Frank J. Mrvan

Revitalize Our Neighborhoods Act of 2025

in committee

Veterans’ Security and Pay Transparency Act

in committee

“Mr. MRVAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect and sincere admiration that I rise to celebrate Women's History Month and its 2026 theme--Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future. This year's theme honors the women who are reimagining and rebuilding systems to ensure long-term sustainability and create a future that is rooted in equity, justice, and opportunity for all. As we celebrate women who have dedicated their lives to shaping a more sustainable future, I would like to recognize the extraordinary women whose vision and leadership shaped one of Northwest Indiana's most enduring conservation organizations. Save the Dunes was founded by Dorothy Buell in her Ogden Dunes home in 1952, a time when women rarely centered in public policy debates. The group, composed of all women, was committed to preserving the Indiana Dunes within the protective boundaries of a National Park. What began as a living room conversation grew into a national grassroots movement that ultimately led to the creation of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, now the Indiana Dunes National Park. Many extraordinary women joined Dorothy in shaping Save the Dunes, including the organization's first Executive Director, Charlotte Read, who led efforts for the park's first successful expansion bill. Lee Botts brought national attention to the importance of protecting the Great Lakes. Sylvia Troy and Ruth Osann defended the dunes from intense development pressures and mobilized community members for key advocacy campaigns during pivotal moments in the organization's history. Over 70 years later, Save the Dunes remains a women-led organization, which is a testament to the enduring leadership of women in conservation. Presidents including Susan MiHalo, Melli Hoppe, Dorreen Carey, and Nancy Moldenhauer have guided the organization through periods of growth and strategic impact. Executive Directors, including Nicole Barker, Natalie Johnson, and Betsy Maher, have strengthened its role as a leading partner to the Indiana Dunes National Park, expanded habitat restoration initiatives, deepened community engagement, and advanced environmental advocacy across Northwest Indiana. Today, women serve in professional staff roles and as members of the Board of Directors, guiding governance and strategy. For [[Page E179]] their environmental stewardship and generational leadership, the women who volunteered their time and efforts to the Save the Dunes organization are worthy of the highest praise. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating Women's History Month and recognizing the women of Save the Dunes, who continue to shape a more sustainable future for Northwest Indiana and our Nation. ____________________”

2026-03-03 · Climate

“Mr. MRVAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I rise to congratulate Mrs. Mary Edith Brown Coleman as she celebrates her 109th birthday on February 13, 2026. Edith will gather with her friends and family in Schererville to commemorate this significant milestone. Edith Brown was born on February 13, 1917, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She was one of four children born to Luther Albert Brown and Dora Rozolia Draper Brown. Her family went on to live in Kansas City, Kansas, and after her parents passed Edith moved to the south side of Chicago, Illinois, to live with her aunt. In 1940, Edith met her husband, the late William Henry Coleman, and relocated to Gary's Midtown neighborhood. Edith is an accomplished scholar, having earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in education at Indiana University in Bloomington. After graduating, Edith pursued a career in the teaching profession where she went on to enrich the lives of thousands of young minds. For over 27 years, Edith taught students at Frederick Douglass Elementary School. She also helped connect students with scholarships through her involvement with the Women's Association of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Society and the American Association of University Women. Outside of the classroom, Edith is an active member of the Gary community, holding memberships in the Red Hat Society and the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. She is well known for her involvement with her church, the First Church of God in Gary. In 2023, Edith was recognized by the First Church of God in Gary for her lifetime of dedicated service to the community. For over seven decades Edith has served her church in several roles, including teaching Sunday School, serving as Director of the Daily Vacation Bible School, holding memberships in the local and national Missionary Societies, singing in the church choir, serving as a deaconess, and teaching a manners class for young children. Mr. Speaker, Edith has always given her time and efforts selflessly to the youth and the community in Northwest Indiana throughout her illustrious life. For her dedication to academic success and her commitment to empowering youth with the skills and knowledge to thrive, Edith is worthy of the highest praise. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in wishing Mary Edith Brown Coleman a very happy 109th birthday. ____________________”

2026-02-11 · Education

“Mr. MRVAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect and sincere admiration that I rise to celebrate Black History Month and its 2026 theme--A Century of Black History Commemorations. This year marks a century of national commemorations of Black history. I would like to take this time to honor Retired Army Sergeant First Class Oscar Primm, Jr., a 104-year-old veteran from Northwest Indiana whose service is an inspiration to all. Over the course of his heroic military career, Oscar served in three wars--World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. It is because of the sacrifices of veterans just like Oscar that we are able to live in a free, democratic country. Oscar grew up in Arkansas and moved to Gary, Indiana, to work in the steel mills. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1942 and remembers the church bells ringing in the street when World War II ended. In 1946, Oscar returned home to continue working in the steel mills and remained in the Army Reserve. He went to school to learn how to repair cars and opened his own body shop at the intersection of 25th Avenue and Broadway serving the local community in Gary. When Oscar was called to serve again in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, he put his new skills to work as the head mechanic for a trucking company responsible for repairing vehicles for the battlefield. In 1967, Oscar retired from the Army as a maintenance sergeant. He and his family briefly relocated to Chicago, where he drove a CTA bus for 14 years. Now, Oscar is a proud member of the Greater Gary AMVETS Squadron Post No. 6. He can frequently be found at the post playing dominoes, bringing veterans of all ages together, and supporting veterans throughout Northwest Indiana as they return home from service. In November, the Greater Gary AMVETS Squadron Post No. 6 recognized Oscar with the Lifetime American Hero Award to honor his achievements and military service. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating Black History Month and a century of national Black History Commemorations by recognizing the selfless service, bravery, and patriotism of Retired Army Sergeant First Class Oscar Primm, Jr. ____________________”

2026-02-02 · Veterans