Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero of the Week, Crystal Scanio, for her dedication to improving the lives of students and teachers in the Irving ISD school system.

Since 2012, Crystal has been an integral part of Irving Schools Foundation, a nonprofit that provides financial resources to maximize educational opportunities for teachers and students in Irving ISD by funding innovative programs, scholarships, and activities.

Her work on Irving Schools Foundation's ``Food for Thought'' program has helped provide 1,400 food bags to North Texas students facing food insecurity.

Crystal has also played an integral role in their ``Spark Tank'' program, a competitive grant program that awards funds for innovative classroom projects and learning experiences for students of all ages across Irving ISD. Since Crystal joined Irving Schools Foundation, she has helped fund 303 projects representing over $1 million, impacting over 180,000 students, teachers, and staff.

Crystal has gone above and beyond to ensure the next generation of North Texans is set up for success. On behalf of the entire community, I'd like to thank Crystal for her work and look forward to seeing the incredible impact she has made on Texas-24.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lawrence Thorns as our Texas-24 Hometown Hero of the week. Lawrence is a North Texan who has gone above and beyond to ensure the next generation of Texans are equipped with the necessary tools for greatness.

Lawrence is a hard worker in his community, especially with his local church--Forest Hill Church of Christ. His work in his church community has directly impacted the lives of North Texas students.

Since 2016, Lawrence has been supplying back to school supplies for local schools and shelters, ensuring the students have everything they need to pursue an education and achieve their dreams. This year alone, Lawrence supplied over 230 bags of school supplies to students.

On behalf of our entire community, I'd like to thank Lawrence for his selfless dedication to the next generation. I look forward to seeing the impact his work will have on our students.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic actions of Simone Edmond, a Dallas ISD school bus driver, and of Tekendria Valentine, a school bus monitor. These two brave individuals went beyond their scope of responsibility by risking their lives to save two children in danger.

On Monday August 22, rushing floodwater swept away two young siblings who were waiting for the bus to pick them up. Simone and Tekendria, who were working together on the same bus, saw the two siblings in the floodwater and took swift action.

Thinking quickly, they decided to tie seatbelts together and use it as a rope to pull the kids to safety. The process required them to plunge themselves into the rushing floodwater and risk their own lives.

Simone and Tekendria's bravery, commitment to our children, and selfless actions should serve as an inspiration to all of us. On behalf of the residents of Texas-24, I thank Simone and Tekendria for their courageous actions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize four women who are working to inspire the next generation of North Texans through their nonprofit--Pipeline to Possibilities.

Judges Shequitta Kelly, Stephanie Huff, Lisa Green, and Amber Givens are using their platform as judges to teach Dallas ISD students important information like what classifies as a crime and what life changing consequences those crimes entail.

Their efforts are forging real impacts on North Texas students and encouraging them to stray away from a life of crime.

A Dallas ISD student who recently participated in Pipelines to Possibilities put it best, saying ``every action has a consequence . . . so just be careful whatever you do in life.''

I have no doubt that because of the incredible service these four women have done for the next generation, our community will become an even greater place to live.

These four women have already been asked to expand their program to other schools around North Texas and even across the country.

On behalf of our entire community, I'd like to thank Judges Kelly, Huff, Green, and Givens

for their dedication to brightening North Texas and inspiring the next generation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Garland ISD for its dedication to ensure our North Texas veterans are set up for success when they return home.

Last month, after recognizing the statewide struggle to find employees, Garland ISD partnered with Soldiers to Sidelines--a nonprofit aimed at helping soldiers get the training, credentialing, and even the networking needed to build post military careers in coaching.

I have met with several veterans' groups across North Texas and they have all expressed the immense challenges they face transitioning into civilian life. By partnering with Soldiers to Sidelines, Garland ISD has affirmed its commitment to helping the heroes of North Texas overcome this obstacle.

It is imperative we lift up and support the veterans who have risked it all for our country. I'd like to thank Garland ISD for going above and beyond to do exactly that.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Garland ISD for its dedication to ensure our North Texas veterans are set up for success when they return home.

Last month, after recognizing the statewide struggle to find employees, Garland ISD partnered with Soldiers to Sidelines--a nonprofit aimed at helping soldiers get the training, credentialing, and even the networking needed to build post military careers in coaching.

I have met with several veterans groups across North Texas and they have all expressed the immense challenges they face transitioning into civilian life. By partnering with Soldiers to Sidelines, Garland ISD has affirmed its commitment to helping the heroes of North Texas overcome this obstacle.

It is imperative we lift up and support the veterans who have risked it all for our country. I'd like to thank Garland ISD for going above and beyond to do exactly that.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize all of the incredible teachers of Texas-24 as they begin a new school year.

Our teachers work tirelessly to prepare the next generation of North Texans for a lifetime of success. Without their wisdom and guidance, our students would not be equipped with the tools necessary to navigate their future careers.

Their flexibility and dedication to the next generation was on full display last year. As schools shut down during the pandemic, our selfless teachers had to adapt to a new environment to ensure our students continued their education.

With this new year beginning, I'd like to thank our Texas-24 teachers for their dedication and many sacrifices made in the name of education. This week--and every week--take time to thank a teacher.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Thomas Boothby, a high school senior at Trinity Valley School who has gone above and beyond to give back to underprivileged North Texas students.

Thomas had the selfless goal of giving kids the same opportunity to learn that he has. That is why he started Tools to Teach, a nonprofit organization designed to help kids excel in the classroom even though they might not have the necessary resources to do so.

With Tools to Teach, Thomas puts together backpacks full of supplies to give to students around DFW, which has helped them stay in school and increased literacy rates in our community.

Thomas's selfless pursuit to help his community and the next generation of North Texans should serve as an inspiration to all of us.

On behalf of everyone in DFW, I'd like to thank Thomas for his work and wish him the best as he finishes up high school this year.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero of the week, Avery Hill, an avid reader and young woman who has gone above and beyond to better our community.

Avery began volunteering with Exodus Ministries, a nonprofit designed to transform the lives of previously incarcerated mothers and their children. While volunteering at the Exodus House--a transitional house for the mothers and their children--she noticed the children's library shelves were bare. Inspired to share her passion for reading with underprivileged children, Avery took action.

During the onset of the COVID pandemic, Avery began organizing book drives. She spread the word around her community to leave any books, games, or elementary school supplies on their doorsteps, where she would then go door to door to pick them up.

After organizing all of the donations, Avery not only stocked the library's shelves with 600 new books, but revamped it by adding a mural, new curtains, 300 building blocks, and 50 games.

Avery's story should serve as an inspiration to all of us to not only give back to our community but leave it better than when we found it.

I wish Avery the best of luck as she heads off to college this fall and thank her for her dedication to helping our fellow North Texans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Scott and Ellen Choi of Colleyville, Texas.

In 2018, the husband-and-wife duo opened up Honey Teriyaki, a restaurant serving Japanese cuisine inspired by Scott's mother's old recipes.

However, aside from serving delicious meals, Scott and Ellen have gone above and beyond to carry out their philosophy on life: give back to the community they love so much.

On many occasions, they have provided food for the brave servicemen and women at the Colleyville Police Department. During the 2021 winter storms in North Texas, they provided free food to those without electricity. When tornadoes struck Kentucky in December of 2021, they even rented a U-Haul and drove 700 miles to provide their incredible food to the victims.

Scott and Ellen's compassion and generosity should serve as an inspiration to all of us in North Texas. They love their community and do not hesitate to selflessly display that. I thank them both, and hope to visit their incredible restaurant one day soon.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Garland ISD for its dedication to ensure our North Texas veterans are set up for success when they return home.

Last month, after recognizing the statewide struggle to find employees, Garland ISD partnered with Soldiers to Sidelines--a nonprofit aimed at helping soldiers get the training, credentialing, and even the networking needed to build post military careers in coaching.

I have met with several veterans' groups across North Texas, and they have all expressed the immense challenges they face transitioning into civilian life. By partnering with Soldiers to Sidelines, Garland ISD has affirmed its commitment to helping the heroes of North Texas overcome this obstacle.

It is imperative we lift up and support the veterans who have risked it all for our country. I'd like to thank Garland ISD for going above and beyond to do exactly that.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Heroes of the week, Sean Turner and Buffer Insurance of Southlake, Texas.

In response to the recent Roe v. Wade decision, secular companies have offered to pay travel costs for employees to abort babies out-of- state. Fortunately, companies like Buffer Insurance have taken an opposite, humane approach.

Buffer Insurance in Southlake, Texas has offered to pay the medical costs for their employees who birth babies and provide paid time off for employees to have maternity and paternity leave. They would also pay medical costs associated with adopting a baby.

Buffer Insurance CEO, Sean Turner has served as a leading voice on Buffer's decision and how they are prioritizing families and their employees and setting an example of a real pro-life company. This veteran-owned North Texas business should serve as a guiding light to every American. Its dedication to helping mothers and their children is a powerful reminder of the sanctity of life, and I am honored to represent them in Congress.

I thank Sean Turner and Buffer Insurance, for affirming life and valuing children and parents in our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero of the week, Avery Hill, an avid reader and young woman who has gone above and beyond to better our community.

Avery began volunteering with Exodus Ministries, a nonprofit designed to transform the lives of previously incarcerated mothers and their children. While volunteering at the Exodus House--a transitional house for the mothers and their children--she noticed the children's library shelves were bare. Inspired to share her passion for reading with underprivileged children, Avery took action.

During the onset of the COVID pandemic, Avery began organizing book drives. She spread the word around her community to leave any books, games, or elementary school supplies on their doorsteps, where she would then go door to door to pick them up.

After organizing all the donations, Avery not only stocked the library's shelves with 600 new books, but revamped it by adding a mural, new curtains, 300 building blocks, and 50 games.

Avery's story should serve as an inspiration to all of us to not only give back to our community but leave it better than when we found it.

I wish Avery the best of luck as she heads off to college this fall, and thank her for her dedication to helping our fellow North Texans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to adamantly oppose H.R. 8373, the payouts for Planned Parenthood act, a poorly drafted and loosely defined bill that would be detrimental to women's health and send taxpayer dollars straight to abortion-on-demand beneficiaries.

This bill is not about contraceptives which would prevent a pregnancy. This bill is about funding unlimited access to abortion pills.

A woman's decision to get contraceptive pills should be an informed decision between her and her doctor, and not a pop-up ad.

H.R. 8373 would allow providers to administer non-FDA-approved abortion

pills under the guise of preventing pregnancy without considering the side effects, the overall safety of the drug, or its intended use.

And I would inform the majority leader that in 1965, the ability to pop a pill to terminate a pregnancy didn't even exist, so it is, therefore, not considered a right.

This bill will send Federal tax dollars to Planned Parenthood, override State laws, subvert parental rights, and void requirements for informed consent for sterilizations.

This is not about protecting access to contraception, but, rather, federally subsidizing abortion providers and allowing unapproved, dangerous contraceptive drugs to be widely available.

This bill is the Democrats' latest attempt at normalizing the radical agenda. Just last week, we voted on Democrats' abortion-on-demand bill that advocated abortion until the birth of a child. You want to talk about extreme?

I am so sick of hearing about what women's rights are from a party that can't even define what a woman is.

I stand in front of you, a very proud woman, and I can tell you that aborting a fully formed child is not a woman's right. The abortion industry continues to lie to women and put their lives at risk in order to line their pockets, with the full support of my colleagues on the left.

I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 8373 and work on moving legislation that protects the unborn and empowers their mothers.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Pamela Goodwin of Texas Congressional District 24 who has gone above and beyond to ensure women in North Texas and across the country have a better chance at breast cancer survival.

In 2019, Pamela was diagnosed with breast cancer. Displaying her courage and positive mindset, Pamela took this diagnosis and turned it into something truly positive.

After catching her cancer early through a 3D mammogram test, Pamela has made it her mission to ensure all women receive an annual, 3D mammogram so they too can catch this disease early and live to see another day.

In an effort to better raise awareness and money, Pamela hosted the first annual ``Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye'' event last year at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee, headlined by the one and only Dolly Parton.

The inaugural event proved to be incredibly successful--raising much needed awareness and $167,000 to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I thank Pamela for her inspiring fight to beat cancer and her incredible efforts to help women across the country.