Jim Clyburn

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, we could produce a bipartisan tax plan that would end the preferential treatment of investment income, which undermines working Americans while enriching wealthy investors. We stand ready to engage with the other side. Until then, we will be resolute in our opposition to this unfair, immoral document.

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, the document before us is a partisan exercise to deliver large tax cuts to the wealthy. Working Americans will see their taxes go up, and our children and grandchildren will have to pay back the debt Republicans will create to finance these tax cuts. While they promise the American people revenue neutral tax reform that will simplify the Tax Code and close costly loopholes, the budget they are ramming through will borrow $1.5 trillion to finance these cuts. It will precipitate cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and other safety net programs upon which middle-income families depend. It proposes to eliminate the deduction for State and local taxes, increasing the tax burden on over 500,000 people in my home State of South Carolina. This document threatens the earned income tax credit; lowers the ceiling on middle-income savings; and eliminates the inheritance tax, which only affects those with estates valued over $11 million. It creates a pass-through for businesses that pay zero corporate taxes, effectively giving the owners of these companies a lower individual rate than the people they employ. If the Republicans would engage us, we could produce a bipartisan tax plan that would expand the earned income tax credit for single individuals and the child tax credit for working families.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Veasey, and our colleague Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, for joining me at the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington last Thursday evening. It was a wonderful experience for me and President Vistasp Karbhari, Dr. Jason Skelton and my longtime friend Dr. Marvin Delaney were perfect hosts. Earlier this month, Sergeant La David T. Johnson died a hero's death in a distant land on a mission few Americans know about or understand. This weekend, his grieving family, including his pregnant wife, took him to his final resting place in Florida. Sgt. Johnson's tragic death leaves this young family fatherless. Mr. Speaker, in his Second Inaugural address, President Abraham Lincoln called on our nation to endeavor ``to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan. . . .'' Unfortunately, rather than comfort Sgt. Johnson's grieving family, the current occupant of the White House has chosen to use them as his latest prop in his constant effort to sow discord and division in this country. The President and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who happens to be a Four-Star General, have insulted and smeared an honorable public servant who happens to be a Five-Star Congresswoman, and in effect called her and her grieving widowed constituent liars. Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson has been a champion for the people of South Florida for decades. It is no mystery--and it was not political--that she was accompanying Mrs. Johnson and her family to receive her husband's remains. She had mentored Sgt. Johnson throughout his childhood. Mr. Speaker, I have participated in several of Congresswoman Wilson's 500 Role Models events and have spoken for one of their graduations. I often wear a red tie to this floor helping her highlight their efforts. And her passionate work on behalf of those kidnapped girls of Boko Haram is unmatched. As the husband of a five-star African American woman for more than 56 years and the father of three African American daughters who are working hard to earn their stars each and every day, I feel compelled to respond to General Kelly and completely debunk his concocted misrepresentation. Mr. Speaker, we can have political differences here in Washington, D.C. That comes with the territory. But people need to have the common decency and basic humanity to refrain from exacerbating the pain of those already suffering so much. I was taught from childhood that silence gives consent. I want the White House to know this, I and the members of the Congressional Black caucus will not be silent or silenced.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding to me. I also thank him and our colleague, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, for joining me at the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington last Thursday evening. It was a wonderful experience for me. President Vistasp Karbhari, Dr. Jason Skelton, and my longtime friend, Dr. Marvin Delaney, were perfect hosts. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, Sergeant La David T. Johnson died a hero's death in a distant land on a mission few Americans know about or understand. This weekend, his grieving family, including his pregnant wife, took him to his final resting place in Florida. Sergeant Johnson's tragic death leaves this young family fatherless. Mr. Speaker, in his second inaugural address, President Abraham Lincoln called on our Nation to endeavor to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan. Unfortunately, rather than comfort Sergeant Johnson's grieving family, the current occupant of the White House has chosen to use them as his latest prop in his constant effort to sow discord and division in this country. The President and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who happens to be a four-star general, have insulted and smeared an honorable public servant who happens to be a five-star Congresswoman, and, in effect, called her and her grieving widow constituent liars. Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson has been a champion for the people of south Florida for decades. It is no mystery--and it was not political--that she was accompanying Mrs. Johnson and her family to receive her husband's remains. She had mentored Sergeant Johnson throughout his childhood. I have participated in several of Congresswoman Wilson's 500 Role Models events and have spoken for one of their graduations. I also wear this red tie to this floor helping her highlight their efforts. Her passionate work on behalf of those kidnapped girls of Boko Haram is unmatched. As the husband of a five-star African-American woman for more than 56 years and the father of three African-American daughters who are working hard to earn their stars every day, I feel compelled to respond to General Kelly and completely disregard his concocted misrepresentations. Mr. Speaker, we can have political differences here in Washington. That comes with the territory. But people need to have the common decency and basic humanity to refrain from exacerbating the pain of those already suffering so much. I was taught from childhood that silence gives consent. I want the White House to know this: I and the members of the Congressional Black Caucus will not be silent, and we will not be silenced.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago, I stood on the east steps of this ornate building, and I now rise in the hall of this august body to call for action on an issue that has languished for far too long. Specifically, Congress needs to pass commonsense reform of our laws regarding firearms. I applaud our concerns for broader background checks, but broader background checks must be as effective as they are efficient. It is true that our current technology allows us to be efficient enough for background checks to be completed within 3 days, and over 90 percent of them are. But what happens to that less than 10 percent? And why aren't they completed within that timeframe? Well, Mr. Speaker, we do not have a perfect world. Our public servants are not perfect and the consuming public is not either. Public servants occasionally make mistakes, and some consumers intentionally make misrepresentations. No matter how good our technology is, sometimes the process requires more than 3 days to ferret out dishonest and ill-intended purchases. We need to close the gaping loopholes in our gun laws. We need to close the internet sale/gun show loophole that allows gun purchases to evade restrictions in place when purchasing a weapon through a licensed dealer. We need to close the loophole that allows individuals on the terrorist watch list to purchase firearms. We need to close the loophole that allows domestic abusers to purchase guns. We need to close loopholes that allow semiautomatic weapons to be effectively turned into illegal automatic weapons. The so-called bump stocks that allow the retrofitting of semiautomatic firearms to make them fully automatic should not be legal. The Las Vegas shooter had several of these devices that enabled the firing of hundreds of rounds per minute. The purchasing of fully automatic weapons has been significantly restricted in this country since the 1930s, because weapons of war should have no place in our civil society. Give us a vote to close this loophole. We need to close the Charleston loophole that allows purchases of firearms without the completion of a background check. My Background Check Completion Act will do just that and prevent another tragedy like the Emanuel AME Church shooting that took the lives of nine worshippers more than 2 years ago. Give us a vote to close this loophole. Mr. Speaker, Congress needs to pass commonsense reforms of our laws regarding firearms. Give us a vote.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ronnie Gathers who recently announced his intention to retire as Director of Prince Georges County (Maryland) Parks and Recreation Department after thirty years of outstanding service. A native of my hometown of Sumter County, South Carolina, Ronnie Gathers graduated from my alma mater South Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Recreation. In addition to serving as Director with great distinction, he also developed and provided oversight of Prince Georges County Parks and Recreation Foundation. Mr. Ronnie Gathers has provided tremendous leadership in direct operations for fourteen divisions comprised of Park Police, Park Planning, Capital Development, Management Services, Special Projects, Information Technology, Northern, Central and Southern Area Recreational Services and Maintenance, Special Needs Programs, Arts, Cultural Heritage, Natural and Historical Resource Management, Sports Management and Trades Maintenance Division. He has worked collaboratively with communities and elected officials to establish policy, provide public safety, acquire land, plan programs, develop facilities, amenities and deliver quality services. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Gathers has done our shared home town and alma mater proud, and I ask that you and my colleagues join me in wishing him Godspeed on the occasion of his retirement.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Christopher Williamson, a dedicated individual who devotes his life to protecting and defending the communities of South Carolina. Mr. Williamson has recently been appointed as the South Carolina Highway Patrol's first African American commander. From the time he joined in 1988, Williamson has led a rewarding career within the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Williamson is a native of Darlington, South Carolina and was born into a family whose values were founded on hard work, personal integrity and community service. He graduated from Fayetteville State University in 1985 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a minor in Police Science. Soon after college, Williamson began his career within the law enforcement realm as a Correctional Officer with the South Carolina Department of Corrections. In 1986, Williamson accepted a position with the Darlington County Sheriff's Department as a Deputy and within two years, he joined the South Carolina Highway Patrol. His service on the Highway Patrol showed his great dedication, leadership, and dedication. He rose through the leadership ranks by eventually becoming Lieutenant Colonel in 2011 and last month, he was appointed the Commander of the South Carolina Highway patrol. As Commander, he is responsible for overseeing all Patrol operations statewide. Mr. Williamson's service to his community is not limited to his position as Commander. In 2014 he received a master's degree in Clinical and Behavioral Counseling. He has served as a Youth Advocate Counselor in Berkley County, a Camp Counselor, and even founded his own non-profit organization that provides mentoring and life skill services for youth. He works hard to prepare youth within his county to become productive members of society. He is a fellow member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and he represents our fraternity by providing service to the world around him. Mr. Williamson's career has taken him across the state of South Carolina and he has touched many lives. His humble upbringing and genuine qualities have enabled him to effectively serve his community. Throughout his career, he was actively involved in community service and has received numerous honors and awards for these efforts. He has made history by being appointed to this position and I am proud to call him a fraternity brother and personal friend. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in recognizing this barrier-breaking public servant, and to wish him Godspeed and continued success. Col. Christopher Williamson is a pioneer and an innovator in the law-enforcement arena and has earned the respect of the great state of South Carolina.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great South Carolinian and personal friend, Dr. Leo Twiggs. Dr. Twiggs hails from St. Stephen, South Carolina, and currently lives in Orangeburg. His artwork has won him fame and recognition across the state and around the world. Recently, he received the Order of the Palmetto, the state's highest civilian honor at a ceremony held at the Statehouse in Columbia. During that ceremony, he also received the highest honor the state presents in the arts--a Lifetime Achievement Award from the South Carolina Arts Commission at the 2017 Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Awards for the Arts. In 1980, Dr. Twiggs was the first visual artist ever to receive the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Award. Dr. Twiggs' powerful artwork employs batik, an ancient Indonesian technique of manual wax-resistant dyeing applied to whole cloth. He recently spent several weeks manually dyeing and dipping fabric pieces to achieve a texturally rich and deep-toned series titled, ``Requiem for Mother Emanuel,'' to honor the victims of the Charleston massacre of June 17, 2015. His new series of paintings is titled, ``The Nine,'' and focuses on the individual Charleston church. shooting victims themselves. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Twiggs has spoken of the ``powerful kind of catharsis'' of his work, and his fondness for batik includes how the art form draws an individual into a piece. His unique paintings have received international acclaim. Several paintings have been displayed in U.S. embassies in Rome, Senegal, Sierra Leone and elsewhere; and his works have appeared in numerous textbooks, other publications and documentaries. He has designed official White House Christmas ornaments for former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Dr. Twiggs is particularly proud that the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. has accepted two of his paintings for display. Dr. Twiggs has served on many important boards and commissions, including the South Carolina State Museum, the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities, and the South Carolina Hall of Fame. His tenure in the latter capacity saw the induction of late Judge Matthew Perry, a personal hero of mine, former Governor Richard Riley, longtime former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, and Ernest A. Finney, the first African American elected to the state Supreme Court since Reconstruction who later became the first African American Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court. Dr. Twiggs also influenced the induction of two pioneering African American women Septima Clark, another personal hero from my younger days and Marian Wright Edelman, a woman whose work I have long admired. Dr. Twiggs was the first African American to earn a Doctorate of Art Education from the University of Georgia. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Claflin University and received his Masters of Arts from New York University. He found the Art Department at South Carolina State University, my alma mater, and is credited with developing the I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium on campus. He was named Professor Emeritus in 2000. The Georgia Museum of Art organized a retrospective of his works that toured the southeast from 2004 to 2006: His lovely wife Rosa hails from my hometown of Sumter, South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I call to your attention and to the attention of the Members of the 115th Congress, the accomplishments of this outstanding South Carolinian, Dr. Leo Twiggs.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor New Light Beulah Baptist Church of Hopkins, South Carolina, on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. Many members of the congregation have traveled here to Washington, D.C., from South Carolina to observe this tribute, and have joined us here in the gallery. New Light Beulah Baptist Church grew out of Beulah Baptist Church, which was a place of worship for Whites and African Americans. In December of 1867, several years after the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation, many newly freed slaves began exercising their new-found freedoms by taking control of their own affairs. Consequently, the 565 African-American members of the congregation began worshipping on alternating Sundays from the 11 White members of Beulah Baptist Church. In 1870, after the dispersal of the White congregation, the African- American members of Beulah Baptist Church further asserted their independence by renaming the church New Light Beulah Baptist Church. After a number of disputes over the church's land, the congregation decided to build a brush arbor on the land of Deacon Pharaoh Smith, a revered leader within the church. Over the following years, this humble brush arbor evolved into the thriving spiritual center that New Light Beulah Baptist Church has become today. New Light Beulah Baptist Church embodies the resilience and service of the African-American community. Forged from adversity, this congregation has stood strong throughout tumultuous times, both externally and internally. Their strength comes not from the brick and mortar within which they worship, but from God's good graces and the steadfast individuals who have labored in this historic church. The church has been a leader in Hopkins, South Carolina, a small rural community southeast of Columbia, the State's capital. Through various community-oriented initiatives, such as their child development program, Meals on Wheels, the Neighboring Christian Athletic Association, and the Educational Society, the congregation has positively impacted the entire community. Next month, New Light Beulah Baptist Church will become the first African-American church in the Hopkins community to be registered as a historic place by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. I congratulate them on this special recognition. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to represent this fine congregation in this august body. I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating New Light Beulah Baptist Church on their 150th anniversary and wishing them continued prosperity in the days ahead.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, as a student and former teacher of history, I have worked during my tenure in Congress to preserve and protect our Nation's historic treasures. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, commonly called HBCUs, are some of the most important historic educational institutions in our country. There are over 100 HBCUs in the country, and eight of them are in South Carolina. I proudly represent seven of them and I am a graduate of one. Many of them have buildings and sites on their campuses that have existed for over a century and are of great historical significance. Unfortunately, many of the historic buildings and sites on these campuses have deteriorated over the years and are at risk of being lost if not preserved and protected. In 1998, at the behest of the Congressional Black Caucus, the United States Government Accountability Office, the GAO, surveyed 103 HBCU campuses to identify the historically significant sites on these campuses and project the cost of restoring and preserving these properties. The GAO identified 712 historic buildings and sites, and projected a cost of $755 million to restore and preserve them. Each of these sites has national significance to American history, and I believe we have an obligation to be stewards of these historic treasures. In 2003, working with our former colleague Jim Hansen of Utah and our current colleague and my dear friend Jimmy Duncan of Tennessee, Congress expanded the program and authorized expenditures of $10 million annually for 5 years. I have seen the results firsthand. Last year, Allen University rededicated the historic Chappelle Auditorium on its campus in Columbia, South Carolina, which was painstakingly restored thanks to funding from this program. Originally built in 1925, this building was central to the cultural life of African Americans in South Carolina for generations. In 1947, Reverend Joseph A. DeLaine attended an NAACP event at Chappelle Auditorium that inspired him to organize Black families in Clarendon County to petition their school district to provide buses for Black students who, at the time, were forced to make a daily walk of 9.4 miles to school. That was 9.4 miles to school and 9.4 miles back home. The legal case that grew from this petition, Briggs v. Elliott, precipitated the frontal attack on segregation in the country and was later combined with four other cases that became Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, at the Supreme Court. Overturning the separate-but-equal fallacy, Brown ended legal segregation throughout America. This is just a singular example of the history living on HBCU campuses. Because of our past efforts, historic buildings and sites at 59 HBCUs in 20 States have received funding from this program. However, many historic structures are still endangered. Consequently, in the omnibus appropriations bill for 2017, which passed earlier this year, Congress included $4 million for HBCU Historic Preservation so that we could continue this progress. Last year, the House passed this bill unanimously, but it was not taken up by the Senate. I thank Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Grijalva for supporting it again today. This bill is supported by the United Negro College Fund, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The HBCU Historic Preservation program serves as an essential purpose to HBCUs, which have a special place in the fabric of American history, culture, and education. Countless individuals have worked tirelessly to cultivate HBCUs, and their legacy is seen in graduates whose achievements adorn the pages of American history. From Booker T. Washington, to Mary McLeod Bethune, W.E.B. DuBois, to Martin Luther King, Jr., HBCU visionaries and graduates have set powerful examples of leadership. The legacy of HBCUs is one of significant courage and steadfast determination. The structures on these campuses across the country are living testaments to African-American history, and they deserve to be stabilized and restored. HBCUs are among America's national treasures that must be preserved and protected for future generations. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this needed legislation.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege, as dean of the South Carolina delegation, to introduce to this Chamber Representative Ralph Norman. Mr. Norman is from Rock Hill in York County, South Carolina. He is a real estate developer, a graduate of Presbyterian College, and previously served in the South Carolina Legislature. He and his wife, Elaine Rice Norman, have four children: Warren III, Caroline, Anne, and Mary Catherine. Last Tuesday, June 20, Mr. Norman won the special election in South Carolina's Fifth District to fill the vacancy created when former Congressman Mick Mulvaney became Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Now it is my pleasure to yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), representing the Second Congressional District, for further introduction.

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from South Carolina, the Honorable Ralph Norman, be permitted to take the oath of office today. His certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. I thank my friend, Mr. Neal, for yielding and for his support of this bill. It is very important to the States of South Carolina and Georgia. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1551 will make two critical modifications to the nuclear production tax credit program. This bill will allow government- owned electric utilities and nonprofit electric cooperatives to utilize the credit, which current law restricts to for-profit utilities only. It will also remove the placed-in-service deadline for facilities to be completed. Since the tax credit's original passage in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, four new advanced nuclear plants, the V.C. Summer site in South Carolina, and the Vogtle site in Georgia, have been licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and are under construction. Both projects are partly owned by State or municipal-owned utilities or nonprofit electric cooperatives. These public power entities, which have taken the first steps in constructing new advanced nuclear facilities, should not be penalized, but should, instead, be treated similarly to the for-profit utilities for the purpose of these tax incentives. The construction that is currently underway in South Carolina and Georgia employ over 12,000 skilled workers and represent billions of dollars of investment. When complete, they will be the largest addition of carbon-free energy in either State and will replace older fossil fuel-emitting plants. Recently, the contractor building both the South Carolina and Georgia facilities has entered into bankruptcy proceedings, raising the possibility of further delays in the completion of these projects. It is critical that the placed-in-service deadline be extended so that these projects, the first new advanced nuclear construction projects in this country in over 30 years, may be completed. While Russia, China, and other countries around the world are investing in nuclear energy, we cannot afford to walk away from these important sources of clean energy for future generations. The modifications in this bill do not expand the tax credit and, as such, have little additional cost to the taxpayer. I want to thank my colleagues, Tom Rice and Earl Blumenauer, for sponsoring this legislation; and Chairman Kevin Brady and Ranking Member Richard Neal for the support they have given to it.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican's pay-more-for-less healthcare plan. I often repeat the 1966 observation of Martin Luther King, Jr., that, of all the inequalities that exist, the injustice in health care is the most egregious and inhumane. On the day it was passed, I observed that the Affordable Care Act is the Civil Rights Act of the 21st century. Repealing the Affordable Care Act would be inhumane and put egregious forms of discrimination back into our healthcare delivery system. My Republican colleagues and President Trump have promised more coverage and less cost for everyone. However, this plan would allow all States to eliminate essential health benefits, such as maternity and newborn coverage, prescription drugs, hospitalization, emergency coverage, and mental health services. It would also allow States to tax older Americans five times more than younger Americans. Republicans are reneging on their promise to protect Americans with preexisting conditions. Without essential health benefits standards, protections for those with preexisting conditions will exist in name only. Repeal of the essential health benefits would drive a race to the bottom, with insurers dropping coverage for everything from chemotherapy to high-cost drugs. It would precipitate a proliferation of junk policies that have historically plagued unsuspecting low-income communities for years. People with preexisting conditions who need these and other costly services would not be able to find the coverage they need at any price, much less an affordable one. We took a giant step away from this with the ACA, but this Republican bill takes us back to that era where people with preexisting conditions are left in the cold. Adding money to a State slush fund is not a solution. Repealing the ACA would, once again, institutionalize inhumanity and egregiousness.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good friend, former Congressman Earl Hilliard, who will celebrate his 75th birthday this weekend, at a gathering of his family and friends in Birmingham, Alabama. While a Member of this body, Earl and I worked very closely together, preserving the integrity of historically black colleges and universities and supporting the preservation and restoration of historic sites and buildings. At his weekend gathering they will establish a scholarship in his honor in order to help more rural Alabama young men and women have opportunities to further their education. I want to congratulate my friend for reaching this milestone in his life, a place I got to more than a year ago, and wish him a happy birthday and further success in establishing more benefits for young men and women throughout Alabama. Family: Former Congressman Earl Frederick Hilliard was born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 9, 1942 to Iola Frazier and William Hilliard. In 1967, Earl Hilliard married Mary Franklin. Both were the first person on both sides of their families to attend and graduate from college. They have two children: Alesia Hilliard-Smith (R. J. Smith) and Earl Hilliard, Jr. (Janine Hunt-Hilliard) and four grandchildren: Roderick Smith, Jr., Reginald Smith, Earl Hilliard, III and Nya Hilliard. In June 2016, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Education: Earl graduated from Western-Olin High School in 1960. Because of his experiences growing up in segregated Birmingham, he chose to attend historically black colleges and universities. He received a B.A. from Morehouse College in 1964, a J.D. from Howard University School of Law in 1967, and an M.B.A. in 1970 from Atlanta University (now Clark-Atlanta University) School of Business. He was awarded an Honorary Degree--Doctor of Humane Letters--in 2000 from Talladega College. Civil Rights/Black History: While a student at Morehouse College, in Atlanta, Georgia, Hilliard met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The meeting had a powerful effect on him, and he became ``one of King's foot soldiers in the war for racial equality. He worked with voter- registration drives and participated in many protest marches. He continued his work when he was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives where he chaired the first Alabama Black Legislative Caucus. Political Career: In 1974, Earl F. Hilliard was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives where he chaired the Alabama Black Legislative Caucus. In 1980, he was elected to the Alabama State Senate and chaired the Alabama State Judiciary, Commerce, Transportation and Utility Committees. His Senate career focused on helping the urban poor, who constituted the bulk of his Birmingham-area constituents. He earned a reputation as a hard-fighting, tactical legislator. In 1992, Hilliard won a seat in the U.S. Congress, becoming the first black Representative from Alabama since Jeremiah Haralson left office after Reconstruction. ``We have not had a voice in 117 years,'' Hilliard declared upon his first election. ``I will be able to articulate the views and opinions of a group that hasn't had representation in a very long time. His district included three major cities--Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham--all of which were battlegrounds at the heart of the 1960s civil rights movement. Hilliard's initial focus in Congress was creating economic opportunity for his constituents. He supported legislation that would help Alabama's urban poor. He called for a Southern Rural Development Commission, modeled after the Appalachian Regional Commission to assist economic development in rural communities in ten southern states. Congressman Hilliard reestablished Gees Bend Ferry. He attempted to protect and expand the Alabama military installations used by the U.S. Army and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He worked to protect a Tuscaloosa-area airport that was difficult to sustain because of the region's sparse population. ``Tuscaloosa and the surrounding communities would suffer terribly without local air service, and this travel option will become increasingly important as industrial development continues in the area,'' he wrote to a colleague. Due in large part to Congressman Hilliard's lobbying, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees diverted limited funding to Tuscaloosa in the Essential Air Service legislation. He successfully pushed funding to support Alabama's historically black colleges and universities and provided scholarship money for minority students. Hilliard was also crucial in convincing a Korean-based car manufacturer to open a plant outside Montgomery. While in Congress, he served on the Agriculture, Small Business, International Relations and Foreign Affairs Committees. An active member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Hilliard was elected vice chairman of the organization for the 105th Congress (1997 through 1999). Academic Career: Earl F. Hilliard began his career as a teacher at Miles College (1967 through 1968) and later was an assistant to the president of Alabama State University (1968 through 1970). While in Congress, he didn't forget what he'd learned and the importance of procuring funding to support Alabama's historically black colleges and universities and to provide scholarship money for minority students. Over the years, he has helped countless relatives, friends, and constituents achieve their educational goals by providing financial support to students who desired to pursue advanced degrees, but were financially unable to do so. He has mentored an innumerable amount of people, from high school and college students to seasoned professionals. Awards/Honors: In 1974, Earl F. Hilliard received Omega Psi Phi's Businessman of the Year Award and he was given Delta Sigma Theta's Distinguished Service and Achievement Award in 1975. He was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award, in 2010, from Morehouse College National Alumni Association. In 2011, Earl F. Hilliard received an Outstanding Alumnus Award from National Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund and in 2015, he was one of the recipients of an Alabama Majesty Award from Miles College. Community Involvement and Associations: Earl Hilliard holds Life Memberships in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He also holds or has held memberships in the National Bar Association, the Alabama State Bar Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Alabama Lawyers Association, the Morehouse College Alumni Association, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Morehouse Athletic Foundation, Inc., of which he was one of the incorporators. He has served as Trustee of both Miles College Law School and Tuskegee University. He currently serves as a Deacon, Elder and a Sunday school teacher for the Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of North Pratt and previously served as Chairman of both the Deacon and Trustee Boards.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with friends and family of our former colleague and my personal friend, Earl F. Hilliard, who this weekend will be celebrating his 75th birthday. While a Member of this body, Earl and I worked very closely together preserving the integrity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and supporting the preservation and restoration of historic sites and buildings. This weekend, a gathering will establish a scholarship in his honor in order for more rural Alabama young men and women to have opportunities to further their education. I want to congratulate my friend for reaching this milestone in his life--a place I got to last year this time--and wish him a happy birthday and further success in establishing benefits for young men and women throughout Alabama.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the University of South Carolina Gamecocks basketball team. It was the thrill of a lifetime to attend the NCAA women's basketball national championship game last Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Gamecocks have electrified Columbia and the entire state of South Carolina, and we are all incredibly proud of what these coaches and players have achieved. For Head Coach Dawn Staley, winning the national championship is the latest in a string of achievements that she has accumulated in her lifetime and in South Carolina over the last nine seasons. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks have made the NCAA Tournament six years in a row and went to the final four in 2015. This year, they finally got over the hump and are national champions. Her coaching staff, Lisa Boyer, Nikki McCray-Penson, Fred Chmiel, Melanie Balcomb, Cynthia Jordan, Freddy Ready, Ariana Moore, Hudson Jacobs, Marcella Shorty, and Katie Fowler have done an impressive job, and I congratulate each of them. The team Coach Staley has built is an incredible group of young women from South Carolina and around the country. A'ja Wilson, a Junior from Hopkins, South Carolina, won the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four award and was named to the All-SEC First Team this season. Wilson was joined on the All-SEC First Team by Senior Alaina Coates from Irmo, South Carolina. Unfortunately, Coates missed the NCAA tournament with an ankle injury and has concluded a fantastic career with the Gamecocks. In addition to making All-SEC First team this year, she did so last season as well, and was All-SEC Second team in her first two years in the program. We wish her a speedy recovery and hope that she has as much success in the future as she has had with the Gamecocks. The full roster of this championship team includes: Victoria Patrick, Bianca Cuevas-Moore, Kaela Davis, Doniyah Cliney, Allisha Gray, Araion Bradshaw, Tiffany Davis, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, A'ja Wilson, Alexis Jennings, Alaina Coates, and Tyasha Harris. The Gamecocks finished 2017 with a 33-4 record and won their third consecutive Southeastern Conference Championship en route to this national championship. The Gamecocks have developed an incredible fan base. They have led the nation in attendance for women's basketball over the last several years. In addition to their success on the court, these coaches and players are role models off the court. I especially want to acknowledge Assistant Coach Nikki McCray-Penson. Diagnosed with cancer three years ago, she has been a real inspiration to many. Throughout her treatment she remained totally committed to the team, and never missed a day of work. Thankfully, she is now cancer free. I also wish to congratulate the Gamecocks Men's team. After winning their first NCAA tournament game in 43 years they reached the final four for the first time in their program's history. Having both men and women from the same school reach the Final Four is pretty uncommon. Coach Frank Martin and his assistants and staff consisting of: Matt Figger, Perry Clark, Bruce Shingler, Andy Assaley, Scott Greenawalt, Doug Edwards, Mark Rodger, Jay Gibbons, Dushawn Davis, Jarett Gerald, Brian Steele, and Ryan McIntyre recruited and molded an incredible group of young men including TeMarcus Blanton, Tommy Corchiani, PJ Dozier, Rakym Felder, Hassani Gravett, Khadim Gueye, Evan Hinson, Kory Holden, Jarrell Holliman, Sedee Keita, Maik Kotsar, Justin McKie, Duane Notice, John Ragin, Christian Schmitt, Chris Silva, Sindarius Thornwell, and Ran Tut. Although they came up five points short of a victory in the semi-championship game they proved themselves a team of champions. Mr. Speaker, although representing the University of South Carolina in this august body is a singular honor for me, I feel certain that the 2017 NCAA Final Four appearances by these young men and women are the beginnings of many more to come. Coach Frank Martin and Coach Dawn Staley are truly a dynamic duo.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the University of South Carolina Gamecocks basketball team. It was the thrill of a lifetime to attend the NCAA women's basketball national championship game last Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Gamecocks have electrified Columbia and the entire State of South Carolina. We are all incredibly proud of what these coaches and players have achieved. For head coach Dawn Staley, winning the national championship is the latest in a string of achievements that she has accumulated in her lifetime and in South Carolina over the last 9 years. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks have made the NCAA tournament 6 years in a row and went on to the Final Four in 2015. This year, they finally got over the hump and are national champions. Her coaching staff have done an impressive job, and I congratulate each of them. The team Coach Staley has built is an incredible group of young women from South Carolina and around the country. A'ja Wilson, a junior from Hopkins, South Carolina, won the Most Outstanding Player Award of the Final Four and was named to the All-SEC first team this season. Wilson was joined on the All-SEC first team by senior Alaina Coates from Irmo, South Carolina. Unfortunately, Coates missed the NCAA tournament with an ankle injury and has concluded a fantastic career with the Gamecocks. In addition to making the All-SEC first team this year, she did so last year as well and was All-SEC second team her first 2 years in the program. We wish her a speedy recovery and hope that she has as much success in the future as she has had with the Gamecocks. The Gamecocks finished 2017 with a 33-4 record and won their third consecutive Southeastern Conference Championship en route to this national championship. The Gamecocks have developed an incredible fan base. They have led the Nation in attendance for women's basketball over the last several years. In addition to their success on the court, these coaches and players are role models off the court. I especially want to acknowledge assistant coach Nikki McCray-Penson. Diagnosed with cancer 3 years ago, she has been a real inspiration to many. Throughout her treatment, she remained totally committed to the team and never missed a day of work. Thankfully, she is now cancer free. I also want to congratulate the Gamecocks men's team. After winning their first NCAA tournament game in 43 years, they reached the Final Four for the first time in their program's history. Having both men and women from the same school reach the Final Four is pretty uncommon. Coach Frank Martin and his assistants are building a tremendous program. Although they came up five points short of a victory in the semi-championship game, they proved themselves a team of champions. Mr. Speaker, although representing the University of South Carolina in this august body is a singular honor for me, I feel certain that these 2017 NCAA Final Four appearances by these young men and women are the beginnings of many more to come. Coach Frank Martin and Coach Dawn Staley are truly a dynamic duo. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the University of South Carolina Gamecocks basketball team. It was the thrill of a lifetime to attend the NCAA women's basketball national championship game last Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Gamecocks have electrified Columbia and the entire state of South Carolina, and we are all incredibly proud of what these coaches and players have achieved. For Head Coach Dawn Staley, winning the national championship is the latest in a string of achievements that she has accumulated in her lifetime and in South Carolina over the last nine seasons. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks have made the NCAA Tournament six years in a row and went to the final four in 2015. This year, they finally got over the hump and are national champions. Her coaching staff, Lisa Boyer, Nikki McCray-Penson, Fred Chmiel, Melanie Balcomb, Cynthia Jordan, Freddy Ready, Ariana Moore, Hudson Jacobs, Marcella Shorty, Katie Fowler have done an impressive job, and I congratulate each of them. The team Coach Staley has built is an incredible group of young women from South Carolina and around the country. A'ja Wilson, a Junior from Hopkins, South Carolina, won the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four award and was named to the All-SEC First Team this season. Wilson was joined on the All-SEC First Team by Senior Alaina Coates from Irmo, South Carolina. Unfortunately Coates missed the NCAA tournament with an ankle injury and has concluded a fantastic career with the Gamecocks. In addition to making All-SEC First team this year, she did so last season as well, and was All-SEC Second team in her first two years in the program. We wish her a speedy recovery and hope that she has as much success in the future as she has had with the Gamecocks. The full roster of this championship team includes Victoria Patrick, Bianca Cuevas-Moore, Kaela Davis, Doniyah Cliney, Allisha Gray, Araion Bradshaw, Tiffany Davis, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, A'ja Wilson, Alexis Jennings, Alaina Coates, and Tyasha Harris. The Gamecocks finished 2017 with a 33-4 record and won their third consecutive Southeastern Conference Championship en route to this national championship. The Gamecocks have developed an incredible fan base. They have led the nation in attendance for women's basketball over the last several years. In addition to their success on the court, these coaches and players are role models off the court. I especially want to acknowledge Assistant Coach Nikki McCray-Penson. Diagnosed with cancer three years ago, she has been a real inspiration to many. Throughout her treatment she remained totally committed to the team, and never missed a day of work. Thankfully, she is now cancer free. I also wish to congratulate the Gamecocks Men's team. After winning their first NCAA tournament game in 43 years they reached the final four for the first time in their programs history. Having both men and women from the same school reach the final four is pretty uncommon. Coach Frank Martin, his assistants and staff consisting, of Matt Figger, Perry Clark, Bruce Shingler, Andy Assaley, Scott Greenawalt, Doug Edwards, Mark Rodger, Jay Gibbons, Dushawn Davis, Jarett Gerald, Brian Steele, Ryan McIntyre recruited and molded an incredible group of young men including TeMarcus Blanton, Tommy Corchiani, PJ Dozier, Rakym Felder, Hassani Gravett, Khadim Gueye, Evan Hinson, Kory Holden, Jarrell Holliman, Sedee Keita, Maik Kotsar, Justin McKie, Duane Notice, John Ragin, Christian Schmitt, Chris Silva, Sindarius Thornwell, Ran Tut are building a tremendous program. Although they came up five points short of a victory in the semi- championship game they proved themselves a team of champions. Mr. Speaker, although representing the University of South Carolina in this august body is a singular honor for me, I feel certain that these 2017 NCAA Final Four appearances by these young men and women are the beginnings of many more to come. Coach Frank Martin and Coach Dawn Staley are truly a dynamic duo.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a patriotic American, outstanding South Carolina, and very special friend and constituent, Dr. Luns C. Richardson. He is retiring after 43 years as President of Morris College in my hometown of Sumter, South Carolina, the alma mater of both my parent. Dr. Luns C. Richardson is the longest serving college president in South Carolina and the ninth president of Morris College. He is a native of Hartsville, where he graduated from Butler High School in 1945 as Class Valedictorian. He received the A.B. degree (magna cum laude) from Benedict College and the M.A. degree in higher education administration at Teachers College, Columbia University. He pursued additional studies at my alma mater, South Carolina State University, Rutgers University and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Dr. Richardson held several significant positions in secondary, vocational and higher education before becoming President of Morris College in 1974. He served fifteen years at Denmark Technical College (then known as South Carolina Area Trade School) as Dean of Men, Chaplain and teacher, two years as the principal of St. Helena High School, Frogmore, South Carolina, and one year as the principal of Wilson High School, in Florence, South Carolina. He also served six years at Benedict College, the last sixteen months as Acting President. Prior to his assuming the presidency of Morris College, he was the Executive Vice President at Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina. He served as pastor of Thankful Baptist Church in Bamberg, South Carolina for 56 years, 1958 until 2014. My family's relationship with Morris College is very personal. My mother graduated from Morris College in 1953 when I was 12 years old. My father studied theology at Morris in the early 1940s for three years but was not allowed to finish his studies because he had not graduated from high school. Having been bom in 1897 in segregated South Carolina, my father was never allowed to advance beyond the seventh grade. Though he was not allowed to graduate in 1945 as he should have, thanks to Dr. Richardson and the Board of Trustees, he was posthumously awarded his Bachelor of Theology Degree 58 years later in 2003, a most proud moment for my family and for me. Under Dr. Richardson's leadership, numerous developments have taken place at Morris College: the liquidation of a half-million indebtedness, the construction of 17 new buildings, an increase in library holdings to more than 132,000 volumes, faculty upgrading to 72 percent earned doctorates, curriculum expansion including at least 16 new majors and an Army ROTC unit. The endowment has grown from $30,000 to more than $12 million. He also led Morris College in its initial accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in 1978 and to membership in the United Negro College Fund in 1982. Dr. Richardson has received more than 100 honors and awards, locally, statewide, regionally, and nationally from Greek letter organizations, churches, conventions, schools, colleges, civic organizations, states and cities. Benedict College and Teachers College, Columbia University, have named him outstanding alumnus. Morris College, Benedict College, and Coker College have conferred on him honorary doctorate degrees, as well as Simmons Bible College in Louisville, Kentucky. As a leader in the community and throughout South Carolina, he has served on many Boards and Commissions to include the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Board. Mr. Speaker, the full list of Dr. Richardson's accomplishments could fill volumes in the Congressional Record. It suffices to say, Dr. Luns C. Richardson is a giant of a man whose impact on the countless lives he touched, the City of Sumter, the state of South Carolina and indeed the entire nation will be felt throughout the ages.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings) for conducting this Special Order this evening. I appreciate it. Yes, I am a graduate of South Carolina State University, but I also represent the University of South Carolina here in this body. And I just want to note that--with all that is going on around us, I want to say congratulations to the men of the University of South Carolina's basketball team for getting into the Final Four, and I am looking forward to, a few moments from now, watching the women do the same. I met, along with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, last week with President Trump, and we had an opportunity to share with him some of the fears that we have of his budget and what it would do to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. As both the gentleman and gentlewoman have mentioned, I represent seven of these institutions. I said to the President that there is something that most people miss about the value of these colleges and universities; and I shared with him a little experience I had last December. While kicking off the annual Christmas festivities, I was having a conversation with a very good friend, who I have known for a long time, who is an outstanding cardiologist, recently retired from Charlotte, North Carolina, and we were talking about all the discussions that were taking place during last year's campaign about HBCUs. Of course, I said to him that I thought that there was significant misunderstanding about the value of these institutions. In fact, I wrote an op-ed piece a few days ago, published in the Charleston, South Carolina newspapers. I talked about a State official, an elected official in my State who made the comment that those students who went to South Carolina State, like yours truly, did so because they were not qualified to go anywhere else. Well, this gentleman, David Dowdy--I hope he doesn't mind me calling his name--David Dowdy said to me, as we talked: You know, when I left that little, rural, underfunded high school in Eastover, North Carolina, and got up to North Carolina A&T, I had to take remedial everything--simply because he went to an underfunded rural school. In South Carolina, of course, these schools have been underfunded for generations, and the State has been fighting a lawsuit for some 24 years to keep from funding these schools properly and adequately. He said, when he got up to North Carolina A&T, he had to take these remedial courses, but he went on to become a very successful heart doctor. Now, I said to the President, after telling him this story: That is not an unusual case. All of us have heard of the astronaut, Ronald McNair. Ronald McNair is also a South Carolinian. He graduated from a little high school in Lake City, South Carolina, a town most people never heard of. Everybody talks about how successful he was as an astronaut, having lost his life in the accident, the Challenger. And when people refer to him, they always talk about him being a physicist from MIT. They never talk about the fact that, before he ever went to MIT for his master's degree, he went to North Carolina A&T for his bachelor's. It was there at North Carolina A&T where he was nurtured, and how he developed in those small classes, the remediation that he needed in order to unlock all that was within him. So I shared with the President, and he assured me that he had no intentions of cutting funding to these Historically Black Colleges and Universities. I applaud him for that, and I thank him for that. But I also said to him that I think it is important for us not to just maintain level funding but to make the kind of investments in these colleges and universities that are needed for them to get these young minds that have been disadvantaged, because of State action, and help turn them into productive citizens who will make significant contributions to our society. Now, I want to talk, just a moment though, about another part of the President's budget. You know, I served on three budget committees recently. In fact, I was on Vice President Joseph Biden's bipartisan group for deficit reduction. I also served on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction that everybody called the supercommittee. And then I served on the budget committees that negotiated the Budget Control Act of 2011, an enactment I am not all that proud of, because we put in this thing we now call sequestration, which has wreaked havoc on military installations and military spending, as well as discretionary programs of the government. Now, the hallmark of each successful budget agreement has been to increase defense spending by the same amount as spending for nondefense discretionary agencies. President Trump's proposed budget ignores this principle and would destroy many critical programs throughout all of the nondefense Federal agencies. In 2016, the bipartisan budget agreement added $25 billion in defense spending above the sequester levels. Importantly though, it paid for this increase with responsible revenue-raising provisions and also increased the nondefense side of the budget by $25 billion as well. For 2017, it is a similar story, where defense and nondefense are increased by $15 billion, both paid for responsibly. President Trump proposes to go far beyond these agreements, proposing for 2018, $54 billion in increased defense spending, and he pays for it by cutting the nondefense side of the budget by a corresponding $54 billion next year. Mr. Speaker, there is a responsible way to provide our military relief from sequestration. I support doing so, as do my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus. This is not the way to do it. Much of the proposed investments will go to draconian immigration enforcement and an ineffective border wall. The President even has the audacity to propose ignoring the budget agreement for 2017, that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama over 2 years ago. What exactly does proposing $54 billion below sequester level caps for the nondefense side of the budget mean? What effect would it have on our constituents? The President's budget decimates funding for critical infrastructure in low-income communities, I dare say, rural communities. For example, the President proposes to eliminate $500 million in funding for the rural water and wastewater program in the Department of Agriculture. In my congressional district alone, this agency has funded drinking water infrastructure in poor, rural communities like Turbeville, Bowman, and Brittons Neck, that had previously limited access to clean water. The President also proposes to eliminate the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER grants, which invest in road, rail, transit, and port projects on a competitive basis all around the country. In South Carolina, TIGER grants have funded the I-95/301 interchange in rural Santee, Main Street revitalization in Columbia, and upgrades at the Port of Charleston to the tune of more than $32 million. The resulting economic and community development have proved to be well worth the Federal investment. The President's proposal would also eliminate the Legal Services Corporation and LIHEAP. That is the program for low income home energy assistance that allows homes to be weatherized, and Meals on Wheels. This can only be seen as an attack on the poor and the elderly. These cuts would leave thousands of poor senior citizens unable to heat their homes in the winter and deny thousands more legal aid they need to seek relief from domestic violence and avoid homelessness by staying in their homes. The notion that Meals on Wheels doesn't produce results is totally ridiculous. In my district, Senior Resources in Columbia currently serves more than 500 seniors. Mr. Speaker, Federal funding accounts for 37 percent of their budget. Cutting those funds would callously kick 180 homebound seniors to the curb, forcing them to join the already 130 people who are on the waiting list. These are unconscionable cuts made with no regard for the most vulnerable in our society. The Congressional Black Caucus budget will take the opposite approach. By repealing sequestration, making the Tax Code fairer to increase the level of investment in critical programs, and targeting Federal funds to communities mired in persistent poverty through the 10-20-30 formula, the CBC's budget responsibly funds our military, while also lifting millions out of poverty. I want to close by thanking the gentleman from Virginia, Congressman Bobby Scott, my friend and classmate, for pulling that budget together, and doing so showing the kind of compassion that ought to exist in every public servant.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise as dean of the South Carolina congressional delegation to recognize and honor the South Carolina Washington Semester Program for 25 years of offering outstanding young people from South Carolina colleges and universities the opportunity to come to Washington, D.C. to learn and serve. Each office in the delegation has benefitted from involvement with these students, who work for us in internships during the business day and earn college credits at night. The program was founded to ensure that South Carolina congressional offices had access to talented South Carolina students. These students have proven to be some of the brightest and most engaged to ever serve in our offices over the past quarter century.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me and for the work she does with this Special Order. And I thank my friend from Texas (Mr. Veasey), for allowing me to participate. Mr. Speaker, thanks to the scholarship of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, and the perseverance of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, we continue to lift up the contributions of and achievements of Black Americans. The celebration of Black History Month has its roots in Black History Week, established back in 1926; and because of the urgings of Carter G. Woodson, the week was selected to be the second week of February in order to embrace the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Now, later, in fact, in 1969, students at Kent State University, after having experienced some turmoil on their campus back in 1968, as it took place on campuses in other places across the country--Jackson State in Mississippi, South Carolina State in South Carolina--students at Kent State decided, as a part of their redress, to expand the week to a month. So they, in 1970, celebrated what they called Black History Month. Now, 6 years later, President Gerald Ford signed legislation creating Black History Month. When he signed that legislation, he said it was to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History is entrusted with the celebration every year, and it falls upon them to select a theme for each year. This year they have selected the theme which I think is very timely, ``The Crisis in Black Education.'' Having started my professional career as a public school teacher, I totally embrace this particular topic for this year. Throughout our history, especially post-Civil War history, there has always been a focus on Black education. As we all know, slaves were not allowed to be educated, and, as a result, when the Civil War came to a close, there was this big push to get the former slaves educated. One of the leaders of that push was one of my heroes, Robert Smalls. Robert Smalls, though he was not allowed to be educated himself because he was born into slavery, used his God-given intellect to study the currents of the Charleston Harbor and to study the whistles that were used on the ship that he was working on as a slave. He decided that he could, at some point, find his way to freedom. Because he learned those currents so well, and because he became very proficient at studying the sounds of the whistles on the ships, one night, when the opportunity presented itself, he absconded The Planter that he was working on, navigated the waters out of the Charleston Harbor, picked up his wife and friends, and sailed them into freedom. And when he delivered that ship to the Union soldiers, he was rewarded with his freedom and a cash award. Robert Smalls, after the war, went back to Beaufort and, in 1867, founded a school to educate the newly freed slaves. He also participated as a delegate to the 1868 South Carolina Constitutional Convention, and in that Convention, he authored and got passed a resolution that created the first free public schools for all in America. He turned his wealth--or his financial reward into great wealth. And also, he became a very, I would say, successful politician. He served 10 years in the South Carolina Legislature and a total of 10 years here in this House of Representatives. While he was participating in politics, Robert Smalls authored a piece of legislation that created what is now South Carolina State University. Therein lies a part of my presentation I would like to concentrate on tonight. When South Carolina State University was created--I want to first get people to understand, there are more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the country. Now, there is a difference between--we commonly call them HBCUs. There is a difference between an HBCU and what we call an MSI, a Minority Serving Institution. All HBCUs are MSIs, but not all MSIs are HBCUs, simply because the definition means that you must have been in existence before 1964. We have had a lot of Minority Serving Institutions that have been created since 1964; to name just a few, Malcolm X College, Medgar Evers College. These are all Minority Serving Institutions. There are a lot of Hispanic Serving Institutions, but they are not necessarily HBCUs. The reason I point this out, because here in this Congress, in this body, currently, 19 members of the Congressional Black Caucus are graduates of HBCUs. Now, the reason I point this out is because I think it is necessary for us to understand the role that these colleges and universities play in our society. I often spend a lot of time with friends, many of whom are graduates of HBCUs, and I knew Astronaut Ronald McNair very well. I have a good friend, a cardiologist, recently retired, David Dowdy. I also have a friend, a California businesswoman who I interact with quite a bit, Janice Howroyd. All three of these people graduated from North Carolina A&T State University. I have talked a lot with another former Member, Carrie Meek, a former Member of Congress; her son, Kendrick Meek; former Congresswoman Corrine Brown; and the chairman of the board of Microsoft, John Thompson. All four of these individuals are graduates of Florida A&M University, an HBCU. These are people who have made significant and are making significant contributions in our thrust toward a more perfect union. I came before this body several times the week before last highlighting some of the HBCUs that are in my congressional district. Of the more than 100 in the country, 8 of them are in South Carolina. Seven are in my congressional district. I talked about six of them when I came before this body before. Tonight I want to close out my discussion of these HBCUs by talking about two of them, Claflin University and South Carolina State University, both located adjacent to each other in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Now, Claflin University was founded in 1869, by Methodist missionaries to provide education for newly freed slaves in order to prepare them for full citizenship. The university was named for William Claflin, then-Governor of Massachusetts, and his father, Lee Claflin, both prominent abolitionists and Methodists. They provided a large portion of the funds needed to purchase the land for the campus. Claflin is the oldest Historically Black College in South Carolina. In its beginning, it had a law school which was headed by former South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Jasper Wright, the first African American to serve on South Carolina's highest court. In 1948, under the leadership of its first alumnus to serve as president, Dr. John Seabrook, Claflin was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It has always featured a strong music program, and the Claflin University collegiate choir performed at the 1965 World's Fair in New York. Claflin graduate and Kingstree, South Carolina native, Dr. Henry Tisdale has served as the university's president since 1994. Under his leadership, Claflin has thrived and grown to new heights. He has built Claflin to an enrollment of almost 2,000 students and consistently seen it ranked in the top 10 nationally for HBCUs. In 1999, through funds from the HBCU Historic Preservation program by this body, the historic Ministers' Hall was restored. The auditorium at Ministers' Hall was named for former Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney, one of Claflin's most notable graduates. Finney graduated from South Carolina State's law school and would go on to serve on the South Carolina Supreme Court from 1985 through 2000, including 6 years as Chief Justice. Early in his career, Ernest Finney represented the Friendship 9, a group of Rock Hill students who were jailed in 1961 for a sit-in in McCrory's lunch counter. In 2015, Finney represented the surviving eight members of this group to see their convictions overturned--54 years after they were originally prosecuted. Claflin is still affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers multiple master's degrees, as well as a highly regarded honors program. For 148 years, Claflin has been a beacon of hope and a place of refuge for those who desired a quality education regardless of race and/or gender. Mr. Speaker, the final HBCU in this series is my alma mater, South Carolina State University. South Carolina State University has its roots in the Morrill Acts, the first of which was passed by Congress in 1862. The Morrill Act of 1862 created land grant colleges, a system of agriculture, science, and engineering and military science schools. One of the schools established under this law was Clemson University. But after Reconstruction ended, Southern States refused to admit African Americans to these institutions; consequently, Congress passed a second Morrill Act in 1890, which stipulated that Blacks must be included in the land grant system. Southern States had the choice to either admit Blacks to the 1862 institutions or create new land grant institutions which would be open to Blacks. In South Carolina, by the 1890s, White supremacists had gained total control over State government. Though the State was still majority African American, through illegal and violent intimidation, extreme voter suppression, and outright fraud, Benjamin Tillman was elected Governor in 1890. The Constitutional Convention of 1895 subsequently codified White supremacy and the disenfranchisement of African Americans into the State's system of governance. When the United States Supreme Court sanctioned segregation the following year in Plessy v. Ferguson, segregation was firmly the law of the land. This was the context for the founding, in 1896, of the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina, as South Carolina State was originally named. The State of South Carolina continued to resist but relented when land was acquired from Claflin University, and the campus of what is now known as South Carolina State University was born. It continues to be the only publicly supported HBCU in South Carolina. Now, I know, Mr. Speaker, that I have consumed a lot of time, and I don't want to take all of the time from my colleagues, so let me just close by saying this: South Carolina State's first president was a man named Thomas E. Miller who served as a Member of this body. Thomas Miller guided the school for several years. Notable graduates of this institution are folks like Dr. Benjamin Mays, the noted president of Morehouse College. South Carolina State has a reputation as producing more African- American general officers than any other school in this country. I entered South Carolina State in 1957, and, of course, I was there during the turbulent sixties. It was my great honor to help organize the first sit-in in South Carolina. You talk about grassroots. That took place on March 15, 1960. Now, I was jailed as a result of that sit-in, but it just so happens that sometimes good things can come out of jail. While I was there, a young lady came to bring food. I was so grateful for that hamburger she gave me, I married her 18 months later, and if all goes well, come June 24, she and I will celebrate our 56th wedding anniversary. Now, when all of these cases took place growing out of these demonstrations and sit-ins, one stands out which I will close with. I mentioned Kent State in 1968, Jackson State, and South Carolina State. A lot of people have heard of Kent State. Few people know about the deaths of three students and the injuries of 27 others in an incident called the Orangeburg massacre that took place in 1968, all over the integration of a bowling alley. Mr. Speaker, I am going to close my comments by thanking the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands for giving me this opportunity and the gentleman from Texas and thank them very much for highlighting Black History Month. Mr. Speaker, it is impossible for me to really share the real impact that schools like Claflin, South Carolina State, and the over 100 other HBCUs have had on our great country. But, as I conclude our observance of Black History Month, I salute all of them and thank them for the indelible mark that they have made on the fabric of our Nation.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as part of the observation of Black History Month, to continue my series of remarks recognizing HBCUs, Historically Black Colleges and Universities. I am asking my colleagues to join me in celebrating Clinton College, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Morris College, in my hometown of Sumter. Clinton College was founded in 1894 by the A.M.E. Zion Church, under the leadership of Presiding Elder Nero A. Crockett and Reverend W.M. Robinson to combat illiteracy of former slaves. The institution was named for Bishop Caleb Clinton, then the presiding bishop of the Palmetto Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church. Originally named Clinton Institute, in 1909, it was renamed Clinton Normal and Industrial Institute, and was authorized to grant State teaching certificates. In the late 1940s, the school was again reorganized as Clinton Junior College, offering various associate degrees in religion and other liberal arts. Still affiliated with the A.M.E. Zion Church, the college has grown and expanded under its current president, Dr. Elaine J. Copeland, who has led the institution since 2002. In 2013, the college, for the first time, was accredited to offer two bachelor's degree programs, a bachelor of arts in religious studies, and a bachelor of science in business administration. Subsequently, it has changed its name to Clinton College, and enrollment is at a 15-year high. For the past 120 years, Clinton College has been providing academic excellence, as well as instilling moral and spiritual growth into their students. The college takes pride in being, and I quote its motto, ``A Beacon of Light for Today's Scholars and Tomorrow's Leaders.'' I thank all of my colleagues for joining me in honoring Clinton College today. Morris College was established in my hometown of Sumter, South Carolina, by the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina in 1908, to provide religious and educational training to African Americans. Originally, the college featured elementary and high school education, as well as a college curriculum. Its college offered teaching certificates and degrees in liberal arts and theology. In the 1930s and 1940s, Morris dropped its elementary and high school programs and became solely a liberal arts and religious college. Morris' graduates include First Lieutenant Leroy Bowman, who was part of the original class of Tuskegee Airmen. These African-American pilots trained in a segregated complex near Tuskegee, Alabama, and the Walterboro Army Air Field in Colleton County, South Carolina. First Lieutenant Bowman served in World War II, flew 36 combat missions over Germany, and had a decorated service record. He was among 300 surviving Tuskegee Airmen honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 by President George W. Bush. My mother graduated from Morris College in 1953, when I was 12 years old. My father studied theology at Morris in the early 1940s for 3 years, but was not allowed to finish his studies because he had not graduated high school. Having been born in 1897, in segregated South Carolina, he was not allowed to advance beyond the seventh grade. But because he continued to self-teach and study, he was able to pass the college entrance exam. Though he was not allowed to graduate in 1945, as he should have, he was posthumously awarded his bachelor of theology degree 58 years later, in 2003. Having been led by Dr. Luns Richardson for the past 43 years, Morris College has grown to an enrollment over 1,000. Under President Richardson, Morris has established an Army ROTC unit, joined the United Negro College Fund, and has constructed 18 new campus buildings. Reverend Dr. Charles Jackson, president and chairman of Morris' board of trustees, recently announced that President Richardson will retire this summer, leaving Morris well-poised for the future. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Clinton and Morris Colleges in celebration of Black History Month.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to continue honoring HBCUs, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, for their significant contributions to our Nation's history. While only 3 percent of our Nation's higher education institutions are Historically Black, HBCUs produce 20 percent of the African- American college graduates. Today, I recognize and celebrate two of the seven HBCUs in my congressional district, Voorhees College and Denmark Technical College, both in Denmark, South Carolina. Voorhees College was founded as Denmark Industrial School in 1897 by Elizabeth Evelyn Wright when she was just 23 years old. Wright studied at Tuskegee Institute and was a devotee of Booker T. Washington. She had previously led efforts to start schools for African Americans in South Carolina, which were always met with arson and threats of violence. She persisted in her efforts to offer African Americans an opportunity for a better life and, with Voorhees, created an institution that would stand the test of time. Wright originally taught classes in an old store in Denmark, but, in 1902, New Jersey philanthropist Ralph Voorhees donated money to purchase land and construct a building for the school. A high school at first, Voorhees offered classes at this level for African Americans in the area. In 1924, the Episcopal Church partnered with Voorhees, and an affiliation with that church continues to this day. The college began to offer junior college degrees in 1947 and 4-year degrees in 1962. While originally founded on the principles of Booker T. Washington to teach job and trade skills to African Americans, Voorhees now proudly claims to offer a blend of Washington's philosophy and that of W. E. B. Du Bois, who believed a classical liberal arts education was vital to the development of African Americans. The college's recently retired president, Dr. Cleveland Sellers, is a Denmark native who graduated from Voorhees High School. Sellers went on to Howard University, where he became active with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, participating in its 1966 March against Fear. In 1968, after returning to South Carolina, Sellers was arrested and imprisoned for supposedly inciting the confrontation between students and police that became known as the Orangeburg massacre, when police opened fire on students, killing 3 and injuring 27. Voorhees' College's new president, Dr. W. Franklin Evans, previously served as interim president of my alma mater, South Carolina State. In that role, he successfully led South Carolina State out of a financial crisis. I sincerely believe that Voorhees College is well-positioned for the future with Dr. Evans at its helm. Denmark Technical College, whose campus is adjacent to Voorhees, was originally a branch of the South Carolina Trade School System. It was created in 1948 by the South Carolina General Assembly and mandated to provide trade skills to African Americans. During the ``separate but equal'' era, Denmark Tech was one of the few opportunities for trade school education offered to African Americans by the State. In the early 1960s, Governor Fritz Hollings and then-Senator John West led the effort to create the South Carolina Technical College System. In 1969, the existing trade school in Denmark was transferred into the system and the modern Denmark Technical College was created. Its total enrollment is approximately 2,000, 96 percent of whom are minority students. Denmark Tech continues to provide technical education and trade skills in its assigned region of Bamberg, Barnwell, and Allendale Counties. Voorhees College and Denmark Technical College, like their fellow HBCUs, have made an indelible impact on their communities, South Carolina, and the Nation. They have provided generations of African Americans educational opportunities, and I look forward to their continued success.