REMEMBERING BRYAN ROSICA

REMEMBERING BRYAN ROSICA

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2718-H2719] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING BRYAN ROSICA (Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to remember Bryan Rosica of Doylestown, a beloved educator, devoted husband and father, advocate, and truly good man. For more than 26 years, Bryan served the children and families of Buckingham Elementary School as a teacher and guidance counselor. Early in his tenure, he established the school's character education program and coined a phrase that captured both the spirit of the school and the spirit of his own life: Home of the Mighty Knights. It was more than a motto. It reflected what Bryan believed at his core: that very few things matter more than kindness and respect, and that character is formed not in grand gestures alone but in the small, daily choices that shape one's life. Bryan did not simply teach those values. He lived them. After being diagnosed with ALS in 2020, at just 49 years old, Bryan met that battle every day with extraordinary courage, grace, and his signature positive spirit. In the face of a cruel and unforgiving disease, he became not only a source of strength for his beloved wife, Lisa, their three children, and all who loved him, but a powerful advocate for others walking that very same path. Madam Speaker, as co-chair of the ALS Caucus, I have seen the heartbreak this disease leaves behind and the extraordinary strength of those who face it. Bryan was one of them. Working alongside ALS warriors in our community, we fought to advance the Right to Try Act so that those facing terminal illness would be met not with indifference, but with urgency, compassion, and every single possible avenue of hope. Bryan's life is a reminder of why that work matters and why it must continue. Bryan brought joy, inspiration, humor, and hope wherever he went. He will be remembered forever as a beloved pillar of our community. His legacy will live on in the family that he loved, the countless lives that he touched, and in the fight we will continue in his honor. Honoring Florence Kawoczka Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Florence Kawoczka of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a trusted partner, dear friend, and leader who has spent her life helping families in our community build not only homes but lasting foundations. For more than 14 years as CEO and executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County, Florence has understood that the work of building a home reaches far beyond the lumber, brick, and mortar. It is the work of building homes for people who are facing uncertainty, dignity where there has been struggle, and conditions in which a family can begin to imagine a different future. Madam Speaker, I have had the honor of working alongside Florence and witnessing those unforgettable moments when a family crosses the threshold of a home of their own, not simply receiving a set of keys, but entering a new chapter of possibility. Under Florence's leadership, Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County has partnered with more than 50 new homeowners, completed repairs on almost 400 homes, launched the Almost Home financial empowerment program, and pioneered a permanent workforce housing model that ensures that every home sold since 2022 remains permanently affordable. It is a legacy that will continue opening doors for Bucks County families for years to come. [[Page H2719]] Madam Speaker, as Florence enters retirement this summer, I and our entire community offer our deepest gratitude for the life of service that she has lived, which has, without a doubt, made our community a better place. Madam Speaker, I congratulate and thank my friend, Florence, and extend best wishes to her as she enters this next chapter of her life. Recognizing Bucks County Opportunity Council Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable group of graduates from the Bucks County Opportunity Council's Economic Self-Sufficiency program. Since 1997, this program has helped families in our community build brighter, more stable futures through education, skill building, and a path to lasting economic independence. Today, I am proud to recognize this year's graduates: Thais Defalco, Haussine Guengous, Kelsi Klinger, Amanda Leary, Haleigh Oliemuller, Tanya Quiles, Allina Ramirez, Jacklynn Ramsey, Ashley Reukauf, and Katlynn Whiteley. Madam Speaker, these graduates now join more than 420 families whose lives have been transformed through this program, families who have broken cycles of poverty that, in many cases, had stretched across generations. That kind of change does not happen by accident. It takes courage, discipline, perseverance, and supportive people willing to invest in their potential. That is exactly what my friends and longtime partners at the Bucks County Opportunity Council have delivered for decades. As Bucks County's leading anti-poverty organization, BCOC has worked tirelessly to reduce poverty, expand opportunity, and help our neighbors at home. ____________________