G.K. Butterfield

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time each side has remaining.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a passionate advocate for underserved communities.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me thank the gentleman from Illinois. I am just delighted that he mentioned that his home State, the State of Illinois, was, in fact, the home of Abraham Lincoln. I am a student of history and love to read that portion of our history, and I recall that many people believe that it was the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1 of 1863 that legally ended slavery in America. The Emancipation Proclamation, as great as it was, was an executive order. It was the 13th Amendment, as the gentleman mentioned, that legally ended slavery in America; thereby freeing 4 million slaves, most of whom lived in the South. Mr. Speaker, you should know, and to my friend from Illinois, that it was on January 31, 1865, a few days after Lincoln's re-election, that this body, this body, the House of Representatives, passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. It required the ratification of 27 States. The gentleman from Illinois' home State was the first State, on February 1, 1865 to ratify the 13th Amendment. My State of North Carolina was the 26th State, and the State of Georgia was the final State to ratify the 13th Amendment on December 6, 1865. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the State which is the home of both Chief Justice Taney and the first African American Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, the Honorable Thurgood Marshall.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from South Carolina an additional 1 minute.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the Democratic whip, the gentleman representing the Sixth Congressional District of South Carolina, the State where the Civil War began, who is a national expert on American history, having been a former history teacher, as I recall.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I bring this legislation to the floor today on behalf of the Committee on House Administration. I thank our chair, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, for her leadership. I thank Ranking Member Rodney Davis for his friendship and leadership on our committee. I thank Mr. Davis, and as I said to him privately, I thank him for the spirit in which he has approached this important but delicate issue. Recognizing the issue of removing Confederate statues from the Capitol has been simmering for years. Since I recognize that, I will now approach the issue today with the utmost respect for those who are opposed to the goal of the legislation. But I ask the dissenters to consider that America has been a divided nation since its founding, and it is past time for us to close this chapter of American history by removing statues that depict an era that caused enormous pain to African-American citizens. Mr. Speaker, as you, I grew up in the rural, segregated South. Commonplace were Confederate flags and monuments on public property, honoring Confederate soldiers and the Confederacy. Many Southern jurisdictions are now voluntarily removing these statues. President Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 general election by winning 18 of 29 States. The 11 States that Lincoln failed to carry were slaveholding States. These States were fearful that Lincoln would find a way to end slavery and deprive slave owners of their so-called property. Eleven Southern States, after Lincoln was elected, immediately seceded from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America. The CSA elected its leadership. They printed a currency and stood up a military. At Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, the Confederate States of America took military action against the United States of America. For the following 4 years, more than 600,000 Americans lost their lives on the battlefield, including, I might say, African-American soldiers who fought for the Union. This was not a war between the States; it was a war against the United States of America by 11 Southern States. When the Union finally won the war, and both sides buried their dead, 4 million slaves were granted their freedom by the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and passage of the 13th Amendment. In 1864, each State was granted the privilege to donate two statues of deceased persons to be displayed in the Capitol that depict the history of their State. These statues are now known as the National Statuary Hall Collection. Approximately 10 of these statues depict men who volunteered to fight against the United States in the Civil War. All of these statues were donated many decades after the Civil War. Like many other statues around the country honoring members of the CSA, and particularly those erected in the South, these 10 statues were not donated and installed in the Capitol until the 1900s, during the height of Jim Crow. Many Americans see these statues and the timing of their placement as a means to intimidate African Americans and to perpetuate the notion of white supremacy. We must not continue to honor these combatants by allowing their images to be on display in the Capitol. The bill before us today also identifies several other statues for removal or replacement that are not part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, including the bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who authored the 1857 Supreme Court decision of Dred Scott v. Sandford, which ruled that slaves could not be considered citizens and that Congress did not have the ability to ban slavery. This opinion, Mr. Speaker, is regarded as possibly the Supreme Court's worst decision of all time, and the 7-2 decision was a major factor contributing to the war. Another bust not part of the collection is of Vice President John Breckinridge, 1857 to 1861. In 1860, Mr. Speaker, Breckinridge ran for President on the Southern Democratic ticket and he lost. During the Civil War, Breckinridge served in the United States Senate from Kentucky but became a traitor and enlisted in the Confederate military, and he was assigned to the army of Mississippi stationed in Jackson, Mississippi, achieving the rank of major general. He was expelled from the Senate. Jefferson Davis then appointed him as Secretary of War. After the war, he fled the country for several years. So I ask my colleagues, I ask America: Does this bust deserve to stand outside of the Senate Chamber? I would hope that your answer to that question will be no. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to answer the summons of our time by voting to remove all of these offensive statues from the Capitol of the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Speaker of the House.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I thank all of the speakers for their eloquent words today. Mr. Davis, we have talked a lot about President Abraham Lincoln. There is one thing I failed to mention, and the other speakers failed to mention as well. And that was, before the ratification of the 13th Amendment, Lincoln was actually assassinated on April 14, as I recall, of 1865, and did not live to see the full ratification of the 13th Amendment, which was the culmination of a lot of his work. So I just wanted to put that into the Record. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased with the tone of this debate. I don't even want to call it a debate. I would call it a discussion for the last few minutes. I feel the bipartisanship in the air, and I thank Mr. Davis so very much. It is appreciated. History teaches us that there are times in our history where eras must be closed, and we must begin a new era in this great Nation. We need to continue to strive for a more perfect union, and today is a good example of that. I ask my colleagues to vote ``yea'' on this legislation. I ask for a unanimous vote. Hopefully, we can do this by voice vote. That is my prayer and that is my hope that we will show the world that we are united on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7573) to direct the Architect of the Capitol to replace the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol with a bust of Thurgood Marshall to be obtained by the Joint Committee on the Library and to remove certain statues from areas of the United States Capitol which are accessible to the public, to remove all statues of individuals who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from display in the United States Capitol, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that debate under clause 1(c) of rule XV on a motion to suspend the rules relating to H.R. 7573 be extended to 1 hour.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life and work of our dear friend and colleague, Congressman John Robert Lewis. I appreciate the words of Congressman Al Green just a moment ago, and I want to associate myself with his remarks. Mr. Speaker, John Lewis came to this body in 1987. He came with scars from a turbulent period of American history. It was John Lewis who led the voting rights movement in the South. We refer to it as the Selma to Montgomery march. Some refer to it as Bloody Sunday. Many Americans don't realize that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not include a provision for voting. Voting was left out of that legislation, and because of that, the African-American community was determined to get voting rights. After Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, he visited the White House to have a conversation with President Lyndon Johnson. He asked Lyndon Johnson for a Voting Rights Act. It was there that President Johnson challenged Dr. King to go back to the South and demand a Voting Rights Act; and, because of that, the voting rights movement began in Selma, Alabama, and it was John Lewis who led that movement. Leaving Brown Chapel Church on March 7 of 1965, John Lewis led the Selma to Montgomery march, demanding a Voting Rights Act and the right to vote. At the apex of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, John Lewis and the other foot soldiers encountered 150 State troopers and a mob waiting for them. John Lewis instructed the marchers to get on their knees and pray. They were beaten, and they were beaten severely. They returned to Brown Chapel Church and, 3 weeks later, returned for the continuation of their march. By the time they got to Montgomery, there were 50,000 people in the march. Because of this movement, Mr. Speaker, President Lyndon Johnson led an extraordinary effort to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protects the right to vote. The VRA has enabled millions of African Americans to register, which has enabled many of the Congressional Black Caucus to be elected and reelected. I might say that today is the 16th anniversary of my election to Congress in a special election. I had the privilege of talking with Congressman Lewis nearly every legislative day for the past 15 years. We spent countless hours on this floor seated to my left talking about his upbringing in Troy, Alabama, how African Americans seeking the right to vote had to count marbles in a jar and bubbles in a bar of soap. We talked about his first meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr., and how Dr. King would lovingly refer to him as John Robert. As we would walk across the Capitol plaza and walk through airports both in this country and other countries, never did he fail to stop and to greet other people and to take very quick pictures. His courtesy to our Capitol staff was unmatched, and they will tell you so. John Lewis served in this body with courage and conviction. It is often said that the Congressional Black Caucus is the conscience of the Congress. Well, John Lewis was also the conscience of the Congress. I recall, Mr. Speaker, the contentious Affordable Care Act debate in 2010. As we left the Capitol that day, there was a confrontational gathering of the Tea Party on the steps of the Capitol. We were advised by the Capitol Police and even by our staffs to return to our offices through the tunnel. It was Congressman Lewis and Congressman Cleaver and Congressman Carson and myself who defied the Capitol Police, and we walked through that mob back to our offices. I remember that so well. We would fuss from time to time, Mr. Speaker, and I think you may have overheard some of our conversations from time to time. We would fuss with John Lewis about his grueling schedule, his travels to the West Coast on the weekends and back here to Washington on Monday. He would tell us about how he would get to his home here in Washington and fall asleep on the couch with his shoes on and wake up at 3 o'clock in the morning. When we suggested he might consider retirement, he would tell us: I have got to keep going. I want to see the African-American museum. I want to see the update of the Voting Rights Act. I want to see the end of police misconduct. Finally, Mr. Speaker, at the invitation of President Obama, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, Congressman John Lewis, and I were invited to the White House for a viewing of the movie ``Selma.'' After viewing the movie, the President invited us, along with Oprah Winfrey and the cast of the movie, to the Oval Office for a very delightful visit. While there, President Obama said: John, do you remember you gave me a magazine with your picture when I was first elected to the Senate? Well, let me show you. He took us into a hallway off of the Oval Office, and there hung the magazine with John Lewis' picture on it. John Robert Lewis, Mr. Speaker, now belongs to the ages. John Robert Lewis now belongs to the ages. He helped make this world a better place. John would say to us today, ``The struggle continues.''

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton for her years of leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, from 1910 through 1970, thousands of African Americans from my district, and from your district, Mr. Hice, migrated to Washington, D.C., seeking employment and better opportunities than existed in the segregated South. They work and worship, and they pay their taxes. They own and operate businesses here in D.C. They teach in the public schools. They are Capitol Police. They clean our offices. I know very well that some of Ms. Holmes Norton's ancestors originated in my congressional district. Mr. Speaker, D.C. residents pay the highest per capita Federal income taxes in the country. They pay more Federal taxes than residents of 22 States. It is a grave injustice that they don't have representation in this body. It is time to say to the citizens of this city that they, too, are American citizens and deserve to be part of this great Union, with full rights of citizenship. What they don't need to hear on this floor today is for Members to say, ``I will never vote for D.C. statehood.'' That is irresponsible.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Neal for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise to thank and commend my colleagues for their work on this $480 billion legislation. On April 7, as the Speaker said, Republicans wanted $250 billion, but no more. After Democratic demands, Republicans finally agreed to increase the $250 billion to $480 billion to include our priorities. An additional $60 billion was set aside for small banks and community development financial institutions and credit unions. We were determined to add billions for small community lenders. We wrote into the legislation that these loans will be forgiven if properly used for paycheck protection. I call on Secretary Mnuchin to follow through on his commitment to Chairs Waters and Velazquez to ensure that these small lenders get the money; make sure the money gets into the hands of African American, Latino, women, and veteran-owned businesses; make sure the money gets into the hands of nonprofits and churches. I call on the Small Business Administration to furnish data on the approved lenders authorized to originate these loans, provide a report to us by race and ethnicity as to whether diverse entities are receiving these loans and grants.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the decades of dedicated public service of a great North Carolinian, role model and man of faith, the Rev. Phillip R. Byrum--known to many as Father Phil. Born in 1941, Rev Phillip R. Byrum is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina--son of the late Robert and Margaret Byrum. He attended Greensboro Public Schools and graduated from Greensboro College in 1963 with a degree in philosophy and religion. He went on to attend the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, graduating in 1966. He was assigned to St. Michael's Church in Tarboro, North Carolina and St. Mary's Church in Speed, North Carolina. He was ordained to the Priesthood on June 24, 1967, at Christ Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Father Phil was married to the former Anne Stuart Barnette in 1966. They became parents to two sons, Robert Stuart, born 1968 and John Keith, born in 1970. He is also a proud grandfather of seven grandchildren and great-grandfather of one. Father Phil and his family moved to Albemarle, North Carolina in 1969, where he became the Rector of Christ Church. He and his family spent a joyful 22 years in this parish, with both sons attending local schools, and leaving to attend and graduate from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Serving with passion and humility, Father Phil was a dedicated minister to his congregation and was heavily involved in many facets of community life, as well as the work of the Diocese of North Carolina. For many years, he chaired the Commission on Liturgy and Music, and directed a music and worship camp for children on behalf of the Diocese for 19 years. He also began a long relationship with the Society of St. Margaret in Boston, Massachusetts where he served as a visiting chaplain to the Sisters for many years. ln May 1991, Rev. Byrum accepted a call to become Rector of St. Timothy's Church in Wilson, North Carolina. Shortly after, a temporary assignment stretched into nearly 30 years of service as Father Phil was asked to serve as priest-in-charge of a historic African American church in East Wilson, St. Mark's Church. Father Phil completed his service in ministry from St. Timothy's in 2000, and focused his ministry service on St. Mark's, while also serving La Iglesia de la Guadalupana, the Spanish-speaking church officially recognized as a congregation in 1998 and shares St. Mark's facilities. Father Phil devoted his service in ministry at St. Mark's and La Guadalupana until his final retirement in 2020. Father Phil had the privilege of leading his congregations at St. Mark's and La Guadalupana in serving the community with worship services in English and Spanish and through community outreach programs such as food ministries, tutoring programs, and assistance programs for those facing critical situations in their lives. On February 29, 2020, Father Phil retired from active ministry and will continue to live in his home community. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating and honoring the Rev. Phillip R. Byrum as he is recognized for his many years of service. His lifelong contribution to his congregations and community cannot be overstated.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, for the life of me--for the life of me--I just cannot understand why 14 States have flatly refused to expand their Medicaid program to provide healthcare to their low- income, healthy, childless adults, a demographic that was omitted from Medicaid in 1965 when it was enacted into law. North Carolina, my home State, would greatly benefit from Medicaid expansion. Other congressional districts would benefit. And to my Republican friends: The fact is that your low-income constituents would greatly benefit. Talk to your doctors. Talk to your hospitals. Talk to your providers. The coverage low-income individuals would receive will not only benefit them, but the entire economy of your State. Let's cooperate on this one. Let the States know that Medicaid expansion will benefit them, and it will not break their budget. We, the Federal Government, will pay 90 percent of the costs in perpetuity. For the President to direct the block granting of Medicaid to the State will be absolutely beyond his executive authority. I repeat: To direct block granting to the State will absolutely be beyond his executive authority. To cap and slash these benefits is unlawful, and it is cruel. It will require authorization from this Congress. I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on this resolution, H. Res. 826.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of a great North Carolinian, public servant, role model and recipient of the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce 2019 Distinguished Citizen Award, Mr. Richard Wayne Parks. Mr. Parks' deep dedication to service and community protection led him to spend over 30 years in the law enforcement field in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. His experience includes extensive expertise through his work with the Rocky Mount Police Department, Nash County Sheriffs Office, Rocky Mount Police Department and the Supreme Court of North Carolina Marshals Offices. Richard Parks experience also includes a wide range of training and education with institutions such as the Coastal Plains Law Enforcement Academy, Police Law Institute (PLI) and the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. He has also taken a Management Course for Law Enforcement Executives and was awarded the Intermediate Law Enforcement Certificate and the Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate. Mr. Parks demonstrated strong leadership skills through his state- level law enforcement program participation which includes involvement between 2006 and 2010 with the NC FOP State Executive Board and the NC FOC State Legislative Committee and also his involvement with the North State Law Enforcement Officers Association, NC Peace Officers Memorial Day Steering Committee and the NC Police Executive's Associations; all of which he serves as a current participant. Rocky Mount, Nash County, Edgecombe County and the State of North Carolina have all benefited from Mr. Parks' advancement as a law enforcement professional, and also from his selfless commitment to community service. He has a remarkable track-record of service participation through his current membership with the North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, North Carolina Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony Steering Committee, Jim Dickens First Responders Appreciation Day Committee, NC Governor's Task Force on Safer Schools, North Carolina Police Executive's Association, Nash County Farmers Market Advisory Board and the Westridge Swim Club Board of Directors. As referred to by many of his colleagues; ``Ricky'' also serves as a member of the North State Law Enforcement Officers Association. As the only law enforcement association that minority officers could join when it was formed in 1952, Ricky Parks' enlisted in the Association to demonstrate that the inclusion of all people, regardless of race or gender and in all levels of law enforcement would lead to better and more productive law enforcement in all of the local communities across the State. With a long and strong history of local and state professional law enforcement experience, Richard Wayne Parks has earned the deep respect of his law enforcement colleagues. He is greatly admired for his leadership and work as a law enforcement professional, his experience and expertise and his efforts to promote unity among law enforcement officers regardless of the branch of service. His efforts have surpassed law enforcement support through his work to serve the needs of domestic abuse victims, those in need of substance abuse treatment, care for the homeless and numerous other community education and family care needs. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize the remarkable achievements of one of North Carolina's own, Mr. Richard Wayne Parks and I congratulate him on being the recipient of the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen Award.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of a great North Carolinian, public servant, loving wife and a friend to many; Ann Keyes. Mrs. Ann Keyes resides in Plymouth, North Carolina with her husband George Donnell Keyes. Mrs. Keyes' passion and conviction have led her to serve in North Carolina's Washington County Government for more than 44 years. She currently serves as the Director of Planning and Safety in the Office of Washington County Emergency Management where she oversees the efforts of many local governments to implement comprehensive community plans that prioritize public safety. Mrs. Keyes's strong commitment to public safety drove her to earn many professional certifications that include: Executive Level Certification in Emergency Management, State Certification for Floodplain Manager, Certification for Community Rating System Coordinator, and Certification for Chronic Diseases and Chronic Pain Self-Management Training Leader. With the lifetime record of public service, Mrs. Keyes has been recognized for numerous achievements which include: 2003 Washington County Emergency Management Responder of the Year Award, North Carolina State Coordinator's Award for Floodplain Management, Colonel Phillip Nichols Waters Award, North Carolina Division of Emergency Management Regional Coordination Center's Award of Excellence, 97th North Carolina National Guard Civil Affairs Battalion's Outstanding Support Award, Washington County Employee of the Year, and North Carolina Community Emergency Response Team's Green Star Award. In her nearly half a century of service to North Carolina, I applaud Mrs. Keyes for her years of dedication and commitment to emergency preparedness of our communities in North Carolina. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and the people of the First District of North Carolina, I express appreciation to Mrs. Ann Keyes for 44 years of committed service to Washington County. I thank for her for her perseverance and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure public safety in North Carolina. Mrs. Keyes has, without exception, earned the right to be honored. It is my hope that God will continue to bless and keep Mrs. Keyes and her family in the years to come.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time and for her leadership and willingness to give time on this very important bill. I thank my colleagues, Congressman Greg Murphy and Congressman Mark Meadows, for advancing this bill. I remember how well-connected they were to Walter B. Jones, Jr.--both of them--and I thank them for this legislation. It is my honor to join with Congressman Greg Murphy in cosponsoring this legislation, and so I support H.R. 5037. Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr., was a devoted man of great faith. He was my personal friend, Mr. Speaker, for more than 40 years. My colleagues will recall that, as Walter was beginning to decline in health, he was unable to come to the floor to have the oath of office administered to him, and Walter asked that I come to his home. The Speaker of the House authorized me to do so, and I went to his living room that day and administered the final oath of office to him. He was so appreciative, and we had a wonderful conversation that I shall never ever forget. Walter Jones was a lifetime public servant, serving in the National Guard for 4 years, in our general assembly for 10 years, and here in Congress for 24 long years as Representative of the Third Congressional District. Since I joined Congress in 2004, I watched Walter cast many difficult votes with conviction. I would sit right here to my left, and Walter would come by and, in his own way, he would say, ``Mr. Chairman,'' and we would have a wonderful laugh about that. But he would stand firm in what he believed was right for his constituents and the American people. Although Walter is no longer with us, he left an indelible mark on eastern North Carolina. He left a mark on this House and the Nation. Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me in honoring Walter Jones. I was particularly moved that so many of our colleagues traveled by military aircraft as we went to his funeral that day. The Speaker of the House authorized the airplane, and we flew down to Greenville that day. The airplane was full of colleagues in a bipartisan manner. Democrats and Republicans both attended the funeral. And it was bicameral. You may remember that Senator Byrne and Senator Tillis were there as well. So I thank them very much for honoring this great man. And to the Jones family, to Joe Ann and Ashley, may God bless you, and may we keep the memory of Walter B. Jones, Jr., alive.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleague from North Carolina, Congresswoman Alma Adams, as we introduce a resolution recognizing the significance of the Greensboro Four sit-in protest which took place on February 1, 1960, 60 years ago. The Greensboro, North Carolina, sit-in was a civil rights protest that commenced when four young African American college students staged a sit-in at the segregated lunch counter of F. W. Woolworth department store in Greensboro. They refused to leave after being denied service only because of their race. The four young men--Ezell Blair, Jr.; David Richmond; Franklin McCain; and Joseph McNeil--were students from North Carolina A&T College, now known as North Carolina A&T State University. I might add that A&T State University is now the largest HBCU in the country. Mr. Speaker, I would also mention that Congresswoman Alma Adams is a graduate of A&T State University and served as a college professor across the street at Bennett College for more than 40 years. The Greensboro Four students were influenced by the unanimous Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, 1954, wherein the Court ruled that State laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional even if the segregated schools are otherwise equal. The students were also influenced by the Supreme Court decision in Keys v. Carolina Coach Company, 1955, wherein, the Court broke with its historic adherence to the Plessy v. Ferguson separate but equal doctrine and interpreted the Interstate Commerce Act as banning the segregation of Black passengers on buses traveling across State lines. The Keys case originated at the bus station in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, located in the heart of my congressional district. The Keys ruling was announced 6 days prior to Rosa Parks' refusal to move from her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery. And without question, the Rosa Parks Montgomery bus boycott, lasting 381 days, also inspired the Greensboro Four students. The students were also inspired to act following the 1955 brutal lynching of Emmett Till after he was accused of offending a White woman in a Mississippi grocery store. These four college students blazed a trail that ignited a movement to challenge racial segregation in public facilities throughout the segregated South. The sit-in movement soon spread to college towns throughout the South. The Greensboro Four sit-ins contributed greatly to the civil rights movement and served as a catalyst for the mobilization of college students in the movement, evolving into the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which was founded in Raleigh, North Carolina, in April 1960. Some of the organizers of SNCC were Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Jim Clyburn, and Diane Nash. Nationwide participation in this new movement included over 700,000 people, including students, clergymen, and unified citizens, both Black and White. Many of the protestors, more than 3,000, were arrested for trespassing, disorderly conduct, or disturbing the peace. However, the Greensboro Four remained peaceful throughout the 6-month sit-in, and their actions made an immediate and lasting impact, forcing Woolworth's and other establishments to change their discriminatory policies. On July 26, 1960, the Woolworth's lunch counter was finally integrated. Today, the former Woolworth's now houses the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, which features a restored version of the lunch counter where the Greensboro Four sat. Part of the original counter is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History here in Washington. On Saturday of this week, February 1, the museum will commemorate the 60th anniversary of this historic event at the Greensboro Coliseum. Past award recipients have been numerous. They include Oprah Winfrey; Jesse Jackson, Sr.; President Nelson Mandela; and many, many others. The award recipients this year will be: President Barack Obama, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Danny Glover, Mrs. Clayola Brown, Reverend Cardes Brown, Dr. Linda Brown, and Mrs. Emma Washington. Mr. Speaker, the resolution that Ms. Adams and I introduce seeks to encourage all of the States to include in their educational curriculum the history and contributions of the Greensboro Four. It is imperative that we learn the lessons from the past and reaffirm that the ethnic and racial diversity of our country enriches our Nation. We are always stronger together. We must never forget, in all things, to demand justice and equality for all. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Greensboro Four. I congratulate the International Museum, and I look forward to participating in the great gala they will have this weekend in Greensboro.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, with respect to the vote on H.R. 5377, I was unavoidably delayed. I was in the Speaker's lobby at the time of the vote, and when I entered the Chamber, the vote had concluded. Had I been on the floor, Madam Speaker, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise on this solemn occasion as we, the House of Representatives, exercise the power given to us by the United States Constitution. The original Constitution was flawed in some respects, but with respect to Presidential misconduct, it was unmistakable. The Framers knew that Presidents could be corrupt or abusive with their power so impeachment was written into our organic law. Since taking office nearly 3 years ago, President Trump has consistently and intentionally divided this country. He has consistently encouraged foreign actors to interfere in our elections. He has thumbed his nose, Madam Speaker, at the legislative branch. Enough is enough. We must protect our Constitution, our democracy. I will vote today to prefer serious charges against President Trump and deliver the charges to the Senate for trial, a place where President Trump can defend himself and attempt, if he chooses, to convince the Senate and the American people that his conduct does not violate the Constitution.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. The Iota Chapter was chartered on December 11, 1919, on the historic campus of Shaw University, making it the first Greek- lettered organization at Shaw, the ninth chapter in the history of Phi Beta Sigma, and the second chapter in North Carolina. The Iota Chapter was founded by Jesse W. Lewis, who eventually became the fraternity's seventh International President. Mr. Lewis wanted to organize a Greek-lettered fraternity on Shaw's campus that exemplified the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service and Phi Beta Sigma was a perfect fit. Sigma brothers to this day, hold deep convictions to use Phi Beta Sigma's ideals to better their communities. The Iota Chapter has produced many prominent alumni who have contributed enormously in the fields of medicine, speech pathology, education, and dentistry, including my father, Dr. G. K. Butterfield, Sr. who entered Shaw in September 1919 after fighting in World War One. On his 22nd birthday, February 9, 1922, he was initiated into the Iota Chapter. My father graduated from Shaw in 1922 and graduated from Meharry Medical College as a dentist in 1927. He returned to North Carolina, married my mother whom he met at Shaw, and moved to Wilson, North Carolina where he remained until he passed away at the age of 95. During his lifetime, my father was active in Phi Beta Sigma and became a well-respected civil rights leader in our hometown, and was even elected to the Wilson City Council in 1953 during the dark days of segregation. Shaw University was the first historically Black institution of higher education in North Carolina and is among the oldest historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the nation. In many ways, Shaw, with the help of the Iota Chapter, has been an institutional pioneer for civil rights. During the 1960's, Shaw and members of the Iota Chapter were leaders of numerous marches and demonstrations that took place on the streets of Raleigh and across North Carolina in the fight for civil rights and the end of segregation. Phi Beta Sigma has blossomed into an international organization of leaders. No longer a singular entity, members of the Fraternity have been instrumental in the establishment of the Phi Beta Sigma National Foundation, the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union, and the Fraternity's sister organization, the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, which was founded in 1920. Madam Speaker, to this day, the Iota Chapter continues to be a vital chapter of Phi Beta Sigma and a leading role model for community service in North Carolina. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma on its centennial.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of a dear family friend, Deacon James Andrew Wynn, Sr. Born on August 6, 1922, James Wynn lived a long, loving, and productive life. This past Saturday, he transitioned from labor to reward. Deacon Wynn, a lifelong resident of Gold Point, North Carolina, loved his family, loved his community, and loved his God. In 1943, he met the love of his life, Naomi Lynch, commencing a marriage that lasted for 59 long years. James was a skilled farmer and carpenter and was well-known throughout the community. James and Naomi were parents to eight wonderful children. They took great pride in their children's education and accomplishments, and they have accomplished much. The children are: Angela; Joan; Judge James Wynn, who is a long- serving judge on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals; Reginald Wynn; Dr. Anita Wynn; and Dr. Arnie Wynn. From that lineage are 17 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. May Deacon James Andrew Wynn, Sr. rest in peace.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Pallone for his leadership in preventing the continued spread of illegal robocalls. Mr. Speaker, these unlawful operations are deceiving and defrauding unsuspecting citizens, with little recourse. Congress must do its part to bring these perpetrators to justice, and the bill before us today does just that. I am pleased that my bill, H.R. 3434, is included in the bill we have today. I thank Chairman Pallone for fighting to keep the language in my bill in the underlying legislation during negotiations. My bill recognizes industry efforts to address illegal calls by directing the FCC to publish an annual report on best practices in tracing back illegal calls to their origins. It promotes provider accountability by allowing carriers to block calls from providers who do not fully participate in private-led efforts to trace suspected illegal callers. Every day, Mr. Speaker, consumers fall victim to scams initiated by fraudulent calls. I believe that the TRACED Act is a practical and comprehensive solution that will aid us in ending these illegal calls for good. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.