Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th birthday of a veteran, neighbor, father, dedicated man of faith, and friend to many, Mr. James Boswell. Mr. Boswell is a lifelong resident of Wilson, North Carolina.

James Marshall Boswell was born on February 2, 1919 in Wilson, North Carolina. His parents taught him and his three brothers to work hard, although neither his mother nor father had more than a fifth grade education. His father supported the family as a factory worker. Mr. Boswell recalls him sharing two double beds with his three brothers in their rented home. He would later go to work with his father at the wagon factory where he would perform hard manual labor for 40 hours a week, earning $12 per week. He worked at the factory until a friend offered him a job at a drive-in making $15 a week. In 1938, James wed his beloved wife, Alma ``Mozelle'' Woodall Boswell. They were married for 76 years until her passing in 2014.

Mr. Boswell was working for the FBI in Washington, D.C. when Japan attacked the United States in 1941. Mr. Boswell felt it was his duty to serve his country, so he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at the start of World War II. He qualified to fly the new B-17 Flying Fortress. He flew 51 combat missions throughout Italy, France, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Greece, Germany, and Austria during his three years of service. Mr. Boswell credits the Tuskegee Airmen for his crews' safe returns, and says he remained in contact with many of them for several years after returning home.

James Boswell's three brothers also served our country with honor. The youngest, Harvey, served as a Merchant Marine. George Boswell served with the 8th and 9th Air Forces in Europe during World War II. Delmar was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne.

Having worked most of his life, James Boswell returned home to Wilson where he opened a grocery store, the Super Food Center, located on Herring Avenue.

In addition to his service to our country, Mr. Boswell has selflessly given of his time and efforts to work in his community, serving as a Mason and Shriner for nearly 65 years. He is also a faithful member of First Christian Church in Wilson, where he has held several positions in leadership including chairman, elder, and deacon. Today, James Boswell continues to drive himself to Faith Christian Church every Sunday.

The most important thing to James Boswell has always been his family. He has one daughter, Debby Boswell Keller of North Carolina, and one son, James Boswell, Jr. of Illinois. In describing her father, Debby stated, ``he is the most caring and giving person I know.''

James Boswell has lived an incredible life that, by the grace of God, has spanned an entire century. His selfless and lifelong dedication to his country and community are beyond remarkable, and he is truly an inspiration and role model for us all. His love for his family, friends, church, and community knows no bounds.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to such a dedicated and honorable veteran. I am immensely proud to have Mr. James Marshall Boswell as a constituent, and I wish him a very Happy 100th birthday. May God continue to bless him and his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise this morning to recognize a great American and a great friend, Dr. Cureton L. Johnson, a longtime theologian and community leader in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Dr. Johnson will approach his last official sermon as pastor of historic First Baptist Church in Fayetteville on Sunday, January 27, 2019. I am, therefore, honored to share with my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives the accomplishments of this remarkable man of God.

Cureton Lee Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, to the late Dr. and Mrs. Paul H. Johnson. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his master's degree from American University here in Washington, D.C., and the Shaw University Divinity School in Raleigh. He also received his doctor of ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. He previously served on the public relations staffs at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro and Howard University here in Washington.

Over the years, Madam Speaker, Dr. Johnson remained true to his commitment to be active, productive, and dedicated to every facet of his beloved community. As a young student at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Johnson served as president of the Black Student Movement Association. He was the founding editor of the BSM's newspaper, referred to as Black Ink, which is still in publication today.

A longtime social activist, Dr. Johnson was a member of the anti- apartheid movement during the 1980s and was arrested while demonstrating at the South African Embassy in the District of Columbia.

Dr. Johnson also served as the editor of the Baptist Informer, which is the official publication of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, Incorporated, the oldest organization of Black Baptists in the Nation, founded in 1867.

The son and grandson of Baptist ministers, Dr. Johnson was called into the ministry in 1976 and ordained in 1978 under his father, the legendary Dr. Paul H. Johnson, Sr., at Martin Street Baptist Church in Raleigh.

Dr. Cureton Johnson served as an associate minister at Martin Street Baptist Church and at Florida Avenue Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Dr. Johnson is also pastor at New Red Mountain Baptist Church in Rougemont, North Carolina, and Baptist Grove Baptist Church in Raleigh.

On the first Sunday in June 1991, Dr. Johnson assumed full pastoral responsibility at his current First Baptist Church in Fayetteville.

I might say, Madam Speaker, First Baptist Church in Fayetteville was formed in 1868, 5 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln and months following the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, ending slavery in America. It is the oldest missionary Baptist church in the city of Fayetteville, a church that I have attended on many occasions, including when I was stationed at Fort Bragg Army post in Fayetteville.

Madam Speaker, much of First Baptist Church's growth in recent years can be attributed to the leadership of Dr. Johnson and its spirit- filled church congregation. Under Dr. Johnson's leadership, the church has been a powerful force for uplifting God's people in this community, launching a free summer children's reading camp in 1993. It continues to serve over 100 children every year.

In 1999, First Baptist Church broke ground on a $2 million Christian center. The two-story facility includes 11,000 square feet, a library and learning center, nursery, children's church, clothes closet, and a multipurpose room for neighborhood development and outreach ministries.

First Baptist Church remains active in the Union Baptist Association, the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention.

During his pastorate, Dr. Johnson has preached more than 2,300 sermons and welcomed more than 500 souls into the fellowship, presided over 750-plus funerals, officiated at more than 125 weddings, and dedicated some 130 babies. He has ordained 15 ministers, including First Baptist Church's first five women ministers. He has also ordained the church's first five women deacons.

In closing, Madam Speaker, Dr. Johnson is blessed with a loving wife, the former Lena A. Goode of Durham. They have two sons, Paul and Cureton; one grandson, Jayden Cureton; and one granddaughter, Jaelynn.

By the grace of God, Dr. Johnson retires after three decades of outstanding leadership at First Baptist Church. Although Dr. Johnson is retiring from an active ministry, he will never retire from his unwavering service to God.

On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, we thank Dr. Johnson for his service to community. His life has been one of unlimited service. We will cherish his leadership for years to come. I extend my congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Johnson, his wife, and the entire congregation at First Baptist Church and the Fayetteville community.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Reverend Dr. Cureton Lee Johnson on this auspicious occasion.

Madam Speaker, today, we enter day 20 of the Trump shutdown. President Trump has spent years as a reality television host, but, unfortunately, reality is still not his strong suit.

This week, President Trump abused the backdrop of the Oval Office to feed the American people divisive and distorted rhetoric, while still ignoring the reality that a wall is wasteful and it is impractical and inconsistent with our values.

President Trump has tried to convince the American people that there is a crisis at our border. The crisis, Madam Speaker, here is one of Donald Trump's own making: a government shutdown that has gone on too long.

This is affecting real lives. This is a humanitarian crisis. Federal workers and their families, 80 percent of whom live outside of the metropolitan area of D.C., will go without a paycheck this Friday because of this shutdown.

Madam Speaker, 7,000 workers in North Carolina are directly affected by the shutdown. Hundreds of thousands of public servants across the country are worried to death.

Senate Republicans have a choice. Do your constitutional duty, my fellow Senators. Do your job as a Senate. Pass the House bill that we have sent over to you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 2410, the Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2017, that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on February 26, 2018. Today, the House of Representatives passed S. 2465, which is the Senate-amended version of H.R. 2410. As a co-sponsor of H.R. 2410 and the immediate past Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I rise to clarify the Congressional intent of this important legislation.

I commend my friends, Representative Danny Davis from Illinois and Representative Michael Burgess from Texas, for introducing H.R. 2410. I have been a longtime advocate for those with sickle cell disease and I am a proud co-sponsor of the bill in this Congress and in previous Congresses.

There are approximately forty-four hundred people with sickle cell disease in my home state of North Carolina. My hope is that someday there will be none. Sixty-five percent of individuals with sickle cell disease in North Carolina have at least one emergency room visit per year--that is no way to live. We should do all we can to help improve patients' lives, advance treatment, and find a cure.

That is why we must reauthorize the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Demonstration Program to enable the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to support research that will increase our understanding of sickle cell disease, and create a grant program to study the prevalence of sickle cell and identify ways to prevent and treat sickle cell disease effectively.

S. 2465 makes changes to the House-approved language that warrant clarification Notably, Sec. 2 of S. 2465 enables the awarding of grants related to heritable blood disorders, including sickle cell disease, for the purposes of research, surveillance, prevention, and treatment. It is imperative to stress that the intent of this language is to require that those grants be awarded for sickle cell disease research, surveillance, prevention, and treatment, at minimum. It is not the intent of the language for grants to be awarded related to other heritable blood disorders (e.g. hemophilia) instead of or in lieu of sickle cell disease.

Finally, Sec. 3 of S. 2465, reauthorizing the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Demonstration Program, is intended to provide awards related only to sickle cell disease. It is not the intent of the legislation to allocate awards made under Sec. 3 for other heritable diseases.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is intended to provide critical funding to assist those with sickle cell disease, and any awards made under Sec. 2 or Sec. 3 of this bill must be used for sickle cell disease response.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the legendary Bishop James Walker Hood on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his passing. Bishop Hood is credited with establishing the North Carolina African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Conference, the Prince Hall Masons of North Carolina, and Livingstone College, all in my home state of North Carolina.

On May 30, 1831, James Walker Hood was born to Levi and Harriet Walker Hood on the farm of Ephraim Jackson in Chester County, Pennsylvania, nine miles from Wilmington, Delaware. Hood's parents instilled their love of the church and a spirit to help fellow African Americans improve their lives in their twelve children. Hood's father was a Methodist minister and his work moved the family around the country as he served various churches. Together, Hood's parents became involved in the AME Zion church, established as the Methodist church for Blacks.

Upon coming of age, James Walker Hood's moral and religious convictions led him into ministry. In 1856, Hood secured his license to preach from the New York Conference of the AME Zion Church. In the following years, Hood moved to Connecticut and Nova Scotia to preach and work as a missionary. In early 1864, following the path of the Union Army, Hood was appointed to missionary work in North Carolina, recognizing that legal slavery would soon end. He would then stay in North Carolina for the remainder of his life.

Although Hood was met with strong opposition in establishing the North Carolina Conference of AME Zion Church for African Americans, he persuaded the Black Southern Methodist congregations in New Bern and Beaufort, North Carolina to affiliate with the AME Zion Church. Among the more than 300 churches he successfully established in North Carolina are St. Peter's AME Zion Church (New Bern), Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church (Fayetteville), and St. John AME Zion Church (Wilson).

After becoming a Presiding Bishop in 1872, Bishop James Walker Hood resided in Fayetteville until his death on October 30, 1918. He is interred in Cross Creek Cemetery in Fayetteville. Hood helped establish Zion Wesley Institute, now Livingstone College, in Salisbury, North Carolina to train African American students for the ministry and to become productive citizens in North Carolina. He presided over the school's board of trustees for over thirty years.

Bishop Hood was politically active on behalf of his people. In 1865, he presided over the first statewide political convention for African Americans. In 1868, he participated in the state constitutional convention which abolished slavery, provided universal male suffrage, and established free public education for all children. He also held several governmental positions, including magistrate and assistant superintendent of the North Carolina Freedman's Bureau.

Bishop Hood was a man of courage, conviction, and persistence. He was unwavering in his commitment to the cause of Christianity and the establishment of the AME Zion Church in North Carolina. It is remarkable that Bishop Hood, who had little formal education, would publish five books, including The Negro in the Christian Pulpit (1884) and Sketch of the Early History of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (1914).

Mr. Speaker, Bishop James Walker Hood's legacy continues through the work of AME Zion's Board of Bishops: Bishop George Edward Battle, Jr. (Piedmont Episcopal District), Bishop Kenneth Monroe (Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District), Bishop Darryl B. Starnes, Sr. (Mid-West Episcopal District), Bishop Dennis V. Proctor (North Eastern Episcopal District), Bishop Mildred B. Hines (South Atlantic Episcopal District), Bishop W. Darin Moore (Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District), Bishop Seth O. Lartey (Alabama-Florida Episcopal District), Bishop Michael A. Frencher, Sr. (Southwestern Delta Episcopal District), Bishop Staccato Powell (Western Episcopal District), Bishop George D. Crenshaw (Central Southern Africa Episcopal District), Bishop Hilliard Dogbe (Western West Africa Episcopal District), and Bishop Uduak Effiong (Eastern West Africa Episcopal District).

By the grace of God, Bishop James Walker Hood left an indelible mark on North Carolina and the country that is still recognized one hundred years after his passing.

On behalf of the people of the First Congressional District of North Carolina, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Bishop James Walker Hood's life, work, and legacy on this significant occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Middle Eastern District of the Original Free Will Baptist Church, which is headquartered in my congressional district in Wilson, North Carolina. The Middle Eastern District has been

a beacon of light in its community and has positively impacted generations of families in eastern North Carolina for a century and a half.

The Middle Eastern District of the Original Free Will Baptist Church is one steeped in family, fellowship, and faith. Founded in 1868, two years after the U.S. Congress passed the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery, Brothers Daniel Davis, R.C. Jackson, T.H. Harrison, J.M. Barfield, and Reverend C.C. Forbes led the verification of the founding principles upon which the Middle Eastern District was rooted. In the early years, the Middle Eastern Conference was small, but that did not deter its leaders' devotion to spreading the word of God. The oldest components of the Middle Eastern Conference are the Bible Church School, the Women Home Mission, the Sunshine Band, and the Usher's Convention.

Mr. Speaker, much of the Middle Eastern District's growth over the years can be attributed to the dedication and vision of its leadership. In the early 1950's, Reverend D.W. Dupree became Moderator, with Rev. G.W. Little serving as Vice Moderator. In 1957, Reverend K.L. Smith, who succeeded Reverend G.W. Little as Vice Moderator and would later become Moderator, organized the Young People Christian League (YPCL) Convention. Brother L.N. Forbes (now Bishop L.N. Forbes) was elected President of the YPCL Convention.

In 1968, my personal friend, Elder L.N. Forbes, became Moderator and Elder Bernard Newsome served as Vice Moderator. The title ``Moderator'' was then changed to ``Bishop.'' Under Bishop L.N. Forbes' leadership, the Middle Eastern District of the Original Free Will Baptist Church continued to prosper and serve its community. In order to accommodate the rapidly growing attendance, the Conference meetings were moved to the Auditorium of Charles H. Darden Middle School in Wilson, North Carolina. As the Presiding Bishop, Bishop Forbes spearheaded the construction of the L.N. Forbes Tabernacle in Wilson, North Carolina, which was dedicated in 1975. The Choir Convention was organized in 1983, recommended by Sister Sallie Dupree. In 1984, Brother Haywood Waters became the Editor of the quarterly Original Free Will Baptist news publication. In 1985, Bishop Forbes established the L.P. Manning Scholarship, which supported the educational pursuits of countless young people through the years. Bishop Forbes was the longest serving leader of the Middle Eastern District.

Mr. Speaker, by the grace of God, the Middle Eastern District of the Original Free Will Baptist Church has been standing strong for 150 long years. Her outstanding leadership and devoted members have created significant growth in its membership and ministry, as well as, its continued outreach in the Wilson community and beyond. The Middle Eastern District's faithfulness and good deeds will ensure that it continues to experience God's blessings for years to come.

On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and the people of the First Congressional District of North Carolina, I commemorate the 150th anniversary of Middle Eastern District of the Original Free Will Baptist Church and extend my best wishes to its leadership and members (many of whom are dear friends) on this auspicious occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the legendary Bishop James Walker Hood on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his passing. Bishop Hood is credited with establishing the North Carolina African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Conference, the Prince Hall Masons of North Carolina, and Livingstone College, all in my home state of North Carolina.

On May 30, 1831, James Walker Hood was born to Levi and Harriet Walker Hood on the farm of Ephraim Jackson in Chester County, Pennsylvania, nine miles from Wilmington, Delaware. Hood's parents instilled their love of the church and a spirit to help fellow African Americans improve their lives in their twelve children. Hood's father was a Methodist minister and his work moved the family around the country as he served various churches. Together, Hood's parents became involved in the AME Zion church, established as the Methodist church for Blacks.

Upon coming of age, James Walker Hood's moral and religious convictions led him into ministry. In 1856, Hood secured his license to preach from the New York Conference of the AME Zion Church. In the following years, Hood moved to Connecticut and Nova Scotia to preach and work as a missionary. In early 1864, following the path of the Union Army, Hood was appointed to missionary work in North Carolina, recognizing that legal slavery would soon end. He would then stay in North Carolina for the remainder of his life.

Although Hood was met with strong opposition in establishing the North Carolina Conference of AME Zion Church for African Americans, he persuaded the Black Southern Methodist congregations in New Bern and Beaufort, North Carolina to affiliate with the AME Zion Church. Among the more than 300 churches he successfully established in North Carolina are St. Peter's AME Zion Church (New Bern), Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church (Fayetteville), and St. John AME Zion Church (Wilson).

After becoming a Presiding Bishop in 1872, Bishop James Walker Hood resided in Fayetteville until his death on October 30, 1918. He is interred in Cross Creek Cemetery in Fayetteville. Hood helped establish Zion Wesley Institute, now Livingstone College, in Salisbury, North Carolina to train African American students for the ministry and to become productive citizens in North Carolina. He presided over the school's board of trustees for over thirty years.

Bishop Hood was politically active on behalf of his people. In 1865, he presided over the first statewide political convention for African Americans. In 1868, he participated in the state constitutional convention, which abolished slavery, provided universal male suffrage, and established free public education for all children. He also held several government positions, including magistrate and assistant superintendent of the North Carolina Freedman's Bureau.

Bishop Hood was a man of courage, conviction, and persistence. He was unwavering in his commitment to the cause of Christianity and the establishment of the AME Zion Church in North Carolina. It is remarkable that Bishop Hood, who had little formal education, would publish five books, including The Negro in the Christian Pulpit (1884) and Sketch of the Early History of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (1914).

Mr. Speaker, by the grace of God, Bishop James Walker Hood left an indelible mark on North Carolina that is still recognized one hundred years after his passing on October 30, 1918.

On behalf of the people of the First Congressional District of North Carolina, ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Bishop James Walker Hood's life, work, and legacy on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his passing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of Mrs. Sallie Baldwin Howard, a great North Carolinian, a nationally recognized academic, and a dear family friend.

At 102 years old, Mrs. Howard transitioned to her heavenly home on Tuesday, September 25, 2018. Our community in Wilson, North Carolina, has lost a giant and a friend.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Sallie Baldwin Howard was born on March 23, 1916, right in the midst of World War I, in Wilson, North Carolina, to Narcissus and Marcellus Sims. Even though I did not know Mr. Sims, I certainly knew Ms. Narcissus Sims Townsend, who lived directly across the street from me as a child.

Though she was raised in the Jim Crow South as the daughter of sharecroppers, Mrs. Howard graduated as valedictorian from Wilson Colored High School, later renamed Charles H. Darden High School, in 1938, the same school that I graduated from in 1965.

She attended Kittrell Junior College in Kittrell, North Carolina, before earning both a bachelor's and a master's degree in education from Hunter College in New York City. She also did extensive study at the New School of Social Research, as well as Columbia University.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Howard taught for nearly 30 years as a first-grade teacher in New York City. While there, she worked in the New York City American Negro Theater, which helped launch the careers of the likes of Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and Esther Rolle.

There, she honed her acting and directing and writing talents, finding her voice through her art. Mrs. Howard's off-Broadway play, ``The Passing of a Dinosaur,'' is still performed today in local schools.

Upon her retirement, Mrs. Howard returned to her beloved Wilson, North Carolina, where she became an active member of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, which is a church that just celebrated its 150th anniversary this past weekend, and I had an opportunity to speak for that program. She led the Christian education department and the church honor roll to encourage academic excellence among the youth in her community.

Along with many other projects, Mrs. Howard founded the youth enrichment program with my good friend, Dr. JoAnne Woodard, in 1989, focusing the program on lasting scholarship, a commitment to the cultural heritage of African Americans, and promoting the arts.

Mrs. Howard's tireless work to enrich her community inspired Dr. JoAnne Woodard to create the Sallie B. Howard School for the Arts and Education in Wilson, naming the school in Mrs. Howard's honor.

Established in 1997, the Sallie B. Howard School for the Arts and Education is one of the first public charter schools in the State of North Carolina, and the only charter school to open in Wilson County after legislation passed in 1997 to approve charter schools in our State. The school, along with the youth enrichment program, has been an invaluable asset to our community.

Mr. Speaker, the school's mission is to provide every child, privileged or underprivileged, the kind of education that nutures students' gifts, talents, and potential to become more than they ever thought they could be. At Sallie B. Howard School, they prepare students for careers in the performing arts, science, and humanities. They are a school to behold.

Established as an academic and as a writer, Mr. Speaker, and as a playwright, avid traveler, and educator, Mrs. Howard used her vast array of talents and expertise to leave a lasting impact on thousands in our communities.

Two years ago, we had the awesome opportunity to celebrate Mrs. Sallie B. Howard's 100th birthday, and this picture that I have with me today depicts that moment as I escorted her into the auditorium of the school. We will have very fond memories of that day when she reached 100 years old.

Finally, beyond her academic contributions, what is more illuminating of Mrs. Howard's character was the way she connected with her students and her friends. She took a personal interest in the scholarship and mentorship of the youth that went far beyond success in the classroom.

This is, indeed, a solemn occasion, but it is also an occasion to celebrate. At 102 years old, Mrs. Sallie B. Howard fought the good fight, served her community, and was a friend and mentor to many.

I am thankful to God that she was able to touch so many lives. May she rest in peace. She now belongs to the ages.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life, work, and legacy of Sallie Baldwin Howard.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th anniversary of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, located in my congressional district and hometown of Wilson, North Carolina. St. John has been a beacon of light in the Wilson community for 150 long years and has positively affected generations of families. I ask

my colleagues to join me today in congratulating St. John's faithful congregation and their ancestors on this auspicious occasion.

In 1865, the New England Conference of the AME Zion Church deployed Reverend James Walker Hood to North Carolina to provide spiritual guidance to the 331,000 former slaves and to establish Churches throughout the state. Among the first churches established was St. John AME Zion Church (1868). Though Hood was met with fierce opposition from white Northern Methodists in establishing AME Zion Churches, he was unwavering in his commitment to the cause of Christianity as he established dozens of Churches across North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, much of St. John's growth over the years can be attributed to its dedicated leadership and congregation. After a fire destroyed the Church's frame in 1909, the Reverend B. P. Coward led the Church in building the beautiful and stately building that the Church resides in today. Under Reverend Allen J. Kirk's leadership, the Church erected a recreational center, started a day nursery, and renovated the parsonage. Reverend Dr. Ulysses S. Johnson is the Church's longest serving pastor, serving the congregation for over fifteen years. Reverend Dr. Johnson led numerous renovations to the Church and served the entire community during his tenure. Reverend Staccato Powell (now Bishop Staccato Powell) was assigned to St. John early in his pastoral career, becoming a ministerial giant who led the Church into continued growth. His pastoral leadership became nationally recognized and he now serves as Presiding Prelate of the Western Episcopal District.

Over the years, the Church has been deeply involved in the community, providing, among many other things, daily hot lunches to senior citizens and educational enrichment to children in Wilson during the summer recess as a part of the Youth Enrichment Program. In earlier years, St. John operated a Boy Scott organization that impacted the lives of hundreds of young men.

In recent years, the church established St. John Community Development Corporation, Inc. and the Smith Street Project to enhance the Church's community outreach. St. John continues to meet the spiritual and physical needs of its growing congregation through the vision and devoted work of its current pastor, Dr. Charlean B. Mapson, Presiding Elder and former Pastor, Dr. Michael S. Bell, and Presiding Bishop the Right Reverend Dr. Kenneth Monroe.

Mr. Speaker, by the grace of God, St. John AME Zion Church has been standing strong for 150 long years. Her outstanding leadership and devoted members have created significant growth in its membership and ministry, as well as, its continued outreach in the Wilson community. The Church's faithfulness and good deeds will ensure that St. John continues to experience God's blessings for years to come.

On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and the people of the First Congressional District of North Carolina, I commemorate the 150th anniversary of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and extend my best wishes to the Pastor and members (many of whom are dear friends) on this auspicious occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor a great American, Mr. Harvey T. Lewis, on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Mr. Lewis has led a life of service to his country, to his community, and to others.

Harvey T. Lewis was born on September 15, 1918 in Richmond, Virginia to Alberta Graves Lewis and John Edward Lewis. He is one of sixteen children raised by his parents. Mr. Lewis also had a twin sister, the late Evelyn Alberta Lewis. Mr. Lewis attended Armstrong High School in Richmond, Virginia. After his father' s passing, Mr. Lewis left school to work and help support the family.

A true man of service, Mr. Lewis served his country in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a sergeant. He went on to hold various positions in the federal government. After 28 years of government service, Mr. Lewis retired as Special Assistant to the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce where he was a trusted aide.

Mr. Lewis is known for his work ethic and entrepreneurial successes. He worked as a Pullman porter and was a member of the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters. He has owned and operated several businesses throughout his lifetime, including a neighborhood delicatessen in Prince George's County, Maryland and a cleaning service in Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Lewis was a cab driver in Washington, D.C. for many years and later became a licensed limousine driver. This led to the establishment of his limousine business, Limelighter Limousine Service. For 35 years, Mr. Lewis and his team provided limousine services to clients ranging from company executives to business owners to performing artists.

In addition to his work, Mr. Lewis is a longtime civic leader. In the 1960s, he was a civil rights advocate and used his familiarity as a professional driver in Washington, D.C. to provide scores of free rides to those attending the 1963 March on Washington. Rosa Parks requested Mr. Lewis as her driver to the United States Capitol for her Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony. Mr. Lewis truly believed in the value of being involved in our democracy. He was an active volunteer on numerous local, state, and presidential campaigns spanning from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. In 2008, at 89 years old, Mr. Lewis was one of the oldest active campaigners for Barack Obama. Upon meeting President Obama in 2012, just days after his 94th birthday, he was still an active campaigner.

The most important thing to Mr. Lewis has always been his family. He is married to his wife of ten years, the former Linda Ivey. He has one daughter Dr. Freda C. Lewis-Hall son-in-law Dr. Emerson R. Hall, Jr. three grandchildren Erin, Justin, and Austin and two great- grandchildren Michael, II and Emerson.

Mr. Lewis has been recognized for his outstanding service throughout his lifetime however, those who know him simply refer to him as ``a good man.'' To some, Mr. Lewis is a dedicated member of his community, to others, a hardworking businessman. To his friends and family, Harvey T. Lewis is a man of faith and a devoted family man.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating Mr. Harvey T. Lewis on his 100th birthday. May God continue to bless him and his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to recognize three of my constituents who are all celebrating birthday 100 very, very soon. Mrs. Cora Jones ``Boot'' McLeod, Mrs. Christine Johnson Umstead, and Mrs. Annie Belle Gilmore Rogers are all members of historic Mount Vernon Baptist Church located in Durham, North Carolina, pastored by my friend Dr. Jerome J. Washington.

These centenarians, Mr. Speaker, will soon celebrate their birthdays, surrounded by family and friends. These women have committed much of their lives to the development of their family and community. They are devout Christians of the missionary baptist faith who love their church.

Mrs. Cora Jones Boot McLeod was born on August 8, 1918, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and attended Rosenwald Schools. She started her own business in Durham as a professional beautician. Mrs. McLeod has spent all of her life encouraging her family and community to be independent and faithful in their pursuits. Her leadership is reflected in the business community and at her beloved Mount Vernon Baptist Church, where she served as church usher.

Mrs. Christine Johnson Umstead was born on August 16, 1918, in Roxboro, North Carolina, located in Person County, just north of Durham. She came to Durham as a food service professional. In retirement, she has encouraged others to become active senior citizens by setting an example and providing motivation to all. Mrs. Umstead joined Mount Vernon in 1948 and has remained an active church member.

Over the years, she has provided faithful leadership and fellowship as a Christian missionary, a member of the senior citizens organization, and the J.E. Best Bible Class.

Finally, yet importantly, is Mrs. Annie Belle Gilmore Rogers. Mrs. Rogers was born on October 20, 1918, in Durham, and her ancestors were founding members of Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Over the past 100 years, she has exemplified the value of faith, education, and resourcefulness.

She attended what was then Hillside Park School, which we now know as Hillside High School, in Durham. She went on to become a teacher's assistant at C.C. Spaulding Elementary School, where she helped educate young minds who would go on to become future leaders.

Mrs. Rogers recognized the value of managing her resources and teaching her family to do the same. She was among the first members and leaders of the Mount Vernon Baptist Church Credit Union, at a time when African Americans had few opportunities for investing their limited resources or borrowing money to develop individual wealth. The credit union stands today as the last functioning church credit union in the State, with members of Mrs. Rogers' family serving on its board.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride this morning that I speak these words today from the floor of the House of Representatives. These three strong and powerful African American women

have worked and labored to empower their families and Mount Vernon Baptist Church into a spiritual force serving the Durham community.

I am grateful to these remarkable women for their love of humanity and contributions to their community. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing these three great Americans our very best wishes as they each celebrate 100 years of life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my dear friend, Earle Francis Jones who today is being honored by the Washington Government Relations Group with the Reginald ``Reg'' Gilliam Award for Lifetime Achievement for his decades of government relations work in Washington. Mr. Jones is most deserving of this great honor and I ask my colleagues to join me in offering our congratulations.

Mr. Jones was born in Washington, D.C. to Earle Sr. and the former Sylvia Carroll and raised here in our Nation's Capital. He is a product of the District of Columbia Public School system where he attended historic Coolidge High School and exceled in sports, music, and community service. Mr. Jones was highly academic and upon graduating from High School, went on to attend the internationally renowned American University. He later attended the University of California at Berkeley where he received his Juris Doctor Degree from the Boalt Hall School of Law.

Following law school, Mr. Jones began practicing at the firm of Holland and Hart in Denver, Colorado. He eventually left the firm to serve the Regional Transportation District as one of their legal representatives. He then entered into private practice.

Mr. Jones then served for two years on the Judicial Ethics Advisory Board as the Ethics Counselor for Colorado lawyers. He was recommended by a justice of the Colorado Supreme Court to serve in this important position. Earle served in that capacity for two years and was also an adjunct Law Professor at the University of Denver.

Returning to the National Capital Region, Mr. Jones joined Tele- Communications, Inc. (TCI) in 1989 where he served as Division Director for Government Affairs and then its Federal Communications Commission Washington Counsel. He then served as Director of Government Affairs for TCl's five-state Mid-Atlantic region.

For three years, Mr. Jones led Washington, DC's District Cablevision as its General Manager and oversaw Comcast's acquisition of District Cablevision from AT&T in 2001.

Mr. Jones joined Comcast as Vice President of Government Affairs for its Eastern Division, and in January 2009, he joined Comcast Corporation's Washington Federal Government Affairs office where he continues to serve with distinction as their senior public policy representative on Capitol Hill.

Over decades of work, Mr. Jones has developed strong relationships with members of Congress and their staff. This is particularly true among members of the Congressional Black Caucus who regularly seek his advice and counsel.

Mr. Speaker, I have had the high honor of knowing and working with Mr. Jones for more than a decade. As a member of Congress, I have many relationships on Capitol Hill, but none exceed the bond of friendship that I enjoy with Mr. Jones; he is one of the kindest individuals I've ever come to know. I've always been impressed by his honesty, integrity, and commitment to others.

Mr. Jones has generously given his time to serve on the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Corporate Advisory Council where he advised the CBCF's Board of Directors on policy, special initiatives, and leadership development. There is no doubt that his service on the Council furthered the CBCF's mission to advance the global black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public. His professional drive is exceeded only by his love for family.

Mr. Jones is married to the former Linda Eatmon whose family is from my congressional district in Winton, North Carolina. They were married in 1998 and together have one son Steve, daughter-in-law Heather, and two grandchildren, Ryan and Rachael.

Mr. Jones' steadfast leadership and dogged commitment to honesty and integrity enabled him to earn the trust and respect of his friends, colleagues, congressional staffers, and countless members of Congress. Like so many others, I am honored to know Earle Jones and call him my friend.

On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and the people of the First Congressional District of North Carolina, I congratulate Earle Francis Jones upon his selection to receive the Reginald ``Reg'' Gilliam Award for Lifetime Achievement. It could not go to a more deserving individual.

Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) for her friendship, leadership, and for yielding me the time this afternoon. I also thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3460, that seeks to name the United States courthouse located at 323 East Chapel Hill Street in Durham, North Carolina, as the John Hervey Wheeler United States Courthouse.

This bill, Mr. Speaker, has the support from my friends in the North Carolina congressional delegation and the entire Durham community. It was favorably reported out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee several days ago.

John Hervey Wheeler, Mr. Speaker, was a prominent African American bank president, civil rights lawyer, political activist, civic leader, educator, statesman, and philanthropist. He was a family friend as well.

Mr. Wheeler was born on the campus of Kittrell College in Vance County, North Carolina, on New Year's Day in 1908, as the second child to the former Margaret Hervey and John Leonidas Wheeler.

After the Wheeler family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, John Wheeler attended high school at Morehouse Academy from 1921 to 1925, and then matriculated to Morehouse College from 1925 to 1929, where he graduated summa cum laude in June of 1929.

After graduation, Mr. Wheeler moved to Durham where he began his career

with the Mechanics & Farmers Bank as a bank teller. He advanced through the company's ranks and in 1944, became executive vice president. Eight years later, Mr. Wheeler would become bank president. At the age of 44, he was the youngest African American bank president in the country.

As president, Mr. Wheeler saw the bank grow from operating branches in two cities, Durham and Raleigh, to also having a branch in Charlotte. During his tenure the bank's assets grew from $5 million to $41 million.

John Wheeler, Mr. Speaker, was instrumental in making loans to hundreds of families in North Carolina, enabling them to purchase their homes. He made loans to churches and businesses, loans they otherwise would not have been able to obtain because of discriminatory lending practices.

John Wheeler was eager to become a lawyer. He enrolled in law school at the North Carolina College for Negroes, now North Carolina Central University, where in 1947 he was among the first law school graduates.

John Wheeler became a thoughtful activist through his involvement known as the Durham Committee on Negro Affairs, a community-based civil and political organization founded in Durham in 1935. Mr. Wheeler began serving as chairman in 1957, a position he held until 1978. The organization continues today as the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People.

During my entire time in Durham, Mr. Speaker, as a student at North Carolina Central University, John Wheeler was a titan of a community leader, well respected, and effective. On many occasions, he personally counseled me by providing advice that I recall to this day.

It was through the Durham Committee on Negro Affairs that Attorney Wheeler and Attorney M. Hugh Thompson and Attorney Oliver Hill of Richmond, Virginia, challenged several North Carolina school boards by alleging they were failing to provide equal funding to African American schools. It was a constitutional challenge.

In the case of Blue v. Durham Public School District filed on May 18, 1949, Wheeler, Thompson, and Hill were successful in proving that the Durham Public School District was violating the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

The court entered its order and I have a copy with me today, Mr. Speaker. I will simply read one sentence:

The net result of what has been done leaves Negro school

children at many disadvantages which must be overcome.

The court ordered equal funding for the schools on January 26, 1951, in the very building we are naming today.

Incidentally, Mr. Speaker, the State courthouse in Richmond, Virginia, is named for his cocounsel, Oliver Hill. In my home county of Wilson, also in 1949, Black residents employed Attorney Wheeler to represent them in a similar lawsuit because the Wilson County School Board refused to build any public schools in the rural portions of the county for African American children.

Mr. Wheeler won that case as well, and because of the litigation, two consolidated schools were constructed. Thousands of African American children in Wilson County benefited by obtaining a high school education.

Mr. Wheeler ultimately filed several school desegregation lawsuits before the end of the decade. In 1956, he and several other Durham attorneys, including future CORE chairman, Floyd B. McKissick, Sr., won the U.S. Supreme Court case of Frasier v. Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina, which led to the first three African American undergraduates to gain admission to our State's flagship institution.

In 1961, President Kennedy appointed John Wheeler to the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. In 1963, Mr. Wheeler became an incorporator of the North Carolina Fund, an ambitious antipoverty agency established by then-Governor Terry Sanford to help eradicate poverty. Mr. Wheeler joined the organization's board, and his bank became the repository for its accounts.

In 1964, then-Governor Terry Sanford named John Wheeler as a delegate to the Democratic Party's national convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mr. Wheeler was the first African American in North Carolina to be a convention delegate.

That same year, Mr. Wheeler became the first African American President of the Southern Regional Council, a civil rights organization founded in 1944 and based in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1967, John Wheeler received an honorary doctorate from Morehouse College for his tireless leadership as a member of the school's board of trustees. He had previously received honorary doctorates from Shaw University in Raleigh, Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, and Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama.

In 1970, Mr. Wheeler was awarded an honorary doctorate from Duke University, and that same year received the Frank Porter Graham civil liberties award for his defense of freedom for all North Carolinians.

In 1971, North Carolina Central University, my alma mater, also honored him with an honorary doctorate degree. On January 4, 1976, Morehouse College formally dedicated the John H. Wheeler Hall as the school's social sciences and business administration building.

On December 25, Christmas Day, in 1935, Mr. Wheeler married the former Selena Lucille Warren, the daughter of Julia McCauley and Dr. Stanford L. Warren, a cofounder and one-time president of the Mechanics & Farmers Bank. They had two children, Julia Taylor and Warren Hervey Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler passed away 40 years ago on July 6, 1978, at the age of 70.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, John Hervey Wheeler gave so much of himself to his community, State, and country. He accomplished more in his time on Earth than some could hope to accomplish in two lifetimes.

It is for these reasons that I respectfully urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3460, to direct that the United States courthouse be named in his honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5554, the Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act of 2018. These user fee agreements are important to millions of North Carolinians living with companion animals. They are also important to the agricultural community. Some of you may not be aware that North Carolina is the second largest pork producer, the second largest turkey producer, and the third largest poultry producer in the country. Our agricultural community and family farms are essential to feeding our nation and they depend on medicines to keep animals healthy.

I am pleased that the final legislation includes language that I have worked on with my colleagues including Representatives Hudson and Schrader to enable conditional approval of innovative veterinary drugs that have been demonstrated to be safe to use and have a reasonable expectation of effectiveness. The FDA already has this authority for unmet medical needs in minor uses and minor species, and this expanded authority can help improve protections for animal and human health.

This legislation must be passed before Congress adjourns for August or the FDA will be required to halt the programs. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Pallone for his friendship and leadership on the committee. He has been an extraordinary leader in the healthcare space, and I want to publicly thank the gentleman for his work. As well as to Dr. Burgess: I have been on the committee now for more than 10 years, and I have watched him and Mr. Walden, Mr. Barton, and others engage in debate. I know that all of them are seriously and totally committed to improving health outcomes in this country, and I thank them all for their leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support S. 292, the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research Act, commonly referred to as the STAR Act. Along with Mr. McCaul, Jackie Speier, and Mike Kelly, I introduced H.R. 820, which is the House companion to S. 292.

Over 85 percent of the House has cosponsored this bill. It is, therefore, my great honor to serve as cochair of the bipartisan House Childhood Cancer Caucus. Through the work of this caucus, I have had the opportunity to work closely with pediatric patient groups and stakeholders to promote legislation that can help save and improve the lives of young people.

Passage of the STAR Act has long been a goal of those patients and of the Childhood Cancer Caucus, and I am grateful that the House is poised to send this important piece of legislation now to the President's desk for his signature.

Mr. Speaker, 16,000--16,000--children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer every year. Many of those have limited treatment options. The STAR Act, Mr. Speaker, is an important piece of legislation that will expand the opportunities for childhood cancer research, improve efforts to identify and track childhood cancer, and enhance the quality of life of childhood cancer survivors.

Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death in American children. As many as two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors suffer from late effects of their disease or treatment, including secondary cancers or organ damage. That is why passage and enactment of this legislation is so important.

The bill enhances research on the late effects of childhood cancers, improves collaboration among providers so that doctors are better able to care for survivors as they age, and explores innovative models of care for childhood cancer survivors.

When enacted, S. 292 will help to advance pediatric cancer research and child-focused cancer treatments while also improving childhood cancer surveillance and providing enhanced resources for survivors. This bill, Mr. Speaker, is the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever slated to be passed by this Congress.

The STAR Act will give young cancer patients and their families better access to life-saving treatments and the support they need even after beating cancer. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I thank all of the leaders of the committee for their work.