Honoring Sheriff John Wilcher

  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish my good
friend a very happy 82nd birthday, Sheriff John Wilcher, retired
sheriff of Chatham County, Georgia.
  A lifelong Savannah County resident, George dedicated 49 years of his
life to serving the people of Chatham County, earning a reputation as a
straight-talking tough guy.
  He served in both the United States Navy and the Army Reserve before
joining the Chatham County Sheriff's Office, where he rose to the rank
of colonel over 40 years of service.
  In 2016, Wilcher became the oldest person elected to the sheriff's
office in Chatham County history and served with distinction until his
retirement in 2024.
  Throughout his career, John earned the Georgia Sheriffs' Association
Excellence Award and was recognized for his work improving mental
health services in jails and raising over $300,000 for the Georgia
Sheriffs' Youth Homes.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish a happy birthday to Sheriff Wilcher. The First
District of Georgia is grateful for his lifetime of service. Happy
birthday to my friend.

                       RECOGNIZING CHARLOTTE KING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the Member from
Delaware (Representative McBride) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an incredible
Delawarean whose impact has long shaped the work of racial justice in
Sussex County and across Delaware.
  Charlotte King, who founded the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial
Justice in 2015, has committed decades of her life to fighting
inequities across health, education, and public policy.
  As we celebrate a decade of work by the Alliance, we honor and
celebrate Ms. King's continued impact, her tireless commitment to
neighbors, and ceaseless devotion to the betterment of Delaware.
  Charlotte King has long been a barrier-breaker. During her time at
St. John's University in the 1950s, she was one of the Magnificent
Seven, a cohort of seven Black students who enrolled at the university
amid the civil rights movement.
  In 2000, she moved to the greatest State in the Union, settling in
Lewes, where she began volunteering with the League of Women Voters and
was struck by the lack of Black representation in Sussex County.
  The weight of the untold stories and unheard voices of our Black
neighbors is what drove Charlotte to found the Alliance.
  The organization's primary purpose has been to showcase Delaware's
history, identify how to support Black Delawareans, and how to empower
all Delawareans to be stronger, better advocates for racial justice,
and equality.
  During her 8 years leading the alliance, Charlotte developed an
organization that offered townhalls with civic servants, from local
leaders and police chiefs, hosted educational seminars, and supported
the development of both the Black Voices Magazine and the African
American Film Festival.
  I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Charlotte in her
living room to hear the stories of her trailblazing life and discuss
the ongoing need for progress in Delaware and nationally.
  She is a bold leader, a bridge builder, and she continues to serve as
a conscience for our State of neighbors.
  In the last year alone, her work and impact has been honored. She was
inducted into the Delaware Women's Hall of Fame, honored by the
Delaware Times with the Mitchell Award, and recently named one of the
most influential people in Delaware.

  At a moment when a coordinated attack on Black political power is
unfolding before our eyes across the country, it is citizen leaders
like Charlotte who embody that charge from the late Congressman John
Lewis to get into good and necessary trouble in order to redeem the
legacy and reclaim the story of this country.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize her in this Chamber today and
applaud her years of service to Delaware and the powerful work she has
done to move the First State toward justice for all.

                   Remembering Congressman John Lewis

  Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark both the anniversary
of a profound loss and the reminder it serves at this moment in our
Nation's story.
  Six years ago, Congressman John Lewis passed away. He was a titan of
the civil rights movement, who worked tirelessly to deliver justice,
expand equality, and secure the right to vote for every American,
including Black Americans.
  Today, however, we are navigating a moment where the work he devoted
his life to is increasingly under threat. We have seen executive
actions that would make it harder for Americans to vote. We have
witnessed renewed attempts to undermine confidence in our elections and
intimidate those who administer them.
  Right now in this very Congress, we are facing a renewed push to
establish what amounts to a modern day poll tax on Americans.
  Most recently, the Supreme Court has facilitated the dismantling of
Black political representation in this Chamber and green-lit racial
discrimination in voting so long as the proponents simply say it is for
partisan purposes.
  Congressman Lewis often spoke of his hopefulness for the future
because he was adamant that tomorrow could be better and more just than
today.
  It is our job to pick up that mantle and continue that work.
  In 2020, while commemorating the anniversary of Bloody Sunday on the
Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Congressman Lewis reminded us of his
important rallying call, to get into what he called good trouble, to
help redeem the soul of America.

                              {time}  1045

  Throughout his miraculous life, he never lost faith in the central
ingredient of change, the necessary foundation of democracy, his belief
in the capacity for other people to change, and, therefore, for our
country to change.
  He reminds us that hope is not reserved for moments when progress
feels inevitable or easily attainable. We must harness it, most
especially in moments like this one. When the reasons for hopelessness
seem greatest, that is when the legacy of good trouble, necessary
trouble, is most essential.

         CONGRATULATING TANQUE VERDE HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL TEAM

  (Mr. Ciscomani of Arizona was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
  Mr. CISCOMANI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Tanque Verde
High School softball team on winning the 2026 3A State championship
title.
  The Hawks earned the title by defeating Yuma Catholic by a 10-0
score.
  This victory marks the team's first-ever championship, an
accomplishment that is exciting and worth celebrating.
  During the championship game, Tanque Verde added their first run on
the board in the third inning, before adding six runs in the fourth,
one in the fifth, and two more in the sixth.
  Junior pitcher Claire Achilles was named the Class 3A MVP after
pitching six innings, allowing a hit and recording 13 strikeouts.
  Additionally, sophomores Mikaela Jackson and Ella Haggard each had
three hits during the game.
  The Hawks gave all they had and came out on top. I am so proud of
them.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Coach Mark Stevens, the whole team, and
everyone who made this win possible. Their hard work has made their
school and our community proud. I know the Hawks will enjoy their
victory. They have earned it, and here is to another

successful season and many, many more.

      Congratulating Salpointe Catholic High School Softball Team

  Mr. CISCOMANI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Salpointe
Catholic High School softball team on winning the 2026 4A State
championship title.
  This victory marks the team's seventh title in the last nine years.
  Confident in the team's ability to win this year's title, Salpointe
Coach Tricia Sztan and her staff ordered shirts with the slogan
``#TakeItBack2026'' written on the back.
  At the beginning of the fifth inning, senior second baseman Alyssa
Montano led with a single and advanced to second with the help of
senior pitcher-outfielder Soli Ramos.
  Then Catherine ``Peaches'' Sztan hit an RBI single to center field
that scored Montano and tied up the game at 2.
  The Lancers finished the fifth inning with three runs after an RBI
single by senior catcher Sarah Camp and RBI double by senior first
baseman CC Moraga with two outs which put the Lancers ahead 4-2.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Coach Sztan, the whole team, and everyone
who made this win possible. Their hard work has made their school and
our community very proud. I know the Lancers will enjoy their victory.
They have earned it, and here is to another successful season and many,
many more.