[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 22, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CELEBRATING EAGLE SCOUT RECIPIENTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Bera) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate three young men who 
this weekend will receive their Eagle Scout badges.
  Now, Mr. Speaker, I was a Boy Scout in Troop 805 in Downey, 
California, but I never actually achieved my Eagle Scout. I know what 
an honor this is and how hard they worked.
  I celebrate Vincent Misenti, an honor student at Pleasant Grove High 
School in Elk Grove, California. For his Eagle Scout project, he 
planned, developed, and installed pre-identification signs along the 
Gold River Parkway's nature trails.
  This project totaled 30 distinct permanent signs representing a total 
of 11 different tree species. Vincent is also a member of the Pleasant 
Grove High School varsity football team, and he has got a stellar 
academic record with a 4.0 GPA.
  Mr. Speaker, I honor Chase Soriano. Chase is a freshman at Jesuit 
High School in Sacramento, California. His Eagle Scout project was 
working with the Cordova Recreation and Park District to purchase, 
build, and install a little free library at the neighborhood park to 
improve literacy in his community.
  This library allows children to exchange books that they have 
outgrown or read, allowing others to read the same stories Chase read 
as a child. Chase plays bass guitar, violin, and is a member of the 
football, rugby, and track teams at Jesuit High. He also has an 
impressive 4.1 GPA.
  Mr. Speaker, I also honor Gregory Rubio who will become an Eagle 
Scout this weekend as well.
  Gregory is a junior at Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova, 
California, and is on track to achieve his international baccalaureate 
diploma. His Eagle Scout project was working with the Cordova 
Recreation and Park District and the Tuskegee Airmen Heritage Chapter 
of Sacramento to design, purchase, install, and promote a memorial to 
the Tuskegee Airmen at Veterans Park in Mather. These signs focus on 
the 477th Bombardier Squadron who served at Mather Air Force Base 
during World War II.
  Gregory plays the drums, participates in Skills USA, competes in 
National History Day at the county and State level, and is a student 
pilot who just flew his first solo fight.
  I congratulate Vincent, Chase, and Gregory on this achievement. When 
I think about what I learned in the Boy Scouts, and when I think about 
the world that we are confronted with, they can teach us a lot by that 
Scout motto: ``Be prepared.''


                         Sense of Togetherness

  Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, often the public out there sees Democrats and 
Republicans fighting and wonder: Where did that comity go? Where did 
the sense of being together go?
  Well, Mr. Speaker, this past December over the Christmas holiday, I 
was surprised by one of my Republican colleagues, the Congressman from 
Tyler, Texas, who sent me a Greenberg Smoked Turkey out of the blue.
  Mr. Speaker, that is the civility that exists between Democrats and 
Republicans. I thank that Member of Congress who represents Tyler, 
Texas, and that Greenberg Smoked Turkey sure was delicious.

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