Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to Claudius Britton II and his son, Claudius Britton III, both of whom demonstrated exceptional bravery and patriotism in their service to our nation during its founding years. Claudius II served during the American Revolutionary War, and Claudius III during the War of 1812.

This Memorial Day Weekend, the Huron Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American

Revolution and the Michigan Society of the War of 1812 will commemorate their contributions with a plaque dedication ceremony at Pinckney Cemetery, honoring them as the only Revolutionary War and War of 1812 veterans buried there.

Claudius Britton II was born in 1761 in Connecticut and relocated to Weybridge, Vermont, with his family in 1773. In 1777, at just 16 years old, he enlisted as a scout for the Vermont Green Mountain Continental Rangers during the Revolutionary War. His knowledge of the Lake Champlain area made him an invaluable asset, though his service placed him in constant danger. In 1778, both Claudius II and his father were captured by the British and spent nearly five years as prisoners in Quebec, making multiple escape attempts before eventually being released as part of a prisoner exchange in 1783. Despite these hardships, he returned to Vermont, married, and had children, including his son, Claudius Britton III, in 1798.

Though the specifics of the younger Claudius Britton's service are lost in time, we do know that he followed admirably in his father's footsteps by volunteering to serve in the Vermont militia during the War of 1812, at the age of 16.

Claudius III moved to Michigan with his father and his brother, Roswell, in 1824. He purchased land in what is now Pittsfield Township and built a homestead with his father. After marrying his wife, Sarah, in 1832, Claudius III continued to cultivate his land and started a family.

In 1835, Claudius Britton II petitioned to obtain a Revolutionary War pension. Unfortunately, his petition was denied on the grounds that he did not serve a full six months because most of his time was as a prisoner of war, which sadly did not count as service back then.

In 1836, Claudius III, his wife, and his father relocated to a large farm in Putnam Township, Livingston County, in what is now Pinckney. Father and son lived in Pinckney for the rest of their lives, passing away one year apart, Claudius II in 1850 and Claudius III 1851.

The Britton family's legacy of service, from Claudius II's daring scouting missions during the Revolutionary War to Claudius III's defense of our young nation during the War of 1812, exemplifies the courage and dedication of early American patriots. As we reflect on their sacrifices in the founding and defense of our country, let us commit to preserving the memory of all who have fought for our freedoms and to honoring their enduring impact on our country.

With profound gratitude, I ask that we honor the exemplary service of Claudius Britton II and his son, Claudius Britton III in the United States House of Representatives

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to the National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition and its visionary founder and president, Julia Godby-Murray, RN.

Since its inception in 2011, the Coalition has emerged as a pillar of compassion, dedicated to honoring the memory of nurses who have passed away and providing solace to grieving families in Michigan and across the country.

The organization takes its inspiration from the military honor guards that pay respects at funerals for military members and veterans, police officers or firefighters. In traditional white nursing uniforms with blue and red capes, they attend funerals of their nursing colleagues, pay homage and offer comfort to families in their time of deepest sorrow.

Julia, a native of East Lansing, Michigan, who now lives in nearby Dimondale, was inspired by groups in Kansas and the Detroit area that attended the funerals of nurses, and saw the need to bring the idea to the entire country. Under her leadership, the Coalition has flourished, growing to over 250 groups nationwide. With each ceremony, they reaffirm a profession defined by kindness and empathy, and acknowledge those who have devoted their lives to caring for others.

These ceremonies also serve as a restorative experience for the members of Nurses Honor Guard themselves. In the face of the immense challenges and demands of their profession, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic when nurses risked then lives to continue caring for their patients, these services remind nurses and their communities of their courage and determination.

As we reflect on the profound impact of the National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition, let us commit to honoring the memory of fallen nurses, supporting grieving families, and protecting the pride and dignity of the nursing

profession. With abiding gratitude, it is my honor to recognize Ms. Godby-Murray's leadership and the exemplary service of the Coalition and its members here in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to the extraordinary contributions of Dr. Teresa Woodruff--a pioneering scientist and esteemed academic leader. Throughout her career, Dr. Woodruff has earned recognition for groundbreaking research in the fields of ovarian biology and reproductive science. She has also provided compassionate leadership during a tumultuous period at Michigan State University when the campus needed her most.

From her days as a graduate student at Northwestern University to her tenure as Provost and interim President at Michigan State University, Dr. Woodruff has dedicated herself to bettering the lives of others through her medical research and leadership.

Her trailblazing work in the field of oncofertility, a term she coined in 2006 merging the fields of oncology and fertility, has revolutionized cancer care. She has led efforts to improve reproductive care and to address the complex reproductive health needs and quality- of-life issues of cancer survivors whose fertility may be threatened by their disease or its treatment.

Dr. Woodruff has been a passionate advocate for women in STEM, dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and gender equity. Among her many initiatives to address the attrition of women from scientific careers and promote sex inclusion in biomedical research, she created the Women's Health Science Program for High School Girls & Beyond to provide science education programs to high school female students in Chicago Public Schools.

Her commitment to mentorship and equity and her many contributions to science have earned her numerous awards and honors. She is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Medicine, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and other prestigious organizations. In 2011, Dr. Woodruff was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mentoring by President Barack Obama. More recently in 2021, she was the recipient of the Endocrine Society's Laureate Award for her achievements in endocrinology.

In August 2020, Dr. Woodruff joined Michigan State University as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, and was named interim President of the university in November 2022. During her time leading this global research institution, she demonstrated her steadfast commitment to the students and faculty under her care. She showed exceptional leadership and resilience in the face of adversity, guiding the university through challenging times including a tragic mass shooting incident on campus that took the lives of three students and injured five others on February 13, 2023.

In the wake of the shooting that shook the community, Dr. Woodruff stressed the importance of supporting and caring for the families and students affected by the shooting. She provided a steadying presence and a listening ear to students. She partnered with students, faculty, staff, and community members in recognizing the anniversary of the incident and in the planning of a permanent memorial that will serve as a space for reflection, honoring, and remembering.

As Dr. Woodruff transitions to her role as MSU Foundation Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering to resume her research, I have no doubt that she will continue to support and empower students in the Spartan community and beyond. It is with profound gratitude that I honor Dr. Woodruff's incredible leadership and achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to do what I hope is part of the responsibility of a Member of Congress, which is to flag and alert for future threats that are just around the corner. For me, that threat is the potential for thousands of Chinese electric vehicles and connected vehicles coming into the U.S. marketplace.

I am a former CIA officer and a Pentagon official, and I want to flag that the prospect of thousands of Chinese-made connected vehicles coming into the country would give them a huge amount of data, high- fidelity data on things like U.S. military bases, key infrastructure facilities, like bridges and electric grid nodes, secretive locations, individual leaders even, all while China refuses to give reciprocity on that same exact data for American companies operating in China. They know exactly how sensitive the data is that can be collected off of electric and connected vehicles.

Here is the story if you think this is fantasy: In 2021, for the first time, a Chinese-connected vehicle was sold in the European Union; not that long ago, post-COVID. Already, they have nearly 25 percent of the market share in the European Union. These vehicles are much nicer than they used to be. They are underselling every single vehicle on the market there because they are subsidized by the Chinese Government.

I had the opportunity to raise this issue as a national security threat with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Army in the past couple of weeks. I wanted to ask them specifically if they think, in their national security capacity, that mapping, radar, cameras, light detection, and Bluetooth-connected software would be a threat on our facilities here and having those kinds of volumes of data.

The Secretary of Defense could not have made it more clear that this would give a potential adversary extremely detailed information for targeting, for counteracting some of our infrastructure, for going after even individual leaders.

Now, we are an open-market society. What is happening right now is these Chinese companies are getting very interested in opening facilities in Mexico and using the USMCA, or what people commonly refer to as NAFTA, to just easily come over our border. We don't have a process in place right now to vet with a national security lens these imports that are coming in, and I have a real problem with that.

I think we need to get better at understanding that the future of threats is not necessarily just tanks and fixed-wing airplanes and all those traditional things. It is data and who controls it. For me, this is an issue that I want to alert not just because I am a Michigander, and, of course, we make American vehicles in Michigan, but as a national security professional.

Mr. Speaker, with a heavy heart I pay tribute to the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Alfreda Schmidt--a beloved Lansing icon, community advocate, and dedicated public servant who touched the lives of countless people throughout her 97 years on this earth. Alfreda was loved and respected for her commitment to service, compassion for others, and tireless advocacy. She was known affectionately as ``The Lady with the Hat,'' for her collection of over 100 hats, and was rarely seen without one. Just as she believed that each hat had a purpose, she believed her purpose was to help others.

Born in 1926 in Dansville, Michigan, she grew up on her family farm and would go on to attend the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Central Michigan University. In 1951, she married her late husband, Frank Schmidt, at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing, and together they raised four children, all instilled with Alfreda's beliefs that you never do anything alone, and that helping others is always the right thing to do.

These beliefs guided Alfreda through a long life of community and public service. She was elected to the Ingham County Board of Commissioners, serving from 1979 to 1981 and 1998 to 2000. She also represented Lansing's 2nd Ward on the Lansing City Council from 1981 to 1993. Alfreda was one of the first women to join the South Lansing Kiwanis Club in 1989 and was named 2003 Kiwanian of the Year in recognition of her leadership and commitment to her community.

Throughout her decades of serving the public and taking on community projects, she stressed the importance of listening as the key to understanding people's problems. Frank would drive Alfreda all over Lansing to meet with people who had called Alfreda in the hopes she could help solve their problem.

Alfreda's dedication to Lansing knew no bounds. Among an endless list of city projects and improvements, she was the driving force behind raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and rallying 2,000 volunteers to build the Hawk Island Park playground in just one week. She led fundraising efforts to reopen the swimming pool at the Alfreda Schmidt Community Center, a community center renamed in her honor in 2012.

Alfreda's passion for supporting veterans and honoring their sacrifices exemplified her deep sense of gratitude and respect for those who served our country. She advocated for Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization that distributes wreaths for placement on veterans' graves in military cemetaries.

She helped initiate Veterans Appreciation Day at the Ingham County Fair. Most recently, she served on the Mayor's Veterans Commission and just last month she raised funds for

a new sign honoring veterans at the Evergreen Cemetery in Lansing.

Alfreda Schmidt passed away on April 14, 2024, just a few months shy of what would have been her 98th birthday. I send my deepest condolences to her dear family, friends, and to all who knew and loved her. As we mourn the loss of a true Lansing legend, let us also celebrate Alfreda Schmidt's extraordinary life. May her memory be a blessing for generations to come. With profound gratitude for her contributions to her community, I ask that we honor her legacy of service, compassion, and unity here in the People's House.

Mr. Speaker, today I celebrate a remarkable milestone-- the 100th anniversary of the Howell Rotary Club--a century of selfless dedication to serving others. Since its founding in 1924, the Howell Rotary Club has been a pillar of the community in Howell, the surrounding communities in Livingston County and across the state of Michigan.

Throughout its history, the Howell Rotary Club has truly embodied the Rotary's motto of ``Service Above Self,'' with its members playing a pivotal role in shaping the moral fabric of its community, fostering goodwill, peace, and understanding.

This vision is clear in the many Rotary Clubs that Howell Rotary has helped start throughout Livingston County, from Brighton Rotary in 1936 to M-36 Rotary in 2020.

Howell Rotary's legacy of community involvement is extensive. In 1946, the Club provided the funding for the Howell High School football field, making it the first lighted football field in the state of Michigan.

The Club's commitment to supporting youth through education and forming international friendships is exemplified by the Club's foreign exchange student program. In 1951, Howell Rotary hosted the first foreign exchange student in Livingston County. Since then, Howell Rotary has sponsored these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for both inbound and outbound students to learn about different cultures and build international understanding.

Since 1978, Howell Rotary Club has awarded scholarships to Howell High School graduates who demonstrate their passion for learning and community service to continue their educational journeys. In 2001, Rotarians established the Howell High School Interact Club, which helps students develop leadership skills and connect with their peers and community through acts of service.

Howell Rotary Club has demonstrated its dedication to improving the lives of others through charitable endeavors like the OLHSA Walk for Warmth, completing Habitat for Humanity home building projects, and raising over $350,000 over a 13-year period for Livingston County United Way.

For 100 years, the Howell Rotary Club has lifted up its community through its enduring commitment to service, integrity, and leadership. From its original 17 founding members to its hundreds since, it is my honor to celebrate Howell Rotary Club's 100th anniversary and recognize its members' contributions.

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to a trailblazing member of the Michigan State University community: Dr. Gloria Smith. Her lifelong dedication to education, advocacy, and service has left an indelible mark on the university and beyond.

After earning her doctorate from the University of Massachusetts in 1971, Dr. Smith's journey brought her to Michigan State University where she joined the faculty of the Department of Education. Throughout her tenure at MSU, Dr. Smith distinguished herself as a trailblazer and champion of equity, especially for women of color.

Her footprint at MSU is immeasurable. In 1972, she played a pivotal role as a member of the steering committee for the Black Women Employees Association of MSU, where she passionately advocated for the hiring of more Black women professors. Her achievements, including becoming the first Black woman to attain full professorship at MSU and being recognized on the university's Distinguished Wall of Professors, serve as a testament to her contributions and enduring influence.

She lent her leadership and expertise as she served as the Director of African American and African Studies, as a member on the MSU Athletic Board, and on the university's presidential search committee. In 2007, Dr. Smith retired from MSU as professor emeritus in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education.

Dr. Smith's incredible legacy extends beyond the classroom. She was the first Black President of the Michigan Counseling Psychology and Supervision Professional Organization. She has also been a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority, since 1958. She served as the organization's 18th Great Lakes Regional Director and has truly embodied her sisterhood's mission to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards and to be of service to all mankind.

Dr. Smith continues to show her commitment to education and serving others as a member of her local chapter of the Links, Incorporated, an organization dedicated to promoting quality education, civic responsibility, and enhancing the quality of life of their communities. She is also a cherished member of her church, The Friendship Baptist Church, where she lives their cote value of serving without restraint.

With profound gratitude for her extraordinary contributions to Michigan State University and her lifelong mission to uplift her community, it is my honor to recognize her service here, in the People's House.

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to an incredible advocate--Tony Spaniola--whose unwavering commitment and tireless work have made an indelible mark on his community, the state of Michigan, and beyond.

In 2016, Tony's world shifted when he learned that his home, and many others near Lake Huron in Oscoda, Michigan, had been exposed to contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, a class of chemicals used by industry and, in Oscoda's case, our military. At the time, the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda had been identified as the first site contaminated with PFAS in Michigan, and the first U.S. military PFAS site in the country.

This revelation ignited a fire within Tony--one fueled by a determination to confront the threat of these ``forever chemicals.'' Studies have shown PFAS exposure may lead to an increased risk of cancer, decreased fertility in women, developmental delays in children, and other health risks. Tony became a driving force behind efforts to address PFAS contamination on local, state, and federal fronts.

His leadership was instrumental in the founding of the Need Our Water (NOW) community action group in Oscoda. Tony's vision also extended beyond Michigan, as he co-founded the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, and also serves on the leadership team of the National PFAS Contamination Coalition. He played a pivotal role in the creation of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team, where he currently serves on the Citizens Advisory Workgroup. Furthermore, his efforts contributed to the establishment of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force of which I am proud to be a member--a group dedicated to advancing legislative solutions and raising awareness about the urgent need to address PFAS contamination nationwide. Because of his relentless advocacy and uncanny ability to bring stakeholders together, Tony has earned the respect and the ear of senior Pentagon leadership, including Undersecretary of Defense Bill LaPlante, and has played a major role in pushing the Department of Defense to act more urgently on PFAS cleanup.

Tony has been an advocate his entire life, which can in part be attributed to the influence of his father, Francis Spaniola, a retired Army officer who served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1975 to 1990, representing Corunna in Shiawassee County. During his father's tenure in the state legislature, when the toxic flame retardant polybrominated biphenyls, more commonly known as PBB, was mistakenly sent to Michigan farmers as livestock feed and entered the food supply, Tony worked alongside his father at the forefront of tackling the PBB health crisis. Together, they initiated legislation that led to the creation of the Michigan Cancer Registry, regulated PBB, and compensated farmers for poisoned livestock.

I have had the privilege of bearing witness to Tony's unwavering passion since I took office in 2019 and remain grateful to have been

able to work with him in our fight to clean up contaminated sites across Michigan and this country.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to our state and his steadfast advocacy on behalf of impacted families and communities nationwide, it is my honor to recognize his service.

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to a man who served his community, his state, and his Nation with pride, and whose loss leaves a void in the hearts and lives of so many.

James Scott Golden was a Petty Officer 3rd Class in the Navy, but if you asked he'd simply smile and tell you he was a ``tin can sailor.'' Jim was refering to his time aboard the Charles P. Cecil DD835, a Gearing Class destroyer where he served toward the end of the Vietnam War. All jokes aside, Jim's service had a profound influence on his life, including the moment he sailed into Sardinia and he met a young Navy medic named Ina who was stationed there. The two would eventually marry, settle in Holly, Michigan, and build a life of service together.

In Michigan, Jim went to work for General Motors Skilled Trades, where he would stay until his retirement in 2006. Known around town for his affable demeanor and his generosity, Jim was involved with many local charities and organizations, including Forgotten Harvest, where he and Ina donated food from their own gardens, and the YesterYear Tractor Club, where he repaired and restored old tractors for parades and local festivities.

Because they took so much pride in their own service, Jim and Ina were very involved in the Holly Area Veterans Resource Center, including an annual project to collect and pack boxes of treats and toiletries for military personnel.

One day, Jim struck up a conversation with a local high school student preparing to enlist in the Air Force as a means to pay for college, and she seemed embarrassed about her financial situation and her plan. Jim decided then and there to find a way to uplift and shine a light on community members like her. Together with Ina, he launched the Hometown Heroes project to recognize those going into service with a yellow ribbon on the oak tree in front of Holly Elementary School. This prominent and highly visible location would serve as a constant reminder to all that a community should have both pride in and gratitude for its men and women who are on active duty in the military.

I had the chance to visit this tree with Jim and Ina on a very snowy Veterans Day in 2019--a poignant sight and a tangible symbol of the sacrifices families all across our Nation are making in the moment in defense of our collective freedom. It speaks both to the power of the project and the Goldens themselves that even after they relocated to northern Michigan, and after Jim's passing, their friends at the Holly Area Veterans Resource Center continue to maintain the Hometown Heroes project, tying a ribbon for each departing serviceman or woman, and removing it when that person returns home.

Jim passed away on January 10, 2024, but his kind spirit, his endearing humor, and his legacy of service live on. I send my deepest condolences to Ina, their children, grandchildren, and to all who knew and loved him. Jim Golden, the tin can sailor and ultimate hometown hero now rests in perpetual peace at the Great Lakes National Cemetery. With profound gratitude for his dedication to our armed forces and his lifelong mission to uplift the service of others.

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to a legendary member of the Michigan State University community: head coach of the men's basketball team, Tom Izzo. Now in his

29th year as head coach and his 41st overall year with the team, Coach Izzo recently added another accomplishment to his already impressive resume with his 700th career win, all of them with the Spartans. It was quite a present for Izzo to reach this milestone on his 69th birthday, however his dedication to the Spartans, to the MSU community, and to his home state of Michigan is the gift he continues to offer to us all.

Growing up in Iron Mountain in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, young Tom Izzo dominated his high school football, track, and basketball teams. He didn't know it at the time, but his decision to focus on basketball at Northern Michigan University not only changed his life, but changed the course of the history of the sport. A tireless worker from the very beginning, it's no surprise that Tom Izzo went on to be named an All- American and established the Wildcat record for most minutes played in a season.

Northern Michigan University is also where Izzo began his collegiate coaching journey, serving as an assistant until a position opened up at Michigan State University. There, he worked under legendary coach Jud Heathcoate until his retirement, and in 1994 was officially named head coach of the Spartans.

His incredible statistics could fill volumes: Izzo led his team to the 2000 NCAA National Championship, 10 regular-season Big Ten Championships, six Big Ten Tournament titles, eight Final Four appearances, eight National Coach of the Year awards and a Big Ten- record 25 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. When the Spartans were selected for the 2023 NCAA Tournament, Izzo became the first men's basketball head coach in history to lead his team to 25 consecutive appearances. He is MSU's all-time winningest coach, with his accomplishments enshrined in both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. And now, he joins an elite group of fewer than 40 Division 1 coaches to achieve 700 career wins.

So beloved by students is Tom Izzo that students must camp out to join the highly coveted ``Izzone'' section of the Breslin Center, resulting in a sea of green and white tents and a 24-hour revival-style demonstration of support and love for the section's namesake. And when tragedy struck campus one year ago and a gunman claimed the lives of three students and injured several others, it was Izzo's voice the community turned to in the hours and days after the shooting. At a campus-wide vigil, he encouraged each and every Spartan to confront fear and to stand together. ``We need each other,'' he told us. ``For 40 years I've always believed that at Michigan State, we are at our own strongest when we are together.''

That night, Tom Izzo described himself as ``just a basketball coach.'' But he is so much more. A true leader and teacher, Coach Tom Izzo has brought so much more than hundreds of basketball wins to Michigan State University; he has brought stability, unity, and healing. Tom Izzo personifies the characteristics of the ancient Spartans, who were known for being prepared, methodical, jovial, loyal, and courageous. His heart beats to the tune of ``Victory for MSU'' and his blood runs pure Green and White. With abiding gratitude, it is my honor to recognize his service here, in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, today we mark the first anniversary of the shooting at Michigan State University that took the lives of Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser, and Alexandria Verner, and physically injured five others.

I spent today's anniversary on campus in East Lansing, where I saw firsthand how the pain and trauma of that terrible day continues to reverberate throughout the Spartan community.

I was heartened to see so many people turn their emotions into action through the day of service activities offered at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center and International Center.

As the first Member of Congress that we can find who has faced two school shootings, both at MSU and Oxford High School, I know too well how these events rip a hole in the lives of the community, one that remains long beyond the headlines.

A place that is burned into my brain is the place I spent the night that evening a year ago--the East Lansing Police Department--as the hours-long manhunt went on. It seemed fitting to go back today to thank them, the fire department, and the first responders.

We have responded in Michigan. In response to the MSU shooting, the Michigan legislature stepped up and passed the most robust and comprehensive gun safety legislation in our history.

In our courts, we just recently convicted the mother of the shooter in the Oxford High School shooting. We are setting an example of how to respond when our kids are crying out for leadership.

Mr. Speaker, today I honor the groundbreaking service of a Livingston County woman who never even planned to live in the area, much less to make history there. Fortunately, life had its own plans for Elsie McPherson-Brown, and the community is so much better for it.

Livingston County sits at the crossroads of several major highways, and when Elsie McPherson-Brown, was driving one of them to visit friends, she took a wrong turn and ended up in the northern community of Hartland. Elsie liked what she saw on that unexpected outing, and after further investigation, including meeting with the superintendent and school principals, she convinced her husband to relocate to Hartland from Detroit with their two elementary school-aged boys.

It's worth noting that Livingston County was, and remains to this day, an overwhelmingly white community, but Elsie and her family were undeterred. From the beginning of their time in Hartland, Elsie dove into community service, volunteering in her kids' classrooms, organizing fundraisers, chairing Teacher Appreciation Day events, and serving on the PTO. In 2003, Elsie took her service to a new and historic level, when she successfully ran for the Board of Education of Hartland Consolidated Schools, becoming the first African-American woman and only the second African-American in modern history to be elected to public office in Livingston County.

Her story is not without its challenges, particularly when it comes to race relations. She often shares how a grocery store manager insisted her personal check was fraudulent because he refused to believe that a Black woman lived in Livingston County as the address stated. Or the local police officers who questioned her younger son and refused to believe he was simply heading home for the same reason. But Elsie chose to rise above, and set her focus and her intentions on the things she loved about the community and the commonalities she shared with her friends and neighbors.

Supported by the voters, Elsie served ten years on the school board and fulfilled her goal of having a voice in shaping the education of the next generation. She was known for her calm demeanor, her colorful outfits, and the many hats she wore about town, perhaps representative of the different hats she wore in life: wife, mother, advocate, and trailblazer. While she has stepped down from public office, today she continues her life of quiet service to the community in her work with the Livingston County Sheriffs Office.

Elsie McPherson-Brown may have stumbled upon Hartland accidentally, but it's no accident that she changed the course of Hartland's history. Her story deserves to be told, uplifted, and forever preserved.

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to a basketball coaching legend who

helped lead the Michigan State University Spartans men's basketball team to 19 NCAA tournaments, 10 Big Ten Championships, seven Final Fours, and a National Championship. But as impressive as those statistics are, former MSU Assistant Coach Mike Garland quite literally came back from the dead and is now using his second chance at life to pay this incredible gift forward.

As much as Mike Garland loved coaching basketball, and as many great things as his teams accomplished on the court, he was content with his decision to retire from MSU in June of 2022, and looking forward to spending more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Not long after, however, he went into cardiac arrest while driving his car. Fortunately two good Samaritans were driving by at the time, saw Garland's car go off the road and into a tree, called 911, and performed CPR until paramedics and police arrived. In total, 13 people worked on Garland for an agonizing 18 minutes to restart his heart.

It turned out the electrical failure in Garland's heart was the result of a birth defect, one that required open heart surgery to fix. Three months later, Garland was back up and running- quite literally- on the treadmill. Not long after that he honored all those who helped save his life with an emotional public thank you at MSU's Breslin Center, home to many of his great coaching moments.

Today, the Breslin Center is also home court for his new passion: a foundation he launched called Champions of the Heart. Through this non- profit, Garland works to inform the Spartan community and others on how to save lives during episodes of cardiac arrest.

Attendees at these free trainings learn how to perform CPR, how to recognize sudden cardiac arrest, and how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator.

Mike Garland is a man who has lived two lives, both defined by statistics. In the first, his focus was on wins, losses, and free throw percentages. His second life, however, is summed up in a single stark numerical reality: only one person in ten survives a cardiac arrest. He has done much to defy the odds and change the course of history for himself and others.

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to two of the most beloved residents to ever call the St. Johns, Michigan, community home: Orrin and Luvina Wilson. Settling in Clinton County post-Civil War, the Wilsons were a ``power couple'' before such a term existed, but it was never about seeking power for themselves. Rather, the Wilsons lived their lives in quiet but devoted and groundbreaking service to their nation and to their neighbors, and forever changed the face of St. Johns.

Orrin was just 16 years old in 1864 when he enlisted in Michigan's all-Black regiment, the 102nd United States Colored Infantry. Company K, out of Kalamazoo. He served until the war's end, and returned to Michigan where he met and married his bride. The two would soon settle in St. Johns, where they lived out the next 60 years of their lives.

In addition to his military service, Orrin was a trailblazer in so many ways. First. he took up the trade of barbering and owned his own shop for nearly 50 years, serving a mostly white clientele out of the old Steel Hotel in downtown St. Johns. He was also a founding member of the local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic, a national union of Civil War veterans, and served as its post commander for a time. Not only was he the only Black member of the St. Johns Charles Grisson Post of the GAR, it's believed he was the only Black man in the state to hold such a leadership position outside of the all-Black posts in cities like Detroit.

Luvina was a trailblazer in her own right, serving as president of the local chapter of the Women's Relief Corps, the auxiliary organization to the Grand Army of the Republic. The WRC not only supported the mission to aid Union veterans, but also assisted former Army nurses and promoted patriotism through education. And just like her husband, Luvina is believed to be the only Black woman in the state to have led an all-white post.

Orrin and Luvina raised two sons together: George and Arthur, who continued the family barbering trade. The family was active in the St. Johns United Methodist Church, where Orrin served as a trustee and treasurer for three decades. They were married for 58 years, and linked in their common goal of creating a better, more just community and nation. And united they also were in death, leaving this world just one day apart in late December of 1928. The two were buried together in the veterans' section of Mt. Rest Cemetery, with flags flown at half-mast and a large funeral procession going past the family home on South Clinton Avenue.

May their life story and memory be a blessing and inspiration to all of us.

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to a legendary Lansing family that has broken barriers across generations, and continues to make history today.

The story begins in 1927 when the family matriarch, Ms. Hortense Canady was born in Chicago. While she didn't grow up in Michigan, she came to Michigan State University to pursue graduate studies after attending Fisk University, where she met her husband, Clinton. In the Lansing area, Hortense and Clinton, a World War II veteran and member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, settled, put down roots, and left an indelible mark on the community.

Clinton became a well-known and well-loved dentist, while Hortense put her passion for education and civil rights into action, becoming the first African American elected to the Lansing School District Board of Education in 1968. Four years later, she and several other board members were recalled for advocating for desegregation, but Hortense did not let that deter her from working toward her core belief that everyone deserves access to quality education.

She sat on the state's Women's Commission, served as the first executive director of the Lansing Community College Foundation, and helped found a debutante club in Lansing to fill in a void for young Black women who, at the time, were not permitted to share in this tradition.

Hortense founded the Lansing alumnae chapter of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, and served as its national president from 1983 to 1988. She was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2002 and was named as one of Ebony magazine's Most Influential People. Hortense Canady died in 2010 at age 83.

Not only was Hortense Canady impressive in her own right, but her children have continued to blaze their own trails. Her daughter, Alexa Canady, is the first African American woman in the nation to become a neurosurgeon, and served as chief of neurosurgery at the Children's Hospital of Michigan from 1987 until her retirement in June 2001. She devoted her brilliant mind and her numerous talents to the healing and welfare of thousands of young patients over the course of her career, and, like her mother, is an inductee in the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. She was also named a Michigander of the Year by the Detroit News in 2002.

All three of Hortense Canady's sons became attorneys, including the Honorable Judge Clinton Canady III. Before ascending to the bench, Canady practiced law for 37 years. He was a founder of the Lansing Black Lawyers' Association, director of the Ingham County Bar Association, a commissioner for the Lansing Board of Water and Light, a member of the NAACP, and served on the board of the Lansing Symphony Association, Central Michigan Legal Aid, and many other organizations. Elected to the Ingham County Circuit Court in 2010, Judge Canady served through his retirement in 2022, but returned on assignment to help address the backlog of cases from the pandemic.

He and his wife, Rita, have two children who are continuing the Canady tradition of service, one as an administrative law judge in California, and the other with the United States Department of State.

The Canady family is part of the very fabric of the Lansing community, a fabric stitched with their incredible work ethic, commitment to breaking new ground, and to clearing a path for others to follow.