[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 109 (Thursday, June 22, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H3101-H3104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           JOYS AND CONCERNS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ellzey) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ELLZEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ELLZEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, as you know, from time to time I address the House 
floor with my version of a speech that my

[[Page H3102]]

childhood pastor would give every Sunday called ``Joys and Concerns.''
  During his remarks, he would highlight some of the remarkable things 
that members of the church were doing and some of their many 
accomplishments.
  He would also take this time to bring up prayer requests. It served 
as an opportunity to unite as a congregation and pray for our community 
and those in need.
  Today, the community that instilled this tradition in me needs our 
prayers as last Thursday, my childhood home, Perryton, Texas, was hit 
by a deadly tornado.
  In the 11 minutes the tornado was on the ground, it left three dead, 
hundreds injured, and hundreds of homes destroyed.
  My office obviously has received an outpouring of prayer requests, 
both over the phone and through my website for the people of Perryton.
  While it may be different from my usual order, I start this ``Joys 
and Concerns'' speech with asking everybody to keep Perryton and their 
people in your hearts and minds and prayers going forward.
  I also ask that as weeks go on that you continue to keep them, along 
with the first responders, community leaders, and volunteers, in your 
prayers.
  Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to Hillsboro, Texas, a 
city in my new district. I learned a lot about Hillsboro while I was 
there.
  It is a very welcoming community, full of people who love their 
country, so much so that the local community college, Hill College, has 
on its campus the Texas Heritage Museum.
  Out front is a small memorial, and during my visit, I spent some time 
there. On that memorial, they honor every Medal of Honor recipient from 
Texas.
  The Medal of Honor is the Nation's highest military award, and only 
U.S. servicemembers who distinguish themselves through conspicuous 
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call 
of duty can receive the medal.
  There I learned that the Sixth Congressional District of Texas in its 
current form has nine Medal of Honor recipients.
  Due to time constraints, I will only address one today, but we have 
nine of them--nine Medal of Honor recipients from the Sixth District of 
Texas. On my next occasion, I will reach the other eight.
  The first I bring up is First Lieutenant Jack Lummus. He was born on 
October 22, 1915, and served our Nation during World War II.
  A little known fact is he couldn't graduate from high school because 
the cost was too high. He played some semi-pro ball. He finally went to 
Baylor and was an all-star baseball player and football player there.
  He was playing professional football when December 7 happened, and he 
signed up to join our Nation's military. Ironically, he was attempting 
to be a pilot and in flight training was a natural pilot. On taxiing 
back, he ran his airplane off the taxiway. They booted him. He went 
back to playing football, but he signed up to be a marine.
  Jack received the Medal of Honor as a leader of a rival platoon 
attached to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in 
action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands 
on March 8, 1945.
  Resuming his assault tactics with bold decision after fighting 
without respite for 2 days and nights, he slowly advanced his platoon 
against an enemy deeply entrenched in a network of mutually supporting 
positions.
  Suddenly halted by a terrific concentration of hostile fire, he 
unhesitatingly moved forward in his front lines in an effort to 
neutralize the Japanese position.
  Although knocked to the ground when an enemy grenade exploded close 
by, he immediately recovered himself, and again, moving forward despite 
the intensified barrage, quickly located, attacked, and destroyed the 
occupied emplacement.
  Instantly taken under fire by the garrison of his supporting pillbox 
and further assailed by the slashing fury of hostile rifle fire, he 
fell under the impact of a second enemy grenade.
  Courageously disregarding painful shoulder wounds, he staunchly 
continued his heroic one-man assault and charged the second pillbox, 
annihilating all the occupants.
  Subsequently returning to his platoon position, he fearlessly 
traversed his lines under fire, encouraging his men to advance and 
directing the fire of supporting tanks and placing suppressive fire 
against hostile troops.
  Jack lost both legs and lost his life on Iwo Jima, a man with a great 
deal of promise. He is interred in Ennis, Texas, and he is a local 
hero.
  The greatness of America comes from her people, and the best of us 
are men like Jack Lummus. Next time I talk, I will talk about the other 
eight.
  As we talk about divisiveness and bad times in our country, I want 
you to know that we have great Americans--and have throughout our 
history--serving us in times of war and making us the great Nation that 
we are.
  All we ask when we fight for another Nation overseas is a small plot 
of land to bury our dead. This is a debt we owe not only to those who 
have fallen in battle but to all those who choose to serve on our 
Nation's volunteer force.

  As the years go on and our Nation grows, we must continue to ask the 
best of us to make sacrifices to protect and defend the United States.
  My district is home to 30 different high schools, and within those 30 
schools, there were 134 brave young men and women who raised their 
hands and said, here am I. Send me.
  Within the coming months, they will be joining our Nation's military, 
and I take a moment to recognize their sacrifice.
  Mildred High School: Kolton Sumrall, Army; Charlie Vega, Army; Bryan 
Morgan, Army; Lincoln Kerr, Navy.
  Corsicana High School: Michael Dunn, Marine Corps; Frankie Medrano, 
Marine Corps; Ionart Sorim, Marine Corps; Diego Rodriguez and Bryan 
Monge, Marine Corps.
  Cayuga High School: Garret Fitzpatrick, Army.
  Fairfield High School: Noe Espinoza, Army; Tristen Stephenson, Army.
  Whitney High School: Desire' Hamling, Marine Corps.
  Frost High School: Jacen Stanford, Army.
  Arlington Sam Houston High School: Dillon Nichols, Army; Devin 
Moreno, Alan Najera, and Armando Rafael Hinojosa, Marine Corps.
  Slocum High School: Camron Clark, Marine Corps.
  Palmer High School: Haley Thomas, Army National Guard.
  Covington High School: Mia Napps, Air Force; Colin Berry, Army; Calob 
Smith, Air Force.
  Grandview High School: Dean Ryder Williams, Navy.
  Wells High School: Jeremiah Lewis, Marine Corps.
  Jacksonville High School: Elijah Danforth, Angel De Le Luz, and 
Joshua Gaytan, Marine Corps.
  Elkhart High School: Nicholas Goodrich and Ashlyn Wilson, Navy; Tara 
Herod, Air Force.
  Midlothian High School: Nolan Rhew, Navy; Shaun Dean and Rome 
Hernandez, Marine Corps; Ty Long, Army; Jacob Regalado and Cayden 
Rollins, Marine Corps; Ryan Schrank, Navy; Kyler Sickler, Army; Joshua 
Wyman, Texas Air National Guard; Samantha Zuckero, Army National Guard.
  Neches High School: Jason Bammel and Trevor Pulliam, Marine Corps.
  Rice High School: Diego Barcenas Mora, Marine Corps.
  Maypearl High School: Benjamin McGlauflin, Marine Corps; Adam Bell, 
Navy; Zechariah Mitchell, Texas National Guard; Langston Watson, Coast 
Guard.
  Waxahachie High School: Elijah Jaquan Wheaton, Cherilyn Desirae 
Romano, Abigail Faith Modgling, and Jorge Alberto Vargas Ponce, Marine 
Corps; Faith Nicole Powers and Kaylee Nicole Voigtlander, Army.

                              {time}  1845

  Rusk High School: Kiera Beck, Marine Corps; Matthew Plata, Marine 
Corps; Aaron Wilde, Air Force.
  Westwood High School: Ayden Coker, Marine Corps Reserve; Emilio 
Martinez, Army National Guard; Nathan Powell, Army National Guard; 
Jazzmin Gante, Navy; and Diego Castillo, Navy.
  Arlington High School: James Webb, Army; Alonso Robles, Austin McGee, 
and Abraham Vela, all three Marine Corps.
  Henry Suggs, Army, from Frankston High School.

[[Page H3103]]

  Alvarado High School: Trapper Peel, Air Force; Jaxen Cheek and Trey 
Reuland, Army; Andres Sanchez, Marine Corps; Dylan Brown, Army.
  Venus High School: Eduardo Gabriel Acre Perez and Dontea Lamont 
Rising, both in the Army.
  Hillsboro High School: Leonardo Lopez Hernandez, Marine Corps 
Reserve; Gabriel Pineda, Marine Corps Reserve; and Alejandro Sanchez, 
Marine Corps Reserve.
  Waxahachie High School: Brandon Ortiz, Marine Corps; Garrison 
Escobar, Marine Corps; Karolina Suarez Melendez, National Guard; Caezar 
Santiago, Air Force; Gregory Schaefer, Williams Jayden, Gregory 
Fleming, Zachary Fleming, Army; Jeremiah Moore, Navy; Michael Newkirk, 
Navy; Samuel Rodriguez, Army National Guard.
  Midlothian Heritage High School: Jack Hammon, Texas Army National 
Guard; Emily Dewey, Air Force; Patrick Hoekstra, Army; Jose Mancera, 
Navy; Baron Cantrell, Navy; Chase Wiese, Navy.
  Waxahachie Global: Matthew Hughes and Braxton Soukup, Army.
  Mansfield Legacy High School: Jessica Rosalez, Navy.
  Mansfield Lake Ridge: Gerardo Carbajal, Marines; Caden Chandler, Air 
Force; Ashlee Ojo, Navy; Desmond Jones, Army; Andre Boyd, Marine Corps; 
Tyler Beller, Marine Corps; Carter Bustos, Marine Corps; Kiesean Cook, 
Navy; Logan Fortenbery, Marine Corps; Kyrianna Harris, Navy; Anne 
Oyerinde, Army National Guard, along with her friends Dayana Quijano 
and Sierra Santiago; Linnea Swanson, Air Force; and Kamille Todd, Army.
  Mansfield Timberview High School: Jamia Major, National Guard; Jaimez 
Eichelberger, Navy; Danielle Rhymes and Shelby Balossa, Air Force; 
Elenna Ponce, Navy; Nikolas Sanchez, Army.
  Mansfield Summit: Dyneaya Thomas, Air Force; Achilles Lopez, Air 
Force; Adrian Contreras, Marine Corps; Clifton Kersenbrock, Marine 
Corps; Alexa Martinez, Army National Guard; Mia Wilson, Air Force.
  For Mansfield High School: Justin Ware, Air Force; Zachariah 
Castillo, Navy; Leila Egleston, Marine Corps; Evan Esquivel, Marine 
Corps; Jonathan May, Army; Braylon Mitchell, Navy; Shaun Nguyen, Air 
Force; Brielle Pickering, Marine Corps.
  Madam Speaker, if anybody has any questions about the future of our 
Nation, 134 young men and women from District Six just this year 
enlisted to serve this greatest Nation that has been seen on the face 
of this Earth.
  Occasionally, some people will tear this Nation down for what she 
stood for, her past, her future. For me, why would anybody sign up in 
an all-volunteer force if we were anything but exceptional?
  I am so very proud of these young men and women in this day and age 
when we hear nothing in the press except the dire straits that this 
country is in. Well, somebody believes in it, and these 134 people 
certainly do, along with the 31 people who applied to the military 
academies. I will say to them all: I am very proud, and our future is 
bright. Don't listen to any of the naysayers.
  Ecclesiastes 1:9 says there is nothing new under the Sun. Jeremiah 29 
says only I know the plans I have for you, and they are great plans.
  Next, I recognize some of the members of our community that have gone 
above and beyond.
  I congratulate Aiden Hunter on being selected to represent Texas 4-H 
at the National 4-H Conference this year. Agriculture and farming are 
the backbone of this great Nation, and I am proud that he is involved 
in Ellis County 4-H. Organizations like this are helping to prepare 
Aiden to be a future leader not only in agriculture but in life.
  I congratulate Alyssa Anderson on achieving the Girl Scout Gold 
Award. There are few accomplishments that carry as much prestige and 
respect as this honor. The commitment, tenacity, integrity, and work 
ethic that are required to achieve the Gold Award are invaluable 
qualities.
  I congratulate Amy Tidwell and the Corsicana Main Street team on 
being awarded the President's Award and People's Choice Award for 
cities under 50,000 population by Texas Downtown for their video series 
``New Faces, New Places.'' Departments like theirs are essential to 
downtown development and revitalization, and I thank Amy and her team 
for their commitment to serve our community.
  I congratulate Archie Gerbine on receiving the Donnie and Karen 
Pickard Heroism Award. I thank Archie for not only choosing to 
preserve, protect, and defend the people of Alvarado but also for 
taking on the important role of community leader, role model, and 
servant to others. I thank Archie for his continued dedication to the 
city of Alvarado and the State of Texas as a first responder.
  I congratulate Ashley Thompson on being awarded the Unsung Hero Award 
from the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce for 2022.
  I congratulate the 2023 Maypearl Panther baseball team for their 
third-place finish in State, and I congratulate them for breaking the 
school record for total wins and finishing their season with a trip to 
Round Rock for the State tournament.
  I congratulate Becky and Terry Hill on earning the Mabel Frame Award 
from the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce. I thank them for their 
commitment to serve our community. Our community is lucky to have 
people like them who have dedicated time to an event that welcomes so 
many people. C/10s in the Park has become one of Waxahachie's prized 
tourist attractions and is well deserving of the Mabel Frame Award.
  I congratulate Cassie Wilbur on being awarded the DAISY Award for 
Extraordinary Nurses at UT Health Jacksonville. This award is a tribute 
to Cassie's courageous and selfless acts working in healthcare. I truly 
appreciate all the work Cassie does in the ER, saving lives in the 
Jacksonville community.

  I congratulate Catarina Palladio on earning first place all around at 
the USAG Region 3 Level 8 championship in the Junior C division. Her 
commitment and dedication to her sport have been shown through her 
recent success at the competition. It can't be easy being a full-time 
gymnast and remaining a straight-A student, but her work ethic is 
ensuring her bright future.
  I commend Dale Linebaugh for his receipt of the Anderson County 
Sheriff's Office Life-Saving Award and his immediate response to help 
those in need.
  I congratulate David Joseph on earning the Earhart Award with the 
Civil Air Patrol. All of his hard work and dedication are a reflection 
of this prestigious award. I commend David on all of his achievements 
thus far in the Civil Air Patrol, 4-H, and archery.
  I congratulate Dylan Starkey on having his book ``Powers'' published. 
It is always exciting to hear about the talented young students in our 
community that commit time and dedication to leaving a positive impact 
on their city for many years to come.
  I congratulate Eli Bierman on winning the State championship in 
wrestling at the 132-weight class. That is an incredible 
accomplishment. Eli's hard work, hours of practice, and devotion to his 
sport are reflected in his success.
  I congratulate Elizabeth Norwood on her livestock entries winning 
Supreme Champion Heifer, Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer, and fifth 
Overall Market Steer honors at the Arizona National Livestock Show. 
That is an incredible achievement, and I think Elizabeth should be 
providing beef for our entire Nation with that kind of award.
  I congratulate Officer Jack Daniel on beginning his career with the 
Hillsboro Police Department as an officer. Our community is very 
fortunate to have Officer Daniel take on this role, and the citizens of 
Hill County will benefit as he continues to progress in his law 
enforcement career.
  I congratulate Jerrilyn Bowman on receiving the Anderson County 
Sheriff's Office Life-Saving Award. Her quick thinking, training, and 
calm reaction saved a life, and that is something she should be proud 
of.
  I congratulate Julianna Dublin and Julia Burnham on achieving the 
Girl Scout Gold Award.
  I congratulate Kaden Lyles on earning the General Billy Mitchell 
Award for the Civil Air Patrol. All of Kaden's hard work and dedication 
are a reflection of this prestigious award. The time and commitment 
Kaden has put into this award is truly commendable.
  I congratulate Karen Koop on being awarded the Texas Governor 
Beauford Jester Award this year by the Texas

[[Page H3104]]

Veterans Day Parade Committee. This honor recognizes Karen's selfless 
commitment to community and veterans and will have a lasting impact for 
years to come.
  I congratulate Karson Tompkins on winning the State championship in 
wrestling in the 190-weight class. That is an incredible 
accomplishment.
  I congratulate Kendyl Wilson on winning first place with her 
submission to the Texas Rural Education Association's art contest.
  I congratulate Kim Boales on being awarded the James Acree Award this 
year by the Texas Veterans Day Parade Committee.
  I congratulate Kimberly Cantu and Mansfield ISD on being named to 
Forbes' list of America's Best Midsize Employers. Being recognized on a 
national level is an amazing accomplishment. I thank Kimberly for her 
commitment to Mansfield ISD.
  Madam Speaker, I have more folks that I would like to point out, but 
I am short on time today. I will leave you with this: We have some 
incredible citizens in District Six. I am incredibly proud to serve 
them.
  Madam Speaker--you also being from Texas--I love my State, and I love 
my district as you do, as well. It is a tremendous privilege to be able 
to announce these folks on the floor and honor them in the way that 
they deserve.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________