Marc Veasey

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Becky K. Moeller for her service to the organized labor movement as Secretary-Treasurer and President of the Texas AFL-CIO. Ms. Moeller's retirement comes after her long tenure within the Texas AFL-CIO, where she worked to advance hands-on political and legislative educational programs and fight for working people against tough odds. In 2003, Ms. Becky Moeller was elected as Secretary-Treasurer for the Texas AFL-CIO, making her the first woman to hold a statewide elected office in the Texas AFL-CIO. During her four year tenure as Secretary- Treasurer, Ms. Moeller used her budgetary expertise to keep many of the organization's signature programs despite a decline in funds. In 2007, Ms. Moeller was elected President of the Texas AFL-CIO, effectively overseeing the 235,000-member labor federation's legislative, political education and community service programs. During her tenure in these two positions, Ms. Moeller helped introduce a revamped and revised education program that enabled organized labor leaders to contact union members more effectively during ``Get Out the Vote'' campaigns. This particular initiative proved successful for labor-supportive Texas Legislature and Congressional candidates. Ms. Moeller's dedication to organized labor goes beyond her work within the AFL-CIO. Before her leadership in the Texas AFL-CIO, Ms. Moeller served as president of the Communications Workers of America Local 6137, the Corpus Christi local union representing workers at SBC (now AT&T). Ms. Moeller served in several capacities, including job steward, chief steward, Executive Board member, vice president and secretary-treasurer. Ms. Moeller also served as President of the Coastal Bend Labor Council and as a member of the Texas AFL-CIO Executive Board. For several years, Ms. Moeller chaired the Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Committee. She also traveled the state of Texas to promote unions and assist in a variety of worker actions. In addition to her commitment to organized labor, Ms. Moeller served as a member of her local United Way Board of Governors and the Corpus Christi Workforce Development Board and also worked a number of voter registration drives. She was appointed by Governor Ann Richards as Chair of the Texas Department of Licensing Regulation commission.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend, Kevin Sutherland, a young man whose always cheerful personality, gentle nature and caring spirit touched all of us who knew him. Kevin was taken from us much, much too soon this past July 4th. Kevin Sutherland was born and grew up in Trumbull, Connecticut, to Theresa and Douglas Sutherland. Kevin first caught the political bug when he joined his father collecting petition signatures door-to-door. The early political exposure proved to have a powerful effect on Kevin. He became involved in local Connecticut politics and quickly embraced the importance and value of personally engaging in public service. At just the age of 15, Kevin further honed his political skills by working in Congressman Jim Himes' 2008 and 2010 congressional campaigns in Bridgeport, Connecticut up until his graduation from Trumbull High School in 2009. Following his passion for political activism, Kevin attended American University in Washington, D.C., the epicenter of political action. At American University, Kevin was active in student government and served as Student Government Secretary for two years. In addition, Kevin discovered his passion and talent for communications and design. He applied his time and talents politically by serving as the Communications Director of the American University College Democrats and also served as the New Media Coordinator for the Kennedy Political Union. After graduating from American University in 2013, Kevin took his passion for politics and began working professionally with the Lone Star Project, a Democratic political research and communications organization. Kevin's hard work and talent for graphic design then led him to New Blue Interactive, where he could apply his political passion and experience to many Democratic candidates and causes. Kevin's love and gift for graphic design and photography filled his spare time as well. Kevin embraced living in Washington, D.C. by capturing the sights and sounds of our beautiful Capital city. When traveling to other places, Kevin would return with the essence of his travels captured visually. He graciously shared his work and, in doing so, not only showcased his talent but let us all share in the joy of his experience. It is a gift he gave without knowing and one that we will always cherish just as we cherish knowing this wonderful young man. In honor and remembrance of Kevin Sutherland, whose warm and kind heart touched many lives, I submit this statement.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the United States Bowling Congress, headquartered in the 33rd Congressional District, in Arlington, Texas which I have the privilege of representing for leading the International Bowling Campus Youth Development Initiative and being the winner of the 2015 Sports Teach Respect Initiative Values and Excellence (STRIVE) Organization of the Year. On Tuesday, July 14, Representatives of the U.S. Bowling Congress will be in the nation's capital to accept the STRIVE award as part of the National Youth Sports Week activities being hosted by the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) along with various fun sports related participation stations and youth sports participants. Each year the NCYS recognizes five finalist organizations that meet the ``kids first'' approach. Nominations are submitted by the public nationwide and each team is accessed on how well they implement best practices and policies that protect kids and promote safety. The five finalist organizations are listed on the NCYS website for voting by the public. The STRIVE Award is then presented to organizations that exhibit heartfelt passion and dedication to helping kids succeed in sports, while maintaining a commitment to safety procedures. The STRIVE award recipient receives a $5,000 donation. Comprised of numerous representatives in the youth sports industry, NCYS was founded in 1979, and its membership represents more than 200 organizations/corporations serving 60,000,000 registered participants in organized youth sports programs. NCYS is the largest known organization in America representing the youth sports industry, and its members include organizations such as, the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (Cheer Safe), American Legion Baseball, American Youth Soccer Organization, Jewish Community Centers Association of North America, YMCA of America, Pop Warner, Special Olympics North America, and U.S. Tennis Association. International Bowling Campus Youth Development is a joint effort of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA). It is the largest organization serving youth bowling (145,000 youth bowlers last season) that supports a ladder-based development system designed for the growth of the athlete. Since the inception of the U.S. Bowling Congress' SMART program, more than $6 million scholarships have been awarded nationally to youth bowlers through organized league and tournament competition. They also collaborate with external amateur athletic organizations to protect the amateur status of student-athletes within bowling, as well as other sports. I commend the International Bowling Campus Youth Development and the U.S. Bowling Congress on this wonderful achievement and their work in Arlington and around the country, as well as the National Council of Youth Sports on the work it does as the go-to source for youth sports and safety programs.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the four surviving charter members of the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society, those being Ms. Erma Johnson Hadley, Ms. Opal Lee, Mr. Frank Moss, and Reverend Arthur Slaughter. The Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society began as a need for material relating to the Black history that was available to Tarrant County universities and libraries. In 1974, the late Ms. Lenora Rolla began to collect personal papers, scrapbooks, clippings, photographic collections, artwork, and other relevant materials to create this society and, also, what is an incredible archive. Following its inception, Ms. Hadley, Opal Lee, Frank Moss, and Reverend Slaughter continued the organization's work to educate Tarrant County residents about its rich African American history, and they will be honored during this month's Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Biannual Member Luncheon at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. Today, with the help of these four charter members, the society continues to collect, preserve, and enrich our community, and I applaud their efforts.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to speak about the importance of our acting now to do the right thing in regard to the Confederate flag. Many of you may not know, but this year marks 100 years of the viewing and the premiere of the film that really sparked the re- emergence of the Confederate flag, ``The Birth of a Nation.'' We know that film was bigger than ``Star Wars'' and ``Jaws'' and any major blockbuster motion picture. That is what ``The Birth of a Nation'' was. It revived the Confederate flag. It made the Confederate flag the symbol of hate that it is today. It actually helped the re-emergence of the second Ku Klux Klan in this country. We know that that is what the Confederate flag ultimately stands for. It doesn't have anything to do with the Civil War and with the battle, like Mr. Clyburn had pointed out earlier, because that was a completely different flag. It has to do with segregation and keeping us in the past. We need to be able to move past it, Mr. Speaker. I would ask that my Republican colleagues do the right thing and join us in moving forward and in letting the past be the past.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Como High School's 10th All School Reunion Celebration on July 2-5, 2015. This celebration is a milestone for the Como community as it recognizes its history and the impact Como High School had on its students. From its inception, the Como community's location left its primarily black residents walled in with a physical barrier separating Como from the surrounding neighborhoods. This physical separation prompted its residents to meet the needs of the community through their own initiatives. In the fall of 1914, Como residents felt an urgent need for a formal school to educate the black youth of the community. During its first year, Como Elementary School housed 11 students and employed one teacher by the name of Ms. Lucinda Baker. Unfortunately, after two years the school was closed due to low enrollment and did not reopen for its second term until 1917. The school was ultimately reestablished the following year in 1918, where Mrs. Pearl Walker Connor served as the head teacher. After World War I, the Como community began to grow rapidly. As more people moved into the community there was a greater need for a bigger and better school building. Under the leadership of Mr. R. N Riddles, the county superintendent, a building with two rooms was built on the southeast corners of Faron and Bonnell Streets. During the time of expansion, Mrs. Gertrude Wilkerson-Starners was appointed head teacher with Mrs. Geneva Carrington serving as her assistant. Later Mrs. Jessie Raliegh and Mrs. A. Greenwood joined the staff and Mrs. M. L. Patterson came to the school as a teacher in 1931. The men of the community initially supplied coal for heating and kept the grounds clean; but as the school began to grow, the need for custodial personnel became necessary. In 1933, Mr. John Atkins was hired as the first full time custodian. Although no formal record exists, it is clear that the need for a high school naturally grew as the community had more students to educate. Additional teachers were added in 1935, and the school moved to occupy Libbey, Goodman, Horne and Hollaran Streets. In 1935, Mr. J Martin Jacquet was hired as principal and served the institution for ten years with Mr. Oscar M. Williams succeeding him in 1946. The current building was erected in 1950 during Williams' tenure as principal. Mr. Wilbur H. Byrd served as Como High School's last principal from 1967 until the school's closure in 1971. Como Elementary School and Como High School grew from humble beginnings to a 33 room ultra-modern structure that housed an industrial arts room, a gymnasium, a 500 person auditorium; a chemistry lab, homemaking laboratories, a library, men's and women's lounges, and a group of offices for the administrative staff. Between 1914 and 1965, Como Elementary and Como High School's prestige increased as their academic excellence was recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. In 1971, the sudden shift to integrate schools forced Como High School to close despite its growth. Although school integration caused the original Como High School to close, Como Elementary School and Como Montessori Magnet School carry on its legacy of community, unity and pride. After Como High School's closure the first annual school reunion was held in July 1983. Its subsequent reunions proved that the fond memories of the Como spirit remain in the hearts of former students and staff members forever.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark June as Immigrant Heritage Month. I am also proud to represent and support Representative Linda Sanchez' House resolution to recognize June as Hispanic Heritage Month. In the closing days of Immigrant Heritage Month, we celebrate our country being fueled by immigrants from around the world and how America and her immigrants who have built our country are linked and share in a very productive history. Members of my own staff, people who serve in the military and our armed services, police forces, and all sorts of jobs around our country help add to the history that makes America great. Each weaves their own family's unique experience into the American fabric and makes our country stronger. Although June 30 marks the end of Immigrant Heritage Month, the universal American ethos of entrepreneurship, inclusion, strength, and resilience unifies all of us and resonates beyond the end of this month. Today and every day, I remain committed to fighting for immigrant families in my district and nationwide.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Ms. Joyce Ann Brown of Dallas, Texas. Ms. Brown was wrongly convicted of aggravated robbery in 1980 and unfairly served over nine years in prison despite her innocence. Following her release in 1989, Ms. Brown used her story to fight for justice for those wrongly convicted in Texas and around the country. Her passing on June 13, 2015 leaves a void in the city of Dallas and I join the Texas community in giving our condolences to the Brown family. Ms. Brown was raised in Dallas, Texas. In 1980, at the age of 33 she was accused of murder after a local robbery turned violent. Despite eyewitness testimony verifying her alibi, Ms. Brown was wrongfully convicted. Following her conviction, Ms. Brown refused to be a victim of her circumstances and fought for a dignified release. After numerous appeal requests went unanswered, Ms. Brown was finally permitted a re-trial and released on bond on November 3, 1989. After being incarcerated for nearly a decade for a crime she did not commit, she was finally able to see her charges dropped on February 14, 1990. Following her release, Ms. Brown served as an assistant for nine years to Dallas County Commissioner, John Wiley Price and later founded MASS, Mothers/Fathers for the Advancement of Social Systems. Ms. Brown's organization aimed to use her experience and passion to help others who were wrongfully convicted. Ms. Brown spent the remainder of her life advocating on the behalf of currently and formerly incarcerated populations with the goal of promoting their successful reintegration into society. Her autobiography Joyce Brown: Justice Denied remains as a testament to both the events that led to her wrongful conviction and her commitment to ensuring justice for all following her exoneration. In honor of Ms. Joyce Ann Brown, a tireless advocate for justice, this statement will be entered into the congressional record on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. She will be remembered as a leader, trailblazer and true public servant for the state of Texas and beyond.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth, the oldest celebration honoring the end of slavery in Texas and in the U.S. In Texas, the observance of June 19 as Emancipation Day for Blacks has spread across the United States and beyond as a symbol of freedom and opportunity that reflects how far we have come as a nation. Mr. Speaker, as Texas commemorates Juneteenth, I want to take just a little time here to acknowledge a few of the public celebrations that will take place in the congressional district that I represent. In Grand Prairie, in the very proud Dalworth community at Tyre Park, they are going to celebrate the holiday with a fish fry and live music on Juneteenth. Also, in the city of Fort Worth, there will be a Juneteenth parade and celebration, and there will be a gathering at the Fort Worth Water Gardens in downtown Fort Worth. I also want to acknowledge my good friend, Opal Lee, who has worked very hard to bring so much recognition of Juneteenth around the city of Fort Worth, the State, and the Nation as well. As we mark 150 years celebrating Juneteenth, let us commemorate a new era of achievements in the Black community giving us all a chance to reflect on our roots and an opportunity to educate the next generation about such a historic day.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about one of the greatest security threats that our Nation and world face today, the threat of a nuclear Iran. I greatly respect all of the hard work that the White House, the State Department, and the Department of Energy have put forth in developing the framework for a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear program, and I strongly urge them to continue these negotiations over the coming weeks. It is vitally important that the U.S. employ every means of diplomatic persuasion at their disposal in order to reach a peaceful resolution that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. I would also like to encourage all of the negotiating partners to ensure that a final agreement includes the following: unfettered inspections and a verification system, the disclosure of Iran's past military actions in pursuing a nuclear weapon, gradual sanctions relief that progresses only as Iran meets its obligations under the agreement, long-term nuclear weapons prevention, and the dismantlement of current nuclear infrastructure. This agreement represents a turning point towards peace in the security of Israel, of the U.S., and of the world. Let's make sure we seize this historic opportunity.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the third anniversary of President Obama's 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA. While the Nation desperately waits for House Republicans to move forward on immigration reform, the DACA program has provided temporary relief for hundreds of thousands of families to continue their studies and contribute to our economy. Since its enactment, more than 750,000 young people, including 88,000 Texans, have successfully applied for DACA. Although I am disappointed with the recent court actions delaying President Obama's expansion of the DACA program, I remain hopeful that millions more immigrant families will one day be able to fully contribute to the prosperity of our country. That is why, in my home district in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, I will host a DACA-DAPA informational forum with Congressman Luis Gutierrez on July 18 to help TX-33 residents prepare for immigration relief. While President Obama's efforts to expand DACA and initiate DAPA programs are temporarily stalled in the courts, I am committed to fighting for immigrant families nationwide, so they can come out of the shadows and live the American Dream.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind Republican colleagues it is time to get serious about our country's transportation needs. With another highway and transit trust fund deadline on the horizon, we can no longer keep our Nation stuck with small, short-term funding that fails to meet the challenges of our Nation's crumbling roads and bridges. In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, a long-term, bipartisan fix will ensure that the Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, can continue its work on long-term projects like the horseshoe project near downtown Dallas and the expansion of I-35W in Fort Worth. In addition, it would ensure that thousands of residents in north Texas can continue to utilize reliable public transit services like the T and DART. Later this summer, the highway transit fund will expire in the middle of a very busy travel season while constituents like these are trying to come to Washington, D.C. It is time for the Republicans to put aside their rhetoric and make good on their word to the American people. Don't keep folks stuck in traffic this summer. Let's pass a long-term highway bill.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the Texas State Legislature in passing House Bill 48, establishing the Tim Cole Exoneration Review Commission. Tim Cole was wrongfully convicted of rape and was the first Texas man to be posthumously cleared by DNA testing. I know that, oftentimes, when people hear these stories, they think: What did he do to get on the police department's radar? Had he done something previously in his life that would have made the police department suspect him? I can tell you that, in Tim Cole's case, Tim was an Army veteran from Fort Worth; he was a Texas Tech student; and he honorably served in the military. Sadly, it was just a very bad time to be a Black man living in Lubbock, Texas. Tim was sentenced to 25 years in prison, and he died behind bars without being able to prove his innocence. I am happy to let you know that this 11-member panel will examine wrongful convictions to determine what went wrong and then will make recommendations aimed at avoiding in the future the mistakes that were made in Tim Cole's case. On June 1, Governor Abbott signed a bill into law affirming that all Americans are entitled to due process. Tim Cole's family can take some small solace in the knowledge that his death has resulted in changes that can provide hope to those who are also wrongfully convicted. I want to applaud Tim's brother, Cory Session, who has worked tirelessly for years to clear his brother's name. I also applaud his late mother, Ruby Session, who didn't get to see this bill signed into law, but she did get to see some changes made in Texas. I am just happy for this family. I am sad that this happened to Tim Cole, but I am glad that something positive has taken place.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mario Pureco- Razo and Maria Ceron-Ponce, the first husband and wife to have ever been named as teachers of the year at their respective schools. Mario and Maria immigrated to the United States from Mexico to become bilingual educators. Maria, who teaches dual language for third grade at Glen Park Elementary School, and Mario, who teaches dual language pre-K at Mitchell Boulevard Elementary School, one of the many elementary schools I attended in Fort Worth ISD, have both proudly served the district for 7 years. While each present a different style of teaching in the classroom, both exemplify the dedication and passion needed to shape the minds and lives of our youngest members of society. Although we should recognize the hard work of all the teachers that perform on behalf of their students each and every day, today I want to recognize Maria and Mario's unique achievement. It brings me great pride to represent the teachers of Texas' 33rd Congressional District, and I wish Mario and Maria continued success. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sam Houston Texans on their soccer team and their hard-fought journey to the 6A University Interscholastic League semifinals. These 25 young men not only demonstrated their athletic talent but exemplified the teamwork and perseverance needed to complete a successful season. I also want to congratulate Samuel Huerta, Rene Benitez, and Eddy Rodriguez of the Sam Houston High soccer team for being named to the first team 6A all-State team. The young men of Sam Houston High School's soccer team continue a tradition of success through hard work, determination, and pride. I am proud to represent Arlington Independent School District and Sam Houston High. To all the coaches, parents, teachers, and students of Sam Houston High School, congratulations on this incredible athletic accomplishment. You have made north Texas proud.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, in April 1985, Jane Phipps began her first job as a receptionist for the office of John Murtha at the age of 19. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jane Phipps for her 30 years of service to the United States House of Representatives. Jane Phipps has seen many historical and great Members move through the House of Congress here and has done a great job serving many Members honorably, but most of the time was spent working for Mr. Murtha for 25 years until he passed. After that, Jane continued her service with Congressman Mark Critz, and then she joined my office in 2013, which was my freshman year. Jane is known in the office and around the House as someone who is very caring, very committed and passionate about her work, and she loves Maryland and knows so much about the history of the hometown where she is from. She has a great sense of humor and love of her family, including her father, who served honorably in World War II in the Marines. I would like to take this moment to thank Jane Phipps for 30 years of service to the House and to personally thank her for all of her hard work for so many Members, including myself. Our office has benefited greatly from her presence.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to commend The New Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church led by Pastor Isadore Edwards, Jr. for establishing the Raymond B. Spencer Scholarship Fund that strives to not only assist young students in their pursuit of higher education but to embody the generous and selfless spirit of Dr. Raymond Bernard Spencer. Dr. Raymond Bernard Spencer was born in Houston, Texas on September 21, 1964, as the youngest child to Manfred and Helen Spencer. After attending public schools in Houston, he went on to obtain his Bachelor of Science Degree from Oklahoma Christian College in 1989. He then completed the Master of Divinity Program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, which I am proud to represent in Congress. Dr. Raymond Bernard Spencer continued in his education at Southwestern and obtained his doctoral degree in Theology in 2001. As a further distinction and honor, he served as the first full time African American pastor at Southwestern where he taught preaching in the School of Theology while also serving as adjunct professor of the Old and New Testament at Dallas Baptist University. Finally, his service to faith included Superintendent of Church School and Assistant to Pastor Isadore Davis, Jr. at The New Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. There can be no doubt that Dr. Spencer was an exceptional student, respected seeker of knowledge, and follower in the path of God, but he was also a caring professor, a trusted friend, gifted vocalist, and a generous advocate of academic excellence for students and young people. He pursued all of these passions in life, faith, and academics with such staunch persistence and zeal until he was laid to rest on January 10, 2013. I can think of no better way to honor his lifelong devotion to improving the lives of those around him than continuing his advocacy for higher education with the Raymond B. Spencer Scholarship Fund and I congratulate The New Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church on their tenth anniversary of this wonderful endeavor. I am so proud to represent The New Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church and many members of their congregation who devote their lives to improving the lives of their young students and opening up opportunities for them to preserve Dr. Spencer's legacy of excellence. Let their efforts serve as a testament to the lives of others for what can be achieved through dedication and devotion to the greater good of humanity. In honor of The New Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church led by Pastor Isadore Edwards, Jr. and the Raymond B. Spencer Scholarship Fund this statement will be entered into the Congressional Record on Tuesday, April 21, 2015.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Irving Independent School District for being recognized by the College Board as the 2015 Advanced Placement District of the Year in the midsized category. This award recognizes the efforts Irving ISD has made in ensuring the academic success of our local school children. Since 2008, Irving ISD has increased by 70 percent the number of students taking AP courses and has increased by 83 percent the number of students who scored a 3 or higher on an AP exam. Not only are more students taking AP courses at Irving, but they are also earning good scores, and that is really important. I represent almost all of South Irving and District 33. Three out of the five high schools in the Irving ISD are located in South Irving. To every teacher, principal, staffer, and parent at Cardwell, MacArthur, Nimitz, Singley, and Irving High, congratulations on this outstanding academic achievement. Thank you for making all of us Texas proud.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a longtime friend, Mary Edwards, a State Democratic executive committeewoman and board member for Tarrant County Stonewall Democrats. Mary was born in Clarksville, a little town next to Paris, and moved to Fort Worth with her family when she was a kid. She dedicated her time to helping others and making a difference to anyone she came across. I can personally attest to the leadership and activism she displayed throughout the years in the Fort Worth community, as well as when she worked alongside longtime former State Representative Lon Burnam. Mary also served in various roles in the community. She was very active in the LGBT community and was very proud of her work. She was also a member of the Communications Workers of America. And she was very active in the neighborhood that she lived in. My heartfelt sympathies goes out to her younger brother, Longe, and her niece, whom she greatly adored. I can tell you, personally, that it is going to be sad to go to the Democratic meetings and pull up into the parking lot and not see Mary's big red truck there. But I can attest to you that while Mary was here, on this side, she did everything she could to make life better for others and truly, truly cared for the community.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the Republican budget plan. Budgets are not just numbers on a piece of paper; they are moral documents, moral documents that demonstrate our Nation's values, ideals, and our priorities. The House Republican budget of ``work harder and get less'' is not where it is at. Their budget makes it harder for American families to pay for a home, to send their kids to college, and keeps paychecks in this country stagnant; and it is something that we should not tolerate. Instead, Republicans should work with Democrats to end the sequestration so we can make it easier to send our kids to college, fix our roads that are crumbling every day, and also to make sure that we can keep good-paying jobs here in our country. That is the American Dream; that is the land of opportunity. I urge the Republicans to work with us, not against us, so we can fix this problem for the American people.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Amelia Boynton Robinson, a woman who made vast contributions to the civil rights movement. Amelia Boynton was born on August 18, 1911 in Savannah, Georgia, and was first exposed to the fight for equal rights at the age of 9, when she joined her mother in the women's suffrage movement. She learned four principles of life that she still carries on today: daily praying, always helping and showing compassion for others, standing up for the morally right, and becoming economically independent. After graduating from Tuskegee University, she also studied at Tennessee State, Virginia State, and Temple University. She became a registered voter in 1932, and was one of the first people to pass tests used as a barrier to prevent Southern blacks from being able to vote. In 1930, Amelia met Dallas County extension agent Samuel Boynton. The two shared the desire to improve the lives of African-Americans in their community. As a result, the Boynton's became co-founders of the Dallas County Voters League in 1933. In 1936, Amelia and Samuel married and had two sons, Bill, Jr. and Bruce Carver. After losing her husband in 1963, Amelia was not deterred from her commitment to improve the lives of African Americans. On February 29, 1964, Amelia Boynton ran on the Democratic ticket for a seat in Congress representing the state of Alabama, becoming the first African-American woman to run as a Democratic candidate as well as the first woman to run in the state's history. On March 7, 1965, at the age of 53, Amelia joined fellow civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. in organizing the marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. On that fateful day, 600 peaceful protestors tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge and were met with the violence known as ``Bloody Sunday.'' Forever immortalized by photograph, the nation saw Amelia Boynton beaten unconscious and left for dead on this tragic day. ``Bloody Sunday'' prompted swift action by Congress and resulted in President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965. President Johnson invited Amelia as a guest of honor during the signing of this important civil rights legislation. After the signing of the Voting Rights Act, Amelia continued her leadership across the nation as a writer, speaker, and social change ambassador. In 1990, Boynton was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Medal of Freedom. She continued to tour the United States on behalf of the Schiller Institute, which continues to defend the human and moral rights of all. And on March 7, 2015, I was proud to have walked alongside Amelia Boynton during the 50th Anniversary of the March in Selma, Alabama. I ask my colleagues who also traced the very footsteps that Amelia took to pledge to go beyond just remembering those who sacrificed for us and resolve to carry on their legacy with action.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the imminent danger our country faces in 3 days. Right now, Republicans have decided that it is more important to listen to the Tea Party and their extremist views rather than funding the Department of Homeland Security. And I don't want to hear this mess from Republicans about, oh, the workers are still going to get paid. Let me tell you something. We are talking about 250,000 essential employees that could go without pay-- that are airport screeners and are doing important things like keeping us safe--and sending them to work without pay, where they don't know how they are going to make their car note; they don't know if they are going to be able to pay their mortgage or bring groceries home. That is putting America in danger. We need to keep Homeland Security open. We need to stop playing this reckless game that the Republicans are putting us through because it is the duty of Congress to keep American families safe and govern responsibly. Republicans need to realize that the only path through this is having us do a clean DHS bill. It is time for Republicans to join the 192 House Democrats that have already signed up. We need to do the right thing. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up H.R. 861, the clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill that would keep the Department open so it can carry out its mission of keeping the American people safe.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I come here today to the House floor to address an extremely important and timely topic for our Nation: investing in high-quality pre-K education. It is really imperative to the success of our children, schools, and communities. Two years ago, in this Chamber, President Obama laid out his plan to provide universal high-quality pre-K for every child in America. Why did the President propose such a bold and audacious plan for our country? It is really simple. It has been proven that children who participate in high-quality prekindergarten programs are more likely to have greater academic and life achievements down the road. The benefits of a high-quality pre-K education include increased eagerness and preparedness to learn; higher reading, writing, and mathematics scores; and increased cognitive and social abilities. Access to quality pre-K is a much better predictor of achievement than race, family income, or parents' education. Research has demonstrated that access to prekindergarten programs have substantial long-term benefits. Children that have attended prekindergarten are 20 percent more likely to graduate from high school and 22 percent more likely to own a home. Additionally, these individuals are more likely to be employed and less likely to commit violent crimes. I have to tell you, Mr. Speaker, one of the things that saddens me the most about my home State of Texas is that we are leaving a lot of really bright young people behind. Nearly 550,000 preschool-aged children in Texas do not attend any type of pre-K program, despite what I laid out earlier about less likely to commit violent crimes, more likely to own homes. You would think it would be a no-brainer and we would be committing more towards pre-K education. Leaving behind this many children, 550,000--over half a million-- really does pose a serious, long-term economic effect to our great State and is something that needs to be addressed. It is apparent that high-level prekindergarten education produces individuals that are more prosperous and more likely to contribute to society in a positive way. To help States like my own boost their pre-K education programs, President Obama and the Department of Education delivered on his State of the Union Address, and they released Preschool Development Grants. These grants will help expand high-quality preschool programs in targeted communities. When the announcements were made in December--again, I have got to tell you, we do a lot of great things in Texas, and we often do it bigger and better--but I was really disappointed, Mr. Speaker, to learn that our State had lost out on $120 million of this grant funding to invest in our children and really, ultimately, our future--$120 million that the great State of Texas lost out on, over half a million kids being left behind. This was really a sad day in the Lone Star State. This money would have been used to improve pre-K education and expand access to children in low-income communities who need these services the most, and losing out on this money should really be a wake-up call to Texas and the policymakers there, that we must create a plan to improve our pre-K system. Texas failed to meet even the minimum requirements of this application to provide at least a 50 percent increase in preschool slots available, and that is just really unacceptable. My State needs a comprehensive pre-K plan that works to increase access to high-quality programs, set higher learning standards, improve curriculum, and increase teacher training. All those really are very, very important keys. The failure to invest in our young children is a failure to invest in our future. Here in Congress and back home, I intend to work tirelessly to provide for the best education system that our Nation can provide. But there are some bright spots. I talked about how the State, because of the failed application policy that was just really handled poorly, how we lost out on $120 million and over half a million kids are suffering because of that, but I do think that it is important that I point out some of the positives. There has been some bipartisan work along these efforts on pre-K, and I do want to thank one of my former colleagues in the State legislature, State Representative Eric Johnson of Dallas, and a lady that I did not serve with out of Georgetown, Texas--near Austin--Marsha Farney of Georgetown, to not only increase pre-K funding by $300 million, but also improve curriculum, teacher training, and lower student-teacher ratios. In this global economy that we live in today and tomorrow, students won't be competing for jobs in the workplace with neighboring States but will be competing with kids and students from all over the world. Mr. Speaker, let's do this for Texas. Let's do the right thing. Let's help these children.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, I want to talk about the rule. I am rising today against the rule. And although I believe that a pipeline is absolutely the most safest and environmentally conscious way that we can transport natural resources through North America--and natural resources, for that matter, that are going to be developed. It doesn't matter what the carrier ultimately is; these are resources that will be developed. But the underlying rule, much like the prior rules we have seen on any of the Keystone pipeline votes, does not allow for Member debate. It doesn't. It doesn't allow for Member debate, and that is not how we can best move forward. Only by having an open discussion can this body fully engage in creating sound public policy. I want to give you an example of what I am talking about. I offered an amendment in the Rules Committee which said that if the Keystone pipeline is built, we would maximize the amount of American jobs that are created or sustained in this process. My amendment would ensure that the iron, steel, and manufactured goods made in the construction of the Keystone pipeline and facilities are made here in America. If we are going to build the pipeline in America, let's make the materials in America. That will create more jobs. That will give people more opportunity. There has been much discussion about how we have lost so many manufacturing jobs in this country, about how we have lost ground in that area, about how people can't take care of their families because these opportunities are no longer here. If we are going to build this pipeline, let's give people the opportunity to go back to work, roll up their sleeves, and let's build these in America. There is no reason to have materials made in China to build this pipeline. Therefore, I believe that if Republicans want to follow a jobs- focused agenda, the amendment that I am offering will make sure that we keep Americans working and not workers in China.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a true trailblazer, Ms. Walter Barbour--the first Black woman to serve on the Fort Worth City Council. Just like many of the constituents I serve, Ms. Barbour was a product of the segregated I.M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth. Ms. Barbour graduated from I.M. Terrell in 1937 and went on to earn her bachelor's degree from Prairie View A&M University and her master's degree from Atlanta University in Georgia. Ms. Barbour served on the Fort Worth City Council from 1977 to 1979. During her tenure on the council, she advocated for a health clinic that now sits in the Stop Six community, which is where she lived; for summer food programs for low-income children; for recreational facilities for the community; and she cleared the way for the first fire station in the Stop Six-Eastwood area on Ramey Avenue and Edgewood Terrace. Ms. Barbour is survived by her daughter, Hollie; her son, Robert Barbour, Jr.; as well as two grandchildren. I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring a true legend, Ms. Walter Barbour, who broke so many barriers at a time when women and African Americans faced so many obstacles, but she still worked hard to live the American Dream.