Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a legendary American who has passed from this life into immortality. The Honorable Matthew J. Perry, Jr. was one of our great legal minds and a stalwart of the Civil Rights Movement. He was also my mentor and dear friend, and he leaves a void that cannot be filled.

On Friday, July 29, 2011, Judge Matthew Perry went to work as he did every weekday in the Columbia, South Carolina courthouse that bears his name. That evening he slipped quietly away at home, which was so in keeping with how he lived his life. August 3, 2011 would have been his 90th birthday.

Matthew Perry was the eldest child of Matthew and Jennie Lyles Perry, a tailor and seamstress in the segregated Waverly community of Columbia, South Carolina. Following his father's death when Matthew was just 12, he moved in with his grandfather, William Lyles, a brakeman on the Southern Railroad. Matthew was expected to contribute financially to the family, and he did odd jobs like painting, digging ditches and delivering newspapers to do his part. That led young Matthew to aspire to a better life.

He attended Booker T. Washington High School in Columbia and went on to South Carolina State College (now University) in Orangeburg from 1939 to 1941, until World War II broke out. Matthew was drafted and served as an Army Sergeant in an all-black Quartermaster Corps in England, France, Belgium and Germany.

When Matthew returned home on a furlough from the war, where he enjoyed more freedoms in Europe than he did in the Jim Crow South, he stopped to eat at a restaurant where he was forced to order through a window while he saw Italian prisoners of war eating inside with the white customers. This inequity stirred a passion in Matthew Perry that shaped his entire life.

He returned to South Carolina State College in 1946 and finished his degree in Business Administration, but he remained passionate about civil rights. He watched Thurgood Marshall argue a case in Columbia that led to the establishment of a law school at S.C. State to avoid the integration of the University of South Carolina's School of Law. That experience had a profound influence on Matthew's future. He determined he wanted to follow in the footsteps of future Supreme Court Justice Marshall and enrolled in the second class of S.C. State's law school in 1948. He was one of just five men to graduate in 1951.

Following graduation, Attorney Perry moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina where he was the only black lawyer. He made a name for himself representing the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), although he couldn't win a case. During that period, my mother took me--a teenager at the time--to see him represent the Sumter NAACP, so, in her words, I could see what I could be. He electrified everyone in the courtroom, and I was mesmerized.

A few years later, as fate would have it, I was arrested along with 387 other students in March 1960 during the first civil rights protest march and sit-in in Orangeburg. I was a student at South Carolina State College at the time. Attorney Perry chose me as his star witness because my parents, a minister and beautician, were immune from economic retribution from the white establishment since they didn't serve any white clients. That case launched what would be a lifelong friendship.

In 1961, Attorney Perry moved home to Columbia to join his childhood friend, Lincoln Jenkins, in opening a law firm. He was the attorney on three cases that have left a significant mark on South Carolina--the cases that resulted in the integration of Clemson University and the University of South Carolina and the 1972 lawsuit that created single- member districts for State House elections, which resulted in quadrupling the number of African Americans in the South Carolina Legislature.

Matthew Perry was a beloved figure and was even drafted in 1974 to run for Congress. However, the climate wasn't yet right for an African American to be elected from South Carolina.

In 1976, Senator Strom Thurmond nominated him to serve on the U.S. Military Court of Appeals. He was unanimously confirmed and became the second black to serve on that judicial panel. Just three years later, Senator Ernest Hollings tapped him as a U.S. District Judge for the state of South Carolina, which brought him back to Columbia. He was the first African American to serve in that capacity. He moved into senior status on the federal bench in 1995 and remained active until the end of his life.

In 2004, I had the honor of being with Judge Perry for the dedication of the Matthew J. Perry, Jr. Federal Courthouse in Columbia. I sponsored the legislation that named the building in his honor, and it was among my proudest moments in public life. It took ten years from the passage of the law until the edifice was complete, but it was well worth the wait, and I am so pleased that Judge Perry had the opportunity to work in the courthouse for a number of years. On a personal note, he swore in my daughter, Mignon Clyburn, as a member of the Federal Communications Commission in the Perry Courthouse, and it reminded me of when he presided over my ceremonial swearing-in when I became the first African American elected to Congress from South Carolina since the 19th century.

Because of his tremendous stature in the legal community, Judge Perry earned a number of honors and awards. Among them was South Carolina's highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto, in 1986, and he was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2007. He earned the distinguished alumnus award from South Carolina State University in 1972 and 1980, and he was selected the South Carolinian of the Year in 1977. He received the William R. Ming Advocacy Award, which recognizes outstanding success as a lawyer representing causes important to the NAACP. He also held honorary doctorates from Princeton University, South Carolina State College, the University of South Carolina, Voorhees College, Francis Marion University and Lander College.

He was a lifelong member of Zion Baptist Church in Columbia and was married to the former Hallie Bacote of Timmonsville for 63 years. They had one son, Michael.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to rise today to honor the contributions of this national treasure. Matthew J. Perry, Jr. was a humble man who would never seek out recognition for his extraordinary contributions to civil rights and the legal profession; he just saw it as his life's work. He has left an indelible mark on this country, and his legacy lives on in so many, including myself, who have benefited from his passion and his persuasion. Judge Perry was a gentle giant, whose likes we will never see again.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, the clock is ticking, the American people are anxiously waiting for responsible leadership, and the Republicans here in Congress are continuing to play political games.

Last night the United States Senate rightly defeated the Boehner bill on a bipartisan vote. That partisan bill was the product of the Republicans' ``my way or the highway'' approach that held all Americans hostage to exact a ransom payment for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security beneficiaries.

Now we must find a commonsense compromise. That's why I will vote for the Reid bill today. The Reid bill saves America's economy from the devastation that would result from defaulting on our fiduciary obligations.

Throughout the deliberations on this self-inflicted debt crisis, my bottom line has been to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. This plan contains real spending cuts and deficit reduction to begin putting our Nation's fiscal house in order. It meets the Speaker's requirement that spending be cut by an amount at least as large as the debt ceiling increase. And it does so while protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid beneficiaries. It also safeguards Pell Grants that provide low-income young people the opportunity to go to college and to work to achieve the American Dream.

We must take responsible action now to avert this crisis and move to significant measures to create jobs and generate economic growth.

I thank my friend for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, while the clock is ticking, the Republican majority is dickering and the American people are hurting. Our financial markets are on pace for their worst week in nearly a year. State governments are bracing for downgrades in their borrowing capacities, and the gap between those in our society who have a lot and those who have very little is growing.

The Republican majority continues their efforts to divert attention from the self-inflicted crisis with manufactured controversies, holding the American economy hostage to their reckless and dispassionate demands. As the clock ticks toward default and the pain it would bring to middle-income families and those who aspire to become middle income, my friends on the other side continue to play politics. Speaker Boehner does not even pretend that this is a serious attempt to solve the problem. He sold this bill to his conference by telling them that it wasn't bipartisan. And with divided government, a plan that isn't bipartisan is no plan at all. It's just a game.

The President and the Democrats in Congress as well as the American people have advocated a balanced approach to reduce the deficit by growing the economy and protecting the most vulnerable, including Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security beneficiaries. We have been willing to make tough, politically difficult compromises.

This bill on the floor today, just like the bill from last week, is yet another partisan time-waster. Our constituents are not interested in any of us voting to cut Medicare or cap Social Security or balancing the budget on the backs of Medicaid recipients. A 6-month extension is another waste of time.

We must resolve this matter now and ensure the full faith and credit of the United States. Let's defeat the Boehner bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of my constituents, Justin Blum, of Florence, South Carolina. Lt. Col. Blum has been selected as the 2011-2012 National JROTC Instructor of the Year by the United States Army Cadet Command. It was because of Lt. Col. Blum's distinguished work and long history with the JROTC that he was bestowed this great honor.

JROTC is a citizenship program devoted to the moral, physical and educational uplift of American youth. Originally the JROTC was a source of enlisting recruits and officer candidates into the United States Military. It has now shed some of its early military content, but the program has retained its military structure and the resultant ability to infuse in its student cadets a sense of discipline and order. Lt. Col. Blum has been with the JROTC for 16 years now, following his 21 year tenure in the United States Army before retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

During his time with United States Army, protecting our country, he was also fighting another battle. Lt. Col. Blum was fighting ulcerative colitis and a diagnosis of early stage colon cancer. He did not let this deter him in life. Being the resolute person that Mr. Blum is, there was no doubt in his mind that he would be able to return to a full schedule. After the surgery, Lt. Col. Blum, used his struggle to inform others that no matter what you are hit with, you can overcome if you put your mind to it.

Lt. Col. Blum is the recipient of the 2011 Tony Snow Public Service Award, presented by the Great Comebacks Program. This program raises awareness of quality of life issues for people with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer and other diseases that can lead to ostomy surgery. Since receiving this award Mr. Blum has continued to work hard and his determination is shown again through being selected as the 2011-2012 JROTC National Instructor of the year. This is the second time Mr. Blum has received the JROTC National Instructor of the year award, also receiving the award in 2003. Being a two-time recipient, demonstrates his commitment and dedication to the JROTC, a program which is near and dear to my heart as a former educator and the grandfather of a JROTC student.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to take the time and get to know JROTC instructors, like Lt. Col. Blum. Their devotion to uplifting American youth is worth our time and help. These instructors motto is, ``Instruct Young People to be Better Citizens.'' With this dictum we see the uplifting manner of the JROTC and why the instructors are such an influential part of America's youth. Please join me in congratulating Lt. Col. Justin Blum of Florence, S.C. for being chosen as a the JROTC National Instructor of the year from a group of amazing individuals who are changing the lives of scores of young people every day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man of great faith, who has been a tremendous blessing to the State of South Carolina. The Rev. Dr. Franklin D. Colclough is retiring from the Presbytery of New Harmony after 23 years of faithful service and 42 years with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He is deserving of recognition for his lifetime of service to his community and spiritual guidance to his congregants.

Dr. Colclough began his ministry in 1969 after receiving his Master of Divinity at Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned a Doctoral Degree in Ministry at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.

His first ministerial position was as pastor of the Carmel Presbyterian Church in Chester, South Carolina and Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church in Blackstock, South Carolina from 1969-1971. In 1972 he accepted a call as the fourth, and youngest, installed pastor of the Goodwill Presbyterian Church in Mayesville, South Carolina. Goodwill was founded in 1867, and is the oldest African American Church in Sumter County, South Carolina and one of the oldest in the Sixth Congressional District. He served as Goodwill's pastor from 1972 until 1988. It is worth noting that Dr. Colclough served only three churches in rural South Carolina during his 19 years as a parish minister.

In September 1988 he was called to serve on the staff of New Harmony Presbytery which is headquartered in Florence, South Carolina. Presently Dr. Colclough serves as the Head of Staff and Stated Clerk for New Harmony Presbytery.

Dr. Colclough has served on many boards including the Board of Trustees at Johnson C. Smith University Theological Seminary in Atlanta and the Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. He has served the Presbyterian Church at all levels including Member, Board of Pension, Moderator, Synod of South Atlantic, Stewardship Consultant for Mission 20/20, and member of the President's Council, Montreat Conference Center.

While serving the church, Dr. Colclough also served 26 years as a Military Chaplin in the United States Army Reserve retiring in 1996 with rank of Colonel.

Dr. Colclough is married to Eddie Segars Colclough. They are the parents of four adult children, Franklin, Jr., Glenys, Shelley, Kriston and grandparents of a granddaughter Kellen and grandson Kriston.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in congratulating Rev. Dr. Colclough for his faithful service to his community and his state. I sincerely appreciate Dr. Colclough's friendship and guidance over the last 19 years, and his generous advice from the first day I offered to run for Congress. He has been a true leader in the State of South Carolina, and while he will no longer serve in the Presbyterian Church on a daily basis, I am confident he will continue to be a guiding force in the community.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit a tribute commemorating the life of Leonard Earl Roberts, Sr., a great husband, father, staff sergeant, and engineer. Mr. Roberts passed away last week, leaving a legacy of service to his family, friends, faith, community, and country. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Roberts and his lovely wife Mrs. Dessie Roberts during a visit to Washington a few years ago. I know that all who were close to him reflect on his memory with respect, admiration, and pride. While I did not know Mr. Roberts for an extended time, his grandson Marcus Mason is a great friend; I might add that his great-grandaughter Taelor served as an intern in my office for several summers. Mr. Roberts epitomized the Greatest Generation and a life well lived. I would like to submit the following heartfelt obituary for Mr. Roberts, written by his family.

The Legacy

``I hope you don't mind if we put down in words, how

wonderful life has been with you in the world.''

December 30, 1925--Leonard Earl Roberts, Sr. entered the

world at the height of the Harlem Renaissance. Born to Mary

Queen Dorsey in Vidalia, Louisiana, Leonard Sr. was the

eldest of five. Two brothers and one sister have preceded him

in death. He attended and completed his secondary school

education at Madison Parish Training School in Tallulah,

Louisiana where he was an academic high achiever. He began

demonstrating his engineering acuity by creating a hand

carved, functioning orchestra that remained on display in the

sandbox for several years following his graduation.

Leonard Sr. was no stranger to meeting and overcoming

adversity. In his desire to serve his country he joined the

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) at the young age of

sixteen, where he participated in the efforts to rebuild our

nation's infrastructure, supporting the economic recovery

efforts from the Great Depression of the 1930s. Later that

year, Leonard Sr. answered the call of his personal

conviction and love of country and voluntarily enlisted in

the US Army. Leonard Sr. stepped forward to defend our

country following the events of Pearl Harbor, despite being

under age. He quickly advanced to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Leonard Sr. was in the first wave to land on Omaha Beach

during the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944 as part of

Operation Overlord, coined D-Day by the world. He

successfully led his platoon on many battles until his

honorable discharge on December 7, 1945 at the close of the

war. His entire outfit received the Bronze Indian Arrowhead

for Assault Trooper, the Cor-De-Guerre, France's highest

military honor, and several other medals and honors.

Upon his return home, he quickly sought, found and married

his childhood sweetheart, and life-long love and soul mate,

Dessie. Leonard Sr. and Dessie began to build their family

while also engaging in his academic pursuits. Leonard Sr.

moved to Boston, Massachusetts, taking advantage of the GI

Bill, made available to WWII veterans, where he attended

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and received his

Engineering degree. Leonard Sr. began his family while in Las

Vegas, NV and became father to Donna, Janet and Leonard Jr.

Leonard Sr. moved his family to Los Angeles, California,

where Jacqueline and Keith were born, to begin his lifelong

career in the aerospace industry. He designed a four axis

machine for specialized production of precision oversized

aircraft parts which revolutionized the industry. In 1972,

Leonard Sr. established Roberts Aerospace Manufacturing

Engineering Corporation (RAMEC) and continued to receive

coveted government contracts as a result of his expertise in

precision manufacturing for nearly four decades until the

time of his passing. He was well known in the industry as a

man of integrity.

After supporting his wife's philanthropic pursuits in

Christianity and community service for over fifty years,

Leonard Sr. or ``Mr. Honey'' as he was often referred to by

members of the sororities Order of the Eastern Star and Top

Ladies of Distinction, joined First African Methodist

Episcopal Church in 1998 where he attended faithfully.

Leonard Sr. valued God, Country and family above all else,

demonstrated by his marriage to Dessie for sixty-five years

and his commitment to his children Donna, Janet, Leonard,

Jr., Jacqueline and Keith. His love will live forever in the

hearts of his grandchildren Allen Talbert, Kellie Clay

(deceased), Chanel Troy-Thompson, Danielle Benoit-Williams,

Natalie Roberts, Raquel Roberts-Richards and Bridgette

Craddock and great-grandchildren Taelor Chanel Mason, Jeraud,

Jeremiah Jr. and Jehman Williams, Carl Quincy Clay, II,

Lauren, Sydney and Brandon Talbert, and Rameses Earl Roberts

Richards.

Leonard Sr. will be lovingly remembered by his sister

Dottie, his nieces Cheri, Donna and Shanel along with a host

of other relatives and friends.

He recently imparted the profound statement to his loved

ones, a motto which he lived by, ``Everything is manageable

in a family.'' Leonard Sr. lived his life by anticipating the

outcome of an effort before beginning the task.

On Tuesday, July 5th God descended to call him home. It

mattered not how straight the gate or how charged with

punishment the scroll, Leonard Sr. was the master of his

fate, he was the captain of his soul.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a public servant who has dedicated most of his career to making my hometown a better place. William T. Noonan, known to his friends as Bill, has served for the last 21 years as the Administrator of Sumter County, South Carolina. That 21-year tenure has earned him the distinction of being the longest serving Administrator in Sumter County's history.

A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Bill received his bachelor's degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina in 1963 and a master's degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, in 1970.

Following a 15-year career in education, serving as a teacher, coach and administrator, Bill joined the management team at Campbell Soup Company, Sumter Plant, as its Human Resources Director in 1978. He held that position until 1985, when he was promoted to Regional Risk Manager, Southern Division (six plants in GA, SC, NC, and MD). Following a 12-year career and the restructuring of Campbell's Poultry Division, he accepted the position of Chief Administrative Officer for Sumter County rather than relocating his family to Campbell's headquarters in Camden, New Jersey.

Bill's involvement in community organizations has included the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Sumter, Clarendon and Lee Counties (Board of Directors/Past President), the Governor's Initiative for Work Force Excellence, Leadership South Carolina, Leadership Sumter, and the South Carolina Executive Leadership Program. He served as a member of the Sumter School District Seventeen Board of Trustees from 1984 to 1990. Throughout his career, Bill has been selected by his peers to numerous positions of distinction and honor. Currently, he serves as Secretary for the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Association of Counties, and is a Trustee of the South Carolina Association of Counties Workers' Compensation and Liability Trust Funds. Bill is a past President of the South Carolina Association of Counties Managers, Administrators, and Supervisors Association.

Bill is married to the former Sandy Andrews of Sumter. Together they have four children and five grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in applauding the wonderful work of Bill Noonan. He has been a leader in Sumter County for his entire career and is a vital part of this vibrant community. I wish him well in his future endeavors and thank him for his dedication to Sumter County.

Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

In its current form, I am, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, last month, Republicans voted to end Medicare. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, their plan would raise seniors' health care costs by more than $6,000 per year, doubling their out-of-pocket costs.

Now, this week, Republicans want to cut training for new primary care doctors. This is another part of their attempt to repeal health care reform piece by piece. Madam Speaker, there is bipartisan agreement that we need more primary care physicians. Yet Republicans are bringing up a bill that will make sure that even fewer primary care doctors are trained to meet the growing demand. This is a terrible idea but not surprising.

I oppose this bill because we need to be training more primary care doctors, not fewer; but at a minimum, we must ensure that the Nation's neediest areas have access to the doctors they need.

This final amendment will ensure that training programs in the areas most in need of primary care doctors are to be prioritized for funding. This is common sense.

My district, like so many others represented in this body, has some very rural communities. In many areas, families have to drive for dozens of miles to reach the nearest doctor. People who live in remote communities, like Brittons Neck and Salters, travel great distances in search of primary care, and many don't have public or private transportation. This is not just an abstract debate about compassion. For many people, it is literally a matter of life and death.

Madam Speaker, we all know that, for decades, many communities across

the country have been left out of the American Dream year after year after year. We call these places persistent poverty counties--counties where more than 20 percent of their populations have existed below the poverty level for at least 30 years. Approximately 15 percent of all counties in America qualify as persistent poverty counties under this definition. Because a majority of these counties is rural, it only comprises about 7 percent of the Nation's population. These are the places that this amendment targets for funding.

These communities are diverse and are spread across the country, including Appalachian communities in Kentucky and West Virginia, Native American communities in South Dakota and Alaska, Latino communities in Arizona and New Mexico, African American communities in Mississippi and South Carolina, and urban communities in Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and St. Louis.

So I say to my colleagues on the other side: If you're going to cut funding for training new doctors, let us at least ensure that the communities with the greatest needs are placed at the front of the line. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this final amendment.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a South Carolinian who distinguished himself on the athletic field and as an educator, coach, minister and community activist. The late Reverend Joseph D. Mathis is being inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame on May 23, 2011, and will be honored for his lifetime of accomplishments by the Rainbow Push Coalition on May 14th. I add my voice to those honoring Reverend Mathis, who made tremendous contributions to the State of South Carolina.

Joseph Mathis was born August 28, 1922, in Cordele, Georgia, to Elnora Huggins and A.C. Mathis. He was reared in the home of his maternal grandparents, Lula Taylor Huggins and the Reverend Harrison Huggins, Sr. During the Great Depression, Reverend Mathis moved to Greenville, South Carolina with his family, where he graduated from Sterling High School. Despite the financial obstacles, help from others enabled Reverend Mathis to attend Benedict College and Allen University, where he earned a degree in History. He was a standout player and captain of the football team at Allen University, which went undefeated during the regular season of his final year.

Mathis returned to Greenville following his graduation, and took a job at his alma mater. From 1946 to 1970, Reverend Mathis taught health, physical education and social studies at Sterling High. As their coach he led the Sterling Tigers football team to regional fame and three state championships between 1946 and 1961. Reverend Mathis also served as athletic director and coached baseball, girls and boys track and basketball at Sterling High. Coach Mathis always emphasized athletic fundamentals, conditioning, and academic excellence. In 1992, he was inducted into the Piedmont Athletic Hall of Fame and was first nominated to the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.

During the tumultuous years of desegregation, Reverend Mathis took on the responsibility of serving as the Assistant Principal of Greenville High School in 1970. He held that position until 1974. He later taught Social Studies at League Middle School and worked as a placement coordinator at Donaldson and Enoree Vocational Schools before retiring in 1977.

In addition to his commitment to education, Reverend Mathis was equally committed to his faith. He served as a Trustee and Sunday School Superintendent for many years at Israel CME Church in Greenville, and in 1961, he gave up full-time coaching in order to accept the call into the ministry. Reverend Mathis was ordained a Christian Methodist Episcopal minister under the pastorate of Reverend R.O. Langford at his home church. He pastored Young Laymen in the Nicholtown community for 31 years, and Mount Olive CME Church for ten years. In 1993, Reverend Mathis retired from the ministry after thirty- one years of service.

Another of Reverend Mathis' passions was civic involvement. When he earned his master's degree from Atlanta University, his master's thesis was entitled ``Race Relations in Greenville, South Carolina, from 1865 through 1900, as Seen in a Critical Analysis of Greenville City Council Proceedings.'' His studies compelled him to organize African American voters in Greenville in the 1960s and 70s. He also served with distinction on the Greenville City Council from 1979 to 1983, where he worked to improve public transportation, to include minority contractors in public work, to bring Municipal Stadium and the Braves to Greenville, to improve police pay and to annex Verdae Place to the City of Greenville.

Reverend Mathis and Kittle Mae Avery were married in 1948, and they shared a strong union until her death in 1991. The couple had two daughters, Janice (Thaddeus) Allen and Davida (Harry) Johnson, and three grandchildren. Reverend Mathis passed away in 2002 at the age of 80, but his legacy lives on through his family and in the countless people he touched through his service over his lifetime.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in recognizing the remarkable life of Reverend Joseph D. Mathis. He remains a tremendous example of an unsung hero. Reverend Mathis dedicated himself without reservation to his faith, his community and his profession. He excelled in all these arenas and is a remarkable role model for future generations to follow. It is my honor to provide this posthumous recognition of his many accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great public servant who has dedicated his entire career to protecting the public. Over the last 40 years, Chief Willie L. Smith served in the military and as a law enforcement official. His commitment to serving the public has never waned. Chief Smith is being honored for his years of service on June 18, 2011, and I am pleased to add my voice to the many who are thanking him for his lifetime of accomplishments.

Willie L. Smith was born on August 12, 1949 in Marion, South Carolina to H.B. and Ruth McCummings Smith. He was educated in the public schools of Marion County and graduated from Johnakin High School in 1967. In May 1969, he was drafted into the United States Army and reported to Fort Jackson for his advanced infantry training. After graduation, he was sent to Fort Bragg and joined the 18th Airborne Corps with B Battery, 4th Battalion, and the 73rd Field Artillery.

Chief Smith served a tour in Vietnam where he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry 2nd Brigade Aviation Platoon, the helicopter unit that flew convoy escorts and sniffer missions. He spent a year in Vietnam, and returned to his hometown in 1971. That year, he was hired at the Marion Police Department, where he worked his way up through the ranks to Lieutenant.

Smith's career then took him to the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission where he served as an ABC agent for five years. His service there earned him many honors. One of his highest commendations came for outstanding service to the South Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission for his participation in the investigation of the George Wells Gambling Organization in Berkeley County.

Mr. Smith returned home, where he was hired as Marion's Chief of Police, a position which he held for 34 years. Chief Smith earned numerous commendations, awards, and certificates. Twice he earned the Best of Marion, and was given the U.S. Marshal's Service Award, the Palmetto State Law Enforcement Award, the Marion Chamber of Commerce Award, the District 6 Service Award, and the Woodman of the World Community Service Award. He was also voted the most professional law enforcement officer in Marion in 2007, and received the City of Marion Outstanding Public Service Award given by Mayor Bobby Gerald and the City Council.

Chief Smith is married to Elista H. Smith and they have two children, Craig L. Smith

and Tara Nicole Smith-Hughes. They are also blessed with five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Chief Smith for his 40 years of service. He has served with dignity and a great sense of duty. He regularly put his life on the line to protect others and ensure his country, his state, and his community were safe and secure. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I offer a sincere and humble thank you for his lifetime of tremendous service.

Thank you so much. Thank you for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend and give thanks to all those who played roles in the operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.

First and foremost, President Obama who came into office determined to renew the focus on Osama bin Laden, and he has delivered. His gutsy decision to proceed with the raid as he did, as opposed to striking the compound from the air, will go down in history as one of the great Presidential decisions of all time.

Next, the Navy SEALs who carried out the mission. Their unparalleled courage, dedication, and physical and mental strength are truly awe inspiring and were crucial for the success of the operation.

We have been trying to eliminate the threat to our homeland since 1993, and

the effort has continued unabated as the White House and the Congress have switched hands several times.

While nothing can bring back the lives lost in the World Trade Center back in 1993, our Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the USS Cole and the Twin Towers on September 11, last Sunday's events serve as a modicum of closure for many Americans and should be a reminder to those who wish to do us harm that America does not waver in the pursuit of justice.

God bless the brave men and women, and their families, who work every day to protect our Nation and its people.

Before closing, I want to also thank CIA Director Leon Panetta and all the unsung heroes in our intelligence community who do their work anonymously and seldom receive deserved accolades. Their families sacrifice immensely so that they can serve our country.

God bless the United States of America. Thank you.

I thank my friend from Maryland for yielding me this time.

Mr. Chairman, we have heard from our Republican friends that they're transforming Medicare. They call it a move to premium support. They also say they're just fixing the flaws in Medicaid. They say they're being brave, and finally tackling entitlement reform. But earlier today, on one of the morning shows, I heard my friend from Texas, Jeb Hensarling, being finally candid about the Republicans' view of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. He called them cruel Ponzi schemes. So there we have it.

This isn't about being brave, or transformative, or making a few changes to save the economy. Republicans are pushing the same agenda they have always had, ending the safety net programs that they view as fraudulent. And the Republican budget does exactly that. It ends Medicare, results in a huge cost shift, and forces seniors to pay $6,000 per year out of pocket.

It block grants Medicaid, slashes nursing home aid, and would lead to 50 different benefit programs across the country. That takes us back to my childhood, when benefits in our country were determined by what State you may have been fortunate or unfortunate to have been born in.

But the greatest fraud being committed is that these drastic and unfair changes don't even bring the Republican budget to balance. In fact, the Republican budget adds $8 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. Then where is all that money going, one might ask. While Republicans are gutting Medicare and Medicaid with one hand, they're giving tax breaks to big oil companies and making tax cuts for the wealthy with the other hand. That's what I call a Ponzi scheme.

Now, if you're wealthy or a special interest group, this is surely a pathway to prosperity. But if you're in your golden years, it's the Road to Ruin. Democrats have a plan to reduce the deficit in a steady, responsible way as we build a foundation for shared prosperity and long-term economic growth. In fact, the Democratic budget achieves primary balance by fiscal year 2018, and cuts the deficit by $1.2 trillion more than the President's budget. I proudly support the Democratic alternative budget.

I thank my friend for yielding me the time.

Madam Speaker, my Republican friends bring to the floor today a transparent political ploy that's an insult to our men and women in uniform and their families.

It says that the Republican majority is willing to put up the funding to arm and equip our troops fighting overseas for the remainder of the year, but they won't find a way to fund the rest of the Federal programs that assist their

spouses, children, and parents who are making significant sacrifices keeping the home front together while their loved ones give all that they have to keep all of us safe and free.

No, they're happy to submit them, their families, to the whims of a budget debate that I'm concerned is rapidly moving toward a shutdown that many of their supporters are clamoring for and seem pleased to have happen.

This is no peace of mind for a soldier fighting in the field to defend our freedoms and interests if his or her spouse or parents are being furloughed at home or their children are being denied essential services.

Is this bill going anywhere in the Senate? I don't think so and certainly hope not. This kind of insensitivity should never be codified.

Madam Speaker, the VA's backlog is extensive and growing. Let's stop wasting time and raising anxieties. Let's get back to the negotiating table so we can avoid a government shutdown and the damage it will do to military families, working men and women, and our Nation's economy.

After all, it's two one-thousandth of 1 percent of the budget that's in dispute here.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of South Carolina's outstanding academic leaders as he is honored by his alma mater. On April 28, 2011, South Carolina State University is dedicating Leroy Davis Sr. Hall, a science and research complex, in honor of the former student who returned to S. C. State as a professor and went on to serve as its eighth President. I can think of no one more deserving of this honor.

Leroy Davis was born in Garden City, South Carolina, and is a graduate of the old Wilkinson High School in Orangeburg. He attended South Carolina State College (now University) and graduated in 1971 with a B.S. degree in Biology. The following year, he earned a master's degree in Microbiology from Purdue University. In 1979, Dr. Davis received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology.

After earning his academic credentials, Dr. Davis returned to his roots and took a position as an assistant professor of biology at South Carolina State. He went on to become a full professor, and published numerous articles and papers in general and technical journals.

Dr. Davis continued to climb the professional ladder at South Carolina State, successively holding positions as Program Director for Talented and Gifted Workshops; Director of Academic Counseling and Tutorial Programs; Director of the Office of Institutional Self Studies; Vice Provost for Academic Administration; Vice President for Student Services; and Interim President.

On April 10, 1996, Dr. Davis became President of South Carolina State University by a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees. He took over during a troubled time at the college, becoming the second president in just 3 years.

During his career at South Carolina State he accrued a number of honors, including Outstanding Young Men of America 1978, 1979 and 1980; ``Teacher of the Year'' in 1985 and South Carolina Business Visions Top 25 Influencers for 1997.

After 6 years as President, Dr. Davis retired from South Carolina State on June 30, 2002. The highlights of his tenure include securing $10 million in federal funds for the James E. Clyburn Transportation Center, renovations to Lowman Hall, expansions of the Whittaker Library and Hodge Hall, improving Internet accessibility on campus and allowing students to register for classes by computer. He successfully completed construction of the 1890 building that had been mired in contractual disputes for years.

In addition, he secured $9.5 million for a fine arts center, oversaw enhancements to the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Monument, and erected an SHM historical marker for the three students killed in the Orangeburg Massacre. He also led the effort to establish the Nuclear Engineering program at S. C. State, the first degree program of its kind at a historically black college.

Today, Dr. Davis serves as Executive Director of the Center of Excellence in Rural and Minority Health and Distinguished Professor of Biology at Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina. He is also a leading consultant with the Southern Education Foundation's Center to Serve HBCU Leadership Project.

He is also very active with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SACS, and has chaired many visiting committees, presented workshops and symposia, and served on special committees. In 2002 he was awarded the SACS Distinguished Service Award for his long-term service and commitment to SACS.

Dr. Davis holds membership in numerous professional and civic organizations, including the American Council on Education, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, the New York Academy of Science, and Rotary International.

He also sits on a number of boards and commissions including the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Board of Trustees, the Jessie Ball Dupont Fund Board of Trustees, the Southeastern Council of Foundations Board of Trustees, the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church Board of Trustees (Chairman) and the Purdue University College of Science Advisory Board. He previously served on the boards of the National Collegiate Athletics Association, NCAA, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SACS, the South Carolina Aquarium, and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a legendary theological educator who helped found the Wilberforce University and was a driving force in bringing the African Methodist Episcopal Church to the South. The 200th anniversary of Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne's birth is being celebrated on April 1, 2011, by the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. I join with them in commemorating the remarkable life of this South Carolina native who was an instrumental figure in the education and development of a uniquely African-American church in communities of color.

Daniel Alexander Payne was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on February 24, 1811. He was born free, and was of African, European, and Native American descent. He had a thirst for knowledge and was educated by the Minor's Moralist Society school when he was eight and nine. He also received instruction for three years from a private tutor. Because there was a lack of quality schools for black students, he continued to educate himself at home in mathematics, physical science, and classical languages.

In 1829, when he was just 18 years old, Daniel Payne opened his own school in Charleston to teach black children how to read and write. Six years later, the South Carolina General Assembly out of fear of a slave revolt passed legislation that restricted the rights of people of color and slaves. Among those laws was a prohibition on teaching free blacks and slaves to be literate. The penalty carried fines and imprisonment. This forced Daniel Payne to close his school, and he ultimately chose to leave South Carolina.

In 1835, he traveled to Philadelphia where he enrolled in the Lutheran Theological Seminary. He was unable to finish his studies due to failing eyesight, and did not complete his ordination. In 1842, he joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church, because he believed that a strong black denomination could play a significant role in combating slavery and racism. He worked within the church to improve the education of ministers, so they would have a broad base of knowledge that would help them more effectively lead their congregations.

He was still passionate about teaching, opening a new school in 1840 for the education of young blacks. By 1845, he established an AME seminary to help teach his philosophy about ministers' educational pursuits. While the seminary didn't last long, his stature in the church led him to new opportunities.

In 1848, Daniel Payne was named as the historiographer of the AME Church. That was followed in 1852 by his election and consecration as the sixth bishop of the AME denomination. Just four years later, he joined with two other AMEs and 18 white representatives of the Methodist Episcopal Church in founding Wilberforce University in Ohio. Bishop Payne was selected as its first president, which also earned him the designation as the first African-American college president in America. He led the college from 1856 until 1877. In

1871, the board of trustees honored Bishop Payne by establishing a free-standing AME seminary at Wilberforce University that bears his name.

During his tenure at Wilberforce University, Bishop Payne made his first return to his hometown in more than 30 years. In 1865, he helped establish the AME denomination in Charleston, which then spread quickly among the African-American community in the South. He also authored two books before his death in 1893. In 1888, he published a memoir entitled Recollections of Seventy Years. Three years later he wrote The History of the A. M. E. Church, which was the first comprehensive account of the founding of the AME denomination.

Daniel Payne married in 1847, but his wife died during childbirth in their first year of marriage. He married again in 1854 to Eliza Clark of Cincinnati.

During the 2010 Founder's Week at Payne Theological Seminary, a year- long 200th anniversary celebration of Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne's birth was launched. As part of the commemoration, there is a five-city tour that is stopping in cities that impacted Bishop Payne's life.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and contributions of Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne as the commemorative tour stops in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. Bishop Payne was a visionary leader who understood the importance of education and faith as an empowering force in the African-American community. His remarkable legacy lives on in the AME Church and in the generations of students who have attended Wilberforce University.