Brian K. Fitzpatrick

“I am honoring Jerry Jonas, who recently died. He was a Korean War veteran, a writer, and a community volunteer in Pennsylvania.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of an absolute legend, Gerard ``Jerry’’ Jonas of Levittown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, whose passing on July 11 marks the loss of a remarkable American story from the battlefields of Korea to the neighborhoods of Lower Bucks County. As a young man, Jerry answered the call to serve in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean war. Like so many in his generation, he came home, took off his uniform, and quietly went to work, building a better future for his family and our surrounding community. In 1956, Jerry and his beloved late wife, Elizabeth, bought their home in Cobalt Ridge in Middletown Township and helped lay the foundation of Queen of the Universe Parish as original parishioners. Their home became a gathering place for their parish and a spiritual anchor, reflecting the values of love, integrity, and responsibility. Mr. Speaker, Jerry was a gifted and versatile writer. He contributed to America’s early space and missile programs as a technical writer and editor for General Electric, helping communicate the work of our scientists and engineers at a pivotal moment in the Cold War. He later led advertising at Ballantine beer, and he spent decades in journalism and sports media. In each chapter of his career, he brought the same curiosity, craftsmanship, and work ethic that defined his heroic military service. Even in retirement, Jerry did not stop serving. For more than a decade, he volunteered with Operation Stand Down, working to support homeless veterans in our community. At an age when many would have withdrawn from public life, Jerry leaned in, using his time and experience to lift up those who were struggling at home. Mr. Speaker, Jerry Jonas’ life offers us a clear example of what it means to be a good citizen, a good neighbor, and a good, decent, and honorable human being. He loved his family. He loved our country. He loved Bucks County. He lived his faith, and he worked to leave his corner of the world better than he found it. Jerry Jonas’ story is the story of Levittown. It is the story of Bucks County, of men and women who answered the call to serve, came home, built strong families and communities, and never stopped giving back. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire U.S. House of Representatives and the people of the First Congressional District of Pennsylvania, we extend our deepest condolences to Jerry’s family, Jerry’s friends, and all who loved Jerry, myself included. May God bless the memory of Jerry Jonas, a devoted husband, a devoted father, a proud marine, and a lifelong servant to our community.”

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  Speech in the House

  Signal 39 of 100

  Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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“I want the House to pass this bill. It funds research to stop pregnancy-related deaths and improve health care for mothers.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of our legislation, H.R. 6238, the NIH IMPROVE Act. Mr. Speaker, this critical legislation will ensure consistent funding for research on maternal care and mortality. So many maternal deaths in America are preventable. Addressing that reality demands research that is stable, long term, and grounded in measurable outcomes. The NIH IMPROVE Act locks in the dedicated funding that NIH’s maternal health portfolio so desperately needs to track outcomes over time, evaluate what works in high-risk settings, and direct resources to the communities facing the greatest challenges. This bipartisan legislation strengthens a proven NIH initiative and ensures that mothers across our Nation will benefit from research that saves lives and improves care through the entire pregnancy journey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague Representative Underwood for her leadership on this critical piece of legislation to ensure that improvements to maternal health across our Nation continue and are strengthened. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, H.R. 6238.”

“I want the House to pass this bill. It funds cancer education and screening programs to help find breast and cervical cancer early, especially for young women and people with low incomes. Catching cancer early saves lives.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his work in this regard. I am proud to co-lead this critical legislation, Mr. Speaker, to reauthorize the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young, or EARLY Act, a proven lifesaving initiative that promotes early detection and education for young and high-risk women. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women, with over 300,000 new cases and 42,000 projected deaths in 2025. I have seen the power of early detection up close, Mr. Speaker. Both my mom and my sister are breast cancer survivors. This is a very, very personal issue. It shows how early detection is the most effective tool there is to improve outcomes. Also included in this legislation is the SCREENS for Cancer Act, which I am proud to co-lead. This legislation reauthorizes the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, expanding services to ensure more Americans, especially those who are low income or underinsured, can receive early lifesaving care. Mr. Speaker, passing H.R. 4541 is a critical step in ensuring that more Americans have access to early detection services and education. We can prevent needless suffering and needless loss of life. I thank my co-chair of the House Cancer Caucus, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, for leading the EARLY Act, and Representative Morelle for his work in leading the SCREENS for Cancer Act. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.”

“I want to honor Helen DiGirolamo from my district, who died at the age of 98. She was a dedicated member of her church and family.”

“Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sadness that I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Helen DiGirolamo of Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who we sadly lost on July 10, 2026, at the age of 98. Born in Philadelphia in 1928, Helen was a cherished member of the St. Ephrem Church in Bensalem for 55 years, where she rooted her life in faith, in service, and in her community. In her younger years, she loved bowling. Throughout her life, she was known for her exceptional cooking, especially during the holiday gatherings with her family surrounding her at the table. Helen was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 45 years, Eugene, and their daughter, Janice. She is survived by her children, Gene and Joanne; her son-in-law, Michael; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, her son, Gene, was so good to her in all of her years, particularly her later years, when every single Sunday he dedicated to spending time with her. Helen DiGirolamo will be deeply missed, but her spirit will live on in the family and the community she so dearly loved.”

“I am honoring Pearline Compton, a Bucks County resident who lived to be 94. She worked hard, raised family members who needed a home, and spent her life helping others in her community.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of a very special and very amazing person, a Bucks County resident, Pearline Compton, whose 94 years were defined by faith, family, hard work, and a remarkable commitment to serving others. Born in Kelly, Louisiana, Pearline grew up with the values of humility, perseverance, and deep devotion to those whom she loved. As a young woman, she moved to Pennsylvania, carrying those values with her and planting new roots in her own community. Though she began her life in the South, she became a proud Pennsylvanian, building strong and unbreakable ties to her new adopted home. Pearline worked for more than 33 years as a skilled press operator for Falls Manufacturing in Fairless Hills in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, never missing a day of work. However, Pearline’s greatest legacy was not only in what she did at work. It was how she loved and cared for her family. In 1986, after the passing of her beloved niece, Eula Mae Hamilton, Pearline opened her heart and her home to Eula’s daughters, Chrissandra and Valerie. She raised them as her own, believing that family is not defined solely by blood, but rather by love, compassion, and commitment. Through her quiet strength and steady presence, she gave those girls the foundation they needed to learn, to grow, and to thrive. That is what they did. Even in her retirement, Pearline did not stop serving others. She continued to pour into her community through Children of God Educational Services in historic Bristol Borough in Bucks County. There, she shared her wisdom and her kindness with children and with families, offering support and a powerful example of what it means to live a life rooted in service. Whether through a kind word, a listening ear, or a simple act of generosity, Pearline made sure that people felt seen, valued, and cared for. Pearline inspired so many people and supported countless organizations throughout her life, without fanfare and without recognition. She did not seek the spotlight. She simply did what needed to be done day after day, year after year. That quiet, consistent faithfulness is one of the highest forms of public service, and it speaks to her character. 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.”

“I want the House to pass this bill. Current law bans foreign money in candidate elections, but it still allows it in state and local ballot votes. This bill closes that loophole so only Americans decide these issues.”

“Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my legislation, H.R. 3535, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act. Madam Speaker, this legislation is built on a simple principle: American elections should be decided by the American people, not by the influence of foreign actors. The Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act closes a dangerous and longstanding loophole in our current election system. While current Federal law already prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to candidates running for office, there remains gaps when it comes to State and local ballot measures. Ballot initiatives, referendum, and recall elections often determine major public policy questions that directly affect American communities, yet existing law does not clearly prohibit foreign money from being used to influence these outcomes. This bill closes that loophole. Madam Speaker, this is not a partisan issue. Whether the issue on the ballot is one you support or oppose, every American should agree that the outcome should reflect the will of the American voters, not the financial influence of foreign interests. Our elections and ballot measures exist to give the American people a voice, not outside actors with agendas that may conflict with our national interests. The Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act simply extends an existing safeguard to ensure that all taxpayer-funded elections receive the same protection from foreign influence. I thank Congressman Golden for his partnership on this legislation as well as Chairman Steil and Ranking Member Morelle for their engagement on this legislation. I urge all my colleagues to support this commonsense bill to strengthen the integrity of our electoral system and ensure that our democratic process remains accountable to the citizens that it serves.”