Terri Sewell

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I was not present for votes on February 6 and 7, 2020 due to family medical matters in Alabama. Had I been present on February 6, I would have voted YEA on the Motion to Table the Republican Privileged Resolution on H. Res. 833, YEA on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule on H. Res. 833, and YEA on H. Res. 833. During the second vote series, I would have voted YEA on the Stevens/Morelle Amendment, NAY on the Foxx Amendment, NAY on the Roe Amendment, YEA on the Wild Amendment, NAY on the Allen Amendment, NAY on the Meadows Amendment, YEA on the Jackson Lee Amendment, YEA on the Rouda Amendment, NAY on the Republican Motion to Recommit on H.R. 2474, YEA on Final Passage of H.R. 2474, and YEA on Agreeing to H. Res. 826. I'd like to highlight that I am particularly disappointed that I missed the vote for H. Res. 826, a resolution to disapprove of the Trump Administration's Medicaid block grant scheme. Millions of Americans, including more than 1 million in Alabama, have access to the health care they need and deserve because of Medicaid. Most health care providers in my district and across the country are dependent on reimbursements from Medicaid to keep their doors open and to continue delivering care in our communities. I am proud the House Democrats took a strong stance against this Administration and their continued assault on health care access and coverage by passing a resolution condemning the most recent attacks on Medicaid. On February 7, I would have voted YEA on the Shalala Amendment, NAY on the Republican Motion to Recommit on H.R. 5687, and YEA on Final Passage of H.R. 5687.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this trade deal. I was honored that Speaker Pelosi asked me to join the Democratic Trade Working Group. We, the Gang of 8, along with you, Mr. Chairman, worked tirelessly for 6 months, negotiating with Bob Lighthizer, the U.S. Ambassador on trade. We took what was a very weak and unenforceable trade deal and made it into a renegotiated trade agreement that will protect American workers and businesses. This bill we vote on today is a renegotiated USMCA. I am particularly proud that the working group won two major concessions on enforcement. First, we closed the panel-blocking loophole and created a strong state-to-state mechanism for enforcement. Second, we created a first- of-its-kind rapid response mechanism to improve labor enforcement in Mexico. This deal is a win for the Steelworkers and Teamsters in my Alabama district. It is a win for the automobile manufacturers and steel industry in the State of Alabama. It is a win for Alabama farmers and agriculture producers. This renegotiated trade agreement is a much-improved North American Free Trade Agreement, and it is because of that that I ask my fellow colleagues to support it. Madam Speaker, I, again, thank Chairman Neal, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, my fellow Gang of 8 working group members, as well as Bob Lighthizer, and our especially hardworking staff. I thank, especially, Katherine Tai and my own staffer, Rob Nuttall, for all of their hard work on getting us there. I do believe that this is a win for everyone, and I urge my colleagues to support this new, renegotiated USMCA.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and a profound sense of the gravity of this moment that I rise today in support of the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump. To be clear, I did not run for Congress to impeach a President. I come to work every day on behalf of the hardworking people of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District. But the facts are uncontested. The truth is clear. And I have been left no other choice. As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I sat in shock, in awe as witness after witness came forward, their stories painting a clear picture of the President's abuse of power. They testified that the President had direct orders to withhold vital military aid for Ukraine and a White House visit in exchange for investigations into the Bidens. To date, all the military aid has not been released, and there still has been no White House meeting. The bottom line is clear. President Trump endangered our national security and the very essence of our democracy for his own personal political gain. Then, President Trump sought to cover it up by subverting the oversight authority of Congress. If Presidential abuse of power is left unchecked, we all become accomplices when he does it again. This cannot become the new normal, not on our watch. While President Trump's indefensible actions set in motion this event, my vote for impeachment today is not about the President. It is about my oath to defend and protect the Constitution of this United States of America and to make sure that I uphold and honor the sacred trust that my constituents gave me. President Trump has betrayed his oath of office. Let us not betray ours.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. I am particularly proud of a provision that I worked on with Speaker Pelosi to improve a provision in the original bill that caps out-of- pocket spending for Medicare part B beneficiaries at $2,000 annually. My proposal further protects seniors by allowing them to pay these out-of-pocket costs in equal installments over 12 months, rather than all at once. The final version of H.R. 3 also includes a bill I introduced earlier this month, H.R. 4669, the Maximizing Drug Coverage for Low-Income Seniors Act. This is smart and innovative legislation that will ensure seniors are enrolled in the best Medicare part D program for their individual needs, not just randomly assigned. This will save them money on out-of-pocket costs as well as improve access to their needed medication, while also generating savings in overall Medicare spending that can be reinvested in the program. Madam Chair, in the richest Nation in the world, every American should be able to afford their life-saving medication. I urge my colleagues to support this groundbreaking legislation and to vote for H.R. 3.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4566) to accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of the families of victims of the mass shooting in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on May 31, 2019.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Virginia Beach Strong Act, a bill authored by my friend and colleague from Virginia, Congresswoman Elaine Luria, to ensure that donations to the victims of the Virginia Beach shooting are tax deductible. Mr. Speaker, the Virginia Beach community experienced unspeakable tragedy earlier this year when a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center resulted in the deaths of 12 people. In the face of this terrible tragedy, leaders throughout the city came together and quickly established a fund to support victims, survivors, and their families. The outpouring of support from the community was profound, with over $4 million in donations to the fund. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, these donations are arguably not considered tax deductible charitable contributions because they are divided among specified individuals rather than an organization. A technical fix in the Tax Code would address this issue. This legislation before us today would fix this issue for the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund and ensure that these donations are tax deductible. While nothing can reverse the pain of this terrible tragedy, the bipartisan, commonsense bill before us today is an important step toward helping the victims and their families and incentivizing further contributions to the fund. I am proud to stand with the Virginia Beach community in support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Luria).

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, in closing, we must take action to fix the tax deductibility of these donations to the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund, which has done so much to help the community recover from this unspeakable tragedy. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my profound condolences and also congratulate Mrs. Luria on this wonderful piece of legislation that will truly benefit those who were tragically lost and their families, as well as first responders. Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member to support this important legislation. It is truly bicameral and bipartisan and deserves to pass. I support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act. Nothing is more fundamental to our democracy than the right to vote, and nothing is more precious to my district, Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, than the fight to protect the right to vote for all Americans. It was in my district, Birmingham, Montgomery, Marion, and Selma, that ordinary Americans peacefully protested for the equal right to vote for African Americans. Voting is personal to me, not just because I represent Alabama's Civil Rights District, but because it was on the streets of my hometown of Selma that foot soldiers shed their blood on the Edmund Pettus Bridge so that all Americans, regardless of race, could vote. It was on that same bridge in Selma, Alabama, that our colleague, a then 26-year-old, John Lewis, was bludgeoned by State troopers with billy clubs in the name of justice. Their efforts led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the seminal and most effective legislation passed in this Congress to protect the right of all Americans to vote. Those protections were gutted in 2013 by the Supreme Court decision in Shelby v. Holder when the Court ruled that Section 4(b) of the VRA was unconstitutional, stating that the coverage formula that Congress adopted was outdated. Well, today, 6 years after the Shelby decision, Congress is finally answering the Supreme Court's call to action by passing H.R. 4. H.R. 4 creates a new coverage formula to determine which States will be subject to the VRA's preclearance requirement that is based on current, recent evidence of voter discrimination. In addition, the bill also establishes practice-based preclearance authority and increases transparency by requiring reasonable notice for voter changes. This new voter formula is narrowly tailored to cover the States and jurisdictions where there has been a resurgence of significant and pervasive discriminatory voting practices. It does not include those areas where such preclearance would be considered to be an unjustifiable burden. In all, these changes will restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act by stopping discrimination before it takes place, as Congress had intended in the pasting of the VRA. Mr. Speaker, old battles have become new again. The fight that began in Selma, Alabama, in 1965 still persists. Yes, Selma is now. While literacy tests and poll taxes no longer exist, certain States and local jurisdictions have passed laws that are modern-day barriers to voting. So as long as voter suppression exists, the need for the full protections of the VRA will be required, and that is why it is critically important that we fully restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act by passing H.R. 4. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Judiciary Committee and the House Administration's Subcommittee on Elections for hosting the 17 hearings and collecting the thousands and thousands of pages of documentation supporting the report on H.R. 4. Likewise, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 4 from outside groups that detail the existence of current voter suppression. International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America--UAW, December 5, 2019. Dear Representative: On behalf of the more than one million active and retired members of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), I am writing to strongly urge you to vote 'YES' on the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4). This legislation is badly needed as the disastrous Supreme Court's Shelby v. Holder decision has led to the proliferation of state laws that have made it more difficult for the American people to exercise their fundamental voting rights. In the last decade, 25 states have enacted new voting restrictions, including strict photo ID requirements, early voting cutbacks, and registration restrictions. Registered voters have been intentionally purged from voter rolls and states have closed hundreds of polling stations with a history of racial discrimination since the court ruled that they did not need federal approval to change their rules. These repeated attacks have severely undermined people's fundamental voting rights, which are the foundational principles of our representative democracy. H.R. 4 helps protect citizens' ability to register to vote and provides real enforcement so that marginalized communities will have proper access to the ballot box. Empowering Americans to vote and ensuring that everyone has equal access to participate in the voting process is a core value of our democracy. The UAW strongly urges you to vote `YES' on the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R 4). Sincerely, Josh Nassar, Legislative Director.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the many stakeholder groups that have worked so hard on this bill: the Leadership Council, the Legal Defense Fund, the NAACP, the Lawyers' Committee, the AFL-CIO, MALDEF, and so many more. As we prepare to take this vote, let us be guided by our north star, that is our wonderful colleague, our beloved colleague, John Lewis, who reminds us each and every day that the price of freedom is not free. It has been bought and paid for by the courage of ordinary Americans who dared to make this Nation live up to its ideals of equality and justice for all. Let us recommit ourselves to restoring the promise of voter equality and pass H.R. 4 today.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following letters of support for H.R. 4. Faith Leader Call on Congress To Restore the Voting Rights Act NOW Voting is a sacred right and a cornerstone of democracy. We desperately need to protect every American's right to vote-- and right now this right is endangered by gaps in the law. Our spiritual ancestors in the Civil Rights Movement fought for the Voting Rights Act. We must honor their sacrifices today by passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act.--Rev. Dr. Jennifer Butler, CEO, Faith in Public Life We stand on the shoulders of so many in our nation who have shown courage and resistance to realize their right to vote, who have fought tirelessly to make sure America lives up to its full potential. Voting is a crucial part of what we must do to hold our elected officials--to hold America-- accountable to not just the dream that Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. laid out for us, but also the promise that America has held since its beginnings. Yes, it's a promise historically marred by injustice, but it is the promise of a better way. It is a sin and a shame to witness how voting rights have been suppressed and denied since 2013. Voting is a way that we claim the freedom that we have in America. Our most urgent request to Congress is the same as that made by MLK over 40 years ago: give us the ballot.--Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, Chief Operating Officer, National Council of Churches By our own admission, within our most precious documents, we acknowledge that ALL people are part of God's creation and that we are one nation under God. As such, our democracy says that every citizen should be respected regardless of sex, race, national origin, etc. and that the government is accountable to defend and protect the rights of its public, its citizens. The most precious nature of America society is the right to vote. We have the dignity of citizenship rights; laws are necessary to defend that dignity and those rights, unobstructed, so citizens can enjoy voting and electing their officials.--Imam Dr. Talib M. Shareef, USAF-Retired, President, Masjid Muhammad, The Nation's Mosque My faith teaches that every person is imbued with dignity, and in a secular democracy our vote is an indicator of that worth. Voter suppression and intimidation is a familiar, age- old practice of marginalizing people in poverty and people of color. A democratic system that suppresses the vote of any citizen is not only unconstitutional, it is dehumanizing. This dehumanizing must stop! Our nation is better than this. A significant step forward would be to pass a 21st Century Voting Rights Act now. This cannot wait. It is the faithful and patriotic way forward.--Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice The United Methodist Church affirms the critical role of governments in protecting the rights of all people to free and fair elections. In particular, the Church support efforts to dismantle policies and practices that disenfranchise communities of color and perpetuate systemic injustice.''-- Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, General Secretary, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church The Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) faith was founded on the belief in the equality of all. Voter suppression in the United States violates this central belief and we must work to assure everyone has the right to vote. We call on lawmakers across the nation to take a stand against voter suppression and pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4).--Diane Randall, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation The requirement of society to provide human dignity for all, which stands at the root of all theological traditions, strikes a blow at the very heart of the spurious arguments made by those who want to prevent others from voting based on age, race, disability, or history of contact with the criminal justice system. As an organization that works with many who come from communities that have been historically subjected to all forms of discrimination, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture believes that the right to vote and to fully participate in the democracy is a sacred right and one that should never be taken away from anyone, for any reason.--Rev. Dr. Ron Stief, Executive Director, National Religious Campaign Against Torture As Franciscans, our Christian faith teaches us that we must recognize each person as a gift from God, and that we must emphasize the importance of the essential humanity and dignity of each person. Pope Francis has called on us to ``meddle in politics'' and we interpret this concept as a requirement that all Americans must have an equal say in the public square. Therefore, we must immediately call on Congress to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act to ensure that all Americans are able to vote.--Patrick Carolan, Executive Director, Franciscan Action Network At the National Council of Jewish Women, we are guided by the Jewish imperative to pursue tzedek, or justice. For justice to be realized, all eligible voters must have an opportunity to participate in the electoral process. Without access to the ballot, we can't elect lawmakers who represent our communities and our needs. Congress must restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act without delay.--Sheila Katz, CEO, National Council of Jewish Women It was when the collective voice of the people cried out to the Lord in Exodus 3:9 that God hears and sent deliverance to Nation of Israel! Voting by the oppressed was the way black people could lift up their voices, cry out, and participate in creating a more just nation! Restoration of the Voting Rights Act so all voices are heard is essential to perfecting this nation and assuring that it does not return to and separate but unequal society!--Rev. Reuben D. Eckels, Church World Service (CWS) Since voting is so fundamental to our democracy, all citizens should be committed to making it possible for everyone to exercise that right. The Voting Rights Advancement Act is critical to having a genuine representative democracy and to make sure that the most vulnerable populations are not disenfranchised from the democratic process. People of faith are concerned that the voice of the people be truly representative of all the people.--Bishop John Stowe, Bishop-President, Pax Christi USA In the Bible, we are reminded that ``when justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous'' (Proverbs 21:15). The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) understands that justice is done when we live out our mutual responsibility for one another by guaranteeing our neighbor's right to vote and participate freely and fully in society. In 2013, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, our denomination's highest legislative authority, adopted a social policy resolution titled Voting Rights to All Citizens. This resolution calls us to express concern for our nation's history of voter suppression from the Jim Crow era to the current climate of restrictive voter laws that create barriers to many people of color in their right to vote. This resolution calls on all part of this church to ``promote public life worthy of the name'' by speaking out as advocates and engaging in local efforts such as voter registration and supporting legislation to guarantee the right to vote to all citizens. We support the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 2978) as a key step in ensuring the voices of all citizens will be safeguarded and heard through its provisions which would help reinstate guidelines that ensure protection through oversight and combat voter suppression.--Rev. Amy Reumann, Director of Advocacy, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been a long-time advocate for voting rights. We were deeply dismayed by the actions of the Supreme Court to void Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. This decision left many people of color vulnerable to discriminatory voting laws that have historically plagued communities of color. Voting is our right as U.S. citizens. Taking away or restricting one's ability to exercise their voice at the polls is not only immoral; it is unconstitutional. The actions of many states in passing extremely restrictive voting laws are unjust and must be addressed. As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated, ``injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'' Congress must stand on the side of justice and restore the Voting Rights Act.--Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins, Director of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Office of Public Witness As Reform Jews, our teachings motivate our advocacy to protect voting rights and fight voter suppression. Rabbi Yitzhak taught, ``A ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted,'' (Babylonian Talmud Berochot 55a). Diminished federal voter protections and rampant voter suppression undermines the ability of all people, particularly communities of color, to participate in our democracy. It is time for Congress to restore those protections and pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4/S. 561). Our faith's commitment to political participation demands that Congress pass this Shelby fix as a step towards ensuring that the whole community is represented.--Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Voting is at the heart of the democratic process. It is the most fundamental access point for individuals to have a voice in the public policy decision-making process that can shape the future of our local, regional and global collective life. As people of faith, we believe every vote is a voice, and every voices counts. It is unconscionable that we are entering the 2020 election season with fewer voting rights protections than we had in 1965. This signals an erosion of our democracy that is a moral crisis. The right to vote is a national value that transcends partisanship. It goes beyond political party identification to our core values as a nation and the centrality of a citizen's free vote, not limited by the powers of money, social class and unequal access to voting. It is imperative that we pass a fix for the damage done by the Supreme Court Shelby decision by restoring voter protections.--Sandra Sorensen, Director of Washington Office, United Church of Christ (UCC) The National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd calls on Congress to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act. We have seen over the last six years increasing hostility to full voting rights for all Americans since the U.S. Supreme Court partially struck down the Voting Rights Act. We have seen new barriers put up to restrict the number of voters of color, suppressing the full American voice and skewing our response to important civil and human rights issues in need of our attention. As people of faith, we are called to liberate the oppressed and marginalized. Please restore the vote.--Lawrence E. Couch, Director, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd It is clearer than ever today that democracy is a process, not a static state. Democracy requires care, investment, and vigilance to ensure all voices are represented. The shameful history of racism in U.S. voting systems is not over, and new approaches designed to restrict certain communities' access to a free and fair vote cannot be tolerated. The federal government must act now to reinstate and expand protections of voting rights for all people.--Joyce Ajlouny, General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee The right to vote without any impediments or obstructions is one of the most basic privileges of our democracy belonging to all age-eligible American citizens regardless of race, religion, or gender orientation. I call upon our Senate and House to protect this sacred right which is critical for the defense of all our other rights and privileges.--Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, American Baptist Home Mission Societies American Baptist Churches, USA have officially advocated for voter rights for many decades and we continue ``. . . to declare the right to vote to be a basic human right, and support programs and measures to assure this right. The right of citizenship in a nation, to participate in the political process, to form political parties, to have a voice in decisions made in the political arena are basic undeniable human rights. The Bible teaches us that all humanity is created in God's image and that we are all valuable in God's sight.''--Dr. C. Jeff Woods, Acting General Secretary, American Baptist Churches, USA We are the church, the body of Christ in this world, at this time. We need to stop the racist suppression of the votes of people of color. Denying people their right to vote is counter to the will of God. This is especially true when rich and powerful interests seek to deny people who have been historically marginalized from shaping our society. We need to change our policies and our laws to make voting a concrete reality for all of God's children.--Rev. Ms. Paula Clayton Dempsey, Executive Minister, Alliance of Baptists People have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and wellbeing of all persons, especially the poor and vulnerable. Voter suppression laws strike at this tenet of Catholic Social Teaching by denying that right to those who are disproportionately poor, especially African American, Native American and Hispanic American communities. As faithful citizens of every faith and humanitarian tradition, we affirm our common responsibility to promote the dignity of every person and to work for justice and the common good. That can only happen if we are all afforded the basic right to vote and to participate fully in our democratic process.--Scott Wright, Director, Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach As Unitarian Universalists, our 5th Principle affirms ``the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large''. Therefore, we advocate for restoration of full protections under the Voting Rights Act. When our democracy is in peril, so too are our civil rights. Racial discrimination and voter suppression are on the rise--an unacceptable circumstance to freedom-loving citizens of the United States and one that our faith calls us to confront. The pernicious impacts of Shelby County v. Holder must be halted and reversed. As the leader of a faith-based education, witness and advocacy organization, I know that issues like poverty, immigration, climate change, and rising inequity in our society cannot improve unless we defend the basic tenets of our democracy. Our democracy works best when everyone can fully participate. Congress should strive to make our elections more free, more fair and more accessible. The more Americans who participate in our elections, the better our democracy reflects who we are as a country and the better we can meet the complex challenges of our times.--(Pablo) Pavel DeJesus, Executive Director, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ).

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I oppose the amendment.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I oppose this amendment because it is a mere distraction. It is an attempt to politicize the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by interjecting campaign finance and settlement terms into civil rights legislation. If Republicans were really serious about voting rights--about voting rights--they would actually be willing to come to the table and talk about how we can fully restore section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Leave it up to our colleagues across the aisle to interject money and finance into civil rights law. What has been lost today in this debate is the very heart of this bill; it is the central meaning of the bill. Let's not forget the brave patriots of the civil rights and voting rights movement who marched, prayed, and died for the right to vote. These foot soldiers for equality, like our very own John Lewis, were ordinary citizens who dared to achieve extraordinary social change by forcing this Nation to live up to its ideals of equality and justice for all. We know, Mr. Speaker, that the price of freedom is not free. It has been bought and paid for by those brave foot soldiers so that, one day, a little Black girl from Selma, Alabama, could sit in this august body. I know I am not the only Black and Brown colleague of ours who owes our very presence in this Chamber to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Mr. Speaker, old battles have become new again. We fight for the same equity that these foot soldiers fought for in Selma. Progress is elusive. Every generation must fight to maintain the progress that we have had and to seek to advance it. Since the Supreme Court's decision in 2013 in Shelby v. Holder, States across this country have enacted harsh measures that make it more difficult to vote. Mr. Speaker, I dare say that Selma is now. Since the Shelby decision, 25 States have put in place new voting restrictions. Selma is still now, because, since the Shelby decision, 12 States have laws making it harder for citizens to register and stay registered. Selma is now. Since the Shelby decision, 10 more States have made early and absentee voting more difficult. While today there are no poll taxes or literacy tests, these modern- day barriers to voting are no less discriminatory or suppressive than those old practices. Voting rights should be a nonpartisan issue, and the fact that, in this amendment, they would try to politicize voting rights, we should all--all--be appalled by that. Voting rights have been, always, very nonpartisan, and it used to be that the Voting Rights Acts passed overwhelmingly with Republicans and Democrats. In fact, the VRA was reauthorized five times--yes--under Republican and Democratic Presidents. So what has changed? I ask my colleagues across the aisle: What are you afraid of? Why are you afraid to let more Americans vote? Is it because your own political interests are only realized when you limit access to the ballot box? I say: Shame on you. Shame on you. Could it be that what we need more than anything else is to look at our North Star; that is, John Lewis. Mr. Lewis, we are all honored, every day, to be able to call you ``colleague,'' and the reality is that what happened on that bridge in Selma, Alabama, in 1965 is still occurring today. If one person who is an American and who is a voter is not allowed to vote, it goes to the very heart of the integrity of all of our elections. We should all want to make sure that every American can vote. So, let us make sure that we remember what Elijah Cummings would say. He would say: We are better than this. We are better than this. Having an amendment that deals with politicizing the Voting Rights Act is appalling. I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the amendment and to remember the words of another civil rights activist, Amelia Boynton Robinson, who also was bludgeoned on that bridge with John Lewis in 1965, who came to this Chamber in 2015, as my special guest, for the State of the Union. Many of you on both sides of the aisle were willing to host her. I say to you what she said. When people said: ``I stand on your shoulders,'' she said, ``Get off my shoulders. Do your own work.'' I say now: Miss Amelia, we are doing our own work because we are voting to restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today I proudly rise to support the rule on H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019. Voting rights are primal. They are the cornerstone of our democracy. No right is more precious to our citizenship than the right of all Americans to be able to vote. When Americans are not able to cast their ballots, their votes are silenced, and we, especially as elected officials, should be alarmed if any American who wants to cast a ballot is unable to cast a ballot. What H.R. 4 does is it restores the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by giving a new coverage formula. In fact, the Roberts Court specifically said in striking down section 4(b) that it was outdated. So H.R. 4 is our effort, the efforts of three committees, hours of testimony, lots and lots of stakeholders, and lots and lots of people who were American citizens not able to vote; it is that effort that led to a narrowly tailored new coverage formula. That new coverage formula does not look back to the 1960s or to the 1970s. It looks back 25 years, that is 1994 and going forward. It requires adjudicated violations of voter discrimination. It is narrowly tailored, and it hits the mark as to what the Supreme Court requires us to do in saying that Congress could feel free to update its coverage formula. The Supreme Court and Roberts, in his opinion, also said that voter discrimination still existed. It admitted that it still existed. And H.R. 4 is our effort to actually provide a modern-day voter coverage formula that will allow States and jurisdictions with the most egregious forms of discrimination to be required to preclear. The Shelby v. Holder decision originated out of Shelby County, Alabama. I am honored every day to represent Alabama's Seventh Congressional District. It is a district that knows all too well the importance of voting. You see, my district includes not only Birmingham and Montgomery but my hometown of Selma, Alabama. It was on a bridge in my hometown that our colleague John Lewis and so many other foot soldiers bled on that bridge for the equal right of all Americans to be able to vote. This is exactly what H.R. 4 does. It restores the full protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In so doing, it provides a mechanism by which the most egregious States and localities must preclear before the elections. It is so hard to unring the bell once an election has already taken place. So section 2, while it has been used to litigate and to get good results, it only can occur after the election has taken place. So I say to you, Mr. Speaker, that this is not only an important piece of legislation for our Nation to ensure that every American-- American--who has the ability, who is 18 years of age or older, has the right to access a ballot box. It is clear to me that since the Shelby v. Holder decision, so many States have now instituted voter discrimination laws. Some of them have been in the guise of voter fraud, but the Brennan Center and so many others have found that voter fraud happens minisculely in any election. It is not about voter fraud. It is about voter suppression, suppressing the voices of certain Americans. And that is un-American, Mr. Speaker. Just the 2018 midterm elections alone highlight the voter discrimination that occurred. In Georgia, the Republican candidate for Governor used his power as secretary of state to put 53,000 voter registrations on hold, nearly 70 percent of which belonged to African American voters. In North Dakota, Republicans established a new requirement that voters must show an ID that they live at a residential street address. It was not enough that they had a P.O. Box. That law was a barrier to thousands of Native Americans who live on reservations and use P.O. Boxes rather than residential street addresses.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, as my colleague from Maryland has shown, in Maricopa County, Arizona, which I think is where the gentlewoman is from, there is still voter discrimination. Mr. Speaker, this is a seminal piece of legislation that will restore rights for the people. All of us, Republicans and Democrats, should be about making sure it is easier to vote, not harder to vote. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for the rule and the underlying legislation, H.R. 4.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 630.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable legacy of Malcolm Thomas, a selfless community servant and business leader, whose many contributions to the state of Alabama have served to uplift the state socially and economically. From his impressive career as CEO of his own engineering service firm, to his support for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), to his exemplary leadership as Exalted Ruler of R.E. Nelms Elk Lodge No. 977, Malcolm Thomas has spent much of his life in the pursuit of success and excellence, not only for himself, but for the greater community. Born in Selma, Alabama to the late Reverend George Thomas and the late Mrs. Lovie Thomas, Malcolm Thomas was taught the importance of high-quality education from an early age. He attended college at Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Alabama, where he earned his bachelor of science degree in business administration. It was during his time at Alabama A&M that two lifelong interests were sparked, in business and in the preservation and continued vitality of HBCUs. Founded in 1875 by a former slave, Dr. William Hooper Councill, Alabama A&M is a proud member of the HBCU system. As a student there, Mr. Thomas saw first-hand the importance of ensuring that A&M and other institutions like it, historically established for the African American community who had been barred entry to traditionally white institutions, be fully funded, providing students with top tier professors and facilities. Mr. Thomas' commitment to ensuring the continued vitality of HBCUs was recognized by Governor Riley, who asked Mr. Thomas to serve on the Governor's Commission on Historically Black Colleges and Universities between 2003 and 2008. After graduating from Alabama A&M, Mr. Thomas worked in several corporate positions before becoming the owner and CEO of Malcom Thomas Industries, a certified engineering services firm. Now semi-retired, Mr. Thomas has extensive expertise in marketing, negotiating and event planning. Today, he works part-time as an event planner, based in Huntsville, Alabama. A selfless community servant, Mr. Thomas boasts membership (past and present) to countless boards and charitable organizations, including the Huntsville Housing Authority Board of Appeals, the North Alabama Sickle Cell Board of Directors and the Vocational Education Advisory Council for Huntsville City Schools. He was formerly Chairman of the Engineering Technology Advisory Committee at Alabama A&M, a founding board member of the Alabama A&M University Foundation and a charter member of 100 Black Men of Huntsville. Politically active, Mr. Thomas served on the Executive Committee of the Madison County Republican Men's Club and on President George H.W. Bush's Personal Advisory Committee. Further, he claimed membership to the Black Americans for President George H.W. Bush Committee of 100. Mr. Thomas has been a member of the fraternal organization the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks since June 17, 1957. Mr. Thomas has held many positions within the organization, including serving as state photographer, Chairman of the State Nominating Committee, First Vice President of the Alabama Association of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks of the World and ultimately State President. Mr. Thomas served as President for twelve years, during which time the organization introduced a state choir, the Past State President degree and a golf tournament. He has been further recognized as an Esteemed Lecturing Knight, a trustee and Exalted Ruler of R.E. Nelms Elks Lodge No. 977. His tenure as Exalted Ruler spanned 1983 through 2008 and 2009 through 2019, during which time the Lodge gave money to the Boys and Girls Club, the Harris Home for Children and Homeless Persons and the Boy Scouts of America, in addition to providing scholarships for students at Alabama A&M. Mr. Thomas is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Fraternity Inc., Delta Theta Lambda Chapter. A man of steadfast faith, Mr. Thomas has been a dedicated member of Phillips Christian Methodist Episcopal Church where he serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is married to the love of his life, Dr. Mattie Daniels Thomas with whom he shares two children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. On a personal note, I have known ``Uncle Malcolm'' all my life and count him as both a mentor and an extended part of my family. His business acumen and legendary leadership in the Elks has been an inspiration to us all. As a beloved mentor and political advisor, Uncle Malcolm ensures his legacy in investing in the hearts and minds of the next generation. I know that I would not be Alabama's first Black Congresswoman without the love, support and guidance of dear family friends like Uncle Malcolm and Auntie Mattie. As you prepare to succeed from your many years of service to the R.E. Nelms Elks Lodge No. 977, know that your work has strengthened the organization and set a high bar for others to follow. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and great works of Mr. Malcolm Thomas that has left an indelible imprint on the Huntsville community and the State of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and service of the late Rep. John Conyers, the longest serving African American in Congress, a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the former Dean of the House. During his more than 50 years in the House of Representatives, Rep. Conyers built a reputation as a champion for civil, human and voting rights. He was relentless: Just four days after the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed, Rep. Conyers introduced the first bill to create a federal holiday honoring him. Fifteen years later, he finally got it over the finish line when President Reagan signed it into law in 1983. Rep. Conyers spent his life advocating for those who often did not have a seat at the table. He helped spearhead landmark reforms including the original passage and several extensions of the Voting Rights Act, as well as passage of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and the Hate Crimes Act of 2009. In 2002, Rep. Conyers successfully pushed for the Help America Vote Act, legislation that made sweeping improvements to voting systems and voter access. On a personal note, Rep. Conyers also had ties to my hometown of Selma, Alabama, where he led a voter registration drive in February 1965, just one month before the Bloody Sunday Selma to Montgomery march. Rep. Conyers was in his first year in Congress, but Dr. King said his ``very presence there has had an electric effect upon the voteless and beleaguered Negro citizens of this city, county, state and nation.'' Rep. Conyers never waivered in his steadfast support of his beloved Detroit and those he served. May he rest in peace.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayor Todd Strange, the 56th mayor of Montgomery, Alabama, on his decade of service to his city, his state and to the people of Alabama. Mayor Strange's outstanding career has been characterized by his commitment to restoring and ensuring Montgomery's economic vitality, his unique sense of humor and, most importantly, his deep and unwavering love for his city. Since taking office on March 23, 2009, Mayor Strange has been a strong and able leader, who has consistently put people over politics, and has remained resistant to the divisions commonplace in today's political climate. He leaves the City of Montgomery a better place for his excellent leadership. Long interested in the complexities and practical applications of politics, Mayor Strange graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile, Alabama before continuing on to earn his B.A. in Political Science from Montevallo University. After graduating, Mayor Strange took the opportunity to try his own hand at politics, serving as chairman of the Montgomery County Commission and as Director of the Alabama Department of Commerce. During this time, Mayor Strange was instrumental in coordinating efforts that resulted in substantial job growth and economic revitalization throughout the city, including working with many partners to bring the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Facility of Alabama to Montgomery. Over the course of his career, Mayor Strange also worked in the private sector, ably taking on leadership roles in the automotive and telecommunications fields. Mayor Strange served as President, CEO and Co-owner of Blount-Strange Automotive Group, where he oversaw hundreds of employees, and held several leadership roles within South Central Bell Company (now AT&T). He further served as Senior Vice President of Administration of Blount International, Ltd. and President and CEO of Blount Development Corporation. Mayor Strange first came into office winning a special election after his predecessor, Mayor Bobby Bright, was elected to the United States House of Representatives. His election came on the heels of the economic recession, evident in the city's operating budget. Over the following six years, Mayor Strange worked diligently to continue revitalization in his city, making use of major sporting events, conferences, new jobs and economic development to drive revenue. By 2015, the City of Montgomery closed out the fiscal year with over twenty million in the coffers. Further, during his time as mayor, Mayor Strange made use of new technologies to cut costs and keep the city safe, implementing a Smart City Initiative, which makes use of artificial intelligence to assess roads for paving projects. The initiative utilizes cutting edge surveillance and sanitation technology in order to streamline efficiency; and uses in-house software technology to keep costs in check. The project symbolizes Mayor Strange's commitment to finding practical, cost-effective solutions that make use of all that modern technology has to offer, in order for the city to run as smoothly as possible. Mayor Strange has served as Chairman of the Montgomery Business Committee for the Arts, Chairman of the Capital City Club and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the City of Montevallo. He was formerly the Chairman of the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association, the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, the President of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Foundation, the Board Chairman of the Montgomery Riverfront Development Committee and the Chairman of the Montgomery Riverfront Alliance. A testament to his enduring legacy and impact, Mayor Strange has been honored with myriad awards and recognition, including: The Business and Professional Women Boss of the Year Award, the March of Dimes River Region Citizen of the Year Award, the Auburn University at Montgomery Outstanding Community Leader Award and Time Magazine's Quality Dealer Award for Alabama. Throughout his long and impressive career, Mayor Strange has been blessed to be supported by his wife Linda, his two daughters, Jennifer and Elizabeth and his grandchildren. The strength provided by his family has allowed Mayor Strange his remarkable professional successes and, certainly, his commitment to honoring family values has carried over to his service as mayor. On a personal note, I have greatly enjoyed working with Mayor Strange on the federal issues that matter most to Montgomery and the River Region. I'm especially proud of the work that our community and, especially, the work that Mayor Strange and his office have done to make the 187th Air National Guard home to the new F-35 Lightening II Jets, resulting in the creation of hundreds of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in economic investment. As we usher in this new era for the City of Montgomery, I know that Mayor Strange's legacy will be the foundation upon which others will lead. While he may be retiring from his service as Mayor, I know he will still be an active, lifelong advocate on behalf of the people of the City of Montgomery and the River Region. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Todd Strange for his outstanding service as mayor of the City of Montgomery.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Congressman Elijah Cummings, a friend, mentor, patriot and titan of the House of Representatives. Congressman Cummings was a giant among us who led with his heart and governed with the love of his district and our country. He worked until his very last breath for the good of our nation because he believed in the power of the American people to make our country a better place for our children to live and prosper. After all, Congressman Cummings knew firsthand the power of the American dream. The son of sharecroppers, he grew up to graduate Phi Beta Kappa from Howard University, receive his law degree from the University of Maryland and go on to serve his beloved home of Baltimore in both the state legislature and in Congress. Day in and day out, Congressman Cummings fought to ensure our government worked for the people, providing the tools to help Americans succeed and the opportunities to make their dreams a reality. He understood that patriotism is not looking at our nation's past through rosy glasses and a revisionist history, but rather that it is having the courage to examine more closely those areas that are broken and believing in the power of our system to fix them. Social justice was in his blood--when he was just 11 years old, he and his friends worked to integrate a segregated swimming pool in his native Baltimore. I was honored to work with him closely to ensure every American is able to cast his or her ballot on election day. And he fought passionately against forces that undermine the integrity of our democracy and the principles upon which our nation was founded. Congressman Cummings will be forever missed, but his legacy lives on and continues to inspire us to live our lives for the benefit of others--and the good of our nation.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Mrs. Juanita Abernathy, a selfless leader in the struggle for civil rights whose direction and tireless engagement was an integral part in the movement of civil rights and voting rights in America. She, sadly, passed earlier this month. From the Montgomery bus boycott to the marches from Selma to Montgomery and onward to Washington, D.C., and beyond, Mrs. Abernathy played a key role in our Nation's proudest instance of civic engagement. She fought boldly alongside her husband, Reverend Dr. Ralph Abernathy, and her dear friends and fellow architects of the movement, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. While many male leaders of the civil rights movement have rightfully become household names, the women of the movement, whose struggles and sacrifices were equal and whose participation was necessary, have not enjoyed the same recognition. Mrs. Juanita Abernathy was a brilliant, courageous leader in her own right, and today, we recognize her remarkable and distinct contributions. Mrs. Abernathy was born on December 1, 1931, in Uniontown, Alabama. She was the youngest of eight children born to Alexander and Ella Gilmore Jones. In the ninth grade, she met her future husband, Reverend Dr. Ralph Abernathy, who wrote in his memoir that he was impressed by her audacious spirit and her inherent dignity. In 1952, after Mrs. Abernathy finished her B.S. in business education at Tennessee State University, she and Dr. Ralph Abernathy were married. Mrs. and Reverend Abernathy moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where she became the secretary for the Alabama chapter of the NAACP and taught high school courses on business education while Reverend Abernathy became the pastor of the First Baptist Church on Ripley Street. In 1955, around the family dining room table, Mrs. Abernathy wrote a business plan for the Montgomery bus boycott, a plan that later served as a blueprint for the civil rights movement. Meant to last only 1 day, the Montgomery bus boycott went on for 381 days, eventually leading to the courts desegregating public transit. In retaliation to the success of the Montgomery bus boycott, the Abernathy home was bombed. Reverend Abernathy was in Atlanta at the time, but it was said that Mrs. Abernathy and her children only survived because the bomb landed off by 2 feet. Over the years, Mrs. Abernathy endured terror, harassment, and unbridled hatred from white supremacists in her community and beyond. Yet, in the face of unimaginable threats, she maintained her innate dignity and bravery. In 1961, Mrs. Abernathy and her husband moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she worked closely with the King family to integrate Atlanta's public schools. At this same time, understanding the link between race and economic inequality in this country, Mrs. Abernathy fought to establish a national food stamp program for low-income families and a national free meal program for public schoolchildren. A true servant leader, Mrs. Abernathy's brilliant mind, full heart, and resilient spirit should remind all of us of what constitutes a full and wonderful life. On a personal note, I was honored to get to know Mrs. Abernathy during her many pilgrimages to my hometown of Selma, Alabama, for the annual commemoration of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery marches. She was a powerful voice for change and a proud product of Alabama's Black Belt who passionately protected the legacy of her husband and their lifelong work together to advance civil rights. Mrs. Abernathy graciously encouraged me to run for Congress and honored me with her presence in my hometown of Selma on election night when I won in November 2010. I saw in her face that night the pride she felt witnessing the election of Alabama's first Black Congresswoman. I prevailed because of her personal courage and sacrifice that paved the way for future generations of Black children like me to succeed. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute and honor to Alabama native Mrs. Juanita Jones Abernathy on the passing of this civil rights icon and true American heroine, whose tremendous efforts helped propel our Nation toward a more perfect Union.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, this is a sobering moment in our Nation's history, when the rule of law and constitutional duty requires Congress to move swiftly to protect our national security and the integrity of our democracy. In my time on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have been amazed and grateful for the work our intelligence community performs every day. We hold these men and women accountable to the rule of law and expect them to adhere to the principles of our Constitution. In return, those great Americans expect their elected leaders to be held accountable to the same standard--above all, their Commander in Chief. President Trump's refusal to adhere to the whistleblower statute and his unwarranted attacks against one of these professionals flies in the face of that compact. The statute is clear, Madam Speaker. The Director of National Intelligence shall provide the intelligence committee with all whistleblower complaints, especially those that the inspector general finds credible and of urgent concern. It should not take this resolution or the threat of impeachment to convince the President to uphold the law he swore to obey. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 576, honor our oaths, and do the right thing.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Mrs. Juanita Abernathy, a selfless and determined leader in the struggle for civil rights, whose direction and tireless engagement were integral to the progress of the movement. From the Montgomery bus boycott to the marches from Selma to Montgomery and on Washington, D.C., and beyond, Mrs. Abernathy played a key role in our nation's proudest instances of citizen activism. She fought boldly alongside her husband, the Reverend Dr. Ralph Abernathy, and their dear friends and fellow architects of the movement, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, to enact necessary and meaningful change, whose effects reverberated throughout our country. While many male leaders of the civil rights movement have rightfully become household names, the women whose struggles and sacrifice were equal and whose participation was necessary, have not enjoyed the same recognition. Mrs. Juanita Abernathy was a brilliant, courageous leader in her own right, and today we recognize her remarkable and distinct contributions. Mrs. Abernathy was born on December 1, 1931 in Uniontown, Alabama, the youngest of Alexander and Ella Gilmore Jones' eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Jones, who made their living as dairy, beef and cotton farmers, did well for themselves, and were named the most successful farmers in the Black Belt by Tuskegee Institute in the 1940s. At an early age, Mrs. Abernathy was sent to live with her older sister to attend an African American boarding school, Selma University Prep School, from kindergarten through graduation. In the ninth grade, she met her future husband, the Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy, who wrote in his memoir that he was impressed by her audacious spirit and inherent dignity. Both were on display at the local grocery store when a white clerk refused to carry Mrs. Abernathy's groceries to her car. She replied that if he was unable to carry her groceries to the car, he should instead go ahead and return the groceries to the shelves. In 1952, after Mrs. Abernathy completed her B.S. in business education at Tennessee State University in Nashville, she and Dr. Abernathy were married. Mrs. and Dr. Abernathy moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where she became a secretary for the Alabama chapter of the NAACP and taught high school courses on business education, while Dr. Abernathy served as pastor of the First Baptist Church on Ripley St. In 1954, the couple hosted a new pastor, who had been brought in to lead the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his wife, Coretta Scott King. In 1955, around the family dining room table, Mrs. Abernathy wrote the business plan for the Montgomery bus boycott, a plan which later served as a blueprint for the Civil Rights Movement. Meant to last only one day, the boycott went on for 381 days, eventually leading to the courts desegregating public transit and the country. In retaliation to the success of the Montgomery bus boycott, the Abernathy house was bombed while Dr. Abernathy was in Atlanta with Dr. King, establishing the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Thankfully, Mrs. Abernathy, who was home with her oldest daughter Juandalynn, and pregnant with her youngest, Donzaleigh, was safe, though firefighters said that if the bomb had landed only a foot away, it would have exploded the house's main gas line. That same night Dr. Abernathy's church was bombed. Over the years, Mrs. Abernathy endured terror, harassment and unbridled hatred from white supremacists in her community and beyond; and yet, in the face of unimaginable threats, Mrs. Abernathy maintained her innate dignity and bravery. In 1961, Mrs. Abernathy and her husband moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she worked closely with the Kings to integrate Atlanta's public schools. Upon learning that Spring Street Elementary School was the school favored by the children of Georgia Tech professors, Mrs. Abernathy sent her children Donzaleigh, Juandalynn and their late brother Ralph Abernathy III, who became some of the first children to integrate, alongside two of the Kings' children. Mrs. Abernathy took great pride in her children's cultural and classical education, bringing them to Europe and, in Atlanta, to attend the opera. At this same time, understanding the inextricable link between racial and economic inequality in this country, Mrs. Abernathy fought to establish a National Food Stamp Program for low-income families and a National Free Meal Program for public school children. Mrs. Juanita Abernathy was perhaps the last living member of Dr. King's inner circle, but her legacy supersedes even such prominent relationships. In addition to her work during the Civil Rights Movement, Mrs. Abernathy has travelled around the world three times on peace missions, served on the board of MARTA for over a decade and became a national sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics, ranking second in the nation in recruitment. A true servant leader, Mrs. Abernathy's brilliant mind, full heart and resilient spirit should serve as a reminder to us all of what constitutes a life well lived. When she sat at President Barack Obama's inauguration, it was in a place of honor, directly behind former President Bill Clinton. On a personal note, I was honored to get to know Mrs. Abernathy during her many pilgrimages to my hometown of Selma, Alabama for the annual commemorations of ``Bloody Sunday'' and the March from Selma to Montgomery. She was a powerful force for change and a proud product of Alabama's Black Belt, who passionately protected the legacy of her husband and their lifelong work to advance civil rights in this nation. Mrs. Abernathy graciously encouraged me to run for Congress and honored me with her presence in Selma on election night when I won in November 2010. I saw in her face that night the pride she felt witnessing the election of Alabama's first black Congresswoman. It was a time that had come because of her personal courage and sacrifices to pave the way for future generations of black children like me to succeed. I know there comes great responsibility in standing on her broad shoulders and I seek to honor that privilege every day in my efforts to protect and further the progress made and legacy of the Freedom Fighters for Justice like Mrs. Juanita Abernathy. To her family, I thank them for sharing their parents with the world. Their mother's passion, courage and determination will always live on in the hearts and actions of those she touched. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute and honor to Alabama native Mrs. Juanita Jones Abernathy on the passing of this Civil Rights icon and true American heroine whose tremendous efforts helped this nation on its path towards a more perfect union.