RECOGNIZING SONDRA LAPOINTE

On 2026-02-11, Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-6) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING SONDRA LAPOINTE" in the House. The speech addressed trade policy and also covered education.

RECOGNIZING SONDRA LAPOINTE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 29 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)] [House] [Page H2174] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING SONDRA LAPOINTE (Mr. CASTEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.) Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sandra LaPointe, a seventh grade teacher at Westview Hills Middle School in Willowbrook, Illinois. I recently had the pleasure of surprising Mrs. LaPointe during her social studies class to honor her with our constituent spotlight award. We started making these awards after the last election to try and uplift people who are bringing hope and joy and making us feel good about being Americans because, goodness knows, we need these voices right now. There is not a person in this Chamber who doesn't owe a debt to the great teachers they had along the way who taught them things, but more importantly, who taught them how to learn, made them excited to learn, who challenged them to ask questions about the world because as James Baldwin said: No society progresses without those kind of teachers around them. Mrs. LaPointe's nomination came from a former student who said: ``Mrs. LaPoint's class was the one I looked forward to the most each day. Her spunky personality always brought out the best in all of the students.'' From your students and from your Congressman: Thank you, Mrs. LaPointe. You make us all better. ____________________