Kweisi Mfume

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bernadette Bascom, a native daughter of Baltimore who has dedicated her life to the performance of music and the education of young people. She has used her God-given talents to entertain countless Americans and to help those with special needs find their voice, and next month, her adopted home of Bothell, Washington will recognize October 11 as Bernadette Bascom Day. Bernadette was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1962, the daughter of Lutherine Bascom, a music teacher, and one of Baltimore's greatest civil rights leaders, Rev. Marion C. Bascom of Douglas Memorial Community Church. Rev. Bascom was a giant in the movement, marching alongside Dr. King, helping integrate Gwynn Oak Amusement Park, and serving as Baltimore's first Black fire commissioner. Rev. and Mrs. Bascom raised their daughter to share their values of justice, service, and the right of all people to dignity and respect. Bernadette gravitated to music as a girl, with her mother sneaking her to rehearsals while Rev. Bascom insisted that she focus on her education. She began her career on the air as a disc jockey and a vocalist, but her big break came when she received an invitation to go on tour with The People's Choice. Bernadette toured the West Coast that summer and, while in Seattle, fell in love with Washington State and decided to stay. She established herself in the local funk scene, touring the state with bands like Epicenter and Acapulco Gold. While in Washington, she re-connected with a friend she had made while attending a Stevie Wonder concert in high school--Stevie Wonder himself. She had never sung for him, but after she sent him a recording of her voice, Stevie insisted that she become the first artist to sign onto his record label, Black Bull Music Inc. From there, Bernadette's successful musical career accelerated, and she shared a stage with acclaimed musicians like Lenny Williams and Elton John. In 1981, she released her trademark single. ``Seattle Sunshine/I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love,'' bringing her to a new pinnacle of fame. Over the next several decades, Bernadette solidified herself as a working performer of the highest caliber, She spent over 15 years in Las Vegas, co-starring in the Divine Divas, and spent a decade performing with the Supremes at the Motown Cafe in New York. In 2004, Bernadette made a career change and transitioned from the stage to the classroom. She helped launch the Music Project in Washington's Northshore School District, a program building an inclusive space in the world of music for kids with special needs. In the years since, Bernadette has shepherded hundreds of young people through the program, using music to help them find their voice while imbuing them with self-esteem, life skills, and confidence. The program was so successful. Bernadette has worked with Microsoft to build the ``SPEAK! Music As Language'' app, bringing her multisensory' teaching methods to the world. In addition to her work with the Music Project, Bernadette is a professor of performance and voice at Northwest University. When she joined the university, she donated music manuals and songbooks worth over $10,000 to the school library, and she has since provided vocal training to hundreds of NU students. Bernadette has received numerous accolades and awards over the years, including a 2013 Emmy Award for a documentary about the Music Project entitled ``Bernadette's Touch.'' No doubt, more than any of the acclaim she has received, it is the impact that she has had on young people that brings Bernadette the most joy. Mr. Speaker, Bernadette Bascom has lived a life devoted to creating art and serving others. She has helped countless young Americans embrace their voices and find joy in music, and she has more than earned the plaudits that she has received over her career. I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to her.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, August 31, 2026, I missed votes for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 284, and YEA on Roll Call No. 285.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an American patriot whose contributions to racial justice in construction and federal contracting have gone underrecognized for far too long. Mr. Samuel M. Plato was an African American architect, businessman, and contractor who built homes, churches, schools, factories, and government buildings across the country--more than a dozen of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places--and always insisted on a racially integrated workplace. Later this year, he will be inducted into the Alabama Men's Hall of Fame. Mr. Plato was born on January 10, 1882, in a one-room log cabin outside of Waugh, Alabama. He was the sixth of eleven children, the son of parents who had been born into slavery. His father, James, Sr., was a carpenter who taught his son Samuel the trade, skills he later used to finance his law studies. But his life changed course when he enrolled in a mail-order correspondence course in architecture and building construction. His career was set. In 1904, Mr. Plato relocated to Marion, Indiana, with just $2.40 in his pocket, where he soon secured his first major contract: a new structure for the Black-owned Second Baptist Church. Over the next decade, he became a prominent figure in the community, founding and leading the local chapter of the National Negro Business League. In Indiana, Mr. Plato came face-to-face with racial discrimination firsthand. The only Black man on a crew of 26, he was fired after just one hour because his white coworkers refused to work alongside him. From that point on, he resolved to integrate every workplace that he was part of. He soon had an opportunity to put his principles into practice. Awarded a plum contract to design and build a mansion in Marion in 1912, he presented white workers with an ultimatum: to join the project, they would have to allow Black workmen into the local mechanics' union. Over the protests of its president, the union was integrated. Soon after, he returned to the South. In 1918, Mr. Plato became the first Black man to receive a federal contract to build a post office, constructing the U.S. Post Office in Decatur, Alabama--the first of more than 45 post offices he would build throughout his career. In 1941, as America prepared for war, he began working as a Federal Defense Housing contractor, building 88 units for defense workers and their families near Louisville, Kentucky. Later that year, Mr. Plato received a contract that is near and dear to my heart: leading an integrated crew of more than 1,000 skilled and semi-skilled workers, he oversaw the construction of the Sparrows Point Defense Housing Project, later renamed the Ernest Lyon Homes. Built for Black steelworkers excluded from white-only federal housing, these homes became a cornerstone of Turner Station, Maryland, my birthplace. In 1942 and 1943, he built two major housing facilities in Washington, D.C., that housed over 1,000 Black women working in the defense industry. In the postwar years, he built 88 homes in the Chickasaw neighborhood of Louisville and helped Black families acquire them. To this day, the community has a street named in his honor, Plato Terrace. Mr. Plato died on May 13, 1957, at his home in Louisville. Though he married twice, Mr. Plato never had children and thus lacked heirs to steward his legacy. I am grateful for the research and advocacy of Mallorie K.M. Berger, M.S., whose diligent work to promote Mr. Plato's memory empowered me to pen these words to commemorate a remarkable life lived in pursuit of racial justice in housing, construction, and contracting. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleague to join me in honoring the venerable memory and legacy of Mr. Samuel M. Plato.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, I missed votes due to my obligations given that it was Maryland's primary election day. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 223 and YEA on Roll Call No. 224. Final passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act was originally set for the second vote series on Wednesday, June 24, the day after primary elections in Maryland, New York, and Utah. The Speaker chose to move it up to Tuesday evening's suspension calendar instead, at a time when he knew Members from three states would be home with their constituents on Election Day. The Speaker moved this vote because his own conference was in open rebellion over the schedule he had set for Wednesday. The result was that more than 40 Members, from both parties and from all three states holding primaries, were not recorded on final passage of a housing bill the House had already approved once before by a vote of 396 to 13. The Speaker put his internal conference politics ahead of his obligation to give every Member a fair opportunity to vote, and ahead of the voters in three states who deserved their Representatives' full attention on Election Day. He owes this institution, and the people of Maryland, New York, and Utah, better than that. I was proud to vote yes for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act when it passed this House earlier this year. This is a good, bipartisan bill that will increase the supply of affordable housing at a moment when families in Baltimore and across Maryland's 7th District are being priced out of homeownership, and too often, out of stable housing altogether. It expands access to modern manufactured housing, lets localities use Community Development Block Grant funds to build new housing, and protects veterans receiving VA disability paments from losing housing assistance they have earned. These are the commonsense solutions this Congress should be delivering more often.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, June 8, 2026, I missed votes due to a personal matter. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 208; and YEA on Roll Call No. 209.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I missed a vote due to a personal matter. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 175. personal explanation

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, April 20, 2026, I missed votes due to a personal matter. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 125, and YEA on Roll Call No. 126.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, I missed votes due to personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 109, and YEA on Roll Call No. 110.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, today, I missed a vote for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 105.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, I missed a vote due to personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 97.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mrs. Ella Hillen Pierce, a devoted civil servant who dedicated herself to the City of Baltimore and its people. Mrs. Ella Hillen Pierce was a long-time employee and respected leader in Baltimore's Bureau of Purchases, and her integrity and professionalism in her many roles will not soon be forgotten. A symbol of resilience and a beloved mentor to many of her colleagues, Mrs. Pierce passed away on January 25, 2026, at the age of 98. She will be deeply missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside her. Mrs. Pierce was a bright and inquisitive child, one of five Hillen siblings who affectionately referred to themselves as the ``Fab Five.'' Following her graduation from high school, she stayed close to her Baltimore roots and pursued a higher education at Catonsville Community College, Howard University, Morgan State College (now Morgan State University), and Johns Hopkins University. Mrs. Pierce used the skills and qualifications that she gained through her schooling to pursue a barrier-breaking career in public procurement. She began her professional journey as a Purchasing Agent at Morgan State, remaining there for 19 years before becoming the first African American hired as a Buyer in Baltimore's Bureau of Purchases. There, she quickly distinguished herself through her confidence, professionalism, and work ethic, earning the admiration of her colleagues. Rising steadily through the ranks, she ultimately made history in 1987 as the first woman and the first African American to serve as Baltimore City's Purchasing Agent. In that same year, Mrs. Pierce earned the first of many accolades from her peers in the public procurement industry when she was named the ``Buyer of the Year'' by the Maryland Public Purchasing Association. In 1999, she earned the National Institute of Government Purchasing's (NIGP) prestigious Albert M. Hall Award, and just 3 years later she was named a Fellow of NIGP. In 2020, at the end of a long and distinguished career, she received NIGP's Inclusion and Diversity Award. The following year, the award was renamed the Ella Pierce Award in her honor, a fitting tribute to her trailblazing career and its lasting impact. Though her professional accomplishments were numerous, Mrs. Pierce was also deeply devoted to her family and her community. While she had no children of her own, close friends and loved ones were known to call her ``Mom,'' in recognition of her warmth, generosity, and compassion. She loved to travel and took great joy in sharing those experiences with the people she loved. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of this dedicated public servant. Mrs. Ella Hillen Pierce was a pillar of her community, and she is deeply missed by all those she leaves behind. I offer my sincerest condolences to her nieces and nephews, as well as to her extended family, friends, colleagues, and all those who had the privilege of knowing her.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for yielding but for also helping to sponsor this very, very important Special Order on the fact that this is Black History Month technically. However, Black history ought to be something of what we do and a part of our lives every day because, as much as there is American history, you can't have that without the history of African Americans in this country. I want to also--at least to the Members who have come before this body this evening, who have talked about the great contributors to that history, have talked about why it is so very, very important, have talked about what it means not only to Black people, but what it should mean to the world when you look at a race of people who have suffered, endured, and survived two centuries of slavery, oppression, deprivation, degradation, denial, and disprivilege--in 1848, a speech was delivered in Edwardsville, Illinois, and Abraham Lincoln addressed these words to his countrymen, and he said: When you have succeeded in dehumanizing the Negro; when you have put him down and made it impossible for him to be but as the beasts of the field; when you have extinguished his soul in this world and placed him where the ray of hope is blown out as in the darkness of the damned, are you quite sure that the demon you have roused will not turn and rend you? What constitutes the bulwark of our freedom and our independence as a young nation? He said: It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling seacoasts, our Army and our Navy. These are not our reliance against tyranny. All of those may be turned against us without having made us weaker for the struggle. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted deep within the hearts of all of us. Our reliance, he said, is in the spirit of freedom which prides itself as a heritage of all men in all lands everywhere. Then he admonished: Destroy that spirit and you would have planted the seeds of despotism at your own doorstep. Ignore the chains of bondage, like so many of the Black and Brown members of our Nation, and you one day will prepare your own limbs to wear them. Accustomed, he said, to trample on the rights of others, you would have lost the creative genius of your own independence and, as such, would become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises among you. Lincoln's words uttered almost 180 years ago have gone unheeded, and such a cunning tyrant has, in fact, risen among us. The efforts of this administration to turn back the hands of time, to deny equal justice and equal treatment, to pretend that we are living in a world that sees nothing, knows nothing, hears nothing, and does nothing, is to pretend that we are all asleep. So we desperately need, in this era of smaller visions, those of us who are Black, Brown, White, Yellow, and any other color or race, an ability to come together in coalitions the way we have always done to make a real and lasting difference. We use this occasion on Black History Month to remind us that we so desperately need those who will stand up for that which is right and to speak out for that which is wrong. It is for me, at least, a daunting task to find people in this country who are prepared to do the right thing day in and day out because we are increasingly seeing the ranks of others who want to do something different and follow this administration go in the wrong direction day in and day out. I hope that we use as many days as possible during this month that we can to commemorate, to celebrate, to highlight, and to hold forth the history and the struggle of African Americans in this country.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina for yielding and the gentleman from Maryland for his co-participation. Mr. Speaker, 5 years ago at this time, those of us who were in this Chamber could hear the sound of glass being swept up outside of this door. There were persons in here sweeping the room to see if there were any explosive devices that had been planted after the break-in. Up and down these halls, you could hear murmurs and questions. For those of us who were here, this is not a joke. This is not Donald Trump's history, and it is not his story. It is what actually happened to our Nation's Capitol. Some of you who were here will remember that day. I had to run out this door from the second floor, find my way down to the tunnels underneath the Capitol to walk for a quarter of a mile to get to an office building where I could be safe, but there were so many others who were not fortunate to be able to do that. They got swept up, as the gentleman from South Carolina said, taken away, whisked away, and stayed in seclusion for hours, sometimes in the same closets almost, breathing the same air. The fact that that happened, and the fact that there is no one on the other side of the aisle, concerns me because it is almost an acclimation that it is okay. And it is not okay. Five police officers were murdered that day, 150 or so were taken to the hospital, 18 of which had to stay there. These walls, these doors, these hallowed venues that we have walked in and people have come to and thought of as being a symbol of democracy were shattered unnecessarily. It is important to find a way to commemorate this day. It is important to remind the rest of the country that what Donald Trump said were visitors visiting the Capitol to go sight-seeing was a lie and that his pardon of over a thousand individuals later is a shameful, shameful act. I pray to God that nothing like this ever happens again. If it does, I pray to God that every Member of this body will stand up and speak out.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Denyce Graves-- world-renowned mezzo-soprano, visionary stage director, and tireless advocate for arts education--who has dedicated her career not only to performance, but to inspiring, uplifting, and empowering the next generation of artists. Ms. Graves was raised in Washington, D.C., by her mother, Dorothy Graves-Kenner, a fierce believer in education. Dorothy assigned her children weekly enrichment projects and nurtured Denyce's early affinity for music--first in the church choir, and later in elementary school. In elementary school, Ms. Graves experienced the transformative power of mentorship through her music teacher, Judith Grove, who recognized her talent and followed her all the way through high school. She attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where she was introduced to classical music--and promptly fell in love with the art form. After high school, Ms. Graves continued her studies at Oberlin College and Conservatory and at the New England Conservatory of Music, where she honed her vocal technique and deepened her understanding of performance. Ms. Graves' early career was marked by both triumph and setbacks. She impressed at the Metropolitan Opera's regional auditions, but fell short in the finals, leading her to take a break from singing and work as a hospital secretary. Just as she began to consider leaving music behind, the Houston Grand Opera reached out and invited her to their young artists program, rekindling her career and setting her on a course for the world stage. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Graves took the world by storm, captivating audiences at the Bastille Opera House in Paris, the Vienna State Opera, and other major houses across Europe and the Americas. Her growing international acclaim culminated in 1995, with her landmark Metropolitan Opera debut in the title role of Carmen. She brought to the role a gravitas and a fiery intensity that critics lauded as a defining interpretation. She brought that same commanding presence to the stage as Dalila in Samson et Dalila, establishing herself as one of the great operatic superstars of the modern era. Throughout her career, Ms. Graves has been honored repeatedly for her artistic achievements and philanthropic leadership. She has won an Emmy and a Grammy, as well as the Washington Performing Arts' Ambassador of the Arts Award, She was named a U.S. Cultural Ambassador, sang at the National Prayer Service following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and performed at President George W. Bush's second inauguration. Most recently, she received the Service to America Leadership Award from the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation, in recognition of her unwavering dedication to public service through the arts. These honors reflect not only Ms. Graves' extraordinary talent, but also her commitment to using her talent in service of others. She is a teacher and mentor at the Juilliard School, the Peabody Conservatory, and the University of Toronto. She founded the Denyce Graves Foundation in 2021, with a two-pronged mission: to advance diversity in her field and to honor the legacies of historically overlooked voices. Their ``Hidden Voices'' program highlights and celebrates the artistic contributions of historically marginalized musicians, composers, and educators. Their flagship ``Shared Voices'' initiative connects Historically Black Colleges and Universities with top music conservatories, expanding access and fostering inclusion for the next generation of artists. Mr. Speaker, the remarkable career of Ms. Denyce Graves reflects a rare combination of artistic excellence and passionate leadership in education. Through her performances, advocacy, and mentorship, she has opened doors for countless artists and enriched the cultural fabric of our Nation. I am proud to celebrate this visionary artist whose story will inspire generations to come.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a congressional staffer who has played an indispensable role in Maryland's 7th Congressional District. She began her well-deserved retirement this year after over 29 years of service to the United States Congress and the people of Baltimore, Ms. Deborah Perry is a Baltimore native, born on December 25, Christmas Day, 1950--a birthday that presaged the gift that Ms. Perry would become to her community. She grew up with a young U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings, beginning a friendship and professional relationship that would last decades. Ms. Perry graduated from Baltimore's Eastern High School with a degree in business education and from the Community College of Baltimore with a paralegal degree. She began her career as a civil servant, spending nearly a decade working for Baltimore City's Police Department and Department of Social Services. After briefly working in the Congressional offices of Frederick Richmond (D-NY-14) and Julian Dixon (D-CA-28), Ms. Perry started a business, Case Management Plus, providing outsourcing services to attorneys to assist with personal injury and workers' compensation cases. In the early 1990's, Ms. Perry began working for Delegate Elijah Cummings, then a member of Maryland's House of Delegates. She worked in his law office until 1996, when Elijah won the special election to the congressional seat that I had vacated. Elijah brought Ms. Perry to Congress as his District Office Manager, responsible for training new employees and coordinating major projects in the district. Over the next 23 years, Ms. Perry performed many roles helping Elijah serve the people of Baltimore. After three years as office manager, Ms. Perry began assisting constituents resolve their issues with various government agencies. She also represented Elijah at important meetings, like those for the $1.6 billion East Baltimore Development Project. After five years in that role, Ms. Perry became Elijah's Executive Assistant, taking on the demanding task of managing his daily schedule. After three years as Executive Assistant, Ms. Perry left public service in 2007, ready to enjoy retirement. In a testament to her character, after the 2008 financial crash, Ms. Perry came out of retirement to help handle the influx of housing and foreclosure cases. She worked tirelessly for struggling Baltimoreans, developing and organizing 12 Foreclosure Prevention Workshops. These workshops were well attended, each with more than 1,000 participants. The workshops were so successful, she was asked to train other Congressional offices on how to host similar workshops in their own districts. When she returned to public service in 2009, Ms, Perry intended to help for a few months and then return to retirement. For the next 10 years, she remained an invaluable staffer, serving as Elijah's Special Assistant until his untimely death in 2019. When I was elected to replace my friend Elijah in my old congressional seat in 2020, I knew that Ms. Perry, with decades of experience, would be an asset to my office. I was fortunate that she agreed to stay in the office as a Constituent Services Representative, helping Baltimoreans resolve issues with their housing, social services, and utilities. She has served with distinction these last 5 years, often speaking of the blessing it is to be able to help so many people. Ms. Perry's motto is ``Always exceeding the expectations of the people she serves in everything she does.'' She has always had a passion for helping others, adhering to the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, which encourages change for the better. Ms. Deborah Perry has left an indelible mark on Maryland's 7th Congressional District. After nearly 30 years of selflessly spreading blessings to the people of Baltimore, she is getting the retirement that she deserves. Mr. Speaker, I would like to give Ms. Perry the recognition that she deserves--recognition of her great accomplishments, extensive service, and of the profound impact that she has had on our office and the people that we represent. I thank Ms. Perry for everything.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a beloved figure in Baltimore City, Mr. Arthur ``Squeaky'' Kirk, a man I have had the honor of working alongside many times in our shared community. Arthur's extraordinary contributions to our city and his unparalleled dedication to its people epitomize the very essence of a Baltimorean. Arthur is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Ruth M. Kirk Recreation and Learning Center, which is named in honor of his late mother. Ruth was a dear friend and an exceptional public servant in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing West Baltimore with pride and dedication for 28 years. It is evident that Ruth passed her passion for public service on to her son, who continues to live by the principles that she raised him with. As a promise to his mother before her passing, Arthur agreed to take over the recreation center, in August 2011, he embarked on a journey, refurbishing and revitalizing the building, ensuring it remains as a beacon of hope and a symbol of communal resilience in our city. Since then, he has forged a sanctuary in the heart of the Franklin Square Neighborhood, where students are protected from neighborhood violence and families can get the resources they desperately need. Each week, the center offers after-school tutoring and meals, GED adult programs, youth mentorship, and more, all the while supplying 450 Baltimore families with groceries. Arthur works diligently to beautify the community by enlisting the help of neighborhood children, encouraging them to learn about gardening and agriculture in his community garden. His work has been recognized by many in our Congressional District, from the Baltimore Ravens to Governors of Maryland on both sides of the aisle, past and present. ``Squeaky'' has made remarkable contributions to countless families across West Baltimore while honoring his mother's legacy and continuing her work. Arthur's motivation to be a mentor and change-maker in the lives of our young people only grew in 2022, when he was struck by the greatest of tragedies, the loss of his young son Elijah. I know that the loss is a wound that he will always carry, but Elijah's memory is also one of Arthur's greatest sources of strength. In addition to his work with the center, Arthur has helped keep our city safe as a dispatcher for the Baltimore City Fire Department for over two decades. He is the stoic voice on the other side of the line that helps maintain a sense of calm and composure during an emergency while simultaneously guiding first responders to your location. He is a proud member of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 734, where he advocates for the interests of paramedics and firefighters across Baltimore. In both his personal and professional life, ``Squeaky'' consistently shows his selflessness and his deep love for Baltimore and its people. Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Arthur ``Squeaky'' Kirk for his unwavering generosity and for continuing the estimable legacy of his mother. His tireless dedication to his students, his profound compassion for their families, and his steadfast community leadership have enriched the lives of so many Baltimoreans. Today, we honor not just a man, but a living testament to the transformative power of service, and the enduring impact of one individual's dedication to uplifting the needy.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the artistic brilliance of legendary filmmaker and beloved Baltimorean, John Waters, for his outstanding contributions to the film industry. Affectionately dubbed the ``Pope of Trash'' by William S. Burroughs, Mr. Waters is a renowned author, producer, and director who was honored in 2023 with a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame. His unconventional interpretations of the world color his comical and flamboyant films, and he has dedicated his career to what he playfully refers to as ``filth'' for the big screen. An all-time great Baltimorean, Mr. Waters has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. His love for storytelling was developed as a child, putting on puppet shows at children's birthday parties. Through his teen years, he mastered the skills needed to write side- splitting scripts, skills that he would put to the test for the rest of his lengthy career. Waters' hometown in the greater Baltimore area would become a central character in many of his films. Baltimore served as both the backdrop and the inspiration for much of Waters' early work. His iconic films, such as Pink Flamingos, Desperate Living, Female Trouble and Polyester reveal the unique personalities and plights he encountered during his formative years in and around Baltimore. Waters achieved mainstream success in 1988, after directing Hairspray, a critically acclaimed musical set in racially segregated Baltimore in the 1960s, which explores themes of identity, activism, and biases of all kinds. Mr. Waters' films are renowned for their dedicated fan communities, rooted in his dedication to fostering diversity on the big screen and his history of encouraging individuality amongst fans and peers in the industry. Beyond his filmmaking prowess, John Waters' influence extends to literature, art, and social commentary. A veritable gay ambassador himself, his artistic adaptations have provided a safe haven for his fans to embrace their creativity and self-expression while showing the world the brilliance contained within the LGBTQ community. The ethos of Mr. Waters' career is a celebration of the counterculture, and a passionate rejection of the norms within the entertainment industry that restrain artistic peculiarity and originality. John Waters' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a testament to his commitment to pushing the boundaries of creativity--not only through his cinematic achievements, but also in life. He encapsulates what it means to be a Baltimorean, and our city couldn't ask for a better champion. His career demonstrates how the unlikeliest of places can give birth to the most extraordinary stories. Mr. Waters has forever changed the landscape of American cinema with his style, ingenuity, and wit. His films will continue to inspire the next generations of filmmakers while providing an example that shows that what some may describe as outrageous might just lead to a new artistic frontier. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize and salute Mr. John Samuel Waters, Jr., for his unyielding pursuit of humor and originality on the silver screen and for his undying love for the one-of-a-kind city that we both share, Baltimore.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an accomplished media mogul, Mr. Byron Allen, who has embodied the ideals of persistence, innovation, and integrity throughout his life and career. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Byron Allen's interest in the entertainment industry began at a young age when he was first taken to the NBC Studios in Burbank by his mother, publicist Carolyn Folks, who was--and still is--Byron's biggest supporter. At the tender age of just fourteen years old, he was already pitching jokes to show biz titans Jay Leno and David Letterman. By 1979, at just eighteen years old, Allen had become the youngest comedian ever to appear on The Tonight Show. Following this historic and meteoric ascent in the comedy scene, Byron Allen became a host- correspondent on NBC's reality TV show Real People and secured a leading role in the 1988 film Case Closed. After both projects wrapped, Allen hosted The Byron Allen Show, a talk show that ran from 1989 to 1992. Allen toured as a stand-up comic up until 1993, when he launched his production firm, CF Entertainment, which originally focused on low-cost TV programming. The company underwent a name change in 2003, re- emerging as Entertainment Studios, as Allen's extraordinary business acumen and strategic moves were beginning to differentiate his business as a premier player in the entertainment industry. Entertainment Studios, once a small-scale television programming company in Los Angeles, is now a division of the larger Allen Media Group, and it has evolved into one of the largest cable network portfolios in the broadcasting industry, featuring ten, 24-hour HD television networks. The company has produced and distributed Emmy Award-winning shows while handling advertising for dozens of television programs. Its growth has continued through major acquisitions: In 2016, Allen Media Group acquired The Grio, a digital media leader creating compelling content for African American audiences. In 2018, Allen Media Group acquired the universally recognized Weather Channel, one of the crown jewels of cable television. Still, Byron Allen's influence extends far beyond his business triumphs, and he has always worked to give back to his community. The Allen Media Group is the first African American owned media studio producing and distributing wide-release motion pictures and content for all platforms. In pursuit of racial equity in advertising dollars and channel carriage, he has successfully led lawsuits that secured settlements with the major corporations McDonalds and Comcast. Allen is also a noted philanthropist, helping to raise tens of millions of dollars for charitable causes. Over the years, Allen has established himself as a prominent Black entertainment mogul who holds the principle of equity in extremely high regard. He recognizes the disadvantages that underrepresented communities face, and he has vigorously advocated for diversity and inclusion at all levels of his career. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Byron Allen in the hope of encapsulating a man who has left a lasting mark on entertainment without ever straying from his moral undertaking of corporate social responsibility. Byron Allen is a role model for us all and has led a trailblazing life dedicated to excellence and the molding of a better, more equitable future.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an esteemed artist who truly needs no introduction: actor, producer, and director, Denzel Washington. The two-time Oscar winner and Tony Award recipient has carved a path for actors and performers who seek to dedicate their lives to the pursuit of artistic accomplishment. Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Denzel developed his acting skills at Fordham University, the American Conservatory Theater, and even at a summer stock theater in St. Mary's City, Maryland. His film debut was in 1977's Wilma, which proved significant for reasons entirely unrelated to the movie--it was on that set that he met Pauletta Pearson, who 6 years later would become his wife. He credits her as the most important person in his life, the one who keeps him grounded and fills his days with love and purpose. Denzel began receiving national attention for his talent in the early 1980s. He impressed critics and audiences alike in the television drama St. Elsewhere, and his true breakout film role was in 1984's, A Soldier's Story. In 1989, Mr. Washington reached the pinnacle of his profession, winning his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the film Glory, directed by Edward Zwick, wherein he portrayed a soldier in the illustrious 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, fighting for his race's freedom in the Civil War. His portrayals on the silver screen demonstrate his brilliance and remarkable range as an actor. Washington's films are both critically acclaimed and beloved by the viewing public. Some of his most notable works include The Preacher's Wife, American Gangster, and Training Day, which earned him a second Oscar, this time for Best Actor. Denzel was only the second Black actor in history to win the Best Actor award, after Sidney Poitier won it in 1964 for his performance in Lilies of the Field. Mr. Washington's contributions to society extend far beyond the lives that he portrays in his films. Denzel has redefined what it means to be a star in Hollywood, speaking out about his commitment to service and efforts to be an advocate for good. Since the 1990s, Mr. Washington has served as both a board member and national spokesman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which provide voluntary after-school programs for our nation's young people. He even received the distinction of having a New York City elementary school named in his honor, thanks to his extensive work with the Boys & Girls Club. Denzel was also named the 2021 Honorary Sergeant Major of the Army due to his work with the Fisher House Foundation, a non-profit that constructs housing for military and veteran families, free of charge. In 2022, President Joe Biden awarded Mr. Washington the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. In 1996, I had just departed from the Congress to become the president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). That year, I selected Denzel and songstress Whitney Houston to co-host the NAACP Image Awards, which celebrate the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color across film, television, music, and more. Mr. Speaker, Denzel Washington's career encapsulates what it means to use art for good. He is an artist who wields his platform to foster inclusion and support numerous worthy causes. His work doesn't just entertain--it empowers people of every race, color, and creed. It is a true honor to recognize Mr. Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr., as an inspiring force for future generations of filmmakers and artists.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a trailblazing woman who fearlessly creates works of art that serve as a compelling force for change. Award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer Ava DuVernay grew up in the communities of Lynwood and Compton, in California, and spent her summers visiting her father's home state of Alabama. It was in Alabama that DuVernay found her passion for film through cherished time spent with her aunt, Denise Sexton. Setting out into the film industry first as a film marketer, Ava was on set with some of the world's most renowned filmmakers including Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann, Clint Eastwood, Raoul Peck and Gurinder Chadha. Influenced by these masters of their craft, DuVernay shifted roles and began working behind the camera. In 2008, Ava DuVernay released her first documentary, This Is the Life, about the rise of alternative hip hop in 1990s Los Angeles. Then, in 2010, she debuted her first narrative feature film, I Will Follow, which showed a woman's heartache after the passing of a dear relative. DuVernay's aunt, Denise Sexton, who nurtured her love for film and tragically passed away from breast cancer in 2003, was the inspiration for the film. DuVernay's second feature film, Middle of Nowhere, premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and won the award for Best Direction. This film elevates the stories of women of color whose lives are unsettled when a spouse becomes incarcerated. Ava DuVernay's 2014 film Selma followed the civil rights march shepherded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that resulted in the enactment of the Voting Rights Act. When developing this film, DuVernay drew from her father's direct recollection of witnessing this historic moment, as civil rights legends advanced across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. For Selma, Ava became the first African American woman nominated for best director at the Golden Globes. DuVernay's Oscar-nominated documentary 13th put a spotlight on racial prejudice in the United States by dissecting the American prison system and its racial inequalities. 13th would take home four of the nine Emmy awards it was nominated for and go on to collect numerous additional accolades. She has since shifted her focus back to feature films and television, with a few of her noteworthy works to date being Queen Sugar, A Wrinkle in Time, and Origin. As an artist, Ava DuVernay creates both bravely and unapologetically, tackling issues that are unique to her experience as an African American woman, but that still resonate with people from all backgrounds. Her work is important and will doubtless be viewed as one of the premier artistic vehicles for social change in the modern era. I had the distinct pleasure of welcoming Ava DuVernay to Capitol Hill when she visited Washington, D.C. in 2024. Joined by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Congresswomen Joyce Beatty and Ayanna Pressley, we were all struck by her poise, her genius, and her passion for artistry and activism. Mr. Speaker, the impact of Ava DuVernay's artistry extends far beyond her portfolio. Rather, it is the voices that may otherwise have gone unheard and the generations of filmmakers who she has inspired that will be credited as her most powerful and enduring legacy.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H. Res. 353.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate a beloved native son of Baltimore, Dr. Michael L. Zollicoffer, M.D. Dr. Z, as he's known to most of his patients, is a physician of boundless compassion and enthusiasm, and he has spent more than 35 years breaking down barriers to healthcare for all Baltimoreans, regardless of their ability to pay. His clinic has been a ray of hope for the under and uninsured, and his selfless commitment to healing has had major impacts on the wellbeing of his community. Dr. Michael Zollicoffer is the son of trailblazing pediatrician Dr. Lawrence Zollicoffer, co-founder of Garwyn Medical Center, one of Baltimore's first Black-owned multi-specialty medical centers. Dr. Z followed in his father's footsteps by attending the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine located in Chapel Hill; the school that his father helped integrate. While at UNC, Dr. Z was honored with the MacNider Award, a prize given to sophomores with humility, good character, and impeccable personal integrity. Dr. Z earned his Doctor of Medicine from UNC in 1985 and returned to his hometown to finish his medical training. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in 1988 and remained in Baltimore to begin his own practice. He opened his urgent care facility, Life Care Plus, in an area of our city that struggles with poor health outcomes and poverty. In the decades since he opened Life Care Plus, Dr. Z has been a guardian angel to the people of the 21215 ZIP Code. Beyond his willingness to practice in an underserved area, what is so remarkable about Dr. Z is that he will never turn away a patient because they don't have enough money. A pediatrician by trade, he encourages patients to bring in their grandparents for free check-ups, and he'll happily give patients his personal cell phone number to call him any time, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Dr. Z's spirit of generosity has turned his clinic into a family home, and many of the people he treated as children now bring their own kids to the clinic. His incredible value to his community has been repeatedly recognized, with Dr. Z receiving awards like the UNC Harvey E. Beech Outstanding Alumni Award and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County's Community Leadership Award. The love that the people of Baltimore hold for Dr. Z was most clearly shown in recent months, as Dr. Z is now dealing with health struggles of his own. He was recently diagnosed with renal and colorectal cancer, and due to insurance issues, he was facing the possibility of being unable to pay his medical bills. When his patients heard, they leapt into action to create a GoFundMe which has raised more than $250,000 from over 3,000 individual donors. As further proof of his virtue, Dr. Z made clear that every penny that he doesn't need for his treatment, will go directly into his clinic. Mr. Speaker, you would be hard-pressed to find another individual with as much passion for healing and love for his community as Dr. Michael Zollicoffer. For his kindness, his selflessness, and his God-given abilities, Dr. Z has been a pillar of the Baltimore community for decades. His cancer prognosis are positive and, God willing, he'll be practicing in our city for years to come.

Mr. MFUME

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I associate myself with the remarks from the distinguished gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Figures) and to also urge the White House to move forthwith on that request and other similar requests. I will say a couple of words before I conclude. The matter of the Tulsa Race Massacre was very important. I hope that, to the extent that anybody paid attention, that it makes a difference in terms of trying to remember how far we have come and why we can't, in fact, go back. I simply also indicate that it is my intention to come back onto the floor next week to spend time again on the matter of the mass layoffs and firings that have been taking place that are affecting Federal workers throughout this country, 80 percent of whom are outside of Washington, D.C., and many of whom are in my State of Maryland and the city of Baltimore. I will again urge some sort of prudence. I think most people will agree that we all want to do away with waste, fraud, and abuse. I am the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, which has been doing just that for the last 2 or 3 years. The committee has been identifying it and trying to make sure that we, in fact, come to grips with it. I think the thing that concerns most Americans has been the speed and the surgical way that people have been cut out of employment, oftentimes without any kind of review. It is wrong. I have said it over and over again, and I think most people now are starting to recognize that ``due process'' is more than just 2 words. It is a way that we have to move forward. It doesn't mean stopping anything, but it does mean affording people the courtesy of a process, and I would strongly urge Members of this body to keep that in mind as we go forward. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Figures) for his comments, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.