Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of a trailblazer and humanitarian, Reverend Ben Elton Cox, Sr. Reverend Cox's life mission was to fight for the equal rights of blacks in southern states where Jim Crow laws and intimidation tactics hindered and denied blacks the right to beaches, hotels, schools, restaurants, and jobs that whites enjoyed. Though confronted with hatred, violence and blatant racial discrimination, Reverend Cox's courageous acts and unyielding belief in equality for all people subsequently effected change across this country.

Reverend Cox was a fervent community activist and devoted NAACP member. He was not only a leader of the Freedom Rides in Little Rock, but was one of the original 13 Riders on the first Congress of Racial Equality Freedom Ride in 1961. His role during the movement helped amplify the voice of oppressed blacks in the south and shape future civil rights policy in the United States that would advance the rights and freedoms of African Americans.

Family, friends, and freedom riders described Reverend Cox as one of the young Americans who repeatedly exhibited courage and bravery in the cause of Civil Rights. Ben Cox and 12 others faced violent opposition and discord from Klansmen and angry mobs during the Freedom Rides traveling throughout the south. In his own words, Reverend Cox said he'd been in 37 states for civil rights and in jail 17 times and that his life had been threatened 87 times in writing. Sacrificing their safety and endangering the lives of their families--harassed, jailed and brutally beaten by their detractors, Reverend Cox and the Freedom Riders were on the ``front line'' of a civil war and remained steadfast in the fight against racism, discrimination and inequality in the segregated south and around the country. Ben Cox embodied courage and was a champion of the struggle for human rights.

Again, I ask that my colleagues please join me in saluting the life and legacy of Civil Rights leader and Freedom Rider Rev. Benjamin ``Elton'' Cox, Sr.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule for H.R. 2017, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2012.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. As Americans began to process the carnage inflicted by Osama bin Laden on our soil, then-President Bush challenged us as a nation to ``confront every threat from any source that could bring sudden terror and suffering to America.'' For nearly 10 years, we've done just that. We've made major investments in intelligence, border security, transportation security, and emergency preparedness.

H.R. 2017 suddenly veers away from these incremental efforts and, as a result, sets our Nation on a dangerously wrong path. To cut homeland security preparedness grants by $2.1 billion at a time when DHS is calling for a period of heightened alert because of our successful action against bin Laden is deplorable and reckless.

How we can continue these efforts with an appropriation bill that funds DHS at 7 percent below what President Obama tells us that DHS needs is beyond me.

The probability of a terrorist attack on a major domestic transit system has not subsided, nor has Mother Nature relented and softened the barrage of punishing blows to our communities, including much of my own congressional district. This bill sacrifices the security of our communities just to save a penny here and a penny there.

Our first responders must not be treated as pawns to the political ideology of the day. It is the decimation of the first responder grant programs, at the hands of the Republican leadership, that, by far, is the most offensive aspect of this bill.

The second most offensive aspect of this bill is the shenanigans surrounding the funding of disaster emergencies. Lastly, ending Medicare in this rule makes absolutely no sense.

For these reasons, I oppose H.R. 2017 and ask my colleagues to join me in voting against the rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

I have been on the Committee on Homeland Security since its inception.

We have gone through hearing after hearing looking at this issue of collective bargaining for TSA employees. I might add that the rationale for offering this amendment has been completely refuted by every hearing we have ever had in the committee.

I am convinced that our men and women who work for TSA do a good job. However, the documentation is clear, they need additional training; they need a number of other items that collective bargaining can get them.

For instance, they have a different personnel system than other fellow employees. They have a different salary schedule than other employees. All those things lead to reduced morale for the employee.

More importantly, we have collective bargaining rights for Customs and Border Protection employees, the Federal Protective Service, and nowhere have we ever found where our good men and women in uniform cannot perform admirably in any situation.

The record is clear: where our union employees are federalized, they do a good job. So this notion that somehow collective bargaining is incorrect or improper should not go unopposed.

Apart from that, this is a heightened awareness situation. The men and women at TSA deserve the right to collective bargaining. For the record, Mr. Chairman, let me say that they are halfway there. They are 40,000 employees. They have already had an election; three unions sought representation. We are now down to the runoff for two.

Let the men and women do their job. Collective bargaining is not a bad thing for our men and women at TSA.

Lastly, let me say that Administrator Pistole has it right. His record with the FBI is impeccable. He looked at the situation, made a decision that had been kicked around for too many years at the Department.

Let's give the men and women at TSA the right to choose a collective bargaining unit if they so choose to decide on a collective bargaining unit.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders and their incredibly courageous acts of resistance during the summer of 1961, when civil rights leaders launched the Freedom Rides to challenge the Jim Crow laws that upheld the segregated interstate bus systems.

Indeed, I am privileged to serve with two of my esteemed colleagues, Representative John Lewis and Representative Bob Filner, Freedom Riders who blazed the trail in order that I might have the distinct honor to serve as the highest-ranking African American elected official in the state of Mississippi--an opportunity that would not have been possible without the personal sacrifices of the Freedom Riders in their quest for racial justice in this country.

The Freedom Rides, an organized effort initiated by the Congress of Racial Equality

(CORE), was a significant moment during the Civil Rights Movement, as young students were greeted with violent racial discrimination as they traveled from Washington, DC throughout the Jim Crow South to test the Supreme Court's ruling in Boynton v. Virginia (1960), which declared segregation in interstate bus and rail stations unconstitutional. Freedom Riders faced violent opposition and garnered broad media attention, which eventually forced Federal intervention from the Kennedy administration.

The first Freedom Ride took place on May 4, 1961 when seven blacks and six whites left Washington, D.C., on two public buses bound for the Deep South. The Freedom Riders made it through Virginia and North Carolina without incident, but as they made it to Rock Hill, South Carolina, the Freedom Riders encountered violence and faced more resistance as they traveled further into the ``Deep South.''

The ride continued to Anniston, Alabama, where on May 14th they were met by a violent mob of over 100 people. Before their arrival, Anniston local authorities had given permission to the Ku Klux Klan to strike against the Freedom Riders without fear of arrest.

CORE leaders decided that letting violence end the trip would send the wrong signal to the country. On May 17, 1961, SNCC and the Nashville Student Movement rode from Nashville to Birmingham to resume the Freedom Rides.

On May 29th, the Kennedy administration announced that it had directed the Interstate Commerce Commission to ban segregation in all facilities under its jurisdiction, but the rides continued as students from all over the country purchased bus tickets to the South and crowded into Mississippi jails. The Freedom Rides inspired sit-ins in public facilities and businesses across the South.

Today, collectively, we must be ``Change Agents'' and continue to pursue the struggle for human, civil, and equal rights which are the legacy and spirit of the Freedom Riders and all of the brave men and women who made personal sacrifices during the Civil Rights Movement for justice and equality for all mankind.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1363, the ``Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011,'' a damaging deflection, even as negotiations are ongoing to prevent a government shutdown. H.R. 1363 would reduce funding for the Department of Homeland Security operations by $1.4 billion. The cuts are far from surgical in nature and diminish the Department's flexibility to respond and recover from known and unknown threats.

Specifically, H.R. 1363 undermines homeland security as follows:

The bill cuts FEMA first responder grants by 20%. This draconian cut will force cash-strapped State, local and tribal governments to roll back critical preparedness activities and is a slap in the face to the men and women who serve and protect.

It cuts funding for next generation border security technology by 28%. This will surely set back efforts at achieving operational control of the Southwest border.

It cuts $57 million in funding for Transportation Security Administration's terrorist watchlist activities. This cut will force TSA to scramble to find the money to undertake this critical screening activity.

It cuts the Science and Technology Directorate operations by $173 million. This cut will most certainly result in significant delays in the development of new and promising homeland security technologies.

Rather than slashing the DHS budget to grand-stand or score political points, we should be dedicating new resources to:

Bolster border security by retaining CBP officers, providing technologies and equipment to front-line officials, and upgrading deteriorating infrastructure at ports of entry;

Expand maritime security by the furthering of the Coast Guard's recapitalization initiative to replace its aging fleet;

Enhance cybersecurity by investing and deploying cyber systems to protect critical cyber infrastructure from all cyber threats.

Strengthen aviation security by making enhancements in the vetting of foreign travelers air-bound for our country, a known threat since well before the Christmas Day plot of 2009.

Playing fast and loose with homeland security is not the way to put our Nation's fiscal house in order. The Republican draconian approach to budgeting will add insult to injury to the Department of Homeland Security that has already struggled for six months without its budget. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against this damaging deflection of a bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Coach Davey Whitney, National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Famer and the second winningest coach in HBCU College Basketball.

Davey Whitney was born in Midway, Kentucky in 1930. While in high school, he excelled in basketball, but pursued his first love-- baseball--and hoped to play professionally. Whitney graduated from Kentucky State University earning more letters than any other athlete at the university.

Coach Whitney, affectionately known as the ``Wiz,'' began his sports career as a shortstop with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Baseball League from 1952 to 1954 replacing Ernie Banks, who went on to play for the Chicago Cubs. Whitney played on the 1954 All Star Team and with Satchel Paige. Subsequently, he was not offered a contract with the Chicago Cubs and shifted his focus to coaching basketball. Though he never wanted to be a coach or teach, Whitney stated, ``I guess I carried the same kind of determination in baseball over to coaching.''

Whitney coached high school basketball in Kentucky during the 1960s and was named ``Coach of the Year'' in 1961, the same year his team won the National High School Tournament Championship. His team went on to capture three Kentucky State Tournament Championships. Coach Whitney's first collegiate job was at Texas Southern University from 1964 to 1969. The ``Wiz'' would go on to spend more than 25 years coaching the Alcorn State University Braves and be named the Southwest Athletic Championships, SWAC, Coach of the Year nine times.

Whitney coached at Alcorn State University from 1969/ 1988 and again from 1996/ 2002, bringing the Brave squad back to prominence. During his coaching career, Whitney's overall record as head coach was 550 wins and 337 defeats; 495 of his career wins were as head coach of the Alcorn State Braves. Under the tutelage of Coach Whitney, the Braves were the first historically black institution to compete in the NCAA playoffs. The Braves dominated the SWAC with 12 SWAC regular season titles--a record four consecutive titles from 1978 to 1982; participated in 12 national postseason tournaments, won five NAIA District Titles and placed second and third in the national tournaments during the 1970s.

In 2010, Legendary Coach Davey ``Wiz'' Whitney was among eight inducted into the 2010 National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Again, I ask that my colleagues join me in saluting the stellar coaching career of legendary Coach Davey ``Wiz'' Whitney.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of a true champion and humanitarian, Dr. Mark Colomb. Dr. Colomb's life mission addressed the health needs and concerns of blacks within the State of Mississippi and other southern communities. A community activist, public health educator and public policy advocate, Colomb founded My Brother's Keeper, MBK, a national organization dedicated to reducing health disparities in African American communities. A principal architect of the Minority AIDS Initiative and founding member of the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Dr. Colomb is credited with garnering more $9 million dollars, the largest of 12 five year national grants awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2000, to train African American community- based organizations throughout the U.S. and its territories on HIV/AIDS prevention and education. He played a central role in shaping both state and national HIV/AIDS policy legislation with particular focus on African American men and women.

His academic appointments included assistant professor of sociology, adjunct professor and statistical laboratory coordinator at Jackson State University and instructor at Tougaloo College.

Dr. Colomb was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Madison, MS.; a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and numerous social, professional and academic honor organizations, including, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Pi Lambda Theta International Honor Society and Professional Association in Education.

Again, I ask that my colleagues please join me in saluting the life and legacy of Dr. Mark Colomb.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Coach Lafayette Stribling, Championship Winning Basketball Coach and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Hall of Famer.

Lafayette Stribling, a native of Carthage, Mississippi in Leake County graduated from Harmony High School in Carthage. He attended Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, Mississippi where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree and later a Master of Science Degree from Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi. Coach Stribling has also studied at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Stribling coached high school boy's basketball for 26 years winning 741 games and 17 out of 19 Conference Championships. He was named Coach of the Year of the Choctaw Conference six consecutive years, and his team was Class BB State Champions in 1980. In addition to coaching boy's basketball, Stribling coached girl's basketball for four years. In the 1981 regular season, both the boys and girls teams were undefeated winning 67 consecutive games. He coached baseball for 15 years and won the 1971 State Championship. Subsequently, three players from that championship team went on to play baseball professionally. Throughout his 26 year high school sports career, Coach Stribling never had a losing season.

Coach Stribling spent over 20 years as the coach of the Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) Delta Devils in Itta Bena, Mississippi. During Stribling's tenure, the Delta Devils captured four SWAC regular- season titles and earned three SWAC tournament titles which lead to three trips to the NCAA Tournament (1986, 1992, 1996). Stribling was the winningest coach in Mississippi Valley State University history, with a record of 315-307.

Coach Stribling's accomplishments at Mississippi Valley included taking a squad that was down in the early 1980s and turning them into conference champions. In 1985, his Delta Devils team played on national television against the number one team in the nation, Duke University. The game, televised on ESPN, saw Mississippi Valley fight a tough contest against the Blue Devils. At halftime, the Delta Devils led by three. Early in the second half, they led by seven, only to see Duke rally for an 85-78 victory. Though, the Delta Devils did not take home the win, their performance very well may have earned them a different type of victory. At the time, Mississippi Valley State University was facing closure. After a strong performance from the Delta Devils, the national attention Stribling's squad received arguably may have breathed life back into Mississippi Valley State University, forcing state legislators to reconsider closing its doors.

In 2005, Coach Stribling retired from Mississippi Valley State University as head coach of the Delta Devils. Soon, thereafter he came out of retirement and began coaching the Tougaloo College Bulldogs. In 2007, under the tutelage of Coach Stribling, the Bulldogs won their first conference championship in the school's history. That same year, Coach Stribling was named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and the bulldogs went on to play in the National Tournament.

At 76 years-old, Coach Stribling still believes his players should ``work hard and play even harder''--that is in the classroom and on the court. His firm concept of ``academics before athletics'' left the 54 year coaching veteran with only seven of his original thirteen players in the 2011 National Tournament when some of his players became academically ineligible. In essence, Coach Stribling says, ``You can look at it two ways. I always look at my glass as half full, not half empty. All seven of my guys know they are going to play every night. They are ready. I tell them we have seven players. That's two too many. You can't use but five at a time.'' To date, The Tougaloo Bulldogs have won three championships in just five seasons.

Coach Lafayette Stribling has inspired his players to never give up on or off the court. He has survived prostate cancer and congestive heart failure and continues to enjoy every moment of the game.

Again, I ask that my colleagues join me in saluting Coach Lafayette Stribling, a living legend and an inspiration to all Mississippians.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce legislation today with the following Democratic Members of the Committee on Homeland Security: Ms. Loretta Sanchez, Ms. Sheila Jackson Lee, Mr. Henry Cuellar, and Mr. Cedric Richmond.

The SAFE Port Act of 2006 authorizes the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Program to be administered jointly by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Coast Guard within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The TWIC program is focused on protecting the Nation's maritime transportation facilities and vessels by requiring maritime workers and other workers who need unescorted access to secure port facilities to obtain a biometric identification card.

After initial delays, all maritime workers were required to obtain biometric TWICs by April 2009. The initial cost to workers for these cards is $132.50 per credential, and in the event that a card is lost, stolen, or damaged, a replacement TWIC costs $60.00. To date, over 1.8 million longshoremen, truckers, merchant mariners, and rail and vessel crew members have undergone extensive homeland security and criminal background checks to obtain TWICs.

However, the full promise of a biometric access security system has not been realized, as DHS has made little progress in deploying TWIC card readers to ports and vessels. TSA was two years late in starting a pilot program for the readers, even as workers raced to obtain TWICs to continue working in our Nation's ports. Finally, in April 2009, TSA commenced a limited pilot program to test the business processes, technology, and operational impacts necessary for full deployment of the TWIC readers.

The law requires DHS to issue final regulations for the deployment of TWIC readers based on the results of these pilots by April 2011. TSA has said that it expects to complete the pilots by August 2011 and that Coast Guard would then issue final regulations in late 2012. Under current law, starting in October 2012, workers would be required to renew their TWICs, even though DHS has yet to issue regulations requiring TWIC readers.

In the interest of security and in order not to place an undue burden on workers, I am introducing legislation to ensure that the full promise of the TWIC program is realized. The ``TWIC Program Act'' ensures that Transportation Worker Identification Credentials held by workers for unescorted access to port facilities are valid until the earlier of (1) the deadline for full implementation of a final rule by the Department of Homeland Security for readers to be installed as a security measure to verify the identity of TWIC card holders against the credential presented to gain access to our Nation's maritime ports; or (2) December 31, 2014.

This legislation will help ensure that the full promise of the TWIC program is realized. I look forward to working with the Senate and the rest of our colleagues on a bipartisan, bicameral basis to see that this bill is enacted.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Captain Laverne Sing, the State of Mississippi's first African-American female firefighter. Captain Sing not only broke down years of historical barriers, but also provided safety and security for the citizens of the City of Greenville, Mississippi, for many selfless years.

Known as a Delta Pioneer, Captain Sing was born January 16, 1944, in Washington County, Mississippi, to a family of five sisters and four brothers. She worked numerous occupations leading up to her heroic role as a firefighter including telecommunications operator, medical service driver and dispatcher, and as Greenville's first female security officer for the Greenville Public School District.

Captain Sing reported for duty in June 1979 to her community as the first African-American female firefighter in Greenville without allowing prejudice to get in her way. Her selfless acts in fire prevention and safety have resulted in the preservation of countless lives and incalculable amounts of property. Captain Sing's goals as a firefighter were to save lives, save property, and protect the environment. She met these objectives every day not only in the firehouse and on the scene but in her daily life. Her hard work and expert knowledge led to her rapid promotion from a recruit to Captain of the Greenville Firehouse. Putting herself in harm's way to save precious lives, Captain Sing courageously ran into burning buildings and structures when others were running out. Once inside a burning building, Captain Sing used the right hand search pattern technique and immediately began scouring for and removing trapped occupants by following closely along the room's walls and performing the search until everyone in the structure was safely out.

Captain Sing has always displayed a commitment to excellence even in the face of unthinkable danger. Her acts of gallantry, perseverance and pride exemplify a character that has allowed her to grow and prosper. As Captain for the Greenville Fire Department, she was a leader in the firehouse and at times performed dispatch services for both the fire and police department. She volunteered her time as a public relations officer for the fire department where she presented programs in community schools, daycare centers and nursing homes that educated numerous persons both on escaping a fire and what actions to take when faced with safety hazards.

In 1990 and 1991, Captain Sing served the community as a volunteer for the Salvation Army and the Mississippi Firefighters Memorial Burn Center. A decorated firefighter, Captain Sing has received many honors including the Department's Outstanding Performance Award and the Flame Award from the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. As a firefighter, Captain Sing worked through many grueling academic courses including her national certification in level Fire Fighter One, numerous safety programs and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, CPR, training through the American Red Cross.

Captain Sing's exceptional performance of her duties and her barrier- breaking accomplishments has been recognized at events during Black History Month, by churches, associations and community groups. In 1992, upon the passing of the brother committed to her care for 18 years, Captain Sing, felt the call to be close to her family and resigned after over a decade of gallant service to the Greenville Fire Department.

Captain Sing is a proud member of Serene Lodge 20th Century Temple Daughters of Elks and a faithful servant of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at the Grace Outreach Church pastored by Rev. Ruben Lewis. She is the proud mother of three children, Remelda, Demetria and Lawrence Sing. Currently, she devotes her time to children in the Greenville Public School System.

Captain Sing is recognized by the Black Women in Fire Service as the State of Mississippi's first African-American firefighter and as a leader of the African-American women firefighters in the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in saluting Captain Laverne Sing, the first female African-American Firefighter in the State of Mississippi for your dedicated service in fire safety and prevention.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to express my sincere condolences about a reprehensible attack on two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers earlier this week in Mexico, while driving between Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico.

I honor the sacrifice of Special Agent Jaime J. Zapata, who lost his life and Special Agent Victor Avila, who is continuing to recover from injuries sustained during the attack.

In 2006, Special Agent Zapata began his career with ICE in Laredo, Texas as part of the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit and as a member of the Border Enforcement Security Task Force. At the time of his death, he was detailed to ICE's Attache office in Mexico City.

Special Agent Zapata began his tenure at the Department of Homeland Security as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent in Yuma, Arizona. Law enforcement and border security were early passions for this Brownsville, Texas native, as he graduated from the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice.

I understand that his fellow agent, Special Agent Victor Avila, was injured in the attack and is now recovering in his home. My thoughts and prayers are with Special Agent Victor Avila, and I am hoping and praying for his healthy recovery.

These agents were two of the hundreds of ICE personnel around the globe. Every day, committed agents like Special Agents Zapata and Avila collaborate with their foreign counterparts to dismantle criminal organizations that pose a border security and law enforcement threat to the United States.

Our Nation is fortunate to have the men and women of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement keeping us safe and secure. Their bravery and dedication serve as a fine example for all Americans.

I know the Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement groups are working closely with the authorities in Mexico to ensure that the perpetrators of this attack are identified and brought to justice.

To the family of Special Agent Zapata as well as his ICE brothers and sisters, I offer my deepest sympathies. His sacrifice in service for our country and your family's enormous loss are not, and will not, be forgotten.

And to Special Agent Avila, I join with my colleagues at the Committee on Homeland Security, to express my sincere wish for a full recovery and appreciation for your service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Zelpha (Zep) Montgomery-Whatley, The Builder of ``Miss Bernice's House.'' The Northside Haven Association, Inc., and Miss Bernice's House exist today, primarily because of two women--two Black women of Holmes County, Mississippi. One had great spiritual wisdom, strength and

focus; the other, unwavering faith and a strong belief in the power and purpose of God. Their names: Mrs. Bernice Patton Montgomery-Johnson (Miss Bernice) and her elder daughter, Zelpha la'Marr Montgomery- Whatley, who is just called, Zep.

Zep caught her mother's dream to build a house--a great house for people who are sick, homeless, in need of housing and gentle personal care. Zep gave up her life's work of public service where she lived ``up North'' and having been accepted to the Peace Corps to work in West Africa.

Instead and as God would have it, Zep packed up and moved back home to Holmes County, Mississippi, breaking a long standing vow never to return to Mississippi again! She moved back home, she thought, to help her mother, Miss Bernice, to fulfill a dream to build ``a house of help'' for poor senior citizens of Holmes County and Mississippi. Miss Bernice convinced her daughter that ``back home'' was her ``Peace Corps'' and her ``West Africa.'' Zep said, ``Yes,'' to her mother and has since proclaimed that this is the best, most challenging and rewarding work God has ever assigned to her hands. Her boldness for the ``street work'' of God--``helping hurting people,'' is unmatched!

To know Zep Montgomery--to really know her, is to know that she rarely considers the word, ``No'' as a final answer to any unsolved problem. She says her daddy taught her to ``just look for another way.'' She will push herself and she will push and pull others until ``the way is found.'' This attitude is testimony to the mere existence of Miss Bernice's House--a Personal care/Assisted Living facility, Holmes County's first and only one. When she was told ``No,'' by her local and State governments, she turned to Washington, D.C., and her Congressman. It was understood that ``No'' was not an answer, nor was it an option. The Federal government responded with an $800,000 dollar, loan/grant package to build the house envisioned by her mother, who on the day of approval went home to be with the Lord!

Additionally, Zep knew when the mailman had trouble delivering the mail on the wet, muddy road where she lived, she put on her rubber boots and went to see the Holmes County Board of Supervisors. They said it couldn't be done; the road couldn't be built and probably wouldn't be built during the next 20 years! Within 2 years a new paved road was built, including two new concrete bridges for approximately $500,000 dollars! Again, when the current water system could not accommodate Miss Bernice's House and her community, Zep requested assistance from the local water authority and was told, ``No, it couldn't be done.'' Today, a $550,000 dollar new water system has been installed for her community and Miss Bernice's House as a direct result of Zep's faith, her tenacity and her hard work.

Zelpha is a professional helper. She believes there is no greater reason for any human being to get up in the morning other than to help another human-being.

Zep proclaims, ``I'm in business to help people.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Bessie Baker. Could you honestly say that ``My house is your house?'' Could you honestly say that ``I will help you when you need me?'' Are you willing to ``be there when your neighbor needs you?'' Are you willing to ``set aside your time to do for others in any situation?'' Are you willing to ``feed a stranger?''

At the young age of 50, Bessie L. Baker has 3 adult children and 2 teenage children. She continues to make silent sacrifices for others within the community by being reliable, caring, and passionate about those in need. She is always willing to put one foot in front of the other, despite personal struggles and situations that we all face day- to-day. Bessie continues to be involved not only within her family's lives, but also in the lives of others. She is the epitome of selflessness in society as a whole not just today, but everyday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the long and distinguished life of Ms. Mary Frances Moore.

For more than twenty years she spent numerous hours campaigning for the person she thought was the best candidate for political position. Whether it was going door to door collecting absentee ballots or campaign at the polls, she was always there. She campaigned for offices of President, Representatives, Supervisors, Mayors and numerous others. If there is ever a political rally, you can count on her to be there.

She represents the many voices, faces and ideas that we may never hear, see, or even understand. She knows what is most beneficial for our town, state and country. She takes her political experience and uses it in a positive manner and that is to provide our citizens the opportunity to be heard by a ballot cast.

To know her is to love her and to be on the opposing side, well, you are in trouble.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Mary Frances Moore for her role in the political arena.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the long and distinguished life of Mrs. Oda Lue Sanders Gilmore. Mrs. Oda Lue Sanders Gilmore was born in 1914 in Leake County to Velmon and Maggie Crouther Sanders. Being the eldest of three children, her parents instilled in her the importance of education and having family values, in which she carried and followed throughout her life. She built her life on being a role model to her students by never meeting a stranger and always having an open door to assist anyone. Her motto was ``Always walk like you have a purpose in life.''

Mrs. Gilmore received her junior high and high school education at Mary Holmes Seminary for Girls in West Point, MS and continued her education at Jackson State College, now Jackson State University, where she received her B.S. in elementary education. Mrs. Gilmore began her teaching career in the rural school system of Leake County, teaching in Tribulation, Pilgrim Rest, Wesley Chapel, and O.E. Jordan Elementary Schools. After teaching the students of Leake County Schools for 46 years, she finally retired in 1978 from Carthage Elementary School. Mrs. Oda married Hollis ``Lanky'' Gilmore in 1935, in which she joined Wesley Chapel UMC, where she remains a faithful member to date. She has served in many capacities within the church, including secretary, treasurer, nominating committee and Sunday School Teacher. In the United Methodist Women, she has served in various offices, such as President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and secretary on the local, sub- district, and district levels. Mrs. Gilmore served as a delegate to the Mississippi Methodist Conference and, later the Mississippi United Methodist Conference, for over 40 years.

She has also attended national and jurisdictional United Methodist Women conferences in Cincinnati, OH; Raleigh, NC; Philadelphia, PA; and Kansas City, Missouri. Throughout the years, she has received distinguished awards and accolades from various associations and organizations, with the most recent being a 96th birthday card from President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama.