Beth Van Duyne

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Heroes, Addison Police Department Officers Daniel Gutierrez, and Mark Meraz. On June 15, 2023, Addison Police Department Officers Daniel Gutierrez and Mark Meraz responded to a call regarding an injured person. When they arrived on scene, they found a man bleeding excessively from his arm after getting cut with glass. Officers Gutierrez and Meraz quickly placed a tourniquet on his arm while they waited for paramedics to arrive. The wounds were severe, and the man lost an extensive amount of blood due to his injuries. The tourniquet application by Officers Gutierrez and Meraz saved his life while waiting for paramedics to arrive on scene. The Addison Police Department recently honored them both with the Preservation of Life Award. I thank Officer Gutierrez and Officer Meraz for going above and beyond to protect and serve North Texans.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eddy Ketchersid, who retired earlier this year as a Senior Minister at the Branch Church in Farmers Branch. Eddy has been a positive impact on the city of Farmers Branch and the North Texas community at large for 60+ years. Eddy is an alumnus of Abilene Christian University and a true Texan at heart. He has served his community in various respects throughout his life. Eddy has served the city of Farmers Branch as a Community Minister, advocate and member of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, and head of the Metrocrest Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. He has led many bible studies and prayer groups for the ministry for over half a century. I thank Eddy for going above and beyond for our community. His selflessness and dedication do not go unnoticed.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Akshat Athale, who is not only a student at Coppell High School, but also the founder of Saksham, a non-profit organization that works to improve financial literacy among underserved youth communities. Saksham has worked with underserved and neurodivergent communities. on both the local and global scale, to Provide them with workshops on a variety of financial literacy topics. These workshops provide life-changing skills to communities in need and will have a lasting benefit. I was glad to have Akshat as a member of my Congressional Youth Advisory Council and I congratulate him on recently receiving the Congressional Award. Our North Texas community is made better by people like Akshat, who are dedicated to making a positive impact.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Anne Pottinger, who is highly involved in our North Texas community and always finds a way to help others. She is a leader in numerous non-profit organizations, including the Freedom Mobility Foundation in Southlake and Holidays & Heroes in Fort Worth. Through her work with the Freedom Mobility Foundation, Anne helps to provide mobility equipment like track chairs to those in need. I want to thank Anne for going above and beyond for our North Texas veterans and military families.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Taylor Baze, who is retiring from the Coppell Fire Department. Over the last 30 years, Captain Baze has demonstrated excellent fire service to the residents of Coppell, Texas. Captain Baze's influence over the City of Coppell Fire Department will still be felt in his absence. He was an excellent leader and considered a brother by many. His legacy will not be forgotten as he leaves the fire department better off for having him as a captain. I thank Captain Baze for his leadership and service to our community and wish him a happy retirement.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Martha Day, co- founder and president of The Vitamin Bridge in Coppell. The Vitamin Bridge is a nonprofit organization that provides expecting mothers of low socioeconomic status with prenatal vitamins and nutritional information. Martha started the Vitamin Bridge following her experiences volunteering at a pregnancy crisis center. She realized there was a need for someone to give access to prenatal vitamins for moms-to-be that could not afford them or were unaware of their importance. If women were given the resources that The Vitamin Bridge offers, then they would be more likely to have a successful pregnancy. To date, The Vitamin Bridge has helped nearly 50,000 women receive prenatal vitamins and nutrition education at no cost. I thank Martha for providing expecting mothers in our community with an equal opportunity to have a healthy pregnancy. Her selflessness and dedication do not go unnoticed.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Maddy Sexton of Southlake Carroll. Earlier this year, Maddy was in a car heading to school with a friend when her friend began to experience a medical emergency. Maddy demonstrated maturity beyond her years and handled the situation perfectly--she immediately pulled over, called Southlake Fire, and helped take care of her friend before Southlake Fire quickly arrived. I thank Maddy for going above and beyond to look out for her friend through her vigilance, quick thinking, and maturity. It is an honor to join Southlake DPS in recognizing Maddy for her contributions to our community.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our TX-24 Hometown Hero, retired police chief Jimmy Perdue. Chief Perdue spent over 40 years in public service, 18 of them serving as the North Richland Hills Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety. Under his leadership, the North Richland Hills Police Department earned ``Recognized Status'' from the Texas Police Chiefs Association Foundation Best Practices Recognition Program in 2011, a status which the department continues to maintain year after year. He also served as a past President of the North Texas Police Chiefs Association and as the President of the Texas Police Chiefs Association from 2022-2023. Chief Perdue continually displayed his dedication to public service by developing the Women of Law Enforcement Conference, leading the city's response to the COVID-19 outbreak, overseeing the design and construction of the North Richland Hills Animal Adoption and Rescue Center, and bringing the SHIELD program to life, a 3-day training course for NRH police officers. I commend Chief Perdue for going above and beyond for our community and congratulate him on his retirement. He will be missed.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Oliver Burke. Oliver, a rising junior at Greenhill School, recently led his fellow Boy Scouts in a wildflower seed building service project to help preserve the endangered Backland Prairie. He brought together 50 of his fellow Scouts from rural and urban communities across North Texas--most of whom did not previously know each other--and they made more than 3,800 native wildflower seed balls. In addition to his leadership in the Boy Scouts, Oliver spent the last year serving on my Congressional Youth Advisory Council and recently participated in our annual Congressional Art Competition. I thank Oliver for his dedication to service, bringing people together, and bettering our North Texas community for generations to come.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, the Coppell Fire Department. Due to a power failure at the Village Parkway Pump Station earlier this year, the City of Coppell announced a Boil Water Notice and requested that residents and businesses only use water in emergency situations. The Coppell Fire Department's Emergency Management and Public Works team leapt into action and helped restore power to the water pump, all during a brutal Texas heatwave. The department offered multi-faceted assistance, from staffing the Emergency Operations Center, providing heat rehab support at the distribution point, transporting water from local vendors to the public library, on top of the normal daily operational items. I'd like to thank the Coppell Fire Department for their quick response and service to the residents of Texas-24 by helping make Coppell's water safe to drink again.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 2nd Lieutenant Logan J. Doyle. A native of Carrollton, Texas, Logan recently graduated from West Point Academy and has been commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. On July 2nd Lieutenant Doyle began his career as an aviation officer in Alabama, at Fort Novosel. Prior to his graduation from West Point, 2nd Lieutenant Doyle served as an intern in my Washington D.C. office and was an excellent member of our team. He was a very hard worker, and I enjoyed my time getting to know him. Lieutenant Doyle is a recipient of the General William E. Read Pentathlete Award which is rewarded to the cadets who achieve a Term Quality Point Average of 4.00 or greater and a letter grade of A- or better in all academic, physical, military science, and military development courses. He was also awarded the Superintendent's Award for Achievement for being in the top 6-20 percent of his class across all programs and the Sewell Tappan Tyng Memorial Award for having the highest rating in nuclear Engineering. I would like to congratulate Lieutenant Doyle on his graduation and thank him for his heart of service.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and remember our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, the late Irving Police Department Chief, Benny Newman. Chief Newman passed away on Sunday, August 6, 2023 at the age of 91. He served as Irving's police chief from 1978 to 1994. Prior to joining Irving Police Department, Chief Newman served in the National Guard Reserves and spent 23 years serving in the Dallas Police Department (DPD). During his career with DPD, Chief Newman received 16 commendations, was awarded the Certificate of Merit, and rose to the rank of Captain. Chief Newman went above and beyond for our community outside of his time in uniform. He played an instrumental role in creating the Irving Police Athletic League (PAL), which provides classes and camps to hundreds of youths each year in Irving and surrounding communities. As a leader in our community and a dedicated public servant, Chief Newman has left a lasting impact in North Texas, for which we are forever grateful. I am grateful for all Chief Newman has done for our community, and I'm praying for his friends and family.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, 9-year-old philanthropist and Grapevine resident, Paisley Elliott. At just 6 years old, Paisley founded Paisley's Pals, a global non-profit that partners with organizations around the world to offer support and education to refugees. Her work has helped build a school at the Moria refugee camp in Greece, which is one of the most overwhelmed refugee camps in Europe, and she is now working to build a school in Uganda. Paisley spent the summer of 2019 organizing lemonade stands, handing out flyers in her community, distributing ``CHANGE'' jars to local businesses to collect loose change, and setting up a crowdfunding website to raise money for the school. She also hosted a ``Helping Heroes'' event at the Islamic Foundation of Lewisville and Flower Mound where children came together to decorate superhero capes for the children stuck in the Moria Refugee Camp in Greece. Paisley was the youngest person in the world to be nominated for the Nansen Award, given annually to one person who champions the cause of refugees. I'd like to thank Paisley for all the work she does to educate and inspire not only her peers, but North Texans of all ages, and for bringing the community together to help empower the next generation.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero of the week, Hollis Owens. Hollis is the founder and Executive Director of To Be Like Me, a nonprofit organization that offers North Texas school field trips hosted by individuals with disabilities, called LEADers. Prior to founding To Be Like Me, Hollis graduated from UT Southwestern Medical School and spent 20 years as a physical therapist primarily working with children. Her work allowed her to learn more about the barriers facing people with disabilities which ultimately lead her to founding the nonprofit. During To Be Like Me's field trips, LEADers provide disability awareness education to students and teachers. Students rotate through five interactive experiences where LEADers discuss what it's like to have a disability in different environments and the tools they use daily to help them adapt. These experiences also teach students about mental health and medical devices and assistive technologies used by people living with disabilities. About 50 LEADers work for To Be Like Me, providing them with meaningful employment and advocacy opportunities. I thank Hollis for providing a program that fosters more compassion and empathy for North Texans living with disabilities.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, Jeff Williams. In 2012, Jeff founded Taste Project, an organization that provides meals in Fort Worth to those in need. Jeff knew what food scarcity felt like growing up in a family of 4 where both of his parents worked hard to keep food on the table even though money was tight. When he was younger, his parents would sometimes skip meals to make sure him and his sister had dinner. Jeff's upbringing gave him the idea to create a place where members of the community could go to always get an affordable meal. In 2017, the Taste Project opened a pay-what-you-can community restaurant in Fort Worth, the Taste Community Restaurant, where diners can pay as little as a penny for a meal. Beyond the restaurant, the Taste Project empowers and provides hope to North Texans through culinary classes, job training programs, and even a community garden that helps teach people gardening skills. In the last 6 years, Jeff and Taste Community Restaurant have helped more than 150,000 people and are currently serving more than 1,000 people a week. Jeff and his team work hard every day to make sure they help as many people as possible. I'd like to thank Jeff for his dedication to serving the people and families of North Texas.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, 9-year-old Bennett Hills from North Richland Hills. At 7 years old, Bennett started dreaming of one day becoming a LEGO master. Now, as a fourth grader at Liberty Elementary, he's one step closer to that dream. He was recently named a finalist in LEGOLAND's `2023 North American Mini Master Model Builder' contest. Bennett was tasked with creating an original LEGOscape that depicted his hometown through the LEGOLAND Discovery Center of Dallas/Fort Worth. He chose to proudly fill it with Dallas' Reunion Tower, Fort Worth's famous Stockyards, cowboys, longhorns, oil rigs, and even construction cranes to represent the growing Dallas/Fort Worth area. He is now one of 13 Mini Master Model Builders from around the U.S. who will represent Dallas/Fort Worth in LEGOLAND's nationwide competition, in hopes of claiming the national title. I want to congratulate Bennett on his hard work and wish him the best of luck at the national competition.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robert Pinholt, co-founder and CEO of the Coppell-based Claymore Operations, which was founded to prepare active-duty military personnel to transition into civilian life. As a high school student during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Robert felt called to make a difference and joined the U.S. Army upon his graduation. After serving in eastern Afghanistan, Robert returned home and began the strenuous process of readapting to civilian life. His experience helped him realize the need for additional resources for our servicemembers as they transition from active-duty to life beyond service. Founded on the tenets of faith, Claymore's mentorship program is based on the power of three: the mentee (servicemember), a civilian mentor, and a veteran mentor. I want to thank Robert for serving as a guiding light to the great men and women that serve our country.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lisa Goodwin, a shepherd of altruism in North Texas. Lisa routinely goes the extra mile to give back to our North Texas community through her charitable conduct and volunteerism. Lisa has earned a well-deserved reputation for going above and beyond to help others, including using her own resources to purchase childcare products for families in need. In her free time, Lisa visits nursing home residents and refugees in the Fort Worth area to offer them companionship. When Lisa is not volunteering her time at church, she can be found helping teens register for volunteer hours. I want to thank Lisa for being a shining beacon of light in our community.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Colleyville Heritage High School's Softball Team, who recently won the 2023 UIL Class 5A Region I championship. This is the first time in the school history that the softball team advanced to the UIL 5A State Tournament. On Saturday, May 27, 2023, head coach Allison Conaway led this group of talented young women to victory. In the regional finals they beat Northwest High School, in the third game of the round with a final score of 1 to 0. This team has shown hard work and dedication all season and this was a well-deserved victory. I commend this group of young women on their UIL Regional championship victory and representing the 24th Congressional District of Texas.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kandi Stewart, co-owner of Courage to Conquer Cancer (C2CC). C2CC is devoted to promoting research, advocating for patients, and ensuring cost- efficient resources and systems that will enhance post-surgical management outcomes for dialysis, cardiac surgery, cancer, and other patients. Kandi is a HEBISD teacher and was diagnosed with breast cancer in the fall of 2014. After her diagnosis and treatment, she had the inclination to help other cancer patients surmount the financial and physical costs. C2CC's first initiative was the Breast Cancer Recovery Tee Shirt, which is designed with fashion, affordability, and functionality in mind. The nonprofit arm of C2CC works to donate free recovery kits to mastectomy patients facing financial hardship through post-surgical care. Kandi is undergoing cancer treatment for the second time after being in remission for years. I want to thank Kandi for being a beacon of selflessness and strength within our community.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Dessie Radu of Bedford, Texas in celebration of her 100th Birthday. Mrs. Dessie Radu is a valued member of the Bedford community who has bettered the lives of countless people throughout North Texas. Whether she is spending time with her large family, catching up with lifelong friends, or talking with someone she doesn't know yet, there is no doubt that she leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets. Dessie spent years traveling the world with her husband, Major (Ret) John Radu II, as he served our Nation for 24 years in the United States Air Force. Following in his father's footsteps, Dessie's son John Radu II served 4 years in the United States Air Force and was a Vietnam veteran. Today, we come together to recognize the 100 years Dessie has spent with us, and the impact that she has and continues to make on our lives. Mr. Speaker, please join me--and Dessie's many family, friends, and loved ones--in recognizing Dessie and wishing her a happy 100th birthday.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill. President's Biden's policies have caused a massive surge of 370,000 unaccompanied children to come to our southwest border since he took office. Where is the outrage? Where are the tears? According to an HHS whistleblower, the U.S. Government has become a middleman in a large scale, multibillion-dollar child trafficking operation run by bad actors seeking to profit off the lives of children. Where is the outrage? Where are the tears? We have seen from Members on the other side of the aisle that they are claiming that this bill is going to somehow hurt children. Are they reading the reports of minors as young as 9 who are being brought over illegally and are working the midnight shift, the graveyard shift, in meatpacking plants? Again, where are the tears? Where is the outrage? H.R. 2 stops future surges and protects children by treating unaccompanied children from Mexico and the rest of the world in the same manner, enabling their safe return home to their families after they are screened for indications of trafficking or a credible fear of persecution. I was on the city council for 6 years, and I was mayor for 6 years of a city of about 250,000 people. I saw the cost of illegal immigration firsthand at the local level. I saw the toll that it put on our local cities and communities in housing, in schools, in crime, in resources. I was lucky enough to be able to partner with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and we saw at that time more illegal criminal aliens that were deported from our city per capita from any other city in the country. What did we see from that? Our crime dropped, and people who lived in low-income areas, minority areas, were the ones who benefited the most, because they were being targeted by that crime. The American people did not vote for this chaos. They voted to have control over our borders. What we have seen from this administration is they continue to take every single tool out of the toolbox that is able to actually secure our borders. The American people sent us to D.C. to secure our borders and put an end to the worst humanitarian crisis our Nation has ever seen. It is absurd that we are even here today having to pass a bill to force this administration to enforce the laws and do its most basic job, which is to enforce our laws, secure our border, and protect our Nation.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mary Little of Irving, Texas as she celebrated her 90th birthday last Sunday. Mary Little is an established woman who has accomplished so much in her lifetime. Today, we come together to recognize the 90 years Mary has spent with us, and the impact she has and continues to make on our lives. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mary and wishing her a happy 90th birthday.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize North Texas teacher Denise Jones. Denise has faithfully served Birdville Independent School District for over 50 years as an administrative assistant and educator. Denise is a dedicated, loving and loyal teacher who cares about her students and their well-being. Joining Birdville ISD in 1972 as a senior in high school, Denise has shown unwavering commitment to the school district and her students. 2023 marks her 50th year as an educator working across numerous grade levels and subjects. This year also marks her 25th working in the special education department. Denise believes regardless of what may be happening in the world, teaching children kindness should always be a priority. I think I speak for everyone in Birdville ISO and in Texas-24 when I say thank you to Denise for devoting 50 years of her life to educating our children and securing their future. I congratulate Denise on earning this recognition for all her tireless and dedicated work.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lucy Billingsley, a trailblazer in the real estate space and a legendary North Texan. Lucy has been selected to receive the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award from Texas Woman's University. In 1978, Lucy and her husband Henry founded the Billingsley Company to manage their growing real estate portfolio. Thanks to their innovative approach and grit, the Billingsleys have become some of the most sought-after developers in Texas, and their company has received numerous awards for design excellence. In addition to her work as a commercial real estate developer and business owner, Lucy has remained civically involved and has served our community through her involvement on numerous boards and advisory committees. Lucy's tenacity has brought great economic opportunity to North Texas, and her civic leadership has forever bettered our community. Lucy has received many other prestigious accolades for her work, including being inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame, the Junior Achievement of Dallas Business Hall of Fame, the North Texas Commercial Association of REALTORS Hall of Fame and was awarded the 2013 H. Neil Mallon Award presented by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Lucy also has been recognized by Commercial Real Estate Women as a distinguished leader in commercial real estate. I thank Lucy for going above and beyond for our community, and I congratulate her on this well-deserved award. Her selflessness and devotion do not go unnoticed.