Jim Clyburn

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, back when I was campaigning for Members all across the country, I heard Republicans constantly talking about jobs. Despite the fact that the Democratic majority in the 111th Congress brought America back from the brink of a depression and presided over 10 straight months of private sector job growth, with Republicans obstructing every step of the way, the Republicans insisted they would focus on jobs, jobs, jobs. But something must have happened to the Republicans over the holidays, because for the full month since the opening of the 112th Congress, the Republican majority has done literally nothing to create jobs. Republicans have held votes on 11 bills that do things like denying insurance to people with preexisting conditions and denying security funding to the area around the United Nations building in New York. Not a single one of these votes has created a single job for a single American. Republicans are holding a host of committee hearings on issues like restricting access to women's legal health services and rolling back injured patients' legal rights. Not a single one of these hearings has created or will create a single job for a single American. Today we are talking and talking about a resolution that will instruct committees to conduct oversight, which they are supposed to do no matter what. This resolution would not create a single job for a single American. This week, as our economic recovery is just gaining steam, the Republicans are proposing a spending bill that will curtail American innovation and clean energy and cut the number of cops on our streets. This will result in Americans losing their jobs and America being less safe and less prepared to compete in the 21st century global economy and to create jobs years into the future. Republicans talked last year about how they would focus on jobs. But it seems that when they decide to focus on jobs at all, they are focusing on how to eliminate jobs. Madam Speaker, I come from a district and a State where unemployment is unacceptably high and too many people have been out of work for much too long. I honestly wish the Republican majority would focus on commonsense and pragmatic ways to create American jobs. If they decide to do this, they will find me to be a willing partner. But let's stop these shenanigans like we are seeing here today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time remains.

Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I would now yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from California, Ms. Barbara Lee.

Mr. CLYBURN. I yield the gentlelady an additional minute.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a ministerial wunderkind who at the age of 58 has led his home church for a remarkable 40 years. Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr., is the spiritual leader of Brookland Baptist Church and a community leader in the Columbia, South Carolina, metropolitan area. I am proud to call Dr. Jackson a dear friend, and acknowledge that he has presided over some very important events in my life, including the marriage of my youngest daughter, Angela. Charles Jackson is a product of West Columbia, South Carolina, and attended the local public schools. Even from a young age, there was no doubt the path that his life would take. At the age of nine, Dr. Jackson responded to the call to preach. The next year he was licensed, and at age 12 he became an ordained minister. At the age of 18, when most young men are searching for a direction in life, Dr. Jackson was installed as the Pastor of his home church--Brookland Baptist Church of West Columbia. At the time he officially took over the ministerial leadership of the church, he was also a student at Benedict College. Despite the demands of his chosen career, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. As a dedicated student, he received the Distinguished Mathematics and Physics Award for achieving the highest academic average in those disciplines. Dr. Jackson continued his studies by attending the Interdenominational Theological Center of Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta. He graduated with honors in 1977 with a Master of Divinity. He was also awarded the Distinguished Board of Directors Award for High Academic Achievement. In August 1978, Dr. Jackson completed one year of certification of residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at the South Carolina Academy for Pastoral Education. He has received Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degrees from Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina, and from his alma mater, Benedict College. During his 40 years at Brookland Baptist, the church has grown exponentially. As one of the fastest growing churches in the state, Brookland Baptist offers 65 ministries, a full-service Federal Credit Union, the Brookland Foundation--a charitable 501(c)(3)--the Brookland Center for Community and Economic Change, the Brookland-West Columbia Community and Housing Development Corporation, and the Brookland Community Pediatric Center, which is a collaborative effort with the Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center. Nearly 12 years ago, Dr. Jackson led his growing congregation to a new 2300-seat sanctuary. In addition to the beautiful new church, Brookland Baptist also opened a 68,000 square-foot Community Resource Center in September 2005, which houses an Academy Child Development Center, a Health and Wellness Center, and a Banquet and Conference Center. In 2008, the board of Lexington School District Two awarded Brookland Baptist the building that once housed the former Lakeview/ Northside School. This 94,000 square foot educational facility on 11 acres of land will be converted into the Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center. As a result of the church's Economic Empowerment Initiative, over 160 people are employed in Brookland's ministry. Due to the tremendous growth in the church family, Dr. Jackson opened a second campus of the church. Brookland Baptist Church Northeast opened on October 5, 2008, and Dr. Christopher Leevy Johnson was installed as the Campus Pastor. He has also expanded his ministry overseas. Dr. Jackson has partnered with Providence Baptist Church in Liberia to provide a weekly radio broadcast in that African country. Dr. Jackson held and still holds membership in a number of denominational, civic and community organizations. He is a former president of the South Carolina Baptist Congress of Christian Education and the Gethsemane Baptist Congress of Christian Education. He is also Past Moderator of the Gethsemane Baptist Association. Dr. Jackson is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Golden Square Lodge #283, NAACP, 100 Black Men of Greater Columbia, Inc., and the Cayce-West Columbia Rotary Club. He serves on the Board of Governors for the Capital City Club, the Board of Directors of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Board of Trustees for Morris College in Sumter, SC, the Board of Directors for Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, the Board of Visitors for the University of South Carolina and is the Chairman of the Distressed Areas Task Force for New Carolina. His honors include: the 1995 Affirmative Action Award from the Black Faculty and Staff Association of the University of South Carolina; the Lincoln C. Jenkins Achievement Award for Economic Empowerment by the Columbia Urban League; the Whitney M. Young, Jr., Service Award by the Boy Scouts of America, the Distinguished Service Award by the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council (2004), West Metro Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year (2005), Lifetime Achievement Award by the 100 Black Men of Greater Columbia, Inc., and the March of Dimes African American Achievement Award (2006). He has preached revivals throughout the United States and delivered lectures at more than fifteen colleges and universities. In observance of his 30th anniversary as Pastor of the Brookland Baptist Church, Governor Jim Hodges awarded him the Order of the Palmetto, which is the highest honor that the State of South Carolina confers upon its citizens. Dr. Jackson is married to the former Robin Hoefer, and is the father of two children, Reverend Charles B. Jackson, Jr., pastor of the New Laurel Street Baptist Church in Columbia, SC, and Candace, a graduate of Duke University School of Law, and an associate of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. A daughter-in-law, the former Iva Gaymon and four grandchildren Kayla, Charles III, Caleb and Carter. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in congratulating Dr. Charles Jackson, Sr., on his extraordinary 40 years in the ministry. We are extremely fortunate that Dr. Jackson is still in the prime of his career, and we can look forward to many more years of his growing ministry and his dedicated service. He embodies the admonition of our Christian faith to do ``good works.'' His ministry has touched countless lives over the past 40 years, and he deserves our commendation.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a trailblazing legal professional and one of my mentors, Judge Richard Fields. Judge Fields is being honored on February 10, 2011, by the Center for Heirs Property Preservation with the Commitment to Justice Award. Although I cannot be there in person due to Congressional obligations, I cannot allow this occasion to pass without adding my personal recognition of this remarkable man. Judge Richard E. Fields has a story not unlike that of many African Americans born in the segregated South. He was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina to parents who spent their youth working in the fields, unable to earn more than a fourth grade education. Yet that didn't stop them from wanting a better life for their son. Judge Fields left home in 1940, and went to West Virginia State College, now University, where he earned a BS in Business Administration. In 1944 he entered the Howard University Law School and graduated with a law degree in 1947. Two years later, Judge Fields returned to his hometown and became the first African American to open a law office in Charleston since the early 1900s and he had the distinction of becoming the first black litigator. After distinguishing himself over two decades as an outstanding legal advocate, he was elected in 1969 as a Municipal Judge for the City of Charleston. He served in that position until 1975, when he was elected Judge of the Family Court of Charleston County. Five years later, he was elected Judge of the Circuit Courts of South Carolina where he remained until his retirement in 1992. In retirement, Judge Fields has been very active in the legal community. He was a member of the Committee to Establish the School of Law and now serves on the Advisory Committee to the Charleston School of Law which was established in 2004. In 1952, Judge Fields joined the Claflin College, now University, Board of Trustees, where he served for more than 50 years. In 1992, the Richard E. Fields and Myrtle E. Fields Scholarship was established at Claflin to provide financial assistance to students of merit. Throughout his career, Judge Fields has served on numerous boards and committees in both the public and private sectors. In 1980, he along with several businessmen, established the Liberty National Bank, and he served on its Board of Directors for a number of years. After returning to Charleston to practice law, Judge Fields resumed his membership in historic Centenary Methodist Church. He was elected Treasurer of that congregation in approximately 1950, and held that position for more than 50 years. He has been the Church's delegate to the South Carolina Annual Conference for more than 50 years. In 1970, Judge Fields was elected to the General Board of Finance and Administration, the corporate body of the Church. He has been honored by the local chapter of ``100 Black Men'' and by the American Board of Trial Advocates which established ``The Richard E. Fields Civility Award'' to be given annually to a judge or attorney embodying his high standards of decency, civility, and equanimity. West Virginia State University also honored him in 2009 as the Alumnus of the Year. In addition to all his public accolades, I must add my personal commendation to Judge Fields. I often recount the story of when I was a young man just out of college intent on changing the world from my place in Charleston, Judge Fields gave me advice that I will never forget. He reminded me of the story of the three little pigs and the wolf that huffed and puffed and couldn't blow their brick house down. Judge Fields equated the obstacles that had been built to keep African Americans out to the brick house. He told me, ``You got to get inside. You can't change things from outside no matter how well-meaning you may be.'' Judge Fields words helped me to define my political philosophy, and that is how I have come to build a career as a public servant. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating the transformative work of The Honorable Richard Fields. His life story is an example of overcoming obstacles with integrity and leadership. He continues, through his work with the Center for Heirs Property Preservation, higher education institutions, his church and his legal profession, to promote opportunity and justice for all. Judge Fields is a South Carolina and a national treasure, who is very deserving of this recognition.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. I yield myself an additional 30 seconds. When the 1965 Voting Rights Act became law, it did not cover congressional and legislative redistricting. The Fair Housing Law wasn't perfect when it was passed. Bipartisan changes were made to improve all of these measures. I sincerely hope that we can develop some bipartisan modifications that increase efficiency and effectiveness and decrease costs and duplication--none of which will be achieved through repeal. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Speaker, in 1966 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose life and legacy we just finished celebrating, expressed his concerns about health care. He stated, ``Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.'' Those words were brought home to me last year when a constituent from Florence, South Carolina, told me that she had just been informed by her insurance carrier that because of her 8-year-old daughter's cancer treatments, her family had reached their lifetime benefits limit. What could be more inhumane than repealing this law's patients' rights and telling that mother that the lifesaving treatments for her daughter must end? What could be more shocking than the injustice suffered by the middle-aged woman who called into a radio program to complain that although she had paid her premiums her entire adult life, she was dropped by her insurer when she contracted breast cancer. How can we repeal the remedy for this injustice? Dr. King also taught us that the time is always ripe to do right. After nearly a century of debate, last March the time was ripe. And getting rid of these discriminatory practices was the right thing to do. And that is the reason I called the bill the Civil Rights Act of the 21st Century. Interestingly, today we are hearing some of the same rhetoric about repeal of patients' rights that we heard regarding voting rights. Do I feel that changes should not be made? Absolutely not. When the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, it did not cover public employees.

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the chair of the Democratic Caucus, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Mr. Steve Israel of New York.

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the chair of our policy committee.

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how many more speakers there are on the other side?

Mr. CLYBURN. I have two speakers remaining. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLYBURN. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus, the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra).

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the Democratic whip, Mr. Hoyer from Maryland.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, the Book of Micah, the religion that Gabby practices, raises a question: What would the Lord require of thee? And the question is answered in Micah 6:8: To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. I cannot think of anybody whom I have ever served with who personified that passage more than Gabby Giffords. In my faith, I practice that which is found in the Book of Luke, the 10th chapter, where we get the story of the Good Samaritan. The question was asked of the lawyer who wanted to know what was required to have life everlasting. In the answer, the master said to him: In this and other things, love thy neighbor as thyself. Gabby Giffords is our neighbor, not just here in this body, but she is our neighbor on this great planet, because we learn from that story that being one's neighbor is not dependent upon one's religion, nor is it dependent upon one's ethnicity. Being one's neighbor is dependent upon whether or not we have the capacity to show compassion. Gabby Giffords is our neighbor, and I'm pleased to honor her today.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a trailblazing woman in the field of athletics, who represents our shared alma mater with tremendous leadership. Charlene Johnson is being honored by the Baltimore Alumni Chapter of South Carolina State University on January 16, 2011 for her 28 years of outstanding contributions to the University's Athletics Department. It is my honor to join my fellow alumni in applauding her great work. Charlene Johnson is currently serving her seventh season as athletics director at South Carolina State University. After guiding the Department in an interim capacity in 2003, Johnson was elevated to the athletics director on a permanent basis in the spring of 2004. Her influence is being felt well beyond the Orangeburg campus. In 2007, Johnson became the first female to serve as chairperson of the Directors of Athletics in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. She has also served on several NCAA committees. The 2010-11 athletic season marks Mrs. Johnson's 28th year as a member of the SC State Department of Athletics, making her one of just three athletics staff members with more than 25 years of service to the University's athletics department. During her tenure as director of athletics, three different SC State teams have brought home conference championships, with three earning NCAA tournament appearances. The Bulldog football team won the 2008 and 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles and made back-to-back trips to the prestigious FCS playoffs, and was league Co-Champion in 2004. The women's tennis team has won the last six MEAC tennis crowns and made as many appearances in the NCAA Tennis Championship, while the men's squad has earned six of the last seven MEAC titles and as many berths to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to being named director of athletics, Johnson served seven years as the senior woman administrator and associate athletic director for the university. During that time she helped usher in a new era in SC State Athletics, assisting in the planning, directing, and coordinating of all areas of the department of athletics. Johnson began her illustrious career in athletics at SC State in 1983 when she became the first woman to be appointed to a full-time coaching position as an assistant on the Lady Bulldog basketball team. Since that time, she has served the university in a number of capacities, including head volleyball coach, head women's tennis coach, and assistant women's basketball coach. She also spent two terms as the school's interim director of athletics. Johnson's success as a leader in athletics is grounded in her success as a player. On the basketball court she became a part of SC State history early on when, she helped the Lady Bulldogs capture the 1979 AIAW National Championship with a 73-68 win over Dayton in Fargo, North Dakota. After her playing career, Johnson continued to help her alma mater and the women's basketball program. As a member of the coaching staff, she was instrumental in keeping the Lady Bulldogs among the top teams in the Southeast. In 1990, Johnson guided the Lady Bulldog volleyball team to its sole Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, earning MEAC Coach of the Year honors for her efforts. She also earned MEAC Coach of the Year accolades for women's tennis in 1986. In recognition of her efforts, Johnson was inducted into the SC State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998 as an administrator and received special recognition in 2000 as a member of the 1979 AIAW National Championship team. Mrs. Johnson, who earned both her bachelor's (1980) and master's (1987) from SC State, is married to Virgin Johnson, Jr., and they are the proud parents of two children: Taylor and Virgin (Trey) III. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in recognizing the significant contributions of Charlene Johnson as an athlete, a coach and an athletics administrator. She has built an outstanding legacy at South Carolina State University, and is a trailblazing role model for women pursuing careers in university athletics. I congratulate her on a job well done and thank her on behalf of all South Carolina State alumni for her many contributions to the university.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute a spiritual and community leader as he retires from the ministry. Reverend Carnell Hampton has been a tremendous light in Clarendon County during his 45 years at Melina Presbyterian Church and his daily guidance will be sorely missed. Reverend Hampton grew up in the Mayesville community of Sumter County, and graduated from the historic Goodwill Parachoial School. He chose to return close to home following his graduation from seminary at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina to serve at Melina Presbyterian Church. He built the church into the center of the Gable community, expanding its membership and its missions. He has lived next door to the church and been an active member of the community throughout his career. Over his more than four decades in the ministry, Reverend Hampton has made innumerable contributions to the community, the state, the Presbytery, the Synod and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). I want to personally thank Reverend Hampton for his friendship and support. Just six weeks after my election to Congress in 1992, he and the Melina Presbyterian Church Family welcomed me into their worship service and congratulated me on behalf of the community. His care and concern for the community extends beyond the church walls, and he let me know he expected me to represent the community well. I have worked hard to meet his expectations. Reverend Hampton is married to Carrie Edwards a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina and the couple has one son Jermaine Carnell, a daughter-in-law Hollie, and two grandchildren Nathan and August. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Reverend Hampton on his retirement. He has touched countless lives and left an indelible mark on this community. His service to Clarendon County and the Presbyterian Church will be long remembered, and hard to replace. I offer my best wishes as he enters this new phase of his life, and know that he will continue to be an important part of the community.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding me this time. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. Madam Speaker, today is a great day for our Nation's black farmers and Native Americans who were discriminated against by their own government--our government--for years. Thousands of families have waited for years to receive the settlements awarded to them in two class action lawsuits that have gone unresolved because of political gamesmanship. In this Congress alone, we have twice passed legislation that would have resolved this issue. Today, the games have come to an end. Today we will mete out some modicum of justice. After more than a decade, this bill finally in some significant measure resolves the Pigford v. Glickman case, a lawsuit which was settled back in 1999. That lawsuit was filed by African American farmers against the Department of Agriculture for discriminating against black farmers who applied for access to loans and other assistance. The Department of Agriculture has admitted that the discrimination took place and repeatedly urged this body to compensate those farmers who were discriminated against. Nothing in the Pigford settlement would prevent the government from prosecuting fraudulent claims. And this bill, which is fully paid for, includes strict provisions designed to ensure that payments are distributed to only deserving claimants. Mr. Speaker, I want to address two issues--the issues of neutral adjudicator and performance audits, both of which are found in this bill and cause me great concern as to whether or not we're setting up a process by which witch hunts and intimidations will take place. Now, I want the record to show that these two processes are not found anywhere else, but they are in this bill. I'm very concerned about that because I think they could open the door for witch hunts to take place as to whether or not these farmers are in fact deserving and whether or not intimidation may take place as to whether or not we will shield activities on the part of farmers who should be filing claims. I don't want anybody to be unjustly enriched, but I hope that nobody will be intimidated by the process. I used to run the South Carolina Commission for Farm Workers, and I can tell you that from 1968, when I became director of that agency, I saw the discrimination taking place not just in farm loans but in housing loans as well. And the intimidation factor was great among these rural families that did not feel equipped to fight the process. We have put these two procedures in this bill. I want the record to show that we do not put them there for people to be intimidated but only to provide a process by which the Federal Government can find out whether or not people are deserving of the service and of the resolution. I would hope, Mr. Speaker, that as we carry forth this settlement that we will not once again visit upon these families the intimidation factor that so many of them experienced for years now. Now this case goes back to 1981. But I can tell you that these cases go back for nearly a century and they ought not be intimidated at this point in the process.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a South Carolinian, who has dedicated his life to motivating young men through baseball. Charles F. ``Dusty'' Rhodes is the founder of the South Carolina Storm travel baseball team in Charleston, and he has changed the lives of numerous young men through the program. In 2002, Dusty Rhodes saw a need to help boys in the Charleston area pursue a college education through baseball. He began the Charleston Storm travel baseball program with the founding principles of ``attitude, academics, and baseball.'' Attitude was stressed by teaching players how to play baseball with respect for themselves, coaches, fellow and opposing players, umpires, and the game itself. Academics were stressed because many more scholarships are available to those who excel in academics than those who excel in baseball. The players had their grades checked, and the message was instilled that baseball would only last a few years, but a quality education would serve a young person for the rest of his life. The fundamentals of baseball were taught by coaches who had the ability to teach young men the correct way to play the game, in addition to upholding the attitude and academic goals. Playing on a travel baseball team did have its financial cost. However, the boys were never denied the opportunity to play due to family financial hardship. Often Dusty and his wife, Kelly, supported the players out of their own pockets. In the eight years since its inception, the team has evolved into the South Carolina Storm. Several hundred young men have been part of the program, and more than 65 of them have been afforded an opportunity to attend college and play baseball. One former player, Drew Miller provided the following testimony regarding his mentor, ``coach, leader, genuine, role model, giving, caring, friend and now cancer are all words that come to mind when the name Dusty Rhodes is brought up.'' Madam Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in honoring the tremendous contributions of this remarkable community leader. Dusty Rhodes' commitment to helping young men through baseball grows from his Christian faith, his love of young people, and his love of the game of baseball. Now he faces personal health challenges, but his remarkable legacy is etched in his devotion to making the lives of young people better.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding physician and community leader as he retires and enters a new phase of his life. Dr. Spencer Disher of Orangeburg, South Carolina, has served the medical profession and his community admirably for half a century. Spencer Disher was born in Darlington, South Carolina, and graduated as Salutatorian of his class at Mayo High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from South Carolina State College, now University, and entered Meharry Medical College in Nashville in 1956. Following graduation, he trained for a year at Kate B. Reynolds Hospital and served two years in the U.S. Army. While serving as an Army Captain, Dr. Disher was the Chief Physician for the Pentathlon athletes on the U.S. Olympic Team. In 1963, Dr. Disher returned to South Carolina and began his medical practice in Orangeburg. He has also served as the college physician at Voorhees College, Denmark Technical College and Claflin University, where he currently serves as Medical Director of Student Health Services. He also holds the position of State Grand Medical Director for the Masons of South Carolina. In addition to practicing medicine, Dr. Disher has been very involved in organizations that support and advance the profession. He has served as the Chair of the Grants and Proposal Committee of the Board of Trustees of the National Medical Association, and is a member of South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners. He was the Chief of Staff at The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. For eleven years, Dr. Disher served as chair of the Executive Board of the Palmetto State Medical Dental Pharmaceutical Association, PMDPA. He also served as president of the PMDPA in 1975. He chaired the Public Health and Consumer Affairs Committee of the National Medical Association, NMA, for over a decade. Dr. Disher is currently a member of the Meharry Medical College Board of Trustees, and has been a staunch advocate of the school. Two of his sons have graduated from Meharry. He has established the Spencer C. Disher, Jr., M.D. Endowed Scholarship to enable students from South Carolina to pursue their dream of studying for Medical, Dental or a Doctorate Degree in the Biomedical Sciences at Meharry Medical College. Dr. Disher has been recognized by many organizations including Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Psi Phi Fraternities. He is a member of the New Mount Zion Baptist Church. In addition to his many professional affiliations, he is a 33rd Degree Mason, a Shriner, and a member of the NAACP. Dr. Disher is married to the former Annette Moorer, and is the father of eight children. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating the wonderful professional contributions of Dr. Spencer Disher. He has distinguished himself as doctor who cares not only for the patient but for the community as a whole. He has been a tremendous leader and a consummate professional throughout his career, and I am proud to call him a friend. I wish him Godspeed in retirement and know that he will continue to play an important part in the Orangeburg community for years to come.