Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding public servant from the State of South Carolina, a dear friend, and former colleague, Philip G. Grose, Jr. Phil is officially retiring from State Government as Director of the South Carolina Executive Institute after serving in various state government capacities for 36 years. His extraordinary leadership and service deserve recognition.

Phil is a native of Greenville, South Carolina, but he left his home state to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. His first professional job was as a staff writer and sports reporter for the Charlotte Observer in 1960. He went on to hone his writing and investigative skills as a reporter for Broadcasting magazine in New York, but returned to his native state to accept a position at The State newspaper in Columbia. There he served as Sports Writer and Business Editor, before finding his niche as Government Affairs Editor. That assignment helped Phil marry his love of politics to his skill of writing, and would unwittingly launch his second career in government.

In 1967, Governor Robert E. McNair recognized Phil's expertise and invited him to join the Governor's staff as News Secretary and Research Assistant. His adeptness and understanding both government and the media insured Phil's success in this role.

In 1967, John Carl West succeeded Bob McNair as Governor and invited Phil to serve in the new administration as Executive Assistant for Public Affairs. It was while Phil was preparing to serve in this capacity that he and I first met, when after some cajoling from him I accepted an invitation from Governor West to join his staff and was placed under Phil's tutelage. Phil shared his enormous talents and his enthusiasm was infectious. He merged efficiency and effectiveness in a manner I had not seen before, and made government work fun and productive. I learned a great deal from him and developed a great deal of admiration and respect for him.

Because of his tremendous abilities, Phil was elevated through a number of increasingly important positions in state government after Governor West tenure as Governor ended in 1975. Phil served as Executive Assistant to the President of the University of South Carolina, Chief Deputy Commissioner for the South Carolina Department of Social Services, Director of the South Carolina State Reorganization Commission, and Assistant Executive Director of the State Budget and Control Board.

In 1989, Phil was tapped to serve as the Director of the Executive Institute, where he leads statewide executive education programs for public sector leaders. He also manages the South Carolina Center for Excellence and the Budget and Control Board's training center.

Phil Grose is married to the former Virginia Maxwell. They have a daughter, Patricia Grose Williams, a son-in-law John D. Williams, and two grandsons, Harrison Philip Williams and David McCully Williams, all of Starnberg, Germany. Phil and his wife have both had very distinguished careers, and my wife Emily have enjoyed being a part of their professional and personal lives. Although Phil has decided it is time to retire from his official role as a public servant, I know he will never relinquish his role of serving the public.

Mr. Speaker, I invite you and the members of this august body to join me in commending Phil Grose on his compassion, his intelligence, his unflagging sense of humor, and his uncompromising dedication to his home state. His name may not be well known, but his words and phrases broadly read and widely quoted. His work is evident throughout South Carolina state government, and serves as an inspiration to many of us who currently serve. The impact of his service will be felt by future generations of public servants, and I am proud to have him as a friend and to honor him today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend SCANA Corporation, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in my State, on being selected as the recipient of the United States Department of Labor's Opportunity Award. Each year, the Secretary of Labor selects one Federal contractor as the recipient of this high honor. It is given to the company which has most clearly exemplified that they have established and instituted comprehensive workforce strategies to ensure equal employment opportunity. On February 19, the Secretary of Labor presented this award to SCANA officials in what was a very impressive ceremony.

The nominees for the Opportunity Award must be Federal contractors covered by Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act, and must have a spotless record of compliance with Federal law. All of them must demonstrate that they have developed and are implementing a multi- faceted equal employment opportunity program directed towards the changing demographics of the labor force. I spent a lot of time, in my life before Congress, counseling Federal contractors in my State on the virtues of Executive Order 11246, and SCANA was often used by me as an example of how and why it could and should be done.

I am proud that my constituent, the SCANA Corporation, has continued to demonstrate a commitment to equal employment opportunity, and has achieved measurable results that have significantly enhanced equal employment opportunities for employees, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. To win this high honor, a company must have strong core values to serve as the foundation for successful implementation of its equal employment opportunity policies in every facet of the employment relationship and throughout the company.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the Department of Labor has bestowed this high honor on the SCANA Corporation, and ask that you and my colleagues join me in commending SCANA for its ongoing efforts to institute comprehensive workforce strategies to ensure equal employment opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert into the Record, two tributes to Mr. Aubrey Boozer, Jr., of Austin, Texas, who passed on December 23, 2003. While I did not personally know Mr. Boozer, his son, Lyndon K. Boozer, has been a great friend since I arrived in Washington almost twelve years ago. Lyndon often spoke of his father and the profound impact that he had on his life. Two tributes follow, which I believe capture the true essence of a life well lived. The first is the eulogy which Lyndon delivered at the memorial service for his dad, and, the second is the obituary which appeared in the Austin American Statesman.

My Dad

(By Lynden K. Boozer, December 30, 2003.)

``As you know, my Dad recently moved to DC. About a month

ago, he was over for Thanksgiving Dinner.

After getting everyone's attention--he commanded it--he

told this story he had heard from LBJ Ranch foreman Dale

Malechek about a preacher at a Bar B Que. Now I won't tell

this story as well as Dad because he was a master

storyteller--one of the best. But it seems the Reverand was

thanking the Lord for the Blessings and went on and on and

on. Finally, after about 10 minutes, Dale turns over to Dad

and says: ``You reckon the Bar B Que ain't done yet?''

That was the last story I remember him tell, and I remember

it like yesterday. Dad liked to keep things simple. And

short. So we won't keep you from your Bar B Que today, but I

just wanted to share a few of my favorite things about Dad

because he had 78 full years of life.

He liked Westerns, Cowboys and old War movies, maybe

because it reminded him of his days in the Navy. WW II he

used to call it, the only ``good'' war.

He loved to cook--and he was a master in the kitchen. Laura

and I used to wake up on Sunday mornings to the wafting aroma

of bacon and eggs, biscuits and cream gravy. For most of his

adult life, we remember him as a big, authoritative man. He

was strong willed and stubborn which meant it was ``his way

or the hightiway.'' His way was usually right.

Even though his body gave out this year, his mind and

spirit were still tough as nails. He organized his move to

Washington like he did everything else, with precision and

fortitude. He didn't look back. His goodbyes were short. I

suspect it was because he knew he'd be back soon.

Beneath his tough exterior and grumpy ways was a kind heart

that overshadowed his modest outward appearance. He didn't

care about much except his family and his close friends whom

he tested on a regular basis. He loved his dogs whom he

entrusted to Laura. They are alive and well.

He loved my Mother deeply, and she was his axis of life. A

close relative said, ``Well, you know why he died before

Christmas? He wanted to spend it with your Mom.'' There's

some truth to that...

They were so different but were there for each other

through it all--Houston where they met, New York City where

they loved, Washington, DC where they grew, Mexico City where

they enjoyed and finally Austin, Texas where they settled

down and raised a family.

And after Mom died in 1998, he visited this very grave site

almost every week until his health was too poor. Our friends

here at Cook Walden remember, especially Evelyn Williams.

He never stopped wanting the best for Laura and me. And he

was proud of us I'm told. He wouldn't say so to us but we

knew it because everyone always said so.

He was truly a Classic, a stand up guy, funny and honest

and a straight shooter. Independent, And a proud Democrat. He

didn't mince words and in this day of political correctness,

he was a refreshing opinion.

His values were ones to live by, and we will. We miss you

Dad, and will think of you every day. While we cannot cheat

father time, the past lives within us and is eternal in our

hearts and minds. You will always be remembered.

We love you, Pops.

[From the Austin American Statesman, December 28, 2004, Obituary.]

Aubrey Boozer, Jr.

Aubrey Boozer, Jr. was born in Clint, Texas. He was reared

in Houston, Texas, having attended John Reagan High School,

graduating in 1942. He immediately volunteered for military

service. After serving his country in the U.S. Navy during

World War II, he enrolled at Southwestern University,

Georgetown, Texas, in 1946 where he was President of the Pi

Kappa Alpha fraternity, and a varsity basketball player. He

earned a Bachelor of Science degree and graduated in 1951.

Aubrey held various positions in government service,

including a post at the United Nations in New York City, with

the Civil Service Commission, then with the Treasury

Department in Washington, D.C., and the Office of Economic

Opportunity with the Johnson Administration. He and his wife,

Yolanda, who was on the staff of President Lyndon B. Johnson,

lived in Washington, D.C. during the 60s. He subsequently

served in the U.S. Foreign Service at posts in the U.S.

Embassy, Mexico City, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and wartime Saigon,

South Vietnam, where he was Special Assistant to the

Ambassador. He was awarded a commendation from the U.S. Army

for ``Outstanding Work and Cooperation with All Government

Agencies and the Vietnamese Government for Community

Relations in the City of Saigon.''

After service to his country for the second time in

Vietnam, he operated restaurants in Austin, Waco, Temple and

College Station, Texas, for the Monterey House Mexican Foods,

Inc. He was also Vice President of Operations for the company

in Houston, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Yolanda Boozer; and

by his Mother and Father. He had no brothers or sisters.

Survivors are Lyndon, a son who resides in Washington, D.C.;

a daughter, Laura of San Francisco, California; and two

grandchildren, Jordan and Kyle. He is also survived by

cousins, JoAnn Harris, Charles Hale, Alec Hale Reid, and Amy;

and nieces, Diane VanHootegem, Christine Rayburn and Rosalind

Johansson, all of whom he cared for very much.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to honor the life of Mr. Aubrey Boozer. I ask that my colleagues join me in expressing condolences to this fine family.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I failed last evening to make this statement, which I thought was very important to me during Black History Month, because of a little appointment I had with the dentist. So I

am pleased that the gentleman yielded to me today.

Mr. Speaker, when I first came to Congress 11 years ago, the very first piece of legislation I introduced was to name the Federal courthouse proposed for Columbia, South Carolina, in honor of Judge Matthew J. Perry, Jr. Some of my friends and colleagues cautioned me that the time was not quite right for such a bold initiative, and others counseled me that the thought bordered on naivete. But I had read and taken to heart Martin Luther King, Jr.'s letter from the Birmingham city jail.

In that timeless document, Dr. King addressed the rightness of time. King wrote that ``time is neutral. Time is never right and time is never wrong.'' He opined in that letter that ``the people of ill will in our society seem to make much better use of time than the people of goodwill.'' And he went on to write that ``we are going to be made to repent in this generation not just for the vitriolic words and deeds of bad people, but for the appalling silence of good people.'' I felt, therefore, that even if it were not time for such to be done, it was certainly time for silence on the subject to be broken. It has been a long time coming, but I am proud to say that the Matthew J. Perry, Jr. United States Courthouse will be officially dedicated on April 23, 2004.

Today, like every day for the past 25 years, Judge Matthew J. Perry walked into his office in the Federal courthouse in Columbia, South Carolina, to adjudicate cases according to Federal law. Today, he sits as a defender of the very Constitution that was once used to deny him and his forebears the right to attend his home State's law school or vote for those who made the laws. Today, Judge Perry is a stoic defender of ``liberty and justice for all'' that led him and all of South Carolina to this glorious time in our history.

Born in a segregated society just a few miles from the building that now bears his name, Judge Perry's youth prepared him for a lifetime commitment to challenging injustice. Judge Perry was raised by a grandfather after his father died when he was 12 years old, and his mother left home to find work in New York as a seamstress. Despite his challenging childhood, he was determined to make a better life for himself and worked odd jobs to put himself through South Carolina State College.

A defining moment in Matthew Perry's life came when he was drafted to serve in World War II. After finishing basic training in Alabama, he went to the train station to proudly return home as an American soldier. But he was turned away from the station's restaurant and forced to order food through a window as he watched foreign prisoners of war eating inside. Such injustice fueled the fire within this gentle man to return to South Carolina after the war and attend South Carolina State College's law school, which was established to avoid integrating the law school at the University of South Carolina.

Upon graduation, he passed the State's newly implemented bar exam, which was adopted, in part, to impede blacks' membership in the South Carolina Bar. As a young black attorney, he took cases based on principle, not on payment. He became well known for his commitment to fighting for justice regardless of the personal costs and soon became the chief counsel of the South Carolina Conference of Branches of the

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time, and I thank her for her leadership on this and other issues in this great body.

Mr. Speaker, I was elected 11 years ago. Today I represent a congressional district of 668,000 people. It is an interesting congressional district, about

half and half urban and rural. There are people who run the gamut. I represent the poor precincts and census tracts in the congressional district, and I also represent some of the wealthiest.

Last week when I went back home after our Medicare prescription drug vote, and I was asked questions by my constituents, they were asking me things like is it true that in this prescription drug bill the Secretary of HHS is prevented from negotiating on my behalf for lower drug costs? And, of course, I answered them, That is my understanding of the bill. And they have been asking, Is it true that I cannot use my Medigap insurance to cover any shortfalls that may come as a result of prescription drug costs? And, of course, I answered them, It is my understanding that that is true.

And then they want to know from me, Why is it that I did not hear from you about the possibility of these issues before you cast a vote? You are there to represent my interests, and I would like to hear from you about these kinds of things before they come to a vote.

Then I was obliged to tell them that the bill was completed around 1:30 a.m. in the morning, and I was given less than a day to take a look at it, and we finally voted on this after they had gone to bed the next night around 3 a.m. in the morning. Then they want to know the ultimate: If this bill is not to be effective until 2006, what was the rush? What was the rush? There is no good answer for many of us to that question.

I just want to say to my friends on the other side of the aisle, I am the eldest son of a fundamentalist minister who taught me that it is important to maintain balance in one's life, as well as one's efforts. He taught me to be conservative. He said to me very often, if you make a dollar, you ought to be able to save a nickel. He taught me when you leave a room, you turn out the light, you conserve energy. But he also taught me from those Sunday mornings when he stood before his congregation and asked for an offering, he asked them to give liberally. And so I learned that we must balance our liberalism with conservatism, and our conservatism with liberalism, and with proper balance and proper discussions, with proper input from all sides, we will yield much better legislation and much better results. We did not have that opportunity with this bill to have input from all sides to try to get a better and more balanced result.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the failure on the part of this body to do that sets us up, as the gentlewoman has said, for a very interesting election year, and I am hopeful that this legislation will become the centerpiece of our discussions next year because then we will have a better result.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Georgia Loretta Jones Elam, a resident of the Sixth Congressional District, and a longtime friend of mine and my family.

Born and raised in Hartsville, South Carolina, Mrs. Elam finished her elementary education in record time and entered my alma mater, South Carolina State College, now University, at the tender age of 14. After her dreams of becoming a Chemist were thwarted because of gender stereotypes of the 1920's, she entered the field of Home Economics. Upon graduating with her Bachelors degree, Mrs. Elam taught at South Carolina State College where most of her students were older than she. She went on to Columbia University in 1949 where she earned her Master's. Throughout her career, Mrs. Elam taught at seven institutions in the State of South Carolina. Most notably, she taught for 31 years at C.A. Johnson High School in Columbia, South Carolina. She also participated in workshops to further her education at University of Georgia, Winthrop College, and the University of South Carolina.

It was during her tenure at C.A. Johnson High School that Mrs. Elam started the first day care center in a public school in South Carolina. It was her innovative idea to give her Child Care and Development students the opportunity to have them care for real children instead of dolls that led her to start the day care center. Also while at C.A. Johnson, Mrs. Elam served as Head of the Home Economics Department, advisor to the New Homemakers of America--the predecessor of Future Homemakers of America--the cheerleads, the pep squad and the modern dance club.

Always a leader, be it in her professional life or that of her community, Mrs. Elam was given the Teacher of the Year award by the South Carolina Home Economics Association in 1975. She was also honored with a Distinguished Service Award by the Association of Vocational Home Economics Teachers in 1978. And, giving further credence to her merits as a leader, Mrs. Elam was named Boss of the Year in 1979 by the Midlands Chapter of the American Business Women's Association.

While this lively 90-year-old worked in the field of Home Economics for over half a Century, her dedication goes far beyond the parameters of her job requirements. Mrs. Elam has been an ardent community leader and continues to be very active in her church, Bethel A.M.E. She has been involved in numerous political campaigns over the years, and never turns down an opportunity to volunteer with church programs that have anything to do with youth or her congregation. Mrs. Elam has served as Director of Christian Education, which meant leading vacation bible school for many years, and also served as leader of the scouting program, and sponsor of the Young People's Gospel choir which she founded. For many years, she presented ``Golgatha,'' a religious pageant which she wrote and directed.

In 1995, Rev. Ronnie Brailsford made her a Steward at Bethel A.M.E. Her actions of devotion to others, particularly the young people in her community, should be an inspiration to us all.

Mrs. Elam is the widow of Leon M. Elam. She has one daughter, Loretta E. Taylor who is married to John B. Taylor of Wilmington, Delaware; three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Mrs. Elam also has two siblings, Elise Martin and Gottleib Harvest, both of Columbia, South Carolina, where Mrs. Elam herself now resides.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in honoring Georgia Loretta Jones Elam for her selfless dedication to citizens, particularly young people, across the State of South Carolina. She is a pillar of the community, and I wish her good luck and Godspeed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who has served as a mentor in South Carolina's public schools and as a member and pastor of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Orangeburg, South Carolina, for more than 30 years.

Reverend Francis G.S. Everett, Jr., spent 23 years at Elloree High School as a teacher and principal and later worked in Orangeburg School District Five. His efforts at community improvement were widely recognized and remain commendable to this day.

The parishioners of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church have strongly supported Reverend Everett as he has lifted up its many ministries and represented the church well in the Mount Pisgah Union, the Orthodox Baptist Association, the Cooperative Baptist Convention of South Carolina, and the Orangeburg Ministerial Alliance. He has also served as a co-chaplain at South Carolina State University, and as a member of the Orangeburg Calhoun Regional Medical Center Chaplain Corp.

An activist for educational advancement, Reverend Everett has served with the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation and South Carolina Board of Directors of the State Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Orangeburg Calhoun Retired Education Association, the South Carolina Education Association, the National Education Association, and as a trustee of Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina.

Reverend Everett earned his A.B. and M.S. degrees from South Carolina State University and was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Union Baptist Seminary of Birmingham, Alabama.

Reverend Everett is married to Mrs. Althea Hilton Everett of Alcolu, South Carolina. The couple has two children, Ralph and Gwendolyn.

Mr. Speaker, I invite you to join me in paying tribute to this role model to educational and spiritual leaders in our nation. Reverend Everett has developed a life of unwavering commitment to his students, his parishioners and his family and friends. He serves as an inspiration to so many, and I am proud to honor him today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my constituents, Mrs. Leler Virginia Scarborough George, who celebrated her 100th Birthday on November 16, 2003. Mrs. George, whose life has reflected not only her exemplary character, courage and commitment to family, but also a dedication to the education of her children, her faith and an untiring work ethic.

Mrs. George was born on November 16, 1903, to Samuel and Lydia Scarborough of Lee County in Bishopville, S.C. Later, Mrs. George married Jimmy George from Wysacky, SC. They purchased their first home on 75 acres of land, which Mrs. George still owns today. Mr. and Mrs. George placed great importance on educating their children and found the resources to send them to Mayesville Institute, a private, boarding school attended by the incomparable civil and human rights pioneer Mary McLeod Bethune. Despite grave challenges, the Georges successfully balanced the financial demands of schooling their children and running a farming operation.

At the young age of 45, Mr. Jimmy George suddenly passed away, leaving Mrs. George with eight children to raise and a ninth child on the way. With undaunted courage, Mrs. George resolved to hold on to their home and farm, and continue pursuing their shared dreams. Mrs. George demonstrated her business acumen and success as a farmer by converting the horse and plow operations she inherited to a completely mechanized farm. In 1983, she was named by the Smithsonian Museum as head of one of the eight outstanding farm families in America.

Mrs. George's greatest legacy and contribution to society are the self discipline and burning desire for education that she instilled in each of her children. All nine of whom went to college and received graduate degrees. Their achievements against remarkable odds attest to the determination and sacrifices of Mrs. George. Her oldest son, James, now deceased, attended Morris College, owned several businesses, and served as director of Training and Rehabilitation for the City of Sumter; Rosella G. Toney, now retired, was an Assistant Principal at Bishopville High School; Mary G. Hopkins, served as a college librarian at Virginia State University and retired as head librarian for Franklin County Middle School in Rocky Mount, VA; Dr. Ruth G. Kennedy retired from North Carolina Central University as an Associate Professor of English and served for a year as Executive Assistant to the Interim Chancellor; Ivorie Lowe retired as Dean of Girls at Bloom Township High School in Chicago, IL; Arthur L. George, formerly an educator with both local schools and the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg, retired as a sales manager with Prudential Insurance Company and presently serves as Senior Chaplain for the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center in Virginia; Kershaw George, a former University of South Carolina Administrator in Admissions, has become an entrepreneur; Dr. Eugene George, formerly an Assistant Professor of Education at the University of South Carolina and Associate Superintendent of Richland School District #1, is presently a school principal in Columbia; Doris Baskette, a former school principal, is now a principal leader and mentor with the South Carolina Department of Education.

A dedicated and lifelong member of St. Mark Baptist Church, Mrs. George received St. Mark's ``Mother of the Church'' honor this year. An active member, she has served as president of the Missionary Society and Floral Club, Treasurer of the Sunday School, and member of the Usher Board. She maintains her political activism through her membership with the National Council of Negro Women.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. George's 100th birthday marks a life of stellar achievements, and she is still going strong. There is no question that Mrs. Leler Virginia Scarborough George is a role model for all of us, and ask you and my colleagues to join me in wishing her Godspeed.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Indiana for yielding me this time and the gentlewoman from Illinois for her assistance with this effort. I also want to thank Speaker Hastert and Leader Pelosi for their assistance in expediting this very important piece of legislation. I am also thankful to Chairman Oxley and Ranking Member Frank for their leadership in this matter. It is very difficult to find proper words to convey to the 298 cosponsors of this bill my appreciation of the bipartisan support and genuine courtesies extended to me throughout this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I am also grateful to Senator Fritz Hollings for his sponsorship of similar legislation in the other body and his 99 colleagues who gave his bill a unanimous vote. I am hopeful this body will do likewise.

Mr. Speaker, as we approach the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, it is indeed an honor to stand in the Halls of the United States House of Representatives to commemorate the dedication and courage of four South Carolinians who initiated the effort to desegregate public school education in South Carolina and the Nation.

Reverend Joseph Armstrong DeLaine organized the original 106 petitioners, 18 of whom and two others made up the original 20 plaintiffs in Briggs v. Elliott, the first of the five cases that were merged and became Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. I now submit the names of all of those petitioners into the Record of these proceedings this evening.

Briggs v. Elliot

South Carolinians who signed a petition to the Board of

Trustees for Clarendon County School District #22 demanding

equal educational opportunities for African-Americans. The

petition was submitted on November 11, 1949.

1. Harry Briggs*

2. Eliza Briggs

3. Harry Briggs, Jr.

4. Thomas Lee Briggs

5. Katherine Briggs

6. Thomas Gamble

7. Henry Brown

8. Thelma Brown

9. Vera Brown

10. Beatrice Brown

11. Willie Brown

12. Marian Brown

13. Ethel Mae Brown

14. Howard Brown

15. James Brown

16. Theola Brown

17. Thomas Brown

18. Euralia Brown

19. Joe Morris Brown

20. Onetha Bennett*

21. Hercules Bennett

22. Hilton Bennett

23. William Gibson

24. Annie Gibson*

25. William Gibson Jr.

26. Maxine Gibson

27. Harold Gibson

28. Robert Georgia*

29. Carrie Georgia

30. Charlie Georgia

31. Jervine Georgia

32. Gladys Hilton

33. Joseph Hilton

34. Lila Mae Huggins

35. Celestine Huggins

36. Juanita Huggins

37. Gussie Hilton

38. Roosevelt Hilton

39. Thomas Johnson

40. Blanche E. Johnson

41. Lillie Eva Johnson

42. Rubie Lee Johnson

43. Betty J. Johnson

44. Bobby M. Johnson

45. Preston Johnson Jr.

46. Susan Lawson*

47. Raymond Lawson

48. Eddie Lee Lawson

49. Susan Ann Lawson

50. Frederick Oliver*

51. Willie Oliver

52. Mary Oliver*

53. Mose Oliver*

54. Leroy Oliver

55. Mitchel Oliver

56. Bennie Parson Jr.*

57. Plummie Parson

58. Celestine Parson

59. Edward Ragin*

60. Sarah Ragin

61. Shirley Ragin

62. Deloris Ragin

63. Hazel Ragin*

64. Zelia Ragin

65. Sarah Ellen Ragin

66. Rebecca Ragin

67. Mable Ragin

68. William Ragin*

69. Glen Ragin

70. Luchrisher Richardson*

71. Elane Richardson

72. Emanuel Richardson

73. Rebecca Richburg*

74. Rebecca I. Richburg

75. E.E. Richburg

76. Albert Richburg

77. Lee Johnson

78. Bessie Johnson

79. Morgan Johnson

80. Samuel Gary Johnson

81. Lee Richardson*

82. James Richardson

83. Charles Richardson

84. Annie L. Richardson

85. Dorothy Richardson

86. Jackson Richardson

87. Mary O. Lawson

88. Francis Lawson

89. Bennie Lee Lawson

90. Mary Oliver

91. Daisy Oliver

92. Louis Oliver Jr.

93. Esther F. Singleton

94. Janie Fludde

95. Henry Scott*

96. Mary Scott

97. Irene Scott

98. Willie M. Stukes*

99. Gardenia Stukes

100. Willie M. Stukes Jr.

101. Gardenia Stukes

102. Louis W. Stukes

103. Gabriel Tyndal*

104. Annie Tyndal

105. Mary L. Bennett

106. Lillian Bennett

*Indicates those who served as named plaintiffs in the case

of Briggs v. Elliott. Plaintiff's also included James H.

Bennett and G. H. Henry.

At the time of their petition, black children in Clarendon County were walking 9 miles each way to school, and all they petitioned for was a school bus. When their request for a bus was denied, they sought relief in the courts. Reverend DeLaine was harassed by the Ku Klux Klan and several attempts were made on his life. His church was burned and when he responded in kind to gunshots that were fired into his home in 1955, law enforcement officials issued a warrant for Reverend DeLaine's arrest. Fearing the consequences, he and his family fled the State.

In 1971, Governor John C. West received a letter from Reverend DeLaine advising that his health was failing and requesting that he be allowed to return to South Carolina where he wished to be buried. Governor West tasked me with the responsibility of getting it done. We failed, because one of the men who signed the arrest warrant refused the Governor's and law enforcement officials' requests that he drop the charges. In 2000, the South Carolina legislature cleared Reverend DeLaine's record, but much too late to honor his request. Reverend DeLaine died in 1974 and is buried in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Levi Pearson was a small Clarendon County farmer. He responded to Reverend DeLaine's request and sued the school district on behalf of his three children who were walking those 9 miles to school each day. His decision was met with dire consequences. The local bank refused to provide him credit to purchase farming equipment and other farmers refused to lend him any equipment. Shots were fired into his home and he was ostracized by his neighbors. Despite these actions, Pearson continued with his suit. But in 1948, the United States District Court dismissed Pearson's suit, finding that although his farm was partially in Clarendon School District 1, his house was situated in Clarendon School District 2; and therefore he had no standing. Although his legal case was dismissed, Pearson continued to fight against segregation and later became president of the local NAACP chapter. In spite of extreme hardships, he never left his land.

Harry Briggs, a service station attendant, and his wife, Eliza, a maid at a local motel, took up the cause. As did Levi Pearson and Reverend DeLaine, they suffered inhumane consequences for their actions. They were fired from their jobs but they persevered, and as is often said, the rest is history. Because he was blackballed in South Carolina and could not find employment, Harry moved to Florida where he lived out his productive life. Unlike Reverend DeLaine, he returned to South Carolina and is buried in his native soil.

Every year on the Friday evening nearest May 17, the South Carolina conference of branches of the NAACP holds its annual Freedom Fund dinner in honor of the Briggs petitioners. And ever since I have been a Member of this body, pictures of Mrs. DeLaine and other principals in the case have been prominently displayed on a wall of my office.

Mr. Speaker, if not for the personal sacrifices of those like Reverend DeLaine, Mr. Pearson, the Briggses and many others known and unknown, I and others like me may have never experienced membership in this body. This bill reminds us that it is the actions of a preacher and educator, a farmer, a gas station attendant, and a motel maid that initiated the efforts that changed American society forever. I hope that our actions here tonight remind all Americans that it is not our station in life that makes us worthy of honor and recognition, but our commitment to the principles and pursuit of the promise that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Florence G. Foxworth of Marion, South Carolina, for her contributions to our State as a public school teacher for more than five decades, her numerous civic and community activities and her particular dedication to fulfilling special education needs of challenged public school students.

Ms. Foxworth has been teaching in public schools since 1951 and has earned the Teacher of the Year Award at Mullins High School. Earlier this year she was named Marion County NAACP's Woman of the Year, and was named second runner up for the South Carolina NAACP's Woman of the Year Award. She is also a Golden Apple Award recipient for her work with special needs children.

In addition to inspiring thousands of students of all races, backgrounds, and beliefs to exceed and enhance the quality of life for all in our society, Ms. Foxworth also recognizes that children with special needs not only accords us some of our greatest educational challenges, but also some of our most rewarding experiences. As a former public school teacher, I appreciate her perseverance in insuring that every student leaves the classroom at the end of the day with a positive self-image, a commitment to always putting forth the best effort possible and a broader level of intelligence.

Ms. Foxworth's commitment to serving others extends well beyond the classroom. She volunteers with the ALS Association, serves on the Board of Disabilities and Special Needs, and reads for nursing home patients. Her political contributions include volunteering as a voter registration volunteer for Marion County and as a member of the South Carolina Democratic Women's Council, National Council of Negro Women and the Palmetto Black Caucus. She also generously volunteered for my 1992 campaign for the seat I now hold in this august body, U.S. House of Representatives, and I am grateful to her for the time and effort she expended.

Ms. Foxworth earned a degree in Elementary Education from Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, and subsequently earned a Master's degree in Special Education from North Central University in Durham, North Carolina. She is a member of the NAACP and is actively involved in her church's activities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me today in honoring Ms. Florence G. Foxworth for her many years of service to South Carolina. She is an invaluable asset to Mullins High School and one of the finest mentors our State has to offer. I am proud of her many achievements and look forward to her many future ventures. I wish her good luck and Godspeed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Frank M. Hart for his longtime commitment and outstanding service to the educational advancement of South Carolinians both as a teacher and community leader.

Mr. Hart began his career teaching in the Landrum and Woodruff public schools. He later served as a principal of Chapman, Rivers and Pickens high schools. He went on to serve as Director of Instruction for Charleston School District 20, where he coordinated the Title I and Title II programs. That is where I first met Mr. Hart when I was a History Teacher in the Charleston County Public Schools. We developed a friendship which continues today.

His tenure in Charleston was followed by service as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for the Pickens County Schools. In 1970 he was named Superintendent of Marion School District One where he served until 1988 when he retired. It was during this time that Mr. Hart reentered my public life when he invited me in 1971 to address his Rotary Club's weekly lunch. At that time this simple act was groundbreaking.

Mr. Hart's work as a consultant to the State as a member of advisory committees on curriculum, educational television and secondary schools has been integral to promoting innovative new approaches to teaching. He served on an evaluating committee for the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges and on an executive committee of the South Carolina Superintendents Association. He is also the past president of the Atlantic AA Conference of the High School League.

But Mr. Hart's instructions reach far beyond being a role model for public school students. They are just as evident in his personal life. He has performed extensive stewardship duties, including teaching adult Sunday school classes at his church, First United Methodist Church of Marion, South Carolina. He remains an active member of his Rotary Club and is a past president of the Marion Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Hart earned both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree from Clemson University. He has also studied in post-master's work at both the University of South Carolina and Columbia University. In addition, he served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1944 to 1946. He and his late wife, the former Betty Stevens of Cross Keys, South Carolina, are the parents of three daughters and two sons.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me today in honoring a long time friend and mentor, Frank M. Hart for his contributions to South Carolina and especially Marion County. His career in education has been profound, and his personal life has paralleled the kind of work he dedicated himself to in the classroom. I am personally grateful to him and wish him Godspeed and the best of luck in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lt. Col. Stephen Twitty, who led the only infantry battalion--1,000 soldiers strong--in the initial attack on Baghdad, Iraq, this past April. His 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Battalion was fearless in the face of the heaviest fighting of the campaign and successfully completed their mission.

Lt. Col. Twitty witnessed casualties among his troops, and continued to lead his soldiers through the perils of suicide bombers, snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and a variety of other dangerous assaults. Later he had to keep his troops focused on their mission after the death of NBC reporter David Bloom, who was embedded with his regiment. He faced many potentially fatal situations by being on the frontline of American servicemen. As a result of his gallantry, he received the U.S. Army's third highest medal, the Silver Star, and is most likely on his way to becoming a colonel.

Lt. Col. Twitty is a native of Chesnee, SC, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, my alma mater, where he will serve as a grand marshal of this year's Homecoming Parade. He is in good company among the military ranks of SCSU graduates. The University currently has four alumni who are generals on active duty, one of whom was just named Commanding Officer of Fort Jackson.

Lt. Col. Twitty later received a master's in public administration from Central Michigan University. He has been stationed in both Belgium and Germany but now resides in Fort Stewart, GA.

This tour of duty isn't Lt. Col. Twitty's first time in combat. He is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, in which he was a member of the first infantry division to cross the Kuwait-Iraq border into enemy territory. He has also received decorations like the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star for his service to his nation in the most trying of situations. His interests in the military date back to his experiences in South Carolina State's Reserve Officer Training Corps. He now has aspirations to attend the Army War College next year.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in commending Lt. Col. Stephen Twitty for his extraordinary dedication and his exemplary military service. He is an inspiration to the soldiers he commands and the next generation of soldiers to follow.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to thank the chairman for the tremendous leadership he has given to the Congressional Black Caucus on this and other issues.

Earlier today, I joined the House Democratic leadership in sending a letter to the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert) requesting a detailed accounting of the money being spent on the Iraq War effort. The public disclosure that we are requesting must include shining the light on closed-door lucrative contracts being awarded to Halliburton, Bechtel and other friends of this administration.

In today's Washington Post, there is an article that says that $1.7 billion has already been awarded to Bechtel, and they stand to receive millions more in no-bid contracts.

Mr. Speaker, I think that this is outrageous. Outrageous not just because of the issue itself but because there are two underlying issues that I think that this administration must confront before we send any additional money to conduct this effort in Iraq. And I want to share with the public those two concerns of mine.

First of all, I do not know if the public realizes it or not, but a law that we authorized last April provides for imminent danger pay of $75 a month and $150 a month in family separation allowances for our soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. That law expires on September 30. I do not believe that we ought to give one moment of consideration to any additional funding to conduct this war in Iraq until we extend this law so that those men and women who are putting their lives on the line, who are in imminent danger, who have been separated from their families receive compensation for doing so.

The Defense Department is saying that we cannot afford to continue this pay. I believe that the troops serving overseas ought to be our top priority, and we ought not talk about any additional expenditures until we make sure that they are taken care of.

The second thing I want us to consider before we start discussing any additional funds for Iraq is this issue involving disability pay for our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to me that if you were to look at a 20-year veteran who may have served 1 year in Iraq or Afghanistan and comes home unharmed, that veteran will receive retirement benefits. But the 20-year veteran who serves for 20 years and gets injured in Iraq, comes home with a missing limb and becomes eligible for disability pay, that disability pay is deducted from his or her retirement pay; and, therefore, he or she stands in the same light as a person who never got injured in the first place, though that person's ability to make a living for himself or herself and his or her family diminishes greatly because of that injury.

We in this Congress need to correct that issue before we send one additional soldier to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan, and this Congress is refusing to deal with that. Yet we hear that those of us who disapprove spending additional expenditures until we do this do not support our troops.

This is not supporting our troops, when we put them in harm's way and we bring them back home and do not adequately support their life's existence. Something about this is bad wrong. I get the phone calls in my office. I have a young lady spending almost full time dealing with this issue. We believe that until it is resolved, we ought not be talking about any additional funds for Iraq.

So until this administration faces up to these three issues, gives us a light shining on these contracts, does something about extending eminent pay allowances and family separation for our men and women, and does something about this disabled American veterans tax that we are putting on these people returning home with their injuries, I am not going to support any additional expenditures in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a man of character and grace, Bishop Joseph Johnson. Bishop Johnson serves as the Presiding Bishop of the South Atlantic District of

the A.M.E. Zion Church, which is comprised of five conferences, and as President of the Board of Bishops.

Bishop Johnson's record of service is impeccable. He served in the U.S. Army with 15 years experience in the Airborne Division. He has served as pastor of A.M.E. Zion Churches in three different North Carolina conferences, including seven years as pastor of Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church in Southern Pines, North Carolina. After serving as pastor of Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church in Greensboro, North Carolina he spent four years presiding as Southwestern Delta Episcopal District, which is comprised of six conferences.

But his reputable service extends well outside of the church walls. In 1993, Bishop Johnson delivered the Gardner C. Taylor Lecture & Preaching Series at Duke University Divinity School. He has published ``A Manual for Ministerial Studies'' for the A.M.E. Zion Church, in addition to several scholarly essays on Christian stewardship requisites for ministerial practice. He passed his skills and experiences to aspiring ministers when he served for ten years as professor of practical ministry at Hood Theological Seminary of Livingstone College in North Carolina.

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Bishop Johnson grew up in Tampa and earned a degree from North Carolina State University. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School of Duke University.

Bishop Johnson is married to Dorothy Sharpe Johnson, who now serves as missionary supervisor and Episcopal secretary of the South Atlantic District of the A.M.E. Zion church. The couple has two sons.

Mr. Speaker, Bishop Johnson has led an exceptional career dedicated to teaching and preaching the virtue of kindness. This year will be the last Palmetto Annual Conference where he would preside. He will be retiring next year, and deservedly so, as he has already contributed more to the betterment of our society than most people could hope for in one lifetime. I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to this humanitarian.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Michael Allen, a dedicated public servant and valued friend. Michael is an Education Specialist for the National Park Service's Fort Sumter Group in Charleston, South Carolina, and was recently named a recipient of the William C. Everhart Award for 2003.

The William C. Everhart Award is given for sustained achievements in interpretations that have illuminated, created insights to, and fostered appreciation of cultural and natural heritage. The award will be presented to Michael on October 2, 2003 at Clemson University.

The Fort Sumter Group consists of Fort Sumter National Monument, Fort Moultrie and Charles Pinckney National Historic Site and Michael has served as their Education Specialist for three years. He was nominated for the award, in large measure, because of work in developing the educational curriculum and programs for the sites, and his leading role in the National Park Service's Gullah-Geechee Special Resource Study. The Gullah-Geechee project is one in which I take particular pride and am very proud of the role I played in securing its authorization. The final report on this unique cultural treasure is expected to be presented to the Congress in December of this year.

Michael is also a great resource and advocate in interpreting the whole and complete story of the American Civil War in the Southeast Region of the National Park Service.

Michael grew up in Kingstree, South Carolina, and is a 1982 graduate of South Carolina State University with a degree in History Education. He began his public career with the National Park Service in 1980, and has been married for 15 years to the former LaTanya Prather of James Island, South Carolina. Michael and LaTanya currently live in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina and are the parents of three children; Brandon, Shaelyn, and Isaiah.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Michael for the recognition given him for his tireless and exemplary public service, and ask that you and my colleagues join me in this tribute to his tireless and selfless service.