Bennie Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to honor a tremendous student Mr. Samuel D. Foster, Jr., who is a Wingfield High School Senior graduating in the top five of his senior class. Mr. Foster, throughout his high school career, was always a shy and timid young man who valued the opportunities given to him by his school. No matter the challenge, Mr. Foster strived to maintain good grades and also value knowledge. Mr. Foster was inducted into both the National Honor Society and the Entergy Scholars, which displays a group of students who have expressed on enhanced interest in being the best that they can be. Being a part of the National Honor Society, he has been very helpful volunteering for his school's annual college fairs. Mr. Foster is also an active volunteer at his church, the New Galilean M.B. Church, where he helps out mostly during the holidays. Mr. Foster is the son of Samuel and Anita Foster and has shown great accomplishments throughout his whole life, but now being a high school senior; he has advanced up the ladder of excellence and is now given the title of Valedictorian, holding over a 3.5 grade point average at Wingfield High School. Along with being Valedictorian, Mr. Foster has even had the honor of being voted Mr. Wingfield of his high school for the 2013-2014 school years. In addition to being Mr. Wingfield, he has also won first place in the district reading fair, being able to make it to the regional reading fair to represent the high school Division-F for Jackson Public Schools. Mr. Foster plans to attend Jackson State University on a full scholarship, where he plans to double major in Manufacturing and Design Technology and Art. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Samuel D. Foster, Jr.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cadet/Lieutenant Colonel De'Ahnera Manyfield who is the daughter of Mr. Timothy and Mrs. Angela Manyfield, and she is a senior at Jim Hill High School. Cadet/Lieutenant Colonel Manyfield currently serves as her unit's Commanding Officer. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is actively involved on the student council, varsity softball team, varsity soccer team, JROTC academic bowl, JROTC sabre team, and JROTC drill team. Her leadership ability has been recognized with a number of awards including three Superior Cadet Awards. She attended Girls' State at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she was appointed County Lawyer; the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Symposium at Millsaps University; and the Military Order of World Wars (MOWW) Leadership Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama. She has performed over 800 service learning and community service hours. She has been accepted to the Air Force Academy's Preparatory School. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Cadet/ Lieutenant Colonel De'Ahnera Manyfield.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Coach O'Keefe Henderson. Coach Henderson is a proud product of Canton and a 1999 graduate of Canton High School. He attended Holmes Community College on a football scholarship. He received a football and track scholarship at Mississippi Valley State from 2002-2004. After receiving ALL-SWAC honors in both sports he played two years of professional football in Laredo and Killeen, Texas. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Jackson State University in 2009 receiving a bachelor's degree in Health Physical Education and Recreation (HPER). Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Coach O'Keefe Henderson.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable, well-rounded, and highly driven young woman, Mrs. Destiny Kyles-Jones. Born to Mr. Dennis Kyles, Sr. and Ms. Machelle Shelby Kyles on April 25, 1991, Destiny was raised in the small, close-knit town of Bolton, Mississippi. As a child, Destiny was an outstanding young woman who was deeply involved in her community and church home. She regularly attended Holy Ghost Missionary Baptist Church in Clinton, Mississippi and was active in Sunday school and various other auxiliaries. Destiny is not only a well-mannered young woman, but also exceptionally bright. Her academic ambitions were accomplished and exceeded during her matriculation at Clinton High School, where she graduated in May 2009. She furthered her education at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi, ultimately receiving her B.A. in Business Administration. During her time at Tougaloo College, Destiny was well known among her peers, faculty, and administrators. She was a highly prestigious scholarly student, graduating Sum Cum Laude in May 2013. Among her extra-curricular activity involvements included Dazzling Divas Dance Team, Toast Masters, Pre-Alumni Council, Vice President of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Financial Secretary of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and Tougaloo Ambassadors of Meritorious Scholars. While Destiny was heavily involved in student government and served in several positions, among them were Miss Freshman, Junior Class Representative, and Miss Tougaloo College. As Miss Tougaloo College, Destiny embodied the noble qualities of her beloved college. Her kind spirit and positive attitude was highly infectious, affording her the opportunity to be featured with First Lady Michelle Obama on CNN and in Ebony Magazine as one the nation's Top Ten HBCU Campus Queens in 2013. Currently, Destiny attends Texas A&M University, where she is pursuing her Masters degree in Business Administration. She also is employed with the Department of Justice through an opportunity afforded her via the Homeland Security Initiative at Tougaloo College. She resides in Rockwell, Texas with her husband Jarred Jones. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Destiny Kyles-Jones for her remarkable academic and extra-curricular performance as a young adult.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding young lady making a difference in her school and her life. She is a student at West Tallahatchie High School in Tallahatchie County, MS, Ms. Mary Ann Tyler. Ninth grade is a time when most fourteen year olds are just entering their first year of high school and getting acclimated to it. Ms. Tyler's life changed in the ninth grade. She became a teenage mother. But she did not let that change define her future. Ms. Tyler said she started believing in herself and taking steps to define and construct her future. She started by attending class more often, turning those absentees into presents; she began joining school organizations and clubs. Those among other changes have been the turning point of life. There is a saying that ``attitude can help determine your altitude.'' Well, Ms. Tyler has embraced that philosophy which has yielded her some positive returns. During her tenth grade year, she joined the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and the Student Government Association (SGA) where she did more than just join, she was elected by her peers as the secretary. Organization and reliability is a great attribute. As a member of the Future Business Leaders of America she progressed to the state competition to represent her school and there she placed third in the Community Service Project division of the FBLA competition. The years just kept getting better and the growth and development in Ms. Tyler was starting to take notice. She rejoined the FBLA and SGA school organizations in her junior year of high school. This time she served as the Vice-President of both organizations, a position bestowed upon her through the voting process of peer election. She was also inducted into the Beta Club and voted the ``Most Improved Student.'' By the time Ms. Tyler was a senior in high school, leadership was natural and parenting was a role that she did not take for granted. She not only wanted to challenge herself to reach higher ground but, she also wanted to use her climb as an example for her child, knowing that someday she would tell her story of being a teen mom but not letting that define her future. During her senior year, Ms. Tyler became the president of SGA and the treasurer of the Beta Club. Her grade point average has soared to 3.79, which was commendable, given her responsibilities. Ms. Tyler's plans beyond high school include college with her sights set on a degree in Business Administration, then on to graduate school to pursue her MBA. You see all those years in FBLA and SGA have paid off because they have motivated her to think about her future. She has a dream of owning her own business. I am proud to have Ms. Tyler as a citizen of the Second Congressional District of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Mary Ann Tyler, an amazing student for her dedication to succeed.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a goal oriented student at Madison S. Palmer High School. Khadijah Griffin is the daughter of Derrick and Cynthia Griffin of Lambert, MS. She was chosen Miss Madison S. Palmer High 2013-14 Queen and Student Council President by her peers. She is active in school in that she plays softball and was the Drum Major for the band. She communicates well with everyone. She plans to attend MS State University and has completed the paperwork for admission, been accepted, has taken the ACT and received a scholarship to aid her financially. She plans to major in Mass Communication and is a member of the High School Journalism Class and Newspaper Staff. In the community, Khadijah has participated in campus and community cleanup-beautification campaigns, breast cancer awareness walks, worked as a volunteer helping the Mid-South Food Bank hand out food to the needy in Quitman County, has participated in the MS Drop Out Prevention Campaign Walk, and is Vice-President of her church youth department as well as a choir member. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Khadijah Griffin as a student who is goal oriented and making a difference in her community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a goal oriented student at Madison S. Palmer High School. Toneca Pickens is the daughter of Fekisha Pickens of Darling, MS. She serves as 2014 Senior Class President. She has been an honor student throughout High School. She plays softball and is an office aide and peer tutor. Toneca is active in the community as a volunteer helping the Mid- South Food Bank hand out food to the needy in Quitman County. She participates in campus beautification, the MS Drop Out Prevention Campaign walk, sings in her church choir, and serves as a mentor for the youth of her church. Toneca has scored a very high on her ACT and she plans to attend MS Valley State University and major in math. Her college admission is complete and she has been applying for scholarships to aid in her furthering her education. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Toneca Pickens as a student who is goal oriented and making a difference in her community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a music pioneer, the late Benjamin ``Bud'' Spires. Benjamin ``Bud'' Spires is a lifelong resident of Yazoo County, Mississippi. He was born on May 20, 1931 to Maggie Burnside Jones and Arthur Spires in Yazoo County, Mississippi. In 1978, Benjamin ``Bud'' Spires (Blues Legend) began his musical career with Mr. Jack Owens, who preceded him in death. Bud was famous for his harmonica and his well known song, ``Easy Riding Buggy''. Bud's legacy, jokes, and the thought of him speaking whatever came to mind will forever live on in his family and making them laugh. Bud was married to Ammie Lee Owens and to that union, seven children were born. He accepted Christ at an early age at Pleasant Grove M.B. Church where he was a faithful member until his health failed. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the late Mr. Benjamin ``Bud'' Spires for his dedication and desire to share his harmonic talent with so many.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor, Caleb Robinson, a goal oriented student at Madison S. Palmer High School. Caleb Robinson is the son of Allen and Josephine Sanders of Falcon, MS and a member of the 2014 senior class. Caleb Robinson is an office aide, English II peer tutor, and an honor student. He participated in the Breast Cancer Awareness and the Say No To Drugs walks, volunteers at helping the Mid-South Food Bank hand out food to the needy in Quitman County and is a trainer for the athletic director. Caleb has scored a 20 on his ACT, completed the admission process and has been accepted to MS Valley State University and to University of Mississippi. He is continually applying for scholarships to assist him financially. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Caleb Robinson, as a student who is goal oriented and is making a difference in his community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. William D. Robinson, who is a motivated Greenwood High School student, athlete, and citizen of Leflore County. William (Bill) D. Robinson was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on October 11, 1994. At the age of four, his mother and he moved to Michigan where he attended public and charter schools. Even at a young age, his peers noticed that he had leadership potential and the academic motivation to excel. He was voted ``Most Likely to Succeed''. After living in Michigan for five years, his mother moved his family back to Greenwood. His brother, two sisters and he were excited to be back home with their family and friends. Bill continued to love learning and enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones. In school his academic success was recognized by being named to the Greenwood High School Honor Roll, being honor Mr. William D. Robinson, who is a elected treasurer of the GHS Beta Club, and motivated Greenwood High School student, being chosen Student of the Month by his teachers. Sports have been a passion for him throughout his middle school and high school years. Through the Greenwood High School football team, he has been named 2nd Team All-Commonwealth Defensive End and has twice been a member of the 4A District Championship team. He also participates in the GHS Track and Field Team. As an employee of Greenwood Market Place, he has been promoted as Student Produce Manager. In his job, Bill manages department inventory and maintains product quality. Bill participates in many school and community organizations. He is a member of the GHS Youth Advisory Council, the SkillsUSA organization, and the Distinguished Gentlemen of Maroon and White. He serves on the Teen Advisory Group of the Greenwood Leflore Library, was recognized as the Rotary Club Student of the Month for January. He often volunteers at the Golden Age Nursing Home. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an exemplary young man, Mr. William D. (Bill) Robinson, someone who balances academic success, life skills, and good citizenship.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Nekiaya Jackson, who is an extraordinary student, athlete, and member of society. Nekiaya Jackson was born in Greenwood, MS on August 19, 1996. She is the proud daughter of Amy Perkins and Michael Jackson. Starting from a young age, she was always excited about learning. She read, wrote, and often inquired about subjects that were far beyond her level. She was named ``gifted'' and was placed in an accelerated learning program in the second grade. Her thirst for knowledge and adventurous spirit led to excellence in all subjects throughout elementary school, middle school, and high school. Nekiaya is currently a senior honor student at Greenwood High School where she is involved in numerous clubs and organizations. Some of these include: Beta Club, National Honor Society, and the math society--Mu Alpha Theta. Nekiaya is the President of the Skills USA organization and a member of its Opening and Closing Team, which has placed 1st place two years and will go on to the National Skills USA Competition in Kansas City and represent Skills USA as a 1st place winner for the state of Mississippi. As a member of the Youth Advisory Council, she volunteers monthly at Golden Age Nursing Home to engage its residents in various activities. She is also a four year Letterman of Greenwood High school's track, basketball, and softball teams. Nekiaya is employed by Greenwood Public Schools as a Student Office Clerk at Greenwood High School. She serves in the Principal's office under Mr. Percy Powell. Nekiaya is an active member in her community through various volunteer organizations. She is a member of Greenwood Leflore Public Library's Teen Advisory Group, where they organize many holiday events for children. She has participated in the Walk for Alzheimer's and 300 Oaks Race and served at the Greenwood Community Kitchen and the Food Pantry. After graduating from Greenwood High School, Nekiaya plans to attend Mississippi State University and major in Aerospace Engineering. Her ``Super Plan'' as she calls it, is to work for NASA. Her favorite quote comes from one of her heroes: ``What we find is that if you have a goal that is very, very far out, and you approach it in little steps, you get there faster. Your mind opens up to the possibilities.''--Mae C. Jemison. She says that this is one of the things that keeps her motivated and on the track traveling toward her dreams and aspirations. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a student extraordinaire, Ms. Nekiaya Jackson for her dedication to excellence in and out of the classroom.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a goal oriented student, Shantasia Denaye Thomas, from Crystal Springs High School. Shantasia Denaye Thomas is the daughter of Mr. Richard and Mrs. Felicia Thomas. She has two siblings: Sha'Reika Johnson and Shamaya Thomas. Shantasia is an honor student at Crystal Springs High School with 4.0 Grade Point Average. As a standout student at Crystal Springs High School, Shantasia is a member of the SADD Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Student Council and serves as President of Jobs for Mississippi Graduates Program. Shantasia's leadership is well-known in her community as she serves as President of the Crystal Springs Mayor's Youth Council, a member of H.Y.M (Holiness Youth Ministries), Daughters of Esther, and Sunday school at her church, Greater Damascus Church of Christ Holiness USA. Shantasia is also a member of the National Honor's Society for High School Scholars. Shantasia is blessed with the gift of musicianship and she plays the piano for two churches. In her spare time she loves making music and writing poetry. Shantasia accredits her determination and spirit of excellence to her great-grand mother, Mrs. Marie Johnson. She says Mrs. Johnson is a strong woman of God who has encouraged her to follow her heart and excel above and beyond, because with God all things are possible. Shantasia plans on attending Tougaloo College, where she will major in Biology to become a Pediatric Oncologist. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Shantasia Denaye Thomas as a student who is making a difference in her community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable student in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. Brittany Johnson is the daughter of Kennedy V. & Jean S. Johnson. She is a native of Mound Bayou, Mississippi. She is currently a student at the Mississippi School for Mathematics & Science where she maintains an ``A'' average. Prior to attending Mississippi School for Math and Science, she attended John F. Kennedy Memorial High School and Isaiah T. Montgomery Elementary School in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. At Isaiah T. Montgomery Elementary School, Brittany was honored for having the highest grade point average from the first through sixth grades. While in elementary school she served as a Junior Beta Club Member and a Girl Scout. In Junior High School, Brittany was recognized for holding the highest state testing scores for Language Arts, Reading, and Mathematics. She continued to maintain a 4.0 GPA. When she became a high school student, she was active in Future Business Leaders of America where she competed and placed first in district and second in state competitions. She went on to compete in the national competition in Anaheim, California for Word Processing I and Senior Beta, she also competed at other competitions and the Drama Club. She was recognized by President Obama and Congressman Thompson on scoring advance on the subject area tests of Algebra I and Biology I. Brittany has maintained an ``A'' average and the highest GPA average during her tenure at John F. Kennedy Memorial High School. Desiring a greater academic challenge, Brittany in her sophomore year at John F. Kennedy Memorial High School applied and was accepted to the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus, Mississippi where she is schedule to graduate in the spring of 2015. At the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science she is a member of the National Honors Society for High School Students, National Beta Club, Future Physicians of America, and Blu Diamonds Step Group. She continues to maintain an ``A'' average in her courses of study. Brittany is a dedicated citizen in her community. She volunteers in annual citywide clean-ups and is a former member of the Mayor's Youth Council and participated in it by working on numerous political campaigns. She is an active member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, which is located in the city of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, where she is a member of the Junior Usher Board, the Youth Choir, the Youth Praise Dance Team and serves as Secretary of the Sunday School. After completing high school she plans on attending college where she will major in Biology, to pursue her dreams of becoming a Cardiovascular Surgeon. She lives by the quote: ``Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.''-- Ralph Waldo Emerson Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an amazing student for her dedication to education.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable student in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Katherine S. Johnson is the daughter of Ms. Veda Johnson and granddaughter of Mrs. Katherine Johnson. She is a native of Clarksdale, Mississippi and is currently a student at Clarksdale High School. Katherine comes from a community called the ``brick yard'' which has a strong gang presence. Her phenomenal relationship with her grandmother who loved and nurtured her assisted in her upbringing. As she entered her teenage years, she put aside the valuable lessons taught by her grandmother, and it was very easy for her to assimilate herself to what was going on in her neighborhood. As Katherine matriculated to Clarksdale High School as a freshman, she found herself becoming better acquainted with the principal than her teachers due to fighting, truancy, and a lack of respect for authority. However, Mrs. Katherine, her grandmother and namesake, was there at the school to check on her and steer her back on the right path. Although behaviorally, Katherine strayed, academically she maintained very respectable grades and became a member of the Marching Wildcats. These activities helped make a difference in her maturation. Desiring a greater academic challenge in her sophomore year she enrolled in all Advanced Placement classes which the Clarksdale Municipal School District offered. She was promoted to section leader in the school band and will graduate with the title of Honors with Distinction during commencement exercises on May 22, 2014. The unfortunate situation is that her beloved grandmother and namesake will not be there to witness the fruits of her labor due to recently passing. It will be difficult for Katherine to bask in the glow of her well-deserved accomplishments without the major cornerstone of her support system not being there; but in her honor, she will continue to strive to be the awesome young lady that Mrs. Johnson loved, nurtured, and encouraged her to become. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Katherine S. Johnson, an amazing student for her dedication to succeed.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a goal oriented student, Tichiuna Lasha' Funchess, from Crystal Springs High School. Tichiuna Lasha' Funchess is the daughter of Mr. Rico and Mrs. Kimberly Funchess. She has one sibling, Danielle Floyd. Tichiuna is an honor student at Crystal Springs High School (CSHS) with 3.88 Grade Point Average. As a natural born leader, Tichiuna demonstrates her leadership abilities in her school, community, and church. At CSHS, she is a member of Student Council, SADD Club, Mu Alpha Theta (National Society Math Organization), FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), NSHSS (National Society of High School Scholars), Ambassador of NSHSS, and Ronald Reagan Scholars Program. Tichiuna serves in her community as a representative of the Crystal Springs Mayor's Youth Council. She is also a faithful choir member and praise dancer at Terry Missionary Baptist Church. Tichiuna is inspired by her physics teacher Dr. Cecilia Newsome- McGowan. She says that she truly admires Dr. McGowan because with her credentials. She could work anywhere making much more money but, instead, she devotes her time to the students at Crystal Springs High School. Tichiuna has recently received acceptance letters from University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University to pursue a degree in Political Science. She plans to become a divorce or corporate attorney. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Tichiuna Lasha' Funchess as a student who is making a difference in her community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a group of young ladies who has shown what can be done through hard work and dedication, the John F. Kennedy Lady Hornets. On March 13th, the John F. Kennedy Memorial High School of Mound Bayou, Mississippi girl's basketball team won the State of Mississippi 1-A championship with an undefeated season record. The starting line-up is composed of all seniors, but the combined efforts of each player is what made their team so triumphant. They are as follows: Natassjha Anderson, Guard; Latina Jones, Guard; Jarvis Malone, Point Guard; Aleghsa Haywood, Guard; Jakerria Malone, Forward; Victoria Brown, Forward; Tanielle Woods, Point Guard; Kayela Franklin, Forward; Kenish Coleman, Forward; Shina Blunt, Forward; Jerterika Holmes, Forward; Amiya Clifton, Guard; Frederica Haywoor, Forward and Center; Ieysha Mays, Forward and Center; Danielle Thompson, Center. The Lady Hornets reigned supreme with a 32-0 season, and for the first time in the school's history, they were victorious in winning the gold ball as undefeated champions. The history that was made and the work that they put forth--as individuals and as a team-- will forever remain in the hearts and minds of their school, and this profound achievement will carry them forward for the rest of their lives. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the John F. Kennedy Memorial High School's girl's basketball team for their astounding achievement and making history through perseverance, hard work, and team effort.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a group of men who established the Brentwood Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. These men have shown that positive outcomes can be made across the board through hard work, dedication, and a desire to serve their community. This alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi has served as a lightning rod for other members; wherein, these members collectively seek to indoctrinate and instruct fraternity members in brotherhood, reclamation, community service, history, and protocol; to unite in a fraternal bond college men of culture, vision and honor who possess a high degree of commitment to serving mankind; to encourage through fraternal brotherhood honorable achievement in every field of human endeavor; to mentor young men through the chapter's Guide Right students; to sponsor community service to support local schools, youth and provide charitable services to low-income residents and seniors; and to promote the social intellectual, and moral welfare of brothers and service in the public interest. The Brentwood (TN) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was organized in the home of Vincent Abernathy, and on October 2, 2010, the Brentwood Alumni Chapter was established. Under the leadership of the chapter's first Polemarch, Dewayne Collier, and current Polemarch, Jeff Wilson, The Brentwood Alumni Chapter has become the second largest chapter in the Middle Tennessee area. The Brentwood Alumni Chapter's Guide Right Program has adopted New Hope Academy School, the Boys & Girls Club of Franklin and Ravenwood High School as partners in its initiative to support young men 9th-12th who show academic potential and a desire for leadership. The Brentwood Alumni Chapter has charted The Brentwood Leadership Foundation and awards scholarships to seniors and juniors further promoting the educational advancement of young people. Other event that The Brentwood Alumni Chapter participates in include: St. Jude Sunday of Hope, Kappa Choir, the Pepsi Refresh Project, Piney Woods, Kappa on the Hill, Student of the Year, Kappa Foundation, United Way of Williamson County, and Mercy Children Clinic Christmas Party. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing The Brentwood Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for its dedication to serving others and giving back to the community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable Jackson (MS) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, a public service sorority who is rich in its heritage and rich in its depth of leadership and services. The chapter is a member of the largest of sororities organized by African American women. Initially, the chapter was listed under the nomenclature of Alpha Chi Sigma Chapter. The idea of organizing the chapter in Mississippi grew out of a group of close friends who had been active members of undergraduate chapters in other states: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio and Texas. They needed eight Deltas to charter the chapter and after a long delay, on May 3, 1941; Clara Marjorie Allen, Willie Dobbs Blackburn, Elese Whitiker Blackman, Emily Johnson Hall, Thelma Weathers Johnson, Loraine G. Crawford, Nellie Burbridge Williams, and Aurelia Norris Young made history. The chartering ceremony was held in the home of Aurelia Norris Young with the Southern Regional Director, Helen ``Dolly'' Work, conducting the ceremony. Aurelia Norris Young was elected the first Chapter President. Since the chapter's chartering, these ladies of vision have attracted many well-known women and outstanding students to become members of the sisterhood. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing The Jackson (MS) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated for their dedication to serving others.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a group of women who has shown what can be done through hard work, dedication and a desire to serve their community, the Les Soeurs Charmantes Social and Civic Club. This Social and Civic Club has served as an informational vehicle in the Warren County community and the State of Mississippi. The Les Soeurs Charmantes Social and Civic Club was organized at the home of Mrs. Melissa L. Demby on November 3, 1968. The purpose of the organization is to promote service, philanthropic as well as cultural and social interests. Colors selected for the organization are blue and white. The club song was written to the tune of ``My Fair Lady'' by club member Daisy Bell. In 1970, the club became affiliated with the National Association of Colored Women's Club. Chartered members who are still active with the club today are: Mrs. Gwendolyn Brown, Mrs. Helen Bowman, Mrs. Beverly Gaskin and Mrs. Carolyn Strothers. The first debutante ball was held in March, 1971 at the Vicksburg City Auditorium and 16 girls were presented to society. The purpose of the event was to encourage black girls to take pride in their character and scholarship. Proceeds from the debutante ball have provided scholarships to young ladies for over 40 years. Also proceeds have been used to fund many civic projects in the Vicksburg, Mississippi community such as: donations to the local battered women's shelters, tutorial programs, art projects, NAACP, Meals-on-Wheels, Techno-Color Rewind (Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital), Patricia A. Segrest Memorial Sickle Cell Walk, Vicksburg Benevolent Homecoming Club Scholarship, donations of blankets to nursing homes and the We Care Community Service Organization Scholarship. The club also provides the Clara Rhodman Prosser Scholarship, in honor of their beloved club member, to local high school graduates. Many of the debutantes have gone on to pursue various professional and educational paths as teachers, lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, military, etc. The Les Soeurs Charmantes Social and Civic Club still stands strong as one of the few organizations still in existence today promoting achievement and academic excellence to young ladies ready to make their mark upon the world. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Les Soeurs Charmantes Social and Civic Club for its dedication to serving others and giving back to the community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. To be clear, this is not a case of the Committee on Homeland Security lacking the jurisdiction needed to inform the legislation before us today. It is a case of a chairman failing to ensure his committee was afforded the right to exercise its jurisdictional authority. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC, February 11, 2014. Hon. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House Office Building, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Candice S. Miller, Chairman, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, Cannon House Office Building, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul and Subcommittee Chairman Miller: We write to urge you to insist upon a sequential referral of H.R. 4005, the ``Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014,'' and to afford the Members of the Committee on Homeland Security (the Committee) the opportunity to consider this important homeland security legislation in an open markup session. Despite H.R. 4005 containing numerous provisions within the Committee's Rule X, clause 1(j) jurisdiction, the Speaker chose not to refer the bill to the Committee upon introduction, opting to refer the bill to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) alone. As you are aware, H.R. 4005, as ordered to be reported by T&I today, contains numerous provisions within the legislative jurisdiction of the Committee. Since being established as a standing committee in the 109th Congress, the Committee has waived its right to a sequential referral of legislation authorizing the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on only two occasions. The first instance was in the 109th Congress and the most recent was during the 112th Congress. In contrast, in the 110th and 111th Congresses, we made certain that bills authorizing the USCG, a critical component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), were referred to the Committee. As recently as last week, the Committee's Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security held a public hearing to explore the USCG's homeland security mission. During that hearing, Chairman Miller emphasized the important homeland security mission of the USCG when she stated: ``Since 9/11, the Coast Guard has taken an ever-increasing role in the protection of our nation. We've given the Coast Guard additional responsibility. We have tasked them to specifically focus their limited resources on port and maritime security.'' We concur with Chairman Miller's sentiment regarding the critical role the USCG plays in ensuring the security of our ports and maritime system. To ensure H.R. 4005 reflects the USCG's homeland security mission, we urge you to insist on a referral and hold an open markup session of the bill. In addition to our desire to see the Members of our Committee have an opportunity to shape the policy in a bill authorizing a critical component of DHS, we believe it is critical that the Committee exercise its jurisdictional prerogative whenever possible. H.R. 4005 represents an opportunity for you to ensure that the Committee exercises its existing jurisdictional authority to the fullest extent possible. Thank you, in advance, for your attention to this request. Should you or your staff have any questions on this matter, please contact Ms. Rosaline Cohen, Chief Counsel for Legislation of the Committee on Homeland Security, at x6- 2616. Sincerely, Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member. Sheila Jackson Lee, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. I thank the gentleman from California for the time, and I also thank him for yielding. Mr. Speaker, at the outset, I would like to commend Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall for their hard work on the legislation before the House today. H.R. 4005, the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, authorizes the United States Coast Guard, a critical component of the Department of Homeland Security, for 2 years. Every day, the men and women of the Coast Guard work to protect our ports and waterways from terrorist attack and other dangers. It is for that very reason that the Committee on Homeland Security should have considered this legislation. Unfortunately, Chairman McCaul rejected my request that, consistent with precedent the committee established in prior Congresses, he insist on a referral of this measure. Doing so would have ensured that the members of the Committee on Homeland Security could inform the bill's security-related provisions in an open markup setting. As a result of Chairman McCaul's decision to waive the right of the committee to consider this measure, the House has before it a bill that does not fully take into account the statutory mission of the Department of Homeland Security component it authorizes. In fact, it does not have a single provision solely dedicated to port and maritime security. You just heard the gentlelady from California talk about port security and how important it is, and I appreciate the gentleman from California saying that he would work with her, but it is also a responsibility of the Committee on Homeland Security. While disappointing, I do not blame the leadership of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the absence of such provisions. It is the responsibility of the Committee on Homeland Security to leave its mark on this important homeland security legislation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an incredible group of women, who strive daily to make a difference within the communities they serve. Today, I honor the illustrious women of the Clinton (MS) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. The Clinton (MS) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was charted on March 29, 2004 at Pleasant Green Baptist Church in Clinton, Mississippi. Thirty-one visionary women, living within the Chapter's public service area, used their collective strength to promote academic excellence, provide academic scholarships to deserving youth, support to the underserved, educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy, and to highlight issues and provide solutions to problems in the communities where they live and work. These charter members were: Tina Austin, Perry M. Boler, Angela D. Bridges, Sonya L. Edmond, La'Verne Edney, Latricha Ephfrom, Kristie K. Flowers, Limmie M. Flowers, Sherri M. Flowers, Teselyn Funches, Lisa Green, Sonya Goins, Paulette Grim, Ursula Y. Harris, Tomja W. Jackson, Machelle S. Kyles, Laurie S. Lawson, Sophia S. Marshall, Nikita A. Maxwell, Emily A. Miller, Marilyn J. Minter, Michelyn Patton, Angela Y. Perry, Alyea M. Pollard, Shelia P. Spann, Thresa K. Smith, Faith Strong, Katherine A. Thomas, Kenitra Wallace, Elizabeth M. Washington, and Mary M. White. Dr. Limmie M. Flowers was elected the Chapter's first president and helped the organization set into motion its goals for the community in which they would serve. Under the sorority's five programmatic thrusts, the Clinton (MS) Alumnae Chapter has become deeply involved within the Chapter's service area, which includes the cities of Clinton, Bolton, Byram, Edwards, Raymond, Terry, and Utica. Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement are the five main areas of social involvement the Chapter focuses on and engages in. Under the Economic Development platform, the Chapter members engage in projects that include building homes with Habitat for Humanity, hosting CreditPlus seminars sponsored by local banks, and educating youth about finances and paying for college through ``reality fairs'' held at local schools. Service activities involving initiatives under the Educational Development platform include donating backpacks and school supplies to the Bolton- Edwards Elementary/Middle Schools, hosting career exploration workshops, college tours and college recruitment fairs, and a teen summit developed by area youth. Scholastic achievement and leadership development is embedded through various youth programs sponsored by the Chapter. In addition, the Chapter has nurtured over 300 area middle and high school students through the Dr. Betty L. Shabazz Delta Academy, Dr. Jeanne L. Noble Delta GEMS Institute, and the EMBODI Program, while also providing generous support to the United Negro College Fund. May Week Observance is an annual initiative that recognizes the top 10 African American high school seniors from the high schools within the Chapter's service area. To date, the Chapter has distributed nearly $50,000 in scholarships to nearly 400 graduating students. Establishing cultural awareness is a key component under the International Awareness and Involvement platform, through which the Chapter implements projects to broaden understanding and appreciation for people of different backgrounds and cultures. The Chapter has sponsored cultural education programs, including financial support for schools and clean water in developing countries. Prevention and wellness translate into health education programs, health fairs, and provision of health care services for those in need. The Chapter participates in the Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and Relay for Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The Chapter has donated more than $6,000 to the organization, including providing very generous funding to the American Heart Association for combating cardiovascular disease. Each spring, the Chapter hosts a health fair in the community that includes comprehensive health screenings. In keeping with tradition and the political mission of the Sorority, the Chapter is very active in voter awareness initiatives and monitoring legislation impacting underserved communities. Under the Political Awareness and Involvement platform, the Chapter educates the public through workshops, forums, and mass mailing campaigns. Each year the Chapter participates in ``Mississippi Delta Day at the State Capitol'' to visit with state lawmakers. The current Chapter leadership encompasses: President, Dr. Juanyce D. Taylor; Vice President, Dr. Laurie Smith Lawson; Treasurer, Joyce Kersh; Financial Secretary, Jacqueline Frison-Owens; Journalist, Katrina Howard-Reeves; Corresponding Secretary, Barbara Tapps; Recording Secretary, Wanda Thomas; Sergeant-At-Arms, Lisa Jackson; Chaplain, Erica Towers; Historian, Jessica Lewis; Custodian, April Bullock; Parliamentarian, Luxie Frison; and Immediate Past President, Dr. Laurie Smith Lawson. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Clinton (MS) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated for representing, educating, and informing the underserved communities in their service area for 10 years.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable organization, the Redliners. The Redliners is a bike club that was established in 1996. They share a strong family bond and chemistry, spreading across 12 states. The Redliners' objectives are: To bring together individuals who share the common interest of motorcycle riding; To provide an organized environment around which its members may enjoy well-coordinated events without regards to politics, religion, race, sex or creed; To encourage good riding habits, promote the interests of its members, keep members aware of motorcyclist rights and issues, and sponsor and participate in charitable events and/or affairs; To foster a network of communication and a better understanding between various motorcycle and non-motorcycle enthusiast; and To fulfill these objectives the chapter functions shall incorporate both social and information aspects. The Redliners in Greenville, Mississippi chooses a foundation every year to sponsor a charity ride. They have done charity rides for the Fannie Lou Hamer Foundation, Boys and Girls Club and Our House, Inc. The Redliners have participated in numerous community services activities, such as handing out candy at the Boys and Girls Club for Halloween. Also, Make A Wish Foundation contacted Redliners for 16 year old, Freddie Green, of Greenville, Mississippi, who is fighting Leukemia. Freddie's wish was to spend time with the Redliners and eat at a restaurant called Frost Top. The Redliners road motorcycles to Belzoni, Mississippi to meet Freddie as he was coming home from the hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. They brought Freddie to Greenville on the motorcycle and he was overjoyed. Furthermore, the Redliners have adopted a highway in honor of their member, Victor Anderson, who is also known as ``Red Angel''. They cleaned up Highway 82 in his honor. The Redliners have done other things like, donating turkeys to nursing homes for Thanksgiving and participating in different toy drives. They are always looking for a way to give back to the community. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Redliners for their dedication to serving others and giving back to the community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable organization, The Community Students Learning Center (CSLC). The Community Students Learning Center (CSLC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which has as its motto: ``In relentless pursuit of perfection in education and knowledge.'' It was founded by a husband and wife team, Leslie and Beulah Greer, two longtime residents of Holmes County, Mississippi, who are dedicated to helping improve their community's education and economy. The organization was founded in 2003. When they learned that their daughter, Takila, would not be allowed to graduate with her high school class in 2001, they became parent advocates. Their daughter was faced with this devastating issue, because she could not pass all parts of the required state tests. Their daughter had been diagnosed with Specified Learning Disabilities (SLD) at an early age and they felt that students who suffered from SLD should be able to receive a certificate, participate in graduation exercises, be given a chance to later re-take failed parts of the required state tests to receive a diploma and be able to experience the feeling of marching with their graduating class. A challenge was presented of their concerns to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE). They agreed, but left the final decision up to the Holmes County School District. Unfortunately, for the Greer family's daughter and family, the Holmes County School Board failed to agree. After much distress and frustration with the Holmes County School System and the Holmes County School Board, they allowed God to minister to their heart for healing. They later realized that things happen for a reason and that what happened to their family was predestined. It was at that moment that they made a vow to help others in a way that the school district was unable to help Takila, their daughter. Thus, the Community Students Learning Center (CSLC) was born in their hearts and minds. They became desperate parents who wanted to save other families from the pain and ridicule their family suffered. Today, the Community Students Learning Center now has a great working relationship with the Holmes County School Board, Superintendent, teachers and staff. They have even been blessed with the opportunity to serve as a team monitor member for the MDE Office of Special Education where they have traveled across the state educating parents regarding their rights and laws as it relates to their child/children with special needs. Throughout the difficult ordeals that Beulah faced, her husband, Leslie, was a ``strong tower'' for her. He encouraged her to move forward and allow God to direct her path. God has blessed their bud of an idea to blossom into a full blown, yet still growing, non-profit organization that is positively impacting the lives of many families. The idea began as an effort to assist at-risk students who could not pass the state mandated tests, but now the vision has expanded to include many more programs and services. The Mission for the Community Students Learning Center is to promote community and educational change, by providing state-of-the-art leadership development and personal improvement opportunities for youth, adults, and seniors. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing The Community Students Learning Center (CSLC) for their dedication to serving others and giving back to the community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable Community Organization, Tri-County Workforce Alliance in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Tri-County Workforce Alliance, serving the counties of Bolivar, Coahoma, and Quitman originally with the addition of Sunflower and Tallahatchie counties in 2011, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, is a non-profit organization funded originally by the Foundation for the Mid South through Pew Charitable Trust and the Walton Foundation. The Alliance chose its first and only executive director, Mrs. Josephine P. Rhymes, in 1997. The Alliance did not have a 501(c)3 status; however it had as the lead organization, the Coahoma County Industrial Foundation, that did have the exempt status. In 2002, the Alliance received their 501(c)3 status and its fiscal agent at present is Coahoma Community College. The Tri-County Workforce Alliance's mission is to improve the quality of life for people living in the three counties by promoting long-term economic and community development and by building a competitive healthy workforce through education and job training. Through collaborative efforts with other agencies with a similar mission, Tri-County Alliance worked to support and enhance their efforts through technical support and programs and assistance with alternative funding efforts through a strong mini-grant program. They made available the resources of the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta, which offered hands-on assistance to new and existing businesses in this region in three program areas: technical assistance, development finance, and private sector purchasing. Tri-County Workforce Alliance is an organization that is made up of people from many racial, social, and economic groups of the tri-county area, working together to find positive solutions to the individual needs of two special groups of citizens: Future Workforce members are youth in high school, junior high or middle school who need a solid academic foundation or may wish to transition from high school to the workforce; and Out-of-Workforce members are adults and youth who have been unemployed for a long time, receive public assistance, or who do not work on a regular basis. The Alliance has been successful in that it has bridged the gap between communities, between businesses and educational institutions and has enhanced educational and training strategies for the workforce, thus enabling the Alliance to leverage additional funds from other foundations, local, state and federal government and the private sector. Through partnerships with other organizations and agencies, Tri- County Workforce Alliance has had success with: the Summer Enrichment Program in Reading and Math, which assisted 165 at-risk 4th, 5th and 6th graders in the Clarksdale Municipal School District; the Intensive Youth Supervision Program, which assisted 60 youth offenders; and the Parent Rallies, which was designed to help parents understand their roles and responsibilities in the education of their children. This was in collaboration with the ten school districts in the tri- county area: Carpentry for Youth which provided carpentry instruction for youth who have built such things as bookcases, park benches, porches, a playhouse for a health clinic, doghouses, entertainment centers, etc.; Carpentry for Women which was a free training program for unemployed/underemployed women 18 years old and above and other support services such as childcare and transportation were provided for each participant who showed a need. The organization is published in the Insight Center for Community Economic Development's ``Building Economic Stability for Mississippi Families'' (June, 2010). The Job Resource and Career Fair is sponsored for unemployed, underemployed citizens, high school seniors, and those people interested in a career change. CHOICES was another program to help curb the dropout rate. It was offered to 7th and 8th graders in the schools in the tri-county area. With the Mini-Grant Program Tri- County awarded grants in the amount of up to $2,000 to community-based organizations, schools, business, etc. for workforce preparation and workforce development. These funds have funded programs such as: computer training, teen parent job training, Hospice Care homemakers training, sweet potato growers training, youth employment training, personal development and job etiquette training, cultural enrichment, education rallies, vegetable processing training, hot tamale processing training, hospitality training, executive housekeeping training, child care certification training, ex-offenders job training skills, job enhancement skills training, education site visits, welfare recipient summits, business development workshops career-pathing seminars and legislative forums; the High School Mentoring Program, is a mentoring program offered to at-risk academic and social 9th-12th graders at Coahoma Agricultural High School, one of our local high schools. The Groundhog Job Shadow Day has been held for the past eight years for 7th-12th graders in Coahoma County, and for the past four years in Bolivar and Quitman Counties. Students spend one day in the world of work. There has been two students who won the Mike Moore Scholarship in the amount of $500 each. As a result of this activity, students have gotten after school jobs, a full-tuition scholarship and a book allotment totaling $2,000 is awarded to a freshman student who has maintained a 2.8 average in high school and has an interest in vocational/technical education at Coahoma Community College. Emphasis is placed on interested non-traditional students: Industry Education Day is a program designed to improve the working relationship between business, industry and education for improved economic development; After School Tutorial Programs is a program designed for tutoring in mathematics and reading with cultural and survival components for two schools' 4th, 5th, and 6th graders who are at risk of academic failure; Workforce Public Policy Initiative assists to develop policy that promotes opportunities to construct, implement, and evaluate a framework that is comprehensive and participatory in nature; assists people in preparing for pursuit of living with wage jobs to improve livelihood security and quality of life and to create a model program that can be used as a demonstration to influence public policy. This program resulted in the development of a professionalization curriculum that is sanctioned by employers and potential employees; Pathways to Collaboration is a workgroup with four other organizations to examine the success of and create a means of communicating to the world the special value of our collaborative process of engaging people who are directly experiencing problems in the community by problem solving. Chosen as one of the seven originals from 764 applicants Tri-County Workforce Alliance has completed a study and the results have been published in a book entitled: ``Engaging thc Community in Decision Making: Case Studies Tracking Participation, Voice and Influence'' by Roz Diane Lasker and John A. Guidry, McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers. High School Mentorship Program in Health Care Professions is a program for 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students in Bolivar, Coahoma, Quitman, Sunflower and Tallahatchie counties who have express an interest in the health profession. The program has an individual mentor component for on the job shadowing for 60 hours and a two week Summer Institute with advanced studies in science, math, english/ reading and critical thinking/analysis. This program is a step program that leads into dual enrollment in the community college's RN or CNA or phlebotomy programs in the 12th grade; An Academy of Science, Reading and Mathematics for Potential Health Care Professionals in a program opened to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in Coahoma and Quitman counties who express an interest in health care professions. A four-week summer institute is held where students do intensive study of science, reading and mathematics and health disparities. The students dissect animal organs (heart and kidney) to learn the parts of the body that are affected by the diseases. They work with doctors to create a wellness program for family members with the disease. The Alliance is deeply embedded in the communities that it serves. It is helping to create change by crossing all boundaries--geographical, political, ethnical, age, and socio-economic. Its goal is to continue to develop a network of agencies and individuals to provide ongoing strategic planning, innovative programs and leveraging local, state, federal and foundation funds. Tri-County Workforce Alliance is governed by a 25-member board made up of representatives from government, business and industry, educational institutions (high school, junior college and four year colleges), community-based organizations, youth, and grassroots individuals, representing the three counties. Elected officers included: Charles Barron, Chairman; George Walker (deceased), Co- Chairman, Elizabeth Johnson, Treasurer and Shirley Morgan, Secretary. Other Board members include: Charles Reid, Priscilla Sharpe, Glenn Adams, W.J. Jones, Earnestine Keys, Aurelia Jones-Taylor, Kenisha Shelton, Dorothy Prestwich, Suzanne Walton, Leonia Adams from Coahoma County; Lillie V. Davis, Mary Towner, Hubert Owten, Victor Richardson, Mamie White, Pearlie Owten, Irma Bell, Lister Bowdoin from Quitman County; and Eulah Peterson, Roger Carter and Jordan Goins from Bolivar County. Currently, an executive director, Josephine P. Rhymes, since 1997 and an administrative assistant, Harold Jones, since 2009 are the only full-time staff and there are seven part-time program staff members. Tri-County has also formed some very wholesome partnerships with other organizations that have similar missions and they provide them with the use of facilities, staff, technical assistance and funds. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an amazing Community Organization for their dedication for change and equality.