James R. Walkinshaw

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Northern Virginia community that came together this past weekend for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness Fairfax Walk at the Mosaic District. This annual event brings hope and healing to families across our region, offering space for remembrance, resilience, and collective action to end the tragedy of suicide.

Organized by the National Capital Area chapter of AFSP, the Fairfax Walk has become one of the most visible demonstrations of solidarity in the fight for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Each year, survivors of loss, advocates, mental health professionals, and neighbors walk side by side to honor loved ones and to break the stigma that has for too long silenced conversations about mental health. The impact of this work cannot be overstated: in Virginia, more lives are lost to suicide each year than to car accidents, and the need for accessible, compassionate support is urgent.

Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, community partners, and sponsors, this year's Fairfax Walk has raised over $125,000 to support prevention programs, research, advocacy, and resources for those in crisis. Local partners including Leidos, Intact, SPAN, Interstate, Wellsourced, Dutyfirst, Columbia Mental Health, Embark Behavioral Health, Bechtel, and the County of Fairfax joined AFSP in providing resources and encouragement to those walking this past Saturday.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Virginia's Eleventh Congressional District, I ask you to join me in extending my gratitude to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention National Capital Area chapter for their leadership, and to every participant who walked Out of the Darkness in Fairfax. Their commitment ensures that no one has to struggle alone, and that our community continues to move toward light, compassion, and healing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke on its anniversary, marking more than 20 years of dedicated service to the older adult community of Fairfax, Burke, and South County, Virginia.

Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 with the mission of helping older adults in the Fairfax-Burke area live their lives independently, with purpose and dignity. Under the leadership of Executive Director Ms. Beth Kilgore- Robinson, the organization has provided invaluable free services, including transportation, social, educational, and enrichment programs for older adults throughout our community.

In the past year alone, Shepherd's Center recorded 10.385 client contacts, hosted 132 fitness classes with more than 5,000 attendees, and provided nearly 3,000 no-cost rides to older adults across the Fairfax, Burke, and South County communities. These numbers reflect the immense impact of the organization's work and the difference these services have made in the lives of older adults. For more than two decades, through their volunteering and programs Shepherd's Center has worked tirelessly to improve quality of life for older adults in our community by creating opportunities for them to stay active, independent, and most importantly connected to the community around them. The continued impact of Shepherd's Center is a testament to the dedication of its staff, volunteers, and supporters.

I am proud to have supported and stood alongside this remarkable organization over the years, and I am grateful for the countless hours of service that Shepherd's Center and its volunteers have given to the people of Northern Virginia.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Executive Director Ms. Beth Kilgore-Robinson and all of the members of the Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke on its 20th anniversary of service to the people of Northern Virginia.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October as National Spine Health Awareness Month and in raising awareness of the importance of spine health for Americans of every age.

More than 100 million Americans experience neck or back conditions each year, and low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. The impact of spine conditions reaches far beyond pain. They can limit mobility and independence, disrupt work and family life, affect military readiness, and contribute significantly to health care costs and lost productivity.

I am proud that the National Spine Health Foundation, headquartered in Reston, Virginia, is located in my district. Founded in 2002, the Foundation is the Nation's only patient-centered nonprofit dedicated exclusively to helping people overcome debilitating spinal conditions. Through research, education, and advocacy, the Foundation provides patients and families with trusted, evidence-based information to help them make informed decisions and navigate their spine health journeys with confidence.

This September, the Foundation brought the importance of spine health directly to Capitol Hill through the first Congressional Spine Health Fair. Patients, physicians, researchers, military leaders, advocates, and national spine organizations came together in the Rayburn House Office Building to help Members of Congress and congressional staff better understand the human, economic, and societal burden of spine disease.

The Fair highlighted an important message: spine health is about far more than back pain. It includes conditions ranging from pediatric spinal deformity and scoliosis to degenerative and neurological disorders, traumatic injuries, osteoporosis, and fragility fractures. These conditions can affect people at every age and at every stage of life.

The Foundation is also helping unite the spine community through the Coalition for Spine Health, a collaborative alliance of leading professional societies, research organizations, and nonprofit partners. By working together on patient education, research, and advocacy, these organizations are helping translate advances in spine care into better information and better outcomes for patients.

That same collaborative approach guides the Foundation's work on some of the most important challenges facing spine patients today. Its Bone Health Initiative is expanding education about osteoporosis, bone quality, fracture prevention, and the role strong bones play in successful spine care. Its work on opioids, pain, and spine health provides patients with evidence-based information about chronic pain, opioid risks, and approaches to pain management.

The Foundation is also advancing the Military Spine Health Initiative, bringing together leaders in spine care and military medicine to address the unique needs of active-duty service members and veterans. Spine conditions

can have profound consequences for military readiness, return to duty, long-term mobility, and quality of life. This initiative seeks to improve education and advance strategies that help those who serve our country receive the spine care and information they need.

Research remains central to all of this work. By collaborating with physicians, researchers, and institutions, the Foundation helps generate evidence and translate new knowledge into information patients can understand and use. As innovation continues to transform the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of spinal conditions, connecting research with patient education is more important than ever.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing October as National Spine Health Awareness Month and in thanking the National Spine Health Foundation, the patients and advocates who share their experiences, the researchers advancing our understanding of spinal conditions, and the health care professionals who care for spine patients every day.