Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2157) making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 1693) to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding Man of God, a devoted spiritual leader, and dear friend of longstanding, Rev. Dr. Emmett S. Aniton, Jr., who will be celebrating his 40th anniversary as the distinguished pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia on Friday, May 24, 2019, at 6:30pm.

Emmett Scott Aniton, Jr. was born on March 8, 1940, in Oneonta, Alabama to the union of Mr. Emmett Scott Aniton, Sr. and Mrs. Estella Aniton Woods. He attended Southside High School in Etowah County, Alabama, where he graduated in 1959, before earning his Bachelor of Theology degree from Selma University in 1964. He entered the United States Army and completed a tour of duty in Qui Nho'n, Vietnam, and returned home to Alabama where he matriculated at Alabama A&M University, earning Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1971.

After responding to God's call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Rev. Aniton pastored the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Alabama from 1966 to March of 1979. For more than 12 years, Rev. Aniton was the shepherd at First Baptist where he ministered to the needs of his flock christening babies, baptizing believers, performing marriages, and consoling bereaved families, while developing and honing his skills as a church administrator and inspiring preacher.

Then in November of 1978, the congregation of Friendship Baptist Church called and the Holy Spirit sent Rev. Aniton to Columbus, Georgia. His pastoral duties began in April of 1979 and he has faithfully and effectively served for over 40 years. Under Reverend Aniton's dynamic and spirit-filled leadership, the Friendship Baptist Church has experienced tremendous growth--spiritually, numerically, and in its physical facilities. But most importantly, under his leadership, Friendship has

been a beacon of hope and salvation for the congregation through its many ministries which share the good news of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Yet, Madam Speaker, the outstanding servant leadership demonstrated by Rev. Aniton did not stop at Friendship Baptist Church. His impact has been felt in the larger community and beyond. He has served on the boards of the Pastoral Institute, the Liberty Theatre, the Metro Columbus Urban League, and the Fourth Street Towers. He has been President of the Mount Calvary Congress of Christian Education and the Muscogee County Clergy Association; instructor for the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia Congress of Christian Education and the American Baptist Theological Seminary (off-campus). He received the NAACP Religious Affairs Award, Rainbow PUSH Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award, the PUHL (Peace, Unity, Honesty, and Leadership) Award; and in May of 2011, received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree from St. Thomas Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida.

Reverend Aniton has achieved 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 late wife, Mrs. Dorothy Rigby Aniton; his children, Minister Rhonda Aniton Bell, Emmett Scott Aniton Ill, and Keisha Aniton Simmons; his grandchildren and other family members. He is an outstanding mentor, a strong leader, and a faithful servant of God.

On a personal note, I have been blessed by Rev. Aniton's sage counsel and enduring friendship over the four decades I have known him and I am proud to call him my friend.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in congratulating Rev. Dr. Emmett S. Aniton, Jr. for 40 outstanding years of leadership at Friendship Baptist Church, for over 50 remarkable years of ministry, and for a lifetime of selfless service to God, the church, and to humankind. To God be the glory for the things He has done through His humble servant, Rev. Dr. Emmett S. Aniton, Jr.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation of Nelson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Bainbridge, Georgia as the church's membership and leadership celebrate a remarkable 150 years. The congregation will celebrate this very significant anniversary on Sunday, May 19, 2019, at the church located at 640 Hall Street.

Tracing its roots back to the post-Civil War era, the church was founded in 1869 when a group of slaves set off from their landowners' church and boldly founded their own place of worship. The original church was located on Academy Street and was operated under the leadership of Rev. A. Monroe. During Rev. Monroe's tenure as pastor, the church grew not only in size and in faith, but also in membership, having included several founding members who were instrumental to the development of the church.

Since its founding, Nelson Chapel AME Church has endured several additions and renovations, all of which help tell the story of the church. In 1902, the church relocated to its current location on Hall Street to a property donated by the late Mr. Adam Nelson. The foundation of the church was laid under the esteemed leadership of the late Rev. N.L. Holmes and the building was constructed during the pastorship of the late Rev. George Smith. In the 1970s, under the tutelage of Rev. C. E. Shepherd, the congregation was motivated to construct a child development center to educate preschoolers about Christian principles and academic excellence. The center, which consisted of a fellowship hall, full kitchen, and a baptismal pool, was named for the late Dr. J.H. Griffin, M.D. and was managed for many years as the Dr. J.H. Griffin Educational Complex. In addition to the construction of the church and child development center, a parsonage was built at 818 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard for the comfort and living of the pastoral family.

This ardent community of believers has extended its circle to include more and more members as the years have gone by, though it has never lost its essential character. Today, the spirit and faith of its people are manifested through the current sanctuary, which includes an organ, carpeting, pulpit furniture, a modern sound system, the Carillon Tower Chimes, a paved parking lot, office space, and many other structural improvements. That same faith and spirit extend beyond the church doors, in the presence of members who give fully of themselves wherever they go.

Throughout the years, a number of pastors, deacons, and clerks have contributed to its legacy, which boasts more than 300 members, eight choirs, a 70-member Young People's Division (YPD), and many ministries to support the surrounding community and congregation. Because of their dedicated efforts, Nelson Chapel AME Church is the lead church in the Thomasville/Bainbridge District of the South Georgia Annual Conference, Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The story of Nelson Chapel AME Church, which recounts a long history of a group of believers coming together through the good and difficult times to praise and worship the Lord, is truly an inspiring one of the dedication and perseverance of a faithful congregation of people who put all their love and trust in God.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in paying tribute to Nelson Chapel AME Church in Bainbridge, Georgia for its congregation's enduring commitment to each other and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May their actions continue to inspire the community in courage, in dedication, and in faith.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.

During the Vietnam War, the United States Military sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of Agent Orange, across the southern half of Vietnam to destroy jungle foliage that concealed enemy personnel and supply routes. The Agent Orange was carried into rivers by soil and plant run-off. The hydraulic plumes from where the rivers met the coast mixed hundreds of miles of coastal water with contaminated river water. To make matters worse, rivers and harbors were also sprayed, contaminating the ocean water even further.

Due to the constant churning of the seabed from U.S. Navy Vessels moving up and down the coast, the Agent Orange would rise to the surface where it would be picked up every time Navy ships converted the salt water into potable water. A University of Queensland study on the Australian distillation system, which is the identical system used in U.S. ships, determined that the conversion process enriched the toxic chemical ingredient Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) in Agent Orange to an even higher concentration in the filtered water. The contaminated water was then used by a ship's crew for cooking, cleaning, showering, laundry, and drinking, effectively giving our sailors a heavy exposure to Agent Orange during their deployment.

Medical research concluded that exposure to the dioxin found in Agent Orange causes numerous health issues including respiratory and blood cancers, prostate cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. According to a report from the Institute of Medicine, individuals with exposure to Agent Orange at an increased risk of developing serious heart problems and Parkinson's disease.

Until 2002, presumptive coverage for accessing health care for these side effects was provided to our Blue Water Navy Veterans. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs, failed to recognize the territorial seas as a part of the sovereign territory of Vietnam. The VA unilaterally decided that it would only provide presumptive coverage to those Veterans who served on land or on inland waterways.

Veterans that were exposed to these toxic chemicals, while serving their country have been neglected for too long. Congress must act on this pressing issue by passing this important piece of legislation that is supported by 333 co-sponsors. H.R. 299 extends the presumption of exposure for service connection for diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange to U.S. Navy Veterans who served offshore during wartime missions and also lengthens eligibility for VA benefits to certain children with spina bifida who were born to Veterans who served in Thailand and were exposed to Agent Orange.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill. Those Veterans who sacrificed their lives on behalf of America's freedom truly deserve better.

Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Madam Chair, on October 10, 2018, my district took a direct hit from Hurricane Michael, one of the most powerful storms to make landfall in U.S. history. It slammed into the Florida panhandle and drove through much of the Southeast, leaving a path of destruction all the way up to Virginia.

In Georgia, many producers suffered nearly 100 percent crop losses. Hurricane Michael killed more than 2 million chickens and devastated the Georgia cotton crop, which was nearing peak harvest and was on track to be the best crop in years. This is the third straight year hurricane damage caused significant losses to peanut, pecan, cotton, vegetable, landscaping, and the agri-tourism industries.

The Carolinas also suffered billions in damages a month earlier from Hurricane Florence. Californians had another devastating fire season, including both the largest and deadliest fires on record. In Hawaii, volcanic activity cost pineapple farmers nearly $30 million in damages. Americans in the Mariana Islands and American Samoa were also hit by cyclones.

To meet these needs, this House passed and sent to the Senate an emergency supplemental appropriations bill on January 16 that allocated $14 billion in emergency spending to help families and communities recover from these hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters.

Agriculture provided $3 billion for crop losses, $150 million for the Rural Community Facilities Program, $480 million for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, and $125 million for the Emergency Watershed Program. They provided $600 million in desperately needed funds to help with Puerto Rico's continued recovery from Hurricane Diane in 2017.

Madam Chair, I thank my fellow Georgian, Austin Scott, and the bipartisan leadership, the House leadership, our committees for quickly getting this bill passed. But as we passed it and sent it to the Senate, the Trump Office of Management and Budget issued a Statement of Administration Policy saying that FEMA had enough money and that this money was not needed. That could not be further from the truth. I disagree. Farmers and communities in all of the impacted States disagree, and even the USDA disagrees.

The emergency supplemental appropriations bill has been stalled in the Senate for 4 long months, with no action and no relief for Americans who are suffering. American farmers are living through the worst economic crisis in 30 years, driven by low commodity prices, trade war pressures, and natural disasters. Those impacted have had their patience stretched thin and cannot wait any longer for disaster assistance that they were promised.

Right now, due to the disaster losses, farmers can't pay their operational loans from last year, nor can they get new loans to plant and operate this year. Planting season is now. We already are in the growing season, with conditions permitting normal growth. If we miss this window, it will have lasting effects on agriculture production, including food, fiber, building materials, and fuel, that will increase costs for American consumers all over this country.

We are about to enter the 2019 hurricane season, which starts June 1. So today I am once again supporting this emergency supplemental bill, as more disasters have hit since the last bill passed, the latest being terrible floods in the Midwest and tornadoes that ripped through Georgia and Alabama.

This expanded supplemental bill will provide for the needs of those who suffered in those disasters and will add $3 billion, bringing the appropriations total to $17.2 billion, which will cover all disasters and get much-needed funds to those who were devastated and affected by Hurricane Michael.

From coast to coast throughout the territories, there is an urgent need for this disaster bill. As I said last October, after touring the damage from Hurricane Michael with the President, Vice President, and the Secretary of Agriculture, responding to natural disasters and helping our communities recover is a responsibility that we all share, regardless of ideology or political affiliation. Failure to respond now will result in failures later and suffering later throughout this country.

Madam Chair, I urge my House and Senate colleagues to support this bill to finally bring relief to our long-suffering communities.

Madam Chair, I support the gentlewoman's amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I support the amendment.

Madam Chair, I understand that this sudden reversal in the program was disconcerting for many of the universities and researchers that have received funding in the past and hope to do so in the future. Based on that, I have no objection to this amendment, and I fully support it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I support the amendment.

Madam Chair, until the Midwest floods struck, the U.S. Department of Agriculture was fairly confident that the Emergency Watershed Protection Program needs were fully met with the $125 million that was in the bill. However, on April 25, the USDA advised us that the estimate had increased to $435 million with large funding needs in Iowa and in Nebraska, in particular. This amendment would bring the bill to that level. So I am therefore happy to support the amendment.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry), who is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies of the Appropriations Committee.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Curtis).

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding Man of God, a dedicated public servant, and dear friend of longstanding, Rev. Dr. C. Medley Hayes, who celebrated his 30th anniversary as the distinguished pastor of Greater Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 3 p.m.

Rev. Dr. Chester Medley Hayes was born in Miami, Florida and grew up in Alabama graduating from Warren Smith High School in New Brocton, Alabama. He earned his Bachelor of Ministry degree in 1984, his Master of Ministry degree in 1987, and his Doctorate of Ministry degree in 1989. He was trained in Ground Surveillance and Ground Control Approach Radar through the U.S. Army and has 21 years experience in telecommunications. He founded and managed Companion Medical Equipment Company in 1994 and has been involved in Network Marketing with some of the strongest companies in the industry since he was 22 years of age.

At the age of twenty-six, Rev. Hayes accepted his call to preach the Gospel of Christ beginning his pastoral ministry at Big Creek Baptist Church in Clio, Alabama, a rather small church that consisted of about seventy members. From there, he pastored Morning Star Baptist Church in Troy, Alabama, Saint Paul Baptist Church in Pinckard, Alabama,

and Morning Star Baptist Church in Enterprise, Alabama. In 1989, Rev. Hayes was called to be the pastor and spiritual leader of Greater Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia and he and his family moved to the Fountain City.

For the past 30 years, he has served as a guiding light and beacon of hope for the congregation of Greater Beulah Missionary Baptist Church and the Columbus community. Rev. Hayes believes that you enter the church to worship, but you leave to serve. Therefore, his ministry has been to take the church and the teachings of Christ beyond the church building into the community and throughout the world.

Outside of the church, Rev. Hayes has also proved himself a true servant of the communities in which he has lived. At the age of 26, he became the Chairman of the Coffee County, Alabama branch of the Alabama Democratic Conference, a post that he held for eight years. Years later, he was appointed by then Georgia Governor Zell Miller and later Governor Roy Barnes to serve on Georgia's Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission. Having seen issues arise with human trafficking, he was moved to open two group homes for girls. Because of his love for young people, he opened a counseling center called ``Mentoring Youth.'' As a result of his tremendous advocacy and support for the Columbus community, on August 8, 2017, the Council of the Columbus Consolidated Government named the intersection of 6th Street and 6th Avenue as ``C. Medley Hayes Way.''

Always seeking to improve his craft in discipleship and Christian ministry, he has been a longtime member of the National Baptist Convention, USA; General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia (G.M.B.C.); Fourth District of G.M.B.C.; Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Association; along with many other faith-based organizations.

The great agricultural chemist, Dr. George Washington Carver once said that, ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with 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.'' Reverend Hayes has gone far in his ministry and in life because of his love for all people in the same vein as his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

On a personal note, Rev. Hayes has been a great friend and supporter over the many years I have known him. I value his wise counsel and sage advice. He never told me only what I wanted to hear, but always told me what I needed to hear. And for that, I am grateful.

Reverend Hayes has achieved much in his life, but none of it would be possible but for the Grace of God and the love and the support of his wife, Stephanie, and their children, Leon, Lester, Tonya, Alyssa, Tiffany, and Sophia. Rev. Hayes is man of great accomplishment, an outstanding mentor, and a strong leader, but above all, he is a faithful servant of God.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the congregation of Greater Beulah Missionary Baptist Church and the 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in congratulating Rev. Dr. C. Medley Hayes on the joyous occasion of his 30th pastoral anniversary.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today, to pay tribute to a man of God, respected public servant, and dear friend of longstanding, Reverend Jasper R. Brown, Sr. Sadly, Reverend Brown transitioned from labor to reward on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. His funeral service will be held at 3 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2019, at Live Oak A.M.E. Church in Donalsonville, Georgia.

Rev. Jasper Ross Brown, Sr. was born in Malone, Florida on September 17, 1925, to the union of Reverend David Rufus Brown and Mrs. Torah Bowers Brown. The values of Christian discipleship and hard work were instilled in Jasper at a young age. After completing primary school in the Jackson County, Florida Public School System, he began working under his father and developed the discipline, work ethic, and joy that came with farming and being exposed to the Gospel. Because manhood was thrust upon him at an early age, he only finished eighth grade, but was an avid reader, highly intelligent, and had a love for learning. Hence, as an adult, while working full-time at Great Southern Plywood Mill in Cedar Springs, Georgia, and supporting his family, he went back to school taking high school classes in Tallahassee, Florida and earned his GED.

Jasper Brown answered the call to serve his nation at the age of 18, becoming the first African-American from Seminole County, Georgia to be inducted into the United State Marine Corps. He was trained as a member of the historic Montford Point Marines and fought in the gruesome Battle of Peleliu in Japan during World War II. More than 50 years later, he and all of the Montford Point Marines, the first African- Americans allowed to serve in the Marine Corps, were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Barack Obama recognizing their personal sacrifice and service to their country during World War II.

When Jasper Brown returned home from World War II, within a few days of his return, he met and shortly thereafter married Ruby Moore Brown, a union which lasted for 53 years until Ruby's death in May, 2001. Japser and Ruby had 10 children, seven of whom predeceased them.

A man of many trades, he explored the realm of real estate in the Donalsonville area before taking classes to obtain his GED. During this time, he used his voice to help improve the working conditions for the employees at the Great Southern Plywoood Mill in Cedar Springs, Georgia, where he helped organize and form a union to protect employees' rights to a fair wage, fair pensions, insurance, and overall fair treatment. He mentored others and was often a voice for the voiceless and was never reluctant to challenge injustice in the workplace or anywhere people sought his help for unfair treatment. He was elected and served honorably as the first Black City Councilman in the City of Donalsonville, Georgia.

In October 1977, Jasper Brown accepted his calling into the ministry to preach the word of God, and for 30 years, he pastored in the African Methodist Episcopal Church under the jurisdiction of the South and Southwest Georgia Conferences.

His pastoral ministry included Whigham Circuit & Little Bethel A.M.E. Church, South Georgia Conference; Hilton Circuit, Southwest Georgia Conference; Newberry A.M.E. Church, Southwest Georgia Conference; Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church, Southwest Georgia Conference; Aimwell A.M.E. Church, Southwest Georgia Conference; and Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, Southwest Georgia Conference. After briefly retiring to rediscover his love of farming, Rev. Brown was called back to the church and assigned to Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, Hilton, where he pastored for another four years before completely retiring in December, 2011.

On a personal note, I am proud to have considered Rev. Jasper Brown, his late wife, Ruby Moore Brown, and the entire Brown and Moore Families as friends of longstanding. Their daughter, Alice, interned at the Georgia General Assembly while I was serving in the State House and she was a student at the University of Georgia. Through her, I eventually met the family, as attorney for her mother, the sister of the renowned Dr. Dallas Moore. Mrs. Ruby Brown had been seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash in Seminole County. My relationship with the Brown and Moore families has endured for over 3 decades and has been pivotal in my career and political success. I will be forever grateful for their friendship and support.

Rev. Brown accomplished much in his life, but none of it would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and support of his family as well as the countless others who impacted his life. His passing leaves a tremendous void in the lives of his children: Jasper, Jr., Derrell, Alice, Kendra, Deborah, Angela, Annette, and Anthony; brother, Virgil; sixteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins; personal assistant, Ms. France Land; friend and companion, Ms. Petronia ``Sweet'' Mike; and countless other family and friends; all of whom will miss him deeply.

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 Georgia's Second Congressional District, in honoring the life and legacy of the Reverend Jasper R. Brown, Sr. for his outstanding accomplishments in the ministry and his service to humankind. Moreover, we extend our deepest sympathies to Reverend Brown's family, friends, loved ones, and all who grieve during this difficult time of bereavement. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the weeks, months, and years ahead.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished scholar, dedicated attorney, and true visionary, Ms. Sharon ``Nyota'' Tucker. Nyota was honored for her contributions to academia and her community on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at the University of Georgia School of Law.

A native of Dublin, Georgia, Sharon ``Nyota'' Tucker was born to the union of Mr. Willis Tucker and Mrs. Cornelia Tucker. During her junior year of high school, she joined six of her fellow classmates from Oconee High School in the integration of the previously all-white Dublin High School. This first-hand experience with desegregation convinced her that becoming a lawyer was the most effective means of combating racism, upholding the constitutional rights outlined in the Declaration of Independence, and forcing a system to correct itself. Nyota went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Howard University, before becoming the first African-American woman to receive a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Georgia in 1974.

Upon becoming a member of the State Bar of Georgia in 1974, she served in a number of legal and academic positions, including staff attorney in the Albany office of the Georgia Legal Services Program; legal intern with the Earl Warren Fellowship Program in the San Francisco office, NAACP Legal Defense Fund; and associate with the Albany, Georgia Law Firm of Mary Young & Associates. During Nyota's impressive tenure at Albany State University (ASU), she served as a faculty member and pre-law advisor, as well as a dual role as ASU's University Counsel (for eight years) and ASU's Chief of Staff (for five years). Her time at ASU allowed her to work with some of the brightest, most creative, and determined students in higher education.

Nyota has been recognized numerous times for her professional and community work. She has received several Teacher of the Year Awards in addition to the 2015 Trailblazer Award by the UGA Black Law Student Association; the Justice Leah Ward Sears Award for Distinction in the Profession by the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys in 2016; the USG Chancellor's Recognition for Distinguished Service to the University System of Georgia in 2016; and both the 2018 and 2019 Beverly Burton New Board Member of the Year Award for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia and the Southeast Region. Moreover, on April 13, 2019, the University of Georgia School of Law unveiled a portrait of Nyota honoring her impeccable legacy and influential leadership.

Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Nyota has paid her rent many times over and still continues to give a prodigious amount of love and service back to her community. She has served on the Board of Trustees for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, the Board of Directors for Liberty House, and as a member of the Advisory Committee on Law and Criminal Justice at the Washington Center. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany and a member of the Dougherty County Hospital Authority Board.

Nyota has accomplished many things in her life, but none of these would have been possible without the enduring love and support of her loving children, Nairobi (deceased), Sadiqa, and Macharia; and her granddaughter, Imani.

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 Ms. Sharon Nyota Tucker, J.D., on receiving a well-deserved effigy recognizing her commitment and contributions to her community and academic field.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Americans affected by Sarcoidosis and other related inflammatory diseases to observe April as National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month.

Sarcoidosis can affect any part of the body and cause serious disabilities by forcing one's vital organs and central nervous system to become hyperactive. While this rare and devastating disease annually affects over 200,000 people throughout all demographics, there are significant racial, gender, and age-related differences, as it disproportionately impacts African-Americans, women, and individuals between the ages of 20 and 40.

Although research suggests the cause of Sarcoidosis is a combination of genetic and environmental factors, the exact cause and progression of the disease are still unknown. The unique nature of Sarcoidosis makes it an enigma in the realm of medical science, and despite increasing advances in research, it remains difficult to diagnose with limited treatment options and no known cure. Over the years, several of my colleagues and I have spoken on the House and Senate floors about this fatal disease. During the 103rd session of Congress, I introduced H.J. Res. 399, a House Joint Resolution designating Monday, August 29, 1994, as ``National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day'' while also urging my colleagues in Congress to support extensive research to find a suitable cure and treatment method for individuals with Sarcoidosis.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing April as National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month by acknowledging the need for more efficient research into the causes, diagnostics, and potential treatment options for Sarcoidosis. I am pleased to have the chance to bring a relatively unknown disease to light and to increase public awareness of the need to support individuals with this life-threatening ailment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding Man of God and friend of longstanding, Reverend Dr. Marcus J. Gibson, who will celebrate his 20th anniversary as the distinguished pastor of Greater Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia. Anniversary worship services will be held on Sunday, April 14, 2019, at the church.

Rev. Gibson is a native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, who served our nation honorably as a U.S. Army officer from 1995 to 1999, after graduating from Watson Chapel High School. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a Master of Divinity degree from the Morehouse School of Religion, and a Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching from the McCormick Theological Seminary. Over the years, he has continued to encourage others to pursue advanced education through his service as an Adjunct Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at the Beulah Heights University Columbus extension site.

Always seeking to improve the craft of Christian ministry and discipleship, Rev. Gibson has served as President of the Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Association Congress of Christian Education, President of the Metro-Columbus Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and Dean of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia Congress of Christian Education.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Rev. Gibson is an active member of many civic organizations where he continuously devotes his time and energy to his community. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and is a Master Mason in Electric Light Lodge No. 45, Arkansas Jurisdiction (Prince Hall Affiliation). Furthermore, Rev. Gibson has served as a member of the Muscogee County (Georgia) Sheriff's Advisory Board; a member of the Mayor's Commission on Unity, Diversity, and Prosperity; a member of the Citizens Trust Bank Columbus Advisory Board; and has worked with numerous other community-based organizations within the Columbus, Georgia area.

Rev. Gibson has achieved much in his life, but none of it would be possible but for the Grace of God and the love and the support of his son, MarDarius; and his daughter, MarKayla.

Madam Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian; and me, along with the congregation of Greater Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church and more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in extending our sincerest congratulations to Reverend Dr. Marcus J. Gibson on this joyous occasion. A man of great accomplishment, he is an outstanding mentor, strong leader, and prominent community activist, but above all, he is a faithful servant of God.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my personal congratulations and best wishes to an exceptional community leader and outstanding citizen, Mrs. Patricia ``Patty'' Parker Cullen, on the occasion of her retirement as the Executive Director of the River Valley Regional Commission.

A native of Phenix City, Alabama, Patty received both her bachelor's degree in Home Economics and her master's degree in Community Planning from Auburn University.

For almost four decades, she has been a well-respected leader in the community development industry in the Chattahoochee Valley region. She has built quite an impressive career, which began with her position as an Economic/Energy Planner for the Lower Chattahoochee Area Planning and Development Commission. During her extensive tenure in the community development industry, Patricia has held several leadership roles within the Lower Chattahoochee Area Planning and Development Commission, the Lower Chattahoochee Regional Development Center, and the River Valley Regional Commission. Patty has done a tremendous job in upholding the highest standards of achievement, service and public distinction.

Throughout her career, Patty has served on a number of boards and was affiliated with several associations including the Advisory Council at Auburn University; the American Planning Association; the Georgia Association of Regional Commissions; the Georgia Planning Association; and Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association.

Patty has accomplished much throughout her life, but none of this would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and support of her late husband, George; and her stepdaughter, Sally.

Sir Winston Churchill often said: ``You make your living by what you get; you make your life by what you give.'' The Lower Chattahoochee Valley area is a better place because Patty Cullen gave so much to so many to make our community stronger. As a woman of great integrity, her efforts, her dedication, and her expertise are unparalleled, but her heart for helping others utilizing these qualities has made her life's work truly special.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian; and me, along with the more than 730,000 citizens of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Patricia ``Patty'' Parker Cullen upon the occasion of her retirement from an outstanding career of public service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding Man of God, Bishop C. James King, Jr., the Presiding Bishop of the Fourth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, which spans the state of Alabama. On Thursday, April 11, 2019, Bishop King will be the distinguished preacher for the Ecumenical Service at St. James AME Church located at 1002 Sixth Avenue in Columbus, Georgia.

Bishop Charles James King, Jr. was born on May 15, 1948, to the union of the late Mr. Charles James King, Sr. and Mrs. Ruthie Mae Middlebrooks King. The Columbus, Georgia native is the eldest of 12 children and was reared by his grandparents. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Paine College in 1974, his Master of Divinity degree in the Old Testament from The Interdenominational Theological Center in 1979, and his Doctor of Ministry degree in Educational Administration with a special concentration in Program Development from Ashland Theological Seminary in 1994.

During his career, Bishop King has pastored several congregations including Murray Memorial CME Church in Georgia; Bunton Institutional CME Church in Washington, D.C.; Brown Memorial CME Church in Kentucky; Trinity Church and Murchison Tabernacle CME Church in Indiana; as well as Peoples Community CME Church, Phillips Memorial CME Church, and St. Phillips CME Church in Ohio. He has also played a leading role in several religious and community-based organizations including Presiding Elder of the Cincinnati-Dayton-Indianapolis District in the Ohio- Central Indiana Region; the Episcopal Director of Faith-Based and Community-Based Ministries in the Second Episcopal District covering churches from Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, and North Carolina; and a member and vice chair of The General Board of Personnel Services for the CME Church, before being elected the 63rd Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in 2014.

Bishop King has always been a staunch advocate for helping economically disadvantaged adolescents and youth. As the President, CEO, and Founder of Project One, Inc., a faith-based non-profit corporation, he has helped over 15,000 youth become engaged in meaningful summer employment and after-school programs. He has also raised substantial amounts of funding to support youth through Project One programs like The Annual Summer Jobs Campaign; The Summer Earning and Enrichment Program; The Fatherhood Program; The Talented and Gifted Scholars (TAG) Program; and The After School University at the Alice Lucille Martin Educational Academy. Bishop King is the first C.M.E. preacher to serve as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Interdenominational Theological Center and has used his position to raise funds for the growth and expansion of the school.

Madam Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the congregation of St. James AME Church and the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in recognizing and commending a Columbus native son, Bishop C. James King, Jr., for his outstanding accomplishments in the ministry and his service to humankind. He is a man of great accomplishment, an outstanding mentor, and a prominent community leader, but above all, he is a faithful servant of God.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished public servant and a dedicated stateswoman, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson who was honored in a dedication ceremony in Dallas, Texas on April 6, 2019 to rename Dallas Union Station in her honor. The former Dallas Union Station now bears the name Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station.

Since its establishment in 1916, the Dallas Union Station has stood as a prominent landmark for the City of Dallas, serving as a historic social anchor and an intermodal transportation hub--consolidating the five main rail stations into one and making Dallas a major

transit center for the Southwestern United States. Just as the Dallas Union Station has significantly enhanced the quality of life for the Dallas area, so has Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, and I cannot think of a more deserving person to receive this monumental tribute.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson is serving her 14th term representing the 30th Congressional District of Texas. She is the first African-American and woman to chair the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (where she served as Ranking Member from 2011 to 2018) and is the Dean of the Texas Congressional delegation in addition to serving as Dean of the Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona Democratic Congressional Delegations. Congresswoman Johnson is also the highest- ranking Texan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the first nurse to be elected to the U.S. Congress, and a member of the Subcommittee on Aviation and the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Congresswoman Johnson was born on December 3, 1935, to the union of the late Lee Edward Johnson and Lillie Mae White Johnson in Waco, Texas. A true intellectual, she graduated from A.J. Moore High School at the age of sixteen. Soon after graduating, she began her studies in Nursing at Saint Mary's College of Notre Dame, where she excelled and became a registered nurse after passing the National Board Examination in 1955. She continued to advance her education by earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Texas Christian University in 1967 and her Master of Public Administration degree from Southern Methodist University in 1976.

Congresswoman Johnson began her career as the first female African- American Chief Psychiatric Nurse at the V.A. Hospital in Dallas. In 1972, she became the first nurse ever elected to the Texas State House and achieved that same distinction upon her election to the Texas Senate in 1986.

Congresswoman Johnson is more than a legislator. She is a servant to all humankind. In addition to her civic duties, she continues to give of herself to countless causes and organizations, such as her acclaimed initiative, A World of Women for World Peace, which has garnered national and international recognition. Dr. Maya Angelou once said that ``I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.'' During the more than 40 years that she has served as a public servant, Congresswoman Johnson has thrown a prodigious amount of love and service back to the state and nation she loves so dearly.

Congresswoman Johnson has achieved so much in her life, but none of it would have been possible without the love and support of her loving son, Kirk; and her grandsons, Kirk Jr., David, and James.

On a personal note, Congresswoman Johnson is my classmate, both of us having been elected in 1992. Immediately upon meeting her I was awed by her grace, dignity, class, elegance, and eloquence. Her manner of quiet persuasion and passion have propelled her to numerous leadership positions, including her election as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. She is a friend of longstanding and her deep humility and compassion reflect the timbre of her character.

Congresswoman Johnson is truly a stellar example of servant leadership. I am proud to have served alongside her in Congress where her friendship, leadership, and counsel are held in high regard by many.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian; and me, along with the people of the 30th Congressional District of Texas and countless others all across America, in extending our sincerest congratulations to Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson on this tremendous honor and lasting memorial to her legacy of service to her community, state, nation, and humankind.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career and service of a dedicated military officer, civil servant, and outstanding citizen, Col. (ret.) George W. Steuber. Col. Steuber will be retiring from his post as Deputy Garrison Commander at Fort Benning on March 31, 2019, after almost a decade of extraordinary service, and will be honored in a retirement ceremony on Friday, March 29, 2019, at 3 p.m.

Col. Steuber received a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Minnesota and master's degrees in National Security Affairs, from the Naval Postgraduate School, and Strategic Studies, from the Naval War College. In addition to his extensive academic background, Col. Steuber is also a qualified linguist in Chinese (Mandarin) and Thai.

For almost five decades, Col. Steuber has been a well-respected and long-standing figure as an officer and civilian in our nation's military. He built quite an impressive career, which began shortly after his 17th birthday when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He commenced his uniformed career as a private in basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, later completed Officer Candidate School, and then served in several prestigious positions, including the Colonel directing TRADOC's International Armies Program Directorate at Fort Monroe, VA; a foreign area officer on peacekeeping missions in Cambodia, Somalia, and Haiti; a senior military advisor to the Czech Republic's Training and Doctrine Command; a senior military analyst in JFCOM J-9 working the Joint Urban Fires Program; and Garrison Commander for Fort Sill (2001-2003). Then as a civilian, he served as Deputy Garrison Commander for Fort Rucker (2005 to 2009).

Col. Steuber has received several prestigious awards for his outstanding military and civilian service, including the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster); Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters); Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster); Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm; Combat Infantryman Badge; Aerial Observer Badge; U.S. Parachute Badge; Joint Chief of Staff Identification Badge; Royal Thai Army Parachute Badge and Red Silk Aiguillette; Royal Thai Army Command and General Staff Badge; Republic of Vietnam Parachute Badge; Superior Civilian Service Award; and Commander's Award for Civilian Service.

During his tenure as Deputy Garrison Commander at Fort Benning, he was instrumental in the development of the newly formed Maneuver Center of Excellence, oversaw implementation of the Base Realignment and Closure activities, provided support for the complex integration of several key matters--including all missions on post, Forces Command in the inactivation of the 3D Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, and the reflagging and activation of the first task force in the United States, 1-28 IN Battalion.

Additionally, under his watch, annual services and support were provided to more than 70,000 soldiers, civilians, and contractors in five separate cantonment areas. He also provided guidance to all Fort Benning directorates to ensure proper management of 141,000 maneuver training acres, 15,800 range acres, 83 live fire ranges, 300 training areas, and 115 range and training area events, including command oversight for daily high-risk training events.

Col. Steuber has achieved much success in his life, but none would have been possible without the enduring love and support of his wife, Patricia; and their sons, Bill and Jon.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ``Life's most persistent and urgent question is, `What are you doing for others?' '' Col. Steuber undoubtedly lives by this philosophy. From his commendable efforts for our nation's military, both at home and abroad as well as on active duty and as a civilian; his work has made a tremendous impact in the lives of many.

Madam Speaker, 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 extending our sincerest congratulations and best wishes to Col. (ret.) George W. Steuber on the occasion of his retirement as Deputy Garrison Commander at Fort Benning and for an outstanding career of civil and public service.