[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 13, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING A'SHELLARIEN ADDISON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from 
Delaware, Representative McBride, for 5 minutes.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On January 13, 2026, page H663, in the first column, the 
following appeared: (Ms. MCBRIDE of Delaware was recognized to 
address the House for 5 minutes.)
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: The SPEAKER pro 
tempore. The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from Delaware, 
Representative McBride, for 5 minutes.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lieutenant 
Colonel Chaplain Reverend Dr. A'Shellarien Addison on her recent 
promotion at the Delaware Army National Guard.
  Earlier this month, I was honored to attend her promotion ceremony 
and celebrate her historic role as the first woman to hold this rank at 
the Delaware National Guard, and I was moved hearing about her 
commitment to her fellow National Guardsmen.
  Before her time at the Delaware National Guard, she served as the 
first woman chaplain at the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, 
Virginia. Her devotion to spiritual empowerment and trauma-informed 
healing has made her an indispensable leader to Delaware's Army 
National Guard.
  I look forward to seeing the work that she will continue to do in 
shaping the spiritual lives of those around her.
  Well done, Lieutenant Colonel Addison.


                         Closing of GrassRoots

  Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the closing 
of GrassRoots, a gift shop in Newark, Delaware, after 50 years in 
business.
  What started as a small shop on Newark's Main Street grew into a 
Delaware institution, with locations across our State from Wilmington 
to Hockessin to Rehoboth Beach, but its heart always stayed in Newark.
  GrassRoots weathered changing times. It survived recessions, and it 
adapted as retail shifted online. Through it all, it remained a 
constant presence, helping to define the character of downtown Newark 
for a generation.
  Marilyn Dickey, who cofounded GrassRoots in 1975, poured more than 
half of her life into the store. GrassRoots wasn't just a business. It 
was part of the rhythm of Newark, a reminder that local businesses 
create connections and build community.
  As GrassRoots closes this chapter and Marilyn begins a well-earned 
retirement, Delaware wishes her all the best and thanks her for her 
years of community service and creativity.


                      Recognizing Dreams of Faith

  Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the voices of my 
Delaware constituents, Dwain and Karen Johnson, who turned the 
unimaginable loss of their daughter, Faith Deanna Johnson, into 
lifesaving advocacy through their organization, Dreams of Faith.
  Faith was just 26 years old when she died from ovarian cancer. For 
years, her symptoms were dismissed or misdiagnosed until it was too 
late. Faith's ovarian cancer cut her life far too short. Before she 
passed, Faith made one request of her parents: Make sure this doesn't 
happen to someone else.
  In Delaware, we listened. When I served in the State Senate, I was 
proud to help pass House Bill 15, the Faith Deanna Johnson Act, which 
requires individual health insurance plans to cover annual ovarian 
cancer screenings for women at risk and expand monitoring for 
survivors.
  That law is already saving lives because it treats women's medical 
needs seriously and acts before it is too late. Here is why this 
matters: Ovarian cancer is often caught too late, but when detected 
early, survival rates dramatically increase. Early detection isn't just 
good medical practice; it is the difference between life and death.
  Today, I carry the Johnsons' story with me to Congress. Their 
advocacy reminds us that policy is personal and that too often families 
are failed not just by delayed diagnosis but by the very system tasked 
with caring for our health. It is one that too often puts barriers 
between people and the care that they need.
  We owe it to Faith and families across this country to keep pushing 
for early detection, meaningful insurance coverage, and a healthcare 
system that truly puts patients first.

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