Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the noble work of the Columbus (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated on the eve of its 50th anniversary. The Columbus (GA) Chapter was chartered on December 19, 1964. Its members and supporters will be celebrating this milestone at a luncheon on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

The Links, Incorporated traces its origins back to 1946. Margaret Roselle Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott gathered seven friends in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to form a group to respond to the pressing needs of the African-American community after World War II. Today, an esteemed international women's service organization, The Links, Incorporated aims to improve the lives of African Americans by providing them with essential resources and services which offer disadvantaged communities new hope for improved lives.

I would like to take this opportunity to specifically acknowledge the great work of the Columbus (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. The Columbus (GA) Chapter has implemented and sustained The Links,

Incorporated's five programming categories: National Trends and Services, The Arts, Services to Youth, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services.

The National Trends and Services facet of the Columbus (GA) Chapter champions the idea of empowering both the individual and the community through events such as a week-long community celebration that illustrates the positive impacts of diversity and multiculturalism. Displayed everywhere from government centers to schools to churches, The Links, Incorporated promotes ethnic pluralism within the community.

In addition, The Links were the first to gather local black entrepreneurs and prospective customers together in order to explore shared interests and encourage the potential for reciprocal benefits. The organization also takes the time to honor the lifeblood of local communities: trash collectors, school bus operators, postal carriers, and cafeteria workers. It seeks to recognize every aspect of a community, understanding that everyone deserves respect and gratitude for the vital roles they play in keeping the community afloat.

The International Trends and Services arm of the Columbus (GA) Chapter brings resources to countries across Africa through well- building and providing clean birth kits to those in Uganda and survival kits to women in Haiti. The organization's dedication to domestic and international service showcases the depth of its commitment to community betterment through public service.

The Columbus (GA) Chapter has instituted numerous programs under its Services to Youth facet, including a mentor program for kids in kindergarten to young adults in college. Additionally, Services to Youth promotes the values of higher education by raising interest in STEM education and career paths by awarding scholarships, creating endowments, and supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

In line with its mission to promote cultural awareness through The Arts program, the Columbus (GA) Chapter partners with a number of arts institutions, such as museums, art councils, symphonies, and educational institutes to reinforce the importance of a strong minority presence in the art community.

Last, but certainly not least, the Health and Human Services facet of the Columbus (GA) Chapter works to implement and maintain community services to address the disparities in health conditions negatively impacting minorities. In this regard, the Columbus (GA) Chapter has joined forces with Linkages to Life, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Walk for Healthy Living, and the National Childhood Obesity Initiative.

Through the wisdom and strong leadership of its past fourteen presidents, the Columbus (GA) Chapter has given back so much to the African-American community and, in turn, the community as a whole. Today, the Chapter is led by current president, Olive Gibson Vidal- Kendall and boasts 33 spirited and outstanding members who provide over 1,500 hours of service each year.

Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 50 years of incredible and inspiring work by the Columbus (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. The services this organization has provided to the greater Columbus community are immeasurable and there is no doubt in my mind that The Links, Incorporated will continue its worthy mission of promoting hope and prosperity for years to come.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, you have heard that Representative John Dingell from Michigan is the longest-serving Member of the House of Representatives in the history of this institution. You have heard that he has been a Member since 1955 and has held a seat in this body since President Eisenhower sat in the White House.

You heard that exactly 1 day and 73 years ago, a young John Dingell, then a page in the House, was standing in this very room when President Roosevelt gave his declaration-of-war speech against Japan. He was a page.

Needless to say, it has been a long road of public service for our friend and colleague, John Dingell. A great defender of civil liberties, John Dingell stood beside President Johnson as he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Over his illustrious career, he fought for civil rights, for clean water, for Medicare, for American workers' rights.

On a more personal note, he has always been helpful to me even when I was just a wet-behind-the-ears freshman, and he shared his overflowing reservoir of knowledge and wisdom about the history and customs of this body and the workings of Congress. He will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I will always remember and appreciate his character, his integrity, and his courage in the fight for a better quality of life for the American people.

A poet wrote:

The tree that never had to fight

For sun and sky and air and light,

But stood out in the open plain

And always got its share of rain,

Never became a forest king

But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil

by hand or mind in life's turmoil,

Who never had to earn his share

Of sun and sky and light and air,

Never became a manly man

But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow in ease:

The stronger winds, the stronger trees;

The further sky, the greater length;

The rougher the storm, the greater strength.

By wind or rain, by sun and snow,

In trees and men good timbers grow.

John Dingell is good timber. Sir, you will be sorely missed. Thank you for your service.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to extend my personal congratulations to Dr. Timothy S. Mescon, the fourth president of Columbus State University, who will be leaving Columbus State to work at the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International as the senior vice president and chief officer for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. On Wednesday, December 3, 2014, he will be honored by the community for his career and many achievements at Columbus State University.

Dr. Mescon, along with his wife Lauren and four children William, Preston, Abbie, and David, have lived a fulfilling life supporting the mission of excellence at Columbus State.

Before arriving at Columbus State in August 2008, Dr. Mescon was Dean of the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta for 18 years, holding the Tony and Jack Dinos Eminent Scholar Chair of Entrepreneurship. He is a Ph.D. recipient from the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business, and also has received an MBA from Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business and a B.A. from Tulane University. Dr. Mescon also served on the faculties of the University of Miami and Arizona State University. He was founding Dean of the Frank Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University in Maryland and serves on the Advisory Board of the Kingston University (U.K.) School of Business and Law. Additionally, Dr. Mescon has served as a visiting fellow at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Under his six years of leadership, Columbus State University has grown in prestige and stature. It launched its first doctoral program and an array of graduate programs, including the nation's first program in Servant Leadership. The university restructuring under his tenure created Columbus State's Honors College and Graduate School, College of Letters and Sciences, College of the Arts Turner College of Business, and College of Education and Health Professions. Additionally, the School of Nursing added graduate programs and changed its accreditation to the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the chemistry program received national accreditation from the American Chemical Society, and in 2014 CSU was named winner of the Senator Paul Simon Prize for outstanding international education programs.

Columbus State has established extensive partnerships with Ft. Benning, the Maneuver Center of Excellence, and has been recognized as both a Yellow Ribbon and a Military Friendly School. It added 20 club sports, five NCAA Intercollegiate sports, and built the nation's top Student Recreation Center. Lastly, under his leadership, the 2011 NCAA National Rifle Championship was hosted by Columbus State University and the Army Marksmanship Unit based at Ft. Benning.

For the first time ever, Columbus State was named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 50 Comprehensive Public Universities in the South for 2013 and 2014. Additionally, Columbus State's online graduate programs in business and education were named among the top 35 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report for 2013.

Dr. Mescon is the author of more than 200 articles and case studies, and has co-authored four books and an audio book series covering topics ranging from entrepreneurship to management, development to business success.

Locally, Dr. Mescon has given much to our community. As a trustee of the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts in Columbus, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and the Chattahoochee Council with the Boy Scouts of America, Dr. Mescon's philanthropic presence will be sorely missed in the greater Columbus area. He also serves as an ally in the Circles in Columbus anti-poverty program, Chair for the annual campaign for the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, and a member of the Fort Benning Futures Partnership Board.

Of course, Dr. Mescon's service has not gone unnoticed. Georgia Trend Magazine named Dr. Mescon one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Nationally, the White House has named him a winner of the President's Volunteer Service Award from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation and he has received the national Award of Excellence from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in congratulating Dr. Timothy S. Mescon for six outstanding years as President at Columbus State University. He has truly implemented an outstanding vision for Columbus State University and brought leadership to our community. I am profoundly grateful for his outstanding stewardship and dedication and wish him well in all his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn spirit that I rise to pay tribute to an extraordinary man who labored tirelessly for the greater good, a man that stood as an example to us all, Mr. Herman J. Russell. Sadly, Mr. Russell passed away on Saturday, November 15, 2014. Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Philip AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

Born on December 23, 1930, Mr. Russell was a lifelong resident of Atlanta, Georgia. At the young age of 16, he purchased a small plot of land for the price of $125, an investment he eventually used to put himself through college at Tuskegee University in Alabama. He then went on to form a plastering company which, over the course of several decades, grew into a multi-million dollar real estate development and construction company, H.J. Russell & Co. Today, it is one of the nation's largest minority-owned real estate firms.

Herman Russell is known as a founding father of the city of Atlanta. From Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to the Georgia Dome, from the Georgia-Pacific tower to the Coca-Cola headquarters, and from Turner Field to the Philips Arena, Mr. Russell played an essential role in the construction of much of the great skyline we see today. His firm is a partner in the joint venture selected to build the new nearly $1.3 billion Atlanta Falcons stadium, which is slated to open in 2017.

In addition to his many accomplishments as a leading African-American businessman, Mr. Russell was an esteemed civic leader. He served as the first black member of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce as well as the chamber's second black president. Mr. Russell was an activist and champion of the Civil Rights Movement, working closely with other influential figures such as the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He also contributed to the successful campaign of Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first black mayor.

Mr. Russell was also well-known for his giving heart, evidenced by his role as a generous benefactor for numerous educational programs for institutions such as Morehouse College, Georgia State University, and his alma mater, Tuskegee University. Additionally, Mr. Russell lent his charitable support to accomplish such tasks as the expansion of the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta facility at Hughes Spalding.

George Washington Carver once said, ``No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' The great Capital of the South would not be the same without Mr. Russell. Breaking down the numerous racial and economic barriers that stood in his path, Mr. Russell was a visionary and a man ahead of his time. His passing is a great loss to us all but his memory and storied legacy will serve as an enduring source of inspiration for so many.

Mr. Russell is survived by his wife, Sylvia Anderson Russell; and his three children, Michael, Jerome, and Donata, who each run a portion of the family business, continuing their father's legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the great Herman J. Russell, a charitable man who worked his whole life to overcome great challenges and grow into the leader he was destined to be. Mr. Russell was a remarkable man and a blessing to the state of Georgia and the nation as a whole. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time and we pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Michael L. Davidson for his exemplary dedication to duty and his service to the United States Army and to our great nation. He has served for the last two and a half years as a Congressional Budget Liaison for the Secretary of the Army. On November 25, 2014, he deployed to Afghanistan where he is serving as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force and United States Forces--Afghanistan.

A native of Moore Haven, Florida, Lieutenant Colonel Davidson became a Cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1989. While at West Point, he participated in Corps Squad Sports and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in May 1993. After completing the Artillery Officer Basic Course, he served as a Lieutenant for 18 months in the Republic of Korea as a platoon leader and operations officer in 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, a rocket artillery unit. After returning from Korea, Lieutenant Davidson was assigned to 1st Battalion 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. There he served as a platoon leader, battalion adjutant officer, and assistant battalion operations officer.

After graduating from the Captain's Career Course he returned to the Republic of Korea and the 2nd Infantry Division, where he served in the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment (Manchu) as a Battalion Fire Support Officer, Battery Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander; and Aide de Camp to the Commanding General. Following this assignment, he deployed with the 3rd Army Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC) in 2002, serving as the lead planner for the Deep Operations Coordination Cell and later as an effects planner in the CFLCC Commander's Early Entry Command Post in Baghdad, Iraq.

Major Michael Davidson returned to the 18th Airborne Corps and served as a Multi-National Corps-Iraq lead planner before serving as the 3- 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment Battalion Operations and Executive Officer in the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division during their combat deployment in Iraq.

The Second Congressional District of Georgia gained a compassionate and knowledgeable resource in 2008 when Major Michael Davidson was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison, where he served as a Congressional Fellow in my Washington, D.C. office. Following his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, he took command of the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division where his battalion served as part of the Army's Global Response Force for all world-wide contingency operations.

Lieutenant Colonel Davidson's leadership throughout his career has positively impacted his soldiers, peers, and superiors. As a Congressional and Budget Liaison Officer, he worked directly with the Senate and House Appropriations and Armed Services Committees to educate and inform Members of Congress and staff on the many diverse and important procurement initiatives of the U.S. Army.

Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife, Vivian, the more than 700,000 people in Georgia's Second Congressional District, and all Americans, in extending our sincerest appreciation to Lieutenant Colonel Michael L. Davidson for two decades of service to our nation. In addition to gratitude for his selfless service and instrumental role in supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel Davidson has the respect, admiration, and affection of many on Capitol Hill and we wish him all the best in his deployment to Afghanistan and his upcoming promotion to Colonel.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable statesman and civic leader, Mr. Carl E. Sanders, former Governor of Georgia. Sadly, Governor Sanders passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2014. His passing marks the close of a long and prolific life, and his departure leaves a void in the hearts of Georgians. A memorial service for Mr. Sanders was held on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

Carl E. Sanders was born on May 15, 1925 in Augusta, Georgia. A skilled athlete, he earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Georgia, where he was to play quarterback. However, after his freshman year of college, he joined the Army Air Forces during World War II. He was trained to pilot a B-17 Bomber, which he named ``Georgia Peach,'' but the war concluded before his services were required abroad.

Carl Sanders returned to finish his education at the University of Georgia, and met the woman who would become his wife, Betty Bird Foy. They married in the summer of 1947, after he graduated with a degree from the UGA School of Law.

After being admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1948, Mr. Sanders began his career in an Augusta law firm, but kept a close eye on Georgia's political landscape. Six years later, he ran for and won a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives. In 1956, State Representative Sanders was elected to the Georgia Senate, where he served three terms. During this tumultuous time period, Senator Sanders advocated for keeping Georgia's public schools open when many of his colleagues favored closure to avoid implementing court orders to desegregate.

In 1962, Senator Sanders was elected as the 74th Governor of Georgia at the young age of 37. During his four-year term, he brought a series of progressive reforms to Georgia. He made education his first priority and his administration added 10,000 new teachers. His legacy includes expanding access to higher education by establishing more community and junior colleges throughout Georgia. His administration reorganized the State Highway, Welfare, and Health Departments and established the State Water Quality Control Board, the state's first environmental regulatory office. He negotiated the deals that brought professional sports teams, the Braves and the Falcons, to Atlanta. Under his leadership, Georgia had the top-ranked airport development program in the nation, with 42 airports being built during his term. At the conclusion of his term, Georgia stood at a surplus of $140 million.

As Governor, he also worked closely with State Senator Leroy Johnson, the first African-American to serve in the Georgia Senate, and worked quietly to remove remnants of the Jim Crow system from the State Capitol and other state facilities. He appointed the first African Americans to serve in the Georgia State Patrol.

Within a year of leaving Georgia's Gold Dome, Mr. Sanders and two colleagues created the law firm Troutman Sanders LLP. Over the years, the firm grew tremendously, and now employs over 600 people in offices from Atlanta to Hong Kong. He managed the firm for over 25 years, and where most men would have retired, Mr. Sanders assumed the role of Chairman Emeritus and remained an active part of the business until his passing.

Governor Sanders accomplished much throughout his life but none of this would have been possible without his enduring faith in God and the love and support of his wife of 67 years, Betty; his daughter, Betty Foy Botts, and son, Carl Sanders, Jr.; and his beloved in-laws and grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife, Vivian, and the more than 700,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District in paying tribute to former Governor Carl E. Sanders for his remarkable leadership in our great State of Georgia. He shall be remembered as an outstanding Governor, a champion of education, and a supporter of civil rights during a time when few had the courage to do so. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time and we pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest congratulations and Happy Birthday wishes to the Reverend Jimmie L. Mitchell, who celebrated her 90th birthday on Tuesday, October 7, 2014. On Sunday, October 12, 2014, family, friends, and members of Good Shepherd Deliverance Church gathered to celebrate her birthday at Receptions for You in Thomasville, Georgia.

Ollie Jimmie Lee Mitchell was born in 1924 to Mr. Jim and Mrs. Wessie Wilkerson of Thomas County, Georgia. Family and friends felt, even at that time, that Rev. Mitchell was destined to do great things for God. However, because of her mother's premature death, Rev. Mitchell had to take on adult responsibilities when she was just thirteen. She and her sister, Willie Mae Simon, helped raise their young sister and five brothers. Having overcome these difficult times together, Rev. Mitchell and Willie Mae Simon were inseparable until October 2009 when Willie Mae Simon died.

Growing up, Rev. Mitchell experienced some very difficult and abusive years that would have devastated any human being but she nevertheless maintained her strength and faith in God and He blessed her and led her to her true purpose.

At 20 years old, she married Willie Mitchell, Sr. and they settled down in Thomasville, Georgia after he was discharged from the U.S. Army. They had ten children, but one died at birth. Rev. Mitchell was known for her very conservative and strict parenting style. She trained her family to treat all people equally regardless of color or gender. She taught her children to value education, love family, live by faith, and study and work hard to achieve their dreams. Those nine children have blessed her with 24 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, 26 great- grandchildren, and 4 great, great-grandchildren.

When she was about 32 years old, Rev. Mitchell attended a prayer meeting at her next door neighbor's house, where she met Evangelist Mella Lawyer who led Rev. Mitchell to Christ and later became one of her dearest friends. Rev. Mitchell became a member of Saints Temple Holiness Church in Thomasville, where she actively participated in many ministries and became a missionary. Rev. Mitchell accepted her call into the ministry in 1963, becoming one of the first ordained women in Thomas County. She established Good Shepherd Deliverance Church the following year. In the fifty years since then, she planted more than seven churches throughout the state of Georgia and traveled throughout the nation to minister God's grace to all.

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.'' Rev. Mitchell has gone far in life because her everlasting faith in the Lord is vivid testimony of His greatness to all whom she encounters. A woman of determination and perseverance, she has a special spiritual talent for getting closed doors to open. Her love and commitment to Christ is reflected in her compassionate leadership, which makes her a guiding light within the community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our best wishes to an outstanding spiritual pioneer, the Reverend Jimmie L. Mitchell. She is truly a woman of faith whose heart never stops giving and whose hands never stop serving the people of her church and her community of Thomasville, Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a strong community and business leader and outstanding citizen, Mike Gaymon. Mr. Gaymon has retired after more than 26 years as President and CEO of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. He was honored at a Retirement Celebration on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce in Columbus, Georgia.

A native of South Carolina, Mr. Gaymon has been in the chamber business for over thirty-eight years. He led chambers in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Alabama before moving to Columbus, Georgia in 1988 to serve as President and CEO of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Gaymon has revolutionized the Columbus Chamber as well as the Columbus community in many ways during his long tenure as President. He spearheaded the Need for Land project between Fort Benning and Columbus, which resulted in land for the Muscogee Technology Park. He oversaw the Chamber's Riverfront Committee, which worked to set the stage for development of the riverfront, including the Riverwalk, one of the longest river walks in the nation, spanning 15 miles along the banks of the Chattahoochee River. The Chamber was actively involved in the first SPLOST in 1993, which opened the door for the construction of the new Civic Center and the enhancement of Golden Park, where the 1996 Olympics Women's Softball Tournament was held. Mr. Gaymon also led the Chamber in forming the Valley Partnership, one of the largest and most successful regional economic development organizations. Additionally, the Chamber created the Young Professionals Program, which has over 650 members representing over 200 companies.

Under Mr. Gaymon's leadership, the Chamber became the first five-star chamber in Georgia and one of only twenty-seven in the nation in November 2006. He will leave the Chamber in good shape with a $3 million annual operating budget and a steady membership of about 1,250 firms, a majority of those small businesses. His economic development accomplishments exceed $5.3 billion dollars with nearly 60,000 new jobs generated or retained.

Mr. Gaymon has been selected by his peers as the Georgia Chamber Executive of the Year and has been named as Georgia Tech's Top Presenter for Economic Development Workshop and one of Top Five National Instructors by the U.S. Chamber. He also has been named as one of the 100 Top Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend, among numerous other honors and distinctions.

The city of Columbus has also felt the waves of change emanating from the renovated old train depot where the Chamber is housed. In 2013, over 3,000 new primary jobs were created and more than $148 million was invested in the region. It is home to successful and renowned companies such as Aflac, TSYS, NCR, Pratt & Whitney, and Koch Foods, which as a whole have invested almost $3.5 billion into the region while creating more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. Furthermore, Columbus became the first Certified Literate Community in Georgia and has consistently been recognized as one of ``Top 100 Places to Live in America,'' ``100 Best Places to Raise a Family,'' and ``Number 1 for Single Senior Citizens'' throughout the years.

Mr. Gaymon has accomplished much in his life but none of this would have been possible without the love and support of his wife, Sheila, their children and grandchildren, and his parents.

Dr. Benjamin E. Mays often said: ``You make your living by what you get, you make your life by what you give.'' We are so grateful that Mr. Gaymon has given his time and talents to shaping a team of dedicated business leaders to improve the city of Columbus and surrounding areas.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Mike Gaymon for his twenty-six outstanding years as President and CEO of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. His energizing leadership has helped this organization transform the Columbus community for the better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a woman of grace, class, and dignity, Mrs. Charlotte M. Frazier. Sadly, Mrs. Frazier passed away on October 5, 2014. Her funeral service was held on October 14, 2014, at First African Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia. She has been a dear friend to my wife Vivian and me for many years.

Charlotte was born on May 23, 1932 to Arlene Hawkins in Columbus, Georgia. She graduated from William H. Spencer High School and was a director for the Spencer Golden Owlettes, Inc.

Charlotte was always involved in doing good deeds for the betterment of her community. She always put others ahead of herself. And very often she took the lead in working on worthy projects and always saw those projects to a successful completion.

She spearheaded the initiative to save the Liberty Theatre and supported its nomination and listing in the National Registry of Historic Places. She also led the efforts for the development of the Liberty Theatre Cultural Center, Inc., the restoration of Ma Rainey's grave site and the recognition of her legacy with a United States Postal Stamp. She was also a full time coordinator for the preservation of African-American resources. She was a recipient of many awards for her efforts on behalf of humankind.

She advocated tirelessly on behalf of the local, state and national Democratic Party. Charlotte was a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star and the founder of the Princess Chapter #194 of the Modern Free and Accepted Masons of the World, Inc. She was largely responsible for acquiring the present site and building for the group.

Charlotte held many titles and roles, but the most important role that she had in her life was serving her God with her work at First African Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, ``Do not go where the path may lead, but go instead where there is no path and leave the trail.''

Charlotte Frazier was truly one of a kind who blazed a trail for all of us to follow and left an indelible mark on the world that will not be forgotten. We are only here on this earth for a season. Charlotte Frazier used her season for good and to help others to reach their full potential. Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said, ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Charlotte Frazier paid her rent and she paid it well.

On behalf of my wife Vivian and the citizens of the Second Congressional District of Georgia, I extend my deepest sympathies to Charlotte's husband Anderson and all of those that she touched throughout her life.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I pay tribute to an outstanding civic leader and public servant of Columbus, Georgia, Councilor C.E. ``Red'' McDaniel, Jr. Councilor McDaniel passed away on Monday, November 3, 2014. A funeral service was held on Friday, November 7, 2014 at First Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia.

Councilor McDaniel served on the City Council of Columbus for 38 years. When he was first elected in 1969, he served in the old county courthouse until the Government Center tower was built. The Council now meets at the new City Services Center off Macon Road. He was the only current Councilor to have served on the Council before Columbus and Muscogee County merged to form the Columbus Consolidated Government.

Councilor McDaniel was a Columbus man through and through. After graduating from Columbus High School, where he was a football star, he went to the University of Florida on a football scholarship. After an injury, he switched to Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where he earned an associate degree. He returned to Columbus and ran a private insurance company until his retirement from business.

During his long tenure in the Columbus City government, he advocated for the improvement of city services while keeping a close eye on the budget. He was a champion of public safety and tirelessly supported the city's law enforcement officers and firefighters who often put their lives at risk.

Always open and outspoken about his opinions, Councilor McDaniel stood as a giant redwood in local government, widely respected for his deep institutional knowledge and intrinsic experience. He served as a mentor to newly-elected councilors regardless of their ideological views. A man of integrity and principle, Councilor McDaniel possessed many qualities that make for a strong foundation of character. More importantly, he never wavered on his values and remained true to himself and to the residents of Columbus throughout his career.

George Washington Carver once said, ``No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' We are all so blessed that Councilor Red McDaniel passed this way and during his life's journey did so much for so many for so long. He leaves behind a great legacy in public service to the countless residents of Columbus whose lives he touched and brightened.

On a personal note, Councilor McDaniel was a close personal friend of mine and one of the first city officials I met when I first came to Columbus in 1972. I have truly been blessed by his friendship, counsel and inspiration throughout the years.

Councilor McDaniel has accomplished much in his life but none of this would have been possible without the love and support of his wife Joanne, two sons, several grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with the more than 700,000 residents of the Second Congressional District, salute Councilor McDaniel for his outstanding public service and his everlasting commitment to his community. I asked my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to Councilor McDaniel's family, friends and the Columbus, Georgia community during this difficult time. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 33rd Annual Big Pig Jig held in Vienna, Georgia on November 7-8, 2014. Sponsored by the Dooly County Chamber of Commerce, the Big Pig Jig is Georgia's Official Memphis Barbecue Network (MBN) State Barbecue Cooking Championship. Thousands of people from all over joined the residents of Vienna to enjoy the finest barbecue in the world at this widely celebrated pig-cooking contest this year.

In 1982, a group of talented chefs living in Vienna, Georgia made a bet on who could prepare the best barbecue. This private wager quickly grew into a full-fledged barbecue cooking competition after it combined forces with a local crafts fair and an annual hog show hosted by the county's livestock association. That fusion has since evolved into the annual Big Pig Jig, the world's largest MBN-endorsed contest as well as Georgia's biggest and oldest sanctioned contest of its kind.

The Big Pig Jig's broad national recognition contributes heavily to the economy of the rural community of Vienna, Georgia, as well as the surrounding area. It draws a crowd that almost triples the city's average population and showcases the charm and beauty found within the city of Vienna on a grand scale. It is a beautiful thing when a community comes together to welcome people from all walks of life to their hometown to create a lasting and time-honored tradition like the Big Pig Jig.

Next year's festivities will be particularly exciting as the National Whole Hog Championship will be held in conjunction with the Big Pig Jig. The addition of this brand new event in November of 2015 will only add to the palpable excitement the Big Pig Jig already inspires throughout the Southeast.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the Big Pig Jig as well as the folks of Dooly County, Georgia for cultivating this once small, local event into all that it is today. The Big Pig Jig promotes a delicious part of the South's cultural heritage and

fosters a sense of unity among all those who travel from far and wide to our beloved community in Vienna, Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church in Columbus, Georgia as the church's membership and leadership celebrates a remarkable 144 years. St. John A.M.E. Church will usher in this milestone with a celebration, aptly named ``Stung By The Spirit,'' and a day of service on Sunday, September 21, 2014.

St. John A.M.E. Church was founded as St. John's Chapel in 1870 and was located on Fifth Avenue in Columbus. Reverend John G. Mitchell served as the first faith leader to the founding congregation, a dynamic group of faithful and steadfast Reconstruction-era Christians who helped bring the church to life.

The church grew and evolved over the next century and on September 30, 1980, it was

placed on the list of National Historic Buildings. This honor was attributed to the church's Victorian Gothic architectural design, the melodious bell in the steeple towering over the brilliant stained glass windows, and its long and storied history.

Unfortunately, hardship struck on February 10, 1990, when a tornado swept through the community and severely damaged the church. As plans were drawn to restore the building, a second tornado created further damage to the structure on February 22, 1990. In a demonstration of compassion and unity, a great number of nearby churches opened their doors to the members of St. John. Reverend Elijah Smith, alongside other officers and the congregation, accepted the generous invitation extended to them by the Reverend Eugene Adams, Jr. from the nearby Saint James A.M.E. Church.

Eventually, the members of the St. John family made the decision to relocate and build a new church on Steam Mill Road in Columbus. The grand opening ceremony for the new location took place on September 2, 1991.

While the original location of the church is no longer in service, its members still consider that first edifice near and dear to their hearts. Thankfully, certain items, such as the stained glass windows, brass railings, and various pieces of furniture, were salvaged from the original location and artfully incorporated into the new church.

The story of St. John A.M.E. and its long history of coming together through the good and difficult times is truly an inspiring one of the dedication and perseverance of a faithful congregation of people who put all their love and trust in the Lord. Today, the church continues to flourish under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Debora F. Grant.

Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church on its 144 remarkable years of worship and service in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the associates and leadership of the Mars Chocolate manufacturing facility in Albany, Georgia as they celebrate 50 years of operation. The Mars Chocolate plant will commemorate this milestone with a celebration to be held on Friday, October 10, 2014.

Family owned since 1911, Mars, Incorporated has 44 manufacturing facilities in the United States and employs more than 26,500 associates. It has diverse consumer businesses in chocolate, gum and confections, food, drinks and pet care. Mars strives to create a mutuality of benefits among all stakeholders through its Five Principles: Quality, Efficiency, Responsibility, Mutuality and Freedom.

The Mars plant in Albany opened in 1964 as ``Peanut Masters'' and operated primarily as a peanut roasting facility. This plant has a long history and a strong connection to the Georgia peanut industry and today roasts all the peanuts for Snickers, Snickers Ice Cream, Snickers Peanut Butter Squared, M&M's Peanut Butter, and Twix PB Bars in the United States. The plant employs 172 of my constituents and now manufactures Combos and Marathon bars, in addition to the roasting operation.

For the past 50 years, Mars has had a tremendous impact on the Albany, Georgia community. Not only does it offer economic benefits by providing jobs, the company also encourages its associates to give back to the community through various community engagement programs.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask that my colleagues join me and the more than 700,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District in congratulating the Mars Chocolate manufacturing facility in Albany, Georgia for 50 years of operation. I am so glad to have this iconic American company in my District and I look forward to 50 more years of continued success in Southwest Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation and leadership of M. L. Harris United Methodist Church in Columbus, Georgia, as the church observes its 142nd anniversary. The members of this parish will come together in a day of worship and celebration of this occasion on Sunday, October 26, 2014.

The origins of M. L. Harris can be traced back to 1872, when a group of like-minded individuals met regularly under grape arbors and anywhere else they could to praise and worship the Lord. These individuals met for an entire decade before being granted a plot of land which they could call their own by the Georgia General Assembly. The church was built at 640 6th Avenue in Columbus, Georgia and was named ``Simpson Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church'' after Bishop Matthew Simpson, a prominent bishop of the time.

The Simpson Chapel continued to operate for nearly a century, until the congregation's leaders decided it was time to make a change if the Church was going to continue to grow and prosper. Through the faith, effort and charitable donations of many dedicated souls, a new church building was erected within three years at Bedford St. and Old Cusseta Road in Columbus. The church was renamed to ``M. L. Harris Methodist Church,'' in honor of the wonderfully generous contributions made by Bishop Marquis L. Harris over the course of the church's construction.

At the time M. L. Harris was built, African-American congregations were not recognized as part of the general conference, and thus were grouped together in the Central Jurisdiction. M. L. Harris remained in the separate conference until 1967, at the culmination of the Civil Rights Movement, when the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Church merged into the United Methodist Church. One of the terms of the merger ordered the end of segregation within the denomination, and M. L. Harris subsequently became M. L. Harris United Methodist Church.

M. L. Harris would see many great pastors over the years, but perhaps the most notable was Reverend William B. Howell, whose strong leadership enabled tremendous growth within the congregation, reaching a record 373 members. During his tenure, many changes were made to the church, including structural renovations and the implementation of youth programs. Today, the church continues to grow under the spiritual guidance of Reverend Walter C. Lundy, Sr.

The story of M. L. Harris United Methodist Church, which began as a small group of people worshipping in the shade of a grape arbor 142 years ago and has grown into a modest, yet successful congregation, stands out as an exemplary display of the dedication and perseverance of a faithful and united group of people who put all their love and trust in the Lord.

Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to M. L. Harris United Methodist Church in Columbus, Georgia for their long history of coming together through the good and difficult times to praise and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The congregation may be small in number, but it is great in spirit and truly lives up to the church's motto that declares M. L. Harris as ``The Church Where Everybody is Somebody and God is ALL.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize this upcoming month of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). As part of a national campaign, NDEAM raises awareness about employment issues facing individuals with disabilities and celebrates the vast contributions made by American workers with disabilities. This year's theme is ``Expect. Employ. Empower.''

NDEAM's origins can be traced back to 1945, when Congress first passed a resolution declaring the first week of October as ``National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.'' In 1988, Congress expanded this week to an entire month and changed the name to ``National Disability Employment Awareness Month'' to reflect the wide variety of disabilities, physical or nonphysical, that an individual may have.

This month serves to remind us all that a strong, thriving workforce is an inclusive workforce. As a nation, we must work together to increase meaningful employment opportunities for those with disabilities and utilize their many talents.

I would like to especially recognize the great work of the Georgia Industries for the Blind (GIB), a facet of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA). The GIB was established in 1937 and subsequently opened its first manufacturing plant in 1949. Since then, it has grown to include three manufacturing sites located in Albany, Bainbridge and Griffin, as well as two service sites located in Bainbridge and Warner Robins. The GIB employs nearly 100 blind persons and boasts over $12 million in annual sales.

The GIB is a leader in the fight against the marginalization of the disabled worker and I applaud their resounding efforts to expand employment opportunities to those with disabilities throughout Georgia. By offering competitive wages and a full benefits package, Georgia Industries for the Blind stands as a shining example for other employers across the nation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month by acknowledging the positive impact those with disabilities have on the American workforce, as well as understanding the need to increase meaningful employment opportunities for our disabled citizens. In addition, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the strides made by Georgia Industries for the Blind and other employers leading the effort to implement a more inclusive employee culture.