[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 72 (Thursday, April 23, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF PAUL HEAVENRIDGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2026

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Paul Heavenridge who 
passed away on December 10, 2025. Paul devoted his career to improving 
the quality of life for the community of Petaluma and the extended 
North Bay.
  Paul founded and led Literacyworks, a Petaluma-based nonprofit 
established to expand literacy for adults and families to provide 
dynamic resources and pathways for lifelong learning. Under his 
stewardship, Literacyworks supported adult learners with practical, 
research-based tools and partnerships that improved educational access, 
workforce readiness, and family wellbeing. In 2015, Paul helped launch 
the Literacyworks Center at Santa Rosa Junior College--a model program 
providing scholarships and wraparound support for nontraditional and 
economically disadvantaged students.
  Paul's commitment to improving literacy extended beyond 
Literacyworks. He served as a Sonoma County Library Commissioner to 
support public libraries and equitable access to reading, learning, and 
information, characteristics he deemed essential for community health. 
Through Literacyworks AmeriCorps, Paul also championed statewide 
library-led literacy initiatives, partnering with the California State 
Library's California Library Literacy Services to strengthen capacity 
at libraries throughout the state. These initiatives helped coordinate 
programming, training, and day-to-day support so local literacy 
programs could thrive.
  Beyond classrooms and computer labs, Paul served his community on the 
Friends of the Petaluma River board, helping steward a treasured local 
waterway through conservation, education, and public events.
  Mr. Speaker, Paul Heavenridge believed that literacy is a gateway to 
work, independence, and a fuller life, and he dedicated his career to 
making that gateway wider for everyone. I respectfully ask that you 
join me in honoring his extraordinary life and in extending our deepest 
condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the many learners 
whose futures were brightened by his work.

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