Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Emancipation Proclamation in Florida.

On May 20, 1865, 11 days after the end of the Civil War and 2 years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Union General Edward M. McCook arrived in Tallahassee and read President Lincoln's words from the steps of the Knott House.

I was there yesterday for a ceremony. It is very significant.

Slavery is one of the dark sides of American history, but it is a part that we can never forget. It is important that it will be forever recorded in the history books.

Today, while African Americans are free, basic humans rights are still denied to many of them at this time. If all men are equal, then we must maintain our commitment to treat them equally. We must continue to move our country forward if we truly wish to be ``one Nation, under God.''

There are major jobs that we need to create, our children need to be more protected, their families need to be fed. The time is now to help build a more perfect Union for all of us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the House Republican farm bill. I really didn't think that I would have to say the ``Republican farm bill'' when we worked so diligently in committee.

This bill would strip our Nation's most vulnerable of the necessary resources they need to feed their families. The farm bill would bring hunger and pain to children. The bill kicks 265,000 schoolkids out of free and reduced lunch, and I have attended a lot of those schools where I see the kids on free and reduced lunch.

Florida will be the hardest hit State resulting from the removal of categorical eligibility. In addition, 130,000 hardworking Floridians will go hungry as a result of this farm bill.

The farm bill doesn't just hurt Floridians. It hurts the entire country. It hurts seniors. It hurts college students and young adults. It hurts the disabled, and it even hurts our active military families.

The farm bill also hurts rural communities. I represent several of those rural communities in north Florida, and it also hurts the communities that we border in rural Georgia that I receive calls from.

Before voting on this bill, I want to remind my colleagues of the motto of the USDA, ``Do right and feed everyone.'' The farm bill does not do right, and it surely doesn't feed everyone.

Mr. Speaker, I want to end with a quote from Isaiah 58:10.

``If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Cyrus M. Jollivette, who passed away suddenly a few days ago, at the age of 72. Russ, as he was affectionately known, embodied the very best of the American spirit and ideals. With his passing, Florida, and indeed, our nation has lost a beloved leader and a cherished friend.

Russ was a great friend to this institution and well known to many of us here in the House, from his many years representing Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, and the University of Miami in Washington. I speak for all of us when I say that our thoughts and prayers go out to his family especially his sister Regina, Cleo, his daughter Lynn and grandkids Richard and Lauren.

Russ loved his community and always worked tirelessly to make life better for someone else. He embodied the axiom of Mary McLeod Bethune that former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek taught us: ``service is the price you pay for the space that God lets you occupy.''

In that tradition, Russ left his mark in so many ways. At the University of Miami where he helped to expand the University's research and biomedical mission, as well as the campus footprint in Miami. In the arts, his work with the Ritz Chamber Players is legendary.

Russ was a man of faith. He had faith in God. Faith in his family. Faith in his community. And, faith in his country.

His loss will be deeply felt across Florida and this nation. May it be a source of comfort to you Lynn, Cleo, and Regina, and all of his family and friends that so many in our community, our state, and our country mourn with you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4754, the Change Order Transparency for Federal Contractors Act. This is an important piece of legislation that guarantees that small businesses have the necessary information regarding change order policies from Federal agencies.

The work of the Federal Government relies heavily on the support of our Nation's small businesses. For everything from construction of important military infrastructure to guaranteeing the proper design for Federal facilities, small businesses are at the center of infrastructure for the Federal workplace.

When taking on Federal contracts, small businesses are also taking a great risk. With Federal funds not always guaranteed in a timely fashion, change orders make the work that small businesses perform for the Federal Government complicated and unpredictable.

H.R. 4754 requires agencies to outline in a clear and defined manner the policies they have regarding change orders. This will make it easier for small businesses to compete for and understand the contracts which they are awarded.

It is vital for small-business owners to not only get a seat at the table, but to also have the same vantage point when competing for Federal contracts. This legislation will alleviate red tape and open more doors for opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to work with my colleague Don Bacon on this bipartisan piece of legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1680, the Women's Business Centers Improvements Act. This is a critically important piece of legislation that supports our Nation's women-owned small businesses.

Women's Business Centers support women-owned businesses through counseling and technical assistance. This

network of educational centers is the nexus for women who are either looking to start a business or looking to grow their business to the next level.

This bill clarifies the work of the Office of Women's Business Ownership within the SBA to help women entrepreneurs compete in a global market.

Specifically, there are more than 11.6 million small businesses owned by women, who employ nearly 9 million people. Further, there are roughly 5.4 million businesses owned by women of color, employing over 2.1 million people.

I am proud to work with my colleague, Mr. Stephen Knight, on a bipartisan bill to increase the level of support for women businessowners so that we can guarantee that women entrepreneurs have the on-the-ground resources for them to strive.

I might point out that in the committee we learned that women-owned businesses are the fastest growing businesses in America.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this nonpartisan bill, H.R. 1680.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today and ask that we act now to preserve and defend labor unions.

Unions have played a critical role in building and protecting the middle class in America. They provide hard working people economic stability for their families and give them the tools to build a good life, home and education for themselves and their children.

As early as this week, the Supreme Court could take up Janus v. AFSCME which aims to take away the ability of working people to join together in strong unions.

Janus v. AFSCME would gut the entire public sector ``right-to-work'' in one fell swoop.

Janus is the culmination of decades of attacks on working people by corporate CEOs, the wealthiest 1%. The forces behind this case are the same forces that have pushed for limiting voting rights, attacked immigrants, and undermined civil rights protections.

When working people have the freedom and opportunity to speak up together through

unions, we make progress together that benefits everyone.

If the billionaires and corporate CEOs behind this case get their way, however, they will take away the freedom of working people to come together and build power to fight for the things our communities need: everything from affordable health care and retirement security to quicker medical emergency response times.

With Janus, CEOs and billionaires want to use the highest court in the land to take away our freedom to create the power in numbers to win better lives for ourselves, our families, our communities and our country.

Labor unions date back to the 18th century. They were established to help workers with work related issues such as low pay, unsafe working conditions, and long hours to have a body of individuals to speak on their behalf.

Labor unions are a brilliant balance of power between employees and employers. They have gained the power to negotiate peacefully for adequate treatment and respect as the economic backbone of this country.

Some of the accomplishments include increasing wages, raising the standard of living for the working class, ensuring safe and sanitary working conditions, and increased benefits for both workers and their families.

The group mentality of unions provides the comfort of inclusion and recognition that employees seek in the workplace. When an employee sees his or her needs are important and being met, then the quality of his or her work life increases tremendously.

As the working class continues to push the economy forward, unions are becoming more and more necessary.

Unions are the spokespersons for the overworked--and sometimes the underappreciated.

Unions assure that every employee has a seat at the table. Some business employers may argue that unionized workers create an atmosphere that lessens the sense of partnership and trust with their supervisors.

No one is forced to join a union. Membership is purely optional.

We must preserve the right of employees to join together to negotiate for better pay and working conditions.

Strong unions also advocate for equal opportunity for women and communities of color who have been discriminated against.

Union jobs have historically been and continue to be a path to the middle class for people of color, who often face low wages in their professions. African-American union members today earn 14.7 percent more--and Latino union workers 21.8 percent more--than their nonunion counterparts.

As representatives of these great states, we owe it to our middle class to not silence their voice. They deserve their fair share of the economic prosperity that they have helped to create.

Unions are and always will be an important factor in making the economy work for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand before you today as we move to honor the legacy of Rutledge Pearson by naming the Jacksonville Post Office in his honor. He was a tremendous leader. Rutledge Pearson was a civil rights leader, an American history teacher, and a distinguished baseball player. His legacy in Jacksonville, and especially for civil rights, is long lasting, and this is the fitting way to honor his contribution to our community.

As a young man, Rutledge Pearson had a successful baseball career, as we heard from the Congressman, with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro League. His talent granted him the opportunity to play major league baseball in his hometown.

However, as we heard earlier, because of his race, the Jacksonville Beach Seabirds rejected Pearson from joining the team. In fact, park officials, as was stated also earlier, said that they would rather close the park than to have this outstanding hero, baseball player, and educator play in his hometown.

This experience prepared Pearson to pursue a career in education, and, like most of us, when you pursue a career in education, you break down a lot of barriers. Rutledge Pearson was elected president of the Jacksonville branch of the NAACP and was later elected to be president of the Florida State Conference of the NAACP.

He was known for his ability to attract young people, which all of us do today, to get young people involved in the NAACP and many community organizations. Pearson was instrumental as a leader in the fight for civil rights. Little did I know that I would be on the floor speaking for this great person whom I learned about many years ago in a history class.

Pearson was instrumental in all of his efforts, especially locally and nationally, helping change Jacksonville's culture as it is today in its landscape.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for the time, and I urge a ``yes'' vote to honor Rutledge Pearson for his contribution to the city of Jacksonville and to our Nation.

Also, little did I know, in 1970, that I would be sitting in a class in college with Rutledge Pearson's niece. It is so exciting to have Congress honor this great leader among people throughout the State of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an individual who has made a remarkable impact on Jefferson County, and indeed all of Florida, Sheriff David C. Hobbs who passed away on Monday, November 27, 2017 at the age of 58, due to complications from cancer.

Sheriff Hobbs was a dedicated public servant who served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps and his community as Sheriff for four terms. I honor his service and all law enforcement officers for risking their lives to keep others safe.

Sheriff Hobbs was born and raised in Monticello, Florida. He was a graduate of the Florida Highway Patrol Academy and a member of the Florida Highway Patrol for 11 years. He served as a Deputy Sheriff of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for eight years and was elected Sheriff in 2004 and was re-elected subsequently.

He promoted legislation requiring state drivers' licenses and identification cards to rapidly identify sexual offenders who prey on children. For many years, he sponsored the Cops & Kids program which provided bicycles to many underprivileged children at Christmas. He also implemented Project Lifesaver in Jefferson County, to aid in the search for persons with special needs. Additionally, Sheriff Hobbs began the Ag Watch Program in late 2014 to assist the agricultural community in the prevention of the loss of livestock and equipment as well as recovery of any property loss.

Florida Governor Rick Scott recognized his talents and value by appointing him to the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission in 2014. It is fitting that the Governor has ordered the State and U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff at the Jefferson County Courthouse, Monticello City Hall, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the State Capitol in Tallahassee from sunrise to sunset through the day of Sheriff Hobbs' funeral service on Saturday, December 2, 2017.

Mr. Speaker, Sheriff Hobbs had a larger than life personality, which explains the larger than life void that Jefferson County and the citizens of the state of Florida are feeling. His loyalty and love to his family, God and community, will be remembered and Sheriff Hobbs' spirit and attitude will be truly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mrs. Laura Dixie, one of Tallahassee, Florida's foot soldiers in the Civil Rights movement, who passed away on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at the age of 92. Laura Dixie was a civil rights trailblazer, and played a crucial role in the Reverend C. K. Steele's quest to desegregate Tallahassee's public transportation system in 1956. She also worked with Reverend Steel and others in the original 1962 lawsuit calling for the desegregation ofLeon County Schools.

Laura saw early in life that obtaining civil rights was going to be challenging. One of her favorite stories was about going downtown one day with her parents and seeing water fountains marked for ``Whites only, and Colored only.''

Life took Laura from sampling water on a dare, from a segregated Whites only fountain inside the Leon County Courthouse, ``to see if it was sweeter;'' to playing a pivotal role in the Tallahassee Bus Boycott. She traveled during troubled times to Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia to participate in Voter Registration drives; to seeing a black man elected President of the United States. It was one of her proudest moments to see President Obama in the White House.

In the early 1950's, Laura joined her husband Samuel L. Dixie at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, where together they worked closely with the church and in the community to promote Civil Rights. Her involvement in Tallahassee's Civil Rights movement went along with her active membership in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Inter-Civic Council in Tallahassee and the NAACP, of which she was a life member.

At the time of her death, Laura lived in the house that she and her husband owned since the mid50s on Tanner Drive in Jake Gaither Park. They often found room in their house to help Florida A&M University students in need of a place to live when their funds were depleted.

Mr. Speaker, Laura Dixie was simply a trailblazer and an icon, who fearlessly battled the horrors of being a black woman in the south during desegregation. Laura Dixie's spirit and attitude will be truly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an educator par excellence, university administrator, trailblazer and community servant, Dr. Jacqueline Bolden Beck, who died on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at the age of 86.

Dr. Beck was born and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi. After completing her high school education, she went on to Dullard University where she graduated as an honor student receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1955. She continued her education at the Indiana University, where she received her Master of Science degree in Nursing in 1958. Later, Dr. Beck would complete her Ph.D. studies at the University of Florida earning a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in 1976.

Dr. Beck and her late husband, Dr. James Beck who she married in 1957, both joined the faculty at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in 1958. She rose quickly through the faculty ranks, first as an instructor, then Assistant Professor, followed by Associate Professor and Acting Dean of the School of Nursing.

In 1978, FAMU's former president, Walter L. Smith, Ph.D., entrusted Beck with developing the proposal that led to the creation of the School of Allied Health Sciences in 1982. Beck served as the founding dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences until 2000.

During her time as Dean, the School of Allied Health Sciences received more than $13 million in extramural funding from Federal, State, and local agencies. The school evolved from two divisions, the Division of Medical Records Administration and Physical Therapy to five divisions, offering bachelor's degrees in cardiopulmonary science, healthcare management, health information management, occupational therapy and physical therapy and a master's in physical therapy by 2000. Additionally, the school's programs were all accredited by their respective accrediting bodies and were sought after by students from across the country.

Upon her retirement as Dean, Dr. Beck was appointed to the rank of Professor Emeritus. To commemorate her many contributions and dedication to the University, in 2007, the building that houses FAMU's Allied Health Sciences programs (Lewis-Beck Building) was named in her honor along with the late nursing school dean Margaret Lewis, Ph.D.

She served on numerous boards and commissions including the Pew Health Professions Commission, Board of Directors of ASAHP, Board Member of the National Society of Allied Health, College of Health Deans Group, Board of the National Society of Allied Health Journal and as a member of the State-Wide Allied Health Articulation Task Force, appointed by the Florida Commissioner of Education.

Dr. Beck was the recipient of the Cultural Pluralism Award by the Association of School of Allied Health Professions and in 2005, she was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the State University of New York, Down State. Dr. Beck was also very active in the Tallahassee community where she served in many organizations and on the boards of numerous community service groups.

Throughout the ensuing decades of her life and career, she fashioned a powerful place in higher education and influenced the thinking of generations of young people. Driven by an enormous heart and keen intellect, Dr. Beck worked her entire life to give the opportunity of education to young people who had the will to cease it.

Mr. Speaker, with an unwavering dedication, strong values, and an avid pursuit of ``leveling the playing field'' in higher education, Dr. Beck made a tremendous impact in her community, the state of Florida, and the nation. We must honor her life and legacy by keeping hers a torch kept lit.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 619.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of former Florida Senator Dr. Arnett Girardeau, who passed away last Thursday.

Senator Girardeau represented Jacksonville in the Florida Legislature. He was among the first African Americans to serve in the Florida Senate, and the first African American to serve as a senate president pro tempore.

During the 16 years that he served in the Florida Legislature, he provided principled leadership and service to our State, to our country, and he served as a role model of excellence to many of us who would follow in his footsteps.

As a young legislator, Senator Girardeau helped to mentor me and many of my other colleagues in north Florida. He was a founding member and chairman of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators.

We extend our condolences to not only his wife, Carolyn, but especially to his family. He truly was an outstanding leader and a trailblazer in the State of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a veteran, educator, civic leader, dedicated citizen and a great American, Attorney Theodore Roosevelt Bowers, who served his community, state and country well.

Attorney Bowers was raised in Bascom, Florida. After graduating from Rosenwald High School, he attended Florida A&M University (FAMU) in 1950. He was drafted into the United States Army but volunteered to serve in the U.S. Air Force instead from 1951 to 1954. After being honorably discharged in 1955, Attorney Bowers returned to FAMU and completed his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science in 1958. He later obtained a Bachelor of Laws in 1961 from Howard University Law School.

Attorney Bowers started his legal career clerking at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. In 1962, he was admitted to the Florida Bar and remained a member for more than fifty years. He became the first African American to practice law in Bay County. Since that time, he has engaged in the private practice of law in the 1st, 2nd, and 14th Judicial Circuits of Florida. From 1962 to 1964, Bowers was an instructor of Political Science at FAMU. He served as a cooperating attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund for five years (1965-1970). In standing tall for equality, he worked to integrate the schools so Black children in Bay County and surrounding counties would have access to equal education opportunities. His legal work was also instrumental in integrating the Bay Medical Maternity Ward and several local businesses in Bay County, His goal was always to ``change the system and try to make America what it should be.'' Attorney Bowers received many opportunities to practice law in Washington, DC however, he was committed to the cause of Civil Rights and felt his services were better served at home in Northwest Florida. With this decision, he paid a high price both financially and personally including several attempts at bombing his car after leaving civil rights meetings in Marianna, Florida in the 1960's.

He served on numerous boards and commissions including the Board of Trustees for Gulf Coast Community College (1973-77) and the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women (1979-1982). He was also elected and served as the first Black member of the Bay County School Board,

In June 2009, he was honored by the Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association as one of Florida's First Black Lawyers. In June 2012, the Florida Bar honored him for fifty years of practicing law in Florida.

Attorney Bowers was recommended to become a U.S. Attorney by President Jimmy Carter but his recommendation was blocked by the power structure in Florida. And he was instrumental in President Nixon withdrawing the name of Federal Judge G. Harrold Carswell, a southern, strict constructionist conservative as a nominee to the Supreme Court.

Throughout the ensuing decades of his life and career he fashioned a powerful place in the public discourse on race and influenced the thinking of generations of young attorneys. Driven by an enormous heart and keen intellect, Attorney Bowers worked his entire life to ``level the playing field'' for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, with an unwavering dedication, strong values, and an avid pursuit of civil and human rights, Attorney Bowers made a tremendous impact in his community, the state of

Florida, and in our country. He will be remembered by a grateful nation.

Mr. Speaker, many students have the aspiration to further their education with graduate school, but do not have the means to enroll. Florida A&M University provides qualified students with an opportunity to further their education through-the Graduate Feeder Scholars Program (GFSP).

The success of the Graduate Feeder Scholars Program has enabled Florida A&M University to lead the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the number of students who acquire post- graduate degrees.

The program is celebrating 30 years of excellence at this year's 2017 Graduate Feeder Scholars Conference, which will take place Wednesday, September 6 through Friday, September 8, on FAMU's campus. I would like to commend everyone who has worked tirelessly and diligently in making sure our children have the opportunity to pursue their dreams and advance their education.

It is time to expand the Feeder Scholars program to more HBCU's and I know Florida A&M is ready to assist in the process.

I am proud to support this wonderful program and acknowledge Florida A&M's hard work over the years. Again, congratulations on 30 successful years and to many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chief Marilyn Denise Henderson on her retirement from the Florida Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General as the Assistant Chief of Investigation. I want to thank Chief Henderson for giving over 30 years of public service in law enforcement to the State of Florida. With her knowledge, integrity, and leadership she has been able to service the people of this great State. I know that the staff at the Florida Department of Corrections will miss her immensely.

Chief Henderson has been an asset to the community, not only in public service, but in her commitment to charity fundraisers and the faith based community. It is an honor to have people such as her in our community working diligently to make it better.

I want to welcome Chief Henderson to her new role as a retired professional. I hope she can enjoy the new freedoms that this position affords, such as cycling, attending Miami Dolphin games, and spending time with friends and family.

Once more, Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Chief Henderson on her retirement and wish her a life full of happiness.