[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H2534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING NEW CASTLE COUNCILMAN PENROSE HOLLINS

  (Ms. McBride of Delaware was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize New Castle County 
Councilman Penrose Hollins, who was recently awarded the Order of the 
First State, Delaware's highest civilian honor.
  Councilman Hollins is a veteran, lifelong leader, and one of 
Delaware's most committed public servants, serving on the New Castle 
Council for the last three-and-a-half decades. During that time, I am 
proud to have been one of his constituents.
  For 36 years, he has worked tirelessly for his neighbors, advancing 
affordable homeownership, expanding access to libraries and community 
hubs, supporting programs for youth and seniors, all while promoting 
workforce diversity and economic development.
  Delawareans, and specifically my neighbors and me in District Four, 
know him as a committed voice for justice, a trailblazer, and a pillar 
of the greater Wilmington area. Councilman Hollins made history when he 
served as the first Black president pro tempore of the New Castle 
County Council. In every chapter of his career, he has sought to expand 
opportunity for those too often pushed to the margins of society.
  His legacy of leadership, courage, and fierce advocacy is an 
inspiration to all who know him, to his constituents, and to the entire 
State of Delaware.
  Mr. Speaker, we congratulate him on a well-deserved honor, and we 
thank him for his dedication and service to the First State.


                    Honoring Michaela Kurinsky-Malos

  Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I often come to this 
Chamber to share about the work we get to do, the perspectives our 
neighbors share with us, and to highlight the struggles and the 
successes that define this work. Today, I want to uplift one of the 
behind-the-scenes actors who has helped me deliver for our neighbors 
during my first term in Congress.
  I rise to bid farewell to Michaela Kurinsky-Malos, who joined my team 
2 years ago, long before I ever stepped into this Chamber. She has been 
a critical part of my team ever since.
  For the last year, Michaela has served as my deputy chief and 
communications director, as well as chief vibes enforcer, bringing 
incomparable guidance, experienced leadership, and unyielding 
commitment to our team.
  Michaela and I first met when she came on board as my campaign 
manager. While, technically, I was interviewing her for that job, it 
really felt like she was interviewing me. It was then that I saw her 
political acumen up close. Michaela is one of the most decisive, 
incisive, and effective leaders I have ever known.
  Through the highs and lows of the campaign trail and my first year in 
Congress, Michaela's tireless dedication to our mission, to her team, 
and to public service has always remained her North Star. Her work has 
shaped my life and our team immensely. She will be sorely missed by me 
and the entirety of our office.
  Mr. Speaker, I am so grateful for her partnership and for all that 
she has done to make this possible. I wish her all the best in her next 
exciting chapter. The doors of Delaware will always be open to her, to 
Dexter, to Bubba, and even to Todd back to the greatest State in the 
Union.


                         Honoring Albert Firth

  Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service 
of Albert Firth of Millsboro, who passed away on February 19 of this 
year.
  For two decades, Mr. Firth served our country in the United States 
Air Force, dedicating his career to protecting our Nation abroad. After 
retirement from the Air Force, Mr. Firth continued his commitment to 
public service right here in D.C., where he joined the U.S. Capitol 
Police.
  Mr. Firth served with the U.S. Capitol Police from the late 1980s 
until nearly 2000, helping safeguard this institution and the people 
who work here. This was no small undertaking and far from the typical 
retirement scene.
  During the 1990s, he was entrusted with an especially important 
responsibility, serving on the personal security detail for then-
Speaker Newt Gingrich.
  Throughout his career, his work required vigilance, professionalism, 
and a resolute dedication that Mr. Firth carried with honor, 
responsibility, and pride.
  Mr. Firth's legacy is a reminder that service to our country takes 
many forms--sometimes in uniform abroad and sometimes here at home, 
protecting the institutions that sustain our democracy.
  Delaware is grateful for his decades of service, and our Nation is 
stronger because of his selfless contributions to our country. May his 
memory be a blessing to all who knew him.

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