[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H5537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
    RECOGNIZING THE SUDANESE-AMERICAN IOWA NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM CLUB

  (Mrs. Miller-Meeks of Iowa was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
Sudanese-American Iowa National Soccer Team Club for its outstanding 
performance at the Sudanese American Soccer Federation's 25th 
Anniversary Tournament.
  Competing at the national level for the third time, the Iowa team 
earned three awards that reflect the talent, character, and dedication 
of its players. The club received the Fair Play Award for its 
sportsmanship, discipline, teamwork, and respect throughout the 
tournament.
  Olamilekan Ojo, known as Messi, was recognized with the Five-Star 
Outstanding Player Award for his exceptional performance, and the club 
also received a Tournament Participation Award. These accomplishments 
are a testament to the team's hard work and its commitment to 
representing Iowa with pride.
  Beyond competition, the club uses soccer to develop young athletes, 
build leadership skills and character, promote healthy lifestyles, and 
strengthen community connections.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the coaches and all the young athletes on 
the Iowa National Soccer Team Club, and I look forward to seeing all 
that they accomplish in the future.


          Celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National 
Truck Driver Appreciation Week and recognize the hardworking men and 
women who keep Iowa and our Nation moving.
  Iowa is home to 37,530 truck drivers, many of whom spend long hours 
on the road delivering the food, fuel, supplies, and products our 
families, farms, and businesses rely on every day.
  From the truck stops along Interstate 80 to the world's largest truck 
stop, the Iowa 80 Truck Stop in Walcott, trucking is a vital part of 
Iowa's economy and way of life. These drivers help keep our grocery 
store shelves stocked, support Iowa's farmers and manufacturers, and 
ensure goods can reach communities across our State and country. They 
even deliver lifesaving medical supplies and organs.
  In fact, more than 60 percent of the communities in Iowa depend 
exclusively on trucks to move their goods. The trucking industry also 
provides good-paying jobs for Iowans and supports thousands of locally 
owned businesses.
  I am grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of Iowa's truck 
drivers and the vital role they play in supporting our families, 
strengthening our local businesses, and ensuring communities across 
Iowa have the goods and resources they need.


                      Recognizing the Seol Family

  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share a story about 
an unpayable debt, a promise kept across generations, and the true 
meaning of the American Dream.
  Mr. Speaker, 75 years ago, a young refugee named Myung-Hee Seol, 
having survived a brutal foreign occupation and the shadow of 
communism, fought for his life in the Korean war. On a frozen, desolate 
hill, an American marine pulled him from the brink of death--igniting a 
spark of gratitude that would shape a family's destiny forever.
  Decades later, his son, the international artist Kacey Seol, poured 
his heart into honoring that nameless marine. He created Alliance 70, a 
breathtaking 10-foot canvas composed of 300,000 microscopic historic 
images of both nations harmonizing into one powerful unit that now 
hangs permanently inside the Pentagon. It is a stunning, living 
monument to the alliance that bought his family's freedom.
  Today, that sacred promise is fulfilled at Rock Island Arsenal in my 
district. The refugee's grandson, Dr. Jason Seol--serving dually as an 
U.S. Army Reserve officer and an Army civilian at First Army 
Headquarters--is living the American Dream his grandfather could only 
imagine. He also pioneered their innovative Holistic Health and 
Fitness, H2F, martial arts program, training our Nation's soldiers in 
physical and mental readiness.
  As we continue celebrating 250 years of our Nation, the Seol family 
reminds us freedom is not free. You earn it daily by what you do for 
your family, your community, and your country. Their 75-year journey is 
the ultimate testament that American freedom is a priceless gift that 
is meant to be paid forward and preserved.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish a very happy birthday to my sister-in-law, Susan. 
Happy birthday, Susan.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish a happy birthday to my husband, Curt Meeks. Happy 
birthday to my husband, and I hope he has many more birthdays to come.

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