Recognizing Mayor David Black

Floor Speech

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Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Papillion, Nebraska's, Mayor David Black, as a paragon of public service and remarkable stewardship.

Through more than two decades of service to the people of Papillion, Mayor Black helped to guide the city into the thriving economic hub that it is today. This month, he announced that he will not seek reelection, which will conclude 17\1/2\ years as mayor and nearly 5 additional years of serving the city in other roles.

Mayor Black leaves behind a strong foundation built on partnership with an exceptional professional staff and the business community.

Decades of engagement and community outreach have produced clear results, attracting firms like Google and Facebook to expand to Papillion.

He will be deeply missed by the people of Papillion, and I am hopeful he will continue public service down the road. Mayor Black has more than earned the opportunity to spend additional time with his family once his final term in office concludes.

Papillion, Mr. Speaker, is a special place, with Mayor Black's legacy being built yet another example of that truth. I thank Mayor Black for his outstanding public service. Ben Sasse Never Stops Fighting

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Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse.

Ben is a Nebraskan, a native, and a Fremonter. He lives in the First Congressional District. Early in his career, he served as chief of staff for a previous member of the same district.

Last month, Ben announced that he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. This news stunned me, and, quite frankly, it stunned the world.

Ever since Ben has stepped back from public life following his time in the Senate and at the University of Florida, his intellect and voice have continued to influence conversation across the country.

From education to healthcare and beyond, he has shaped debates in higher ed, politics, journalism, and more through the years. Ben did this all at a young age. Even though he has a very public profile, he and his wife, Melissa, have built a vibrant family. All of this made the cancer diagnosis seem almost unthinkable.

While this is hard news for all of us to hear, we know this isn't the end of the story. Ben has a lot of fight left in him, and as he has joked himself: ``He is not dead yet.''

From the people of the First District and across Nebraska, Mr. Speaker, may Ben know that we are praying for him. We are with him, with Melissa, and his kids. I know he won't back down from this fight.

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