Charlie Rangel

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, in February, our nation commemorates the significant milestones in Black History as we pay homage to the individuals who shaped America's history. I am proud that many of the great Black leaders and movements in our history came from Harlem. As the epicenter of the Black cultural movement of the 1920s known as the Harlem Renaissance, the historic neighborhood was home to luminaries such as James Baldwin, Madame C.J. Walker, and Duke Ellington. Recently, many great political leaders have called Harlem home, including David Dinkins, Basil Paterson, and Percy Sutton. Our congressional district continues to be a bastion of Black social, political, and artistic development. I am fortunate to have many excellent organizations in the District that promote Black culture, history, and advancement. Our rich heritage is preserved through the efforts of The Link's Incorporated, 100 Black Men of New York, Coalition of 100 Black Women, Harlem Mothers SAVE, New York Urban League, NAACP New York State Conference, NAACP Mid-Manhattan Branch, Jazzmobile, Inc., Masjid Malcolm Shabazz Mosque, Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, United Clergy Caucus, Mobilizing Preachers and Community (MPAC), Clergy With a Purpose and Community, United Baptist Missionary Association, Baptist Ministers' Conference of New York & Vicinity, Faison Firehouse Theatre, New Heritage Theater Group, Impact Reparatory Theatre, Manna House, The Falu Foundation, The Caribbean Cultural Center, The Pan-Hellenic Council of New York, The Mama Foundation, and Gospel for Teens. Throughout Black History Month, we celebrate the contributions of Blacks in every facet of our society: Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics redefined sports and helped propel the civil rights movement; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Rep. Shirley Chisholm left an indelible mark in government, Louis Armstrong and Langston Hughes influenced generations of musicians and poets. And civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and my dear friend Rep. John Lewis forever changed the course of our nation. As we mark the 50th Anniversary of the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, we pay tribute to our leaders who fought tirelessly for our rights and the artists who communicated the feelings of generations of Black Americans. Today, the rallying call of Black Lives Matter has regenerated a new movement of young social activists such as The Justice League NYC as the struggle continues to raise awareness for justice and equality throughout urban America. Let us honor the memory of the great men and women who paved the path of Black culture and achievement and commit to preserving our history by striving to build on their legacy.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to celebrate Founder's Day (February 12) and recognize the 106th Anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the largest and the oldest, the baddest and the boldest, and the only premier civil rights organization in the world dedicated to fighting for the social justice and equality of Blacks in America, and for people of color everywhere. Over the years, the NAACP has played pivotal roles in efforts ranging from universal suffrage to wrongful death investigations. Their continued contributions to the pursuit of equality are a testament to the organization's leadership and its hardworking members. I commend the New York State Conference and our leader, Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, and the Mid-Manhattan branch of the NAACP for its unwavering commitment to our community. This branch provides vital mentoring and youth development programs and actively encourages activism in our community. Dedicating themselves to the five game changers--civic engagement, education, health, economic development and sustainability, and public safety and criminal justice, the Mid-Manhattan Branch continues to forge new victories ahead. I am proud of their many accomplishments and steadfast defense of the rights of all the people of New York City, because they are ``All in for Justice and Equality!'' During Black History Month, it is essential that we recognize the significant contributions the NAACP has made to the Civil Rights movement. Recently, I cosponsored legislation honoring and praising the NAACP on the occasion of its 106th anniversary. America is stronger and more diverse today because of the NAACP's commitment to fighting for the rights of Black Americans.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed from H.R. 279, to amend the Communications Act of 1934.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the rich culture and heritage of Dominicans, during the month of Carnival, the most important period of religious celebration in the Dominican Republic. Dominicans are dedicated members of our communities and have contributed so much to our country. This month, we take the opportunity to acknowledge and applaud their service to our nation and their many great achievements. Dominicans in our nation have been motivated by the value of hard work and the bonds of family--the same pillars that have formed the foundation of our society for over 230 years. From Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez, the first Dominican-American to serve in the Cabinet, to Pedro Martinez, a former pitcher for the New York Mets who was recently elected to the Hall of Fame, Dominicans are trailblazers who strengthen America's diverse cultural heritage. Dominicans are one of the fastest growing Hispanic groups in America. 1.5 million people of Dominican descent currently live in the United States. With over 700,000 people, Dominicans are the largest Hispanic group in New York City. I am honored to serve a congressional district with a significant Dominican population. They bring vibrant and rich cultural and economic contributions to every neighborhood in my district, from Washington Heights to Inwood. I am fortunate to have many excellent organizations, in my district, that promote Dominican culture and empower Dominicans living in Manhattan and the Bronx. The Dominican Women's Development Center, New York Dominican Officers' Organization, Dominican Medical Association, National Dominican Women's Caucus, Community Association of Progressive Dominicans, Alianza Dominicana, Dominican Bar Association, Association of Dominican Classical Artists, Dominican Cultural Civic Center, Mirabal Sisters Cultural and Community Center all help strengthen their communities and improve the lives of Dominicans in New York. Like so many generations of immigrants, Dominicans have fought tirelessly to achieve the American Dream. They come to this great nation seeking a home, a place to raise their families, and a community that will nurture their dreams. From the initial wave of Dominican migration in the 1960s to the most recent arrivals of today, Dominicans have graced our nation with their culture and traditions. Their contributions are integral to the success of our great nation and to strengthening the American fabric.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. So collectively, we all have to--in God we have to trust. This means we have given up on the process--55, 56 times. It is time to trust in God. So I am calling upon all of those solid voices there that were waiting to see whether sanity could ever come to the well of this House, and I think we have proven today, don't count on us, God. We need your help. And only God can get us out of this rut. Thank you for the opportunity.

Mr. RANGEL. A million and one. Thank you for this opportunity to try to figure out what is going on on the floor today. Normally, Republicans are rational, intelligent people, and that is the reason why they keep talking about ObamaCare. It is clear to me that we are not voting on ObamaCare. I haven't seen ObamaCare in any of the papers we have today, so they must be saying that they want to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. That makes it easier to understand what they want to do. They want to repeal health care, and they want to replace it with, well, they want to--I don't know what they want to do, quite frankly, but I know they want to get rid of this. I think we have reached the point that we have exhausted the legislative process. I have figured it out. This Senate is prepared to join with them in this insanity. The only thing missing is the President of the United States. Now, they must have a plan how they are going to pick up two-thirds of this House and two-thirds of the Senate to tell the world: We don't want Americans to have health care. Now is the time for the spiritual leaders to come in, because I have been reviewing the Bible, and Christians, Jews, everybody says that we have a moral obligation, far beyond our legislative responsibility, to give the sick an opportunity to get well, to allow children the opportunity to breathe. And I know the concerns for the unborn that we all have. But what about the born, the aged, the disabled?

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I wish I had a prepared statement, but I was so moved after listening and being a part of this great congressional group in this great country to be able to celebrate 50 years since the Voting Rights Act. As a kid who grew up on the streets of Lenox Avenue and dropped out of high school, I didn't have the benefit of having anything to attach a dream to that would allow me to believe that one day I could be sitting in the United States House of Representatives. But after returning from the war in Korea and after being the beneficiary of the GI bill, and after graduating from law school, I was able to see and hear atrocities that have been committed on Black folks in this country the likes of which I had not seen except during wartime. And even though my mother's family came from Virginia, in the city of New York even today I don't ever remember meeting any White people from the South. I don't know what that is. Perhaps Congressman Butterfield may be able to do some historical research about why they stayed in the South and didn't come to New York City, where racism had a sugar coating to it. They didn't use dogs and bombs and things of that nature. But I recall so vividly seeing people like Andy Young and especially our dear friend and colleague, John Lewis, be prepared to put their lives on the line for our country, not for themselves. In Korea and in most wars, people fight to stay alive and they don't voluntarily put their life on the line, as John Lewis and others have done. But what happened was, when they had the first Selma march, what we refer to as Bloody Sunday, years before our beloved Congresswoman was born, I saw something that really pained me as an American rather than as a human being. And then they had the second march from Selma to Montgomery and Dr. King pulled that back, and then we had the plea for people from all over the country to come down for the third march. I recalled before, I had bad feet and wasn't thinking about going to Selma to do 54 miles, but the inspiration to see people that had been prepared to put their life on the line for me and others like me could not allow me to return to New York. It is very interesting that I have to admit publicly that when I heard the voice of Lyndon Johnson coming across on radio and television saying, ``We shall overcome,'' I kind of thought, Terri, that those were our words. And if a White person was to say it, I never expected to find that accent of the very people that sounded as though they were part of a conspiracy to keep children of slaves from assimilating into the constitutional beliefs that we had since learned to live by and enjoy and hope for. What an historic moment that was. What a revolutionary period that was, because as we review that and look at the picture ``Selma,'' we wonder where did all of the people that represented this hatred go, the people who stood in the way of people registering voters; the people who took advantage of the idea that just because of their complexion they were superior; the people that belonged to the Ku Klux Klan; the people who used religion as a sword instead of a shield? Did they disappear? What happened to the so-called Dixiecrats? But then I am reminded that as a result of the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act that they didn't go very far, that they threw down their party label but they stayed in the same places, and many of them are doing the same thing--trying to continue to prevent people of color from enjoying their full constitutional voting rights. Then when I was honored enough to come down here in 1971 with half a dozen Congressional Black Caucus members, nine, who joined with four of us who had decided to form the Congressional Black Caucus, you could not believe, Congressman Payne, how it was never our dream that that small group would go from 13 to 26 to 40 to 46 to 47, and reach the historic impact on our policy and on our Nation, a group that had no intention of doing anything except to introduce, create, and support policies that could make this great country even stronger for all of us. And true, we have a lot of obstacles to overcome, but I don't think any group of people have been as successful as we have in coming from the pits of slavery in such a short period of time as we are now, and to see how much more work we have to do so that one day our children and our grandchildren will say: Why did they have to have a Congressional Black Caucus? Why wasn't it just a Democratic caucus? Why did we need it? Well, because of the intellect, the commitment of individual members of the Black Caucus, like the rest of the Congress, that come from all walks of life and they got here to make this a better country, a more effective Congress, soon and very soon, we may hear those words: Why were we needed? Until we accomplish these lofty goals, thank God that we have had it. I think that the Democrats appreciate the work that we are trying to do, and one day, as so many people who got rid of their sheets, their children and their grandchildren would see that we only were trying to eliminate the pain for all people, regardless of color, to make the red, white, and blue, rather than just whether you are Black or White, become the theme that the fathers of this Constitution should have been striving for. There is no question in my mind that the things we stand for really and what the country is committed to do, and I am so proud of these last couple of years, that there is not a group of people I would rather spend my time with than with my friends and my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I join the nation in celebrating the 113th Anniversary of Korean American Day this January 13, 2015. The Korean American community has been an integral part of our American fabric, and I am honored to recognize their vital role in shaping communities throughout our great Nation. Since the first Koreans arrived on the shores of Honolulu, Hawaii, on this date in 1903, they have excelled and shown that the American Dream is alive. Whether in military, education, science, business, sports or the arts, Korean Americans proved that with hard work, dedication and zeal for education, they can thrive and help make America even greater. My time fighting in the Korean War gave me an enduring personal connection to Korea and its people. Since returning home from my service over six decades ago, I have witnessed South Korea's rise from a war-torn nation to becoming the world's 13th-largest economy, a transformation which has been largely driven by the resilience and industriousness of the Korean people. Here in America, Koreans have inspired us with the same entrepreneurialism and perseverance toward building success and wealth for their communities. As a native and longtime Congressman of New York City, I am proud of its Korean American community and the greatness they contribute to our City and State. I applaud the services provided by many Korean American organizations to the Greater New York region, including free legal and medical help, immigration workshops, scholarship opportunities, and various cultural events. Koreans raise strong families and build successful businesses, active civic associations, churches, and charities that enhance our local economy and culture. I am proud to serve as Honorary Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Korea, and join my Colleagues and Korean American friends in celebrating their many milestones and triumphs. The Korean people will always have a very special place in my heart. I look forward to the continued friendship I cherish so much.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I was in Havana, Cuba, when the President of the United States declared that he was going to relax the restrictions that we have on the embargo in Cuba, and I tell you that the people in Havana rejoiced. In the streets of Havana, they said there were two basic things they liked about America: one was American movies, and the second was everything else. When I got to come back home through Miami, at the airport, people with Cuban backgrounds--Americans--were so excited about the opportunity for America to rejoin the family of nations and to recognize the contributions that Cuba can make. We thought that, today, we would be hearing a rejoicing for those people who should have never been in jail in Cuba who were released. Obviously, there are some people who have a different opinion. I am here today to say that, with all due respect to those Americans and to those Cubans who suffer under the dictatorship in Cuba, we feel their pain, but now, American policy should override the pain that a few feel for what is in the best national interest of our great Nation.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, as the senior member of the New York delegation, it affords me a great honor to come from the Empire State of New York, where we have so many people we are proud of, but because Mario Cuomo represented the true nature of the American Dream, we from the State of New York would just like to laud the contributions that he has made, not just to Queens, where he was raised, not just to the great State of New York, but to those democratic principles that all of us believe in, and no one could articulate it the way our great Governor has. So many people have come to this country from faraway places, and somehow, when they succeed, some change their names, some change their attitudes, and some just absolutely forget how they got here and how they were perceived; but Mario Cuomo was different. Mario was so proud of the fact that his parents were immigrants. He was proud of the fact that they came here with nothing but a hope and a dream that their son would succeed. He succeeded in everything that he touched, from neighborhood arbitration, to secretary of state, to Lieutenant Governor; and, of course, the Nation remembers him as Governor and as one who articulated the principles not of the Democratic Party, but of the entire country at a Democratic Convention. Of course, he leaves behind a son who, for those of us who attended his funeral would have to say not only did he talk about his father in terms that made us all feel proud, but in that voice that he had, if you closed your eyes for one moment, you would see that Mario Cuomo did not die. He left his son to continue in describing the great opportunity that we have in this great country. I am so glad that so many New Yorkers are here. Because we are here for such a short period of time--we are in committees and reorganizing--the delegation has asked me to reduce my remarks to 2 minutes, and I share that concern with the rest of our great delegation. It is my great pleasure to yield back the balance of my time so that the gentleman from New York, Joseph Crowley, may control the remainder of my time.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend a warm goodbye to the Dean of the House, John Dingell, who I am honored to call my dear friend of over forty years. The people of Michigan's 12th congressional district as well as the people across the nation are truly grateful for the devotion and leadership that he has provided over the last half century in Congress. John has certainly demonstrated what it means to be a true American patriot and hero. A fellow veteran, he is currently one of two World War II veterans still serving in Congress leaving Texas Republican Ralph Hall as the sole member who served in World War II. John has made it his life's work to fight to protect the health and well-being of both our people and our planet, and we have all benefited from his hard work and many accomplishments during his tenure. John acted as the driving force behind imperative legislative initiatives like the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Clean Air Act of 1990, and the Endangered Species Act. Through dedication and an everlasting thirst for public service John has made an indelible impact in this institution. His charismatic candor will be missed. I will always be thankful that John fought alongside me in Congress in times of both good and bad. I know John will remain a voice of reason in our nation.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with grief to honor the passing of Herman Badillo, a great New Yorker, a great friend and a man that worked honorably for this country. I fondly remember walking down 116th street, the borderline of Harlem and East Harlem, as we shared the great plans we had for our districts and this great nation. Herman and I were part of the 1970 Congressional freshman class. Herman was also the man who gave Percy Sutton, David Dinkins, Basil Paterson, and me the special label: the Gang of Four. He was always driven and persistent, called himself ``the first Puerto Rican everything,'' and won the respect for being a fighter. Congressman Herman Badillo will be truly missed. My friend, Herman Badillo, will always be remembered as America's first Puerto Rican-born Congressman and a fixture in New York City politics for four decades, championing civil rights, jobs, housing and educational reforms. Born in Caguas, P.R., on Aug. 21, 1929, Herman was the only child of Francisco and Carmen Rivera Badillo. Upon moving to the continental United States, he learned English and was an excellent student at Haaren High School in Manhattan. Being a hard worker since a young age, he labored as a dishwasher, bowling pinsetter, and accountant and graduated with high honors from City College in 1951. Herman went on to graduate from Brooklyn Law School as valedictorian in 1954, then settled into law practice in New York. Badillo served his community as a public servant on many fronts. Besides his election to four terms in Congress, he was a city commissioner, the Bronx borough president, a deputy to Mayor Edward I. Koch, a counsel to Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, a candidate for state and city comptroller, and for many years a trustee and then board chairman of the City University of New York. I was honored to serve with Herman during his seven years in Congress in the 1970s, when he pushed urban renewal, antipoverty programs, voting rights and bilingual education. Herman has been a treasure to the people of our community as well as a true testament to the American Dream. Herman Badillo will forever remain in our hearts.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to congratulate Congresswoman Marcia Fudge on her extraordinary leadership as the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. With conviction and passion, she defended the change we have all worked so diligently to achieve since the CBC was founded in 1971. Throughout her career in Congress, Marcia's passion for the advancement of the least among us, regardless of race, color or creed, has served her constituents in Cleveland well. This tireless advocacy made her an excellent choice for the CBC chair. During her tenure, she was fearless in promoting the goals of the CBC and advancing our fight to confront critical issues that are confronted by the communities we represent. Her staff certainly impressed us with their unparalleled work ethic, enthusiasm, responsibility and flexibility to meet the needs of so many Members. They demonstrated great aptitude in communicating urgent matters to us in a timely and effective manner. The Chairwoman was unwavering in her strength as she gracefully tackled the harsh political battles we were confronted during this Congress. She has left a huge imprint in the CBC and will be missed by all of us who have come to respect and appreciate her very much as our leader. I look forward to working with Marcia and the rest of my Colleagues on the CBC in the 114th Congress as we continue our efforts to put America back to work, cut our deficit responsibly, tackle tax reform, and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to pursue the American Dream.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration that I rise today to join all of the people in the village of Harlem and my Congressional District to pay tribute to Mr. James Baldwin, a legendary writer who broke new literary ground by exploring racial and social issues embedded in American history. On Saturday, August 2, 2014, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, the Harlem Arts Alliance, the New Heritage Theatre Group, Columbia University School of the Arts, The National Black Theater, Street Corner Resources, Harlem Renaissance High School, and HARLEM WEEK, Inc. joined elected officials, community board members, residents, and poet laureates to recognize August 2nd as James Baldwin Day in celebration of his 90th birthday. Among the many tributes, the marquee of the famous Apollo Theater read ``Happy 90th Birthday James Baldwin.'' Above all, a portion of East 128th Street, between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, where he once lived was renamed ``James Baldwin Way''. Mr. Baldwin was born to Emma Jones, a single mother, on August 2, 1924 in Harlem, New York. While he never met his biological father, Mr. Baldwin did have a father figure growing up, Baptist Minister David Baldwin. The preacher's religious influence had a lasting impression on James and his writings. The language of the church shaped the cadences and tones of his work, becoming unmistakable hallmarks of his literary style. He would go on to spend three years as a youth minister. After striking out on his own and moving away from home, Mr. Baldwin published short stories in national periodicals under the tutelage of his mentor, Beauford Delaney, a renowned Harlem Renaissance painter. Disillusioned by the growing bigotry towards African-Americans and the gay community, Baldwin left our country and settled in France at the age of 24. He found that the distance gave him enough space to reflect on his experience as a black man in white America. Please allow me to quote Mr. Baldwin's later thoughts on this dramatic change in his life: ``Once I found myself on the other side of the ocean, I saw where I came from very clearly . . . I am the grandson of a slave, and I am a writer. I must deal with both.'' Through his writing, Baldwin was forced to confront this enlightening reality. While he spent much of his life abroad, Baldwin was recognized as a quintessential American writer. In 1953, Baldwin published his first novel, a semi autobiography called Go Tell It on the Mountain, which explores the repression, moral hypocrisy, religious inspiration, and community ties that characterized the Black American experience. His two collections of essays, Notes of a Native Son (1955) and Nobody Knows My Name (1961), as well as his two novels, Giovanni's Room (1956) and Another Country (1962), were immediate bestsellers. The works Baldwin published during this unsettling time in American history, explored the deep-rooted racial tension with eloquence and unparalleled honesty. As his collection of notable literary works continue to exude words of strength, power, and wisdom, his writing will forever remain an essential part of the American literary canon. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me as we celebrate this year, the 90th Birthday of Harlem Renaissance Poet Laureate James Baldwin.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the continuous efforts of The City of Osan in South Korea, to honor the men of Task Force Smith, the first American unit to engage North Korean troops in July of 1950, following the immediate outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950. As an artillery operations specialist in the all-black 503rd Field Artillery Battalion in the 2nd Infantry Division, I arrived in Pusan, South Korea, in August of 1950, shortly after Task Force Smith valiantly held back the North Korean assault and made it possible for my unit to eventually begin moving north as the U.N. Forces advanced deep into North Korea. The City of Osan, Kyung-gi Province and the Korean Government, with the help of former U.S. Congressman Jay Kim, are planning to construct a memorial park at the site of the Battle of Osan to honor the troops of Task Force Smith and all the other forces from the participating U.N. nations that fought to protect South Korea from the communist invasion. The Task Force Smith Memorial Park will encompass some twelve acres along the road where a hastily organized force of 540 Americans dug in on July 5, 1950 to slow the advance by a larger, better equipped force of North Korean tanks and infantry. Some 181 Task Force members were killed, wounded, taken prisoner or counted missing in action, but they were able to delay the North Korean advance while other U.S. and Korean units prepared defensive positions. The Memorial Park will include walking paths, historical markers, statues, pavilions and 540 pine trees, one planted for each of the soldiers of Task Force Smith. This past July 3, former Congressman Jay Kim, his wife, Jennifer Ahn, along with four Task Force Smith veterans and their family members traveled to Korea to participate in the 59th annual ceremony to commemorate the U.N. Forces First Battle Memorial. Those in attendance were: John H Sanchez (52nd) from Waukesha, WI, William C Coe (B co) from Cohoes, NY and daughter Suann M. Ingle, Norman Matthews (C co) from Dexter, MN and his wife Lindy Matthews, Charles Fronapfel (MED co, POW) from Lakewood, CO and son Lee Charles Fronapfel, and Lisa Gay Sholl in honor of her father, Norman Fosness (B co) of Fargo, ND. According to Osan City, the museum was built in 2013 to remember and honor the brave soldiers of Task Force Smith. Now they want to expand and include a memorial park to provide a place for Korean children to learn and carry forward this special memory and a special appreciation of the friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea. Osan is an especially important place to remember the sacrifice and dedication of our American troops. At this site some 540 young Americans, ill-prepared and ill-equipped, were thrown into battle against tremendous odds on behalf of a people and a nation they barely knew. The relationship between our two countries is a precious one that will continue to grow. It is amazing that after all these decades, Korea and the Korean people have never stopped thanking us. Korea will always have a place in my heart as it does in the hearts of all U.S. veterans who have served then and those who serve now.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in tribute to a very important and influential citizen of this Good Nation, Mr. James Allen. Mr. Allen has recently stepped down as Executive Director and CEO of the Addict Rehabilitation Center (ARC) which began in 1957, at first as a small day program which met in the Manhattan Christian Reform Church. Mr. Allen is an inspiring man who has brought much needed assistance, love, and care to the addicts of our community, taking the steps to bring them back into the folds of society. Even without his accomplishments in terms of giving back to the world, Mr. Allen's personal story of struggle and growth is enough in itself to merit this tribute. Mr. Allen was himself a heroin addict, and had pushed away his family, friends, and all of his emotions in order to maintain his negative relationship with his drug of choice. After ten years of hopelessness and lack of connection with the world around him, Mr. Allen made the toughest decision addicts are faced with: to get help for his problem. He had the support of his wife, Mary, who pushed him to join a treatment facility in Kentucky. It was there that Allen overcame his previous anger and contempt for religion, and he began to pray to God to help him through his struggle. With an amount of work unimaginable to those who have never dealt with addiction, Allen overcame his dependence on heroin. His journey is an inspiring one, and I am honored to call Mr. Allen my friend. Yet Mr. Allen's fight did not end here. In addition to facing the daily battles recovered addicts must face throughout their lives, Mr. Allen took the next step to help others dealing with similar struggles. His life crossed paths with that of another dear friend and civil rights leader, the late Reverend Dr. Eugene S. Callender of the Manhattan Christian Reform Church, and he immediately volunteered to assist the Reverend with a church-sponsored narcotics rehabilitation program. Since that day, Mr. Allen has not paused in his goal of helping other addicts change their lives around. As founder of the Addict Rehabilitation Center, he transformed the small church-funded program into a successful, far-reaching organization. Under Allen's loving and committed leadership, ARC has served thousands of people dealing with substance abuse, and the hope he brought to these people's lives will forever remain in their hearts.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the National Organization of Black Veterans (NABVETS) and its visionary and founder, Brigadier General (Ret.) Robert A. Cocroft for his distinguished service as National Commander. This year, under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Wendy McClinton, Black Veterans for Social Justice, Inc. hosted the National Organization of Black Veterans National Conference and Convention in New York City, which took place from August 14th to August 17th, 2014. The theme for the 2014 Convention was ``Transitioning to the Next Level: Fighting for Your Focus''. This theme was very apropos, because the conference honored Brigadier General (Ret.) Robert A. Cocroft who retired as National Commander. The National Association for Black Veterans, Inc. (NABVETS) is a membership service organization with the charge to address issues concerning Black and other minority veterans. NABVETS has served as a leader to address the unmet concerns of minority and low-income veterans through direct services, empowerment training and collaborative partnerships; and in the service design to address the ``holistic'' issues of homelessness among veterans. Since inception, NAB VETS has provided direct services to 65,000 veterans and on behalf of 240,000 veterans--primarily of the Vietnam and post-Vietnam era. Robert A. Cocroft served with the Army in Korea during the Vietnam War and had an active career in the Army Reserve. He served as the Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, President of the National Association for Black Veterans, and President and CEO of the Center for Veterans Issues (Milwaukee, Wisconsin). Robert A. Cocroft was born in Conway, Mississippi, Nov 16, 1946 and was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He entered military service via the draft in 1966, while as a student at the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh, where he studied and played football. During his illustrious military career and service, he was once offered a position in military intelligence, but declined because he believed that as a Black officer he would be used to spy on student demonstrators such as the Black Panther Party. He describes going to Panama for jungle training and becoming anemic due to taking required anti-malaria drug Primaquine, which reacted with his G6PD deficiency. Sent to Korea, he mentions assignment to headquarter Special Troops and processing military personnel with the 8th Army and touches on racial tension, infiltrators along the Demilitarized Zone, attitudes towards Republic of Korea soldiers, and estimates of military strength. After return to Wisconsin, he joined the 84th Division of the Reserve, while also working and going to school full time. He graduated from the Army War College, climbing the chain of command to Assistant Division Commander for Operations with the 98th Division. Cocroft examines the problem with minorities getting administrative discharges and then having great difficulty getting veteran benefits, and the unfairness of this compared to the amnesty offered to draft dodgers, who were mostly white. He reports that now the segregation problems are not racial, but gender-based, and he addresses the issues of fraternization and different standards for women. Cocroft emphasizes that the American people need to decide what they want from their military. He retired at the rank of Brigadier General. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me and very grateful Nation in paying tribute and salute to Brigadier General (Ret.) Robert A. Cocroft.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize El Catano, affectionately known as ``La Casita'' Community Garden, which celebration took place on Saturday, June 7th in celebration of the 2014 National Puerto Rican Day Parade. In 1994, Jose and his sister Esther Reyes decided to look for an empty lot to start a community garden. The garden would be named after the Town of Catano, which is located across from the bay of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The lot was a rat infested dumping ground for garbage, needles and crack vials, before Jose and Esther took on the challenge and collected over 200 signatures throughout the immediate neighborhood to acquire the lot in support of a community garden. Support grew from community organizations and businesses, which enabled Jose and Esther to acquire the lot and to clean it. In 1995, La Casita de Catano Community Garden was born. Traditionally, there is a Puerto Rican Day Festival held each Saturday before the parade--New York City's third largest--along Third Avenue in East Harlem, with community members transforming the El Catano Community Garden into a celebration of Puerto Rican food and music. The presiding Mayor of Catano often joins local residents in the festivities at the garden, where a past mayoral plaque commends the successful work of its founder Jose Reyes--who established the garden 20 years ago--in organizing tournaments between the El Catano Community Garden's own baseball team and teams in Puerto Rico. La Casita stood up to the Giuliani's Administration efforts to close the garden in favor of market rate and commercial development. In 2008, under the leadership of the late City Councilman Philip Reed, El Catano Community Garden was saved. Councilman Reed enlisted the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) to restore this 2,500-square-foot site in partnership with Denali Construction. Re-envisioned by acclaimed landscape designer Billie Cohen, the space--Cohen's tenth garden design for NYRP--features an intricate pattern of bluestone tiles in front and pavers arranged in concentric circles in the back of the garden. Additional highlights include planting beds for perennials such as roses and rhododendron. El Catailo's new design is well-suited to the garden's primary use as a community gathering space and frequent site of birthday parties, christenings and baby showers, as well as children's activities and educational workshops. In addition, local senior citizens use the garden to play cards and dominoes and, each year, NYRP partners with garden members to host a family-friendly domino tournament. This garden is situated in an area starved for open green space within blocks of 10 schools and in close proximity to five New York City Housing Authority properties. The densely populated neighborhood's residents are primarily of Hispanic, Latino and African- American descent. The Board of Directors of the El Catano Community Garden remain in constant contact with their counterparts in their hometown of Catano, Puerto Rico. Every June and through the assistance of Carmen ``Puruca'' Ruiz they are honored to receive the Honorable Jose A. Rosario Melendez, Mayor of Catano during their annual National Puerto Rican Day weekend of activities at La Casita Community Garden. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me and the New York Congressional Delegation in paying tribute to Jose and Esther Reyes as they continue to maintain and keep the culture of Puerto Rico alive at ``La Casita de Catano''.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Tuskegee Airman Joseph Herman Spooner, a life-long resident of the Village of Harlem. As noted by the family: On September 11th, 2014, America surrendered a living legend to the annals of Black American history. Inextricably intertwined to the importance of this day ``September 11th'' in American history, a Tuskegee Airman at 94 years old, has passed over. September 11 reminds all of us every year that `freedom is not free' and the strength of our nation depends on men and women, such as Joe Spooner, a decorated World War II original member of the 99th Fighter Squadron/332 Fighter Group stationed out of Tuskegee, Alabama. Joseph Spooner was born on October 30th, 1919 to Joseph and Georgianna Spooner. Joseph was hilarious and loved to play jokes on people. He was high spirited and the life of the party. He had 6 children and three generations of grandchildren. He attended PS 179 Elementary School, PS 165 Robert E. Simon, and graduated from Dewitt Clinton High School in which he excelled in academics and athletics. He loved to play and watch sports. In his early years, he played Semi-Pro Basketball on a team called the Columbians. At the time he was drafted Joseph Spooner was a freshman at The City College of New York. Having played with the likes of Negro Basketball League legend John Issacs and ``Pop'' Gates of the original Harlem Globetrotters he made his family proud qualifying to pursue a college education during such a racially charged and segregated time period. America in the 1940's, was unforgiving for people of color, it was an impossible dream come true, yet a dream deferred. Joseph Spooner left college, abandoning a basketball scholarship to serve his country. Joe enlisted into service in 1942, and in 1943 this Black American hero was commissioned for duty with the Tuskegee Airmen. On April 1943, the 99th Fighter Squadron in their P-47 Thunderbolt fighters went into combat bound for North Africa, where it would join the 33rd Fighter Group and its commander, Colonel William W. Momyer. Given little guidance from battle-experienced pilots, the 99th's first combat mission was to attack the small strategic volcanic island of Pantelleria in the Mediterranean Sea to clear the sea lanes for the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. The air assault on the island began on 30 May 1943. The 99th flew its first combat mission on June 2, 1943. The surrender of the garrison of 11,121 Italians and 78 Germans due to air attack was the first of its kind. The 99th moved on to Sicily and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its performance in combat led by Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., Commander of the Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group. Though subject to racial discrimination, both at home and abroad, the 996 pilots and more than 15,000 ground personnel who served with the all- black units would be credited with some 15,500 combat sorties and earn over 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses for their achievements. With over 200 combat missions the Tuskegee Airmen did not lose a single bomber. They did everything in their power to protect and shield the bombers. As American history has now recognized the heroism and amazing exploits and air battles that took place in the skies over Europe by the 99th Fighter Squadron/332 Fighter Group, Joe as Armorer may have had the most important role by which he was responsible for loading the fighter planes with ammunition. In 2006, I introduced legislation to honor the Tuskegee Airmen with the Congressional Gold Medal. In March of 2007, Tuskegee Airman Joseph Herman Spooner received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor from President George W. Bush Great men, like our beloved Tuskegee Airman Joseph Herman Spooner are temporary gifts we have in this world, but their accomplishments and achievements are far remembered and forever lasting. Mr. Speaker, I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of Tuskegee Airman Joseph Herman Spooner.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have never felt more proud of my colleague from New York, for the great leadership that he has provided, since his arrival in this august body. This is such a great country, and I love it so much. I was raised in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, and when I graduated from law school, having been the only one in my family having gone to college, I think my mother said, ``Thank you, Jesus,'' and I said something like, ``Thanks for the Constitution, and thanks for being born in America.'' Like anything else you love, if there is an illness, if there is a problem, you would want to know what can you do to cure it. How can you make it all that our country can be? How can we say that we have a cancer that, until we recognize that we do, then we don't really love the country? How can we be able to say that White and Black in this country are equal and that those who work hard and live by the rules have the same opportunities as each other, when we know that we have this cancer that sometimes we are able to make the country do a lot better than it has since our people were the only ones who were actually brought here in chains? I marched from Selma to Montgomery, and things that I never had the opportunity to dream--because equality never was on the list in my community--but if, as a result of this, I have lived long enough to see African American men and women be elected to local and State offices around this country, to come here and join with nine African American Members of Congress in 1970 and to walk tall and know that, in that short period of time, we have grown to over 40, 45 Members of Congress, does that mean that we have rid ourselves of the cancer? I think not. How can we do it? It is by admitting that we do have that problem because, whether we are talking about Ferguson or Watts or Harlem or Bed-Stuy, until we admit that we have this illness and that we have this problem, then singling out the success of some of us in this country does not heal the wounds that have been left through the centuries of racial hatred and prejudice. We have been able to say we were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, but the truth of the matter is our people have been in slavery more than we have been so-called free people, and the fact that they said that you are no longer a slave didn't mean that you were an American with all the rights and the privileges of it. It hasn't been that long that I can remember my grandfather from Accomac, Virginia, talking about innocent people being lynched in Virginia, and it hasn't been that long that our people have been granted the constitutional right to--what--vote, and it hasn't been that long ago that they even said that our schools should be desegregated or the military desegregated. Until we reach the point that African American parents don't have to tell their kids to act differently just because of their color, that they have to succumb to a type of conduct that you teach them, on one hand, to be a man and stand up for your rights, but if he is in uniform, then beg and plead and don't say anything that might irritate him--I think--I really believe--that the people who unconsciously don't know and don't care about the heavy weight that Black folks have carried in this country over the centuries that they were brought here cannot possibly love the country as much as they would if they were to say it was not a Ferguson problem, it is an American problem. They should be able to ask what is it that they could do. I would humbly suggest that the first thing you do is to acknowledge that you have that problem. Some people may talk about payment for restitution for past crimes committed against human beings, but that restitution could be the ability to say that we are going to make certain that people of color in this country would be able to have access to the same type of education, live where they want to live, compete against anybody for the job and not feel that they are inferior because people have been taught that, just because they have a different complexion, that they are superior, and they think that because they were born on third base that just being born means they can hit a home run. The fact is that all of us, collectively, would know that, whether you are black or brown or yellow--or whatever the complexion is--that the greatest benefit and asset that we have as a nation is that we bring in all of these cultures together to build the greatest Nation on Earth. Whether we have another Ferguson in another 10 years or 20 years, it doesn't have to be. What has to be is that we cut this poison out of the system of this great country and openly say that we have this problem, and then, as the parents of Mr. Brown would want, that death would have been just another sacrifice that one of us has made to wake up this wonderful country to do what has to be done. Let me thank you for constantly reminding us that we have come a long, long way from how we got here, but we have a long way to go. Thank you so much.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life of Jonathan P. Hicks, beloved brother, renowned lecturer, a distinguished scholar, an award-winning writer and journalist with more than 30 years of experience covering politics, business, industry and the role of people of color in the world of business. Simply put, Jonathan was a force of nature that is widely respected in literary and activist communities across the world and by people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. For nearly 25 years, Jonathan worked for The New York Times, where he covered the politics of New York State and New York City. During that time, he developed a reputation as one of the foremost authorities on the inner workings of the political culture in New York City and New York State. He was a frequent guest on local radio and television news programs where he regularly offered political analysis and commentary. He was also the author of the Politics 5-B column for The Times' website. After leaving The Times, he worked as a senior fellow at the DuBois Bunche Center for Public Policy at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. Jonathan served as the host of Urban Focus, a weekly radio program that brings together politicians, policy makers, industry practitioners, scholars and expert analysts. Urban Focus explores a range of issues that affect under-served communities and communities of color from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, to Cape Town, South Africa. The discussions serve to both draw attention to problems and highlight solutions for issues of concern to these communities. He was co-editor of the book, From Disaster to Diversity: What's Next For New York City's Economy. It is a collection of essays by a number of prominent New Yorkers, published by the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy. Before passing away, Jonathan was editing the book, Black, Brown and Green: Ensuring A Role for People of Color In the Nation's Green Economy. It is to be a collection of essays, published by the DuBois Bunche Center. Jonathan also served as the scriptwriter for ``Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace,'' a documentary film which examines the behind-the- scenes events leading to the historic Camp David meeting between Egypt, Israel and the United States. The film was selected to open the 2009 Monte Carlo Television Festival. Always willing to share his wealth of knowledge and experience, Jonathan was a guest lecturer at a number of colleges and universities, including the London School of Printing, Columbia University, Swarthmore College, Southern University and the University of Missouri. He has also been a member of the visiting faculty at the Maynard Institute Summer Program for Minority Journalists at the University of California at Berkeley and the Century Foundation's Century Institute Summer Program at Williams College. In addition, he was a recipient of The New York Times' Publishers Award and has also received the public service writing award from the New York Association of Black Journalists. Furthermore, he has received awards for excellence in journalism from the New York Chapter of the National Black MBA Association and from the Arizona Press Association. In 2009, Jonathan traveled to Liberia on a grant from the Ford Foundation to write articles and produce broadcasts about the redevelopment of the country following the 14-year civil war that ended in 2003. He was also charged with laying the groundwork for a training program for professional and aspiring journalists there. Upon his return, Jonathan and his wife, Christy DeBoe Hicks, launched the J. P. Hicks Family Mass Communications Scholarship, which seeks to support the next generation of journalists in Liberia. The scholarship provides assistance for aspiring journalists, covering cost of tuition, fees and books for a period of up to four semesters at the University of Liberia. It also provides for online, one-on-one mentorship with professional journalists. Furthermore, Jonathan was involved in a number of philanthropic issues. He served for four years as chairman of the Kappa Alpha Psi New York Foundation, a role in which he helped raise $250,000 for scholarships for college-bound students in New York City. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in celebrating the life and career of a man who has devoted his life to promoting racial equality and the ideals this country was founded on. Jonathan P. Hicks remains a true American hero and quite simply a literary vanguard, and I suspect it will be a long wait before we ever see another of his kind.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to recognize Donald Frazier MacIver, Jr., who has dedicated his life to serving his country, his community, and his fellow military service members and veterans. Donald's service began as a Senior Medical Specialist Non- Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army's elite 5th Special Forces Group. In Vietnam, Donald showed the depth of his commitment to service by participating in extraordinarily hazardous missions behind enemy lines as a member of the covert Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG). His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal. In the last fifty years, Donald has worked tirelessly to advance the dignity and equal treatment of GLB service members and veterans. In 1993, Donald was arrested at the White House for his nonviolent civil disobedience in protest of the implementation of the U.S. military's discriminatory ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy. Donald has also served as a volunteer consultant on proper treatment and dignity for those living with HIV and AIDS. His contributions to the HIV/AIDS community include time as the Chair of the Community Advisory Board of the New York University Medical School, NYU Langone Medical Center, and Bellevue Hospital Center HIV/Hepatitis/Infectious Diseases Research Networks, and volunteer consultancy to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Public Health/Clinical Public Health. In 2011, Donald was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the VA Office of Public Health/Clinical Public Health for his ``dedicated service and commitment to improving the care provided to our nation's veterans.'' As president of the Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual (GLB) Veterans of Greater New York, Donald's leadership inspired GLB veterans who were discharged from the military for ``homosexual conduct'' to demand the respect and honor due for their faithful service. When unforeseen circumstances forced the closing of the GLB Veterans' office in January 2014, Donald went once again to action. Concerned that decades of activism and records of the discriminatory treatment of GLB veterans would be lost to history, Donald selflessly volunteered hours of his expertise to a coalition dedicated to preserving the GLB Veterans' archives. In March 2014, Donald singlehandedly organized, securely packaged, and transported sixteen boxes of archived records to a secure storage site in Bronx, New York. His continued stewardship of the records protects the memory of military veterans who faithfully served our country in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and elsewhere. It is impossible to calculate the value of Donald's contributions to GLB veterans' recognition and equality in New York City and the United States of America.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to applaud the efforts of a group of Korean-American leaders in the United States as they successfully launched the first Korean-American Service Day, (``KA Service Day'') on Saturday, November 8, 2014, with hundreds of volunteers participating in various events held in New York, Atlanta, Washington DC, Los Angeles and San Francisco. KA Service Day was conceived by the Network of Korean-American Leaders (NetKAL), a leadership program organized by the Center for Asian-Pacific Leadership at the University of Southern California for the purpose of incubating the next generation of Korean-American leaders. In 2014, the eighth class of leadership fellows convened in New York City over the course of six months and, as in years past, was challenged to come up with a community service project with far- reaching impact. The creation of ``Korean-American Service Day'' was an idea put forth by the 2014 class of NetKAL fellows. The five-city service day aimed to encourage Korean-Americans across the nation to give back to their local communities. Some of the volunteer opportunities ranged from food pantries and meal programs to outdoor restoration projects. They partnered with non-profit organizations, such as City Harvest to distribute fresh produce in the South Bronx neighborhood of my congressional district in New York City. From sorting donations to the Downtown Women's Center in Los Angeles and planting trees in a community greenspace in Atlanta, volunteers on KA Service Day demonstrated their collective will and power to become positive agents of change in our society. I hope that the huge success of the inaugural KA Service Day will inspire thousands of dedicated volunteers to help grow it into one of the largest days of service in America. As a Korean War veteran, I have been proud to witness the Korean community flourish across our nation. Since 1903, when they first came to America, Korean immigrants have played a vital role in shaping our society through their strong family ties and hard work. They have inspired us with their entrepreneurialism and perseverance toward building success and wealth for their families and communities. As a Congressman representing the communities in the New York metropolitan area I have been greatly impressed by the tremendous contributions made by half-a-million Korean Americans and 1,000 professional, educational, religious, and trade organizations, as they play a vital role in the Great City of New York. I am grateful to them and the members of NetKAL for their leadership in making a positive impact on our society.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize support for public broadcasting and the American Graduate initiative in advance of American Graduate Day on September 27th. Each year nearly one million students fail to graduate on time, and public media is working with partners across the nation to reach a goal of a 90 percent high school graduation rate by the year 2020. With the help of the American Graduate initiative and the many other institutions and initiatives grappling with this issue, remarkable progress toward this goal has been made in recent years. American Graduate Day puts faces on the dropout numbers and increases understanding of the risks and solutions through national and local content, covering all facets of the dropout issue for broadcast, web and mobile platforms. An October 2013 study conducted by the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins School of Education finds that the American Graduate initiative has succeeded in building community capacity to meet the national priority of ending America's high school dropout crisis. More than 80 public radio and television stations in over 30 states have joined forces with over 1000 partners and at-risk schools to shed light on the problem and share solutions. The dropout rate in the tri-state area is alarming, and I see students in my district struggling to complete their education every day; I support this important initiative that delivers real impact in our fight to end this dropout crisis.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind), my friend and a distinguished, eloquent member of the Ways and Means Committee.