Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago, I stood on the east steps of this ornate building, and I now rise in the hall of this august body to call for action on an issue that has languished for far too long. Specifically, Congress needs to pass commonsense reform of our laws regarding firearms.

I applaud our concerns for broader background checks, but broader background checks must be as effective as they are efficient. It is true that our current technology allows us to be efficient enough for background checks to be completed within 3 days, and over 90 percent of them are.

But what happens to that less than 10 percent? And why aren't they completed within that timeframe? Well, Mr. Speaker, we do not have a perfect world. Our public servants are not perfect and the consuming public is not either. Public servants occasionally make mistakes, and some consumers intentionally make misrepresentations.

No matter how good our technology is, sometimes the process requires more than 3 days to ferret out dishonest and ill-intended purchases. We need to close the gaping loopholes in our gun laws. We need to close the internet sale/gun show loophole that allows gun purchases to evade restrictions in place when purchasing a weapon through a licensed dealer.

We need to close the loophole that allows individuals on the terrorist watch list to purchase firearms. We need to close the loophole that allows domestic abusers to purchase guns. We need to close loopholes that allow semiautomatic weapons to be effectively turned into illegal automatic weapons.

The so-called bump stocks that allow the retrofitting of semiautomatic firearms to make them fully automatic should not be legal.

The Las Vegas shooter had several of these devices that enabled the firing of hundreds of rounds per minute. The purchasing of fully automatic weapons has been significantly restricted in this country since the 1930s, because weapons of war should have no place in our civil society. Give us a vote to close this loophole.

We need to close the Charleston loophole that allows purchases of firearms without the completion of a background check. My Background Check Completion Act will do just that and prevent another tragedy like the Emanuel AME Church shooting that took the lives of nine worshippers more than 2 years ago. Give us a vote to close this loophole.

Mr. Speaker, Congress needs to pass commonsense reforms of our laws regarding firearms. Give us a vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ronnie Gathers who recently announced his intention to retire as Director of Prince Georges County (Maryland) Parks and Recreation Department after thirty years of outstanding service.

A native of my hometown of Sumter County, South Carolina, Ronnie Gathers graduated from my alma mater South Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Recreation. In addition to serving as Director with great distinction, he also developed and provided oversight of Prince Georges County Parks and Recreation Foundation.

Mr. Ronnie Gathers has provided tremendous leadership in direct operations for fourteen divisions comprised of Park Police, Park Planning, Capital Development, Management Services, Special Projects, Information Technology, Northern, Central and Southern Area Recreational Services and Maintenance, Special Needs Programs, Arts, Cultural Heritage, Natural and Historical Resource Management, Sports Management and Trades Maintenance Division. He has worked collaboratively with communities and elected officials to establish policy, provide public safety, acquire land, plan programs, develop facilities, amenities and deliver quality services.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Gathers has done our shared home town and alma mater proud, and I ask that you and my colleagues join me in wishing him Godspeed on the occasion of his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Christopher Williamson, a dedicated individual who devotes his life to protecting and defending the communities of South Carolina. Mr. Williamson has recently been appointed as the South Carolina Highway Patrol's first African American commander.

From the time he joined in 1988, Williamson has led a rewarding career within the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Williamson is a native of Darlington, South Carolina and was born into a family whose values were founded on hard work, personal integrity and community service. He graduated from Fayetteville State University in 1985 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a minor in Police Science. Soon after college, Williamson began his career within the law enforcement realm as a Correctional Officer with the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

In 1986, Williamson accepted a position with the Darlington County Sheriff's Department as a Deputy and within two years, he joined the South Carolina Highway Patrol. His service on the Highway Patrol showed his great dedication, leadership, and dedication. He rose through the leadership ranks by eventually becoming Lieutenant Colonel in 2011 and last month, he was appointed the Commander of the South Carolina Highway patrol. As Commander, he is responsible for overseeing all Patrol operations statewide.

Mr. Williamson's service to his community is not limited to his position as Commander. In 2014 he received a master's degree in Clinical and Behavioral Counseling. He has served as a Youth Advocate Counselor in Berkley County, a Camp Counselor, and even founded his own non-profit organization that provides mentoring and life skill services for youth. He works hard to prepare youth within his county to become productive members of society. He is a fellow member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and he represents our fraternity by providing service to the world around him.

Mr. Williamson's career has taken him across the state of South Carolina and he has touched many lives. His humble upbringing and genuine qualities have enabled him to effectively serve his community. Throughout his career, he was actively involved in community service and has received numerous honors and awards for these efforts. He has made history by being appointed to this position and I am proud to call him a fraternity brother and personal friend.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in recognizing this barrier-breaking public servant, and to wish him Godspeed and continued success. Col. Christopher Williamson is a pioneer and an innovator in the law-enforcement arena and has earned the respect of the great state of South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great South Carolinian and personal friend, Dr. Leo Twiggs.

Dr. Twiggs hails from St. Stephen, South Carolina, and currently lives in Orangeburg. His artwork has won him fame and recognition across the state and around the world. Recently, he received the Order of the Palmetto, the state's highest civilian honor at a ceremony held at the Statehouse in Columbia. During that ceremony, he also received the highest honor the state presents in the arts--a Lifetime Achievement Award from the South Carolina Arts Commission at the 2017 Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Awards for the Arts. In 1980, Dr. Twiggs was the first visual artist ever to receive the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Award.

Dr. Twiggs' powerful artwork employs batik, an ancient Indonesian technique of manual wax-resistant dyeing applied to whole cloth. He recently spent several weeks manually dyeing and dipping fabric pieces to achieve a texturally rich and deep-toned series titled, ``Requiem for Mother Emanuel,'' to honor the victims of the Charleston massacre of June 17, 2015. His new series of paintings is titled, ``The Nine,'' and focuses on the individual Charleston church. shooting victims themselves.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Twiggs has spoken of the ``powerful kind of catharsis'' of his work, and his fondness for batik includes how the art form draws an individual into a piece. His unique paintings have received international acclaim. Several paintings have been displayed in U.S. embassies in Rome, Senegal, Sierra Leone and elsewhere; and his works have appeared in numerous textbooks, other publications and documentaries. He has designed official White House Christmas ornaments for former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Dr. Twiggs is particularly proud that the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. has accepted two of his paintings for display.

Dr. Twiggs has served on many important boards and commissions, including the South Carolina State Museum, the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities, and the South Carolina Hall of Fame. His tenure in the latter capacity saw the induction of late Judge Matthew Perry, a personal hero of mine, former Governor Richard Riley, longtime former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, and Ernest A. Finney, the first African American elected to the state Supreme Court since Reconstruction who later became the first African American Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court. Dr. Twiggs also influenced the induction of two pioneering African American women Septima Clark, another personal hero from my younger days and Marian Wright Edelman, a woman whose work I have long admired.

Dr. Twiggs was the first African American to earn a Doctorate of Art Education from the University of Georgia. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Claflin University and received his Masters of Arts from New York University. He found the Art Department at South Carolina State University, my alma mater, and is credited with developing the I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium on campus. He was named Professor Emeritus in 2000. The Georgia Museum of Art organized a retrospective of his works that toured the southeast from 2004 to 2006: His lovely wife Rosa hails from my hometown of Sumter, South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I call to your attention and to the attention of the Members of the 115th Congress, the accomplishments of this outstanding South Carolinian, Dr. Leo Twiggs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor New Light Beulah Baptist Church of Hopkins, South Carolina, on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. Many members of the congregation have traveled here to Washington, D.C., from South Carolina to

observe this tribute, and have joined us here in the gallery.

New Light Beulah Baptist Church grew out of Beulah Baptist Church, which was a place of worship for Whites and African Americans. In December of 1867, several years after the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation, many newly freed slaves began exercising their new-found freedoms by taking control of their own affairs. Consequently, the 565 African-American members of the congregation began worshipping on alternating Sundays from the 11 White members of Beulah Baptist Church.

In 1870, after the dispersal of the White congregation, the African- American members of Beulah Baptist Church further asserted their independence by renaming the church New Light Beulah Baptist Church.

After a number of disputes over the church's land, the congregation decided to build a brush arbor on the land of Deacon Pharaoh Smith, a revered leader within the church. Over the following years, this humble brush arbor evolved into the thriving spiritual center that New Light Beulah Baptist Church has become today.

New Light Beulah Baptist Church embodies the resilience and service of the African-American community. Forged from adversity, this congregation has stood strong throughout tumultuous times, both externally and internally. Their strength comes not from the brick and mortar within which they worship, but from God's good graces and the steadfast individuals who have labored in this historic church.

The church has been a leader in Hopkins, South Carolina, a small rural community southeast of Columbia, the State's capital. Through various community-oriented initiatives, such as their child development program, Meals on Wheels, the Neighboring Christian Athletic Association, and the Educational Society, the congregation has positively impacted the entire community.

Next month, New Light Beulah Baptist Church will become the first African-American church in the Hopkins community to be registered as a historic place by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. I congratulate them on this special recognition.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to represent this fine congregation in this august body. I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating New Light Beulah Baptist Church on their 150th anniversary and wishing them continued prosperity in the days ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, as a student and former teacher of history, I have worked during my tenure in Congress to preserve and protect our Nation's historic treasures.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, commonly called HBCUs, are some of the most important historic educational institutions in our country. There are over 100 HBCUs in the country, and eight of them are in South Carolina. I proudly represent seven of them and I am a graduate of one.

Many of them have buildings and sites on their campuses that have existed for over a century and are of great historical significance. Unfortunately, many of the historic buildings and sites on these campuses have deteriorated over the years and are at risk of being lost if not preserved and protected.

In 1998, at the behest of the Congressional Black Caucus, the United States Government Accountability Office, the GAO, surveyed 103 HBCU campuses to identify the historically significant sites on these campuses and project the cost of restoring and preserving these properties. The GAO identified 712 historic buildings and sites, and projected a cost of $755 million to restore and preserve them. Each of these sites has national significance to American history, and I believe we have an obligation to be stewards of these historic treasures.

In 2003, working with our former colleague Jim Hansen of Utah and our current colleague and my dear friend Jimmy Duncan of Tennessee, Congress expanded the program and authorized expenditures of $10 million annually for 5 years. I have seen the results firsthand. Last year, Allen University rededicated the historic Chappelle Auditorium on its campus in Columbia, South Carolina, which was painstakingly restored thanks to funding from this program. Originally built in 1925, this building was central to the cultural life of African Americans in South Carolina for generations.

In 1947, Reverend Joseph A. DeLaine attended an NAACP event at Chappelle Auditorium that inspired him to organize Black families in Clarendon County to petition their school district to provide buses for Black students who, at the time, were forced to make a daily walk of 9.4 miles to school. That was 9.4 miles to school and 9.4 miles back home.

The legal case that grew from this petition, Briggs v. Elliott, precipitated the frontal attack on segregation in the country and was later combined with four other cases that became Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, at the Supreme Court. Overturning the separate-but-equal fallacy, Brown ended legal segregation throughout America.

This is just a singular example of the history living on HBCU campuses. Because of our past efforts, historic buildings and sites at 59 HBCUs in 20 States have received funding from this program. However, many historic structures are still endangered.

Consequently, in the omnibus appropriations bill for 2017, which passed earlier this year, Congress included $4 million for HBCU Historic Preservation so that we could continue this progress.

Last year, the House passed this bill unanimously, but it was not taken up by the Senate. I thank Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Grijalva for supporting it again today. This bill is supported by the United Negro College Fund, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The HBCU Historic Preservation program serves as an essential purpose to HBCUs, which have a special place in the fabric of American history, culture, and education. Countless individuals have worked tirelessly to cultivate HBCUs, and their legacy is seen in graduates whose achievements adorn the pages of American history. From Booker T. Washington, to Mary McLeod Bethune, W.E.B. DuBois, to Martin Luther King, Jr., HBCU visionaries and graduates have set powerful examples of leadership.

The legacy of HBCUs is one of significant courage and steadfast determination. The structures on these campuses across the country are living testaments to African-American history, and they deserve to be stabilized and restored. HBCUs are among America's national treasures that must be preserved and protected for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this needed legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from South Carolina, the Honorable Ralph Norman, be permitted to take the oath of office today.

His certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege, as dean of the South Carolina delegation, to introduce to this Chamber Representative Ralph Norman.

Mr. Norman is from Rock Hill in York County, South Carolina. He is a real estate developer, a graduate of Presbyterian College, and previously served in the South Carolina Legislature. He and his wife, Elaine Rice Norman, have four children: Warren III, Caroline, Anne, and Mary Catherine.

Last Tuesday, June 20, Mr. Norman won the special election in South Carolina's Fifth District to fill the vacancy created when former Congressman Mick Mulvaney became Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Now it is my pleasure to yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), representing the Second Congressional District, for further introduction.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).

I thank my friend, Mr. Neal, for yielding and for his support of this bill. It is very important to the States of South Carolina and Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1551 will make two critical modifications to the nuclear production tax credit program. This bill will allow government- owned electric utilities and nonprofit electric cooperatives to utilize the credit, which current law restricts to for-profit utilities only. It will also remove the placed-in-service deadline for facilities to be completed.

Since the tax credit's original passage in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, four new advanced nuclear plants, the V.C. Summer site in South Carolina, and the Vogtle site in Georgia, have been licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and are under construction.

Both projects are partly owned by State or municipal-owned utilities or nonprofit electric cooperatives. These public power entities, which have taken the first steps in constructing new advanced nuclear facilities, should not be penalized, but should, instead, be treated similarly to the for-profit utilities for the purpose of these tax incentives.

The construction that is currently underway in South Carolina and Georgia employ over 12,000 skilled workers

and represent billions of dollars of investment. When complete, they will be the largest addition of carbon-free energy in either State and will replace older fossil fuel-emitting plants.

Recently, the contractor building both the South Carolina and Georgia facilities has entered into bankruptcy proceedings, raising the possibility of further delays in the completion of these projects. It is critical that the placed-in-service deadline be extended so that these projects, the first new advanced nuclear construction projects in this country in over 30 years, may be completed.

While Russia, China, and other countries around the world are investing in nuclear energy, we cannot afford to walk away from these important sources of clean energy for future generations.

The modifications in this bill do not expand the tax credit and, as such, have little additional cost to the taxpayer.

I want to thank my colleagues, Tom Rice and Earl Blumenauer, for sponsoring this legislation; and Chairman Kevin Brady and Ranking Member Richard Neal for the support they have given to it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican's pay-more-for-less healthcare plan.

I often repeat the 1966 observation of Martin Luther King, Jr., that, of all the inequalities that exist, the injustice in health care is the most egregious and inhumane.

On the day it was passed, I observed that the Affordable Care Act is the Civil Rights Act of the 21st century. Repealing the Affordable Care Act would be inhumane and put egregious forms of discrimination back into our healthcare delivery system.

My Republican colleagues and President Trump have promised more coverage and less cost for everyone. However, this plan would allow all States to eliminate essential health benefits, such as maternity and newborn coverage, prescription drugs, hospitalization, emergency coverage, and mental health services. It would also allow States to tax older Americans five times more than younger Americans.

Republicans are reneging on their promise to protect Americans with preexisting conditions. Without essential health benefits standards, protections for those with preexisting conditions will exist in name only.

Repeal of the essential health benefits would drive a race to the bottom, with insurers dropping coverage for everything from chemotherapy to high-cost drugs.

It would precipitate a proliferation of junk policies that have historically plagued unsuspecting low-income communities for years. People with preexisting conditions who need these and other costly services would not be able to find the coverage they need at any price, much less an affordable one. We took a giant step away from this with the ACA, but this Republican bill takes us back to that era where people with preexisting conditions are left in the cold.

Adding money to a State slush fund is not a solution. Repealing the ACA would, once again, institutionalize inhumanity and egregiousness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good friend, former Congressman Earl Hilliard, who will celebrate his 75th birthday this weekend, at a gathering of his family and friends in Birmingham, Alabama.

While a Member of this body, Earl and I worked very closely together, preserving the integrity of historically black colleges and universities and supporting the preservation and restoration of historic sites and buildings. At his weekend gathering they will establish a scholarship in his honor in order to help more rural Alabama young men and women have opportunities to further their education.

I want to congratulate my friend for reaching this milestone in his life, a place I got to more than a year ago, and wish him a happy birthday and further success in establishing more benefits for young men and women throughout Alabama.

Family: Former Congressman Earl Frederick Hilliard was born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 9, 1942 to Iola Frazier and William Hilliard. In 1967, Earl Hilliard married Mary Franklin. Both were the first person on both sides of their families to attend and graduate from college. They have two children: Alesia Hilliard-Smith (R. J. Smith) and Earl Hilliard, Jr. (Janine Hunt-Hilliard) and four grandchildren: Roderick Smith, Jr., Reginald Smith, Earl Hilliard, III and Nya Hilliard. In June 2016, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Education: Earl graduated from Western-Olin High School in 1960. Because of his experiences growing up in segregated Birmingham, he chose to attend historically black colleges and universities. He received a B.A. from Morehouse College in 1964, a J.D. from Howard University School of Law in 1967, and an M.B.A. in 1970 from Atlanta University (now Clark-Atlanta University) School of Business. He was awarded an Honorary Degree--Doctor of Humane Letters--in 2000 from Talladega College.

Civil Rights/Black History: While a student at Morehouse College, in Atlanta, Georgia, Hilliard met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The meeting had a powerful effect on him, and he became ``one of King's foot soldiers in the war for racial equality. He worked with voter- registration drives and participated in many protest marches. He continued his work when he was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives where he chaired the first Alabama Black Legislative Caucus.

Political Career: In 1974, Earl F. Hilliard was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives where he chaired the Alabama Black Legislative Caucus. In 1980, he was elected to the Alabama State Senate and chaired the Alabama State Judiciary, Commerce, Transportation and Utility Committees. His Senate career focused on helping the urban poor, who constituted the bulk of his Birmingham-area constituents. He earned a reputation as a hard-fighting, tactical legislator.

In 1992, Hilliard won a seat in the U.S. Congress, becoming the first black Representative from Alabama since Jeremiah Haralson left office after Reconstruction. ``We have not had a voice in 117 years,'' Hilliard declared upon his first election. ``I will be able to articulate the views and opinions of a group that hasn't had representation in a very long time. His district included three major cities--Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham--all of which were battlegrounds at the heart of the 1960s civil rights movement.

Hilliard's initial focus in Congress was creating economic opportunity for his constituents. He supported legislation that would help Alabama's urban poor. He called for a Southern Rural Development Commission, modeled after the Appalachian Regional Commission to assist economic development in rural communities in ten southern states. Congressman Hilliard reestablished Gees Bend Ferry. He attempted to protect and expand the Alabama military installations used by the U.S. Army and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He worked to protect a Tuscaloosa-area airport that was difficult to sustain because of the region's sparse population. ``Tuscaloosa and the surrounding communities would suffer terribly without local air service, and this travel option will become increasingly important as industrial development continues in the area,'' he wrote to a colleague. Due in large part to Congressman Hilliard's lobbying, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees diverted limited funding to Tuscaloosa in the Essential Air Service legislation. He successfully pushed funding to support Alabama's historically black colleges and universities and provided scholarship money for minority students. Hilliard was also crucial in convincing a Korean-based car manufacturer to open a plant outside Montgomery. While in Congress, he served on the Agriculture, Small Business, International Relations and Foreign Affairs Committees. An active member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Hilliard was elected vice chairman of the organization for the 105th Congress (1997 through 1999).

Academic Career: Earl F. Hilliard began his career as a teacher at Miles College (1967 through 1968) and later was an assistant to the president of Alabama State University (1968 through 1970). While in Congress, he didn't forget what he'd learned and the importance of procuring funding to support Alabama's historically black colleges and universities and to provide scholarship money for minority students. Over the years, he has helped countless relatives, friends, and constituents achieve their educational goals by providing financial support to students who desired to pursue advanced degrees, but were financially unable to do so. He has mentored an innumerable amount of people, from high school and college students to seasoned professionals.

Awards/Honors: In 1974, Earl F. Hilliard received Omega Psi Phi's Businessman of the Year Award and he was given Delta Sigma Theta's Distinguished Service and Achievement Award in 1975. He was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award, in 2010, from Morehouse College National Alumni Association. In 2011, Earl F. Hilliard received an Outstanding Alumnus Award from National Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund and in 2015, he was one of the recipients of an Alabama Majesty Award from Miles College.

Community Involvement and Associations: Earl Hilliard holds Life Memberships in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He also holds or has held memberships in the National Bar Association, the Alabama State Bar Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Alabama Lawyers Association, the Morehouse College Alumni Association, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Morehouse Athletic Foundation, Inc., of which he was one of the incorporators. He has served as Trustee of both Miles College Law School and Tuskegee University. He currently serves as a Deacon, Elder and a Sunday school teacher for the Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of North Pratt and previously served as Chairman of both the Deacon and Trustee Boards.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with friends and family of our former colleague and my personal friend, Earl F. Hilliard, who this weekend will be celebrating his 75th birthday.

While a Member of this body, Earl and I worked very closely together preserving the integrity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and supporting the preservation and restoration of historic sites and buildings.

This weekend, a gathering will establish a scholarship in his honor in order for more rural Alabama young men and women to have opportunities to further their education.

I want to congratulate my friend for reaching this milestone in his life--a place I got to last year this time--and wish him a happy birthday and further success in establishing benefits for young men and women throughout Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the University of South Carolina Gamecocks basketball team. It was the thrill of a lifetime to attend the NCAA women's basketball national championship game last Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Gamecocks have electrified Columbia and the entire state of South Carolina, and we are all incredibly proud of what these coaches and players have achieved.

For Head Coach Dawn Staley, winning the national championship is the latest in a string of achievements that she has accumulated in her lifetime and in South Carolina over the last nine seasons. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks have made the NCAA Tournament six years in a row and went to the final four in 2015. This year, they finally got over the hump and are national champions. Her coaching staff, Lisa Boyer, Nikki McCray-Penson, Fred Chmiel, Melanie Balcomb, Cynthia Jordan, Freddy Ready, Ariana Moore, Hudson Jacobs, Marcella Shorty, and Katie Fowler have done an impressive job, and I congratulate each of them.

The team Coach Staley has built is an incredible group of young women from South Carolina and around the country. A'ja Wilson, a Junior from Hopkins, South Carolina, won the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four award and was named to the All-SEC First Team this season. Wilson was joined on the All-SEC First Team by Senior Alaina Coates from Irmo, South Carolina. Unfortunately, Coates missed the NCAA tournament with an ankle injury and has concluded a fantastic career with the Gamecocks. In addition to making All-SEC First team this year, she did so last season as well, and was All-SEC Second team in her first two years in the program. We wish her a speedy recovery and hope that she has as much success in the future as she has had with the Gamecocks.

The full roster of this championship team includes: Victoria Patrick, Bianca Cuevas-Moore, Kaela Davis, Doniyah Cliney, Allisha Gray, Araion Bradshaw, Tiffany Davis, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, A'ja Wilson, Alexis Jennings, Alaina Coates, and Tyasha Harris.

The Gamecocks finished 2017 with a 33-4 record and won their third consecutive Southeastern Conference Championship en route to this national championship. The Gamecocks have developed an incredible fan base. They have led the nation in attendance for women's basketball over the last several years. In addition to their success on the court, these coaches and players are role models off the court.

I especially want to acknowledge Assistant Coach Nikki McCray-Penson. Diagnosed with cancer three years ago, she has been a real inspiration to many. Throughout her treatment she remained totally committed to the team, and never missed a day of work. Thankfully, she is now cancer free.

I also wish to congratulate the Gamecocks Men's team. After winning their first NCAA tournament game in 43 years they reached the final four for the first time in their program's history. Having both men and women from the same school reach the Final Four is pretty uncommon.

Coach Frank Martin and his assistants and staff consisting of: Matt Figger, Perry Clark, Bruce Shingler, Andy Assaley, Scott Greenawalt, Doug Edwards, Mark Rodger, Jay Gibbons, Dushawn Davis, Jarett Gerald, Brian Steele, and Ryan McIntyre recruited and molded an incredible group of young men including TeMarcus Blanton, Tommy Corchiani, PJ Dozier, Rakym Felder, Hassani Gravett, Khadim Gueye, Evan Hinson, Kory Holden, Jarrell Holliman, Sedee Keita, Maik Kotsar, Justin McKie, Duane Notice, John Ragin, Christian Schmitt, Chris Silva, Sindarius Thornwell, and Ran Tut. Although they came up five points short of a victory in the semi-championship game they proved themselves a team of champions.

Mr. Speaker, although representing the University of South Carolina in this august body is a singular honor for me, I feel certain that the 2017 NCAA Final Four appearances by these young men and women are the beginnings of many more to come. Coach Frank Martin and Coach Dawn Staley are truly a dynamic duo.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the University of South Carolina Gamecocks basketball team.

It was the thrill of a lifetime to attend the NCAA women's basketball national championship game last Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

The Gamecocks have electrified Columbia and the entire State of South Carolina. We are all incredibly proud of what these coaches and players have achieved.

For head coach Dawn Staley, winning the national championship is the latest in a string of achievements that she has accumulated in her lifetime and in South Carolina over the last 9 years.

Under her leadership, the Gamecocks have made the NCAA tournament 6 years in a row and went on to the Final Four in 2015.

This year, they finally got over the hump and are national champions. Her coaching staff have done an impressive job, and I congratulate each of them.

The team Coach Staley has built is an incredible group of young women from South Carolina and around the country. A'ja Wilson, a junior from Hopkins, South Carolina, won the Most Outstanding Player Award of the Final Four and was named to the All-SEC first team this season.

Wilson was joined on the All-SEC first team by senior Alaina Coates from Irmo, South Carolina. Unfortunately, Coates missed the NCAA tournament with an ankle injury and has concluded a fantastic career with the Gamecocks.

In addition to making the All-SEC first team this year, she did so last year as well and was All-SEC second team her first 2 years in the program. We wish her a speedy recovery and hope that she has as much success in the future as she has had with the Gamecocks.

The Gamecocks finished 2017 with a 33-4 record and won their third consecutive Southeastern Conference Championship en route to this national championship. The Gamecocks have developed an incredible fan base. They have led the Nation in attendance for women's basketball over the last several years.

In addition to their success on the court, these coaches and players are role models off the court. I especially want to acknowledge assistant coach Nikki McCray-Penson. Diagnosed with cancer 3 years ago, she has been a real inspiration to many.

Throughout her treatment, she remained totally committed to the team and never missed a day of work. Thankfully, she is now cancer free.

I also want to congratulate the Gamecocks men's team. After winning their first NCAA tournament game in 43 years, they reached the Final Four for the first time in their program's history.

Having both men and women from the same school reach the Final Four is pretty uncommon. Coach Frank Martin and his assistants are building a tremendous program. Although they came up five points short of a victory in the semi-championship game, they proved themselves a team of champions.

Mr. Speaker, although representing the University of South Carolina in this august body is a singular honor for me, I feel certain that these 2017 NCAA Final Four appearances by these young men and women are the beginnings of many more to come. Coach Frank Martin and Coach Dawn Staley are truly a dynamic duo.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the University of South Carolina Gamecocks basketball team. It was the thrill of a lifetime to attend the NCAA women's basketball national championship game last Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Gamecocks have electrified Columbia and the entire state of South Carolina, and we are all incredibly proud of what these coaches and players have achieved.

For Head Coach Dawn Staley, winning the national championship is the latest in a string of achievements that she has accumulated in her lifetime and in South Carolina over the last nine seasons. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks have made the NCAA Tournament six years in a row and went to the final four in 2015. This year, they finally got over the hump and are national champions. Her coaching staff, Lisa Boyer, Nikki McCray-Penson, Fred Chmiel, Melanie Balcomb, Cynthia Jordan, Freddy Ready, Ariana Moore, Hudson Jacobs, Marcella Shorty, Katie Fowler have done an impressive job, and I congratulate each of them.

The team Coach Staley has built is an incredible group of young women from South Carolina and around the country. A'ja Wilson, a Junior from Hopkins, South Carolina, won the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four award and was named to the All-SEC First Team this season. Wilson was joined on the All-SEC First Team by Senior Alaina Coates from Irmo, South Carolina. Unfortunately Coates missed the NCAA tournament with an ankle injury and has concluded a fantastic career with the Gamecocks. In addition to making All-SEC First team this year, she did so last season as well, and was All-SEC Second team in her first two years in the program. We wish her a speedy recovery and hope that she has as much success in the future as she has had with the Gamecocks.

The full roster of this championship team includes Victoria Patrick, Bianca Cuevas-Moore, Kaela Davis, Doniyah Cliney, Allisha Gray, Araion Bradshaw, Tiffany Davis, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, A'ja Wilson, Alexis Jennings, Alaina Coates, and Tyasha Harris.

The Gamecocks finished 2017 with a 33-4 record and won their third consecutive Southeastern Conference Championship en route to this national championship. The Gamecocks have developed an incredible fan base. They have led the nation in attendance for women's basketball over the last several years. In addition to their success on the court, these coaches and players are role models off the court. I especially want to acknowledge Assistant Coach Nikki McCray-Penson. Diagnosed with cancer three years ago, she has been a real inspiration to many. Throughout her treatment she remained totally committed to the team, and never missed a day of work. Thankfully, she is now cancer free.

I also wish to congratulate the Gamecocks Men's team. After winning their first NCAA tournament game in 43 years they reached the final four for the first time in their programs history. Having both men and women from the same school reach the final four is pretty uncommon.

Coach Frank Martin, his assistants and staff consisting, of Matt Figger, Perry Clark, Bruce Shingler, Andy Assaley, Scott Greenawalt, Doug Edwards, Mark Rodger, Jay Gibbons, Dushawn Davis, Jarett Gerald, Brian Steele, Ryan McIntyre recruited and molded an incredible group of young men including TeMarcus Blanton, Tommy Corchiani, PJ Dozier, Rakym Felder, Hassani Gravett, Khadim Gueye, Evan Hinson, Kory Holden, Jarrell Holliman, Sedee Keita, Maik Kotsar, Justin McKie, Duane Notice, John Ragin, Christian Schmitt, Chris Silva, Sindarius Thornwell, Ran Tut are building a tremendous program.

Although they came up five points short of a victory in the semi- championship game they proved themselves a team of champions.

Mr. Speaker, although representing the University of South Carolina in this august body is a singular honor for me, I feel certain that these 2017 NCAA Final Four appearances by these young men and women are the beginnings of many more to come. Coach Frank Martin and Coach Dawn Staley are truly a dynamic duo.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a patriotic American, outstanding South Carolina, and very special friend and constituent, Dr. Luns C. Richardson. He is retiring after 43 years as President of Morris College in my hometown of Sumter, South Carolina, the alma mater of both my parent.

Dr. Luns C. Richardson is the longest serving college president in South Carolina and the ninth president of Morris College. He is a native of Hartsville, where he graduated from Butler High School in 1945 as Class Valedictorian. He received the A.B. degree (magna cum laude) from Benedict College and the M.A. degree in higher education administration at Teachers College, Columbia University. He pursued additional studies at my alma mater, South Carolina State University, Rutgers University and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Dr. Richardson held several significant positions in secondary, vocational and higher education before becoming President of Morris College in 1974. He served fifteen years at Denmark Technical College (then known as South Carolina Area Trade School) as Dean of Men, Chaplain and teacher, two years as the principal of St. Helena High School, Frogmore, South Carolina, and one year as the principal of Wilson High School, in Florence, South Carolina. He also served six years at Benedict College, the last sixteen months as Acting President. Prior to his assuming the presidency of Morris College, he was the Executive Vice President at Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina. He served as pastor of Thankful Baptist Church in Bamberg, South Carolina for 56 years, 1958 until 2014.

My family's relationship with Morris College is very personal. My mother graduated from Morris College in 1953 when I was 12 years old. My father studied theology at Morris in the early 1940s for three years but was not allowed to finish his studies because he had not graduated from high school. Having been bom in 1897 in segregated South Carolina, my father was never allowed to advance beyond the seventh grade. Though he was not allowed to graduate in 1945 as he should have, thanks to Dr. Richardson and the Board of Trustees, he was posthumously awarded his Bachelor of Theology Degree 58 years later in 2003, a most proud moment for my family and for me.

Under Dr. Richardson's leadership, numerous developments have taken place at Morris College: the liquidation of a half-million indebtedness, the construction of 17 new buildings, an increase in library holdings to more than 132,000 volumes, faculty upgrading to 72 percent earned doctorates, curriculum expansion including at least 16 new majors and an Army ROTC unit.

The endowment has grown from $30,000 to more than $12 million. He also led Morris College in its initial accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in 1978 and to membership in the United Negro College Fund in 1982.

Dr. Richardson has received more than 100 honors and awards, locally, statewide, regionally, and nationally from Greek letter organizations, churches, conventions, schools, colleges, civic organizations, states and cities. Benedict College and Teachers College, Columbia University, have named him outstanding alumnus. Morris College, Benedict College, and Coker College have conferred on him honorary doctorate degrees, as well as Simmons Bible College in Louisville, Kentucky. As a leader in the community and throughout South Carolina, he has served on many Boards and Commissions to include the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Board.

Mr. Speaker, the full list of Dr. Richardson's accomplishments could fill volumes in the Congressional Record. It suffices to say, Dr. Luns C. Richardson is a giant of a man whose impact on the countless lives he touched, the City of Sumter, the state of South Carolina and indeed the entire nation will be felt throughout the ages.