Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be the co-lead of H.R. 5009, the WILD Act. I want to start by thanking my partner, Representative Joyce, for his hard work on this bipartisan bill. The WILD Act would authorize and amend several wildlife conservation laws, making it easier to support long-term conservation in the United States and abroad.

The multinational species conservation funds, which are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, support five programs that help conserve iconic wildlife species, including elephants, rhinos, tigers, great apes, and turtles.

Grants awarded through these programs can be used to secure additional matching funds, increasing the impact of U.S. dollars. Awards made through these funds support synchronized aerial surveys, increasing habitat connectivity, reducing poaching and wildlife crime, community engagement activities, and breeding and reintroduction programs.

The WILD Act also would reauthorize the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, which supports habitat restoration efforts across the United States and territories.

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employs biologists who work with private landowners to help them conserve and improve wildlife habitat.

Program staff provide free technical and financial assistance to plan, design, supervise, and monitor customized habitat restoration projects ranging in size from a few acres to hundreds of thousands of acres.

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is an important component of our Nation's collaborative conservation efforts for endangered and threatened species.

Mr. Speaker, the WILD Act is a bipartisan win for conservation. I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to strongly support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1240, the Winnebago Land Transfer Act of 2023, introduced by my colleague from Iowa, Representative Feenstra.

This bill would return two tracts of land acquired through eminent domain by the Army Corps of Engineers back into the trust for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

In 1865, the Winnebago Tribe and the United States signed a treaty promising the Tribe their reservation in Nebraska along the Missouri River for the cession of their Dakota lands.

The United States violated this treaty in the 1970s when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers acquired land from the reservation for flood control by invoking eminent domain without congressional approval or approval of the Secretary of the Interior.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has since held that the Army Corps of Engineers lacked the authority to exercise eminent domain over trust lands. Despite the court's decision, the land has never been returned to the Tribe and remains in the possession of the Army Corps of Engineers.

H.R. 1240 seeks to rectify this wrong by returning and reintegrating the land into the Winnebago Tribe's reservation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to right this wrong and vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aubrey Patino, the Executive Director of Avalon Housing in Ann Arbor, MI. After eighteen years with Avalon, including seven as ED, she is moving on. Her work in service to the homeless population of Washtenaw County is worthy of commendation.

Aubrey graduated from Western Michigan University in 2004 before achieving her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan in 2005. During this time, she was an assistant at the Michigan Neighborhood Partnership in Detroit as well as an intern with Avalon. Before coming onto Avalon's team full time, she was the Intensive Case Manager at the Downtown Emergency Service Center in Seattle, WA, where she dealt with Homeless Outreach and Transition.

Aubrey joined the Avalon team in 2007 where she started as a Senior Property Manager. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the Housing Support Services Leader in 2010 and the Associate Director of Avalon Housing in 2012. In 2014, as one of five homeless services providers across the country, she was invited by the National Alliance to End Homelessness to complete the Transatlantic Practice Exchange, where she went to the United Kingdom and studied best practices in the field of housing and homelessness. Her experience in the UK still guides her work in Washtenaw County to this day.

In 2017, Aubrey was selected as the new Executive Director of Avalon Housing. Her tenure at the helm has been a world of change and has been a boon to the homeless in her community. Aubrey's work on supportive housing funding has resulted in growing and innovative efforts. As a key member of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance, Aubrey helped develop the City of Ann Arbor's affordable housing millage ballot initiative, which citizens overwhelmingly supported. This millage provides a significant, ongoing source of financing for affordable housing development. Aubrey has also consistently advocated for harm reduction across the agency and the community, using a compassionate, evidence-based model for engaging people who struggle with substance use disorders. She continues to advocate for unarmed crisis responses at Avalon properties and throughout the community. Aubrey has also built productive relationships

with local law enforcement. Aubrey's efforts have in turn led to Avalon providing full-time staff at the Washtenaw County jail to support returning citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognition of Aubrey Patino's hard work and dedication to the homeless community. Though we will miss her presence at Avalon, she has set them on a great path of success. We wish her the best in her future endeavors, and thank her for her service. I thank Aubrey.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and life-saving actions of Kadri Cakrani, an Albanian national who served his country in resistance to the Nazis during the Second World War. His service to the Allied war effort and his efforts at democratization afterwards are worthy of commendation.

At the outbreak of WWII, General Cakrani served as the Commandant- General of the Berat region of Albania. During the German occupation of his nation, General Kadri protected the people of Berat, including over 600 Jewish refugees, from becoming victims of the Holocaust. His heroic acts include hiding and protecting sacred 6th century biblical texts from Nazi looting and, under the threat of death, repeatedly lying about the whereabouts of Jews in the area, many of whom sheltered within his own house. After a United States Army plane crash landed, General Cakrani hid the three surviving Army nurses for over five months before successfully and secretly returning them to the Allies.

When the communist dictator Enver Hoxha came to power in 1944, General Cakrani was now labeled an enemy of the state. With the assistance of British Intelligence, he escaped, spending time in Italy and Syria before President Truman granted him political asylum in the United States in 1951. He arrived on our shores with the clothes on his back and $7 in his pocket, dedicating the rest of his life to bring democracy back to Albania. Until his death in 1972 he worked closely with U.S. Intelligence, but was unable to share his story publicly due to the danger it would undoubtedly put his family in who remained in Albania.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating and honoring the life and service of Commandant-General Kadri Cakrani. Despite the constant threats to his life, he took on the responsibility of protecting Albanians, Americans, and anybody else who were fleeing the Nazi regime. Though not an American, he spent his entire life fighting for the same things we hold dear: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I thank him for his service, and thank his surviving family, including his grandson, Lee, who lives in my district, for sharing his amazing story with the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Pastor Samuel Lee Peppers and to grieve his passing. A dedicated public servant, his devotion to his community, state, and nation is worthy of remembrance and commendation.

Pastor Samuel was born on October 16, 1949 in Itta Bena, Mississippi as the 2nd of 11 children in the Peppers family. He graduated from Valley State University before furthering his education at the University of Kentucky. After graduating from UK, he was recruited to the University of Michigan to continue his studies, where he eventually was employed in the Printing Department for over 30 years.

Pastor Samuel came to faith at an early age, and when he moved up to the University of Michigan, he found a new home in the Greater Fountain Church of God in Christ in Ann Arbor.

He served there for over 50 years, having been their Pastor since 1995. His motto was ``You have to be `FAT': Faithful, Available, and Teachable to Serve the Lord!'' Known by many in his community as a ``living embodiment of the Word of God'', he was a man of great integrity and wisdom whose influence will be felt long after his passing.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating and honoring the life and service of Pastor Samuel Lee Peppers. A spiritual leader to many, his presence will be greatly missed but his memory will live on in his three brothers, six sisters, and a host of nieces and nephews. An avid Michigan sports fan and a long-time season ticket holder, he was certainly smiling down on us as our Wolverines finally won the National Championship in Houston this past Monday. Go Blue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Superintendent Kenneth H. Walls III and to grieve his passing. A dedicated public servant, his devotion to his community, state, and Nation is worthy of remembrance and commendation.

Superintendent Walls was born in 1977 in Ypsilanti and graduated from Ypsilanti High School. He showed his spirit at an early age, delivering his first service at the age of three at the former Wells Temple Church of God in Ann Arbor, where his grandfather, Esque Wells, Sr., served as Pastor. He was licensed as a Minister at the age of seven, making history in Michigan as the youngest licensed Minister in the Prelate of Michigan Southwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.

At the age of 21, Superintendent Walls was ordained as an Elder in the Church of God in Christ, later becoming an Assistant Pastor at the Greater Shiloh Church of God in Christ. While there, Superintendent Walls filled many roles for the church, including District Youth President, National Adjutant in the Church of God in Christ, and Chief Adjutant for the Great Lakes Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. He was finally blessed with a Pastorship in 2019 when he founded Dunamis Institutional Church of God in Christ in Ypsilanti.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating and honoring the life and service of Kenneth H. Walls III. A leader in his community and a friend to many, his presence will be greatly missed but not forgotten. His memory lives on in his mother, Shirley, and his family. We offer them prayers of solace in this difficult time, and thank them for sharing their son, brother, and uncle with us. He made our corner of Michigan a better and more welcoming place for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 4468, the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act. I love my colleagues on the other side, but it is just disappointing that, yet again, another Republican messaging bill is coming to the floor intentionally to mislead and harm the American people.

Even the United Auto Workers, who my colleagues say they are helping, say that this bill seeks to inject American union-made vehicles as a wedge issue in the culture war.

I remind my colleagues, some of whom are young while some of us are seasoned, that it was years ago when gas prices went up and consumers wanted smaller cars. Japanese carmakers were prepared, and our domestic auto industry was flatfooted. We weren't ready to build small cars, and we took a beating.

We cannot make that mistake again. We need to be ready to innovate, build these electric vehicles now, and do so in a competitive way.

This bill is a blatant attack on the EPA and on our ability to, and how we will and must, compete in a global marketplace. It prevents the EPA from finalizing recently proposed new standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles, which will save consumers up to $12,000 over the lifetime of their vehicles. It will also reduce fine particle pollution that not only harms our environment but leads to increased asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer, and premature death.

To be really clear, EPA is not imposing an electric vehicle mandate. EPA's standards actually would expand vehicle choice by accelerating innovation in hybrid and fully electric vehicles and promote American manufacturing to keep us from relying on our adversaries. In total, EPA estimates that the net benefits of these standards would exceed $1 trillion.

The bill we are debating will have widespread harmful effects on the future of our auto industry. What scares me the most is this is going to enable China even more to potentially lead the global EV transition.

I ask my colleagues, are we going to help China do anything? I am not. I will not cede American leadership to anyone. We cannot let future mobility be dictated to us by foreign competitors when we are the ones who put the world on wheels.

Mr. Speaker, we must continue to invest in our EV transition so we don't lose to China.

Mr. Speaker, I have talked to those dealers. The dealers aren't opposed to EV vehicles. There is a rulemaking, and the rulemaking needs to take their input into consideration.

I am a car girl. I was born one, raised one, worked in it, and my district depends on it.

Let's get serious. We need to get to work, and blocking our domestic auto

industry from innovating is no way to lead.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kerreen Conley as she ends her twelve-year tenure as Mayor of the City of Belleville, Michigan after serving her local Wayne County community for over three decades. Her tremendous dedication to public service while also maintaining a full-time career is impressive and worthy of commendation.

Kerreen graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management before pursuing Master's degrees in Business Administration (MBA) and in Human Resources and Organizational Development from Eastern Michigan University. She began her decades of public service in 1990, working as Controller for the City of Ypsilanti before becoming Belleville City Manager in 1995 and Novi's Director of Developmental Services in 1998. Kerreen was successfully elected to the Belleville City Council in 2000, and was elected as the City's Mayor in late 2011. After serving three consecutive terms, she decided not to seek re-election and plans to dedicate her full attention to Human Resources Consulting when her political tenure draws to a close.

Kerreen can look back on an accomplished mayoral record that truly benefitted her community. Chief among her achievements is the preservation of essential city services, such as the Belleville District Library. The library, which is over a century old and sits in the heart of downtown Belleville, recently received some much-needed renovations that will ensure it can continue to serve tri-community residents for years to come. As mayor, Kerreen also served on the bipartisan Board of Directors of the Conference of Western Wayne alongside the chief elected officials of seventeen other member communities. She has chaired the Conference since January 2020, coordinating emergency services and working to alleviate countless other needs for an area encompassing 340 square miles and over 700,000 residents.

Perhaps most impressively, Kerreen was a dedicated mayor while simultaneously juggling various other demanding roles. She has been the Chief Executive Officer of RD Advisors, LLC for over a decade and served as Redford Township's Human Resources Director from 2014 through 2016 before assuming a similar role in Canton Township. Two years ago, she took on her current title of Senior Manager Human Resources Consultant at Rehmann. In addition to her time in local government and HR work, Kerreen has made many other significant contributions to our local community. She has dedicated herself to various organizations over the years, notably serving as an advisory board member at the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan for seven years and being an avid fundraiser for various local non-profits, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Kerreen's devotion to serving the residents of Wayne County and beyond is nothing short of inspirational, and I am proud to have such a selfless individual leading our local community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating Kerreen Conley for her lifetime of dedication to serving Wayne County's local communities as she wraps up her tenure at the helm of the City of Belleville. For the last three decades, Kerreen has worked tirelessly to benefit those around her and has made significant contributions to preserving and providing invaluable local services. We thank her for her tremendous efforts, and wish her all the best as she embarks upon her next endeavor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of William ``Bill'' A. McFarlane and to grieve his passing. A dedicated public servant, his devotion to his community, state, and nation is worthy of remembrance and commendation.

Bill graduated from Willow Run High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1965, later being inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2004. His secondary education was interrupted by the conflict in Vietnam, which at that time was growing in its size and intensity. William proudly served his country in the Army under Colonel George S. Patton IV in 1968 and 1969, during which he was awarded two Bronze Stars for ``heroic achievement in a combat zone'' as well as two Purple Hearts.

After his service in the Army, Bill graduated from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. A true leader in his community, he was appointed as Head Detective for the Washtenaw County Sherriff's Office before serving as the Township Supervisor for Superior Township for 20 years. In his position as Township Supervisor, Bill was crucial in the negotiations that resulted in Hyundai establishing their American HQ in Superior Township in 2003. During his tenure, Superior Township saw a marked increase in population as well as their median income. Not yet satisfied, he would also serve six years on the Washtenaw County Road Commission. Bill was integral in facilitating transportation improvements in Superior Township and throughout Washtenaw County, providing increased mobility and access to all of our residents.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating and honoring the life and service of Bill McFarlane. A leader in his community and a friend to many, his presence will be greatly missed but not forgotten. His memory lives on in his wife, Sharon, two children, and four grandchildren. We offer them prayers of solace in this difficult time, and thank them for sharing their husband, father, and grandfather with us. He made our corner of Michigan a better and more welcoming place for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alison Foreman, President and CEO of the Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels (YMOW) program, as she closes out 10 years in Ypsilanti, MI and prepares to take her expertise to Mobile Wheels of Toledo. Her lifelong dedication to serving those in need is worthy of commendation.

Alison began non-profit work shortly after graduating from Eastern Michigan University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Juvenile Justice coupled with a Masters's in Public Administration. She joined YMOW in 2013 as the program's first full-time Executive Director, getting involved at a time when the organization was struggling to make ends meet. As one of her initial tasks, Alison was challenged to raise $25,000 during her first year. She delivered above and beyond what was asked of her, and the program flourished as a result. In recognition for her steadfast efforts, Alison was named President and CEO in 2021. As she celebrates her 10th anniversary with YMOW, the group now operates on a $1.8 million annual budget and has expanded to offer a full suite of services that benefit over 400 local seniors and homebound adults each year. Her team credits her with reviving an organization struggling to make ends meet, adding that she has worked tirelessly to realize YMOW's vision of ``a community where every senior feels nourished, valued, and supported.'' In caring for some of Ypsilanti's most vulnerable citizens, Alison has done a tremendous job at strengthening and nourishing her community.

In addition to her laudable efforts at YMOW, Alison has made many other significant contributions to our Ypsilanti home. Over the years, she has dedicated herself to various local non-profits as both a volunteer and an employee, most notably the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. Alison has been an active member in a plethora of local organizations, serving on the boards of the Ypsilanti Area Community Fund, the Washtenaw Leaders Advisory, SOS Community Services, and her alma mater's MPA Advisory Group, among others. She is also a founding member of the Say Yes to Seniors Initiative, part of the Ypsilanti Kiwanis Club, and a Washtenaw County grant reviewer. Alison's devotion to alleviating Ypsilanti's great diversity of needs is inspirational, and I am proud to have such a selfless individual leading our local community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating Alison Foreman for her decade of dedication to serving the Ypsilanti area as she wraps up her tenure at the helm of the Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels program. Alison has worked tirelessly to benefit her local community and has made significant contributions to improving the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors. We thank her for her tremendous work and wish her all the best as she embarks upon her next endeavor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Michael Mitroka, a longtime resident of Southgate, MI and veteran of the Second World War, on the occasion of his 100th birthday. His service to our country is worthy of commendation.

Born on November 20, 1923, Michael enlisted in the Army as a Private in May of 1943. Over the next two and a half years of service he would traverse the Pacific, seeing combat in places like New Guinea and the Philippines. The Japanese conquest of the Philippines just a couple of years earlier was one of the worst military defeats in U.S. military history, and the retaking of the islands, though sure to be a long and hard affair, was a point of pride for General MacArthur and the Army. By the time Michael left the Army as a Sergeant in December of 1945, he had earned the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, a good conduct medal, a purple heart, and two bronze stars, awarded for ``heroic or meritorious service in a combat zone.''

Michael carried on his service after the war by working in his local school district. He retired in 1985 as the Supervisor of Maintenance, Custodial, and Transportation after 35 years with the Southgate School District. Michael married his wife, Rosemary, just a few weeks before his discharge from the Army in 1945. Though Rosemary passed away in 1994, her legacy carries on in their two sons, Paul and Michael Jr., three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Still an active member of his current and former community, Michael is a member of St. Aloysius-Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Royaltown, IL, the American Legion Post 975 in Dowell, IL, and the Knights of Columbus Council Post 3965 in Southgate, MI.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 100th birthday of Michael Mitroka. A veteran who served our country with honor and bravery during our darkest hours eighty years ago, he spent the last eight decades continuing that service within his local community and uplifting those around him. As we celebrate the milestone of a centennial, Michael should know that he is appreciated and valued by his family, friends, community, and nation. We thank him for his service, and wish him a 101st year filled with laughter, love, and many blessings. I thank Michael.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Ypsilanti, Michigan on the 180th anniversary of their founding. The services they have provided to the Ypsilanti community and all those seeking a better life are worthy of commendation.

The Brown Chapel AME Church was founded in 1843 with a goal of worshipping God without any form of discrimination. They wanted to be a home for those searching for peace, solitude, and freedom at a time when oppression and religious abuse was extremely prominent in society. This church played a key role in the Underground Railroad, as it was one of the last stops for escaped slaves on their way to freedom in Canada.

The Brown Chapel is the second oldest active AME Church in the state of Michigan. The congregation has continued to serve their surrounding community while maintaining the ideology of a global church with a local touch. The Brown Chapel hosts a Brotherhood Banquet that has focused on brotherhood and racial unity for the past 70 years. The church also has a 30-year-old weekly Good Samaritan Feeding Program that works to provide fresh food, produce, and canned goods for anyone in need in the community. They partner up with educational institutions and nonprofits like Food Gatherers, Growing Hope, Crop Walk, the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and more, to help provide care and community for those in need. The chapel also has worked with the Michigan Conference of the AME Church to further impact not only the city of Ypsilanti, but those throughout our state.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 180th anniversary of the Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Ypsilanti, Michigan. At a time of such discord throughout the country and around the world, the unifying work of Brown Chapel AME Church is more important than ever. We are proud to have such leaders as our neighbors and are excited to see all the good work they can accomplish over the next 180 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sue Schooner, the founder and Executive Director of Girls Group in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her work to mentor and support the young women of Washtenaw County over the last 20 years is worthy of commendation.

Sue was born in Boston, but her family moved almost every year for her father's Army career. She worked full-time as a high schooler, graduated at the age of sixteen, and worked three jobs to pay for her tuition at Ithaca College. After graduation, she attended the Harvard Business School where she attained her MBA.

Sue is a retired automotive executive and developed mentoring programming at both the Chrysler Corporation and Textron Automotive. What began as a volunteer stint working with girls at Peace Neighborhood Center and the Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan (now the Jean Ledwith King Women's Center) became a passion. In 2003 Sue founded Girls Group to support young women who face obstacles to completing high school. Its goal is to first get them through high school--and then to help them become first-generation college graduates.

What started as one woman hoping to mentor a few young ladies is now a staff of over 20 helped by interns from nearby universities, numerous volunteers, and 16 board members who do a lot of hands-on work. Today, Girls Group facilitates weekly programs within the public schools, an intensive college prep program that includes college tours, SAT and ACT prep courses, and scholarship opportunities, as well as a returning mentor program created for women who have graduated high school and are now in a position to mentor the next generation. Girls Group now works with over 750 young women, and that number is growing steadily. ``The reality is these girls are super smart, but if you can't manage your anger and you can't self-soothe it doesn't matter how smart you are,'' Schooner says. ``You still have to be able to focus in class, not get in fights with other kids, and do your homework.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the 20 years of service that Sue Schooner and the Girls Group have provided to the young women of Washtenaw County. Through her efforts and the efforts of all those involved in Girls Group, an entire generation of young women have been given the tools to succeed. We are excited to see what advances can be made in the next 20 years. I thank Sue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chris Madzik, Captain of the Northville Fire Department in Northville, MI on the occasion of his retirement. His dedication and commitment to the City of Northville over the last 28 years is worthy of commendation.

Chris joined the Northville Fire Department in 1995 because they were offering free training for a three-year commitment as an on-call firefighter. He fell in love with public service and became a full-time firefighter in 1998. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2002, followed quickly by another promotion to Lieutenant in 2003. He has been a Captain with the Northville FD since 2017.

Armed with a Masters of Human Resources and Labor Relations, Chris has spent his time

with the Northville FD revamping policies and developing HR training. Chris, a charter member of Local 3961, served as the first union Vice- President and worked to implement 24-hour staffing for the fire department. When the Department transitioned to Advanced Life Support, Chris attended and graduated from Eastern Michigan's School of Fire Staff and Command in addition to earning his Paramedic's license. He served as a representative on the Westen Wayne Hazardous Materials Response Team for over 10 years, and he was selected by his peers as the Firefighter of the Year in 2017.

Almost 12 years ago, Chris rediscovered his love of music. Currently, he is a tenor in the Livingston County Choir and participates in concerts hosted by Expressions Music Academy in Novi. He has had the unique opportunity of representing the Department while singing the National Anthem at First Responder nights for the Detroit Tigers, Red Wings, and Pistons. He plans to continue his work in public service for Howell Public Schools as a paraprofessional, where he will assist impaired children.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing Captain Chris Madzik for the 28 years of service he has dedicated to the City of Northville. Chris's dedication and respect for the job serves as a constant reminder that local communities are dependent on the commitment of such public servants to keep its residents safe. We need more public servants like Chris, and though he may be retiring from fighting fires, I am hopeful that we will continue to hear that beautiful voice ringing out for years to come. I thank Chris and we wish him the best of luck with his future endeavors.

Mr Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Dave Cresico of the Ypsilanti Township Fire Department in Ypsilanti, MI

on the occasion of his retirement. His tremendous dedication to protecting our community is worthy of commendation.

Born and raised in Ypsilanti Township, Captain Cresico joined the Fire Department in 1993. He consistently moved up the ranks of the department, advancing to Lieutenant in 2010 merely three months before becoming Fire Captain later that year. Members of Captain Cresico's crew salute his legacy of selflessness, describing him as someone who always puts the lives of others ahead of his own. Over the course of his extensive career, Captain Cresico served as a powerful force for good in our Ypsilanti Township community. He has saved countless lives, risking his own safety to rescue citizens from burning homes and acting quickly to administer life-saving medical care under immense pressure. Captain Cresico exemplifies the Ypsilanti Township Fire Department's dedication to providing excellence in all aspects of fire safety, and his steadfast commitment to protecting the township and its residents is laudable. Effective and devoted public servants like Captain Cresico are the backbone of this nation, and I am proud to have had such an admirable individual leading our Ypsilanti Township community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Captain Dave Cresico for over 30 years of exemplary service. He has selflessly worked for the benefit of Ypsilanti Township in his role as a Captain of the Fire Department, and his heroic legacy will continue to inspire our community for decades to come. I sincerely thank Captain Cresico for his three decades of dedication, and join with his family, friends, and colleagues in extending my best wishes to him in retirement.