{time}  1030
                         HONORING BILL GRUMMONS

  (Mr. Baumgartner of Washington was recognized to address the House
for 5 minutes.)
  Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor a dedicated
member of the city of Spokane Fire Department, Mr. Bill Grummons.
  Bill has been promoted to deputy chief of training and safety in the
department. As deputy chief, Bill will oversee and support members of
the department in their training to help them become better prepared
for the challenges of the fire service.
  Bill's collaborative leadership style and commitment to improvement
within the department will benefit both personnel and the community
greatly.
  Bill joined the Spokane Fire Department in February 2012. During his
career, he served as a firefighter at Station 4, lieutenant at Station
1, captain in staffing at Station 18, and battalion chief of the south
battalion.
  With the increased risk of wildfires in eastern Washington, it is a
good reminder that it is brave and talented men and women, like Bill,
that we need in charge.
  With his years of experience and commitment to the department, I have
no doubt he will do incredible things to strengthen the Spokane Fire
Department and help take care of our wonderful community.
  Please join me in congratulating Bill Grummons on this well-deserved
promotion and wishing him nothing but continued success in his new
role.

             Whitworth University Launching Nursing Program

  Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to share the wonderful
news that Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, is launching a
new bachelor of science in nursing program to strengthen care and
address critical nursing shortages across the Northwest.
  The school is set to launch in the fall of 2027. This 4-year BSN
program reflects Whitworth's commitment to addressing the growing
demand for highly trained nurses across the Pacific Northwest. This
program is designed to expand access to high-quality nursing education
while preparing graduates to serve in hospitals, clinics, and community
health centers.
  The BSN program will be housed in Hawthorne Hall, which is being
transformed into a dedicated 22,500-square-foot nursing education
facility. The space will feature state-of-the-art simulation and skill
labs designed to prepare students for real-world healthcare
environments.
  I commend Whitworth University for launching its new nursing program,
a significant step toward addressing the growing demand for healthcare
professionals in the Northwest.
  This investment will create new pathways for students, support our
hospitals and clinics, and help ensure families across the region have
access to high-quality care for years.

                       Remembering Frankie DeWitt

  Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a
dear friend, a great patriot, and a wonderful citizen of eastern
Washington, Mrs. Frankie DeWitt.
  Frankie was an extraordinary woman whose kindness, strength, and
unwavering commitment to others and to public service touched countless
lives across our community.
  Frankie was born in Oregon. With her father, a civil engineer, she
traveled extensively throughout her childhood, living in Okinawa,
Afghanistan, and Iran. It helped shape her lifelong approach to seeing
people as they were and treating everyone with dignity and grace.
  Frankie was a dedicated volunteer in the arts and at her church, and
she spent 50 years involved in local conservative and Republican
politics.
  Frankie served as State committeewoman, GOP chair in Yakima, and
northeast chair for the Washington Federation of Republican Women. She
worked tirelessly to strengthen our party, support candidates, and
encourage civic engagement across eastern Washington.
  When I first ran for office in 2010 for the State senate, Frankie was
a member of my campaign's brain trust. Her wise advice and sometimes
critical guidance, always delivered with kindness, were essential to
our success. I specifically remember Frankie telling me not to ride in
cars in parades but to get out and shake hands with the public.
  As I have continued my political career, Frankie's influence has
remained with me. The values she lived by--service, compassion, and
commitment to others--continue to serve as a reminder of why we do this
work.
  Frankie is now reunited with her beloved late husband, Tom. She
leaves behind three wonderful children and seven granddaughters. Her
memory remains a blessing, and her legacy lives on for the countless
lives she touched.
  As we celebrate these 250 years of our wonderful America, it reminds
me that it is civically minded people like Frankie DeWitt who continue
to keep this wonderful Republic.

                   RECOGNIZING CUPCAKE CUTIE BOUTIQUE

  (Mr. Latimer of New York was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)

  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate the Cupcake
Cutie Boutique, a Mount Vernon establishment built on family, faith,
and Black excellence.
  The founders are a mother-daughter duo who opened their small
business over 10 years ago. The pair faced challenges familiar to many
small business owners, including the pandemic, in which they never
stopped serving the community.
  We salute Montika Jones and her daughter, Miesha Stokely, the baker,
for this wonderful business.
  Due to the current administration's policies, small businesses
everywhere are struggling amidst rising tariffs, energy costs, and
economic fallout. As a member of the Small Business Committee, it is
important to me that small businesses get the proper support and
respect that they deserve.
  We should support women-owned businesses and African-American-owned
businesses. A mother-daughter team, like Cupcake Cutie Boutique, must
continue to thrive alongside all the wonderful small businesses in our
community. That is how we achieve economic growth for all.

                  Marking Alzheimer's Awareness Month

  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Alzheimer's Awareness
Month to call my colleagues to action in confronting this devastating
disease.
  I have met with representatives from the Alzheimer's Association to
discuss their legislative priorities and how advocates can draw
attention to this disease. In these meetings, we spoke about the
importance of early detection and proper screenings.
  The ASAP Act, bipartisan legislation, does just this by providing
Medicare coverage for blood-based dementia screening tests.
  Our need for action comes when the current Presidential
administration denies basic science and proposes cuts to and
constraints on key research institutions, such as the NIH.
  One in nine Americans over the age of 65 are diagnosed with
Alzheimer's. They deserve more. They cannot afford cuts to research
that can lead to curing this horrible disease.

                      Rising Costs of Family Trips

  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, it is that time of year when summer break
starts and families across the country embark on family trips.
  The rising costs of fuel, food, and basic necessities are making it
difficult to take on any expenses beyond their basic needs. The average
national gas prices remained at and above $4 since the start of the war
with Iran. Families are already absorbing the rising costs of utility
bills and increased healthcare premiums. Many families cannot handle an
extra expense for a vacation.
  Airlines are reducing their flight schedules; travel demand is
decreasing; and international tourism into the United States is
dropping rapidly.
  Sadly, this administration demonstrates that it does not care about
the cost of living when I hear President Trump say: ``I love the
inflation.''
  My hope is for my fellow Americans to have the opportunity to make
new memories with their families without having to make concessions due
to rising costs around every corner. This is a priority that we must
address.

                          HONORING LOYD ARDREY