Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement from the position of Chairman of First Indiana Corporation, I rise today to commend Robert H. McKinney for his distinguished career of service to our country and his and my hometown community.

First Indiana Corporation is a publicly traded holding company that operates the First Indiana Bank, the largest homegrown bank in Indianapolis. It was established in 1915 by Mr. McKinney's father, the highly respected E. Kirk McKinney.

It is entirely and delightfully fitting that tribute be paid to Robert McKinney and his illustrious career as a devoted national and local public servant who is truly an inspiring community leader.

His achievements are breathtaking.

A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, the Naval Justice School, and the Indiana University School of Law, Mr. McKinney served in the Pacific during WorId War II and the Korean War. He has received Honorary Doctorates of Law from Marian College and Butler University. He has served as a member of the Indiana University Board of Trustees.

Bob McKinney has served as chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the

Federal Savings & Loan Insurance Corporation, and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation. He has also served as the presidential- appointed director of the Federal National Mortgage Association. Following his federal service, he returned to Indianapolis where he was instrumental in securing federal grants for the revitalization of Indianapolis neighborhoods, most notably the 29th Street corridor on the Near Westside.

Bob McKinney was appointed by U.S. Senator Evan Bayh to the Naval & Merchant Marine Academy Selection Committee, and by the Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives to the Government Efficiency Commission of the State of Indiana.

Our honoree is a member of the Presidential Advisory Board for Cuba and director of the minority investment fund Lynx Capital Corporation. He is a trustee of the Hudson Institute, the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, the Indiana University Foundation, and the Sierra Club Foundation.

In our mutual hometown of lndianapolis, Bob McKinney is the director of several civic organizations including the Indianapolis Economic Club, the Indianapolis and Indiana Chambers of Commerce, and the Indianapolis Committee on Foreign Relations, as well as the Chief Executives Organization and the World Presidents' Organization. He has served as director of the Young Lawyers Section of the ABA, director of the Indiana State Bar, and treasurer and director of the Indianapolis Bar Association.

McKinney is the recipient of the 1994 Junior Achievement Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame Award, the 1995 Hoosier Heritage Award, the 1999 Indiana University Academy of Law Alumni Fellows Award, and the 2000 Indianapolis Archdiocese Spirit of Service Award, and, well, he's just a very nice guy.

Robert McKinney's involvement in national politics began when he became the Indiana chair of John F. Kennedy's presidential committee. He has subsequently served as chairman of the Indiana presidential campaigns of Candidates Muskie, Carter, and Mondale, serving also as a member of the Indiana delegations to the National Democratic Conventions beginning in 1972.

Bob McKinney and his wife Arlene ``Skip'' McKinney live in Indianapolis and have five children and five grandchildren. On behalf of my fellow citizens of Indianapolis and the Seventh Congressional District of Indiana, I thank this great man for his service to our country and his warm friendship to me. Knowing Bob McKinney as I do, I am sure his retirement means even more work for his community and his company. That said, I wish him continued happiness with his wonderful wife ``Skip'' and the rest of his family during a long, long time in his brand of retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 256.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, the Schiavo family tragedy has touched the hearts of Americans across the country. This is a family that has for fifteen years intimately battled with what for most of us are distant fears. Now millions of us, in conversations at the office with our friends and colleagues and at the dinner table with our families, are trying to decide what we would do in their situation, what we would want for ourselves and for our loved ones. It is a conversation we need to have as a nation. But it is a question that will remain unsolved unless that time comes when our families are faced with tragedy as the Schiavo family has been.

Today we can argue what we hope we would do in their situation, what we think we would want for ourselves, and what we think is right. But we do not know what it means to be a member of the Schiavo family. We in Congress can only pretend.

Can any of us even imagine the agony that this family has weathered over the past fifteen years? Can any of us here in Washington pretend to have the authority to decide which members of this family in Florida are ``good'' and which are ``bad''? I have listened to some of my colleagues condemn Michael Schiavo, a man they have never met and do not know, as wicked. Some of my colleagues have suggested that this man they have never met, this man who has suffered immeasurably through this agonizing family tragedy, is motivated by selfishness and cruelty. Some have suggested he has no respect for life. Let us see these accusations for what they are: a sick and shameful attempt to destroy a man's character and to tear apart a family, all in the name of political gain.

My colleagues, this will be a day looked back upon with shame. It will be the day that 100 Senators and 435 Members of Congress and one President, none of whom are members of this family, none of whom have stood alongside Terri Schiavo over the hardships of the past 15 years, none of whom know her wishes, none of whom would have lifted a finger were it not for a sick sense of political opportunism at the expense of the family--it will be the day these 536 strangers decided that the family wasn't good enough, that it was time for 536 strangers to decide, without any evidence or personal connection, what was good for a family they have never met.

This is a choice we would never wish upon anyone, but which families must make between themselves and God alone. May Congress never again pretend to be part of such a covenant.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, a girl from Indianapolis, Indiana. For the life of me, I cannot understand why we are here. We were all snatched out of our houses of worship to run to Washington to violate the trial of the judicial, the legislative, and the administrative. But I guess the leadership understands what it is. They are calling it a wedge between Democrats and Republicans, I am calling it what is right and what is wrong.

We have no business being here. There are families across this country who are losing their Medicare right now because of the policy we set, and they cannot get any more. The doctors are screaming. I am sure a lot of people have heard them. They are screaming to their Congress people saying give our Medicare and our Medicaid back or else we cannot treat these patients. Yet we are going to make one single case in Florida get all the Medicare they want.

My heart goes out to this family. I know this is a very dark season for them. I know justice will prevail and God will have the last answer. But Congress should not have the last answer because it is none of our business. This is called meddling.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) for providing this special hour on Amtrak and having this very vital discussion about Amtrak's solvency and its future and its employees.

And I certainly thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for that insightful overall perspective, historical perspective, of rail in the United States of America and abroad.

It is my pleasure to be here tonight with my very dear friend, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown), and to thank her very much for leading the fight to retain Amtrak and its employees.

Amtrak continues to demonstrate its value as a critical public resource, unequivocally worthy of our Federal funds. The past 3 years have been among the most successful in Amtrak's 30-year history, 34- year history.

Despite an overall turndown in the travel industry that has resulted in financial disaster for our airlines, Amtrak has been making great strides in efficiency while becoming an increasingly popular choice for consumers. It remains a vital component of our Nation's infrastructure, providing an invaluable public service unmatched by any other means of transportation.

Since 2002, our rail system has gone through an exceptional period of financial and operating stability. Amtrak has established new accounting and financial reporting systems, trimmed mail and express rail operations, truncated long distance routes and cut expenses while raising ridership and engaging in the large-scale repair and restoration of an aged fleet.

Last year, the 240 employees of Beech Grove, Indiana, which is in my district, a heavy maintenance facility, repaired and returned to service 15 wrecked Superliners and locomotives.

And as all of us recall the 9/11 fiasco, consumers turned to Amtrak to continue their commuting to work and other ways. When Amtrak was established by an act of Congress in 1970 to take over for the money- losing private passenger rail systems in America, then Secretary of Transportation John Volpe predicted that Amtrak could turn a profit, but only if the Federal Government provided enough capital to produce high-speed trains and profitable corridors.

What better investment could Congress make to ensure the preservation of 22,000 jobs of the Amtrak employees and to preserve the vital services for consumers around the country who rely daily on Amtrak services.

According to the Congressional Research Service, Amtrak's fastest train, the Acela, averages 86 miles per hour in the New York to Washington corridor. And I am telling you, if I lived in New York or New Jersey, my transportation would be Amtrak. I love it. I love to ride Amtrak back and forth to New York and to New Jersey, and I am sure the other passengers do too.

So it is my strongest, strongest request and hope that Congress will do what it should do in terms of maintaining Amtrak and funding it at the proper levels so that it can remain efficient and solvent for many years to come.

And I want to again thank the ranking member, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown), for her leadership in this regard, a very vital service for the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 16, my card didn't register while I was on the floor. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr Speaker, it is with pleasure that I submit the attached article, ``We the People Believe in Values'' for inclusion in the Congressional Record. This article was written by Sheila Suess Kennedy, associate professor of law and public policy at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Indianapolis. It originally appeared in the November 15, 2004 edition of the Indianapolis Star.

[From the Indianpolis Star, Nov. 15, 2004]

We the People Believe in Values

(Sheila Suess Kennedy)

Pundits tell us that voters came out on Nov. 2 to vote for

``values.'' They sure didn't vote for mine.

Let me be quite explicit about my values, which are shared

by millions of others--values that infuse the Declaration of

Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, values

that are absolutely central to what it means to be American.

We believe in justice and civil liberties--in equal

treatment and fair play for all citizens, whether or not we

agree with them or like them or approve of their life

choices.

We believe that no one is above the law--and that includes

those who run our government.

We believe that dissent can be the highest form of

patriotism. Those who care about America enough to speak out

against policies they believe to be wrong or corrupt are not

only exercising their rights as citizens, they are

discharging their civic responsibilities.

We believe that playing to the worst of our fears and

prejudices, using ``wedge issues'' to marginalize gays, or

blacks, or ``East Coast liberals'' (a time-honored code word

for Jews) in the pursuit of political advantage is un-

American and immoral.

We believe, as Garry Wills recently wrote, in ``critical

intelligence, tolerance, respect for evidence, a regard for

the secular sciences.''

We believe, to use the language of the Nation's Founders,

in ``a decent respect for the opinions of mankind'' (even

European mankind).

We believe in the true heartland of this country, where

people struggle to provide for their families, dig deep into

their pockets to help the less fortunate, and understand

their religions to require good will and loving kindness.

We believe that self-righteousness is the enemy of

righteousness.

We really do believe that the way you play the game is more

important, in the end, than whether you win or lose. We

really do believe that the ends don't justify the means.

In our America, borrowing from our grandchildren so that we

can pay for a costly war without taxing the president's

buddies and campaign contributors is not moral.

Dividing the Nation into red and blue, gay and straight,

moral and immoral, welcome and unwelcome, is not moral.

Excusing our own sins by pointing to the sins of others--

torturing people, or engaging in ``holy war'' because

``they'' do it too, is not moral. Lying--about sex or weapons

of mass destruction or an opponent's war record--is not

moral.

On Election Day, claimants of the ``values'' label came to

the precinct where my youngest son was working to ``vote

against the queers.''

In my precinct, when I handed a Democratic slate to a

voter, he accused me of being a ``friend of Osama.'' A

friend's son registering voters for Baron Hill in a church

was called a ``fag lover.''

The people who live in my America need to reclaim the

vocabulary of patriotism and values from those who have

hijacked the language in service of something very different.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service and sacrifice of Sergeant Morgan William Strader, formerly of Brownsburg, Indiana, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on November 12, 2004 while serving his country in Iraq. His father lives in my district.

Sgt. Strader loved his country. He recognized the impending danger of serving his country in Fallujah. Notwithstanding, he chose to serve. Our city, state and country have much pride for the young 23 year old.

Morgan Strader grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana where he attended school through the seventh grade. He moved to Crossville, Tennessee in the eighth grade where he was active on the high school track team and wrestling squad. Upon graduation he left to join the Marines.

Morgan served with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment in Iraq from February to June of last year, and returned to Camp Pendleton, California, where he was assigned to military police duty pending his discharge in July. But Sgt Strader couldn't bear the thought of his unit returning to Iraq without him, says his father, Gary Strader, of Speedway Indiana. Instead, he asked that his enlistment be extended for another year, and returned with his unit to Iraq in July.

As his battalion prepared for the battle in Fallujah, Sgt Strader developed a skin condition that made him eligible to be sent home. But Morgan Strader ``decided he wasn't coming home,'' his father recalls. ``He said, `Dad, the guys in my unit aren't experienced in this. I need to help them.' '' He was killed in the battle of Fallujah on Friday, November 12.

Morgan Strader loved fishing with his grandpa. He had a strong faith in God and he loved serving in the Marine Corps. Sgt Strader's father describes him as ``a Marine from the day he was born . . . His grandfather was in the Army during Korea. He latched onto that and loved it.''

His high school English teacher Angela Bradley testifies to his keen sense of humor and strong moral values. ``All Morgan ever talked about doing when he was in high school was to be a Marine and to be a minister.''

Sgt Strader is survived by his grandparents Lonnie and Estelle Morgan of Hebbertsburg, Tennessee; his mother Linda Morgan of Dumfries, VA; his father Gary Strader of Speedway, Indiana; his uncle Jimmy and aunt Teresa Barnett of Westel, Tennessee; and his cousins Austin Barrett and Angel Morgan.

Morgan William Strader will be deeply missed. His strength and service to his country, friends, family, and God will be remembered always by all whom he inspired and loved.

The citizens of the Seventh District of Indiana extend our deepest gratitude for his sacrifice and dedication to public service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Butler University Officer James L. Davis of Indianapolis, Indiana, who was tragically shot and killed in the line of duty on September 24th.

On the morning of Friday, September 24th, Officer Davis responded to reports of a suspicious person at the Hinkle Fieldhouse on Butler University campus. While questioning the subject, he was shot and fatally wounded, becoming the first ever Butler University police officer killed in the line of duty. He was 31.

Known as J.J. to his family, James L. Davis graduated from Indiana University in 1995 with degrees in criminal justice and Afro-American studies. He served our country proudly as a military policeman with the United States Army.

Throughout his distinguished record of public service, James Davis displayed an unwavering commitment to the youth of Indianapolis. In 2001, James supervised 96 Juvenile offenders for the Indiana Department of Correction as a youth service officer. From January 2001 to August 2002, he served as a drill instructor for troubled youth with Project Impact, a program that provides counseling, job training, school drop- out prevention, tutoring and mentoring to at-risk first- and second- time youth offenders. After serving as a corporate security officer for Conseco, Inc., James Davis joined the Butler University police force in January of 2003.

During his full-time service on the police force, James continued his education in the pursuit of justice. At the time of his death he was only two months from completing his master's degree, an important step on the way to fulfilling his career goal of becoming a civil rights lawyer. James had also planned to create a charity honoring his late mother.

The admiration of his colleagues speaks volumes to the strength of his character. To the Chief of the Butler Police, James was ``probably one of the most genuine people I've ever known.'' To his Project Impact supervisor, he was ``galactic in regards to his love for humanity.'' In my community, the outpouring of sympathy and grief for this remarkable man has been extraordinary. In the few days since his passing, hundreds have written cards and e-mails to the department honoring our departed neighbor and friend.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending my deepest condolences to his wife Valeeda, his three beautiful children, Josiah, 8, Jarren, 3, and Jaedyn, 2, his sister Mylandar Davis, and his loving family and friends.

James L. Davis will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched. The citizens of Indianapolis extend our most sincere appreciation for his personal sacrifice and commitment to public service.

Mr. Speaker, let me say how much I appreciate the Delegate from the District of Columbia for carrying on the good fight. It is ironic that this bill proposes to implement constitutional rights to the District of Columbia when in fact this body has not allowed the District of Columbia to have a voting Member of the United States Congress and voting Members of the United States Senate. This is a cruel hoax under the guise of a constitutional amendment.

I watched some of the hearing yesterday, and it was ironic. This bill was introduced a year ago. Since it was introduced, I thought it had gone to the mortuary and that rigor mortis had actually set in on it, and I was applauding it. But then I found out yesterday that it was just in a calling period where people could come by the pew, sign the book until you got over 200 signatures on the book, and then you get it out.

This bill also came out after this House celebrated the life of Ronald Reagan who was shot in this city, the District of Columbia. And I apologize to Mr. Brady who is still paralyzed from a bullet shot in this District. The President said he wants more minorities to join the party of Lincoln because he was the Great Emancipator. Lest we forget, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, too, by a bullet. He was a Republican. Garfield was a Republican. He was assassinated.

We are so patronizing. We know what is best for the District of Columbia. The chief of police said they do not want the bill. The Mayor says he does not want the bill. The council does not want the bill. The newspapers had an editorial against the bill, and we are going to impose this anyway.

As we speak today, we are memorializing a police officer who came from the gentleman's district, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and was killed last week by a bullet. A month before that, we memorialized another police officer that was killed by a bullet, and I bet nobody on this bill ever visited one of the families of the grandmothers that were killed in this District.

This bill is one of the worst pieces of legislation that I have seen as a Member of this House, and I apologize to the grieving families for it.

Mr. Speaker, it is with profound pleasure and privilege that I rise to commend to the nation, Charles A. (Chuck) Cohen, an outstanding American and citizen of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mr. Cohen will be honored October 17, with the New Jerusalem Award at the Indiana-Israel Dinner of State. Chuck is an active community leader, a prominent attorney and a longtime supporter of Israel Bonds.

State of Israel Bonds/Development Corporation for Israel is an international organization offering securities issued by the government of Israel. Since the first bond was sold in 1951, Israel Bonds has secured close to $26 billion in investment capital for the development of every aspect of Israel's economy, including agriculture, commerce and industry.

Charles Cohen was born in Greenville, KY, and graduated from Greenville High School as the salutatorian. He received a B.S. degree in Accounting in 1963 and a J.D. degree in 1966 at Indiana University- Bloomington. At school, Chuck was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and made the Law Review.

After completing his education, the honoree served with the U.S. Army in the Medical Service Corps. His display of leadership earned him the Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone and the rank of Captain.

In 1971, Chuck moved to Indianapolis and co-founded the firm of Garelick & Cohen, (now Cohen, Garelick & Glazier). He is currently the managing partner.

Mr. Cohen is an active member of the Jewish Community Center of Indianapolis, serving as a life board member and past president. He is also active with the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis and has served in numerous positions including president and campaign chairman, as well as chairman of the Benefits Committee, the Israel Emergency Campaign, and currently serves as chairman of the Long Term Endowment Campaign and the Overseas Committee.

In addition, he is a member of the board of directors of America's Voices in Israel and an intermediate cities representative on the United Jewish Communities board of trustees.

Mr. Cohen is the recipient of the L.L. Goodman Young Leadership Award, the Liebert Mossler Award, the Martin L. Larner Leadership Award, the Endowment Achievement Award, and the Hasten Hebrew Academy HAI-Life Award.

Chuck and his wife, Karen, are the parents of three children: Brad, Amy Kaissar, and Danielle Bautista.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues in the People's House join in commending Charles Cohen for his life of service, civic stewardship and commitment to Indianapolis and Israel Bonds.

He has exhibited outstanding leadership qualities that deserve high praise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Officer Timothy Jacob Laird of Indianapolis, Indiana, who was tragically shot and killed on August 18, 2004 during an act of bravery in the line of duty.

Known as Jake to his friends, Timothy Laird was born on September 17, 1972 in Logansport, Indiana. At the age of 4, Jake already knew he wanted to be a police officer. He graduated from Warren Central High School in 1991 and enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he spent 8 years in service to his country. In 2000, he joined the Indianapolis Police Department in the 93rd Recruit Class, fulfilling his lifelong dream.

Jake Laird was a member of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #86. He took part in the investigation of more than 600 incidents during his 4 years of service with the Indianapolis Police Department, earning two commendations.

On August 18th, Officer Laird responded to reports of a man shooting a machine gun in a southside neighborhood of Indianapolis. The suspect's indiscriminate shooting injured four officers, who were treated in area hospitals. Officer Laird was fatally wounded, becoming the 56th officer to die in the line of duty in the 150-year history of the Indianapolis Police Department. He was 31.

Officer Laird's bravery and sacrifice for the people of Indianapolis has touched the lives of his community. On August 23rd, hundreds of citizens, many of whom had never met Timothy Laird, lined up along the 20-mile funeral route in silent tribute. Over 1,000 police cars from all over Indiana, as well as Kentucky, Ohio, and Illinois, took part in the procession honoring his service. Police Chief Jerry Barker awarded him the Indianapolis Police Department's Medal of Honor posthumously, only the fourth time it had been given in 150 years.

I ask my colleagues to join me in extending my deepest condolences to his wife Jennifer and their beloved 7-year-old daughter Kaylee; his parents Deborah and Michael Laird and Timothy and Barb Althouse; his brothers Gaben Laird, Christopher Laird, Timothy Althouse, and Dan and Matt Wilhelm; his sisters Sarah Althouse and Heather Laird; and his grandparents Mrs. Howard Dodson and Donald and Rosemary McEldowney.

A United States veteran, beloved father, husband and family member, Jake Laird will be deeply missed. His strength and service to his country and community will be remembered always by all whom he inspired and loved.

The citizens of Indianapolis extend our heartfelt gratitude for his sacrifice and dedication to public service.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, one of my favorite passages is that all good and perfect gifts come from on high, and we are here today to renew a celebration of a President on the occasion of his 58th birthday, William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of the United States.

What I admire most about President Clinton, he was an extraordinary individual who related very well to ordinary people, and the ordinary people of this world loved Bill Clinton.

He was born on August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas, and began a record of stellar public service to the country and humanity as a very young man.

President Clinton's administration would be noted for the creation of 22 million jobs, the rallying of international support to stop the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, and reaffirming U.S. recognition of Africa as a continent of the birthplace of humanity with many countries, cultures and vast potentials.

I had the privilege of going to Africa with Mr. Clinton and saw his concern and compassion for the women and children and men who were battling AIDS and saw how he has made the battle against AIDS and HIV a focal point of his foundation's activities, which does not surprise me.

I want to say to the President, in the event that he receives this video message of his colleagues in the United States House of Representatives, I wish you a rapid recovery. You, unlike me, knew what you were going into as an open heart surgery recipient. I did not know it and was not fast enough to have it explained to me. I just got it, and I want to wish you well. I am so happy it turned out for you as well as it did, and God bless.

Mr. Speaker, on the 40th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, let those who lived through that time recall and celebrate its powerful role in changing our lives and the life of our Nation by sharing that knowledge with those who came after. As we do so, let us remember that a major impact of that law was to give strength to ordinary people so that they might do extraordinary things to change the way the nation worked, responding with smoother voices and firmer advocacy for the civil rights of everyone, bringing about a broad expansion of equal opportunity across the life of the nation.

Mr. Speaker, on the 40th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, now is an especially appropriate time to acknowledge and commend the historic contributions of a great civil rights fighter, The Reverend Doctor Joseph E. Lowery.

Dr. Lowery is the Co-founder, President Emeritus, Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Chairman Emeritus, Black Leadership Forum, Inc. and Convener of the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda (GEPA).

As co-founder with Martin Luther King, Jr., of the SCLC in 1957; Dr. Lowery served as vice president (1957-67); chairman of the board (1967- 77); and as president and chief executive officer from Feb. 1977-Jan. 15, 1998. Dr. King named him chairman of the delegation to take demands of the Selma-to-Montgomery March (1965) to Gov. George Wallace. Wallace had ordered the marchers beaten (``Bloody Sunday'') but apologized to Lowery in 1995 as he led the 30th anniversary re-enactment of the historic march, which led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

His genesis as a civil rights advocate was in the early `50s in Mobile, AL where he headed the Alabama Civic Affairs Association, which led the movement for the desegregation of buses and public accommodations. While in Mobile, his property was seized by the Alabama courts in an historic libel suit: Sullivan v. NYTimes, Abernathy, Lowery, Shuttlesworth, & Seay. The U.S. Supreme Court vindicated the ministers in a landmark ruling on libel (Read Make No Law by Anthony Lewis, 1964)

Lowery led the historic Alabama to Washington pilgrimage (1982) to free Maggie Bozeman and Julia Wilder, falsely convicted of voter fraud. This march helped gain the extension of provisions of the Voting Rights Act to 2007. Nationally recognized as a strong proponent of affirmative action, he also led the movement in Nashville to desegregate public accommodations. In Birmingham, he served as president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, which spearheaded the hiring of Birmingham's first black police officers, etc. As a United Methodist minister, he was elected as delegate to three General Conferences, and presided over an Annual Conference (acting bishop in 1966.

He is co-founder and chairman emeritus of the Black leadership Forum, a consortium of national black advocacy organizations, and served as third president following Vernon Jordan and Benjamin Hooks. As president of SCLC, he negotiated covenants with major corporations for employment advances and business contracts with minority companies. One of the first protest campaigns he led was against the Atlanta based Southern Company

for contracting to purchase ten million tons of coal from South Africa (12977). He was among the first five persons arrested at the South African Embassy in Washington, D.C. in the ``Free South Africa'' campaign (1984). He co-chaired the 1990 Nelson Mandela visit to Atlanta following his release from prison and awarded Mandela the SCLC/Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Award. He was keynote speaker at the African Renaissance Dinner in Durban in 1998 honoring Mandela's retirement. He was invited to keynote the dedication of a school and hospital in East Germany honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. He led a peace delegation to the Middle East and met with the president of Lebanon and Yassir Arafat to seek justice in the Middle East by non- violent means. He led protests against the dumping of toxic waste in Warrenton County, N.C., and was arrested twice in this campaign which gave birth to the environmental justice movement.

He served on the board of directors of MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) for 23 years and was chairman for three years (during the '96 Olympics), and was instrumental in securing millions in contracts for minority businesses. Since retiring from the pulpit in 1997 and SCLC in January 1998, he has helped black farmers secure a federal court decree valued at $2 billion against the Department of Agriculture for discrimination. He assisted black auto dealers to seek redress from discrimination claims against auto manufacturers. He has supported black concert promoters in their fight against exclusionary policies of talent agencies. As convener of the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda (CPA), he is active in election reform and voter empowerment, economic justice, criminal justice reform, including alternative sentencing and a moratorium on the death penalty.

He is married to Evelyn Gibson Lowery, an activist in her own right, founder of SCLC/WOMEN and is the father of five children.

Lowery has received numerous awards, including an NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award and the Martin Luther King Center Peace Award. Essence has twice named him as one of the Fifteen Greatest Black Preachers. Lowery is married to Evelyn Gibson Lowery, an activist in her own right.