Emanuel Cleaver

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it is with a deep and poignant gratitude that I rise today to celebrate the American heroes who lost their lives seventy-seven years ago during Exercise Tiger. Paving the way for the D-Day invasion that would take place on June 6, 1944, Exercise Tiger, while once kept secret, is now regarded as having been both a tragedy and a critically instructive component of the Allies' mission to end World War II. The lives lost on that fateful day were honored by the soldiers who learned from Exercise Tiger and carried their memory into battle during the liberation of France. It is a story we must never allow ourselves to forget. Before the assembled British, Canadian, and American forces could carry out the D-Day invasion, 4,000 soldiers conducted a massive simulated landing to rehearse and prepare for that immeasurably vital military act. However, what started as a military exercise ended as one of the greatest military tragedies of World War II. The calm, dark night of April 28, 1944, burst into chaos and combat when German U- boats ambushed the Tank Landing Ships (LSTs) transporting American soldiers. Almost 750 American servicemen, including over 200 Missourians, would give their last full measure of devotion when their vessels were either destroyed or severely damaged. But Allied forces would not be deterred, as the brave soldiers on those vessels banded together to repel enemy attacks and move forward with their mission. Even in the face of immense loss, a well-equipped enemy force, and little help from nearby Allied forces, the tenacity and determination of the soldiers and sailors involved ensured that the landing operations would continue mere hours after the initial attack. Allied Commanders planning the eventual D-Day invasion learned from Exercise Tiger and incorporated new strategies to ensure soldiers would be protected from barrage before landing on the beach. Without the bravery of the forces that fought that day, it is possible that even more American, Canadian, and British lives would have been lost on D-Day, and that the invasion of France, which hinged on secrecy, speed, and synchronicity, would have failed. It is not hyperbole to say that the soldiers and sailors of Exercise Tiger changed the course of world history and that we are forever indebted to their sacrifice. It is a time-honored tradition in the United States for us to gather and celebrate the heroism and sacrifices of the countless fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and children who have died to protect our nation from foreign and domestic threats. On the last Monday of May, thousands congregate to quietly observe and remember the names found on marble headstones cascading across Arlington National Cemetery. On the fourth day of July, we join friends and family for a celebration of our nation's independence. On each November 11th, we reach out to the veterans in our lives, thank them for their service, and if we are lucky, listen to their stories of service. Scattered between these national celebrations are memorials hosted in small towns and big cities across America that pay tribute to the local legends who fought to protect the freedoms we hold dear. Every year since 1989, the Exercise Tiger Commemorative Foundation, alongside the Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light, have celebrated the heroes of Exercise Tiger with a wreath-laying ceremony at stations across the United States. It is now the longest-running wreath tribute in Coast Guard history. Moreover, this year, the Exercise Tiger Commemorative Foundation has worked with the Audrain County Commissioners to memorialize and celebrate the oft-overlooked heroism of our nation's Black soldiers and sailors. We must never lose sight of the fact that while Black soldiers were fighting for the freedom of France, they themselves were not free in America. As they parachuted in Normandy and stormed Omaha and Utah Beaches, our nation was upholding the horrors of segregation and Jim Crow. They did so because they believed in the promise of America. We are all eternally indebted to that faith and their sacrifices, and I want to thank the Foundation and the Audrain County Commissioners for working to ensure that all our veterans receive the praise, glory, and honor they have earned. A 5,000-pound anchor, located in Audrain County, serves as the memorial for the heroes of Exercise Tiger. However, it is more than just a relic of the past. Rather, it is a constant reminder that our freedom was paid for by the sacrifices of those who came before us. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a blue ribbon was wrapped around that anchor, and it was only to be cut down when a vaccine was developed. On April 28, 2021, as our scientists, healthcare workers, and soldiers engage in a noble crusade against COVID-19 at vaccination sites across the country, that ribbon will be removed. While its removal does not signal the end of the pandemic, it does celebrate the fact that we are accomplishing what seemed impossible just months ago. We have demonstrated, like the Greatest Generation before us, that America can overcome any threat when we are united, be it a fleet of enemy submarines or an elusive virus. That capacity will always be worth celebrating. Madam Speaker, please join me and my colleagues in honoring the nearly 750 Americans, including 201 Missourians, who gave their lives during Exercise Tiger. Additionally, please join me in extending a heartfelt ``thank you'' to the Audrain County Commissioners, the Exercise Tiger Commemorative Foundation, and the Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light, for organizing these memorial events each year since 1989. On April 28th, it is my fervent hope that we all take a moment to remember the victims and veterans of Exercise Tiger and to re-affirm our commitment to honoring their legacy each day through selfless service to others in our community.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to recognize the life and accomplishments of Fred Arbanas, who recently passed away at the age of 82. A husband, father, grandfather, athlete, public servant, and Kansas City icon, Fred was widely loved and will be fondly remembered. In his youth, Fred played for the Kansas City Chiefs and set records on the field. After his retirement from professional football, Fred dedicated himself to a life of service as an influential player in the Jackson County legislature for more than four decades of stunning community development. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Fred's introduction to Kansas City was through his time on the Kansas City Chiefs, then the Dallas Texans, as a tight end. For eight years, Fred set records for the Chiefs and helped bring them to two Super Bowls and a World Championship. Before his remarkable life came to end, Fred had been inducted into the Chiefs' Hall of Fame, the Missouri Hall of Fame, the Michigan Hall of Fame, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-Time AFL Team. Even in the face of an injury at the height of his career, Mr. Arbanas continued to play and persevere, inspiring those around him. In 1973, after his departure from the NFL, Fred joined the Jackson County legislature. Between 1974 and 1989, Mr. Arbanas served as the chairman of the legislature four separate times. His tenure in politics was dedicated to transforming the County's recreational services and amenities. Over the course of his 41-year career, Jackson County came to boast the third largest county parks system in the United States, with more than 20,000 acres of land dedicated to that purpose. Fred also played a considerable role in the paving of every road in unincorporated Jackson County and in the relocation of the county jail, projects of great importance to the county at the time. There is no doubt that Fred Arbanas was a pillar of the Jackson County community. His dedication to the county and his place in Kansas City history will not be forgotten; his contributions to his community will be memorialized in the happy memories created in the green spaces his work made possible; and his inspiring example will be carried forward by a loving family and a grateful community, whose lives were touched, in so many ways, by his devotion to service. Fred is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren. His name will also live on through the Fred Arbanas Golf Course, christened in his honor. Fred was an icon to his community and a model public servant. His good deeds and commitment to helping others bring to mind Acts 20:35: ``In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive.' '' Fred Arbanas embodied what it means to give rather than receive. Whether he was giving his all on the field, or giving his service in the halls of the Jackson County legislature--whether he was giving to his team or to his community at large--Fred Arbanas was always giving. Madam Speaker, please join me in remembering the incredible, vibrant life of Fred Arbanas. Please also join me in offering condolences to his family and all those mourning his loss. Let us seek to emulate his example in the work we do here in Congress by remembering that service is about setting our talents upon the alter of change and making life better for those in our communities.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 131.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with immense appreciation for Patricia ``Pattie'' Mansur's years of service to the students and community of Kansas City, Missouri as a member of the Kansas City Public School Board. Over the last several years, Pattie has demonstrated the passion, integrity, and determination that we hope the students whom she served will emulate as they become leaders in their own right. Pattie's time on the School Board is a testament to what can be accomplished when concerned citizens engage with their community to overcome difficult issues. When Pattie enrolled her children into Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS), she recognized that its teachers and students were burdened as a consequence of dwindling revenues, inequitable opportunities, and transient leadership. Instead of simply lamenting those problems, Pattie set about building coalitions, engaging the community, and eventually, winning an at-large seat on the School Board. During her time in office, Pattie worked hard to build a strong foundation that future School Boards will expand upon for years to come. She helped recruit Dr. Mark Bedell, an administrator dedicated to equality in education, to serve as the superintendent. Dr. Bedell, along with Pattie and other Board members, secured the stability and leadership necessary for the district to implement a one-of-a-kind equity policy that has provided additional resources to chronically underfunded schools. Pattie also worked to increase the number of AP and dual-credit courses offered across KCPS high schools, ensuring that all students had the ability to earn college credit while attending high school. She engaged with private businesses to build and renovate existing fields, stadiums, and other venues so that every student has the opportunity to participate in sports and other extra-curricular activities. Recognizing that we communicate our values by how we spend our dollars, Pattie fought for increased teacher pay and further investment in new technologies that have helped educators connect with the next generation of students. As the district celebrated noticeable improvements in graduation rates and college readiness, she was a champion in the fight for full accreditation from the Missouri Department of Early and Secondary Education. Inspired by their mother's advocacy and her dedication to serving Kansas City's students, one of Pattie's three beloved children is now a teacher in the KCPS system. These accomplishments not only had a positive impact on children currently enrolled in KCPS, but will also continue to generate equitable opportunities for the next generations of KCPS students. In addition to her stellar efforts on the School Board, Pattie has further served the Kansas City community through a number of non-profit organizations. She continues to serve as the Director of Health Policy and Communications for the REACH Healthcare Foundation, which works to improve access to healthcare for uninsured and underserved communities. As Director, she's advocated for policies in both Jefferson City and Washington, D.C. that would address systemic and deeply rooted inequities in the healthcare system. Recently, her tireless work at REACH helped the organization mobilize 29 local healthcare providers in an effort to strengthen the community's fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The REACH Foundation, and by extension those the foundation serves, has benefitted immensely from Pattie's three decades of proven leadership in the non-profit sector. Marian Wright Edelman, a renowned advocate for children and founder of the Children's Defense Fund, once elegantly noted that working in education comes with a momentous duty to improve the lives of others and leave your community better than you found it. As Pattie's time on the School Board concludes, she can rest assured that KCPS students have more opportunities, are succeeding at higher rates, and have brighter futures because of her efforts. Madam Speaker, please join me in extending heartfelt and sincere congratulations to Pattie Mansur on a successful and accomplished tenure on the Kansas City Public School Board. Furthermore, let us renew our commitment to students as we strengthen our nation by investing in equitable, inclusive, and innovative public schools.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize and celebrate a passionate historian, dedicated public servant, and deeply valued member of the Kansas City community, Mr. Elvis ``Sonny'' Gibson. Though Mr. Gibson retired from a career with the federal government in 1989, his work to make our world a more equitable and just place has never stopped. To this day, Sonny continues to give back to his community, contribute to the Black cultural history of Kansas City, and bend the American historical record as a whole towards truth and justice. Because of Mr. Gibson's outstanding work and tireless commitment, voices once silenced have been heard, people once forgotten have been remembered, and stories once lost have been told. After moving to Kansas City with his family in 1947, Sonny attended R. T. Coles High School, one of only two high schools for Black students in Kansas City at the time. He then went on to work as Branch Chief of Fair Housing within the United States Department of Housing of Urban Development. In that role, Sonny proved himself to be adept at navigating the bureaucracy to find solutions for those who needed it most. After a career that lasted over twenty-nine years, Sonny retired, but his work was far from over. Writing his first book in 1988, Sonny quickly began a second career dedicated to telling the stories of the previously unrecognized and acknowledging the work of Black Kansas Citians throughout history. It was, and continues to be, a labor of love for Sonny--one that has propelled him to produce six books and spend innumerable hours researching and collecting reliable historical accounts. The articles and announcements Sonny discovered and shared with the world had often been left out of traditional historical sources. Not only was Sonny resolved to bringing them to light, he also went about the monumental task of arranging them in chronological order and having them reproduced in the exact way he encountered them. His attention to detail and high historiographical standards are a reflection of the importance of Sonny's work and his passion for doing it justice. Front of mind for Sonny has always been the impact these historical artifacts will have on his readers. These small glimpses of history help us understand who we are as a nation as much as, if not more than, any broad volume. For example, in his most recent book, 1865--A Kansas City Negro History, Sonny writes about a place that is especially near and dear to my heart: Kansas City's 18th and Vine district. Through his writing, he is able to take readers back in time to highlight the entertainers, politicians, and business leaders who built the historic area. Sonny has an exceptional talent and ability to help his readers view history through the eyes of those who lived it--people not so different than the readers themselves. As I think about Sonny's wisdom and passion, one specific instance comes to mind. Sonny was telling an audience about being posed the question ``Why are you always wondering about what Black people did way back when?'' Sonny said, ``To understand the struggle, to understand that there are people in this country and in this city, who have come through an ocean of blood and tears, to get where we are today.'' Fueled by his unwavering mission to understand the struggles of those who have come before him, Sonny has not only deepened his own understanding of our city's rich Black history. He has also given the gift of that knowledge to his community, to his country, and to future generations. In addition to his work as an author, Sonny also dedicates a great deal of time to giving back to his community. He has served on numerous boards and societies, including the National Board of Directors for the National Black United Fund. He has held the position of Resident Scholar for the Black Archives of Mid America, Inc., and he has worked as the Historian in Resident for the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center. Sonny sets a true example of the qualities we should look for in all public servants: dedication, perseverance, and a deep, generous love for his community. Sonny's unwavering devotion and tireless commitment has made a profound impact on the Kansas City community, so I am truly privileged to be able to recognize Sonny's efforts today. Madam Speaker, please join me and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in celebrating Mr. Elvis ``Sonny'' Gibson. Our history is how we understand ourselves, and every day, Sonny helps us understand ourselves a bit better. Let us all seek to emulate his example by dedicating ourselves to service, dismantling injustice in all its forms, and affirming that the American story is incomplete so long as so many American stories are left off its pages. Let us continue to add new pages, so that we may be able to make history by writing it down.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart on behalf of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District to honor and celebrate the life of Eunice Mae ``Judy'' ``Granny'' Wilkens. A lifetime resident of Concordia, Missouri, Eunice spent her 88 years on this Earth enriching her community through individual acts of service that filled her life with purpose and her neighbors' lives with blessings. Eunice understood that one need not relocate to a big city to have a big impact, and her remarkable story attests to this simple tenet of service. In a town tucked between Sweet Springs and Odessa in the western half of Missouri, Eunice was determined to improve her small corner of the world through entrepreneurship, activism, and volunteerism. As the owner of Ye Olde Lantern Motel, she worked tirelessly to demonstrate the beauty and grace of her beloved town to those traveling through. When her community was in need, she happily volunteered to pitch in for the greater good. For twenty-four years, she was a member of the Concordia Fire Protection District, serving thousands of people across a 100-square-mile area who called her for help when they needed it most. After years of seeing veterans return home from distant battlefields still bearing the scars of war, she volunteered to be a member of the local V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary at Post 5649. Along with other dedicated volunteers, Eunice helped foster a community where veterans could share their wartime stories, bond over common experiences, honor the sacrifices of those who never made it home, and contribute to their community's future through initiatives like their annual Voice of Democracy scholarship competition. Eunice's involvement with the V.F.W. and the Concordia Fire Protection District spurred in her a strong sense of political purpose and propelled her to become active in the Lafayette County Democrat Club. When knocking on doors or making calls for local candidates, she undoubtedly carried with her the stories of those who had lost just about everything to an unexpected medical emergency, and those who had defended our country abroad but struggled to find peace back home. Perhaps closest to my heart was Eunice's work at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, where she volunteered as a braille worker. She knew that salvation and jubilation is not reserved only for the able-bodied. Through her generosity, Eunice helped those without sight envision the glory of God through her eyes. Today, as I reflect on Eunice's beautiful story--a story complete with family, faith, and love--a story in which she and her late husband, Hubie, traveled all over the world and to all fifty states--I cannot help but believe that Eunice, in her daily voyages of selflessness and service, carried with her the lessons from the Sermon on the Mount. In a Sermon described by some as the most important one ever given, Jesus preaches to a mass of followers while standing on a hilltop overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Jesus describes service to God not as strict adherence to rigid principles or unforgiving laws, but rather, as a lifetime dedicated to loving and serving God's children on Earth. At one point, Jesus exclaims that those who are compassionate, forgiving, merciful, sincere, and humble will serve as ``the light that gives light to the world.'' He then implores his disciples not to hide their light behind closed doors, but to let their light ``shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them.'' With every act of kindness to a stranger, service to a neighbor, and compassion for a fellow Concordian, Eunice shined brightly. Just like the oil lamps that lit up the pristine hilltop towns of Galilee when Jesus gave his Sermon all those centuries ago, the light of Eunice's life illuminated Concordia and will continue to shine upon the people who call the town home. There is no doubt that Concordia was blessed to have Eunice, and our community will be forever grateful for her presence in our lives. Today, my thoughts, and the thoughts of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, are with Eunice's daughter, Nancy; her grandsons, Kyle and Erik; her five great-grandchildren; and her several nieces and nephews, as they come together to celebrate Eunice's lifetime of illuminating service. We can take comfort today in our belief that she joins Hubie in perhaps the one place they never visited in their travels together. Madame Speaker, please join me in honoring Eunice's unique life and the everlasting impression that it has left on the town she so greatly impacted. Please also join me in offering heartfelt condolences to her family and dear friends. Madam Speaker, as we go forth into an uncertain future, let us learn from Eunice's example and serve as shining lights in our own communities so that we may deliver to those whom we serve the way Eunice served those whom she loved.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it is with sorrow and a heavy heart that I rise today to commemorate the life and legacy of the late Alvin Sykes, who passed away on March 19th. Alvin was a monumental man--one who dedicated his life to seeking truth and justice for those who were long denied it because of the systemic injustice that was so prevalent in the civil rights era. While he was only on this Earth for sixty-four years, the reverberations of his actions will extend for much longer. Born in 1956, Alvin came of age during the height of the civil rights movement. Following the eighth grade, Alvin left formal education and continued his learning in the libraries of Kansas City, Missouri. As a young man, he was deeply moved by the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., solidifying his lifelong commitment to carrying on the banner of civil rights. While it was the death of Dr. King that galvanized Alvin, it was a personal tragedy that entrenched his methodology. In 1980, Steve Harvey, a young KC jazz musician and close friend of Alvin, was murdered. Despite the original trial ending in an acquittal, Alvin dug deep through legal resources and collected enough information to reopen the case. Establishing the Steve Harvey Justice Campaign, Sykes collected thousands of signatures in an effort to demonstrate the public's desire to seek justice. In the end, his hard work paid off. Because of his efforts, the man responsible for Mr. Harvey's murder was found guilty of his crime and sentenced to life in prison. With his first case behind him, Alvin turned his eyes to issues of nationwide injustice. Renaming the Steve Harvey Justice Campaign, the Justice Campaign of America, Alvin and his fellow activists sought to right the wrongs of injustice anywhere that they could find it. While his work on Mr. Harvey's case was notable in its own right, Alvin found national recognition for the integral role he played in the development and passage of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act. Identifying the legal barriers stymying the prosecution of civil rights era cold cases, he pushed for the creation of a bill that would enable the federal government to reopen and pursue racially motivated, pre-1969 cold cases. As a direct result of the bill's passage, over one hundred cases were reopened and investigated under the U.S. Department of Justice's Cold Case Initiative. Consequent to his actions and passion for justice, over a hundred families across the country have been able to gain some sense of closure where none had been before. Alvin's work to rectify the shortcomings of the civil rights era justice system did not stop with the passage of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act. In 2010, Alvin was able to reopen the murder case of Leon Jordan, a former Kansas City policeman and cofounder of the city's local, Black political organization known as Freedom, Inc. Equipped with his intimate understanding of the legal system and with newfound evidence, he sought to bring forth justice for Mr. Jordan. While his investigation and efforts into the case did not lead to a prosecution, Alvin did not consider this a failed effort. As he once stated, ``My brand is that I go for the truth and, if possible, justice. That formula hasn't failed me yet. Find the truth. After that, justice may be possible.'' Alvin's lifelong commitment to finding the truth and seeking justice and closure for those whom it had been denied is one that deserves to be memorialized in the annals of history. Without his guiding hand, historic legislation within the state of Missouri and in the halls of Congress may not have been brought into reality. Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating and honoring the life and accomplishments of Alvin Sykes, a man that was truly larger than life. Let his legacy live on in the closure and peace that his work may still bring to the families that have yet to find answers.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy but grateful heart that I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a formidable force from the place I call home. On Sunday, February 14, 2021, Kansas City lost one of its fiercest warriors. A trailblazer, a local civil rights icon, and a leader of the highest caliber, Carol Coe dedicated her every breath to speaking the truth and serving her community. Born in Houston, Texas in 1947, the same year Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, Carol would spend her entire life shattering barriers of her own and inspiring generations of local Black leadership. After moving to Kansas City in the mid-1960s and gaining a juris doctorate from the University of Missouri--Kansas City School of Law, she served as the City's first Black assistant city attorney. Carol brought an indisputable talent and unmistakable tenacity to the role, and her community noticed. She went on to serve in the Jackson County Legislature and eventually ran for, and won, a position on City Council in 1991. While serving as Councilwoman for the 3rd District of Kansas City, Carol was appointed to the Finance Committee and the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. During her time on the Board, Coe was dedicated to the revitalization of Kansas City's historic 18th & Vine district, pushing funding initiatives and supporting the use of Black contractors for various projects in the area. However, Carol's dedication to 18th & Vine was more than an administrative project; it was a lifelong labor of love. One never had to walk far to feel her presence in that historic place, but in October of last year, Kansas City's City Council formally recognized her immense impact on the historic district, naming a bridge at East 19th and Vine the ``Carol Coe Bridge of Opportunity.'' Besides our shared devotion to 18th & Vine, Carol and I also had in common a passion for improving public housing. I vividly remember the time she invited her City Council colleagues to spend the night with her in an apartment in the T.B. Watkins public housing project. The move sought to showcase what were, at the time, dangerous and unsafe living conditions endured by Kansas City residents. While there is still much work to be done, Kansas City has made great strides in public housing since that time, in large part because of Carol's advocacy. And while her work--the work of justice--was constant and unremitting, Carol accomplished these feats while balancing her responsibility of being a loving and devoted mother to her two children. Carol's career is a story not of chapters but of volumes. She was involved with Freedom, Inc., a political club in Kansas City that has spent decades ensuring that the voices of Kansas City's Black community are heard in the halls of government. She helped establish Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, a renowned local dance program. And then, of course, there is the Green Acres Urban Farm and Research Bio-Park, which she founded in 2010. Green Acres is an innovative aquaponics system, designed with a sustainable structure to address the impacts of climate change and local food insecurity. While urban farming may have seemed like an unlikely endeavor for Carol, the ambitious project was truly a perfect representation of who she had always been. Whether she was debating in the Jackson County Legislature, advocating for those she represented on the City Council, or building and operating an urban farm, Carol was committed to community-first, community-focused change. Embodying the spirit of servant leadership in all that she did, Carol Coe provided resources and opportunities to marginalized people to help improve their lives. With every vote she cast, Carol stood out as a servant of the people. ``The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, / and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their heart, / their feet do not slip,'' says the holy scripture in Psalm 37:30-31. Carol Coe was a fighter. She fought not for herself, not for power or influence, but for her community. In her seventy-four years, I would venture to guess that Carol never once said anything but what she meant and believed to be true. She pushed and challenged me when I was Mayor of Kansas City, and I am a better public servant because of it. Her candor laid bricks; her tenacity moved legislation; and her tireless work in Kansas City has left an indelible footprint that will outlast us all. My thoughts and prayers are with Carol's family, friends, and community. Madam Speaker, please join me and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in recognizing and honoring Carol Coe's incredible life and the legacy that she leaves behind. The Kansas City community will forever remember Carol Coe as a vigorous and determined champion for those in need. Her righteous spirit brought wisdom to those who needed it, even when they did not want it. Her tongue lifted justice into being, even when the strongest of arms could not raise it. And never, not once, did her feet slip. Carol was Kansas City's anchor to the truth, and she held us in place for many, many years. I am heartened to know that she has now, at long last, found eternal rest. I hope she found peace in knowing that her fight for a more just community will continue through of the legions of righteous warriors she inspired. Madam Speaker, in our ongoing struggle for a better country and a better world, let us seek to emulate the example of Carol Coe. Let our feet not slip. Not for one second.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church. Since 1921, this church has served as a cornerstone of Kansas City's African American religious community. Under the dedicated and passionate leadership of its numerous pastors, the Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church has stood strong and prospered. This church has served as a center of support during Kansas City's most trying times and as a center of celebration during its best times. No matter the challenges Kansas City faced, the Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church has remained steadfast for all the faithful who made the church their spiritual home. Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church was first established in February of 1921 by the late Rev. Thomas H. Ewing. Until the construction of the first house of worship, services were held in the homes of congregation members. Built at 19th Street & Highland Avenue, the original location helped spread the ``good news'' to Kansas City's Black population for thirty-four years. During this time, the church led parishioners through some of our nation's darkest periods. Through the hunger of the Great Depression, the grief of the Second World War, and the sorrows of the Korean War, the Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church stood strong and guided churchgoers through the trials, tribulations, and troubles that tested the resolve of our country. In 1955, the congregation moved to a second location at 19th Street & Park Avenue. For the next sixteen years, Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church filled the pews and saved the souls at 19th & Park. Within this new house of God, the church continued delivering the word of God, just as it had done for nearly thirty-five years. As Black Americans across the country were being beaten and jailed for demanding equal citizenship, this church weathered the storm and provided a stable place of worship for Kansas City's African American community. In spite of all that the community faced, the ministry grew rapidly in size, bringing on six new ministers to the fellowship while expanding its program offerings. This remarkable growth in the church body served as a testament to the spiritual gifts of the congregation's dedicated leaders while laying the foundation for the meteoric growth that was soon to come. Finally, in 1969, it became apparent that the congregation needed a new home. Thus, the church began construction on its third and final location at the intersection of Park and Jackson Avenue in the winter of 1970. For 51 years, Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church has remained in this location, providing weekly services and invaluable spiritual guidance to the community which it serves. Since the first bricks of this final location were laid, the church has been led by Rev. Dr. Carl Johnson, Rev. Dr. Ervin, and Rev. Gregory Stevens, respectively. Following the burning of the mortgage in 1972, the Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church has seen incredible growth in congregation size, programming, and community outreach capacity. With this growth, the church has launched more than 25 different ministries, improved the church grounds and building in countless ways, and paved the path for further expansion in the community it serves. In Ephesians 4:16, the Apostle Paul writes that, ``from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.'' The Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church is a lesson in practice of what it means for a church to build itself up in love by leaning on its best parts. Through all the trials that its community has endured, time and again, the church has come out the other end stronger, and more unified. For an entire century, the Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church has been a pillar of devotion in the Kansas City community. I am certain that this church will continue to lift up its community within Missouri's Fifth Congressional District for decades to come. Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating and honoring Reverend Gregory Stevens and the congregants of the Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church for reaching this profound and momentous point in their history. Please also join me in wishing them continued prosperity and peace for the next 100 years to come.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with abundant joy and everlasting hope to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Winnetonka High School, a member of the North Kansas City School District. For half a century, as an institution devoted to instilling the fundamental values of tradition, respect, unity, and excellence, Winnetonka High School has consistently proven itself to be far more than just a brick-and- mortar school. 1971 represented the first year that students were warmly welcomed to Winnetonka High School, a place that future alumni would call a ``home away from home.'' Beginning that year, Winnetonka embarked on an endeavor to simultaneously provide opportunities to its students and service to its community. When those first 600 students opened the doors of Winnetonka High School for the first time back on March 1, 1971, they began a tradition of excellence that has been carried on by thousands of students since. In that first year, the students and staff collaborated to create an environment where they could explore their possibilities, prioritize building positive relationships with others, and celebrate the unique purpose that inspires each student. While many things have changed in our country and in the Kansas City community over the past fifty years, excellence and innovation have remained constant at Winnetonka. Committed to closing the opportunity gap, Winnetonka was the first high school in Missouri to be designated as a National Demonstration School for the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. This designation was earned after years of helping students find success in both their school and their community through collaboration, inquiry, and relationship building. These principles have provided the bedrock of the many successful student organizations that generations of Winnetonka Griffins have helped create. Groups like the acclaimed student publication Griffin Rites, the Muslim Student Association, the Blacks Achieving Greatness organization, and the National Honors Society all work to create an inclusive, empowering, and exciting space where students can realize their full potential. Winnetonka students have relished these opportunities, with several becoming National Merit Scholarship semi- finalists and thousands more finding success in their careers after graduation. Dr. Eric Johnson, Winnetonka's principal, acknowledged after he was named the 2020 Missouri Principal of the Year that the accolades of the faculty and staff were only made possible by the good fortune of having one-of-a-kind students at a one-of-a-kind school. It is clear for all to see that Kansas City is a better place to live because of the impact that Winnetonka High School graduates have on our community every day. In a letter to Booker T. Washington, Missouri-born scientist George Washington Carver wrote that ``Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.'' By attending Winnetonka High School, Kansas City students not only gain the freedom that comes with opportunity, but also the skills and abilities needed to achieve their version of the American Dream. As we look to the next fifty years, there are certainly a great many unanswered questions weighing heavily on our minds. However, one thing remains certain: Winnetonka High School will continue its everlasting endeavor to provide that most precious key to freedom to all students who pass through its doors. Madam Speaker, colleagues, please join me in extending our warm congratulations and very best wishes to the administration, faculty, staff, parents, and students of Winnetonka High School as they commemorate fifty years of exceptional service to Kansas City, and further extend our best wishes for their continued success. Let us also embrace Winnetonka High School's mission in our own lives; let it inspire us to educate others responsively, embrace our duties fully, and prepare holistically the next generation of American leaders, so that we can fulfill our unique purposes and change our community, our country, and our world for the better.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with immense pride to recognize and celebrate the Trabon Group for their contributions to the fight against the COVID-19 global pandemic. Despite the many challenges posed by this virulent virus, the Trabon Group quickly shifted its business operations to help build Personal Protective Equipment for those in Kansas City and across the United States. I am truly honored to represent the Trabon Group, and their commitment to public health is admirable and well worth reflection. The Trabon Group is a commercial printing business and menu software supplier based in Kansas City, Missouri, that has provided services to over one thousand clients nationwide and printed more than forty-three million menus and prints. Since 1975, the Trabon Group has been providing countless businesses with high quality marketing and sales prints such as brochures and flyers, as well as menu data services that have revolutionized the restaurant industry. With forty-six years of experience, the Trabon Group has become a fixture of the Kansas City business community. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked destruction on American lives and on American livelihoods. One of the first economic sectors to feel the devastating effects of the pandemic was the restaurant industry. Soon to follow was the entire ecosystem of other businesses, including the Trabon Group, who counted restaurants among their most loyal clients. At the beginning of last year, as businesses began to shut their doors, paychecks began to disappear, and cases began to rise, the Trabon Group, like so many others, faced mounting challenges to stay open and pay their employees. Our nation was caught off guard by this virus, and the situation looked bleak. However, in March of 2020, the Trabon group crafted an innovative idea that allowed them to continue operations and maintain their workforce, all while serving struggling communities across the United States. After communicating with schools, healthcare organizations, and hospitals, the Trabon Group recognized the dire need for protective equipment and began producing face shields. They then went about rethinking their printing machine capabilities and collected the supplies required to produce the shields on a large scale. Within the first few days of producing protective equipment, the Trabon Group, under the brand USA Shields LLC., produced and shipped around fifty thousand medical grade face shields. As a part of this endeavor, the Trabon Group was able to bring back seventy-two of their furloughed workers and are now supplying around eight thousand face shields a day to be shipped to hospitals, restaurants, meatpacking facilities, colleges, and high schools throughout Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Texas. The Trabon Group had previously set itself apart in the business community by creating the groundbreaking MenuNet software that has allowed restaurants to better manage their data, but this past year has truly shown their innovative nature and passion for service. As vaccines arrive in cities and towns all across the United States, and as our country begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel, businesses like the Trabon Group will continue to be paramount in defeating this destructive virus. It gives me great hope for the future to see businesses like the Trabon Group step up to serve in times of difficulty, and I am extremely thankful for their efforts to save lives and jobs alike. Throughout American history, our people have confronted many seemingly insurmountable challenges. Much like past generations who faced daunting odds, the American people are meeting these challenges with strength, determination, and deep forethought for their fellow citizens. Today, we celebrate local businesses such as the Trabon Group, who exemplify what true representatives of servant leadership look like. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the outstanding work of the Trabon Group in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us seek to emulate their example by setting our talents and resources upon the urgent work of helping those in need.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Independence Chamber of Commerce on one hundred years of support and advocacy for local businesses across Independence, Missouri. For an entire century, the Independence Chamber of Commerce has nurtured the entrepreneurial spirit that serves as the economic backbone of my district. President Harry Truman, born and raised in Independence, emphatically believed that ``America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.'' For one hundred years, the Independence Chamber of Commerce has given local business leaders the tools to be courageous and imaginative, along with the determination necessary to succeed. The Chamber represents over five hundred businesses in Independence, each doing their part to make a difference in the lives of their friends and neighbors. Every year, the Chamber's incredible staff and Board of Directors organize nearly two hundred events, from roundtable discussions with burgeoning business leaders, to seminars with professionals on how to grow new enterprises. These business-centered events bolster the economic mainstays of a proud and historic community. However, the Chamber's extensive catalog of events engages with all sorts of communities. Its organization and sponsorship of events like the annual Halloween parade, a weekly Foodie Friday that promotes local restaurants, and the SantaCaliGon Days Festival bring joy and warm memories to those fortunate enough to call Independence home. And as the current public health crisis continues to pose unprecedented challenges and difficult decisions to small businesses, the Independence Chamber of Commerce has risen to meet the moment. It has reimagined how to help local businesses and continues to serve as a vital resource for those navigating the narrow waters between a struggling economy and a lethal virus. Additionally, the Chamber's concerted effort to spread awareness about various COVID-19 relief funds has been the difference, for many family-owned businesses, between surviving a difficult year and being forced to close. In short, the Chamber's work has ensured that President Truman's hometown continues to grow and prosper. However, the Chamber's work extends far beyond Independence city limits. Its annual lobbying day in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C. helps promote the policies necessary for robust business growth and economic development not only in the great state of Missouri, but across the entire country. And as this year has placed a renewed and long-overdue emphasis on community-owned broadband service, affordable quality housing, and neighborhood inclusivity, the Chamber has been an effective advocate for many of the issues that inspired me to run for City Council, for Mayor, and then for Congress. Through their advocacy, the Chamber has initiated and supported several infrastructure development and neighborhood revitalization projects that have benefitted a broad coalition of communities. It recognizes that policies that are good for hardworking individuals in all kinds of communities are also good for businesses, and I look forward to our continued partnership as we support Missouri families. But as I mentioned, it is not just the Chamber's policies, but also its presence, that have tangible positive effects on the district I represent. With every educational seminar, a small business owner gains an opportunity to innovate and incorporate new ways to grow their business. With every networking event, the Chamber connects leaders who can collaborate and form symbiotic partnerships that benefit all of us. With every ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony, the Chamber offers a business the vital publicity and web of support needed to grow and succeed. Running a business is hard. But for one hundred years, the Independence Chamber has made it easier for the aspirational among us to capitalize on the same entrepreneurial spirit that made the American economy the envy of the world. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join me in congratulating the current and former staff members who have organized the daily activities of the Independence Chamber of Commerce, as well as all the past and present members of the Chamber's Board of Directors, who have served as dutiful stewards of this thriving organization. The Independence Chamber of Commerce has brought together entrepreneurs and served as a stalwart of growth and resiliency for the past one hundred years. I have no doubt that they will continue this important work over the next century and beyond.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a sadness I struggle to express on behalf of a community that has lost a voice, a city that has lost a leader, and family that has lost a friend. I rise to honor the life and memory of Molly Hammer. Molly spent years gracing Kansas City and the world with a one-of-a-kind voice and an indomitable spirit. For thirteen of those years, she did so while sharing her life with metastatic breast cancer. On Tuesday, November 24, Molly lost her fight with breast cancer. She was forty-eight years old. Her story, cut tragically short, is of a soul who sought to use her gifts to spread joy and to use her hardships to inspire hope. For fifteen years, Molly sang for us. Today, we sing of her. Those lucky enough to have followed Molly's career since its beginning know that the talent, work ethic, and grit she displayed in the final years of her life were nothing new. Her high school choir teacher remembers her astounding professionalism while playing the narrator in her high school's production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. After graduating, she went on to become a stage actor and portrayed Patsy Cline on a stage in Iowa for five years. In 2005, Molly answered a spiritual call from a difficult industry where she could have the complete independence she craved--jazz and blues. And thank goodness she did. It was then that she dove into an intense study of vocal jazz and began an illustrious career in the Kansas City music community. Molly soon became a fixture of the 18th & Vine jazz scene, winning the 2016 Critics' Choice for Best Jazz Singer award from The Pitch, releasing four LPs--one just three months ago--and cementing her place as an integral stitch in the rich cultural fabric of Jazz's cradle. In 2008, Molly was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she beat it. Eight years later, it came back, and Molly returned to her battle, this time fighting a more aggressive foe but with no less determination or spirit. And not only did Molly continue to bring joy to her community through song during that battle, she also became an outspoken advocate for cancer research and a powerful voice in bringing awareness to what it means to live life with the disease. She called for increased research funding and better methods of preventative screening, worked with organizations like METAvivor and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and even lobbied Congress. However, though her music and her advocacy took her all over the country and all over the world, Molly, I am proud to say, was devoted to Kansas City, and more specifically to the Kansas City music community. She supported organizations like GUILDit, which seeks to connect the world of music to the world of business to help support artists, After all, when Molly was diagnosed, she had no health insurance--a tragically common phenomenon among independent artists. And recently, she chose to donate the proceeds from her albums to the Midwest Music Foundation, ensuring that her giving spirit will continue to touch artists in her community for years to come. I have always been struck by Molly's ability play any room at all. Molly sang the National Anthem at Arrowhead Stadium. Molly sang it at Kauffman Stadium. Molly sang at the Kauffman Center. Molly sang at the Folly Theater. And yet, even when her fight with cancer was at its most painful ebb, Molly got out every single weekend and brought her voice and her presence to local jazz clubs and Unity churches throughout Kansas City. When the pandemic struck, dealing a crushing blow to musicians and venues everywhere, Molly sang online from her living room. On stage with a microphone in hand and a piano to sing beside-- that's where Molly felt at home. She used to say it was because music fed her soul. I so hope Molly knew that her music fed our souls as well. Today, my heart is with Molly's family and friends, who are coping with a loss no amount of preparation could have softened. To Molly's parents, I say this: we are never prepared to outlive our children. I hope you take comfort in that you were able to see Molly exhibit a resilience that every parent hopes their child will have when they send them out into what can be an unfair and unforgiving world. Scripture tells us, ``Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.'' Molly's story, to me, is a story of service. Molly was given the gift of a singular voice and a presence that could light up jazz club, a concert hall, or a stadium, and she used it to bring joy and music to others. Molly was dealt a terrible disease, and she used it to bring awareness and comfort to those fighting alongside her. Molly administered God's grace in one of its most breathtaking forms, and she did so for all of us. Jazz is about many things. It is about finding beauty where there is pain. It is about finding freedom where there are shackles. But at a musical level, jazz is about setting up rules, so they can then be broken. It is about establishing a rhythm, so that it can be defied. Madam Speaker, as I reckon with this loss, I take comfort in my belief that Molly has defied the unrelenting rhythm of this mortal world and taken her place among a choir of angels. There is piano somewhere in heaven that has been waiting for Molly, and I know that today, she is singing beside it. So, Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the life and legacy of Molly Hammer. Though she may never return to the stages where we've seen her before, today Molly joins a pantheon of jazz greats whose music echoes through time. Artists never really die, and I woke up this morning with Molly's music in my head. ``So let me fly out of this world,'' she would often sing at the end of her concerts, ``And spend the next eternity or two / with you.''

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it would be an error to suppose that men and women can be courageous every day. It would be unfair to anticipate that I or any Member of this body could be a lion every day. No one is expected to be a lion day after day after day. But on this day, lions are required.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, with feelings of sorrow, reverence, and immense gratitude, I rise today to honor the memory of Scott Davidson, who passed away last week after his battle with the coronavirus. As a proud member of the Kansas City Fire Department, Scott spent over a third of his life serving and protecting the people of Kansas City, Missouri. Scott started his career with the Kansas City Fire Department in 2002 as a communication specialist with the Municipal Ambulance Services Trust, which provided emergency medical services to the Kansas City area. As a communication specialist, Scott served as the calming voice on the other side of the phone tasked with reassuring distressed families that help was on the way. Scott's calm demeanor and steady hand provided much needed hope in moments of darkness. Indeed, Scott helped ease worried minds, but more importantly, he played a vital role in saving countless lives throughout the city we call home. In 2010, Scott became a paramedic for the Department, joining a team that served as the first response to desperate cries for help. Each individual who, in a moment of crisis, called on Scott for help will forever remember and appreciate his heroic, lifesaving efforts as he sprang into action at a moment's notice. For Scott, as with countless paramedics across the country, saving lives and offering hope was the inspiration that prompted him to raise his hand and volunteer to risk his life for his community. In the days leading up to his untimely death, he was still on the frontlines, dispatching first responders to help those stricken by the same deadly virus that would eventually claim his own life. More than anything, Scott was a man of faith who was a joy to all those who met him. Described by those who worked with him as having a personality and heart that was larger than life, Scott and his wife, Robin, treated the firefighters at Station 33 as if they were members of their own family. Together they celebrated the birth of every child in their fire station family, provided baked goods and treats to those working at the station during the holidays, and mourned with the families of other first responders who gave their lives in the line of duty. Jackson County, Missouri has seen 175 neighbors, friends, and family members die from this virus. Scott, Captain Robert Rocha, and EMT Billy Birmingham are the first three of Kansas City's finest first responders who have succumbed to Coronavirus while helping save others. Scott dedicated over a third of his life to serving Kansas City and its people. My fervent hope is that Scott's death will serve as a reminder that we must stand together in the face of the adversity that plagues us. Wearing a protective mask, social distancing, and getting tested not only protects you from getting sick; it also ensures that first responders like Scott can go home to their families at the end of the day without worrying whether they or their loved ones will get sick. In times of unforeseen tragedy, I am comforted by the teachings of Isaiah the prophet: When the righteous man perishes, he is taken away from calamity and enters into peace. A loving father, a dutiful public servant, and a beloved community member, Scott has rightfully earned the eternal peace that is awarded to the righteous man. The thoughts of the Kansas City community and the Fifth Congressional District are with Robin and their three children, Scott's extended family, and the innumerable Kansas City Fire Department employees who were fortunate enough to work with him. Our community is mourning the untimely death of a young father, but we are also celebrating a life dedicated to serving and saving others. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Scott's legacy and offering our deepest condolences to his family. I also ask that you, other members of the House of Representatives, and the American people remember Scott and his family's sacrifice as we continue to combat the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy and tired heart to honor the life of fire Captain Robert Joseph ``Bobby'' Rocha. Captain Rocha was a beloved, giving, vibrant soul, who lost his life last week after battling a COVID-19 infection he caught in the line of duty. Captain Rocha gave twenty-nine years of honorable service to the Kansas City Fire Department, and while his life was cut short, we must ensure that his memory is never forgotten. Captain Rocha began at the fire department back in 1991, the same year I was sworn in as Mayor of Kansas City. Since then, I have watched from afar as he rose to the rank of Captain while earning the respect and admiration of his fellow firefighters and the city he protected. When the coronavirus hit, Captain Rocha knew the fire department was in for a long haul. During this past year, firefighters around the country have been assisting EMTs more and more with pandemic-related emergency calls In Kansas City, more than 200 members of the fire department have tested positive and seventy-three are currently infected. Captain Rocha likely came into contact with ten to fifteen COVID-19 each and every day while in uniform. And then, the worst happened. In early November, Captain Rocha went into quarantine and was eventually hospitalized. He fought the disease valiantly, with the same vigor and verve with which he fought fires and saved lives for nearly three decades. But as Captain Rocha no doubt taught the young firefighters he trained, not all battles can be won; and on November 21th, Captain Rocha made his way toward eternal peace. He was sixty years old. Captain Rocha will be remembered in the community as a courageous public servant and a generous leader. We will never forget his selflessness, his humility, or the twenty-nine years he dedicated to our safety and peace of mind. His team will remember him as a mentor who trained and prepared them for the risks that they faced every day on the job. His family and friends remember him as loving man with a good sense of humor and an incredible ability to inspire those around him. They remember Captain Rocha as man who would do anything for anybody. They say people looked up to him ``like he was Hercules.'' And throughout his life, Captain Rocha always proved to be a decent, dependable man--a man who loved to ride his motorcycle, sing karaoke, and spend time with friends at the Outpost Bar and Grill. ``For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many,'' scripture tells us This has been a year of loss, a year of painful goodbyes, and a year of empty seats at the dinner table. But it also a year of heroes. The doctors, nurses, medical students, nursing students, EMTs, firefighters, and ordinary Americans who have placed their health in the hands of God to save others. Heroes who have come to serve the wellbeing of complete strangers. And, all too often, heroes who have given their lives as ransom for untold millions. Heroes like Captain Rocha. Today, my prayers are with Captain's Rocha's family, his friends, and all his brothers and sisters at Station 18. Let it be preserved in this timeless Record that his loss leaves us with a grief that cannot be weighed and debt that cannot be paid. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched and saved. So, Madam Speaker, let us honor Captain Rocha. Let us remember the light he brought with him everywhere he went. And, whatever we do in Congress today, tomorrow, next week, next year let the story of Captain Rocha sit at my chair in this Chamber. Let the stories of his fallen brothers, Billy Birmingham and Scott Davidson, walk with me through these halls. Let those stories remind us all that we have a part to play. Let them remind us of our duty to serve. In the coming days, flags across my state will fly at half-staff to honor Captain Rocha, dutiful Americans will wear masks and adhere to social distancing, and first responders will wake up again and again to walk into a weary nightmare that we have the power to make less dark. Captain Rocha gave his life to save others. We can never repay that debt. But it is our duty to try.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I regrettably missed one vote on Monday November 16, 2020. On Roll Call vote 220, S. 3147 Improving Safety and Security for Veterans Act, I would have voted YEA.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with an aching but appreciative heart, on behalf of the Kansas City community and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, to honor the memory of Anthony ``Tony'' Villegas. Kansas City has lost a kindred spirit and happy warrior, who dedicated his life to serving his community. Scripture tells us, in 1 Peter 4:10, to use whatever gifts we have received from God to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. As a member of the Parish Council for the St. John Evangelist Church in Kansas City, Tony understood this call to service better than most. Tony was blessed with the gift of a loving family, a beautiful marriage that would last sixty-one years, and an unrelentingly optimistic demeanor, and he turned those gifts into a lifetime of public service. He served on several boards and commissions working to strengthen our community throughout his life, including a quarter-century stint on the Board of Public Utilities. Believing that our city was at its best when everyone was given a fair shot, he worked tirelessly to promote inclusivity and unity. During his eight years on the Kansas Human Rights Commission, he worked to eliminate discrimination, segregation, and animus against people of color trying to access public accommodations and affordable housing. And during his tenure as the Commissioner of the Kansas City, Kansas Housing Authority, he held fast to his belief that access to safe and affordable housing was a fundamental human right, and he rejoiced every time he helped a family secure a place to call home. Today, families across Kansas City are safe and warm with roofs above their heads because of Tony's unwavering support and enthusiastic advocacy. Tony's work did not stop at promoting equal treatment under the law and investing in families' success through affordable housing; he also worked tirelessly to promote equal access to education. As a Board Member and Vice-President of El Centro for eight years, he worked to provide young Latino children with high-quality education. This education has provided the foundation for thousands of students to lead healthier lives, bolster their economic mobility, and advocate for the Latino community through elections and policy initiatives. Through the Academy for Children and various after-school enrichment programs, El Centro has created a nurturing environment for young Latino students to appreciate their culture and history while also preparing them to participate fully in Kindergarten and elementary school. Tony also served as a board member of the Hispanic Media Association Scholarship Fund and the University of Central Missouri's Cesar E. Chavez Scholarship Committee. As a result of Tony's impassioned fundraising, these scholarships have been able to award thousands of dollars to deserving Latino students pursuing higher education and working towards a brighter future for themselves and their families. Tony undoubtedly accomplished extraordinary progress for his community during his life, and we in Kansas City celebrate him as a local hero. But when you talked with him, his work would never come up. When Tony would greet people with his infectious smile and attentive ears, he wanted to hear about their lives, their families, and their struggles. If you needed to laugh, he was quick to deliver a joke. If you needed to cry, he would wrap his arm around you and make you remember that you were not going through dark times alone. Whether he was celebrating new life, working through life's problems, or mourning the end of a life, Tony served as a bright light and beacon of hope wherever he was. As friends and family gather to remember how Tony helped them through their lives, that beacon of hope will continue to shine brightly in their memories. Today, Kansas City's thoughts are with Tony's wife, Mary, his two sons, Anthony Jr. and Aquilino, his daughter, Mary Kay Villegas-Alitz, and his many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as they celebrate Tony's life and remember the moments of compassion and care he gave the world. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Tony's legacy and offering our deepest condolences to his family. As we celebrate the accomplishments of a life well-lived, let us remember how Tony used his God-given gifts to serve others. We may never truly know the full impact he had on our community, but make no mistake: Tony's legacy will live on through every young leader he inspired to continue that everlasting endeavor to promote equality, inclusivity, and opportunity. Put simply, Kansas City is better off today, tomorrow, and for generations to come, because of the time Tony gave us.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with abundant joy and immense pride to celebrate the 93rd birthday of Ms. Rafaela Garcia, known to friends, family, and community members as ``Lali.'' A cornerstone of the Hispanic community in Kansas City, her work as a private citizen, as an activist, and as an office holder has improved thousands of lives in the Kansas City area across multiple generations. Lali's ambition throughout her career has been clear: ``To make a better life for the Hispanic community through [her] involvement in various organizations.'' Over the last eighty years, Lali has accomplished that goal with conviction and grace. She began her activism at the young age of 13, when she first started going to the Guadalupe Center in Kansas City. At the time, the Center dedicated most of its resources to administering a school and clinic for underprivileged immigrants who had settled in Kansas City. Even at 13, Lali had a vibrant vision for what the Center could become: an integral part, a pillar, in the Kansas City Hispanic community. Serving for forty-six years on the Center's Board of Directors, including three terms as the Board President, she oversaw a massive expansion of the Center, among many critical victories. Today, the Center has grown to provide many essential services for Latinos, including healthcare, education, financial assistance, childcare, workforce development, and much more. Today, the Guadalupe Center, in no small part because of Lali's contribution, provides opportunities for newly-arrived immigrants to achieve their American Dream while also promoting pride in their culture and heritage. But Lali, ever the visionary, was not satisfied transforming just the Guadalupe Center. She knew that change would not come for the Kansas City Hispanic community until they organized and voted for elected officials who would advocate for them at every level of government. Recognizing this, Lali founded La Raza Political Club in 1989. Under her leadership, La Raza worked endlessly to register new voters for each election, ensuring for the first time a seat at the table for the small but vibrant Hispanic community in Kansas City. Most Novembers, you could find Lali at her polling place, trying to convince everyone in her community to vote for a more equal, more just, and more promising America. Even this year, amidst a global pandemic, she has worked with her team to register hundreds of young Latino voters in what could be the most important election of their lifetime. These actions alone would have been enough to satisfy most of us. But Lali has served Kansas City and the Hispanic community in a variety of roles throughout her career, and she is always finding new ways to effect change. She is a member the Union Cultural Mexicana Ladies Auxiliary, a full-time volunteer at the Casa Felix Senior Center, and a Board member for the Ethics, Human Relations, and Citizen Complaints Commission. She was also appointed to the Guadalajara Sister City Commission, as well as the Port Authority Board of Commissioners, and has served on the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast Committee since 1987. I list these accomplishments not to account for everything Lali has achieved-- an impossible task for such as short time. Rather, I highlight her work because it teaches all of us a lesson about what it means to participate in our community. The framers of our Constitution knew they were drafting a document to govern an imperfect nation, plagued by animus and inequality. In the preamble of this document, which serves as the foundation for our entire system of government, they instructed each subsequent generation to use its articles and amendments to form a more perfect union. The system relies on passionate, courageous, free- thinking Americans like Lali, pushing it towards a more just, tranquil, and equitable way of life. The arc of the moral universe bends towards justice, but it doesn't do it alone. Lali recognized early on that if she could uplift voices and register voters, she could change her neighborhood for the better. If she could change her neighborhood, Lali knew she could change her city; if she could change her city, she could change her state; if she could change her state, she could change our nation. Lali represents all that is great about America, Madame speaker; she represents the audacious notion that one person in one city can change the lives of millions who have struggled to realize the full rights and protections of our government. I am eternally grateful that fate brought Lali to Kansas City and that I have been able to witness her action, advocacy, and affection for others during my time in public office. Lali has done more than her fair share to make our union more perfect. One of the many unfortunate consequences of the ongoing public health crisis is the missed opportunities to celebrate and enjoy one another's company, whether it is graduations, bar mitzvahs, naturalization ceremonies, or the birthday party of a local hero turning 93 years young. It is imperative that we take time to celebrate life's milestones. Madam Speaker, please join me and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District as we forever enshrine our gratefulness for the work of Lali Garcia in the Congressional Record and as we wish her the happiest of birthdays. It is my fervent hope that we will be celebrating her 94th birthday in person, with a celebration fit for a local legend.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today on behalf of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, the Kansas City community, and the Jackson County Democratic Committee. I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Gene Morgan, a lifelong Kansas Citian whose dedication to serving others will have an enduring impact throughout our community. Scripture says, in 2 Corinthians 9:7, that each of us ``must give as he has decided in his heart, for God loves a cheerful giver.'' There is no doubt Gene was a cheerful giver of his time, energy, and intellect. Gene made it a lifelong goal to work on achieving criminal justice reform in Kansas City. After seeing how substance abuse impacted children in the juvenile court system, he was elected President of the Kansas City Community Center. Fueled by his unwavering belief that people could change for the better and improve their lives when given the opportunity, Gene promoted drug rehabilitation and treatment services throughout his tenure. As an Adjunct Professor in the Criminal Justice Department at the Metropolitan Community College, he mentored the next generation of advocates and prepared them to engage our community in discussions on crime prevention and justice reform. As a member of the Jackson County Community Backed Anti-Crime Tax (COMBAT) Commission, he worked tirelessly to ensure Kansas City residents could live free from the dangers of illegal drugs and violent crime through the use of prevention, education and treatment services. And as the Parliamentarian and Ward 4 Committeeman for the Jackson County Democratic Committee, he whole-heartedly supported candidates and elected officials dedicated to reforming a system that incarcerates too many and rehabilitates too few--costing us too much money and too many lives. Public service has long been a family affair for Gene and his wife, Judy, who currently serves as the State Representative for the 24th district in Jackson County. During fifty years of fruitful and devoted marriage, Gene cheered Judy on as she taught and counseled students in the Kansas City Public School District. When Judy decided the best way to continue serving others was through elected office, Gene served as her campaign manager and treasurer, always by her side lending his steadfast support. While he was an active participant in politics, attending countless community events and helping elect candidates across our city and state, Gene never lost sight of the central reason he decided to dedicate his life to public service. It was the same reason--the same motivational force--that drove him out of bed every morning with the verve and optimism to find success in the face of adversity. That reason, as anyone who knew him will tell you, was his enduring love for the people he served. When working the room at a committee meeting or greeting guests at a fundraiser, he always took an extra moment with each person to ask them questions about their personal lives. He asked these questions not to pry or feign sincerity, but because his passion for service was fueled by an unwavering desire to empathize and help people rise above the adversity in their lives. If Gene heard you were struggling or facing a problem, he was the first to lend a helping hand and a shoulder to lean on. After learning of his death, countless friends, family, and colleagues came together to share anecdotes about how Gene had positively impacted their lives. A common thread, woven through each person's happy memory of Gene, was his presence in their lives as a ``true friend.'' This is a title earned through years of continuously looking out for others. Back in May, Judy was on her way back from Jefferson City after honorably representing her constituents when she received the phone call that too many families are familiar with, especially during the on-going public health crisis. Gene was experiencing pain and on his way to the Emergency Room. Judy was able to visit with him for a brief period of time, before leaving pursuant to COVID-19 precautions. When informing supporters and friends of his condition, Judy explained that while she was physically unable to be with him, her ``thoughts [were] only with Gene.'' Judy spent the next five months as she had spent the previous fifty years--providing unconditional love and care for Gene. Sadly, his condition worsened until October 9th, when his brave battle with cancer came to an end. While we mourn Gene's death, we find solace knowing that in the waning months of a life well-lived he was never alone, as his beloved partner in life and in service was with him in person and spirit until his final moments. Today, the thoughts of Kansas City, the Metropolitan Community College, and the Jackson County Democratic Committee are with Judy, their daughter Courtney, their son-in-law Robert, and their grandchildren Alex and Olivia, as they celebrate and remember the life and legacy of Gene Morgan. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Gene's legacy and offering heartfelt condolences to his family. In his passing, Gene leaves behind a family that is more cohesive because of his contribution, a city that is stronger because of his service, and a union that is more perfect because of his presence.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize AY Young, an entertainer, singer-songwriter, dancer, producer, entrepreneur, and leader in the fight for a more sustainable world. On September 18th, the Office of the Secretary General of the United Nations announced that Mr. Young had been named one of the U.N.'s seventeen Youth World Leaders, a position he will hold for a two-year term. Standing out as the only American on that list, Mr. Young was then placed on Energy News Network's annual ``40 Under 40'' list, which recognizes young leaders paving the way for a clean energy economy. While these honors have shined an international spotlight on Mr. Young, his musical talents are rooted on street corners in the heart of America. Mr. Young grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. A home-schooled Eagle Scout, he began writing poetry at the young age of fourteen, drawing attention to topics far beyond his years. In fact, his earliest compositions brought focus to the ``Troost Divide,'' a deep and painfully visible scar left by decades of redlining and a lasting symbol of the residential segregation and economic disparities that persist in Kansas City to this very day. Mr. Young and his trademark fedora soon became fixtures of Kansas City street corners from the River Market to the Plaza. His shows have always been interactive and engaging, looking more like spontaneous parties than standard routines. In 2012, Mr. Young appeared on The X Factor, receiving a ``Yes'' vote from all four judges. However, despite this noteworthy accomplishment, Mr. Young was still unable to find a manager or record label willing to carry his career to the next rung on the conventional ladder to stardom. Unfazed, he went back to the street corners, this time not just in Kansas City but across the country, garnering a grassroots following while opening for the likes of Wiz Khalifa, SHAGGY, T-Pain, Flo-Rida, Aaron Carter, and Wyclef Jean. But Mr. Young wasn't just busking his way across America to earn his keep; this too was simply an opening act. After learning that over a billion people on Earth lack access to electricity, Mr. Young decided to turn his tour into the start of a much deeper, much more difficult, journey. Mr. Young's tour, it turned out, would be powered entirely by renewal energy. Thus was born the Battery Tour, a global movement developed by Mr. Young and his enterprising business partner Thor Dietrich. Showcasing musical artists alongside innovative new technologies designed to address global crises, the Battery Tour takes the forces of a musical experience, sustainability education, and a humanitarian mission and unites them into a whole that is more powerful than any of its parts. Mr. Young has hosted and performed more than 800 shows around the world--each a unique fusion of original solos, interactive covers, and personal requests--powered only by renewable energy. His performances are pure collaboration--collaboration between artists, collaboration between music and technology, collaboration between Mr. Young and his audiences. If you have a request or want a turn at the mic, he will make it happen. Mr. Young calls his fans ``outlets'' because they provide the power that drives both his shows and the causes he champions. They see a world and a way of life in need of drastic change. ``Outlets'' across the globe have faith, I have faith, the U.N. has faith, that Mr. Young can help make it happen. The Battery Tour is a bold, innovative, and powerful idea, aimed at leveraging creative passion in pursuit of a societal goal, while leveraging a societal goal in pursuit of creative development. If the Battery Tour expands its reach and proves successful in raising awareness the world over, significant innovations will be seen in the realms of sustainable energy, music, and live performance. And they're just getting started. Young and Dietrich's newest addition to the Battery Tour global brand is the creation of an app that promotes and incentivizes small acts of sustainable altruism among their many ``outlets.'' They hope the Tour will one day feature a large variety of artists who can each be fully compensated for their work as they promote sustainability on the world stage. Madam Speaker, please join me, a proud Fifth District, and ``outlets'' around the world in congratulating Mr. Young on these well- deserved honors and wishing him luck as he goes forth as an ambassador for our country, the 193 members of the United Nations, and a better, cleaner, more equitable future for all of humanity. Let each of us aspire to his example and seek to set our talents upon such a noble and pressing goal. Our unsustainable life is contributing to worldwide inequality and condemning future generations to build their lives in a world on fire. So, to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, l say this: if we truly want to honor Mr. Young and his leadership, it's time to plug in.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today, not only on behalf of Missouri's 5th Congressional District, but also on behalf of the Subcommittee on Monetary Policy. I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Thomas Laubach. Dr. Laubach dedicated his exceptional economic mind to serving his county and dedicated his life to serving the world at large. His was a powerful and touching life that was tragically cut short by cancer on September 2, 2020. He was just 55 years old. Dr. Laubach's legacy will live on in the work he did, the lives he touched, and the story he left behind. Dr. Laubach began as an undergraduate in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany at the University of Bonn, where he graduated with a degree in economics in 1993. He then went on to receive a Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University just four years later. At Princeton, Dr. Laubach's thesis advisor was none other than Ben Bernanke, who would go on to serve as the 14th Chair of the Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2014. With an illustrious education under his belt, Dr. Laubach began his even more illustrious career. First making a name for himself in my home district as an Economist at the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, Dr. Laubach started on a path to change the world of economics forever. After working at the Kansas City Fed for three years, Dr. Laubach became an Economist, and then Senior Economist, for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. He then took four years to teach and serve as Chair of Macroeconomics at Goethe University Frankfurt while taking research stints at Deutsche Bundesbank and the European Central Bank. He returned to the Board of Governors in 2012, this time as the Associate Director, before being appointed Director of the Division of Monetary Affairs in 2015. He served in that capacity until his death on September 2nd. At the time of his death, he was leading the central bank's new strategy to lower unemployment while responding to the changes brought on by the devastating pandemic that has so deeply affected our nation's economy. Though his life in the economic world was impactful in countless ways, he is most well-known for two groundbreaking contributions. The first, of course, is Dr. Laubach's indelible mark on central bank interest-rate policy, which continues to affect both the U.S. Federal Reserve and central banks across the world. The second came in 2001, when Dr. Laubach co-authored a paper titled ``Measuring the Natural Rate of Interest'' alongside John Williams, who is currently serving as the president of the New York Federal Reserve. That paper set forth a transformational theory on the neutral rate of interest that will forever be known as the Laubach-Williams model. Dr. Laubach wore many hats throughout his career: brilliant economist, dedicated researcher, bold thinker, curious student, and generous professor. A friend to many, he is also remembered as a kind, calm, and collegial presence. When critics attacked his ideas, Dr. Laubach responded with kindness and respect. When young economic minds sought his wisdom, he responded with patience and empathy. He was, above all, a beautiful soul who sought to employ his talents to alleviate suffering and serve others, and for that, we are eternally grateful. When such a quietly influential figure passes on, I find myself wondering what I myself can do to help preserve their legacy. But in that respect, Dr. Laubach's own work will do much more than any tribute or eulogy could ever hope to do. His ideas, his writing, his influence is already a part of the fabric of the economic world. His legacy lives on in global monetary policy, in economics classrooms around the country, and in the thinkers he helped prepare to take on the crises of tomorrow. Madam Speaker, please join me, my district, and the Subcommittee on Monetary Policy for the House Financial Services Committee in honoring Dr. Laubach's memory and offering heartful condolences to his loved ones. We have lost a bright light, an irreplaceable mind, and a dedicated public servant, but we are blessed with the dark places his light illuminated, the theories his mind made crystal clear, and the lives his service helped touch. He was taken from us far too soon, so let us all carry his torch forward by committing our passions, skills, and talents to the service of others.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate and thank Blake Hurst for his service to the Missouri Farm Bureau and to Missouri's agriculture community. Blake is a well-respected gentleman throughout the State of Missouri, not just in my home district, the Fifth. He is well known in the ag community, serving as president of the Missouri Farm Bureau since 2010 and vice president and district board member before that. I can attest to Blake's kindness and open-mindedness because he has worked with this urban representative from Kansas City. For 10 years, Blake has reached out to develop a relationship and partnership as we work together to do things for our district. He understands the symbiosis that exists between rural areas and urban ones. He knows the importance of making sure that all families can put food on their tables. I wish Blake well on his retirement as president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, but I know that as a farmer, he will keep busy with his family farm in northwest Missouri and their wholesale greenhouse business.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the life and memory of a dear mentor, a great Kansas Citian, and an extraordinary American: Ms. Rosemary Lowe. Ms. Lowe, who passed away on the evening of September 22nd, was an unstoppable force for change, force for good, and force of nature. A public servant can only hope to mean to their community what Ms. Lowe means to hers. Since I learned of her passing, I have been thinking about her remarkable story--about everything she was able to accomplish--and I still find it hard to believe she was able to fit it all into just ninety-four years. Ms. Lowe grew up in Dumas, Arkansas in the painful shadow of Jim Crow. When she was just fifteen, her family moved to Kansas City, where she would go on to become a pioneer in the fight for desegregation. Ms. Lowe spent her early career with another pioneer in that struggle: Black physician Dr. Dennis Madison Miller, who would go on to be appointed Superintendent of the Jackson County Hospital Colored Division. She worked for him for twenty-three years at his office on 18th and Vine. In the 1950s, Ms. Lowe was instrumental in efforts to desegregate downtown Kansas City department stores. Ms. Lowe was also instrumental in the founding of Freedom, Incorporated of Kansas City, Missouri, a political organization conceived in 1961 to elevate the votes, voices, and volition of the Black community of Kansas City to the halls of government. The next year, she and Freedom, Inc. co- founder Leon Jordan ran for seats as Democratic committee representatives for our City's 14th Ward. She lost. Jordan won. But Ms. Lowe would later go on to win that seat and hold it for two decades as Kansas City's first Black committeewoman. In 1964, when thousands of activists travelled south to Mississippi as part of Freedom Summer, Ms. Lowe stayed in Kansas City and helped register thousands of Black voters before a citywide vote on a proposed ordinance that would make it illegal to discriminate in taverns, trade schools, hospitals, and clinics. Kansas City's public accommodations ordinance passed, predating the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by several months. A retired cosmetologist, she spent her later years, if anything, expanding her efforts to help her community. She volunteered for the American Red Cross at Menorah Medical Center and the Veterans Administration Hospital of Kansas City, won and maintained a place on the Democratic National Committee for six years, co-founded the Local Investment Commission to improve the lives of children and families in the Kansas City region, and helped convince city leaders to relocate a Patrol Division of the Kansas City Police Department and rename it after none other than Freedom, Inc. co-founder and KCPD's first Black lieutenant, Leon Jordan. And whether it was Freedom, Inc., the Kansas City Democratic Committee, LINC, or any other of the tables of decision at which Ms. Lowe sat, she was, more often than not, either the only woman, the only Black voice, or both. I failed to mention, of course, the linchpin of Ms. Lowe's life of service. In 1952, after the Supreme Court ruled that people could not be evicted from their homes on the basis of race, Ms. Lowe's became one of the first Black families to move to the beautiful Santa Fe Neighborhood on the East Side of Kansas City. Kansas City's history of `redlining' and Santa Fe's history of racial covenants meant the transition for the first wave of Black residents was far from easy. White families began to move away in fear until, in 1955, just 15 percent of the neighborhood remained White-owned. Years later, when new residents would move into the Santa Fe Neighborhood, they were told to go see the President of the Santa Fe Area Council, a Ms. Rosemary Lowe, who had held the position for many decades. As President of the Santa Fe Neighborhood, Ms. Lowe fought for more streetlights, improved housing and infrastructure, and stronger, more trusting ties between police and the communities they had sworn to protect. Ms. Lowe was also a sage counselor, mentor, and role model to countless civic leaders, community organizers, and elected officials like myself, who sought her wisdom as we began our own barrier-breaking careers on a path she helped pave. We who owed her so much, who loved her so much, who looked up to her so much--we called her ``Mother Lowe.'' We sought her out not only for her experience and wisdom, but also for her kindness, her warmth, and her unflinching, unapologetic honesty. She is the political mother of African American power in Kansas City. Decades working for Dr. Dennis Miller, decades as the committeewoman for the 14th Ward, decades as the President of the Santa Fe Area Council--Ms. Lowe was one of the most dedicated public servants I have ever seen in action. Hers was not a rise to power, where one springs from one post to another. Ms. Lowe became ``Mother Lowe'' because she stayed in the arena, fighting in the struggles of today, every day, for ninety-four years' worth of days. There is a stretch of street in Kansas City, on 29th between Prospect and Indiana Avenue. It runs right through the heart of the Santa Fe Neighborhood. It is called the Honorary Rosemary S. Lowe Lane. Today, we honor a woman who has defined a stretch of history in Kansas City. It is a stretch that runs right through the heart of our struggle to become more free and more equal. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the extraordinary life and memory of Ms. Rosemary Lowe. Ms. Lowe's march to a better future for our city did not relent for one minute. Let us be grateful for the world she handed us and resolve to bring the spirit of Mother Lowe to each and every effort we undertake to make it better.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Financial Services be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 1923) to amend title 31, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue quarter dollars in commemoration of the Nineteenth Amendment, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.