Bobby Rush

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1541, the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, which is the Senate companion to my bill, H.R. 2489. The bill ends the practice of phone companies charging families astronomically high rates to call incarcerated loved ones in prison. These rates are unjust and unreasonable, and I am elated that this bill will finally put an end to them. Right now, families of incarcerated people are forced to pay prohibitively expensive fees to stay connected with their loved ones through simple phone calls. It is inhumane and immoral. We all gain when incarcerated people can remain connected to their support networks, because they have a better likelihood of not returning to jail or prison. Yet, the extreme costs of making a phone call--as much as $25 for a 15-minute call--makes it nearly impossible for families to maintain connections. It is long past time that we prevent greedy companies from exorbitantly profiting off of families' need to stay connected. Martha Wright, the namesake of this bill, needlessly suffered as she tried to stay in touch with her grandson when he was incarcerated. Today, there are millions of Martha Wrights around the country who make similar sacrifices while supporting family members inside prisons and jails. One in three families go into debt just to call their loved ones. That is unconscionable, Mr. Speaker. These safeguards to protect families from exploitation already has widespread support. A 2020 poll commissioned by Worth Rises found that over 70 percent of Americans support providing phone calls in prisons and jails at no cost. This fight has been decades in the making. My friend Charlie Sullivan brought the issue to my attention when hardly anyone knew about these astronomical costs unless they were directly impacted. I introduced legislation in 2005 for the first time to address this shameful practice. Since then, protestors have repeatedly gathered outside the Federal Communications Commission, director Ava Duvernay has taken up the cause, and the issue has been featured in podcasts and on television. In recent years, New York City, San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas, and the State of Connecticut made phone calls free for incarcerated people. The FCC also took steps to lower costs. But due to a 2017 Federal court decision, its authority has been restricted to only regulating calls that cross state lines. That decision made a mockery of families, creating a perverse world in which families that are just a few miles away from their incarcerated loved ones can be charged inhumane costs for a simple phone call. That is why I took up this issue again, introducing updated and revised legislation: the Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act. The legislation would confirm the FCC's regulatory power to protect all prison and jail phone calls, not just those that cross state lines. It would also establish interim rate caps of no more than five cents per minute while the FCC conducts a proceeding to determine permanent rate caps. The House passed my bill last year, and I reintroduced the legislation this Congress alongside Senator Duckworth to get the bill across the finish line. I am delighted and proud that the bill passed the Senate yesterday and will pass the House today. I have spent my entire 30 years in the House fighting for those with no voice, the downtrodden in our society, and today's vote is a culmination of those efforts. Together, we can make sure families and loved ones stay connected. The success of this legislation would also not be possible without Martha Wright and other activists who have dedicated their lives to helping the families of the incarcerated. We are now continuing the work that they started. I would like to thank my dear friend and colleague Chairman Frank Pallone, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and his staff for his help getting this bill over the finish line. I also want to recognize Senators Tammy Duckworth and Rob Portman for their work moving the bill through the Senate. I hope others will join me in voting in favor of this legislation. It is past time that we put an end to the practice of phone companies profiting off of vulnerable families who have no other choice.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor to lives and legacies of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley. Their story is of major significance in the African American community and speaks to a turning point in American history. Today, the House passed the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021, which would award Emmett and Ms. Till-Mobley a Congressional Gold Medal. I would like to start off by thanking Chairwoman Maxine Waters, Leader Steny Hoyer, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi for their assistance in shepherding this bill through the House. With their help, we have gotten 290 House cosponsors for the bill, including every House Democrat and 67 House Republicans. l would also like to acknowledge Rep. Don Bacon from the great state of Nebraska for serving as the Republican co-lead on this bill. I would also like to thank Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina and Cory Booker of New Jersey for serving as the Senate leads on the bill. This year, I sought to bring light to the injustice of Emmett Till's lynching, through this and the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which President Biden signed into law earlier this year. For African Americans of my generation, his brutal torture and murder was a painful, but very real reminder of the true horrors of white supremacy. News of his death shaped my understanding of racism at a very early age. When the photo from Emmett Till's funeral ran in Jet Magazine, I will never forget how my mother gathered us around the coffee table and told us `That's why I brought my boys out of the South.' Emmett Till's lynching sent shockwaves through my community and deeply affected me and my family. His gruesome murder--as well as Mamie Till-Mobley's courageous decision to have Jet publish a photo of his body and to hold an open- casket funeral for her son so people could see his mutilated body-- exposed the brutal truth of racism. This caused such outrage, not only in the United States but abroad, and sparked the Civil Rights Movement. It is no coincidence that the March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his iconic ``I have a Dream'' speech, was held on the eighth anniversary of Emmett's death. Emmett's lynching was a wake- up call for Black America and others. We could not stay quiet any longer. I feel a heavy responsibility to continue telling Emmett and Ms. Till-Mobley's story. Not only did Emmett's death resonate deeply with me others of my generation, but he grew up on the South Side of Chicago, in what is now the Congressional District that I represent. The work that Ms. Till-Mobley started on racial justice continues today, and the same struggle to protect Black lives, Hispanic lives, LGBTQ lives, immigrants lives, Jewish lives, and others. We must continue telling their story for future generations to learn from. Emmett's brutal murder catalyzed the Civil Rights Movement and a generation of civil rights activists. It had a ripple effect that can still be felt today, and began a worldwide movement to reckon with freedom, justice, and equality all around the world. His name will forever be spoken in the same breath as Dr. King's, Medgar Evers', Fred Hamtons, Mark Clark's, and George Floyd's just to name a few. But Mr. Speaker, I am left thinking of Emmett, who would have been 81 years old if he were still alive today. He should be here today, reflecting on a life well lived, with still more yet to go. It is an unthinkable tragedy to lose a child in such a brutal, heinous way. This Nation allowed the horrors of white supremacy to fester for far too long, and that is what murdered Emmett Till. It is the least this Congress can do, 67 years after his death, to honor him and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, with the highest award Congress can bestow.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Louie Gohmert, for his friendship over the past years that we have served together in this Chamber. I certainly thank him for his support of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act that was signed into law by President Biden a few months ago. I thank Representative Gohmert for his support and for his steadfastness on that bill. Mr. Speaker, it is for the final time that I stand in this well on this floor to commemorate the memory and the legacy of Fred Hampton, my friend and comrade in the Black Panther Party. This last Sunday marked 53 years since Chairman Fred was assassinated by a racist, corrupt Chicago Police Department, which, as a part of the FBI's COINTELPRO program, the FBI's national counterintelligence program, without legal authority and in stark violation of the U.S. Constitution, surveilled, harassed, harmed, arrested, and assassinated innocent, ordinary American citizens. My friend, Fred Hampton, was a brilliant young man that I recruited to join the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party, which I, along with Mr. Bob Brown, organized in 1968. Fred and I fought together side by side against police brutality and police murder in Chicago specifically, but across our great Nation in general. We set up free community health clinics, free breakfast for children programs, and a free busing to prison program to allow families to visit their loved ones who were in prison. Mr. Speaker, we initiated free sickle cell anemia testing programs to educate this Nation and to tell Black people about this dreaded but often and largely ignored disease. Mr. Speaker, thanks to his charismatic leadership, Fred Hampton was so powerful and so inspirational throughout the city of Chicago and the Nation at large, his charisma, his influence extended even to other countries. Chairman Fred was a charismatic, courageous, exceptional, and highly committed leader, who, at the age of 21, was assassinated while he slept under the influence of the drug Seconal that was put in his favorite drink at that time, which was Kool-Aid. His Kool-Aid was laced with Seconal. Why? Because Fred Hampton used every fiber of his talent, his immense talent, without hesitancy, to fight for poor people: poor Whites, poor Blacks, poor Asians, poor Hispanic people, poor people across the board. His oratory skills exceeded almost every significant leader of his time. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, he was able to move the masses not simply and only because of his oratory but also because of his example. To see Fred, to hear Fred, was to know Fred, to be inspired by Fred. Mr. Speaker, Chicago, my home city, the city I love, was and still is one of the most segregated cities in America, but Chairman Fred understood how to connect across racial and geographic boundaries. He knew how to connect with aspirations and deep-seated desires of people across racial and geographic lines. He knew how to create alliances and coalitions based around common needs and common desires. He created the original Rainbow Coalition in Chicago. This coalition was a partnership with the Young Lords, a Hispanic organization, and the Young Patriots, which was an organization of poor Appalachian Whites from the Uptown community in Chicago. Mr. Speaker, this amazing, creative, never-seen-before coalition of poor people was comprised of working-class people in our city suffering with the same issues that we all were suffering with. Those issues were police brutality, substandard housing, mediocre education, low-quality healthcare, and low-quality food that was being sold in stores in our neighborhoods. Mr. Speaker, these were the programs that Fred Hampton championed. This was the kind of individual that Fred Hampton was. I stand here today, Mr. Speaker, and say that rather than be saluted for these and similar efforts, the Black Panther Party members, and particularly Chairman Fred, were seen as a threat to those in power. J. Edgar Hoover said that the Black Panther Party was this Nation's number one threat. Why? We were feeding hungry children. We were providing free healthcare to young children, to poor people who needed it. We were taking loved ones to prison to see their loved ones who were incarcerated. We were speaking truth to power. Is this the reason why Fred Hampton was assassinated? Is this the very reason why the Black Panther Party was being viewed by J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI as the number one threat to this Nation? It just doesn't make sense. Mr. Speaker, J. Edgar Hoover's FBI started a file on Fred and put him on their Agitator Index, listing him as a key militant leader. They even went so far as to hire a fellow by the name of William O'Neal, a streetwise Black criminal and operative, as an FBI informant who was assigned to infiltrate the Black Panther Party and report back to them about our every move, our every activity. And then, Mr. Speaker, on December 4, 1969, at about 4 a.m. in the morning, the Chicago Police Department, working in conjunction with the FBI and the Cook County State's Attorney, Edward V. Hanrahan, surreptitiously entered an apartment at 2337 West Monroe where Fred Hampton lived, and where other Black Panther Party members were staying. They came with the premeditated plan to murder Fred Hampton, to murder me and any other party members that they found in that apartment. They came armed with machine guns, high-powered pistols, and every other type of weapon, intent on killing everyone in that apartment. They came under the guise of executing a search warrant for weapons, but had every intention of murdering Fred Hampton, and others in that apartment. They killed Fred. Mr. Speaker, let me make it real clear. Throughout American history, there has not been anyone other than Fred Hampton that was assassinated under the authority of the U.S. Government--not one. Fred Hampton was the only politically assassinated American citizen that was assassinated on the shores of our Nation. Fred Hampton. They came for me, but they missed me, Mr. Speaker. Early the following morning at about 5 a.m. on December 5, they came, the Chicago Police Department tried to kill me again. They came to my apartment with a search warrant for weapons and they shot my door down, but I was not in that apartment. I moved my family out of that apartment, just hours before they came, on the preceding day. Mr. Speaker, they tried to justify the murders of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark by saying that it was a shoot-out, placing the blame on Fred and other members of the Black Panther Party. Later, it became crystal clear that this was a clear politically motivated assassination. The grand jury evidence showed that the police had fired 99 times--99 shots fired into that apartment. And they also said that there were only two shots that were possibly fired by the Panthers in that apartment. Mr. Speaker, let me remind you that this was during the 1960s, a time of deep and necessary awakening in our Nation, a time of political protest, a time of cultural confrontation. A time of change in our Nation. It was a time when poor, oppressed people took a necessary step forward to end the systemic oppression that they were faced with. African Americans, women, disabled individuals, Mexican-American farmworkers, Native Americans, anti-war protestors, environmentalists, and other activists organized to fight during this time against injustice and for equality and for equity. Most of us view this time, some half-century later, as a turning point in American history. A time when the oppressed populations in our Nation finally had an opportunity to speak up and create positive change for themselves and by themselves. However, Mr. Speaker, J. Edgar Hoover, didn't like what he saw. He didn't like what was going on in our Nation. J. Edgar Hoover determined that anyone who had the audacity to stand up and challenge the oppressive status quo, that they were a threat. To whom? We were American citizens. We loved our Nation. We were a threat to him and his consorts--him and those who wanted to oppress, for racial and other reasons, poor people. Mr. Speaker, in 1956, J. Edgar Hoover created and designed a program within the Federal Bureau of Investigation called COINTELPRO. COINTELPRO was an acronym for the Counterintelligence Program of the FBI. This program was a calculated, strategic effort to discredit, dismantle, neutralize all the efforts for societal reform, for our right to constitutionally redress our grievances and lift the oppression, subjugation, discrimination, and biases that we were forced to live under. This COINTEL Program illegally, outside of the law, spied on and harassed American citizens. They went so far as to tap phone lines, plant false and damaging stories in the national and local press, falsely imprison people, charging people, and even assassinating American citizens, activists. J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI famously targeted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his family. Hoover sought to discredit Dr. King and to undermine his civil rights work by painting him as a Communist. After Dr. King made his iconic ``I Have a Dream'' speech, and the inspiration that it created for people from all backgrounds across the Nation, then J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI came to view Dr. King as a dangerous person. They began a massive surveillance campaign against Dr. King. They tried to prove that Dr. King was a Communist. They failed to produce one scintilla of evidence on this, but they still habitually harassed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1964, the FBI sent what is known as the ``suicide letter,'' that was their quote. The letter urged Dr. King to commit suicide by calling him a fraud and citing alleged extramarital affairs. This dastardly, low-life letter was sent to Dr. King's home where it was opened by his wife, Coretta. This was a calculated, sinister, and deeply personal attempt by the FBI designed to bring shame and harm to Dr. King and his family. This was outside of everything that this Nation stands for--outside of the law. Mr. Speaker, they were using taxpayer dollars in order to do these and other dastardly things, using this COINTEL Program as their vehicle. They didn't stop with Dr. King. Some of the other well-known targets for this COINTEL Program included Aretha Franklin, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Billie Holiday, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Fonda, Jean Seberg, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, even the 1960s pop band, The Monkees. They were also victims of COINTEL. J. Edgar Hoover had already started spying on people like Charlie Chaplin and Ernest Hemingway well before this COINTELPRO program was finalized and set up and operationalized. This COINTELPRO program targeted everyday people, not just luminaries, but everyday, ordinary American citizens, anyone that had the audacity to voice a disagreement against discrimination. They even targeted housewives, the housewives who attended the chapter meetings for the National Organization for Women. Mr. Speaker, I have introduced the COINTELPRO Full Disclosure Act, H.R. 2998, and I ask that the Members of this Congress sign on to this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair of the committee, my good friend Congresswoman Maloney. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3655, the Civil Rights Cold Case Investigation Support Act of 2022. This bill is the Senate companion to my bill, H.R. 6818, and I am pleased beyond measure to support its passage on the floor today. Four years ago, Mr. Speaker, Congress passed my bill, the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018, into law. That law created a collection of civil rights cold case records to be disclosed to the public, helping to resolve by bringing closure to the more than 100 unsolved cold cases from the civil rights era. It was designed to bring some small measure of comfort to families and communities that have waited far, far too long for answers about the loss of their loved ones so many decades ago. I hope today's passage will bring some sense of closure to these families. A crucial part of that bill was the creation of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board, which serves as an independent oversight agency that reviews requests to delay making civil rights cold case records public. President Biden has appointed, and the Senate has confirmed, some wonderfully qualified nominees to the board, but since the previous administration failed to appoint any members to the board, the board is about to run out of its legislative time before it can truly bring its mission to fruition. Mr. Speaker, the bill passed in the Senate, and I see no reason why the House cannot pass the bill today. I urge passage of the bill today.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Patrick and Dee Woodtor for their work in Africa International House and to celebrate the 33rd iteration of the African Festival of the Arts. The festival is back this year after taking a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. With the return of the in-person festivities, this year's theme is ``Back to Culture. Back to Tradition.'' The African Festival of the Arts has been celebrated in Chicago for more than three decades. Each year on Labor Day weekend, the festival attracts a multi-cultural audience, offering the Black community a chance to reconnect to their roots, while also giving those outside the community the opportunity to learn more about African culture. Through poetry readings, interactive workshops, art exhibits, musical and dance performances, food tasting, arts and crafts classes, and displaying a replica of an African village, the festival illustrates the rich African culture present within the people of Chicago. The festival also contributes immensely to the City's economy. African International House hires local residents and vendors to participate in the annual event, which generates revenue for the city and local businesses. Patrick Woodtor founded Africa International House and the festival. Woodtor is originally from Liberia and first came to the United States in 1976 to attend Northwestern University, where he met his wife, Delores ``Dee'' Parmer. After graduating, the Woodtors briefly lived in Liberia, but soon returned to the States due to the political turmoil unraveling in the country. A short time after returning to Chicago, the Woodtors' cultural outreach began when Dee opened a store in Hyde Park called ``Window to Africa'' that specialized in selling African artifacts, which helped the surrounding community better connect and understand their heritage. The store also served as a resource center for African immigrants transitioning into their new lives here in America. The success and popularity of Dee's store fueled their desire to expand their efforts. Patrick started the festival, and then later Africa International House--a larger umbrella organization that offers exchange programs to Africa and more broadly bridges cultural understanding. African International House and the Woodtors have received numerous accolades for their contributions to the cultural fabric of Chicago and service to recent immigrants, and I wanted to further cement the depth of their impact by speaking about it in the halls of the U.S. Capitol. Madam Speaker, Chicago has a rich history of celebrating the heritage and ancestry of its residents. The Woodtors have added to that history by lifting African culture on a large scale, which only further enhances the beauty and diversity of our great city. They deserve to be honored and recognized for this work, which benefits all Chicagoans.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of Bob Juliano, an ally of the working man and a friend to so many who worked with him. Juliano, who referred to himself as ``Cool Bobby J'', was born and raised in the west side of Chicago--a city he dearly loved. He started his career in the hospitality industry in Chicago but moved to Washington to represent the legislative interests of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees International Union. He made strong relationship with Members on both sides of the aisle and from different parts of the country. Juliana's success in D.C. was driven by the fact that he didn't view the Members by the letters next to their names, but how each elected official cared about their constituents and everyday people. Juliano easily related to people as he advocated for improving the lives of our constituents, which endeared him to us. He managed relationships beautifully, not just Members of the House and Senate, but our Congressional office staff as well. True to the spirit of his role, Juliano also seemed to know every service worker on the Hill, whom he extended the same level of kindness and respect as he would show leadership. This embodied why we so deeply admired him, because he valued each person's work and showed it. He made strong ties to members of the Congressional Black Caucus, because his devotion to people shined through in how he advocated about issues, especially when it came to the fight for equality. Bob always maintained that civil rights was the defining issue of our generation. The relationships he established and maintained around the Hill helped him shepherd labor legislation through both chambers, including when it came to issues of middle-class, hardworking Americans and protecting health care of hospitality workers. A true Chicagoan, he never forgot where he came from and who helped him along the way. Although he passed last year, his spirit and memory still live on with everyone he worked with in D.C., reminding all of us of the importance of bipartisanship and treating others with respect. Madam Speaker, it was a blessing to know him, and I am honored to have been able to call him a friend. My thoughts are with him, his family, and all who loved him.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 284 on H.R. 7666, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yea'' when I should have voted ``nay.'' Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Allred (Takano) Bonamici (Manning) Bourdeaux (Correa) Bush (Takano) Carter (LA) (Williams (GA)) Carter (TX) (Weber (TX)) Cohen (Beyer) Connolly (Beyer) Costa (Correa) Crist (Wasserman Schultz) Davis, Danny K. (Gomez) DeSaulnier (Beyer) Garcia (IL) (Takano) Gosar (Boebert) Gottheimer (Neguse) Guest (Fleischmann) Hayes (Neguse) Huffman (Gomez) Jayapal (Takano) Jeffries (Kelly (IL)) Johnson (GA) (Manning) Johnson (TX) (Stevens) Katko (Meijer) Keating (Neguse) Kirkpatrick (Pallone) Lawson (FL) (Wasserman Schultz) Long (Fleischmann) Moore (WI) (Beyer) Nadler (Pallone) Newman (Beyer) Palazzo (Fleischmann) Payne (Pallone) Porter (Neguse) Price (NC) (Manning) Rice (SC) (Meijer) Rogers (KY) (Reschenthaler) Rush (Neguse) Salazar (Diaz-Balart) Scott, David (Neguse) Sires (Pallone) Stansbury (Stevens) Strickland (Neguse) Suozzi (Neguse) Swalwell (Correa) Tlaib (Gomez) Walorski (Baird) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Griffith

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of an extraordinary woman, journalist, television broadcast legend, and philanthropist, Mary Francine ``Merri Dee'' Dorham. Merri was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 30, 1936. While she grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, she returned to Chicago as a teenager where she graduated from Englewood Technical Prep Academy High School in 1955. After graduating, Merri attended Xavier University in New Orleans, where she was a business administration major. Although she had to drop out to support her siblings, her passion for journalism would land her at WBEE in 1966 and, two years later, Merri began hosting an entertainment program at WCIU on Saturday nights. In 1971, Merri's popularity on local television resulted in her having her own talk show, ``The Merri Dee Show'' on independent station, WSNS-Channel 44. That year, Merri faced a personal tragedy when she and a talk show guest were kidnapped from the television station and nearly killed. She survived this horrendous incident and made it her life's mission to advocate for victims of gun violence. She lobbied state and local public officials in passing Illinois' first victims' bill of rights, which would become a model for other states. In 1972, Merri became an anchor for WGN-TV's 9 p.m. newscast, becoming the first African American lead anchor for a news station in a major U.S. city. For the next three decades, she would play a pivotal role at the station as a senior leader, including serving as WGN's Community Relations Director. In this capacity, Merri was a liaison between the station and the many social and community organizations around town and managed multiple public service campaigns, including hosting countless broadcasts of the legendary Bud Billiken Parade, the nation's largest and longest running African American parade, annually attended by one million onlookers and two thousand parade participants. Merri's philanthropic commitment was consistent beyond her professional career. She participated in several charities and organizations including the Chicago-based program Athletes for a Better Education--a charity she founded. She was a yearly fixture as television host for the United Negro College Fund's ``Evening of Stars'' for nearly two decades, in addition to hosting numerous telethons for the Easterseals. Throughout the next 40 years, Merri would spotlight her love for children through several on-air segments, including ``The Waiting Child,'' which focused on children in the foster system in need of an adoptive home. Her impact was recognized by then-Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, who recognized her with a commendation in 1998 for helping to increase state adoptions by more than 50 percent. Her hard work and dedication also earned her the Adoption Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2004. Merri Dee was a trailblazer in the world of broadcast journalism for young Black women paving a path for increasing diversity in newsrooms. She was a committed mentor, an author, and devoted leader in her community led by her faith, forgiveness, and grace. A recipient of countless awards and accolades, she was inducted in the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame and served as the president of Illinois' AARP chapter. She was an incredible leader; a compassionate; a kind professional and gloriously gifted friend with a broad, welcoming million-dollar smile. Her loss is deeply felt in Chicago, the Nation, and across the entire world. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, loved ones, and to all who were impacted by her wonderful spirit.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and unable to cast my vote on Roll Call No. 127. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 127.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of an extraordinary man and broadcast radio icon, an on-air personality, and a radio station owner: Mr. Pervis Spann. Pervis Spann was born in Itta Bean, Mississippi on August 16, 1932. Growing up, he picked cotton and cared for his family when his mother fell ill. At age 14, he managed the Dixie Theater, a local Black theater. His family uprooted from Mississippi and migrated to Battle Creek, Michigan in search of jobs, education, housing, and the right to vote. Spann joined the military and fought for our Nation during the Korean War. In the 1950s, his love for music would lead him to his first disc jockey job at WOPA in Oak Park, Illinois. In 1960, he organized his first concert, which showcased B.B. King and Junior Parker. In 1963, Phil and Leonard Chess bought a radio station that later became known as WVON. Shortly afterwards, Spann was hired by the Chess brothers as a disc jockey for their 24-hour blues station. Spann became known as the ``The Blues Man'', gaining notoriety with an 87-hour sleepless ``sit-in'' raising money for Civil Rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On April 1, 1963, Spann and his business partner, Wesley South, would purchase the radio station and create the mantra, ``The Voice of the Negro.'' Spann was a master marketer, utilizing the radio airwaves to promote some of the biggest concerts and shows in Chicago during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and providing a platform for African American musicians and entertainers. He formed the Delta Production Company, a concert production and marketing company which produced shows at The Regal Theatre, Arie Crown Theatre, the Lyric Opera House, the Aragon Ballroom, and the Trianon Ballroom. Spann was also the owner of The Burning Spear nightclub and several other establishments. Spann booked James Brown; Sammy Davis, Jr; The Temptations; Chaka Khan; Dinah Washington; Jerry Butler; The Impressions; The Four Tops; Marvin Gaye; Al Green; Otis Clay; Earth, Wind & Fire; Sam Cooke; The Staple Singers; The Commodores; Marvin Gaye; Cab Calloway; Roy Hamilton; Jackie Wilson; Little Richard; and Count Basie. Notably, he was most famous for crowning Aretha Franklin ``the Queen of Soul'' in 1962. For nearly six decades, Spann's radio station played a pivotal role in creating a platform for community, business, and political leaders. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. could be heard regularly on the Wesley South Show, Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad were part of the evening format, and Mayor Harold Washington favored WVON for his public service announcements. In 1968, WVON was the first station in the country to announce the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when Reverend Jesse Jackson called from Memphis with the news on April 4, 1968. In 1975, WVON was sold and changed frequency. Spann formed a business partnership with Vernon Jarrett and Wesley South and bought the license to the original frequency in 1979. The new radio station, WXOL, was an all-blues format where musicians such as Johnny Taylor, Buddy Guy, KoKo Taylor, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Clay, and many others could be heard. In 1983, the station reclaimed the old call letters of WVON. In 2012, Pervis Spann was inducted in the Blues Hall of Fame for his contributions in media, production, and business. He joined legendary musical luminaries such as B.B. King, Etta James, Mavis Staples, and Willie Dixon. Spann was the epitome of the American dream--he went from `sharecropping to shareholding'. Throughout his life, Spann used the radio station as an outlet to cultivate new aspiring radio personalities. He was always willing to give a helping hand to those who needed work and support, and he both recognized talent and encouraged young people to pursue a college education. Spann, along with his wife, Mrs. Lovie Spann, and four children, Melody, Darrell, Latrice, and Chante, continued to call the South Side of Chicago home for the rest of his life. Pervis Spann's loss is deeply felt across Chicago, the nation, and even the world. My thoughts and prayers are with his family--Lovie, Melody, Darrell, Latrice, and Chante--and with all who loved and were impacted by this truly great man.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Rare Disease Day to stand with the courageous women and men who have been diagnosed with rare diseases and honor those who have lost their battle to these terrible illnesses. An estimated 1 in 10 Americans are afflicted with rare diseases, and people of color suffer disproportionately from these illnesses. Despite their great overall number, rare disease patients are the ``orphans'' of the healthcare systems, often denied diagnosis, treatment, and the benefits of research. Due to the low prevalence of each disease, medical expertise is rare, knowledge is scarce, care offerings inadequate, and research limited. We applaud the advocates, medical professionals, and caregivers who dedicate their lives to providing resources to those diagnosed with rare diseases. One such advocate is the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition, an organization born out of a commitment to help address the extraordinary challenges faced by rare disease patients of color and a dedication to serve as a catalyst for progress. The RDDC's depth and breadth of expertise come from the diversity of the over 50 coalition members and affiliates; which include the Asian-Pacific Islander American Health Forum, EveryLife Foundation, Health Equity Collaborative, MANA, A National Latina Organization, National Black Nurses Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association, Patient Advocate Foundation, and the Black Women's Health Imperative. This coalition can help society seize the momentum for change on racial inequities and drive progress on the continuing struggles regarding health equity and rare diseases. Last fall, the RDDC hosted the RARE Health Equity Summit Fall in partnership with Global Genes. This Summit brought together stakeholders from the rare disease community to discuss persistent gaps in diagnostic challenges for historically underserved and underrepresented patient communities and to align strategies to address health inequities of the rare disease community. It is up to us to continue fighting for cures and ensure that every American, especially those of color, has access to the quality care they need. Still, our Nation has a long way to go before rare diseases no longer threaten American lives and devastate communities of color. As we observe Rare Disease Day, I ask my colleagues in Congress to stand with me in support of real and significant progress with rare diseases; to unite in supporting treatments and breakthroughs with rare diseases; to ensure that more people have access to quality, affordable health care; and to lifting the inequitable health burden that falls on communities of color. We must commit to ending rare diseases and improving the lives of all those affected by these illnesses.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of an extraordinary woman who held her family together through strength and prayer: Mother Beulah Maxwell. Mother Beulah was the mother of my late wife of 37 years and my beloved mother-in-law. She was a rock of inspiration, wisdom, and confirmation to me. The daughter of Lorraine Oliver and Leo Dewitt, Mother Beulah was born April 20, 1934 in Memphis, Tennessee and graduated from Fayette County Training High School in 1952, later known as Fayette Ware High School. Mother Beulah made friends everywhere she went and found Christ at the early age at Beulah Baptist Church, where she remained a loyal member for 60 years. She had four children: Carolyn, Vanesa, Kenneth, and Stephanie. She deeply loved her children and raised them to be upstanding citizens who valued community and service. Mother Beulah was active in the community as a church leader and as a Boy Scout leader-- she was a constant presence in her children's lives. As the matriarch of the family, Mother Beulah extended her support to family members, including myself and my late wife, Carolyn. Mother Beulah worked as a school bus driver for nearly 15 years and proudly served the children of Shelby County--never once receiving a moving violation. Later, she would live in the care of her family in both Chicago and Memphis. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frank Maxwell; and her daughter, Carolyn Rush. She is survived by her sister, Lizzy Stevenson; daughters, Vanessa Dennis and Stephanie Lemon; her son, Kenneth Shields--and grandchildren in addition to several great- grandchildren. My thoughts and prayers are with Mother Beulah's family and with all who loved and were impacted by her.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of an extraordinary man and international icon: civil rights activist and educator, Dr. Timuel Dixon Black, Jr. Timuel Black was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1918. His father was a sharecropper, and his grandparents were formerly enslaved. Black's parents moved to Chicago when he was an infant as part of the Great Migration of Black Americans moving North, seeking a better life. Black grew up in Bronzeville, in the densely populated ``Black Belt'' where African Americans were confined due to Chicago's discriminatory housing laws. Black attended Burke Elementary School and DuSable High School, and was drafted into the Army in 1943, where he fought on D-Day and in the Battle of the Bulge. Black visited the Buchenwald concentration camp shortly after it was liberated and later said that the atrocities he saw there motivated him to dedicate his life towards peace and justice for all people. Upon returning home to Chicago, Black attended Roosevelt University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology, and continued his education at the University of Chicago, earning masters degrees in both sociology and history. Black spent several years teaching high school in Chicago, Illinois and Gary, Indiana before becoming a professor at Loop College, which was later renamed Harold Washington College. In 1955, Black saw Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver a riveting sermon on television. He was so impressed that he immediately traveled to Alabama to meet Dr. King. That initial meeting would lead Professor Black to help build support networks for Dr. King while Dr. King commuted between Chicago and Alabama. In 1960, A. Philip Randolph enlisted Black to run the Chicago division of the Negro American Labor Council, an advocacy organization that would go on to organize the landmark March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Black helped organize the ``freedom trains'' that took thousands of Chicagoans to the event. More than 4,000 Chicagoans ended up attending the March on Washington. Over the course of his life, Black worked to mobilize African American voters and increase African American representation in Illinois politics. Black ran for office a number of times and consistently agitated against Chicago's machine politics. In 1963, Black ran for alderman as part of a coalition of independent Black candidates running against ``Silent Six'' machine incumbents, notably saying that it was time to ``end plantation politics.'' In 1982, Black suggested to his childhood friend, Illinois U.S. Representative Harold Washington, that he should consider running for Mayor of Chicago. In the fight to combat rising poverty, inadequate housing, and unemployment in Chicago's African American and Latino communities, Black spearheaded an effort to support Washington's campaign by registering 263,000 new voters and raising more than $1 million. In 1983, thanks in large part to Black's efforts, Harold Washington became Chicago's first Black mayor. In 1987, soon after Washington's death in office, Black led a successful advocacy campaign to rename Loop College in Washington's honor. A renowned author and historian, Black wrote an acclaimed oral history on the migration of Black Americans to Chicago from the South, titled ``Bridges of Memory.'' Later, in 2019, he published a memoir titled ``Sacred Ground: The Chicago Streets of Timuel Black.'' For nearly his entire life, Timuel Black made the South Side of Chicago his home and Bronzeville his open classroom, where he taught and mentored future educators, community activists, and business and political leaders. Madam Speaker, Timuel Black spent every day of his 102 years on this earth pouring his best into others. As an educator, an activist, a civil rights leader, a confidante, an elder, and a sage, Tim gave his all to all of us. He was at the center--the beating heart--of the Black community, the Chicago community, the national community, and the international community. Black's contributions were felt in countless historic events: Nelson Mandela's election as President of South Africa, Harold Washington's election as Mayor of Chicago, Barack Obama's election as the first Black President of the United States, Jesse Jackson's campaign for President, and Carol Moseley Braun's election as the first Black woman in the U.S. Senate, among others. His loss is deeply felt in Chicago, in this Nation, and indeed across the entire world. My thoughts and prayers are with Tim's wife and family, and with all who loved and were impacted by this truly great man.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and celebrate the life of an extraordinary and influential figure from Chicago's South Side, Bishop Charles Edward Davis. A native of Leland, Mississippi, Bishop Davis's life was guided by service to his country, his community, and his faith. After graduating high school in 1940, Bishop Davis relocated to Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, at the beginning of the Second Great Migration and the year before the United States entered World War II. Heeding the call to serve his country after the outbreak of war, Bishop Davis joined the U.S. Army at the age of 19, serving as a sergeant. In the Army, Bishop Davis would complete tours of duty in Germany, France, and Holland. After the war, Bishop Davis would enter the upholstery business with his dear friend Brother James McDonald, a step which would lead him towards his lifetime of faith and good works. Brother McDonald's mother-in-law, Sister Anastasia Anderson, introduced him to the Indiana Avenue Pentecostal Church of God (IPC), and he became a member of the church in 1954 when it was under the pastorate of Elder Charles Ellis. Recognizing the deep faith, commitment, and talent of Bishop Davis, Elder Ellis's successor, Elder Odee Akines, encouraged the further development of his faith and leadership. With Elder Akines at the helm of IPC, Bishop Davis served as the church's Sunday School superintendent, Young People's Leader, and President of the senior choir. By his side throughout his energetic leadership of the church was Dr. Geraldine Olivia Davis, his dear wife of 43 years until her passing in 1998. Bishop Davis was also a devoted father to a son, Larney Bush, Jr., and a daughter, Yolanda Davis. After Elder Akines passed away in 1970, Bishop Davis was elected pastor of IPC. Himself a Doctor of Divinity and Master of Theology, Bishop Davis made this a central focus during his leadership of IPC, establishing scholarships and programs for young people seeking to further their educations in both the secular and Christian traditions. In 1986, Bishop Davis was elevated to the Bishopric by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, serving as a Diocesan Bishop in New York State, Washington State, and Wyoming, eventually accepting a role as Diocesan of the 6th Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, their Illinois District Council, in 2008. Bishop Davis would come to be widely recognized as one of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World's most exemplary leaders, admired both in Chicago and nationally for his character and conviction. This caused him to become fondly known as ``Chief.'' Bishop Davis was a mentor to many young people who came to his churches seeking salvation, and always conducted robust community outreach efforts, making sure that his good works did not only benefit IPC, but the entire neighborhood and city. Bishop Davis's work was recognized by the City of Chicago in 1992, when the 3500-3600 block of South Indiana Avenue was named in his honor. In 2004, Bishop Davis became united in marriage with Dr. Jessie Davis, and they were inseparable from one another, always working together for the spiritual benefit of their community. They would remain by each other's sides until Dr. Davis's death in April of 2020. Madam Speaker, on February 9th, Bishop Davis was called to heaven after a lifetime of good works. My deepest prayers and sympathies go out to Bishop Davis's family, friends, and the IPC community on the passing of this supremely devoted and talented leader, who gave so much in service to his faith, community, and country.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and commemorate the life and works of Dr. Melvin Banks, the founder of Urban Ministries, Incorporated. A prodigious soul, by the age of 12, Dr. Banks was already spreading the word of the gospel throughout his native state of Alabama, sharing stories of the Bible with younger children. It was when he was preaching in Birmingham that Dr. Banks heard a verse from the Book of Hosea that would change his life ``My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.'' Hearing this verse caused Dr. Banks to even further dedicate himself to spreading the gospel across the country and the world. Dr. Banks' study of the Bible would take him to Chicago's Moody Bible Institute, where he was one of the institution's few Black students, graduating in 1955. However, Dr. Banks' education as a Christian in Chicago would not revolve solely around the classroom. At the urging of a chapel speaker, Dr. Banks visited a Brethren church on the city's South Side. This experience led him to the vital realization that he didn't need to diminish his blackness to live the fullest Christian life that he could. There, Dr. Banks would also meet and marry Olive Perkins, who would remain his partner throughout his life. He then continued his theological education in the Chicagoland area at Wheaton College, earning a bachelor's degree in theology in 1958 and a master's degree in biblical studies in 1960. When working for a Christian publishing company after completing his degrees at Wheaton College, Dr. Banks found that he often struggled to sell the company's Sunday School curriculum to Black churches. The material was written by white authors and told solely from a white perspective. Black churches believed that their students may not be able to relate to it. This realization led Dr. Banks to a truly visionary idea: why not create a Sunday School curriculum that would resonate with the Black experience? It was with this idea in mind that Dr. Banks launched Universal Ministries, Inc., with the mission of making the Bible more relatable to Black Sunday School students. Beginning in his Chicago basement in 1970, Dr. Banks steadily grew Universal Ministries, Inc. to the point where it is today, with a customer base of over 40,000 for the company's Christian education resources. Thanks to the work of Universal Ministries, Inc., hundreds of thousands of Black Christians can see themselves and their experiences reflected in the texts of their faith. So titanic are the accomplishments of Universal Ministries, Inc., that the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association awarded Dr. Banks with their inaugural Kenneth N. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Madam Speaker, Dr. Banks passed away on February 13, 2021. His life's work continues through Universal Ministries, Inc., and the thousands of students who will benefit from the curriculums he assembled. He is survived by his wife Olive and three children, Melvin Jr., Patrice Lee, and Reginald. My deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Dr. Banks's friends, family, and all those who had the privilege to benefit, spiritually and emotionally, from his life's mission.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and celebrate the life of a fierce and unyielding champion of Chicago's students, Karen Lewis. A native of Chicago's South Side and daughter of Chicago Public School teachers, Lewis attended Chicago Public Schools until her early admission to Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. Lewis would then make history at an early age, when she transferred to Dartmouth College and was the only African-American woman in her 1974 graduating class. Returning to Chicago soon after her graduation from Dartmouth, Lewis began as a substitute chemistry teacher for Chicago Public Schools. Her intellect and commitment to her students earned Lewis a full-time teaching role, which she would hold for nearly two decades, enriching the lives and minds of students across the city. During her time as a chemistry teacher, Lewis taught at Lane Tech College Prep, Sullivan High School, and finally King College Prep in the Kenwood neighborhood, just blocks from her childhood home. By 2008, Lewis had become a union delegate, bringing her energy and grit to the fight against school closures that would affect some of Chicago's most vulnerable students. Realizing that teachers and students faced increasing class sizes, school closures, and a budget crisis, Lewis put her bold vision forward and became the president of the Chicago Teacher's Union in 2010. In the face of many in Chicago's power structure calling for schools to be closed and protections to be stripped from dedicated educators, Lewis powerfully put forward a new vision for the city's public school, entitled The Schools Chicago's Students Deserve. With this vision, Lewis sought to narrow the often vast differences between what Chicago's teachers and students needed to be successful and what they actually received from Chicago Public Schools. Madam Speaker, in September 2012, Karen Lewis rose to national prominence when she led the first teacher's strike in Chicago in a quarter century. Tackling a new mayoral administration that sought to lay off teachers in exchange for raises, Lewis led a labor movement whose tactics would be studied around the country as a model for successful organized labor. The nine days Karen Lewis led the Chicago Teachers Union on strike were instrumental in winning concessions that included a robust pay raise and fairer evaluation of classroom performance. The next year, teachers in Los Angeles used the tactics pioneered by Lewis to gain critical concessions from the city for their students and teachers. In 2018, West Virginia teachers used the Lewis play book during their strike. The 2012 Chicago teachers' strike has been described as having ``changed the future of organizing.'' So great was the appreciation of Lewis's bold and unrelenting fight for Chicago's teachers and students that many in the city believed that she would make an exceptional mayor. Sadly, in 2014, Lewis received the life-altering diagnosis of glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer. True to the fighter she was, Lewis carried on her fearless advocacy after her diagnosis, continuing on as president of the Chicago Teacher's Union until 2018. Madam Speaker, Karen Lewis passed away on February 7th at the age of 67. With her death, Chicago and the nation have lost an icon and a treasure. My deepest sympathies lie with her husband, John, and all of her close family and friends during this challenging time.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, you can kill the revolutionary, but you cannot kill the revolution. These were the words my late comrade and best friend Fred Hampton, the Chairman and co-founder of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party spoke and lived by. In a year that has seen too many Black lives unjustly taken, Chairman Fred's words, life, and legacy remain just as vital to our understanding of justice today as they were on the date of his assassination on December 4, 1969. Chairman Fred was both a visionary and a revolutionary, who fought for a more just world for everyone. I had the distinct privilege of recruiting and working alongside Fred during our righteous struggle for the liberation and emancipation of the people who had been ignored by those in power for far too long. We encouraged community development and empowerment through programs that included community health clinics and an expansive free breakfast for children program, finally delivering critical social services to long underserved communities. We also helped broker a peace agreement between Chicago's street gangs, reducing violence in the city's most marginalized neighborhoods. Furthermore, the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party joined forces with the Latino Young Lords organization, and the Young Patriots, an organization of poor whites living in Chicago's Uptown community. Together, we formed the original Rainbow Coalition to fight all economic oppression. This watershed organization assembled a working-class coalition to fight for our shared interests, despite the fact that we were working in one of the most segregated cities in the United States. We banded together to fight many of the issues that still plague us to this very day, including police brutality, substandard housing, mediocre education, and low-quality health care. In the early hours of December 4th, 51 years ago, the Chicago Police Department with the cooperation, coordination, and support of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cook County State's Attorney entered an apartment on West Monroe Street that seven members of the Black Panther Party were staying in, with the premeditated aim of murdering Fred Hampton. The police immediately opened fire, killing Fred as he lay in his bed alongside his pregnant girlfriend, Akua Njeri. Our fellow Black Panther Party Member Mark Clark was also killed in the raid. There but for the grace of God, on that dreadful night, go I. In fact, my apartment was raided during the early hours the very next morning, December 5, 1969. Madam Speaker, through meticulous work we were able to prove that the official narrative of that night, that Hampton and Clark were killed in a vicious firelight, was entirely a falsehood. The police and State's Attorney claimed that they engaged in a fierce battle with the Panthers, but investigators were able to determine that the police fired 99 bullets while the Panthers only fired one. A civil lawsuit would further reveal that the FBI's Counter- Intelligence Program, or COINTELPRO, helped plan the murder of Fred Hampton. William O'Neil, an FBI informant within the Party, provided floor plans of the apartment to the FBI, who provided them to the State's Attorney and Chicago Police Department. An autopsy found a massive dose of the barbiturate Seconal in Chairman Fred's bloodstream, powerful enough to sedate an elephant. J. Edgar Hoover's FBI viewed the Black Panther Party movement Fred and I helped start to liberate our brothers and sisters who were suffering from divestment, lack of health care, and police brutality--as the number one threat to the national security of America. This country's government planned the assassination--the political assassination--of one of our nation's brightest young leaders. To my recollection, the murder of Fred Hampton is the only time federal law enforcement conspired to carry out the political assassination of an American citizen on United States soil, a truly shameful moment in the history of our country. This was a systemic campaign to violently disrupt a movement seeking justice and freedom for the most marginalized among us. This should remind all of us that Black lives have never been fully valued by many of those in this country's power structures. Too often, justice is not sought for the families of those whose lives are senselessly taken by the state Madam Speaker, when the South Side of Chicago's very own Ida B. Wells published her seminal investigative journalism on lynching in America, she found that many lynchings occurred because the victims posed a threat to the white supremacist status quo. One of her best friends was killed for merely operating a successful grocery store that competed with neighboring white businesses. While the killings Ida B. Wells examined were not political assassinations like the murder of Fred Hampton, they share a common thread. Both challenged the white supremacist status quo in their communities. Fred Hampton profoundly challenged this status quo by fiercely advocating for economic and social dignity for all people, and by providing long overdue social services to the most neglected communities in Chicago. Fred Hampton's challenge to the status quo proposed nothing less than a demand for full civil rights and economic opportunity for all those whose talents, dreams, and goals had long been stifled. This was a scary proposition to those like State's Attorney Hanrahan and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who would stop at nothing to maintain the unjust status quo that prevailed in Chicago and throughout the United States in December of 1969. Fred Hampton gave his life to help create a more fundamentally fair and equal nation for every American, consistent with our nation's founding principles Sadly, Madam Speaker, too often it appears that for Black Americans merely existing can be seen as a challenge to the white, racist power structure. And sadly, as Ida B. Wells found in 1892, the consequences can be just as gruesome. Ahmaud Arbery was 25 years old when he was gunned down for merely jogging in what his killers deemed to be the wrong neighborhood. Despite this incident taking place in February of this year, and a video being available, neither of the men now charged with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery were arrested until May. If not for a report by The New York Times that helped lead to the Georgia Bureau of Iinvestigation's intervention in the matter, Mr. Arbery's killers may never have faced justice. Ahmaud Arbery's death was a lynching, which occurred because two white men felt uncomfortable with his jogging though their neighborhood. One of the most recent in far too long a line of lynch mob killings of Black people in the United States. Madam Speaker, Congress must act promptly to ensure that no one who participates in such acts of terror and hatred can escape justice. As introduced, my bill, the Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act, would designate lynching as federal hate crime. This would apply whether or not those committing the offense were acting under the color of law. By designating lynching as a federal hate crime, the United States Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation would be compelled to investigate a case like Ahmaud Arbery's. The Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act honors the legacy of Emmett Till, who was brutally murdered in Money, Mississippi, in 1955. His death helped spark this country's civil rights movement, but his murderers never faced justice, as they were acquitted at a sham trial in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. Passing the Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act would ensure that the full force of the United States Federal Government is always brought to prosecute those who commit the monstrous act of lynching. We have the opportunity to finally, after 120 years and 200 attempts since Congressman George Henry White of North Carolina introduced the first anti-lynching legislation, make lynching a federal crime. In fact, Ida B. Wells herself advocated for the administration of President William McKinley to push for anti-lynching reforms all the way back in 1898. Passage of the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act into law would demonstrate that this country understands the heinous legacy of lynching and begin the process of finally closing this shameful chapter of our history. Madam Speaker, let us never forget the courage, conviction, and compassion of Fred Hampton. Despite this government assassinating him at only 21 years of age, Chairman Fred's work and legacy are everlasting. Let our work in Congress be guided by his legacy of pursuing freedom and justice for all people. That work can begin by sending the Emmet Till Anti-lynching Act to the President's desk, an act that would require action by our colleagues in the Senate. That would be a clear demonstration that Congress has begun to value the Black lives, including Fred Hampton's, Emmett Till's, Ahmaud Arbery's, and the countless others whose lives have been systemically devalued for far too long.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of Leslie ``Les'' Outerbridge, a man who lead a life of selfless bravery and held a keen devotion to justice. Born in 1936, Les Outerbridge was raised in Chicago's Cabrini--Green Homes and initially attended Wells Community Academy High School at the age of 12, later leaving high school in 1953 at the age of 15 and volunteering to serve his country in the United States Air Force. An avid athlete as a young man, Outerbridge played three sports, football, basketball, and baseball on his Air Force installation. Later in his life, Outerbridge would return to school, receiving a Bachelor's in Science from Chicago State University in 1981. Feeling that he still had more to give to his community and country after serving in the armed forces, Outerbridge joined the Chicago Fire Department in 1961. While dutifully and bravely serving his community, Outerbridge was not afraid to simultaneously fight the fires of injustice within the fire department. For much of the 1960s and 1970s, the percentage of minorities serving in the fire department was under five percent. Furthermore, when African-American or Hispanic firefighters were given the opportunity to put their lives on the line for their fellow Chicagoans, they found themselves stifled by a systemically racist department that made promotion unattainable. Unable to stand by and watch this injustice pervade the department he was a part of, Outerbridge sprang into action. Working with key community leaders and activists including Father George Clements and Kermit Coleman, an attorney, and civil rights organizations including Operation PUSH and the Urban League, Outerbridge set out to end the unfair treatment of African-Americans in the Chicago Fire Department. Along with his fellow firefighters Jim Winbush and Wesley Thompson, Outerbridge founded the Afro American Firefighters League (AAFL). Madam Speaker, it is difficult to understate the positive impact of the Afro American Firefighters league on the Chicago Fire Department. Outerbridge and the AAFL worked diligently to document the racial discrimination they found within the Department, and their work would lead to the United States Department of Justice filing suit against the City of Chicago, resulting in a consent decree that mandated the Department increase its total number of African-American firefighters from 125 to at least 400. While work remains to be done to build a Chicago Fire Department that is reflective of the city it serves, the legacy of Outerbridge's work continues. In 2011, a lawsuit brought by African-American Chicago firefighters made it all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, which ruled that over 6,000 African-American applicants for positions within the Chicago Fire Department could pursue a disparate impact claim against the city. The Supreme Court's ruling helped pave the way to a settlement that allowed almost a thousand applicants to reapply, and the possibility of monetary reward as compensation for the discrimination they faced. From the Cabrini-Green Homes to the Supreme Court--that is how far the lasting and enduring legacy of Les Outerbridge stretches. In 2002, Outerbridge would author and publish a book detailing his life's remarkable journey titled ``Memoirs of a Black Fire Fighter: Les Outerbridge, 1961-1995''. Those close to him Outerbridge will remember him as passionate historian and an avid photographer. My best wishes and prayers are with the Outerbridge family and all those who had the distinct privilege of knowing Leslie Outerbridge during his remarkable life.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and commemorate the life of Reverend Leon Finney, Jr., who stood at the forefront of advancing the cause of justice in Chicago and throughout the nation. A spiritual mentor of mine at McCormick Theological Seminary, where he founded the African American Leadership Program, which was responsible for the training of innumerable African American Pastors in receiving their master's degrees. Rev. Finney's work in Chicago's spiritual, educational, and civil rights communities was deeply intertwined and catalyzed positive change for the most vulnerable members of our society. Rev. Finney was an organizer's organizer. Shortly after serving his country in the Marine Corps, he would join the Woodlawn Organization, a community group in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood where Rev. Finney worked tirelessly to revitalize Woodlawn after the neighborhood was nearly decimated in the 1960s and 1970s. Rev. Finney's activism would open the eyes of those across Chicago and the United States to what is really possible when communities come together. The arc of Rev. Finney's legacy is long and stretches from Congressman Ralph H. Metcalfe, Jr. to Reverend Jessie L. Jackson, Sr., from Mayor Harold Washington all the way to former President Barack Obama. A deeply spiritual man with an unparalleled understanding of how faith could help uplift entire communities, Rev. Finney served as the pastor of three churches, and was the founder of the Christ Apostolic Church, which would later merge with the Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church where Rev. Finney continued to serve the people of Chicago's South Side as a senior pastor. Rev. Finney's sense of justice was also evident throughout his career in public service, beginning with his three decades of service on Chicago's city planning commission, followed by a chairmanship of Chicago State University's board of trustees, and continuing as a board member of the Chicago Housing Authority for five years thereafter. His strong commitments to equity and community empowerment enabled these organizations to better serve the people of Chicago for years to come. Madam Speaker, I along with countless others, are in deep mourning due to Rev. Finney's transition, but we all remain committed to furthering his life's pursuit. My condolences are extended to his immediate family, his church, and to his many friends. His legacy lives on.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), my friend, for her long-time and courageous action and leadership on these important issues. Mr. Speaker, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Christopher Whitfield, Chad Robertson, Terence Crutcher, Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, Bettie Jones, Quintonio LeGrier, Sandra Bland, Alfontish Cockerham, Walter Scott, Laquan McDonald, Eric Garner, Rekia Boyd, Darrin Hanna, Calvin Cross, Leon Brackens, Fred Hampton, Mark Clark. Mr. Speaker, these are the names of the Timeless 20, murdered by rogue police officers, seven of them in my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Thank God for H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. There but for the grace of God go I.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of H.R. 2339, the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act. This bill would ban menthol products which are primarily used because of decades of predatory advertising by tobacco companies in the African American community and on the African American community, particularly, Madam Speaker, African American males, the so-called Kool generation, spelled with a K and not a C. Smoking cigarettes, especially menthol-flavored cigarettes, has resulted in approximately 45,000 African American deaths each and every year. Lung cancer, COPD, and heart disease are the leading preventable causes of death for African Americans. Smoking menthol-flavored cigarettes is the primary culprit. Earlier this week, Madam Speaker, I wrote an op-ed with Nancy Brown, the CEO of the American Heart Association, on the importance of this bill and the ban on menthol flavoring for our kids' health. I am pleased to report that our op-ed was published in The Hill on last Wednesday. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record my op-ed. [From The Hill, Feb. 26, 2020] No Exceptions When It Comes To Kids' Health (By Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and Nancy Brown) Imagine a world in which our children are not using tobacco or addicted to nicotine--a world in which tobacco products that appeal to youth cannot be sold, the tobacco industry is prohibited from preying upon youth with their deceptive marketing, and tobacco no longer represents a grave health threat to children. With tobacco and nicotine use among youth at epidemic levels in this country, we must address this public health crisis. The House of Representatives has an historic opportunity to do just that this week by passing the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act, a bill that takes bold action to remove all flavored e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, including menthol, from the market. Until recently, the goal of a tobacco- and nicotine-free generation seemed within reach. Youth smoking rates, which were at 28 percent in 1997, fell to just 5 percent in 2018. But this hard-fought public health success against youth tobacco use is threatened by the skyrocketing popularity of e-cigarettes. More than 1 in 4 high-school students and more than 5 million youth nationwide now report using e- cigarettes, which pose serious health risks to users and could increase the likelihood of traditional cigarette use. An American Heart Association study released last year found that kids who use e-cigarettes are more likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes. The reasons for this surge in youth e-cigarette use is clear. Tobacco companies introduced thousands of products with fruit, candy, mint, and menthol flavors specifically intended to appeal to youth. The companies then designed sophisticated and well-funded marketing campaigns that relentlessly target youth on social media. While the Trump administration pledged last fall to halt the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes, the policy it released last month fell far short of that goal. Urgent action is still needed to stem the youth e-cigarette epidemic given menthol products, disposable e-cigarettes, and flavored liquid nicotine used in open tank systems are being allowed to remain on the market. Congress took an important first step in December by raising the national minimum legal sales age for tobacco products from 18 to 21. But we know that just raising the sales age for these products is not enough to counteract the actions of an industry intent on addicting another generation of youth. The industry has known for decades that cigarettes and other tobacco products flavored with menthol are less harsh and more appealing to users--especially youth smokers. Tobacco companies have been especially aggressive with retail advertising and price promotions for menthol products in minority communities. As a result, more than 70 percent of adolescent African-American smokers and more than half of adolescent Latino smokers use menthol. Where existing policies have fallen short, the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act will fill the gaps. The bipartisan legislation, first introduced by Reps. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Donna Shalala (D-Fla.), will remove all flavored tobacco products from the market within a year and subject all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to the same advertising restrictions that currently apply to cigarettes. It will also require e-cigarette companies to stop selling any flavored product without pre-market authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within 30 days. Additionally, the bill directs the FDA to prohibit online sales of most tobacco products, cutting off a way many youth access these products. We are at a pivotal moment in the fight to protect our children from tobacco-caused addiction and disease. We urge lawmakers to listen to and stand with parents and health advocates to support this important legislation.

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this very, very worthwhile legislation.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to say to the chairman, I am just so delighted and thankful and grateful for all of his work on behalf of this bill. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 35, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act. Lynching, Madam Speaker, plain and simple, is an American evil. This atrocity is comparable to the French use of the guillotine, the Roman Empire's use of crucifixion, and the British use of drawing and quartering as a tool of terrorism. And for too long, Madam Speaker, Federal law against lynching has remained conspicuously silent. In 1918, 102 years ago, a Congressman from Missouri, Leonidas C. Dyer, introduced the first antilynching legislation to actually pass the House, a bill that would subsequently die in the Senate. Therefore, I am pleased that the language that we are voting on today has already been approved by the Senate, and I am exceptionally hopeful that it will face no further obstacles on its path to the President's desk. Madam Speaker, many may consider lynching to be a relic of the past, but as we all know, unfortunately, recent events have shown us that this is not the case. Instead, we have seen a rise in race-based violence that has culminated in events like the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, or the racially motivated mass shooting in El Paso, Texas. That is why, Madam Speaker, it is so important that we stand united today as a body and as a Congress to pass this bill. In passing this bill today, we send a resoundingly strong message about what we are as a Nation, our country's values and, more importantly, what we as Americans stand for and what we will tolerate and what we will not tolerate. Today, Madam Speaker, we send a strong message that violence and race-based violence, in particular, has no place in American society. That is why I am so proud to have introduced this bill, and I am even prouder that we are considering it on the floor today.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Porter) for yielding the balance of the hour, of her time, to me. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm among the shrinking Black population in cities across the U.S. According to a recent study by the University of Illinois at Chicago, the city of Chicago lost 350,000 Black residents between 1980 and 2016. Madam Speaker, this is what I call ``Black exodus''--not exodus, but ``Black exodus.'' This intense ``Black exodus'' is a result of decades of disinvestment and disenfranchisement. Sadly, the city of Chicago that so many African Americans looked to as a beacon of hope during the great migration has often failed to invest in its Black population. The economic, cultural, and political impact of Chicago's Black community on our Nation has been immense: Louis Armstrong's groundbreaking jazz emanated from Chicago, Thomas Dorsey's gospel rose up from Chicago, and Muddy Waters' blues all came about in Chicago. Since 1945, until recently, the iconic Ebony Magazine, along with its sister magazine, JET magazine, chronicled Black civic and social life in Chicago and across the Nation. The first African American President of the United States began his political career on Chicago's South Side. The story of Black Chicago is one of power and perseverance, often in the face of extreme resistance and resounding prejudice. The UIC study stated that a lack of well-paying jobs and affordable housing are two main factors that have driven the decline in Chicago's Black population. The alarming statistics presented in this study are proof that the consequences of the predatory and prejudiced practices from the past are still present with us and still being felt at this very hour. Madam Speaker, the practice of redlining was invented, first occurred, in Chicago. Last September, I highlighted a study from Duke University that stated that redlining, the practice of restricting the availability of conventional mortgage loans in certain neighborhoods based on their racial makeup, stole up to $4 billion from Chicago's Black community during the 1950s and 1960s. Chicago's Black community was ripped off up to $4 billion because of redlining in the 1950s and 1960s. Now, some of the neighborhoods that African Americans were initially systematically forced into are, all of a sudden, quickly developing, which threatens to push out families who have lived there for generations. Redlining is being followed by the gentrifying that is occurring in Chicago. Despite the creation, Madam Speaker, of 65,000 new jobs in downtown Chicago between 2010 and 2015, Chicago's predominantly Black communities saw a net reduction of 1,500 jobs. While 65,000 jobs in the downtown area increased, 1,500 jobs in Chicago were decreased from the Black community. Compounding, Madam Speaker, this reduction is the fact that over 700,000 jobs are located within 30 minutes of Chicago's downtown, in the predominantly White North Side of Chicago, but just 60,000 jobs are located within 30 minutes of the South Side of Chicago. Chicago is a tale of two cities. It always was and currently remains the tale of two cities: the wealthy, affluent, upper-middle-class North Side, and the poor, devastated communities on the South and the West Sides, both within 30 minutes of Chicago's downtown area. Many Black Chicagoans who reside on the South Side are thus deprived of the opportunity to earn a living in or near the community that they reside in. Madam Speaker, these startling trends are certainly not confined or restricted just to Chicago or even to the Midwest. In fact, Madam Speaker, we can look right here in our Nation's Capital, the city of Washington, D.C., for our next example. A recent Georgetown University study found that African Americans accounted for over 70 percent of the District's population in 1970. By the year 2015, African Americans were just 48.3 percent of the District's population, from 70 percent to less than 50 percent in just a few years. Georgetown's findings were strikingly similar to the findings at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Soaring housing prices and a diminished job market for those who were without a bachelor's degree pushed longtime residents out of our Nation's Capital, and they pushed out longtime residents in Chicago as well. Madam Speaker, we don't look just at Chicago or our Nation's Capital. Let's look south to see the same troubling trend. Austin, Texas, Madam Speaker, is a modern-day boomtown whose population grew by 20 percent between 2000 and 2010, a boomtown in Austin, Texas. During this same period, its African American population fell by over 5 percent. A 2014 survey from the University of Texas at Austin found that 26 percent of African Americans who moved out and left Austin did so because the city had gotten too expensive. Gentrification has forced many long-term residents of color to leave their neighborhoods due to increased housing costs. It is essential that this Congress ensures that neighborhood development does not force out those families who have often called these very same neighborhoods home for many past generations. Madam Speaker, that is why I am so proud to have joined with Congressman Hank Johnson in introducing H.R. 4999, the Opportunity Zone Fairness and Inclusion Act. This bill seeks to mitigate the inequities that are often brought on by rapid neighborhood development. The opportunity zone program was intended to incentivize investment in underserved communities. Currently, Madam Speaker, this same investment program, this same opportunity zone program, lacks mechanisms to ensure that the residents of these neighborhoods benefit from this increased investment. By mandating that opportunity zone funds establish investment and advisory boards that include members of targeted communities, H.R. 4999 would ensure greater local involvement in opportunity zone projects. H.R. 4999 would also establish requirements for small and minority business involvement in those very same critical opportunity zone funds. I encourage all of my colleagues in this Congress to join me in supporting H.R. 4999. Madam Speaker, going forward, we must develop policies with an eye on rectifying the prejudices and the injustices of the past. That means bringing affordable housing, stable and well-paying jobs, and vibrant and robust businesses to communities that have been denied these opportunities for far too long, including my beloved hometown, the city of Chicago. Merely pushing development without a firm focus on equity would only perpetuate the discriminatory policies of the past. In partnership with State and local governments, this Congress and future Congresses can help preserve and strengthen the vibrant, pioneering, and groundbreaking Black communities in places like Chicago, Illinois, and, more broadly, in urban areas throughout our great Nation. Madam Speaker, this Congress can do nothing more or nothing less than help American citizens regain a footing in their communities, in their neighborhoods, by ensuring that fair housing is available, affordable housing is available, economic viability and vitality with increased businesses are available, and that jobs are created in these communities. Let us turn this page to a more productive and progressive future and close the book on the precedential and bad disinvesting past. Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time.