pay tribute to a friend of more than fifty years, and a man who has spent his entire life standing beside families on the hardest days they will ever know. On December 31, 2026, Councilor Bruce H. Huff, Sr., will conclude more than fifteen years of distinguished service as City Councilor for District 3 of the Columbus Consolidated Government. Columbus will be poorer for his leaving and richer for his having served. Mr. Speaker, I did not meet Bruce Huff at a ribbon cutting. I knew the Huffs long before there was a councilman among them. I knew his father, Charles E. Huff, Sr., and his mother, Malinda H. Huff--people of quiet dignity who built something in Columbus that money cannot buy and politics cannot manufacture. I have watched this family for half a century--through funerals and weddings, through campaigns and crises. When you have known a family that long, you stop grading them on their best day; you know what they are like on their worst day. And I can tell this House that the Huffs of Columbus, Georgia, are the same people in the daylight that they are in the dark. Bruce is the middle son, and the second-generation owner of International Funeral Home. Mr. Speaker, I want my colleagues to understand what that means in a Black community in the American South. The funeral director is not merely a businessman. He is the first to arrive when the worst thing has happened. He is the one who comes at two o'clock in the morning, who sits in the kitchen with a widow who does not yet know how she will pay for anything, who makes certain that a mother who had very little in this life is carried out of it with dignity. Bruce Huff has done that work for decades--not for applause, and often not for payment--because his father did it before him. That work shaped everything else. Bruce graduated from Hardaway High School in 1975 as an honor student and three-sport letterman, then earned his degree from Florida State University in 1980, lettering four years in baseball. Then he came home. Sitting with grieving families, he saw a need no one else was meeting. So, he became a licensed insurance agent, founded Huff's Insurance Service in 1987, and in 1992 merged it with the family funeral home so that no family would be left choosing between a decent burial and next month's rent. In 1996 he earned his degree from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. To this day he works side by side with his brother, Charles E. Huff, Jr., carrying forward what their parents began. Mr. Speaker, a man who has spent his life burying his neighbors comes to public service with a different set of eyes. When Bruce Huff took his seat on that Council, he already knew District 3 by heart--every street, every corner, every family. For more than fifteen years he did the patient, unglamorous work of making his district a place where people could live well and not merely be laid to rest. The list is extraordinary. The Fort Benning Gateway at I-185 and Victory Drive. The Brown Avenue Bridge. The Follow Me Trail. Streetscapes on Wynnton Road, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, and on Fort Benning Road. The I-185 interchanges at Custer Road and at Cusseta Road. The Buena Vista Road Spiderweb and Corridor improvements. A new Spencer High School. The Muscogee County School District Athletic Complex. Hundreds of millions of dollars--but Mr. Speaker, Bruce Huff never talked about the money. He talked about the child who could finally walk to school on a sidewalk, the grandmother whose street no longer flooded, the young man who could reach a job because the road finally went through. And he gave himself away outside the Council chamber, too--at St. James AME Church, where he served on the Trustee Board; in Columbus State University's Teen Achievers Program; as president of Sally Little League, where he taught somebody else's boys how to hold a bat and how to lose with grace; in the Delta Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated; and in Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons, Electric City Lodge No 322. He was named Mortician of the Year by the Georgia Funeral Service Practitioner Association in 2009--though every honor I have handed him felt small next to what he had already given. Mr. Speaker, none of it would have been possible without his family. Bruce is married to Charonda D. Huff, who has carried the weight of public life alongside him. They are the proud parents of two sons, Anthony and Bruce, Jr., and the doting grandparents of Denim. I want that grandson to know something one day, when he is old enough to read these words in the permanent record of the United States Congress: your granddaddy spent his life carrying other people's sorrow so they would not have to carry it alone. Bruce, you have wiped away a great many tears in Columbus, Georgia. Allow an old friend to shed a few on your behalf. You have earned your rest. But knowing you, I do not expect you to take much of it. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District in honoring Councilor Bruce H. Huff, Sr., for more than fifteen years of faithful service to District 3, and for a lifetime of quiet, sacred work on behalf of families in their darkest hours. May God bless him, his wife Charonda, their sons, their grandson, and the city that is better because Bruce Huff answered when he was called.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Zahra Aman for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award. Zahra has overcome many challenges along her journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Zahra, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Zahra's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future. It is my honor to congratulate Zahra Aman on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Mount Zion Baptist Church on the Hill, a congregation whose foundation dates back to August 1898, when the late Reverend Herman Morrison purchased the church property and became its first pastor. The church branched from Mount Zion Baptist Church in the Field and began with worship services held in a tent on the Noble Tract. Early officers included Brothers Hoarse Richardson, Norse Evening, King Hills, and Ben Rowe, along with Sisters Elizabeth Beach, Nancy Rowe, and Emma Hughes. The first church building served not only as a house of worship but also as one of the earliest schoolhouses in the area. Over time, the church was rebuilt on Highway 37 at Redwood Creek, continuing its mission to serve God's people in the community. Following Reverend Morrison's tenure, Mount Zion was blessed with pastors including Reverend Addison Barber, Reverend Henry Smith, Reverend Ball, and Reverend Earnest Harris, all of whom served faithfully until their passing. After many years, the original church was remodeled with the addition of a secretary's office, choir stand, and a bell installed in the new belfry. During these early decades, members traveled on horseback, wagons, and on foot to attend worship services--demonstrating unwavering faith and devotion. In March 1965, young Brother Emmitt Spurlock, Sr. was installed as pastor. Under his leadership, the congregation agreed through prayer to construct a new church building. In 1983, the old structure was torn down and replaced with a modern building, including a baptismal pool, dining hall, fellowship space, and new restrooms. Mr. Speaker, the newly constructed Mount Zion Baptist Church on the Hill was completed in February 1984 under Reverend Emmitt Spurlock's leadership. Though some advocated relocating, the congregation rebuilt on the historic site. The pastor, officers, Miss Mount Zion, and members marched from Vince's Grocery to the church for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and first communion service. Reverend Spurlock served faithfully for thirty-four years until departing this life in January 1998. One year later, in February 1999, his son Reverend Gus Charles Spurlock, Sr. was elected, ordained, and installed as pastor. Reverend Dr. Gus C. Spurlock, Sr. has continued the legacy of faithful leadership for twenty-six years, honoring the historical significance of the church's roots, including the nearby Port Hudson battlefield, a pivotal Civil War site. Mr. Speaker, Mount Zion Baptist Church on the Hill remains a steadfast symbol of faith, resilience, and community. From its founding in 1898 to its reconstruction in 1984 and continued leadership under Reverend Dr. Gus C. Spurlock, Sr., the church has endured trials while standing firmly upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Today, Mount Zion continues serving the spiritual needs of its congregation and the greater Baton Rouge region, honoring its historic legacy and embracing its future with unwavering commitment. I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating Mount Zion Baptist Church on the Hill for more than a century of devoted service to God, community, and the advancement of His Kingdom.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I extend my congratulations to the Northland Neighborhoods, Inc. (NNI) on its 30th anniversary. For three decades, NNI has demonstrated what can be accomplished when neighbors come together under a shared commitment: to make a community a better place for all who live there. Since its founding in 1996, NNI continues to play a crucial role for those living in the Northland, covering a diverse range of efforts to build upon the foundations of their community. One key way this has been done is by supporting vulnerable homeowners through the Home Repair Program. The program, which allows homeowners to cover potentially costly repairs at critical moments, allows neighbors to maintain their community pride and lessen the possibility of deterioration or vacancies of communities. As a result, homeowners can directly invest in their future as members of their streets and subdivisions. These efforts have culminated in $1.4 million dollars spent on 103 home repairs in the last year. Whether it be a plumbing issue, roof leaks, or the thousands of other home repairs that can occur and start to snowball, the Northland knows it can turn to NNI for help. In celebrating this milestone, it is worth focusing on how NNI has kept residents connected and engaged over the past three decades. NNI's engagement through public meetings and service has been directed at the chief cornerstone of what makes communities strong and unique, providing a shared space for people to unite and share their concerns and beliefs. Your continuous advocacy and core mission has demonstrated the significant impact of housing and its role in constructing a healthy community. Local progress begins in the homes where the lives of those young and old unfold. NNI has shown that its commitment to the people they serve is enduring and strong no matter their stage in life, from being brought home from the hospital, buying one's first house, to new families introducing children into the world. Commemorating these 30 years of service, we must recognize the people who have made NNI's accomplishments possible. To the leadership, contractors, and community partners, thank you for your contributions that have placed the voices of the Northland at the center of all you have done. Their dedication represents the time, energy, and talents of an organization built in service to others. As the Northland continues to grow, your work will have played no small part in what makes the area special. I am confident that the new opportunities and new challenges that this growth brings will be met by the same spirit and dedication that has defined NNI since 1996. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues today to join me in celebrating this anniversary. We thank them for making the Northland a stronger, safer, and more connected place for future generations of residents and families and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, C.J. Alexander as the new Fire Chief of the Addison Fire Department, stepping into the role after seven years with the department after serving as the Assistant Chief. With over 24 years of experience in fire and emergency medical services, Chief Alexander brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the department. Before joining Addison, he held leadership roles in Farmers Branch and Allen and spent more than a decade teaching fire and EMS courses at Collin College. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to protecting our North Texas communities. Surrounded by colleagues, friends, and community members at his sweating-in ceremony, the strong turnout reflected the respect and trust he has earned throughout his time serving Addison. He is known for his commitment to public service and for preparing teams to respond when it matters most.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ira Arora for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award. Ira has overcome many challenges along her journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Ira, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Ira's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future. It is my honor to congratulate Ira Arora on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a venerable congregation in my district, Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church in the Scotlandville community of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as it celebrates more than a century of faith, fellowship, and service. Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church's founding dates back to 1919, led by major movers for a new church in Scotlandville. They were Jenkins Johnson, J.S. Jones, I.S. Powell, Jake Spears, and Wesley Gaines. Initially, the services were held in Odd Fellows Hall with the Reverend Netters officiating. When the membership reached about thirty in 1920, the first sanctuary was erected. The first home of the church was constructed of cypress planks and measured forty by sixty feet at a cost of three hundred ninety dollars. Ernest O'Connor was the builder. The building was situated on the present site, consisting of two lots; one was purchased by the congregation for ninety dollars, and a local citizen, Mr. A.R. Bacon, donated the second. In 1925 and 1926, new pews were installed and weatherboard siding was added. Spearheading the financial drives to accomplish these improvements were two of the founders, Jake Spears and Jenkins Johnson. The names of Eddie White, Dudley Smith, and Annie Watkins were added to the list. The second period, which extends from 1939 to 1951, has been labeled the Building Period, a building of physical structure and a building of congregational membership. The second edifice to house the membership and its activities was constructed in 1939. In addition to Pastor Brown, the movers were Henry Franklin, Sr., Jessie Early, Foster Reese, Sr., JE. LaBoye, George Lewis, W.H. Johnson, Obie Vernon, Fred Davis, and Granville Haggood. The cost of the new facility was five thousand dollars, and Mr. Henry Christenterry was the contractor. In 1949, J.E. LaBoye provided leadership for an expansion of the physical plant. Renovation costs were three thousand dollars, and W.S. Devall was the contractor. It was in 1951 that the name of the church was changed to the Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Under the pastoral leadership of Reverend K. Edward Popleon, the congregation was led into a new annex, identified as the Educational Wing of Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church. The new facility provided four offices, three restrooms, five classrooms, one fellowship hall with a kitchen that accommodates groups of fifty, one hundred, or two hundred, three spacious foyers, ample storage areas with furnishings, and a choir room with robe storage. Other additions to the main building include a new baptistry, a hallway enlargement, a Lord's Supper preparation area, and an area for ushers. Furniture and furnishings for the new facility cost sixteen thousand dollars. Raymond Honore of Down South Construction was the general contractor, and Lonnie Wilkinson was the architect. Additional property was purchased on February 18, 1986. Today, Greater Mount Carmel is pastored by Pastor Clee Lowe. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in acknowledging Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church for more than a century of faithful service, and in wishing its pastor and congregation continued blessings in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, the Jesuit Dallas Rangers lacrosse team, as earlier this year they won the 2026 Texas High School Lacrosse League Class AA State Championships. Fueled by championship grit, and a never-quit mentality, the Rangers battled through adversity and upset higher-seeded opponents on their way to bringing home the state title. Senior goalie, Gabriel James, was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player after making 11 saves against the Highlanders, and Senior David Atwell earned the Offensive MVP and Senior Jack Steinbach was the Championship MVP. Congratulations to Coach Chris Surran, the players, coaches, and families on securing the program's fifth state championship and continuing a tradition of excellence both on and off the field.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Olga H. Montes for 27 years of dedicated service to the City of Combes. Since first being elected to the Combes City Commission in 1999, she has devoted herself to strengthening her community and improving the quality of life for its residents. During her tenure, Combes has grown from a small town into a thriving city with new businesses, programs, and services for families and seniors. Ms. Montes always understood that public service extends beyond holding office. She has worked to ensure families have the support they need, providing Thanksgiving meals, clothing for children, and celebrations for local youth. Beyond the City Commission, Ms. Montes has also made a lasting impact by mentoring young women interested in public service. Her guidance and encouragement have inspired the next generation of leaders in South Texas. After nearly three decades, Ms. Montes plans to retire from the Combes City Commission at the end of her current term. Her retirement marks the conclusion of an extraordinary chapter, but her legacy will endure in the hearts of the families she helped uplift and the city she helped build. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 34th Congressional District of Texas, I extend my deepest gratitude to Olga H. Montes for her decades of leadership and commitment to the people of Combes. South Texas is stronger because of her contributions, and I wish her continued health, happiness, and success in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jorge Mario Art Decker for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award. Jorge Mario has overcome many challenges along his journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Jorge Mario, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Jorge Mario's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future. It is my honor to congratulate Jorge Mario Art Decker on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a historic congregation in my district, Greater Beach Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as it marks more than a century of faith, family leadership, and service to our community. The congregation was organized on August 18, 1920, in the home of its founder and first pastor, the late Reverend Noah Charles Chinn. A small group of Christian men and women met for prayer, and from this assembly Little Beach Grove Baptist Church was formed. Its founding members were Brothers Willie Chinn, Jeff Chinn, Sam Chinn, Shedrick Chinn, and Norris Smith, and Sisters Delilah Chinn, Sallie Chinn, Minnie Chinn, Emma Lemons, Lula Hives, and Emmie Benton. Sister Sallie Chinn, mother of Reverend Chinn, served as the church's first Mother, succeeded by Sister Dollie Butler, then Sister Julia Butler until her passing in 1992, and then Sister Emma Starks, after whose passing in 1993 the position was retired. Brother Shedrick Chinn served as the first head deacon, succeeded by Brother Allen Butler, Jr., and Sister Emma Lemons served as the first head deaconess, succeeded by Sister Mary Julia Quiett, a position likewise retired upon Sister Quiett's passing. As membership increased, the small congregation outgrew Reverend Chinn's home, and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit the members rented a small house across the road to accommodate more worshippers. Following the church's first revival, membership continued to grow, and in 1927 the young church began to spread its wings. During this period Reverend Chinn organized the Usher Board in 1926 and a Choir in 1932. The late Brother Bernard Freeman served as the first Usher Board president, succeeded by Brother Thomas Hudson, Jr., who served until being called to serve his country; Brother James Wilson succeeded him and served twenty-six years, followed by Brothers Thomas Guerin, Jr., and Joe Thomas, and Sisters Elouise Thomas, Joyce Taylor, Beverly Carter, and presently Sister Debra Tatman. Brother C.C. Stewart served as the first musician and choir director, succeeded over the years by Sisters Dorothy Jackson, the late Juanita Turner, Joyce Howard, and Linda Spurlock, the late Brother Lafayette Harrison, Jr., who served twenty-six years until 1996, Brother Alfred Williams, Brother Horace Polk, the late Brother Craig McKinley until 2015, and Minister Chris Plant, who served briefly. It was reported that people walked from miles around to hear Reverend Chinn preach, and he baptized many souls from surrounding communities including Scotlandville, Dixie, Zion City, Brookstown, Birdstation, and the Comite area. Through divine providence, the growing congregation purchased a plot of land on Hooper Road, where the church was built. In 1930, an addition extended the pulpit and increased the size of the church. Brother Thomas Hudson, Sr., organized and served as the first Sunday School superintendent, succeeded by Brothers Johnny D. Brown, Sr., Allen Butler, Jr., Jesse R. Taylor, Thomas Guerin, Jr., and Thomas Hudson, Jr. In 1943, the original building was demolished and a larger structure built on the same site under the supervision of Mr. Foot Chinn, who was unable to complete the project; the work was finished by Brother Allen Butler, Jr., and Brother Mack Hudson. Sisters Hester Taylor and Virginia "Ginny" Hills served as the first sponsors of the young people's choir, reportedly walking young members through the fields from Zion City to the Hooper Road location. Sister Yvonne Benton Bradford, Brother Henry Scott, Jr., and Brother Johnny D. Brown, Sr., reorganized the youth choir in 1947 under Pastor Chinn's leadership, and were succeeded over time by the late Sisters Mary Stone, Viola McGee, Johnny M. Holiday, Lois Guerin, Elouise Thomas, and Judy Scott, then Sister Beverly Carter, and presently Sisters Joyce Taylor and Dontina Taylor. On September 17, 1952, the church was incorporated and recorded in the East Baton Rouge Parish Circuit Court, with articles established to remain in place for ninety-nine years, and it was at this time the congregation adopted the name Greater Beach Grove Missionary Baptist Church. In 1953, the church was rebuilt in the Zion City community on Ford Street; Mr. Zeke Brown drew the plans under the direction of Brother Allen Butler, Brother Robert Stone laid the brick pillars for the foundation, and Brother Butler completed construction. Around 1957, the frame building was remodeled and enclosed in brick, and the first cornerstone was laid by the St. John Grand Lodge. The deacons serving at that time were Chairman Allen Butler, Jr., and Brothers Melbert "Preacher" Black, Johnny D. Brown, Sr., Severe Sims, Thomas Hudson, Sr., Elvin Hudson, Nathaniel Scott, Isaiah Norwood, Thomas Guerin, Sr., Thomas Guerin, Jr., Gabe Foster, Jr., Hosea Curry, Sr., and Hosea Curry, Jr. Trustees included President Eddie Williams and Brothers C.B. Robinson, Willie Green, Charlie Wright, and Monroe McGee, with several members serving in dual capacities. Sister Edna Perry served as church secretary, and Hosea Curry, Jr., as church treasurer, succeeded by Brother Gabe Foster, Jr., and then Brother Thomas Guerin, Jr. Sister Mary Brown preceded Sister Perry as secretary, and Brother Jesse R. Taylor and Sister Bernice Freeman succeeded her, followed by Sister Gussie R. Tansey; Sisters Freeman and Tansey served more than twenty years until 1977, later assisted by Sister Linda Jones Montague as church clerk. Reverend Chinn gave his life to the church, praying and ministering there for more than forty years until his health failed. He remained the congregation's leader even during his illness, kept informed by his head deacon, and was remembered as a beloved community pastor. Reverend E. Lloyd Johnson shepherded the flock during Reverend Chinn's illness. On November 26, 1965, Reverend Chinn was called from labor to reward, a day of great sorrow for the congregation. In April 1966, Brothers Demas Martin, Jr., James Foster, and Thomas Guerin, Jr., and Sisters Juanita Turner, Viola McGee, Pearl Henry, and Elouise L. Thomas were elected to the Trustee Board, and the process of electing a new shepherd was undertaken under the leadership of Trustee Board President Eddie Williams and Deacon Allen Butler, Jr. In June 1966, with the assistance of the Fourth District Baptist Association, led by the late Reverend Dr. E.D. Billoups, Reverend Emmitt Spurlock, Sr., was elected the church's second pastor. The late Reverend Emmitt Spurlock served as pastor for thirty-three years, guided by his motto: "We are saved to serve and not to sit." He initiated many new programs and oversaw the remodeling and improvement of the church's physical structure. In 1968, additional lots were purchased, and in 1978 plans for a new sanctuary and education wing were drawn and submitted to Chairman Butler and the Deacon Board; the Trustee Board was reorganized, and Reverend Spurlock appealed to the membership for five-hundred-dollar donations, with Allen and Julia Butler, Emel and Julia Quiett, Henry and Lillian Scott, Bernice J. Freeman, and Beverly J. Carter and Linda J. Montague among the first to commit. In March 1979, the new building and parking lot were completed and dedicated, and the second cornerstone was laid by the Grand Lodge. Officers at that time included Chairman of the Board Allen Butler, Jr., and Brothers Thomas Guerin, Jr., John H. Brown, Jr., Johnny D. Brown, Sr., Hosea Curry, Jr., Willie Paul, Emel Quiett, Sr., Wash Robinson, Larry Spurlock, and John Pope. Trustee President Jesse R. Taylor succeeded Brother Williams, joined by Brothers Earnest Johnson and Albert Daigre and Sisters Beverly J. Carter, Linda J. Montague, Doretha Johnson, and Elouise M. Thomas. Sister Doretha Johnson served as church secretary and Brother Albert Daigre as treasurer, succeeding Brother Guerin, while Sister Linda J. Montague was officially named the church's clerk and announcer. Brothers Willie Patterson and Matthew King were among the congregation's most supportive laymen during construction. The building's mortgage was burned on November 5, 1989, during the church's sixty-ninth anniversary celebration. Believing the whole church membership should work together as Christians united in love, Reverend Spurlock implemented the Junior and Young Adult Usher Boards, Junior Deacon and Deaconess ministries, Sunday School Teacher's Study Hour, Baptist Training Union, Bible Class, Laymen's Auxiliary, Vacation Bible School, After School Study and Tutoring programs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownie Troops, Hospitality, First-Aid and New Members Training Committees, Puppet Ministry, Mission and Elderly Care Ministries, Kitchen Ministry, and the Pastor's Aide Committee, while increasing the congregation's participation in the National Congress of Christian Education, the National Baptist Convention, and the Fourth District Baptist Association. Under his leadership the church's mortgage was retired in 1985 after only seven years, and the membership grew abundantly and steadily. Brother John H. Brown, Jr., was appointed Chairman of the Board following Deacon Butler's passing, followed briefly by Reverend Donald Hunter and Brother Wash Robinson, who also served briefly under the church's present pastor. Reverend Emmitt Spurlock, Sr., was called home on January 13, 1998. After fervent prayer, the congregation named the Reverend Keno M.L. Spurlock, Sr., its third pastor in 1998. Under his guidance and care, the congregation has rededicated itself to Christ and to the service of others, striving toward its goal of "the mark of a higher calling" and trusting in Philippians 4.13. His assistants include Reverends Eddie Bradford, James Banks, and Darrell Riley, and Ministers Mark Edwards, Robby Mitchell, and Barry Follins, and under his leadership the physical structure has been remodeled and brought into the age of technology. The late Brother Felton Brown served as Chairman of the Deacon Ministry until his health failed and was named Chairman Emeritus; Brother Charlie Jarrell, Jr., is the present chairman, joined by Brothers Aaron Butler, Larry Bowman, Jesse Taylor, John Robinson, Donald Taylor, and Kevan Hills. Brother Jesse R. Taylor chairs the Trustee Ministry, with present members Brothers Carl Pearson, Aaron Butler, Larry Bowman, Charlie Jarrell, Jr., Donald Taylor, and John Alex, and Sisters Beverly Carter, Gwendolyn Scott, Rosalind Scott, and Juanita Horton. Brother Taylor also chairs the Finance Ministry, with Sisters Carol Joseph and Linda J. Montague serving as secretaries. The late Brother Albert Daigre, Sr., served as church treasurer for many years until 2014, when Brother John E. Robinson, III, was elected treasurer in July 2016. Sister Rosalind Scott serves as the present Sunday School Superintendent, assisted by Brother Larry Bowman, and Brother Charlie Fisher, Jr., serves as musician and music director, with Brother Zedrick Comena on drums, assisted by Brother Couren Bowman and Minister Barry Follins. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Greater Beach Grove Missionary Baptist Church for more than a century of faithful service, and in wishing its pastor and congregation continued blessings in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I use to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Dr. Chandramallika Basak, a neuroscience professor and researcher at University of Texas at Dallas who's on a mission to protect seniors' memories. Dr. Basak studies how cognitive and physical training, from targeted exercises to meditation, can slow cognitive decline in older adults. She's best known for pioneering the use of video games as brain training for seniors experiencing mild cognitive aging. Her research sparked a startup, Neuroflight Inc., founded with support from UT Dallas' Big Idea Competition and the Darrell K. Royal Alzheimer's Research Fund. The company's patented brain training game helps boost memory, focus, and cognitive vitality--and is already partnering with local assisted living facilities like Belmont Village. In 2026, Dr. Basak was named University Innovator of the Year at the Texas Innovation Conference. She is now working on a consumer app to bring Neuroflight's brain training to everyone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to Major Kelsie D. Hovenden, United States Marine Corps. For the past three years, Major Hovenden has served with honor and distinction as a Congressional Fellow and Appropriations Liaison Officer for the Department of the Navy Appropriations Matters Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller), representing the needs of our Marine Corps before the United States Congress. During her time as a congressional fellow, she gained an immersive, behind the scenes understanding of the legislative process and the critical work of funding our Nation's defense. Her sharp intellect, dedication, and deep understanding of national security and budgetary policy were immediately apparent and proved to be an invaluable asset. Upon completion of her fellowship, Major Hovenden seamlessly transitioned to one of the most strategically consequential billets for the Marine Corps, serving as an appropriations liaison officer. In this role, she conducted daily engagement with members and staff, ensuring that the Marine Corps' concepts, programs, and requirements were widely under stood. Her expert navigation of the congressional appropriations process and her steadfast advocacy ensured vital funding for our Marines across multiple fiscal years. Her work was instrumental in supporting the largest budget in Marine Corps history, securing over $57 billion in annual resources. This funding was essential to advancing the Marine Corps Force Design initiatives, enhancing operational readiness, and ensuring our Marines have what they need to meet any challenge. Furthermore, Major Hovenden played a central role in preparing Marine Corps senior leaders for congressional testimony, official visits, responded to hundreds of congressional inquiries, and coordinated and led congressional and staff delegations. These visits allowed my colleagues and me to see Marine Corps capabilities firsthand and gain a deeper appreciation for the resource requirements of the force. Mr. Speaker, Major Hovenden's performance has been characterized by the upmost professionalism, strategic insight, and steadfast commitment to her duty. She has personally strengthened the Marine Corps' credibility on Capitol Hill and ensured the corps' priorities were clearly communicated. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing and commending Major Hovenden for her service to our country and wish her and her family the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ashley Beck for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award. Ashley has overcome many challenges along her journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Ashley, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Ashley's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future. It is my honor to congratulate Ashley Beck on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a resilient congregation in my district, Fairview Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as it marks more than ninety years of faith, perseverance, and rebuilding in the face of adversity. Fairview Baptist Church was organized in 1934 under the leadership of the late Reverend R.H. Hall. The first meeting was held at the home of Sister Ida Edwards, and after organizing, church services were held at New Bethel Baptist Church on Matilda Street until the congregation could locate a building of its own. That same year, the congregation purchased property on the corner of South 13th and Louise Streets, where its forty-four members, a group of hardworking, dedicated, and determined people, built a wood-frame building. The church began to increase its membership and moved steadily forward. On December 18, 1947, the Lord called Reverend R.H. Hall to his eternal rest, and Reverend M.J. Hubbard was elected as the new pastor on February 20, 1948. Under Reverend Hubbard's leadership, membership continued to grow, and the congregation worked to raise money for a better building. In 1951, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board asked to purchase the church's property for the extension of McKinley Senior High School. The congregation agreed to the sale and located new property on Braddock Street, where, with dedicated and determined people and their pastor, they erected a new building and moved from "Fairview on the Hill" to 1636 Braddock Street. The new edifice was dedicated April 17 through 20, 1952. Once again God's angel of death paid a visit to Fairview, and Reverend M.J. Hubbard was called to his eternal rest on April 12, 1953. The late Reverend Q.T. Ellis, who had been serving the congregation at Reverend Hubbard's request during his illness, was elected pastor on June 11, 1953. Under Reverend Ellis's guidance the church grew immensely, and the congregation purchased the lot adjacent to the building. After many years under Reverend Ellis's leadership, the church undertook a major renovation. The first phase consisted of painting and replacing the roof, the second phase was a complete upgrade of the interior, with new pews, windows, pulpit furniture, and carpet giving the church a new look. On Sunday, October 27, 1985, the congregation rededicated Fairview to God and its founders, and members continued to work and contribute financially to the project's success. The mortgage financing the renovation was paid off in seven years, and with much determination and sacrifice, God blessed Reverend Ellis and his congregation to burn the mortgage on October 11, 1987. On February 7, 1988, the congregation suffered the loss of its church building to a five-alarm fire that totally destroyed the structure, as many members stood and watched on that cold Sunday afternoon. Reverend Ellis advised the members to assemble the following Sunday at New Ark Baptist Church on Terrace Street, only a few blocks away, and the members of New Ark opened their doors and their hearts to give the congregation a place to worship. In May 1988, the church broke ground to begin construction of its new edifice, and many members purchased symbolic shovels of dirt as the new foundation was prepared. On Sunday, January 29, 1989, the congregation, led by the late Reverend Q.T. Ellis, marched from New Ark Baptist Church to its new home, a glorious day attended by members of the East Baton Rouge Ministers Conference along with family and friends who gathered to dedicate the new church to God. In 1995, additional property adjacent to the church was purchased, and it was paid off by 1996, another example of the Lord's blessing upon Fairview in a short period of time. In the history of the church, Fairview had at that point had the service of only four pastors. As Reverend Ellis advanced in age, the deacons of the church sought the services of Reverend Bennie Veal, Jr., as assistant pastor, and God also blessed Fairview to receive the calling of Minister Johnnie R. Griffin, who served as a pulpit associate. As Reverend Ellis's health began to fail, Fairview moved to elevate him to Pastor Emeritus, and a celebration in his honor was held on Sunday, July 5, 2003, when he retired after fifty years of loyal and dedicated service. The church then searched for a new full-time pastor, and on December 14, 2003, Reverend Keith B. Coward was installed as the new pastor of Fairview Missionary Baptist Church. Under Pastor Coward, the church continued to grow, with many new members among its young people, and he brought a new leadership style through religious institutes and revivals. Fairview Baptist Church has always stood on a solid foundation as a spirit-filled congregation, able through the years to bounce back from any adversity that has come its way. Looking back to the founders who made the ultimate sacrifice to build this church, the congregation reviews its goals and achievements, its battles fought and won, with thankful hearts for all of God's blessings. The gospel has been proclaimed within these hallowed walls, and many souls have come to Christ through them, many members have passed on to their reward, their earthly hardships forever gone, and the congregation remains mindful of the saints of years past as it looks toward its ultimate destination in Heaven. Reverend Keith B. Coward resigned as pastor on January 18, 2009, following Holy Communion, and Minister Johnnie R. Griffin was elected Interim Pastor, giving loyal service to the church until a search committee could be formed. After the search committee screened a number of applicants, Reverend Gus Charles Spurlock, Sr., was elected the new pastor of Fairview Missionary Baptist Church during a called business meeting on Tuesday, November 24, 2009, standing on the promises of God on a solid and firm foundation. Pastor Spurlock was installed during a ceremony led by the Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association on Sunday, January 24, 2010, becoming the sixth pastor of Fairview Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Spurlock came to the congregation with great vision and proved to be a teaching leader, holding various training workshops, each backed by Scripture, for church leaders and members interested in developing their respective ministries. Pastor Spurlock has also proven himself a mentor to young people, who have embraced him as both pastor and mentor as they pursue their development as Christians preparing for future generations. Under Pastor Spurlock's leadership, "The View" continues to work toward the mark of a higher calling in Christ Jesus, with a vision that includes building a Multipurpose Q.T. Ellis Christian Education Center to provide senior citizen enhancement programs, tutoring for children, and developmental programs for the disadvantaged, among other services. Fairview Baptist Church was founded on a firm foundation by Christian men and women who were determined as they struggled through hard times to establish the solid legacy and wonderful memories that endure today. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Fairview Baptist Church for more than ninety years of faithful service, and in wishing its pastor and congregation continued blessings in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, the Keller Indians baseball team as the Texas High School State Champions for the first time in program history. On June 6, they secured the Class 6A Division 1 title with a 2-1 victory over Austin Lake Travis. Led by Championship MVP Cole Koeninger, a Tennessee signee and MLB draft prospect, Keller completed an incredible season with a 40-4-2 overall record. The title concludes Head Coach Rob Stramp's remarkable 28-year career and serves as a testament to the dedication and leadership he brought to Keller Baseball. Congratulations to the Keller High School Indians on this historic achievement, which reflects the talent, hard work, and commitment of the entire program.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. In 1926, 39 plumbing inspectors founded IAPMO in Los Angeles with a mission of mitigating public health concerns caused by the city's plumbing practices and improving health safety by setting uniform plumbing regulations. In 1945, these efforts led to the development of the Uniform Plumbing Code, which has served Californians by promoting safe plumbing systems. Today, this framework serves as the foundation for plumbing regulations implemented across four continents and is viewed as one of the world's leading model plumbing codes. Today, IAPMO proudly calls the Inland Empire home, with its headquarters in the heart of my district: Ontario, California. Having grown from a local association of plumbing inspectors to a global nonprofit organization, it maintains a deep commitment to serving California's communities, industries, and labor force. They continuously advance environmental and public safety through plumbing, mechanical codes, product certification, and workforce development--helping to ensure people have access to safe drinking water and reliable sanitation. The organization partners with local governments, industry, and building professionals to strengthen the safety and resilience of communities throughout our great state. Its presence in the Inland Empire has supported high-quality technical and professional jobs while reinforcing Southern California's leadership in building safety, product innovation, and public health. Through its codes, standards, and other innovations, IAPMO has advanced California's goals for drought resiliency, water conservation, and more affordable housing through efficient plumbing systems. One example is IAPMO's Water Demand Calculator, a modern, statistically based method for estimating water demand and properly sizing plumbing systems. The tool helps conserve water and energy, protect water quality, and reduce residential construction costs. IAPMO's work has been instrumental to California's leadership in public health, water conservation, housing, and infrastructure. Their Water Efficiency and Sanitation Standard (WE-Stand) provides a voluntary framework for the safe and efficient use of water in residential and commercial buildings. The standard demonstrates IAPMO's commitment to water stewardship by helping communities conserve potable water, expand safe onsite water reuse, and make greater use of alternative water sources. Its programs strengthen career opportunities throughout California while helping ensure a highly skilled workforce for the state's growing construction and manufacturing sectors through education, personnel certification, apprenticeship support, and professional training for plumbers, engineers, contractors, and other building professionals who contribute to the health and safety of Californians. Not only does IAPMO play a vital role throughout California, but its world-renowned Uniform Codes advance public health and safety around the world. The organization works with governments and industry to remove technical barriers to trade and promote greater alignment of standards and market-access requirements. These efforts strengthen global supply chains, expand opportunities for American manufacturers, and increase access to safe, high-quality plumbing products. In recognition of these contributions, IAPMO received the President's "E" Award for Export Service in 2019 and the President's "E Star" Award for continued excellence in export expansion in 2024. Its global commitment extends even further through its charitable foundation, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), which provides humanitarian assistance to those in need of safe water and sanitation. For their remarkable contributions throughout the Inland Empire and beyond, it is my honor to recognize IAPMO as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. The organization's commitment to advancing public health and safety is worthy of the highest commendation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Maxamus DeGrande for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award. Maxamus has overcome many challenges along his journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Maxamus, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Maxamus's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future. It is my honor to congratulate Maxamus DeGrande on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a steadfast congregation in my district, Capital Missionary Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as it marks more than six decades of preaching, discipleship, and service to our community. The history of Capital Missionary Baptist Church begins in 1964, when the late Reverend E.B. Robertson answered God's call to establish a house of worship in the city of Baton Rouge. The young congregation gathered on a street then known as Capital Avenue, the thoroughfare that gave the church the name it still carries today. That street is now known as Gus Young Avenue, but the name Capital has remained fixed to the church as a permanent reminder of where God first planted this people. What began as a small body of believers was built on the plain preaching of the Word, fervent prayer, and the sacrificial giving of members who had far more faith than they had resources. Reverend Robertson led with a pastor's heart and a builder's vision, and under his ministry the church grew in number, strength, and reputation throughout the surrounding community. In the early 1970s, the congregation's growth and the changing landscape of the city made a move necessary. The church relocated to Avenue D in the Scotlandville community of North Baton Rouge, and there Capital Missionary Baptist Church put down deep roots. For roughly three decades, the Avenue D location served as the congregation's spiritual home. It was there that generations were baptized, married, and buried; there that children were raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and there that the church established itself as a steady and trusted presence in North Baton Rouge. The Avenue D years were years of formation, the seasons in which the character, worship, and mission of the congregation were shaped. In 1993, the mantle of pastoral leadership passed to the founder's son, Dr. Ronald L. Robertson, Sr. What his father had begun in faith, his son was called to continue, an uncommon and God-ordained succession that joined the founding vision of one generation to the leadership of the next without breaking stride. Under Dr. Robertson's pastorate, Capital Missionary Baptist Church has expanded its ministry, deepened its teaching, and broadened its reach into the community, remaining anchored to the same convictions that marked its founding: sound of doctrine, faithful preaching, and genuine care for people, even as it presses forward into new seasons of service. In 2002, the vision carried and prayed over for years became visible in brick and mortar. The present sanctuary was constructed on thirteen acres of land, a facility built not merely to seat a congregation, but to serve a community and accommodate the growth of ministries yet to come. That campus stands today as a monument to what God can do through a people who will not quit. From a small gathering on Capital Avenue, to a faithful congregation on Avenue D, to a thirteen-acre campus today, the hand of the Lord has been evident at every step. More than six decades after its founding, Capital Missionary Baptist Church remains committed to the mission entrusted to it: to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, teach the whole counsel of God, make disciples, and serve the city of Baton Rouge. The buildings have changed and the streets have been renamed, but the calling has not moved. The congregation honors the memory of its founder, the late Reverend E.B. Robertson, and gives thanks for every member, living and departed, whose labor, offering, and prayer built what stands today. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to Join me in honoring Capital Missionary Baptist Church for more than six decades of faithful service, and in wishing its pastor and congregation continued blessings in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life, the service, and the enduring legacy of my predecessor and my friend, the Honorable Charles Floyd Hatcher, who passed from labor to reward on September 1, 2026, in Alexandria, Virginia, surrounded by the family he adored. He was 87 years old. A funeral service to celebrate his remarkable and purpose filled life will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Camilla United Methodist Church in Camilla, Georgia. Charles Hatcher was born on July 1, 1939, in Doerun, Georgia, to Clifford Edward "C.E." Hatcher and Agnes Faircloth Hatcher. He was a son of the soil in the truest sense--raised among the peanut fields and dirt roads of Baker and Mitchell Counties, in a corner of Southwest Georgia where a man's word was his bond and a neighbor's trouble was your own. He carried that country's upbringing with him for the rest of his days. No matter how many decades passed or how many miles he traveled, Charles Hatcher always found his way back home. He answered his country's call first, serving in the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1962. He then earned his bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University and his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1969. He built a thriving law practice in Albany, but the courtroom could not contain a calling that large. He served the people of Georgia in the State House of Representatives from 1973 to 1980, and was then elected to this body, where he represented Georgia's Second Congressional District for six terms. Mr. Speaker, in these halls Charles Hatcher was a champion of the farmer, the rural family, and the small-town South. He understood that the peanut growers and row-crop farmers of Southwest Georgia were not statistics in an agriculture bill--they were his people. When his service in this House concluded, he did not retire from the work. He continued it as a presidential appointee at the United States Department of Agriculture during the Clinton administration, still fighting for the land and the people who work it. I would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if I did not speak plainly about something. In 1992, Charles Hatcher and I were opponents for this very seat. Elections in our part of Georgia are hard-fought, and ours was no exception. But when it was over, Charles Hatcher showed me--and showed our district--the kind of man he was. There was no bitterness in him. There was no small-mindedness in him. He handed me a district he loved and a people he had served faithfully, and he wished me well in doing it. In almost fifty years of public life, I have learned that you can measure a man's character by how he carries a loss. By that measure, Charles Hatcher was a giant. The titles never defined him. What defined him was the way he made people feel. He never met a stranger. He had a gift--and I mean a genuine gift--for making a person feel welcomed, valued, and heard. Whether he was walking the marbled halls of this Capitol, sitting at a kitchen table or visiting with his neighbors at Marina Towers, Charles Hatcher built relationships and brought people together In retirement he enjoyed his golf, but he never stopped giving himself away. He delivered for Meals on Wheels. He gave his time to charitable causes. He was a faithful member of Washington Street United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey once said that the moral test of government is how it treats those in the dawn of life, the children; those in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped. Mr. Speaker, Charles Hatcher passed that test--not only as a legislator casting votes on this floor, but as a man carrying a hot meal up a walkway to somebody who had nobody else coming. That is what a public servant looks like when the cameras are gone and the title has expired. The greatest beneficiaries of his love were the family he treasured. He is survived by his beloved wife, Krysta Harden; his sons, Chuck and his wife, Tracey, and Jon and his wife, Kris; his five grandchildren, Ansley, Chase, Boone, Tingen, and Walker; and his brother, Marcus Hatcher and his wife, Joy. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Polly Hatcher--a grief no father should have to carry, and one he bore with quiet grace--as well as his parents, C.E. and Agnes Hatcher, and his siblings, Clifford "Bubba" Hatcher, Irma Carr, Grace Adkins, and Glenn Hatcher. Mr. Speaker, the peanut fields of this country will bloom again this year, and the men and women who work them will never know all that Charles Hatcher did on their behalf. That is the nature of faithful service--most of it goes unseen and unthanked. But it is written down somewhere, and it is written down here today. Therefore, on behalf of my wife, Vivian, and me along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary life of the Honorable Charles Floyd Hatcher, in extending our deepest sympathy to Krysta and to the entire Hatcher family, and in saying of this good and faithful servant: well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jacqueline Milito DeMarco on the remarkable occasion of her 100th birthday. Mrs. DeMarco's century of life--marked by devotion to family and service to the Bernardsville community--deserves recognition. Born one of nine children, Mrs. DeMarco was raised in a hardworking Italian-American family. Her father immigrated to Liberty Corner and purchased 100 acres of farmland, instilling in his children the values of perseverance, industry, and family unity that have guided Mrs. DeMarco throughout her long and full life. While working at the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, she met Robert DeMarco. They married in 1960 and, two years later, settled in Bernardsville. There they raised their two children, Lisa and Robert, in the home where Mrs. DeMarco continues to live today. After more than six decades of marriage, Mr. DeMarco passed away in 2023 at the age of 93. In Bernardsville, Mrs. DeMarco became a familiar and beloved presence through her years of service as a cashier in the elementary school cafeteria. Beyond her work, she has long found joy in knitting--a pastime that has remained a constant source of comfort and creativity. Mrs. DeMarco's 100th birthday stands as a milestone of an extraordinary life well lived--one filled with family, community, and treasured memories. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Jacqueline Milito DeMarco on this historic occasion. We extend our warmest wishes to Mrs. DeMarco, her children, and all her family and loved ones, and we recognize with gratitude a century of dignity, devotion, and a life that has enriched the Bernardsville community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jr. Garling for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award. Jr. has overcome many challenges along his journey to success, demonstrating perseverance at every step. Students who strive to make the most of their education, like Jr., develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Jr.'s hard work, determination, and perseverance at Drake Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future. It is my honor to congratulate Jr. Garling on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Belfair Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a congregation founded through the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Reverend Alvin A. Francois and Sister Josie F. Francois were given a vision to organize a community church, and even before the first service, they named the future edifice Belfair Baptist Church because of its future location within the Belfair Community. On August 6, 1972, the first service was held across the street from the church's current location at 4444 Fairfields Avenue in one of the buildings owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The church grew steadily in its early years, strengthened by God's blessings and the dedication of its members. Since that first worship service in 1972, Belfair Baptist Church has continued to thrive as a place of worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth. On June 2, 2002, Pastor Alvin A. Francois appointed Jon D. Bennett as pastor-elect of Belfair Baptist Church and subsequently installed him on September 8, 2002. Led by the Holy Spirit, Pastor Bennett has continued in the church's rich legacy of biblical teaching, expository preaching, missions, and prayer while redirecting the church's focus on its role in the family, the community, the state, and the world through a holistic approach to ministry. Under his visionary leadership, the BBC GROW Ministry was birthed with a strong focus on evangelism, discipleship, and worship, and new ministries have been established while existing ministries have been revitalized to further the church's mission. Belfair's future remains filled with hopeful anticipation as the congregation walks by faith and stands on the promises of God. Together, the church has witnessed sinners come to Christ, new believers join the ministry, and committed Christians mature in the Word of God. In keeping with its motto, Belfair is a church that is `Building lives on the Word of God.' Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Belfair Baptist Church for its decades of service, devotion, and faith, and in wishing its pastor, leadership, and congregation continued blessings in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Doug Stocks, one of the most experienced booksellers in Silicon Valley, on his retirement after 48 years. I wish to include in the Record the following excerpt from Ron Charles' article:

Mr. Stocks personally met many authors who were present at Books Inc. and made all feel welcomed. He has made so many Silicon Valley residents embrace their love of literature, and our community is deeply thankful fot his decades-long career.

Mr. Speaker, on September 2, 2026, I was unable to be present in D.C. for the afternoon vote series. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 293, and YEA on Roll Call No. 294.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Lieutenant Colonel Berry Henry Henderson, Jr., United States Army, Retired, of Columbus, Georgia, who passed peacefully on September 4, 2026, at the age of ninety-three--twenty-three days short of his ninety-fourth birthday. Berry Henderson was born on September 27, 1932, in Athens, Georgia, and he came of age in a country that would ask a great deal of the young men of his generation. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from North Georgia College in 1953, and he answered that call by putting on the uniform of the United States Army--a uniform he would wear for the next twenty-two years. He became an aviator. Over the course of his career he logged more than three thousand hours in the air as both an airplane and a helicopter pilot. And in 1965--the year this Nation began pouring its sons into Southeast Asia--Captain Henderson found himself in Vietnam, commanding a Chinook company. Mr. Speaker, I want my colleagues to sit with what that means. The Chinook crews of 1965 flew into places nothing else could reach. They carried ammunition and artillery forward into positions that were already under fire, and they came back out carrying wounded men who had run out of every other option. Those pilots did not get to choose their weather, and they did not get to choose their landing zones. They went where they were told, and they went because somebody on the ground was waiting. There are men alive in this country today--grandfathers now, great-grandfathers--who never learned Berry Henderson's name and never will. But they came home. Some of them came home because of the company he led and the standard he held them to. That is a debt that does not appear on any ledger, and it is the kind of debt this Nation has never found a way to repay. He later served as an instructor for the Command and General Staff Officer Course, teaching the officers who would lead the Army after him. He retired in 1975 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Speaker, he did something I find quietly beautiful. A man who had spent twenty-two years flying human beings through fire spent the rest of his life helping families find a place to come home to. In 1977 he joined three partners in organizing Showcase Realty. He became a real estate instructor. He served as president of his local board. He was named dean of the Georgia Real Estate Institute, and he rose to serve as president of the Georgia Association of REALTORS. He had carried men out of danger; now he handed families the keys to their front doors. In every organization he ever joined, he rose--not because he sought the title, but because people watching him decided he ought to have it. He was also, by every account, a man who knew how to enjoy the life he had fought to protect. He and his beloved Marcella traveled the world together. He loved Cadillacs, and he loved horses--a helicopter pilot with a weakness for horsepower of every kind. Fifty-two years he had with her. When she went on ahead of him, he carried her with him for the rest of the way. Mr. Speaker, there is one more thing I would ask this body to consider. Berry Henderson's son, B.H. "Skip" Henderson III, serves today as the 70th Mayor of the City of Columbus, Georgia. And in the biography that introduces the Mayor to the citizens he serves--the official page, the one on the city's own letterhead--there is a sentence that says simply that the Mayor is the son of Army veteran Berry Henderson. A grown man, the chief executive of one of Georgia's great cities, and when he tells his city who he is, he begins with his daddy. That is not a line a public relations office writes. That is a son telling the truth about where he came from. Lieutenant Colonel Henderson is survived by his son, Skip, and his wife Karon; his daughter, Susan Henderson; his granddaughter, Kyle Henderson, and Mike Karam; his grandson, Joe Henderson, and McKenna; his great-grandson, Burke Karam, his niece, Kathleen Hughes; and several great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of more than fifty-two years, Marcella; his parents, Berry and Jo Henderson; and his sister, Mary Ann Henderson. After more than three thousand hours in the air, he has flown his last mission. He is cleared to land. And Marcella has been waiting a long time at the end of that runway. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the 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 Lieutenant Colonel Berry Henry Henderson, Jr., and in extending our deepest sympathy to Mayor Henderson and to the entire Henderson family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jim Lipuma of Downers Grove, Illinois, and J.D. McCourt of Las Vegas, Nevada, for an extraordinary charitable undertaking they are completing this year. Jim and J.D. are riding their bicycles approximately 2,500 miles along the Mississippi River, from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, in approximately 30 days as part of their "We Ride for Heroes" journey. Their mission is to honor America's heroes and raise money for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports our nation's military members, veterans, first responders and their families. The timing of their journey makes it particularly meaningful. 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, as well as the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. These milestones provide a powerful opportunity to remember the men and women who have sacrificed for our country and the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11th. Jim and J.D. are honoring those individuals in a very personal way--by dedicating approximately 2,500 miles of their lives to raising money and awareness for an organization that carries forward the promise to never forget. What makes their story even more remarkable is that this is not simply a fundraising campaign. It is an expression of a lifelong friendship and a belief that ordinary citizens can make an extraordinary difference. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jim and J.D. previously rode approximately 400 miles in a journey called "We Ride for Jack," supporting, Jack Clark Bender, a two-time cancer survivor. That experience demonstrated their willingness to put themselves through a significant physical challenge to help someone else. Today, their focus is much broader: We Ride for Heroes. Jim and J.D. are riding for the men and women who have served our country, for first responders who put themselves in harm's way, and for the families who have sacrificed alongside them. In this anniversary year, I believe their journey represents some of the qualities that have made America strong for 250 years--friendship, courage, perseverance, generosity and service to others. Congratulations to Jim and J.D. for their achievement. I wish them continued success in their future endeavors, and I thank them for their dedication to this meaningful cause.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary public service and life of Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper, who passed away on August 29th, at the age of 73. Sheriff Draper was born on March 26, 1953, in Martinsville, Virginia. From an early age, Mr. Draper felt a natural calling to serve his native home. His interests inspired him to volunteer for the Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department and the Martinsville Henry County Rescue. Mr. Draper held roles of firefighter, EMS provider and President of the Fire Company. These roles helped him build relations with his community and address the safety needs of the local area. More notably, Mr. Draper pursued a career in law enforcement. Mr. Draper's first stint in law enforcement is where he exercised duties as deputy sheriff in the Martinsville City Jail. As a symbol of trust and appreciation, Sheriff Draper won the support of his community in elected office. After Martinsville elected Mr. Draper to serve the Martinsville City Council, he then won election to the Martinsville Sheriff's position in 1993. Starting in 1994, Sheriff Draper would lead his Office with dedication, honor and strength. For over 30 years, Sheriff Draper made strides to foster working relationships, support law enforcement officers and keep his community safe. At the time of his passing, Sheriff Draper was the longest-serving sheriff in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Virginia Sheriff's Association, of which Sheriff Draper at one time served as President, noted Sheriff Draper was a mentor to many and a friend to law enforcement professionals throughout Virginia. A career that lasts for so long requires hard sacrifices. We are grateful to Sheriff Draper's family for supporting him throughout his career, even when job demands pulled away his attention. Sheriff Draper is survived by his wife, Donna Draper; children, Courtney Bennett (Jose Padilla) and Christopher Bennett; grandchild, Antonio Lee Bennett Padilla; and special niece, Skylar Sink. His brother, Bobby L. Draper, Jr. (Sammy); niece, Kelly Draper; cousins, Kenneth Draper (Pam Wright), Cody Draper (Natalie), Sarah Dru Draper, Laura Beth Gruettner (Todd), Katherine Eanes Amato (James), Stacy Eanes Clark (Daniel), Bill Draper (Debra), Robin Humlan (Mark), Nancy Draper Oaks (Joey), Bettie Draper Bowles (Gene), Susan Draper Thompson (Matt), Jerry Draper (Jeannie), Karen Berryman, Ann Powers, Drew Conrad, Jim Call, Susan Call, Charles Harris, Barry Harris, Rick Elkins, Ted Elkins, Chuck Alexandar and Jeffrey Alexandar. Virginia's 9th Congressional District is proud to be the home of one of Virginia's most storied law enforcement careers. Sheriff Draper's lifelong commitment to the Martinsville Henry County area will help define his legacy. Sheriff Draper exhibited some of the finest qualities, not just of a public servant or law enforcement official, but as a friend, neighbor and family man.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Chief David Jones, whose career reflected a profound dedication to public safety, with 31 years in the fire service, including 28 serving the Town of Addison. Chief Jones started at the Addison Fire Department in 1998 as a firefighter and licensed paramedic before being promoted to various roles. As Chief, he oversaw 59 employees in the department and managed operations, fire prevention, training, and compliance. Jones was recognized with a Chief Fire Officer designation and holds a four-time Chief Training Officer redesignation, reflecting his excellence in leadership. His guidance and impact will shape the Addison Fire Department for years to come. I thank Chief Jones for his service in the Addison Fire Department and for helping to keep North Texas safe.