Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the great state of Florida, I rise today to honor Miami-Dade Police Sergeant Thomas Philip Hixon, who retired after 25 years of outstanding service to our community and to young men, as a mentor with the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, Sergeant Hixon, a highly skilled and well-

respected law enforcement officer, rose from the ranks of

police officer to investigator and to supervisor over his 25-

year career; and

Whereas Sergeant Hixon was assigned to the Homicide Bureau,

Robbery Bureau, the Public Housing and Urban Development

Unit, as well as the Carol City and Intracoastal District,

where he investigated thousands of criminal cases that led to

the successful prosecution of scores of defendants; and

Whereas Sergeant Hixon has received more than 80 letters of

commendation. was the recipient of the 2004 United States

Attorney's Office Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award,

and has received numerous other accolades, including the

Employee Excellence Award and Officer of the Month Award; and

Whereas Sergeant Hixon has worked to make Miami-Dade County

safer for residents and visitors, and has helped to improve

the lives of the less fortunate; and

Whereas Sergeant Hixon is a dedicated mentor with the 5000

Role Models of Excellence Project, working to improve the

odds for at-risk young; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson,

a member of the United States House of Representatives,

representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida,

commend retiring Miami-Dade County Police Sergeant Thomas

Philip Hixon for his dedication, commitment and untiring

service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District, of the great state of Florida, I rise today to honor the life of the late Pastor James Frederick ``Rick'' Hines, Jr., a well-respected man of God, spiritual leader and mentor, loving son, husband, and father. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas Pastor Hines was a passionate and beloved youth

pastor, at Koinonia Worship Center and Village, who was

dedicated to spreading the Word of God;

Whereas Pastor Hines devoted countless hours to mentoring

young people and often credited the church's success with its

youth, to practicing the teachings of one of his favorite

Bible verses Proverbs 22:6: ``Train up a child in the way he

should go and when he is old he will not depart from it;''

Whereas Pastor Hines served his country dutifully as a

soldier in the United States Army from 1977 to 1979;

Whereas Pastor Hines was a lifelong resident of South

Florida who loved his community and worked to make it a

better place to live; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson,

a member of the United States House of Representatives,

representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida honor

the life and legacy of the late Pastor James Frederick

``Rick'' Hines, Jr. and commend him for his commitment and

dedications to his family, his church and our community.

Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the great state of Florida, I rise today to recognize the late Mrs. Jeanet Grayson, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend, and devoted member of Bethel Baptist Church.

I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, Mrs. Jeanet Grayson was the rock and foundation of

her large and loving family of 17 children, 68 grandchildren,

63 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren, 2

brothers, 2 nephews, 2 nieces, 2 great nephews, 1 great

niece, 2 godchildren, 3 adopted daughters, 7 sisters-in-law,

and 6 brothers-in-law; and

Whereas, Mrs. Grayson was entrusted with the lives of

hundreds of schol children and took great responsibility in

caring for them as a bus driver and food service provider

with Miami Dade County Public Schools, and as a bus driver

and student attendant at Whole Word Christian Academy: and

Whereas, Mrs. Grayson was a founder of The Road Runners, an

organization of Southwest Transportation; and

Whereas, Mrs. Grayson was a faithful member of Bethel

Baptist Church, where she

sang in the choir and was a driver for the Evangelism

Ministry; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson,

a Member of the United States House of Representatives,

representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida,

commend the late Mrs. Jeanet Grayson for her dedication to

her family and friends and her church and for her commitment

to our community.

Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the great state of Florida, I rise today to recognize and honor retired educator Mrs. Agenoria Lucille Spearman Paschal, a legendary pioneer in education in Miami-Dade County Public Schools; a visionary ahead of her time; an advocate for students, teachers, parents, our schools; and a dedicated community servant. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, Mrs. Paschal served Miami-Dade County Public

Schools and her community for over 40 years, inspiring

thousands of students and developing programs that resulted

in groundbreaking changes and improvements within the Miami-

Dade County Public School System, for which she was honored

with numerous awards and national recognition; and

Whereas, Mrs. Paschal held the positions of teacher,

assistant principal, principal, and director, and implemented

programs including the Mobile Reading Clinic, Non-Graded

Grouping, Magic Circle Awareness, and extended Public Library

Services; and

Whereas, Mrs. Paschal was instrumental in the writing of an

educational proposal that led to the opening of the first

segregated elementary school in the Miami-Dade County Public

School System, initially called Primary School C and later

named Thena Crowder Elementary School; and

Whereas, Mrs. Paschal opened Olinda Elementary School in

Liberty City, served as its first principal and successfully

ran its Triple-T Program, a collaboration between Miami-Dade

County Public Schools and the University of Miami that

provided training and further education for teachers and

paraprofessionals, many of who went on to become assistant

principals, principals, and directors who also made

outstanding contributions to education; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson,

a Member of the United States House of Representatives,

representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida,

commend Mrs. Agenoria Lucille Spearman Paschal, for her

leadership and outstanding contributions to education in

Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and for her selfless,

unwavering commitment and dedication to our community.

Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the great state of Florida, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Edward J. Braynon, Jr., a dedicated community-servant, civil rights activist, role model, and mentor. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, Dr. Braynon has been a loyal and faithful member

of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for 68 years and has served

as Basileus of Sigma Alpha Chapter, Florida's State

Representative, First Vice Seventh Representative (Alabama,

Florida, Georgia and Mississippi), Seventh District

Representative, First Vice Grand Basileus, and Grand

Basileus, and

Whereas, Dr. Braynon's leadership, vision, and integrity

have played a vital role in building, binding, and

strengthening Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Alpha

Chapter. He is credited with remaining steadfast to enhancing

and promoting the organization's principles of Manhood,

Scholarship, Perserverance, and Uplift, and

Whereas, Dr. Braynon as Grand Basileus of Sigma Alpha

Chapter played a key role in a massive ``Get Out The Vote,''

initiative where Omega chapters around the country were

actively involved and helped win Jimmy Carter the Presidency

with the largest Back vote in history and landed Dr. Braynon

an invitation along with several other Black leaders to a

``White-House Luncheon,'' and

Whereas, Dr. Braynon touched and impacted the lives of

countless young men as a mentor with the 5000 Role Models of

Excellence Project and won the admiration and respect of our

community for his activism and community service, and

Whereas, Dr. Braynon used his dental skills to meet the

needs of our community, served as a member of the Dental

Society providing leadership and guidance to new generations

of dental professionals, and was a member of numerous civic

and community organizations dedicated to the betterment of

the quality of life for South Floridians, and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson,

a Member of the United States House of Representatives,

representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida, am

proud to recognize and honor Dr. Edward J. Braynon, Jr., for

his unwavering commitment to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.,

community service, our youth, and his profession.

Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the great state of Florida, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Major Arthur Wells who has recently been selected as the South Florida Federal Employee of the year.

Whereas, Sergeant Major Wells has been a devoted leader and driving force in his community and is an active advocate for veterans for he is a veteran. Wells served his country with pride for 39 years, until his retirement in 2005. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, Sergeant Major Wells has been a tireless worker

for Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Monroe County,

assisting many veterans to obtain prosthetic limbs and

devices such as electric wheelchairs, scooters, patient

lifts, and many other instruments to ease any vet's daily

tasks. Further, into his efforts of helping United States

solders, he is the president of South Florida Army National

Guard Family Support Foundation, a nonprofit organization

that assists deployed soldiers' families with funds to pay

bills while the soldier is overseas; and

Whereas, Sergeant Major Wells' compassion has helped propel

his success amongst Bruce W. Carter Miami VA Healthcare

Systems being the assistant chief of prosthetics service for

25 years. As a mentor and supervisor of 21 staff members,

Sergeant Major Wells constantly exceeds the expectations of

his colleagues; and

Whereas, Sergeant Major Wells is also an outstanding

president to multiple nonprofit organizations, including

South Florida Chapter of Blacks in Government and the

chairperson of the EEO Black Employment Program, with a list

of accomplishments including scholarship programs and

fundraising events; and

Whereas, Sergeant Major Wells has a bachelor of specialized

training in military science from the National Consortium

Staff College and an honorary degree of doctor of humanities

National Consortium Staff College as well; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson,

a Member of the United States House of Representatives,

representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida,

commend Sergeant Major Wells for his dedication to his

profession and our veterans and commitment to the community.

Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the great state of Florida, I rise today to recognize and honor legendary reggae superstar Hugh Beresford Hammond, known to his legions of fans and the music world as Beres Hammond. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, Mr. Hammond's distinctive, romantic, and soulful

style, which was influenced by American soul and jazz music,

and native Jamaican artists he grew up listening to in

Annotto Bay, Jamaica, has garnered him international

notoriety and acclaim; and

Whereas, Mr. Hammond began singing and performing in local

talent shows in the 1970s, and his career has spanned more

than 40 years, resulting in numerous hit singles and albums

that have topped music charts; and

Whereas, Mr. Hammond formed his own record label, Harmony

Records, in 1985 and released his album ``Make a Song,''

which had two Jamaican chart-toppers and set the stage for

his success and recognition in the reggae music industry; and

Whereas, Mr. Hammond's 2012 album ``One Love, One Life,''

topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. He has performed

with iconic musicians, including Maxi Priest, Wyclef Jean,

Buju Banton, and Big Youth; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson,

a Member of the United States House of Representatives,

representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida,

commend Hugh Beresford ``Beres'' Hammond for his talent and

dedication to his art, and for his contributions to the music

industry.

Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the great state of Florida, I rise today, as a descendant of Bahamians, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Bahamian independence and to pay tribute to its citizens and Bahamian-Americans living in South Florida and across the United States. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, the Islands of the Bahamas became an Independent

Commonwealth Country on July 10, 1973, after centuries of

British rule; and

Whereas, the proud people who, through uncertainty and

tough economic times, remained steadfast and determined to

build a brighter future after its hard-fought independence,

showed great strength and unwavering will; and

Whereas, today, The Bahamas has a thriving economy built

around tourism and financial services; the tenacious and

enduring spirit of the Bahamian people, and its rich

traditions and culture;

Whereas, Bahamians and Bahamian-Americans have made

significant contributions to the United States through the

art and humanities, business, activism, and local and

national government, and remain an integral part of the South

Florida community; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson,

a Member of the United States House of Representatives,

representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida, and

a person of Bahamian descent, am proud to recognize the 40th

anniversary of this resilient, free, and sovereign nation,

and pay tribute to the wonderful people and descendants who

make it great.

Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the great state of Florida, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Freeman T. Wyche, Sr., an inspirational man of God and a revered spiritual leader in the Miami's Liberty City community who has served as senior minister of the Liberty City Church of Christ for 35 years. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, Dr. Wyche is dedicated to his church and to his

community, having chaired and served on the boards of many

civic and educational organizations in Miami-Dade County and

the State of Florida; and

Whereas, Dr. Wyche was mentored by the late renowned Dr.

Marshall Keeble, and has earned several degrees from the

University of Houston, New York Theological Seminary, and

Faith College; and

Whereas, Dr. Wyche provided an invaluable service to his

country, having served as an air traffic controller and a

hospital administrator in the United States Air Force and

achieving the rank of master sergeant before retiring at

Homestead Air Force Base in 1990; and

Whereas, Dr. Wyche's unwavering devotion to God has been

evidenced by his decades of ministration, teaching,

evangelizing, and counseling across the Nation and around the

world; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson, a Member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida, commend Dr. Freeman T. Wyche, Sr., for his years of faithful service to his family, his church, and our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dorothy Ballard Gibson. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, Dorothy Ballard Gibson graduated from Booker T.

Washington High School in 1948 and went on to pursue a career

in healthcare, earning her bachelor of science degree in

nursing from the Medical College of Virginia; and

Whereas, Mrs. Gibson dedicated her life to healthcare in

south Florida, working as a registered nurse at Jackson

Memorial Hospital in 1956, Kendall Hospital in 1962, and as a

supervisor at the Veterans Administration Hospital from 1966

until her retirement in 1990; and

Whereas, Mrs. Gibson and her husband, Sampson, established

Michael's Kindergarten, Inc., and educated thousands of

children from Miami's Liberty City, Opa-Locka, Carol City,

and numerous other communities, at four day care centers; and

Whereas, Mrs. Gibson was an active member of Mt. Zion AME

Church, where she served with the Missionary Society, the

Trustee Board, Youth Development Department, and the Little

Folk Choir, and was the founder of the Dorothy Gibson Lay

Organization; and

Whereas, Mrs. Gibson was an active member in her community

and often lobbied the State legislature as a children's

advocate; and

Whereas, Mrs. Gibson was honored by the Miami-Dade County

Child Development Services and received numerous awards,

including the daycare center she founded, Michael's

Kindergarten, Inc., being named Day Care Center of the Year;

and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson,

a Member of the United States House of Representatives,

representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida,

recognize the tremendous contributions made by Mrs. Dorothy

Ballard Gibson. I affirm her positive and far-reaching impact

upon our community and our children. I honor her many years

of dedication and service to South Florida.

Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the great state of Florida, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Eunice J. Davis, a proud, dedicated member of Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, a dynamic leader and a devoted community servant. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, Mrs. Eunice J. Davis has been a faithfu1 member of

Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,

Incorporated and committed to the sorority's mission of

service to all mankind; and

Whereas, Mrs. Davis has exemplified exceptional leadership

and organizational skills to become the new president-elect

of Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter; and

Whereas, Mrs. Davis joined Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter in

1990, was named 2002 Soror of the Year, and has been an

invaluable member for 23 years; and

Whereas, Mrs. Davis served as co-chair of the board of

directors of Women Involved in Service to Humanity (WISH)

Foundation, Incorporated, served as chairperson of the Spring

and Fall Life Skills Workshops for the Jefferson Reaves House

Women's Residential Center Substance Abuse Treatment

Facility, and held several chapter offices and chaired

numerous committees; and

Whereas, Mrs. Davis was awarded the WISH Foundation's

Chairman of the Board Award for outstanding service and,

although retired, is recognized as an outstanding educator

and school principal who has received community-wide

recognition along with many other awards; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson,

a Member of the United States House of Representatives,

representing the 24th Congressional District of

Florida, commend Mrs. Eunice J. Davis, my friend and Soror,

for her dedication to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,

Incorporated, and for her commitment to serving the people of

South Florida.

Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the great state of Florida, I rise today to recognize and honor the late Mrs. Gussie Mae Hall of Miami, Florida, an exceptional woman who has left an enduring legacy of humbleness, kindness, and strength. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, Mrs. Hall was a tireless supporter of local

African-American elected officials and actively engaged in

the democratic process by educating members of the community

on the importance of the right to vote and encouraging their

registration and participation; and

Whereas, Mrs. Hall was a lifelong resident of South Florida

who was born in Homestead, Florida, formally educated in the

Miami-Dade County Public School system, and worked through

her church, He Reigns Interdenominational Ministries,

Incorporated, to improve our community; and

Whereas, Mrs. Hall was an outstanding citizen, wife,

mother, and friend; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson,

a Member of the United States House of Representatives,

representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida,

commend the late Mrs. Gussie Mae Hall for her years of loving

and faithful service to her family, her church, and our

community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as Chair of the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, on the occasion of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, where we gathered to officially cut the ribbon for the Commission and to honor the memory of young Black boys who were murdered, and the parents who continue to carry their sons' legacies forward. It is in that spirit that I pay tribute to my colleague, Congresswoman Lucy McBath of Georgia's 6th district whose journey from a grieving mother to one of this Nation's most persistent voices against gun violence continues to shape the work we do in this Congress.

In 2012, Lucy's son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed at a Jacksonville gas station after an argument over the volume of his music. He was seventeen years old. In the years that followed, Lucy refused to let his death become another statistic. She became the national spokeswoman for Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, carrying Jordan's story into communities and statehouses across the country, and in 2018 she carried it all the way to the floor of this House.

Since coming to Congress, Lucy has turned personal loss into legislative action. She has been instrumental in passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Law, helped secure funding to study gun violence as the public health crisis it is, after decades in which that research had gone unfunded, and now serves as Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. She has stood on this floor to mark the anniversary of Sandy Hook and has authored legislation to fund community-based violence intervention, understanding that the fight against gun violence must be waged in neighborhoods as much as in this chamber.

Today, Lucy continues to bring that same commitment to this panel, sharing Jordan's story once more, this time alongside other families who understand exactly what she has carried for over a decade. Her willingness to keep telling that story, even after years in public life, reflects a truth she has lived every day since 2012: that the pain of losing a child to gun violence never truly ends, but it can be transformed into the work of protecting other families from that same loss.

Lucy's path from a mother on a mission to a leader on this floor stands as a testament to what grief can become when it is met with purpose. She has shown her colleagues, and the country, that advocacy borne of unimaginable loss can still change laws, change funding priorities, and change how this Nation talks about gun violence.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Congresswoman Lucy McBath for her tireless advocacy against gun violence, and for continuing to carry Jordan's memory into every fight she takes on for the families of this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as Chair of the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, on the occasion of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, where we gathered to officially cut the ribbon for the Commission and to honor the memory of young Black boys who were murdered, and the parents who continue to carry their sons' legacies forward. It is in that spirit that I pay tribute to Attorney Benjamin Crump, who spent his career confronting the disparities Black men and boys face in our criminal justice system, our schools, our hospitals, and our workplaces.

For nearly two decades, families who had nowhere else to turn have turned to him. As founder and principal owner of Ben Crump Law, he has stood beside the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Stephon Clark, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, and he has fought for the residents of Flint, Michigan, in their long battle for clean water. He carried the case for reparations on behalf of the family of Henrietta Lacks. As this panel's participants share the pain of losing a child and the fight that grief has demanded of them, Mr. Crump is not hearing their stories for the first time--he has lived alongside families carrying that exact weight for most of his career.

What sets his work apart is that it rarely ends with verdicts alone. Time and again, he has taken the outcome of a single case and pushed it further, turning accountability for one family into policy that protects others--legislation restricting excessive use of force and requiring implicit bias training within law enforcement agencies. He understands, in other words, how an individual family's tragedy becomes the basis for the very kind of systemic reform this Commission was created to recommend.

That commitment to building something lasting extends beyond any single case. Mr. Crump founded and directs the Benjamin Crump Social Justice Institute, and in 2023, St Thomas University's College of Law in Miami was renamed the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law in his honor--the first law school in the country named for a practicing Black attorney. It is that same investment in the next generation, and in turning individual pain into lasting institutions, that he brings to this panel today: a chance to ensure the stories shared by our families are not simply heard, but translated into the policy recommendations this Commission is charged with delivering.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Attorney Benjamin Crump for his extraordinary contributions to civil rights and social justice, and for lending his voice and his experience to this vital conversation on behalf of Black men and boys across America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as the Chair of the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys on the occasion of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, where we gathered to officially cut the ribbon for the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys and to honor the memory of young Black boys who were murdered, and the parents who continue to carry their sons' legacies forward. It is in that spirit that I pay tribute to Santonio and Monica Carter, the parents of King Carter, a six-year-old boy from Miami whose life was taken by a stray bullet as he walked to a nearby store. In the years since, Mr. and Mrs. Carter refused to let his death be reduced to a headline.

King was walking to buy candy near his home in Liberty City when he was struck and killed in the crossfire of a dispute that had nothing to do with him. In the aftermath, his parents did what no parent should ever have to do: they buried their son, and then they turned their grief into a demand that the community around them do better by its children.

Mr. and Mrs. Carter have since become fixtures in their community, not as bystanders to its violence but as people actively working to interrupt it. They founded ``Save Our Kings and Queens'' in their son's honor, offering young people in their neighborhood an alternative to the streets and a reminder that someone is watching out for them. They have stood at rallies, spoken to reporters, and shown up year after year at prayer vigils and balloon releases marking the day their son was taken, insisting each time that King's name not be allowed to fade.

The street where King was killed now bears his name, a small but permanent reminder to everyone who passes that a child's life was lost there and that his family refused to let the moment pass quietly. Santonio has said plainly that he cannot get much out of life right now except helping somebody else, and that spirit has carried him and Monica through a grief no family should have to bear.

The Carters carry with them not only the memory of their son but years of hard-won experience turning private loss into public purpose. Their presence is a reminder that the fight against gun violence is not an abstraction debated in hearing rooms alone--it is carried, every day, by parents like them who have chosen to keep showing up.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Santonio and Monica Carter for their courage, their persistence, and their unwavering commitment to ensuring that their son, King Carter's life continues to mean something for the children who come after him.