Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to share the news of a devastating loss to Harlem and the greater New York City community. We joined with many family members and friends at Memorial Baptist Church to celebrate the life of Harlem Youth Marine Cadet First Sergeant, Ackeem Paul Green, who passed away Sunday, June 3, 2012, from a fatal gunshot wound.

On behalf of our beloved Village of Harlem, my wife Alma and I want to extend our most sincere and heartfelt sympathy, support, and love to my beloved friend, Col. Gregory E. Collins, and the entire family of the First Sergeant Ackeem Paul Green. At the age of 25 he was indeed a promising young man continuing the honorable legacy of his father to better not only himself but his fellow community youth members as well.

Great young men like Ackeem are precious gifts that God has made to help make this world a better and safer place for all of us. First Sergeant Ackeem Paul Green lost his life on the urban battlefield, from gun violence right here at home, while enjoying a game of basketball with friends on a Sunday afternoon. First Sergeant Green was shot in the back by the enemy of illegal guns in the hands of our misguided youth. An enemy that has taken the lives of so many of our promising young carnations and roses and that has declared war throughout every urban neighborhood in the United States of America.

Every time I hear the news that one of our young sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, husbands and wives are struck down by illegal guns in the wrong hands of our misguided young people--it pains my heart with depression and anger. What makes this very difficult for me is that it has taken the life of a young man whose very focus in life was to mentor young men and women and provide them with a positive direction through the principles and leadership of the Harlem Youth Marines and with the values and courage of the United States Marine Corp.

Since the age of 15 Ackeem has committed countless amounts of time and effort to the Harlem Youth Marine Cadets (HYMC). Once Ackeem reached the age limit to serve as a cadet, he remained dedicated and continued to serve the organization through volunteer work. He took time to mentor young cadets and served as a positive and much needed role model to many of our youth both in and outside of HYMC.

The Harlem Youth Marines, Inc. provides instruction in military grooming and development to students willing and eager to learn. This

program has supported the youth in my district for over thirty years with an emphasis on youth development through education and discipline. They also provide cadets with the opportunity to indulge in basic military skill building activities such as rappelling, marksmanship, and weapons safety. The children of Harlem have thoroughly benefited from this program through the development of body, mind, and spirit. Ackeem was a remarkable testament of their success.

Mr. Speaker, I know that we, the Village of Harlem, will honor Ackeem's life by ensuring that his young infant son, Ackeem Paul Green, Jr., follows in his father's drill steps and exceeds his dreams and aspirations to be all that he can be. May First Sergeant Ackeem Paul Green's legacy be far remembered and everlasting, as we pick up the flag and defeat this enemy of illegal gun violence that has destroy the lives of our children, families and communities. I ask that you and my colleagues join me in honoring a great young man and an impassioned mentor whose legacy shall be far remembered and everlasting.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life and legacy of another Harlem's Southern Home Style Restaurant owner and Master Chef, Calvin Copeland, who passed away on Thursday morning, August 23. As we remembered and recently celebrated the life of Sylvia Woods, The Queen of Soul Food--certainly for 50 years, Mr. Calvin Copeland and his famed Copeland's Restaurant & Reliable Catering was worthy and reigned with royalty on West 145th Street, between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway in the Village of West Harlem.

Born in Virginia on May 1, 1925, Mr. Copeland headed north to live with an aunt who taught him her secret recipe to making finger licking good, fried chicken. Never one to forget his southern roots, Mr. Copeland proudly proclaimed Harlem as ``the place'' that made him famous by cooking and serving his delicious, and often catered, Southern foods and a little bit of live Jazz.

Mr. Copeland started the business in 1958 as a catering service, one of Harlem's first, in a modest storefront on Broadway north of 148th Street. Mr. Copeland baked and decorated cakes and only had but one worker, Ms. Gertrude Clark, who is white and grew up on a farm in upstate New York did whatever else was needed, which often included preparing Southern fare. Quoted in a New York Times Article, she stated. ``I had never eaten collard greens in my life, and there I was making fried chicken and souse meat.'' Ms. Clark later became Copeland's banquet manager.

Mr. Copeland eventually rented the store next door, opened up a hole in the wall, expanded the kitchen and started serving breakfast and lunch, cafeteria style. In 1980, As small business restaurateur, Copeland faced many challenges. In 1981, the restaurant burned to the ground and the insurance company went bankrupt before Mr. Copeland was able to recoup his losses. He lost everything, but the liquor. Back in the day Banks were not prone to lending money to restaurants located in Harlem, but because of the generosity of friends and special loyal worker, Copeland was able to reopen in grandeur. That very special worker was Gertrude Clark who mortgaged her property in upstate New York, which along with a small business loan helped her boss secure financing for a new location, on West 145th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam in Hamilton Heights.

Calvin Copeland became an institution, when he moved his business to 547 West 145th Street and opened Copeland's Restaurant & Bar Lounge and Reliable Catering Service, which was also a community buffet style diner. Copeland's became a destination for black families from as far South as Florida and the Carolinas and as far North as Buffalo, New York to Canada. Black entertainers, like Harry Belafonte and Stevie Wonder; and other notables would stop by when in town. Desmond Tutu, the retired Anglican archbishop, ate there once, and so did Muhammad Ali and the comedian Richard Pryor, who threw money in the air when he left the restaurant so as to distract the crowd that had surrounded him, Mr. Copeland stated that Natalie Cole was a regular. Michael Jackson came by once for take-out.

One of my fondest memories was the eve of the Mayoral General Election in 1989 when David N. Dinkins and I campaigned at the subway stop on 145th Street and Broadway and ate at Copeland's Restaurant. I don't know if it was the lucky fried chicken, the collard greens or Copeland's corner, but the next day David N. Dinkins won the election and became the first African American and 106th Mayor of the City of New York.

Copeland Restaurant was a place where you can catch Kathy Sharpton, Candi Staton, Lonnie Youngblood, Gloria Lynne and other great Jazz, Gospel and R&B artist perform. Where politicians held court and Harlem players and shakers hung out for breakfast. I miss those fried apples, chicken livers and cat fish, and that amazing banana pudding and sweet potato pie.

Unfortunately, in 2007 due to the economic downturn and poor health, Mr. Copeland had to close. Mr. Copeland always dreamed that one day he would make a comeback to the food business that he loved so much. He was a great teacher and mentor to those in need of a trade to make a decent living, Mr. Copeland trained many into the restaurant business. Even people coming out of prison with no real job options could depend on him for a professional introduction into the culinary arts.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Calvin Copeland, a Harlem Mainstay was there when rioters burned and looted stores in 1964, when crack cocaine and HIV/ AIDS tore families apart, when brownstones were for sale for $50,000 and few outsiders dared move in. He endured fire and financial ruin, yet each time he picked up the pieces and prospered, as bold and resilient as the neighborhood around him. If he could be the master of his fate, he would live out his days in Harlem. Please join me and

my colleagues as we salute another Harlem Icon, Mr. Calvin Copeland who has contributed to the greatness in which Harlem is known.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of our dear beloved spiritual leader, Bishop Norman N. Quick who passed away on Wednesday, August 1, 2012. The celebration will begin on Tuesday, August 7, as the local Jurisdiction of the Church of God In Christ presided by Bishop Frank O. White, General Board Member and Interim Jurisdictional Prelate will host the first Celebration of Life Service; and on Wednesday, August 8, the National Jurisdiction of the Church of God In Christ, presided by Bishop Charles E. Blake will host the final Celebration of Life Service. Bishop Quick will lie in state for viewing at Childs Memorial Temple Church of God In Christ, where both celebration services will be held.

It is with great sorrow that my wife Alma and I join Harlem and the Church of God In Christ Worldwide Ministry in mourning the death of our beloved Bishop Norman N. Quick who left an unforgettable and indelible mark in all of our spiritual hearts and minds. I am truly thankful for his decades of service to our community, and for the many personal memories that I will cherish forever. Bishop Norman N. Quick was a renowned and outspoken evangelist of the word of Christ, who grew his ministry nationwide and internationally, mentoring young pastors from as far as Africa, Asia and throughout the Caribbean, creating a legacy of evangelists and educators whose ministry will live through his teachings forever. Great men like our beloved Bishop are precious gifts we temporarily have in this world, but their assistance and contributions are far remembered and everlasting. Although he will be missed, his legacy now lives through his flock and through his children and that is a great comfort to all who knew this amazing servant of God.

Bishop Norman N. Quick was installed as Senior Pastor of Faith Temple Church of God In Christ in October 1973, after the death of another historic renowned Evangelist, Bishop Dr. Alvin Alexander Childs, who passed away on Saturday, August 11th of that same year. In 1974, Bishop Quick renamed the church to Childs Memorial Temple Church of God In Christ in honor of Bishop Dr. Alvin Alexander Childs, who also left an unforgettable and indelible mark on Harlem and in all of our spiritual hearts and minds.

Under the leadership of Bishop Quick and First Lady Sister Verline Quick, Childs Memorial Temple grew larger in its spiritual teachings and ministerial work throughout the West Harlem and ``Sugar Hill'' community. Childs Memorial Temple offered spiritual and compassionate support through its religious services and social programs. In 1976, Bishop and Sister Quick founded The Childs Memorial Temple Bible Institute for the purpose of promoting their study of the Bible, training Christian Workers and carrying the Gospel to the unsaved.

In 1982, they also established the Childs Memorial Temple Christian Academy, which has, and continues to provide a wholesome and religious education for hundreds of children in the community. Within the cathedral, the United Homeless Organization provides social services such as housing, job placement, and nutritious meals to individuals in need and rejected by society. Childs Memorial Temple houses Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops that serve both the community and the church.

At a time when drugs, housing abandonment and despair ravaged throughout the neighborhood and community at large, Bishop Quick was one of the founding pastors and churches to form Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement in 1986, where he actively served on the Board of Directors. His success was as much a result of his enormous charming personality and character, as it was of his spiritual work ethic. Bishop Quick's incredible hospitality and personable nature was symbolic of Harlem's rich collective composition that will be remembered forever.

The history of Childs Memorial Temple Church of God In Christ began with the Faith Temple Church of God In Christ under the leadership of Bishop Alvin A. Childs, which was one of the faster growing Pentecostal Churches in New York with over 3,000 members. Thousands of people received spiritual, financial and healing blessings under the dynamic ministry of Bishop Alvin A. Childs and the Faith Temple Church of God In Christ Family. Faith Temple was noted for its 11:00 p.m. radio broadcast where many people started gathering at 10:00 p.m. to hear the radio choir, many outstanding artists, Preachers and the voice of the Bishop, who was matchless as an orator and master `pulpiteer.' In 1965, at the time of Malcolm X's death, none of Harlem's gaping Cathedrals would open the doors for his funeral. A fearless Bishop A. A. Childs dared to allow Malcolm X's slim body with bullet holes in the chest to be rolled into Faith Temple. Thousands of people lined the streets in front of the church as hundreds squeezed into the 600 seat Temple where actor Ossie Davis delivered the Eulogy. Faith Temple was a friend to all classes of people, Mayors and Governors, rich and poor and the rejected of society.

Mr. Speaker, the Village of Harlem and a very grateful nation extend our sincere and heartfelt support, love, and sympathy to the Church of God In Christ family as we celebrate the life of our beloved Bishop Norman N. Quick, who now takes his place alongside our other renowned Freedom Fighters, who have contributed and dedicated their entire lives to uplifting the spiritual morality, civil rights, social justice and education equality for all Americans despite race, color or creed.

Thank you so much. It was such a pleasure hearing the word knocked around here, ``bipartisanship,'' and well there should be. I hope we can explain what it means to some of the newer Members.

As I was talking with Jim McDermott, whose ideas first created this legislation, some on the other side were Mr. Crane from Illinois, who was the cosponsor; Speaker Gingrich who was the first witness for this bill as I introduced it; and, of course, President Clinton, who took a bipartisan group of Members to Africa not only to help these African countries but to help American industry and the textile industry. But more importantly than anything, the United States became a symbol of being able to help people not just by handouts but by teaching them exactly what has to be done.

Oh, yes, Jim McDermott is right that when it comes to picking up the pieces and moving forward in terms of expiration dates and people not knowing how to invest. But let's face it, Jim, in today's climate, this is some sort of legislative miracle.

And it was completed with the help of Karen Bass, who came here and she worked the devil out of people on the other side of the aisle. They got so annoyed with her that I had to come in and to let the committee members know that she's new here, but when she gets involved in something, that the Senate, the other body, doesn't mean that much. I got a call from Bob Menendez saying it was his idea all along to get this thing through. And we have done it.

I do hope, Chairman Camp, that we might snatch what this means in bipartisanship. It may be long and difficult before this session ends to find something else. But I know that those who played a role in this over a decade ago and see that we are moving forward in that bipartisan way with the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Ways and Means Committee, that we all leave here as better legislators.

First, let me thank Ranking Member Levin for giving me this opportunity, and let me thank the chairman for bringing up the idea that this Congress is concerned about taxes. I say that because some of us will go home, and our friends and constituents will say, Well, how long are you going to be home? I guess we have to say for close to a month.

They say, Do you mean that Thursday, today, was the last day for over a month?

Yes.

So what were you doing?

I'll say, We were doing taxes.

Oh. What were you doing about taxes? Were you talking about reforming it?

I would say, I heard the word ``reform'' being used, but no. We are being asked by the Republican majority to vote for a pathway to reform.

I wish I had some of the Republican statements on this floor stapled to my press release so that I could explain what the heck is a ``pathway to reform.''

Since 1986, what we had thought ``reform'' was was to cut out from that Tax Code obscene provisions--some shouldn't have been in there, and certainly there is no reason for them to be in there now--to save trillions of dollars and to take that savings by reducing the high rate that we pay corporations and so that we can be competitive in the international market; but someone outside of the Congress said that to close these loopholes and to raise revenue are the wrong things to do. I don't know where this wiggly path is to reform, but I know one thing--we're not going to be dealing with this path in August or in September. It's hard for me to believe that we're going to do it this year.

So what the heck do we need a path for when the American people are jobless and looking for a way to some type of relief and when the only thing they believe is that, somewhere along the line, the Republicans want to get rid of Obama and don't care how they get rid of him? The Republicans don't care whether it's jobs, education, science, air pollution. Don't let the Congress be cooperative and be involved with anything that's good for the country as long as the President gets a chance to sign it for the United States of America.

Now, how in the heck can we be on a path to reform when basically what we're talking about is that tax reductions that were supposed to be temporary expire at the end of this year? What reform is there for those people who see a dramatic increase in their taxes in order for liberals and conservatives to say, We don't want that to happen? If we don't want that to happen, why don't we do something about it today so that they and businesses will know what tomorrow is going to look like beyond today, which for all practical purposes is the end of our legislative session?

It is my understanding that 98 percent of the people will get dramatic increases under this pathway, this roadway. Their taxes will go up. Now, we have to admit there are some wealthy people who belong to the less than 2 percent. It's abundantly clear, if the reason they have to hold hostage the 98 percent is that they have created all of the jobs, well, they certainly haven't proved it in the past; they aren't proving it now; and very few of them hold small businesses so that they will be adversely affected. I would assume that that is the controversial 2 percent. I would assume that that's what we should fight about.

I would hate to be a Republican who has to go back home to his district and explain that the reason 98 percent of hardworking taxpayers are going to get an increase in their taxes is that we felt so strongly about the top wealthiest people that we said, The heck with them. We're not giving that up until we make certain that you are protected.

Wow. Sometimes the party asks too much of its members, and I really hope that somewhere along the line the hatred and animosity for this President at least will be reduced to the voting booths and not to the country.

Someone once said that the goal of the Republican Party is to get rid of Obama and to make him a first-term President.

I understood that. I started saying these things about Nixon and Bush--all of those things--but I never dreamed that it meant having the country go down with the captain. I never dreamed that it meant that you don't let the President increase the debt ceiling. I never dreamed that it included millions of jobs and tax relief for people as it seems that they mean. I hope things change in September.

Mr. Speaker, it is with immense gratification that I recognize the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and its Summer 2012 Interns for the completion of their intensive nine-week internship program on Capitol Hill. This summer, 40 college-aged students from across the nation participated in this program. These students were chosen through a competitive process based on an essay submission, a history of community involvement and a sense of civic engagement.

The CBCF's Congressional Internship program was designed to diversify our Congressional offices and give students an opportunity to develop their talent as young professionals and future leaders. During their tenure, summer interns had the opportunity to learn more about public policy and gain a complete understanding of the federal legislative process. In addition, they have grown professionally by identifying the skills and qualities of strong leaders. Outside their congressional offices interns put their legislative experience to use by engaging in their own mock Congress simulation.

Furthermore, interns were offered the opportunity to attend numerous professional and leadership development workshops, networking events, and engage with Members of the Congressional Black Caucus. I had the privilege to speak with the CBCF interns myself, encouraging them to be leaders and continue to be persistent in their fight for equal justice and opportunities for all. I would like to specially recognize CBCF intern Amir Rowe who worked in my office this summer. Amir demonstrated a great deal of proficiency in completing assignments and engaging with my constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to congratulate the CBCF 2012 summer interns for taking advantage of this lifetime opportunity and I thank the CBCF, under the leadership of Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., for providing such an invaluable experience.

Ashley Bobo, interning in the office of Rep. Laura Richardson, attending Harvard College;

Jeremy Broadus, interning in the office of Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, attending Rutgers University;

Tierra Burns, interning in the office of Rep. Melvin Watt Cameron, attending North Carolina Central University;

Melissa Chin, interning in the office of Sen. Charles Schumer, attending Brown University;

Saliha Cifci, interning in the office of Rep. Al Green, attending Rutgers University;

Devon Cox, interning in the office of Rep. Hansen Clarke, attending University of Michigan;

Nairobi Cratic, interning in the office of Rep. Gwen Moore, attending Temple University;

Devon Crawford, interning in the office of Rep. Terri Sewell, attending Morehouse College;

Elizabeth Davis, interning in the office of Rep. Bobby Scott, attending George Mason University;

Courtnie Drigo, interning in the office of Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, attending Rice University;

Camylle Fleming, interning in the office of Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, attending Wellesley College;

Chazmon Flood, interning in the office of Rep. Maxine Waters, attending Howard University;

Ariana Gibbs, interning in the office of Rep. Bennie Thompson, attending Spelman College;

Brianna Gibson, interning in the office of Rep. Donna Edwards, attending Columbia University;

John Grigg, Jr., interning in the office of Rep. Donna Christensen, attending University of Tampa;

Brittany Harvey, interning in the office of Rep. Andre Carson, attending Clark Atlanta University;

Brandon Hill, interning in the office of Rep. Corrine Brown, attending Stanford University;

Tyler Hill, interning in the office of Rep. Barbara Lee, attending University of California, Berkeley;

Brooke Hutchins, interning in the office of Rep. Chaka Fattah, attending Georgetown University;

Duane Jackson, interning in the office of Rep. Yvette Clarke, attending Bates College;

Ocoszio Jackson, interning in the office of Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr., attending Morehouse College;

Tatehona Kelly, interning in the office of Rep. Marcia Fudge, attending American University;

Jordan Lindsay, interning in the office of Rep. William Lacy Clay, attending Morehouse College;

Malaiya McGee, interning in the office of Rep. Gregory Meeks, attending Howard University;

Kaylan Meaza, interning in the office of Rep. G.K. Butterfield, attending North Carolina State University;

Origen Monsanto, interning in the office of Rep. David Scott, attending Southern Polytechnic State University;

Khristopher Nicholas, interning in the office of Rep. Alcee Hastings, attending Columbia University;

Matthew Norwood, interning in the office of Rep. John Lewis, attending Dartmouth College.

Jasmine Omeke, interning in the office of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., attending Harvard University.

Brittany Porter, interning in the office of Rep. Frederica Wilson, attending Hampton University;

Jeremy Ratcliff, interning in the office of Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, attending Livingstone College;

Amir Rowe, interning in the office of Rep. Charles Rangel, attending St. John's University;

Shannon Schoultz, interning in the office of Rep. James Clyburn, attending American University;

Kaleese Shepperd, interning in the office of Rep. Bobby L. Rush, attending Western Illinois University;

Jason Sneed, interning in the office of Rep. Karen Bass, attending University of Southern California;

Travis Stanislaus, interning in the office of Rep. Edolphus Towns, attending Cornell University;

Jonathan Sykes, interning in the office of Rep. Hank Johnson, attending Fort Valley State University;

Rahel Tekola, interning in the office of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, attending Texas Tech University;

Terrence Thrweatt Jr., interning in the office of Rep. Elijah Cummings, attending St. Mary's College of Maryland;

Benjamin Turman, interning in the office of Rep. John Conyers, attending Hampton University.

Mr. Chairman, I've never been so fortunate in this House to have the Republicans state the argument as clearly as they have this afternoon, and I think Wally Herger said it. It is possible that we're not talking about a tax cut. People working every day trying to make ends meet, they don't know the wonderful tax cut that they are enjoying, but you bet your life if we don't come together, if we don't reach agreement, they'll understand what a tax hike is. That's exactly what's going to happen to 98 percent of the tax-paying people of this great country.

Taxpayers, who work every day, who raise their families, who buy from the local merchants that keep small business alive, are going to find out, probably too late, that the Republican Party says you don't deserve the lower tax rate. Then they may ask: What's holding this up if everyone agrees that they should have it?

We're going to have to explain to the middle class what the Republicans are explaining to us: that somehow we are to believe that less than 2 percent of the population is creating the jobs and really supporting the economy. I don't know where they've been or how they're going to come back, but they haven't been creating jobs, and they haven't been spending and investing money. Even if there was a controversy, why the heck are we holding hostage 98 percent of the people?

If Republicans agree and Democrats agree and liberals and conservatives and even Tea Party people agree that these people who work hard every day should continue to have this tax cut, then why the heck don't we agree to give it to them? If it ever becomes that we're in a political debate, and it's only about less than 2 percent of 100 percent, then let's fight like the devil over that and see who prevails. But it's not going to be hard for us to explain this. If you do this to the hardworking American people, shame on you.

Mr. Speaker, I stand to honor a venerable Harlem institution, Sylvia's Restaurant, on its 50th anniversary. Founded by the late Sylvia Woods, Sylvia's is nationally and internationally famous, yet its soul remains in Harlem.

On Wednesday, August 1, 2012, to kick off Sylvia's Restaurant's 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee, the Woods family salutes the Harlem community with a complimentary Southern-style sidewalk breakfast party featuring Cake Man Raven complete with a voter registration drive, children's programming, live entertainment, guest speakers, prize giveaways and plenty of ``Dancing in the Streets.'' The celebration continues with The Golden Jubilee Parade, featuring the awesome Brooklyn Steppers, which begins at Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Harlem State Office Building African Village Plaza from 125th Street and 7th Avenue to Sylvia's Restaurant at 127th Street and Lenox Avenue.

I'd like to include in this Congressional Record, in celebration of this milestone occasion the obituary that was prepared in remembrance of Mrs. Sylvia Woods.

In Remembrance of Sylvia Woods, February 2, 1926-July 19, 2012

If ever there was a woman who defined strength, ambition

and determination coupled with enough entrepreneurial spirit

to uplift and inspire generations, it was Sylvia Pressley

Woods, `The Queen of Soul Food.' Encapsulating family

traditions of love, unity, female empowerment and of course

soul into her business ventures, she not only established an

imprint with her famed restaurant Sylvia's, but the visionary

blazed a trail for an entire community to emulate. After a

blessed 86 years with us, Sylvia Woods departed this world

and reunited with her late husband, Herbert Deward Woods, on

July 19, 2012.

On February 2, 1926, Sylvia Woods was born to Van and Julia

Pressley in Hemingway, South Carolina. Three days after

Sylvia's birth, her father succumbed to chemical-weapons

injuries; he worked to ensure financial stability. When

Sylvia was three years old, her mother left her in the care

of her grandmother and the greater community of Hemingway as

she went to Brooklyn, New York in search of work and

increased opportunities. It was the notion of strength and

that sense of family togetherness which ultimately defined

who Sylvia Woods became. Julia returned to Hemingway a short

time later whereby she raised her children, Sylvia, Louise,

whom she adopted, Christine (Tiny), and Janie (Cout), whom

she also raised.

In an era where women were fighting for equal footing,

Sylvia's grandmother already had a farm and instilled the

value of ownership in Julia and later in Sylvia herself.

Widowed after her husband was falsely accused of a robbery

and hung, her grandmother later remarried and eventually

fought to maintain control of the property after the second

husband passed away. It was on that land, on that farm that

Sylvia Woods absorbed an impeccable work ethic along with her

cousins and other children from the community. It was under

the hot sun that she picked beans every day after school and

first fell in love with food. And it was there that Sylvia

initially met her future husband at the tender age of 11 as

she worked alongside him on the farm. You could say it was

destiny.

Sylvia's mother Julia worked tirelessly as a laundress in

New York and saved nearly every penny with the aim of

purchasing the property adjacent to her own mother. That

dream ultimately came to fruition. She returned to South

Carolina when Sylvia was still an adolescent. Julia bought

property next to the farm and had her own house constructed.

Together, as a family unit, they worked the farm and

provided living examples of strong, independent, Black land

owning women for young Sylvia to one day replicate.

In addition to their domestic work and maintenance of the

farm, both Sylvia's mother and grandmother were midwives for

Hemingway during their prime. Despite being unable to read or

write, her grandmother was the community's only midwife at

the time. This unyielding persistence to rise above adversity

was a quality passed down to Sylvia, as was a sense of

humility and gratitude for all of life's blessings. Sylvia

herself once recounted that as a young child, she considered

herself extremely lucky to be able to study by a lamp, for

many in her neighborhood could not afford electricity. It was

these humble beginnings that allowed Sylvia to continue to

cherish each and every success and never waver in support of

the less fortunate.

During her formative years in Hemingway, Sylvia observed a

community that lived and worked for the benefit of all. It

was commonplace to adopt someone's child if the need arose,

or to help out in a person's home if necessary. Sylvia's

mother and grandmother had both adopted children at various

points in their lives. It was in this environment where

Sylvia's dedication to hard work was fine tuned, as her

mother made sure she stayed busy even on rainy days when the

beans could not be picked. Learning to sew and mend, Sylvia

started replacing buttons and repairing worn out clothing for

herself and the family. But soon enough, that transitioned

into a new creative outlet. Without the benefit of patterns

to duplicate, or any formal training, Sylvia began making

clothes--complete outfits--and tapping into the ingenuity

that played a key role in all her life's work

Whether she was expressing her innovative side, or working

on the farm, Sylvia's childhood also centered on one other

main factor: food. Watching her mother, grandmother,

relatives and neighbors pour their hearts into the dishes

they served, she understood that great food didn't just

emerge; it required passion, love and soul. As different

folks added their own ingredients and made their own

specialties, Sylvia soon learned that cooking was a creative

and artistic process unto itself. It was those recipes that

were in turn handed down from generation to the next. And no

matter what the occasion, it was food that brought everyone

together.

When Sylvia was 16, her grandmother sent her to cosmetology

school in Brooklyn in order to find work as a beautician. The

youngest person to graduate in her class, Sylvia then

returned to South Carolina. After a few years honing her

beautician skills while still assisting her family at home,

she made the difficult decision to return to New York. In

addition to parting ways with relatives, Sylvia faced the

heart-wrenching reality of saying goodbye to her beloved

Herbert. Possessing the same sentiments as Sylvia, Herbert

joined the Navy shortly thereafter with the hope that he

might one day sail to Brooklyn and reunite with his love.

Although he never quite made it to Brooklyn through the Navy,

the two married soon enough and moved to the village of

Harlem.

On the tough and often unforgiving streets of New York,

almost everyone was chasing after a dream. But it was the

incomparable lessons of integrity, sacrifice, dedication and

courage of her childhood that laid the foundation for

Sylvia's eventual empire in Harlem and was an imprint for the

nation. When the Woods first moved uptown, Herbert drove a

cab to earn a living, while Sylvia worked a factory job on

Long Island. Exhausted for her commute, she seized an

opportunity to work as a waitress at Johnson's Luncheonette

on Lenox Avenue. It was a decision that later proved

invaluable.

When Sylvia first accepted this waitressing job, it was yet

another daring move not only because she was inexperienced,

but because she had never set foot inside a restaurant

before. Growing up in the Deep South at a time when most

restaurants barred Blacks and Black-owned restaurants were

basically non-existent, she had no knowledge of the

complexities of the fast-paced industry. But Sylvia was a

quick learner.

In 1962, when the owner of this luncheonette was leaving to

focus on other ventures, he offered to sell Sylvia the

establishment. After her initial shock, Sylvia realized the

potential this venue could have for a community that was

still yearning for a place to call home. Remaining true to

the ideals of working as a family, Sylvia went to her mother

who then mortgaged the family farm and allowed her daughter's

concept to become a reality. On Aug. 1, 1962, Sylvia's opened

its doors. It had 15 stools and six booths.

Having a business is no small feat, let alone a restaurant

vying to survive during a period when many were forced to

close their doors. It was Sylvia's faith and unbelievable

relationship with Herbert that allowed her to overcome any

obstacle big or small. From the fields of South Carolina

where they looked after one another, through an enduring

marriage that saw the birth of four children--Van, Bedelia,

Kenneth and Crizette--the Woods had a bond that few will ever

experience in their lives. Both were born in Hemingway, and

both lost their fathers as babies. And in an added twist of

fate, both Sylvia's mother and Herbert's mother were born

on the same day, January 1, 1906.

During the 1960's, Harlem was an unpredictable and ever-

changing neighborhood. As many restaurants struggled to

remain open, Sylvia's found a niche with its southern

cuisines of collard greens, peach pies, fried chicken,

cornbread and other soul foods. But it was the warmth and

love with which Sylvia welcomed patrons into the restaurant

and that extra touch of care added into her dishes that won

the hearts of the community. Her establishment was so well

respected in fact, that during the riots of the '60s, as

businesses were set ablaze, hers remained protected and

intact.

``Sitting idle is not an option'' is what Sylvia's mother

used to say, and it's what Sylvia herself exemplified

throughout her time on earth. As her restaurant grew in

popularity, so did her efforts towards expansion. Sylvia's

currently seats over 450 patrons, and the powerhouse behind

it all had branched off into other business endeavors. She

purchased the remaining stores on the restaurant's Lenox

Avenue block, as well as several nearby brownstones. She

packaged her own signature line of food products that found

their way into grocery stores across America and remain of

the few truly Black owned businesses in food production

today.

And she somehow found time to publish two successful

cookbooks.

In 2001, Sylvia said goodbye to her best friend, the love

of her life, Herbert Woods. In his memory, the Woods family

founded the Sylvia and Herbert Woods Scholarship Fund

offering collegiate scholarships to Harlem and local

residents. To date, the fund has dispersed 76 scholarships

and will continue to live up to its mantra: ``a higher level

of education should not be a high-end luxury, but a right to

all those who seek it''.

After the death of her soul mate, Sylvia once again turned

to her faith for renewed empowerment. Growing up in a strong

Christian home, she came to know God as a young child. She

was a firm believer in the notion that no matter what the

adversity, God would see you through. It was a value and

belief system she passed down to her children and

grandchildren. Sylvia was a member of Abyssinian Baptist

Church for many years, and later joined Grace Baptist Church

as it was more convenient for her to attend there. She was

instrumental in the construction of her home church, Jeremiah

Methodist, in Hemingway.

In 2007, Sylvia received a Congressional honor

acknowledging her immense contribution to American society.

She appeared in numerous national and international media

outlets and has been saluted by President Bill Clinton, New

York Governor Pataki, New York Mayors Ed Koch, David Dinkins

and Mike Bloomberg, the New York Stock Exchange, among

others. She was also recognized by the NAACP and received

numerous awards.

Sylvia's has proudly served Presidents--including the first

African American President, Barack Obama--international

dignitaries, celebrities, Harlem residents and tourists the

world over. It is owned and operated by three generations of

the Woods family that remain committed to the work ethic,

devotion, and entrepreneurial spirit of its founder. 2012

marks the 50th anniversary of Sylvia's.

A relentless fighter and champion first for her family,

community, and minority/female-owned businesses, Sylvia is

now reunited with her mother, grandmother, husband Herbert,

adopted sister Louise Thomas and half-brother McKinley

Preston, all of whom have passed on. She is survived by her

four children, Van (Brenda Woods) Bedelia, Kenneth (Sylvia

Woods) and Crizette; one step-daughter, Linda Woods; 18

grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two great-great-

grandchildren; two special cousins, Christine Cameron and

Janie Cooper; one sister-in-law, Evelyn Woods; a host of

loving nieces, nephews, cousins and a nation that will

forever be indebted to a woman who reminded us to never lose

sight of the key ingredient for any success.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of this esteemed Harlem institution. May it continue its long run of excellence for another 50 years and more.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness, but also great pride, that I rise today to share a few words about Sylvia Woods, founder of Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem, who passed away on Thursday, July 19, 2012. Ms. Woods was a local hero and a world renowned restaurateur, but also a dear personal friend; her death marks a devastating loss to Harlem and the greater New York City community, and she will be sorely missed. On behalf of the Harlem community, my wife Alma and I extend our sincere and heartfelt support, love, and sympathy to Ms. Sylvia's entire family.

Ms. Sylvia was an exceptional woman whose extraordinary work ethic and wonderful character should serve as a model for all Americans. Her life epitomized the American dream. Growing up on a farm in Hemingway, South Carolina, she began working in the field as a young girl and then made her way to New York in search of opportunity. After working as a teenager in a Queens hat factory for several years, she began working as a waitress at a luncheonette in Harlem.

This would mark the beginning of her fortuitous journey to the center of Harlem society. Ms. Sylvia would eventually purchase that luncheonette and, with hard work and patience, transform the small restaurant into a commercial empire boasting a catering service, banquet hall, and a nationally distributed line of prepared foods. Her farm to fame journey should remind us all of the great opportunity this country represents, and the hard work necessary to achieve it.

But Ms. Sylvia's success was as much a result of her charming personality as it was of her work ethic. She was a dynamic, warm, and kind woman who greeted every customer with a friendly and inviting smile. Her incredible hospitality and personable nature were symbolic of Harlem's rich communal character, and for that she was beloved. Her energetic personality attracted local and national politicians, international celebrities, tourists, and ordinary neighborhood residents, and created an environment so comfortable that it naturally became the social center of our community.

I want to thank Ms. Sylvia for her decades of service to our community, and for the many personal memories that I will cherish forever. Thank you for creating such a special, magical place at the soul of Harlem. Nothing can replace you, but your legacy will live on forever in our hearts.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in mourning Ms. Sylvia Woods' passing. It is my hope that her example will serve as a testament that, with hard work and genuine character, we can achieve our greatest dreams.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Amb. Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel

in New York, who will meet with New York City's Jewish and other community leaders and elected officials on Friday morning to honor the 11 Israeli Olympians who were killed by a terrorist group during the 1972 Munich games.

As the new Olympians march in the opening ceremonies of the 2012 games, these community groups and elected leaders will gather together for their own minute of silence, hearing the firsthand account of 1972 Israeli Olympian Avi Melamed. The Munich Massacre, as it has come to be known, occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September. Eleven Israeli athletes and coaches and a West German police officer were killed.

On this 40th anniversary of the horrendous act of terror, we are not only reminded of the importance of our special relationship with Israel but also of the existence of evil in this world.

Recently, we witnessed another terrorist attack on an Israeli tour bus in Bulgaria that left at least 7 dead and more than 20 wounded. These kinds of attacks against innocent people are horrifying and reprehensible. Such violence targeting people for their ethnicity, nationality or religion has absolutely no place in our world.

Whenever and wherever we witness the taking of innocent lives for whatever reason, the voices of the concerned people must be heard. While terrorist attacks on the people of Israel were once viewed as a regional problem, today we know that the entire world is no longer safe from the warped minds of those who have no regard for the lives of children and people who do no harm. We must fight against those who choose to recklessly use the fear of terrorism against innocent victims to achieve their own evil political objectives. We must remain vigilant and outspoken.

So I join the New York community this Friday as we come together to condemn such acts of terrorism and to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the massacre in Munich. Whether or not the International Olympic Committee agrees to pay tribute to the fallen, we will observe a moment of silence to pray for the victims and their loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I am pleased to recognize the National Association for Advancement of Colored People for its 103rd year of pursuing justice and equality for everyone in America, regardless of color, religion, or gender. The NAACP is one of our nation's most revered and outstanding organizations dedicated to social, political, and economic equality. It has fought countless battles--from race riots to voter suppression--to protect the rights of all persons.

I commend the leadership of President Benjamin Jealous who has been outspoken on the most pressing issues in our communities. He has inspired thousands of Americans across the country to take action, whether it is organizing the ``Justice for Trayvon Martin'' movement or protests against unfounded voter ID laws.

Furthermore, I am pleased to acknowledge the Mid-Manhattan branch of the NAACP located in my district for its unwavering commitment to our community. The branch is involved in mentorship programs, youth development, and encouraging people to be politically and socially active. This year they helped to organize the ``Silent Stop and Frisk'' march in June, which rallied roughly 72,000 of our community. I had the pleasure of marching in unison with them against unjust stop and frisk practices that discriminately target minorities and violence in our communities. The event was an example of NAACP's continuous efforts to galvanize and mobilize our communities to stand up for equality.

I am proud to congratulate the Mid-Manhattan branch for receiving the Thalheimer award for outstanding membership enrollment at their annual convention in Houston, Texas earlier this month. I applaud them for their accomplishments in health and education advocacy, fighting for economic empowerment, and continuously standing up for justice.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in honoring the NAACP during its 103rd anniversary for its accomplishments and tireless commitment to uplifting all communities throughout America.

This Sunday, the International AIDS Conference is going to be held in our Nation's Capital. It was some 30 years ago that this serious disease became known in our great country and spread from other parts of the world. Since that time, we've lost over a half a million people, yet we have not found a cure for this deadly disease.

I have introduced legislation, H.R. 1462, with Senator Gillibrand, to see whether or not we can have more national attention focused on the fact that we can do a lot more than we are doing.

The major thrust, of course, of what we have to do is to educate people that, although it used to have great stigma, there are so many different ways to come in contact with the disease. Education is one way that we can help people. Prevention, of course, is another, but I would like to emphasize the need for testing. So many people are walking around with the virus and have no idea that they have it. Even though there have been efforts made by community organizations for free testing, this is one of the exciting things about the President's Affordable Care Act.

There is no question that after we get finished with the political circus that we are forced to go through because of the coming election that more and more Americans will understand the benefits they are receiving even now from this universal coverage, which so many people need, and the dramatic decrease in cost when people are able to get preventative care. Preventative care is one of the major parts of the President's Affordable Care Act. What it means is that people can now go to doctors for regular checkups and can find out things in time to prevent them from becoming more serious.

My mom had three kids. When I was a kid, someone told her that she was going to the doctor with us, and we were not sick. Well, that was something that we didn't think was a luxury we could afford. Now, in seeing how important it is to contain serious illnesses and to reduce the costs of health care, it is so important that preventative care be a part of our national health system, and the quicker we get on with the implementation of this great bill, the more lives and the more dollars we will be able to save.

So, remember, if you have any interest at all, take a look at what is going to be happening in September. The Congressional Black Caucus, during our legislative weekend that month, will have professionals come in to talk with us, to teach us, to tell us what we can do to extend this education process throughout our great country.

My colleagues, I know that history would reflect that this Presidential election started much earlier than most of them do. As a matter of fact, it started the very day that President Obama was sworn in. The honesty of this Republican Party was for them to say that the strategy for getting back the White House was to make certain that their primary job was to get rid of Obama. The destruction of the President of the United States and everything he stood for, every piece of legislation, every idea had to be destroyed as their strategy, not for America, but for their party.

Well, I assumed that this was just political rhetoric. I didn't put too much importance to it. But when the debt ceiling came, I felt it was just a little Republican ploy of playing chicken to see how much they could get.

But when I saw they were prepared to allow the fiscal integrity of the United States of America, and what it represented, to go down the drain just to embarrass the President, then I was nudged to take another look to see just how far would they go.

Then comes recently the Attorney General, where we just didn't seem to care what kind of bad history we were making for this great Republic. We were going to, the first time in history, hold him in contempt and turn it over to the Justice Department to see what they could do to the President.

Then, of course, comes the tax cut for 98 percent of the American people. I never heard in political science 101 how you tell 98 percent of the American people that they are going to be held hostage for a tax cut or a continuation of the tax cut that they had.

But I think, when it gets to health care, you don't have to be religious to understand that you are talking about a right to live, a life to improve the quality of your life, a life to give children, not necessarily your children, but any child, a better way of life, and the ability to be able to say that even if you had a precondition, you are entitled to health care.

And when someone comes up with this grand idea, the whole thing that it is the person who thought about it that decides whether you are going to either support it, repair it, make it better, perfect it, but to repeal it, and to leave nothing out there except that, trust us, we're going to replace it, it is so unfair to the American people, who could only dream that one day health care would be something that as an American, and as a human being, they would be entitled to.

The things that are happening now by the majority party in this House are very contagious because a lot of young Democrats think this is the way to govern. A lot of Democrats are coming here thinking that the more mean you get, the more successful. It's bad for this Congress and it's bad for our great country.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to share the news of a devastating loss to Harlem and the greater New York City community. We joined with many family members and friends at Memorial Baptist Church to celebrate the life of Harlem Youth Marine Cadet First Sergeant, Ackeem Paul Green, who passed away Sunday, June 3, 2012, from a fatal gunshot wound.

On behalf of our beloved Village of Harlem, my wife Alma and I want to extend our most sincere and heartfelt sympathy, support, and love to my beloved friend, Col. Gregory E. Collins, and the entire family of the First Sergeant Ackeem Paul Green. At the age of 25 he was indeed a promising young man continuing the honorable legacy of his father to better not only himself, but his fellow peers as well.

Extraordinary young men like Ackeem are a rare commodity in this world and serve a higher purpose in making it a better place. First Sergeant Ackeem Paul Green lost his life on the urban battlefield, from gun violence right here at home, while enjoying a game of basketball with friends on a Sunday afternoon. First Sergeant Green was shot in the back by an illegal gun in the hands of a misguided youth. Gun violence has taken the lives of so many of our promising youth and it has taken over every urban neighborhood in the United States of America.

Every time I hear the news that one of our young sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, husbands and wives are struck down by illegal guns in the wrong hands of our misguided people--it pains my heart with anger. What makes this very difficult for me is that it has taken the life of a young man whose very focus in life was to mentor his peers and others to provide them with a positive direction through the principles and leadership of the Harlem Youth Marines and with the values and courage of the United States Marine Corp.

Since the age of 15 Ackeem has committed a tremendous amount of time and effort to the Harlem Youth Marine Cadets (HYMC). Once Ackeem reached the age limit to serve as a cadet, he remained dedicated and continued to serve the organization through volunteer work. He took mentored young cadets, served as a positive influence in the community, and was a much needed role model to many of our youth both in and outside of HYCM.

The Harlem Youth Marines, Inc. (HYCM) provides instruction in military grooming and development to students willing and eager to learn. This program has supported the youth in my district for over 30 years with an emphasis on youth development through education and discipline. They also provide cadets with the opportunity to engage in basic military skill training activities such as rappelling, marksmanship, and weapons safety. The children of Harlem have thoroughly benefited from this program through the development of body, mind, and spirit. Ackeem was a remarkable testament of their success.

Mr. Speaker, I know that we, the Village of Harlem, will honor Ackeem's life by ensuring that its young infant son, Ackeem Paul Green, Jr., honorable legacy remains alive. We must bring a realistic end to gun violence because it is destroying the lives of our children, families and communities. I ask that you and my colleagues join me in honoring this ambitious young man and an impassioned mentor whose legacy shall be far remembered and everlasting.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of my dear longtime friend and Harlem native, Gil Noble, who made his transition on Holy Thursday, April 5, 2012 at the age of eighty. Born to Jamaican immigrants Gilbert and Iris Noble in Harlem on February 22, 1932, Gil Noble was a pioneering anchorman and journalist who spent his career giving voice to Black Power and the African Diasporic experience. For over forty years he was perhaps the nation's most important black journalist, bringing the struggle for civil rights and equality into the homes of millions of Americans in black and white and in color.

Growing up influenced by jazz pianist Erroll Garner, a young Gil Noble took up the piano and decided as a teen to pursue a career in music. He formed the Gil Noble Trio, playing in New York clubs while attending City College. Later in life his love of jazz would later lead him to become a strong supporter of the Jazz Foundation of America and join its board of directors. After graduating, he went on to work for Union Carbide and modeled part time, where he met his wife, Jean, also a model at that time.

Gil Noble began his fifty years career in television and programming, when he got his first break in broadcast media in 1962, as a part-time announcer for Harlem's radio station WLIB. Gil began reporting and reading newscasts as well as servicing the Associated Press teletype machine and tracking interview tapes. In 1967, he joined WABC TV as a reporter and served as anchor for the station's Saturday and Sunday night newscast in 1968. Gil's career surged when he was named host of WABC TV's ``Like It Is.'' During his numerous decades hosting his iconic television program, Like It Is, Gil acquainted the country with the story and the culture of Black America.

The show was truly groundbreaking. It engaged black leaders in sports, journalism, film, education, civil rights, politics and business, like Bill Cosby, Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Erroll Garner, Carmen McRae, Aretha Franklin, Dr. Billy Taylor, Nancy Wilson, Sidney Poitier, Imhotep Gary Byrd, (Dr. Ben) Yosef Ben-Jochannan, Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson and Minister Louis Farrakhan to name a few.

Gil told it like it is and interviewed national and international historic figures like President Nelson Mandela of South Africa and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. He interviewed controversial and uncontroversial with profound discussions of the world's most important issues. I was greatly honored to appear on Like It Is, with Reverend Dr. Calvin A. Butts of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, where we gather to say farewell to our dear friend and legend.

The program also featured insightful documentaries that delved into the lives of Paul Robeson, Martin Luther King, Jr., W.E.B. DuBois, Malcolm X, Charlie Parker, Jack Johnson, Fannie Lou Hamer, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), Justice Bruce Wright and countless other prominent figures of the African and Urban Diaspora. Perhaps most importantly, it provided an intelligent and progressive forum for black Americans that changed the way the nation viewed its black citizens. Gil's legacy will continue as a trailblazer for African Americans in journalism.

Mr. Speaker, you would be hard pressed to find anyone in Harlem who does not have memories of gathering with friends and family to watch Gil Noble eloquently discuss the issues of the day. The death of Gil, a son of Harlem, is especially saddening for the Village of Harlem, but also our nation and the world. We will all miss this intellectually passionate man and the inspiration he gave to our nation.

On Thursday, April 12, hundreds of Harlemites, New Yorkers and world visitors convened at Harlem's historic Abyssinian Baptist Church to pay final tribute, respect and honor to a man who was larger than height. May our spirit be filled with light and progress and may the light guide us through the fear and ignorance of our times in remembrance of my dear beloved Gil Noble.