Bennie Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay homage to the life and legacy of Evangelist Della Mae King Sutton of Nesbit, Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, Evangelist Sutton was a mighty woman of God. She devoted countless hours to empower those around her in formal and Christian education. Born July 20, 1941 in Desoto County, MS, Ms. Della was the first daughter to the late Turner King, Sr. and the late Remell Bridgeforth King. Ms. Sutton began her education at Shiloh M.B. Church in Desoto County, MS where her father was the instructor. She continued her education as an honor student at Hernando High School, which taught students up until eighth grade, and completed her studies as class Valedictorian. Upon leaving Hernando High, Ms. Della finished her secondary education at the age of sixteen at Eastern High School in Olive Branch, MS, where she was Salutatorian of her graduating class before enrolling in Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, MS. It was there where she would meet her companion in life, her husband, Mr. Jesse Sutton, Jr. After completing studies at Mississippi Industrial College, Ms. Sutton earned her Master's of Science degree from Jackson State University. Ms. Della Mae sincerely believed in children and the value of educating them. Ms. Sutton served as a devoted educator for more than thirty years throughout Mississippi. These schools included East Side High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi; Oakley Training School in Learned, Mississippi; Mendenhall Junior High School in Mendenhall, Mississippi; and Northside Elementary School in Pearl, Mississippi, from which she retired. Throughout the years, Ms. Sutton has been recognized on several occasions. Most notably, she was recognized by former Governor and First Lady Ronnie Musgrove as one of the Most Outstanding Women for the Reach One-Each One Mother of the Year contest. She served as Chairperson of the Elementary Language Arts and was recognized for a host of other achievements. Ms. Sutton was the recipient of a number of awards, among them are the Who's Who Among Teachers, Teacher of the Year and most recently the Jackson District Association's Living Legacy Award. Ms. Sutton was a socially engaged woman. She was a member of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, member of ``Keep Jackson Beautiful'', instructor of the Jackson District Ministers' Wives/Widows group, and an avid supporter of the Mississippi Baptist Seminary. She was an active member of the General Missionary Baptist Convention and a devoted member of the New McRaven Hill M.B. Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, member of the Mother's Ministry, devotional leader of the Mission Society and Vacation Bible School teacher. This spiritual steward for Christ lived a life of both passion and purpose. She was an advocate of education, a champion of civility and a true lover of the Lord. Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and legacy of a true champion, Evangelist Della Mae King Sutton.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the honorable Mr. William Raspberry. Mr. Raspberry was born on October 12, 1935 to proud parents Mr. James Lee and Mrs. Willie Mae Raspberry. A native of Okolona, Mississippi, Mr. Raspberry has become a celebrated writer as a result of his commentary on social and political issues. Mr. Raspberry received his Bachelor's of Science Degree from Indiana Central College, now known as The University of Indianapolis, in 1958. After receiving his degree, he served as a public information officer with the United States Army from 1960 until 1962, at which time he began working at the Washington Post as a teletypist. In 1966 he was named as a columnist for the Washington Post, and in that same year, Mr. Raspberry married Sondra Patricia Dodson and together they had three children Patricia D., Angela D., and Mark J. As a result of his exemplary contributions in literature, Mr. Raspberry was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 1982, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1994. Mr. Raspberry has dictated his strong opinions about the problems in American society through his work with the Washington Post. He has been noted for writing about education, criminal justice, family, and racial matters in America. Mr. Raspberry has often been quoted in many different publications and has also been asked to speak at various conferences and seminars. In addition to providing a weekly column in the Washington Post, Mr. Raspberry has also served in other capacities throughout his lifetime. He served as a journalism instructor at Howard University from 1971- 1973; Member of the Board of Advisers, Poynter Institute for Media Studies, 1984; Member of the Board of Visitors, University of Maryland School of Journalism, 1985; television commentator for WTTG, Washington, D.C., 1973-1975; Television Discussion Panelist, WRC-TV, Washington, D.C., 1974-1975, and a Member of the Pulitzer Prize Board, 1979-1986. As of 2008, Mr. Raspberry has also served as the President of ``Baby Steps'', a parent training and empowerment program based in Okolona, Mississippi. He is also the author of Looking Backward at Us, a collection of his columns from the 1980's. Mr. Raspberry has received honorary degrees from Georgetown University, University of Maryland, and the University of Indianapolis; he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Colby College. He was also the Knight Professor of the Practice of Communications and Journalism at the Sanford Institute of Public Policy at Duke University. During his career Mr. Raspberry, has also served as a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Capitol Press Club, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. William Raspberry for his exceptional contributions to our community and to our society as whole.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Roosevelt Lee, Sr. of Kosciusko, MS as a father, husband and agricultural entrepreneur in recognition of his 109th birthday. Born October 23, 1902 to Mr. Tom Lee and Mrs. Mary Young Lee, Roosevelt is the eldest and last surviving of nine siblings, all of which he helped his father care for. Mr. Lee is the father of eighteen (18) children, grandfather to sixty (60) grandchildren, and great-grandfather to more than fifty (50) great-grandchildren. During a period when educational resources for African Americans were scarce, Mr. Lee managed to receive a third-grade education which was offered out of a local church in Kosciusko, where he is a native. At a very young age Mr. Lee committed his time and talent to working to help support his family; he worked as a farmer, mechanic, and raiser of cattle and other livestock. He is a devoted Christian and passionate steward of the Lord. He was a member of the Mount Ollie Missionary Baptist Church in Kosciusko, MS for 67 years where he actively served as Sunday school superintendent, treasurer, head deacon, and trustee. Currently, he is a member of the Bell Grove Missionary Baptist Church of Clarksdale and has been for the past eight years. Mr. Lee is a member of the Sir Knight Masons of Clarksdale, MS. He has selflessly devoted his time to helping other local farmers maintain and repair their farming equipment and vehicles. Mr. Lee's work ethic and commitment to providing for his family has allowed his family to keep its farm for 81 years. He was a producer of cotton, corn, soybeans and a number of other crops. In October of 2007, Mayor Henry Epsy of Clarksdale, Mississippi, declared October 27th as Roosevelt Lee, Sr. Day. At the seasoned age of 109, Mr. Lee does not suffer from commonly prominent illnesses such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart issues or diabetes. He enjoys boxing, wrestling, and he has a passion for the game of checkers. He has frequented Chicago, St. Louis, California, Atlanta and a host of other U.S. cities and states. Mr. Lee truly believes that his commitment to Christ has sustained him throughout his life. He believes that if you serve the Lord and do the right thing, regardless of what the next person does, God will bless you. He is a true example of the wondrous works of the Lord and what it means to be a provider for your family. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating a true champion of life, Mr. Roosevelt Lee, Sr., for his tenacity and zealous work as a farmer, father and fine American.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a decorous and determined man Mr. Frank Crump, Jr., who has shown what can be done through tenacity, dedication and a desire to serve others. Mr. Crump, a resident of Vicksburg, Mississippi was born on May 26, 1927 to Frank Crump, Sr. and Angeline Turner Crump. In 1941 Mr. Crump enlisted in the United States Navy where he attended Ships Cook School and Airplane Mechanics. After being honorably discharged from the United States Navy, he graduated from Alcorn State University in 1951 with a Bachelors Degree and in 1978 he earned a Masters Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. During the summer of 1964; Mr. Crump was instrumental in coordinating the Vicksburg Citizens' Appeal, a newspaper aimed at publicizing news events involving black's worldwide and social events happening in the black community. He also played an intricate role in Freedom Summer, whose mission was to register black voters and initiate a slow sunset for Jim Crow laws. Mr. Crump has held various positions in education. He was: the Building Grounds Clerk and Mathematics and Physical Science Instructor at Alcorn from 1950-1952; from 1952-1958, while in Chicago, Illinois he worked as postal clerk, aircraft assembler for Ford Motor Company, bus driver and instructor for the Chicago Transit Authority. After returning to Mississippi he worked as a Mathematics Instructor at Mixon Junior High, Utica, MS; Mathematics, Drafting and Physics Instructor at Temple High School, Vicksburg, MS; and Mathematics Instructor at Tallulah High School, Tallulah, LA. Also Mr. Crump served in several capacities at Hinds Community College, Utica Campus including Mathematics Instructor, Vocational-Technical Administrator and Dean of Vocational-Technical Education. Mr. Frank Crump, Jr. is the recipient of several accolades including: Recognition for Military Services during the Period of the Cold War; Instructor of the Year and Christian Leadership Award through Music to name a few. Similarly, he is a member of several social and civic organizations. Mr. Crump is married to Orelia Peterson Crump and to that union they had four children. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Frank Crump, Jr. for his unwavering dedication to education and social equality.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant. Mr. Charles Moore. Mr. Moore passed away March 14, 2006 and was married to the former Alfolonia Matthews, the father of 5 children, and grandfather of 3. Mr. Moore was a native Greenvillian. His entire life has been lived in Greenville except for a brief period when he served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. After coming home and completing his high school requirements, he realized he had to make a decision. Either he would leave Greenville or stay and make it a better place for all to live. He chose the latter. His goals and aspirations were achieved by the following: getting involved in voter registration in the 1950's; getting involved with the inception of Delta Ministry in Greenville, in 1966; helping organize the effort to bring Headstart to his community in 1966; helping organize the effort to integrate Greenville Public Schools in 1968; spearheading the organization of Herbert Lee Center where civil rights meetings were held, which still exists; coordinating several Washington County campaigns; recipient of the Harriet Tubman Award, from the Magnolia Bar Association in 1966; and, recipient of the Point of Pride Award March in 1966. Mr. Moore was a member of the Church of Christ Holiness, past Commander and lifetime member of Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW), past president of the Greenville Travel Club, retired member of the National Association of Letter Carrier Union (NALC) and the past President of Branch 516 of the NALC. He was also a member of the Secretary of State Dick Molpus Task Force. He filed a discrimination complaint that resulted in Blacks being promoted to managerial positions in the United States Post Office. He was a member of the NAACP since 1946 until his death. He was elected to the City Council, Ward 4 in July 1990 and re- elected for a 4 year term in October 1993. Also, he held the position of vice-mayor of the City of Greenville. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Charles Moore for his dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a resourceful and ambitious woman, Mrs. Lille Brown Pittman. Lillie has shown what can be done through hard work, dedication and a desire to serve others. Lille Pittman, a resident of Delta City, Mississippi was born on July 4, 1940 to Tobias and Charlotte Bell. She graduated from Henry Weathers High School in Rolling Fork, MS in 1959. At the age of 22, she moved to California where she met and married Benjamin Brown and to that union they had three children, Anthony, Antoinette, and Patrice. While in California, she worked for Raytheon as a Quality Control Inspector and for Hewlett Packard for 5 years as a Quality Assurance Inspector. In 1974, Lille returned to Mississippi with her three children. She was later employed with Asemco and Head Start until she was hit by the entrepreneurial bug. Ms. Pittman applied and obtained a small business loan to purchase the Delta City Trading Post in 1981 which she successfully operated for 8 years. In the midst of operating The Delta City Trading Post, she also created Brown's Janitorial Services, where she had several contracts with the United States Corps of Engineers. In 1987, Lillie Pittman became the first African American woman to be elected to the Sharkey County Board of Supervisors. During her term in office, she made many accomplishments that brought jobs to the community and was awarded a grant to help low-income homeowners repair their homes. Although she only served one term, Lillie continued to work effortlessly for her District in Sharkey County. She continues to fight for better jobs, schools, and living conditions for the people of the community. Her ongoing contributions include petitioning for better water quality in Delta City, working with children in Anguilla, MS to create a community garden, and working with the current County Supervisor to clean up the over grown roadways with the Summer Youth Program. Mrs. Lillie Brown Pittman is currently doing what she calls her greatest work, being a grandmother of four, Salena, Sydney, Margaret Alexander, and Noah. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Lillie Brown Pittman for her dedication for change and serving her community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Dr. William Truly, who was the first elected mayor of Canton, Mississippi in May 2009. Originally from New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Mayor Truly relocated to Canton, MS in 1978, after completing medical school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. Dr. Truly became an active member of the community. In 1996 he founded the Truly Medical Center that was one of five medical centers in Canton, MS. He has long served as an advocate for justice and a voice for the people of Canton, including serving as an Alderman-At- Large. During his inauguration, Dr. Truly pledged to take the ``City of Lights'' (Canton, MS) in a new direction by increasing economic development and seeking more industry. Since taking office, Mayor Truly has also set out on an ambitious agenda to revitalize Canton by focusing on improvements to public safety, education and making government more accessible to citizens. He is an active participant in his community and currently serves on a number of different Boards. In addition to being the city's leader, Mayor Truly continues to practice medicine at different hospitals as the Chief Medical Director. Dr. Truly is married to the former Wassie Booker and has five children. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. William Truly for his dedication to serving others in need.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Walter Bruce, Jr., who is a remarkable public servant. Mr. Walter Bruce, Jr., an 84-year-old native of Durant, Miss., was born May 30, 1928. He is the son of the late Mr. Walter Bruce, Sr. and the late Mrs. Georgia Bruce. He had seven sisters and six brothers and a loving wife, Louise, who are all deceased. Mr. Bruce, Jr. was educated in Holmes County and grew up in the country where his parents were small farmers. Historically, he is mostly known for his dedicated work to the civil rights movement in Holmes County. He started the county's Freedom Democratic Party (HFDO). The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party was an American political party created in Mississippi in 1964, during the Civil Rights Movement. It was organized by black and white Mississippians with assistance from the student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) to challenge the legitimacy of the white-only U.S. Democratic Party. Mr. Bruce participated in marches and boycotts in Holmes County and in Jackson, Miss.. He and others worked with nationally noted activist Fannie Lou Hamer of the Mississippi Delta. He was extremely instrumental in bringing about emergence of black elected officials in Holmes County as well as black police officers. Prior to his work in the civil rights movement, Mr. Bruce organized an all-black Little League Baseball Team which he headed for 16 years. He is also founder of the legendary gospel singing group, Soul Travelers of Durant, Miss. After 54 years, he still heads the group today. Mr. Bruce is the father of two adult daughters and four grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Walter Bruce, Jr. for his dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a hometown Civil Rights era activist, Mrs. Gertrude Grenada. Mrs. Grenada has shown what can be done through hard work, setting goals, and aiming high. Mrs. Gertrude Grenada was born March 16, 1933 in Hinds County, MS. Growing up in Bolton, Mississippi, Mrs. Grenada witnessed and experienced a multitude of injustices during an era of legal segregation and Jim Crow. Although at times frightened by intimidation tactics used against her family and others in her community, Mrs. Grenada maintained a resilient and determined spirit to make strides toward ending laws targeting the civil rights and liberties of African Americans. She received her formal education at the Southern Christian Institute (SCI), located in Edwards, Mississippi. After graduating from SCI, she attended Jackson State University and received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. For many years, she played an instrumental part in educating preschool children through the Hinds County HeadStart Program. In addition to her commitment to education, Mrs. Grenada was very active in local strategizing and planning meetings with Freedom Riders and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Because of her determination to invoke positive change during the Civil Rights Movement, Mrs. Grenada also participated in a number of marches, most notably alongside other well-known Civil Rights pioneers, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Medgar Evers. In 1972, Mrs. Grenada volunteered her time to assist in the election of her hometown's first African American mayor. Her lifelong efforts toward establishing change in her community will be felt for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Gertrude Grenada for her astounding resolve to actively contribute to the cause during the Civil Rights Era in her community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable woman who was a champion against human oppression, discrimination, and injustice in Mississippi, Mrs. Birdia Beatrice Clark Keglar. Mrs. Keglar and her family lived in Charleston, MS located in Tallahatchie County, which is one of many counties in the state known by the name ``Free State of . . .'' That caliber of courage and stance warrants recognition. Mrs. Keglar was a tiny woman in stature, standing about 4 feet 9 inches and her biggest fear wasn't her height or those she stood up against but rather the negative impact of injustice on African-Americans and society if nothing was done to change things. The constant threats on her life and acts of violence didn't stop her either. Mrs. Keglar's fight for equality and empowerment has a place of longevity in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. The Fox Funeral Home where Mrs. Keglar worked until her death became the location where many of her plans would evolve and manifest. Her journey included but is not limited to: A march with Dr. Martin Luther King from Selma to Montgomery Alabama for the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and The organizing of the first local chapter of the NAACP in Tallahatchie County; and Leading the fight which helped her son, James, become one of the first Black bus drivers in the county; and When citizens living in the community needed a place to host Sunday school classes, Mrs. Keglar allowed them to be held in her local store; and The establishing of the first African-American Business and Professional Women's Club in the county; and When the need came, she crossed county lines helping to lend a hand to secure housing for elderly citizens living in Grenada, Mississippi; and On January 11, 1966 Mrs. Keglar and Ms. Adlena Hamlett were killed as they traveled back from Jackson, Mississippi after testifying before a Joint Committee chaired by Senator Robert Kennedy. Mrs. Keglar's testimony was about voting discrimination in the State of Mississippi against African-Americans. It saddens me to report Mr. Speaker that the untimely death of Mrs. Birdia Beatrice Clark Keglar and Ms. Adlena Hamlett are among those unsolved murder cases from the 1960s civil rights era. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Birdia Beatrice Clark Keglar for her dedication to fighting oppression, discrimination, and injustice in Mississippi.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Celaine Gordon Coleman, who is a remarkable public servant. Mrs. Celaine Gordon Coleman who is 95 years old was born June 29, 1917 in the Lebanon Community of Holmes County, says it seems that ``folks have forgotten about what we went through to make things better for these children today. The children need to know their history. Folks don't talk about it much anymore.'' The daughter of the late Eddie and Celaine Gordon, Mrs. Coleman did whatever she could to help move the civil rights movement in Holmes County. ``I used to cook for them,'' she said. She was also one of the early pioneers of the Head Start Program as it came to the hills of Holmes County. She served as a cook for years at the Mt. Olive Head Start Program. Mrs. Coleman also served the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church as Sunday School Secretary for 50-plus years. The church is one of the oldest black churches in Holmes County and it was once a very prominent church school for blacks. Although her health will not permit her to attend now, she once had perfect church attendance. Mrs. Coleman would walk for miles sometimes just to attend church. On muddy days she would carry her good shoes in her hand and put them on once she got to the church, and she would be on time as well. Through her hard-working spirit, she was also instrumental in positively impacting the lives of many black children in Holmes County. She is the widow of the late Mr. Monroe Coleman and the mother of three adult children. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Celaine Gordon Coleman for her dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Mrs. Sarah H. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was born on March 10, 1938 in Charleston, South Carolina, to Louisa Hutchinson. She grew up in Anniston, Alabama, and attended the public schools of that city. Upon graduation from Cobb Avenue High School as valedictorian of her class, she attended Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia, for one year, at the end of which she married a ministerial student, Ned Howard Johnson. To this marriage were born four children: Geneva Louise Johnson, Ned Howard Johnson, Jr., Yvonne Elizabeth Johnson and Karen Yvette Johnson. The Johnson family moved to Greenville, Mississippi, in 1964. After she and Mr. Johnson divorced in 1967, Mrs. Johnson married Cornelius Carter on December 24, 1977, but continues to use Sarah H. Johnson as her professional name. Mrs. Johnson is a black woman who has been active on behalf of her race and her community. She has achieved much and received numerous honors in her lifetime, foremost of which is the fact that after two successful political campaigns in 1973, she was elected the first black member of the Greenville, Mississippi, City Council. Mrs. Johnson has held several administrative positions in local government and has been active in local and national politics. She was employed by Mississippi Action for Community Education and was area director for People's Educational Program, a county-wide Headstart program. She is a former member and vice-chairperson of the Mississippi Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights and a former member of the Continuing Committee of the International Women's Year. She served as a 1972 Fellow of the Mississippi Institute of Politics and during the Carter Administration attended affairs by invitation at the White House several times. In 1979, she ran as a part of a slate for the Public Service Commission in the Central District of Mississippi. Aside from her interest in politics and civic affairs, Mrs. Johnson has been active in several other spheres of life. In 1974, she earned a radio licensing diploma from Elkins Institute in Memphis, Tennessee. That same year she took three Federal Communications Commission examinations and received her first-class radio operator's license. She has also graduated from the Mississippi Realtor's Institute and is currently in the process of taking exams to acquire a real-estate broker's license from the Mississippi Real Estate Commission. She is a member of Revels Memorial United Methodist Church and a former member of the Board of Church and Society, a national board of the United Methodist Church. Among her numerous citations and awards, Mrs. Johnson was presented the Woman of the Year Award by the Utility Club at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on June 8, 1975. Her biography appears in Who's Who Among Black Americans; and she is listed in the National Roster of Black Elected Officials, Mississippi's Black Women, and the History of Blacks in Greenville, Mississippi, from 1868 to 1975. She also has a street honoring her name, Sarah Johnson, in Greenville, Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Sarah H. Johnson for her dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Mr. Charles Moore. Mr. Moore passed away March 14, 2006 and was married to the former Alfolonia Matthews, the father of 5 children, and grandfather of 3. Mr. Moore was a native Greenvillian. His entire life has been lived in Greenville except for a brief period when he served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. After coming home and completing his high school requirements, he realized he had to make a decision. Either he would leave Greenville or stay and make it a better place for all to live. He chose the latter. His goals and aspirations were achieved by the following: getting involved in voter registration in the 1950's; getting involved with the inception of Delta Ministry in Greenville, in 1966; helping organize the effort to bring Headstart to his community in 1966; helping organize the effort to integrate Greenville Public Schools in 1968; spearheading the organization of Herbert Lee Center where civil rights meetings were held, which still exists; coordinating several Washington County campaigns; recipient of the Harriet Tubman Award, from the Magnolia Bar Association in 1966; and, recipient of the Point of Pride Award March in 1966. Mr. Moore was a member of the Church of Christ Holiness, past Commander and lifetime member of Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW), past president of the Greenville Travel Club, retired member of the National Association of Letter Carrier Union (NALC) and the past President of Branch 516 of the NALC. He was also a member of the Secretary of State Dick Molpus Task Force. He filed a discrimination complaint that resulted in Blacks being promoted to managerial positions in the United States Post Office. He was a member of the NAACP since 1946 until his death. He was elected to the City Council, Ward 4 in July 1990 and re- elected for a 4 year term in October 1993. Also, he held the position of vice-mayor of the City of Greenville. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Charles Moore for his dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Well, all I can say to my colleague is this time you were lucky, and I look forward to next year. But the other thing you said is so important. The Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus is the largest caucus, bipartisan caucus, here in Congress. Those of you who are not members, we ask you to come join us. We do a lot. But for the good that we do, the good that we serve, it's a good deal. Thank you very much.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today recognizing one of America's most dedicated public servants and one of Mississippi's strongest advocates; my friend and Director of Field Operations, Mr. Charlie Horhn. After 20 years of public service, Charlie is retiring from the United States House of Representatives. A native son of Holmes County, Mississippi, born July 9, 1934, Charlie is the sixth of 10 children born from the union of Mr. Tommie & Mrs. Emma Lee Horhn. Charlie, like others who grew up during one of the most trying times in American history--the Great Depression, understands the value of hard work and dedication. His professional experiences can be cataloged from days chopping cotton to rendering years of invaluable service to the United States House of Representatives. After marrying his childhood sweetheart, the late Mrs. Willistene Levy, Charlie began work as a metal polisher at Presto Manufacturing Company. There his natural knack for leadership quickly catapulted him to the office of local union president. Thereafter, he soon became an expert in union arbitration and negotiations and assumed an active role in voter registration activities being sponsored by the A. Phillip Randolph Institute. Upon establishment, the well-versed, political savvy, Charlie Horhn became President of the Central Mississippi chapter of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute and later journeyed to become President on the State Chapter. These opportunities ultimately gained him acclaim as a staunch politico throughout the State. In 1990, Charlie was selected to serve as Assistant to the President of the Mississippi AFL-CIO, giving him leverage in improving employee and labor relations. His work impacted legislation and helped drive membership in the organization. After an extensive stint in labor advocacy, Charlie became manager of my first congressional campaign for Mississippi's Second District seat during the special election in 1993. After successfully helping me attain office, Charlie was immediately appointed as Director of Field Offices. His leadership has helped countless Mississippi residents in attaining needed assistance. Charlie was a loving husband and is the devoted father of five. His pathway to success can be largely attributed to his steadfast devotion to and compassion for the people of the State of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in honoring Mr. Charlie Horhn on 20 years of invaluable service to the United States Congress.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chair, at this point, I'd like to say that I agree with Democratic Leader Ms. Pelosi's issue with respect to cyber, particularly critical infrastructure. And I look forward to working with Chairman McCaul on submitting legislation. With that, Mr. Chair, I encourage Members to support this bipartisan amendment that the chair of the Committee on Homeland Security and I drafted. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chair, who has the right to close?

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger), the ranking member on the Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Democratic leader.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of this amendment. Enhancing our security in cyberspace is of the highest importance, but it cannot be done at the expense of our privacy and civil liberties. The key to ensuring the necessary protections are in place is codifying in statute a strong civilian lead for information sharing with the private sector. Our amendment does just that. Yesterday, I reached an agreement with Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Ruppersberger, and Chairman McCaul to offer this bipartisan amendment to strengthen the bill. The amendment establishes a center within the Department of Homeland Security as the Federal hub for cyber threat information shared under this bill, and the Department of Justice as the hub for all cyber crime information. With this amendment, citizens may take comfort knowing that their information will be more likely shared with the appropriate civilian agencies with the accompanying accountability and transparency; and businesses can be more sure that their dealings abroad will not be colored by the perception, fair or otherwise, that they are in cahoots with the National Security Agency. To be clear, this amendment does not fix all of the privacy or liability issues with the underlying bill, but it does establish the strong precedent of civilian control of cyber information sharing; and I hope we can fix the broader issues with the bill, should it pass, further down the line. This amendment is absolutely essential to the bill, and it sends the right message to the world about the way the United States will act in cyberspace. I reserve the balance of my time. Enhance the CIVILIAN Authorities in CISPA Enhance the CIVILIAN Authorities in CISPA Dear Colleague: Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Ruppersberger of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, together with Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson of the House Homeland Security Committee, will offer an amendment that will designate a civilian lead for the cyber security information sharing program under the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). This amendment requires the President to designate a civilian entity within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be the entry point to receive cyber threat information and to designate an entity within the Department of Justice (DOJ) as the civilian entity to receive cyber threat information related to cybersecurity crimes. These changes make clear that DHS and the DOJ will serve as points of entry for those seeking to share cybersecurity threat information with the federal government. The amendment also requires the Secretary of DHS, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Secretary of Defense to establish procedures to eliminate any personal information from cyber threat information shared with the federal government. Cyber threat information shared with the government from any source will be scrubbed of any personally identifiable information and deleted--this is also known as ``minimization.'' Every agency receiving cyber threat information must notify these four agencies, and Congress of significant violations of the procedures required by the bill. These agencies must also establish a program to oversee compliance with the minimization procedures. We urge you to vote ``yes'' on this amendment. Sincerely, Michael T. McCaul, Chairman, Homeland Security Committee. Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member, Homeland Security Committee. Mike J. Rogers, Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Dutch Ruppersberger, Ranking Member, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, while I am not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1101.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to re-introduce the ``Coast Guard Academy Opportunity Act,'' legislation to create new opportunities for careers in the U.S. Coast Guard with a geographically and politically diverse group of colleagues. They are: Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Representative John Duncan of Tennessee, Delegate Madeleine Bordallo of Guam, Representative Corrine Brown of Florida, Representative Yvette Clarke of New York, Delegate Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico, Representative Michael Michaud of Maine, Representative Betty McCollum of Minnesota, Representative Janice Hahn of California, Delegate Gregorio Sablan of the Northern Mariana Islands, Representative Jack Kingston of Georgia, and Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota. Currently, Members of Congress are allowed to nominate a limited number of candidates to the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. However, the smallest of the five federal service academies-- the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA)--does not accept congressional nominations. Instead, the USCGA admits candidates through a process that resembles the admissions processes of civilian colleges and universities. Without a congressional nominations process, the applicant pool of candidates to the USCGA is predictably less geographically diverse than at the other military service academies. The inevitable result of a less geographically diverse applicant pool is a less geographically diverse class. The statistics bear this out; in fact, the incoming Class of 2016 does not have a single cadet from: Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, or Guam. Under the ``Coast Guard Academy Opportunity Act,'' starting in academic year 2014, each Member of Congress could nominate up to three qualified candidates to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In turn, the Coast Guard would be required to fill a quarter of slots for the incoming class from this pool of congressional nominations comprised of qualified, geographically diverse applicants. Then, in each subsequent academic year, half of the slots in each incoming class would have to be filled through the congressional nominations process. This legislation would not require the Coast Guard to lower its student selection criteria or increase the size of the student population. To the contrary, it anticipates that the Coast Guard will continue to use its criteria to select the best candidates from the pool of Member-nominated candidates for half of the slots in the incoming class, just as it will do to fill the slots in the other half of the incoming class. The ``Coast Guard Academy Opportunity Act'' simply seeks to make Congress a partner in helping to put talented young people--from every corner of the country--on the path to a rewarding career in the U.S. Coast Guard. I urge support of this commonsense, bipartisan legislation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the ``Contract Screener Reform and Accountability Act.'' Together with my colleagues in the House, Representative Nita Lowey of New York and Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, I am introducing this legislation to reform, enhance oversight of, and provide greater workforce protections to the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) contract screener program known as the Screening Partnership Program (SPP). I am very pleased that a companion measure is being introduced in the other chamber by Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Specifically, the ``Contract Screener Reform and Accountability Act'' would: Bar subsidiaries of foreign owned corporations from providing for security screening at domestic airports under the SPP; Mandate covert testing of contract screeners so that their performance can be monitored and compared to airports where screening is carried out by TSA and protect the integrity of those tests by imposing penalties for compromising such testing; Require security breaches at airports with contracted screening services to be reported; Ensure national security through requiring training for the proper handling of sensitive security information at SPP airports; Provide new compensation, benefits, and whistleblower protections for screeners; and Enhance customer service for the flying public who are screened at SPP airports. With enactment of the ``FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012'' (P.L. 112-95), subsidiaries of foreign owned corporations are permitted, for the first time since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to provide screening services at our nation's commercial service airports. This change in law was enacted without debate about the security implications and despite the need, in the current economic climate, to encourage opportunities for U.S. companies rather than outsourcing work and diverting taxpayer dollars to subsidiaries of foreign owned corporations. The reforms concerning covert testing are necessary in light of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General's previous finding that the contractor for screening services at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the nation's largest and busiest airport with contract screeners, compromised covert testing. It is imperative that the integrity of covert security testing be protected so that we are assured that contract screeners perform at the same level as Transportation Security Officers. TSA has reported numerous security breaches occurring regularly at airports with contract screeners, including at SFO. These breaches include contract screener personnel not detecting prohibited items such as knives and bullets in carry-on baggage, improperly clearing passengers without verification of their identity, and not conducting the required additional screening of passengers referred to secondary screening. For example, on August 21, 2009, a passenger at SFO alarmed the walk- through metal detector and was referred to the secondary area for additional screening. The passenger promptly let herself out of the holding area and collected her accessible property. It was three minutes before an employee of the private screening company noticed that she was missing. More needs to be done to prevent security breaches at SPP airports. Similarly, given that the documented mishandling of sensitive information can have tragic consequences, more needs to be done to prevent such violations as well. Today, TSA does not have a process in place for ensuring that all employees of corporations with contracts for screening services receive training on the proper handling of sensitive information. This is the case despite several instances of sensitive security information having been mishandled by employees of corporations with contracts for screening services under the SPP. For example, on July 18, 2010, a new hire training manual containing sensitive security information (SSI) about screening practices was stolen after a private security company employee in possession of the manual removed it from SFO. In response, TSA sent a letter to the company that conducts screening services for SFO, as well as to all other SPP contractors, directing that any SSI materials be retained in a secure fashion at the airport and only removed with expressed, written permission of a TSA Contracting Officer. I understand that similar incidents have occurred at other SPP airports. However, since TSA has not always taken action or documented their actions to correct the mishandling of the SSI information, reports on such incidents are currently unavailable. Regarding workforce protections, the bill would protect workers' pay and benefits by requiring that when an airport privatizes, the private screening company provide Transportation Security Officers employed at the time of the switch the right of first refusal to screening jobs and offer compensation and benefits equal to or greater than what they received at the time the contract was awarded. No worker on the front lines in securing our aviation system should lose their job, see a reduction in pay, or lose benefits because an airport opts to utilize a private screening company. As all of my colleagues can attest to, customer service at airports, and in particular in the security screening lanes, is an issue that evokes passionate reactions from constituents all across the country. Currently, there is no requirement that private screening companies report customer complaints regarding their screening experience to TSA or Congress. The bill would provide the public an avenue for expressing concerns with screening at airports with contract screeners, thus ensuring that the flying public's concerns can be addressed. In the wake of the deadly attacks of September 11, 2001, TSA was created to secure all modes of transportation so that a terrorist attack on the scale of 9/11 would never happen again. Since TSA's earliest days, it has struggled to fulfill its mission, but, with every passing year, it matures and improves as a security agency. Opponents of TSA have not forgone any opportunity to exploit a misstep to advance their ultimate goal--the dismantling of TSA. At the same time, they have willfully turned a blind eye to lapses, breaches, and problems at airports secured by contract screeners. Just as we must act to strengthen TSA's security operations, it is imperative that we address SPP's glaring security challenges. It is my hope that the ``Contract Screener Reform and Accountability Act'' be enacted to ensure that we do just that.