Terri Sewell

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I join in honoring the incredible legacy of Alabama's own Tuskegee Airmen, and paying my respects to Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy who was among the last of the original Tuskegee Airmen before he passed away in September. We owe him an enormous debt of gratitude that we will never fully repay. The legacy of the Tuskegee Airman is one of extraordinary courage and sacrifice that must never be forgotten or erased. In 1941, the United States Army launched what it called ``an experiment''--the segregated 99th Fighter Squadron. It was decided that the squadron would train at an airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama, and thus, the Tuskegee Airmen were born. More than 16,000 brave men and women participated in the ``Tuskegee Experience'' between 1941 and 1949, including 992 pilots who flew with distinction during World War II. Despite enduring the cruel injustice of segregation here at home, the aviators and support personnel persevered. They escorted bombers with unmatched skill, earned the respect of their peers, helped the Allied Forces defeat the Nazis, and paved the way for the desegregation of our military. The Tuskegee Airmen embody the very definition of American patriotism. They bravely fought and died for our freedoms before this nation even granted them the full benefits of citizenship. That is the depth of love of country that the Tuskegee Airmen so honorably displayed. Their story is not just Black history; it is American history. It is a story of excellence despite incredible odds, of patriotism in the face of discrimination, and of service without reservation. At this perilous time in our Nation's history, it has never been more important to keep their legacy alive. Earlier this year, on orders from President Trump, the Air Force removed references to the Tuskegee Airmen from its training curriculum. According to this administration, the heroism of the Tuskegee Airmen is nothing more than ``DEI.'' Little did President Trump know, Alabamians don't back down from a fight. When the news broke of their removal, Congressman Figures and I joined a chorus of Alabamians from every corner of our state, demanding they be reinstated. And thanks to our collective calls, they were. So today we honor the Tuskegee Airmen--and not only as heroes of war. We honor them as enduring symbols of our ongoing struggle for equality and justice. Let us recommit ourselves to that legacy. Let us ensure that their story is always taught in our schools, training programs, and public institutions. Let us ensure that every recruit, every citizen, and every generation knows who they were and why they matter. May their courage continue to inspire us, and may we always honor their service--not just in memory, but in education, in policy, and in our national conscience.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. Just like the rest of America, we in Alabama are facing a health crisis caused by the Republican Party. Thanks to President Trump and Republicans in Congress, more than 58,000 of my constituents in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District will see their health insurance premiums skyrocket next year. One of my constituents is a 63-year-old gentleman from Wilcox County, Alabama, in the rural part of my district. This gentleman works for the Wilcox County Water and Sewer District. Just like his coworkers, he receives health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Currently, his premiums cost $188.29 per month. After receiving his rate letter last month, he learned that his monthly premium would increase by 700 percent to more than $1,500. That is right, thanks to President Trump and Republicans in Congress, this gentleman will need to pay $1,300 more per month to keep the same healthcare plan. Mr. Speaker, this is simply outrageous. The people I represent cannot afford these ridiculous Republican price hikes. Throughout the government shutdown, and well before, Democrats have been sounding the alarm. We have been demanding that Republicans work with us to lower the cost of healthcare and address the crisis that they have caused. What did they do instead? They shut down the government and held food assistance hostage from the most vulnerable Americans. Make no mistake, the consequences of inaction will be dire. If Republicans continue down this road, millions of Americans will be forced to go without healthcare insurance, one unexpected ER visit away from bankruptcy. Those who cannot pay with their wallets will pay with their lives. Mr. Speaker, there is still time to act. We must extend the healthcare tax credits, and we must do so now. I thank my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus for this Special Order hour where we can tell the stories of our constituents. This gentleman in Wilcox County, Alabama, who pays $188 today will have to pay $1,500 next year. It is simply unacceptable, and we must do something about it. I am grateful to my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus for always standing up for the most vulnerable in our community, and I thank this gentleman from Wilcox County for sharing his rate letter, for showing us that, in fact, a 700 percent increase is simply unacceptable. It is outrageous. He will have to choose between affording healthcare insurance and simply affording his rent. It is unacceptable. We in the Congressional Black Caucus, we in the Democratic Caucus, will continue to fight for the Affordable Care Act tax credits to be extended.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate an extraordinary educator from my hometown of Selma, Alabama, Ms. Veronica Pitts, of Selma High School, for being named the National Civics Teacher of the Year by the Bill of Rights Institute. Each year, only one teacher in the Nation is selected to receive this prestigious honor, and I am thrilled that, this year, the teacher hails from Alabama's Seventh Congressional District. Ms. Pitts exemplifies the very best of what it means to be an educator and a public servant. With a deep passion for education and tireless commitment to her students, she has dedicated her career to teaching not just government and economics but the importance of civic engagement and community leadership. Through her engaging lessons, Ms. Pitts has helped her students understand that democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires informed, empowered, and active participants. Her classroom is a place where students don't just learn about the government. They learn about their role in shaping it. As the daughter of two lifelong educators who worked at Selma High School for over 36 years, I know firsthand the transformational power of good education, especially good education in Selma. I have seen what our students can do and achieve with the help of amazing teachers and wonderful role models. Teachers like Ms. Pitts do more than prepare young people for tests. They prepare them for life. They nurture curiosity, instill core values, and light the spark of leadership that will carry students far beyond the school walls. Located less than 2 miles up the road from the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge, it is only befitting that from Selma High School would emerge a teacher who is building the next generation of civic leaders, activists, and change agents. After all, it was the people of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District that brought us the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These were ordinary Americans who dared to make this Nation live up to its highest ideals of equality and justice for all. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Veronica Pitts. We are all so proud of her, and we are grateful for the work that she does each and every day to create opportunities for our students to thrive.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome to our Nation's Capitol patient advocates from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network for their annual fly-in. This week, 700 advocates representing every State and all 435 congressional delegations and districts will be raising awareness of the urgent need for policies that improve cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and patient support. It is truly an honor to have these advocates with us this week sharing their stories of resilience, loss, determination, and hope. Like so many of these advocates, I know firsthand the impact cancer can have on our families. On June 10, 2021, I lost my beloved mother, Nancy Gardner Sewell, to pancreatic cancer. Like so many patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, my mother's cancer was not detected until it was stage IV, and therefore, was not treatable. Tragically, the cancer took her life 8 short weeks after her diagnosis. It was a shock to our entire family, the lingering effects of which I feel every day. In an effort to turn my pain into passion, I made a commitment to do all that I could to prevent other families from experiencing such a painful loss. That is why I am proud to be leading legislation alongside my Republican colleague, Congressman Jodey Arrington from Texas, to expand access to early detection cancer screenings. Our bill, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, would create a pathway for Medicare to cover emerging blood tests, once FDA approved, which holds the promise of screening for up to 40 types of cancers with a single blood draw. When it comes to cancer, we know that early detection is our best protection, and that is exactly what this bill will do. It is about ensuring that those who are most at risk can catch cancer early and stop it before it spreads. Thanks to the advocacy of the American Cancer Society and their partners, our bill has bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, 295 House Members and 62 Senators have cosponsored it. Last Congress, Jodey surprised me by renaming the legislation in honor of my late mother, Nancy Gardner Sewell, of Selma, Alabama, who passed away in 2021 from pancreatic cancer. Who was she? My mom was a devout Christian who lived a life of faith, an exemplary educator, and a library media specialist. She served in the Selma public school system for 36 years where she shaped minds and uplifted children. As a librarian, she was a strong advocate for reading, initiating the Reading is Fundamental, RIF, program in 1973, delivering books to children throughout Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It is a program that still serves children in Selma and Dallas County and Alabama's rural Black Belt today. Nancy Sewell was a trailblazing civic leader. She became the first African-American woman elected to Selma's city council and served as an inspirational role model for women in politics. Her favorite saying was: Bloom where you are planted. We can make a difference right where we are, and she made a big difference in the lives of so many people whom she touched. Again, I want to thank the American Cancer Society and their more than 700 supporters for honoring my mother on this day of advocacy, her birthday. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join us in this important effort. Let's pass H.R. 842, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi- Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act and pave the way for a world without cancer.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I first really just thank the Congressional Black Caucus for commemorating this 62nd anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church with this Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, I indeed rise with my colleagues to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and to honor the legacy of the four precious little girls killed in that attack. Sixty-two years ago today, parishioners of the 16th Street Baptist Church gathered within its sacred walls ahead of its 11 a.m. service. It was youth day that day, that day 62 years ago. It was youth day, so the youth were in charge of that service. There were lots of little girls and little boys running around the church. At approximately 10:23 a.m., while the four little girls were getting dressed in the church basement restroom, 19 sticks of dynamite placed by the KKK exploded. As the walls of the church caved in, more than 100 parishioners rushed for safety. While most of them escaped unharmed, under the debris lay five little girls. Today, we must remember all five, four were killed that day and one is still alive today. Today, we remember the name of Addie Mae Collins, of Denise McNair, of Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Morris Wesley. We also remember the name of Sarah Collins, who was the younger sister of Addie Mae Collins. In response to the attack, hundreds of African Americans took to the street to demand justice, only to be met with more violence at the hands of law enforcement. Within hours of the bombing, two more children lost their lives in Birmingham, Alabama: Johnny Robinson and Virgil Ware were killed in clashes with the police. Dr. King described the bombing as one of the most vicious crimes ever perpetrated against humanity. Yet, despite the horrific nature of the attack, it took more than 34 years for the perpetrators to be faced with justice. In fact, it was only 34 years later that they really all were brought to justice. Make no mistake, the four little girls did not die in vain, as my colleague from Alabama, Shomari Figures, so eloquently said. They didn't die in vain. Their murder focused the eyes of the Nation on the racial terror being waged against African Americans in the Jim Crow South, and their legacy galvanized the civil rights movement, giving voice to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was because of their death that the Nation in horror saw four little girls, who were simply going to church, killed. It was senseless violence by the KKK. We had a Birmingham campaign because of that, a crusade of children who marched and protested in Kelly Ingram Park. It was because of their efforts and the efforts of so many, the sacrifices of so many, it is never lost on Shomari or myself that we get to walk the Halls of Congress because four little Black girls cannot. Four little Black girls cannot. Congresswoman McClellan, we are blessed to be able to represent our home districts, but we know that we are not the first who deserve to be here in Congress. No, we are the lucky ones who stand on the shoulders of those who were murdered, who marched, who bled, who prayed for the opportunity of African Americans to have an equal voice in this society. The sacred right to vote is just as sacred today as it was then. I think all of us in this Chamber, Republicans and Democrats alike, respect the late, great Congressman John Lewis, who had the audacity to believe that he could march across a bridge unfettered by the viciousness of the State troopers. When he was met with that viciousness, it was John, with a backpack on his shoulder--that image is seared in my mind. I have the great honor of being a daughter of Selma, growing up in Selma. You can't grow up in Selma, Alabama, without really understanding its place in American history. I often tell my constituents that we are custodians of America's history. What happened on that bridge, the blood that was shed for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, is commemorated year after year after year. The first Sunday in the month of March is Bloody Sunday, a sacred day that for so many years John Lewis would bring Republicans and Democrats, a bipartisan group, to walk across that bridge. We didn't just come to Selma. He would take us first to Birmingham where we would sit in the 16th Street Baptist Church, and we would see the beautiful stained glass that was donated by the people of Wales to the church. I have heard Pastor Price, who is the current pastor of the 16th Street Baptist Church, regale that the sermon that day 62 years ago, the sermon that day was: A love that forgives. That was the title of the sermon: A love that forgives. Now, we know that political violence has no place in this society, but how ironic that the pastor was preaching a sermon about forgiveness. As I reflect on our painful past, I am reminded that every gain in the battle for civil rights and voting rights has come at a high cost, paid for by the sacrifices of others. As a direct beneficiary of the legacy of the four little girls, I am honored that my very first piece of legislation that I passed in Congress bestowed upon the four little girls a Congressional Gold Medal on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. Oh, it was a grand day. I was able to watch as President Barack Obama signed that bill into law in the Oval Office. Standing to my right was none other than the mother of Denise McNair and the sister of Denise McNair. Standing to my left was a cousin of Carole Robertson. Standing right beside me was Eric Holder, the Attorney General, and his wife, Sharon Malone, a distinguished doctor whose sister, Vivian Malone, was the very first African American to integrate University of Alabama. Also there was the Surgeon General, another very proud native of Alabama. The Surgeon General at the time was Regina Benjamin. It was a proud day to be an Alabamian. It was a proud day to be an African American. It was a proud day to be an American. It took us 50 years to acknowledge the four little girls on this House floor. I have to say that perhaps one of the most poignant memories that I have not just of that day--and, yes, Pastor Price was there as well--it was really the opportunity to bestow a Congressional Gold Medal to Sarah Collins, and lots of our colleagues came with us that day, came with me, flew to Birmingham months later to actually bestow the Congressional Gold Medal to Sarah Collins. History is riddled with the bodies and blood of those who sacrificed for this country to live up to its creed, the creed of this country to honor its principles of justice and equality. At a time when some would seek to whitewash our history and roll back our progress, it has never been more important for us to remember, to ensure that the memory of the four little girls lives on. Their loss paved the way for the freedoms and opportunities that we enjoy today, and their legacy reminds us that the price of freedom is not free. It has been paid for by the sacrifices of others. I thank my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus for hosting tonight's Special Order hour, and I ask both sides of the aisle to join us in honoring the memory of Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley, and the life of Sarah Collins. I look forward to having a colloquy with my colleagues about what this really means to all of us. I have to say that as the Member of Congress who represents Birmingham, Alabama, and Selma and Tuscaloosa, I was never more proud than to remember the legacy, the amazing legacy that is Alabama's Seventh Congressional District. While I am honored to represent the constituents of today, I carry with me and know that the legacy of this district is something that must be advanced. It needs to be protected. It needs to be known. It needs to be advanced. I never thought that 60 years after John Lewis was bludgeoned on a bridge, or 62 years after four little girls were killed in the bombing--assassinated in the bombing--of the 16th Street Baptist Church, that the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act would be in jeopardy. The Shelby v. Holder decision struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. As we speak, the Supreme Court is considering striking down or nullifying section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It is on our collective watch that we say no, that we must say hell no, that this body must act. This body can come up with a modern-day formula to determine voter discrimination, such that we can put life back into section 4, which allowed us to say that those States that had a history of voting discrimination must pre-clear every voting law. That provision had no teeth because they struck down the formula. States across this Nation started voter suppression laws, voting on voter suppression laws that didn't have any remedy other than after the fact. We could only sue after the fact. In my portion tonight, I join my colleagues for a colloquy by just saying that we who are beneficiaries of this important legacy have a very special role to play. Ours is to legislate, but ours is also to motivate and mobilize our constituents and this Nation, to mobilize and realize that the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act are similar pieces of legislation that all Americans should acknowledge as the reason why the arc is bending toward justice, as Martin Luther King would say. We know that the moral arc doesn't bend by itself. It bends at the will, at the sacrifice, at the demands of the people. As I close, I want us not only to remember their names but remember their sacrifice, and let's pay it forward. I think we who are beneficiaries must pay it forward. I don't know about you, but just looking at their faces gives me a pep in my step. We may be living through very troubling times, but we do so because others sacrificed. It was because of their sacrifice that we get to enjoy the freedoms we do. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congressional Black Caucus for acknowledging today as the 62nd anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of a civil rights icon and a beloved Birmingham pastor, Bishop Calvin Woods, Sr., who passed away on August 16, 2025, at the age of 91. Bishop Woods was a cherished member of the Birmingham community whose moral leadership served as a guiding light during the civil rights movement and beyond. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Bishop Woods attended Parker High School before earning his bachelor's degree from Miles College. He went on to complete several more degrees at the Universal Baptist Institute and Union Baptist Seminary, as well as the School of Truth. In 1956, Bishop Woods began his nearly six decades of involvement in the civil rights movement, cofounding the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights alongside his brother, Reverend Abraham Woods, and the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. Bishop Woods worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King and participated in numerous civil rights demonstrations, including the Birmingham campaign and the 1963 March on Washington. Following the shooting of five African-American protesters at a Birmingham supermarket, Bishop Woods planned public protests and later filed a lawsuit challenging the unjust suspension of schoolchildren for demonstrating against segregation. Despite being beaten, arrested, fined, and imprisoned, Bishop Woods was never afraid to stand up for what he believed was right. As a result of his fearless advocacy, he was appointed by Dr. King as a SCLC City Convener for the Birmingham Ministers Leadership Conference. Bishop Woods was a devoted man of God whose love for his family and his community was unmatched. He spent more than three decades as the pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Birmingham, and held numerous leadership roles in the community. He served as a board member of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and a member of the National Baptist Convention Board of Directors. In 2006, Bishop Woods was named president of the Birmingham SCLC, and one year later, he became president of the New Era Baptist State Convention. Madam Speaker, on a personal note, I am forever grateful for the sacrifices that Bishop Woods made in the name of equality and justice for all. He stands as a testament to the power of ordinary Americans to achieve extraordinary social change. I know that I get to walk the Halls of Congress as Alabama's first Black Congresswoman because of his courageous efforts. The city of Birmingham, the State of Alabama, and our entire Nation are indebted to him for his tireless fight to end segregation. On behalf of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Bishop Calvin Woods, Sr. Madam Speaker, may he rest in peace and may his legacy live on in the lives that he touched and in the change that he sparked.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of a Civil Rights icon and community leader, Bishop Calvin W. Woods, Sr., who passed away on August 16, 2025, at the age of 91. A native of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, Bishop Woods was born on September 13, 1933, in Birmingham, Alabama, to the late Maggie Rosa Lee Wallace Woods and Abraham Lincoln Woods, Sr. Bishop Woods received his Bachelor of Arts from Miles College before continuing his education at Birmingham Baptist College. He went on to complete multiple degrees at the Universal Bible Institute, Union Baptist Seminary, and the School of Truth. Woods is also a graduate of the Urban Training Center for Christian Missions and obtained a certificate for police communications from Samford University. In 1956, Bishop Woods joined his brother Reverend Abraham L. Woods, Jr., and Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth to co-found the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR). Through this work, Bishop Woods began the journey of what would become six decades of courageous leadership throughout the Civil Rights Movement. Working closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and supporting the work of Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth, Bishop Woods challenged segregation directly, participating in numerous demonstrations, including the Birmingham Campaign and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. Though his participation in the Movement resulted in him being beaten, arrested, and fired from his job, he continued to fight for justice and equality for all. He planned strategies for public protests following the shooting of five African Americans who had been protesting at a supermarket during the 1960s and filed a lawsuit on behalf of the youth suspended from school during the demonstration to ensure that they could be reinstated. As a result of his tenacity and dedication, Bishop Woods was appointed by Dr. King as the SCLC City Convener for the Birmingham Ministers Leadership Conference. In this position, Bishop Woods was responsible for educating ministers concerning Black History, picketing, housing, direct non-violent protesting, voter registration, and negotiations to ensure that they were fully equipped to continue leading their congregations throughout the Movement. In addition to his work as a Civil Rights leader, Bishop Woods played a vital role in the Birmingham community through his various community affiliations and as the pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, where he led the congregation for more than three decades. Throughout his life, Bishop Woods served in many leadership capacities, including as the Discipline & Administration and Evening Supervisor for Community Ed School at Parker High School, a board member of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the President of the New Era Baptist State Convention of AL, the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College, and a member of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc. Board of Directors. Mr. Woods is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lucille Grayson Woods; his parents, Rev. Abraham Lincoln Woods, Sr. and Maggie Woods; his brothers, Rev. Abraham Lincoln Woods, Jr., Dr. Roy Woods, Sr., Franklin Delorna Woods, and Dr. Dwight Edward Woods; his sisters, Mary Ruby Woods Hutchinson, Melzer Woods Luke, and Lois Woods, his daughters, Linda Cal Woods Holt, and Shelia Vanessa Woods Minter; his son, Dr. Freedom Progress Woods, Sr., and his granddaughter, Tamecia LaShun Woods. He is survived by his children, Jeanette Marie Woods Smith, Judy Kay Woods, Dr. Calvin Wallace Woods, Jr., (Minister Constance), Carlton Wayne Woods, Sr., Rev. Byron Elliott Woods, Christopher Wyatt Woods, Minister Joyce Elaine Woods Lewis (Dr. Tommie), Minister Angela Gay Woods McClure (Dr. Micheal), Dr. Timothy Justice Woods, Sr., and Dr. Quintin Prescott Woods, Sr. (Tramella); his thirty-seven grandchildren, his sixty-eight great-grandchildren, his eleven great great-grandchildren; his two daughter-in laws, his two son-in laws, his thirty-three nieces and nephews, his sixty-one great nieces and nephews, and a host other ministers of the gospel, cousins, family, and dear friends. On a personal note, the contributions that Bishop Woods made to ensure the equal rights of all Americans during the Civil Rights Movement were truly exemplary. I know that I get to represent my home district as Alabama's first Black Congresswoman because of his courageous efforts. To call him an icon of the Movement is an understatement. His unwavering commitment to improving the lives of black Alabamians had a profound effect on our community and will continue to be felt for generations to come. His life stands as a testament to the power of ordinary Americans to achieve extraordinary social change. His legacy will live on with every vote cast and in the many lives he impacted. May he rest in peace and power. On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Bishop Calvin W. Woods, Sr. for his contributions to generations of civil rights leaders and decades of exemplary service to our Nation in our fight for liberty, equality, and justice for all.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Reginald Adams Berry, a devoted husband and father. A native of Washington, D.C., Reginald remained in his hometown, building a loving family and distinguished career as an architect. Among his great accomplishments was his devotion to family--his wife, Sonceria Ann Berry, and daughter, Elizabeth Ruth Berry. A native of Birmingham, Alabama in my district, Ann got her start in the Senate as a staffer for U.S. Senator Howell Heflin in Alabama, rising through the ranks to serve as the first Black woman Secretary of the U.S. Senate from 2021 to 2025. I know I speak for all of us in expressing our gratitude to the Berry Family for decades of service to their country and to their Congress. We will continue to keep Ann, Elizabeth, and their family in our prayers. On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life of Reginald Berry.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, never give up. Never give in. Keep the faith and keep your eyes on the prize. Those were the words of John Lewis as he crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the last time before his passing in 2020. If I close my eyes, I can hear him say it: Never give up. Never give in. And keep the faith. His body was frail and stricken with cancer, but his mind was sharp. His charge to us was clear. No matter what challenges we face, we can never give up. In these troubling times, I think of those words often. John would have a lot to say about what is going on these days: the attacks on our democracy, the erasing of our history, the efforts to make it harder for people to vote. Old battles have indeed become new again. But if there is one thing that John has taught us, it is that we must press on. Just imagine where we would be if John Lewis and those foot soldiers had given up on Bloody Sunday. They were beaten and bruised. They were gassed and whipped. They had every reason to throw up their hands and surrender, but they didn't. They got back up, they tried again, and they marched on until victory was won. So as we navigate this dark chapter of our history, let us be guided by their persistence and inspired by their determination. Let us pledge that we will introduce in Congress after Congress after Congress the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act until victory is won. We can be tired. We can be frustrated. We can be downright mad. But we can never give up. From the boy from Troy to the girl from Selma, in remembrance of John Lewis, let's keep the faith and let's keep our eyes on the prize.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, this so-called big, beautiful bill is nothing but a big, ugly betrayal of Alabama families and a big handout to billionaires. There is nothing beautiful about stripping healthcare from working families. There is nothing beautiful about taking food off the table of the most vulnerable neighbors, and there is nothing beautiful about putting rural hospitals on life support in communities that can least afford it. Mr. Speaker, the cuts in this bill are not just numbers on a page. They are empty cupboards and shuttered clinics. They are hospital wings closed in small towns already struggling to keep their doors open. They are parents lying awake at night wondering how they will afford medicine for a sick child or how they will keep food on the table if they lose their hours. Here are the facts: 170,000 Alabamians will lose their healthcare; 700,000 Alabamians will lose or have reduced their nutrition assistance; five Alabama hospitals will close, and it adds $5 trillion to the national debt. On behalf of the 750,000 Alabamians that I represent in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District and the 5 million hardworking Alabamians, I say vote ``hell no'' on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge June 19 as Juneteenth. On June 19, this Nation will recognize Juneteenth with a Federal holiday. We will gather in the spirit of remembrance, resilience, and recommitment to celebrate a day of delayed liberation, but not undeniable triumph. On June 19, 1865, more than 2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the last enslaved Black Americans were finally free. Freedom did not come easily. It came slowly, unevenly, and at a painful cost, but it came. Along with it, generations of Black Americans began the long, unfinished journey toward full equality through Reconstruction, through Jim Crow, through the civil rights movement, and through the voting rights movement even now in our time. Juneteenth is not just about history. It is about truth telling. It is a reminder that freedom delayed is freedom fought for and that liberation means more than just the breaking of physical chains. It demands justice in our laws, equity in our institutions, dignity in our labor, and respect in our schools, in our neighborhoods, and in our Nation. My district, Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, will honor Juneteenth with a host of activities. The NAACP in Tuscaloosa will kick it off with a parade on Saturday and a luncheon on Thursday. In Birmingham, we will have a variety of events including a unity breakfast on Friday hosted by DA Danny Carr and the League of Gentlemen. We will also welcome Major League Baseball back to Birmingham, Alabama, for the second consecutive year. On June 19, 2025, Major League Baseball will return to the Magic City for the 2025 East-West Classic game at Rickwood Field. The game will pay tribute to the Negro leagues and honor Birmingham's important contributions to baseball history. This year, we will also celebrate the ribbon cutting of the newly refurbished Willie Mays Park in Fairfield, Alabama. Thanks to the generosity of Major League Baseball and the extraordinary efforts of State Senator Merika Coleman and numerous community partners, the Willie Mays Park will undergo major improvements and will now serve generations of aspiring young baseball players in Jefferson County. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Major League Baseball for their continued investment in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District. We look forward to welcoming them back to the Magic City. Of course, we know how important baseball has been not only to the African-American community but to the American community writ large. We are excited to welcome Major League Baseball back to Birmingham, Alabama. Thanks to their generosity and the generosity of so many, we will continue to play ball in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District. Let's play ball.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Julian L. McPhillips, Jr., the people's lawyer of Alabama, who passed away on April 12, 2025, at the age of 78. Julian was a compassionate lawyer, a devoted family man, an obedient man of God, a dedicated servant leader in Montgomery, Alabama, and a dear mentor who was instrumental in my personal and professional development. Julian was born in Birmingham and raised in Cullman, Alabama. He was a gifted athlete and a graduate of Sewanee Military Academy. He became an All-American wrestler at Princeton and graduated cum laude in 1968 with a degree in history. He earned his law degree from Columbia University Law School in 1971 and began his legal career on Wall Street. Julian returned to Alabama in 1975 and launched his own Montgomery- based law firm in 1978, which became known as McPhillips Shinbaum, LLP. As a lawyer in Alabama for over five decades, Julian gave a voice to the voiceless, representing the marginalized and disenfranchised. He took a bold stand against discrimination of all kinds and was a champion for civil rights, labor rights, and social justice. Among his many victories, Julian successfully challenged laws targeting low-income Alabamians and civil rights activists, and he secured acquittals in all five death penalty cases he undertook. His fearless advocacy for the marginalized earned him the moniker of ``The People's Lawyer.'' He was a brilliant lawyer, fierce advocate, and a generous investor in people and just causes. Julian's heart was his family: His beloved wife, Leslie; his three children, Rachel, Grace, and David; and his seven grandchildren; as well as his surviving siblings, his two sisters, Sandra and Elizabeth, and his brother, Frank. On a personal note, my life's journey was paved by many mentors but none more influential than the special relationship I shared with Julian McPhillips. It was a phone call by Julian when I was a senior at Selma High School inviting me to his home to learn about Princeton that set my life on a different course. Julian had read a newspaper article about my winning national debate tournaments and got in touch with me through my school guidance counselor. Julian's love for Princeton was infectious, and his insistence that I apply was relentless. He wrote me a glowing recommendation letter, telling the admission officers that with a Princeton education I would certainly be the Barbara Jordan of Alabama. There were countless times throughout my life's journey that Julian stood in the gap making sure that I didn't fall through the cracks. It was Julian that gave me a summer job before college at his law offices so I could save money for school. While my parents could not afford to visit Princeton, it was Julian and Leslie that came to campus for athletic and alumni events and always took me and my roommates out to lunch or dinner. When I graduated from Harvard Law School, it was Julian who suggested that I apply to work at his old New York law firm, Davis, Polk & Wardwell, and made the call. When I moved back to Alabama 7 years later, after my father's massive stroke, it was Julian who suggested that I give his brother, Frank, a call to learn about his Birmingham law firm, Maynard Cooper & Gail. When I decided to run for Congress, yes, it was the McPhillips brothers, Julian and Frank, that gave me my first checks. When Julian believed in something or someone, he was relentless. Julian's faith in me was unwavering, and his kindness knew no bounds. His belief was so powerful that he made me believe in me too. When his prediction came true, it was Julian and Leslie that stood with my parents as I placed my hand on our family Bible to be sworn in as Alabama's first Black Congresswoman. There are times in a person's life that change the trajectory of one's life. Some may call it serendipity, but I call it divine intervention. Mr. Speaker, I thank Leslie and the entire McPhillips family for sharing Julian with me and my family. I thank Julian for being one of the angels in my life. I am so proud to call him a lifelong mentor and friend, and I am forever grateful for the profound impact that Julian had on my life. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary life and legacy of ``The People's Lawyer,'' Julian L. McPhillips, Jr. May his legacy live on in the many lives that he touched and may my dear friend rest in power and peace.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the one big, billionaire, boondoggle bill. We are here because, according to President Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans in Congress, billionaires and giant corporations don't have enough money. We could be working to help Americans deal with the high cost of living. We could be working to make sure that healthcare is affordable for all, but what are we doing? At 4:35 a.m. in the morning, we are preparing to vote on a bill that will provide a $4 trillion tax giveaway to the wealthy, well-connected, and well-off. How will we pay for it? We will pay for it by kicking 13.7 million Americans off of Medicaid and cutting $300 billion in SNAP benefits from hungry families. The people who I represent in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District are good and honest Americans. They work hard every day. They make enormous sacrifices to support themselves and their families, but they are hurting. They are hurting and being crushed by the high cost of living, and they live paycheck to paycheck. Meanwhile, my Republican colleagues are hell-bent on providing and making life much harder for them. It is outrageous. It is simply unacceptable. This is a sad day in Congress. I strongly oppose this bill, and I give this warning: Hands off Medicaid, and hands off SNAP.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Alabama-native, Civil Rights activist, and trailblazing public servant, former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, who passed away on April 25, 2025, at the age of 77. A native of Mobile, Alabama, Secretary Herman was born on July 16, 1947, to Alex Herman and Gloria Caponis. The daughter of Alabama's first African American ward leader, she became involved in the Civil Rights Movement at an early age. As a sophomore, Herman was suspended from Heart of Mary High School for a week for taking a stand against the Archdiocese of Mobile's exclusion of Black students from religious pageants. After graduating, she continued her educational journey at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, and Spring Hill College in Mobile before transferring to Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. There, she became an active member of the Gamma Alpha Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1969. A dedicated advocate for civil rights and workers' protections, Secretary Herman's commitment to service was the throughline of her career. Shortly after earning her degree, Secretary Herman returned to Mobile where she helped desegregate parochial schools, including her alma mater, and persuaded the city shipyard in nearby Pascagoula, Mississippi, to give apprenticeships to young Black laborers. She later moved to Atlanta to lobby corporations to hire Black women for white- collar jobs before working at a New York-based consulting firm where she led programs to provide apprenticeships for women in nontraditional careers. Her successful career advocating for labor rights and workers' protections gained the attention of United States President Jimmy Carter, who appointed her to serve as director of the Labor Department's Women's Bureau. Following the Carter Administration, she managed Jesse Jackson's 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns, served as Chief of Staff for the Democratic National Convention, and was Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison in the Clinton Administration. In 1997, Secretary Herman made history as the first African American and the fifth woman to lead the U.S. Department of Labor under President Clinton. During her almost four-year tenure, unemployment dropped to a 30-year low, and she served as an instrumental mediator in the 1997 United Parcel Service workers strike, which at the time was the largest strike in the United States in two decades. Additionally, she played a role in the efforts to curtail sweatshops, supported two minimum wage increases, and helped pass the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, an overhaul of job training programs. After serving in the Clinton Administration, Secretary Herman formed a consulting company, New Ventures, and served on the boards of numerous companies, including Coca-Cola, Entergy, and others. She was also a co-chair of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund in 2006 and joined the board of the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Additionally, Secretary Herman was the president of the Dorothy I. Height Education Fund, named for the civil and women's rights activist who was her mentor. Secretary Herman is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. Charles Franklin, Jr. She is survived by her stepchildren, Charles J. Franklin, Michelle Franklin, and Shari Smith; her nephew Kirke (Teresa) Herman, Jr.; her cousins Bernard (Moncenya) Broadus, Robin Broadus Iwuoha, Lori Hendricks, and Darryl Hendricks; and a host of godchildren, friends, mentees, and colleagues. On a personal note, Secretary Herman was a great mentor and role model to me and so many women and African Americans in Alabama. A trailblazer and pioneer, she advocated for civil rights and workers protections. As we celebrate her incredible life and legacy, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the guidance she has given me in my life journey. Her extraordinary career in public service and advocacy is a testament to the power of one person to change the world. Through her hard work, brilliant mind, fearless determination, and thoughtful decision-making, she has changed lives. May the seeds she sowed into countless mentees continue to bear the fruit of change agents. Let us find comfort in knowing her incredible legacy will live on in the countless people she touched. May she rest in peace and power. On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of an exceptional public servant, former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, for her service to the City of Mobile, the State of Alabama, and our Nation.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the House Republican's so-called SAVE Act, the most restrictive voting law to be considered by this body in decades. The SAVE Act is just the latest in the ongoing assault on our democracy by President Trump and his allies in Congress. Instead of working to meet the needs of the American people, House Republicans are busy spreading fear and lies to justify their attempts to disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. Let's be clear: It is already against the law for non-Americans to vote. This bill is a solution in search of a problem. The SAVE Act would create new barriers to the ballot box for millions of eligible voters. That includes almost 70 million American women who got married and changed their last name. It also includes 140 million Americans without a passport, and it includes Americans with military and Tribal IDs. To be clear, this bill is not about protecting our elections; it is about making it harder for Americans to vote and easier for Republicans to win. As elected officials, we should be working to expand access to the ballot box, not restrict it. Congress should be considering H.R. 14, the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to ensure that every American can freely and fairly vote. Mr. Speaker, this is very personal to me. I am not only the Representative of America's civil rights district, but I am also the proud daughter of Selma, Alabama. It was in my hometown where hundreds of foot soldiers were bludgeoned on a bridge for the equal right of all Americans to vote. This legislation before us today makes a mockery of their legacy. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the SAVE Act.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud today to join my colleague, Representative Malliotakis, in cosponsoring and speaking in favor of the Recovery of Stolen Checks Act. This bill requires the Treasury to make procedures that allow taxpayers to opt in to receiving a replacement refund by direct deposit after their paper checks have been lost or stolen in the mail. Right now, the Treasury Department is only allowed to continue sending a paper check to the same address, even though the check was stolen or lost at that very address. It is Congress' responsibility to give Treasury the ability to modernize, become more efficient, and most importantly, deliver much-needed payments to people that are relying on them as quickly as possible. This is a commonsense, straightforward, and urgent reform. Every year, millions of Americans eagerly await their tax refund, money that they have rightfully earned. Unfortunately, criminals have exploited weaknesses in our system, stealing and cashing checks that do not belong to them. This fraud not only robs individuals of their refunds but also costs taxpayers millions of dollars annually. The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act strengthens the government's ability to track and recover stolen refund checks. It empowers the U.S. Treasury and financial industries and institutions to act swiftly when fraud is detected, enabling that victim to get their payment much faster and that criminal to be held accountable. With this bill, stolen checks can be flagged and traced more efficiently, victims will experience a quicker resolution and recovery process, banks and financial institutions will have clearer guidelines to prevent fraudulent transactions, and taxpayer dollars will be better protected, reducing the losses due to fraud. Every dollar, Mr. Speaker, lost to fraud is a dollar taken from taxpayers. H.R. 1155 ensures that their hard-earned money is safeguarded and that criminals cannot exploit the system without consequences. By closing loopholes and enhancing the recovery efforts, this legislation protects the integrity of our tax system and restores trust in financial security. Mr. Speaker, I have had dozens of conversations with constituents who have spent months trying to receive a check from Treasury. In one instance, a constituent was sent two checks by the Treasury Department, neither delivered to her nor cashed by her before reaching out to my office for assistance. She just wanted the payment that she was owed. Instead, the Treasury Department told her that they would only continue mailing a paper check to the same address where it had failed to get to her multiple times. This policy is burdensome and it simply does not work. The caseworker on my staff continued to encounter cases just like this one, some taking over a year to resolve. This is way too long for the American public, and we need to do something about it. That is why this particular bill's resolution is common sense. I ask my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, I am excited about the strong bipartisan support that H.R. 1155, the Recovery of Stolen Checks Act, has received. The bill will take a critical step toward combating financial fraud and protecting hardworking Americans from falling victim to check theft. Each year, countless Americans are targeted by criminals who steal and fraudulently cash their checks, causing financial hardship and eroding the trust in our banking system. It happens not just in tax refunds, as my colleagues have indicated. Increasingly, Social Security and SNAP benefits are also being stolen by these criminals. This bill strengthens law enforcement's ability to investigate and prosecute these crimes, ensuring that victims can recover the money and that the criminals are held accountable. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation for at least these three reasons: First, that the bill protects consumers from financial harm. Check fraud is not just an inconvenience, it is financially devastating to many families. When a check is stolen and cashed by criminals, victims are often left in a difficult situation. Secondly, this bill will also strengthen law enforcement's ability to combat check fraud. Criminals have become more sophisticated in their methods, and law enforcement needs stronger tools to fight back. Lastly, a financial system that cannot protect its users from fraud is a system in jeopardy. If consumers and businesses lose faith in their ability to securely conduct transactions, our economy suffers as a whole. H.R. 1155 ensures confidence in our banking system by ensuring that stolen checks can be recovered and that perpetrators face real consequences. Mr. Speaker, check fraud is a growing problem, but today, we, in a bipartisan way, in the Ways and Means Committee are finally taking commonsense, decisive action. This bill passed unanimously out of our committee, and I look forward to it passing unanimously out of this House. It is, once again, an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to put partisanship aside and work together for the American people. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my CBC colleagues in getting into some good trouble as we voice our very strong opposition to the Republicans' voter suppression bill, the so-called SAVE Act. As a daughter of Selma and the Representative of Alabama's civil rights district, the fight for voting rights is very personal to me. It was in Selma 60 years ago where John Lewis and hundreds of foot soldiers were bludgeoned on the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the equal right of every American to vote. The legislation before us makes a mockery of that legacy. Since his defeat in the 2020 election, President Donald Trump and his Republican allies have pushed the big lie of a stolen election. The majority has tried to convince the American people of the lie that noncitizens are a threat to our elections and are using that lie as an excuse to pass a new law, such as the SAVE Act, which would make it harder for millions of Americans to cast their ballots. Mr. Speaker, the facts are clear: It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Federal elections, or in any elections. In fact, under current law, noncitizens would face up to 5 years in prison for attempting to vote in Federal elections and would even risk being deported. In reality, this legislation would purge thousands of eligible voters from the rolls. It would create significant barriers for the 69 million women who currently are married and changed their last names so that their birth certificates do not match their marriage certificates. Thus, it would be harder for these almost 70 million women to vote. The 140 million Americans who do not have a passport and those with military IDs and Tribal IDs, none of which would be able to prove their birth citizenship, are not included in the bill as proper forms of ID that will allow someone to show their citizenship. Americans should see this bill for what it is: a cynical attempt to flame the fire of false voter fraud by the same extremist who brought us the January 6 insurrection. Their objective of suppressing the vote was made even more clear last week, Mr. Speaker, when President Trump signed an executive order to erode voting rights and gave Elon Musk, an unelected, unconfirmed person, the right to access Americans' personal voter information. Mr. Speaker, as elected officials in this House, we should be fighting to protect and expand access to the ballot box, not restrict it. As old battles have become new again, we in the Congressional Black Caucus have remained committed to ensuring and defending the sacred right to vote. This right to vote was won with blood, sweat, tears, and even deaths. We in the Congressional Black Caucus see voting rights as our North Star. Mr. Speaker, we will not stop fighting as long as President Trump and Elon Musk and House Republicans are trying to take away our sacred right to vote. I urge all of my colleagues to not only vote ``no'' on the SAVE Act, but to do so with vigor and with purpose. It was John Lewis who said that ours is not the struggle of 1 day, 1 week, 1 year. Ours is a struggle of a lifetime. As long as the Congressional Black Caucus, 63 Members strong, is in this Congress, we will stand up and protect the right of every American to vote, and we will stop efforts like the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act is not there to save election integrity. The SAVE Act is all about saving Republican seats and Republican elected officials. We will be voting ``no'' on that bill when it comes to the floor, and we urge our other colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan) for leading this Special Order hour. We in the Congressional Black Caucus stand on the shoulders of giants. It is now time for us to get off of their shoulders and to do our own work, and our own work, we will do in defeating the SAVE Act and for standing up for the legacy of John Lewis and those foot soldiers who marched on a bridge in my hometown for the equal right of every American to vote. As long as we have a voice, the CBC will be standing up for voting rights.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, with the eyes of the Nation on Alabama and Auburn men's basketball as they compete in the NCAA March Madness championship tournament, I would like to also shed a light on the outstanding high school basketball players in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District who led their teams to championship victories this season. That includes the girls' 7A champions at Hoover High School, who dominated their competition and brought home the gold at the end of their 29-3 season. Way to go, ladies. Likewise, Hoover High School's boys were also crowned 7A champions at the end of their undefeated season. Go, Hoover Buccaneers. In Tuscaloosa, we recognize the boys of Paul W. Bryant High School, who took home the Division 6A Championship title following their 27-7 season. In Clarke County, we congratulate the Jackson Academy boys, who finished their 21-4 season when they won the Division 4A championship. Last, but certainly not least, I congratulate Uniontown's own R.C. Hatch boys' basketball team. In February, the Bobcats set a new record for boys' basketball in the State of Alabama when they took home their 11th State title as Division 1A champions. As the proud daughter of the late Coach Andrew A. Sewell, who coached the Selma High School Saints for over 30 years, including in numerous State tournament games, I know firsthand the amount of dedication, talent, and teamwork that goes into earning a State championship title. On behalf of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating our outstanding high school basketball champions. I am confident that these young student athletes have bright futures ahead of them. This weekend, the city of Birmingham will host the NCAA women's basketball Sweet 16 and Elite 8 in the Magic City. We welcome all of the teams to Birmingham, Alabama, and wish them much success.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Jefferson County Schools superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin, who was just named the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year. Superintendent Gonsoulin was celebrated at the AASA's National Conference on Education for his leadership within Alabama's Jefferson County School system. He helped to create over 20 signature academies in the school district that exposed students to potential careers, all while increasing the district's college readiness rates and dual enrollment participation. He is the first Alabama educator to win this national title. As the daughter of two educators, I am forever grateful for Superintendent Gonsoulin's efforts and all of the teachers, administrators, and parents who share his mission to provide the best education possible to our next generation of leaders. On behalf of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin. We are all so proud of him, and we are grateful for the work that he does each and every day to create opportunities for our students to thrive.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill. This partisan-charged bill targets innocent workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic, received unemployment benefits, spent them in good faith to pay for necessities, and had no idea that their States made mistakes in paying their benefits. Sadly, my Republican colleagues are using this bill to throw millions of Americans' lives and livelihoods into instability. This financial attack on my constituents required them to then reimburse the Federal Government for a mistake that they did not make, upending their ability to pay their rent, leaving families homeless, upending their ability to purchase school supplies or make a car payment resulting in the loss of transportation that gets them to their jobs. For people living on the margins of poverty, they don't have a financial cushion to fall back on when a surprise bill like this one is thrown into their family. It will cause major disarray. This bill is not about addressing fraud. Republicans are simply using this opportunity to wage war on individuals themselves who did no wrong. I encourage my colleagues to vote against this bill.

Ms. SEWELL

Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Brenda Lovelady Spahn, the founder of The Lovelady Center in Birmingham, Alabama, who passed away on December 18, 2024, at the age of 75. Miss Brenda founded The Lovelady Center in 2004 to rehabilitate women involved in the criminal justice system. Beginning with just seven inmates, the program rapidly grew into what is now the only State- supervised reentry program in Alabama and the largest faith-based recovery facility for women and children in the Nation. Through the work of The Lovelady Center, Miss Brenda has touched the lives of more than 20,000 women and children, helping them to walk forward with faith-driven hope for the future. Guided by her abiding faith in God and her steadfast belief in the value of human life, Miss Brenda made it her mission to spread empowerment, hope, and redemption among the women she served. Throughout her extraordinary life, she has received numerous awards and honors, including an honorary degree in humanitarian studies from Tennessee Temple University in 2012. On a personal note, I am forever grateful for the opportunity I had to partner with Miss Brenda on behalf of the women and children of Jefferson County, Alabama, including the $2 million investment that we secured for The Lovelady Center in the fiscal year 2023 from the Federal budget. I will always remember the warm, selfless, and kindhearted nature of Miss Brenda, and above all, her devotion to serving the most vulnerable members of our community. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Miss Brenda Lovelady Spahn. May her legacy live on in the many lives that she touched. Celebrating the Retirement of Dr. Charles Steele, Jr.

Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career and achievements of Dr. Charles Steele, Jr., as he celebrates his retirement after 17 years as the president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. A true trailblazer, Dr. Steele has an accomplished career in both public service and civil rights advocacy. A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, he was elected to the Tuscaloosa City Council in 1985, a position he held for 2 years before being elected to the Alabama State Senate in 1994. After serving three terms, Dr. Steele stepped down in 2004 to take over as the head of the SCLC. As the organization's president and CEO, Dr. Steele raised over $10 million and oversaw the groundbreaking of SCLC's new international headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Steele's reputation has always been one of great purpose and great passion. He is an honorable man, guided by an abiding faith in God and a love of country. While his retirement will allow him some well-earned rest and time with loved ones, I know that his commitment to service will continue for years to come. Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful Nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the retirement of Dr. Charles Steele, Jr., after 17 years as president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.