Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear friend and outstanding public servant, the Honorrlble Robert D. Coble. Mayor Coble is retiring from public life after 25 years of service, the last two decades as Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina. He has served as a tireless advocate for the city and its residents, and his tremendous leadership will be missed.

Mayor Bob, as he is affectionately known, is a native of Chesterfield, South Carolina, but came to live in the city he now leads as a child. He is a graduate of Dreher High School, and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina. At USC's School of Law, Mayor Bob distinguished himself as a member of the Order of the Wig and Robe and graduated with a Juris Doctor cum laude.

Today he is a partner in the law firm of Nexsen Pruet. He has dedicated his legal career to practicing in the areas of economic development, health care, regulatory law and governmental representation. This expertise is a reflection of the issues he is passionate about in his public service.

In 1985, Bob Coble won a seat on Richland County Council where he served for 5 years before being elected Mayor of Columbia in 1990. During his 20 years at the helm of the city, Mayor Bob has focused on revitalizing downtown and the neighborhoods that surround it. Today, the city that Mayor Coble manages is almost unrecognizable from the one he inherited. The once gritty industrial corridor, just blocks from the State Capitol, has been transformed into a vibrant commercial thoroughfare known as the Vista. A riverfront that was once dominated by the state's largest correctional facility is now home to a park, new residential developments and two popular museums. Former barrack-style public housing developments have been razed and replaced with affordable housing that families are proud

to call home. These are just a few examples of the tremendous changes that have taken place in Columbia under Mayor Bob leadership.

The name Mayor Bob exemplifies the affable way he approaches the office and the people he serves. No issue is too small and no person is too insignificant for this humble public servant. He has met Presidents and Popes, but has never lost the common touch. He treats everyone with respect and dignity no matter their status in life.

His style of governing is one I can appreciate--consensus-building. This style was born in part because of his natural disposition, but also because of his role as a who held no more voting power than any other member of City Council. Despite this weak mayor form of government, Mayor Bob was anything but weak. He led the way in setting the agenda for the city and ensuring that his vision was carried out. And his influence went beyond the City of Columbia.

Mayor Bob was a vocal opponent of the Confederate flag flying over the State Capitol. He was also an integral player in the fight to save Fort Jackson from closure during two rounds of the base realignment process. I feel certain that it was because of his and other community leaders making such a strong case for Fort Jackson that its mission grew as other facilities were being closed.

Personally, I will never forget being rocked by images of the suffering and chaos after Hurricane Katrina and picking up the phone to ask Mayor Bob to help me bring survivors of that disaster to Columbia. He didn't hesitate, and worked throughout the Labor Day weekend to set up a one-of-a-kind center to provide all the services evacuees would need. The City of Columbia ultimately became the destination for more than 2,000 New Orleans residents who had no place to call home, and thanks to Mayor Bob they found a community that welcomed them with open arms.

Outside of his work on the city's behalf, Mayor Bob has also been personally committed to improving the community in which he lives. He has served on numerous boards and commissions and volunteered countless hours of his time. He started the City of Columbia's Lunch Buddy program and has been a lunch buddy for 12 years. Mayor Bob and his wife, Beth, founded the ``First Ladies Walk for Life'' to raise funds for breast cancer research.

He has served as the President of the Municipal Association of South Carolina and Chairman of the Fighting Back Task Force for Alcohol and Drug Abuse. He was instrumental in creating the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and has been the fundraising chairman of the United Negro College Fund. Mayor Bob is also a former member of the advisory board for the Medical University of South Carolina, the Council on Aging, the South Carolina Special Olympics and the Bethlehem Community Center. He is currently a board member with the River Alliance, Ingenuity, and the Central Carolina Economic Development Alliance.

Mayor Bob has received numerous awards during his 25 years of public service including the Chamber of Commerce's Ambassador of the Year (2004), Central Midlands Council of Governments Regional Leadership Award (2007), induction into Richland School District One's Hall of Fame (2007) and the Global Vision Award from the World Affairs Council (2008).

He is married to the former Beth McLeod and they are the proud parents of six children and two grandsons. They are members of Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, where he has taught Sunday school and was a Boy Scout leader for a number of years.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in thanking Bob Coble for his tremendous record of public service. Even though he is stepping aside to let a new leader take over the helm in Columbia, the city will forever reflect the many positive contributions Mayor Bob has made. He is a true leader and great example for anyone entering public service today to follow.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an unsung civil rights pioneer and educational justice advocate. Mrs. Viola Duvall Stewart, who is currently 90 years old, filed the first lawsuit in 1945, seeking equal pay for African American teachers in South Carolina.

Viola Louise Duvall was born the only child of Vincent and Pearl Duvall in Charleston, South Carolina on June 30, 1919. She was named for two of her mother's sisters who died in the Spanish flu pandemic of that era. After her mother and Vincent Duvall were divorced, she married Coleman Wheeler and Viola gained two sisters, Angela and Ruby.

Viola graduated as salutatorian from Conception High School in 1937. That fall she enrolled in Howard University from which she earned a Bachelors of Science degree in chemistry in 1941.

In 1944, Viola Duvall was in her third year teaching science at Burke High School in her hometown of Charleston making just $12 a week. She was recruited by the South Carolina NAACP to be the plaintiff in a case to equalize teachers' salaries in the State. Due to the intimidation and fear of losing their job, many teachers refused to participate in the lawsuit. Ms. Duvall was shunned by her fellow teachers and neighbors, who were fearful to associate with her for the public stand she was taking.

The case went to trial in April 1944. Ms. Duvall was represented by NAACP Chief Counsel Thurgood Marshall, who was nervous about being in South Carolina for the first time. The judge on the case was U.S. District Court Judge J. Waites Waring, a member of an old Charleston family.

The case didn't have an auspicious beginning when Judge Waring asked the School Board attorneys for the date of the Donald Murray case in Maryland. Mr. Marshall jumped up to respond and was dismissed by the judge. The same line of questioning continued, each time Mr. Marshall knew the response because he had been the attorney on all the cases in question, but the judge would not allow him to speak. The packed audience began to whisper because they feared Judge Waring would not give Ms. Duvall and her distinguished attorney an opportunity to be heard. And they were right.

Without giving the plaintiff the chance to present her case, Judge Waring turned to Mr. Marshall after he ended his questioning of the School Board attorneys and apologized for seeming rude. It is reported he said, ``This is a very simple case, but what I wanted to find out from the School Board was how long it knew it was supposed to pay Negro teachers equal salaries and hadn't paid it. There's no need to take the court's time on this.'' In less than 15 minutes, without either side making an argument, the case was decided in favor of the plaintiff, Viola Duvall.

As a result of Ms. Duvall's determination and sense of justice, it took just a matter of months to ensure all of South Carolina's 6,000 black teachers received the same pay as their white counterparts. However, she didn't remain in South Carolina long to enjoy the fruits of her labor.

Ms. Duvall met her future husband, Nathaniel C. Stewart, a second lieutenant with the Tuskegee Airmen on a blind date in 1945, when he was stationed in Walterboro, South Carolina. They were married on August 14, 1945, and later that year moved to his hometown of Philadelphia so he could attend pharmacy school. He graduated and went onto become the first African American department head at Philadelphia General Hospital as the director of pharmacy services.

Mrs. Stewart took a break from teaching to focus on her family. She did return to the classroom in 1964, as an intenerate special education instructor serving visually handicapped children around middle and high schools in the Philadelphia Public School District. She retired from teaching in 1981.

Viola and Nathaniel Stewart had two sons, Nathaniel, Jr. and Louis, and five grandchildren. She currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland. She is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She also served for many years as Treasurer of Galilee Baptist Church of Philadelphia, where she has been a member for more than 50 years.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in recognizing the contributions of this remarkable woman. Viola Duvall Stewart is one of the many heroes whose selfless acts led to a better life for so many people. Her name is not one that is recognized, but her actions left an indelible mark on the teaching profession and the civil rights movement in South Carolina. It is my honor to thank Mrs. Stewart for taking a stand despite the tremendous challenges of the day. It is because of people like her that I, and so many others, are where we are today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a community leader whose tremendous contributions were recently recognized with a new housing development named in her honor. Mrs. Elise Jones Martin has spent her entire life advocating for her community and it is fitting and I think proper, that a new neighborhood in the community that she has devoted her life to will now bear her name.

Elise Jones Martin is a native of Hartsville, South Carolina. She graduated from Essex High School in New Jersey, but returned to her beloved South Carolina in the 1930s to opened a beauty salon in Columbia's thriving African American business corridor along Washington Street.

In addition to running her business, Mrs. Martin also furthered her education with trade and teacher training courses at Allen University, Benedict College and South Carolina State University. She went on to teach cosmetology at Booker T. Washington High School. She later became the first African American woman to open a business on Columbia's Main Street.

Throughout her life, she worked on behalf of building strong communities. In the 1960s, her mother organized the Jones-McDonald Club to ensure neighbors took an active part in maintaining their neighborhood. After her mother passed away, Mrs. Martin carried the mantle for the organization. Even well into her 80s, Mrs. Martin walked door to door to meet new neighbors and to encourage them to join the Jones-McDonald Club. With Mrs. Martin's influence, the club has grown beyond its initial purpose. Today it hosts an annual Easter brunch, produces a newsletter, and boasts the participation of elected city officials and religious leaders.

Mrs. Martin was also instrumental in providing community input for a Hope VI project that revitalized a former barrack-style housing complex in Columbia. Her belief that the home and the neighborhood are the foundations to producing solid, contributing citizens helped develop a philosophy for the new family-friendly development that replaced the warehouse approach of the former housing project.

She has taken her passion for building strong communities with her into public service. Mrs. Martin was a member of the Columbia Zoning board for a number of years, serving until her late 80s. She was also an active member of Keep America Beautiful of the Midlands.

She performed another community service by heading her voting precinct for more than 30 years. While working at the polls during the 2008 Presidential primary, she had the honor of meeting then Senator Barack Obama.

Mrs. Martin is an advocate also for early detection of cancer. Using her speaking and leadership skills, she has traveled on behalf of the American Cancer Society's Best Chance Program, educating men and women about the warning signs of breast and prostate cancer.

She has been an active member of Bethel AME Church since arriving in Columbia in the 1930s, where she has served on the Board of Education, Steward Board, and the gospel choir. She is a recipient of the Queen Esther Award, which is one of the highest honors for women at Bethel

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished higher education institution in South Carolina's Sixth Congressional District that is celebrating its 140th anniversary. Claflin University, a Methodist affiliated institution, was founded in 1869 and is the oldest historically black college in South Carolina.

In 1869, Dr. Alonzo Webster, a minister and educator from Vermont, secured a charter for Claflin University. This charter was unique in that it forbade the discrimination of any sort among faculty, staff and students, making the college the first in South Carolina to open its doors to students regardless of race, class or gender. The school took its name from Boston philanthropist Lee Claflin and his son, Massachusetts Governor William Claflin, who provided the financing for the purchase of the Orangeburg campus.

Dr. Webster served as Claflin's first president. He was a trained theologian, who originally came to South Carolina to teach at the Baker Biblical Institute in Charleston, which was established by the South Carolina Mission Conference of 1866 for the Methodist Episcopal Church to educate African American ministers. In 1870, the Baker Biblical Institute merged with Claflin and moved to Orangeburg.

Two years later, the South Carolina General Assembly designated the South Carolina State Agricultural and Mechanical Institute as part of Claflin University. Then in 1896, the General Assembly voted to separate the two institutions, and South Carolina State became a

separate land-grant institution on property donated by Claflin adjacent to its campus.

In its 140-year history, Claflin University has been served by only eight presidents. Following Dr. Webster were Dr. Edward Cooke (1872- 1884); Dr. Lewis M. Dunton (1884-1922); Dr. Joseph B. Randolph (1922- 1944); Dr. John J. Seabrook (1945-1955); Dr. Hubert V. Manning (1956- 1984); Dr. Oscar A. Rogers, Jr. (1984-1994); and Dr. Henry N. Tisdale (1994-present).

During Dr. Cooke's administration, a fire destroyed the Fisk Building, which was designed by Robert Bates, who was the first certified Black Architect in the United States.

The first college class graduated in 1879 under Dr. Cooke's administration. Dr. Cooke was succeeded by his vice president and development officer, the Reverend Dr. Lewis Dunton. He established a law department under the tutelage of the Honorable J.J. Wright, a former Associate Justice of the S.C. Supreme Court. The program's graduates were admitted to the South Carolina Bar. Dr. Dunton also increased the campus from 6 to 21 acres. He even deeded his home and 6 acres of land to Claflin after his retirement.

Claflin's fourth president, Dr. Joseph Randolph, emphasized a liberal arts education. He sought to inspire students intellectually, culturally, and spiritually to prepare them for a variety of professions. Under his direction, the high school and upper grades were discontinued. The first four years of elementary school were retained for the teacher education program; however, they were later discontinued as well.

Dr. Seabrook, who became the fifth president, persuaded the South Carolina Annual Conference to substantially increase its annual giving to Claflin. He also renewed the interest of the New England Conference of the Methodist Church in the institution. The increased funding enabled the college to expand its programs, and in 1948 it became accredited for the first time by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The tenure of the sixth president, Dr. Manning, was most noticeably marked by the significant increase in Claflin's physical plant. He also strengthened the faculty and increased the endowment. It was during Dr. Manning's tenure that I was first associated with the University.

Under Dr. Rogers' administration, two capital campaigns were completed. This increased the endowment and improved the college's financial base. Student enrollment grew and the Grace Thomas Kennedy building was constructed. He also commissioned a master plan to guide campus development into the 21st century.

In 1994, the current president, Dr. Henry Tisdale took the helm of Claflin. He was a former senior vice president and chief academic officer at Delaware State University. His dedication to scholarly achievement led him to declare academic excellence was the number one priority of the institution. Dr. Tisdale established the Claflin Honors College and the Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, and gained the national accreditation of more than a dozen academic programs. Under his leadership, Masters programs in Business Administration, Biotechnology and Education were established. He also oversaw construction of the Living and Learning Center, Legacy Plaza, the Student Residential Center, the Music Center and the new University Chapel.

Claflin University has been recognized as one of the nation's Top Tier higher education institutions by publications including U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com, Consumers Digest, Chronicle of Higher Education, and the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Claflin University on its rich 140-year history. Claflin began as a mission to educate African American ministers and today has become one of our country's premier higher education institutions. I commend Dr. Tisdale and Claflin University for their tremendous contributions to South Carolina and its students.

I thank the chair for yielding me the time. Thank you so

much, Ranking Member Poe, for joining in this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I was born and raised in the little town of Sumter, South Carolina, and just outside of Sumter is a little town of Mayesville, the birthplace of Mary McLeod Bethune, the founder of the National Council of Negro Women.

When I was growing up, my mother, who was a beautician, and Mrs. Bethune organized the National Council through beauty shops. My mother thought that Mrs. Bethune was the greatest person to ever live, and she made me learn everything I could about Mrs. Bethune.

Later, as I labored on the staff of Governor John West back in 1971, I received a phone call from Dorothy Height. I knew Mrs. Height--she had been a long-time president of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the sister sorority to my fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, so I knew her. I also knew her because she had become the national leader of the National Council of Negro Women.

She said to me that she wanted my help, because she thought that South Carolina, being the birthplace of Mary McLeod Bethune, would be the place that ought to honor her. She thought that Mrs. Bethune's portrait should be in the State House of South Carolina. At that time no African American was so honored. There never had been an African American's portrait placed in the State House and I went to Governor West and I told him that I thought this was something we should do.

Well, as you can imagine, Madam Speaker, this was not met with as much collegiality as we displayed toward each other here on this floor.

So I called Mrs. Height to tell her that I thought this was going to be very, very difficult.

She said to me, now, young man, I didn't ask for your help because I thought it was going to be easy. She said things to me that day that made me understand a lot about who and what I am, and we joined together. We covered and counseled each other, and I am pleased to report that because of Mrs. Height, Dr. Height, the portrait of Mary McLeod Bethune hangs in the State House of South Carolina, the first African American so honored.

Others have joined us later, Willie Mays, Rev. I.D. Quincy Newman, but she blazed that trail, and she did so because of Dr. Height.

When I got elected to the Congress, Dr. Height called again, and she told me that the National Council is going to put a statue here, in, I believe, Lincoln Park here in Washington. She wanted me to come and be a part of that dedication. I joined her there that day, and from that day on, very often, we would meet, we would talk on the phone, and I just believe that she is very close to being as great a woman as Mary McLeod Bethune was, and I am pleased to be here to say a few words in honor of her and in memory of her great life and tremendous legacy.

I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, we have come to a defining moment in our Nation's history. Tonight I am thinking about the woman who called in to a talk radio program that I appeared on last August. She called in to take issue with the gentleman who had just called in earlier to say that he did not support our efforts to reform the health care system because he liked the insurance he had. The caller shared her experiences of having been dropped from coverage by an insurance company she thought she liked just as she started her second treatment for breast cancer. She said to the gentleman that maybe he liked the insurance he had because he had never tried to use it.

With these reforms, dropping people from coverage when they are diagnosed with catastrophic illnesses will no longer be allowed, and denying insurance to children with diabetes and other preexisting conditions will end immediately. These reforms will allow children to remain on their parents' insurance policies until their 26th birthday. This bill will immediately begin closing the doughnut hole for prescription medications for seniors and eliminating burdensome copays or deductibles for their preventive care.

Despite deafening protests from the other side, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says that the reforms included in this bill will reduce our deficit by $143 billion in the first 10 years and $1.2 trillion in the second 10 years. This bill will also create jobs, 400,000 good-paying jobs, reliable jobs for every year and for small businesses. Small businesses will get a tax break on their health care premiums that will free up money for them to hire 80,000 more employees.

Mr. Speaker, we have debated this issue for several generations. The time has come to act. This is the Civil Rights Act of the 21st century, and tonight we will take a significant step to move our country forward.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Mr. Speaker, this is a matter that properly belongs before the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the motion.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a good friend, Cheraw, South Carolina's 2009 Citizen of the Year, Mr. J. William ``Bill'' Taylor. Mr. Taylor received the Cheraw Chamber of Commerce's award last November.

Bill Taylor was recognized with this distinguished honor for the tremendous work he has done for nearly 29 years as Cheraw's town administrator. He has served in the post under four mayors and numerous members of the town council. Another longtime personal friend, Howard Duvall, the former Cheraw Mayor who hired Bill in May 1981, presented the Citizen of the Year award to him.

Duvall characterized Bill's greatest strength as his management style. He has instilled loyalty and respect among his staff, which has resulted in low turnover and many department heads who have worked for him nearly 20 years. Among his other accomplishments are erecting the Dizzy Gillespie statue honoring the hometown jazz legend, and the development of the Carolina Centre Industrial Park, the Cheraw Community Center, Arrowhead Park, and the Theatre on the Green. Bill earned a Bachelor's degree from Clemson University and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Georgia. He came back to South Carolina to work for the Upper Savannah Council of Governments. He later worked for the city of Lancaster before becoming Cheraw's town administrator.

He is very involved in the community serving as a former president of the Cheraw Rotary Club, former chairman of the South Carolina Cotton Trail Committee, and as a former board member for the Girls Scouts of Eastern South Carolina. He is a current board member for the South Carolina Advanced Technology Education Center and is a member of the Cheraw Economic Development Corporation, the Carolinas Centre Industrial Park Corporation, and the Chesterfield County Extension Advisory Council.

Bill is also a member of a number of professional organizations including the Alliance for Innovation and the Governor's Drought Response Committee. He serves as the southeastern regional vice president for the International City & County Management Association and is a former member of the organization's executive board. He is also a former state president of the South Carolina City and County Management Association and is a graduate of the South Carolina Executive Institute. Bill and his beloved wife, Mindy, have three children--Olivia, Katie, and Brandon.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Bill Taylor on his selection as Cheraw's 2009 Citizen of the Year. This honor is recognition of his long commitment of service to his community and its people. I believe that the highest compliment you can be paid for your work is to be recognized by your peers. This award shows that Bill Taylor's peers appreciate his nearly 29 years of dedication and service. I am pleased to add my voice to those in Cheraw in thanking Bill Taylor for his tremendous contributions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an accomplished and talented corporate leader who is an outstanding role model as we celebrate Black History Month. Don Thompson is the recently appointed President and Chief Operating Officer for the McDonald's Corporation in Oak Brook, Illinois. Mr. Thompson is in charge of global strategy and operations for McDonald's 32,000 restaurants in 117 countries. He is tasked with maximizing profits for the company's many shareholders across the globe.

Don was raised in Chicago and Indianapolis by his grandmother. He credits his early success to her unwavering commitment to his education and wellbeing. Thanks to her determination and Don's hard work, he graduated from Purdue University with a degree in electrical engineering and got a job at the Northrop Corporation. He joined McDonald's in 1990 as a Restaurant Systems Engineer but soon realized his interest lay in restaurant operations.

In 1993, Don was named Director of Strategic Planning and Quality Management. Since then, he has risen quickly through McDonald's operational structure, performing beyond expectations in each position he has been given. In 1998 he was named the San Diego Regional Manager, a position that put him in charge of 300 area restaurants. Within a year, San Diego went from being McDonald's 39th most profitable market to its 2nd.

Five years later, Don was promoted to the position of Executive Vice President of Global Innovation where he helped expand and improve McDonald's global operations. Under his guidance, foreign branches were retooled to satisfy local palates. McDonald's international sales soon grew as a result and many observers attributed this turnaround to Don's ambitious initiatives.

In 2006, Don became the President of McDonald's USA where he oversaw all of the company's 14,000 American locations. He helped steer the company to several years of positive domestic growth. Last month Don was named to his current position as President and Chief Operating Officer. He now plans McDonald's global strategy and helps execute its implementation.

Don has been recognized for his outstanding work at McDonald's by a number of media outlets and business associations. Black Enterprise named him Corporate Executive of the Year. In 2008 the Trumpet Foundation awarded Don the Corporate Executive award. Last year, he received the Presidential Inspiration Award from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.

Along with being a gifted businessman, Don is a committed member of his community and remains true to his humble beginnings. ``Don't get into the pity party of what's going to be done for you, because there are so many things you can do for yourself,'' he has said. ``Others will see what you do and will look to support and help you.'' He currently serves on the board of trustees for Purdue University and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council. He is a former member of the San Diego Ronald McDonald House Charities board of directors.

While reaching the upper echelons of American business, Don has remained a committed family man. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife Elizabeth and their two children.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Don Thompson on his recent appointment and the positive example he sets for all Americans. In this month, when we recognize the contributions of African Americans in this country, it is fitting and proper that we include corporate leaders like Mr. Thompson, who have broken barriers and opened doors for future generations to follow. I applaud his extraordinary accomplishments and the wonderful legacy he has built through hard work and perseverance.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true military hero, a constituent and a valued friend Reverend James Glover, Jr. passed away on February 6, 2010, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude his service to our nation and his commitment to his community. Mr. Glover was a member of the Montford Point Marines, African Americans members of the United States Marine Corp, who served in World War II.

James Glover, Jr. was born August 16, 1916, in Eutawville, South Carolina, the son of a prominent Baptist minister. Although he felt a strong pull to follow his father's footsteps, the call to serve his country during World War II changed his course as a young man.

He entered the military February 28, 1942, as one of the first African Americans to be permitted in the Marine Corp and his unit became known as the legendary Montford Point Marines. As a marine, Lance Corporal Glover endured great hardships to begin a legacy that has brought honor to the United States Marine Corps and all those who have served our nation.

Lance Corporal Glover and his fellow Black Marines succeeded despite enduring segregated training conditions at the Montford Point Camp, which is now part of Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. They were subjected to racial abuse and discrimination, yet persevered and earned the respect of the other Marines.

Lance Corporal Glover served honorably in the Pacific theatre in the 51st Defense Battalion authorized in 1942. As a member of the 27th Marine Depot Company, a combat support unit, he helped supply the front lines with food and ammunition. Under sometimes heavy enemy fire, he loaded and unloaded supplies, resupplied frontline units, and evacuated the dead and wounded.

He was honorably discharged from the Marines on December 1, 1945 and returned to his beloved home in South Carolina where he pursued his calling in the ministry. Reverend Glover was called to pastor Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Orangeburg, SC in 1971. While ministering to his flock at Mount Calvary, Reverend Glover led the efforts to build a new church sanctuary. In addition, the church experienced tremendous growth under his leadership including: organizing numerous auxiliaries, clubs, and choirs. The church's educational center and children's choir have been named in his honor.

Reverend Glover resigned as pastor of Mount Calvary after 26 years of service in 1997, to devote all of his time to his home church, Spring Hill Baptist Church in Eutawville, South Carolina. He was appointed pastor of Spring Hill Baptist Church in 1973 following the rich legacy of his father, Reverend James S. Glover, Sr., and grandfather, Reverend John Glover. Because of the growth of the congregation while serving as the under-shepherd of Spring Hill Baptist Church, Reverend Glover also lead the efforts to build a new church sanctuary and educational building in 1990. He retired as pastor of Spring Hill

Baptist in January 2002, after 29 years of dedicated service, and presently serves as pastor emeritus. In March 2002, Reverend Glover received the ``Living Legends Award'' from the Orangeburg Ministers' Fellowship Conference.

Reverend Glover was married to his beloved wife, Lillian, for 45 years. The couple had five (5) children, fourteen (14) grandchildren, and twenty-five (25) great-grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me congratulating and expressing our deep and abiding gratitude and appreciation to Rev. James Glover, Jr., posthumously, for his leadership, valor, and enduring service to his country. He was a tremendous role model and has left a legacy of service and sacrifice that will live on as part of our nation's rich history.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding business, civic and community leader who is a wonderful example of why we celebrate Black History Month. Patricia Sowell Harris is the global chief diversity officer for McDonald's Corporation in Oak Brook, Illinois. Under her leadership, McDonald's has become a global leader in workplace diversity.

I am proud to say that Patricia is a fellow South Carolinian and a good friend. She was born and raised in the small town of McBee. One of 11 children, she earned her bachelor's degree in public administration and personnel administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago. In 1976, she was hired by the McDonald's Corporation to work in its legal department. Nine years later, she was named the company's affirmative action manager. Pamela was appointed assistant vice president in 1997, and in 2001 she was appointed to her current position as global chief diversity officer.

Charged with spearheading McDonald's diversity initiatives, Ms. Harris responded with considerable resolve and her efforts have produced astonishing successes. As a result, McDonald's is widely recognized as a diverse and welcoming place to work. Fortune magazine listed McDonald's 2 years in a row as the no. 1 company for diversity. Other publications that have lauded McDonald's for its inclusive philosophy include Essence, Hispanic Business, Latina Style and Black Enterprise.

Patricia's hard work has not gone unnoticed in other quarters. In the course of her career she has been the recipient of many accolades and tributes. She was awarded the National Restaurant Association's Salute to Excellence and was inducted into their 2006 Hall of Diplomats. Working Mother magazine called Patricia one of the top 10 diversity champions in the country. McDonald's presented her with the Eagle Award and named its annual award for achievements in diversity the ``Pat Harris Diversity Award.''

Her ascent through the ranks of the McDonald's Corporation is a testament to her professionalism and strong work ethic. Her extensive work in her community is a demonstration of her imitable character and strong moral foundation. She has said that ``the best accomplishment one can receive is to be asked to serve and give back to the community.'' Her unyielding commitment to this philosophy is evident in her numerous philanthropic pursuits.

Patricia is a founding member and former chair of the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance and a founding member and past board member of the Women's Foodservice Forum. She is the chair of the NAACP ACT-SO Advisory Council and is the board president of the Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization. She is also a board member of DePaul University's Business and Ethics Committee, the International Franchise Association's Diversity Institute and co-chair of the Rainbow/PUSH EXCEL board of directors.

In 2009, Wiley published her book None of Us Is as Good as All of Us, which documents her rise from humble beginnings as a farmer's daughter to the top ranks of American business. The book also details her corporate philosophy and the steps McDonald's has taken under her leadership to improve workplace diversity.

Patricia currently resides in Chicago and is a proud mother and grandmother to her son Dwayne and granddaughter Cydnii.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Patricia Sowell Harris on her impressive career at McDonald's and her ongoing commitment to her community. I am proud to add my voice to the chorus of individuals, media outlets and organizations that have praised Ms. Harris for her many accomplishments. She serves as a tremendous example of why we celebrate the contributions of African Americans during Black History Month, and I commend her for all that she has done and will continue to do on behalf of people of color.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an American hero. Vernon Hunter was an unsung hero who was thrust into the national spotlight when his life was tragically cut short last week in the senseless attack on his office in Austin, Texas.

Mr. Hunter was a model citizen who spent his life in the service of his country. He served in the Army for 22 years, including two combat tours in Vietnam. After his service ended, Mr. Hunter spent several years in the private sector before starting work at the IRS where he was employed for 27 years.

Friends and family indicate that Mr. Hunter was a loving father and husband who remained fiercely committed to public service and those around him for all his days. They report that Mr. Hunter was considering retiring from the IRS to start a new career as a special education teacher.

Mr. Hunter was born and raised in Orangeburg, South Carolina, a city I am proud to represent. He grew up there and graduated from Wilkinson High School in 1959.

He is survived by his wife Valerie and their six children. The citizens of South Carolina, Texas and Americans everywhere mourn his tragic loss.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in expressing our sincere condolences to Vernon Hunter's family and to recognize his heroic contributions to his country. Mr. Hunter represents the unsung American heroes who dedicate themselves every day to serving their country and their fellow men and women. We owe them all a debt of gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I want to join all my colleagues in calling for jobs legislation that will get our people back to work and asking for a health care reform bill that will be affordable and accessible to all Americans.

But, Mr. Speaker, I rise also to ask my colleagues, as they think about recent events involving the Texas Federal building, where the IRS building was exploded by an airplane, and one of our colleagues has now called the act of terrorism a noble act.

The fact of the matter is, the gentleman that lost his life in that building, Vernon Hunter, is from, or was from, Orangeburg, South Carolina, which I proudly represent in this body. He spent two tours in Vietnam and was about the business of carrying out his duties and responsibilities to this great country of ours. If anybody is a hero, it is this victim. And I find it appalling that a Member of this body would call his death a noble happening.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Rangel for yielding me this time.

I want to thank you and Mr. Camp for bringing this legislation forward. I want to thank the minority whip, Mr. Cantor, for joining with us in making this a truly bipartisan effort. I also want to thank the 162 cosponsors, original cosponsors, of this legislation.

I believe that all of us who are familiar with the various areas of our great country know that it all depends on where you live as to what kind of catastrophic event you can expect to visit your community. For many of us, it may be a dust storm; for others, like my area of the country, a hurricane; for others, it could very well be an earthquake.

All of us are but the sum total of our experiences, and I believe that it is this vast amount and broad level of experiences that the people of these United States of America are going to call upon in order to respond to the people of Haiti. And for us to offer all Americans the opportunity to deduct on their 2009 taxes any contribution they make to this effort by February 28 will go a long way toward incentivizing the kind of behavior that we think is very, very important.

I want to thank the sponsors of this legislation and thank all of those who will be voting for it today. It is one way that we can say to the people of this Nation that Americans not just sympathize with them but we empathize as well.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Lovely Hill Baptist Association in recognition and celebration of its rich history and tremendous impact in South Carolina. On December 12, 2009 this 108-year-old organization will celebrate Founders' Day for the very first time.

This organization held its first meeting in 1901 at Lovely Hill Baptist Church in Smoaks, South Carolina. Three years later, they were chartered under the name of Lovely Hill Baptist Educational Congress to reflect their mission to provide for the education of African American youth who weren't allowed to attend public schools. In 1918 the group purchased more than 34 acres to build the first school for black children in the St. George area. Once public schools were integrated, the land was used for the county fair.

In 1932, the organization's mission had grown, and to broaden its scope, officially became known as the Lovely Hill Baptist Association. Sixty years later, Lovely Hill Baptist Association was incorporated, and today, 22 churches are members. In 1999, the association broke ground for the construction of a new conference center on the site of the original school. Construction was completed in 2005, and today the facility provides a much needed center for community activities in St. George and surrounding areas.

The association has several auxiliaries including the Sunday School Congress of Christian Education, the Lovely Hill Women's Auxiliary/ Young Women's Auxiliary, the Ushers' Convention, the Brotherhood Convention, and the Youth Convention.

Over the years, a number of moderators have served the Association faithfully--Reverends Coger H. Haygood, J.M. Marshall, S.D. Rickenbacker, and T.E. Sanders. The current moderator of the Association is my good friend, Reverend Dr. S.B. Marshall, who is ably assisted by the 1st vice-moderator, Reverend McKinley Ravenel, and 2nd vice-moderator, Reverend Floyd Wright.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me today in recognizing this organization that has contributed so much to the faith community in South Carolina. For more than a century, the Lovely Hill Baptist Association has provided excellent spiritual leadership and Christian education to the citizens of my congressional district. I applaud their rich history and significant contributions to countless numbers of my constituents. And I congratulate them on their inaugural Founders' Day and wish them Godspeed!