Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor East Orange City Councilwoman Quilla Talmadge. Councilwoman Talmadge has served the citizens of East Orange with distinction for 30 years. Her political career started as president of her third ward neighborhood. It continued with her active leadership as a member of her local Parent Teacher Association, local NAACP, and the National Council of Negro Women, among many others. She has won numerous awards for her community and church involvement. Recently, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities inducted her into the Elected Officials Hall of Fame. Councilwoman Talmadge is retiring from the city council this year, but she has left a legacy that will be remembered for many years to come. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and the residents of East Orange in commending her service to her community.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate one of my district's most venerable churches. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Peaceful Zion Baptist Church in East Orange, New Jersey. It has been known as a sanctuary for those in need throughout that time. It runs a food pantry for those in need of a meal. It provides clothing for those who could use a warm coat or socks. The community of Peaceful Zion is so strong that members have been known to bring food to ailing families. One of its members said: ``Everyone is there for one another.'' Congratulations to Peaceful Zion Baptist Church on its 75th anniversary. They are a blessed beacon of loving care in my 10th District in New Jersey.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the passage of the Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 4. This crucial legislation would give more power to the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965. That law protected the right to vote for all Americans, particularly Americans of color. It gave a strong voice to the voiceless. And when those Americans spoke, they created a more diverse Congress. Clearly, we are all better for it. But, slowly, certain State governments have tried to hinder the voting rights of minorities. They call it something else, but that is what they want to do. That is why we need this bill to become law. We need the government to provide oversight if States are guilty of too many voting rights violations. We need to protect the right to vote for all Americans because, for too many of us, the power of the vote is the only power we have.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a small group of artists with big dreams, the Vanguard Theater Company. The company began in Maplewood, New Jersey, 4 years ago with one goal: It wanted to increase diversity in theater acting, directing, and training. The company is based on a dream of diversity, reciprocity, education, awareness, and mentorship, with a strong emphasis on mentorship. Vanguard has run several programs and camps to connect young artists with skilled performers. Recently, it received a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The grant will fund acting lessons for 40 students. Then these new actors will put on shows for hospital patients, senior citizens, and children across the area. I am proud of the Vanguard for encouraging youth of color to pursue their dreams in theater, and I wish them all the best.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on this subject. Since coming to Congress, she has been one of the foremost advocates for education, specifically HBCUs. Prior to her arriving, it has always been an issue that has been very important, but she has really raised awareness and highlighted and been consistent in her leadership in this area. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the FUTURE Act in minority- serving institutions. I thank Representative Adams once again for anchoring tonight's discussion of this very important subject. Minority-serving colleges and universities--not to be mistaken as HBCUs--serve a critical role in our society. I, in New Jersey, do not have an HBCU, but we have many minority-serving institutions, and several in my district. These are students who find more support with teachers and professors who come from their culture. Studies have shown that they get better grades in classes with teachers of the same culture and race. This starts even before the students enter college. Minority students in the same race classes have fewer behavioral problems, regardless of income level or family structure. They are far more likely to end up doing well and coming along on the collegiate level at HBCUs. They are more likely to be held to a higher academic standard and pushed harder to excel in these schools. They perform better in reading, mathematics, and other core courses. That is where MSIs become vital to their continued success. Low- income, low-performing students' upward mobility skyrockets on these campuses. Take Bloomfield College, for example. And let me commend its new president, Marcheta P. Evans, for her vision for Bloomfield College. Bloomfield is a minority-serving institution of almost 1,700 students located in my 10th District, in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Of these students, 70 percent are low-income or first-generation college students; 95 percent get financial aid; and 75 percent are eligible for Pell grants. They come from families and communities that do not have many advantages. One Bloomfield college student was even homeless and struggled for meals before entering college. But the college steps in and addresses more than their academic needs. Instead, they come out of MSIs and become engineers. They become nurses, teachers, and professors. Bloomfield College even graduates simulation designers for video games and medical technicians. Like most MSIs, Bloomfield takes low-income students and turns them into middle- to high-income graduates, and they do it at rates that far exceed other universities. In other words, they solve several social problems at once. HBCUs are criticized in this country for their necessity, but the creation of HBCUs comes out of the inability for the larger population to accept minority students at colleges that were already in place. So where do they have to go? So it is disingenuous to criticize HBCUs for remedying a problem of equality that still exists in this Nation. They keep today's low-income students on a path to success. They help close the wealth gap between Whites and non-Whites, and they provide hope and a future to a segment of America that needs it so much. So, in closing, Madam Speaker, we will continue to advocate for these institutions because, although I did not go to an HBCU, so many of my distinguished colleagues--the whip, Ms. Adams, and so many others--were educated at HBCUs. We see their talent and their brilliance every day on these floors of the House of Representatives. So we need HBCUs to continue to strive and be strong and continue to do the service that they have done for this country for decades.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, to bring our bills to the floor. My House colleagues and I have passed 400 bills this Congress--400. Unfortunately, more than 300 are stuck on McConnell's desk, including 275 bipartisan bills. These bills include things like raising the minimum wage, protecting retirees, protecting consumers when they sign contracts, and support for our veterans. These are not partisan issues. These are American issues. Every day, we are trying to do the will of the American people; every day, we fight to make their lives better; yet, every day, our public opinion drops because the people do not see any results. The time to act is now. The betterment of every American depends on it.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize November as National Entrepreneurship Month. America has always been known as a land of innovation, and entrepreneurs combine innovation with capitalism. But there is a group of future business leaders that need our help, the minority entrepreneurs. Many do not get the funds they need, based on bias in the banking and loan industry. Too many bank managers still refuse to see minorities as worthy of loans. When they do get them, minorities are charged higher interest rates on average than Whites. Many do not even fill out the loan applications because they know they will be rejected. Major banks have programs to deal with it, but clearly more needs to be done. We need to make sure loans are distributed based on credentials of the applicant, not the color of his or her skin.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize November as Alzheimer's Awareness Month. Alzheimer's disease causes brain cells to waste away slowly and die, causing memory loss and, possibly, death. It is a condition that affects 5.5 million Americans and growing. It was believed to be a disease of old age, but diet, exercise, and lifestyle are becoming larger factors. It is a personal concern for me because I am a diabetic. I have a greater chance of contracting it as I age. But Alzheimer's patients are not the only ones who suffer. The disease takes a terrible toll on loved ones as sufferers demand constant care. Madam Speaker, we need to devote more resources to a disease that could affect us all.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise Sergeant Steven Rhodes for his dedication to public safety in my district. Sergeant Rhodes is a 20-year veteran of the Bayonne Police Department in Bayonne, New Jersey. He has worked in the Patrol Division, Community Oriented Policing Unit, Detective Bureau, and the Juvenile Aid Bureau. He has earned a Departmental Valor Award, six commendations, four Excellent Police Service Awards, and two Meritorious Police Service Awards. Yesterday, he was presented the 2019 Freedom Fund Award by the Bayonne branch of the NAACP. He has earned this award as much as all of the others, and I am proud to call him a resident of the 10th Congressional District. He has continued to look out for his community through law enforcement, but with a community edge, and that is what we need in our communities.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize November as American Diabetes Month. It is a personal issue for me, as I am one of 30 million Americans living with diabetes. This number is set to rise significantly. There are an estimated 84 million Americans with prediabetes, and it is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. In addition, people with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke. The CDC estimates diabetes costs this country almost $330 billion per year. I hope my colleagues can spread the word about diabetes this month. We need to do all we can to stop this deadly disease.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise my colleagues in this Chamber for the support of the Lower Drug Costs Now Act. This bill will make it easier for elderly and disabled citizens to get the lifesaving and life-preserving medications they need at prices they can afford. It would finally give Medicare the power to negotiate directly with the drug companies to get these prices lower. Once they agree on a new price, this bill would make that price available to the American people with private insurance as well as those with Medicare. Then it would take some of the savings from these lowered prices and use it to find new cures for cancer and other diseases through NIH. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of this bill and my party's continued commitment to people over profits.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Congressman Elijah Eugene Cummings after his sudden passing on October 17. Much has been said about his legacy and dedication to the people of Maryland's Seventh District, but I rise to honor his humility and incredible love for our country. Not knowing that he was near the end of his life, I was honored to have several very personal conversations with Congressman Cummings. He was struggling with health issues and knew I could relate. But he was concerned with more than just his health at that moment. He was concerned about our country. America has come a long way during his lifetime, but he knew it would not take much to undo the progress that we have made, and he was worried about it. It was an honor to have such a conversation with an American icon, civil rights legend, and my father on the floor of Congress. It is a moment I will treasure forever.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Anita Clark, the 2019 Reverend Fred Handy In-Service Award winner. Ms. Clark was honored on October 25 by the Montclair, New Jersey, branch of the NAACP. Few honorees have been more dedicated to serving the public good. Ms. Clark has spent her entire life helping the underserved and the most vulnerable residents of Essex County. She started in child development at the Newark Day Care Center. She has worked for social services and served as the director of a needs-based youth summer camp. During her 30 years in the Essex County judicial system, she helped single mothers get child support and worked to keep juveniles from becoming criminals. She is a respected and beloved resident of my district, as well as a great friend and family member and a loved one, and this honor is well- deserved. We are very proud of the work that Ms. Anita Clark has done for her community throughout her time in Essex County.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentlewoman from Detroit for her leadership on this issue tonight. We felt it was only fitting that she lead us in this Special Order hour for Mr. Conyers. I rise to honor the former Congressman, John James Conyers, after his passing on October 27, 2019. I would like to start by offering my thoughts and prayers to his wife, Monica, and his sons, John and Carl, during this time of loss. Mr. Conyers spent 53 years as a Congressman from Michigan, mostly from districts in and around the Detroit area. Mr. Conyers was the third longest-serving Congressman and the longest-serving African American Congressman in United States history. He helped found the Congressional Black Caucus with some of our Nation's most prominent civil rights leaders and colleagues such as Shirley Chisholm and William Lacy Clay, Sr., the father of my esteemed colleague, William Lacy Clay, Jr., from Missouri's First District. During his life he had several accomplishments in and out of Congress. He joined voter registration drives in Selma, Alabama, in 1963, a year before the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act even became law. As a Congressman, he led the drive to help make Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a national holiday and succeeded through perseverance and continued efforts to make that happen despite insurmountable odds. He helped calm revolters in his district during Detroit's racial strife of 1967. He was a vocal opponent of apartheid in South Africa, a political system of legal racial discrimination that he just--as many of us in this great Nation--would not tolerate. He fought for restrictions on gun ownership to prevent violence, because he knew what it meant in so many of our communities to have these lax laws. At one point Mr. Conyers was called the leading Black voice in Congress. He was also known as one of the best dressers on Capitol Hill and a lover of jazz. He even got the Congress to declare jazz a national American treasure in 1987. He was a dedicated public servant, an honored Korean war veteran, a champion of racial equality, and a strong figure in this House for half a century. His legacy will be remembered long after his passing. The work that he has done on this floor and in these Halls is second to none. He cared about this Nation, he cared about his colleagues, and he cared about his constituents in his district. We will miss him dearly. Mr. Conyers was one of a kind. We are saddened by his loss, so we are here to honor him in the manner in which he should be as an esteemed former Member of this House.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I would like to celebrate an organization right here in Washington, D.C., that fights every day to increase the academic achievements of local African American students, the Black Student Fund. The fund has provided educational assistance and resources to promising Black students since 1964. Officials work with students from pre-K to 12th grade to keep their grades up, graduate high school, and go on to college. Many of these students are the first in their families to go to college, and 70 percent of them are from single-parent households. The benefits of a quality education to students and their communities are too numerous to mention in 1 minute. That is why we need more organizations like the Black Student Fund to keep more of our youth out of trouble and in the classrooms where they belong.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett), my friend, for once again being here for this Special Order hour. I first want to offer my condolences to Mrs. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings and her family on this immense loss. I rise to honor a true American hero, Congressman Elijah Eugene Cummings, a strong man, a serious man, a man that was about the business of this Nation. Irrespective of whether it was on the streets of Baltimore or in the halls of Congress, he never wavered in his plight to make sure that the American people had the opportunities that everyone--everyone--should be afforded in this great Nation. It is difficult to state just how immense this loss is to the people of his district, the State of Maryland, and the entire Nation. Congressman Cummings was a dedicated public servant who represented Maryland's Seventh District with honor and distinction for 23 years. But he was so much more than that. He was an icon, a leader, a statesman, a patriot, and the embodiment of the American Dream. Yet, the real legacy of Congressman Cummings was his connection to the people of his district. It was quite common to find him at the corner grocery store, neighborhood church, and any other number of community functions. It gave him a level of respect that made him beloved in his district. The esteemed congressman, John Lewis, once said of Mr. Cummings: ``There was no greater friend to the poor, to the lost, to the left out and the left behind than Representative Cummings.'' Never have truer words been spoken about anyone. He was a great man, congressman, and most of all, a great American. We had some of the same medical issues, so we spent many evenings on the phone talking him through what the next step would be in the process. And he said to me one day, he said, ``Payne, I am scared.'' But he wasn't just scared about his health issues, he was scared about the direction that this Nation was going in. And to his very last existence, he was concerned about the people in his district and this country. Mr. Speaker, I will miss him dearly. This Nation will miss him.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to praise my district's 2019 Congressional Award winner, Ms. Sage Savoia-Di Gregorio from Maplewood, New Jersey. This award is given to youth who achieve extraordinary results in four different categories: public service, physical fitness, personal development, and geographic exploration. Sage was more than up to the challenge: She joined AmeriCorps and built outdoor trails in Virginia; she renovated museums and education centers in New Jersey; she helped clean and maintain a natural park in Kentucky; and she provided disaster relief to victims of Hurricane Florence in South Carolina--all this, while she maintained a strict workout regime every week. She deserves this award, and I am proud to call her a resident of the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I want to take a moment to discuss mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is generally a cancer of the lungs. Most cases come from exposure to asbestos, a popular fireproofing material used in homes and buildings in the mid-20th century. It is a deadly disease. Ninety percent of patients die within 5 years. My home State of New Jersey ranks fifth nationally in mesothelioma deaths. Yet, it is one of the only cancers without a patient registry. A registry would allow researchers to study patients, look for common conditions, and create new cures to help them live longer lives. Our bill, the Mary Jo Lawyer Spano Mesothelioma Patient Registry Act, would provide funding to do just that. We need to pass this bill so we can truly research this deadly disease and provide more hope for these patients.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I am disgusted and appalled with the latest news about President Trump's behavior. He has repeatedly threatened the sanctity of our elections with his behavior. His latest call to the President of Ukraine is just par for the course with this administration. This is not the country I grew up in where the rules and law have to apply to everyone. No one man is above the law. This is not the way our elected officials should behave. The institutions of our country are meant for the people of this country, not for personal gain.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, while we mourn those lost in these all-too- frequent mass shootings, it is important to remember, while some cities suffer these tragedies occasionally, others suffer them daily. Every year, dozens of my neighbors are victims of shootings across my city. We need to stop looking at guns as simply a Second Amendment issue and address them as a national health and security crisis. Our people are dying, and we have the power to stop it. We have already taken similar actions in other industries when lives are threatened or lost. Automobiles are a safety risk, so we pushed for seatbelts and airbags. Smoking is a health risk, so we banned advertisement and vending machines to protect our children. That is why I am proud to support stricter background checks before a gun purchase and a ban on high-capacity magazines, which should only be available to trained American soldiers. But we must do more. Like me, many Members return to districts where gun violence is all too common and where it is rare to find a family that has not lost a member to this national menace.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to honor Dr. Emily England Clyburn, the wife of Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, after her passing on September 19. It is often said that behind every great man is an even greater woman. Certainly, this was true of Dr. Clyburn. She was a great woman who supported a great man. Known affectionately as Miss Emily or Dr. Em, Dr. Clyburn was a kind, compassionate, and incredibly generous woman. She spent most of her career as a librarian, first in public schools and then for almost 30 years at the Charleston Naval Base and Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Her love of learning led her to raise millions of dollars to create more need-based scholarships for her alma mater, South Carolina State University. Mrs. Clyburn knew the importance of a good education, and she wanted to create more opportunities for students of color throughout the State. It was part of her strong commitment to equality. We will remember her as a dedicated fighter for civil rights. She was a model of class and character throughout her life. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Clyburn; his daughters, Mignon, Jennifer, and Angela; the family; and all the people of South Carolina during this time of loss.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the U.S. Virgin Islands for yielding and for her continued leadership on issues that impact Americans throughout the diaspora and also issues that the CBC finds necessary to continue to raise. We are known as the conscience of the Congress, and although we are the Congressional Black Caucus, we represent 78 million Americans of all stripes. That is something that I think is very important for people to understand. I am not surprised that the gentlewoman once again has raised an issue for the caucus that impacts so many people in this Nation and, if President Trump has his way, negatively impacts so many people in this Nation. I am very concerned about Trump's latest attack on low-income Americans. His administration would like to make drastic changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The program, which used to be called food stamps, has helped millions of working parents, disabled Americans, and seniors afford a more nutritional diet. Traditionally, SNAP benefits were assigned based on a standard income level. If you made less than 130 percent of the Federal poverty level, roughly $2,300 per month, you were eligible. If you made more than that, you were not. However, there was an important clause in how the State governments assessed that income. If you had a more prosperous year, say you made an extra $100 or $200 per month thanks to a side job, you could still be eligible for the benefits. States knew that such income might be temporary, and they did not want to punish hardworking Americans for seeking a better life. The system worked because it encouraged nutritious eating for lower income citizens, a group that studies show have less nutritious diets across the board. And it allowed them to save a little money for the future. In addition, it saved time because it allowed recipients to enroll automatically and provided a new market for American farm products. It was a win-win for everyone involved. So, naturally, Trump wants to change that. He wants to impose a hard cap on the income levels for recipients, and he wants to eliminate eligibility for people with more than $2,300 in a bank account. If the rule is enacted, it could be disastrous for our country's lower income workers, disabled citizens, and the elderly. Millions of them could lose their benefits and return to unhealthy eating, because that is all they would be able to afford. Study after study shows the costs to our Nation's healthcare from patients with poor diets. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that unhealthy eating costs about $1 trillion, with a T, per year in extra healthcare and contributes to the death of almost 700,000 citizens annually, the size of a congressional district. These are costs we do not need, especially at a time when many economists say a recession is looming. There are several other problems with this proposed rule. It promotes the belief that lower income Americans should stay lower income because it punishes people who want to save a little money. If you save too much, you could lose your benefits. The greatest harm would be done to innocent schoolchildren. The free school meal programs across the country use SNAP eligibility to determine whether children can qualify for the meals. If their parents get eliminated from the system, at least 265,000 students could go hungry during the school day. If they lose those meals, academic studies show that their performance in school will drop significantly. You cannot think about math when you are thinking about an empty stomach. They will have lower standardized test scores, and they are more likely to come to school late, if they come at all. These children feel the shame of being in the Free and Reduced Meal Program already. This rule would reduce that shame by making sure they do not have any meals at all. These are students who need support the most, so we need to support them the most. What we do not need are rules designed to keep them in poverty from an administration dedicated to enriching the wealthy and themselves. We need to give States the freedom to assess their SNAP eligibility in a way that empowers them to empower their citizens. We need to promote healthy living with proper diet and nutrition choices. We need to protect our schoolchildren and do everything possible to make sure that they get every educational benefit possible. That is why we need to fight this proposed rule change to the SNAP program. Our farmers are struggling, thanks to Trump's trade wars, and our students are struggling from inequality already. We do not need to make both of those problems worse. We are mortified but not surprised by the actions of a callous administration toward people of need. It is not surprising that the administration has looked into how it could once again penalize poor people, struggling children, and the elderly, who have paid their dues, played by the rules, and now need a little assistance, but they just don't matter. This is not the country I was led to believe that I was growing up in. This is not what I learned in school. What we see here is a disassembling of a nation. Everything that we have stood for is falling apart around us because of this President and his administration. We will continue to fight. I think our Nation is stronger than one man. We will come together as a great Nation once again and take care of the least of us. It is our obligation.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me as I rise to pay tribute to Annie ``Anna'' Mae Stewart after her passing on August 3, 2019. On April 9, 1917, Anna Mae Johnson entered the world as the eldest child born to Elder Allen Waters and Elizabeth Johnson in Washington, DC. She met and married Charles Earl Stewart on Oct 8, 1937 at St Augustine's Catholic Church. She chose to follow her husband in his faith and converted to Catholicism in 1951 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church (OLPH). Anna began working at St Teresa's convent and later worked at the OLPH rectory, a career that would last for more than 20 years. There she fostered close relationships with many priests and seminarians, such as George Leary, Jr., a man who would become a surrogate son. She was actively involved in parent, school and church organizations, including Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Baptism and Confirmation prep, catechist and a passionate Catholic Youth Organization advisor. She was an active member of other organizations, such as St Joseph's Ladies' Auxiliary No. 213 KOSJI Sodality, Legion of Mary, Catholic Charities, Cursillistas, OLPH Hilltoppers, OLPH Women's' Ministry, and her two favorites, Eucharistic Ministry and Lector. She enjoyed being of service to her church community in every way possible. Anna was also a dedicated community activist. She joined her local Orange Hat Coalition and helped rid her neighborhood of drug dealers at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic. She was instrumental in getting the Eastover Shopping Center integrated, which led to her recognition for her commitment to the civil rights movement. She was acknowledged by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc as a Village Keeper for that effort and received other honors, including Mother of the Year 1960 and 1963 by the Afro American newspaper. She participated in the March on Washington in 1967 and took much pride in voting for the first Black President in 2008. Madam Speaker, I know my fellow members of the U.S. House of Representatives agree that Anna Mae Stewart deserves to be recognized at the time of her passing for her dedication to her church, her family, and her community.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor my dear friend, Ms. Gladys Barker Grauer, the ``Mother of Newark Arts'' for more than 70 years, after her passing recently at the age of 96. She was one of Newark's most dedicated artists and art supporters who leaves a legacy of great contributions behind. Fifty years ago, she opened the first art gallery in Newark, the Aard Studio Gallery. It was a place dedicated to art and encouraging artists of color to learn and express their unique talents. Through this gallery, Gladys helped inspire and launch the careers of African American artists across the city. Thanks to Gladys' efforts, the Newark Museum held the first exhibit of local artists, called Emerging and Established, in 1983. Gladys is one of the founding members of the Newark Arts Council, today known as Newark Arts. She even received the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women's Caucus for Arts. Her art has been displayed locally, nationally, and even internationally. When in Newark, visitors can see one of Gladys' five murals, called Music Unites Us All, on the PSE&G Fairmount Heights Art Wall. Gladys has been a blessing to our cultural scene and to me personally as a great and valued friend and friend of all of her children. Gladys' life reminds us of the value of art in society, and she will be sorely missed.