Bennie Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to see my colleague, the ranking member. But let me just correct him on his correction of the gentleman from New Jersey. A person that works in the Department of Homeland Security is not a labor representative. The labor representative that Mr. Payne referenced is an organized labor representative with the AFL-CIO. The other thing my ranking member can do, he will have a chance to vote on the President's budget. The raise for the employees is in the budget. I look forward to that opportunity presenting itself. Our TSOs need a raise. If we don't, the gymnastics here on the floor doesn't pay rent, doesn't pay mortgage, doesn't pay tuition, doesn't even buy groceries. So at the end of the day, let's give these good folks who do a good job an honest day's pay for an honest day's work. That is the spirit in which this legislation is put forward. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, for the Record, title 5 is not a union. It is a personnel system. It means that if you have rights as an employee of the Federal Government, you know what those rights are. That is not a union. Now, for TSOs who voted to have a bargaining unit, and they chose the American Federation of Government Employees to be their bargaining unit, that is all. In America, people have choices. Our TSOs decided that they wanted to have union representation, which in America, in a democracy, is their right. I respect that right, and they have done it. Now we have to treat them like all other Federal employees. That is just what this bill does. There is nothing else here. It just puts them under title 5 just like every other national security-related law enforcement agency, and we are in good shape, so they can pay their mortgages, they can pay their rent, they can do for their children like other Federal employees, plain and simple. Not a big deal. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa), a subcommittee chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Wexton).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1097, I call up the bill (H.R. 903) to enhance the security operations of the Transportation Security Administration and stability of the transportation security workforce by applying the personnel system under title 5, United States Code, to employees of the Transportation Security Administration who provide screening of all passengers and property, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I also applaud the Biden administration for the steps it has taken on its own over the last year to expand employees' access to the Merit Systems Protection Board and explore expanded collective bargaining and increased pay for the workforce. About a year ago, the Secretary of Homeland Security released a memo that instructed the TSA Administrator to make progress on improving pay, collective bargaining, and third-party appeals rights. Laudably, the President's budget for fiscal year 2023 includes a historic proposal to invest in the TSA workforce in these ways. But critically, crucially, these changes would only apply to the coming fiscal year. That is why it is so essential to pass H.R. 903 so that future administrations cannot turn back the clock on these frontline aviation security workers. We all know that the nature of an investment is that you have to put some money in upfront and see the returns later. Unlike a typical investment, however, we already have a snapshot into the financial benefit this legislation would yield to workers. Earlier this year, TSA shared with us that the passage of H.R. 903 would result in a 30 percent salary increase for the entire TSO workforce and a 21 percent increase for Federal air marshals and other law enforcement officers within the agency, bringing them in line with their peers doing similar work at other agencies. That is astounding, Mr. Speaker, on its face, and it is the least we can do for the men and women who see us each week as we pass through our home airports on the way to Washington, D.C. Most Members, Republicans and Democrats, thank them for the job that they are doing and say if there is anything they can do to help, just let them know. Well, Mr. Speaker, passing this bill would do exactly that. H.R. 903 has 231 bipartisan cosponsors and is strongly supported by the American Federation of Government Employees, the Air Marshals Association, the Association of Flight Attendants, the Transport Workers Union of America, the Transportation Trades Department, the AFL-CIO, and the National Urban League. I include in the Record letters of support from these organizations. American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Washington, DC, May 6, 2022. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: On behalf of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE), which represents more than 700,000 federal and District of Columbia employees in 70 agencies, including approximately 45,000 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) who protect the flying public, I write to urge you to vote in support of H.R. 903, the ``Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act of 2021'' when it is considered on the House floor next week. Passage of H.R. 903 would finally provide due process and fair pay to TSOs by requiring full collective bargaining rights and the GS-pay scale as is enjoyed by most federal government workers. When the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was established, its administrator was given uniquely broad authority over the workforce to set pay and working conditions. As a result, TSOs do not benefit from the Fair Labor Standards Act or the General Schedule pay scale and do not have representational rights accorded by Congress to most of the federal workforce under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. Under current law, TSOs cannot appeal adverse personnel decisions to a neutral third party, rights that are held by the non-TSO workforce at TSA as well as most law enforcement officers who serve elsewhere within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Other DHS employees, clearly vital to our national security, can and do appeal adverse actions not only to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) but also to the U.S. Court of Appeals. When the bill was considered in the House Homeland Security Committee, I testified in support of the legislation and shared stories of the struggles TSOs have suffered under TSA's separate and unequal personnel management system. They are stories of harassment, intimidation, humiliation, discrimination and most of all, stories of the despair TSOs face with no neutral party to turn to. This separate system is a failure that has fostered a toxic culture that will not change without legislative action. On June 3, 2021 Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas directed TSA Administrator David Pekoske to issue a new determination and bargain a new contract with the union to ``more closely mirror the rights and benefits that are provided to bargaining unit employees under Chapter 71 of Title 5 of the United States Code.'' In issuing this directive, Secretary Mayorkas acknowledged that statutorily, the provisions under title 5 cannot be directly granted and the TSO workforce does not have the direct right to appeal adverse actions to MSPB. This can only be corrected in law. In the nearly 21-year history of TSA, the Secretary's action was both unprecedented and highly welcomed. However, his directive makes clear this is a temporary step to provide relief until these rights can be secured in statute. The time is now to step up and recognize the rushed decision almost 21 years ago to allow at separate personnel system no longer serves the employees of TSA appropriately, and thereby extends a disservice to the American public and to aviation security. H.R. 903 honors TSOs' dedication to America's aviation security by: Statutorily repealing the TSA Administrator's authority to maintain a separate and unequal personnel system that applies only to the TSO workforce; Statutorily ending the TSA personnel directives that have allowed TSA to be the judge and jury, with no neutral third- party review, in workforce disciplinary matters and providing statutory access to MSPB; Requiring TSA to follow the labor-management employee relations statutes that provide workplace rights and protections to most federal government employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code; and Putting TSOs on the General Schedule pay scale with regular step increases, under which most federal employees' pay is determined. While it takes 18 years to advance to the top step in the GS system, it takes 30 years to advance through a TSA pay band. AFGE notes that President Biden included sufficient funds in his Fiscal Year 2023 Budget to all for the migration to the GS system and the necessary bargaining and MSPB rights. I ask you to vote in support of H.R. 903 and oppose any amendments that weaken its intent to achieve fair pay, a fair opportunity and put an end to this failed, toxic system. AFGE appreciates your support of our nation's TSOs and we look forward to working with you to improve the agency and the rights of its dedicated workforce that keeps the flying public safe. Sincerely, Everett B. Kelley, National President.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, for the Record, title 5 will prevent the misconduct we have seen at TSA, such as senior managers awarding each other over $90,000 in bonuses. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, the momentum we need to vote this legislation over the finish line is there, and I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will honor the work of our brave TSOs and the commitment they have made to them by voting for this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a tenacious and self-motivated leader, Brigadier General (Retired) Donna R. Williams. Brigadier General (Retired) Williams has shown what can be done through hard work, dedication, and a desire to achieve success. (Retired) Williams is a native of Vicksburg and earned her commission through the Senior Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program (ECP) at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, where she also received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. She holds a master of business administration degree in Information Technology and Military Management from Touro University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College (USAWC), Carlisle Barracks, PA. She served her Nation honorably as an Army Engineer Officer for 32 years. Brigadier General (Retired) Williams' duty stations included key developmental and career-enhancing assignments across the Continental United States, Hawaii, Iraq and other overseas assignments. Brigadier General (Retired) Williams is an employee with the Engineer Research and Development Center at the United States Corps of Engineers Reachback Operations Center in Vicksburg. She is a proud member of the Vicksburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Vicksburg Branch of NAACP and a lifetime member of the Army ROTC Hall of Fame. She was recognized as the Vicksburg Post Hero of the week in April 2022. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Brigadier General (Retired) Donna R. Williams for her passion and dedication to serve Mississippi and this Country.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of a remarkable individual, Dr. Mauda L. Monger. Dr. Mauda Monger is a native of Jackson, Mississippi. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics/Business Administrations from Tougaloo College, and a master's degree in Public Health, Health Policy & Management, and most recently, her doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership from Jackson State University. With more than 16 years of experience in HIV/AIDS, Monger has presented on both the local and national level. Her experience spans technical assistance and curriculum development and facilitation. Her presentation style is both personable and innovative with a structure that is focused on eliminating health disparities. Dr. Monger has provided training to health care professionals in various settings to include primary care, Ryan White, federally qualified health centers and social services. Her key areas of focus are to build effective relationships between community and clinical partners while developing trainings that are comprehensive and informative while developing regional and national partners in getting Mississippi to reduce the number of persons infected with HIV and increase retention in care and viral suppression. Communities of special focus include women, persons of color, specifically African Americans and marginalized communities to include persons who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and/or Transgender. Her passionate and data-focused style of education reinforces her goal ensuring the clinical community recognizes how stigma and social determinants of health impact access to care, thus the importance of creating welcoming and inclusive clinical environments. She is author and co-author on numerous papers, abstracts and has presented extensively on HIV prevention, social determinants of health, special populations, HIV stigma. In addition to her current, ongoing responsibilities, Monger is an active alumnus of Lanier High School's Health Initiative and board President OurTime Adult Day Care, Inc. In 2014, Dr. Monger founded The SHE Project, a mentoring/community service program; focused to build young African American women to be leaders in the community. She is driven by the mantra ``To whom much is given, much is required''. It's in this space that Dr. Monger provides a roadmap to women seeking to achieve their personal and professional goals. When she is not educating, mentoring, or speaking, Dr. Monger enjoys journaling, traveling and just a lazy day on the beach. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life, legacy, and service of Dr. Mauda L. Monger.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable hero, Mrs. Eloise Campbell Barfield-Figgs. Eloise was born on December 10, 1944, in Marks, MS, to Louise ``Mama Lou'' Hankins and Charlie Campbell. She grew up in a home with seven siblings--two sisters and five brothers in Marks, MS. Eloise is a 1963 graduate of Quitman County High School; and she later attended Coahoma Community College where she majored in Early Childhood Education. She utilized her educational background and started her career in the early childhood field by serving as Center Director for Head Start in Lambert, MS. She also served as Parent Center Coordinator for the Quitman County School District. She established a name for herself by working in the public sector as a Justice Court Clerk, a Clerk in the Chancery Clerk's Office; Customer Service Representative at Shreveport Credit Union (now Red River), and Delta Burial Funeral Association. She is currently retired but felt the need to return to work to share her skills and talents by cooking and serving three ``Hot & Nutritious'' meals to the County Inmates. Eloise later married James R. Figgs (former Civil Rights Activist) and they had three children: Wynetta, Anja, and Dwight; four grandchildren and one great grandson. Eloise a strong pillar in her community and is the matriarch of her family. She continues to care for her children, her grandchildren, her great grandson and two of her disabled brothers. She is devoted to ensuring that her brothers are well taken care of and provides them with meals daily. Over the course of her life, she has contributed to her community tremendously. She assists with distributing food boxes to needy families, disabled adults and the elderly throughout the community. As a pillar of her community, she has continued to help others through her many organizational affiliations, (Current & Past) such as the Heroine of Jericho; The National Council of Negro Women, Inc.; the NAACP (Local, State & National), where she has received numerous awards in her work related to Civil Rights; and the Les Grandes Souers, where her organization provides charitable services that are beneficial to the community and particularly for the children. Her organization in the past was very instrumental in hosting pageants for the girls and boys of Quitman County, teaching them etiquette, helping to build self- confidence, increase community involvement, and build lasting friendships. Eloise has been instrumental in helping to organize the Annual Christmas Parades for the City of Marks, providing Annual Scholarships for High School Seniors and she renders herself to any other charitable event in which the Organization is asked to assist. Eloise is a faithful, longtime member of Silent Grove Missionary Baptist Church where she serves as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer. Her favorite scripture is Psalms 23, because she says, ``the Lord is her Shepherd and I shall not want.'' She is very active and supportive in her community, church and the school district in which she has resided all of her life. Eloise is never hesitant to help anyone in any way that she possibly can. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Eloise Campbell Barfield-Figgs for she is the epitome of an unsung hero.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the cost estimate prepared by the Congressional Budget Office for H.R. 5615, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act. The cost estimate was not available at the time of the Committee report filing. U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, May 3, 2022. Hon. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5615, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jon Sperl. Sincerely, Phillip L. Swagel, Director. Enclosure.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, let me say for the record, if there is any Member on the other side who feels the strength to come and testify before our committee, I invite them, right now, to let us know and we will gladly entertain whatever information they have as to what happened on January 6. Some of them ran out of this building fearing for their lives, so there is no question that something happened. And H. Res. 503 says, absolutely, we have to find the facts and circumstances as to what happened and why and make recommendations; and that is what we have to do. We have the constitutional power to issue subpoenas. If people do not follow subpoenas, we have the right to bring them before this body and recommend contempt citations; and that is what we are doing today. So it doesn't matter if they were a father, a mother, a sister, or a brother, had children; if they break the law, they break the law. No one is above the law, and that is the point we are trying to make. We asked the individuals, subpoenaed them to come before the committee, and they chose not to come and, therefore, they broke the law, and that is why we are here today. So, Mr. Speaker, as I have mentioned, when I testified before the Rules Committee, it is absurd that there should be any disagreement at all about why we are here for this contempt resolution. If you listen to the arguments from some of my friends on the other side, they have very little to say of substance of this matter. We hear excuses. We hear attacks about process. We hear scare-mongering about the select committee. Let me remind my colleagues, we have conducted over 830 interviews and depositions. And again, I invite any of them to come talk to us if they want to. Now, if, for some reason, they are reluctant or afraid, then I feel sorry for them. Our constitutional democracy was challenged on January 6. We have to fix this. Over 200 years, we have operated in complete freedom, and all of a sudden, this institution was attacked; and we have to fix that. We are the number one democracy in the world, but we lead by example. Democrats are leading by example. The select committee is leading by example by bringing these two gentlemen who broke the law, who decided that it is better to deal with the law of Donald Trump rather than the Constitution of the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, especially my friend from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney). Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member to support adoption of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Luria), a veteran of the United States Navy.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to start our debate by talking a little bit about what the American people ought to expect of their leaders, of those who hold positions of public trust and the responsibilities that come with it. I have been thinking about those responsibilities for more than 50 years, in all the time I have been fortunate enough to hold a position of public trust. It doesn't matter if you are an alderman, a mayor, Member of Congress, President of the United States, or a staff member working as a civil servant, or a political appointee. When you work for the public, when the people's taxes pay your salary, those jobs come with serious rules and serious obligations. Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro both held positions of public trust. Mr. Scavino was a top communications official in the Trump White House. Mr. Navarro was a trade adviser. They each drew salaries paid by the American people to the tune of over $180,000 per year. They both were to abide by certain rules and obligations. They both swore oaths of allegiance to the Constitution. The select committee wants to talk to both of them, but about a lot more than their White House jobs. We want to talk to them about their roles in trying to overturn the 2020 election. We subpoenaed them for their records and testimony. They told us to buzz off. Not a single record. No-shows for their deposition. Their excuse was: As former White House employees, the information we wanted--again, information about overturning an election--was shielded by executive privilege, a protection for the President to make sure sensitive, official conversations stay private. In other words, they are arguing that their roles in trying to overturn an election had to stay secret because they had official roles as advisers to the ex-President. If they want to make those claims, ridiculous as they sound, here is what the law requires: They need to show up and make those claims on the record, under oath. They refused to do that. That alone means they are in contempt of Congress. But I want to dig a little deeper into the argument these men are making. As I mentioned before, these are rules and obligations that bind public servants. One of the most important rule is that you can't do campaign work on government time or using taxpayer money. Pretty straightforward. Plenty you can do on your own time, but not when you are on the clock. That is the law. If you have heard of the Hatch Act, it has probably been when a Cabinet Secretary or White House official had crossed the line from their official duties into political matters. In fact, in 2020, Mr. Navarro was dinged by a government watchdog for violating the Hatch Act by using his official role to attack President Joe Biden. That law prohibits, among other things, someone from using ``official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the results of an election.'' Sounds familiar? In the case of Mr. Navarro and Mr. Scavino, trying to affect the result of an election wasn't knocking on doors or putting signs in people's front yards. They were trying to help a defeated President stay in power. It is not conceivable that their involvement in that effort could have legally overlapped with their official duties. But beyond that, it was a betrayal of the oath these men took. It was a betrayal of the public trust. Even if you do it on your own time, trying to overturn an election is still trying to overturn an election. We know that the people who stormed this building on January 6 had the same goal: trying to overturn an election. That is what the select committee is investigating. That is why we need to hear from Mr. Scavino and Mr. Navarro. But as the select committee works to provide answers to the American people, these two are saying: ``I worked at the White House when all this took place. Even if I was plotting to overturn the government, I was collecting a government salary at the time, so I don't have to talk about it.'' Can you imagine? I have served my community and my country most of my life. Like my colleagues in this body, I have labored to uphold my oath and do right by the people I serve. I know my constituents expect that of me. To run into this kind of obstruction, this kind of cynical behavior, as we investigate a violent insurrection, is just despicable. It can't stand. Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro must be held accountable for their abuses of the public trust. They must be held accountable for their defiance of the law. They are in contempt of Congress, which is a crime, and I call on my colleagues to do their duty to defend this institution and the rule of law and to vote ``yes'' on this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, just for the record, let me say that we are here for this contempt process today, but the President's own daughter complied with the wishes of the committee. I would think that if his daughter complied with the wishes of the committee, everyone else should, even the people who worked for him. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader of the House.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger), a distinguished veteran of the Air Force and a member of the select committee.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, I call up the report (H. Rept. 117-284) and accompanying resolution recommending that the House of Representatives find Peter K. Navarro and Daniel Scavino, Jr., in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with subpoenas duly issued by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 1037) recommending that the House of Representatives find Peter K. Navarro and Daniel Scavino, Jr., in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with subpoenas duly issued by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a resilient organization that is doing great things in their community, 100 Black Men of Grenada, Inc. The 100 Black Men of Grenada, Inc., received a charter from the 100 Black Men of America, Inc., in 2008 to serve the African American and other disadvantaged youth in Grenada and the contiguous counties. Since organizing, the 100 Black Men of Grenada, Inc., has developed many strong partnerships with a diverse group of individuals, organizations, businesses, and agencies. This has resulted in many valuable services for youth and community. Some of their key accomplishments of the chapter are: Establishing the ``Eagles'' Mentoring Program for the Grenada School District, sponsoring College Fairs and ACT preparation sessions for area high schools, sponsoring out of town educational and enrichment field trips for area youth, etc. The services of the men of the 100 Black Men of Grenada have greatly benefited the local community, and, has resulted in the Chapter being selected as the 2020-2021 Small Chapter of the Year by the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. The 100 Black Men of Grenada also established a partnership with the Finch-Henry Job Corps Center to refer, mentor and assist enrollees with clothing, college books, scholarships, and other needs. They also organized the first 100 Black Men of America Collegiate affiliate in Mississippi at Rust College. Moreover, they have operated a successful Summer Educational Enrichment and Mentoring (SEEM) Program in partnership with the 100 Black Men of Jackson, Inc., the Mississippi Department of Human Services, and key local organizations. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 100 Black Men of Grenada, Inc., for their resilience and the hard work they do for their community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a tenacious and innovative woman, Dr. Brianna Thompson. Dr. Thompson has shown what can be done through hard work, dedication, and a desire to achieve success. Dr. Brianna Thompson has been awarded top honors with the 2022 Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA), which recognizes African-American scientists and engineers around the country. The winners chosen are leaders shaping the future of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as promoting diversity and inclusion in the STEM pipeline. She was recognized at this year's BEYA STEM Global Competitiveness Conference, which was held in Washington, D.C. Feb. 17 through 19. Dr. Thompson began her career at ERDC in ITL three years ago as a mathematician and was chosen for the BEYA Modern-Day Technology Leader Award. Her research in hypersonic systems evaluation and design and the coupling of fluid, thermal and structure models for computational simulation of hypersonic systems is making a difference and advancing the capabilities of the Army and the DOD in developing state-of-the-art solutions to challenging problems. Dr. Thompson earned her doctorate degree in computational science from the University of Southern Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. Brianna Thompson for her passion and dedication to the field of Engineering.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Attorney Yemi Kings from Jackson, Mississippi. He graduated from Lanier High School and went on to Tougaloo College. Then, received his law degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 2009. Little did the Kings realize that when he valiantly saved the life of a man, who was tragically shot on Thanksgiving Day in 2021, in Jackson, that he was walking straight into fame's arena. On Thanksgiving Day 2021, around 4:30 p.m., when there was still a glimmer of daylight outside, Kings' friends and family were eating dinner. During the celebration, they heard about 15-gun shots from what sounded like an assault rifle close to where they gathered. Then they heard someone yelling, ``I have been shot.'' Kings went outside and saw a man lying on the ground in a pool of gushing blood. He was crying, screaming, and saying, ``Please help me! Don't let me die!'' After calling 911, Kings asked him where he was shot. The victim replied, ``I can't feel my arm! Help me! I have been shot! I am fading out! I am dying!'' Kings grabbed sweaters and shirts from a car, wrapped them in layers and pressed them on the bullet wound until the bleeding stopped. ``I kept pressure on his wound and continued talking to him, telling him that he was going to live.'' Kings said. Firefighters came and took over. They told everyone to step aside as they did their job. The good Samaritan who courageously saved the person's life was Deputy Hinds County Attorney Yemi L. Kings. When asked what motivated him to be so daring in such a dangerous escapade, he said, ``One thing that came to mind was that I had to try to help save this man's life. As a prosecutor, I am always helping people on the other side of tragic situations. I never thought I would ever come that close to a shooting or a shooting victim.'' Kings is the son of Yemi L. Kings and Terri Lyn Smith. Kings' motivation is his family. He comes from a large family that includes four brothers, two sisters and one son. He wants to continue being there for his loved ones. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Attorney Yemi Kings for his dedication to serving.