Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable person, Ms. Earlean Marshall.

Earlean Marshall was born on September 14, 1948 in Greenwood, Mississippi to U.S. Army Veteran, Mr. O.Z. Marshall, Sr. and Mrs. Mildred Macy Debro Marshall. She was the eldest of seven children. Her brother John D. Marshall and parents preceded her in death.

Growing up, Earlean's life journeys would take her to Chicago where her parents also lived. They would later relocate to Mississippi, settling in the Rosebank Community of Holmes County.

Earlean began her early public-school education at Mt. Olive School in the Mt. Olive Community. She dearly loved Mt. Olive School and would later serve on the Mt. Olive All-Class Reunion Committee. And, then she attended high school at Tchula Attendance Center (TAC) but would later finish high school in Los Angeles, California where she relocated in 1964 to live with her Aunt ``Lovie'' and cousins.

Earlean graduated from LA High in 1967 and received bachelor's degrees from California State and UCLA. She was very smart where many of her colleagues asked for her assistance. She was well liked by friends, co-workers and neighbors.

Earlean joined Liberty Baptist Church and was active on the youth usher Board as well as sang in the youth choir. Years later, Earlean joined Holman United Methodist Church in May 20, 1979. She was very active within her church community. She participated on the Holman Church Board, Advisory and Trustee Committee, The Women's Organization, The Holman Mass Choir, and the Usher Board. Earlean was always willing to serve and was very appreciated.

A business-minded individual, Earlean began her career in retail at Broadway Department Store in California but would later further her career for years in the corporate world as a contractor with TRW, Inc. and with The Boeing Company--The Aerospace & Tech Leader. Her work took her on numerous business travels.

Following Earlean's lengthy career in corporate America, she returned to Mississippi after her father died and made her home once again in the Rosebank community. She reunited with Rosebank M.B. Church where she would share her beautiful, melodious voice during devotion, served as acting secretary, was mistress of ceremony on numerous occasions, very active in Sunday School, and was a faithful supporter of the church. She remained active until her health began to decline.

An education advocate and family historian, Earlean often rejoiced in the achievements of her nieces and nephews and other relatives of the family, always encouraging them on achieve greatness. God called her home to rest in His arms with sweet, sweet peace early Monday morning on February 25, 2019. She will truly be missed.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the late Earlean Marshall.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable professional, Ms. Gail F. Hood.

Ms. Hood started her Law Enforcement career in 1990 with the Belzoni Police Department as a Telecommunicator. Ms. Hood later became a TAC Officer (Training Agency Coordinator) for the Belzoni Police Department. Ms. Hood's responsibilities included: Implementing policies and procedures, scheduling of work assignments, preparing for audits, and executing telecommunication training.

In April 2000, Ms. Hood transferred to the Humphrey's County Sheriffs Department, as Office Administrator. Ms. Hood is responsible for the direction, coordination and overall management of the department. Ms. Hood is responsible for assisting in implementing personnel policies and procedures, scheduling of work assignments and executing the objectives set by the Executive Officer. As Administrator, Ms. Hood additionally has an opportunity to apply and assist in obtaining grant funds for the Sheriffs Department. She also assists in other areas of the grant process including initializing, research, following-up communication and reports. Ms. Hood analyzes, monitors, and prepares weekly and monthly reports; cash journal reports, request for purchase orders, inventory receiving clerk, assisting in budget formulation and modification, audit preparation and reimbursements. Ms. Hood will follow all the guidelines set forth by the state for the allocation of said funds.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Gail Hood for her dedication to serving others and giving back to the community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Lieutenant Colonel George Torrie Jackson, Jr. who is a native of Jackson, MS.

LTC Jackson holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and master's degree in Education Administration, both from Jackson State University. LTC Jackson is a 30-year member of the U.S. Army Reserve/ Mississippi Army National Guard and veteran of Operation Iraq Freedom. He began his military career as a Petroleum Laboratory Specialist (E-3) (894th Quartermaster Company, Jackson, MS--1988-1992), then as a Finance Specialist (E-4) (210th Finance Battalion, Jackson, MS--1992- 1996). LTC Jackson was commissioned through the Mississippi Military Academy (Class 38), Camp Shelby, MS in 1996. As a commissioned officer, LTC Jackson has held many duty assignments to include positions as a Subsistence Officer, (114th Area Support Group, Hattiesburg, MS--1996- 1997), Platoon Leader (3656th Maintenance Company, Camp Shelby, MS-- 1997-1998), Detachment Commander (3656th Maintenance Company, DET 1, Waynesboro, MS--1998-2000), Maintenance Control Officer/Executive Officer (3656th Maintenance Company, Camp Shelby, MS--2000-2001), Detachment Commander/Executive Officer (3656th Maintenance Company, DET 2, Gloster, MS--2001-2002), S-1 Personnel Officer (298th Maintenance Battalion, Philadelphia, MS--2002-2003), Service and Support Officer (114th Area Support Group, Hattiesburg, MS--2003-2006). During Operation Iraqi Freedmon (2004) LTC Jackson served as the C4 Sustainment Battle Captain and Coalition Acquisition Review Board (CARB and Super CARB) secretary. His next successive assignments included Company Commander (1/185th Aviation Battalion, E Company, Jackson, MS-- 2006-2008), S-3 Operations Officer (8/108th Transportation Battalion, Jackson, MS--2008-2012), Executive Officer (8/108th Transportation Battalion, Jackson, MS--2012-2014 ), and Materiel Readiness Branch Chief (377th Theater Sustainment Command, Belle Chasse, LA--2014-2016).

LTC Jackson currently serves as the Battalion Commander of the 5th Logistic Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) Support Battalion, located in Sheffield, AL.

LTC Jackson's awards and commendations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, NATO Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Achievenment Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Overseas Service Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Mississippi Emergency Service Medal and the Mississippi Longevity Medal.

In his civilian capacity, LTC Jackson serves as a school administrator for the Holmes County School District Central High School, located in Lexington, MS, and holds the rank of Lieutenant with the Hinds County Sheriffs Office--Reserve Division in Jackson, MS. LTC Jackson, his wife, Dr. Debra Mays-Jackson, and two sons, Cameron and Kendall, currently live in Terry, MS.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the late Lieutenant Colonel George Torrie Jackson, Jr.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor His Imperial

Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babtunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife.

Ojaja II is a Nigerian monarch; since coronation he has been able to harmonize the relationships between all the Yoruba Royal leaders and with the Nigerian government. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He is an Associate Accounting Technician. Oba Ogunwusi is a certified member of the Institute of Directors. He is also a member of the Global Real Estate Institute. He holds multiple honorary doctorate degrees: one in Public Administration from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and another in Law from Igbinedion University. Oba Ogunwusi is the Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He has been described as an astute entrepreneur driven by the need to turn impossibilities into possibilities. He is an advocate for the empowerment and emancipation of women and young people. He is a renowned philanthropist who is committed to humanity and an advocate for the less privileged.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babtunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II for his endeavors to the citizens of Nigeria and for visiting the ``Jewel of the Delta,'' Mound Bayou, MS.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a valiant and selfless community servant, Hezekiah Watkins.

In the summer of 1961, Hezekiah Watkins sought out to see the Freedom Riders make history at the Greyhound bus station in Jackson, Mississippi. Though his mother warned him of his potential demise, their home being burned, and other risks of activism; Watkins couldn't be dissuaded from watching the protesters combat segregated public transportation up close and personal.

At age 13, Watkins's life changed forever when he was pushed into the bus station, mistaken for an ``outside agitator,'' and sent to Parchman Farm, the Mississippi State Penitentiary. While incarcerated, Watkins was celled with two inmates convicted of murder, who tormented, molested, and physically abused him. They also stole his food leaving him with only scraps of fat, syrup and a biscuit. He was returned to his mother in Jackson five days later, who anticipated identifying his remains.

Hearing of Watkins' incarceration, James Bevel, a prominent civil rights leader, visited Watkins' home in Jackson. While Watkins still had no intentions of joining the movement, Bevel insisted he was needed. After hearing Bevel deliver a powerful sermon at church, Bevel gained the trust of both Watkins and his mother, who believed Bevel was a God-sent man. She allowed Watkins to join the Freedom Riders under the sole condition that Bevel would keep him safe, which he did.

Watkins participated in the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project, also known as Freedom Summer, where he and other activists worked to increase the black voter turnout in Mississippi. They also instituted Freedom Schools which worked to academically empower black students by offering free summer classes.

Today, Watkins can be found at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, not as a part of a display, but as an employee, sharing his story to daily visitors.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2476 would, for the first time, formally authorize the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

This important grant program makes funding available to nonprofit organizations that are at risk of a terrorist attack.

Increasingly, nonprofit organizations throughout the United States and abroad have experienced an alarming increase in violence and threats of violence.

In just the first six months of 2019, the level of bloodshed in places of worship have shocked the world.

In addition to the April 27th shooting, where a gunman opened fire on congregants at a Passover celebration at a California synagogue, there was the April 21st coordinated terrorist attack on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that killed nearly 250 people and the March 15th live- streamed mass shooting at a mosque in New Zealand, where 50 people were killed.

The horror of these attacks was compounded by the three church burnings in Louisiana in April.

Prior to this year, there were the 2018 ``Tree of Life'' synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, where 11 people were killed; the 2017 Sutherland Springs, Texas church shooting, where 26 people were killed; and the 2012 shooting at a Sikh Temple in Milwaukee.

These attacks amplify the need for religious and other nonprofit organizations to have access to resources to keep themselves safe from bad actors.

Enactment of H.R. 2476 will help non-profits and places of worship take steps to be safer.

I introduced this legislation to authorize $75 million in grants with Representatives Peter King (R-NY), Max Rose (D-NY), Steve Stivers (R- OH), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), and Troy Balderson (R-OH) in early May and, to date, it has over 100 Democrats and Republicans.

H.R. 2476 was endorsed by The Jewish Federations of North America.

I truly appreciate their support and commitment to this vital homeland security program.

Prospects for enactment of this legislation are good, as a bipartisan companion bill has been introduced.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 2476.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Unita Zelma Blackwell on her great contributions to civil rights activism.

Born in Lula in 1933 into a sharecropping family, Blackwell left Mississippi as a child to attend school in West Helena, Arkansas, because black children weren't allowed to consistently attend school at that time in the Mississippi Delta. Blackwell forfeited school at the eighth grade and began sharecropping with her family.

During the early 70s, Blackwell became an important pillar in the civil rights movement in the South. She served as a project director and field secretary for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), helping organize voter drives for African Americans across Mississippi. These efforts landed her in jail at least 70 times.

In 1967, she co-founded Mississippi Action Community Education, a community development organization which helped districts to incorporate as towns. Incorporation enabled them to set their geographical boundaries so that they could have a legal identity-an important advantage when they wanted government help in installing streetlights or electricity.

In 1976, Unita Blackwell became the first African American woman mayor in the state of Mississippi (Mayersville, MS) where she developed the city's infrastructure with an annual $30,000 budget. She also served as an adviser to Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

Blackwell's career path was very diverse: Key organizer, Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, 1964; National President of the U.S.-China People's Friendship Association, 1977 through 1983; elected Mayor of Mayersville, 1976 through 2001; had the town incorporated, 1976; appointed by President Carter to the U.S. National Commission on the International Year of the Child, 1979; vice-chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party, 1976 through 1980; established Mayors' Exchange Program between U.S. and China; 1984; national president of the National Conference of Black Mayors, 1990 through 1992.

Notable awards achieved by Blackwell: Southern Christian Leadership Award, 1990; Institute of Politics Fellow, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 1991; MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant, 1992; APA leadership award for elected official, 1994; honored with a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker, 2016.

Her son, Jeremiah Blackwell, Jr., informed Mississippi Today of his mother's death on Monday, May 13, 2019 at age 86.

Madam Speaker, today I honor the life of Ms. Unita Blackwell for her many contributions to education, civil rights, and the great state of Mississippi. Blackwell made a career of serving others, and her work had a direct and positive influence on the lives of thousands.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1433) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve morale within the Department of Homeland Security workforce by conferring new responsibilities to the Chief Human Capital Officer, establishing an employee engagement steering committee, requiring action plans, and authorizing an annual employee award program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1433, the DHS MORALE Act.

Mr. Speaker, every day, the Department of Homeland Security's workforce carries out dozens of critical missions, which are as diverse as preventing terrorism, securing cyberspace, transportation security, and disaster recovery.

These 240,000 men and women deserve to have their contributions to keeping the Nation secure valued by not only the American people but also by DHS itself. Yet, even before the President's 35-day partial government shutdown earlier this year, morale within DHS was a persistent problem. In fact, for the past 7 years, DHS has ranked dead last among all large Federal agencies in the Partnership for Public Service's annual ``Best Places to Work in the Federal Government'' survey.

This is unacceptable. Senior DHS leadership, most especially the Secretary of Homeland Security, needs to prioritize improving morale within the DHS workforce. In the Obama administration, then-DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson began to address this operational imperative through a range of programs under the unity of effort umbrella. Unfortunately, the current administration largely abandoned those promising efforts.

I have long been committed to improving conditions for the DHS workforce. To that end, I reintroduced H.R.

1433, the DHS MORALE Act, a bill that passed the House unanimously and received tremendous support from the labor organizations representing the DHS labor force.

The DHS MORALE Act requires DHS to develop and implement policies related to leadership development, employee engagement, career progression, and employee recommendations.

This Congress, two new provisions were added to the bill. The first directs the DHS Chief Human Capital Officer to analyze government-wide Federal workforce satisfaction or morale surveys to inform efforts to improve morale. The second provision requires a report to Congress on the impact of the recent government shutdown on DHS human resources and morale. Both of these measures would be a step toward fixing the longstanding morale problems at DHS.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 1433, and I reserve the balance of my time.

MR. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Today, I rise in support of H.R. 1433, the DHS MORALE Act. The bill seeks to address an issue that has plagued the Department of Homeland Security since its creation: low employee morale.

DHS has consistently reported low employee morale on the ``Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey'' and today remains dead last out of large agencies in employee satisfaction.

These numbers are troubling. DHS must find ways to improve employee morale. The Department's mission is too important for these issues to be ignored. H.R. 1433 will address the morale problem at DHS by improving leadership development, workforce planning, and employee engagement programs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1433 to improve morale throughout DHS and its components, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1433 would help improve morale among the Department's 240,000 employees by creating and cataloging leadership development opportunities, identifying and addressing factors that impact employee engagement, and recognizing employee contributions.

The DHS MORALE Act continues to have the support of the National Border Patrol Council, National Treasury Employees Union, and American Federation of Government Employees. Enactment of the bill will help DHS examine the root cause of the longstanding morale concerns and determine the best strategy to move the Department forward in a positive direction.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for my colleagues' support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1593) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a school security coordinating council, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1593, the Coordinating and Leveraging Activities for School Security Act.

Mr. Speaker, school violence continues to devastate communities and take the lives of so many young people. In 2018, we saw a record number of school shootings across the country. In response, Congressman Donald Payne, Jr., introduced H.R. 1593, the Coordinating and Leveraging Activities for School Security Act, known as the CLASS Act.

H.R. 1593 seeks to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security organizes itself to help bolster school security. Specifically, the CLASS Act establishes a standing body within DHS to coordinate the Department's school security initiatives, activities, plans, and policies. Additionally, to help ensure that DHS gives school security adequate attention, H.R. 1593 requires the Department to report to Congress on the work of the council.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1593, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), who is the author of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, school shootings have claimed the lives of too many young people. Passage of the CLASS Act would ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is positioned to be impactful in its efforts to address the escalating risk to school security.

I commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for his leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for my colleagues' support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1590) to require an exercise related to terrorist and foreign fighter travel, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1590, the Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2019.

Mr. Speaker, in the almost 18 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks, threats to the American public have become increasingly complex and today include threats posed by foreign fighters.

In 2015, the Committee on Homeland Security's Task Force on Combating Terrorism and Foreign Fighter Travel issued a bipartisan report that included a number of recommendations.

H.R. 1590 requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop and conduct a foreign fighter exercise that could be built into existing DHS domestic preparedness exercises. Importantly, after the exercise, DHS is required to submit an after-action report to Congress detailing the initial findings, plans for incorporating lessons learned, and any legislative changes informed by this exercise.

A very similar version of this legislation passed the full House last Congress. I am pleased that, through the markup process, modest modifications were made to improve the measure.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 1590, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, let me compliment the gentleman on the passage of this bill. This is, I believe, his maiden bill before the House of Representatives, and, from one Mississippian to another, I want to congratulate him for that.

Mr. Speaker, because terrorists are constantly seeking new ways to cause harm and spread fear, we must continuously work to keep pace with the evolving threat landscape.

H.R. 1590 seeks to strengthen the Nation's abilities to close the gaps in how we identify and assess threats from terrorist foreign fighters. As such, I support it and ask my colleagues to support it as well.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1589) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing functions of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to require dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to entities with responsibilities relating to homeland security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1589, the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2019.

In the last two Congresses, the Committee on Homeland Security has held several hearings on Federal, State, and local capabilities to prevent, identify, and respond to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack.

At those hearings, State and local stakeholders, including public health professionals, emergency managers, and first responders, expressed general awareness of the evolving CBRN threat, but expressed frustration with the level of information sharing about such threats.

H.R. 1589 seeks to facilitate improved CBRN information sharing by directing DHS to analyze CBRN-related terrorist threats and share relevant threat information with Federal, State, and local stakeholders.

These activities could help improve situational awareness at all levels of government and help DHS grant recipients better target their limited resources.

Prior versions of this measure passed the House overwhelmingly in the last two Congresses.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the measure once again, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, effective information sharing is essential to prevent and respond to threats posed by bad actors. H.R. 1589 will facilitate information sharing in the CBRN space where new threats are constantly emerging.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1589, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a valiant and selfless community servant, Eric Paymon.

Eric Paymon grew up in Jackson, Mississippi where he graduated from Forest Hill High School in 1996. He also attended Hinds Community College and Jackson State University. Officer Paymon is now furthering his education, pursuing a degree in Communications.

Officer Paymon has been gainfully employed as a police officer since graduating from Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy in 2005. He served as a Patrolman at Jackson State University and as a Deputy at the Hinds County Sheriff's Department.

Since 2007 Officer Paymon has been a model officer at the Vicksburg Police Department. He has held the position of Master Fire Arms Instructor where he was responsible for the training and qualification of all certified officers. Officer Paymon has worked in several capacities including Traffic Supervisor, Field Training Officer, Criminal Investigator, Patrolman and Watch Commander, supervising a shift of 11 officers. He is currently serving as Deputy Chief.

Officer Paymon is founder/owner of Secure One, a private security company providing security to local businesses, schools and private events.

Officer Paymon is happily married to his wife, Kimberly, and they are blessed with two children, Eriel and Eric, Jr. In his spare time, Officer Paymon enjoys Green Bay Packers and Jackson State Football, spending time with family, traveling and community service activities. Officer Paymon's life motto is ``If I can help somebody along the way, then my living shall not be in vain.''

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Eric Paymon for his hard work, dedication and tenacity to serving others.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Mary Williams.

Dr. Mary Williams was born to Albert and Emma Williams. She is the ninth child of ten children. Six sisters: Dorothy, Olivia, Sherlie, Maretta, Deleatha, and Chrystal and three brothers: Morris, Jeffrey, and Donald. Mary was raised in Marks, Mississippi. She is the owner of Urgent and Primary Care of Clarksdale, Mississippi, the first Urgent Care clinic to be opened in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Dr. Mary Williams is recognized amongst family, her community, and her colleagues as a woman of integrity, service, compassion, and outstanding spirit.

Dr. Williams attended and graduated from Quitman County High School. After earning her high school diploma (1987), Northwest Community College, where she earned her Associate Degree in Nursing, Delta State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and then attended Mississippi University for Women where she received her Master of Science Degree. With her commitment to becoming the best in her field, she attended the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2011, where she received her Doctor of Nursing Degree with a major in Forensic Nursing.

Dr. Williams is also a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner at Northwest MS Regional Medical Center, where her specialty is Renal Disease and Hypertension Management. She has spent her entire life building strong working relationships in the healthcare field and educating people on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Williams owned and operated Clarksdale's first locally owned hospice agency in 2001 thru 2007. She holds licenses to practice as a Nurse Practitioner in the state of Mississippi and Tennessee. She is also a member of the Mississippi Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, American Association for Nurse Practitioners and the National Kidney Foundation.

Dr. Williams has been named one of the Top 50 Mississippi Leading Business Women in the state of Mississippi. She has received numerous awards in healthcare. She credits all of her achievements to her strong foundation in God. She is a member of St. Matthew Church of God in Christ and an active member of Iota Delta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. where she currently serves as President.

Dr. Williams is the proud mother of two children, Ebony and Andre, and four grandchildren. Dr. Williams' leadership, passion, dedication, dependability, and service have made her synonymous with being one of the best, if not the best Family Nurse Practitioners

in the Mississippi Delta. Dr. Williams is recognized for her service to God, her family, her country, her community, and the people that seek her help.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. Mary Williams for her dedication to serving this great state and country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant. Mr. Timothy V. Chambers. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Technology from Alcorn State University. He later pursued further studies in the education program at Jackson State University and received his standard teaching certificate. Mr. Chambers earned his Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Jackson State University.

He started his education career teaching in Canton, Mississippi where he spent seven years collectively between Canton Elementary School, Nichols Middle School and the Canton Career Center. Mr. Chambers served as assistant principal at Canton Elementary School, Nichols Middle School and principal at Canton Educational Services Center. From there, Mr. Chambers traveled to Leake County to serve as principal for Leake County High School. While at Leake County High School, he successfully improved the school's rating from a failing school to a successful status. He then journeyed back home where he served as principal at Canton High School and director at the Canton Career Center.

Mr. Chambers' educational experiences have afforded him the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of people to meet the common goal of increasing student achievement and well-being. His educational philosophy is based on his uncompromising belief that all students can learn, given a positive learning environment, strong and knowledgeable leadership, a committed and focused educational team, an encouraging community, and a supportive family.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Timothy V. Chambers for his dedication to serving.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Vernice Black-Avant.

Vernice Black-Avant was born November 18, 1949 in Como, Mississippi to the late Albert and Della Mae Black. She was the fifth born of thirteen children. She was diagnosed at the age of ten with a childhood spinal illness. She and her parents and friends spent many months at LeBonheur Children's Hospital for surgeries, treatments and follow up visits. She was blessed with praying parents and grandparents: Effie Dodson Washington and Armetha Walton Black, who both saw to it that she had a Christian upbringing. She grew up in a rural community just west of Como, Mississippi. Vernice attended Carruthers and Melrose Elementary and Como Junior High School. In 1968, she and her family moved to Longtown, MS. This move came after her family was told to move over night or be burned in that house because her parents had encouraged her to attend a predominantly all-white high school during her senior year in high school.

After moving to Longtown, she met the man of her dreams, Robert Allen Avant, Sr. in 1968 and married six months later after graduating from North Panola High School. Following her wedding on July thirteenth they relocated to Chicago, Illinois for eighteen months. There she enjoyed cooking with her mother-in-law, Dorothy Jean Bishop-Avant and sitting in the window on Halsted Street watching the many Cadillac Eldorados go by as she waited for her husband to come home from work. After a couple years her aunt became sick, (her mother-in-law's sister) and they moved back to Longtown. After her Aunt passed, they moved to live with her mother-in-law in Memphis for a few months. Then in 1972, she began her career as an elementary school secretary at Crenshaw Elementary School where she worked for thirty-one years. While there, she served as lunchroom bookkeeper, doctor, counselor, negotiator, nurse, mediator, accountant, police/protector and friend.

In 1973, Vernice and Robert were blessed with their first son, Robert Allen Avant, Jr. Issac Lanier was born five years later. In 1981, they were blessed with their third son, Albert Hosia Jerriod Avant. A year later, they moved into their first newly built home. Vernice and Robert enrolled and attended evening/night classes at Coahoma Community College at the Crenshaw Interested Community Builders Campus in Crenshaw, Mississippi and both graduated in 1986 with Honors, merit Scholarships, and with an Associate Arts Degree. From 1987 to August 4, 2008, Robert Allen Avant, Sr. served as Panola County's District Two Supervisor with Vernice by his side in full support. After retiring for a short while, she went to work for a private corporation as secretary and bookkeeper for ten years. In August of 2008, following Robert's untimely death due to a very rare lung cancer, Vernice was sworn in as Supervisor of Panola County's 2nd District.

Currently, Vernice is serving her district and Panola County as vice- President of North Delta Planning and Development District, secretary for the Crenshaw P-16 Council for Crenshaw Elementary School and is an active member of McIvor Creek Missionary Baptist Church where she serves as President of the Mother Board. She is a Mississippi Association of Supervisors Education Committee member, former Mississippi Association of Supervisors Insurance Trust Board member, an active member of the NAACP and is an active member of Keep America Beautiful/Panola County. In her quest to be a servant to the people of Panola County, she made time to care for her brothers-in-law, Micheal Avant and Willie Avant, both of which lost battles to oral and throat cancers in 2009 and 2018 respectively. Vernice lost her eldest son, Robert Jr., to a long battle with diabetes and later colon and lung cancer in January, 2017. Vernice continues to serve with God as her focus point. She was recently nominated and awarded the ``Women of Excellence Award'' by the National Foundation for Women Legislators. All of Vernice and Robert's children have earned bachelor degrees. Lanier earned his Juris Doctor degree from Howard University in 2007 and Jerriod is working on his PhD in English at The University of Rhode Island. Thanks for the opportunity to serve such great people.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Vernice Black-Avant for her dedication in serving her community.