Kendrick B. Meek

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mr. Speaker, Jesse McCrary was an outstanding American, and I believe the chair did a very fine job in outlining his track record of what he was able to accomplish on behalf of not only this country, but of the State of Florida. He was a trailblazer in the first of many areas, a barrister of all barristers in the State of Florida, his memory being one of creating organizations for those who walked the trail that he actually made.

He started at the Wilkie Ferguson Bar Association, which is in south Florida. It is a place for young African American lawyers who join the legal field in the south Florida area. It is a place where they can go and share notes and can talk about experiences. They also receive professional advice from those who came before them.

Jesse McCrary was an American who believed in serving. Even though he was a legal eagle, he took time to talk to people in the public defender's office. He took time to talk to young lawyers in the State attorney's office. He took time to talk to 501(c)(3) lawyers and to share with them the importance of the legal community.

So I am very honored that we are moving this legislation forward to recognize his memory and enshrine it in south Florida, and I know the south Florida community will be forever grateful of the House of Representatives' endorsement of his memory and of his purpose.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize and honor Reverend Herman C. McCray, Jr., an anchor throughout the Palm Beach County community who has continued to be a living example of the ideals of community service. On September 25, 2010, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners will hold a Bridge Dedication Ceremony for the ``Herman McCray Jr. Bridge.''

A native Floridian, Reverend McCray was born in West Palm Beach and graduated from Roosevelt High School. Upon graduation, he joined the United States Armed Services, 101st Airborne Division. Once Reverend McCray returned home, he attended Palm Beach Junior College, which is now Palm Beach Community College. He received religious training from Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Theology.

Reverend McCray became an anchor in both the West Palm Beach community where he grew up and the Riviera Beach community where he moved once he married his wife of 47 years, Lillian. The couple has three sons. Reverend McCray and his family joined Greater Bethel Primitive Baptist Church and have remained members for more than 40 years. In 1992, Reverend McCray was ordained a Minister and has served as Assistant Pastor of Greater Bethel for more than 10 years. Under his leadership, the church has sponsored many ministries and provided services that deal with issues affecting the lives of people in all age groups.

As a former Supervisor of Sanitation for the City of Riviera Beach, Reverend McCray brought great changes to his community. In the State of Florida, he was the first and only African-American to hold this position. He was also the first African-American to be employed as a ticket agent for the Greyhound Bus Company.

In an effort to complement his professional achievements, Reverend McCray operated McCray's Barbeque Restaurant in Riviera Beach where he prepared and distributed--free of charge--dinners and other meals to the sick and shut-in, homeless, elderly and other disadvantaged individuals. He has also volunteered with incarcerated men and women by giving self-enhancement messages. For more than 47 years, Reverend McCray has been a member of the Youth of Recreation Association of Riviera Beach. During this time, he served as president of the organization. Working with the Imperial Men's Club, he organized the Young Entrepreneurs, teaching students from Suncoast High Community School the art of establishing their own business. Because Reverend McCray has been a driving force in the fight for civil and equal rights for citizens in Palm Beach County, he has been listed in Blacks in Social Change in the South by University of Florida Professor Jim Button. He was also elected to Palm Beach County Biracial Committee and the Riviera Beach City Council.

Moreover, Reverend McCray has received numerous awards and recognitions such as: Business Man of the Year from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; the Westboro Business and Professional Women's Club; and Senior Citizen on the Year from the Martin Luther King Coordinating Committee.

Madam Speaker and my colleagues, I ask that you join me in honoring Reverend Herman C. McCray, Jr., a humble public servant, a true beacon of hope and a guiding light in the Palm Beach County community. He is an outstanding American worthy of our collective honor and appreciation. It is with deep respect and admiration that I commend Reverend McCray for dedicating his life to the community, and I thank him for his exceptional leadership.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I strongly urge all of my colleagues here in a bipartisan way to support the NASA Authorization Act of 2010. As the chairman mentioned, there are issues in this authorization bill that could be better. But I can tell you right now, there are a number of individuals that are involved in the space industry and also those hardworking men and women that are working as subcontractors and are looking for some direction from this Congress.

I want to commend Senator Nelson of Florida for being a leader, taking the very best of the administration's proposal and putting it in to work so that we can pass it in time to promote not only commercial and crew cargo as it relates to space exploration but also save the Kennedy Space Center and other NASA assets throughout the country. I think it's important. This makes our country very strong. And if not now, then when? I stand, Mr. Chairman, in full support of this bill. I ask all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in making sure that we pass this very important authorization bill. Americans are counting on our leadership.