[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H3996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING KOSOVO LIBERATION DAY

  (Mr. Latimer of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kosovo Liberation 
Day.
  On this day 27 years ago, the Military Technical Agreement was signed 
and mandated the Yugoslavian and Serbian forces to retreat from Kosovo.
  Under Serbian oppression for over a year, approximately 13,000 ethnic 
Albanians were killed. One million Kosovars were displaced, and around 
1,600 people are still missing due to the violent conflict.
  During the Clinton Presidency, NATO stepped in militarily to aid 
Kosovo in repelling its aggressors and was soon able to claim victory 
after a year and a half of systematic ethnic cleansing, mass 
expulsions, and violence against the civilian population.
  Although it has been decades since the conflict ended, Serbia still 
does not recognize Kosovo's autonomy. Furthermore, Serbia has never 
been held accountable for well-supported allegations of ethnic 
cleansing and sexual violence.
  Meanwhile, Kosovo's sovereignty has been recognized by over 100 
countries worldwide, including the U.S., since its formal declaration 
of independence in 2008.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of this body, during the 250th year of 
American independence, we honor Kosovo's young democracy. On this 
important day, Kosovo's values of liberty and justice resonate with our 
own Declaration of Independence.


                   Recognizing Bishop Wilbert Preston

  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, let me recognize the exceptional 
contributions of Bishop Wilbert Preston to the Fairview, Greenburgh, 
and White Plains communities.
  The bishop will be leaving his post as the spiritual leader for 
Christ Temple Church in Fairview later this year. More will be said 
about that at another time. This past weekend, we celebrated the 
completion of his tenure as chair of the Greenburgh Housing Authority 
with a celebratory luncheon.
  Bishop Preston first joined the housing authority board 26 years ago. 
During that time, including exemplary service as chairman, he fought 
for the best interests of those in need of housing in this urban 
neighborhood.
  Federal housing resources have never met the demand for housing for 
the needy, making it difficult for any local housing authority to 
satisfy the need that they see. Bishop Preston was an articulate 
spokesperson for those needs and understood the necessity to overcome 
structural racism and to address poverty and unemployment as elements 
of effective housing strategy.
  As he leaves his housing authority post, from the floor of the United 
States House of Representatives, I salute his moral leadership and 
managerial skill and his service on the board of the Greenburgh Housing 
Authority.


                    Recognizing PTSD Awareness Month

  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize PTSD Awareness 
Month.
  Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect anyone, and due to its 
invisibility, often resulting in getting overlooked, it isn't always 
properly treated.
  It is well-documented that servicemembers disproportionately suffer 
from PTSD, alongside 9/11 survivors and many others.
  The National Center for PTSD estimates that 23 percent of veterans 
reliant on the VA for care and treatment have had PTSD at some point in 
their lives.
  Despite PTSD's known treatability and the VA's efforts to connect 
affected individuals to the proper resources, the Trump administration 
continues to stand in the way of veterans' well-being.
  Since the inauguration of the President, employees have been forced 
from the VA in droves, including, of course, hundreds of dedicated 
mental health staff on the frontlines of tackling the mental health 
crisis facing our country's servicemen and -women.
  During this awareness month, I encourage this administration to cease 
neglecting the needs of our most vulnerable servicemen and veterans, to 
whom this country owes far more than empty gratitude, and that we 
recognize all who deal with PTSD in their everyday lives, and we show 
support for them.

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