Terri Sewell

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the critical role of community colleges and the role that they play in economic recovery and the continued growth of our communities across the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama and this entire Nation. In the Seventh Congressional District, the State of Alabama, and this country, the most important issue is job creation. In parts of the Seventh Congressional District that I am so privileged to represent, unemployment rates are as high as 16 percent. This persistent, high unemployment number demonstrates the importance of career training and development. It also points to the critical role that our community colleges play in our Nation's growth. The junior colleges, our community college system, play a vital role in developing our Nation's greatest resource--our people. A lasting partnership between the private sector and community colleges is key to creating an economy built to last. These partnerships ensure that future workers are being prepared to take advantage of every opportunity in the employment sector as we recover in this economy. In order to win the future, we must continue to out- innovate, out-educate, and out-compete our global competitors. I want to commend the President on his recent release of a blueprint to train 2 million workers for high-demanding industries through our Community College to Career Fund. The new $8 billion Community College to Career Fund would promote the development of community college partnerships that would train skilled workers for unfilled jobs. What a great way to not only promote our community colleges but also help to train future workers. As America regains its position as the world's preeminent innovator and developer, the need for a trained, skilled workforce becomes even greater. This proposed fund would support the training of workforce development all throughout our Nation. The Community College to Career Fund will also institute a ``pay for performance'' in job training. This new initiative will serve as an incentive to businesses that will provide and help them provide workforce training. It will also help individuals find employment while encouraging businesses to assist workers in this endeavor. This is critically important, and it is not only enough to train our workers, but we must also ensure that they can find jobs right here in America. In addition, through this job-training fund, State and local governments will be allowed to apply for grants that will help them recruit businesses to their States. This incentive to locate businesses right here in America will help create jobs, discourage outsourcing, and encourage insourcing. We have to start making things right here in America and promote that endeavor. We must create an environment that gives more Americans a fair shot at achieving the American Dream, a dream that the unemployed in my district and across this Nation are waiting to grasp. They just need opportunities and resources. The Community College to Career Fund will inspire and train the next generation of entrepreneurs. These workers could be responsible for the next Google, the next Apple, Microsoft or other cutting-edge technology. It will promote American exceptionalism and will propel this Nation back to the forefront of workforce development. The President's blueprint to build a highly skilled workforce through our community college system is the right thing to do. It will allow community colleges in my district, for example, Shelton State and Wallace State Community Colleges, greater access to resources to educate those ready and willing to take jobs--highly skilled jobs in our workforce. At this time, these initiatives are critically important because we in America can ill afford to be left behind when it comes to innovation. I believe that the President's blueprint should be applauded and supported. I know that in my own district, Mercedes Benz, a very important employer in my district, has taken such initiatives to another level. They've encouraged high school students, giving them a chance to learn how to use their machines and participate in a program; and they've also said that upon completion, 75 percent of those students will actually have a job in the Mercedes Benz plant in Vance, Alabama. I think initiatives such as this should be encouraged. It's critically important that we not only support the private sector in their endeavors to create public partnerships with our community colleges, but also to grow our economy and help this recovery effort actually exist. So I support these endeavors, and I support the President in this initiative. I look forward to working with the President on this initiative and supporting this initiative in this House, and I ask and urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support such an initiative.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 44, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I rose to recognize and pay tribute to one of our Nation's most distinguished trial lawyers, an avid sports collector, historian, author, and family man, Attorney Jock Michael Smith. I wish to add this statement as an extension to my remarks. Attorney Smith was a well-respected member of the Alabama bar and he was known nationally throughout the legal community for his exceptional legal abilities, legendary courtroom skills, civic activism and passion for equal justice. Sadly, he passed away at his home in Montgomery, Alabama on January 8th at the age of 63. The story of Jock Michael Smith is not just one of a notable and accomplished attorney, social justice advocate, author, and sports collector. His story is one of hope, beating the odds, and the fearless pursuit of one's dreams. The life and legacy of Jock Smith is an inspiration to us all. Despite losing his father tragically at a young age, despite being told in high school that he should be a sanitation worker, he did not let others determine his future. This young boy, son of a widowed single mother of two, was determined to chart his own course. Attorney Jock Smith was born in New York City and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School. Later that year, he enrolled in the historic Tuskegee Institute where he majored in History. Jock was a member of the baseball and track teams, served as Vice President of Student Government, and was the recipient of the Tuskegee Institute Department of History Citation for achieving the major's highest grade point average. He was also the first student from Tuskegee Institute to be listed in the National Student Register. Inspired by the memory of his father, Jock developed his oratorical and academic gifts. He graduated with honors from Tuskegee University and then matriculated to the University of Notre Dame School of Law on an academic scholarship. As a first year law student, Jock founded the Black American Law Students' Association (BALSA) chapter at Notre Dame. Jock went on to earn his law degree from Notre Dame in 1973. Jock Smith began his career as a legal advisor for the NAACP in Broome County, New York and was a Professor of Afro American Studies at New York State University. He then served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Alabama and served as a political science professor at Tuskegee University. Later, he opened his own law office in Tuskegee and thereafter became a city municipal judge in Camp Hill, Alabama. Jock Smith then went on to serve as County Attorney for Macon County, Alabama, a position he held for 15 years. In 1996, Attorney Jock Smith co-founded a partnership with the late renowned attorney Johnnie Cochran and attorneys Keith Givens and Samuel Cherry. The law firm of Cochran, Cherry, Givens and Smith has 22 offices across this country and continues to be one of the most well- known criminal defense and civil plaintiff law firms in this nation. Attorney Jock Smith's remarkable legal career was filled with record- setting verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, including a landmark $1.6 billion verdict against Southwestern Life insurance, which was the largest in America in 2004. According to the National Journal and Lawyers Weekly, the verdict remains the largest civil verdict obtained by an African American lawyer in the nation's history. He also successfully won landmark cases against Orkin Pest Control, Monsanto and others. He represented the legacy estates of both Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr. and he represented the Negro League Players, and civil rights leader Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. Attorney Smith also had a passion for sports memorabilia. Jock Smith has the distinction of owning one of the nation's largest collections of game-worn, sports memorabilia. He used his national sports collection as an instrumental tool to motivate teens and young adults to overcome challenges. During his illustrious legal career, Attorney Smith's hard work and leadership was acknowledged by numerous awards. He was recognized by the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association for his tireless dedication and unwavering commitments. He received the inaugural Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Journey to Justice Award in 2005 at the National Bar Association Convention. And most recently, he was honored in the inaugural edition of Who's Who in Black Alabama and named a member of the Board of Trustees at Tuskegee University in 2011. As an author, Jock Smith shared his amazing life journey in an autobiography entitled ``Climbing Jacob's Ladder: A Trial Lawyer's Journey on Behalf of `the Least of These'.'' Media personality and author Tavis Smiley provided an insightful view of Jock's writing debut that accurately surmises his life's journey: ``Jock Smith's story is part history lesson and part sermon and one hundred percent fascinating. He and lawyers like his partner Johnnie Cochran are modern-day knights, using their skills to protect both the poor and defenseless. On a personal level, Climbing Jacob's Ladder shows how faith and hard work can bring great success.'' Jock Smith was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and he was the first African American to serve on the board for the President's Advisory Council of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Attorney Smith also served as a member of the National Finance Committee and served on the President's Advisory Council for the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Jock Smith is survived by his wife of 45 years, Yvette Smiley-Smith and his daughter, Janay Marriel Smith. Our nation is eternally grateful for Attorney Jock Smith's contributions to the legal community and to this nation. His commitment to advocacy to fight for the rights of the disenfranchised is a great example for us all to follow. He left an indelible mark in Alabama and across this nation and his legacy will be remembered for generations to come. On a personal note, I was so honored to know Attorney Jock Smith. I admired his great oratorical skill and legal brilliance. I was inspired by his tenacious spirit and passion for service to others. I know that he forged the path upon which I now walk, and for that I am eternally grateful. Jock Smith lived out the meaning of his favorite quote: ``Service is the price we pay for the space that we occupy.'' It is with tremendous pride and a great privilege to honor on this day, February 2, 2012, the life and contributions of Attorney Jock Michael Smith with this tribute on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. On behalf of the State of Alabama and this nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Attorney Jock Smith by paying our fair share for the space that we occupy.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and pay tribute to one of our Nation's most distinguished trial lawyers, an avid sports collector, historian, author, and family man, Attorney Jock Michael Smith. Attorney Smith was a well-respected member of the Alabama bar, and he was known nationally throughout the legal community for his exceptional legal abilities, his legendary courtroom style, civic activism, and passion for equal justice for all. Sadly, Attorney Smith passed away at his home in Montgomery, Alabama, on January 8 at the age of 63. The story of Jock Michael Smith is not just one of a notable and accomplished attorney. His story is one of hope, beating the odds, and the fearless pursuit of one's dreams. The life and legacy of Jock Smith is an inspiration to us all. Despite losing his father tragically at a young age and despite being told in high school that he could not be anything more than a sanitary worker, he did not let that deter him. This young boy, son of a widow, single mother of two, was determined to chart his own course. Inspired by the memory of his father, Jock developed his oratorical and academic gifts. He graduated with honors from Tuskegee University and then matriculated to the University of Notre Dame School of Law on an academic scholarship. As a first year law student, Jock founded the Black American Law Students' Association chapter at Notre Dame. He earned his law degree in 1973. In 1996, Attorney Smith cofounded a partnership with the late renowned attorney, Johnny Cochran. The Cochran Law Firm, as it is known, is actually the law firm of Cochran, Cherry, Givens & Smith. It has 22 offices across this country and continues to be one of the most well-known criminal defense and civil plaintiff law firms in the Nation. Attorney Smith's remarkable legal career was filled with many record- setting verdicts and settlements. A landmark $1.6 billion verdict against Southwestern Life Insurance was one of the largest in America's history in 2004. He represented the legacy estates of both Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., and he represented the Negro League Players and civil rights activist Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. During his illustrious career, Attorney Smith's hard work and leadership was acknowledged by numerous awards. He was recognized by the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association for his tireless dedication and unwavering commitment. As an author, Jock Smith shared his amazing life story in an autobiography entitled ``Climbing Jacob's Ladder: A Trial Lawyer's Journey on Behalf of `the Least of These.' '' Media personality and author Tavis Smiley best summed up the gift he gave us by writing down his memoirs: Jock Smith's story is part of America's story. It's part history lesson and part sermon and 100 percent fascinating. He and lawyers like his late partner, Johnny Cochran, are modern-day knights, using their skills to protect both the poor and defenseless. On a personal level, ``Climbing Jacob's Ladder,'' his book, shows how faith and hard work can bring great success. Jock Smith was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, and he was the first African American to serve on the board of the President's Advisory Council of the National Wildlife Federation. Jock Smith was amazing. I know as a young lawyer his life stands as a personal tribute, to me. I am grateful to have known him. I know that I walk in a path that he blazed, and for that, I am eternally grateful to his family. Some of his family members are here with us today in the gallery. He is forever remembered as a remarkable and amazing man. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ms. Yvette Smiley-Smith; and his daughter, Janay Smith, who is with us today. I want to say, in closing, that his life is truly a testament to what is possible with opportunity--when you take opportunity--and with so many resources. Jock lived life by his favorite quote that he always would say: ``Service is the price we pay for the space that we occupy.'' It is with tremendous pride, privilege, and great honor that today I get to recognize the life and legacy of Attorney Jock Smith on the floor of the United States Congress so that all of us can remember that we must pay our fair share for the space that we occupy. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sally White, a remarkable young lady from the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama who was a recent recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal of Service for Youth Award. Sally is a driven, committed, and determined young lady who is destined for success. She is currently a senior at Thomasville High School in Thomasville, Alabama, and has a 4.32 grade point average. She has been a member of the varsity cheerleading squad for 3 years and was captain of the squad this year. She was also named a Universal Cheerleaders Association All-American. Sally has been involved in the Thespian Drama Honor Society for 6 years and attended the International Thespian Festival in Nebraska where she worked with theater students from around the world. She is a member of the National Honor Society, attended Alabama's Girls State, and is a Thomasville Chamber Ambassador. Sally has been very passionate about public service and mission work. She traveled to Ecuador for 2 weeks in the summer of 2010, planting trees to raise money for village schools. Sally serves as a volunteer for the summer reading program at the Thomasville Public Library and volunteers in the extended day program at Thomasville Elementary School to assist young students with homework. Sally plans to pursue a college degree in either biomedical or chemical engineering. After college, she plans to attend graduate school to earn a Ph.D. or medical degree. Her ultimate goal is to one day work in the medical research field to develop cures for this Nation's most troubling diseases. Sally is one of 14 youth in the State of Alabama who has received the Congressional Gold Medal of Service Award since its inception by Congress in 1979. The award provides a unique opportunity for young people to set and achieve personal challenging goals that build character and foster community service. Unlike many other awards, recipients do not win the Congressional Gold Medal of Service. They earn it. Sally earned this accolade by setting and achieving goals in four program areas: volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness, and explorations. In her more than 800 hours of community service, she strengthened her commitment to public service and realized the power that one individual can make in one's community and in this world. I had the great privilege of presenting the Congressional Gold Medal of Service Award to Sally 2 weeks ago on January 11, 2012, during a student assembly at Thomasville High School. I was impressed by Sally's poise, grace, and strength and her commitment to helping others. When asked about the award, Sally stated: ``Receiving the Congressional Gold Medal of Service for Youth Award has been a tremendous honor for me. I am thankful for the love and support I have been provided while working towards this award. I am extremely humbled by this honor.'' Sally's principal, Mr. Kyle Ferguson, expressed the sentiments of her teachers, advisers, and mentors when he stated: ``Sally White is without a doubt one of the most driven, goal-oriented, and conscientious young people that I have ever encountered. She is certainly operating at a level far beyond her years. We are honored that she has been with us through her high school years.'' Sally White is an excellent role model and a wonderful example of servant leadership. We should all aspire to work as hard as Sally for the good of others and for our own personal development. I want to applaud Sally's teachers, family members, friends, and the Thomasville community for helping to shape and nurture an outstanding student. On behalf of the Seventh Congressional District, the State of Alabama, and this Nation, we recognize and congratulate Sally White for receiving the Congressional Gold Medal of Service for Youth Award for her hard work, dedication, and community involvement. It is with great pride that I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Sally White for her exemplary commitment to public service.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the University of Alabama Crimson Tide for being the 2011 BCS champions. Roll Tide. The State of Alabama is still number one in college football. For the past 3 consecutive years, a team from the State of Alabama has won the national championship trophy. The University of Alabama has been the national champs twice in the last 3 years. The championship game between Alabama and LSU represents college football at its finest. Both schools have a proud and very rich tradition in football history, and the LSU Tigers should be commended for an outstanding season. While both teams deserve recognition, in the end, Alabama beat LSU with a final score of 21-0. I want to congratulate the coaches, staff, team, and the entire university family and fans for an amazing season. It was your hard work, persistence, leadership, and commitment all season long that made this decisive victory become a reality. The University of Alabama has had a long-standing tradition of excellence in collegiate football. This year's victory represented the 14th national championship title for the University of Alabama. Since being founded in 1892, the Crimson Tide football program has achieved 813 victories in the NCAA Division I and 26 conference championships. The Crimson Tide also sets an NCAA record with 58 post-season bowl appearances. The Tide leads the SEC West Division with seven division titles and seven appearances in the SEC Championship Game. This entire team deserves recognition and honor. I want to especially acknowledge Trent Richardson, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist and winner of this year's Nation's Most Outstanding Running Back. I would also like to acknowledge Barrett Jones, who was the 2011 Outland Trophy winner for the Nation's best interior lineman in college football. This championship team also includes six players who were selected for the 2011 Associated Press All-America Team: Mark Barron, Dont'a Hightower, Barrett Jones, Trent Richardson, Courtney Upshaw, and Dre Kirkpatrick. This year's team was truly a force to be reckoned with. This win not only represents a victory for the University of Alabama football team, but it also is a unifying victory for the State of Alabama, who suffered so much during the devastation of the April tornados. This victory shows the resilient spirit of Alabamians and reflects our hope for a better future. I speak on behalf of the constituents of the Seventh Congressional District, the great State of Alabama, and this Nation as I express how proud we are of the players, coaches, and athletic staff of the University of Alabama for making this victory possible and helping our communities heal. I also want to thank Representative Cassidy of Louisiana for being such a good sport and looking so dapper today in his brand-new Crimson Tide tie and attire. What an addition to your wardrobe. I urge my colleagues to please join me in celebrating the achievements of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and its outstanding athletes on their 2011 BCS championship victory. Roll Tide.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, instead of doing what's best for the American people, we are once again dealing with the same old partisan politics that has plagued this Congress this entire year. The Senate amended and passed a bipartisan bill that would extend the payroll cuts for millions of workers and families and protect unemployment benefits for Americans while ensuring our seniors have access to critical health care. This Senate version reflects a compromise that was negotiated in good faith, Mr. Speaker, by both Senate Democrats as well as Senate Republicans. It was overwhelmingly approved by 89 Senators, including 39 Republican Senators. As Members of Congress, it is absurd, I believe, that we are being deprived the opportunity--denied the opportunity--to vote for a bill that would add certainty to the economy and to the people that we represent. It is unacceptable that some of my Republican colleagues in the House have once again refused to compromise. Our constituents elected us here to make their lives better, not worse. This latest Republican grandstand will cost the American public dearly. As a result, 160 million middle class Americans will see a payroll tax increase, and over 2 million Americans, including almost 25,000 Alabamians, will begin losing their unemployment benefits. While I had hoped for a 1-year extension, like many here, this 2- month compromise is better than the alternative, which is to let millions of Americans suffer economic hardship. It was Martin Luther King who said that the time is always right to do what is right. It is right this holiday season to make sure that the American public enjoys the blessings of this holiday season by being assured of the protections that they've already so greatly earned.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. I thank the ranking member for allowing me this time. Today I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3630, which makes dramatic and harmful changes to the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. It makes significant cuts to Medicare that would hurt our Nation's seniors. This bill contains political and controversial language that should be discussed and debated in separate legislation. Before Congress breaks for this year, we need to pass a bill that solely focuses on extending relief to the unemployed workers and middle class Americans who are still suffering in this recovering economy. This is not the time to play with the livelihood of millions of Americans. Our voters sent us here to make their lives better, not more difficult. We were sent here to create jobs and stimulate the economy and protect our most vulnerable. To accomplish these goals, it will require a willing and compromising spirit. The folks of the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama, that I am so proud to represent, want me to put people before politics and do what is in their best interest and not partisan interests. The American people expect and deserve more, not less from us. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 3630.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of workers, families, and middle class Americans across the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama and across this entire Nation who have lost their jobs as a result of the deepest economic recession since the Great Depression. In my district of the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama and across this Nation, the number one issue is job creation. While some progress has been made in turning our economy around, there is still so much work to be done in order to encourage job creation. Recent reports indicate that the Nation's private employers created approximately 200,000 new jobs during November. While this number shows that our economy is slowly recovering and growing, we cannot forget about the millions of Americans who have been diligently searching for work but who have not been successful in doing so. Congress must extend unemployment benefits for the hardworking Americans who have lost their jobs due to no fault of their own-- rather, due to the economic downturn. These workers should also be given the necessary assistance to provide for their families during this difficult time. Nearly one-third of America's 14 million unemployed have had no jobs for a year or more. In fact, long-term unemployment data suggests that about 2 million people have used up the 99 weeks of unemployment benefits, but they still cannot find work. Congress has never allowed emergency unemployment programs to expire when the unemployment rate has exceeded 7.2 percent. With our Nation's unemployment rate hovering around 9 percent, now is not the time to allow these essential benefits to expire. In my home State of Alabama, unemployment and poverty rates have both increased dramatically in the wake of the most recent recession. In parts of the district that I represent, unemployment rates are as high as 19 percent. These persistently high unemployment numbers demonstrate the need for Federal unemployment assistance, and it remains a critical lifeline to many of the constituents I represent. The Census Bureau states that unemployment benefits kept nearly 3.2 million Americans, including 900,000 children, from slipping into poverty last year. Without action, more than 2 million Americans will be cut off from unemployment insurance by mid-February of next year. The potential effects of this lapse in benefits would devastate millions of Americans and millions of households across this Nation. We all understand that extending these unemployment insurance benefits is a temporary fix to a much larger problem. As Members of Congress, we must move quickly to adopt a comprehensive jobs plan that will aid businesses and communities in developing and growing. We must draft legislation that will promote an entrepreneurial climate and support American businesses globally. Now is the time that we must act. The American people want a comprehensive jobs plan. Until then, we have to extend unemployment benefits to help those millions of Americans who are desperately looking for work and can't find it. I urge my colleagues to put partisanship aside. Party politics has no place when we're talking about the betterment and advancement of our Nation. Unemployed Americans, struggling families and communities across this Nation cannot wait. We must act now.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Ethel Harris Hall, who passed away last Saturday at the age of 83. Dr. Ethel Hall was one of Alabama's premier educators and one of our Nation's strongest advocates for children. She was the first African American to serve on the Alabama State Board of Education, and she was the first African American and the longest-serving vice chairman of the board of education. She served as the State board of education's vice president for 10 years and presided over meetings in the absence of the Governor. Dr. Ethel Hall retired 10 months ago after serving on the Alabama State Board of Education for 24 years. Dr. Ethel Hall was born to Harry and Fannie Mae Harris on February 23, 1928. The Harris family lived in Morgan County, Alabama, and due to the limited educational opportunities in their area, they sent their daughter to live with her grandparents in Jefferson County so she could attend school in north Birmingham. She attended Parker High School in Birmingham until she moved back home with her parents to attend Council Training School, a laboratory high school of Alabama A&M. She graduated valedictorian of her high school class and then attended Alabama A&M University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree cum laude in 1948. Dr. Ethel Hall went on to obtain master's degrees from the University of Chicago and Atlanta University. She taught in the Hale County, Jefferson County, and Birmingham city school systems, and later became the first African American faculty member of the University of Montevallo. Dr. Ethel Hall continued to further her education by attending the University of Alabama where she earned a Doctorate of Social Work in 1979. She later taught in the School of Social Work at the University of Alabama. After decades of teaching, Dr. Ethel Hall entered politics, and she was elected the first African American member of the Alabama State Board of Education on January 19, 1987. She went on to serve six terms before becoming vice chair in 1994. Dr. Ethel Hall served on the State board of education for 24 years and was named vice president emerita. Dr. Hall served on the State board of education during many of its tumultuous battles over issues such as funding levels in schools, teacher testing, accountability standards for schools, and academic standards for students. In making these tough decisions, she also remained principled, putting Alabama's children first. Dr. Ethel Hall wrote about her long career in education in a recently published autobiography, ``My Journey: A Memoir of the first African American to Preside Over the Alabama Board of Education.'' I rise today to remember Dr. Ethel Hall on the floor of the United States Congress as a trailblazing Alabamian, a gifted teacher, and a strong advocate for the education of our Nation's children. Dr. Hall was a mentor to so many educators throughout the State of Alabama and this Nation, including my own mother, Mrs. Nancy Gardner Sewell. Through her numerous mentoring relationships, Dr. Hall encouraged teachers to use their talents to positively affect the lives of the students they taught. Not only did she lead by example; she also trained and mentored the next generation of educational leaders. Indeed, my generation owes pioneers like Dr. Hall a debt of gratitude. Dr. Ethel Hall sowed the seeds for the opportunities that now flourish for so many. I know that I stand on the shoulders of many great giants like Dr. Ethel Hall. On election night, November 2, 2010, several trailblazing Alabama women made the trip to Selma, Alabama, to be there when I was elected. I will never forget that Dr. Ethel Hall was one of them. Her presence meant so much to me, more than she will ever know. It was her light that guided the path that led me to become Alabama's first African American Congresswoman. Dr. Ethel Hall was the epitome of a servant leader. She led by example and was motivated by a driving passion that all children deserve a quality education. Dr. Hall was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Mr. Alfred Hall. She is survived by two children, Donna and Alfred, and a host of family and friends who will miss her dearly. Today, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the life and legacy of this extraordinary Alabamian. Let Dr. Hall's life stand as a testament to the courage and strength of one individual's ability to shape the lives of so many. We should be renewed by her love of learning and recommit ourselves to providing the resources that our Nation's greatest advocate--its children--need. I ask that we all pay tribute and homage to Dr. Ethel Hall.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Thank you very much. I am indeed delighted to join my colleagues in discussing making it in America. I think you will all agree that any playbook about job creation must have as its cornerstone the creation of jobs in our small businesses. And so today I rise in support of small businesses and entrepreneurs across the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama, and indeed this Nation. As America recovers from our economic recession, we must continue to make strategic policy decisions that benefit our economy and encourage job creation. Small businesses play a critical role in our economy. They provide jobs, they spur innovation, they indeed strengthen our economy. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and are responsible for generating half of the Nation's gross national product as well as employing over half of its workforce. In fact, over the past decade and a half, America's small businesses and entrepreneurs have created 65 percent of all new jobs in this country. That is why I introduced H.R. 1730, the Small Business Start-Up Savings Account Act. More entrepreneurs will benefit if they are provided better incentives that will allow them to save and start a new business. On average, an entrepreneur who wants to launch a new business spends on average $80,000 in their first year in startup costs. Entrepreneurs often go into debt to start their own businesses. Many even use their savings from their retirement accounts to build the capital they need to run those small businesses. This bill will allow entrepreneurs to save up to $10,000 per year tax free so they can start their own small businesses. Once an individual starts their small business, funds from a savings account can be used for their operating expenses. The government can't guarantee a company's success--I think all of us would agree with that--but the government can knock down barriers that prevent hardworking Americans from starting their own businesses. Innovation is the key to keeping America number one, and small businesses have always been at the forefront of American innovation. We can't expect to start and continue to be competitive in a global economy without making small businesses and the creation of small businesses the centerpiece of our playbook. As we continue to build our economy, we must give entrepreneurs incentives and the tools they need to prosper right here in America. When American small businesses are given the opportunity to grow and thrive, they help rebuild our country, our country's middle class, and strengthen our economy. We must recommit ourselves to helping create businesses right here in America. My colleagues have been talking about rebuilding in America and investing in what's good in America. Our small businesses are where it's at. They create the bright and prosperous future that we as Americans want to ensure. Small businesses will help to out-innovate and out-build our other competitors globally. I urge my colleagues to join with me in standing up for small businesses and entrepreneurs across this great Nation and support H.R. 1730, the Small Business Start-Up Savings Act. Now is the time to blend bold, new initiatives with commonsense solutions so that we can strengthen our economy and create jobs right here in America. I thank my colleagues for letting me join them in this hour in promoting all that is good in America, and in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship right here in America by supporting our small businesses. Thank you very much.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. I thank the gentlelady from Ohio for leading this wonderful Special Order hour, and I rise this evening to express my concerns about the voter ID legislation being passed in States across this country. The State of Alabama and other States have passed a law that requires voters to use a photo to ID to be valid. Now I believe that these types of voter ID laws are really implemented in order to discourage and delay full voter participation in communities across this Nation. It has been alleged by some that voter ID laws are needed to prevent fraud and protect voters who are being victimized. Some political pundits have been taking shots at my own district in Alabama, in particular, alleging blatant voter fraud. Now I have received numerous feedback from my constituents to the contrary. In fact, my constituents attest that they are offended at the very thought that these voter ID laws are allegedly about voter protection. The fact is that these voter ID laws are about voter suppression, not voter protection. These laws are in search of a problem that does not exist. Between 2002 and 2005, just 24 people were convicted of or pled guilty at the Federal level to illegal voting. The reality is that 11 percent of U.S. citizens, or more than 21 million Americans, do not have government-issued photo identification. Also, as many as 25 percent of all African American citizens of voting age do not have government-issued photo IDs. Voter ID laws have a disproportionate and unfair impact on low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, senior citizens, voters with disabilities and others. Many of these individuals do not have government-issued ID or the money to acquire one. It is our obligation as legislators to work to ensure that all American citizens are given the opportunity to express their opinions by using the ballot box. The right to vote is especially sacred in my district where people marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma for the right to vote. As the daughter of a stroke victim who is now wheelchair-dependent, it is frightening to think that had this law in Alabama been in effect during my election, my very own father would not have possessed a valid photo ID because his driver's license has expired. His struggle is indicative of the struggles of so many disabled Americans who will be disproportionately affected by this law. We cannot stand idly by while citizens across this country are being disenfranchised and discouraged from exercising their right to vote. Now let me be clear. Voter fraud should not be tolerated and, if discovered, should be prosecuted. Voter fraud is a serious crime. A person who commits voter fraud in a Federal election risks spending 5 years in jail and having to pay a $10,000 fine, and rightfully so. We can all agree that our current elections system is in need of some repair. However, the current debate about voter ID and voter fraud distracts us from the real problems with our elections system. We need a progressive system that encourages voting through same-day registration and early voting laws, laws that would make it easier for citizens to exercise their right to vote. The government should be in the business of encouraging, not discouraging people from voting. As Americans, we can do better. And as legislators, we owe it to the people that we represent to make sure that we do. We cannot compromise the integrity of our democratic system and reverse the enormous progress that our country has made by implementing laws that will seek to discriminate. Now, in protecting my constituents in the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama and in this Nation, I will continue to work with my colleagues and Representatives like Congresswoman Fudge to make sure that we vigilantly ensure that States' voter ID laws protect and not suppress all voters. I thank the gentlelady for yielding.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, during this CBC Special Order hour, we're going to honor the life and legacy of Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. And I rise today to pay tribute to a great civil rights leader, Reverend Fred Lee Shuttlesworth, who passed away yesterday at the age of 89. Reverend Shuttlesworth was a passionate advocate for equal rights and a courageous Freedom Rider. He was one of the leaders of the civil rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama, and a cofounder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, SCLC. Martin Luther King considered Reverend Shuttlesworth the most courageous civil rights fighter in the South. Born in Mount Meigs, Alabama, on March 18, 1922, Reverend Shuttlesworth was raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Brought up by his tough-minded mother, Mrs. Alberta Robinson Shuttlesworth Webb, Reverend Shuttlesworth developed a very powerful personality that prepared him for his civil rights leadership in Alabama. Reverend Shuttlesworth was a bright student and graduated valedictorian of his class at Rosedale High School in 1940. Shuttlesworth was compassionate. He was captivating, both as a student, and then later as a minister. He was captivated by the Baptist denomination and felt called to the ministry. He graduated from Alabama State College--now known as Alabama State University--in 1952 and became the pastor of the historic First Baptist Church in Selma, Alabama. In 1953, Reverend Shuttlesworth took over as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in North Birmingham, Alabama. Reverend Shuttlesworth soon became the most publicized crusader in the history of Birmingham, Alabama. He became active in the voter registration efforts of the NAACP and in the Civic League's attempts to clean up saloons. In 1955, Reverend Shuttlesworth supported the Montgomery Bus Boycott that was set in motion by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat. When an Alabama Circuit Court injunction stopped the NAACP's operation in the State of Alabama, Reverend Shuttlesworth founded the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights in June of 1956. The weekly meetings of this wonderful organization became the mouthpiece for the masses of African Americans in Birmingham, Alabama, for over a decade. In 1957, Reverend Shuttlesworth helped fellow ministers and civil rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr., and Ralph David Abernathy found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which became the most important civil rights organization in the South during the 1960s. Reverend Shuttlesworth was an inspiration to other activists because of his strong commitment to the fight for equality, which often put him and his family in harm's way. He was the target of two bombings. When Shuttlesworth and his wife attempted to enroll their children in a previously all-white Birmingham public school in 1957, a mob of Klansmen attacked him. Shuttlesworth was beaten with chains and brass knuckles in the streets while someone stabbed his wife during this altercation. His personal courage and sacrifice encouraged others to join the movement as well. Shuttlesworth participated in the sit-ins against segregated lunch counters in 1960 and took part in the organization and completion of the Freedom Rides in 1961. Reverend Shuttlesworth willingly stood up against the brutal tactics of Public Safety Commissioner Eugene ``Bull'' Connor, as he was known, in the fight for civil rights. The civil rights movement climaxed in 1963 when Shuttlesworth convinced Martin Luther King, Jr., and the SCLC to come to Birmingham, Alabama, for a massive campaign against segregation. In response to the campaign, Bull Connor released police dogs on activists and had activists sprayed with intense fire hose streams so powerful they could knock bark off a tree from 100 feet away. These egregious actions were captured on national television and published in newspapers across this country. The national attention led to Federal intervention and the signing of the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 and, later, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Reverend Shuttlesworth was at the heart of this monumental victory as he poured his soul into the civil rights movement. Although Shuttlesworth remained active in the movement in Alabama and regularly visited, he did move in 1961 to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was a pastor for most of the next 47 years. In Cincinnati, Shuttlesworth became the pastor of the Greater New Light Baptist Church in 1966 and worked to continue his work to fight against racism and for the alleviation of the problems of the homeless until he retired in 2007. Upon his retirement, Reverend Shuttlesworth moved back to Birmingham, Alabama. I know that the City of Birmingham is very proud of its native son and the role he played in the civil rights movement. In 1988, the Birmingham City Council approved an order to rename a 4-mile stretch of road F.L. Shuttlesworth Drive. In addition, the City of Birmingham erected a statue of Reverend Shuttlesworth outside the Civil Rights Institute when it opened in 1992. The Birmingham Airport Authority also renamed the Birmingham International Airport the Birmingham- Shuttlesworth International Airport in his honor. On behalf of a grateful Nation, Reverend Shuttlesworth was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Bill Clinton on January 8, 2001. Mr. Shuttlesworth was married to Sephira Bailey Shuttlesworth, and he was the proud father of four--Patricia, Ruby, Fred, Jr., and Carolyn. He also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Now, over the years, Reverend Shuttlesworth has distinguished himself and been honored by numerous awards. His leadership that he showed this Nation in fighting against racism is second to none. The people of the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama--that I am so grateful to represent--commends him for his wonderful efforts. And as the first black Congresswoman elected from the State of Alabama, I know I stand on the shoulders of Reverend Shuttlesworth. I would not be here today had it not been for his sacrifice and the sacrifice of so many. His commitment to the racial equality and justice for all is a message that will inspire people for generations to come. I, therefore, Representative to this U.S. Congress from the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama, do hereby recognize Reverend Fred Lee Shuttlesworth for his numerous contributions, not only to the Seventh Congressional District and the State of Alabama but to our wonderful Nation. I ask those present today to join me in honoring Reverend Shuttlesworth and commending him for his many achievements on behalf of a grateful Nation. I know that many of my colleagues will join me during this hour to commemorate his life and legacy. I now yield time to our CBC chairman, the gentleman from Missouri, Emanuel Cleaver, for his comments on Reverend Shuttlesworth's wonderful life.

Ms. SEWELL. I would like to thank all of my colleagues for participating in this Special Order hour, celebrating the life and legacy of such a great Alabaman, of such a great American, Reverend Fred Lee Shuttlesworth. To his family--his wife and children and grandchildren--I want to say thank you on behalf of a grateful Nation for the sacrifices that you as a family had to make in order for this wonderful man to be able to lead a movement from Birmingham that affected the whole world. I am eternally grateful, personally, for your friendship, Mrs. Shuttlesworth, as well as for your enduring sacrifice. Know that we here in Congress understand how important his life's work was, that we take seriously the mantle that he left behind--his commitment to equality, his commitment to justice for all. I know I am personally so grateful for the opportunity to have met him before he died and to be able to tell him personally thank you for what he did for me as a little black girl, growing up in Selma, Alabama, to be able to even dream of someday being in this august body. It was Shirley Chisholm, the first African American to sit in these seats in Congress, who said: ``Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this Earth.'' I know that Reverend Shuttlesworth has made more than just a deposit towards that rent. He's opened the doors, so many doors for so many of us to walk through, and for that I just want to say thank you. Thank you. We are awfully humbled by the fact that we have an opportunity to pay tribute to such a wonderful man. In closing I just want to say thanks to this august body for allowing us the opportunity to celebrate the life of such a wonderful American. And we say in closing, while we may say farewell to Reverend Shuttlesworth now, we in America know that it was because of the work that he did that we have held fast as America and made sure that we held up to the ideals of what it is to be American, that is, the ideals of equality and the ideals of democracy. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SEWELL. Thank you so much, Congressman Lewis. I also am always constantly in awe of our next presenter. I yield time to not only a wonderful sister in Congress but also a real leader in Congress, my mentor, the gentlelady from Texas, Sheila Jackson Lee.

Ms. SEWELL. Thank you so much. I was born in Selma, Alabama, and raised in Selma, and my home church is Brown Chapel AME Church. And I remember so many commemorations of the march from Selma to Montgomery always culminated on that Sunday when they commemorate Bloody Sunday in my church. And I can remember often seeing Reverend Shuttlesworth at Brown Chapel and crossing that Edmund Pettus Bridge that he did so often in those commemorations. My last time seeing him, he participated in a Faith in Politics luncheon that we had this past year, this past March and when I was so honored to co-host that Faith in Politics pilgrimage back to Alabama with Congressman Lewis. I know that my generation owes a debt of gratitude to the Freedom Riders, to the folks, the civil rights activists such as Reverend Shuttlesworth and John Lewis. We owe so much to them. We not only stand on their shoulders, but we pay honor and tribute to them always. They fought the good fight so that people like us could go to Ivy League schools, could walk the Halls of Congress, and I'm just forever grateful for their courage and their sacrifice. I am equally thrilled to now yield time to Congressman John Lewis of Georgia. The gentleman from Georgia is one of my own personal heroes and will speak to knowing Fred Shuttlesworth personally and talk of the times in the sixties that they shared together. I am just immensely honored to be able to call Congressman Lewis a friend as well as colleague.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Today I rise to express my condolences and heartfelt wishes for the family of Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, who passed this morning. Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth was an icon of the civil rights movement. I know that in Birmingham, Alabama, we hold him in high esteem, and today I just wanted to make sure that my colleagues knew that Reverend Shuttlesworth passed this morning. I know in the days and weeks to come we will celebrate his life and memorialize him in proper form, but today I rise just to acknowledge his wonderful work and to make sure that his family knew that we as Americans truly appreciate their sacrifice and his wonderful accomplishments to making this country as great as it can be, and making sure that this country upholds its ideals of equality and justice for all.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 692, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. As a freshman Member of this distinguished body, I am completely disappointed in our failure to work together. Our constituents sent us here to solve America's problems, not create more problems for them. The constituents of the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama sent me here to make sure that I better their lives, not create fear and instability. The entire world is watching us, and what are we showing them? We're showing them that we're completely detached from reality. We're showing them that we don't care about what their families, local governments, States, and businesses are facing. America's debts are serious. We all know that. We have to put our fiscal house in order. No one is disputing that. It's how we go about it. No matter how we got here, we have bills to pay and we must pay our bills. That's what we, as Americans, do. We pay our bills. The Republican bill that's before us does not do that. What it does is it holds hostage America's promise, the promise that we made to students and to seniors for Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid. It's unfair. I ask my colleagues in this House to vote against the bill on the floor.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. I rise today to recognize the 145th anniversary of Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Selma, Alabama. For 145 years, Brown Chapel has been a pillar in the Selma community, and she stands today as a powerful symbol of the civil rights movement for the major role that this church played in the events that led to the adoption of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. One hundred forty-five years ago, just 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, freed slaves began worshipping, first in private homes, and eventually in the basement of the Hotel Albert in Selma, Alabama. One hundred forty-five years ago, on August 31, 1867, an African Methodist Episcopal missionary, Brother John Turner, addressed the group assembled in the basement of the Hotel Albert and extended them an invitation to unite with the African Methodist Episcopal connection. Two years later, in 1869, these visionary church members bought a plot of land on Sylvan Street, now known as Martin Luther King Street. This beautiful edifice of Brown Chapel that stands today, with its imposing twin towers and Romanesque revival styling, was built in 1908 by a black builder, Mr. A.J. Farley. Today, we celebrate 145 years of Brown Chapel--a history of faith, courage, and leadership. It took great courage in the early 1960s to defy an injunction that forbade all churches in Selma, Alabama, from holding mass meetings. Most churches in Selma refused to disobey the court order, but Brown Chapel opened its doors to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and became that wonderful church of courage that played such an integral role in the civil rights movement. Brown Chapel became an icon of the movement. It was from Brown Chapel that they marched on Bloody Sunday, 2 days later on Turnaround Tuesday, and on March 21, 1965, the day when the Selma to Montgomery march was finally completed. Leading the infamous Bloody Sunday was Hosea Williams, as well as our esteemed colleague in this Chamber, Congressman John Lewis of Georgia. The story of Bloody Sunday will go down in the annals of history as a pivotal event in the civil rights movement. On March 7, 1965, at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, six blocks from Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, mounted troops confronted the marchers on that bridge. Sheriff Jim Clark and his posse charged the marchers with tear gas and with billy clubs. That night, ABC News interrupted regularly scheduled programs to air footage of Bloody Sunday. By morning, news of the event had spread to nearly every American household, and thousands of supporters began to walk to Selma. The Selma to Montgomery march and the subsequent outrage led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. For 145 years, Brown Chapel has been a powerful agent of change. It has been a place where socioeconomic and racial barriers have been challenged, a place where barriers that divide our Nation have been broken down. Brown Chapel continues to make history. On March 4, 2007, then- Senator Barack Obama, a Presidential candidate, gave the address for the annual Bridge Crossing Commemoration. It was during this address in 2007 that Barack Obama thanked the ``Moses Generation'' and challenged the ``Joshua Generation.'' In his famous ``Joshua Generation'' speech, Obama asked what the present generation would do to fulfill the legacy, the obligations, and the debts that we owe to the people before them. As a proud member of Brown Chapel Church, I had the privilege of being there that day. And for me, his words were a call to action. It was because people prayed in Brown Chapel and people marched on the Edmund Pettus Bridge that a little black girl from Selma, Alabama, could dream and could one day stand here in this wonderful Chamber as the first black Congresswoman from the State of Alabama. Brown Chapel has been a pillar in my hometown of Selma, Alabama; and it still remains so today. I am a proud member of this church and have been for the last 30 years of my life. I was raised in this beautiful historic church, and I know its significance. I am now proud to represent the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama and proud of the many giants on whose shoulders I stand. In honor of the 145th anniversary of the historic Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, I, Terri A. Sewell, Representative to the United States Congress from the Seventh District of Alabama, do hereby recognize Brown Chapel for its numerous contributions to the city of Selma, the State of Alabama, and this Nation. I ask those present today to join me in celebrating 145 years of historic Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the accomplishments of Mr. Frederick Douglas Williams III of Selma, Alabama, a great American and a trailblazing Alabamian. After more than 50 years in the floral business, Mr. Fred D. Williams III retired on June 30, 2011. A fixture in the Selma community for more than five decades, Fred Williams has provided his floral expertise to countless families for weddings, funerals, graduations and other special occasions in the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama and throughout the Southeast. Fred's Flower and Gift Shop opened on October 15, 1956, and served as a vital part of the Selma community. Fred Williams comes from a family of public servants and entrepreneurs. His parents were pillars in the City of Selma and served as role models for the entire community. His mother, Ms. Mary Ellen Richardson Williams, was a beloved educator; and his father, Fred D. Williams, Jr., was a wise and generous business owner. His father owned J.H. Williams & Sons Funeral Home, established in 1905 and still in operation today in Selma, Alabama. The Williams family were pioneers in a time when African American businesses were few or nonexistent. The opening of Fred's Flower and Gift Shop was an extension of his family legacy. Fred Williams spent most of his formative years in Selma. He moved with his family to Richmond, Virginia, in the 1950s where he graduated from Maggie L. Walker High School. He then went on to attend the historic Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. After graduation, he returned to his hometown of Selma and opened his flower shop in 1956. For 45 years, Fred Williams was married to Martha J. Williams, who passed away on July 15, 2003. Their marriage was blessed with two children: Kay Frances Williams, who is married to Earl Johnson of Alexandria, Virginia; and Kimberly Joyce Williams, who is married to John Dylan of Bloomington, Minnesota. He has two beautiful granddaughters: McKenzie, who is 13; and Madison, who is 7. For over 50 years, as Selma's premier florist, Fred Williams shared his creative genius, creating exquisite floral arrangements, providing supreme service to his loyal customers, and serving as an inspiration to all small businesses. Fred Williams is loved, admired, and highly respected by the entire Selma community, and I am honored to call him ``Uncle Fred.'' His retirement will be a great loss to the business community, but I know that his commitment to bettering Selma will remain unwavering. On a personal note, I grew up in the Williams household, and his daughter Kim and I were childhood best friends. In fact, there is not a childhood memory that I have that does not include the Williams family or my many visits to Fred's Florist. Because of the closeness of my family that we shared with the Williams family over these many years, I have always affectionately known him as ``Uncle Fred.'' Through his business and philanthropy, Uncle Fred has made an indelible mark on the community in Selma, Alabama, and I am extremely grateful for the part that he played in raising me. I would like to sincerely thank him for his fortitude and over 50 years of service. The community of Selma and the State of Alabama appreciates your public service and commitment to business excellence. Therefore, I, Terri Sewell, Representative to the United States Congress from the Seventh District of Alabama, do hereby recognize Mr. Fred D. Williams III for his numerous contributions to the City of Selma, Alabama. I ask those present today to join me in honoring Fred D. Williams III for his retirement and commending him for his many achievements on behalf of the State of Alabama.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a great Alabamian and resident of the Seventh Congressional District, Mr. Ethime Emonina who passed away July 10, 2011 at the young age of 34. Mr. Emonina was a remarkable educator, mentor, musician and inspiration to all who encountered him. As a band instructor in the Tuscaloosa City Schools system, he inspired students to excel in their musical craft and to pursue their dreams of becoming musicians. He encouraged countless students to attend college, many on band scholarships. His unique style and spirit warmed the hearts of many, and his trademark smile could not help but solicit a smile in return. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 18, 1977, to Mr. and Mrs. Godwin and Lucy Eldridge Emonina, he displayed an early love for music. His multitude of talent led him to play the trumpet and piano, among many other instruments. Mr. Emonina graduated from Central High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1995, where he left his mark as one of the greatest drum majors in the school's history. He went on to earn a B.A. degree from Jackson State University in 2000. Upon receiving this degree, Mr. Emonina began instructing the band at Eastwood Middle school where he remained until he was offered and accepted a position as director of bands at Paul W. Bryant High School in August 2007. He served in this position until his untimely death. Mr. Emonina, with his love of learning, had just completed and was awarded a Master's degree in Instructional Leadership at the University of West Alabama and was looking forward to applying his degree as an administrator in the Tuscaloosa City School System. He received numerous awards from childhood to adulthood for excellence in everything from school performance to instructing the band. Mr. Emonina was married to the former Chrishan Garraway and was the father of two children: Christian, age 9 and Ethan, age 2. He was the loving brother of Ovuke and Ventedric Emonina, and was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Over the years, Mr. Emonina has impacted the lives of many students in countless ways. He built a well-deserved reputation as a strict disciplinarian, mentor, teacher, motivator, father figure and friend. He was a true gift to us all and will be missed. His band has a saying, ``Love the band and the band loves you back.'' Mr. Emonina surely loved the band and the band, the community, his family and the people of the Seventh Congressional District, the State of Alabama and this Nation will greatly miss him. Therefore I, Terri A. Sewell, Representative to the United States Congress from the 7th Congressional District of Alabama, do hereby honor the legacy of Mr. Ethime Emonina for his numerous contributions to the 7th Congressional District, the State of Alabama, and the Nation. I ask all to join me in honoring the life of a remarkable man and commending his many achievements on behalf of the State of Alabama.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I was meeting with constituents and unfortunately missed the last vote on H.R. 2278. Had I been here, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American, Mr. James Armstrong of Birmingham, Alabama, and the inspiring documentary of his life entitled ``The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement.'' This film had its world premiere in January at the Sundance Film Festival and later won Best Documentary Short at the Ashland Independent Film Festival. In March, the city of Birmingham hosted a red carpet screening of this wonderful movie, and it was attended by over 2,000 Alabamians. It was featured at the Alabama Theater, a venue that once refused admission to African Americans. Tonight we will celebrate ``The Barber of Birmingham'' with its Washington, D.C., premiere. Later this week, the documentary will be screened at the Silverdocs festival in Silver Spring, Maryland. Mr. Speaker, the screening of this film and its historic accounts are deserving of tribute. I commend the independent filmmakers and codirectors, Robin Fryday and the late Gail Dolgin, for their collaborative vision in capturing the essence of Mr. James Armstrong's life, a Birmingham legend and civil rights activist. This documentary celebrates the thousands of foot soldiers whose names are not written in the history books but on whose shoulders we all stand. I applaud the directors for their wonderful rendition of Mr. James Armstrong's life. I applaud Gail Dolgin for her steadfast determination to battle breast cancer while codirecting and editing the film from her hospice bed in order to submit the film for the Sundance Film Festival. She died 2 weeks prior. I pay homage to Ms. Amelia Boynton of Selma, who was interviewed and provided historical accounts for segments of the film. The film also visited and revisited the news footage of the beating of Ms. Amelia Boynton and others that endured beatings on Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday during their march for the Voting Rights Act. Though she is ill, Ms. Boynton was determined to travel the distance to be a part of tonight's premiere. I am inspired by the courage and determination displayed by Ms. Boynton, who, at 99 years old, would not be deterred and will be here tonight at the premiere of ``The Barber of Birmingham'' right here at the Capitol Visitor's Center. James Armstrong, who died at 81 in November 2009, lived to see the fulfillment of his dream when our Nation elected its first African American President. I recognize him for a symbol of everything that is good and right and great in this Nation. For over 50 years, Mr. Armstrong ran a barber shop in Birmingham, Alabama. It served as a community hub for discussions of current events, like the Voting Rights Act, education, and other civil rights issues. Mr. James Armstrong was a World War II Army veteran, and he made his mark on the civil rights movement as a foot soldier who carried the American flag at the head of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march, Bloody Sunday, as it's known. When authorities turned on the marchers that day, Mr. Armstrong dropped to his knees, but he never let go of that flag. Proudly, James Armstrong carried that flag until the day he died in 2009 for every commemoration of the Bloody Sunday march. As many in this august body will note, our colleague, the Honorable John Lewis of Georgia, was among the foot soldiers of this historic march. I salute Mr. Armstrong and his sons, Dwight and Floyd, for fulfilling the destiny meant for them. He and his sons filed a discrimination lawsuit that encouraged Blacks to actually attend elementary schools in the Deep South, breaking barriers in public education in Birmingham and throughout the South. They filed a desegregation lawsuit in 1963. The Armstrongs lived close to where civil rights activist the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth's home was bombed, and where the four little Black girls were killed in the 16th Avenue Baptist Church just 5 days after they integrated Graymont Elementary School. Dwight and Floyd needed a Federal escort to school for 2 years and were guarded at night with shotguns by members of the Alabama Christian Movement For Human Rights. Now, these selfless acts by James, Floyd, and Dwight Armstrong added significantly to the quality of life of all citizens in Alabama and in Birmingham. That is why I stand before you today to recognize Mr. James Armstrong, a proud American, a proud Alabamian, for his unrelenting dedication to the civil rights movement. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a point of personal privilege. Growing up in Selma, Alabama, I take great pride in paying tribute to a film that not only shares our painful history, but also celebrates our time-tested resiliency through the life of James Armstrong and other unsung foot soldiers and heroes. This documentary, which people will be able to see in theaters in New York and Los Angeles in August and September, should motivate us all to protect the right to vote for every single American citizen. The film should also inspire all citizens of every age, race, or gender to cherish the right to vote and to use it to advance this great Nation for the benefit of all people. I look forward to attending the Capitol Hill premiere tonight and urge all to see The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.