JUHIE PARIKH COMMEMORATES AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

On 2026-06-09, Representative Ami Bera (D-CA-6) delivered a floor speech titled "JUHIE PARIKH COMMEMORATES AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY" in the House.

JUHIE PARIKH COMMEMORATES AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4002-H4003] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] JUHIE PARIKH COMMEMORATES AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY (Mr. Bera of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Juhie Parikh, a student at Inderkum High School in Sacramento, for winning my office's essay contest commemorating America's 250th anniversary. As our Nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, students across my district were invited to reflect on what America means to them. Juhie's essay stood out for its thoughtful reflection on community, belonging, and unity. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share her essay in her own words: As I look out onto my street in a Sacramento suburb, I see a lovely Chinese family with two daughters achieving their dreams in college, a Black family with two daughters in high school with me, a Mexican family with three children that love playing soccer, college students renting a house, three generations of a White family and their cute dog named Liesel who pass out homemade cinnamon rolls every Christmas to each house, and my own Indian immigrant family. This isn't just a show of diversity, but unity. To me, America is this street. It is easy to look at a country and only see its fractures and divisions. America might have many imperfections, but that is not all it is. What I see from my window tells a different story, one that feels personal to me. What strikes me most about my neighborhood isn't our differences. It is that we don't care about how different we are. The kids kick their soccer ball into the street, and everyone navigates around it without complaint. The college students wave. Liesel trots over to anyone who will scratch her ears, noticing their kindness first before their backgrounds. At Christmas, cinnamon rolls arrive at every door, not just ones that look familiar. These little details, repeated daily, are what a culture is actually made of. My dad came to America first, alone, for his job, building the foundation to raise a family here. My mom followed him, leaving behind everything familiar to join him in a country still new to both of them. This risk is not unique to us. Nearly every family on my street has their own version: a sacrifice made, a life turned upside down, a bet placed on this country. And somewhere along the way, all of those separate stories merged into one shared street. This shared life revealed itself most clearly on the day Liesel passed away. I had once been small enough that the Great Dane and I were nearly the same size, the two of us growing up together. She had belonged to one family, but in truth, she belonged to all of us. When she was gone, every family came to the door. Some brought food, some simply came to honor her memory. An entire street grieved together, and I understood that what we had built was not just proximity. It was genuine care. This care is the truest thing I know about America. We are so defined by our differences, our backgrounds, our languages, or our histories. But on my street, those things are only the beginning of the story, not the end of it. Similarly, America's story is not finished either. To me, America means possibility, the possibility that people from every corner of the world can land on the same street and become part of each other's lives. It is not a perfect country. But it keeps producing diverse streets like mine. And that is enough to believe in. Recognizing 20th Anniversary of Citrus Heights Police Department Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 20th anniversary of the Citrus Heights Police Department. For two decades, the men and women of the department have served the Citrus Heights community with dedication, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to public safety. Every day, they work to keep families safe, respond in moments of crisis, and strengthen trust across the community. I was proud to help secure $540,000 in Federal funding for the department's emergency communication enhancements project to upgrade emergency communications to ensure first responders can communicate reliably during emergencies, coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions, and keep Citrus Heights residents safe when every second counts. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chief Alexander Turcotte and every officer, dispatcher, [[Page H4003]] and staff member for their service and sacrifice. Their work reflects the very best of public service and dedication to our community. ____________________