Bill Flores: “Today I rise to honor Harper Cunningham, age 12, and Maggie Cunningham, age 10, from College Station, Texas, who are…”

“Today I rise to honor Harper Cunningham, age 12, and Maggie Cunningham, age 10, from College Station, Texas, who are recipients of the 2016 Jefferson Award for the Brazos Valley. The Jefferson Awards are presented annually to honor our unsung heroes, ordinary citizens who have done something extraordinary and that will have a lasting impact on the community. It is fitting that the Jefferson Award be presented to these two young girls, who not only exemplify what it means to serve, but who also share Thomas Jefferson's passion for reading. Harper and Maggie Cunningham's passion for reading and for helping those in need led them to create an organization to promote literacy and the well-being of our community students. Their Books and a Blanket program provides a basket of books and a blanket to elementary schoolchildren in need across the Brazos Valley during the winter months. Their mission is simple and impactful: they want all students to have access to books so that they, too, can experience the joy that comes from reading. Since 2012, Books and a Blanket has given away over 1,200 blankets and distributed over 33,000 books to over 2,500 children in need. Mr. Speaker, these two young girls have done a tremendous job helping others, promoting literacy, and being inspiring leaders in our community. As President Ronald Reagan once said: The greatest leaders are not necessarily the ones who do the greatest things.…”