Valerie P. Foushee

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Orange County Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford, a devoted public servant whose leadership and compassion left an enduring mark on the community she loved.

For more than two decades, Commissioner Bedford served Orange County with integrity and purpose. She believed people deserve better, and she worked tirelessly to strengthen public education, expand opportunity, and ensure every family had a voice in local government.

She was a steadfast advocate for people with autism and developmental disabilities, helping families navigate complex systems and secure the support that they needed.

I will remember Jamezetta as a trusted colleague and dear friend who led with kindness and never lost sight of the people she served.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to her family, her loved ones, and the entire Orange County community. She will be deeply missed, but her example of selfless service will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a bipartisan effort to designate today, May 20, as National Women in Aerospace Day, honoring the extraordinary women whose talent, courage, and innovation have shaped America's leadership in aviation and space exploration.

May 20 marks the anniversary of Amelia Earhart's solo historic transatlantic flight, a defining moment that inspired generations of women to pursue careers once thought beyond reach.

From the engineers and scientists behind America's greatest achievements to astronauts leading the next era of exploration, women have long since been essential to the success of our aerospace enterprise.

This resolution recognizes not only the women who made history but also the young women and girls who will shape the future of aerospace innovation and discovery.

As ranking member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, I am proud to help lead this bipartisan resolution, and I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the remarkable contributions of women in aerospace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my constituent, Ms. Kaye Gantt, on her retirement from the National Institute of Minority Economic Development after 17 years of distinguished service.

For nearly two decades, Ms. Gantt dedicated herself to advancing economic opportunity and supporting minority entrepreneurs across North Carolina. Through her leadership and unwavering commitment, she helped strengthen an organization whose mission is vital to expanding access to capital, resources, and opportunity for underserved communities.

Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Gantt provided operational leadership for a relief initiative that helped the institute's CDFI affiliate deliver more than $20 million in grants to over 2,000 historically underutilized businesses, helping countless small businesses survive an extraordinarily difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for Ms. Kaye Gantt's service and lasting impact and wish her a joyful and well-deserved retirement.