[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 99 (Wednesday, June 7, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H2768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PROCLAMATION TO HONOR BRUCE SPITZENGEL AND GRANTWORKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Weber) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Mr. Bruce 
Spitzengel and GrantWorks:
  Whereas, 48 years ago, Mr. Bruce Spitzengel started working as a city 
planner for Texas City and a year later became the assistant planning 
director for Pasadena, Texas; these positions led to the founding of a 
company in 1979 that would eventually become GrantWorks, benefiting 
State, county, and city governments with services to facilitate 
resilient infrastructure facilities, economic development, and single-
family and multifamily affordable housing; and
  Whereas, GrantWorks provides the knowledge of both State and Federal 
programs to address the primary needs of local governmental localities 
to serve their constituents with facilities and housing components to 
create a more resilient future for their communities; and
  Whereas, Mr. Spitzengel and his lovely bride, Jody, utilized the 
principles learned through years of experience to expand vital services 
not offered by other companies assisting more than 450 cities and 
counties across the State and recognizing the need to expand services 
to address disaster recovery assistance beginning with Hurricane Rita 
and continuing with Hurricanes Dolly, Ike, and Harvey, as well as other 
Federally declared disasters to this day; and
  Whereas, GrantWorks' record of service continues by assisting with 
the acquisition and management of financial awards for resilient 
infrastructure, having managed over $8 billion of assistance for local 
government and provided administration services for over 5,000 single-
family units for low- and moderate-income houses; and
  Whereas, recognizing the needs of others, Bruce and the GrantWorks' 
culture of service to those they serve, the company matched 100 percent 
employee contribution for many years supporting food pantries, and has 
assisted thousands of households with relief for medical debt; and
  Whereas, GrantWorks created an ongoing scholarship program in 
recognition of a valued employee in her name, Betty Collier, upon her 
passing, to the Texas Municipal Clerks Association, a professional 
organization dedicated to serving the demands of excellence in Texas' 
local government; and
  Whereas, since Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Rockport, Texas, on 
August 25 of 2017, GrantWorks contributed an executive staff member to 
assist the county for over 1 year with emergency management support at 
no cost; and

  Whereas, GrantWorks to this day ranks number one in serving more 
Texas cities and counties with the widest range of program offerings 
than any other company in Texas.
  Now, therefore, I, Randy Weber, Representative of Texas' 14th 
District, do hereby proclaim an official recognition of Bruce 
Spitzengel and GrantWorks, Incorporated, for tremendous work serving 
the needs of Texas families and local government.


  Proclamation to Honor Steve Mataro, Servant Builders, and DSW Homes

  Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I also rise to honor Steve Mataro:
  Whereas, just over 35 years ago, Mr. Mataro founded Servant Builders 
as a recovery mission geared toward helping young men with addiction 
learn a trade in construction while rebuilding relationships with 
families and communities; and
  Whereas, Servant Builders provided job training and placement 
assistance for over 200 men, enabling a better future for their entire 
families; and
  Whereas, Mr. Mataro utilized the same principles learned through 
Servant Builders in launching DSW Homes in southeast Texas in 2009 to 
assist rebuilding homes following Hurricane Rita, often providing job 
training and assistance to the very men whose homes were being rebuilt; 
and
  Whereas, lessons learned via Servant Builders are displayed in often 
accommodating low-income and elderly homeowners, driving clients to 
construction appointments, and even temporarily paying their rents; and
  Whereas, now operating in four states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
DSW Homes currently completes an average of 1,000 homes annually in 
disaster-hit regions with a record of 15 days from demolition to 
completion for a total of 12,000 homes; and
  Whereas, since Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Rockport, Texas, on 
August 25, 2017, DSW Homes has rebuilt homes for over 3,000 families 
throughout five recovery zones.
  Now, therefore, I, Randy Weber, as the Representative of Texas' 14th 
District, and   Michael Cloud, Representative of Texas' 27th District, 
on June 7 of 2023, do hereby proclaim an official recognition of Steve 
Mataro for tremendous work with Servant Builders and DSW Homes.

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