Bennie Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Thelma Mack, the epitome of a community mother, who spent her entire life being a stalemate and community pillar. As an African-American woman of Indianola, Mississippi, born in April of 1934, Thelma endured the strife of segregated life in the South. During the Civil Rights era, Thelma exemplified her motherly role through housing and feeding passers-by committed to the equal rights mission. Thelma Mack's most notable career work was in the area of childcare, where she started a daycare at her home. In August of 1968, Thelma became the Director of the Sunflower-Humphreys County Headstart, where she served for over 20 years. Thelma Mack's faithful service and dedication to upholding the traditional family structure and values is the backbone of our communities. I applaud the life and legacy of Thelma Mack.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the 40th anniversary of the deaths of Mr. James Chaney, Mr. Andrew Goodman, and Mr. Andrew Schwerner. I submit the following speech by former Mississippi Secretary of State Dick Molpus published June 25, 2004, in the Clarion-Ledger Newspaper of Jackson Mississippi. To the families and friends of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Mickey Schwerner we issue a heartfelt welcome. You and yours are forever linked with all of us. We are honored today by your presence. Also, as I look across this audience I see people I know from across Mississippi and the United States. I am lifted up by your presence, as well. This is an historic day for a number of reasons. First, we are seeing a remarkable display of unity and connection from the citizens of Philadelphia and Neshoba County. In the June 2 edition of the Neshoba Democrat I saw a picture of Leroy Clemons, president of the NAACP, with Jim Prince, editor of the Neshoba Democrat, saying clearly this community has come together and it was time for the ``sun to shine through the clouds.'' There is no doubt that the work of the Philadelphia Coalition is nothing short of a miracle. I watched with pride as Mayor Rayburn Waddell of Philadelphia spoke for the Philadelphia City Council in passing an unequivocal resolution calling for justice and as the Neshoba County Board of Supervisors, led by James Young, issued their own clear call. The power of human understanding has been shown to us by the 30 individuals who have met every Monday night for two months to plan this event and authored their own eloquent and moving tribute to Messrs. Chaney, Schwerner and Goodman. I am more proud of the leadership in my hometown than at any time in my life. I believe, however, until justice is done, we are all at least somewhat complicit in those deaths. I recognize that only a handful of hate-filled men actually committed the murders, but we are all, to some degree, implicated. Some will say, ``How can that be? Why can't we just move on?'' Most weren't members of the Klan, those of you under 40 weren't even born and many of the baby-boomers, myself included, were teenagers. Many of our older citizens would never have ridden the dirt roads to terrorize and they don't condone murder. But all us who are Neshoba Countians or Mississippians have to acknowledge and face our corporate responsibility in this tragedy and I'm not talking about some fruitless and useless intellectual effort to assign guilt or blame. The debate about who could have or should have done what in 1964 could go on forever. It's a discussion that carries us no where--there is no resolution. But that does not mean we can move on by ignoring where we are in 2004. One fact is absolutely clear. Hear this: For 40 years, our state judicial system has allowed murderers to roam our land. Night riders, church burners, beaters and killers deserve no protection from sure justice. Our district attorney, Mark Duncan, is elected by Neshoba citizens and those in four adjoining counties. Jim Hood, our attorney general, is elected by all Mississippians. Our U.S. attorney, Dunn Lampton, is appointed by the president of the United States, an election we all vote in. These are not weak, timid or cowardly men. They have all voiced their support for bringing charges with proven evidence that will lead to a conviction. But our local responsibility for what happens in the future is also heavy. Clearly, we need to encourage and support those prosecutors. But those of us with local roots must do more. By most accounts there were 20 men from Neshoba and Lauderdale Counties involved in the planning and actual executions. A number of them have taken to their grave their knowledge of this crime. They have already had their judgment day. Others, however, certainly told wives, children and buddies of their involvement. So there must be witnesses among us who can share information with prosecutors. Other murderers are aged and infirm and may want to be at peace with themselves and with God before their own deaths. They need to be encouraged to come forward. Now is the time to expose those dark secrets. When we have heard murderers brag about their killings but pretend those words were never spoken, when we know about evidence to help bring justice, but refuse to step forward and tell authorities what they need to know ... that's what makes us in 2004 guilty. Pretending this didn't happen makes us complicit. We must provide the help prosecutors need to bring closure to this case. But justice by itself is not enough. These three young men died while urging people to vote and participate in our democracy. James Chaney, Mickey Schwerner and Andy Goodman were American patriots. Their murderers were domestic terrorists. The end of this saga, however, should not be about cowardly racists finally brought to justice. The final chapter should be about redemption and about moving on--moving on to a better life. The most lasting tribute we can make to these fallen heroes is to move on and to honor their cause. This is 2004, not 1964. Many of the demons we face today are similar to the ones 40 years ago. True, African Americans have the right to vote, but too few of our citizens--black, white, Indian, Asian or Hispanic--use that right. Public schools were segregated in 1964. With the growth of segregation academies and white flight, many remain that way now. Few politicians today use outright race-baiting, but we see the symbols some use and the phrases they utter and everyone knows what the code is--what really is being said. In 1964 there was a dependence on low-wage jobs in manufacturing plants. Forty years later, most of the plants are gone, but too many still scrape by on dead-end jobs to make ends meet. Black, white and Choctaw Indian communities here in Neshoba County and Mississippi struggle with the scourge of school dropouts, teen pregnancy and drug abuse that keep the cycle of poverty unbroken. To build a lasting monument to James Chaney, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, we must face these issues with a clear, unblinking eye and say ``no more.'' And finally, we Mississippians must announce to the world what we've learned in 40 years. We know today that our enemies are not each other. Our real enemies are ignorance, illiteracy, poverty, racism, disease, unemployment, crime, the high dropout rate, teen pregnancy and lack of support for the public schools. We can defeat all those enemies not as divided people-- black or white or Indian--but as a united force banded together by our common humanity, by our own desire to lift each other up. Forty years from now, I want our children and grandchildren to look back on us and what we did and say that we had the courage, the wisdom and the strength to rise up, to take the responsibility to right historical wrongs--that we pledged to build a future together, we moved on. Yes, we moved on as one people. Dick Molpus, a former secretary of state and gubernatorial candidate, owns the Molpus Woodlands Group, a timberland investment company in Jackson.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the life and legacy Dr. C. Vincent Bakeman, a co-founder of the Human Resources Development Institute, Inc. (HRDI), who devoted himself to improving our alcohol and chemical dependency treatment systems. We are all aware of the national problem that is especially acute in inner-city areas across this great Nation. The shortage of healthcare professionals has left many underserved communities without access to healthcare, placing low- and middle-income families at even greater risk of suffering from medical conditions and disorders that could be averted. True to its mission, HRDI has charted innovative healthcare solutions that continue to stabilize and strengthen families, neighborhoods and entire communities from Chicago to Las Vegas to Indianola, Mississippi, and points in between. Additionally, through his efforts to empower those without healthcare, he formed partnerships with area institutions of higher learning to assist residents in acquiring the necessary skills and training central to competing in this new age of information and technology. Many of our colleagues here in Congress have espoused the notion of expanding healthcare coverage. Dr. Bakeman lived it. It is through community efforts as demonstrated by Dr. Bakeman and HRDI that we may be able to achieve a reality of accessible and affordable healthcare for all. During his thirty-plus years of service, Dr. Bakeman touched the lives of many, proving that even the simplest ideas can make a big difference. I take great pride in commending the work of Dr. C. Vincent Bakeman and HRDI on a job well done for more than 30 years.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend and congratulate the Clinton High School Attache Show Choir upon completing its outstanding 2004 competition season. The Clinton High School Attache Show Choir was formed in September 1980, by Winona Costello. Since 1992, Attache has been led and directed by David and Mary Fehr; the instrumental pit under the direction of Robert Allen; the crew under the direction of Wesley Quick. Attache was named Grand Champion of the Benton Community High School ``Touch of Class'' competition held in Van Home, Iowa on February 14, 2004. Attache also received the Best Vocals, Best Choreography, Most Creative Show, and Best Male (Trey Finch) and Female (Jan Jefcoat) Soloist awards. Dexter Bishop was named the outstanding performer from Attache. Attache was named Grand Champion of the Homewood High School ``South Central Classic'' competition held in Homewood, Alabama on February 21, 2004. Attache also received the Best Vocals, Best Choreography, and Best Overall Effect awards. Attache was named Grand Champion of the Mixed Show Choir at the MIC Choral Competition held at North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 20, 2004. Attache also received the Best Vocals and Best Choreography awards. Attache was honored to be selected as the host choir for the Show Choir Nationals Competition held March 27, 2004, at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. The 2004 Senior Class of Attache is undefeated, having earned Grand Champion honors at every competition at which they competed during their three years of performing. It is with great pride that we recognize the contributions of this national and internationally known musical group which has brought honor and acclaim to Clinton High School, the Clinton community, and to the State of Mississippi.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize an African-American pioneer, 90-year-old blues singer Rev. Arnold Dwight ``Gatemouth'' Moore. Nicknamed ``Gatemouth'' because of his loud singing and speaking voice, Arnold Dwight Moore paved the way for blues. As a boy growing up on world famous Beale Street in Memphis, TN, he was influenced by the African-American culture and heritage that made up the streets and music that was a result of the day to day existence of individuals who lived there. The pride of Beale Street and student of blues was a vocalist at the Elk's, better known as the Blues Bowl. Moore recorded his first record in 1941 and wrote such songs as ``Somebody's Got to Go,'' ``I Ain't Mad at You,'' ``Pretty Baby,'' and ``Did You Ever Love a Woman?'' which was later recorded by B.B. King and Rufus Thomas. Gatemouth lead the way for blues through his firsts. Moore was the first blues singer to sing at Carnegie Hall; the first to travel with W.C. Handy to New York City; first to sing at the segregated Peabody Hotel's Roof Garden; first to sing in many halls around the country, including The Apollo in New York, The Regal in Chicago, the Chicago Civic Center, The Music Hall in Detroit, the Howard Theatre in Washington, DC, and The Royal in Baltimore, MD. Arnold Dwight ``Gatemouth'' Moore, listed in the Who's Who in Blues in America, is much more than one of the many blues singers throughout history. He is a true legendary pioneer of blues.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in bidding a fond farewell to Ambassador C.J. Chen of Taiwan. He will be returning to Taipei next month. During the last four years, he has been the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington, DC. A great advocate for his country, Ambassador Chen has helped us understand difficult issues such as Taiwan's peace referendum and the just concluded Taiwan presidential elections. At the same time he has helped his people better understand American values and strengthened the relations between Taiwan and the United States. On Capitol Hill Ambassador Chen, known to many as simply ``C.J.,'' is widely respected. Many of us admire his high intellect and industry as we have been privileged to see the personal depth within this very public man. Indeed, we have been enriched in having had this opportunity to get to know him and his lovely wife, Yolanda Ho. As Ambassador Chen leaves Washington for Taipei, we can be sure that both our countries shall benefit from his efforts for years to come.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3873, the Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act. I would like to compliment the chairman and ranking member of the committee. They have brought a good bill to this House, and I urge my colleagues to vote for it. Among its many important provisions, this legislation will promote the consumption of milk in our Nation's schools. I, along with a few other colleagues, introduced H.R. 3250, a bipartisan bill to promote school milk. The Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act before us includes several provisions of H.R. 3250, and I appreciate the committee's efforts. Under the child nutrition bill before us, milk will continue to be offered with every school meal. Schools will be able to offer a variety of fat levels. Schools will also be encouraged to offer a variety of flavors, as well as lactose-free milk for children who may be lactose intolerant, and regardless of any so-called exclusive sales contracts, schools will be able to sell milk anytime, anywhere on school property or at school events. This bill is a fair, reasonable compromise on substitutes for milk. Schools will be able to offer substitute beverages at their option where a child has a medical or a special dietary need. Parents will be able to certify their special dietary need. They will not have to obtain a physician's statement. Mr. Speaker, child nutrition programs are vital to all Americans. Our schools, our WIC clinics need the support of everyone in Congress. This bill renews and strengthens nutrition assistance and education and should pass unanimously. Please vote for this bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following speech, dated January 7, 2004, given by Joyia Smith, Student Body President at Greenville-Weston High School in Greenville, MS, at a No Child Left Behind Forum. The No Child Left Behind Act is a landmark in education reform, ``designed'' to improve student achievement and change the culture of America's schools. The name alone has we uninformed students thinking that test scores would fly up and there would really be ``no child left behind''. When this legislation first appeared, I was just an incoming sophomore. Our school individually had a lot of concerns. At the same time NCLB was introduced, our students were trying to adopt an unneeded merger. It was like a ``double improvement'' for us. Our school administration had us under the impression that we would no longer be ``trapped in the dead end of low performing schools''. In addition to strong accountability, NCLB puts a special emphasis on implementing educational programs. The whole idea was so parents would know their children's strengths and weaknesses, parents would know how well schools were performing, and parents would know the schools have quality teacher training and resources. This is a good plan. I as a student leader just don't feel it was carried out as it should have been. Everything that seems good is not good for you. We must be able to admit when we've made a mistake and move on. ``When dreams turn into dust, you should vacuum.'' Like Thomas Jefferson, ``I too like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.'' I admire Joyia for her attentiveness and the detail in which she expresses her analysis of federal legislation. Her comments truly speak bounds. Her outstanding scholarship is a positive reflection on her personal dedication, family, and school district. May Joyia Smith continue to excel in her endeavors.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor the Freedom Ride efforts sought to accelerate changes in the South, which had been so inadequately brought about in the courts. As a 13-year-old boy in Bolton, MS, I can recall the surmounted tension in the State of Mississippi in 1961. In tribute to the freedom riders, I would like to submit the following excerpt from Juan Williams' Eyes on the Prize. In 1947, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) planned a ``Journey of Reconciliation,'' designed to test the Supreme Court's 1946 decision in the Irene Morgan case, which declared segregated seating of interstate passengers unconstitutional. An interracial group of passengers met with heavy resistance in the upper South. Some members of the group served on a chain gang after their arrest in North Carolina. The Journey of Reconciliation quickly broke down. Clearly the South, even the more moderate upper South, was not ready for integration. Nearly a decade and a half later, John F. Kennedy was elected president, in large part due to widespread support among blacks who believed that Kennedy was more sympathetic to the civil rights movement than his opponent, Richard Nixon. Once in office, however, Kennedy proved less committed to the movement than he had appeared during the campaign. To test the president's commitment to civil rights, CORE proposed a new Journey of Reconciliation, dubbed the ``Freedom Ride.'' The strategy was the same: an interracial group would board buses destined for the South. The whites would sit in the back and the blacks in the front. At rest stops, the whites would go into blacks-only areas and vice versa. ``This was not civil disobedience, really,'' explained CORE director James Farmer, ``because we [were] merely doing what the Supreme Court said we had a right to do.'' But the Freedom Riders expected to meet resistance. ``We felt we could count on the racists of the South to create a crisis so that the federal government would be compelled to enforce the law,'' said Farmer. ``When we began the ride I think all of us were prepared for as much violence as could be thrown at us. We were prepared for the possibility of death.'' The Freedom Ride left Washington DC on May 4, 1961. It was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on May 17, the seventh anniversary of the Brown decision. Unlike the original Journey of Reconciliation, the Freedom Ride met little resistance in the upper South. On Mother's Day, May 14, the Freedom Riders split up into two groups to travel through Alabama. The first group was met by a mob of about 200 angry people in Anniston. The mob stoned the bus and slashed the tires. The bus managed to get away, but when it stopped about six miles out of town to change the tires, it was firebombed. The other group did not fare any better. It was greeted by a mob in Birmingham, and the Riders were severely beaten. Birmingham's Public Safety Commissioner, Bull Conner, claimed he posted no officers at the bus depot because of the holiday; however, it was later discovered that the FBI knew of the planned attack and that the city police stayed away on purpose. Alabama governor John Patterson offered no apologies, explaining, ``When you go somewhere looking for trouble, you usually find it . . . . You just can't guarantee the safety of a fool and that's what these folks are, just fools.'' Despite the violence, the Freedom Riders were determined to continue. Jim Peck, a white who had fifty stitches from the beatings he received, insisted, ``I think it is particularly important at this time when it has become national news that we continue and show that nonviolence can prevail over violence.'' The bus company, however, did not want to risk losing another bus to a bombing, and its drivers, who were all white, did not want to risk their lives. After two days of unsuccessful negotiations, the Freedom Riders, fearing for their safety, flew to New Orleans. It appeared that the Freedom Ride was over. At that point, however, a group of Nashville sit-in students decided to go to Birmingham and continue the Freedom Ride. Diane Nash, who helped organize the group, later explained, ``If the Freedom Riders had been stopped as a result of violence, I strongly felt that the future of the movement was going to be cut short. The impression would have been that whenever a movement starts, all [you have to do] is attack it with massive violence and the blacks [will] stop.'' The Nashville students traveled to Birmingham and asked the bus company to let them use their buses. Attorney general Kennedy also leaned on the bus company and the Birmingham police. He was determined to enforce the Supreme Court's decision that called for integration of interstate travel, and he worried that if the Nashville students remained in Birmingham much longer, violence might erupt. On May 17, the Birmingham police arrested the Nashville Freedom Riders and placed them in protective custody. At 2 AM on Friday, the police drove the Riders back to Tennessee, dumping them by the side of the highway at the state line. After they got a ride back to Nashville, 100 miles away, they went right back to Birmingham. Meanwhile, Governor Patterson agreed to meet with John Seigenthaler, a Justice Department aide and a native of Tennessee. In the meeting, Floyd Mann, head of the state highway patrol, agreed to protect the Freedom Riders in between Birmingham. Attorney General Robert Kennedy then pressured the Greyhound bus company, which finally agreed to carry the Riders. The Freedom Riders left Birmingham on Saturday, May 20. State police promised ``that a private plane would fly over the bus, and there would be a state patrol car every fifteen or twenty miles along the highway between Birmingham and Montgomery--about ninety miles,'' recalled Freedom Rider John Lewis. Police protection, however, disappeared as the Freedom Riders entered the Montgomery city limits. The bus terminal was quiet. ``And then, all of a sudden, just like magic, white people everywhere,'' said Freedom Rider Frederick Leonard. The Riders considered leaving by the back of the bus in hopes that the mob would not be quite as vicious. But Jim Zwerg, a white rider, bravely marched off the bus first. The other riders slipped off while the mob focused on pummeling Zwerg. Floyd Mann tried to stop the mob, but it continued to beat the Riders and those who came to their aid, such as Justice Department official John Seigenthaler, who was beaten unconscious and left in the street for nearly a half an hour after he stopped to help two Freedom Riders. Mann finally ordered in state troopers, but the damage was already done. When news of the Montgomery attack reached Washington, Robert Kennedy was not happy. He decided to send federal marshals to the city. Martin Luther King, Jr., flew to Montgomery and held a mass meeting, surrounded by federal marshals, in support of the Freedom Riders. As night fell, a mob of several thousand whites surrounded the church. The blacks could not leave safely. At 3 AM, King called Robert Kennedy and Kennedy called Governor Patterson. Patterson declared martial law and sent in state police and the National Guard. The mob dispersed and the blacks left safely. After the violence at the church, Robert Kennedy asked for a cooling-off period. The Freedom Riders, however, were intent on continuing. James Farmer explained, ``[W]e'd been cooling off for 350 years, and . . . if we cooled off any more, we'd be in a deep freeze.'' The Riders decided to continue on to Mississippi. They were given good protection as they entered the state, and no mob greeted them at the Jackson bus terminal. ``As we walked through, the police just said, `Keep moving' and let us go through the white side,'' recalled Frederick Leonard. ``We never got stopped. They just said `Keep moving,' and they passed us right on through the white terminal into the paddy wagon and into jail.'' Robert Kennedy and Mississippi Senator James O. Eastland had reached a compromise. Kennedy promised not to use federal troops if there was no mob violence. Both men kept up their end of the bargain. Unfortunately, the Freedom Riders were now at the mercy of the local courts. On May 25, they were tried. As their attorney defended them, the judge turned his back. Once the attorney finished, he turned around and sentenced them to 60 days in the state penitentiary. More Freedom Riders arrived in Jackson to continue the Freedom Ride, and they were arrested too. Freedom Riders continued to arrive in the South, and by the end of the summer, more than 300 had been arrested. The Freedom Riders never made it to New Orleans. Many spent their summer in jail. Some were scarred for life from the beatings they received. But their efforts were not in vain. They forced the Kennedy administration to take a stand on civil rights, which was the intent of the Freedom Ride in the first place. In addition, the Interstate Commerce Commission, at the request of Robert Kennedy, outlawed segregation in interstate bus travel in a ruling, more specific than the original Supreme Court mandate, that took effect in September, 1961. The Freedom Riders may not have finished their trip, but they made an important and lasting contribution to the civil rights movement. The Freedom Rides mark one of the most despicable chapters in our history on the part of the Democratic administration at every level of government. They mark one of the most courageous and uplifting periods of time, as evidenced by the courage and determination of those who put their bodies and their lives on the line to end racial segregation and win social justice in this country. The Freedom Rides and sit-ins showed the potential that human beings have. It was a time when ordinary people did extraordinary things, and the number of heroes was too great to be counted!

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize an African American pioneer, actress Ms. Beulah ``Beah'' Richards. For the daughter of a Mississippi-born Baptist minister, a good education might have led to a secure job and a middle-class existence. For Beah Richards of Vicksburg, Mississippi, it meant freedom and rejection of life in a town in which she claimed to have suffered racism ``every day of my life''. In 1948, Richards graduated from Dillard University, New Orleans, and decided to pursue an acting career. Although she had her first paid acting job at age 36, Richards won three Emmy awards and was nominated for a Tony award and an Academy Award for her 1967 role in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Her career began at a time when roles for black actors were becoming marginally less stereotypical compared with the pre-war years, when comic characters or minor parts as spear carriers or domestic servants were the norm. Since she was solely an actress, not an entertainer, Richards never achieved star status, and specialized in feisty character roles, usually older than her years, notably indomitable matriarchs. A move to New York in the early 1950s, to play the role of the grandmother in Take a Giant Step, boosted her career. Take a Giant Step was a thoughtful drama about race that proliferated in the 1950's. Richards shined in the Pulitzer Prize winning play, A Raisin in the Sun, where she understudied the lead on Broadway and played in later productions. In the social thriller In the Heat of the Night (1967), she shared the screen with Sidney Poitier, Hollywood's leading black actor; later that year she did so again in Stanley Kramer's Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, this time playing Poitier's mother, despite being two years his junior. Poitier was to be the first of many screen sons. She later mothered James Earl Jones in The Great White Hope (1970), Danny Glover in And the Children Shall Weep (1984) and Eriq La Salle as the irascible Dr. Benton in ER. Aside from her acting career, Richards' life was an apex of activism and artistry. Her little known friendships with historical giants Paul Robeson, W.E.B DuBois and African-American communist leaders William and Louise Patterson helped cultivate her passion for using words to create wisdom. Reading her fiery poem A Black Woman Speaks of White Womanhood, White Supremacy and Peace garnered the attention of the FBI under the J. Edgar Hoover administration. The agency's surveillance of her from 1951 to 1972 yielded a 100-page file. She also had a brief stint as a journalist for New-York based Freedom Ways magazine covering the civil rights movement in Alabama in the 1960s. Richards, who started smoking at age 17, had emphysema and returned to Vicksburg in 2000 to live with family. Richards died Sept. 14, 2000, 10 days after receiving an Emmy award for a guest role on The Practice. It was her last role. Beah Richards pioneered a trail for African Americans in the film community. She was one of the original foot soldiers in the fight for African Americans and women in film and for this she deserves recognition.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Hunter Gray, a civil rights activist involved in the southern movement from the summer of 1961 to the summer of 1967. Hunter Gray, formerly John Salter, took the name of his Native American family some years ago and has been one of the Nation's most ardent advocates on behalf of Native rights. He was recently diagnosed with a severe and possibly fatal case of lupus that has also brought on a bad case of diabetes. John Salter was very active with the Jackson, Mississippi, NAACP and boycott in 1964. He was in the trenches with Medgar Evers and others during the civil rights movement from 1961 until Evers was assassinated and Gray and his wife and young son left the State. He also wrote a book titled, Jackson, Mississippi: An American Chronicle of Struggle and Schism (1979). Hunter Gray's commitment to civil rights has continued throughout the years. He and his wife Eldri, who has been a partner in the struggle for equality for 40 years, now live in Idaho. He has been hospitalized several times over the past few months , and his medication and hospitalization costs are very expensive. Many of his friends are organizing a testimonial and fund-raiser to let him know how grateful we are to him for his many sacrifices and contributions to civil rights, Native American and labor causes. For further information on Hunter Gray, I refer you to his widely read Web site at www.hunterbear.org. Hunter Gray has left a formative mark on the shape of Mississippi history. I thank him for his service to civil rights and to Mississippi. I ask that you keep him in your prayers and meditations.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the anniversary of the death of Louis Allen. I submit the following article from Dittmer, John. ``Local People.'' Urbana. University of Illinois Press, 1994, page 215. ``Mississippi Freedom Summer Timeline,'' January 31, 1964 On the evening of January 31, 1964, Louis Allen was gunned down outside his home in Amite County, Mississippi. Married and the father of four children, the 45-year-old independent logger was hit in the face with two loads of buckshot, dying almost instantly. Three years earlier, he had seen Mississippi State legislator E.H. Hurst shoot Herbert Lee, local civil rights pioneer, in cold blood. After word got around that Allen had talked with Justice Department officials about the case, his life became a nightmare. Over the next two years, Allen suffered economic harassment, was jailed on false charges and had his jaw broken by a deputy sheriff. When, early in 1964, he learned that whites were planning to kill him, the victim made plans to join his brother in Milwaukee. Allen was to leave Mississippi on February 1, one day too late. No one was ever charged in the murder.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today my colleagues and I are introducing legislation to improve the nutrition and health of our nation's children by promoting increased consumption of milk in schools. Drinking more milk is a simple, natural step that students can take to build bone strength during critical years, obtain a unique package of important nutrients and promote their health and well-being. Throughout Mississippi's Second District, parents and school administrators alike have expressed their desire to see improvements made to the national school lunch program. The most repeated and sound suggestion I have heard is the need to increase milk consumption; thereby, strengthening the short- and long-term health of our children. That is why this legislation is important. Since the first Federal aid was committed to providing warm meals at schools in 1932, a number of programs have evolved into the current national school lunch program. As we introduce this measure, Congress is at work to reauthorize the various child nutrition programs that have been so important in helping children and their mothers to achieve good dietary habits. I hope the bill we are introducing today--the Child Nutrition Improvement Act of 2003--can be included in the reauthorization legislation, and will work with the Committee on Education and the Workforce to make sure that happens. For a variety of reasons, Americans have been consuming less fluid milk over recent decades. For example, the average per capita consumption of milk by children age 13-17 fell by over 20 percent just between 1996 and 2001. It is not a coincidence that large numbers of Americans are deficient in calcium. Some 85 percent of girls age 9-18 fail to get enough calcium; the same is true for over 70 percent of boys in the same age group. Fortunately, we now know how to increase milk consumption in the schools. Thanks to a 146-school, 100,000-student pilot study by the National Dairy Council and the American School Food Service Association during the 2001-02 school year, we know that by improving packaging, flavor variety, refrigeration, merchandising and other aspects of school milk, we can not only increase milk sales but also bring more students back into the cafeteria--thereby increasing their consumption not just of milk but of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods as well. In the test schools, students got extra flavors; drank milk out of more attractive and easy-open packaging; selected the milk from modern glass-front merchandisers; and found their milk consistently cold because of extra attention to refrigeration. The result was a 15 percent milk sales increase in elementary schools, and a 22 percent increase in secondary schools. In addition, average daily participation in the school meal programs was some 5 percent higher in test schools than in control schools. If these results were repeated nationwide, 430,000 new students would participate in our school meal programs. Another 2.1 million students who already participate but do not drink milk would become milk drinkers. By adopting and maintaining a healthier diet, these 2.6 million students would decrease their lifetime risk of six major health conditions: coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, colorectal cancer, osteoporosis, stroke and hypertension. A study conducted by Promar International estimated health-care cost savings of from $800 million to $1.1 billion per year as a result. This legislation, the Child Nutrition Improvement Act of 2003, takes the lessons learned from the school milk pilot test and seeks to provide schools with the ability and incentive to promote increased milk consumption. The legislation has the unified support of the nation's dairy farmers and milk processors--it is endorsed by both the National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association. The bill will: Require the Secretary of Agriculture to offer schools a higher meal reimbursement rate when they adopt improvements to packaging, flavor variety and other aspects of school milk; allow a wide variety of branded, flavored milk to be sold a la carte alongside the milk in the regular meal line; continue the requirement to offer milk with each school meal, but give school food service professionals the ability to decide what types of milk to offer, enhancing local choice; give all schools the freedom to sell milk at any school facility or event, regardless of any other beverage contracts the school may have; and authorize a Healthy School Environment Program to make grants to schools that improve nutrition and physical activity. Mr. Speaker, I invite all our colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation. We need to work toward improvements in our children's nutrition and fitness--the nation's obesity crisis demands our urgent attention. This bill will encourage healthier diets and better intake of critical nutrients among children in their formative years: the most critical years for bone formation, when adequate calcium is most important. We will work with all our colleagues of both parties, as well as in the other body where similar legislation has been introduced. We can reverse the dangerous trend of declining milk consumption, and we can begin to do it right now.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a woman by any measure--Althea Loreen Grayson Banks. On September 27, 2003, Althea departed from us. She was a woman of many talents and accomplishments. She was employed as an office manager with Mississippi Family Doctors. She was also a licensed real estate agent broker and licensed funeral home director. Althea was very involved in community and youth oriented organizations. She served as Girl Scout Troop Leader and was a member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Jackson Chapter of C.H.U.M.S, Heroines of Jericho Precious Jewel Count No. 146 and the Elks Kizzie Clifton Temple No. 671. She enjoyed horseback riding, tennis, shopping, sewing, and traveling. Althea can be held to Proverbs 31:10 ``Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.'' Her life's joy was her children. She was a dedicated mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Althea was fun loving, energetic and kind hearted. She loved spending quality time with her family and touched the lives of many. The imprint she has left on the lives of others will be loving and everlasting.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man by any measure--Dr. Leon E. Rondenet. Dr. Rondenet was born in Chicago, IL, on July 28, 1922 to Leon and Loretta Rondenet (deceased). Leon Rondenet, O.D., is a World War II Medical Corps veteran. Dr. Rondenet is a graduate of the Northern Illinois College of Optometry. He has been in private practice for over 50 years. Dr. Rondenet has enjoyed providing the eye care needs for generations of Illinoisans. Dr. Rondenet is an expert in difficult refractive cases and enjoys providing contact lens fittings for adults and children. He is a long- time member of the American Optometric Association and the Illinois Optometric Association. He has provided indigent eye care services for the Lions Club and supports the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness. Dr. Rondenet can be held to Ecclesiastes 7:18-19: ``The man will avoid all extreme. Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful.'' Dr. Rondenet is an avid golfer and enjoys recreational fishing. He has been married to Mary Rondenet for 59 years. They have four children, Lee Jr., Mimi, John, and Bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 354, agreeing to the amendment offered by Mr. Rehberg, the gentleman from Montana, striking the prohibition on mandatory country of origin labeling, to H.R. 2673, I inadvertently voted ``yea'' when it was my intent to vote ``nay.''

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, Taiwan President Chen Shui- bian recently celebrated his third anniversary in office. He has done many good things for his country and strengthened Taiwan's ties with America. Taiwan has been very cooperative with the United States in our global war against terrorism, and Taiwan has pledged assistance to post-war Iraq. In addition, Taiwan has provided medical assistance and humanitarian aid to a number of African nations. We hope Taiwan will continue to prosper in the future. We are glad to hear that Taiwan has been declared SARS free and it is now safe to travel to Taiwan and other parts of Asia. We also hope that the United States will soon increase trade opportunities with Taiwan by launching negotiations on a free trade agreement. Congratulations, President Chen.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. I yield to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today, we have celebrated, in some respects, the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Medgar Wiley Evers who, in his lifetime, was misunderstood by a number of Americans. But here we are 40 years from that date on the floor of Congress, many people watching us who probably had not been afforded the right to vote when he was assassinated, but this is the majesty and honor of this country that we serve in that, believe it or not, that hands who pick elected officials who used to pick cotton can now pick Members of Congress. It is in that spirit that we offer this resolution not only for Medgar Wiley Evers, but also for his widow, Myrlie Evers, who has carried on his life and legacy, his spirit and his enthusiasm for making this country a better place.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's comments. Mr. Speaker, it was a different day. It is a date that if Medgar Wiley Evers were here, he would be very proud to see debate on this floor, to see individuals from all walks of life representing people here. This is what democracy is all about. I appreciate all that has been said. It is in this spirit that we move forward from this day, not just in my State, but in this country to make it indeed a better place. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering), my colleague, for this opportunity. I would like to pay tribute also to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), who held the fort down while we were out at Arlington Cemetery paying a special tribute to the person we are honoring here today, as well as his widow, Myrlie Evers. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of America's most undercelebrated martyr of the civil rights movement, Medgar Wiley Evers. Born in Decatur, Mississippi, Medgar dedicated the 37 years of his life to the causes of racial equality and the equal opportunity movement. As a 15- year-old boy in Bolton, Mississippi, I recall one of Medgar's last televised speeches. He said, ``Tonight, the Negro plantation worker in the delta knows from his radio and television what happened today all over the world. He knows what black people are doing and he knows what white people are doing. He can see on the 6 o'clock news screen the picture of the 3 o'clock bite by the police dog. He knows about the new free nation of Africa and he knows that a Congo native can be a locomotive engineer, but in Jackson he cannot even drive a garbage truck.'' Medgar spoke those words 40 years ago, Mr. Speaker, just days before his assassination. He described a time and place that many African Americans still know all too well. Medgar's legacy is one of opportunity. He often spoke of political, economic, and educational opportunities. Today, we are faced with many of the same challenges. While the poll tax and the literacy tests are no more, the Voting Rights Act, which was enacted 2 years before Medgar's assassination, is still needed to protect the interests of African Americans and other minorities. I join my colleagues who have been on the floor here today in paying tribute to a great Mississippian, one who paid the ultimate sacrifice, Mr. Speaker, which is to give one's life for what he or she believes in. So part of what we commemorate today is not only Medgar Wiley Evers but his widow, who carried on in his stead. She headed the NAACP, she carried on a number of other organizations, and as we speak today, she has started the Medgar Evers Institute, which will carry on the life and legacy of her assassinated husband. For that we owe Medgar a debt of gratitude. I am honored to stand here today, Mr. Speaker, and pay tribute and honor to a man who so many of us are indebted to. After all, Medgar was right: ``You can kill a man, but you can't kill an idea.'' Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor America's most under-celebrated martyr of the Civil Rights Movement, Medgar Wiley Evers. Born in Decatur, MS, Medgar dedicated the 37 years of his life to the causes of racial equality and equal opportunity. As a 15-year-old boy in Bolton, MS, I recall one of Medgar's last televised speeches. He said: Tonight the Negro plantation worker in the Delta knows from his radio and television what happened today all over the world. He knows what black people are doing and he knows what white people are doing. He can see on the 6:00 o'clock news screen the picture of a 3:00 o'clock bite by a police dog. He knows about the new free nations in Africa and knows that a Congo native can be a locomotive engineer, but in Jackson he cannot even drive a garbage truck. He sees a city over 150,000, of which 40% is Negro, in which there is not a single Negro policeman or policewoman, school crossing guard, fireman, clerk, stenographer or supervisor employed in any city department or the Mayor's office in other than menial capacities . . . What then does the Negro want? He wants to get rid of racial segregation in Mississippi life . . . The Negro citizen wants to register and vote without special handicaps imposed on him alone . . . The Negro Mississippian wants more jobs above the menial level in stores where he spends his money. He believes that new industries that have come to Mississippi should employ him above the laboring category. He wants the public schools and colleges desegregated so that his children can receive the best education that Mississippi has to offer. 40 Years Wasn't That Long Ago Medgar spoke those words 40 years ago, just days before his assassination. He described a time and place that many African- Americans still know all-too-well. Medgar's legacy is one of opportunity. He often spoke of political, economic and educational opportunities. Today, we are faced with many of the same challenges. While the poll tax and the literacy test are no more, the Voting Rights Act--which was enacted 2 years after Medgar's assassination--is still needed to protect the political interests of African-Americans and other minorities. Mississippi still trumps the rights of her African- American citizens by seizing their land in the name of economic development, then kicking them out of the development. For the last 28 years, Mississippi resisted the efforts of her African-American children to end discrimination at her colleges and universities. Medgar's legacy tells us to embrace the opportunity to make racial equality a reality. Today, I encourage young people to continue the fight Medgar so bravely began. Medgar Evers is proof that sometimes the good die young. So, the least we can do is to live our lives in such a way that his dying will not have been in vain. I want to commend Myrlie Evers-Williams and the Medgar Evers Institute for carrying Medgar's torch. As advocates for change, we understand that June 12, 1963, signaled the start of a new chapter in Mississippi and American history. I am proud to say that today, Congress will recognize the enormous contribution Medgar and Myrlie have made and continue to make to, not just Black history, but American history. Their tireless dedication to the disenfranchised is nothing less than admirable. No Mississippian did more to empower the disenfranchised than Medgar Evers. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. I am honored to stand here today and honor the man to whom so many of us are indebted. After all, Medgar was right--``You can kill a man, but you can't kill an idea.''

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life and accomplishments of Mr. Leland Young of Rosedale, Mississippi. He dedicated his life to serving Mississippi's local youth athletes for 61 years. Mr. Young was born July 28, 1941, in Ripley, Mississippi to Leland and Willie Young. He married Mary Katherine Jacob of Clarksdale on June 6, 1964. Together they had one daughter. During his coaching career he built an impressive record of 221-63-2. He led Rosedale High School to four North Mississippi State Championships and three State Championships in football. His team also won the Delta Valley Conference Football Championship. At the time of his retirement, Rosedale High School held the state record for the most consecutive wins. Mr. Young also led the track team to a State Track Championship in 1983. He won the ``DVC Track Coach of the Year'' award in 1983 and the ``State Track Coach of the Year'' award the same year. Mr. Young was inducted into the Delta State University Alumni Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Mississippi High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001. The Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity awarded him in 2001 with a plaque for distinguished service rendered in the field of sports. He was the 2002 Bolivar Commercial Coach of the Year and was in The Bolivar Commercial Quarter Century Club in 2000. He was also Co-Coach of Year for the Delta Democrat Times in 2002. He was an avid golfer and outdoorsman. He was a member of the Delta State University Athletic Alumni Association, Mississippi Association of Coaches, Donaldson Point Hunting Club, Rosedale Country Club and Rosedale Methodist Church. Mr. Leland Young will be dearly missed by his community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and accomplishments of Mrs. Willie Bell Wallace of the Town of Cruger, Mississippi. At 100 years old, Mrs. Willie Bell Wallace, the oldest Mississippi's citizen from the Town of Cruger, died on Sunday, March 30, 2003. Mrs. Willie Bell Wallace was born November 2, 1902. She wedded Will Wallace and together they had three children. Unfortunately, two of her children preceded her in death. She is survived by her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was well known, loved, and honored by all the citizens of Cruger and many in the Holmes County area of Mississippi. Affectionately known as ``Miss Honey'', she enjoyed good health all of her life, and God blessed her with a ``sound'' mind until she closed her eyes in death. ``Miss Honey'', you will be missed, but I know you are in a better place now. God bless you and your family.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, in commemoration of Black History Month, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the many accomplishments of distinguished African-Americans in Mississippi's Second Congressional District. Mrs. Mabel Peterson was born on November 2, 1924. Upon graduating from Bowman High School, Mrs. Peterson married Robert Holmes. They had two children. Mrs. Peterson then decided to run for judge, where she won. As a judge, Mrs. Peterson is known for practicing nothing but fairness. She has been known to often help people pay fines that she has charged. Mrs. Peterson admits that her favorite duty of being a judge is marrying couples. Mrs. Peterson served as a judge for twenty years. On December 31, 2000, Mrs. Peterson retired to spend more time with her grandchildren and her husband. This past January, Mrs. Peterson was selected as the senior citizen of the month.