[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 85 (Thursday, May 16, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H3282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1045
          CELEBRATING LIRA ELECTRIC DURING SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Horsford) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Lira Electric, 
a small business from my district which was recently honored as an SBA 
Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year during Small Business Week.
  Lira Electric started with just two employees in 2017, Robert Lira 
and his wife, and they have since grown to a team of 34, serving 
clients like the Department of Defense, MGM Resorts, and NV Energy.
  Their journey shows the important role that small businesses play in 
our economic growth. The success that they have achieved highlights the 
importance of initiatives like the Small Business Administration's 
funding programs which empower minority-owned businesses to thrive and 
contribute significantly to our economy.
  I congratulate Robert Lira and the entire team at Lira Electric for 
this well-deserved recognition. Their hard work inspires us all. I am 
proud to represent communities with businesses like theirs.


           Honoring the Life of Naomi Delores Jackson Goynes

  Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Naomi 
Delores Jackson Goynes, who recently passed away after a life as a 
beloved educator in North Las Vegas.
  She was born in Memphis in 1933 and pursued her passion for education 
at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Northern Arizona University, 
and UNLV. In 1964, she and her husband, Theron, moved to Las Vegas, 
where she worked for 36 years in the Clark County School District 
before retiring as an assistant principal.
  For their collective contributions to our local educational 
landscape, they were honored as the namesakes of the Theron H. and 
Naomi D. Goynes STEM Academy in North Las Vegas.
  Mrs. Jackson Goynes' strength, perseverance, and commitment to 
education will be remembered by her loved ones and everyone who knew 
her. I extend my condolences to her husband, Theron Goynes; her 
daughter, North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown; and all of her 
loved ones during this difficult time.


             Recognizing Joe Louis, Great Heavyweight Boxer

  Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize one of the greatest 
heavyweight boxers in history, Joe Louis. Tomorrow he is being 
recognized in Nevada in a tribute to celebrate both his professional 
and personal contributions to our communities.
  Louis was one of the first Black men to be elevated to national hero 
status after he broke many racial barriers and advocated for civil 
rights. Known as the Brown Bomber, he held the heavyweight title for 
almost 12 years, defending it a record 25 times, and despite a 4-year 
hiatus from boxing to serve during World War II.
  In addition to his boxing career, Louis was instrumental in breaking 
the color barrier in the PGA and paved the way for the first generation 
of Black professional golfers.
  His legacy left an enduring impact on sports and civil rights, 
helping inspire future generations to fight for justice. I am proud to 
honor his memory and celebrate his lasting influence.


                          National Police Week

  Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National 
Police Week. I am proud of the work we are doing here in Congress to 
make sure we give law enforcement the tools they need through the 
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and through the appropriations 
process.
  Through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, we are making our 
communities safer, reducing crime, saving lives, and breaking the cycle 
of violence.
  This law has already made improvements in our school safety and 
mental health resources, and it has reduced the number of guns on the 
streets and cracked down on illegal gun trafficking.
  Improvements include historic investments in students' mental health 
for States and school districts, including $1 billion to hire and train 
more than 14,000 school mental health professionals. More than 750 
prohibited individuals were denied firearms under BSCA's enhanced 
background checks for gun purchasers under 21 years old. More than 430 
gun traffickers have been charged under BSCA's expanded Federal 
enforcement efforts to crack down on gun trafficking.
  Through community funding projects, Democrats putting people over 
politics have delivered more direct funding to our local law 
enforcement than our colleagues on the other side of the aisle.
  Third Way just released a report this week highlighting that House 
and Senate Democrats, through our community project funding, have 
secured nearly $400 million this year to fund public safety projects in 
our districts and States. This is compared to Republicans who secured 
around $272 million.

  I am proud to have delivered $4.4 million to law enforcement programs 
in Nevada's Fourth Congressional District, including to North Las 
Vegas, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Las Vegas 
Metropolitan Police Department's emergency command vehicle, the 
Judicial District Court's special advocate program, and $1.6 million to 
North Las Vegas Public Safety enhancement. These are true investments 
to public safety that save lives.

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