Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Paul and Sandra ``Sandy'' Pimentel. Both raised in Quincy, Massachusetts, Paul and Sandy first met as kids and began a friendship that would last a lifetime and eventually grow into a marriage spanning five decades. After graduating high school, Paul went on to attend Harvard University, where he received a degree in engineering and applied physics, before serving in Vietnam as a lieutenant in the United States Army. Sandy went on to attend the University of Massachusetts Boston and the Lynn Hospital School of Nursing, where she respectively received her

Bachelor of Arts in management of human services and a degree in nursing. After Paul and Sandy got married in 1965, the young couple moved to Long Beach, California, while Paul completed his military training, before moving to Albion, Michigan, where the Pimentels settled for many years with their children. In Albion, Sandy and Paul became active in forums and discussions at their church regarding racial integration and inequality as the civil rights movement continued to progress. It was also during this time that Sandy became friends with Barbara Gladney, and together the Pimentels and Gladneys started a dinner club called the ``Melting Pot.'' The multicultural social group gained such popularity that the dinners had to be moved to large event halls. After returning to Massachusetts, Sandy and Paul continued their important work advancing social change. Paul became the youngest Deputy Secretary of State for Massachusetts and helped to create Vineyard Power, a clean energy cooperative bringing offshore wind power to the Cape and Islands. Sandy served as the Director of Human Services for the Norfolk County District Attorney's office and received awards from the Department of Interior for her work implementing the Alliance Against Racism and Violence Program and from the State of California for her efforts to empower young people to address racism in their communities.

Sadly, we lost Paul too soon on February 5, 2019, at the age of 76. Beyond their professional achievements, what Paul and Sandy valued most during their 53 years of marriage was their family. Together they raised their five children, Lisa, Christopher, Susan, Courtney, and Joanie, and many foster children. The hallmark of the Pimentel family has always been their dedication to uplifting those in their community and willingness to provide a warm and welcoming home for those who need it most. Over the years, the Pimentels have established themselves as a pillar of the Martha's Vineyard community, serving on countless committees and boards for local organizations, including Martha's Vineyard Community Services and the Martha's Vineyard Diversity Coalition Board of Trustees. To celebrate Sandy and Paul's work and commitment to helping others, Martha's Vineyard Community Services is holding a dedication ceremony for the newly named Paul and Sandra Pimentel Early Childhood Center on June 26, 2024.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Paul and Sandy Pimentel, and I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking them and celebrating their dedication to supporting and advocating for those in their community.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of H. Res. 965, calling for the immediate release of Ryan Corbett, a United States citizen, who was wrongfully detained by the Taliban on August 10, 2022, and condemning the wrongful detention of Americans by the Taliban, as well.

I thank Representative Tenney and Chairman McCaul for their work on this resolution, as well as Ranking Member Meeks and so many other people who joined together in a bipartisan effort to highlight the Taliban's wrongful detention of Ryan Corbett.

Ryan and his family made Kabul home for more than a decade. In 2017, he founded a business consultancy focused on straightening out Afghanistan's private sector.

Anna Corbett spoke in front of our committee this past November and again in April at a roundtable for the families of detainees. She shared the harrowing experience she and her family have been through themselves and some insights she has gained into Ryan's conditions in a Taliban prison. She has continued to advocate with our government to continue to do all that it can to bring him home.

I know that the Biden administration has made the return of Americans detained overseas, including Ryan's case, a priority at the highest of levels, particularly for Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens and Special Representative for Afghanistan Tom West. I thank them for their focus on bringing American citizens wrongfully detained abroad home and pledge to continue to work with them, Representative Tenney, and others to bring Ryan home, too.

Finally, I thank our partners in Qatar, who serve as our protecting power in Afghanistan and who have been key partners in helping secure the release of American citizens in Afghanistan and around the world. We are grateful for Qatar's ability to conduct occasional health and safety visits to Ryan and demand that the Taliban allow these visits much more frequently.

Ultimately, we call on the Taliban themselves to release Ryan immediately and allow him to safely return to his family.

Madam Speaker, I encourage our colleagues to join together in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. McGarvey), who has been a strong supporter of Ryan's release and is working hand in hand with Ryan's father, who lives in his area.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Once again, I thank the gentleman from Texas for his leadership on the committee dealing with this, as well as Ranking Member Meeks.

Madam Speaker, I close by expressing my deepest sympathy to Anna Corbett and all of Ryan's children, family, and loved ones. I can only imagine the pain that they must feel every day and the fear they have for Ryan's safety every day. The strength and courage they have shown and their commitment to securing his release is truly remarkable, though nothing will ease their pain until Ryan is brought home.

They should know that Congress stands with them and that we will not rest until he is home safely and reunited with them. That is the mission of this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in strongly supporting this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in strong support of my resolution condemning Russia's unjust and arbitrary detention of Russian opposition leader, Vladimir Kara-Murza, who has stood up in the defense of democracy, the rule of law, and free and fair elections in Russia. This resolution comes at a significant time, as Vladimir Putin continues his unjust war of aggression against Ukraine and reprehensible crackdown on the Russian democratic opposition both at home and abroad.

First, I would like to thank my colleagues who have cosponsored this resolution and shown support for Vladimir Kara-Murza as he remains wrongfully detained in a Russian prison. This includes Representatives Tom Kean, Steve Cohen, and Joe Wilson.

I would also like to express my gratitude to the leadership of the committee, Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks, and the entire Foreign Affairs Committee for their support of this resolution. I know the issue of political prisoners is a serious concern to the entire committee, and this resolution brings much to bear on the demonstrations of bipartisan support for standing in solidarity with Vladimir Kara-Murza and the thousands of political prisoners in Russia, Belarus, and around the world.

This resolution strongly condemns the wrongful detention of Vladimir Kara-Murza, and it calls for his immediate release. Vladimir is a champion of justice who fought tirelessly for democracy in Russia by Russians and for Russians. He did this for decades. As we have witnessed Vladimir Putin wage his war of aggression in Ukraine and the crackdown on free expression at home, in that context, Vladimir Kara- Murza stands out as a free and independent voice of truth exposing the Kremlin's lies and oppression.

During President Biden's State of the Union Address earlier this year, I had the honor of being joined by prodemocracy activist Evgenia Kara-Murza, Vladimir's wife, as my guest. Evgenia's resolve and courage was clear, and the stories she told me about Vladimir as well as her own personal courage only reaffirmed my commitment to advocate for his immediate release.

In a March 2022 speech before the Arizona House of Representatives, Vladimir Kara-Murza presented a defiant condemnation of Vladimir Putin's malign policies and corrupt leadership. Following this brave speech, Vladimir returned to Russia defiantly to continue his work to achieve democracy in Russia. He was subsequently arrested and wrongfully charged for speaking the truth.

Well ahead of his speech before the Arizona House of Representatives, the Kremlin targeted Vladimir for his resistance and opposition. In fact, in 2015, and again in 2017, he survived two assassination attempts where agents of the Russian Government attacked him. They attacked him with a military-grade poison.

Despite the threats against his life and his 2022 detention, Vladimir Kara-Murza continues to speak out from prison against the repression he and so many other Russians suffer for calling out Vladimir Putin's authoritarian actions and his illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

Unfortunately, Vladimir Kara-Murza is not the only individual wrongfully detained in Russia. Paul Whelan, whose sister is a constituent and a tireless advocate on his behalf, has sat in a Russian prison cell for over 5 years as the Kremlin plays politics with his life. Journalist Evan Gershkovich was imprisoned over a year ago simply for doing his job. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reporter Alsu Kurmasheva continues to make her way through a sham trial today.

It is simple. Journalism is not a crime, and this resolution stands in solidarity with all those wrongfully detained in Russia and Belarus for speaking the truth and calls for their immediate release.

At the same time, remember those like Alexei Navalny, Boris Nemtsov, Sergei Magnitsky, and many others who have died at the hands of the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin's regime.

Ultimately, this resolution represents a strong, bipartisan show of support for Vladimir Kara-Murza and a redoubling of efforts to seek his immediate release.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

In closing, I again reflect on Vladimir Kara-Murza's work to achieve a true democracy in Russia, one made by Russians and built for Russians. In the face of death threats and physical attacks on his own well-being, Vladimir Kara-Murza remains a prominent figure in Russia's democracy movement. He has stood up for the truth, speaking against Vladimir Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine and the Kremlin's comprehensive crackdown on free expression.

As I have said before, Vladimir's story is not only one of defiance but one of Kremlin weakness. His story, his words, and his vision terrify and threaten the Putin regime, and they undermine the fictitious Kremlin narrative regarding Putin's invasion of Ukraine. That fact shows the true strength of Mr. Kara-Murza's moral conviction.

Finally, as this resolution makes its way through the House, we call on the Russian Government to immediately release Mr. Kara-Murza and all other Russian opposition leaders detained because of their opposition to the Putin regime.

At the same time, wrongfully detained Americans like Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva must also be released. Journalism is not a crime, and we will not rest until all wrongfully detained Americans have returned home. We want them to return home as soon as possible.

I thank the Foreign Affairs Committee again for considering this resolution and the bipartisan cosponsors who have made the resolution possible. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 138, the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 138, the Senate companion bill to the bipartisan House bill, H.R. 533, which the House passed this February.

My good friend from Massachusetts, Representative McGovern, and Chairman McCaul introduced H.R. 533, and I was proud to support its passage out of committee and on the floor last year. I am glad the Senate has followed suit so we can get to this important legislation that addresses Beijing's severe and ongoing repression of the Tibetan people signed into law.

For too long, Beijing has oppressed the Tibetan people and failed to honor its commitments to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama and his representatives regarding Tibet's future. We are deeply concerned by Beijing's systematic efforts to erase the distinct religious, cultural, linguistic, and historical identity of the Tibetan people.

In a new effort to stamp out Tibetan identity, Beijing is closing local schools and uprooting children from their families by placing them in centralized Chinese boarding schools far from home. This is effectively preventing Tibetan parents and communities from passing down their language and heritage to the next generation.

This forced assimilation has raised significant concerns from multiple U.N. Special Rapporteurs who have warned that these residential schools function as a large-scale program designed to integrate Tibetans into the dominant Han culture, violating international human rights.

While Beijing employs these tactics to suppress Tibetan culture, it simultaneously propagates disinformation about Tibet and its history.

H.R. 533 calls out Beijing's oppressive tactics and relentless disinformation campaign. This bill reinforces our unwavering support for the Tibetan cause and calls on the PRC to engage in genuine dialogue with Tibetan representatives. It also strengthens the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 by enhancing our public diplomacy efforts to counter PRC disinformation about Tibet.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), who is the ranking member of the House Rules Committee and the author of H.R. 533.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman for his remarks. There has been no more determined or erstwhile supporter of the Tibetan people than Representative McGovern. I thank him for his longstanding efforts on their behalf which is really our behalf, as well, as a country.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, for too long, the Tibetan people have suffered as Beijing systematically works to erase their religious, cultural, linguistic, and historical identity. The forced assimilation through centralized Chinese boarding schools and tearing children away from their families are beyond the pale, and its refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama since 2010 only highlights Beijing's blatant disregard for resolving the Tibetan question.

This is an important and timely measure, and I thank Senator Merkley, Representative McGovern, Chairman McCaul, and all those individuals involved in getting this bill to the finish line. I also want to extend my gratitude to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for her unwavering support of this bill and principled conviction to hold the PRC accountable for its human rights violations.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join with all of us in supporting this important bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Bryant Joel Adsit, who passed away on May 22, 2024, after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Bryant was an extraordinary individual whose life exemplified resilience, love, and an unwavering dedication toward work, country, and family.

Bryant was motivated and worked hard to make a difference in the world, joining the Utah National Guard in 2009 and the Massachusetts National Guard in 2022.

Bryant excelled in the field of loss prevention and became a loss prevention manager at TJX, a role which he cherished.

Outside of his impressive career, Bryant loved motorcycles, hiking, fishing, and playing with his dogs. He found joy in the simplicity of life and enjoyed sharing it with his wife, Heather, and his two beautiful children, Jade and Calvin.

His life reminds us that even in the face of adversity, we can still leave an enduring mark on our lives and in this world.

Bryant was a soldier, a friend, a father, and, most of all, a hero to all the lives he impacted for the better.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the life of Bryant Adsit, and I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing his commitment to serving his community and serving our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Troy Clarkson as he receives the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce 2024 Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award.

Raised in Falmouth, Massachusetts, Clarkson has always had a strong commitment to supporting and bettering the lives of his fellow Falmouth residents. After graduating from Falmouth High School in 1986, Clarkson attended Boston College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in political science. Clarkson then returned to Falmouth, and at the age of 24, was the youngest person to be voted to the Town of Falmouth Select Board.

Clarkson served on the Select Board for 12 years before later taking on the role of Town Manager for the Town of Bridgewater followed by the Town of Hanover. With extensive experience working in municipal government and a master's degree in public administration from Bridgewater State University, Clarkson was named the City of Brockton's Chief Financial Officer in 2019, a role that he continues to work in today.

Throughout his career, Clarkson has always remained involved in his hometown and the local Cape Cod community. Clarkson serves on the Falmouth Housing Trust Board and is the President of Carousel of Light, Inc. as well as the founder and President of the Sober Living Foundation. Clarkson has also worked with several local organizations over the years, including the Falmouth Commodores, Falmouth Education Foundation, Falmouth Road Race, Falmouth Village Association, Rotary Club of Falmouth, and Falmouth Community Television. Additionally, Clarkson writes a column for the Falmouth Enterprise on the local issues impacting the community and promotes collaboration and understanding through his writing.

On May 14, 2024, the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce will hold its 110th Annual Meeting and Award Dinner, where Clarkson will be honored as the 2024 Outstanding Citizen of the Year. When it came time for the chamber to decide who to name the Outstanding Citizen of the Year, the vote for Clarkson was unanimous. Clarkson's lifetime of advocacy and dedication to the Falmouth community serves as an example to all.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Troy Clarkson, and I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking him for his continuous and unwavering commitment to the Town of Falmouth over the years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Fred Zimri Washburn, as the Middleborough community comes together to dedicate the 1st Lieutenant Fred Z. Washburn Bridge in his honor.

Born on October 11, 1944, to parents Margery and Zimri Washburn, Fred was raised on Fuller Street in Middleborough, Massachusetts, alongside his siblings, Margery and David. After Fred graduated from Memorial High School in 1962, he went on to receive a degree from Wenworth Institute before joining the United States Army. Fred first completed his basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, followed by Officer Candidate School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Fred later earned his pilot wings as a 2nd Lieutenant at the Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia.

Fred was deployed to Vietnam on May 30, 1968, as an Army 1st Lieutenant in the 71st Assault Helicopter Company, where he piloted helicopters in rescue missions. Fred would write home to his mother about the feeling of reward he felt for helping to save the lives of his fellow service members. Fred's unwavering

commitment to rescuing Americans injured in combat was undeniable throughout his time bravely serving in the U.S. Army.

Sadly, we lost Fred too soon on October 2, 1968, nine days short of his 24th birthday, after his helicopter was shot down in the Quang Tin Province of South Vietnam. For Fred's bravery and sacrifice for our country, Fred's name is listed on panel 42W, line 65 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.

After Fred's family and former Middleborough classmates took note that there was no memorial for Fred in his hometown, the community came together to request that the town allow for the culvert bridge on Wareham Street to be renamed in Fred's memory. The measure was approved by the Middleborough Select Board earlier this year, and on April 24, 2024, the bridge will be dedicated in Fred's honor and named the 1st Lieutenant Fred Z. Washburn Bridge.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the life of 1st Lieutenant Fred Washburn. I ask that my colleagues join me in commending Fred's siblings, Margery and David; Steve Adelman, the Town of Middleborough's Veterans Service Officer; and the Middleborough Memorial High School Class of 1962 for their work to ensure that Fred's dedication and sacrifice for his community and our country be remembered for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany) for his support, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Luna), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman) for his great support on this and so many other issues we work on together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2560, the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2023. This bill is an important piece of legislation that, for the first time, provides assistance to many organizations that work to ensure the continued survival of endangered sea turtle populations in the United States.

Every species of sea turtle in the United States today is considered either threatened or endangered--every single one.

In my region, warming waters in the North Atlantic have wreaked havoc with the annual migration of sea turtles. Changing conditions are causing many sea turtles to become cold-stunned as they depart Cape Cod Bay in the fall during their southern migration. Having become hyperthermic, these turtles eventually wash ashore on our beaches, and sadly, they perish from exposure and predation. They perish at a rate of nearly 100 percent.

There has been a sudden, shocking change in the incidence of this mortality. As the temperatures in the ocean have vacillated and gotten colder, within the 2-year period of 2020 to 2022, the amount of mortality has increased twentyfold, a dramatic increase in just a short period of time.

Further, sea turtles face threats from entanglement and ingestion of marine debris, from which, nationally, there were more than 7,000 instances just in the year of 2022.

This isn't just about my region. This legislation is supported by 72 different organizations in 27 different States, and it is bipartisan in nature. The Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act will provide resources to the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network, a consortium of numerous aquariums and not-for-profit organizations that work together to rescue, rehabilitate, and eventually release back into the wild stranded and entangled sea turtles.

This legislation is very efficient on many fronts.

Number one, this small amount of money, if appropriated, will move forward and take advantage of an increased ability to organize nonprofits and volunteers at no expense whatsoever to taxpayers.

It is also a moneymaker. Sea turtles are an amazing attraction. My wife and I just recently went to an area where we witnessed so many excursions, ferries, people coming from all over the world to go down and not only look at shipwrecks that are undersea but look at sea turtles.

In fact, I read just this week in a publication that there is one sea turtle, an older sea turtle in an aquarium, that was marking its 50 millionth visitor view--one turtle. It is a necessary attraction not only to preserve their uniqueness and their value but also to other people. It generates money that, again, helps taxpayers here.

Finally, the sea turtles themselves are efficient and helpful. They graze on sea grass and other areas. Their natural work enhances a cleansing of the ocean, so there is a holistic view of the work where they actually are doing something, again, at no cost that is helpful.

The work that this stranding network does in protecting these endangered species is vital to ensuring the populations of this much- loved species continue to thrive into the future, helping to preserve a unique part of the ocean's biodiversity for our children and grandchildren.

I am proud to have sponsored this legislation. I am proud of the bipartisan support behind this legislation to support sea turtle conservation, and I am deeply grateful that the House has taken up this opportunity to listen to this today and, hopefully, pass this legislation going forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Margaret Spalluzzi and her fellow Rosie the Riveters as they are awarded the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal.

Born on November 2, 1921, Margaret was raised in Plymouth, Massachusetts. After reading an ad in the newspaper calling for women to fill jobs that men left behind while fighting in World War II, Margaret dared 10 of her friends to come with her to sign up to be welders. After completing their training in Quincy, six of the women stayed on as welders at the Hingham Shipyard. One of the original Rosie the Riveters, Margaret, joined the war effort welding warships from 1942 until the war ended in 1945.

During the war, around 2,500 women worked at the Hingham Shipyard where they built hundreds of ships. Security at the shipyard was tight, and workers were told not to share any information about what they were doing. The working conditions could also be very tough. Working in a room with no heat. Margaret had to wear steel toe boots and flannel pajamas under her heavy work clothes just to stay warm during the cold New England winters. However, Margaret was proud to go into work and help her country while her brothers were serving in the military and her husband, Antone ``Tony,'' was serving in the Navy as an electrician. Her shift at the shipyard was from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, but Margaret often worked overtime and seven days a week. With her first paycheck from welding, Margaret bought her mother a radio.

After the war, when her husband came back to Massachusetts, Margaret and Tony raised their daughter, Annette, together in the home that Tony built in Kingston. Margaret later went on to work at Plimoth Patuxet for 32 years as a costumed interpreter and then a greeter, until she retired at 80. In retirement, Margaret enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and visiting the Kingston Senior Center to take classes and meet up with friends.

On April 10, 2024, Congress will award the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal, which will then be displayed at the National Museum of American History. This medal is to recognize the contributions of all the women who served our country during World War II as Rosie the Riveters and the inspiration that they provided for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Margaret Spalluzzi, and I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating Margaret and her fellow Rosie the Riveters for all the critical work they did to support our country during the war.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Maura Curran as she concludes her service on the Scituate Select Board. For over two decades, Maura Curran has served as a pillar of the Scituate community, serving on the Scituate School Committee, the Advisory Committee, and for the past decade, on the Select Board. Maura's parents, the late Samuel and Mary Cavanaugh Cashman, instilled in their daughter to never hesitate to stand up for her beliefs as long as she was respectful in her disagreements. Maura has pointed to this as the greatest lesson she learned from her parents, and the people of Scituate have benefited greatly from this guiding principle throughout her service to their town.

A tireless advocate for the Scituate Public Schools, Maura stepped up and successfully ran for a position on the School Committee in 2005. Throughout her term on the School Committee, Maura worked with her colleagues to maintain the quality of education in Scituate in the face of economic challenges.

As her tenure on the School Committee came to a close, Maura once again stepped up to serve the town on the Advisory Committee, working countless evenings to ensure that Town Meeting attendees were adequately prepared for Annual and Special Town Meetings.

In 2014, Maura was elected to fill an unexpired term on what was then known as the Board of Selectmen. For the first time in twelve years there was a woman on the Board. By the end of the decade, the Board was renamed the Select Board by Town Meeting and its members were majority female for the first time in history.

Under Maura's leadership on the Select Board, Scituate built a new public safety building, senior center, athletic field complex, and the Gates Middle School. Additionally, the town renovated its library and saw significant investments in replacing and improving water and sewer infrastructure.

Not seeking re-election this spring, Maura will step down from the Select Board after ten years of dedicated service. However, the work that Maura accomplished during her time on the Scituate Select Board, School Committee, and Advisory Board will leave a lasting impact for many years to come. The Town of Scituate has benefited greatly from the sacrifices made by Maura, her husband Sean, and their daughters Lindsay and Samantha, as they worked around her attendance at Monday night School Committee meetings, Tuesday night Select Board meetings, and Thursday night Advisory Committee meetings.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Maura Curran, and I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing her steadfast commitment to public service and the people of Scituate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life of Ralph White.

Born on October 25, 1931, to parents Ralph and Victoria White, Ralph was raised in East Boston and Westwood, Massachusetts. After graduating from Boston Trade High School in 1950, Ralph joined the U.S. Marine Corps and bravely served our country. While serving in Korea with the First Marine Division as a rifleman, Ralph was wounded in action defending his post. For his bravery, Ralph was awarded a Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Once Ralph recovered, he returned to the U.S. and married the love of his life, Geraldine ``Geri'' in Kingsland, Georgia, on November 4, 1952. He first met Geri in high school after she moved down the street from Ralph and his family in 1946. Ralph was still enlisted when they married and the couple spent their first few years of marriage living along the East Coast on several military bases before settling in Walpole, Massachusetts, in 1956.

Together in Walpole, Ralph and Geri raised their four children-- Susan, Nancy, Lori, and William--and Ralph quickly established himself as a pillar of the community. He was commander of the Thomas H. Crowley American Legion Post 104, and as an avid baseball fan, Ralph coached Post 104's baseball team for nearly six decades in addition to coaching Walpole High School's baseball team for several years. To celebrate Ralph's contributions to the Walpole community, the town dedicated the sport complex at Bird Middle School in his honor in 2015.

Following his service with the U.S. Marine Corps, Ralph began working as a corrections officer at Boston's Charles Street Jail. Ralph then worked at the Walpole State Prison before becoming a state parole officer. After he was shot on the job and survived life-threatening injuries, Ralph, along with several other retired state employees, founded Mass Retirees in 1968, and Ralph served as the association's president until 2013.

Throughout his 45 years as president, Ralph played a crucial role in advancing many of the laws that protect and support public retirees in Massachusetts, including the cost-of-living adjustment. Several decades ago, with Ralph leading the charge, Mass Retirees successfully petitioned the Commonwealth to change its laws to allow all retired public employees to receive a regular and cumulative cost-of-living adjustment. Today, Mass Retirees continues to advocate for key issues affecting Massachusetts retirees, such as public pensions and health insurance. Ralph was pivotal in growing the association into the critical resource that it now serves as for its 52,000 members.

In addition to his work with Mass Retirees, Ralph served as an elected member on the State Retirement Board for many years and was a founding member of the Commonwealth's Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) Board, which he served on for two decades.

Sadly, we lost Ralph too soon on January 26, 2024, at the age of 92. Whether it be his service with the U.S. Marine Corps, his years coaching youth baseball, or his nearly six decades of work on behalf of retirees, Ralph leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as a tireless advocate and mentor to many.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the life of Ralph White, and I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing his life's commitment to serving his community, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dudley Davenport and on the dedication of the gymnasium at Sharon High School in his honor.

Born on December 14, 1937, Dudley Davenport was raised in Westport, Massachusetts, where he found a passion for sports, specifically basketball, at a young age. During Dudley's time at Westport High School, he was a four-year starter on the basketball team and set an all-time scoring record with 1,529 points throughout his high school career. This record held for 50 years and earned Dudley a place in the Westport High School Athletic Hall of Fame. It was also in Westport where Dudley first met the love of his life, Shirley. They

began dating Dudley's sophomore year and were married in 1957. Together, Dudley and Shirley raised four children--David, Diane, Tracy, and Jay.

Dudley went on to receive an athletic scholarship to play basketball at the University of Rhode Island and served as team captain. After graduating in 1960, Dudley taught at Roosevelt Junior High School in New Bedford for one year, before accepting a position to teach at Sharon High School. For 35 years, Dudley taught science at Sharon High School and quickly established himself as a pillar of the local community. In 1961, during his first year of teaching in Sharon, Dudley also began coaching the boys' varsity basketball team and continued to do so until 1983. Throughout his two decades as a coach, the team won five Hockomock League Championships and a total of 328 games. The team also qualified for the state tournament 18 times and played in 10 semi- finals and four state finals. With a coaching record of 328-114, Dudley was inducted into the Sharon High School Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches' Hall of Fame and was a recipient of the MIAA Sherman A. Kinney Award for outstanding contributions to Massachusetts high school basketball. In addition to his work as a teacher and a coach, Dudley also took on the role of athletic director at Sharon High School in 1969 and held this position for nearly three decades. In 2010, to celebrate Dudley's impact on the Hockomock League and athletics across the region, the league named a division after him--the Davenport Division.

Dudley's contributions to the Sharon community were not limited only to the classroom or basketball court. For over 40 years, Dudley served as a board member on the Sharon Credit Union as well as the Chairman for nearly two decades. Under his leadership, the credit union grew and transformed into the important resource that it is today. As an educator for over 35 years, Dudley understood the importance of access to education and played a critical role in establishing the Sharon Credit Union Scholarship Program, which awards scholarships to graduating seniors who excelled in academics, extracurriculars, and community service.

Sadly, we lost Dudley too soon on May 15, 2019, at the age of 81. Dudley leaves behind a remarkable legacy as a loving father and devoted educator, coach, and mentor to students and colleagues alike. Although Dudley had a significant record as both a coach and player, what people remember most is the positive impact that Dudley had on those around him. On February 16, 2024, the Sharon community will gather together to dedicate the gymnasium at Sharon High School in memory of Dudley Davenport.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Dudley Davenport, my friend who positively impacted the lives of so many who were privileged to know him, and I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating his lifelong commitment to mentoring and supporting those in his community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Erwina Wright on the occasion of her one hundredth birthday.

Erwina ``Winnie'' Wright was born in Lucus Grove, Mason County, Kentucky, on January 13, 1924. The daughter of Richard and Margaret Soward, Winnie grew up on a farm during the challenging years of the Great Depression.

An ardent believer in the value of education both for herself and others, Winnie graduated from Lewisburg High School in Lewisburg, Kentucky, and at a formidable time for women aspiring to a college education, she went on to enroll at the University of Kentucky where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics and organic chemistry.

During the period of World War II, Winnie joined the Civil Quartermaster Corps. This led her to work in the laboratories of Procter and Gamble in Averdale, Kentucky, where her work advanced our country's defense and war efforts.

As World War II neared its end, Erwina Soward married Goebel James Wright, who at the time was a naval aviator involved in submarine reconnaissance completing his advanced flight training in Lake City, Florida. After the war, Winnie moved back to Kentucky where she and her husband established their home for over half a century in the town of Flemingsburg. It was there that they brought up their children, James Wright and Tevis Ann Keating.

While bringing along her family, Winnie pursued a master's certificate in library science. She employed this in her position at the Flemingsburg Library where she encouraged learning, particularly in children's literacy, for over a quarter century.

After her retirement, Winnie and her husband, first as snowbirds and then as residents, adopted the welcoming community of Sun City Center, Florida, as home. There they established new roots and long-lasting friendships. Since the passing of her husband Goebel, Winnie continues to vibrantly engage in civic and social activities and has enjoyed watching her two grandchildren, Kristen Ann and Patrick Wright Keating, grow.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Winnie, and as her friends and family gathered to celebrate her one hundredth birthday on January 13, 2024, at the Plaza Club in Sun City Center, the U.S. House of Representatives joins in commemorating and congratulating Erwina ``Winnie'' Wright on the extraordinary achievements of her century long life.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast my vote for H.R. 5378--Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. I have long supported the critical medical and social services that community health centers provide and fully support their funding. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on rollcall No. 708.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today in honor of Community Health Center of Cape Cod's 25th anniversary.

Community Health Center (CHC) of Cape Cod was first established in 1998 by a group or volunteer doctors and nurses committed to providing free healthcare services to uninsured residents of the Cape and Islands. CHC originally started as the Falmouth Free Clinic in the basement of Falmouth Hospital and

served 600 patients in its first year. Today, CHC serves over 25,000 patients and has locations in five towns across the Upper Cape. It was also recently announced that CHC received a five-million-dollar grant through the American Rescue Plan to open a new location to serve more patients on Cape Cod. The new facility will be LEED silver certified and include affordable housing to support the community and workforce.

Since 2003, CHC has been led by CEO, Karen Gardner. Under Ms. Gardner's leadership, CHC continues to grow and evolve to better serve its patients. Over the last two decades, CHC has built a 33,000 square foot facility in Mashpee; added oral health, women's health, 340B pharmacy, and vision services; implemented an electronic medical record system; and was designated a federally qualified health center in 2006.

Whether it be transportation or insurance costs, Community Health Center of Cape Cod continuously works to break down barriers to accessing quality healthcare. By combining the different skills and backgrounds of its board members and staff, CHC always strives to provide the best healthcare to the community that it serves, especially those from vulnerable populations. Over the last 25 years, CHC has operated with the goal of providing high-quality, comprehensive, and affordable care regardless of a person's ability to pay and has established itself as a pillar of the Cape Cod community.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I am proud to honor Community Health Center of Cape Cod, and I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating its 25th anniversary and wishing CHC continued success in the years to come.