[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H5654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING GWENDOLYN STRONG

  (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the 
life of Gwendolyn DeBard Strong, who passed away this past Saturday 
after a heroic, inspiring battle with spinal muscular atrophy.
  Simply put, she is our hero. Gwendolyn died a few months short of her 
eighth birthday, far exceeding the odds that were given to her at 
birth. In her short life, she had more of an impact and brought more 
joy to others than many ever could in their lifetime.
  Gwendolyn's life was spent on the same things many young girls do--
playing princesses with friends, going to school, and spending time 
with her sister.
  She and her family also used their voice to improve the lives of all 
of us. The Strongs worked hard to end lifetime and annual caps on 
insurance coverage, improve spinal muscular atrophy research, and 
promote innovations to make the lives of other children with 
debilitating diseases a little easier.
  She and her incredible family taught those of us in Santa Barbara and 
around the country that we should never give up. Thanks to her bravery 
and the efforts of Bill and Victoria, we never will.
  I am honored to have known her and take solace in knowing that her 
efforts will continue to help so many others.
  We miss you, Gwendolyn, but want you to know we will never give up.

                          ____________________