Robert Brady

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I'm delighted now to bring to the floor this worthy bill offered by my colleague, and yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Kirkpatrick).

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4825) to require any amounts remaining in a Member's Representational Allowance at the end of a fiscal year to be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction or to reduce the Federal debt.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I'd now like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Peters).

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Rhonda Spaulding, Deliverance Evangelistic Church's First Lady, on her first Women's Conference. I congratulate Sister Spaulding on this achievement, as it will greatly benefit the women, and larger community, of Philadelphia. As First Lady of the Deliverance Evangelistic Church, Sister Spaulding is a devoted teacher and community servant. Working with her church, she has been involved with various ministries dedicated to bettering the surrounding neighborhood. In an effort to continue and extend her community outreach and assistance, she has established the Deliverance Evangelistic Church's first Women's Conference, to be held on April 22 and 23, 2010. This conference will address many of the most pressing issues facing women in Philadelphia. The unique needs and concerns of abused women, women in shelters, and young single mothers will be paid special attention. In focusing on the women of her community, especially the most disadvantaged, Sister Spaulding will be strengthening her community for generations to come. Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in thanking First Lady Rhonda Spaulding and the Deliverance Evangelistic Church for their work in bettering their community, and congratulate Sister Spaulding on the occasion of her first Women's Conference.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement in December 2009, we rise to thank Mr. Michael Douglass for 34 years of outstanding service to the U.S. House of Representatives. Mike began his career at the House in 1975 as a Sales Clerk in the Office Supply Store. Mike's leadership, dedication, and positive attitude were visible to his management and he moved up to become a Sales Clerk filling orders for delivery and then he moved into the Accounting Department. Mike eventually became the Supervisor of the Accounting Department in Office Supply, where he was responsible for the server, software, and business accounting process in the Supply Store. Later he took these skills to play a key role in implementing the House's first fully computerized purchasing system, which continues in use to this day. His people skills were essential to the successful rollout of that system (Procurement Desktop). Mike eventually became responsible for configuring the purchasing system so that users could purchase goods and services in compliance with best practices and the Office of Inspector General recommendations. With his role in developing recommendations for implementing the system that will replace the current financial system, Mike's valuable contributions to the House community will continue long after he has left. Mike is known by his colleagues for his sound business judgment and problem solving skills. He is also known for his quick wit and fairness. On behalf of the entire House community, we extend congratulations to Michael for his many years of dedication and outstanding contributions to the U.S. House of Representatives. We wish Michael many wonderful years in fulfilling his retirement dreams.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share with you the life and mourn the death of a remarkable public servant who dedicated his career to serving the United States Congress. Mr. Kent M. Ronhovde died on February 19 after a valiant struggle with cancer. Kent worked for 36 years at the Congressional Research Service, starting as an entry-level attorney right after law school and rising to senior management positions in the Service. At the time of his death, Kent was Associate Director for Congressional Affairs and Counselor to the Director. In that capacity and for the last 7 years, he was the liaison between CRS and its oversight committees in the House and Senate ensuring that CRS and its congressional overseers remained in communication over the critical issues facing the Service. Regardless of changes in congressional and committee leadership, Kent ensured that there were no changes in CRS's commitment to its core values of confidentiality, authoritativeness, non-partisanship and objectivity. This commitment to CRS values manifested itself in Mr. Ronhovde's other duties. He oversaw the Review Office, where all CRS products are reviewed for consistency with the dictates of objectivity, non-advocacy and nonpartisanship. Kent and his office also counseled CRS employees and managers on the delicate questions surrounding outside speaking and writing and compliance with CRS and Library of Congress regulations and policies designed to ensure that all CRS staff maintain the ability to be seen as impartial and objective in their work for Congress. These are questions whose sensitivity is matched by their importance to CRS and to the Congress. Kent understood well the absolute necessity of CRS maintaining its reputation for objectivity. Whether reviewing a report or memo, determining the propriety of an outside activity of a CRS staff member or advising the Director of CRS on a policy question, Kent exercised the good judgment and discretion demanded by such sensitive questions, questions with potentially profound consequences for the institution. Mr. Ronhovde's devotion to CRS' mission to serve Congress and commitment to its values infused his entire career. He joined CRS' American Law Division after graduation from Georgetown Law School in 1974, law school having been interrupted by service in Vietnam as an intelligence officer. In the American Law Division, Kent rose through the attorney ranks, became a section head in 1985 and Assistant Chief of the division in 1986. During this time, he also earned a Masters of Public Administration from American University. Kent became a senior manager in the CRS Director's Office in 1996 and assumed his latest position in 2003. His portfolio in that position--in addition to the committee liaison and policy compliance responsibilities I recounted above--touched on the most important and consequential issues facing CRS. Director Daniel P. Mulhollan stated that ``Kent provided exceptional service to the Congress and to CRS. Colleagues throughout the Library and CRS admired his careful and deliberate judgment, his insightful examination of the question at hand and his sense of equanimity and balance. The Service and I could not have had a better counsel.'' CRS and the Congress have lost a wise and devoted public servant. We extend our deepest sympathies to Kent's wife, Juliet, daughters Kristin and Brooke and their families and to all his friends and colleagues in CRS.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us allows for the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the annual commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust. The Holocaust is one of the most shameful and horrifying events of human history. As we stop to reflect on this heinous event, let it serve as a reminder that there is no room for prejudice, oppression and hatred. As Americans and world citizens, it is important that future generations be called upon to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust and the similarities in the hate crimes we see today. Despite hatred, the human spirit is unwavering in the face of adversity. History has shown us that in times of despair, humanity prevails and always, always looks towards a brighter future. There is no better place than the United States Capitol rotunda to embody the reverence and dignity so deserved in honoring the victims of the Holocaust. The United States Capitol has stood as a symbol of freedom and liberty, and a symbol of hopes and dreams. It is important, Mr. Speaker, that as we recognize one of the most notable tragedies in human history, we honor the memory of those who died so senselessly and pledge anew to stop atrocities like genocide, from occurring again.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Reverend Cedric Hughes Jones, Jr. I congratulate Reverend Jones on his installation as the newest Pastor to the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Reverend Jones will be the fourth Pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church. He is excited to begin a new chapter of its history and will continue to support the church's major community outreach efforts. I am confident that Reverend Jones will carry on the outstanding legacy of community service shared by the previous Mount Zion Baptist Church pastors. The Mount Zion Baptist Church is excited to welcome Revered Jones into their community, and is confident that Reverend Jones will continue the church's mission and further build up their place within the surrounding community. The church has a long history of support for and outreach to their community. In providing meals, housing and clothing, as well as scholarship funds and other financial assistance, the Mount Zion Baptist Church has helped those in their community in the most need of help. Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in thanking the Mount Zion Baptist Church and Reverend Jones for their work in bettering their community, and congratulate Reverend Jones on the occasion of his installment as Pastor.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing me to say a few words about our friend Jack Murtha. First, I would like to advise Mrs. Murtha that I am her adopted son. I don't know if Jack ever told you (Mom). But, he did adopt me. He took me under his wing. It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. He also taught me a few things. He taught me to be courteous to everyone and that everyone is special. He made us all feel special. He was more comfortable with the privates than with the generals. He made everyone feel important. He would make the little people feel needed and appreciated. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed telling his stories and jokes. He had a big heart and tremendous compassion for people. Unfortunately, a whole lot of people--including our illustrious press--never knew that Jack Murtha. With the exception of his family, I was more fortunate than all of you. Every Thursday or Friday before we broke for the week, I would say goodbye to him. Because of his knee problem, I would help him down from his seat--the only reserved seat in Congress. Then, I would shake his hand and give him a kiss goodbye. I did not know Wednesday January 27th would be the last time I would kiss my friend good bye. Jack Murtha was your friend. Jack Murtha was the best friend of the men and women in uniform. He will be deeply missed. We will never see another Jack Murtha.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2843, is a bipartisan initiative that would move the Architect of the Capitol selection process entirely to the legislative branch. This legislation has been amended from the version reported by the Committee on House Administration to include two additional House and two additional Senate Members. As amended, this legislation provides the following with authority to select the AOC: The Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the majority and minority leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate, the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the chairs and ranking minority members of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate, a Member of the Senate to be designated by the majority leader of the Senate, and a Member of the Senate to be designated by the minority leader of the Senate. Under the current system, the office of the Architect has been vacant for nearly 3 years. The long delay in filling the position has been exacerbated by the complexities and uncertainties of the current law, and the involvement of the executive branch. The Committee on House Administration believes that enactment of H.R. 2843 will streamline the selection process. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of her retirement on February 1, 2010, I rise today to thank Carol Nichols of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, CAO, for her years of dedicated and outstanding service to the United States House of Representatives. Since joining the House in 1992, Carol has served this great institution in a variety of capacities--some of which have been groundbreaking, and all of which have contributed to the enhancement of the functioning of a Member's Congressional office. When initially hired by the Clerk of the House, Carol became the first woman to work in the ``shops'' on the House side of the Congress, taking a position in the House Upholstery Shop. As Carol learned and perfected her craft as an upholsterer serving the needs of Congressional offices, she also gained a finer appreciation for the day-to-day operational dynamics and the equipment and furniture resource needs of a Member's office. In particular, she came to have a keen appreciation for the particular logistical challenges presented to a Member's office and the House during the Congressional Transition every two years, when many offices and staffs relocate to new space and are challenged with maintaining optimum functionality while furniture and equipment moves are underway. With the establishment of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer in 1995 and the partnership with the Architect of the Capitol's Superintendent's Office, the CAO and AOC established joint Coordination teams to focus specifically on managing the office moves in a more collaborative and efficient manner during the 106th Congressional Transition, with the ultimate goal to reduce the office's down time experienced by the Member and the staff. Carol was assigned to the initial team of Move Coordinators--an assignment in which her attention to detail and exceptional organization skills proved invaluable. She brought a number of innovations and improvements to the process, and in preparation for the subsequent transition, Carol was appointed team lead of the Move Coordinators, for which she received recognition by being honored with the CAO's Distinguished Service Award. In every transition that followed through the 111th Congress, Carol served the House as the CAO's lead for the transition. Carol's ability to manage large scale moves, to successfully coordinate the efforts of her team, to effectively troubleshoot problems, to anticipate the customer's needs and exceed their expectations, and to get the desired results and deliver solutions along the way became particularly helpful during the anthrax incident in the fall of 2001 as the House faced the challenge of relocating every Member's office from the House buildings in a matter of a few days. Carol played a critical role on the CAO team in setting up separate offices for every Member at an alternate location, and in managing their subsequent transition back to the House complex following the incident. Several years later, Carol served as the single point-of-contact for the CAO office in working with the Architect of the Capitol in coordinating and facilitating the relocation of offices and staff from the O'Neill House Office Building prior to its demolition. With the CAO's creation of Office Coordinators and the House Office Service Center to work with Congressional offices day-in and day-out to manage more effectively their office logistical needs, Carol was promoted to serve as the initial Manager of the Office Coordinators. Carol completed her service to the House as the Director of the CAO Customer Service Center, where she has been responsible for the oversight of not only the Office Coordinators, but First Call, CAO Graphics, and Modular Furniture as well. As Carol embarks on her retirement with her husband, Phil, who retired from the House in 2007 following 31 years of service, I am happy to extend to Carol the best wishes of the Members and employees of the House of Representatives for an enjoyable and fulfilling retirement. In recognizing her years of service to the House, I congratulate her on her unwavering commitment and exceptional performance over the years, and I personally thank her for making our lives in Congressional offices a bit easier through her contributions to the efficient management of the physical environment and logistics of our offices.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor one of the finest people I have ever known, Christopher Milito. Cpl. Milito was tragically taken from us on January 16, 2010. He died in the line of duty protecting civilians as a member of the Delaware River Port Authority Police Department. He joined the department on January 31, 1994, and quickly became one of its most popular and respected officers. Christopher grew up in my neighborhood, the Overbrook section of Philadelphia. I've known him and his family for years. He was that rare person that everyone loved. He never had a bad thing to say about anyone. He was kind, unselfish, and had a heart as big as all outdoors. He loved his community, he loved his country, and he loved being a police officer. But more than anything, he loved his family. Cpl. Milito never took anything for granted and always gave his best at whatever he was doing. Over the course of his career, he received 28 letters of commendation, most notably for his participation in crime prevention presentations to youth. Cpl. Milito wasn't satisfied with only doing a great job; he also pushed to educate himself. A 1988 graduate of Lamberton High School, he attended Community College of Philadelphia and earned a certificate in police training from Camden County College in 1994. He attended Temple University at night to earn his Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice. And, he was just a few hours away from earning his Master's Degree in criminal justice at West Chester University when he was so tragically taken from us. Madam Speaker, I know that my colleagues will join me in expressing our deepest condolences to his family, as well as thanking them for letting him brighten all of our lives.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and work of my friend Hardy Williams, the late State Senator from Philadelphia. Senator Williams was a pioneer in championing African American causes in Philadelphia and dedicated his life to serving his community. Senator Williams was born April 14, 1931 and raised in West Philadelphia. A product of the School District of Philadelphia, Sen. Williams graduated from Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and began his groundbreaking work shortly thereafter. He organized the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus in 1972, and served five successful terms as a State Representative. In 1982 he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate. During his tenure in the Senate, Sen. Williams served as minority chairman of the Public Health and Welfare Committee and chairman of a task force on violence as a public health issue. In 1994, he founded and served as executive director of Black Family Services. Sen. Williams also founded the Organized Anti-Crime Community Network. He worked with Blacks Networking for Progress, the Delaware Valley Ecumenical Council, and the African-American Delaware Valley Port Corporation. Sen. Hardy was instrumental in establishing the Crisis Intervention Network, a program dedicated to preventing violence among youths. Senator Hardy Williams' long and impressive career showcases his commitment, service, and dedication to bettering his community. Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in celebrating the life and accomplishments of Sen. Williams, and honor him for the great work he has done for the people of Philadelphia.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, on behalf of myself and Congressman Daniel E. Lungren of California, I want to call to the attention of my colleagues a letter we recently sent to the Speaker regarding the retirement of Mr. James J. Cornell from the post of Inspector General of the House of Representatives. I enclose the letter here for your consideration. House of Representatives, Committee on House Administration, Washington, DC, December 16, 2009. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives, The Capitol, Washington,

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I would like to thank Mr. Lungren, too, for his cooperation on this and for hurrying over just a second or two late.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the consideration of H.R. 3224.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3224) to authorize the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, and construct a vehicle maintenance building at the vehicle maintenance branch of the Smithsonian Institution located in Suitland, Maryland, and for other purposes.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3224 would authorize $4 million in fiscal year 2010 for the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design and construct a vehicle maintenance building at its facilities in Suitland, Maryland. Our committee ordered the bill reported unanimously. The new building would absorb the vehicle maintenance functions for the entire Smithsonian complex in the Washington area. These are currently performed in a constricted and increasingly dysfunctional space at the General Services Building within the National Zoo in northwest Washington, D.C. The vehicle maintenance functions, which cover the maintenance, repair and fueling of about 780 Smithsonian-owned vehicles and pieces of equipment, are not compatible with the surrounding environment at the zoo and would be better served at the Suitland facility, which has more space and is isolated from public access. The space being vacated at the zoo would be converted to other uses. The bill authorizes the planning, design and construction of this project, which would give the Committee on House Administration primary jurisdiction. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which has an additional referral, also reported this bill. The fiscal year 2010 Interior appropriations conference report, which has been enacted into law, contains the necessary funding for this bill, and I urge the approval of the legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Honorable Francis P. Cosgrove. For 35 years, Judge Cosgrove has served on the Philadelphia Municipal Court, and in December he will celebrate his retirement after decades of service to his community. Judge Cosgrove served on active duty in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953. He graduated from LaSalle College in 1956 and received his Juris Doctorate from Temple University School of Law in 1963. After his graduation, Judge Cosgrove became a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association and went into private practice from 1964 to 1973. In November of 1973, he was elected judge to the Municipal Court of Philadelphia. Judge Cosgrove served in this capacity from 1974 through 1998. On February 18, 1998, he was appointed to Senior Judge status for the Philadelphia Municipal Court. On December 31, 2009, Judge Cosgrove will retire from the bench after 35 years. In addition to his service on the Municipal Court, Judge Cosgrove is a member of several committees and organizations dedicated to bettering the Philadelphia community and beyond. He is a part of the Catholic War Veterans, St. Thomas Moore Society, Knights of Columbus, Polish American Citizens League, Polish-America Congress, and is a gold card carrying member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craft workers. Judge Cosgrove's long and impressive career showcases his commitment and service to his community. Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in thanking Judge Cosgrove for his work and congratulate him on the occasion of his retirement.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I and others have spoken at length on the ways that this bill improves and will improve health care for all of our constituents. Another significant benefit of this legislation which has not received as much attention will be the creation of new high-paying jobs in this country. Let me repeat that for some of my friends on the other side of the aisle, this bill will create high-paying, high-quality jobs in healthcare delivery, technology, and research in the United States. First, this bill will create enormous demand for healthcare workers, especially in the area of primary care. Insuring the millions of Americans in this country who currently have no insurance will allow them to see primary care providers and receive the wellness and preventive care they have been denied for too long. This influx of new patients will need doctors, nurses and technicians for their care, while reducing overall healthcare costs because they will not need much more expensive hospitalizations. I support channeling resources that for too long have been used to treat people once they become sick into jobs and services that will prevent people from getting sick in the first place. Second, this bill will continue the efforts we began in the stimulus package to deploy new health information technologies that better manage both the quality of care people receive and the cost at which they receive it. New health care exchanges and new demands on the health system to provide high-quality and cost-effective health care will create new opportunities and markets for our brightest technology minds. They will be incentivized to create and develop products that will be a win/win for Americans: high quality health care at an affordable price. Third, this bill will create high quality research opportunities in this country. The Energy and Commerce Committee enacted a framework for allowing biosimilar competition in this country. This new class of medicines will help lower costs and bring competition to one area that is key to the future of our healthcare system. Biotechnology is on the cutting edge of efforts to reducing costly invasive procedures and allowing our constituents to live healthier and more productive lives. The creation of this new class of medicines comes with requirements for new clinical research and testing, especially in the area of whether a new biosimilar can be interchangeable with an innovator's product. This research will create high quality and high paying jobs and it is imperative that we keep this research and these jobs in this country. We cannot allow these research opportunities to leave this country, and I intend to work with the Secretary of HHS and the Commissioner of the FDA to ensure they stay in the United States. Madam Speaker, I do not look at this bill as one of cost or drain on the economy of our country like so many of its opponents on the other side of the aisle. I see this bill as an exciting opportunity to create the kind of jobs we so desperately need in this country while at the same time improving the lives of all Americans. This bill will improve health care, create jobs and grow our economy.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement on November 2, 2009, we rise to thank Mr. Joe Adams for his 32 years of distinguished service to Congress. Joe has served this great institution as a valued employee of the Architect of the Capitol for 19 years and House Information Resources (HIR), in the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for 13 years. Joe joined HIR in 1996 as a Data Network Engineer. During this time, he successfully upgraded the House Campus Data Network to an Ethernet- based, high-capacity data communications backbone and increased the House Internet connection capacity 200 fold from 3 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 600 Mbps. These upgrades were the foundation of greatly improved information technology service delivery and contributed significantly to highly available, mission critical data transport services. In recent years, as manager for the Network Systems Engineering Branch, Joe led a team of engineers who helped implement upgrades to support efficient, effective and sustainable services to the House. His unparalleled dedication, considerable institutional knowledge and attention to detail have helped the Office of the CAO maintain a high degree of customer satisfaction. For his performance, he was awarded the ``CAO Distinguished Service Award'' in 2003 and the ``CAO Excellence Award for Knowledge'' in 2008. On behalf of the entire House community, we extend congratulations to Joe for his years of dedication and outstanding contributions to the United States Congress.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor my friend, and a friend to Philadelphia, Lester C. Brown. After 18 years of service on the Philadelphia City Counsel, Mr. Brown is retiring as the Chief of Staff for Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell. Throughout his career, Mr. Brown has shown exceptional leadership in community service and tireless dedication to his constituents in need. For instance, he currently serves as the democratic leader of the 24th ward. Mr. Brown was born in the 1920s in Savannah, Georgia, at a time when equality was just a distant dream for many Americans. Despite the hardships that the Jim Crow laws placed on African Americans, Lester developed the personal strength to overcome the adversities he faced. He began his career in journalism at the age of 16, when he became the first African American youth to host a radio show that aired on WTOC, a CBS affiliate. After moving to New York City, Mr. Brown became a reporter for Ban Black Audio News. His hard work and determination in a divided society eventually led him to become the first African American junior executive on Madison Avenue as an Assistant Advertising Production Manager for progressive Architecture Magazine. From there, Mr. Brown moved to Philadelphia, where he became a successful newsperson for WHAT radio. It is in the great city of Philadelphia that Mr. Brown began his influential career in community service as a youth organizer for the parents union in the Philadelphia public schools. In the 1980s he became the Executive Director of Mantua Community Planners where he was able to better the lives of multiple families, including the donation of nine homes to the members of the Mantua community through the Remove Urban Blight program. Currently serving as the Democratic Leader of the 24th ward, and faithfully worked under Lucien B. Blackwell and Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell, we are here to honor my friend, Lester C. Brown on the occasion of his retirement. Although he will be missed dearly, after 18 years of loyal service on the Council no one deserves this honor more than Mr. Brown. Lester Brown's impressive career in the city of Philadelphia illustrates his commitment and drive to improve the lives of the city's residents. I would like to thank him for his tireless efforts, and I wish him well in the future.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the Philadelphia Tribune, the oldest, continuously published African American owned newspaper in the nation. For 125 years the Tribune has chronicled the African American story while also being an important part of that story. The Tribune was founded in 1884 by Christopher Perry, only 19 years after the end of the U.S. Civil War. Perry, born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1856, moved to Philadelphia at the age of 17, intent on starting a newspaper. He said, ``For my people to make progress, they must have a newspaper through which they can speak against injustice.'' Perry published the first edition of the Tribune Weekly when he was 28. This one-page, one-man operation newspaper debuted the same year African American inventor Lewis Lattimer began working for Thomas Edison, Booker T. Washington founded the Tuskegee Institute, and Harriet Tubman was still alive. After Perry died in 1921, the leadership of the newspaper passed to his son-in-law, E. Washington Rhodes. From 1922 to 1970, Mr. Rhodes was at the helm of the newspaper as publisher. Appointed by President Calvin Coolidge, Mr. Rhodes served as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, the first African American to do so. Additionally, Mr. Rhodes served as president of the National Bar Association, was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1938, and was president of the National Publishers Association (NNPA), a national trade organization of African American owned newspapers. Committed to the newspaper's mission, the Tribune has been led over the past decades by Eustace Gay, John Saunders, Alfred Morris and Waverly Easley. Today under the leadership of Chairman Walter Livingston, Jr. and President/ CEO Robert Bogle, the Tribune newspaper continues to expand and has been the recipient of numerous national awards including the NNPA's John B. Russwurm Award for ``Best Newspaper in America'' Award and the A. Phillip Randolph ``Messenger Award.'' President Bogle stresses that after 125 years the mission of the Philadelphia Tribune has not wavered. ``For 125 years the Tribune has been the voice of those who would have been voiceless.'' For that reason, Madame Speaker, I salute the proud history, advocacy, and courage of the Philadelphia Tribune. The Tribune is an historic trailblazer whose light continues to lead on the path to justice and equality for the voiceless, and I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring them.