[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5450-5451]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING BRAZOS VALLEY JEFFERSON AWARD RECIPIENTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Babin). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 6, 2015, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Flores) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Harper Cunningham, age 
12, and Maggie Cunningham, age 10, from College Station, Texas, who are 
recipients of the 2016 Jefferson Award for the Brazos Valley.
  The Jefferson Awards are presented annually to honor our unsung 
heroes, ordinary citizens who have done something extraordinary and 
that will have a lasting impact on the community. It is fitting that 
the Jefferson Award be presented to these two young girls, who not only 
exemplify what it means to serve, but who also share Thomas Jefferson's 
passion for reading.
  Harper and Maggie Cunningham's passion for reading and for helping 
those in need led them to create an organization to promote literacy 
and the well-being of our community students. Their Books and a Blanket 
program provides a basket of books and a blanket to elementary 
schoolchildren in need across the Brazos Valley during the winter 
months.
  Their mission is simple and impactful: they want all students to have 
access to books so that they, too, can experience the joy that comes 
from reading. Since 2012, Books and a Blanket has given away over 1,200 
blankets and distributed over 33,000 books to over 2,500 children in 
need.
  Mr. Speaker, these two young girls have done a tremendous job helping 
others, promoting literacy, and being inspiring leaders in our 
community. As President Ronald Reagan once said:

       The greatest leaders are not necessarily the ones who do 
     the greatest things. The greatest leaders are the ones who 
     get other people to do the greatest things.

  It is evident that Harper and Maggie are models of true leadership, 
and their desire to serve and empower others is inspiring. Young 
Americans like Harper and Maggie provide confidence for 

[[Page 5451]]

all of us about 
the future of our great country.
  I congratulate Harper and Maggie Cunningham for their hard work, 
selfless service, and for being awarded the 2016 Jefferson Award for 
the Brazos Valley. Gina and I look forward to hosting them in 
Washington later this year for the National Jefferson Awards ceremony.
  I would also like to congratulate the other 2016 Jefferson Award 
winners from the Brazos Valley: Stephanie Sale, Alma Villarreal, and 
David Ruesink. Their selfless service to our community is inspiring and 
also worthy of these special recognitions. I am humbled to represent 
all of them in Congress.
  As I close, I ask all Americans to continue to pray for our country 
during these difficult times, for our military men and women who 
protect us from external threats, and for our first responders who 
protect us here at home.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________