Congratulating Dr. Susan Heredia

Floor Speech

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Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Susan Heredia for her service to the Natomas Unified School District and the greater Sacramento community.

For nearly a quarter century, Dr. Heredia has worked tirelessly to ensure every Natomas student has access to the opportunities they deserve.

Dr. Heredia began her journey as a bilingual teacher, and her commitment to diversity and inclusion has been a constant throughout her career. As a member of the Natomas school board since 2000 and in her roles at UC Davis and Sacramento State, she has helped shape the education of thousands of students. Her leadership in bilingual and multicultural education has left a lasting impact on our community.

Beyond Natomas, Dr. Heredia has played a critical role on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and as a leader with the California School Board Association where she has been a strong advocate for improving educational access, opportunities, and outcomes for all students.

As Dr. Heredia steps into a well-deserved retirement, we celebrate not just her decades of service but the countless lives she has touched along the way.

We thank her for her tireless work and unwavering commitment to the students and families of Natomas and our great State. I wish her all the best in her retirement and know her impact will be felt in our community for years to come. 100th Anniversary of the Rio Linda Grange

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Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Rio Linda Grange No. 403, a cornerstone of community life in Sacramento since 1924.

For a century, the Rio Linda Grange has been a beacon of civic engagement and community spirit, embodying the Grange's tradition of being unspotted from the world while making significant contributions to the well-being of Rio Linda and Elverta.

From the early days of installing the iconic Rio Linda arches to their ongoing efforts in education, infrastructure, and community support, the Grange has tirelessly worked to improve the lives of local residents.

They have championed causes that led to the establishment of critical infrastructure such as supporting the formation of reliable utility services, advocating for safer rail crossings, and petitioning for better street lighting.

The Grange's influence is deeply woven into the fabric of the community from offering practical workshops on homesteading and fruit preservation to serving as a gathering place for shared learning and support.

As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, I am proud to honor the Rio Linda Grange for its enduring commitment to the community and its significant contributions to the social and civic fabric of Sacramento County. Their legacy of service continues to inspire and uplift all who have been touched by their work. Honoring Bill Camp

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Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of my good friends, Mr. Bill Camp. He passed this week, and it is with heavy hearts that those of us in Sacramento who got to work with Bill celebrate and remember his extraordinary life.

I first met Bill about 20 years ago through the American Leadership Forum and got to know Bill's life of service. He was an unsung hero.

This was a gentleman who rose up in the civil rights movement in Mississippi and worked tirelessly to give a voice to those that had no voice.

In the words of our former colleague, John Lewis, Bill embodied that spirit of showing up, of standing up, and of speaking up.

He came to Sacramento in the early sixties and became one of our labor leaders. He really did fight tirelessly.

We weren't always on the same side of each issue, we had our disagreements, but Bill showed up and stood up for those that didn't have any voice.

Thank you, Bill, for a lifetime of service. Rest in power, brother Bill. Your fight lives on in all of us.

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