Anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges

  Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the anniversary of
Obergefell v. Hodges this week, the landmark Supreme Court decision
that affirmed marriage equality as law of the land over a decade ago.
  We honor this anniversary every year during Pride Month by
remembering the activists, couples, and lawmakers who had the courage
to fight for their right to love whom they love in the face of hate,
discrimination, and injustice. Their relentless advocacy and conviction
paved the way for marriage equality.
  I am so grateful to live in a world where every LGBTQ+ individual who
calls California's 31st District their home has the right to marriage.
  I will always fight to protect their right to equality and to live
freely and happily as their most authentic self.

WISHING POLICE CHIEF ROBERT NOBLE OF YORKTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT A HAPPY
                               RETIREMENT

  (Mr. Lawler of New York was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
  Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate
Yorktown Police Chief Robert Noble on his retirement after more than
three decades of public service.
  Chief Noble's career has been defined by commitment, sacrifice, and
an unwavering sense of duty. For more than 30 years in law enforcement,
including nearly a decade as chief, he led the Yorktown Police
Department with professionalism and steady leadership.
  For Chief Noble, policing was never simply a job, it was a vocation.
He described the department as a second family and fostered a culture
of trust, respect, and community engagement.

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  Throughout his tenure, he strengthened community policing
initiatives, expanded school-based programs, and guided the department
through the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging moments, including
the loss of an officer.
  Beyond his accomplishments, Chief Noble will be remembered for his
integrity, his leadership, and his dedication to keeping Yorktown safe.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Bobby, his family, and the entire Yorktown
Police Department. I extend my deepest gratitude for his decades of
service. May his retirement be filled with some well-earned rest and
time with his loved ones.

                     Remembering Carmine Caponigro

  Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Carmine
Caponigro, a distinguished oral surgeon, veteran, educator, and devoted
family man who passed away earlier this month.
  A native New Yorker, Carmine was born in Brooklyn and raised in the
Bronx, where he embodied the American Dream. As the first in his family
to attend college, he earned degrees from Fordham University and New
York University College of Dentistry before proudly serving our Nation
in the United States Army.
  After his military service, he made Rockland County his home, where
he built a respected oral surgery practice, served as chief of dental
service at Good Samaritan Hospital, and helped educate future dental
professionals. His commitment to excellence earned him the Sister
Joseph Rita Good Samaritan Award for Medical Excellence.
  Beyond his many professional accomplishments, Carmine will be
remembered most for his kindness, humility,

sharp intellect, and deep love for his family. He valued service,
lifelong learning, and treating every person with dignity and respect.
  His beloved wife of 72 years, Lydia, his children, and the entire
Caponigro family are in our thoughts and prayers.
  Mr. Speaker, may God bless Carmine's memory and may his legacy
continue to inspire generations to come.

                          Honoring Bill Ritter

  Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great New Yorker,
Bill Ritter, whose decades of work in broadcast journalism have earned
him the respect and admiration of viewers across our region. As he and
his family face his recent diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer's
disease, I join countless New Yorkers in offering my prayers, support,
and deep gratitude for all he has given to our communities.
  For decades, Bill has been a trusted presence in New York homes. As
the longtime anchor of WABC's Eyewitness News, he built a career
defined by integrity, thoughtful storytelling, and an unwavering
commitment to keeping the public informed.
  Throughout my time in Congress, I have had the opportunity to join
Bill on his program where every conversation reflected his fairness,
professionalism, and respect for others. Even as he steps away from the
anchor desk, Bill continues to lead with courage and purpose by raising
awareness about Alzheimer's disease and helping families facing the
same journey.
  Mr. Speaker, Bill; his wife, Kathleen; his children; and his entire
family are in our thoughts and prayers. We are deeply grateful for
Bill's decades of service, his friendship, and his voice in our public
life.
  Mr. Speaker, may God bless Bill and his family, and may He grant him
strength, peace, and comfort in the days ahead as he sets out to battle
Alzheimer's.

                      Recognizing Watson Padovani

  Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a truly inspiring
young New Yorker from Somers, 5-year-old Watson Padovani, who is
showing all of us that you are never too young to make a difference in
your community.
  Earlier this June, Watson held his third annual lemonade stand
outside of Bobo's Cafe in Somers, raising more than $2,000 for Alex's
Lemonade Stand Foundation, which supports children and families
battling childhood cancer. What began as a simple act of kindness has
now become a growing tradition of compassion and service.
  The Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation was inspired by the legacy of
young Alex Scott, who began raising money with a simple lemonade stand
in her fight against childhood cancer.
  Today, Watson is helping carry that mission forward, one that has
raised millions for pediatric cancer research and brought hope to
countless families across the country.
  Mr. Speaker, to Watson and his family and the entire Somers community
that came together to support this effort, I thank them for setting
such a powerful example of kindness, generosity, and community spirit.

             Recognizing the '76 House in Tappan, New York

  Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of the Hudson
Valley's most historic landmarks, the '76 House in Tappan, New York.
  Established in 1686 and expanded in 1755, it is widely known as
America's oldest tavern. Mr. Speaker, '76 House stood at the center of
a growing community.
  On July 4, 1774, local leaders gathered to draft and sign the
resolutions of Orangetown, one of the first declarations of
independence in American history, helping to lay the foundation for the
freedoms we celebrate today.
  During the Revolutionary War, '76 House welcomed some of the most
important figures in our Nation's founding, including George
Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the Marquis de Lafayette. It also
played a role in a pivotal moment of the war, including the trial of
Major John Andre, a turning point that reshaped the course of the
Revolution.
  Today, it remains a living piece of American history, offering a
direct connection to the people and events that defined our
independence and reflecting the enduring spirit of freedom in the
Hudson Valley. As we celebrate America's 250th birthday, I am proud to
recognize the Old '76 House's legacy and its role in preserving our
Nation's story for generations to come.

                       HONORING MIKHAIL TORRANCE

  (Mr. Figures of Alabama was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
  Mr. FIGURES. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to pay honor and tribute to
one of the best that my hometown has ever had to offer: Mikhail
Torrance.
  An incredible young man, who tragically and suddenly passed away last
week at the age of just 37 years old. He was a young man whose passing
has unleashed a tidal wave of shock and disbelief and raw grief and
emotion back home.
  I am from Mobile, Alabama. It is the same hometown as Mikhail. It is
a place that has produced arguably the best historical collection of
athletic talent of almost any city in this country. We have had a
number one pick in an NBA draft, an NFL draft, dozens of professional
ballplayers, dozens of NCAA champions, NBA, Super Bowl, World Series
champions, and six pro sports Hall of Famers, and that number will
grow. In fact, just last night, we further added to that legacy with
the first round draft pick in the NBA of Labaron Philon, Jr.
  Saying someone is among the best to come from my hometown in any
sport is not something that can be said lightly at all, but it is
something that can honestly be said about Mikhail.
  I am a few years older than Mikhail, so I was already in college at
the University of Alabama when he was coming up through Mary G.
Montgomery High School, but I remember when I found out that the
University of Florida was recruiting him. It really surprised me
because I had not heard of him much before that point. This is at a
time when Florida was in the midst of winning back-to-back national
championships, and so I called his high school coach, John Davis, who
happened to be one of my high school coaches at LeFlore, and I asked
him was this kid really that good. Without hesitation, and with the
grin that a coach has when he knows he has a workhorse on his team, he
said: Yeah, he is. But he also said: But he is a really good kid.
  Mikhail ended up coming out as a top recruit in the State of Alabama,
ended up going to the University of Alabama where he did everything
that was asked of him. He did it the right way. Every single year, he
got better. He waited his turn, and by the time he came out, he was an
all-conference player, excelled in the predraft process, and by all
accounts was headed to the NBA.
  But he had a heart condition that was discovered and it cost him his
shot at playing in the league. Imagine that, being 21 years old and on
the pathway to fulfilling a childhood dream and having done everything
the right way. This kid didn't have so much as a rumor of a blemish on
his character or his reputation, and then that dream was suddenly taken
away because of a medical condition. It was tough for him, but he
pivoted.
  He was able to ultimately play proball overseas for a few years
before returning home to Alabama to his wife, Jessica, and their two
girls, Maci and McKenna, ages 11 and 7. He worked at the Army Corps of
Engineers and in real estate, but he still stayed close to the game
that he loved so much through coaching and training kids and hosting
camps and refereeing local basketball games, even doing play-by-play
announcing of televised college games and also doing motivational
speaking, giving his testimony, sharing his pain, his struggle, his
journey to inspire younger guys to continue to persevere and be better,
even better than he was.
  As we know, life isn't always fair, and horrible things happen. Now,
we sit here in this seemingly unreal moment, and his wife and kids
suddenly find themselves in a club that no one wants to be a part of.
Unfortunately, I, too, am a member of that club. Coincidentally, just
like his daughters, I was 11 when my father suddenly passed, and my
younger brother was 7. Having been in those shoes, I can tell you that
as much as it sucks being in that club, you ironically end up in
another club that a lot of people actually aspire to be in, and that is
the club of having a father or a husband whose life will be