Charlie Rangel

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Let me thank my friend and colleague from the great Borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, and my colleagues, for coming down to the floor. Mr. Speaker, when we started the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971, I guess most people said: Why do you need a Black Caucus? Thirteen of you of color have been able to break the walls of racism and discrimination to reach the Halls of the United States Congress. Obviously, you don't have to say that you're Black. What we tried to do then, and I guess we are still involved in that struggle, is to try to make certain that there's absolutely no need for any group of people to have to identify themselves for protection and for aggressiveness on programs because of their color. I tell the gentleman from New York--I guess you were about born when we started the Caucus--I wish by the time you got here and you were looking for the Congressional Black Caucus, I would be able to say: Hakeem, that's all over. That's when we were not treated as full Americans. That's ancient times, the same way I had thought that poll taxes and things of that nature that the late--my predecessor--Adam Clayton Powell had been able to overcome. So now comes the question where people feel so awkward to say race was a factor in the killing of young Mr. Martin. Why would they feel so awkward? It is so easy to understand if two people have a problem, one was minding his business, the other was stalking him, one had a gun and the other ended up dead, and he had already described to the police who he was following and it was a person of color. I don't think I've heard anyone challenge if the colors were reversed it wouldn't take all of the weeks, days and weeks that it took just to arrest somebody. The reason that we are asking for the Justice Department to examine this is because the Justice Department has been successful in examining a whole lot of criminal activity where the local community somehow didn't see it. And George, as the family in Sanford calls him, obviously was a part of that family. I would think anybody would like somebody that's not a part of that family to go in and see what happened to Trayvon. But having said that, if you want to know where do we go from here, we don't have to explain why Blacks are killing Blacks. If we say that's an epidemic, if we say that's a sickness, if we say that's a disaster, I ask my fellow Americans: What the heck do you do when you find a disaster? I think one of the things that you do is try to stop it from spreading and find out what do these areas have in common. First of all, why is it that members of the Congressional Black Caucus have more of these than other Members in the Congress? We don't want to talk about color. Color is not an issue, right? Right. But are we talking about the poorest communities that we have in the United States of America? Well, what's that got to do with it? Are we talking about communities that have the lousiest education system in the United States of America? Rangel, I don't see why you are bringing that up. Are we talking about sick people physically, where they have mental problems they call them crazy instead of disoriented? Rangel, you're going way off now. Are we talking about legislation that actually, in an investment of the United States, less money goes into these communities than communities of wealth? Listen, you put all this together, Rangel, that doesn't explain why people shoot each other. Well, I don't know why people shoot each other, but I know one thing: Who doesn't shoot each other? Our young kids that are inspired. They've got education. They've got families. They've got a country that's the wind behind their wings that want to make a contribution to this great country. They can walk anywhere, talk anywhere, and nobody is going to be following them talking about, ``You look like someone that may hurt somebody.'' Now, we can't solve the problem unless we talk about it. If you are talking about Hurricane Sandy, if you are talking about fires, if you are talking about disasters, why can't we talk about this? This is costing America human beings. It is costing lives. It is costing money. It is costing us embarrassment. We are losing in terms of having stronger productivity. We are losing in terms of competition. It is not just the communities and their families that are losing. America is losing, the same way we would not hesitate to reach out to any village or any town or any State that has any type of an epidemic. So don't just look at the color. Look at the economic circumstances that are in the community that has it. If you want, you might want to look up and see what Member of Congress represents this. They say that sometimes we look to cut our districts. Well, take a look. We didn't look to cut our districts. Our districts looked for us to represent them. The day we become color blind is the day the Constitution should say we walked out of this body. Our job here is to give this Congress sight. ``Color'' isn't a dirty word. It could be one of the most beautiful words that we have in the United States of America. Different colors, different cultures, different languages, different ways that we can enjoy being with each other, learning from each other. So if we have a problem in Chicago, in Dallas, in Harlem, let's share that problem. Whenever there is a problem anyplace in these great United States, that all of us can come together and try to bring people up so that this country doesn't have to take a back seat to anybody when it comes to saying: This is the land of the free; this is the home of the brave. And when you shoot someone down, you don't have to look at the color of the victim or the perpetrator, justice shall rein and discrimination and color shall not be a cause for lack of justice. Let me thank my gentleman from Brooklyn for giving us this opportunity. We've taken a death. I was with the family this weekend. The mother said she lost her son but will dedicate her life to make certain she does all that she can so that no mother and father would lose their son. She didn't say ``Black''; she didn't say ``White.'' The President said that you have to walk in his shoes. Anybody that's a father that loses a teenage son, the more that son looks like you, the more pain that you suffered. I am about to take my seat, but I was just reminded when I went to Korea and we were going up the lines, we saw all kinds of dead people: South Koreans, communist Koreans, North Koreans, and our colleagues that were White soldiers that had died before we got there. But my colleague from Brooklyn, before we got up to the lines, two trucks, the catafalios flew off them because of the speed that they were driving, and in those cars were Black dead soldiers in our uniform cross-length, like they were logs on the way to grave registration. I don't have to tell you we felt a lot different in looking at those people who looked exactly like us. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. I've been here over four decades, and I have never seen legislation just completely be ignored. I'm thoroughly convinced that the Republican majority are not the least bit concerned about health care, because if they were, they would have a health care plan. The whole idea of talking about repealing ObamaCare and not having a substitute for it means that the President can talk about education, he can talk about jobs, he can talk about anything, but their plan, their legislative plan is just to say ``no,'' just to say ``no'' to the President no matter what he comes up with, even if it adversely affects the economy of our great country or even if it affects the security of our great country. I am convinced, as I said this morning, that if the President actually walked on water, the first thing the Republicans would say is that President Obama can't swim. So I think that we've had enough of this politics. Thirty, forty times we're talking about repealing it. Are you against having preexisting conditions being accepted for health insurance? Are you against kids being able to stay on the policy of their parents until they're 26? Are you against having preventive care given to people? I hope you're not, because soon--and very soon--the American people are going to get fed up with this gridlock politics. So I hope the spiritual leaders who are concerned about health, kids, and the aged, and I hope the business community would see that, if you want to have economic growth, you've got to get the Congress and you've got to get government involved. It's not a question of laying on people. It's a question of economic growth, which means our infrastructure has to be reinvested in. We have to be competitive and we have to do the right thing, not by Republicans and Democrats, but for all of our people. We can't afford to have a day when a person needs health care that someone's got to ask whether you're a Republican or whether you're a Democrat. And it's abundantly clear the President is for full health insurance.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in strong opposition to the farm bill rule and the underlying bill because it hurts America's children.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. RANGEL. Were the remarks of the gentleman from Missouri charged to the debate as it relates to the rule?

Mr. RANGEL. And how long was that?

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to join the rest of the country in observing National Women's Health Week during the week of May 12th through the 18th. As the well-being of all Americans is important, our women have been and will always be the backbone of this country. We must continue to protect and encourage women in their efforts to stay healthy. National Women's Health Week was initiated by President Barack Obama in 2012 as a result of the Affordable Care Act, which I proudly sponsored. The President believes in honoring women by demanding gender equality in the health arena. Reportedly, women pay higher health insurance premiums than men. The Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination against women, including making it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage for women who have preexisting conditions such as cancer or pregnancy. I encourage all women to make their health a priority this year and schedule professional, health care visits for regular check-ups and preventative screening. Many times, women are often caring for others that they pay less attention to their health--physically, mentally, and emotionally. I commend organizations that provide women with preventative services, such as New York's own Harlem Healthy Living and Community Healthy Network. We must recommit ourselves to caring for the well-being of women everywhere. This year, I stand with my fellow colleagues in Congress to continue providing services that protect and secure women and their well-being.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor, recognize, and celebrate the MAMA Foundation's 30th Anniversary of the gospel musical ``Mama, I Want to Sing.'' On Saturday, March 23, 2013, The Dempsey Theater hosted the 30th Anniversary Gala Celebration for ``Mama, I Want To Sing,'' the longest running Black Off-Broadway show in American history, which debuted as a gospel musical in 1983. This Gala event, took place exactly 30 years to the day from when the original production opened in Harlem to great acclaim. The Gala began with a very special performance that included musical highlights from ``Mama, I Want to Sing and Sing, Harlem, Sing!'', as well as a performance from the Gospel for Teens Choir. Lesley Stahl, who received an Emmy award for her ``60 Minutes'' profile on Gospel for Teens, was honored for her contributions to journalism and for her support of the Mama Foundation for the Arts. The 30th Anniversary celebration will include a gala featuring the best of Harlem's renowned restaurants including Sylvia's, Spoonbread, The Red Rooster, Corner Social, Chez Lucien, Jacob's Soul Food, Melba's and Make My Cake. The spiritually uplifting evening culminated in a spontaneous church- inspired closing with R&B divas Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick, Angie Stone, Valerie Simpson and Crystal Aiken individually joining the Gospel for Teens Choir in a rousing version of ``This Little Light of Mine'' that brought the sold-out crowd to its feet. In 1979, Vy Higginsen and her husband, Ken Wydro wrote the book and lyrics for Mama. It was rejected by every major producer in New York. Not one producer believed that the story was worth telling or that an audience could be found for a gospel-based production. Vy and Ken pushed forward and produced the now internationally-acclaimed ``Mama, I Want to Sing'' gospel musical that tells the story of a talented young girl who dreams of leaving her church choir to pursue a life in popular music, despite strong objections from her mother. A tribute to the many African American artists with church choir roots who rose to fame in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, creator Higginsen based her musical on the life of her sister Doris Troy whose 1963 hit ``Just One Look'' launched her to international fame. The show, featured original music by Wesley Naylor opened at Harlem's Hecksher Theater (at El Museo del Barrio) in 1983 and since then has become the ``little red engine that could'' of Off-Off Broadway productions. In 1998, Vy Higginsen created the Mama Foundation for the Arts to present, preserve, and promote Gospel, Jazz, and R&B as art forms for current and future generations. The Mama Foundation for the Arts (MFA) has been internationally acclaimed for rebuilding Harlem as an artistic cultural center featuring entertainment and arts education. The Mama Foundation has produced a dozen theater productions, which have been performed on several continents, including its best known musical, ``Mama, I Want To Sing.'' In 2003, Higginsen created the School of Gospel, Jazz, and R&B Arts. Three years later, she formed the award-winning Gospel for Teens program to train youth and ``save the music.'' According to Lesley Stahl from CBS's ``60 Minutes,'' ``The Gospel for Teens program is not just teaching gospel, it is saving these kids.'' Mama Foundation members have performed at numerous special events including the TED2012 Full Spectrum conference, the Congressional Black Caucus' Annual Legislative Conference, The Stellar Awards, and a reception for Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. Madonna, Chaka Khan, opera singer Jessye Norman and gospel artist Shirley Caesar are among the many stars that have shared the stage with the Gospel for Teens Choir. In 2006, she founded Gospel for Teens, a free educational program that offers a substitute for the arts programs removed from many inner city schools. For her outstanding contributions to gospel music, she was presented with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award at the 2012 Stellar Gospel Music Awards. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture proclaimed Vy a Harlem Hero in ``Harlem Is'' a public art and education project of Community Works. Vocalist and Instructor Ahmaya Knoelle Higginsen, daughter of Vy Higginsen, is the current lead in ``Mama, I Want To Sing: The Next Generation.'' She began her professional career at seven years old starring in 'Sing! Mama 2' with Shirley Caesar at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden and during its world tour in Japan. Ahmaya Knoelle has performed in Gospel Is . . .! and Sing, Harlem, Sing! Internationally, as well as recording on several albums. She studied at the Manhattan School of Music and the American Dramatic and Music Academy in New York. Ahmaya Knoelle also teaches private vocal instruction at the Mama Foundation for the Arts and trains young students in the Foundation's Gospel For Teens program. The Mama Foundation's mission is to present, preserve, and promote the history and fundamentals of gospel, jazz, and rhythm and blues music for current and future generations. The Foundation has established a cultural space in Harlem where youth and adults have access to quality training and employment as performing artists. The Foundation was inspired by the worldwide success of our award-winning musical, ``Mama, I Want to Sing.'' A combination of arts education, public workshops, and live events contribute to Harlem's resurgence as an artistic and cultural destination. I am so very appreciative for the many contributions of Vy Higginsen and the Mama Foundation. The dedication and devotion to the arts of our community is most- commendable and deserving of Congressional Recognition. I ask my colleagues and our Nation to join me in this special celebration of the 30th Anniversary of ``Mama, I Want to Sing.''

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Let me first congratulate and thank my colleague, Congressman Fattah, for putting together this moment. I know this is going to be one of a series of tributes that we're going to have that reminds me how we all feel as we lose a dear friend, that we could have done more, we should have done more, we could have kept in touch a lot more. My chief of staff, Patrick Swygert, was a good friend of Pastor Bill Gray, and he got me involved in a couple of campaigns for Congress. One was not too successful and very embarrassing, and the other one, of course, brought him to the House. Bill Gray, even though he was known throughout the world, he had a personality that once you started talking with him, his charm, his wit would allow you to believe that you had known him all of his life. He invited me a couple of times to visit Bright Hope, and I listened to one of his sermons. It was the first time that I felt so utterly proud of being a Member of Congress, being a Democrat, and knowing Bill Gray. Because as he took this spiritual sermon and wrapped it around, he reminded me, and should remind so many others in public service, that there was hardly anything that was in that Bible, that no matter what your religion was, that you shouldn't have some compassion for: the children that are just a miracle of life that are born; the older people that have served and are now among the most vulnerable; the sick, the disabled; those that have emotional problems; being able to get a decent education so at least you have some of the tools that are necessary to negotiate what is sometimes called an ``unfair world.'' And among all of the Biblical things that he was talking about, how he tied that into the educational projects that you became a leader in, Congressman Fattah, which nobody in the country has done more for education than you have, and he spins right off with the United Negro College Fund organization, to make certain that education was such an important factor. When it came to Medicaid and Medicare, when it came to programs providing food for those people that were starving, all of this in that sermon, it made it sound like he was saying that these are the things that we've campaigned for, these are the things that we've fought for. So I guess instead of just feeling guilty that we had not kept in touch on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, the work that he has really started, in Philadelphia, in the United States Congress, in South Africa and throughout the world, there is so much that has not been completed. And because such a great leader has succeeded him and comes out of that same family that brought people together in Philadelphia, and you try so hard to do it right here in this House of Representatives, this work is still not completed, the mission has not been accomplished. So those of us who knew and loved him so much, if we missed saying good-bye when he was well, we can pick up where he left off and make certain that his destination is reached by as many people as he brought over the line. Thank you so much for having this Special Order.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank Congressman Green for yielding to me the opportunity to speak out of order and to remind this body that, in a recent conversation I had with John Lewis, our hero and colleague, I asked him the question: Just what drove you to place your body in harm's way and your life in jeopardy for the civil rights movement? And he said, because he had confidence in this country, the Congress, and he also had confidence in the Supreme Court. Recently, he had to admit that the Court's action has really plunged a dagger in the heart of this legislation that so many Americans have depended on for fairness, which includes, of course, that basic constitutional right to vote. But that light was dimmed; it wasn't extinguished. And as I recall the Voting Rights Act that we did pass overwhelmingly in both Chambers, it was the names of Jim Sensenbrenner and John Conyers that come to mind. They both are still in this House. They both love the country, love the Congress, and love the Constitution. And I'm confident that, once again, they would bring together that coalition of Republicans and Democrats, that may see things differently as it relates to the ideology, but together they can bring the same forces that we had in 2006 to make certain that we restore the rights that the Supreme Court has taken away from us.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, it took the Supreme Court to remind us that when our young people put their bodies in harm's way, or even offer their lives for this great country, that notwithstanding their background, they don't do it for their color, for their race, for their family and community alone; they do it for these great United States. People who have never met each other but do feel that under our Constitution we are all brought together to respect each other's rights, and we have an outline for that belief that is called our Constitution. It seems to me that yesterday the Supreme Court said that we are making progress in making certain that all Americans have the right to vote and that Negroes, as they were called in 1965, have made great progress. But that was not what Lyndon Johnson said when he was advocating the 1965 Civil Rights Act. He said that no impediment should be put in the way of any person being denied the right to vote because of their race or color. I hope the Supreme Court will review this ruling.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I think all of us came to this august body with the mandate that we should try to improve the quality of life for our constituents and, therefore, the United States, the people that made our country so great. Education, health care, jobs, these are the things we want to do. But it's reached a point that this is no longer just putting Democrats in a political advantage. What it is doing is embarrassing the entire Congress, and I dare say, people in the country recognize that there's something wrong going on in Congress. Now, those of you that have taken Civics 101 know that there is no intention to repeal this act. People are waiting to get jobs. They're waiting, really, to get health care. And we're on the move for that. I've been here over 4 decades, and darn it the devil, we've been trying to get universal care. We're almost there. Now, if you're talking about repeal, it takes a majority of both Houses to pass this bill. The President's going to veto it. And you have to have two-thirds of both Houses in order to repeal. That is not going to happen, and you know it.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Harlem's Matriarch Ms. Fannie E. Pennington, who passed away on Wednesday, February 13 at the age of 99 years old. On Friday, February 22, the village Harlem joined together at Abyssinian Baptist Church to celebrate the amazing and historic life of Fannie E. Pennington who was a faithful and dedicated servant to the Lord and to our Nation. Great women like our wonderful Fannie Pennington are precious gifts we temporarily have in this world, but their assistance, contributions and accomplishments are far remembered and everlasting. Our beloved Fannie lived a full spiritual life--a life well spent and dedicated to the uplifting of African Americans and women. Daughter of Matthew Mark and Hattie Harris, and a descendant of the Balanta Fula Tribes of Guinea, Fannie and her late sister Amelia were baptized and christened into the family of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church by the Reverend Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. At Abyssinian, Fannie Pennington became one of the most devoted members, serving on the Progressive Ladies Usher Board, the Welcome and Hospitality Committee, which was once known as the Adam Clayton Powell Overseas Club. Ms. Fannie Pennington greeted and hosted historic world figures and American Icons such as Haile Selassie, Mary McCloud Bethune, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Many of our friends will remember Fannie as a vivacious and beautiful personality, who tended bar in several of Harlem's elite dining institutions and establishments. She was also an official representative of the Barmaid Charity Organization, which raised money to send inner city kids to summer camp. I will remember Fannie for her loyalty and support to Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., her years of service to the New York City Board of Elections and the Frederick E. Samuel Community Democratic Club, where she spent her life's work registering young people to vote. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington and the 100th Birthday of Rosa Parks, let us also celebrate the 99 years of our beloved Fannie E. Pennington.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor, recognize, and celebrate the 90th Birthday of Mr. Dabney N. Montgomery, a member of the ground crew of the Tuskegee Airmen, who later served as a bodyguard for Martin Luther King during the historic 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Dabney N. Montgomery was born in Selma, Alabama on April 18, 1923, to Dred and Lula Anderson Montgomery. Mr. Montgomery was drafted into the Army Air Corps (now the United States Air Force), during World War II and served in the 1051st Quartermaster Company of the 96th Air Service Group, attached to the 332nd Air Fighter Group, as a ground crewman with the Tuskegee Airmen in Southern Italy, from 1943 to 1945. He was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, a Service Award, the Honorable Service Medal, and a Basic Driver and Mechanic Medal. In 1946, he enrolled into Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina, and received a B.A. degree in Religious Education, in May 1949. He served as a Charter Member of the Sphinx Club and was one of the first to be admitted into the Gamma Mu Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha [AFA] Fraternity. In June 1955, he joined Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (the oldest Black Church in the State of New York, organized in 1796), Harlem, New York. He immediately began to serve as Sunday School Teacher and, in early 1970, was appointed Director of Youth (serving until 1999). In July 1996, he authored a Resolution to the General Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church Denomination, proposing that `The Day of Pentecost' be incorporated in their Book of Discipline. It now stands as a day of celebration throughout all A.M.E. Zion Churches. He served and presently serves in many capacities such as General Chairperson of Mother Zion's Bicentennial Anniversary in October 1996, charter member of the past organization at 159 West 136th Street Parsonage Building Fund of Mother Zion, the W.H. & O.M.S where he served as member/chaplain, Class no. 4 member, Board of Stewards, Board of Directors of James Varick Community Center, and the Lay Council. He is Mother Zion's Church Historian and conducts church tours. In 1999, the Church was featured in a PBS documentary entitled, ``A Walk through Harlem,'' hosted by Barry Lewis and David Hartman in which Mr. Montgomery cites the history of Mother Zion Church. On Sunday, March 5, 2006, the men's committee bestowed upon him a double honor with the Paul Robeson Award of Excellence and with architectural plans for the future structure of the Church archives and museum to be named the Dabney N. Montgomery Art Gallery and Exhibition Hall. Mr. Montgomery was an activist in the course of the Civil Rights Movement and marched with the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. throughout the 50+ mile March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, March 21-25, 1965. He served as one of Dr. King's bodyguards. On April 11, 2006, President George W. Bush signed a bill into law to award all original Tuskegee Airmen the `United States Congressional Gold Medal of Honor;' it was awarded on Thursday, March 29, 2007, under the Capitol Dome here in Washington, D.C. In December 2006, he was selected by the Livingstone College National Alumni Association to receive the prestigious Outstanding Alumni Award. It was presented on February 2, 2007 by the National Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund in Nashville, Tennessee. On February 4, 2010, he was inducted into the United Negro College Fund ``Share Your Love'' and Service in Celebration of Livingstone College Leaders Hall of Fame. These distinguished awards recognize Alumni who have made significant contributions to their alma mater, community, and the United Negro College Fund. On August 7, 2007, he was asked to serve as a member of The HistoryMakers, a Chicago-based organization that has the largest archival collection of both well-known and unsung African American HistoryMakers. Their purpose is to capture the stories of accomplished African Americans across all walks of life and to use video and new technologies to create an accessible digital collection to serve as a resource for students, teachers, scholars, documentary producers and the media. The HistoryMakers' stories are stories of success against the odds, of achievement in the face of adversity, and of inspiration. They are America's missing stories. On Saturday, June 27, 2009 the Livingstone College National Alumni Association, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island Chapter presented to Dabney N. Montgomery the Joseph Charles Price Award, ``In Recognition of Outstanding Achievements That Serve as a Tribute to Our Beloved Founder.'' Mr. Montgomery is involved in the Harlem community and is a member of Manhattan Community Board No. 10, where he serves on two sub- committees: Parks and Recreation, and the Executive Committee. As a member of the Parks and Recreation Committee, he wrote a base letter to the Parks Department of the City of New York, as a proposal to recognize Central Park West (at 85th and 86th Streets) as the historical site of African American settlers in the early 1820s, which was then Seneca Village. Mother Zion was, for a short time, located there. The settlers were evicted in 1857 under the City's `eminent domain' project. A permanent sign now stands marking the site. He is chaplain of the West 136th Street Block Association. Words cannot express my gratitude to Dabney, whose devotion to our community is remarkable and his service and commitment to our Nation has known no bounds. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 150th Anniversary of the Union League Club, the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the 369th ``Harlem Hellfighters Regiment'' and the 100th Birthday of Rosa Parks, I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the 90th Birthday of Dabney N. Montgomery, an outstanding veteran, hero, civil rights activist and public servant.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor, recognize, and invoke the memory of Alice M. Benoit, a nurse that traveled around the world, from Libya, to Mexico, and finally to D.C. where she settled as a nurse at the Rayburn House Office Building giving 25 years of excellent service. Alice M. Benoit was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and immigrated to the United States in 1945 in order to ``see the world''. Pursuant to that dream, she joined the Army Nurse Corps where she assisted in healing our soldiers in U.S. bases in Libya and in 1948 was granted U.S. citizenship. She also served as head nurse at the U.S. embassy in Mexico City and afterwards she worked in Texas, Alabama, and Florida. Later on she found herself on Capitol Hill looking for employment. She had an interview with the Attending Physician's office and landed a job at the Rayburn House Office Building in 1967. During her tenure on the Hill, she provided health services to Members of Congress, staff members, and the American people who came to visit the Capitol every day. Former Representative Tom Downey (D-NY) remembered that Alice not only provided medical services, but she also provided a ``soothing word to people when they needed it''. She was known to be ``terrifically confident and competent.'' After serving 25 years on Capitol Hill, she received a Letter of Commendation for her extended service from Dr. Robert C. J. Krasner, the Former Attending Physician of the Capitol. Soon afterwards she retired in February 1992 with plans to travel with her husband, Eugene Benoit, and ``read a few good books''. In April 19, 2013 Alice passed away from pneumonia at an assisted-living facility in Melbourne, Florida.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a living hero of Harlem and an international warrior for the African People, the great Elombe Brath. For more than a generation, Elombe, as the chairman of Patrice Lumumba Coalition (PLC), helped to coordinate hundreds of forums with the purpose of educating the masses, not only about the struggle in Africa but also about the conditions oppressed people faced all over the world. Born in Brooklyn, NY on September 30th 1936, to parents who had immigrated to the United States from Barbados, the Caribbean Island geographically closest to the African continent, his early training of a political character was hearing his mother speak of her first cousin, Clennell Wickham who was the editor of the renowned Herald newspaper. Brath's political commitment evolved in 1956 simultaneously with the struggle to eliminate ``Negro'' as the nomenclature of African American people. From this moment of Black consciousness it was an easy and logical step for him to create the ``Black is Beautiful'' campaign in 1961 following the creation of AJASS (African Jazz-Arts Society and Studios) with his brother Kwame and a cadre of other local activists in 1956. Removing ``Negro'' from the lexicon, insisting on the beauty of Blackness, and refusing to accept the Eurocentric worldview, Elombe and his cohorts were in the vanguard of change as they launched the Grandassa Models and ``Naturally Shows,'' beginning in 1961, featuring Black women in all their natural-born beauty. All of these activities were the foundation for his total involvement in African affairs, including his association with FOPANO (Federation of Pan-African Nationalist Organizations), which eventually set the stage for African Liberation Day and the development of the African Liberation Support Committee (ALSC) that played such a critical role in educating and organizing thousands in the fight against imperialism, colonialism, and neo-colonialism on the African continent. One of the pivotal moments in Elombe's constantly evolving political philosophy, an outlook grounded in the ideas and actions promoted by Marcus Garvey and Carlos Cooks, was the formation of the PLC in 1975. The PLC came at a most propitious time when there was much confusion about which liberation movement to support in the war against colonial domination in Africa. It was a matter of separating the truly progressive organizations from the reactionary ones, and Elombe and members of the PLC were indispensable in providing the correct guidance and understanding of the often fractious and contentious forces vying for hegemony. Despite his total immersion on the international front as well as countless battles against racism at home, Elombe was employed at WABC- TV where as a graphic artist--skills he had acquired in high school and at the School of Visual Arts--he was a vital consultant, particularly on African affairs, to Gil Noble, the esteemed host of ``Like It Is.'' ``Elombe was instrumental in facilitating the presence of many of the African leaders on the show,'' said Robert Van Lierop, an attorney and filmmaker formerly affiliated with the show. None of these activities, however, detracted Elombe from taking care of his family, and along with his wife, Nomsa, they raised six very successful young men, and a daughter all of whom are endowed with their parents' spirit for freedom and justice. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me and the New York Congressional Delegation in paying tribute to Elombe Brath. Elombe's legacy remains as significant today as it did when his voice was a clarion call advising us along the right path to total liberation and independence.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. I heard the last speaker, but there is no question in my mind that when a person from the other side said that the Republican Party's first priority is not the salvation of our country but to stop Barack Obama, I didn't take him too seriously after the election; but I see the campaign continues. As a political veteran, I understand that; but let me make it clear what we are doing today. I had a friend who was deeply in debt. He owed so much money that he just knew he couldn't pay all of his creditors. Now, it was nowhere near $14 trillion, but it was a lot. The creditors harassed him day in and day out, telling him he had to make these payments. Finally, he got annoyed, he got angry, and he called his creditors and told them, If you keep harassing me, I will not put your name in the hat, because every month I put all of my creditors' bills into a hat; but the way you are treating me--calling the job, harassing me at home--your name will not go into the hat. Now, that's pretty poor policy, I would think, but if I understand this correctly, we are telling our creditors that certain names will be in that hat and that other people will not be in that hat.

Mr. RANGEL. So what names go into the hat? Communist China goes into the hat. Iran and Venezuela go into the hat. Saudi Arabia goes into the hat. Russia goes into the hat. Who's outside the hat? Disabled veterans are out of the hat, and health providers are out of the hat. A lot of people who deserve to be considered as creditors to protect full faith and credit are out of the hat. This is bad for my friend--it's worse for our country--and this is not the way those people to whom we owe money should be treated. America is greater than that.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to recognize the 21st anniversary of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month during the month of May. It is with great honor that I stand to commemorate the many accomplishments and contributions from Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. As leaders in business, education, STEM, military, medicine or the arts, Asian Americans have contributed to our nation's prosperity and culture. The story of the APA community is a testament to what is possible in America. This year's theme is Building Leadership: Embracing Cultural Values and Inclusion which is definitely portrayed throughout this country and New York. The Asian Pacific American population is 18.2 million and expected to reach 20.9 million in the next five years. New York is home to 1.7 million Asian Pacific Americans and 10.1 percent of APA-owned businesses. Organizations in my congressional district in New York City, such as The Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans improve our communities with advocacy efforts for APAs, and cultural contributions. In addition, the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce in New York has dedicated itself to the economic empowerment of APAs, and building the relationship between Asian and U.S. companies. My colleagues in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and I are committed to fulfilling the various economic needs and civic engagement of the APA community as we work to secure comprehensive immigration reform and business empowerment opportunities for small business owners. Through strength and determination, the APA community has overcome prejudice, oppression and countless barriers to achieve enormous heights in America. I join Asian Pacific Americans in celebrating their heritage and their well-deserved successes.''

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker today I rise to honor the 369th Infantry Regiment on their 100th anniversary. Constituted in June of 1913, this regiment was the first African American Regiment to serve with the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. The U.S. Army's 369th Infantry Regiment, popularly known as the ``Harlem Hellfighters,'' was the best known African American unit of World War I. Federalized in 1917, it prepared for service in Europe and arrived in Brest in December. The next month, the regiment became part of the 93rd Division and continued its training, now under French instructors. In March, the regiment finally received its Federal designation and was reorganized and reequipped according to the French model. That summer, the 369th was integrated into the French 161st Division and began combat operations. While African American valor usually went unrecognized, well over one hundred members of the regiment received American and/or French medals, including the first two Americans--Corporal Henry Johnson and Private Needham Roberts--to be awarded the coveted French Croix de Guerre. Spending over six months in combat, perhaps the longest of any American unit in the war, the 369th suffered approximately fifteen hundred casualties but received only nine hundred replacements. Unit histories claimed they were the first unit to cross the Rhine earning the epithet ``Hell Fighters'' from their enemies. After considerable effort by Colonel Hayward, the 369th was welcomed home with a parade in February 1919 and reabsorbed into the National Guard. More than one million people witnessed the triumphant parade from Lower Manhattan, up Fifth Avenue to my beloved village of Harlem. The marching band led the troops, and as they turned off 110th Street onto Lenox Avenue the band began to play. Today the lineage and tradition is carried on by the 369th Transportation Battalion, which has since become the 369th Corps Support Battalion. The Harlem Hellfighters continue to serve at home and overseas. This year we honor a group of men whose selflessness and valor propelled them to protect and serve the very country that left them a perpetually marginalized group of American society. A group of men who fought to defend this country whose dream of freedom was ironically and unremorsefully built on the backs of their ancestors with no avail even as their sons fought for that same ideal decades later. The history of the Harlem Hellfighters is one of dedication and profound spirituality that reminds us that the efforts we make today has everything to do with the world we create for our future. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues stand together to recognize such an historic day as our nation marks the 100th year of the 369th Infantry Regiment's dedication to this county. A Celebration of their remarkable service to this country and of the spirit and unwavering strength they displayed throughout.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to recognize National Volunteer Week, which takes place from April 21, 2013-April 27, 2013. During National Volunteer Week, established in 1974, thousands of people lend their time and support to collectively improve our communities. Service and volunteerism have long been honorable facets of American culture and continue to strengthen the character of our country. This week, it is with great pride that I honor those men and women who work diligently with patience and enthusiasm to greatly improve the lives of complete strangers within their communities. These small feats of compassion performed without the expectation of recognition are long-lasting and deeply appreciated by all. Amidst the recent violent tragedies, it is of critical importance that we join together as a nation in service to strengthen the communities that are integral to the diverse mosaic of American culture. National Volunteer Week is also an opportunity to give thanks to the wonderful organizations within our congressional district, such as the Harlem Hospital, Community Kitchen of West Harlem, Catholic Charities of New York, and the Andrus Children's Center that exemplify the strong civic service marking the core tenets of volunteerism this week. There are many other opportunities both long- and short-term, to give back to our wonderful communities. For more information please visit http://www.serve.gov for ways to serve our nation.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker today I rise to honor the Union League Club on their 150th Anniversary. Founded in 1863 the Union League Club of New York has built, over ensuing years, a record of distinguished service to our country. The club dates its founding from February 6, 1863, during the Civil War. Tensions were running high in New York City at the time, as much of the city's governing class, as well as its large Irish immigrant population, bitterly opposed the war and were eager to reach some kind of accommodation with the Confederate States of America. Thus, pro-Union men chose to form their own club, with the twin goals of cultivating ``a profound national devotion'' and to ``strengthen a love and respect for the Union.'' The New York League was founded by four prominent professionals and intellectuals: Henry Adams Bellows, Frederick Law Olmsted, George Templeton Strong, and Oliver Wolcott Gibbs. The men, all members of the United States Sanitary Commission, desired to strengthen the Nation and the national identity. They first aimed to recruit a coalition of moneyed professionals like themselves. Strong believed that the club would only thrive with a respectable catalogue of moneyed men. Olmsted especially wanted to recruit the new generation of young wealthy men, so that the club might teach them the obligations and duties of the elite upper class. Members of the Union League Club were instrumental in establishing The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1870 as well as the Sanitary Commission, a predecessor organization to the American Red Cross. It helped erect the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor and the Lincoln Monument in Union Square. Its members were instrumental in bringing down the ``Boss'' Tweed ring and in raising funds to outfit American soldiers in several conflicts. Many prominent civic, state and national leaders have enjoyed the fellowship of the ULC. Theodore Roosevelt managed his early political career from the Club's chambers. J. Pierpont Morgan. The Union League Club played an instrumental role in civil rights, as the club decided to recruit, train and equip a Colored infantry regiment for Union service. The 20th U.S. Colored Infantry was formed on Riker's Island in February 1864. The next month, it marched from the Union League Club, down Canal Street and over to the Hudson River piers to embark for duty in Louisiana. In spite of numerous threats, the members of the Union League Club marched with the men of the 20th, and saw them off. During World War I, the club sponsored the 369th Infantry, the famed Harlem Hellfighters, which was commanded by William Hayward, a club member. During Reconstruction, Union Leagues were formed all across the South. They mobilized freedmen to register to vote. They discussed political issues, promoted civic projects, and mobilized workers opposed to segregationist white employers. Most branches were segregated but there were a few that were racially integrated. The leaders of the all-black units were mostly urban Blacks from the North, who had never been slaves. Black League members were special targets of the Ku Klux Klan's violence and intimidation, so the Leagues organized informal armed defense units. Today The Union League is a social club providing its members and guests with a quiet sanctuary and relief from the hustle of the city. The Club bestows two annual awards for two of its most prominent members: The Abraham Lincoln Literary Award to outstanding American authors, and the Theodore Roosevelt American Experience Award to individuals who have ``enriched the American experience.'' The Union League Club has stood for the betterment of American society for 150 years and speaks volumes on the character and dedication one must possess to truly change history. Founded in justice and equality the Union League Club been a champion of civil rights, and has made its goal to not only enhance politics but to improve the quality of life, a trait that is well represented through the Union League's illustrious history. Mr. Speaker I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in celebrating this momentous occasion and honor the Union League Club for 150 remarkable years of its service and dedication to our great Nation.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I stand to recognize the 16th anniversary of The Dominican Medical Association. An organization dedicated to providing information on disease prevention, education, and counseling to New York City communities. The Dominican Medical Association or DMA was founded on April 26, 1997, by a group of physicians from the Dominican Republic. Their mission has been to educate communities on health issues and to assist newly arrived physicians from abroad in obtaining jobs in their respected fields, providing them with the tools needed to pass the medical boards, and integrating them into the local medical community. Last year was one of multiple accomplishments for the Dominican Medical Association. In line with its mission a total of 1119 people were served through health fairs, medical conferences, forums, symposiums, and trainings. The vast majority served through the DMA are Hispanics living throughout all of New York's boroughs. Information and knowledge on health is vital. My beloved village of Harlem and many areas of my district are predominately inhabited by minorities who have been affected by many health concerns that are the direct result of lack of knowledge on preventative care. Obesity is just an example of one of the diseases that has plagued our communities but it is an epidemic that can be stopped and the DMA works tirelessly and has worked for quite some time to be a part of this movement to get our communities on a healthy track. The DMA's outreach programs help to enlighten our communities, helping them to make better health conscious decisions about the way they live. As the representative to the largest Dominican population in the country it gives me great pride to see a thriving organization not only rooted in that heritage but one that works to provide information for a predominantly Hispanic demographic. The youths of my district and those all over New York have a brighter future because of organizations like the DMA and their mission to spread knowledge and awareness. Mr. Speaker I ask you and my colleagues to join me in honoring this remarkable organization and all of the good that they do.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I stand to recognize the 16th anniversary of The Dominican Medical Association. An organization dedicated to providing information on disease prevention, education, and counseling to New York City Communities. The Dominican Medical Association or DMA was founded on April 26, 1997, by a group of physicians from the Dominican Republic. Their mission has been to educate communities on health issues and to assist newly arrived physicians from abroad in obtaining jobs in their respected fields, providing them with the tools needed to pass the medical boards, and integrating them into the local medical community. Last year was one of multiple accomplishments for the Dominican Medical Association. In line with its mission a total of 1119 people were served through health fairs, medical conferences, forums, symposiums, and trainings. The vast majority served through the DMA are Hispanics living throughout all of New York's Boroughs. Information and knowledge on health is vital. My beloved village of Harlem and many areas of my district are predominately inhabited by minorities who have been affected by many health concerns that are the direct result of lack of knowledge on preventative care. Obesity is just an example of one of the diseases that has plagued our communities but it is an epidemic that can be stopped and the DMA works tirelessly and has worked for quite some time to be a part of this movement to get our communities on a healthy track. The DMA's outreach programs help to enlighten our communities, helping them to make better health conscious decisions about the way they live. As the representative to the largest Dominican population in the country it gives me great pride to see a thriving organization not only rooted in that heritage but one that works to provide information for a predominantly Hispanic demographic. The youths of my district and those all over New York have a brighter future because of organizations like the DMA and their mission to spread knowledge and awareness. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in honoring this remarkable organization and all of the good that they do.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker today I stand to recognize the 16th anniversary of The Dominican Medical Association. An organization dedicated to providing information on disease prevention, education, and counseling to New York City communities. The Dominican Medical Association or DMA was founded on April 26, 1997, by a group of physicians from the Dominican Republic. Their mission has been to educate communities on health issues and to assist newly arrived physicians from abroad in obtaining jobs in their respected fields, providing them with the tools needed to pass the medical boards, and integrating them into the local medical community. Last year was one of multiple accomplishments for the Dominican Medical Association. In line with its mission a total of 1119 people were served through health fairs, medical conferences, forums, symposiums, and trainings. The vast majority served through the DMA are Hispanics living throughout all of New York's boroughs. Information and knowledge on health is vital. My beloved village of Harlem and many areas of my district are predominately inhabited by minorities who have been affected by many health concerns that are the direct result of lack of knowledge on preventative care. Obesity is just an example of one of the diseases that has plagued our communities but it is an epidemic that can be * * *