Marc Veasey

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Dunbar High School for its recent advancement to the UIL 5A Texas State basketball tournament. Dunbar High School has been recognized throughout the years for both its academic and athletic achievements, with the fine Wildcats' basketball success being the latest. The Wildcats were led by Coach Robert Hughes, Jr., and they fought their way all the way to the State tournament in San Antonio, Texas. The team entered unranked and as one of only two qualifiers that were unranked. Dunbar, a three-time champion, is no stranger to big games, with their last trip being in 2007. They won the UIL State Basketball Championship in 1963, 1965, 1967, 1993, 2003, and 2006. Back in the sixties and early nineties, they were under the leadership of Coach Robert Hughes, Sr. Today I am proud to recognize the success of Dunbar High School's basketball team and their outstanding 23-12 record. They have made Fort Worth very proud, and I wish the program continued success.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, we are less than 5 days away from hearing oral arguments in the Supreme Court case that could steal the right away from women to make their own healthcare decisions. In 2013, the Texas State legislature passed House Bill 2, a very strict anti-abortion law that imposed medically unnecessary restrictions on women's healthcare providers. Lawmakers claimed their motivation was to protect women's health care, but Texas women can attest that the law has done little to expand their access to health care. Since the passage of HB 2, over 20 clinics in Texas have shut down. Women in Dallas are facing delays as long as 20 days for an initial abortion consultation. Other States have followed the lead, with 22 States passing similar laws that are targeting abortion providers just in the last few years. Roe v. Wade made it clear that women have a constitutional right to make choices about their own bodies. Planned Parenthood v. Casey reaffirmed that a State cannot create an undue burden on women when they seek to exercise their right to safe and legal abortions. Ultimately, a constitutional right means nothing without the ability to exercise that right. I am confident that the Supreme Court will reaffirm that women are constitutionally protected to make their own healthcare decisions.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), who represents the Houston and Harris County area, who does such a great job of speaking out on these issues. Representative Jackson Lee and really the entire delegation down there--Representatives Gene Green and Al Green, along with Representative Jackson Lee--do a great job of keeping this on the forefront of Texans' minds and on the United States' mind. Texas is such a large State that oftentimes, legislation that is passed out of Texas has an impact on the rest of the Nation. It does seem that much of the discriminatory laws regarding redistricting and regarding voter suppression, like the voter ID bill, sadly, has emanated from our State. Mr. Speaker, let me tell you just how bad it is in our State. This is going to be really hard for some people to believe. But in the State of Texas, if a young person on a college campus were to find themselves their freshman year lost on the campus, or if they were to find themselves in a little bit of trouble on campus, they would be able to show their student ID to the proper law enforcement official, who is a police officer recognized by the State of Texas, on the campus to identify themselves. That ID works for them to be able to legally identify themselves. In the State of Texas today, that same young person would not be able to show that same student ID at the voting place, at the voting booth, to be able to cast a vote. If you bring your concealed handgun license in, then you can cast a vote. The student will be given a provisional ballot that wouldn't count, and the person with a concealed handgun license would be able to cast a legal ballot. Who is that really going to hurt? You have so many young people, particularly young people that don't come from wealthy families, whose parents really struggle to send them to college. They don't have cars in college, so they don't have their driver's license. They really rely on their student identification for everything that they do. In the State of Texas, they absolutely cannot use that ID. There are many things about the Texas voter ID law, to be honest with you, I really don't like. I became a plaintiff in the suit to try to scale back what I consider a very egregious act against voters in the State of Texas. I was very delighted that back in July, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit actually upheld a lower court's decision that the Texas voter ID law had a discriminatory effect on minority voters and violated section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. I hope this means that the proper action will be taken to do something to scale back this law and the impact that it is having on people that simply want to exercise their suffrage, people that simply want to be able to vote. We take it for granted that you can simply vote. But this Texas voter ID law, and many laws from my time in the State legislature that were proposed--luckily, some of them advanced-- would really roll back the clock on individuals that want to exercise their right to vote. I will tell you what I have done in the meantime is joined as an original cosponsor of the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015 that restores the right and advances the voting rights that were provided to us in 1965 by providing a modern day coverage test which will protect our communities from these types of discriminatory practices. I will tell you, I am very proud to join with Terri Sewell, with Representative Judy Chu, with Representative Linda Sanchez, and, of course, with Representative John Lewis, who understands probably more than anyone in this body what discriminatory laws can do to affect a community. This bill, Mr. Speaker, provides coverage for 13 States upon enactment: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Arkansas, Arizona, California, New York, and Virginia. I am a very proud Texan--I love everything about our State-- but, unfortunately, we have been at the forefront of discrimination against voters, and Texas is included in this legislation as well. This new geographic formula is based on current conditions and on a 25-year look-back provision. I hope that we will be able to work together in a bipartisan manner to protect not just some of our voters but to protect every single voter in the United States who would like to cast a ballot. It doesn't matter if a voter is poor and was not able to go and renew his driver's license so that his driver's license may be 61 days expired. It doesn't matter if it is a student whose parents are just putting every little bit of money that they have to get him through college, and, because of that, his only ID is his student identification card, and he would like to use that. We need to be able to make it easier for individuals to vote in our State. Everybody wants people to be able to lawfully vote, too. We ought to be able to work together in order to pass strong voting rights laws that protect all of our citizens, because we certainly don't want to discourage anyone from voting, and we certainly don't want to look like we are going backwards from where we once were, back in the 1960s. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Mr. Robert Edward High and his thirty-seven years of service to the Paris Independent School District. After graduating with a B.S. from Texas A&M University, Mr. High began teaching science at Crockett Junior High School. He has since served in a variety of leadership roles including classroom teacher, coach, elementary and middle school assistant principal, middle school principal, high school principal, personnel director and assistant superintendent. Mr. High is also active in community and civic affairs. He currently serves as vice-president of the NAACP Branch 6213 and has served as president and past president of the Lamar County Chapter of the American Red Cross. He has also been very involved with the Lamar County Heart Association, Retired Senior Volunteers, Crime Stoppers, March of Dimes, and United Way. He was the first African-American to serve as president of the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce in its 137- year history. Mr. High's leadership has not gone unnoticed. During his tenure as middle school principal, Crockett Middle School was recognized by Governor Ann Richards as a ``Gold Star Partnership School.'' He has also been named Outstanding Educator of the Year and Administrator of the Year. Additionally, he has received the Martin Luther King African American Heritage Award and the President's Volunteer Service Award under President George W. Bush in 2008. The NAACP will dedicate the 19th Annual Freedom Banquet in Mr. Robert High's name to commemorate his commitment to education and civil rights in the Paris community and the proceeds of the banquet will support a scholarship in his name. To celebrate Mr. Robert High's retirement after serving the Paris Independent School District for thirty-seven years, this statement will be submitted on Thursday, February 11, 2016.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. It was very discouraging for her. It makes it seem as if the system is rigged against her, and she didn't understand why that happened. That was really unfortunate. One of the other things that I am aware of--because I am actually a plaintiff in a lawsuit to roll back the Texas voter ID law--is a lot of our young people, when they go to college, get IDs from their university. At a lot of our State universities, they will get IDs. These IDs are good if they need to identify themselves to a campus police officer. If they need to be able to use the ID to get on a plane or anything like that, these kids can use these college IDs. But under the Texas voter ID law, a lot of our young people, if they go back home to vote in their home counties and they show their student ID card--a student ID card, again, that is issued by the State of Texas--they cannot vote. They will be given a provisional ballot. It won't count. When young people hear things like that, it really discourages them from voting. So we need to do everything we can to engage young people. One of the things that I hear, Representative Swalwell, from a lot of young people is that--for instance, the young lady that we met that was purged from the voter roll--if there were same-day registration-- actually, same-day registration actually encourages young people to participate in voting. But a lot of States, like the one that I live in, won't do things like that. They won't take that initiative. They won't take that extra effort to engage young people. It is no wonder that so many of our young people feel like the system is really rigged against them, that, if they vote, their vote really won't count. It is really, really unfortunate. I would really think that, in the wake of the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, there is really no better time to assure young voters that they can play a pivotal role in our democracy and to continue to urge them, despite what a lot of States like mine are doing, to really discourage them from voting and discriminate against them, that they will continue to take part in help shaping America. The best way how you can do that is by voting.

Mr. VEASEY. Absolutely, Representative Swalwell. I appreciate you taking your time to come out to Dallas/Fort Worth. All the kids that were there, the college campus, the young professionals that we spoke to, the business leaders that we spoke to, really appreciated the fact that you and others in Congress are leading the effort to engage young people and to engage millennials. They make up such a large portion of our population. They are going to continue to make up a very large portion of our population. We need to engage them to find out what it is they are thinking. One of the things that we heard when we were in the metroplex, as we like to call Dallas/Fort Worth, is that young people feel like voting is not necessarily easy, that some of the barriers that have been put up recently in place have made it a lot harder for young people to exercise their right to vote. One of the young people that we met talked about the fact that they had missed one election cycle, they went to go and vote, and they found out that they had been suspended from the voter file, that they had been actually purged.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church on their 25 years of worship and fellowship in Arlington, Texas and the surrounding community. The founding congregants of Greater Community MBC heard their call to worship in 1991. Reverend Kennedy Jones first led a group of twenty-two founding members and began holding services at the Harvest Time Church on Cooper Street in Arlington. Beginning with a single Sunday afternoon service, the Greater Community family quickly outgrew its original location. During its first year, Greater Community MBC purchased the property where the church now resides at 126 East Park Row. Construction on the new church was completed in 1993. The then 60 member strong congregation moved into its new building and continued to grow rapidly. By the end of 1996, there were 300 regular members, three choirs, a whole host of new deacons and the seeds of some of the Arlington community's most effective ministries were planted. From its humble beginnings as a small church with a single afternoon service, Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church now holds three separate services at both their east and west campuses, and is home to over 1500 members. With their expanded ministry offerings, Greater Community continues to serve the Arlington community in a variety of ways. Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church has maintained its commitment to growing its ministry through works of love and service. As described in Ephesians 4:12, Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church has been and will continue ``to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.'' In honor of Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church and its 25 years of service to the Arlington community, this statement will be submitted on Monday, February 1, 2016.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Christene Chadwick Moss for her 25 years of service to the students and schools of Fort Worth as a member of the Fort Worth ISD Board of Education. Mrs. Moss is a product of the Fort Worth Independent School District, having attended Como Elementary School and graduated from Como High School. She continued her education at Tarrant County College, earning an ADA degree before going on to earn her Bachelor of Science at Texas Wesleyan University and a Master's degree from Texas Women's University. First elected to the Fort Worth ISD Board of Education in 1990, Mrs. Moss's leadership has been critical to the continued success of Fort Worth's schools and students. Long committed to improving community and student input, she created the first FWISD Community and Student Forums in 1994 and 1995. Additionally, Mrs. Moss was able to balance budget priorities while reinstating art and music into primary school curriculum as well as establishing Fort Worth ISD's first strategic performance plan with high standards and accountability measures. The Fort Worth community has long recognized Mrs. Moss's contributions to the area's students. C.C. Moss Elementary School was named in her honor and the Salvation Army named its children's library in her honor to commemorate her assistance in establishing a facility for homeless students. Along with her commitment to education, Mrs. Moss is an active member of the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, singing in the church choir and participating in their health ministry. She serves on the Executive Manager's Board, Usher Board, the Nurses' Guild and is president of the Vision of Women Ministry. As a registered nurse by training and vocation, Mrs. Moss currently works with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. She has also served as an adjunct professor of financial management at Tarrant County College. In honor of Mrs. Moss's 25 years of dedicated service to the Fort Worth community and its schools, this statement will be submitted on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Bishop James Armstrong, a dedicated faith leader who served the west Dallas community for the past 30 years. Bishop Armstrong was born July 12, 1940, in Karnack, Texas. He eventually relocated to Dallas to pursue a career as a professional machinist. At some time after he moved to Dallas, he felt the call to serve. He pursued his doctorate of divinity from the Christian Bible Institute and Seminary. In 1992, Mr. Armstrong found the Community Care Fellowship Church, where he served as the senior pastor for 25 years. During his three decades of service, Bishop Armstrong remained dedicated to creating a safe environment for the community he ministered. From advocating for a neighborhood YMCA to helping the homeless, west Dallas will not forget Mr. Armstrong's devotion to serving others. He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Mable Armstrong; one son; three daughters; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. I urge my colleagues to join me in remembering and celebrating the life of Bishop James Armstrong's legacy and generosity to the community.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a community leader, Reverend Albert E. Chew, Jr. Reverend Chew was born in a little town in east Texas and moved to Fort Worth, where he served as pastor of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church for 56 years. I can tell you that, during his time at Shiloh, Reverend Chew not only impacted the Northside community where the church was located, but the greater overall Fort Worth and Tarrant County communities. Reverend Chew served on the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, the Missionary Baptist Church General Convention of Texas, and also was one of the early founders of a group, the Black Ecumenical Leadership Alliance, also known as BELA. His church was very committed to the NAACP and often held various NAACP meetings at the church. Reverend Chew, previous to his service in the ministry, was also a veteran of World War II. He will be greatly missed in the Fort Worth community. He was a great gentleman, a legend. Let's pray for our friends at the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend Samuel Littlejohn's 50th anniversary as a spiritual leader and Pastor of Shining Light Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Reverend Littlejohn was born in Tyler, Texas, to a Baptist minister and a family dedicated to the church. As a young child, his mother, father, and grandfather all instilled an abiding love for and sustaining commitment to his religion. He was baptized at the age of seven at the Greater Hopwell Missionary Baptist Church in Tyler, where he remained a member until he moved to Fort Worth to pursue seminary studies. In 1951, Reverend Littlejohn moved to Fort Worth and joined Pilgrim Valley Missionary Baptist Church. He served as the Superintendent of the Sunday school, participated in the Senior Choir, and acted as the President of the #2 Usher Department. Reverend Littlejohn continued his seminary education by earning a missionary degree from Southwest Theological Seminary and Bishop College. In November 1960, Reverend Littlejohn was ordained and gave his first sermon in front of Pilgrim Valley church. He served the Pilgrim Valley community until 1965, when he was called to pastor Shining Light Missionary Baptist Church, where he has served for the last 50 years. Along with his work in his church communities, Reverend Littlejohn has continued to be an active and vocal participant in the community. Pastor Littlejohn has worked with the Community Action Agency (CAA), was an organizing member of the first Ministers and Police Taskforce and served as a member of Parent, Preacher, and Principal organization which worked with Fort Worth Independent School District to encourage children to stay in school. Most notably, Pastor Littlejohn was the driving force behind the Stop Six Community Health Center. Reverend Littlejohn was a founding member of the Stop Six Community Corporation and much of the success of the organization can be attributed to the Reverend. His work greatly impacted the DFW community and is now used as a model in other cities. Earlier this year, the Black Pastors, Clergy and Ministerial Group Association of Texas, Inc. presented Pastor Littlejohn with the ``Living Legend Award'' and recognized him as one of the honorable senior pastors in Fort Worth.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concern for the safety of our country and urge colleagues to act today on sensible gun safety legislation. Time after time, House Republicans have denied any discussion of voting on a measure that will close a dangerous loophole that currently allows suspects on the FBI's terrorist watch list to buy guns. Last week alone, House Republicans voted not one time, not two, but three times to block debate on the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Terrorists Act. According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, since 2004, more than 2,000 suspects on the FBI's terrorist watch list have successfully purchased weapons in the United States. More than 90 percent of all suspected terrorists who attempted to buy a gun walked away with the weapon of their choice. Mr. Speaker, this bill is just common sense: if you are too dangerous to fly, then you are too dangerous to buy a gun. We must do all that we can to prevent senseless acts of violence in our communities and bring this legislation to a vote today.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of longtime Tarrant County Democratic leader, Ms. Betty Fischer. In 1950, Ms. Fischer and her husband moved to Arlington, Texas, with their three children. Eight years later, she completely dedicated herself to Tarrant County Democratic politics. She served as a party volunteer. She was also the first woman chair of the party in 1982. She helped get one of our former Congressmen, Martin Frost, elected to office back during that time period. She was just a great person. I can tell you that, in addition to her work for the Tarrant County Democratic Party and all her Democratic efforts, that she and her husband were also involved in the labor movement. She strongly believed that every man and woman in Tarrant County deserved the right to be able to take care of their family and make a decent living for them. In short, Ms. Betty Fischer did it all. There are very few left like her today. We were blessed to have her in Tarrant County. I am glad that our time on this Earth overlapped with each other, and I just wish her family all the best during this time period as they cope with their recent loss.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to offer an amendment that would require the Department of Energy to submit a report to Congress related to carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration, known as CCUS technologies. This report would explore the potential effects that the commercial utilization of CCUS technologies would have on the Nation's economy and our gross domestic product. It would also examine what these technologies could contribute to our efforts to reach our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. My amendment is intended to supplement the CCUS evaluation report that is required by the underlying legislation. I am confident that this study's finding will provide concrete evidence that CCUS represents a way to benefit the economy and the environment while meeting our Nation's energy needs. CCUS is a combination of technologies that allows industries to capture carbon, or CO2, emissions for transport or storage before they are emitted into the atmosphere. These technologies have the potential to allow for the continued use of industries while decreasing the amount of CO2 released into the environment. America's recent energy boom has shown us that fossil fuels will continue to make up a sizable portion of our Nation's energy portfolio. So, as we continue to pursue an all-of-the-above energy policy, we must also be sure that we use these resources in an environmentally responsible fashion. Carbon capture technologies do achieve that goal. That is evident in the wide range of support it receives from industry as well as from environmental groups. However, though much is understood about the various aspects of CCUS, commercial or large-scale deployment has not been achieved, and that is for a variety of different reasons. The absence of commercial projects has led to a fractured understanding of its widespread economic and environmental benefits. So it is important for us to understand the potential economic benefits CCUS could hold for consumers and stakeholders if we continue to urge the Department of Energy to increase its investments in the research and development of these technologies. The results of this study would also provide industry stakeholders and likely investors with concrete data to make those economic decisions. Finally, as America continues to participate in the global effort to address climate change, we must also understand what CCUS can contribute to our emission reduction goals. By considering long-term climate mitigation needs, this study could provide reason for the Department of Energy to continue to support CCUS technologies even if a DOE-supported project does not immediately succeed. These technologies have a variety of possible applications, from oil recovery and so on, and it is time that we really understood how a large-scale deployment of this technology would benefit our country. So I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to respectfully share with my colleagues some of the thoughts and concerns shared by residents in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. These are heartfelt views expressed since we last met as a legislative body and voted on the passage of the American SAFE Act. A passionate public discussion is underway about the role the United States should play during one of the greatest humanitarian crises of our time. I have received calls, emails, handwritten letters, texts, Facebook messages from fellow Texans back home. Many have expressed clearly that they think that some of the enhanced security clearances for Syrian and Iraqi refugees really means that America's legacy as a Nation that shares its freedom and opportunity is in danger. They have expressed their disappointment, sometimes anger, that we may be allowing our national security concerns to trump our Nation's history of standing for liberty and justice. I will take a moment to share their thoughts and views to ensure my colleagues that we also consider their views when making any future decision about the Syrian refugee crisis. One resident stated that voting for a pause in accepting refugees from Iraq and Syria may not slow down the trickle that arrives here, but it is a huge symbolic vote. Another resident stated that the SAFE Act only makes it harder for good people to flee from danger and being used by ISIL, and his hope is that the Obama administration is able to provide what Congress needs to do its job and that good Members reconsider the SAFE Act and don't vote to override the President's impending veto. Other residents, like one in Arlington, directly stated that this bill was wrong. Let me be clear. I did not view the SAFE Act as a vote against Syrian or Iraqi refugees or the greater refugee community. But the constituents that I represent have sent a strong message that any action that does not effectively balance national security with our national values is off course. We must remember that the Statue of Liberty is more than just a symbol of freedom. It is a symbol that America is committed to welcoming and protecting those who seek and need refuge. Many of my Democratic colleagues have joined me in supporting legislation that echoes this sentiment. We have sent letters to the administration and agencies supporting refugees this past year. I have cosigned a letter to President Obama urging him to convene international negotiations to stop the Syrian civil war. I cosponsored the Protecting Religious Minorities Persecuted by ISIS Act of 2015. This legislation directs the Secretary of State to establish or use existing refugee processing mechanisms to allow those with a credible fear of persecution by ISIL for gender, religious, or ethnic membership to apply for refugee admission to the United States. But we can do more, as a Congress, to support the goals of refugee resettlement and keep the American people safe at the same time. If we vote to update the refugee resettlement program, we must also allocate appropriate funds to ensure that men, women, and children fleeing violence do not get caught in unnecessary bureaucracy. As a Congress, we can give legislative teeth to security enhancements to the Visa Waiver Program implemented by the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year. We can fully fund the President's budget request for aviation security. We can support and expedite our efforts to expand preclearance capability of foreign airports around the world. Doing so will provide with us a greater ability to prevent those who should not be flying here. I am committed to keeping Americans safe, but I know that doing so is not inconsistent with providing refuge to some of the world's most vulnerable people. To turn our backs on refugees would be to betray our values. The United States is a welcoming country that knows diversity equals strength. Our resettlement program must continue to reflect this. Any legislation that challenges this legacy should be rejected. I will continue to keep residents' thoughts and concerns at the forefront of my decisionmaking, and I thank them for reaching out to me over the last week. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, since the passage of the American SAFE Act, the constituents that I serve have reached out to me through phone calls, email, and social media to voice their concerns. I want to be clear that I did not view the SAFE Act as a vote against Syrian or Iraqi refugees or the greater refugee community. But it is my duty in serving my constituents in Congress to share some of the views that they called me about. One resident who previously taught Syrian refugees said, ``Support of this bill and the accompanying shameful public comments about refugees make us less safe and respond from fear, not strength.'' Messages in support of refugees continue to pour in, stating loud and clear that America cannot turn its back on refugees. I want to thank the constituents that I serve for their continued feedback. Tomorrow, I will be addressing the House once more about this subject at length. I don't want to remain silent about this issue because the district that I serve has made it very clear that they care very deeply about it.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove myself as a cosponsor of H.R. 3770.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Reverend Albert E. Chew, Jr. for his service to Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church after 56 years of service to the church and his community. His passing on November 6, 2015 leaves a void in the Fort Worth community, and I join in giving our condolences to the Chew family. Born in Bremond, Texas, Reverend Chew was the son of a Baptist preacher. He attended high school in both Bremond and Waco, Texas before pursuing a college education at Bishop College and Prairie View A&M and completing seminary studies at Brite College of the Bible in Fort Worth, Texas. Reverend Chew served as a pastor at numerous Texas churches since 1946, but for the last fifty-six years, he served the community at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. During his time at Shiloh, he not only impacted the Northside neighborhood, but also the greater Fort Worth community through his community involvement. Chew was a charter member of the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, an organization that combated discriminatory practices in the city. Alongside former City Councilman Bert Williams, Chew played a significant role in integrating Colonial Country Club, becoming one of its first black members. Reverend Chew served as Moderator Emeritus and the Treasurer of the Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas, a position that he held for the past thirty-five years. He was also the first Vice-President of the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. Until his passing, he served as the head of the Black Ecumenical Leadership Alliance, an organization he helped found that brings Christian ministers together in an effort to impact and change the lives of people throughout Fort Worth, Texas and the world. Reverend Chew not only gave back to his church community, but also served his country during World War II. As a troop coordinate in the United States Army, Reverend Chew demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his country. He was also committed to bettering the conditions of the African American community and played an active role in his local NAACP chapter. In honor of Reverend Albert E. Chew, Jr., for his lifelong commitment to both his local and church communities; this statement will be submitted on Monday, November 16, 2015.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Danny Trull, Sr., on his retirement as the United Auto Workers Union's (UAW) Assistant Director for his service to the men and women of the United Automobile Workers, and for his years of service on the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee. Mr. Trull's well-deserved retirement comes after a forty-two year tenure in organized labor. During this time, Mr. Trull has been dedicated to advocating for worker's rights, promoting the values of the Democratic Party, and supporting the local, state and national labor movement. During his years of work with the labor movement, Mr. Trull has made a direct impact on his community through his numerous roles at UAW and with the Democratic Party of Texas. Mr. Trull began his career at UAW on July 9, 1973, when he started working for Tyler Refrigeration and became a member of Local 514. Upon the closing of Local 514, he became a member of Local 276 and went on the International Staff in 1987, working in the Time Study Department. In 1996, he transferred to Region 5 as a Service Representative based in the Dallas office and continued to serve Region 5 out of the Dallas office when he was transferred to the National CAP Department in 2007. He was appointed to his current position of Assistant Regional Director in 2012, from which he is retiring at the end of this year. Aside from his work with UAW, Trull has continued to be a community leader as a delegate to state and national Democratic Conventions, and as a State Democratic Executive Committee member in 2002. Mr. Trull is a well-known champion for Texas jobs and workers, coordinating UAW political activity in the state and region and fighting for higher wages and benefits for hardworking Americans. The automobile industry is a powerful economic engine in the 33rd Congressional District and will continue to be for years because of Mr. Trull's lifelong commitment to his community and the people who live and work there. I wish him all the best. In honor of Mr. Trull's retirement and his dedication and leadership within the public service community, this statement will be submitted on Monday, November 16, 2015.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a beloved Fort Worth educator, veteran, and civil rights activist, Mr. Robert E. Starr. Mr. Starr attended I.M. Terrell High School and was the first in his family to attend college. While he was in college, he was drafted into the military and served as a medic during World War II, a time when the Army was still segregated. There were two Armies: one Black and one White. Mr. Starr saw some things that he shared with us that I will never forget. After he completed his education at Texas College in Tyler, he got his master's degree at Texas Southern University. He worked in the Fort Worth schools. He became known as a civil rights activist that was passionate about issues in the community. Mr. Starr was also employed at the FAA as a diversity manager, worked for the City of Fort Worth as an affirmative action manager, and worked as an investigator for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Mr. Starr was also dedicated to the NAACP. Mr. Starr was a proud member of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church on the north side of Fort Worth. He was also a very proud resident of the north side of Fort Worth. Mr. Starr was preceded in death by his wife and daughter. He and his wife had a daughter that was severely disabled, and they were 100 percent dedicated to her. She died a few years ago. Mr. Starr will be sorely missed in the community. He was at every event and did so much for everyone. He was literally a friend to everybody that he ever met.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Connie English, Jr. for his service to the labor movement as the State Legislative Director for the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) and Vice President of Texas AFL-CIO. Mr. English's retirement comes after a thirty-three year tenure in organized labor. For the last three decades, Mr. English has dedicated his work to the labor movement, ensuring that railroad, bus, and transit workers' needs are being recognized. During his years of work with the labor movement, Mr. English has made a direct impact on his community through his numerous roles at SMART, formerly known as the United Transportation Union, and with the Texas AFL-CIO. Mr. English began his labor career in 1982, where he served as Legislative Representative from 1982-1999, Delegate from 1984-1994, Local Chairman from 1984-1996, Vice General from 1985-1996, Secretary to the UTU Texas Legislative Board from 1986-1996, and Assistant State Legislative Director from 1996-1999. Aside from his work with SMART and AFL-CIO, English continued to be a community leader as a member on the Bexar County Rail District Board. Mr. English is also a well-known advocate for transportation workers, working to organize statewide support on legislative issues and fighting for working people against tough odds, by serving as a labor caucus leader on numerous Texas campaigns. Mr. English has been happily married to his wife, Donna, for forty-nine years, and together they have two children, six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. In honor of Mr. English's retirement and his dedication and leadership within the public service community, this statement is submitted.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize today, October 29, 2015, as Direct Selling Day. For years, the direct selling industry has made a significant impact on both families and the economy in Texas and across the nation. Today, more than 18 million Americans, hailing from every state, Congressional district and community in the United States, are involved in direct selling. For many individuals, direct selling is one of the most flexible businesses there is, and in today's busy world having an opportunity to work at one's own pace and earn additional income is beneficial and convenient when individuals are trying to balance work with family and other priorities. Out of the more than 18 million Americans involved in direct selling, more than two million reside in Texas. Many of the residents I represent in Dallas and Fort Worth chose direct selling to provide economic security for their families. Their efforts contribute more than $34 million to the U.S. economy, helping individuals build their businesses while supporting their local and national economies. As the economy continues to change and place more emphasis on flexibility, the direct selling industry will continue to grow and prosper. It is clear that the direct selling companies across Texas and around the country are committed to helping the next generation of American entrepreneurs. Since its founding in September 2015, the Direct Sellers Caucus has worked to build greater awareness of direct selling and discuss policy issues relevant to the industry, ensuring that these companies can continue to make an impact on the lives of those involved. In honor of the Direct Sellers Association's day on the Hill and the impact the industry has on both local communities and the nation as a whole, this statement will be submitted.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Trinity River Mission for their dedicated efforts to ensure that all children can achieve academic success. I recently visited Trinity River Mission and was so moved and impressed by what I saw and learned. Today, the Trinity River Mission is a volunteer-based community learning center, servicing the educational needs of children, youth, and families in West Dallas. The organization provides a safe environment, nutritional meals, and an after-school program to support youth in grades K through 12 at absolutely no cost to their families. What I saw that day was hundreds of kids and volunteers like Dolores Sosa Green, Rosie Cisneros, and other volunteers who have come back to the community to work with these kids to show them that they can achieve anything through education.