Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair, Chair Takano, for yielding time. I thank the ranking member, along with you and the entire Committee on Veterans' Affairs for all the work that you do in support of our Nation's veterans and, of course, this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague, Drew Ferguson, in offering this legislation to honor the former mayor of Columbus, Georgia, Colonel Robert Stephen ``Bob'' Poydasheff, Sr.

The naming of this VA clinic in Columbus for Bob Poydasheff honors a great champion of veterans, an exceptional soldier, a distinguished public servant, and a dear friend.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans, and it is cosponsored by every single member of the Georgia congressional delegation.

Sadly, Bob passed away last year on September 24. He was a native of the Bronx, New York, and he was born with an innate determination to excel, which was apparent in virtually every single aspect of his life. He served honorably in the United States Army for 24 years, and he retired at the rank of colonel.

He began his distinguished military career as an infantry officer, serving one combat tour in Vietnam before transferring to the Judge Advocate General's Corps.

In recognition of his service to our country, he received the Vietnam Ribbon, the Legion of Merit, and the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He was also elected to the Ranger Hall of Fame, located at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Following his military service, Bob Poydasheff made Columbus, Georgia, his permanent home. Through his leadership, first as a member of the city council, then as mayor of the city, Columbus experienced extraordinary growth and prosperity.

He was a longtime advocate working on behalf of disadvantaged veterans, including supporting the location of the new VA clinic in Columbus, which this bill will name in his honor. Bob will be missed, but his legacy will live on through the lives of veterans who will be helped at this clinic.

It has been said that you make your living by what you get, you make your life by what you give. Robert S. ``Bob'' Poydasheff gave so much to so many for so long, and this clinic memorializes his legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me and my colleague, from Georgia, Drew Ferguson, the entire Georgia delegation, the VFW, the American Legion, the DAV, in supporting this bill to name the new community-based outpatient VA clinic in Columbus, Georgia, the Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary leader, soldier, veteran, and dedicated civil servant, SFC (Ret.) Joseph F. Kyles, who most recently retired from an impressive career with the United States Postal Service spanning almost three decades. He was honored at a retirement event on Saturday, August 7, 2021, at 6 p.m. at the Columbus Civic Center.

Joseph Frenchman Kyles was born in Sampson, Alabama on July 26, 1950, to the union of Nathaniel and Corine Kyles as the oldest of seven children. He is the loving husband of Minister Nila Kyles, the father of four children, and the grandfather of five grandchildren.

In 1972, Joseph Kyles answered the call to serve his nation and joined the United States Army. During his distinguished 20-year career in the U.S. Army, he became a non-commissioned officer retiring at the rank of Sergeant First Class. During his Army career, he served at Fort Benning in the Harmony Church area (specializing in Engineering, Weapon Night Firing, Leadership Training, and Tactical Training Maneuvers) and completed various overseas duties and assignments before retiring in 1992. To further hone his skills, he attended Columbus Technical College to obtain a degree in Engineering, Leadership, and Tactics Training.

Following his retirement from the U.S. Army, SFC (Ret.) Kyles built quite an impressive public service career with the United States Postal Service (USPS), beginning in 1992, when he started as a mail clerk. Over the span of 29 years, he served in several other capacities with USPS including mail handler, mail carrier, and mail truck driver.

Also, following his military service, he continued to serve his community and make an impact in the lives of others. His contributions include serving and financially supporting youth through Little League Football and Softball; Lonnie Jackson Academy Tutorial program; South Columbus Coalition; South Columbus Exchange Club; Youth of the Year program; and The House Of Refuge Ministry with his wife and son, Darian Hall, who is the pastor. He has also served as mentor and financial supporter for his fellow Veterans by assisting and transporting veterans to and from appointments, helping them acquire benefits and receive medical supplies for life endurance following their military service.

Douglas Adams once said that ``To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.'' SFC (Ret.) Joseph F. Kyles has demonstrated through his career and life, outstanding achievement, service, and public distinction. Our community, our state, and our nation are better because of him. In honor of his commendable accomplishments and years of service, B.H. ``Skip'' Henderson III, Mayor of Columbus, Georgia, signed a proclamation declaring August 7, 2021 as ``Joseph Frenchman Kyles Day''.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 residents of the Second Congressional District in honoring and commending SFC (Ret.) Joseph Frenchman Kyles for his outstanding service to his nation, community, and humankind as well as upon the occasion of his retirement from the United States Postal Service. We extend our best wishes to him as he begins a new chapter in his life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated community leader, an outstanding Man of God, and a dear friend of longstanding, Pastor Chad D. Bryant who is retiring and celebrating his 40th anniversary as the distinguished pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia. An anniversary worship service will be held on Sunday, August 8, 2021 at 3 p.m. at the church located at 3601 Yeomans Street in Columbus, Georgia.

A native son of Columbus, Georgia, Pastor Chad D. Bryant was born to the late William Bryant, Sr. and Mattie Bryant. Pastor Bryant began his Christian journey after accepting Jesus at the age of 8. At the age of 16, he confessed a calling to the preaching ministry and by 18, he was ordained--all of which happened under the tutelage of the late Reverend C.C. Cloud of New Providence Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia. Pastor Bryant received his grade school education in the public schools of Columbus, Georgia before graduating from Spencer High School in 1974. He then went on to attend Morris Brown College, where he studied Sociology with an emphasis in Psychology. He also received a certificate in Church Administration and the Old and New Testaments from the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Columbus, Georgia.

In addition to being the beloved pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and a founding active member of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc., he has also served as Assistant Pastor of Galilee Baptist Church; Associate Minister of Greater Beallwood and New Providence Baptist Churches in Columbus Georgia; a former instructor of the American Baptist College Extension Center; Assistant Director-General and Director-General for the Congress of Christian Education; and President and Dean of the Fourth District Congress of Christian Education under the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc.

George Washington Carver once said, ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Pastor Bryant has gone far in life because his everlasting faith in the Lord is a vivid testimony of His greatness to all whom he encounters. His love and commitment to Christ are reflected in his compassionate and considerate leadership, which makes him a guiding light within the community. He is a humble man who always puts himself in the shoes of others. It has been said that, ``The true person of success is not the person that climbs the ladder of this life with one hand, but climbs the ladder of this life with two hands and reaches back with the other.'' Pastor Bryant has always climbed the ladder of life with an eye towards helping others to reach their full potential, both spiritually and socially.

On a personal level, Pastor Bryant has been a friend and supporter for many, many years, and his friendship, advice, and counsel have always been valued by me. I am grateful and honored to be able to call him my friend.

Today I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the congregation of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, and the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District in honoring and commending Pastor Chad D. Bryant on his outstanding career and upon the occasion of his retirement. We wish him well as he begins a new chapter in his life.

Madam Speaker, it is with deep gratitude and great admiration that I rise today to honor and commend an extraordinary public servant, husband, and friend of long standing, Mr. Michael Joseph Reed. Michael, my Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor, will be retiring from federal public service effective August 3, 2021. He will leave behind a stellar career and a void in my office that will be hard to fill. A retirement reception will be held for him at 5:00 p.m. on July 28, 2021 in Washington, D.C., attended by numerous friends, family, colleagues, and others with whom his life and career have intersected.

Michael Joseph Reed is a native of Buffalo, N.Y. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. He also earned a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Michael's career in public service began as a Presidential Management Intern (PMI) at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Budget Policy. This experience led him to his first Capitol Hill position as an intern for former Congressman Louis Stokes of Ohio, who was a member of the House Appropriations Committee. After leaving Congressman Stokes, he joined the staff of Congressman William Gray, Chairman of the House Budget Committee and a member of the Appropriations Committee, as Legislative Director.

After leaving Congressman Gray's office, he was Vice-President for Marketing at the United Negro College Fund. He was also the Director of Regional Card Marketing and Vice-President for Government Affairs for the American Express Company.

In 2003, when I was selected to serve on the House Appropriations Committee and was searching for a seasoned Appropriations Specialist and Legislative Policy Advisor, I was blessed to hire Michael as my Special Assistant for the Appropriations Committee. He served in that capacity for twelve (12) years until he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff in 2011 and Chief of Staff in 2015.

For eighteen (18) years, I have been matriculating in ``The Michael Reed School of Budgetary Policy.'' He has been a master teacher of the process and its nuances. While he initially had no working knowledge of agriculture issues, he worked hard to learn these issues and used his skills to help my growth and effectiveness in the Agriculture Subcommittee of Appropriations and facilitate my securing the Chairmanship. Michael drove the Congressional response in the form of agriculture disaster relief over the past three (3) years to include typhoons, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, droughts, and other exigencies. Georgia and American Agriculture were able to get relief because of his significant work. Georgia agriculture producers and rural communities benefited mightily from his efforts. Michael led my staff with great aplomb. He never told me only what I wanted to hear but always told me what I needed to hear. Because of him, we have been able to serve the people better.

Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said, ``Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on this earth.'' Michael has paid his rent and paid it well.

Having served in the public sector, corporate sector, and the nonprofit sector, he has truly made a difference. But none of this would have been possible without the grace of God, the love and support of his loving wife, Attorney Diane Fields Reed, his father-in-law, Judge Richard Fields, and their beloved dog, Alexandra.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives, to join my wife, Vivian and me, along with our entire Congressional staff, past and present, and the 730,000 residents of the Second Congressional District of Georgia in honoring and commending Mr. Michael Joseph Reed on his outstanding career and upon the occasion of his retirement. We wish him well as he begins a new chapter in his life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate India on its 75th Independence Day, which will be celebrated this year on August 15. On that date, its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed that his country, in casting off its British rule, had ``made a tryst with destiny.'' He said that ``[at] the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance . . .''

Of course, India's history stretches back thousands and thousands of years. Its civilization and its contributions to the world are countless--from literature to philosophy to mathematics. India today is continuing in that tradition by extending a hand to other nations in their fight against the pandemic as the country itself manages its own severe COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, Indian Americans are making countless contributions here in the United States as doctors, lawyers, scientists, business owners, artists, and even in the White House in the person of Vice President Kamala Harris whose mother was Indian.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that India's own struggle for independence greatly influenced the United States' own civil rights movement. America's civil rights leaders, from Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King to my late colleague and friend Congressman John Lewis, were inspired by the revered leader of Indian independence Mahatma Gandhi. They followed in his footsteps by embracing Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent approach to achieving social and political justice.

In fact, when Dr. King left for India in February 1959, he was just beginning to make his mark as a leader of the national movement for civil rights. He had organized the successful boycott of Montgomery, Alabama's public transportation system in 1955, and founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference two years later. His burgeoning success had provided his non-violent movement with the momentum and potential to become a truly powerful force in the pursuit of equal rights for all Americans. This momentum became entrenched during Dr. King's trip to India, where his immersion in the world of Mahatma Gandhi's own non-violent success led King to commit himself in his philosophical entirety to the principle of meeting hate and injustice with persistent non-violence.

Though Gandhi had passed away eleven years prior to Dr. King's journey, King was no less attentive to the followers of the great shanti sena--the ``non-violent army'' that Gandhi led in his successful effort to free his country from the grasp of colonialism. He encountered those who had stood with Gandhi through the long, arduous struggle for India's sovereignty, and came to deeply understand the necessary commitment and purpose of which believers in non-violence must never lose sight. Dr. King came to believe that if India can assert its independence from the bonds of the British Empire without violence, then the United States of America can achieve racial equality with the same approach. He took the lessons of a people half a world away and applied them to the struggle of his own nation, illustrating that a righteous cause pursued by means which justify its ends holds universal promise. Perhaps it is best articulated by Dr. King himself: ``As I delved deeper into the philosophy of Gandhi, my skepticism concerning the power of love gradually diminished, and I came to see for the first time its potency in the area of social reform.''

India and the United States share many deep and historic ties. I want to congratulate India and its people on the 75th Anniversary of its independence. I wish it many more years of peace and prosperity.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

I rise in support of H.R. 4502. As chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am pleased to highlight the national priorities that are funded in our division.

First, I would like to thank our distinguished ranking member, Mr. Fortenberry, and the entire subcommittee for their continued bipartisan cooperation.

The jurisdiction of our bill is far-reaching and touches the lives of every citizen, and while we may disagree on matters of policy from time to time, agriculture, rural development, the safety of our food and drugs, and the livability and sustainability of our ecosystems here and across the globe are indeed bipartisan concerns, and we truly approach our work collaboratively to achieve the greater good for our country and humanity.

However, our FY22 allocation is $26.55 billion, which is $2.85 billion over the fiscal year 2021.

The bill addresses three key priorities:

First, it ensures equitable participation in USDA programs.

Second, it addresses the impacts of climate change.

Third, it reinvests in staff and leadership offices at USDA.

The bill provides $4.7 billion for rural development initiatives, including more than $900 million for broadband expansion to provide economic development opportunities and improved education and healthcare services in rural communities. The bill continues important funding for the Community Facilities Program that supports everything from libraries and fire stations to childcare centers and nursing homes.

The bill provides $2.9 billion in farm and conservation programs, $3.4 billion for agricultural research including a significant increase for the 1890 land-grant institutions, $1.74 billion for Food for Peace grants, and $245 million for the McGovern-Dole program, both in support of our diplomacy.

Food insecurity continues to hurt millions of Americans. Our bill fully funds the SNAP, WIC, and child nutrition programs and helps increase access to healthy, nutritious food.

The Food and Drug Administration is funded at $3.47 billion in discretionary funding, with increases that help combat the opioid crisis, rare cancers, foodborne outbreaks, and heavy metals in baby food.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my personal staff, Michael Reed, Tynesha Boomer, and Danny Giddings; and the subcommittee staff, Martha Foley, Diem-Linh Jones, Perry Yates, Joe Layman, Randy Staples, Justin Masucci, and Echo Domingues for their hard work on the bill.

Also, I would like to thank Tom O'Brien from the minority staff. And, of course, I thank Chair DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger for their tremendous leadership.

Madam Speaker, I want to give a special shout out to Michael Reed, who is retiring as my chief of staff and senior policy advisor for appropriations after 18 years of extraordinary service. We thank him mightily for his service, for his monumental contributions to Georgia's Second District, and we wish him well as he enters the next chapter of his life.

I am proud of this division and the entire bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it. It is a good bill. It is good for America.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and admiration that I rise today to honor and commend an extraordinary public servant, wife, mother, political operative and friend to many, The Honorable Vivian Creighton Bishop, upon her retirement as the elected Clerk of The Municipal Court of Columbus, Georgia. Ms. Bishop retired on December 31, 2020 after 28 years of distinguished service. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a retirement celebration was delayed and combined with a belated birthday party that was held at 6:30 pm on July 23, 2021 at Warehouse Nine, 920 9th Street, Columbus, Georgia.

Vivian Francine Creighton was born July 9, 1951 to the late Frank Richard Creighton and Evelyn Rushin Creighton at Martin Army Hospital, Fort Benning, Georgia. Because her father was a career noncommissioned officer in the United States Army, she and her older sister, Jacqueline and her younger brother Frank, Jr. as military dependents lived and traveled in multiple places across the United States and abroad. Vivian graduated high school in Wurzburg, Germany, but frequently during her childhood and adolescence, the family lived in Columbus, Georgia where she and her siblings would attend school. Following graduation in 1969, she was accepted to the University of Maryland Campus in Wurzburg but had to withdraw when her father received orders for Viet Nam. She attended Columbus Technical College, Atlanta Junior College and Georgia State University. After perfect scores on the Georgia State Merit Exams she secured employment in Atlanta with the Department of Family and Childrens' Services and later with the Georgia State Department of Education where she managed Human Resources for Georgia Public Television.

In 1999 she married Meldon Owens and they produced a daughter, Aayesha. They moved to Columbus where she was hired as an Accounting Clerk in Operations and Purchasing at Jack T. Rutledge State Prison where she rose through the ranks to become comptroller at the Prison, being among the first African Americans and females to do so at the Georgia Department of Corrections. Although her marriage ended in divorce, she worked hard in her career and was named Georgia Department of Corrections ``Employee of the Year for Administrative Support'' after she developed an innovative program for managing inmate accounts that was utilized system wide. After 16 years, Vivian left State government to become an entrepreneur, opening a gift and flower shop, ``Baskets of Delight.''

In 1992, Vivian was asked by a friend who was a victim of domestic violence to go with her to get a warrant from the Municipal Court of Columbus, Georgia. Witnessing the rude treatment she was receiving from Court employees, Vivian questioned their conduct and was told that if she did not like the way the office was being run she should run for it herself. And run she did. Vivian Creighton was elected countywide and became the first African American female to win countywide office in Muscogee County, Georgia--a position she held for 28 years. As Clerk she reorganized the office to maximize customer service, promote efficiency and achieved flawless audits with special recognition noted to City Council regarding her exit audit. During her years as Clerk she was loved and respected by all who used the court as being competent, kind, compassionate and helpful.

In 2001, Vivian Creighton married yours truly, Congressman Sanford Bishop, after a long courtship. We recently celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary, having survived as a political couple in spite of conflicting views. She was Co-Chair of the Georgia Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign and I was Co-Chair of the Georgia Barack Obama Presidential Campaign. In her own right she helped elect countless state and local officials including me, mentored others and is constantly sought out for political advice and counsel.

Vivian was elected President of the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses. She was the first Georgian and the only African American elected President of the prestigious Congressional Club, the Congressionally Chartered bi-partisan organization of the spouses of members of Congress, ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices, and Cabinet secretaries. She chaired the annual ``First Lady's Luncheon'' with First Lady Michelle Obama. Moreover, she raised over$ I million for the National March of Dimes Gala and won top awards as a celebrity chef.

On the local level Vivian has been active in numerous groups, including NAACP, Rotary Club, Girls Inc., The Links, Inc., American Cancer Society, Muscogee Democratic Party and more. She is a longtime member of M.L. Harris United Methodist Church although she regularly attends Mount Zion Baptist Church of Albany, Georgia wherein I am a Deacon.

Vivian has accomplished much in her life but it would not have been possible without the continuous love and support of her family-- daughter, Aayesha; granddaughter, Londyn; sister, Jacqueline, nieces, nephews, cousins and legions of friends, all of whom love her dearly. And beyond the shadow of a doubt, she is the love of my life.

It has been said that ``Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on this earth.'' Vivian Creighton Bishop has paid her rent and paid it well. She has done so much for so many for so long.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues of the House of Representatives join me, along with the more 730,000 people of the 2nd Congressional District in honoring and commending The Honorable Vivian Creighton Bishop for her outstanding career of public service and her many contributions to her community, her State and this nation. Best wishes to her as she enters this new chapter of her life.

Madam Speaker, this month marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of our dear friend and beloved colleague John Lewis. Sadly, while we reflect upon his legacy, there are efforts underway in State Houses across the nation to turn back the clock and erect barriers to voter participation in elections.

We all know that the premise behind these efforts is a lie--namely, that the 2020 election was stolen and that there was rampant voter fraud. In my home state of Georgia, these falsehoods led to the passage and ultimate enactment of Senate Bill 202, which was given the misleading name, ``the Georgia Civics Renewal Act.'' The lie also provided the impetus for the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6.

The measures being put forward in states like Georgia reduce voter access to the polls under the guise of protecting the vote. Georgia's SB 202 limits drop boxes, imposes ID requirements on absentee voting, restricts early voting on weekends, allows state officials to circumvent the work of election officials if they do not like the results they are seeing, and even makes it a crime to offer food and water to voters waiting in line.

It is a ruse that disproportionately impacts voters whose voices have too often been silenced. Why? Because those voices--African American voices in Georgia--made all the difference in 2020.

The integrity of our elections is enhanced by greater voter participation--not less. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, ``voting is the foundation stone of political action.''

Earlier this year, I co-sponsored H.R. 1, For the People Act, which is a voting and elections bill that protects access, promotes the creation of fairer districts, and supports public financing of campaigns. The legislation passed the House on March 3 by a vote of 220 to 210.

I also supported H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Enhancement Act, which the House had approved last Congress.

H.R. 4 is intended to fix the enforcement provisions of the original Voting Rights Act that were gutted by the Supreme Court in the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision.

The Court's conservative majority held that the formula for determining whether jurisdictions were subject to the law's Justice Department pre-clearance procedure for voting and election changes by state and local governments were outdated. This mostly focused on southern states with a long history of racially discriminatory voter suppression.

Contrary to the court's opinion and since then, hundreds of bills across several state legislatures have been proposed that would make access to the ballot box increasingly difficult for many people--more so for communities of color, students, seniors, and disabled people. Some of these bills have become law.

In many cases, those who are rolling back access to the vote are also involved in the decennial redistricting process in which congressional and state legislative maps will be set until 2032.

These are precisely the kind of decisions the Justice Department was able to scrutinize under the pre-Shelby County Voting Rights Act.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Enhancement Act will rectify this wrong and fine-tune that

formula so that the Supreme Court cannot strike it down again.

Madam Speaker, I know that John Lewis is looking down upon us now. If he were here with us today, I know that he would be on the House floor tonight and would be imploring us in that booming voice of his to continue the fight for voting rights to which he devoted his life and career.

It is the same fight for which he endured unspeakable brutality while attempting to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on the march from Selma to Montgomery. We cannot turn back now.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor, commend and extend personal congratulations to my friend of longstanding and my brother in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Coach Bobby L. Wright. Coach Wright, the beloved and renowned former Head Coach and Athletic Director at Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama, recently retired after 44 years as a highly respected coach, mentor and consultant. A retirement celebration was held in his honor on Friday, July 2, 2021 at Green Island Country Club in Columbus, Georgia.

Bobby L. Wright graduated from Buena Vista High School in Marion County, Georgia in 1970 and from Fort Valley State College (now Fort Valley State University) in 1974. The following year, he began his stellar teaching and coaching careers at Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia serving as the Head Coach for track and Assistant Coach for football and basketball. In 1977, he was recruited and hired across the Chattahoochee River at Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama where he taught, coached, and chaired the Health and Physical Education Department. There, for 12 years he served as an Assistant Coach under the tutelage of famed Coach James Redd before taking over as the Head Coach.

During his impressive 32-year tenure as Head Coach for the Central High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team, ``The Red Devils'' he amassed an incredible record of achievement: 4 State Championship game appearances; 8 semi-final appearances; 26 playoff appearances; and winning 8 region titles and 23 area titles. Coach Wright had a 671-221 won-loss record with his 600th win being against archrival Auburn High School in 2017. Concurrently, he served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Central High School football team for 26 years, including in 1993 when they won the Alabama State High School Football Championship title. In addition to that, Coach Wright served as the school's Athletic Director from 1998 until his retirement earlier this year.

Aristotle once said, ``Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.'' Coach Wright was an educator of both. He is rooted in the belief that children need tough love as well as encouragement. As such, he was known for his discipline-first approach when coaching basketball, football, and track. He used this firm coaching style to motivate the athletes under his direction to do their best and met them with laughter and support even if they missed the mark.

Coach Wright has received countless awards and commendations for his achievements and accomplishments as a coach and educator, including a resolution on January 21, 2021 approved by the Phenix City Alabama Board of Education honoring his long and exemplary service to the Phenix City School system. But none is more impressive than his 2014 induction into the Alabama High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Coach Wright has accomplished much in his life but none of it would have been possible without the grace of God; the love and support of his wife of almost three decades, Carolyn; his family, students and the communities in Georgia and Alabama, to which he has given so much.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District, in extending our sincerest appreciation, our heartfelt congratulations and our best wishes to Coach Bobby L. Wright upon the occasion of his retirement after an outstanding 44 years impacting the lives of the countless people he has touched.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary public servant, wife, mother and dear friend of longstanding to many, the Honorable Evelyn Wright Turner Pugh. Sadly, Ms. Pugh passed away on Saturday, July 10, 2021. A memorial celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 am, Monday July 19, 2021 at Revelation Baptist Church, 203 R.C. Allen Drive, Columbus, Georgia.

A native of Columbus, Evelyn Wright was born on June 23, 1950 to the late Willie ``Son'' Wright and Mary Pearl Haynes. She attended George Washington Carver High School, graduating in 1968. Upon graduation she married Marcus ``Pancho'' Turner and they had 2 sons, Marcus Deon and Maurice. Determined to prepare herself for an amazing career, she attended Columbus College (now Columbus State University) where she received her Associate's degree in Secretarial Science, a Bachelor's in Management/Accounting and a Master's in Business Administration. Beginning her career as a secretary at Columbus College and Progressive Funeral Home she earned her tuition and was mentored by Columbus icon, Mr. George Washington Ford, being inspired by his example of selfless service in helping others.

Evelyn gained employment at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia and rose quickly through the ranks holding a plethora of positions ranging from entry level to managerial across a span of 30 years. In 1999 she was appointed Vice President of Sun Trust Bank, West Georgia, a position she held until her retirement from the banking industry in 2012.

When her marriage ended in divorce, she successfully managed her roles as mother and business executive but felt a calling to serve her community. Growing out of a group of young adults concerned about conditions in the Columbus community, ``People For A Cause'', Evelyn offered herself for public office and in 1988 was elected to the City Council of Columbus where she served for 30 years, 14 as Mayor Pro Tem, working to improve the quality of life for the people of Columbus.

Due to her strong leadership and dedication to public service, she was selected for numerous other responsibilities. She was appointed by Governor Zell Miller to the Georgia Policy Council on Children and Families; to the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government Advisory Committee; and the Mental Health Mental Retardation Substance Abuse Funding Study Committee. She was appointed Chair of the National League of Cities' Public Safety and Crime Prevention Steering Committee, working with U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno on the use of grants from the Community Oriented Policing Services Program; was elected Georgia Chair of Women in Municipal Government; President of the Georgia Municipal Association and Board of Directors of the National League of Cities.

And if that was not enough, she continued service on local boards, including the Board of Directors of Girls, Inc.; St. Francis Hospital; Columbus Technical College; Liberty Theater and Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation. She was a faithful member of the Columbus Chapter of The Links, Inc.; and Columbus Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., serving as Treasurer and Financial Secretary. She was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award, among other distinguished honors, including being named by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia's top public servants. Moreover, she served as Treasurer for my political campaign committees, both State and Federal, for over 4 decades and was a trusted friend.

Evelyn was a devoted sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, mentor and friend to many. She poured herself into her sons, Deon and Maurice. She found love later in life, married the late Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Reginald Pugh

and lovingly embraced her new blended family, including Reggie, Jr., Tijuana and Talender. She was proud of all of her grandchildren and doted in their every achievement.

Evelyn loved God and served him throughout her life in various capacities through Holsey Chapel CME Church, Fourth Street Baptist Church and Revelation Baptist Church.

Shirley Chisholm often said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space we occupy on this earth''. Evelyn paid her rent and she paid it well. She gave so much to so many for so long and continued until she could give no more. Columbus, the State of Georgia, our nation and all those whose lives she touched are better because of her.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join my wife Vivian and me, along with the residents of the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia in paying tribute to The Honorable Evelyn Wright Turner Pugh for her service and in extending our deepest condolences to her family, friends and all who mourn her loss. Moreover, we pray that we will all be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Madam Speaker, this June, we celebrate Pride Month in solidarity with our fellow Americans, and world citizens, who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer, also known as the LGBTQ community. We celebrate the courage it takes for LGBTQ people to openly and freely be their true selves, and we celebrate to show them compassion and understanding, even if they have not yet made the decision to affirm their identity publicly.

The struggle to attain full equality for LGBTQ Americans is far from over, but we can take solace in recent triumphs: the repeal of ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'' Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage in the United States, Bostock v. Clayton County, GA, which prohibited employment discrimination based on sex or sexual orientation, and President Biden's lifting of the ban on Transgender people from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

But also, during this Pride Month, we must not forget the struggles that lie ahead for the LGBTQ community--most notably, attaining the right to live freely, with equal protection of the laws and without fear of violence or persecution. For many LGBTQ people, especially those of color, this dream is not yet within reach. I implore those Americans that face adversity for their sex or sexual orientation not to despair; as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. paraphrased the words of the abolitionist Theodore Parker, `the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.'

It is incumbent upon each and every one of us living in this country to extend the kindness and respect to our neighbor that we, in turn, would wish to receive. LGBTQ Americans live and work in every city and county in our nation. They live in communities that are rural, urban, suburban and everything in between. They are a diverse community that spans all races, ethnicities, nations, and creeds, but they all have one thing in common--they were created by God and in his image.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my personal congratulations to an extraordinary man, leader, soldier, veteran, and true national treasure, Colonel Ralph Puckett, Jr. USA (ret.). On Friday, May 21, 2021, Colonel Puckett was awarded the Medal of Honor, our Nation's most prestigious military award, by President Joseph R. Biden for his valiant and commendable service to his nation. A dinner congratulating him on this momentous achievement will be held at The National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Georgia on Friday, June 18, 2021 at 6pm.

Before receiving this momentous honor, the Tifton, Georgia native had already established an impressive career in the U.S. military. Colonel Ralph Puckett, Jr. graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1949. Assigned as an Infantry Lieutenant to occupation duty in Japan, he volunteered for the Eighth U.S. Army Ranger Company when the Korean War began. On November 25, 1950, the then-First Lieutenant began a multiday operation with the Eighth Army Ranger Company, a company of 51 U.S. and nine South Korean soldiers, against a plethora of Chinese troops on Hill 205. During the initial daylight assault, Colonel Puckett exposed himself to enemy fire, rallying pinned down U.S. troops to advance and take the hill from its defenders. In the following hours, temperatures dropped, and the Chinese attempted to retake the hill and Col. Puckett radioed in an artillery strike to stop the enemy's advance. Over the course of six brutal enemy attacks, Colonel Puckett incurred severe wounds on his left shoulder, feet, thighs, and buttocks. Although severely injured, he was still able to command his company and call on artillery to avert enemy attacks, before being carried to safety by two of his troops.

Colonel Puckett was originally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at Hill 205, but John Lock, a retired U.S. Army officer, and assistant professor at the U.S. Military Academy, discovered Colonel Puckett's story and believed it met the criteria to be awarded our nation's most prestigious military award, the Medal of Honor. In 2003, Mr. Lock began the strenuous process to have Colonel Puckett's initial award upgraded to the Medal of Honor. After being met with unforeseen opposition, Lock submitted a petition for an upgrade to the Army Award Corrections Board. In 2020, the petition for Colonel Puckett was approved, and on Friday, May 21, 2021, Colonel Puckett was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Joseph R. Biden for his valiant and commendable service to his Nation.

During his 22-year career, Colonel Puckett received several illustrious awards and commendations for his outstanding leadership and heroic actions in the line of duty and on behalf of his fellow servicemen. To date, he has received the Distinguished Service Cross twice, along with two Silver Stars for valor, two Bronze Star Medals, and five Purple Hearts. Similarly, in 1992, he became one of the first people to be inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame.

Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' As one of our nation's most decorated military heroes, Colonel Puckett has paid his rent many times over and continued to give a prodigious amount of love and service back to his community following his military service. As a retiree, Colonel Puckett has remained actively involved with military affairs, including as a volunteer with the Ranger Brigade as well as serving as an executive with Outward Bound, a nonprofit educational organization that exposes students, especially those from cities, to wilderness settings.

Colonel Puckett has accomplished many things in his life, but none of these would have been possible without the grace of God, and the enduring love and support of his wife, Jean; and their children, Martha and Thomas.

Madam Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in recognizing and commending Colonel Ralph Puckett, Jr. USA (ret.) on receiving the prestigious Medal of Honor and his lifetime of service to his community and his nation.

Madam Speaker, on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and six months after the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment outlawing slavery, Union Troops seized control of the area and declared all slaves free.

Since then, ``Juneteenth'' has been observed in Texas and in many places as Emancipation Day and the end of slavery in the United States because many of those enslaved had not yet received the news of President Lincoln's January 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation.

The news surrounding the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of slavery reached different regions at different times. While many commemorate this occasion on June 19, in areas such as Russell County, Alabama, the date marking the end of slavery is May 28, and as such, locals have established May 28 as a community holiday to celebrate the day of freedom.

For many of the enslaved, in communities across the south, this news was purposefully kept from them--denying them the freedom and rights they were due. It is a dark legacy we see repeating itself today which reminds us that freedom and rights--even that most fundamental right to vote--are precious and precarious.

It has been a long and continuing march towards equality and justice. So long as slavery existed and persisted, our country could never truly live up to its founding ideals of ``life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'' The great strides made by courageous pioneers such as William Lloyd Garrison, Theodore Parker, John Greenleaf Whittier, James Russell Lowell, William Wells Brown, and Frederick Douglass were among the early steps to realize those ideals in America.

Through Reconstruction, a Civil Rights Movement nearly 100 years later, and up through current efforts to eliminate the residual effects of slavery on the descendants of former slaves, the fight continues into this century. Every step forward seems to have been met with opposition--too often violent opposition--against recognition that ``all men are created equal''. The words of Frederick Douglass ring true today that ``freedom is a constant struggle''.

As we remember the struggles and successes of the past, we must use this occasion to renew our efforts to wipe out the vestiges of slavery that still remain.

Juneteenth is not only a reminder of the end of an odious era in our Nation's history, but a reminder of the work that still needs to be done before we can truly celebrate freedom.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in sadness and in joy to celebrate the life of a good and great Morehouse Man, Dr. Tobe Johnson. Sadly. Dr. Johnson transitioned from labor to reward on Friday, May 7, 2021, at the age of 91. A homegoing service will be held on Friday, May 21, 2021, at 11 AM, on the campus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. While his passing leaves in its wake many heavy hearts, upon prayerful reflection the pain we share must melt into joy. For, Dr. Johnson leaves a remarkable legacy of service to humanity as a scholar, teacher, husband, father, mentor, confidant, and friend of longstanding to many.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Tobe Johnson was born on September 16, 1929, to the late Mr. Tobe Johnson and Mrs. Evelyn Johnson. He grew up in a Black, working-class community, entered Morehouse College in Atlanta at age 16, but was forced to leave school and work at a steel plant back in Alabama. He joined the Air Force, serving in Japan, and following his discharge, returned to Morehouse College to complete his undergraduate degree--a B.A. in Political Science, in 1954. He attended Columbia University in New York, becoming the first Black person to receive a Ph.D. in Government from that institution. After receiving his Doctorate and teaching at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, he was recruited by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays to join the faculty at Morehouse College, where he served in many capacities before his retirement in 2018.

Dr. Johnson graduated from Morehouse right as the Supreme Court outlawed racial segregation in public schools. This monumental decision stimulated his interest in analyzing political structures and influencing long-term change. This was an early victory followed by others such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and motivated Dr. Johnson to use his skills to help Black political advancement.

Dr. Johnson, as a teacher, researcher, writer, and administrator, was an icon on the Morehouse College faculty, where he was hailed as the institution's longest-serving faculty member. He taught at the school for almost 60 years, was an Avalon professor, and served as Chair of the Political Science Department. He established and conducted, at Morehouse, a rare Peace Corps volunteer training program in the South. He impacted the lives of countless Morehouse men, such as Jeh Johnson, who would become the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security; Randall L. Woodfin, the youngest mayor ever elected in Birmingham, Alabama; and Maynard H. Jackson, Jr., Atlanta's first Black mayor.

As a Student Assistant in the Political Science Department for 2 years, I worked directly for Dr. Johnson doing research. He was precise, analytical, data-driven, and brutally frank in his approach and had the highest standards of integrity and validation for his research. He became my mentor, role model, wise counsel, and friend of longstanding. He took great pride in my elections and my service in the Georgia General Assembly for 16 years and my service in the U.S. Congress for 29 years. I am truly blessed that he helped shape my life.

During his career, he received numerous honors, awards, and special recognitions.

Sir Winston Churchill often said: ``You make your living by what you get, you make your life by what you give.'' Dr. Johnson gave so much to so many for so long and truly made his life. His public service, his advocacy for students, his devotion to Morehouse College, and his service to his community and his nation, reflect the legacy he leaves and the joy we must celebrate. Truly the world is a better place because Dr. Tobe Johnson passed this way.

Dr. Johnson accomplished much in his life. but none of it would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and the support of his wife of 61 years. Goldie: his children, Cheryl and Tobe III; and a host of family and friends who will miss him dearly.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with countless others throughout Georgia and the nation in saluting and honoring Dr. Tobe Johnson for his service in the education and political sectors, to his country, and to humankind; and in extending our deepest condolences to Dr. Johnson's family, friends, loved ones, and all those who mourn his loss. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Madam Speaker, millions of people here and around the globe were shocked to learn of the shootings at three Atlanta spas last March that killed eight people and injured one. Six of the eight victims were of Asian descent.

Many of us saw a link between the discriminatory and often hateful rhetoric against the Asian-American community during the COVID-19 pandemic and this unspeakable act of violence. In fact, the last year has seen an unacceptable rise in anti-Asian racism and violent attacks, especially against the elderly. There are many such incidents across the nation that are said to be unreported as well.

As the Dean of the Georgia Delegation, I strongly condemn these heinous acts of violence against our Asian-American brothers and sisters. They have no place in Georgia or anywhere else in our nation for that matter.

I therefore urge my colleagues to support not only this important resolution to condemn this act of violence and to remember the lives that were so tragically taken from us last March in Atlanta. I also urge them to support the bipartisan COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to bolster the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes in the United States.