Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Kesler Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, located in my congressional district in the City of Henderson, North Carolina, as the Church and its faithful congregation celebrate its 150th Anniversary. Kesler Temple has been a beacon of light in the Vance County community and has positively impacted generations of families in eastern North Carolina.

What would eventually become Kesler Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was founded in 1867 when members of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion faith established a new church. Its first pastor was Reverend A. F. Goslen. In 1872, Reverend A. G. Kesler was assigned to the Granville County Circuit by the legendary Bishop James Walker

Hood who established the AME Zion Church in North Carolina. The Church was formally named in honor of Reverend Kesler five years later.

Presiding Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church have appointed fifty pastors in the Church's 150 year history including the current presiding pastor and my college friend, Reverend Dr. James C. White.

Under the leadership of Reverend Dr. James C. White, Kesler Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church continues to grow in size and strength. His strong faith in God and preparedness for the ministry, has earned him a stellar reputation among Christian believers throughout our great state.

Mr. Speaker, by the grace of God, Kesler Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church has been blessed for 150 long years as it has witnessed for Christ each and every day. The Church's faithfulness and scripture-based ministry will ensure that Kesler Temple continues to thrive for generations to come.

On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and the people of the First Congressional District of North Carolina, I extend to the Pastor and members of Kesler Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church my best wishes on this auspicious occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to honor the Reverend Dr. Howard W. Parker, Jr., who has served as pastor of historic Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church located in Greenville, North Carolina, for more than 35 years, and will soon retire.

The son of Howard and Bernice Parker, Dr. Parker excelled academically, attending Shaw University, Winston-Salem State University, Wake Forest University, and United Christian College, ultimately receiving a master of divinity degree and an honorary doctor of divinity degree.

Under his devoted leadership, Mr. Speaker, Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church has grown in membership and has become a giant in the Greenville community. In addition to leading his congregation, Dr. Parker served as president of the North Carolina General Baptist State Convention, which represents more than a half a million Missionary Baptists in 1,700 North Carolina congregations.

Dr. Parker's commitment to the community has stretched far beyond the pulpit. He was twice elected to the Pitt County Board of Education and served as the board's chair. He serves as associate chaplain of the Greenville Police Department and is a member of the Greenville Initiative on Gang Violence.

Dr. Parker is married to the former Ruby LaVerna Grantham from Goldsboro. They are the proud parents of two adult children, Kelly and Andrea.

His distinguished career and life of unselfish and dedicated service to mankind has positively impacted the lives of so many. His contributions to the community are far and wide, and too numerous to mention.

I ask my colleagues this morning to join me in honoring Reverend Dr. Howard W. Parker, Jr., and thank him for his important service to God and humanity. We wish him well in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to recognize Richard DeWitt Smith, a native of my home State of North Carolina and a graduate of our alma mater, North Carolina Central University.

Tomorrow night, Richard will be honored by the NCCU Alumni Association with the prestigious Alumni Founder's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Richard is most deserving of this great honor. Since graduating in 1981, Richard has been a dedicated alumnus to the university, always exemplifying our motto of Truth and Service.

Richard continues to serve NCCU and its alumni community in numerous capacities at the local, State, and national levels. He gives of his time, talent, and resources to help students from across the country succeed in obtaining a quality education from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Richard Smith has been married to Jacqueline Beatty Smith for 28 years. They met 40 years ago as NCCU students.

Mr. Speaker, time does not permit me to fully describe Richard's many other contributions; but suffice it to say that Richard Smith is most deserving of this high honor--the NCCU Alumni Association 2017 Alumni Founder's Lifetime Achievement Award.

I am proud of Richard Smith, and I thank him for his extraordinary work. I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating this great American hero.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time and for his leadership on the committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2430, the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017, which reauthorizes the FDA's user fee programs that are critical to drug development, the medical device approval process, and, most importantly, to the patients who will benefit from these advances.

While I support this critical bill overall, I want to highlight, in particular, sections 503 through 505, which is the RACE for Children Act that my friend Mike McCaul, Congressman Mike McCaul, and I introduced earlier this year. Scientific advances have shown that some childhood and adult cancers share the same molecular targets.

RACE, Mr. Speaker, will help facilitate the expeditious development of innovative and promising treatments for children living with cancer by providing the FDA new authority to require a pediatric investigation into an adult cancer drug if that drug uses molecular targeting and is relevant to the cancer.

I am grateful to Mr. Walden and Ranking Member Pallone and their respective staffs for understanding the urgent need to enact the RACE for Children Act and for working with me, working with my staff, to see that it was included.

I would also like to highlight section 701 and 702, which is the text of a bill I introduced with Dr. Bucshon to modernize and streamline FDA's medical device inspection process by moving to a risk-based inspection approach. The provision will allow FDA to better use its limited resources and improve patient safety by focusing on facilities that have the most potential to impact public health.

Finally, passage of the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 will send a strong signal to the administration that Congress values the critical importance of medical research and patient safety.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my good friend Congressman Jim Clyburn's bill to reauthorize the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historic Preservation program.

I have known Jim Clyburn for more than 35 years, and this has been his passion ever since I first met him many years ago. I thank Mr. Clyburn for his passion and his leadership on this issue.

Since 1988, the HBCU Historic Preservation program has provided more than $60 million to HBCUs all across the country to support infrastructure and facilitate learning.

Both my undergraduate and law school alma mater, North Carolina Central University in Durham, an institution that I am now proud to represent in Congress, has greatly benefited from the program.

And I might say that my father graduated from Shaw University, which is an HBCU, and later from Meharry Medical College. My mother attended high school at Shaw University and graduated from college at Hampton Institute, now called Hampton University.

Mr. Speaker, HBCUs fill a unique and important role in our Nation's higher education system and in our country's narrative. Not only do HBCUs train our workforce of the future by producing the most African- American students who can earn science and engineering doctoral degrees, they are integral parts of our national identity.

The more than 100 HBCUs spread across the country house the books and the memorabilia from freedmen and former slaves dating back many years.

Many of the historic buildings on the campuses of HBCUs were used as meeting places during reconstruction and during the civil rights movement.

HBCUs represent the past, the here and the now, and the future of our country. By reauthorizing this important program through 2024, we can honor the many important faculty and students that have helped HBCUs endure, support people at those institutions today, and prepare our workforce for the future.

I strongly support this bill. I commend my dear colleague, Congressman Jim Clyburn, for his enormous leadership on this important issue. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of a dear friend, a North Carolina giant, the Honorable Ralph A. Hunt, Sr.: a community leader, businessman, educator, former North Carolina State Senator; and a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Mr. Speaker, Ralph Hunt was a resident of Durham County, North Carolina, a county that Congressman David Price and I proudly represent. He was my constituent.

Mr. Speaker, Ralph Hunt was also a native of my congressional district, having grown up in an adjoining county called Granville County, North Carolina. He was the seventh of eight children born in 1932 to Johnnie and Amanda Harris Hunt.

As a young student at Mary Potter High School in Oxford, North Carolina, which was the only high school for African Americans during those days, Ralph grew up during the period of legal and forced segregation in the South, which helped lay the foundation for Ralph and others like him to get an education. Mary Potter High School was a nationally renowned high school for African Americans.

Ralph Hunt, Sr., went on to further his education at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, which is a Presbyterian school. He was drafted into the United States Army during his junior year in school, but he was honorably discharged 2 years later from the United States Army.

He then returned to North Carolina to complete his college education, earning a degree in mathematics in 1956. After spending many years as an educator at Mary Potter High School and Hillside High School, Ralph was elected to the Durham City Council. He was one of only two African Americans serving on the city council at that time. His fellow council members selected him to serve as mayor pro tempore.

Ralph was then elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 1985 and served many years. During his tenure, Senator Hunt was a true statesman who led with conviction. He served as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, served as majority whip, and a member of the Joint Legislative Commission on Government Operations. He introduced the legislation that changed the election law in North Carolina to allow a 40 percent threshold to avoid a runoff in a primary.

In 1993, Senator Hunt was appointed by then-Governor Jim Hunt to the prestigious North Carolina Utilities Commission, where he would serve as its chair. Ralph Hunt, Sr., retired from the North Carolina Utilities Commission in 2001 and returned to the State Senate very briefly from 2004 to 2005.

Ralph's career in public service should serve as a marker we can all strive to meet. He was a visionary who helped bring the Durham community to be the economic leader that it is today.

Ralph Hunt, Sr., achieved many great things in his life, but his greatest achievement, Mr. Speaker, was his loving family: his dear wife of more than 50 years, Rebecca; and his three children, Ralph, Jr., Reginald, and Regina.

Mr. Speaker, the city of Durham, the county of Durham, and the State of North Carolina all shine brighter because of the life and work of Senator Ralph Hunt, Sr. We will miss him dearly, but his legacy lives on.

Everything God gave to Ralph, he gave it back to his family and to his community. I said those words at his memorial service the other day, and I say it now from the well of the U.S. House of Representatives: Everything that God gave to Ralph Hunt, Sr., he gave it back to his family and to his community.

Mr. Speaker, in just a few moments, after the next Republican speaker, my dear friend and colleague, Congressman David Price, who was also a dear friend of Ralph Hunt, Sr., will give additional remarks in tribute to this great leader.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 52nd Anniversary of Metropolitan Baptist Church located in my Congressional district in the City of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. This Church has been a beacon of light in the community for more than half a century and has positively impacted generations of families in eastern North Carolina.

Metropolitan Baptist Church was founded on May 4, 1965, by a group of devout Christians eager to proclaim the goodness of the Lord. The Church's first worship service was held just five days later on May 9, 1965 in the auditorium of the Lincoln School. Reverend Benjamin Daniels, a Shaw University ministerial student, was the first to preach at Metropolitan. Despite these humble beginnings, the congregation remained faithful and steadfast and would go on to grow by leaps and bounds.

On July 23, 1967, Metropolitan Baptist Church held a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate construction of a sanctuary at 1213 Leggett Road, where it still stands today. Reverend John W. Fleming presided over the first worship service in the new edifice on July 14, 1968.

Under the leadership of Reverend Dr. J. E. Arnette, Metropolitan Baptist Church continued to grow both physically and spiritually. Dr. Arnette oversaw the establishment of Boy and Girl Scout Troops, a Young Adult Sunday School Class, and provided food for needy families. These good deeds led to Metropolitan Baptist Church to be ranked 12th out of more than 1,700 Baptist Churches in North Carolina by the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

Reverend Raymond L. Privott succeeded Dr. Arnette and continued the tradition of providing outreach services that enhanced the growth and development of children. This included providing tutoring in community schools and providing preliminary SAT studies that greatly benefited young people in the Rocky Mount area.

Reverend Norman T. Davis served as interim pastor for two and a half years and continued Metropolitan Baptist Church's commitment to both God and the community. He was followed by Pastor Richard Allen Gerald, who has served as Senior Pastor of Metropolitan since 2004 and has been the spiritual leader to many families and individuals. His strong faith in God and preparedness for the ministry, has earned him a stellar reputation among Christian believers throughout our great state.

Mr. Speaker, by the grace of God, Metropolitan Baptist Church has been blessed for 52 long years as it has witnessed for Christ each and every day. The Church's faithfulness and scripture-based ministry will ensure that Metropolitan continues to thrive 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 extend to the Pastor and Members of Metropolitan Baptist Church my best wishes on this auspicious occasion.

So you have been working on it for 6 years. My information is that you posted this bill at 8 last night. The Congressional Budget Office has not given it a score. They have not told the American people how much it is going to cost or how many people it is going to affect.

You have skyrocketed premiums for hardworking Americans who have preexisting conditions, and that is what my colleagues need to understand.

If you are an average 40-year-old adult with a preexisting condition and have diabetes, it is estimated your premiums will rise $400 a month. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, $800 a month. And heaven forbid if you have some preexisting condition involving cancer; the numbers just go off of the chart.

You know and I know this bill will not see the light of day in the Senate. This is a political stunt to save face with your rightwing base. You know it and we know it.

If this wasn't so serious, affecting the economy and the affordability of insurance, I would say just go on and do it, because you will lose your opportunity to serve in this House and you will ultimately lose the majority.

Don't do it. Forget about politics. Think about the 24 million Americans who will not be able to afford health insurance coverage.

That is why the American Medical Association, AARP, American Nurses Association, and all of the other stakeholder groups have pleaded with you. They have called your office. They have written you letters. They have written us letters.

Don't do it. I ask you to vote ``no'' on this ill-conceived legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate my constituent, Apostle Theodore Thomas Herring, Sr. for 40 faithful years in the ministry. Apostle Herring has used his ministry to inspire and uplift people for decades. He has honored God and his community in immeasurable ways.

Apostle Herring holds a master's degree in Theology from St. Paul's Bible Institute. He accepted the call to the ministry in April of 1977. On September 1, 1979, he was ordained pastor of Salvation and Deliverance Church located in Tarboro, North Carolina. Since his ordination, Apostle Herring has received numerous accolades for his work, including being named Pastor of the Year. He was named an ``Apostle of the Lord'' by the Chief Apostle of the Salvation and Deliverance Churches Worldwide in 2005. Apostle Herring also received an honorary certificate from Governor James B. Hunt for extraordinary services rendered at the Caledonia Correctional Institute.

Salvation and Deliverance Church's first location was a small room in a pool hall located on Main Street in Tarboro. The church's first members were Apostle Herring, his wife, First Lady Evangelist Elizabeth Herring, and their four children. Despite these humble beginnings, Apostle Herring preached diligently every Sunday and utilized the singing talent of his sons to bring in more members.

As time went on, the church began to grow by leaps and bounds. People were drawn to Apostle Herring's dynamic sermons and the church's critically acclaimed Salvation and Deliverance Choir. Under the guidance of Apostle and Evangelist Herring, the SDC Choir won numerous awards from various competitions including the Quaker Oats Voices of Tomorrow Youth Gospel Choir Competition, the Pathmark Gospel Choir Competition, UPN's Most Soulful Gospel Sound, Verizon's How Sweet the Sound Competition, and McDonald's GospelFest. In addition, the SDC choir has shared the stage with gospel artists such as Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Byron Cage, and Marvin Sapp and released its debut recording, ``More Than Conquerors.''

Mr. Speaker, Apostle Theodore Thomas Herring, Sr. is an inspiring teacher and dynamic minister of the Gospel. His faithful service to God and the ministry deserve of all his previous accolades and those yet to come. I ask my colleagues here in the United States House of Representatives to please join me in expressing sincere appreciation for Apostle Herring's faithfulness and extraordinary service to communities across our state and Nation.

Mr. Speaker, over the last few days, 110 organizations have written to me in opposition to TrumpCare. You know who they are: AARP, American Hospital Association, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychiatric Association, National Association of School Nurses, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Teachers, National Association of School Psychologists, National School Boards Association, National Education Association, the Children's Defense Fund, March of Dimes, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the American College of Physicians North Carolina Chapter, North Carolina Society of Addiction Medicine, Consumers Union, United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO, Families USA, Center for American Progress, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and the list goes on and on.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a list of entities opposing TrumpCare.

1. AARP

2. American Hospital Association

3. American Heart Association

4. American Medical Association

5. American Academy of Physicians

6. American Academy of Pediatrics

7. American Psychiatric Association

8. National Association of School Nurses

9. Alliance for Retired Americans

10. American Federation of Teachers

11. National Association of School Psychologists

12. National School Boards Association

13. National Education Association

14. Children's Defense Fund

15. March of Dimes

16. National Committee to Preserve Social Security and

Medicare

17. American College of Physicians North Carolina Chapter

18. North Carolina Society of Addiction Medicine

19. North Carolina AIDS Action Network

20. Consumers Union

21. SEIU

22. United Steelworkers

23. AFL-CIO

24. Families USA

25. Center for American Progress

26. Southern HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative

27. National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

28. Children's Hospital Association

29. National Rural Health Association

30. American Lung Association

31. ACLU

32. National Urban League

33. Black Women's Health Imperative

34. Communications Workers of America

35. International Brotherhood of Teamsters

36. National Rural Education Association

37. National Association of Social Workers

38. National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

39. Lutheran Services in America

40. NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice

41. Children's Dental Health Project

42. Family Voices

43. First Focus Campign for Children

44. American Psychological Association

45. National Council for Behavioral Health

46. National Hemophilia Foundation

47. American Congress of Obstetriticians and Gynecologists

48. American Sexual Health Association

49. Big Cities Health Coalition

50. National Women's Law Center

51. Human Rights Campaign

52. Partnership for America's Children

53. Friends Committee on National Legislation

54. National Partnership for Women & Families

55. Planned Parenthood Action Fund

56. National Center for Learning Disabilities

57. Save Medicaid in Schools Coalition

58. HIV Medicine Association

59. Drug Policy Alliance

60. League of Conservation Voters

61. Natural Resources Defense Council

62. Green Latinos

63. Green For All

64. Safe Climate Campaign

65. Climate Reality Project

66. Center for Reproductive Rights

67. Interfaith Disability Advocacy Collaborative

68. International Federation of Professional and Technical

Engineers

69. Trust for America's Health

70. AIDS United

71. AFSCME

72. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

73. AASA, The School Superintendents Association

74. Accelify

75. American Foundation for the Blind

76. Association of Assistive Technology Act

77. Programs Association of Educational Service Agencies

78. Association of School Business Officials International

79. Association of University Centers on Disabilities

80. Autistic Self Advocacy Network

81. Center for American Progress Center for Public

Representation

82. Clearinghouse on Women's Issues

83. Colorado School Medicaid Consortium

84. Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and

Programs for the Deaf

85. Council for Exceptional Children

86. Council of Administrators of Special Education

87. Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

88. Division for Early Childhood of the Council for

Exceptional Children (DEC)

89. Health and Education Alliance of Louisiana

90. Healthy Schools Campaign

91. Higher Education Consortium for Special Education

92. Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

93. LEAnet, a national coalition of local education

agencies

94. Learning Disabilities Association of America

95. Lutheran Services in America Disability Network

96. Michigan Association of Intermediate School

Administrators

97. Michigan Association of School Administrators

98. National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

99. National Association of State Directors of Special

Education (NASDSE)

100. National Association of State Head Injury

Administrators

101. National Black Justice Coalition

102. National Center for Learning Disabilities

103. National Disability Rights Network

104. National Down Syndrome Congress

105. National Health Law Program

106. National Respite Coalition

107. Paradigm Healthcare Services

108. School Social Work Association of America

109. School-Based Health Alliance

110. Society for Public Health Education

111. Teacher Education Division of the Council for

Exceptional Children

What is it about this, Mr. Speaker, that you don't understand?

You are wrong on this. Don't let your base push you over the cliff on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my longtime friend and constituent, Sheriff James L. Knight as he retires at the end of February after serving 20 years as the top law enforcement officer for Edgecombe County, North Carolina and more than 33 years in law enforcement. Sheriff Knight is the first African American to serve in this position in Edgecombe County.

James L. Knight was born on July 19, 1959 in the Town of Macclesfield and is the youngest of nine children born to Annie Mae and Willie W. Knight. He attended Living Hope Elementary School in Macclesfield and South Edgecombe High School in Pinetops where he graduated in 1977.

After graduation, Mr. Knight enlisted in the United States Army and served as part of the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was a model soldier and was awarded the Parachute Badge, Expert Badge M-16, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and two letters of commendation. He was Honorably Discharged in 1980 having earned the rank of Specialist E-4.

Sheriff Knight began his law enforcement career with the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office in July 1984 as a Detention Officer. He rose through the ranks serving first as Deputy Sheriff and later as Detective, where he remained until he was appointed Sheriff of Edgecombe County by the Edgecombe County Democratic Party Executive Committee in 1997, when then-Sheriff Phil Ellis resigned from the position. Sheriff Knight has faithfully served the people of Edgecombe County as Sheriff for the last 20 years and has been reelected to this office every four years since being appointed.

Sheriff Knight manages more than 100 employees, including over fifty certified officers. Under Sheriff Knight's direction, these officers cover over 526 square miles and are charged with protecting nearly 60,000 Edgecombe County residents.

A dedicated public servant, Sheriff Knight implemented the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program within Edgecombe County Schools. D.A.R.E. is an officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches fifth graders how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives. There is no doubt that Sheriff Knight had a profound and positive impact on an entire generation of young people. His positive influence continues today.

Sheriff Knight has always been known as a true public servant who is always eager and willing to serve. His long held goal has been to provide effective and efficient law enforcement service while building strong and trusting relationships with the citizens. He has certainly achieved that goal and so much more.

Sheriff Knight's dedication to and impact in Edgecombe County is seen far beyond the walls of the Sheriff's Department. He has been a strong catalyst in improving and positively impacting the lives of Edgecombe County citizens. In recognition of his selfless work, Sheriff Knight has received numerous awards including the Citizen of the Year, James B. Hunt, Jr. Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Volunteer Services, and a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Law Enforcement.

Sheriff Knight has served and continues to serve on several boards including the United Way, Boy Scouts of America, Governor's Crime Commission, National Sheriffs' Association, North State Law Enforcement Officers Association, and the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association where he served as the President of the executive committee. He even proudly represented his community as an Olympic Torch Bearer in the lead up to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

At every step along his storied life, Sheriff James L. Knight has been accompanied by his wife, the former Margaret Sharpe. The two were married on August 1, 1982. Together, they have two children, James Jr. and Jamina, and one grandson Jayden. They attend Anderson Chapel Baptist Church in Macclesfield where Sheriff Knight serves on the Board of Deacons.

Mr. Speaker, Sheriff James L. Knight has dedicated his entire adult life to public service. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the dedication and selflessness displayed by Sheriff Knight over more than 30 years first as a soldier, then as a Corrections Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Detective, and finally as Sheriff of Edgecombe County. While Sheriff Knight is deserving of far greater accolades from a grateful public, my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives join me in expressing our sincere appreciation for Sheriff Knight's hard work and sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and recognize my constituent and friend, Officer Eddie Manford Buffaloe, Sr. as he retires from seventeen years of honorable service as a courtroom bailiff for District and Superior Courts in Northampton County, North Carolina. The past seventeen years as a courtroom bailiff is but a part of a long and storied career in law enforcement that spanned more than half a century.

Officer Buffaloe was born in Northampton County in Gumberry, North Carolina on June 3, 1931. He was one of ten children born to the former Geneva Brooks and Eddie Bruce Buffaloe. He attended Northampton County Training School in Garysburg, North Carolina which was recognized as a ``Christian Institution for Negro Youths of Both Sexes.'' Following graduation, on December 5, 1951 at age 20, Eddie Buffaloe enlisted in the United States Army.

He served on active duty for two years before transferring to the Army Reserve where he served an additional five years. After nearly seven years of military service, Eddie received an Honorable Discharge and returned to his Northampton County home.

It was in 1961 that Eddie's law enforcement career commenced when he volunteered as a Special Deputy with the Northampton County Sheriff's Department where he worked the night shift. In 1965, Officer Buffaloe became a full time Deputy Sheriff with the Northampton County Sheriff's Department. His love of law enforcement compelled him to learn everything he could about his work.

Officer Buffaloe participated in and completed significant training at the Northampton County Law Enforcement Officers Training School, United States Treasury Department's Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms division; Roanoke-Chowan Training Center; and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 1991 at the age of 70 and after sixteen years with the Northampton County Sheriff's Department, Officer Buffaloe was appointed Chief of Police for the town of Rich Square. He honorably and faithfully protected the residents of Rich Square and led his department for eight years. During his service as Police Chief, in June of 1996, Chief Buffaloe was tragically shot by a citizen during a domestic dispute but he recovered and continued serving the people of that community until his retirement in 1999. Always driven to serve others, he embarked on yet another career in public service by serving as a courtroom bailiff for District and Superior Courts in Northampton County.

From 1999 until 2016--17 years--Officer Eddie Buffaloe kept the peace when court was in session. He served as a bailiff under three different elected Sheriffs and is now ready to enjoy his hard earned retirement.

At every step along his storied life, Police Chief Eddie Buffaloe, Sr. was accompanied by his wife the former Ruth Langford. The two were married on January 4, 1959 and just recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. Together, they had three sons--Anthony, Deon, and Eddie Jr. who followed in his father's footsteps in law enforcement and now serves as Chief of Police in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, Chief Eddie Manford Buffaloe, Sr. has dedicated his entire adult life to public service. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the dedication and selflessness displayed by Chief Buffaloe over a more than 70 years first as a soldier, then as a volunteer Special Deputy, Deputy Sheriff, Police Chief, and finally as a courtroom bailiff. While Chief Buffaloe is deserving of far greater accolades from a grateful public, my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives join me in expressing our sincere appreciation for Chief Buffaloe's hard work and sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that President Trump rescind his refugee ban on children like the 12-year-old Yemeni girl, Eman Ali, who was not allowed to board a plane to join her U.S. parents, leaving her in limbo.

Mr. Speaker, today it is with great pleasure that I rise to recognize the contributions of Mrs. Victoria Whitehead McCray, a dedicated educator and public servant. Mrs. McCray is being honored by the Gamma Beta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at this year's Diamond Anniversary Banquet in Wilson, North Carolina. Mrs. McCray has dedicated her life to the service of others and is most deserving of this recognition.

Mrs. McCray was born on October 22, 1927, in Wilson, North Carolina, to John Henry Whitehead and the former-Victoria Ennis. Mrs. McCray attended Darden High School in Wilson, and attended North Carolina Central University in Durham. Following her education at NCCU, Mrs. McCray taught business and typing courses and produced a booklet on Black History entitled ``A Proud Heritage'' that was widely distributed to students and others.

Mrs. McCray is a Golden Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has held every office in the chapter including as Tamiouchos, Nominating Committee Chair, and Treasurer, where she has demonstrated her financial expertise. For her many contributions to her Sorority and community, Mrs. McCray was awarded the Phenomenal Woman Award for Outstanding Community Service from the Alumni Chapter at Bennett College.

Mrs. McCray is married to Wilford McCray and they are proud parents of Ms. Paulette McCray. Mrs. McCray is a member of the historic Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church in Wilson, where she serves as finance committee chair.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. McCray's contributions to our great nation are many. She is dedicated to the service of others and her passion for education and community is self-evident. I ask my colleagues join me in congratulating Mrs. Victoria Whitehead McCray on the high honor of being recognized by the Gamma Beta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Mr. Speaker, today it is with great pleasure that I rise to recognize the contributions of Mrs. Bessie Marie Poole who will be honored by the Gamma Beta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at this year's Diamond Anniversary Banquet in Wilson, North Carolina. Mrs. Poole has dedicated her life to serving her community and she is most deserving of this recognition.

Mrs. Poole was born August 23, 1946, in Wilson, North Carolina to parents Jessie and Edrena Ruffin. Mrs. Poole attended Elizabeth City State University and earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees there. Following her education, Mrs. Poole dedicated her life to educating future generations through a career as an English teacher. Her dedication to education was honored when Mrs. Poole was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 1986 by Beddingfield High School in Wilson.

Mrs. Poole was initiated as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 1965 while attending Elizabeth City State University and joined the Gamma Beta Omega chapter in 1970. As a member, she has led several committees including the International Program Awards, Baccalaureate, Finance, and Scholarship committees. She also serves as a board member and assistant treasurer for the Odelle Barnes Center. Mrs. Poole is married to Willie Poole, and they are proud parents of two adult children, Keith and Brian Poole.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Poole's contributions to our great nation are many. She has committed her life to serving others through education. I ask my colleagues join me in congratulating Mrs. Poole on the high honor of being recognized by the Gamma Beta Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.