Recognizing Renee Goins' 96th Birthday

Floor Speech

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Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 96th birthday of Mrs. Renee Goins. Born on February 2, 1930, in Liverpool, England, Renee is a cherished community member of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Renee first moved to the U.S. in 1966, where she settled down with her first husband, Edward, and their three boys in a house on Coakley Road in Portsmouth. Renee instantly became an active member of the Portsmouth community, working many different jobs and advocating for youth and civil rights.

She started and managed her own business for about three years, then moved on to work at the local IRS office in town, then the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for twenty years, and finally as a housing inspector at Pease Air Force Base until its closing in 1991. After retiring at age 61, Renee worked part time for the New Hampshire Lottery Commission and as an usher at the Music Hall in Portsmouth.

As an active member of the Portsmouth community, Renee established the NAACP library in the former Portsmouth library and helped organize fundraising dances to raise money for NAACP college scholarships for local high school students. The NAACP still gives out these scholarships every year.

Renee was also a close friend of the late Mrs. Vernis M. Jackson, a teacher and local Portsmouth hero, together they helped bring Kwanzaa celebrations to Portsmouth through the Seacoast African American Cultural Center (SAACC). The SAACC, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025, has been a hub for showcasing the contributions of Black organizations and individuals in the Seacoast community.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, I wish Mrs. Renee Goins a happy 96th birthday and thank her for her leadership and dedicated work to celebrate the achievements of Black Americans of New Hampshire. I hope that she had a wonderful celebration with her family and friends.

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