[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H7233-H7234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING VICKI WAGNER MANSFIELD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Stevens) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend and the ray 
of light that was Vicki Wagner Mansfield, a resident of Troy, Michigan, 
who passed away last month after a 2-year battle with brain cancer.
  Vicki, simply put, was a pillar of our community, known and beloved 
by many. She was raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and she moved to 
Troy with her husband, Bruce, in 1985 to raise their family.
  Her memory is carried forward by her beloved Bruce; her two amazing 
daughters, Abbey and Rachel; and her delightful grandson, Hank.
  Vicki was known as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, 
sister, friend, and aunt. She is celebrated in our community for her 
artistic creativity, that forthrightness, her fierce loyalty, and the 
contributions that she made as an active volunteer in our community.
  Vicki was a mother's mother. She was active in PTA, school events, 
and political activities, always with the goal of: How do I make this 
world a better place?
  So many former students through the Birmingham school system have 
stood up to say how much Vicki meant to them, how involved she was as a 
parent with the Girl Scouts or in a play that she did. It was always 
because she cared about the outcomes of their lives.
  Vicki took the time in some of the remaining days that she had to 
message me to say--not with a complaint or with a question--how much 
she cared about the work that we do in the Congress, to pass along to 
those who are in elected office a note of gratitude and thanks to say 
keep going, keep giving it all you can.
  That is certainly something that Vicki did every day of her life.
  Her passing is also a stark reminder of our work ahead to improve the 
research and treatment of cancer in this country. Glioblastoma is a 
common and aggressive brain cancer with an unfortunately high mortality 
rate. A strong Federal investment is essential to improve our 
understanding and care of this tragic disease and for the providers 
like those at the Henry Ford Medical Center and what they rely on for 
good research.
  I carry Vicki's light like a torch in the fight for increased funding 
for cancer research. As we inch toward this deadline to fund our 
government, I continue to urge and work with my colleagues to join me 
in supporting robust brain cancer research funding at the NIH and DOD 
to continue this lifesaving work. We cannot let those suffering from 
brain cancer and their families fail.

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