Mr. Speaker, while Pearline began her journey in Louisiana, she
became an irreplaceable part of the fabric of Lower Bucks County. Her
story is the story of so many who came to Pennsylvania seeking
opportunities and helped build stronger, more caring communities for
all of us.
  Today, we honor Pearline Compton's life and legacy, her legacy of
love, her resilience, and her service. She reminds us that one person's
kindness, lived out over a lifetime, can transform not only a family,
but can transform generations, especially that of our young people.
  On behalf of Pennsylvania's First Congressional District, Mr.
Speaker, we extend our deepest gratitude for her example and our
heartfelt sympathies to all whom she loved and all who loved her so
dearly.

                              {time}  1030
                       HONORING BEATRICE LUMPKIN

  (Mr. Garcia of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the
remarkable life and work of Beatrice ``Bea'' Lumpkin, a union
organizer, workers' rights activist, academic, and writer who passed
away on June 14 at the age of 107 years.
  Bea was a fierce defender of working-class people and an active
fighter for civil rights. She was called by some the rock of the labor
movement, because she grounded us and taught us how to stay committed
to the search for justice and equity for those without power.
  Bea marched along with Dr. Martin Luther King in Chicago and was an
ally of the Black Panther Party. She was present at every key moment of
our labor and civil rights movement for nearly 90 years, up to the
recent No Kings marches.
  Her engagement with the movement began with a factory job when she
was 14 years old. She helped organize the Metal and Machinery Workers
Industrial Union, a part of the newly formed Congress of Industrial
Organizations.
  Her persistence and determination were best exemplified when
Wisconsin Steel, the plant her husband, Frank, worked at, abruptly
closed and 3,400 workers lost their jobs. For 17 years, the Lumpkins
led a successful fight for those workers to receive back pay.
  As recently as 2024, Bea was focused on intergenerational work with
youth activists and joined the Starbucks workers as they began
organizing.
  As a retiree, she expanded her activism on issues such as climate
justice, the rights of retired workers, and consumer protection against
overcharges from utility companies.
  Mr. Speaker, Bea believed our job is to make the world a better
place. She found joy in the work she did and inspired others, including
me, to continue fighting. The labor movement has lost a giant.
  Rest in power, Bea Lumpkin.

                    Honoring Antonio ``Tony'' Ortiz

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Antonio
``Tony'' Ortiz, who recently concluded 26 years of dedicated service at
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, including 16 years as president.
  For 30 years, Cristo Rey has transformed lives by providing a
Catholic college preparatory education, integrated with professional
work experience.
  Today, the school serves students who are 100 percent bilingual, 90
percent first generation, with a median family income of $43,000.
Cristo Rey has nearly 3,000 alumni, 15 of whom now work at the school.
Tony's greatest accomplishment is the culture he built that proudly
reflects the strength of my district. The vast majority of students,
alumni, faculty, and staff live and maintain deep ties to the Fourth
District of Illinois, making the school a strong pillar of the
surrounding community.
  Under Tony Ortiz's leadership, Cristo Rey Jesuit has become a model
of educational excellence nationwide, and his vision has helped the
school grow into a national network of more than 40 schools, serving
over 13,000 students across the country each day.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Tony Ortiz for his remarkable service and wish
him all the best in the years ahead. He has left a lasting legacy in
our community.

              Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of HotHouse

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the
40th anniversary of the HotHouse Center for International Performance
and Exhibition, popularly known in Chicago as the HotHouse.
  The HotHouse is known for its programming of jazz and world music
concerts, multi-disciplinary events, and focus on creating
opportunities for artistic practices and performances.
  HotHouse has taken the arts into underserved communities, fostering
the international exchange of ideas, and serving as a central meeting
place for a variety of community groups.
  While their physical location at Balbo Avenue closed in July of 2007,
the current board continues organizing and programming around
Chicagoland.
  Over the years, HotHouse has been awarded with many of the top honors
in the arts and culture industry, including Best of Chicago, Chicagoan
of the Year, and The Abbey, all reflecting its lasting impact in our
region.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the HotHouse on this incredible
milestone, and I wish the organization many more years of success.

                         HONORING CLARA MARTIN

  (Mr. Carter of Georgia was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of
Clara Martin, a beloved educator, broadcaster, and community leader who
passed away June 21 at the age of 94.
  A graduate of the University of Georgia, Ms. Martin spent 14 years on
the faculty at Brenau University, where she launched the school's
journalism program and its first radio station.
  She went on to own and operate two radio stations in Clarkesville,
lead adult education programs at Piedmont College, and later returned
to Brenau to direct its journalism and broadcasting programs until her
retirement in 2006.
  Clara also served as the U.S. Census Bureau administrator and
correspondent for several Georgia newspapers. Her decades of work
shaped generations of Georgia journalists and broadcasters.
  She is survived by three daughters, five grandchildren, and one
great-grandchild.
  Mr. Speaker, Georgia is grateful for Clara's remarkable legacy of
service and education.

             Recognizing Fred Gretsch on his 80th Birthday

  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fred
Gretsch, a resident of Pooler, Georgia, and to wish him a happy 80th
birthday.
  Fred is the fourth generation of his family to lead Gretsch, the
storied musical instrument manufacturer founded in Brooklyn in 1883 by
his great-grandfather, Friedrich Gretsch, a German immigrant.
  In 1984, Fred and his wife, Dinah, bought the company back into
family hands and built it into the world-renowned name it is today,
known for that great Gretsch sound.
  Gretsch instruments have shaped American music played by George
Harrison, Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, and Charlie Watts, among many
others.
  Since bringing the company home to Georgia's First District, Fred and
Dinah have generously supported music education, including establishing
the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music at Georgia Southern
University.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Georgia's First District, I congratulate
Fred Gretsch on 80 remarkable years and thank him for his contributions
to American music, craftsmanship, and philanthropy.

          Celebrating Market on the Square's 25th Anniversary

  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true
hometown treasure in Georgia's First Congressional District, Market on
the Square in historic downtown St. Marys, as it celebrates 25 years of
serving our community.
  Since opening its doors in 2002, after the restoration of the
historic Hernandez grocery store building, this family-owned business
has become much more than a general store.

Whether you are picking up a souvenir before visiting Cumberland
Island, enjoying an ice cream cone on a warm summer day, or finding a
perfect gift for someone, Market on the Square has created lasting
memories for many families.
  For 25 years, they have watched downtown St. Marys grow, persevered
through challenges and storms, and remained a cornerstone of one of
Georgia's most charming waterfront communities. Businesses like Market
on the Square are the heart of Main Street America, strengthening our
local economy, while preserving the character and hospitality that make
St. Marys so very special.