Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Henry Bloch, the philanthropist, businessman, and beloved man who has helped shape Kansas City into the city that it has become. In life, Mr. Bloch carried a visionary spirit that transformed and encouraged the lives of everyone he met, including myself. Mr. Bloch's life and work are cherished and celebrated both in our Fifth Congressional District of Missouri and throughout the country.

Mr. Bloch was born ninety-six years ago, in 1922, to an ambitious and hardworking mother and father in Kansas City, Missouri. From a young age, his family instilled within him a passion not only to excel individually, but for the good of all. Creating his own business model years later, Mr. Bloch always stayed true to this idea, doing his part to encourage startup businesses and individuals around the country to flourish. Growing up in a Jewish family that experienced firsthand the negative effects of discrimination, Mr. Bloch cultivated a spirit of kinship with others who had faced similar struggles. His dedication to Kansas City was evident in his own words when he thanked the city for all it had meant to him and his family. This week, the city joins together to celebrate their memories of Mr. Bloch and the resounding impact he made upon their lives. Testimonies of the ways in which Mr. Bloch impacted and touched the lives of so many have poured forth in recent days as Kansas Citians speak of how blessed they were to have met and known this remarkable man.

Mr. Henry Bloch possessed an incredible spirit of determination and conviction. As a young man in the Army Air Corp during World War II, Mr. Bloch flew many missions on behalf of his country. After returning from the war, he opened a small business with his older brother, often working without pay so they could have enough money to pay the business's rent. Today, Mr. Bloch's business encompasses 12,000 offices around the country and employs around 70,000 employees nationwide. Mr. Bloch would often speak of luck and the fortunate opportunities he and his brother were given, forgetting to account for the long hours and sleepless nights that he put in without complaint during the early days of their business. Once H&R Block grew larger and more influential, this enabled Mr. Bloch to begin the true passion of his life-- philanthropy.

A quiet and soft-spoken man, Mr. Bloch nonetheless commanded each room he walked into. The spirit of generosity that Mr. Bloch personified can be seen through his incredible legacies across the city and in the lives of so many who bear testament to it. Today, the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the beautiful Bloch buildings of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art both stand as some of the notable contributions Mr. Bloch made to Kansas City. Through these institutions, among other gifts, Mr. Bloch's mark on Kansas City will continue to positively impact lives for years to come. The Bloch family fittingly continues the spirit of his generosity as they ask that all condolence contributions go to the institutions and programs that meant so much to him and to our community.

Madam Speaker, please join me, Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, and citizens across the nation in honoring Mr. Henry Bloch's life and his commitment to the betterment of his city. It is with love and respect that I share my deepest condolences and sincere gratitude for all that Mr. Bloch meant to me and the district that I serve. May he rest in heavenly peace.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor a dynamic woman in my district. On May 3, 2019, Mamie Currie Hughes will celebrate her 90th birthday. While turning 90 is a major feat in itself, it's what she has done during these years that makes her so special. Mamie Hughes has been a civil and women's rights champion in Kansas City since the 1950's.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Ms. Hughes graduated from Stanton High School at sixteen years of age. At that young age, she left Florida to attend Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee where she met her husband Leonard Hughes, Jr. Upon graduation in 1949, the couple married and moved to his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri.

Ms. Hughes taught elementary school upon arriving in Kansas City. By 1958, as a member of Community Committee for Social Action, she became part of a movement to abolish discriminatory practices of the major department stores in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

During the 1950's and 60's she continued to fight segregation while also raising a family, after giving birth to five children. Even so, her commitment to her community never wavered. From 1957 through 1975, Ms. Hughes served with women of all races on the Panel of American Women, an organization that gave presentations describing how discrimination, racism and bigotry affects lives. These community discussions were often held in areas that blacks and other minorities were not welcomed. In 1972, Ms. Hughes was the first black woman elected to the Jackson County legislature where she served two terms. During her time in the legislature, Ms. Hughes was the Chair of the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Board of Directors and its Commission on Aging. While at MARC, she assisted with the implementation of the 911 emergency assistance development and worked on the establishment of the Meals on Wheels program that provides food delivery for senior citizens.

In 1978, my House colleague, Rep. John Lewis, interviewed Ms. Hughes and recommended her to President Carter, who appointed her the Regional Administrator to ACTION/VISTA, the predecessor of AmeriCorps VISTA and the United States government agency that serves as the federal domestic volunteer agency. The agency's responsibilities included the domestic volunteer programs established under the Office of Economic Opportunity including the Foster Grandparents programs and the Peace Corps. It also assumed logistical support responsibilities for the volunteer programs of the SBA's Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the senior companion programs that later became the Senior Corps.

After her federal service, Ms. Hughes' became President of the Black Economic Union (BEU) of Greater Kansas City, one of the country's oldest community development corporations. During her tenure at BEU, Ms. Hughes's efforts focused on the stabilization and preservation of buildings with historic significance. That work ultimately laid the foundation for the Cleaver Plan, which resulted in Kansas City's Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District.

In 1986, Ms. Hughes resumed her governmental service and became the City of Kansas City, Missouri's Ombudsman for the Bruce R. Watkins (BRW) Roadway. Her responsibilities included working on behalf of residents affected by the construction of the BRW Roadway. During her tenure with the city, Ms. Hughes' reputation as a fierce neighborhood liaison grew because of her tireless dedication to assisting those adversely affected.

Over her lifetime, Ms. Hughes has received various awards and honors too numerous to mention here. Most recently, however, she was included in a special group honored by former First Lady Laura Bush and inducted into the University of Missouri at Kansas City's Starr Hall of Fame recognizing women who have made the Kansas City community a better place through impressive lifetime accomplishments.

In 2016, Ms. Hughes penned her autobiography entitled Mamie Who? The Life and Times of a Colored Woman, chronicling her efforts against racism and championing women's rights. For over 70 years she has fought for equal rights for all and for the improvement of Kansas City as a whole. Because of her incredible service to our community, I would like to congratulate her on celebrating her 90th birthday and thank her for making Kansas City a better, more just place for all to live.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Labor- Management Council (LMC) of Greater Kansas City's fortieth year serving the Greater Kansas City Area. Since the LMC was founded in 1979, they have grown to include membership from eighty organizations, including corporations, unions, governments, and nonprofits within the local area.

In 1979, members of the Kansas City business community who all cared deeply about the labor and management process came together to form the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City. During the ensuing years, Bob Jacobi Jr. provided steadfast and enthusiastic service as Executive Director of the LMC through his leadership and his passion for public service. It has been my honor and pleasure to partner with the LMC on various occasions as they sought to create an open and equal collaboration between local government and organizations of all sizes in our city.

As a trailblazer in the Greater Kansas City area since their founding, the Labor-Management Council (LMC) has focused on providing the tools for employees to successfully negotiate with their employers for better benefits. The LMC developed the statuary framework of collective bargaining where employees could advocate for things like better healthcare and reduction of employment uncertainty. The LMC supported legislative proposals to provide relief via safety net hospitals for workers and Medicaid coverage for the newly unemployed and the uninsured. They continue to advocate for a system where every citizen can have their voice heard, and inclusion in the workplace becomes a reality. As a friend and collaborator with the LMC, I am inspired by the work they accomplished in the forty years since their genesis. My collaboration with the LMC has been one of the more rewarding aspects of my career, and I am honored to have served alongside this remarkable organization.

Throughout the years, the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City has operated upon the pillars of their values and their dedication to a larger social responsibility. Refining the concept of collective bargaining, they used this tool of broad consensus to fight for equity and inclusivity in the larger economic and social issues present within our community. Together with their numerous partner organizations, the LMC provides a forum for community leaders and employees to work together on civic and economic issues. Examples of their noteworthy contributions to the community include their active support for accessible healthcare coverage, better public infrastructure, and broader citywide public transportation.

Madam Speaker, please join with Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City for their achievement of forty years of service in the community and their indelible mark on our society. I urge all my colleagues and fellow citizens across the country to join me in showing our appreciation to Labor-Management of Greater Kansas City for their undeterred commitment to civic service and worker advocacy in our region.

Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize and celebrate the 125th anniversary of Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas, a nonprofit organization whose core foundation is aimed at providing people with the necessary resources and life skills to become self-sufficient and successful individuals. After decades of commitment to assisting those in their communities, the organization now operates as a product of two combined agencies, the Helping Hand Institute and Goodwill Industries.

Commencement of the organization's mission within the Kansas City area began in 1894 on Grand Boulevard with the Helping Hand Institute, an organization committed to providing shelter and employment resources to those in need. The Kansas City residents within the organization worked on the Helping Hand Institute's farm to feed the community or found employment salvaging waste material, breaking rock at quarries, and bailing paper in exchange for food and shelter.

Along the east coast, an organization sharing a similar initiative arose in 1902 inspired by Reverend Edgar J. Helms, the social innovator behind Goodwill Industries. After witnessing innumerable immigrant families struggle to provide for themselves due to unemployment, Rev. Helms collected clothing and household items from wealthy families to be repurposed and resold at discounted costs. Using the revenue generated from those items, he funded his organization and employed a multitude of people in need of work to provide for their families. The organization quickly expanded across the nation, and in 1925, Goodwill Industries of Greater Kansas City opened their first establishment at St. Peter's Evangelical Church on Oak Street. In the 1940's, Goodwill Industries wished to further amplify their mission by making employment services like skills training and vocational rehabilitation available to the community.

In 1978, after thoughtful deliberation, Goodwill Industries merged with the Helping Hand Institution to form the Helping Hand of Goodwill, now officially known as ``Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas''.

Today, this remarkable nonprofit organization continues to carry out their mission by helping community members find employment. Their services and programs, subsidized by grants, financial donations, and revenue generated by their stores, allow the organization to continue their indispensable work without any expense to the public. Additionally, Goodwill manages and operates GoodWORKS Career Resource Centers across the Kansas City

region and other neighboring areas. These centers are available to the public and equipped with the resources, services and programs needed to assist anyone with a genuine desire to enter the workforce. Their services and programs include employment listings, career exploration, an overview of the job application process, resume building, mock interviews, and computer training, along with guidance in goal-setting and identifying the steps necessary to reach those goals. Their support and guidance are all inclusive--helping those with physical disadvantages, mental health diagnoses, substance abuse histories, criminal backgrounds, and developmental disabilities. Furthermore, they seek to empower local job seekers with the confidence and skills necessary to aid them in their ardent pursuit of employment.

Since its inception, Goodwill has served more than 600,000 people and secured more than 200,000 paying jobs. In 2017 alone, Goodwill served over 700 individuals, secured 155 jobs, and employed 536 new members with a total economic impact of 18 million dollars in Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas. Moreover, they receive over 20 million pounds of materials to be reused, resold, or recycled annually, which kept approximately 15 million pounds of items from ending up in landfills.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District as we proudly commemorate the 125 years of exceptional service and individual empowerment rendered to our community by the Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas. Let us join in demonstrating our strong appreciation for the perseverance of this organization as it continues to offer essential services and programs that meet the needs of those in our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Missouri Class 5 State Championship won by the North Kansas City High School Lady Hornets basketball team. Such an achievement is the result of strong leadership and years of dedication by both players and coaches alike. It is truly an honor to recognize this exemplary group of athletes from the Fifth District of Missouri.

Claiming the State Title was the culmination of years of discipline and hard work on the part of the entire Lady Hornets team. For the past three years the Lady Hornets were the District Champions, and for the last four years they were also the Suburban White-Division Conference Champions, unfortunately falling short in the State Playoffs. However, under the leadership of Head Coach Jeffery Lacy, this senior class was not content concluding their high school careers with anything short of a State Championship. The Lady Hornets' tremendous success this past season--with twenty-nine victories compared to a mere two losses--was the fruition of years of hard work and a ``never-give-up'' attitude cultivated by these remarkable athletes and coaching staff during their time at North Kansas City High School. It brings me great joy in saying that their hard work paid off with a sound victory in the State Championship on March 16, 2019.

Coming to Jefferson City this year, the Lady Hornets were pegged as the underdogs to the high-scoring and hometown Jefferson City Lady Jays. Despite the doubts, the Hornets remained focused on their ultimate goal. They maintained a mindset of excelling, no matter the obstacle, and marched through the State Tournament with an ``us- against-the-world'' attitude. The Lady Hornets' road to becoming North Kansas City's first female State Champions is a journey that has been followed by the entire community, witnessing what is possible when a group of individuals come together and dedicate themselves in pursuit of a common goal.

But, the great thing about athletics is they help to create opportunities in other aspects of life. The Lady Hornets' success has already paid off in a multitude of ways, opening doors for several players. A number of them will continue their basketball careers, and most importantly their education, at Division I universities such as the University of Kansas. Whether they know it or not, they will take with them the life lessons learned throughout their time at North Kansas City High School and as a part of this team. With the North Kansas City community, I look forward to seeing where each of these players will go and how future players will develop under the leadership of coaches like Jeffery Lacy and John West.

Madam Speaker, please join with me in celebrating the North Kansas City Lady Hornets and the State Championship they have brought home to Kansas City.

Madam Speaker, I regrettably missed votes on Monday, April 1, 2019. I had intended to vote ``yes'' on Roll Call vote 137, ``yes'' on vote 138 and ``yes'' on vote 139.

Mr. Speaker, I seldom come to this floor to stand in this well. To me, it is almost a sacred place where the great orators like Webster debated. But I have got to talk about this because it is something that is impacting thousands and thousands of people I represent in my district.

In a recent letter from the President of the Missouri Soybean Association, farmers expressed their concerns regarding President Trump's ongoing statements on tariffs and the U.S.-China trade relationships, stating: ``Missouri farmers have invested time away from their farm, family, and millions of dollars in developing their foreign markets, and it's imperative that we don't jeopardize these investments. . . .''

At what point do we call on one another to address the inevitable detriment these farmers are routinely placed in under this administration?

In Missouri alone, the restricted access to China, which is the number one trading partner for U.S. soybean farmers, has created a $2 drop in soybean prices, resulting in nearly $212 million in lost earnings, over 3,000 fewer jobs, and an estimated $726.6 million annual reduction in State and local economic activity--for the State of Missouri alone. Imagine the combined impact this has had on other States that are major producers and exporters.

Using America's farmers as collateral in a trade war is wrong, and hardworking farmers, their families, and our communities deserve much better.

Farmers in Missouri and across this country working to not only provide for their families deserve market stability and access to the opportunity to forge trade relationships abroad. They deserve to have the backing of a Federal Government that supports and advocates for their success.

Simply put, farmers deserve not to be caught in the crossfire or become collateral damage in an imposed and impractical trade war.

Farming is a risky endeavor, and Mother Nature may at any time bring drought, flooding, hail, and other disasters. The last thing farmers should worry about is a reactionary trade and policy decision made by the President, whom most of the farmers supported.

Moreover, though farmers have been patient holding out for the situation to improve, each passing day that we fail to take into consideration the interest of American farmers only contributes to a mounting problem that we must not ignore any longer. Enough is enough.

As the Representative of a geographically diverse district that encompasses several rural communities, I fear what a continued, retaliatory imposition of tariffs on China would mean for the farmers in my district: that this is going to hurt.

Now, making a bad decision, Mr. President, is understandable, but not correcting it is untenable and unfertile.

Last Friday, the President decided to hit below the belt with his threats to shut down the southern border with Mexico. A border shutdown would wreak havoc on the U.S. economy. I didn't say this. This comes from just about every major economist in the country.

A border shutdown is not in the best interests of the Midwest or this country. This is another blow to our farmers, and they cannot afford it. They will be forced to tap out.

Missouri farmers depend on foreign trade to market their crops. In my State, we have an $80 billion industry called agriculture. When it is disrupted, the whole State is disrupted.

We have the largest export market, after China and Canada, to Mexico. The U.S. shipped $19 billion worth of agricultural products to Mexico in 2018. Mexico is our top market for corn and our third largest market for U.S. beef.

Missouri pork producers cannot afford the loss of the Mexican market on top of all the financial losses from retaliatory tariffs from Mexico and China.

The very threat of a border closure creates uncertainty and depresses the trade of $1.7 billion in goods and services, daily, that cross the border.

Missouri's economy has a direct connection to Mexico through Kansas City Southern Railroad.

Mr. Speaker, let me conclude by just saying we have a 2,000-mile border between the United States and Mexico. If we shut that down, we are shutting down the U.S. economy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the National Community Development Association (NCDA). Since its genesis in 1969, the NCDA has been a pillar of support for cities and counties across the country, including the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri.

The NCDA is a nonpartisan, national, nonprofit organization that was established to assist cities across the nation in administering the new U.S. Housing and Urban Development funds and programs created through President Johnson's Model Cities Program. In doing so, they rose to help address the great disparities in housing options and opportunities that had created racial and socioeconomic inequality in many of our great American cities.

The NCDA represents cities on a federal level for programs such as the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships, among a myriad of others. Specifically, the NCDA has fought to improve local infrastructure and provide greater accessibility to safe, decent, and affordable housing, as well as greater economic opportunities. Through these initiatives, the organization has expressed a commitment to providing tangible services that will strengthen both families and communities across the country. Through the NCDA's prestigious John Sasso Award and Audrey Nelson Award for Best Practices in Community Development, they annually recognize and celebrate significant contributions and solutions to affordable and alternative housing projects through federal grants.

Moreover, as an integral part of the NCDA model, they respect diversity and inclusion in leadership as a fundamental part of effective leadership. Throughout their fifty years of service, the organization sought to represent diversified backgrounds and individualized expertise. They continue to include a wide variety of organizations and individual voices as we collectively search for solutions to urban difficulties and discover ways to implement greater equity in housing as time moves forward. These voices are brought to national attention each year at the National Community Development Week hosted by the NCDA. This annual conference educates Members of Congress on the achievements of federal programs like HOME and CDBG so that these programs can continue to address a need for affordable housing and community development.

Today, NCDA membership has grown to include over 400 separate cities and counties. The organizations and governments represented across that vast membership continue to carry out a centralized goal and purpose. As they have been since day one, the NCDA continues to serve as a united, national institution to provide services and support for local governments and policy makers as they work on critical federal community development and housing programs.

Madam Speaker, please join with Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring the National Community Development Association for their remarkable achievements over the span of fifty years across the nation and in our own community. We stand to celebrate their indelible mark on our society.

Mr. Speaker, I regrettably missed votes on Thursday, March 14, 2019. I had intended to vote ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 125.

Mr. Speaker, this piece of legislation is particularly significant to me. I lived in public housing for 5 years. I saw what the possibilities were there. I saw people who did not make it, and I saw people who did made it.

The one thing that I found difficult to accept was the fact that if you lived in public housing, almost every rule made was designed, unintentionally, to keep you in public housing.

My father didn't tell the truth about the fact that he was cleaning up at an office building on Saturday earning some additional money and then serving at parties on the weekends. He had to pretend that that didn't happen because he was saving money trying to get our family in our own home. And it worked. He is watching C-SPAN right now, hearing his son talk about what could have happened.

The essence of this bill was passed as a part of the appropriations package that was signed into law earlier this year. It promotes housing mobility for individuals who rely on housing vouchers.

Under this bill, the Department of Housing and Urban Development would establish a demonstration program to allow interested public housing agencies to form consortia to enhance mobility and provide residents with increased opportunity to move to higher-income communities.

There is something contagious about working around only poor people. If you live in a neighborhood and all you see are people who are struggling, it is easy to come to the conclusion that that is the way life is: that you are just supposed to struggle and that you are just supposed to barely make it. If you don't see the signs of people who are making progress--people who are achieving--you might come to the conclusion that achievement is beyond one's reach.

This was demonstrated with a research project from Harvard economists Raj Chetty, Nathaniel Hendren, and Lawrence Katz which indicates that children who move to higher-opportunity neighborhoods increase their chances of success. More specifically, the study found that children who were able to use housing vouchers to move to lower-poverty areas were 32 percent more likely to attend college and earned 31 percent more a year than their counterparts in lower-income neighborhoods.

This bill removes barriers by providing families with the tools to navigate a move from one neighborhood to another. H.R. 1122 will allow more families to thrive by increasing their access to higher performing schools, employment opportunities, fresh and affordably priced foods, and safe playgrounds.

There is something about homeownership or living in a nice neighborhood. Our family was able to move out. My father bought a house in a White neighborhood where we could not live and had it moved at night from the Midwestern Parkway to Gerald Street, where my father lives today. And, my goodness, I wish the world could see what transpired.

My father's yard is in contention with any yard in town for the yard of the summer. We had a water shortage in Texas--we had a drought, a serious drought 38 years ago--and my father would get up at 3 a.m. in the morning to trick the city people who would come out checking to see if anybody was violating the water ordinance by watering his lawn at 2, 3, or 4 a.m. in the morning.

While I am confessing my father broke the law, the truth of the matter is that it pleased me because we had never had a yard in my life until we were able to get out of public housing. So not only does it give the children an opportunity for a higher achievement educationally, but it also does something for the homeowner.

This bill removes barriers, and I am supportive of that.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, friend, and former neighbor, Sean Duffy, who worked with me on this bill. And I also thank the chair and the ranking member of the committee for their continued support.

With this, I am hopeful that we can continue working across the aisle to promote housing opportunity for all of our constituents.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mrs. Teresa Garcia Medina, a beloved community leader and public servant of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. In life, Mrs. Medina embodied a selfless dedication to her family, her innumerable friends, and the larger community of Kansas City, Missouri. Throughout her ninety-five years of life, Mrs. Medina served the people around her with a generous spirit and a warm heart.

Mrs. Medina was born to Cristobal Garcia and Carlota Hernandez in 1923. Throughout her life, Mrs. Medina always put her faith and her family first, both as a loving wife to Agustin ``Chino'' Medina and as a mother to their four children. She is survived by her children and their spouses; Enrique and Maria Chaurand, Cris and Mary Medina, Mike and Yolanda Casey, and Sandy Medina; as well as nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Teresa Garcia Medina grew up in the Historic Westside of Kansas City, Missouri, a predominantly Latino community, and attended Our Lady of Guadalupe School. During this time, Teresa and her sister, Jessie Nieto, would make friends and community ties that would last a lifetime. Mrs. Medina and her sister would later use the skills they learned at Our Lady of Guadalupe to work as tailors at Jack Henry on the Plaza. Far from forgetting the community from which she came, Mrs. Medina continued to give back through her work as a member of La Union Cultural Mexicana Femenina and Las Guadalupanas. The legacy of her impact on the community continues through her children and grandchildren, as they remain active in the Latino community of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Medina's personal faith was the central focus. She served steadfastly as a member of the Sacred Heart/Guadalupe Catholic Parish for many decades. In the 1990s she worked alongside other Mexican-American women of her congregation to preserve Las Guadalupanas when the Bishop and other leadership threatened to close their chapel. Traveling from door-to-door, gathering support and financial resources, these devout women successfully fought to keep the institution open as a pillar of the community. Actions like this demonstrate the fervent faith that Mrs. Medina carried with her and why she was cherished by all who knew her.

Those who knew her said they would always remember her warm smile and her gentle ways, her kindness to the neighborhood children, and her love for her community. Mrs. Medina personified the full and overflowing life of a Catholic and lived each day to the fullest. She was beloved by those who knew her and will be missed by all.

Please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring Mrs. Teresa Garcia Medina for her commitment to social justice and her contributions to the Latino community in Kansas City. It is with great respect that I urge all my fellow citizens across the city and the country to join me in showing our appreciation to Mrs. Medina, and send our deepest condolences to her family and the innumerable people touched by her life.

Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize a significant milestone in one of the pre-eminent organizations, not only in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri, which I proudly represent, but throughout the region--the Beta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. As a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity myself, I am especially proud to recognize this great accomplishment. It is truly an honor to celebrate the Beta Lambda Chapter's Centennial observance on February 17, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Beta Lambda Chapter was chartered in January 1919 with ten charter members who laid a strong foundation of fraternal fellowship in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The effort to organize the Beta Lambda Chapter in Kansas City, Missouri began in April 1918, upon the request of graduate members of the fraternity who resided in Kansas City. An application for the Chapter was made during the 1918 convention held in Cleveland, Ohio by Brothers T.C. Brown, W.H. Bruce, L.H. Norwood, Thomas Taylor, J. Oliver Morrison and Guy Booker. Favorable action was taken by the convention and the Chapter was established in January 1919 making it the second oldest graduate chapter and first graduate chapter west of the Mississippi River. The charter members of the Beta Lambda Chapter were all outstanding members of the Kansas City community and of their respective professions. Faced with cultural realities of the early Twentieth Century, these charter members found in each other a source of mutual support, enlightenment and a retreat of friendship and fraternity. Each sensed a significant void created by the pervasive permanence of American institutional racism and exclusionary practices that were predominant during that era. Throughout its history, the Beta Lambda Chapter has proudly upheld the high standards of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated was founded in 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Our founding Jewels are Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathanial Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.

Beta Lambda has been privileged to host the Thirteenth Annual Convention in 1920, Twenty-Eighth Annual Convention in 1940, Thirty- Sixth Annual Convention in 1950, Seventy-Fourth Annual Convention in 1988 and Eighty-Eighth Annual Convention in 2008. Beta Lambda won the ``McGee Memorial Cup'' as Outstanding National Chapter from 1945 to 1947. Additionally, the Beta Lambda Chapter won National Alumni Chapter of the Year in

1997 for its leadership and service in social justice, education and development for mankind.

Beta Lambda is led today by Hon. Ardie A. Bland, Damon E. Roath as Vice President, and William A. Griffin as Recording Secretary. Additional officers include: Johnathan Bernard, Terence M. Goree, Joseph C. Lewis, Rev. Kevin L. Nelson, Howard A. Berry, Eric J. Halliburton and Thomas A. Phillips.

One hundred years in the life of any person, organization or institution is a significant milestone and serves as a testament of fidelity to principles, seriousness of purpose and devotion to goals and objectives. Thus, the reason for intentional recognition to such an amazing local treasure.

Madam Speaker, please join me and our colleagues in expressing our collective congratulations to the Beta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and extending our heartfelt wishes for even greater success as it begins its second century.

Madam Speaker, I regrettably missed votes on Thursday, February 7, 2019. I had intended to vote ``yes'' on roll call vote 68, ``yes'' on roll call vote 69, ``yes'' on vote 70, and ``yes'' on vote 71.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Senior Bishop McKinley Young, a champion of social justice and civil rights, for his dedication to empowering individuals through equality and opportunity both in the church and his community. As the son of a Pastor, Bishop McKinley Young was raised in the church and went on to start his own distinguished career serving the people of Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta from 1980 until 1992. He would further his career in South Africa, where he went on to lead the Centennial Celebration of African Methodism and remained a leader in the Ecumenical Community. To cite his most recent achievements, he was assigned to the Third Episcopal District and was elevated to the office of Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop McKinley Young's notable career and generous spirit warrant many accolades as countless individuals have benefited from his hard work.

The son of a Parsonage, one could say Bishop Young was destined to a life of faith. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia and was a product of the Atlanta public school system. As an academic standout with a passion for theology, Bishop Young could not pass up the opportunity to further his studies. For that reason, he pursued and received degrees from Morris Brown College, Andover Newton Theological School, and the University of Chicago Divinity School. Moreover, he also holds honorary doctorates from six institutions of higher education.

Bishop Young's faith has been the central focus of his life and has guided him to hold various positions. For over 20 years, he served as Chair of the Board with the AME Church and Service and Development Agency and went on to serve as president of the Council of Bishops and the General Board. Bishop Young also chaired several commissions, including the Commission of Global Witness and Ministry and the Commission on Annuity Investments and Insurance. His many accomplishments speak volumes about Young's commendable character and commitment to his community.

Though faith remained in his heart and guided him in every aspect of his life, Bishop Young was aware that civil rights and education were the key to building a strong community and finding a political voice. As an advocate for social justice and civil rights, he assisted in the elections of the first Black Presidents of the United States of America and South Africa by working on voter registration efforts. Furthermore, he went on to attend the inauguration of former Presidents Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela.

It is my personal belief that Senior Bishop McKinley Young's unrelenting dedication and steadfast vision has left a permanent imprint on those who shared the path he walked. In life, Bishop Young embodied a selfless dedication to his family, friends, and community. Though it grieves me to announce his passing on Wednesday, January 17, 2019, I speak on behalf of the Fifth Congressional District when I thank him for his efforts to our country. He leaves behind his wife, Dorothy Jackson Young; 4 children, Karyn (Ron) Young-Lowe, Deana (Julius) McAllister, Andrea (Roderick) Jones, and Stephanie Lynn Young; and eight grandchildren, Jennifer Renee and Jessica Christina Lowe, Julius III, Colin and Dylan McAllister, and Peyton, Noah, and Miles Jones.

It is a privilege to recognize the work of Senior Bishop McKinley Young for his commitment to the church and to social justice in the African American community. Please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring the life of McKinley Young for his commitment to the community. It is with great respect that I urge all my colleagues and fellow citizens across the country to join me in showing our appreciation to Bishop McKinley Young.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the marriage of two outstanding individuals who have contributed to the growing diversification and development of Kansas City and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. In mid-July of 1951, Kansas City and its citizens were one of several areas that fell victim to major flooding in the Midwest United States. Following the ``Great Flood of 1951,'' and during a trying time in which communities were facing a variety of obstacles, including family relocation, Mr. Jerry Morales and Ms. Virginia Gloria Alvarez first met.

Following the devastating events that unfolded from the flood, Mr. and Mrs. Morales would soon meet again as teenagers in their shared place of employment to support and provide assistance to struggling families. Receiving the approval of both parents to marry, in 1953, the couple began their lifelong commitment to value, respect, and cherish one another.

To join their brothers and sisters, and to start a family of their own, the Mr. and Mrs. Morales relocated from the Westside Community of Kansas City, Missouri to the thriving Historic Northeast community. The opportunities provided by increased diversity and affordable housing contributed to their decision to relocate and, ultimately, thrive in the growing community.

Since their move, Mr. and Mrs. Morales have seen their family grow just as they wished when they first married. Their eleven children all live in the greater Kansas City area and have given Mr. and Mrs. Morales the large family they always dreamed of with 22 grandchildren, 19 greatgrandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

Apart from being loving parents, grandparents, and great- grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Morales share a history of being both politically and civically involved in the community. Mr. Morales was a two-time Golden Gloves champion, a boxing coach, and a referee. Furthermore, he grew up along Southwest Boulevard and went on to train other young, aspiring boxers in the community. Moreover, they continue to assist local organizations and contribute to the community through their longtime involvement with the Sheffield Neighborhood Association and as members at Our Lady of Peace Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Morales share their worldliness with their friends, family, and community. They have traveled the world in every way possible-by plane, train, canoe, and automobile. The couple have traveled from the Americas to Europe numerous times and have demonstrated their love of family by purchasing a home in Mexico for their family to spend quality time together.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. and Mrs. Morales are a shining example of what marriage is meant to be, as well as the power of civic engagement within a community. I urge all of my colleagues to please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring the marriage between Mrs. Virginia Morales and Mr. Jerry Morales.