[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 9, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING THE RUBIN FAMILY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a family 
and a school community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that is working 
to keep the legacy alive for a young person taken too soon.
  In 1998, Jason Rubin, then a 13-year-old student at Cecelia Snyder 
Middle School in Bensalem, tragically succumbed to a bacterial 
infection. Jason was a popular kid who loved sports and played on the 
school's basketball team.
  Shortly after Jason's passing, his parents, Richard and Gail, set up 
a memorial fund in his honor. The fund assists our community in various 
capacities, including through scholarships for Bensalem High School 
students.
  This year, the family wanted to do something different and special. 
Realizing Cecelia Snyder's scoreboard was outdated, the Rubin family 
dedicated a new scoreboard in memory of Jason D. Rubin, a fitting 
tribute for their basketball-loving son. A dedication ceremony with the 
Rubin family present was held last week.
  Madam Speaker, we applaud the service of the Rubin family and members 
of the Cecelia Snyder school and their community, and we are all so 
proud to see Jason memorialized in such a meaningful way.


                        Honoring Grace Godshalk

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
memory of a woman who lived a life defined by service, faith, and 
compassion.
  Grace Godshalk passed away on December 15 at the age of 81. Born in 
Queens, New York, Grace moved to Bucks County in 1965, settling in 
Lower Makefield Township. Grace soon became a beloved member of our 
community and began devoting her time and her energy to local causes.
  Later, in 1977, Grace became the first woman elected to the Lower 
Makefield Township Board of Supervisors. She served honorably for 30 
years, retiring in 2008, and, during her tenure, developed a reputation 
as a staunch supporter of open space initiatives, actively involved in 
the preservation of the Five Mile Woods Nature Preserve and the 
Patterson Farm.
  Grace never lost her strength or her composure.
  After her son, Bill, passed away in the terror attacks of 9/11, Grace 
played a pivotal role in the dedication of the Garden of Reflection to 
memorialize
9/11 victims.
  Madam Speaker, our entire community sends our love to her daughter, 
Jane, and to her grandchildren. Grace is now reunited with her husband, 
James, and her legacy in our community will endure forever.


                         Recognizing Jay Smith

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a native of 
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and a community that has rallied around him 
in support.
  Jay Smith graduated from Central Bucks West and was diagnosed with 
ALS in 2014. This month, a jazz concert, dubbed ``Jazz for Jay,'' will 
be held to help Jay and his family pay for medical expenses.
  Jay is a writer and an inventor, a husband to Melissa, and a father 
to Loghan and Peyton. Despite his declining health, he currently serves 
on the board of directors of a foundation, Every 90 Minutes, which 
serves to promote research for a cure for ALS.
  While he currently lives in Texas, his ties to Bucks County run deep, 
and our community is proud to support him in this fight.
  Madam Speaker, here in Congress, we must all do our part to ensure 
that our medical research community has the resources needed to fight 
and find a cure for ALS.
  I would also like to thank those participating in the Jazz for Jay 
ceremony and activities, and the Smith family for their advocacy.

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