Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the career of a true New Hampshire original, the dean of our State Senate, Lou D'Allesandro.

Senator D'Allesandro, or Lou, as he is universally known, will be retiring from the New Hampshire State Senate after serving the people of District 20 for 26 years.

New Hampshire's working families and middle class have no greater champion than Lou D'Allesandro. The work he has done on their behalf to improve public education, to create jobs, and strengthen our economy will be felt for decades to come.

His legacy is as much the bills he has passed and the laws that bear his name as it is the generations of young men and women he has taught, coached, and mentored, leaving a lasting impression on them all.

In addition to being a lifelong public servant, Lou is an educator, a coach, and someone so dedicated to his family, including his amazing wife, Pat.

Lou's life work has made a tremendous difference on New Hampshire and all of its families and communities.

Mr. Speaker, I join all Granite Staters in thanking him for his years of service, and as he often says: I hope Lou D'Allesandro has a great, great American day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Patricia ``Patti Cakes'' Baldi, who is being honored today for her retirement from running the iconic Weirs Drive-in Theater in Laconia, NH. While the Drive-in has been in operation since 1949, Patti Cakes purchased the property in 1974 and has since played an active part in continuing the theater's success. Throughout her career, Patti Cakes has been essential in adding three additional screens to

the theater as well as guiding her business through a global pandemic.

Since purchasing the Weirs Drive-in Theater, Patti Cakes and her team have cemented the theater's status as a staple attraction of the Lakes Region. Whether they came to see a summer blockbuster or participate in a community event, countless families from across the Granite State and beyond will forever cherish the memories they made at Weirs Drive-in Theater.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to thank Patti Cakes for the decades of entertainment and memories that she has provided to our community. I congratulate her again on her incredible career and I thank her for all that she has done to make our state such a wonderful place to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise as we mark Police Week to express my thanks and support for law enforcement officers in New Hampshire and across the country who are dedicated to keeping our communities safe.

Our police answer the call each and every day, and the work they do is indispensable to fight crime, keep the peace, and provide the kind of assistance that our families and neighbors need.

Across New Hampshire, I have had the great privilege to get to know so many of our law enforcement officials. I am grateful for their professionalism, their courage, and their leadership.

Recently, I had the chance to visit the police department in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, to see the long-needed upgrades that they are making through a community project grant secured through our office.

Congress must continue to invest in public safety infrastructure, technology, training, and recruitment and retention efforts to support 21st century policing. We must commit to valuing and supporting those who swear an oath to protect and serve our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Arthur Bourgeois of Exeter, New Hampshire on his 100th birthday. A World War II Navy Veteran, active community member, and loving family man, Arthur has shown what it means to devote his life to his loved ones, community, and country.

On this special day, I commend Arthur on his distinguished lifetime that exemplifies service and dedication. During World War II, individuals like Arthur sacrificed their lives to defend our freedom and democracy. His contributions have left a mark on our nation's history and the world. His bravery and selflessness during one of the most tiresome times in American history has not gone unnoticed. The sacrifices made and the challenges overcome speak volumes about Arthur's character and will serve as an inspiration for generations to come.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to thank Arthur Bourgeois for his service and wish him a happy 100th birthday. While we can never fully repay our debt of gratitude, we recognize and applaud his decades of service. I look forward to seeing what his next chapter holds, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Merrimack Senior Center on its 50th Anniversary. Since 1974, this establishment has gathered seniors across the town of Merrimack and beyond to enjoy local speakers, educational workshops, and trips to concerts or plays throughout New England.

Serving nearly 200 seniors, the senior citizens club offers a centralized space to build community, play games, socialize, and create true friendship.

The Merrimack Senior Club offers meaningful services for seniors as well, including safety presentations from local police and fire departments and a discounted restaurant meal program in partnership with Meals on Wheels.

Furthermore, the club offers philanthropic opportunities to its members. Working with community organizations and leaders, the club provides a $1,000 annual scholarship to a local high school student and gathers donations for local food banks.

I commend the Merrimack Senior Center for its many years of community-oriented service and look forward to its continued work to bring seniors together throughout the Merrimack area over the next 50 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Stan Lyford's more than fifty years of outstanding contributions to the Portsmouth High School Track Program. Since 1975, Stan has been a committed coach and mentor for the Portsmouth High School girls track and cross-country teams where he works to motivate his athletes to succeed not just on the track, but also in their academic and personal lives. With a lifelong passion for giving back to his community and ensuring that every student can succeed, Stan embodies the value of service above self and has had an immeasurable effect on strengthening the Portsmouth community.

In addition to his profound impact on the Portsmouth High School Track Program, Stan was also a math teacher at Portsmouth High School where he worked to engage with students and equip them to reach their highest academic potential. Although he retired from teaching in 2007, his continued role as head coach showcases his lifelong commitment to his students.

On behalf of New Hampshire's First District, I commend Stan for reaching this remarkable fifty-year milestone in his continued service to his community. The amount of trust placed in Stan for over half a century is a testament to his efficacy and compassion as a teacher, coach, and leader. I look forward to seeing what he will continue to achieve as he carries

on his commitment to the Portsmouth Track Program.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Diane Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, for being named Executive of the Year by the Nation's over 1000 clubs. This award is determined by the Professional Association of Boys & Girls Clubs and by Diane's peers throughout the country. As the Executive of the Year, Diane has been recognized for her significant impact on the Manchester community and the youth development profession at a local, regional, and national level.

As CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, Diane works with staff, the board of trustees, and community members to serve children and families across the city. With over 30 years of experience in higher education, marketing, and business development, Diane has pursued a bold and innovative vision for the Boys & Girls Club since she joined the organization in 2014. In this role, Diane oversees strategic planning, fundraising, community relations, and partnership development.

She is widely regarded by staff as an indispensable leader and among the broader New Hampshire community as critical to the advancement of children's issues. I commend Diane for winning this prestigious award and will continue to support her work to help youth reach their full potential.

I look forward to seeing what Diane will accomplish for the Manchester community in the years to come, and I am confident she will continue to uplift kids and families in our district. On behalf of all the constituents of New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I applaud Diane for her commendable leadership, and wish her success in future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the reckless budget proposal released this week by a group of House Republicans.

This budget will cut Medicare, make healthcare more expensive, and undo the real progress that we have been making to lower prescription drug prices.

It would also cut Social Security benefits and raise the retirement age, forcing hardworking Americans to work even longer.

The only winners in this budget plan are the ultra-wealthy and the biggest corporations, who get rewarded with huge tax cuts.

This is backward, it is wrong, and it is something I will fight every step of the way.

New Hampshire seniors who have paid into Social Security and Medicare need to know that their earned benefits will be there for them when they retire.

I remain committed to fighting to strengthen Social Security and Medicare, to lowering the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs for all Americans, and Congress must make this a top priority.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ona Marie Judge Staines, a New Hampshire woman born in Virginia, who was enslaved by George and Martha Washington, and taken by them to Phildelphia during Washington's second term as United States president. Ona Judge self-emancipated from their household, as the Washingtons were preparing to return to Mount Vernon in their semi-annual effort to avoid the Pennsylvania law that enabled enslaved people to sue for their freedom if they remained in the state for more than six months. Recounting her story in 1845 she remarked on her escape, ``Whilst they were packing up to go to Virginia, I was packing to go, I didn't know where; for I knew that if I went back to Virginia, I should never get my liberty . . .''

During her time in the city, Ona Judge had become acquainted with members of Philadelphia's large free Black community who provided her contact with a ship captain who would take her north. On May 21, 1796, she boarded the ship Nancy, bound for Portsmouth, New Hampshire in search of freedom.

The Washingtons relentlessly pursued her, but Ona Judge found a home among Portsmouth's Black community. Washington learned of her whereabouts and sent one of his wife's relatives to convince her to return. She refused, saying ``I am free now, and choose to remain so.'' Rebuffed, the man determined to take her and her child back to Virginia by force and admitted his intentions to Senator John Langdon. Whether it was Langdon who alerted her to the impending capture, or his trusted free Black servant Cyrus Bruce, we do not know for sure. But Ona was determined to remain free and fled eight miles from Portsmouth into Greenland, New Hampshire, where she lived with her daughters and friends John and Phillis Jacks and their family until her death in 1848.

Several years before her death, Ona Judge Staines told her story to two abolitionist newspapers. The interviewer for the Granite State Freeman asked her if she ever regretted her decision, and she replied ``No, I am free, and have, I trust, been made a child of God by the means.'' Her journey exemplifies the power of determination in the search for liberty, embodying our state motto ``Live Free or Die.'' On behalf of the constituents of New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I commend the bravery of Ona Judge Staines to assert her right to freedom at any cost. May her story never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Captain Jack Casey of Dover, New Hampshire.

On February 7, 2024, Captain Casey was among 4 other Marines who tragically died in a CH-53E helicopter crash in Pine Valley, California.

Captain Casey was commissioned in the Marine Corps on May 16, 2019, and was promoted to the rank of Captain on September 1, 2023. As a Marine, Captain Casey was a member of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, where he was a pilot. During his career, Captain Casey was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.

Captain Casey and his family are well known and loved throughout his hometown of Dover, New Hampshire, where he attended Saint Mary Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas High School. After graduation, he went on to attend Virginia Military Institute (VMI) where he was a physics major and Company I commander for the 2018-2019 academic year. After graduating from VMI, he trained at flight school in Corpus Christi.

Captain Casey truly loved his life and lived it in service to others. He married his beloved wife Emma on December 3, 2022. Among his fellow service members, classmates, and friends, Captain Casey was known as a charismatic, helpful, and humble young man that made a positive impact on all. Back home, community leaders and teachers knew him as not only a smart and energetic student, but also a kind and joyous individual with a bright future. We are forever grateful for his selfless service and ultimate sacrifice.

During this difficult time, my thoughts and condolences are with his wife Emma, his parents Catherine and James, his siblings, James, Patrick, Sean, and Catherine, and all of Captain Casey's loved ones. On behalf of the constituents of New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I commend Captain Casey for his service and sacrifice to our Nation. He will be dearly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Jameson (Jamey) French of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Jamey has dedicated his life thus far to New Hampshire and its forest industry, impacting our state and public lands immensely. As President and CEO of Northland Forest Products, Inc., headquartered in Kingston, New Hampshire, and a 4th generation business owner, a passion for the forest industry's interests runs deep in Jamey.

Throughout Jamey's career, he focused on creating sensible solutions to forest usage issues while bringing the forest products industry and the environmental community to a common ground. Jamey was one of a small group of industry leaders in the mid-1990s who embraced the concept of forest certification. Jamey played an instrumental role in forming the national initiative for the Forest Stewardship Council in the United States (FSC-US) and was elected to the FSC-US Board for three years, serving as the first chairman from the economic sector. In addition to receiving many honors and awards, including the Sustainable Standard Setter Award by the Rainforest Alliance in 2004, Jamey is the Vice Chair of the National Wildlife Federation Action Fund and chairs Friends Forever International.

Over the last several decades, Jamey has donated his time, energy, and expertise to local, regional, and national environmental and charitable organizations. His deep-rooted passion for his work and community earned him the title of Portsmouth's most friendly face and a placement on The Portsmouth Herald's top 10 Most Influential list. Outside his dedication to New Hampshire's forests, Jamey's time is devoted to his wife and three beautiful children. On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to recognize Jamey French on his 70th birthday for his lifetime achievements. He continues to amaze the individuals of New Hampshire with his pure devotion to environmental advocacy, and I look forward to seeing what his next chapter holds. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Rare Disease Day on February 29, 2024. According to the Federal Drug Administration, over 7,000 rare diseases affect more than 30 million people in the United States. That's nearly one in every ten Americans.

The National Institutes of Health recognizes more than 7,000 rare diseases. Of those 7,000 plus diseases approximately 95 percent have no treatment. Instead, many patients receive treatments that are not approved by the FDA for their specific conditions. This treatment process can lead to patients experiencing difficulty with insurance reimbursements. All Americans deserve quality access to affordable health care, and we must do more to assist our fellow Americans with rare diseases in reaching these standards.

Rare diseases not only have a debilitating impact on the individuals affected but also the families and loved ones who support them. On average, individuals with rare diseases do not receive an accurate diagnosis for more than four and a half years, in addition to difficulty in finding medical experts and treatments for their conditions. This leaves patients, families, and caregivers waiting indefinitely for diagnoses, treatments, and additional support for indefinite periods of time.

Rare Disease Day is a significant step in increasing public awareness and encouraging funding for research into these conditions. It is critical that Congress continue to partner with patients, advocates, scientists, and health care employees to seek solutions that will prioritize public funding for the health, wellness, and treatment for all those impacted by rare medical conditions.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to commemorate this important day and remind my fellow Americans to recognize those impacted by rare diseases, in addition to the medical professionals committed to finding treatments for them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Arvid H. `Gus' Gustavson, an Army Veteran and resident of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, who passed away in December. Gus was a beloved husband, father, son, and brother, who proudly dedicated his life to public service both in the United States Army and at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Born in Somerville, MA, Gus married Shirley Ambrose and joined the United States Army. After two years of service, Gus and Shirley moved to New Hampshire and Gus began his decades long career at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. During this time, Gus received many accolades, reflecting his hardworking nature and dedication to the community. His fellow coworkers have all been impacted by the legacy that he left behind after retiring in 1985.

Gus's family and friends also remember him for his giving nature and ever-present love and support. He has touched many lives through his unforgettable sense of humor and positive mindset, both of which his family carries on today.

On behalf of the constituents of New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I share my condolences with the Gustavson family, including Gus's children, Stephen, Karen, and Paul, and his many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends. I would once again like to extend my condolences to the Gustavson family and wish them all the very best in this time of grieving.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Aaron Ruvinsky of Merrimack, New Hampshire on his 100th birthday. A World War II veteran, successful newspaper journalist, active neighborhood volunteer, and loving family man, Aaron's century of American life speaks to his tireless devotion to his loved ones, community, and country. On this special day, I want to commend Aaron on his distinguished lifetime that exemplifies service and dedication, and is an inspiration to others.

Over the last 100 years, Aaron Ruvinsky has grown alongside the United States. During the Great Depression, he worked in a machine shop and studied physics at Brooklyn College. After enlisting in the Army Air Corps during the Second World War, Aaron enrolled in meteorological school, crafting weather reports for the safe passage of Allied planes through Canada and Alaska. Once the war ended and Aaron earned a journalism degree from New York University, he began his decades-long career in the paper business. Although limited by discrimination against Jewish Americans in New York, Aaron worked as a Washington reporter and editor until his retirement. For years Aaron volunteered with Meals on Wheels and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in D.C., becoming actively involved in community affairs. While in Washington, he spent his days swimming, playing tennis, and enjoying time with his grandchildren. In 2018, Aaron moved up to New Hampshire to make a new home with his family in the Granite State. Unable to remain idle, Aaron continues to lead a productive life, swimming weekly, reading the newspaper daily, and enjoying big bowls of ice cream.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to wish Aaron Ruvinsky a happy 100th birthday. Aaron has lived an exemplary life and has made our state and country proud. I look forward to seeing what his next chapter holds and wish him many more happy, healthy years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Neil Thomas Freeman, an Army Veteran and resident of Tilton, New Hampshire, who passed away in November. Neil was a beloved husband, son, and brother, who proudly dedicated his life to public service both in the United States Army and as a civilian federal employee.

Born in Somerville, MA, Neil enlisted in the United States Army shortly after graduating from high school in 1984. Following his military service, Neil was a proud member of the DAV, VFW, and AMVETS. Neil continued to serve his country as a civil servant for over 30 years, working for the United States Postal Service, Veterans Affairs, and United States Customs and Immigration. Most recently, he was a Congressional Liaison in the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service's Manchester Field Office.

Neil was known by his coworkers, friends, and family for being incredibly selfless, patient, and kind. He will be fondly remembered by the communities he touched and those he loved for years to come. His legacy of service, connection, and family will continue to inspire others.

On behalf of the constituents of New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I share my condolences with the Freeman family, including Neil's loving wife, Lisa his son, Cole, and his many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends. I would once again like to extend my condolences to the Freeman family and wish them all the very best in this time of grieving.