Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, the Irving Fire Department. For over 100 years,

they have watched over our community, protecting families, homes, and businesses. Since 1925, generations of firefighters have answered the call to serve. Their service has helped to keep North Texas safe for a century.

Their legacy continues to inspire the next generation, as over 1,100 recruits signed up to take the department's entrance exam. This response to the open call for new recruits shows how many lives have been inspired to pursue a career in public service.

The Irving Fire Department's commitment to serving our community ensures that our families can feel safe when it matters most. We are grateful for their dedicated service over the past 100 years, and know they will continue to protect our community for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Angie Manriquez. Since 1999, Angie has dedicated her time and energy to improving the well-being of neglected and stray animals in Dallas. In 2008, she established Angie's Friends, a nonprofit focused on providing food, medical care, and adoptions for animals in need. Her efforts have connected countless dogs and cats with new homes.

Often called ``The Fairy Dogmother of Dallas,'' Angie is known for her commitment to long-term solutions that make a lasting impact. Today, Angie's Friends continues its mission through volunteer support and community partnerships. I thank Angie and her team for continuing to serve our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Heather Torres. Every Fall, Heather transforms porches across North Texas and beyond into festive autumn displays. Heather started decorating her own porch in 2013, a fun hobby that quickly grew into something more. In 2020, she launched Porch Pumpkins, hoping to decorate porches for friends and family, but through word of mouth, she ended up delivering and designing for over 250 homes.

After her first year, Heather expanded her festive designs to Houston, and this year expanded to Austin. Her creations have become a staple across our Noah Texas communities This past year they had then biggest season yet.

From a personal passion for pumpkins, to a thriving small business that spreads joy throughout North Texas, we enjoy watching Heather's success glow each year. I thank Heather for bringing fall cheer across North Texas, one pumpkin at a time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, the Irving Police Department, who keep our community safe day in and day out. The Irving PD welcomed new Officers to the force, as well as celebrated multiple well-deserved promotions.

I congratulate Senior Communications Officer Sias, who was promoted to Emergency Communications Supervisor, Sergeant Jones, who was promoted to Lieutenant, and Officers Lemarie, Williams, Johnson, Seaton, and Reyes, who were all promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

We also want to welcome Officers Bodine, Flint, Guerrero, Sanchez, and lateral addition Officer Flores, as they take this step in their careers in public service. We wish them the very best in their career in law enforcement.

We thank all those who serve the Irving Police Department for their dedication and service to our North Texas community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, the Methodist Health System Mobile Mammography Unit, which has been across North Texas, bringing breast cancer screenings directly to our communities. They partner with local schools, businesses, community centers, churches, and clinics, making it more convenient for women to access the care they need, bringing care options directly to patients.

Tools like the Mobile Mammography Unit help ensure that more women get screened and can catch any issues early, early detection can save lives. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month and always, we thank them for going the extra mile to keep North Texas healthy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, the Grapevine Police Department, as they have protected our North Texas Community since 1907. The Department has grown right alongside the city, expanding the Department to 219 employees, which includes 110 sworn officers.

The Grapevine Police ``star'' patch was added to the uniform in 1963 and contains the phrase ``Sine Cera'' or ``Sincerely Yours, With Honesty.'' A symbol that represents the dedication that these men and women have to the city and their fellow officers.

Whether responding to emeigencies, engaging with families at community events, or hosting a fun Trunk or Treat for a night of safe fun for local kids, the Grapevine Police Department continues to go above and beyond for the people they serve. We thank them every day for keeping our North Texas community safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Light the World Giving Machine, which returned to North Texas this past holiday season, turning generosity into action across our communities. These red vending machines allow donors to give meaningful items, like warm clothing, meals, medical supplies, and even livestock, to local and global charities serving those most in need.

The Giving Machines ensure that 100 percent of every donation goes directly to charity, with all operating costs covered. In 2024, Giving Machines placed in three North Texas cities helped raise more than $600,000, proving once again that when North Texans come together, the impact is powerful and far-reaching.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Sergeant Charles ``Alan'' Works. He dedicated his life to public service, beginning his law enforcement career in 2007 with the Denton County Sheriff's Office. He later served with the Tarrant County College Police Department from 2013 to 2020, continuing his commitment to protect and serve. He joined the DFW Airport Police Department in 2020, and was promoted to sergeant in 2022.

Sergeant Works was known by colleagues and travelers alike for his cowboy hat and the constant smile on his face. We are grateful for his years of service to Denton, Tarrant County, and DFW. We will remember Sergeant Works for the lasting impact he made through his dedication for serving our North Texas Community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Lieutenant Colonel Don Black Munson, as he lived a life dedicated to serving our country. He was commissioned as an officer upon graduating from Tulane University in 1960 as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Over the course of a 22-year Army career, he served in numerous leadership roles, including with the 82nd Airborne Division, Special Forces, and the 1st Cavalry Division. During the Vietnam War, he commanded C Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, and later served as Operations Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry.

He earned the Silver Star for capturing three enemy combatants under fire and the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in extracting stranded soldiers under intense enemy attack. Lieutenant Colonel Munson's decorations also include two Bronze Stars for Valor, eleven Air Medals, five Meritorious Service Medals, and the Purple Heart, as well as the Master Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and Pathfinder Badge.

His dedication to service did not end with his military career. A longtime member and former commander of the Military Order of World Wars. We thank him for bravely serving our country and our community for many years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Max Muncy. Max discovered his love for baseball at an early age, long before he became a power hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A graduate of Keller High School, Max went on to play for Baylor University, where he earned All-Big 12 honors before being drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2012. After several seasons moving between the majors and minors, Max was released in 2017, a moment he could have viewed as the end of his career in professional baseball. But, he refused to give up. Returning home to Keller, he got back to work on a field he knew well, back at Keller High School.

One year later the Los Angeles Dodgers came calling and gave Max a second chance in the MLB. Today, Max is a three-time World Series Champion, earning his most recent title in 2025.

We congratulate Max on his third World Series title, and celebrate his remarkable and inspiring journey from Keller to the big leagues.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Aneesh Maxumder. He is a Euless native and current student at Harvard University, where he continues to build on his strong commitment to public service. His interest in public service began at a young age, when his family regularly volunteered in our community, including at food drives for Grapevine Relief & Community Exchange. He continued his dedication to serving North Texas by participating in our Congressional Youth Advisory Program, where students across Texas-24 learn about public service and strengthen their leadership skills.

After witnessing friends struggle to access the resources needed to pursue medical careers, Aneesh launched HealthPath Horizons to connect students with the tools they need to enter the healthcare field. Through this nonprofit, he provides presentations, workshops, and open- access materials to underrepresented students. To date, HealthPath Horizons has directly empowered more than 300 underserved students to pursue the medical careers they aspire to.

Aneesh's leadership and desire to help others makes him a shining example of the remarkable students from North Texas. We look forward to watching him empower others to explore their own dream careers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Heros, the

University of North Texas at Dallas, in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank for their annual Thanksgiving distribution. This past year, they brought vital support to our community. Thanks to dedicated student volunteers, nearly 1,000 North Texas families received food to help them prepare for the holiday. Each family was provided a turkey, approximately 60 pounds of groceries, and thermal clothing for the colder months ahead.

We are very grateful for the volunteers who serve our neighbors with compassion. North Texans continue to show up for one another, and events like this highlight the generosity of our community year after year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Barrett Knetsch, a Euless native, who has been giving back to our North Texas community since the age of four, when he first shaved his head to raise money for pediatric cancer charities. Now at sixteen, he has continued this tradition for twelve consecutive years and has raised more than $100,000 to support children battling cancer.

Currently a student at St. Mark's School of Texas, Barrett participates in student council, choir, and varsity sports. Yet, he still finds time to rally his friends, family, and local businesses around this important cause. He also extends his commitment to service by volunteering at the Euless Community Center, helping at local Habitat for Humanity construction projects, and assisting at local food distribution centers.

Barrett is setting a wonderful example for all of North Texas. His commitment shows how one person's determination can uplift an entire community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Southlake Carroll Dragons Volleyball team, as they made history, claiming their first-ever Class 6A Division II State Championship in a five-set victory over Austin High School. This was their first finals appearance in 27 years and this time, they secured the long awaited title!

Congratulations to the Dragons and their head coach, Leslie Jackson, for an unforgettable season and for bringing home a historic state championship to Southlake.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Angelo Renda. He is a three-year letterman and one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Southlake Carroll history. He guided the Dragons to back-to-back District 4-6A championships and has a remarkable 28-1 record. His junior year he helped lead Southlake Carroll to a 6A Division II UIL Texas State runner-up finish.

Angelo is the all-time passing yards leader in Carroll Dragons history, finishing his high school career with 524 completions for 8,197 yards and 93 touchdowns.

We can't wait to watch his journey continue at the University of Pittsburgh, and to see him succeed with Panthers like he has with the Dragons.