Danny Davis

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to express condolences to the family, friends, and parishioners of Bishop Raphael Bell, who passed away this past Sunday while preaching a sermon in his pulpit. As a matter of fact, his wife had suggested that he not go to church, but he indicated that he would go because he thought it might make him feel better. He was 90 years old. He grew up the son of a sharecropper in Mississippi, moved to Illinois, founded several schools and colleges, became the senior bishop of a diocese, well-loved, well-respected, a tremendous personality. I came to know his family when I taught his nephew 40 years ago and have observed him ever since. I just wanted to say to his family, friends, and parishioners that they have been graced by the presence of a tremendously great individual who died doing what he liked to do, and that is preach the Gospel.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, born Dennis Raphael Bell, in Leflore County, Mississippi, on July 9, 1923; to sharecropper parents. Dennis was raised by his grandparents. In spite of the absence of a dream of better conditions; something within him, at a very early age, rebelled against the status quo. He discovered in the South, if Black people refused to sink in despair and accept things as they were, then they had better have a ray of light from above. Bishop Bell is convinced it was that ray of light that brought him from the backwoods of Mississippi to the glorious heights of Pentecost; from a Mississippi plowboy to a Prince of the Church of God. In 1938, after living briefly in Morley, Missouri; a fifteen-year-old Dennis returned to Mississippi to find a new girl had moved into the area; Darlene Griffin. On July 20th, 1942, Darlene and Dennis were married. To this union were born two sons, Harvey and Curtis, and nine grandchildren. Shortly after Harvey was born, Dennis was drafted into the U.S. Army. After training, he was sent to Europe, where he saw action in the campaign of Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was honorably discharged December 9th, 1945. Bishop Bell received the Holy Ghost on April 1, 1949. Since that day, God has continually perfected that which concerned Bishop Bell. It has not always been easy, but the ray of light has never gone out. Bishop Bell has constantly sought to improve himself. After finishing his high school education at LaSalle University in Chicago, one of his teachers told him ``if the elevator to success is not running, take the stairs.'' Bishop Bell was conferred his Bachelors degree with honors from Southwestern College in Oklahoma City, OK. As a straight ``A'' student at American Bible College, he was conferred a Masters of Theology. He continued onward and was conferred a Doctoral degree in Theology and Philosophy by Toledo Bible College and Seminary. Bishop Bell was the first person in that school's history to earn two doctorate degrees in one year. In August of 1990, after 48 years of marriage and a lengthy illness, a grieving Bishop Bell buried his beloved Darlene. In God's timing, the Lord saw fit to send a ray of sunshine into Bishop Bell's life, in the form of Jacqueline Collins of Cincinnati, Ohio. They were married in April of 1991. An Apostolic preacher for over 55 years, Bishop Bell has spent a great part of his life serving the people of God in many ways. In addition to serving his church, he also serves the community as a Chaplain for the Chicago Police Department. Bishop Bell came up through the ranks of Christ Temple Church, serving in such positions as Sunday School teacher, Assistant and then Superintendent; Vice and Chairman of the Youth Department; Trustee; Assistant Pastor; Pastor in 1958 and now Senior Pastor. He is the founder of the Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Joliet, as well as, the founder and President of Midwest Apostolic Bible College in Chicago. He also founded Samuel Barnes Christian Academy, a K-8th grade school named in memory of his pastor and he created the Mother Darlene Bell Scholarship Fund to assist the educational dreams of deserving students. Dr. Bell served as the Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith, for 19 years, along side his best friend, the late Bishop Elzie W. Young. Thereafter, his tenure as the Presiding Prelate was from January 1990 to July 2000. He now holds the title of Senior Bishop. Bishop Bell has preached the Gospel from the street corners of Chicago to 49 states in America, over 50 countries, on all five inhabited continents, and to the isles of the sea. His chief joy continues to be the opportunity to share the life of Jesus Christ with someone. The sentiments of his heart play almost like the lyrics of a song which says, ``if I can help somebody as I travel along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can tell somebody that he is traveling wrong, then my living shall not be in vain.'' It has been my great pleasure to be associated with Bishop Bell and his family since the 1960's when I was his nephew Fred Davis' Social Studies teacher. Bishop, we all love and revere you for having been a great leader of your people and a blessing to all.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, my colleague, Dr. Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, and I, introduced a bipartisan bill, H.R. 2734, the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Reauthorization Act, on July 19 of this year. This legislation would reauthorize the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act to help State and local governments and universities to continue to provide and develop suicide prevention programs. This current bill is budget neutral and would revise and extend provisions of the original act signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2004. It is named for former-Senator Gordon Smith, Republican of Oregon's 22-year-old son Garrett whose life was ended in September of 2003. Every year, over 38,000 Americans die by suicide, and many more are treated for self-inflicted injuries that result from suicide attempts. As you may know, suicide still remains the second leading cause of death for our adolescents and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24, and results in 4,800 lives lost each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, the same agency reported that youths in grades 9 through 12, in public and private schools in the United States, found that 15 percent of students reported seriously considering suicide, 11 percent reported creating a plan, and 7 percent reported trying to take their own life. The 2010 American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment II noted that 45.6 percent of the students surveyed reported feeling that things were hopeless and 30 percent reported feeling depressed. The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization grant program has assisted 35 tribes, 45 States, and 85 institutions of higher education to develop suicide prevention and intervention programs, which are often the first line of defense for those with this troubling disease of mental illness concerns, who are distraught and aren't certain about what to do. Again, H.R. 2734 is budget neutral, and I come to the floor to ask all of my colleagues to cosponsor the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act. We can disagree on some things, but I don't think we need to disagree on this. Please, sign up as a cosponsor.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up the Senate amendment to H.J. Res. 59, the clean CR that would end this Republican government shutdown.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have been told that when elephants fight, the grass is bruised. And when Democrats and Republicans fight beyond what is reasonable, people are hurt. And many of them will not survive. It's time for us to move beyond this debate. Somebody said the other day that justice delayed was justice denied. I can tell you that treatment for a stroke victim that's delayed, treatment for cancer, treatment for dialysis, and treatment for liver ailments that's delayed, all of those are trips to an early grave. It's time to vote in the Senate resolution, forget about shutting down the government, and breathe life into our process and life for the American people.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I believe that Obama does, in fact, care, and that care is evidenced by the fact that we passed the most major piece of health legislation that we have done since the mid-1960s, since Medicare and Medicaid. So it's amazing to me that I continue to hear colleagues in both the House and the Senate who are attempting to deny the existence of this legislation, legislation that was passed by both Houses of Congress, signed into law by the President of the United States of America, upheld by the Supreme Court, which says that it is indeed constitutional, and still there are colleagues trying to deny the existence of this law. That is amazing. As a matter of fact, it's real. It's passed. It's been affirmed. And it's going to stay. My county government, Cook County government, has already, with a waiver, signed up more than 100,000 people, just waiting to get enrolled into its county care program--100,000 people, none of whom will have to worry about preexisting conditions; 100,000 people in Cook County, none of whose children under 26 will have to worry about having health insurance coverage because they can have it on their parents' policies; 100,000 people, none of whom will have to worry about running out of benefits; 100,000 people in Cook County, one county, who will have their own primary care physician, who will be able to see a doctor and go to the clinic on a regular basis. But that's nothing compared to the more than 30 million people in this country who, for the first time in their lives, will have health insurance coverage. I hear all of the discussions about the negative impact. Well, you ask a person in need of health care who has never been able to get it how much of a ``negative impact'' it's going to have on them. I agree that the Senate has passed a continuing resolution which does not fund the government for the extended period of time that we'd like to see and need to see. But I can tell you, I would rather have that than to have people worrying and wondering whether they're going to be able to see a doctor when they need to see one or go to the hospital or take their child to a regular doctor rather than having to go to the emergency room. So I would urge my colleagues, let's be in agreement with the Senate. And let's move right now, today--and if not today, tomorrow--to pass a continuing resolution that keeps our government funded.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the X Ukrainian World Congress on its meeting which was held on August 20-22, 2013 in Lviv, Ukraine, with the participation of 208 delegates representing 27 countries. The delegation was joined by 350 guests who traveled from around the world, including all regions of Ukraine, to participate in the proceedings and learn about the work of the UWC. The X Ukrainian world congress provided an opportunity for participants to share accomplishments, exchange ideas and develop plans for the further consolidation of the 20 million strong Ukrainian Diaspora. Among the guests were also representatives of Ukraines' governing authorities and leaders of the opposition. The X Ukrainian world Congress, which was dedicated to the memory of the victims of Holodomor of 1932-33 on the 80th anniversary of this genocide, began on 20 August with a procession and memorial service at the Taras Shevchenko monument in the citys' main square. The opening ceremony that same evening was held before a packed audience at the solomiya Krushelnytska Lvin National Academic Theatre of Opera Ballet during which Ukrainian World Congress President Eugene Czolii gave the keynote address. Three themes relevant to the global Ukrainian community were the focus of round table discussion. They included Euro-integration securing Ukraines' independence and furthering its democratization, a global Ukrainian community promoting common interest and Holodomor 1932-33 the truth prevails. Delegates elected the following members of the Ukrainian World Congress Executive Committee: Eugene Czolii President--Canada, Jaroslova Hartyanyi 1st Vice President--Hungary, Orysia Shushaku 2ND Vice President--France, Stefran Romania Secretary General--Australia, Bohdan Watral Financial Officer--USA, and Wnon Potocny Treasurer-- Canada. On behalf of the Ukraian diaspora, the Ukranian World Congress expressed gratitude to the citizens of Lviv for their hospitality, the Ukrainian World Congress expressed a special thank you to the chair of Lviv regional administration Victor Shemchuk, the rector of the National University Lviv Polytechinic, Yuri Bodale and Director of the International Institute for Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations, Lviv, Polytechnic, lryana Kluchovaska. I commend the Ukrainian World Congress for its continuous development of unity and cohesiveness of Ukrainians throughout the Diaspora. I am also pleased to know and congratulate a member of the community that I represent in Congress, Mr. Bohdan Watral on his election as Financial Officer for the X Ukrainian World Congress.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with the Democratic leader and chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee in congratulating Team USA on winning the America's Cup. I rise today to inform my colleagues about a consumer protection initiative of the Federal Trade Commission to address underage drinking in the United States known as ``We Don't Serve Teens.'' People may not think of underage drinking as a consumer protection issue. But We Don't Serve Teens is an annual educational effort each September as teens head back to high school and college. The goal is to sustain and build on the progress our Nation has made in combating underage drinking. In my hometown of Chicago, Crown Imports is leading an effort to publicize the We Don't Serve Teens message. We need the active involvement of parents, older siblings, relatives, educators, and other adults. Years of government surveys show that a significant number of young teens get alcohol from their own homes or the homes of friends or extended family members. Most parents are extremely careful about watching what their younger children eat or drink. For our teens, maintaining vigilance over the refrigerator, the wine rack, or the liquor cabinet is equally important. Illegal underage drinking among older teens is a more formidable challenge. They are mobile and often able to obtain alcohol from older friends and family members, including older students in colleges and universities. With that access and mobility comes sad statistics. An August 2012 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated that 839 drivers under the age of 21 were killed in drunk driving crashes in the United States during 2010. Several thousand were seriously injured, some with permanent disabilities. These tragedies are 100 percent preventable. But as every parent knows, our teens do not always make the best decisions, and some simply need more active supervision. Back in 2006, when bipartisanship was still a hallmark of this body, our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, Lucille Roybal-Allard and Frank Wolf, teamed up to enact the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Reauthorization Act, better known as the STOP Act. They are still committed to reauthorizing that legislation, which has helped align the policies of several Federal agencies involved in reducing and preventing underage drinking. The reauthorization bill introduced this year is H.R. 498. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation to sustain momentum in efforts to combat underage drinking. In the district I represent, an organization that has benefited from the STOP Act grant is the Brighton Park Drug-Free Community Coalition. Their efforts embody the spirit of the We Don't Serve Teens initiative. Civic-minded adults have organized ``block clubs'' to monitor neighborhood conditions that can contribute to illegal underage drinking and other substance abuse. They also enlisted neighborhood retailers for assistance and a shared commitment to prevent illegal underage sales to minors. In many metropolitan areas around the Nation, those who sell and serve alcohol beverages have been supportive of the We Don't Serve Teens initiative. I mentioned that Crown Imports is leading the effort in Chicago with a media campaign that includes outdoor advertising, radio, and television messages that will be seen by millions of adults. Other brewers and importers are taking the lead in New York, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and other metropolitan areas. I commend the FTC for its leadership on the We Don't Serve Teens and all who support this valuable program. It is worth the effort.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, when the voting took place for H.R. 3102, the Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act of 2013, unfortunately, I was unable to be present to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted no for the following reason: The bill, H.R. 3102, would cut $40 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which will adversely affect poor people and lower benefits to households with children. Seventy-six percent of SNAP's recipients are households with children. SNAP is an anti-hunger program that is immensely effective in providing assistance to a minimum of 47 million individuals and families across America. In addition to food benefits, SNAP educates people on ways as to how one may use food dollars wisely and live a healthier lifestyle by promoting the importance of nutrition. A key component of SNAP is their ``No Kid Hungry'' campaign, which, aims at fighting against childhood hunger in America by partnering with communities to enroll eligible families with half of the program recipients being children. Reducing spending over the next few years by billions of dollars will affect the lives of Americans who depend on these programs to help put food on the table for their families. The current legislation under consideration for today would deny food benefits to least 4 million low-income Americans and make certain working adults with an average income of about $2,500 per year and no guardianship of children ineligible to receive food benefits. This may include our veterans, Native Americans and many individuals that live in areas where there is chronically high unemployment. H.R. 3102 is a bill that is unreasonable and beneath the conduct of a Congressional body to impose such a policy initiative that will not help the poorest and neediest Americans among us. Additionally, H.R. 3102 contains language that permanently bars formerly incarcerated individuals convicted of certain federal or state crimes and their families from receiving full SNAP benefits. As you may know, SNAP is about children and helping the poor and the needy. Why should anyone think that children should be denied adequate food and nutrition just because of the sins of the father or mother or caregiver, especially after they have paid their debt to society and reentered into normal community life? If this bill becomes law, it would restrict and deny the basic needs of children based on the parentage's criminal history of certain crimes and not on the essential eligibility requirement of income resulting from their financial status. As a result, H.R. 3102 would develop unintended consequences resulting in ancillary hardships to our neediest population. Given our nation's economic recovery, high unemployment rate, and the wide prevalence of food insecurity among children, all are directly problematic to the SNAP program. Every $1 in SNAP new benefits would generate up to $1.80 in economic activity. Every time a family uses SNAP benefits for healthy food on the table, it benefits the store and the employees where the purchase was made including the truck driver who delivered the food, the warehouses that stored it, the plant that processed it, and the farmer who produced the food. Each $1 billion increase in SNAP benefits is estimated to create and maintain 18,000 full time jobs including 3,000 farm jobs. SNAP benefits have a powerful anti-poverty effect that the Census Bureau reports would lift 3.9 million Americans--including 1.7 million children--out of poverty. SNAP alleviates hunger and improves nutrition by increasing the food purchasing power of low-income households, enabling them to obtain a more nutritious diet that contributes to the prevention of obesity, diseases, and food insecurity. Cutting funding is a threat to SNAP's mission to alleviate the health problems many children face in America. Studies indicate that children who are provided with healthier food are less likely to develop health problems and more likely to excel better in school. Sixty-two percent of teachers in a survey said that they have children in their classrooms that come to school hungry regularly because they are not getting enough food to eat at home.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Halbert as they celebrate 60 years of togetherness. During this period, they have been blessed to have three children; Debra Patrice Halbert Evans, Michael A. Halbert and Jerome Halbert (deceased). They have also been fortunate to have four grandchildren; Patrice Imani Evans, William Samuel Evans III, William Samuel Evans, Jr., and Debra, Paris Elizabeth Halbert, Michael A. Halbert and Kristen Nicole Halbert (deceased), Jerome Halbert (deceased), and Georgette Halbert. The Halberts have a loving, committed and enduring marriage that has been an inspiration to all who have known and observed them. Both of the Halberts have been blessed to have the love of their families, brothers and sisters; Perry Halbert (deceased), Bessie Lenoir, Dessie Amos, Lillie Pruitt (deceased), Ora D. McGavock (deceased), Joyce Wilburn, Cozine Prince, Charles McGee (deceased), Verdell McGee (deceased), and Leedall McGee, throughout the history of their marriage. Both Mr. L.J. and Mrs. Melva Jean have been cause-orientated and have devoted much of their lives to civic involvement through organizations like Stone Temple Baptist Church, Austin Lions Club, Westside Business Improvement Association, Organization for a better Austin, Chicago Teachers Union, Menard Ave Block club and many other groups and organizations. I am pleased to note that the love and devotion displayed by Mr. L.J. and Mrs. Melva Jean Halbert throughout their 60 years of marriage has been an inspiration to their nieces and nephews, in-laws, coworkers and all who know them. I extend my congratulations for 60 years and wish them many more.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the X Ukrainian World Congress on its meeting which was held on August 20-22, 2013 in Lviv, Ukraine, with the participation of 208 delegates representing 27 countries. The delegation was joined by 350 guests who traveled from around the world, including all regions of Ukraine, to participate in the proceedings and learn about the work of the UWC. The X Ukrainian world congress provided an opportunity for participants to share accomplishments, exchange ideas and develop plans for the further consolidation of the 20 million strong Ukrainian Diaspora. Among the guests were also representatives of Ukraines' governing authorities and leaders of the opposition. The X Ukrainian world Congress, which was dedicated to the memory of the victims of Holodomor of 1932-33 on the 80th anniversary of this genocide, began on 20 August with a procession and memorial service at the Taras Shevchenko monument in the citys' main square. The opening ceremony that same evening was held before a packed audience at the solomiya Krushelnytska Lvin National Academic Theatre of Opera Ballet during which Ukrainian World Congress President Eugene Czolii gave the keynote address. Three themes relevant to the global Ukrainian community were the focus of round table discussion. They included Euro-integration securing Ukraines' independence and furthering its democratization, a global Ukrainian community promoting common interest and Holodomor 1932-33 the truth prevails. Delegates elected the following members of the Ukrainian World Congress Executive Committee: Eugene Czolii President-Canada, Jaroslova Hartyanyi 1st Vice President-Hungary, Orysia Shushaku 2nd Vice President-France, Stefran Romania Secretary General-Australia, Bohdan Watral Financial officer-USA, and Wnon Potocny Treasurer-Canada. On behalf of the Ukraian diaspora, the Ukranian World Congress expressed gratitude to the citizens of Lviv for their hospitality, the Ukrainian World Congress expressed a special thank you to the chair of Lviv regional administration Victor Shemchuk, the rector of the National University Lviv Polytechinic, Yuri Bodale and Director of the International Institute for Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations, Lviv, Polytechnic, lryana Kluchovaska. I commend the Ukrainian World Congress for its continuous development of unity and cohesiveness of Ukrainians throughout the Diaspora. I am also pleased to know and congratulate a member of the community that I represent in Congress, Mr. Bohdan Watral on his election as Financial Officer for the X Ukrainian World Congress.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express strong opposition to H.R. 3102, what I call the Attack on Poor, Disadvantaged, and Hungry People Act. This bill will cut food stamps by $40 billion; and, as a result of that, at least 4 million low-income individuals will no longer be eligible to receive nutrition assistance. I say shame on whoever concocted this draconian idea, whoever put this proposal together, and certainly shame on us if we vote for it.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2775, the No Subsidies without Verification Act sponsored by my good friend from Tennessee, Representative Black. I oppose because the goal of this bill is already being accomplished under provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Passage of this bill would simply bog down what is already being done and could cost hard-working middle class Americans millions. The security of knowing that they have the affordable health insurance coverage they deserve and need. For all practical purpose, one could say that this is the forty-first time that the House has sought to repeal (to no avail) the Affordable Care Act. It is not going to happen! Let's move on so that millions of low and middle income Americans will be eligible to receive tax credits to help them purchase insurance to the tens of millions of Americans who have previously been denied coverage due to preexisting medical conditions will knowing that they can have coverage, peace of mind and the healthcare they need.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the Pilgrim Baptist Church was founded in September of 1916, as a part of the dreams and work of the Union Grove Prayer Meeting Club who met in the home of Deacon John A. Finnie at 242 East 42nd Street. Because of its steady growth the club was constantly seeking larger space and after three months the founder and first Chairman of the Deacon Board, Mr. John A. Finnie, his wife, Juanita, Georgia Hansberry, L. Whitley and S.S. Harkness joined together to organize a Church. The group asked for and received help from several ministers. Mrs. Finnie suggested the name, Pilgrim Baptist Church and organized the Pilgrim Senior Choir. The Church immediately took off and in January 1917, Reverend Jessie D. Luck of New York became its first Pastor. Pilgrim experienced great growth and in 1922 Pilgrim Baptist Church purchased Kehilath Anshe Ma'ariv Synagogue located at 3301 S. Indiana Avenue. This edifice had been constructed in 1891, and designed by the famed architect Louis Sullivan and engineer Dankmar Adler. The initial drawings were prepared by draftsman Frank Lloyd Wright. Upon the passing of Reverend Watson, Reverend R.T. Schell and Assistant Pastor, Reverend C.L. Franklin carried on until the Pulpit Committee found what they considered to be the right man who could handle the continued growth and expansion of the Church. That man was masterful, the Reverend Junius Caesar Austin, a nationally known pulpiteer pastor, financier, organizer and Convention President. He liquidated the debt, renovated the structure and bought a house for the church's founder, built a community center, gymnasium and housing project and established missions in Africa. In 1931, Thomas A. Dorsey known as the ``father of Gospel Music'' joined Pilgrim and organized the Pilgrim Baptist Church Gospel Chorus at the request of Pastor Austin. Some of the members of that chorus were legendary singers such as Mahalia Jackson, Sally Martin, Roberta Martin and Clara Ward. During Pilgrim's ninety-six year history nine Pastors have served: Jessie D. Luck--January 1917-July 1917 J.E. Jones--July 1917-October 1919 Samuel E.J. Watson--May 1920-July 1925 Junius C. Austin, Sr.--January 1926-August 1968 Junius C. Austin, Jr.--February 1969-December 1991 Floyd W. Davis--February 1992-April 1999 Hycel B. Taylor--November 2001-May 2005 Keith E. Gordon--January 2007-March 2010 Tyrone E. Jordan--October 2010 to Present The Historic Pilgrim Baptist Church has been home to many renowned and distinguished people, among them are: Ministers: Reverend Clarence Cobbs, Reverend J.B. Felker, Reverend Elmer L. Fowler, Reverend Stroy Freeman, Reverend Louis Rawls, Reverend Richard Keller (Pastor of Pilgrim Jr. Church). Entrepreneurs: Oscar Brown, Attorney/Real Estate, Delois Barrett- Campbell, Barrett Sisters, Bessie Coleman, First Black Woman Aviator, S.B. Fuller, Fuller Products Company, Mahalia Jackson, Gospel Singer, Sally Martin, Gospel Singer, Lee Randolph, Professor, Jack Johnson, First Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Claude Holman, President Pro-Tem of the Chicago City Council. Outstanding Artists who have performed at Pilgrim: James Cleveland, Aretha Franklin, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, The Staple Singers, Albertina Walker, Inez Andrews. Pilgrim was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement and on many occasions the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King delivered sermons at the church. In 1973, Pilgrim Baptist Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by Chicago's City Council and was later designated a Chicago Landmark on December 18, 1981. In December 2001, the Church was placed on the National Ten Sacred Places to save list by Partners for Sacred Places, a Philadelphia based religious preservationist group. In January 2006, the Historic Pilgrim Church was ravaged by fire. The fire virtually destroyed the interior; but the exterior walls are still standing. In 2010, designs were unveiled to raise Pilgrim Baptist Church, a historic architectural landmark from ashes. Pilgrim has been rolling for 97 years and will keep on rolling. I salute you.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and personally congratulate Stan Fields, District 100 Superintendent, Jim Swicionis, School Board President, as well as the administrators, teachers and students of Berwyn South School District 100 for their amazing commitment to and success in implementing healthy school environments for their students through the promotion of nutrition and physical activity. I applaud Berwyn South School District 100 for taking bold and robust steps to change the way students approach exercise and nutrition. A clear testament to its extraordinary work is the fact that each of its eight schools in District 100--six elementary schools and two middle schools--received awards from the Healthier U.S. School Challenge operated by the United States Department of Agriculture. The Healthier U.S. School Challenge is a voluntary certification initiative by the federal government that recognizes schools that provide innovative healthy nutrition options and physical activity opportunities for their students. In 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama incorporated the Healthier U.S. School Challenge awards into her Let's Move campaign, awarding monetary prizes for four levels of performance: Bronze; Silver; Gold; and Gold Award of Distinction, the highest level. Berwyn South School District 100 won six Gold Awards of Distinction and two Silver Awards. Impressively, only 12 Gold Awards of Distinction were awarded in the state of Illinois, and Berwyn South School District 100 won half of them. These well-deserved honors reflect the tremendous dedication of the administrators, teachers, and staff of these schools and of the District and its School Board to improving and sustaining the health and nutrition of the students and the community. To receive awards from the Healthier U.S. Schools Challenge, schools must demonstrate improvements to the nutrition and physical activity of their students across multiple domains, including breakfast foods, lunch foods, nutrition education, physical education, and physical activity. I wish to highlight some of the changes that schools in Berwyn South 100 adopted to improve the health of their students. Perhaps the greatest achievements are the dramatic improvements to the nutritional quality of the school breakfast and lunch menus. Beginning in November 2010, the District 100 Superintendent, School Board, administrators, principals, and food vendor--Aramark--partnered to ensure that each meal served exceeds the nutrition guidelines for sugar and fat content set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To complete this task, school stakeholders met with contracted meal providers to eliminate high sugar options and replace them with whole grains, fresh fruit, and vegetables. In addition, the District instituted a ``Breakfast in the Classroom'' program as a part of a district-wide policy in elementary classrooms during school hours, reducing school tardiness while increasing student focus. Schools further improved the nutrition of foods during holiday celebrations. For example, classes are encouraged to forgo candy during Halloween celebrations and focus on physical activities that celebrate the holiday and fellowship among classmates. Some schools also created various Parent Universities during the evenings that provide family-based experiences, such as Zumba and yoga, designed to educate and motivate the community to engage in physical activity. Beyond simply implementing these changes, the District 100 Initiative partners monitored the changes to evaluate the success and implementation of the initiative. I am deeply impressed by the committed partnership among an array of school stakeholders in the Berwyn South District 100 that resulted in such positive systemic change in the nutrition and physical activity of the schools. I commend the following schools and their principals for receiving the Healthier U.S. School Challenge Gold Award of Distinction: Freedom Middle School, Principal James Calabrese; Heritage Middle School, Principal Laura LaSalle; Hiawatha Elementary School, Principal Marilyn McManus; Komensky Elementary School, Principal Jeremy Majeski; Pershing Elementary School, Principal Marilyn McManus; and Piper Elementary School, Principal John Fontanetta. I also praise the following schools for receiving the Healthier U.S. School Challenge Silver Award: Emerson Elementary School, Principal Beatriz Lopez; and Irving Elementary School, Principal Mary Havis. I laud Superintendent Fields and School Board President Swicionis for encouraging and supporting these schools in their efforts to improve the physical well- being of their students. In closing, I recognize Berwyn South School District 100 for its excellence in promoting nutrition and physical activity, and I praise its Superintendent, School Board President, School Board, administrators, teachers, staff, and parents for their commitment to improving the health of our students and communities.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize that the Supreme Court's recent decision in Fisher v University of Texas at Austin represents an important milestone for our nation as we build a more inclusive, diverse America. The Court's decision reaffirms that universities may consider racial and ethnic diversity as one factor among many in a carefully-crafted admissions policy. This ruling represents a victory for equal opportunity in education and helps prepare our citizens to compete in the diverse, global economy of the 21st century. The historical structure of the House of Representatives exists to represent our nation's vast geographic diversity as well as to value the diverse opinions of each constituency to set the national agenda of progress. Serving in the House for nine terms, I am happy to say that I continue to learn from the diverse pool of people and ideas that comprise the House of Representatives. For the first time in our nation's history, women and minorities constitute the majority of the House Democratic Caucus. This diverse environment plays a critical role in the health and responsiveness of our Caucus. Indeed, diversity is considered by many as one of the most valuable assets to assuring success in business, the arts, science, and sports. Similarly, a diverse environment on college and university campuses strengthens our nation by providing equal educational opportunity and promoting the creative thinking needed for innovation. I am a strong supporter of the holistic admission process. By promoting inclusivity and diversity on the campuses of our nation's higher education institutions via the admissions process, we recognize that students' successes are characterized by much more than their grade point averages alone. A carefully-crafted admissions policy that considers a wide-array of characteristics--such as leadership experiences, socioeconomic status, racial or ethnic background, athletic skills, and artistic abilities helps our educational institutions provide a diverse learning environment that reflects the diversity of our nation, enhances the ability of students to engage with persons from different backgrounds and cultures to better prepare them for our global economy, and improves access to higher education. As the global marketplace grows more interconnected, it is crucial that the United States remains an active leader in the new global economy by training a workforce prepared to engage with those from different cultures. I am pleased that the Supreme Court recognized the ability of our nation's colleges and universities to consider racial and ethnic diversity as one factor among many in a carefully-crafted admissions policy. This decision will help promote access to higher education and enrich our country.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this legislation, the Stop Government Abuse Act. I would feel much better about it if it were labeled the Promotion of Government Abuse Act, because it encourages government to roll back the clock and take away rights that workers have earned from working hard. Can you imagine being fired after you've worked up to the ranks of the SES, which is very difficult to get to, and being told that you've been let go on the basis of an IG report? Where is the equal protection under the law there? There is none. I think that it's unfortunate that we would treat our Federal workforce this way. They work hard, deserve better; and I oppose this legislation.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, family Reunions are very important events and activities in the lives of all people, especially for African Americans in this country who have gone through the experiences of being snatched from their homelands, taken from their tribes, brought to another country, survived hostile environments, experienced discrimination and still stand tall, achieves greatly and is an integral part of American life. Your family, the decedents of Mr. David Lloyd Mitchell have much for which to be proud. Since his arrival in this country you all have continued to move forward and I commend you for the great research and record-keeping that someone has done. To trace one's family back to the Reconstruction Period in this country is a feat in and of itself. There has obviously been a great emphasis placed on education as evidenced by the presence of more than thirty attorneys, medical doctors and Ph.D.'s, more than 200 Master Degrees, 500 plus Bachelors and I are sure that there is a great assortment of other achievements and accomplishments made by members of your family. I congratulate the family of Mr. David Lloyd Mitchell, commend you for your outstanding accomplishments and wish you well as you continue to reach new heights each and every day. Welcome to Chicago and enjoy your family reunion on July 26-28th.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have the name of Mr. Bishop of Utah removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2359.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the struggle for equality, for justice, for freedom, for democracy is an awesome force. No force, no historical circumstance has done more to shape our Nation, but that struggle has always been confronted by an endless series of attempts to block, minimize, sidetrack, undo, and weaken our democracy. Through all these struggles, those most oppressed have repeatedly taken the lead to reinforce our democracy and solidify our Nation. We fought a bloody, wrenching Civil War to end a Nation that was suffocating ``half slave and half free.'' Three million men fought in that war, and 620,000 died. Although African Americans made up 1 percent of the population of the North, they made up 10 percent of the Union Army. In the aftermath, Congress sought to enshrine in the Constitution, forever, basic democratic rights: in the 14th Amendment, the power to enforce the Bill of Rights, due process, and equal rights; and in the 15th Amendment, voting rights regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. But a violent, terrorist backlash led by the Ku Klux Klan prevented the implementation of our Constitution for a hundred years until a new civil rights struggle, based on nonviolence, but no less powerful, forced our Nation, the courts, and this Congress to recognize those promised constitutional rights. Among the forms of recognition were the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965. They transformed the political landscape of America. But the truth is that, beginning as far back as the Nixon administration, efforts sought to chip away at those rights. Yesterday's Supreme Court decision undermining the enforcement of voting rights is the latest attempt to roll back history. Shall we go forward or shall we go backwards? The rapidly changing demographics of our Nation is calling new forces into the struggle for civil and voting rights every day, and our response to yesterday's Supreme Court decision presents a challenge for every Member of this Congress. And we have to ask ourselves: Which side are you on? For me, the path is clear. We need a Federal right to vote enshrined in our Constitution, one clearly, unambiguously, boldly, proudly asserting that we will not tolerate any infringement on our rights as citizens to express the will of the people. Those who seek to dilute voting rights, to place barriers on every citizen's right to participate in this government, will find themselves on the wrong side of history and, in the end, will be no more able to stop the movement for equality, for justice, for freedom, for democracy than they're able to stop the sun from rising in the morning or setting in the evening or to stop people who've decided that they love each other from expressing it.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Chairman, let's be clear: unequivocally, and without a doubt, we know that the sugar subsidy raises the price of sugar on the domestic market in this country. I know that I have lost out of my congressional district major candy makers and food processors who left town--not because of labor costs, not because of any rifts, but because they were paying so much for the price of sugar that they knew that if they went to Mexico, if they went to Canada that they could get sugar at a much lower price. I don't know why we help 4,000 sugar growers at the expense of 600,000 workers in America. I say vote ``yes'' for the Pitts-Davis- Blumenauer-Goodlatte amendment. When you do that, you are helping the guy who gets a cup of coffee and needs to use sugar for the sweetener. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Chairman, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Chairman, I keep hearing ``if it is not broken, don't fix it.'' Well, I can tell you for the 600,000 people whose jobs are at risk when their companies move out of the country, that seems like broken to me. I would now like to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Chairman, I yield the balance of my time, 1\1/2\ minutes, to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts).

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express support for the Pitts-Davis-Goodlatte-Blumenauer amendment to the agriculture bill. Our amendment to H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, will not repeal the sugar program; it only seeks to reform it. We have farm programs for wheat, corn, cotton, and many other crops. These programs give direct assistance to farmers and allow market prices to be set by supply and demand. Farmers receive help, but not at the expense of workers and consumers. The sugar program is different. It helps sugar producers by hurting other people, and that's just not right. There are other ways sugar farmers who may need help could receive assistance without embracing an outdated system of strict government controls that cost consumers $3.5 billion per year in higher prices and over 112,000 lost jobs in the sugar-using industries in the last decade. During fiscal year 2011, the wholesale price for U.S.-refined beet sugar averaged 55.8 cents per pound. This is considerably higher than the average recorded cost during the 5-year period covered by the 2002 farm bill provisions for FY 2003 through FY 2007, which was 27.6 cents per pound. Last month, the average price for U.S.-refined beet sugar was 26.3 cents per pound, whereas the average world-refined sugar price was 21.9 cents per pound. Historically, our sugar program keeps our markets higher regardless of demand and/or supply compared to world prices for sugar. The U.S. manufacturers who use sugar as an ingredient to produce processed foods and drinks are having to always pay more domestically than manufacturers overseas. This is the exact reason why candy companies are moving to countries like Canada, Mexico, and other offshore places. We need an industry that is subject to capital market forces without government intrusion, that places quotas on the amount of sugar that can be grown in the United States, and restricts access to foreign- grown sugar. The current sugar program benefits 4,714 sugar farmers in the United States, while threatening the jobs of 600,000 workers in sugar-using industries and, thus, imposing a hidden tax on every American consumer. The Pitts-Davis-Goodlatte-Blumenauer amendment would lower the price- support loan rate in accordance to historic levels and reduce taxpayers' liability for keeping prices high, save taxpayers money, allow more sugar imports, and provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture more flexibility to modify domestic marketing allotments. Making changes to the sugar program will help level the playing field and provide sugar-based manufacturers much-needed resources to keep people employed and modernize their production facilities. Let's not help the few at the expense of the many. Vote ``yes'' for the Pitts-Davis-Goodlatte-Blumenauer amendment.