Pete Olson

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Matthew Murray for winning Top Male Individual at the 16th Annual Texas State High School Triathlon Championships. Matthew, a junior at Dawson High School in Pearland, was among almost 250 competitors from around Texas. Each competitor was required to compete in a 500 meter lake swim, 14 mile bike and 3 mile run. Matthew's win speaks to his dedication to the sport and immense athletic ability. This was his second year in a row to win Top Male Individual. He has made his family, coaches and community proud. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Matthew for his back-to-back wins of Top Male Individual at this year's Triathlon Championships.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud Kechi Okwuchi, for her recent graduation from St. Thomas University in Houston. Over the past ten years, Kechi has had to overcome many hardships. On December 10, 2005 Kechi was the only survivor of a horrific plane crash at Port Harcourt International Airport in Nigeria where her plane made a crash landing nearly 70 meters off of the runway. The crash claimed the lives of all of the other passengers on board including 108 of Kechi's classmates and friends. After receiving medical treatment in South Africa, Kechi moved to Pearland to receive medical treatment at Shriner's Hospital for Children in Galveston. At her May 16th Commencement Ceremony, Kechi was selected to give a speech before crossing the stage and receiving her degree. She has met and conquered many obstacles on her way to receiving her diploma. Her positive outlook throughout it all is truly an inspiration. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Kechi for graduating from St. Thomas University.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Stafford Track and Field Team for earning the Class 4A second-place team state championship trophy. Despite immense adversity during the final moments of the competition, the Stafford Team competed and brought home the silver. This win reflects the entire team's dedication to the sport, including outstanding efforts by Lynette Amaran and the young men of the 400 meter relay who both brought home gold medals. We are extremely proud of each individual on the team and the coaching efforts of Mr. Sergio Hinojosa. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the entire team in representing Stafford High School in the State Track and Field Championship.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the baseball and softball teams at Lutheran South Academy for winning the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 4A state championships. The road to success was not easy, but both teams persevered and brought home two state trophies. Lutheran South Pioneer baseball team finished the season with an 8-game winning streak that was capped off with a victory at the TAPPS 4A state tournament. The Lady Pioneer softball team completed their successful season with a shutout victory at the state championship. Each of these young athletes and their coaches has put in the time and the effort to become state champions. I am excited to see what these young athletes achieve throughout their time on the diamond. It's time for Lutheran South to expand their trophy case. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations on this outstanding victory. Thank you for bringing the gold back home.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jaelynn Walls, for earning the Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award, the most prestigious Girl Scout honor. Jaelynn is a tenth-grader at Carnegie Vanguard High School. She earned the award for her diligent work and dedication to spread her ``No Texts, No Wrecks'' campaign. Jaelynn recruited more than 15 volunteers to accompany her to driving schools in her community to stress the importance of not texting and driving. She also collected more than 400 pledges from young drivers who promised to not text and drive. Jaelynn has been a member of the San Jacinto Council for 13 years and previously earned the Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Awards. What an accomplished young woman. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Jaelynn Walls for receiving the Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Sablatura Middle School Student Council on receiving the National Association of Elementary School Principals' Student Council Excellence Award for the 2014-2015 school year. This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding efforts and hard work of students striving towards leadership, citizenship, community service, and campus spirit. This is the fourth year that the Association has awarded Sablatura's student council excellence. We appreciate the dedication that the faculty sponsors make to developing young leaders in Pearland, Texas and look forward to seeing what these students achieve in the future. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Sablatura Middle School Student Council for this remarkable achievement.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Eric Li for being named one of ten national honorees for the 2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Eric's dedication to community service started at a young age when he spearheaded a school-wide relief effort following a deadly earthquake in Sichuan, China. He and his sisters also founded a nonprofit organization called We Care Act. The organization helps children around the world recover from major natural disasters. Currently, he is teaching his peers at Pearland Junior High West to refurbish computers that will be sent to orphanages in third world countries. At such a young age, Eric has already impacted so many children around the world. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District, thank you for your commitment to philanthropy and congratulations on this remarkable achievement.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Katie Rinderknecht, Ava Rinderknecht and Sydney Rinderknecht, for winning the Top All-Female Relay during the 16th Annual Texas State High School Triathlon Championships. Ava and Sydney are sophomores at Cinco Ranch High School, and Katie is a freshman. These young women were among almost 250 competitors at the Triathlon Championships. Each relay team was required to compete in a 500 meter lake swim, 14 mile bike ride and 3 mile run. Their accomplishment recognizes extreme athletic ability, as well as a strong dedication to the sport. We wish each of these young women luck throughout their academic and athletic careers. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Katie, Ava, and Sydney for winning Top All- Female Relay team at this year's Triathlon Championships.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Aaron Pan, Brian Yuen, and Abraham Mcbarkin, for earning Top All-Male Relay during the 16th Annual Texas State High School Triathlon Championships. The Clements High School sophomores were among almost 250 competitors from around Texas competing in this race. Each relay team was required to compete in a 500 meter lake swim, 14 mile bike ride and 3 mile run. Their win recognizes extreme athletic ability as well as a strong dedication to the sport. We wish each of these young men luck throughout their academic and athletic careers. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Aaron, Brian, and Abraham for earning the Top All-Male Relay team at this year's Triathlon Championships.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, May 31, 2013, 2 years ago yesterday, at 12:08 p.m., a call is made to Houston 911. A large fire was burning off the Southwest Freeway. At 12:11, 3 minutes later, station 51 arrived. At 12:16 p.m., 5 minutes after that, station 68 arrived. At 12:23, a mayday was heard over the radio. The roof had collapsed. That call was the last alarm for four firefighters: Matthew Renaud, 35 years old, station 51; Robert Bebee, 41 years old, station 51 as well; Robert Garner, 29 years old, station 68; and a young lady from my hometown, Anne Sullivan, 24 years old, fire station 68. They are in God's hands, and we will never forget them.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank OakBend Medical Center for providing quality healthcare for Fort Bend County for 65 years. OakBend Medical Center is the largest full service healthcare facility in Fort Bend County. As Fort Bend County continues to grow, medical centers like this provide easy access to professional care. With the traffic congestion we experience as our region continues to grow, easy access to critical care is essential. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, thank you again to OakBend Medical Center for 65 years of service to the Fort Bend community. We look forward to many more years of exceptional medical care.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Marshall High School boys track and field team for winning the University Interscholastic League (UIL) 5A state track and field championship. There was no stopping these Marshall Buffalos on their way to winning. The relay team of Cederian Lynch, Amere Lattin, Kendall Sheffield and Shamon Ehiemua set a 5A state record in the 800-meter relay and claimed the state title in the 1,600-meter relay. Individually, Sheffield repeated his win in the 110-meter hurdles and Ehiemua won in the 200-meter dash. The Buffalos dominated the competition. These young men are gifted athletes, and we are excited to see all they accomplish on and off the track. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations on your state championship. Thank you for bringing the gold to Fort Bend County.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Turner College and Career High School's (TCCHS) horse judging team who recently claimed the first-ever state title for Pearland Future Farmers of America (FFA). The team comprised of Rachel Golla, Jessica Harper, Andrea Skweres, and Evann Wehman, competed against 72 other teams at the State Horse Judging Career Development Event. The teammates evaluated and ranked four horses in eight classes. After evaluating the horses, the team answered a series of questions. Their knowledge of appearance, breed characteristics, and athletic ability were really put to the test. This is a great victory for their veterinary science teacher, Jessica Koetting, and the rest of TCCHS. We are excited to see you represent Texas this October in the national competition. On behalf of the residents of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the TCCHS horse judging team for bringing home a state title for Pearland FFA. You have made your community proud.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sugar Creek Baptist Church for celebrating 40 years of prayer and worship. This 9,600-member church is a local and global leader. The church contributes upwards of $2 million annually to local and international mission and church development programs. Over the last 12 years, Sugar Creek Baptist Church has directly supported 93 new churches. Just last year, the church led the development of the Freedom Church Alliance, an organization that works with local churches and organizations to fight human trafficking. Its members are constant volunteers in local refugee and prison communities, too. Throughout its 40 years, Sugar Creek Baptist Church has been a model of faith and a leader in our community. Thank you to Sugar Creek Baptist Church and its members for all they do in Sugar Land and throughout the world. We are excited to see what the next 40 years hold for you.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Phoebe Clyde of Logos Prep Academy for winning the gold medal in the 300-meter hurdles event at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 3A state track team championships. Ms. Clyde defended her state title in the 300-meter hurdle event by running an impressive time of 47.14 seconds. She then anchored the 1600-meter relay where her team earned the silver medal. What an excellent performance to end her senior year. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Phoebe Clyde for winning the District TAPPS 3A gold medal in the 300-meter hurdle race. We look forward to seeing what you will accomplish in the future.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the outstanding members of the CRyptonite Robotics Team 624 of Cinco Ranch High School on their victory at the highly-competitive Utah Regional Robotics Tournament. The students worked together with faculty and other local mentors to design and construct a robot prototype. The machine was then tailored to accomplish specific tasks in a game during the competition. CRyptonite's robot performed flawlessly, and also won the Dallas Regional's Imagery Award, which honors outstanding visual aesthetic integration of the robot's overall engineering and the team's appearance. This exceptional team is adding yet another banner to an already impressive list of victories. On behalf of the residents of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the CRyptonite Robotics Team 624 of Cinco Ranch High School on their victory at the Utah Regional Robotics Tournament. We know that you will continue to amaze us at the world championship, and we wish you the best of luck in the future.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the City of Meadows Place and their fire department on receiving the rare national distinction of a PPC top ranking of 1. Out of the 48,000 other communities that were evaluated, only 80 out of the entire nation have received such an incredible ranking from the Insurance Services Office (ISO). The ISO utilizes a classification system to rank cities on their Fire Department's ability to protect their communities from fire-related incidents. The system evaluates fire alarm facilities, fire suppression equipment, and other fire department procedures. This comprehensive evaluation method demonstrates that it takes both exemplary city leadership and a dedicated Fire Department to achieve a ranking of this superior level. The leadership and Fire Department of the City of Meadows Place have truly prioritized the safety and welfare of their citizens. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the City of Meadows Place and its Fire Department on receiving the highest rank from the ISO. We know that you will continue to set an example in excellence, and we thank you for your service.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Memorial Hermann Health System for being recognized as a 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. This marks the third consecutive year that Memorial Hermann has received this honor. Every year, the EPA's ENERGY STAR label is given to hospitals across the country for their energy performance management. For 2015, 20 percent of U.S. hospitals given this label were part of the Memorial Hermann Health System. I commend Memorial Hermann for their continued commitment to energy efficiency. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Memorial Hermann Health System for receiving this worthy recognition. Thank you for being a leader in our community and the health care industry.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Vanessa Alejandro for being named one of Glamour Magazine's Top 10 College Women of the Year. This prestigious recognition highlights ten young women whose actions lead to positive changes in their community. Vanessa grew up in Pearland, Texas and was always fond of exploring nature as a child. Upon attending University of Houston, she realized many inner city children fail to have a safe environment to explore nature like she did as a child. As a result, she founded Warriors of the Wild, a nonprofit that teaches inner city kids about science and the environment. While pursuing her academic leadership, she became a cancer survivor. Two years ago, Vanessa was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She battled cancer like a champion continuing her studies at the same time. Her efforts to help bring the world of science to those with limited access and her success in overcoming cancer are an inspiration to all young women. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Vanessa Alejandro for being named Glamour Magazine's Top 10 College Women of the Year. We are very proud of her.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Melanie Hines of Oyster Creek Elementary on being named Fort Bend Independent School District's 2015 Elementary Teacher of the Year. Ms. Hines has been a teacher for ten years, devoting the last two years to Oyster Creek Elementary. She prides herself on taking a special interest in each student and is dedicated to preventing achievement gaps in the classroom for all of her students. I wish Ms. Hines the best of luck in her teaching career and am thankful for teachers like her that go above and beyond for their students. Great teachers help develop future leaders. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, I congratulate Melanie Hines for her commitment to teaching and for earning the Fort Bend ISD 2015 Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Julie Diaz for being named the new principal of Travis High School in Richmond, TX by the Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD). After completing her education at the University of Houston and the University of Iowa, Principal Diaz began her 30 year career as an elementary school teacher. She has worked with FBISD for the past 23 years. Her exemplary efforts have led to her two nominations as a campus Teacher of the Year, and also as a District Elementary Teacher of the year finalist. Our community is lucky to have outstanding educators like Principal Diaz. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Julie Diaz on being named the new principal of Travis High School. We know that you will continue to be an outstanding leader, and we wish you the best of luck at Travis High School.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the outstanding members of the TIRR Memorial Hermann Hotwheels team on their victory at the National Wheelchair Basketball junior championship. The team worked together with their dedicated coach to represent Texas and the Memorial Hermann Hotwheels competitively. The hard- working members of Hotwheels have demonstrated immense dedication to their team and each other, and exemplary sportsmanship and skill in wheelchair basketball. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Hotwheels on their hard-won victory at the National Wheelchair Basketball junior championship. Your dedication and commitment are a continued inspiration to us all. Best of luck in the future.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Donna Vacek on her long and successful career as head coach of the Lady Oilers, the Pearland girls' basketball team. With over 449 career wins and two regional tournament appearances, Ms. Vacek has coached the Lady Oilers to incredible victories over her 29 year career. While she is still in her prime in coaching, Ms. Vacek opted to retire and spend time caring for her family. She is leaving a legacy of victory and determination that will continue to motivate the team in future tournaments. On behalf of the residents of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again on your exemplary career as head coach of the Lady Oilers. We know that you will continue to set an example in excellence and compassion, and we thank you for leadership.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Stacy Vinson of Baines Middle School on being named Fort Bend Independent School District's 2015 Secondary Teacher of the Year. Ms. Vinson has been a teacher for the past eight years. She is committed to helping her students find their passion and believes a keen interest in a subject leads to success in the classroom. Beyond the classroom, she takes interest in her students' lives and teaches them that no matter their circumstances, they have the power to create a fruitful future for themselves. I wish Ms. Vinson the best of luck in her teaching career and am thankful for teachers like her that truly have a passion for her students and profession. Great teachers help develop future leaders. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, I congratulate Stacy Vinson for her commitment to teaching and for earning the Fort Bend ISD 2015 Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Officer Osiel De La Cruz for being recognized as the Pearland Officer of the Year by both the Texas Louisiana Gulf District and the Exchange Club of Pearland. Officer De La Cruz was a natural choice for this award thanks to his hard work in the community, service to the public and heroic actions. Officer De La Cruz is a veteran of the department and a nightshift patrol officer. His commitment to our community is evident through his work both on and off duty. Officer De La Cruz made over 53 DWI and drug-related arrests this year, found a shooting victim and apprehended five offenders, and even managed to apprehend a robbery suspect while he was off-duty. His list of accomplishments speaks for itself. We can all sleep better at night knowing that police officers like Officer De La Cruz are on patrol. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Officer Osiel De La Cruz on being honored as the Pearland Officer of the Year. Thank you for your dedication to keeping our communities safe.