Emanuel Cleaver

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 150th anniversary of John Deere in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1869, Charles Deere, Vice President and son of John Deere, established a regional office for the company, known as the Kansas City Branch House in the West Bottoms of Kansas City, Missouri. Its proximity to roads, rivers and rail systems would eventually help John Deere grow and keep pace with a rapidly growing country. Since its founding, John Deere has helped lead the way for community and economic growth as one of the first businesses and employers in Kansas City. In 2019, the company continues to thrive and remains a positive economic influence at the local, state and national level. John Deere's presence in Kansas City is a valuable reminder of the important role agriculture has played in our country and continues to play as American farmers work to feed the world's growing population. During its 150-year presence, John Deere has employed thousands at their local dealerships and regional offices. Today, the company is a global leader in the manufacturing, distribution and sales of agricultural, turf, construction and forestry equipment. Agricultural output must double in order to feed a global population that is estimated to reach 9.8 billion people by the year 2050. John Deere, in collaboration with American farmers, is committed to helping feed the world's population, and, consequently, they are providing the latest equipment technology and data required to meet the ever- increasing food, fiber, and fuel needs. John Deere continues to be a strong advocate and champion for agriculture while remaining committed core values of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation. The company has a higher purpose of serving those who are linked to the land, guiding the company and its leaders as they continue a journey its founder began back in 1837--a journey that I believe leads to a future filled with great promise and opportunity for the company and the broader agriculture sector. Madam Speaker, please join me and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring the 150th anniversary of John Deere in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Mr. Herbert Kohn for being named the recipient of the 2019 Henry W. Bloch Human Relations Award. This award was established in honor of Henry W. Bloch by the Jewish Community Relations Bureau and serves to honor a community member with a passion for community activism and an extraordinary civic presence. Mr. Herbert Kohn personifies the excellence we hope for in community leaders through his selfless character and dedication to pursuing justice for all. After a courageous early childhood in Europe during World War II, Mr. Kohn escaped to the United States with his family during his third- grade year. After surviving the Holocaust and resettling in Kansas City, Mr. Kohn was fully committed to his educational endeavors. During his time at Paseo High School, Mr. Kohn was selected by his teachers to participate in the Missouri Boys State program. Upon graduation, he attended the University of Michigan, earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1960 and his Juris Doctorate in 1963. Throughout his life, Mr. Herbert Kohn has shown steadfast bravery and devotion to academic excellence even in the face of formidable trials. Today, Mr. Kohn does exemplary work as a partner at a local law firm, Bryan Cave LLP, where he specializes in corporate law. Kohn's service to the community goes beyond his work as an attorney however. In 1999, Mr. Kohn served on the transition team for the first female Kansas City, Missouri Mayor, Kay Barnes, and later, on her Charter Review Commission. His collaboration with a number of Kansas City mayors led to a beautiful downtown, a City Pension Plan, and improved early childhood education. Additionally, Mr. Kohn served as a member of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and was selected by Governor Michael Parson to serve as Chairman of the Missouri Gaming Commission. Mr. Kohn's work has resulted in extraordinary benefits to our city, our state, and to countless people from all backgrounds and walks of life. As one can see, Mr. Kohn's numerous accomplishments have left an indelible impact on his community. His generous and benevolent character is particularly well-reflected via his life-long devotion to the Missouri Boys State program. He has dedicated decades to expanding, improving, and bringing national recognition to the program ever since he was a participant. Two years ago, Missouri Boys State re-named one of its cities to ``Kohn City.'' Moreover, Mr. Kohn served as the Chairman of the Kansas City Art Institute, the Chairman of the Missouri Cancer Commission, a Trustee of the Truman Library Institute, and the Director of the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Foundation. Throughout his extensive career, Mr. Herbert Kohn has devoted himself to institutions and organizations which have tangibly improved the lives of Kansas Citians and those throughout the region. Madam Speaker, please join me and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring Mr. Herbert Kohn for being named the recipient of the 2019 Henry W. Bloch Human Relations Award. I stand today to recognize and thank Mr. Kohn for his countless contributions to the Kansas City community and the nation at large.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her work in this area, which is desperately needed. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on today's Transgender Day of Remembrance. For 20 years, November 20 has marked a solemn day in the LGBTQ-plus community. Vigils are held in communities nationwide in honor of all the transgender people who were senselessly and dementedly killed for simply being who they are. I told my transgender friends and families: Never seek to change who you are. Be exactly who you are. Transgendered women of color are especially vulnerable to violence and are 4.3 times more likely to become homicide victims than all women, according to the Human Rights Campaign. This year alone, at least 22 transgender and gender-nonconforming Americans have been killed in the United States. Ninety-one percent of them were Black women. I am sad to say that three transgender people of color were murdered in the greater Kansas City area, two in my congressional district. Brooklyn Lindsey was a 32-year-old Black transgender woman. Those who knew her say she was intelligent, had a good sense of humor, and was loved by many. By many accounts, she was outgoing and happy. She enjoyed dancing, helping others, and wanted to be a life coach. On June 25, she was found shot to death on an abandoned porch in Kansas City, Missouri. Jamagio Jamar Berryman, also known as Ja'leyah Jamar, was 30 and a Black gender nonconforming person. Ja'leyah was passionate about fixing and working on cars, designing hair, and spending quality time with family. They were shot and killed in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 13. They left behind a 5-year-old daughter named Ja'Mya, their parents, seven siblings, nieces and nephews, and many others who loved them deeply. And most recently, Brianna ``BB'' Hill was a 30-year-old Black transgender woman who was fatally shot in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 14. Brianna was a beloved member of her community, a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, and loved spreading joy by sharing funny videos on her Facebook page. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has removed requirements for applicants for homeless funding maintain antidiscrimination policies and demonstrate efforts to serve LGBTQ-plus people and their families. The Department of Defense has implemented a ban on transgender troops. These are just a few instances that shows that the United States of America--at least the administration--is in the midst of a nervous breakdown. Change is still needed to protect the LGBTQ citizens nationwide. Mr. Speaker, I thank the for gentlewoman for allowing me to speak.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Swope Health and their fifty years of service to the Greater Kansas City metro area. Since they were founded in 1969, Swope Health has expanded to provide an extensive number of services to citizens of all backgrounds around the city and have become an indispensable part of the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri. Swope Health opened in 1969 as an integral part of President Lyndon Johnson's Model Cities Program. President Johnson created the program, as well as its offshoot, the Model Cities Health Corporations, as a precursor to the contemporary oversight seen in American cities. Championing this moment of opportunity, Swope Health took its mandate seriously. The first clinic opened by Swope Health operated in the basement of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church with a total of twenty employees. These twenty valiant health care professionals successfully cared for over 2,000 patients in their first year. Today, the organization has grown exponentially, serving over 40,000 patients throughout western Missouri and eastern Kansas, and their spirit of exemplary service and tireless energy persists. Swope Health operates under an integrated healthcare model, which means they successfully provide a wide range of services for adults and children, men and women's health, and even dental care. The list of specific services they provide is extensive and impressive. To best accomplish this, Swope Health employs over 500 associates from a diverse range of professional backgrounds and careers. Moreover, their dedication to diversity and inclusion is readily apparent, not only in the range of employees, but also executives that are proud to represent Swope Health. Swope Health's executive leadership, from CEO Dave Barber to Community Engagement, Development & Outreach Coordinator Michelle Keller, reflect the best and brightest from a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, all of whom share a dedication to providing high quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare. Furthermore, Swope Health has taken its role as a community partner seriously by expanding its outpatient offerings around the city, opening safety-net clinics for low-income and uninsured Kansas Citians, and hosting fun, creative, and beneficial events throughout the year. From Swope Health Socks and Hops, which encouraged individuals to enjoy craft beer while supporting the area's homeless shelters, to hosting Kansas City's National Health Center Week, Swope Health always takes their place as a regional leader seriously. Madam Speaker, please join me and the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri in honoring Swope Health for their dedicated leadership, service, and care over the last fifty years.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize and celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Kansas City's own Boulevard Brewing Company. Born from one man's dream to put Kansas City back on the map for brewing, Boulevard Brewing Company has become an iconic and beloved institution by locals and tourists alike. In the summer of 1984, while on vacation in Europe, John McDonald, founder of Boulevard Brewing Company, discovered his love and intrigue for Belgian beers. It was this curiosity and interest, coupled with the opportunity to address a gap in the market that fueled McDonald's dream. Kansas City was once home to more than a dozen breweries, producing a wide array of beers, but had succumbed to the industrial onslaught, leaving the city left with none. This, in conjunction with the homogenous nature of American beers being produced at the time, encouraged McDonald to continue to pursue this interest, embarking on an endeavor that would come to be a social and cultural pillar of Kansas City. After attending art school, McDonald began home brewing, put together a business plan, sold his house to raise money, and sought necessary resources to start the brewery. In line with his creative background, McDonald's vision for the brewery was innovative, unique, and stood in stark contrast to what many breweries across the country looked like and produced. McDonald began renovation in an old brick building along the historic Southwest Boulevard, which once housed the laundry for the Santa Fe Railroad. In November 1989, after more than a year of working tirelessly to retrofit the building, the first keg of Boulevard Pale Ale was loaded into the back of McDonald's pickup truck and delivered to a restaurant down the street. For the first year, the small crew worked lengthy hours brewing, kegging, cleaning, and working to persuade bar and restaurant owners to put Boulevard beers on tap, as the company initially only produced draft beers. Knowing that the bottling of Boulevard's product would open doors to new opportunities and growth, McDonald worked to secure funding for bottling lines. After overcoming rejection by bank after bank, one institution saw promise in Boulevard's vision and enabled the brewing company to install a very small, used bottling line. With this line in place, Boulevard quickly found itself becoming the talk of the town and built a notable reputation for itself. With its rapid growth came concerns of outgrowing the space in which Boulevard Brewing Company was founded. Faced with the decision to relocate or revitalize, McDonald chose to revitalize the historic building on Southwest Boulevard in 2006 in a $25 million project that expanded into a new building with a 150-barrel brewhouse, packaging halls, and hospitality spaces. With sales reaching nearly 300,000 barrels, this renovation allowed the company to increase their potential brewing capacity to 700,000 barrels annually. In the years following, McDonald continued to create new products and grow Boulevard's presence. Boulevard soon found their products spanning coast-to-coast, from California to Washington, D.C. by the mid-2000s. Eventually, their progress came full-circle when McDonald was approached by Michael Moortgat, President and fourth generation leader of Duvel Moortgat, maker of Duvel beer, which first set John McDonald on his journey in brewing. In 2014, Boulevard became part of the Duvel Moortgat family, a collection of artisanal breweries dedicated to the highest expression of the brewers' art. Today, Jeff Krum serves as President of Boulevard Brewing Company, Brewery Ommegang of Cooperstown, NY, and Duvel Moortgat USA. Krum has been with Boulevard since its founding and is committed to taking the brewery even further. Krum has also been an active contributor to our Kansas City community in other ways, founding Ripple Glass, which created a local and regional glass recycling solution, and serving on the board on directors of the Kansas City Streetcar Authority, the Downtown Transportation Development District, and the Kansas City Economic Development Corporation. To this day, Boulevard remains steadfast in its commitment to the original vision and mission set forth by McDonald, helping to redefine American beer while having a lasting positive impact on the Kansas City community. Through these efforts, Boulevard Brewing Company has established itself as the Midwest's largest specialty brewer. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Boulevard Brewing Company's thirtieth anniversary and celebrating their innovation, vision, and impact in Kansas City and beyond.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, today I proudly rise to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of McCownGordon Construction and its numerous contributions to the Kansas City community. As a significant cornerstone of the community, I am truly honored to have this establishment in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri. McCownGordon Construction began as an idea between two friends and eventual co-founders, Pat McCown and Brett Gordon, who dreamed of starting their own construction company. Their main priority was to create a workplace that would prioritize their employees, better serve their clients, and give back to the community. They made this dream a reality through dedication, perseverance, and hard work in July of 1999. During the labor shortage of recent years when many construction companies struggled to find employees, McCownGordon Construction managed to endure by investing in the development of its team. The business tripled its training budget in order to be prepared for business growth when the economy bounced back. Due to this training initiative, McCownGordon is consistently hiring qualified and strong candidates in order to continue providing the best for its clients. In 2013, McCownGordon Construction was named Business Philanthropist of the Year by Nonprofit Connect because of its consistent commitment to giving back to Kansas City. The company devotes at least 10 percent of net profits to worthy causes in the communities it serves. The company's craftsmanship and involvement in the Ronald McDonald Longfellow House aided in providing temporary housing for families with sick children receiving medical treatment. Along with the R.A. Bloch Foundation, McCownGordon collaborated in renovating a portion of the Cancer Survivor's Park as well. Multiple projects for one of Kansas City's treasures, the NelsonAtkins Museum of Art, have also been completed by McCownGordon Construction. Thousands of visitors and Kansas City natives can view priceless and rare works of art in the newly renovated exhibits. Beautiful places like these are preserved and enjoyed by many because of the unwavering support of companies like McCownGordon Construction. These contributions and collaborations demonstrate how McCownGordon Construction has proven to be an invaluable part of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. Today, McCownGordon Construction employs around 400 staff, all of whom contribute to the company in various ways. Construction workers, architects, management, and administrative staff all work together in order to create meaningful projects and buildings. McCownGordon is entirely employee-owned, so all employees have a stake through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The company's innovative and ambitious vision for the future and for the community drives McCownGordon Construction's success. McCownGordon sets itself apart by focusing on growing positive relationships between employees and clients, while adhering to its core values. The company's positive and communicative workplace environment prompted it to be named one of the best places to work by Fortune, the Kansas City Business Journal, and others. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring McCownGordon Construction and its employees for their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to their community. Together, they have made it possible to achieve this monumental twentieth anniversary.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the sixtieth season of the Kansas City Chiefs football and the unremitting dedication of their fans. As the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District and a lifelong Chiefs fan, I am proud to honor Kansas City's home team with this Congressional Record. Sixty years ago, the Chiefs were founded as the Dallas Texans by the widely revered Lamar Hunt. Recognized as one of the greatest sportsmen in American history, Hunt served as the guiding force behind the formation of both the American Football League and the Kansas City Chiefs franchise. Hunt's determination and influence served as the catalyst that would bring his ``impossible dream'' to reality when his league took to the field for the '60 season. Hunt continued to chase this dream as he moved his Dallas Texans team to Kansas City where the organization would be renamed as the Kansas City Chiefs. Hunt's vision for the organization was reaffirmed on June 8, 1966 when the AFL-NFL merger was announced by NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, and the Kansas City Chiefs went on to participate in the inaugural Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers on January 15, 1967. Only three years after that inaugural game, the Chiefs claimed Kansas City's first major sports championship victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. Not only did Hunt's passion help put Kansas City on the ``big league'' map, his influence and commitment helped pave the way for much of the modern growth of professional football. In the late 1960s, Hunt played an integral role in the original development plans for Arrowhead Stadium, a facility which provided the Chiefs and their fans with one of the most decided homefield advantages in all of sports. While other venues of a similar vintage have long since been termed obsolete or have been demolished, Arrowhead continues to serve as a point of pride for Chiefs and fans alike. In a true exemplification of the avid nature of Chiefs fans, Arrowhead recently broke the record for the loudest stadium on September 29, 2014. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, no sports fans in the world are louder than Kansas City Chiefs fans at Arrowhead Stadium, registering a record 142.2 decibels--louder than a jet taking off from an aircraft carrier. Additionally, under Hunt's stewardship, the Chiefs developed an intensely loyal fan base, not just in Mid-America, but across the country and the globe. Hunt took great satisfaction in the fact that the Chiefs boasted season-ticket holders from forty-eight of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada. He was also appreciative of the fact that Kansas City was selected to represent the NFL on the world stage in four American Bowl contests: Berlin, Germany (1990), Tokyo, Japan (1994, 1998), and Monterrey, Mexico (1996). Like jazz was to the music scene or Royals baseball to America's favorite pastime, the Chiefs brought Kansas City to the forefront of the national consciousness. In the decades to come, the organization would experience many highs and lows, including a promising '71 season that featured a team record eleven Pro Bowl performers and ended dramatically in the longest game in NFL history, an AFC Divisional Playoff game played on Christmas day. It took 82:40 and double overtime to close out the game. This loss served as the Chiefs' last playoff appearance for fifteen years. The years following brought trials and tribulations, but strengthened the team overall, earning them NFL playoff appearances in 1986, 1990 through 1995, 1997, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2013, and 2015 to 2017. Today, Kansas City and ``Chiefs Kingdom'' continues a custom throughout the region that was forged by charity and the love of the game--Red Friday. Red Friday began in 1992 as an idea pitched to Lamar Hunt by the first President of the Red Coaters, the late Jim Shultz. The Red Coaters were founded in 1963, and members were obliged to sell tickets and received a red coat for selling so many. Made up of businessmen and women dedicated to the Chiefs and their community, the Red Coaters still share the same mission of giving today. The first Red Friday featured the Red Coaters and Hunt himself on the streets of Kansas City selling newspapers with a special Chiefs edition to benefit local charities. After debuting on the west side of town, Red Friday moved north to the river, back to Westport, then to the Arrowhead parking lot. The Chiefs-themed newspapers turned into Red Friday magazines. Then those Red Friday magazines turned into Chiefs Kingdom flags sold to raise money for charity. The tradition continues to unite Kansas Citians and Chiefs fans across the country, transcending generations and bringing together a city of nearly 500,000 for a common cause to paint the town red. Today, the Kansas City Chiefs continue to breathe life into the dream Lamar Hunt had when he founded the organization through its sustained ability to bring fans together in a true display of community and pride. The profound legacy the Kansas City Chiefs have paved builds upon and preserves a rich history that has given a way for many athletes and members of the organization to inspire, unify, and empower generations of football players and spectators alike. Madam Speaker, please join with me as we commemorate the sixtieth anniversary season of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the tenth anniversary of Ripple Glass. For a decade, Ripple Glass has led the way in efficient glass recycling and served as champions in the implementation of their streamlined framework in cities throughout the Midwest. I am proud to have such an innovative and environmentally conscious company in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. Upon discovering that Kansas Citians threw away nearly 150 million pounds of perfectly good glass, including 10 million empty bottles from Kansas City's very own Boulevard Brewing Company, the individuals at Boulevard Brewing realized that something must be done to prevent glass from making its way to the landfill. Area businesses use nearly 200 million pounds of recycled glass every year, but local recycling was not occurring due to a lack of nearby facilities to process intake. Tired of contributing to a mounting problem, the individuals at Boulevard Brewing Company, with the support of local companies and community organizations, sought a solution and founded Ripple Glass in 2009. Ripple established a collection system and state-of-the-art processing plant that operated efficiently. The company began by placing its trademark purple collection bins in sixty locations across the Kansas City metropolitan area, where glass would be collected before being transported to the processing plant to be cleaned, dried, sized, sorted, and screened. This processing plant provides furnace- ready cullet-crushed, recycled glass to local companies in the region that utilize the converted, recycled glass for fiberglass insulation. This process saves enormous amounts of energy and dramatically lowers emissions. Ripple Glass also exports recycled amber glass to be turned back into glass bottles, including those used by Boulevard Brewing. The prominent purple Ripple Glass bins can be found across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The glass collected from these bins all comes back to the Kansas City facility for processing, helping over eighty other communities keep glass out of landfills--truly exemplifying the `ripple effect'. Moreover, Ripple Glass has recently launched a collection service for bars, restaurants, and other commercial institutions, allowing them to further pursue their mission to provide a comprehensive glass recycling system in Kansas City and beyond. By tapping into the local marketplace, Ripple Glass has found a way to close the loop, protect the environment, support area businesses, and even make homes more energy efficient. Prior to Ripple Glass operations in Kansas City, approximately 80,000 tons of container glass were consumed each year with only five percent being recycled. Now, through Ripple Glass' initiatives, nearly twenty percent of the community's glass is recycled and almost 200,000 tons of glass is diverted out of landfills across the region. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Ripple Glass for a decade of service to the greater Kansas City area and beyond. Let us join in recognizing the company's unremitting commitment towards sustainability and ensuring glass recycling is available to communities across the Midwest.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reverend Joseph Colaizzi's thirty-five years of dedicated service to the Kansas City Rescue Mission (KCRM). As the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, it brings me great joy to honor a lifelong community advocate and the indelible mark he has left on the community. Rev. Joe Colaizzi was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He later moved to Ohio where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Cincinnati before joining the production team for the timeless series that captivated the hearts of so many--Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Rev. Colaizzi went on to become the Director of Instructional Television at Carnegie Mellon University. While at Carnegie Mellon, Rev. Colaizzi had a life-changing encounter with his faith. Eventually, Rev. Colaizzi found shelter at Lamb's Manhattan Church of the Nazarene, where he subsequently served the homeless for seven years as a ministry team member and eventually Associate Pastor. It was also at Lamb's Manhattan Church of the Nazarene where Rev. Colaizzi met and married his loving wife Marilyn. In 1983, the Colaizzi family moved to Kansas City and planted roots, allowing Joseph to pursue his Master of Divinity degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary while volunteering at the Kansas City Rescue Mission. The seeds Reverend Colaizzi planted for his life began to flourish as he assumed his role as the Executive Director of Kansas City Rescue Mission. For Rev. Colaizzi, success has always been measured by the joy brought to him by selflessly serving others and working tirelessly to build a more equitable, inclusive, and unified community for all. KCRM was established in 1950 with a mission to serve people in need, opening their doors to the poor, homeless, hungry, and hurting. Focused on serving marginalized communities with dignity, KCRM offers individuals a multitude of services, including case management, recovery programs, job and life skills through educational services, and the opportunity to participate in their social enterprise program. Regardless of an individual's current situation, KCRM empowers clients to overcome their obstacles in their life and gives them hope for a brighter future and the tools to achieve it. Under Rev. Colaizzi's stewardship, Kansas City Rescue Mission has grown from one employee to sixty, increasing the organization's capacity to broaden their reach and presence in the community. The Kansas City Rescue Mission Men's Center, which once provided only emergency shelter, meals, and chapel services for thirty homeless men a day, now serves up to 140 men daily and provides additional services, including residential addiction recover, health care, and counseling, just to name a few. Rev. Colaizzi's passion to serve others is further evidenced by his initiation of the Reaching Up, Moving Forward campaign in 2011 that funded the establishment of the Kansas City Rescue Mission Women's Center. This twenty-bed facility opened July 15, 2013 and provides residential recovery, counseling, therapy, and case management services for single, homeless women, many with co-occurring disorders. To this day, Reverend Joseph Colaizzi remains an active, integral member of the community and consistently directs his efforts towards the betterment of people's lives in and around Kansas City. Rev. Colaizzi's leadership and advocacy is unparalleled and inspiring. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring thirty-five years of dedicated service to the community by Reverend Joseph Colaizzi through his ministry and direction at the Kansas City Rescue Mission. Let us honor the profound legacy of Rev. Colaizzi and the impact he has made through his benevolent spirit and passion to serve.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my esteemed colleague, Rep. Sharice Davids, of Kansas City, Kansas to recognize Travois, Inc., a Certified B Corporation headquartered in Kansas City, that has been named a ``Best For The World'' honoree by B Lab. Travois focuses exclusively on promoting housing and economic development for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. We are proud to have this socially and environmentally conscious company in the Kansas City metro region. Since its establishment in 1995, Travois has generated $1.4 billion in housing and economic development in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities, helping clients build or rehabilitate more than 5,400 affordable homes. The company has brought more than $800 million in private investor equity to more than 200 developments in Indian Country. Travois raises capital for this purpose through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, the New Markets Tax Credit program, and through impact investors. Travois' work promotes public benefits, is designed to solve social- and environmental issues, creates economic opportunity for individuals and communities, and focuses on underserved populations. The company also finances critical economic development projects, including infrastructure, healthcare, community centers, education facilities, and senior living centers in 22 states. Additionally, it provides employee benefits like on-site daycare and uses an extensive renewable energy system of rooftop solar panels to power its headquarters building. Travois has been honored in two categories of Best For the World: Overall and Customers. It earned recognition as Best for the World: Overall due to its rank in the top 10 percent of all B Corporations worldwide across all six impact areas--environment, workforce, local communities, supplies, customers, and corporate governance. It is one of only 119 U.S. companies that were recognized with this honorary designation and is the only Missouri-based company in this category. The Best For the World recognition is administered by the global nonprofit B Lab, which certifies and supports Certified B Corporations that are dedicated to using business as a force for good. The 3,000 B Corporations are spread across 64 countries and 150 industries, unified by the common goal of redefining success in business. These corporations, including Travois, meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance and are assessed by the overall positive impact of their business model. Madam Speaker, please join Rep. Davids and myself in congratulating Travois, Inc. for being awarded as a Certified B Corporation Best For The World 2019 honoree. Travois' outstanding achievement and dedication to sustainability and social justice are truly admirable, and we are privileged to have such an organization in our Kansas City region.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I request permission to speak for 1 minute out of turn.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I regrettably missed a vote on Wednesday, October 23, 2019. I had intended to vote ``yes'' on vote 584.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for her work in this area, and for allowing those of us who are interested in this legislation to play a major role. As many of my colleagues are aware, national security is one of the most pressing matters facing the United States of America and the world. I am excited for the opportunities that this moment presents to address these issues head on. Our most profound responsibility as Members of Congress is to preserve America's national security and the United States' global position as an international leader in free and fair markets. Since the last major anti-money laundering reforms of 2001, the national security threats that face our country have evolved profoundly and significantly, and frighteningly. Cyber and technological attacks have risen to the top of our most recent worldwide threat assessment as a paramount national security risk. Underground online trafficking now allows for simplified avenues to transport illicit material across the Nation and around the globe, and cryptocurrencies now allow for streamlined means to fund criminal organizations. With virtual currency, dark web marketplaces and illicit technologies expanding to threaten citizens safety and hard-earned savings, it is critically important, Mr. Speaker, that our federal agencies evolve to meet and conquer these new challenges. The COUNTER Act will do just that. This legislation will empower the Treasury Department to protect our national security and explicitly safeguard our financial systems through the Bank Secrecy Act. It codifies a voluntary information-sharing program between law enforcement, financial institutions, and the Treasury Department, better ensuring the capture of illicit activities. It balances national security and personal privacy by requiring Treasury and financial regulators to create the position of civil liberty and privacy officer. This officer will ensure that policies being developed and implemented are not intruding or undermining citizens' constitutional rights. While the bill will close a number of loopholes that have allowed for financial crimes to be committed, it will also pull us into the 21st century by positioning the United States to face tomorrow's challenges. The bill encourages financial regulators to work with companies to implement innovative approaches to meet the requirements in complying with existing law and encourages the use of innovative pilot programs. Financial regulators will establish an innovation lab that will provide outreach to law enforcement, financial institutions, and others, to coordinate on innovative and new technologies, ensuring they comply with existing law while fostering the implementation of new technologies. An innovation council will also be created, represented by the directors from each innovation lab, who will coordinate on active Bank Secrecy Act compliance. It is imperative that we modernize our efforts to combat financial crimes because our adversaries will continue to modernize. I am happy that this bill is coming before us, the COUNTER Act, as an amendment to Congresswoman Maloney's bill, the Corporate Transparency Act, which I know she and her team have worked very hard to produce. The straightforward bill, Mr. Speaker, provides needed visibility by requiring companies and the United States to disclose the financial beneficiary in order to prevent criminals and wrongdoers from exploiting their status as a company. Mr. Speaker, these are critical proposals. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I thank Chairwoman Waters.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to celebrate the Fortieth Anniversary of Harvesters and recognize its countless contributions to Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, the Kansas City region, and beyond. As part of a national network of hunger relief organizations, Harvesters is a cornerstone of many communities in the 5th District, and I am truly honored to have such an impactful, admirable organization based in the district I represent. Harvesters began in Kansas City in 1979 when faith organizations, social service agencies, and businesses partnered to tackle the increasing issue of hunger in the greater Kansas City area. Harvesters is a food bank that acts as a liaison between more than 760 agencies in Missouri and Kansas to coordinate with emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, children's homes, schools, and others to end food insecurity. During its first year of operation, Harvesters administered 155,000 pounds of food within five counties. The nonprofit has only increased in size and reach in the years since. In 2018, Harvesters distributed 52,572,724 pounds of food throughout twenty-six counties in Missouri and Kansas. As operations expanded and flourished, the United States Department of Agriculture extended a partnership to Harvesters, offering the organization the opportunity to distribute federal commodities to qualifying agencies. In 2011, Harvesters was nationally recognized as the Food Bank of the Year by Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger relief organization in the United States. Harvesters operates community-wide programs for children, families, and seniors out of its Topeka and Kansas City facilities. The BackSnack program works with schools to provide over 8,000 nutritious snacks and meals each week to children in the greater Kansas City area. The nonprofit has implemented mobile food pantries throughout Missouri's Fifth Congressional District for families that may not otherwise have access to a grocery store. Harvesters also works with the federal government on the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which delivers boxes of nutritious food to seniors each month. Harvesters is inclusive of all, tailoring each of its programs to the diverse community it serves. Harvesters set itself apart as an advocate and champion of human dignity in our communities. Throughout its twenty-six county service area, one in eight people are food insecure. The organization recognizes that many individuals and families need food assistance at times, and they strive to provide support with benevolence and compassion. Harvesters staff and volunteers are truly an inspiration to us all. Madam Speaker, please join with me in celebrating Harvesters' Fortieth Anniversary. Through magnanimous leadership and dedicated service, Harvesters has touched the lives of thousands of residents in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District and beyond. We stand today to celebrate Harvesters' indelible mark on our country and thank them for their enduring work to end hunger in our communities.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Honorable Judge Howard F. Sachs' service and commitment to justice throughout his forty years on the bench. Judge Sachs has spent his entire career advancing the cause of justice in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri and throughout Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. A lifelong Kansas Citian, Judge Sachs was born in 1925 to Alex and Rose Sachs. Judge Sachs attended Southwest High School in Kansas City's Brookside neighborhood before serving the country in the Pacific Theatre as a Naval Electrical Technician's Mate aboard the U.S.S. South Dakota. While he was anchored in Tokyo Bay on Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz's Flag Ship, the Japanese signed the terms of surrender, ending World War II. Judge Sachs was there, serving his country, during this significant moment in history. Upon discharge from the military, Judge Sachs attended Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he received his bachelor's degree and graduated valedictorian of his class in 1947. In 1950, Judge Sachs received his Juris Doctor with honors from Harvard Law School. After completing law school, Judge Sachs returned to his hometown of Kansas City and was a law clerk for the Honorable Albert A. Ridge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri from 1950 to 1951. While clerking for Judge Ridge, Judge Sachs was assigned the well-known Swope Park Swimming Pool case, which challenged the constitutionality of segregated municipal pools in Kansas City. He contributed to the opinion siding with the argument made by the NAACP's chief attorney at the time, Thurgood Marshall, that segregated public swimming pools violated the constitution of the United States. Though this case was profoundly significant, the work of Judge Sachs was only beginning. During his private practice in the 1950s, a tumultuous time for race relations in America, Judge Sachs served as Chairman of the Board of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City and helped orchestrate the admission of women and African American lawyers into the Kansas City Bar Association. In 1962, Judge Sachs drafted the ordinance that finally ended segregated public accommodations in Kansas City, Missouri. Judge Sachs also was a force for change via the significant leadership positions he held within the community, serving as a member of the Kansas City Commission on Human Relations and as President of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau. After thirty years in private practice, Judge Sachs was nominated for his position on the recommendation of Senator Thomas F. Eagleton, appointed by President Jimmy Carter, and took office in October 1979, making him the first native-born Kansas Citian to serve in the Western District of Missouri. When Judge Sachs was confirmed, he was the first Jewish district judge to sit within the Eighth Circuit in nearly one hundred years. In 1990, Judge Sachs served as chief judge of the court and took senior status in 1992. While on the bench, Judge Sachs has overseen numerous noteworthy cases, from ruling that inmates had a right to marriage in 1984--a case which eventually reached the Supreme Court--to the writing of a lower court ruling in Mistretta that challenged the constitutionality of the Sentencing Commission and produced federal sentencing guidelines. Even in his fortieth year on the bench, Judge Howard F. Sachs continues to maintain a significant docket. Throughout his career, Judge Sachs has received noteworthy public recognition including numerous awards from the Lawyers Association of Kansas City, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, the Truman Award for Public Service, the Difference-Maker Award from the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, and the designation of ``Judge Howard F. Sachs Day'' on September 26, 2019 by the city of Kansas City, Missouri, in recognition of forty years of distinguished service on the Federal Judiciary. Judge Howard F. Sachs' reputation equals impressive his legal career. He is widely-known for his unparalleled devotion to the legal profession and his well-analyzed, clearly expressed opinions rooted in the bedrock of justice. Distinguished by his intellectual interest, faithfulness to precedent, and reserved demeanor, Judge Sachs has established an inspirational legacy steeped in justice, fairness, and due process. To this day, at ninety-four years old, he remains as veracious and committed to his duties as his first day on the bench. Madam Speaker, please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in celebrating Judge Howard F. Sachs' forty years serving as a U.S. District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Let us honor his unremitting commitment to the American people, and the rule of law

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize and celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Local 781 chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). For seventy-five years, Local 781 firefighters in Independence, Missouri, have proudly served and protected their community. Supporting one of the oldest municipalities in Jackson County, Missouri, the contributions of Local 781 are engrained in the complex history of the Independence Fire Department and steeped in tradition, dedication and bravery. In 1843, as the prospering village flourished, so did a growing need to protect what they had established, leading to the emergence of the Independence Fire Department. Consisting of volunteer fire fighters, the Independence Fire Department originally fought fires in the community with buckets as their only equipment, For 175 years, the Independence Fire Department has upheld this same tenacious, innovative spirit. It has evolved and grown to meet the everchanging needs of the community it serves, and today encompasses ten fire stations, over 150 personnel, an area of seventy-eight square miles, and an institution that boldly protects and serves the community. The men and women employed by the Independence Fire Department have been proudly and faithfully represented by the Local 781 chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) since the formation of the local chapter in 1944, empowering them to maintain the same selfless sacrifice in the protection of countless lives. Moreover, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) represents more than 295,000 full-time professional firefighters and paramedics who protect eighty-five percent of the nation's population. This endeavor is assisted by the nearly 3,100 affiliates and their members in every state across the United States and Canada. The IAFF not only represents firefighters and paramedics but also includes state employees, federal workers, and fire and emergency medical personnel employed at certain industrial facilities. As leaders, advocates, and champions for its members, the International Association of Fire Fighters has played a pivotal role in every advance in fire and emergency services in the 20th century. From the introduction of shift schedules early in the last century to the enactment of SAFER in 2003, which helps bolster access to careers in essential emergency response, ensuring better work conditions for these responders, and providing established professional standards for fire service. The IAFF has consistently been there to fight for responders and improvements to public safety. Today, the International Association of Fire Fighters continues to spearhead policy that ensures the well-being of its members and places emphasis on their ability to safely execute their duties. The growth and success of this institution is reflective of its member-driven initiatives and commitment to be an organization for firefighters, by firefighters. Madam Speaker, please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of Local 781 chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters. Let us join in recognizing the bravery of its members, both past and present, who honorably serve the community of Independence, Missouri.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to recognize and celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Missie B's, an institution that is instrumental to the identity of the LGBTQ+ community throughout Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. Without places like Missie B's that encourage all individuals to pursue their true and genuine selves, Kansas City and its people would not be what and who they are today. Missie B's first opened in April of 1994, perched on the corner of Southwest Trafficway and 39th Street, located in Kansas City's historic Westport entertainment district. Missie B's started as a piano bar, but within its first few months of opening, the owner decided to produce drag performances a few nights each week. Today, Missie B's has nightly drag shows, dancing, karaoke, and the Late Night Theatre program. Missie B's has fostered arts and entertainment in Kansas City for the past twenty-five years while providing a place for the LGBTQ+ community to flourish and thrive. Michael W. Burnes, owner of Missie B's, has dedicated his life to serving and bettering the people of his community. Before opening several successful businesses and LGBTQ+ inclusive establishments throughout the United States, he served his country during the Vietnam War, earning the Purple Heart after being wounded while on active duty. Upon his return to Kansas City in the 1980s, Mr. Burnes opened his first LGBTQ+ bar, the Kon Tiki Room and later, the Dixie Belle Saloon. Throughout his career as an entrepreneur, Michael Burnes has dedicated his businesses to being spaces for the LGBTQ+ communities to express and enjoy themselves. When the Dixie Belle Saloon was in operation, members of the LGBTQ+ community faced discrimination from the rest of the country as a result of uncertainty and fear caused by the AIDS epidemic. While running the Dixie Belle Saloon, Mr. Burnes kept a supply of the limited HIV medication behind the bar to give to those who needed it but could not afford it. This is merely one testament of the benevolent and caring nature of Michael Burnes that has been demonstrated throughout his life in all that he does. Missie B's reflects Michael's generous spirit and is well known among Kansas Citians for its involvement in numerous causes and charities. Missie B's actively fundraises for and is involved in the Kansas City AIDS Walk, the Good Samaritan Project, the Kansas City Care Health Center, Saint Michael's Veterans Center, among many others. In 2016, after the horrific and heartbreaking Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, Missie B's joined with Kansas City's other LGBTQ+ bars and nightclubs to raise $54,000 in one day for the victims and their families. Missie B's has not just changed the lives of the members of the LGBTQ+ community in Kansas City, but across the country as well. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing and thanking Missie B's for all they have done for Kansas City and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. I am honored to have such an impactful, inclusive and inspirational institution be a part of the district I represent.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of Guadalupe Centers Inc. Throughout the century since the Guadalupe Center's formation, they have remained steadfast to their founding objective to play an integral role in the development and wellbeing of the Mexican, Mexican-American and the Latino community-at-large in Kansas City. Guadalupe Centers Inc. has expanded exponentially, growing beyond its original Westside location to provide immeasurable services for the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. Many families immigrated from Mexico to Kansas City in the 1910s and 20s for the growing meat packing and railroad industry. Although there were a multitude of jobs, they were often erratic and poorly paid. It was out of the needs of this new community that the idea for the Guadalupe Center was generated. Guadalupe Centers Inc. was established by eighteen young Catholic women in 1919 as a part of the local Catholic Church in Kansas City's historic Westside. Both the Mexican and Mexican-American population in the area used the Center to create a unique cultural environment, separate from American mainstream society at the time. Their idea was to unite the growing population of Mexican and Mexican-American families predominantly living in Westside at the time into a ``Colonia Mexicana,'' or a Mexican community. Throughout the following decades, the Guadalupe Center became a central pillar of the Westside neighborhood, as well as Kansas City at large. The leadership of Ms. Dorothy Gallagher in the 1930s and 40s instigated a new chapter in the Center's history, as she organized the development of the Center and spearheaded new initiatives. The original stone building, purchased in 1919, remained central to the organization and the large room of the first floor was the ``living room of the neighborhood,'' where weddings and other events were held. Women cooked enormous amounts of food in the kitchen, and a constant stream of residents flowed in and out of the space as it expanded to the building next door. Celebrations like the Noche Buena party in 1940 were viewed as cornerstones of the year's social calendar. While expanding their range of programs, the Guadalupe Center remained steadfast in their commitment to social justice and empowerment. In the pivotal decades of the 1960s and 70s, when the Chicano movement was gaining force in cities across the country, the Guadalupe Center influenced the local movement in Kansas City. Guadalupe Center encouraged Mexican American communities to flourish by creating a space where individuals could have their unique cultural identity both nourished and encouraged. American civil rights leader Cesar Chavez acknowledged the Center as a formidable force, visiting the Center during his travels throughout the Midwest. Today, Guadalupe Centers Inc. reflects the same socially-minded ideas for which it was originally founded. The Center has remained a catalyst for greater Latino representation and political activism throughout the years. Ms. Lali Garcia, who is a dedicated volunteer at the Guadalupe Center for over forty-five years, a local activist, and a board member of organizations like the pivotal La Raza Political Club, is a prime example of this. Moreover, Paul Rojas, the first Latino Missouri State Representative, contributed greatly to the development of Guadalupe Centers Inc. as Chairman. Both as Representative and then as Chairman, Mr. Rojas fought politically and socially for increased resources for the Latino Community, whether for educational or training programs. Guadalupe Centers would not have flourished as it has without the integrity of partners like both Ms. Garcia and Mr. Rojas. A central focus of the Center has been, and still is, to provide social services for the community and create an intergenerational impact. The social services provided by Guadalupe Centers range from their Older Adults Program, a Credit Union, to a large Food Bank, to name a few. Furthermore, the Guadalupe Centers Schools have become an integral part of the Kansas City educational landscape. Since their founding under the visionary leadership of the school's first superintendent, Gilbert Guerrero, the schools have provided academic access to historically under-served Latino communities. In addition to the schools, Guadalupe Centers Inc. inspires children and young adults around the city through their expansive Sports, Recreation, and Youth Programs. The idea for these programs was spearheaded and encouraged through the diligent volunteer hours put in by pillars in the community like Tony Aguirre who led by their enthusiasm and diligence. The wide range of cultural opportunities offered by Guadalupe Centers reinforce a celebration of the culture in the historic Westside, as they have done since their earliest days. These events also help raise the funds for the expansive programs led by the Center. Both the longevity and attendance of these celebrations are a testimony to what the Center means to the local community and the city-at-large. Guadalupe Center hosted Kansas City's first Cinco de Mayo festival and one that has run annually since 1922. Today, the Festival draws up to 10,000 people over a two-day span. The Tony Aguirre Latino Men's Basketball tournament has been a Kansas City tradition for over fifty years and is the oldest continually running event of its kind. These are just several events out of a myriad offered by the Centers. Madam Speaker, please join with Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring Guadalupe Centers Inc. for the indelible mark their one hundred years of service have left on our community. Through the visionary leadership of individuals from Dorothy Gallagher to Paul Rojas and Chris Medina, Guadalupe Centers have been and remain an integral part of, not only the Mexican or Mexican American community, but the larger Latino community in Kansas City. As Congressman in Missouri, I am honored and privileged to serve the community alongside all those who have contributed and continue to pour into Guadalupe Centers Inc. I encourage my fellow colleagues and citizens across the country to reflect upon the dedicated service of Guadalupe Centers as an inspiration and to thank them for all they have done and continue to do for the vibrancy, wellbeing, and cultural heritage of our city.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to celebrate the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) Gay Softball World Series this year being held in Kansas City, Missouri. On behalf of myself and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, we are honored and overjoyed to have been selected as the 2019 host of the Gay Softball World Series. In 1977, teams of athletes from New York and San Francisco, met to form the organization that would become NAGAAA and organize the inaugural Gay Softball World Series. Today, over four decades later, the NAGAAA is an international sports organization committed to providing and promoting opportunities for LGBTQ+ communities to participate in amateur athletics across the United States and Canada. In 2019, more than one thousand NAGAAA teams competed across seven divisions of play in forty-six cities throughout North America. The organization is focused on creating a safe and inclusive environment where its athletes can compete and be themselves. Kansas City has a longstanding tradition of LGBTQ+ activism and advocacy, which was kindled in 1966 when the city hosted the National Planning Conference of Homophile Organizations. After the conference, the city became a leader on the national stage for the movement for LGBTQ+ civil rights, spearheaded by the Phoenix Society for Individual Freedom. The Phoenix Society for Individual Freedom was committed to ``improving the legal, social, and economic status'' of members of the LGBTQ+ community while providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ Kansas Citians to live freely. In the face of discrimination and inequality, LGBTQ+ individuals found refuge and community in Kansas City. Kansas City, with its history of championing LGBTQ+ rights and culture, is extremely proud that the NAGAAA selected us to host the Gay Softball World Series this year. Today, Kansas City continues to be a metropolis of LGBTQ+ culture nationwide. Through cornerstone institutions such as the Kansas City Center for Inclusion, Empowering Queer Activists and Leaders (EQUAL), and the Mid-America Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, to name a few, the city fosters a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for the uplifting of LGBTQ+ individuals. LGBTQ+ arts thrive in Kansas City as well via the Heartland Men's Chorus, performances at Hamburger Mary's and Missie B's, and at the annual KC LGBT Film Festival. In April, the AIDS Walk of Kansas City is held to raise awareness for the disease, and in June, the entire city celebrates Pride. As a proud host of the Gay Softball World Series, Kansas City looks forward to continuing its rich history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance for their admirable work with the LGBTQ+ community nationwide and celebrating the 2019 Gay Softball World Series in Kansas City. We are indebted to the NAGAAA which has changed the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals for the past forty-two years and left an indelible mark on our country and communities.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate one hundred years of Brookside, Kansas City's first suburban shopping area. It brings me great joy to have such a historically significant establishment in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. Located in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City at 63rd Street and Brookside Boulevard, the historic shopping district was founded on September 1, 1919. Headlining the Country Club District Bulletin as ``the first group of neighborhood shops'', it brought a sense of utility and practicality. Construction for the Brookside Shopping District began before World War I and would be completed over the next decade. An innovative undertaking that proudly followed the model of other developments taking place across the United States, particularly Yorkship Village, New Jersey. Like the historic Yorkship Village of 1918, the Brookside Shopping District emerged steadfast in its goal to meet the needs of the community it served. In its founding, the district consisted of grocery and drugstores, medical offices, a community center, as well as the first southside police and fire stations, providing all the necessary resources for the community in a neighborhood-focused model. In the same spirit, one hundred years later, this welcoming and vital collection of businesses serves as a hub of a community and exemplifies a model neighborhood center. To this day, the Brookside Shopping District continues to add to Kansas City's rich historical fabric by providing community members with a charming, diverse place to shop and experience the city's history. Brookside is home to over eighty shops, restaurants, and offices; all unique while keeping with the original neighborhood allure and design. Moreover, in an effort to further promote the interests of individuals and property owners alike, the Brookside Business Association, originally the 63rd and Brookside Business Association, was founded in 1939. The association's efforts have ensured the continued improvement of the district, making it a better place to live and work. Today, the Brookside Business Association is a voluntary organization that preserves the history of the Brookside Shopping District and neighborhood, maintains an aesthetically beautiful area for all to enjoy, and ensures that the historic community center withstands the test of time for future generations to visit and appreciate. Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating the Brookside Shopping District's tremendous milestone of one hundred years of service to the people of Kansas City and recognizing the district as a model for what good urban planning and stewardship can provide to its citizens.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Mr. Trevor Rey's accomplishment in receiving the Gold Medal Congressional Award, Congress's highest honor for the youth of our country. In attaining this award, Mr. Rey demonstrated his commitment to succeed in both his academic endeavors and athletic events. Such an achievement could not have been done without the support and dedication of his family and community. I am honored and proud to represent the exemplary work of young people like Trevor Rey in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. The Congressional Gold Medal Award requires much from those who seek to attain it, including a tenacity and drive that few possess. The Congressional Award was originally created in 1979 in an effort to recognize initiative, service, and achievement in young people. In order to receive such a prestigious award, applicants must complete a wide array of assignments, including at least 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development and physical fitness, and a 5-day expedition. In order to complete his 400 hours of public service, Mr. Rey split his time among several community organizations. First, he served as a troop guide for his local Boy Scout Troop, Troop No. 46, on their trip to the Philmont Scout Camp, where they worked to earn merit badges and learn how to be good scouts. Mr. Rey also volunteered at his church, the Red Bridge United Methodist Church, and at his high school, Center High School in Kansas City. In addition, Mr. Rey serves in the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps where he developed an appreciation for our country's rich naval history and helped senior citizens affected by Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas by cleaning debris and painting houses. Mr. Rey also set physical goals in order to become a better wrestler for his high school. In order to fulfill this goal, Mr. Rey attended a wrestling camp to learn advanced wrestling skills and improve his endurance and strength. Through his commitment, Mr. Rey demonstrated what it means to work for the betterment of your community and achieve personal growth in the process. Mr. Rey and his fellow recipients continue the great legacy of those receiving the Congressional Award. Madam Speaker, please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in congratulating Mr. Trevor Rey for receiving the Gold Medal Congressional Award. I encourage my fellow citizens to follow the example of Mr. Rey and the rest of the Congressional Award recipients and commit ourselves not only to personal improvement, but to the improvement of our communities as well.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the achievements of Mr. Charles Smith, a man who has dedicated his life to the betterment of the public education system in the great state of Missouri. Mr. Smith is retiring after six years as President of the Missouri National Education Association (MNEA), six years as Vice- President of the same organization, and decades as a public-school teacher. He leaves behind a legacy of magnanimous leadership and a passion for public service, which will continue to impact the lives of young people throughout Missouri. As Mr. Smith retires from his position as President of the Missouri National Education Association, he will be greatly missed by his peers and colleagues. In this role, he oversaw 35,000 members, while serving as the official spokesperson for the organization, as well as acting as a liaison between local and national leaders. Upon graduation from Northwest Missouri State University, his extensive career began in Kansas City's Center School District. He spent twenty-seven years there, teaching communication arts and advising the journalism program, eventually becoming the chair of the department. Mr. Smith directly impacted the lives of thousands of students throughout his tenure in the Center School District, instilling in young people ambition to pursue their dreams. George Washington Carver once said, ``Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.'' Mr. Smith's work in education has truly brought that precious freedom to the youth of Missouri through a lifetime of dedicated service and steadfast commitment. Mr. Charles Smith has a passion for social justice and bettering the lives of others, which is evident by the time he has spent as an activist for the African-American community. He served as the first Vice President of the Missouri NAACP for fourteen years, later becoming the organization's President for the next six. He spent time as the National Chairman of the NEA Black Caucus where he advocated for over 400,000 African-American teachers, education support professionals, college students, retired members, and administrators. He has worked to create an inclusive community in which all people are afforded equal rights and opportunities. Mr. Smith's commitment to advocating for the African-American community in Missouri not only speaks volumes to his meritorious character, but also reflects the legacy he leaves behind, as an educator, activist, and proponent of necessary change. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Charles Smith on his retirement, as he has gone above and beyond the duty of a citizen to give back to his community time and time again. He leaves behind a legacy of great leadership, as his accomplishments continue to grow and touch every corner of our community. He will be greatly missed by his peers, colleagues, and the community that has benefited from Mr. Smith's leadership. I am proud to recognize this exceptional civil servant for the work he has done and the lives he has touched within Missouri's Fifth Congressional District.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Dixon's Famous Chili and their one hundredth year serving the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. Since their opening, Dixon's has served as a beloved pillar of the Kansas City and Independence communities, and it brings me pride to have such an institution serving the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri. As one of the oldest family owned businesses in the city, Dixon's Famous Chili originally began as a street vendor in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Due to the success of the street cart, the Dixon family opened their first parlor at 15th and Olive in 1919. In the early days, the founder, Vergne Dixon, used his entrepreneurial power to provide jobs for the community. He hired only men who were down on their luck to work at his parlor, giving many a much-needed opportunity to better themselves and support their families. Dixon aspired to give back to his city and embodied a spirit of public service that should inspire us all. In the 1940s, Dixon's Chili Parlor acquired a new and special meaning for the community as it became a frequent stop for President Harry Truman and became what he called one of his favorite restaurants in America. President Truman said he loved to eat there as the food reminded him of the days when he had been serving in World War I. When President Truman visited Dixon's for his favorite dish of chili on tamales, usually accompanied by several Secret Service agents, the notoriety of the event landed Dixon's Chili Parlor in LIFE magazine. Thus, Dixon's came to be known as Dixon's Famous Chili. Dixon's Famous Chili continues today, as the legacy has been kept alive by Vergne Dixon's nephew Leonard Totta, his daughter Terri Totta Smith, and will continue with his grandson Stephan Steffes. As the restaurant's business expanded, it grew to house numerous locations across the Kansas City metro area and beyond. However, the main restaurant in Independence, which President Truman frequented, remains a cherished landmark in the area. Long time guests share stories of gravitating back to Dixon's for a warm, familial atmosphere. Today, visitors to Missouri are drawn to the authentic ambience at Dixon's, as well as the special ``Kansas City style chili'' served the same way it was one hundred years ago, as a distinct way to experience our local history. Madam Speaker, please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring this legacy as Vergne Dixon's family celebrates one hundred years of remarkable and noteworthy service in the Kansas City metropolitan area. I welcome my colleagues to join me and the constituents of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in congratulations and recognition of such an inspiration. Together, we look to better serve those around us in the same spirit as Mr. Dixon originally did and in the same way his family continues to serve us today.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kansas City's Alphapointe for their 108 years of service to the blind and visually impaired community. For the last century, Alphapointe has worked to empower those without sight to live independent and fulfilling lives. The organization stands out as our country's third largest single employer of individuals experiencing vision loss, providing meaningful jobs to over four-hundred people across their nine locations. Alphapointe traces its roots to Labor Day of 1911, when thirty advocates for the blind gathered in Kansas City's Budd Park to ``promote the social intercourse and general welfare of those without sight,'' leading to the establishment of the Workers for the Blind of Greater Kansas City. Present at this gathering were Eugene E. Condon and his sister, Catherine Hale. Determined to overcome his own vision loss, Condon had enrolled at the Nebraska Institute for the Blind in 1900, a residential school that taught blind individuals the skills needed to lead independent lives. Inspired by the transformative impact that the institution had on her brother, Hale set out to prove that people without sight were fully capable of supporting themselves when presented with opportunity. Indeed, it was this campaign that led Hale to accompany her brother to the rally in Budd Park, and when she helped the Workers for the Blind of Greater Kansas City incorporate as the Kansas City Association for the Blind in 1916, Hale did so to create an organization centered around the concept of helping the blind help themselves. Now at the helm of what would later be renamed Alphapointe, Hale immediately took action to address the rampant unemployment and lack of opportunity available for those throughout the city experiencing vision loss. At the time, a mere sixteen industrial programs existed in the United States that trained and employed blind individuals, but Hale knew that those without sight need not rely only on charity. Hale's brother, for example, went on to attend the Palmer School of Chiropractic while Alphapointe's Vice President, Hayes Brooks, was the first blind student to graduate from the Kansas City School of Law. Taking inspiration from these two trailblazers, Hale opened a workshop in 1918 where eight blind workers assembled brooms, mats, and cane chairs. Attached to the brooms were labels that proudly asserted ``The Blind Man's Broom is the Best Broom,'' and the project that began in Hale's own living room soon began to turn a profit. Notably, this venture established Alphapointe's reputation not only as an employer of the blind, but as a manufacturer of high-quality products, thereby marking the beginning of a long tradition in the organization's history. A year later, following the conclusion of the First World War, young men from across the country who had lost their vision on battlefields overseas headed to Kansas City in search of jobs and the opportunity to lead dignified lives. In addition to confronting the widespread unemployment that plagued the blind community, Hale was also determined to address the housing problems that blind individuals faced. In the early 1900s, life was quite dangerous for people without sight, and blind individuals were all too often institutionalized simply because they had nowhere else to live. In response to this somber reality, Alphapointe opened the Catherine Hale Home for Blind Women in 1917, a place of refuge where women who lost their vision were able to peacefully spend the twilight of their lives. A far cry from the facilities that less fortunate blind senior citizens were forced into, the Hale Home was known for its warm atmosphere in which the forty residents cared for themselves, maintained their favorite hobbies, socialized amongst each other, and organized holiday fundraisers. In operation until the late 1980s, the Catherine Hale Home for Blind Women symbolized Alphapointe's commitment to serving senior citizens experiencing vision loss. Moreover, Alphapointe and their workers have repeatedly answered our nation's call during times of international conflict. In fact, Alphapointe's factory has supplied the United States military in every war since World War I. During the Second World War, for example, Alphapointe was churning out an impressive 4,480 feet of tent rope every day, a feat which earned the organization the prestigious Army- Navy Production Award for Excellence in War Production. Notably, Alphapointe was one of only three factories with a blind workforce to receive this honor. Later, as the United States entered the Cold War, Alphapointe began manufacturing sanitation kits for bomb shelters, and in 2012, the organization created a new Tactical Mechanical Tourniquet that will soon be included in the first aid kits worn by our men and women serving our country overseas. Additionally, Alphapointe now operates base supply stores on Little Rock Air Force Base and at Fort Leonard Wood, and the partnership between Alphapointe and America's military bears testament to the profound value of blind workers and the quality of the products they can produce. Today, Alphapointe offers a wide range of services and opportunities to the blind and visually impaired community of the Greater Kansas City area. Since its creation in 1952, the Children's Center for the Visually Impaired has served thousands of blind youth. Through the center, children learn life skills needed to overcome the obstacles that come with vision loss, including how to socialize with sighted children and navigate unfamiliar locations. Furthermore, the Student Transitional Employment Program has worked to address the high unemployment rate that continues to hinder the blind community. Additionally, Alphapointe's College Preparatory Program has ensured that many blind students were able to successfully adapt to their college campuses. Alphapointe's services, however, extend far beyond one's college years. At Alphapointe's Center for Blindness and Low Vision, a one-of- a-kind facility in the state of Missouri, the organization offers Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services that address the challenges faced by blind individuals throughout daily life. Reflecting the Hale Home's mission to keep elderly blind individuals within their own homes, the Senior Adult Services offered at Alphapointe ensure that blind seniors can live comfortably and independently for as long as possible. Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating the work that Alphapointe has done for the blind and visually impaired community since 1911. For over a century, Alphapointe has offered hope to individuals who often felt hopeless, and their services have brought great meaning, fulfillment, and dignity to the lives of countless people facing vision loss. Let us recognize this occasion by rejecting any prejudices towards visually impaired Americans which may still linger within our country and by reflecting on the inherent value of all people in the same spirit as founder Catherine Hale.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it brings me great joy to rise today to commemorate the 148th anniversary of Pennytown, Missouri. Founded by former slaves, this historic town stands as a declaration of what people can accomplish in the face of adversity. Today, their descendants gather to honor the memory of a remarkable chapter of Missouri's history. Joseph Penny, the founder and visionary of Pennytown, was a former slave from Kentucky. Mr. Penny, like many, joined the Great Migration north, hoping for a better and more prosperous life. Penny started as a tenant farmer in the late 1860s, but his life changed in March of 1871 when he paid $160 for eight acres of land in Saline County, Missouri. The purchase of this land marked the birth of Pennytown. During a time when black Americans were not allowed to own land in many parts of the country, Pennytown became a haven. By 1879, eleven land acquisitions had been made. This town became a testament to the residents' commitment to maintaining autonomy while helping former slaves in reconstruction. At its peak, approximately 1,000 freed slaves and their descendants lived in Pennytown, forming the largest concentration of black-owned land in Saline County. At first sight, Pennytown did not appear to be much. The town only consisted of two churches, a school and a store. However, this small collection of farms and buildings made up a mighty microeconomy. Pennytown was a vibrant community, strongly intertwined and loyal. The men would venture from house to house during the holidays to chop wood for every family, and the women gathered weekly to create goods that could be sold, using the proceeds to create a communal emergency fund. The descendants of Pennytown help the legacy of the community live on for younger generations through stories of the origins and efforts it took to create such a town. Today, the Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church provides a tangible reminder of rural life for African Americans in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, while preserving the integrity of location, design, and feeling. Much like today, churches in the past served as much more than just places of worship, and the Pennytown church was no different. With its Baptist gatherings, social events, and communal celebrations, the church was a testament to the perseverance of a community who had, just six years earlier, witnessed the abolition of slavery. This community lasted a few decades, but the unpredictability of time has removed most visible reminders of its existence. The Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church is the last reminder of what this town once was. The Pennytown descendants who own the church gather together the first Sunday of every August to celebrate and honor their rich history and to remind all of us that the past is truly present in our world today. Madam Speaker, please join me and the entirety of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring the history of Freewill Baptist Church and Pennytown as they celebrate an anniversary of one hundred and forty-eight years since the founding. I welcome my colleagues and fellow citizens across the country to join me and the constituents of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in reflecting upon the impactful history held within this one small church.