[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 23, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3561-H3562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING INCREDIBLE PEOPLE OF NORTH TEXAS

  (Ms. Johnson of Texas was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today full of gratitude 
and pride for the incredible people of north Texas, my neighbors, and 
my constituents, who have stepped up in extraordinary ways to help 
their fellow Texans through one of the most devastating flood disasters 
our State has faced in years.
  We all know that when tragedy strikes in Texas, we don't wait around 
for permission to do the right thing. We just show up. We roll up our 
sleeves. We help our neighbors pick up the pieces. That has been on 
full display in the weeks after the floods.
  I will take a moment to recognize just a few of the many heroes from 
Texas' 32nd Congressional District who have gone above and beyond to 
provide hope and help when it was needed the most.
  Sabrina Pinales, Ryan Lenamon, Savion Lee, David Hardage, and Lauren 
Sturdy, five of my remarkable constituents, didn't think twice before 
answering the call. They joined their church mission team and headed 
straight to the Hill Country where flood waters had washed away homes 
overnight.
  These five north Texans have been on the ground every day helping 
families, clearing debris, delivering supplies, and rebuilding what was 
lost. They remind us that faith in action and neighbor helping neighbor 
is what holds this State together when times are hard.
  I also want to lift up the brave men and women of the Plano Fire 
Department and first responders from Dallas. When floodwaters rose and 
families needed rescue, these heroes did what they always do: They run 
toward the danger. They deployed to central Texas to help rescue 
stranded families, clear the roads, and make sure entire communities 
could get back on their feet safely. They represent the very best of 
our communities: courage, commitment, and compassion.
  It is not just these few. Across north Texas, neighbors have opened 
their doors to displaced families. Churches, synagogues, and mosques 
have collected food, clothing, and essentials. Local businesses have 
donated truckloads of supplies. Nonprofits like the North Texas Food 
Bank have mobilized to get fresh meals and water to families who have 
lost everything in just seconds. Countless volunteers have driven hours 
to help strangers through this terrible disaster.
  These are who Texans are. We are defined by our resilience, by our 
people, by our willingness to stand shoulder to shoulder and say: ``We 
got you.''

  Our State has faced immense tragedy with hundreds of victims, many of 
whom were children, little girls excited to go to summer camp to make 
new friends and create memories that would last for a lifetime. Our 
entire Nation mourns those we have lost, and we are holding close the 
families who are doing everything they can just to make it through each 
day hour by hour.
  Those families and those victims deserve answers. We must hold State 
and Federal officials accountable. We have a new chairman of the 
Homeland Security Committee, Mr. Garbarino from New York. It is my hope 
that he will respond to our calls to convene the Homeland Security 
Committee for an oversight hearing of these floods to examine what went 
wrong and how our government can do better in the future.
  Texans deserve a government that matches their generosity. We deserve 
a government that plans ahead, responds quickly, and never lets 
politics get in the way of protecting our communities.
  Today, I say thank you to Sabrina, Ryan, Savion, David, and Lauren. I 
thank the Plano Fire Department and our first responders from Dallas. I 
thank every volunteer, every neighbor,

[[Page H3562]]

every house of worship, every first responder who has made a difference 
during this crisis.
  Mr. Rogers once said when bad things happen, to always ``Look for the 
helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'' We have a lot 
of helpers in north Texas and across our State who have gone above and 
beyond to help with their neighbors, and we are damn proud of them.

                          ____________________