Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise alongside Rep. Michael Burgess and Rep. Ben Cline to honor Kim Frankson, Jess Johnson, and Laurie Ortel of Ashley Elementary School in the Frisco Independent School District. At the end of last year, these North Texas school administrators used quick thinking and teamwork to help save a life 1,200 miles away.

In December 2018, Ashley Elementary School principal Kim Frankson, assistant principal Laurie Ortel, and counselor Jess Johnson received a concerning message from a student via the STOPit app, an online platform designed to allow students and parents to send anonymous reports of bullying to school officials.

The North Texas educators soon discovered that the student was in Waynesboro, Virginia--more than 1,000 miles from Frisco--and sprang into action. As Laurie Ortel said in an interview with the Dallas Morning News: ``We didn't know her, but in that moment, she became ours.''

In spite of the distance, Jess Johnson began communicating with the student, who was threatening suicide, on the STOPit app. At the same time, Kim Frankson and Laurie Ortel attempted to contact the Waynesboro Police Department and administrators at the student's school, which already had closed for winter break. Thanks to the efforts of the North Texas teachers, local authorities in Virginia were able to locate the endangered teenager and provide lifesaving assistance.

Thankfully, the student's message for help reached the right people.

On February 14, 2019, the Dallas Morning News published an article telling their story. In recognition of their lifesaving efforts, Kim Frankson, Laurie Ortel, and Jess Johnson were honored at the Frisco ISD board meeting on April 8, 2019. They were presented the inaugural Helping Hands Life Saver Award from the makers of the STOPit mobile app, and have received well-earned praise from Americans in North Texas, Virginia, and around the country.

As Members of Congress representing Frisco, Texas and Waynesboro, Virginia, we extend our sincere gratitude to these North Texas educators for their extraordinary work and dedication. There is no doubt that they have touched the lives of students in Frisco, Waynesboro, and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, recognized each April, Child Abuse Prevention Month has brought awareness to the needs for families and communities to work in tandem to prevent child abuse and neglect, while promoting the social and emotional wellbeing of both children and families.

Texas' Third Congressional District is incredibly fortunate to have court appointed special advocates, or CASAs, of Collin County serve our communities. These volunteers work tirelessly on behalf of abused and neglected children in our community, and we are incredibly grateful for their work.

Mr. Speaker, today and every day, let us come together as a community to make a positive difference in the lives of these children to ensure their futures are safer, brighter, and healthier.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Johnny Keith Wallace, who passed away on March 30, 2019.

Johnny Wallace was born on July 7, 1950, in Farmersville, Texas, and married his true love, Linda Ann Roland, on May 4, 1973. He valiantly served his country in the United States Army and served in Vietnam.

He returned to Texas and served 26 years as a member of the McKinney Fire Department, ultimately reaching the position of captain.

While I never had the privilege of knowing Johnny, his loved ones remember his commitment to his country, involvement in his community, and dedication to his family.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House spend a brief moment of silence in memory of Johnny Keith Wallace and that my colleagues keep his family and loved ones in their prayers during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 7 o'clock and 34 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mason Daugherty and Eli Scott from McKinney, Texas on winning the 2019 C-SPAN video documentary competition.

Their documentary, ``What it Means to be American: Citizen Accountability in Government'' highlights how the United States Constitution intended to instill power within the American people and how corruption within our system of government diverts that power away from individuals.

Like these impressive 11th graders from Imagine International Academy of North Texas, I too believe power must rest with we the people. Working together, we can bring about real change in Washington.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me today in congratulating Mason Daugherty and Eli Scott on their achievement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize two great constituents of mine, Mason Daugherty and Eli Scott from McKinney, Texas, on winning the 2019 C-SPAN Video Documentary Competition.

Their documentary, ``What It Means to Be an American: Citizen Accountability in Government,'' highlights how the United States Constitution intended to instill power with the American people and how corruption in our system of government diverts power away from those very individuals.

Like these impressive 11th graders from Imagine International Academy of North Texas, I, too, believe power must rest with the people. Working together, we can bring real change in Washington.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me in congratulating Mason Daugherty and Eli Scott on their achievement.

Madam Speaker, celebrated each March, ``Women's History Month'' serves as a time to honor and recognize the momentous achievements of women who have and continue to shape the United States today.

What began as a week-long celebration in 1981, has evolved into a month reserved to celebrate female leaders across the nation. Established annually by Presidential Proclamations since 1995, each March, we hear stories of incredible women who have broken barriers, set records, and inspired us all from coast to coast.

This year, I am especially proud to highlight a group of women making history right in Texas' Third Congressional District.

Collin County, Texas contains eleven District Courts, with eleven presiding judges, and seven County Courts at Law, with seven presiding judges.

In 2017, the addition of new judges brought the total number of female judges serving on the District Courts to six, meaning, for the first time in history, the majority of the court seats were held by women. But, just this year, with the election of another judge in Texas' 219th District Court, there are now seven women serving on the county's district benches.

Making the accomplishment even more remarkable, just twelve years ago, there was only one female judge on the county's benches.

While only 33 percent of judges throughout the United States are women, Collin County is leading the way for women in law and justice careers with 64 percent of the district benches served by female judges.

To our great female judges, Judge Corrine Mason, Judge Angela Tucker, Judge Jennifer Edgeworth, Judge Andrea Thompson, Judge Cynthia Wheless, Judge Jill Willis, Judge Piper McCraw, and Judge Emily Miskel, I thank them for their service to our county, to Texas, and as an inspiration to so many.

Madam Speaker, today, and every day, let us honor those women setting course for the next generation of American leaders.

Madam Speaker, celebrated each March, Women's History Month serves as a time to honor and recognize the momentous achievement of women who have continued to shape the United States today.

What began as a week-long celebration in 1981 is now a month-long celebration starting in 1995.

This year, I am especially proud to highlight a group of women making history right now in Texas' Third Congressional District. Collin County, Texas, has 11 State district courts with 11 presiding judges, and 7 county courts at law with 7 presiding judges.

In 2017, an addition of a new judge brought the total number of female judges serving on district courts to six, meaning that, for the first time in history, a majority of the court seats are now held by women. But just this year, with the election of another woman in Texas' 219th district court, there are now seven women serving on the county's district benches. Making this accomplishment even more remarkable, just 12 years ago, there was only one female judge on the county's benches.

While only 33 percent of the judges throughout the United States are women, Collin County is leading the way with 64 percent of the district court judge benches held by women judges.

I salute Judge Corinne Mason, Judge Angela Tucker, Judge Jennifer Edgeworth, Judge Andrea Thompson, Judge Cynthia Wheless, Judge Jill Willis, Judge Piper McCraw, and Judge Emily Miskel.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. John Edward Payton for his twenty-eight years of dedicated service to Collin County, Texas.

A graduate of Plano East Senior High School in Collin County, Texas, John Payton was first elected to the position of Collin County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3 in 1990. Payton had the distinction of serving as the youngest ever elected Judge in Texas, an accolade recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records. John would go on to earn Magna Cum Laude honors at Collin College, where he would also achieve recognition for his role on the USA TODAY Academic All-American team and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa International Honor Society.

His many contributions to our community include his mentorship of at- risk students who benefitted from his steadfast leadership and compassion. More than twenty years ago, Payton realized the need to assist youth by providing community service opportunities through the creation of the Students on Service Community Service Program. Countless lives have been changed by the opportunities presented for these youths to contribute to their community in meaningful ways resulting in an impressive 500,000 plus hours of service to the community. Judge Payton would often spend his weekends with students building homes through Habitat for Humanity or teaching local youth how to operate a farm or greenhouse. John truly built communities in the deepest sense.

Judge Payton's contributions to the community are numerous, earning him an array of awards and recognitions from respected colleagues and organizations throughout Collin County. On a personal level, John might tout his greatest accomplishment as serving as a loving husband to Shea and a proud father to Katarina.

Judge John Payton's servant leadership and efforts to provide a constant and strong community support structure for our youth are to be commended. He is particularly to be praised for his unwavering belief that through committed involvement with our youth, we can build the future.

It has been an honor to know and work with Mr. John Edward Payton over the years. As Judge Payton begins this next chapter of his life, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating him for his selfless service to the youth and residents of Collin County. Semper Fidelis.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand here today as the Representative for Texas' Third Congressional District. This district was first represented by William Thomas Clark, a general in the Union Army in 1870. Since then, 19 people have represented the district, including myself. Most recently, a true American hero, Congressman Sam Johnson, represented the Third District in the Congress for 28 years.

Prior to that, Congressman Johnson was in the U.S. Air Force. As I like to say, he shot down his first MiG in Korea. He served a ground tour in Vietnam, and in his second tour of Vietnam, on his 46th mission, he was flying his jet over an enemy gun position when his gun jammed. He did a circle around. He flew a second time, and that time, he was shot down. He then went to the Hanoi Hilton. There, he survived pernicious beatings and torture.

But, Mr. Speaker, do you know what? Despite the tremendous pressure that he was under, Sam Johnson was unique among the prisoners of the Hanoi Hilton in that he never broke; he never gave in; and he never wavered in his patriotism, his faith in God, his courage, his sacrifices, and his commitment to this country.

America is eternally grateful for his service.

After he got back from the Hanoi Hilton, he came back to his beloved Shirley and his children back in Texas. He was in the Air Force for a while, and then he went into business.

But he wanted to continue to serve. In 1984, he ran for the Texas House of Representatives, and he was elected in the Third District in a special election in 1991.

Here in the United States Congress, he served for 28 years. He served on the Ways and Means Committee and continued to be an icon of virtue, a paragon of service, and a man whose shoes I can never truly fill but in whose footsteps I resolve to try to walk in.