Marc Veasey

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Payne), my classmate and a voice from the New York area.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Fort Worth Assembly in celebration of its 75th anniversary and its history of ushering accomplished young women into society and womanhood. First organized by Mrs. Lottie Mae Hamilton in 1941, the Fort Worth Assembly has fostered an organization that helps guide young African American women to a path of excellence within the Fort Worth community. Since the initial presentation of 22 college trained women to society during the first Fort Worth Assembly Debutante Ball on November 28, 1941, the organization has grown to present more than 800 young women to society during their annual holiday event. The Fort Worth Assembly has introduced young women who have gone on to impact the community, world, and future generations in various fields, including the arts, sciences, and legal professions. Along with the annual presentation, the Fort Worth Assembly continues to promote and instill exemplary values to young women at an early age through the formation of the Les Petite Cygnes, or the Little Swans, and the Junior Debutante groups. Thanks to the leadership of the past presidents, Mrs. Lottie M. Hamilton, Mrs. Beulah Yerwood, Mrs. Kathryn Glaze, Mrs. Mildred Scott, Mrs. Sophia Thomas, Mrs. Thelma Pennigar, Mrs. Hester McDaniel, Mrs. Mildred Sims and Mrs. Bonnie Winkfield, and current president, legacy debutante Mrs. Charlece Thomas James, the Fort Worth Assembly has continued to thrive. The work and dedication of the 25 founding women and the past presidents will be recognized on December 17th as the organization marks its 75th Fort Worth Assembly Debutante Ball Presentation, which will introduce another class of outstanding young women to society.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Mr. Kerven W. Carter Jr., a cherished Stop Six educator and beloved member of the Fort Worth community, who was laid to rest on October 25, 2016. Kerven Wyncelar Carter was born on October 15, 1922 in Wortham, Texas. His family eventually relocated to Fort Worth, Texas where he ultimately graduated from the historic I.M. Terrell High School. Following his high school graduation, Mr. Carter earned a bachelor's degree from Wiley College and continued his education at the University of Denver, University of Southern California and University of Wyoming. In addition to demonstrating a commitment to furthering his own education, Mr. Carter was a distinguished educator in his own right. He served as a professor at Wiley College and worked in various capacities at the Fort Worth Independent School District. Mr. Carter ended his career in education working in administration and teacher appraisal work and was later recognized for his commitment to education when he was selected as an honoree by Tarrant County Community College during the dedication of its Opportunity Center Resource. Mr. Carter was also dedicated to serving his community outside of the classroom. He served as Deacon and Chairman of Finance and Superintendent in the Youth Sunday School at his church. Additionally, he was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for more than 75 years and co-founded the Texas Council of Alpha chapters. He was a president of the Texan Christian University chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International Education Fraternity, co-founder of the Texas State Teacher's Association, and a Master Prince Hall Mason, where he served as Grand Treasurer and Grand Worshipful Master

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, thank you to my colleague Mr. O'Rourke for his work to highlight such an important issue. Since November 9th, many of the immigrants in my district of Dallas- Fort Worth have been rightfully nervous about their future in the United States. It is no secret where the President-Elect stands on immigration. He has vowed to repeal the highly successful Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA. This move is wrong for America and for the immigrants whose lives have been forever changed by the program. Since 2012, over 135,000 bright young Texans have successfully applied for the program. It has been life changing for all those who qualified. This has been especially true for one of my constituents, Erik. Erik is a 27-year-old DACA recipient who immigrated to the United States from Mexico with his mother when he was just two years old. Erik was unaware of his immigration status for the majority of his life until he reached a critical milestone at the age of 16. When he asked his mother if he could apply for his driver's license, what normally would be an exciting event turned into a difficult conversation with his mother about his immigration status. Erik was devastated because although he called the United States home, he would be unable to move forward with his life as he planned. Once he graduated from high school, Erik knew that attending college would be a significant challenge--one he almost didn't take on. He shared that he wasn't even sure college was the right decision because he was unsure that he could get a job after he graduated. Yet, he persevered and graduated in 2011--but once again was confronted with the reality that his undocumented status created additional challenges. Although he was college educated, Erik couldn't legally work in the United States. But with the announcement of DACA in 2012, Erik had a ray of hope. Finally, Erik could legally work and better participate in the country he's called home since the age of two. Since successfully receiving DACA status, Erik has worked as a Store Systems Engineer at Rent-A-Car and has advocated for other undocumented immigrants. Unfortunately, the newly found freedom Erik enjoyed under DACA is now in jeopardy. Now, with just weeks away until the President-Elect is sworn into office, millions of DREAMERs are frightened they will be forced to return to the shadows or be targeted for deportation. These young aspiring immigrants are already part of our communities. They attend our schools, work alongside us, and live in our neighborhoods. For Erik and the thousands of other DREAMERs across Texas, the revocation of DACA could mean returning to countries they haven't called home since they were children. While we work to reform our broken immigration system, we must remember that the immigrants we speak of are just like us--they have hopes, dreams, and want to live a good life. Like Erik, I believe that we need to move forward with immigration reform. I believe we can do so in a way that keeps families together and benefits our country as a whole at the same time. I stand here alongside my colleagues to remind our country's DREAMers that the fight isn't over. Our fight here in Congress has just begun.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in celebration of its 60th Anniversary and its six- decade history of service to the community of Fort Worth, Texas. Founded in 1956, Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church began through its commitment to fellowship. Since its founding, Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church has committed its efforts to establishing a safe environment for all those seeking spiritual guidance and the desire to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through preaching, teaching, and ministry. For six decades, Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church's ministry team has inspired and positively changed the lives of people throughout Fort Worth. For the past twenty years, Bishop B.C. McPherson II has led Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church's membership and its affiliate company Sininian Development Inc. (SDI), a community development organization. Together, they have invigorated the Southside communities of Fort Worth through crime reduction and affordable housing. Bishop McPherson has ensured throughout his tenure that every member can still receive a personal word with him even as the Church has grown its congregation. Mount Sinai not only offers fellowship for those seeking spiritual guidance at the church in Fort Worth, but also extends its services through its Real Alive Word, R.A.W., online classes. These classes offer spiritual seekers with biblical foundations, syntax, culture and much more. Both traditional and non-traditional religious avenues have contributed to an increase in the number of new hopeful leaders in the DFW Metroplex. I honor Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church's 60th Anniversary celebration and its dedication to the spiritual development of Fort Worth community

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Soka Gakkai International (SGI), the Buddhist association of more than 12 million people, on celebrating 86 years since its founding. On November 18, 1930, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda founded the Soka Gakkai in Tokyo, Japan to spread the Buddhist ideals of equality, respect for all life and the connection of self and the environment. Makiguchi served as the first president of The Soka Gakkai and was succeeded by Toda as the second Soka Gakkai president. With the desire to further spread Buddhist philosophy across the world, Daisaku Ikeda founded Soka Gakkai International while he served as the third president of Soka Gakkai. Today, Ikeda and the other founding presidents' work is evident in the 12 million individuals in 192 countries and territories who share the same beliefs and mission the founders established years ago. Most notably, the American branch of Soka Gakkai International is the largest and most diverse Buddhist community in the United States with 350,000 members organized in more than 500 chapters nationwide. In combination with its 100 centers, the members all actively engage in the promotion of sustainable living, human rights, and peace. November the 18th has come to symbolize a day when each SGI member strengthens their own determination and sense of responsibility to be ambassadors of goodwill in the communities they serve. In the DFW Metroplex, members of Soka Gakkai International provide enormous contributions to the community they serve where their members are making individual contributions for peace and freedom. I honor Soka Gakkai International's 86th anniversary celebration and for their lifetime commitment to peace.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Parrots of Polytechnic High School and their cheer team on their future performance at the 90th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. On November 23, squad members will showcase their talent to the millions at home watching this parade in New York and around the country. Out of the many video submissions, the team was selected for their athleticism and enthusiasm. But most importantly, they embodied values fitting of Thanksgiving: a spirit of gratitude and togetherness. While their achievement came as a result of the team's tireless effort, I also want to thank their head coach, Rayneta Dotson, for her dedication and commitment to the Polytechnic High School cheer team. The entire Fort Worth community is so proud of these exceptional students. I wish them a safe trip to the Big Apple and congratulations on their achievement.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2016 Texas Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, representing the Arlington Independent School District. From a young age, Dr. Cavazos' parents encouraged him and his five siblings to focus on their education, the great equalizer of opportunity. Dr. Cavazos believes that all children must have someone to advocate for them in order to succeed. With this belief in mind, Dr. Cavazos began his career as an English teacher in the Mission Consolidated Independent School District in 1990. He also worked in the TEA, the Texas Education Agency, in their school finance department before joining Arlington ISD in 1999. He was named deputy superintendent of Arlington ISD in 2009 and became the superintendent in November 2012. Under Dr. Cavazos' leadership, the Arlington Independent School District has opened two fine arts/dual language academies, expanded community-based prekindergarten offerings, and signed agreements with the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of North Texas, and Tarrant County College to give kids greater access to dual credit and early admission options. Dr. Cavazos has made it his life mission to open the doors of opportunity for all of our children. Congratulations on receiving this prestigious award.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, Congresswoman Sewell, for organizing this very important Special Order hour today to talk about something that is really timely, especially with elections coming up. I want to be able to stand here today with my colleagues to bring awareness to the injustice--the injustices really--that are oppressing the most vulnerable members of our democracy. I want to start with some history from the 1960s, and then some more recent history. As you know, in 1965, the Voting Rights Act sought to ensure that voters would never again face intimidation or unnecessary obstacles in exercising their right to vote as American citizens. But in 2013, Shelby County v. Holder gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act and set in motion what many feared: the subjection of minorities, seniors, and low-income Americans to unfair, punitive barriers that make it hard for them to vote--make it hard for people to exercise their very basic right as an American citizen. As a native of Texas representing the Dallas and Fort Worth area, I have seen firsthand the effects of these suppressive laws that have been put in place in 33 States since the Supreme Court issued in Shelby County v. Holder. Some of the tactics in Texas that were used--and you heard Representative Sewell talk about it a little bit earlier. If you have a license--a school ID from Texas A&M University or the University of Texas or Prairie View A&M or Texas Southern University, any of our State universities, these are the same IDs that students can use. Let's say they are on campus and they are doing something they are not supposed to do, they can use those IDs to identify themselves to law enforcement authorities on the campuses there; but if they were to try to come home and use that ID, they would be denied the right to vote. But, again, if you are the owner of a handgun and you have a concealed handgun license, you can use that particular ID to vote. It is almost unfair. You can see how everything is stacked against the everyday voters. With the requirement that a photo ID be used to vote, some individuals without an ID had to travel great distances to get them or struggled to pay for the supporting documents they needed in order to get the ID to vote. You heard Representative Sewell talk about that a little bit earlier. Let me give you an example of that. In Texas we have 254 counties. Everybody knows that Texas is a big State. Some of those counties don't even have driver's license centers or ID centers where people can get their voter ID cards or their driver's license or their State ID or the other documentation that is needed to be able to vote. So that is why I got involved as the lead plaintiff in Veasey v. Abbott, which was the voter ID case, to overturn the law. Our case has been heard before three--literally three--Federal courts, including what is considered the most conservative appellate court in the entire country, which is the Fifth Circuit. In July 2016, the full Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of Texas voters. That ought to tell you something that the Fifth Circuit was even like, hey, this thing has some real, real problems. That same month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit struck down North Carolina's restrictive voting laws, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin invalidated portions of their voting law there that was designed to prevent individuals from casting their right to vote. The courts have found what we have always known to be true, and that is that these restrictive voter ID laws intentionally discriminate against minority voters and disenfranchise eligible American voters. These victories are a few of the major victories, but we have also had victories in non-Southern States. It is mentioned that it is the Southern States where a lot of these issues have historically been a problem, but we know that even outside of the South there have been issues--Ohio, Kansas, and Michigan--and so far the courts continue to rule in the favor of the voter. I hope they will continue to do so in the future. But while we see these victories, we also continue to face challenges. Some of you recently have heard that Judge Ramos in the Texas case, who issued the interim voting rules in the Texas case, had to actually order the attorney general, the Governor, and the secretary of state to stop sending out misleading and confusing election materials to try to confuse people about the voter ID ruling. That worries me a lot because what is that saying is going to happen to this upcoming election in November in 2016? Are we getting a sneak preview of some of the dirty tricks that may take place around the country? The fact that a Federal judge issued these guidelines and State officials tried to send out misleading information from a Federal judge is scary. Those are dirty tricks that we have to watch out for in this November 2016 election. We know that the attorney general, because he said so, is going to appeal this case to the Supreme Court. But until we see an end to barriers to voting and the distribution of misinformation to discourage eligible citizens from casting their ballots, we will not stop fighting. Every day, my colleagues and I, led by the Democratic Outreach and Engagement Task Force and the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, will continue to fight to have these suppressive laws invalidated. Even in the face of lengthy court battles, we welcome the challenge because it means we have to protect the right to vote. One of the things that I did to continue to shed light on this issue is I actually introduced a resolution last week to designate September as National Voting Rights Month. This year, Americans will cast their ballots in one of the most important general elections that this country has ever seen. The designation of September as National Voting Rights Month will serve to assist in spreading information and awareness about voter registration dates and voting dates, early voting, polling place locations, how to maintain voter rolls, and some of the suppressive tactics that are being used. We want to inform people about that as well because it would be an affront, Representative Sewell, to our predecessors to allow suppressive tactics to deny Americans the right that many have fought and died for. That is why Congress must continue to lead the charge in restoring the right for all Americans to vote by fixing the Voting Rights Act and by encouraging participation in, again, what is our most sacred right as Americans, and that is the right to vote.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th birthday of Ms. Mae Cora Peterson, a resident of Fort Worth, Texas, in the Stop Six, Carver Heights community. Ms. Peterson was born on September 13, 1916, in Orangeburg, South Carolina, during the Jim Crow era. Understanding the value of education during the time of racial segregation, she attended and graduated from South Carolina State University. She went on to earn her master's degree from the University of Michigan. After graduation, she volunteered with the YWCA and was offered a full-time job in the city of her choice. She took on the position of executive director at a segregated branch in Fort Worth. She continued her passion to serve youth and later served as the dean of girls and vice principal at Dunbar High School, where she worked for 27 years. In addition to her civic duties, Ms. Peterson is also the oldest active living member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Madam Speaker, I rise to give tribute to my good friend, Ms. Mae Cora Peterson.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Jeff and Deralyn Davis of Fort Worth, who celebrated 60 years of marriage on August 25 of this year. Jeff met his beloved Deralyn and began a courtship that led them to the sacred union of marriage on August 25, 1956, in Corsicana, Texas. For 55 years of their union, they have been residents of the city of Fort Worth. Throughout the years, Jeff and Deralyn have been very, very active in the community. Jeff is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and has served as the assistant superintendent of the Everman Independent School District. Jeff's influence in education was such that he was commemorated by having a school named after him--the Jefferson Davis 9th Grade Center. Deralyn was a graduate of Jackson High School in Corsicana and was a graduate of Huston-Tillotson University in Austin. She is also active in AKA, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the Fort Worth chapter. Deralyn was also very instrumental in the creation of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats during its heyday. The Davises have two children--daughter Jefflyn Davis and their son, Jock Kevin Davis, who passed away in 2005--and three grandchildren. I congratulate Jeff and Deralyn on 60 years of marriage.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the decorated football career of Texas native, Charley Robert Taylor. Charley Taylor was born in Grand Prairie, Texas, where he first found his passion for sports. Taylor began his athletic career by playing football during his eighth grade year while attending the then segregated Dalworth High School, where he excelled in track, baseball, and football. During his time at Dalworth, Taylor realized that football came naturally. Taylor was named to the Texas All-State team during his senior year of high school and earned the opportunity to continue his passion for football at the collegiate level. Since universities in Texas were not desegregated at the time, Taylor had to take his talent elsewhere. Upon graduation from Dalworth High School, Taylor attended Arizona State University where he excelled in football. At Arizona State, Taylor was a two-time All-American receiver and running back and was also named to the All-Western Athletic Conference team. During the 1962 season Taylor led the Devils in scoring. Taylor was drafted in the first round of the 1964 NFL draft as the third overall pick to the Washington Redskins. During his first year as a Redskins player, Taylor was named NFC Rookie of the Year and was the first Redskin's rookie to be selected for the Pro Bowl. In 1966, Taylor switched from running back to wide receiver and in both the 1966 and 1967 seasons, he led the NFL in receiving. On December 21, 1975, Taylor became the NFL's all-time receptions leader with his 634th catch. Following the 1977 season, Taylor retired as the NFL's all-time leading receiver. He earned first or second-team NFL honors six times and was selected to play in eight Pro Bowls. After retirement, Mr. Taylor continued his football career off the field. He was hired as an NFL scout for the Redskins and then in 1981, he was hired as the Redskin's receiver's coach. He served in that role for thirteen years. Mr. Taylor has been inducted into both the Arizona State Sports Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of fame. In honor of the retirement of Mr. Taylor's jersey at Grand Prairie High School and his role as a pillar of the Texas athletic community, this statement is submitted

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, we ought to be able to go to the store, walk down our sidewalks, and go dancing without the fear of being shot. Democrats and Republicans in the United States House of Representatives need to come together to pass commonsense gun safety legislation. What is wrong with a no fly, no buy bill? If you can't get on a plane, if you cannot board one of our commercial aircraft carriers in this country, why in the world can you go into a sporting goods store and buy a TEC-9--or any kind of gun for that matter? We need to do something. Let me tell you, as a native Texan, responsible gun owners aren't the problem. I own a gun. A lot of Democrats that I know own guns. But I don't want al Qaeda and I don't want ISIS owning guns. But under the current laws in the U.S., if they are on a no-fly list, they can go into a sporting goods store and buy a gun. It is just not right. Let's take some action now, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Mayte Ibarra and Larissa Martinez, two undocumented valedictorians from Texas, for their academic achievement and bravery amid the anti-immigrant rhetoric that was wielded their way. Mayte and Larissa's educational excellence is living proof of the American Dream. No matter what your immigration status may be, if you work hard and dream, anything is possible. Their determination and academic success, despite the personal obstacles that were in front of them, helped get them into the University of Texas and Yale. Larissa's valedictorian speech reminds us of how important immigration reform is. I want to read you a quote. ``The most important part of the immigration debate and the part most often overlooked is the fact that immigrants, undocumented or otherwise, are people too. They are people with dreams, aspirations, hopes, and loved ones.'' We should all take this message to heart, Mr. Speaker, no matter what your political background may be. We can no longer ignore the anti- immigrant rhetoric that we hear today. Instead, let's praise Larissa and Mayte's academic success and work to remove barriers to prevent any hardworking student from achieving the American Dream.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell you a really cool story about two smart sisters, Estrella and Perla Ortiz, identical twins who earned the valedictorian and salutatorian status at their high school in Fort Worth. Estrella and Perla are the two youngest of seven siblings in the Ortiz family. The sisters worked hard and excelled academically at North Side High School, the home of the Steers. In their spare time, the Ortiz sisters participated in the National Honor Society, Health Occupations Students of America, tutored their peers, and even helped adults obtain their GED. Their hard work paid off in academia when they were awarded scholarships at Texas Christian University, where the sisters will receive a full ride to TCU to continue their studies in biology and premed. The Ortiz sisters demonstrate that anything is possible with dedication and perseverance. And, oh, I want to also mention that their sister, Maria, was also valedictorian in 2014 at the same school. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Estrella and Perla on their extraordinary academic achievement.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I am calling on House Republicans to denounce the hateful rhetoric coming from the leader of their party. Week after week, House Republicans, my colleagues, publicly announce their endorsement of Donald Trump. They aren't just endorsing the candidate, but also the hateful and discriminatory agenda set by their party's Presidential nominee. House Republicans cannot continue to support him and denounce his inflammatory rhetoric, including the demonization of our friends that are Hispanic and Muslim, at the same time. Mr. Speaker, it is time for Republicans to step up. It is time for them to step up to the plate and do the right thing and denounce this bigotry. You can't pretend that the things that your party's leader is saying aren't hurtful and divisive to the American public. Mr. Speaker, it is time to do the right thing, step up, come up with an agenda that is good for all Americans, and stop pretending as if the things that the leader of your party is saying isn't hurtful.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Hakeem Jeffries from New York and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty from Ohio for everything that they are doing on raising this issue tonight. It is very timely, considering everything that we are going through right now. When you think about the Voting Rights Act, it is literally the single most important piece of legislation that has ever been passed in the history of the United States as it deals with an individual's right to vote. But as you know, 3 years ago, the Supreme Court regressed and sent us back by gutting section 4 of the Voting Rights Act. Not only was that bad because it hurt the Voting Rights Act, but it was also bad because of everything that it did to propel States around the country from also retrogressing and sending us back in the area of voting rights. You are starting to hear so many stories of States and localities that are passing more and more laws to restrict the right to vote, making it harder for young people to vote--seniors, the disabled, people that move around a lot and are transient, people that don't necessarily have the money that they need in order to obtain the proper identification. And you heard Congresswoman Sewell when she so eloquently talked about the fact that oftentimes, particularly in the South, people were born by midwives. We have a lot of baby boomers that are out there. People think these things happened a long time ago. That is the thing that you hear all the time. But there are people that are living here today, a lot of baby boomers, that were born down in the piney woods of east Texas, that were born in other parts of the South, that don't have the proper documentation that they need in order to be able to vote. I have met people since I have been involved in campaigns and elections and as an elected official that didn't have the proper ID to vote. I have to tell you that there are many of them out there. Just hours after the Supreme Court made the decision in 2013 that my home State of Texas implemented the most egregious voter ID law in the entire country, just hours after the Supreme Court gutted section 4, they moved to reimplement the law. That was very disappointing, considering that an appeals court had already said that the voter ID law in Texas was one of the worst in the country.

Mr. VEASEY. That is correct. If you have an ID that is issued to you by the University of Texas, or Texas A&M, or Prairie View A&M University, that same ID, that same student ID that can be used to identify yourself to campus police officers, that can be used to identify yourself for other things that you would need an ID for, it will not work in order for you to go and vote. But if you have a concealed handgun license, then you can vote. Concealed handgun licenses are mostly used by White males in the State. It is really unfair that a more diverse form of ID, like the student ID, is not allowed under Texas laws. That was one of the reasons why I became the lead plaintiff on the voter ID lawsuit, Congressman Jeffries. It is Veasey v. Abbott. We are going to continue to fight. We just got news today that the Fifth Circuit Court is going to take up our case. I am going to continue to work here in Congress, continue to work in Texas, continue to work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to protect the voting rights of individuals that have been wronged. I also want to point out that, again, you oftentimes hear people say that we have progressed as a country and we don't need these laws. But when you look at what is going on in Texas and when you look at what is going on across the South, I just think we can't sit back anymore. We can't sit back and be idle and say: Oh, no, well, we are doing a little bit better, so these people that are going to be discriminated against--the transients, the college students, the people that don't necessarily have their birth documentation in order like other people may have--we just can't sit back and say we are going to just move on and forget about them. We have to fight for those individuals as well because it is their right to vote, and we must protect it. In 2016, I just think we should be making it easier for citizens to vote. We should be talking about things like same-day registration. We should be working together, Democrats and Republicans, on ways to ease lines when it comes to voting in places. We should be looking at ways that we can make it to where we have more days to vote early. You are starting to hear about laws around the country to scale back the number of in-person early voting days. I just think that is wrong. Again, I want to thank you for your leadership on this issue. I also want to thank you for pointing out that I have introduced the first Congressional Voting Rights Caucus to help aid and fight in the battle, along with so many other task forces and organizations that are here in Congress that are working on those issues. We want to continue to make sure together again--and we need to do it in a bipartisan manner--that we all protect the right to vote. I thank the gentleman and the Congresswoman from Ohio, Representative Beatty, for their work and passion on this issue.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the gentlemen of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, Fort Worth Alumni Chapter, for their outstanding work in community service. Since its founding in 1947, the Kappa Fort Worth Alumni Chapter has dedicated themselves to the Tarrant County community by empowering our local youth and providing important resources for the most vulnerable residents in our community. To lead the change in our youth, the Kappas began the ``Kappa Kut'' program, providing free haircuts to young men in Tarrant County and amplifying the influential role barbers play in our community. By connecting young men to local barbers, barbers share their life experiences and encourage positive change in our community. The Kappa Kut program has expanded through partnership made possible by the Dunbar Pyramid, now providing 200 free haircuts and giving away over 2,000 free backpacks full of school supplies, immunizations, and educational sessions for community parents and their children. To fight against food insecurity within our community, the gentlemen of Kappa Alpha Psi developed two key programs that continue to assist families across Tarrant County. For three years, the ``Kan Food Drive,'' with cooperation of 13 area schools and 15 businesses, has collected 35,000 canned goods and raised $9,700 for the Community Food Bank. At the same time, the Kappas created the ``Kappagiving'' program, where over 300 local families receive a turkey and a box containing canned foods and dry goods, so that families have the opportunity to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition, the Kappas have continued their unwavering support for the improvement of their community by partnering with the Union Gospel Mission to raise money, build fellowship with male residents, and donate blankets, sheets, clothes, coats, toys and toiletries for the homeless. To date, the Kappas have donated over $30,000 to deserving young men so that they can attend college and have continued their mentorship of young males under the chapter's Kappa League program. In honor of the Fort Worth Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, and their commitment to providing humanitarian services, volunteer hours and financial contributions to the Fort Worth community, this statement is submitted today, Monday, May 23, 2016

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the great loss of Grammy-winning Mexican American Tejano and country music star, Emilio Navaira. Emilio was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1962 and found musical inspiration in not only traditional Tejano legends, but also American country greats such as Willie Nelson and George Strait. His passion and love for music grew and grew; and when he graduated from McCollum High School in 1980, he attended Texas State University, where he received a music scholarship and majored in music. Although he planned to become a teacher, he ultimately followed his passion and became an award-winning singer, songwriter, and performer in both the U.S. and Mexico markets. He started his career with Tejano band David Lee Garza y Los Musicales in the late 1980s, and was remembered for sharing the stage several times with another Tejano music legend, Selena. Emilio, lovingly known as the Garth Brooks of Tejano, was widely credited with introducing Tejano music into the mainstream that we know and love today. Although we mourn the loss of this Mexican American music legend, his memory will live on forever.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Chair, during rollcall Vote No. 213 on H.R. 4909, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yea'' when I should have voted ``nay.'' Amendment No. 12 Offered by Mr. Sanford

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Chairman, I am not in opposition to the amendments. At this time, I am waiting for a speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.