[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4214-H4215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING CUPCAKE CUTIE BOUTIQUE

  (Mr. Latimer of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)

[[Page H4215]]

  

  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate the Cupcake 
Cutie Boutique, a Mount Vernon establishment built on family, faith, 
and Black excellence.
  The founders are a mother-daughter duo who opened their small 
business over 10 years ago. The pair faced challenges familiar to many 
small business owners, including the pandemic, in which they never 
stopped serving the community.
  We salute Montika Jones and her daughter, Miesha Stokely, the baker, 
for this wonderful business.
  Due to the current administration's policies, small businesses 
everywhere are struggling amidst rising tariffs, energy costs, and 
economic fallout. As a member of the Small Business Committee, it is 
important to me that small businesses get the proper support and 
respect that they deserve.
  We should support women-owned businesses and African-American-owned 
businesses. A mother-daughter team, like Cupcake Cutie Boutique, must 
continue to thrive alongside all the wonderful small businesses in our 
community. That is how we achieve economic growth for all.


                  Marking Alzheimer's Awareness Month

  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Alzheimer's Awareness 
Month to call my colleagues to action in confronting this devastating 
disease.
  I have met with representatives from the Alzheimer's Association to 
discuss their legislative priorities and how advocates can draw 
attention to this disease. In these meetings, we spoke about the 
importance of early detection and proper screenings.
  The ASAP Act, bipartisan legislation, does just this by providing 
Medicare coverage for blood-based dementia screening tests.
  Our need for action comes when the current Presidential 
administration denies basic science and proposes cuts to and 
constraints on key research institutions, such as the NIH.
  One in nine Americans over the age of 65 are diagnosed with 
Alzheimer's. They deserve more. They cannot afford cuts to research 
that can lead to curing this horrible disease.


                      Rising Costs of Family Trips

  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, it is that time of year when summer break 
starts and families across the country embark on family trips.
  The rising costs of fuel, food, and basic necessities are making it 
difficult to take on any expenses beyond their basic needs. The average 
national gas prices remained at and above $4 since the start of the war 
with Iran. Families are already absorbing the rising costs of utility 
bills and increased healthcare premiums. Many families cannot handle an 
extra expense for a vacation.
  Airlines are reducing their flight schedules; travel demand is 
decreasing; and international tourism into the United States is 
dropping rapidly.
  Sadly, this administration demonstrates that it does not care about 
the cost of living when I hear President Trump say: ``I love the 
inflation.''
  My hope is for my fellow Americans to have the opportunity to make 
new memories with their families without having to make concessions due 
to rising costs around every corner. This is a priority that we must 
address.

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