RECOGNIZING MARTIN HOGAN

RECOGNIZING MARTIN HOGAN

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 41 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2414-H2417] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING MARTIN HOGAN (Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. Carter of Georgia was recognized for 30 minutes.) Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Martin Hogan for being named the grand marshal of Savannah's 202nd St. Patrick's Day Parade. Mr. Hogan was chosen from hundreds of nominees to lead the parade and represent the community. Savannah's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade is one of the largest festivals in the country and has been taking place for more than 200 years. Each year, the fountain in Forsyth Park is dyed green, and thousands of people travel to Savannah to celebrate. Mr. Hogan hopes to bring back deeper meaning to the holidays, focusing on the importance of the St. Patrick's Day feast, not just the mischief and fun, and there is plenty of that. Martin is a logistics and trucking professional who has many years of experience and has made significant contributions to the community. Mr. Hogan is a dedicated and hardworking individual who is more than qualified for this role. We are excited to see Mr. Hogan represent the city of Savannah with honor and distinction. ``Ireland forever''; ``Erin go bragh.'' Honoring Linda Davis Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Linda Davis, the beloved special education teacher who was tragically taken from us on February 16, 2026. A native of Beaufort, South Carolina, she made her home in Pooler, Georgia, bringing warmth and positivity to every community she touched. In her first year at Hesse K-8 School in Savannah, Dr. Davis taught young students with special needs, greeting each with an infectious smile, patience, and belief in their potential. For nearly 18 years, Linda devoted her career to education, creating nurturing spaces where every child felt seen and valued. Colleagues recall her kindness and her ability to make everyone feel that they truly mattered. A devoted wife, a mother of five, sister, and mentor, Linda loved dancing, singing, and family. Linda's was a life taken too soon by an individual fleeing ICE, who never should have been in our country in the first place. May we cherish educators like Dr. Linda Davis, who shaped brighter futures one child at a time. I thank Linda for her beautiful spirit. She is deeply missed. Celebrating Visit Savannah on 50th Anniversary Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Visit Savannah as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. This marks a significant milestone for the city's journey in becoming a major tourist destination. Visit Savannah began its work by attempting to attract drivers off of the interstate. The organization has now grown into a major contributor to the major growth of Savannah's tourism industry. Visit Savannah attracts approximately 16 million visitors each year, generating billions of dollars in economic impact. Savannah is Georgia's third biggest city and now one of the most popular places to visit. Visit Savannah has generated $4.1 billion in direct spending annually. The city's tourism has not only generated over 28,000 local jobs but also improved infrastructure and advanced the culinary scene across Savannah and Chatham County. We thank Visit Savannah for 50 years of dedicated and impactful service to Georgia's First District. Recognizing Steven C. Anderson Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable 20-year tenure of Steven C. Anderson as president and CEO of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Mr. Anderson has announced his retirement from NACDS, effective at the end of this year. Under his leadership, NACDS transformed from a challenging period into one of the Nation's strongest and most respected healthcare trade associations. Mr. Anderson guided the organization through the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuilding its foundation for long- term strength, contributing to America's recovery, and elevating the organization into a trusted source for research and policy. His tenure has shaped pharmacy's vital role, helping shift community pharmacies from underappreciated to essential frontline providers of care. His efforts led to landmark PBM reform legislation, helping to deliver transparency and accountability. Steve's legacy is one of unity, innovation, and commitment to advancing pharmacy's mission and serving communities and families. Mr. Speaker, we thank Steve Anderson for two decades of transformational and dedicated service. Recognizing Elana Meyers Taylor Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize American bobsledder, Elana Meyers Taylor. After making Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which made her a five-time Olympian, Elana went on to bring home the gold medal in women's monobob. A Douglasville, Georgia, native and George Washington University graduate, Meyers exhibits true sportsmanship and grit, highlighting outstanding American athleticism. Since 2007, Elana has been a dominant force in bobsledding. In 2009, she secured a silver medal in the two-woman bobsled at the FIBT World Championships. She won a bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics and a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics. In 2010, she also helped the U.S. win its first women's Bobsled World Championship title by beating three German teams. In the 2018 Olympics, she continued her storied history of success, winning another silver medal. This year, though, she added to her titles of oldest Olympic bobsled medalist, mother, and comeback athlete, finishing her event in 3 minutes, 57.93 seconds, and earning that of Olympic gold medalist. We are all so proud of Elana and how she has represented both Team USA and the wonderful State of Georgia. Miss Sophie's Restaurant to Relaunch at Mighty Eighth Museum Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the relaunching of Miss Sophie's restaurant. The restaurant located in Pooler, Georgia, was relaunched under new ownership at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. [[Page H2415]] Miss Sophie's was first founded in 2006 by Hazlehurst, Georgia, native Teri Bell and her husband, Steve. It will now be owned and operated by Kay Heritage, the founder of Big Bon Bodega, an award-winning restaurant that has been featured on Food Network's ``Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.'' The new owner will be joined by her partner and executive chef. Together, they are known for their love of quality food and hope to continue Teri's vision and honor her legacy in Pooler, continuing a tradition that the community loves by serving classic southern lunch favorites. We thank Kay Heritage for her hard work and dedication, and we are excited to see Miss Sophie's continuing to serve the people of Pooler. {time} 1810 Recognizing Bland Farms and the Vidalia Onion Committee Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bland Farms in Glennville, Georgia, for winning the Grower of the Year Award from the Vidalia Onion Committee. This award has been given continuously since 1991 and is a testament to the long history of onion farming in the Vidalia area. For almost 80 years, Bland Farms has been producing high-quality Vidalia onions, now consumed around the world. Their family-run farm has been instrumental in expanding the distribution and recognition of official Vidalia sweet onions. In 1995, Bland Farms entered the frozen market, quickly becoming the Nation's third largest distributor of frozen onion products. In the past few years, Bland Farms has implemented cutting-edge technology to improve cold storage and quality assurance of their products. I also recognize the work of the Vidalia Onion Committee for its dedication to upholding quality and expanding access to our official Georgia State Vegetable. Vidalia sweet onions have protected status, an official growing area in south Georgia, and strict quality control. The Vidalia Onion Committee works tirelessly to uphold these standards. Once again, I congratulate Bland Farms on their exceptional work this past year. Honoring Baseball Legend Andruw Jones Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Andruw Jones, the legendary center fielder for the Atlanta Braves, who has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. This honor celebrates the extraordinary talent and athleticism he brought to baseball, especially during Atlanta's golden era of dominance, making him the eighth member of the Braves' 1997 team to be elected. Mr. Jones exemplifies Georgia's fighting spirit. He burst onto the scene as a 19-year-old, homering twice in his first World Series game in 1996, becoming the youngest ever to do so, and helping fuel 14 straight division titles. A ten-time Gold Glove winner, five-time All-Star, and powerhouse with 434 home runs, he inspired generations, while proudly carrying the torch from Willie Mays, who once declared him the best center fielder he had seen. Mr. Jones' induction on July 26 is a triumph for Braves nation and our great State of Georgia. Go Braves. Congratulating Donald Chase Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Donald Chase, who has been elected chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. The Georgia Peanut Commission was founded in 1961 and represents more than 4,000 peanut farm families across the State of Georgia. Mr. Chase was chosen to lead this historically vital organization as the number one crop in Georgia, succeeding Joe Boddiford, due to his long experience as a grower and prior service as vice chairman. In his own words, 2026 marks a year of change for the commission, yet its core mission remains steadfast: delivering real value to every Georgia peanut farmer. He and t