Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, Sabra Raymer is a firefighter paramedic with over six years of experience in emergency response, known for her humility, resilience, and deep committment to serving others. Like anyone else, she is navigating life's challenges while striving to leave the world better than she found it. She doesn't seek recognition for titles or accolades but takes pride in being someone who will extend a hand when others are down, bring calm to chaos, and offer comfort during life's hardest moments.

Raised with strong values of integrity, respect, and love, Sabra credits her parents for shaping her character and purpose. Her journey hasn't been easy--she put herself through school, experienced personal lows, and worked relentlessly to rebuild and rise. She knows that life will test you, but believes that anything can be overcome with heart and determination.

Her dedication has been recognized with a Community Service Award in March 2021, a Letter of Commendation in August 2021, and her courageous role in Hurricane Ian water rescue operations, for which she received a Campaign Ribbon in February 2024.

With a heart for advocacy and inclusion, Sabra also helped design and launch Pride shirts for her county, raising awareness and fostering a culture of belonging within the department. Through this initiative, she helped raise over $900 for the Zebra Youth Foundation, supporting LGBTQ+ youth in Central Florida.

Now in the process of becoming a peer support advocate, Sabra is especially passionate about mental health awareness in the fire service--an industry that can sometimes make individuals feel invisible or out of place. With the support of her County and community allies, she proudly stands up for those who need to feel seen, supported, and valued. She continues to serve not only as a first responder but as a voice, a helper, and a source of strength for those in need.

Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call No. 166 on S. 331, I mistakenly recorded my vote as NAY when I should have voted YEA.

Mr. Speaker, 9 years ago today, on June 12, 2016, at 2:02 a.m., our little happy town of Orlando, Florida, was changed forever as we saw 49 angels killed and 53 others who were injured in a mass shooting during Latin Night at the Pulse nightclub, a safe place for the LGBTQ community located just south of downtown Orlando. At the time, it was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

I was proud to work on both sides of the aisle in June 2019 to introduce the National Pulse Memorial. In June 2020, it passed the House but did not pass the Senate. Finally, in June 2021, it was introduced, passed into law, and signed by President Biden.

We know that the National Pulse Memorial happened because this was a national tragedy. At the time, we saw memorials and moments of silence across the Nation, across districts, from sea to shining sea.

In remembrance of those who we lost and those who were injured and their families, I ask my colleagues to please stand and join me for a moment of silence.

Mr. Speaker, born on August 18, 1944, in Wauchula, Florida, to Martha Pearle Mathis and George A. Vogt, Pete Vogt was a true Florida native. His deep-rooted connection to the state's landscapes was deeply influenced by his grandmother, Annabel Mathis, whose parents owned land in rural southwest Florida. Although his father's Air Force career led the family to move extensively around the U.S. during his youth, Pete always knew his roots were firmly planted among the southern palmetto hammocks and swamps.

Pete was back in Florida for his high school years at Oak Ridge High School. He often commented that the opportunity to attend a brand-new high school without established cliques and traditions made forming a wide range of friendships easier and enriched his high school experience. One of these friends, Linda Osborne, would become his wife.

Pete attended the University of South Florida, majoring in economics and developing a lifelong interest in politics, especially civil rights. Linda followed him to USF, and they married on August 21, 1965, while still in college. Pete graduated in 1966 and immediately joined the U.S. Army, as he believed military service was his responsibility as an American citizen. After boot camp, he was accepted into the Army's Officer Candidate School, and upon graduation was commissioned as a second lieutenant. To his delight, he was stationed in Germany. Once Linda graduated from USF, she was able to join him, and they enjoyed traveling in Europe. Their son, Eric, was born in Germany in 1968.

Once he had fulfilled his obligation to the Army, Pete and Linda returned to Orlando. Pete tried on a handful of jobs before finding that joining George A. Vogt Realty, his father's firm in Belle Isle, was the right fit. Pete excelled in building client relationships, sharing an endless supply of jokes, and maintaining connections with past clients. He joined the Orlando Regional Realtors Association and served on the board from 1970 until 2010.

Pete became invoked in Democratic Party politics and worked on scores of local, state, and national campaigns over the years. He was deeply committed to civic engagement and women's and minority rights. His civic and political activities were extensive. A short list of boards on which Pete served includes the Mennello Museum of American Art, Guardian Care Nursing Home, Tiger Bay Club, Orange Audubon Society, and the First Unitarian Church of Orlando.

An intellectual at his core, Pete was insatiably curious, and each new interest led him to devour multiple books on the subject. Pete considered any week incomplete without a

visit to a bookstore. His home overflows with books on an incredible range of topics and people, including several books by and about Marcel Proust. Pete maintained that reading Proust had ``changed his life'' and quoted him endlessly to anyone who would listen. Starting in high school, he continued studying Spanish throughout his life, adding French somewhere along the way. His curiosity about the world led him to travel extensively, with Mexico, Central, and South America his favorite destinations. He scaled mountains, trekked the Amazon and hitch-hiked, and met people and learned about their cultures every chance he got. While he sometimes traveled alone, many of his most memorable adventures were shared with friends with whom he forged lifelong friendships.

After Linda's death from breast cancer in 2006, his friends connected him with her friend Martha Haynie, and after several very tentative starts, Pete and Marty decided to share their lives. Over the next 19 years they indulged together their love of reading and cooking, theater and concerts, politics, traveling, and being with friends. Their adventures ranged from the mountains of Mexico to the streets of Paris and the Jungles of Ecuador. Pete's diagnosis of Parkinson's disease gradually slowed them down, and the COVID epidemic finally brought them home to Belle Isle to stay.

Pete led a rich and full life, surrounded by dear and loyal friends.

Mr Speaker, Luis Herrera Campins was born on May 4, 1925, in Acarigua, Venezuela.

Born into a middle-class family, Herrera Campins was educated at a university in Caracas. Along with Rafael Caldera Rodriguez, he founded the Social Christian Party in 1946. This moderate party also known as the Christian Democrats, became the second-largest political patty in Venezuela, after Democratic Action, in the decades following World War

Mr. Speaker, Sunayana Dumala is an Indian immigrant who moved to the United States in 2007 to pursue her master's degree, hopeful about building a new future and achieving the American Dream.

While working as a data integration engineer in Olathe, Kansas, her life was tragically altered on February 22, 2017, when her husband, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, was murdered in a hate crime that shocked the Nation. In the face of unimaginable loss, Sunayana chose to rise with purpose. She emerged as a leading advocate for immigrants, founding the Forever Welcome Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting immigrant and refugee communities through advocacy, education, and programs that foster unity and bridge diverse communities.

Through Forever Welcome, Sunayana leads dialogue workshops that create space for understanding and connection between immigrants and non-immigrants, and runs a family support program that provides emergency assistance to refugee and low-income immigrant families.

Her advocacy has extended to national platforms. She has worked with Immigration Voice to advance policy solutions for high-skilled immigrants and participated in campaigns like Spread AAPI Love by Stop AAPI Hate.

She has also been featured in national documentaries, including PBS's ``Healing Hate'' and ABC's ``Divided States: Olathe,'' which highlight her journey and the broader fight against hate. Sunayana's work has earned her honors, including the Heart Award by Med Ad News, the Peace Award from the Crescent Peace Society, and the Humanitarian Award from the Olathe Human Relations Commission.

Apart from focusing on her foundation, since relocating to Lake Nona, Florida, in 2022, Ms. Dumala has been actively involved with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Coming Together (ACT), a nonprofit organization dedicated to civic engagement and community empowerment. Through her work with ACT, she is helping increase civic engagement and voter awareness across Central Florida.

Sunayana's story is especially remarkable considering that when tragedy struck, she had no immediate family in America, was not born here and was still learning the nuances of American culture. In the face of devastating loss, she had a choice: to turn away from the country that had become her home, or to stay and fight against hate.

Her journey is a testament to resilience, compassion, and a deep commitment to building a country where everyone has a place to belong.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Puxiao Cen is a board-certified cardiologist whose distinguished career in medicine and public service reflects a lifelong dedication to the health, dignity, and enrichment of her community. Born in Guangzhou, China, and immigrating to the United States in 1992, Dr. Cen completed her internal medicine residency at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and a cardiology fellowship at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. In 2001, she settled in Orlando, Florida, where she joined the Florida Hospital, which was later re-named AdventHealth, and has since played a vital role in advancing cardiovascular care across Central Florida.

In addition to her clinical expertise, Dr. Cen holds a Master of Science in Medical Ethics and has served on the Medical Ethics Committee of AdventHealth Altamonte Springs since 2018. She is particularly known for her advocacy on behalf of the underserved, including the Asian American community and those facing end-of-life care. She drafted the plan for the heart failure program at AdventHealth Hospice to ensure compassionate care for the terminally ill--one of the many contributions for which she was honored with the AdventHealth Service Standards Award in 2019.

Dr. Cen is also an educator, serving as an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. She has extended her outreach through public health talks in senior centers and long-term care facilities.

Her civic engagement includes being a founding member of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, membership in the McKean Society of Central Florida Public Media, support for United Arts, donations to Asia Trend, and the annual CHARGE Dragon Boat Race. Her own artwork celebrating cultural diversity has been featured in the Mills 50 Art Box Project.

Dr. Cen's legacy is one of compassion, leadership, and service--a model of the contribution immigrants bring to the United States in both medicine and civic life.

Mr. Speaker, Helen Hyden Adams was born to a Korean mother and a father in the U.S. Army. She always knew she would serve in the Army and followed in her father's footsteps. She is a product of the JROTC program and graduated from Fort Knox High School in 1986 and served in the U.S. Army Dental Corps from 1986 to 1990. Her last station of duty was at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Helen joined the Disabled American Veterans in 1994 and was elected the first woman commander of the DAV Department of Alaska in 2000. She continued to serve in various leadership roles within the organization, including a run for national office in 2008.

Realizing that many veterans and their families were still struggling to navigate the VA system, she and her husband, John Adams, a U.S. Army veteran, founded Connecting the Dots for Veterans, a veteran-focused nonprofit that educates, engages, and empowers veterans and their families. Helen is affectionately called Dottie by everyone.

As a service-connected disabled veteran since 1994, she shares her journey with others so that they may be successful in navigating the VA process. She educates, engages, and empowers veterans and their families. Ultimately, her program of Connecting the Dots for Veterans is a suicide prevention program. It offers veterans and their families hope, but more importantly, a step-by-step process that is proven to work in successfully navigating the complexities of the VA system.

To continue assisting transitioning military members, she founded Operation Connecting the Dots and serves as its CEO.

Her civic affiliations are as follows: Congressman Darren Soto's Veteran Advisory Board, American Legion Post 10, DAV Chapter 148, VFW Auxiliary Unit 3227, Amvets Post 33, Osceola County Veterans Council (OCVC) Vice Commander, OCREC Veterans Advisory Board.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Geetha Akula is a medical oncologist and hematologist with Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) in Osceola and Orange Counties.

Dr. Akula treats patients with a broad range of oncologic and hematologic diseases, with a special focus on multiple myeloma, colon, lung, and breast cancers. With a keen interest in clinical research, she has participated in several retrospective and prospective studies and has given numerous presentations at regional and national oncology and hematology conferences.

After earning her medical degree from Gandhi Medical College in Hyderabad, India, she completed her internship and residency at Cabrini Medical Center in New York, New York. Dr. Akula completed a fellowship in hematology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in the Bronx, New York, and a fellowship in neoplastic diseases at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York.

Dr. Akula is board-certified in oncology, hematology, internal medicine, and hospice and palliative care. She is a member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Central Florida Association of Physicians from the Indian Subcontinent (CAPI).

Mr. Speaker, Mimi Chan is best known as the model and martial arts reference for Disney's ``Mulan,'' but her greatest impact lies in her lifelong dedication to empowering communities through education, culture, and service in Florida. A respected martial artist and advocate, she is a Master at the Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple in Orlando--the first kung fu temple in America, built by her father, Grandmaster Pui Chan, in 1980.

In 2023, Mimi spearheaded the passage of groundbreaking legislation mandating the inclusion of Asian American and Pacific Islander history in Florida K-12 schools. As the director of Make Us Visible Florida, she built coalitions, collaborated with legislators, and mobilized community voices to ensure a more inclusive and accurate curriculum-- helping shape a future where education reflects the richness of our shared history and strengthens our communities.

Mimi served on the Orange County Citizens Safety Task Force, contributing to strategies that address gun violence through cultural understanding, prevention, and youth engagement.

Through her leadership at Wah Lum, Mimi has preserved and celebrated Chinese culture across Florida. She produces some of the most dynamic Lunar New Year celebrations, featuring traditional lion dances, kung fu performances, and educational workshops. As an Asian American female role model, she has inspired generations to take pride in their heritage--ensuring that culture is not only honored, but also experienced, understood, and appreciated by people of all ages and backgrounds.

Mimi is an award-winning filmmaker whose documentary, ``Pui Chan: Kung Fu Pioneer'', has earned critical acclaim. She continues to amplify diverse voices through her podcast, ``The Sifu Mimi Chan Show''.

From martial arts to advocacy, education to community empowerment, Mimi Chan's legacy is one of action and impact. While most know her as the inspiration for a Disney heroine, her true power lies in her unwavering commitment to uplifting, educating, and inspiring her community.

Mr. Speaker, Don H. Nguyen is the founder of DHN Attorneys, a law firm based in Orlando, Florida. With nearly 20 years of experience, Don has built a reputation as a trusted legal advisor to community associations, real estate developers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners across Central Florida. His practice includes representing downtown high-rise condominiums

and the premier golf community in Central Florida.

As a proud advocate for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, Don has helped shape and support a generation of business leaders in Orlando. His clients include Michelin-starred chefs, medical professionals, wellness entrepreneurs, and arcade operators--many of whom credit Don not just as their lawyer, but as a mentor and connector.

Don's commitment to community extends far beyond his legal work. He is a former vice president of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, a founding member and former director of the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association, and a past secretary of the Asian Real Estate Association of America's Greater Orlando chapter. In 2024, he was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the AACC. Don also serves on the Leadership Council of SALT Outreach, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals experiencing homelessness, and is a board director for the Conductive Education Center of Orlando (CECO), a school for children with motor disabilities.

Through his legal work, leadership roles, and civic engagement, Don is widely recognized as a leader actively shaping Central Florida's future and lifting up the communities he serves.

Mr. Speaker, Takemasa lshikura is the president of the Japan Association of Orlando (JAO) and has played a vital role in preserving and promoting Japanese heritage in Central Florida for over two decades. He first came to the United States in 1983 as a performer at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center. What began as a three-month engagement led to the founding of Matsuriza, a professional taiko group that continues to perform weekly at the Japan Pavilion in Epcot, delighting millions of guests from around the world. Matsuriza has also traveled extensively across the United States to entertain audiences at cultural events and festivals.

In addition to his performance work, Takemasa has dedicated himself to community cultural exchange through the Orlando Taiko Dojo, a nonprofit organization he founded to teach traditional Japanese drumming. His students, ranging in age from 10 to over 80, regularly perform at marathons, festivals, and local events throughout the region.

Beyond drumming, Takemasa has contributed to cultural education as principal of a local Japanese language school and through his leadership of JAO. Since 2000, he has helped grow the Orlando Japan Festival from a small gathering at a restaurant into a major annual celebration in Kissimmee, now drawing over 10,000 attendees. Festival proceeds support Japanese language education and have contributed over $20,000 to disaster relief efforts nationwide, including California and Hawaii, as well as in Asian countries, including Japan and the Philippines.

In 2015, Takemasa received the Foreign Minister's Commendation from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one of only 94 overseas recipients that year. Additional honors include the Commendation Award of the Consul General, recognition by the Orange County Asian Committee, and acknowledgment from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer for strengthening the Sister-City relationship with Urayasu, Japan. His lifelong dedication continues to inspire cross-cultural understanding throughout Central Florida.

Mr. Speaker, Joshua Kyong won Jung is the president of the Orlando Korea Culture Center (OKCC) and the founding pastor of Sunlight Grace Church in Orlando, Florida. He currently serves as the chairman of the Asian American Heritage Council of Central Florida (AAHC-CF), a regional organization dedicated to celebrating and promoting Asian cultural heritage.

Originally from South Korea, Joshua immigrated to the United States at the age of 29 to pursue a Master of Divinity. In 2014, he planted Sunlight Grace Church and, just two years later, led the founding of the OKCC as a community outreach initiative aimed at sharing Korean culture. Despite initial challenges, the growing popularity of K-pop and Korean media helped OKCC gain traction, offering programs such as Korean language classes, cultural events, and food experiences.

Joshua's vision has always been to build bridges between cultures, fostering greater understanding and appreciation among the diverse communities of Central Florida. His leadership, both in ministry and in cultural outreach, continues to make a significant impact on the region, empowering the next generation and bringing communities together through faith, education, and celebration of heritage.

Mr. Speaker, Priya Persaud serves as the founder and director of the Devyani School of Cultural Arts. Her journey in dance commenced in 1992, during which she received training in Odissi dance at the Chitralekha Dance Academy and Bharatanatyam at the Sampradaya Dance Academy.

In 2010, Priya committed to educating others about Indian dance and culture, integrating lessons on various Indian festivals, Hidni, and the profound significance of the postures and gestures in Indian dance. Her foremost passion lies in transmitting the rich Indian cultural heritage through the art of dance, and she takes great pleasure in witnessing her students and the community engage with and learn about Indian traditions.

Over the past 15 years, the dancers from the Devyani School of Cultural Arts have showcased their talents across Orlando and Kissimmee, performing at venues such as Walt Disney World, Silver Spurs Arena, Kissimmee Lakefront Park, Boggy Creek Elementary School, and the Osceola Sheriff's Department.

Priya has also been involved with various organizations that advocate for diversity and cultural acceptance, serving as a Steering Committee member for FusionFest, currently holding a board position with AsiaTrend, and collaborating with numerous local organizations in Central Florida, including the Indian American Business Associations and Chamber, Indian American Chamber of Commerce, TEMA, and the Association of Asian Cultural Festival.

Cultural appreciation and education have consistently been a priority for Priya. She strives to bridge the divide between ignorance and acceptance regarding diversity. With 20 years of experience as a public sector employee, Priya takes pleasure in serving her community in various capacities. She aspires for her impact on the community and future generations to be beneficial, fostering an environment where diversity and cultural acceptance are standard practices.

Mr. Speaker, Reverend Chau Joseph Nguyen and his family came to the United States as refugees after the fall of Saigon, Vietnam, on April 30, 1975, and settled in Arlington, Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Divine Word College Seminary in Epworth, Iowa, and completed his Master of Divinity at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois.

On December 2, 1989, he was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Orlando. Reverend Nguyen was first assigned to the Vietnamese Catholic Community at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Orlando, Florida In 2003, he became and remains the founding pastor of St. Philip Phan Van Minh Church, a national parish for Vietnamese American Catholics in Orlando. Being its leader, he has been organizing and actively involved with many faith celebrations and cultural activities for the Vietnamese American and Asian communities in Central Florida. Most notable are the parish's annual Lunar New Year festivals, which have been held for the last 32 years. Initially hosted at the church, they were later relocated to the Central Florida Fairgrounds due to their widespread and enthusiastic attendance. This event attracts over 10,000 people annually to celebrate the Lunar New Year and showcase Vietnamese culture and customs. The other notable achievement is the growth of the parish's Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement chapter, whose national organization has been recognized by the USCCB in recent years.

In October 2019, Reverend Nguyen was elected the president of the Federation of Vietnamese Catholics in the United States, which consists of more than 1,000 priests, 700 religious men and women, 175 permanent deacons, and over 700,000 Vietnamese American Catholics. He was elected to a second term in 2024 with overwhelming support and ongoing active endeavors.