Cedric Richmond

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 5065, the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act. Mr. Speaker, it is important that those caring for young children are allowed to bring formula, breast milk, juice, and other necessary items through security checkpoints. Transportation Security Administration checkpoint security protocols already allow for this, but there is evidence that confusion about how these liquids are to be handled still exists. H.R. 5065 calls for TSA to ensure that air carriers and screening personnel are made aware of the TSA guidelines for screening these necessities. I would note that amendments adopted during the full committee markup of these bills made the bill stronger. The committee unanimously accepted amendments offered by Representative Rice, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security, to ensure that this legislation is carried out by TSA in a manner so that its policies are followed whether a mother is traveling through an airport with TSA or with private screening. Importantly, the committee also adopted an amendment by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee to clarify that purified deionized water for infants is also allowed. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me just say that this legislation was unanimously supported during full committee consideration. This is one of those areas where Congress, both sides of the aisle, came together to decide to pass a commonsense law to ease mothers and fathers who are traveling with infants, which, let me just say, is a stressful task all within itself. To the extent that this body can make sure that we protect the traveling public but also enact commonsense rules and laws so that we make it just a little bit easier for those traveling with infants, I think it is a good thing. I am glad we came together. I would urge Members to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5391, the Gains in Global Nuclear Detection Architecture Act. My bipartisan bill was approved unanimously by the Committee on Homeland Security on June 8. I appreciate the support of my ranking member, Mr. Thompson, and my colleagues across the aisle, Mr. Ratcliffe and Chairman McCaul, in my efforts to advance this legislation. In nuclear smuggling detection, we rely on the critical triad of intelligence, law enforcement, and technology. The Department of Homeland Security deploys detection technologies in maritime and border operations based on intelligence indicators and places them in the hands of well-trained DHS personnel. At DHS, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, or DNDO, is responsible for the coordination of Federal efforts to detect and protect against attempts to import, possess, store, develop, or transport radioactive materials that may be used as weapons against our Nation. DNDO, with its interagency partners, coordinates the U.S. Global Nuclear Detection Architecture, or GNDA, which is a framework for detecting, analyzing, and reporting on the smuggling of nuclear and radioactive materials. In April 2015, the Government Accountability Office issued a report that looked at how DNDO manages its roughly $350 million research and development program. The GAO concluded that DNDO needed to do a better job of documenting the rationale for selecting the 189 research and development projects that it funds and how these projects align with the research challenges and identified gaps, especially gaps or vulnerabilities identified in the GNDA. Subsequently, I introduced the Gains in Global Nuclear Detection Architecture Act to, among other things, help certify that the planning, selection, and future funding of nuclear detection research and development projects are targeted towards identified gaps in the GNDA. Such documentation is essential to confirm that DNDO is making the right research investments to keep the Nation secure. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, my bill, H.R. 5391, would help verify that DHS carefully prioritizes research and development projects to actually close identified vulnerability gaps in the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture. Across the Federal Government, our goal is to prevent nuclear terrorism by making it an excessively difficult undertaking for our adversaries. Getting research and development right at DNDO is critical to that effort. I would urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5391. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th birthday of Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana. One of eight children, Governor Edwards learned the importance of helping others at a very young age, which he's shown through his profound strength and leadership in governing our great state of Louisiana. A retired Airborne Ranger for the United States Army and a diligent public servant, Governor Edwards has always put his community and nation first. Within his first 8 months in office, Governor Edwards has focused on the state's crippling budget crisis, led our recovery from the historic floods that destroyed more than 100,000 homes, and worked to bring the community together after two tragic shooting incidents. Through it all, he has focused on the positivity in our citizens and the need for rebuilding our state. Governor Edwards has faced every task and issue with an optimistic attitude, always believing that better days would be coming for Louisiana. I am proud to wish my friend a happy birthday.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of St. John the Baptist Fire Chief Spencer Chauvin. Chief Chauvin lost his life on August 28th after being struck by a charter bus while responding to a car accident. From the time he was a teenager, Chauvin knew that he wanted to serve his community by following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who both served as firefighters. At the age of 14, Chauvin became a volunteer firefighter with the St. John the Baptist Parish Westside Volunteer Fire Department. He continued to show his dedication to service by working as an EMT for Acadian Ambulance then later receiving his Associate's Degree in Fire Science. In 2004, Chauvin joined the St. John the Baptist Fire Department full-time where he then became District Chief. After 40 years of service, Chief Chauvin leaves behind a legacy that will resonate for years to come. My deepest condolences and prayers are with Chief Chauvin's family, his fellow firefighters, and especially his two young children.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sisters of the Holy Family, the only religious order founded in New Orleans that still exists today. The Sisters of the Holy Family were founded in 1842 by Henriette Delille, a free woman of color. Sisters of the Holy Family defied the norms of the time and chose to live a chaste life dedicated to God. In a time where white communities were not accepting of black communities and laws forbade blacks from living with white; there was much need for a set of church and civil authorities to give the people a place to call home in the midst of so much racial aggression. In memory of Henriette, the fearless and gracious leader of the Sisters of the Holy Family, St. Mary's Academy the first secondary school for free girls of color was founded in New Orleans. Today the school educates co-ed students from grades pre-kindergarten to fifth grade while only girls are educated from sixth through twelfth grade. St. Mary's Academy graduates have become prominent professionals across the U.S. For over 174 years, The Sisters of the Holy Family have continued their mission of educating the youth, caring for the sick and elderly, amongst many other dutiful deeds. The sisters have been recognized by civil and church authorities for their dedicated services to the people of God. By staying connected to God's transformational love as well as ensuring the continued growth of St. Mary's Academy. The Sisters will live in the hearts of hundreds for years to come. Mr. Speaker, I celebrate the courage, commitment and sacrifice that the Sisters of the Holy Family have shown for over 174 years.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mrs. Sylvia Crier on receiving the annual New Orleans Excellence in Teaching Award from New Schools for New Orleans. The Excellence in Teaching Award is given to a teacher that goes above and beyond for their students and who has a powerful impact on their school community. Mrs. Crier began her teaching career more than 51 years ago when New Orleans public schools were newly integrated. Prior to starting her teaching career, Mrs. Crier received her Bachelor's of Science in English from Tuskegee University and moved to New Orleans shortly after--and we're glad she did. At the young age of 75, Mrs. Crier has taught English, U.S. History, civics and business to generations of New Orleans students. Currently, the students of McDonough 35 High are lucky enough to have a teacher who is invested in not only their educational achievement but also their professional and personal development. Mr. Speaker, I join with the Crier family in celebrating Mrs. Crier's dedication to her students and receiving this achievement.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me the time today. Let me just say that we face a very serious problem in this country, and when you face a very serious problem, it deserves a serious, thoughtful response that actually goes toward solving the problem. So what do we have here today after 49 innocent lives were taken in Orlando? When we had mass shootings in Aurora, Newtown, Roseburg, San Bernardino, and mass shootings that occur in urban communities far too often, what do we do? We just heard it. We repackaged bills that we passed on January 29, April 26, and May 16 so that somebody could come up here today and say that we solved or attempted to solve a problem on June 16 by doing what we did the last couple of months. That is not leadership, and it is not a serious, thoughtful solution to the problems we have. We could be talking about, debating, and passing no fly, no buy. We could talk about and pass the Charleston loophole. We could talk about high-capacity magazines that allow one person to walk into a nightclub and mow down 49 people and injure another 53. There is no deer hunting, there is no legitimate purpose for a high-capacity magazine other than to expeditiously take human life. If you are not at war, it has no place on the streets of America. We can also talk about assault weapons. Mr. Chairman and Mr. Ranking Member, let me just say this: It is sad to say that this response today is a response that lacks leadership. It is a response that does nothing new. We passed this legislation with bipartisan support. So I would just say that this is a very impotent response to a very serious problem so that we can repackage, rebrand, and mislead the American people by saying we did something when, in fact, we did nothing.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Pastor Samuel Blakes on his Episcopal Consecration to the office of Bishop. He is the loving husband of Stacy Blakes and an outstanding father to his two daughters. Bishop Samuel Blakes is the youngest son of Bishop Blakes, Sr. and has been pastoring for more than 21 years. He and his brother Bishop Robert Blakes, Jr. serve as Co-Pastors at the New Home Family Worship Center, a ministry encompassing six locations across Louisiana and Texas. Bishop Samuel Blakes has the pleasure of serving as Pastor to both the New Orleans and Baton Rouge Ministries. Bishop Samuel Blakes was called to ministry at a young age when he attended St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. His work in ministry began when he received his Bachelors of Theology from Christian Bible College of Louisiana and then went on to receive his Master's Degree in theology from the same institution. His dedication and love of God has allowed him to travel across the U.S. and abroad to spread the word of God. Not only does he travel to spread his message, but he and his brother, Bishop Robert Blakes, Jr. host their own weekly television show. I join with the Blakes family in congratulating Bishop Samuel Blakes for his remarkable accomplishment.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Pastor Robert C. Blakes, Jr. on his Episcopal Consecration to the office of Bishop. He is the loving husband of Lisa Blakes and a great father to four children. Bishop Blakes, Jr. is the eldest son of Bishop Blakes, Sr. and has been pastoring for more than 21 years. He and his brother Bishop Samuel Blakes serve as Co-Pastors at the New Home Family Worship Center, a ministry encompassing six locations across Louisiana and Texas. Bishop Blakes, Jr. has the pleasure of serving as Senior Pastor to both the New Orleans and Houston Ministries. Bishop Blakes, Jr. started his work in ministry when he received his Master's of Theology from Christian Bible College of Louisiana. His dedication and love of God has landed him regular appearances on World Harvest International and CNN as well as his own weekly television show alongside his brother. Bishop Blakes, Jr. has also attracted global attention with his recently published literary work, ``The Father- Daughter Talk''. I join with the Blakes family in congratulating Bishop Blakes, Jr. for his outstanding accomplishment.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Officer Natasha Hunter, a 12-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department. Officer Hunter embodied every quality you could dream of in a public servant. To her, being a police officer was more than just a job. It was an opportunity to help people when they had a problem, console them through a tough time, and inspire them to be something greater than they ever thought they could be. Impactful police work is more than protecting and serving. It is becoming part of the fabric of the community, and few officers are as deeply woven into the city of New Orleans as Officer Hunter. She was a hero, taken from us and her family far too early by an avoidable tragedy. On June 5, 2016 Officer Hunter sustained grave injuries from being struck by a drunk driver while in her police unit. Two days later on June 7, she succumbed to her injuries and passed away. This loss hits especially hard because a 5-year old girl has just lost her mother. A mother that loved her, provided for her, and did her best to make the community she grew up in safe. I share in the pain that the city has endured since her passing and I will always remember Officer Hunter's gallant sacrifice and unconquerable dedication every time she put on her uniform. My deepest condolences and prayers are with Officer Hunter's family, her fellow officers, but especially her young daughter Jasmine. Your mother will always protect you as she has protected all of us her entire career.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. McBurnett James Knox, Jr., better known as ``Coach Mac,'' who passed away on May 29, 2016, at the age of 89. Coach Mac served his country in the United States Navy, and was a retired United States postal worker and longtime employee of the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORD). He was best known as the longtime supervisor at the Pontchartrain Park in New Orleans and legendary coach of the Pontchartrain Park Patriots. Coach Mac coached every sport and activity possible. His teams won city championships in baseball, football, basketball, softball and track. Coach Mac coached all-star teams in Babe Ruth Baseball, Biddy Basketball, and the National Youth Games. He was able to win both a state and a national championship in his career. Also, during Coach Mac's four plus decades at the Pontchartrain Park, he ran a softball league for postal workers and other adult leagues. Mr. Speaker, as a beneficiary of Coach Mac's commitment and sacrifice, I celebrate his life and legacy, because he has touched the lives of many children and citizens in New Orleans, Louisiana. His wife preceded him in death; however, my thoughts and prayers are with his five children and the other members of his family

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Joseph Sher, who passed away on March 24, 2016 at the age of 100. Mr. Sher was born into a family of six children on July 27, 1917 in Krzepice, Poland. During World War II, Mr. Sher was sent to a series of Nazi concentration camps, where he and other Jewish men were put to work building roads. Many members of the crew perished from disease or were shot dead by the guards. Mr. Sher and his two brothers survived the atrocities of Nazi Germany; however they lost their parents and three sisters in the Treblinka death camp. Mr. Sher married Rachel Israelowicz in 1941. Like Mr. Sher, Ms. Israelowicz survived a series of Nazi concentration camps. The two reconnected after the war when her husband found her working in a soup kitchen. In 1949 Mr. Sher, a tailor by trade, was one of the first survivors of the Holocaust to reach New Orleans. He was part of the resettlement program offered by the United States for residents of Displaced Persons camps. He arrived with his wife and young son by ship at the Port of Embarkation, which happened to be on Poland Avenue in the 9th Ward. After coming to New Orleans, Mr. Sher worked as a tailor. He worked eleven hours a day, six days a week at Harry Hyman Tailors. His clients included Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Al Hirt, Chubby Checker and Chris Owens. Mr. Sher spoke frequently about the Holocaust and his harrowing experiences as a slave laborer. Even though reliving the horror was excruciating, Mr. Sher said he kept doing it to fulfill this admonition from his mother: ``You should tell all the world what happened to us so that no one will ever forget.'' Mr. Sher's wife preceded him in death. His survivors include two sons, Martin Sher of Plano, Texas and Leopold Sher of New Orleans; and three grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Joseph Sher, a beloved husband, father, and son.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Louisiana State Representative Ronnie Edwards, a dear friend and model public servant. Rep. Edwards passed away on February 24, 2016, at the age of 63 after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Rep. Edwards was born in Woodville, Mississippi on July 20, 1952, and was a long time resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. An administrator with over 40 years of experience in government and industry, Rep. Edwards formed lasting relationships and partnerships with education institutions, nonprofits, faith leaders and elected officials to effect change through her community development work. In 1992, Rep. Edwards founded the Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation (UREC) as a trusted and credible community development organization. With the assistance of many community leaders and supporters, her tenacity resulted in: safe and affordable housing for families; the establishment of Louisiana's first home for grandparents raising grandchildren in Baton Rouge; innovative youth enrichment initiatives; small business training and development; and the development of the Security Dads initiative to combat violence. Rep. Edwards was elected to represent District 5 on the Baton Rouge Metro Council in 2009. She served on the Council for six years before being elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in November 2015. In December 2013, Rep. Edwards was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. But for the first year and a half, she did not stop her work at the local level and maintained perfect attendance at Metro Council meetings, where she was a strong advocate of health living initiatives, cancer screenings and affordable housing. Rep. Edwards' diagnosis and experience in the health care system was motivation for her to run for State Representative because she wanted to be an advocate for ways to bring health care access to more citizens. Ronnie was a talented and compassionate legislator, but more importantly she was a friend. The news of her passing is not only devastating to me, it is a tremendous loss for the entire state. She committed her life to serving her constituents and fighting for those who needed it the most. As we mourn her loss we must honor her legacy by renewing our commitment to the work she fought so hard to complete. Louisiana has lost a lion, but her memory will live on forever. Mr. Speaker, my deepest condolences are with her family as they go through this difficult time.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Madam Speaker, I am honored to stand here today in support of a bill to designate the Marrero, Louisiana, post office for Lionel Collins, Sr. We will name a number of post offices today, and I just want to state why it is important to me and why it makes a difference: because as a kid, when you pass buildings and you pass things that have names on them, it makes you go back and research who was that person and what did they do so great to get a building or a facility named after them. I hope that today when we pass this bill to name this post office after Judge Lionel Collins, that kids will get a chance to pass by and say: ``What made Lionel Collins deserving of a post office?'' and ``When I grow up, will I be deserving of a post office?'' and ``What is it I need do in my life to make a difference?'' When they go back and they do the research, they will see that Judge Lionel Collins was a pioneering civil rights lawyer. He dedicated his life to making Louisiana a more just and equal State for them. He was the first African American to win elected office in Jefferson Parish where he served as the judge in the 24th Judicial District in Gretna. Lionel had long roots in the metropolitan area. He was born in Harvey in 1927 and attended Gilbert Academy before serving in the United States Army. After that, he went on to the esteemed Xavier University, and then went on to receive his juris doctorate from Howard University in 1954. Throughout his career as a lawyer, Judge Collins played a major role in the civil rights struggle in the South. Beginning in 1957, Lionel led groundbreaking cases that helped to overturn practices of White- only jobs and higher pay for White employees at the Celotex Corporation. Lionel continued to successfully steer desegregation cases with the NAACP across Louisiana. His work integrated West Jefferson Hospital and the Jefferson Parish Public Schools. His courtroom successes and courage in the civil rights initiatives earned him the role of Jefferson Parish's first African American assistant parish attorney in 1968. As already mentioned, in 1977, Lionel made history by receiving an interim appointment from the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as judge to the newly created Division L of the 24th Judicial District. He was reelected to a second term and named chief judge by his fellow judges. In addition to his civil rights work, Judge Collins served the New Orleans area community throughout his career. He served as a board member for the Urban League and Selective Service. As a testament to his life legacy, the Jefferson Parish School Board voted to rename Ames Montessori School in Marrero as Judge Lionel R. Collins Elementary in 2011. I thank Chairman Chaffetz and Ranking Member Cummings for bringing this bill to the floor and congratulate Lionel's family for this wonderful recognition. I hope that this postal facility will serve as a reminder of Lionel's courage, his intellect, and his passion for generations to come.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Madam Speaker, again, I will say that naming this post office in honor of a true public servant and a young man who grew up in the area, a young man who ultimately sacrificed his life to make sure that other people would be safe, who dedicated his life to protecting and serving the residents of New Orleans, will inspire other young kids in that same area, other young kids who grow up in that area, like I did, to look at police work as a life of service and with the possibility of going into law enforcement. That post office bearing the name for Officer Daryle Holloway, I think, will do just that. But Daryle was special. He was a big guy. He was the life of the party, but he knew at a young age that he wanted to be a police officer. Unfortunately, he was killed at the young age of 46 in the line of duty on June 20, 2015, while transporting a suspect to the police station. He was the father of three children. As mentioned earlier, he had very deep roots in the community. He attended Corpus Christi and was a graduate of St. Augustine High School. He joined the police force not too long after finishing high school and remained a passionate supporter of his alma mater. It was mentioned that he would be at the football games cheering on the Purple Knights, but what wasn't mentioned was that he was always the life of the party. Daryle did become a police officer in the early days of community policing in an effort to focus on officers' engagement with residents in the communities they serve. He was a natural fit for the police department because he was friends with just about everyone in the city. He was drawn to police work because he genuinely wanted to help people and make New Orleans a safer place for all of us to live. Daryle served with the New Orleans Police Department for 22 years. In addition to protecting our streets, he spent 10 years working with children in the Cops for Kids summer camps, which help develop relationships between police, youth, and their families. Daryle also brought community policing into the Florida and Desire housing developments. After his passing, many of those former residents and summer campers organized a vigil to honor the man they considered not only a police officer but a friend. I would like to personally add that in my eighth grade year at St. Aug, Daryle Holloway, big Daryle Holloway, made sure that little Cedric Richmond was protected from everyone in the school. He started his life of serving and protecting probably with me. What he did to mentor kids in the neighborhood and live his life so that he could be an example, especially for young men of color growing up in rough neighborhoods, to show how you carry yourself, responsibility, and commitment, and how to be a family man, how to be a great father, and how to be a great son was truly a testament to Daryle Holloway. I know his mother, Olander Belfield Holloway, is probably watching us today. When I talked to her, she said: Cedric, I just feel so special that people remember my son and remember the fact that he died in the line of duty doing what he wanted to do the most, and that was protect the citizens of New Orleans. Again, I would like to thank Chairman Chaffetz and Ranking Member Cummings for bringing this bill to the floor and to once again offer the Holloway family my sincerest condolences. I hope that this postal facility will serve as a reminder of Officer Holloway's courage and compassion for generations to come.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the academic achievement of a bright young lady from my Congressional district, Keiana Cave. Keiana is just a senior at Lusher Charter School in New Orleans, Louisiana, but she has accomplished more than many college graduates. Keiana has excelled in and out of the classroom. She has studied engineering while at Lusher, and has been dual enrolled at Tulane University, where she has taken biological anthropology and environmental geology courses. She is on a fast track to earn her Ph.D. and has already been recruited by other notable institutions. Keiana is no stranger to the laboratory. She is currently a member of Tulane University's Van Bael lab and has previously served as a lab technician with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and a nanotechnology researcher at the University of New Orleans. She has been acknowledged many times for her work, including 1st Place U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps Office of Naval Research Scholarship and 1st Place United States Air Force Certificate of Achievement. Keiana's chemical research project won second place out of 2,600 competitors at the 2015 International Science and Engineering Fair, winning $1,500.00 as well as receiving honorable mention from the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. Keiana designed a method that allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop certain aidehydes or toxins that form as photo- products during oil spills. The MIT Lincoln Laboratory and NASA have named the orbiting rock ``2000 GD136'' after Keiana, an honor shared by fewer than 15,000 people. The planet was discovered in 2000 by the Lincoln Laboratory team. Keiana's accomplishments are a testament to the fact that she is a true leader and an ideal role model for other young people in the community. I am confident that she will take that responsibility seriously, that she will be able to rise to any challenge, and will work hard to improve the world around her. I would like to congratulate Keiana Cave on her remarkable accomplishments and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Julia Aaron Humbles, a New Orleans native and a lifelong civil rights activist. Mrs. Humbles passed away on January 26, 2016, at the age of 72. In the 1960's, Mrs. Humbles was among a group of young activists from New Orleans that organized sit-ins, and challenged unjust laws on buses traveling across the Deep South. Mrs. Humbles and her companions were arrested more than 30 times for their civil rights work. In 1961, Mrs. Humbles received national attention because of a photo of her and fellow activist David Dennis sitting on the front seat of a bus next to a soldier armed with a rifle and bayonet. Soldiers had been ordered to protect the Freedom Riders as they rode across the Deep South, determined to desegregate bus stations. By the age of 18, Mrs. Humbles was already very active in the New Orleans chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and was selected to be on the first Freedom Ride bus. Two New Orleanians, Mrs. Humbles and Jerome Smith, were selected for the first Freedom Ride bus, which ultimately was firebombed outside Anniston, Alabama. Fortunately, the two were not on that bus; they were in Orleans Parish Prison for picketing outside the segregated Woolworth stores on Canal Street. Mrs. Humbles graduated from the Charity Hospital School of Surgical Technology in New Orleans and worked as a surgical technician for 30 years. In 1988, after the death of her husband, Joseph Lee Humbles Sr., she moved to Atlanta for a job at Northside Hospital. Mrs. Humbles' legacy will forever be a part of the city and her dedication to justice embodies the spirit of New Orleans. Stories like hers will inspire generations of Americans to fight for their dreams. She will be sorely missed by her family, her friends, and all those who are able to pursue their dreams because of her courage. Mr. Speaker, as a beneficiary of Mrs. Humbles courage, commitment and sacrifice, I celebrate her life and legacy, because she has made America a more perfect union. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th year since the City of New Orleans hired its first African American Firefighter. George Mondy was the first African American to join the paid department as a professional firefighter with the New Orleans Fire Department. Firefighter Mondy opened the doors to professional firefighting in February 1965. As he worked diligently to overcome racial barriers of the times, his persistence and perseverance paid off. Firefighter Mondy was promoted to Fire Apparatus Operator to drive and operate the fire trucks. He retired in 1991, after 26 years with the department. Shortly after his retirement, Operator Mondy applied and was rehired as a fire supply technician. Firefighter Mondy was a trailblazer on whose shoulders many firefighters stand today. I believe it was his can do attitude and manifestation of competence that let the department know it was depriving itself and the City of New Orleans by not hiring African Americans. The late George Mondy's name has been written in the history of the New Orleans Fire Department. Today, I submit Firefighter Mondy's name to be written in the U.S. Congressional Record. Mr. Speaker, as a beneficiary of the courage, commitment and sacrifice of Firefighter Mondy, I celebrate his life and legacy, because he helped make America a more perfect union. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I just want to take a second to recognize a civil rights hero and New Orleans native who recently passed away: Julia Aaron Humbles. An active participant in the civil rights movement from an early age, she was selected to be on the first Freedom Ride bus at the age of 18, which was ultimately firebombed outside Anniston, Alabama. She wasn't on that bus. She was, in fact, in Orleans Parish prison because she was arrested for picketing outside a segregated Woolworth's department store. Julia was constantly testing the rules of segregation in New Orleans. She is quoted as saying: I was the kind of kid that would move up the colored sign on the buses. I would use the White restroom or water fountain. If I got caught, I would say flippantly that I just wanted to taste that White water, and then I would run. Julia passed away on January 26 in Stone Mountain, Georgia, of cancer. She was 72 years old. Our country is a much better place because of the sacrifices Julia made during her lifetime. Our sympathies and prayers are with her family today.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. I want to thank the gentlelady and scholar for yielding to me and putting on this series tonight. Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, on January 12, right here in this Chamber, President Obama proudly declared to the citizens of the United States that the state of our Union is strong. With that, I agree. However, tonight, just as I did in New Orleans on this holiday, I must stand here and give the state of the dream address. So, today, I stand in this Chamber and report to the world that the state of the dream is in disrepair. It is in disrepair because of neglect by some and intentional harms by others. Let me first just state what I believe his dream to be. This is in his own words. In accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. King said: ``I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.'' So why do I say that dream is in disrepair? Well, inadequate funding and misguided policies stand as a bar to many kids of color from getting a quality education, just like Bull Connor stood in the schoolhouse doors during the civil rights movement. Why do I say the dream is in disrepair? Because too many African American children have better access to guns and drugs than textbooks and computers. Far too many of them choose guns and drugs. Why do I say the dream is in disrepair? Because the Supreme Court rolled back the protections for minority voting rights. Why do I say the dream is in disrepair? Because in a Supreme Court hearing on minority admission policies to colleges and universities, one of our Supreme Court Justices demonstrated his bias, his ignorance, and his lack of understanding by trying to justify why Blacks should go to lesser colleges and universities. Why is the dream in disrepair? Because the Black Supreme Court Justice sat there and said nothing. Well, if I were in college and I were playing Spades, I would call him a ``possible,'' because you can't count on him to hold up when the game starts. Why do I also say the dream is in disrepair? Because big Wall Street executives can steel millions and never get charged and held accountable while young Black kids who shoplift get prosecuted and fill up our jails and our prisons and create what we call the prison industrial enterprise. Some ask: Why do the poor and uneducated continue to steal and cheat? Well, the answer is simple: Because the rich and educated keep showing them how. So, as we stand here this month and celebrate Black History Month, we will not only describe some of the problems, but we will go into some of the solutions that have been tested over time. Let me just say that Dr. King and the generation before us did a great job of making this dream a reality through sacrifice, hard work, and commitment, but somewhere in my generation, we fell off from that sacrifice and determination. Far too many of us are letting reality shows and music videos give our children their misguided sense of morals. Too many of our African American and White middle-class families who have achieved the dream are excited that they are there, but they are telling the rest of the world to get it the best they can. The dream can be realized when everyone realizes that you are not going to help minority communities in spite of the minority communities, but we are going to bring them to the table and let them be a co-participant in drafting their accomplishments. So, where do we go from here? We continue to invest in proven leaders and proven ways out of poverty and ways to get ahead, like education. We have to invest in the Pell grants and our Historically Black Colleges and Universities because we know that education is the best way out of poverty. We have to invest in summer jobs so that kids in urban areas and impoverished communities can get exposure to a different way of life so that they can help themselves. We know that a summer job reduces the dropout rate by 50 percent. What else can we do? We can invest in job training. We can invest in disadvantaged businesses. We can do a number of things. And the good part about it is we have a Congressional Black Caucus that can stand here and introduce legislation if the other side would meet us halfway. So, the state of our union will continue to be strong. The state of the dream will become a reality when people join hands together to make sure that the least of us have every opportunity in the world. I will tell you that the dream was strong. The dream is the same dream that allowed my mother, who is from the poorest place in the country, 1 of 15 children, to achieve her college degree and raise two sons who went off to Morehouse. So the dream is real when I, as the son of a single mother, can go to Morehouse, Tulane Law School, and the Harvard School of Government. That is the dream. So I stand here today and just ask that we do what Booker T. Washington said. We may be as separate as our fingers, but we are as whole as the hand. This body has an obligation to come together as the hand and make sure that we give every kid from every place in this country the opportunity to succeed.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John ``Hot Rod'' Williams, a prolific professional basketball player and Louisiana native. Mr. Williams passed away on December 11, 2015, at the age of 53. Mr. Williams was born on August 9, 1962 in Sorrento, Louisiana. His family gave him the nickname Hot Rod for the engine-like sounds he made when he moved about as a baby. As a rising athlete, he played basketball at St. Amant High School before signing with Tulane University. While playing at Tulane, Mr. Williams was a three-time All-Metro Conference selection, averaging 16 points and seven rebounds. As a junior in 1984, Mr. Williams was the Metro Conference Player of the Year. Mr. Williams remains fourth in Tulane's career scoring with 1,841 points and second in 20-point games with 36. In 1986, Mr. Williams joined the Cleveland Cavaliers where he was named to the All-Rookie team for the 1986-87 season. He would spend his first nine NBA seasons with the Cavaliers, averaging 11 points and 6.8 rebounds for his career. Mr. Williams was a central figure for the 1988-89 Cavaliers team, which went 57-25 during the regular season, where Michael Jordan's famous last-second jump shot in Game 5 eliminated them in the first-round series. Mr. Williams concluded his 13-year professional career playing with the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. An active member of the National Basketball Retired Players Association, Mr. Williams loved the game of basketball and always tried to give back. Described as a kid from a small town in Louisiana who never changed, the Cavaliers team remembers the basketball star as a ``talented, unselfish, and versatile player and person that earned the respect of everyone around him.'' The Suns described Mr. Williams as a ``humble and gracious man, willing to share his time and fun-loving nature with anyone.'' Mr. Williams may have lost his fight to cancer but his spirit will remain a part of the Sorrento community. Stories like his will show generations of Americans the impact of genuine personality and hard work. Mr. Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Williams, a beloved father and example to aspiring athletes everywhere.

Mr. RICHMOND

Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Allen Toussaint, accomplished American producer, musician, songwriter and one of the most talented and prolific New Orleans musicians of my lifetime. Mr. Toussaint passed away on November 10, 2015, at the age of 77. Mr. Toussaint was born in 1938 and grew up in the Gert Town neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. As a child, he learned to play the piano through informal lessons from an elderly neighbor and picked up melodies from the radio. During his teen years in the 1950s, Mr. Toussaint performed with Earl King's band standing in for Huey ``Piano'' Smith. The experience launched his music career when he caught the attention of Fats Domino producer Dave Bartholomew. Mr. Toussaint first recorded in 1957 as a stand-in pianist for Fats Domino on the record, ``I Want You to Know.'' Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Toussaint was a remarkably influential songwriter and producer. He played piano and wrote, arranged and produced a series of hits including records like Lee Dorsey's ``Working in the Coal Mine,'' and Jessie Hill's ``Ooh Poo Pah Doo.'' As his sound got funkier into the 70s, he wrote songs such as ``Southern Nights,'' and produced Labelle's, ``Lady Marmalade.'' Mr. Toussaint's creativity was inspired by the city of New Orleans, but his impact spread beyond the Big Easy and the R&B genre. World famous rock bands, including the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Hollies, covered his song ``Fortune Teller.'' Mr. Toussaint also collaborated with numerous renowned musicians, including Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney. In 1998, Mr. Toussaint was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Following the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, he wrote ``The River in Reverse,'' which was nominated for a Grammy. In 2009 Mr. Toussaint received a Trustees Award Grammy, and he was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2013. Mr. Toussaint is described as a soft-spoken embodiment of New Orleans music's rich history. Tributes have flowed in from around the world since the death of the R&B legend, evoking words of condolences for his family and praise for his work from artists as diverse as Jimmy Buffett, the Soul Rebels, Paul McCartney, Lenny Kravitz, and the Rolling Stones. Mr. Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Toussaint, master craftsman of 20th-century American culture. His music will forever be ingrained in the culture and soul of New Orleans and this country.