Wm. Clay

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. I continue to reserve, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. CLAY. I continue to reserve, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. CLAY. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank my friend, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), for bringing this resolution, and urge my colleagues to honor this great American by voting in favor of the resolution.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to give this recognition to our former colleague, Representative Jo Ann Davis, and urge the passage of this bill.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 5489, which seeks to honor the life of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, and the example she has set for all of us; as an American stateswoman, legislator, and most importantly, as our friend, by naming a U.S. post office in her name. Congresswoman Davis represented Virginia's first Congressional District from 2001 until her untimely death in 2007. She was the second woman ever to be elected to Congress from Virginia. A woman of faith and strong conviction, Congresswoman Davis lived admirably and with down-to-earth humility, which is why her presence here in the House is sure to be missed for quite some time to come. The bill before us, H.R. 5489, was introduced by Representative Robert Wittman of Virginia on February 26, 2008 and was considered by and reported from the Oversight Committee on March 13, 2008 by voice vote. The measure has the support of over 20 Members of Congress, and provides our body a collective opportunity to acknowledge one of our very own for her dedication and congressional action to improve the lives of others, whether in her congressional district, her beloved home State of Virginia, or throughout our great country. Jo Ann Davis was born in Rowan County, North Carolina on June 29, 1950. At the age of 9, her parents moved to the Virginia peninsula. Despite her humble beginnings, Congresswoman Davis set her sights high and the expectations for herself even higher. In 1968 she graduated from Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Virginia and then went on to attend Hampton Roads Business College. After graduating she became an executive secretary at a real estate company in Newport News until she obtained her real estate license in 1984 and soon thereafter, founded Jo Ann Davis Realty. Her whole life she exceeded expectations, so it should come as no surprise when she ran for Congress in 1999 and won by receiving 58 percent of the vote in her Southern Virginia District. Representative Davis' congressional record is a testimony to her fight for employees' rights and fairness in the workplace. Her first piece of legislation raised the life insurance benefit paid to survivors of military members killed on duty, and she also pushed for improving dental and vision benefits for government employees, and argued in favor of a more evenhanded system for compensating Federal law enforcement officers. Our country owes her our sincere appreciation for her efforts in making public service, which is the lifeblood of our Nation, a more equitable and beneficial system. In September 2005, our dear friend Congresswoman Davis was diagnosed with breast cancer and for years underwent the necessary treatments. Although she was planning to seek re-election in 2008, Congresswoman Davis unfortunately succumbed to the cancer on October 6, 2007 in her home in Gloucester, Virginia. She is survived by her husband, Chuck Davis, a battalion chief of the Hampton Fire Department, two sons, and a granddaughter. Mr. Speaker, let's join together this day to express our thanks and to pay our respects for the sacrifices and battles Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis fought in the name of liberty and justice and pass H.R. 5489 which would designate the Main Street post office in her hometown of Gloucester, Virginia, as the ``Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office.'' I urge the swift passage of the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. CLAY. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. CLAY. I continue to reserve.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5489) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6892 Main Street in Gloucester, Virginia, as the ``Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office''.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly) for 2 minutes.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, in memory of our dear colleague and courageous colleague, let us pass H.R. 5472 and designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 2650 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, as the ``Julia M. Carson Post Office Building.''

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to be recognized for as much time as I may consume. Representative Carson advocated and represented with distinction Indiana's Seventh Congressional District from 1997 until she passed away in the winter of 2007. The first woman and the first African American to represent Indiana's Seventh Congressional District, Congresswoman Carson worked her way up the ranks to be a prominent Member of this body and a friend and confidant to many of us. H.R. 5472 was first introduced by Carson's close colleague, Representative Peter Visclosky of Indiana, on February 14, 2008 and was considered by and reported from the Oversight Committee on March 13, 2008 by voice vote. The measure has the support of over 45 Members of Congress and affords us a chance to recognize and pay tribute before the American public to a woman whose life serves as a testimony to the American dream. Her story is an inspiration to those who face insurmountable odds and reminds us that we live in a country where anything can be accomplished with diligence in one hand and dedication in the other. Julia Carson was born in Louisville, Kentucky on July 8, 1938 to a single teenage mother. Despite her apparent disadvantages, Congresswoman Carson overcame the odds she was dealt by fate and achieved extraordinary goals and objectives by faith. As a young girl, we learned that Congresswoman Carson shouldered a host of jobs in order to support her family, including waiting tables, delivering newspapers, and serving as a farm hand. In other words, our friend had to work for what she got and had to toil greatly to get where she got. Julia Carson was first introduced to politics in 1972 when Congressman Andy Jacobs encouraged her to run for the Indiana House of Representatives. She served as a member for 4 years, and then moved on to the Indiana Senate, where she held a seat for 14 years. In 1990, she was elected as a Trustee for Center Township of downtown Indianapolis and was responsible for running the welfare office. Over the course of merely 6 years, Carson managed to take a $20 million debt and turn it into a $6 million surplus. On November 25, 2007, it was reported that Julia Carson had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, which took her life. We are certainly at a loss for a dear colleague, and believe me, Julia Carson will be missed by this body. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill) for 2 minutes. (Mr. HILL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of the legislation, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky).

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5472) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2650 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, as the ``Julia M. Carson Post Office Building''.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, my colleague and friend, Julia, was an exemplary woman, a loyal patriot, and a formidable political force. She has also left us with someone who is just as capable as she. And at this time, I would like to recognize our new colleague, and her grandson, the gentleman from Indiana, Representative Carson, for 5 minutes.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Missouri, my friend and colleague, for those kind words. I certainly appreciate it. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of this amendment, my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Carnahan).

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay congratulations to Anhueser-Busch Companies for their exemplary achievement in being named first among beverage companies in Fortune magazine's America's Most Admired Companies. Anhueser-Busch has been headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri, since its establishment in 1860, and has successfully served the community since that time. I am proud to represent Anhueser- Busch's dedicated employees in the Saint Louis community who work hard to continually raise the bar for beverage companies worldwide. Anhueser-Busch topped Fortune magazine's list of global beverage companies for the fifth consecutive year, rating first overall and first in eight of the nine categories considered: quality of products and services, people management, quality of management, innovation, social responsibility, financial soundness, long-term investment, and use of corporate assets. Anhueser-Busch also has several other distinctions in this global list. Among every company surveyed, which was more than 350 global companies spanning 26 industries, Anhueser-Busch ranked number one for quality of products and services and number two for social responsibility. Anheuser-Busch should also be applauded for its efforts to promote diversity in its workforce, as well as in the communities that it serves. Their commitment to being in the community, as well as of the community, has led Anhueser-Busch to support community-based organizations in efforts to inform, advance, and sustain their diverse communities. Contributing to the community and social responsibility have been very important actions for Anhueser-Busch since the company's beginnings, and the organization has quickly become a global industry leader in promoting responsibility. Since 1982, Anheuser-Busch and its nationwide network of more than 600 wholesalers have spent more than $675 million on developing more than two dozen alcohol awareness and education programs and initiatives designed to help prevent all forms of alcohol abuse, including illegal underage drinking and drunk driving. Working together with parents, educators, State and Federal regulators, law enforcement officials, and many others, Anheuser-Busch has continued its long-standing commitment to being part of the solution to these issues. Anheuser-Busch has also dedicated its facilities to operating in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner. At the Saint Louis area Anhueser-Busch brewery, more than 99 percent of the solid waste that is created is recycled. In addition, brewery water use has been cut by nearly 20 percent since 1990 and by more than 7 percent in the last 5 years, saving 4.7 billion liters of water. In times of crisis for the American people, Anhueser-Busch has established a reputation of being part of the recovery by providing a helping hand to our friends in their time of need. This tradition of giving began in 1906, when Aldolphus Busch donated funds to help San Francisco earthquake victims. More recently, Anhueser-Busch has donated drinking water and made monetary donations to the American Red Cross to aid in hurricane relief efforts in the Gulf Coast in 2005, as well as to wildfire relief efforts in California in 2007 and to tornado relief efforts in the South earlier this year. Since 1988, Anhueser-Busch has provided nearly 63.5 million cans of drinking water to various relief efforts. From these many examples, it is clear that Anhueser-Busch has rightfully earned the distinction of being named first among beverage companies as Fortune magazine's America's Most Admired Companies. I am proud to have worked directly with the dedicated employees of Anhueser- Busch in both Saint Louis, Missouri, as well as here in Washington, DC. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in congratulating Anhueser-Busch for this extraordinary accomplishment and for their continued dedication to serving the American people.