Brendan Boyle

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin), the always eager gentleman and the distinguished ranking member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, just to fact check here what we heard, the previous speaker said that the national average for a gallon of gas is $3 a gallon. No, that is what it was 2 months ago. Today, as of literally just a few moments ago when I checked, the national average is $4.22 a gallon. Again, last month was the largest monthly increase in the price of gas since 1967. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Amo), a member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, listen for the dog that didn't bark. Do you notice what the other side hasn't mentioned once during this debate--a debate, mind you, on a reconciliation budget bill--nothing about cost; nothing about their plan to bring down the cost of gas, which had the biggest monthly increase in my lifetime thanks to this administration's policies; nothing to make healthcare more affordable; nothing about childcare to make that more affordable; nothing to make housing more affordable; nothing at all about that. They have nothing to say because they have no plan, and they don't have one dime for any of that in their bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from the Commonwealth of Kentucky (Mr. McGarvey), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu), also a member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Boy, that sounds like a scary hellscape that the last couple speakers on the other side have described. I am just glad they are not talking about the United States because in the country where I live, actually specifically in my city of Philadelphia, the murder rate is lower today than at any point in the 1960s. There are a lot of American cities right now that have the lowest violent crime rate in my lifetime. I can understand, though, why they want to talk about anything but costs because right now, according to one opinion poll, the American people are more pessimistic today about their own economic future than they were even in the depths of the Great Recession, and they rate this President the lowest job approval on the economy since George W. Bush in the middle of the Great Recession. You can understand why they want to talk about anything except for costs and the financial livelihoods of most American households. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the distinguished ranking member of the Education and Workforce Committee and also a member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta), who is a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me set the stage here for what has brought us to this point. Last year, over the course of the first 6 months of the year, mind you, there was reconciliation 1.0. That was what the other side and the President used to call the big, beautiful bill. Do you remember that? You don't hear that phrase too much anymore. Do you know why? It is one of the most unpopular pieces of legislation to pass Congress in modern American history, with a more than 2-to-1 disapproval over approval. Why is that? Because the American people know what was in the bill. The American people know that it throws more than 15 million Americans off their healthcare--more than 17 million, according to one nonpartisan service. In addition to that, it raises healthcare costs for tens of millions more. That is not all. It also cuts nutrition assistance, the biggest cuts to the SNAP program in American history--on and on. I could take up the next hour listing the cuts. Why are those cuts in there? In order to fund the biggest tax breaks for billionaires in American history, but that is not all. It is also the biggest increase to our national debt in American history, and that is not all. It also includes $140 billion--record funding, mind you-- for ICE and CBP. That is what has set the stage for reconciliation 2.0, the bill that is now in front of us. This bill is quite different in that it is narrowly pertaining to just two areas: ICE and CBP. That is interesting to me because one thing the vast majority of the American people agree on--whether they are Democrat, Republican, or Independent--is that costs keep going up. They haven't come down in the last year and a half. They have only gotten worse. They have only gotten higher. That is no accident. It is not because of something like a terrorist attack or the business cycle. No. It is directly because of this President's reckless policies: trade policies that have spiked inflation and a war in Iran that has taken the average price for a gallon of gas from under $3 a gallon just 2 months ago to now over $4.20 a gallon and rising. You don't see anything in this reconciliation 2.0 to address anything that I just discussed, any of the rising costs, any of the rising healthcare costs, any of the rising costs at the supermarket--nothing, nada, zilch, zero. The only thing that is in this is another $70 billion for ICE and CBP, on top of the record funding that was in the bill last year. The American people simply want costs to come down, period. Unfortunately, those priorities are not being met by this Republican majority. Now, I want to be clear: I believe--and sometimes this is inconvenient on both sides of the aisle to say it. I strongly believe in a strong border, period. What I don't believe in is any agency of the government shooting and killing American citizens in the streets of our country. I think the vast majority of the American people agree with me that we need to have a secure border, but that we cannot have any agency of our government carrying out killings on our streets. We know that there are reforms that need to happen with ICE and CBP in order to rein in the abuses that we have seen. Unfortunately, none of that is in the bill before us. Instead, it is just showering them with additional billions of dollars that they simply don't need. Mr. Speaker, I really hope we can get back soon to a budget bill that addresses the needs and concerns of the American people. Unfortunately, that is not the one that is presently before us. The American people deserve far better. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my legislation, H.R. 2319, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act. This is a bipartisan, commonsense bill that takes on a serious and too often overlooked public health disparity. The legislation would require the Secretary of HHS, in consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, to conduct an interagency review of research on women and lung cancer, including access to preventive services. It would also strengthen interagency coordination on public awareness efforts so more women have the information they need to understand their risk, seek early detection, and get care sooner. This matters because while smoking rates, fortunately, have declined in the United States and overall lung cancer rates have fallen, one troubling disparity remains. Women who have never smoked are still more likely to develop lung cancer than men who have never smoked. Research has continued to point to that gap, and it deserves far more attention than it gets today. According to the American Cancer Society, about 120,000 women in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2026. That is roughly 170 women every day who will die as a result of this. That is roughly one woman in 8\1/2\ minutes. Approximately 62,000 women will die each year from this disease. As my colleague and good friend and partner in this, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, mentioned, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, so these numbers should get our attention. This bill is about doing something constructive. It is about improving research, strengthening prevention, expanding awareness, and helping ensure women have better access to the services that can support earlier diagnosis and treatment. Simply put, earlier detection saves lives. Better information saves lives, and more attention to this disparity can save lives. Despite progress in prevention and treatment, declines in lung cancer incidence have continued to move faster for men than for women. The reality is the scientific community still does not know why, so this tells us, frankly, we have plenty of work to do. Madam Speaker, I want to tell you something that is personal. I have been working on this issue for 8 years now, ever since our late colleague who passed away 2 years ago, Rick Nolan, asked me to take this up just in the back there in the Members Cloakroom as he was leaving the Congress in December of 2018. He had shared with me the struggles that at the time his daughter was going through. Rick's daughter, Katherine Benson, courageously battled stage IV non-small cell lung cancer until her passing in 2020 at only 46 years old. She courageously fought this awful form of cancer for about 5 years. Rick's legacy and Katherine's legacy lives on in this fight and in the determination to spare other families the same heartbreak. In addition to thanking my friend and colleague, Brian Fitzpatrick, whom I mentioned previously and who has been a great Republican partner and co-lead with me in this effort, I also thank Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Pallone for their support as well as all of the members of the Energy and Commerce Committee. At the end of the day, this bill does something very simple and important. It focuses attention on a deadly disparity that has gone overlooked for far too long, and it pushes the Federal Government to respond with the seriousness this issue demands. Madam Speaker, this is a thoughtful, bipartisan proposal that can save lives, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2319.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the winner of the Congressional App Challenge for Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District, Andrew Kuang. Andrew is a sophomore at the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush High School in Northeast Philadelphia. Andrew's app, NotificationBot, is a powerful automation tool for Discord, designed to take the repetitive workload off server moderators and administrators. It allows for customizable, automated announcements and notifications in Discord, freeing up moderators and administrators to focus instead on fostering their communities and engaging with their servers. Andrew's tremendous app contributes to solving an issue for the countless Discord moderators that are responsible for maintaining online communities enjoyed by about 90 million active daily users. As the Representative of Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District, I am always pleased to support initiatives that showcase the creativity and ingenuity of students from every neighborhood of the City of Philadelphia. In that light, I am proud to showcase Andrew's achievements. I hope Andrew takes great pride in his success and continues to use his talents to inspire change and innovation. I again congratulate him on this achievement, and hope that this moment serves to motivate him to continue to work toward a better future. Mr. Speaker, I find it altogether fitting that the U.S. House of Representatives congratulates Andrew and recognizes the great ingenuity and creativity of his app.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Donald Michael Wittenberg, a Philadelphia community leader and constituent of Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District who passed away on March 5th. Don's leadership in the Philadelphia community cannot be overstated, and I am incredibly grateful for his friendship over many years, as well as the contributions he has made to our city. Don graduated from Olney High School in 1964 and Temple University in 1969 with bachelor's and master's degrees in education. He would go on to serve as an educator within the School District of Philadelphia for 42 years. He taught at Meade, McClure, Rowen, and Leeds Middle Schools, served as an Auxiliary Principal at Kenderton and Hanna Elementary Schools, and as the Principal of Pennell and Franklin Elementary Schools. Don completed his career as an Educational Facilities Planner for the school district's central office. Don's impact on the Philadelphia community, however, went beyond the classroom and the thousands of students he served. He has served as a member, Treasurer, and President of B'nai B'rith Educators Unit, an organization dedicated to supporting Jewish educators in Philadelphia. He was the Curator for the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center for 25 years and was honored by the Columbus Forum as the first recipient of their Unity Award for promoting cultural awareness. Honoring Don's life and service as an educator and community leader would not be complete without also paying tribute to him as a beloved husband to his wife, Bonnie, and the late Louellan, father to Steven and Jan, and grandfather to Lillian, Aidan, and Leo. I offer my deepest condolences to the Wittenberg family and their friends, and I will continue to hold them in my prayers. Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting that the House recognizes Don for his exceptional life and thanks him for his leadership in the Philadelphia community and education system.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the three Irish-born signatories of the Declaration of Independence. They were Matthew Thornton, James Smith, and George Taylor. These individuals played a crucial role in freeing the colonies from the rule of the British monarchy and establishing the United States of America. Signed in Philadelphia in what was known at the time as the Pennsylvania State House, now Independence Hall, the Declaration of Independence stands as a testament to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial this year, we recognize those who found the courage to establish a more perfect union 250 years ago. The Irish-born signatories of the Declaration of Independence knew well the struggles of living under the colonial rule of the British Empire and understood the potential for America to thrive as a free and independent Nation. Irish identity includes a strong solidarity against oppression in all forms, and these signatories undoubtedly had this in mind during their participation in the Second Continental Congress. St. Patrick's Day is an important reminder that we are a Nation of immigrants and that Irish Americans have a rich history in the United States. The deep community that has been fostered here since its founding remains strong to this day. Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy, stands proudly with its Irish American community in celebrating the Irish signatories of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of their contribution to the founding of the United States, we honor the Irish-born signatories of the Declaration of Independence.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Philadelphia Gay News (PGN), the second-longest continuously publishing LGBTQ newspaper in the Nation, and a pillar of the Philadelphia journalistic community. Under the extraordinary leadership of founder Mark Segal, PGN has remained the preeminent voice for Philadelphia's LGBTQ community for decades and has been a source of some of our region's finest journalism. From being the forum of the first ever op-ed from a major- party presidential candidate published in an LGBTQ newspaper, to being recognized with an historical marker by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, PGN has been a trailblazing publication since its founding in 1976. PGN could not have had the tremendous success that it has had over the last half-century if not for the vision and exceptional leadership of Mark Segal. Mark's role as both a longtime civic leader in Philadelphia and as an icon of our Nation's LGBTQ community cannot be overstated. He founded Gay Youth in 1970 and was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front in 1969. Mark also partnered with the Obama Administration in 2012 to create the John C. Anderson Apartments in Philadelphia, the Nation's first LGBTQ-friendly senior affordable housing facility. The same tireless work ethic that helped him build PGN continues to influence his various civic efforts, for which our city and country are immeasurably better off and for which we are all grateful. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing and congratulating Mark and the entire Philadelphia Gay News team as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this extraordinary journalistic institution.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Paula McKinney-Rainey, both a constituent of mine and a valued member of my staff, as she retires from the House of Representatives next month. Paula is a proud Philadelphian and is an alumnus of Penn State University, as well as an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Prior to joining my office in 2015, she had extensive experience working in state and local governments as well as the nonprofit sector in a variety of capacities. Paula was a Management Analyst in the County of Los Angeles Chief Administration Office before spending several years serving Pennsylvanians in roles with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Governor's Office of Housing and Community Revitalization. Through Paula's almost eleven years of service in my office, she has helped thousands of constituents with a variety of issues. Through her extraordinary efforts, Paula has demonstrated outstanding care and empathy for those she serves. Over the years, she has also been an indispensable community representative on my behalf, providing countless constituents and stakeholders with information on how our office and their government can help them in their moment of need. In addition to her role in my office, Paula is also a longtime dedicated community leader. For more than twenty years, she has served as a Philadelphia Committeeperson in the city's 61st Ward, working thirteen hour days at polling stations every Election Day to help educate voters. Mr. Speaker, I hope all my colleagues will join me to congratulate Paula on her retirement, thank her for her exceptional career as a civil servant, and commend her on her unwavering commitment to not just the City of Philadelphia, but to our entire Nation.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bernie Prazenica on his retirement as President and General Manager of WPVI-TV, Philadelphia's most-watched local news and entertainment television station. A graduate of Temple University, Prazenica's illustrious 43-year career in television saw stops in Pittsburgh, Richmond, and Raleigh before he returned to Philadelphia in 1994. He would go on to serve as the President and General Manager of WPVI beginning in 2007, making him the longest-serving General Manager in the station's history. Throughout the entirety of his tenure, Prazenica played a critical role in maintaining WPVI's status as the home of the most-watched local news broadcast in Philadelphia, Action News, a title which the station and program have held for nearly 50 years. In 2009, he oversaw the construction of a state-of-the-art, 110,000 square foot digital broadcasting facility next to the station's previous home. His unwavering commitment to his work has ensured that throughout his tenure, the station has remained at the forefront of producing groundbreaking news, brought into countless homes across the Delaware Valley every single day. Prazenica is also an active participant in Philadelphia's business, cultural and philanthropic communities. He has actively served on many boards, including those of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Corporate Council. He has previously chaired the Police Athletic League and Temple University's Klein College Board of Advisors. In 2009, Prazenica was recognized by Philadelphia Magazine as one of the City's 75 Most Influential People and, in 2024, he was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame. Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting that the House recognizes Bernie Prazenica for his exceptional career and congratulates him on his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my fellow Pennsylvanian, the Honorable Gene Dodaro, whose term as U.S. Comptroller General comes to an end this month. For 52 years, Gene Dodaro has served the American people as part of the Government Accountability Office. During his 17-year tenure as head of the agency, he has embodied GAO's core values of accountability, integrity, and reliability, leading work that has resulted in more than $1 trillion in taxpayer savings and other financial benefits. His dedication to fighting fraud, waste, and abuse has helped shape the federal civil service for more than half a century. Gene joined GAO as an entry-level analyst in 1973 after graduating from Pennsylvania's Lycoming College with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He went on to lead GAO's Accounting and Information Management Division, which focused on financial management, computer technology, and budget issues. He served in that role until 1999, when he became GAO's Chief Operating Officer, the agency's number-two position, helping guide the direction and long-term vision of the workforce. After 35 years of service, when many might have chosen to step away, Gene accepted an appointment as Acting Comptroller General in 2008. He was later confirmed by the Senate in 2010 to serve a 15-year term as Comptroller General. Under his leadership, GAO continued its impactful work on the federal government's long-term fiscal outlook, efforts to reduce overlap and duplication across agencies, and the High-Risk List, which highlights programs and operations vulnerable to waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, or in need of transformation. As Comptroller General, Gene also spearheaded the creation of GAO's Innovation Lab, which has strengthened oversight capacity through the use of data science, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. Throughout his career, Gene has been a steadfast defender of Congress' power of the purse. His work has been especially important to the Budget Committee, including oversight of Impoundment Control Act reviews. He also directed the first-ever audit of the consolidated financial statements of the federal government, an annual effort that has significantly improved transparency and accountability. Gene Dodaro is widely respected on both sides of the aisle as a principled, nonpartisan public servant. He has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the American Society for Public Administration, the Association of Government Accountants, and the National Academy of Public Administration. Earlier this year, he was inducted into the Government Hall of Fame for his lasting impact on accountability, fiscal responsibility, and public trust in government. As Gene's term as Comptroller General concludes, his legacy at GAO and in public service is secure. The standards he set, the integrity he brought to the job, and the respect he earned across Congress will continue to shape the institution he devoted his career to strengthening. I thank Gene Dodaro for his extraordinary service to our country and wish him continued success in the next chapter of his public service.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Larry Dean Holman, a Navy veteran and constituent of Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District who passed away on November 14th. Nothing is more important than honoring those who risk their lives to protect us and our flag, and Larry lived by that ideal every day. Larry served our country with courage and honor, having served with the Navy during the Vietnam War. After his service, my office and I developed a longstanding relationship with Larry, who made it his mission to advocate for those he served alongside. In this capacity, he would go on to serve as the leader of the Lt. Charles Freedman Post 706 of the Jewish War Veterans, a committee member for the Pennsylvania Veterans Justice Project, and a representative of PA CARES. Larry's commitment and passion for this cause led him to be an extremely reliable advocate and spokesperson for his fellow servicemembers who risked everything to defend our Nation. He always showed up to advance VA issues and never hesitated to speak at events in my district to provide an often much-needed perspective informed by his lived experience. Honoring Larry's life as a veteran and advocate would not be complete without also paying tribute to him as a beloved husband to his wife, Debbie, a father to Lori, Yuko, Andrew, Jodi and Matthew, a grandfather of seven, and a great-grandfather of five. I offer my deepest condolences to the Holman family and their friends, and I will continue to hold them in my prayers. Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting that the House recognizes Larry for his exceptional life and thanks him for his service to our Nation and his steadfast advocacy for those he served alongside.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Danny Miller on his retirement as Co-Executive Producer for WHYY's Fresh Air with Terry Gross & Tonya Mosely, one of the most successful national public radio shows in the Nation. Miller, who joined the Fresh Air team in 1978 as an intern, has been an integral part of the show's tremendous growth, now reaching over 6 million weekly listeners across 138 different countries. Miller's leadership and judgement is apparent in the more than 20,000 segments he helped produce. This expertise was especially critical as he led the program through unprecedented periods of technological transition. Thanks in large part to Miller, Fresh Air has become a tremendous success, with two Peabody Awards under its belt and recognition as one of TIME Magazine's top 100 podcasts ever. Miller's indispensable relationship with Terry Gross, the show's host, has laid the foundation for Fresh Air 's characteristic sound and production style, enabling the program to reach its current levels of recognition. Under Miller's creative watch, Fresh Air has accumulated an extremely impressive list of guests across all industries, including Johnny Cash, Maya Angelou, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Robin Williams. Without Miller's intellectual curiosity, detailed nature, and vigorous collaboration, none of this would be possible. Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting that the House recognizes Danny Miller for his exceptional career and congratulates him on his well- deserved retirement.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the revered Ninth Guru of Sikhism--the world's fifth-largest religion, with nearly 30 million followers worldwide, including one million here in the United States. A champion of religious freedom for all, Guru Tegh Bahadur courageously confronted the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's campaign of religious persecution, defending the right of every individual to freely practice their faith. For this act of unwavering conviction, he was publicly executed in 1675 in Delhi, India, and is fondly remembered as Dharam Di Chadar, or, ``Shield of the Religions,'' for his ultimate sacrifice to protect the rights of others and uphold the universal principles of human dignity, freedom of conscience, and the right to worship according to one's beliefs. Pennsylvania's Sikh community, whose roots trace back to the State of Punjab in India, began immigrating to our Nation more than a century ago. These remarkable Americans have played a vital role in the growth and vitality of the Keystone State and have enriched their communities through their commitment to tolerance, service, and civic engagement. These extraordinary ideals reflect the Sikh tradition of seeking peace through equality, fraternity, and respect, while striving to overcome division through sacred teachings and the admirable tenets of honest work, charity, volunteerism, and sharing with those in need. Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting that the House recognize Guru Tegh Bahadur's supreme sacrifice for human rights and religious freedom, and encourage all Americans to join in its observance on November 24, 2025.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor The Pew Charitable Trusts, an incredible organization that is focused on improving and invigorating civic life. Founded in 1948, The Pew Charitable Trusts has been advancing solutions to societal challenges for 77 years, and I know that the Philadelphia community has benefited immensely from this important work. Founder Joseph Newton Pew and his wife, Mary Anderson Pew initially focused their philanthropic work on anonymously providing grants to priorities such as cancer research, the Red Cross, and a pioneering project to assist historically Black colleges. Over the years, this institution has evolved into a much more expansive enterprise, allowing flexibility to engage in a variety of community issues and inform the public on responsible governance. A tireless champion for social good, The Pew Charitable Trust has remained committed to the civic life of Philadelphia and the importance of an informed democracy. This endeavor, inspired by Joseph Newton Pew's vision, stands as a testament to this organization's enduring impact on our city. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of their unwavering commitment to serving others, we honor The Pew Charitable Trust.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to our Nation's Capital and to recognize him for his acceptance of the distinguished Templeton Prize. Born Demetrios Arhondonis in 1940, His All-Holiness Bartholomew completed his undergraduate studies at the historic Theological School of Halki. He would also pursue graduate degrees in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Greece. Before being ordained to the Diaconate in 1961 and to the Priesthood in 1969, he was a founding member of the Society of Canon Law of the Oriental Churches. The Ecumenical Patriarch served as Assistant Dean at the Theological School of Halki from 1968 to 1972 before his appointment as Personal Secretary to the late Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios. In 1973, he was elected as Metropolitan of Philadelphia and, in 1990, Metropolitan of Chalcedon. Finally, he was elected in October of 1991 as the 270th Archbishop of the 2000-year-old Church founded by the Apostle Andrew. As the spiritual leader to 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is known as a transnational figure who has focused on organizing international and interfaith peace conferences, challenging racism and religious fundamentalism, and promoting religious freedom and human rights. He is also seen as a global leader in championing environmental stewardship and has organized several international summits to address ecological issues. His accolades include a Congressional Gold Medal in 1997, recognition from The Guardian as one of the world's leaders in raising environmental awareness, and recognition from Time Magazine as one of the world's most influential people. Mr. Speaker, it's my privilege to welcome the Ecumenical Patriarch to Washington, D.C. and to congratulate him on his receiving such an esteemed award in the Templeton Prize.

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania

Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 92nd birthday of Louise Bishop, a former longtime member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives with whom I had the distinction of serving for six years. Born in Cairo, Georgia, Louise graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1953. She completed a communications and radio broadcasting degree at the American Foundation of Dramatic Arts, where she developed her talent to become the host of ``The Louise Williams Show,'' This gospel radio show was a fixture in the homes of many Philadelphians, providing inspiring hymns that had an enduring impact on our city. Following work in radio broadcasting and ministry in Philadelphia, Louise was elected to represent Pennsylvania's 192nd Legislative District in 1989 and was reelected to serve for thirteen more consecutive terms. During that time, she was a consistent advocate for her constituents and the City of Philadelphia, working tirelessly to bring positive change to our city and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor Louise and join her family and friends in celebration as we lift her up as an accomplished legislator, a longtime Philadelphia leader, and a dear friend.