[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E695-E696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JOSHUA BAER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN R. CARTER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 15, 2026

  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
legacy of Joshua Baer, a visionary entrepreneur, mentor, and community 
leader whose contributions transformed Central Texas into a global 
center for innovation. His passing is a tremendous loss for his family, 
the technology community, and our Nation.
  Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, Joshua earned degrees in Computer 
Science and Information and Decision Systems from Carnegie Mellon 
University, where he first demonstrated the entrepreneurial spirit that 
would define his career by co-authoring the technical standard that 
allows millions of people to unsubscribe from email lists with a single 
click. After moving to Austin in 1996, Joshua became a driving force 
behind the city's emergence as a global technology hub. In 2009, he 
founded Capital Factory, which grew into Texas' leading startup 
accelerator and the state's most active venture investor, supporting 
more than 1,000 companies, later opening a second site in Washington, 
D.C.--Station DC. He recognized the vital connection between innovation 
and national security, playing an instrumental role in bringing Army 
Futures Command to Austin and strengthening the partnership between the 
military and the technology community.
  I had the privilege of knowing Joshua and witnessing firsthand his 
passion for advancing innovation in Texas. On his many trips to 
Washington, he often visited my Capitol Hill office, where he proudly 
delivered one of Capital Factory's iconic robots for my collection, 
showcasing the remarkable technology companies that call Texas home. I 
am grateful to have called Joshua a friend and to have borne witness to 
his genius. He tirelessly championed priorities I shared, above all, 
the advancement of technology for our Nation's defense. Those 
advancements safeguard us

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today, and his children and my grandchildren will reap their benefits 
for generations to come. I will always remember his enthusiasm, his 
generosity, and his unwavering commitment to strengthening both our 
innovation economy and our national security.
  Joshua is survived by his wife, Amy, and their children, Mikaela, 
Noah, and Sascha. Joshua Baer's legacy will live on through the 
entrepreneurs he inspired, the companies he helped build, and the 
innovation ecosystem he cultivated across Texas. On behalf of a 
grateful Central Texas, Mrs. Carter and I extend our deepest 
condolences to his family and to all who were fortunate enough to have 
known him.

                          ____________________