Commemorating the national partnership between Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi Fraternities and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Madam Speaker, on February 20, 2010, we lost a dedicated and tireless voice for the pursuit of peace and global sharing and cooperation, Linda Grover. I joined Ms. Grover in the founding of Global Family Day, an effort to celebrate and promote harmony within the global family every January 1st, but it was Linda whose every undertaking was in the name of Global Family Day.

Linda Grover, an author, writer, and activist, was resolute in her belief that all people, regardless of race, culture, religion, or economic status, celebrate life on earth together as one human family. It was in the promotion of this ideal, that Linda Grover and her children conceived Global Family Day, One Day of Peace and Sharing, an international holiday that would allow people around the world to engage in global fellowship.

Linda's Global Family Day initiatives were supported by the Congress and United Nations. In 2000, the 106th Congress unanimously passed S. Con. Res. 138 and in 2006, the 109th Congress unanimously passed H. Con. Res. 317 and S. Res. 582. These Congressional resolutions urged the President of the United States to issue an annual proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe Global Family Day. In 1999 and 2001, United Nations General Assembly resolutions, UNRes54/29 and UNRes56/2, were passed, recognizing a day of peace on January 1st and encouraging Member states to observe the global holiday.

This Congress, I introduced another Global Family Day resolution, H. Con. Res. 221. In this purpose, I was joined by Representative Dennis Kucinich and Senators Harry Reid and Daniel Inouye. It was Linda's hope, as well as ours, that there finally be a proclamation issued by the President asking that the citizens of the United States celebrate Global Family Day, thereby resulting in the Day's widespread observance.

In advancing Linda Grover's legacy, we will continue to pursue this proclamation and recognize Global Family Day every January 1st. Just as Ms. Grover believed, I think that, despite our differences, each of us has an interest in pursuing peaceful solutions to many of our contemporary world problems. A better appreciation for one another, practiced at the start of a new year, can only lead to the eradication of human suffering that results from violence, hunger, poverty, and other social ills.

Even in the weeks right before she died, Linda worked diligently to spread the Global Family Day message. Linda said, ``it's [Global Family Day] is going to improve our global attitude and give us a slightly better chance to overcome all these global crises that are demanding global solutions. Economy, Environment, Energy, Ethnic Enmity, Education, Employment, Epidemics--and those are just the ones that start with the letter E.''

Linda's fight and determination to spread the message of peace and sharing through Global Family Day will be missed. However, I will work to make sure that the message is not forgotten. Linda is survived by three children, who I understand will continue their mother's work to champion Global Family Day, and I will join them in this effort. We must all understand, as Linda did, that by working together as one global family, we can better meet the challenges humanity will face in the years to come.