Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 120th anniversary of the founding of Saint George Greek Orthodox Church.

For over a century, St. George has been at the heart of New Hampshire's Greek Orthodox community and has served as a spiritual and cultural hub for generations of New Hampshire families. St. George has witnessed every season of life for its parishioners and has remained a constant presence for generations.

My own family has been part of this community and this parish for years. I am grateful for those who have taught me so much about my Greek heritage and culture. These are lessons that I carry with me each and every day.

Consecrated as a cathedral in 1970, St. George took on a new role within the Greek Orthodox faith, and it continues to serve as a vital connection to the larger Orthodox community. In addition to serving the spiritual needs of parishioners, St. George has been dedicated to enriching the lives of so many in the Greater Manchester area through youth programs, community events, Sunday and Greek School, basketball, and more.

For much of its history, St. George has opened its doors for festivals like Glendi and welcomed thousands of visitors of all faiths and backgrounds to enjoy authentic Greek food, culture, and history. The Anagennesis Ladies Society also remains devoted to taking on religious, cultural, and humanitarian efforts that are at the heart of the Church.

On behalf of the constituents of New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I congratulate the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church on achieving this incredible milestone. I thank them for the work done by so many to make Manchester and New Hampshire a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize John Danforth, Hooksett Lions Club 2025 Citizen of the Year.

John Danforth exemplifies the community spirit that makes Hooksett and New Hampshire such special places to live, work, and raise a family.

John is dedicated to serving the community of Hooksett, including holding leadership roles in Cub Scout Pack 292, Boy Scout Troop 292, and as a founder of Troop 603. John has also served on the town's Transfer and Recycling Committee, Budget Committee, Cemetery Commission, and as a Town Councilor.

Additionally, he has held significant positions in the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Hooksett Lions Club, and the Hooksett American Legion, where he helped establish a Gulf War monument at Veterans Park.

A proud U.S. Army veteran, John served during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and he continues to support veterans as the Acting Veteran Service Center Manager at the Manchester VA Regional Office.

It is thanks to the hard work and dedication of community leaders like John Danforth that the Town of Hooksett and the state of New Hampshire continue to thrive.

On behalf of the consituents of New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, I congratulate Mr. Danforth for being named the Hooksett Lions Club 2025 Citizen of the Year. I wish him and his family all the best in the years to come as they continue to work to make Hooksett a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the Eastern Orthodox Church to Washington, D.C.

Since 1991, Patriarch Bartholomew has served as the spiritual leader for the approximately 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. In the face of tremendous obstacles, Patriarch Bartholomew has remained a steadfast leader, promoting religious freedom and toleration in Constantinople and around the world.

Dedicated to the pursuit of interreligious understanding and cooperation, His All-Holiness is often referred to as the ``Patriarch of Peace.'' Patriarch Bartholomew's visit to the United States coincides with his reception of the Templeton Prize, the foremost award in religion and science, in honor of his curiosity and lifelong commitment to exploration.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, including the congregants of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Manchester and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Portsmouth, I warmly welcome Patriarch Bartholomew and congratulate him on his award. We wish him all the best and look forward to his next visit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Tess Kuenning, president and CEO of Bi-State Primary Care Association. Her community-based approach to public health and exceptional leadership have significantly improved both the quality and accessibility of health care in New Hampshire, Vermont, and the rest of the country.

Tess has dedicated her entire career to improving public health. After earning her Master's in Nursing and Public/Community Health in 1990, she worked in Nepal as a Peace Corps nurse for five years. There, Tess taught women to be birth attendants and designed sustainable maternal and child health programs. While Tess loved working one-on-one with patients and clinicians, she wanted to expand her impact to the community level, pushing her to transition to public health. After returning to the United States, she worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the principal public health advisor throughout New England and as a nurse consultant for the Health Care Finance Administration.

For the past thirty years, Tess has led Bi-State Primary Case Association, which advocates for Community Health Centers in New Hampshire and Vermont. Community Health Centers play a crucial role in delivering primary care, especially in areas where medical services are limited or unaffordable. Offering accessible, preventive, and routine care, they serve as a vital lifeline for low and moderate-income families who might otherwise go without essential health services. As president and CEO of Bi-State PCA, Tess has been instrumental in leveraging her clinical background, experience in public health, and many connections to stakeholders, nonprofits, and Congressional Offices like my own to uplift community health centers in our state. Under her leadership, Bi-State has grown from a staff of 6 to over 20 and now serves over 312,000 patients across New Hampshire and Vermont.

I have had the pleasure of meeting with Tess multiple times over the past few years, and I am always inspired by her determination, creativity, positivity, and genuine passion for community health. I am so grateful to Tess for sharing her experience and knowledge with me and other Members of Congress, helping us improve our healthcare system. Tess is a true leader and public servant, and I want to acknowledge the profound positive impact she has had on community health in her community.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, I thank Tess Kuenning for her selflessness and dedication to the patients she serves. Her dedication to advocating for community health centers has improved healthcare in our state and has made her community a better place. Tess's work has brought us one step closer to ensuring that health care is a right, not a privilege, for all. I wish her all the best in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of John B. Robinson, a constituent from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I celebrate John's service to our country as the leader of the 5th U.S. Marine Division Special Rangers during the pivotal World War II battle of Iwo Jima.

John was just eighteen years old when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. He enlisted in the Marines after high school and soon found himself a Staff Sergeant in charge of a sound ranging team that specialized in locating hidden enemy weapons.

John's sound rangers took part in the Marine landing on the small volcanic island of Iwo Jima in February 1945. Upon landing at Iwo Jima, the Marines faced a surprise Japanese assault. Enemy fighters streamed out of underground tunnels and launched attacks with hidden artillery positioned across the island. Nearly seven thousand Marines were killed. But were it not for the work of John and his team, countless more American lives might have been lost.

In the thirty-six days of fighting that ensued, John and the 5th Marine Division's sound rangers used cutting-edge technology to echolocate Japanese weapons before they could be used against American troops. They persisted through a constant barrage of enemy fire that kept them awake day and night. Many saw fellow Marines die right before their eyes. John later recalled that ``Every time [he] took a breath, someone got killed'' on Iwo Jima, including many of his close personal friends.

At 102 years of age, John is the only surviving member of the 5th Division sound rangers. He marked his birthday this April by sharing war stories with nearly 100 community members gathered at his Portsmouth assisted living facility. John has also documented his service in Iwo Jima and postwar occupied Japan by donating oral history recordings to the Story Preservation Initiative.

On behalf of New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, I would like to thank John for his service and for sharing his wartime experiences with others. As we reflect on the 80th anniversary of V-J Day this month, it is more important than ever to listen to veterans like yourself who fought with ingenuity and courage when our democracy was on the line.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Andrew ``Andy'' C. Mack of Londonderry, New Hampshire, a steadfast pillar for his community who will be remembered for his commitment to service and his great generosity.

Raised in Londonderry, New Hampshire, Andy was a Granite Stater through and through. Earlier in his life, he served his country honorably in the Army Chemical Corps before returning to Londonderry. Whether as a town moderator, volunteer firefighter, or Derry Rotarian, Andy spent his life working for the greater good of his neighbors and his town. He had a vibrant civic life and was known for his handmade, plywood road signs, which boldly shared his views on a variety of topics.

The passing on of Andy's property is just one of many remarkable examples of his dedication to the people around him. After being owned by his family for seven generations, Andy eventually sold his family farm to the town of Londonderry. In doing so, he made sure that the land would be used for local schools, civic organizations, and nature conservation.

Andy's passing is a profound loss to Londonderry, but I know that his legacy will live on through those who knew and loved him, including his sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His life offers inspiration to Granite Staters across New Hampshire who care about and aspire to make change in their communities. I am grateful for his memory and for the lasting impact Andy has made on our state.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Lakes Region Community Services, a non-profit centered around meeting critical needs in New Hampshire.

For more than 50 years, Lakes Region Community Services (LRCS) has been a pillar for providing crucial services in New Hampshire. Through a number of initiatives, LRCS has acted as a lifeline for so many people throughout New Hampshire. Whether through its Family Resource Center, Sober Parenting Journey, or Home Assist programs, thousands of Granite Staters are helped each year through this essential work.

These programs assist people with developmental disabilities, acquired brain disorders, chronic illnesses, families with children, and our aging population. Community service organizations like LRCS play a vital role in creating a positive environment where people can grow and thrive in any stage of life. Covering 24 towns, LRCS has been a support system where people from across our communities can come and get the resources they need. I commend LRCS and its more than 300 employees for the important work they do every day to positively impact people's lives.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to say thank you and congratulate LRCS on 50 years of dedicated service to our state. We are grateful for your commitment to our community, and I look forward to continuing to support this life- changing work.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the NASWA Resort's anniversary and in memory of their dedicated owner, Hope Markis.

The NASWA Resort is one of the Lakes Region's most iconic establishments, founded by Greek immigrants and its legacy carried on by their daughter, Hope Markis, and her family. Starting as just a few cabins, the Markis family has transformed the NASWA Resort into the hospitable and beautiful place it is today. Over the years, they have grown their business from an inn to the resort we know, expanding to include more options for entertainment, food, and adventure.

Hope Markis was truly a leader, through both her work in pioneering the resort and her active involvement in her community. Her legacy truly lives in her hospitality and generosity, whether that was in the way she welcomed guests to the resort or in her support of veterans and first responders. The way that she cared for her community will not be forgotten, and that care lives on in her children and grandchildren, who continue to run the NASWA Resort. Certainly, what she has built as a businesswoman and as a matriarch will be felt by all of those who come to the resort and experience her hard work and dedication.

The NASWA Resort is not just an important piece of New Hampshire's tourist economy, but a multigenerational family business that is a vital part of the Lakes Region. New Hampshire owes Hope and her family a debt of gratitude for all that they have brought to the region and the work they have done to better the community around them.

On behalf of the constituents of New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I share my condolences with the Markis family, including her children and her grandchildren. I would once again like to extend my condolences to her family and wish them all the very best in this time of grieving.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Barbara Kulig as she retires after twenty-six years of service with the Manchester School District. Barbara has dedicated her time as a Paraprofessional to making a difference in students' education and being involved within the community.

As a lifelong Manchester resident, Barbara dedicated her career to public service and giving back to her community. She has spent twenty- five years teaching at Hillside Middle School, the same institution she attended for middle school, and she spent her final year teaching at Weston Elementary. She also previously served as a school bus driver in Bedford. She has left a lasting impact on the students she has worked with over the years and will be greatly missed by students and staff alike.

Barbara is not only a diligent public servant but also an individual of outstanding character and passion. She committed tireless days to ensuring that the students of the Manchester School District were given the care and resources they needed to thrive and grow into successful young adults.

In all, Barbara Kulig represents the very best of America's public servants--dedicated, thoughtful, and unwavering in her commitment to service to others. On behalf of a grateful district, I want to congratulate Barbara on a well-deserved and restful retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mrs. Vernis Marie Miller Jackson of Portsmouth, New Hampshire--a pioneering educator, visionary community leader, and lifelong champion for civil rights, culture, and historical preservation.

Born in Waycross, Georgia, Vernis' father, Bishop Clinton Miller, and mother, Lossie Butler Miller Randall, immediately moved their baby daughter to Savannah, Georgia, where she would grow up, attending Florence Street Elementary School and Savannah State College before receiving her degree from the University of New Hampshire.

In 1963, Vernis and her husband, Emerald, a sergeant in the United States Air Force, relocated with their two young daughters from Savannah to Pease Air Force Base in Newington, New Hampshire, later moving to Portsmouth, where she would remain for the rest of her life. For 35 of those years, Mrs. Jackson served as a beloved teacher in the Portsmouth School Department, where her dedication to young people left an indelible mark on generations of students. Yet her contributions to our community extended far beyond the classroom.

Vernis served on a task force for the Equity in Mathematics Education Leadership Institute, sharing the program citywide with students and parents. She helped charter an African American women's organization, named Kwanza, which provided scholarships for local students. She was also a charter member of The Greater Springfield, Massachusetts Chapter of The Links, Inc., a national women's organization, where she achieved Platinum status. Mrs. Jackson was a member of the Jonquil Garden Club, a lifetime member of the NAACP, the National Education Association, the New Hampshire Retired Teachers Association, the Crossroads Bridge Club, Friends of Portsmouth Library, and the Portsmouth College Women's Club. Vernis was a member of the Portsmouth Athenaeum and served a three-year term at the Currier Museum of Art and Seacoast Leadership Group. Vernis and her beloved husband, Emerald, also served together for 21 years on the board of the Salvation Army.

In 2000, she co-founded the Seacoast African American Cultural Center (SAACC), an institution dedicated to celebrating and preserving the contributions of African Americans in the Seacoast region and beyond. Under her leadership as president and later president emeritus, the SAACC blossomed into a vital cultural hub, curating exhibitions, hosting performances and lectures, offering scholarships, and bringing generations together through history and art.

Perhaps one of her most enduring legacies is her work at the Portsmouth African Burying Ground Memorial Park. After the discovery of the burial site in 2003, Mrs. Jackson became chair of the African Burying Ground Committee, guiding a multi-year effort to honor those interred in what is now recognized as New England's only known African burying ground dating back to the 1700s. Thanks to her leadership, the memorial park was completed and formally dedicated in 2015--a sacred space that invites reflection, remembrance, and justice.

Mrs. Jackson continued her decades-long fight for equity, education, and civil rights, and her tireless work earned her recognition across the state, including as a ``Local Hero'' by New Hampshire Magazine, where she was praised for bridging generations and inspiring others through action and service. She has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow, a Granite-Stater of the month, and has been presented with both the Martin Luther King, Jr., ``Living the Dream Award,'' and the ``Spirit of the Prince Hall'' award. She was also a recipient of the City of Portsmouth Mayor's Award for her 11 years of service on the African Burying Grounds Committee.

Vernis Marie Miller Jackson passed away in February 2025 at the age of 92. Though she is no longer with us, her legacy lives on through the institutions she built, the lives she shaped, and the history she preserved for future generations.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Vernis Jackson for her extraordinary life of service and leadership. May we carry forward

her example of dignity, compassion, and commitment to justice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the HALT Fentanyl Act when it comes to the floor tomorrow.

For the past 5 years, I have engaged with law enforcement, public health experts, and colleagues across the aisle to ensure the scheduling of fentanyl analogues doesn't lapse and is finally made permanent.

Permanent scheduling will ensure that law enforcement retains important tools they need to tackle the opioid crisis and hold traffickers accountable. These are tools that have helped drive down drug-related deaths in New Hampshire to the lowest levels in 10 years.

This is thanks to New Hampshire's all-hands-on-deck approach, pairing enforcement with treatment to bring down both the supply of opioids reaching our communities as well as the demand for them.

There is still work to be done, including getting this bill across the finish line and restoring vital funding that was cut by the current administration for treatment and recovery.

I will continue fighting to ensure that our communities have the support that they need to save lives and confront addiction head-on.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 75th anniversary of the VA Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire and in celebration of 75 years of unwavering commitment to veteran health care.

At the end of World War I, citizens of New Hampshire began advocating for a local veterans hospital in order to properly honor Granite Staters who bravely served their country. After an extensive and hard- fought campaign that made it all the way to Congress, the hospital was granted approval and opened its doors on July 2, 1950.

For 75 years, the Manchester VA has provided compassionate care to countless veterans and their families. From physical therapy to mental health care, the Manchester VA's comprehensive services help many veterans to live happy and healthy lives. The dedicated VA staff create a supportive and encouraging environment where veterans feel empowered to seek the medical help they need.

Guided by the needs of veterans and their families, the Manchester VA remains committed to holistic treatment. The Manchester VA's research program is internationally recognized for the study and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other serious mental health challenges. A renowned teaching hospital, the Manchester VA actively

trains the next generation of caregivers to ensure that their important work continues for years to come.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to congratulate the Manchester VA on 75 years of devoted service to veterans and their families. We are grateful for your commitment to our community's veterans and I look forward to continuing to support this vital work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the Republicans' budget scheme pushed through in the middle of the night last month is putting school meals for hungry kids and food assistance for working families at risk.

A constituent of mine, Martha, from Somersworth is raising her 15- year-old grandson and battling breast cancer while living on a fixed income. Without SNAP, she wouldn't be able to keep food on the table.

Another constituent, Catherine, is a veteran from Manchester who has type 2 diabetes. She wouldn't be able to afford the diet she needs to keep herself healthy without SNAP and fears losing her benefits could put her life at risk if she is unable to manage her blood sugar.

People across my district, from Newmarket to Gilford, tell me they wouldn't be able to afford groceries without some help.

It is a betrayal of working families for Republicans to take away food so they can give tax breaks to billionaires.

My colleagues must continue speaking out against these cuts and do everything they can to stop a reckless, cruel budget from moving forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Hope Makris, a pioneering businesswoman and community leader from Laconia, New Hampshire.

The matriarch of the NASWA Resort, Hope helped run one of the Lakes Region's most iconic establishments for more than 80 years as it grew from a few cabins to one of the region's major destinations. Countless visitors experienced her hospitality and generosity firsthand over the years, and they likely tried some of her signature baked goods, too.

Along with her late husband, Peter, Hope made her mark on the community by supporting veterans, helping the fire department acquire new equipment, and being a leader in New Hampshire's tourist economy.

New Hampshire owes Hope and the entire Makris family a debt of gratitude for the ways they have bettered our communities, particularly in the Lakes Region. Hope leaves a profound legacy after a century of life and hard work. I know that others will continue to be inspired by her dedication and compassion to all of those around her.

Mr. Speaker, may her memory be eternal.