RECOGNIZING WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY'S ROAR PROGRAM

RECOGNIZING WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY'S ROAR PROGRAM

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2682-H2683] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY'S ROAR PROGRAM (Mr. Baumgartner of Washington was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, on March 21, we celebrated World Down Syndrome Day. Today, I rise to honor a program that reflects that spirit of inclusion--Washington State University's ROAR program--and to celebrate one of its newest admitted students, Cole Rodgers. Cole has a dream shared by many young people: to go to college, study alongside great students, and cheer on the Cougs. He is energetic, kind, and passionate about serving others, and he brings a love of music, basketball, and Cougar sports wherever he goes. He hopes to study communications and government affairs, build his public-speaking skills, and explore career paths that will help him live independently. WSU ROAR makes those dreams possible. As part of a federally- supported initiative under the model Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, otherwise known as TPSID, ROAR reflects a proven model being implemented successfully on campuses across the country. The program provides inclusive coursework, on-campus living, hands-on internships, and real preparation for life after college, opening doors for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to learn, grow, and thrive. Just last week, ROAR received a $2.48 million Federal grant, funding I was proud to help secure. WSU ROAR opens up doors for students like Cole and other students across campus to develop the skills and experience needed to contribute meaningfully to our communities and economy. Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of Coug Nation, I know what it means personally to be a Cougar. Cole is a Cougar, too, and programs like WSU ROAR ensure that every student with a dream has a chance to pursue it. Congratulating Sergeant Mike Swim Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sergeant Mike Swim of Stevens County on his well-earned retirement after 29 years with the Stevens County Sheriff's Department. Sergeant Swim has spent his entire life in service, from Explorers Search and Rescue at age 12, to the U.S. Navy, to nearly three decades protecting the community he loves. His courage was tested on September 27, 2017, when a suspect fired nine rounds into his patrol vehicle at point-blank range. Miraculously, he survived. The bullet-ridden door he keeps in his garage is a powerful reminder of both the blessings and the dangers that law enforcement faces every day. Even in retirement, Sergeant Swim will continue serving as a special deputy, assisting with crime scenes, cold cases, and emergency response. Mr. Speaker, I thank Sergeant Swim for his extraordinary dedication and wish him the very best in his next chapter. Congratulating Gonzaga Bulldogs and University of Idaho Vandals Basketball Teams Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the University of Idaho Vandals, both men's and women's basketball teams, for outstanding seasons. It has been incredible to watch them bring true determination and passion to the court. Like many young people who grew up in the Inland Northwest and on the Palouse, I followed all of our local sports teams, including the Cougs, the Zags, the Eags, the Vandals, and the Whitworth sports teams. This year, the Zags and Vandals gave us plenty to cheer about. The Gonzaga men's team showed their relentless Bulldog spirit, powering through the season with a 31-4 record and a WCC championship. The Gonzaga women's team delivered a thrilling season of their own, finishing 24-10 and capturing their 11th WCC championship title. I also recognize the Vandals men's team for an impressive 21-15 season that kept fans on their feet and their appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Finally, I recognize the Vandals women's team that lit up the court with a phenomenal 29-6 record, earning their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016, capped by a huge 60-57 win over rival Montana State. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate all of these teams for an electric season and their truly remarkable performance. Go Zags. Go Vandals. All of the fans of the Inland Northwest should never forget how spoiled they are with all of our wonderful teams. {time} 1030 The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the Member from Delaware (Representative McBride) for 5 minutes. Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend and pastor, the Reverend Dr. Gregory Knox Jones, and to congratulate him on his retirement after 22 years leading Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware. I have had the pleasure of seeing Reverend Jones' ministry up close, as a lifelong member of Westminster where I have been witness to a community shaped by his dynamic leadership, incisive mind, eloquent sermons, and his big heart. Since joining Westminster in 2004, Reverend Jones has led with compassion, putting his faith into action time and time again. He has tirelessly centered peace and justice in his ministry both here in the United States and around the world from Central America to the Middle East. Throughout his ministry, he has followed the example of Christ by welcoming the stranger and building bridges with those too often cast into the shadows of society. At a time of deepening divisions, he has fostered interfaith relationships and partnerships across Delaware's Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities. His tireless devotion to his neighbors is matched only by his faithful counsel of our Westminster community, supporting congregants and their families through love and loss--a privilege he has delivered with exceptional care and grace. My own family and I are eternally grateful for his guidance and support through the challenges we have faced in our own lives. While he has served as pastor to a First Lady and a U.S. Senator, Reverend Jones has been there personally and professionally for all of God's children, no matter who they are, where they come from, how they look, or whom they love. As Westminster enters its 140th year, Reverend Jones' impact is deep, and his example is profound. I thank Reverend Jones and Camila for their remarkable stewardship of Westminster, and I wish them all the best in their next chapter. I congratulate Greg on a well-deserved retirement. Affordable Care Act Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, this week marks 16 years since the Affordable Care Act became the law of the land. And for millions of Americans, [[Page H2683]] including tens of thousands of Delawareans, the ACA has meant the difference between getting care and going without. The ACA had an ambitious but necessary goal: ensuring more Americans have access to the healthcare they need to live and thrive in our country. Because of the ACA, more than 50 million Americans have gained health coverage. People with preexisting conditions have been protected from losing their insurance, and Medicaid expansion has helped families get the care they need. When people have access to care, lives are saved, families are more stable, and communities are stronger. But since its passage, the one through line of every Republican Congress has been their concerted and coordinated effort to sabotage the ACA and strip people of their healthcare. Since this current Congress convened last January, the ACA tax credits have expired, and the majority passed the single largest cut to Medicaid in American history. They eviscerated the American healthcare system, gutting coverage and financial support that makes it possible for families to get care. They raided the healthcare of the American people to fund this President's mass deportation machine and to give massive tax breaks to his billionaire donors. The consequence is a tax on working people, a tax on our most vulnerable neighbors. When you force working families to pay more out of pocket for basic healthcare, that is a tax. It is a tax on getting sick and a tax on staying alive. Families across the country have already started losing coverage, and millions more are facing skyrocketing premiums that are unsustainable. Government should be working to make life easier for the people we serve, not making healthcare harder for them to afford. The right to lifesaving care is a foundational right, one that makes all other rights possible. Americans will never truly be free until every single one of us can get the healthcare that we need. So, on this anniversary, we shouldn't just celebrate the ideals of the ACA of 16 years ago, but we should also recommit ourselves to ensuring that the promise of quality, affordable healthcare becomes a reality for today's family. ____________________