[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 194 (Tuesday, November 18, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4713-H4714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF OPERA ROANOKE

  (Mr. Cline of Virginia was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Opera Roanoke on 
the momentous occasion of its 50th anniversary.
  Founded in 1976 as the Southwest Virginia Opera Society by a group of 
dedicated volunteers, the company staged its first production of ``The 
Consul'' in 1978, and in 1991, became the fully professional 
organization we now know as Opera Roanoke.
  For five decades, it has been a cornerstone of cultural life in 
Roanoke and across Virginia's Blue Ridge, presenting compelling 
performances and fostering a broader appreciation for opera in western 
Virginia.
  Over the years, the company has benefited from remarkable artistic 
leadership and the guidance of legendary mentors, such as Eleanor 
Steber and Irene Dalis. A special thank you to the board of trustees, 
who have contributed to the success of the opera: John Johnson, 
President; Krista Vannoy, Immediate Past President; Frank Giannini, 
Treasurer; Jim Dubinsky, Secretary; Isabel Ditzel; and Eric Monday.
  This anniversary season opened with ``Love and Sacrifice: A tribute 
to the Heart of Opera Roanoke,'' which also marked the retirement of 
Maestro Steven White, whose more than 20 years of service have 
profoundly shaped the company's artistic excellence.
  As Opera Roanoke looks ahead to its 50th anniversary season and 
upcoming

[[Page H4714]]

production of ``Hansel and Gretel,'' I congratulate the organization, 
its artists, its leadership, and its supporters on five decades of 
achievement. May the next 50 be just as inspiring.


              Celebrating Robert Holland's 100th Birthday

  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Robert Holland 
of Roanoke, Virginia, who will celebrate his 100th birthday this 
Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025.
  Mr. Holland is a proud World War II veteran who enlisted in the 
United States Army at just 18 years old. He spent his 19th birthday in 
France, serving as a Staff Sergeant with the 381st Battery. He worked 
as a powder man and also served in supply operations, roles vital to 
our mission's success in Europe.
  After the war, Mr. Holland returned to his home State of West 
Virginia before settling in the Hollins area of Roanoke County in 1950 
to be near family. He went on to enjoy a long and honorable career with 
the General Electric Company and has been a valued member of the 
Roanoke community ever since.
  Mr. Speaker, as he marks a century of life, service, and devotion to 
family and country, I am proud to join his loved ones and neighbors in 
wishing Mr. Robert Holland a very happy 100th birthday and thanking him 
for his steadfast service to our Nation.


             Congratulating Warren County Middle School FFA

  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, for the first time in Warren County's 
history, a middle school FFA chapter has earned the highest honor 
possible from the National FFA Organization. Receiving the National 
Chapter Award with a gold three-star rating places Warren County Middle 
School's FFA among the very best agricultural education programs in the 
Nation.
  A testament to the hard work, leadership, and community spirit of our 
students, these young people are not only learning about agriculture 
but also taking initiative to serve their neighbors, strengthen their 
school, and build a brighter future.
  Led by adviser Lynne Phillips and officers Harlie Brooks, Madison 
Ballard, Bella Kaplan, Allie Englert, Camberlee Lockhart, Cadence 
Flint, Alexis Clark, Silas Dutton, and Lex Flores, alongside all other 
members, planned and carried out projects that range from food drives 
to environmental cleanups, demonstrating that middle school students, 
when given the tools and the trust, can rise to extraordinary heights.

  Mr. Speaker, fewer than 10 percent of FFA chapters nationwide receive 
this distinction. Warren County's students have set a new standard of 
excellence, and they remind us that the seeds of leadership, once 
planted, can grow into something that lifts up an entire community. I 
am proud to honor them today.


                    Denouncing Socialism in America

  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, socialism has left a long trail of suffering 
across the globe. Wherever it has taken root, it has brought economic 
collapse, political oppression, and the deterioration of freedom.
  Despite this record, we are seeing a troubling rise in socialist 
rhetoric here at home, especially among younger Americans and in major 
cities like New York City where these ideas are becoming increasingly 
mainstream. At the same time, support for the free-market principles 
that built our Nation has declined. This shift endangers the core 
values handed down by our Founding Fathers: liberty, personal 
responsibility, and limited government.
  We cannot ignore these warning signs. We cannot allow the failures of 
socialist systems abroad or here in the United States to be rewritten, 
dismissed, or forgotten. That is why House Republicans are set to vote 
on a resolution that firmly rejects socialism in all its forms and 
reaffirms our commitment to the American ideals of freedom and self-
governance.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve to know where their elected 
officials stand. House Republicans will choose freedom, and we will 
stand for the principles that are the foundation of this great Nation.

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