Van Taylor

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the House passage of the 19th Amendment of the United States Constitution, prohibiting the government from denying the right to vote to citizens on the basis of sex. In the year 1893, the first attempt to organize the women's suffrage movement in the State of Texas took place in Dallas with the formation of the Texas Equal Rights Association. Twenty-six years later, Texas became the first State in the South to ratify the 19th Amendment. From raising families to organizing political movements to fighting overseas, our country could not thrive without the influence of so many strong and determined women. It is with great admiration that I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the pioneering efforts of women 100 years ago that are still shaping our Nation today.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, in October 1968, the ``Boys Club of McKinney'' under the leadership of Mr. Henry L. Shoap, was created to assist young men in developing the skills, attitudes, and aptitudes to make successful decisions in life. In April 1969, after receiving incorporation from the national organization, the Club would officially open its doors on the historic McKinney Square. A decade later, girls would be admitted to the organization. However, it would take another seven years for the Club to officially change its name to the Boys & Girls Clubs of McKinney. In time, the Club came to be a popular destination for kids from around Collin County to assemble in a safe and fun learning environment. In 1988, in order to expand their area of service, the Club would officially change its name one final time to Boys & Girls Club of Collin County. Similar to its inception fifty years ago, the mission remains largely the same: To enable all young people, especially those most in need, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible individuals. The Boys & Girls Club of Collin County provides a valuable service-- and sometimes the only option--to those children needing a place to go after school. Today, over 10,000 Collin County children and teens are regularly served by locations in McKinney, Plano, and Frisco. Kids who attend the Club are afforded a variety of programs and activities that assist in allowing them to meet key areas of development while gaining independence and learning tools to become productive members of their community. For this reason, I am proud to congratulate Boys & Girls Club of Collin County on their 50th anniversary of service to a grateful community. Under the leadership of so many selfless individuals, including current CEO E. Michael Simpson, your dedicated team of leaders has worked to ensure that those who would most benefit from the services provided by your organization are allowed to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. Madam Speaker, today I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing this tremendous organization for improving the lives of countless children over the past five decades while growing our next generation of community leaders.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the McKinney Independent School District school resource officer program that was recently named a model agency by the National Association of School Resource Officers. Every day, these officers go above and beyond their job description to educate and protect the youth of McKinney ISD. School resource officers are a vital part of our education system. For some students, this program provides a positive first interaction with law enforcement. We could not ask for better role models or protectors. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in thanking the school resource officers of McKinney ISD as they continue to make a positive difference in the lives of students across Collin County.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Collin College Student Government Association for winning the 2019 Event of the Year award at the Texas Junior College Student Government Association convention. The event which earned the organization this prestigious recognition, ``Love Does Not Hurt: An Oath Against Domestic Violence,'' provided resources for victims of domestic violence and featured speakers who inspired all in attendance. I was honored to attend the event and witness firsthand the incredible difference these student leaders are making, both on and off campus. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me today in thanking the Student Government Association of Collin College for their dedication and commitment to our community.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Bruce Glasscock for his twenty-nine years of dedicated service to the City of Plano and our north Texas community. As a veteran of the United States Air Force, Bruce Glasscock earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice management from Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colorado, and later received a master's degree in public administration from the University of Colorado at Denver. Bruce began his career with the City of Plano in 1990 when he was selected as the Police Chief of the Plano Police Department. During this time, Mr. Glasscock was elected to the Board of Officers of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and would later be inaugurated as the President of the organization. In 1998, the City of Plano provided Bruce with additional responsibilities as the Deputy City Manager. He would hold these dual roles until assuming the full-time position of Deputy City Manager in 2001. In 2011, he would once again be promoted to his current role as City Manager. As an executive level leader, Mr. Glasscock has been responsible for overseeing a city with $2.5 billion in assets, and over 2,300 municipal employees. Under Bruce's steadfast leadership, Plano has earned numerous accolades as one of the best cities in which to live and raise a family. Due to his keen foresight, he has also been instrumental in the city's economic development and unprecedented growth. Bruce has held numerous civic positions including playing a pivotal role in the founding of the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center. As a recognized servant leader, he was chosen by his peers as President in the Plano Rotary Club and received recognition from the Plano Independent School District Council of Parent Teacher Associations (PTA). Additionally, as a longtime and active member of the nationally recognized Plano Chamber of Commerce, he was awarded the coveted Business Executive of the Year. On a personal level, Bruce and his wife, Memrie, are the proud parents of two sons, and three grandchildren with whom he looks forward to enjoying his retirement with. It has been an honor to know and work with Bruce Glasscock. As Bruce begins this next season of his life, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing him for his combined forty-nine year career in municipal government, and to wish him well in all his future endeavors.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, each year, the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform in conjunction with the Texas Association of Secondary Schools Principals designate the coveted title of ``Texas School to Watch'' to a select groups of schools that have consistently moved to fully meet the nationally endorsed criteria for high-performing middle schools. These schools have demonstrated marked progress in meeting all required criteria, including measurable gains in the academic achievement of their student population, paired with a continual commitment to improvement. Today, I proudly ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Schimelpfenig Middle School of Plano, Texas as one of thirty named ``Texas Schools to Watch.'' Our state leaders selected Schimelpfenig based on its academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structure and processes. Coupled with their strong leadership, Schimelpfenig Middle School is renowned for its teachers who consistently collaborate to improve programs while creating a positive learning environment. To Principal Dr. Brant Perry, the staff, students, parents, and the Plano Independent School District under the leadership of Superintendent Sara Bonser, I congratulate them on being named a Texas School to Watch. I am confident they will continue their dedicated efforts to meet the needs of our students by providing a high-quality education while fostering a caring environment focused on future success.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I rise alongside Rep. Michael Burgess and Rep. Ben Cline to honor Kim Frankson, Jess Johnson, and Laurie Ortel of Ashley Elementary School in the Frisco Independent School District. At the end of last year, these North Texas school administrators used quick thinking and teamwork to help save a life 1,200 miles away. In December 2018, Ashley Elementary School principal Kim Frankson, assistant principal Laurie Ortel, and counselor Jess Johnson received a concerning message from a student via the STOPit app, an online platform designed to allow students and parents to send anonymous reports of bullying to school officials. The North Texas educators soon discovered that the student was in Waynesboro, Virginia--more than 1,000 miles from Frisco--and sprang into action. As Laurie Ortel said in an interview with the Dallas Morning News: ``We didn't know her, but in that moment, she became ours.'' In spite of the distance, Jess Johnson began communicating with the student, who was threatening suicide, on the STOPit app. At the same time, Kim Frankson and Laurie Ortel attempted to contact the Waynesboro Police Department and administrators at the student's school, which already had closed for winter break. Thanks to the efforts of the North Texas teachers, local authorities in Virginia were able to locate the endangered teenager and provide lifesaving assistance. Thankfully, the student's message for help reached the right people. On February 14, 2019, the Dallas Morning News published an article telling their story. In recognition of their lifesaving efforts, Kim Frankson, Laurie Ortel, and Jess Johnson were honored at the Frisco ISD board meeting on April 8, 2019. They were presented the inaugural Helping Hands Life Saver Award from the makers of the STOPit mobile app, and have received well-earned praise from Americans in North Texas, Virginia, and around the country. As Members of Congress representing Frisco, Texas and Waynesboro, Virginia, we extend our sincere gratitude to these North Texas educators for their extraordinary work and dedication. There is no doubt that they have touched the lives of students in Frisco, Waynesboro, and beyond.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, recognized each April, Child Abuse Prevention Month has brought awareness to the needs for families and communities to work in tandem to prevent child abuse and neglect, while promoting the social and emotional wellbeing of both children and families. Texas' Third Congressional District is incredibly fortunate to have court appointed special advocates, or CASAs, of Collin County serve our communities. These volunteers work tirelessly on behalf of abused and neglected children in our community, and we are incredibly grateful for their work. Mr. Speaker, today and every day, let us come together as a community to make a positive difference in the lives of these children to ensure their futures are safer, brighter, and healthier.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Johnny Keith Wallace, who passed away on March 30, 2019. Johnny Wallace was born on July 7, 1950, in Farmersville, Texas, and married his true love, Linda Ann Roland, on May 4, 1973. He valiantly served his country in the United States Army and served in Vietnam. He returned to Texas and served 26 years as a member of the McKinney Fire Department, ultimately reaching the position of captain. While I never had the privilege of knowing Johnny, his loved ones remember his commitment to his country, involvement in his community, and dedication to his family. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House spend a brief moment of silence in memory of Johnny Keith Wallace and that my colleagues keep his family and loved ones in their prayers during this difficult time.

Mr. TAYLOR

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

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mason Daugherty and Eli Scott from McKinney, Texas on winning the 2019 C-SPAN video documentary competition. Their documentary, ``What it Means to be American: Citizen Accountability in Government'' highlights how the United States Constitution intended to instill power within the American people and how corruption within our system of government diverts that power away from individuals. Like these impressive 11th graders from Imagine International Academy of North Texas, I too believe power must rest with we the people. Working together, we can bring about real change in Washington. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me today in congratulating Mason Daugherty and Eli Scott on their achievement.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize two great constituents of mine, Mason Daugherty and Eli Scott from McKinney, Texas, on winning the 2019 C-SPAN Video Documentary Competition. Their documentary, ``What It Means to Be an American: Citizen Accountability in Government,'' highlights how the United States Constitution intended to instill power with the American people and how corruption in our system of government diverts power away from those very individuals. Like these impressive 11th graders from Imagine International Academy of North Texas, I, too, believe power must rest with the people. Working together, we can bring real change in Washington. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me in congratulating Mason Daugherty and Eli Scott on their achievement.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, celebrated each March, ``Women's History Month'' serves as a time to honor and recognize the momentous achievements of women who have and continue to shape the United States today. What began as a week-long celebration in 1981, has evolved into a month reserved to celebrate female leaders across the nation. Established annually by Presidential Proclamations since 1995, each March, we hear stories of incredible women who have broken barriers, set records, and inspired us all from coast to coast. This year, I am especially proud to highlight a group of women making history right in Texas' Third Congressional District. Collin County, Texas contains eleven District Courts, with eleven presiding judges, and seven County Courts at Law, with seven presiding judges. In 2017, the addition of new judges brought the total number of female judges serving on the District Courts to six, meaning, for the first time in history, the majority of the court seats were held by women. But, just this year, with the election of another judge in Texas' 219th District Court, there are now seven women serving on the county's district benches. Making the accomplishment even more remarkable, just twelve years ago, there was only one female judge on the county's benches. While only 33 percent of judges throughout the United States are women, Collin County is leading the way for women in law and justice careers with 64 percent of the district benches served by female judges. To our great female judges, Judge Corrine Mason, Judge Angela Tucker, Judge Jennifer Edgeworth, Judge Andrea Thompson, Judge Cynthia Wheless, Judge Jill Willis, Judge Piper McCraw, and Judge Emily Miskel, I thank them for their service to our county, to Texas, and as an inspiration to so many. Madam Speaker, today, and every day, let us honor those women setting course for the next generation of American leaders.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, celebrated each March, Women's History Month serves as a time to honor and recognize the momentous achievement of women who have continued to shape the United States today. What began as a week-long celebration in 1981 is now a month-long celebration starting in 1995. This year, I am especially proud to highlight a group of women making history right now in Texas' Third Congressional District. Collin County, Texas, has 11 State district courts with 11 presiding judges, and 7 county courts at law with 7 presiding judges. In 2017, an addition of a new judge brought the total number of female judges serving on district courts to six, meaning that, for the first time in history, a majority of the court seats are now held by women. But just this year, with the election of another woman in Texas' 219th district court, there are now seven women serving on the county's district benches. Making this accomplishment even more remarkable, just 12 years ago, there was only one female judge on the county's benches. While only 33 percent of the judges throughout the United States are women, Collin County is leading the way with 64 percent of the district court judge benches held by women judges. I salute Judge Corinne Mason, Judge Angela Tucker, Judge Jennifer Edgeworth, Judge Andrea Thompson, Judge Cynthia Wheless, Judge Jill Willis, Judge Piper McCraw, and Judge Emily Miskel.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. John Edward Payton for his twenty-eight years of dedicated service to Collin County, Texas. A graduate of Plano East Senior High School in Collin County, Texas, John Payton was first elected to the position of Collin County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3 in 1990. Payton had the distinction of serving as the youngest ever elected Judge in Texas, an accolade recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records. John would go on to earn Magna Cum Laude honors at Collin College, where he would also achieve recognition for his role on the USA TODAY Academic All-American team and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa International Honor Society. His many contributions to our community include his mentorship of at- risk students who benefitted from his steadfast leadership and compassion. More than twenty years ago, Payton realized the need to assist youth by providing community service opportunities through the creation of the Students on Service Community Service Program. Countless lives have been changed by the opportunities presented for these youths to contribute to their community in meaningful ways resulting in an impressive 500,000 plus hours of service to the community. Judge Payton would often spend his weekends with students building homes through Habitat for Humanity or teaching local youth how to operate a farm or greenhouse. John truly built communities in the deepest sense. Judge Payton's contributions to the community are numerous, earning him an array of awards and recognitions from respected colleagues and organizations throughout Collin County. On a personal level, John might tout his greatest accomplishment as serving as a loving husband to Shea and a proud father to Katarina. Judge John Payton's servant leadership and efforts to provide a constant and strong community support structure for our youth are to be commended. He is particularly to be praised for his unwavering belief that through committed involvement with our youth, we can build the future. It has been an honor to know and work with Mr. John Edward Payton over the years. As Judge Payton begins this next chapter of his life, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating him for his selfless service to the youth and residents of Collin County. Semper Fidelis.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand here today as the Representative for Texas' Third Congressional District. This district was first represented by William Thomas Clark, a general in the Union Army in 1870. Since then, 19 people have represented the district, including myself. Most recently, a true American hero, Congressman Sam Johnson, represented the Third District in the Congress for 28 years. Prior to that, Congressman Johnson was in the U.S. Air Force. As I like to say, he shot down his first MiG in Korea. He served a ground tour in Vietnam, and in his second tour of Vietnam, on his 46th mission, he was flying his jet over an enemy gun position when his gun jammed. He did a circle around. He flew a second time, and that time, he was shot down. He then went to the Hanoi Hilton. There, he survived pernicious beatings and torture. But, Mr. Speaker, do you know what? Despite the tremendous pressure that he was under, Sam Johnson was unique among the prisoners of the Hanoi Hilton in that he never broke; he never gave in; and he never wavered in his patriotism, his faith in God, his courage, his sacrifices, and his commitment to this country. America is eternally grateful for his service. After he got back from the Hanoi Hilton, he came back to his beloved Shirley and his children back in Texas. He was in the Air Force for a while, and then he went into business. But he wanted to continue to serve. In 1984, he ran for the Texas House of Representatives, and he was elected in the Third District in a special election in 1991. Here in the United States Congress, he served for 28 years. He served on the Ways and Means Committee and continued to be an icon of virtue, a paragon of service, and a man whose shoes I can never truly fill but in whose footsteps I resolve to try to walk in.