Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in mourning of Dorothy Height--a dynamic, resilient spirit who served as the matriarch and female voice of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement--and in celebration of a career that spanned eight decades, beginning as a teenager in the budding United Christian Youth Movement. By her 20s, she was the group's leader in campaigns against lynchings and

segregation in the Armed Forces, including a stint as the lead in dealing with the outcome of the Harlem riot in 1935. Her meteoric rise to influence came as president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), a post she retained for three decades. In an era of racial tension and the march towards greater minority rights, Height set herself apart as a pioneer, marching with Martin Luther King, Jr., A. Phillip Randolph, and my esteemed colleague, Rep. John Lewis. Forty years ago, she stood alongside King, a marble and limestone Lincoln, and a reflecting pool, as he announced a dream he had of a more perfect union. She not only stood at the precipice of history, she helped carve out a significant and indelible part of it.

The cause of her life proved to be dealing with the unmet needs of the downtrodden and forgotten. As president of NCNW, she focused on improving the lot of women and their families, working tirelessly to combat hunger and establish home ownership programs for those of low income. After 30 years at the helm of NCNW, she became its chair and never gave up the fight well into her late 90s. She recently met with President Obama as part of a group of key African American leaders meeting at the White House for a summit on race and the economy. In 1994, President Clinton awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and ten years later, this Richmond, Virginia native born to working- class parents earned the highest civilian and most distinguished award presented by this Congress, the Congressional Gold Medal.

Dorothy Height taught us all--women and men of all faiths and races-- to never relent in the struggle for equality. With a steel spine, grit, and determination, she lent a powerful female voice to a movement that needed her personal grace and perseverance. She had no tolerance for sitting idly by or leaving the hard work for generations that followed, famously noting that ``if the time is not ripe, we have to ripen the time.'' May we carry that sentiment and her uplifting spirit as we face the challenges that confront us as a nation. She will be missed, but the power of her life's work will not: it will continue to inspire and motivate us for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise with the utmost humility, respect and admiration as I pay tribute to my dear friend, Brother Claude A. Sharrieff Frazier. As I speak with pride and honor for my friend Sharrieff, I ask us all to celebrate a life that was lived to the fullest and also to remember his love for life and community involvement and all the remarkable contributions he made to Harlem.

Claude Sharrieff Frazier, a veteran of World War II, a scholar, and one of Harlem's devoted townsmen and radio personalities, was born in Harlem, New York on December 13, 1925. He was raised from infancy by his grandmother, a native of Jamaica, a stern disciplinarian and a member of the historic St. Philip's Church at 134th Street in Harlem and also by his grandfather who was a respected elder of St. Mark's United Methodist Church. He was reared and obtained his primary and secondary education in Harlem. He spent most of his childhood and adolescent years in St. Philip's learning about history and culture from the priests, curates, deacons, and lay readers. In the early 1960's, he visited Mosque No. 7 and shortly thereafter accepted the teaching and leadership of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Brother Claude Sharrieff, a well known Harlem icon served his Nation during World War II at the age of 16 with the mighty 784th Black Battalion Tank Unit. Proud and active, Claude dedicated his life-work to celebrating and supporting the contributions and sacrifices made by Black Veterans of all wars. He was a life member of the fighting 369th Harlem Hellfighters, the Colonel Charles Young American Legion Post 398 and the 784th Tank Battalion Association, Inc., to name just a few. I always look forward to participating in his regular annual salute to veterans that occurs each and every year at his beloved Windows Over Harlem Restaurant and Catering establishment.

Upon his return after World War II, Claude enrolled in and eventually graduated from College of New Rochelle with a Bachelor's in Arts in Social Science degree. He went on to hold the position of Deputy Director for the Institute for Mediation and Conflict Resolution, eventually also earning a Paralegal Certificate from Bronx Community College in 1987.

Claude loved his beloved Harlem and contributed greatly to many important historic episodes of this world renowned community. From the early days of the struggle for the right to own and work in businesses along 125th Street to the rise of Black Nationalism and Islam, Claude Sharrieff bore witness and stood on the front line. So proud of his military achievements and African heritage, Claude's discipline led him to Mosque No. 7 and the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. As a servant of Allah, he was so proud when he was able to bring Windows Over Harlem to the community of Harlem, especially housed in the building of his beloved idol and close friend, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Sharrieff also rendered bookkeeping and tax services to small businesses in the Harlem community.

Windows became an international gathering place where he catered to many luminaries, entertainers and personalities like me. He also used Windows to host News & Views at 9:30 a.m. on WPAT Radio, for 11 years, keeping the community informed by tackling issues that affected New York City as a whole and Harlem in particular. Claude used Window's to embrace the entire African Diaspora from the Middle East, North, West, Central and southern regions of the continent to the shores of our great Nation. His Windows Over Harlem bridged and united communities from West Africa to Asia, becoming a place where you could express who you are, where you come from and gain employment.

Sharrieff spent the last years of his life as the Chief Fiscal Officer for Windows Over Harlem Restaurant and Catering. Windows Over Harlem was his dream come true as it allowed him to serve and cater to the people of Harlem, in the spirit of his great idol and close personal friend. Sharrieff would sometimes say, ``We're doing what Adam would want to see done in Harlem.'' Even in hard times and doubting moments, he would remain unfazed, sidestepping worries with a simple, ``I have a plan.''

Claude Sharrieff Frazier was also an active member in the Harlem Republican Club, where he eventually became President, yet he never waivered in his support for me. On Friday, March 19th, 2010, Sharrieff was called home to Allah after a short illness. He will be remembered in a very special Harlem world salute on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at his grandfather's beloved landmark, St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Harlem.

Madam Speaker. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe and experience his example as a personal inspiration. Though Sharrieff is no longer with us, his memory will remain alive in our hearts and minds behind a great written legacy summed up in his own words: ``Freedom of Spirit and the interaction with humanity remain my focus in life. I love the history of our ancestors for their sacrifices and the contributions that they made towards the growth and development of America, even during slavery and unto this day.''

We are all blessed to have known Claude A. Sharrieff Frazier, a titan of a man who gave us all life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of our brave men and women in the Armed Forces who are returning to our nation in increased numbers to find that their prospects are limited because they have chosen to fight for our security and safety. I would also like to commend the Honorable Bob Filner in the House Veterans' Affairs Committee for his commitment to recognizing the importance of our veterans' military sacrifices and patriotism.

It is our duty as a nation and government to protect those who have so valiantly fought for our freedoms. Our objectives should be to ensure that they are included in the process of growing our economy in the most vital way possible: procuring employment. Not only should we fight for their inclusion but also provide them tools they need to compete in the job market, whether it be psychological counseling for the traumas they experience while in combat or job training to bolster the unique skill sets they have acquired during their time in the service.

The House Veterans' Affairs Committee has embarked on the process of increasing the employment prospects for our veterans through the National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009 and H.R. 4592, which funds the establishment of a pilot program encouraging veteran employment in energy-related positions. Not only do these pieces of legislation affect veterans but also their families and those that depend on them. The cost of living in this country is on the rise, and important pieces of legislation like the Veterans' Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment Act of 2010 would make sure veterans' compensation keeps apace. Our veterans are men and women who have chosen to give up their lives, jobs and seeing their families for the sake of serving and defending our nation. It is unseemly that when they return they face unemployment.

The fact that unemployment is currently at an all-time high has not been lost to our veterans returning home. Instead of being welcomed with open arms by this country, they are faced with the double fear of not finding employment while worrying about how to keep their homes and pay their mortgages. The Veterans' Affairs Committee has sought to remedy this situation by introducing the Helping Heroes Keep their Homes Act of 2009, which aims to stem the tide of veterans losing their homes, and worse, ending up homeless.

At any given time, our nation is faced with 107,000 homeless veterans. While this number is considerably lower than it was a few years ago, any one homeless veteran is one too many. It is a disservice to our veterans for us not to assist them in acquiring permanent homes. The End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010 seeks to rectify this important issue by increasing the funding available for helping our homeless veterans. I believe that the passage of this legislation would substantially improve the plight of our homeless veterans and potentially place them on the track to having a place to call home. Our veterans deserve the most from us and I am committed to working with Congress to get the job done.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. And on this historic occasion, I guess those of us who have served so long in the Congress hope and prayed that this day, this night will come. And, of course, a lot of us are concerned how we will be remembered. When you reach my age, that seems to be a little more important.

And on this bill, when you just talk about health care and health reform, it seems to me that now is an opportunity even for those who fought this concept over the years and fought all the concepts such as Medicare and Social Security, to think about how they would like to be remembered. And I hope that that memory would be that even though the bill was not as perfect as they would want it to be, that they did vote for health reform, because that means Congresses that follow us, the same way we followed those that created Social Security, those that created Medicare, will have the opportunity to improve upon it.

So we are not saying that this is the best legislation ever. We are saying this is the best and only opportunity that we have now.

So I do hope that when the final vote is taken, that we will have it as a bipartisan vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of a very special and extraordinary individual; a woman who embodies the best of mankind and who has dedicated her whole life to improving the lives of others. The woman of whom I speak is none other than Dr. Dorothy Irene Height.

Today, Dr. Height celebrates her 98th birthday and I couldn't be more proud and honored to call her my friend.

This African-American administrator, teacher, and social activist, has been a leader in the struggle for equality and human rights for all people her whole life. Her life exemplifies her passionate commitment for a just society and her vision of a better world.

Born in Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Height moved with her parents to Ranklin, Pennsylvania at an early age and attended public schools. Winner of a scholarship for her exceptional oratorical skills, she entered New York University where she earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in four years. It was while she was working as a caseworker for the welfare department in New York that Dr. Height joined the National Council for Negro Women, NCNW. It was this single act that helped launch her career in civil rights.

In 1965, Dr. Height inaugurated the Center for Racial Justice, which is still a major initiative of the National YWCA. She served as the 10th National President of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., from 1946 to 1957, before becoming President of the NCNW in 1958. Working closely with civil rights giants such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, and A. Philip Randolph, Dorothy Height participated in nearly all of the major civil and human rights events in the 1950s and 1960s. It was for her many tireless efforts on behalf of the less fortunate, that President Ronald Reagan presented her the Citizens Medal Award for distinguished service to the country in 1989.

Dr. Height is known for her work in international and developmental education. In three decades of national leadership, she has served on major policy-making bodies affecting women, social welfare, economic development, civil and human rights, and has received numerous appointments and awards.

Dr. Height continues to enjoy a lifetime of achievements. Her continuous devotion and work to advance the rights of women, and her efforts to empower the poor and the powerless, speak volumes for this is truly a woman whose life is the epitome of courage, vision, and deep faith--an inspiration to us all.

To my colleagues here in the House . . . please join me in extending to Dr. Height, congratulations and warmest wishes on this her ``special day.''

Dr. Height, ``Happy Birthday.''

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I really can't understand how this discussion is dealing with Republicans and Democrats. When someone loses his job and loses his health care, loses his dignity and pride and ability to take care of his or her rent or pay the mortgage or tuition in school, when they make applications for unemployment compensation, I really don't think that people ask: Are you a Republican or a Democrat? And this is true of health insurance as well as it is for education and job training. This is what makes America great, not the majority or minority party. At the end of the day, what have we done as Congress and a part of government to allow people to put their hopes and dreams together so that we can get a full recovery?

For those who are critical of this bill for what it hasn't done, it's only one step as we attempt to move forward to get America back to work. That's what we all want. For those who say that too much is given to government, my God, we're talking about putting people back to work so that they have the ability to buy from small business people.

We eliminate taxes for capital gains if you invest in small businesses. We provide incentives for startup funds so that people can have the small businesses. And there's not a mayor, there's not a Governor, who doesn't truly believe that putting people to work on infrastructure, building schools, getting involved in low-income housing--we're talking about jobs. Not Democratic jobs, not Republican jobs, but jobs that can put money in people's pockets to fulfill their obligations and their dreams.

So let's get away from this partisanship. Why don't we just ask: Is it good for America and not just good for our party?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Speaker, my colleagues, one of the lowest points in my political career was when I asked for a leave of absence from the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee. I had thought at that time with my feeling about how important it would be for the entire Nation to have access to

quality health care that I did not want to do anything or be anywhere to distract from our leadership, Nancy Pelosi, our leader Steny Hoyer or Jim Clyburn, but most important, the great Members who worked so hard with me and our dedicated staff to get out the first bill on this very important subject.

When people ask how do you feel and how are you today, I can report that this has been one of the most historic moments of my life, to be privileged to serve in this great body and to be a part of this legislation that I know that, no matter how long anybody has been in this great legislative body, people will ask, Which side have you been on? And thank God I am on the right side.

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and enthusiasm that I rise to congratulate Metropolitan Baptist Church as they join together in celebration of their 100th Anniversary. This momentous and joyous celebration will commence on March 21, 2010.

Metropolitan has a very rich history that has given it life and longevity for the past 100 years. At a time when a systematic campaign had been started by area landlords to force African-Americans out of my beloved Harlem, the Metropolitan Baptist Church began with the merger of two churches: Zion Baptist Church pastured by the Reverend P.C. James, and Mercy Seat Baptist Church, pastured by Reverend Dr. N.S. Epps.

The officers of both churches met at the home of Reverend Epps. At the meeting, it was decided that both church names be dropped. Trustee Robert L. Hill of the Mercy Seat Baptist Church suggested the name that would be carried on throughout its History, Metropolitan Baptist Church. A motion was made, carried and recorded, and that day, March 12, 1912, the Metropolitan Baptist Church was started. Its first location was the Subway Church, home of the old Mercy Seat Baptist Church, on West 134th Street near the new 135th Street Subway station. The new church was led by Dr. Epps, its first pastor until 1914.

In 1916, under the Rev. W.W. Brown, the church built the enormous Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle at West 138th Street. After the Baptist congregation bought the New York Presbyterian Church on West 128th Street in 1918, where it remains to this day, the Tabernacle became Liberty Hall. This was the focal point of Marcus Garcey's Back-to- Africa movement, where the first convention was held in 1920 of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Thousands were drawn to the elaborately ritualistic, almost religious, meetings at the hall.

Since its inception, many Governors and Members of Congress from both the Democratic and Republican Party have visited the church to garner the support of its congregants. In 1994, Metropolitan Baptist Church, under the tutelage of Reverend John A. Smith, became a Triple Landmark, having earned Federal, City, and State landmark status.

From its modest beginning, Metropolitan Baptist Church has emerged as a cornerstone of my beloved village of Harlem. Under the guidance of its 5th pastor, Reverend Bobbie McDaniel, Metropolitan continues to thrive, both in terms of spiritual growth as well as practical improvements. The proud members of the church are thankful for the spiritual and emotional leadership he and the previous pastors have provided during their 100 years.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in honoring and congratulating Metropolitan Baptist Church on their historic 100th Anniversary. Their historic significance, constant dedication, and spiritual guidance is worthy of the highest commendation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the 45th anniversary of the ``Bloody Sunday'' massacre, the first of three attempted nonviolent marches from Selma to the State Capitol Building of Alabama. It played a tremendous role in shedding light on the evils of segregation and prejudice that pervaded the United States. I was there, marching from Selma to Montgomery, on March 7, 1965. Among 600 fellow protesters, we famously marched in support of an audacious dream--a march broken up by armed state troopers who brutally assaulted participants, including my dear friend and colleague Representative John Lewis, who was beaten unconscious and nearly left for dead.

The peaceful demonstrators intended to raise awareness of the brutal murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson by an Alabama State Trooper during a nonviolent demonstration supporting the Voting Rights Act. It only took six blocks into the march before protesters encountered a wall of state troopers. As the protesters attempted to pass, they were nefariously and unnecessarily attacked by nightsticks, fired at with tear gas, and charged at by troopers on horseback. Because of the vicious violence that ensued against the nonviolent protesters attempting to exercise their First Amendment right to freedom of speech, the event became known as ``Bloody Sunday.''

Images of the vicious massacre were broadcasted throughout the world, including that of the recently widowed Amelia Boynton, a Selma-native who played an integral role in the planning of the marches. ``Bloody Sunday'' served as veritable evidence of the terrorism against Blacks ingrained in the segregationist movement of the South. The succeeding events played a paramount role in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and raising awareness of the saddening state of racism in this nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute and honor African American servicewomen who served their Nation with distinction and great courage as the 369th Historical Society pays tribute to women in the military in celebration of their Annual Women's History Month Awards Dinner Dance taking place at the elegant Eastwood Manor in the Bronx, New York.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, in which I served in the United States Army. In recognition of the 369th Historical Society's salute to women in the military this month, I would also like to pay special tribute to all of the no longer forgotten heroes, African American Servicewomen who served our Nation valiantly during the Korean War Era, and during a time when the military was ordered to desegregate.

On July 28, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 mandating equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin, initiating an end to segregation in the Armed Forces and in the military. African American servicewomen, because of their small numbers, were often the first and, sometimes, the only to train, command, work and live in desegregated settings.

Women like Army Nurse Captain Eleanor Yorke, Private Sarah Keys, Dovey Johnson Roundtree, Mary Teague Smith, Helen Gentry, Freddie Mae Hopson, Annie Graham and Ann Lamb not only served in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, but they were major factors and contributors in bringing down and wiping out Jim Crow in the United States military.

In 1952, Army Nurse Captain Eleanor Yorke was the only female passenger among 4,200 men sailing on military transport from the Far East to San Francisco. Captain Yorke had spent more than two years in Japan and eight more months in Korea treating war wounded. On the 13- day trip home, her fellow passengers treated Captain Yorke like a queen. Besides being the only woman aboard military transport, Captain Yorke was one of only about 600 women, only a few of whom were African American, stationed in Korea during the entire three years of the Korean War.

``It was a terrible eight months, but I was too busy to be scared. We received the wounded 20 to 45 minutes after they were hit, treated them on the spot and than shipped them to the rear depending on how badly they were wounded. They came by helicopter and ambulance. The helicopters flew continuously from dawn to dusk and the ambulances rolled on constantly. It got pretty rough at times, working under artillery bombardment, and many times, I was rocked to sleep in my army cot from the reverberations.'' Captain Eleanor Yorke, Army Nurse Corps, speaking to a reporter from the Baltimore Afro American in May 1952.

Also in 1952, two African American military women challenged segregation law to end Jim Crow policies on interstate transportation. Private Sarah Keys was on leave, travelling in uniform on a bus from New Jersey home to North Carolina. When the bus reached Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina after midnight, there was a change of drivers. The new bus driver requested that Private Keys, seated toward the front of the bus, exchange seats with a white Marine, also in uniform, seated near the back of the bus. Keys refused. She was arrested, detained overnight in jail, and fined $25.00. Convicted of disorderly conduct, Keys began a legal battle against discrimination and prejudice.

Dovey Johnson Roundtree, a former WAC officer and then an attorney in Washington, DC, agreed to take the Keys case. In 1942, Roundtree had volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) at the advice of her mentor, Mary McLeod Bethune. Bethune had worked for years to desegregate the military, both men's and women's services, and actively recruited qualified African American candidates. Roundtree became one of 36 African American women to graduate in the Army's first class of commissioned officers. After World War II, she attended Howard University Law School on the GI Bill, becoming one of the school's first female law students.

Dovey Johnson Roundtree and her partner Julius Robertson initially filed suit for Keys in

the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in October 1952, but the court decided the suit was out of their jurisdiction and refused to hear the case. Roundtree then filed suit with the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). The suit, Keys v. North Carolina Coach Company, stated that Keys had experienced unjust discrimination, undue and unreasonable prejudice, and false arrest and imprisonment on the basis of race and color. In 1955, an eleven-man ICC commission agreed with Keys and Roundtree and reversed the separate-but-equal Jim Crow policy in force on all interstate transportation since 1877. A few months later in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a city bus, and a 381-day boycott ensued. The Supreme Court subsequently ruled that state and local segregation laws for public transportation were unconstitutional.

In Fort Lewis, Washington, Mary Teague Smith, the Detachment Commander of a predominately African American WAC Unit noticed that women in her unit were promoted more slowly than white women in other units. Commander Smith complaints went up the chain of command without results, and by 1952, she was reassigned to Japan. Desegregation efforts usually meant placing African Americans into white military units. White women assigned to the detachment complained because they were in the minority; the Secretary of the Army informed a congressional committee on the armed services of intentions to reassign personnel so that African American women would comprise only 20 percent of the unit. The detachment at Fort Lewis, Washington was an exception. It remained predominantly black throughout the Korean War.

Helen Gentry remembered the transition of the Air Force from segregation to desegregation.

``I experienced the termination of the Air Force segregated by race when our base unit was integrated in 1949-50. As an Intelligence Specialist I was assigned to a Fighter Wing headquarters at McChord Air Force Base, Washington. My top secret clearance attuned me to world wide events long before public revelation, events such as our extensive spy plane flights over the Soviet Union.''

In 1949, the first flight of African American Women in the Air Force (WAFs) graduated from an eleven-week basic training course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. These 17 women from 11 states were a small group compared to the 330 trainee strength of white flights, but on graduation day, they came in third in the first ``All Basic Training Parade,'' competing against over 10,000 men. In 1949, the Air Force officially mandated desegregation and the service disbanded Jim Crow units.

In the United States Navy, African American servicewoman served in desegregated units. Freddie Mae Hopson enlisted in the Navy in early 1952. In 1953, she received an assignment to Hawaii as the assistant to the Foreign Liaison Office of the Port Control Office at Navy Headquarters where she once served as hostess for a USO dance for soldiers returning from Korea. ``There were 3000 men and 1000 females . . . the band would play three songs . . . 1000 men would be allowed into the hall and at the end of the third song, they would be sent out one door and the next 1000 would be let in the front door . . . That was indeed an experience.'' Stated Freddie Mae Hopson.

African American women were not allowed in the U.S. Navy until 1944 after months of debate to define the service's racial policies. Once they were allowed to join, women in the Navy served in desegregated assignments, but the numbers were minute. In early 1948, the Navy could claim only one African-American woman officer and only six African- American women among an enlisted force of 1,700. New York's first African American Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., charged that the status of black women in the Navy proved that the service was practicing ``not merely discrimination, segregation and Jim Crowism, but total exclusion.'' The Navy worked to improve its public image and during the Korean War, announced the achievements of African American women through black newspapers.

In the Marines, African American women had never served in the Marines until Annie Graham and Ann Lamb volunteered in 1949. Annie Grimes became the third to enlist in 1950 and the first black woman officer to retire after a full 20-year career. Segregation shaped many of their experiences. Off-base they were not welcome in public places with their fellow Marines and on-base, white beauticians would not cross the color line to provide standard personal services.

The American cultural climate of the time relegated most women to non-professional, low-paying jobs and promoted a feminine ideal of domesticity and maternalism. The armed forces reflected this attitude, offering women ``pink collar'' jobs with little room for advancement. As the Korean War began, the effects of decades of protest, and political and legal activism had made few inroads into racial segregation. The inequities of the ``separate-but-equal'' doctrine of the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court decision still shaped public policy, race relations and white attitudes in most of America.

Madam Speaker, African American women who volunteered in the military during this period broke through barriers to gender and race in order to serve their country and test new policies.

The 369th Historical Society is an all volunteer non-profit organization, chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. Established in 1960 to collect, preserve and maintain artifacts, books, papers, photographs, film and articles on the history of the 369th Regiment, its allies and affiliates, and of African American soldiers who served in the Military Service of the United States. The 369th Historical Society Museum is housed in the 369th Regimental Armory, home of the famous Harlem Hellfighters. The Museum's holdings consist of an extensive collection of photographs and artifacts of the 369th Soldiers from WWI to the present.

As we remember and celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War, let me thank the President of the 369th Historical Society, Major General Nathaniel James, Ret. and all of the officers and staff for your annual tribute to women in the military and for preserving the history and contributions of African American servicemen and servicewomen whom served our nation with distinction, courage and honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the challenges and difficulties that our Black veterans encounter as they embark on reintegrating to civilian life. I would also like to commend the Honorable Larry Kissell for introducing H. Con. Res. 238, and his conviction on recognizing the importance of their military sacrifices and patriotism.

The story of the African American soldier is one of extraordinary faith, hope and determination in the face of bitter disappointment over denial of their well-earned rights to full citizenship. It is a story of inspiration, leadership and a refusal to accept ``no'' for an answer. Ultimately, it is a story of their victory over legal segregation and discrimination. Their story speaks of their long struggle for equality and willingness, in each instance, to forsake violence in their struggle for justice.

Black Americans have fought for their country going back to the Revolutionary War when 5,000 Black men risked their lives in the cause of independence. Serving in the Continental Army, mostly as infantry and artillerymen, they fought in the first battles at Lexington and Concord, and crossed the Delaware with George Washington. Overwhelmingly, they resisted the enticements of the British enemy, who offered promises of freedom if they would join the Redcoats. Yet, after the victory, the first of Black America's military heroes were met, not with parades or accolades, but with whips and chains as they as they surrendered their weapons for bondage on the plantation.

African Americans also served in the War of 1812 when the Battalion of Free Men of Color helped to save New Orleans in a counterattack against the British invaders. The nation reneged on the rhetoric of General and later president Andrew Jackson who told the Black fighters, ``You surprised my hopes. The nation will applaud your valor.''

Fifty years later, in the Civil War, 200,000 Black men took up arms and manned military vessels, one out of ten of the entire Union army. Among the most famous was the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, which gained its modern-day fame in ``Glory,'' a movie depiction of their heroic attack in the first wave of the assault on the beaches of Charleston. The regiment was wiped out.

Black soldiers not only had fought well, they provided the margin for victory when finally called upon as reinforcements by President Lincoln to bolster the devastated Union army. But even following this victory in the Civil War, when they fought not just to preserve the Union but to end slavery in the existing states, the nation went back on its promises. While Emancipation had ended the evil practice of legal slavery and allowed a short breathing space of freedom and political participation, less than two decades later Black Americans were bound by the new set of legal shackles of Reconstruction and Jim Crow.

Regardless of these negative circumstances, Black troops broke the societal constraints. One such group, the 369th Harlem Hellfighters, was the first African American Regiment during World War I. Faced with surmounting discrimination and rabid racism in the U.S., they were sent to fight with the French troops against the Germans. Not only did these Black troops serve the longest stretch in battle without replacement, 191 days, they did not lose ground or men to enemy capture. This all Black unit earned the Croix de Guerre, France's highest military honor, yet upon returning to their homes in the U.S., they were vilified and discriminated against as they had been before the war.

Again, during World War II, our Black soldiers proved their loyalty and commitment to the United States. The Tuskegee Airmen, America's first Black military airmen, helped break through the constraints of a segregated military when, inspired by their bravery and achievements, President Truman promulgated Executive Order Number 9981 in 1948. Many of these Black veterans fueled the Civil Rights movement through their courage and strength to change the status quo and fight for equality.

Black Veterans have time and time again proven their loyalty and patriotism to a country they were instrumental in building. They have led the charge in breaking the shackles of slavery and discrimination. We must stand in support of our brave men and women in the Armed Forces as they return in increasing numbers to find that their employment prospects are limited. Others are suffering the detrimental effect of multiple deployments and PTSD.

It is our duty as a nation to assist those who have so valiantly fought for our freedoms by providing the tools necessary for them to fairly compete in the job market whether it is psychological counseling for trauma experienced while in combat or job training to bolster the unique skill sets they have acquired during their time in the service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of our former colleague, Congressman John Murtha. He died on February 8, 2010, at age 77, following complications of surgery. John represented Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District for 36 years in Congress, longer than any Pennsylvania lawmaker.

John Patrick Murtha was born June 17, 1932 in New Martinsville, West Virginia, and moved to Pennsylvania as a child. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1962 with a degree in economics and did graduate work in economics and political science at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Congressman Murtha dedicated his life to serving the nation he loved, first in the military. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1952, during the Korean War period, and served until 1955, joining the Reserves. Then, during the Vietnam conflict, he volunteered for combat and served as an intelligence officer in 1966 and 1967. John received the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts for this service, retiring from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel in 1990.

One of the first Vietnam veterans to sit in the House and a career reservist, John effectively applied this valuable insight to his work in Congress. As the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, he worked tirelessly for the benefit of the nation's troops and their families. For his political courage in speaking out against the Iraq war, and his dedication to principled public service, John was awarded the 2006 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.

Congressman Murtha has earned a well-deserved place in history as a patriot, war hero and statesman. The nation will miss his dedication and vast experience in lawmaking, and we will miss him as a dear friend and generous mentor.

I express my condolences to John's wife Joyce and their three children, and I urge everyone to honor and remember our colleague, John Murtha.

Madam Speaker, I rise with great pride, admiration and sadness as I pay tribute to my dear friend and life-long buddy, Brother James E. Booker, Sr., as we celebrate the passing of one of Harlem's greatest National Correspondents and Political/Community News Columnists at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Harlem.

As I speak with profound honor and respect for my friend Jimmy, I ascend to celebrate a life well-lived and to also remember the many journalistic professional accomplishments of this remarkable man. Always dressed in his signature bowtie look, Jimmy Booker penned his name in history. He was the classic newspaperman, a writer with a remarkable flare for accuracy, integrity and style. Jimmy's columns, ``The Uptown Lowdown'' and ``Top Drawer Stuff,'' were informative, edgy and insightful capturing unfolding stories about Harlem, Black New York. City Hall, Albany and our Nation's Capital.

James E. Booker, Sr., was born in Riverhead, New York to Fletcher and Elizabeth Booker on July 16th, 1926. He was reared, attended school, and worked on his father's farm in Riverhead, New York. In 1948, Booker graduated from Howard University in Washington, DC, with a Bachelor's in Arts in Journalism, and then moved to New York City to begin a career in Journalism working as a reporter for the Amsterdam News in Harlem. In 1950, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He later returned to his job as a Journalist with the New York Amsterdam News.

Jimmy referred to his 16 years at the Amsterdam News, where he eventually became Executive Editor, the most exciting of his journalistic career. He traveled the country, interfacing with such notables as the Rev., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harlem Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, National Urban League Director, and Whitney M. Young, all of whom he developed a first name relationship with.

On December 22nd, 1956, he married the former Jeanne Carol Williams, in New York, and moved to the newly erected Lenox Terrace, where he lived for the remainder of his life. In 1964, the couple had a son, James E. Booker Jr. (Reverend James E. Booker, Jr). In 1966, Jimmy took his family to Washington, DC, to work as Special Advisor to President Lyndon Baines Johnson. In 1968, Jimmy returned home to Harlem, and opened up his own public relations business, ``James E. Booker Associates'' on 527 Madison Avenue in New York City.

Jimmy leaves behind a great written legacy of stories, history, adventure, and legendary achievements that will continue to uplift all of our African American families to the highest levels of advancements. Jimmy story includes some of the most important historic episodes of the 20th century. When Fidel Castro arrived in Harlem in 1960, Jimmy Booker was there, interviewing the young Cuban for one hour at the famed Theresa Hotel. Figures like Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr., Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and National Urban League founder, Whitney M. Young.

Even the notorious Bumpy Johnson who ruled the streets of Harlem did not escape the pen. Jimmy knew first hand how dangerous a man he was. ``He put a gun to my head and told me he didn't like what I had been writing,'' Booker once told a group of friends one night at the Theresa Hotel where he frequented, amusing listeners with many incredible tales.

He covered us many times, Percy Sutton, Basil Paterson and David Dinkins, the infamous Gang of Four with those same remarkable attributes that made us so revered in his famous national and local weekly columns. He served the cause of justice by covering the biggest stories of the Civil Rights Movement, giving the world insight on groups like the NAACP and the Black Panthers Party.

For years his column in the Amsterdam News was chocked full of tidbits and gossip about Harlem, the kind of ``who shot John'' stuff that never failed to keep readers' attention. Later, during his tenure at the New York Beacon, he maintained his tireless contact with every facet of the community's activities, roving from board meetings, to funerals, to rallies, to wherever the action was. Booker's Columns were published weekly in many independent and syndicated news and community publications including: ``The Afro Times,'' The Daily Challenge,'' ``Big Red,'' and ``The Twilight.''

Jimmy was also a very close advisor to many politicos, activist and community organizations, past and present, including Lloyd E. Dickens, ``The Fox'' J. Raymond Jones, Fred E. Samuels, Professor Preston Wilcox, Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Edward Fordham, Inez E. Dickens, Keith L.T. Wright, C. Virginia Fields, Hazel N. Dukes, Dr. Annie B. Martin and the NAACP to name just a few.

Jimmy was also fond of Harlem's Nightlife where he covered many luminaries, entertainers and personalities like Count Basie, Billy Eckstine, Sammy Davis, Jr., Charles Honi Coles, Leroy Myers, Gregory Hines, Pop Brown, George Benson, Nat Davis, Irene Reid, Jimmy ``Preacher'' Robins, Gloria Lynne, Savion Glover and the Prince of Harlem, Lonnie Youngblood, at the Theresa Hotel and later at Harlem's famous Showman's Jazz Cafe. Mr. Booker held court on a regular basis with his longtime friends Al Howard, Mona Lopez, Diamond Lil Pierce, Tanya Alfonso, Ida Fernandez, and members of ``The Showman's Elites'' and ``The Disciples.''

He will long be remembered for his extraordinary commitment, humor, liveliness, energy, wisdom, discipline, principle and clear purpose which won the admiration of all who were privileged to come to know and work with him during his distinguished career. Jimmy E. Booker, Sr. was called home on Friday morning, February 5th, and his home going services took place on February 9th, at Harlem's historic Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was a major stop on the Underground Railroad.

Madam Speaker, I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe and experience his example as a personal inspiration. Though Jimmy is no longer with us, we will continue to keep his memory alive in our hearts and minds, and continue to honor his legacy with our advocacy for the issues he cared about the most. We are all blessed to have known, Jimmy E. Booker, Jr., a titan of a man who witnessed history with a pen that gave us all life.

Madam Speaker, I stand before you to express my support for the three House Resolutions on today's legislative calendar honoring the Americans who responded courageously and humanely after the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12th.

We all remember the startling and sobering televised images of the aftermath of the earthquake. The men and women being honored today, in the military and amongst our first responders, ran to the epicenter of this tragedy to help save lives. I am proud to join my colleagues in recognizing these individuals with House Resolutions H. Res. 1066, H. Res. 1059, and H. Res. 1048. I would especially like to recognize New York Task Force One, the FEMA-sponsored urban search and rescue team, made up of 80 members of the New York Police Department and the Fire Department of New York, who were successful in freeing six individuals from the rubble.

The immediate response from our citizens to the tragedy in Haiti has been heartwarming, demonstrating the decency and compassion we all have for our fellow mankind during difficult times. Even those who have not been formally recognized in the resolutions noted above are partners in this shared effort to overcome such a disaster. Within 24 hours following the quake, we saw Americans from a cross section of society-- from elected officials in Washington to everyday residents all over New York City--reach out and offer assistance. Even today, the statistics are hard to believe, almost 50 percent of Americans have donated to the Haitian relief efforts and there are still thousands waiting in line for their turn to assist on the grounds.

As a nation, it has warmed my heart to see us dedicate our efforts, and commit ourselves to supporting, the long-suffering Haitian people, now and into the future.

Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in recognizing those who offered their time and effort to assist those in Haiti and challenge them to stay the course until Haiti is made whole again.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the legacy of Lee Archer, who--despite facing a host of racial injustices--tirelessly defended our Nation as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American unit of the U.S. Army Air Corps. Archer died last Wednesday in New York City at the age of 90.

The Harlem-raised Airman is credited with defeating four-and-a-half enemy aircrafts. He has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 18 Clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation, and a host of other accolades honoring his service to this country. Most recently, Archer and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were conferred the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor bestowed by Congress.

Before Archer retired from the military in 1970, he flew 169 combat missions--three times the typical number for white pilots--and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. Archer's deftness at piloting was incontestable; nonetheless, enlisting in the Army Air Corps proved to be no easy feat for him. In 1941, he was rejected from pilot training on the sole basis of his race. Originally deemed too intellectually inept to fly a plane, Blacks were not allowed to join the Army Air Corps until the 1940 appointment of Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., as the Army's first Black brigadier general. Archer graduated from pilot training in 1943 and joined the all-Black Tuskegee Airmen. The experiences of Archer's father, a World War I veteran, taught Archer that willingness to lay down one's life for his country does not necessarily assuage the racism that he faces. In a 2008 interview with the Journal News, Archer stated of his father: ``he came home from World War I and nothing had changed despite the fact that he fought his butt off for our country.''

Lee Archer's devotion to breaking barriers extended far beyond his experiences in the U.S. Military. After retiring from the military in 1970, the New York University-educated Archer was named Corporate Vice President of one of America's most successful companies, General Foods, thereby making Archer one of the first Black executives of a major American corporation. In 1987, his legacy was broadened when he founded Archer Asset Management, a venture capital firm. Archer's successes as an entrepreneur, executive, and serviceman are unparalleled.

Notwithstanding the bigotry and racism that he faced in his attempts to defend his country, Lee Archer became an imperturbable force in the U.S. Military. Archer and his comrades proved that African Americans, too, possess an extraordinary capacity to provide exemplary service to our Nation. Although he was not always able to take advantage of the principles of freedom and equality upon which this Nation was founded, he assiduously defended these principles, and invariably impacted the future of our country.