[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4002-H4003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         JUHIE PARIKH COMMEMORATES AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

  (Mr. Bera of California was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Juhie Parikh, a 
student at Inderkum High School in Sacramento, for winning my office's 
essay contest commemorating America's 250th anniversary.
  As our Nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, 
students across my district were invited to reflect on what America 
means to them. Juhie's essay stood out for its thoughtful reflection on 
community, belonging, and unity.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to share her essay in her own words:

       As I look out onto my street in a Sacramento suburb, I see 
     a lovely Chinese family with two daughters achieving their 
     dreams in college, a Black family with two daughters in high 
     school with me, a Mexican family with three children that 
     love playing soccer, college students renting a house, three 
     generations of a White family and their cute dog named Liesel 
     who pass out homemade cinnamon rolls every Christmas to each 
     house, and my own Indian immigrant family. This isn't just a 
     show of diversity, but unity.
       To me, America is this street.
       It is easy to look at a country and only see its fractures 
     and divisions. America might have many imperfections, but 
     that is not all it is. What I see from my window tells a 
     different story, one that feels personal to me.
       What strikes me most about my neighborhood isn't our 
     differences. It is that we don't care about how different we 
     are. The kids kick their soccer ball into the street, and 
     everyone navigates around it without complaint. The college 
     students wave. Liesel trots over to anyone who will scratch 
     her ears, noticing their kindness first before their 
     backgrounds. At Christmas, cinnamon rolls arrive at every 
     door, not just ones that look familiar. These little details, 
     repeated daily, are what a culture is actually made of.
       My dad came to America first, alone, for his job, building 
     the foundation to raise a family here. My mom followed him, 
     leaving behind everything familiar to join him in a country 
     still new to both of them. This risk is not unique to us. 
     Nearly every family on my street has their own version: a 
     sacrifice made, a life turned upside down, a bet placed on 
     this country. And somewhere along the way, all of those 
     separate stories merged into one shared street.
       This shared life revealed itself most clearly on the day 
     Liesel passed away. I had once been small enough that the 
     Great Dane and I were nearly the same size, the two of us 
     growing up together. She had belonged to one family, but in 
     truth, she belonged to all of us. When she was gone, every 
     family came to the door. Some brought food, some simply came 
     to honor her memory. An entire street grieved together, and I 
     understood that what we had built was not just proximity. It 
     was genuine care.
       This care is the truest thing I know about America. We are 
     so defined by our differences, our backgrounds, our 
     languages, or our histories. But on my street, those things 
     are only the beginning of the story, not the end of it. 
     Similarly, America's story is not finished either. To me, 
     America means possibility, the possibility that people from 
     every corner of the world can land on the same street and 
     become part of each other's lives. It is not a perfect 
     country. But it keeps producing diverse streets like mine. 
     And that is enough to believe in.


    Recognizing 20th Anniversary of Citrus Heights Police Department

  Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 20th anniversary 
of the Citrus Heights Police Department.
  For two decades, the men and women of the department have served the 
Citrus Heights community with dedication, professionalism, and an 
unwavering commitment to public safety. Every day, they work to keep 
families safe, respond in moments of crisis, and strengthen trust 
across the community.
  I was proud to help secure $540,000 in Federal funding for the 
department's emergency communication enhancements project to upgrade 
emergency communications to ensure first responders can communicate 
reliably during emergencies, coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions, 
and keep Citrus Heights residents safe when every second counts.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chief Alexander Turcotte and every officer, 
dispatcher,

[[Page H4003]]

and staff member for their service and sacrifice. Their work reflects 
the very best of public service and dedication to our community.

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