[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3398-H3399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE OF STICKNEY MAYOR JEFF WALIK

  (Mr. Garcia of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
of Mayor Jeff Walik of Stickney, a man whose life was inseparable from 
the village that he loved.
  Jeff served his community first as a police officer and later as 
mayor, always a fighter for Stickney. Mayor Walik never stopped 
pushing, never stopped advocating, and, frankly, never took ``no'' for 
an answer when it came to his home and his people.
  Even those who disagreed with him knew one thing to be true: His 
commitment to Stickney was real. He carried his community in his heart 
everywhere he went. He never walked away from service, always 
protecting and fighting for the town he believed in.
  Jeff was part of an era of public service that people will speak 
about with pride.
  We extend our deepest condolences to the Walik family, the residents 
of Stickney, and all those mourning this tremendous loss. May he rest 
in peace.

                              {time}  1015


          Recognizing St. Procopius Church's 150th Anniversary

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
St. Procopius Church--my first parish when I arrived in Chicago--on 
their 150th anniversary.
  Founded in 1875 and located in the historic Pilsen community in my 
district, St. Procopius was first built to serve the growing population 
of Czech immigrants who settled in the neighborhood after the Great 
Chicago Fire.
  Since then, the church has evolved alongside the community from its 
roots as a predominantly Czech parish to serving a very large and 
vibrant Mexican-American community that Pilsen is known for today.
  The parish, now merged with Providence of God Parish and Holy Trinity 
Croatian Parish, continues to contribute greatly to the Pilsen 
neighborhood and the city of Chicago through community outreach, 
hosting cultural and religious celebrations, and providing education to 
children from 15 communities across Chicago through a dual-language 
parish school that I am proud to be an alum of.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate St. Procopius Church for marking a 
century and a half of faith, resilience, and dedicated service to the 
people of Chicago.


               Honoring Juan Dies and Victor G. Pichardo

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Juan 
Dies and Victor Pichardo, Mexican folk musicians who were recently 
recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts with the 2026 
National Heritage Fellowship awards.
  Juan and Victor cofounded Sones de Mexico in Pilsen, Illinois, and 
have dedicated their lives to preserving, sharing, and uplifting the 
rich traditions of Mexican folk music for new generations.
  Through workshops, seminars, residencies, and performances, they

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have taken Mexican music from neighborhood events in Pilsen to Carnegie 
Hall, The Kennedy Center, and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
  For 35 years, Victor and Juan have taught hundreds of students in 
Mexico and the U.S., keeping traditions alive and strengthening 
cultural identity.
  This award is a recognition of their contributions to enriching 
America's cultural tapestry.
  ``Juan, Victor, your music and achievements fill us with great 
pride''; ``Juan, Victor, su musica y sus logros nos llenan de 
orgullo.''

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