Floor SpeechNeutral2026-04-23

HONORING THE LIFE OF PAUL HEAVENRIDGE

Crime & Justice

Context

On 2026-04-23, Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-2) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE LIFE OF PAUL HEAVENRIDGE" in the House. The speech addressed crime and justice.

Full Text

HONORING THE LIFE OF PAUL HEAVENRIDGE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 72 (Thursday, April 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 72 (Thursday, April 23, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E361] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE OF PAUL HEAVENRIDGE ______ HON. JARED HUFFMAN of california in the house of representatives Thursday, April 23, 2026 Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Paul Heavenridge who passed away on December 10, 2025. Paul devoted his career to improving the quality of life for the community of Petaluma and the extended North Bay. Paul founded and led Literacyworks, a Petaluma-based nonprofit established to expand literacy for adults and families to provide dynamic resources and pathways for lifelong learning. Under his stewardship, Literacyworks supported adult learners with practical, research-based tools and partnerships that improved educational access, workforce readiness, and family wellbeing. In 2015, Paul helped launch the Literacyworks Center at Santa Rosa Junior College--a model program providing scholarships and wraparound support for nontraditional and economically disadvantaged students. Paul's commitment to improving literacy extended beyond Literacyworks. He served as a Sonoma County Library Commissioner to support public libraries and equitable access to reading, learning, and information, characteristics he deemed essential for community health. Through Literacyworks AmeriCorps, Paul also championed statewide library-led literacy initiatives, partnering with the California State Library's California Library Literacy Services to strengthen capacity at libraries throughout the state. These initiatives helped coordinate programming, training, and day-to-day support so local literacy programs could thrive. Beyond classrooms and computer labs, Paul served his community on the Friends of the Petaluma River board, helping steward a treasured local waterway through conservation, education, and public events. Mr. Speaker, Paul Heavenridge believed that literacy is a gateway to work, independence, and a fuller life, and he dedicated his career to making that gateway wider for everyone. I respectfully ask that you join me in honoring his extraordinary life and in extending our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the many learners whose futures were brightened by his work. ____________________

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HONORING THE LIFE OF PAUL HEAVENRIDGE Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 72 (Thursday, April 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 72 (Thursday, April 23, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E361] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE OF PAUL HEAVENRIDGE ______ HON. JARED HUFFMAN of california in the house of representatives Thursday, April 23, 2026 Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Paul Heavenridge who passed away on December 10, 2025. Paul devoted his career to improving the quality of life for the community of Petaluma and the extended North Bay. Paul founded and led Literacyworks, a Petaluma-based nonprofit established to expand literacy for adults and families to provide dynamic resources and pathways for lifelong learning. Under his stewardship, Literacyworks supported adult learners with practical, research-based tools and partnerships that improved educational access, workforce readiness, and family wellbeing. In 2015, Paul helped launch the Literacyworks Center at Santa Rosa Junior College--a model program providing scholarships and wraparound support for nontraditional and economically disadvantaged students. Paul's commitment to improving literacy extended beyond Literacyworks. He served as a Sonoma County Library Commissioner to support public libraries and equitable access to reading, learning, and information, characteristics he deemed essential for community health. Through Literacyworks AmeriCorps, Paul also championed statewide library-led literacy initiatives, partnering with the California State Library's California Library Literacy Services to strengthen capacity at libraries throughout the state. These initiatives helped coordinate programming, training, and day-to-day support so local literacy programs could thrive. Beyond classrooms and computer labs, Paul served his community on the Friends of the Petaluma River board, helping steward a treasured local waterway through conservation, education, and public events. Mr. Speaker, Paul Heavenridge believed that literacy is a gateway to work, independence, and a fuller life, and he dedicated his career to making that gateway wider for everyone. I respectfully ask that you join me in honoring his extraordinary life and in extending our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the many learners whose futures were brightened by his work. ____________________