Mr. Speaker: I rise today to honor the accomplishments of a true champion of progress during Black History Month and all year long, Barbara Shorter. Her invaluable contributions to the Tampa Bay community is an inspiration to us all. Today, I am grateful to recognize her selfless dedication and honor her valuable service to our community. Read more »

With more than 400 WWII veterans dying each day, the National WWII Museum estimates there are less than 700,000 living in 2016, with 65,000 in Florida -- Emanuel P. Johnson, 94, is one of them. Following his brave tour of duty in Germany, Mr. Johnson settled with his family in Tampa and helped to cultivate the Progress Village community. Mr. Johnson’s oral history has been captured and will be forever memorialized when it is presented to the U.S. Library of Congress by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor as part of the Veterans History Project. Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to honor the life of an extraordinary leader and passionate advocate for freedom and justice, Ms. Patricia Spencer. Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an extraordinary leader and pillar of the Tampa Bay legal community, Mr. Delano Stewart. Read more »

Mr. Speaker: I rise today to honor the life of an extraordinary leader of the Tampa Bay community, John Germany. His remarkable career in public service and his many contributions to our community are worthy of recognition by all. Read more »

Mr. Speaker: I rise today to recognize the Beulah Baptist Institutional Church in Tampa, Florida in celebrating its 150th anniversary. Founded by freed slaves in 1865, the church holds a unique place in history. It has served many generations and the entire community with its mission of freedom of worship and dignity of the individual. Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a true public servant, Sarah Stroud Wynn in honor of her 100th birthday. Her remarkable career in public service has had a tremendous impact on the Tampa Bay community and is worthy of recognition by all. Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and to recognize Robert Fisher upon his recent election to the Board of Directors at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the outstanding work of a trailblazing public servant and one of the champions of the Florida equal rights and civil rights movements, the late Florida State Senator Helen Gordon Davis, who represented the Tampa Bay area in the Florida Legislature from 1974 until 1992. Read more »

Mr. Speaker, each year I am honored to recognize the outstanding and invaluable contributions of the African American community that have built this great Nation. The enduring impact and lasting legacy of countless African Americans must always be appreciated. Every year I pay tribute to African American men and women who exemplify this spirit of selfless and patriotic service. Read more »