Barry Loudermilk

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and honor Mr. Richard Philip Stroud, Sr., of Georgia, as he calebrated his 100th birthday on September 9, 2026.

It is without question that Mr. Stroud has led an extraordinary life, one that is a testament to service, hard work, profound Christian faith, and devotion to family. Over the course of a century, he has answered his Nation's call in the United States Navy, contributed to some of our Nation's most important aviation programs, raised a family, and built a multi-generational legacy.

Richard was born on September 9, 1926, on a farm in Bonham, Texas, the eldest son of Coy and Lucille Stroud. His love and passion for the skies began when, as a boy, a Piper Cub airplane landed near his home. After some flight instruction, he made his first solo flight. That momentous occasion would set the course for the rest of his life.

In 1944, with World War II raging across the globe, Richard joined the United States Navy, standing alongside thousands of other servicemembers prepared to defend our country and the freedoms we hold dear. At only 17 years old, Richard qualified for the Navy's flight training program. With the changing needs of the war effort, however, he was instead trained as a machine gunner for the SB2C Helldiver bomber. Sent to Memphis, Tennessee for training, Richard distinguished himself immediately, finishing first in his class and becoming the first sailor in his class to strike all 300 clay targets during his final shooting test.

After the Allied victory, Richard continued his naval training, graduating from flight school and earning his wings as a naval aviator in Corpus Christi, Texas. In June of 1950, when war broke out in the Korean Peninsula, Richard once more answered his Nation's call, serving on an aircraft carrier, participating in patrol operations, and flying numerous missions for more than two years. He accumulated over 500 landings, including one during a Category-4 hurricane, and piloted aircraft, such as the SNJ Texan, the UC-45 Expeditor, the R4D Skytrain, R6D Liftmaster, F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, and the TBM Avenger.

After seven years of active duty, Richard served in the United States Naval Reserve for another ten years. In 1952, he began what would be a 62-year career as an aeronautical engineer with Lockheed Aircraft Company in Marietta, Georgia, serving first as a senior design engineer and later as supervisor of the check group, where he oversaw 296 checkers and 40 secretaries, at the height of the C-5 program.

Over the course of his career, Richard contributed to aircraft programs including the B-29 Superfortress, B-47 Stratojet, C-130 Hercules, C-141 Starlifter, C-5, P-3, S-3, F-22, and F-35. His work helped sustain American military aviation across the world. Richard retired in 2015 at the age of 88, completing a career that stretched from the aircraft of the Second World War era to some of the most advanced military aircraft yet produced.

Richard's legacy extends far beyond his military and professional accomplishments. In 1950, he married Dorothy Montgomery Larkins, with whom he raised four children, Phil, Ann, Mark, and Dana. After settling in Marietta, Georgia, the family became deeply involved at Roswell Street Baptist Church, where their Christian faith remained central to their family life.

Following Dorothy's passing in 1971, Richard married Letha and welcomed her four children, Sharon, Andy, Myra, and Penny, into his family. In the decades since, his family has grown to include grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, a 100 birthday is itself an extraordinary milestone, but in Richard Stroud's case, it serves as an example of a life lived in the service of others. From a young boy on a Texas farm fascinated by the sight of an airplane, to a sailor and naval aviator serving his country in times of war, to an aeronautical engineer whose life's work propelled innovation in American aviation for more than 60 years, Richard's life embodies the very best of what it is to be an American.

It is therefore my great privilege to recognize Mr. Richard Philip Stroud, Sr. on the occasion of his 100th birthday. I join his family, his friends, and all those whose lives he has touched, in celebrating this remarkable milestone and I thank him for a lifetime of faithful service to his family, his community, and the United States of America.

May God continue to bless Richard and his family, and may his example of faith, duty, and perseverance continue to inspire generations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Kiwanis Club of Marietta and its 9/11 Field of Flags Memorial at Kennesaw Mountain National BattlefIeld Park, as our Nation marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

First organized by the Kiwanis Club of Marietta in 2002, the Field of Flags has become a solemn tradition of remembrance in our community. This year marks the sixth installation of the memorial, with 2,977 American flags placed on the grounds of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, each representing an individual life lost on September 11, 2001.

The memorial is made possible through the efforts of members of the community who gather to carry and place the flags. On September 11, 2026, the Kiwanis Club will hold its 25th Anniversary Memorial Service, during which the names of all 2,977 victims will be read aloud. The flags will remain on display through September 19 as a continuing tribute to those whose lives were taken.

For more than two decades, the Field of Flags has brought the Marietta community together to reflect upon the values of service, sacrifice, and unity. This tradition seeks to ensure that younger generations understand the significance of September 11, 2001 and remember the men, women, and children who were lost, as well as the courage demonstrated by first responders, servicemembers, and private citizens throughout our Nation.

Chartered in 1930, the Kiwanis Club of Marietta has a longstanding tradition of service to children, families, and the broader community. I commend its members, volunteers, community partners, and all those whose continued support has sustained the Field of Flags and preserved this important tradition of remembrance.

In further recognition of this solemn anniversary, an American flag was flown over the United States Capitol on September 11, 2026, at my request, in honor of the 2,977 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and in recognition of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta's 9/11 Field of Flags Memorial at Kennesaw Mountain National BattlefIeld Park.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of the 2,977 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and in recognizing the Kiwanis Club of Marietta for its enduring commitment to ensuring that our community and our Nation never forget.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Committee for his hard work on this and for including several of my provisions in this bill that is designed for the small guy.

I obviously rise in support of H.R. 6955 not only because it is a good bill, but also because I recognize the need to rightsize Federal regulations and gain more transparency into the financial regulatory process.

For too long, Federal financial regulators have taken this one-size- fits-all approach. If we applied that same status to ourselves, then let's just issue every Member of Congress one suit of clothes so that we all wear the same suit of clothes. Now, we wouldn't accept that because we would only have clothes to fit the largest Member of Congress.

What we are saying is that is what we have in the financial services industry right now. We need to tailor the regulations to fit the business model of the business, especially the small business. That is why I am proud that my TAILOR Act has been included in this package.

I can't stress enough the importance of the TAILOR Act because it is for the little guy. It is important because it requires all future regulations to be tailored to the risk of the regulated institution. It rewards institutions that adopt sound risk management practices with fewer regulations and punishes those who take an unhealthy amount of risk.

I also wish to highlight my New BANK Act, which requires Federal financial regulators to publish annual reports on applications received for creating new financial institutions. These reports will help give critical insights to the current de novo chartering process and how Congress can reduce complexities and redundancies in the system.

To conclude, Mr. Speaker, I believe this legislative package with my bills included is much more aligned with the goal of a safe and sound financial system that works for all the American people, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.